#Book #Review: Restaurant Weeks Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery, Book #3) by Libby Klein ~ #CozyMystery @LibbyKleinBooks @KensingtonBooks

Book Details:

Print Length: 368 pages

Publisher: Kensington Books

Publication Date: February 26, 2019

ASIN: B07DBQBVYJ

Amazon:

https://amzn.to/34IuagA

About the Book:

Cape May, New Jersey, is the site of a big culinary competition--and the knives are out . . .

Poppy McAllister is happy about opening a Jersey Shore B&B--but working in a professional kitchen has always been her real dream. Now it's coming true, at least briefly, as she teams up with her former fiance, Tim--and his condescending partner, Gigi--during the high-profile Restaurant Week challenge. Poppy's specialty is pastries, despite her devotion to a Paleo diet. But if anyone can make glorious gluten-free goodies, it's Poppy.

Things get heated quickly--especially when some ingredients get switched and Tim's accused of sabotage. Relatively harmless pranks soon escalate into real hazards, including an exploding deep fryer. And now one of the judges has died after taking a bite of Poppy's cannoli--making her the chef suspect . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy's Kitchen!

My Review:

One of Poppy’s lifelong dreams was to become a chef but events in her past derailed those dreams. Making gluten-free pastries for Gia’s coffeeshop has filled some of the void but when her ex, Tim, asks for help winning a cooking show contest, Poppy is all in for the event. Upon arrival of day one disaster strikes, Poppy is disrespected by a member of her own baking team, and accusations are tossed around. Things manage to get worse with each day the cooking show continues adding impromptu lodging accommodations, increased sabotage, and even murder. When the death of one of the judges occurs just after tasting Poppy’s dessert, her head is now on the chopping block the contestants turn on her and the police implicate her. Knowing she didn’t kill anyone, Poppy is, yet again, on a mission to find out who’s responsible for the catastrophe that is Restaurant Week. 

Book three is just as wonderful as the rest of the books in the series. Restaurant Weeks are Murder pulled me in and kept me engaged from the very beginning. The author put a lot of thought into this book concerning Restaurant Week and the all of the events that occur, Aunt Ginny and her friends, and the romantic entanglements of Poppy. Poppy is a wonderful main character. She’s not perfect, not supermodel thin, yet has a personality that is awesome. She’s a very realistic character and funny. This book is full of wit, snark, and humor. Poppy’s Aunt Ginny is a such a quirky character, too. I love her antics and they are just amplified even more in Restaurant Weeks are Murder.

The strong character development and world building continues in Restaurant Weeks are Murder. The book is written with realism that I could feel. I love how the author continues to develop Poppy and Aunt Ginny. She uprooted herself from where she lived with her late husband and took on the caretaker role for Aunt Ginny – who is healthy and spry but needs a little bit of looking after. She changes her diet, meets a new flame and reunites with an old flame, and begins new business ventures. The author takes these themes and combines them into fantastic books in a terrific series. I have devoured every book in the Poppy McAllister series. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Early #Book Review ~ Theater Nights Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery, Book #4) by Libby Klein ~ #CozyMystery @LibbyKleinBooks @KensingtonBooks

Book Details:

Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: December 31, 2019
ASIN: B07Q7WHQ3H

Pre-Order on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2sx8W7Z

About the Book:

The last thing gluten-free baker Poppy McAllister needs in her life is more drama--or more murder . . .

Poppy thought her toughest challenge this winter would be sticking to her Paleo diet and filling all her orders for her gluten-free goodies, but now she has to choose between two suitors. She's not the only one with boyfriend drama. Aunt Ginny's long-ago high-school beau, Royce Hanson, a retired Broadway actor, has returned to Cape May, New Jersey, to star in a Senior Center staging of Mamma Mia. Leaving Aunt Ginny to wonder: What's his motivation?

Slated to open February 13th, the problem-plagued production seems to be cursed--with stolen props, sabotage, and even a death threat. But when a cast member plunges to his death from a catwalk, it soon becomes clear a murderer is waiting in the wings. Now Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and a supporting cast must take center stage to catch the killer--before it's curtains for someone else . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy's Kitchen!

My Review:

Theater Nights are Murder is the fourth book in Libby Klein’s Poppy McAllister cozy mystery series. The story begins exactly where Restaurant Weeks are Murder leaves off. Poppy just finished off restaurant week where she was on Tim, her ex’s cooking team and her other love interest was on another team. Talk about tense. Poppy is also going to be working for both men; in Tim’s restaurant and Gia’s coffeeshop. It will be nice when Poppy picks a side. I’m not one for long-term love triangles. Theater Nights are Murder takes a turn and we find Poppy’s not the only one with a conundrum of the male type.

Aunt Ginny suddenly learns her old high school boyfriend has retired and is on his way back to New Jersey. It seems he will be playing the male lead in the senior center production of Mamma Mia. The town is abuzz about the return of Royce and the play. Only, as the rehearsals begin, the trouble also starts. Strange happenings, sabotage, and theft are just the beginning as one of the cast members falls from the catwalk to his death, the thought of murder rears its ugly head.

Book four is just as wonderful as the rest of the books in the series. Theater Nights are Murder pulled me in and kept me engaged from the very beginning. The author put a lot of thought into this book concerning Poppy’s life, the life of her Aunt Ginny, and the romantic entanglements of both. Poppy is a wonderful main character. She’s not perfect, not supermodel thin, yet has a personality that is awesome. She’s a very realistic character and funny. This book is full of wit, snark, and humor. Poppy’s Aunt Ginny is a such a quirky character, too. I love her antics.

The strong character development and world building continues in Theater Nights are Murder. The book is written with realism that I could feel. I love how the author continues to develop Poppy. She uprooted herself from where she lived with her late husband and took on the caretaker role for Aunt Ginny – who is healthy and spry but needs a little bit of looking after. She changes her diet, meets a new flame and reunites with an old flame, and begins new business ventures. The author takes these themes and combines them into fantastic books in a terrific series. I have devoured each and every book in the Poppy McAllister series. I look forward to book five!

I was provided an ARC of this book to read.

My Rating: