A Novel Way To Die

A Novel Way to Die by Tamra Baumann is the 2nd book in Cozy Mystery Bookshop series, and another wonderful addition. I loved this book! Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Sawyer Davis is a chef who's mother recently passed away. Sawyer's mother left her a rundown home, a bookshop that is barely making money, a puppy, and several men to chose from, if she agreed to move back home. Sawyer's uncle is the mayor, and determined to keep all of Sawyer's inheritance, like he did her mothers. The bookstore is hosting a book signing, who is an old class mate. Unfortunately the author's husband dies in Sawyer's best friend ice cream shop. I can not give this book enough praise, it kept me reading page after page. I can't wait for book three to come out. I strongly recommend this book/series for all cozy book lovers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 Stars

This is the second book in the Cozy Mystery Book shop series by Tamara Baumann.

Basic premise: Sawyer owns a bookstore and while she is hosting her very first book signing the author’s husband is found dead in her friend’s ice cream shop. She, of course, has to get involved since her friend, Renee is the main suspect.

For some reason I felt like this was book three. Not sure why. This series already feels so fully fleshed out that I felt like I was reading about real people in real situations. I really enjoyed the interaction between Sawyer and the sheriff who once broke her heart. Not all seems right in romance land during this book, but there were hints of better times to come.

The partnership between Sawyer and the fifteen year old girl her mother left her with in book one was a bit trying at times. I liked that the author took the time to really let us know who she was and what her point of view was. Not all is very easy in Sawyer’s life. So it is no wonder she fell down the rabbit hole into the investigation to clear Renee’s name. The dead man had been Renee’s ex so there had to be a lot of planning on the part of the killer to make all the aspects work together to make Renee look guilty.

Totally loving this series and plan to follow when the real book three shows up. I am a super fan, for sure.

If you love a good cozy mystery, you have to check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I am enjoying this series. I'm also glad the love triangle has ended so quickly. The murder kept me guessing, but I am wondering how Sawyer what is going to happen with her uncle in the long term. Overall, I am liking the series.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Tamra Baumann for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a delightful cozy mystery that hooked you from the first page. It was easy to get into the book and the characters even if you had not read the first book in the series.

The story is set in Sunset Cove in Northern California. Sawyer has inherited Cloaks, Daggers and Croissants - a bookstore that her mother had run. She has also inherited a crumbling Victorian house, a strange trust fund and a 15-year old adopted sister. Her family is completed out with Cooper a mini golden-doodle who is the real star of the book!! Sawyer's true dream is to open her own restaurant but her evil uncle Frank, the Mayor of Sunset Cove is out to put a stop to her dreams.

Sawyer tends to get in trouble and stick her nose in where her former fiancee and current possible boyfriend sheriff Dylan Cooper would prefer she didn't. As she has already put herself in danger and almost been killed, his worries are justified.

This time around Sawyer is coming to the rescue of her best friend Renee who is being framed for a murder committed in her ice cream shop. Complicating matters is the fact that the dead man is her former boyfriend. Author Angelica Kane doesn't seem too broken up about the death of her husband. She has a cast of characters that surround her that easily could be the murderer.

This story has many colourful characters that are fun, the story flows and is easy to read. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

I literally devoured this book. The story line was that good and kept me turning the pages.
The reason for the four stars is I found the characters some what lacking. I just couldn't connect. But don't pass this one up.

Having enjoyed the first book in the series, i was not disappointed by this fast paced addition, with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.

Sawyer Davis, a chef who inherited her mother’s mystery bookshop, is hosting her first book signing for the world’s biggest diva. Between juggling the author’s lofty demands, learning how to be a surrogate mother to a fifteen-year-old, and dealing with the Sheriff who once broke her heart, Sawyer’s menu is full. She longs for the good old days when the worst thing that happened was a flopped soufflé.
But when the author’s husband ends up dead in Sawyer’s best friend, Renee’s, ice cream shop, things really heat up. Sawyer believes her friend is being framed. With the help of her book club members and her adorable goldendoodle, Sawyer sets out to save Renee. Will Sawyer and her friends help serve up justice on a platter, or will they all find themselves in a pickle?
Let me start by saying I rate my cozy mysteries different than all other genres of books I read. I still use a five star rating system (or with cozies I like to think instead of stars how stmany cups of coffee/tea.....which is my idea of cozy). The following is how I rate my cozies: 1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series. 2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence about whether I will read the next book. 3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues 4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues 5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL! What I think about when I give my ratings: 1.) They are called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them!! Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy are they? The more cheese the better for me...lol. The horrible puns in the titles...LOVE THEM. Yes...if you’re wondering... I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes. 2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters 3.) Setting/theme 4.) The mystery
In the spirit of full disclosure I read this book...which is the 2nd in the series first. I was a little worried reading it out of order. It was a request from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks netgalley!
I first met Sawyer a displaced chef from Chicago back in her hometown Sunset Cove, California at her recently inherited failing cozy mystery bookstore Cloaks, Daggers, and Croissants. Her mother’s death left her with grief, the aforementioned bookstore, Cooper a sweet goldendoodle (who her mother humorously named after Sawyers ex fiance and the sheriff in town), a trust fund...that she doesn’t have access to (and her uncle...the mayor...whose only help with the trust...is to help himself to her share), a recently adopted 15 year old sister Brittany, and a couple of single interested men. Whew!, that’s a lot of change, but Sawyer is doing what she can to make it work in Sunset Cove.
She has set up a book signing with author Angelica Kane (small town girl who made it big) to bring money into her bookstore, but this event comes with a lot of other hot water. It’s really how all the trouble began. Angelica’s husband Zach is Sawyer's best friend Renee’s ex, and Renee is really not over Zach throwing her overboard for Angelica. She is heard making threats of violence if she has to see Zach during his visit to town. The signing is going off without a hitch...I mean besides the diva demands that Angelica and Zach make. As the ending of the signing nears Zach is nowhere to be found. He is located dead in Renee’s ice cream shop, and Renee who threatened bodily harm to Zach nowhere to be found. Sawyer has to help Renee prove her innocence, and keep her best friend out of jail. All while also fighting her evil uncle, taking care of Brittany, her new puppy, figuring out her love life, and did I mention she is trying to open a restaurant? My thoughts Baumann did a great job with painting the picture of Sunset cove, the ice cream shop (described as decorated like Willy Wonka’s personal treasure trove...amazing....I really wanted to visit...I mean if someone hadn’t just been found murdered), the bookstore...oh I mean the COZY bookstore, and more. The characters are an awesome bunch of supportive quirky cozy additions. Marge, the nosy dispatcher, who always wears homemade christmas sweaters....regardless of the time of year or weather lol. The Admiral, her behind the times magician father, and more! This book had me guessing from start to finish.
I did think the mystery when revealed was a little confusing and overly complicated. That is my only issue with an otherwise great cozy...that’s it..that’s all....otherwise it was a 5 cup of coffee read. In the spirit of Renee’s ice cream shop I'm going to give this book 4 1/2 scoops of ice cream (instead of coffee)...with a cherry on top! This book was so enjoyable I immediately went and found the first book in the series!
I recommend you get yourself an ice cream sundae, and check out this book!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. It's the second in the series and I hadn't read the first, which would have helped with the back story. There were mentions of events and characters from the first book, which made me curious and now I'm going to have to go back and read the first book. I would recommend this if you enjoy a "light" murder, in that you character that was murdered probably deserved it and wasn't particularly likeable.

Lots of twists and turns in this easy to read mystery. Sawyer runs a bookshops she inherited, She also inherited guardianship of the 15 year old adopted daighter of her mothers too. In the background keeping a tight fist on her inheritance is her greedy uncle who wants to find a way of getting the trust fund for himself.

To keep the bookshop takings out of the red Sawyer arranges a book signing. Not only is the author very demanding but she is married to,the man who broke her best friend, Reenee's heart. When he is murdered in her best friends ice cream parlour it looks like Reenee took her revenge but Sawyer doesn't believe it and works to prove her friends innocence.

Sawyers ex is the sheriff working on the case who wishes she would stop meddling but of course she doesn't. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and meeting the characters again

I received a free copy of A NOVEL WAY TO DIE (Book 2 of the Cozy Mystery Bookshop Series) by Tamra Baumann in exchange for an honest review. Sawyer Davis, recent inheritor of a bookshop, is hosting a book signing for a hometown bestselling author. As it turns out, the hometown girl is a raving diva who constantly pelts Sawyer with ridiculous demands. At the same time, Sawyer is struggling to find her footing as the guardian for her recently deceased mother’s fifteen-year-old adopted daughter. Sawyer’s other stressors include the machinations of a greedy uncle and frequent interactions with an ex-fiancé who wants to reconnect. Sawyer’s best friend, Renee, is her one source of moral support and refuge. When the author’s husband, who happens to be an ex-flame of Renee’s, is found murdered in Renee’s ice cream shop, Renee becomes the prime suspect. With convincing evidence accumulating against Renee, Sawyer returns all of the love and support previously provided to her by her best friend by attempting to save Renee. Sawyer, with a little help from the community, works to identify the real killer.

I enjoyed this book. I haven’t read the first book, but I plan to read it soon. The characters were engaging and the story interesting. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, pets, bookstores, authors, restaurants, computer hacking, and small towns.

#ANovelWayToDie #NetGalley

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This is a quaint series about a chef who inherits her mother’s mystery bookshop. She recently married and must deal with her fifteen year old step-daughter plus the sheriff who once broke her heart and an upcoming book signing at the bookshop.

But things go astray when the author’s husband dies at her friend’s ice cream parlor. She thinks her fried is being framed as se will put herself in danger to find the truth.

An enjoyable fast paced cozy read.

Sawyer Davis is back and better than ever in A Novel Way to Die.
Running a bookstore keeps Sawyer on her toes, but so does the responsibility of taking care of her 15 year old half sister.
Hosting a book signing should be a fun celebration for Sawyer and her staff, but unfortunately, the author is high maintenance and requires all their attention.
When a murder victim turns up, it’s all hands on deck, especially since the suspect is Renee, Sawyer’s best friend.
With the help of her sister and to the chagrin of the sheriff, Sawyer sets off to ask questions, knowing her bff is not guilty!
I really love this series so far and I am excited to see what’s going to happen next to these great characters.

Sawyer Davis is hosting a book signing for a famous mystery author who has come home to Sunset Cove for a visit. While Sawyer struggles to keep the business running, in order to keep her inheritance as she struggles with an uncle who wants to claim her Mother’s half of a family trust, she needs things to go smoothly and generate some big sales for her bookshop. But when the author’s husband is found dead in the the local ice cream shop’s freezer, things look bad for Sawyer’s BFF Renee, who not only owns the ice cream shop, but was left at the altar by the man years ago.

What lengths will someone go to in order to frame Renee for a murder she didn’t commit? While Sawyer should leave the case to the police, as her boyfriend the sheriff has repeatedly asked her to, she and Renee made a commitment as children to always have each others backs and she won’t back down. Now Sawyer and the book club need to find out who is behind everything before Sawyer becomes another victim in the story.

I read the first book in the series and was waiting for this second book with bated breath. A fabulous cozy series that is on my list of must reads.

A Novel Way to Die by Tamra Baumann is the 2nd book in Cozy Mystery Bookshop series. I have read the first in series and loved this new series. This 2nd in series can easily be read by new readers to the series as a stand alone. Thank you with gratitude to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own,
This is a delightful series that is set in a small coastal town of Northern California. The author has created such a well crafted setting with likable charcters that I read this series in one sitting. I love Sawyer as our Protagonist who is savvy smart and a good friend . Sawyer returned to town leaving her job as a chef to inherit her Mother's old mystery bookstore and old crumbling Victorian house. She has had challenges and helped solve one prior murder while settling in and starting a new relationship. One of her challenges is her evil Uncle who wants her property and her store .
When Sawyer host a signing of a author in her store , a murder occurs in her friends nearby ice cream shop. As her friend is suspect number one Sawyer does not hesitate to investigate and wants to save her friend who she knows is innocent.
I loved this as a fun sleuth with plenty of red herrings to keep this avid mystery reader guessing. I enjoy the setting, the characters and how the author is growing Sawyer and her life with this new release. i look forward to the next in series.
Very well done to the author. This is a cozy series I highly recommend.

Cute cozy mystery, set in a mystery bookstore.
Likeable primary and secondary characters.
I will look into reading first book in series and others by this author.

Not only a mystery, but a romance to boot! What a win-win. In her sophomoric outing for this series, Baumann hits all the high points. Fast-paced plot? Check. Likable and dislikable characters? Check. Small town setting? Check. A lovable pet? You got it. If you're looking for a mystery to hunker down with, this is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This review is also published on my Goodreads page.

The first time I have read this author and I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Sawyer, the sleuth in this series is really good for getting herself into trouble with the Sheriff Dylan who was her fiance at some point. Sawyer owns the local book store. This is one where you are not sure who did it until the end. A GOOD READ.

This is the 2nd installment of the Cozy Bookshop Mystery series. I had started this and went back to read the first one and glad I did. This can be read as a stand alone but I preferred to get some of the backstory about Sawyer’s Mom and what happened in the last story. This story is a couple of months after the first one and Sawyer and Brittany are hosting an author who grew up in Sunset Cove. Angelica and her husband Zach (an ex of Renee’s) are in town and doing a book signing at her store. Renee plans to stay away and wants nothing to do with her ex from high school and later when he ends up dead in the freezer at her ice cream shop she is the primary suspect. She cannot believe Dylan (her ex who left her at the altar) the Sheriff can even think Renee possible of this. Sawyer and Madge are sleuthing and Dylan is not happy. I enjoyed this mystery and it was hard to figure out who did it for sure but I had my suspicions. I think Sawyer’s Uncle Frank is outrageous and am rooting for her to beat him at his own game with the trust fund. Also glad that the love triangle of Sawyer, Dylan and Gage is resolved as I am not a fan of that extending too long. Brittany is a great character and love seeing her and Sawyer’s relationship growing. I am looking forward to the next in this series. Highly recommend.

Another great instalment in this enjoyable series.
A great cast of characters and a solid mystery that kept me guessing, it was an excellent read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Thank you NetGalley and Tamra Baumann for the advanced copy. I loved this book. This was a great mystery that had me guessing the whole time and trying to figure out who did it. Aside from the mystery, there was a really cute love story between characters Sawyer and Dylan. I can’t figure out what I liked more the mystery or the love story. Although this is part of series, Tamra gives enough background through that it can also be read as a stand alone. I do however plan on going back and reading book one. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.

What do you do when you love to cook, and it's really your profession, but you inhereit a bookshop with strings attached, that can ultimately give you your dream of owning your own restaurant? Why run that bookshop! LOL. Sawyer is an enjoyable charachter and this is a solid mystery with a few red herrings thrown in, that keep you reading and wanting to finish it all at one time! With a few modern twists, like video cameras and doorbells, and a charming small town with its quirky characters, this is a cozy mystery perfect for afternnon reading, and it will make you want to go back and grab book one, Plotting for Murder, in the series too!

I can never get enough of a great mystery. Sawyer just can’t stop trying to solve a murder her friend has been implicated in. It’s a whodunnit with many possibilities and twists. The love triangle is also quite fun and a sweet second chance romance. But there’s more to come because her uncle is not finished harassing her about the trust. I received a copy from Netgalley, I wrote my review voluntarily.

A Novel Way To Die, by Tamra Baumann, is available at booksellers 3-5-2020. Novel is book #2 in Ms Baumann's Cozy Mystery Bookshop series. Novel is also my first experience with Ms Baumann's writing. I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the book and wondering how I missed Ms Baumann at the bookstore before now. The characters are appealing and the plot was well crafted and executed. I love to read so any story set in a bookshop grabs my attention. That there's also a cute dog, who goes to "work" in the store everyday, is also another plus. The characters lives are messy, no one is perfect or has the perfect relationship, and the bookstore is floundering. Family and friendships are valued and defended. All believable and relatable. My one big problem, and it was big, is that the main character doesn't have her last name mentioned until the very last page. I was 1/3 through the book when I gave up and googled it. I'm not sure if Novel works 100% as a stand-alone book, I found myself wondering at the backstories that had gone on before. Yes, that's hard to do without inserting the 1st book into the current story. Either way, I intend to go backwards and read book 1, Plotting For Murder. Novel was such a fun read that I'm looking forward to the next murder.

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

#Netgalley #TamraBaumann #ANovelWayToDie #CozyMysteryBookshop #murdermystery

A Novel Way to Die earns 5/5 Diva Authors...Entertaining!

Sawyer Davis wakes up not knowing if she’s crossed over or lying on a gurney in the emergency room. Oops, best to start at the beginning...Sawyer inherited her mother’s cozy mystery bookstore, and with help from her fifteen-year-old adopted sister and support from long-time BFF Renee, she is preparing to have her first book signing with diva/author Angelica Kane. Of course, the whole situation is like a soap opera since Kane’s husband is Renee’s former fiancé; Renee says, without true conviction, she’s over it, but Kane’s husband still ends up dead, found at Renee’s ice cream shop, and Renee is the number one suspect. More drama arrives in the form of the town’s sheriff who happens to be the man that left Sawyer at the altar. They are, however, working on being friends. Oh, Sawyer’s mother gave her a mini goldendoodle just before she passed away naming it after the sheriff in hopes that one day Sawyer would take him back. Add a quirky book club of amateur sleuths, surrogate motherhood, navigating a broken engagement/friendship, and an uncle, with questionable motives, in control of her trust fund and Sawyer has much to occupy her day,

Whew! Tamra Baumann, a new-to-me author, has penned a delightful story and starting with book two I didn’t feel at a disadvantage since enough background and character connections were provided. Her writing style is entertaining with expressive descriptions of the small California town, the bookstore/café, the ice cream shop, and the look and mannerisms of a variety of characters...who wears Christmas sweaters all year? Her dialogue does well to illustrate personalities, emotions, and tone that adds to the drama. I was kept engaged by a murder mystery which had the elements of a nice cozy mystery with a few suspects, personal interest, twist, turns, and dead ends, but was slightly disappointed that it brushed only the surface of more suspense thriller. The immediate felony was solved nicely and the ongoing personal storylines look to continue. The characters were traditional, yet enjoyable, but also some are more stereotypical than well-rounded and hopefully will develop further over the series. I enjoyed the book, planning to get out book one, and am eager for book three.

I have a divided opinion on this book. Taken on the surface of being a cozy mystery it is a good read. I like the characters. I like how the author was attempting to do a mystery that was a little bit different. However, it was convoluted and way too detailed and when you really think about those details, they don't add up or work. Since this was the second book in the series, there is a continuation of growth of the characters' arcs. Normally this is fine, however their back story is so detailed and complicated that you really had to read the first story to have any clue. The mention of the uncle, the trust, Sawyer's sneaky way around it, the teenager "sister" all create interest but some explanation would have been helpful. I had read the first book when it came out and still I had to struggle to connect the dots.

“A Novel Way to Die” is a cozy mystery that includes quirky characters and plot twists, leading to a surprising ending. Sawyer tries to manage her inherited bookshop and Victorian home and live a quiet life in her small town. Her attempts to do this are thwarted when the spouse of a best-selling author turns up dead after a book-signing that took place at her store. Sawyer’s best friend Renee is implicated, involving Sawyer in actions intended to clear Renee of the deed. Throw in Sawyer’s adopted teen-aged sister Brittany, who has a knack for technology, along with Madge, a friend who works at the police station. Don’t forget Sawyer’s father, the professional magician who pops in from time to time, and Sawyer's adorable Goldendoodle dog! Add in Sawyer’s on-again and off-again love relationship with Sheriff Dylan, who once left Sawyer at the altar, and you have a humorous mix of mystery and mayhem.

The plot bogs down occasionally with dialogue, but most readers will find something to like about this cozy. The interesting and well-drawn characters are what really make this a fun read. While this is part of a series, it can be read successfully read as a stand alone novel.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A Novel Way To Die by Tamra Baumann is the second book in her Cozy Mystery Bookshop series. I really enjoyed reading this murder mystery. In this story chef/mystery bookstore owner Sawyer Davis needs to find out who murdered a famous author's husband. It's especially important to get to the truth because all the circumstantial evidence points to Sawyer's best friend Renee being guilty of the murder. There's plenty of mystery, intrigue and surprises to keep readers turning the pages until the very end

A clever cozy mystery. A charming and delightful series. Family issues. Second chance problems. Small town and former classmates. All of these add to the spice and fun. A page-turner. I am eager to read the next one.

A bookshop owner finds herself looking for a murderer who has framed her best friend while dealing with the sheriff, who is her ex fiance and the older than her years fifteen year old girl her lat mother adopted to keep her safe. Adding to the turmoil is a very hateful uncle, the mayor, who wants the late mother's assets and control of her trust fund! Can't wait for the next adventure!!

If you love a cozy mystery, Tamara Baumann’s Cozy Mystery Bookshop series will not disappoint. This is the second in the series and Sawyer is settling in with running her mother’s Mystery Bookshop and raising her newly discovered 15 year old sister Brittany. While hosting a book signing for a local mystery author, the author’s husband Zach is murdered in her friend Renee’s ice cream shop. Since Zach is Renee’s ex, she becomes a prime suspect. Sawyer and her book club set out to find out who the real killer is. Love all of the characters and had a fun time trying to guess whodunnit. I was given an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from NetGalley for my honest review.

A great book, about a bookshop owner in a small town. Torn between two men trying to decide which one is the right one for her. And she ist solving crimes and gets herself in danger. Looking forward to the next book.

This was my first Tamra Baumann book to read. Definitely not my last. A Novel Way to Die is a quick and fun read. From the very beginning, I didn't want to put the book down.

There was love, even an old, rekindled romance. There were family issues, friendships, murder, mystery and almost another murder!

Sawyer, a big city chef, ended up back in her small town, a bit torn about whether she actually wanted to stay there. Her best friend was considered a suspect in the death of an old flame, and Sawyer did everything she could to help absolve her friend of any wrongdoing, even to the point of almost getting herself killed.

Her old boyfriend, who had left her her stranded at the altar, was now the Sheriff of this small town. With Sawyer's best friend being a prime suspect in the murder, Sawyer stayed in the small town, which resulted in she and the Sheriff having too much time together. Sawyer had always wondered why he had broken things off with her, though everyone, including Sawyer, seemed to think they were the perfect couple.

I don't want to spoil the plot but I will say I was happy at the end and I hope there's a third book in this series!

Many thanks to Net Gally (netgally.net) for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion about the book.

Bookstore owner, Sawyer, and her sister Brittany solve this murder, much to the Sheriff’s displeasure. Hacking and crazy authors are a winning combo. A must read.