katiya's review
3.0
A popular romance author has rented out Tabitha Darling's cafe for an afternoon of Regency High Tea and self-promotion. Alas, poison is introduced into the author's food causing her to be whisked off to the hospital. Tabitha's not going to investigate, oh no... Oh. Yes.
While this was a novella, the writing was tight and the main characters returned from the original book looking like themselves. I can't quite put my finger on where I ran into like instead of love. Perhaps it felt that the characters hadn't moved on enough and were stuck in a pattern. Or maybe, there were just too many shenanigans for a shorter book. I'm not sure. It was, however, worth the read.
While this was a novella, the writing was tight and the main characters returned from the original book looking like themselves. I can't quite put my finger on where I ran into like instead of love. Perhaps it felt that the characters hadn't moved on enough and were stuck in a pattern. Or maybe, there were just too many shenanigans for a shorter book. I'm not sure. It was, however, worth the read.
tehani's review
5.0
This series needs to come with a warning: desire to consume gorgeous food will ensue. You also may feel the need to visit the small city of Hobart and submerse yourself in cozy cafe culture, and maybe solve a crime or two with the help of a sexy Scotsman or charming cop.
The Blackmail Blend is a clever bridge between Livia Day's A Trifle Dead and Drowned Vanilla. It can certainly be read as a standalone piece, but the wonderful banter and snark between the characters may not have quite the same patter as it might if you begin with A Trifle Dead. In this compact crime short, our protagonist Tabitha is thrust among the apparently grimy world of romance writers - who knew it could be such a hotbed of jealousies and hidden identities? Here, the blackmail element of the plot is revealed, alongside a poisoning (horror for Tabitha who catered the event!) and the uncovering of lots of dirty little secrets. Tabitha is drawn in by Stewart, whose complicated friendship she is still coming to grips with, in light of recent advances in her relationship with her police friend Leo Bishop.
I have to say, although it's a great read overall, one of my favourite bits of the book is the tea-related quotes that indicate scene breaks - cute (and relevant)!
All this fits in to a smart, funny and well-paced package that you could read over lunch (or a cheeky cup of tea). Grab a copy and if you've never read Livia Day before, I reckon this will send you seeking out the Tabitha novels as soon as you can.
The Blackmail Blend is a clever bridge between Livia Day's A Trifle Dead and Drowned Vanilla. It can certainly be read as a standalone piece, but the wonderful banter and snark between the characters may not have quite the same patter as it might if you begin with A Trifle Dead. In this compact crime short, our protagonist Tabitha is thrust among the apparently grimy world of romance writers - who knew it could be such a hotbed of jealousies and hidden identities? Here, the blackmail element of the plot is revealed, alongside a poisoning (horror for Tabitha who catered the event!) and the uncovering of lots of dirty little secrets. Tabitha is drawn in by Stewart, whose complicated friendship she is still coming to grips with, in light of recent advances in her relationship with her police friend Leo Bishop.
I have to say, although it's a great read overall, one of my favourite bits of the book is the tea-related quotes that indicate scene breaks - cute (and relevant)!
All this fits in to a smart, funny and well-paced package that you could read over lunch (or a cheeky cup of tea). Grab a copy and if you've never read Livia Day before, I reckon this will send you seeking out the Tabitha novels as soon as you can.
quietjenn's review
3.0
Quite fun, but very slight. Which I knew going in, kind of, but even shorter than I expected. As such, everything happens super duper quickly, which doesn't necessarily add to the credibility of things. I mean, how much mystery is there really in a case that is almost instantly solved? Fortunately, I am very fond of the characters. And it certainly whetted my appetite for the second full-length. And also for cherries jubilee shooters.
thiefofcamorr's review
5.0
Set in-between A Trifle Dead and Drowned Vanilla we come back to our favourite characters for a novelette, where Tabitha finds herself thrown into a crime scene yet again. She still runs the café we know from the first book, and it's through this (and her amazing cooking) that she's commissioned for a Regency-themed high tea for a fancy book launch - except, someone tries to poison the famous snobby author, right in Tabitha's own café.
The attitude of the horrid author aside, this is a personal hit for Tabitha - it's not exactly good for the café's reputation after all, even when it's clear it's attempted murder. Tabitha's pretty safe in all this - the author isn't exactly picky with who she's awful to and as previously said in my review of the first book, the entire police force has known Tabitha all her life and they practically live in her café - they know how careful she is with her food.
From here, Tabitha starts investigating, going up to the author's 'build your career' writing workshop in a fancy log cabin to have a chat with those enrolled in the course. It's here we meet the suspects, and it's exactly like a murder weekend 'whodunit', having them all in the one location as Tabitha sniffs around, putting all the pieces together, armed with her trusty sidekick - Stewart.
And that's what I love about this series, Tabitha may have a Senior Constable close at hand to use, however he's firmly against her getting involved in solving crimes and so it's a bone of contention between them. This I feel is utterly plausible - aside from the fact police are legally required to attempt to keep the public from doing exactly what Tabitha does, he's also concerned for her safety but utterly aware she's excellent at what she does.
This novelette is short and perfect, utterly fun because of Livia's Day wit and way with words, with a dash of romance thrown in. The crime is excellent in such a geeky way, thanks to the 'whodunit' aspect and all in all this is a perfect bridge between the first and second book. The only issue with this book, as is always the case with anything Livia Day/Tansy Rayner Roberts writes, is that it always leaves you needing more!
The attitude of the horrid author aside, this is a personal hit for Tabitha - it's not exactly good for the café's reputation after all, even when it's clear it's attempted murder. Tabitha's pretty safe in all this - the author isn't exactly picky with who she's awful to and as previously said in my review of the first book, the entire police force has known Tabitha all her life and they practically live in her café - they know how careful she is with her food.
From here, Tabitha starts investigating, going up to the author's 'build your career' writing workshop in a fancy log cabin to have a chat with those enrolled in the course. It's here we meet the suspects, and it's exactly like a murder weekend 'whodunit', having them all in the one location as Tabitha sniffs around, putting all the pieces together, armed with her trusty sidekick - Stewart.
And that's what I love about this series, Tabitha may have a Senior Constable close at hand to use, however he's firmly against her getting involved in solving crimes and so it's a bone of contention between them. This I feel is utterly plausible - aside from the fact police are legally required to attempt to keep the public from doing exactly what Tabitha does, he's also concerned for her safety but utterly aware she's excellent at what she does.
This novelette is short and perfect, utterly fun because of Livia's Day wit and way with words, with a dash of romance thrown in. The crime is excellent in such a geeky way, thanks to the 'whodunit' aspect and all in all this is a perfect bridge between the first and second book. The only issue with this book, as is always the case with anything Livia Day/Tansy Rayner Roberts writes, is that it always leaves you needing more!
anna_hepworth's review
4.0
This story, as well as being shorter than Livia Day's other murder mysteries, is tonally a bit different. And in no way that I can point to, it just wasn't as engaging. A pleasant enough read, but not one I'm going to plan to reread unless it is part of a full reread of the series.
However, the essay at the end, which talks about some of the motivations in Day's mystery fiction, was fascinating. I'm not familiar with the authorial team that Day talks at length about, but I'm almost tempted to go read some of their work.
Overall score is comprised of story (3.5/5) + essay (4.5/5)
However, the essay at the end, which talks about some of the motivations in Day's mystery fiction, was fascinating. I'm not familiar with the authorial team that Day talks at length about, but I'm almost tempted to go read some of their work.
Overall score is comprised of story (3.5/5) + essay (4.5/5)
rivqa's review
4.0
Sandwiched between [b:A Trifle Dead|15713637|A Trifle Dead (Café La Femme, #1)|Livia Day|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362961977s/15713637.jpg|21381968] and [b:Drowned Vanilla|18513720|Drowned Vanilla (Café La Femme, #2)|Livia Day|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412528181s/18513720.jpg|26208662] (I'm yet to read the latter), this snack in the Cafe La Femme series is just enough of a temptation to remind me how much I loved the first book. Featuring romance! So much romance! (No spoilers.) Also sleuthing. And food. Best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a slice of cake, to avert food FOMO.
friendleghost's review
5.0
I bought this book quite a while ago, because I loved the two books in the series. Knowing it would be a bit of a wait until another book came out, I tried to hold off reading The Blackmail Blend as long as I could. I'm so glad I caved and picked it up today! I'm stuck home with a chest cold and a cough and this was exactly what I needed. This novella is a cup of calm tea and slice of my favorite cake on a cold, rainy day. I cannot squee enough about this series and am so glad that The Blackmail Blend compliments A Trifle Dead and Drowned Vanilla so well. Yay for tea, cake, and murder mysteries ☕️
cibani's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
margreads's review
4.0
I read the first book in this series years ago. I think it is a sign of how good the characters are in that it took me no time at all to remember who was who.
Short, funny, bitesized morsel of a novella
Short, funny, bitesized morsel of a novella