In Cold Chamomile by Joy Avon is the third A Tea and Read Mystery. It can be read as a standalone. Callie Aspen is organizing a Valentine’s fundraiser at Haywood Hall with a variety of events. My favorite was Fall in Love with Books where there was a book exchange, a book sale, and book appraisals. There was also plants for sale, seed swap, dogs for adoption, a concert with a singer as well as tea and pastries. Mrs. Forrester is in charge of the book events and she is a perfectionist. She also organized the appraiser, Mr. King who had recently been on a television appraisal show. Aunt Iphy is out of sorts after seeing the replacement baritone. Turns out Aunt Iphy has a history with the singer, Sean Strong but she does not share the details with Callie. When Callie is taking a quiet moment outside, Peggy comes running towards her car and she is crying. She is upset by something Quinn has done, but (once again) she does not share what happened. Then Mrs. Moffett comes running out and announces, “he’s dead”. Mr. King, the appraiser, has been murdered. Mrs. Forrester was seen arguing with him and her prints are on the murder weapon. Deputy Ace Falk determines that Sean Strong, the baritone, is the killer. Aunt Iphy knows Sean did not kill the victim and needs Callie’s help in proving it. Ace Falk warns Callie to stay out of the investigation. Callie is aware that by becoming involved in the case, it may affect their personal relationship. The mystery was very straightforward and could easily be solved (early in the book). There was a lack of suspects, clues and investigation. Callie does not even check out the body or the room he was in before the police arrive. The majority of In Cold Chamomile focused on romantic issues. Peggy and Quinn, Aunt Iphy and Sean, plus Ace and Callie. I know the book is for Valentine’s Day, but the mystery should have been more complex and prominent. There were several inconsistencies in this book as well (those who have read the first two books will notice). Deputy Ace Falk treats Callie terribly and acts like a jerk. Callie needs to find a new love interest. Someone who will appreciate her and her curiosity. I thought the ending was odd. In Cold Chamomile was a miss for me. My favorite line in Cold Chamomile is, “...if there was an object in the world you could easily fall in love with, it had to be books.” In Cold Chamomile has a deceased evaluator, romantic morasses, tempting treats, a stylish singer, and a daft deputy. ( )

I've read the first two books in this series and expected to love the third book, a Valentine's Day installment involving a fundraiser at Haywood Hall. However, I was quite disappointed with it.

The plot was pretty good but the characters are starting to annoy me. While I was happy to see Iphy in love, I'm getting tired of all of Callie's introspection about romance in her life.

I'm willing maybe to give this series a second chance but I'm not sure about that. As far as cozies go, I would call this one average.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.) ( )

The Book Tea has been hired to cater a Valentine's charity event at the Haywood Hall in Heart's Harbor so Callie Aspen is busy spreading hearts and flowers everywhere. Aunt Iphy is stunned to see an olf flame while the local librarian is occupied arguing with the book appraiser that she hired. When the appraiser is later murdered, Callie can't understand why a stranger would be a target. Delving deeper into the relationships of the librarian, Aunt Iphy and the old flame, Callie wonders where it will all lead - shattered romances or shattered lives.

I loved seeing Aunt Iphy is the throws of a romance like a young girl, reminds us that we are never too old to love. ( )

Callie Aspen is looking forward to the Valentine's Day event that is being held at Haywood Hall, an historical mansion in Heart's Harbor, Maine. Everything is going well and she's excited about the way it's turned out. However, it seems that the town's librarian, Miss Forrester, has persuaded a television antiques appraiser to appraise books at the event, and he seems pretentious to her.

Then, the baritone who was scheduled to appear has been replaced by another man - Sean Strong - and her Aunt Iphy seems shaken by this fact, but won't tell her why. Everything else seems to be going along swimmingly, until the librarian's assistant comes to her and asks her to call the police, stating as how the appraiser is dead. What Callie doesn't know is that Mr. Strong and her aunt have a history, Deputy Falk's sister is having issues of her own, and now it's all beginning to cause problems for Callie herself. Will she be able to find the truth or will her questions put herself or someone else in danger from a killer?...

I was looking forward to reading this third book in the series, but I'm left wondering exactly what was going through the author's mind when she wrote it. The reason I state that is the fact that this book is nothing like the first two in the series, and it seems as if an attempt is being made to create an entirely new series after only two others have been written. Why, you ask?

However, I have hidden the entire thing in a spoiler due to the fact that not only has this book not as yet been published, but there are people who probably have not read the first two in the series and so will have not noticed the changes. I have, and I did. Please be aware that this spoiler not only contains major plot points, but major points regarding the ending (although none of the murderer or the reason why they were killed. So please do not read unless you don't mind the ending exposed.

Most of the rest of the review is hidden, but you can access it on my blog if you choose to read it:

https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2019/10/in-cold-chamomile-tea-and-read-mystery...

Having enjoyed the first two in the series, I really wanted to like this book. However, with the way it was, this was not possible. Sorry. ( )