Laurie I

Favorite book of this year thus far…

Revisado: 03-11-25

This book was incredible! I absolutely loved it!! The audio narration was perfect. Favorite book read this year thus far.

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Loved this sweet love story

Revisado: 02-17-25

Emma Wheeler gets job opportunities from her ex-boyfriend, Logan, and she’s just received the job opportunity of a lifetime: to re-write a screenplay for her favorite screenwriter, Charlie Yates. Emma is eager and ready to get to work, but Charlie doesn’t share her enthusiasm, nor is he turning out to be the man of her dreams. In fact he’s rude, arrogant, condescending and downright mean. Emma can’t believe she’s left behind the full-time caregiving responsibilities of her dad to embark on this seemingly doomed project; especially when it was so agonizing for her to entrust her dad’s care to her younger sister, to be treated this poorly by Charlie. She’s homesick and discouraged by the entire situation. But everyone has a story, including Charlie. Will Charlie’s story be enough to convince Emma to stay and complete the screenplay, or will she go back home to her dad who needs her and give up on the biggest opportunity of her life?

I LOVED this romcom!! I’m a fan of love stories that build naturally, and The Rom-Commers accomplished this in a convincing, fulfilling way. I enjoyed the comedic tone throughout, as well as the various tender moments that tugged at my heartstrings. Emma’s intense love for her family was heartwarming, and her resilience admirable. Charlie was complex. One minute I wanted to strangle him and the next minute I wanted to give him a big hug. This story had humor, tension, warmth….all the things. A sweet love story with a thoroughly satisfying HEA ending. Loved it!!

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Love this series!!

Revisado: 01-20-20

H.Y. Hanna’s cozy mysteries are always fun and addictive, and Silent Bud Deadly was no exception. I love how she effortlessly and cleverly weaves in the back story so that you won’t feel lost no matter where you enter the series. The recurring characters are a pleasure to revisit. I was glad to see that Bertie, Poppy’s neighbor who invents strange things that he tends to try out on unsuspecting people, was back in book 2. His antics brought many chuckles during the story. My favorite cat, Oren, the very vocal tabby, and its owner, the enigmatic writer, Nick Forest, were also present in book 2 to my delight.
I also learned much about various poisonous houseplants. Discovering something new while reading an H.Y. Hanna mystery is always a highlight.
Overall, this whodunnit was plausible and highly enjoyable. I definitely recommend this series, especially if you like intelligent cozy mysteries with fun, quirky characters and a great plot.

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Another excellent cozy mystery series by HY Hanna

Revisado: 10-14-19

H.Y. Hanna has delivered another deliciously clever mystery with book 1 of her English Cottage Garden Mysteries series, Deadhead and Buried. I enjoyed this story immensely, having moved swiftly through it. I was caught up in the imagery of the cottage and surrounding garden, as well as the various plants and flowers that were named and described for me to envision. I learned about an exotic flower in this book, which I gained much joy from briefly researching. As is usual with an H.Y. Hanna mystery, the characters were interesting, quirky and fun, and there were pets to enjoy with their lovable antics and unique characteristics.

The audio narrator, Pearl Hewitt, is masterful in portraying both humans and animals. She adds so much delight to an already enjoyable, creative and plausible murder mystery. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one in the series.

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Another great mystery!!

Revisado: 02-03-19

Gemma Rose gets the opportunity of a lifetime when a wealthy talent show creator, Monty Gibbs, chooses her Little Stables Tearoom to provide the daily catering for his show, From Pleb to Celeb.
A menagerie of contestants ranging from the talented to the eccentric, eager to get their chance at fame, are practicing their talents in preparation for their big chance at winning the show.
Gemma isn’t too keen on the show’s creator. She’s figured out that behind his magnanimous facade is an ambitious businessman more interested in sensationalism than the welfare of his contestants. He’s even resorted to embellishing their backgrounds and exploiting them for the benefit of ratings. And although some may have checkered pasts, Gemma is adamant that it’s no reason to take advantage of them. So when one of the contestants is found dead behind the stage, Gemma wonders just how far Monty Gibbs might go to advance his show. Or might there be some other killer lurking amongst them?
H.Y. Hanna has done it again. I was thoroughly entertained by The Dough Must Go On. The “old biddies” characters are always comical....
“The police are as effective as a chocolate teapot.”— Old Biddies
One of the highlights of this series is revisiting some of my favorite characters. Gemma’s geeky friend, Seth, always teaches some interesting scientific fact or lesson that enlightens me. And Gemma’s uppity but harmless, sweet mother is a great character whose appearance in the books always makes me happy. These Oxford Tearoom Mysteries never fail to provide a hilarious scene or three, and I can count on a great mystery and a top-notch narrating performance from the inimitable Pearl Hewitt. The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series.

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Another clever mystery that you will love!!

Revisado: 10-26-18

H.Y. Hanna has done it again. Apple Strudel Alibi is another successful installment to the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series. In it we find ourselves on a trip to Vienna, Austria, where we're introduced to a few new characters that become suspects in a murder investigation that Gemma Rose and the Old Biddies find themselves entangled in.

Regarding the audio narrator, Pearl Hewitt, her voice is absolute perfection. Her depictions of the various characters, (including Muesli the tabby cat’s audible expressions), is incredible. Her masterful narration brings this series to life in a way that can only be fully described if you listen for yourself. Extraordinary talent. I always look forward to listening to Ms. Hewitt's narration. I highly recommended Apple Strudel Alibi.

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This is cozy mystery done right!

Revisado: 07-31-18

HY Hanna always delivers on a solid mystery with plenty of red herrings, engaging characters, an atmospheric setting (in and around Oxford, England), at least one amusing animal and a totally plausible outcome. There’s so much to love about this book, including the sub-plots which keep the story moving along at a pace that keeps you in anticipation of the next revelation.

When famed celebrity chef and former Oxford student, Josh Mcdermott, (aka “Posh McDishy”) is special guest at the Oxford University Ball, doing a live cooking show, the college ball committee and Josh’s fans are beside themselves with anticipation and admiration. Gemma’s friend Cassie, who attended the same College as McDermott, isn’t enthused. She’s always thought of him as an obnoxious snob who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. His ex-girlfriend would agree with that assessment since Josh dumped her. And then there’s rival chef, Antonio Casa, who believes Josh tried to sabotage him. Clearly, Josh McDermott had foes as well as fans. But when Gemma finds Josh dead before the cooking show competition even begins, she dons her sleuthing cap to determine who might have despised him enough to do him in.

I loved this book. You don’t get to book 7 of 8 in a series if you don’t enjoy it. The audio narrator, Pearl Hewitt, brings the characters to life. The unique voices she uses to portray each character makes it easy to recognize who’s speaking, and the emotions and actions are always performed in an entertaining, realistic way—even the animals! She’s one of my favorite audio narrators, and her skill and proficiency enhanced my enjoyment of this book.

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Another clever, thoroughly enjoyable mystery

Revisado: 04-20-18

Four Puddings and a Funeral is book 6 of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series, and it’s another clever mystery with entertaining characters, keenly inserted red herrings, an adorable hedgehog, appearances by the old biddies, and relationship troubles between the main character, Gemma Rose, and her boyfriend, CID Detective Devlin O’Connor. And let’s not forget mischievous little Muesli, Gemma’s little tabby cat.
When a woman falls dead at a funeral reception that Gemma is catering with many delectable desserts from her successful Little Stables Tearoom, many come under suspicion since the woman wasn’t at all liked. But when one of the old biddies is arrested Gemma gets involved. But will she find the murderer before she becomes the next victim?

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Excellent cozy mystery!!

Revisado: 11-03-17

I listened to this cozy on a whim and was unexpectedly blown away. A great plot and an amazing story with colourful, country characters that made me chuckle. Definitely one of my favourite cozies.

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Love the international flair...

Revisado: 10-11-17

HY Hanna delivers another stellar, clever mystery with international characters that add intrigue and spice to the story. (Her audible narrator, Pearl Hewitt, does an exquisite job at imitating the accents for the various Russian characters in the story. I really enjoyed that element.) I can depend on a solid mystery and some laugh-out-loud moments whenever the “old biddies” make an appearance. Gemma’s irritation at her mother’s generous but odd gifts also elicit chuckles. There’s an inkling of trouble in paradise with Gemma’s boyfriend, Devlin O’Connor, and the suspicion still lingers beyond the conclusion of the book. Overall, I loved this cozy mystery and I look forward to the next book in the series, Four Puddings and a Funeral.

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