i expected the normal cozy mystery story, but the MC in this one didn't seem to really want to investigate or even solve the thing, lots of randomness, then "here's the killer". Maybe it'll get better next book, but the pacing was wrong.

Just an OK read for me that die-hard fans of cozy mysteries with paranormal elements will likely enjoy. The book’s pacing was just too slow for me and there seemed to be too many extraneous details thrown in to fill up time that could have been handled better.

This book is the first in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS series that introduces us to Shay Myers, who after a brutal divorce that not only cost her every penny to her name but her professional reputation as a gemologist is back in her hometown to accept an inheritance of a teashop and cottage from Bridget Early. The why wasn’t too hard to figure out, but the story took forever to get there. While touring the shop with the realtor, they discover a stranger’s body on the greenhouse roof. Again, the story dances around who the deceased is, why he is in Bray Harbor and what his connection is to Shay. By the time the story got around to solving the murder, I was a little surprised. ”Oh yeah, there’s a dead guy from the beginning of the story. Wonder whatever came of the murder investigation…”

I liked Shay and the addition of Liam, the pub owner with the slight Irish brogue who assists Shay in discovering the truth and Spirit, the solid white German Shepherd dog who adopts Shay and seems to be her guardian angel. The audio narration by Stephanie Richardson was just OK too. Her performance of Shay was done well, but the Irish brogue of Liam sounded forced.

My Final Verdict: A story that doesn’t deliver a lot of surprises and takes too long to get there isn’t one I can wholeheartedly recommend. The series may improve as it goes but I don’t need my tea leaves read to know that I will probably take a pass.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Steeped in Secrets from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 2.5 STARS
2022; Tantor Audio

I enjoy Lauren Elliot's Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery so I was excited for this newest series. I was up and down with Steep in Secrets as some moments really dragged. Just when I would think maybe I should give up, it would get better. I felt this way even with some of the Beyond the Page Bookstore books and am glad I stuck it out. I will try one more book and see how it goes. I think I feel invested because of Spirit, the dog, as the romance, mystery, and suspense are meh.

***I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

This book had some potential, especially with Spirit the amazing dog. However, this book was more tell then show. It felt like most of the story took place off scene and we were being told what happened from a secondary character. The mystery was convoluted and not that mysterious.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. It was an interesting murder mystery with some magic thrown in. The only thing I didn't really enjoy was the narrator. She made all the female characters (which is most of them) sound like airhead valley girls. After a while it got really annoying. It was over the top.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for my copy of Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott Narrated by Stephanie Richardson in exchange for an honest review. It published November 29, 2022.
A strong first in a series cozy mystery, Steeped in Secrets is quite fun! There are obviously similarities to other cozy mysteries, similar tropes, back in town, etc., but there are a lot of unique elements in this book as well.
I loved the Irish lore, i appreciated that the murder happened early on, and I appreciated the relationships formed, and world-building.

"Steeped in Secrets" by Lauren Elliott is the perfect book to curl up with in front of a warm fire on a rainy day, especially with a hot drink (tea, perhaps?). It is the first in a cozy new series and I look forward to the release of the next book in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I typically enjoy cosy mysteries, and I really liked the fun and colourful cover design, which is why I was interested in this. I hadn't read any books by this author before, but have always been interested in them.

I listened to the audio for this, so it took me a long time to finish it, but it was worth it. I enjoyed it.

This was a charming cosy mystery. I thought it was a lot of fun, and a little bit magical. The protagonist was a nice character, and there were some other characters that I liked a lot too, including Liam and Spirit.

I believe this is the first book in a series, so I would be interested in reading the others to find out what happens next for some of these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

A splendid narrative that really told a tale that made me smile and frown at the same time. Loved the sisters relationship which made for some interesting complications

This is a cute cozy mystery about a recently-divorced woman who returns to her hometown. There, she finds out that she is the beneficiary of the local tea shop. After several murders, she discovers more than the culprit, she discovers a secret that she never knew about herself!

Lauren Elliott wrote a perfect cozy mystery book to read during a thunderstorm. I LOVED that this book took place in a small seaside town and was obsessed with the pure white German Shepherd, Spirit. This book does fall a little flat and can drag on slightly, but the narrator does a fantastic job continuing the story. This book was a great addition to the fun cozy mystery kick that I’ve been on the past few months. It was a fast listen and would recommend it to anyone who needs something easy to listen to.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC of Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott in exchange for an honest review.

"Welcome to your future, but be prepared: it might be more than you’re willing to take on."

Steeped in Secrets was a bit of a mixed bag for me. But it did intrigue me enough to want to follow along with the series, so it certainly had its perks.

What I loved the most about this book were the setting and the general premise. The small seaside town. The tea and psychic shop. Cottage on the beach. Family secrets. A dash of paranormal.

Oh, and the dog - he was the best. Though the rest of the characters were a bit flat and stereotypical.

However, the main mystery thread could have been better. I wasn't all that interested in the case, it felt a bit dull to be honest.

But that's exactly why I’d happily give the following installments a chance. With the same setting but a different mystery, I’m sure I’d enjoy the whole thing more.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC of Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott in exchange for an honest review.

“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 . . . " .”
***
This book had all the makings for a favourite.
Small town? Mystery? Murder? Romance? Magical realism? A FRICKIN DOG?!

Put that stuff right in my veins.
What most comes to mind after reading this book?
It was fine.
<<insert half-hearted, one-shouldered shrug>>
The story was fine.
The characters were fine.
The dialogue was fine.
The mystery was fine.
The romance was fine.
Nothing was WRONG, per se, it’s just that, by the end, I was happy to be moving on to my next read with little regret, and little incentive to search out the next book in the series.
4/10
Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Tantor Audio for this ARC.

☕️BOOK REVIEW☕️

Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott
Rating: 4/5

“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.”

I really enjoyed this listen! The story gets you hooked right away, has just enough twists and turns, and has extremely likable characters!

I enjoyed Shay getting to the bottom of her own family secrets and the relationship she built with local ex detective-turned-pub-owner Liam. I enjoyed some the Irish lore that was sprinkled in and this made me want to learn more about reading tea leaves!

I can’t wait for the next in the series!

Published: November 29, 2022 (so check it out now!)

Thanks to @netgalley, @tantoraudio and the author for this audiobook!

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #steepedinsecrets #laurenelliott #bookreview #books #audiobookreview #audiobook #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booktok #cozymystery #paranormalcozymystery #bestdogever

A well-written fun read. Heroine Shay has moved back to a small town where she’s inherited a tea shop. Along the way, she discovers romance and family. I listened to the audio book; the narrator did an excellent job. I look forward to the author’s next book.

A great start to a new cozy mystery series. Shay has returned home after a long absence, divorce and broke, but for some mysterious reason she has inherited the town’s spiritualist shop. She keeps it at first a secret trying to figure out why someone she barely knew left her a shop and cottage, but when a man is found dead on her rooftop her secret was out, But that is only the beginning of the mystery! Why did she inherit?Who is the murder victim? And there are several other mysteries that will keep you guessing and turning the pages.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #SteepedinSecrets

Shay Myers returns to her hometown of coastal Bray Harbor after 16 years divorced and flat broke. Except....for whatever reason, Bridget Early, proprietress of the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Shop, has bequeathed her store and home to Shay. Bridget had only ever been in the store once and only has a vague memory of Bridget, so she is surprised and delighted at her windfall. If only she hadn't found a dead body on the roof of the greenhouse during her walk through...

Desperate to start her new life, Shay begins looking into the murder so that the less-than-ethical sheriff will allow her store and the next-door bar can be reopened. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the handsome pub owner has been spending time at her shop. And her home.

I don't know what it was about this book, but I was completely enthralled. I could've easily finished it in a day if life hadn't gotten in the way. As it stands, I read it in less than 24 hours. And now I want another! I hope we keep getting books from the series. And interesting mystery, cast of characters, and a great setting. Really enjoyed the narrator's work as well. Overall a very pleasant "reading" experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC and audiobook.


Description from NetGalley:
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.

I’m a fan of cozies. I love the troupes that are here. I wasn’t drawn into the story like I normally am when I sit down for a cozy read. I’m still curious enough to perhaps pick up the next one.

Overall: 3/5

I love Lauren Elliott and she is an auto buy for me. This first book in a new series did not disappoint. I loved it. The voice narration was perfect for me. I'm not a huge audiobook person but I greatly enjoyed this one.
I just reviewed Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott. #SteepedinSecrets #NetGalley
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Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott

Shay Myers returns to Bay Harbor after being away from there for 16 years. She has inherited a shop from a women she barely even knew. She also inherits a beach front cottage and a dog named spirit. She is trying to recover from her husband misdealing that has left her gem business in shambles. He steals from her and then lays the blame on her to her clients. So this inheritance could not happen at a better time. Just when Shay thinks things are finally settling down for her she finds a dead body at the top of the shop. Liam Madigan, owner of the pub next door, drops by when the realtor, Julie, is giving Shay a tour of her new properties while trying her best to talk Shay into selling.

With most cozy we have a character that inherits something and then their is a dead body as well as an interesting pet. This makes for a great cozy mystery if the writer can bring all these elements into a neat mystery filled cozy that entertains. Mrs. Elliot does that with Steeped in Secrets. As the reader you do care for Shay she deserves a break. I liked Spirit the dog as well what a fitting name.

You follow along with Shay as she finds out her connection to the women who left her so much and she figures out the mystery. This is a great start to a new cozy mystery series and I am looking forward to future installments to follow with Shaw and spirit to see where there next mystery leads them. Oh I don't want to forget about mentioning that their is magical elements in this lovely cozy.

If you a fan of fun cozy mysteries with a little bit of magic then this series is for you. It is a fast read as well as it was written well. I recommend this to people who enjoy cozies. This was a five star read for me. Narrated by Stephanie Richardson she did such a good job bringing the characters in Bay Harbor to life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for a free audio copy of Steeped in Secrets for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.