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

Mysterious Saturday Review: Deadly Cliche

After a hurricane, Olivia and her poodle Haviland escape the house and talk a walk on the beach. They come across a decaying body buried in the sand.

Olivia's just starting to feel comfortable in town. She's reaching out to help people, especially those in her writing group. Laurel, a stay at home mom, decides that she needs to get out of the house. Olivia encourages her to apply for a job at the newspaper. She gives her an alibi and tags along with her to the first interview.

Laurel's interested in writing more about recent home burglaries. She discovers a common thread between them. However, Laurel's having a hard time getting her family to support her decisions. Could her work be putting her family and Olivia in danger?

Could the burglaries be part of something bigger?

My Thoughts: The second book in the Books By the Bay series (First in the series: Killer Plot - you can read my review here). I love the writing circle and reading the character's works. I find them fascinating. I loved how Olivia helped Laurel. I enjoyed their scenes together. I loved how Olivia and the Chief might have romance in the works. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Cover Thoughts: Cute! I love how all the books have the lighthouse on the cover!

Source: Inter-Library Loan

Up Next: The Last Word coming in December!

Mysterious Saturday Review: Killer Plot

Olivia Limoges returns to her former home with her trust companion - her black poodle Captain. She's attempting to write a novel. At breakfast in the local diner one morning, she overhears a writer's group critiquing a chapter. Persuaded into joining by a charming stranger, Olivia hopes they might be able to help cure her writer's block.

Just as she's getting familiar with the group and letting herself open up to them, the man who convinced her to join the group ends up dead. Above his murdered body rests a haiku. As Olivia and the group stumble across the body, they have two reasons for wanting the murdered found and they're willing to help the police accomplish their goal.

Could his murder have something to do with his writing of a celebrity family? When the same family is behind the proposed building project for the town, Olivia suspects there might be a connection. Now, she's looking for someone with a motive connected with the building project and with poetic talents. Could she discover the murderer before s/he comes after her for nosing around?

My Thoughts: I quite enjoyed this new series and getting to know the town. I loved hearing about the new bookstore. It's such a quaint town, I feel as if I've been there walking the streets. I did guess at the murderer's identity - but not the reasons behind the murder. Still, this is an enjoyable read and I look forward to more in the series.

The Cover: Cute!

Title: I love it!

Source: Inter-Library Loaned