i think this book wasn’t really for me. i read it, it did have some mystery to it at some point but i felt like the plot was just a wee bit bland. there wasn’t much kick to it. i couldn't really connect with the characters as well. it wasn't that bad of a read, just wish it had more kick to it!

Carly Hale has lost her husband and has decided to go back to her hometown to rebuild her life. She also has decided to follow her dream and open a restaurant. Just when life seems to be going well, the new owner of the building Carly is renting decides she needs to move as he has plans for the building that don’t include her. When the new owner is found dead, Carly’s employee becomes the prime suspect. Now Carly has to figure out who really killed Lyle to keep her employee from getting burned and her restaurant from going up in flames.

This is a great first entry in this new cozy series. I love cheese, I love cozies, and I love a good whodunit, so whatnot to love in this one? Can’t wait for more from this author. Guess we have some grilled cheese sandwiches in our future as reading this made me crave some warm, gooey cheese!

Up to No Gouda is the first in a new series by Linda Reilly.
Carly Hale has returned to Vermont after the tragic death of her husband.
The one thing Carly has always dreamed of is owning her own business. Opening her gourmet grilled cheese restaurant is a step in the right direction, and her grilled cheese sandwiches sound delicious.
Things never go as planned, so when Carly finds out she has to vacate her restaurant, she's devastated. It seems the new building owner has plans for her shop, and it doesn't include grilled cheese sandwiches.
When the new owner is discovered behind her shop, Carly's waitress becomes suspect number one.

I was glued to this book from beginning to end. The title, cover design, and characters all bring something special to this new series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly is a great cozy mystery that is the first in a new series: A Grilled Cheese Mystery. It features one of my favorite foods of all time (that’s right, you guessed it lol): grilled cheese.

This book has the quintessential cozy mystery concept: Carly returns to a familiar small-town landscape (in Vermont) to help recuperate and heal from difficult life circumstances. At the same time, she forges ahead and opens up her own restaurant.

Of course it can’t be that easy, obstacles are created, the town’s negative Nancy (Lyle) ends up DOA, and Carly has to help find the culprit or her employee and possibly her business could end up in the slammer and in the gutter respectively.

Yes, this concept has been done many times before, but darn it, when the sleuthing and cozy mystery concept is done correctly with excellent characters, plot, and pacing…it draws me in every time. And that is exactly what this gem did for me.

I was on edge, entertained, and kept coming back for more. I loved it and I am looking forward to the next book.

And I am going to make myself a little “Party Havarti!”.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Poisoned Pen Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.