This was darling and fun and perfect for the beachy trip I just got home from,.

Totally enjoyed this new to me author, Lydia Lane and look forward to more.

First of all, the cover is supercute and fun for a cozy mystery. More character development would've had me more connected to Sibyl but all in all a great read. Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Tessa Tidwell, newly single, embarks on her honeymoon alone and instead finds herself caught up in a murder investigation. While the story has its moments of suspense, the character development is lacking, making it difficult for me to fully invest in the story. The plot twists feel a little predictable; however, it's still an enjoyable read for those seeking a light, summer mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Lydia Lane for allowing me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

This one was so much fun! I thought it was such a nice cozy beach read (although wishing the weather was nice enough for the beach here). This is such a ‘read on vacation book with a cocktail in hand!’

Sibyl 100% reminded me of Jennifer Coolidge - which I loved because she is a hysterical actress.

Overall really enjoyed this one and will be looking forward to more of this authors books!

(Although still curious what the word is that you can’t use in a public setting was)

Tessa is on her honeymoon…alone. Rather than wallowing in self pity, she decides to make the most of her two weeks at the island resort. What better way to do that than look into and settling unresolved endings. Namely that of the ending of the life of a guest at the resort…and then another.

With a newfound friend and partner in crime, Tessa and Sibyl dig while Sibyl also imparts life knowledge upon Tessa. Will they be able of figure out who killed the guests without becoming the next targets? More over, will Tessa learn a few things from Sibyl in the process? After all, lessons learned and all are well worth sharing and learning from.

A great first entry in this rereleased series. It was relaxing and a quick read. I have to admit that Sibyl is my idol and I want to be her when I grow up. I’ll be back for more.

I absolutely adore island vacation cozies. Something about the sun and the drinks and the food, mix that together with some amateur sleuthing, make for some of my favorite cozies!

Lydia Lane wrote a very fun cozy that kept me guessing until the reveal!
I had so much fun reading this one and I'm looking very forward to the next one!

"Mai Tais & Murder" by Lydia Lane is how you do a cozy cocktail theme book. None of this the-cocktails-are-more-important-then-the-mystery. The mystery is ALWAYS more important than the theme and this author gets it. It wouldn't be a cozy MYSTERY book without it.

I do have to say that it is a new take on a cozy mystery. It seems this series is gearing up to be a permanent vacation style cozy along with the occasional cocktail mentions. Which isn't your typical cozy. I look forward to seeing where this one takes us. Will it be all one main character's perspective or will we be jumping around with different or new characters taking the lead?

Not for me. I like a little more character development than the story gave. The atmosphere in the book was enjoyable and great for summer reading which would make it a good beach read for some. Just not for me.

Perfect cozy mystery for a summer, beach read. I enjoyed the premise, the characters and the humor.

I overall really enjoyed "Mai Tais and Murder" I thought it was a very simply but fun plot and was executed well. I wish there was more inner monologue and descriptions of what was happening versus having so much dialogue. I thought the reintroduction of Ethan felt odd and could've been executed better. The idea that he just wasn't sure and now he was sure didn't seem very believable. I loved how strong of a lead Tessa was and that she even made a friend in the beginning who was also a strong, female lead.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

It’s the first book in a new series about Tessa, a jilted bride-to-be, and the criminal mysteries she finds herself in at a luxurious beachside resort.

Even though Tessa becomes an empowered woman, she sometimes annoy me. Mostly due to her sometimes continuous questions.
There is a fine line between being a dog with a bone, not letting go until every questions is answered and asking redundant questions. A line that she unfortunately crossess somewhat often.

This could also be a deliberate character flaw. Which is further surpported by her new friend Sibyl informing her, that Tessa mainly gets by on dumb luck.

I do however like how Tessa evolve and starts to grow into her own over the span of the book.

Sibyl is a great character, that brings a lot of fun to the book. Plus, her advice are highly valid.

All in all, it’s a great book. Perfect for the beach or poolside with a glass of Daquiri or Martini close at hand. And if you go to the very back of the book, you can find Sibyls recipe for her prefered Martini.

The first in a new cozy series features protagonist Tessa who is supposed to be on her honeymoon at a luxurious resort. However, she is alone as she was jilted by her fiancé right before the rehearsal dinner. She decided to come on the vacation anyway and gets more than she bargained for when a fellow guest winds up dead under mysterious circumstances. Along with her new friend, Sybil, Tessa investigates.

I enjoyed this debut! It was everything I wanted in a cozy - quick to read, light, fun, and a good mystery. I’m excited to see where Tessa investigates next!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.