This is an enjoyable, if formulaic, mystery. All of the elements are there - a believable set up, a falsely accused character who is important to the protagonist, and a cast of potential killers. The solution also makes sense, and there aren’t big holes in the detection that make you want to scream. Overall, it is well done and readable, even if as a reader I wasn’t as enamored with the main love interest as the protagonist is.

This is a rare second book in a mystery series that I enjoyed even more than the first. Many cozy mystery series hit a tiny sophomore slump where they veer off course in the second book before getting into their groove. However, this series got stronger in book two in my opinion, when another murder threatens the lives of the employees and friends of Vino Valentine.

Context

The series centers around Parker Valentine, a new business owner who has started a winery named Vino Valentine in Boulder, Colorado. In the first book, we learned that Parker’s parents haven’t been the most supportive of her business venture. Parker also began a relationship with Reid Wallace, her brother Liam’s best friend and a local chef.

Plot

Parker Valentine may have made a small amount of headway with her parents supporting her decision to open Vino Valentine, a winery and tasting room at the heart of Boulder’s artisanal food scene, but she hasn’t quite escaped the curse of disapproving parents yet. Her new relationship with hunky local chef Reid Wallace comes with a set of non-supportive parents of their own.

While Parker’s mother may not understand her decision to go into winemaking, she extends an olive branch in the form of state of the art tools from her background as a chemist. But Reid’s mother Camilla Wallace couldn’t be less supportive of Reid’s restaurant, Spoons, or his relationships with Parker.

When Reid’s sous chef and friend Oscar Flores is found stabbed to death outside of Reid’s restaurant, Spoons—Reid becomes the prime suspect after a witness identified him at the scene of the crime. With detective Eli Fuller arresting Reid for the murder, Reid needs his family more than ever. But Camilla and the rest of the Wallace family quickly turn their backs on Reid, letting him languish in jail with no way to clear his name.

Thankfully Parker has a bit of experience investigating, and she goes all in to support her new paramour. Convinced of Reid’s innocence and mourning the death of the beloved Oscar, Parker is willing to risk her relationship with Eli and her safety to clear Reid’s name.

Review

The mystery was front and center in A Pairing to Die For and revolved primarily around Reid’s restaurant, Spoons, and the employees and patrons there. In the first book, I felt the mystery was pretty straight forward and it was somewhat clear who would be behind the murder. However, the second book was quite different in that regard. There were a number of suspects that could have murdered Oscar, and the motive was particularly unclear until the reveal.

I was glad to see the love triangle from the first book had mostly resolved. Though new, Lansing did a fantastic job showing the connection that had already formed between Reid and Parker though they aren’t even at the L-word stage just yet. Sometimes relationships in cozy mysteries can feel shallow, but that wasn’t the case in A Pairing to Die For. I felt Parker’s anguish of the unknown and what could be.

The relationship being new added an interesting layer to the mystery, since there was still quite a bit about Reid Parker didn’t know yet. While she feels in her gut that he is innocent, she is forced to consider that they are still getting to know one another. In addition, Reid hasn’t told her everything about himself yet. Part of Parker’s investigation is uncovering and weighing some secrets from Reid’s life.

Family was a central focus of this book. Parker and Reid both have families who may not fully understand or support the career paths they’ve chosen. While in Parker’s case, this was an unfortunate challenge she needs to accept and work to overcome, in Reid’s case it was quite shocking. His family completely turned their back on him, even when he needed them most. While Parker’s mother is attempting to show interest in Parker’s life and winemaking, Reid’s mother is actively pushing Reid away.

In the end, the killer was a surprise to me and the reveal is not one that brings comfort to the characters. Oscar was such a beloved friend, I liked that the book stayed authentic to the impact his death and Reid’s imprisonment has on the characters. The story extends outwards for more context on the fallout from this mystery and it needed it. I think it set us up to have closure while being ready to see what happens next.

If you’re reading the books out of order, there are a few mentions of the events from book one but no major spoilers. This could also be read as a standalone. The same narrator from Killer Chardonnay returned for the audiobook. Brooke Hoover continued to deliver a great performance and brought life to the mystery.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

This is a 3.5 review. This is the second book I have read in the series. I enjoyed the first book more. In this one Parker and Reid are now a couple and Parker is meeting Reid's family for the time. Her winery and his restaurant are successful and they both want to impress his family with food and wine. The dinner is a disaster and Reid is arrested for murder. Parker decides the police have given up investigating so she does it herself. I did find it unusual that Sage would represent Reid considering she works for a judge. There are a lot of descriptions of clothes, wine and food and not a lot of mystery. I found the mystery very easy to solve as there were not a lot of suspects. The Colorado setting is fun and I did like some of the supporting characters. Overall it was a nice easy to read cozy.

Just not my thing.
I tried to get into it, but I just wasn't able to...:(
Maybe if I were more interested in wine, but this was just not the cozy for me.

I especially love cozy mysteries that break away from the usual cozy mystery playbook. I enjoyed this one tremendously and flew thru the pages. I found the characters traits to fill in more with the second book. The secondary characters are still so much fun. I picked up on the killer early on but there were plenty of misleading suspects to have me question myself. Looking forward to reading book 3.

This is the second book in the Colorado Wine Mystery series. I loved this fun full of twists and turns story. From the beginning it grabs your attention through out the book. Just a pleasant entertaining series all around. I loved all the wine talk, actually learned a thing or two.

We are back at Vino Valentine for book 2. Honestly, I couldn’t be more content. This cozy is charming. Parker and Reid are incredibly sweet and I love their entire story.

Pairing the wine shop with quirky characters is chef’s kiss. Bottom line when I walk away from a cozy smiling and ready to take on a new food and wine pairing…it’s a win.

The only thing I took points off is for the chemistry and wine dialogue. That’s a personal opinion.

Four stars. Start at the beginning with book one!

A Pairing to Die For is book two in the “A Colorado Wine Mystery” series. Parker is spending most of her time coming up with new wine blends and keeping up with her new boyfriend, Reid. Unfortunately, his arrogant family comes to town, and chaos ensues, childhood mischief comes back to haunt Reid, and murder soon follows.

Parker is a character who is consistent, loyal, and ready to help no matter the personal cost. When Reid is accused of killing another chef, Parker knows he is innocent and sets out to prove it. Reid’s family doesn’t seem to care, and they offer no help. The only person she can turn to is a friend and the lead detective on the case, who happens to be a former love interest. Things get weird quickly as the wine flows, and Parker finds to her horror that she has become the target of a possible killer.

The suspects in this new book center mainly around Reid’s restaurant and his employees. Some have motives to have killed the victim, but none of them seem likely. Reid has secrets, and Parker has to uncover all of them to show that he isn’t a killer. Parkers wine and the winery, as well as Reid’s restaurant, are the primary locations throughout the story but the details and descriptions do not get bogged down or repetitive.

This story revolves around family relationships, as we get a good idea of Reid’s childhood and how he was raised, and the dynamic between Parker and her mother comes more clearly into focus and allows their relationship to mature. Her mother is showing an interest in winemaking and helping Parker with her business, while Reid’s mother tries to convince him that Parker isn’t good enough for him. In the end, the killer is exposed but does not bring comfort to anyone involved. Both parent/child relationships are enhanced, and Parker and Reid are brought closer. My only problem with this book was that I do not like the present tense format of this book; it made it hard to read and stopped the flow. However, I recommend that readers grab their favorite food, a nice glass of wine, and settle in their favorite chair to enjoy A Pairing to Die For.

Wine, a gorgeous mountain setting, wine, wonderful characters, a cute cat, and oh did I mention wine? This cozy series by Kate Lansing has the recipe of an absolute winner! This is book two in this young series and was just wonderful. Here we find our MC Parker Valentine's chef boyfriend Reid accused of murder. Reid's estranged and not particularly warm or kind family in town visiting when Reid's sous chef is found dead in the alley behind the restaurant. Parker is sure (isn't she?) that Reid is innocent...even though he's clearly keeping things from her. With the help of her best friend (who is an AWESOME, unique character) and her brother (a hapless sweetheart), Parker will go to any length to find out the true killer.

While she's not solving the latest murder in her life, Parker is trying to come up with new blends for her winery. I am no wine expert by any means, but I love wine and LOVED all the wine-making details in this book, and the connection with chemistry that leads to a little happy turn in Parker's relationship with her mom. I'm STILL not sure about Reid. Frankly, I think Parker can do better, and I happen to think better awaits her in her friend and local detective Liam. But we'll see! In the meantime, I sure enjoyed watching Parker solve this mystery and save Reid's bacon.

Highly recommend this delightful series! Cheers to another great installment, and I'm already anxiously awaiting the next book!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

A Pairing to Die For, the second Colorado Wine Mystery, is well executed with engaging characters and an interesting winemaking backdrop. I have not read the series’ first entry Killer Chardonnay but easily jumped right into the action. There are a few references to the prior book but nothing that would spoil the mystery.

It is grape harvest season, and even though winemaker Parker does not grow the fruit herself, she must be available at a moment’s notice to work the grapes. So time is limited to meet her chef boyfriend’s estranged family for dinner, which definitely does not go well, and she is stunned when Reid is arrested the next morning, charged with murdering his sous chef Oscar. To make matters worse, Reid’s family has no interest in posting bail or helping him in any way leaving it up to Parker to put on her sleuthing cap and find the real killer. But, things are not easy…there is an eye witness and Reid is secretive and not forthcoming. Parker’s best friend Sage, a lawyer, steps up to represent Reid but cannot help Parker because of client privilege. Parker does not give up and even faces danger to save Reid.

A Pairing to Die For is written in present tense, which is usually not my favorite to read, but I quickly adjusted to it and greatly enjoyed my time with Parker and her friends and family. Parker is an engaging sleuth, loyal and determined. Though she finds herself in a dire situation, she never comes across as “too stupid to live”. I liked the other recurring characters, too, including Parker’s mother, brother, and assistant. I look forward to seeing the evolution of Parker and her mother’s relationship. As expected, Reid’s family is unlikable…judgmental, snobby, and overall unpleasant and reprehensible. Readers will feel little sympathy for any of them and their eventual circumstances.

The winemaking backdrop is interesting, and I learned a bit about the process. These scenes and information do not become too tedious or take away from the mystery. The mystery is well thought out, but it is rather easy to figure out the killer’s identity. The motive, however, kept me guessing for much of the book. The pace of the book is brisk other than lagging a touch in the middle of the story.

I liked A Pairing to Die For and will definitely seek out more books in the Colorado Wine Mystery Series. Recommended for any cozy mystery fan.

Another fun installment in the series, A Pairing To Die For was heavy on the mystery, this time around. Some of the same, lovable characters return, but there wasn’t as much focus on food and wine, which I feel like I missed. I wanted to spend more time in Parker’s winery. But overall an enjoyable read that was surprisingly fast paced! Looking forward to the next one!

A middle-of-the-road cozy mystery featuring Parker Valentine, owner of Vino Valentine in Boulder, Colorado, who must take on the daunting task of meeting the parents. Camilla Wallace, Reid's mother, already disapproves of her son’s choice of becoming a chef and restaurant owner when his two brothers, attorney Ben and physician Tristan, are accomplished in their respected fields. When Reid is accused of murdering his sous chef Oscar Flores, a man the family knows and despises, the Wallace’s don’t bother to lift a finger to help their son. If he can’t live up to their expectation then he must live his own life -- without their money.

Parker can’t let this sit. With Reid in jail, and Parker unsure of their future, she enlists the help of her friends to investigate Oscar's murder. Turns out that the clues point closer to home than anyone, including the intolerable Camilla, could have imagined.

A Pairing to Die For is on par with a Killer Chardonnay, the first in the series. There may be more winemaking technique and food paring than most readers want to read over and over, but once you get past that, the friendships and conflicts keep you engaged and cheering on this cast of sleuths.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital advance reading copy of this book.

This was the second book in the A Colorado Wine Mystery series and it was just as fun as the first. I had absolutely no idea who the killer was until the reveal. Kate Lansing did a great job of misdirecting suspicion onto other characters.

I also love learning all about wine making and the science involved during fermentation and aging.

Keep these books coming!

Huge fan of the first book in the series and not because I live 20 minutes from Boulder. It’s a well written book and series I hope to read more of soon.
Parker is an interesting character with a lot of personality.

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Colorado Wine mystery series by Kate Lansing.

The second book in this series starts off with a bang as Parker is trying to connect to her boyfriend’s family who is there for an impromptu visit. Then one of the people working in the kitchen gets murdered with her boyfriend’s knife making him suspect number one. And his family could care less about his predicament.

This was quite a page turner. I think I was most interested in the mystery and seeing how Reid’s relationship with his family might change by the end. Definitely a great read. Loving this series already. It is a good one to check out, especially if you love wine. Kinda missing the whole “wine making atmosphere” like in book one but this really kept my attention throughout.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

A Pairing to Die For: A Colorado Wine Mystery
By Kate Lansing
Berkley
February 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

Parker Valentine may have just survived the poisoning at her Vino Valentine winery that jeopardized both her business and her freedom, but she’s never faced a menace like this. For the first time Parker will be meeting the estranged family of her boyfriend Reid Wallace, the talented chef of Spoons restaurant. Reid himself hasn’t spoken to his parents or brothers in over a year, and their disapproval immediately overflows onto Parker. Condescending and extremely judgmental, their opinions are unlikely to improve when disastrous meals begin coming out of the kitchen. Far worse than over-seasoned or improperly sauced dishes though is the discovery of Spoons’ line cook Oscar Flores dead, stabbed in the back by one of Reid’s knives. A witness claiming to have seen the men fighting the night before leads to Reid’s quick arrest, with his family refusing to pay for his hefty bail.

Refusing to believe that Reid could have committed the murder, Parker pleads with the investigating Detective Eli Fuller to look for alternative suspects. Their awkward “friend zone” status – implemented by Parker, not Eli – means that she doubts that the officials anything that would risk an easy conviction. As a result, Parker not only investigates the tumultuous world of restaurants, she finds herself spending more time than she wants to with Reid’s unwelcoming family. It doesn’t take long for Parker to discover that jealousy and rivalries abound within the high-pressure cooking arena.

This second in the series continues to expand upon the fascinating nuances and exacting details involved in boutique winemaking. Old ways blend together with new science technologies, fortunate for Parker as she vents out her frustration and anger through old school stomping on grapes. Parker sees the world through a veil of winemaking, observing how grapes that endure struggle, high altitudes, and extreme weather produce much more flavorful and robust wine. It’s impossible for her to not compare that with Reid and his favored brothers, the latter whose much easier childhoods led to their becoming self-involved, self-centered adults. It is Parker’s attention to details and meticulousness - her custom blends are precisely recorded, accurately reproduced chemical experiments - that allows to put together clues before the police. Colorado’s charm and the exploration of Parker’s winery ensure for an original and compelling setting, especially as readers are introduced to more of Parker’s friends and family members. Cozy fans will be delighted by Parker’s cat Zinfandel, as well as recipes and wine pairings included at the end. While many may know how to balance wine acidity and bitterness with certain foods, would they also know that a monscato d’Asti is the perfect pairing for a Cinnamon Apple Tart? Readers entranced by this compelling world will have much to look forward to as Parker continues her success to build up her winery while protecting those she loves.

Parker Valentine is turning her new winery business into a huge success, although it’s not always easy. Her assistant, Felix, is a huge help. Her mother is not all that happy with Parker’s new business, but she’s trying to come to terms with it.

Meanwhile, Parker’s relationship with Reid Wallace, a local restaurant owner and chef, is moving along smoothly. When Reid’s family comes to town, Parker quickly learns to appreciates her own family. To say Reid’s family is difficult to deal with would be putting it mildly. Parker and the Wallace family get off to a very unpleasant start and it never gets any better.

Then, Reid’s sous chef is found dead and the police turn right in Reid’s direction. They are convinced he is the killer and arrest him. Devastated, Parker vows to prove his innocence. His family is absolutely no help. She begins an investigation and doesn’t care where it leads as long as she gets Reid out of jail. Parker has no idea what sort of secrets have been buried and she would soon uncover.

I loved the first book in this series and I loved this one even more. The author has done a very good job at developing the characters. With each page readers learn more about Parker and Reid. Their characters take shape and come to life. So does their relationship.

The storyline is fast-paced with many twists and turns along the way. I wasn’t expecting the direction the author took to solving the mystery, but it all made sense in the end. It made for an exciting finale.

I’m looking forward to another visit to Boulder, Colorado and more delightful mysteries for Parker to solve.

Warning: You may start craving wine once you start this series. I know I did.






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this sequel in the Colorado Wine Mystery series. Perfect setting, great character development and a captivating storyline made this quite a cozy read.

It’s no secret that I love Colorado and long to live near the mountains. Glimpses of Fall descending on Boulder throughout this book was just good for my soul. I could easily picture the Flatirons and imagine the hiking trails. I love the fact that the main character is a rock climber and we get to see her describe and enjoy her hobby in each book. I also love learning a few tidbits about the process of making wine and appreciate the connection of chemistry to this part of the culinary world. Don’t laugh, but ever since I saw A Walk in the Cloud (hello, young Keanu), I’ve wanted to stomp grapes. I would easily sign up for this new event at Vino Valentine and sighed through those scenes.

The author has done a fantastic job of already developing the central cast. I even liked Liam’s role in this book as they learn to navigate rejection, yet remain friends. I also enjoyed seeing Parker’s mom show interest in her daughter’s profession. Brace yourself for meeting Reid’s family. Goodness, what a crew!!! How the sweet chef if related to them is a mystery in and of itself.

With Reid being wrongfully accused for murder, this mystery is full of action, shocking twists and plenty of red herrings. I gasped and definitely had the wrong culprit picked out so the last few chapters were extra captivating.

The book concludes with a few recipes!

This is another great addition to this series. Though the books often have a focus on wines you do not have to be a drinker to enjoy the books. There are occasionally a few too many explanations of the wines if you don't care for them but I think they are interesting. I enjoyed the main characters in this book just as much as I did in the first, though this book introduced Reid's family and they were awful (on purpose). I know they were pretty much supposed to be sucky people and I understood why but I did think it brought down the tone of the book a bit so I took off a star for that. Other than that though the book was fantastic. The mystery was well done, the writing flowed and I loved the main character. I am looking forward to the next book!

This has become one of my favorite cozy series. I adore the Colorado setting and learning about wine. The protagonist is relatable, and I had a lot of fun with the love triangle. The mystery was well paced and well written.