Mysterious Saturday Review: Pies and Prejudice

 * first in a new series*

Ella Mae fled New York City, when she found her husband otherwise occupied with twins in the elevator. She runs back home to Georgia and the sleepy town she escaped when she met her husband. By running, she also left behind her culinary school.
Now Ella Mae's family has enveloped her back into the fold. She's talking with her mother again. She's not sure she's wants a divorce, but she does know she's never going back to New York City.  As things fall into place, her family helps her purchase a pie shop.
Ella Mae makes magically delicious pies. Unfortunately her childhood nemesis also wants to purchase the property. She warns Ella Mae against going through with the sale. She and Ella Mae have a shouting match in the bank parking lot. The next morning the police are at her house. Loralyn's fiance has been murdered and Ella Mae's the number one suspect. 

My Thoughts: I wanted to bake pies and eat pie all while reading this charming book. I loved the small town feel of this book. I loved watching the shop transform. I liked how all the family members came together to make the shop a success.  I loved reading about Ella Mae baking the pies. I'm intrigued about the magic that Ella Mae infuses into the pies. I loved watching Ella Mae blossom in her hometown and spreading her wings to find herself again. I can't wait to read more about her talent for magic in the next book.

Cover Thoughts: Perfect
Source: My Library.
Up Next: Peach Pies and Alibis comes out in March 2013

Book of the Month: November

This was a tough month to choose from, but....

is the winner. Read my review here.

Reivew: Pies and Prejudice

The girls from the book club enter high school this year. Everything changes when Emma's family announces they're moving to England for the year. Using this news as a jumping-off point, the book club decides to read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and keep in touch with Emma and her mother via video chats.

Emma and her family switch houses with someone for the year. At first, she doesn't want to leave, but when she arrives in England, she learns to love it. However, she doesn't love the people. One boy follows her around all the time. He's a mini Mr. Collins and Emma can't stand him. She's also not fond of Annabelle, who makes her life miserable both in England and also back home. Unbeknownst to her, her friends start up a pie business to purchase a plane ticket so she can visit during school vacation.

Jess can't believe her best friend and her crush are both deserting her this year. She's adjusted to life at boarding school since last year. Now, everyone's figuring out their future career, but Jess can't narrow down a choice. Not knowing what she wants to do with her life deeply disturbs her.

Cassidy makes a girl's league hockey team, which means lots of practices and spending lots of time with her new stepfather. She also decides to create a hockey team for girls in the local area. Calling it Chicks with Sticks, her former teacher, Mrs. Bergson, helps her get the program started. But Mrs. Bergson calls in a favor of her own. Snooty Tristan, the boy living in Emma's house, is an ice dancer. He needs a training partner to continue his work towards an exclusive competition. Soon, Cassidy's trying out figure skating and doing her best to live up to his high expectations.

Meghan starts up a fashion blog - complete with fashion don'ts. She writes the snarky insults in a Jane Austen-type tone. At first, the blog remains anonymous, but after a queen bee spills the beans, everyone is up in arms, including friends, teachers, and parents.

My Thoughts: As the group reads PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and learns all about Jane Austen, changes start occurring as the girls form crushes, hopes, and dreams - all while dealing with drama and friendship dilemmas. I'm such a Jane Austen freak, that I was so excited the club read this book. I love this charming series and hope the book club continues throughout high school.

The Cover: I really like it - love how it connects to the other covers

Source: Reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com where it won the