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The CafFUNated Mysteries #1
A Caffeine Conundrum
Solving a murder mystery is harder when you don't trust your partner...or their taste in beverages. Sassy city girl Tandy Brandt moves to the small town of Grace Springs to start a coffee shop, never imagining she'll be competing with local beauty queen Marissa Alexander and her dream of running a tea house. Unfortunately, the current store owner dies before selling the location to either of them, and they both become murder suspects. The unlikely pair team up in an attempt to discover the real killer, though with the secrets in Tandy's past and Marissa's infamous clumsiness, they could be their own worst enemies. Despite their differences, they follow clues to question a sweet, apple pie baking antique store owner, a GQ Santa in the retirement center, and a hipster millionaire with no social skills. Will they be able to figure out whodunit and prove their innocence before one of them goes to jail...or worse?
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2018
230 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Angela Ruth Strong
41 books687 followersAngela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been nominated for a Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky filmed as a movie in Montana and aired on UPtv in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at My Book Therapy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
October 18, 2018
A fun start to a new series! Lighthearted mystery with a cute small-town setting and two amateur sleuths who are learning to get along with each other. I always hear Christian readers wishing for more cozy mysteries, and this is a great new series to dive into!
September 3, 2018
A Caffeine Conundrum is a quirky, laughable, cozy mystery.
I loved how Ms. Strong put her own twist on the genre. First, she had me laughing at the antics of Marissa. But I also felt for her because she had a lot of baggage in her past that I prayed she would shed.
And Tandy…well the girl needed a hug and a friend, probably in that order. Her steadfastness and logic in solving the crime kept my want to solve mystery brain active. Which brings me to the whodunnit aspect. I don’t know about you, but I read mysteries to try my hand at sleuthing. And Ms. Strong kept my brain hopping and my sleuthing skills came up wanting. I didn’t guess correctly and was shock to find out whodunnit.
All in all, I enjoyed this cozy mystery and look forward to more books in the series.
*I received a free copy from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion and was not required of me.
I loved how Ms. Strong put her own twist on the genre. First, she had me laughing at the antics of Marissa. But I also felt for her because she had a lot of baggage in her past that I prayed she would shed.
And Tandy…well the girl needed a hug and a friend, probably in that order. Her steadfastness and logic in solving the crime kept my want to solve mystery brain active. Which brings me to the whodunnit aspect. I don’t know about you, but I read mysteries to try my hand at sleuthing. And Ms. Strong kept my brain hopping and my sleuthing skills came up wanting. I didn’t guess correctly and was shock to find out whodunnit.
All in all, I enjoyed this cozy mystery and look forward to more books in the series.
*I received a free copy from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion and was not required of me.
January 1, 2023
3 ½ stars 🌟
December 24, 2018
If you love Nancy Drew, ridiculously realistic characters, and a plot that keeps you tumbling from one mess to the next, you’re going to love this book. Coffee? Check! Tea? Check!
How about an adorable little dog who fails miserably at the guard dog job but makes up for it in comfort and cuddles? Ex-boyfriends who may or may not be guilty of everything from growing into hunky dudes when you weren’t looking to oblivion and possibly even murder?
Poison? Explosions? “Avalanches?”
Yeah, this book has it all, from the klutzy girl who could give Miss Congeniality a run for her money to murder, theft, and mayhem.
The best part is probably how neither girl is actually any good at this sleuthing thing. It’s kind of refreshing after the Nancys, the Miss Marples, and the Miss Fishers of this work, you know?
Seriously, just typing it all out—and avoiding typing too much—I should be telling you what a terrible book it was. But it wasn’t. Somehow Ms. Strong makes it work. How is that even possible?
All I know is if you like cozy mysteries with quirky characters and a less-than-obvious plot, you’re sure to love A Caffeine Conundrum. It seriously was just too much fun.
The good news is, it’s the first book in the CafFunated Mysteries.
And that's why a magnifying glass is a perfect gift--and by magnifying glass, I mean A Caffeine Conundrum. Zip it to someone's Kindle as a surprise if you need a last-minute gift or "stocking stuffer" or let Prime have it to your door before you leave on Saturday for cousin Hilda's house. You know how she loves a fun mystery...
How about an adorable little dog who fails miserably at the guard dog job but makes up for it in comfort and cuddles? Ex-boyfriends who may or may not be guilty of everything from growing into hunky dudes when you weren’t looking to oblivion and possibly even murder?
Poison? Explosions? “Avalanches?”
Yeah, this book has it all, from the klutzy girl who could give Miss Congeniality a run for her money to murder, theft, and mayhem.
The best part is probably how neither girl is actually any good at this sleuthing thing. It’s kind of refreshing after the Nancys, the Miss Marples, and the Miss Fishers of this work, you know?
Seriously, just typing it all out—and avoiding typing too much—I should be telling you what a terrible book it was. But it wasn’t. Somehow Ms. Strong makes it work. How is that even possible?
All I know is if you like cozy mysteries with quirky characters and a less-than-obvious plot, you’re sure to love A Caffeine Conundrum. It seriously was just too much fun.
The good news is, it’s the first book in the CafFunated Mysteries.
And that's why a magnifying glass is a perfect gift--and by magnifying glass, I mean A Caffeine Conundrum. Zip it to someone's Kindle as a surprise if you need a last-minute gift or "stocking stuffer" or let Prime have it to your door before you leave on Saturday for cousin Hilda's house. You know how she loves a fun mystery...
November 8, 2018
Totally Enjoyed This Book!
Oh my goodness, this story was so full of events which will make your head spin!
From the very first chapter to the end there are so many twists and turns.
I truly loved reading how Marissa and Tandy joined forces to find out what really happened and who was the real murder in this story.
If you like to read "who done it" stories, then you'll love this newest book by Angela Ruth Strong.
It's entertaining, suspenseful, and just plan fun!
I highly recommend you pick it up!
Oh my goodness, this story was so full of events which will make your head spin!
From the very first chapter to the end there are so many twists and turns.
I truly loved reading how Marissa and Tandy joined forces to find out what really happened and who was the real murder in this story.
If you like to read "who done it" stories, then you'll love this newest book by Angela Ruth Strong.
It's entertaining, suspenseful, and just plan fun!
I highly recommend you pick it up!
February 18, 2021
Fun and Engaging
Quirky fun characters well defined on a cozy small town setting. Murder mayhem and mystery as the two main characters stumble their way through possible suspects and hope to avoid being the next victim!
Quirky fun characters well defined on a cozy small town setting. Murder mayhem and mystery as the two main characters stumble their way through possible suspects and hope to avoid being the next victim!
September 2, 2021
Wow, what a great book! Conundrum is FILLED with Christmas and coffee references that were sweet and mischievous throughout! Tandy and Marissa don't start out on the right foot, but after the shop owner dies in front of them and they are both considered suspect, they have no choice but to work together to find the guilty culprit. Little do they realize it's the start of a beautiful friendship and one that had me smiling in EACH chapter :)
"The sweet woman had short, spiky hair that had lightened with age to be the color of creamer and a laugh that overflowed like a cappuccino with one too many shots of espresso."
Tandy is probably my favorite character because she's the outsider and able to look at the situation a bit more objectively than Marissa is, who mostly wants to salvage her family's history with the beauty pageant and hopefully win one herself. Tandy's sass is such an enhancement and her dog, Cocoa, is a great companion that is so well described!
"Connor smiled a sweet smile. He was the Caramel Macchiato of men."
The hero of the story and Marissa's ex, he comes through every time Marissa is in danger and it's difficult to believe he still loves her even though she hasn't forgiven him since they broke up. Yet no one knows Marissa better than he does and he even asks Tandy to give her a chance.
"She preferred to take a spinning class where the instructor gave out shots of espresso."
Yes to all the coffee references in this story and yes to the friendship that develops between Tandy and Marissa! They so felt like Shawn and Gus from Psych in their back and forth as they sleuth against their better judgment to find the town's killer. Loved this book, it's title and characters, and thrilled I got the chance to review it!! HIGHLY recommend CC, it's a cute read from beginning to end and will have you cheering for these girls in its conclusion. And will Marissa turn Tandy into a tea drinker at some point? We shall see!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and was under no obligation to post a review. The thoughts and comments are my own*
"The sweet woman had short, spiky hair that had lightened with age to be the color of creamer and a laugh that overflowed like a cappuccino with one too many shots of espresso."
Tandy is probably my favorite character because she's the outsider and able to look at the situation a bit more objectively than Marissa is, who mostly wants to salvage her family's history with the beauty pageant and hopefully win one herself. Tandy's sass is such an enhancement and her dog, Cocoa, is a great companion that is so well described!
"Connor smiled a sweet smile. He was the Caramel Macchiato of men."
The hero of the story and Marissa's ex, he comes through every time Marissa is in danger and it's difficult to believe he still loves her even though she hasn't forgiven him since they broke up. Yet no one knows Marissa better than he does and he even asks Tandy to give her a chance.
"She preferred to take a spinning class where the instructor gave out shots of espresso."
Yes to all the coffee references in this story and yes to the friendship that develops between Tandy and Marissa! They so felt like Shawn and Gus from Psych in their back and forth as they sleuth against their better judgment to find the town's killer. Loved this book, it's title and characters, and thrilled I got the chance to review it!! HIGHLY recommend CC, it's a cute read from beginning to end and will have you cheering for these girls in its conclusion. And will Marissa turn Tandy into a tea drinker at some point? We shall see!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and was under no obligation to post a review. The thoughts and comments are my own*
December 31, 2019
This book was not a good read. First, the narrative switches characters but not in defining intervals, sometimes in the middle of the chapter, or the middle of the scene. One of the lead characters accuses everyone she runs into of being the murderer, leaping to wild conclusions like a frog on lily pads. Also, the writing itself needs a lot of work. There are very confusing sentences where ‘she’ said something but you dont know which ‘she’ because there are three in the scene and the writer doesn’t make it clear. And finally, the editing was horrible. I know it’s a little thing, but SOMEONE should have known when to use the word ‘brake’ and when to use ‘break’. Truly unforgivable
August 27, 2018
'You are the worst murderer ever.'
If you like cozy mysteries and comedy, look no further! This was just the most delightful book and I loved it all the way through.
Marissa Alexander is in her small town hoping to buy an antique shop and turn it into a tea room. At the same time, city girl Tandy Brandt shows up hoping to buy the same shop for a coffee house. As they are sitting with the owner, about to go into a bidding war, the owner falls dead. As a doornail. And it's murder. Well, what do they do now? Both are suspected at once, but then they decided, against all odds, to team up together and try to solve the murder. What an oddly matched pair of detectives. And what an even more odd round up of suspects! I never did guess the culprit! And there is a bit of romance here, too, from two old flames.
Angela Ruth Strong has hit a home run with this one. I loved the banter between these two, the dry humor. Marissa and Tandy are completely opposite, yet they work as a crime solving duo. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*My thanks to the author for a preview copy of this book. The opinion stated here is entirely my own.
If you like cozy mysteries and comedy, look no further! This was just the most delightful book and I loved it all the way through.
Marissa Alexander is in her small town hoping to buy an antique shop and turn it into a tea room. At the same time, city girl Tandy Brandt shows up hoping to buy the same shop for a coffee house. As they are sitting with the owner, about to go into a bidding war, the owner falls dead. As a doornail. And it's murder. Well, what do they do now? Both are suspected at once, but then they decided, against all odds, to team up together and try to solve the murder. What an oddly matched pair of detectives. And what an even more odd round up of suspects! I never did guess the culprit! And there is a bit of romance here, too, from two old flames.
Angela Ruth Strong has hit a home run with this one. I loved the banter between these two, the dry humor. Marissa and Tandy are completely opposite, yet they work as a crime solving duo. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*My thanks to the author for a preview copy of this book. The opinion stated here is entirely my own.
August 31, 2018
A Caffeine Conundrum is a FUN way to kick off The CafFUNated Mysteries series. It's a rather quick read with an unusual twist: two female lead protagonists. The story (and I assume, the rest of the series) flips back and forth between both Tandy's and Marissa's perspectives, which makes it very interesting. I enjoyed seeing each woman through the other's eyes as their friendship grew. Both had complimentary personalities that will make for some amusing escapades in the books to come.
I'm not generally a big fan of comedy-of-errors type tales where one disaster, blunder, or stressor after another pops up and protagonists make nutty decisions, so initially it did take me a little bit of time to feel like I was enjoying the story. But once things started picking up and coming together, I loved it! I especially enjoyed how Marissa and Tandy's friendship blossomed. Both had some issues they needed to deal with, and the author did so with grace, humor, and heart.
I definitely will be looking forward to finding out how things develop with each of their love interests and what new troubles they find themselves involved in.
I'm not generally a big fan of comedy-of-errors type tales where one disaster, blunder, or stressor after another pops up and protagonists make nutty decisions, so initially it did take me a little bit of time to feel like I was enjoying the story. But once things started picking up and coming together, I loved it! I especially enjoyed how Marissa and Tandy's friendship blossomed. Both had some issues they needed to deal with, and the author did so with grace, humor, and heart.
I definitely will be looking forward to finding out how things develop with each of their love interests and what new troubles they find themselves involved in.
August 31, 2018
Warning: laughter will come easily as you read this Christmas-themed cozy by Angela Ruth Strong. When paired with coffee or tea, there may be some liquid spouting or spewing as you work to hold the mirth in.
Indeed, the trouble begins with both coffee and tea. Marissa, a bumbling, almost-beauty queen who loves tea, can’t decide whether Tandy, a grunge-wearing, toy dog lover and coffee aficionado should be her enemy or her friend.
This novel is more than just a barrel of laughs, however. While I laughed my way through the whole thing, howling out loud at the ridiculousness of the characters’ situations, they also presented with very real problems: jumping to conclusions prematurely, taking others for granted, and needing to put up façades of perfection.
I love Angela Ruth Strong’s humor, her word pictures(ex: “blizzard of thoughts”), similes(ex:”as subtle as a snow scraper”), and references to pop culture. But most of all, she points to the answer that every soul needs-grace in Christ.
Quotables:
“She needed to work on being kind rather than being nice.”
“We all need grace. Even if it’s for harm caused accidentally.”
“If people could change, then it was ok to make mistakes and grow from them. It was ok not to be perfect.”
“By accepting that she needed grace, her shame had been wiped away.”
I gratefully received an e-copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinions, for which I am solely responsible. I was not required to leave a positive review.
Indeed, the trouble begins with both coffee and tea. Marissa, a bumbling, almost-beauty queen who loves tea, can’t decide whether Tandy, a grunge-wearing, toy dog lover and coffee aficionado should be her enemy or her friend.
This novel is more than just a barrel of laughs, however. While I laughed my way through the whole thing, howling out loud at the ridiculousness of the characters’ situations, they also presented with very real problems: jumping to conclusions prematurely, taking others for granted, and needing to put up façades of perfection.
I love Angela Ruth Strong’s humor, her word pictures(ex: “blizzard of thoughts”), similes(ex:”as subtle as a snow scraper”), and references to pop culture. But most of all, she points to the answer that every soul needs-grace in Christ.
Quotables:
“She needed to work on being kind rather than being nice.”
“We all need grace. Even if it’s for harm caused accidentally.”
“If people could change, then it was ok to make mistakes and grow from them. It was ok not to be perfect.”
“By accepting that she needed grace, her shame had been wiped away.”
I gratefully received an e-copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinions, for which I am solely responsible. I was not required to leave a positive review.
September 3, 2018
A Caffeine Conundrum ( The CafFUNated Mysteries #1 )
By: Angela Ruth Strong
A Caffeine Conundrum is book one in The CafFUNated Mysteries Series. If you love a good cozy mystery then you will love this one. I laughed and laughed at the two main characters. Two ladies are wanting to buy the same shop. They did not know that they would be bidding against each other. When the shop owner dies right in front of them, puts their minds to working. Well you can guess who the main suspects are. Did one of them kill her? The two are thrown together to try and see if they can find out who the killer is. Will one of them get the shop? Will it be coffee or tea?
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give positive review. All opinions are my own.
By: Angela Ruth Strong
A Caffeine Conundrum is book one in The CafFUNated Mysteries Series. If you love a good cozy mystery then you will love this one. I laughed and laughed at the two main characters. Two ladies are wanting to buy the same shop. They did not know that they would be bidding against each other. When the shop owner dies right in front of them, puts their minds to working. Well you can guess who the main suspects are. Did one of them kill her? The two are thrown together to try and see if they can find out who the killer is. Will one of them get the shop? Will it be coffee or tea?
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give positive review. All opinions are my own.
December 3, 2018
I’m selective on the books I purchase but I kept hearing about this one. I snagged a Kindle copy and I am delighted I did. A Caffeine Conundrum is funny!!! Marissa and Tandy are two of the zaniest characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long time. Marissa’s antics and Tandy’s thoughts kept me entertained and laughing almost the whole time. Two women—one loves tea, one loves coffee—start out as business rivals. I mean…Come On. How are they ever going to get along?? :-) Their journey to becoming friends is nothing less than pure ingenuity on Strong’s part. She has brought a whole new dynamic to this contemporary genre of cozy mystery.
December 11, 2025
Nonsense
In my opinion this was a ridiculous, over the top, nonsensical story that was full. Too many characters, too many plot holes. Had enough Christmas details too keep it festive but this is one that could have been left unwritten.
In my opinion this was a ridiculous, over the top, nonsensical story that was full. Too many characters, too many plot holes. Had enough Christmas details too keep it festive but this is one that could have been left unwritten.
September 4, 2018
Cute! Two quirky ladies who have a lot to learn about solving crimes and making friends.
December 24, 2018
This book is fun and fast paced. The characters are relatable and real. An enjoyable read for any time of year! I guessed the killer early on, but her reasons were a surprise. Humor sprinkled throughout the book kept the story light. Great read.
June 2, 2020
A cute series. I was personally annoyed by the character of Marissa, but luckily Tandy balanced her out. The mystery kept me guessing through most of the book.
February 19, 2021
Cute, fun who-done-it story
December 7, 2025
DNF
Each person that became a suspect was more far fetched than the one before. Add that to the mediocre prose and I couldn't make it past 45% read.
Each person that became a suspect was more far fetched than the one before. Add that to the mediocre prose and I couldn't make it past 45% read.
December 26, 2024
The first book in author Angela Ruth Strong’s new CafFUNated Mysteries didn’t disappoint and it left me waiting for Book 2.
Tandy and Marissa get tossed together to do some unwanted sleuthing. Well, it was unwanted for one of them. Disagreements over coffee and tea, one “conundrum” after another, and a former boyfriend who possibly can’t be trusted all add to a rollicking good time.
A humorous cozy mystery with lovable quirky characters, I highly recommend it!
Tandy and Marissa get tossed together to do some unwanted sleuthing. Well, it was unwanted for one of them. Disagreements over coffee and tea, one “conundrum” after another, and a former boyfriend who possibly can’t be trusted all add to a rollicking good time.
A humorous cozy mystery with lovable quirky characters, I highly recommend it!
January 18, 2020
This was one of those books, that I personally found hard to read. I really liked Tandy (she reminded me of myself), but I found Marissa annoying beyond belief throughout most of the story. Probably because she was a selfish beauty queen.
The overall story ended up being pretty good, didn't really figure out "whodunit" until the end.
The overall story ended up being pretty good, didn't really figure out "whodunit" until the end.
December 19, 2018
During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, you just need to take a break and sneak away with a good fun read. This book fits perfectly in the plan. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to a lot more!
December 30, 2020
A very fun Read. Well done!!! Santa Mike
December 23, 2023
(2.5 / 5)
When Marissa Alexander and Tandy Brandt both want to purchase the same building—Marissa to open a tea house and Tandy to open a coffee shop—the bidding war is over before it begins, due to the untimely death of the building's owner. To make matters worse, their proximity to the death and desire to buy the building put Marissa and Tandy squarely in the crosshairs of the investigation. Local beauty queen Marissa and newcomer Tandy will have to work together to find the real killer so they can go back to vying for the building.
These ladies are not the kind of MCs I look for in a mystery story. They jump to suspecting everyone that they meet or that comes to mind in the course of the investigation, coming up with outlandish theories, making wild accusations with no particular need for evidence, and then proceeding to be terrified of whoever they've most recently decided must be guilty. Tandy has her issues, but she's a lot more relatable than Marissa, who is incredibly rude to Tandy the moment they meet, is selfish and whiny, and gives a whole new meaning to the word "klutz" (seriously, how she doesn't kill herself is beyond me). On the plus side, though these two start off at odds with each other, I do appreciate that they begin a grudging partnership that turns into friendship in a way that doesn't feel forced.
The mystery itself left a bit to be desired for me. Because every single potential motive is beaten to death by these girls, it's pretty clear to me that none of their suspects could be the actual killer. Which led me to suspect the one person they hadn't turned their attention to, which turned out to be correct, though I didn't guess the motive at all. The "murder weapon," though, really threw me off. I tried to look up what would happen if you put instant coffee into a machine and brew it, and other than gunking up the inside of the machine, it seems to have no other negative side effects. Either the author completely made up the chemistry involved or didn't explain what she was going for very well in the book.
Overall, this book was not for me. It's the beginning of a series of mysteries with these two as the main characters, which I will not be continuing. However, the reviews for this book are mostly positive, and even more so for the rest of the series. If you're a fan of contemporary mysteries and aren't bothered by what I mentioned above, please consider giving this book a try.
When Marissa Alexander and Tandy Brandt both want to purchase the same building—Marissa to open a tea house and Tandy to open a coffee shop—the bidding war is over before it begins, due to the untimely death of the building's owner. To make matters worse, their proximity to the death and desire to buy the building put Marissa and Tandy squarely in the crosshairs of the investigation. Local beauty queen Marissa and newcomer Tandy will have to work together to find the real killer so they can go back to vying for the building.
These ladies are not the kind of MCs I look for in a mystery story. They jump to suspecting everyone that they meet or that comes to mind in the course of the investigation, coming up with outlandish theories, making wild accusations with no particular need for evidence, and then proceeding to be terrified of whoever they've most recently decided must be guilty. Tandy has her issues, but she's a lot more relatable than Marissa, who is incredibly rude to Tandy the moment they meet, is selfish and whiny, and gives a whole new meaning to the word "klutz" (seriously, how she doesn't kill herself is beyond me). On the plus side, though these two start off at odds with each other, I do appreciate that they begin a grudging partnership that turns into friendship in a way that doesn't feel forced.
The mystery itself left a bit to be desired for me. Because every single potential motive is beaten to death by these girls, it's pretty clear to me that none of their suspects could be the actual killer. Which led me to suspect the one person they hadn't turned their attention to, which turned out to be correct, though I didn't guess the motive at all. The "murder weapon," though, really threw me off. I tried to look up what would happen if you put instant coffee into a machine and brew it, and other than gunking up the inside of the machine, it seems to have no other negative side effects. Either the author completely made up the chemistry involved or didn't explain what she was going for very well in the book.
Overall, this book was not for me. It's the beginning of a series of mysteries with these two as the main characters, which I will not be continuing. However, the reviews for this book are mostly positive, and even more so for the rest of the series. If you're a fan of contemporary mysteries and aren't bothered by what I mentioned above, please consider giving this book a try.
September 2, 2018
A Caffeine Conundrum by Angela Ruth Strong
A Mistletoe Mystery
My rating is 4.5 stars
Marissa had spent her entire life trying to measure up. She never felt that she was good enough and felt like she had to earn love and grace herself. Granted, she had a family who made her feel that way. There were expectations she needed to live up to. Accomplishments she needed to reach.
Tandy simply felt like she didn’t need grace. She had been trampled on, misunderstood, treated unfairly. She had a bit of a chip on her shoulder and a bit of an air of superiority. But deep down inside, she was hurting and wanted things to change.
I love the way that author Angela Ruth Strong deals with heavy heart issues like this in a genuine yet hilarious way. A Caffeine Conundrum had me laughing all the way through it. At Marissa’s bumbling. At Tandy’s snarkiness. At the other folks in the small town. And it had me reflecting as well, remembering that Jesus’ grace is all I need. I don’t need to measure up to anyone else’s expectations as long as I am pleasing Him.
One of the fun events that ran through the book was awkward mistletoe moments as Marissa’s friend tried to help her reconcile with Conner and as they kept finding themselves in doorways adorned with the little plant. What I deemed “Mistletoe Manipulations”. Hmm. That sounds like a great book title!
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I would like to thank Angela Ruth Strong for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
A Mistletoe Mystery
My rating is 4.5 stars
Marissa had spent her entire life trying to measure up. She never felt that she was good enough and felt like she had to earn love and grace herself. Granted, she had a family who made her feel that way. There were expectations she needed to live up to. Accomplishments she needed to reach.
Tandy simply felt like she didn’t need grace. She had been trampled on, misunderstood, treated unfairly. She had a bit of a chip on her shoulder and a bit of an air of superiority. But deep down inside, she was hurting and wanted things to change.
I love the way that author Angela Ruth Strong deals with heavy heart issues like this in a genuine yet hilarious way. A Caffeine Conundrum had me laughing all the way through it. At Marissa’s bumbling. At Tandy’s snarkiness. At the other folks in the small town. And it had me reflecting as well, remembering that Jesus’ grace is all I need. I don’t need to measure up to anyone else’s expectations as long as I am pleasing Him.
One of the fun events that ran through the book was awkward mistletoe moments as Marissa’s friend tried to help her reconcile with Conner and as they kept finding themselves in doorways adorned with the little plant. What I deemed “Mistletoe Manipulations”. Hmm. That sounds like a great book title!
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I would like to thank Angela Ruth Strong for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
January 29, 2019
If I was to describe A Caffeine Conundrum in one word, that one word would be UNIQUE. From Ms. Strong’s writing voice to the characters to the plot to the choice of murder weapon, this is one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read. A Caffeine Conundrum is a murder mystery with some romance and family drama thrown in the mix. The main character’s personalities are very different from mine, so at first, I found them unlikeable, but as I got to know them better, I could appreciate their journeys and enjoyed watching them grow in their understanding of God’s grace and bestowing that grace on other people. The plot will keep you guessing, as these two amateur sleuths soon accuse every character in the book of committing the murder. Although, I did suspect the killer in the beginning, I loved watching the story unfold and was still surprised. The adventures and conundrums these two find themselves in will bring a smile to your face and a pick-me-up to your day. I appreciated the fact that while this story was humorous, it wasn’t over-the-top. I would classify this book as more Clean than Christian, but a faith message is there, it’s just not as fore-front as I prefer. While there were some elements of the book that I struggled with, over all I enjoyed this quirky, light-hearted mystery, and am looking forward to reading book two of the CafFUNated Mysteries by Angela Ruth Strong.
I received a copy of this book from the author. A review was not required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book from the author. A review was not required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 28, 2019
A Caffeine Conundrum by Angela Ruth Strong is the first in a quirky series.
What do you get when two young ladies with overactive imaginations and different purposes are in competition to buy an antique shop? Well, when the shop owner keels over dead in front of them— a lot of wacky goings on!
Marissa wants to buy the shop for a tea room while Tandy wants to turn it into a coffee shop. There in lies the caffeine conundrum!
Marissa is the town beauty queen darling but she lost an important pageant. Tandy is new to town and has not made a great impression when Marissa trips on Tandy’s dog’s leash. It only gets more complicated from there. But the story is all kinds of fun.
There is an ex fiancé trying to win Marissa back and a long ago lawyer friend, Greg, who represents Tandy.
“Of all the jails in all the towns in all the world, he’d walked into hers.” Tandy paraphrased a line from Casablanca. And when Greg gives her a court date: “Not the kind of date she’d been hoping for. She’d only been released to spend the holidays broke and alone, while the possibility of prison still hung overhead like mistletoe, threatening to make her kiss her life goodbye.”
This story is just so humorous. It is good for a light read but gets your brain trying to figure out who-done-it!
I look forward to reading the next installment of Marissa and Tandy‘s friendship gone hilarious.
* I received an e-copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
What do you get when two young ladies with overactive imaginations and different purposes are in competition to buy an antique shop? Well, when the shop owner keels over dead in front of them— a lot of wacky goings on!
Marissa wants to buy the shop for a tea room while Tandy wants to turn it into a coffee shop. There in lies the caffeine conundrum!
Marissa is the town beauty queen darling but she lost an important pageant. Tandy is new to town and has not made a great impression when Marissa trips on Tandy’s dog’s leash. It only gets more complicated from there. But the story is all kinds of fun.
There is an ex fiancé trying to win Marissa back and a long ago lawyer friend, Greg, who represents Tandy.
“Of all the jails in all the towns in all the world, he’d walked into hers.” Tandy paraphrased a line from Casablanca. And when Greg gives her a court date: “Not the kind of date she’d been hoping for. She’d only been released to spend the holidays broke and alone, while the possibility of prison still hung overhead like mistletoe, threatening to make her kiss her life goodbye.”
This story is just so humorous. It is good for a light read but gets your brain trying to figure out who-done-it!
I look forward to reading the next installment of Marissa and Tandy‘s friendship gone hilarious.
* I received an e-copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
August 25, 2018
What an entertaining read about two young women who fancy themselves to be detectives in a small town called Grace Springs. Marissa, who grew up there, seems to have quite a penchant for floundering around and getting into numerous awkward situations. Tandy has just arrived in town and their first meeting is not a joyful occasion, although the story occurs just before Christmas. One of them wants a particular property for a tea house while the other wants to purchase it to start a coffee shop. For such a small town, Grace Springs has its fair share of interesting characters who help to keep the story lively. I started to keep a scorecard to try to track how far Marissa and Tandy could jump with their conclusions. The more situations they got into, the wilder their imaginations became. Talk about situations, the action was almost constant as they would start imagining something, jump to a conclusion, and go chasing after someone to try to prove their guilt. Most of the time, they ended up in more trouble for themselves than their suspect was in. I would have to say they were a bit out of control and the local deputy was ineffective at reining them in and getting them under control. I appreciated the subtle message of giving and receiving grace that was woven into the story. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
September 2, 2018
"A Caffeine Conundrum" is the first in a new series called "CaFUNated Mystery". Tandy Brandt and Marissa Alexander are completely different than each other, but I found them both to be likable and believable. I could see the book play out in my mind as a movie and I often laughed at Marissa's clumsiness. As Tandy and Marissa team up to solve who committed murder, they get themselves into some scraps and go on adventures. The list of suspects is long and varied and they investigate them all. I think that the mystery was well done, although I did actually figure out "who done it" almost right away, but not because it was easy to figure out, but rather that I made a random guess and it turned out to be correct. I still didn't know the motivation behind the murder, though, so that was a surprise. I was pleased to see both of the main characters experience growth in their lives. There was a touch of romance included to make me like the book even more. I enjoyed all the pop culture references, but I'm not sure if someone younger than me (like my daughters) would get them all. I look forward to reading the next book book in the series and learning more about Tandy, Marissa, Connor, and Greg.
I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
September 22, 2018
A Caffeine Conundrum is a quirky, humorous, cozy mystery with characters that are snarky, and sassy.
Sleuthing partners Marissa and Tandy couldn't be more different from each other which makes their sleuthing teamwork all the more entertaining. Marissa loves tea and Tandy loves coffee. That is just the beginning of their differences.
I adored all of the clumsy antics Ms. Strong placed Marissa in, probably because I could identify with them. Marissa's sense of family and family history clouds her ability to look at the murder objectively.
Tandy, bless her heart, she is just a city girl mess. She really just needed to take a deep breath or two. Her ability to look at the murder objectively brings a logical side to solving the case.
In this first book of the series, Ms. Strong tells the story from both Marissa and Tandy's point of view.
Usually in cozy mystery's I can figure out the culprit, uh, nope, Ms. Strong had me guessing until the end.
This book is full of caffeinated fun, with lots of sweet Christmas references.
My Bottom Line:
A Caffeine Conundrum is a fun cozy mystery with lots of snark and sass. The mystery is well done. With today being the first day of fall what better way to celebrate it than falling into a good cozy mystery with Christmas fun. I highly recommend this book!
Sleuthing partners Marissa and Tandy couldn't be more different from each other which makes their sleuthing teamwork all the more entertaining. Marissa loves tea and Tandy loves coffee. That is just the beginning of their differences.
I adored all of the clumsy antics Ms. Strong placed Marissa in, probably because I could identify with them. Marissa's sense of family and family history clouds her ability to look at the murder objectively.
Tandy, bless her heart, she is just a city girl mess. She really just needed to take a deep breath or two. Her ability to look at the murder objectively brings a logical side to solving the case.
In this first book of the series, Ms. Strong tells the story from both Marissa and Tandy's point of view.
Usually in cozy mystery's I can figure out the culprit, uh, nope, Ms. Strong had me guessing until the end.
This book is full of caffeinated fun, with lots of sweet Christmas references.
My Bottom Line:
A Caffeine Conundrum is a fun cozy mystery with lots of snark and sass. The mystery is well done. With today being the first day of fall what better way to celebrate it than falling into a good cozy mystery with Christmas fun. I highly recommend this book!
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