It took me some time to get into the story and feel like I could separate the characters properly in my head, but when I got it I had a great time reading. The environment is cozy in a b&b during a wine tour. We follow Poppy in her journey to find the killer and also have a look into her love life and her struggles surrounding that.

The murder story was set up well. All characters had their suspicious traits and I was led from one to another by the author. I was pleased by the outcome and think the author managed to point the reader in the right direction not to figure things out immediately and get bored.

There's also more than enough playing outside of the crime that's committed. Poppy is involved in a love triangle and needs to navigate around that. I did notice these parts were larger than I normally find in cozy mysteries, but I didn't mind that much. The only thing is that it sometimes distracted me from the whole detective game and I had to recall where we were in the detective story.

Overall I think it's a nice story to read on a cozy night when it's raining outside. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, which also might explain the slow start for me, but the relationships get clear throughout the book and I don't think you need to have read previous books to understand what's going on.

To help improve her B&Bs reputation, Poppy is part of a tour.
When one of the tour guests dies all the tour members need to stay in one location. Office Amber recruits Poppy's help - or is it another way to torture her???
Aunt Ginny and her biddy posse are over the top outrageous and secretive.
Poppy agrees t o finally make a life altering choice. What will the consequences be?

A laugh riot, layered murder mystery that will keep you guessing.

Immensely enjoyable mystery. Libby Klein keeps me laughing out loud from beginning to end. The main character, Poppy, is great but Aunt Ginny is one of my favorite cozy mystery sidekicks of all time. From her crazy outfits to her hilarious wit, I cannot get enough of her and she should have her own series. Hint, Hint. A girl can dream. Until then, I will continue to enjoy Poppy's sleuthing adventures and her man problems.

I love Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and Figaro and Aunt Ginny and Figaro had me laughing out loud. I thomk this book might have been the funniest so far. The murder was also intriguing and there was a few good twists and turns before we learned who the killer was. I highly recommend this book

Whew, when I finished, I was exhausted. Couldn't believe it wasn't at least350 pages. So much goes on in both poppy's personal and professional life in this one.

I liked the digs the author made about love triangles in books, she must have felt a need to address the critics (ahem) about her series having one.

The story kept me guessing and this story finished off with an old fashion denoument where Poppy has all the suspects come together and spells out whodunnit. Nice touch.

There were, though, at least three instances of conflicting statements, once about insurance (not having, then submitting a claim), current medical theory is that drinking wine occasionally ok while pregnant, then can't drink because pregnant (same person makes both statements), the third may be spoilerish.

Still, my favorite of the 5 I've read so far.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Poppy McCallister mystery series is one of my favorites. No other mystery series makes me laugh out loud while I'm reading it like this one does. Wine Tastings are Murder is one of the best books in this series. As much as I love the protagonist, Poppy, her aunt Ginny is the best part of every book. And she certainly doesn't fail to entertain in this one. I almost forgot about the murder mystery because I was laughing at what Aunt Ginny and the biddies were getting into. That being said, I was very surprised at the big reveal of who the murderer was. I really didn't expect who it was. And we finally find out who Poppy chooses between Gia and Tim. I'm so happy she chose the one I hoped she would, but then there's another obstacle in the way. It's slightly frustrating and I'm hoping that things turn out fine in the next book.

Wine Tastings are Murder

by Libby Klein

Welcome to the world of Poppy McAllister, a plus-sized, forty-something pastry chef with self-esteem issues. And commitment issues (ask Tim and Gia). And food issues. Food calls her name and sticks to her like a long lost twin. Her latest effort is the kale diet where she discovers that a kale frittata is like “an omelet full of yard clippings.” Also, and you need to think this one through…our featured pastry chef can’t eat gluten!

Wine Tastings are Murder is full of madcap adventures that will keep you laughing through a serious and complicated murder investigation. What in the world are Aunt Ginny and her octogenarian friends doing in the evenings that leaves them cackling, smirking, and sitting on bags of frozen vegetables?

Poppy is owner of the Butterfly Wings B&B, a new business that she is trying to launch. She agrees to cooperate with a company sponsoring a wine tasting at a local winery, but one of the guests has an apparent heart attack—or was the medical event more than that? Suspicion falls on other guests and on winery personnel. Poppy needs to find out if they are who they claim to be and what motives they might have.

The eighty year old “biddies” are not the only source of humor. Poppy hires “Victory,” a chambermaid from Eastern Europe, who does not understand guest privacy, the basics of inn housekeeping, appropriate attire, or the nuances of English. It also gradually occurs to Poppy that Victory has narcolepsy.

Figaro, Poppy’s cat, has met his nemesis in Tammy Faye, a teacup Pom who is the treasured delight of guest Sunny Baker. The two chase each other all over the house leaving a trail of destruction. Technology joins the fun as Aunt Ginny’s new toy Alexa demonstrates that she is always listening. Aunt Ginny doesn’t know how to use Alexa who sounds alarms and speaks at the craziest of times.

On the personal front, you’ll adore little Henry, Gia’s four-year old son. He has Poppy on emotional speed dial without even trying. Amber, a local police officer who has been at odds with Poppy since high school, might be softening just a tad. Then there is the romantic conundrum. Readers are anxious for Poppy to choose between “hunky” Italian coffee shop owner Gia and long ago love, Chef Tim. Read Wine Tastings are Murder to see if there is resolution in either love or murder. I guarantee the outcome will be a surprise.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. # 5 in the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series. You could read this as a standalone. It is better to have read the first four for the background, but Klein fills you in well, and the read is worth it if you aren’t able to backtrack on this series.
2. The end of the book contains lots of recipes (6 gluten-free and 1 paleo) that will have you drooling, even if you don’t need gluten-free.

Publication: December 1, 2020—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

I was all for eighty-year-olds going “a-courting,” but Royce Hansen had the short-term memory of a fruit fly and Aunt Ginny could do crazy all on her own.

The biddies all nodded and smiled sweetly. “Have fun, honey.” They waved as I left the room. They’re not fooling anyone. They’re definitely up to something.

She made me feel like I was back in the eighth grade again. Fat, awkward, and foolish. Gigi even made my baking, the only talent I had in life, sound like I was adding water to a boxed cake mix and cooking with a high-wattage lightbulb.

I quite enjoyed reading Wine Tastings Are Murder. I have read other books from this author and this one is a winner.

The characters were well-crafted and engaging, and the storyline was easy to follow. A great cozy mystery I highly recommend.

Wine Tastings Are Murder is the 5th book in the humorous, entertaining c0zy mystery series. Poppy McAllister lives with her Aunt Ginny, and helps her fun the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast on the Jersey Shore. In this book they are hosting Happy Hour for a Wine Tasting Tour. Some of the guests on the tour are staying at the B&B, including rich and grumpy Vince Baker and his new young wife. Shortly after they arrive, his daughter and son-in-law also show up. They want to keep an eye on them and convince Vince to change his will back so his daughter will inherit everything. The next day, Vince is dead, killed at a local winery from an overdose of a variety of drugs. Of course, the new wife is the main suspect, but the winery is also in trouble now as well. Poppy, Aunt Ginny and the biddies have their work cut out for them to find out who the real culprit is.

This was an interesting mystery that had me guessing until the end. There were several suspects, including his wife, daughter and son-in-law, but Poppy was not convinced. I love the humour in this series. Not only do Aunt Ginny and the biddies keep me laughing, but throw in a chamber maid from the Ukraine that has language issues and narcolepsy. Of course Poppy is still keeping busy also cooking gluten free desserts for Gia and his coffee shop as well as Tim and his restaurant. The love triangle is fizzling out and at the end of the book Poppy finally makes a decision, but with a huge twist that left me hanging. There is an issue that women face that is dealt with in this book, but I can't say anymore than that. Once again, I loved spending time with Poppy, Aunt Ginny and the rest of their friends. I laughed, a lot, during this book, but there is also some seriousness. I definitely recommend this book and series and although the mystery is self contained, I recommend you read this series in order for full character development and because it is such fun. Callie Beaulieu narrates this series and I enjoy her pleasant voice. She does not do voices as she reads these stories, but her voice is great to listen to, her inflection and expression is right on. I always enjoy listening to audiobooks narrated by this wonderful voice actress.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book delightful I especially liked the characters and can't wait to read more about them.

Poppy and her aunt host a wine and cheese event for a tour group at their still fledgling B&B. When the group winds up leaving a lot to be desired, it's hardly a surprise one of the more unsavory members winds up dead. There are many funny moments, tidbits about wine and Poppy's two suitors. A lot of fun in this world.

Wine Tastings Are Murder by Libby Klein is the fifth installment in the cozy A Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Each book of this series has a new mystery to be solved by the main character so they can be read and understood as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course as with any continuing series there is some character development that would be missed if not reading from the beginning.

In this series readers were introduced to Poppy McAllister who is a forty something widow who moved back to her hometown of Cape May after the death of her husband. Poppy returned to be near her elderly Aunt Ginny and has made a living for herself baking gluten-free goodies to sell and running the bed and breakfast they opened after converting Aunt Ginny’s home.

Now Poppy is still splitting her time between not one but two suitors as she runs the bed and breakfast and tries to keep her Aunt Ginny out of trouble. Poppy is hosting a few members of a large tour group at the B&B but when the group heads out to a winery for a tasting one of the members has what seems like a heart attack. When the police are called in though Poppy finds out that it may have been murder and promises her old nemesis now police officer that she will help get to the bottom of the murder.

I have followed the A Poppy McAllister Mystery series from the beginning and rank Aunt Ginny up there as one of my favorite cozy characters loving her hilarious antics. Poppy is a favorite too however I’m not a fan of the continuing love triangle in the story but hopefully it’s coming to an end soon as it left off with a bit of a cliffhanger on that part of the character development side of the books. Regardless I will keep coming back each time for the humour and the fun mysteries.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Libby Klein writes another great cozy with this last installment in her Poppy McAllister series. Poppy is hosting visitors of a wine tasting tour at her B&B. Chaos ensues from a tiny dog that keeps escaping her room, a narcoleptic maid, Alexa mysteriously sending Amazon packages and drama amongst the guests. To top it all off Poppy must choose between the two men she has been dating but is terrified to make the wrong choice. With the help of her loyal friends, her eccentric Aunt and the biddies she helps to solve another murder. This book very much feels like a modern day Agatha Christie novel. It was excellent. If you like cozies, you’ll love Libby Klein.

Poppy McAllister and Aunt Ginny agreed to host the South Jersey Wine Tour groups at their B&B. But the guests are a trial: Vince Baker is rich and has traveled to Cape May to be on his honeymoon with Sunny. His daughter Alyse and slimy son-in-law Ryan found out about the trip and wangled their way into the same tour. Vince drops dead while at the Laughing Gull Winery and it appears that he was poisoned. Poppy is coerced by her nemesis cop friend Amber to do some snooping of the guests, all of whom have secrets to hide. Meanwhile, Poppy also has to decide whether to commit her love to Tim or Gia.

This story fell flat for me and the combined motives to make a lethal cocktail for Vince was a bit contrived.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Decisions, decisions. Poppy has two men declaring their love for her. She has an elderly aunt whose antics would try the noblest among us. She makes pastries for both of the men in her life for their restaurants. And oh yes, she runs a B & B. One of her guests brings a small dog who challenges her cat and she has just hired a chambermaid from Russia who suffers from narcolepsy. What else could go wrong?

The murder of one of her guests at a wine tasting is the cherry on the sundae. The motive appears to be money so both his trophy wife and his angry daughter and son-in-law seem the most logical candidates. But life for Poppy is seldom straightforward or simple. Between her aunt and her cronies and her friends, Poppy gets embroiled in several harebrained schemes where she is the only grown up in the room.

There is an excellent mystery to be solved where what appears to be obvious is completely off base. The actual motive and who was involved turns out to be a huge surprise. As with the previous outings, I was engrossed thoroughly as the story unwound. Part of the reason is the wonderful relationships that surround her. She may not have tremendous self esteem thanks to being zaftig but she is a beautiful character and one that will enchant the reader.

Five purrs and two paws.

Poppy and her aunt Ginny welcome a group of guests who are taking part in a wine tour. It seems like no one in the group gets along very well. When one of the guests drops dead, Poppy finds herself investigating another murder. I like Poppy, and I love her aunt. This cozy mystery is slowly getting too romance heavy for me. There seems to be a resolution, but there is at the same time no real resolution. I am hoping book six has more mystery and less romance.

After someone posted malicious reviews on social media, business hasn’t been exactly brisk at Butterfly House, the Jersey Shore B&B Poppy runs with her eccentric Aunt Ginny, Although the snarky reviews are being removed, tours aren’t booking rooms. Poppy and Ginny are thrilled when Lily contacts them about hosting several people from her group who are on a wine tasting jaunt.

Thrilled until they meet the guests. Cowboy Bob and his wife Rosie would rather stay in their Winnebago. Sunny and Vince are an odd couple, he much older, she assumed to be a gold digger. Vince’s daughter and son-in-law show up unexpectedly and insist on a room, too. A young pregnant couple and a woman who fancies herself as an influencer round out the group.

At a tasting at the local winery, Vince becomes ill and sadly, dies. EMTs think his symptoms are unnatural and call in the police. Amber, the police detective who was Poppy’s enemy in school and might have achieved frenemy status now, thinks the best way to keep tabs on everyone is if they all stay at the B&B. Free of charge.

Poppy bakes gluten-free treats for a coffee shop owned by Gia, a sexy Italian who is besotted with Poppy. And to complicate matters, there’s also Tim, the boyfriend from high school, now chef at his own restaurant. Poppy let him slip away then and now he wants to rectify that mistake.

If dealing with Amber, cranky guests, a new widow, Tammy Faye, a Pomeranian who terrorizes and is terrorized by Poppy’s cat, Figaro, a narcoleptic chambermaid, a diet and exercise plan, spying on the guests, and getting roped into her BFF’s crazy plans isn’t enough, Poppy has to keep Aunt Ginny and her eighty-year-old friends, affectionately called ‘the biddies’ out of trouble, a job no one should have to do while calorie deprived or sober.

I always look forward to reading the next book in this series because of the humor, the love triangle that hasn’t gone on too long, and the exceptional writing. This is book five in the series, all reviewed here. Look for number six, Beauty Expos Are Murder, in June, available for pre-order now.

Poppy is happy to share recipes for Paleo blueberry scones plus gluten-free recipes for lemon curd muffins, strawberry tiramisu with sweet red wine, Moscato cheesecake shooters with drunken blackberries, sangria cupcakes, dark chocolate cupcakes with red wine poached pears, and sparkling raspberry cake balls,

Wine tasting rarely involves death, even if the wine is killer good but in the newest addition to the “A Poppy McAllister Mystery” series; Wine Tastings Are Murder, B&B owner Poppy finds herself once again involved in a murder mystery. This time she isn’t a suspect, but one of the people staying at her B&B or even a friend might be a killer.

Suspects are plentiful, and every one of them a believable candidate. None are overly likable, but at least one seems to be exactly what Poppy thinks she is. But that’s not saying much because Poppy isn’t a great judge of people, especially killers. The real killer isn’t hard to spot, and the motive is straightforward and easy to figure out. But many writers will enjoy the story from start to finish. Readers will love the B&B and the wine tasting aspect.

Unfortunately, many readers, myself included, are fed up with the love triangle. It is not necessary to the series, and it has become a sticking point. Even when you think it is finally resolved, at the end of Wine Tastings Are Murder, the reader is thrown into an entirely new situation, a very unwelcome one. This alone made my enjoyment of the book dwindle. Having the main character undecided for five books was terrible enough, but throwing the twist in at the end of this book made me unlikely to recommend this book or read the next one.

I love B&B-based cozies, they are always fun, and the wine tasting aspect of this one was intriguing, but overall, I didn’t enjoy the story. Aunt Ginny was a delight as always, and other returning characters were original and entertaining. I would have enjoyed the book far more if the author hadn’t thrown in an unnecessary new twist in the love triangle at the very end.

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

Poppy, Aunt Ginny, the Biddies and that charming but devious feline, Figaro are at it again. This time, the mystery is close to home. When a member of a hard to handle tour group, that is staying at the B&B is murdered, the team must work to uncover the killer and save their fledgling business.

I love this series! Poppy is a relatable, down to earth main character that you root for through mystery solving and romance issues. Aunt Ginny is just as funny and blunt as ever! Having Poppy and Aunt Ginny own a B&B provides for hilarious moments and so many mystery possibilities. I enjoy characters who grow and develop through a series and Poppy has certainly grown! And I can't leave out the wonderful Figaro who has his own nemesis in the book.

I'm looking forward to Poppy's next case!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.