Book Review!

 

Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2014. Jenna Hart moved back to Crystal Cove, California, to recapture her vitality and to help her aunt Vera run the local culinary bookshop and café. The Cookbook Nook is set to host the town's upcoming Grill Fest, a tasty competition which pits local amateur chefs against one another to prepare the most delicious dishes. This year's challenge: grilled cheese. But, when one of the competitors is murdered, can Jenna find the true culprit before someone she loves gets their goose cooked?
This was a great read. I loved the main character and how she dealt with her past issues. Her aunt Vera always puts a smile on my face. I loved reading about the competition and the other characters from the town. The setting was so well-described that I would love to go and visit the Cookbook Nook. I will definitely continue reading the series. Thank you to the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey for this mysterious read.


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Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Willa Bauer just opened her French-inspired cheese shop, Curds and Whey, in the small town of Yarrow Glen. She's determined to make it a success, starting with a visit from the local food critic. Afterwards, she finds the critic’s dead body, stabbed with one of her shop’s cheese knives. Now a prime suspect, Willa has to figure out which new friend is really a murderer.
I absolutely loved this cozy mystery. It had all the ingredients: likeable characters, intriguing plot, beautiful setting, and great food. It was fast-paced, and an exciting story. I want to read the next book in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this novel. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2021. After her fiancé’s betrayal, Lindsay Bakewell decides to move to Beacon Harbor, Michigan to pursue her dream of opening a bakery. She sets her business up in an old lighthouse, which some citizens disagree with, leading to protests. During the opening day, her former fiancé and his new girlfriend shows up to ruin her day. But, when someone drops dead outside her business, can Lindsay find out what’s going on before her business is shut down for good?
This was a great story full of suspense, intrigue and great characters. I liked how Lindsay took her life in her own hands and changed it for the better after such heartache. The setting sounded so idyllic. I would like to travel there someday. The plot was so engrossing, it kept me guessing until the last page. I was totally surprised when the culprit was revealed.


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Book Review!

 

Silver Creek Bodyguard by Lindsay McKenna
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With a fresh start in the heart of big sky country, Sara Romano is thrilled to bring her herbal remedies to the lovely people of Silver Creek, Wyoming. But when her dark past follows her, and Sara is nearly killed, she knows she is in imminent danger. Reluctantly accepting the bodyguard her mother hires, Sara opens her home to Wes Paxton. Wes is a former orphan who found family in the military. He can’t ignore the feeling that Sara is holding back. The more time he spends with her, the more he understands how afraid she is, which only sends his well-honed protective instincts into overdrive.
This was an endearing love story about two people who find themselves in the midst of chaos. The characters were very likeable, and I was invested with them and their problems. But there was no question that they would get together, no suspense because it was instant love. All of the problems were separate from the relationship. There was suspense, just not romantic suspense. I was looking for more! Thank you to NetGalley and Zebra for the advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Book Review!

 

The Lady and the Bricklayer by Lisa Torquay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Millicent, the daughter of the Duke of Haddington, is shunned by her peers because of her father’s sadistic ways. She is awaiting her 22nd birthday to inherit money left to her by her mother. Until then, she hires a bricklayer to help repair the folie on her father’s property. Martin, the hired bricklayer, wants revenge because the duke raped his sister. But what if the bricklayer falls in love with the daughter? How can he find his revenge?
This is an unconventional romance because the women in this series are all strong and forthright. They take on the norms of the day and stand them on their head. And, that’s why I like this series. It has all the scenic charm of that period without the chauvinistic male dominance. Lady Millicent is refreshing and intelligent. The plot was suspenseful enough to keep my attention. I can’t wait until the next historical romance from this great author. I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Book Review!

 

To Helvetica and Back by Paige Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Published in 2016. Star City is known for its slopes and its powder. It’s also known for its quaint shops such as the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare repair old typewriters and restore old books. When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, a call to the police scares the man off. When Clare finds his dead body in the back alley, she starts to wonder why he wanted the old typewriter, and why was he killed?
This was a good cozy mystery to curl up to on a rainy day. The setting reminded me of my time in Utah with the snow-covered mountains and the tourists that would arrive in winter to ski. The main character is sweet and intelligent, and very likeable. Her relationship with the police is very respectful and interesting. I also liked the romantic subplot. I would love to read another story from this series.


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Book Review!

 

Rule Your Day: 6 Keys to Maximizing Your Success and Accelerating Your Dreams by Joel Osteen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In his latest work, Pastor Joel Osteen shows you how to be intentional and Rule Your Day. With his trademark wisdom and unwavering positivity, Joel reveals six keys for claiming control over each new day. He teaches you how to identify faulty thinking, recast your vision for the future, rise above your circumstances, guard your heart and mind against negativity, and transcend distractions to focus on what matters most.
Pastor Joel Osteen is uplifting, and positive in a world full of negativity. He shows how our thinking changes our perceptions of the future. If we think negatively, then we live negatively. But he doesn’t go on and on boring the reader, he writes intelligently and succinctly. And, I learned how I needed to change my own thinking to turn my life in a positive direction. Thank you to NetGalley and FaithWords for this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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