Great book. I have to say this series gets better and better.
It’s witty, entertaining and difficult to put down.

5 Stars! This is my first Caroline Fardig novel and it was ahhhmazing! Murder Over Mochas is the first (and hopefully not the last) in the Java Jive series.

This book came exactly when I needed it! It was such warm, cozy, funny, and fulfilling read! Juliet is a new private eye and coffeehouse owner. Her ex-fiance shows up unannounced one day and she is not happy to see him and he drops dead right in front of her! *Gasp*

Juliet works with her ex-boyfriend who is a police detective to investigate and solve the murder all while establishing a new romance with her best friend.

This book kept me engaged the whole time and I devoured it like the yummies in the coffeehouse.

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

Juliet Langley is the manager at a coffee house in Nashville. She’s also a private investigator. Her ex-fiancé who ruined her life, Scott, turns up at the coffee shop to ask for help because his wife has been kidnapped. Then he drops dead in front of her. Juliet and her best friend, Pete, are the prime suspects due to no love lost for Scott and being the last people to see him alive. Juliet begins investigating to clear their names with the help of her ex-boyfriend and cop, Ryder.

Overall, this was a good mystery. Good pacing and suspense, bits and pieces revealed without giving up too much, nice twists. There was some moderate language. My issue was I didn’t care much for Juliet. I definitely wanted her to prove her innocence, but I just didn’t love her personality, and her convoluted love life was kind of annoying. This was the first book of this series I’d read, so maybe I’d like her better if I read a different one. The background stories about Lizzie Hart Morgan, the amateur sleuth and journalist in Juliet’s hometown, made me wonder if that was another series by the author, and sure enough, it is. I’m interested enough to check that out! I’d give this 3 1/2 stars but bumped it down to a 3 for moderate language and since I just couldn’t click with the heroine. Thanks to NetGalley for the free ebook.

What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. The word building was phenomenal in this book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

This cozy mystery is not the coziest but definitely has a lot of humor! Even though it is set in a coffee shop, it's definitely different from similarly themed cozies. I have gotten to really love the characters and hope the author writes more books in this series!

This was a fun, quick read. The characters were well developed and felt real. The story line was light and easy to understand. I highly recommend it to light mystery fans.

4.5 Stars

This is the fifth and final book in the Java Jive mystery series by Caroline Fardig. This series is so good it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if she added five more books to the mix. Just love it that much!

Basic premise: Juliet has finally gotten her private investigator’s license and her detective friend, Ryder is working with her and his new girlfriend Maya for her PI firm. Juliet’s old flame, Scott, who was responsible for her losing her last business after he stole all her money, wants her help. Her response is “Yeah, right.” But then he ends up dead after being poisoned and of course, Juliet has tons of motive to want him out of her life for good. So she has to prove her innocence since her detective friend, a different guy, is on vacation and Ryder is sort of on the outs with the department after the hijinks from the last book.

This book finally has Juliet dealing with all her feelings about Pete, her boss at Java Jive and what she really wants out of life. She revisits her hometown and a few characters from one of Fardig’s other series makes a cameo appearance. This definitely makes you want to check them out just so you have something to move onto since this is the last book in the Java Jive series, much to my dismay. Did I mention that I really need five more books in this series? :)

The previous book was one of my favorites but this one really wraps it all up nicely dealing with all the loose threads and puts Juliet in a nice place to move forward in her life.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely 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 really like the Java Jive mystery series. Murder Over Mochas is the fifth book in the series, all by Caroline Fardig.
The series features Juliet Langley, the manager of Java Jive coffee shop and amateur sleuth. She's had her share of murderous misfortune (she tends to be in the wrong place at the wrong time) and there are some local police who find that to be a little too coincidental. Fortunately she's got an ex-boyfriend (still a friend) Ryder Hamilton on the police force.
At the start of this book, a different 'ex' shows up at Java Jive and before he can say anything, Juliet punches him in the nose. This particular 'ex,' Scott, was an ex-fiance who left Juliet for another woman but took all of Juliet's belongings (furniture, money, etc) when he left and hasn't been back until this moment.
Once she calms down, Juliet agrees to hear Scott out and he tells her that he needs Juliet's help to find his missing wife. But before he can say too much more, he drops dead at Juliet's feet. Seeing as how she's already punched him once, in front of others, she knows she'll be accused of his murder, and so she must find out who did it.
The character of Juliet is an absolutely fun, feisty femme. She's rough and tough and a romantic as well. She's a musician as well as coffee barista and store manager, and a private investigator. She's got boyfriends, former boyfriends, and wannabe boyfriends ... because she's honest and cool (and good looking).
The mystery that Fardig gives us is really quite interesting. It takes us to some unexpected places with a couple of red herrings, the way a good mystery should.
I liked this book, and I like the series, because I think that Fardig does such a good job of building a story and bringing the reader along for the ride instead of just telling us a story. I also really like the way that the relationships are handled. Juliet is a single, strong, attractive young woman and dating and sex are definitely a part of her life ... but it doesn't overpower the story. It feels very natural and even this grumpy reviewer gets a smile when I read about her positive relationships (...and there's something to smile about in this book).
This book is very well written and highly recommended.
Looking for a good book? Murder Over Mochas by Caroline Fardig is the fifth book in the Java Jive series and should be on your 'must read' list.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

What is better than a cozy mystery? A cozy mystery and coffee. When Juliet's ex drops dead right in front of her, she isn't going to sit around and wait for someone else to clear her name. Murder over Mochas is a super cute story. And while it's not the first of the series I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read the previous books.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but certainly won’t be the last! This book is skillfully written with a tight plot and complex, believable characters. I’ll definitely be reading more of this author’s work. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.

Another great read in this series with a really strong main character - gritty, funny, fast paced with lots of twists and turns - I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thanks to netgalley for an arc in return for my honest opinion.

What do you do if your ex (who had cheated on you and robbed you in a big way) suddenly appears before you, asking for help? Of course, you punch him - and then, being a big-hearted Juliet, you promise to help him. But Scott dies, so murder is on for Juliet to solve, again.
Also, will she finally be able to solve the mysteries of her heart?

At least, Juliet finally decides on one guy to be with.
Otherwise, while this is fun and light reading, I am happy to let Juliet and her guy and her mysteries go and I can move on. The concept got too old for me.

There is nothing worse than having your lying, cheating, thief of an ex-fiancé show up at your job, unless you are Juliet Langley. She clocked him right in front of her customers at Java Jive before he could finish his plea for her help. Never known for her subtlety, everyone in the coffee shop could tell she hated the man she just punched. After her boss settles her down, she agrees to meet up with Scott, the infamous ex, even though she was still understandably not happy to meet with the man that took all her money and caused her to lose her business. Not to mention he broke her heart.

Things go from bad to worse when they meet as Java Jive closed that evening. Juliet was still steaming, but her boss Pete who is her best friend is there to keep her in check. Scott arrives looking rather sick, but is determined to enlist Juliet’s help finding his missing wife. Something shady is going on here and Juliet wanted no part of it. But when Scott collapses and dies right in front of Pete and Juliet she has no choice but to investigate. Especially since a detective holding a grudge attempts to pin a murder charge on Pete and Juliet.

Against everyone’s better judgement, Juliet pairs up with her on again off again boyfriend police detective Ryder to find the real killer and kidnapper. As the case unfolds, bribery, illegal kickbacks and stolen drugs muddy it up. But soon the investigation turns from frustrating to dangerous as the real killer may be targeting Juliet to keep her from finding out his secrets.

Juliet is a great main character for a cozy series. She is smart, funny and has more man trouble than she wants or needs. She has a neighbor that is basically a friend with benefits and Ryder is now dating her girlfriend. Juliet really doesn’t want him anymore, but sometimes the memory of what they had for a while haunts her. Then there is Pete. Good hearted, adorably cute and there for her no matter how crazy her life gets. They both have feelings for each other, but she is afraid to commit to a relationship and ruin their great friendship.

Caroline Fardig knows how to keep a cozy mystery true to form. Her books are funny, entertaining and always have a twist in the plot to keep her readers guessing. It is no surprise she is a USA Today bestselling author. With an interesting list of past professions; including funeral parlor associate and church organist, she sounds as interesting as her characters. This is not the first book I’ve read by Farding, and will not be the last. I highly recommend this book and series for cozy mystery fans.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman

I loved the mystery; it was genuinely good. I did not like all of these people sleeping with each other; she could have slept with the guy she was going to stay with. Especially the heroine, who is also a potty mouth! I did not like who she ended up with, nor how the story ended! I appreciate Netgalley allowing me to read and review this book.
I recommend if you don't let Aids creep into your thoughts, or mind a female, who sounds like a sailor!
carolintallahassee

Where to begin with this book? First, let me say that I've read every book in this series and have loved them all but this one really hit it out of the park! There we so many things I loved about this book! For one, if you've read one of the author's other series, the Lizzie Hart series, she and her friends/family make a cameo (well more than a cameo really) in this book, which I think is super cool and unique! I don't know of too many authors that have had their characters from different series "meet."

Secondly, this book was action packed from page one through the end. One of the things I didn't like as much in some of the other books in this series was that at times romance seemed to take a back seat to the mystery, which I don't personally care for. In this book, while there are some major happenings in the romance department, I still felt like the mystery was the main focus up until the last few pages, which I was much happier with. I'm also super happy with where the romance story line turns out in this book but I will not say anymore as I don't want to give any spoilers away :)

Lastly, in this book, we get a lot more background on both Juliet, the main character, and on Scott, her ex that royally screwed her over. Up until now, he had been mentioned and some basic details were given, but we get a lot more backstory and actually get to "visit" Juliet's hometown in this book, which I found fascinating.

Basically, I give this book 5 stars and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a great read!

Murder over Mochas is the fifth book in the Java Jive series by Caroline Fardig. I have read all of the books in this series, and think it is extremely helpful in figuring out the character relationships, but the mystery itself can stand on its own.

As a newly minted private eye, Juliet Langley has sworn to leave homicide to the authorities, limiting the scope of her investigations to cheating spouses and dirty business partners, like her ex-fiancé, Scott O’Malley. When Scott shows up unannounced at her coffeehouse, Java Jive, Juliet’s first instinct is to punch him in the nose. Her second is to turn down his desperate plea for help with a case that’s way too dangerous for her liking. But when Scott drops dead before her eyes, Juliet isn’t going to wait around for someone else to clear her name. It’s only a matter of time before her tumultuous past with her ex-fiance comes out, so Juliet teams up with her ex-boyfriend, police detective Ryder Hamilton, to figure out who poisoned Scott. They soon confirm that Scott was involved in an illegal scheme that’s definitely grounds for concern. Just as romance is finally beginning to percolate for Juliet and her best friend, Pete Bennett, she has no choice but to head back to her hometown to seek out the truth. And she’ll need help from the locals to find the real killer—otherwise her happily ever after could easily end up including an actual ball and chain.

Murder over Mochas is a well crafted mystery with plenty of wacky characters, some funny moments, and plenty of tension. I like the depth of the mystery, and how complicated the mystery became with the variety of characters that readers met through the read. I was a little annoyed with the amount of ex boyfriends and whatnot of Juliet's crept into the story, but I was glad to see many of the relationship issues resolved by the end of the book. I liked the tangled nature of the mystery- it is not just murder and cheating- there are kickbacks and desperate people doing good and bad for different reasons. I kind of wanted more of the why's surrounding the bad guys decent and how he ended up where he was and how the people ended up so connected in unexpected ways. I admit that I suspected who the big bad was after awhile, since the track of suspects got to be too predictable, but the way everything came together made the read a lot of fun.

Murder over Mochas is what feels like the last book of this series, although I could be wrong. I love that I got a wrap up of so many long standing questions, and that fans of Fardig's other mystery series, Lizzie Hart Mysteries, will get a kick out of seeing their favorite characters make an appearance. Now I just need to find the time to read the other series because I want to see more.

Murder Over Mochas is the 5th book in the Java Jive Series but Caroline Fardig. It was a really fun read and it was nice to see the way the relationships have developed throughout the series. Although it could be read as a stand alone there is a ton of back story that would make the relationships between the characters a bit confusing without having read the first four books.
This book was a lot of fun because the main character, Juliet is full of sass and has a take charge attitude that gets her in trouble, but also endears her to the readers. She isn’t without her flaws but they only add to her likeability. In this installment of the mystery series we meet the ex that screwed over and when he drops dead and she is a suspect we get to watch her dig into his recent past to figure out what’s going on. I liked that this mystery delved into the pharmaceutical drug sales area, not one I had seen in a cozy mystery before and it seemed like a realistic story line to me. It was a fast paced, fun read that ended just the way I hoped it would. I definitely recommend this to any cozy mystery fans.

Murder Over Mochas starts with Juliet Langley punching Scott O'Malley right on the nose. I believe he deserved that and a lot more. How would you feel if your ex-fiance cheated on you, emptied your joint bank account and stole everything you owned and then had enough nerve to show up asking for help? Unfortunately, Scott died shortly after hitting the floor complicating Juliet's life even more.

This is a great mystery that is well written. The characters have depth and are believable. The pharmaceutical companies and their buyers take a hard hit in this story. It shows some of the corruption and competition that occurs in high profit businesses.

I've never been disappointed by any book written by Caroline Fardig. I hope she has a long and prosperous writing career. I was given an advanced readers copy through NetGalley and am voluntarily submitting my review.