Carol S. (waucondacarol) reviewed Harrowing Hats (Renaissance Faire, Bk 4) on + 319 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
One of my favorite series. Who would have thought such quirky and funny things could happen at a Renaissance Faire Park? Pirates invade the local tavern, the brotherhood of the bread run the bakery, Merlin is flashing nude under his robes, Robin Hood and His Merry Men steal toaster ovens, fairies flit and flirt, Mother Goose nursery rhyme characters make trouble, The Queen and King and their court and knights rule the Faire, and no end of other slightly weird inhabitants enliven the paying visitors' day. Each book in the series has Jessie Morton apprenticing in a different shop to learn Medieval crafts for her PhD dissertation, in between her romance with the faire's bailiff, Chase Manhattan, and solving murder mysteries.
I like this series a lot...not only for the mysteries, but for the behind the scenes peek at a Renaissance village and its residents.
I love this series. Jessie is a lovable heroine and the characters are quirky and fun.
Linda R. (wolfie123) - , reviewed Harrowing Hats (Renaissance Faire, Bk 4) on + 421 more book reviews
Enjoyed the latest in the series.....I think this was the best book so far...Wonder where Jessie will apprentice next !? Wherever it is, murder will be near, I'm sure ....will her relationship with Chase continue to thrive ? Or will her insecurities get in the way ? Looking forward to next installment.
This series features Jessie Morton, an assistant history professor at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. Each summer she returns to Renaissance Faire Village to work as an apprentice for her dissertation - "The Proliferation of Medieval Crafts in Modern Times".
This summer she is working with Andre Hariot at Harriet's Hat House. Andre used to work in Hollywood making hats for many famous movies but something drove him away and he ended up at the Renaissance Faire Village.
Living at the faire is quite a treat for Jessie until one of the Three Chocolatiers is found drowned in a vat of chocolate with a hat pin in his eye. Maybe this summer's apprenticeship with be curtailed if her boss is found guilty of the murder. But he is just one of several suspects, turns out the sweet treat maker had quite a few enemies. Jessie feels obligated to do little investigating on her own to find out who really killed the chocolate candy man and save her sweet hat maker in the process.
I find myself looking forward to my adventures with Jessie and all the knaves, knights, wrenches and fools as we travel to the Renaissance Faire. This year it's even more exciting as a whole new group has been added to the Village and the residents are not happy which adds yet another element for humor and strife.
I have liked all the books in this series but this is the first one I can say I loved because the mystery was much more complex, the characters have gained depth and are more real. That is what happens with series books, the author becomes more comfortable with the characters and they evolve naturally and effortlessly for the reader.
There were also a couple of surprises and teasers that leaves the reader waiting for the next installment. This is definitely a series to read in order to appreciate the entire series and the reader will see how each one just keeps getting better and better. Until next summer......
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 : Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
This summer she is working with Andre Hariot at Harriet's Hat House. Andre used to work in Hollywood making hats for many famous movies but something drove him away and he ended up at the Renaissance Faire Village.
Living at the faire is quite a treat for Jessie until one of the Three Chocolatiers is found drowned in a vat of chocolate with a hat pin in his eye. Maybe this summer's apprenticeship with be curtailed if her boss is found guilty of the murder. But he is just one of several suspects, turns out the sweet treat maker had quite a few enemies. Jessie feels obligated to do little investigating on her own to find out who really killed the chocolate candy man and save her sweet hat maker in the process.
I find myself looking forward to my adventures with Jessie and all the knaves, knights, wrenches and fools as we travel to the Renaissance Faire. This year it's even more exciting as a whole new group has been added to the Village and the residents are not happy which adds yet another element for humor and strife.
I have liked all the books in this series but this is the first one I can say I loved because the mystery was much more complex, the characters have gained depth and are more real. That is what happens with series books, the author becomes more comfortable with the characters and they evolve naturally and effortlessly for the reader.
There were also a couple of surprises and teasers that leaves the reader waiting for the next installment. This is definitely a series to read in order to appreciate the entire series and the reader will see how each one just keeps getting better and better. Until next summer......
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 : Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
