Smugglers & Scones

This was the first Morgan Talbot book I’ve read and I was pleasantly surprised to find a charming author to add to my Must Keep an Eye on List. It’s a sweet little mystery to help you pass the time without getting bored. The kind of book you need when there’s nothing good on TV, the weather sucks, you’re stuck in a waiting room, or you want to slip into a luxurious bath to while away the hours.

She has an interesting style to her writing that gives the reader conflict packed plot lines, unpredictable characters and plenty of humor. Her character development provides realistically written people who are complex enough to keep the story moving in the right direction while entertaining you through conversationalist dialogue.

The mystery will capture your sense of curiosity to the point you won’t see the conclusion until it hits you but the journey you will go on is encased in evocative imagery, believable incidents and humorously terrifying drama.

She even threw in a bit of romance just to keep your attention from drifting. It’s the perfect book to read this winter as you escape from the cold and dive into a story that will keep you warm from the adrenaline rush.

This book was exceptional. Pippa Winterbourne is a wonderful character. She is portrayed as a strong, independent woman who seeks love on her own terms.
Running the unique bed & breakfast where other writers go to write their own stories is a wonderful subject for this series.
Mysterious deaths, prohibition, a hidden speakeasy and secrets are just a few exciting parts to this book.

The cast of characters work well together. The author wove a story of murder and suspense that will leave all cozy mystery fans wondering what happens next.

I loved the start to this new mystery series! It hooked me right from the beginning! I liked the premise of the inn where its only guests were mystery writers. I also liked the addition of the secret club to solve the mystery. When Inn owner Pippa Winterbourne discovers a boat washed up onshore with an injured stranger and a dead body, the mystery begins. With the help of her guests and the secret club, Pippa unravels the truth about what happened and why there was a dead body on the boat. There is also a little history involved-Prohibition. I really liked this story, and plan to read the next installment in this series!

4 1/2 stars
Smugglers and Scones and the first in the Moorehaven Mysteries series, and I'm looking forward to more books already. Set in a small Oregon coast town, the main character, Pippa Worthy, runs a bed and breakfast with her uncle Hilt that was formerly owned by a famous mystery writer. Authors come there to write and find inspiration for their latest books.
One night, Pippa hears a crashing noise and finds a small boat wreck. She rescues the only survivor, a handsome captain named Lake who can't remember anything about the wreck or how a dead body got on the boat with him. Pippa gets involved in solving the mystery, which involves small town politics, a hidden speakeasy that dates back to Prohibition times, and lost heirs.
The plot was well constructed and there were many twists and turns that made the book interesting. The characters were well developed and interesting, especially important in the first book of a series. This book was a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

Smugglers & Scones by Morgan C. Talbot was an enthralling first book in a new cozy series. I was completely captivated by this book from beginning to end.

The plot is fast paced and the twists, as more and more secrets are revealed, kept me turning the pages. The characters are well developed including A. Raymond Moore the former owner of the Moorehaven B & B. Even though he is deceased the author kept him very much alive as each chapter started with a quote from him.

Pippa, Uncle Hilt, Jordan, Lake and Chloe were very likable and the small Oregon coastal town made it a place that I would love to visit. I loved that the author included the history of "rumrunning" from Canada along the Oregon coast as this little piece of history is little known to most people. There was some great humor throughout the book as well as some chilling scenes with murder and an attempted murder to add to the suspense. I am definitely looking forward to the next one in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Red Adept Publishing via NetGalley. I would like to thank Red Adept Publishing for allowing me to read this great beginning to a new cozy series.

4 stars

Being from the State of Washington and visiting Oregon quite a few times, I can envision the B & B quite clearly. I enjoyed the setting of this novel. The “ghost” of A. Raymond Moore is watching over all of it.

Pippa is the proprietor of the B & B with her somewhat cranky uncle as the handyman. While he is 75 years old, he is as refreshing and cranky as he is loveable. This B & B is dedicated to writers. You can stay only if you are a writer of some sort. This was a term of Mr. Moore’s will.

When a handsome boat pilot washes ashore during a storm at night, waking everyone in the house, Pippa begins to fall for him. But when a murdered man was also found on the boat, things get tense. What were they doing at night on the boat? The story takes us back to the old smuggling days of rum running.

This book is well written and immensely entertaining. It is a warm and fuzzy little cozy with an attitude. I really liked it and will look into more of Morgan Talbot’s novels. It was perfect for a lazy afternoon.

I appreciate Netgalley and Red Adept Publishing LLC for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book to read.

Smugglers and Scones by Morgan C Talbot is the first book in the Moorehaven Mysteries series. Pippa run the Moorehaven Bed and Breakfast, former home to mystery author Richard Moore and open only to mystery authors. When Pippa rescues a boat pilot in the middle of the night, she has no idea the secrets that have been just below the surface of Seacrest. I absolutely loved the twist to the bed and breakfast with the only guests being mystery writers. The book flowed smoothly, and the characters were engaging. It is an excellent start to a new series, and I am already anxiously awaiting a second book.

Loved it! So happy to see it is the first of a series. Interesting characters and setting. The author quotes at the chapter beginnings were great. Clever premise of a B&B for authors only. Would not read any of the current guests works, as not my preferred genre. Obviously, I like cozy mysteries. The lovely protagonist had to face several of my phobias...fire, water, enclosed spaces, etc. I admire her bravery. So glad I discovered this series. I am eagerly awaiting number two.

I enjoyed this cozy set in a seaside B & B on the Oregon coast.
Run as a writer's retreat according to the will, the B & B sits in a town rich in history ...and secrets. Awoken to a ship wreck in the middle of the night,...Pippa rescues a man from the sea...only to find out another hadn't survived. Add to that, the wreck didn't kill him, and lots of seemingly obscure clues. Pippa, her Great Uncle Hilt, her friends, a few of the authors and the man she rescues wade through the info they dig up, much of it town history, to find the killer...not one of the original suspect group, but one that made sense as they tallied the gathered info.
Well told clean cozy that draws you in until the end. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley to peruse and was pleasantly surprised. I would highly recommend.

I like the idea of a mystery author retreat. A Bed and Breakfast is a great idea and fun to read about. I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery and the murders as we went along in the reading. I didn't guess who it was but it made sense! Great read! Must read!

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

I definitely enjoyed this book. Pippa, the manager of Moorehaven Manor has saved the life of the newest town resident and realizes that if she wants to make sure he doesn’t go to prison for the murder of his boss, she will have to solve the mystery of not only his death, but the others that are happening. She has to do this all while running the bed and breakfast. She, along with Lake, and the authors staying at the B&B set out to solve a decades old mystery in order to solve the current crime spree. This was a well written book with real characters. The only reason for the 4 stars is because I figured out who the killer was early on. Great job and I can’t wait to read more from this author!!

This book had more substance than a typical cosy mystery. I very much enjoyed the setting of Seacrest and specifically Moorehaven. I loved the idea of it being a B & B for mystery writers. This naturally gave the characters an interest when crimes were being committed across town.
The set up was quick - readers are introduced to the B&B immediately (an excellent opening page) and the first chapter introduces a lot of the main characters. The pace is continued when Pippa rescues a man from a sinking boat in the middle of the night and discovers he has no memory of the hours leading up to the rescue - throughout the story as romance begins to bloom, readers aren't sure with whether she should fully trust him or not.
Crimes are committed and it's all Pippa can do to keep her paying guests out of trouble as they hunt down authentic details for their books. She ends up utilising their skills while trying to find out exactly what happened in those missing hours before the boat sank.
The book is tightly plotted, with good subplots weaving together. I hadn't heard of Morgan C Talbot but I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.

A definite cozy mystery that is a delight from beginning to end. The first book in the Moorehaven Mystery series is a perfect blend of great characterization, location and a well crafted mystery. I loved this book and read it in one sitting.
Our delightfully fun protagonist is Pippa Winterbourn who runs a bed and breakfast on the Oregon coast with her Father, a famous mystery author. Many people come to the inn to write and learn from her Father. A murder occurs and our smart protagonist is on the case with her Father to solve the case.
What makes this story unique is the excellence in characters, the lovely location and the beautiful.writing of this author. This draws the reader in . I look forward to the next in series with great anticipation. This is a winning series that I highly recommend. Well Done !

This is a perfect cozy mystery, it has everything you could look for. There is a shipwreck, a search for hidden treasure, some romance and don't forget the murder. This lovely seaside town has plenty of excitement to go around and things are never dull. It's a well written story with interesting characters and never a dull moment but at the same time is easy to follow and never overwhelming. The bed and breakfast is not a unique part of the story but what is different about his is that it only has guests that are writers, so it's a lot of fun and very entertaining to not only be wrapped up in the book but to hear about each of the authors' books and characters not to mention the founder of the bed and breakfast, Mr. Moore. Oh, and I almost forgot the history and mafia ties. Honestly, I think there is something in this book for everyone. I loved the author's writing style and the main character is great, I would highly recommend this book and thought several times that the possibilities for this series are endless with the setting. Very enjoyable.

Excellent beginning to a an amazing new cozy mystery series!

Smugglers & Scones is the debut of the Moorehaven Mysteries series set in the small town of Seacrest located off the Oregon coast and features B&B manager Pippa Winterbourne. Pippa along with her great Uncle Hilt run Moorehaven Bed and Breakfast, originally the home of famed mystery writer Raymond Moore, and now an Inn that only takes in writers.

Awakening to the sound of a boat crashing into the rocks below her bedroom window, Pippa races out and manages to pull boat pilot Lake Ivens from the rough waters. Unfortunately, Police Chief Craig shows up at the door the next morning to say that the authorities have located the body of Lake's boss Cecil French in the wreckage. Lake has no memory of the events leading up to the accident and is shaken to learn that Cecil was dead before the accident and is being considered the prime murder suspect.

Pippa sets out with the help of her writer houseguests to clear Lake's name and soon discovers there are many secrets under the surface of the tiny coastal town. Pippa, Lake and her friends are soon drawn in to an investigation that revolves around the local Prohibition era Speakeasy and the abandoned lighthouse.

A fast moving plot with well crafted characters, two adorable cats, beautiful scenery and a touch of romance.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Red Adept Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this first book in the Moorehaven Mystery series.

The characters were interesting and I'm looking forward to see how they grow in the next books. Just enough description of the area, Bed and breakfast and guests to make you feel like you can 'see' the scene without bogging down the story-line.

There were twists and turns and even though I had 'figured' out one of the mysteries, the book kept my attention to the end. However, I admit that I wished that I had some scones to eat while reading.

Great start to a series

I loved this book. Yes, it has all the typical cosy mystery stuff: food, romance, death, and dog or cat. What makes this book special is the setting, an inn that caters to writers and how this all ties into the mystery. Author Morgan Talbot tells a great story with some humor. I recommend this book for fans of the genre and I look forward to reading more books in the series.

What a great way to start a series! I read this book in one sitting. It was an easy read with a great cast of characters and a nice setting. It had the right balance of romance and humour and suspense and it flowed really well. Can't wait to read book two!

Pippa Worthy has what she thinks of as her dream job running Moorehaven, a bed-and-breakfast that was once the home of world-famous mystery writer A. Raymond Moore. Located on the Oregon Coast Moorehaven is a slightly quirky B&B in the fact that the guests that come here are all mystery writers looking for an away place to write their own novels.

One night Pippa hears what sounds like a crash outside and rushes off to help finding that a boat had indeed crashed. Not knowing if there are survivors Pippa calls out and hears the voice of a man so she immediately throws him a lifeline. Unfortunately the next morning Pippa finds that the man she saved is suspected of murder when his boss was found among the crash remains.

Smugglers & Scones is a book in the cozy mystery genre that at some points in the story I absolutely loved the characters, setting and story but at other times found myself struggling to remain interested. I guess I just never really connected with this one the way I would like to with a mystery which seemed to have this one going along at a slower pace than I normally would enjoy.

The book had a unique setting with Moorehaven although I did question just how realistic it was to run a business with only a certain select clientele but the history behind the location gave some life to the story that was needed at times to hold my interest. I enjoyed Pippa and some other characters well enough but never really fell in love with any of them either.

In the end I’d say if you are a fan of a cozy mystery give this one a shot as it might have just been an off day for me when picking this one up. The book seems to have all the right ingredients for a good cozy but a bit slow paced for my taste.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book starts with a very different premise wi h the shipwreck below the B &B that Pippa manages. It is an exciting mystery with humour included throughout. I found it hard to put down. The quotes are a nice addition.

Pippa Winterbourne runs Moorehaven, the Oregon Coast’s quirkiest bed-and-breakfast and former home of world-famous mystery writer A. Raymond Moore. Guests come there to write their own crime novels. When a real-life murder takes a local’s life and washes a handsome boat pilot into her arms, Pippa is yanked into a deadly plot of her own. A tangle of secrets crashes past into present, and Pippa must uncover clues dating back to Seacrest’s Prohibition days, including a secret Moore himself hid from the world.

Juggling her book-writing guests, small-town intrigues, secret club agendas, and a possibly fatal attraction, Pippa must sort fact from fiction to know who to trust before a desperate killer claims a final revenge nearly a century in the making.

This book was a lovely easy read which I really enjoyed. 5*

Thank you to Net Galley and Red Adept Publishing, LLC for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is a new cozy series, and I love the setting. It's about a B & B, which caters only to mystery writers (what a perfect place!!!) An actual dead body shows up, and they have to solve the mystery. I'll definitely read more in this series.

Smugglers and Scones is the first book in Morgan C. Talbot's Moorehaven Mysteries. Pippa Winterbourne runs Moorehaven Bed and Breakfast, a unique writer's retreat in the Oregon coastal town of Seacrest. Having been the home of famous crime mystery writer A. Raymond Moore, it was bequeathed to Pippa's great uncle Hilton MacKellar, who had been a good friend of the author's as well as the town's police chief. His mother had been a great fan of Moore's books and had named him after his main character, Hilton Gray.

Pippa enjoys her job, her quirky clientele, and her place in this small community. Not very exciting for a young woman, but that all changes when she is awoken by a loud crash on the cliffs outside her room. Throwing on her robe and fuzzy bunny slippers, Pippa runs down the steps to the waterfront grabbing the life preserver from its storage box atop the stairs.

ActIng on instinct, Pippa is able to locate the boat's survivor and haul him in. Weak from his struggles and sporting a head injury, Pippa gets the boat's pilot to safety, then awaits the doctor. Needing rest and to be watched overnight because of the head injury, Pippa and Uncle Hilt settle the survivor in a suite where Pippa can watch him overnight.

And thus the mystery begins. What happened on that boat and how did its owner end up dead on board? What is the secret that leads to a second death? And how will this all affect this little town?

A fast paced mystery with great characters and lovely setting, I look forward to the second installment of this series and do recommend this book.

Smugglers & Scones is between 3 & 4 stars for me. I thought the plot was interesting but at times the story really stalled. I liked the characters overall but again sometimes they seemed a bit flat.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

WOW WOW WOW! The scones in this book sounds INCREDIBLE! I loved the recipe at the back and I will be trying it for sure! I really enjoyed this mystery which kept me guessing right until the end. I loved the romance between Lake and Pippa and hoped the whole way through that he wasn't the murderer. It was a well written story with small town charm and a welcoming B&B which kept me entertained all day, I couldn't put it down. Thank you for the chance to read and review - blog post up soon!