I'm a fan of this author was anxious to read the second book in this series*. The writing is great and the story easy enough to follow for those who may not have read the first book (you should though).

I love the characters of Shay, Jen, and Liam. And now we have Gran to add to in and she's a gem. She knows Shay's history and some of that comes out in this story but not all. Way to keep them wanting more, Lauren Elliott!

In this story, there's a death and it's causing problems for Shay and Tassie. You will root for them to win but of course we need to go through with the sorting of details and clues. Shay had help via her friends and family.

It's fun to see the characters grow and learn more about them while new characters are added to the mix. I look forward to see what happens next with Shay.

*while I don't personally believe in crystals, tea reading, seers etc I can view it as make believe and still enjoy the read.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc.

Shay finds herself somehow connected to the death of a woman who was poisoned and died in her shop. While she had the poisonous plant in her greenhouse, she has gotten rid of it, so who poisoned the woman? With Tassi as the main suspect, since it was her future step mother, Shay has to do whatever she can to clear Tassi and save her from being charged with a crime her father believes she committed.

I fell in love with this series when I read the first book and can’t get enough. The Celtic connection, the family connection, the locals who support, and Spirit rally bring me back to immersing myself in the stories. Each reads fine as a stand alone, so dig on it.

I loved the setting! The beach, the CuriosiTeas tea shop with its greenhouse… It’s a very nice light read, a simple mystery (no twists for those who love them, but I wasn’t expecting any). I enjoy the mix of cozy plus psychic abilities – it’s a cupful of tropes, pardon the pun. So if that’s what you are looking for, go for it. If you want some serious reading, look somewhere else. Nice characters, as is to be expected. The one thing I did not like as much were the “ye”, “yer”, “dese”, “dat” for the Irish characters – it was a little heavy handed for my taste, but understandable, and the granny was a nice addition, anyway.
Suffice to say I had not read the first book of the series and now I will – and the next in the series, which I hope will continue. I look forward to read what will happen to Shay – and to Spirit, the dog!
Update: so I went back and read the first book before posting. Mild spoiler ahead:
Really, if the vet was just a friend of Liam, why did they end up living together in what seems a matter of weeks? And now it seems he’s hooking up with someone else. So I don’t care about his electric blue eyes –Shay deserves someone better ;)
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book and get to know the series.

#MurderinaCup #NetGalley is a great addition to this unique cozy mystery series. Shay is learning about her gifts, but a bizarre murder has her working hard to prove her young assistant is innocent.
Deadly plants, lies, and secrets are bound to grab your curiosity and have you reading long into the night.
This author is becoming a favorite of mine and I'm always happy to recommend Lauren Elliot to other readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Murder in a Cup by Lauren Elliott is a great cozy mystery that is the second book in the A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS mystery series.

I really like where this new series is going. This sophmore effort from Ms. Elliott really brings the main characters into their own. Shay is a great main character and has depth and a unique set of gifts. She and Liam make a good team (and Spirit too).

There is a murder/mystery that kept my interest throughout and that mixed with the paranormal threads, really made this fun and entertaining.

Definitely looking forward to where this series will be going from here.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books 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 on 11/28/23.

I was such a fan of the first book that I immediately read the second one jumping it up over many many books in my queue. And I loved the second book just as much. My only disappointment is now how long I will have to wait for the third one. Shayleigh is growing into her Inheritance of the tea shop and the amulet with the blue diamond when during a group tea reading a woman drops dead. One of her employees becomes suspect number one and Shay is compelled to prove her innocence. The characters are interesting and I love the addition of Gran.

The 2nd book in this new series was also pretty good as Shay's assistant, Tassi, is accused of murdering a woman at a tea reading party. The only question is, how, exactly did she manage it? And why is Tassi's dad doing everything in his power to make sure that she goes to jail for it? Shay has been struggling with understanding the magical powers that she has been given, and is really unsure about how to handle her instincts and reactions to things the amulet is trying to tell her. Luckily for her, when Liam returns from a trip to Ireland, he brings his Gram, who used to know Shay's mother and is determined to help in any way she can. Shay needs to learn that she can count on her family and friends to help her. And, of course, on Spirit! It seems to also be the book to discover that some dad's aren't all they are cut out to be...it seems Shay's dad is trying all sorts of ways to get the amulet from her. Looking forward to the next book, in which Shay and company are planning a trap for him. Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for the chance to read this.

Murder in a Cup, the second book in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mysteries series by Lauren Elliott, once again enraptures the reader with Shay’s unique and ever-evolving abilities as she continues to acclimate to her life in Bray Harbor.

As Shay struggles to grasp the potential of her gifts, she once again finds herself amid a murder investigation that hits too close to home. With dynamic and relatable characters and a fast-paced and captivating dialog, the story intertwines fact with fantasy in keeping the pages turning as the reader becomes invested in not only Shay, but also in whom among her acquaintances would do harm within her shop.

Ms. Elliott has the unique ability to engage you in such a way that you’ll find yourself feeling the myriad of emotions her characters do...she's especially adept at conveying the heartbreak Shay continues to experience because of Liam, unbeknownst to him of course.

As this series progresses, I'm fully invested in what's in store for Shay as she learns to embrace her ancient abilities.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.