Thursday, January 16, 2014

Review and Giveaway: Pecan Pies and Homicides

Pecan Pies and Homicides (Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery - Book 3) by Ellery Adams

Publication Date: 01/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425252418
ISBN-13: 978-0425252413

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Ellery Adams on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series

Pies and Prejudice (2012), Peach Pies and Alibis (2013), Pecan Pies and Homicides (2014)

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.




Excerpt from, Pecan Pies and Homicides, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

Her Charmed Pie Shoppe is open for business, but baker Ella Mae LeFaye is about to discover solving a murder is not as easy as pie…
 
Owning the Charmed Pie Shoppe and serving enchanted treats in the magical town of Havenwood, Georgia, seemed like a little slice of heaven for Ella Mae LeFaye. But now her hopes for both a lasting romance with Hugh Dylan and business success are starting to seem like pie in the sky, and Ella’s left wondering: Where has the magic gone?
 
When an enchanted grove is set ablaze, Ella realizes she has more grave problems. With her magic waning, she’s going to have to sleuth from scratch to stop an arsonist who has no respect for sacred ground—or human life…


Thoughts:

Pecan Pies and Homicides is the third book in Ellery Adams' Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series. Fans of the series will be thrilled with Ella Mae's search for a way to free her mother from the Ash tree and in her amateur sleuthing. But it's not only murder afoot this time in Havenwood, but an arsonist as well. Adams has a way with description that is unparalleled in the genre and she does her homework on the magical aspects of this series. If you are looking for a little magic in your confections, this is the series for you!

What I liked:

One of the things I like about this series is Ellery Adams' attention to detail. The magic she writes about in this series is what I would call earth magic. It has a lot to do with the essence of life and that sort of thing. I appreciate the fact that Adams didn't go with a normal type of magic that readers may be over saturated with. The kinds of things she talks about in this series are different and really interesting, my Scottish grandfather would have said this is very old magic. Whatever it is, it makes for a great secondary theme in this mystery series.

Ella Mae and her family have been feuding with the Gaynor family for years and in Pecan Pies and Homicides readers learn a little more about what caused all the trouble. Apart from each other members of both families seem nice and caring but when put in proximity to the other family, all bets are off. I liked the background touches that Adams provides that only move the plot of this book along, but the story arc for the entire series.

Ella Mae and Hugh are slowly becoming more into each other, but it looks like there may be a few stumbling blocks ahead. Ella Mae can't tell him about her magic or she'll lose it and now there is a possibility that Hugh isn't quite normal either. I liked the daily life aspects of this book a lot. The romance between these two has had some ups and downs and I think I like where it's going.

The mystery part of the book was two-fold. First you have an arsonist who tried to burn down a sacred grove. Ella Mae is trying to figure out who it is and if it might happen again, all while looking for a way to free her mother from the ash tree (long story, but if you are a fan of the series you know what I'm talking about). Then you have a murder as well to try to solve. I liked the two-fold approach because it not only allowed the reader to see different aspects of each crime, it also brought in new characters and allowed readers to see old characters in new ways. I certainly didn't have arsonist or killer figured out until near the end of the book. 

What I didn't like:

As with any book that employs a paranormal element, the author has to be cautious about letting that element take over. I noticed it a little bit in this one, but then the mystery cranked up and it got better. It was just a little overwhelming in the beginning. Not a major problem with the plot to be sure. This was still an excellent addition to this intriguing series.

Bottom Line:

Pies, magic, murder and arson, that's what this book is about. It's a well written and interesting book that will appeal to those who love mysteries and the paranormal. Ella Mae ain't your average witch. Can't wait to see where Adams takes the gang from Havenwood next.

Pecan Pies and Homicides is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




About the Author:


Ellery Adams has had a lifelong love affair with both stories and food. As a child, she used to make mud pies and eat them. Over the years, she became more adept in the kitchen, and when she’s not writing, she loves to don an apron and fill her home with the sweet, buttery scent of baking pies. Ms. Adams has held many jobs, including caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all while penning poems, children’s books, and novels. She writes and creates culinary delights from her home in central Virginia. 


Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Pecan Pies and Homicides by Ellery Adams.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, January 30th.

1. Please leave a comment describing your favorite kind of pie and why you like it.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

29 comments:

traveler said...

Lemon Meringue pie or any lemon pie is my ultimate enjoyment. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

cyn209 said...

my all-time favorite pie is Apple Pie, especially Entenmann's!!!!

thank you for the giveaway!!!

Linda Kish said...

I like cherry pie. It's so sweet and yummy, especially when it's nice and warm.

Unknown said...

Dutch apple pie, because it was the first pie I learned to make by myself when I was young. It's still my fav !
kathambre@yahoo.com

Karen B said...

Homemade Peach Crumb Pie - a slice of heaven!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Unknown said...

I love cherry pie because it's both tart and sweet. I don't like things that are overwhelmingly sweet and this type of pie fits the bill perfectly.

Rita Wray said...

Love apple pie, homemade.

Sue Farrell said...

Pecan pie is my favorite because the pecans are so crunchy in the gooey sweetness.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

NoraA said...

My favorite pie is the 3 fruit pie, classically made with cherries, blueberries, and pineapple. Unfortunately my local bakeries have switched to using apple instead of pineapple making me a very unhappy old lady.

Susie R said...

Marie Callender's Razzleberry Pie is my all time favorite

Anonymous said...

Love Apple Pie.

Unknown said...

My 1st favorite is Lemon Icebox Pie. I love it because it's a cold pie, but feels light. My 2nd favorite is Pecan Pie. I love pecans and the filling in this pie.

Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

My favorite pie is made with a layer of sliced peaches and then a layer of blueberries. When it bakes the blueberry drip down on the peaches making pretty red streaks on the peaches. I love it because I took it to a family reunion and it was gone before I could get any of it!

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Nancy said...

My favorite pie is Cherry. A close second is lemon merange. I just love Cherries. Just as long as I don't have to make it. My pie crust turn out looking like a patchwork quilt.

Rachelle21 said...

French Apple because TastyKake made the best.

Angela - Bookaunt said...

My favorite pie is cherry - I like the tartness but the sweet at the same time.

Elizabeth Schroedle said...

Apple and lemon meringue pie

lag123 said...

Key Lime because I love the mixture of tartness ans sweetness.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

bn100 said...

apple pie for the smell

Carol M said...

I love pumpkin pie with whipped cream! It reminds me of all the great Thanksgiving celebrations we have had.

Linda said...

Favorite fruit pies-apple or cherry. Usually make myself so really fresh & flavorful. Favorite at resturant lemon or chocolate meringue. I like them bc they're delicious and I'm too lazy to make myself and then theire is that perfect meringue thing.

Anonymous said...


My favorite pie is homemade Pecan pie. I love the pecans a lot, but also all of the carmeley insides. Great flavor. And, i don't waste a bite of the crust either like some. Please put my name in the drawing for a chance to be a winner. Thanks, Maxie
mac262(at)me(dot)com

Anonymous said...


Debbie, I forgot to say I am a subscriber to this blog. Thanks. Maxie Anderson

Charlotte said...

Chocolate Pie
CABWNANA1@bellsouth.net

Anita Yancey said...

My favorite kind of pie is Cherry. Thanks for having the giveaway.

ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

Michelle F. said...

A chocolate pie (Edwards' frozen pies are good).

catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

Nancy said...

I just love cherry pie, almost anything made with cherries.

Karin said...

I will eat most any pie! Yum! At this time of year, I like pumpkin a lot!

holdenj said...

I love Lemon Meringue Pie as a special treat. It's one I haven't tried to make myself, I worry about messing it up.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com