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.

I don't always understand some of the spirit things in this series, but I really enjoy the story. Shay is the amateur sleuth, she runs her own teas shop and she is the amateur sleuth and a very good one. In this story Cora, the mayor's wife is the victim. She's a hold of the Blue bottle who she goes home to take care of her Mom. She thinks she has the real bottle and has power. Did she get caught up in the whole powers thing. Does Shay figure out who did it. A VERY GOOD COZYYREAD.

Get ready for a really intense visit with Shay, Liam, Gran, Jen, and Tassi. Shay wakes with a sense of inpending doom, her rival Madam Malvina is stealing her customers putting strain on her business, Liam is parading women in front of her right and left, and her ex is moving to town to buy a winery. As the team prepares for the town's Halloween carnival, Shay is determined to come up with a special treat to bring attention back to Crystal & CuriosiTeas, but she is badgered by the Mayor's wife Cora who believes that she has discovered her Early family roots and is convinced she has the Magical blue bottle. When Shay tries to steer Cora away from danger, she turns to Madam Malvina and shortly afterward turns up dead in mysterious circumstances! With danger swirling everywhere, can Shay find answers without anyone else getting hurt? What is her ex up to Bray Harbor? What is Liam and his cousin Conor really up to? You will definitely want to take this thrilling journey with Shay and Spirit. Thanks to #Netgally, #Kensingtonbooks, and the author for a chance to read. #ASpiritedBlend #Crystals&CuriosiTeasMysteries #LaurenElliott #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

I began reading this book without realizing it was the 3rd in a series. At first, I had a little difficulty getting into the characters' back stories (that was totally my own fault). However, I quickly caught up and became engrossed in the tale of murder and magic. I enjoyed Shay's banter with Liam, as well as her relationship with her sister and Granny. There were enough twists and turns in the story that hid the identity of the murderer until the end, which I appreciated. I look forward to the next story in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley, and all opinions are strictly my own.

"A Spirited Blend (A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery #3)" by Lauren Elliott has Shay getting ready to serve a special Halloween themed tea at the local Halloween festival and in a revelry with her ex friend turned business competition. Really, can this girl not catch a break with people trying to take advantage of her. Her ex-husband and his new wife (her ex-bff) are also moving in next door to her.

So, the culprit in this one wasn't actually fully sus'd out. Yes, we got the culprit that was there with the victim but really what they gave her wasn't ultimately what killed her. Someone else gave her what really did her in. Yes, there is a really strong suspect for who that was but it wasn't fully revealed or explained why.

Also, back to Shay's ex situation. Why? Other than to add yet more drama between the books on top of her possible bio-daddy issues. There's a LOT of drama going on at once. It's a bit overstimulating and none of it really solved in this particular book. I really hope that one of the major bad dramas is over for her in the next book. She at least had a (hopefully) good drama come to a conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I will start by saying I haven’t actually read any other books in this series, but usual for a cozy that doesn’t really matter. It did matter for sure this time! I was so confused the entire time by what relationship each character had to one another and the whole magic system set up. So fair warning, going in blind is not recommended!

The actual mystery was fine, and the killer was actually who I suspected, which is always nice. It just felt a little plodding at times, and weighed down by Shay’s emotional outbursts and the unrequited love situation. I still had a good time, just not a great time. I’d still recommend this one, especially if you’ve read the rest of the series.

Three stars.

A Spirited Blend was a really good read. It is the 3rd book in the Crystals and CuriousTEA mysteries series. The story takes place in the town of Bay Harbor. Shayleigh (Shay) Myers has inherited the teashop and cottage from her mother, Bridget Early. She also has a dog, Spirit who was also her mother' s dog. She has second sight which she inherited from her mother. She never knew her mother and the only way she knows about her is through her mother's journals. She wears an amulet in a bag which she wears on her chest. She inherited it from her mother. It is her protection as well as it carries a special blue bottle with a diamond in which is very powerful. She and her sister, Jen run the teahouse. On top of the teahouse is a greenhouse where she harvests the different plants to make the tea. She is concerned because Madam Malvina owns another teashop and has taken a lot of her customers She was friends with her but is no longer. . Liam Madigan is her neighbor and owns Madigan's Pub. Gran Madigan was a friend of her mother's and Liam's grandmother. She believes that her grandson, Liam and Shay are destined to be together as it is predicted by the fairies. Shay and Liam butt heads alot.

Alot is happening in the story that it is hard to put all on paper. I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the exciting and surprising ending.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp for this ARC.

I’ve read the previous two book in the series, so I knew that the chances were pretty high that I would love this latest. I really did love this latest. There were many things going on in this one, and we learn a lot about Shay and her past, which I can’t really say too much about. I can say that the ending of this made me cry, and I’m hoping there are more books coming. This is a pivotal book in Shay’s life, and I know fans of this series will definitely enjoy this latest. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I dove into this book as soon as I received it. I have fallen in love with the way Lauren writes and I could not wait to continue Shay’s story.
This book continues with Shay’s journey as the local seer and tea shop owner of Bray Harbor. Majority of this book takes place during autumn season. It has similar vibes of the previous books but heightened. The book still has Irish Folklore, mystery, comedy, growth, and the fun characters (plus some) that I’ve come to love. The inner dialog of the FMC, Shay, is exactly how I talk to myself. I loved going "down rabbit" holes with her while she processed the events taking place around her.

I cannot even tell you how happy I am that I received the ARC for this book from NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cosies for an honest review.