Thanks to #Netgalley and #RaquelReyes for the free ARC of this audiobook. This is the first of her series I have read and will definitely go back and read the other titles. It didn't seem necessary to have read the previous books to enjoy this title. I loved the multi family dynamic. Loved the story and it was such a fun read. The mysteries were really interesting.

I know I say this all the time but I think I found another new favorite cozy mystery series.

Plus it’s narrated by @frankie.corzo, who is one of my absolute favorite narrators.

I love the food vibes in this series. My stomach keeps rumbling at all the mentions of different Caribbean dishes.

This installment took place in Puerto Rico, specifically Old San Juan (one of my fav places), and the descriptions took me right back to the old streets with the shops and restaurants.

I’ll definitely keep reading this series!

Special thanks to @dreamscape_media for the ALC.

A great addition to a fun series! Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal transports readers to Puerto Rico where readers get to experience even more culture and delicious foods (well, in our imaginations at least). This hits all of the high notes that Reyes exhibited in the prior books. Already looking forward to more from the author and from this series

Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal is the third Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery by Raquel V. Reyes. Released 8th Nov 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is a fun cozy mystery full of food, culture, and (as the author herself refers to it) "Spanglish" phrases. The amateur sleuth is also a cultural anthropologist with a specialization in food culture and also the host of her own youtube channel and network cooking show. The plotting moves along at a good clip and I never found myself yanked out of the story by clunky dialogue or uneven writing. There is a fair amount of Spanish in the story, more than usual for a mainstream cozy, but almost all of it is either easy to understand in context or explained by character responses.

The central characters are appealing, well rounded and largely female. There are a phenomenal number of food descriptions included and the author has an impressive grasp of ingredients and history for the relevant dishes and their importance to the different cultures who developed them. There's a lot of really interesting food history to be found here.

This volume sees MC Miriam traveling to visit her parents in the Dominican Republic. She's soon dragged into a multi-thread mystery with property sabotage, potential stalking, and disappearances. She's also 5 months pregnant and the shenanigans she gets up to are not, strictly speaking, medically sound. The climax, resolution, and denouement are self contained in this volume, so it works well as a standalone. The violence is mostly off-page and not extreme, given that it's a cozy mystery.

The book includes several delicious and intriguing recipes which are also featured in the media scenes from her cooking show.

The unabridged audiobook runs 9 hours 1 minute and is very well narrated by Frankie Corzo. She has a rich alto voice and does the accents and Spanish parts (and "Spanglish") perfectly well.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is a fun southern feeling story full of mouthwatering fun and mystery. I loved the travel and feeling of being transported in this story to a beautiful island. This is a very reliable mystery for those who love a good puzzle, along with some laughs and yummy food!

This is a great cozy mystery series that I have full enjoyed, however this one just didn't quite hit the spot.

I was super excited to read Raquel V. Reyes' newest addition to the Caribbean Kitchen mysteries series. Miriam Quinones, pregnant food anthropologist with her own TV show, finds herself in the Dominican Republic with her preschool son as her husband gifts her with surprise tickets to visit her parents.

This adventure was everything I needed in the newest addition to the cozy mystery. I was a little nervous that by this story taking place in the DR that some of my favorite characters would not be present. I was wrong this book did a great job returning old friends while introducing new characters to the story.

This is the third book in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery - the second one I have read and I enjoyed returning to Miriam Quiñones world of Caribbean cooking and young family life. In this book set from Christmas to early January, Miriam is visiting her parents in the Dominican Republic when she gets called away on a quick work trip to Puerto Rico. Miriam is a food anthropologist, very pregnant with her second child - one last assignment before maternity leave.
As host of a Latin food and culture program based in Miami, Miriam is committed to using her voice to raise awareness of the role of food in cultural heritage.
Miriam explores the rich and delicious foods of Puerto Rico and has to unravel a mystery surrounding real estate investments that are putting her friends and family in danger.
The book paints a fabulous picture of Puerto Rican culture, food, and landscape. I was lucky enough to spend time in Old San Juan a long long time ago as a teen with my parents. Reyes' prose transported me back to blue skies, tropical greens, wonderful fruit and small family-run restaurants as well as historic architecture while also diving into problems before and after hurricane Maria.
I loved the way language was used in this book !

The fooooooood. And the setting! And the culture! And Miriam! Our heroine a smart, respected, and kind of famous mama who loves her family -- and they love her, too. There is a lot to love about this vibrant series.

A good chunk of this book is in Spanish, which I feel is necessary and makes this story truly immersive. This adds so much depth and character that you just don't see often enough in cozies like this. Admittedly, this made it hard for me to keep up. Although my level of fluency is nobody's fault but my own, I probably would've had an easier time if I had read this in print instead of audio. Maybe next time.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and the publisher for providing a copy of this audio in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you netgalley for providing me q copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The third installment on Raquel Reyes cozy Carribbean Kitchen mysteries did not disappoint and I LOVED the audiobook Narrator.

This story was a bit edgy for a cozy novel because the author touched in socio-economics issues that involved the US and the carribean, in this instance the island of PR/DR. But IMO It was nice to see how the story gave us a little insight in their messy relarionship as we follow along the main story.

Also, I LOVE when Authors use Spanglish or Spanish while telling the story, it makes it feel more real, more like HOME. Like I can totally relate to the characters and their family dynamics. I think it's important to have , to bring in more awareness to inclusions and representation of the Latin america diaspora.

Short synopsis: Pregnant Miriam Quinones goes to visit her parents in Puerto Cana, when she realizes someone is trying to sabotage her parents vacation rentals.

My thoughts: I didn’t realize going in this was the 3rd installment in a series, that being said I didn’t feel lost at all during my reading. The author provided just enough backstory that I felt like I could easily understand each of the characters.

Great cozy mystery set in the beautiful Caribbean. The author seamlessly helped me as a reader experience the atmosphere, culture, family, and food of the Island. Do not go into this one on an empty stomach! All the talk of carribean food had me drooling!

Read if you love:
- Series
- Cozy Mysteries
- Culture and food
- Family

One of my new favorite cozies is the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries by @latinasleuths! When I saw that Barbacoa, Bomba and Betrayal would be released this month I had to read the first two books to find out more about the characters. I loved all three of them! They have Spanish and delicious foods mixed all throughout the books!

Mango, Mambo, and Murder introduces us to Miriam and her family who have just recently moved to Miami. She is starring on a Caribbean cooking show and trying to make nice with her mother-in-law by attending a fancy luncheon. But suddenly one of the socialites dies at the event…

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking does not improve Miriam’s luck when a dead body is found by her fake Halloween decorations one morning. Her mother-in-law also puts her in charge of the annual Women’s Club gala, and she realizes maybe there is much more to the cooking scene than she realizes…

In the newest story, Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal, Miriam heads to Puerto Rico and then off to Punta Cana. Her trip to PR is to film a three day special but she shows up to a crime scene. Then she is afraid she might have a stalker, so luckily her best friend, Alma comes to visit and help! But things don’t seem right with Alma’s new boyfriend and right when Miriam thinks she has it all figured out she has to jet off to PC to help her parents!

I really enjoyed the audiobook for Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal. This series is particularly fun because I love the Caribbean setting and the discussion about life and culture there. It really sets the series apart and brings the characters and location to life for me.

I have read the other books in this series, and while I don’t know that it’s necessary to read the others first, I felt it really added to my experience. The characters in this series are likable and I love the facts about food and culture. The audiobook was really enjoyable too.

Such a great and fun read. I can’t wait for the next installment!

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

This book was overall an interesting read, but just not quite for me. I think it fits well into the genre, and has an interesting story, but I had a hard time getting into it at first. I'm not 100% sure why because the author wrote engagingly. Maybe the protagonist just didn't click with me.
Overall, a decent book and definitely one I'd recommend to those interested in this genre of books.

The food anthropologist continues her work across Miami, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic while somewhat reluctantly solving crime. It all starts when Robert gifts Miriam and Manny a trip to visit Miriam’s parents.

There is a lot to unpack in this story as we are treated to a peek inside cultural superstitions, blessings, celebrations, and of course food. Miriam is sent to Puerto Rico by her producer. Leaving Manny with her parents and trying to figure out what is bothering her parents, Miriam is thrusted into murder, missing person, political protests, a bitcoin conference, and a missing dog.

Jorge and Alma are in the thick of it all. I was glad to see that things are starting to shift with Robert and his mom and that we had very little of her in this story.

Like all of the books in this series, there is lots and food and its ties to culture. I thought I would miss Manny when he was left with the grandparents but through calls my favorite character was still present.

I lost track of who died with all of the things that were happening. There are numerous themes floating through. Just when I feel like it might be too much the author pulls back.

I was glad to see that, despite being in the “love bubble”, Alma did not get totally taken in and handled her business.

I felt like the ending was abrupt and cliffhanger-ish. I listened to it twice thinking I’d missed something. Speaking of listening if you have the opportunity, listen to the audiobook the narrator is fantastic.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!

This is a great addition to the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series! Miram is not your average cozy-mystery heroine and I love it. She’s a wife and a mother as well as a crime-solver with a cooking segment for a Spanish-language tv studio. She’s also a fierce friend. The mystery itself was interesting with several twists and turns. The rest of the story was both fun and informative. I feel like I learned a lot about Caribbean food culture, el Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day), and the side effects of gentrification. There’s also an adorable cat with black and white spots named vaquita (a.k.a. little cow”).

The audiobook is narrated by Frankie Corzo. She did a great job bringing Miriam and her adventures to life. I especially appreciate the way she delivers the dialogue, which frequently slides from English to Spanish and back again. It felt very real and natural, and made the whole audiobook feel more authentic.

I started to read this without realizing it's book 3 in a series, went back and read the first two books, then enjoyed this book a whole lot more. The way that Miriam finds her way into trouble, and trouble follows Alma, continues to be fascinating and the cultural/anthropological references made while cooking and making of her television show absolutely pop against the backdrop of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. It was nice to see the showcase of positive and beauty with the cultural struggles that come from the Cuban experience without the negativity that the mother in law exhibits -- rightfully, and depressingly accurately but it was a good break to not have it as a constant.
I'm so glad this is a series because I absolutely want to read more.

#arc
#netgalley
#barbacoabombaandbetrayal

BARBACOA, BOMBA, AND BETRAYAL is the third book in the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries by Raquel V. Reyes. First off, the alluring beach location of tropical Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico made me want to book a flight right away. The author’s strong descriptive voice brought the locations and the festivities to life and the reader feels like they’re on vacation enjoying the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes alongside protagonist Miriam Quiñones-Smith, food anthropologist and TV food personality. I loved all the food references, both for the tantalizing descriptions of taste, but also for the history of the ingredients and dishes. I truly enjoyed that Miriam’s mother and father are a part of this newest mystery and she weaves in the possible sabotage of the vacation property they manage on Dominican Republic and murder in Puerto Rico. I wasn’t sure how the crimes and all the twisty subplots were related, but in the end, the threads of the story came together in one cohesive plot.

This isn’t your usual cozy mystery…there are segments on the history of the islands, plus the political ramifications of the colonization of the Caribbean. While included, I didn’t feel like it slowed down the pace of the book and instead gave an authentic look at the region. The Spanish language liberally included in the dialog added authenticity to the protagonist, her family, and friends. Starting out, it slowed me down, but as I got accustomed to it, it became easy enough to figure out what they were saying, both by Miriam giving a general translation or by context. I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator, Frankie Corzo, did an admirable job bringing the words to life. She captured the accents and the different voice inflections, so I never felt lost over who was speaking. Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We are back with the third installment of the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries and the stakes are higher than ever!!

In Barbacoa, Bomba & Betrayal - Miriam is visiting her parents in beautiful Punta Cana. Instead of the relaxing trip she had planned, she is whisked away to Puerto Rico for an amazing job opportunity. Things quickly take a turn for the worse when her work trip is laden with crime scene tape, missing persons, creaking walls and small business sabotage! Now it’a up to Miriam to sleuth around & solve the mystery, while cooking up some amazing cuisine!

🍛 Mouth Watering Recipes
🔍 Head Scratching Mysteries
🫶 Family Over Everything
💼 Exciting Work Adventure
🇵🇷 History & Social Issues

I am 100% loving the Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries series and cannot wait to see what Raquel V. Reyes serves up next! 📚

Thank you DreamScape Media for the Audiobook! 📚 🎧

Another entertaining installment in the Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery series that sees heavily pregnant food historian turned television personality, Miriam traveling from Miami, to Punta Cana to Puerto Rico over the holidays. In turn she tries to track down the person messing with her parent's rental property, solve a murder and gets tied up in an undercover FBI operation.

Full of twists and tons of great food with recipes included and great on audio narrated by Frankie Corzo. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! Perfect for fans of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series.

I love listening to Frankie Corzo! She's probably my favorite narrator. This cozy mystery was full of diverse cultures, which I loved. It had a lot of Spanish, which made the story very authentic. The pace was a little slow at the beginning, but it picked up by midpoint. I love the setting and the unique characters.