What a fun, cute, mystery! Tessa was just a girl trying to enjoy her paid for honeymoon after her fiance left her. Little did she know she would get caught up in a murder investigation. Mai Tais and Murder follows Tessa as she enlist in the help of few other guests at the resort to try and solve a murder. This was full of fun. laughter, and just the right amount of myster. I cannot wait to read the second one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a good read snd the characters were amazing!!! The writing was perfect and it was so easy to read and such a page turner. This is the first book in a series and I will definitely be reading the others. Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this book and have a new author to love!! #NetGalley

When Tessa Tidwell turns up to the Golden Hibiscus Resort, the assumption is hat she's on her honeymoon, but she's not - rather she is newly jilted and making the most of the prepaid vacation, solo. While at the resort she meets a host of unusual characters, from the gambling businessman to the social media influencer, and the suave single man to the utterly fabulous, eccentric, thrice-divorced, martini-sipping fabulous Sibyl, and everyone in between.

But when the body of a resort guest is found by Tessa and her tour guide, her carefree vacation turns into a murder investigation.

This was a fun, cosy murder mystery through the tropics. Fuelled by far too much alcohol and implausible situations, Mai Tais and Murder allows you to suspend belief and just go along with the ride.

I smashed through this in a day - it's a fun, lighthearted mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

~Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

I liked the blurb and the reviews are encouraging, but for some reason, maybe bad timing, I cannot get into it. I'll just put it aside and try and pick it up later.

Thank you Netgalley, publishers, and Lydia Lane for gifting me a copy of Mai Tais & Murder in return for my honest review.
3/5 stars

Tessa's Honeymoon did not start off the way she thought it would. Firstly she was stood up the day before the wedding so she is on the trip alone, but also due to the fact that she finds a dead body floating in the bay. Not only that but one of her friends is involved in some way. Can she solve the murder and clear her friend's name or will this really be the worst honeymoon ever?

This book starts off very ominously discussing how the night was a new moon, symbolizing a clean slate and new beginnings but for one person it was an ending. Considering Tessa is on her honeymoon alone she is also trying to clean her slate and start fresh. I did like how the author created a full-circle moment by connecting the new moon at the beginning to the full moon at the end. The book did not lack details. You can tell right off the bat that the author was trying really hard to be witty and quirky, Sometimes it worked, while most times it didn't. Like when Sibyl is introduced to the reader, she tries to make her seem like Samantha from Sex and the City by having her force her way into Tessa's day and telling Tessa her whole life story. But, before Tessa can tell her hers she just needs to finish the next chapter of her book.

I was really hopeful with this book but it was all too forced for me. The concept is good with her being on vacation but it was more unbelievable than other cozys that I have read in the past. This is a great example of a plot-driven book with the characters not being as strong or enjoyable. I would read the second book to see if the characters improve as the series continues.

This was such an amazing book! It starts with Tessa Tidwell showing up at the Golden Hibiscus resort for her honeymoon. Unfortunately, she is alone. Her fiance decided just before the rehersal dinner that he didn't want to marry her, so, she has gone on the honeymoon by herself. While there she meets Sybil who is hilarious. She is constantly drinking martinis, even at 10 am, and has had 4 different husbands. She has plenty of life advice for Tessa, including how to deal with relationships.

Tessa has booked a sailing lesson, but when she goes out on the boat with the instructor, they find a dead body in the water, and the adventure takes off from there. Tessa ends up spending her "honeymoon" trying to find out who the murderer is and enlists Sybil's reluctant help.

The characters were fun and engaging, the mystery was excellent, and I couldn't put it down. Definitely a must read for cozy mystery lovers.

This book is great to pick if one is looking for a quick, fast paced, easy to read murder mystery. I love Sibil a lot and her quirky personality depicted in the book.

I absolutely ADORED this book. And when I read the note from the author at the end I loved it even more! I loved this book so much that I completely disregarded my long TBR list that I had planned out for after this one and ran to Amazon to download book 2 in the series. So excited to start it and see what Tess and Sibyl get into next! Whenever people say books are laugh out loud funny I think it's just an expression because books never make me literally laugh out loud but I found myself cracking up at the authors witty humor. Cannot recommend this one enough!

Lydia Lane did a great job in weaving a believable story in Mai Tais & Murder.

The characters were well-developed, and the storyline was fun and easy to follow. Great job by the author. Can't wait to read more in the future.

new-series, first-in-series, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, romantic, situational-humor, verbal-humor, murder, investigation, friends, frustration****

Left at the altar, Tessa turns the *honeymoon* into a beach vacation but finds a murder victim, new friends, and learns how to investigate. Fun, light cozy with enjoyable characters perfect for escapist reading!
I requested and received an EARC from the author via NetGalley. Thank you!

Thank you so so much to Net Galley for this arc!

I absolutely adored this book! The characters were fun and believable, and our main character gave off a really cool vibe that made me want to be friends with her.

I think this is such a cute, cozy, comedic mystery. As I was reading it I honestly was thinking that this is the perfect book to be reading on a plane on the way to vacation, or by the pool/on the beach.

This was the perfect summer read to put in between the dark thrillers I am used to. Honestly such a breath of fresh air and I want to read more lighthearted mysteries like this now!

What a great book!!! I loved this mystery and all of the characters. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. Highly recommend as a fun beach read to anyone.

Loved this story was a great summer time read. It also had fun and free spirited characters and a story line that kept readers interested. This is one of three in a series and I look forward to what the author has in store next

This is a book I read in one easy sitting. A quick and fun read, a honeymoon when your wedding doesn't happen is a great story but when there is a murder too well that makes it even more intriguing.

Tess is on her honeymoon but the wedding never happened. What else could go wrong? This is an entertaining and humourous read, the prefect book to read on holiday, on the beach or just cosying up with on the couch. I enjoyed the characters the story and the humour. The setting really did set the scene as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Lydia Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is what I would call a very comfy, palate-cleansing, cosy mystery. It is an excellent beach or vacation read! Tessa is a recently jilted bride who decides to go on the honeymoon anyway - sans groom. She soon finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery and surrounded by a cast of colorful characters who all bear some shade of suspicion. Tessa is relatable as she fumbles and bumbles the "investigation", however I did expect her to be a little more bereft at the loss of her fiancé. Sybil, her eccentric accomplice is my absolute favorite! Her "Sybil-isms' and all day gin swilling are the balance Tessa needs! This book was so much fun and the imagery made me feel like I was following them around the resort.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

This cute little cozy mystery which starts with a canceled wedding. She’s runoff to have her honeymoon without a husband. Making fast friends with various peoples at the gorgeous resort to which she has run. She stumbles upon a murder. Now she is a detective. She needs to find out who ‘done it’ with a little help from some of her friends. This mystery was a pleasant read. However, I feel a little more character development was needed from some of the major suspects.

Meet Tessa Tindwell and her "Watsons", her suspects and the murder victim. Unfortunately, I believe the resolution was a little week and there weren't any clues as to motive.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Such a sweet cozy, summer read. When Tessa arrives at the Golden Hibiscus Resort for her honeymoon sans a husband, she has no idea that being jilted before her wedding will be the least difficult part about her trip.

Shortly after her arrival on the island, a man is found dead and foul play is suspected. Tessa begins to sleuth around and attempts to find out what exactly happened the night Glenn Ward was murdered.

A short, easy read with loveable characters - I’m excited this book is the beginning of a series so that I can follow Tessa on her adventures and watch her development unfold.

The writing style is charming and casual and made me feel all the more cozier while reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lydia Lane Books for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

I loved reading about Tessa’s adventure and getting right into the action to try to solve the murders that happened on her island get away. The relationship with Tessa and Sibyl was enjoyable along with the life lessons that Tessa learned.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy.

This is a fun series and Mai Tais & Murder is the perfect beach read…especially if you are drinking a mai tai.

This book proved to be the quitessential cozy beach read. From the moment I opened it, I was captivated and couldn't bring myself to put it down. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!! I highly recommend this book!