Book Review and Giveaway - Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery) by Michelle L. Clifton

My Review

Event planner Taryn O'Kelly is working on a reopening event for the local KOA in Silver Springs, Colorado.  Unfortunately, fires in the area postpone her plans - and endanger her community.  She works to solve the mystery of what is happening.  Her boyfriend Alex, ex-boyfriend Robert, and best friend Kandice are along for the ride.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries.  I thought it would be about camping because of the cover art and the KOA description.  Camping didn't figure as prominently in the story as I anticipated, but it was still an enjoyable read.

This is my first read in the Taryn O'Kelly series.  It took me a little bit to get to know the characters, but I enjoyed the humorous dialogue between the Taryn, Alex, Robert, and Kandice -- and the adventures they got into, like sleuthing in the mud!  The humor in this book is refreshing and fun.  

The mystery escalates and spreads, with more menace and danger as the book goes along.  I enjoyed sleuthing along with Taryn.

Sparks, S'mores, and Scandals is a fun, light mystery and I think cozy fans will enjoy this series.

Book Synopsis

Wildfires weren’t part of Taryn O’Kelly’s summer plans. Neither was arson.

When a string of suspicious wildfires erupts in the mountains, authorities clear out the KOA Campground and surrounding homes, forcing Taryn to postpone her long-planned summer kick-off picnic. As smoke drifts over town and neighbors settle in at the fairgrounds, unease spreads right along with it. Then an insurance adjuster goes missing, and rumors of arson begin to take hold.

Determined to protect her town and her livelihood, Taryn starts asking questions. Corporate land grabs, bitter zoning disputes, and simmering grudges point in several directions. Even Silver Springs’ resident prankster seems to know more than he is saying. But the deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that someone is playing a dangerous game, and the fires may be only the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of a Colorado mountain summer, Sparks, S’mores, and Scandals blends small-town charm, wry humor, and heartfelt community spirit with a mystery that smolders long after the last ember fades.

Author Bio

Michelle L. Clifton writes lighthearted, high-stakes cozy mysteries filled with humor, romance, and small-town shenanigans. She is the author of the Taryn O’Kelly Mysteries, a fast-paced series featuring party planner and amateur sleuth Taryn O’Kelly and her growing circle of friends who somehow keep stumbling into trouble. Her stories blend the charm of traditional cozies with the quick pace and comedic flair readers love in Janet Evanovich books, always with a satisfying, happy ending.

Michelle serves on the board of the Southwest Florida Fiction Writers and is Editor-in-Chief of Inkwell Magazine. She is also the founder of Salty Inspirations, her blog, journal pen name, and publishing imprint, which serves as a home for her writing, creative projects, and behind-the-scenes insights into life as a cozy mystery author.

She lives in Cape Coral, Florida, with her husband. Her books are perfect for readers who enjoy humorous mysteries with heart, memorable characters, and a touch of romance mixed with murder.

You can learn more about Michelle and her books at her website and blog, Salty Inspirations.

Links to your webpage and social media:

• Website: https://www.saltyinspirations.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichelleLClifton
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/salty_inspirations_
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50111133.Michelle_L_Clifton

Purchase Link: Amazon   B&N

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