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 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 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!

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.

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.

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.

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 & 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 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.

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!

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.

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.

I'm sorry this book just didn't grab me. I do post negative reviews so I will not publicly review it.