I waited a few days after I finished this book to review. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. The tea recipes were great and the history as well. But I was a little bored by Lily and Bernie and most of the characters. The idea of a TV show contest was really interesting to me but I felt it never got going. I skipped ahead to the end about 3/4 of the way through.

Loved this cozy mystery. The characters are great, the plot was a bit different and flowed smoothly, and the ending was fun!
Lily, runs a tea shop and has reluctantly agreed to be a part of a TV Competition type reality show. During filming, there is a lot of tension among the cast and some members of the community, some of whom are also in the competition. When one of the members of the TV crew are found deceased in Lily's Teashop kitchen, fingers start to point to her friend and co worker, Cheryl. While Cheryl may be a little rough around the edges, she would never kill someone, or would she? Lily, her grandmother Rose, and best friend Bernie are determined to get to the bottom of things. Even though of course they promise they won't interfere with a police investigation!
Love the banter amongst the characters, the antics they get into while sleuthing, and of course the sprinkle of a budding romance is always enjoyable. Truly recommend this book and series, although the book can be read as a stand alone.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I liked setting and ended up feeling very sorry about the who was killed. I like the characters and look forward to getting to know them better. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Very well written, I recommend it.

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The country's hottest TV cooking show is coming to Cape Cod. And against her better judgment, Lily Roberts is entering America Bakes! with her charming tearoom, Tea by the Sea! Filming is already proving disruptive, closing the tearoom during Lily's busiest season. But tensions really bubble over when infamous bad-boy chef and celebrity judge, Tommy Greene, loses his temper with Lily's staff, resulting in an on-camera blowout with Cheryl Wainwright. Just as Lily thinks the competition can't get more bitter, Tommy is found dead in Tea by the Sea's kitchen . . . murdered with Cheryl's rolling pin.

Suspicion immediately falls on Cheryl, but the temperamental star has racked up plenty of culinary clashes in the past, both on- and off-screen. And nearly anyone associated with Tommy or the show could be the killer: be it one of Lily's fierce competitors, a member of the beleaguered film crew, or even one of Tommy's fellow judges--struggling cookbook maven, Claudia D'Angelo or beauty contest winner, Scarlet McIntosh. Now, while she's baking up a storm for the show, Lily must also whip up an impromptu investigation . . . before the murderer rolls someone else away. (Goodreads synopsis)

I have read all of the novels in this series by Vicki Delany as well as a few of her other novels. This is not my favorite series by her.

I have a love/hate relationship with Lily, Bernie, and Rose. I hate that Lily appears to be stubborn (other members of her family think she’s mad to be working with her grandmother, but she is determined), but when then acts as if she has no backbone when it comes to Bernie and Rose. Lily’s stubbornness also makes her believe that she doesn’t want a relationship with Simon, the English gardener, so she avoids the topic. Rose and Bernie don’t take into account how Lily feels about investigating people and mysteries, nor do they seem to care how dangerous the situations can be.

This is the third book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone. The author gives enough background from the previous two novels, however there is a slight awkward scene as far as background. It’s almost as if the author forget how the previous novel ended. She could have made a reference there, but nothing was mentioned.

The mystery and the pacing were flowed smoothly. I do wish that there wasn’t a detective that is an “enemy” towards Lily and Rose, but I have discovered that most amateur detective novels have such a person, regardless of how cliche it has become.

Overall I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.

Murder Spills The Tea was a fun cozy mystery. I quite enjoyed the setting, the overall story, and the well-developed characters.

The country’s hottest TV cooking show is coming to Cape Cod. And against her better judgment, Lily Roberts is entering America Bakes! with her charming tearoom, Tea by the Sea! Filming is already proving disruptive, closing the tearoom during Lily’s busiest season. But tensions really bubble over when the infamous bad-boy chef and celebrity judge, Tommy Greene, loses his temper with Lily’s staff, resulting in an on-camera blowout with Cheryl Wainwright. Just as Lily thinks the competition can’t get more bitter, Tommy is found dead in Tea by the Sea’s kitchen . . . murdered with Cheryl’s rolling pin.

The story kept me guessing until the very end.

While I ultimately enjoyed this mystery, the author decided to change a re-ocurring character to enhance the story line which I didn't think was fair. She could have handled it differently. I read all three books in the series in a row in about 4 days, the average reader who must wait a year between books may not be so conscious that this liberty was taken (or care if they did notice). With all the possibilities one's imagination could come up with, it didn't please me.

That said, I'm still giving it a like rating. I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This has become one of my favorite cozy mystery series and this third book is another great one! Lily, the owner of a tea shop on Cape Cod, was entered into the competition on a famous bake off TV series. As expected, there’s lots of tension and drama on the set with a lot of different personalities. When a TV crew member, Tommy, is found dead in Lily’s tea shop kitchen, the suspicion immediately and understandably falls on Lily’s team based on the murder weapon and location. There’s many, many suspects so Lily has her hands full solving this one!

I liked seeing how Lily adapted to a completely different environment in this one and I thought the setting of a cooking show was fun. I always like the descriptions of tea and food and we have that continuing here. The whodunit kept me guessing since there were a lot of people who didn’t particularly like Tommy. The secondary characters are hilarious and we get a little budding romance that’s in the background enough that it doesn’t become more important than the mystery. I hope we get more books in the series!

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While the third book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Lily Roberts, master baker and owner of Tea By The Sea teashop and restaurant, was surreptitiously entered in the famous baking competition, America Bakes, by her incorrigible grandmother, Rose, and Lily’s best friend, Bernadette (Bernie). Lily agrees with trepidation, figuring it can only be good publicity for both her business and her grandmother’s adjacent Victorian B&B. When the personalities of the judges and the two director/producers produce all kinds of fireworks on and off camera, Lily realizes this was not a great idea. When a member of the TV crew is killed and their body is found in Lilly’s kitchen, suspicion falls on a member of Lilly’s team. Add in the aggressive unfriendliness of Lilly’s local competition and there are so many possible motives and killers. With the judges and directors staying next door at Rose’s B&B, it seems too good an opportunity to waste in helping the solid Detective Redmond and her worthless fellow Detective Williamson find the right killer before he or she strikes again.
Lovely addition to this series and I’m already ready for the next one. Well, as soon as I find a wonderful afternoon tea shop in my local area!

I received a copy of Murder Spills the Tea through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany is the third installment in the Tea by the Sea Mystery series. Lily Roberts, owner of the tearoom Tea by the Sea, is entered in a reality baking contest and when things go astray, Lily finds herself on the case. With the help of her friend, Bernie, and grandmother, Rose, Lily helps to track down the murderer and get her friend off the hook.

I enjoyed Murder Spills the Tea, just like I have every other mystery in this series. I liked the baking reality show angle and seeing how that affected Lily’s usual vibe. I find the characters relatable and the setting calming, minus the murder! This is a series that I look forward to reading and I would recommend it to any cozy mystery lover!

This is the Third in the series . Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity. This is a enjoyable cozy series with a tea shop theme .

Lily Roberts our protagnist owns the shop "Tea By The Sea". When a popular baking show wants to film in her tea shop her grandmothers signs Lily up to be a competitor. Lily wants nothing to do with the show and is disgruntled about the filming and having to participate. One of Lily's staff has words with one of the judges and he is found murdered. Now her employee is facing prison and Lily, her Grandmother and friends must work to clear her name.

I enjoy the tea room description in this series and the supporting characters. Lily is a bit of curmudgeon and her personality is funny to read. I enjoy this charming series and look forward to the next in series.

Lily Roberts owns Tea by the Sea and is not happy that her grandmother Rose and best friend Bernie entered her as a competitor on the TV show, America Bakes. One of the three judges is murdered after a confrontation with one of her waitresses, who then becomes suspect number one. Lily is sure Cheryl is not guilty and with the help of Rose and Bernie, sets out to find the real killer. This is the third book in this series and it just gets better with each book. Lots of twists and turns and fun characters. Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy!

Murder Spills the Tea is the third book in the Tea By The Sea Mystery series.

Lily Roberts, owner of the Tea By The Sea Restaurant, has been entered as a competitor on the show America Bakes by her grandmother Rose and best friend Bernie. Against her better judgement, Lily deals with the disruption to her tea room as the show is being filmed. When one of the three judges is murdered after having a confrontation with a member of Lily's staff, Lily will do all she can to clear her employee. Interesting information is uncovered about the judges and people involved with the show. Hopefully, Lily will be able to identify the murderer before anyone else is hurt.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

This is an accomplished whodunit puzzle murder mystery. America Bakes!, a popular reality TV show, selects Lily Roberts's tea room in North Augusta, a town on Cape Cod, as a site for filming the third season of the show. However after a day of filming, one of the stars of the show is found dead in Lily's kitchen and the local police are treating it as murder. When they arrest one of Lily's waitresses for the murder, Lilly and her cohort turn to their own sleuthing to find the real killer.

It's well plotted and paced making it a smooth read. There's an exciting chase scene to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. Lily's cohort carries the story along in support of her amateur detective work. A lazy police detective and a nasty competitor for Lily create some interest. The personal dynamics and turmoil of the TV crew are good additions to the storytelling and set up several red herrings. A couple of attractive men add some romance. Cape Cod in summer is the backdrop to the story with plenty of local color of a tourist resort town. All in all, it rates as a good cozy mystery.

It's the 3rd book in the "Tea By the Sea" series but can easily be read as a standalone.

I received a complementary advance reading copy from the publisher via Netgalley for my unsolicited review.

Murder Spills the Tea is the third book in the series (A Tea by the Sea). In this book, the main character, Lily, is participating in a national reality TV baking show at her tea house. She got roped into it by her grandmother, Rose, and her best friend, Bernie. The mystery provides plenty of interesting suspects, which keeps things challenging (following all the details).

The best part of the book/series is Lily and her relationships. Rose is quite the character. I’ve never been around anyone like her, and she is a hoot. Bernie is really funny. I like how Rose and Bernie team up and get Lily into things. She’s so different than they are, it makes for fun situations. The relationship between Lily and Rose is so real too. It's not just all sweet and loving, but there isn’t fighting or drama either. It’s really interesting. The slow romantic relationship with the English gardener, Simon, is delightful. I hope he stays in the U.S.

The descriptions of Rose’s B&B Victoria-on-Sea and Lily’s tea house are wonderful. I enjoy hearing the descriptions of the food & tea served at both places. This book (and the series) is well written. The pace is perfect. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for this wonderful ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I will post this review to my blog, Goodreads, Bookbub, & Amazon accounts on the publication date, 7/26/22.

I absolutely love a good cozy mystery and this one did not disappoint.. Vicki Delany has done it again! I can't wait to read the next in the series!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I truly appreciate a good cozy mystery, this one didn’t disappoint.

Murder Spills the Tea is another in an established series, as fulfilling as the others.

What could go wrong when Rose and Bernie agree to have the Lily’s tea shoppe host a reality baking show. Lily is happy with just baking for her tea room. The ladies persuade her it will be great promotion for the tearoom. She gets more than she bargained for when a judge turns up murdered. Its turned lily's life upside down as she dives in to solve the case.
#MurderSpillstheTea #NetGalley

When Rose and Bernie agree to have the Lily’s tea shoppe host a reality baking show, Lily isn’t really happy about it, but goes along with the plan. It turns out Lily was right to be wary. There’s so much angst and anger on set that she’s uneasy. When she finds a dead body, it’s like a bad case of deja vu and Lily finds herself trying to figure out whodunit without getting herself burned.

This is a fabulous cozy series set in one of my favorite places on the East Coast. Every book has been a solid entry and I keep coming back for more. The characters are enjoyable and relatable..we all know someone like Rose, no? Enjoy this one and maybe have a cup of tea and a scone waiting for you.

I enjoyed this book. I think this series is getting better with each book. The characters are great and the story is interesting. #MurderSpillstheTea #NetGalley.