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.

This was a fun and quick mystery set in the swamps of Florida, when a man is found dead by a rival gator trapper. I enjoyed our main character Maggie and liked reading her backstory of how she became a gator trapper. I thought her relationship with Vera, her twin, was interesting and loved the very small amount of romance we got with their new tenant Jack. The mystery kept me interested, and I enjoyed how it wrapped up all nicely. It wasn't completely full of twists and turns like some thrillers, but it was certainly a cozy mystery. I will say the writing was nothing that was incredibly moving, but I did enjoy myself while reading and I will be looking for more in this series in the future! I give this start of this series a 3.5/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Twenty-five-year-old Maggie Andrews left her job at the Boston Zoo to take over the family's gator trapping business in Wahoo, Florida and to reunite with her twin sister Vera. When a rival gator trapper turned up dead in a swamp full of bullets from Vera's stolen gun, she became the prime suspect.

Maggie couldn't sit back and let the detectives do their job. She wanted to clear her twin's name especially as their bookshop was going to open soon and a murder would be bad for business. Enter Jack, a criminology professor from Miami and their new tenant. These two paired up to investigate and pretended to date so as not to arouse suspicion.

This colourful cover drew me in even though I'm not one to read cozy mysteries. I enjoyed the story! I wanted more from the romance but the mystery and the slew of characters was all entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It was a quick read. I enjoyed the twin sister characters. I like the story line trying to prove her sister’s innocence. I even liked the budding romance that was building throughout the story. Portraying women in strong rolls like gator trapping was pretty cool too.

Gator Queen is book one in the Critters and Criminals series by Tara Lush.
This was such a fun, hilarious cozy mystery with a touch of romance.
An entertaining new series to read with a spunky and intelligent main character and an interesting cast of supporting characters that help to enhance a well thought out plot.
This book had an extremely intriguing plot and I was swept along with the story from the start. Tara Lush's writing is peppy, sharp and edgy and I loved her portrayal of the main character Maggie.
An excellent cozy mystery, Gator Queen is one I recommend.

Thank You NetGalley and 8th Note Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Really enjoyed this book. I’ve never read Tara Lush before. The romance is as hot as the Florida sun, This is a must read!

This is such a cute and cozy mystery. Little bit of romance along the way. I was hooked by the characters from the start. Maggie is such a lovable character. I would recommend this title if you are in for a fun read.

Florida, heat, alligators, petite ladies trapping alligators, a whodunit with a sprinkle of romance gives you Gator Queen by Tara Lush. It was an interesting read
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Netgalley

A fun new cozy mystery set in small town Florida featuring twin gator catching sisters who are trying to open a romance only bookstore but get caught up in a murder investigation featuring their nemesis. Full of corrupt politicians, underhanded land developers, some romance and a cute kitten sidekick. This was a fresh, humorous story perfect for fans of authors like Mia P. Manassala or Jennifer J. Chow. I couldn't resist picking this up after seeing so many rave reviews and I'm not at all sorry I did. I can't wait to read the next book in the series! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Disability rep: vitiligo

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An engaging, laugh out loud story (set in my home state) that I enjoyed immensely!
A fun, quirky cozy mystery with a side helping of rom-com. Can’t wait to read more about the Gator Queens.

This was my first book by this author and i really liked it. I love the cover!

I found the plot, story and the mystery to be enjoyable and i loved trying to unravel all the clues to the story. The characters were a hoot and just very odd but really kept the story going!

It was a cozy read and the alligators, iguana and that sweet kitten were awesome.

Gator Queen is a perfect summer ready. will read more from the author and recommend this book :)
.
Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Gator Queen follows Maggie, a gator wrangler who recently took over the family wrangling business after moving home to Florida from Boston. Her twin sister, Vera, is on the cusp of opening a romance book store in town and they're looking forward to reconnecting and helping with each others' businesses after years in different states. However, all of their grand plans are threatened when a rival wrangler is found murdered - and Vera is a prime suspect. Maggie takes it upon herself to try to clear her sister's name with the help of a handsome stranger who's new in town.

I found the mystery to be satisfying and enjoyed trying to unravel all of the clues alongside Maggie. The small Florida town is full of oddball characters who are enjoyable to experience and keep the story from feeling dry. There is a romance subplot that's very sweet but I wish had moved a little further by the end of the book. On the plus side, this is a fairly clean (1 chili pepper), cozy read. My favorite aspect of this book was all the animals. Alligators, an iguana, the sweetest kitten ever were all shown love and appreciation by the main characters.

Gator Queen would make the perfect beach read and I know I'll be recommending it all summer. Overall I give this book 4 stars and I'm looking forward to reading more from Tara Lush.

Thank you Net Galley and 8th Note Press for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

OMG, guys, I loved this book so much!!! "Gator Queen" is like, the ultimate mash-up of mystery, romance, and small-town drama, and it's seriously sooo addictive!!!

First off, let's talk about Maggie Andrews. She's not your average Southern belle. Nope, she's a gator-trapping, cat-loving dynamo with a heart of gold and a determination that knows no bounds. Watching her navigate the murky waters of family drama and murder investigations is an absolute delight.

And then there's Jack Bianchi, the swoon-worthy criminology professor who finds himself entangled in Maggie's world. Their fake dating scheme had me grinning from ear to ear, and their chemistry practically leaps off the page. Lush has crafted a romance that sizzles and sparkles, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already captivating story.

But amidst all the fake dating shenanigans and swoon-worthy moments, there's a murder mystery afoot. When a rival gator trapper winds up dead and Vera becomes the prime suspect, Maggie and Jack team up to crack the case. And let me tell you, it's a wild ride from start to finish. With twists and turns that'll keep you guessing until the very end, "Gator Queen" is like a puzzle you can't wait to solve.

But it's not just the mystery that'll keep you hooked – it's also the humor. Tara Lush has a knack for witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments that'll have you giggling into the wee hours of the night. It's like she's sprinkled magic dust on every page, turning an already captivating story into an absolute page-turner.

So, if you're in the mood for a book that's equal parts mystery, romance, and laugh-out-loud fun, then "Gator Queen" is the one for you. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

There's a lot to love in this "Florida Woman Cozy Mystery"!
I personally would have liked the author to amp up the romance, but I will say the current level fit with the vibe. The writing could have been better, but it's a fun story. I grew up in Florida, and one thing I will say is that it's clear the author isn't from there, although she did a ton of research and loves the area. Overall though, I enjoyed it, and will probably pick up the second story.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity!

This was a great first book in a series. I love cozy mysteries with my heart and i was so excited to see that this also had romance in it. It was such an enjoyable read, i had so so much fun. It was the perfect book to read in a stressful day.

This is a cute, creative cozy mystery with a touch of romance. It is NOT a romance novel, be aware of that going in.

I loved the strong female characters, catching alligators and starting their own businesses. It was an intriguing mystery and I was engaged the whole time. I learned a lot about gators, which was fun.

The writing isn't strong, which is the biggest downer about this book. But it's decent enough that I will continue with the series.

Gator Queen by Tara Lush made my husband think I was crazy....
I read this book on a road trip, and the random snorts and giggles that escaped me had my husband giving me the side eye. That being said, it was the perfect, quick read with a touch of romance, a pinch of suspense, and a whole lot of humor!

Maggie, a petite but fierce gator trapper (she doesn't kill them), moved home to Wahoo Florida after her dad passed to be closer to her twin sister and start living their dreams. As she settles back into Florida living, she gets her family's gator trapping business back up and running as well as helping her sister as she prepares to open a new bookstore. A sexy college professor shows up on sabbatical so he can write a book, and Maggie's jerk of a rival is murdered on the same day! After her "go bag" with her alligator safety gear, including a gun for protection, is stolen from her car, Maggie's twin sister Vera jumps to the top of the suspect list. With the help of the hot professor, Maggie sets out to prove her sister is innocent!
Thanks you #NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Gator Queen. I enjoyed it!

I would like to thank Netgalley and 8th Note Press for an advance copy of Gator Queen, the first novel in the Critters and Criminals series featuring Florida gator trapper Maggie Andrews and her twin, Vera.

Maggie has returned to Wahoo, Florida after the death of her father to take over his gator trapping business. She gets called out and instead of a gator she finds her gator trapping rival, Gene Robinson, shot dead, shot apparently by her sister Vera’s stolen gun. She teams up with her sister’s lodger, criminologist Jack Bianchi, to clear Vera’s name.

I thoroughly enjoyed Gator Queen, which is a fun romp through some of the shadier dealings in Florida’s political life. One incident in particular may seem too far fetched to be true to British eyes, but I can assure those readers that it is based on actual events. It seems to me that Florida is the ideal place to situate a zany comedy with outlandish characters and incidents.

The plot is not particularly profound and mixes romance between Maggie and Jack, including all the usual will they/won’t they scenarios and a few amusing and unusual impediments, with an investigation into who shot Gene. The motive for that appears to lie in Gene’s unlikeable personality, so the list is lengthy. Maggie stumbles her way through the investigation, like the amateur she is, and makes some crime solving discoveries along the way by taking time to talk to people. It made me laugh and I found it highly entertaining.

Gator Queen is a fun read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This was such a fun read. As a Florida native, the accuracy was fantastic and truly felt like I was home. I love the family dynamic and the small town vibes of gossip, scandal and greed.

I also love that there is a bookstore thrown in the mix, a nice balance.

This book is perfect for a poolside/beach side read. The romance aspect isn’t over the top and the characters go from trusting to the worst.

I defeinitelt recommend this to anyone who needs a fun mystery read that gets straight to the point and no major issues with how the story ends.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC, it was a great read.

Maggie Andrews has recently moved back to her hometown of Wahoo, Florida from Boston. She will takeover her late fathers gator trapping business and opening a romance bookstore with her twin sister Vera. When Maggie is called to gator sighting she finds the dead body of Gator Gene shot dead. Vera's gun was used in the killing so she is the prime suspect. Maggie teams up with their new tenant, Jack. 😍😉

This book has everything mystery, romance and laugh out loud parts. Once I started this book I could not put it down. I loved this book. I'm so excited to see it will be a new series. I can't wait to read more about Maggie and Vera.