Live & Let Grind (Coffee Lover’s 3)
Tara Lush


I wanted so badly to love this book! Friends recommended her and I even read a review by someone comparing her to Ms. Burdette, who is on my list of favorite authors. Alas, I did not find this to be true. I have forced myself to read this twice now and I’m still just not into it. I’m a coffee lover. No seriously, I drink coffee from morning to night, but no cold brew or overly fancy types like those described in this book. For those who do enjoy wild coffee, Ms. Lush has you covered! Descriptively, I think she’s great. When she described Honey the victims' wife and her impromptu skate. I was picturing Jill Monroe (Farrah Fawcett) from Charlie’s Angels. The murder on the other hand is not nearly so descriptive. I would say even with a boyfriend, the author never lets this stray into romance territory. I will see if my library has her first book in the series Grounds for Murder. But as for now, Gus’s murder is only 2.5 stars generously. My opinion may change with more backstory, in which case I will update this review. This book had promise but sadly for me fell short.

Another fun installment in the Coffee Lover's Mystery series. I love Lana and Noah's relationship and that Noah doesn't immediately shut down Lana's suggestions and ideas about the current crime. I also love the supporting characters in this series, the characters are flushed out and whole and thoroughly enhance the stories.

Looking forward to reading book #4 in the Coffee Lover's Mystery series.

This cozy mystery series is so much fun! Live and Let Grind is the third book in a series set on an island off Florida’s Gulf Coast (possibly modeled after Sanibel?). The main character, Lana, has a journalism background which makes for a believable sleuth, even though she’s now running a coffee shop in her home town, after having been laid off from a big Miami paper. (Love the shop’s name: Perkatory) The population of Devil’s Beach is quite a mixture of people: some she’s known all her life and some newcomers. I enjoyed revisiting the people who have become series regulars, including Lana’s aging hippie dad, the local police chief, Noah Garcia, who is Lana’s love interest, and Erica, the talented barista who has become Lana’s great friend. Another recurring “character” is Lana’s puppy Stanley This works as a standalone, but of course, as with any series, if you read them in order, you get more backstory.

Once again, there are two mysteries - Gus is Lana’s newish neighbor who has been driving everyone crazy with his noisy leaf blowing. His death is rather suspicious. Then Julian, a trainer from Lana’s favorite coffee supplier, seems to have been poisoned in Lana’s coffee shop. Are the two incidents connected?

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

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I am really enjoying this series. Lana and Erica are fun friends, Noah is mysterious but honest, and there is coffee! Stanley and Lana's dad are super fun side characters that always bring a laugh. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

This has the best murder weapon ever and don't tell me you've never thought about it yourself! I do so enjoy these coffee lovers mysteries and wish I could try the orange blossom drink. Sounds so good! Ms. Lush weaves a good story that doesn't lag and her characters are energetic and fun. I especially appreciate that Lana's character was a reporter, so she is obviously super nosy and it doesn't seem weird that she is digging into other people's business. Hope for many, many more in this series

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Tara Lush

I have enjoyed this book along with all the others in this series. The characters in this series are lovable and you really do get to know them, especially throughout the series. You don't have to read the series in order to read this book and understand it, but it does help you get to know the background and the characters.

The mysteries are interesting and fun to try and solve along with the characters. The mysteries are not predictable, at least not in my opinion. I love the atmosphere of cozy mysteries, especially in the fall seasons. This series is a well written series set in Florida that will make you feel warm and part of a close-knit community.

Release Date: October 11, 2022

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Lana is the owner of Perkigtory, a local coffee shop.

I am a sucker for puns, the coffee shop name gets 5 stars on its own. This is the third book in the #coffeeloversmystery series. Lana is a fun heroine and I like that she is an ex journalist (even if not by choice) because it shows in her research when she’s investigating. He father is a character that I can imagine is a dream to write. Even Erica is well written. @authortaralush created a wonderfully rich town in Devils Beach. I would recommend this book and look forward to the next! (I’ll be starting book one soon!)

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#liveandletgrind #perkigtory #coffeelovers #coffeshop #cozymystery #bookstagram #cozymysteryseries #netgalleyreads #bookstagram #instareads #crookedlanebooks

Live and Let Grind is the wonderful third book in the Coffee Lover's mystery series. Book three finds Erica temporarily staying with Lana. When their obnoxious, leaf-blowing-obsessed neighbor finally goes too far, Erica takes it upon herself to do what everyone else was thinking - she takes her complaints directly to Gus. When their little tiff gets a bit out of hand, Lana's boyfriend, Noah, the chief of police, winds up in the middle of the confrontation. With boundaries discussed, both sides go back home. All bets are off when Gus is found dead and Erica is the prime suspect.

I really enjoyed Live or Let Grind. The set-up of the mystery was carefully planned out, the number of suspects kept me guessing, and the sleuthing done in a way I would expect a former journalist to be able execute. Lana is a wonderful heroine, her father quirky, and the rest of characters all well-developed. I loved the setting and the way the author described everything from the inside of the coffeeshop to the beach. Being able to envision the story as I read along is paramount to my total enjoyment and Live and Let Grind by Tara Lush knocked it out of the park.

Live and Let Grind takes readers back to Devil’s Beach with our favorite barista Lana Lewis and her fun yet quirky friends for another fun filled mystery adventure.


It’s no secret that I love coffee and coffee related cozy mysteries are what got me started reading the genre. I have been fortunate enough to read every book in the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. I am happy to say each one gets better as we go. Live and Let Grind has Lana and Erica rooming together, while repairs are happening on Erica‘s houseboat. Things that purgatory are fine and Stanley is as cute as ever. However, things get shaken up when Lana’s neighbor, Gus is found dead. Gus has made a reputation for himself for being a nuisance amongst the neighborhood. Erica recently, having had a confrontation with Gus finds herself in the hot seat as a suspect. Lana does all she can to help clear Erica’s name and discover more suspects are popping up then she realizes.

Oh my latte. Live and Let Grind is a fun and entertaining, cozy history. With each book in the series is just getting better and better. Lana is a natural snoop; it comes with being a reporter. It’s kind of funny when she gets upset that she can’t do more than what she does. The cast of characters for the series is top notch. With a hippie father and a Goth for best friend it says it all right there. Tara Lash gives us another fast paced, caffeine infused entertaining read

This is the third book in the series and my first. I was able to read the book as a standalone. I enjoyed the characters so much. I will definitely go back to the beginning and read the rest of the series.

Lana Lewis works at a coffee shop in Devil's Beach, Florida. She was a journalist for the Miami Herald until she was let go. She is still coming to terms with not being a journalist. Her boyfriend Noah is the chief of police for Devils Beach. Her father lives on the island and is a pot-smoking hippie.
Her best friend Erica is staying with her while her boat has repairs done. Her next-door neighbor Gus loves to use his leafblower. All the time. Finally, Erica has had enough and decides to ask him to stop. It ends up being an altercation and the police are called. Then the neighbor's body is found due to an explosion from his leaf blower. Erica is the main suspect because of their altercation and no alibi. So Lana has to investigate to help her friend.

I loved the mystery of the case and following the clues. I had no clue who was the killer until the end. I love when mysteries stump me. I can't wait to see what happens next for Lana.

Live and Let Grind by Tara Lush is the third in the Coffee Lover’s Mystery series. Lana is coming into her own as the manager of Perkatory, her family coffee shop in Devil’s Beach. Now if her neighbor Gus would just stop using his leaf blower incessantly and driving her friend Erica crazy in the process. The good news is that he does stop, the bad news is he stops because his leaf blower explodes killing him. Even more unfortunate is the fact that Erica is suspect number one.

I love the quirky cast of characters, especially Lana’s pot smoking father. This is a feel good (no pun intended) mystery that kept me engaged from the first page to the last. The mystery is well-plotted with clues and twists aplenty. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). I really enjoyed this mystery and can’t wait for the next one.

I have had a love-hate relationship with this series. Even though Live and Let Grind is only the third book, it felt as though there had been a few more. Lana, the main character, is hard to like. She is pushy and demanding; at other times, she is too worried about what her father and boyfriend think, and still, at other times, she is single-minded and walks around with blinders on. In this installment, with an exploding leaf blower, roller skating widows, and a best friend accused of murder, Lana has her hands full.

Unfortunately, the suspects all revolve around Gus; and the victim’s terrible relationships. His famous roller-skating wife, his angry neighbors, disgruntled business people, and a few others had it out for him. But when the police zero in on Erica, Lana’s best friend, readers shake their heads in wonder. Why would she become the number one suspect simply because she had an argument with the victim the day he was killed? There is no motive or evidence for the police to suspect Erica, and Lana’s involvement just makes things worse. Then someone else dies after drinking coffee that Erica served to them, but this doesn’t seem to cause as much suspicion as when the leaf blower exploded. Why is that, exactly? Why does Lana think that the two murders aren’t connected, and why is no one else taking it seriously?

The first victim, Gus, was not a great guy, and no one will really miss him. His widow is famous because of her roller-skating videos and doesn’t mourn him or pretend to. No one in the neighborhood really cares that people are dead, but it gives some of them their moment in the spotlight, which it seems is all they care about. The evidence, what there is of it, doesn’t narrow down the suspect list or help readers understand how someone killed Gus with a leaf blower. Once Lana starts investigating, the waters get even muddier.

The romance angle of this story left a lot to be desired. Honestly, if my partner pulled the stunts that Lana’s boyfriend did, there would be no relationship to work on. In turn, if a police officer’s girlfriend stuck her nose into a police investigation like Lana does, again, there would be no relationship at all. Even in a small town, you can’t get away with interfering with the police. I had hoped for more in Live and Let Grind. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the leaf blower being used as a weapon, and I actually liked the victim’s widow, Honey. The roller skating was funny but also unusual and gave the story an original flare. I had no trouble figuring out who the killer was, but I felt the motive was shaky at best. Unfortunately, I am still not crazy about Lana; I can only hope she grows up sooner rather than later.

I have enjoyed this series with the island setting in the Gulf Coast off the coast of Tampa. The coffee shop is a fun meeting place for locals and tourists. Lana, owner, sort of since her dad is the actual owner, and her best friend Erica have fun with the coffee concoctions. Lana and Erica also cannot resist sleuthing, much to Lana's boyfriend, Police Chief Noah Garcia's frustration. This time they are trying to prove that Erica did not tamper with their neighbor's leaf blower to make it explode and kill him, but Erica had a public argument with Gus because of his constant leaf blowing at early hours and numerous times. Then she is accused of poisoning a coffee bean rep. This is another fun mystery to unravel with a pool of suspects to investigate. Thankfully, Noah is on hand to keep them in line. Kind of. Wacky characters, like Lana's hippie dad, round out the list of characters. Lana picks up a new hobby from one of the suspects, roller skating. And romance is still in the air. I recommend for coffee loving cozy mystery readers.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only

Great addition to the series! I love Lana’s inquisitive mind and her approach to investigating. Her roommate and her dad are also very talented and useful to the investigations so they flow smoothly and a lot of information can be gathered without following all the characters around while they do so. It moves the story at a much better pace. The mystery itself was intriguing and I liked the creativity with the murder weapon. Well written, easy to get lost in mystery with great characters – highly recommended!

Who wouldn't get annoyed at the neighbor who never stops blowing his leaves? But most people wouldn't resort to murder. When Lana and Erica's neighbor is blown up by his leaf blower, Erica becomes the main suspect.

I like that the characters deal with their problems and disagreements (mostly) in a mature manner. Noah, Lana's love interest and police chief, doesn't want her involved in investigating for her safety, but he does not put her abilities down. While the characters make mistakes, there is not a bunch of drama when it happens. The characters are quirky and fun. And the mystery kept me guessing and never got too suspenseful for me. And there's coffee. And dogs. Two of my favorite things.

I will add a caveat, for those that read cozy mysteries because they tend to be clean, this book is maybe a bit more than most cozies. There is nothing explicit, but there are references to how much characters are attracted to each other, sleeping over, etc. It didn't affect my enjoyment of the book, but might be relevant to some readers.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Live and Let Grind is the 3rd full-length mystery in Tara Lush's A Coffee Lover's Mystery series. Lana Lewis works in her family's coffee shop - Perkatory - as the manager and a barista in the town of Devil's Beach, Florida. Lana is spending her spare time with her best friend, Erica, who is currently staying with her, and getting on with her neighbours, however, one, in particular, is causing problems. Gus Bailey uses his leaf blower at any hour he fancies and Erica has a bust-up with him about it and Lana's dad who happens to be a great brunch maker, also argues with him. Later, Gus is found dead and Erica is suspect number one.

I was swept along with the story from the start. Tara Lush's writing is peppy, sharp and edgy and I love her portrayal of the main character, Lana a former investigative journalist whom I found to be sassy and determined. Peter, Lana's hippie dad was once again a sparkling player, too. With a developing romance between Lana and Chief Noah Garcia when he's not in Tampa visiting his mum, though there is conflict, and complete with a Shih Tzu doggy named Stanley, Live and Let Grind is one for those who like their cozies fresh and amusing. I can't wait to see what's next for Lana.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.

Welcome to another fabulous adventure with Lana and the ever popular Perkatory that I wish was located in my hometown so I can visit. Life is going well after she moved back home. She is enjoying her budding relationship with Noah, catching up with her BFF Erica, and getting reacquainted with the locals. Her new neighbor is making things difficult though thanks to running his leaf blower at all hours while also just making things miserable for the neighborhood. This isn't too much of an issue until the man is found dead thanks to his leaf blower exploding so after her argued quite a bit with Erica making her the main suspect. They try to stay out of it but find themselves asking questions none the less until they find themselves in danger thanks to a surprise twist. This makes for fabulously fun read as it all plays out sure to delight fans of cozy mysteries. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

When you have a neighbor like Gus the neighbors come together and not in a good way. Gus lives next door to reporter-turned-barista Lana Lewis and Gus loves his leaf blower. He uses it to clear his yard and driveway morning, noon, and night and Lana’s friend and star barista Erica blows her stack at Gus in front of plenty of witnesses. Witnesses who wanted to do exactly what Erica did.

But when Gus’s leaf blower explodes killing him it is Erica in the hot seat until Lana takes a closer look for others who could have wanted the man dead. People like Mickey Dotson and Doug Beck who were burned when they bought a pirate-themed tourist cruise business from the newly deceased. Or Honey Bailey in the midst of divorcing Gus and was afraid he was writing her out of his will. Or the other neighbors who may have reached their boiling point with the man.

It’s going to take more than a specialty coffee or two to reveal the true killer but Lana is going to clear her friend of the crime even if it involves a bit of roller skating and playing tourist on a pirate cruise ship.

These characters continue to grow and impress me. Lana and Erica have become true best friends who have each other’s back no matter what. Erica is in hot water this time and Lana will defend her to the end and do anything she can to prove her innocence. Again, Lana’s easy, laid-back dad is a fave of mine as he tries to calm the situation and free up the girls for their investigation. I enjoy all the interaction between the characters. Some are full of humor and the dialogues are always true to life.

Setting this series on a Florida beach offers up the story to many different characters. Regulars that come into Lana’s coffee shop, Perkatory every day, some staying for hours, and tourists popping in for their morning coffee or specialty drink. This time Lana even connected with her competition, a coffee shop owner that may be connected to the murder she is investigating.

As a former reporter who would still like to report freelance, she has the skills to question suspects and persons of interest and get them to open up more than they do with Noah. She also has a special talent for making all the clues fit together to lead to a satisfying conclusion. Let’s face it the method of murder was unique and there were plenty of suspects. This story could have gone in several directions. The one the author choose shocked me because I just didn’t see it coming at all.

Live and Let Grind was a great read. I was totally caught up in the story and completely entertained. Ms. Lush plotted this mystery out meticulously with great scenes to divert my thinking over and over again.

I am very excited about the next book in the series! This author has me curious to see what these characters get into next.

This was so good in so many ways! It's funny to the point of hilarious at some points, then it's just sweet in other places. The mystery was a super good one and while there was someone I hoped was guilty and someone I hoped wasn't, I'm not sure I was ever 100% sure until the showdown. Lana and Joey zooming off on a jet ski just cracked me up! These friends were unstoppable when it came to proving their buddy Erica's innocence. If a person ever needed to be proven innocent of something, they'd definitely want a friend like Lana!

I got the biggest kick out of Lana's hippie dad, but when he's not off on one of his crazy missions or agendas, he's an awesome dad and café worker. Lana's done a lot of growing and maturing since the first book and since she's such a workaholic, I was happy to see her finally come across something she enjoyed doing just for the fun of it as you'll see at the end. I loved how everything was explained at the end. I never feel like there's a loose thread in this series. It's all always really well-explained. Can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.

Originality abounds in this Florida resort island with its bounty of original shops, Tiki Bar Cruises at twilight, and the best coffee shop. Owner of this shop is Lana who has her friend and best barista, Erica, staying with her at her house while her houseboat undergoes repair. Trouble arrives when next door neighbor starts his leaf blower early one weekend which annoys quick-tempered Erica. A general shouting match evolves even to the point of other neighbors voicing their opinions. Unfortunately when neighbor Gus is discovered dead due to an exploded leaf blower, Erica becomes the prime suspect. Lana, a former investigative reporter, is certain (well almost) her friend is innocent and much to the chagrin of her almost boyfriend, the police chief, she finds Gus is not well liked with a growing suspect list from a separated wife and former business associates and other neighbors, Along the way, Lana discovers a new passion: rollerblading. I laughed at the description of the natives and how they dress when the temperature drops to cooler temperature. Stanley, Lana’s adorable Shih Tzu, Stanley, is on my list of favorite dogs in a story. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book; this is my honest review.