Broke, unemployed barista Halley Greer is shocked when she inherits an Art Deco movie palace from the great uncle she remembers meeting once as a child. She moves to the charming tourist town of Utopia Springs, Arkansas to claim her legacy. In addition to the timeworn theater, she discovers she’s also inherited a trash-heaped apartment, family secrets, her uncle’s friends, a stealthy calico … kitty-and an adversary.With a whole latte help from her new friends, the feisty barista fixes up and re-opens the theater as a coffee and wine bar, showing classic films. She generates some steam with a hunky local-and risks getting burned. The opening night of My Fair Lady looks like a big hit, and her new life feels like a bit of movie magic, until a customer turns up dead during intermission. With the cops eyeing her as a suspect, Halley digs into the victim’s life and runs into a tangle of blackmail and secrets. Can Halley and her friends unmask a killer before the curtain comes down for keeps?
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As fun as a trip to the movies! This first installment of the Cafe Cinema Mystery Series does everything a ‘first in the series’ should do – it introduces you to a heartwarming cast of characters and makes you anxious to read their next adventures. The book also provides a puzzling who-dun-it that will keep you guessing from the start to the end. A great book!
https://cozyexperience.com/my-fair-latte-book-review/
Halley Greer has just inherited an Art Deco movie palace in the touristy town of Utopia Springs, Arkansas. She’s decided to turn it into a classic movie theater that features coffee and wine as part of the snack bar options. After weeks or hard work restoring it, she is ready to feature My Fair Lady on opening night. However, during intermission, one of the patrons is found dead in his seat. The police think Halley is a good suspect even though she is new to town. Can she clear her name?
I really enjoyed this series debut. The characters are fantastic. We are making friends along with Halley, and they are a varied lot. I felt we got to know them, and I look forward to spending time with them in future books. The plot was a little slow to get started, but once it did, I was hooked on that as well. I thought I had a couple of things figured out, but I was still surprised by some twists. The suspects are just as strong as the series regulars, and kept me guessing until Halley figured it out. While I’m not much of a coffee or wine drinker, I was drooling over some of the food talked about in the book. The book gives some hints about things to be explored in future books, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit with these characters.
In this bookish ‘cinematic’ debut of ‘My Fair Latte’, the story begins rolling nicely with mystery, humor, and a bit of romance between the pages. Set in the quaint tourist town of Utopia Springs, Arkansas; Halley Greer has inherited an old theater that’s long lost its glamour days. If Halley can get the theater up and running with a small stipend from her great uncle Leon, she can use her barista skills by serving coffee and wine along with showcasing classic films on the big screen.
Halley quickly makes good friends with some of the quirky townspeople who help her with cosmetic updates, and other tender loving care touches the theater needs. I loved the idea of hanging photos of classic film stars sipping coffee around the lobby area!
A dead body puts a damper on opening night and suspicious-acting people pop up everywhere. The author does a fine job of instilling a nostalgic ambiance into the coziness of this murder mystery. I was certainly entertained, and look forward to the next story in the Cafe Cinema Mysteries.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by Edelweiss and Henery Press. Thank you.
Yes! I loved it! Based on the first book, My Fair Latte, Vickie Fee’s new Café Cinema series is going to be as good as Liv and Di, and I loved that series!! I was excited to have the chance to read and ARC of My Fair Latte. I am always a bit nervous about approaching a new series by an author I love, but My Fair Latte was as good as I hoped. I fell in love with a core of town’s people immediately as well as the stars and can’t wait to spend more time with all of them. The mystery was as well plotted and unexpected as any of her work and had me suspecting half the town. (mild exaggeration). If you are already a fan, enjoy a well-plotted cozy, or love characters that really pull you in, you will be as captivated by Vickie Fee’s newest characters as I was.
Thanks to Edelweiss, Henery Press, and author Vickie Fee for allowing me to read an ARC of this delightful book!
My Fair Latte earns 5/5 Old Movie Screenings…Entertaining & Engaging!
Unemployment is frustrating, broke is scary, but good fortune has shined its light on twenty-something Halley Greer’s cloudy future. She inherited from her Great-Uncle Leon a “much need of repairs” golden-age of movies theater and an upstairs apartment also in need of a “bit of bleach and air freshener.” She’s a “between gigs” barista, so running the Star Movie Palace is a daunting idea, but she’s also inherited his friends, a friendly calico cat, and a trust fund that just might cover costs to renovate the theater and make Utopia Springs, Arkansas home. Her proposal is to combine the screening of vintage movies with a coffee café and wine bar…brilliant! But, it’s a cozy “mystery,” and as exciting it is to join Halley on her journey of opening a new business, making friends, and maybe finding a bit of romance, a dead body does cause a roadblock.
Vicki Fee is a favorite author and her first book in A Café Cinema Mystery series is a hit! Her writing style is rich with descriptive language clearly painting the town, the theater before and after, characters’ looks and mannerisms, and Halley’s inner thoughts. Although the narrative is engaging and creative, she doesn’t stop there; her expressive dialogue provides humor and character connections and illustrates personalities. The murder occurs later in the book than I prefer, but until it did, I was totally engaging; I understand that first-in-a-series books have a lot to introduce: characters, basic background, and hints of conflict. I love the characters Vicki created, each with strengths and weaknesses, wants and needs, and lots of room to develop and grow. At the end of the book is a “don’t miss” Author’s Note, and to get your book club discussion going she has provided a great Reader’s Discussion Guide. This was a great beginning and I look forward to more!
I loved this premise of a coffee/wine bar in an old cinema. Fee does an excellent job of sprinkling allusions to old movies throughout the novel, which I enjoyed. The cozy setting of Utopia Springs (such a charming location) was even inspired by an actual town.
This whodunit left me guessing who the culprit was until the very end. I liked the trail of clues and red herrings, although I’m surprised by how much help Halley received—she’s got a whole sleuthing team behind her. One minor point is that I wish the detective was more affable and effective in the story, but I suppose that’s just his personality.
I appreciated the hidden depth of the main character as she copes with grief and handles the complicated relationships with her family. It was interesting to see Halley develop a little throughout the book and find her own place in the world.
A uniquely set mystery that involves a contemporary heroine against the backdrop of classic movies.
Halley Greer has just inherited an art deco movie palace and is turning it into a classic movie theater that serves coffee and wine. Sadly, on opening night (My Fair Lady is showing), one of the patrons is found dead in his seat. And the police are suspecting newcomer Halley.
The characters in this novel are some of the most interesting and delightful I’ve met in a long time. The plot was a little slow to get started, but the author made up for the slow start and provided a couple of twists I didn’t see coming.
I enjoy both coffee and wine, and I loved the food descriptions. Perhaps the novel is best read with one or the other in hand.
I loved this new series by Vickie Fee and what a great start it was! I love the idea of the Cafe Cinema. Definitely a must read! There were twist and turns I didn’t see coming. Great loving characters. Can’t wait to read book 2!