Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble

Tea by the Sea Mysteries #7

by Vicki Delany

When Cape Cod tearoom owner Lily Roberts finds a group conducting a séance in her grandmother’s Victorian B&B, she has no idea the trouble that’s about to be conjured up . . .

When Lily stumbles across five middle-aged women gathered in a dark corner of the tearoom for a “book club,” she firmly reminds them that the inn’s no-smoking policy also applies to their oddly ritualistic candles. As they head outside, Lily overhears them chalking their bad luck up to the absence of their leader, Katya. Whatever they’re doing, it certainly isn’t reading—and their cover is starting to sound like weak tea . . .
While they enjoy Lily’s homemade banana bread the next morning, they make their intentions clear—grilling Lily about any past paranormal activity in the cliffside mansion. Their attempts to contact spirits have been falling flat, it seems, and the mysterious Katya is catching the heat. Levelheaded Lily thinks the real reason is that there’s no such thing as ghosts.

But Lily’s pal Bernie has found another the half-baked spirit-seekers have the wrong house. The haunted reputation belongs to the place next door—where Lily’s gardener boyfriend is currently staying. But before they can inform the luckless ladies, the missing medium shows up—dead on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. Now, Lily has two serving afternoon tea, and solving a murder before someone else gets sent to the great beyond . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Cozy, Romance

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2026

About the author

“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.

She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany

Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)

Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com

Reviews

[Elodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for this advanced readers copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my gosh, how I wish I could go to Victoria-On-Sea for a week! This B&B sounds like such a cozy place to relax 😎

Now, before you read this review, please know that this book is the 7th in the series. Don't let that prevent you from jumping right in and picking up this book though! Prior to coming across this on NetGalley, I had never heard of this series, but not reading the previous books didn't cause any issues whatsoever. While I obviously didn't have all the background information on the characters, I feel like what was needed to know to understand this story, was reiterated. In terms of the mystery, this mystery is a stand alone and does not connect to any of the previous books!

For anyone that knows me, you know I am a huge sucker for cozy mysteries and this one didn't disappoint! As I previously mentioned, Cape Cod and Victoria-On-Sea came across as such a cozy and beautiful spot to go on vacation. The author did such a good job setting such a welcoming setting that is easy to imagine yourself inside. I particularly loved that all the staff at the B&B interacted and knew their guests.

The thing I adored most about this story was the characters. There are quite a few of them that are frequently mentioned, but not so much that is overwhelming. All of the characters were distinct and had their own personalities, which I really appreciated. I also really liked that the group of friends seemed so real. They weren't afraid to push and challenge each other, but always had each other's backs when needed. Overall though, they just seemed like a fun group to hang out with!

In terms of the mystery, I had a lot of fun with it! I did go in expecting that Lily would play more of an amateur detective, but I found that Bernie did a lot of the background investigating, which wasn't really an issue. A lot of pieces regarding the mystery are also given through the detectives on the case, which I actually quite liked, since it gave the main characters more time to discuss different theories as they tried to work through it. Overall, I think the mystery was well done and allowed me to keep on guessing, even if I did correctly guess the culprit at the end.

In case you need another reason to check out this book, there is a super interesting ghost story, which I think added a fun touch! 👻

So, if you enjoy cozy mysteries with a fun cast of characters, I highly recommend you check this book out!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A failed seance that leads to two murders, sisterly deception, and multitude of secrets. Vicki Delany delivers another great installment in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries. Can you believe she's on #7 already? While writing at least 4 other series at the same time. Great setting in New England with a history of witches and ghosts. Makes for a darkly fun story!

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#BubbleBubbleTeaandTrouble #NetGalley is a delightful addition to this well written cozy mystery series.
Lily Roberts and her Grandmother are on alert with the new guests at the B & B , who like using candles in their rituals.
The only thing the women have in common is that they are all looking for the same thing, ghosts!
When Bernie learns that they have the wrong house, things begin to get worse.
Two dead women, who was thr intended target and why?
This is fast paced and filled with plenty of action to keep the reader guessing.

[Micky Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only I could vacation at Victoria by the Sea! I would love to meet Lily, Rose, Bernie and crew as well as enjoy staying in the Victorian home and having tea at The Tea Room. The characters are so intriguing and entertaining that you will keep waiting for the next book in the series, but the mystery that is plotted is the desert that you can't go without. This book in particular has a wonderful mystery plotted with twists and turns that will keep you guessing and the red herrings will keep you delightfully on the edge of your seat! I do recommend that you start with the first book in the series so you can get to know the characters better, but you can absolutely read this book as a standalone and still enjoy it. I personally feel that the enjoyment is enhanced by knowing the characters and watching them grow and develop into more fully fleshed out people. I am eagerly awaiting the next book to see what directions the characters will go in next!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am jumping into this series late, BUT it was so easy to do and I enjoyed this so much. The author did such a good job of making a delightful and cozy setting for both the guests and readers that I loved jumping right in and quickly got to know the sleuth and recurring characters (and adorable dog companion). This book was a lot of fun with humor along the way, even during the serious events. It moved quickly with plenty of twist and did a great job making the ghost hunting aspects feel truly creepy even to the non-believers. This was an ultimate cozy and I already am looking forward to returning!

Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble by Vicki Delany is a great cozy mystery that is the seventh book in one of my favorite series: Tea by the Sea Mysteries.

I have read all seven books now, and this series is as good this year as it was with book one. Lily, Rose, Bernie, Matt, Simon, and the rest of the cast are excellent characters with great banter and personality. The one-liners are perfect and their interactions are effortless.

The backdrop of Cape Cod is a personal draw for me, and I love every mention of the landscapes and weather.

This mystery was creative, had plenty of layers, had an excellent pace, and kept me interested throughout.

The recipes actually sound delicious and who doesn’t love the awesome Eclair?!?!

I love this series and cannot wait for more. Highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/28/26.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki Delany never disappoints.

This continues to be an enjoyable cozy mystery series, and I’m always impressed with Delany’s ability to give us more original and better structured mysteries than we typically get in most cozies.

This time around we have a spiritualist group visiting the shop and the B & B who are seeking to connect with the local haunts until someone connected to the group turns up dead. I didn’t buy Lily’s fearfulness of the supernatural, but I always appreciate her slightly exasperated manner of dealing with the bodies that keep turning up at her shop and around Rose’s inn.

I think Delany could stand to diversify the offerings at the tea shop a bit (the food and setting has gotten pretty repetitive), but that’s a minor gripe with an otherwise enjoyable read in a series that still manages to be entertaining and creative seven books in.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five women tried to hold a séance inside Rose’s Victorian B&B, and Lily’s first concern was the candle policy. Honestly, this is why she survives these books. Everyone else is trying to contact the dead, and Lily is standing there like, “Not if the spirits violate the fire code.” The women claim they are having a book club, except there are no books, the room is dark, and they are gathered around ritual candles waiting for their missing medium, Katya. Ladies, that cover story has the structural integrity of wet banana bread. Lily takes one look at the situation and knows they are absolutely not discussing the latest bestseller, but she also has afternoon tea to prepare and cannot spend all night supervising grown women who have decided the afterlife needs a group Zoom.

Then these women start questioning Lily over breakfast about paranormal activity in the house, because apparently homemade banana bread now comes with complimentary access to the innkeeper’s ghost records. Lily does not believe in ghosts. Bernie, naturally, is ready to investigate before anyone has even swallowed. Bernie has the exact personality type that hears “haunted house” and immediately starts deciding what outfit she wants to wear while trespassing.

The best part is that they have the wrong house. They booked an entire séance weekend at Rose’s B&B, only for Bernie to discover that the allegedly haunted property is next door, where Simon is currently staying. This is the paranormal equivalent of arriving for a wedding at the wrong church, except everyone brought candles and unresolved emotional baggage.

And then Katya finally shows up at the bottom of the cliff, very dead and very much not available to lead the evening session. Cape Cod apparently cannot let Lily steep one peaceful pot of tea without dropping a body somewhere nearby. Katya was drowned before she ended up on the rocks, which means the weekend has officially moved from “mildly embarrassing spiritual retreat” to “everybody hand over your phones.”

Now all five women are suspects, husbands start appearing with questions and deeply suspicious levels of concern, and every guest at the B&B has the energy of someone who absolutely left something important off the registration form. Nobody needs to summon the dead because the living cannot stop generating secrets. Sister problems, marriage problems, old grudges, missing information. This group brought enough emotional chaos to haunt the house themselves.

Lily remains the only person behaving like she has ever heard of consequences. She does not break into locked rooms, steal evidence, or wander into obvious danger wearing shoes with no traction. She asks questions, notices when stories do not line up, and tells Detective Redmond what she finds. Meanwhile, Bernie is treating the murder like bonus research material and Rose is far too interested in the possibility that the neighbors may have ghosts.

Simon continues to be the kind of boyfriend who accepts that dating Lily means murder may interrupt lunch. He is staying in the supposedly haunted house, helping with food, and generally acting like none of this is especially alarming. At this point, a transparent Victorian child could float through the garden holding a bloody teacup and Simon would probably ask whether Lily needed more scones plated.

I just started this series with book six, Tea with Jam & Dread, so coming back to Cape Cod felt like finally meeting Lily in her natural habitat. The castle in England had aristocrats, heirlooms, and fancy murder. Rose’s B&B has séance tourists, neighborhood gossip, and women lying over breakfast pastries. Different location, same exhausting refusal by everyone around Lily to behave normally.

There is also something weirdly tender under all the nonsense. These women came looking for the dead because something in their lives felt unfinished. Then one of them actually dies, and suddenly all the fake rituals and dramatic candlelight do not seem funny anymore. Grief makes people strange. Fear makes them stranger.

This was 3.5 stars for me. The amateur occultists were exactly the kind of messy suspects I wanted, Bernie remained physically incapable of treating danger like a reason to go home, and Lily kept serving food while quietly realizing half her guests might have motive. Some answers arrived a little faster than I wanted, but I stayed happily suspicious of anyone holding either a candle or a marital grievance.

Whodunity Award: For Booking a Relaxing Séance Weekend and Accidentally Summoning Two Murders, Several Husbands, and a Full Police Investigation

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You gave me ritual candles, banana bread, a corpse below a cliff, and a B&B full of women who should never again be allowed to describe their gathering as a book club.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily owns Tea by the Sea, a teahouse that serves real English teas. It's adjacent to her grandmother Rose's B&B, where Lily makes the breakfasts for the guests. But on this night, Rose has asked Lily to check out the B&B, because she thinks current guests are going against the rules -- and she's right. Five women are in the house with lit candles trying to do what Lily doesn't know and doesn't care -- and tells them the no smoking rule applies to candles.

While most of the women are very nice about it, one seems irritated, and she blames someone named Katya who never showed up to lead their 'book group'. But it's not long after that Katya's body is discovered on the rocks below, and the police determine that it wasn't an accident, and she was drowned.

Now everyone staying at the B&B is a suspect. Two of the women's husbands show up, and they aren't happy about the situation, but stay anyway to support their wives. Lily wonders if either of them are the guilty party, but doesn't want to get involved.

Lily does discover that the women think the B&B is haunted by ghosts, but both she and her grandmother know this is hogwash. Her best friend Bernie, however, does some digging and finds out that it's the house next door -- home to Bernie's boyfriend Matt, a successful true crime writer, who has the 'ghosts' lingering about. With Bernie and Rose wanting to know more, they're surprised when a woman shows up and complicates the situation...

Now Lily is trying to figure out not only what is going on, but which person had the best motive to want to kill...

This is the seventh book in the series and I have read them all. This one is one of the best of those. Lily is once again involved in a murder situation where she doesn't want to be, and she's not getting as much information as she usually does. But are there ghosts? Lily doesn't believe in them, but Bernie does. Finding the truth isn't going to be easy, but the two women are determined to do so. Even if one of them might just be in danger...

I really loved the plot of this one. (As a side note, I do believe in ghosts, but I won't elaborate why). I love that Lily is so level-headed and doesn't get flustered or do anything illegal, and she shares what information that she does find with Detective Redmond as soon as possible. The two women are learning respect for each other. I also enjoy the fact that Lily is finding her way with her British boyfriend, who is their gardener, and sometime-helper of Lily in preparing food for the next days' teas.

There's a lot going on here, and finding clues isn't easy, although they are there. I had suspicions of the murderer before Lily did, but then again, I read a lot of mysteries; still, it's always fun to watch her come to her conclusion in finding the truth, and the climax was worth reading the entire book for.

I don't want to say anything else in order not to ruin the book for others, but in the end, this is a welcome addition to the series, and I would highly recommend that others read this.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

[Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

📱📖 Read on Kobo 📃 304 pages ⏱ Duration: 4 hours
Genre: Cozy Mystery 🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Cozies (ARC by NetGalley)

There is something about a Vicki Delany book that I can only consider a spell. Not the abracadabra kind. The kind where you open to the first page and suddenly the rest of your day just... isn't happening. Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble pulled that off again, just like the previous seven books in the series.

I read this almost without a break, because I could not put it down long enough to do anything else. I needed to know what Bernie was going to dig up next. I needed to sit in the kitchen while Edna and Rose traded their usual barbs. I wanted to be a fly on the wall during Katya's séance, and I definitely wanted to hear Amy Redmond tell everyone to stay out of her investigation right before showing up for tea anyway (both literally and figuratively).

Here's what struck me most about this seventh installment: the mystery doesn't feel manufactured. Lily and her circle aren't racing around playing detective. They're just noticing things. Clues land more like a happenstance rather than getting chased down, and that restraint is what makes the whole thing feel real. You could imagine doing exactly what Lily or Bernie does, because most of us aren't trained investigators. We're just people who pay attention, more or less, when the situation calls for it, and researches online.

The supernatural thread running through this one is genuinely eerie, not gimmicky. The echoes between the present-day death and something from the past gave me actual chills, and Lily's own unease didn't surprise me. She's lived in that house for years without a single ghost sighting, and she knows perfectly well Katya is a fraud. And yet. There's a difference between knowing something isn't real and still feeling creepy about it, and Delany nails that gap.

Seven books in and this series hasn't lost a single step. If anything it's gotten more confident. Vicki Delany, please write faster. I am begging.

Would I recommend it?
Without hesitation. This is exactly the kind of cozy that reminds you why you fell for this author's writing in the first place: warm, funny, a little spooky, and completely un-put-downable. If you've read any of the earlier Tea by the Sea books, this one delivers everything you're hoping for. If you haven't, honestly, what are you waiting for? Mark July 28th on your calendar, because this one is worth the wait and then some.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The minute people start lighting candles in a Victorian B&B and calling it a book club, you already know somebody is going to end up dead. Vicki Delany’s Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble had me ready for tea, ghosts, and a whole lot of bad decisions. Kensington Cozies, thank you so much for the gifted copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“There’s no such thing as ghosts.”

Lily Roberts is just trying to keep things running between her tearoom and her grandmother Rose’s B&B when a group of women arrives claiming they’re there for a book club. They are definitely not discussing books. They’re holding séances, hunting for spirits, and asking far too many questions about whether the house is haunted.

Lily, being the practical one, thinks the whole thing is nonsense. Bernie is much more willing to believe something supernatural could be happening, and their different reactions added some of my favorite moments in the story.

Then a woman is found dead at the bottom of the cliff, and the ghost hunt suddenly becomes a murder investigation. Between mistaken identities, family secrets, suspicious guests, and plenty of red herrings, I kept changing my mind about who was responsible.

What keeps me coming back to this series is the cast. Lily is smart and grounded, Bernie always brings humor, Simon is steady and dependable, and Rose keeps life interesting. Spending time with them feels like visiting old friends.

I also love the Cape Cod setting. The tearoom, homemade treats, ocean views, and cozy B&B create the perfect backdrop for a mystery. It all feels wonderfully relaxing…until someone winds up dead.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with memorable characters, seaside settings, amateur sleuths, light romance, and just a touch of paranormal fun, this series is well worth picking up.

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Drink Pairing: A London Fog tea latte—warm, comforting, and just mysterious enough for a story filled with séances, secrets, and murder by the sea.

Have you ever read a cozy mystery that made you want to book a vacation to the setting?

#BubbleBubbleTeaAndTrouble #VickiDelany #TeaByTheSeaMysteries #KensingtonCozies #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #MysteryBooks #CapeCod #TeaLovers #BooksCoffeeBrews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubble, Bubble, Tea, and Trouble by Vicki Delany takes the reader back to Victoria-by-the Sea on Cape Cod, where the newest group of guests is... ready? Ghost-hunting. Yes. Correct. They were a varied group of women, a variety of ages and perceived wealth. It seems the actual leader has broken her leg, but the substitute leader, Lori, claims to be in constant touch and they will continue forward. The first evening they lighted candles and tried to summon a ghost but Lily, at her grandmother’s request, had come and asked them to extinguish the candles so they moved outside. It was a little blustery so the candles didn’t stay lit well. Lily and Simon were walking the dog when they peered over the cliff edge to see a body on the rocks. Lily called 911 while Simon descended to try help. She was beyond help but as her body was being transported to the ambulance, a wind arose and her hair fluttered and her arm, with bracelets, fell off the gurney, allowing Lori to identify the body. It was the leader that supposedly had a broken leg. Things get stranger.

Terrific book. Lily is a very conservative character who really tries to mind her own business. That doesn’t always happen. She is a baker and has her own tea shop on the grounds of her grandmother’s B & B. She has a boyfriend, the English gardener, Simon. She has a best friend, Bernie, a woman who left her life in the city to move here to write a novel. There are additional peripheral characters who round out the cast, all interesting in their own ways. Like many cozies, this is a continuing story which makes it so much easier to get to know cast members in depth. This makes each story even better. These characters make it better. Good read.

I was invited to read Bubble, Bubble, Tea, and Trouble by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #VickiDelany #BubbleBubbleTeaAndTrouble

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to lead with I was disappointed in this book because despite the title, it has nothing to do with Halloween. I understand the use of the spiritual tagline given the book is about ghost hunting, but I was disappointed the book takes place over several spring evenings with nary a pumpkin to be found.

A group of women has come to Rose Campbell's B&B on the Cape to search for supposed ghosts. Lily, her granddaughter and chef de breakfast, doesn't believe in such nonsense but paying guests are paying guests. However, when they disrupt the rules by lighting candles in the B&B, a no no for fire hazard reasons, Lily learns that their guide has bailed on them and the women are trying to salvage the trip. When Lily finds a dead body the next morning, who apparently looks like their missing in action guide, the women are obviously distraught. Even more so when the guide magically appears claiming not to be dead and it was her twin sister that sailed over the cliff. Was it murder or an accident? And who is to blame when the correct guide meets the same fate?

I enjoy these books for the tea offerings and the mystery. Unfortunately, I felt like this book went on too long and as I said, I was looking forward to a Halloween cozy based on the title. Ms. Delany is a talented writer and I am impressed at the variety of plot twists she is able to come up with given her extensive catalogue of work. However, this was not one of my favorites but still worthy of four stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding guests sat together in a corner isn't unusual in a Victorian B&B unless, of course, candles are lit and they are trying to contact the spirits of the dearly departed! Lily Roberts, tearoom owner and granddaughter of Rose, who owns the B&B, didn't think she would have any more than the normal amount of contact with these slightly unusual guests, until a body is found on the beach beneath her clifftop business! As the ghost hunters continue looking for paranormal activity, especially around Lily’s friend Matt's house the local police advise them to step back! Unable to find a reason for the death the four friends reluctantly decide to accept police advice and stop investigating until there is a second death and, once again, their expertise is needed!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. This was so good, I loved the concept and, even though the paranormal is a common trope in crime fiction, there was much more going on here. The part written novel Lily’s best friend, Bernie, is forever trying to finish, gets a bigger part than usual, while her boyfriend Simon isn't as involved this time round, and Lily’s staff at the tearoom are, once again, a pleasure to read about. Recommended.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steep a pot of tea and settle in—Cape Cod is calling again. I was delighted to return to Cape Cod in Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble by Vicki Delany. The author’s vivid descriptions made it easy to picture the seaside setting, and I loved spending time with the charming cast of characters, including Lily Roberts, Rose, Bernie, Simon, and Matt. Their banter and easy back-and-forth gave the story a cozy, lively feel. The mystery was creative, action-filled, and moved along at a steady clip, with a failed séance, two murders, hidden secrets, and plenty of layers to untangle. It was a fun whodunit to solve, complete with clues to spot and red herrings to chase. The ghost hunters staying at the B&B added a playful splash of humor, while Bernie’s struggle to finish her book brought in a relatable thread. I do hope Bernie wraps up that book soon, because it would be a wonderful chance for her character to grow. Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble is the seventh book in the A Tea by the Sea Mystery series, but it can easily be read on its own. That said, I recommend enjoying this charming series in order—and this one was my favorite yet. Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble is a spirited, cozy treat with just the right amount of mischief in the teacup.

[Robin Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin, let me thank Kensington Publishing Corp. and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is my first foray into the “Tea by the Sea” mystery series by Vicki Delany. I was unaware at the time there are six other novels with the same theme. Nicely done however, I was able to pick up this installment and enjoy it as a stand-alone book.

I enjoyed the location setting in the book of Cape Cod, which lends a nice atmosphere for the premise of ghosty things. I thought going in there would be more of a Halloween theme since the title leads me to thoughts of witches. This did not occur, however, and it wasn’t even set in the season, so it gives me pause as to the title choice.

It’s a twisty novel with unexpected developments. I didn’t foresee the ending! Good writing by author Delany keeps you guessing.

I did observe there wasn’t too much character development in this book. Perhaps because it’s already been covered in previous installments.

There’s a lot to pull from the novel but it all works together. Sisterly animosity, murder, greed, ghosts, detective work…all this to keep you guessing.

I believe the reader can enjoy this book on its own, but knowing there are previous introductory novels ahead of it, I’d go back and begin at the beginning.

Happy reading!

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always fun to take a trip to Victoria-on-Sea on Cape Cod. Since it is just the beginning of the season, the gardens are just starting to look lovely, the Teashop is just starting to get busy, and the B & B is almost full. Lilly is optimistic, Simon is back for the gardens, and their relationship is progressing, Bernie and Matt are working hard on their books, and Rose is Rose. When a group is caught having a seance in the house, Lilly discovers that the group, though missing their leader, who broke her leg, is convinced there are ghosts in the house. Unfortunately, when Lilly and Simon head to the B & B's kitchen the next morning, they see a body over the cliffs. When the ghost hunter group identify the body as their missing leader, can they figure out what is going on??? Where has she been? How did she die? Who wanted her gone? When the death is definitely determined to be murder, can our crew figure out what happened. As always, we get some nice twists, interesting information, and delicious treats. You will definitely enjoy a trip to the Cape, and by the sea! Thanks to #Netgally, #KensingtonCozies, and the author for an opportunity to read! #BubbleBubbleTea&Trouble #TeabytheSeaMysteries #VickiDelany #bookreview ##bookideas #retiredreader

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This cozy series features former NY pastry chef Lily Roberts who is running a tea shop in New England and helping her grandmother with her B&B. The cast of characters includes Lily, her best friend Bernie, her boyfriend Simon and various co-workers, police officers and neighbors.

This time out the B&B is invaded by a group of women looking for paranormal activity in the old houses on the oceanfront. The leader of the tour is a no-show after allegedly breaking her leg, so one of the tour members takes over. The members of the tour each have a back story and there is one skeptic who is actually writing a book debunking their activity.

The group wafts around at midnight, lighting candles and joining in a circle. But when a woman's body is found at the base of the oceanside cliff, things suddenly become more serious.

These books are pleasant, with a bit of humor and some interesting plots. There's not much in the way of character development but they are entertaining cozies with a unique setting. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cindy Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 7th book of Vicki Delany's Tea by the Sea mysteries, Lily, her friends and her grandmother have returned from their visit to England in the last book. Things have been relatively calm. The bed and breakfast and Lily's tea house are beginning to get busier as summer approaches. Then Lily finds a group of women with candles holding some sort of seance in the bed and breakfast. This sets off a series of events that ends with two deaths, lots of secrets uncovered, and Lily and her friend Bernie in danger as Lily reluctantly gets involved in yet another murder.

These books are always some of my favorites and this one is no different. Lily's budding romance, her friendship with Bernie, her relationship with her grandmother, even the growing "friendship" with the local police detective, all in a perfect setting in Cape Cod, make these fun to read even with the murders to solve. But the murders are always cleverly plotted and it's fun to watch Lily and Bernie gather information and put together the clues.

If you've read other Tea by the Sea books, you'll like this one too!

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble is the 7th book in Vicki Delany's Tea by the Sea Mysteries and it is a great addition to the series. Lily Roberts owns Tea by the Sea, a tea shop next to her Grandmother Rose's B&B Victoria-On-Sea. Lily helps Rose at the B&B too. The B&B has a group staying who are on a ghost hunting tour and they believe the B&B is haunted. When they find out it isn't haunted they focus on the house next door. The group organizer Katya didn't arrive with the group so one of the others takes the lead. When a body is found nearby dead, the problems begin! Lily, her boyfriend Simon, best friend Bernadette (Bernie), and friend Matt do some investigating but end up going in circles. They are a good group of friends. The suspects are the tour group who also had a couple of husbands show up. The cozy mystery kept me guessing. I really enjoy this series and the characters and I look forward to more books. #BubbleBubbleTeaAndTrouble #TeaByTheSeaMysteries #KensingtonCozies #KensingtonCreatorHQ #NetGalley

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily’s pal Bernie doing her edits on her manuscript was cracking me up because she seemed to be doing what everyone does when a not-so-fun job is facing you: she does everything except what she’s supposed to be doing, lol. Bernie gets squirreled away easily enough as it is! And Lily always manages to get dragged into the investigation when all she wants to do is cook and bake for her grandma’s B&B and the tearoom.

When a group of ghost-loving women showed up as guests and their leader seemed to’ve ghosted them (pun totally intended), one of the women took over as leader until the tour leader showed up eventually. Things went sideways from there on out, speculations were made about an accident that seemed like a murder, and Bernie actually did come up with some good info. That led to a pretty exciting showdown where the perp actually needed rescuing, imagine that! Only in North Augusta!

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

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose is hosting a group of women at the B&B who seem to be looking for ghosts. It was interesting to me that the term used was ghost hunters when the women seemed to be more focused on the seance and spiritualist aspect rather than modern ghost hunters with equipment.
Lily gets involved because the women need direction on where they can hold a seance.
Two deaths occur. The path to find answers is highly convoluted. Lily and Bernie eventually stumble upon answers.
It is always fun to visit Lily’s tea room and Cape Cod. I love the direction that Lily and Simon’s relationship is taking. Bernie is finally making good progress on her novel.
I noticed anew that Lily makes delicious food for others but often eats frozen dinners and frozen pizza. That is a bit sad to me. It seems like a chef should enjoy good food in life outside work. But it’s the way Vicki has written Lily.
Tea by the Sea are mysteries that always pull me in.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington cozies for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of the book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest book in the Tea By the Sea mystery series. Our characters are once again back at home after having traveled to England for the previous mystery. I enjoyed the characters being back at home so we also have Detectives Redmond and Williams, Edna the breakfast assistant and Lily can be back in her beloved tea shop. In this book, we get a psychic or a maybe psychic, lots of B and B guests with secrets and Bernie trying once again to finish her book. I always enjoy a visit to Cape Cod with these characters and this book was no different. Lily and her friends were drawn into the mystery, there were lots of red herrings and the mystery was a fun challenge to figure out. This is a great summer read and a fun tea shop mystery. I look forward to reading more from Vicki Delany. She has definitely become a favorite author of mine!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily is the owner of a tea shop on Cape Cod, next to her grandmother Rose’s B&B. A group of five women are together for a tour, but when Lily finds them sitting in a circle with lit candles and lets them know that flames are forbidden in the B&B, she realizes they are looking for ghosts. The medium who was supposed to lead the group isn’t there, but the members are trying to go ahead on their own. When Lily and Simon find a body on the beach beneath the cliffs, there is more drama, mistaken identity, and then a second death. Was it an accident or a second murder? Between the sleuthing, the tea still needs to be served and food baked. Lily’s friend, Bernie, is under pressure to actually finish the book she’s writing, but keeps getting distracted by investigating.
It’s always fun following Lily, Bernie, Simon, Max, and Rose in their adventures. The setting is lovely and the mystery did keep me guessing.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

[S Mille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily’s grandmother owns a B&B in Cape Cod. One evening she asks Lily to check on a group; she smells smoke. Turns out the five ladies are having a seance of sorts, complete with forbidden candles. Unfortunately, their leader, the mysterious Katya (mysterious as no one had actually met her in person), reportedly has broken her leg and thus is unable to attend, so the rest of the group is winging it. Missing, that is, until her body is found on the rocks below.

This is a fairly typical cozy mystery - light, but a lot of fun. It is the seventh in a series; while I would have appreciated a little more info about the backgrounds of the characters, there was enough for me to keep up with the story. The setting sounds lovely - I’m ready to book a vacation to Cape Cod.

Recommended - I’ve added the previous books in the series to my TBR pile. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

[Nicole Whiteaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder has struck again at Lily’s grandmother’s B&B. Five ladies who have come to the B&B in search of ghosts are involved in the murder. Lily and her crew need to clear the B&B’s name and of course help to find who committed the murder.

I liked this book more than the others because the grandmother holds less of a role. I didn’t realize how much I didn’t like the grandma until this book. She is a snarky old lady who is just kind of stuck up and not my cup of tea 😊

Bernie’s, how is Lily’s best friend, left her job back in book 1 to become a writer. I also wondering who Bernie survived since she didn’t have an income. Well the author shined a light on that story line in this book. I enjoy when author’s tie in the back stories, those are what make a great cozy mystery.

I highly recommend this book. I was stumped for sure on this mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC. Opinions are all my own.

[Julie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader copy of Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble in exchange for my honest review. The book is set to release 7/28.

The newest book in Vicki Delany’s Tea by the Sea series is a cozy mystery that is just right. I enjoyed that despite not reading the previous books in the series, I didn’t feel like I missed huge parts of the story. The book begins with a middle aged ‘book club’ that I just had to know more about. A dead body appears on the rocks at the bottom of the cliff just behind the B&B where the majority of the story takes places. We follow Lily, the granddaughter of the B&B owner, as she helps at the B&B, runs her own tea room and of course tries to solve the murder with her friend, Bernie. Bernie is an absolute hoot and was my favorite character. The book wraps up nicely and sets the stage for more stories around the Victoria By The Sea B&B.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble is the seventh cozy mystery in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries series. Lily stumbled upon a ‘book club’ that is searching for spirits at her grandmother’s B&B one night. After crossing paths with them things quickly go down hill. When two people connected to the group turn up dead there is no doubt something unseemly is afoot. Determined to figure out what is going on in their town, Lily and her friends work to put the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out the truth.

I have read this series since the beginning and love the setting and characters. This mystery pulled me in from the beginning and I enjoyed the ride as the mystery unfolded. The spiritual element was a fun addition to this story line and I like how it all played out. Lily is a good lead character and I love following along with her and her friends. This was another good cozy mystery in this series and I look forward to what comes next for this group.

[Emma Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily helps her grandmother at her B&B and has to cater to a group of spiritualists trying to communicate with the dead. A little strange but things soon grow stranger when their leader is found dead on the beach. Or was it really their leader?

I know Vicki Delany is a household name in cosy mystery and I greatly enjoyed her short-lived Catskill Summer Resort cosy mysteries (basically Dirty Dancing with murder) but this fell completely flat for me - the main suspect puts on a Russian accent for the entire book and and that’s pretty much the only thing we’re told about anyone. I was hoping for lots of tea descriptions and atmospheric writing but I found none. I highly recommend the Teashop Mysteries instead which have tons of richly described tea scenes.

So boring. Perhaps the earlier books in the series are better?

My endless thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy the escapades of Lily and her buddy Bernie, balancing their jobs, relationships, and murders that just fall in their lap. A "book club" which turns out to be middle-aged women trying to make contact with spirits, books rooms at the B&B, and yet it is never mentioned that there have been 5 murders at that location in recent history. The women are each interesting with complicated backstories that Bernie discovers bit by bit through her online hacking. No one seems to be what they appear to be, which makes everyone suspect after a body is found. The side characters in this series always make me chuckle and keep things light. This was a nice palate cleanser for me in between reading some darker books, and made me crave a tea house.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy.