relzreviewz.com A Mug of Mayhem by Angela Ruth Strong

Synopsis:~

When their wedding venue becomes a crime scene, the bride and groom are in for a real trick-or-treat.

One week before Marissa plans to get married at her fiancé’s farm, Connor is arrested for a murder in the corn maze. Marissa and her maid of honor, Tandy, must prove the groom innocent before the wedding is cancelled.

With a coffee shop to run, family visiting from out of town, and preparations for the big day, time is running out. The senior citizens who’d been at the farm during the homicide offer to help investigate, but are they witnesses or suspects? A cranky military veteran goes rogue and disappears with his gun, a retired spy suffers from dementia, and a former Broadway star still seems to be putting on a show. Unless the real killer is unmasked, death could do them all part.

Necee’s take:~

“Tandy rolled her eyes. “Why would I need pills? I survive on coffee and sarcasm.”’

A Mug of Mayhem is a fun and quirky romcom that wraps up the CafFUNated Mysteries series. Though it could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend beginning with the first book, A Caffeine Conundrum and read the series in order. I think you will love Marissa and Tandy, but I found the ending wouldn’t be as good if you didn’t fully know their story. They are so fun and yet, there are deeper spiritual areas of growth that really adds to the storyline. Especially, I love the witty banter over coffee vs. tea. Of course, the mystery and mayhem really attests to the friendship between Marissa and Tandy, too.

A humorous read with a sweet ending to the series, there was a deeper layer of meaning hidden throughout the book. The focus on the elderly and the value they have in their community was a key theme as well as the building up of relationships. It was wonderful seeing many of the townspeople come together again, too. Marissa’s family’s expectations really showed how much she grew from the beginning of the series. I really enjoyed her faith journey and the happy ending to the series for this small town. I am sad to see her and Tandy go, though. They will be missed. Who knows, maybe Strong will surprise us with a spinoff at some point…we can hope!

“God was enough—everything else was a gift.”

One of the things I love about Strong is how transparent she is and how keeping our focus on Jesus really helps us grow stronger. In her acknowledgements, I thought this quote really encapsulated her main focus with Marissa.

“Don’t let your pain ever get in the way of loving others. Not even those who might have caused that pain.”

I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own and are given honestly.

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK. Get to know her even better at www.angelaruthstrong.com.