Mary C. reviewed on 2/11/2012 + 42 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

All White House assistant chef Olivia Paras wants is to be appointed executive chef when the current one retires. Olivia, or Ollie as she goes by, is returning to the White House when she encounters a man running across the White House lawn with the secret service in hot pursuit. Ollie does not really want to be a heroine, but she stops the intruder with a frying pan since it is apparent to her that the intruder is going to get away. You'd think that she would be thanked for her help, but it just isn't to be. It seems that Middle East leaders are coming to the White House for a possible peace talk summit and there are factions that don't want that to happen. Ollie has no intention of sticking her nose into the intrigue, but when a person she is meeting is murdered, and she becomes a target of an assassin by the name of Chameleon, she gets sucked into it despite warnings from her Secret Service boyfriend.

Ollie must also contend with a new staffer who has taken an immediate dislike to her for an unknown reason. Then there is the other person vying for the executive chef position who is well known to the TV public. She has a better than average chance of becoming chef due to her friendship with the First Lady. All in all, this summit is proving to be very stressful professionally and personally.

I enjoyed this first book of the White House Chef Mystery Series. The plot did not drag as can sometimes happen. I liked how the main character was reluctant to become involved with any of the investigation but was pretty much thrust into it. The information about all the extreme advance preparation for any meals was eye opening, and it helped me understand why being the White House Executive Chef was such an honor and exacting job! I look forward to the next book.

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