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.

Booked for Revenge is the 2nd book in the Tomes & Tea Mysteries and it is a pleasant cozy mystery. The characters are likable and there are plenty of descriptions of the characters and the scenery. There are a lot of characters introduced quickly which was a bit overwhelming. It might help to read the first book beforehand plus it is a spinoff from another series. Jazzi Swanson and her best friend Dawn are partners in a bookstore and tea shop. They are hosting some events for the judges and contestants participating in The Gentleman's Bakeoff. Several of the people involved don't get along and then a local contestant ends up dead. The story picked up somewhat and the mystery kept me guessing. Jazzi has a potential romance which adds to the story. Overall, this ended up being a good cozy mystery. #BookedForRevenge #Tomes&TeaMysteries #KensingtonCozies

Book Review: Booked for Revenge by Karen Rose Smith

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This read was a bit different from my usual choices, and I appreciated the change of pace. Booked for Revenge gave me major Harriet the Spy meets Veronica Mars vibes, which was super nostalgic in the best way.

The pacing was on the slower side, so it took me a little longer to get through. The plot has a great concept at its core, but at times, it felt like there were filler sections that didn’t push the story forward. I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series, but the author included enough context that it wasn’t hard to follow.

The main characters are enjoyable, and the story weaves in themes of life challenges, love, adoption, and uncovering truths. That said, I sometimes felt the characters were missing a certain spark. For instance, despite the main female character's previous involvement in cases—and her mother's role too—she never really suspects the actual murderer. The reveal didn’t fully land for me and felt a bit random. But since this is more of a cozy mystery than a full-blown thriller, I can see how the tone may have influenced that direction.

The small-town charm is a highlight, and the characters are easy to root for. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a lighter mystery with a romantic touch and don't want an overly complex plot.

While the story has its strengths, some parts felt overly detailed or like they were setting up for the next book rather than standing strongly on their own. Still, it was an enjoyable read, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy mystery with heart.

Final rating: 3.4/5 stars

This is book two in the A Tomes and Tea Mystery Series. Jazzi finds herself wrapped up in another murder. Her business partner and best friend, Dawn, found the victim. Dawn struggles with finding the victim and Jazzi wants to help her in anyway she can so she sets out to solve the crime.

There are a lot of back stories that are interesting to follow along with as well as the mystery of course.

I enjoyed the book a lot. The only thing I’m not a fan of is Dawn’s family, they are slightly judgmental and very over protective. They give the book an odd vibe when they are in the scene.
Over all a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the advanced copy.

The Tomes & Tea mystery series is a spin off of the Daisy's Tea Garden mystery series. In this second book of the new series we find Daisy's daughter, Jazzi Swanson is owner-operator of a book shop / tea shop in the resort town of Belltower Landing, New York along with Dawn Fernsby, Jazzi's business partner, roommate and best friend.

A resort town like Belltower Landing must do as many promotions as possible to keep the tourists coming. The Gentleman’s Bake-off is their most recent event. Local men are competing and celebrity chefs are judging. The chefs will also be signing their cookbooks at Tomes & Tea.

All is going well (for the most part) and it's time to announce the winners. As the mayor is about to make the announcement, he notices one of the contestants is missing. When Dawn volunteers to fetch the missing contestant, she finds his dead body on the floor of the contest kitchen.

Of course, the Belltower Landing Police will do everything they can to catch the killer. Jazzi, Dawn and their friends are trying to be patient but when Dawn has a panic attack Jazzi realizes she needs to hurry things along.

Booked for Revenge is the second in Karen Rose Smith's Tomes and Tea Mystery series. Jazzi Swanson and her friend, Dawn, are hoping to boost their bookshop sales when the Belltower Landing cook-off brings in celebrity chefs and judges. Before they can blink there is a murder and poor Dawn finds the body of a competitor. Even though Jazzi does not want to be known as a crime solver, like her mom, she has no choice but to investigate in order to sooth Dawn's upset. And the hunt is on for the killer!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery with its quick pace, strong storyline, and well plotted mystery. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy cozy/light mystery reading.

Thank you for an advanced reader e-copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #BookedforRevenge #NetGalley #KarenRoseSmith #KensingtonCozies

I always loved Karen Rose Smith's Daisy Teahouse Garden series and was intrigued when she gave Jazzi her own series set in upstate New York, Tomes and Teas is a shop Jazzi opened with her best friend from college, Dawn. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but I enjoyed this new one even more! Jazzy and Dawn are two smart young women, really trying to understand themselves and the lives they want while building a successful business. With a men's baking contest as part of a summer celebration in their tourist town, the ladies are busy and promoting their business by hosting the four celebrity judges and selling their cookbooks in a signing at the shop. They think little of the tension between some of the judges and contestants until Dawn finds the body of one of the contestants in the competition's kitchen. What follows is a wonderful mystery, some nice summer weather, and the growth of the two main characters and their group of friends and employees. I enjoyed this book very much. Thanks to #Netgally, #Kensingtonbooks, and the author for an opportunity to read! #BookedforRevenge #ATomesandTeamystery #KarenRossSmith #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

A traditional cozy set in rural New York. Jazzi is the owner of Tomes and Tea, a combination bookstore and tea bar. This is book two in the series, and after solving one murder, Jazzi is shocked to find herself wrapped up in another. The town is having a bake off and one of the bakers is found murdered, and it was Jazzi's business partner, Dawn. She struggles with what she found, and it is up to Jazzi to find who committed the crime to help Dawn get over trauma. I liked the story and am looking forward to the next in the series. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and Netgalley for the advanced copy.