Bleeding Tarts actually made me giggle out loud. Kirsten Heiss is such a good writer, I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in the series

Cozy mysteries tend to have a cast of "kooky" characters, but this one is just too zany for me. There's Charlene, with her narcoleptic cat and out there beliefs; Heidi from the gym right next door and her "Sugar Kills," agenda, and a whole other cast of townspeople.

Val could quite possibly the worst business person ever. Brand new PIE restaurant, but no idea how to make a pie crust. Too many employees and not enough money coming in to pay them Nearly 60% of restaurants fail in the first year, most owners spend most of their time in their restaurant that year, so as to cut payroll costs. Honestly, I can give a cozy some leeway, but this just stretches things too far.

It was all just too over the top for me and I found myself putting my Kindle aside to do other things. This is the last visit to Pietown for me.

Bleeding Tarts by Kirsten Weiss is the second slice of A Pie Town Mystery series. Val Harris owns Pie town in San Nicholas, California. Val along with her crust maker, Charlene McCree are taking pies out to the Bar X (an Old West ghost town available for events) for a pie eating contest. Val is hoping to get a contract to regularly supply pies from the owner, Ewan Frith which will help her struggling business (she has hired too many employees). Val is carting the cherry pies to the saloon when a shot rings out and shoots one of the pies splattering her with cherry goo. Val ducks into an alley and finds a man dead on the ground, and he is not playing opossum. Who was the shooter aiming at? The victim is Devon Blackett who was the bartender for Bar X. With Val once again a suspect in a murder case, her dinner date with Detective Gordon Carmichael is canceled. Charlene is determined that they (Baker Street Bakers) will solve the case especially since her archrival, Marla Van Helsing has decided sleuthing is her new profession (she even printed up cards). The killer, though, is a nasty varmint who wishes to derail their sleuthing by taking out Val. Then a second Bar X employee is killed. Val and Charlene need to work quickly before the Bar X turns into a real ghost town.

Bleeding Tarts is a humorous, quick paced cozy mystery. While this is the second installment in A Pie Town Mystery series, it can stand on its own. There are numerous quirky characters along with zany antics sprinkled throughout the story. Heidi, who own Heidi’s Gym, is back and she has increased the size of her “Sugar Kills” sign (her business is next door to Pie Town). Charlene is still going around town with Frederick, her cat, draped about her shoulders. Marla Van Helsing is a black widow (all of her husbands were rich and are now dead) on the prowl for her latest victim (i.e. husband). Val needs this venture with Bar X to be a success since her business is doomed without it. She has taken on too many employees and there is not enough money coming in to support them (assistant manager, pie crust maker, dishwasher, pie maker). It might help if she did not have coffee available for customers on the honor system (put money in a jar). I think Val should take some business classes or get a good accountant. Let us not forget Charlene’s obsession with ghosts, fairies and all things extraterrestrial. She is not sure if the problem in the local park is a ghost or if fairies have moved in. I did love the Samantha Carter, Rodney McKay, and Dr. Zelenka references (fans of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis will get it). I wish the mystery had been a stronger. There are a limited number of suspects, and I was able to identify the guilty party. There is some misdirection that could send readers down the wrong trail. My rating for Bleeding Tarts is 3 out of 5 stars. Bleeding Tarts will have you laughing from the very first page as Charlene drives them out to the Bar X (she should have her license taken away).

Bleeding Tarts is the second in the Pie Town series and it's as fabulous as the first in series ! This series is a delight as its humorous throughout and has great characters with perfect comedy magic. I love everything about this series ! The fabulous cover with all the clues , the well plotted mystery that kept me guessing and the pies are a added bonus to each book. The author has a winning writing style that is pleasing to read and fast paced.
Valentine ‘Val’ Harris moved to the small town of San Nicholas in California, where she followed her dream and opened Pie Town shop. She is a talented pie baker and hopes to expand her business. She’s excited when the owner of the Bar X, places a large order of pies for a pie-eating contest and has such high hopes of becoming a vendor for the old west ghost town. When Val and her talented piecrust maker, Charlene McCree, ( her funny sidekick) are delivering the pies, a bullet hits one of the cherry pies Val’s carrying! She frantically searches for a place to hide while covered in cherry pie and discovers a body. The deceased is Devon the Bar X’s bartender.
Detective Gordon Carmichael, the detective in San Nicholas was Val’s upcoming hopeful first date. Their date must now be postponed because she’s found another murder victim and he cannot date her when she is a possible suspect. Val decides to save herself and her business reputation she must find out the truth behind the murder.
As Val delves into many clues and begins to get close to the suspect, Gordon and Charlene must keep her safe and hilarious antics ensue.
I absolutely love this series ! its one of my favorite new cozy series . It always has a great mystery, lots of humor and fun quirky characters. The pies are scrumptious and a enjoyable part of this series is the pie baking. I look forward to the next in series and cannot wait to read their next adventure. The author has created a small town,, friends, a great business and wonderful fun protagonist that blend together for the definitive cozy mystery!
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my personal review

This is a cozy murder mystery with a splash of humor.
The main characters of this series are a pie shop owner, with a past of being involved in solving three murders, an octogenarian friend and coworker who sees a mystery to solve in every corner.
They are both part of the sleuthing group Baker Street Bakers, and Val, our main character has her eyes set on the police detective Gordon.
When they are hired for a pie eating contest at an old town style bar, the delivery is made with more than a few inconveniences. Charlene has to confronte her old time Nemesis, while Val is in the middle of a shooting where the a Cherry pie has being injured and a murder is uncovered.
Lots of fun moments, suspects and unexpected twists.

Bleeding Tarts by Kirsten Weiss is the 2nd book in the Pie Town Mystery series, and I loved it. Bleeding Tarts is a perfect blend of mystery and humor. Not only is this book really funny, I often found myself laughing out loud a lot, the mystery kept me guessing. I found this book to be a quick read, I read it in one day, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love humorous cozy mysteries, I recommend this book and series.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bleeding Tarts is the second in the Pie Town series and it's just as good as the first. Val and Charlene work hard to make Pie Town Shop a success but they are not there yet. When the chance to supply the pies for a pie eating contest at the Bar X, a faux ghost town, she is eager to bake up a storm with the hope that it will lead to a steady gig supplying pies to private events at the ghost town. That shouldn't include bullets flying before she has even delivered the pies. One poor pie bites the dust when it is shot out of her hands - good shot if the shooter was aiming for the pie or bad shot that the bullet missed Val? When she heads for cover she finds the body of the bartender and so begins another entertaining mystery with Val and Charlene investigating whodunnit and why? Along the way both Val and Charlene have to deal with a couple of people who have made it their mission in life to really annoy the pie ladies. Why does Marla have to show up here, of all places?
I love the team of Val and Charlene and the humor. The mystery is as satisfying as one of their pies with none of the calories. I'm looking forward to the third in the series.

This series is just so much fun, I can't get enough. As always, the setting of the story completely sets the tone. We are back with the characters whom feel more like quirky old friends. The author does a great job of setting the stage and the way the characters have progressed leads to a great murder mystery full of twists, turns, humor, and pie.

Bleeding Tarts is the second installment in the Pie Town Mystery series set in San Nicholas, CA and featuring Val Harris, pie maker and owner of Pie Town. The new shop is gaining a reputation but Val is still struggling to make ends meet and is looking forward to landing a new wholesale client. She and crust maker, Charlene McCree along with the narcoleptic furry Frederick make their way to Bar X, the exclusive fake Old West Town.

While Val is delighted to meet Bar X owner, Ewan Frith and his daughter Bridget, Charlene is foaming at the mouth with the discovery that her high school nemesis Marla is also on the scene. It's only a matter of minutes before gunshots ring out, a pie is shot out of Val's hands, and Bar X bartender Devon Blackett is discovered dead in an alley.

Against her better wishes Val finds herself drawn into the murder investigation. With only a handful of suspects that include Ewan, Bridget and the trio of sharpshooters, Larry, Moe and Curly, Val thinks she'll have the case wrapped up in no time. But, Charlene is determined to pin the murder on Marla and the rumored Bar X phantom may also play a role.

Despite warnings from possible love interest Detective Gordon Carmichael not to get involved, Val and Charlene quickly find themselves in a sticky situation with the killer turning his sights on Val. A laugh out loud romp that includes phantoms, fairies, the return of the Baker Street Bakers and the nerdy collection of gaming regulars, fanatical gym owner Heidi and Pie Town employees. Mouthwatering pie recipes and a tasty tidbit of what's next to come in Pie Hard finish off this delightful addition to the series.

I received an advanced copy of Bleeding Tarts from NetGalley via Kensington Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

In this second book of the series Val is hard at work trying to keep Pie Town in the black. She has taken on Bar X, a Wild West Town, as a new client. They need pies for their pie eating contest and Val can't wait to add their name to the list of places Pie Town serves and delivers to. While making the delivery with her crust maker they run into a woman that is Charlene's nemesis. Charlene goes off to confront Marla leaving Val to deliver the pies and while doing so not only does she find a body but someone shoots one of the pies in her hands. The dead man is a bartender at the Bar X and has only been working there a few months, who would have wanted to kill him and why? Charlene intends to find out, she has been friends with the owner and his family for years and knows he nor his daughter could have done it. The only problem is Marla, Charlenes nemesis, saying she's is going to find the killer first. Charlene drags Val into the investigation and they start asking questions of the workers. When Val almost gets run over by horses she wonders if they are on to something. There are only so many suspects and all claim to have an alibi but do they really? Val aims to find out. Follow along as Val runs her business, follows clues, helps another client and tries to make a date with a certain cop. This is a fun series filled with interesting characters who believe in fairies, aliens, and so much more. It's a wonderful series that will have you laughing out loud. I look forward to seeing what Val and Charlene get into next.

Valentine Harris is a pie maker with a growing pie shop in a quaint coastal town. The stresses of a new business are enhanced by a pair of wacky elderly ladies with a serious rivalry, car trouble, and a fairy-infested dog park.
Not to mention the murders.
It's challenging to fit everything into the day, But pressure from all sides, plus a mad crush on a member of the police department, pushes Val reluctantly into investigating. Will she figure out who's committing the crimes before she becomes a victim?
Convincingly goofy characters, local color, and likeable people make this a fun series. Great pie recipes add a special touch.

Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

Since nearly dying while investigating a crime, Val Harris and her crust maker, Charlene have taken to solving much more mundane mysteries. When not solving crimes, Val and Charlene are working hard to build Pie Town, improve customer relations, create new recipes, and bring in wholesale customers to increase revenue.

As it happens, the Bar X “ghost” town is looking for a supplier and if Val’s pies go over well at their pie eating contest, Val will have her first wholesale customer. There’s a lot riding on this deal and Val has high hopes. Just as she and Charlene are delivering their baked goods, everything falls apart. One of Val’s pies is shot right out her hands and as she is running for cover, she finds the shot-up body of the Bar X bartender. Yeah, another dead body and murder to solve is just what Val needed in her life.

As always, Charlene is more than ready to dive headlong into the fray and this time, she’s going up her against her arch nemesis! With three amateur detectives, one worthless police chief, and one real detective on the case, it shouldn’t take any time to ferret out the killer. Unfortunately for all those detecting, the killer has no intention of being caught. In fact, the killer has every intention of taking out one or two more people before the whole mess concludes. Unfortunately for Val, she’s on the killer’s to-do list and her detecting partner has lost her mind and drive to solve the crime. If Val doesn’t figure it all out, she’s going to have no wholesale customer, no way to pay her increasing bills, and no life. Just another day at the office, right?

The Bottom Line: Bleeding Tarts has the kind of evolution I like to see in books/series, slow and steady with real purpose. Weiss has given Val forward movement in both her personal life (the yummy detective!) and in her professional life, while giving us more about crazy Charlene’s past. The two women are such a mismatched pair, yet so perfectly suited for another. Charlene is a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of woman, while Val is far more conservative and thoughtful in her approach to detecting, life, and business. Between the two of them, there is always some sort of madness occurring which makes the read so much more fun. There are hijinks and shenanigans, more than a bit of personal drama, and some very real drama to keep the reader interested and moving forward. The pacing is perfect for the story and I enjoyed this one from cover to cover.

Val is trying to expand her business by becoming a regular supplier at the Bar X, a popular but fake ghost town that can be rented out for exclusive events. But when she shows up to deliver samples of her pies, not only is one of her pies shot right out of her hands, but she finds a body in one of the ghost town's alleys. Did someone want the bartender dead, or is there another target out there instead?

This is the second book in Ms. Weiss's Pie Town series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first book. The two main characters complement each other well, with Charlene's impetuousness balanced (most of the time) by Val's more cautious approach to almost everything. The secondary characters are a good mix of fun and annoying, and the story would not be as good without any of them, even the main characters' nemeses. There were a good number of suspects, but I wasn't sure about the identity of the villain until shortly before the reveal in the book. I look forward to reading more books in this series :)

Bleeding Tarts by Kirsten Weiss is the second book in the cozy Pie Town Mystery series. Each book in the series features a new mystery to be solved so it would be possible to understand the mystery as a standalone however the character stories do carry over book to book.

Valentine ‘Val’ Harris is the owner of Pie Town and is out looking for new business hoping for a contract from the owner of the Bar X , a fake ghost town. When Val and her pie crust maker, Charlene, arrive at the Bar X Val finds herself almost the victim of a stray bullet that instead takes out one of the pies she’s carrying.

As Val runs and ducks for cover after her pie is shot she finds herself in the alley next to the saloon at the Bar X where she uncovers a dead body. The bartender of the saloon is in the alley the apparent victim of one of the flying bullets. As Val phones police covered in cherry pie some begin to think she is the shooter so again Val and Charlene find themselves chasing a murderer before they become the next target.

I’m sure it’s very apparent from my rating that I absolutely love this series. It took all of a few page turns to immediately begin laughing again and think to myself oh my I missed Charlene… yes, Charlene the side kick in the stories, the lady is absolutely hilarious. Now don’t get me wrong I’ve enjoyed Val and the setting of her pie shop along with the mysteries but I think if you took Charlene out of the books they would probably fall flat and instead with her I find myself laughing out loud and loving every minute. This series is one that I will be sure to return to over and over just for the laughs alone.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Fun. Setting this in an old west "ghost town" gives Weiss a chance to do some entertaining things with the cozy genre. Val and Charlene are a dynamic duo and their dialogue will make you chuckle (I especially like that Charlene is a "mature" woman.). Who would ever expect that delivering a cherry pie could lead not only to a sniper shooting at the pie but also the discovery of a dead body? Well, that's the basis for this second installment in what I hope will be an ongoing series. Some of the drama between Charlene and her nemesis Marla was a tad much but it didn't distract from the plot. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This one has a little romance (very little), a not too twisty mystery, and some good lines.

Bleeding Tarts is the second book in Kirsten Weiss’ A Pie Town Mystery series. The mystery is well plotted and entertaining, the cast of characters are strong, eccentric, and likable. The two main characters, Val and Charlene, have a chemistry that allows them to work well together and makes them a hilarious duo. There are plenty of suspects to choose from and lots of clues to sift through in order to try to figure out whodunit. There isn’t any graphic violence or adult situations, but there is some adult language.

After Valentine ‘Val’ Harris moved to the small town of San Nicholas in California, she followed her dream and opened Pie Town. She’s excited when Ewan Frith, the owner of the Bar X, places a large order of pies for a pie-eating contest and has high hopes of becoming a regular vendor for the fake old west ghost town. When Val and her talented piecrust maker, Charlene McCree, are delivering the pies, a bullet hits one of the cherry pies Val’s carrying; she drops the remaining pies off in front of the saloon, and frantically searches for a place to hide and discovers a body. The deceased is Devon Blackett, Bar X’s bartender. Detective Gordon Carmichael, the only detective in San Nicholas, and Val’s upcoming first date must be postponed because she’s found another murder victim. Val and Charlene, start asking questions and looking into Devon’s death, another murder occurs, Ray, a gamer and regular Pie Town customer, is injured trying to protect Val during one of the multiple attempts on her life. Charlene’s nemesis, Marla Van Helsing, is trying her hand at investigating to compete with Charlene and Val’s nemesis, Heidi Gladstone, the owner of the gym next to Pie Town who’s dating Mark Jeffreys, Val’s ex-fiancé, continues to torment Val.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I love the cast of characters in the Pie Town Mysteries., especially how vulnerable Val is as she develops her business and grows past her losses. The mystery had me guessing until the very end, the touch of romance was perfect, and the humor spaced throughout had laugh out loud moments. I'm so glad there is another book in the series already in the works. I enthusiastically recommend 'Bleeding Tarts.'

A fun addition to the series. The wild west town setting was fun, but I do wish it was featured more. The mystery was fun and not overly complicated. The recipes at the end had me cracking up.

When pie intended for pie eating contest gets shot, along with the bartender for Bar X, a bar in old ghost West town, there is no question for Val and Charlene but to get involved.
Even though it might mean that she will never had a date with handsome detective who is constantly trying to discourage her from getting involved, Val simply must investigate, especially since someone is making attempts on her life all the time. Charlene is up to her usual antics but when you add involvement of her arch nemesis Marla, gunslingers Larry, Curly and Moe as well as a resident ghost you have all ingredients for a hilarious cozy mystery.
Witty and humorous, it brings a dash of cheeriness into gloomy reality of crime solving.
Cleverly written story with a hint of paranormal this is a real treat for all mystery lovers.
This is the second book in Pie Town Mystery series and I can't wait for many more.

The Charlene/Marla feud was horrible. This book had too many annoying distractions and too little character-building or plot.