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Hawg Heaven Cozy Culinary Mysteries By Summer Prescott

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A small Midwestern town.
The best BBQ in the state.
A single mom, determined to do what it takes.
A murder that rocks her world.

Rossalyn Channing is tough, but the odds are stacked against her. Faced with the reality of starting a new life with her teenage son, after her heroic husband is killed in the line of duty, she knows that she has to do whatever it takes to survive.

Irresistibly drawn to a mysterious little building in a small town, the determined single mom uses every dime she’s got to buy it, with plans to turn it into a diner that her late husband would have loved. When Rossalyn finds herself caught up in the middle of a murder investigation, however, she begins to wonder if the challenges she faces will defeat her.

A body is found on her property, the sheriff in town suspects Rossie of the murder, and it looks like her world is falling apart. It’s up to this determined mom to prove her innocence and save her small family. Can she do it?

Hawg Heaven Cozy Culinary Mysteries Series Reading Order
BBQ, Bikers, and Murder (#1)
Baby Back Murder (#2)
Nacho Usual Murder (#3)
Hawgs, Dogs, and Murder (#4)
Killer Barbeque (#5)
Home Grown Murder (#6)
Bittersweet Murder (#7)

Reader Reviews

“A well plotted story with very strong emotional issues. It has secrets, lies, politics and love. The strong characters and storyline pulls you in this engrossing murder plot. When a local girl is murdered in the field behind Rossayln’s cafe that she has just decided to open after landing in Illinois after the death of her Marine husband. Between trying to solve the murder, open and run her new business and other issues makes this a have to read.” – Misty, Reviewer

“Rosslyn Channing is one tough mother. After the death of her husband who was serving in the military, she moves her son and herself to a small town to start life anew. She sees a little building that she knows would be great as a diner. She knows her late husband would love the small diner in a small town. Then there is a body found on her property, and the sheriff thinks she is the killer! What!!!???!!! Just when she thought things were going fairly well, now this? Can Rosie prove her innocence or will she end up in jail and her son without a mother? You will need to read the book to see how this feisty little lady takes on the sheriff” – Bev, Reviewer

“Rossalyn Channing needs to start life over with just her son. Her husband has been killed in Afghanistan so she and her son must leave the military base where they live. She returns to her parents home in a small town in Illinois.

On the trip home, Rossalyn sees a small vacant building. She decides to fix it up and open an restaurant featuring pork BBQ, bacon roses along with many other mouthwatering pork dishes accompanied by a variety of side dishes.

Between Rossalyn, her parents and her son, Ryan, her dream becomes a reality.

A young woman is found murdered in a field behind the restaurant. The murder weapon is found in the restaurant’s dumpster. Two unsavory characters emerge to threaten the business. They are related to the Sheriff so he is no help. In fact Sheriff tries to accuse her and her staff of being involved in the murder.

A moving story with artfully drawn characters involved in a complex plot murder mystery. The action moves fast. It is nice to see how the main character is slow to judge. She is willing to give people a chance to prove themselves.

Will the town give Rossalyn’s restaurant Hawg Heaven a fair chance???” – Carol Smith, Reviewer

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About the Author:

Summer Prescott is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author, who has penned nearly one hundred Cozy Mysteries, and a successful Thriller, The Quiet Type. She makes her home in the Midwest with her Standard Poodle, Elvis, at her side.

Find Summer Online:

Books For Review – Week of January 1st

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Angel With Steel Wings
Anne Greene
Elk Lake Publishing
Historical Fiction, Romance

DESPITE THE DANGER
At a time when most people in American have never flown in an airplane, spunky Mandy McCabe test-pilots repaired war planes as part of the Women Air Force Service Pilots. If the Army Air Corp shuts down the WASP program, she must return to life in her hard-scrabble home and face her past.

DESPITE THE OPPOSITION
Army Air Corp Major Harvey Applegate lost his WASP wife test-piloting planes and doesn’t want any more women killed on his watch. He fights to close the WASP program. Women aren’t designed to fight wars. Men fight to protect women freedom, and the American way of life.

DESPITE THE RAGING WAR
This World War II romance shows Steel Magnolias meeting Band of Brothers. Can Mandy escape from her past? Can a man burdened with memories of death agree to added danger for the new woman in his life? Will their new love survive the test of opposing desires and the pain and separation of war?

Outcasts: Assassin
Outcasts Book 4
Cyndi Friberg
Anything-but-Ordinary Books
Romance

Torrin’s simple mission is seriously complicated when he finds Arrista, a lovely Sarronti female, in need of rescue. The Sarronti resent the Outcasts and continually sabotage their efforts to build a settlement on the primitive planet. But Arrista isn’t just any Sarronti. She’s the personal servant of one of the most powerful Sarronti. The information Arrista can provide would be vitally important to the Outcasts, so Torrin is ordered to use their mutual attraction to question her.

Arrista has been taught to fear and mistrust the savage Outcasts, so why does she find Torrin so fascinating, so desirable? It’s not just his muscular body and rugged features. He is kinder and more protective than any male she has ever known. She is drawn to him by a force so compelling it leaves her no choice but surrender. She wants him, needs him, but can she trust him not to break her heart?

Death Comes to Call
A Tara Thorpe Mystery, Book 3
by Clare Chase
Bookouture
Mystery & Thrillers

Tara Thorpe may be Cambridge Police’s youngest detective, but that doesn’t stop her from cracking its most dangerous cases. Perfect for fans of Faith Martin, LJ Ross and Joy Ellis.

When a promising local artist disappears, the victim’s brother begs Detective Tara Thorpe to take the case. It seems there’s no evidence of foul play… he simply disappeared without a trace.

Tara agrees to do some digging… never mind that her unorthodox approach to policing has got a few of her colleagues’ backs up. Amongst them is her former supervisor Detective Patrick Wilkins… he’s had enough of Tara calling the shots and will do anything to knock her down. She must be careful.

At least she has an ally in their boss, Detective Garstin Blake. He’ll always back her hunches. If anything, they work together too well… at least, that’s the rumour around the station these days.

When a body of a young woman is found frozen near the fens, Tara’s evidence suddenly becomes key to solving a high-profile murder. Is their missing artist still a victim… or in fact a clever murderer with a deadly plan?

An unputdownable page-turner that will keep you hooked until the very last page!

The Tara Thorpe Mystery Series: Book 1 – Murder on the Marshes Book 2 – Death on the River Book 3 – Death Comes to Call

Rachel’s Search – Historical & Literary Fiction At Its Best

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What does the second coming of the Klan portend for Satilla County? Is it one more sign evil is winning? Setting out to find answers, a northern-born young journalist experiences life in the deep South, the struggle to survive for whites and blacks. Her search turns personal and horrific when her best friend disappears.

Boston born journalist Rachel Mellon sees the second coming of the Klan in 1915 as more fuel on a fire already burning out of control, not only in Satilla County but around the world. To her, the new South appears to be as bad as the old, or worse. Challenged by her editor, she goes out to experience life for herself out there in the pine woods. She finds poor whites and even poorer blacks struggling to survive against great odds. She finds suffering and hatred but also hope and love. When best friend Eve disappears, Rachel’s search turns personal and horrific.

Reader Reviews

“Rachel’s Search by Oscar Patton is a historical novel about life in a small Georgia town in 1915. Told through the eyes of a young female journalist raised in Boston it paints a picture of a close community of farmers, tenant farmers and business owners.

The KKK had essentially been erradicated in 1870 and declared a terrorist organization by the Federal Government. In 1915 it begins to make a comeback based on lies about it’s true ideology. Claiming to be a “religious” organization similar to Free Masons (a blatant lie) it states it is being formed to protect women, stop bootlegging (prohibition was in full force), provide spiritual guidance and for the betterment of society.

Before the KKK takes hold Satilla County is a community where the black and white citizens have a comfortable relationship with each other. Although they are “separate but equal” there is friendly interaction between everyone in society no matter what race or social standing a person comes from. Once the KKK takes hold that disappears and trust erodes.

Rachel is journalist and an outsider. When she starts writing editorials condemning the klan and everything it stands for she is threatened. Through her eyes the reader sees the erosion of trust and friendships. Life becomes precarious for the black community and those in the white community who refuse to be a part of a racist organization clearly run by bullies, deviants and elitists. During this time Rachel’s best friend Eve disappears without a trace. With time ticking Rachel and the rest of the community begin to search for the missing woman.

I enjoyed this book. I didn’t know the klan had been erradicated and made a resurgence in the early 1900’s. The storyline is really well developed and movies along effortlessly. The author exposes the true nature of the klan and it’s destructive influence on a community that had been living in peace with each other. He points out that those who are die hard klan members are what Hillary called “a basket of deplorables.” (I will clarify I disagree with her use of it to describe Trump supporters but it is a true description of the klan.)

Character development is well done. Rachel comes across as a smart and capable woman. I’m sure she is the image of many women of her time in the suffragette movement. This is really her story so the fact that other characters are not as well developed does nothing to take away from the story.

I recommend this book. There is history that I believe most people are unaware of. It also gives the reader a glimpse inside the klan and shows what leverage they use to recruit members. Seeing the changes that happen in a small Georgia town once the klan starts to take hold was eye opening and informative.“ – Seraphina, Reviewer

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About the Author:

Oscar Patton is the author of the Satilla County series of novels. He says, “I use history, memory, and imagination to create regional stories with universal, timeless themes. As William Faulkner put it, I write about the ‘human heart in conflict with itself.’”

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