You’re invited to my #teatime review of A TASTE FOR CRIME by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe!

For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

~~Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Welcome back to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved . . .

When a scathing review by a prominent food critic threatens to ruin the career of local celebrity chef Anton Parsley, he turns to Cooper and her Bible study group for help. Cooper’s boyfriend was once mentored by the beloved chef, and Cooper will do anything she can to support his struggling restaurant. But before she can figure out how to restore the chef’s good reputation, the food critic is found murdered in his restaurant. Suddenly, Cooper and the gang must go from propping up the chef to tracking down a killer.

It’s well known that the food critic had built a lucrative career with her bombastic reviews, but as Cooper and her friends look into her background, they discover that she may not have been who she appeared to be. Suspecting that secrets from her past will lead them to whoever wanted her dead, the Bible study group cook up a scheme to trap the culprit. The risks are high and may just get them burned, but they’re dead-set on catching the killer before the chef’s career is toast . . .

Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!

MY REVIEW

A fun who-done-it mystery! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hope Street Church Mysteries series is quite enjoyable. Each book can be read as a stand alone, so you can jump in anytime. Cooper Lee is the main character in each story, along with her friends in the Sunrise Bible Study group. This newest addition to the collection finds the sleuthing members of the group determined to help absolve a local chef of the murder of a food critic. The victim was found in the chef’s restaurant….and the chef is the uncle/mentor of Cooper’s boyfriend.

As always, their plans for investigating the crime are interesting to delve into. The characters are all intriguing. I appreciate the reliance on their faith as they go about the work to solve the crime. Plus there are some featured treats from Magnolia’s Marvels….definitely a good thing for those of us who are reader foodies.

If you like to read cozy mysteries written by award-winning authors, you will be glad you picked up A Taste for Crime. Be sure to check out the recipes at the end!

Favorite quotes:
“Ephesians 2:8 tells us we have been saved through faith. Faith is a gift from God. Trust is simply the confidence in that faith even when the world tells you otherwise.”

“When we acknowledge that something is missing in our lives, we’re taking the first step toward meeting God.”

*I received this book from @NetGalley and publisher @Beyondthepagepub with no requirement to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, and three cats. She’s written multiple series including the Supper Club Mysteries, the Book Retreat Mysteries, the Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries, and more.

A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tina Radcliffe is an RWA Honor Roll member, a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, four-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Visit Tina Radcliffe via her website: https://www.TinaRadcliffe.com

TEATIME TREATS

In the Hope Street Church Mystery series, Cooper Lee’s mother sells Magnolia’s Marvels…..delectable homemade goodies. One of the recipes included at the end of A Taste for Crime is for Apple Cake. Today I’m serving this sweet dessert, topped with confectioners sugar drizzle and sprinkled with sparkling sugar….a perfect teatime delight!

Thank you for joining me for tea treats and a book review. Do you enjoy reading books which highlight food items? What cozy mysteries have you read lately? I pray your springtime is filled with fun activities, inspiring stories and just the right amount of special treats!

With blessings,

Sherida

*To leave a comment, click on the date below, then scroll down to find the reply form. Comments are appreciated and will appear after moderation, I apologize for delays in posting. Thank you!

#TUESDAYTEA for Christmas with reviews of some Christmas e-novellas

Please join me for a Christmas tea as I serve Biscochitos with our tea. I’ve decorated our party with this year’s addition to our nativity collection, a gift from my husband. And we’ll chat about a few e-book Christmas novellas–which make quick gifts, if you need a few more ideas. Let’s celebrate!

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 KJV

Nativities are a passion of mine. Some sets I display throughout the year, but others come out for the Christmas season. This year we added this special treasure made by a Jemez Pueblo artist. A deer is included among the gathered animals since deer are an important animal to the pueblo. Rather than the traditional gifts, the wise men bring corn, a blanket, and a drum.

Pueblo Nativity
Pueblo Nativity

Biscochitos are the state cookie of New Mexico, traditionally served at Christmas. There are many different recipes for this cookie, which also is made in a variety of shapes. This is my mother-in-law’s recipe. She always made these for our Christmas festivities. They make lovely tea cookies.

Biscochitos Recipe 

1/2 cup shortening

2/3 cup sugar

1-1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1 tbsp orange juice

Cinnamon-sugar mix

 

Cream sugar and shortening.

Add flour, anise seed, baking powder, and salt.

Combine egg and orange juice, then beat into creamed mixture to make a moist dough.

Form dough into a long roll, about 1-1/4 inch in diameter, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm.

Remove from the refrigerator and slice cookies 1/4 inch thick.

Sprinkle one side with cinnamon-sugar mixture, then place on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes until lightly browned.

Biscochitos
Biscochitos

If you’re looking for a last minute e-gift book, I’d recommend some of the faith-filled Christmas novellas available.

The Evergreen Bride by Pam Hillman

The Evergreen Bride (12 Brides of Christmas #3)The Evergreen Bride by Pam Hillman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a delightful Christmas story!

This historical romance set in 1887 in Sipsey Creek, Mississippi, is filled with sweet love.

I liked the enthusiastic school teacher, Annabelle Denson, who is determined to fulfill her dream of a white Christmas by traveling over her holiday to visit her cousin in Chicago, Illinois.

Sawmill owner, Samuel Frazier, is my kind of hero, with his gentleness, quiet manner, and sincere desire to make Annabelle happy.

Lovely surprises and touches of a country Christmas make this novella a charming story—a perfect story to feel the warmth of Christmas love!

View all my reviews

There are twelve books in this collection of Christmas Bride novellas, each sold separately for 99 cents.

 

Hope for the Holidays-both the contemporary and historical collections by best-selling inspirational authors would be good ideas for e-stocking stuffers.

Hope for the Holiday Contemporary CollectionHope for the Holiday Contemporary Collection by Mary Connealy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a collection of great authors!

I’ve just finished I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, and I smiled through the whole story. Author Tina Radcliffe has a gift for creating heart-touching characters through sparkling dialogue. Matt and Patience discover true understanding of perfect love as they move towards their Happily Ever After. The romantic tension, the interesting plot, and the touches of Christmas make this a great feel-good romance.

I’m excited to read all the other stories in this contemporary collection, as well as the stories in the historical collection, because these are all FAVORITE authors. The HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS collections are just right for enjoying the sparkling spirit of Christmas!

View all my reviews

Thank you for joining me for a Christmas TUESDAY TEA! I wish you a treasured Christmas filled with the blessings of hope, faith, and love!