Shofar, So Good by Aliza Levine

Item: Shofar, So Good
Rating: 5
Author: BaronessMom

Posted September 14, 2026 by BaronessMom in Mystery, Paranormal, Review, Series / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Shofar, So Good

by Aliza Levine

Series: Cafe Arcana Mysteries #2
Series Rating:

Published by Independently Published on August 5, 2025
Setting: Shiloh, Nebraska
Genres: Cozy Culinary Paranormal Mystery
Pages: 298
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Author
Goodreads
Bookhype
BookBub
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Also in this series: A Deck Stacked for Murder

Nothing ruins small-town football like murder at halftime.

Ava Goldberg thought she had her hands full running Cafe Arcana and keeping her tarot business afloat. But when the high school football commentator is murdered in the press box at halftime—right in the middle of the homecoming game—Shiloh is thrown into chaos.

Unfortunately for Ava, two of the main suspects are way too close for comfort:

Her ex-husband.

And the guy she’s maybe-sort-of dating.

The last thing she wants is to get involved. But when small-town gossip turns into full-blown scandal, Ava knows she has to step in—before someone else gets hurt and her new life unravels faster than a crocheted yarmulke.

Between navigating awkward Rosh Hashanah dinners, second-guessing her love life, and tracking down a killer, Ava’s holiday season is about to get a little more meshugge—and whole lot deadlier.

The second book in the Cafe Arcana Mystery series, Shofar, So Good is perfect for fans of cozy coffee shops, Jewish holidays, and small-town whodunnits with a mystical twist.

Shofar, So Good by Aliza Levine is marvelously filled with fall and mystery.

Will Ava and Owen find the culprit?

Ava Goldberg

In this second installment, we get to meet Ava’s ex-husband and see how she reacts to him. We see so much growth in Ava. I love seeing her embrace her new life and what she wants it to be and who she wants in it. Ava can be feisty when needed. Her relationship with her parents and Riley is wonderful.

Her passion for coffee is a big part of her persona, but my favorite is when she accepts Folgers and doesn’t make any snide comments. Because seriously, whose parents didn’t drink Folgers? I think Ava has a wonderful future in Shiloh.

I also enjoyed the Goldberg celebration of Rosh Hashanah. I learned so much.

The Mystery

There is the death of the high school radio announcer, who is a jerk. There are a few suspects, and some of them are close to Ava. Most are petty disagreements that, of course, deserved a discussion with Greathouse, but they weren’t worth killing over. One of the suspects happens to be Ava’s ex-husband.

I love the way Ava’s mind works; even when she is trying not to think about the mystery, she still figures something out. Owen and Ava make a wonderful team.

Five Stars

My rating for Shofar, So Good by Aliza Levine is five stars. I do highly recommend this book. It has a lovely mix of mystery, romance, and small-town characters, with a touch of the paranormal. The third book is out, and I need to add it to my TBR.

Cafe Arcana Mysteries

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Shofar, So Good by Aliza Levine.

Until the next time,

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About Aliza Levine

Aliza Levine is the author of the Cafe Arcana Mysteries, a cozy mystery series packed with cornfields, tarot cards, romance, and a sprinkling of Jewish mysticism. A native Nebraskan, she’s been reading tarot for more than a decade and writing since she could hold a pencil.

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