Callie has moved back to help her aunt run her cafe and hopefully continue a relationship with the handsome Ace Falk. When she digs into a mysterious disappearance from the 1980s, of a movie star, things get heated. A good cozy mystery. I believe this is book 2, and although I didn't read the first one I was not lost. Would recommend.

I was excited to read a cozy mystery that has 2 murders in it, where one is a cold case and then an active murder! very exciting, also love the setting of a tea room, i have always wanted to go to one, but there are none near me so reading about them is as far as i can get. there was slight romance with some random dude in my opinion, and as long as that doesn't take over the story, i'd be continuing the series (please no love triangle :( )

The second in the A Tea and Read mystery Is another enjoyable and cosy weekend read as long as you don't intend on taking it seriously.

I liked the story, though at times I became frustrated by the way it seemed to jump from one scene to the next, it didn't flow as easily as I would have expected especially judging by how much I enjoyed the first book. I did like the plot, I enjoyed watching as the mystery was unravelled before our eyes, though some of the so-called twists were a little predictable but not enough to make you want to stop reading.

I have to admit that I did prefer the first book in the series, I think that book was a little more solid and well-rounded than this was., the characters were new and I could see so many great things ahead for them, but for some reason, I didn't feel as though they progressed and developed much from when we first meet them, but yet they are very likeable.

The main problem I had with this book was that it didn't seem as well put together as it could have been, the narrative at times felt a little stunted and then other times I thought it was a little cliched.

Overall, I did enjoy it, it's a fun and quick lighthearted book which you can while away a few hours with.

Kept me guessing

I loved these characters and the world created within these pages. The mystery was well written and the dialogue flowed naturally. I will definitely read more by this author!

Thank you to Joy Avon, Crooked Lane Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and share my honest thoughts and opinions. I enjoyed it so much, I recommended it to libraries and re-read it after checking it out.

This Joy Avon series is one of my new favorites. The setting and the characters in these books always make me smile. This book, Sweet Tea and Secrets, book 2 in the series, also features a holiday. This time the action takes place during July 4th and I love that. Holiday themed books (and the authors that write them) are always my favorite type of cozy mystery to find and to read.

I decided to pick up this book on Fourth of July weekend because I had read the first one. I am so glad that I did because this series just keeps getting better.

A small town and a quaint tea shop that hosts book themed teas?? Yes please

Callie is in charge of putting on a spectacular Fourth of July tea party, which will recreate key moments from the town's rich history. What she didn't prepare for was being thrown into a 30 plus year old murder investigation.

I couldn't wait to go right into the next book.

At first. I didn't realise that this was the second book in a series. It worked fine on its own but I would have preferred to read In Peppermint Peril first to get to know the main characters better.

We begin with Callie moving into Heart's Harbor to help out at her great aunt's tea room. She is soon thrown into organising the community Fourth of July celebration which involves researching the town's history. She learns that a TV star called Monica Walker was last seen in the town before she suspiciously vanished. With conflicting recollections from the villagers and suspicious people popping out of the woodwork Callie is soon caught up in a tangled web of secrets and lies.

I loved the location with Callie's cottage situated next to a lighthouse on the ocean and I adored her Boston Terrier companion Daisy. The story builds slowly, is nicely paced, and there are a few twists that I was not expecting. This cosy mystery kept me entertained and I will be looking out for other books in the series.

In this visit to Heart's Harbor, Maine, we find Callie Aspen moving home to work with Aunt Iphy in her business, the book themed tea shop. Iphy had found a cottage for Callie to rent, but it needed some fixing up. When Callie and Iphy went to check it out, there was a repairman already there offering his services with the repairs. Even though his estimate for repairs seems too good to be true, Callie can't help but hire him. She likes Quinn and in conversation, she shares that she is trying to find something from the past to showcase in an upcoming event. He suggests a trip to the library and off they go together to check out the archives. They come across the disappearance of an actress many years ago and Quinn convinces Callie that this might be just what she is looking for. The investigation starts, but the first person they talk to ends up dead and the investigation into a murder begins.

I like that we learn more about Callie in this book. She is a strong and smart protagonist. The way she supports Quinn and Peggy in their fledgling relationship as well as trying to help Quinn prove his innocence shows her loyalty for her friends, even new ones. The mystery is interesting as it is both in the past and the present. There were some twists that made me sit up in my seat and I enjoyed this story a bit more than the first one. Once again, Deputy Falk doesn't want Callie's interference and he is worried she is putting herself in danger. As she finds out more and more about what is going on in Heart's Harbor, she paints more of a target on her back. I always love the addition of pets in a cozy and this one had two. I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Callie in the next book in this series.

Second book in this series. The mysteries and crimes in this book and how they were all intertwined was really well done. I still don't know that I like the lead character...giving her one more book. Better than it was in IN PEPPERMINT PERIL, the book still feels like Avon has a list of things that are in all cozy mysteries that she is checking off...and in some cases those details don't quite work with the storyline, at least in the ways that she has worked them in.


It really does say something if I'm thinking about walking from a series that has books, tea, dogs, and an entertaining elderly sidekick. Basically my favorite of all the things in one so that they are being lost within the stuff that doesn't quite flow well says something.

Sweet Tea and Secrets by Joy Avon is the second A Tea and Read Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you did not read In Peppermint Peril. Callie Aspen has quit her job as a tour guide with Travel the Past and is moving to Heart’s Harbor, Maine. Callie will be helping her Great Aunt Iphy with Book Tea as well as with the renovations to Haywood House. There is be a Fourth of July tea party at Haywood House with a sweet tea competition. Aunt Iphy asks that Callie find a past historical event that will have a big impact to present before the fireworks. Living history is the theme of the tea. Quinn Darrow is new to town and responded to Aunt Iphy’s ad for a handyman. Quinn will be fixing up Callie’s new cottage and has been roped into helping Callie find a historic event. Monica Walker, a television star, was taking a vacation in Heart’s Harbor when she vanished in 1989. She was never seen or heard from again. There is plenty of speculation, but no solid facts. Local editor-in-chief, Joe Jamison, reported on the incident years ago and Callie can tell he is hiding something. After an appeal for information on a local news station, the calls start rolling in. It seems Callie struck a nerve because Joe is found dead in his office and the evidence points to Quinn. Callie works to find answers before the killer strikes again. Two mysteries to solve in one book. One can be solved early in the book while the other takes a little longer. I was dissatisfied with the way the reveal was handled (I want the sleuth to solve). I wish the characters had more depth since they feel flat. There is supposed to be an attraction between Callie and Deputy Ace Falk, but I do not feel it. He comes across as overprotective especially of his sister and uses his position to dig up information on people he does not like or trust. I would like to see improvement to the dialogue which was awkward and more action. The pacing lagged throughout the book as Callie speculates on the crimes. The potential is there with a little tweaking. Sweet Tea and Secrets is a light cozy mystery with creative culinary confections, a missing movie maven, a tea tournament, a cutthroat killer, and fantastic fireworks.

I'm usually a fan of cozy mysteries as palate cleansers, but this one took a little bit too long to get going for my taste, so I was unable to finish the book.

This was a great read - full of brilliant writing, excellent characters and a great and somewhat unique storyline.

Sweet Tea and Secrets is the second book in the A Tea and Read Mystery series by Joy Avon, though it easily read as a stand-alone book. Callie Aspen, who left who former job as a tour guide to come live in Heart's Harbor, Maine and work with her great aunt in her tearoom there, is in charge of helping out with the town's big Fourth of July celebration. As she starts to research the history of the town for historic events, she comes across the story of a famous actress, Monica Walker, who years ago disappeared while vacationing there. As she starts to research more what could have happened to Monica, and puts out a call for anyone with information to step up to help solve the mystery, as one of the town's historic events, she begins to uncover that maybe there was more going on with Monica's disappearance instead of a simple elopement, especially the town's newspaper editor, who appears to be hiding information about the case, winds up dead.

I didn't love Sweet Tea and Secrets (who picks a celebrity disappearance from the town's history to reopen up for a Fourth of July celebration??), but it was an okay mystery, and I would give the other books in this series a shot. Would definitely like to see more development in the relationship between Callie and Deputy Falk- I think it was as frustrating for me as it was for Callie! LOL

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last Christmas, Callie Aspen left her tour guide job and settled in Heart's Harbor, Maine. Now, she helps out at Book Tea, her great aunt’s vintage tearoom, where each treat has a bookish clue. Though she’s excited to start her new life, Callie worries she may regret having burned her bridges behind her. Fortunately, she finds immediate distraction in the preparations for a spectacular Fourth of July tea party, which will recreate key moments from the town's rich history.

Intrigued to learn that 1980s TV star Monica Walker was last seen in Heart's Harbor before she vanished allegedly to elope. Callie probes the townsfolk for information. She’s stunned when several locals share contradictory stories about the last day before Monica's disappearance. Did she intend to leave her hit TV series? Was she being stalked by her ex? And why is the newspaper editor who investigated the story at the time so anxious about the cold case heating up?

When one of the talkative townspeople turns up dead, Callie aims to catch the killer. But it’s no picnic: Deputy Falk doesn’t want her meddling, and the locals suddenly know more about the past than they’d been at liberty to admit. If Callie and the Book Tea crew can’t crack the case, they’ll pay a very steep price.

The mystery is well written and has a lot of subplots that the author wraps up in the surprising conclusion so there are no loose ends. While the main characters all seemed to be well written and well developed, there were some secondary characters that fell flat and could have used some improvement and almost seemed like they were added to the story as an afterthought.

I liked that the relationship between Callie and Deputy Falk is showing some forward progress. I also liked that Falks sister was also getting to know someone that she could have a relationship with. One thing that I didn't like was that some of the dialogue between the characters was a bit stiff and almost seemed unnatural. I will read the next book In Cold Chamomile to see what happens to the budding romantic relationships and to see is the author improves on how some of the characters were written.

I received and arc of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my review.

Our ameteur sleuth Callie Aspen is at it again!

Callie has decided to permanently move to Heart's Harbor Maine. When she discovers a mysterious disappeance from several years ago, her natural curiosity prompts her to try and figure out what happened to the missing person. She discovers several murder suspects and scenarios. Now she just has to find the right answer.

l am really enjoying this series. I know it is only book #2, but I am already connected to the main character Callie and the folks of Heart's Harbor. Each clue that Callie uncovers causes her to go down a different path = almost like a connect a dot picture. Eventually it all comes to a very exciting ending!

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

Callie Aspen has given up her job as tour guide and moved to Heart's Harbor, Maine, to work with her great aunt at Book Tea. Instead of European travel, she finds herself investigating a cold case of a missing actress and a surplus of suspicious characters. A quick read and write enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself getting the know the characters very quickly. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Sweet Tea and Secrets is the second book in the Tea and Read Mystery series! We meet up again with Callie as she’s finally settling into Heart’s Harbor. While preparing for the fourth of July tea party, she learns that a 1980’s TV star was last seen in town before vanishing. When the newspaper editor who covered the TV star’s disappearance winds up getting murdered, Callie wants to find the killer.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was WAY better than the first book. I feel like this time around we really got to know who Callie is as a person, along with the other characters. Everyone had more depth to them, which made them feel more realistic to me.

The mystery itself was really fast-paced and entertaining. It definitely kept me interested and intrigued, and the plot twists were well-placed.

Overall, it was a great read, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Sweet Tea and Secrets by Joy Avon is the latest book in the Tea and Read Mystery series. Callie has retired from her job as a tour guide and is now working in her great aunt's tearoom, Book Tea. She wants to contribute to the town's big 4th of July party by tracking down a tv star who disappeared from the town many years ago. Callie actually stirs up more secrets than she intends to and wonders if she caused the recent murder in town. In this particular book the tearoom plays a much smaller role. The mystery had several twists and turns. Overall it was a fun cozy mystery.

This was a fun, cute cozy mystery! I love the theme throughout, and I will definitely be continuing with the series.