Out of Temper

Bean to Bar Mystery #3

by Amber Royer

Felicity Koerber's bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston's historic Strand has been the scene of two murders - both of which she has been instrumental in helping solve. So when she gets invited to demo her chocolate skills aboard a cruise ship sailing out of the local port, she's excited at the chance to get away from the shop long enough to regain her equilibrium. She even brings her best friend along, and makes plans for time at the spa. But when she gets on board, she finds out that she's been booked for a mystery-themed cruise, and said best friend, Autumn, has to finally deal with the real reasons she quit writing mysteries. Only - if that wasn't stressful enough - it doesn't take long before there's a real murder on the cruise, and someone Felicity knows becomes the prime suspect. When said suspect asks her for help, she can't exactly say no, can she?

Felicity finds herself surrounded by cruise goers who all had connections to the victim - and finds that both Logan (her business partner, whom she recently kissed) and Arlo (the cop who was once Felicity's first boyfriend, before she moved away from Galveston) are dealing with the case until more official help can arrive. How will Felicity survive the ensuing awkwardness?

One thing that helps: the retired police dog turned therapy dog she meets on board. Satchmo helps Felicity deal with being back on the water after tragedy in her past - and also helps her uncover a vital clue to the case. Can Felicity unmask the killer and keep a friend from being framed before all the suspects leave the ship?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Relationships, Fiction, Contemporary

264 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2022

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]

An intricate murder plot is on display on a murder mystery cruise in the third installment of the Bean to Bar Mysteries. Galveston chocolate maker, Felicia Koerber, sets sail as a guest presenter on the cruise ship to give lectures on some of the chocolate processes she uses in her business, Greetings and Felicitations. Several acquaintances are also on board, including her best friend, Autumn; her business partner, Logan; and her ex boyfriend, Arlo; plus Ash, the local island blogger who tests Felicity’s nerves. She also meets Bea, who’s training a retired K-9 beagle who’s sniffed out cadavers in the past. The number of characters make it somewhat confusing to sort through and keep track of who’s with who; however, that was the only semi-negative note I made in reference to the plot. Lots of characters make for lots of suspects once a murder is committed, and they’re all contained on the ship and it’s a long swim to shore!

Author Amber Royer writes a well-plotted novel, and she knows her way around the Port of Galveston, Texas. The storyline moves quickly with a vast assortment of suspicions raised as to why several of the passengers would be killers. I was amazed at all the details the author provided as red herrings. Mystery fans will love piecing all the clues together to solve this murder mystery!

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Golden Tip Press. All opinions are my own.

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

How can anyone not enjoy a mystery that involves chocolate? Ok, it would be better if I could have it while reading the book...oh marketing idea, each book comes with a bar of chocolate! But I digress. This series is fascinating and I love the discussion about how cacao beans are processed (in previous books) and how we get the chocolate we see in the market today. There is such a history to chocolate and if you ever get a chance to hear the author speak, please do because there is so much information to be learned.

Felicity is off to work on a cruise and talk about how chocolate is made. And it wouldn't be a mystery without someone ending up dead, and in this case, a character that isn't well-liked and has something of a shady past according to his ex-wife, girlfriend, and other characters. There are so many red herring clues that you have to put on your thinking cap to figure out who and why. I figured out the who close to when it was revealed and could guess the why once I fixated on this character. There are clues now that I look back that might point you in the right direction, but maybe not. Read the book to see how well you can spot the clues.

I loved the idea of the mystery cruise setting. This sounds like something I would enjoy and might even sign up to do as long as no one really ends up dead. That coupled with a chocolate demonstration and authors sound like my fantasy trip! I will be curious to see if this cruise line makes it into future books with a mystery tied to it. There are so many possibilities and we did see a glimpse of a cruise ship in other books, so I wouldn't rule it out as an option.

There is a bit of a love triangle for Felicity. There is her high school sweetheart, Arlo, that is now available after a breakup in the 2nd book. There is also Logan who is her partner in the chocolate shop. Both would be good choices and it will be hard for her to make a decision quickly. But who says she has to decide now? She still mourns her husband but that is decreasing as time goes by.

I enjoyed watching the characters continue to grow and we learn more about them as this series continues. Autumn reveals some truths which surprise a lot of people, but I can see why it was kept under wraps. We don't see as much of Carmen in this book since she is holding down the fort, but I look forward to some of her new baked goods in future installments.

Seriously, a great series and we give it 5 paws up.

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

I look forward to these bean to bar chocolate books as chocolate is my fave. Felicity is going on a cruise this time planning to have demos about how to make chocolate. What she wasn't told is that it is a mystery themed cruise because they knew she wouldn't come. With all her friends there it should be fun but when the LARPing event got started a real body throws a kink in things. Being at sea just makes it more interesting along with both guys she may be interested in are working together to solve the murder mark by things a little awkward. This all combines into an enjoyable story that is sure to delight fans of cozies or chocolate. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

[Maida · Rating 5 out of 5]

In times of overwhelming stress, there is no better escape for me than losing myself within the pages of a great book. I almost always take refuge in Romance books because of their promise of happy-ever-after or at least happy-for-now, but I also seek comfort in cozy mysteries with their assurance that whodunit will be revealed and villains will get their comeuppance. When the cozy involves chocolates, an adorable dog, and romantic elements, it immediately gets taken out of my Mount TBR and into the Read and Reviewed Library.

My full review is on my blog Carpe Diem Chronicles.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and the mystery grabbed my attention from the beginning.
A mystery themed cruise sounds like a lot of fun, but I could do without the murder.
The story was well written and I would highly recommend it to a cozy mystery fan like myself.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#OutofTemper #NetGalley.

[Christena · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She’s talking to Satchmo like she expects him to understand fluent English. And he seems to pout, like he understands. Which brings a moment of lightness to such a bleak day.”

Okay, I’m a fancier for any story that has a dog character. No matter how minor the role is for the dog. I also appreciate a story where the main character is a strong woman, but still has hang-ups over life in general.

Amber Royer’s newest story combines both of these elements perfectly. She continues her questionably cozy murder mystery series with Out of Temper in this third book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries Series.

This story continues with the main character Felicity, getting wrapped up in another murder mystery. Felicity is a murder magnet, as well as a chocolate maker. Taking to the Gulf of Mexico on a murder mystery cruise, Felicity soon finds a body with her new buddy, Satchmo, who is the dog. You really have to pay attention to this fast-moving mystery where the characters are intertwined like a spider’s web.

Then throw in a bit of a love triangle between Felicity and the two men in her life, Logan, and Arlo. Felicity is still finding her heart with these two.

I read the first Bean to Bar Mystery, Grand Openings Can Be Murder and not the second book. If you have not read either of these books it might be hard to follow the continuing storyline in Out of Temper. What I love about Amber’s books is that they are the perfect weekend escapism.

Royer’s words spin a fabulous, fast story around murder, chocolate, and yes, a dog. If you love stories with strong women, chocolate, dogs, a hint of a love story, and a steadfast mystery then check out Out of Temper, along with this entire series. This mystery book moves masterly and quickly, just like a spider spinning its web. Best of all Satchmo is in the story. Yes, I hope he returns in future books.

[Amber Royer]

This book was special for me to write, as much of my writing journey started with the book idea I came up on board a cruise ship, after we had taken a shore excursion to visit a cacao plantation at Samana (Dominican Republic). Now, I've finally done a book set on board a cruise ship -- with my chocolate maker sleuth. Felicity is such a fun character to write, and in this book she realizes she doesn't know some of the people in her life as well as she thought she did (which plays into the main flaw I've given her to deal with over the course of the series).

Thank you to everyone for the messages today, on release day!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the setting of a cruise ship for this one and the addition of Satchmo the beagle was a nice surprise. The mystery was solid, the writing was easy to follow and flowed well, and the story itself kept me hooked the entire time. I always enjoy the chocolate facts that are added into each book. Two things didn’t work for me: 1) the love triangle that is developing, and 2) there’s no way a 3-day cruise from Galveston gets to St. Thomas and back.

[Bookish_predator · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by BooksGoSocial and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Interesting characters and a fun series.

[Renee Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting well written solid mystery. Characters are intriguing and well developed. I had read the previous books and believe that helped me keep the characters straight. Good read! Thanks #netgalley and #BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity Koerber use to be a physical therapist but
she is widowed. She owns and runs the Bean to Bar
Chocolate Shop located in Galveston, Texas on their
historic Strand.
In this adventure Felicity is going on a cruise ship
to perform chocolate making demonstrations. What
she didn’t expect a murder on board the cruise ship.
The author has penned an intricate murder plot
with a cast of interesting characters. All have
intriguing backstories that relate to the deceased.
A mouth watering story involving chocolate treats.
I enjoyed being involved in the quest to uncover
the guilt party and prove the innocence of
Felicity friend.
This is book # 3 in the Bean to Bar Mystery series.
The author combines the past with the present.
I volunteered to read out of Temper. Thanks to the
author via Cozy Mystery Review Crew. My opinion is
voluntary and my own.
A Highly Recommended Read!!!

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Temper by Amber Royar is the first book that I have read by this author, and is the third book in her Bean to Bar mystery series.
Out of Temper starts with the main character Felicity getting ready to head out on a three-day cruise. She's looking forward to showcasing her chocolates and the process of making them, but what she's not ready for is the actual theme of the cruise and the unknowns that await her onboard.
Out of Temper is an interesting story and I love that the author keeps the true killer steeped in mystery. Felicity finds herself surrounded by familiar faces on this cruise, but things quickly start going off the rails when one person attacks another for a blog post he made years before. Now, the attacker, Flint, is dead, and the question arises...who did it and why? But the mystery doesn't stop there. People on the cruise are returning Felicity's chocolates! Why?! What's going on?
This book flows really well and is enjoyable from beginning to end. I love the relationships (overall) between the characters. While this book is the third in the series I was able to get into it easily. The only thing I'm really missing out on is the relationship development between the characters. I will admit though that I'm not that keen on Logan. For me, he's too uptight and I don't like it. He won't dress up, he won't relax, he really won't put in the effort to really participate in certain things. Meanwhile, Arlo is the complete opposite. He's more expressive, more engaging, willing to relax a bit, and puts in that effort to participate. It really made me like him more.
I will say that I'm a bit disappointed that when the returns start concerning the chocolate that Felicity doesn't immediately stop to find out what the problem is. It takes multiple people complaining for her to finally do so. I feel that if it was my business I'd investigate immediately because your business's image and reputation is on the line.
I enjoyed reading this book and as a baker it really pulled at me to want my desserts to be more overall. Chocolate making has piqued my interest in the past, and this book/series further pulls me in that direction of checking it out. If you love a good cozy mystery with hints of romance, and a deep mystery surrounding the killer then this is the book to check out. I'm rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to read the previous books and future books in this series.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Out of Temper, Felicity Koerber once again finds herself in the role of amateur detective. Felicity is the co-owner of a bean to bar chocolate business. For an inexplicable reason, she seems to have a powerful attraction to finding dead bodies, which has led to her gaining the reputation of a talented sleuth. In this book, a murder takes place on a cruise ship that sails out of Galveston, Texas. Ash, the main suspect, asks for Felicity’s help proving his innocence. Felicity is hitting roadblocks in the investigation as there are a number of individuals with possible motives. However, the evidence seemingly points to Ash as the culprit. Will Ash be arrested, or will Felicity prove he is innocent of murder?

Amber Royer has penned an entertaining adventure featuring a likable main character who owns a pet rabbit and deals with believable internal and external conflicts. The author expertly combines a puzzling mystery, relationship challenges, chocolate demonstrations, heated exchanges, and good red herrings. A retired police dog plays a vital role in the unfolding mystery.

The story is written in first person and present tense, engaging readers and making them feel like they’re experiencing everything first-hand as the story progresses. Royer's use of dialogue that aptly suits the characters and the vivid descriptions help readers visualize the setting and paint a picture of the characters in their minds. The author builds up the suspense to a tension-filled climax.

Out of Temper is the third book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries, and it is a delightful addition to a great series. The story can be read as a stand-alone. However, anyone who wants to learn more about Felicity’s previous adventures will find it advantageous to read the first two books. The book has some proofreading errors, but it does not take away from an overall pleasurable reading experience.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felicity is about to embark on an unwanted adventure. She is invited on a cruise to demo her chocolate skills. This could be good right....a sort of vacation with a small dose of work mixed in. But all that changes the moment she steps on the boat. Turns out this is no ordinary cruise. No this is a mystery-themed cruise. Let the stress begin.

While Felicity is dealing with the fact that she hasn't been on a boat since her husbands death, her best friend Autumn has to deal with her writing issues. To top everything off with a proverbial cherry, a real murder happens and Felicity once again finds herself in the middle of another investigation. Will Felicity help solve the crime and keep a friend from being framed or will this be her death?

This mystery was a twisted, keep you guessing till the end read. The characters were fun and entertaining. I especially loved Satchmo. That pup was so amazing and I loved his role in this book. As an ex-police turned therapy dog he has some real cool skills. I want him.

Felicity is stuck in the middle of a love triangle that is interesting in itself. I of course have picked a side. (team Arlo all the way) Which of course makes things very interesting throughout the course of the book.

There are lots of secrets revealed in this book for those who have read the entire series. The twists of the lies and deception in this book will make your head spin. It makes it really hard to guess who the murderer is. Which in my book makes a great mystery.

This is the first book in the series I have read and it was easy to follow along. But I would have loved to get to know the characters more, by starting from the beginning. This seems like a fun and cool series to get invested in.

[Lorilei Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Temper by Amber Royer is the third book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries series, but it is the second book in the series that I have read. After reading and thoroughly enjoying the first book, Grand Openings Can Be Murder, I knew that I had to get my paws on this one when presented with the opportunity to review it. I just wish that I had realized that I had not yet read the second book, 70% Dark Intentions, before cracking this one.

But that’s okay, because a good writer can fill you in so that you’re not floundering around confused, no matter what book you pick up in the series. And Royer is an excellent writer. She has fulfilled my expectations of a fun read filled with delicious chocolates, adorable furry sidekicks, colorful characters, and a conjecture that is tantalizingly just out of reach. Admittedly, the mystery in the first book had been easy to solve, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around why the killer did it. In this book, the victim wasn’t a cup of tea, so it wasn’t hard to imagine the many plausible scenarios that could have gone down.

Yet Royer had me convinced at least three times that I had finally nabbed the killer, and I was wrong each and every time. Just when you think that Felicity is about to uncover the final piece of the puzzle that will confirm your hunch, new clues will come to light that will send you spinning in a completely different direction. The intricate web of circumstances that ties this book to the other two is what really excites me about reading each installment of the series. Not to mention, I am dying to find out which love interest our amateur sleuth will end up with. I’m Team Logan all the way, just in case you were wondering.

I hope that Book Four has Felicity flying around in a plane with Logan to some exotic place to find obscure cacao beans and/or flavor combinations. I also would like to see tighter copy editing in the future. There were quite a few typos throughout the book. Maybe not enough to distract from a great mystery, but they were there and quite noticeable.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery read. As someone who usually savors the details in books, I am happy to report that the only place that Royer holds back a little is on gore. Other than that, prepare to drool a little when Felicity demos chocolate making… or perhaps when we catch Arlo or Logan sending longing glances in her direction. Either way, settle somewhere cozy with a snack or yummy beverage and enjoy the book.

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity is excited to be going on a cruise with her BFF. It's a working vacation. She's giving talks and demonstrating how her chocolates are prepared. When they board the ship, she's surprised to find she's on a murder mystery cruise. She's been tricked. Unfortunately it's not going to be a relaxing holiday. Felicity stumbles across a body. Again. She's definitely a murder magnet. I knew that she had to be involved in finding the killer. She's good at getting people to confide in her. Now everyone is trapped on the ship. Until the FBI arrive, Arlo, a police officer, can lead the investigation assisted by Logan. The prime suspect is Ash, a local blogger, who had a public argument with the victim. They find that Flint was unscrupulous and had plenty of enemies. To make it more difficult, many were on this cruise. I knew that Felicity had the skill to find out what happened. I'm glad that she wouldn't be left out. I enjoyed Out of Temper. The mystery had plenty of suspects and there were many unexpected twists. I found it difficult to determine who the culprit was. I especially enjoyed Felicity's romantic attraction to both Arlo and Logan. I know that Felicity would take her time making her choice. This was a very satisfying cozy mystery. Amber Royer's characters were interesting and easy to care about. The mystery kept me guessing and the romance added a touch of sweetness to the story. I'm looking forward to her next adventure.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sorry that I missed the first 2 books in this series but I will definitely remedy that. Felicity Koerber is a chocolatier who gave up her career as a therapist after her husband tragically was lost at sea. But she's created a new life with a new career, friends, and 2 handsome gentlemen patiently waiting to see if she is ready to find new love. Felicity has been hired to demonstrate all the finer points of chocolate on a new small cruiseline sailing out of Galveston, TX. Not only is this a fun paid to attend cruise but it's a mystery themed cruise as well. It isn't long before the drama is out of control and it's murder on the high seas. Who's the victim? None other than a famous author who happens to be hated by half attendees. This book is a fun read in a new setting not often explored. The main character is charmingly self-aware as she discovers that she doesn't know as many of her friends as well as she thought she did. This is a perfect book to escape into and contains a cast of characters that I hope to see more of.

[Heather Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity is taking her chocolate show on the road (actually the sea), when she agrees to do some chocolate demonstrations on a cruise ship. It's only when she's boarding that she realizes it's actually a mystery themed cruise and she was invited more for her notoriety than her chocolate skills.

This was my first Bean to Bar mystery and I can't wait to go back and read the previous two installments. I know I'm missing some character backstory, but the author provided enough information for the book to be read as a stand alone mystery.

As a murder mystery fan, I really enjoyed the murder mystery cruise setting. A group of LARPers and other quirky characters made for a diverse pool of suspects. I would have enjoyed more information on chocolate and the making of it in the book.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantastic read immediately pulled me into the middle of all that was happening on a cruise out of Galveston and kept me glued to the book until I read the last word. I feel a connection to Felicity who has a bean to bar chocolate shop and is invited to demo her chocolate skills on a cruise ship sailing out of the local port. I love her dynamic with the other characters which enhanced my reading pleasure. If you enjoy must-solve, can't-put-the-book-down cozies, you will love Out of Temper by gifted author Amber Royer. You may get a craving for really good chocolate while reading so have some close by. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Temper is the third book in the Bean to Bar Mystery series by Amber Royer.

Felicity is invited to do demonstrations about chocolate on a cruise ship. It is a great opportunity to sell chocolate too. She didn’t realize it was a mystery themed cruise or how many people she would know there. When there is a murder, Felicity helps Logan and Arlo investigate.

I really enjoyed this book. We learn more about the characters’ history and Felicity deals with an issue from her past. As for the mystery, the victim was not a nice person and there were several people on the cruise with ties to him, so there was no shortage of suspects. I was sure I had it figured out, but I didn’t. I can’t wait to see how Felicity moves forward in the next book.

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

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 STARS

Out of Temper by Amber Royce is the third book in her Bean to Bar Mystery series. The storyline of this book is complex and fascinating. I really enjoyed this part of the book. I just couldn't get into the main female character, Felicity Koerber. I read the first book in the series which described her background and her husband's death. Since this is the third book in the series I was hoping Felicity would have moved on from her despondency over her husband's death more. Every time Felicity gets to thinking about his death I get thrown out of the story. I don't know which guy Felicity will end up with but I am Team Logan.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Zoey really a "murder magnet"? Maybe....since it seems she can't stop finding dead bodies. This time it's while on a cruise so there can be only so many suspects. Was it Ash - reporter, and Zoey's personal nemesis, who was in an altercation with the deceased? The ex-wife? One of the LARPers? Or someone you would never suspect? This mystery will keep you guessing until the end.

Out Of Temper has one of my very favorite mystery tropes - a locked-door mystery. Only so many suspects in a smallish, controlled area. It was fascinating reading as Zoey, Logan, and Arlo worked together to figure out whodunit before the ship docked...or anyone else died. The mystery was interesting with enough clues, red herrings, and suspects to keep me entertained and guessing until the end.
If I had one complaint, it would be the budding love triangle. Not my favorite trope, but other readers must like it as it's fairly popular in cozy mysteries.

Many thanks to CMRC and the author for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. While the plot was intriguing and intricate, it was the depth of character that kept me focused. We learn a great deal about main character Felicity as the book opens, including the reason for her wariness at boarding a cruise ship. Her late husband died in a boating accident. She has invited along a friend, however, Autumn, a former mystery writer. Imagine her surprise to discover the cruise has a theme for this outing, a murder mystery one. To complicate matters, Logan, who seems to have some sort of police background, and Arlo, an old boyfriend and now a cop, are aboard. Then she sees the blogger/writer who made her relatively famous for her prior involvement in murder investigations is there, too. We learn more about each of these characters and others as the book progresses, including Felicity's sudden awareness that she perhaps doesn't know her friends as well as she thought she did.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot but do want to mention that one of the things that most intrigued me was finding out how past life events had influenced who the characters were today. For instance, at one point Arlo admits to having always had a nagging feeling that he wasn't good enough, perfect enough for people to stay after his father had abandoned him as a child. Rather than give in to the darkness that such thoughts might evoke, however, he notes that he became a police officer to "fight the darkness in human nature rather than succumb to it." That sort of depth is impressive from any author, especially in what I'd at first thought would be a light, easy cozy mystery read. Kudos to author Amber Royer. I am definitely planning to not just go back and read the prior books in this until now new-to-me series but will be following it from now on.

Bottom line, a deviously intricate and intriguing murder plot to follow along with some equally intriguing characters. Toss in an adorable former police dog, Satchmo, a Beagle who worked largely the drug division and helps sniff out some vital clues, and this one is a winner.

Thank you #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial, not to mention author #AmberRoyer for this great new series. I'm glad to discover the #BeansToBarMystery series.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity agrees to go on a cruise and to do a number of seminars to demo the chocolate making techniques she uses in her shop, Greetings and Felicitations. Her partner Logan is also coming, along with her best friend Autumn, and a bunch of mystery authors. What Logan neglects to tell her is that it’s a murder mystery cruise! And with the press in Galveston calling her a “death Magnet” after solving two murders involving her shop (books 1&2), Felicity is hoping to leave that moniker behind. But when the game starts, what is the first thing she discovers, with the assistance of a retired police beagle named Satchmo? Yep, you guessed it - a real dead body! This is a difficult murder to solve because everyone seems to have had a connection with the victim and most didn’t like him. Lots of twists and turns! A great cruise mystery! I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens, and write this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Temper is Book 3 in the Bean to Bar Mysteries by Amber Royer. One thing that I especially enjoy with a series is when the author brings back my favorite characters and introduces new characters. Amber Royer has taken a marvelous group of characters and placed them in a totally different situation, a mystery cruise. Of course Felicity and her partner, Logan, are on the cruise to demonstrate their chocolate making. (Since I live in Texas and have shopped in Galveston's Historical Strand, I think that it is perfect for Felicity's shop to be on the Strand!)

I loved the book and I felt the murderer was very clever. I had to follow the clues to discover who the killer was and why they killed. Can you guess who and why? I am hoping for a Book 4. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Chris gerst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series and author

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Temper by Amber Royer is the 3rd book in the Bean to Bar Mystery, and another fun addition. I love this book/series so far and can't wait for the next book to come out. Felicity Koerber has had a bad year, so she moved to Galveston Island to open a chocolate bean to bar factory in honor of her late husband. In this book Felicity is takes a job on a cruise ship demoing her chocolate skills. Along for the ride is Felicity's best friend, Autumn and a retired police dog turned therapy dog Satchmo. Unfortunately she and Satchmo find a dead body onboard. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading. I highly recommend this book/series, if you enjoy cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another tasty chocolate bean to bar mystery to sink your teeth into.

Felicity is going on a cruise out of Galveston to showcase her chocolate making skills and hopefully increase her business, Greetings and Felicitations, a bean-to-bar chocolate shop. What she doesn't know as the cruise gets under way is that this is a mystery cruise and there will be a role-playing crime to solve! Unfortunately, things get out of hand when a real dead body shows up that is not part of the plan. Felicity continues to think she is a murder magnet but rolls up her sleeves to solve a mystery and keep her frenemie, Ash, out of prison. This book is very reminiscent of multiple Christie novels, specifically Murder on the Orient Express.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this plot but I was able to guess whodunit. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story though, I docked a star because I am so sick of these cozy mystery love triangles. Been there, done that, bought the tee-shirt, hate this kind of plot element. Except for that, I liked this book and do hope there will be more in the series. You do not have to read the first two to understand this one but if you like this one I highly recommend the other two.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Caitlin Gonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Felicity Koerber's bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston's historic Strand has been the scene of two murders - both of which she has been instrumental in helping solve. So when she gets invited to demo her chocolate skills aboard a cruise ship sailing out of the local port, she's excited at the chance to get away from the shop long enough to regain her equilibrium. She even brings her best friend along, and makes plans for time at the spa. But when she gets on board, she finds out that she's been booked for a mystery-themed cruise, and said best friend, Autumn, has to finally deal with the real reasons she quit writing mysteries. Only - if that wasn't stressful enough - it doesn't take long before there's a real murder on the cruise, and someone Felicity knows becomes the prime suspect. When said suspect asks her for help, she can't exactly say no, can she?

Felicity finds herself surrounded by cruise goers who all had connections to the victim - and finds that both Logan (her business partner, whom she recently kissed) and Arlo (the cop who was once Felicity's first boyfriend, before she moved away from Galveston) are dealing with the case until more official help can arrive. How will Felicity survive the ensuing awkwardness?

One thing that helps: the retired police dog turned therapy dog she meets on board. Satchmo helps Felicity deal with being back on the water after tragedy in her past - and also helps her uncover a vital clue to the case. Can Felicity unmask the killer and keep a friend from being framed before all the suspects leave the ship? (Goodreads synopsis)

I read the first book in the series and then, somehow, missed the second book. However, I was very happy to read that Felicity had done some growing in book two. This novel started with her acknowledging her attraction to Logan. And then the novel took the same love triangle that quite a few novels take, and I became annoyed. I believe the author is showing growth with her character but I’m just not a fan of love triangles as the literary device.

I think the mystery was intriguing enough that it took me until the last 5 chapters to solidify who the killer was. The motive even seemed obvious to me, but it was intriguing to have Felicity discover that she didn’t know the people around her as well as she thought. Hopefully this trend will continue further, and readers will see a true comeback for Felicity in all aspects of her life.

Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars