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Tea and Tarot #2

Hostage to Fortune

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Abigail and Hyperion uncork a murder…

Tea and Tarot room owner Abigail Beanblossom is used to running interference for her socially-awkward former boss, tech billionaire Razzzor. So when he invites her on a stakeout to investigate the sale of counterfeit wine from his latest venture – an upscale winery – she barrels on in. But the two stumble across the corpse of a wine merchant, and new wine in old bottles is now the least of their problems.

Good thing amateur detectives Abigail and her partner, tarot reader Hyperion Night, have a nose for murder. Their investigation takes them from elegant wine cellars to chic tea parties on the California coast. But just as the investigation starts to get its legs, Abigail discovers there’s more than wine at the bottom of this crime…

Tearoom recipes in the back of the book.

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2020

100 people are currently reading
346 people want to read

About the author

Kirsten Weiss

110 books1,302 followers
Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com

Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews.
2,909 reviews214 followers
May 28, 2020
This book just flew by and before I knew it, the murderer was revealed and the mystery solved.

I enjoyed my trip back to this sleepy little town in California and seeing what Abigail, Hyperion, Brik, and others were up to this time around.  Hyperion is still eccentric, Abigail cooks up some new scone recipes to share with us, and Brik is still an enigma.  I think there is more to his story than we know.

The more I have thought about it, the tea and tarot shop sounds like a lot of fun.  Enjoy some tea and scones and have someone read the cards for you.  Whether you believe in tarot readings or not, it can be fun entertainment.  I would visit this shop, and often.

The cast of characters was a little smaller this book so narrowing down the suspects didn't take as long but it was still hard to know who was out to try and add Abigail and Hyperion to the death count.  Thankfully, they were not successful.

This series is still developing and was enjoyable to read and I look forward to the next installment.  We give this 4 paws up.
1,383 reviews20 followers
February 3, 2020
Charming cozy mystery about a tea shoppe owner and her tarot card reading partner. I love the characters in this book. Strong and weak and real. And a good mystery as well. All the usual characters you enjoy in these small town cozy mysteries. I'm looking forward to reading more about them.
Profile Image for Toni.
1,571 reviews64 followers
September 8, 2020
4.5 stars

This is the third book in the Tea and Tarot cozy mystery series by Kirsten Weiss.

In this book we get to see Abigail’s old boss and current online gaming partner, Razzzor. This guy is like Steve Jobs rich and he has a vineyard on the side where he sells mega expensive wine. Razzzor has discovered someone is putting cheap wine in place of his fine wine and making a huge profit. This is making him crazy. The book starts out with a stakeout where he and Abigail are looking for evidence.

I like how we get to see more of Brik and Razzzor in this story. They round out the team very well, but I wasn’t as happy to have Grandpa put on the back burner. He barely got a mention here and I wondered if he had been killed off in the previous book that I don’t have yet. (You can get book two by subscribing to the author’s newsletter.)

Definitely a fun installment of the tea and tarot story. I am putting this series on my must read list for sure!

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
331 reviews
July 29, 2024
better written than the first book

The plot was smoother and the flow of the story was much better. The characters were more realistic than the first book and the clues were more organized. Who done it came across like an Agatha Christy novel. Read for yourself and find out.
Profile Image for Christy.
1,280 reviews69 followers
May 31, 2020
Abigail and Hyperion run Tea and Tarot which is just what it sounds like: a tearoom where you can get Tarot cards read. I adore Abigail and Hyperion in all of their quirky glory. They’re so funny! I wanted to drink tea and eat fairy cakes, scones, and tiny sandwiches while reading this!

Abigail’s former boss and good friend Razzzor asks her for help in tracking down the person responsible for selling counterfeit wine using his labels. Razzzor’s wine sells for $1000 a bottle and can’t have someone ruin his reputation. Their mission leads to them finding a dead body which leads them to HAVE to investigate!

When Razzzor is arrested, Abigail and Hyperion start snooping. Razzzor isn’t in jail long, so he joins the investigation. Along the way, two more murders happen and things get even more complicated for Razzzor, Abigail and Hyperion.

I love the characters in Hostage to Fortune. Abigail has a great relationship with her grandfather, who raised her. Her grandfather’s friend Tomas is her honorary uncle. The two make sure Abigail doesn’t get into too much trouble. I loved them because they’re so concerned about Abigail, and they’re fun! I thought Abigail’s neighbor Brik was going to be a huge jerk, but you can’t always trust your first impression!

This book was hard to put down! I loved how unique the mystery was. I’ve never heard of wine counterfeiting, but it really is a thing! And bottles of wine going for 10s of 1000s of dollars?! It’s crazy to think that some grapes that were growing years ago are now in a bottle of wine that costs $30,000! Anyway, I digress. The mystery and finding out whodunit will keep you flipping the pages in Hostage to Fortune. You’re going to love it!
Profile Image for Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews.
2,909 reviews214 followers
May 31, 2020
Abigail and Hyperion are back in a new mystery in their sleepy little town in CA.  This time we get to know Razzzor and prove to Hyperion that he isn't Abigail's imaginary friend.  Of course, there is Brik, Grandpa, and Tomas throwing in their 2 cents to help solve the case and protect Abigail.

I love tea and find tarot interesting, so this is the type of shop I would like to visit.  Abigail is making tarot themed teas and the recipes sound delicious.  I'm not sure I would make them since that isn't my expertise, but if I could buy them somewhere I certainly would.  I won't even go into the scones....I think I gained 5 lbs just imaging them in my mouth!

As I mentioned above, we get to know a bit more about Razzzor other than he plays a Nazi Zombie game with Abigail online.  He is a bit eccentric and maybe that is due to his wealth and protecting himself at all costs.  In this book, he ropes Abigail into helping him figure out who is counterfeiting his wine.  Abigail is a true friend and doesn't know how to say no to anyone.  So she lands in the middle of another case trying to protect Razzzor from being charged with murder and almost ends up dead herself.  There are a few suspects and when the true killer was revealed I was very surprised because I did not suspect this character.  I had it pinned on someone else.  My suspect wasn't totally innocent but was not the killer.

Abigail's relationship, such as it is, with Brik is expanded upon and there are a few scenarios that might bring these two together in the near future.  Hyperion seems to have his eyes set on Detective Tony Chase and the feeling might be reciprocated.  Only future books will delve more into this potential relationship.

I have really enjoyed this series so far and look forward to more tea and tarot books.  We give this 4 paws up.
Profile Image for Sharon.
Author 38 books397 followers
February 3, 2021
Kirsten Weiss writes super-cute cozy mysteries. There's no other way to put it.

In this one, Abigail Beanblossom and her business partner, Hyperion Night, are trying to keep their Tea and Tarot restaurant going. Hyperion is fighting against a proposed licensure for tarot readers and psychics, Abigail's grandfather is protesting to slow down the San Borromeo's only traffic light so that seniors have enough time to cross ... and Abi's fighting a crush on her neighbor.

Hyperion comes up with a fabulous protest of his own -- and, unfortunately for him, the dead body of the man who proposed the licensing scheme, Trevor Amalfi, turns up right in the middle of it. Hyperion is soon suspect number one ... and Abi's in danger because she's trying to help clear his name.

This is pretty much a fair play puzzle type of book; you can see things laid out along the way, but the reveal was the only moment during which I put it all together. In my opinion, that's what makes a good mystery. When you can see the "whodunnit" coming for miles, it's not quite as much fun.

As always, Weiss has created a fun fictional town peopled with eccentric but lovable characters. Nicely done.
1,383 reviews20 followers
June 5, 2020
An exciting and wonderful mystery! Kirsten does it again. Abigail and Hyperion get involved in murder associated with wine forgery and wine futures when Abigail's good friend, Razzzor needs their help. But Razzzor's natural need for privacy leaves some gaps in the story resulting in the solving of a very good mystery. Of course Abigail's grandfather and friend Thomas get involved, increasing the action and number of sleuths without complicating the story. Lots of humour and fun kept me smiling. The Tea and Tarot series is one of my favourites and this book is excellent.
Profile Image for Toni.
1,571 reviews64 followers
October 21, 2020
4.5 stars
Hyperion is protesting tarot licensing and while he is chaining himself to a pole and shouting his position, a popular psychic is killed.

Lots going on in this story. The tarot licensing is keeping Amy's regular customers from the tea room, but the tarot themed tea blends were doing well. There is a vast distance between Abby and Brik in in this story.

Loving this series and I look forward to every chapter in this ongoing drama.
Profile Image for Jennifer K..
93 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2021
Kirsten writes stories about unique characters and there is no shortage of them in this book. Her mysteries are often amidst a lot of humor and I usually enjoy reading her writing. this was no exception. So if you enjoy quick easy reads with lots of laughs this is a book for you. enjoy it. I did.
Profile Image for Vickie.
2,305 reviews6 followers
July 5, 2020
I can't remember where or when I first heard of Kirsten Weiss, but I am very glad I did. She has several series and each one is unique. This one is fun, so much so that I read the first in the series last month and only gave myself a bit of a break until I opened this one, even though the cover is a bit unsettling.
This is a rather intricate mystery and there a couple of things going on. Abigail is settled into her tea shop. Tea and Tarot shop that is as Hyperion, her partner, will remind her. Hyperion remains my favorite character. He makes me smile. I really like Abigail's grandfather and uncle too.
The Tea and Tarot shop are running pretty smoothly, it doesn't seem to need Abigail too much to run it, she seems to have a good staff on hand. She closes and cleans. This all leaves her time to investigate. Hyperion loves to help. And her grandfather and uncle. And her old boss, Razzzor, in this one.
Wine fraud accusations, suspicious deaths, a stalker and someone has been sneaking around Abigail's house at night. It all blends wonderfully and I am really looking forward to book #3 whenever it comes out.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
Profile Image for Barbara Hackel.
2,830 reviews48 followers
March 3, 2023
Tea and Tarot Tearoom owners Abigail and Hyperion are big wine drinkers (at least in the the past book) and before long are involved with counterfeit wine and murder. Abby's previous boss and friend Razzzor has discovered his wine has been counterfeited, and gets Abby to help in a stake out. From there it's directly into non-stop investigating, wine, tea, more wine, and murders. But so much fun along the way!
Kirsten Weiss writes wonderful characters that support each other as friends should, and frankly have a great time together. I love the names...Razzzor-who is brilliant but socially awkward, Brik-who is in construction and lives next door to Abby, Hyperion-who is flashy, quick, and dare I say hyper? Loveable Gramps and "Uncle" Thomas are also involved in every aspect of the business and investigations. The story is flawlessly told and I was so involved that I read it in one sitting.
Quirky fun, solid friendships, supportive business partner, and a couple swoony moments combined with a good mystery made this a terrific read.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
572 reviews7 followers
May 25, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Hostage to Fortune by Kirsten Weiss is a magically written mystery with likable characters and wine.
Will Abigail figure out what is going on before Razzzor is arrested for murder?
Abigail
Our sleuth is Abigail Beanblossom. She's a personal assistant turned tea maker and baker. Tea and Tarot is her place of business in which she partnered with Hyperion. Abs does the tea side and Hyperion handles the tarot card reading side. Abigail doesn't have a boyfriend but there are some prospects. She and Hyperion like to stick their nose in police business, possibly because they seem to find dead bodies. Abigail's parents abandoned her with her grandfather when she was little, so Abs grandfather is still a big part of her life.

What I like about Abigail is she is a true friend. I have a feeling that if she actually wanted a boyfriend she could find one, but Abs seems to be waiting for the right one. I also like that Abigail is confident in her tea maker and baking skills. I wouldn't mind stopping by her tea room. 
The Mystery
Abigail and Razzzor, her former boss, are following up on a business that seems to be selling counterfeit bottles of Razzzor's wine. Razzzor has the Midas touch when it comes to business. So, he knows that his wine isn't right. Abigail being a good friend is trying to help him, in the process they stumble across a dead body or two. She knows Razzzor didn't do it so when the police start asking questions about him, Abs jumps to his defense. 
Hostage to Fortune CRThe Cover
So, throughout the story, I was trying to figure out the meaning of the cover. I will tell you that it made me laugh out loud. What a hilarious event. Remember the cover while reading the book as it couldn't have happened to a more righteous person. 
Four Stars
Hostage to Fortune by Kirsten Weiss is well written with humor, family, and just the right amount of suspense. I enjoyed reading the book and figuring out who was the murderer and why they would do it. I am giving Hostage to Fortune four stars and recommending it to all you cozy readers out there. 


First Book in the Series

Steeped in Murder by Kirsten Weiss

Other Book Series by Kristen Weiss:
Sensibility Grey Steampunk Suspense, Tea and Tarot cozy mysteries, the Pie Town cozy mysteries, the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum cozy mysteries, the Doyle Witch and Doyle Cozy mystery novels, the Riga Hayworth paranormal mysteries.


Giveaway
Prize:  (1) Prize Package - Signed copies of book 1, Steeped in Murder, and book 2, Hostage to Fortune, plus a $10 Amazon gift card. (U.S. Only)

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Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Hostage to Fortune by Kirsten Weiss. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.

Until the next time,

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This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove. 


Reading this book contributed to this challenge:
2020 Supernatural Creatures Reading Challenge 

If you are interested in being part of this challenge, you can find the link at the top of the page.

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Profile Image for Pamela.
413 reviews9 followers
June 30, 2020
Funny and clever

I can always count on Kirsten Weiss characters to be quirky and the mysteries convoluted even when I believe I’ve figured out who the murder is. I’m still acquainting myself with the Tea and Tarot series and was getting a smidge irritated with Hyperion. I got over it as did Abigail. I needed an eye rolling, funny story and this one perfectly filled that need. Oh, and Uncle Tomas can kill a man with a bottle cap! I promise that’s important.
Profile Image for Angie.
30 reviews5 followers
August 19, 2020
Fun cozy mystery

As expected from Kirsten Weiss, the characters are fun and a little quirky. The plot has several twists and turns, with the villain of the story not revealed until the end. Ienjoyed this and am looking forward to the next in series, which has promised penguin topiary.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,153 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2021
I received this from an author offering on "Book Funnel." I thought it was cute and had a different storyline than one would expect. I probably will read the others in the series at a later date. The only thing that kept this from from receiving a higher rating is the high amount of errors present in formatting and spelling. Otherwise, it's a good cozy, and I do recommend it.
Profile Image for Karen Wright.
605 reviews4 followers
February 19, 2023
Full of surprises!

This series is great! It's full of laughs and the characters are full of surprises but most of all, they create a wonderful group. Each one brings something to solving the murder. I love them all from Gramps, Tomas, Hyperion, Brik, Razzzor and even Tony Chase. I am so excited to read the next book.
Profile Image for Sue Gill.
384 reviews
August 28, 2020
More mystery and tea, the Tea and Tarrot is now up and running but that doesn't stop its owners from some amature sleuthing.
More is discovered about about Abi, Hyperion, Brick and Abi's family.
Also a whole new cast of suspects enter the frame.
Profile Image for Doreen.
3,257 reviews90 followers
January 10, 2022
1/10/2022 Another delight. Highly, HIGHLY recommend that teacake recipe in the book: it's SO GOOD! Full review with recipe tk at CriminalElement.com.
Profile Image for Sandra Mason.
37 reviews
September 16, 2022
Who did it?

See how long it takes you to figure out who the murderer is! In this mystery I kept jumping from one to the other! Weiss is a very good story teller! Love her mysteries!
14 reviews
April 12, 2023
It was cute and quick like the first, slightly harder to follow with approximately 6 new characters added without really any back story or character development. They seemed shallow. Eh feeling generous since it’s supposed to be a quirky cute mystery book.
Profile Image for April.
209 reviews14 followers
January 21, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book and have the next in the series all set for me to read. Looking forward to more about the cat psychic Esmeralda and Bastet the cat. It’s a cute series.
Profile Image for Holly.
158 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2023
Weiss always has fun reads. I enjoyed this way more than the first book in the series. I like the characters so much more now.
2,441 reviews13 followers
June 26, 2023
Abigail is a stronger character in this book than in #1 but I'm still annoyed by Hyperion.
Profile Image for Zen Jen.
23 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2023
Should be labeled book #1.5 as things mentioned in Hostage of Fortune happen in this book or novella. I enjoyed it, but wish it was longer.
Profile Image for Diane.
1,157 reviews
November 9, 2023
Another fun book with a few dead bodies and a kiss
2,673 reviews12 followers
August 21, 2021
Such an unFortunate event!

Business at Beanblossom’s Tea and Tarot could always use publicity but not the kind Abigail’s business partner was getting on the waterfront. Hyperion was protesting a new law that would mandate licensing for Tarot readers. The target of his wrath was a competitor who initiated the new law and when that competitor was found murdered Hyperion quickly became a prime suspect. Abigail and Hyperion will have to solve this murder themselves if they are going to prove his innocence and keep their business from going under.

This is a fun cozy mystery. I finished the book in one day. The characters are likable and the story had some good plot twists. It kept me guessing until the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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