Juliet Langley is only just beginning to recover from finding a dead body and a murderer in the first book and now she's found another! At least she finds it with her ex, cop Ryder (though why this somehow clears her of suspicion seems odd to me.) The book actually opens with Juliet hanging out with Stan at his grandmother's funeral. She doesn't really like Stan but her best friend Pete is also there with his super snotty girlfriend, Cecelia who is also Stan's sister. Cecelia is a bitch but that doesn't mean it's okay for someone to stick a coffee thermometer in her neck. And it's really not okay that the police seem to think that Pete did it. So Juliet dives feet first into trying to help her friend out so that he can leave jail.
I really didn't like Juliet in this book. She made a lot, a LOT of stupid (I started with "questionable" and then realized that wasn't quite right) choices that made me question what kind of idiot she is. And it wasn't just the typical "oh, isn't she kooky" sort of trouble that most contemporary cozy mystery heroines get into. The woman is thirty years old and barging into murder situations all while lying to herself and everyone around her about what she's doing. Even after being physically assaulted and getting not one but two friends in trouble because of her investigations, she still keeps on keeping on.
Even with my dislike of Juliet growing as the book went on, I still mostly enjoyed this book and will probably still read the next in this series because I do like Ms. Fardig's overall style. I just really hope that A) this love triangle finally gets figured out because, really, why? It's just annoying and B) Juliet stops putting herself in such stupid situations.

The second book in the Java Jive mystery series was more interesting and engaging than the first one probably because the characters were more developed.
It was well written and I did not expect the murderer to be who it was at all.

*I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a ride! So I did not realize that this was the second book in the series, and had never read the first. It didn't occur to me until about half way through to even check as it did seem like I was missing something, almost like it was just picking some characters back up ... hmmm wonder why?

Even though I picked this up out of sequence it was still quite easy to follow the characters and how they related to each other and where they stood which was fantastic! A lot of times authors assume you just finished the previous book before picking up the current and remember every minute detail (this is never the case for me, even when I read them in order). So it was nice to have a little bit of backstory thrown in every now and again, but not in an overwhelming sense.

Juliet is a typical run of the mill heroine, she is flawed but intensely loyal. She is hell bent on figuring out who really killed Pete's girlfriend and to exonerate her friend. Her relationship with Pete did drive me a little nuts because it does seem a bit much for just friends; especially when I prefer Ryder. However, there is no obvious love triangle which I am forever grateful.

The writing style is very neat and easy to follow. It flows soundly making for a quick read, I finished the book in less then 24 hours. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will probably read the first one, just because and now I can't wait for the 3rd! She'd better stay with Ryder.

I received an ebook version of this book for free from House Party/Chatterbox and Net Gallery in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly, I did not enjoy this book. I did finish it, but I felt that there were many problems. First, the writing is pretty unremarkable. Some very cliche dialogue and far too much vulgarity for no reason. Second, the characters are pretty much all flat. The main character, Juliet, is a train wreck. If she were a real person, she'd surely meet the criteria for some sort of personality disorder. Just about every character in the book is horribly moody. Third, so much of what takes place is just absurd. I can't believe that every man in this town would be mesmerized by Juliet, but that seems to be what happens in the book. And every relationship between Juliet and others (and honestly, between just about any two characters in the book) runs hot and cold. It will be all roses and sunshine one sentence, and suddenly in the next they have turned against each other. Finally, the actual mystery is mediocre at best. The "who" is pretty hard to believe.

This is not a series I would recommend.

I received a digital copy of Mug Shot from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the series picks up right where things left off. A quick read--basically because I could not figure out who the murderer was & I wanted Pete to be exonerated! Once again, Juliet finds herself going out on a limb to solve the murder & almost getting herself killed along the way. I enjoyed the book & characters, simply because it is lighthearted & not serious (which may sound funny for a murder/mystery book, but there it is).

“Mug Shot” by Caroline Fardig
 
In “Death by Decaf,” the first book in the Java Jive Mystery series, we met Pete, who inherited his family’s coffee bar, The Java Jive, which he promptly handed over to his best friend, Juliet. Managing the Jive is difficult, but when a murder takes place, Juliet discovers a talent for detective work, which puts her in danger, but she manages to help catch a killer. However, her heart becomes collateral damage when Ryder, the undercover cop investigating the murder, breaks her heart.
All of that is in the rearview mirror now, as Juliet has moved on. Pete has reunited with his girlfriend, Cecilia, and Juliet is dating Stan, Cecilia’s brother. But, a mind blowing murder will put Pete behind bars and have Juliet once more putting her amateur sleuthing skills to the test. However, she does get help from an unlikely source…Ryder.
Yes, the whole gang is back in this second installment of the Java Jive series. This is another solid effort by Caroline Fardig. The humorous and witty dialogue, mixed with romantic tension, and a puzzling mystery is a fresh and unique combination.
Juliet’s first person narrative is humorous at times and poignant at others, making her a loveable character, I can’t help but cheer on. I get a kick out of her running internal monologue, which is a riot.
The mystery-suspense elements are truly tense on an emotional level this time around, with numerous suspects, various motives, and some very surprising twists and turns, that kept me guessing all the way to the bitter end.
I think cozy mystery readers will enjoy getting to know Juliet—The Redheaded She-Devil—and all her friends at the Java Jive. This series is delightful, well written, and wildly entertaining.
 
Reviewed by Julie Whiteley for Suspense Magazine

I’m always worried when I read the first book in a series and I absolutely love it, I mean what are the chances the second book can live up to it?! I mean how many murders can realistically happen in a coffee shop? That was why, right from the beginning, I was pleased with the way this mystery started. It didn’t seem super unlikely that Juliet somehow got wrapped up in another murder. Unluckly? Definitely! I just love Juliet as our heroine, shes unlucky, has a temper, and fiercely loyal to her friends. Overall I find her very relatable. The more I read about her the more I think I’d love to be her friend, I’d want her in my corner if I was in trouble for sure!

In the second installment of the Java Jive Mysteries we find Juliet’s best friend and former, maybe, love interest Pete in some hot water. His girlfriend, the annoying and unpleasant, Cecilia has been murdered and Pete is the prime suspect. There’s no shortage of suspects which made me worried that I’d figure out who the killer was early on and spoil all the fun. Luckily, that was not the case. I was surprised at every new revelation, which is a great quality in a cozy mystery. Her sleuthing puts her in the path of everyone’s favorite sexy cop, Ryder, again. I have to say that I love the atypical romance in this story. There isn’t a typical love at first sight type of thing. There also isn’t an overdone love triangle thing either. Juliet’s love life is complicated just as things tend to be in real life. Juliet’s life can sometimes be a complicated mess and that extends to her love life as well. With that being said, I feel like the reader will be very satisfied with the way the romance and the mystery is resolved by the end of the book.

I just can’t say enough about how much I love this series and this author. The stories and all the characters pull you in and keep you reading. Caroline Fardig has quickly become an author that I love and I will not hesitate to pick up the next book in this series or anything else she comes out with. So, if you haven’t started this series yet I highly recommend picking it up.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

I loved this short fun mystery. I have not read the first in the series, but plan to go back and find it. Fun Twists and turns and good and bad friendships. Just the right amount of intrigue. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.

*I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review*

This is book two in the Java Jive series and i have t say that this series is getting better and better! I loved this book, it kept me entertained from beginning to end, with no downtime at all. You were either learning more about the individual characters in the book, getting more of their back story and why they do the things they do. Or we were going along for the ride with Juliet trying to solve the murder of her best friends girlfriend.

I loved that there were some highly emotional parts to this book particularly involving Ryder and his past, alongside some hilarious bits, i'm thinking of the argument with the police man here in particular. All the characters are really well fleshed out, even those that aren't particularly nice are multifaceted. I liked that you were able to figure out who the murderer was at pretty much the same time Juliet did, but that looking back over the book it did all make sense. I thought killing off Cecelia was a pretty cunning plan on the part of Fardig as now we have a bit of a love triangle going on with the three main characters, although not one of those highly annoying love triangles.

One bit that does annoy me is the Red Haired She Devil aspect to Juliet's character, i don't like that she keeps saying that it who takes over when she has a bit of a hissy fit or does something she really shouldn't do because someone has wound her up. I think she really needs to grow out of this aspect of her personality or just own it, not blaming this other part of herself.

I cannot wait for another book in this series, and i'm definitely going to pick up the other books by this author just to get my fix!

I received this book from House Party. I really enjoyed this book. I had not read the first Java Jive mystery so I wasn't sure what to expect. This book is a stand alone and you don't have to read the first book to understand what is happening.

The book kept me guessing who did it until the very end so it wasn't predictable. The only issue that I had was that the men in the book all seem to talk to the women characters like they are sex objects or week and unable to take care of themselves.