Christmas is over and done with and Cece Barton is looking forward to her second year living in Colinas, running the Vino y Vida wine bar, and spending her down time with friends and family. She’s just had some electrical work done in the bar and left her beloved car, Blue, a vintage Mustang convertible, with her friend and mechanic Jo for a service. When she gets an early morning call to come to the garage she doesn't expect to find a dead body waiting for her.

With the help of boyfriend, Benjamin, and twin sister, Allie, Cece is soon investigating, discovering secrets and generally annoying the local sheriff's department! As the case moves towards its close will Cece hand over her clues to the local detectives or discover too late just how desperate a killer can be?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. This new series is moving along very nicely and I enjoyed this a lot.

While this is part of a series, this could be read as a standalone. I learned more about Cece and her family than I had in the previous book. This was a good cozy mystery thriller that will surround you with good food and wine at the same time.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was so happy when I got approved for this on Netgalley and started it right away. Deadly Crush follows Cece as she solves another mystery. I like the blend of daily life and mystery solving scenes and enjoyed both aspects. It also is fun to read a cozy set in California wine country, it has quite the different vibe from most cozies due to the setting.

The mystery one kept me guessing and there were plenty of suspects. It slowly comes together with more hints and clues. The mystery had a sense of progress, even though no suspects get ruled out until the reveal of the murderer. I liked how Cece is usually smart about how she investigates. The reveal made sense, although I would've liked it if Cece figured it out before the murderer confronts her. I had a few questions remaining about the how, but the why was clear as the murderer explains that.

I like the way this author writes the daily life scenes, it all feels so cozy. It was interesting reading about Cece's house, her friends, family and neighbors as well as her work at the wine bar. There is some change in her relationship with her daughter. And we see a bit more of the romance as well as they're together now. I really liked reading about Cece's personally life, she also grows a bit in confidence and gets the hang of investigating.

It did bother me how the main character referred to her father and his behavior in a very negative way, her father sounds like an ADHD'er. I am hoping the main character will grow in her opinion about neurodivergence as she can be a bit harsh on herself as well, but for now it bothered me.

To summarize: I really liked this sequel and reading more about Cece as she solves another mystery. I like the blend of daily life scenes and mystery solving scenes and enjoyed both aspects. There is a great group of friends, family and a neighbor around Cece and I liked reading about them and seeing them interact with Cece. This book really has that cozy vibe and I liked reading about Cece. The mystery kept me guessing and I appreciated how Cece is smart about investigating. All in all I am really enjoying this series so far and look forward to the next one!

A great installment in the series. With each book, we get to know Cece and those who populate her world a little better. It is especially nice to see the development in the mother- daughter relationship. This is a credible mystery with lots of red herrings to sort through. A recommended read which will have you craving a glass of wine while doing so!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

This was such a good book. I really enjoyed it. More than I thought I would. I loved the writing style. This book had me hooked from page one. This is a first for me by this author but will not be my last!!

Superb! If you are are looking for a great, fast-paced cozy mystery, you’ve found it! The characters are so engaging. This is a must read!

Maddie Day presents the second installment in the Cece Barton series, and it does not disappoint. Cece continues to develop a new life in wine country as she manages the wine tasting establishment and develops a love life as well as a relationship with her college-aged daughter. When a local electrician pushes all the wrong buttons when he does work for her, Cece attempts to find out more about Karl. But Karl turns up dead and they are several people who might have done the deed including one of Cece's employees. With help of her twin sister, Cece digs into Karl's history and put herself and others in a danger. A good cozy read. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

DEADLY CRUSH by Maddie Day
Good food, wine, and weather, great friends and family, all would be perfect for Cece and her twin Allie and all the good people in Colinas, except . . . A call from friend Jo, a grisly murder at JJ’s Automotive, specializing in vintage “analog” cars. The list of people with reasons to dislike the murder victim is far too long — ex-wife, nephew, disgruntled clients for electrical work, women he has harassed. It’d be easier to list those he hadn’t made enemies of.
Cece keeps promising to stay safe and not get involved, but how can she when people she cares about are under suspicion? To add to the angst, unscrupulous speculators have their eyes on the historical adobes, city-owned, occupied by Vino y Vida and other businesses.
Family, especially twins, and friends of all kinds balance the bad, helping one another and making life wonderful.
I happily read to the end, but now I’m a bit sad, wishing I could join everyone, wine tonight, huevos at the diner in the morning? I confess that, in case of trouble, I’ll be more likely to act as her neighbor does, call the police and stay safely inside, but I do admire Cece and the core strength from her daily Pilates. <3
The book will be out in November, which gives time, if you wish, to read the earlier works, CHRISTMAS MITTENS MURDER and MURDER UNCORKED, both also great fun.

Deadly Crush should be the next book you pick up if you are in the mood for a good mystery thriller.

This was my first read by Maddie Day, and a very enjoyable story. Cece Burton is a manager of a wine tasting shop, and seems to like to do a little investigating on the side. She has many friends, a twin sister and a special man in her life Benjamin. In this story, a very irritable electrician is murdered in his ex wife’s car repair shop.
Cece has experience with the victim, when he was supposedly fixing some electrical work for the wine shop. He took way longer than he stated, was abusive to his helper and equally rude to Cece. The only real regret she has when she hears of his murder, is that it was at her friend Jo’s car repair shop, and she is considered a suspect. Her investigation begins.

I enjoyed the wine talk, and her special relationship with her twin. Her reputation as an investigator is know by the police, and they are constantly discouraging her to stop. Cece can’t help herself from continuing to dig. Even when danger seems to be escalating.

Thank you NetGalley for this entertaining book.

#DeadlyCrush #NetGalley is the newest book in this series.
Cece is happy with her life, things are going well with her job, her family, and her boyfriend and Benjamin.
While having some electrical work done in the wine bar, she has the unpleasant experience of meeting Karl, who is doing the work. She isn't impressed by him, especially the way he treats his help, or the way he looks at women.
Unfortunately for Karl, someone else isn't impressed by him, and his body is found at his ex wife's auto repair shop, crushed under the lift.
I like this series, the characters are interesting and the setting is interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.