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A review by sjholmes
Out of Temper by Amber Royer
4.0
This is the third of the “Bean to Bar” series where young widow Felicity Koerber finds herself once again involved in an amateur investigation of a murder. This time, Felicity leaves her Galveston home for a cruise in which she is spotlighted for her chocolate-making skills and business. She has mixed feelings about being on a boat, as her late husband died in an accident involving a boat. But she is travelling with her best friend, Autumn, who is newly engaged in a whirlwind romance, making Felicity concerned that she’s moving too fast. But with Autumn’s fiancé and his mother able to join the cruise, she has an opportunity to get to better know him.
Too quickly she learns that she was not told that this was a special themed cruise for a role-playing mystery group. And on the first night, she finds the body of one of the cruise’s mystery authors and her former nemesis/friend Ash is the prime suspect. This book, in comparison to the others, seems perhaps more lightweight. The progression of Felicity’s potential romance is much more introspective, though she has one kiss with her old boyfriend, Arlo, whom she had seen as off-limits before his own engagement was broken off in the previous book. This advance fully develops the triangle between Felicity and her other romantic prospect and now business partner, Logan. While the romantic storyline moves slowly in this installment and seems to be setting up the next story for a stronger romantic storyline. However, Royer’s strong point remains chocolate. Her description of the various flavors possible are luscious, and her technical expertise fascinating. As indicated in the title, the reader will come to fully understand the process of tempering chocolate—and perhaps its potential significance in solving murder. If nothing else, this book provides even more satisfaction every time you hear and feel that “snap” of tempered chocolate after reading this worthwhile book.
Too quickly she learns that she was not told that this was a special themed cruise for a role-playing mystery group. And on the first night, she finds the body of one of the cruise’s mystery authors and her former nemesis/friend Ash is the prime suspect. This book, in comparison to the others, seems perhaps more lightweight. The progression of Felicity’s potential romance is much more introspective, though she has one kiss with her old boyfriend, Arlo, whom she had seen as off-limits before his own engagement was broken off in the previous book. This advance fully develops the triangle between Felicity and her other romantic prospect and now business partner, Logan. While the romantic storyline moves slowly in this installment and seems to be setting up the next story for a stronger romantic storyline. However, Royer’s strong point remains chocolate. Her description of the various flavors possible are luscious, and her technical expertise fascinating. As indicated in the title, the reader will come to fully understand the process of tempering chocolate—and perhaps its potential significance in solving murder. If nothing else, this book provides even more satisfaction every time you hear and feel that “snap” of tempered chocolate after reading this worthwhile book.