Death at the Day Lily Cafe (Rosalie Hart #2) by Wendy Sand Eckel

I've found a fresh, engaging voice in cozies to share with you. Death at the Day Lily Cafe (Rosalie Hart #2) by Wendy Sand Eckel is the second part in a series that introduces Rose Hart, who is named so appropriately because she is such a heartfelt character.

From the back of the book:

Rosalie Hart has finally opened the café of her dreams. Decked out with ochre-tinted walls and stuffed with delicious organic fare, the Day Lily Café is everything Rosalie could have hoped for. But not five minutes into the grand opening, Doris Bird, a dear and trusted friend, cashes in on a favor--to help clear her little sister Lori of a first degree murder charge.

With the help of her best friend and head waiter Glenn, Rosalie is on the case. But it's not going to be easy. Unlikable and provocative, murder victim Carl James Fiddler seems to have insulted nearly everyone in town, and the suspect list grows daily. And when Rosalie's daughter Annie gets caught in the crossfire, the search for the killer becomes personal in this charming cozy perfect for fans of Diane Mott Davidson and Joanne Fluke.

My Thoughts:

This was my first read in this series and I was easily able to follow along, and in fact, fall in love with all of the characters. I even loved the sheriff, who was gruff and probably not supposed to be loved. There were so many dimensional characters that Rose bounced off of who not only gave her depth, but carried a depth of their own that made it feel like I was actually a part of the wonderful community.

The mystery was interesting and paced well. I did figure it out, not so much from clues, but a instant gut reaction. With that said there were other sub-plot mysteries intertwined that caught me off and made it very interesting. I loved the backstory with Rose's ex and her daughter, and cook. I really enjoyed the topics that were handled, making this feel deeper than most cozies. I will be looking forward to the next part, as well trying some of the delicious recipes in the back of the book.

Take some time to browse the other great mysteries and genres available from Macmillan. You can also connect with Wendy Sand Eckel on Facebook and Twitter as well. 

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.