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mellhay's review against another edition
3.0
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is my first book with Misty Gray narrating. I found her interesting because we start with Delta who wrote the letter and get a Southern accent, then we get a section from Douglas with a Scottish accent. We end with chapter one from Tallulah's voice, which is different than the previous two. I was struck with these different accents and taken by them. Misty was clear and clean throughout the book, nothing to distract from the words of the story.
Delta feels like a strong woman with solid beliefs of all around her from her letter we read in the prologue. She sounds like a kind person based on that first line. From that letter, it feels that family is important to Delta. She keeps track of the family line as though it's important, and uses it. However, we only meet Delta at the beginning in the letter and at the end by phone.
For listening, the book is broken up strange and, at times, it's hard to pick up on. There are sections in each chapter with sub-titles instead of a new chapter. For audiobook, it doesn't always translate well because we don't see these titles, and sometimes sound to be part of the story. I did adapt and knew to keep an ear open for them.
Okay, in the beginning I wasn't sure where the story was going. We get Delta's letter then Doug's account with the sheep. I thought I knew where the story was going, but then we get into chapter one that's Tal's reminiscing about her family past. This felt like it was a huge info dump without leading us on the story. It was about her parents - who related to, who died, and what they did and how they died. Then we end the chapter right where Doug ended up with the sheep. The story took off from there.
The story is good. But it's not my style of writing and format. I like Tallulah and her story. She's on the go, trying to get away from the father of her child as he's not a good person or the lifestyle she wants for her daughter. She makes her way to the home town of her family roots. And here she finds a good man and good people. Tal even learns about her family heritage, which she didn't know with losing her mama so young.
The romance... Tal does find a man. But the relationship between her and him and him and her daughter seems to happen so fast. Like in two days fast. Okay, maybe three? I know it's a novella and looking past the quickness, it made for a sweet story.
The story has a few different angles to it. There is a sweet love that blossoms, of course. But we also see more here. Tal has a daughter and some troubles she's running from. Tal gets a solution to those problems and grows as a character too. We also see the thread that will connect the stories in this series - Free Wheeler, a small town. There is a history here that Tal starts to dig into and learns.
As for the cooking reference, I was expecting more "magic" in the baking. There is love backed in those biscuits, and people love them but I thought there would be some spark related to the baking. It wasn't as much of a tie as I thought there would be, but that's okay.
It's a sweet story with Tal who's drawn to bake all sorts of goodies with heart and memories. Family and friends are everything, and will help you when you are in need.
This is my first book with Misty Gray narrating. I found her interesting because we start with Delta who wrote the letter and get a Southern accent, then we get a section from Douglas with a Scottish accent. We end with chapter one from Tallulah's voice, which is different than the previous two. I was struck with these different accents and taken by them. Misty was clear and clean throughout the book, nothing to distract from the words of the story.
Delta feels like a strong woman with solid beliefs of all around her from her letter we read in the prologue. She sounds like a kind person based on that first line. From that letter, it feels that family is important to Delta. She keeps track of the family line as though it's important, and uses it. However, we only meet Delta at the beginning in the letter and at the end by phone.
For listening, the book is broken up strange and, at times, it's hard to pick up on. There are sections in each chapter with sub-titles instead of a new chapter. For audiobook, it doesn't always translate well because we don't see these titles, and sometimes sound to be part of the story. I did adapt and knew to keep an ear open for them.
Okay, in the beginning I wasn't sure where the story was going. We get Delta's letter then Doug's account with the sheep. I thought I knew where the story was going, but then we get into chapter one that's Tal's reminiscing about her family past. This felt like it was a huge info dump without leading us on the story. It was about her parents - who related to, who died, and what they did and how they died. Then we end the chapter right where Doug ended up with the sheep. The story took off from there.
The story is good. But it's not my style of writing and format. I like Tallulah and her story. She's on the go, trying to get away from the father of her child as he's not a good person or the lifestyle she wants for her daughter. She makes her way to the home town of her family roots. And here she finds a good man and good people. Tal even learns about her family heritage, which she didn't know with losing her mama so young.
The romance... Tal does find a man. But the relationship between her and him and him and her daughter seems to happen so fast. Like in two days fast. Okay, maybe three? I know it's a novella and looking past the quickness, it made for a sweet story.
The story has a few different angles to it. There is a sweet love that blossoms, of course. But we also see more here. Tal has a daughter and some troubles she's running from. Tal gets a solution to those problems and grows as a character too. We also see the thread that will connect the stories in this series - Free Wheeler, a small town. There is a history here that Tal starts to dig into and learns.
As for the cooking reference, I was expecting more "magic" in the baking. There is love backed in those biscuits, and people love them but I thought there would be some spark related to the baking. It wasn't as much of a tie as I thought there would be, but that's okay.
It's a sweet story with Tal who's drawn to bake all sorts of goodies with heart and memories. Family and friends are everything, and will help you when you are in need.
sstarke's review against another edition
3.0
I will preface this by saying that I am usually not the biggest fan of the romance genre. However, some Romance books have snagged me recently, so I gave this a try. I think I have discovered that the sugary sweet romances just aren't quite for me. I prefer a book with harder edges and I like my romance with a dash of action or adventure or fantasy. I thought the "witch" aspect would do that for me, but it didn't quite get me there.
I did really enjoy the setting and parts of the book remind me of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which I love. The story is charming, the characters somewhat interesting, and the narration is quite good. I was impressed by the range of voices and accents and how the narrator could keep each character's voice distinct. There was also a lot of emotion that came through in the narration, which added to the experience. Overall, this is a good book - it is just a little too over the top with the romance, especially toward the end, and had me rolling my eyes a bit.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
I did really enjoy the setting and parts of the book remind me of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which I love. The story is charming, the characters somewhat interesting, and the narration is quite good. I was impressed by the range of voices and accents and how the narrator could keep each character's voice distinct. There was also a lot of emotion that came through in the narration, which added to the experience. Overall, this is a good book - it is just a little too over the top with the romance, especially toward the end, and had me rolling my eyes a bit.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.
serendipity_viv's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.ukAAARRRGGGHHH!
This book makes me crazy! Never have I loved and hated a book more and been left so desperate for the next one.
This book is oozing with Southern hospitality in the style of authors such as Fannie Flagg and Beth Hoffman. I found myself desperate to visit the Crossroads Cafe which would definitely give the Whistlestop Cafe a run for it’s money. I fell in love with the quirky, yet vibrant characters who could easily have stepped out of Northern Exposure. The MacBride’s have dug their way into my heart and I can’t wait to find out what happens to Tal’s brother and sister in the future publications.
However I had a couple of really big issues with this book.
Firstly there was far too much information dumped in the first couple of chapters. I really didn’t need to know so much about the characters so soon into the story, especially characters who were barely featured in the story. I can understand that this book is a connected to another and the author wanted to tell us all about the characters, other readers might have already met, but it was too much for me.
Secondly, I actually felt the story could’ve started further in. There is an extremely hilarious incident with a grizzly bear in the car eating cupcakes and I’m convinced the book should’ve started there.
Lastly, it took me far too long to work out who was actually telling the story. I didn’t realise the POV was alternating between Tal and the Scottish Doctor until a quarter of the way through the book.
Having whinged and moaned about all that – I really really did love this story when I got into it. It was descriptive to the point where you mouth watered every time they mentioned food. It was exciting and fast paced at times as Tal confronts her past, to create a new future. And it was full of warmth – family and friendship bonds that no one could ever break, leaving you feeling happy and content by the end of the book.
This is the kind of book that you want to read snuggled up on the sofa in winter.
This book makes me crazy! Never have I loved and hated a book more and been left so desperate for the next one.
This book is oozing with Southern hospitality in the style of authors such as Fannie Flagg and Beth Hoffman. I found myself desperate to visit the Crossroads Cafe which would definitely give the Whistlestop Cafe a run for it’s money. I fell in love with the quirky, yet vibrant characters who could easily have stepped out of Northern Exposure. The MacBride’s have dug their way into my heart and I can’t wait to find out what happens to Tal’s brother and sister in the future publications.
However I had a couple of really big issues with this book.
Firstly there was far too much information dumped in the first couple of chapters. I really didn’t need to know so much about the characters so soon into the story, especially characters who were barely featured in the story. I can understand that this book is a connected to another and the author wanted to tell us all about the characters, other readers might have already met, but it was too much for me.
Secondly, I actually felt the story could’ve started further in. There is an extremely hilarious incident with a grizzly bear in the car eating cupcakes and I’m convinced the book should’ve started there.
Lastly, it took me far too long to work out who was actually telling the story. I didn’t realise the POV was alternating between Tal and the Scottish Doctor until a quarter of the way through the book.
Having whinged and moaned about all that – I really really did love this story when I got into it. It was descriptive to the point where you mouth watered every time they mentioned food. It was exciting and fast paced at times as Tal confronts her past, to create a new future. And it was full of warmth – family and friendship bonds that no one could ever break, leaving you feeling happy and content by the end of the book.
This is the kind of book that you want to read snuggled up on the sofa in winter.
dashausfrau's review
3.0
Well that was short. There wasn’t much space for cooking , but it sure was cute. The Appalachians & feminist power & a whole house full of animals that mysteriously don’t leave sh*t everywhere. If you like the hallmark channel, this is right in your line.
Oh there’s also quite a lot of setup for two more romance books, which look to be even shorter...?
Oh there’s also quite a lot of setup for two more romance books, which look to be even shorter...?
susanscribs's review
4.0
It's been way too long since readers have been treated to the unique voice of Deborah Smith, one of my all-time favorite authors. The Biscuit Witch only whets my appetite for more. While it brims with colorful characters, Southern humor and a sweet romance, there is so much set up required for the rest of the planned trilogy of novellas that the love story at times seems a bit rushed. Tal and Doug are fine characters but with only 100+ pages to play with, something has to go and in this case it's a bit of depth. Doug has come to Crossroads Cove after his wife left him and he descended into a drunken stupor, but by the time Tal meets him he is cleaned up, ready to fall in love at first sight, and darned near perfect (he loves animals! and children! and he has a darling brogue!). Tal is on the run with her young daughter from her rich, famous ex-boyfriend but it's obvious that his hired goons don't stand a chance against the loyal if slightly crazy residents of Crossroads Cove, so even that suspense is slightly muted. Even with those minor complaints, I loved the novella and read it twice in a row - once to quickly reach the HEA and once to savor every delicious word.
I'm looking forward to more fireworks for Tal's sister Gabby and the man who seems destined to challenge her (unlike Tal, who as a baker has a sweet personality, Gabby is known as the Pickle Queen and is full of vinegar). The plot line for Tal's brother Gus also seems to foreshadow lots of tortured angst. I can't wait. Meanwhile I'm off to re-read The Crossroads Cafe. Welcome back Ms. Smith!
I'm looking forward to more fireworks for Tal's sister Gabby and the man who seems destined to challenge her (unlike Tal, who as a baker has a sweet personality, Gabby is known as the Pickle Queen and is full of vinegar). The plot line for Tal's brother Gus also seems to foreshadow lots of tortured angst. I can't wait. Meanwhile I'm off to re-read The Crossroads Cafe. Welcome back Ms. Smith!
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