Scone Cold Killer is a cozy mystery about Gia Morelli, who moves to a small town in Florida to escape her past in New York City. While she is setting up a new restaurant, the All Day Breakfast Cafe, she discovers her ex-husband dead in the dumpster just out back. With the help of her best friend, Savannah, and Savannah's hunky detective cousin, Hunt, she sets out to find the killer and solve the mystery.

This is such a fun, fast paced mystery. It is lively and a quick, energetic read.

I really liked the character of Gia and enjoyed her acclimation to a new life in Florida. Savannah was a great friend and sidekick. There is even a hint of a possible future romance with Hunt.

The book is wonderfully atmospheric. I loved the small town setting. I know and like the area where this is set (near Ocala, Florida) and that made the read even more enjoyable.

The food descriptions were great and often made me hungry! I love grits (often discussed in this novel), although I prefer them the traditional deep south style (just butter - never sugar).

The mystery is interesting, with several likely suspects, and it kept me guessing right up until the denouement.

I already have the next book in this series on my Wish List. Scone Cold Killer is a terrific start to a new cozy series. I recommend it to other mystery fans!

Author Lena Gregory has a hit with her latest book, the debut of the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries. Scone Cold Killer is amazing! I couldn't put it down, and read it all in one sitting.

Yays:
• The close, supportive relationship — very moving at times — between main-character Gia and her BFF Savannah.
• The concept of an All-Day Breakfast Café — I want to visit Boggy Creek, FL and eat there myself!
• Supporting characters Earl and Harley. Earl provides Gia with some valuable advice and assistance at the café; Harley also provides assistance.
• A very plausible reason for Gia's sleuthing: "She'd trusted the police the last time, and by the time they reluctantly cleared her, it had been too late to save her reputation. She wouldn't let that happen again. Time to take matters into her own hands."

Nays: none

I recommend Scone Cold Killer to all cozy fans, especially ones who are also fans of breakfast and the Read ’Em and Eat Mysteries. I love Scone Cold Killer, and think you will, too.

This new All Day Breakfast Café series is a fun start to a new series. The main character Gia and her best friend Savannah are a hoot together. The story flowed nicely so I wanted to keep reading. I look forward to reading more of this series.

SCONE COLD KILLER by Lena Gregory
The First All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery

Gia Morelli wanted nothing more than to leave New York City and start a new life in Florida without the taint of scandal surrounding her. With the help of her good friend, Savannah, she opens her All-Day Breakfast Café with relative success, despite not having grits to serve and dealing with a lazy cook she needs to fire. Gia soon discovers that her past has followed her when she takes out the trash only to find the dead body of her ex-husband in her dumpster. Does someone want her to pay for her ex-husbands sins?

Friendship is one of the key themes in SCONE COLD KILLER. What does it mean to be a friend? What lengths will you go to to help a friend? Do I want to be friends with the people inhabiting this book? I have some issues with Gia Morelli. While she certainly is a well developed character, I found her fearfulness, admittedly warranted to some degree, and carelessness off putting. The secondary characters, however, are interesting, likable people with whom I want to hang around, especially Earl, Harley, and Savannah. There is backstory just oozing out of these characters and I can't wait to read more about them.

The first All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery is a promising start to a new series. There is an interesting mystery with lots of undercurrents, good food, a cute puppy, and a warm feeling of friendship.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Divorced from her scam artist husband Gia moves to Florida to reboot her life by opening the All-Day Breakfast Café. She has been working on the project for weeks with her old college roommate and best friend Savannah and is excited about her grand opening. The opening wasn’t very smooth, first Gia didn’t have grits on her menu and her fry cook was way out of her depth when she has to cook more than one meal at the same time. Gia can get grits and she can fire the cook but finding the body of her ex-husband in the café’s dumpster is not something she can fix. In fact, most of the town thinks she committed the murder. When another body is found she starts thinking she may have been safer in New York. Before she can pack up her pots and pans Detective Hunter Quinn tells her he knows she is not guilty and will do everything to protect her. But Gia and Savannah decide to investigate on their own and the good detective may not be able to save them this time.

Ms. Gregory has created such wonderful characters for her All Day Breakfast Cafe Mysteries. Gia thought she left her troubles behind but they have followed right behind her. Her diner should be pretty successful after she handles a couple issues with her staff. She is not your typical cozy protagonist because she fears almost everything around her and Florida has many things to be scared of in addition to a murderer, you know, like snakes, spiders, and bears, oh my!

Savannah is a wonderful best friend. She tries to be supportive and find something positive about all the big and little bumps in the toad that rise up to meet Gia. I love the way she decided Gia needed a dog and Thor seems to be the perfect fit. Detective Hunter Quin “Hunt” and Gia have a little romantic spark, but after her past experience, Gia is a little gun shy about dating or having a man in her life.

My favorite supporting character though is Earl. Gia’s first customer who is shocked there are no grits on the menu. But he quickly becomes a regular customer and Gia is thrilled about that. Earl reminds me of an elderly gentleman that frequented my mother’s restaurant many years ago. It is that man’s image that pops into my head as I read about Earl.

This story ebbs and flows at a perfect pace. The author has a nice descriptive writing style that brings the characters and each scene to life. The mystery is complex with plenty of suspects. Filled with twists and some scary turns, this was not an easy mystery to solve and I didn’t figure out until the reveal.

I enjoyed the touches of humor and romance that are expected in a cozy mystery. There is so much for the author to build on as the series continues.

Kudos, Ms. Gregory, this series is off to a terrific start. Cozy lovers, you will love this story!

Scone Cold Killer is a well written murder mystery. I loved the well crafted plot and characters. I also enjoyed the author's writing. I highly recommend this book.

Gia Morelli's life has fallen apart. Her ex-husband was convicted of swindling people out of millions, and everyone thought she knew about it, hounding her constantly. So she moved to Florida to be near her best friend Savannah and open a breakfast cafe. She hoped that she'd be far enough away that no one would have ever heard of Bradley Remington.

But on her first days' opening, she she finds something in the dumpster...her ex-husband. After calling the police, she not only discovers that her past has followed her, but that the detective in charge of the case, Hunter Quinn, is Savannah's cousin. Shaken and demoralized, she reluctantly accepts the help of those around her, but then things start to escalate. Both her garage and cafe are broken into, and a mysterious woman confronts her about Bradley. It seems people are after something Bradley left with her, but she hasn't a clue as to what they're talking about. She left with only what she could take, and a paltry settlement from her divorce. Yet someone wants something, and they'll stop at nothing to get it, even if it costs Gia her life...

This is a wonderful beginning to a new series. Gia is a delightful character - she's tough yet vulnerable, and it shows in her thoughts and actions. She's torn at the thought of her attraction to Hunt and yet not trusting men. Her friendship with Savannah is strong, and she's torn at keeping her near or wanting to see her safe. She's wary of anyone she meets but doesn't know if she'll ever be free of her past. She's complex; but who wouldn't be, having gone through what she has?

The mystery was extremely well done, the characters well drawn. Each one had a definite personality and it was very nice to see some backstory involved - a bit of history to all so that we can truly understand who they are. I took an immediate liking to most of them, which is a very good thing in a book.

While I also wanted to know what it was that Bradley left with her, I defied my curiosity and carried through to the end of the book instead of peeking at it. It made the story more enjoyable to discover along with Gia what everyone was looking for, and gave a nice bit of tension to the tale.

I believe that Ms. Gregory has found her niche with this new series. The characters are animated, the scenery vivid, the mystery believable. When we come to the end and the killer is revealed, it was both satisfying and convincing. I only wish the sequel was at hand, since I didn't want it to end. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Lena Gregory isn't new to the cozy mystery scene, so it should be no surprise that this book is a hit and looks to be setting up a great new series! Enter Gia, a shamed woman trying to escape the scandal her ex-husband created when he swindled lots of money from the millionaires in New York. Gia just wants to relocate to Florida, open up her All-Day Breakfast Cafe and start to enjoy her new life with best friend, Savannah. However it seems that could be the last thing she will do when her ex turns up murdered in the dumpster behind her cafe, on the very first day of being open.

This book has a story that is fast-paced and lively and characters that make you feel like you have known them for, forever. Gia is the opposite of most lead characters you find in cozy mysteries, as she is scared of most everything but has a big heart and a strong mind for solving crime. The setup for this series looks to be interesting and there may even be new love for Gia in the future, as well as many new friends that look to be Gia's new family unit like sweet Earl and Harley. And of course, how can we forget her little critter companion, Thor? How can you not instantly love a story with an adorable pup!

Overall, I found this book well thought out, well set up and a fun mystery to try and figure out. I look forward to see what else lies ahead for Gia and the rest of the crew in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe series! This book is a definite do not miss! And guess what? You can already pre-order Book Two, Murder, Made to Order, which is set to be released June 19, 2018!

Author Lena Gregory has served up a wonderful first course in her All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series.

I was hungry for this series the moment I heard about it! I mean, an All-Day Breakfast Café? That’s my kind of place to eat! So, I had very high hopes going into SCONE COLD KILLER. I wasn’t disappointed.

I enjoyed the setting, and could vividly picture the café in my mind. The eclectic cast of characters made for an interesting read. I enjoyed most of them. There is one character that I’m still unsure about, but am withholding judgment until the next book in the series. I look forward to seeing how all the characters grow, and how author Gregory fleshes them out.

An easy, flowing read, I flew through this tale quickly in one setting. The mystery was tight, and well done. I thought I had it figured out, only to find I had missed an important clue, and guessed wrong. So, that made for a surprising ending for me.

SCONE COLD KILLER is story cozy fans are sure to love. And the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries will certainly be on your must read list!

Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory is the first book in An All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. Gia Morelli has relocated from New York to Boggy Creek, Florida. Her ex-husband was an investor who stole millions from his clients and Gia needs to escape the upset investors. Gia purchased two properties and is turning one of them into the All-Day Breakfast Café. The other property (which she purchased sight unseen) will be her new home. Her best friend, Savannah helped her get the café ready for customers and she has hired two employees (she failed to look at their applications or check references). Gia opens her café the next day and it is a hit with the customers. The only drawback is her new cook, Maybelle who can only cook one meal at a time and lacks social skills (in other words, lazy and rude). At the end of a long day, Gia goes outside to put the trash in the dumpster and sees an arm sticking out. Gia recognizes the ring on the hand as well as the expensive manicure and realizes that her ex-husband’s crimes have finally caught up with him. Later that night when Gia arrives home, she discovers that someone has broken in. They are looking for something, but what? Gia then finds a threatening note in her mailbox. The killer believes she has something of her ex-husbands and they are willing to kill to get it. Gia needs to discover what it is they want before she ends up the next victim.

Scone Cold Killer has a good pace with plenty of activity. I felt, though, that the characters and town lacked development. We are told very little about the Boggy Creek. I was not fond of the main character, Gia Morelli. She is an emotional mess who should not be running a business. She jumps at every little noise. She starts shaking, sweating, etc. She is nervous thanks to the investors that have been harassing her in New York (someone needs to find her a good therapist). Gia is also afraid of spider, snakes (I can relate to this one), wild animals and so much more. Gia had a complete meltdown when she was confronted by a spider (it was just ridiculous). It seems that Gia did not do her research on her new town (unaware that wild animals were nearby). Would you hire someone without looking at their application or checking with past employers? Gia did! Would you open a restaurant without checking to see what locals like to eat? Gia seemed oblivious that Southerners like grits (I do not get the fascination, but my Father loved them). She is also scatter brained and a dreamer (her attention drifts in the middle of conversations). I can see how Bradley was able to take advantage of Gia. Gia came across as annoying and off-putting. Drama surrounding Gia and her anxiety took up a good portion of the book. Savannah, on the other hand, was a character I liked. She has a great attitude and personality. It is a shame she is not the main character. There is a love interest for Gia in the form of Detective Hunter Quinn. We know that he is handsome, well built, sexy, and manly (we are told this quite a few times). I never felt the connection between the two characters (no spark). The dialogue between them is lackluster. If I was Hunter, I would run (not walk) away from the anxious and whiny Gia. I was hoping that the mystery would be compelling to make up for the rest of the book, but I was once again disappointed. One tiny clue (if you need it) gives it away. Scone Cold Killer was not a good fit for me.

4.5 stars. Great mystery with terrific characters. The pacing is great - the mystery built at a steady pace. I wasn't left languishing in the middle with either too much filler or rehashing suspects and clues. I will most definitely read more from this series in the future!

Leaving her troubles behind Gia Morelli moves to Florida to open the All Day Breakfast Buffet. Gia thinks her biggest problem is her cook who can only cook one meal at a time. However it turns out her troubles are going to get a lot worse when she discovers an arm hanging out of the dumpster behind her restaurant. That arm belongs to her ex-husband.

This is a good first in the series story. I got to know enough about the characters to like them but there were teasers to let me know there is a lot more I want to know. The author did a good job making me curious enough to read the whole story in one day and leave me wanting more answers. I look forward to the next book in the All Day Breakfast Café Mystery series.

I was given an ARC of this story in exchange for a honest review.

Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory is the first book in the new cozy All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. This series introduces readers to Gia Morelli who after recently divorcing her husband has decided to make a fresh start by moving from New York to a small town in Florida. Her husband was convicted and is awaiting sentencing for stealing money from wealthy clients is found dead in the dumpster behind her new café at the end of the opening day .
I found the book to be slow at first. I did not have a strong desire to continue except that I wanted to give this book a fair shot. Gia is scared by her own shadow which put me off. I am glad that I stuck with it. The story does have some good twists and turns.
For a first in the series, It has a good start. Looking forward to the next.
Thanks to Netgalley, Kensington Books- Lyrical Underground, and the author for an opportunity to read this book.

This book was everything I like in a cozy and more! It's a brand new series by established author Lena Gregory.

Gia Morelli has come to Florida to start her own cafe, the All-Day Breakfast Cafe. Her life has been really crazy up to this point. Her ex-husband Bradley Remington was running a lot of schemes and scamming money out of people. Gia is tired of having anything to do with him and being in the spotlight. She just wants a quiet place to live and run her business so her friend Savannah talked her into coming to Boggy Creek, FL. Gia's bought a house and even adopts an adorable puppy--Savannah insisted on a medium size breed since due to Bradley's schemes, she thinks her friend will need protection.

The diner is off to a nice start with the exception of Gia having hired a woman who turns out to be too lazy to be a cook. Finding the body of her ex in the dumpster outside sort of tops that off. Savannah's cousin, Det. Hunter Quinn is on the case and he's going to make sure that Gia is protected while he investigates. Gia and Savannah take matters into their own hands when another body is found, this time in Gia's own backyard. At least she's not the one that finds it. Their trip to snoop around a local bed and breakfast is actually really funny. I could totally see it happening in a funny mystery show.

There were so many awesome characters that quickly became new friends. I just loved Earl, the regular at the cafe who made sure that Gia knew to serve grits. Harley, the local homeless guy with a real heart of gold is another one. I loved that Gia was kind to him and left him food--he didn't want to come inside buildings but when push came to shove, he overcame that just for Gia. It was fun to meet one of Savannah's brothers too. The one named Joey watched Gia's puppy Thor for a little bit while the girls went on their little errand.

The ending was pretty exciting and although I was suspicious of someone all along, the reveal still came as a surprise to me because I wasn't suspecting that person of actual murder.

With the case officially solved and Gia happy with her new little family in Florida, I'm super anxious to read the next book. Hunter has been so sweet to her so I hope they become even better friends in the following books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader's copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Divorcé Gia Morelli is trying to start a new life away from the victims of her ex-husband's crimes. He conned a lot of people out of a lot of money, and some people refuse to believe she is innocent.
The first day in her new business starts well but ends with a body in the garbage.
Detective Hunter Quinn is a good honest cop and will do all he can to protect his cousin's friend. Unfortunately she is not making it easy.
Our heroine has brought her troubles all the way from New York to Florida. Can she hope to make a good life in her new home?
A very entertaining murder / mystery with great characters. It was impossible to guess who the villain was until we are told. Just the way I like it.
Really good fun.

Lena Gregory has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her books automatically make it to my must-buy list. Even when I read one of her books via Netgalley in digital form, I want a paperback copy for my favorites shelf. Part of the appeal are the adorable giant sized dogs in each story I have read so far, and on the covers, but it is Lena's voice and ability to keep me turning pages that makes her among my favorite authors. Her books keep me eager to know what will happen next while wanting the story to continue as long as possible.

Scone Cold Killer has all the aspects I love in a cozy type mystery but the edge of a true romantic suspense novel, emphasis on the suspense. While detective Hunt Quinn is sizzlingly sexy, he takes his job seriously and is truly one of the good guys. Gia Morelli still has a hard time trusting him as her experience with men, and cops, has been less than reassuring.

A great story about starting over when the past keeps sneaking up behind you and won't go away.
Fantastic cast including a best friend such as we all wish we had in our lives.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series. It will be perfect beach reading.

I really liked this book--and would have loved it, except for the fact that there seemed to be some inconsistancies in the character of the heroine. I didn't mind that Gia seemed scared of every critter she came across, but it seems like at times she was very leery of people and others she was blindly trusting. Over all, it was a good story, even if a bit predictable. I would definitely recommend this book, and would like to read the next.

Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory
Book #1: All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Gia Morelli’s ex-husband is a slimy rat bastard who lies, steals, cheats, and has zero remorse for his actions. What’s more, Gia knew nothing of his antics and shenanigans until they all came to light in open court and the victims of his crime began verbally attacking her. Getting free of her ex was of the utmost importance, and her new life and new career in Florida, far, far away from New York was meant to be a fresh start/clean break post-divorce. Unfortunately, the rat bastard has turned up dead in her newly opened café’s dumpster. Can’t a girl catch a break?

As it turns out, no! Just a day after her new café opens, Gia must shut down her café thanks to her rat bastard ex being dead in the dumpster. What’s more, she already needs a new cook and she has no idea what the hell a grit is or how to make one. As luck would have it, a new, perfectly qualified and skilled cook shows up just as Gia is getting truly desperate. As a bonus, he knows exactly what a grit is and how to properly prepare them. With the cook situation sorted, Gia just has to hope local residents will be willing to overlook the tiny issue of the murder victim and give her café a chance. Of course, it would be just like Gia’s ex to tank her hopes and dreams even after he’s dead ☹

As fate would have it, only Gia’s best friend a few loyal locals are willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Gia’s past, and more importantly, her ex-past has come a callin’ and Gia just hasn’t had enough time to establish her own reputation in her new home. With the café lagging, Gia has time to sort out the mess her ex has brought to her front doorstep (or back dumpster as the case may be) and what she digs up is as disturbing as his previous activities. Despite the hot detective’s warnings against becoming more involved and putting herself in danger, Gia continues with dogged determination to clear her name and solve the mystery of her wretched ex and his plots and schemes.

The Bottom Line: Quite frankly, I was going to read any book that involves an all-day breakfast café, it’s just a bonus that the plot and characters were quite good too. Gia is simply at her whit’s end when she arrives in Florida. She is beyond ready for the past to be well and truly in the past and to start her new life as a successful single woman. When her past shows up in a most unpleasant way, Gia realizes she won’t be done with the past until she closes the book herself. She digs and dives into every lead despite her fear which makes her all the more interesting. Her best-friend is a fiery delight, “her” hot detective is going to be a mountain of sexy fun in the future, and the café is going to be a wonderful hub for all Gia’s future sleuthing.

Gia Morelli’s marriage falls apart, and no believe her when she tells them she had no idea her husband was a lying, cheating, scumbag. She knows it’s time to get out of New York. Her husband was a scam artist who swindled half the millionaires in town. She has become their target for revenge, and she can’t take any more.

On the spur of the moment, she follows her best friend to a small town in Central Florida, where she braves snakes, bears, and giant spiders to open a cheery little diner called the All-Day Breakfast Café. Owning a restaurant has been her lifelong dream, but it turns into a nightmare the morning after she opens when she finds her ex-husband crammed inside her dumpster. As the main suspect, Gia will have to scramble fast to prove her innocence before the killer strike again, and she becomes the body in the dumpster.

--

Series: All-Day Breakfast Cafe - Book 1
Author: Lena Gregory
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Culinary/Lyrical Underground

Author Lena Gregory has created a wonderfully fun entertaining story with believable characters and interesting scenarios. Scone Cold Killer will have the reader laughing happily and a bit concerned for Gia’s future but will also keep them turning the page and cheering her on.

Gia is a woman who is desperate for some peace in her life. Finding out that the man you loved, married and spent many years believing in was nothing more than a cheating con artist isn’t easy. Add in death threats, revenge of all manner and the “yeah, sure you didn’t know” game, puts Gia in the path of people who want revenge no matter what the cost. She’s a good person trying to stay one. Trying to start over isn’t easy and being the suspect in your husband's murder doesn’t make things any better.

Savannah and Hunt are fantastic characters who help Gia even when she doesn’t want them too. Hunt may be a cop, but he is on her side, and even if she were guilty, he would still treat her with respect and care. Savannah is Gia’s best friend, but while trying to clear her name, she learns that she doesn’t know as much about her friend as she thought she did. Everything they go through makes their friendship stronger, and even though Gia doesn’t want to get involved with a man again, she can’t keep from liking Hunt and maybe more.

A small Florida town with forest views to die for and decent, hard-working people are the perfect setting for murder and intrigue. The town holds festivals, art shows and is filled with crafters. It is a dream come true for most people who have ideas and dreams and just want peace.

Scone Cold Killer is well written, filled with action and lovable characters. Readers will quickly fall for these characters and the town and will want to see everything turn out right for Gia. Overall this is a great first book in a new series and is extremely recommended to readers of cozies with a culinary and pet bent that is intricate to the plot and development of the characters.