Review: Life of Pie...Cut Short (A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery #5) by Tessa Aura

Life of Pie...Cut Short

A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery #5

by Tessa Aura

Published: November 14, 2025

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Animal Mystery

 

Blurb:

At Bath’s Harvest Festival, one pie is to die for…literally.

Just when I thought life in Bath might finally settle down, Grandma Joyce shows up—suitcase in one hand, apple pie in the other. But when the festival’s judge keels over after a single bite, all fingers point straight at her.

With her initials stamped on the poisoned pie tin—and my own reputation on the line—Teo and I have to sniff out the truth fast.

Hank, the debt-ridden Harvest King, hides more secrets than hay bales. Nadine Fletcher, a rival baker with a failing shop, bristles with motive. And Vera Montgomery, Bath’s reigning pie queen, will guard her crown at any cost.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

My Review:

Penelope's Grandma Joyce makes an unexpected entrance into town, anticipating that everyone will be charmed by her in no time. Upon hearing about the local Harvest Festival pie baking competition, Grandma, a skilled baker herself, decides to participate.

At the pie contest, Grandma certainly has everyone captivated until one of the judges suddenly collapses after tasting her pie. This turn of events leads to Grandma becoming the prime suspect. Penelope is convinced of her grandmother's innocence and begins to wonder if someone is trying to set her up, or if Grandma just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

As Penelope digs deeper, she uncovers that the judge was not who he claimed to be. What is going on here? A phony judge? Where is the real judge? Is he alive, or has something happened to him? Why is this individual pretending to be someone else? Was there a motive to harm him, or was the actual judge the intended target?

Life of Pie...Cut Short immerses me in its narrative from the instant the judge takes his first bite of Grandma’s pie. It kept me engaged with its unexpected developments. The numerous twists left me astonished and filled with questions.

In my view, Life of Pie...Cut Short might just be the finest installment I've encountered in the Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery series to date. Don't misunderstand me; I've enjoyed every book written by Tessa Aura, but the multitude of twists in this one has truly captivated me.

I eagerly anticipate the next book in the Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery series to discover what lies ahead for Penelope and Teo. And I certainly hope Grandma Joyce remains a part of the story for some time.

I wholeheartedly recommend Life of Pie...Cut Short to all fans of mysteries! Be sure to pick up your copy of Life of Pie...Cut Short today!

Check out all the books in the Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery series I’ve read.

Shop 'til you Drop Dead #1

Goodreads

Amazon

Dead Man's Hand #2

Goodreads

Amazon

Signed, Sealed and Stabbed #3

Goodreads

Amazon

Scooped, there it is...Dead #4

Goodreads

Amazon

Life of Pie...Cut Short #5

Goodreads

Amazon

Connect with Tessa Aura

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ BookBub

Read More

Book Tour: Lessons From a Wedding Planner by Shari Zatman @RABTBookTours

From Behind The Clipboard  

 

Biographical / Self-Help / Wedding Planning

One of the most interesting and rewarding aspects of being an event planner is the personal relationships I develop with clients with whom I work. For a period of time, I get to be an integral part of their lives as we plan together to create a lifecycle event that will be long remembered. During this process with them, I am often navigating a range of emotion, family and relationship dynamics, decision paralysis and more. Not only am I a wedding planner and designer, but I often feel that I am a coach, mentor and therapist as well.

This book dives deeper than being only a “how to” guide by also including psychological and professional perspective pertaining to the wedding planning process.  It helps address decision making, external influences, financial pressure, stress management, relationship preservation and so much more. I share my advice and pro tips and open up about personal experiences including stories that reflect on what I have learned and the wisdom I can impart to others based upon what I have done successfully in planning and experiences that may not have gone as I had hoped, but became a great lesson for what not to do. I want everyone who is planning a wedding to know that it is absolutely ok for their wedding to be “perfectly imperfect.”

About the Author

I am a business owner and professional wedding and special event planner.  I have owned Perfectly Planned by Shari for 20 years and have worked in the event industry for approximately 28 years. During this time, I have planned hundreds of weddings and events.

Majoring in design and communications in college, I bring my passion for interior design to my events. I worked with my clients on developing the creative vision and curate the style and aesthetic for all events I plan.

That being said, my greatest achievement is being a mom and raising my twin, almost 21 year old sons, whom I am immensely proud of for being responsible and kind humans. I believe the best thing I have done in my life has been creating my family.

 

Contact Links

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Purchase Link

Amazon

Read More

Book Blitz: Career B. L. I. S. S. by Laurie Nilo-Klug M. A. @RABTBookTours

How to Transition from College to Career with Ease

Career Development / Self-Help

Date Published: October 9, 2025

Publisher: ‎Manhattan Book Group

I want to talk about Career B.L.I.S.S.: How to Transition from College to Career with Ease.

This isn’t just another career guide. It's a movement that challenges the status quo and flips the script on traditional career advice, specifically for folks with marginalized identities. The book's core idea is that you already have everything you need for success; you just need to know how to articulate it. It teaches you a clear, 5-step process (B.L.I.S.S.) to create a career that celebrates who you are and supports the life you want to live.

A huge part of the book is built on Dr. Yosso’s community cultural wealth theory, helping readers see that their unique backgrounds—what society might call 'disadvantages'—are actually powerful strengths, or forms of capital they can leverage in the job market. It covers everything from crafting application materials and networking without feeling fake, to negotiating an offer and managing the emotional ups and downs of the first year on the job."

 

About the Author

I'm an early career development expert, adjunct professor, and the author of Career B.L.I.S.S. My work is focused on helping people, especially first-generation college students and those from marginalized communities, navigate the often-confusing transition from college to career. I’m a big believer that everyone already has the unique strengths and experiences they need to succeed by the time they graduate from college—they just need a roadmap to connect those strengths to a fulfilling career and communicate their value to employers, which I call getting from jobless to job B.L.I.S.S..

In addition to writing and coaching, I partner with colleges, employers, and high schools by providing transformative career workshops. These workshops leverage my proven B.L.I.S.S. method and a culturally responsive approach built on Dr. Yosso's Community Cultural Wealth theory. This ensures students are equipped with the confidence and tools to successfully transition into careers. My work has been featured in FOX 5, Washington Times, and Thrive Global.

Contact Links

Website

Instagram

Pinterest

LinkedIn:

Company page

Personal profile

Weekly newsletter

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Read More

Book Blast + #Giveaway: HIPPIE MERMAID by Joanne Guidoccio @JoanneGuidoccio @GoddessFish

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joanne Guidoccio will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Blurb:

From sea to shore, betrayal follows her wherever she goes.

On Christmas Eve, psychic Kendra Adams reveals the secret she’s hidden for decades—she was once Rosina, a mermaid torn between sea and shore. Betrayed in her ocean kingdom and desperate to escape banishment, she persuades a politician to smuggle her into the human world. But freedom on land comes at a cost, as she soon finds herself ensnared in another web, this one spun by the politician’s power-hungry sister.

 

Purchase HIPPIE MERMAID on Amazon US, Amazon CA , Amazon UK , and Amazon AU

 

Read an Excerpt

The human laughter startled me. It sounded so foreign, unlike anything I had ever heard before. I followed the sounds and turned my gaze toward four large humans approaching us. Up close, they were frightening, almost menacing, in their dark garments. I took note of their varying appearances. Two had light brown hair and blue eyes, while the other pair sported dark hair and dark eyes. Intent on observing the darker pair, I didn’t notice the other two men eyeing me.

“Hippie mermaid!” yelled one of the men with light-colored features.

All the men glanced in my direction. I felt myself reddening as I met their liquid eyes and wide smiles. There was interest there, and some other emotion or feeling I had never seen before. For a split second, I was flattered by their attention. And then I recalled what Mama had said. I must let Annabella choose first.

Annabella did not give me a chance to react. She beckoned to the man who had spoken, and he reluctantly turned away from me. Rosetta claimed the other light-haired man, and Lisetta chose one of the dark-haired men. I watched as they moved to separate rocks along the shore.

The remaining man approached. As his features came into closer focus, I realized he was older than the others. Not by much, but there were white hairs sprinkled in the darkness, and his face crinkled as he smiled. “I guess I won this mermaid lottery.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

He laughed and shook his head. “You could have had any of us. You didn’t have to end up with me.”

“But I’m not a Bella or an Etta. I’m an Ina.” There was no point in hiding my rank. I had never been embarrassed by it, and after hearing about Aunt Lina’s punishment, I knew my place.

“Honey, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re the prettiest of the group. You just don’t know it yet.”

About the Author:

Joanne Guidoccio enjoyed a rewarding career teaching mathematics, business, and co-operative education courses before retiring to pursue writing. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she writes paranormal romances, cozy mysteries, and inspirational stories from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Connect with Joanne Guidoccio

Twitter ~ Bluesky ~ Pinterest ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ LinkedIn ~ Amazon

Giveaway:

$10 Amazon GC

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Read More