This was a great book! Enjoyed way more than expected. Look no further for your next read this year!!!

Karen Rose Smith introduces her second Tomes and Teas mystery. Jazzi has her partner Dawn find Finn the winning baker at the bake off murdered. There is a crazy mix of cooks, photographers and publicity hounds in the story; whodunit? Jazzi is navigating her own and Dawn's relationships and the police are having difficulties finding the perpetrator. Read and enjoy.

I am so disappointed in myself for not realizing that Karen Rose Smith had created a spin off from her Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. Booked for Revenge is the second in the new series and it picks up with Daisy Swenson's younger daughter Jazzi, moving to a new town and becoming her own person, while also utilizing the skills she learned from her mom and stepdad Jonas on how to sleuth. Jazzi has a little bit of a secret, no one except for Detective Mitford knows about the ten murder cases that Jazzi’s mom, Daisy, helped the Willow Creek detectives solve. While this is a spin off, it shows itself to be a separate series and as a stand-alone, there is no need to read the series starter or the Tea Garden series to enjoy both the characters and the mystery.

Part of Jazzi’s past story is her journey as an adopted child who goes in search of her birth mother. She is the first character that I have come across with such a backstory. It is a unique way to show how Jazzi developed sleuthing skills of her own. Skills that she uses to help Dawn, her roommate, business partner, and best friend. Dawn may not be a suspect, but she is suffering from a bit of PTSD from finding the body of baking contestant and professional photographer Finn Yarrow. Detective Milford warns Jazzi to not get involved like she did last time but Jazzi cannot ignore the angst that Dawn is experiencing. Angst that is causing waves between Dawn and family, family that are a little weary of Jazzi and her possible influence over Dawn.

There are plenty of suspects and possible motives. The victim was in a heated argument at one point with another contestant, was it related to the contest or something else? As a photographer and videographer, Finn was most likely a very observant person. Did he see, photograph, or film something that led to his demise, or is it something else entirely. Jazzi and the Tea & Tomes book club crew do a very good job of analyzing the suspects and the aspects of this crime. I would be remiss if I did not make mention of the interesting aspect of the Tea & Tomes book club. Historically, members of a book club read the same, agreed upon book, and then discuss what they did or didn’t like about the book. These book club members each read a different book. I think it might be interesting and fun to take part in such a group. This format seems to have even enticed Oliver, the owner of The Wild Kangaroo, to attend a meeting and not just because there are snacks for all to enjoy.

This is a well written cozy that checks all the boxes from cute kittens, supportive friends, and even a romantic possibility (note to the author, thank you for not making this a triangle). I will need to go back and read the series starter and maybe make some Maple Pecan cookies or peach and pecan muffins. I am looking forward to the next one.

Jazzi is back! I love this series and I love the author. It is such a joy seeing Jazzi as a grown up. I highly recommend this series!

A well written story. That kept me glued to my kindle.
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

A fun, cozy surrounding books and warm drinks! It was perfect for summer but would honestly be great at anytime.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Karen Rose Smith for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Booked for Revenge coming out April 29, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the first book in the series. I really love cozy mysteries. There were a few subjects that didn’t feel as cozy. Maybe it’s not exactly in the cozy genre. I would check out other books by this author though.

Booked for Revenge is book #2 in the Tomes & Tea Mystery series by Karen Rose Smith.

Jazzi Swanson has a bookshop and tea bar that is hosting The Gentleman’s Bake-off. The bake-off celebrity judges will be signing their cookbooks at jazzy‘s shop. there are a few egos amongst the judges, but nobody thinks much of it. Unfortunately, there is a murder and Jazzi’s partner, Dawn, finds the body. Jazzi investigates and there are a lot of potential suspects both related to the contest or related to the victim’s work. I didn’t read the first book in this series or the original series, Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery, so there is a lot of backstory that was missing, but I was still able to read and enjoy this book.

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

I loved this second episode in the Tomes and Tea Mysteries series! It was my pleasure to learn more about our main characters, Jazzi and Dawn. I was delighted to watch their kittens, Zander and Freya, do everything with the joys of adored, bonded kittens. The young women have made significant changes to the income of their bookstore and tea shop by introducing several new programs, and I applaud how they worked through a challenge to their friendship.

This is an excellent spinoff from the author’s “Daisy’s Tea Garden” series. Jazzi is the younger of the two daughters of Daisy Swanson and her late husband. Daisy is a wise, loving mother, as evidenced by Jazzi’s maturity and wisdom in business, friendships, and her choice to not date for a while. Daisy’s skills in helping solve several murders taught Jazzi how to do the same, even though she had no intention of doing so again. Jazzi is content living where Dawn grew up, especially learning to excel at the water sports on the lake.

Jazzi and her business partner and best friend, Dawn, assisted the four judges of the upcoming Gentlemen’s Bakeoff when the chefs/ authors had a book signing at Tomes and Tea prior to the bakeoff. At the end of the competition eagerly waited at the end to hear who won. Jazzi heard Dawn scream, and ran to her even as Dawn ran out of the building with the kitchen. Dawn saw Finn, one of the contestants, lying on the kitchen floor after being brutally murdered.

Most people in Belltower Landing knew Finn through his photography at weddings and for school photos of students of all ages. He also worked in nearby cities when requested. He was well-liked and an honest, fair businessman. Jazzi didn’t know him or his wife well, but had befriended his wife after his death.

Dawn’s parents and brother are pressuring her regarding their expectations of her extensive participation in preparing for and opening a satellite store for their business in Naples. Dawn was adopted, as had Jazzi. Jazzi found her birth mother several years ago, but Dawn’s mother has very strong concerns about Dawn seeking her birth parents. Dawn’s mom is also very concerned for Dawn, who has turned inside herself since finding Finn.

The detective questioned Dawn so many times that she is rattled, wondering if she is a suspect. Police also have interviewed the chefs/ judges repeatedly, and only allows one of the three from out of town to return to their home. The case that Jazzi wanted no part of began to consume her thoughts, as Dawn will find no peace until the murderer is caught.

This was a complex mystery, with several possible suspects. I wasted time on a couple red herrings when I couldn’t see past them. When the real killer was revealed, I was shocked, especially at the cold-blooded motive! I appreciated the resolution of the murder tremendously, as well as matters of the heart. Two young men had been quite interested in Jazzi, one since Jazzi spent summer breaks from college working at Dawn’s parents’ shop. She just might be ready for the one I’m rooting for, and Dawn has attracted the interest of another fine young man. Their potential relationships are balanced, not overtaking their lives. I highly recommend this cozy mystery; it is satisfying in every way!

From a thankful heart: I received a pre-publication copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

When I read the first book I swore I was gonna get back to the Daisy’s Tea Garden series and try to get that more caught up, but here’s the second Tomes & Tea and I’m still no closer. Although reading it did make me interested in continuing the original series. Jazzi’s a great character and definitely learned a lot from her mom who’d sleuthed when Jazzi was just a teenager.

I’m sure Daisy would’ve been proud of Jazzi during the showdown and what she did to the perp to get away from them. Jazzi and Oliver were cute together as well as Dawn and her new guy. Not sure who I prefer Jazzi with, but I know I don’t wanna see this going into a triangle. Not a fan of triangles at all.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Jazzi is excited to have The Gentleman's Bake Off at her Bookstore and Tea Shop knowing it will add to her business. The competition seems to be.going well but with so many egos floating about she worries that.something could go wrong. Things take a turn when the winner, Finn Yarrow, is found murdered next to his entry. Jazzi doesn't need anything making her shop look bad so she decides to look into the murder herself. She soon realizes just how many suspects there are but quickly starts marking people off her list. Follow along as she follows each clue she finds, will she be able to put all the pieces together and find out who the killer.is?

"Booked for Revenge (Tomes & Tea Mystery #2)" by Karen Rose Smith being the second book in this series that is a spin off series is fairly standalone. However I feel it would be beneficial to read the series where Jazzi's mom is the main character. They kept referring back to her mom's investigations and run ins with the cops. It felt like I needed more info to understand the inside joke sort of things sometimes.

Jazzi and her business partner, Dawn, are hosting some cooking celebrities for book signings and the town is having the celebrities judge a baking contest. Unfortunately, one of the contestants is found dead with his entry still beside him. Dawn was the one to discover him and becomes a bit traumatized. This means Jazzi has to investigate so Dawn can move on. Jazzi accidentally stumbles upon the culprit. They were my top suspect. I didn't totally see that motive though.

This series just keeps getting better and better. I love how things are developing between Jazzi and Oliver as well as Dawn and Abe. Good to see some new characters. I was completely surprised by who the killer was. I totally thought it was someone else. Looking forward to the next adventure.

‘Booked for Revenge’ fits the mold of a cozy mystery: intriguing small-town dynamics, likable female lead who owns her own business, hints of romance, and a murder to solve. I jumped into this without having read either ‘Murder Marks the Page’ (Book 1 in the series) or the Daisy Tea Garden Mystery series it was spun off from. Even so, I was drawn in by the puzzles in this charming lakeside resort town. I would recommend reading at least the first book in this series though, because I could tell Karen Rose Smith had done nice development with some of these characters previously.

Special thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I’d say 3.5 stars. I like Jazzi and Dawn. I like the setting of Tomes & Teas and Belltower Landing. Both are comforting settings.
The pacing of this series is slower. I find myself getting a little impatient when there is so much of the story revolves around Dawn’s relationship with her parents and whether Dawn will look for her biological parents. Jazzi is also adopted, and two books in I’m not sure why it is such a big part of the storyline. There are plenty of issues to discuss other than that like adulting, building a successful business, dating, and hello… murder.
I was surprised by the outcome of the death.
I enjoyed reading Booked for Revenge and visiting Belltower Landing, which seems like a fun place.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

A Gentleman's Bake Off is the latest event in Belltower Landing. Jazzi's shop, Tea and Tomes is hosting the guest judges and a signing of their cookbooks. When one of the bakers is murdered and Dawn, Jazzi's roommate, is the one who discovers the body, Jazzi finds herself in the middle of the investigation. Another good story, the second in the series. I look forward to more adventures for Jazzi in books to come!
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.
#netgalley, #teaandtomes, #kensingtonbooks

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of Booked For Revenge.

Jazzi owns a must see bookshop and tea bar in New York. There is a bake off and Jazzi is holding the signing of the cookbooks at her shop. When the winner of the bake off is found murdered she tries to solve the crime.

This is not a book that should be classified as a mystery/thriller. This should be more of a cozy mystery. It was not what I expected and I just could not get into it.

The baking contest should have brought more business to Tomes and Tea but what is actually brought was....murder! And now Jazzi and her partner Dawn are investigating to find out who killed Finn, the photographer with more than a few secret enemies. This second in the series, which is a spin off of another beloved series from Smith (don't worry- it's fine as a standalone) sees more worldbuilding and back story for the two women especially Dawn. The mystery is classic cozy with a few nice red herrings. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Tomes & Tea sounds like the kind of charming spot I’d love to spend an afternoon in. The town is abuzz with excitement over the Gentleman’s Bake-Off contest—until the event takes a dark turn. Jazzi’s partner, Dawn, discovers one of the contestants bludgeoned to death beside his prizewinning Black Forest cake. Determined to uncover the truth, she sets out on a mission to solve the mystery. This well-paced story kept me engaged from start to finish.
#BookedforRevenge #NetGalley

Jazzy and Dawn are doing their best to get Tomes and Teas off to a great start. Summer is here in upstate New York where a baking contest for men is being held. Jazzy and Dawn are holding a celebrity judges cookbook signing at the shop. When one of the contestants is found dead in a competitors kitchen, its up to the girls to solve. Thanks #Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.