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TJ Jensen Mystery #1
Pumpkins in Paradise
Between volunteering for the annual pumpkin festival and coaching her girls to the state soccer finals, high school teacher Tj Jensen finds her good friend Zachary Collins dead in his favorite chair. When the handsome new deputy closes the case without so much as a "why" or "how," Tj turns her attention from chili cook-offs and pumpkin carving to complex puzzles, prophetic riddles, and a decades-old secret she seems destined to unravel.
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First published September 25, 2013
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About the author
Kathi Daley
327 books1,792 followersKathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
October 4, 2022
My first Halloween cozy this year. This one takes place in a lakeside community of Serenity, Nevada, a week before Halloween. Downtown is decorated with scarecrows, pumpkins, and twinkle lights.🎃✨
TJ works at her grandparents' "Maggie's Hideaway" lodge. It's a slow season between summer vacation and winter ski season so TJ has plenty of time to sleuth when her dear friend is found dead.
A new location for me, but as luck would have it, I'm also reading/listening to another "lake community" mystery. The characters in this were fine but didn't stand out from other cozies. Love Echo the mountain dog!
TJ works at her grandparents' "Maggie's Hideaway" lodge. It's a slow season between summer vacation and winter ski season so TJ has plenty of time to sleuth when her dear friend is found dead.
A new location for me, but as luck would have it, I'm also reading/listening to another "lake community" mystery. The characters in this were fine but didn't stand out from other cozies. Love Echo the mountain dog!
November 24, 2023
Pumpkins in Paradise
is the first book in the TJ Jensen cozy mystery series and is set in Serenity, Nevada on Paradise Lake. TJ is the high school women’s coach for downhill skiing, soccer, and track. For the last 14 years, she’s been friends with recluse Zachary Collins. When she finds him dead, she observes an anomaly or two and doesn’t accept the police closing the case. At the same time, she’s made multiple commitments to support the town’s annual pumpkin festival and is now the guardian of her two half-sisters.
TJ is athletic, loves puzzles, and overcommits to help the community. She’s a likeable protagonist. Many characters make this read one where you need to pay attention to the names and the subtleties to decipher the secrets. Fewer characters would have made the story tighter. However, I believe several characters will be reoccurring in future books.
While the pacing was a little slow and several of the mysteries were a little too easily solved, I still enjoyed this novel. Additionally, the new deputy, Dylan Caine, seemed a little too accepting of TJ’s involvement in the investigation. The ending tidily wraps up the main mysteries. Themes include gossip, death, grief, secrets, a community working together, and much more.
Overall, this is an entertaining and light cozy mystery that kept me engaged throughout. An amateur sleuth, a small town with many traditions, likeable characters, and the potential for romance made this an enjoyable read.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was September 25, 2013.
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My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
TJ is athletic, loves puzzles, and overcommits to help the community. She’s a likeable protagonist. Many characters make this read one where you need to pay attention to the names and the subtleties to decipher the secrets. Fewer characters would have made the story tighter. However, I believe several characters will be reoccurring in future books.
While the pacing was a little slow and several of the mysteries were a little too easily solved, I still enjoyed this novel. Additionally, the new deputy, Dylan Caine, seemed a little too accepting of TJ’s involvement in the investigation. The ending tidily wraps up the main mysteries. Themes include gossip, death, grief, secrets, a community working together, and much more.
Overall, this is an entertaining and light cozy mystery that kept me engaged throughout. An amateur sleuth, a small town with many traditions, likeable characters, and the potential for romance made this an enjoyable read.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was September 25, 2013.
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My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
November 28, 2023
Pumpkins in Paradise by Kathi Daley is a 2013 publication.
I’m not going to tell anyone how many books I have on my Kindle- but it’s pretty bad when books have loitered around on your device for over ten years. I stumbled across this one while looking for another book- and paused- looking at the cover- covered in pumpkins. I was actually looking for a Thanksgiving themed book- not Halloween- but it is still autumn- so why not?
This is not a bad start to this series. The mystery is solid and the characters likeable- the execution, though, was a bit wobbly. There were too many loose ends to tie up after the murderer is revealed- then a flat closing chapter filled with unnecessary information which didn’t leave me eagerly anticipating the next installment.
That said, it was an enjoyable story, overall. I read this book while preparing for Thanksgiving and with my DH home from work all week. My focus was divided for sure- so this was a nice, light escape from all the chaos.
Not sure if I’ll continue with this series. Daley has several long running series out there to choose from- maybe I’ll give her books another try someday... and who knows, I may have more of her books on my Kindle already! 😁😁
I’m not going to tell anyone how many books I have on my Kindle- but it’s pretty bad when books have loitered around on your device for over ten years. I stumbled across this one while looking for another book- and paused- looking at the cover- covered in pumpkins. I was actually looking for a Thanksgiving themed book- not Halloween- but it is still autumn- so why not?
This is not a bad start to this series. The mystery is solid and the characters likeable- the execution, though, was a bit wobbly. There were too many loose ends to tie up after the murderer is revealed- then a flat closing chapter filled with unnecessary information which didn’t leave me eagerly anticipating the next installment.
That said, it was an enjoyable story, overall. I read this book while preparing for Thanksgiving and with my DH home from work all week. My focus was divided for sure- so this was a nice, light escape from all the chaos.
Not sure if I’ll continue with this series. Daley has several long running series out there to choose from- maybe I’ll give her books another try someday... and who knows, I may have more of her books on my Kindle already! 😁😁
September 2, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I must start out this review by saying Kathi Daley is an amazing writer. She has such an imagination. My only question is when does this woman sleep. She has several series all going at the same time so she also has to extremely organized and must write at warp speed. I am absolutely thrilled that Henery Press is re-releasing the previous books in this series so we can get all caught up for the new story coming our way in April 2017.
Now let me tell you about this first story Pumpkins in Paradise. It is time for the annual pumpkin festival in Serenity, Nevada. The air is crisp and there are so many things to do before the tourists arrive and the residents take part in the many contests and events. Tj Jensen is a busy high school teacher but she is volunteering to help for several different things. She also knows she needs to check in on her elderly friend Zachary Collins. He has become a recluse over the years and a mystery to many of his neighbors, many think he is a cranky old man and others are afraid to even go near his house. Not Tj, she has a special bond with the man, a bond that started on Halloween many years ago. When she arrives at his house she knows immediately something is wrong and when she finds him dead, sitting in his favorite chair, she is shocked beyond belief. When his death is classified as by natural causes, she just can’t except that. She notices several puzzling things. The love of puzzles were something she and Zachary shared, so she knows he would have left her some clues if he could. She is going to solve the puzzle of his death both for justice for her friend but also to show the new deputy in town that he was wrong about everything.
This story is so much more than a mystery. The relationship Tj and Zachary had just warmed my entire heart. She took him as he was and after learning such much more about him after his death, she along with a readers learned how special he truly was. I am sorry he had to be the victim in this story for us to see that. He was a character that leaped from the pages even after his passing.
All the characters were well crafted and believable. I enjoyed meeting them all, from Tj’s half sisters, her dad and her grandfather. Of course that are some furry characters too. I enjoyed that together as a family they run Maggie’s Hideaway, so we get to meet additional characters who stay at the family resort. At first I was concerned there would be too many characters for me to keep track of, but they were all unique and I had no trouble at all.
The mystery was very well plotted and truly was puzzling. I love the way the hidden clues were found and were not easy to solve. It kept the story pushing forward in a treasure search type of way except instead of a prize we are searching for a killer.
This book has given a series a terrific start. I am already plotting out how to squeeze 5 books into my reading schedule before April. I may have to schedule a read-a-thon!
I must start out this review by saying Kathi Daley is an amazing writer. She has such an imagination. My only question is when does this woman sleep. She has several series all going at the same time so she also has to extremely organized and must write at warp speed. I am absolutely thrilled that Henery Press is re-releasing the previous books in this series so we can get all caught up for the new story coming our way in April 2017.
Now let me tell you about this first story Pumpkins in Paradise. It is time for the annual pumpkin festival in Serenity, Nevada. The air is crisp and there are so many things to do before the tourists arrive and the residents take part in the many contests and events. Tj Jensen is a busy high school teacher but she is volunteering to help for several different things. She also knows she needs to check in on her elderly friend Zachary Collins. He has become a recluse over the years and a mystery to many of his neighbors, many think he is a cranky old man and others are afraid to even go near his house. Not Tj, she has a special bond with the man, a bond that started on Halloween many years ago. When she arrives at his house she knows immediately something is wrong and when she finds him dead, sitting in his favorite chair, she is shocked beyond belief. When his death is classified as by natural causes, she just can’t except that. She notices several puzzling things. The love of puzzles were something she and Zachary shared, so she knows he would have left her some clues if he could. She is going to solve the puzzle of his death both for justice for her friend but also to show the new deputy in town that he was wrong about everything.
This story is so much more than a mystery. The relationship Tj and Zachary had just warmed my entire heart. She took him as he was and after learning such much more about him after his death, she along with a readers learned how special he truly was. I am sorry he had to be the victim in this story for us to see that. He was a character that leaped from the pages even after his passing.
All the characters were well crafted and believable. I enjoyed meeting them all, from Tj’s half sisters, her dad and her grandfather. Of course that are some furry characters too. I enjoyed that together as a family they run Maggie’s Hideaway, so we get to meet additional characters who stay at the family resort. At first I was concerned there would be too many characters for me to keep track of, but they were all unique and I had no trouble at all.
The mystery was very well plotted and truly was puzzling. I love the way the hidden clues were found and were not easy to solve. It kept the story pushing forward in a treasure search type of way except instead of a prize we are searching for a killer.
This book has given a series a terrific start. I am already plotting out how to squeeze 5 books into my reading schedule before April. I may have to schedule a read-a-thon!
December 13, 2017
Welcome to Maggie's Hideaway, a family mountain resort in Serenity, Nevada and meet TJ Jensen a high school coach and just lately guardian of her 2 little half-sisters.
TJ doesn't believe that the death of her elderly, reclusive friend Zachary was due to natural causes. He used to create puzzles for TJ to solve and now searching for clues on how Zachary died she finds he left one last puzzle for her to solve that slowly reveals the events which lead him to living a reclusive life and ultimately reveal his murderer.
I loved this heartwarming light mystery that is set in a wonderful town I wish I could visit. It is an amazing start to a new series.
TJ doesn't believe that the death of her elderly, reclusive friend Zachary was due to natural causes. He used to create puzzles for TJ to solve and now searching for clues on how Zachary died she finds he left one last puzzle for her to solve that slowly reveals the events which lead him to living a reclusive life and ultimately reveal his murderer.
I loved this heartwarming light mystery that is set in a wonderful town I wish I could visit. It is an amazing start to a new series.
September 11, 2014
It's been a long time since I read a good cozy mystery (weeks which is a long time for me) and I honestly can say this one wasn't one of them. I either got this for free or for 99 cents. It just wasn't that good. To begin with, there were several typos and issues with continuing the story. The book felt really disjointed in places. In addition, there were several times where a secondary character would tell the main character something and as the reader, we weren't told what it was. The characters were just ok. There were a lot of them. I felt like, for a 214 page book, there were too many characters introduced and introduced in a way that should lead you to believe that you had read about them when you really hadn't. In addition, why didn't the author go into the back story of Tj's mother and the girls in more depth? Suddenly, chapter 1 starts and Tj has 2 'kids' to take care of? Again, I also don't enjoy books with children and the description of the book doesn't mention anything about children (at least not on goodreads). All in all, I hope it was free because I have definitely read better.
October 27, 2017
I love Kathi Daley but this one was just ok for me. It just didn't hold my interest as her other books do. There were puzzles the main character had to solve while trying to solve the murder. I did think that was neat and different.
October 31, 2020
Months ago, teacher TJ Jensen's life got a lot more complicated, when her estranged mother died, leaving her with custody of her two elementary-aged sisters. She moved back into the family's lakeside resort with her father and grandfather while otherwise trying to move forward.
While Zachary Collins was closer to her grandfather's age than TJ's, she'd been friends with their reclusive neighbor since childhood, and when he dies, things don't add up for TJ. When the police rule it a natural death, she can't help but investigate, even if it puts her in danger.
There's a lot of background to TJ's life, and that exposition weighs down the beginning of the book, but once the mystery gets into gear, the story moves along fairly quickly. It's a unique kind of mystery, with TJ discovering her old friend's secrets as much as she discovers who might have wanted to kill him. It's a very good book and a great start to the series.
While Zachary Collins was closer to her grandfather's age than TJ's, she'd been friends with their reclusive neighbor since childhood, and when he dies, things don't add up for TJ. When the police rule it a natural death, she can't help but investigate, even if it puts her in danger.
There's a lot of background to TJ's life, and that exposition weighs down the beginning of the book, but once the mystery gets into gear, the story moves along fairly quickly. It's a unique kind of mystery, with TJ discovering her old friend's secrets as much as she discovers who might have wanted to kill him. It's a very good book and a great start to the series.
September 9, 2016
In Pumpkins In Paradise, the first book in the Tj Jensen Mystery series, author Kathi Daley weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the amateur sleuth adventures of high school teacher Tj Jensen, as she tries to solve the murder of her friend Zachary Collins.
Set in the lakefront resort town of Serenity, Nevada, Tj utilizes logical puzzle clues that her elderly reclusive friend Zachary had taught her in order to search for the identity of his murderer and solve the mystery behind his untimely death.
Pumpkins In Paradise is an intriguing whodunit tale that has a wonderful fall theme, and enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, secrets, a growing list of suspects, and surprising twists and turns, that will easily keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama and calamity that ensues as Tj tries to solve her friend's murder. Tj's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, suspense, and sweet romance that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I really enjoyed the author's rich description of the lakeside paradise town of Serenity and it's colorful townsfolk. You can't help but feel the resort's peacefulness and wish that you could visit this charming lakeside resort town.
Pumpkins In Paradise is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will engage you to join in the crazy adventures and trials and tribulations that occur in Serenity, while providing you with a nice dose of charm and humor.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Set in the lakefront resort town of Serenity, Nevada, Tj utilizes logical puzzle clues that her elderly reclusive friend Zachary had taught her in order to search for the identity of his murderer and solve the mystery behind his untimely death.
Pumpkins In Paradise is an intriguing whodunit tale that has a wonderful fall theme, and enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, secrets, a growing list of suspects, and surprising twists and turns, that will easily keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama and calamity that ensues as Tj tries to solve her friend's murder. Tj's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, suspense, and sweet romance that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I really enjoyed the author's rich description of the lakeside paradise town of Serenity and it's colorful townsfolk. You can't help but feel the resort's peacefulness and wish that you could visit this charming lakeside resort town.
Pumpkins In Paradise is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will engage you to join in the crazy adventures and trials and tribulations that occur in Serenity, while providing you with a nice dose of charm and humor.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
August 29, 2016
A cozy mystery that touched my heart as well as entertained me. At Maggie's Hideaway, a mountain lodge in a lakefront community in Serenity, Nevada; T.J. Jensen lives with her half-sisters Ashley & Gracie, her Dad, her Grandpa Ben, and her dog and cat. For years, she's been friends with an elderly recluse, Zachary Collins; who was in a terrible car accident when he young that left his face scarred, and his heart scarred, too. Time has moved forward, and Zachary has mastered a heartfelt plan to make amends for the past as best he can. He's able to set his plans in motion before greed and disloyalty lead to his early demise. T.J.'s bound and determined to seek justice for her friend's suspicious death. Following the puzzling clues Zachery left her, she's able to track down his killer while gathering the scattered pieces of Zachary's past together. Author Kathi Daley pens a heartwarming cozy set at Halloween that's ever so cleverly plotted with friendly characters you'll enjoy getting to know. I'm ready to read the next story and see what's ahead for T.J. and her family and friends.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
October 5, 2022
Rating: 2.6 / 5
Charming and rustic as some elements, like the community setup, is, I'm afraid that I just couldn't get into this one as much as I would have liked to. There's definitely a mystery skirting around the edges, but it's also kind of hidden amidst the homey, Halloween-anticipation details of small town Nevada life. I also don't see TJ Jensen as too much of a detective, since while she does go around asking questions and looking for clues to a mystery that only she believes is as such (because, of course, no on else senses anything suspicious going on, but it's all justified so that's fine), she doesn't really push for details, you know?
Maybe it's just because I've read quite a few cozy mysteries and racked them up on my reading resume by now, but I generally start to make differentiations and therefore judgements, the more I read into a genre. In this case, I judge that while TJ Jensen may well be a competent heroine, she's no hardcore detective like some other cozy mystery heroines are, and therefore lacks a bit of something, by my reckoning.
All in all, I therefore judge this to be an okay read to start off my October, but ultimately it wasn't as captivating as I may have hoped.
Charming and rustic as some elements, like the community setup, is, I'm afraid that I just couldn't get into this one as much as I would have liked to. There's definitely a mystery skirting around the edges, but it's also kind of hidden amidst the homey, Halloween-anticipation details of small town Nevada life. I also don't see TJ Jensen as too much of a detective, since while she does go around asking questions and looking for clues to a mystery that only she believes is as such (because, of course, no on else senses anything suspicious going on, but it's all justified so that's fine), she doesn't really push for details, you know?
Maybe it's just because I've read quite a few cozy mysteries and racked them up on my reading resume by now, but I generally start to make differentiations and therefore judgements, the more I read into a genre. In this case, I judge that while TJ Jensen may well be a competent heroine, she's no hardcore detective like some other cozy mystery heroines are, and therefore lacks a bit of something, by my reckoning.
All in all, I therefore judge this to be an okay read to start off my October, but ultimately it wasn't as captivating as I may have hoped.
October 15, 2023
Between volunteering for the annual pumpkin festival and coaching her girls to the state soccer finals, high school teacher Tj Jensen finds her good friend Zachary Collins dead in his favorite chair. When the handsome new deputy closes the case without so much as a “why” or “how,” Tj turns her attention from chili cook-offs and pumpkin carving to complex puzzles, prophetic riddles, and a decades-old secret she seems destined to unravel.
Pumpkins in Paradise by Kathi Daley is a nice and interesting story. It's the second book I read from this author.
Pumpkins in Paradise by Kathi Daley is a nice and interesting story. It's the second book I read from this author.
October 24, 2023
A cute little cozy mystery, but it needs a lot of editing work, there are a ton of errors everywhere. This reads like a second draft, not a final draft. There were a ton of inconsistencies, clunky writing, things left out that make the flow of the story a bit jarring, and abrupt time/scene/event jumps without any kind of transition or occasional sense. Too many side characters with no purpose and brief appearances make it hard at times to keep up with what's going on mystery-wise. Then more just keep getting added as the story goes but each one has a tidbit of information that Tj should already know or is common knowledge that no one bothered to tell her years ago. Too many random things thrown in that don't matter or add to the story but bog it down with unnecessary and often illogical, and inconsistent bits. Lots of unnecessary repetition that gets old real fast. A chunk of the middle of the book could go since it doesn't add anything to the mystery and slows down the pace of the story. The author skipped over so many daily tasks in the beginning that she mico described some tasks later to pad the book for pages at the end, very annoying. The mystery suffers from the author having clues be found by the MC but not sharing them with the reader and a bad guy who isn't really in the pictures so you can't solve the mystery or guess, you are just given the answer at the end and sadly it doesn't make a lot of sense when the villain is revealed. Also, the lower case j in Tj when it should be TJ annoyed the heck out of me. The description of the book is off too from the facts inside.
The book dropped half a star for the ending. The author did no research. A corset is not a torture device and yes you can breathe while wearing it it won't "suffocate" you!!! It was an everyday piece of clothing that many women not only didn't mind wearing but were happy to. Get your facts straight. No, it doesn't poke people who want to hug you, and you can be quite comfortable wearing vintage clothes. And for someone who is very athletic and strong she can't seem to stand even an hour in the "heavy" (not they aren't) "suffocating" (no it isn't) late 1800's gown which is completely insulting and unbelievable. (I have worn such an outfit with all the layers without difficulty the first time for hours and was not bothered at all.)
Tj, a gym teacher (who never actually seems to work) who helps run her family's resort (in a small town with 2 tourists seasons, where its residents are all wealthy) has recently been awarded guardianship of her two much younger half-sisters (her just out of teens mother left her when she was a toddler and she doesn't really know them at all before they arrive so she fosters them off on other people most of the time). Halloween is coming up and her time is stretched thin with everything going on (she volunteers for everything both in town and waits on her resort guests' hand and foot). Still, she makes time to visit an old friend (how and why they are such close friends isn't well explained or makes much sense) who is an elderly shut-in recluse, only to find he has passed away. The two cops who respond are new to the area (one is nice and handsome so this will be her love interest for the continuing series, the other is serious and will be her antagonist possibly). She takes things from the house when told not to touch anything and keeps information to herself when they ask for her help/observations then doesn't like how they pronounce the death so she decides to play detective and look into things. (I am really growing to dislike the trope of people, many of them in high business positions, telling a nosy busy body private confidential information just because they are asked and then often not telling the police the same information). The cute deputy is a one-man show who adopts Tj into the police force and does everything she says and involves her in the investigation and allows her to set a trap for the bad guy...just hire her as a cop and be done with it. Along the way, her recent guests get tangled up in the mystery, including two sisters from a cult and a tech guy, and a grad student.
Tj's personality is all over the place and at times her actions and thoughts change from chapter to chapter making her almost a different person/character from chapter to chapter and the inconsistencies are annoying. The author obviously didn't keep notes about her characters or their personalities and/or traits.
The book dropped half a star for the ending. The author did no research. A corset is not a torture device and yes you can breathe while wearing it it won't "suffocate" you!!! It was an everyday piece of clothing that many women not only didn't mind wearing but were happy to. Get your facts straight. No, it doesn't poke people who want to hug you, and you can be quite comfortable wearing vintage clothes. And for someone who is very athletic and strong she can't seem to stand even an hour in the "heavy" (not they aren't) "suffocating" (no it isn't) late 1800's gown which is completely insulting and unbelievable. (I have worn such an outfit with all the layers without difficulty the first time for hours and was not bothered at all.)
Tj, a gym teacher (who never actually seems to work) who helps run her family's resort (in a small town with 2 tourists seasons, where its residents are all wealthy) has recently been awarded guardianship of her two much younger half-sisters (her just out of teens mother left her when she was a toddler and she doesn't really know them at all before they arrive so she fosters them off on other people most of the time). Halloween is coming up and her time is stretched thin with everything going on (she volunteers for everything both in town and waits on her resort guests' hand and foot). Still, she makes time to visit an old friend (how and why they are such close friends isn't well explained or makes much sense) who is an elderly shut-in recluse, only to find he has passed away. The two cops who respond are new to the area (one is nice and handsome so this will be her love interest for the continuing series, the other is serious and will be her antagonist possibly). She takes things from the house when told not to touch anything and keeps information to herself when they ask for her help/observations then doesn't like how they pronounce the death so she decides to play detective and look into things. (I am really growing to dislike the trope of people, many of them in high business positions, telling a nosy busy body private confidential information just because they are asked and then often not telling the police the same information). The cute deputy is a one-man show who adopts Tj into the police force and does everything she says and involves her in the investigation and allows her to set a trap for the bad guy...just hire her as a cop and be done with it. Along the way, her recent guests get tangled up in the mystery, including two sisters from a cult and a tech guy, and a grad student.
Tj's personality is all over the place and at times her actions and thoughts change from chapter to chapter making her almost a different person/character from chapter to chapter and the inconsistencies are annoying. The author obviously didn't keep notes about her characters or their personalities and/or traits.
June 4, 2017
Meet Tj Jensen, high school coach and now guardian of two young half-sisters after the death of her Mother and her third husband. Tj and the girls live at Maggie's Hideaway, the family resort owned by her grandfather and father, on the lakeside of Serenity, Nevada. Tj has her hands full with her coaching duties for the girl's soccer team and volunteering for the annual Halloween festivities. Then when she goes to visit her reclusive friend Zachary Collins, she finds him dead in his armchair. Initially the death is ruled to be from natural causes but that changes as more evidence is found. Tj works thru her grief as she sets out to find out what really happened to Zachary. The characters were diverse and well developed in this first book in a series. I really liked how the murder plot twisted in multiple directions before coming to a very satisfying conclusion.
February 5, 2019
I enjoyed this mystery/scavenger hunt cozy. It was light, and the main character wasn't constantly worrying over her appearance or snagging a man. I also think that I could grow attached to the main character's father and sisters; the characters are usually what keep me coming back to a cozy series.
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November 17, 2016“Daley’s characters come to life on the page. Her novels are filled with a little mystery and a little romance which makes for a murderous adventure.” – Tonya Kappes, USA Today Bestselling Author of Fixin’ To Die
April 15, 2020
Well this was okay. I didn't really feel the characters or the story. It didn't really grab me. I liked the family life that was portrayed and the town vibe was cool. I liked the humor throughout. Not really a series for me to continue at the moment.
November 8, 2020
3.5 Stars rounded up. This is the first book in the TJ Jensen Mystery series and it was enjoyable. We meet TJ, her family and her friends. When TJ's friend Zachary Collins is found dead in his house, it is initially ruled a natural death. When TJ finds an open bottle of scotch, she has questions. Zachary has not had a drink in years, and then finding out that he has changed his will and sold his house to developers, she knows something is not right. It takes TJ some hustling and convincing to get the police to open an investigation, but with the help of the local doctor/coroner, he finally does. I enjoyed seeing how TJ interacts with her half-sisters that she is now the guardian of, as well as the guest at the lodge owned by her father. Throw in a local Halloween/Pumpkin festival for some holiday spirit and you have a fun cozy mystery.
September 26, 2022
A cute, cosy mystery perfect for autumn.
August 23, 2016
Pumpkins in Paradise is the first book in Kathi Daley’s Tj Jensen Mystery series. This book is a re-release of the original book that was published in September of 2013. The storyline and characters are well developed and the story flows along at a steady pace. The characters are likeable and relatable. This book sends strong messages of family, friendship, and loyalty. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next adventure of Tj and her friends.
Tj Jensen is a high school teacher and coach who is living with her dad, grandfather, and two young stepsisters at their family owned resort Maggie’s Hideaway, in the small town of Serenity, Nevada. Her mother, who abandoned her when she was a small child, recently died in a car accident and Tj is the legal guardian of her two young stepsisters, Gracie and Ashley. Jenna Elston, Tj’s best friend, is the mother of two daughters around the same age and is able to guide Tj and provide her with support. Over the past 14 years, Tj has had a special relationship with Zachary Collins, an 86-year-old recluse who taught her to love numbers and solve puzzles. When Tj finds Zachary dead in his living room, the authorities declare the death to be from either natural causes or suicide but Tj doesn’t agree. She believes Zachary has left several puzzle clues for her and is determined to solve them and find the person responsible for her dear friend’s death.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
Tj Jensen is a high school teacher and coach who is living with her dad, grandfather, and two young stepsisters at their family owned resort Maggie’s Hideaway, in the small town of Serenity, Nevada. Her mother, who abandoned her when she was a small child, recently died in a car accident and Tj is the legal guardian of her two young stepsisters, Gracie and Ashley. Jenna Elston, Tj’s best friend, is the mother of two daughters around the same age and is able to guide Tj and provide her with support. Over the past 14 years, Tj has had a special relationship with Zachary Collins, an 86-year-old recluse who taught her to love numbers and solve puzzles. When Tj finds Zachary dead in his living room, the authorities declare the death to be from either natural causes or suicide but Tj doesn’t agree. She believes Zachary has left several puzzle clues for her and is determined to solve them and find the person responsible for her dear friend’s death.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
August 23, 2016
Another winner. So much to love about this book.
If you are as much of a Halloween addict as I am, if you enjoy reading about small towns and the true characters who live there, you want to grab Pumpkins in Paradise and find a corner to curl up in. As you read you will find yourself in the middle of the action.
TJ Jensen lives with her Father and Grandfather at a resort owned by the family. Her mother recently died and TJ inherited two young step sisters. Luckily TJ has a best friend with daughters around the same age to help smooth the transition.
TJ is a Halloween nut, and what is better than to enjoy a favorite holiday with children? It makes it easier to act like a child yourself.
Halloween is also the anniversary of a special friendship for TJ.
An unlikely friendship that lasted for many years, until one day shortly before Halloween, she went to visit and found her good friend dead.
While the police wanted to close the case quickly, their finding of "suicide" did not sit well with TJ.
So she adds to her already full schedule the task of finding out the truth.
I enjoyed the setting and the characters and solving puzzles which occur throughout the book. There is not just the ONE mystery to be solved.
I also appreciate the delicate emergence of feelings TJ is beginning to discover regarding new members to the Serenity community .
This is a gentle, friendly read but it also has tense moments.
I found it suitable for readers of all ages.
If you are as much of a Halloween addict as I am, if you enjoy reading about small towns and the true characters who live there, you want to grab Pumpkins in Paradise and find a corner to curl up in. As you read you will find yourself in the middle of the action.
TJ Jensen lives with her Father and Grandfather at a resort owned by the family. Her mother recently died and TJ inherited two young step sisters. Luckily TJ has a best friend with daughters around the same age to help smooth the transition.
TJ is a Halloween nut, and what is better than to enjoy a favorite holiday with children? It makes it easier to act like a child yourself.
Halloween is also the anniversary of a special friendship for TJ.
An unlikely friendship that lasted for many years, until one day shortly before Halloween, she went to visit and found her good friend dead.
While the police wanted to close the case quickly, their finding of "suicide" did not sit well with TJ.
So she adds to her already full schedule the task of finding out the truth.
I enjoyed the setting and the characters and solving puzzles which occur throughout the book. There is not just the ONE mystery to be solved.
I also appreciate the delicate emergence of feelings TJ is beginning to discover regarding new members to the Serenity community .
This is a gentle, friendly read but it also has tense moments.
I found it suitable for readers of all ages.
November 16, 2013
2 1/2 stars. Overall, I liked this mystery but it had a few flaws, some more serious than others.
Most annoying for me was the fact that the author doesn't seem to actually know what life as a teacher is like. The main character, Tj, was supposed to be a high school P.E. teacher & coach to the girls' soccer team but she never seemed to actually have any work except a few committee meetings or watching the soccer team while chatting with people. What kind of school system does she work in, where she has an office to herself, hour-long lunch breaks, and can leave the school whenever she wants to run errands without even telling anyone? She is put in charge of the school's chorus which seems to have met once and then disbanded.
I also found it "unfair" that after following every little detail of Tj's life, no matter how trivial, at the end of Chap. 20 Dan tells Tj he has something important to tell her but we the readers are not allowed to hear it. As I had already figured out who the killer was at this point, this was irritating but not critical.
Less serious is the frequency of the use of "cozy" as an adjective and the unneccessarily long last chapter after the mystery has been solved.
Most annoying for me was the fact that the author doesn't seem to actually know what life as a teacher is like. The main character, Tj, was supposed to be a high school P.E. teacher & coach to the girls' soccer team but she never seemed to actually have any work except a few committee meetings or watching the soccer team while chatting with people. What kind of school system does she work in, where she has an office to herself, hour-long lunch breaks, and can leave the school whenever she wants to run errands without even telling anyone? She is put in charge of the school's chorus which seems to have met once and then disbanded.
I also found it "unfair" that after following every little detail of Tj's life, no matter how trivial, at the end of Chap. 20 Dan tells Tj he has something important to tell her but we the readers are not allowed to hear it. As I had already figured out who the killer was at this point, this was irritating but not critical.
Less serious is the frequency of the use of "cozy" as an adjective and the unneccessarily long last chapter after the mystery has been solved.
September 21, 2016
I enjoyed this first of a series book. Tj is a strong intelligent woman who follows her gut when she believes her friend has been murdered. I love the rest of the cast of characters. Her father and grandfather who you don't hear much about but give the feeling of a strong backbone in the family. Her younger sisters that she is raising, seem to be actual feelings a child would have at that age. The possible romance to come with Dylan, I love the fact when Tj would find something, he already knew it because he is a cop who is actually working and investigating. The mystery was great because it was a mystery inside a mystery, finding the murderer plus finding out about Zac's past. The only problem I had with this story was I would have liked to read a little more about the pumpkin festival, it seemed to jump over it quite a bit, but that is minor. I am moving on to the next in this series.
October 15, 2020
This is not the first Kathi Daley book I have read but it may be the last. It just is not well written. For instance, we hear about the 25 pumpkins she needs to carve for the festival. 25 pumpkins over and over. Give 5 to the deputy to carve. I do not recall her ever carving the pumpkins. I was waiting for Tj an the deputy to carve them together like a date night.
Then there was the choir. Will it be a disaster or work out? We don't know. It's never mentioned again.
By the time the killer is revealed, I could not remember who this character was. I still can't. I don't have the gumption to go back and look for killer being mentioned.
As others mentioned, there are typos and mistakes.
I was looking forward to an autumn/Halloween read. This was not my cup of tea.
Then there was the choir. Will it be a disaster or work out? We don't know. It's never mentioned again.
By the time the killer is revealed, I could not remember who this character was. I still can't. I don't have the gumption to go back and look for killer being mentioned.
As others mentioned, there are typos and mistakes.
I was looking forward to an autumn/Halloween read. This was not my cup of tea.
September 13, 2016
This is one of my favorite books by Kathi. I truly enjoyed all the riddles and puzzles that TJ had to figure out in order to know what her friend Zachary wanted her to find out. Kathi is the next Dan Brown. I felt like I was in one of Dan Brown's novel DaVinci Code in which Robert Langdon is deciphering symbols in order for him to save someone's life. Kathi did a very nice job of creating riddles which aren't easy to write that went well with her story. It was great to be in total suspense while trying to figure out who the killer was and how everyone involved was related to Zachary. Thanks for keeping it fun and entertaining. Check this awesome book plus all her other cozy mysteries.
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October 20, 2020DNF ~13%.
I really wanted to like this. it seemed right up my ally as a Cozy and I especially liked the autumn setting. But unfortunately, it just couldn’t keep my interest. Nothing particularly wrong or bad about it, just didn’t hook me soon enough.
I really wanted to like this. it seemed right up my ally as a Cozy and I especially liked the autumn setting. But unfortunately, it just couldn’t keep my interest. Nothing particularly wrong or bad about it, just didn’t hook me soon enough.
August 15, 2019
3.5 Stars
This is the first book in the Tj Jensen Paradise Lake mystery series.
The first half of this book was not my favorite. I was screaming in my head to show not tell us what is going on. There were a lot of places where characters said what happened instead of seeing the action unfold. They were relating the past of Deputy Dylan Caine at one point and I found myself wishing for a flashback instead of what was presented to us.
I wish the characterization had been a bit more developed as well. I understand that this is the first book in a series and you can only do so much but I was left wanting more.
The second half of the book was much better. It just flew. As soon as Tj and Deputy Dylan began talking more, things started to happen. I was sort of confused as to who the love interest might be since it seemed to waffle between a few options. My money is on Dylan Caine. Always good to have a cop in your pocket when you need one, especially one who actually likes you.
This book was full of possibilities and I liked the world and how the mystery unfolded. I almost wish there was a book before this one relating all the history of Zachary Collins. That seemed to be the character with the richest backstory and he was already dead when the book opened.
Not my favorite but I have hope for better in future books.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the first book in the Tj Jensen Paradise Lake mystery series.
The first half of this book was not my favorite. I was screaming in my head to show not tell us what is going on. There were a lot of places where characters said what happened instead of seeing the action unfold. They were relating the past of Deputy Dylan Caine at one point and I found myself wishing for a flashback instead of what was presented to us.
I wish the characterization had been a bit more developed as well. I understand that this is the first book in a series and you can only do so much but I was left wanting more.
The second half of the book was much better. It just flew. As soon as Tj and Deputy Dylan began talking more, things started to happen. I was sort of confused as to who the love interest might be since it seemed to waffle between a few options. My money is on Dylan Caine. Always good to have a cop in your pocket when you need one, especially one who actually likes you.
This book was full of possibilities and I liked the world and how the mystery unfolded. I almost wish there was a book before this one relating all the history of Zachary Collins. That seemed to be the character with the richest backstory and he was already dead when the book opened.
Not my favorite but I have hope for better in future books.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
March 31, 2017
TJ Jensen lives a busy life, working as teacher and coach at the high school in Serenity, Nevada, and has been guardian of her 5- and 8-year-old half-sisters since her mother died three months earlier in Pumpkins in Paradise by Kathi Daley. In addition, she helps to manage her family's resort in this mountain glory, along with her father and grandfather. TJ is also unique in her friendship with the local elderly recluse, Zachary Collins, whom she first met on Halloween at the age of 12 when, on a dare, she went up to his house and discovered that the man was not the monster the whole community had rumored him to be. Since that day, the pair delighted in puzzles of all kinds and mind games that Zachary has been able to create to challenge TJ, his only friend. The book opens about a week before Halloween, which the people of Serenity celebrate with enough verve to make the mountain town a destination for tourists and thus a very busy time for TJ. She goes to visit her friend, only to find him dead in his overeasy chair, with an unfinished chess game and two bowls of clam chowder laid out. The new deputy dismisses the death as natural, especially given Zachary's old age, but TJ is not so convinced of this fact.
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Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
January 17, 2019
Yay, fluff! I blame my friends for turning me on to cozy mysteries. Yep, they're horrible influences, I swear.
TJ Jensen is a high school coach who lives in a small town. When she finds her recluse friend dead, she's sure it's murder, even though he was very old and in ill health.
This is a fun book to listen to. TJ is easygoing, smart, and caring. The only beef I had was that the author tended to spend a bit too much time describing her looks when it wasn't terribly necessary. Still, the other characters in the book were well rounded and felt like they had interesting backgrounds as well. In audio form, it was fairly short (about five hours) and it went fairly quickly. I never felt like it was plodding along or trying too hard. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.
TJ Jensen is a high school coach who lives in a small town. When she finds her recluse friend dead, she's sure it's murder, even though he was very old and in ill health.
This is a fun book to listen to. TJ is easygoing, smart, and caring. The only beef I had was that the author tended to spend a bit too much time describing her looks when it wasn't terribly necessary. Still, the other characters in the book were well rounded and felt like they had interesting backgrounds as well. In audio form, it was fairly short (about five hours) and it went fairly quickly. I never felt like it was plodding along or trying too hard. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.
September 9, 2025
I was looking for a cozy fall read and decided to pick this one up. While it had some cute moments, overall it just wasn’t for me. There were so many characters introduced who didn’t really add to the story, and it got confusing trying to keep track of everyone. On top of that, I really didn’t need to know that nearly every man in town was attractive it felt random and unnecessary. What really threw me, though, was the 17 year old who was pregnant (and had previously been pregnant), which was barely acknowledged. That storyline felt extremely glazed over, and I think it should have been addressed more seriously, especially since it involved an adult (I think we didn’t go into detail) and a minor. Between that, the filler content, and a romance that felt out of place, this book just didn’t land for me. It was still cute in some ways, but not something I’d recommend.
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