A smart children's librarian solves this cozy mystery set in paradise!

Before Chloe Jackson's best friend, Boone, deployed to Afghanistan, he had her promise him that should anything happen to him; she would take care of his grandmother, Vivi. He added the stipulation that she couldn't tell his grandmother that this was his final wish. So when a sniper's bullet took his life, Chloe took a leave of absence from her job as a children's librarian in Chicago, loaded up a few things in her hand-me-down VW beetle, and headed to Emerald Cove, Florida, to keep her promise.

Chloe's expectation of caring for a sweet, little, gray-haired lady quickly evaporated when she met the actual Vivi who turned out to be the vibrant, independent, feisty, 70-something-year-old, hell-on-heels owner of the Sea Glass Saloon right there on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. Grandma Vivi certainly didn't seem to need, and definitely didn't want any help from Chloe, and in fact, appeared to dislike her on sight! But Chloe persevered and starts waitressing at the bar to help Vivi and her one employee, Joaquin, out, all the while sleeping in her car or aboard Boone's tiny boat moored at the nearby marina and hunting for a needle in a haystack: an affordable rental at the height of tourist season.

Just as Chloe is getting this waitressing thing down, she discovers the body of one of their regular patrons out back by the dumpster with one of the bar knives stuck in his throat. And when suspicion falls immediately on Vivi and, seemingly, no one else, Chloe begins to question all the suspects that the police are overlooking. She knows she's on to something when she's almost run off a bridge one night, and then someone tries to set fire to Boone's cottage where she ends up staying. But, even though she wants to pack up and return to Chicago, she believes a promise is a promise and becomes more determined than ever to clear Vivi's name and find the real killer.

From Beer to Eternity is the first book in the new series, Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon, by author Sherry Harris. While dealing with issues of grief and loss, it is still a fun and exciting start to the series. Chloe is so likable! She's smart and kind and is quite a sympathetic character as she goes through quite a lot making good on her promise to her best friend (and that's before she finds the dead body!) I enjoyed the ways she used her skills as a children's librarian to gain her footing in the unfamiliar bar setting and her comparison of toddlers at the library and the bar patrons. I was ready to sign up for either a course in library science or bartending!

Because she was a total stranger to the community (like a reader is), her investigations really begin at ground zero, and I liked that. We were both discovering clues at the same pace. She had to ferret out all the hidden history in Emerald Cove herself. And speaking of Emerald Cove, I wanted to make a reservation for a vacation there; it sounds ideal.

All in all, the mystery was logical and plausible with bad guys we immediately knew were up to no good and secret villain lurking behind the scenes and a façade of gracious kindness and a smile for Chloe to uncover in the nick of time. I highly recommend this book to cozy mystery readers and those that like the beachy-bar setting in a paradise of a vacation spot, and those that enjoy a smart librarian as the protagonist.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy. #FromBeertoEternity #NetGalley

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From Beer to Eternity is the debut of the Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon Mystery series set in Emerald Cove, FL and featuring children's librarian, Chloe Jackson. While living in Chicago, Chloe made a promise to her best friend Boone Slidell that if something happened to him while deployed with the National Guard in Afghanistan that she would make her way to the Florida panhandle and look after his grandmother Vivi.

Sadly, Boone was killed and Chloe is now working as a waitress in Vivi's Sea Glass Saloon. Vivi isn't too happy to have her there but believing the lie that Chloe needs to get car parts in order to drive her vintage Beetle back to Chicago, she's letting her pick up a few shifts. Between Chloe living in her car and hiding out on Boone's boat, Florida life isn't too great. The only good thing that's happened is she's made friends with the bartender, Joaquin who seems to be on her side.

After closing up the bar one evening Chloe overhears an argument between Vivi and an unknown male. When she finds the body of Elwell Pugh, the armadillo shell wearing president of the local Chamber of Commerce stabbed behind the Sea Glass, Chloe can't help but wonder if Vivi had something to do with the man's death. Teaming up with Joaquin and the mysterious fireman Rhett Butler, she sets out to keep her promise to Boone and clear Vivi's name.

Plenty of suspects, a fast paced plot and developing characters make for an interesting debut. Readers of the author's Sarah Winston's Garage Sale Mystery series will enjoy this new series. A surprise ending means many more adventures are in store for Chloe in Emerald Cove.

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From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris has Chloe Jackson, a children's librarian, visiting Emerald Cove, Florida for the funeral of her friend, Boone Slidell. Chloe promised Boone that if something happened to him, she would help his grandmother. The caveat is that she cannot tell Vivi, Boone's grandmother, of his request. Vivi is not what Chloe expected. She is a stubborn, feisty, well-dressed woman in her seventies who has taken a dislike to Chloe. In order to stay, Chloe told Vivi that her car broke down and she needs to earn money for the repairs. Vivi reluctantly gave Chloe a job at her beach bar, the Sea Glass Saloon. One morning, Chloe discovers Elwell Pugh, a bar regular, dead behind the bar's dumpster. Evidence points to Vivi as the killer. Chloe begins asking questions to learn who else could have wanted Elwell dead. The killer is not happy with Chloe's nosy nature and sets out to eliminate her. From Beer to Eternity is the debut of A Chloe Jackson, Sea Glass Saloon Mystery series. I found From Beer to Eternity easy to read with steady pacing. Chloe Jackson lives in Chicago, Illinois where she is a children's librarian. She has taken a leave of absence so she can keep her promise to Boone. I like that the author took the time to establish Chloe's character as well as Vivi, Joaquin Diaz, and Rhett Barnett. I can tell Sherry Harris is familiar with the Florida panhandle from her descriptions of the town, bars, restaurants, and tourist attractions. I liked the number and variety of attractions that Chloe visited. I enjoyed the book references especially the Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind. The mystery was thought out with multiple suspects. Chloe begins asking questions around town and eavesdropping so she can clear Vivi off the suspect list. Of course, the killer is not happy with Chloe's sleuthing. I liked the unique murder weapon and the various nefarious activities. I was disappointed that the resolution was not concrete. I like the resolution to be based on fast instead of supposition. I would have preferred fewer references to Rhett's looks and Chloe's hormonal reactions. I enjoyed the humor scattered throughout the story. This cozy mystery will have you longing for the beach where you can relax with a good book and a cool drink. From Beer to Eternity is an engaging cozy mystery that will delight fans of Sherry Harris' A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. From Beer to Eternity is a fun cozy mystery with stentorian snoring, the redneck riviera, flaming fires, deficient drinks, a horrid hat, and a bookish barmaid.

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