Lena Gregory has written an engaging mystery with likable characters. A Scone Cold Killer is the debut book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe series, and it doesn’t disappoint. New York native Gia Morelli is starting over in Florida after a nasty divorce from a scoundrel. He not only cheated on her, but he cheated many people who want to get even. As Gia is starting a new business, her ex shows up dead in the dumpster behind her new diner. She is immediately suspected by many of the locals and her business is about to go bust. Not only that, but she is being threatened for some reason and she does not know what is going on.

I enjoyed this story and read it in one sitting. I loved the characters in Boggy Creek, especially her best friend Savannah and local fisherman Earl. Gia is a great character. She is so real (has reasonable fears of things like spiders), is kind to the homeless man Harley, is spunky and smart as well as being a great cook. The ending was well done and although I was suspicious of someone all along, the reveal confirmed those suspicions and explained the motive. With the case officially solved and Gia deciding she will stay in Boggy Creek with her dog, Thor, and possible male relationship with Hunter, police detective and Savannah's cousin, I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes. A nice debut in a new series that I recommend to those who enjoy a culinary cozy. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own. ( )

Gia Morelli’s marriage falls apart, and no believe her when she tells them she had no idea her husband was a lying, cheating, scumbag. She knows it’s time to get out of New York. Her husband was a scam artist who swindled half the millionaires in town. She has become their target for revenge, and she can’t take any more.

On the spur of the moment, she follows her best friend to a small town in Central Florida, where she braves snakes, bears, and giant spiders to open a cheery little diner called the All-Day Breakfast Café. Owning a restaurant has been her lifelong dream, but it turns into a nightmare the morning after she opens when she finds her ex-husband crammed inside her dumpster. As the main suspect, Gia will have to scramble fast to prove her innocence before the killer strike again, and she becomes the body in the dumpster.

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Series: All-Day Breakfast Cafe - Book 1
Author: Lena Gregory
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Culinary/Lyrical Underground

Author Lena Gregory has created a wonderfully fun entertaining story with believable characters and interesting scenarios. Scone Cold Killer will have the reader laughing happily and a bit concerned for Gia’s future but will also keep them turning the page and cheering her on.

Gia is a woman who is desperate for some peace in her life. Finding out that the man you loved, married and spent many years believing in was nothing more than a cheating con artist isn’t easy. Add in death threats, revenge of all manner and the “yeah, sure you didn’t know” game, puts Gia in the path of people who want revenge no matter what the cost. She’s a good person trying to stay one. Trying to start over isn’t easy and being the suspect in your husband's murder doesn’t make things any better.

Savannah and Hunt are fantastic characters who help Gia even when she doesn’t want them too. Hunt may be a cop, but he is on her side, and even if she were guilty, he would still treat her with respect and care. Savannah is Gia’s best friend, but while trying to clear her name, she learns that she doesn’t know as much about her friend as she thought she did. Everything they go through makes their friendship stronger, and even though Gia doesn’t want to get involved with a man again, she can’t keep from liking Hunt and maybe more.

A small Florida town with forest views to die for and decent, hard-working people are the perfect setting for murder and intrigue. The town holds festivals, art shows and is filled with crafters. It is a dream come true for most people who have ideas and dreams and just want peace.

Scone Cold Killer is well written, filled with action and lovable characters. Readers will quickly fall for these characters and the town and will want to see everything turn out right for Gia. Overall this is a great first book in a new series and is extremely recommended to readers of cozies with a culinary and pet bent that is intricate to the plot and development of the characters.
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Gia Morelli has fled New York City and her scambag ex-husband (awaiting sentencing for investment fraud) and takes refuge in a small Florida town with her best friend. Opening up her own Breakfast cafe, the first day wasn't perfect (she didn't have grits and the newly hired cook was worthless) but it gets worse when she discovers her ex dead in her own dumpster.

Apparently, some people were not happy with him and now they're after Gia believing that she has something they want.

I loved the setting, characters and the special little somethings that were added. This was a great first book in a new series. ( )

Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory
Book #1: All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Gia Morelli’s ex-husband is a slimy rat bastard who lies, steals, cheats, and has zero remorse for his actions. What’s more, Gia knew nothing of his antics and shenanigans until they all came to light in open court and the victims of his crime began verbally attacking her. Getting free of her ex was of the utmost importance, and her new life and new career in Florida, far, far away from New York was meant to be a fresh start/clean break post-divorce. Unfortunately, the rat bastard has turned up dead in her newly opened café’s dumpster. Can’t a girl catch a break?

As it turns out, no! Just a day after her new café opens, Gia must shut down her café thanks to her rat bastard ex being dead in the dumpster. What’s more, she already needs a new cook and she has no idea what the hell a grit is or how to make one. As luck would have it, a new, perfectly qualified and skilled cook shows up just as Gia is getting truly desperate. As a bonus, he knows exactly what a grit is and how to properly prepare them. With the cook situation sorted, Gia just has to hope local residents will be willing to overlook the tiny issue of the murder victim and give her café a chance. Of course, it would be just like Gia’s ex to tank her hopes and dreams even after he’s dead ☹

As fate would have it, only Gia’s best friend a few loyal locals are willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Gia’s past, and more importantly, her ex-past has come a callin’ and Gia just hasn’t had enough time to establish her own reputation in her new home. With the café lagging, Gia has time to sort out the mess her ex has brought to her front doorstep (or back dumpster as the case may be) and what she digs up is as disturbing as his previous activities. Despite the hot detective’s warnings against becoming more involved and putting herself in danger, Gia continues with dogged determination to clear her name and solve the mystery of her wretched ex and his plots and schemes.

The Bottom Line: Quite frankly, I was going to read any book that involves an all-day breakfast café, it’s just a bonus that the plot and characters were quite good too. Gia is simply at her whit’s end when she arrives in Florida. She is beyond ready for the past to be well and truly in the past and to start her new life as a successful single woman. When her past shows up in a most unpleasant way, Gia realizes she won’t be done with the past until she closes the book herself. She digs and dives into every lead despite her fear which makes her all the more interesting. Her best-friend is a fiery delight, “her” hot detective is going to be a mountain of sexy fun in the future, and the café is going to be a wonderful hub for all Gia’s future sleuthing. ( )

Author Lena Gregory has served up a wonderful first course in her All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series.

I was hungry for this series the moment I heard about it! I mean, an All-Day Breakfast Café? That’s my kind of place to eat! So, I had very high hopes going into SCONE COLD KILLER. I wasn’t disappointed.

I enjoyed the setting, and could vividly picture the café in my mind. The eclectic cast of characters made for an interesting read. I enjoyed most of them. There is one character that I’m still unsure about, but am withholding judgment until the next book in the series. I look forward to seeing how all the characters grow, and how author Gregory fleshes them out.

An easy, flowing read, I flew through this tale quickly in one setting. The mystery was tight, and well done. I thought I had it figured out, only to find I had missed an important clue, and guessed wrong. So, that made for a surprising ending for me.

SCONE COLD KILLER is story cozy fans are sure to love. And the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries will certainly be on your must read list! ( )