Book Review: "Bob & Shirley's Guide to Murder" by Suzy K. Quinn

What a fun read! I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries but now that I’ve stumbled upon this series, I’ll definitely need to read the next 3 books!

Bob and Shirley have been married for over 40 years. They own Goose and Gander, a popular pub in the charming English town of Great Oakley. The two are as opposite as they can be. Bob is athletic, smart (if not more than a bit pedantic), and tries to avoid confrontation as much as possible—although he usually blunders into one. On the other hand, Shirley has never met an animal print outfit she couldn’t squeeze herself into, and she always is free with her opinions—and her grudges.

One morning, Bob wakes up early (as always) to discover a body lying in their pub garden. It was Bevvy Tuck, the leader of the local Waist Watchers group, although she never practiced what she preached. Bevvy and her group were at the pub the night before for the weekly pub quiz, but apparently at some point she went into the garden and died.

The local police believe Bevvy died of heart failure. But Bob and Shirley both believe she was murdered, and when the young police trainee expresses the same suspicion, it propels Bob into investigative mode and starts the town’s gossip engines working overtime.

As they try to figure out just who might have killed Bevvy, the local church ladies’ group casts suspicion on the pub. Bob and Shirley see their customer base dwindling and their chef, John Boy, has been kept out of the annual bake-off. But neither Bob nor Shirley will just sit idly by as they’re gossiped about—they just approach the situation in very different ways.

The book’s narration alternates between Bob and Shirley. The two of them are quite a hoot, and it’s funny to read their digs at each other as well as their interpretations of the goings-on in town. I really enjoyed their antics and all of the supporting characters. Can’t wait to read Book 2!

Book Review: "The Tulip Poplars" by Silas House

All the stars for this beautiful, emotional book. Silas House is such an incredibly talented writer, I would read his grocery list if he let me. But his talent isn’t surprising, considering he is a former poet laureate of Kentucky.

The book begins in rural Kentucky, a small town known as Bright Star, in 1918. Two young men, Tom and Amos, fall in love while working side by side on Tom’s family’s farm. They know that they have to keep their feelings for one another secret, although Amos dreams of being in a place where he can be himself and be with Tom.

Tom’s childhood friend Maeve is raised by the town’s Episcopal preacher, and he also runs an orphanage tied to the church. It is there that Maeve meets and falls for Paschal, but given their different races, they know their love cannot be, especially not in Kentucky.

When tragedy strikes Tom’s family, he feels like he must stay in Bright Star to care for his sister and protect the farm from the machinations of an evil preacher. But Amos no longer wants to stay where he has to hide who he is, so he moves to NYC. He realizes that with freedom comes very real danger.

The book spans from 1918-1976 and traces the lives of Tom, Amos, Maeve, and Paschal. It’s particularly bleak in places where the story deals with the treatment of gay people during these years. But it also emphasizes that love can last even when circumstances seem insurmountable or when you can’t be with the person you love. There are moments of beauty and hope as well.

House’s prose is so lyrical and evocative. I could see the tulip poplars in my mind’s eye and watch as love tears the characters apart and lifts them up. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

Book Review: "Bad Words" by Ríoghnach Robinson

Y’all, I’m totally conflicted on this one. I definitely liked elements of the book, but I’m not as wild about it as others have been.

When Parker Navarro’s first novel was on the verge of being released, it was hailed as one of the up and coming books of the year. Then literary critic Selina Chan eviscerated the book in a review, and suddenly the predicted hit becomes a huge flop. Colossal.

Four years later, Parker has finally written his second novel, and he’s ready for it to be released. And then Selina drops another less-than-complimentary review, but rather than slink off in disgust, this time, Parker challenges Selina and what he sees as her superiority complex. Their argument gets recorded and goes viral, causing them both to double down on their opinions about one another.

As their feud becomes more and more public, they find themselves learning more about each other. They have a surprising number of things in common, and while there’s still anger between them, mutual respect—and even stronger feelings start to develop.

I really liked what the book had to say about critics and criticism. It’s one of the issues I’m frustrated about. But in the end, I realized that while I often don’t like enemies to lovers stories because I don’t feel like there’s enough actual animosity between the love interests, in this book, they’re downright mean for a long while. I didn’t see how they could like each other when they were so insulting. Maybe it was just me, but this was the slowest of slow burns.

Book Review: "Old Ham" by Seraphina Nova Glass

This was absolutely unhinged!! It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Seraphina Nova Glass’ books and I had forgotten how talented she is at creating memorable characters. And Junie is definitely memorable!

At first glance, Junie Oldham appears to be an eccentric middle-aged woman. She doesn’t pay much attention to her appearance, she knits hats and sweaters for cats and mice, her childhood home has turned into an hoarder’s nest, and she doesn’t quite pick up on social cues.

But Junie is far more complex than she appears. At an AA meeting (she doesn’t drink; she’s heard the meetings are great for making new friends), she sees Blake, her high school crush, who used to torment her along with his buddies, calling her “Old Ham” and “Hammy.”

Blake was part of a scheme that changed Junie’s life forever. While she’s excited to see him at the meeting, she’s crestfallen that he doesn’t remember her. But she’s willing to give him a second chance. She finagles her way into getting hired as his daughter’s math tutor, and Blake’s wife Dessa befriends her. But Junie starts making Blake uncomfortable and he demands that Dessa fire her. And that’s before he realizes who she is.

When Dessa finds out what her husband and his friends did to Junie back in high school, she’s horrified. Dessa has barely been holding it together since dealing with her own family tragedy, so she wants to make Junie her pet project. But no one has any idea how far Junie will go to get her revenge and what wreckage she’ll leave behind.

Junie is a fascinating and twisted character. You don’t know whether to pity her or fear her. Glass created so much tension and suspense, I found myself racing through the book to see how the story would get tied up. Wow!

Book Review: "Do You See What I See?" by Peter Swanson

Despite the title and the Christmasy cover, this isn’t really a Christmas story, although it does take place during the holiday. I’ve been a big fan of Peter Swanson since his first book, so I couldn’t resist this.

Nicholas Child is a writer. His first mystery didn’t make a huge splash in the publishing world, and his second book, a sequel, was lackluster at best. His publisher dropped him but he keeps hoping inspiration will strike and he’ll be able to create a real hit.

While he is worried his agent will drop him at any time, he’s surprised when she approaches him with a proposal instead. Another of her clients, Marco Tavares, is having trouble writing the follow-up to his huge bestseller. She asks Nicholas to help Marco determine whether anything he has written can be salvaged, and perhaps help him find his focus.

The plan is for Nicholas to spend the Christmas holidays at Marco’s Cape Cod mansion. Marco and his artist wife, Maeve, live there, along with Marco’s sister and grandmother. And then the house fills with other guests—Marco’s ex and her jealous husband, Marco’s childhood best friend Billy, and James Beers, who at one point accused Marco of stealing his story idea, which he then turned into his massive bestseller.

Marco isn’t a particularly likable person, and while he agreed to have Nicholas help him, he’s not all that eager to listen to him. Nicholas feels like the gathering is the setup to a murder mystery—everyone in the house, including Maeve, has a reason to want to kill Marco. The next morning, two bodies are found, but what happened the previous evening? And who is to blame?

This was pretty twisty and I had no idea what was fact and what was fiction. Little by little, Swanson reveals interesting details that aren’t mentioned earlier, and it ratchets up the suspense. I thought the story worked really well as a novella.

Book Review: "Fit for a King" by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank

Oh, my heart!! I just love a happy ending that leaves me smiling and teary-eyed. This was a swoony romance I just loved!

Prince Nicholas of Valoria has spent his whole life preparing to become king. But he was hoping his father would stick around another 20 years or so before he had to assume the throne. Yet here he is, stepping into his destiny and dreading it.

The royal machine keeps moving, however, not leaving him a second to grieve for his father. The one thing that seems to brighten his days is his handsome new footman, Noah. Noah sees him for the man he is, not the crown he wears.

Noah knows the opportunity to serve as the king’s footman is an honor and it enables him to fully support his parents. He can’t stop noticing just how handsome King Nicholas is—and the fiery chemistry between them. But even if something were to happen, a king and a footman do not belong together.

Nicholas becomes engaged to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. It’s a strategic match that will benefit Valoria. But how can he marry someone who isn’t Noah? Is he supposed to sacrifice his own happiness for his kingdom?

I loved these characters, as well as Nicholas’ twin brother and one of the maids whom Noah befriends. There’s some great banter, some hot steam, and lots to swoon over. This was a great find, and I’m ready to dive into the next book!

Book Review: "Salty, Not Sweet: A Life in the Food World" by Florence Fabricant

“Over those many decades of my career I have witnessed a revolution. And I have also participated in it, often not from the front lines but rather from a privileged perch overlooking the barricades, armed with pen and notebook. Governments haven’t fallen during this ongoing upheaval, but restaurant empires have, and just about every aspect of food, dining, and drinking across the globe has undergone enormous changes in my lifetime, much of which I am documenting in these pages.”

You know I can’t resist a book like this!

Florence Fabricant may not be a familiar name to you. But as a food writer for the New York Times for more than 50 years, she’s well known by chefs, restaurateurs, food purveyors, and foodies all over the world. While she’s written 13 cookbooks, she’s never been motivated to be the focus of her writing. But this is an extraordinarily fascinating look at a career spent studying and understanding food trends, chefs, restaurants, and how we eat.

Fabricant was raised by parents who liked to go out to eat (and a mother who loved to cook and entertain), so her palate was shaped at an early age. She and her husband Richard had two children, and she started looking for a job to occupy her time after the children started school. She became a writer for a local paper in the Hamptons, where she chronicled farms and other purveyors of food, along with recipes. This gig led to her getting hired by the New York Times.

When she started writing in the 1970s, the culinary world, particularly in New York, was vastly different. She traces the trends, the chefs, the travels, and the memorable meals she has experienced through the years. It’s a fascinating look at the food world and one I couldn’t get enough of.

Even though she’s lived a life that I honestly dream of, Fabricant’s writing is so accessible, informative, and even funny at times. She also shares a few recipes, a number of which I’ll be making! I really enjoyed this look at her incredible career.