There are certainly no shortage of coffee-themed cozy mysteries and sleuthing baristas on the market these days. With that said, I enjoyed the coffee shop atmosphere and, of course, Devil’s Beach, Florida. After all, Florida is…well, Florida.

There are plenty of quirky crazies in Grounds for Murder. Those characters alone are sure to keep readers entertained. I was surprised by the sexcapades of the murder victim, which were never actually on the page, but did create a bit of a racy atmosphere in what would otherwise be a traditional cozy. The dialogue and plotting kept the story moving. There were red herrings that made figuring out the killer a bit of a challenge, but if you’re paying attention, you might have the straight shot on this one.

Overall, an enjoyable mystery that’s bound to please coffee lovers or those who need a little Sunshine State vacation without the hassle of traveling.

This is the first book in a new series about a failed journalist called Lana who returns home to manage her family coffee shop.

Lana is a sad case really - failed career, failed marriage, mother not long dead and father on medical marijuana and not really acting like a father at all. Against all this she learns how to make good coffee, adopts a cute dog, makes some good friends, and falls in love with the local chief of police. Of course she also solves a murder.

This was a quick and entertaining read. I will probably read the next book in the series.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci, the beach’s hottest barista is dead and former investigative journalist turned coffee shop manager Lana Lewis is at the top of the suspect list if the cause of death is indeed murder. You see Fab was her star employee until he quit without notice to work for her competitor. On top of that, they were registered as a team for the Sunshine State Barista Championship. So when she couldn’t hold in her fury any longer she confronts him in front of a crowd of people at Island Brewnette, the competing coffee shop.

The trouble is, the chief of police, who seems to have a bit of a crush on Lana, is leaning toward calling Fab’s death a suicide until the evidence proves otherwise. Lana knows Fab was a great casanova/gigolo with some shady connections so she finds plenty of other suspects and theories. She just needs to convince Chief Noah Garcia to follow her clues with her. If not, she and her new barista Erica Penmark will steam out the killer on their own.

I liked Lana Lewis right away. Divorced and unemployed she comes home to Devil’s Beach to manage Perkatory. The cafe was her mother’s dream so after her death her dad kept the business going but his heart wasn’t really into it full time. Lana takes over admitting she has a lot to learn about being a great barista but she has great employees and her dad to help her out. She is intelligent and kind and her investigative skills come in handy as she tries to catch a killer. Erika and Lana get along right away and they make a wonderful team whether it comes to sleuthing or coffee brewing. Lana’s dad is a laid back hippie kind of dude that does seem fazed my much but supports his daughter 100%. Police Chief Noah Garica also escaped the big city to come to Devil’s Beach never expecting to have a murder case on his plate but he sure does like dropping in at Perkatory to see Lana. All of these characters developed nicely over the course of the story but there is so much more to learn. The author has done an excellent job of giving readers characters we can care about.

The mystery she has brewed up is darn good too. Personally, I wish the suicide theory would have been put to rest much earlier with more focus on the variety of people who could have been suspects in Fab’s death. He left quite a path of ladies in his wake and at least one was married. The pushy reporter in Lana came out and she just wasn’t going to give up. Her actions lead to a really exciting big reveal.

I do love the beachy small-town setting. While jumping with tourists and busy residents it still had a relaxing vibe and a place I would love to visit.

Grounds for Murder was a delightful whodunit and has set this series off to a grand start. It’s entertaining with just the right amount of humor. I am looking forward to visiting these characters again soon.

This is the first book in the Coffee Lover's series. Lana Lewis has returned to her home town of Devil's Beach after being let go from her reporter job in Miami to run her father's coffee shop. Her barista has talked her into participating in the Sunshine State Barista Championship. When her barista, and partner for the competition, quits to work for a rival coffee shop without notice, Lana is rightly furious. Then the barista is found murdered of an apparent suicide. Lana's reporter instincts tell her that it wasn't a suicide.

I absolutely loved this book. Lana was an engaging protagonist and I loved how her reporting skills helped with the investigation. The setting was spectacular. I loved the feel of Devil's Beach. I loved the chemistry she hot with the chief. I can't wait to see where their relationship goes and to learn more about Noah. The secondary characters in the book were equally well developed. I loved Lana's dad and her new friend/barista, Erica is a wonderfully mysterious character. I want to learn more about her. This is definitely a series and an author I will be looking for more from. I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush is the debut book in A Coffee Lover's Mystery series.

I quite enjoyed this book, the setting was beautiful, characters smart, likeable, realistic and entertaining as well.

The story evolves around Lana Lewis, a former journalist turned barista and her coffee shop. She has lost her job in Miami and decided to take over running her late mother's coffee shop. She is slowly adapting to her new life, end of her marriage, and living on her hometown island and practicing for a barista competition when her employee ends up dead. At first it is thought to be an accident but is later confirmed as murder.
The problem is that she had a confrontation with him just a day before his fall. Even though police doesn't suspect her as a culprit, there are some strange things happening to her.
Also the journalist in her can't resist a great story and she tries to solve the mystery.

Lana is likeable, intelligent and funny. She is very realistic as she struggles with the issues most people struggle with and fights the same battles.
Story was interesting, well presented with clear clues to follow.
Side characters are lovely and charming and really add to the quality of the story. She has several people who are willing to help her in her investigations and I really enjoyed that.

Really great start of a new series and I can't wait for the second book.

GROUNDS FOR MURDER, the debut cozy mystery in the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series, by Tara Lush, pulled me in from the very beginning and kept me glued to the pages throughout this fast-paced story until the very end. The protagonist, Lana Lewis, has not only lost her investigative reporter job but her marriage disintegrated at the same time. Distraught, she’s moved back to her childhood home on Devil’s Island, Florida. Situated on the Gulf of Mexico, the setting has location, location, location, which Ms. Lush describes in alluring detail. A vacation destination it is! Despite being bereft over the loss of a job she loved, she puts her feelings aside and takes over managing her family’s coffee café, Perkatory. Ms. Lush has created a string of quirky characters with zippy, and often, snarky dialog. I felt like she accurately captures the essence and lifestyles of single, twenty-something-year-olds (along with Lana’s bohemian dad, whose an absolute hoot!) living in a location that embraces free spirts and partying. While at times it may push the boundaries of traditional cozies, I found it made the scenarios and characters more realistic without crossing the line.

The mystery revolved around the lothario barista who worked for Lana, until he quit the day before his death. Although she wasn’t a fan of his lifestyle, Fabrizio brought in a steady stream of women who’d buy her coffee for a chance to partake of the Casanova’s latte art. While hunky Noah, the investigating officer, would rather label the barista’s death as accidental or self-inflicted, Lana can’t quite believe it. She uses her skills honed as a journalist to investigate and ask questions. Ms. Lush writes a well-plotted whodunit with some twists to keep the story moving. As Lana delves into Fabrizio’s life, she finds almost too many suspects. It kept me guessing and turning pages to see what Lana uncovers next. With the adorable Shih Tzu puppy, Stanley, who adds cuteness galore, along with her new misfit best friend, I can’t wait to find out what’s next in store for Lana.

With a name like Fab, he has to be an Italian womanizer. But now he’s dead. He either fell or was pushed from the roof of his apartment. Were his romantic entanglements Grounds for Murder?

After being laid off her high-powered Miami journalist job and divorcing her two-timing husband, Lana has run home to touristy Devil’s Beach, an island off the gulf coast of Florida. She is making the best of it by managing her family’s coffee house, Perkatory. However, her best barista, Fab, has quit without any notice right before the island’s first annual barista competition.

Now, Fab works for the only other coffee shop on the island, Island Brownette. Or he did. Lana finds his dead body behind Perkatory, where Fab lived in an apartment over the shop. Lana’s rusty journalism skills are tingling. She must find Fab’s killer. Pronto!

Grounds for Murder is an excellent cozy mystery, the first in a new series. The characters really pull the reader in. I enjoyed the understated, kind of nerdy, relationship between Lana and Police Chief Noah. I don’t even drink coffee but it was interesting to learn so many details about its creation. And what can you say about Stanley, the enthusiastic Shih Tzu puppy?

The genuine characters, sunny beach location, engaging mystery, and sweet romance make Grounds for Murder a must-read for cozy mystery fans. 5 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush has Lana Lewis back home in Devil’s Beach, Florida after a series of setbacks. She is now the manager of the family coffee shop, Perkatory. Lana has entered herself and employee Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci in the Sunshine State Barista Championship. With Fab at the helm, Lana is sure Perkatory will take home the prize. Then Fab quits and goes to work for the competition leaving Lana high and dry. Lana takes out her anger out on Fab at Island Brewnette in front of a crowd. The next day, Lana finds Fab dead behind Perkatory. The forensics point to suicide. Lana knows that Fab would not harm himself and wants to prove he was murdered. Lana puts her investigative journalist skills to work tracking down Fab’s killer. Can Lana find the guilty party, or will she end up the next victim? Grounds for Murder is the debut of A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. I like that the author took the time to establish the town and our main character. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Devil’s Beach (I want to visit). The words describing the coffee will have you heading to your local coffee shop for a caffeine fix. The mystery was interesting with multiple suspects and few clues (best type of mystery to solve). We follow Lana as sets out to prove Fab was murdered and find out who killed him. I could have done with less of Lana’s thoughts regarding Noah Garcia (how handsome he is, his big muscles, how good he smells). I prefer a more subtle romance that plays out over the course of the series. I do like the chemistry between Noah and Lana. I am curious to see how their relationship will progress. Grounds for Murder is an entertaining start to A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. Grounds for Murder is a fun lighthearted cozy mystery with creative coffee art, a precious puppy, a laid-back dad, an eye-catching police chief, a curious crime, and jaded journalist.

I truly enjoyed this book. It checked all of the boxes of what I look for in a cozy. It was a quick, light read and I would recommend it to others.

A debut cozy mystery which I really enjoyed. Lana is reinventing herself as the manager of a coffee shop owned by her quirky dad. The mystery of who killed her former barista included plenty of suspects, and while I figured out who did it before Lana did, I didn't mind following her investigative path. Erica proved to be a good sidekick/close friend, Noah was the sweet love interest, and Devil's Beach was a fun setting and made me hopeful for warm summer days while I sit indoors during a gloomy late fall day in the Midwest.

I hope the author continues this series and I'd be happy to read more about Lana's investigative adventures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc.

If you are a coffee lover, you’ll fit right in with this group. It would be fun to be able to do all those designs, but I learned it takes lots of practice. Lana has had to deal with some blows to her in life, but she continues on. Will she ever get the urge to be a reporter out of her system or will she concentrate on becoming not only a business owner but a real barista? Will Fab be patient enough to teach her? She certainly meets some real characters while trying to help the hunky new police chief figure out who the real criminal is. I enjoyed my visit in Devil’s Beach, Florida and hope to return again soon. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Laid off from her job as a Miami investigative journalist, Lana moves home to Devil’s Island to run her parents’ struggling coffee shop, Perkatory. After a few months, Fab, her best barista leaves to work for the competition, without any notice to her. They argue publicly and he ends up dead the next morning. All clues point to suicide, but Lana doesn’t agree. Can she solve his murder before she becomes the next victim?

Grounds for Murder is a sophisticated cozy mystery filled with suspense and a little bit of sweet romance. With many endearing and quirky characters, this series starter is intriguing, enjoyable and sets the bar high for future editions. Easily my favorite cozy mystery I’ve read this year!

The first in a new series. Lana Lewis is a journalist that has recently lost her job and is recently divorced. She returns to Devil's Beach to run the family coffee’s house.
As most cozies would have it, someone dies, a recently ex-employee, Lana is the prime suspect. She must figure out who did it to clear herself. This is where her journalistic background kicks in.
I found this entertaining, well-written, and fun.

I read an ARC copy from Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review. Looking forward to the next in the series.

This book was fun. It’s a little bit slapstick and a whole lot crazy. There were times that this felt like I was reading a text version of the Keystone Cops. It seemed like there was lots of fuss and bother with not a lot of forward motion. I adored Stanley, but I’m still on the fence about Lana. There were times I really admired her spunk and sarcasm, yet there were the other times when I was left wondering how she could have been an award-winning journalist for a prestigious newspaper considering the absolute flights of fancy she comes up with and calls “clues”. I also have to admire Chief Garcia’s patience with her, because I was left shaking my head multiple times during this book. By the end, Lana had started to grow on me, along with the rest of her quirky, zany tribe, and now I’m looking forward to seeing where the series will take us next.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

Grounds For Murder is a great new cozy mystery by Tara Lush. The cover fits perfectly with the book as it takes place in Devil's Beach, FL. Lana Lewis was a reporter in Miami but got divorced and lost her job so she returned to help her Dad run the coffee shop her deceased mother loved. Fabrizio (Fab) is the talented batista she works with but he suddenly leaves without giving notice and Lana is furious. Fab is very popular with the ladies which helps business.. They had signed up to be in a big barista competition. Then Lana finds Fab dead. It looks like suicide but was it? Lana's reporter instincts are on alert. Chief of Police Noah Garcia is looking into Fab's death. He and Lana hit it off. Lana hires Erica to replace Fab. I liked Lana, Erica, and Noah. Lana's father was too over the top hippy and the descriptions of Fab's sex life were a little racy. Other than that, I enjoyed the book. It is a good solid 1st book. #NetGalley #GroundsForMurder

Lana Lewis returns to Devil's Beach after losing both her job and her husband and takes over the management of her family's coffee shop. The day after her barista abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition, he is found dead in the alley behind the Lewis' coffee shop where he also lives in an apartment. Everyone thinks the man died accidentally or committed suicide when he fell from the building. Lana doesn't believe it was an accident or suicide. Not only does she prove the barista was murdered, she finds out who did it. I like the cast of characters, and I am looking forward to seeing them again in the next book.

An entertaining and engaging cozy mystery. Florida island town with some quirky characters. Interesting back stories. Lots of coffee and a cute dog. A spark of romance. I look forward to reading the next one in this fun new series.

Grounds For Murder is the first book in the A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series by Tara Lush.

After losing her job and going through a divorce, Lana Lewis heads back to her hometown, Devil’s Beach, to manage her family’s coffee shop, Perkatory. She has the skills to brew a great cup of coffee, but her talent for making designs leaves something to desire. The Sunshine State Barista Championship is coming, and she was hoping that Perkatory could win. Lana knows her barista, Fab, has the skills to succeed, but hers are nowhere close. Winning would be sure to bring in more customers. Lana strikes up a conversion with a customer, Erika, and learns that she has the skills to join up with Fab and is sure that, together, they can win the competition, so she hires her. The next morning when Lana arrives at work, she is shocked that Fab isn’t there to open and learns later that day that he is working for the competition, Island Brewnette. Lana decides to confront Fab and heads for Island Brewnette. Once she gets there, she had a rather heated conversion with Fab.

That evening she heads for Miami to pick up and award for a story she wrote before being let go by her paper. The next morning when she arrives at work, she finds Fab lying in the alley behind Perkatory, dead in a fetal position. Early in the police investigation, Chief Noah Garcia is leaning to call it a suicide. But Lana has her doubts and sets out on her quest for the truth. Fab’s playboy reputation is legendary, and she sets out to find a female who had enough of his playing the field or possibly a jealous husband. With Lana’s experience as an investigative reporter, Chief Garcia is willing to listen to Lana’s theories and suggestions.

The book is well-written and plotted and enough red herrings that I was guessing until the end. I enjoyed the character and thought they were well-developed and quite enjoyable.

Grounds For Murder is a great start to a cozy mystery series by a new author, set on an island on Florida’s Gulf Coast (possibly modeled after Sanibel or Captiva?). The main character, Lana, has a journalism background so that makes for a believable sleuth, even though she’s now running a coffee shop in her home town, after having been laid off from a big Miami paper. The population of Devil’s Beach is quite a mixture of people: some she’s known all her life and relative newcomers. They are a motley crew. Her dad has turned into a sort of aging hippie, New Age devotee of yoga and medical marijuana. Erica is a new friend who also happens to be an experienced barista. And the police chief, who Erica dubs Sheriff Hunk, looks to be a future love interest for Lana. Plus a cute puppy. I enjoyed all the coffee talk, even though I’m actually a tea drinker! (Gasp!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a super fun mystery to read. I really loved the main character, the setting and the hilarious similes Tara Lush uses throughout the story.

Lana Lewis has returned to the small island of Devil's Beach, FL to lick her wounds after a losing her job as a newspaper crime reporter and finding out her husband has been cheating on her. She takes over as manager for her family's coffee shop, Perkatory, and hopes to rebuild her life. However, her barista Fab, who was supposed to help her win the Barista contest merely days away, quits abruptly and then turns up dead. Lana, always the crime reporter, is determined to write an article about Fab and solve his murder at the same time.

Lana is a protagonist. She has gumption, she's feisty and she tells it like it is. Her new barista that she hires, Erica, is also an awesome and quirky character. My favorite character is Stanley the shih Tzu. He really becomes his own little personality in the story and any story that includes a dog is OK by me. I also appreciated all the nods to good coffee in this story. I feel like the author really knows her beans.

I would definitely read another book in this series, hopefully there will be one.

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.