Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Revenge is Sweet is the debut of the Vintage Sweets Mystery series set in Fredericksburg, Texas and featuring Tally Holt, owner of Tally's Olde Tyme Sweets and her friend Yolanda Bella, owner of Bella's Baskets. The two are best friends who have set up shops next to each other on the main street and work together with Tally supplying delicious desserts to include in the extravagant baskets that Yolanda makes for all occasions.
Yolanda has been seeing the mayor's adopted son, Gene Faust. Gene has a reputation for getting in trouble in his youth, being a womanizer, and borrowing money from people that he can't (or won't) pay back. Unfortunately, Gene has borrowed money from Yolanda and also hasn't paid his help, so it's not really a surprise when he turns up dead, the shock is that the murder happens in the middle of Tally's kitchen. When Tally sets out to clear her friends name, things get worse when one of Tally's employees is also found dead in the store.
With plenty of twists and turns the plot is good, however the story is difficult to follow as it's written from both the perspective of Tally and Yolanda and the narration switches back and forth. I was never able to really warm up to either character, but did fall in love with Nigel, Tally's Maine Coon Cat.
Yolanda has been seeing the mayor's adopted son, Gene Faust. Gene has a reputation for getting in trouble in his youth, being a womanizer, and borrowing money from people that he can't (or won't) pay back. Unfortunately, Gene has borrowed money from Yolanda and also hasn't paid his help, so it's not really a surprise when he turns up dead, the shock is that the murder happens in the middle of Tally's kitchen. When Tally sets out to clear her friends name, things get worse when one of Tally's employees is also found dead in the store.
With plenty of twists and turns the plot is good, however the story is difficult to follow as it's written from both the perspective of Tally and Yolanda and the narration switches back and forth. I was never able to really warm up to either character, but did fall in love with Nigel, Tally's Maine Coon Cat.
