I was quite confused throughout this book and felt like I wasn’t given the right amount of information. I then realized that this is part of a series. I would not recommend jumping into this book without reading the others as they will likely provide more context. Despite this, the premise was fun and it was a nice cozy mystery

Poppy needs to make a decision, she can't have her gluten-free muffins and eat them too. Of course she is usually too busy to take time out to eat which worries her doctor. Between the Butterfly Wings B&B, creating divine desserts for Tim, bistro baked goods for Gia, and trying to keep her Aunt Ginny out of the hoosegow. Now on top of it all she is having to work twice as hard to get bookings for the B&B thanks to some bogus posts and bad reviews from the last book (curse that Gigi) and is working with a tour group looking to take in some wine country. Unfortunately, wine and murder do not pair nearly as well as wine and any one of the recipes found at the back of the book. I have ingredients list ready for the paleo blueberry scones and the gluten-free strawberry tiramisu with sweet red wine. The tour group is a very unusual assortment of people who seem to somehow be connected even though they swear they don't know each other, accept for the victim whose trip is being hijacked by his daughter and her husband in an attempt to make the new and very young wife very uncomfortable. Not to spoil the story but it will get a little dark and serious before the end and the very end well let's just say that I am not so sure I was happy with the coin toss and then I was feeling like a rolling pin had come out of no where. Plenty of suspects and red herrings and the unusal workign relationship that Poppy and Kim seem to be working towards, which is really mature of them both (high school drama). My final comment about the book is that I'm already hungry for the next one and the Maxine crab has got to go!

The trifecta of entertainment - a well plotted mystery, humor and uncertain romance. I also liked the colorful characters and the fact that the murder did not occur near the beginning of the book. Thus, I spent the first part of the story trying to decide who was going to be killed and then the rest trying to figure out who was guilty. The cliffhanger at the end was great too.

Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I haven’t read the earlier books in this series but I plan to after reading this one. It was quirky and funny with likable characters. The mystery seemed straightforward but ended up being a bit more complex than expected.

A fun loving, laugh out loud who done it cozy mystery. The characters are wonderful and I would love to see this book as a romantic comedy. I already can see who would star in it. A great getaway, keeps one guessing till the end.

I can not say this enough how much I LOVE this series. Between all the adventures that Poppy, Aunt Ginny and everyone involved takes. I feel like I'm right there with them cheering them on or saying what they are doing isn't such a good idea. - WOW I have so many emotions going on right now. I keep loving every book more than the previous one. I don't want to give too much info because I want you to trust me when I say Libby Klein is a genius and I can not wait for what she has planned for Poppy's next adventure. Thank you Libby!!! 😍😍

Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is one that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!
I started this series because it was set in one of my favorite vacation spots, but I keep reading because I adore the characters. And this installment is no exception! But, that teaser...not nice!!!

I have been following this series since I met the author on her book tour for the first book. Since then Libby Klein has maintained a remarkable schedule of a book every six months. This one has all of the magic of the first and, oh my goodness, the ending. I’m already super eager to read the next installment!

In this installment of the series, protagonist Poppy McAllister will host a small happy hour of guests that will join a larger group tour of the Laughing Gull Winery that includes unique couples. There is also a single lady who arrives late and the daughter of the December half of a May-December couple. Of course, those two ladies will clash from the beginning and continue throughout the narrative.
Poppy hosts her B&B along with her octogenarian Aunt Ginny who has obviously reverted—somewhat back. She has a pack of cronies often referred to as “the biddies.” Poppy has a kitty she calls Figaro who instantly takes a dislike to the pampered Pomeranian brought by the May side of the May-December marriage. In the meantime, her aunt is interviewing for a new chambermaid and hires Victoria. Victoria, it turns out has narcolepsy. The narratives are loaded with unique and crisis-instigating support characters.
Of course, there is a body, although it doesn’t occur until almost 28% into the novel. There are ample descriptions of cat-dog squabbles, broken china, stolen food. Red herrings are liberally scattered throughout. And the inevitable comparisons of the two men in the triangle, Gia or Tim, neither of whom I felt an appropriate match…which one, which one? (I don’t care!)
By Book 5 you won’t have a lot of character development—but there is lots of focus on food, most of which sounds delightful (and there are recipes at the back of the book). It’s fairly well paced, if not for constant interruption, chaos, and slow to pull out the perp.
The conclusion was somewhat a surprise—which was gratifying and not guessed correctly. And while it appears the triangle choice had been made, the rug was then pulled out from under the reader. GEES! The obvious gotcha for Book 6. I’ll read it, NOT for the romance, but because the humor in the book is a hoot and I read it for the grins.

Libby Klein's Poppy McCallister Mystery Series is, hands down, probably my favorite cozy series! The author consistently provides a well-written, engaging, and laugh out loud story, and her latest installment, Wine Tastings Are Murder, is everything I've come to expect and love in a Poppy book! A wine tour group has checked in at the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast and (big surprise, lol!), one of the participants is murdered! Poppy and octogenarian Aunt Ginny plus their gang of Cape May Irregulars must work together to solve the crime, and they do so with their usual style! I love this series, and recommend Wine Tastings Are Murder to one and all! A+++

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 5th book in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series. I have to say I loved the characters, and I found myself laughing so many times while reading this book. It was so much I needed right now. The mystery part was fun, but it was second to the characters I felt. The mystery did have suspense and twists with was good. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Publishing Corporation) or author (Libby Klien) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

I'm rating this book a *hopeful* 3.5 stars. The last book had this series teetering on the edge of a downhill slope, in part because of the ridiculous love triangle. The Poppy-Gia-Tim dynamic is total cringe. It's obvious who Poppy wants, has been from the beginning, and it's an insult to readers' intelligence to keep it going. Well, this book finally settles the matter but unfortunately leaves the door open to resuming it.

The mystery takes some time to find its footing, but I thought its conclusion was clever. I also like the direction the author is going in with Poppy and Amber's emerging frenemies dynamic. Less page space is devoted to Aunt Ginny and her antics, which work better in smaller doses, and more characters make a return from previous books. However, where this book fails is in the overuse of Poppy's cat Figaro as a character. When zany cat moments are taking up 20% of the storyline, I start to think the author has run out of ideas. Unless you're writing a very specific kind of fantasy novel, cats are not characters.

"Kale frittata is proof that I'll eat anything if it has enough cheese on it."

These are the kind of lines that keep me reading. So I'll keep going... but the ice is thin.

WINE TASTINGS ARE MURDER, the fifth book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series by Libby Klein, is my new favorite out of them all! That said, I’ll get my one and only criticism out of the way upfront… I hate love triangles and feel like the protagonist, Poppy McAllister, has dragged out her choice 3 books too long. However, the author has used her wicked sense of humor, in the form of supporting characters, to poke fun at and address the love triangle which made it more palatable. And (I’m jumping ahead here) there is a resolution with a jaw-dropping twist. If you’re like me in this regard, hang in there because the ride is well worth it!

Ms. Klein’s knack for hitting the one-liner zingers with impeccable timing had me laughing out loud more times than I could count. While Poppy may be the “serious” character in the bunch, her inner thoughts, along with dialog, is laced with hilarity. And then there are the supporting characters, Poppy’s Aunt Ginny being the chief ringleader. Her zany antics, as she leads her band of biddies in their quest for mischief and mayhem, kept me entertained every step of the way. Thrown in for more laughs are a young Eastern European narcoleptic housemaid, a houseful of wine tasting tourists, and a battle between the resident cat, Figeraro, and the naughty visiting teacup Pomeranian, Tammy Faye Baker.

Of course being a cozy mystery book there is a murder. One of the guests at Poppy’s B & B drops dead during a wine tasting event. The author’s attention to detail in setting up the murder and suspects is top notch and the clues and red herrings she plants are cleverly plotted. With plenty of suspects to keep a motivated reader guessing (I was more than happy to sit back and enjoy the story as it unfolded instead of trying to puzzle it out) the final reveal showcased another wickedly clever twist that takes the award for the most creative I’ve ever read!

Running a B & B along with dividing her time between providing gluten-free bakery items for a coffeehouse and desserts for a restaurant, Poppy spends a lot of time in the kitchen. All the mentions of food will leave the reader craving goodies and the author shares some of those recipes at the back of the book.

I have one word for this book, “wow!”
This is the fifth book in this series and it is my favourite so far.
Poppy is a realistic, contemporary woman, who I really enjoy reading about.
This mystery was really well written and the characters were so intriguing, that I could not put it down!
All in all, this book was a delight to read and a great continuation to this series.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

*Disclaimer: I have been provided this book free of charge by the publisher Kensington Publishing for the sole purpose of reading and reviewing this book for NetGallery.com, along with my YouTube Channel as well as this blog. All reviews are completely my own thoughts and opinions*

Libby Klein has some AMAZING opening lines.

For Example - this is is the opening line for this book:

“Kale Frittata is proof that I’ll eat anything if it has enough cheese in it.”

I don’t know about you, but that cracks me up, and as someone who is trying to loose weight, I RESONATE with that!

Poppy is currently departing a delema that most girls would be THRILLED about - 2 men are competing for her affections - it makes me think of a medieval princess in a tower or Maid Marian at the competition. When we meet up with Poppy at the beginning of the book, she is trying to get her body in “Lingire Shape” which I think that most of us ladies can relate to.

Poppy, along with her Aunt GInny, have been remodeling their home into a bed and breakfast, which is called the Butterfly Wings B&B. Have you every stayed in an B&B? I have not, but it is on my bucket list!

When Poppy gets home from her workout, Aunt Ginny and Figero (Poppy’s Cat) are celebrating that the cleaning lady has not only quit working for them, but retired from cleaning all together. Knowing Aunt Ginny’s anticits....you can ONLY wonder what she did to the poor lady to make her retire COMPLETELY! This stresses our Poppy becuase they have people coming to the B&B for a Wine TOur and weekends leading up to the Memoral Day Weekend.

Poppy has a busy day ahead of her - she is going to Tim’s Restaurant, Maxine’s (Now - Tim is not only her ex-high school sweetheart, but one of her current suiters) to make Nutella Creme Brûlée and Pina Colaeda Cake for him to serve. After greeting Tim, they head to the kitchen where there is a mock-fight going on about sports. (I am not a huge sports person - i just don’t see the point in it) Tim has gotten her a present! Her own pink Chef’s Coat!! Like all women who worry about their weight, she has the mantra going through her head saying that is not going to fit, and she is mostly correct - its a little tight over “the girls” and she considers unpadding her bra...but wants to be a little “farther out” than her tummy is - LOL

After a busy day making all kinds of sweets and treats and worrying at the same time (we women are good multi-tankers) she heads home to conduct new maid interviews and she finds that her worry’s are not in vain. Aunt Ginny is trying to “drill Sargent” the 6 applicants she has find and they are all sitting on the count in various degrees of terrified ness. (Yes - I am officially making that a word). WHen Aunt Ginny asks if anyone wants to leave - 5 of the 6 run for the hills. Not going to lie - if I had been in that house, I would have headed for the hills myself if given the option!

We fast forward a few days, and we find that Poppy has overslept and is running late to make pastry’s at the La Dolce Vita Espresso Bar. She walks in, and Gia is not waiting for her like normal; he is with a younger girl (another redhead) named Sierra and she is going to be working in the espresso shop as well. Poppy developers a pretty sour attitude and heads to the kitchen area that she has deemed “the lair” to make some Paleo Blueberry Scores. Gia eventually brings her her daily latte and tells her that Sierra needs some more practice and that he didn’t want her to have to wait all day.

Poppy is feeling Jealous, even though really, she hasn’t staked a claim officially on Gia. She finishes making some cookies (the macadamia nuts were almost decimated in the course of this) and heads to the bathroom to “freshen up” - she has officially declared war.

Poppy now has to play “Lady of the Manor” for her B&B for a newlywed couple so she rushes home, cleanse up, and they (Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and FIgero) are lined up in the entry way waiting to invite them in. Poppy is expecting a pair of 20somethings, but finds a Middle-Aged Man with a MUCH younger bride!

Well, the problems have just started for poor Poppy. Aunt Ginny has made a change to the website so that it states :Pet Friendly” and the newlyweds have brought along their Pom, which Figero is NOT ok with!

Poppy is at her wits end and she has just offered to show the new couple to their room when Aunt Ginny set’s off her new Alexa and it is telling her what a “Golddigger” is - OMG - I started CRACKING UP at that while reading!!

So a little while later, 2 people show up, and it ends up that it’s Vince (the groom) children!! Can you saw Awkward??? So while she is trying to figure out how to handle this NEWEST crisis, Sunny (the bride) arrives and is trying to figure out what is going on, but when Vince asks that, Ryan (Vince’s son-in-law) says it was all Sunny’s Idea!! Umm..........#weirdfamilyvacation (No ages of Vince’s daughter or bride are given until later in the book, but it is revealed that Alyce; Vince’s daughter was a year AHEAD of the new bride in school and they were enemys even in school.......)

So FINALLY, its time for the wine tasting portion of our day.... I’m sure that Poppy is wondering if she is even in the SAME DAY that she started with with all of the drama that has happened!! Poppy’s friend Kim, who owns Laughing Gull Winery has arrived!! Kim informers Poppy (while snitching food while Poppy is trying to wash maple syrup out of Fig’s fur) that Lilly (who is in charge of the wine tour) will be arriving in about 15 minutes and that she isn’t allowed to pour wine until Daniel is there to talk about the nuances of wine....I just feel for Poppy at this moment.



So finally, Poppy is bringing food into the room, and there are 4 total couples on the tour with Lilly Snow from the Pink Sandals Boutique Tours, and they have all finally arrived. They spend a few minutes intruding themselves to the group, and then the tasting starts.

After some stressful beginnings, between the good food that Poppy has prepared and the wine that is flowing, people are starting to mellow out (is it ok that I’m kinda thankful on behalf of a book character??)

After the tasting is over (with promises of extra tastings the following day due to Daniel’s delay) everyone goes their separate ways to dinner....and we get some more drama.......Daniel is KISSING Alyce Finch behind the garage.......umm.....WTH??? The following morning, Poppy is NOT wanting to wake up since the drama has continued until 2AM!! (Maybe I DON”T want to stay at a B&B.....is that where people go to air their dirty laundry?) To make the day even BETTER to start with (is there enough scarcam there?) she has a text from Gia that Sierra has an idea for a muffin....Poppy just CAN’T catch a break and its not even 7AM yet.

So after breakfast, Poppy is out with her friend Sawyer getting supplies and she gets a phone call from Kim out at the Laughing Gull Winery....one of the tour guests is DEAD!!!



Care to take a guess of which one it was...........





Yup - it is our friendly neighborhood newlywed groom Vince Baker!!



So when they arrive, everything is in chaos. Apparently Vince has had a heartattack and traumatized everyone on the tour......or was it a heartattack?????

The police arrive on the scene shortly after Poppy and Sawyer and Poppy’s archenemy from high school who is now local police has arrived - Amber.

Amber confronts Poppy asking if she was part of the wine tour and she sates that no that she arrived after he has passed away and then Amber accuses Poppy of contaminating her crime scene....wait. I thought this was a heart attack?? Now its a crime scene?? What is going on here??

The funny thing about enemy’s - sometimes you are emery’s, sometimes you aren’t. Amber is actually, in MY option, NICE to Poppy! She tells Poppy that there were some questionable finding by the paramedics and so it was called in. Poppy’s first thought is of the new widow, while Amber is pointing out that most of the time the widow has done it....thought she isnt’ sure about Sunny in this instance.

SO finally, the police gather everyone and tell them that anyone that is not on the tour is free to leave, but the rest of them have to stay in the area in case they have any other questions - typical for a murder investigation but not a heart attack!

As everyoene leaves, Kim PLEADS with Sawyer and Poppy to figure how what happened - she has cashed in her 401K that her husband doesn’t know about and if the winery goes under, they will have nothing!!

OS when they get3 home, Aunt Ginny of course wants to be involved and Poppy is trying to Duane her from it. You know that excentric aunt that you have that wants to be 15 instead of 59?? that is how I imanige Aunt Ginny!

Sunny has arrived back at the B&B and is at this point sad and numb - she said that Ryan and Alyce have been horrible to her and after he was dead, Ryan was in contact with lawyers to contest the will - and I agree with Sunny’s question - how do THEY know what. Is in the will when Sunny doenst even know what is in it?? Hum........

The police then show up and want to search Vinny and Sunny’s room - Poopy wants a search warrant but Sunny ok’s it, so he searches the room and her purse and takes some pills that he says will be returned later....hum.....wat COULD the police have found!!!

So awhile later, Poppy is back at home and in the pantry to check on peaches to make breakfast the following morning and she overhears the Finches talking about the will - Ryan also makes this comment

“ It might be our only option. You’re in line to get everything if she is gone.”

How OMNINOUS IS THAT!! I Mean - REALLY???

SO Office Amber shows up shortly after with more questions for Sunny. After questioning her, she calls Poppy into the room and once again confides in her about the case - I’m REALLY confused about this personally since I’ve read the other books and she does NOT like Poppy - its like the “Popular” kids in high school all of the sudden likening me and wanting to hang out with em - SO not going to happen....WHAT is Amber’s agenda under all of this....?

SO Who is the Murderer> Is it the Young Widow? The Son-In-Law? The angry Daughter? Or is it someone that you would never expect??

To find out, you will need to grab a copy of Wine Tastings are Murder - a Poppy McAllister Mystery by Libby Klein from Kensington Publishers and its available today!

Poppy McAllister, baker and B&B owner, is lucky enough to be part of a Wine group touring. Several of the guests will be at her B&B, but was this really a lucky break?. Maybe not since grumpy old Vince Baker and his young wife Sunny along with her Pomeranian spoiled dog from Hell are the guests she has been "blessed" with. When Vince's grown daughter and self-centered son-in-law join the group, Poppy has her hands full juggling the guests, their special requests and a new chambermaid who seems to fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

It doesn't help when Vince is poisoned on the first day and the local law enforcement ask Poppy take in all the other Wine tour members while the investigation is underway. Needing to get her B&B emptied as soon as she can, Poppy along with Aunt Ginny set out to find the murderer.

I absolutely LOVE this series. Poppy's personality and personal issues are so realistic I just want her to be my friend. The mystery was well-plotted and the fun to unravel. Loved the interaction between Figaro (Poppy's cat - normally a naughty kitty) and Sunny's dog, Tammy Faye Baker! What a hoot!

Too bad that we will have to wait months for the next adventure!

Nothing could possibly go wrong at a winery in the midst of a mixed assortment of guests, could it?!

Poppy, a gluten-free baker along with her aunt Ginny own and operate a Bed and Breakfast and host several guests who have booked a wine tour with a tour operator. They bend over backwards meeting demands for their irritating guests, including baking scrumptious treats to pair with wine flights at a wine and cheese event. The following day at the Laughing Gull Winery a guest keels over. Poppy and the police investigate and discover skeletons in many closets. Along with the twists we see Poppy interact with her aunt. friends, guests and two men she loves. Food descriptions make me hungry!

Finally a gluten-free and paleo baking cozy mystery! As someone with celiac this is appreciated and identifiable. I like that middle-aged Poppy has a realistic body. But she is a doormat in ways and her love for two men and indecision regarding them is somewhat frustrating. It's not a favourite trope of mine so a personal opinion.

The brilliant ending was unexpected which is great! The gluten-free recipes at the back look delicious.

Though this is a light read, it does have a bit of depth which is enjoyable. So, if this (and food!) intrigues you, this book will be up your alley.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book. Much appreciated.

'Wine Tastings Are Murder' started very slowly for me. Poppy's indecision and body imaging issues were exhausting. It wasn't until Poppy started relating the dialogue between her cat and one of her guest's dog that I became engaged. It was laugh out loud hilarious. The mystery had me completely fooled, and was resolved in a classic, suspects-gathered setting. The ending was so powerful that I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Wine, Cheese, Murder! I like this series very much. It remains strong in this fifth installment. Poppy is a very relatable woman who deals with pushy in-laws, a complicated love life, and an aunt who doesn't sit home and knit!