Scene of the Grind is the first in USA TODAY bestselling author Tonya Kappes’ new A Killer Coffee Mystery Series. The series takes place in the cozy southern fictional tourist town of Honey Springs, Kentucky. Roxanne Bloom (her friends, though few call her Roxie) quit her job as a lawyer, divorced her cheating husband, and moved to the quaint town of Honey Springs, Kentucky where she’d spent many … spent many of her teenage summers visiting her eccentric and fun-loving Aunt Maxi.
Roxy follows her dream and opens The Bean Hive, Honey Springs first coffee house on the town’s newly revitalized boardwalk. that opens just in time for Honey Springs annual Honey Festival.
Roxy’s life couldn’t be better. Business was booming, she’s reconnected with special people from her past, including her first teenage love, and visits The Crooked Cat book store, which is still her favorite shop in Honey Springs.
One problem, Aunt Maxi and Alexis Roarke, owner of Crooked Cat, aren’t on the best of terms. Alexis leases the book store’s building from Aunt Maxi and the rent is going up.
Roxy takes Alexis a fresh cup of coffee from The Bean Hive and a tasty pastry as a peace offering between the two women, but discovers the beloved book store owner murdered and Aunt Maxi is the number one suspect.
Gossip in Honey Springs is as hot at the coffee served at the Bean Hive and Roxy has to uncover who is behind the murder not only to save her shop, her aunt, but her life.
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Loved this first book in the series. If you haven’t read any of Tonya Kappe’s books, this is a great series to start with today! Cozy town, colorful characters and a cozy mystery will have your hooked from page one. I can’t wait to see what other adventures are waiting for Roxy!
I love this book…Tonya is an amazing author! She is so much fun, too…jist like her characters! I highly recommend this book, as well as her others! 🙂
If you like small southern towns, animal rescues, coffee shops, and cozy mysteries, you’ll love Scene of the Grind. Scene of the Grind is the first book in A Killer Coffee Mystery Series by Tonya Kappes. The book also contains recipes for both human and canine.
Roxanne “Roxie” Davis moves to the town of Honey Springs, Kentucky after a bitter divorce. She wants a fresh start so she leaves behind her law practice and old life to move to the town where she spent her childhood summers to be near beloved her Aunt Maxi. Roxi with Aunt Maxi’s help opens a coffee shop called the Bean Hive on Honey Springs’ newly renovated boardwalk. Shortly after Roxie opens a neighboring shop owner is killed and Roxie finds the body. Upon finding out her Aunt Maxi is the prime suspect, Roxie sets out to prove her aunt’s innocence and the real killer. Roxie has help along the way from her newly an adopted schnauzer, Pepper, a sweet rescue poodle, Sassy, and her childhood boyfriend that she obviously still has feelings for, Patrick.
I loved this book and would definitely recommend it. I love the small southern town setting, the adorable rescue animals, and the quirky lovable characters. The touch of romance really added to the story without overwhelming the plot. Kappes includes enough twist and turns to keep you guessing whodunit. I can’t wait for book 2.
Do you like murder with your coffee? This is a great cozy mystery from Tonya Kappes. Such a lovely setting, great characters, and the cutest little dog! Looking forward to reading the rest in this series.
Roxy was getting settled in nicely. Her business was picking up. Then someone was killed and she just had to find out who the killer was. Will she survive to bake and pour another cup of coffee?
I love this book! I have enjoyed all of Tonya Kappes’ series but had not read this one. It is fantastic and I know I will read (devour) all of the others in this series.
Roxy moves back to the town that she spent all of her summers in. Her Aunt Maxi still lives there and now that Roxy is divorced, she moves back to open a coffee shop on the boardwalk. She rents the building from her Aunt and starts building her dream. She also runs into her old flame and the sparks reignite. While trying to figure all of this out in her life, another of her Aunt’s tenants is murdered and Roxy is embroiled in finding out who the real killer is since her Aunt is a suspect.
The descriptive details in this book make you feel like you are right there on the water of this charming town. I highly recommend this book!
I love this book. It keeps your attention. I get to the point where I dont want to put it down. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
This was my second time reading this book and I loved it just as much if not even more. This is one of my favorite books by Tonya Kappes.
Original review
I was excited to read Tonya Kappes new book and it did not disappoint. This just might be a new favorite for me. The characters are fun. There’s a little romance. I caught myself smiling and holding my breath. Can’t wait for book two.
I have recently gotten on a cozy mystery kick. Tonya Kappes is a queen in this genre. She writes characters who feel as though they are long time friends or family members. She places them in charming towns. Sprinkles in some romance and adds in a furry pet or two, lulling you into a delightful story. Then bam! Dead body! And The who did fun begins.
Scene of the Grind follows this successful route. We meet Roxy, a smart lawyer who has returned to her Aunt’s home. She left behind a divorce and her practice determined to successfully operate a coffee shop. The dead body doesn’t even slow her down!
I had a fun time with this book. Fun is why I choose to read cozy mysteries. They have a down home feel combined with a generous sprinkling of comedy and a bit of colorful language, no not adult language. The country sayings that bring a smile to your face. The mystery is almost a secondary, minor, player for me. Though Ms Kappes did throw me off the scent a time or two, horrifying me with one suspect.
The book is a clean read, one you can feel good about sharing with anyone. I am looking forward to more adventures with Roxy and the gang in Honey Springs, Kentucky.
Welcome to Lake Honey Springs! What goes well with coffee and a doughnut? Well a murder of course. Honey Springs is building up their boardwalk and planning a festival to celebrate. Roxy Bloom has opened a coffee shop called The Bean Hive and can’t wait to start a new life for herself in Honey Springs. When Alexis is murdered in her bookshop Crooked Cat, and Aunt Maxi is a suspect, Roxy uses her skills as a lawyer to do some digging. Will she be able to clear her Aunt or end up getting in trouble herself? This is a great series! Fantastic characters, laugh out loud moments, and a small town you will fall in love with!
Scene of the Grind by Tonya Kappes is the first book in her Killer Coffee Series. This isn’t the first book I have read by Tonya and it definitely will not be the last. I love her cozies all set in Kentucky. This one is in Honey Springs and yes it is a murder mystery. This book will keep you turning the pages and trying to guess who the culprit was. The story is well written and the characters believable. The descriptions are so vivid you feel as if you were right there. I love that there are recipes in the books now. I am looking forward to starting book two I have a lot of catching up to do.
Scene of the Grind is a wonderful book. I loved it! The characters are wonderful and the small town setting of Honey Springs is so fun and interesting. This book has it all. Mystery, humor, romance, interesting characters and cute pets. The mystery has many red herrings that kept me guessing until the end. The book is well written and detailed. I can’t wait to read more books in this series.
Book one in the Killer Coffee series. Welcome to Honey Springs, Kentucky which has the cutest boardwalk layout ever if I may say so. The main character Roxanne moves back home after a horrid divorce and decides to open the Bean Hive coffee shop in one of the recently renovated store fronts as part of a revitalization effort. Things are looking good for the grand opening when one of her customers is found dead with one of her donuts stuffed in her mouth. Roxanne’s aunt is the main suspect so she decides to investigate to clear n=both her aunt’s name and the shops reputation. What follows is one comical investigation that really had me giggling while still keeping up with the little clues scattered throughout. Overall this book is absolutely awesome full of strong characters is a wonderful setting that get wrapped up in a mystery that will keep the reader hooked until the very last page. I loved every single minute of it so I give it 5/5 stars.
What a great start to a great series!!I first read this book in 2017 and have read all in the series since. I just finished reading it again and I love it as much as I did the 1st time. This is definitely one of my very favorite series. The little town is such a perfect setting and you can just picture it all while reading. The town is filled with wonderful quirky characters and you can just picture them as you’re reading also. Great descriptions throughout. Great mystery and so much fun to watch Roxy and Patrick reunite after many years apart. Roxy and Pepper have found their home.
Aunt Maxi didn’t murder Alexis. Right?
Scene of the Grind by Tonya Kappes is the first book in the A Killer Coffee Mystery series. I love the charm, wit, and tenacity of the characters. The setting in Honey Springs, Kentucky is excellent. The little boardwalk area is nice and reminds me of summers at the lake.
Our Sleuth
Roxanne Bloom, Roxy to her friends, is the owner of The Bean Hive. She recently returned to Honey Springs, Kentucky to open the coffee shop at her Aunt Maxi’s request. Since Roxy divorced her cheating husband a little over a year ago, she decided to take her aunt up on the offer. In her former life, Roxy was a lawyer in New York, but she loves coffee and cooking.
Roxy makes these lovely dishes that she sales with the coffee at her coffeehouse. The recipes are included. They sound yummy!
I think that Roxy is marvelous. She is smart, not afraid of hard work, and she is embracing the changes in her life.
The victim
Alexis Roarke owns the Crooked Cat Bookstore on the boardwalk. She is upset with Aunt Maxi for raising her rent. Also, something about zoning changes to the boardwalk. Aunt Maxi is a council member.
Roxy has fawned memories of Alexis, and the Crooked Cat Bookstores from her summers spent with her aunt. So, Roxy wants to become better acquainted with Alexis. However, when Roxy finds the body, Aunt Maxi is the number one suspect.
We don’t get to know Alexis well as she dies reasonably early in the story. However, I would love spending time in the Crooked Cat Bookstore.
Mystery
Secrets are everywhere, even in this small town. Alexis has secrets that even her daughter doesn’t know. It was fun to watch Roxy figure out who actually killed Alexis.
There are many characters in this small town, and quite a few of them had the opportunity to knock off Alexis. But Roxy was looking for the motive. Oh, and boy there were lots of red herrings.
I didn’t figure it out until the killer was right in front of Roxy. I love it when the killer is a surprise.
My favorite Character
Bunny Bowowski is my favorite. She is an elderly lady, who likes to be busy. Bunny and her best friend Mae Belle Donovan are like the town gossips. If you want to know what is going on just hang out with them. She has grit and can give that ole Baptist nod (if you don’t know what that is, you’ll have to read the book).
Bunny volunteers at the Pet Palace, and she is part of the craft club. She is also steamed at Aunt Maxi who is believed to be going after Bunny’s man. Bunny and Roxy get along so well that Roxy hires her to work at the Bean Hive. I can tell she is going to be a fun one.
5 Stars for Scene of the Grind by Tonya Kappes
My rating for Scene of the Grind by Tonya Kappes is five stars. I loved the whole story, characters, Honey Springs, mystery, and the recipes. This series is one that I will be reading more. I highly recommend this book.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book on your site.
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Roxy and the gang make the Killer Coffee mystery series fantastic. Honey Springs is just the kind of town you want to live in. Where can I get directions so I can move there. Roxy and Patrick make such a great couple. Everyone can benefit from someone like Patrick in their life, someone who has your happiness as their first priority. The twists and false leads in the story were really great. The citizens of Honey Springs like their community just the way it is. Why would anyone want to change this wonderful town, money of course? But the citizens know what is important, and money is way down the list after family and community. This is a must read book for all cozy mystery lovers. The rich and warm characters and the plot will draw you in like a fresh hot cup of coffee.
When Roxy takes a cup of coffee to the owner of the book store one morning, she never expected to find her lying on the floor dead. Who would do such a terrible thing in this small town? Especially with the “grand opening” of the reconfigured boardwalk stores? Roxy runs The Bean Hive coffee shop, with the help of her Aunt Maxi. Roxy was so missing the place where she grew up after her divorce, that opening the shop made sense. Running into her old love, Patrick who owns the company that is doing the construction work on the stores. But Aunt Maxi isn’t answering her phone, and everyone thinks she is the number one suspect. Can Roxy prove Aunt Maxi didn’t do it? Can she over come the feelings she has for Patrick? Who actually is the killer and why? Read this cozy mystery to find out. Oh, there are some wonderful ladies that just LOVE to bicker and gossip!!! You have to read about these ladies!! What a hoot! I am leaving a voluntarily review of this book.
I loved this book. Having grown up in a small town it would pass for Honey Springs. It was a can’t wait until I find out who is the culprit. You will be disappointed at all
Welcome to Honey Springs, Kentucky. This
is the quaint town where Roxanne Bloom
( Roxie ) spent her summer with her Aunt
Maxine Bloom ( Aunt Maxi ) when she was
growing up.
Now Roxie is returning to live and start a
business. She needs to start a new life after
a nasty divorce plus leaving her job as an
attorney. She will now take on being a barista
and pastry chef.
On the new renovated lakefront boardwalk,
Roxie opens a coffee shop called The Beanhive.
It is the only shop of it’s kind there. The shop is
up and running for Honey Festival held by the
town each spring.
Roxie discovers that the head contractor of
the company doing the renovations is an old
friend and former crush, Patrick Cane. Will
these two connect again??
Then murder muddles the waters. The local
bookstore, the Crooked Cat proprietor is
found dead. Was it something she ate from
the Beanhive or was Aunt Maxi involved.
Roxie decides to investigate to clear both
the store name and prove her Aunt Maxi
innocent.
You will meet Pepper, the silver schnauzer
that has adopted Roxie and Sassy, a poodle
that has taken a liking to a Patrick.
The characters are colorful, well developed,
vivid, quirky and so likable. The setting makes
you feel right at home. Many suspects to
eliminate make this a good mystery.
I highly recommend this book.
A wonderful new series filled with a fun assortment of characters. If you enjoy the quirky offerings of small southern towns this is the series for you. I look forward to what is to come next.