Vanilla Vendetta

A Penny Hawthorne Cozy Mystery #2

by Fiona Grace

“A great story of murder, romance, new beginnings, love, friendships and a wonderful cascade of mystery.”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

VANILLA A PENNY HAWTHORNE COZY MYSTERY (BOOK #2) is the second book in a new cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace, #1 bestselling author of Murder in the Manor, which has over 10,000 five star reviews!

Penelope “Penny” Hawthorne, an herbalist with a knack for creating unique teas, travels to exotic locations worldwide to source only the best and rarest herbs and roots.

But when an aromatic tea blend for a Venetian masquerade ball becomes Penny's latest commission, she never expects to pour over clues in a murder case.

When the host of the ball is found dead amid the revelry, Penny steeps herself into the investigation, navigating through a labyrinth of masked suspects—and brewing romance—to uncover the truth.

Dive into the charm of the Penny Hawthorne series, a cozy mystery filled with clever humor and captivating quirkiness that transports you to far-flung locales. Combining comedic elements with emotional depth and surprising twists, this series promises to introduce you to a delightful new hero who's set to capture your affection and captivate you well into the night.

Future books in the series are also available!

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!"
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The story line wasn't just a who done it, but had a story about her life and romance, including village life. Very entertaining.”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“It has endearing and sometimes quirky characters, a plot that keeps you reading and the right amount of romance. I can’t wait to start book two!”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“What a great story of murder, romance, new beginnings, love, friendships and a wonderful cascade of mystery.”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This is a clean contemporary romance that you will find hard to put down!”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Always, Forever)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A bit of romance and a very determined woman! I have read many of Fiona Grace's novels and loved every one of them—this was no exception. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this new series!”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Always, With You)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Amazon

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Debut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Kathy Dryden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful blend of mystery, romance, and family ties, this story is a true page‑turner. Penny’s love for crafting her unique tea blends is as endearing as her knack for solving the mysteries that seem to find her. Detective Lucas Bennett is determined to prove they can balance his demanding job with a real relationship, and watching him try is half the fun. With its small‑town warmth, gentle suspense, and a touch of budding romance, this is exactly what a cozy mystery should be.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are good stories, but the hyperbole and similes are a bit much. The characters are quite interesting, the romance between Penny and the Interpol detective is heating up, the plot is easily followed, and the premise is finding out who killed the Contessa and why. The answers are hard won, but worthy of our reading.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penny got caught up in another murder after she discoveries the body. And of course, Daniel pops up and still trying to see if they can get back together. Lucas also saves the day! A light cozy mystery and in this book its less cliches like in the first book

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

I have read some of Fiona Grace's other mysteries and enjoyed them, but this one didn't meet my expectations. The characters seem is bit flat and not engaging. So only 2 stars.

[mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Strange Pairing

Penny and an Interpol detective go round and round in the canals of Venice chasing a murderer who was sporned in love by the contessa. The twists and turns as Penny and Lucas try to unravel this mystery will keep you turning the pages as quickly as possible.

[Zee]

(Rating and possibly review coming later.)

[Susan Spraker · Rating 5 out of 5]

can’t wait to read the next one

Can’t wait to read the next mystery in the series. It’s nice to see. She made peace with her ex-husband. It was also good to see more of her brother.

[Liza · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll claim that I finished it but I skipped a couple of chapters. The lead is airy-fairy and didn't engage my interest.

[Deborah Sortland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring series