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Sunny Side Up Mysteries #3
A Pinch of Assault
Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner, where the jukeboxes jive and the secrets thrive...
With things at her Sunny Side Up Diner sailing along smoothly for once, Jax Tapman has turned her attention to her personal life. It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother in person. And while Jax isn't totally certain she’s up to the challenge, she agrees to show Eliot’s mom around a local retirement home. It sounds innocent enough, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell the woman on the idea of moving to be closer to her son. But instead of making her case, when Jax enters the model apartment, she and her potential in-law find one dead body and a whole lot of secrets!
Suddenly it’s up to Jax to discover who the retirement home killer is—a task that only gets harder when someone from Eliot's past shows up and might know far more about the crime than she’s letting on.
The Sunny Side Up Diner is jumping with gossip, Jax and her best friend Dani are running interference, and Eliot’s mom is calling all the shots. But sorting out chaos and minimizing damage is something Jax has grown accustomed to, if she can only get a clue.
"This new series is off to a great start. Misty does an excellent job showing readers all the details of the small town, the diner, and a cast of entertaining characters."
~ Kings River Life Magazine
"Readers cannot help but fall in love with this first book!!! Simon has you laughing out loud... I, for one, look forward to more books in the series!!!!"
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
With things at her Sunny Side Up Diner sailing along smoothly for once, Jax Tapman has turned her attention to her personal life. It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother in person. And while Jax isn't totally certain she’s up to the challenge, she agrees to show Eliot’s mom around a local retirement home. It sounds innocent enough, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell the woman on the idea of moving to be closer to her son. But instead of making her case, when Jax enters the model apartment, she and her potential in-law find one dead body and a whole lot of secrets!
Suddenly it’s up to Jax to discover who the retirement home killer is—a task that only gets harder when someone from Eliot's past shows up and might know far more about the crime than she’s letting on.
The Sunny Side Up Diner is jumping with gossip, Jax and her best friend Dani are running interference, and Eliot’s mom is calling all the shots. But sorting out chaos and minimizing damage is something Jax has grown accustomed to, if she can only get a clue.
"This new series is off to a great start. Misty does an excellent job showing readers all the details of the small town, the diner, and a cast of entertaining characters."
~ Kings River Life Magazine
"Readers cannot help but fall in love with this first book!!! Simon has you laughing out loud... I, for one, look forward to more books in the series!!!!"
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pinch of Assault is a delightful cozy mystery that combines an intriguing whodunit with plenty of humor and memorable characters. One of the things I enjoyed most was the mystery itself. The clues are cleverly woven throughout the story, making it fun to follow along and try to solve the case before the final reveal.
The characters are another highlight. As the story unfolds, readers get to know them better, and their relationships add warmth and depth to the plot. The main character is engaging and relatable, and the supporting cast brings plenty of charm and personality to every scene.
What truly sets this book apart is its sense of humor. The witty dialogue and amusing situations keep the story light and entertaining, even as the mystery becomes more complicated. The balance of suspense and comedy makes for a very enjoyable reading experience.
Overall, A Pinch of Assault is a charming cozy mystery that offers an engaging puzzle, lovable characters, and lots of laughs. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a touch of humor and a strong sense of community.
Thanks to the author for allowing me to be an early reader and to review this book
The characters are another highlight. As the story unfolds, readers get to know them better, and their relationships add warmth and depth to the plot. The main character is engaging and relatable, and the supporting cast brings plenty of charm and personality to every scene.
What truly sets this book apart is its sense of humor. The witty dialogue and amusing situations keep the story light and entertaining, even as the mystery becomes more complicated. The balance of suspense and comedy makes for a very enjoyable reading experience.
Overall, A Pinch of Assault is a charming cozy mystery that offers an engaging puzzle, lovable characters, and lots of laughs. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries with a touch of humor and a strong sense of community.
Thanks to the author for allowing me to be an early reader and to review this book
September 29, 2026
This is the third book in this series, and I absolutely loved it. I'm looking forward to reading more with these characters.
October 4, 2026
Misty Simon creates some of the most relatable and interesting characters. This is my first time reading a Sunny Side Up mystery, but it will not be my last. In fact, I have added the two previous books to my TBR list but not because I need to know what happened before A Pinch of Assault to be able to follow the story but because I want know how Jax Tapman and her bff Dani were able to realize their dream of owning and operating the diner where they waitresses as kids. I also want to learn how she and Eliot Taylor, a former detective turned classically trained chef who now works at Jax’s Aunt Hildy’s swanky restaurant but also enjoys making swoon worthy pancakes at the Diner in a pinch became a super sweet and supportive couple.
This latest mystery involves Eliot’s mom, Dorothy “Dot” Taylor and her relocation to the Jolly Oaks retirement village. This will be Jax’s first time meeting where Maureen, former cop partner to Eliot and now an investigator working with a less than reputable attorney is looking into possible fraud at the same location. It seems that all sorts of havoc is going on at the village. It has become a regular wild west since recent widow Elizabeth McMillan has decided to sell the place to a corporation. So of course, that is where the victim is found and the group must work through the clues to solve the crime. Each character is so unique and different that I was drawn into the story by the sweet and sassy Jax, the smart and supportive Eliot, the ride and not die Dani, and last but by no means least, the organizational guru Dot. Dani has quite the clue gathering and organizing system, starting with the spy spindle but wait until you read about Dot’s tackle box. Dot was not a police officer like her son, but she did spend 40 years as a front desk worker who excelled at triaging incidents calls.
As with all cozy mysteries, there is always more than one puzzle to be solved and more than one suspect including Maureen, who has known Eliot since they were kids. Normally, Jax would be able to get great intel from the police chief, he is her dad after all and respects her sleuthing abilities, but her parents are on a cruise, so contact is a little limited. Does this get in the way of this gang of crime solvers? Absolutely not! Jax even finds a way to cover a shift at the Diner by having Eliot stand in at the grill. Rumor has it that he makes some amazing pancakes using his great grandmother’s recipe. I really enjoyed all of the positivity of the story and the interactions between the characters. The clues were well placed, and the plot flowed with the turn of each page. I could not put the book down and I also couldn’t stop chuckling. I was able to figure out who the killer was but only towards the end of this thoroughly delightful story.
This latest mystery involves Eliot’s mom, Dorothy “Dot” Taylor and her relocation to the Jolly Oaks retirement village. This will be Jax’s first time meeting where Maureen, former cop partner to Eliot and now an investigator working with a less than reputable attorney is looking into possible fraud at the same location. It seems that all sorts of havoc is going on at the village. It has become a regular wild west since recent widow Elizabeth McMillan has decided to sell the place to a corporation. So of course, that is where the victim is found and the group must work through the clues to solve the crime. Each character is so unique and different that I was drawn into the story by the sweet and sassy Jax, the smart and supportive Eliot, the ride and not die Dani, and last but by no means least, the organizational guru Dot. Dani has quite the clue gathering and organizing system, starting with the spy spindle but wait until you read about Dot’s tackle box. Dot was not a police officer like her son, but she did spend 40 years as a front desk worker who excelled at triaging incidents calls.
As with all cozy mysteries, there is always more than one puzzle to be solved and more than one suspect including Maureen, who has known Eliot since they were kids. Normally, Jax would be able to get great intel from the police chief, he is her dad after all and respects her sleuthing abilities, but her parents are on a cruise, so contact is a little limited. Does this get in the way of this gang of crime solvers? Absolutely not! Jax even finds a way to cover a shift at the Diner by having Eliot stand in at the grill. Rumor has it that he makes some amazing pancakes using his great grandmother’s recipe. I really enjoyed all of the positivity of the story and the interactions between the characters. The clues were well placed, and the plot flowed with the turn of each page. I could not put the book down and I also couldn’t stop chuckling. I was able to figure out who the killer was but only towards the end of this thoroughly delightful story.
August 26, 2026
Readers cannot help falling in love with the Sunny Side Up Mystery series by Misty Simon. So, when the third book in the series, A Pinch of Assault, came out I know I was excited to catch up with Jax, Dani, Eliot and crew.
In The Sunny Side Up series readers get to know Jax and her best friend Dani as they run the diner they worked at when they are teenagers and were able to buy as adults. This was their dream and they love it just as much as solving the murders that they come across. And they are fortunate to have Jax's boyfriend Eliot helping them .... which is good seeing as he was a detective and now is a well-loved chef.
In the third book A Pinch of Assault Jax is excited to be meeting Eliot's mother in person. Eliot's mother, Dot, is coming into town to tour a local retirement home to be closer to him. Jax agrees to go with her and Eliot and when their tour guide gets called to an emergency, he decides to just give them the keys to go look at the model home alone.
Unfortunately, before they can get too far into looking around, they find a body in the kitchen and an old friend from Eliot's past in the back of the apartment.
Not only does Jax want to get to know Dot better but now she has a murder to help solve and an old friend of Eliot's, Maureen, to learn about. Eliot and Maureen were childhood friends as well as partners on the police force until he moved away and became a chef. With Dot working the desk in the police force and Maureen also on the force, it is only beneficial for them to join the crew as they work together to solve the murder and prove that The Jolly Oaks retirement community is safe for Dot.
Readers will love everything within this series. I, personally, love the relationships and now that Dot is included, they are better !! I believe that Dot and Jax are going to be very close in future books and if the way this one ended, I am pretty sure of it !! I look forward to where Simon takes us next .....
August 25, 2026
Jax and her boyfriend, Eliot, and doing well along with her diner that she owns with her best friend, Dani. Jax has met Eliot’s mother through phone calls but is about to meet her in person as she is touring a retirement village. She misses being in the same town as her son and feels it’s time to make a move. Eliot is now a chef at Jax’s aunt’s restaurant after leaving his position with the police force under circumstances he hasn’t discussed with Jax. Jax doesn’t push him to talk about it, feeling when he’s ready to talk about his past, he will.
When Jax and Eliot meet Dot at the retirement village, Eliot seems to be a bit distracted. It started at the farmer’s market when he thought he saw someone he knew and took off after her leaving Jax to catch up with him. As their tour guide directs them to the model apartment to tour, he suddenly rushes off saying there’s an emergency at the pool, leaving the key with them to tour the apartment without him. Upon entering the unit, they find a dead body in the kitchen!
Jax soon finds out that Dot previously worked for the police department as a civilian who helped the police department in many ways, especially keeping information for various cases. Since Dot doesn’t want to move into the retirement village if there are problems, they all decide to investigate. As they delve into the investigation, Jax and Dot bond and keep uncovering secrets and potential fraud at the retirement village. Can they solve this case before anyone else is hurt? Who is this mystery woman Eliot was following? Will Jax learn of Eliot’s past?
A fun, entertaining read that keeps you guessing.
When Jax and Eliot meet Dot at the retirement village, Eliot seems to be a bit distracted. It started at the farmer’s market when he thought he saw someone he knew and took off after her leaving Jax to catch up with him. As their tour guide directs them to the model apartment to tour, he suddenly rushes off saying there’s an emergency at the pool, leaving the key with them to tour the apartment without him. Upon entering the unit, they find a dead body in the kitchen!
Jax soon finds out that Dot previously worked for the police department as a civilian who helped the police department in many ways, especially keeping information for various cases. Since Dot doesn’t want to move into the retirement village if there are problems, they all decide to investigate. As they delve into the investigation, Jax and Dot bond and keep uncovering secrets and potential fraud at the retirement village. Can they solve this case before anyone else is hurt? Who is this mystery woman Eliot was following? Will Jax learn of Eliot’s past?
A fun, entertaining read that keeps you guessing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Zing! Jax already happy life is filling up and getting better by the moment! She and her best friend, Dani own the diner of her dreams, she is happily seeing her Mr. Perfect, Eliot and now that she has not just met his perfect mother-in-law candidate, Dot; Jax learns that Dot owns her dream car, a VW Thing...and she is letting Jax drive it! The fact that while they are visiting the community where Dot is considering moving in, they run into Eliot's childhood best friend and former police partner, Maureen, then stumble over a dead body, does not compromise the fact that her life is still looking pretty darn good. Dot and Maureen add a fun new high energy dimension to Jax and Dani's investigative team, Dot is the master organizer and delegator, while Maureen brings the professional investigation abilities to the team. Keep in mind, this is all taking place in a quiet senior community where lots of other crimes are happening, all while the long-time owner is in the process of selling to a corporation that manages lots of senior communities. Change is underway all around. Suspects and motives abound and it is up to this intrepid team to whittle down the possibilities and identify the killer before someone else dies.
This was a high energy romp with Jax and the rest of the gang doing their best to make Dot's new home the safest and best it can be.
This was a high energy romp with Jax and the rest of the gang doing their best to make Dot's new home the safest and best it can be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Pinch of Assault is the 3rd book in Misty Simon's Sunny Side Up Mysteries and it is a great addition to one of my favorite series. The characters are wonderful and the cozy mystery kept me guessing. Jax and Dani co-own Sunny Side Up Diner. Jax is dating Eliot, a chef at Aunt Hildy's upscale restaurant. He used to be a cop but something happened and he left the force to go to culinary school. We find out a little when Eliot's mother Dot and his former partner and friend Maureen come to town. Those two really add to the story and both are awesome new characters that I hope will be in future books. Dot is looking at a retirement community and is thinking about moving to be near Eliot. Maureen left the police force but is still working in law enforcement and has a great aunt at the same retirement facility. One of the employees ends up dead and Jax, Eliot and Maureen find her and the death is suspicious. Jax, Dani, Dot, Maureen and Eliot work together to find the killer. They are such a fabulous group! I like that Jax and Dani are local and know a lot of people which makes sleuthing easier. The story moves along at a good pace and the cozy mystery was interesting. The ending was really nice and I look forward to more books in the series! I received an advance copy from the author and I voluntarily leave this review. #APinchOfAssault #SunnySideUpMystery #GemmaHallidayPublishing
Review of advance copy received from Author
THOUGHTS: Except for the occasional murder, I want to live here! I want to go to Jax and Dani’s diner. I want to have some of Eliot’s waffles. And I really want to meet the entire family! In this story, we get to meet Dot, Eliot’s mother. Yes, Jax gets to meet the future Mother-in-Law – and she’s a hoot! When they go to look at a retirement community model apartment and find a body, Dot goes into “investigator” mode to Jax’s surprise. After all, Dot spent years working for the police so she knows all about procedure. The group all comes together to figure out suspects and Dot gets them organized better than ever with a murder board that is amazing in its organization. I love that they’re still using the “spindle” for clues in the diner. Oh, and Jax is totally in love with Glenda, the Thing (Dot’s vehicle). I find it funny that Stella Luna (the cat) steals Eliot’s clothes and now Maureen’s too in order to make a nest.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and shenanigans, you won’t be disappointed here. And though you don’t need to, I suggest you read the entire series so you get to know the participants even better.
Definitely recommended.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a touch of humor and shenanigans, you won’t be disappointed here. And though you don’t need to, I suggest you read the entire series so you get to know the participants even better.
Definitely recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed reading A Pinch of Assault. It was well written and kept my attention from start to finish. Although I haven’t read the first two books in this series yet, the author provided enough background information to make this book work as a standalone. Jax Tapman and her bestie Dani own/operate Sunny Side Up Diner in Pennsylvania. Her boyfriend of almost a year is Eliot, the head chef at her Aunt Hildy’s Poplarsville Inn. Eliot’s mom Dottie is coming to town to check out a possible move to The Jolly Oaks Retirement Village. Jax is happy that Dottie is easy to get along with, but then they happen upon the dead body of housekeeper, Honey Walton. I liked seeing how well Jax and her amateur sleuth team went about solving the murder. I liked the easy going relationships she has with Dani and with Eliot. The book ends with a hint of what’s to happen next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is book 3 in this series, and it does not disappoint. Eliot's mom, Dot, is thinking of moving to town and settling in at the retirement center. But first, murder. Dot is taking a tour of the center and is the one to find the dead body. She's not a suspect, but she, Jax, and Dani all want to solve the murder. There are a lot of twists, turns, and surprises, and guessing whodunnit keeps you on your toes. I really like Dot and hope she's around for more books.
This series is light and fun and sets a quick pace. The characters are real, conversations are believable, and the author does a great job of keeping your interest. You could start with this book... but I recommend reading in order so you don't miss a single detail.
Disclosure: We received a free ARC of this book. No guarantee of a review or other compensation was made.
This series is light and fun and sets a quick pace. The characters are real, conversations are believable, and the author does a great job of keeping your interest. You could start with this book... but I recommend reading in order so you don't miss a single detail.
Disclosure: We received a free ARC of this book. No guarantee of a review or other compensation was made.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Pinch of Assault is the 3rd book in the Sunny Side Up Mysteries series.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery.
Jax and her bestie Dani own the Sunny Side Up Diner and are living their best life.
She is in a great relationship with Eliot. She is getting ready to meet his MOM!!!!
I really enjoyed the new characters Dot and Maureen, they are a hoot!
I loved the senior community. When they stumble over a dead body, they investigate with the funniest results.
They mystery is great! This is such a character driven story, and I loved all the characters, old and new.
Can't wait for the next book in this great cozy mystery series.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery.
Jax and her bestie Dani own the Sunny Side Up Diner and are living their best life.
She is in a great relationship with Eliot. She is getting ready to meet his MOM!!!!
I really enjoyed the new characters Dot and Maureen, they are a hoot!
I loved the senior community. When they stumble over a dead body, they investigate with the funniest results.
They mystery is great! This is such a character driven story, and I loved all the characters, old and new.
Can't wait for the next book in this great cozy mystery series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I haven’t read the others in the series yet, but I found that it wasn’t difficult to follow along with the characters. The characters fit together well and I enjoyed the build up in the story. There were a lot of characters, so I had a tiny bit of difficulty following along with some, but they weren’t main, so it wasn’t much of an issue. I enjoyed the story and learning how the main characters work together to solve the mystery. Their method is a new one in the cozy mysteries I have read and I found it to be a neat method! I look forward to getting to know the characters more through other books in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first in this series, and I was not disappointed. Jax and crew had me traipsing along with them, looking for clues, suspects, evidence with a little humor thrown in. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, one of which was correct, but the journey to the answer was well worth the read. The romantic side was brief, but I was glad that Jax found happiness. I enjoyed this story immensely. I look forward to more in this series.
I received an ARC, and this was my unsolicited review.
I received an ARC, and this was my unsolicited review.
August 26, 2026
A Pinch of Assault is the third installment in Misty Simon’s Sunny Side Up Mysteries. Chaos ensues for the Sunny Side Cafe crew when Jax and Elliot's mom discovers the body of a young woman in the model unit of a retirement village she’s touring.
Even though this is book three—and my first time reading a full novel in Misty Simon's series—I had no trouble keeping up. The background details were well-balanced, and the warm, funny relationships between the diner staff, their families, and the locals really made the story shine. I can't wait to go back and read the rest of the series!
Even though this is book three—and my first time reading a full novel in Misty Simon's series—I had no trouble keeping up. The background details were well-balanced, and the warm, funny relationships between the diner staff, their families, and the locals really made the story shine. I can't wait to go back and read the rest of the series!
August 27, 2026
Things are beginning to run smoothly for Jax, both in her personal life and the diner. It’s finally time to meet her boyfriend’s mother. She agrees to show Eliot’s mother around a local retirement home in hopes that she would move closer to her son. No sooner do they enter the model apartment; they find a dead body and a bunch of secrets! I enjoy this series and the unique way they get some clues from the patrons of the diner. You will enjoy Jax, Elliot and all the other characters. This was a fun read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A murder? Of course, there's a murder. Its a cozy mystery. It happens! What doesn't always happen in cozys are characters that you want to meet and places you want to visit. That happens in this book and series. Ms. Simon can make her characters come to life. She describes places so that readers are taken on a trip and they never want to return. I was given an advance copy for my honest opinion. Five stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love this book series, and the latest installment A Pinch of Assault does not disappoint. Familiar characters offer insight into where they are in their lives now, while the newly introduced characters open up exciting new avenues to explore. The mystery is engaging and will keep you guessing right up until the very end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a really good murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. I loved it!!
I received an ARC, and this is my honest review!!!
I received an ARC, and this is my honest review!!!
August 26, 2026
A charming and delightful cozy mystery. Many engaging and entertaining characters. It kept me guessing. Thanks to the author for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An enjoyable mystery in this series about the murder of a popular worker at a retirement home. As usual, Jax and Dani jump in to help solve a murder there. However this time they are joined by Elliott's mom, Dot, and his former police partner, Maureen. While their addition to the process adds more professionalism as an ex-cop and an exp- police clerk, it made attention split into more directions which was a distraction for the reader at times.
Dot was a delight from her quirky vehicle choice to her unexpected enthusiasm to investigate. Of course being Elliott's mother was also a huge effect on Jax.
Maureen was more guarded as her police officer background was more ridged than Dot, a police clerk who had no direct law enforcement authority.
In spite of extra sleuths, almost too many trips to the retirement village resulting in too little information made the book seem to go slowly. However all is well as conclusion results were excitingly shared along with unexpected news at the Diner.
Dot was a delight from her quirky vehicle choice to her unexpected enthusiasm to investigate. Of course being Elliott's mother was also a huge effect on Jax.
Maureen was more guarded as her police officer background was more ridged than Dot, a police clerk who had no direct law enforcement authority.
In spite of extra sleuths, almost too many trips to the retirement village resulting in too little information made the book seem to go slowly. However all is well as conclusion results were excitingly shared along with unexpected news at the Diner.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Pinch of Assault is a clever, twisted, small town, cozy mystery. I am really enjoying this series, the friendships of the main characters and the series arc with the juke boxes. I love the addition of Eliot's mom. Dot, and her VW Thing that has Jax so excited. There is a lot (not all of it legal) happening at the retirement center Dot considering so she would be closer to Eliot. Eliot's former partner Maureen also is in town. Maureen's great aunt lives in this retirement community. Dot and Maureen are great addition to our intrepid band of sleuths. This well plotted book's mystery is very entertaining and kept my interest from the beginning.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews