This is the 2nd book in the Wine Country Mystery series written by Nancy J. Parra. I didn't read the first book, but I didn't have any problem following the story. "Taylor O’Brian, founder of “Off the Beaten Path”, takes small groups on wine country tours of romantic Sonoma County." She isn't as big as she would like to be, but honestly, when does she have time to lead tour groups when she's solving murders?

I love cozy mysteries and love discovering a new (to me) series. This was a fun one with likeable characters and an engaging plot. I felt like I learned a bit about wine making as well, which was a plus.

I enjoyed this foray into wine country with a side of cozy mystery, and look forward to going back and reading the first book in the series.

4/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Nancy J. Parra for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I read this book after a recent holiday in Napa and Sonoma and was hoping to relive more of the atmosphere I experienced there. But I found I needed a glass or two of wine to get through it.

I needed a book with a Z in the title for a challenge, so I thought I’d give this little cosy a go. Set in a vineyard, it sounded cute enough. But…

My first bit of advice would be if you are thinking of reading this book is not to read the blurb. It’s full of spoilers. I’m not sure what they were thinking there.

The blurb/book cover also announces that recipes are included. I’m not sure why [they included them]. There is no food porn in this book. Oh, a character whips up a salad in one scene but I wouldn't call it a new and unique recipe. Unfortunately there isn’t really anything much about wine either. A couple of things here and there about stirring vats etc, but nothing that made me want to pour a glass to enjoy whilst reading.

The way the first body was discovered was actually a good idea but the way the scene was written wasn’t. It didn’t capture any of the characters’ shock at all. The murderer, I must say, was pretty obvious from the beginning. There is a plethora of red herrings -- maybe too many -- but Parra seemed to go off track with her plot sometimes. The inclusion of a self-help guru and his admiring cult was simply odd. And then there was a seance and a psychic talking to the dead…

I had the same issue I often have with these type of books - the heroine doesn’t actually solve the murder. Pretty much everyone just tells her what happened in a giant information dump near the end. And I must whinge that there were a couple of plot points that Parra never bothered explaining at all. (They weren't the type of thing that would be used again in a third book either.)

The characters all ran into each other a bit. As in, they’re all very similar. The heroine is forgettable and her love interest hardly says two words, so I didn’t really form an opinion. He might have been more prominent in the first book but, on that, I don’t think you’d need to read the first for any of this second one to make sense. To be cruel, it’s not that complex.

Another big issue I had with the book is that there was too much dialogue, meaning there was a distinct lack of descriptive passages. At least it saved me from too many thinky thoughts, I guess!

Obviously from the above, I wasn’t overly keen on Parra’s writing. I think 2 out of 5 sounds fair.

An enjoyable mystery set in California's wine country, with a likable heroine, plenty of twists and also some wine info!

Taylor O’Brian, the founder of Off the Beaten Path which leads group tours of Sonoma County wine country. She is only happy to help her friend Tim by giving a tour of his vineyard. That is until a body is found in one of Tim’s vats. With Tim being the prime suspect Taylor can’t help but start her own investigation to help her friend only to find another body. Can Taylor find the murder or murders before he or she kills again?

This is the second book in the series but my first one. This book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery. The mystery has several twists and turns as many secrets are being kept. The main character, our amateur sleuth, seems to be surrounded by chaos at times. She reacts from the heart instead of her head. This is a fun read with quirky characters, I look forward to seeing how the series progresses.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.

I enjoyed this wonderful cozy mystery. Couldn't put it down, had me guessing who and why. This is a perfect read to read anytime anywhere. I recommend it to others.

This is the 2nd book in the Wine Country Mystery series. This is a cute series with a great Sonoma/Napa Valley CA setting. The main character, Taylor, runs a wine tour business that works with wineries all over the valley. She takes a group of investors on a tour to her friend Tim's winery where they find a purple (!) dead body floating in a wine vat. Taylor steps in to investigate and clear her friend Tim.

Interesting characters and a nice setting made this an easy read,

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Seven Deadly Zins by Nancy J Parra is the second book in the Sonoma Wine Country Mystery series. Taylor lives with her aunt who owns a winery. She also started her own wine tour company complete with an old VW bus. When a murder is discovered during one of her tours, she she jumps in to solve the mystery. I like that this series is a bit quirky. I do wish that the story line was more focused. So many things are happening at once. It would be better if they were spread out over several books rather than being packed into one. However, it is not so off putting that I will not continue with the series.

Ok, I love Nancy Parra and this newer series of hers has beautiful covers and play on words all around wine country.
Our protag Taylor O'Brian is trying to make a go of her new business giving adventurous groups wine country tours in Sonoma. But there is some competition on the scene as a rival business opens and Taylor is worried her business may fail. If it's not that, it's finding another dead body on one.of her tours. Taylor tries to get to the bottom of a famous self help guru's undisputed success and subsequent demise. And who she thinks she can trust is not reality when she goes to reveal the murderer.

Seven Deadly Zins by Nancy J. Parra
Book #2: A Wine Country Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Rating: 2½/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: Round two of A Wine Country Mystery series is once again set in idyllic Sonoma wine country and once again, that idyllic setting is marred by a murder and Taylor O’Brian is right in the thick of the investigation. Though she isn’t accused this time, Taylor’s good friend and fellow winery owner, Tim Slade is, and Taylor just can’t let her friend go to prison for a murder she is certain he didn’t commit. As with the first book, Taylor spends the bulk of the read poking her nose into things best left to the police and getting herself (and her friends!) into a load of trouble. As with the first book, I liked the setting and some of the characters, but that’s where the good ends for me. Taylor still doesn’t feel like a very solid, well-developed character and this time around I found the plot to be rather convoluted. While I had no difficulty following the plot, I found its complications to be unnecessary and fussy which caused to me to enjoy the overall read less. At the end of it all, I don’t think an idyllic setting and lovely wine descriptions are going to be enough to keep me coming back to this series. With the amount of cozy mysteries out there, I really need these series to deliver on multiple levels and this series, sadly just isn’t delivering.

Wine and a cozy mystery are the perfect pair in this delightful cozy! I was really into this mystery and was constantly kept guessing at The Who and the why.

This series is one that I wasn't sure if I would enjoy but I've found it to be interesting. I love Taylor's tours and the interesting information that comes with each book.

The book is well-written and I feel like Taylor has become a friend. Although I wasn't a fan of the 'guru' angle, it did provide for an interesting break from the mystery.

I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!

In this second installment of Nancy J. Parra’s A Wine Country Mystery series, Seven Deadly Zins, we become reacquainted with Taylor O’Brian who owns Off the Beaten Path Wine Country Tours. Taylor’s fledgling business seems to be taking off, that is until a body is discovered in a wine vat during one of her tours. A rival uses this to her advantage and Taylor know that she must solve the murder to save her business. A fun and engaging read!

Taylor O'Brian is back, running her 'Off The Beaten Path' wine tours and helping her Aunt Jemma at her aunt's winery in Sonoma, California. In this book, Taylor is up against a rival tour guide, who somehow seems to have got the lock on all the best tourist bits in town, despite only having been up and running for a couple of months. Then there's the body that's found in her friend Tim's fermentation vat, and a second body in the form of a popular spiritual adviser who has been holding some talks in Sonoma. Oh, and then her Aunt Jemma gets kidnapped...Taylor involves herself in the investigation when her friend Tim is suspected of the first murder, a real estate developer who Tim's girlfriend, Mandy, worked part-time for. But what was he doing in the vat?

There's a lot of stuff going on in this book, and the three main themes don't really integrate with each other, although there are some light overlaps. But I struggled to fully connect with Taylor in this go around. I just...didn't like her much. And has Holly always been such a dimwit?

I felt like I was driving on square tires with respect to the dialogue, it felt that clunky. And I had a couple of questions: Aunt Jemma didn't attend the tour at Tim's winery where he said he stirred his fermentation tanks at 10AM and 10PM. So how does she know this when she says it to Taylor when Taylor gets back and tells her aunt about the first murder? Also, I felt it was really random/convenient to have Tim at the scene of the second murder, for all of about 2 minutes. Why was he there? Why WOULD he be there? He didn't believe in Mandy's spiritual adviser's gumphf in the first place, so for him to be at a talk, and particularly be backstage at it, simply doesn't make sense. So there's that.

Overall, I didn't dislike it, but I'm not sure it's a series I'll continue as it took me a few days to get through it, and I have others I enjoy far more.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Taylor O’Brian owns Off the Beaten Path Wine Country Tours. She offers unique outings for small groups to visit local wineries and other points of interest in Sonoma County. This time she has a group of investors and their first stop is a winery owned by her friend Tim Slade. Unfortunately when Tim demonstrates one of the key processes of winemaking he gets a terrible surprise. A body in one of the vats. Without an alibi, he is arrested. Tim can rub some folks the wrong way, but he is not a killer. Since this is not the first time Taylor has been involved in a murder investigation she knows the ropes. She knows she is going to have to come up with a least one alternate suspect. Strangely it is a visit to see a self-help guru that points Taylor in the right direction. Yes, she is there when another dead body is found, but it helps her to start to uncork this wine filled mystery.

There is a lot happening in this story and at times it gets to be a little chaotic. In addition to the main murder mystery, Taylor learns she has new competition in the wine tour realm. I must say the other woman seems far more organized and business savvy, she makes Taylor look like an amateur. Also, Dr. Adam Brinkman, a renowned self-help guru comes to town and crowds are lined up for his seminars. Aunt Jemma leads a “seance” when her psychic friend is unavailable and then that psychic takes over one of Taylor’s tours when Taylor has to handle a family crisis. It all blends together but not as smoothly as I would have liked. There is a really nice twist at the end that really saved this story for me.

Taylor has evolved a little bit since the first book, A Case of Syrah, Syrah, but I still find her frustrating. She is her own worst enemy. She pushes ahead without a clear plan of where she is headed or what she is trying to accomplish. She leads with her heart and not with her head, which can be endearing until it happens too often. I enjoyed her get-togethers with her friends and the relationship she has with her aunt. There are two potential love interests for her but she is indecisive about them as well.

The setting is wonderful. I could picture most of the places traveled very easily. I have always wanted to take a vacation to Sonoma and visit as many wineries as possible. The setting and the colorful covers are what really drew me to this series.

This story missed the mark for me a little bit, but I have hope that Taylor will continue to evolve and I will grow to like her as much as I do the supporting cast.

Seven Deadly Zins is the second book in the Sonoma Wine Country Mystery series! We meet up again with Taylor O’Brian who again stumbles upon another dead body and her good friend Tim is the number one suspect. Can Taylor clear his name?

I LOVED the first book in the series, and the second book was even better! Everything about it was outstanding—the characters were all still delightfully charming and the mystery left me in awe. It was so creative and twisty and just well-executed! It literally captured my attention and grasped me until I turned that last page. It was awesome!

I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I’m excited to see what will happen between Taylor, Patrick and the Sheriff. Who will she choose? Ah, I can’t wait.

There was definitely a lot happening in this second installment from Taylor finding out she's got wine tour competition to her neighbor who owns a winery being charged with two murders. Lots of secrets were being kept too, and it was a pretty exciting race to the finish towards the end of the book where there was an unexpected twist. The person I thought did it was completely innocent!

I'm really glad that Chelsea, Holly and now Taylor's investigative reporter friend was back and helping them. We got to meet Sarah, Aunt Jemma's psychic friend who did contribute a little info about the first murder. Tim Slade was the neighboring winery owner who was charged with murder, not once but twice, and Taylor felt an obligation to him as a friend to investigate and see what she could do, after all, she caught the last killer. At the end of this, everyone was happy doing what they do best.

Gotta admit, I was hoping that Taylor's rival would end up having to be closed down or be involved with the killings somehow-- the woman is just mean and snarky, lol But she's a go-getter, and just possibly Taylor will learn something about improving her own business by knowing she's got tough competition. Only the future books can tell for sure! I'm anxious to keep on reading this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.

“Seven Deadly Zins” earns 4/5 Glasses of Blood Red Zin…Clever and Entertaining!

Cheers! I was very eager to join Nancy J. Parra fans of her Wine Country Mystery, and although I started with the second book in the series, I never felt at a disadvantage because the references to background and character connections kept me engaged. Taylor O’Brian has moved to live with her aunt on her aunt’s Sonoma winery, and dreams of making her own way begins with starting her own business, Off the Beaten Path Wine Tours. But, she didn't expect coming “taste to taste” with a dead body in the vat at a friend’s winery. The mystery followed the traditional cozy formula I enjoy (happen upon a dead body, family or friends implicated, amateur investigation needed, and perp is caught), and delightfully colored with an interesting setting, unique business focus, quirky characters, additional murder, and easy-to-follow recipes. I enjoyed my reading experience hoping to see more with the competitive twist in Taylor’s business, romantic entanglements, and information on wine and the industry. I will go back to read book one and future books, but I see room for characters to develop more and dialogue to be less casual. I would like to see a more collaborative, rather than combative, relationship with law enforcement. All-in-all I recommend this book to cozy fans!

Taylor O'Brian's wine touring company is taking a group to her wealthy friend Tim Slade's Sonoma winery. But things go awry when they find a body floating in a fermentation tank. The victim was real estate agent Jeffery Hoag who was also the boss of Tim's girlfriend Mandy. Tim is arrested for Hoag's murder and Taylor wants to help Tim by finding the real killer. Meanwhile, Taylor's best friend Holly and other Sonoma locals are eager to attend the lecture of celebrity healing guru Dr. Brinkman. Another murder occurs after Brinkman's lecture and Tim once again is the prime suspect. Taylor, her aunt Jemma and journalist friend Chelsea follow several leads and the trail leads to a senator and plans to develop a large compound to accommodate Brinkman's followers. Then someone kidnaps Aunt Jemma and demands that Taylor stop their investigations but feisty Taylor isn't willing to just sit back and let the Sheriff's department rescue Aunt Jemma.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Seven Deadly Zins by Nancy J. Parra has us traveling to Sonoma County, California. Taylor O’Brian owns and runs Off the Beaten Path which features quirky wine tours. Tim Slade, who owns Rock Paths Winery, asks Taylor to bring a tour by his winery and she is happy to accommodate him. The following week, Taylor brings a group of entrepreneurs who are interested in investing in wineries by Tim’s winery. Tim is demonstrating to the tour group how he stirs a vat of zin twice a day when a purple body floats to the top. The victim is realtor, Jeffery Hoag who Tim had a public argument with recently. When Tim is arrested for Jeffery’s murder, Taylor starts nosing around. Dr. Adam Brinkman, offers seminars on spiritual healing, has arrived in town and he is causing quite a stir. Mandy, Tim’s girlfriend, is gaga for the guru and gets Taylor into one of his seminars. After the lecture, Mandy takes Taylor to meet Dr. Brinkman. Taylor sees Tim who is currently out on bail exiting the man’s dressing room and find Dr. Brinkman dead on the floor with a knife sticking out of his chest. Tim is once again arrested and this time he is denied bail. Something smells off and Taylor intends to get to the bottom of this conundrum. She is also dealing with a rival tour owner who is taking the area by storm. Just when Taylor seems to be making headway on the case, Aunt Jemma is kidnapped. Can Taylor get a bead on the killer before it is too late?

Seven Deadly Zins is the second book in A Wine Country Mystery series and I did feel it can stand on its own. Taylor O’Brian was lured to Sonoma County by her Aunt Jemma from her job in advertising in San Francisco. Instead of working at Aunt Jemma’s winery, Taylor created Off the Beaten Path to provide tourists with unique wine tours. Unfortunately, Bridget Miller decided to do the same thing and her business has doubled since she began (with fancy pink buses too). It would help if Taylor networked and advertised her business (use social media too). The author started this storyline and then it disappeared. I wonder if she will pick it up again in the next book. Taylor is a slightly annoying main character who wants to help her friends when they need assistance which is how she gets herself mixed up in a second murder. Taylor enjoys spending time with her girlfriends eating barbecue and drinking wine (they do this frequently). There are two men who are potential love interests for Taylor and she waffles between them. I hope the author is not heading down the love triangle road. The mystery appears to be convoluted, but the solution can effortlessly be discerned. I was not a fan of how the police were portrayed (that they were not up to the task of solving the crime). Taylor believes she can solve the crime better than the professionals and believes she is always right. The author took the time to describe the female characters outfits (every single one of them) in detail. I wish the author had spent the time describing what zinfandel looks and tastes like instead (I reached the end of the book and still had no clue—you can tell that I do not drink wine). I also felt that Aunt Jemma’s fake séance was not needed in the book (really did not add anything). The story could have used more character development and depth along with stronger dialogue. Seven Deadly Zins is a slow starter, but it picks up as the story progresses. There are some loose ends at the end of the book plus there are missing details (Aunt Jemma’s last name and the name of her winery for example). I am giving Seven Deadly Zins 3 out of 5 stars. Seven Deadly Zins is an airy cozy mystery with recipes at the end.