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Sisters Cooking Up Competition: A Catered Bake-Off and The Chicken Sisters

25 Jun

A Catered Bake-Off
by Isis Crawford
A Catered Bake-Off is the latest in Isis Crawford’s long running cozy Mystery with Recipes series. I had read a few in the series in the past and enjoyed them so was curious to give this one a peak since I’m a fan of The Great British Baking Show something that the New York based competition in the story took inspiration from. The Simmons sisters Bernie and Libby run a catering company A Little Taste of Heaven and are excited to participate in the baking competition, but from the start of the first run through in preparations for filming, disasters abound; some like a herd of goats in the tent are funny, but when a judge receives life-threatening injuries from an espresso machine, it becomes much more serious. A creepy anonymous prologue which sets the suspenseful tone for the story, lets the reader in on the fact that these aren’t just horrible accidents. The sisters must solve the mystery before the killer comes for them. The story weaves in some contemporary issues like the real estate crisis which keep it feeling current. It was easy also to jump in to the drama even not having read all of the other novels that came before this one since the novel largely focused on a group of new characters rather than a huge cast of reoccurring ones. The author adds a personal element by including 3 recipes from family and friends at the end of the story. Fans of cozy mysteries like Donna Andrews’s Meg Langslow Mysteries should enjoy this tasty treat.

The Chicken Sisters part of Hoopla’s Hallmark+ BingePass
The Chicken Sisters reminded me of the Gilmore Girls if the family/community dramedy were located in the South rather than in New England its fun quips, but at a slower pace with a southern drawl. The story is about two beloved fried chicken restaurants feuding over a generations old grudge, which was only increased by a Romeo/Juliet romance between two of the younger generations. The TV series is based on the book by K. J. Dell’Antonia. Wendy Malick and Lea Thompson are the stars at the two matriarchs, but the younger generations of children and grandchildren are also charming. When the TV show Kitchen Clash comes to their town it heats up the competition between the two restaurants and forces them to deal with the family drama that has been simmering for so long. It is definitely good that this addictive drama is part of the Hallmark+ BingePass. You can watch as much of the show and other Hallmark Chanel series and movies as you have time for over a 7 day period using just one of your Hoopla checkouts. I also recommend streaming the mystery movie series Curious Cater (based on the books by Diane Mott Davidson) , Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swenson Mysteries (based on the books by Joanne Fluke), and the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries (based on the books by Charlaine Harris).

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Demisexual Love Stories: Manic Pixie Dream Earl and Two for Tea

28 May

Manic Pixie Dream Earl
by Jenny Holiday
Jenny Holiday’s latest romance is the second in her Earls Trip series which focuses on a group of close friends and their annual travels. I missed the previous book, which focused on Archibald Fielding-Burton, the Earl of Harcourt aka Archie. Now though is the perfect time to borrow it since Hoopla is offering it as part of its end of May Bonus Borrows; from now till the end of May you can borrow Earls Trip and a variety of other items without having them count towards your monthly Hoopla checkouts! Manic Pixie Dream Earl focuses on Archie’s flamboyant bff Effie. You do not have to have read the previous novel to enjoy this story or understand the dynamics between the various characters. I enjoyed that the story was as much about strong friendships as it was about romance. Effie’s is depicted as being demisexual, only attracted to those he has a strong long term connection with. He has developed feelings for Julianna, the editor of a Women’s Magazine, he frequently writes poetry and other pieces for. When she shows up at the seaside destination where she thinks her correspondent Euphemia is staying with friends, she is shocked to learn that Effie is actually a man. The pair also are divided by age and class so despite their deep feelings towards one another they still have a number of challenges. Julianna is also hesitant to marry because of past experiences and Effie is coming to terms with childhood physical abuse. Despite the fact that the novel focuses on some deeper issues there is also a lot of light hearted humorous moments. This a historical romance for those with modern sensibilities; fans of Bridgerton should swoon.

Two for Tea: Welcome to Azathé
by C.M. Nascosta
Two for Tea is the fourth in the Cambric Creek series by C.M. Nascosta which are set in town populated by witches and mythological creatures looking for love. I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series and did not feel like it effected my enjoyment or understanding of the world. In Two for Tea the main character Harper is a goth girl dealing with depression triggered by the death of a beloved family member. She is just looking for a quiet place when she discovers the Azathé Tea Room, but soon she makes a connection with the mysterious proprietor who is literally made of shadows. Like Effie, Harper is written as a demisexual character who is more attracted to the personality of her shadow love than their physical being. Despite the shadow nature of Azathé there are still two fairly steamy scenes towards the end of the story. Love however is not the only thing that helps Harper overcome her depression, therapy and also some antidepressant from the local healer are also realistically shown as being important in her mental health journey. I enjoyed the audiobook; Rachel LeBlang does a great job of bringing Harper and the other characters’ voices to life.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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