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.
Review
It was good and I enjoyed it, but the main character got on my nerves. I liked a lot of the other characters and perhaps it was just getting to know Jenna and her story, but she seemed really nervous/jumpy and while I know being accused of murder is enough to make everyone batty, she seemed a little over the top.
Now there is a hunky man who is a former chef, Rhett Jackson. I think he will be Jenna’s love interest since her husband went missing/died several years back..but wouldn’t it be a real twist if her husband wasn’t really missing and he pulled some stunt to get away from people? Only future books will tell us more about this.
That said, I have started book 2, Inherit the Word, and Jenna seems to have calmed down and I am enjoying it more.
I give this 3 1/2 paws.
About the Author
DARYL WOOD GERBER writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mystery series featuring a cookbook store owner who is an avid reader and admitted foodie, set on the coast of California. As AVERY AAMES, she pens the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling Cheese Shop Mystery series featuring a cheese shop owner amateur sleuth, set in the fictional town of Providence, Ohio. Daryl’s short stories have been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and other awards. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl has appeared in “Murder, She Wrote” and more.
Find Daryl here: Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads
Find Avery here: Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads
You find out more in the 2nd book about the husband!
I just started reading this the other day but put it down to reread Festive in Death. I, too, was thinking the husband might make a reappearance when his death was mentioned.