Shayleigh Myers (Shay) has returned to her childhood town in California. She is now divorcing her husband Brad in New Mexico, who has caused her business to fail and blames her, and she has almost no money. However, for some reason, a woman in her home town, Bridget, has left Shay her small home near the beach and her business Crystals & CuriosiTEAS. It turns out the Bridget's dog Spirit is very smart and becomes attached to Shay. Next door to the store is a pub run by Irishman and ex policeman Liam, and across the street is a coffee shop run by Shay's sister Jen's best friend Jo. When Shay goes to her cottage, she finds that Liam lives in the next cottage.

When Shay is looking at the shop, she notices a body on the glass roof. The local policeman, who is somewhat incompetent and gruff, closes down the Tea shop and the pub, and decides that Liam must be the murderer. Fortunately, Jen's husband, Dean, is very helpful, and soon finds an alibi for Liam.

Shay gradually learns she is not the person she thought she was as she learns more about Bridget and why she left her everything she had. Someone tries to break into Shay's new home, but Spirit attacks the person. He is found with a lot of blood on him, but fortunately, it's human blood. Shay becomes very protected by Liam, Spirit, and the necklace she has received from Bridget. They realize Bridget may have known she was going to be killed and the same killer may have killed the man found on the roof. It is very exciting as one gets close to the end of the book, when together, Shay, Liam, and Spirit with Dean’s help try to figure out who and why Bridget and the stranger on the roof were killed.

The Crystals & CuriosiTEAS mystery series starts off with gusto! Not only are we introduced to the heroine, Shay Myers, returning to her hometown after years away with her tail between her legs caused by (she was a professional gemologist -her business died a complicated death aided by her ex-husband), a nasty divorce and bankruptcy. She left Bray Harbor only being forced to return because of a legal matter. She is embraced by her older sister and family and finds out that she has inherited a Tea shop from the town old maid. But why her? The circumstances and developing mystery have brought danger to Shay and those she cares about.

Fascinating new series! Can't wait to see how characters and events develop here!

Shayleigh Myers returns to her hometown on the California coast with last of her funds. She has inherited a tea and curiosity shop in town.
There are so many secrets to unravel in this book. As a series opener, it packs in a great many ideas, theories, premises for the best mysteries. I wouldn’t want to give anything away because this is a journey of discovery you should take alongside Shay.
In some ways, this is a rather emotionally exhausting story. There is an angsty teen, Shay’s self doubt and emotional overwhelm, a crooked sheriff, a duplicitous best friend, a possible love interest, a complicated history and many missing links.
I was left not quite satisfied by the ending. I liked reading the book and would recommend it, just vaguely dissatisfied.
I will look forward to the next in the series in order to have the opportunity to continue growing along with Shay.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to review this book.

Lauren Elliott’s other cozy mystery series is one of my favorites so I knew I would need to read this one when I heard about it. I love the way she writes characters and her mysteries are always fun. I also like the way animals have a part to play, and I think the dog in this one, Spirit, is my new favorite mystery solving sidekick. Shay is flat broke when she gets the call that a lady in her old home town has left her a shop and living quarters. Since her life and marriage have fallen apart this seems like perfect timing. When she arrives she realizes there’s something about her connection with the woman who left her the tea shop, but more immediately concerning she finds a dead body on top of the shop. Despite pressure to sell she is determined to the find the answers she’s looking for.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4997489694

This new series by Ms. Elliott Is really fantastic and keeps you wondering with all the amazing things in store for shay she doesn't know what is going to happen next. and spirit the dog really helps her out to see a clearer picture of her life that was and what will be is anyone guess as time goes on, I didn't want to put it down till I found out what was next to the end. Let see what will happen I hope the next book come out and I am sure it will be really good. I have read other of Ms Elliot, and this tops them all. A fast-paced moving book.

Lauren Elliot launches another great series! A good mystery and a great cast of characters make for a very compelling read.

Steeped in Secrets is the first book in a new series from Lauren Elliott. Shay Myers is an intuitive gemologist who has moved back to Bray Harbor, CA, a coastal town on the Monterey peninsula. After going through a divorce that left her broke, she comes back to take over the estate left to her by a woman named Bridget Early, another resident and shop owner in Bray Harbor. While touring the shop Bridget left her, Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, a body is found on the greenhouse roof at the top of the shop building. As Shay begins to investigate, she uncovers startling information about her past and how it connects with the present and future.

I was drawn into Shay’s world immediately and couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to learn more about everyone Shay met in Bray Harbor. Loved the references to Irish culture and can’t wait to learn more about Liam, the nearby pub owner who happens to be an ex-cop. I’m rooting for Shay and her store employee, Tassi, to succeed at reopening Crystals & CuriosiTEAS with their own special twist.

In my opinion, a successful debut for a new series that I will be following. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Flat broke and divorced, intuitive gemologist Shay Myers has changed since leaving her artsy hometown of coastal Bray Harbor sixteen years ago. But when she moves back under strange circumstances, old instincts may be the only key to spilling the tea on a deadly mystery.

Even with her life in ruins in New Mexico, Shay feels uneasy about settling into the small seaside town where she grew up on California’s Monterey Peninsula and taking over an estate bequeathed to her by Bridget Early, a woman she had barely known. Her heightened senses—an empathic gift she’s had since childhood—go into overdrive upon touring Crystals & CuriosiTEAS, Bridget’s eclectic tea and psychic shop brimming with Irish lore and Celtic symbols. They reach a boiling point when Shay looks up to discover a stranger’s body sprawled across the shop’s greenhouse roof . . .

With her new business a crime scene and questions brewing over Bridget’s so-called accidental death, Shay fears she’s also inherited the attention of a killer. The terrifying realization sets her on an impractical investigation for answers aided by her sister, an elusive pure-white German Shepherd, a strikingly handsome pub owner who speaks in a gentle brogue, and a misunderstood young woman with perceptive talents of her own. As Shay struggles to figure out her true purpose in Bray Harbor and the powerful connection she has with the tea shop, she must trust her judgment above all else to identify a ruthless murderer and save herself from becoming victim number three. (Goodreads synopsis)

I have not read any of Lauren Elliott’s novels prior to this one, however I will be adding her to my list of cozy mystery authors.

I was very happy to see that Shay does not have a law enforcement jerk to deal with (it’s actually her brother-in-law!). Nor does she put herself in unnecessary danger! I figured out the inheritance and all the reasons fairly early. I also figured out the killer, but it wasn’t until the end when they admitted to Shay that one potential possibility still had me questioning. I hope this question gets answered in the next novel as I really don’t want it to be dragged out. I also have another question that I hope Lauren Elliott answers, and I was surprised that Shay didn’t ask.

I liked Tassi and can understand her to a degree. I hope she gets a little more attention in the series. I also liked Liam, but I really don’t want a love triangle. I hope there are more interactions with other residents of Bray Harbor in further novels, and we don’t settle with the individuals that we have already met.

I have a German Shepherd and I laughed out loud at the “dancing-prancing”, because mine absolutely does that. I also understand the soul wrenching howling and the over protectiveness. German Shepherds form intense bonds with (usually) one human, and everyone be forewarned if you try anything with that human. I love the humanness that Spirit had but also the dog instincts. It made the relationship more real. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Shay and Spirit.

One last thing, but it has no bearing on the novel. I would have liked an index about any books that Lauren Elliott used for research. Specifically, any about tea and reading tea leaves. I just find this information fascinating and can’t wait to see how Shay’s (and Tassi’s) education progresses.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

This is the first book in a new paranormal cozy series set in the coastal town of Bray Harbor, California. The typical tropes has Shay Myers leaving her failed marriage and gemstone business in Santa Fe to take on a quirky shop and cute cottage bequeathed to her by Bridget Early, a woman she had barely known. Shay finds Crystals & CuriosiTEAS full of Irish lore, Celtic symbols and herbal scents that stimulate her heightened senses. But Shay doesn't expect to find a dead body on the roof of her building's greenhouse. With the help of Spirit, a pure-white German Shepherd, ex-cop turned pub owner Liam and Tassi, a young woman who had befriended Bridget, Shay tries to figure out who killed the stranger and her connection to Bridget. An amulet pouch with a blue bottle and a wooden chest containing photos and documents provide Shay with stunning family secrets. Subsequent attempted break-ins and thefts of Bridget's inventory indicate the killer is still desperate to find something.

I enjoyed the author's Beyond the Pages Bookstore Mysteries and this is a promising debut.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington Books. My opinions are my own.

What a real gem!

Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott is the first book in the Crystals and CuriosiTEAS series. Gemologist Shay Meyers doesn't know why Bridget Early left her the eclectic teas and psychic shop, Crystals and CuriosiTEAS and her beach cottage, but Shay plans to make the most of it after her failed marriage to a thief of a husband. Somehow Shay also seems to have inherited the elusive, protective white German Shepard Spirit who makes a big difference in this story. There's murder and other mysteries in this intriguing story. I loved the characters and look forward to the next book in the series.

I believe this might be the beginning of a new series but not sure. Totally deserves to be one. I really enjoyed this tea infused cozy mystery series with a bit of magical realism thrown in for good measure. Shay Myers comes back to her hometown and discovers the crazy psychic tea shop lady has died and left her a psychic tea/tea leaf reading shop and a cozy cottage on the beach. As she is getting a tour of her new business, a dead body is found in the upstairs greenhouse. Then a stranger to town starts harassing Shay and her friends forcing her to sell the business but Shay refuses.

This story has a lot of Irish mysticism and it is a super cute read. I enjoyed all aspects of this. The new connections and whodunit of this story begs that there be a second book in the series. Crossing my fingers. Definitely looking forward to seeing if there is a followup.

I read this as an ARC in return for an honest review.

What an interesting story! It certainly has some twists to it, which makes for good reading. I really like Shay and her attitude of you are not going to push me around and yes, I can/will do this. Who could ask for a better neighbor than Liam? I also loved the way people would talk about and remember Brigitte. She sounds like a special lady. I think my favorite characters are Tassi and Spirit. What better friends could you have than these two? I’m sure everyone who reads this will wish they had a Spirit in their lives. I can’t wait to catch up with these good folks again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Steeped in Secrets is a great start to a new cozy series by Lauren Elliott! I would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could. The main character, Shay, could be a little stronger and will hopefully grow as the series progresses. I love Tassi and Liam and Spirit of course. I liked the concept of this new series, tea and woo-woo with a little Irish folklore thrown in. I would love some more descriptions of Bray Harbor. The setting has definite potential. Looking forward to the next book and will most certainly read it.

Partial blurb:

"USA Today bestselling author Lauren Elliott makes her hardcover debut with a new mystery series sure to appeal to fans of Laura Childs and Ellery Adams: the Shay Meyers Tea Shop Mysteries!Flat broke and divorced, intuitive gemologist Shay Meyers has changed since leaving her artsy hometown of coastal Bray Harbor sixteen years ago. But when she moves back under strange circumstances, old instincts may be the only key to spilling the tea on a deadly mystery."
The blurb tells you so much before the book begins, even so-- I hit the ground running with this new series, and the quick pace kept up most of the book. I loved that! There is so much happening with the plot, mysteries, and characters, pulling the reader deeply into the heart of Shay's personal mystery. I felt like this is a cozy-plus! The characters are engaging and well fleshed out--I am looking forward to more in this series. All this plus a fun paranormal element woven in.Lauren Elloitt knows how to keep the reader on her toes while heading down the twisted path to the finish.
#SteepedinSecrets #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, @LaurenElliott, and @KensingtonCozies for allowing me the ARC that I requested. All opinions are my own--I reccommend this book to all cozy readers, paranormal readers,and to those who enjoy fast paced mystery with female sleuths.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC of Steeped in Secrets Publication Date: 11/29/2022

Newly divorced, Shay Meyers travels back to her hometown of Bray Harbor after she inherits a tea and psychic shop from a women she hardly even knows. Once there Shay finds a body on top of the stores greenhouse and now has to solve the mystery as to what happened.
This book is really fun. There is a little magic element that has to do with the tea and Shay is trying to learn all of it.
There’s also a cute dog that helps Shay with her investigating and even a love interest. Plot wise, there are a lot of subplots going on throughout the story and the ones that aren’t figured out in this book could definitely be hints towards things in future books and I can’t wait to read the next one!

let me start by saying I love Lauren Elliott. This is the first book in a new series and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

I like the characters - I love Liam and Tassi and come on, you have to love spirit. I like the premise of where the story is going.

BUT I felt something was missing. I couldn't get into the story and kept looking forward to the end of the book. I think maybe the characters need to be fleshed out some more. Who is the man Bridget talked about? What is happening with Shay's ex-husband? Is Shay still in danger? There is a cliff hanger.

I rounded the story up to 4 stars and YES, As I said, I read all Lauren Elliott books, so I will look forward to book 2 and see how the characters are further developed.

The ending of 'Steeped in Secrets' was not an annoying cliffhanger, but more of an alluring hint of more that needs to be resolved for Shay Myers to solve the many secrets of her past. In this first book of Lauren Elliott's A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series some issues are resolved, especially why Shay inherited a shop from recently deceased Bridget Early. The paranormal aspects of this are a little tough for me to enjoy, however there is a balance from an intense mystery and potential romance that offsets my need for suspension of disbelief. I look forward to learning more in the next in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I loved this cozy mystery! It has crystals, tea, a guardian pup named Spirit, and even a cute Irish guy as a next door neighbor. 😉

This was filled with multiple twists, some I saw coming, and others I didn’t expect, and it kept me totally invested from the first page to the last.

In true cozy mystery fashion, everything is neatly wrapped up in the end…but now I’m impatiently waiting for the second book in this new series to be written!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re looking for something unique look no further than this charming debut in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series. Elliot is a pro at creating great characters and Shay is incredibly likable and who doesn’t like a swoony Irishman like Liam. Elliot also effortlessly blends the paranormal (psychic/empathy) and culinary (teashop) themes, all the while keeping the red-herrings, clues and suspects balanced to craft a mystery that will keep you guessing to the end. Oh and Spirit, the German Shepherd, is a scene stealer. I very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

When Shay inherits a metaphysical store in Bray Harbor, she doesn't expect to find a dead body in the attic. With the police closing her shop for investigation, Shay decides to do her own research. The secrets she stumbles upon keep the reader engaged and expecting yet another round of trouble any minute. Pleasantly paced, filled with a diversity of characters, set in lovely surroundings, Steeped in Secrets is a quick entertaining read filled with magic (and tea leaf readings!). One mystery remains unsolved and I'm already eagerly awaiting the next instalment in this new cosy mystery series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.