Helpful Score: 1
Dollycas's Thoughts
Never a dull moment when Trixie is around. That woman get herself into all kinds of predicaments. This time too much snow collapses the roof of the local library. Everyone got out safe but it is going to take a lot of money to repair the building and replace the damaged books and equipment. Trixie's mouth gets ahead of her brain and before she knows it she is planning a Macaroni and Cheese cook-off fundraiser. Things snowball and soon famous chef, Priscilla Finch-Smythe is on her way to Sandy Harbor to judge the competition and offering the winner a guest spot on her tv show. Trixie had no idea the woman was from Sandy Harbor. The woman has all kinds of demands and a big motor home. She also has her staff of two, one is her stepson, along for the ride and they sure don't see eye to eye on anything. Trixie just hopes they can make enough money for the library and get a little bit of publicity for the diner.
The contest brings a slew of cooks to town including a couple of professional chefs looking to win and gain or regain a little fame with the grand prize. Soon after the winner is named, a stiff is found in the parking lot. Priscilla Finch-Smythe's life has come to a chilly end and there are plenty of suspects. Who killed the tv cook and left her out in the cold? Trixie plans to find out but she may end up getting a deep freeze herself.
Reading this book during a cold snap here in Wisconsin I was literary feeling the "freeze" in this story and it was funny, my hubby had whipped up a batch of his homemade mac and cheese for supper. He saw the cover of the book and we had a little chuckle.
The cover of the book is wonderful but the Sandy Harbor Library sounds like it was a truly beautiful place, complete with some stained glass. I loved the way the town rallied together to make this fundraiser happen even when it was snowing and blowing and travel was a bit treacherous at times.
This time Trixie is one of the suspects, of course, hunky Sheriff Ty Briscoe doesn't think she had anything to do with it but he basically puts her under house/diner arrest with Antoinette Chloe Brown (ACB) as her gatekeeper. He really just wants to keep Trixie safe and out of his investigation, like that is going to happen.
Christine Wenger has the perfect recipe for an absolutely delightful cozy mystery. The residents of Sandy Harbor are like old friends and the welcome us in with open arms and delicious food. The new characters make a nice offset to the gang we have come to love. The plot is tight and the twists are plentiful. The romantic tension is palpable. I can't be the only one that wants to see Trixie grab Ty and just kiss him already :) I also want to get ACB a pair of boots with flips flops painted on them. Flip flops in the snow?? Girl you are going to lose some toes!!
This was a fun read from start to finish. I am glad I had some Mac & Cheese to snack because damn, a girl can get hungry when reading these stories!
Never a dull moment when Trixie is around. That woman get herself into all kinds of predicaments. This time too much snow collapses the roof of the local library. Everyone got out safe but it is going to take a lot of money to repair the building and replace the damaged books and equipment. Trixie's mouth gets ahead of her brain and before she knows it she is planning a Macaroni and Cheese cook-off fundraiser. Things snowball and soon famous chef, Priscilla Finch-Smythe is on her way to Sandy Harbor to judge the competition and offering the winner a guest spot on her tv show. Trixie had no idea the woman was from Sandy Harbor. The woman has all kinds of demands and a big motor home. She also has her staff of two, one is her stepson, along for the ride and they sure don't see eye to eye on anything. Trixie just hopes they can make enough money for the library and get a little bit of publicity for the diner.
The contest brings a slew of cooks to town including a couple of professional chefs looking to win and gain or regain a little fame with the grand prize. Soon after the winner is named, a stiff is found in the parking lot. Priscilla Finch-Smythe's life has come to a chilly end and there are plenty of suspects. Who killed the tv cook and left her out in the cold? Trixie plans to find out but she may end up getting a deep freeze herself.
Reading this book during a cold snap here in Wisconsin I was literary feeling the "freeze" in this story and it was funny, my hubby had whipped up a batch of his homemade mac and cheese for supper. He saw the cover of the book and we had a little chuckle.
The cover of the book is wonderful but the Sandy Harbor Library sounds like it was a truly beautiful place, complete with some stained glass. I loved the way the town rallied together to make this fundraiser happen even when it was snowing and blowing and travel was a bit treacherous at times.
This time Trixie is one of the suspects, of course, hunky Sheriff Ty Briscoe doesn't think she had anything to do with it but he basically puts her under house/diner arrest with Antoinette Chloe Brown (ACB) as her gatekeeper. He really just wants to keep Trixie safe and out of his investigation, like that is going to happen.
Christine Wenger has the perfect recipe for an absolutely delightful cozy mystery. The residents of Sandy Harbor are like old friends and the welcome us in with open arms and delicious food. The new characters make a nice offset to the gang we have come to love. The plot is tight and the twists are plentiful. The romantic tension is palpable. I can't be the only one that wants to see Trixie grab Ty and just kiss him already :) I also want to get ACB a pair of boots with flips flops painted on them. Flip flops in the snow?? Girl you are going to lose some toes!!
This was a fun read from start to finish. I am glad I had some Mac & Cheese to snack because damn, a girl can get hungry when reading these stories!
Deborah T. (nysbikergirl) reviewed Macaroni and Freeze (Comfort Food, Bk 4) on + 97 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Don't get me wrong, I looked forward to everyone of the books in this series at first. I was excited as anyone at the idea of this new Comfort Food series by C. Wenger, and couldn't wait to get my hands on no. 1 as well as the rest. It interested me because- Number one, it's setting location is in my backyard. My hometown is depicted in the books numerous times, and I have a clear visual of what she is describing. Number two, I love the diner / foodie theme.
BUT-this book dragged worse than a dog with three legs across a desert. I wanted to love it, and have read the first three in the series. It just fell short, and became so difficult to finish that I forced myself to breeze through the last quarter of the book, as I was so sick of seeing it on my side table.
My main issues - (of course, you may have this problem). How many times can a girl admire a guy and repeat how his butt in his tight jeans looks 'soo good', but add "not that I'm looking". This becomes so very redundant in this series, that its MORE than predictable. It's downright stupid. Take it to the next level, for crying out loud. Have Ty kiss Trixie!! Go on a date! Do SOMETHING!! The other issue I have is characters in general are just too boringly complex. Unnatural. For instance- The best buddy that wears outrageous outfits could be likeable, but she is not. Just the name alone- Antoinette Chloe Brown (ACB) became so grating on my nerves, I detested her.
On the positive side, the mystery is ok, although it's that issue again, some cozy's have -of the main character being a know-it-all, and in obvious danger that the foolishness of it drags on for anyone with a thinking brain. Yeah, Trixie has that.
But the environmental snow storm and weather descriptions are cool, and very accurate for this neck of the woods. As is the diner scenes with food descriptions. I don't know if I can undergo another installment of Comfort Food, unless it's changed up quite a bit, moves along faster, and maybe knocks off ABC, no it's ACB- and that's regretful as I know the place well.
BUT-this book dragged worse than a dog with three legs across a desert. I wanted to love it, and have read the first three in the series. It just fell short, and became so difficult to finish that I forced myself to breeze through the last quarter of the book, as I was so sick of seeing it on my side table.
My main issues - (of course, you may have this problem). How many times can a girl admire a guy and repeat how his butt in his tight jeans looks 'soo good', but add "not that I'm looking". This becomes so very redundant in this series, that its MORE than predictable. It's downright stupid. Take it to the next level, for crying out loud. Have Ty kiss Trixie!! Go on a date! Do SOMETHING!! The other issue I have is characters in general are just too boringly complex. Unnatural. For instance- The best buddy that wears outrageous outfits could be likeable, but she is not. Just the name alone- Antoinette Chloe Brown (ACB) became so grating on my nerves, I detested her.
On the positive side, the mystery is ok, although it's that issue again, some cozy's have -of the main character being a know-it-all, and in obvious danger that the foolishness of it drags on for anyone with a thinking brain. Yeah, Trixie has that.
But the environmental snow storm and weather descriptions are cool, and very accurate for this neck of the woods. As is the diner scenes with food descriptions. I don't know if I can undergo another installment of Comfort Food, unless it's changed up quite a bit, moves along faster, and maybe knocks off ABC, no it's ACB- and that's regretful as I know the place well.
