A good beginning for a new series.

Our main character, Shay Myers is unfortunate to be going through changes in her life that make up a typical cozy murder mystery. A terrible divorce from a man who can't just leave her but means to ruin her career; a return to her hometown that harbors both pleasant and sad memories of her young adult life. An inheritance from a stranger. And a ton of emotions to go through.

Well written character building in this book. Perfectly made sense along with the mystery(ies) that appeared. Not only does Shay seek peace with her current circumstances, she longs to find out the truth of her parents untimely death, why she now has inherited a business and home from a stranger; of course there's a murder so who is the dead person, why were they killed and what does all of this have to do with Shay!

On the woo-woo scale of 10 being the wooiest- I give this a 2.5. The writing is solid and the "magical" aspect is only slightly woo-woo. Tea reading and heightened senses are quite common in reality. I recommend this book and I'm looking forward to more in this series.

Lauren Elliott has another hit series with her first book in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series. I’ve been a longtime fan of Ms. Elliott’s and her Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries, so I’m happy she is back with this new series.

Shay Myers is back in her coastal hometown of Bray Harbor after sixteen long years away. She’s an intuitive gemologist and empath who has just inherited Crystals & CuriosiTEAS and the estate of a mysterious woman in Bray Harbor. She doesn’t understand the connection that prompted the woman to make Shay her heir, and she really doesn’t understand why there’s a dead man sprawled on the roof of her new greenhouse. Thus begins Shay’s quest for answers, helped along the way by her sister, a white German Shepherd, and an Irish pub owner.

I was not disappointed at all in this book. The characters are unique, and the book so well-written that I read it cover to cover in one sitting. The author describes setting so well that the reader can almost smell the ocean-scented air, feel the sand beneath their feet, and taste the tea that Shay brews up.

Thank you to Kensington Books for granting me permission to read the book. I’m happy to leave my honest review.

I loved this cozy mystery! I enjoy them so much. It was such a quick and easy read. She moves to a new town and starts a new business till there is a murder in her business. She is determined to figure out her place in her new town. I would definitely recommend this book.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the arc! Another great cozy mystery novel. Loved most of the characters! The author did a great job pulling the reader into the story. Will recommend!

This first book in the series was a great start. I love cozy mysteries and Lauren Elliott had my attention from the beginning. The characters are well developed and the narrator did a fabulous job including the Irish Brogue for Liam. There were lots of twists and turns and clues that had you guessing who could have committed murder. I’m not a big fan of crystals and reading tea leaves, but I enjoyed how Shay began to take on the tasks she was given when she inherited the shop from a slight acquaintance, Bridget. That’s another mystery that doesn’t get resolved quickly. I look forward to returning to Bray Harbor and getting to know Shay, Shay’s sister, Jen, Tassi, and the white German Shepherd, Shadow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

This book is the first in a series. As such, it has the difficult job of introducing characters, backstories, settings, etc. There are some interesting family and social dynamics at work in this book. Sometimes, however, it felt like the author was trying to do too much with the story. I probably will read the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book in the series and look forward to more. I liked the characters and the setting.

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

When divorced Shay Myers returns to her hometown of Bray Harbor, she’s inherited a mystical tea shop and cottage from a woman with a past connected to hers. Things get more mysterious when a body is found on the premises. Can Shay figure out the truth before another person gets hurt?
I really liked this book. The story has all of the best cozy elements: a very relatable amateur sleuth, a fun mystery, some very likeable side characters, a setting with a seaside homey feel, and a potential romance for the main character. I can’t wait for the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

Steeped in Secrets is the newest series by Lauren Elliott. In this story we follow Shay as she moves back to her hometown to inherit a shop after a marriage gone wrong (to put it mildly) that left her broke, and right from the get-go things are nonstop for her.

This book has mystery after mystery needing uncovering. From trying to figure out why the shop & cottage were left to her, to trying to uncover the meaning of the other things that land in her possession, avoiding trouble & danger, figuring out what to do with whats left to her, having some shocking personal news thrown her way and yes, naturally- why was there a dead body on her shop ceiling, who did it and why- Shay is going through a whole lot.

Throughout all that is going on, Shay is fortunate to have a great support system with her sister Jen & brother-in-law Dean both of whom are always listening to & looking out for her throughout everything. In addition to them I enjoyed seeing Shay develop closer relationships with her newfound employee & also her neighbor, Liam. Plus, I'm going to count Spirit as a support system- yes, the dog, because if you've read this- you KNOW. The support and protection from Spirit was unmatched and I think if you're a dog person you're going to want Spirit as your dog, too. Each character was developed well, especially since its the first in the series. I'd be interested to see where all of the characters go from here as the series progresses (& think it'll be fun to see Shay as she hones in on her already existing gem knowledge and tries to grow these new skills that she is attempting to learn).

While there was much to enjoy, I did find things not as complete as I'd like. It was mostly with one or two small side characters, though. Not a huge deal, and I 'm not looking to spoil anything so I'll leave it at that, but it was something that I noticed. Additionally, while I enjoyed Shay & Liam- I was not a fan of reading repeatedly about how she blushes all the time upon hearing Liam's name or seeing him- or how her skin feels on her cheeks when hes around & how she wishes she could blush pretty and all variations of that idea.

Overall, though I thought this book was well done for a first book in a series & tackled a lot within its pages.

The mystery in this one did wrap up, though, so don't worry about that but there is definitely something larger that I'm sure is to be explored as the series progresses and enough to intrigue you to pick up the following book when its released.

Thank you to netgalley & the publisher for the advanced reader copy of Steeped in Secrets. All opinions are honest and my own.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a mystery within a mystery and has a fun "ghostly" dog named Ghost. Shay feels her life is in a shambles. He ex-husband ruined her business and reputation. So Shay decided to move home to Bay Harbor. One good reason for the move is that her sister lives there and another is she came into an inheritance from a local shop owner. Shay doesn't know why this woman left her her tea/psychic shop. As she digs deeper she learns things about herself as well as the woman who died under unsettling circumstances.

I though this was a delightful read. A nice escape that is easy-to-read. There is just a little bit of whimsey in the story. The dog seems to know things and to help Shay along the way. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend.

Shey is returning to her hometown of Bray Harbor after her life falls apart in New Mexico. This is book 1 in a new series, Crystals and Curiousiteas. Bray discovers a dead body near her greenhouse and her new business is now a crime scene. With the help of her sister and a stray German Shepard, Bray hopes to find the killer before he can concentrate on her.

Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott

Lauren Elliott does it again. Great story.

Shay’s life is falling apart also her marriage. She moves back home after being gone for so long.
A lady in her home town has left her store and living quarters. When she arrives she finds that there is some connection between her and this women, but more concerning that they have found a body on top of the store.

Very good book. This is the first book in the series.
Love this book and writer. Can not wait for the next book.

Steeped in Secrets is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries. It's a mystery with a magical twist, great characters and a white German Shepard Spirit. It's quick, fun read. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for my ARC.

I have been a fan of Lauren's work for a long time and was so excited to see she had a new murder mystery that has a paranormal element to it. It did NOT disappoint! I loved every page of this book. New-found family, family secrets, murder mystery, some romance, friendship, and some witchy vibes all rolled into one is what you will get with "Steeped in Secrets". I highly recommend you read this book.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Entertaining
Page-turner
Wonderful characters

This was a great start to a new cozy mystery series and I am very much looking forward to reading more books in this series. I loved the interwoven histories and the reveal about Shay's own history and I won't be upset if the future books do have a little bit of magic. Some of my favorite cozy mysteries are paranormal mysteries.

When it comes to cozy mysteries, Lauren Elliot is an auto-read for me. I have enjoyed any and all of her books which I have read, and I was so happy to receive a copy of Steeped in Secrets from NetGalley.

Steeped in Secrets is the first in a new series, and I am so excited to see where the series goes from here. Shay Myers, divorced gemologist, moves back to her hometown to take over an unexpected inheritance. First to discover a murder at her new business, Shay has no choice but to solve the mystery to salvage the start of her new life. As always for Lauren's work, the character development in this book was emotionally compelling. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing to the end. All in all, I look forward to reading the next books in this series.

This was a NetGalley read.

⭐⭐⭐.5 -- I love the cover on this one.

I found this cozy to be a pretty entertaining read. It was well written and well paced. I loved the setting (charming small seaside town, quaint fortune telling tea shop). The plot was engaging and I loved the magical elements. The mystery itself wasn't the most enthralling I have ever read, and I kind of felt there was a lot of different storylines that made the plot feel a little cluttered. I don't think we needed the whole "bad cop" plot point since it didn't really add much to the story. I feel like we could have started the book with all that having happened prior and the book would have been better for it. The characters themselves also felt a little all over the place personality wise. Especially Shay's sister who would fly off the handle about the smallest things and then be fine the next minute. It gave me whiplash. Last, I wasn't a fan of the vague "are they or aren't they involved" going on between the neighbor and the vet lady. He gives her a ring and she showers at his house, but they are just friends?? 👀 This was especially annoying since it seems he is being set up as a love interest for Shay.

Tha said, this was the first book in a new series and they always seem to have some sort of growing pains. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for the next book in the series. 👍🏻👍🏻

**ARC Via NetGalley**

This is the first installment in the A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery Series
series. Shayleigh (Shay) Myers is returning to Bray Harbor after a devastating divorce in which her husband Brad has swindled her customers and ruined her good name along with having an affair and basically leaving her penniless. So when an unexpected inheritance comes her way she heads home to see what it is all about and leaves New Mexico and arrives in Bray Harbor California. She is staying with her sister Jen and brother in law Dean but is unsure how to explain to them that Bridget Early the owner of The Crystals & CuriosiTeas has left her the cottage and business when she barely even knew her. Then when she is viewing the business in which Bridget read tea leaves and sold crystals (now this part she can get into as she is a gemologist or was before her ex-husband ruined her reputation) she along with the realter Julia and next door business owner Liam find a dead body on the rooftop garden. The police chief hauls off Liam and Shay is left questioning her “new” start in Bray Harbor. This mystery just drew me in from the very beginning and although it had to set up relationships and story as all first in a series does it never slowed down for me. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end and am excited to see where it will go. I love Spirit as Shay’s protector of a dog and all the supporting cast. Shay definitely has a good group of people around her and the paranormal elements are interesting but not overplayed. A definite winner

In Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott Shay Myers comes home to Bay Harbor and has mysteriously inherited a tea and crystal shop only to find a dead body in her new shop now she has to figure out what the dead body had to do with her inheritance and why it was left to her.

I loved this book. It was well written, and the Charaters were interesting. I loved how there was a mystery with a mystery. I also enjoyed Shay finding out about her powers. The chemistry between Shay and Liam is intense, I hope to see more of the dreamy pub owner and see a relationship unfold. I also enjoyed how Spirit adopted Shay and shows up out of nowhere to protect her. I look forward to the second book in the series and highly recommend it.

Thank you, Kensington, the ARC!