This was a cute book - and I always appreciate recipes at the end of books when they are about food. I would read another. ( )

When a dream comes true, it is sometimes difficult to fathom, even when it is happening right in front of your eyes. The grand opening of Vino Valentine, a winery and tasting bar, was hosted by owner Parker Valentine and assisted by employee Anita Moore. An evening of celebration that came to a crashing halt. What business can survive the social media hashtag of KillerChardonnay? First impressions are lasting impressions, aren't they?

I love the differences between cozy mysteries. Wine tasting, preferably a Merlot for me, and a visit to Boulder, Colorado, was enticing as both were new experiences in the setting and for an entrepreneur's business. What was difficult for me to move beyond was the difference from any other cozy mystery I've ever read in handling the crime scene. Setting that aside, I loved the name of Parker's cat, Zinfandel, Zin for short. I enjoyed Parker's relationship with her brother, Liam, and longtime friend Sage. It was a delight to read of the wine and food pairing conversations, particularly as romantic sparks were in the air. The ultimate surprise for me was I didn't know that throwing a frisbee had become a team sport pastime of Ultimate Frisbee.

It will be up to you which wine you prefer at Vino Valentine's. After you decide your favorite, don't forget Recipes and Wine Pairings are provided at the book's end.

Reviewer's Note: The book cannot be considered a clean, cozy mystery due to language. ( )

This is basically a chick lit/teen romance disguised as a cozy mystery (the characters are not teenagers but they act like one). And the mystery is so light weight I guessed who the murderer was way before the half way mark. A huge letdown because I don't like to guess (I like to be surprised!) but it was so glaringly apparent, I couldn't help it.

All could've been forgiven if the side stories were compelling and the characters warm, funny or endearing but nope. Characters were flat, boring & not all that interesting. The book was also overly maudlin in parts causing the whole story to just drag.

It was a chore to finish this. The story is padded with so much filler and stretched out in such a deliberately contrived matter...it was annoying to read! The exact antithesis of fun. Akin to watching a tediously long, boring movie when you know how it's going to turn out and the end cannot come fast enough. ( )

Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing has Parker Valentine opening Vino Valentine in Boulder, Colorado. Parker is surprised when food and wine blogger, Gaskel Brown arrives for a tasting. His review could make or break her new venture. Gaskel tastes her chardonnay and does not seem to enjoy it. He then disappears into the restroom. When the critic fails to return, Parker finds him dead on the bathroom floor. Detective Eli Fuller, an old school chum, is on the case and it does not look good for Parker. Gaskel was poisoned which has #killerchardonnay trending online. Parker’s winery is in danger of closing if she cannot restore her reputation and prove she did not kill the critical critic. Killer Chardonnay is the debut of A Colorado Wine Mystery series. I found Killer Chardonnay to be nicely written with good pacing which made this lighthearted cozy mystery easy to read. Parker Valentine is a friendly and relatable main character with a passion for wine making. I liked her cat, Zin (Zinfandel is full name). There are a variety of secondary characters that include Parker’s parents, her brother, best friend, and a love interest or two. I liked the descriptions of Boulder and Parker’s winery, Vino Valentine. I could imagine the both from the author’s word imagery. It was interesting learning about the different wines and how they are made. I am amazed at the different flavor profiles that can be obtained from grapes (I could envision someone swirling a glass and taking a taste stating they could taste a hint of chocolate or pear with a hint of smokiness—you can tell I do not drink wine). The mystery had a variety of suspects along with misdirection. There was action as the killer attempted to warn off Parker and keep her from finding pertinent clues. The poison was unique, but I wish it had been harder to identify the guilty party. I could see Parker in my mind as she put together the final clue and identified the killer. There was a little too much romance for my taste plus I am never a fan of multiple of love interests. I prefer romantic relationships in cozies to develop slowly instead of instant passion like a romance novel. I would have preferred if the author had not used foul language in this story. There was some luscious food served in Killer Chardonnay. Recipes and wine pairings are included at the end of the book. Killer Chardonnay is a merry cozy mystery with a butchered blogger, wicked wines, a cute chef, social media madness, and a cunning killer. ( )

Parker Valentine made her dreams come true when she opened her own Colorado winery. When a well known restaurant critic and blogger shows up at her opening and drops dead after drinking her wine, she decides to help the investigation along by snooping. Although I had figured out who must be the killer almost from the start, the author created plenty of red herrings to divert attention from the person which probably worked more effectively for some readers than for me. The mystery is more engaging than many of today's cozies, and I might enjoy reading future installments. I liked Parker and the police detective. Most of the characters work although I'm a bit lukewarm on a few. This review is based on an advance electronic copy received through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. ( )