It’s summertime in Holiday Bay, and between the outdoor dining option provided by the new rooftop bar and eatery, and the summer concert series held on the roof every Thursday night, the Bistro is busier than they’ve ever been. Beck has an interesting case involving a woman whose mother disappeared when she was a child, Amy is entered into the annual clam chowder cookoff, Dawson has an important decision to make, Nikki has a new guy in her life, and Kennedy is struggling with empty nest syndrome while Addy is visiting her brother in Boston. In spite of a few challenges along the way, life for the gang at the bistro seems to be nothing but blue sky and smooth sailing, until an unexpected visitor arrives on the scene and puts a wrench in things.
Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
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This is the fourth book in this series. While I have enjoyed the prior books I did not care for this one. It was essentially a running commentary of conjectures about the possible actions and whereabouts of a waitress from the Bistro.
Sunshine and Sweet Wine is the fourth book in Kathi Daley’s Bistro at Holiday Bay series. This is the first spin-off series from Ms. Daley’s Inn at Holiday Bay series. The well-plotted storyline flows smoothly, the setting is charming, and the well-developed characters are three-dimensional, compassionate, and caring. The murder mysteries in this installment are intriguing and complex, with no shortage of twists, turns, or red herrings. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries.
Shelby Morris recently learned that she not only had two half-sisters, Sage Wilson and Sierra Danielson, but that the grandmother they didn’t even know existed had passed away, leaving them cash, personal property, and a mansion and grounds worth millions of dollars. The sisters decided Shelby would move to Holiday Bay, Maine, to live in and care for the house and grounds. When Shelby Morris and her friend and talented chef, Amy Hogan, discovered a local bar and restaurant, the Bistro at Holiday Bay, was for sale, the two friends decided to go into business together. Business at the Bisteo has been booming since the completion of their remodeling project, opening up the Bistro’s first floor, adding additional seating, exposing previously hidden windows overlooking the harbor, moving the kitchen to the second floor, and opening a second bar and dining area on the rooftop. Amy Hogan and Georgia Carter, who have teamed up and entered the upcoming Labor Day Cook-off, are busy testing and tweaking recipes.
In this installment, retired Boston homicide detective turned private investigator, Beck Cage, who uses a booth at the Bistro as his office, has been hired by Joanna Gunderson to locate her mother, Grace Albertson, who disappeared fifty years ago. Ms. Gunderson recently started receiving unmarked packages containing items she believes belong to her missing mother. A man who represents an up-and-coming band, Fuzzy Lizard, approaches Shelby, and she decides to book them into a two-night slot that recently opened up due to a last-minute cancellation. The Bistro’s bartender and bar manager, Dawson Westwood, is presented with an offer with life-changing possibilities. Dawson, who is known for making unconventional decisions, is having a difficult time trying to decide whether to accept the offer. Shelby becomes quite concerned when she’s unable to contact one of the Bistro’s waitresses, Tricia Wellington, who failed to show up for several shifts, and no one has seen or heard from her for several days.
This is the 4th installment in the Bistro at Holiday Bay Series. This series is a spin off of The Inn at Holiday Bay. I like the Inn best but I do like this series. This book is good and kept my interest, the only reason I gave it a star is because the ending was a bit of a let down. There was quite a bit of anticipation and I wanted to know what happened but then it seemed to leave me wanting a more intriguing ending.
In this installment, there are a few mysteries. Dawson is the bar manager and the Bistro. He has been gone a few days and returns to find that his prize Harley has been stolen. Whoever stole it, drove it through a guardrail to the bay below but they have not found the thief. There is a server who works at the Bistro who hasn't shown up for work in a few days and no one can reach her. Where could she be?
Beck's Mystery was the most interesting. Beck is a private investigator who uses a booth at the Bistro as his office. His newest client is receiving suspicious packages that appear to be from her mother, who has been missing and presumed dead for 50 years. Who could be sending her packages? Is someone trying to scare her? Could her mother still be alive? There are a lot of possibilities.
Dawson has been presented with an offer of a lifetime. Will he accept it and leave his job at the Bistro?
With all the mysteries going on, could there also be a possible romance in the making?
The characters are well thought out and 3 dimensional and I have become invested in their stories. The mysteries really piqued my interest, but the ending was just a bit of a letdown. I was expecting more of a twist. It won't keep me from reading the next book in the series.
Bistro at Holiday Bay is a spinoff of Inn at Holiday Bay and it's great! This series has its own set of main characters, but like any small town, you do run into people you know so there's definitely some crossover. Shelby and Amy run the Bistro together and it has become very popular. Now that it's summer their rooftop bar and dining area has stayed incredibly busy. In this book, Beck has a new case where a woman is looking for her mother who disappeared years ago. Amy and Georgia (from the inn) are entered in a cook-off and Dawson has a lot going on. Kennedy is struggling because her daughter has gone to visit her brother. Things are going smoothly until the unexpected happens. Shelby and Dawson are drawn into an investigation.
I've really enjoyed this charming series and this book is no exception. This series shows the value of friendship and how friends become family. The book's well-written and it was a quick, fun read with wonderful characters. I was drawn into this engaging story and kept hooked from start to finish. There's a couple of mysteries and both were fun to solve as they keep you on your toes throughout the story. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series. Technically, each book could be read on its own but I suggest reading them in order to get the most benefit and enjoyment from the series.
I love this series, it interacts with 2 other stories in Holiday Bay, that I know the characters in those books. Shelby starts to console Kennedy about her daughter going to spend time with her oldest brother. Now she has to deal with a waitress Tricia Wellington in her no calls, no show. As Shelby and Kennedy start making a plan b to fill the position, there is some information no one expected about this waitress. It becomes really complicated and involves several unsavory characters. It begins with Dawson's classic Harley Davidson being pulled out of the bay, which results in it being stolen out of his garage while he is away for a couple of days. The investigation leads to the waitress Tricia breaking into his backyard and garage to get the motorcycle. As they found out more about the girl, it involves drugs that she got over her head in trouble and she disappeared. Now they have Alex and Colt investigating, and so is Shelby and Dawson. Boy is this girl a piece of work with people she hung out with. Which Shelby asks Beck to find certain info for her, but he has his own mystery going on with a mother missing for fifty years, what happened to her? Well with all this going on I have to tell you to get this book and read it for yourself. You won't be disappointed!!!!
Shelby and Amy are business partners in the Bistro at Holiday Bay. They have renovated the building to have rooftop seating as well as an open plan on two of the floors below. They are close with all of their employees so when one of the waitresses fails to show up and no one can find her they are concerned. Their bartender/bar manager has been off for a few days and when he returns to town he learns someone stole his prize Harley and drove it thru a guard rail to the beach below. Are the two things connected? And if they are, how?
The mystery in this book is played out all to often in really nice small towns along with Becks current case being an interesting one. More interesting though seems to be Shelby’s feelings starting to deepen towards Dawson perhaps. At the end we’re introduced to a new character who might be a good fit into this group maybe for Shelby? Or just to make her feelings for Dawson or his for her more clear? Or perhaps for Alex? Who knows but it should be fun to read on to find out!
Another clean cozy mystery set in Holiday Bay. Shelby and Dawson are busy in this solving the mystery of his stolen Harley Davidson motorcycle. These characters and the small-town setting are well developed now. I liked how Ms. Daley pulled in characters from her other two series set in Holiday Bay to provide background and support during the mystery. A quick and entertaining read for an afternoon.
As I've said in many reviews, I love series. I feel like I know the people and it's always great when characters from other series come along. This book had 2 mysteries going on at one time. Beck's missing mother and Dawson's stolen motorcycle and missing waitress. Both were interesting and both were solved at the end. Just wish I knew if Georgia wins the clam chowder competition!
I am a huge fan of Kathi Daley´s stories. Maybe because of the characters, or the mystery, or the little cozy town, or the food (yes!! all books are full of delicious menus that make my mouth watering here), but this is a delightful series. An easy read. You will fall in love with the environment of the bistro. The cats are a plus one. The Holiday Bay series is a must-read. I was addicted to the Inn and now I can say that the Bistro stole my heart. the Can´t wait for the next one.
Dawson’s Harley is stolen and ends up in the bay. Shelby is having trouble with one of her waitresses who hasn’t been showing up for work. Kennedy’s daughter, Addy, is in Boston with her brother and Kennedy has to deal with her feelings about that and the missing waitress. Are these things related? Beck has another case with a woman whose mother disappeared 50 years ago on her 6th birthday. She’s now getting anonymous packages of things that belonged to her mother.
Multiple mysteries going on at the Bistro. Beck is trying to locate someone missing for 50 years, an employee hasn't shown up and can't be reached and Dawson has some decisions to make while he tries to figure out who stole his motorcycle. Lots of suspense as Shelby and the rest try to figure out the answers to all the mysteries. Good read.
I love all the Holiday Bay mysteries. Kathi started with The Inn and has now moved into The Bistro &The Bookstore. Each can be read independently …. But at some point will include a person from another series. If you come from A small town like I do….. you will find all of this very familiar. Maybe not the murders!
I absolutely loved it! Another excellent book about my favorite bistro! I love the characters! This is a must read series! I can’t wait for the next book!
The Bistro at Holiday Bay: Sunshine and Sweet Wine
This was a good story. Preserve Pretty much the same as the other books with two mysteries that get wrapped up at the end. A lot of repetition going over same thing. I did like the story, though, and it is a clean read.
Another good, clean quick read. Kathie Daley is a good author for cozy mysteries. I must admit that I have read so many that all these characters ate running together.
Dawsons Harley is stolen and ends up in the Bay. Beck is working on the case of a daughter who receives gifts from her mother who has been gone for 50 years. Good investigations and plenty of leads to follow.
I enjoy these books so much. My favourites are those in the Inn, but followed very closely but the ones in the Bistro. I rather enjoy that the characters cros over from one to another and these are getting better every time.