Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
I'm really striking out on the cozies this week. To many stiff one dimensional characters and boring plots.
I decided to request this book because I was interested in seeing how the writer would weave typical college town life into a cozy mystery. I wondered just how quaint the town could be. Having left college a few years ago,worked at a different college a year after, and making monthly visits to another college town; I have a picture of college life in my head that doesn't necessarily fit into most cozy mysteries. There were some parts of this story that felt like the author just browsed buzzfeed to find out what ‘The kids are saying’.
Dani was so pretentious it was hard to imagine the girls described in the book thinking of her as a big sister when she acted much more like their mother. Her judgmental ways at times made it hard for me to tolerate her. She often treated these adult women like they were young teens. She was only 9/10 years older than them.
She was also so preachy when it came to anything involving alcohol. I don't know if the author knows but in most states you do not have to be 21 and over to serve alcohol at an event. And we're these girls not almost 21? I just found it strange to emphasize her servers not being old enough to handle liquor. It was also incorrect as Illinois where this story is set has a legal serving age of 18.
The descriptions of Regina were so over the top she felt like a caricature. Definitely inspired by Regina George from Mean Girls. The funny thing is Dani was very pretentious herself but not in an as overt way. But at the story went on Regina’s past actions became more ridiculous as the author tried to hammer that everyone had a reason to dislike this young woman.
And then there was Uncle Spencer. His lust over Dani was annoying after this sentence “The naturalness of her beauty was like a cold glass of water after being forced to drink nothing but artificially flavored soda his whole life”.
If I had to read about how he stared at Dani’s heart snapped bottom one more time……
I must say after struggling through the story the most disappointing part was the anti-climactic ending. Overall the mystery definitely took a backseat to the Chef-To-Go business and flirting attempts. I recommend giving this book a pass.
Dani was so pretentious it was hard to imagine the girls described in the book thinking of her as a big sister when she acted much more like their mother. Her judgmental ways at times made it hard for me to tolerate her. She often treated these adult women like they were young teens. She was only 9/10 years older than them.
She was also so preachy when it came to anything involving alcohol. I don't know if the author knows but in most states you do not have to be 21 and over to serve alcohol at an event. And we're these girls not almost 21? I just found it strange to emphasize her servers not being old enough to handle liquor. It was also incorrect as Illinois where this story is set has a legal serving age of 18.
The descriptions of Regina were so over the top she felt like a caricature. Definitely inspired by Regina George from Mean Girls. The funny thing is Dani was very pretentious herself but not in an as overt way. But at the story went on Regina’s past actions became more ridiculous as the author tried to hammer that everyone had a reason to dislike this young woman.
And then there was Uncle Spencer. His lust over Dani was annoying after this sentence “The naturalness of her beauty was like a cold glass of water after being forced to drink nothing but artificially flavored soda his whole life”.
If I had to read about how he stared at Dani’s heart snapped bottom one more time……
I must say after struggling through the story the most disappointing part was the anti-climactic ending. Overall the mystery definitely took a backseat to the Chef-To-Go business and flirting attempts. I recommend giving this book a pass.
Read for Romanceopoly 2020 Coffee Shop
2.5 stars.
This is the first ever cozy mystery I have finished. It was fun at parts with some good potential but there was some telling more then showing particularly with regards to Spencer and some instances of 'not like other women' (I hate that one soooo much I don't have words for it) and that was jarring enough to color my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
2.5 stars.
This is the first ever cozy mystery I have finished. It was fun at parts with some good potential but there was some telling more then showing particularly with regards to Spencer and some instances of 'not like other women' (I hate that one soooo much I don't have words for it) and that was jarring enough to color my enjoyment of the story as a whole.
This is a cute little cozy mystery. I like the characters and the backstory of the main character. The mystery was good, I liked it so much I picked up the rest of the books in the series.
I usually really like Denise Swansons' mystery but I had some problems with this one.
Even if it is well written and with a sound plot it lacked the humour present in her other mystery.
I also did not like very much the main charachter, too serious and very professional woman.
It is a good cozy but not my cup of tea.
Even if it is well written and with a sound plot it lacked the humour present in her other mystery.
I also did not like very much the main charachter, too serious and very professional woman.
It is a good cozy but not my cup of tea.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
I love cozies, pretty much all of them. I REALLY wanted to love this one as it was my first Denise Swanson.
In some ways, I adored it. I love Dani's character. I love how quirky and charismatic she is. I love Ivy and I even love spencer. Every character screams 'small town cozy"
When I go into a cozy, I want a 'clean' read, which is strange considering I love all the sexy, dark, and twisted in my other books. Cozies are a happy place for a sleuth to catch the baddie and justice be served. I even like a nice slow burn romance thread in my cozies. I don't want prostitutes, kink shaming, and a man describing how in lust he is with the sleuth.
The mystery itself was great! I love how it all played out in the end and the big reveal, but I think I like my cozies a little more family friendly.
In some ways, I adored it. I love Dani's character. I love how quirky and charismatic she is. I love Ivy and I even love spencer. Every character screams 'small town cozy"
When I go into a cozy, I want a 'clean' read, which is strange considering I love all the sexy, dark, and twisted in my other books. Cozies are a happy place for a sleuth to catch the baddie and justice be served. I even like a nice slow burn romance thread in my cozies. I don't want prostitutes, kink shaming, and a man describing how in lust he is with the sleuth.
The mystery itself was great! I love how it all played out in the end and the big reveal, but I think I like my cozies a little more family friendly.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This series is off to an amazing start!
Danielle (Dani) Sloan quit her job, dropped her “Dr. McCreepy” and is cooking up a storm, watching Hell’s Kitchen and Cupcake Wars, as she sends out her resumé. She is usually joined by Ivy Drake, an 18-year old college junior that lives across the hall. Not a typical friendship, more of a big sister/little sister thing, but it works for them. One day she receives a letter telling her she has inherited a mansion, an old Victorian that was being remodeled into a B&B. After the shock wears off she realizes this inheritance could make her dreams come true. So while the lawyer gets the paperwork done she makes plans for her new business, Chef-to-Go. She will be doing catering, providing meals on the go for the college students and hiring herself out as a personal chef. She gets help with the business from her new tenants, Ivy and her friends that used to live across the hall. They were evicted for some major infractions of the landlord’s rules. Their parents have agreed to pay for them to live with Dani as long as Dani watches over them and Ivy’s Uncle Spencer checks on them weekly. Spencer, the head of college security is glad to help the girls any way he can, especially after he meets Dani.
Things are going great until one of Ivy’s college friends is murdered, shortly after Dani caters a party for her. The investigating detective decides quickly that Dani is the killer. She could lose everything. She needs to clear her name and fast or the only place she will cooking will be the state penitentiary.
The first book in a series is a huge undertaking because you have to introduce the characters, give them each a back story, connect them together and then wrap them in a mystery that keeps readers flipping those pages while leaving them wanting for more. Ms. Swanson more than met this challenge.
I liked Dani immediately. She left her job for a very good reason and I was excited that she could follow her passion. Her business plan makes sense and her new living arrangement is unique and fun. Ivy being so young is a bit naive and needs to have someone looking out for her. Her friends Tippi and Starr do what they can, but she needs Dani and Spencer in her life too. Tippi and Starr are typical college students and Dani likes having them live with her, but one tends to shirk her responsibilities to Danni quite a bit. Spencer is a former FBI agent who spent most of his career undercover. Now retired he enjoys the slower pace of running the security division for the college. These core characters are engaging and interesting. The author has left plenty of room to grow as the series continues.
There are some crazy characters too. Detective Mikeloff is off the rails and the victim and her family have their issues too.
The plot and subplots of this story are very well developed. The mystery itself had plenty of suspects with motive. The victim had done some really terrible things. Dani is a great investigator, people opened up to her so easily. She tries to help everyone she talks to, even when she was facing the murderer. This blends in with the romantic tension Dani and Spencer have every time they are in the vicinity with each other and Dani having to deal with a request from her ex.
I do enjoy the college campus setting. There are tons of possibilities for future stories.
I did have a couple of minor concerns. The author mentions her Scumble River series and ties a couple of characters to characters in that series. This may be likable for fans of that series but may be off-putting to those who have not yet read that series. Also, while the Epilogue wraps up this story, Dani comes off just a little bit preachy at the end.
I am excited to see where Ms. Swanson takes this series. I am invested in the characters and can’t wait for the next story.
This series is off to an amazing start!
Danielle (Dani) Sloan quit her job, dropped her “Dr. McCreepy” and is cooking up a storm, watching Hell’s Kitchen and Cupcake Wars, as she sends out her resumé. She is usually joined by Ivy Drake, an 18-year old college junior that lives across the hall. Not a typical friendship, more of a big sister/little sister thing, but it works for them. One day she receives a letter telling her she has inherited a mansion, an old Victorian that was being remodeled into a B&B. After the shock wears off she realizes this inheritance could make her dreams come true. So while the lawyer gets the paperwork done she makes plans for her new business, Chef-to-Go. She will be doing catering, providing meals on the go for the college students and hiring herself out as a personal chef. She gets help with the business from her new tenants, Ivy and her friends that used to live across the hall. They were evicted for some major infractions of the landlord’s rules. Their parents have agreed to pay for them to live with Dani as long as Dani watches over them and Ivy’s Uncle Spencer checks on them weekly. Spencer, the head of college security is glad to help the girls any way he can, especially after he meets Dani.
Things are going great until one of Ivy’s college friends is murdered, shortly after Dani caters a party for her. The investigating detective decides quickly that Dani is the killer. She could lose everything. She needs to clear her name and fast or the only place she will cooking will be the state penitentiary.
The first book in a series is a huge undertaking because you have to introduce the characters, give them each a back story, connect them together and then wrap them in a mystery that keeps readers flipping those pages while leaving them wanting for more. Ms. Swanson more than met this challenge.
I liked Dani immediately. She left her job for a very good reason and I was excited that she could follow her passion. Her business plan makes sense and her new living arrangement is unique and fun. Ivy being so young is a bit naive and needs to have someone looking out for her. Her friends Tippi and Starr do what they can, but she needs Dani and Spencer in her life too. Tippi and Starr are typical college students and Dani likes having them live with her, but one tends to shirk her responsibilities to Danni quite a bit. Spencer is a former FBI agent who spent most of his career undercover. Now retired he enjoys the slower pace of running the security division for the college. These core characters are engaging and interesting. The author has left plenty of room to grow as the series continues.
There are some crazy characters too. Detective Mikeloff is off the rails and the victim and her family have their issues too.
The plot and subplots of this story are very well developed. The mystery itself had plenty of suspects with motive. The victim had done some really terrible things. Dani is a great investigator, people opened up to her so easily. She tries to help everyone she talks to, even when she was facing the murderer. This blends in with the romantic tension Dani and Spencer have every time they are in the vicinity with each other and Dani having to deal with a request from her ex.
I do enjoy the college campus setting. There are tons of possibilities for future stories.
I did have a couple of minor concerns. The author mentions her Scumble River series and ties a couple of characters to characters in that series. This may be likable for fans of that series but may be off-putting to those who have not yet read that series. Also, while the Epilogue wraps up this story, Dani comes off just a little bit preachy at the end.
I am excited to see where Ms. Swanson takes this series. I am invested in the characters and can’t wait for the next story.