Long Island Iced Tina is the second book in the Catering Hall Mystery series. Mia throws a baby shower for her friend, and a stolen painting shows up as a gift. The supposed gift-giver then ends up dead a few days later. Mia sets out, with the help of her mobbed up family, to solve the mystery.
I had a hard time getting into this story. Mia is a likable enough character, but her family and its’ mob-ties were a little unbelievable.

Mia is a fun protagonist. This series has fun characters. I enjoyed the mystery and red herrings along the way. There is a mob family, stolen art work and some shady characters. It was fun mystery and easy to follow without having read the first one.

#LongIslandIcedTina #NetGalley

LONG ISLAND ICED TINA, is the long anticipated second book in the Catering Hall Mystery series by Maria DiRico (aka award-winning author Ellen Byron). The author proves her writing prowess once again by penning a laugh-out-loud cozy featuring protagonist Mia Carina, daughter of a “recovering” mobster. This alone sets the scene for plenty of opportunities for things to go hilariously wrong when the “Family” is hovering in the shadows and Mia is determined to keep her dad on the straight and narrow. Ms. DiRico enthralls the reader with vivid descriptions of Queens along with other notable New York locations. Using all five senses, the reader feels like they’re experiencing it all – the good and the bad – alongside Mia. Besides the well-developed protagonist, the author has plenty of other supporting characters who are equally appealing and zany providing entertainment all on their own. The quintessential interfering Italian grandmothers, who spout off Italian phrases, give a feeling of authenticity. (And don’t worry, there is plenty of context so you know exactly what they’re saying without knowing a foreign language.)

Combining a murder with a baby shower celebration isn’t a scenario I’ve come across and I have to say, Ms. DiRico does a marvelous job of setting up the crime. It’s not much of a surprise when Mia stumbles across the victim who was hated by so many. When the soon-to-be mom’s mother and grandmother are implicated, Mia steps in to investigate. Adding to the murder mystery is a multifaceted plot involving art theft, a suspicious competing venue owner and chef, and an employee who seems intent on sabotage. As the story progresses the threads come together into a cohesive story and I turned the pages faster and faster to find out what happened next. While the action-packed reveal provided tension, the author interjected just the right dose of humor to keep it cozy light which I appreciate. With the final last page read, I’m back to counting down the days until the next book in this highly entertaining series is released next year!

The theme of running a banquet hall and Mia having an Italian grandmother who loves to cook, there is food galore mentioned throughout the story. I was pleased to see that there are a number of recipes included at the back of the book, all which sound fantastic!

Love, love, love this series! Funny, charming. Even with a few different plus, each character is unique and well written. No questions unanswered. More please!

Long Island Iced Tina is the second book in the 'Catering Hall Mysteries' written by Maria DiRico, and it will be published in February of 2021. I've previously read the first book in the series and another series by the author that was written under a different name. I enjoy her writing style, and this new book is no exception.

Mia is a mob princess. Her father was pretty high up, but he's mostly gone clean after a prison stint. Her family still has connections, and they now run a catering hall in Queens. Mia has her own tragedies from a past marriage and murder suspicion, but today, she is much better of. Her grandmother keeps her in line too. Mia's best friend is having a baby shower, and the girl's stepmother (stepMONSTER) is iced at the event... a strange painting shows up, leading Mia to find a web of fraud in the art world. Also, the competition seems to be trying to put her out of business, so of course, she must solve the case.

Mia is a likeable protagonist. She is very Italian, has strong NY qualities, and can be quite tough... but she has a tender side and is just trying to get her life in order. Jamie, her former love from afar, has a girlfriend, but she still pines for him. In this book, Mia gets driving lessons from Jamie, but by the end of the book, a new suitor evolves. Of course, we eagerly wonder whom she should be with. It seems like the new guy is so hot he'd melt butter just by being ten feet away! Add in Benjy--the grandson of another mob boss--and funeral hopping with grandma, then we have lots of comical errors in the catering hall too.

The mystery is good. A painting went missing twenty years ago. The late Tina knew something about it. Several people who were involved at the time show up near the baby shower. Tina just wants to impress her new husband and make his ex-wife look awful. So awful that she's the primary suspect when Tina dies. Unfortunately, Mia's friend is close to having the baby, so she can't do a whole lot right now to protect her father when he's in the spotlight for murder too. It all pulls together with solid reasons for Mia to become the amateur sleuth, and I enjoy her foray into the mob and police worlds.

I took me about 10 to 15 % to get fully immersed back into the mob world, as sometimes it's a little over the top... but once you settle in, it's quite a hoot, and I found myself unwilling to put it down before bed. I look forward to more and can't wait to find out what really happened to Mia's ex; I know there's a story lurking to be shared.

I had so much fun reading this book. I love Mia and her family. Her father is hysterical and her grandmother always makes me laugh.
This story involves stolen artwork, a new wife who has a shady past, and Mia’s newest employee who can’t get anything right.
This is a fast paced book that will leave you wondering way the heck happened.
I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store next for Mia.

Long Island Iced Tina is the second installment in the Catering Hall Mystery series set in Queens, New York and featuring catering/banquet hall manager, Mia Carina. Business is picking up at Belle View Banquet Manor, the facility that her ex-mobster father, Ravello is running for another member of the "Family".

Mia is looking forward to hosting a baby shower at Belle View for her best friend Nicole, that is if she can keep Nicole's family drama to a minimum. Nicole's mother and grandmother are at war with Nicole's stepmother, Tina and now there are going to be dueling showers. Tina is hosting her shower at the posh Versailles on the Park and Mia is looking forward to checking 0ut how her competition runs their business. In typical Tina fashion, the event centers more around her and how much money she has and little to do with Nicole and her husband Ian.

The second shower at Belle View is much more casual, filled with Nicole's family and friends. Things are going well until a fight breaks out in the bathroom between Tina and Nicole's grandmother, Minnie. Even more shocking is the appearance of a mysterious gift - a long lost piece of stolen artwork. Just when Mia thinks the day couldn't get any worse she stumbles across a body floating in the waters outside of Belle View.

A well-crafted mystery chock full of outrageous characters. A ring of art thieves, a conniving Chef, disruptive employees, mobsters and opinionated Italian grandmothers will have you laughing from page one. This is by far one of the best new series to come on the "cozy" scene and I can't wait to spend more time with Mia and the "Family".

I received an advanced copy of Long Island Iced Tina from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

art-theft, family-dynamics, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, small-business, restaurant, Italian-customs, the-mob, verbal-humor, situational-humor*****

Take a dramatic Italian family in Queens and stir in some mob connections, a step-mother from the pit, a late pregnancy cousin, art theft, murder, and you get a hilarious cozy mystery. This one works perfectly as a stand alone and anything more being said would be overkill as well as in spoiler territory. Laughed my way through it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

What does a made man do when he decides to go straight? He runs an event center with his daughter who seems to find herself solving murders almost as much as she does hosting events.

When Mia plans the baby shower for her BFF she gets the chance to attend the baby shower being thrown by Nicole’s step mother at her competitors event center. While the step Mother makes everything about her, the baby shower at Mia’s place is no different Though this time an old painting that had been stolen in a heist 20 years prior shows up at the baby shower. Not long after the step mother is found floating in the marina outside the event center.

With Nicole’s Mother and Father both in the hot seat with the police for the murder, Mia steps up to find out who killed the evil step mother and clear her second family. Anything to help her BFF and keep her safe during the final stages of her pregnancy.

This was the first book I read in this series and there were no gaps. It reads fine as a stand alone. Being from the NYC Metro area, I enjoyed the setting in Astoria Queens and could hear Mia’s accent as I read. I’m looking forward to more from this author in this series.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While the second book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. It is an absolute delight to return to Queens, New York, and the world of the Belle View Banquet Manor. Mia Carina works with her father as the owner/managers of the business, which he received in payment for a debt. It is supported by the Mafia Family of which he is a (former) member. Mia’s childhood best friend, Nicole, is having a baby and the Belle View is catering one of the baby showers, while their rival facility is catering one hosted by Nicole’s stepmother and father. Wicked stepmother, Tina, makes everything all about her and, when she’s found dead, the suspects abound.
This is a delightful cozy series and one that I’d recommend to everyone. Some of the red herrings that I thought would go one direction went a completely different one, which was great!

Long Island Iced Tina by Maria DiRico was an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Mia Carina's friend, Nicole, is having a baby. A baby shower will be held at Belle View banquet Manor that Mia has been running for a few months with her father. Nicole's stepmother and grandmother have quite a fight, lots of name calling. Mia helps break it up. The stepmother, Tina, is toxic. A stolen painting is given to Nicole, the tag says its from Tina. Tina faints and the party is over. The police are called because of the stolen painting. The next day Mia finds Tina in the water behind the Belle View, dead.
I like stories that have recipes at the end of the book. Was interesting to read through them. This story took place in New York, giving the reader a look at city life. This was a fast paced, eventful story.

I liked this book. It has interesting characters and a good mystery. I liked the Mia was so dogged in her investigation. I was surprised by who the bad guys were. #LongIslandIcedTina #NetGalley