Hey, y’all, I’m Everly Swan. I own and operate Sun, Sand and Tea, a lovely beach-themed iced tea shop and café overlooking the shore. Most days I serve twenty flavors of iced tea, along with a number of recipes from my family archives, but the menu changes with the tide, and the ingredients I have on hand. Running the café from my historic beach front Victorian has been a lifelong dream of mine, and here I am. Living the dream!

I start my days sipping coffee on the deck and watching the sun rise in Charm, North Carolina, a small Outer Banks town. My favorite sea gull, Lou, likes to join me and listen to my stories. He’s an excellent listener, and these days I can’t stop talking about my sweet beau, the local sheriff, Grady Hays. Grady recently asked me to marry him, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

The café doesn’t open until eleven, so after breakfast, I take a stroll along the boardwalk and hustle into town. I have to keep a good pace or my little fitness bracelet bullies me, and I get a complex. My great-aunts, Clara and Fran, have a holistic shop called Blessed Bee where they sell their wares. I try to visit most mornings. All my aunts’ products are made from their bees’ honey, or dried flowers and herbs from their gardens. They live together at the family homestead, the same place women in my family have lived for hundreds of years, since my ancestors founded the town. Swan roots run deep around her, and I think we’ve all got a little salt water in our veins.

After saying goodbye to Aunt Clara and Aunt Fran, I head next door to Charming Reads, an enchanting little bookstore run by my best friend, Amelia. She’s a doll and so is her dad. I’d be lost without them. Occasionally, I take a load of old novels with me when I leave, and I fill the Little Free Libraries on my way back home. Amelia has several set up throughout town and on the boardwalk.

Back at work, I make and serve foods and teas all day long with my friend and part-time assistant, Denise, at my side. The café’s a busy place, and I overhear all sorts of things. It’s fortunate I’m not one to gossip. At least, not to anyone other than Lou. Denise leaves to pick up Grady’s son, Denver, after school. And I close up around seven.

My favorite evening plans involve Grady and a slice or two of lemon cake. Though I see my aunts and friends as often as possible. And Charm loves to throw a good party. So, Grady and I attend those together. Fish fries, street fairs, sometimes a parade. Whatever we get into, the food’s always good, and the company’s even better.

Sometimes though. . . there’s a murder.

Thankfully, Grady’s excellent at handling local crime.

I do my best to love and support him. Usually my love and support can be found in a listening ear, open arms or a big slice of lemon cake. Other times my support comes in the form of me offering my assistance in the case, perhaps by gathering additional clues or interviewing potential suspects. Grady prefers the lemon cake. So we agree to disagree.

It’s possible he might regret his proposal one day, but I’ll never regret my answer, or stop plying him with fresh baked treats. After all, what is love if not compromise? And who wouldn’t want a life partner who brings snacks?

Pleading the Fish, A Seaside Café Mystery #7
Genre: Cozy
Release: March 2022
Purchase Link

In the seventh and final book of Bree Baker’s critically acclaimed Seaside Café Mystery series, Pleading the Fish, Everly Swan’s wedding plans are upended by a dead body. She’ll have to run her teashop, find a dress, and catch a murderer all before she can walk down the aisle!

Hitting all the sweet-tea spots, this series is:

• A delightful Tea Shop and Café Culinary Mystery
• The ideal cozy beach read
• Perfect for fans of Laura Childs and Kate Carlisle

Café owner and amateur sleuth Everly Swan, like every Swan woman before her, is cursed in love. The only problem? Her fiancé Detective Grady Hayes has something to say about it—he doesn’t believe in magic and is determined to prove the curse wrong so they can spend their lives together. Everly wishes it could be so simple!

It feels like a sign when a historian looking into Swan history is found dead in an antique wishing well, and Everly fears the curse is spreading. Grady takes the case, looking to find justice and prove the curse wrong, while Everly does a bit of investigating on her own. Big change is coming for Everly and her friends, but with mysterious strangers lurking about and someone leaving increasingly threatening messages for the happy couple, Everly’s not sure she’ll get her happily-ever-after!

Includes delicious food and drink recipes

About the author
Julie Anne Lindsey is an award-winning and bestselling author of mystery and romantic suspense. She’s published more than fifty novels since her debut in 2013 and currently writes series as herself, as well as under multiple pen names including Bree Baker and Jacqueline Frost. When she’s not writing the stories that keep her up at night, Julie stays busy in Kent, Ohio with her husband and three amazing kids. Today she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Learn more about Julie at julieannelindsey.com.

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