Although I haven't read the first book in this series, I had read the previous novel and enjoyed it as a stand-alone cozy mystery. Book three may have been more cohesive if I had gone back and read the series starter. A lot of the background for this work was dependent on that first book, at least for me. That being said, I do like many of the elements and characters in this latest installment (the Irish Gran, the dash of magic, the reveal about the nasty ex, etc), but the MC seemed a bit lost for most of this book. The story picks up quickly in the last third of the book for a solid ending and potential for the next story. Hopefully, the MC will be more confident in herself and her abilities then.

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A Spirited Blend truly lives up to its name, offering an interesting mix of suspense, mystery, murder, and magic. The story follows Shay, a budding sehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7376078149er, as she becomes entangled in a murder investigation. Acting on her unique gifts, she uncovers unsettling revelations about both the past and present. This engaging story ends with a five-star ending that I never saw coming.

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

Wow! This was the book I needed, and this series just gets better with each book. There are an abundance of irregularly shaped interlocking and mosaicked pieces forming a veritable jigsaw puzzle from characters and their stories, past and present, to the overlapping mysteries upon mysteries. I loved Shay from the first, and adding Gran to the mix in Book 2 was genius; but this book blended (pun intended) the characters, the questions, the answers, and so much more into an amazingly fun and satisfying tale. Oh, there are still unanswered questions. Danger still lurks, and I look forward to so much more from Shay, Liam, and the entire cast of characters. I definitely need more, Lauren Elliott!

Shay’s tea and tea leaf reading shop has lost many of its customers to a former friend, Malvina, who has opened her own shop. When the mayor’s wife comes to her with a blue bottle that she is sure is magical, Shay knows it isn’t because she herself has the real bottle. Shay is a seer and is slowly learning to use her abilities, thanks to Gran. Shay tries to warn the mayor’s wife to be careful, but she goes to Malvina for another opinion and things go downhill from there. This is a fun mystery with the right touch of magic and romance. Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

3/5 stars: This is the third entry in Elliott's Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series, which is a Paranormal Cozy Mystery that takes place in California during October festivities and follows a seer and tea and psychic shop owner as she juggles her father's deadly games, her shifty ex-husband and her investigation into the mayor's wife's poisoning death after discovering her body after the Halloween carnival. Guided by her knowing dog, she'll have to work fast if she's to catch the wickedly perceptive criminal. With plenty of twists and turns, Elliott has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Elliott's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Shay, her friends and family, the goings on at Crystals and CuriosiTEAS and the townsfolk of Bray Harbor. Additionally, it's great to see Shay and pub owner and Irishman Liam's relationship finally progressing. And of course, Shay's pure white German shepherd companion, Spirit, is great. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Steeped in Secrets.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Great series. Cozy mystery and a fun read.

There is another murder in town and Shay jumps right in to uncover who is the murderer.
So many suspects, twists and turns and mysteries and Shay cannot keep up with all. She has great friends ready to help, Dean, her brother-in-law, an officer who trusts her and accepts her help not only on the investigation but also Shay’s psychic abilities. Jen is always very understanding and finally in the third book Shay confesses and tells every secret she kept from her sister. Gran as always so mysterious and weird but one step ahead. Liam finally sees Shay and confesses all his feelings.

I didn’t like the ending much, felt a little rushed, many questions still remain about Doyal, Madam Malvina and Orion’s future but a guess more books will come in the future.

A spirited blend is the latest addition to the A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series, by Lauren Elliott. I enjoyed the first two books so I was excited to return to this seaside town and Shay's teashop. This book follows Shay as she prepares for a local festival and is reeling from the recent shop opening of a former friend turned competitor. Not only is she losing customers, but her ex has decided to invest in her town and insert himself into her life again.
Then the body of a prominent member of town is found in a fairy circle and Shay begins to unravel the mystery surrounding the death. Who influenced them to take poison and do a ritual they new nothing about and who stole the alleged magical bottle the person was carrying. This is personally important to Shay because she herself holds the real magic bottle and is therefore at risk!
There is also a romantic side to this book and we see Shay opening her heart up and strengthening her relationships with family and friends. I enjoyed it!

I enjoy this author. I find the characters interesting and like the setting. The characters move forward in their lives. The mystery also kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a wild ride. A murder mystery with an Irish magical twist. It's the perfect combination of Irish magic and realism. The supernatural visions give an extra layer of appeal to the book. It's an excellent balance that doesn't overpower the narrative. Shay is an excellent character who is coming to grips with her skills. Surrounded by pals, an Irish grandmother, a foe, and a hot Irish neighbor, there's likely to be more fun ahead.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A SPIRITED BLEND (Book 3 of the Crystals & CuriosiTEAS mystery series) by Lauren Elliott in exchange for an honest review. Shay Myers has had enough. Someone Shay thought was a friend is trying to run her out of business by opening their own tea shop with tea readings and by offering freebies to Shay’s regular customers in order to sway their business away from Shay’s shop. Next, Liam Madigan continues to treat Shay like just a good friend and to date his way through all of the eligible ladies in Bray Harbor and beyond. Liam then wants to cry on Shay’s shoulder when his relationships don’t work out and to then ask her opinion about his list of prospective dates. If that isn’t enough, her cheating, stealing, fraud perpetrating, framing ex-husband and new wife suddenly appear with the intention of moving to Bray Harbor. Since Shay’s life is in shambles, it’s kind of a killer to provide her with the distraction of a murder to investigate.

I like this book and the series. I recommend this book and the series to fans of paranormal cozy murder mysteries featuring small towns, long-kept secrets, and mysticism.

#ASpiritedBlend #NetGalley

It's been awhile since I read the first two books, but I was surprised to see that this book had Shay so down in the dumps. In fact, it was a rather depressing book, full of her lack of confidence in her visions and in her feelings for Liam. It seemed like most of it was "oh, poor me. Nobody loves or cares about me." . In this book, Shay ia getting ready for the Halloween Carnival and she whines constantly about the lack of customers to her tea shop since her ex-friend Madam Malvina also started a tea shop. One of the deserters is Cora, the Mayor's wife who believes she has the blue bottle everyone is looking for. In casting a spell to visit fairies, she ends up dead. Now Shay and crew have to find out what happened to her.

This is the third book in the Crystals & CuriosiTEAs Mystery series. It works well as a standalone, but with only three books so far, start with the first.

I have thoroughly loved getting to know the characters; they are an interesting and varied group of people. The main character, Shay, has become a favorite of mine. She has done well after enduring heartbreak and moving to a new area starting a new chapter in her life. I have also enjoyed the little tidbits of information about crystals and teas.

The mystery is neatly wrapped up in the end, but there is some ongoing issues that have yet to be resolved. I hope there is a book 4 in the works.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I was so happy to read the newest addition to the A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series, A Spirited Blend, by Lauren Elliott. It is the third exciting book in this paranormal and magical cozy series. I think it is the best one yet, though I have thoroughly enjoyed them all.

The characters are moving forward in their lives ---I like seeing where they will go. Gram is so fun, yet helpful to Shay, Tassi and Jen are always supportive, and I love Spirit! As usual, there are several threads in progress, one with Shay's ex, one with her regular charmed tea room clients, and one with Liam. The pace is quick, the action is plentiful, and the emotion feels real. I cannot wait to see where the next book goes with Shay. I loved this cozy, heartwarming read.

Thanks you for the opportunity to read an advanced reader e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ASpiritedBlend #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LaurenElliott
##Crystals&CuriosiTeasMysteries #LaurenElliott

Lauren Elliott is a favorite author of mine and A Spirited Blend is a delightful read. This is the third addition to this paranormal series. Thank you to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Shay Myers is our intrepid protagonist who owns a tea shop and is a Seer. She reads tea leaves for customers. One of her quirky customers is the mayors wife who request a tea reading then goes to a fake seer in town who tricks her. She ends up murdered and Shay is on the case. Her relationship with Liam is not progressing but his Grandmother is still trying to tie them together. When her ex-husband and his new wife move to town Shay is shocked when she finds out they are involved somehow with the fake seer. her ex husband had drugged her and destroyed her reputation when they were married so Shay is suspicious why they are back in town. She soon sees they are involved with the fake seer. As the intrigue grows Shay is involved working together with Liam trying to discover who murdered the mayors wife and what part others played in her death. The primary suspect is her possible Father who is a evil force now back in town. He wants a enchanted diamond that Shay wears and is magical. Her loyal dog Spirit is her devoted companion and watches over her guiding her in her investigations.

This was a exciting addition with much to keep the reader turning pages. I loved the characters, the setting of the coastal village and the sleuth. Very well done mystery and great addition to this fun cozy series.

A Spirited Blend is the 3rd book in Lauren Elliott's A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery series and it is a good addition to this paranormal series. The characters are likable and although I suspected the culprit I wasn't sure. Shay Myers owns a tea shop and is a Seer with a magical blue pendant. It is almost Halloween in Bray Harbor, CA and the locals are looking forward to the festivities including the Monster Mash Dance. Shay's romantic interest Liam is taking someone else and she is upset about it. Shay does a reading for a local and there are dark visions in the tea leaves. The local ends up dead and is found in a ritual pose. Shay wonders if Madam Malvina, a local competitor and fake tea leaf reader, is involved. Shay believes someone wants her magical pendant and is willing to kill to get it. On top of all of that, her ex-husband and his new wife move to town and are causing trouble and someone from her past is in town creating havoc. There is a lot going on in this book and it starts off with several story lines (some carried forward and some new) and a quick build to pull the reader in. Shay takes a few questionable chances going places by herself or with her special dog Spirit but it is truly a cozy paranormal mystery (not too suspenseful overall). Gran, Liam, her friend Tassi, her sister Jen and Jen's husband Dean who is a Police Detective, are all wonderful characters. There are a lot of secrets and revelations. I enjoyed this paranormal cozy mystery and I am glad some of the story lines were resolved (but not all of them). I look forward to the next book. #ASpiritedBlend #ACrystals&CuriosiTEASMystery #BlackstonePublishing #LaurenElliott

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

I love cozy mysteries so much, and this book was no different. I will be checking out more from this author!

Shay finds herself in competition with Madame Malvina and her tea shop. With her customers heading elsewhere she needs to come up with a perfect drink for the fall festival. Cora, the mayor's wife comes in and says she's descended from the Early family in Ireland. She has a blue bottle much like Shay's and is convinced she has the ability as a seer. Cora promptly goes to Madame Malvina and asks for her help. When Cora is found dead in a fairy circle, Shay knows something has gone very wrong. She finds herself helping the police get to the bottom of the problem. Things with Liam also come to a head. A lot is going on in this story but many loose ends are tied up. A good read, an interesting story and a good resolution for many of the characters.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

A Spirited Blend by Lauren Elliott is a captivating mix of mystery, magic, and hidden secrets. The dark vision in Shay Myers' tea leaves reveals danger for a local with an intense fascination with family history, Irish mythology, and the occult, adding a thrilling layer of suspense. As Shay uncovers more, the shadows of her own past—particularly a sinister figure from her history—intensify the story. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) Elliott masterfully blends intrigue with atmosphere, making this a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of the supernatural.

How would you like to discover you had magical powers as a full-grown adult? Let me rephrase that. How would you like to be a witch but with no real knowledge or control over your supposed powers? That's the situation in which Shay Myers finds herself. You have powers that can change lives, yours included, but no idea how to utilize them safely. Although she has had some time over the course of the series to learn certain skills, it certainly hasn't changed her life for the better. So much for all that simple twitch of the nose and all is well stuff with Samantha in "Bewitched".

In fact, her magic has made her life, if anything, more complicated and, yes, dangerous. Like, who are these people who keep showing up claiming a possible relationship to her family? Just as troubling, why is her former husband in town? What is he up to with his new wife? Why is Shay so spooked when a woman shows up claiming kinship? Surely it isn't a good omen for Shay that the woman later turns up dead, her body arranged in a ritualistic way? What's going on with the former supposed friend now in such a nasty competition with Shay's shop? Toss in the erratic relationship Shay has with Liam, who really annoyed me most of this go-round, and Shay has a great deal to deal with. Never mind that Liam's Gran keeps reassuring her things will work out. Shay obviously isn't a super patient person, especially since Liam keeps coming to Shay asking for romantic advice for his interest in other women. Oh, grrr....

On the plus side, Gran and Shay's spirit dog, well, Spirit, have her back as does, when push comes to shove, Liam. Hang on for that cliff-hanger of a life changing event near the end. The characters, even some of those that might annoy you early on, are well-developed and seem to mesh well, making you root for Shay all the more. Despite me frequent annoyance at Liam, just way too much venting over him this go-round,hence my 4.5 stars rounded up, I fully enjoyed the read. Shay's own self-doubts make her all the more human, making it all the easier to root for her. There's even bits of good ol' fashioned Irish folklore/myth for good measure, making for an intriguing read. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for the magical early virtual peek at Shay's world. I'm looking forward to seeing where that ending is going to take us next visit.