I was getting into the bee/honey theme of this newest installment to this fun cozy series. Clare is feeling some tension when it comes to her fiance but is determined to get through it. She has created a fabulous line of coffee and treats that incorporate honey as well as special coffee beans. The taste test is interrupted by a swarm of bees that invade the coffee ship. This is where we meet the Bee Squad who has to come collect them. When the bees are identified as a special type Clare realizes they belong to her friend and honey provider. Things take a bad turn when she goes to check on her. When the theories contradict what she knows about her friend she lives into investigating to figure it out. Makes for a fabulously fun read as it all plays out. It made me want some honey by the time I was done. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

This is the second Coffeehouse Mystery I have read and I don't think this series is for me. I enjoyed the overall plot, but the drama in it was over the top. Clare finds herself with a hive of bees in her roasting room that have come from her friend Bea's rooftop hive. Bea is found suspiciously pushed off the roof and the police just seem to waive it off as a suicide attempt. Clare KNOWS that her friend would not do something like that so she begins investigating.

The relationship between Clare and her fiance, Mike, had me cringing the entire time. They act childish toward one another and it seems like no one knows how to use their words. They lack communication, jump to outrageous conclusions, and play the silent treatment toward each other. If that drama was left out, I probably would have liked the book better. If I wanted a dramatic romance I would have picked one up, and I don't feel like this level of childish relationships belongs in a cozy mystery.

Honey Roasted by Cleo Coyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy this series. One of my favorites. I saw more of a mystery duo between Claire and Matt and his mom, Madam than with Mike Quinn. The main story had Clair concerned about bees that created a lavender flavored honey. Her friend Bea, who owned these bees was injured and they were tasked to find out who was trying to pilfer her bee farm in the roof of her high rise building.

Meanwhile, Claire and Mike are supposed to be planning a wedding but he is just getting further and further from her emotionally. So, Claire has to take drastic action to save her friend's need and then her own relationship.

Just good stuff!

Received as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

1st Line: " 'Well, what do we have here?' "

Review: Especially as they are set in New York City - which will always have my heart - I have always wanted to try Cleo Coyle's "Coffeehouse Mystery" series. Though the newest, volume nineteen, might not have been the ideal place to start, I was intrigued by the premise when I got my hands on a copy.

Clare Cosi, who runs the Village Blend in Manhattan, is trying to balance her personal life (finding the ideal honeymoon spot for herself and soon-to-be-hubby, Detective Mike Quinn) along with her work (including test-driving her new Honey-Cinnamon Latte), when that very evening her coffeehouse is besieged by a swarm of exotic bees. After tracing their origin back to the penthouse home of none other than "Queen" Bea Hastings - close friend of Madame, Clare's mentor and owner of Village Blend - Clare and her ex discover Bea herself, hurt and unconscious after taking a fall from her rooftop hive. Was she pushed? The cops find "evidence" of an attempted suicide that Clare doesn't believe for a minute. But with the iconic beekeeper still out of commission in her hospital bed, fighting to survive, Clare must track down the old lady's attacker among a shifty chef, a fellow urban beekeeper seemingly not above stealing Bea's formula for success, and a lot more, all while trying to help Mike solve a string of murders ... and find out why, suddenly, he seems to have grown cold about their wedding plans.

Honey Roasted is well-written, with a gutsy heroine and a strong cast of supporting characters; Clare's continued frenemy-ship with her ex-husband - whom she will always remain connected to, via the coffeehouse - is particularly engaging. But in all honesty, this book took me longer to read than the majority of cozy mysteries I enjoy, and part of that is because of the incredible amount of research and factoids and information about bees, beekeeping, and honey (and all connected to it) that shows the author (actually a couple) did the research - but, for me, came off as way too much exposition and/or info-dumping, slowing the book to a crawl at times and making me not too anxious to pick it up again. Keeping things spoiler-free, I also have to admit that the crime/mystery wasn't very impactful for me either, it's very "vanilla" and sorry I can't say more - which meant the ultimate stake in solving it wasn't vital enough to keep me turning pages.

At 360 pages, it just felt too long and bloated, even sometimes ignoring the crime element of the book in favor of Clare and Mike's relationship issues. So while certainly well-written and meticulously researched, I'm thinking maybe this is just not the series for me? 2/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

The Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle is one of my absolute favorite series, so every time there is a new book out, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. The latest book, Honey Roasted, is book 19 in the series and it did not disappoint!

Village Blend coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi is busy trying to find a romantic, and affordable, destination for her upcoming honeymoon. Soon she will be marrying NYPD police detective Mike Quinn. She is also excited to share with her customers their new honey based coffee drinks and desserts, made possible by the amazing honey produced by Madame’s (her boss and former mother-in-law) old friend “Queen” Bea Hastings. The rare, prize-winning nectar from Bea’s rooftop hives commands a premium price, and top chefs compete for a chance to use it in their signature seasonal dishes.

A swarm of escaped bees put a wrench into everything when they blanket Village Blend’s chimney! When Clare tries to sort out what’s up by visiting Bea, she finds Bea’s unconscious body after she seems to have fallen from her high-rise rooftop-hive setup. The police think it is an accident or attempted suicide, but Clare doesn’t believe it and sets out to find the truth. Clare is shocked to learn that the world of urban beekeepers is very competitive and cutthroat. Could this actually have been a murder attempt in order to steal Bea’s special bees? As if all of this wasn’t enough, something is going on with Mike, and Clare is worried that he might be getting cold feet!

I love everything about this series! Every time I crack open one of these books I feel like I’m visiting my favorite coffeehouse—I can almost smell the heavenly aroma of Village Blend’s wonderful coffee and desserts. Cleo Coyle has a gift not only for writing a clever mystery filled with twists and turns, and creating wonderful characters, but for coming up with unique ideas! The beekeeping and honey world that this story revolves around was unique and fascinating.

While I was a little sad to see less of Mike in this book, the issues the couple were having were very realistic and it added extra depth to the characters and story. I also liked how her ex-husband Matt Allegro rallied around her and was there for her—I love how their relationship has grown over the series to now being very close friends, and in some ways still family.

If you enjoy a great mystery with unique and wonderful characters do not miss this series! Honey Roasted is delightful, and I can’t wait for the next book! Even though there are now 19 books in the series, it is still just as good as ever! If you are also a coffee lover, then you have even more reason to pick up this series. Not only do you get to visit the amazing Village Blend, but Coyle also shares recipes in the back of each book!

Cleo Coyle's latest Coffeehouse Mystery serves up another great mystery that is her best yet. I love her light humor, spunky characters, and well-developed storylines that keep you guessing until the end. Special touches are her delicious recipes featuring honey, of course, to go along with the theme of the story. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy this fun mystery.

Another great book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. This one has Clare and her ex-husband and business partner, Matt, working together to find out who destroyed the hives of their friends' honeybees, causing them to swarm to her coffeehouse, and who pushed that same friend off the roof of her building to land on the balcony below, putting her into a coma. Clare is also having troubles with her fiance, Mike Quinn, as the wedding and honeymoon is getting closer and Mike stops communicating with her. There are a lot problems to sort out, especially when she herself is targeted and almost killed. But Clare is more than up to the challenge and determined to save her life and her relationships. A very fun read!

This is a cozy mystery that includes bees, honey, coffee, heroic rescues, drugs, an engagement possibly on the rocks, stances on food production, and a poetry slam, and somehow Coyle makes it all work.

I've always enjoyed this cozy mystery series centered around a coffee shop, mainly for the reason described above. No matter what the mystery is about, no matter what other side plots are going on, you know it's all going to come together in a way that makes sense, with a resolution where the good guys win and the bad guys lose. You get some great romance as well. If you're looking for a fun, truly cozy read with short chapters that pack a lot in, I would definitely recommend this series.

You don’t have to be a coffee lover to love Cleo Coyle’s Coffee House Mystery series. I’m new to the series and found it delightful - and I don’t even drink coffee (but I do love how it smells). Anyway, I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, the 19th in the series (How have I missed this long-running series until now?), set in a city I know and love, New York City. In addition to an interesting mystery that had a lot of twists and turns, I enjoyed the main characters (and the side characters too) and the great descriptions of various NYC neighborhoods, including the new Hudson Yards area. I’ve climbed The Vessel and I knew exactly how Clare was feeling on that climb! There are lots of descriptions of food, coffee and wine along the way. In this story, bees, urban beekeeping and honey are front and center. I learned a lot while I read this entertaining mystery. And don’t miss the large collection of recipes at the end of the book, from honey cookies to bourbon-glazed barbecue chicken.

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

Cleo Coyle never fails to entertain! Honey Roasted was another fun, fast-paced mystery. Red herrings were artfully used to keep the reader guessing until the very end. I wanted more of Mike Quinn, because...well...I always want more Mike Quinn! He is such a real, dynamic and complex character, which was really brought out in this book. And Clare was all backbone and sass, not afraid to lay it all on the line for the people she loves.

Can't wait for #20!!

I received a free copy from NetGalley, but the opinions are all my own..

Another in the very entertaining coffeehouse mysteries does not disappoint. Clare Cosi is the manager of the Greenwich Village coffee house owned by her mother-in-law, Blanche Dubois. With the usual cast of baristas, Clare’s ex-husband Matt and current fiancée Mike, this cozy mystery revolves around a murder, discovered once a swarm of honey bees appears in the coffee house. When the NYPD bee keeping unit shows up, Clare realizes who the bee owner is, and when she goes to her greenhouse, Clare find Bea dead. I enjoy this series and it’s always a fun read. Recommended, and thank NetGalley for the ARC.

This was really a fun cozy mystery. It was so interesting to learn about the bees in New York as well as the mystery. I enjoyed spending time with Claire and the coffeeshop gang. Well worth a read and a worthy entry in the series.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This mystery is all abuzz with bee-info, suspects, and clever clues. I loved all the details about bees and how they are being raised in New York City. (Never saw that one coming). While there were a couple of times when the details slowed the story a bit, overall this was a fascinating subject for this cozy mystery.
The story is filled with quirky characters, twists and turns, and even a little drama. Clever plotting kept the story moving and the killer’s identity secret until near the end. If you love mysteries, coffee, or just want to learn a little about bees, this one’s for you.

I'm a big fan of this coffeehouse mystery series by Cleo Coyle. This latest installment was another winner as Claire tried to figure out a mystery concerning urban bee keeping, murder, and how this all relates to a high profile drug investigation her fiancé is running. There is real tension between Mike and Claire as Claire teams up with Matt Allegro, her ex to try and figure out why someone would steal a hive of bees in New York City. As everything comes together in the end I enjoyed seeing relationships stretched and hold despite going through hardship.

I started this amazing series at book 18 with Brewed Awakening and I have also read book 17, Shot in the Dark before going back to the series opener, On What Grounds. I was happy to dive straight into this one, book 19, Honey Roasted. Written by writing team Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini and collectively called Cleo Coyle for this series, I was certainly not disappointed!

In Honey Roasted, expert sleuth Clare Cosi is planning her honeymoon however her fiancé, Detective Lieutenant Michael Ryan Francis Quinn (Mike) is strangely incommunicado. Meanwhile, at Village Blend, the local landmark coffee shop that she manages, Clare has developed a new range of honey-based beverages including Honey-Cinnamon Latte. When Bea Hastings, the Village Blend's honey supplier is found dead, Clare hones in to help investigate.

Just as I knew I would be, I was sold from the very beginning, with the story's solid characters, great writing and a marvellous mystery that provided a good sprinkling of clues to satisfy even the most painstaking armchair detective. There was a large number of characters in Honey Roasted but I think I just about managed to keep track of all of them without being overwhelmed! Apart from Clare herself, from the elegant Madame (full name Blanche Drefus Allegro Dubois) and the usually very caring Mike to ex-husband Matteo Allegro, there’s someone for everyone to relate to. One thing that troubles me with the series generally is the inordinate amount of time Clare and Matt spend together; for that, Mike deserves an award!

The authors' descriptions create a visual masterpiece for readers to enjoy. I could smell the coffee, the rich blends, along with delicious baked treats too. Whilst the Village Blend makes for a superb backdrop, I liked that the mystery took me on a journey to Manhattan for a while. The writing was fluid and the details of the plot were very well executed, each chapter leaving me with a compelling need to read on. The author did a brilliant job of balancing the storyline and various events jumbled matters up somewhat, making figuring out the identity of the perpetrator more challenging.

With no disappointments, wonderful characters, an intriguing mystery, and just the right amount of humour this was such an entertaining story with many exciting moments. I am looking forward to returning to the Village Blend in Greenwich Village with Clare on a future occasion and reading the earlier books in the series, too! I've already bagged book two in the series, called Through the Grinder.

Writer duo Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini also write the Haunted Bookshop cozy series under the name Alice Kimberly/Cleo Coyle. So entertaining and engaging, Honey Roasted is definitely well worth the time invested and I'm pretty sure it will be among my favourite cosy reads of 2022.

Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, Cleo Coyle and Berkley for a complimentary copy of Honey Roasted at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

I’ve missed the Village and Clare Cosi. It has been more years than I care to admit since I last read a mystery, and I am very happy to report that this latest installment does not disappoint. Multiple mysteries, life threatening situations, a romance intervention, many cups of coffee, and did I mention recipes, oh the wonderful recipes! Great story full of relatable characters, interesting and fun facts, plus the most exquisite descriptions of foods and beverages. Plus a plethora of red herrings to keep you guessing, so yes you might want to grab a mystery reader’s journal to keep track of everyone and everything. Looking forward to making many of the recipes, both sweet and savory alike!

This was a super intriguing mystery in the long running series. I was left guessing as to who the bad guy was until the very end! Even then, I still had to explained to as why they did it. This was a shocker for me. The author had me completely in the dark and I loved every minute of it. I could not put this book down. Cleo Coyle still has tricks under their belt. There was a side story between Lucy and Mike that just tugged at my heart. They feel so real to me almost like friends! What a great book!!

Honey Roasted is the 19th book in the Coffeehouse mysteries by Cleo Coyle. Released 1st Feb 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a fun very light shopfront cozy with an ensemble cast: Clare's a barista and coffee shop co-owner with Matt, her ex-husband, along with a crew of employees, friends, and acquaintances including a mobile beekeeper unit of the NYPD (which really exists). The story is engagingly told with lots of side plot threads which are wound together into a satisfying denouement and resolution.

Despite being the 19th book in the series, it's a self-contained mystery and works well as a standalone. There will be some character related spoilers to earlier books in the series if read out of order. The writing is very light and absolutely full of puns on bees and honey. There is a strong romance/drama subplot thread. The language is PG rated (a few damns, nothing worse). There is some consensual implied sexual content between Clare and her fiancè, but nothing explicit. I do confess to some eye-rolling over the unrelenting punny humor; but overall it's a fun read.

The authors have also included a short primer on varietal honeys along with links to some honey themed recipes at the back of the book.

Four stars. It's a very light enjoyable cozy and will delight fans of this long running series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Honey Roasted is the 19th book in the Coffeehouse Mystery series. There are about 3 cozy mystery series that are long-time favorites of mine. And this is one of them. I grab each book as soon as it comes out and savor each one....just like a steaming hot cup of a favorite coffee.

In this newest book in the series. Clare is planning her honeymoon and cooking up a new drink for the shop -- Honey Cinnamon Latte -- made with prize-winning top notch honey. Things become a bit less sweet when the beekeeper is found dead. Clare is on the case to catch a killer once again!

Loved this newest book. It's always so nice to revisit Village Blend and the characters I have come to know well over the years. I enjoyed Honey Roasted and sipped some lovely Honey Tipica coffee while reading. The mystery moved along at a nice pace....there were plenty of suspects and interesting twists/turns. Loved it! (As usual....no surprise that I loved this book) :)

Great new story! And I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Village Blend is buzzing literally when several hives of bees take up residence in the busy coffeehouse. After calling the NYPD’S Beekeeping Unit to relocate the swarm Clare realizes she knows who the bees belong to and rushes to see the local “Queen Bee”. Bea Hastings is an old friend of Madame and has an amazing rooftop hive set up. The woman definitely wouldn’t allow her bees to escape so Clare knows something is wrong. Upon arrival, she finds Bea has apparently fallen from the roof to her balcony. The police decide it was a failed suicide attempt after finding some iffy evidence. Clare doesn’t believe that for an instant. Bea was so proud of her unique prize-winning nectar and had big plans to grow the production and earn top dollar for it. To believe she would try to kill herself is absolutely ludicrous. Now she just needs to prove it and put a nice sting on the person who tried to kill the Queen Bee of Manhatten.

Again Cleo Coyle fills her pages with excitement on many different levels. First, Clare and Mike are struggling with their relationship when they should be blissfully happy about their upcoming nuptials. Part of the problem is the second subplot. Mike is on a harrowing case that has bodies piling up as he tries to catch the elusive killer. Then there is the mystery Clare is trying to solve. Who has it in for the local beekeeper? Add to all that she has beans to roast and a coffeehouse to manage. Madame is off on a trip but her ex Matt is around to help at Village Blend and makes a heck of a sleuthing partner too. He goes above and beyond in one heroic event too. All of Ms. Coyle’s characters just leap off the pages and readers quickly become joyfully entangled in everything that’s happening.

The honey/bee theme was so interesting, Who knew New York has a beekeeping unit as part of the police force? In fact, this story was based on an actual event. That really grabbed my attention but I would have been freaking out like one of the Blend’s employees, not calm and measured like Clare and Matt. I enjoyed the twist the employee took later in the story, very brave. Bea’s rooftop setup was really extraordinary too.

Using this event as inspiration this author team plotted out and wrote a fantastic mystery with great twists and drama that truly made this book impossible to put down. There were also a few scenes that gave me a good giggle. With the long wait between this book and the last one I had planned to take my time and really savor this coffeehouse mystery but the authors made that virtually impossible. We trekked all over the city, to some really undesirable places and to Bea’s fabulous penthouse apartment, and of course to Village Blend and the pages were just flying. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I was all in after reading the Author’s Note until the final page. When the book hit the floor for the third time due to me dozing off, I had to stop to sleep. I couldn’t wait to finish it the next day and cut my work hours short to do so.

I anxiously await each new installment of this series. I am invested in the lives of these wonderful characters and can’t wait to see what the authors have in store for them next. Honey Roasted is the 19th book in the series but readers new to Cleo Coyle should not hesitate to pick it up today. I can predict you will want to read more when you finish it. Fans of the series will be delighted in this latest installment. To borrow an old expression Honey Roasted is the “bee knees”, and a real honey of a story. It will hold a space on my best reads list for this year. I LOVED IT!