new-series, first-in-series, bookseller, tea-shop, adopted, small-town, small-business, New-York-state, cozy-mystery, recipes, families, family-dynamics, amateur-sleuth, murder, investigation, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip****

The story is a good one, but the writing is a bit disjointed at times. But. This is only book one and books usually get better as the series progresses, so the next one will be great (I believe). The publisher's blurb is unusually good, so there's no need to repeat it, and spoilers are just wrong. I did enjoy it and am looking forward to the next in this series.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 6 Mar 2024 #TomesAndTeaMysteriesBkONE

I was wondering how I was going to feel about this spinoff by Karen Rose Smith, Jazzi was a teenager in the Daisy Teahouse series, but in this new series, she is a young woman of 25. I really enjoyed this debut very much. Daisy has moved to upper New York state to open a business with her college roommate in Dawn's hometown. The ladies have opened Tomes & Tea and are moderately successful but need to ramp things up, so with the help of members of their loyal local bookclub members, they are pulling out all the stops. In the meantime, one of the bookclub members has a friend who was adopted and asks Jazzi and Dawn to meet with her as she tries to decide how to move forward. Since Jazzi and Brie hit it off, and Brie has decided to move forward and meet her biological father the young women become closer until Brie is found dead in her apartment not long after she meets her father. While Jazzi is determined to not become her mother and get involved, her observational skills, social circle and connections to many in town because of her business, and her empathy for Brie's adoptive mother make it almost impossible for her to stay detached. This was an interesting mystery, and I like the older Jazzi, flaws, and all. Can't wait to see what happens next! Thanks to #Netgally and #KensingtonPublishing for the opportunity to read!

Jazzi Swanson opened her own book and tea shop in a rural New York community. Jazzi inherited her mother’s gift for brewing tasty drinks and also a nose for sniffing out murder. Jazzi befriends a woman named Brie who recently made contact with her biological father. As an adopted child herself Jazzi is more than happy to give Brie emotional support since her wealth father’s wife and children see her as a threat. When Brie is found murdered Jazzi finds herself playing detective. The list of suspects ranging from jealousy from half siblings to less than suitable suitors. This was a very enjoyable book I would recommend to everyone.

A new series by Karen Rose Smith? Count me in! Murder Marks The Page is a spin-off from the Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries with an adult Jazzi. She and her friend have opened a tea and book shop in a lakeside resort community of New York state.
I think this first book offers the possibility of another great series. The characters are shaping up nicely, the setting could not be better, and this mystery was a 'stumper' in terms of who-done-it, I was surprised.
Though some descriptions are germane to the story, there seemed to be more than usual. That did not detract from my enjoyment of this new cozy.
I always enjoy books by Karen Rose Smith and I can't wait to see what she has instore for the next one in this delightful new Tomes & Tea Mystery series.
A big thank you to #Net Galley #KensingtonBooks #KensingtonCozies #Tomes&TeaMysteries for the ARC that I requested. All opinions and thoughts are my own. I look forward to recommending this book to other readers.
#MurderMarksthePage # NetGalley

This was such a wonderful and enjoyable read!!!! I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith is the debut of A Tomes & Tea Mysteries. This series is a spin-off of A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries. I did not find myself liking Jazzi. She had a mother who loved her and supported her, but Jazzi does not seem to appreciate it. There is the implication that Jazzi has a strained relationship with her mother, but it is not explained. Jazzi wants to do things on her own (she makes that abundantly clear). The main characters need more development (need details on Jazzi for those who have not read A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries). The pacing is slow which is due to the repetition and detailed descriptions. Character’s outfits are described in detail (especially the type of braid Jazzi was sporting that day) plus we get to learn about every plant Jazzi encounters. As expected, food and tea are itemized as well. I wanted more substance and less filler. Adoption and locating birth parents are a major part of the story, and it overwhelms the whodunit. Jazzi does some investigating by questioning the various men in the victim’s life. There is a good wrap up at the end. While Jazzi makes it abundantly clear that she is not ready for a romantic relationship (mentioned repeatedly), she interprets interactions with men as romantic interest. Jazzi will analyze her feelings for that person (does she like them, does that person have a crush on her, should she step back from this individual, etc.). I liked the community of Belltower Landing. It sounds like a charming town. The kittens are adorable, and we get to know all about them (how they look, their antics, what they eat, the bells on the door, and so much). As you can tell, Murder Marks the Page was not my cup of tea.

I am a big fan of Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series by Karen Rose Smith. Tomes & Tea Mystery Mysteries is a spin off with Jazzi Swanson, Daisy’s daughter.

Jazzi and her friend Dawn open up the bookshop/tea shop Tomes & Tea in Belltower Landing. It is described as a very quaint place, some place I would love to frequent.

A murder happens and naturally Jazzi becomes involved, following in the footsteps of her mom. She did learn from the best! She knows what questions to ask and she has a keen eye.

I did not have an idea who the killer was. I thought for sure it was someone else.

There are a lot of characters in the book and I felt they were described very well and I enjoyed the interactions.

This is a great first book in the series and definitely set up for further story development.

Release Date: March 26, 2024
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New York State’s Belltower Landing is a lakeside resort town where tourists spend their summer days boating, floating, and paddle-boarding on the water. It’s also the perfect place to cuddle up with a good book and enjoy a cup of tea, courtesy of Tomes & Tea. Owned and operated by Jazzi and her best friend Dawn Fernsby, the book bar is beloved by vacationers and locals alike, but browsers grabbing brews in the off season aren’t enough to help them make ends meet. Jazzi befriends a woman named Brie who has recently made contact with her biological father. As an adopted child herself, Jazzi is more than happy to give Brie emotional support, especially as her wealthy father’s wife and children see her as a threat. But Brie is also looking to start a family of her own. Unfortunately, all the potential princes she’s met through a dating app turn out to be frogs. Then, when Brie is found murdered, Jazzi finds herself playing detective. With a list of suspects ranging from jealous half-siblings to less-than-suitable suitors, Jazzi may need to consult some of her shop’s bestselling mysteries to help her uncover a killer . . .
This is the first in a spin-off series from #daisysteagardenmysteries with Daisys daughter. I love that this series picks up after Jazzi left Pennsylvania for college and we don’t have to wonder what happened to her down the road. I enjoyed getting to see Jazzi in a new light. Dawn is a great addition as well as some other secondary character to the town of Belltower Landing. I’m looking forward to the next installment!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#murdermarksthepage #teaandtomesmystery #daisysteagardenmystery #karenrosesmith
#recipeincluded #kensingtonpublishing #kensingtoncozies #netgalleyreads #cozymystery #capecodreads #bookreview #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #booktok #bookrecommendations #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookblogger #igreads #goodreads #bookclub #bookreviews #bookblog

I mostly enjoyed this book. I did notice that every time the scene changed there is a description of what clothes Jazzi is wearing, which I found unnecessary. I also found that the story wandered in places, particularly about different men. The dialogue implies there’s an attraction or friends are encouraging her to see someone there but nothing is ever done resolved or developed. When they investigate Brie’s life it’s the same thing, just going from man to man. I found it unfulfilling, and frustrating. Just pick an interest and go with it. The murder almost become secondary to all this. I am surprised by who the killer is, I thought that reveal came abruptly. #MurderMarksthePage #NetGalley

Murder Marks the Page is the first in a new cozy mystery series. Jazzi and her best friend Dawn own Tomes & Tea, the perfect store for lovers of books and tea. Jazzi soon discovers that Dawn's family is pressuring her to sell her share of the store. She can not let that happen; Jazzi and Dawn are the perfect partners. To add to that stress, Jazzi recently met Brie and was helping her in her process of meeting her birth parents; however, Brie was then found murdered. Between trying to save the store and assisting in finding Brie's killer, Jazzi is stressed to the max. Add to that, everyone in town thinks she needs a love life, and, maybe, just maybe, she is considering that too.

Murder Marks the Page checks off a lot of the "needs" for a great cozy mystery. It has a charming setting, an interesting cast of characters, and an intriguing mystery. However, there were a few things that detracted from the overall story. First, there was way too much time spent detailing the characters' outfits. Second, there was too much focus on the adoption/birth parents/adopted parents angle. I understand that was a part of this story and a part of Jazzi's past, but it was emphasized way too much. It became repetitive to the point of annoyance.

Murder Marks the Page is a fine cozy. It's the first in the series, so the author can still develop the characters and lessen the details on outfits and adoption.

I was really intrigued by the premise. Cozy mystery is right up my alley but the writing just threw me off. There were so many unnecessary descriptions “Jazzis personal style was eclectic.” A few pages later: “If the apartment followed any kind of design, it was probably Bohemian Lakeview.”
Every single newly introduced side character is described including hair and eye colour and background.
And then the word repetitions… In one scene with a bigger number of people, no pronouns are used, no descriptions. Just the characters names again and again and again. It made the book really frustrating to read and I started skimming instead of reading. The ending didn't really surprise me either.

For someone who loves outdoor pursuits including cycling and paddle-boarding as well as books and the company of friends, living in the lakeside community of Belltower Landing is Jazzi Swanson's dream. This is where she has joint ownership, with bestie, Dawn, of a bookshop and drinks bar called Tomes & Tea, as well as a nice apartment, and friends who regularly attend her book club. What else could she want? When they are introduced to a young woman who is considering searching for her birth father, Jazzi and Dawn, who are adopted themselves, happily spend time answering all her questions.

It is the busiest time of year for local businesses and so as well as helping new friend, Brie, Dawn and Jazzi are trying to find ways of increasing their profit margins outside the tourist season while also welcoming a small fluffy kitten into their home! When a body is found in the small town however, Jazzi finds herself drawn into the investigation just as her mother, Daisy, had been when she was growing up in Willow Creek. Apparently she is as skilled as her mum and Jazzi soon finds herself looking over her shoulder and looking at everyonewith suspicion. Will she discover whodunnit or will they find her first?

This is the start of author Karen Rose Smith's new series and also my first time reading her work which I enjoyed for the most part. There is a lot of scene setting which, in this instance, is to be expected and from the descriptions I could definitely live in Belltower Landing where I would frequent Tomes & Tea on a regular basis! I'm not a big fan of love triangles, which run through this, as I find them distracting, but again, as this is book one, I will reserve judgement for a while. I liked the detective who seemed a little confused by Jazzi at times which was fun. Overall this was a promising start to a new cosy series and there will hopefully be more from Jazzi and Dawn for me to be on the lookout for in the future.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good start and well worth a read. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Jazzi Swanson is out of college and co-owner of Tome and Tea bookstore and Tea spot. She is young but determined and a reluctant sleuth because her mother, Daisy Swanson from Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries, was known for investigating murders. Dawn Fernsby is best friend, business partner, and roommate. In many ways Dawn and Jazzi are more like sisters. Oliver is a local upscale pub owner from Australia and a potential romantic interest. Parker is a bookclub participant and software applications developer who, although very subtle, I see as a potential romantic interest as well.

The mystery has plenty of suspects and Jazzi never intends to investigate but ends doing so anyway. I like the lake setting woven throughout the story. The climax had some harrowing moments as the killer is revealed and Jazzi is in danger. A subplot is extra efforts to bring in more business to the bookstore which provides a touch of realism about the business through the story. A deligtful touch is Jazzi adopting two adorable kittens.

Rating: Excellent - A fun read-it was good.

This book was pretty good! I enjoyed it, although it didn’t really make my list of favorites. It wasn’t bad in any way, just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Loved reading this book and new authors series. If you favemt read her books yet I highly recommend doing so

The first in a new series. I found this fast paces cozy a delight! Jazzi is an interesting character that I am looking forward to reading more about. A rash of burglaries has the neighbors upset. When one is found dead Jazz I and the other residents try to solve the mystery. Loved the setting! Good solid mystery. Thanks #netgalley and Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

With all the trappings of a small town setting, this book follows the cozy formula of amateur sleuth solving a murder close to home. In this case, it's a book shop owner looking into the death of a woman she befriended. Lots of suspects that you'd find in a typical cozy. First book in a series, so interested to see where this will go.

I really liked the premise of the book, but found the experience a bit heavy handed, overall and really didn't enjoy Jazzi as a character.

This is the first of Karen Rose Smith's books I've read, so maybe I'd get more of Jazzi's personality from the previous series, but there were a lot of references to Jazzi's mother without her mother ever actually being in the book, or any examples of why their relationship might be difficult or why Jazzi thought she needed to do things on her own so much. The reasoning she gives in the text and to the detective is that her family did a lot for her while she was growing up, as a teen, and while she was in university and like...? That's what families are meant to do?

There were also a lot of instances of describing things I really didn't need/want to know about, especially outfits, which were described often and in detail. Jazzi also made several mental comments that something a character owned was more than she would make in a month/more than she'd spend in a week/etc., and came off as a bit tacky. The book also makes it very clear that Jazzi is not ready for a romantic relationship, but then Jazzi tries to interpret every interaction with a male character as one of romance and scrutinizes every little feeling if she's falling for them or if she needs to pull back because she thinks they have a crush on her.

I was pleasantly surprised by who the murderer turned out to be and how neatly it worked out without feeling trite or cheap. And Belltower Landing sounds like a great place to live. Smith has definitely created a very quaint community, but some of her characters could use a little extra work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fast paced, cozy mystery with great characters and a charming setting.
When a rash of home burglaries becomes evident in town, Jazzi, Dawn and the other residents start to become a little afraid. But when a friend is found murdered in her home, right after Jazzi met her for dinner, things become unsettling. Can the two crimes be related? Jazzi tries really hard to stay away from sleuthing, but when opportunity presents itself, she can't resist.
Really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend. Looking forward to seeing what is next for Jazzi and Dawn and their tea room/ book store.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lately I've been getting into cozy mysteries, especially when it involves a book store owner. I find these types of books to be a fun, easy read and I do love to see if I can solve the mystery. Murder Marks The Page fit the bill. This was an enjoyable, stress free read. I didn't even guess the correct villain! You do have to stretch your imagination a bit over Jazzi's sudden involvement over someone she just barely met, but overall, a really good read.