Morgan C. Talbot

4.5 out of 5 stars

Smugglers and Scones is the 1st book in a new series, Moorehaven Mysteries, by Morgan Talbot and what a great beginning to the series it is! I cannot wait for the 2nd installment, even tho' this one was just released on January 31!

I absolutely loved this first book in the Moorehaven Mysteries series! I was hooked from the start and it didn't take me that long to read it. I started it late Thursday night and was finished by early Saturday morning. Not bad, considering that I did work on Friday!

I love the characters in this series. Pippa, Uncle Hilt, Lake, Jordan, and all the rest are just delightful. They're well-rounded characters, complex, likeable and believable. I'm really looking forward to learning more about them and seeing where Pippa and Lake's relationship leads them, if anywhere!

The setting descriptions were rich without being too over the top. The town sounds like a lovely place to visit or live. The story line moved along at a good pace. I never guessed who the villain was until Pippa figured it out herself. I had considered someone close to the villain, but not the villain himself.

I have to admit being a bit amazed at all the back story Ms. Talbot created for the author, A. Raymond Moore, his family, and the house that now houses the Bed & Breakfast. I've read a few books where authors have written things like "journal entries" by other characters and such, but I think this is the most complete back story I've ever seen. I'm very impressed.

I loved this book and I highly recommend it! I cannot wait for the second one to come out!

** I received a free ecopy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions and conclusions expressed are my own. **

Originally posted on: Valerie's Musings… (more)

A bit slow at the onset (and almost too detailed descriptions of each and every mystery writer in attendance), but I hung in there and was soon hooked! While I've read other cozy mysteries set in B&Bs, this one has the interesting twist of hosting mystery writers! (A mystery dropping into the middle of a group of diverse mystery writers? How fun!) This was a quick, easy read with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end.

I didn't realize this was the second in a series - it worked quite well as a standalone.… (more)