One Dead Cookie (Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery - Book 4) by Virginia Lowell
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425260690
ISBN-13: 978-0425260692
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Virginia Lowell on the WEB: Website, Blog, Goodreads
Books in the series:
Cookie Dough or Die (2011), A Cookie Before Dying (2011), When the Cookie Crumbles (2012), One Dead Cookie (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from One Dead Cookie, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside Feature.
Synopsis:
Olivia Greyson is the proud owner of The Gingerbread House—a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie—and her best friend, Maddie, is her sidekick, baking up scrumptious treats for their cookie-themed parties. But a dead body on their front porch might put their bake shop in a truly sticky situation…
Olivia is busy baking up special cookies for Maddie’s upcoming engagement party when soap star Trevor Lane shows up unexpectedly in town. It soon becomes clear that Trevor, who grew up in the neighboring town of Twiterton, left behind a number of enemies with long memories. Even Trevor’s assistant and childhood friend, Dougie, seems to harbor a grudge against him.
Soon after his arrival, Trevor is found dead on The Gingerbread House porch, his handsome face branded with the image of a cookie cutter. When their friend Stacey is implicated in the murder, Olivia and Maddie rush to find the killer. Because it seems someone in Chatterley Heights has a sweet tooth for revenge...
Thoughts:
Virginia Lowell once again thrills readers with the latest book in the Cookie Cutter Shop mystery series, One Dead Cookie. Culinary cozy fans will find that this new addition to the series, satisfies their cravings for cookies as well as mysteries. Amateur sleuth, Olivia Greyson, has an engagement party to pull off and a dead body on the porch, isn't on the menu! Full of interesting characters and hometown charm, One Dead Cookie is sure to be a success for Lowell.
I remember making cookies as a child. I always wanted the cookie cutter that was shaped like the Gingerbread Boy. Virginia Lowell's Cookie Cutter Shop mysteries always bring out that nostalgic feeling in me. Whether it's baking cookies with my mom when I was a little girl or baking with my own children, these books make me a little reminiscent. They also bring to mind, being cuddled up in my favorite spot by the fireplace and falling asleep with an Agatha Christie book in my hand.
Lowell's mysteries remind me of times past. The small town charm of Chatterley Heights is addictive. Once a reader starts to get to know this very active little town and all the relationships between the townspeople. It's a little hard to put down one of Lowell's books. Especially, when the mystery starts to heat up. You find yourself wondering how anyone from this idyllic little town could do something like this, but Lowell always figures out a way to bring it all together and One Dead Cookie is no exception.
One of the things that I really liked about this one was the continuation of the friendship between Olivia and Maddie. Throughout this series, these two have been the best of friends. They have a relationship that most women crave. Someone to pal around with, go to lunch or a movie, someone to tell your secrets to, a shoulder to cry on, someone who just gets you. I think that Lowell really portrays friendship in such a remarkable light. She shows readers what it is all about to have someone who always has your back, even when dead bodies tend to show up now and then. LOL.
I liked the soap star returns home angle that Lowell used for this mystery. It was kind of like, boy makes it in the big city but still has a lot of skeletons in the closet back home. I thought I had it figured out a dozen times and was wrong every time. I love it when that happens. Lowell picked some great motives for her suspects and there were enough red herrings to throw the reader off indefinitely. This was a great story and it really kept me guessing.
I have to mention the recipes in the back of this one. I'm always looking to try to see if I would like the recipes provided. Sometimes I even try a couple of them, just to see. There were two recipes in this one, Ellie's Lemon Chicken and Rose Wedding Cutout Cookies. The Rose Wedding Cutout Cookies look amazing. I'm always looking for recipes my daughter might like, as she is preparing to one day have her own bakery.
This is a great addition to the series. I loved the bonds of friendship between Olivia and Maddie and the mystery aspect of the book was very engaging and had a lot of possible endings. I didn't figure this one out ahead of time, which is always a good thing. I definitely recommend it.
One Dead Cookie is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of One Dead Cookie by Virginia Lowell.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, August 5th.
1. Please leave a comment with your favorite cookie making memory.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
It's been a little while since I did a winner's post. It's been a busy summer around here to say the least. First of all I want to thank everyone for participating in my giveaways. I really enjoy being able to share these wonderful books with you and to promote the authors who write them. Make sure you are following the directions on the posts. Most of them are very similar but keep your eye out for ones that specific questions for your comments etc. Also, I have recently changed the guidelines for participating in the giveaways. I am asking that those participating follow by email because Google is always changing things up and I want to make sure that my regular readers are the ones who are winning. I appreciate all comments, even those reviews that don't have a giveaway, HINT, HINT, lol... Now for the good stuff...
Monument to the Dead (Museum Mystery - Book 4) by Shelia Connolly
Winner: Angela (griperang)
Steamed to Death (Gourmet De-Lite Mystery - Book 2) by Peg Cochran
Winner: Tammy Cuevas
Trouble Vision (Raven's Nest Bookstore - Book 3) by Allison Kingsley
Winner: Theresa N.
Thread and Buried (Threadville - Book 3) by Janet Bolin
Winner: Linda Kish
The Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne (Sydney Dovedale - Book 2) Jayne Fresina
Winner: Jessica Dixon
Murder After a Fashion (Accessories Mystery - Book 3) by Grace Carroll
Winner: Sue Farrell
A Captain and a Corset (Steam Guardians - Book 2) by Mary Wine
Winner: Angie Outland
Cast On, Kill Off (Knitting Mystery - Book 10) by Maggie Sefton
Winner: bn100
Lethal Outlook (Psychic Eye - Book 10) by Victoria Laurie
Winner: Brooke Bumgardner
One Sweet Ride (Play-By-Play - Book 6) by Jaci Burton
Winner: Crystal GB
Tarnished and Torn (Witchcraft Mystery - Book 5) by Juliet Blackwell
Winner: Jennifer Wadkins
The Outcast Prince (Annwyn - Book 1) by Shona Husk
Winner: Diane Sallans
The Officer and the Secret (Semper Fi - Book 3) by Jeanette Murray
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre: Military Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 1402265468
ISBN-13: 978-1402265464
(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Jeanette Murray on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads
Books in the series:
The Officer Says I Do (2012), The Officer Breaks the Rules (2013), The Officer and the Secret (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from The Officer and the Secret, courtesy of the authors website.
Synopsis:
If There's One Thing He Hates, It's a Secret...
Coming home after a rough deployment, Captain Dwayne Robertson wants some stability in his life, and finds it in the friendship he's forged with Veronica Gibson while he was away. But her past is a well-guarded mystery, and Dwayne doesn't know if he can deal with a woman who has something to hide...
And She's Filled with Them...
Veronica Gibson doesn't want anyone to know about her bizarre upbringing. She's finally escaped her missionary parents and would be enjoying her independence if she didn't feel so insecure about fitting in. She can easily envision a glorious future with Dwayne—but can she build a new life on a web of lies?
Thoughts:
Jeanette Murray brings readers the final book in the Semper Fi trilogy, The Officer and the Secret. Military romance has become a rising trend and books like this one prove that there will be a lot more to come. A struggling Marine and an innocent young woman, what a combination! Murray's straight forward voice is refreshing and entertaining. Her characters shine in this story focusing on current issues and honesty. The Officer and the Secret is a novel romance fans won't want to miss!
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for a man in uniform. I have a lot of respect for the military and the men and women who allow us our freedoms. I have recently started reading more military centered romances. Catherine Mann is a favorite of mine and Jeanetter Murray as well. One of the things I think Murray does so exceptionally is to make her military characters so realistic. She understands the military attitude and the vulnerability that these kinds of characters don't often show and she uses that to make her stories get right to the heart of service men and women.
The Officer and the Secret is easily my favorite of this series. Murray has created a series that doesn't just leave her other characters in the shadows. The couples from the first two books in the series are very important characters in the third book and I thought that was wonderful. It was nice to revisit those characters and relationships and it just added a new dimension to this book. It allowed the reader to see where Dewayne and Veronica had been and how far they come in this one.
Murray focuses on an issue that has long plagued military men and women. Re-adjustment to normal life after being deployed. I thought she dealt with this issue in a very admirable way. Not only did she show the devastating effects of PTSD, she also showed a character that knew he needed help and wasn't afraid to seek it. Dewayne is such a wonderful character, strong and courageous but vulnerable and susceptible as well. I liked the fact that she made him a real man, with issues and fears, just like anyone else. I know we tend to think of servicemen as larger than life and able to handle anything, but sometimes it's the normal everyday things that bring them down. I appreciated the fact that Murray was able to convey that.
Veronica was also a very good character. In some ways she was a breath of fresh air, an unspoiled innocent. But she was wise beyond her years. It was her inner peace that became the balm to soothe Dewayne's tortured soul. I thought that Murray portrayed her as someone with great understanding, yet she was also afraid. Like everyone else she wanted to fit in and her upbringing wasn't your typical suburban life. Growing up in the wild's of a third world country has left her with issues adapting to American society, so in a way she relates to Dewayne like no one else can. I thought it was a wonderful combination. This relationship seemed like one of those that you just knew would somehow work despite the obstacles they had to face.
I really enjoyed this book, though there was an aspect of it that did not sit well with me. Veronica's upbringing was portrayed as almost abusive in a sense that her parents were more concerned about others than her. Personally, I know a lot of missionaries and I know the lifestyle and the sacrifices that they and their families make on a daily basis. And I think Murray was a little harder on that, than she had to be. I know it made sense for the storyline and it was important to the theme of the book, but I still found myself cringing, because not every missionary family is like that and I hope that readers understand that is was an isolated case and necessary to the plot. Missionaries aren't evil people who don't care about their own families. Just sayin...
Murray has written a very compelling novel with intriguing characters, current military issues and some hot and steamy romance to boot. The chemistry between Dewayne and Veronica is palpable throughout the novel and when they finally come together it is very passionate. I liked that, because both are very passionate people and it stands to reason that it carries over in all aspects of their lives, especially the bedroom.
This is definitely a book and a series that I would recommend to those who enjoy military romance, or who are thinking about trying it.
The Officer and the Secret is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag, even though I did have a bit of a hiccup with this one it was still an exceptional read!
About the Author:
Jeanette also writes contemporary romance under the name Kat Murray.
Jeanette spends her days surrounded by hunky alpha male heroes...at least in her mind. In real life, she's a one-hero kind of woman. When she's not chasing her daughter or their lovable-but-stupid Goldendoodle around the house, she's deep in her own fictional world, building another love story. She and her family recently settled on the outskirts of St. Louis, and they are having fun exploring their new area.
For more information, head over to her website at www.jeanettemurray.com, follow her on Twitter at @KJMurrayBooks, or find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/jeanettemurraybooks
Yarn to Go (Yarn Retreat - Book 1) by Betty Hechtman
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425252213
ISBN-13: 978-0425252215
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Betty Hechtman on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Excerpt from Yarn to Go, courtesy of the authors website.
Synopsis:
Dessert chef Casey Feldstein doesn’t know a knitting needle from a crochet hook. But after her aunt dies unexpectedly, leaving Casey to run her yarn retreat business, the sweets baker finds herself rising to the occasion—and trying to unravel a murder mystery…
When Casey finds out that her late aunt’s business, Yarn2Go, has one more yarn retreat scheduled, she decides to go ahead and host the event, despite her complete lack of experience as a knitter. At least the retreat is on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula.
But the idyllic setting is soured when a retreat regular is found murdered in her hotel room. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Casey begins to weave the clues together and detects a pattern which may shed light on her aunt’s suspicious death. Despite the danger, the last thing Casey plans to do is retreat. She’ll catch this killer…or dye trying.
Thoughts:
Betty Hechtman is well known for her crochet mystery series, but she moves in a new direction with the first book in a new series, Yarn to Go, featuring knitting. Hechtman combines knitting with the culinary arts in this book that will appeal to cozy mystery fans, knitting enthusiasts and foodies. Hechtman is able to connect with her readers by developing a new heroine that is very relatable. Casey Feldstein is one of those "every man" kind of characters that fans will flock to. The California seaside is the backdrop to this captivating cozy that will have readers heading for the yarn store in droves.
I am not a knitter! Yes, it's true, I am a crafter but not when it comes to knitting or crocheting which are two subjects that are near and dear to author Betty Hechtman. I have read her Crochet series and loved it very much, so I was excited about this new series coming out. I had heard of all different kinds of retreats from women's retreats to church retreats etc. But a yarn retreat was a new one for me. I liked the concept and as the story began to unfold I was seeing all kinds of possibilities. I think Hechtman has a good idea here, that readers will enjoy.
The beginning of the book was a bit slow for me. I think what happened was basically what sometimes bogs down the first book in a series. The author has so much information to impart this book, that mystery almost gets lost in the details. She has to set up the main character, her relationship to the town or the business, she has to bring in the characters and still set up the scene for the whole series. It's a lot for first book and sometimes it weighs on the story a bit.
Casey was a bit unsure of herself in the first part of the book. She was letting others make decisions for her and she wasn't very confident in her abilities, primarily because she was hosting a knitting retreat and she had no idea how to knit. I understand the sentiment, but she seemed a little down on herself, some of the other characters did as well, because they had a lot of baggage in their personal lives. When they began to let that go and just enjoy themselves at the retreat the book starting flowing a little better.
I liked the idea that Casey was a dessert chef. That added a second dimension to the book and brought in a broader audience. There was the risk that, that aspect of her character would overtake the knitting concept of the story, but Hechtman balanced the two wonderfully and was able to appeal to a much larger base. I liked the idea that Casey is trying to find her "place" in the world, so to speak. She has a lot on her plate, but she is figuring it all out.
The mystery aspect of the story was quite good, once you got past the issues with the set up. Once the mystery got going it moved a good even clip. The motives were plausible and the suspects were believable. I like when I think it's a mystery that could have actually happened. The whole creepy hotel on the island with the fog rolling in, put me in the mind set of those old mystery movies with dead bodies showing up everywhere. It had a cool vibe that I liked. The ending was satisfying and incorporated a lot of potential for future books.
I actually think the next book in the series will be better. But I did enjoy this one and can see a lot of potential in where the series is going. I liked the whole idea of the yarn retreat and I think Casey will be a good heroine, now that she is being to have confidence in herself. I look forward to the next one.
Yarn to Go is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Betty Hechtman has a degree in fine arts and since college has studied everything from tap dancing to magic. When she isn’t writing, reading, or crocheting, she’s probably at the gym. She lives in Southern California with her family.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a one copy giveaway of Yarn to Go by Betty Hechtman.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, July 31st.
1. Please leave a comment for the author on this post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Woof at the Door (Call of the Wilde - Book 1) by Laura Morrigan
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425257193
ISBN-13: 978-0425257197
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Laura Morrigan on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Excerpt from Woof at the Door, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
Animal behaviorist Grace Wilde keeps her ability to psychically communicate with furry and feathered critters under wraps. But when a Doberman turns out to be the only witness to a crime, Grace will have to let the cat out of the bag in order to catch a killer.
Grace Wilde’s job is anything but normal. When she’s not helping out at the zoo by comforting agitated lemurs, she’s listening to the woes of annoyed house pets. Grace’s life gets even more complicated, though, when the cops summon her to a crime scene to help deal with the murder victim’s terrified Doberman.
The pooch turns out to be the only one who saw what happened the night of the shooting—and only Grace can get the information out of him. The problem is, how will Grace tell the distractingly gorgeous Sergeant Kai Duncan that it’s the dog who’s giving her the intel without spilling her big secret or sounding crazy? Left on her own, Grace will have to follow the pup’s lead to track down the killer. But she’ll have to be careful—or curiosity may end up killing the cat whisperer.
Thoughts:
Laura Morrigan's first foray in the cozy mystery sub-genre, Woof at the Door is a fascinating look into the psyche of animals. Heroine Grace Wilde is what some would refer to as a animal whisperer. She uses her ability to telepathically communicate with animals, who often provide her with some interesting information. Morrigan creates a story that will appeal to not only cozy fans but animal lovers as well.
Grace Wilde is such an endearing character. I liked her from the very first chapter. Grace who has a special knack for communicating with animals, can't communicate with people very well at all. I liked that about her, she is kind of different and eccentric all at the same time. Morrigan actually appears to have a bit of a bigger message with this character. It's about fitting in and feeling comfortable in your own skin. Grace grows during this book and I think it will be an ongoing theme throughout the series as well. How she copes with who and what she is and how she gets over being uncomfortable with it and learns to love herself for who she is and her uniqueness.
Grace is able to talk to animals. I have always loved that idea. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the dog whisperer and the movie, The Horse Whisperer. This book reminds me of that mind set. Though Grace actually has a psychic connection to the animals in the story. I liked the fact that she was able to speak to all sorts of animals and not just one species. It was an interesting concept that could have come off as really cheesy, but it didn't. Morrigan treated it in such a way, that it felt almost real that Grace could do this.
The mystery itself was full of adventure. The killers actual motive for the murder was a big surprise to me. I thought that was interesting since I thought I had read just about every motive that writers could come up with. In the cozy sub-genre I think it is difficult to find something new and different to bring to the table and I thought that Morrigan did that. She not only provided readers with lovable characters, but she also did a wonderful job of laying out the clues and letting the reader follow the trail. She didn't give away too much at a time, which kept the reader turning those pages.
I had an idea who might be the killer in this one before the end, but I was wrong. I love it when that happens! It means the author was able to drop so many red herrings and so many possible suspects and motives that most readers won't pick up on it til the very end.
Woof at the Door is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Spending the first years of her life on a Costa Rican coffee farm blessed Laura Morrigan with a fertile imagination and a love for all things wild. Later she became a volunteer at a local zoo, helping out with everything from “waste management” to teaching an elephant how to paint. Drawing from her years of experience with both wild and domestic animals and her passion for detective novels, Laura created the Call of the Wilde series. She lives in Florida with her husband and far too many cats, loves the Blue Angels, wearing flip flops in November, and thunderstorms.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a one copy giveaway of Woof at the Door by Laura Morrigan.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, July 31st.
1. Please leave a comment for the author on this post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
Dolled Up To Die (Cate Kinkaid Files - Book 2) by Lorena McCourtney
Publication Date: July 15, 2013
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Imprint: Revell
Genre: Chrsitian Mystery
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0800721594
ISBN-13: 978-0800721596
(Received for an honest review from Revell Books)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, ChristianBook, IndieBound
Lorena McCourtney on the WEB: Website, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
Dying to Read (2012), Dolled Up to Die (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from Dolled Up to Die, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside Feature
Synopsis:
When Cate Kinkaid receives a frantic call about a triple homicide, she drives to the scene against her better judgment--aren't triple homicides more up the police department's alley?--only to find that the victims are not quite who she expects. Now she has a new rule to add to those she's learned in her short stint as an assistant private investigator: always find out if the victims actually have human DNA. Because these three do not.
But who would shoot this nice lady's dolls? What possible reason could the shooter have? And then there's the startling discovery of another victim, who definitely does have human DNA . . .
With tension that is matched only by humor, Dolled Up to Die is the exciting second book in Lorena McCourtney's The Cate Kinkaid Files. Mystery fans won't find a place to stop and take a breath in this fast-paced and intriguing tale.
Thoughts:
Lorena McCourtney's sleuth, Cate Kinkaid is at it again in the latest book in the Cate Kinkaid Files series, Dolled Up to Die. This is a cozy mystery with a Christian perspective. Intriguing characters and an interesting premise make this book a must read for those who enjoy a good whodunit with a message. McCourtney's knack for adding humor and Christian wisdom is evident in just about every chapter. Readers will love this fast paced mystery with a captivating twist. Some of the victims aren't human!
I love McCourtney's approach to mystery. As in most of her books she adds in just the right amount of humor to make those intense situations a little lighter. This is typical of the cozy mystery sub-genre, but the interesting part is that this is a Christian cozy and I think the humor might not be expected to many Christian and inspirational readers. I think it will be nice surprise and endear them even more to the characters and to the author. I think McCourtney really scores with this approach.
I loved the whole doll angle that McCourtney uses in Dolled Up to Die. The fact that three of the victims are dolls was kind of an odd idea but it really works here. Of course there was an additional human victim that actually propels the investigation, but I thought McCourtney addition of the dolls was certainly inventive.
Most the time when you find dolls in fiction, especially in mysteries, they have a kind of creepiness to them and I think McCourtney effectively took that away in this one, which was nice. I will never forget that episode of Criminal Minds where the woman was kidnapping women, drugging them and dressing them up like life size dolls. I had the heebie jeebies for weeks over that one. But McCourtney's dolls are nothing like that. She was able to make the doll-maker a very intriguing character and give the reader some interesting information about doll making in the process.
The cast of characters in this book was exceptional. I love Octavia the dead cat and all of the interesting suspects who all had motive. The handsome wine maker, the spiritualist and even the eye-candy chick all added a new dimension to the mystery. I loved the way the book flowed, with each characters having their page time and moving the story along. McCourtney does an excellent job of incorporating everyone into the mix.
Cate as usual is a great heroine. She has a few moments of indecision and sometimes she is clueless about what's going on around her, but she still comes off as a very good sleuth. Eventually she puts it all together and solves the case, right along with the reader. She is also the crux of the Christian message in this book. She rely's on God in all situations and I think McCourtney's message is evident but not overpowering.
This is a great cozy with a Christian influence and McCourtney does a wondering job of writing good clean fiction for readers who don't want all gore and rough language.
Available July 15th at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Lorena McCourtney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of dozens of novels, including Dying to Read, Invisible (which won a Daphne du Maurier Award from Romance Writers of America), In Plain Sight, On the Run, and Stranded. She resides in Oregon.
Final Sentence (Cookbook Nook Mystery - Book 1) by Daryl Wood Gerber
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425258041
ISBN-13: 978-0425258040
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Daryl Wood Gerber (aka. Avery Ames) on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Cozy Mystery
Excerpt from Final Sentence, courtesy of the author.
Synopsis:
In need of a change, Jenna Hart leaves the high-pressure world of advertising to help her aunt Vera open a culinary bookshop and café. Back with her family in Crystal Cove, California, Jenna seems to have all the right ingredients for a fresh start--until someone adds a dash of murder.
As a marketing expert, Jenna wants to make sure the grand opening of the Cookbook Nook draws a crowd, and no one is better at getting attention than her old college roommate, celebrity chef Desiree Divine. But when Desiree arrives in quiet Crystal Cove to do a cookbook signing, the diva stirs up more trouble than business...especially when she turns up dead.
Known for stealing husbands and burning bridges, Desiree left behind plenty of suspects--including Jenna. Though the celebrity's life always appeared to be an open book, Jenna will have to read between the lines in order to clear her name, and catch a killer before another body is served cold.
Thoughts:
Murder and mayhem abound in the first book of the Cook Book Nook mystery series. Author Daryl Wood Gerber is not new to the cozy genre. She writes the Cheese Shop mystery series under the name, Avery Ames. It's easy to see that this author is a foodie!. Final Sentence is cozy with a lot going on, from the intriguing characters to the enchanting small town feel of Crystal Cove. Heroine Jenna Hart is sassy and full of surprises that will leave readers feeling as satisfied as the food in the Cook Book Nook cafe!
I have long been a fan of this author. Her stories are both fun to figure out and full of charm and small town goodness. Gerber has a knack for creating an atmosphere that readers feel comfortable with, maybe a little nostalgic and full of surprises. Crystal Cove quickly got into my heart when reading Final Sentence. I liked this little California town. It had that California feel too it. Not like LA where everything is fast paced and hectic, but like the little towns up and down the coast where the weather is always fair and the rat race is left long behind. I look forward to seeing this town and its inhabitants grow and develop as this series continues.
I liked the whole idea of a cookbook store. My mother would be in heaven. She is a cookbook collector and the idea of a whole store based just on cookbooks was amazing. I liked the fact that Jenna has had some experiences in the bigger wider world and decided that small town living was more for her and that she wanted to help her aunt with her venture into the cookbook world. I loved the recipes at the end. My sister has recently started a gluten free diet and lets face it, there isn't a lot to choose from, but the Gluten-Free Orange Chocolate Biscotti, sounds quite tasty!
The mystery aspect of the story was a lot of fun to try to put together. It took me awhile to figure this one out, in fact I didn't figure it out until the big reveal though I was on the right track. I love it when a cozy gets just the right mix of mystery and the rest of the story, so to speak. Final Sentence had a great balance, but still kept you on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen next. The murder victim was interesting and the motives and suspects that came from it, were intriguing and kept me guessing right up until the end.
Jenna and her aunt are great characters and the townspeople of Crystal Cove really added to the overall feel of the story. I think Gerber did a great job of making Jenna relatable to the reader and unique in her own way. I liked her advertising background and the way she was able to use her skills in her new endeavors and I think she is going to be a heroine that readers will get behind and really enjoy. Can't wait to see what she gets into next. I loved the preview chapter of the next book in the series. I love it when they do that, it just whets your appetite for what's to come.
Final Sentence is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Daryl Wood Gerber is an Agatha Award-winning author who writes the Cheese Shop Mystery series under the pseudonym Avery Aames. Like her protagonist, Daryl is an admitted foodie and an avid reader of books, including cookbooks. Prior to writing, Daryl acted onstage and television, including on Murder, She Wrote.
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Final Sentence by Daryl Wood Gerber.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only (publisher request)
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, July 25th.
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