This wasn't my favorite book. Lana irritated me with her 'I'm really still a reporter' talk though she professes to love Perkatory. My indifference to her colored my view of the other characters as well as the mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced ebook.

Cold Brew Corpse by Tara Lush is the second book in the Coffee Lover's series. When yoga instructor Raina goes missing, reporter turned shop owner/barista, Lana Lewis can't shake her need to chase the story. With information from police chief love interest Noah, and assistance from her employee Erica, Lana sets off to find out what happened to Raina.

I enjoyed the second book in this series and can't wait for a third, I need to know how Lana's weekend away goes.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

📰 Reporter-turned-barista Lana Lewis is focusing all her energy on her coffee shop, at least till the editor of the local paper asks her to write about a murder. A yogi has been killed and dumped in the swamp... Lana is only too happy to go sleuthing.

❤️ I liked:⁠
👩 Lana. As I often say, I love when the main characters of the books I'm reading are related to writing. Lana is tenacious, smart and has a nose not only for coffee but especially for news.
👴🏻 The characters. I enjoyed not only Lana but also her colleague/friend Erica - living on a boat must be a dream - and Lana's hippy dad. They are really funny and they both love Lana.
🔍 The mystery. The murder of the yogi was quite interesting and engaging. I could feel that something was off with a specific character from the very beginning, but I couldn't understand what. So I have been looking forward to the solution to the mystery.

⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ 4/5⁠ The second book in the Coffee Lover's Mystery is probably even better than the first one. Another lovely cosy mystery that will warm you up thanks to coffee, sea and murder.⁠
Thanks to #netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the ARC.

Cozy mysteries are perfect comfort reads - off-page violence, small town, amateur sleuth, quirky secondary characters, animal sidekicks. Add in coffee and COLD BREW CORPSE by Tara Lush, the second Coffee Lover’s Mystery, is perfect escape reading.

A former reporter, Lana’s returned home post-layoff and post-divorce to Devil’s Beach FL to run the family coffee bar, Perkatory. When the body of Raina, Dante’s Inferno, the hot studio next door, turns up in a nearby swamp, Lana’s reporter instincts kick in.

Even though it’s the second in a series, I had no trouble following along. Tara Lush creates fabulous characters, especially Lana’s eccentric, yoga-loving dad who’s also hooked in to all of the local gossip. And Stanley, her adorable Shih Tzu puppy with his boundless energy.

Murder victim Raina was so dislikeable that Devil’s Beach was full of potential suspects which kept the mystery intriguing and sent Lana to some amusing spots to investigate. I’ll just say - naked, candlelight yoga.

The descriptions of the coffee, the sweet treats Lana makes for Perkatory, and Devil’s Beach with its wild monkies and baby alligators were vivid and drew me in. I have to admit that while I’ve never made a recipe from a mystery, I was sorry that there wasn’t one for the mango pie she made!

I enjoyed the flirtations and attraction between Lana and Noah, the police chief - sweet and spicy!

I’m also glad to see a Cuban American sleuth - cozy mysteries can be white lady-centric so yay for this.

Perfect for fans of the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery by Raquel V. Reyes or Cleo Coyle’s mysteries.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Cold Brew Corpse by Tara Lush in exchange for an honest review. Lana Lewis runs the best coffee shop in Devil's Beach, Florida. It's called Perkatory. A yoga teacher next door to the coffee shop is missing. Lana and her dad do some sleuthing. Lana's boyfriend is the Chief of police. Tara Lush is quite a good storyteller. I enjoyed this book, full of suspense and excitement. It definitely made me long for a walk on the beach and a good cup of coffee.

This was a fun continuation to the series. I always get a little bit nervous when it comes to Cozy mystery books because sometimes the 2nd feels a little forced. (Just in the sense of multiple people the main character knows being murdered) I think the journalism career definitely helps this series when it comes to that. It was interesting to get to see Lana trying to juggle everything going on in her life. Balancing what she really wants to do (investigating for the story, with what she is obligated to do (run the coffee shop, with all of the people in her life (family, friends, new romance) I was intrigued by all of her inner turmoil making it all work.
The romance in this book continues to get teased to us. I just want to get to experience a little bit more of it in this story. I love their chemistry. I love getting to see them work together. This book definitely established that they need to have some ground rules if it’s going to work between them. I just need them to love each other already.
I liked all of the new characters that got introduced into the story. That being said I wish that we got to see more of the characters that got introduced in the last book. I think it would have been better for the small town vibe if it was more connected.
I enjoyed this continuation of the series and can’t wait to check out more books in the series in the future!

In the second book of Tara Lush’s Coffee Lovers Mystery series. Lana Lewis owner of
Perkatory a coffee shop. I love the name of the shop.
It's a steamy September, and business is brisk at Perkatory, the hottest coffee shop in Devil's Beach, FL. Much of the clientele pours in from Dante's Inferno, the hot yoga studio next door. But the bright, sunny Gulf Coast days turn decidedly dark-roast when the body of the studio's owner turns up in a nearby swamp.
I enjoyed this adventure with Lana. It’s an easy read without confusion.
#ColdBrewCorpse #NetGalley

Oh this was such a fun book to read. The best part was that the writing was so casual. It really felt like friends were interacting with each other. The whole community of Devil's Beach seemed like so much fun, I wanted to visit it like a tourist. Like a typical cozy, the mystery was not that intense, however, it did get quite exciting in the climax. So, full brownie points for making the book really engaging.

It also took me some time to realize this was Book 2 in the series because it was so well written that I didn't feel the need to fill in any blanks from an earlier book. I literally cannot wait to read more books from this author and in this series.

Cold Brew Corpse by Tara Lush
Book #2: A Coffee Lover’s Mystery
Source: NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Rating: 3/5 stars

The Bottom Line: Yet again, I find myself not only on the fence with a book but having to fess up to a personal bias. One of my least favorite character types is the “anything for a story” reporter and, unfortunately Lana fell well into that category in this read. There were several moments in the story when even Lana questioned her motivations and actions especially with regards to Noah. It is this aspect and this aspect alone that has caused me to drop my star rating to a 3; I reiterate, this is one of my least favorite character types.

If I ignore the above – and I will not! – my star rating would have gone up to at least a 4 if not a 4½. When Lana is in coffee mode, she is all kinds of fun and her little shop, Perkatory is such a great vibe for the setting and the reader. What’s more, I adore Noah, Stanley, Erica, and Lana’s tree-hugging hippy grandfather. Finally, I enjoyed the plot of this book with the twists and turns and the drama among all the various characters/suspects.

All the above leaves me at the ever-awful book crossroads. I can’t see Lana’s obsession with her former career lessening any time soon, which means I will start each new book in the series with a strong bias. On the other hand, there are so many other characters and qualities of this series that I do truly like. I think my final decision on the series as a whole will be determined by the third book and how far Lana dives into the journalism side of her personality.

What can I say. I have only just started reading these Cosy Murder Mystery style books and a I am loving them. They are fun, quick and easy to read and are very entertaining.

This book is funny, the storyline is quirky, the plot keeps me interested and reading and the character each have their own unique personalities. I didn't read the first in the series but think I might just do that and then maybe read this one again to see how the story flows.

But I must say I am loving this book and this style/genre and will be reading others.

In the second book of Tara Lush’s Coffee Lovers Mystery series, readers find Lana Lewis on Devil’s Beach running Perkatory, a local coffee shop. The story opens with a Lana dressing up for a planned evening with police Chief Noah Garcia that has to be rescheduled because of an alleged missing person on the popular Florida barrier island that is twelve miles at its longest and six miles at its widest. Yoga instructor, Raina Rose, is missing. She returned from a yoga retreat in Costa Rica but cannot be found after a morning argument with her boyfriend, Kai. Lana, who was previously a reporter in Miami, is called on by the local newspaper editor to accept a freelance assignment to investigate the disappearance. Noah and Lana have to tread carefully because of their romantic interest. A fun read. Lush captures the quirkiness of the locals and the tourists on the popular island.

Tara lush has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She has created a world that I desperately wish was real so that I could see it for myself! There is some good character development in this book and I'm excited to see what is in store in future books.

I'm really liking this series! Sometimes book #2 in a new series is a real let-down, but not here. One of the things I really enjoy is that Lana, as a former Miami journalist and current coffee bar owner but also part-time freelance writer, has a really good reason to be sleuthing. She loves journalism and has great enthusiasm for finding out the truth and reporting it.

I also love that there's this backstory of a friend who went missing when Lana was a teen. It informs her passion for investigating, but it doesn't overpower the story. Gisela is mentioned a number of times, and I assume future stories will unravel that mystery, too. I hope the backstory stays in the background, though, and doesn't take over the entire story arc. That's happened in a couple other series I used to really enjoy.

Besides a great main character and a nice mysterious backstory, the plot works (not a given). And I'm still laughing from the men's naked candlelight yoga practice. Yikes! There's a nice balance between the mystery, some humor, and Lana's insights into her own life. I do feel cheated out of the final clash, when she and the killer are battling each other. The killer's choking her, and then her knight in a police cruiser pulls up, and then...the Epilogue skips to two weeks later. What?!

Still, a really fun read. Looking forward to the next one!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! It’s rare that a second book in a series is better than the first, and I hardly ever read more than one book in a series for review, but cozy mystery Cold Brew Corpse became the exception in both–dare I say?–cases. I had to find out if Lana and Sheriff Hunk ever get together, how the coffee business in Perkatory is brewing, and if Lana and Chief Garcia solve another crime in Devil’s Beach, Florida.

Cold Brew Corpse is laugh out loud funny. Lana is quirky, but charming, and whip smart. The supporting characters are varied and give the reader lots of suspects to choose from. The storyline is unique and had me turning the pages instead of watching Netflix or playing games on my phone.

Tara Lush has penned a winner with her new series! Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC for an honest review. *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

Lana Lewis, coffee shop owner/reporter/amateur sleuth, is back with the Perkatory gang, handsome police chief Noah and a murderer who is determined to win at any cost. When a sexy yoga studio owner is murdered - suspects are everywhere, Stanley the Shih Tzu puppy is into everything and Lana has to follow the clues that are leading her into danger!

I enjoy this series because Lana is a relatable and likable character. She doesn't have all the answers but give her time and she will. The supporting characters provide much of the humor and of course, Stanley is a little tornado with fur! There is romance, but just enough to keep things interesting without overshadowing the story. I loved the last chapters where the puzzle pieces began to fit and the mystery comes together!

I'm going to get a cold brew in honor of the book and I'm impatiently waiting for the next mystery!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cold Brew Corpse is the second book in A Coffee Lover's Mystery series and it is just as good as the first. The story picks up immediately where the first story ended, right after coffee shop owner Lana participates in the barista competition. A yoga instructor from a business close to Lana's coffee shop goes missing, canceling the date Lana had with police chief Noah Garcia. While Noah's missing person case turns into a murder case, Lana investigates as a freelance journalist writing a story for the local paper. It is a nice change for the amateur sleuth to have a legitimate reason for asking questions and for the police chief to be supportive.

The tone is a bit different from your typical cozy mystery. I only mention this because I know some stick to cozy mysteries because they are so clean. While I would still consider it fairly tame and there is nothing explicit, there are more references to sex than most cozy mysteries. However, the missing person/murder interrupts any romantic time that Lana might hope to have with Noah, if she weren't still getting over her divorce.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great second installment of the series. I enjoy the characters and the storyline. I am looking forward to reading more from this author and more from this series. It was a cute fast read that made me step away from my work for a bit and relax.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for review…it is character driven with setting enhancing the story…the Gulf…the protagonist is so likeable that I wanted her to get what she wanted…the man of her dreams and the stories she wanted to write for the newspaper…she worked diligently to solve the murder mystery with friends helping her. I am looking forward to more stories about this character and learning what she does next…good job…

This was the 2nd installment of the Coffee Lover Mystery series and I enjoyed it. In short, Lana’s neighbor and yoga instructor is found dead and she’s asked to cover the story for the local paper. Between managing the coffee shop and sleuthing the mystery she stays busy to say the least.

This book had a lot of different things going on and so many fun characters, red herrings and twists. One thing I really enjoy is that the main character was a former crime reporter in Miami and therefore is experienced at sleuthing. This adds an extra layer of believability that many cozies lack where the MC is bumbling from one thing to the next.

Cold Brew Corpse is the second installment in the A Coffee Lover's Mystery series set in Devil's Beach, FL and featuring part time journalist and coffee shop owner, Lana Lewis. Finally settling into her role at Perkatory, the coffee shop her mother had started prior to her death, Lana is enjoying being back home near her Dad, her new puppy Stanley, and her blossoming relationship with Police Chief Noah Garcia.

Raina Rose, owner of Dante's Inferno the yoga studio next door to Perkatory, goes missing and later turns up dead in the swamp. Lana's journalistic instincts kick in and anxious to get back to writing she agrees to write an article for the local paper. She quickly discovers that Raina is not at all the peaceful loving yogi that everyone believes, and instead has many enemies including her students.

Between trying to solve Raina's murder and solving the mystery of why the popular cold brew at Perkatory has suddenly begun to taste like dishwater, Lana has her hands full. A quick afternoon read on a rainy day. I'm hoping that the author will allow Lana to pursue the mystery of what happened to her childhood friend Gisela, who went missing when the girls were teenagers.

I received an advanced copy of Cold Brew Corpse from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.