To save her cozy Florida diner, Gia Morelli must choke down a heaping helping of murder . . . New York native Gia Morelli is just getting used to life in Florida when she gets word that the town government wants to shut down her pride and joy: the charming little diner known as the All-Day Breakfast Café. A forgotten zoning regulation means that the café was opened illegally, and hardboiled … illegally, and hardboiled council president Marcia Steers refuses to budge. Gia is considering hanging up her apron and going back to New York, but before she gives up on her dream, she discovers something shocking in the local swamp: Marcia Steers, dead in the water. There’s a secret buried in the books at town hall, and someone killed to keep it hidden. To save her café and bring a killer to justice, Gia and her friends will have to figure out a killer’s recipe for murder . . .
Praise for Lena Gregory
“Hold on to your plates for this fast-paced mystery that will leave you hungering for more!”—J.C. Eaton, author of the Sophie Kimball Mysteries, on Scone Cold Killer
“Family secrets, old mansions, and a growing list of murder victims—these elements and more blend together to make an intriguing as well as entertaining cozy mystery.”—RT Book Reviews on Occult and Battery
“As breezy and salty as a gust of wind off the chilly bay waters.”—Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mysteries on Death at First Sight
“An intriguing opening to a fun new series.”—E. J. Copperman, national bestselling author of the Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries on Death at First Sight
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This was an enjoyable read that I couldn’t put down. Looking forward to more books from the series.
I didn’t want to put this book down! A thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery with great characters. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series!
Gia is starting to settle in to small town life when her new cafe is threatened. This was a really nice cozy (nothing graphic).
Murder Made To Order
All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery, Book #2
Lena Gregory
5 Stars
Synopsis:
To save her cozy Florida diner, Gia Morelli must choke down a heaping helping of murder . . .
New York native Gia Morelli is just getting used to life in Florida when she gets word that the town government wants to shut down her pride and joy: the charming little diner known as the All-Day Breakfast Café. A forgotten zoning regulation means that the café was opened illegally, and hardboiled council president Marcia Steers refuses to budge. Gia is considering hanging up her apron and going back to New York, but before she gives up on her dream, she discovers something shocking in the local swamp: Marcia Steers, dead in the water. There’s a secret buried in the books at town hall, and someone killed to keep it hidden. To save her café and bring a killer to justice, Gia and her friends will have to figure out a killer’s recipe for murder . . .(Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Gia is a smart, hardworking caring person who refuses to let others decide her fate. She is torn between staying in Florida or returning to New York, but she wants that decision to be hers to make. When she discovers a dead body she feels compelled to hunt for the killer. With the help of her best friend, Savannah. , she sets out to do just that. I really enjoyed the interactions between the two, it was heartfelt and genuine. And her relationship with Hunt, Savannah’s cousin, is moving along nicely and seems realistic.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. It allowed me to live the lives of the characters, letting me know what they were thinking and feeling. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. She is also very talented in her humorous writing, and I laughed a lot while reading this book. I especially enjoyed Gia’s fear of snakes and bears, that made her seem more realistic to me. She always had her bear spray on her, wherever she went. I loved that.
The mystery was well plotted and not easy to solve. I liked the fact that the current murder tied into the murder of Savannah’s mother, and we may be getting a little closer to finding out what happened to her mom. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well plotted cozy mystery. But do not read this book when you are hungry because there is a lot of references to great sounding food.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Another wonderful story, MURDER MADE TO ORDER was a book I couldn’t put down until I was finished.
When I finished reading book one in the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series, Scone Cold Killer, I was already hungry for the next book. I was thrilled when MURDER MADE TO ORDER was announced. Author Lena Gregory sure didn’t disappoint. She cooked up tale so tasty I devoured it!
Murder past and present are brought together brilliantly in this mystery. My mind was racing trying to solve them both. I didn’t no a great job at it because I was blown away at the end! I’m impatiently awaiting the next installment needing to know even more of what’s in store for protagonist Gia, and the rest of the cast of characters. My imagination is already running wild with want to expect.
Fans of book one are in for a total treat with MURDER MADE TO ORDER. If you haven’t read Scone Cold Killer get yourself a copy now and read these books back to back.
I loved Murder Made to Order, the second book in the All-Day Breakfast Café series, as much as I loved Stone Cold Murder. Lena Gregory is spot-on with Gia’s reactions and concerns about living on the edge of a nature area in Florida, and Savannah’s response is absolutely perfect. It is the warmth and character of the other towns people as well as Gia’s that drew me back to the second book in the All-Day Breakfast Café series. I will be following this series as long as there are new books. I see this as a reread-series since the mystery, while intriguing, is only part of what makes me want to read the book. I think I could live happily in that town in spite of the recent murders.
The site of the All-Day Breakfast Café has a secret that has come back to haunt Gia just as it haunted the previous owner and that secret may bring danger into Gia’s life. Speaking of danger, nature is throwing its best at the new Florida resident who isn’t sure that the move was such a good idea when she faces some of the not so new residents of the area. On the other hand, her friendships are growing and it sure is hard to walk away from people who care.
After having read Stone Cold Murder, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Murder Made to Order by Lena Gregory via NetGalley. I review all the books that I enjoy and I loved Murder Made to Order from beginning to end.
Welcome back to Boggy Creek! The great characters in this story take us on another fun-filled roller coaster ride to discover who wants Gia out of the neighborhood, while figuring out who done it when another body shows up in the neighborhood. Alongside Savannah, Hunt and Leo, Gia fights to keep her restaurant in the neighborhood when the council wants to rezone the area of town in which her business is located. Unexpectedly, the leader of the council winds up dead and the rollicking ride begins to find out what happened. I enjoy the fast paced sequence of events and enjoy the characters in this series so much! You’ll find yourself clinching your teeth through a tornado and looking over your shoulder for unexpected strangers watching during the course of this story. I’m so excited to catch up on book 3 very soon!
This was a fantastic sequel. It kept me guessing until the end. I read this start to finish in less than a day because it was so good.
2nd book in the series and it did not disappoint. Excellent continuation of Gia’s adventures in her new life with her new “family” and friends. Great characters in a great setting with lots of adventure and mystery. I couldn’t put the book down. Can’t wait for Gia’s next adventure.
“MURDER MADE TO ORDER” by Lena Gregory is the second book in the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series.
It’s the story of former New Yorker Gia Morelli who now resides in the very small town of Boggy Creek, Florida and the proud owner of All-Day Breakfast Café. It’s a story of a set fire, trying to solve the mystery of not one but two murders (one that just happened and one that happened over twenty years ago with both seeming to be connected), and of community pulling together in times of disaster like the tornado and to help a friend out when a zoning issue that may close down the café. It’s also about love, honesty and the bond of true friendship.
MURDER MADE TO ORDER shows you how a dyed in the wool city gal finds happiness in a small town, how she deals with her fears of anything that crawls, wiggles or walks from snakes and ticks to bears and how if your patient and honest you just may find happiness and true love.
You will fall in love with Gia’s Bernese mountain dog named Thor who is there to defend Gia and isn’t scared of anything. If like me, you will adore the folks in Boggy Creek like Savannah, (Gia’s best friend who Gia is trying to help find out who murdered her Mom, Sarah Mills, years ago), Willow, (Gia’s young waitress who has fast became an invaluable employee and dear friend), Earl (Gia’s friend who is always the first to show up at the café every morning and isn’t scared to lend a helping hand), Detective Quinn Hunter aka Hunt (Savannah’s cousin who is sweet on Gia and works for the police department), Leo (Hunt’s co-worker and Savannah’s boyfriend), and Cole (who always seems to be at the right spot at the right time to help save the day), and Harley (a local street person that Gia has taken under her wing and worries about).
You will also meet others you aren’t as happy to meet but they sure make the story very interesting like Marcia Steers the Council President who turns up dead, Maybelle and Hank who really desire one another and Sean McNeil who proves that things aren’t always as they seem.
The book was one you want to keep reading with great interest trying to figure it out who the murderer is. I was close to the end of the book knowing that the murderer had to be revealed soon and still was surprised at the reveal. That to me is a great sign of an amazing book when it keeps you guessing and flipping pages to the very end.
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to those that love cozy mysteries. I can’t wait for book #3 to come out.
Absolutely loved this book! The second book in this series finds the city council trying to shut down Gia’s cafe. When one of the members is murdered, it appears that it could possibly be tied to Savannah’s mother’s murder. Gia and Savannah set out to investigate. Another delightful book from Lena Gregory. I love the town and the characters in this series. I could hardly put the book down, I enjoyed it so much. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and I look forward to a relationship developing between Gia and Hunt!
I hadn’t read Scone Cold Killer, book #1, but had no problem picking up the story. Gia isn’t the easiest character to warm up to, but as the daughter of a native New Yorker and the friend of a couple, it’s not unrealistic (except maybe her wanting to connect more with the locals).
The mystery was fine and was interesting in how it developed and adds threads from other events. All of the principle characters get to play a role. There was also a nice wrap up at the end.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
MURDER MADE TO ORDER by Lena Gregory
The Second All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery
Gia Morelli left New York for Florida and a new start in life. Now she’s debating that decision. While she’s made some good friends, Gia is still uncomfortable, OK down right scared, of the critters that also live in her world. But worse than the critters are some of the people. The town council is demanding that Gia close her All-Day Breakfast Café saying that the property was never zoned commercial. Wondering if that’s a sign she should just return to New York, Gia stumbles upon the body of the council’s president. Now she’s embroiled in another murder. Did the councilwoman’s murder have something to do with the zoning laws? Could the Captain be involved? What’s really going on between him and Hunt? Are Maybelle’s threats serious, or is she just blowing smoke? Gia will have to dig deep to save her café and perhaps her own life.
Characters and setting are the most important part of a cozy mystery, as much as if not even more important than the mystery itself. Authors need to make their readers want to spend time in their world and hang out with the people that inhabit it. I do want to hang out in Boggy Creek and I do like the characters, for the most part. Savannah is a best friend in a million and Detective Hunter Quinn is a delectable romantic interest. I appreciate Gia’s willingness to try new things and her loyalty, but her fearfulness, especially of critters, is overboard and annoying. I’m grateful that Savannah calls her out on it at one point. Gia is still able to remain likeable, despite this quality, although I find the secondary characters more amiable and interesting.
The mystery in this second All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery is engaging with lots of possible suspects and motives along with an interesting history. Once again, friendship and community play a big role in the story along with some life altering decisions.
MURDER MADE TO ORDER shows what friends and neighbors can achieve when they pull together despite outside, and at times internal, forces working against them. Food and friendship, along with laughter and some chills, combine to create an enjoyable mystery.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Murder, a fire, tornadoes, zoning issues, bears, snakes, ticks, and alligators. Gia didn’t have any of these problems in New York. Maybe Florida isn’t the place for her. Especially now that she found another body. The city council president Marcia Steers was right there, dead in the water. She said she wanted to meet with Gia…why? She was trying to shut down the All-Day Breakfast Café. Why would she want to help Gia now? Is that why she was killed? Gia is going to fight to keep her cafe and just may catch a murderer too.
I was so excited to visit these characters again. They are realistic and engaging, people that would be great to meet in real life. Gia is a great protagonist that makes me laugh out loud. She is a city girl that has moved to Florida, opened a restaurant, and purchased a home surrounded by a woods and all the creatures that live there. She also has a big wonderful Bernese Mountain Dog named Thor. Thor is not afraid of much, but Gia is afraid of almost everything. Her friend, Savannah, is there to guide her through all the most of the treacherous things she encounters. Detective Quinn Hunter has a few things that take him away from Gia, but he seems to be there when it really counts. She also has another friend on the force, Savannah’s boyfriend, Leo tries to keep the girls in the loop on the investigation and safe when he needs to. Gia is still looking for another cook and she finds not 1 but 2 people that may be able to help. A part near the end when the community came together really warmed my heart.
The story sets a nice pace with the murder investigation mixed flawlessly with Gia’s life in Boggy Creek. Gia never really manages to “investigate”. She learns the most by keeping her ears open and following up with the right questions. She truly feels the current murder is tied to the unsolved murder of Savannah’s mother, and that makes it personal for her and really captivated my interest too.
This was a great story. Fun characters with a fantastic whodunit made this cozy mystery top-notch. It checked all my cozy boxes!
I can hardly wait for the next book. A Cold Brew Killing comes out November 6!
This is the second book in the series which has really caught my attention. I like the author’s writing style that is a mix of snarky comments to intense drama from the characters. Gia is a wonderful character and adds a lot of excitement to the story. As you will find out, she has a big phobia of insects, snakes well most anything not human. I would love to visit her cafe and sit and chat with her. The aroma of bacon sizzling on the grill and the smell of fresh coffee would invite anyone into her charming cafe. When Gia gets a visit from Marcia who happens to be the president of the city council, her world turns upside down. Why is there a threat to shut down the cafe? Marcia certainly isn’t a nice person and seems to enjoy watching Gia squirm with the shattering news.
The mystery really begins when Marcia is discovered dead by Gia. It’s a shame that Gia and her dog Thor can’t take a nice stroll or run in the woods without a dead body in their pathway. There is a funny scene in the book I must mention. If you are going to try to hide under a bed, be sure no part of your body can be seen. Gia and her friend learn the hard way that they need to be more aware of where they try to hide.
The story is well written and I loved the twists the author puts in to keep readers on their toes. Who killed Marcia and why? Can Gia find the killer before it is too late? There is a lot happening in the story which definitely kept my attention. With fires, storms, mysterious deaths from the past and Gia’s cafe trying to be shut down, the author really has a hit on her hands. I have to say I loved the mysterious woman Gia runs into and hope we find out more about her in the next book. I would also like to see Gia and Hunt’s relationship develop more. Overall great story and I loved the ending and how the mystery was solved.
I received a copy of this book from The Great Escape Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.
Murder Made to Order by Lena Gregory is the second book in An All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. Gia Morelli has been settling into her new life in Boggy Creek, Florida when she receives a startling letter from Marcia Steers, the president of the city council. It seems that the building for the café is zoned residential and Gia will have to close the café. Before Gia can act, a nervous Marcia stops by and schedules a meeting with Gia for Monday. Before their meeting can take place, Gia and Thor stumble over a dead Marcia half submerged in muck in the woods. Captain Hayes and Detective Quinn Hunter quickly arrive, but after a disagreement, Captain Hayes tosses Quinn off the case. Following the clues, Gia finds that the issue regarding her café started twenty years ago and can be related to the death of Savannah Mill’s mother. But someone is not happy with Gia’s snooping and attempts to shut her down permanently.
Murder Made to Order can be read alone. Everything a reader needs to know is included in this installment in the series. Murder Made to Order is easy to read and has a steady pace throughout. I thought Murder Made to Order was an improvement over Scone Cold Killer. Gia is settling into life in Boggy Creek, but she has doubts when the future of her café is in jeopardy. One of my favorite characters is Earl. He was the café’s first customer and has been a loyal customer as well as friend ever since. There are many cozy moments in Murder Made to Order. Cooking, visiting with Savannah, spending time with Quinn, taking care of Thor (her large and adorable dog), kayaking, eating, hiking and chatting. I am still having trouble warming up to Gia. Her terror of things related to nature continues in this book. Gia should have moved into the apartment over the café instead of finding a home surrounded by woods (which she walks in regularly). She is afraid of bears, spiders, ticks, snakes (I can relate to this one), and tornadoes in Murder Made to Order. Gia overreacts (panic attacks, hyperventilates) when confronted with things that scare her. The author intends it to be humorous, but it loses its humor the more times it happens. The mystery had some good aspects (multiple suspects, misdirection, good clues), but it was a cinch to pick out the guilty party. It is nice how the townspeople rally around to help each other out in troubling times. I like the small-town atmosphere of Boggy Creek. My rating for Murder Made to Order is 3.5 out of 5 stars. I am curious to see what happens to Gia next in An All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series (let’s hope she does not encounter a panther).
Murder Made to Order is the second book in Lena Gregory’s All Day Breakfast Cafe mystery series. Cafe owner Gia Morelli has received a notice to close her business due to an old zoning issue. Set to fight this notice, when town council president Marcia Steers visits the cafe Gia is so busy she cannot stop to talk. Gia later discovers that Marcia had left a note in her desk telling her she has evidence that will help her.
The next morning, while walking her large Burnese Mountain puppy, Thor, on a new trail, they encounter the council president’s body disposed of in a marshy area. Captain Hayes, a person who seemed to always have it in for Gia, appears soon after her discovery, and takes charge of the case. In fact, he bars Detective Hunter Quinn from investigating at all, threatening to have his badge if he doesn’t stand down.
Gia feels the need to discover what information Marcia had for her. She and best friend Savannah decide to find out, entering the council woman’s home to look around. But there is much more to find there than just the evidence.
Although not long on the top suspect list, Gia seems to become a person of interest to the killer instead. In fact, it may be difficult to tell just who all can be trusted after a suspicious fire at Gia’s home and the discovery of a cell phone in her front yard.
This is a great twisty mystery illuminating old secrets and bringing back long unsolved cases. The combination of rich characters and subtropical settings makes this series one to be watched. It is a fast paced page turner that I greatly enjoyed. I do recommend this book!