Shattered at Sea

A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery #5

by Cheryl Hollon

“Hollon clearly knows . . . how to craft a good mystery.”
—Sheila Connolly, New York Times bestselling author
 
A Mediterranean cruise gives glass shop owner Savannah Webb a chance to demonstrate her expertise—and fire up her skills when it comes to foul play . . .
 
When Savannah signs on to perform glass blowing on a ship that departs from the UK, part of the appeal is that she’ll get a chance to meet her boyfriend Edward’s family. An added bonus is that Edward’s cousin, Ian, will be joining them on board. But when Ian disappears at the beginning of the cruise, the ship’s authorities initially consider it suicide.
 
Savannah tries to balance her growing suspicions with work on her shows, but her relationship with the other glass artists begins to crack. And she can’t let love color her judgment when Edward suddenly jumps to the top of the suspect list. His fate is in Savannah’s hands, and she’ll do everything she can—on land and sea—to clear his name . . .
 
 
Praise for the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series
 
“Hollon hits a homerun.” —RT Book Reviews 
 
“Will keep you guessing to the end!”
—Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2018

About the author

Cheryl Hollon writes full time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind their St. Petersburg, FL, 1920's craftsman bungalow, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass and painted glass artworks.

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah Webb, owner of Webb's Glass Shop in St. Petersburg, Florida gets a fun gig as a glass blowing demonstrator on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea. She was working and studying glass blowing in the Northwest when her father died. She took over his stained glass studio and has become investigator of crimes and murder in the midst of stained glass classes and projects since. The danger doesn't stay in Florida when she and Edward, her boyfriend and owner of the pub next door, travel to England to visit Edward's family and pick up his cousin, Ian, for the cruise. Ian has just finished college and his parents gifted him the trip for graduation. Unfortunately, Ian disappears on the first night and witnesses thought he appeared very depressed. He is on antidepressants so maybe he threw himself overboard but Edward and Savannah don't think he did. Fortunately, the Rosenberg twin sisters were able to sign up for the cruise at the last minute so they help Savannah and Edward keep an eye out for Ian. When he has been missing for a day or so, they have no choice but to get the ship security involved but since they don't have a lot of murders occurring on board, they enlist Savannah's help with a recommendation from her friends at the St. Petersburg PD.
This is a great addition to the Webb's Glass Shop Mystery series with a fun setting and a growing pool of suspects. Edward is even considered a suspect. Savannah has to get her glass blowing demonstrations in along with the investigation. The group makes some nice projects to be sold for charity. Expect a fun surprise ending.
I was given a complimentary ARC by Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions and thoughts stated are mine only.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savannah Webb is going on a Mediterranean cruise as
substitute crew member. She will be replacing a glass
blowing artist. She will be giving demonstrations with
two glass artists.
Savannah’s boyfriend, Edward and his cousin, Ian are
going on the cruise as regular passengers. Edward plans
a pre-cruise stop to visit his parents at their home.
At Savannah’s cruise ship premier demonstration, two
of the Webb Glass Shop students, the Rosenburg twins
appear. They decided to take the cruise to attend the
glass blowing demonstrations.
Ian and Edward’s past catches up with them on the cruise.
Then Ian disappears.....What happened to him? Did he fall
overboard?
The employees from the Webb Glass Shop help from
St Petersburg with Savannah’s investigation by email.
Detailed descriptions made me feel like I was actually on
the cruise ship and at the ports visited. The food sounded
delicious that as served on the shipped.
It was interesting learning about glass-blowing techniques.
A glossary is included at the end of the book that helps the
reader with the terms.
The characters were all well defined, interesting, entertaining
and artfully crafted characters.
Murder, past lives uncovered, danger, intrigue and suspense
with several twists and turns add to the fast paced plot with
sprinkled with some humor and romance.
This is book # 4 in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series. It
can be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Shattered at Sea. Thanks to the Cozy
Mystery Review Crew for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and it's always fun to start the new book in this series. I was excited to see what adventures Savannah and her posse would get up to in this one. There is again the focus on glass, this time in the form of glassblowing aboard a cruise ship. The cruise ship was a nice change of scenery, although I did miss some of the more familiar aspects from the previous books. I liked how the author managed to bring most of the familiar characters into this mystery even with the different setting.

One thing that didn't quite work for me in this one was the mystery. Instead of a standard murder mystery, this was a bit of a missing persons case, but not quite. For a long time it is unclear whether Ian is still alive, but hiding or dead. So there wasn't as much investigating at first, just trying to get security involved and looking for Ian, which wasn't that interesting. There was no who has done it tension as there wasn't even a clear murder yet. The whole pace and progression of the mystery just felt off. And then at the end the bad guy was pretty obvious. It was just weird and sadly didn't quite work for me. I was way more invested in the other elements than the mystery.

My favorite part of this book was seeing the familiar characters again. Savannah gets to visit Edwards home town and parents, which was fun to see. I liked seeing how Savannah and Edward's relationship was doing and how they are doing after what the overcame in the previous book. They have some rough patches, but I liked how they kept communicating clearly and supporting each other. It was fun how the author worked the twins, Jacob and Amanda into this story as well. And the glassblowing scenes aboard the ship were fun to read.

The cruise ship made for an interesting change of scenery and I liked how we got a bit of a feel for the ship. I just had expected the mystery to make use of the whole cruise ship thing, with how the killer had to be onboard, but that element didn't really get utilized as much. The whole glassblowing aboard a cruise ship was really interesting and I liked how we got to see Savannah make some glass pieces in this book, as she usually is more busy with running the shop.

To summarize: All in all this was a fun read, but not my favorite in the series so far. I liked the change of scenery the cruise ship brought. But I am sad the mystery didn't have had the tension I had hoped and didn't grab me as much. The mystery was very slow to get started and didn't feel as clear as there wasn't a body and it wans't clear if there was a murder or not. and I normally like missing person cases, but this one just didn't work for me. The culprit was pretty obvious and I didn't really care for the reveals about Edward and Ian's past. I did like seeing the familiar characters again and the glassblowing scenes were a lot of fun to read. The ending was sweet and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon is A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery. Savannah Webb has been hired to be a replacement glass artist on the Mediterranean cruise ship, Obscura. On route to Barcelona, Savannah and her boyfriend, Edward stop in St. Albans, England to visit with his parents and pick up Edward’s cousin, Ian Morris who will be joining them on the cruise. Savannah is surprised and pleased to see Rachel and Faith Rosenburg on the ship. After getting settled, Savannah introduces herself to the glass blowing crew and settles in for the first glass demonstration. The next morning, Ian has disappeared, and the ship’s security believes he committed suicide or accidently fell overboard. Ian had drunk quite heavily and, according to the twins, Ian was feeling despondent. Edward and Savannah with help from the Faith and Rachel, search for Ian on the ship, but they are unsuccessful. They are certain that Ian is hiding, but they do not know why. Can Savannah and Edward find Ian before it is too late?

A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. The book is set in St. Petersburg, Florida which is near to where I live. I like reading about familiar sights along with the beautiful creations Savannah makes from glass. The series also contains friendly characters that I enjoy visiting in each new book. Shattered at Sea has Savannah, Edward and the Rosenburg twins, but we only get a glimpse of Amanda Blake and Jacob Underwood. I am happy, though, that the author found a way to include them. I thought Shattered at Sea was easy to read, but the pace was a little slow. Instead of a murder, we have a missing person’s case. Personally, I found the storyline slightly farfetched. I do not want to say too much and spoil it for you. There are a limited number of suspects and identifying the guilty party is unchallenging. There was a lack of tension and suspense. I felt that certain details were off in the book and the resolution seemed incomplete. I appreciated the levity the twins provided to the book and it was interesting to learn about a different method of glassblowing. It was also nice that Savannah was creating glass pieces in this book (back to her roots). I did not like the details Edward revealed about his past and they did not go with his character. My rating for Shattered at Sea is 3 out of 5 stars. The ending is satisfying and will have leave you smiling. While Shattered as Sea is not my favorite book in A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series, I am looking forward to reading Savannah’s next tale.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Webb's Glass Shop Mysteries, and this one did not disappoint. This story leaves Florida and takes place on the high seas. Glass shop owner Savannah Webb takes a job on a cruise ship for a series of artistic glassblower demonstrations. Before boarding the ship, Savannah and Edward stop in England to visit with his parents and meet the rest of his family. His cousin Ian, has just graduated from University and his parents have gifted him this cruise. No sooner do they board the ship when Ian goes missing. Ian checked in and then vanished. Cruise ship security suspect Ian jumped overboard, but Savannah doesn’t believe he’d take his life. She enlists her friends to aid her in tracking his movements. When Edward is arrested for his disappearance and possible murder, Savannah steps up her investigation calling in her employees over the internet to do what they do best. Was Edward imagining things when he spotted a thug from his past on the ship’s deck? Why has he never shared his shady past with Savannah?

The mystery unfolds amidst glassblowing details and trips to the ship’s buffet. There was a few spots that were a bit slow, but overall this was a well-paced story. I loved that the twins came on the cruise as well and we learned a bit more about them. They were also more involved in this story than in past ones. This light-hearted mystery will have you yearning to go on a cruise and perhaps learn more about glass blowing. Shattered at Sea is a delightful cozy mystery that will keep you turning pages.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting addition to the Webb Glass Shop series! Savannah and Edward take the glass show on the road or rather on the ocean so Savannah can participate in a glass blowing extravaganza on the ship! Things start to unravel when one of their circle of pals goes missing and the mystery is afoot from there. Multiple layers to the plot as Edward's seedier past is unveiled and plays a role in the current mystery thus causing some interpersonal issues as well as potentially deadly characters on the horizon! Once again a fun plot woven with mystery, intrigue and well developed characters that you bond with! I'm looking forward to the next adventure in the series and after you read the ending of this book, you will be too!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a cancellation offers glass shop owner Savannah Web the opportunity to demonstrate glassblowing on a cruise ship, she can’t pass it up. Savannah, her boyfriend Edward, and his cousin Ian are all set for a week of luxury. No sooner does the cruise set sail, but Ian disappears and is feared to have gone overboard. Did he fall off? Was he pushed? Or did he dive to his death?
While Savannah tries to continue with her glassblowing presentations, she is determined to find out what happened to Ian; especially since Edward seems to be on the top of the suspect list. Secrets hidden in Ian and Edward’s early life come to light and have Savannah questioning the man she knows.

Even though they are on a cruise ship, the author still finds a way to include characters from previous books in this series. Jacob aids (from land) by plotting the ship's course to see where Ian’s body would show up if he went overboard. A few surprise passengers are on hand to lend Savannah assistance at sleuthing, add to the adventure, and bring some humor into the story.

As with other books in this series, the characters are engaging and very dimensional, the mystery keeps you in suspense, there is romance for a number of the characters, and lots of possible suspects to keep you guessing.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth installment of the Webb's Glass Shop series. Savannah has been hired by a cruise ship to do glass blowing demonstrations for their Mediterranean cruise. But first, she and Edward fly to London so she can finally visit his hometown village, then they are off to Barcelona where the cruise begins. His cousin Ian joins them as a graduation present from his parents and all seems fine. But then Ian goes missing and Edward fesses up to some secrets from their past in a desperate search to find him. Some strange goings-on back home in St. Petersburg, Florida at both the glass shop and Edward's pub also make Savannah question who can she really trust on this ship.

It was nice to have a different setting for this book with some different characters as well as some familiar ones from home. The story was well-paced and there were some good red herrings. Edward and Savannah's relationship continues to develop as they become even closer. I especially liked how she was so warmly welcomed by Edward's family, even when she broke something in their home. The author includes a glossary of common glassblowing terms, but I wish it had been placed at the beginning of the book.

Thanks to Cozy Mystery Review Crew and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.

[Jessica Secrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered at Sea
by Cheryl Hollon
Review by Jessica Secrest

I enjoy watching people take sand and blow it into glass. I was excited when I got to review Shattered at Sea. I think there are other books in this series, but I have not read them.
This story takes place mostly on a cruise ship, where the main character, Savannah Webb, and her boy friend, Edward Morris, get to take a cruise in the Mediterranean. This is a working cruise for Savannah, because she will be crafting vases and other pieces of blown glass art for the other voyagers.
Savannah and Edward stop in England to see Edward's parents and to collect his young cousin, Ian. Ian has just graduated and the cruise is a gift to him from his parents.
The three of them board the ship in Barcelona, Spain. That is when the story gets really interesting. As a missing persons story this is a great story. I would have been content with that. As it is a cozy mystery, I guess someone had to die.
I am not sure how I can talk about the story without revealing that Ian comes up missing. It is because Ian is missing that everyone is running around the ship like crazy people looking for him. In between looking for him, Savannah is doing her demonstrations. The 2 guys she is working with are odd, but still I think she enjoys working with them. I like that once in a while, a beautiful piece of glass will be fashioned and something will happen to cause it to shatter. It made the story more real to me.
It is also because of Ian that we learn about Edward's shady past.
I like the author's touches of realism in the story, that wakes up a scene and makes it alive. At one point Savannah is not paying close enough attention to what she is doing and burns her arm.
Savannah has a fan group. Faith and Rachel are 80 year old twins who have followed Savannah onto the cruise. They are a delightful pair who enliven the story. Their presence on the ship help to reveal the murderer.
I enjoyed the story as a missing person's story, but the murder, just seemed to be thrown in there and unnecessary to further the story. I guess I don't believe someone must die to make a good mystery story.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah Webb is offered the chance of a lifetime - an opportunity to demonstrate glass blowing on a cruise ship to the Mediterranean, accompanied by her boyfriend, Edward. Edward also included a brief stop at his parent's house, so that Savannah can once again meet them, this time on their home turf. And for an additional surprise, his cousin, Ian, is going to accompany them on the cruise, a college graduation gift from his parents. But when Ian goes missing early on in the cruise, Savannah and Edward have a hard time convincing the boat's security that Ian is missing, not dead of an apparent suicide. Can Savannah track down clues to Ian's location, while still keeping to her commitment for the glassblowing demonstrations. Although I have not read all of the books in this series, the relationships between the main characters are easy to pick up. I love the energy of the twin elderly sisters, as well as the determination of Savannah's business helpers back at home, when faced with their own crisis. The glassblowing descriptions were wonderful, as were the details of Edward's family home. All in all, this was a lovely mystery, with clues both true and misleading. My one complaint is that it wrapped up a little quickly in the ending chapter, but despite that, I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this cozy mystery because most of the story took place on a Mediterranean cruise and France, Spain and Italy hold some of my favorite travel memories after twenty trips to Europe. While the author’s descriptions aboard the cruise ship were believable, I was bothered by three glaring errors. Savannah, Edward and Ian changed trains in London at St. Pancras station—not St. Pancreas 🤣. Provence is not a Mediterranean cruise port—it’s a region in France. Ian’s parents would not have joined the ship in Florence, Italy—Florence is about an hour and a half drive from Livorno, the closest port. Other than Rome’s Trevi Fountain, there weren’t enough descriptive port scenes for me.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 5th book of Glass Shop series finds Savannah Webb has accepted a temporary position to demonstrate the art of Glass blowing on a cruise.
There good descriptions of glass blowing and learn more about Edward's past and Family.

She is joined by Edward, her boyfriend. The trip begins in the UK Savannah meets Edward's family. Edward and his cousin Ian will join the ship as passengers. Ian disappeared the first night out and the ship's security is not concerned as they believe he committed suicide. Stranges things begin to happen like power suddenly not working. Ian is sighted but no one can find him. At the first demonstrations, Rosenberg twins make an appearance They joined the trip to see Savannah's Glassblowing. The ending is a surprise. I highly recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: Many Thanks to Kensington Books for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and I enjoyed the unique cruise ship setting in this book. It was good to see Savannah get back to her love of glass blowing and to read the descriptions of how that is done. The mystery was interesting and brought a new dimension to the story, since it was so different from the previous books. I liked that all of the members of the Webb's Glass Shop team were involved, even though some were from a distance, and that the twins were included in this book. I enjoyed the interaction among the characters and how much closer Savannah and Edward are getting as well as the growth of the other characters. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

Thank you to The Cozy Mystery Review Crew and Cheryl Hollon for a copy of this book. This did not influence my review in any way.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered At Sea is the fifth book in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series.

Savannah Webb has hired on to be part of a glass blowing demonstration on a cruise ship. She’s anxious about leaving the glass shop, but she is convinced by Edward Morris, her boyfriend, that Amanda Blake, assistant manager, and Jacob Underwood, apprentice, are more than capable of handling the day-to-day operation of the shop.

Before joining the cruise ship Savannah and Edward will be going to England to meet Edward’s parents, Glenda and Ronald and to meet up with Edward’s cousin, Ian, who will be going on the cruise, too, a college graduation present from his parents. They arrive at the ship and Savannah heads for the crew quarters and Edward and Ian head for their accommodations. When Savannah and Edward meet late that evening, Edward says that Ian is nowhere to be found. Knowing that Ian loves his drink and has an eye for the ladies, they don’t think too much of it. But after a couple day of searching the ship and leaving messages in the room and on his cell phone, the really become concerned about him. They seek out the ship’s security but get very little help from LuAnn Dalessio, Security Captain. Savannah texts Jacob and he plots out the ship’s course and determines that if Ian had fallen overboard, his body should have floated ashore by the time they talked with security. As they are discussing Ian, Edward brings up that they weren’t little angels growing up and Ian had mentioned when they boarded the ship that he thought he recognized someone already on board. Now they have set their sights on who that person was and what he might have to do with Ian and Edwards past.

Another well-plotted and told story from Ms. Hollon. Since the book takes place aboard a cruise ship most of the usual characters aren’t in this book. But never fear, the Rosenberg sisters, much to Savannah and Edward’s surprise, have booked passage so that they can watch Savannah demonstrate her skill at glassblowing.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this engaging series.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deception, intrigue and mysterious disappearances. are an intrical part of the carefully woven plot of this story. The addition of a cruise ship and a craft/occupation that I've never heard explored continue to add to the plot. The characters are loveable to a fault. The plot kept me reading well into the night and read like that of a movie.

I cannot wait to read the next installment!

[Rima Aiello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery at sea, welcoming characters, and a perfect setting all add up to a wonderful story! I love that we are taking this book to the high seas and it totally adds to the perfection of this series! I love that there really isn't another series that is similar to this one, the characters, the story is so unique. The author does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged while not giving away the mystery! I cannot wait to see what else the author has in store!

[Barbara Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a free copy of Shattered at Sea from the Cozy Mystery Review Crew. My honest review is below:

What a fun ride! This is my first time visiting the Webb’s Glass Shop series, and it won’t be my last! Although this is the fifth book in the series, I had no trouble jumping in and feeling right at home with the characters and situations. From the opening prologue, I was hooked. Samantha Webb has taken a temporary position on a cruise ship doing glass blowing demonstrations. Along the way, we get to meet Edward’s family in London and then on to the cruise ship in Barcelona where we learn some fascinating things about the intricacies of glass blowing on a moving vessel. When Edward’s cousin goes missing on the ship, the mystery is afoot! All-in-all, Shattered at Sea is a fun, entertaining cozy, populated with colorful characters and a spectacular locale. I will definitely be reading this series from the beginning!

[RO G'ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered at Sea is the fifth book in in Cheryl Hollon’s Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series with a well-developed plot and great characters. The story flows at a steady pace. Ms. Hollon has a smooth writing style and she gives her readers a solid mystery with plenty of suspects, red herrings, and twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged throughout the story. I’ve read the previous books in this series and love the way Ms. Hollon has allowed the characters to grow and develop. I recommend this book for everyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

Savannah Webb owns Webb’s Glass Shop in St. Petersburg, Florida, the glass shop that her father, John Webb, owned before his death. Amanda Blake is the shop’s assistant manager and part-time stained glass instructor. Jacob Underwood, a teenager with Asperger’s syndrome, who has the unique ability to analyze and decipher things, and a service dog named Suzy, is her talented apprentice. Edward Morris is the owner of Queen’s Head Pub and Savannah’s boyfriend. Edward moved into Savannah’s bungalow a few months ago and they share their home with his cat, Snowy, and her dad’s dog, Rooney. Savannah has accepted an offer to be a last minute substitute glassblower on a cruise ship, the Obscura, and she and Edward will be on a seven-day cruise on the Mediterranean. They’re able to stop in St. Albans, England for a brief visit with Edward’s parents before the cruise. Ian Morris, Edward’s cousin, received a cruise as a graduation present from his parents and will be cruising with Savanah and Edward. Since Savannah will be a crewmember, Edward will be sharing Ian’s cabin. Savannah is pleasantly surprised to learn two of her students, the Rosenberg twins, Faith and Rachel, are booked on the same cruise. After a shaky practice run, Savannah’s demonstration flowed perfectly. The first day of the cruise, Ian goes missing and the ship’s security team assumes he committed suicide. Ian’s parents don’t believe that’s true and meet the ship as soon as possible to find their son. Edward shares some of his past with Savanah. Savannah utilizes the talents of Amanda and Jacob, who are holding down the fort back home, to learn more about Ian and where his body would have washed up if he’d gone overboard. No one can understand why, but Edward is suddenly taken into custody and held as the main suspect in his cousin’s disappearance. Since there aren’t any witnesses and there isn’t a body, Savannah is adamant that Ian isn’t dead and is determined to find him and clear Edward’s name. Detective David Parker, who uses Savannah as a consultant, praises her investigative skills and the ship’s security detail agrees to allow her to help with their investigation.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Cheryl Hollon has us riveted to our seats in this captivating page turner in her new installment of her Webb's Glass Shop Mystery series in Shattered at Sea.


Savannah and Edward are going on a cruise where Savannah will do her glass blowing which sounds like a good time right? Not  when Ian, a cousin to Edward, goes missing and the other artists on board are hard to deal with and then Edward becomes a suspect in the whole mess which really puts a damper on the whole cruise. To salvage the cruise and her relationship Savannah has to solder all the pieces in the puzzle together and hopefully  clear Edward while figuring out what really happened.


I just love how we are joining some of the unique characters again to solve a mystery in a thrilling setting aboard a cruise ship while throwing so many curves and suspects in the mix to keep you enthralled till the end. I really enjoyed once again the way the author weaves  the glass art into the story which adds an extra uniqueness to it. 


I found in this book that Savannah has grown more confident and has evolved more  to being a real leader and a smart, bold woman who uses her wits to solve the mystery with the help of her friends. Edward her boyfriend is a mystery himself, one where I find myself questioning his motives at times and wondering if he is hiding something but then I see the good in him and think he can't be bad. The relationship between him and Savannah is growing which is awesome but she has to help clear his name when he becomes the number one suspect. That always puts a damper on a relationship.


I think if you like a good riveting mystery, with strong characters and a unique setting then you will enjoy this book. I can't wait for the next book in the series.


I received this book for my honest opinion and review

[Allison Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered at Sea is the fifth installment in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series, and I loved it. Cheryl Hollon is great at crafting these cozy mysteries about a glass-blowing amateur sleuth.

This time, Savannah’s adventure takes her first to England, then on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean where she’s been hired to conduct glass-blowing demonstrations. Onboard with her boyfriend Edward, she is stunned to find that the two elderly ladies who always take her glass classes, and help her solve mysteries, have signed up for the cruise as well. Edward’s cousin Ian is on the cruise as a graduation present from his parents. But after seeing something that has shaken Ian up, he disappears one night. After extensively searching the ship, Savannah and her gang are told by the cruise ship security director that she believes Ian jumped overboard and is lost at sea.
But Savannah and Edward are not convinced at all he would have done that, so they go to work investigating in between her glass demos.

Ms. Hollon also works with glass in real life, so she is very knowledgeable about the techniques Savannah uses, and the process. It would be fascinating to watch the pieces she writes about take shape. The author also writes settings so well, I felt as if I were in a quaint British home, and then onboard a cruise ship. And since I’m going on my first cruise next year, I avidly soaked up all the details about the cruise ship!

I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series! Thank you to Kensington for an advance copy of the book. I enjoyed it so much I had to write a review.

[Sara Grotz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Shattered at Sea. I have been reading this series since the beginning, and really enjoy the characters. Savannah is a great main character, and I love her relationship with Edward that is blooming. This time around they aren’t at the glass shop, but instead Savannah is working on a cruise ship blowing glass. As an added bonus, she gets to stop in England with Edward to meet his family. His cousin Ian gets a chance to come with them on the cruise as a graduation present, but things go awry when he disappears and the cruise ships authorities try to label it as a suicide.
Things get even more fun on the cruise when the Rosenburg twins show up on the cruise to support Savannah. Add to that Edward being suspected of foul play with his cousin’s disappearance, and it is a fast paced book I found hard to put down. I love the continuation of characters in this series, but while I think reading the previous books adds to the story, it would be a good book even without already knowing the characters. This was a very well written book and I look forward to reading more from Cheryl Hollon, especially if it is more from Webb’s Glass Shop. I did receive this book in exchange for an honest review, but all of the opinions are mine alone.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah agrees to substitute for glass blowing demonstrations on a Mediterranean cruise ship. She and Edward fly to England first to meet with his family, and cousin Ian announces that he will be joining them on the cruise as a graduation gift from his parents.

As they board the ship, Ian see someone from his past. When he disappears, Savannah learns that he and Edward had gotten involved with a counterfeiting mob as youngsters.

Another surprise for Savannah on boarding the ship, they have been joined by the elderly twin sisters who attend all her classes in Florida. Before long the twins hook up with a couple of elderly male twins! The four twins somehow end up dressing alike and they even think alike. they must have been quite a sight!

What has happened to Ian? The ship's security team suspects that he jumped overboard, after discovering that he suffered from depression over not being able to find a job. Samantha thinks his disappearance has something to do with his youthful misadventures.

Edward has another surprise for Savannah once the ship docks in Barcelona at the end of the cruise.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: SHATTERED AT SEA by Cheryl q
(A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery)

An aspect of cozy mysteries that I really enjoy is Craft Cozies which educate me about craft activities. Cheryl Hollon's Webb's Glass Shop Mysteries contain a plethora of education about a craft activity I'll surely never experience but can certainly admire: the craft of Stained Glassmaking.

Protagonist Savannah Webb of St. Petersburg, FL, is a gifted glassmaker who inherited her late father's glass Shop. She is offered an opportunity to fill in as a glassmaking demonstrator on a Mediterranean cruise. Synchronistically, her pub-owner British boyfriend Edward is also taking the cruise with his cousin Ian. Of course, wherever is Savannah Webb, there will be mysteries, and the disappearances, wrongful confinement, and unexpected revelations of secrets--both long-hidden and recent--begin.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah is asked to fill in as a glassblowing artist on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. On the way to the ship, she and Edward stop for a quick visit with his family, where they meet up with his cousin, Ian. Ian is also going on the cruise, but when he disappears after the first day on the ship, Savannah and Edward set out to prove to the ship's security staff that Ian did not throw himself overboard.

Maybe it's because I've always been fascinated by stained glass and glassblowing, but I have enjoyed this series from the very first book, and this latest installment is no exception. The entire cruising experience seemed different from anything we've ever encountered, but we've never been in staff quarters or in a ship's suites, so that could explain a lot. I like watching the relationships between characters develop and grow as the series continues, and I loved seeing some of the series regulars play such an significant roles in this book, despite the "out of town" location. The mystery in this book appeared to take a back seat to the relationship and back stories of some of the characters, but as long as the mystery is the main focus of the next book, I'll be a happy reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love crafts and I love being on a cruise. Throw in some drama and mystery and that’s a win for me. I would love to watch a glass blowing demonstration, or even better be able to do it. The characters in this story go well together. Savannah and Edward are a good fit, they play well off each other. The twins, of my goodness, love them! The story line kept you going so you wanted to see what was going to happen next. There are a couple extra twists and turns that I didn’t expect, but you’ll have to read the book to see what they are. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received an ARC copy of this book, but my opinion is mine.

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Cheryl Hollon's Webb Glass Shop Mystery series. Savannah Webb is a glass blower who has a talent for being caught up in murder and mayhem. When she's offered the chance to go on a Mediterranean cruise and show her glass blowing skills, Edward Morris, her boyfriend, talks her into going. After all he'll be there with her. Their dream becomes a nightmare when Edward's cousin disappears at sea early into the cruise and Edward becomes the prime suspect. Can Savannah and her team find Ian and discover why he's hiding? These characters are so well written that they come alive for me. I felt a connection to them. The story is well plotted and suspenseful. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, I loved the touch of romance. The dialogue was smart and snappy. I loved the description of the glass blowing. Since I'm a collector, I found this educational. I was happy that the Rosenberg twins inserted themselves in this case. They make me smile. They are so enthusiastic. I must admit that I was shocked by Edward's secret. Shattered at Sea was a worth addition to this series. I can't wait for the next adventure.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

[Liz V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Savannah takes a job on a cruise ship, replacing an ill glass blower. Edward is able to tag along by sharing the cabin of his cousin Ian whose parents had gifted him with the cruise to celebrate his graduation from college. The first night, however, Ian goes missing and, when it emerges that Ian struggles with depression, the security personnel assume Ian is a suicide. Thus Savannah and Edward undertake finding Ian, aided by the Rosenfelt twins aboard and Amanda and Jason back in Florida.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 5 in the series.

Not my favorite in the series, but it was okay. This book takes us away from Webb's Glass Shop and out on the High Seas. Despite that, some of the regular characters (the twins) make an appearance. But we get to meet Edward's family. I quite enjoyed his parents. Ian, not so much.

The mystery wasn't the usual cozy mystery, and it just missed the mark with me. Mostly, I think, because I really didn't care for Ian, so his disappearance just didn't matter to me. I wanted to learn more about glass blowing on a cruise ship instead. In the end, I liked learning a bit more about Edward. Also, I guess I just missed the usual background of the glass shop.

I will look forward to more from Webb's, mostly because I enjoy visiting the gang.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author.*

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shattered at Sea is the latest in Cheryl Hollon’s Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series. It takes place primarily on a cruise ship, where the main character, Savannah Webb, is a substitute glass-blowing demonstrator. She is on the ship with her fiancé, Edward, and his cousin, Ian. Ian goes missing and Edward is the main suspect. Savannah has to clear his name and find Ian.

The overall story is good and a true mystery, but there were several things I was disappointed in. Of all of the main characters, the least likeable is Savannah. I found her to be rude. When Ian picks her and Edward up at the airport, she complains about his driving and less than a day later she complains to him about how bad he smells. Later in the book, she is mad at Edward for not telling her everything about his youth. Besides Edward and Ian, there are several other characters, who I enjoyed and who added to the story.

The other main problem is her glass-blowing. I was looking forward to learning about it, but she uses a lot of terms most people don’t know and I couldn’t picture what she was doing and why. There was a glossary at the end, which would have helped some, but I didn’t find it until I was finished.

I may try another book, maybe one in the glass shop itself, so I can learn more about the craft. As I said, the writing and the plot were good.

I received a free copy of this book for my review.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon is the 5rd book in A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery Series and another great read. I love this series. Savannah Webb owns the glass shop in St. Petersburg, Florida. Amanda, the shop's manager agrees to take over the shop while Savannah goes on a cruise to teach glass blowing, and her boyfriend Edward and his cousin, Ian, are also on the cruise. When Ian disappears, it's up to Savannah, Edward and their friends to figure out what happened to him, especially when Edward is the main suspect. I love all the twists and turns in this cozy mystery, and look forward to the characters next adventure. Although you can read this book as a stand alone, I suggest you read all the book, they are all good. I strongly recommend this book for cozy book lovers.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.