Cappuccino

Zion Sawyer Series, Book 1

By: M. L. Hamilton

Narrated by: Kelley Hazen

Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

Zion Sawyer had a good job, working customer service for an insurance company in San Francisco. She had friends, a loving family, and a bright future. Until she received a call from a lawyer in Sequoia, California, informing her she is the sole heir to her biological mother’s estate. Zion never met Vivian Bradley, but her death sends Zion on a path of discovery that changes her future forever. And she discovers that you can never escape your past, even a past you didn’t want to know.

©2016 ML Hamilton (P)2018 ML Hamilton

Happily surprised at this Cozy Mystery--very good.

I was looking for a new Cozy Mystery. This one caught my eye and I'm very happy it did. Kelley Hazen does an excellent job and is like whipped cream on top of my favorite pie. The Characters are relatable and lovable. Talk is real and the place and time is presented well. Yes, you will enjoy this story.

Beginning of a new cozy series

A murder mystery in a quaint California town. Interesting characters, puzzling crimes and a really good story.

Great Read

Cappuccino was another great read by ML Hamilton. This is book one of A Zion Sawyer Cozy Mystery Series. Zion is working in customer service for an insurance company. She has her best friend and her loving parents. She received a call from a lawyer in Sequoia, California but brushes it off. She finds out that she is the sole heir to her biological mother's estate. I really enjoyed reading Zion's story and can't wait to read the rest of this series.

Very Enjoyable

I love mysteries when I feel like I know these people and think like them. Characters were interesting-not cookie cutter in the least. I had to finish the book in one night.

Cappuccino with a side of murder...

A great start to a new cozy mystery series by ML Hamilton.

Zion knew she was adopted and had no desire to meet her birth mother. When she’s contacted by a lawyer, she finds out she is the sole heir to her birth mother’s estate after she unexpectedly passed away. In the hopes of taking care of things quickly and returning to her life in San Francisco, Zion makes the trip out to Sequoia... her life will never be the same...

I love finding a new series where a great author pairs with a great narrator. Having a great story’s one thing, but when you add a top notch narration (bravo, Kelley Hazen!), it takes the book to the next level. I’m really looking forward to continuing on with the next book in the series.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

A great beginning to a new series

'Cappuccino' is a great start to a new series by Ms Hamilton, the author of Peyton Brooks and Avery Nolan adventures, both of which I really like a lot. Now we meet Zion Sawyer who is as strong and relateable a character as the other two:)

This is a cozy mystery, much lighter in mood than Peyton Brooks' stories and much more down-to-earth than Avery Nolan's magical adventures - but it's as entertaining and engaging. The book has an interesting starting point, with Zion suddenly inheriting her biological mother's coffee house and other earthly possessions - which at first she rejects, as she has never met her biological mother and has never wanted to meet her. But, as it soon turns out, that unexpected event allows her to change her life completely - a change she definitely needs, for her own good. The little town of Sequoia, California, is exactly what she needs right now, and the people she meets there are a colourful, friendly bunch... well, most of them, anyway:)

There's an intriguing criminal plot, with some good twists to it, there's also a bit of romance - or possible romance - in the air. The two main characters, Zion herself and her 'co-partner in crime', a former cop Tate, are full-bodied people, with complicated personalities, but very likeable, so it's easy to kind of keep your fingers crossed for them...:) The supporting cast are also very well developed, with a lot of quirks and a lot of warmth to them. And there's a lot of humour - Zion is a kind of character that has a healthy distance to herself and can make other people smile a lot (the reader/listener, too).

In a word, it's a book I just couldn't put down...:)

Narration by Ms Hazen is very good, as usual. She does all the different voices very well, some better than others, but in general it's a great performance by her. She adds tension when necessary, and the humour of the book shines in her interpretation:)

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Loved the start of this series

One thing I really like about this narrator is her ability to do many different voices. There are times as she is narrating it sounds like she gets tickled with what she is reading and it really draws me in to know she is enjoying her work. I love cozy mystery stories and this one did not disappoint. This is like my 2nd book to listen to by this author and I like their style of writing. It is important to pair a great author with a great narrator to draw people into the books. The story line has a sad quality as the main characters mother gave her up for adoption so she never got to know her biological mother until her murder and as the story progresses she learns a lot about the woman that gave her up for adoption and you get a sense of regret because she never tried to get to know her. You get murder, mystery, and add to that a big box store wanting to come into a quaint small town and buy up smaller businesses that shroud it in mystery and suspicion as things begin to happen. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great New Series!

ML Hamilton has a writing style that pulls me in. Cappuccino is a fun cozy mystery that appeals to my senses. I found the characters to be endearing and loved the small town atmosphere. Kelley Hazen's performance was flawless. She brings the characters to life giving them distinguishable voices. I could hear exactly who was speaking. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator. This is a standalone listen.

Fun/Cozy Mystery

I have to admit I usually listen to horror and supernatural books but enjoy a good cozy mystery once in a while and enjoyed this one especially the narration and characters. The main character of Zion Sawyer found out her birth mother Vivian Bradley has died and left her all of her possessions in Sequoia CA and goes there to meet the lawyer. He tells her she is now owner of coffee shop, cottage and some money (you have to listen to find out what happens). It has great character development and liked her parents (Gabi and Joe), Tate and Sheriff Wilson and the book has an unexpected ending. I really enjoyed when she ended her relationship with Insurance Company. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you

An Awesome Listen

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it very entertaining. Big city girl moves to small town to run the Coffee Shop her birth mother left her. Sounds simple enough, but it's not. A big box store wants to come to town and Zion's mother was standing in their way before she was murdered, just a coincidences? Can Zion and her neighbour, the ex-cop solve the mystery before anyone else gets hurt. With this fun cast it doesn't really matter as long as you can listen along as they try. It has it all, suspense, humour, danger and a touch of romance. Once again author and narrator make an awesome team. Looking forward to listening to book 2.

Fantastic!

Certain pairs are winning combinations. Like ketchup and French fries. Or ham and eggs. Or ML Hamilton's books and Kelley Hazen's narration. It is always pleasure to listen to this combination.

26-year old Zion Sawyer is adopted. She has wonderful parents, received a good education, and has a good, albeit stagnant, job in the Bay area. Then she receives a phone call that her biological mother has died and left Zion her estate, including a coffee shop and a cottage in Sequoia. Talk about throwing her for a loop! Zion has a lot to work through between her parents, her dead mother, her career, a kitten too tiny to be away from her mother, a murder and a few mysterious crimes.

This audiobook is the audio equivalent of a page turner. It captures the audience's attention, making it easy to commit to the story. For me, the only disappointment was when the story ended. But guess what? This is only the first book in the series. I am looking forward to more Zion Sawyer and her quirky friends and neighbours.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Brilliant

Another fantastic start to a new series. I absolutely loved this audiobook and I highly recommend this book.
M. L. Hamilton always has me hooked from the start.
And as aways Kelly Hazen’s narration is superb.
I am just starting book two.
🤩🥳🤪

Great Debut

This is an entertaining debut in a new series. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I look forward to the next book.