Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Rocky Road to Murder (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

Rocky Road to Murder (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)

by Lena Gregory

Rocky Road to Murder (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – New York
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (July 1, 2025)
Number of Pages – 220

From author Lena Gregory comes a tasty summer murder mystery…

Danika Delaney is thrilled that her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, has gotten a catering contract for the biggest party of the season, the Rutherford Manor Fourth of July gala. She’ll be providing desserts for the party as well as attending the exclusive event on Eastern Long Island.

However her path to the gala quickly becomes a rocky road…

Dani arrives at the event, only to find the gala’s hostess, Cressida Rutherford, dead! What’s worse, one of Dani’s signature parfaits sits next to the dead woman, with what looks like peanuts in it—a food Cressida is severely allergic to. Amid the melted ice cream mess, Dani initially blames herself, thinking she made a mistake while rushing with the desserts. However she quickly learns that what appeared to be an accident was actually foul play, and suddenly Dani has to spring into action proving that she isn’t the perpetrator. Along with her friends, Dani uncovers a string of people in Cressida’s life who might have wanted the socialite dead. Can she prove her innocence and make sure the killer gets their just desserts?

Character Guest Post

Living in Watchogue

by Danika Delaney

I own the Coffee & Cream Café, which used to be my Uncle Jimmie’s ice cream parlor, in my home town of Watchogue, New York, a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island. Though I grew up in Watchogue, I spent several years—up until last year, anyway—living in New York City. Manhattan to be exact, which technically is still an island but so different from Watchogue it may as well be a million miles away instead of less than a hundred. Anyway, after running to New York to pursue a degree in marketing I’ll probably never use, I agreed to return home and take over Jimmie’s when my family summoned me. 

Life in Watchogue moves at a much slower pace, and I can’t say I miss the hustle and bustle of the city. I love being back with my family, even if they do drive me a little crazy, especially Aunt Miriam. I easily picked up my friendship with Gwen, my best friend since childhood. And I’ve become very close with Eli, the barista I hired who also happens to be a cybersecurity expert, which has come in handy a time or two. 

Since I live just a few miles down the beach from my shop, I often walk there when I’m stressed. If it’s warm enough, I take my shoes off and walk along the surf. During the summer months, the beaches are crowded, even fairly early in the morning, but in the spring and fall I’m often one of only a few people strolling along the shore. Staring out across the bay waters brings a sense of peace I’ve never managed to find anywhere else. 

And this summer, I was invited to cater and attend the biggest event of the season, Cressida Rutherford’s Fourth of July gala, hosted at Rutherford Manor. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the event, I found Cressida dead. And, if that weren’t bad enough, it seemed my dessert might have been the murder weapon. At first, I thought I might have made a mistake and put peanuts, which Cressida is severely allergic to, in the desserts. However, I quickly learned what appeared to be an accident was actually foul play. So, it seems now I’ll spend my summer trying to prove my innocence and figure out who might have wanted Cressida dead. 

But all in all, I love living in the small Long Island community. I can always stop in the local diner, bakery or deli and get the latest gossip. I have close friends I wouldn’t trade for the world. And I have the cafe I’ve worked so hard for. Now, if bodies would just stop turning up, life would be just about perfect.

My review of Rocky Road to Murder

I love the Coffee & Cream Cafe Mystery series immensely, and this latest installment, Rocky Road to Murder, does not disappoint! Dani finds herself tangled up in another murder investigation when a woman drops dead at her gala, and a parfait that Dani provided is found next to her! Poor Dani knew that the woman was allergic to peanuts, and she thinks perhaps cross contamination occurred when they made the parfaits. Thankfully, she finds out that it was murder, so she’s not to blame. But Dani, being the inquisitive (nosy) woman she is, jumps right into investigation mode. And of course, her best friends and sister just “have to” help her, and this incredibly fun cozy mystery begins!

Though this is the sixth book in the series, you don’t need to read the previous books first. I did love them all too though! This book is set during July 4th festivities, so if you like reading your cozies during the season in which they take place, this summer is the perfect time for Rocky Road to Murder! In my opinion, holiday cozy mystery books are a lot of fun since there are always “events” taking place. Of course the gala is one of those events, but Dani’s big family cookout takes place in this book too. 

I adore her family! Her Uncle Jimmie, her parents, her sister, her Aunt Miriam who dresses like she’s a teenager even though she’s wayyyy older! She’s got younger cousins who run around being crazy…it’s just a whole lot of family fun! I love Dani’s quirky friends Gwen and Eli. Eli will probably always remain my favorite because he’s like a squirrel who has had 5 cups of coffee! He’s a genius whose brain and mad computer hacking skills help the investigations along. He even gets Dani’s hunky cop boyfriend’s permission…usually after the fact, but hey, he’s helpful. 

Rocky Road to Murder, as well as the rest of the series, just has that cozy feel that makes me love cozy mystery books. There is never anything that would make someone feel uncomfortable. They aren’t political (thank the Lord). They don’t have swearing, suggestive dialog or scenes, and they always include that close knit family feeling among Dani, her family, and her friends! The mystery gives you lots of clues as well as lots of suspects to sift through! 

I highly recommend Rocky Road to Murder for its outstanding characters, witty dialog, fun setting, and intriguing mystery! 5 Huge stars!    

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

• Newsletter: http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
• Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/

Purchase Links – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo

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Rocky Road to Murder TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 1 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

July 2 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

July 2 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 3 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

July 3 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT

July 4 – OFF

July 5 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

July 5 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW , CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 7 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 7 – Baroness’ Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 8 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 8 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

July 9 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 9 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

July 10 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

July 11 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

July 11 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 12 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

July 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 14 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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