70% Dark Intentions

Bean to Bar Mystery #2

by Amber Royer

Felicity Koerber's bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston's historic Strand is bringing in plenty of customers - in part due to the notoriety of the recent murder of one of her assistants, which she managed to solve. Things seem to be taking a turn for the better. Her new assistant, Mateo, even gets along with Carmen, the shop's barista turned pastry chef. Felicity thinks she's learning to cope with change - right up until one of her friends gets engaged. Everyone's expecting her to ask Logan, her former bodyguard, to be her plus one. But even the thought of asking out someone else still makes her feel disloyal to her late husband's memory -- so maybe she hasn't moved on from her husband's death as much as she thought.

Felicity isn't planning to contact Logan any time soon. Only, Felicity finds ANOTHER body right outside her shop - making it two murders at Greetings and Felicitations in as many months. That night, Mateo disappears, leaving Felicity to take care of his pet octopus. The police believe that Mateo committed the murder, but Felicity is convinced that, despite the mounting evidence, something more is going on, and Mateo may actually be in trouble.

When Logan assumes that he's going to help Felicity investigate, she realizes she's going to have to spend time with him - whether she's ready to really talk to him or not. Can Felicity find out what happened to Mateo, unmask a killer, and throw an engagement party all at the same time?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

266 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2021

About the author

Amber Royer writes the CHOCOVERSE comic telenovela-style foodie-inspired space opera series, and the BEAN TO BAR MYSTERIES. She is also the author of STORY LIKE A JOURNALIST: A WORKBOOK FOR NOVELISTS, which boils down her writing knowledge into an actionable plan involving over 100 worksheets to build a comprehensive story plan for your novel. She blogs about creative writing technique and all things chocolate at www.amberroyer.com. Much of this knowledge has come from teaching creative writing for both UT Arlington Continuing Education and Writing Workshops Dallas. She has been teaching and serving as an author coach for going on a decade and a half, and before that she was a youth librarian. Amber lives in Texas, with her husband who is sometimes her co-author – but always her alpha reader and cheerleader. Much of what she writes is to amuse him, or has been inspired by one of her friends. (Check the last names of her protags – they’re often homages.) She grew up in a half Cajun, half German household, which gave her early ideas about fusion cooking, which are still present in her cooking style and recipe offerings today. She loves to travel, and has drunk coffee in seven different countries. Her cookbook, THERE ARE HERBS IN MY CHOCOLATE started as a project for her local herb society, where she and her husband were at the time active members and presenters. If you are very nice to her, she might make you cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes, obviously.

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity Koerber is a thirty-six year old widow and a bean-to-bar chocolate maker. She recently opened Greetings and Felicitations along the Strand in sunny Galveston, Texas. By chance, she’s had to add amateur sleuth to her skills, and if you ask me, she’s a natural at investigating.

This cozy mystery touches on the seedier side of life, and struggles with drugs, smuggling, animal poaching, and, of course, murder. All of which make headline news every week. Author Royer really knows how to tweek a plot into an intriguing cozy mystery.

For readers who enjoy pets, there’s Felicity’s sweet bunny, Knightly; Clive, the walking octopus; a close encounter with a young tiger; and some baby sea turtles! Logan, the pilot, becomes closer to Felicity, which I was hoping for. #TeamLogan. The author drops some cool clues as brain teasers for readers to ponder who the culprits really are. The story is full of great surprises! Y’all enjoy!

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and BookGoSocial (Golden Tip Press). All opinions are my own. Thank you.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling all chocolate lovers! This cozy series will keep you entertained and salivating over truffles, chocolate bars, and many other treats that are whipped up in the Greetings and Felicitations shop in Galveston. Too bad it isn't a real shop that I could go visit in the future!

This is the second book in this series and it does help to read the first book to get a feel for all of the characters and their back story. Felicity is running a shop that was supposed to be with her husband before he died unexpectedly. She still has many fond memories of her husband and their plans, but she moves forward without him but not without some sad moments. Logan is the potential new guy in her life that we met in the first book. They both have reservations and there are some good conversations between them and what they might be able to have going forward. Of course, there are some misunderstandings and dates with others before they get to that point. Felicity is set up with her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend's brother, Wallace. Wallace is a bit of an odd duck and really doesn't knock Felicity's socks off. It is an awkward situation for sure considering all involved parties.

I really enjoyed the variety of characters and their quirkiness. The author does a great job of bringing in multiple cultures, beliefs, interests, and personality types. It is hard to know which character to like or dislike and are they involved in the murder of Fabian found outside the front door of Felicity's shop? It takes a fair amount of digging by Felicity and Logan to get to the bottom of the murder. I had to crack up at one of the characters that Felicity called "Fake Leslie." This woman knew what she was doing and what she wanted to discover and wasn't afraid to use anyone else to get the information she needed.

There is a surprising animal that could have stolen the book, Clive the octopus that is Mateo's pet. I learned a bit about this breed and how you could have an octopus as a pet. Not that I want one, but fascinating information. The author also sheds life on sea turtles and how some are on the road to becoming extinct which is a shame.

The mystery is not an easy one to solve but I have to say that I did suspect the right character, I just didn't know why or at least not all of the potential details. I don't want to spoil anything so it is hard to share too many details about why I suspected this character. The character's behavior near the end, when discovered, was a bit strange, but made sense all things considered.

There is so much to like about this series and I look forward to future installments and learning more about hand-crafted chocolate. We give this book 5 paws up.

[Kara Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series; I’ve also read the first one and I liked this one even more. This stands alone well nicely, but I think it’s probably best enjoyed read after the first one. I love the setting of Galveston, a town I know pretty well, and everything reads pretty true. I don’t know that much about processing chocolate, but I learned a lot in both books—it’s very interesting. The mysteries in this book are also very intriguing and well-written. Felicity is a great character, and I’m glad she’s moving on with her young life after the death of her husband; I’m excited to see her love life progress a bit also. I can definitely recommend this book; I was provided an arc of this book, but these opinions are my own.

[Marsha Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to read and review "70% Dark Intentions" by Amber Royer.
Fun and interesting read! From the first chapter I was intrigued and throughout the book enjoyed the twists and turns the plot was taking. The author painted a wonderful story and setting for this book which the scent of chocolate in the air. Very interesting and varied characters in Felicity's life in addition to a few animal friends.
I enjoyed reading about the chocolate shop as much as finding out who the culprit was behind the break ins, murders, and deceit.
I have not yet read the first in this series but would recommend it on the basis of book 2. I know I want to read it!!

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic chocolatey mystery! We catch back up with Felicity as she runs her bean to bar chocolate shop. I must say her shop sounds right up my alley as it all sounds delicious. Things are going well business wise until she comes to work only to find another dead body outside her shop. No one has a clue why the man was there and she plans to stay out of things this time. At least until Logan calls her to work together as well as one of her employees may be the main suspect. Worried for her shop she starts nosing around until she uncovers some intriguing secrets. Unfolds in a well written mystery that will keep you hooked while you also drool over all the yummy chocolate. A perfect read for cozy fans. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity is working hard to overcome the negative publicly her chocolate shop received after the murder of her assistant. Just when she's confident that she's making progress. She finds another body in front of the store and her new assistant, Mateo, is the prime suspect. Now Felicity needs to find the truth along with Mateo. I enjoyed this fast paced, complex mystery. The characters are charming and easy to care about. I also enjoyed learning about the chocolate making process. I must say that I was drawn to the walk about pet octopus. He was a scene stealer. As was Logan. I felt the chemistry between Felicity and her protector and would-be boyfriend. Galveston's Strand provides a beautiful background for all the mayhem and murder. Amber Royer is a new to me author but I plan to correct that. I enjoyed her writing. 70% Dark Intentions was an enjoyable read.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

[Meesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a certified chocoholic (in my own mind) I have to say I would love to work for Felicity at Greetings and Felicitations. Not only do her chocolate confections sound amazing their descriptions from those in the story who have imbibed in them have me salivating! Needless to say 70% Dark Intentions definitely lives up to it's name in various ways. From the Peruvian Cacao Beans to the crazy murder that happened right in front of the store. Felicity and her counterparts do their best to figure out solving the murder as well as prepare a special night for her best friend Autumns' upcoming nuptials. Plus, the "which one is the best guy for me" issue is always a great way to add to the investigation, especially when Felicity is still mourning the death of her husband even though she knows it's time to move forward with her life.
I had an inkling of who the murderer was but it was well into the investigation that I started questioning their intentions. There were a couple characters that were definitely on the list.
I enjoyed this story and it was a definite easy read and hard to put down. I recommend this book and am excited for the next one to come out to see what happens with Felicity and the rest of her crew.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

70% Dark Intentions is the second installment in the Bean to Bar mystery series and it stands out among other mysteries I’ve read this year. The book continues the adventures of widow Felicity Koerber and her fledgling bean to bar chocolate shop. Her assistant Mateo is working out and Carmen is coming into her own as the shop’s pastry chef, creating interesting recipes with Felicity’s chocolate. Upon returning to her shop after a girl’s night out to check on a piece of new equipment, Felicity finds a dead body outside her shop, Mateo has disappeared, leaving only partial instructions for Felicity on how to take care of Clive, his pet octopus. In the midst of all this Felicity is pondering her relationship with Logan, her bodyguard from the first book in the series, and trying to be a good matron of honor to her newly engaged best friend Autumn.

This book has much to recommend it, besides a well-written mystery. The characters are well-developed, and we continue to learn more about their personalities and lives. There is a sub-story surrounding poaching and illegal selling of endangered wildlife, Felicity’s uncertainties about her friend’s pending marriage, Logan’s and Felicity’s growing relationship, the ‘friendly’ blogger Ash, and the group of marine biologists supposedly trying to help save a nest of sea turtles. Mateo’s disappearance raises many questions, black diamonds are found in bags of cocoa beans and Felicity is quite sure about Wallace, Arlo’s girlfriend’s brother, with whom she has been set up on a date. There are so many characters intertwined with the murder that any one of them could have taken the story in a different direction! I’m not sure this book could be read as a standalone, as there are many references to the first book that help explain certain aspects of this book, so I would recommend reading book 1 first.

Along the way the reader learns more about the preparation of chocolate and the different machinery required. Knightley the rabbit is on the scene, and we are introduced to Clive the octopus and how to take care of him, his antics bringing humor to the story.

This is just a great book all around – the mystery, all the characters, the introduction of the very real issue of illegal selling of endangered species, and the ‘continued education’ on bean to bar chocolate.

This book kept me engaged and intrigued to the end, so much so that I would have read it in one setting if I could have. I want to learn more about Felicity’s business, the characters and their complex lives and see what new adventures face Felicity in the next installment.

I highly recommend this book, and the first, and will look forward to reading many more in the series.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity Koerber is a widow. She use to be a physical
therapist but she now owns and runs the Bean to Bar
Chocolate Shop located in Galveston, Texas on their
historic Strand.
Coming to the shop, Felicity discovers a dead body
outside the shop. Who is he and why was he
murdered outside her shop?
Her new assistant, Mateo is missing. Was he involved
in the murder? Or was he kidnapped or is he dead?
Felicity decides she must investigate the happenings.
She believes in her heart that Mateo is alive. What
will she discover?
This story addresses current social issues:
smuggling, drug struggles, animal poaching,
kidnapping and murder.
I enjoyed meeting Clive, the octopus. I also enjoyed
watching the sea turtles hatch and run into the ocean.
I learned about care of the octopus and the care put
into the sea turtle hatches.
Plus I learned a lot about making chocolate from
beans to a variety of products….a mouthwatering
array!! Dark chocolate being my favorite.
The characters were diverse in personalities, cultures
and they all had interesting and intriguing backstories.
This is book # 2 in the Bean to Bar Mystery series. It
is the first book in the series I have read. The author
combines the past with the present effortlessly.
I volunteered to read 70% Dark Intentions. Thanks
to the author via Cozy Mystery Review Crew. My
opinion is voluntary and my own.
A Highly Recommended Read!!!

[Melissa Castor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intriguing book! Felicity’s chocolate shop is once again home to murder after she finds a man shot dead outside her shop. Felicity’s employee, Mateo, is the prime suspect when he disappears. Felicity is sure Mateo is innocent and believes he has been taken by the killer. With the help of Logan, she sets out to find Mateo and find the real killer. An intriguing storyline about illegal animal imports. Felicity discovers that Mateo had been trying to take down the people behind illegal animal imports and poaching that he had first discovered in South America. While investigating and trying to run her chocolate shop, Felicity is also preparing an engagement party for her best friend, Autumn. Despite some setbacks after an intruder breaks in and damages one of her machines, Felicity manages to fulfill a big custom order for a spa and prepare chocolates for Autumn’s party. I love learning the stories behind different kinds of chocolate and how to make it. The illegal importing of animals storyline was fascinating and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was. The storyline had me hooked from the beginning and I find the characters to be interesting. I am really looking forward to more books in this series and seeing what’s next for Felicity. I hope to see a romantic relationship slowly develop between Felicity and Logan as well. I highly recommend this great book!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting is Galveston and we got to see a few parts of that, like The Strand and the beach. We also get a lot of information about how to make chocolate, so I feel like I could walk around the back area of Greetings and Felicitations! I also liked the Cajun restaurant next door. It was a good reminder that Louisiana is right next to Texas and their cultures might mix a little.
My favorite character might have been Clive the octopus! Besides him, I was pleased with the way the humans grew throughout the novel. None of them were one sided. That was a strength of the novel.
In my opinion, a weakness was the romance. I don’t like love triangles and at times this was more like a love quadrangle or even pentagon! Felicity seemed to be attracted to every man she was in contact with and then felt guilty about being attracted to them because she was a widow. If it had been just one guy and her husband I don’t think the early romance parts would have bothered me so much. It got better as the book went along and Felicity grew as a person in that area, so the end romance was better. I’m still not sure how I feel about Felicity though.
The mystery had many layers and there were plenty of secrets to go around. I like when a book has so many secrets to reveal. And some of the secrets revealed that the characters were better people than I expected. Even the bad guys had secrets that made them rounder characters.
So if you like cozies with love triangles, you will love this one. If you don’t, read this anyway and know that it gets better by the end. It is also a good idea to have some chocolate on hand while you are reading this as well.
I received a copy of this book. This is my review.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful and entertaining read that pulls you in from the first page and keeps you totally involved in all that's happening until you read the last word in this twisty, can't-put-down mystery. I felt like I knew Felicity who owns a bean to bar chocolate shop (Greetings and Felicitations) in Galveston's historic strand and loved her dynamic with the other characters including Logan, her former body guard and Clive, her assistant Mateo's pet octopus who she agrees to take care of while he's out of town. She finds a dead body in front of her shop and has to find the murderer since Mateo is the prime suspect. If you enjoy well written cozy mysteries, you will love "70% Dark Intentions". I look forward to book three in this must-read series. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review. I liked it so much, I purchased a copy to read again later.

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know it if is the freak summer we are having in Scotland right now but I took ages to get into this book. Having not read book one (which usually isn't a problem) I found myself asking what happened in it? I did feel a little lost at time pertaining to past experiences in Felicity's life as this wasn't really dealt with in a fleshed out way in this book.
That being said once I got going I began to enjoy this story - Felicity gets involved in another murder this time discovering the body right on her doorstep! One of her employees Mateo has also disappeared and the police are pinning him as the number one suspect. To add to the mix her friend gets engaged and she needs to look after a octopus called Clive!
Felicity has a lot on her plate but can she find Mateo and prove he has nothing do with the murder? Or will she uncover something darker in the process?
4 stars

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

70% Dark Intentions is the second book in Amber Royer’s “Bean to Bar” Mystery series, and it doesn’t disappoint. Having read the first in the series, I feel like it helped provide me the background of the characters and the relationships that were already formed and that continue to form. When Felicity stumbles upon another dead body at her chocolate shop, it’s up to her to clear the dark cloud looming over the reputation of the brand-new shop – all while taking care of Clive the pet octopus!

This book is entertaining and engaging. What I like the most about this series is it’s not just about the mystery, but there’s depth to the characters and their stories are entertaining as well. The mystery did keep you guessing, but it left you intrigued. I look forward to future books in this series – I hope it continues!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felicity Koerber has her life back on track, maybe. At least until she finds a body outside of her bar-to-chocolate store on Galveston island. Or at least until she realizes that her assistant Mateo (who replaced her murdered assistant) has disappeared and is either the most likely suspect, or also dead. And then there’s the young widow’s confusion over whether she might be ready for romance again.

This book is just the second of a series. The plot does stand alone, though readers will miss the deeper character development that occurs in this volume without reading the first book. The story moves quickly, with twists and turns giving an opportunity to get insight into the trafficking of exotic animals, the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle that nests on the island, and, of course, making chocolate.

I greatly enjoyed my time on the island with Felicity, her friends, and her family. These engaging characters and thoughtful storylines will keep me returning to this series.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

70% Dark Intentions is the second in the Bean to Bar Mystery series by Amber Royer. It is the first I have read from this author. I was drawn in by the cover and am glad I was allowed to read it.

Felicity Koerber is our protagonist. She is a 30 something widow with some medical issues. She has returned to Galveston Island to run a chocolate shop. In a former life, Felicity was a physical therapist. This is a standalone story. The only issue I had was the reference to a medical condition and poor health but it was never specified.

The story is well-written and plotted. There is a lot going on in Felicity and her friends’ lives. Felicity is loyal to those close to her. She is also trying to deal with recovery from the death of her husband. She has a ways to go but I see her getting there.

I liked this story and will go back to read the first one. I am looking forward to the next installment.

I was given and advanced copy and am not required to leave a positive review.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Specialty chocolate shop owner Felicity Koerber discovers a man’s dead body in front of her shop, which is located on Galveston Island. The police deem the death a homicide. When a missing employee is considered the prime suspect, Felicity refuses to believe that he is guilty of any wrongdoing and once again finds herself taking on the role of amateur sleuth. However, Felicity is not alone in her investigation as she teams up with Logan Hanlon to track down her employee, identify the wrongdoer(s), and ascertain the motive behind the killing. Things for Felicity turn dicey with threats against her life and wrecked shop equipment. Are these incidents related? Will the killer(s) get away with their criminal activities or will Felicity be the one to fit the pieces together and solve the mystery?

70% Dark Intentions is the second book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries and features an amateur detective who is also struggling to come to grips with widowhood and whether to act on burgeoning romantic feelings. Amber Royer has done a great job of portraying realistic characters who face both external and internal conflicts, which wonderfully builds up the tension and suspense throughout the story until it reaches an exciting climax that will not disappoint readers. Sea turtles, an octopus, and a rabbit are interesting and fun accompaniments to the storyline. You do not need to read the first book to enjoy this one. The book could use better proofreading, but the errors do not detract from the overall reading experience. I look forward to any future installments in this appealing and engaging series.

[AMBER Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Bean to Bar Series. This can be read as a stand alone without any issues.

Felicity owner of Greetings and Felicitations once again finds herself involved in another murder investigation, when she discovers a body outside her front door. The police have focused on her employee Mateo as the killer. She has to team up with Logan again to prove that the police are looking in the wrong direction. I enjoyed the twist and turns of the storyline. Felicity also goes through a personal struggle with her relationships with people close to her. I like her growth through the book and can't wait for the next installment.

[Charlie Medcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

70% Dark Intentions is a great book written by Amber Royer which is the second in the series following Felicity on her adventures. In the second book of the series, there are more murders and so Felicity and Logan both investigate the case together once again as well as becoming a partnership with Greetings and Felicitations. The plot is full of twists and turns which will just make you continue reading for hours. This has been one of the best murder mystery romance novels I have read this year and I really felt like I could relate to the romance part of this book.

For my full book review please follow the link below-https://cembookportal.blogspot.com/20...

[Noreen Trotsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craft chocolate maker Felicity Koerber gets involved in another mystery when when of her employees goes missing. Was he kidnapped? Or did he murder the man found on Felicity's shop's doorstep?
Not having read Felicity's first adventure, I had no problem following the storyline and who the main characters were. I will go back and read the first book for the fun of it. I loved the feel of the plot with it's small town feel, the descriptiveness of the characters and their surroundings.
Totally recommend for lovers of cozies. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber Royer has done it again! Her second novel in the Bean to Bar Mystery series is another chocolatey success story. The strength of Royer's sequel to Grand Openings Can Be Murder is once again in her ability to create relatable, empathetic characters. Readers will respond to Felicity Koerber's hesitancy to risk her heart, be vulnerable, and move forward in her personal life and this interest helps us to become invested in this protagonist's amateur sleuthing efforts to solve the murder mysteries that continue to haunt her bean-to-bar chocolateria, Greetings and Felicitations.

Royer's work also shines because of her careful research. Readers will learn a lot about the craft of handmade artisinal chocolate including nations from where it is sourced, bean preparation, techniques and machinery, and recipes. The novel also includes information about endangered species such as Kemp's ridley sea turtles and a wealth of surprising insights about octopi.

This author's work is such a pleasure to read that the details of the intriguing mystery are actually secondary to the sights, smells, and sounds of Felicity's world. I can't wait to return to Galveston and Greetings and Felicitations in Royer's next installment in which I hope she'll continue to share new insights about Logan's past and perhaps provide some additional insight into why Autumn (Felicity's best friend) stopped writing. More, please...

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book, though it left me craving chocolate!

Felicity Koerber is happy things are returning to normal after a murder in her chocolate shop, Greetings and Felicitations. She is excited because she has a new sorting machine that will cut down on time spent processing her beans. Unfortunately, after the machine arrives and she returns to her shop, there is a dead man sitting in front of it and he has clearly been murdered. Feeling a sense of deja vu, not to mention that her new clerk is now missing, Felicity once again must solve the murder and find her missing assistant.

This book has a great cast of characters. Felicity, the protagonist, is a take no prisoners, no BS kind of gal who really, truly just wants to make high quality chocolate bars and share them with the world. Logan, her bodyguard from the previous novel, makes a charming romantic interest. I appreciate there is no stupid love triangle in this book like some other cozies (I hate those). Felicity's friends and colleagues are also fun to discover.

I was very pleased to see the author is already working on a third installment. Sign me up for a copy. This is an interesting standout in terms of the culinary cozies and who doesn't enjoy reading about chocolate?

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. Opinions in this review are my own.

[Amber Royer]

This is the second Bean to Bar Mystery, and writing it gave me the opportunity to deepen the character relationships surrounding Felicity, my craft chocolate maker sleuth. This time, there's a murder literally outside her shop door, and she tries her hardest not to get involved -- but the disappearance of one of her employees draws her into the case. If you liked Knightley the bunny in the first book, I think you will get a kick out of Clive the octopus who gets introduced in this one. Felicity has moved forward psychologically, because of the events that happened in the previous book, but she's still got a ways to go. I love writing characters who are in flux, working towards a stronger version of themselves. Which is why I had such a blast writing this book.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

70% Dark Intentions is the second book in the Bean to Bar Mystery series by Amber Royer.

This is the first book I’ve read in the series and it can be read as a standalone book. There were references to Felicity’s health throughout the book, but it wasn’t explained what happened.

Felicity finds a dead person and one of her employees is missing. Is he a victim or suspect? It’s an interesting book. I loved reading about sea turtles and the chocolate making process. There were a lot of storylines going on and it all wrapped up nicely.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Bobbie Kirkland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of 70% DARK INTENTIONS (Book 2 of the Bean to Bar mysteries) by Amber Royer in exchange for an honest review. Felicity Koerber is happy her bean to bar chocolate shop is doing well. However, Felicity wishes it wasn’t due, in large part, to gruesome gawkers. Though Felicity is coping a bit better with the changes in her life, she doesn’t think she’s quite ready to enter a new relationship. When there’s another murder on the premises and when one of her employees disappears at the same time, Felicity finds herself, once again, in frequent contact with her high school crush, who is her contact with the murder investigation, and with her new potential love interest, who volunteers to help her find and exonerate her missing employee. In order to discover what’s going on, Felicity will have to enter the worlds of animal poaching and marine activism as well as the pop-up restaurant food scene. Meanwhile, Felicity is learning how to tend her missing employee’s clever little octopus and how to be a supportive matron of honor.

I liked both this book and the first in the series. I recommend both books to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, small business, chocolate, employee drama, coping with grief and change, and island life.

#70DarkIntentions #NetGalley

[Grace Koshida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolate maker Felicity Koerber is hoping that business at Greetings and Felicitations, her bean-to bar shop located on Galveston’s historic Strand will get back to normal. After she solved the murder of one of her assistants, Felicity now has a new assistant, Mateo, who gets along with the shop’s barista turned pastry chef Carmen. Then Felicity finds another body outside her shop and Mateo has vanished. With the help of ex-cop turned pilot Logan, Felicity is determined to find what happened to Mateo, throw a last-minute engagement party for her BFF and fill a huge chocolate order with sabotaged equipment.

This was a fun story with motives linked to animal smuggling, baby sea turtles, and black diamonds hidden within Felicity's sack of Peruvian coffee beans. There's also some animal hijinks involving Clive, Mateo's houdini octopus, an alligator intruder in her aunt's hotel and an endangered tiger. And widow Felicity has to decide whether her broken heart is ready to take a romantic next step with Logan or Patsy's visiting brother Wallace.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and BooksGoSocial (Golden Tip Press) with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

[zoe Hitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity Koerber returns in the second title of the bean to bar mystery series, and you’re in for a treat!
Felicity is a widow and tries hard to make a success for her shop Greetings and Felicitations which deals in all things chocolate. The problem is she has a penchant for finding dead bodies and amateur sleuthing which leads to various escapades outside of her chocolate business.
In this instalment Felicity finds a dead body outside her shop, and a member of staff is missing and he is also the chief suspect of the murder,
Amber Royer writes in a straightforward way leading you to read page after page when you should really be doing something else! The subject matter involves two of my favourite subjects chocolate and murder mystery so the book is a definite winner for me.
The characters are all amiable in their own way and have foibles and quirks just like all of us do , they are well rounded and have depth and all gel together well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was an effortless read , and I’m looking forward to the next in the series .
Highly recommended!

[Denise]

This is the second installment in Amber Royer’s Bean to Bar Mystery series. The setting is unique and the opportunity to learn a little bit about craft small batch chocolate making along with the mystery solving is interesting. The mystery is well crafted and keeps you guessing. The books in this series standalone, but reading the series from the beginning allows for better character understanding and development. I do find myself getting frustrated with Felicity at times. She sometimes comes across as judgmental and jumps to conclusions and makes assumptions about people without a lot of information. The author does a good job of drawing attention to and portraying the struggles of moving through grief and the difficulties of starting a new relationship after loss, but I feel like I have emotional whiplash from Felicity flipping back and forth from minute to minute about whether she wants to have a relationship with Logan. I’ve been enjoying the series, the characters are showing growth and relationships are evolving - so I’ll try to patiently wait to see what comes next.

[Renee Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love everything chocolate? The bean to bar mystery has great characters. It takes place in Galveston's historic strand which is a favorite place to visit for me since I grew up an hour away from it. Felicity, a recent widow, is struggling to move on. This time she finds a body right outside her shop. This puts Logan, whom she is interested in and her together to solve the mystery. Well plotted and moves along smoothly. Thanks #netgalley and #BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ravenclaw Library Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second instalment in the Bean to Bar Mysteries series but my first book. I liked it but felt it would have been better to have read the first book as it does reference previous characters and plotline which confused me.

I found the characters fun and very unique and will definitely be picking up the other books in the series.

Received a review copy from the BooksGoSocial and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

#70DarkIntentions #NetGalley #BooksGoSocial