I’m delighted to be participating in Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours presenting KILL OR BEE KILLED, the second book in the Bee Keeping Mysteries by Jennie Marts. Somehow, I missed the debut of the first book, but after reading this newest release, I’m buzzing with anticipation over catching up soon! The author does an admirable job of making sure new readers aren’t lost with the characters and what took place prior. I immediately felt like I’d known the protagonist, Bailey Briggs, her daughter, Daisy, and her buzz-worthy grandma, Granny Bee, for a long time. Their relationships are close and the banter between Bailey, Granny, and their friends kept me chuckling. The setting of the small Colorado town and their Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch made me yearn for a getaway, especially if there’s an opportunity to sample honey and all the delicious dishes made with honey. Ms. Marts’s strong descriptive voice brings both characters and setting to life, making the reader invested in finding out what happens next.

I adore mysteries set around a bake-off and this one lived up to my expectations. When the celebrity host is found murdered and Bailey’s best friend, Evie, becomes the prime suspect, Bailey, Daisy, Granny, and friends jump in to clear her name and find the culprit. I adore how they worked together to find sticky clues. Zany situations provided laugh-out-loud moments while the well-plotted mystery kept me glued to the pages, and I found myself turning them faster and faster. As the suspect list grew and the clues fell into place, I was kept guessing. Twists and turns made me doubt myself several times, but in the end, Bailey prevailed and the culprit was revealed in a heart pounding scene. Kill or Bee Killed lived up to the buzz and I can’t wait to catch up with the bee-gining first book with great anticipation of a third book after the ending teaser!

Between the bake-off and Evie’s bakery and coffee shop, Spill the Beans, there are many mouthwatering dishes mentioned throughout. Luckily for the reader, there are several recipes included at the back of the book to try at home. I couldn’t wait to dive into the Honey-Ricotta-Stuffed French Toast! Thick slabs of French bread are stuffed with a ricotta-based filling lightly sweetened with honey and a liberal amount of lemon zest for a tart tang. After cooking on a griddle, the crispy crusts give way to a silky interior filled with luscious flavor. Topped with powdered sugar, berries, and a drizzle of honey, this dish is sure to satisfy your appetite and your taste buds!

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

The small town of Humble Hills, Colorado, is abuzz with excitement over the upcoming annual Bee Festival, sponsored by Bailey’s Granny Bee and the Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch.

The long weekend of festivities includes a beauty pageant, beekeeping demonstrations, a local restaurant bake-off, and a 3K Bear Run where all the participants are dressed as bears. The bake-off brings in a television crew from California to film, so it’s the most drama-filled part of the weekend, especially when the famous celebrity host winds up dead.

Because the celebrity was holding her bracelet and had been witnessed having an altercation with Bailey’s best friend Evie shortly before his death, everyone suspects Evie of the murder—and Bailey is quickly on the hunt for clues to clear Evie’s name, alongside Granny Bee and her bunch of geriatric misfit friends.

Bailey’s potential new honey, Sheriff Sawyer Dunn, is none too pleased to have Bailey buzzing around the investigation, but Bailey’s determined to uncover the truth, rescue her grannie’s beloved Bee Festival, and save her bestie.

They say you get more flies with honey, but in this case, more honey may mean you end up dead. And a little competition never hurt anyone—unless it ends up killing you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Jennie Marts for providing one winner with a $15 Amazon gift card. Contest ends June 17, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. Contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour and the winner will be announced on this page and notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 4 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
June 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
June 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 6 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
June 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
June 7 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW
June 8 – fundinmental – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 8 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
June 9 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 10 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – RECIPE
June 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
June 12 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW
June 12 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
June 13 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
June 13 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
June 14 –Review Thick And Thin – REVIEW
June 15 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
June 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to author Jennie Marts for also providing this adorable recipe card!