Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Scoop of Deceit (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
A Scoop of Deceit (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory
A Scoop of Deceit (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – New York
Publisher : Gemma Halliday Publishing
Publication date : March 10, 2026
From author Lena Gregory comes another decadently delightful cozy mystery …
Spring has finally sprung on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York, and Danika Delaney is ready to take a break from running her old-fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, to help her mom start planting for the season. With visions of colorful tulips and delicate daffodils in mind, Danika and her mother browse through the local garden center, where they can’t help but notice a confrontation between out-of-towner Sebastian Krane and the local cashier. Unfortunately, as Krane storms off, aggravated and not paying attention, he hops into his BMW, and crashes right into Mrs. Delaney as she’s backing up in her borrowed pickup truck. As if that weren’t enough to put a damper on her sunny mood, Krane then has the nerve to file a lawsuit against her. But when Dani shows up at his mansion to try to straighten things out, she finds him dead, with a knife in his back. Apparently, someone had it out for Sebastian. Someone other than her mother. A fact Dani sets out to prove with the help of her sidekicks, Gwen and Eli, wading through a slew of shady suspects from the victim’s stormy past. Can Dani clear her mother’s name and find the truth behind Krane’s murder? Or will Dani be in danger of pushing up daisies herself this spring?
My review
I absolutely adore this series! A Scoop of Deceit is the seventh book in the series (you can read it as a stand alone book), and, frankly, I’d be happy if the series never ended. As soon as I started reading, I felt surrounded by that familiar warmth that I always feel when I pick up one of Lena Gregory’s cozy mystery books. Jumping in and being surrounded by the characters I’ve grown to love just gave me a feeling of happiness and contentment! I literally want to jump into the Coffee & Cream Cafe world…
As is always the case, it is the characters (and their attempts at solving the mysteries!) that made the book shine. Eli has been my favorite character from the beginning. He’s a genius with all things technology related, has the attention span of a gnat and the heart of a giant. Dani, the main character of the book thinks of him as a younger brother, and with the way he’s fallen for her sister Meghan, maybe someday he will be. I’d love for the series to keep going long enough for that to happen! I love how Dani and Jake’s relationship is continuing to grow throughout the series, and it hasn’t been rushed. It feels authentic and so sweet! Of course, I love Dani’s entire family and her friends that feel like family. They’re all unique with their different quirks and personalities.
The murder mystery is carefully plotted, and I was really kept guessing throughout the story. The murder board that Dani and her crew use is always amusing but helpful! You’re never sure who you can trust! The ice cream flavors always have me wanting them! Uncle Jimmie, whom I adore, comes up with one that’s flavored blueberry cheesecake, and I could probably eat it every day. Side note: If I did live in this book, I’d definitely have to work for Dani, so I’d get free ice cream. And I’d have to run all over the place to burn the calories! But, back to the mystery. The side characters and suspects are very well-written. I especially liked the twins who seemed a little on the creepy side! The ending is perfect, and I am ready for another book right now!
I highly recommend A Scoop of Deceit! It has everything that I love in a cozy mystery: a small town setting, a cast of delightful and unique characters, a well-planned murder mystery, and it gives you a warm, cozy feeling.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Character Guest Post from Eli Sinclair
Life, Laughter, and a Little Bit of Trouble
By Eli Sinclair
Hey there, it’s Eli. You might know me as the guy who works behind the counter at the Coffee & Cream Café. At least, when I’m not working from home, or more often from a corner booth at the café, as a freelance cybersecurity expert. I gave up my chance to live and work in New York City, choosing instead to remain in my hometown, close to the grandmother who raised me.
Watchogue is the kind of place where you think you know everyone, and then someone new shows up—or someone old acts in a way that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew. And right now, the town is full of those moments.
Danika, of course, is at the center of most of it. I’ve known her since she first returned from New York, suitcase in hand and determination in her eyes, to take over her Uncle Jimmie’s old-fashioned ice-cream parlor. She wanted a fresh start, a little corner of the world to call her own. But life has a funny way of reminding you that no matter how much you plan, chaos—or karma in Dani’s case—always finds its way in.
I’m lucky enough to see Danika every day, and I’ve learned a lot just from watching her handle the ups and downs of small-town life. She’s patient when customers are picky, creative when flavors don’t turn out the way she planned, and brave when something… unusual happens. That bravery is what I admire most. Because let me tell you, when a murder shows up in your backyard—or, in this case, in a nearby mansion—you either rise to the occasion, or you run. Danika doesn’t run. She investigates, questions, and notices details that most people wouldn’t even see. And that, my friends, has led to some very interesting days around here.
Now, I’m not a detective, even though I often use my cybersecurity skills to pitch in and help. But in Watchogue, everyone has a role to play in keeping the town’s balance, and sometimes that means keeping an eye out for trouble. I’ve learned that you don’t need a badge to see when something’s off. You just need curiosity, some common sense, and a willingness to listen to the gossip mongers.
Working with Danika on these… situations (for lack of a better word) has been an adventure. She’s fearless, I’ll give her that, but she can also be impulsive. Sometimes I have to step in and remind her that not every lead needs chasing, not every shadow hides a secret, and not every friendly smile is hiding something sinister. But most of the time, I’m just happy to tag along. Because life is better when you don’t have to face Watchogue’s surprises alone.
And honestly, even with all the tension and mystery, I wouldn’t trade this for anything. Watchogue has charm—sure, it has gossip and drama too—but it’s home. I love the mornings when the sun hits the water just right, the afternoons filled with laughter from the beach, and the evenings when the town quiets down and you can hear the waves crashing from the ocean in the distance.
I think the best part of this life, though, is the people. Danika, of course. And Detective Jake Barlow, keeping us all on our toes. Gwen, with her penchant for spandex and boldly-colored hairdos. Each person brings something unique to Watchogue, and each secret they carry adds a layer to the town’s story. My role is simple: observe, listen, help when I can, and keep the balance between chaos and calm.
So, what’s next for me? Who knows. More ice cream, more conversations, more noticing the things most people overlook. And more adventures with Dani, because trouble seems to have a strange way of finding her. I’m here for it, whether it’s a password problem, a suspicious stranger, or a clue that leads to something much bigger than any of us expected.
Life in Watchogue isn’t just about keeping things running smoothly. It’s about seeing the hidden layers, being ready for surprises, and cherishing the moments of laughter that make it all worthwhile. And as long as I’ve got my laptop, my wits, and a good friend like Dani by my side, I think we can handle whatever this town throws at us.
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 Website Facebook Facebook Fan Page
Twitter (X) Goodreads Pinterest
Purchase Links
Amazon – Barnes & Noble
Enter the Giveaways
Please note: The first giveaway is for a $25 Amazon GC & requires you to fill out the form. The second giveaway is for a $10 Amazon GC & just requires that you answer this: In this book, Dani is helping her mom plant flowers! “Do you plant flowers in the spring/summer? If you do, what do you plant? What is your favorite flower?” Leave your answer in the comments.
A Scoop of Deceit TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 9 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
March 9 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
March 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews -REVIEW
March 10 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
March 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
March 11 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
March 12 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
March 13 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
March 13 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST
March 14 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
March 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
March 15 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 15 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 16 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
March 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
March 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
March 18 – Ascroft, eh? -CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
March 19 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 20 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
March 21 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
March 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
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