Chardonnayed to Rest (The Wine Trail Mysteries #2) by J.C. Eaton @KensingtonBooks #bookreview #mystery

Title: Chardonnayed to Rest

Author: J.C. Eaton

Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Publication Date: September 25, 2018

Page Count: 231

My rating:   4 stars

About the book:

Finding a murderer requires 100% proof.
 
In Seneca Lake, New York, Norrie Ellington’s Two Witches Winery has been selected by the local vintner community to host the annual Federweisser, a celebration of the season’s first fermentation of white Chardonnay grapes. But the festivities are spoiled when Norrie learns that landowner Roy Wilkes has raised her neighbor Rosalee Marbleton’s rent so high, she may have to close her vineyard.

Before the rent hike could go into effect, Wilkes is found dead on Roslaee’s property—stabbed by a flowerpot stake—and she becomes the police’s number one suspect. To clear her friend’s name, Norrie conducts her own investigation. But as she gathers clues, Norrie finds herself targeted by a killer, and if she’s not careful, her desire to see justice done may die on the vine . . .

Chardonnayed to Rest by J.C. Eaton is the second book in the cozy The Wine Trail Mysteries series. Each book in the series has it’s own murder mystery to solve so they can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.

Norrie Ellington had been asked to return home to upstate New York by her sister to oversee the family business, Two Witches Winery. Norrie’s sister and her brother in law had been given a grant to study a species of insect in Costa Rica for a next year and while Norrie has made her life in New York City she would be able to continue her job as a successful screenwriter anywhere.

After a couple months back at the winery and one successful murder case solved Norrie has settled in to her new role until her sister’s return. But when a fellow neighbor stumbles on yet another dead body it isn’t the law she calls but Norrie having made a name for herself in the crime solving department.

Another great cozy read from the husband and wife team of J.C. Eaton. This second book improved over the first installment in my opinion. I thought the first was weighed heavily down on the winery setting and this one while still giving it that feel covered more in the character and story growth putting it right up there with my over favorites from the authors. If looking for a cozy with a lot of laughs and good mystery you can’t go wrong with their books.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Find this book online: 

Goodreads  /   Amazon

About the author:

J.C. Eaton is the wife and husband writing team of Ann I. Goldfarb and James E. Clapp who reside in Arizona.

Ann I. Goldfarb
New York native Ann I. Goldfarb spent most of her life in education, first as a classroom teacher and later as a middle school principal and professional staff developer. Writing as J. C. Eaton, along with her husband, James Clapp, she has authored the Sophie Kimball Mysteries (Kensington). In addition, Ann has nine published YA time travel mysteries under her own name. Visit the websites at: http://www.jceatonauthor.com and http://www.timetravelmysteries.com

James E. Clapp
When James E. Clapp retired as the tasting room manager for a large upstate New York winery, he never imagined he’d be co-authoring cozy mysteries with his wife, Ann I. Goldfarb. Booked 4 Murder (Kensington) is his first novel. Non-fiction in the form of informational brochures and workshop materials treating the winery industry were his forte along with an extensive background and experience in construction that started with his service in the U.S. Navy and included vocational school classroom teaching. Visit the website at http://www.jceatonauthor.com