Something Borrowed, Something 90% Dark

#SomethingBorrowedSomething90Dark #NetGalley. Is the first book I've read by this author, and I found it to be quite good.
Felicity owns a chocolate bean to bar shop, and her creations sound delicious.
She has a lot on her plate (pun intended) as her best friend is getting married, and Felicity finds herself having to make a decision about her own love life.
As the story unraveled, we find a lot weird events happening, and Felicity finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation.
I really liked this book, Princess Buttercup, the goat, made me laugh throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

Chocolatier, sleuth, maid of honor . . . this is a busy lady.

I haven’t previously read any of this author’s books but I can see why this series has a number of titles – the author spends time building the community and the relationships therein, giving bits and pieces of each character’s personality sprinkled throughout the story. However, there were a lot of characters in this story - I’m a huge reader and am not accustomed to having to backtrack and figure out “who is this again?”, which I had to do several times despite the fact that I read this in the course of a single day.

The various plots were neatly interwoven - the friend’s wedding, and the protagonist’s romantic dilemma, thefts, disappearances, murders, business events . . . . There’s a lot going on here.

There were some really great moments of character revelation, as when we learn the selected love interest always has an inhaler with him, for the protagonist. That was a a beautifully done grace note.

My thanks to the publisher for a free preview copy in exchange for my honest review.

"Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand is hosting the friends and family coming into town for her best friend Autumn’s wedding. As matron of honor, Felicity has a ton of tasks to complete – including making chocolates for the gift bags. She doesn’t have time to solve another murder. But when one of the bridesmaids becomes a prime suspect in the death of a visiting real estate agent, Felicity has to put her detecting skills to use again to keep the wedding plans from getting derailed." This is a fun and fantastic book. Felicity has an unique experience in this case of a woman who was killed by an unknown assailant. With the help of a pygmy goat she discovers what it is to be in love.
I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

With Autumn’s wedding finally here, Lis and the gang are busy with wedding festivities. When a visiting real estate agent is murdered, Lis has to help clear her BFF who is also a bridesmaid. Who would kill the woman and why? That’s what Lis aims to find out, for better or worse.

This is a great series…but with chocolate at the center of every book, what would you expect? You’ll adore Lis and her crew and the mystery, which leaves you guessing and changing your mind until the reveal.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed how the main character learned and grew as a person as she helped others throughout the book, trying to be a good matron of honor as she tried to solve mysteries at the same time. It makes me want to read the rest of the books in the series.

Still loving this delicious mystery series set near to me in Galveston. Chocolate and a pygmy goat, what's not to love. Felicity is a wonderful character. The mystery is solid. The goat is a hilarious addition! Thanks #Netgalley and #BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Another winner in the Bean to Bar mysteries series, it’s amazing that we’re six books in and it’s still going strong. Amber Royer always has a great writing style and I was always invested in what was going on. It had everything that I was looking for and the characters felt like they were suppose to.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING 90% DARK (Book 6 of the Bean to Bar mysteries) by Amber Royer in exchange for an honest review. The time is here, Autumn’s wedding is imminent, and the guests are arriving in town. This means Felicity Koerber, matron of honor and small business owner, is one busy lady. However, this doesn’t mean she lacks time to solve another murder, especially when having a bridesmaid in the slammer will interfere with the wedding proceedings. Also, somewhere along the way, she has to find and rescue a missing goat.

I enjoy this series and look forward to the next book. I recommend this book to fans of the series. I recommend the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring small businesses, candy shops, pet themes, and urban island life.

#SomethingBorrowedSomething90Dark #NetGalley

Felicity is a chocolate shop owner who has also been pegged as a mega murder magnet. What starts with an acquaintance asking for help in finding her missing father turns into a whole buffet of mysteries that may or may not be related. Meanwhile, she is working with a self-imposed deadline to decide which of the two men in her life is really her true love.

This story is fast paced and will keep you guessing until the end. It has humor, romance, mystery and chocolate - what more could you ask for? Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Felicity the chocolatier is back and her best friend Autumn’s wedding day is approaching quickly , she is the matron of honour and she’s got a long list of tasks to attend to.
However as always things don’t go to plan and a visiting estate agent is found dead and Felicity is in the thick of things .
Arlo and Logan are still vying for Felicity’s attention and want to know who she will choose to have has her partner , she will make her decision at Autumn’s wedding . Who will she choose? Will it be the right decision?
Chocolate , murder , romance and add a mad goat into the mix and it makes the perfect combination with just the right amount of humour .
An enjoyable and funny read!
Looking forward to the next book in the series .
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial.

“Is it supposed to make me feel better, being threatened by a man of culture?”
"I pointed a goat at you. Best I could do.”

There’s so much going on in this mystery I feel like I need a wall of pictures and a whole skein of red yarn to keep track of exactly what I read and who is who! While feeling a bit overwhelmed through most of the book in the end I send kudos to the author for a very satisfying wrap up. Well done!

The highly-anticipated resolution to the love triangle is finally here. As she promised, Amber Royer made Felicity choose between Logan and Arlo and it's the best decision ever. Those who have been reading my reviews know I used to root for the other team (see Out of Temper) but A Study In Chocolate and this latest book convinced me to switch sides. My Romance-loving heart totally approves of Felicity's choice. This guy needs Felicity in ways the other doesn't. Felicity needs him too. For this romantic element alone, Something Borrowed deserves a high rating. And then there's the rest of this extremely enjoyable story.
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... my confidence levels have changed."
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I read this book in one sitting and I recommend other readers to do the same if they have time to spare. As I have come to expect with the Bean-to-Bar cozy mysteries, the action starts from the first page and doesn't let up until the highly satisfactory ending. As usual, Felicity gets entangled in two separate investigations that involve her love interests and her ever-expanding network of friends. And, of course, there's a classic novel that serves as inspiration for the murder mysteries - The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett.
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The various searches for a missing insurance investigator, missing pieces of jewelry, a kidnapped goat, and a killer on the loose happen amidst preparations for Felicity's best friend Autumn's wedding. Anyone who's ever been involved in planning a wedding knows how time-consuming and stressful it can be so it's amazing how expertly Ms. Royer wove in all the myriad details together.
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What's also fantastic is the growth in Felicity's character. She's becoming more accepting of the amateur sleuth role that has been thrust upon her and has gained so much confidence from the experiences she's been through. All the while continuing to learn about the craft and the business of chocolate-making.
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For its engaging storyline, fascinating characters, well-paced action, balance of angst and humor, and swoony romance, Something Borrowed, Something 90% Dark is my favorite of the series so far.

Amber Royer’s fantabulous cozy mystery series continues in the next Bean to Bar Mystery Series, Something Borrowed, Something 90% Dark. This time the mystery is centered around a wedding and the theme of one of my favorite old movies The Thin Man.

In this latest Amber takes readers on a bit more of a twisted tale with a few murders, disappearances, and of course the wedding prep. Felicity gets involved when Arlo’s former girlfriend, Patsy asks Felicity to help find her dad who has gone missing. What follows is murders, a kidnapping, and a stolen necklace and a wedding ring.

Love, love, Princess Buttercup! One of the best things about Amber’s Bean to Bar books is her incorporation of an animal in her stories. This time it is a goat who is sweet and yet is so goat-like, right down to the wedding cake.

YES! YES! Finally, Amber has given her readers Felicity’s choice between Logan and Arlo. Loved how this played out with the help of one of the main characters, Ash. This little part of this story shows a depth to his character that I hope is expanded in the following books.

Royer’s books are always fantabulous, fast-paced cozy mysteries around murders, and of course chocolate. If you love stories with strong women, chocolate, animals, an emerging love story, and a steadfast mystery then add this to your TBR.

Always, always after reading Amber’s books, I get hungry for chocolate and need more coffee. You will too.

Chocolate, a goat, and murder...a trifecta! The icing on the cake? Felicity chooses between Arlo and Logan!

This series has always intrigued me, from the Bean to Bar concept, the characters, and the setting, Galveston, Texas. I do think I gain at least 5 lbs every time I read one of these books and all of the delicious food and treats that are described. I also enjoy reading about how cacao is processed to become chocolate and the different flavor notes based on where it is grown.

The series has been leading up to Autumn's wedding, and Felicity is the maid of honor. As is with most weddings, something is bound to go wrong. Actually, in this case, several things go wrong, but Felicity is there to help resolve the issues. It is nice to have small towns where neighbors are happy to help out when plans go awry.

There are a few mysteries/cases in the book to be solved. However, do they tie together? Possibly. I laughed when Arlo and Logan made a bet over who would solve their case first. Only dinner, but what an incentive to find the answers in record time. I have to admit, I had some suspicions about a certain character, and it was nice to see I was right to suspect them because they were up to no good. I just wasn't 100% sure about all of the details of why they did what they did.

I loved the goat that made an appearance in the book Princess Buttercup. Was this a nod to The Princess Bride movie? Indubitably. Ok, maybe or maybe not, but I couldn't resist. While a goat might be a fun pet, it can also be a menace, so for now, I'll admire someone else's goat.

I was glad to see that the love triangle was put to rest at the end of this book. It is never clear who she will choose, but I was very happy with the choice, and she received some excellent advice from her friends about what to look for in her future. There was even a surprise twist that I didn't expect once she made her choice. I can only imagine what that means for the next book in this series. You'll have to read the book, no spoilers here.

Overall, I really enjoy this series. If you haven't read any of the books, I recommend starting at the beginning to understand the characters and what they mean to each other.

We give this book 5 paws up.

I enjoyed reading this new Bean to Bar mystery. Reading about chocolate is always fun.
Felicity is preparing for her friend Autumn’s wedding. Into this comes an old friend of Tiff’s, Lydia. Arlo’s old girlfriend Patsy’s father is missing. As if this wasn’t enough going on, the author mixes in a goat. Princess Buttercup is a cute goat but goats always introduce a level of chaos. There is a kidnapping about midway through the book. It really made me wonder how this book was going to end.
Felicity has promised to choose between her two beaus - Arlo and Logan. I am happy with her choice but I can see some readers wishing for a different outcome.
The Bean to Bar mysteries are told in first person. This makes it more difficult for me to remember the name of the main character, but after the first couple chapters I settled in remembering Felicity’s name.
I recommend visiting Galveston, Texas via Something Borrowed, Something 90% Dark.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

This book picks up where A Study in Chocolate left off. With another body found and more mysteries coming to light, Felicity has tons of work - especially as she prepares for her friend's upcoming wedding. If that wasn't enough, she's also caught in a love triangle and it's almost time to pick the man she truly wants and needs in her life romantically.

I loved the twists and turns in this book, as well as its suspense when it comes to Felicity's final choice. I was invested from the beginning. I wasn't able to predict this one, which gives it definite bonus points. I liked waiting for the clues and weeding out the different potential suspects. I'm very excited for there to be another book and plan to keep reading this series!

Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop is hosting the friends and family coming into town for her best friend Autumn’s wedding. As her matron of honor Felicity has many tasks to complete including making chocolates for gift bags. Until one of the bridesmaids becomes a prime suspect in the death of a visiting real estate agent. Felicity has to use her detecting skills again to keep the wedding plans from falling apart. While juggling her impending deadline she’s given herself to finally choose between her two love interests and where life will once she makes a choice. There are many twists and turns for Felicity to straighten out before the wedding goes forward can she figure everything out by herself? This was a very enjoyable story to read. I would recommend to everyone.