karen_the_baroness's review against another edition
4.0
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Bonbon with the Wind by Dorothy St. James is an exciting read about trying to find the motive and person who killed a guy before the storm?
Charity Penn, or known by her friends as Penn, is our main character and sleuth. She is an heiress in her own right from her dad but is loving working at the chocolate store owned by her mom's family. Penn got the shop when her maternal grandmother left it to her. After that, well, she has become known around the small island as the person to go to to find things. Like clearing your name of being a suspect or anything like that. She is pretty good at solving the crimes, especially in this one.
What I like about her is that she takes in stride what her friends say, especially about trusting them more. Penn has trust issues thanks to both sides of her family, treating her like she has leprosy. She is learning that some people don't care about who her family is. The one thing that I dislike is that Penn had a lot to happen to make her realize that, and I hope that she is better now.
Two victims, but were they killed by the same person or different people? What were they after? These were the questions that I was asking myself as I was reading this mystery novel. Well, at first, it was only one murder victim until there were two. Ms. St James did a fabulous job on this. I figured out who did it but not the motive. Until a piece of crucial evidence that popped up. Just be careful reading it, and you might be able to pick it up as well.
Bonbon with the Wind by Dorothy St. James is my first novel from her and for this series. I have to say that I loved everything about it. Penn, Stella, Harley, Bertie, and Althea are all wonderful characters, and I can't wait to read more in this series.
I am giving it four stars and recommending it to anyone that loves a good cozy mystery.
Also, don't forget to check out the recipes in the back.
Prize: (1) Chocolate Gift Basket (U.S. Only)
Will Penn and the gang figure out who killed Joe Davies?
Penn
Charity Penn, or known by her friends as Penn, is our main character and sleuth. She is an heiress in her own right from her dad but is loving working at the chocolate store owned by her mom's family. Penn got the shop when her maternal grandmother left it to her. After that, well, she has become known around the small island as the person to go to to find things. Like clearing your name of being a suspect or anything like that. She is pretty good at solving the crimes, especially in this one.
What I like about her is that she takes in stride what her friends say, especially about trusting them more. Penn has trust issues thanks to both sides of her family, treating her like she has leprosy. She is learning that some people don't care about who her family is. The one thing that I dislike is that Penn had a lot to happen to make her realize that, and I hope that she is better now.
The Mystery
Two victims, but were they killed by the same person or different people? What were they after? These were the questions that I was asking myself as I was reading this mystery novel. Well, at first, it was only one murder victim until there were two. Ms. St James did a fabulous job on this. I figured out who did it but not the motive. Until a piece of crucial evidence that popped up. Just be careful reading it, and you might be able to pick it up as well.
Four Stars
Bonbon with the Wind by Dorothy St. James is my first novel from her and for this series. I have to say that I loved everything about it. Penn, Stella, Harley, Bertie, and Althea are all wonderful characters, and I can't wait to read more in this series.
I am giving it four stars and recommending it to anyone that loves a good cozy mystery.
Also, don't forget to check out the recipes in the back.
Other Books in the Series
Giveaway
Prize: (1) Chocolate Gift Basket (U.S. Only)
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Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
cozyreads1988's review
4.0
I love these characters and I love the setting. It has been wonderful seeing Penn grow as a character. I still feel like there are unanswered questions for Penn’s past.. the mystery was very interesting. I will miss these characters.
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A hurricane is headed for the island of Camellia Beach and everyone is battening down the hatches and getting ready to evacuate. As Penn looks out over the beach she sees local treasure hunter Joe Davies in the distance talking to a woman. He approaches Penn and tells her he is afraid for his life and hurries away. Everyone, except Penn, thinks the woman was the Gray Lady of legend who is known to walk the beach before a storm. Meeting her could mean tragedy is headed to your life. Penn doesn’t believe in the legend or the stories people are sharing.
Penn and her papillon Stella return to Camilla Beach after the storm passes to assess the damages. Stella runs off and when Penn catches up with her she sees her dog has made a gruesome discovery. Joe Davies’ body has been washed up on the shore and has been mostly covered with sand. She later learns his seaside home had burned to the ground during the storm. Was it the Gray Lady that crossed his path and delivered all this calamity or is there a human to blame. Penn has been asked to find out. Hopefully, that won’t bring death and destruction to her door.
____
After a short hiatus, the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries are back and I am so happy they are!
Charity Penn ‘Penn’, Bertie, Harley, Althea, and Stella return in a rich story with a folklore twist. I really enjoyed the bit a paranormal legend that was twisted throughout this story. Hurricanes are scary enough without ghosts predicted doom. It also brought a slew of ghosthunters to Camellia Beach all in hopes to witness the phenomenon which meant more business for Penn’s shop but a lot more craziness.
Character development was key in this story as well. Penn’s candy-making skills are improving but her interpersonal relationships take a real hit. That opens her eyes in many ways. She is still on the outs with her family but she is getting strong enough to deal with them now. A friend from Harley’s past makes an appearance and that opens his eyes too. Penn and Harley make a great team but Bertie and Althea definitely add their talents to the mix.
The devastation of the hurricane was described vividly. I appreciated the resident’s perseverance and the way the town pulled together after the storm. Finding displaced people places to live, sign up sheets for those who needed help and volunteers willing to help, locating material and contactors, and for Penn ingredient supplies to keep her shop filled with goodies.
The mystery was quite complex. Along with the Gray Lady and that drama, there was a buried treasure and a murder to solve. There were hurricane twists and turns and clues that really had to be dug up to find. I was totally captivated by the entire story.
Bonbon with the Wind is an excellent addition to this series. You can’t go wrong when you combine mystery with chocolate. Oh, I almost forgot, the Pumpkin Seed Bonbons had my mouth watering. It is one of the recipes included at the end of the book.
I can’t wait for my next visit to Camella Beach!
A hurricane is headed for the island of Camellia Beach and everyone is battening down the hatches and getting ready to evacuate. As Penn looks out over the beach she sees local treasure hunter Joe Davies in the distance talking to a woman. He approaches Penn and tells her he is afraid for his life and hurries away. Everyone, except Penn, thinks the woman was the Gray Lady of legend who is known to walk the beach before a storm. Meeting her could mean tragedy is headed to your life. Penn doesn’t believe in the legend or the stories people are sharing.
Penn and her papillon Stella return to Camilla Beach after the storm passes to assess the damages. Stella runs off and when Penn catches up with her she sees her dog has made a gruesome discovery. Joe Davies’ body has been washed up on the shore and has been mostly covered with sand. She later learns his seaside home had burned to the ground during the storm. Was it the Gray Lady that crossed his path and delivered all this calamity or is there a human to blame. Penn has been asked to find out. Hopefully, that won’t bring death and destruction to her door.
____
After a short hiatus, the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries are back and I am so happy they are!
Charity Penn ‘Penn’, Bertie, Harley, Althea, and Stella return in a rich story with a folklore twist. I really enjoyed the bit a paranormal legend that was twisted throughout this story. Hurricanes are scary enough without ghosts predicted doom. It also brought a slew of ghosthunters to Camellia Beach all in hopes to witness the phenomenon which meant more business for Penn’s shop but a lot more craziness.
Character development was key in this story as well. Penn’s candy-making skills are improving but her interpersonal relationships take a real hit. That opens her eyes in many ways. She is still on the outs with her family but she is getting strong enough to deal with them now. A friend from Harley’s past makes an appearance and that opens his eyes too. Penn and Harley make a great team but Bertie and Althea definitely add their talents to the mix.
The devastation of the hurricane was described vividly. I appreciated the resident’s perseverance and the way the town pulled together after the storm. Finding displaced people places to live, sign up sheets for those who needed help and volunteers willing to help, locating material and contactors, and for Penn ingredient supplies to keep her shop filled with goodies.
The mystery was quite complex. Along with the Gray Lady and that drama, there was a buried treasure and a murder to solve. There were hurricane twists and turns and clues that really had to be dug up to find. I was totally captivated by the entire story.
Bonbon with the Wind is an excellent addition to this series. You can’t go wrong when you combine mystery with chocolate. Oh, I almost forgot, the Pumpkin Seed Bonbons had my mouth watering. It is one of the recipes included at the end of the book.
I can’t wait for my next visit to Camella Beach!
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