Murder Marks the Page

Tomes & Tea Mysteries #1

by Karen Rose Smith

The first in a new series spun off from the Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries, Daisy’s daughter Jazzi Swanson has opened her own book and tea shop, providing a variety of literature and flavored beverages for a rural New York community. But Jazzi has not only inherited her mother’s gift for brewing tasty drinks—she also has a nose for sniffing out murder.

New York State’s Belltower Landing is a lakeside resort town where tourists spend their summer days boating, floating, and paddle-boarding on the water. It’s also the perfect place to cuddle up with a good book and enjoy a cup of tea, courtesy of Tomes & Tea. Owned and operated by Jazzi and her best friend Dawn Fernsby, the book bar is beloved by vacationers and locals alike, but browsers grabbing brews in the off season aren’t enough to help them make ends meet.

Between brainstorming social media publicity ideas for the shop and fending off flirtatious men she has no interest in or time for, Jazzi befriends a woman named Brie who has recently made contact with her biological father. As an adopted child herself, Jazzi is more than happy to give Brie emotional support, especially as her wealthy father’s wife and children see her as a threat.

But Brie is also looking to start a family of her own. Unfortunately, all the potential princes she’s met through a dating app turn out to be frogs. Then, when Brie is found murdered, Jazzi finds herself playing detective. With a list of suspects ranging from jealous half-siblings to less-than-suitable suitors, Jazzi may need to consult some of her shop’s bestselling mysteries to help her uncover a killer . . .

Includes delicious recipes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2024

About the author

Award-winning author Karen Rose Smith was born in Pennsylvania. Although she was an only child, she remembers the bonds of an extended family. Family is a strong theme in her books and she suspects her childhood memories are the reason.

In college, Karen began writing poetry and also met her husband to be. They both began married life as teachers, but when their son was born, Karen decided to try her hand at a home-decorating business.

She returned to teaching for a while but changes in her life led her to writing relationship novels. Now she writes romances as well as mysteries full time. Her first book was published in 1992; her 110th novel will be published in 2024. A winner of New Jersey's Golden Leaf Award in Short Contemporary Romance, Colorado Romance Writers Award Of Excellence for short contemporary, as well as the Phoenix Desert Rose Chapter's Golden Quill for Traditional Romance, she has also been honored with Cataromance.com's award for Best Special Edition and Washington Romance Writers Career Achievement Award. Her romances have made both the USA TODAY list and the Amazon Romance and Contemporary Romance Bestseller lists. Her mysteries have made the USA TODAY and Barnes and Noble bestseller lists.

She has written for Meteor/Kismet, Kensington, Silhouette and Harlequin. Readers can contact Karen through her website, on Facebook (Karen Rose Smith Author) and on Twitter @ Karenrosesmith, on TIKTOK at karenrosesmithauthor and on Instagram. They can also follow her monthly e-zine IN TOUCH with KAREN ROSE SMITH which has the latest news about her books, recipes and contests.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Tomes and Tea Mysteries series and interestingly it is a spin off from an earlier series which I have not read, called the Daisy's Tea Garden Mysteries. That one is about the mother of the main character in this series and I have added it to my TBR.

Jazzi Swanson is the main character in Murder Marks the Page and she is the owner of a book and tea shop in Belltower Landing, a lakeside resort. When a woman she has recently met is murdered she becomes involved in the investigation and discovers she has inherited some of her mother's skills in detection.

I enjoyed the mystery and very much liked Jazzi and her friends. I shall certainly continue with his series. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is a spinoff from 'Daisy's Tea Garden Mysteries.' In this first book in the 'Tomes & Tea Mysteries', Jazzi Swanson - who saw her amateur sleuth mom solve many murders - shows she's a chip off the old block.

Twenty-five year old Jazzi Swanson.....



......met Dawn Fernsby at college, in a group for adoptees.



The women became friends, and after graduation they opened 'Tomes & Tea', a combination bookstore/teashop.



The store is located in Belltower Landing, a lakeside resort town in upstate New York. Jazzi and Dawn share an apartment above Tomes & Tea, and their place is nicely decorated and convenient for work.

Tomes & Tea is currently struggling financially, and Jazzi and Dawn are pondering ways to increase business. The women workshop ideas with the members of their book club.....



......and get suggestions like: have a virtual reality event; get a visiting country star to stop by the bookstore; encourage people to take selfies in the shop and put them online; organize a book signing for a model who wrote about her runway experiences; and more.



With the help of friends, all this happens, and customers come in to buy books, and enjoy tea and pastries.



Everyone knows Jazzi is an adoptee who met her birth mom, so a book club member called Delaney Fabron asks Jazzi to speak with her friend Brie Frazier. Brie is thinking about meeting her birth dad, and needs advice about the matter. Jazzi agrees, and she and Brie hit it off right away.



Thirtysomething Brie tells Jazzi she wants to get married and have a family. To this end, Brie has been going out with men from dating apps. If something works out, Brie wants information about her medical history, which her biological dad can provide.

After speaking with Jazzi, Brie meets her birth father, a VERY WEALTHY man named Joseph Covino. Covino lives in a mansion with his wife and two grown stepchildren. Joseph is happy to meet Brie.....



.....but the rest of the family is distinctly hostile.





A few days later, Brie is found strangled to death in her apartment. Detective Sergeant Paul Milford is the lead investigator on the case, and he interviews Jazzi and other people who saw Brie in the days before she was killed.



Brie's adoptive mother Estelle, who's completely distraught, looks to Jazzi for information and emotional support.



Because of this, Jazzi wants to help the police catch the perpetrator. Though Detective Milford tries to discourage Jazzi, she plows ahead with her 'investigation', which concentrates on the men Brie dated, as well as the family of Brie's biological father, who clearly resented Brie.



As all this is going on, Jazzi gets on with her personal life. Jazzi and Dawn adopt two rescue kittens, and have fun playing with the adorable felines.



Jazzi also paddleboards; rides her bike; and is friendly with a handsome Australian restaurateur named Oliver Patel.....



.....and a nice-looking software developer called Parker Olsen.



Jazzi isn't interested in serious romance though, so these fellows are just friends (so far).

Author Karen Rose Smith likes to describe what everyone is wearing all the time, as well as the features of people's homes. For example: Jazzi is wearing 'lime-green bell bottoms, a yellow spaghetti-strapped tank, and a tie-died bolero jacket'; Oliver sports 'stonewashed jeans with slits at the knees, and a two-toned red and white Henley shirt'; Dawn is dressed in 'navy linen slacks and a pale blue short-sleeved sweater'.....and there's lots more of this.



As for home décor, Jazzi's room has 'whitewashed furniture and a colorful lilac and blue patterned bedspread.' And so on. All this gets to be a bit much, but I think some readers like it.

I enjoyed this light cozy mystery and will probably read more of Jazzi's adventures.

Thanks to Netgalley, Karen Rose Smith, and Kensington Books for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In this spinoff of the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series, we find Jazzie has completed college and has opened a book and tea shop, Tomes & Tea with her best friend Dawn Fernsby in Belltower Landing, New York. Tourists flock to the town and spend summers there but Jazzi and Dawn need to figure out how to keep their shop profitable year-round. Their friend, Delaney has a friend, Brie, who has just made contact with her biological father but she has a lot of questions. Knowing Jazzi and Dawn were both adopted she asks them to talk to Brie. Jazzi quickly becomes friends with Brie and agrees to help her in any way she can.

Brie mainly looked for her birth father because she was ready to settle down and start a family and wanted to know her history. She had been using a dating app and has gone on several dates but she has discarded them all. And while her dad is interested in having her in his life, his wife and their children have very different feelings.

When Brie is killed, Jazzi feels the need to investigate. The men Brie had dated and her half-siblings are her main suspects. She had witnessed her mother getting involved in several murder cases and now she has one of her own to solve. Will Jazzi find the killer? Will she live to tell the tale?

Jazzi and Dawn make a good team and they have taken a huge chance in opening up Tomes & Tea. They met in college in a group for people who had been adopted. The group helped them navigate their feelings about their birth parents and answered other questions they had about searching for them. Jazzi has found her birth mom and they have a relationship. Jazzi was also very close to her adoptive mom. It now seems like those relationships are strained but readers aren’t given any details. We know she is very independent and after suffering a bad breakup she has no interest in dating. As this is the first book in this series, and some years have passed from where the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series left off we need to give the author time to develop this new Jazzi, Dawn, and the other core characters in this series. There is a lot of potential there.

The book and tea shop is a wonderful theme for a cozy mystery series. I loved the brainstorming about bringing in more business and building a year-round customer base. Jazzi and Dawn’s friends and book club members came up with great ideas. The events they held were fun and created a buzz about the shop.

The mystery was well-plotted and an interesting twist gave Jazzi the perfect reason to get involved but she is a reluctant sleuth. She doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Detective Milford urges her to stay out of his case, but she thinks he needs help. She didn’t think he was questioning any of her top suspects and he was working on several other cases. She has met a lot of people opening her business and she does have some admirable observation skills. But while those skills helped her put some important pieces of the puzzle together, they also got her into trouble. I really enjoyed the showdown and that Jazzie contacted her mother afterward and shared harrowing the experience.

It is always fun when a cozy mystery protagonist has pets. Early in the story, Jazzi finds a kitten behind the shop and a friend finds its sibling and brings it to Jazzi and Dawn. They quickly make themselves right at home – a male named Zander, and a female Freya.

Murder Marks the Spot has given this series a strong start. I enjoy this author’s writing style and I am excited for this series to continue so I can get to know these characters better.

[Megan WIlls · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this ARC for honest feedback.

This book should have been a short story, not a novel. I love a good description of the characters and their surroundings, but there was so much fluff in this book. I caught myself skimming at times instead of reading. I do not need to know what Jazzi is wearing every single moment. What I do need, is the meat and potatoes of the story. I had a hard time trying to figure out the suspects, as the author was more concerned with the characters attire, or the clouds floating lazily above, than giving me a true murder mystery story.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

#MurderMarksthePage #NetGalley is the first in a new series, featuring Jazzi Swanson, daughter of beloved tea shop character, Daisy Swanson.
Jazzi is living in New York State, in Belltower Landing, a small resort town.
Jazzi and her best friend Dawn, own Tomes and Teas, a combination bookstore and tea shop.
Dawn's parents aren't thrilled with her investment in the bookshop, and if Jazzi wants her partner to stay, she needs to improve her marketing skills.
Having some special visitors to the shop helps, but when a murder victim is found, it hit close to home, and Jazzi realizes she has her own set of sleuthing skills.

This is a neat start to a new series, I like Jazzi and having her in her own atmosphere was quite fun. She's an intelligent young woman who wants to experience life, and I'm so happy that we get to see a new side of her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
I'm looking forward to recommending it to other readers.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who loves outdoor pursuits, including cycling and paddle-boarding as well as books and the company of friends, living in the lakeside community of Belltower Landing is Jazzi Swanson's dream. This is where she has joint ownership, with bestie, Dawn, of a bookshop and drinks bar called Tomes & Tea, as well as a nice apartment, and friends who regularly attend her book club. What else could she want? When they are introduced to a young woman who is considering searching for her birth father, Jazzi and Dawn, who are adopted themselves, happily spend time answering all her questions.

It is the busiest time of year for local businesses and so as well as helping new friend, Brie, Dawn and Jazzi are trying to find ways of increasing their profit margins outside the tourist season while also welcoming a small fluffy kitten into their home! When a body is found in the small town, however, Jazzi finds herself drawn into the investigation just as her mother, Daisy, had been when she was growing up in Willow Creek. Apparently, she is as skilled as her mum, and Jazzi soon finds herself looking over her shoulder and looking at everyone with suspicion. Will she discover whodunnit, or will they find her first?

This is the start of author Karen Rose Smith's new series and also my first time reading her work, which I enjoyed for the most part. There is a lot of scene setting which, in this instance, is to be expected, and from the descriptions, I could definitely live in Belltower Landing, where I would frequent Tomes & Tea on a regular basis! I'm not a big fan of love triangles, which run through this, as I find them distracting, but again, as this is book one, I will reserve judgement for a while. I liked the detective, who seemed a little confused by Jazzi at times, which was fun. Overall, this was a promising start to a new cosy series, and there will hopefully be more from Jazzi and Dawn for me to be on the lookout for in the future.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good start and well worth a read. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was wondering how I was going to feel about this spinoff by Karen Rose Smith, Jazzi was a teenager in the Daisy Teahouse series, but in this new series, she is a young woman of 25. I really enjoyed this debut very much. Daisy has moved to upper New York state to open a business with her college roommate in Dawn's hometown. The ladies have opened Tomes & Tea and are moderately successful but need to ramp things up, so with the help of members of their loyal local bookclub members, they are pulling out all the stops. In the meantime, one of the bookclub members has a friend who was adopted and asks Jazzi and Dawn to meet with her as she tries to decide how to move forward. Since Jazzi and Brie hit it off, and Brie has decided to move forward and meet her biological father the young women become closer until Brie is found dead in her apartment not long after she meets her father. While Jazzi is determined to not become her mother and get involved, her observational skills, social circle and connections to many in town because of her business, and her empathy for Brie's adoptive mother make it almost impossible for her to stay detached. This was an interesting mystery, and I like the older Jazzi, flaws, and all. Can't wait to see what happens next! Thanks to #Netgally and #KensingtonPublishing for the opportunity to read!

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lately I've been getting into cozy mysteries, especially when it involves a book store owner. I find these types of books to be a fun, easy read and I do love to see if I can solve the mystery. Murder Marks The Page fit the bill. This was an enjoyable, stress free read. I didn't even guess the correct villain! You do have to stretch your imagination a bit over Jazzi's sudden involvement over someone she just barely met, but overall, a really good read.

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith shows us how Jazzi investigates a murder.

Can Jazzi keep her bookstore running?

Jazzi Swanson
Jazzi Swanson is the adopted daughter of Daisy Swanson and is a very reluctant sleuth. She only becomes one when Jazzi feels like the police may need some help. Jazzi tries her hardest not to become like her mom in solving a mystery and focus on her bookstore. I am impressed that Jazzi and her best friend, Dawn, opened up a bookstore that also sells tea. Jazzi wants this business to work since she loves her job and wants to help bring people to love actual copies of books instead of ebooks.

Jazzi is hard to like initially, but she grows on you as you progress.

The Mystery
Another one of Jazzi’s friends finds the dead body of Brie. After that, everything for Jazzi was a bit hard since she felt like she and Brie would’ve been good friends, which made it sad for her. Jazzi tries her best not to become involved. Yet, she ends up trying to solve the mystery. Sadly, the police force also has another mystery to solve. Their case happens to be robberies that were going around. I have to say that I caught on to Whodunit early on in the book.

Four Stars
I am giving Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith four stars and recommend you try it. This was my first book by this author, and I am willing to give Ms. Jazzi Swanson another try after this one.

Remember to look at the recipes in the back. I can’t name the recipes, as my ARC copy doesn’t provide them.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith.

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Number 1 of the Tomes & Tea Mystery series. I'd read more by this author as the writing was good.

I liked:
* Cozy mystery
* Bookstore as a main location in Belltower Landing
* Current character stories about adoption, online dating, etc

I disliked:
* Jazzi just falling into the Brie situation. In fact, seemed to actively want to stay removed, but didn't
* The ending felt very rushed

[Nicole Whiteaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series by Karen Rose Smith. Tomes & Tea Mystery Mysteries is a spin off with Jazzi Swanson, Daisy’s daughter.

Jazzi and her friend Dawn open up the bookshop/tea shop Tomes & Tea in Belltower Landing. It is described as a very quaint place, some place I would love to frequent.

A murder happens and naturally Jazzi becomes involved, following in the footsteps of her mom. She did learn from the best! She knows what questions to ask and she has a keen eye.

I did not have an idea who the killer was. I thought for sure it was someone else.

There are a lot of characters in the book and I felt they were described very well and I enjoyed the interactions.

This is a great first book in the series and definitely set up for further story development.

[Mackenzie Busalacchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Marks the Page is the first in a new cozy mystery series. Jazzi and her best friend Dawn own Tomes & Tea, the perfect store for lovers of books and tea. Jazzi soon discovers that Dawn's family is pressuring her to sell her share of the store. She can not let that happen; Jazzi and Dawn are the perfect partners. To add to that stress, Jazzi recently met Brie and was helping her in her process of meeting her birth parents; however, Brie was then found murdered. Between trying to save the store and assisting in finding Brie's killer, Jazzi is stressed to the max. Add to that, everyone in town thinks she needs a love life, and, maybe, just maybe, she is considering that too.

Murder Marks the Page checks off a lot of the "needs" for a great cozy mystery. It has a charming setting, an interesting cast of characters, and an intriguing mystery. However, there were a few things that detracted from the overall story. First, there was way too much time spent detailing the characters' outfits. Second, there was too much focus on the adoption/birth parents/adopted parents angle. I understand that was a part of this story and a part of Jazzi's past, but it was emphasized way too much. It became repetitive to the point of annoyance.

Murder Marks the Page is a fine cozy. It's the first in the series, so the author can still develop the characters and lessen the details on outfits and adoption.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this book. I did notice that every time the scene changed there is a description of what clothes Jazzi is wearing, which I found unnecessary. I also found that the story wandered in places, particularly about different men. The dialogue implies there’s an attraction or friends are encouraging her to see someone there but nothing is ever done resolved or developed. When they investigate Brie’s life it’s the same thing, just going from man to man. I found it unfulfilling, and frustrating. Just pick an interest and go with it. The murder almost become secondary to all this. I am surprised by who the killer is, I thought that reveal came abruptly. #MurderMarksthePage #NetGalley

[Jocelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was...fine. I didn't hate it, but I definitely didn't find myself getting into it. I haven't read the author's other books, but it seemed like she focused a lot on the food people were eating and clothes they were wearing rather than what was going on. There also seemed to be a few things missing (never figured out how Jazzie got to get all those books but maybe I skimmed that part).

I received a copy of this book for a review, but all opinions are my own.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to an interesting series. I love the interaction of the characters within the bookstore. Jazzy and Dawn have a great partnership as well as friendship. There is a murder of a friend of one of their bookstore book groups. Who has asked Jazzy to help her find her birth father. There are also robberies within the town. Jazzy investigates when one of her friends is suspected. I like the ending of the series.

[Taryn]

Jazzi and her best friend Dawn have opened a book and tea shop in Belltower Landing called Tomes and Tea, a lake side resort town. Jazzi is always trying to come up with new ways on social media to publicize the shop and to keep things fresh. When Jazzi meets and befriends a woman named Brie she wants to help her with her current situation. Brie was adopted and recently met her biological father, having been adopted herself Jazzi wants to help in any way she can. It soon comes apparent that the mans wife and kids want nothing to do with Brie. Follow along to see how Jazzi helps her navigate this situation and if anything bad will occur and hurt Brie in the end.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is a good one, but the writing is a bit disjointed at times. But. This is only book one and books usually get better as the series progresses, so the next one will be great (I believe). The publisher's blurb is unusually good, so there's no need to repeat it, and spoilers are just wrong. I did enjoy it and am looking forward to the next in this series.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 6 Mar 2024 #TomesAndTeaMysteriesBkONE

[SlowBone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final rating: 3.25🌟
————
👥Characters: 8
🔮Atmosphere: 7
✍️Writing: 6
🗺️Plot: 6
🔍Intrigue: 6
🧩Logic: 6
😌Enjoyment: 8

[Marygrace Depp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery.

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Release Date: March 26, 2024
📖📖📖📖

New York State’s Belltower Landing is a lakeside resort town where tourists spend their summer days boating, floating, and paddle-boarding on the water. It’s also the perfect place to cuddle up with a good book and enjoy a cup of tea, courtesy of Tomes & Tea. Owned and operated by Jazzi and her best friend Dawn Fernsby, the book bar is beloved by vacationers and locals alike, but browsers grabbing brews in the off season aren’t enough to help them make ends meet. Jazzi befriends a woman named Brie who has recently made contact with her biological father. As an adopted child herself, Jazzi is more than happy to give Brie emotional support, especially as her wealthy father’s wife and children see her as a threat. But Brie is also looking to start a family of her own. Unfortunately, all the potential princes she’s met through a dating app turn out to be frogs. Then, when Brie is found murdered, Jazzi finds herself playing detective. With a list of suspects ranging from jealous half-siblings to less-than-suitable suitors, Jazzi may need to consult some of her shop’s bestselling mysteries to help her uncover a killer . . .
This is the first in a spin-off series from #daisysteagardenmysteries with Daisys daughter. I love that this series picks up after Jazzi left Pennsylvania for college and we don’t have to wonder what happened to her down the road. I enjoyed getting to see Jazzi in a new light. Dawn is a great addition as well as some other secondary character to the town of Belltower Landing. I’m looking forward to the next installment!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#murdermarksthepage #teaandtomesmystery #daisysteagardenmystery #karenrosesmith
#recipeincluded #kensingtonpublishing #kensingtoncozies #netgalleyreads #cozymystery #capecodreads #bookreview #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #booktok #bookrecommendations #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookblogger #igreads #goodreads #bookclub #bookreviews #bookblog

[Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I’m not caught up with the Daisy’s Tea Garden series yet, I’ve definitely read enough to be familiar with Jazzi’s mom Daisy and her stepdad and of course, her mom’s talent for sleuthing which seems to’ve rubbed off on her daughter purely by accident, right? Jazzi must’ve paid more attention when her mom was sleuthing because she was an old pro at it except for a few times, and a crazy showdown she definitely hadn’t planned on.

I hadn’t guessed whodunit and that was definitely an exciting showdown as Jazzi took control and lit into the killer. I like these new characters in Jazzi’s life and definitely plan to read the next book. I hope a clear decision comes regarding a guy interest for her though since I’m definitely not a fan of triangles and can easily see how one could start.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
This novel is an excellent start to a new cozy mystery series. The characters invited me in on the first page and kept my attention throughout. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Jazzi, who co-owns her dream business with her best friend, Dawn. She is a delightful, independent young woman living in Dawn’s hometown, Belltower Landing, in New York. I enjoyed hearing about Jazzi’s conversations with her mother and stepfather, from the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series, and was pleased how supportive and respectful they were of her independence.

The regular characters are developed well; each are engaging and reflected through their actions and realistic conversations. Peripheral characters and summer tourists are described as befitting their roles. I liked how Jazzi was up front with guys about choosing to not date anyone at this time when a couple guys were interested. I am confident that a good guy might be closer than anticipated as she heals from past events. Jazzi has the close companionship of other women. She was determined to stay out of a police investigation, but things about it simply kept drawing her attention.

I totally enjoyed meeting Zander and Freya, the girls’ kittens, especially watching how each was acquired! The author’s love for and knowledge about cats shines through, and her word pictures helped me imagine the delightful kittens who play hard and rest adorably.

Tomes & Teas is exactly what the name implies. Jazzi and Dawn maintain an excellent stock with the ability to quickly acquire specialty items when needed. I had never thought about the variety of books in a bookstore beyond what my interests are, and appreciated learning about special volumes for local events and interests, such as the Welcome Summer Festival and the regatta. It was interesting to get a glimpse of book signings and authors.

Jazzi and Dawn were both adopted as babies, and each had unique experiences. One of their friends at their book club asked Jazzi if she would be willing to meet Brie, a friend who was deciding whether to meet her birth father. Jazzi had found her birth mother several years earlier and had a good relationship with her and an even better one with her adoptive mother. Brie’s mother died when she was born, and her adoptive parents had given her a loving, affirming home. If Brie met her birth father, one reason was to find out her medical history as she wanted to get married and have children. Jazzi liked Brie and felt they would become good friends.

Brie was going to meet her father the following night, and Jazzi planned to talk with her after the weekend to see how their meeting went. Monday morning, however, Jazzi got a call from Delaney, the friend who introduced her to Brie. She had gone to see how Brie’s weekend was, and found her dead. She had been murdered.

Jazzi, Dawn, and Delaney were shaken by Brie’s death. Brie’s adoptive parents were devastated, and her mother reached out to Jazzi. They stayed in close contact, and Jazzi helped her pack and clean out Brie’s townhouse. Jazzi initially refused to do any snooping into the murder, even when Brie’s mother had serious concerns about her wealthy biological father and his family, and the detective wouldn’t update her on the investigation.

This mystery was intriguing and I continually changed my pet suspect list. The resolution brought surprises and sad motives. I was very pleased with the end (despite my pet bad guys being innocent), and definitely want to see much more of Jazzie, Dawn, and their shop. I highly recommend this mystery!

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this delightful and intriguing opening of a new series! Jazzi and Dawn, best friends since college, are accomplished, intelligent young women, and I love their dream business, Tomes & Teas. I thought the mystery was perfect, with a very comfortable balance between the mystery and their business and personal lives.

Adopted as babies, Jazzi and Dawn had met at an event for adoptees at college. The girls had many things in common other than being adopted, and grew into best friends. After spending time in Dawn’s home town during summer breaks, Jazzi moved there when they graduated. They opened Tomes & Teas, a combination bookstore and tea shop, and shared the upstairs apartment.

At the request of their friend Delaney, Jazzi and Dawn met Brie, a woman who had questions about meeting one’s birth parents. Jazzi had found her birth mother as a teen and has a good relationship with her and her family.

Brie met her birth father on a special website, and had only exchanged email addresses. Brie wanted her birth parents’ medical history, as she heard her biological clock ticking. She had been meeting men through a dating app and was eager to meet her forever man, get married, and have children. The night before Brie was to meet her birth father, Jazzi saw a bruise that Brie dismissed as an accident while on a date a few days before. Jazzi was eager to hear the results of Brie’s meeting. Delaney went to see Brie, found Brie murdered in her home, and called Jazzi after calling the police.

Jazzi’s mother had helped the police in their home town solve murders, but Jazzi does not want to get involved in this investigation. She befriended Brie’s mother, and helped her with tasks when Delaney was not available. Brie’s adoptive parents desperately wanted justice, but the police couldn’t tell them the status of the investigation.

The detective was stretched to the limit due to the murder and a growing number of thefts from high-dollar homes. Jazzi is tactful and resourceful, and was able to talk with the detective. When she learned Delaney was the only suspect in Brie’s death, her decision to stay out of the investigation changed.

Jazzi and Dawn laughed at, found comfort in, and adored a pair of kittens. Jazzi found Zander outside one evening. After taking the kitten to the vet, Oliver, the owner of the nearby pub, heard about their kitten and brought Jazzi another kitten he thought might be Zander’s sister. Their antics showed they were well acquainted, and added Freya to their home.

Jazzi learned things about the men Brie met and her birth father’s wife and stepchildren that had her on edge. They didn’t want Delaney arrested simply because she had found Brie’s body, so she collected information where she could and talked with Dawn and another friend about her findings. She tried to talk with people the police had not considered suspects, also.

The murder was not easy to solve. This talented author kept me on my toes, catching me completely off guard when the killer and the thieves were revealed. I am excited about this new series, and can’t wait to see what comes next! I highly recommend this to those who like their cozy mysteries challenging with clever female protagonists, book stores, tea, kittens, and a close-knit community.

From a thankful heart: I received an eARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher* thru GR.

Murder Marks the Page is the first book in a new series, featuring Jazzi Swanson, daughter of the main character in the Daisy Swanson tea shop mysteries. I don't think I'm in the target audience for this book ("Jazzi and Dawn were serious about adulting.") and I'm trying to be nice, so I'm rounding up to 3 stars.

Jazzi is living in Belltower Landing, NY, a waterfront resort. Jazzi and her best friend Dawn, own Tomes and Teas, a combination hair salon bookstore and tea shop. Jazzie enjoys paddle-boarding and is obsessed with men, hair, and clothes. Her detecting technique is to be nosy and annoy everyone until the killer can't stand it anymore.

Page 99: Curious that they had to use one of her father's buddies and some men who worked for the funeral home as pallbearers. Brie had friends and women are allowed to be pallbearers.

From the book: fish tail braid, Cleopatra bangs, short wavy blonde hair, longish on the top with a side part, she'd braided her Rapunzel-length black hair into a part fishtail braid an part Dutch braid hanging to one side, long golden-blonde hair, caramel-shaded wispy chin-length hair, dark at the roots, messy blonde top-knot she'd arranged with chopsticks, Springy dark-brown wild curls, her hair flopping this way and that, his blonde hair looked damp, And she had let her hair down. It flowed to mid-back, straight and glossy. She'd flat-ironed it into a smooth style with the very ends wavy. Her dark brown hair was parted in the center, high off her forehead. Each side was finger waved away from her face. unruly hair, unruly hair, Delaney's stylishly uneven and wispy hair, Her lioness dark brown curls seemed as wild as her tone, His read hair was gelled in place. a svelte blonde, almost white long hair, probably bleached by the sun. He wore his hair tied back with a leather band. As her hair flowed over hr shoulder, Jazzi brought her fishtail braid over hr shoulder and fiddled with the end. His dark brown hair looked freshly trimmed. Lara re-banded her ponytail, He had brown, medium long hair, He had dirty blonde short hair, his thick dark brown hair, longer on the top of his head, a bit disheveled, stark white-blonde hair, the wind was in her hair, brown hair, black hair, Emilia had worn her hair up in an intricately woven design. Her hair was short and shaggy, sometimes poufy. He'd brushed his short, wavy blonde hair to the side. dirty blonde hair styled thick and high, shorn short on the sides. a mop of brown hair that was styled. She imagined the hairdresser who did his hair, spent a huge amount of time messing with her hair, French braided her hair, his blonde hair wild. The wind...blew her hair away from her neck. She took a clip from her purse and pinned her ponytail to the top of her head. That would keep her hair of her neck. You girls and your long hair. I know it's the style now but short hair is so much easier to take care of. I don't have to do much with mine except let it dry after I wash it. I like to braid it. No curling iron? Sometimes a flat iron. Nolan's red hair, The detective eyed her bangs, her braid, She fastened hr hair in a low ponytail, She'd pulled her hair up on top of her had and wound it in a braided bun.

*A bookmark that was enclosed offered entry into a random drawing for swag in exchange for a review. Is it any wonder that I never win anything. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[dnsyl57 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Murder Marks The Page" is book #1 in "Tomes & Teas Mysteries" by Karen Rose Smith.

"The first in a new series spun off from the Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries, Daisy’s daughter Jazzi Swanson has opened her own book and tea shop, providing a variety of literature and flavored beverages for a rural New York community. But Jazzi has not only inherited her mother’s gift for brewing tasty drinks—she also has a nose for sniffing out murder.

New York State’s Belltower Landing is a lakeside resort town where tourists spend their summer days boating, floating, and paddle-boarding on the water. It’s also the perfect place to cuddle up with a good book and enjoy a cup of tea, courtesy of Tomes & Tea. Owned and operated by Jazzi and her best friend Dawn Fernsby, the book bar is beloved by vacationers and locals alike, but browsers grabbing brews in the off season aren’t enough to help them make ends meet.

Between brainstorming social media publicity ideas for the shop and fending off flirtatious men she has no interest in or time for, Jazzi befriends a woman named Brie who has recently made contact with her biological father. As an adopted child herself, Jazzi is more than happy to give Brie emotional support, especially as her wealthy father’s wife and children see her as a threat.

But Brie is also looking to start a family of her own. Unfortunately, all the potential princes she’s met through a dating app turn out to be frogs. Then, when Brie is found murdered, Jazzi finds herself playing detective. With a list of suspects ranging from jealous half-siblings to less-than-suitable suitors, Jazzi may need to consult some of her shop’s bestselling mysteries to help her uncover a killer . . ."

My thoughts:
Though it isn't listed on Goodreads, I read the Kindle edition.

Jazzi and Dawn have a lot in common - friendship, roommates, business partners and both were adopted.

The core characters are interesting and have good potential to grow in future books. Conversations felt fairly realistic. There doesn't really seem to be much diversity other than a range in age from early 20's to mid 60's. I like that Jazzi is so cautious yet also very curious. I haven't read any of the series that this book is spun off from, but I did get a good feel for who she is and how she was raised. (Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries series is now on my wish list.)

The police did seem to take several weeks to solve the murder and the various robberies that were happening in town. There wasn't a lot to go on for the robberies but there were a number of suspects for Brie's murder. There were a couple of people I had a bad feeling about early on and wasn't overly surprised at who the killer was.

Jazzi had made it clear she wasn't interested in dating at this time but it isn't hard to see that changing in the future as there is definitely dating potential is she'd be willing to open herself up to it. Time will tell...

Summer in a lake front tourist town with books and murder make for a light but entertaining read.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith

Rating: 4 stars

So, I recently dove into Karen Rose Smith's Murder Marks the Page, and it was quite the enjoyable cozy mystery ride. Picture this: a quaint lakeside town in New York, a charming book and tea shop called Tomes & Tea run by Jazzi Swanson and her bestie Dawn Fernsby, and a murder that needs solving. Intrigued yet?

Jazzi Swanson is not your average bookshop owner—she's got a knack for brewing drinks and sniffing out trouble, especially when it involves solving murders. When her friend Brie's life takes a tragic turn, Jazzi steps up to play detective and unravel the mystery surrounding her untimely death.

Smith's writing style sets the perfect backdrop for the story, painting a cozy picture of Belltower Landing that makes you want to grab a book and a cup of tea and settle in for a good read. Sure, there were moments where the details got a bit repetitive, but the well-paced plot and engaging characters more than make up for it.

Speaking of characters, Jazzi's journey is both heartwarming and suspenseful. Her connection to Brie, as an adopted child herself, adds a layer of empathy and complexity to the narrative that tugs at your heartstrings. And then there's Dawn—she's not exactly my cup of tea (pun intended), her dynamic with Jazzi adds an interesting twist to the story.

Murder Marks the Page is more than just a mystery novel; it's a cozy escape into a world filled with books, tea, and intriguing whodunits. If you're a fan of immersive mysteries with a side of small-town charm, this book is definitely worth adding to your reading list. Smith's storytelling shines through in this captivating tale that blends friendship, intrigue, and the power of literature in the most delightful way.

So, grab a cozy blanket, brew yourself a cup of tea, and get ready to lose yourself in the enchanting world of Murder Marks the Page. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down until you've unraveled every last clue alongside Jazzi Swanson.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right after I finish writing my review for Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith, I am going to go pack because I am moving to Belltower Landing immediately ... as soon as I find out where this fictional town is located. Murder Marks the Page is the first book in the Tomes & Tea Mystery series by Smith and boy does she set the stage beautifully !!!

In Murder Marks the Page readers are introduced to Jazzi and Dawn who are longtime friends having met in college at a group for adoptive children. They bonded over the fact that they were both adopted and became roommates and then moved back to Belltower Landing where Dawn is from and where Jazzi would spend her summers. Now they are business owners as well as roommates. They own Tomes & Tea where they sell tea, baked goods and books.

Jazzi and Dawn are introduced to Brie by their friend Delaney who knows about their adoptive pasts and feels that Brie, who is looking for her adoptive father, will benefit from their experiences. Unfortunately shortly after they meet, and before they can begin to help her with her quest, Delaney finds Brie's body. This was right after Jazzi had dinner with her and was getting to know her so her and Delaney are questioned by the police.

Jazzi knows that she should focus on the shop and not murder but she is drawn to Brie's case because that is what Jazzi's mom would do. And even though she needs to convince Dawn not to share her part of the business and this is the time of year that the town relies on tourists, Jazzi can not say no the Brie's mother when she asks for help.

There is a lot going on in the town of Belltower Landing and readers will love every part of it. Getting to know a new town, the businesses, the people and the relationships is always fun with a new series and Karen Rose Smith does not disappoint !! She is spot on with this debut book and you will become a fan as soon as you open the book. You will want to move there also ... and if you find Belltower Landing, please let me know .... we can be roommates !!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith is the first in a new series, a Tomes and Tea Mystery. Tomes and Tea is a bookstore with a tea bar located in Florida, mostly tourists for a good part of the year. Jazzi Swanson and her partner, Dawn Fernsby, had been roommates in college and had come together after making contact at a meeting of a group for adoptees. Jazzi had contacted her birth mother and discovered her birth dad was dead. Dawn had yet to make the leap. At their regular book club meeting, Delaney, a friend, asked if Jazzi would meet another of her friends, Brie, about contacting her birth parents. Brie had some questions. The horror started after Brie had met her dad and then met his family. She was murdered.

Jazzi had had a bad experience in college with a boyfriend so she mostly avoided men and dating. Dawn was after her to maybe think about trying again. There seemed to be a couple of possibilities. Jazzi was busy and pretty happy with her life. She and Dawn lived in the two-bedroom apartment about the shop. It was small but very cute. They had decorated it with used things for the larger items; it made her happy. One day she found a tiny kitten under the staircase, and she and Dawn became cat moms. Shortly after, Oliver, a local restaurant/bar owner, brought her another kitten. He had heard about the first one and thought this one might be his sister. Now there were two. Jazzi had two immediate problems: how to bump up business at Tomes and how to solve Brie’s murder. Both had twists and turns along the way, but Jazzi was stubborn. She kept at it. What a fun beginning to a new series. Karen Rose Smith is a terrific cozy author so I have high hopes for it. She wrote a good mystery here and has compiled a cast of regulars that will make this series so much fun. Thanks Ms. Smith!

I was invited to read Murder Marks the Page by Kensington Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #KarenRoseSmith #MurderMarksThePage

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congratulations to beloved cozy author Karen Rose Smith on a wonderful new series. This series features her daughter Jazzy from the Daisy Teagarden Series. Jazzy is now a young adult and living in a new small town away from her family. She has opened a books and tea shop with her best friend. Jazzy is using her experience she gained from her Mother's tea shop to build the business. They have challenges making the buisness successful and are exploring marketing techniques together. They are good friends and both love their new business and want it to work. Dawn's parents want her out of the business and pressure her. They do not believe the women can make a success out of the small tea and books shop. Jazzy gained her independence since the Teagarden series and is learning to navigate life on her own. She speaks up for herself and this is a interesting transition from reading her personality in the earlier series. I like that Jazzy is finding her way as a young woman with ambition and her own business. The shop is charming and I hope they are in future books with the shop they love.

When a murder occurs Jazzy and Dawn are on the case. They also help a friend with contacting her birth Mother as Jazzy has experience with finding her own birth Mother. The sleuth kept me guessing to conclusion. The characters are well crafted and the author gave us a glimpse of them as successful business owners and a continued solid friendship. I love how this author's books have a theme of kindness, morals and supporting friends and neighbors. The author always incorporates plants and nature into her books and I enjoyed that aspect of this new series. This was a most enjoyable read that I highly recommend for all cozy readers. I look forward to the next in series.