This is the first book I have read in the series but it can be read as a standalone book.

I really enjoyed the Florida setting, I love the small-town setting, and the barback competition was pretty cool, although I wish we got to see more of Chloe practicing for it. I would have like maybe a training montage with an epic failure or two.

Chloe has been entered into the Barback Games and while sizing up the competition ends up in contact with a kind of smarmy guy who will soon end up dead... Of course, Chloe and her maybe kind of friend Ann whom I didn't really like at all.. and wish she didn't have such a major part to play in the book... end up finding the body while doing some super secret treasure hunting so they are the prime suspects. It doesn't help that both Chloe and Ann had an unpleasant run-in with the deceased and aren't telling the police the whole truth about the whole situation.

I think the mystery was good, we get some twists and turns, with a red herring or two thrown in, and I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed. While I didn't enjoy this particular plot as much as I hoped, I did enjoy Sherry Harris's writing style and I would definitely read other books in this series, and check out the other books she has written.

Chloe Jackson returns in the fourth outing of this engaging series set in the Sea Grass Saloon in the Florida Panhandle. Between training for the Barback Olympics and helping friend, Ann, search for sunken treasure, Chloe has her hands full. Add finding a dead body to the mix and you have the recipe for overload and a delightful nysỳttt5. Well-paced. Four and a half stars.

Some aspects of this novel were interesting but I didn't care for the characters. Agreeing to do the contest was a bit silly considering she has barely learned how to bar back and the constant investigating alone was unbelievable. Ann was a cold character to inspire so many people loyalty
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Chloe Jackson is not thrilled that Joaquin and Vivi, co-owners of the Sea Glass Saloon, have entered her in the obstacle course-like Barback Games. Other bars have hired ringers to compete so Chloe decides to check out her competition but ends up getting roofied at one of the bars. The next day, Chloe's friend Ann asks her to join her on a secret outing. Ann had found an old map that may locate a sunken ship. But when Ann makes the dive, she doesn't find any treasure but the weighted-down body of Enrique, one of the ringers hired for the Barback Games. Ann had unpleasant memories of Enrique from high school in Louisiana and the police consider her a prime suspect. Chloe helps Ann continue her search for the sunken ship as well as clues to help clear her name.

This was not as enjoyable a read as the previous books in the Sea Glass Saloon series. The balance of the story seemed off. Chloe and Ann's secret outings took up the bulk of the story and there is little mention of the Barback Games until the end of the book when the competition takes place.

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

A brilliant plot! A blast to read! I love the fun cover!

It’s April in Emerald Cove, Florida, and business is booming inside the trendy tiki hut; the Sea Glass Saloon. Co-owner, Vivi Slidell, and head bartender, Joaquin Diaz, have signed up co-owner, waitress, and barback, Chloe Jackson (the protagonist) to compete in the first annual Florida Panhandle Barback Games which is 10 days away. Turns out, Chloe is up against some stiff competitors who have more experience than she does, and…dark pasts that put Chloe in danger.

When Chloe accompanies her mysterious friend, Ann Williams on a treasure dive and Ann finds one of the competitors bodies below the surface; it quickly becomes obvious both women are in danger, being watched, and the reasons why begin to unfold in this amazing story!

I enjoyed the comraderie of the saloon employees; the Oceanside setting; the great cast of characters; the originality of the plot; and all the exciting danger scenes and humorous narrative in all the right places! Ann is a cool character whom I’ve never quite figured out how she’s so wealthy or what she does with all her time; but I really like her.

As the story begins to reveal the secrets to the murder and other mystery components, Author Harris hints at secrets to anticipate in future books. I’m ready and waiting! I highly recommend “Rum and Choke”, and each previous novel in this exciting series.

I honestly reviewed an unedited arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.

This is the 4th book in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mystery series and can be read as a standalone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything important by not reading the previous books which I really liked. However, I do want to go back and read them though because I felt a connection with the characters and would like to know more about them. I will also be checking out the next book in this series because the characters are so engaging and want to see how they develop.

Chloe is part owner of the bar Sea Glass Saloon, and is "pressured" into the Florida Panhandle Barback Games by her friends/co-owner who signed her up before asking. She reluctantly agrees (like she had a choice) and goes on a recon to check out her competition which goes horribly wrong. As if all this wasn't enough, Ann asks Chloe to help her search for sunken treasure from a shipwreck but instead they find a dead body.

#NetGalley #RumandChoke #SherryHarris

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an EARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really did not expect this ending. Rum and Choke is the 4th book in this series by Sherry Harris and has many elements I found very enjoyable. This is easily becoming one of my favorite series.
Actual rating: 4.5/5
Chole Jackson is not at all pleased to be entered into the annual Florida Panhandle Bar-Back Games, but is thrown into a whirlwind of a story when one of the other bars competitors Enrique is found dead, and Chole is looking more and more like a suspect.
My only major issue with this story is it feels like the Bar-Back Games are only mentioned when it is coinvent for Chole to use an excuse "I was training" etc. The only times we learn anything major about the contest is at the begging and the very last chapter of the book, after the killer has been discovered.
However, I love the ending when we discover the killer and what happened. I can happily say I have not read a lot of Cozy Mysteries where this is what happens and we have our main character fight between what is morally right and what they believe is right.
I do recommend this series and book to check out. I would recommend starting at book 1 before reading this one.

This isn't one of my favorite books in the series. Chloe seems a bit off in this book, and Ann seemed to take over.
This one didn't appeal to me.

Wow! I'm not sure how the author, Sherry Harris does it! Every book in the series is stellar and while there are murders each has a different vibe.Rum and Choke reads like an adventure story while it continues to maintain a cozy mystery atmosphere. The location is a small beach town, Chloe,the amateur sleuth, a great group of friends, and is comedic in parts ,heart pounding in other parts.. a the reader feels like they are solving the mystery along with Chloe.
I am excited to be back to the Florida panhandlers at the Sea Glass Saloon. This is a super engaging read. I did not guess the murderer but felt very satisfied with who, how and why at the end. I also liked the further character development of Ann.This excellent cozy mystery is 4th in the series and publishes on Dec 27, 2022
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Kensington publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Loved reading this book and series. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books. I suggest reading this book in order.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of RUM AND CHOKE (Book 4 of the Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon mysteries) by Sherry Harris in exchange for an honest review. There’s competition in the air, and Chloe Jackson’s friends have conned her into participating in the Florida Panhandle Barback Games. As it turns out, Chloe is the only local participating; the other businesses have pulled in ringers. Chole’s friend Ann has helped her out numerous times, so Chloe agrees to return the favor as Ann searches for pirate treasure based on some maps she recently discovered in her family papers. However, when Ann’s first dive for treasure leads to discovering the body of one of the barback ringers, it looks like Ann’s future is sunk! Chloe is now the one who must be the fixer in the relationship; Chloe must uncover the killer’s identity in order to save Ann. If she finds a little treasure along the way, it’ll be even better.

I enjoy this series and recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries featuring bar, beach, and boat themes.

#RumandChoke #NetGalley

I've enjoyed the Chloe Jackson mysteries, but this one doesn't do as much for me. Chloe spends so much time with Ann suddenly that it's as if she's put her whole life on hold. And when she's not helping Ann, she's abruptly mentioning that she practiced for the Barback Games. It seems the Barback Games only come up when it's convenient to the plot, getting her into other bars, etc. This one, for me, feels like the series has set up Chloe to partially own and work in a bar and then it's pulled her out of that bar to do everything else but work there...It's a bit of a disconnect for me. I do like the Jessie Graff character. I don't like that the Ann character is taking over the storylines. This one is just okay for me.

The Florida Panhandle Barback Games are coming up and Chloe Jackson has been drafted to represent the Sea Glass Saloon. She’ll have to compete in various events which will be tough to begin with but her task will be even tougher as some of the participating bars bring in ringers. When Chloe isn’t working or preparing for the competition, she is helping her friend Ann—a descendant of the famed pirate Jean Lafitte – look for buried treasure. Unfortunately, the only thing they find buried at sea is the body of one of the competitors. Chloe and Ann quickly become suspects so Chloe realizes she needs to clear their names – fast!

“Rum and Choke” is the nicely done fourth book in Sherry Harris’s Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon cozy mystery series. This is the first book I have read in the series and I did feel a bit lost at times, especially regarding the character of Ann – I plan on reading the other books in the series so I can get to know her character better. Having said that – I did enjoy this book. The bar setting is a good one and I did like the idea of the Barback Games (although I wish they had figured more prominently in the book). The mystery is good – actually both mysteries – the murder and Ann’s Treasure Hunt are very well done. As for the killer – without giving any spoilers I do think this is the type of book that would be perfect for a book club discussion – I certainly wish I had someone to discuss the ending of the book with!

“Rum and Choke” is a nicely done cozy mystery.

Rum and Choke is the fourth installment in the Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon mystery series set in Emerald Cove, Florida and featuring Chloe Jackson, co-owner of the Sea Glass Saloon. Chloe is settling into her new life but is not too happy that her business partner, Vivi Slidell and head bartender, Joaquin Diaz have entered her into the annual Florida Panhandle Barback games, an obstacle course themed competition.

Vivi and Joaquin are determined that Chloe begin training in order to win the competition, but the other bars have brought in ringers - professional athletes - and Chloe fears she doesn't stand a chance and is only going to embarrass herself. However, instead of focusing on her training, Chloe finds herself accompanying Ann Williams, known as a "fixer" on a search for pirate treasure.

The two women go on a dive and discover the body of Enrique Laurier, one of the athletes in the games. It seems that Ann had a past with Enrique and Chloe recently had a troubling encounter with the man, so it's no surprise when the duo becomes the prime suspects in the eyes of Deputy Dan Biffle. Desperate to clear her name Chloe sets out on a dangerous hunt to track down a killer.

A terrific plot that perfectly weaves a mystery, new friendships and developing romantic relationship. The reveal at the end is surprising but the motive is understandable and in some eyes justified. There are many more adventures on the horizon for Chloe and her new beau Rip Barnett, and I for one will be bellied up to the bar.

I received an advanced copy of Rum and Choke from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing Corp. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. This is a really well-done cozy series, set on the Florida coast. The author creates interesting situations, like an annual Barback Games (for bartenders to compete for local fame) and Chloe’s co-owner enters her into the competition. When strange things ensue and one of her primary competitors is killed, Chloe discovers both friends and strangers had a history with him. Now to solve the mystery before the games could finish her!

This has become a favorite series of mine. It has all that you want in a cozy series. Great cast of characters, beautiful location and fun mysteries to solve. I did figure out the killer half way through. It was a fun read and Chloe is always getting herself into some type of trouble.
The Florida Panhandle Barback Games are coming up and Chloe’s been drafted to represent the Sea Glass Saloon—competing in various obstacle-course events that conclude with rolling an empty keg up a hill. The rivalries are so fierce that some of the participating bars even stoop to bringing in ringers.

Meanwhile, Chloe’s friend Ann—a descendant of the famed pirate Jean Lafitte—asks her to come along for a boat ride as Ann dives into the Gulf of Mexico. She’s found some old papers that may identify the location of sunken treasure. Instead, she finds a sunken body—of one of the ringers hired for the Barback Games. Now that murder is in the mix, Chloe has to figure out whether one of the competitors went overboard . . .
#RumandChoke #NetGalley

Rum and Choke by Sherry Harris is the fourth in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mystery series. As the story opens, the Panhandle Barback Games are coming and Chloe gets talked into representing the Sea Glass Saloon. Too late she finds out that it’s not just a low key fun competition and some of the bars bring in ringers for the contest. What has she gotten herself in for? If that’s not enough, Ann (the local fixer) asks Chloe to accompany her as she dives for treasure. Ann doesn’t want anyone else to know the reason for her dive. But it gets harder to keep the secret when she brings up the body of one of the ringers rather than treasure.

I loved that this book revealed more about the mysterious Ann but created secrets for Chloe that will be sure offer future complications. I did miss spending time with Rip and the other recurring characters but couldn’t stop reading this action-packed mystery until I turned the last page. Another winner! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

Chloe Jackson, an ex-librarian from Chicago turned part owner of a Florida bar gets talked into competing in the local Barback Games, a test of skill and endurance. In the midst of training for the competition, Chloe’s friend Ann asks her to come along as a safety person while she dives searching for treasure. Unfortunately what Ann turns up isn’t a shipwreck.

This book was hard to put down. There’s lots of action and plenty of twists. And I like how Chloe’s character has grown and become more confident since the first book.

Rum and Choke is a winner, and so is the MC, Chole Jackson. This is the fourth book in the Sea Glass Saloon series, but the story works as a stand-alone. The author gives enough backstory about the previous books' adventures so that the reader doesn't feel lost. I enjoyed the suspense and intrigue in the story. The search for the shipwreck wasn't over the top and pirate-tinged. It felt real, and I applaud the author for that. I love the Florida Panhandle setting.

In this book 4 of the series Chloe Jackson is asked to go look for buried treasure with her friend Ann. But instead of treasure they find a body. So of course Chloe has to investigate. Good mystery.