This is the first time I have read this series and I really enjoyed all the characters. Carly, the owner of the grilled cheese restaurant is the amateur sleuth and she is really good. Ross Baxter set up a delivery service in town and he delivers grilled cheese sandwiches of every kind to the seniors in the community. One day he was delivering to Octavia Gray, a really hard person to satisfy, he finds her lying on the floor with a skillet over her head. He gets scared and calls Haley after calling the ambulance and police. He , of course , is a prime suspect. Once Carly finds out she goes into her sleuthing mode because she knows he couldn't have done it. See how this is done, I couldn't figure who done it until the book told us. A VERY GOOD COZY READ. Going to have go back and read the others.

The prior three books in this series were delightful, and I was eager to dive back into Balsam Dell with Carly and her quirky crew. This has become one of those fun series where I have gotten attached to the characters, to the point where they feel like real people to me, and a new book is like a chance to revisit my friends.

The title is a cheesy pun, but I still love it, and I’m amazed at how many the author can come up with. (The recipes at the end of the book never hurt either, and they always sound so good!) But back to the story itself: We’ve had a slow-burn romance developing over the course of the series, and it was awesome to see the relationship between Carly and Ari really taking off now.

The relationships that Carly has built within the town of Balsam Dells are wonderful. As a restaurant owner, she has the opportunity to interact with just about everyone in the town, and while some are nicer than others, she’s still a magic touch with even the tougher customers for the most part. But since this is a cozy mystery, you know the grumpiest customer of all gets murdered and Carly manages to find herself in the middle once again—when her delivery driver is the number one suspect.

From here, the story takes off at a pretty fast pace, and kept me guessing at every turn. Naturally, there are certain people who look shady, and they’d be the obvious choice for the murderer, but Reilly is a master at red herrings. She keeps her readers guessing the identity of the murderer for much of the story, until she basically lays everything out for us. Or at least, that’s how my experience went. You might be better at predicting the murderer, but I tend to enjoy the ride even if I can’t guess the right villain.

One of the biggest appeals of this series and this book, especially, is the strength of the relationships. Reilly’s characters have personalities that are complex and multifaceted, and while their relationships have a natural feel and have become deep over several books. I particularly adore the friendships between Gina and Carly, and Becca and Joyce; the former a long-term friendship, and the latter a caretaking relationship that is mutually beneficial and has become a friendship as well. I’m clearly a huge fan of this series, but don’t just take my word for it, give it a read yourself and see what you think! I highly recommend it.

Brie Careful What You Wish For by Linda Reilly and her fabulous grilled cheese sandwich shop. It’s summer now and a terrific young man named Ross Baxter has started a cash-only/call-in delivery service primarily for seniors and they love him. All is well until the day he walks into a home to find the resident dead on the floor. She’d been hit over the head with a frying pan. Of course, the police suspect Ross but Carly knows he’s innocent. She also knows the police chief is adamant about her staying out of it, but, Ross? As Carly starts asking around it turns out that almost everyone has a motive. The deceased was not a very nice person and it could have been anyone. She’d had a dispute with a neighbor about moving a fence, with her stepdaughter about the woman’s mother’s things, and had pushed a woman off a barrel years earlier and the woman still had to use a cane. Carly really had no idea. The police made Ross curtail his business so she hired him to work in the kitchen and that, at least, was working out well.

Carly is a good character. She lost her husband several years earlier in a freak accident and had moved home and used the life insurance money to start her cafe. She had met a man, Ari, and had fallen in love, but felt guilty that maybe it was too soon. She wasn’t sure where their relationship was going, mostly on her part. Her staff was always there supporting her in the cafe and in her investigating. This turned out to be a relatively complicated crime and one she solved only by accident. This is a very cozy cozy mystery. It always feels like coming home. The continuing characters are well written and show some sort of growth in every book. The mysteries are complicated enough to hold one’s attention and yet there is little to no gore. Always a plus. A good read, to be sure. Thanks, Linda Reilly, for the Grilled Cheese Cafe!

I was invited to read Brie Careful What You Wish For by Beyond The Page Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BeyondThePagePublishing #LindaReilly #BrieCarefulWhatYouWishFor

In this 4th book in the 'Grilled Cheese Mysteries' series, restaurateur/amateur sleuth Carly Hale feels compelled to investigate when a young man she knows is suspected of murder. The book works fine as a standalone.

When thirtysomething Carly Hale's husband died in a tragic accident, she moved back to her hometown of Balsam Dell, Vermont and opened Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. In time Carly's grief subsided, and she started dating an electrician named Ari Mitchell. Carly and Ari are now in a serious relationship, and very happy together.

Carly's restaurant has become quite popular, and she currently employs assistant manager Valerie Wells; part-time server Suzanne Rivers; and grill cook/aspiring chef Grant Robinson, who'll soon be off to culinary school. In addition, a young man called Ross Baxter, who's saving up for college, delivers food from Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery to elderly residents of Balsam Dell.

Ross is personable, and all the senior citizens like him except for one grumpy woman, Mrs. Octavia Gray. Ross confides in Carly that Mrs. Gray called his grandmother, and complained that Ross was rude, spied on her, and ate some of her chips - none of which is true. Carly offers to have the food delivered to Mrs. Gray by someone else, but Ross insists he'll do it, because his grandmother is a stickler about respecting your elders. The next day, when Ross delivers Mrs. Gray's Smoky Steals the Bacon sandwich, with extra chips, he finds Mrs. Gray dead.....her head bashed in with a frying pan. Police Chief Fred Holloway takes Ross in for questioning, and Carly fears the young man will be arrested for murder.

Carly is certain Ross is innocent, so she decides to investigate herself, against the advice of all her friends and family. Carly's previous investigations endangered her life, and everyone fears this could happen again. Carly learns that the victim, Mrs. Octavia Gray, was disliked by almost everyone in Balsam Del. So Carly enlists the help of journalist Don Frasco, who's always looking for a story, to help her investigate. Carly manages to interview and collect information about a number of possible suspects, including:

Tara Gray Shepard - Octavia's stepdaughter, who's opening a pocketbook store called Pugs and Purses. Tara resented Octavia for giving away expensive handbags that had belonged to Tara's deceased mother. Sawyer Gray - Octavia's stepson, who needed money to finance his kitchen supplies store, and might have expected to benefit from Octavia's will. Mrs. Imogene Hughes and her adult son Mark Hughes - Octavia's neighbors, who were forced to move a fence at Octavia's insistence. Lois Feeney - a woman whose husband had an affair with Octavia. In fact, in her younger days, Octavia had targeted many married men, so any number of women resented her.

In between running her restaurant and investigating Octavia's death, Carly visits with her mother Rhonda; hangs out with her best friend Gina; chitchats with her landlady Joyce; plays with her pooch Havarti; and plans for the future with her boyfriend Ari. Carly also makes the acquaintance of baker Nina Cyr, and considers featuring Nina's specialty cookies in Carly' Grilled Cheese Eatery.

This is a good addition to the grilled cheese mysteries, with recipes for Raspberry Sizzle and Zesty Pesto grilled cheese sandwiches.

Thanks to Netgalley, Linda Reilly, and Beyond the Page Publishing for a copy of the book.

Carly's young friend Ross has been doing home deliveries for local senior citizens, bringing grilled cheese sandwiches to the homes of folks who can't go get them for themselves. When he goes to deliver a sandwich and finds the customer dead on her kitchen floor, the police think he is responsible for the woman's demise. Carly decides to investigate despite repeated admonitions from the chief of police to leave things alone. How can she stand by while Ross's freedom is in the balance?

I really enjoy this series. It makes me crave grilled cheese like crazy! Carly is pretty sweet for the most part, though I don't really care for how she sometimes reacts when the people who care about her caution her about her investigations. She should understand and appreciate that people want her to be safe, but she seems to see it as people trying to control her. On the flip side of that, I don't understand why the people in her life are constantly telling her to stay out of things. They know she isn't going to, and they know she has a good track record of solving cases, so why can't they just make arrangements with her to be available when she's doing something risky?

There were some great characters in this book, though we left a few of them kind of hanging. There was also a loose end with Carly's friend Gina that was never tied up. Hopefully these people and these circumstances will come up again in later books. I'm also really curious to see how things will go when Grant leaves the restaurant and other characters come in.

This is a fun series, definitely worth checking out.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

When a murder occurs, Carly has to get involved to keep Ross out of jail. In spite of everyone telling her not to investigate she just cannot help herself. If you like food related cozy mysteries, this is right up your alley. My mouth was watering with the descriptions. This book is a fun cozy read for sure.

This series is just so much fun. I love the town, characters, and the yummy sounding grilled cheese creations. The plot was just a tad predictable if you read a bunch of mysteries but overall a fun, easy read for a lazy day at home.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of BRIE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR (Book 4 of the Grilled Cheese Mystery series) by Linda Reilly in exchange for an honest review. Carly Hale’s business is benefitting from a local teenager’s new enterprise. Ross Baxter is making his summer money offering delivery services to local seniors who prefer cash transactions. Everyone is pleased with Ross, except one particularly curmudgeonly patron. When Ross arrives one day to delivery the woman’s lunch, he finds her body. It seems like Ross becomes the focus of the police investigation because the woman had so many enemies, they’re having difficulty narrowing down the suspects. Carly knows Ross and decides to prove his innocence.

I like this author and enjoy this series. I recommend this book to fans of the series and the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring themed eateries, good friends, combative law enforcement, and adorable doggos named after cheese.

#BrieCarefulWhatYouWishFor #NetGalley

Brie Careful What You Wish For is the latest in the Grilled Cheese Mystery series by Linda Reilly. Once again Carly gets herself involved in another murder investigation, but with so many suspects will she be able to narrow it down to just one before becoming the killer’s next victim? Read Brie Careful What You Wish For to find out.
I loved getting to visit with the citizens of Balsam Dell again. I really enjoyed seeing friendships develop and deepen. I can’t wait to read what happens next with Carly and Ari and the rest of the Balsam Dell gang.

EVen if it's not my favorite it's an excellent cozy mystery full of twists and entertaining.
Linda Reilly delivers another excellent story that will keep you hooked and guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Great Culinary Cozy
Carly runs a deli focusing on cheese sandwiches with a crew of friends...but she is also too curious for her own good. When her delivery guy is accused of murder and she's sure he's innocent, she investigates on her own despite being told nor to. Well written with a twist or two. I recommend highly.
I received a NetGalley ARC gratis and am giving my opinion in the same.

Couldn't get into this one. Sad. Not sure what was missing as I like this series. But it just wasn't clicking for me. Sorry. But it could be great for everyone else so go buy it. The series is good so definitely worth your money

This is the fourth book in the Grilled Cheese Mystery series and is set in Balsam Dell, Vermont.

I like the concept, the “grilled cheese support team” and friends and family that help Carly.

This is the second book this month that I have read that concerns food delivery. Must be a popular concept.

I knew who the murderer was and I figured out the motivation. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages even though I was pretty sure who did it.

I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review. This book can hold its own as a standalone.

Brie Careful What You Wish For
Grilled Cheese Mysteries, Book #4
Linda Reilly
5 Stars

Synopsis:

When a mean and quarrelsome woman is found murdered in her own home, most of the residents of Balsam Dell can only say feta late than never . . .

With the summer heat sizzling, grilled cheese restaurant owner Carly Hale is thrilled to have Ross Baxter delivering her sandwiches to local seniors. She’s never met a more polite or hardworking young man, and she brushes it off when one of her more difficult customers complains about him. But then Ross returns to the woman’s home to make another delivery—and finds her dead body. The police and half the town immediately suspect he killed her, so Carly steps in to investigate, determined to prove them wrong.

Carly soon learns that the victim had an estranged stepson and stepdaughter, both of whom needed her money to get their lives back on track. Worse still, in her younger days the dead woman had a reputation for preying on other women’s husbands, leaving broken marriages in her wake—and a list of suspects a mile long. But Ross’s fingerprints were found on the murder weapon, leaving Carly hungry for any clue she can find. Until she comes face-to-face with the killer, and realizes this time she may have bitten off more than she can chew . . .

Includes melt-in-your-mouth sandwich recipes!

Praise for the Grilled Cheese Mysteries:

“A complex mystery and yummy grilled cheese recipes. What’s not to like?” —Kirkus Reviews

“A delightful and determined heroine, idyllic small town, and buffet of worthy suspects make this hearty whodunnit an enticing start to a decidedly delectable new series!” —Bree Baker, author of the Seaside Café Mysteries

“Masterful misdirection coupled with a pace that can’t be beat, Linda Reilly has grilled up a winner for sure!” —J. C. Eaton, author of the Sophie Kimball Mysteries, the Wine Trail Mysteries, and the Marcie Rayner Mysteries

“A well-crafted and fun start to a new series! Carly and her crew serve mouth-watering grilled cheese sandwiches while solving crime in a quaint Vermont town. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages and guessing the killer to the very end.” —Tina Kashian, author of the Kebab Kitchen Mysteries

About the Author:

As a child, Linda Reilly practically existed on grilled cheese sandwiches, and today they remain her comfort food of choice. A member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Cat Writers’ Association, Linda is also the author of the Deep Fried Mysteries and the Cat Lady Mysteries. Linda lives in southern New Hampshire with her two feline assistants, both of whom enjoy prancing over her laptop to assist with editing. Visit her on the web at lindareillyauthor.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/Lindasreillyauthor/. She loves hearing from readers!

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. When Ross Baxter goes to deliver lunch to an unhappy customer he finds the woman dead. Carly has to find out who killed her and why. Will she find out the truth before Ross gets arrested?

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspect to consider.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Give it a try, you will enjoy it.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Beyond The Page, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Great read. Part of series. Always makes me hungry when reading. Likable characters. Recommend reading other books in series

unpleasant-victims, recipes, small-business, small-town, Vermont, friendship, restaurant, amateur-sleuth, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, murder, murder-investigation, family, falsely-accused, relationships, relatives*****

Everyone in the town was real but nice. Except for the 'victim'.
Carly was widowed young, returned to her hometown, opened a specialty sandwich shop, and has a local teen as her delivery person. The young man was in the wrong place and time, so he became the prime suspect. Despite warnings by local cops as well as some of her friends, Carly gets involved in the investigation to exonerate him. Let the gossip and more get aired! Plot twists and red herrings abound to make it a really interesting read. Enjoy the recipes, too!
I requested and received a temporary EARC from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
#GrilledCheeseMysteriesBk4

Another great installment of the Grilled Cheese Mystery series has left me hungry for more!
There are a lot of things that I liked about this series, but I think the common denominator between them is the great character writing Reilly has in this series. We have some continued drama with our existing characters (including some progression between Carly and Ari’s relationship ☺️), but the best sign of good writing to me is an author who can establish new characters as possible regulars in the series. There are a few new people in this edition I’d love to read more of, especially Tara.
The only part I was slightly bummed about was that there wasn’t as much Grant in this book, but…it seems like there might have been some teasing about him for later??
I hope this series continues to see how these characters continue to grow and build each other and their community!

Teenager Ross Baxter starts up a food delivery service for seniors to earn money for college expenses. One of his customers is a cantankerous woman with constant complaints. When Ross finds her dead body during a delivery, he quickly becomes the main suspect. Carly is convinced Ross is innocent, and despite trying to stay clear of any more murder investigations, finds herself ferreting out clues to clear young Ross's name. This was a fast paced mystery with plenty of red herrings. I was very surprised to learn the identity of the killer. Boy, was I wrong! I enjoyed this book and found myself craving yummy grilled cheese sandwiches throughout!

What could be cozier than a mystery involving a grilled cheese restaurant? This book (and the previous three) are exactly what cozies are meant to be. Carly is a strong, capable business owner & accidental sleuth because murders keep involving her restaurant. This is probably my favorite of the series, it has such a crazy ending/motive for the murder.

A bonus is there’s some delicious sounding sandwiches that will make you very hungry!

🧀

Read if you like:
* Bake Shop series by Ellie Alexander
* Cheese Shop series by Korina Moss
* Ice Cream Shop series by Meri Allen

Brie Careful What You Wish For is book #4 in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries series by Linda Reilly.

Another tasty tale in the Grilled Cheese Mystery series. This book has everything I like, great characters, great friendships, a cute pet, a bit of romance, and an interesting mystery. Then there are in yummy recipes at the end. I always end up eating grilled cheese sandwiches after reading this series. I look forward to the next book!

Thank you to the author, Beyond the Page Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.