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Seaside Cafe Mystery #3
Tide and Punishment
No one dreams of a killer Christmas...
It's Christmastime in Charm, North Carolina, and while Everly Swan would prefer to focus on decorating her iced tea shop for its first holiday season, Great-Aunt Fran has decided to run for mayor against her long-time nemesis. But when the other candidate turns up dead just before the first scheduled debate, all eyes turn to Fran as the suspect with the most obvious motive.
Everly knows her sweet, elderly Aunt Fran couldn't have murdered anyone, but as she struggles to find the real killer, it begins to seem like this may be the last merry Christmas her family may ever have.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
About the author
Bree Baker
10 books671 followersBree Baker is a Midwestern writer, obsessed with small town high jinks, sweet tea and the sea. She's been telling stories to her family, friends and strangers for as long as she can remember, and more often than not, those stories feature a warm ocean breeze and recipe she's sure to ruin. Now, she's working on those fancy cooking skills and dreaming up adventures for the Seaside Cafe mysteries. Her debut title, Live & Let Chai releases from Sourcebooks in July 2018. Bree is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers and the Romance Writers of America. She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
October 3, 2021
Tide and Punishment is the 3rd book in the Seaside Cafe Mysteries written by Bree Baker. The series has settled in, and main character Everly Swan is a delight. She's at romantic odds with the new detective in their North Carolina Outerbanks island, and she doesn't hesitate to tell him she's getting involved in an investigation whether he likes it or not. That said, she does get hurt a lot, and I hope she takes it a bit slower soon!
It's Christmastime, and Everly throws a holiday party where her aunt plans to announce a run for mayor. The current mayor is stuck in history and won't do the right things to help the town grow. Unfortunately, he's decided not to step down this year, and Aunt Fran is unhappy. Not to mention that another candidate has thrown her hat in the ring, and she's none other than the detective's former mother-in-law who's moved to the island to look after her grandson. When the mayor is found dead, Aunt Fran is in hot water... except someone keeps breaking all the gnomes Everly's other aunt has created. How's it all connected?
Baker has really developed a cozy and comforting series. I want to live there. I want to be friends with them. And I want to enjoy that kind of life... even with the murders. I'd be the first one investigating with her, but I'd take a few less risks. Can't wait to read the next installment... these make my afternoon so much more enjoyable!
It's Christmastime, and Everly throws a holiday party where her aunt plans to announce a run for mayor. The current mayor is stuck in history and won't do the right things to help the town grow. Unfortunately, he's decided not to step down this year, and Aunt Fran is unhappy. Not to mention that another candidate has thrown her hat in the ring, and she's none other than the detective's former mother-in-law who's moved to the island to look after her grandson. When the mayor is found dead, Aunt Fran is in hot water... except someone keeps breaking all the gnomes Everly's other aunt has created. How's it all connected?
Baker has really developed a cozy and comforting series. I want to live there. I want to be friends with them. And I want to enjoy that kind of life... even with the murders. I'd be the first one investigating with her, but I'd take a few less risks. Can't wait to read the next installment... these make my afternoon so much more enjoyable!
September 23, 2019
It's Christmastime in Charm, North Carolina and the residents are experiencing an unusual amount of snow this year. Everly Swan has her hands full keeping up with the demand for her holiday cookies and hosting a Christmas party. During the party, her great aunt, Fran announces her intentions to run for Mayor, only to have the current Mayor interrupt her speech to make his own announcement. Later on, he is found dead and Fran immediately becomes the prime suspect. Everly knows her aunt is innocent and sets out to uncover the truth. This was a very enjoyable Christmas themed cozy. It is beautifully written and the plot moves at a brisk pace. I really liked Everly as a main character. she's strong and relatable and I appreciate the fact that she didn't make any rash decisions to put herself or her family in danger. I absolutely adored her eccentric aunts, especially Clara and her obsession with the gnomes. The mystery was a page-turner and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was a surprise but the author did a wonderful job wrapping up the story. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be reading more in this series. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 2, 2020
5 Stars with one whole star going to Lou for best supporting character.
June 21, 2019
A fun, fresh cozy with a Christmastime beach setting. The third book of the Seaside Cafe cozy series features protagonist Everly Swan and her popular business, Sun, Sand and Tea, and is sure to quench your thirst with a startling murder and a surprise killer reveal!
The plot moves along quickly and the author skillfully throws suspicious actions on innocent suspects. Everly’s great aunts, Fran and Clara, are engaging secondary characters, as well as Grady Hays who seems interested in a romance with Everly. Clara’s holiday obsession with gnomes plays a huge part of the plot. Lou, the seagull, may even be a local man reincarnated and interestingly helps save Everly in an unusual way!
I highly recommend this story plus the two previous stories in the Seaside Cafe series.
I reviewed a digital copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. Thank you.
The plot moves along quickly and the author skillfully throws suspicious actions on innocent suspects. Everly’s great aunts, Fran and Clara, are engaging secondary characters, as well as Grady Hays who seems interested in a romance with Everly. Clara’s holiday obsession with gnomes plays a huge part of the plot. Lou, the seagull, may even be a local man reincarnated and interestingly helps save Everly in an unusual way!
I highly recommend this story plus the two previous stories in the Seaside Cafe series.
I reviewed a digital copy provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. Thank you.
July 27, 2019
Tide and Punishment by Bree Baker is the third book in the Seaside Cafe series. It was an engaging book from the first chapter where Everly and her Aunt Fran and Aunt Clara are having a Christmas party at Sun, Sand and Tea.
A quickly paced plot that included not only murder, red herrings, several suspects, and a mayoral race but also community ties, kindness and charity during the Christmas season in Charm, NC. The characters are becoming more fully developed now and I enjoyed meeting Grady Hays' mother-in-law. She is definitely a strong independent woman and a force to be reckoned with if she decides to stay in Charm. This is the type of small town setting that I love to visit. I would enjoy meeting these likable characters, visit the shops and get to know them all better.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
A quickly paced plot that included not only murder, red herrings, several suspects, and a mayoral race but also community ties, kindness and charity during the Christmas season in Charm, NC. The characters are becoming more fully developed now and I enjoyed meeting Grady Hays' mother-in-law. She is definitely a strong independent woman and a force to be reckoned with if she decides to stay in Charm. This is the type of small town setting that I love to visit. I would enjoy meeting these likable characters, visit the shops and get to know them all better.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
September 3, 2024
Tide and Punishment by Bree Baker
4 Stars
Book 3 in the Seaside Cafe Mystery Series
What can I say? Another solid book in the Seaside Cafe Mystery Series! I love this cute cozy mystery series y'all. In this one, we have all the Christmas and beachy vibes! We are back in Charm, North Carolina with that small town southern feel with Everly Swan's iced tea shop and cafe for it's first holiday season. Her Great-Aunt Fran decides to run for mayor against her long-time nemesis, but when the other candidate turns up dead just before their first scheduled debate, all eyes point to Fran. Everly works to clear her Aunt's name and the handsome Detective Grady Hays continues to stick around to help out on the case.
These are just some great cozy mystery books that I love listening to on audio. Very quick listens and always a good time. The characters and the town really make the book. Everly and Grady are my favorite (Wyatt needs to take a hike LOL). I like the romance subplot and the last line of this book was CHEFS KISS ;)
Highly recommend, looking forward to the next one!
4 Stars
Book 3 in the Seaside Cafe Mystery Series
What can I say? Another solid book in the Seaside Cafe Mystery Series! I love this cute cozy mystery series y'all. In this one, we have all the Christmas and beachy vibes! We are back in Charm, North Carolina with that small town southern feel with Everly Swan's iced tea shop and cafe for it's first holiday season. Her Great-Aunt Fran decides to run for mayor against her long-time nemesis, but when the other candidate turns up dead just before their first scheduled debate, all eyes point to Fran. Everly works to clear her Aunt's name and the handsome Detective Grady Hays continues to stick around to help out on the case.
These are just some great cozy mystery books that I love listening to on audio. Very quick listens and always a good time. The characters and the town really make the book. Everly and Grady are my favorite (Wyatt needs to take a hike LOL). I like the romance subplot and the last line of this book was CHEFS KISS ;)
Highly recommend, looking forward to the next one!
September 27, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Christmas in Charm is plagued by snow, wind, ice, and murder this year. Everly Swan has planned a big holiday party where her sweet Great Aunt Fran plans to announce her run to become the town’s next mayor. When the current mayor steals her thunder with his own announcement she holds it together for a while but then she needs to get some air. When she finds her nemesis dead in the snow with no other witnesses she becomes the top suspect for his murder. Everly knows Fran is innocent and she thinks Detective Grady Hays knows it too. Christmas gnomes Great Aunt Clara has been painting and leaving in front of their shop, Blessed Be becomes debris as the killer is doing their best to frame Fran and Everly just isn’t having it no matter how many gnomes are lost trying to scare her away. Jailing her aunt on Christmas is not an option. Everly is “tea’d” off and will not rest until the real culprit is behind bars.
____
Bree Baker’s stories are much more than mysteries, they are stories of family, friends, and community too. Bree has a strong bond with her aunts, she has a strong bond with best friend Amelia who owns Charmed Reads, and she would like to have a stronger bond with Detective Hays. Having her ex in town and now the good detective’s deceased wife’s mother moving to Charm that may be difficult. The core characters have continued to develop more in each book. Everly’s Sun, Sand and Tea has become a gathering place that really brings residents new and old together. I loved that the town had a holiday progressive dinner. What a fabulous idea for a beach town to stay connected even in the winter. The Giving Tree was also very heartening to read about. We had something in our town similar when our children were young.
The author strikes a quick pace in this well-plotted mystery. Everly really has her hands full but still finds time to do plenty of snooping. But key clues can be found just doing normal activities and keeping her eyes and ears open. Of course, there were those distracting clues that diverted her thinking and my thinking too. The story builds to a very exciting climax with the perfect holiday weapon. I loved it!
The best vacation our family ever experienced was to Caswell Beach, North Carolina many years ago. With a beach that matches our last name, we couldn’t resist. Books like this one take me back to those days. This installment had a rare winter snowfall and unseasonably cold weather but being from Wisconsin I would not be deterred by that at all. Charm is a place I would love to visit, heck it would be a place I would love to live.
A fabulous setting filled with charming characters and a multifaceted story that includes a great mystery, Tide and Punishment was a wonderfully entertaining story. Each book in this series has left me excited for the next. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for my next virtual vacay to Charm! I highly recommend all three of the books that have been released so far!
Christmas in Charm is plagued by snow, wind, ice, and murder this year. Everly Swan has planned a big holiday party where her sweet Great Aunt Fran plans to announce her run to become the town’s next mayor. When the current mayor steals her thunder with his own announcement she holds it together for a while but then she needs to get some air. When she finds her nemesis dead in the snow with no other witnesses she becomes the top suspect for his murder. Everly knows Fran is innocent and she thinks Detective Grady Hays knows it too. Christmas gnomes Great Aunt Clara has been painting and leaving in front of their shop, Blessed Be becomes debris as the killer is doing their best to frame Fran and Everly just isn’t having it no matter how many gnomes are lost trying to scare her away. Jailing her aunt on Christmas is not an option. Everly is “tea’d” off and will not rest until the real culprit is behind bars.
____
Bree Baker’s stories are much more than mysteries, they are stories of family, friends, and community too. Bree has a strong bond with her aunts, she has a strong bond with best friend Amelia who owns Charmed Reads, and she would like to have a stronger bond with Detective Hays. Having her ex in town and now the good detective’s deceased wife’s mother moving to Charm that may be difficult. The core characters have continued to develop more in each book. Everly’s Sun, Sand and Tea has become a gathering place that really brings residents new and old together. I loved that the town had a holiday progressive dinner. What a fabulous idea for a beach town to stay connected even in the winter. The Giving Tree was also very heartening to read about. We had something in our town similar when our children were young.
The author strikes a quick pace in this well-plotted mystery. Everly really has her hands full but still finds time to do plenty of snooping. But key clues can be found just doing normal activities and keeping her eyes and ears open. Of course, there were those distracting clues that diverted her thinking and my thinking too. The story builds to a very exciting climax with the perfect holiday weapon. I loved it!
The best vacation our family ever experienced was to Caswell Beach, North Carolina many years ago. With a beach that matches our last name, we couldn’t resist. Books like this one take me back to those days. This installment had a rare winter snowfall and unseasonably cold weather but being from Wisconsin I would not be deterred by that at all. Charm is a place I would love to visit, heck it would be a place I would love to live.
A fabulous setting filled with charming characters and a multifaceted story that includes a great mystery, Tide and Punishment was a wonderfully entertaining story. Each book in this series has left me excited for the next. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for my next virtual vacay to Charm! I highly recommend all three of the books that have been released so far!
August 20, 2019
Bree Baker’s Tide and Punishment is an entertaining cosy with great characters, a gorgeous setting, an interesting plot, and delightful Christmas festivities that will fill you with holiday cheer any time of year! This Christmas cosy is third in the series but it is a perfect standalone. This is the first book I’ve read in the series but it won’t be the last. I love this book and my only slight issue is that the plot is a little busy.
It’s Christmas in picturesque Charm and Everly Swan has an overflowing plate. She’s singlehandedly running her iced tea shop, fulfilling holiday cookie orders, and something is steeping between her and Detective Grady Hays. Then, her beloved Great-Aunt Fran wants to run for Mayor against her long-time nemesis, Mayor Dunfree. However, when Dunfree is murdered and Fran is discovered over the body and holding the murder weapon, she’s instantly the prime suspect. Everly must clear Fran’s name before it’s too late!
What a fun and charming cosy! The plot is well-paced with nice twists, viable suspects, and great suspense. I couldn’t guess the killer’s identity and motives until nearly the end. The surprise reveal is great and I love how the various subplots tie together neatly. While Baker handles the plot well, a little too much happens. For instance, although I enjoyed it, the subplot with Grady’s mother-in-law could have been trimmed.
Baker’s writing is so good that I want to move into lovely Charm! The Christmas festivities and traditions are wonderfully described. Everly’s Sun, Sand, and Tea shop is so cute! I adore the book’s warm feeling of family, community, and kindness. It is genuinely sweet instead of saccharinely forced.
The characters are unique and well-developed. I love sweet and relatable Everly. Her relationship with her quirky great aunts is lovely. Everly’s relationship with kind and handsome Grady is well-done. He is the cosy boyfriend I’ve been searching for! Although he discourages Everly’s sleuthing, he doesn’t shut her out and shut down her opinions like so many cosy love interests. I also like Wyatt, the gorgeous cowboy who broke Everly’s heart. He’s a decent character and if Baker does a love triangle, I may root for him too!
Tide and Punishment is an excellent and feel-good Christmas cosy that’ll have you instantly ready for the holidays. I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read more in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 Christmas trees out of 5!
It’s Christmas in picturesque Charm and Everly Swan has an overflowing plate. She’s singlehandedly running her iced tea shop, fulfilling holiday cookie orders, and something is steeping between her and Detective Grady Hays. Then, her beloved Great-Aunt Fran wants to run for Mayor against her long-time nemesis, Mayor Dunfree. However, when Dunfree is murdered and Fran is discovered over the body and holding the murder weapon, she’s instantly the prime suspect. Everly must clear Fran’s name before it’s too late!
What a fun and charming cosy! The plot is well-paced with nice twists, viable suspects, and great suspense. I couldn’t guess the killer’s identity and motives until nearly the end. The surprise reveal is great and I love how the various subplots tie together neatly. While Baker handles the plot well, a little too much happens. For instance, although I enjoyed it, the subplot with Grady’s mother-in-law could have been trimmed.
Baker’s writing is so good that I want to move into lovely Charm! The Christmas festivities and traditions are wonderfully described. Everly’s Sun, Sand, and Tea shop is so cute! I adore the book’s warm feeling of family, community, and kindness. It is genuinely sweet instead of saccharinely forced.
The characters are unique and well-developed. I love sweet and relatable Everly. Her relationship with her quirky great aunts is lovely. Everly’s relationship with kind and handsome Grady is well-done. He is the cosy boyfriend I’ve been searching for! Although he discourages Everly’s sleuthing, he doesn’t shut her out and shut down her opinions like so many cosy love interests. I also like Wyatt, the gorgeous cowboy who broke Everly’s heart. He’s a decent character and if Baker does a love triangle, I may root for him too!
Tide and Punishment is an excellent and feel-good Christmas cosy that’ll have you instantly ready for the holidays. I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read more in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄 Christmas trees out of 5!
June 16, 2019
Tide and Punishment is the third instalment in the A Seaside Cafe Mystery Series by Bree Baker. I fall more in love with this series with each new book. This year the holidays are bringing murder and mayhem ...
No one dreams of a killer Christmas. . .
It's Christmastime in Charm, North Carolina, and while Everly Swan would prefer to focus on decorating her iced tea shop for its first holiday season, Great-Aunt Fran has decided to run for mayor against her long-time nemesis. But when the other candidate turns up dead just before the first scheduled debate, all eyes turn to Fran as the suspect with the most obvious motive.
Everly knows her sweet, elderlyAunt Fran couldn't have murdered anyone, but as she struggles to find the real killer, it begins to seem like this may be the last merry Christmas her family may ever have.
Protagonist Everly I baking up her Grans Christmas cookies like crazy and trying to figure out who is framing her aunt for murder. I love the main group of characters, there each individual, quirky and heartfelt in their own way. I'm including the feathered friend Lou and fur baby Maggie in the mix. I like how she is also coming to grips with Wyatt being in town.
I did suspect the killer a few times but then was like nah, as there were just enough red herrings and twists and turns to keep you guessing.
The story was wrapped up with a nice helping of hope, kindness and Christmas blessings! I also agree with another reviewer it's about time ~squeal~
I cannot recommend this series enough!
I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
No one dreams of a killer Christmas. . .
It's Christmastime in Charm, North Carolina, and while Everly Swan would prefer to focus on decorating her iced tea shop for its first holiday season, Great-Aunt Fran has decided to run for mayor against her long-time nemesis. But when the other candidate turns up dead just before the first scheduled debate, all eyes turn to Fran as the suspect with the most obvious motive.
Everly knows her sweet, elderlyAunt Fran couldn't have murdered anyone, but as she struggles to find the real killer, it begins to seem like this may be the last merry Christmas her family may ever have.
Protagonist Everly I baking up her Grans Christmas cookies like crazy and trying to figure out who is framing her aunt for murder. I love the main group of characters, there each individual, quirky and heartfelt in their own way. I'm including the feathered friend Lou and fur baby Maggie in the mix. I like how she is also coming to grips with Wyatt being in town.
I did suspect the killer a few times but then was like nah, as there were just enough red herrings and twists and turns to keep you guessing.
The story was wrapped up with a nice helping of hope, kindness and Christmas blessings! I also agree with another reviewer it's about time ~squeal~
I cannot recommend this series enough!
I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 26, 2019
I have really enjoyed reading this series with the great setting on the Outer Banks and interesting, quirky but likable characters. Everly Swan owns Sun, Sand, and Tea, a fun place to go for a cup of tea, sweets or even a meal but especially at Christmas time. When the mayor is found dead outside her cafe' during a holiday open house, things look bad for her Aunt Fran, who is running against the mayor for office. And the murder weapon is a painted Christmas gnome that Aunt Clara painted. Everly has to find the real murderer but it is not a simple task and things continue to look bad for Fran. Detective Grady Hays is a very special friend of Everly's and the situation creates friction in the relationship as Grady investigates. This is a great mystery to unravel with lots of possible candidates to investigate-nothing a batch of cookies won't smooth the way with, right? Everly can't resist helping Grady with her own sleuthing even when she gets threats. This story has well developed characters, great plot and setting during the special time of hope and giving to others during the special Christmas season. All of this in set with an especially unusual snow storm on the beach during the final couple of weeks before Christmas.
I received a complimentary ARC from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
I received a complimentary ARC from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
September 27, 2019
Third outing for Everly Swan and her cafe in Charm, NC. Full of southern charm, interesting characters and a darn good story. Christmas is coming and Everly is overwhelmed with cookie orders and Aunt Fran's announcement of her intention to .run for mayor. And then, the current mayor ends up dead with Aunt Fran at the top of the suspect list. Lots of fun and a touch of Yuletide heart to cap the story. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2020
definitely underwhelming book, compared to the rest of the series....
2,5 stars
2,5 stars
September 2, 2020
Cute, clean mystery set in a sweet, small, North Carolina seashore town.
Immediately following an open-house at Everly's tea shop the mayor was found in the snow murdered. Everly found her sweet old aunt screaming, holding the murder weapon: a decorated ceramic gnome. From that moment until the end Everly spends her spare time trying to clear suspicion of Aunt Fran's guilt. Someone else out there murdered the mayor, but who and why?
I liked Everly, a lot. Caring, independent yet vulnerable and she loves to cook! And Fran and Clara? I want them to be my aunts! Grady was an amazing detective who clearly cared for Everly but had a job to do, so when the evidence was stacking up against her Aunt Fran, what was he supposed to do?
A bit long with lots of side trips, but the point was to bring in possible suspects at every turn. And of course, the murderer is a surprise.
Not a Christian book, which I prefer, but clean. No language that I recall, just name calling. There was drinking...but not to excess.
This is a new-to-me author and her writing was pleasant. I’d read more by her for sure.
Immediately following an open-house at Everly's tea shop the mayor was found in the snow murdered. Everly found her sweet old aunt screaming, holding the murder weapon: a decorated ceramic gnome. From that moment until the end Everly spends her spare time trying to clear suspicion of Aunt Fran's guilt. Someone else out there murdered the mayor, but who and why?
I liked Everly, a lot. Caring, independent yet vulnerable and she loves to cook! And Fran and Clara? I want them to be my aunts! Grady was an amazing detective who clearly cared for Everly but had a job to do, so when the evidence was stacking up against her Aunt Fran, what was he supposed to do?
A bit long with lots of side trips, but the point was to bring in possible suspects at every turn. And of course, the murderer is a surprise.
Not a Christian book, which I prefer, but clean. No language that I recall, just name calling. There was drinking...but not to excess.
This is a new-to-me author and her writing was pleasant. I’d read more by her for sure.
December 12, 2021
Love this series! Christmas at the beach was everything I hoped for and too much snow. The mystery was good and I love these characters. I hope to be reading about them for a long time. Recipes are included at the end, I was hoping for one of the Swan family Christmas cookie recipes but didn’t get it.
August 7, 2021
This is the third book in the seaside café series. This story takes place at Christmas time. Everly's Aunt Fran is planning to run for mayor of Charm, but soon discovers the current mayor dead. All the evidence points to Fran, but Everly knows she is innocent. This has become a must read series for me. I love the characters and the small town setting. They mystery was great. I thought I knew who the killer was and up until the last few chapters I thought I was right but sadly I was wrong. I loved the holiday feel to this story. It had everything I look for in a cozy.
June 24, 2020
An engaging and enjoyable cozy mystery. I love the small-town vibes and the fun sorts of folks who show up in this town. Everly again proves to be a smart and sassy sleuth and the murder kept me guessing throughout the story. I really enjoyed the seaside setting and the details about Everly's tea blends in her sweet-tea shop, just as I did in the first two mysteries.
I really appreciate that this series is clean and I think I've gotten at least two other people hooked on it to. I'm looking forward to the next book and getting to read more about Everly and her friends.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
I really appreciate that this series is clean and I think I've gotten at least two other people hooked on it to. I'm looking forward to the next book and getting to read more about Everly and her friends.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
December 23, 2022
As alway, a great read! I forgot about this book till quite close to the coming holiday. Once I remembered it, I decided to read it-since it does have a seasonal feel to it. Quite an interesting read; always a good cozy mystery. This time of season, I was lucky to read it at all with the crazy hustle and bustle; I couldn’t even update it when I could! 😅
I love Everly and Grady! I hope they get much much closer and stay together! Such a cute couple! I love this series! Can’t wait to read the next in the series! 💜🐾
I love Everly and Grady! I hope they get much much closer and stay together! Such a cute couple! I love this series! Can’t wait to read the next in the series! 💜🐾
July 15, 2025
Absolutely loved solving a murder in Charm during Christmas!
September 18, 2019
The unusual snowfall was the perfect backdrop for a Christmas party in the coastal town of Charm. Everly Swan welcomed guests to her Sun, Sand and Tea iced tea shop complete with a holiday buffet and lots of cookies. Her Aunt Fran was going to make an official announcement that she was running for mayor but they were all surprised when the current mayor showed up. Things went from bad to worse and someone ended up murdered outside of Sun, Sand and Tea.
The author did an amazing job setting the scene. Her descriptions were so complete you could almost see and feel the winter weather. The plot moved along at a good pace and there was just the right amount of romantic tension.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
The author did an amazing job setting the scene. Her descriptions were so complete you could almost see and feel the winter weather. The plot moved along at a good pace and there was just the right amount of romantic tension.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 20, 2023
Good gracious Everly 😂😂Bless your heart 💜. This was such a great time. The ending definitely gave me a little 1 2 punch to take it to 4 stars. 🙌🏾🤌🏾🤣 I am excited to continue in this series👏🏾
August 26, 2019
I loved this book, so much that I bought the first two books in The Seaside Cafe Mysteries, before I finished reading this one!
Everly Swan is the owner of the Sun, Sand and Tea cafe, a gathering spot for locals and tourists. When her Great-Aunt Fran, who is running for mayor, of the Outer Banks island town of Charm, is framed for murder, Everly must use her sleuthing skills to prove her innocent.
I loved the Swan women in this book - Everly who is kind, complex and very relatable and Great Aunts Clara and Fran who are feisty, loving and full of good cheer and humor, except when you mess with Aunt Clara's gnomes! The town's name, Charm, is perfect for the residents and it was a wonderful setting for this Christmas time cozy mystery. With the addition of a possible love interest in Grady, a widowed police detective and Wyatt, the cowboy who broke Everly's heart, the book had the balance of mystery and romance that I enjoy! Of course, Maggie the cat and Lou the seagull added to the mystery and fun!
I don't know if it was planned or not, but the reference to the neighboring town of Duck, another Outer Banks island and cozy mystery setting, made me smile.
Tide and Punishment has everything I love in a book - a "keep you guessing" mystery, strong characters, humor, cozy setting, animals and it's a book you won't want to put down until you've finished it! I'm looking forward to my next visit to Charm!
I received an ARC , from NetGalley, for a fair and honest review of this book.
Everly Swan is the owner of the Sun, Sand and Tea cafe, a gathering spot for locals and tourists. When her Great-Aunt Fran, who is running for mayor, of the Outer Banks island town of Charm, is framed for murder, Everly must use her sleuthing skills to prove her innocent.
I loved the Swan women in this book - Everly who is kind, complex and very relatable and Great Aunts Clara and Fran who are feisty, loving and full of good cheer and humor, except when you mess with Aunt Clara's gnomes! The town's name, Charm, is perfect for the residents and it was a wonderful setting for this Christmas time cozy mystery. With the addition of a possible love interest in Grady, a widowed police detective and Wyatt, the cowboy who broke Everly's heart, the book had the balance of mystery and romance that I enjoy! Of course, Maggie the cat and Lou the seagull added to the mystery and fun!
I don't know if it was planned or not, but the reference to the neighboring town of Duck, another Outer Banks island and cozy mystery setting, made me smile.
Tide and Punishment has everything I love in a book - a "keep you guessing" mystery, strong characters, humor, cozy setting, animals and it's a book you won't want to put down until you've finished it! I'm looking forward to my next visit to Charm!
I received an ARC , from NetGalley, for a fair and honest review of this book.
August 15, 2019
An early Christmas present for cozy lovers! This book is just wonderful. Everly Swan is enjoying some unusual wintery weather in Charm, NC right before Christmas. She's not enjoying that her great-aunt Fran is being framed for murdering a local politician. Running the Sun, Sand, and Tea Cafe, baking cookies for all of her customer orders, and making sure the real killer is found has her hoping for a Christmas miracle.
This is the third book in the Seaside Cafe Mystery and I will definitely be going back to read the first two. It is just beautifully written with witty and delightful dialogue. The author really sets a beautiful coastal scene and a winter wonderland of coziness. I tore through this in just a few hours and wish it had been twice as long.
#NetGalley #Reviewathon
#TideAndPunishment
This is the third book in the Seaside Cafe Mystery and I will definitely be going back to read the first two. It is just beautifully written with witty and delightful dialogue. The author really sets a beautiful coastal scene and a winter wonderland of coziness. I tore through this in just a few hours and wish it had been twice as long.
#NetGalley #Reviewathon
#TideAndPunishment
September 1, 2019
Everly Swan owns Sun, Sand, and Tea Cafe in Charm, North Carolina. When Aunt Fran discovers the mayor's corpse with one of her sister's garden gnome as the obvious weapon and picks it up, she becomes the chief suspect, particularly since she planned to seek his office and had arguments with him. Everly appears to have some sort of relationship with the investigator, but having not read earlier installments, I never quite figured that out. The setting is near Christmas, but there is not much of a Christmas feel to it. Everly puts her nose in places she should leave to official investigators, but they don't seem all that bothered by her efforts at amateur sleuthing in spite of a couple half-hearted warnings. I suspect my main problems with the book stem from not reading earlier installments. I found the book easy to put down. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. (2.5 stars)
August 12, 2020
4 stelle e mezza
Terzo libro di fila ambientato a Natale che ho letto: devo aver decisamente bisogno di qualcosa di "freddo" per affrontare le temperature reali...
Scherzi a parte, la lettura è stata piacevole anche se ho sospettato subito del colpevole giusto. Sto diventando troppo brava a forza di leggere cozy mysteries...
Terzo libro di fila ambientato a Natale che ho letto: devo aver decisamente bisogno di qualcosa di "freddo" per affrontare le temperature reali...
Scherzi a parte, la lettura è stata piacevole anche se ho sospettato subito del colpevole giusto. Sto diventando troppo brava a forza di leggere cozy mysteries...
June 13, 2022
Sadly, this one didn't hold my attention as much as the first two. Maybe it's because I had a lot on my mind, or maybe it just was bleh in it's own. I did finish it but I found myself not really caring when the killer was revealed. 🤷♀️
June 3, 2019
Christmas is coming and Charm, NC has gotten some very rare snow to help set the mood for Everly Swan’s Christmas party. While leaving the party the Mayor is murdered, which is becoming not so rare in Charm, and all things seem to point Everly’s Great Aunt Fran as the most likely suspect. The fact that Aunt Fran has just thrown her hat into the ring to run against the Mayor in the next election, where he countered with running for reelection at the same time, really puts the pressure on the Swan ladies to find the murderer before Aunt Fran spends Christmas in jail.
Add in the budding relationship between Everly and the local police detective and her ex, a cowboy who’s staying in Charm for the Winter, determined to win her back one day and you’ve got all the makings for a charming cozy mystery with some heat.
Each new book in this series is better than the last one and leaves you wanting more of the charming locals and the Swan ladies. The next book in the series can’t be released fast enough for this gal!
Add in the budding relationship between Everly and the local police detective and her ex, a cowboy who’s staying in Charm for the Winter, determined to win her back one day and you’ve got all the makings for a charming cozy mystery with some heat.
Each new book in this series is better than the last one and leaves you wanting more of the charming locals and the Swan ladies. The next book in the series can’t be released fast enough for this gal!
May 28, 2019
This series is really starting to hit its stride and keeps getting better and better! With the characters you cannot help but want to engage with, a setting that is beyond perfect, and a mystery that you can get lost in, this is a book that is definitely worth reading again and again.
August 30, 2023
"Tide and Punishment" is book three in the Seaside Cafe Mystery series by Bree Baker. The first holiday season is coming up for Everly Swan Ice Tea Cafe, and she was looking forward to decorating for the holiday. For Everly Swan, other forces in Charm plotted against her dream. The reasons are that her Great-Aunt Fran was running for Mayor and the murder of one of the candidates. The readers of Tide And Punishment will continue to follow Everly Swan to discover what happens.
"Tide and Punishment" is a fantastic cozy mystery and an enjoyable book. I enjoy reading books in this series, and Tide and Punishment did not disappoint. I love Bree Baker's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. "Tide and Punishment" is well-written and researched by Bree Baker. I like Bree Baker's description of the settings of "Tide and Punishment", which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of "Tide and Punishment" will learn about the importance of being safe around cliffs f. Also, the readers of "Tide and Punishment" will understand the importance of Giving Tree in a small community.
I recommend this book.
"Tide and Punishment" is a fantastic cozy mystery and an enjoyable book. I enjoy reading books in this series, and Tide and Punishment did not disappoint. I love Bree Baker's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine with each other throughout this book. "Tide and Punishment" is well-written and researched by Bree Baker. I like Bree Baker's description of the settings of "Tide and Punishment", which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of "Tide and Punishment" will learn about the importance of being safe around cliffs f. Also, the readers of "Tide and Punishment" will understand the importance of Giving Tree in a small community.
I recommend this book.
April 13, 2022
I love this series, but the books always have a lot of grammatical errors that I hope the library appreciates I correct (I kid, I kid 🤣😉)
I don't know why, but the following bothered me:
Page 146: "Jamming four slices of homemade bread into the toaster"
Page 147: "I stacked the toast on a plate for us to share"
Page 148: "I asked, turning for the toast as it popped up".
I initially thought Everly put 2 pieces of toast in the toaster twice, since she was making toast for herself and for Grady, but went back and saw on page 146 that she put all 4 in the toaster at the same time, then stacked them on a plate on page 147. So what toast is she tending to on page 148? Small detail, but it bugged me nonetheless.
I don't know why, but the following bothered me:
Page 146: "Jamming four slices of homemade bread into the toaster"
Page 147: "I stacked the toast on a plate for us to share"
Page 148: "I asked, turning for the toast as it popped up".
I initially thought Everly put 2 pieces of toast in the toaster twice, since she was making toast for herself and for Grady, but went back and saw on page 146 that she put all 4 in the toaster at the same time, then stacked them on a plate on page 147. So what toast is she tending to on page 148? Small detail, but it bugged me nonetheless.
February 22, 2023
Tide and Punishment by Bree Baker is the 3rd book in the Seaside Cafe Mystery series. Everly Swan's Great Aunt Fran announces her intention to run for mayor, only to be interrupted by the current mayor, and then shortly afterwards finds his body and becomes prime suspect in his murder. I love this series and especially the town of Charm and its characters. Everly is smart and capable and I loved her sweet tea and menu descriptions. Her teashop sounds like a wonderful place to visit. A captivating mystery in a picturesque setting with delicious sounding recipes.
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