staticdisplay's review against another edition
2.0
DNF, 22%.
these days I've had a lot of time to spend reflecting on how short life is. too short to spend any more time reading books I don't actually enjoy. I found the main character's motivation for investigating really flimsy, her initial investigatory behavior bizarre, the dialogue artificial, the characters flat... I just didn't enjoy this.
these days I've had a lot of time to spend reflecting on how short life is. too short to spend any more time reading books I don't actually enjoy. I found the main character's motivation for investigating really flimsy, her initial investigatory behavior bizarre, the dialogue artificial, the characters flat... I just didn't enjoy this.
erollinus's review against another edition
4.0
I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. It has a nice mixture of mystery, suspense, humour and donut recipes.
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
2.0
This was...not very good. There are so many problems. So, a dead guy is dumped in front of a doughnut shop. The owner witnesses this and feels compelled to search for the killer because she evidently liked the guy. I guess. I mean, she tells us at least 10 times, so I guess it must be so, but she doesn't seem to even really know the guy. We certainly never find out.
The doughnut recipes were obnoxious. How many people REALLY make honest to goodness real, deep fried doughnuts at home? It felt like filler.
Early on, we're told the MC is trying a new recipe for a pumpkin doughnut. One of her regulars comes in and she gives him pumpkin instead of his usual to see if he'll notice the difference. Because if he doesn't, she knows she's got work to do. This is after she's scarfed down two in a row because they were just so good. He eats the doughnuts, they talk about something or other, and then he leaves. Neither mention the doughnuts.
Also, she bemoans the fact that the doughnut business isn't very profitable. Well, no wonder. She sells a cup of coffee and a doughnut for $1! I understand this is more rural North Carolina, but WOW that's cheap.
The love story felt weird. The ex was annoying and I didn't get her even slight want to rekindle that relationship. The MC and the cop had ZERO chemistry. For that matter, there was zero chemistry of any type between any of the characters. I didn't buy her and her best friend's relationship either.
I picked this one up because we had a ton of the series at our store and I love a good cozy. Sadly, this was not good.
The doughnut recipes were obnoxious. How many people REALLY make honest to goodness real, deep fried doughnuts at home? It felt like filler.
Early on, we're told the MC is trying a new recipe for a pumpkin doughnut. One of her regulars comes in and she gives him pumpkin instead of his usual to see if he'll notice the difference. Because if he doesn't, she knows she's got work to do. This is after she's scarfed down two in a row because they were just so good. He eats the doughnuts, they talk about something or other, and then he leaves. Neither mention the doughnuts.
Also, she bemoans the fact that the doughnut business isn't very profitable. Well, no wonder. She sells a cup of coffee and a doughnut for $1! I understand this is more rural North Carolina, but WOW that's cheap.
The love story felt weird. The ex was annoying and I didn't get her even slight want to rekindle that relationship. The MC and the cop had ZERO chemistry. For that matter, there was zero chemistry of any type between any of the characters. I didn't buy her and her best friend's relationship either.
I picked this one up because we had a ton of the series at our store and I love a good cozy. Sadly, this was not good.
ravenlynne's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! The mystery was good and the recipes made me hungry! Recommended.
tarana's review against another edition
5.0
It's been awhile since I've been able to find a new cozy writer worthy of a 5 from me. I thoroughly enjoyed not only the mystery and characters, but the donut recipes. Tried 2 of them. Pretty darn good. Looking forward to next book.
kokoro's review against another edition
3.0
Es un cozy algo diferente al resto pues no tardamos en leer sobre el asesinato pues ya ocurrió fuera de cámara y texto, así que tenemos a nuestra protagonista narrándonos su experiencia mientras da su declaración. Generalmente en los cozy uno conoce a la protagonista y al futuro cadáver en los primeros capítulos, para al final del tercero ocurra la tragedia.
No me agrado del todo que el romance fuese tan prominente para que tuviesen una cita, pues generalmente en los cozy la relación inicial es si-no-si-no, para insinuar que podría haber algo más al final de la novela, pero en esta no hay ambigüedad alguna.
La madre de la prota en mayor parte me desespera, señora, su hija ya tiene 30 y tantos déjele ser. Algo que me hizo sentí algo identificada con la prota.
En cuanto la investigación, si bien la prota hizo todo lo posible para compaginar hacer donas y buscar pistas siento que tuvo ayuda externa. Debo decir que en esta ocasión no pude deducir quien fue el culpable pues había pistas para diferentes posibles culpables, así como motivos, diálogos que daban pistas o distraían, ante esto aplausos a la autora.
No tengo cita para esta novela, no leí alguna interesante.
No me agrado del todo que el romance fuese tan prominente para que tuviesen una cita, pues generalmente en los cozy la relación inicial es si-no-si-no, para insinuar que podría haber algo más al final de la novela, pero en esta no hay ambigüedad alguna.
La madre de la prota en mayor parte me desespera, señora, su hija ya tiene 30 y tantos déjele ser. Algo que me hizo sentí algo identificada con la prota.
En cuanto la investigación, si bien la prota hizo todo lo posible para compaginar hacer donas y buscar pistas siento que tuvo ayuda externa. Debo decir que en esta ocasión no pude deducir quien fue el culpable pues había pistas para diferentes posibles culpables, así como motivos, diálogos que daban pistas o distraían, ante esto aplausos a la autora.
No tengo cita para esta novela, no leí alguna interesante.
bella_lettore's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very cute little mystery book that had the workings of an older Nancy Drew with a deadly Strawberry Shortcake. I enjoyed Jessica's voice throughout the book I was able to connect with the different characters and distinguish them from one another. This is a great read if you are looking for something quick and easy.
bwilhoite8's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
It started off slow then got better. I'll probably read more in this series.
It started off slow then got better. I'll probably read more in this series.
luffy79's review against another edition
1.0
The magic that Jessica Beck worked under the name of Chris Cavender is missing from this book. There were all the usual suspects here...there was the heroine mistaking someone for another on the phone, there was the entire early rising hard worker schtick, there was the answering machine stuff, the shabbiness and struggling-money wise of Suzanne. There was even the faint trace of a love triangle! What cozy mysteries need are less love triangles and more sleuthing. Except that instead of a Holmes/Watson partnership there can and must be a Watson/Watson duo. One Watson, the heroine, and a poor man's Watson. A two strong team of crazy like a fox, and stupider like a fox.
smiley7245's review against another edition
3.0
Cute, light mystery. I was a little irritated by Suzanne, but that is pretty much par for the course for me with these types of books. However, I do love Jake. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of these books.