If you enjoy stories that feature quirky female leads , lots of laughs with murder mysteries thrown in
then this book is for you .
Maggie has left her job at Boston Zoo and returned home to help her sister set up her Romantic fiction book store .
This also allows her to fulfil her father's last request to keep his Gator trapping business running .
When her main competitor is found murdered , she becomes the Police departments prime suspect........... the bullets that killed
him came from her gun .
Teaming up with a 'hot' visiting professor she is determined to clear her name and find the killer , whilst still trying to help her sister with
the grand opening of the bookstore .

The repartee between the sisters makes for laugh out loud moments , and even though they squabble like sisters can they support
each other when the chips are down
This is a light hearted read with twists and turns aplenty - I look forward to the next book in the series

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Gator Queen is marketed as a funny Mystery with Tiger King vibes. It did not meet my expectations for that, but it might just not be a book for me! It took me a while to realize what I didn't like from the start, but the main character is a late-20's woman who has come home after her dad passed away from cancer. My dad got diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, so please take my dislike of this book with a grain of salt. It might just not have been the book for me right now! All in all, I think it's worth taking a look if none of the below will bother you! It was well written and easy to read!

Things I liked:
1. When the plot was resolved, it didn't hang around and talk about the resolution for 2 chapters. I loved this.
2. Small town bookstore and personal business aspects
3. The hint of (bell pepper) spice and relationship aspect added in.
4. How much both of the sisters loved animals!

Things I didn't like:
1. For someone who is so close to her sister, Maggie sure felt free to trash talk about her to someone they had both just met (Jack). This juxtaposition between what she said and how she acted made it hard to like Maggie. I also think, for twins, their relationship was hard to understand. So Maggie has been back for two months and she doesn't know about her sister's life? If they were so close that they went away to college together, why would their relationship not have carried on? I was very confused by this.
2. At the beginning of the book, Maggie is portrayed as someone who curses often. She did not. It was a strange detail to include if not necessary. It highlighted much more for me how much she didn't curse or how often she used "safe" curse words.
3. Some of the phrasing felt incredibly off for the characters' age ranges. For example, talking about the "sports ball games" playing at a restaurant, the phrase "awesomesauce" or the quote, "Or maybe he really did have pants feelings for me."
4. Not at all important, but if Maggie has been back in town for two months, why would she just now be getting her car tags? It's state law to have it done within 30 days. If Maggie has only taken 1 business call and her dad's estate is all tied up in probate, what has miss ma'am been doing?

Thanks to 8th Note Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

GATOR QUEEN, by Tara Lush, is the first book in the Critters and Criminals Mysteries. Part cozy mystery, part sizzling hot contemporary romance, and wholly hilarious, I was glued to the pages from the very first paragraph. The author has created zany characters with witty banter, while writing a mystery to keep the reader guessing. Protagonist Maggie Andrews is a gator trapper in Florida. I love her quirks, and her internal dialog kept me laughing. I found the bits and pieces included about gator trapping to be a fascinating addition. The interaction Maggie has with her twin sister, Vera, owner of a yet-to-be-opened romance bookstore, is both heartwarming and realistic. They support each other in every way possible, but then have their squabbles, like most sisters do.

The mystery itself was well-plotted with plenty of suspects who wanted Maggie’s rival gator trapper. With everything going on in Maggie’s life, between gator trapping, the hot professor love interest, her sister’s bookstore, the murder, the book is fast-paced, and I didn’t want to put it down until I’d read every last word. I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first book of a new series and I look forward to more. It was fun, romantic with a bit of mystery and a side of fake dating. I love when you combine laughs with a murder mystery. The characters were fun, I loved the setting, and I can’t wait for more

Gator Queen is totally out of my norm for reading, but I LOVED IT! The main character has just moved back to her hometown to take over her father's gator trapping business and help her sister open a romance only bookstore. It doesn't take long before there's a murder and lots of rumors in this small town. I found the characters to be relatable and honest, funny, and engaging. Even if you're not usually into mystery, I think you might really enjoy this! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Tara Lush's other books!

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher; this is my honest review.*

This book was cute and fun with reptiles, romance, and a murder mystery. It was more playful than suspenseful, though that’s not a bad thing. I was a little disappointed with how easily and quickly the murder investigation was resolved. I suppose it was meant to be more rom com than murder mystery, which is okay.

I liked the close sisterhood between Maggie and Vera (25). I would compare them to chihuahuas because they’re small and feisty, but I do not find chihuahuas cute at all. The sisters’ fondness for reptiles and their capability as alligator trappers didn’t in any way diminish their femininity. I wasn’t a big fan of the age difference between Maggie and Jack (mid- to late-30s), but that’s just personal preference. As a character, I liked him. Alex (slightly older than Maggie and Vera) could have been developed more, but he was likable, as well; if there is a sequel, I suspect it might follow Vera and Alex more than Maggie and Jack (though I hope they'd be in it still).

Although it wasn’t my favorite book, I liked it enough that I would read a sequel if I found it.

How it ends: (view spoiler)

Note: Some language, including a few f words. Sensuality. Talk about sex.

Lush brings her sharp wit and even sharper eye for detail to this delightfully cozy mystery.
If you're looking for something fun, funny AND with heart, Gator Queen should be your next read. I highly recommend.

Gator Queen is a cozy mystery that was so easy to feel immerse in it, and I must confess I feel like there were some Scooby-doo vibes throughout the story. The town and the residents are quirky, and our main character Maggie is strong while still showing a softer side.

This was a fantastic way to start a new mystery series (Critters and Criminals), with a great and funny plot, making it such an easy read. The bond between the two sisters gave me a realistic vibe which was great and the mystery itself was unique.

Overall, the pace was right on point, and the setting and characters were amazing. The mystery was not cliché and I felt there was the perfect balance between romance, mystery, and funny moments. I recommend it to all that enjoys a good cozy mystery with murder, manipulation and trespassing lizards.

Thank you, NetGalley & the publisher, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

Gator Queen

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ Even in the quirky town of Wahoo, Florida, twenty-five-year-old Maggie Andrews is an anomaly—a petite but determined female gator trapper who isn’t afraid to get dirty. But to fulfill her father’s dying wish, Maggie left her job at the Boston Zoo to take over the family business and reunite with her twin sister Vera.”

I loved this one!! The mystery was a good one along with the romance. I love the humor in it which a lot of books lack. The characters are well written and the setting is amazing. I want to visit Wahoo. I will recommend this author and this book to anyone and everyone.

Gator Queen by Tara Lush

⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒

I’m a few days late… but thank you so much to Tara Lush, 8th Note Press, and NetGallery for the advanced copy of Gator Queen!!

When I got sent this one, I was a little skeptical. Gator trapping, a romance bookstore, and crime? It seemed a little all over the place.

But OMG was I wrong.

I think I loved this one way more than I should’ve, to be honest.

Tara Lush is HILARIOUS.

There are so many one-liners that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life. They were so funny.

This is a mystery with some hints of romance, which worked so well together.

I loved the witty banter between everyone. I loved the plot. It was super cheesy, but not in a boring way.

And so many (two) hot men to pine over as a reader

Also kudos to Maggie being a Taylor and Lana stan.

Princess Fuzzypants here: When Maggie returns to her home town to take over her deceased father’s business and help her twin launch a bookstore, she figures the most ornery critters would be the gators. Boy, was she wrong. There are some humans, one who had the temerity to be murdered, who are in cahoots and determined to make Maggie and Vera’s lives difficult. In fact, someone has tried to frame Vera for the murder.

Maggie, who was always her sister’s protector, teams up with hunky professor, Jack, who knows a lot about murders and crime, to figure out what is going on. It is pretty clear there were nefarious dealings going on long before the murder. Just how those dealings fit into the murder and who is deeply involved remains to be seen. But if gators don’t intimidate Maggie, human predators are not even a concern.

I enjoyed the quirky story and characters. I like feisty heroines who can fight their own battles but are not unwilling to accept back up and I don’t mind a little salty language that never steps too far over the line. In fact, I just liked the story. I do hope we have more of Maggie and crew. Gators and bad guys do not stand a chance. Five purrs and two paws up.

I was super intrigued by the description of this one! I live in Louisiana and really love alligator-related things so an alligator romcom mystery? I had to read it!

The mystery aspect of this book was well-written and interesting. I was able to figure out who the culprit was early, but just early enough for me to feel smart, not enough to make the story uninteresting. I found the Florida small-town antics fun and some details like the alligator cater/romance store business cards were really funny!

What didn't 100% work for me was the romance and characters. I was rooting for a different person to be the love interest than the one Maggie ended up with. I didn't connect with a lot of the characters well and particularly struggled with Vera. She seemed shallow and insecure and made a lot of mistakes because of it. I felt bad for Maggie having to clean up her messes.

I think if you want a mystery set in a Florida small town you'll love this one. However, if you go into it expecting a romance it falls a bit flat. I'm more of a romance reader so I don't think I'll continue the series but I think mystery readers will really enjoy this one.

4.5/5 ⭐
The first in a new cozy series about Maggie, who has returned home to rural Florida to take over her late father's gator trapping business. She soon finds herself tangled up in a mystery about a murdered gator trapper and the main suspect is her twin sister Vera. She teams up with a criminologist to find the real culprit.

I thought this was a really good debut for a cozy! It was fun,. fast-paced, and easy to read. I loved the characters, minus Vera at times because she was so stubborn about a certain plot thing. But I think going forward, she will get some good character growth. As a Floridian, I appreciated all the details about Florida's weirdness, but also the subtle tackling of real environmental issues like development taking over nature. This was so enjoyable, and I can't wait for the next one!

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

Twin sister duo! Main character has come home to take over her father’s catch and relocate ‘gator business.🐊 The other sister is opening a romance bookstore. It’s a fantastically paced book with lots of humor, great characters, fake dating, and a bit of steamy romance thrown in.

I've read Tara's Coffee Lovers mystery series and one of her romance books before, so I was really interested in her new book which blends the cozy mystery genre with a lot more romance. Tara has done a fabulous job of bringing together the flirty banter and sizzling romantic tension while keeping the charm we love in cozy mysteries intact! Her witty writing and fun whacky Florida setting never fail to make me laugh.

There is plenty of potential for future stories, especially with the twins reconnecting to honor their father's dying wish. The characters have interesting careers, which allows room for growth in the storyline. I appreciate that Jack, the romantic interest/partner in sleuthing, is a criminology professor. It's refreshing to see a slightly different male lead than the usual ones we see in cozy mysteries, although I still love cozy mysteries because of all the cozy comforts they bring.

If you're looking for an entertaining read that combines cozy mystery feels with a lot more romance, then check out this book. Thanks to the author and publisher I read this book. All thoughts are mine.

Oh my gosh. That was one heck of a ride. I kind of don’t know what to say about this book other than that it was a ridiculous lot of fun. The mystery was good. There were several possible suspects, and I was kept guessing who the ultimate villain would turn out to be for most of the book. I’m not sure that I really got to know Maggie or her sister very well (yet) so I’m quite curious to see where this series is going to take them in the future. Their potential love interests are also largely unknown at this time. Both are highly intriguing and I’m anxious to learn more.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the advanced copy of Gator Queen! It is out today, March 26th!

Everything about this book drew me in (the title, the cover art, the description)! After a few chapters, I knew it wasn’t going to be what I had anticipated. The summary of the book says that it is about gator trapping Maggie Andrews coming home to Florida to continue her father’s business and reunite with her sister. Throw in some crime and fake dating, and it sounds like the perfect read.
While the idea was one that I enjoyed, the writing was subpar. It was basically the author saying this happened and this happened next. I felt like there was no imagery, and the scenes were very short. Also everything was too unrealistic. I like amateur sleuthing, but this was too unbelievable. The ending came out of nowhere, too. I feel like this could have been a four star novel if there would have been more time spent developing it. Also, I couldn’t stand how many times the author randomly threw “gah” into the novel.

A gator trapping, romance book selling, kitten owning amateur sleuth teams up with a criminology professor to solve the murder of a rival gator trapper and clear her sister's name.

Maggie Andrews moves back to Wahoo, Florida to take over her deceased father's gator trapping business and help her twin sister open her romance only bookstore. Nothing stays calm in Florida too long. Maggie and her sister Vera find themselves in the center of a murder investigation when their families long term gator trapping rival turns up dead. Maggie teams up with Jack Bianchi, a criminology professor on sabbatical, to clear her and her sister's name before their bookstore opens.

I enjoyed this modern cozy mystery. The romance is a kick above what you normally see in a cozy which definitely falls in line with my interests but I can see how the traditional cozy reader may not like it. The dynamic between Jack, Maggie, and Vera was great. That being said, Vera as a character was really hard to route for, but I'm hoping after the events of Gator Queen she will be an easier character to route for in the next book. At times the dialogue was really funny but sometimes the funny went to far and was cringy, describing lust as "pants feelings" for example. The final act reveal also fell a little flat and lack luster. Ultimately I did enjoy this book and will be reading the sequel when it comes out.

Review highlight posted to both of my instagram stories on my personal and bookstagram. permanent post added to bookstagram, @lizzycats.card.catalog

Thank you netgalley, and 8th note press for the opportunity to read this book!

This book was such a quirky, funny, cozy read and is perfect for a rainy day in the house. I was drawn in right away by the mystery aspect of the story. This book follows Maggie Andrews, who isn’t your typical girl, no, she runs Gator Queens, a gator trapping business in a small town in the state of Florida, with her twin sister, after her father passes away. Maggie receives a mysterious gator call, and once arriving, finds a dead body who her sister, Vera, becomes the prime suspect of. Watching the murder investigation unfold was one of my favorite things. BUT maggie doesn’t solve this investigation on her own 👀 OF COURSE there’s a love interest, duh, that would be Jack Bianchi, a criminology professor, who happens to be in town renting their cabin to get some writing done. To help further the investigation, they decide on a fake dating scheme that had me GIGGLING!

i think this book was so well written, with the banter, the laugh out loud moments, and the mystery of who is behind the murder. I also loved the fact that Vera had vitiligo adding a bit of seriousness into the story and how women can perceive themselves with this. I loved seeing Maggie tell her she was still beautiful etc.

If you are in the mood for a cozy, low stakes read this is a book for you ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was such a fun read! Twin sisters running 2 very different businesses in Wahoo, Florida. Maggie and Vera Andrews running the family business of gator trapping and a romance bookstore. A murder that one of the sisters seems to be the main focus of. Jack, the handsome professor who is on a book writing sabbatical regarding serial killers. Tara does a great job of making the story lines all blend together just right.

This is Tara's first book in the Critters & Criminals series. I look forward to reading the second.