Reviews

A Pairing to Die for by Kate Lansing

megs_s's review

lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mollynelsonregan's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Cute, oenophile mystery vibes. 

kspoonerfish's review against another edition

5.0

This is a fun cozy mystery starring Parker, a winemaker, in Boulder. Parker is looking for clues to help Reid, her chef boyfriend, who has been arrested for murder. This book is the second book in the Colorado Winemaker Series. (The first book is Killer Chardonnay). I loved reading about Boulder in the fall with the leaves changing and the local foods. While I was reading the story I felt like I was transported to the Boulder farmer’s market in the fall. Parker and her friends and family come together to solve the mystery and stomp some grapes. Also, there are 2 cute cats in this story. The story has great characters and I look forward to seeing what they get up to next.

neverloweonbooks's review against another edition

5.0

First thoughts from chapter one: Reid's parents are awful and his brothers are not much better. Parker's new assistant, Felix, seems pretty cool. As with the first book, I appreciated all the accurate wine knowledge. I was happy to see that Parker and her mom are trying to spend more time together and that their relationship is improving.

Reid's new seasonal menu made my mouth water- wild mushroom gnocchi with an arugula pesto? Yuuuuum!! I also loved the thought that Parker put into her new red blend and what she decided to name it was perfect. Love that the title was worked into the book as well.

Without spoiling anything, I'll just say I felt so many different emotions in the last few chapters. At one point, I was completely shocked and then a couple pages later, I felt the heebie-jeebies and knew there was more to it! Overall, it was a fantastic addition to the series.

susanmihl's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 rounded up

eab333's review against another edition

3.0

loved the 1st of this series but not so much this 2nd one. I think mostly because the main male protagonist was in jail the whole time which was a downer so there was no romance piece of it this time

madsmcw_reads's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Murder

Minor: Chronic illness and Medical content

bookwoman37's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is a 3.5 review.  This is the second book I have read in the series. I enjoyed the first book more.  In this one Parker and Reid are now a couple and Parker is meeting Reid's family for the time.  Her winery and his restaurant are successful and they both want to impress his family with food and wine.  The dinner is a disaster and Reid is arrested for murder.  Parker decides the police have given up investigating so she does it herself.  I did find it unusual that Sage would represent Reid considering she works for a judge.  There are a lot of descriptions of clothes, wine and food and not a lot of mystery.  I found the mystery very easy to solve as there were not a lot of suspects.  The Colorado setting is fun and I did like some of the supporting characters. Overall it was a nice easy to read cozy.

sarahs_reads's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

stacksofpaperbacks's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

This series contains everything to get you hooked on cozies! The descriptions of chilly, crisp, Boulder in the fall, scrumptious wine and food pairings, almost spooky writing that lets you know something ominous waits in the next lines, urging you to keep reading and turning pages. I won’t spoil, but I love the way all of the relationships, both parental and romantic, are progressing. The moments between Parker and her mom especially stick out to me. I didn’t know I was interested in the steps of winemaking until I picked up this series! The mystery was very well written, even if I knew the whodunnit, I didn’t know the whole story and I really enjoyed sleuthing with Parker. I will continue to read this series and Kate Lansing will sit firmly on my auto-buy author list.