Review: The Candy Cane Caper

The Candy Cane Caper (Cozy Culinary Mystery)

"The theft of a friend’s priceless, family-legacy Christmas ornaments brings amateur detective and culinary expert, Sadie Hoffmiller, back on the case in a new standalone cozy mystery.

"In the latest chapter to the Culinary Mystery series, amateur detective Sadie Hoffmiller continues combining her sleuthing with her cooking and baking to connect with people and gain information she might otherwise not have access to. Moreover, now that Sadie is married to Detective Pete Cunningham, she has a street-savvy husband to test out her crime-solving theories.

"With Christmas approaching, Sadie is preparing for a large blended-family gathering including many new grandchildren--in their home in Fort Collins, Colorado.  Even with the festive chaos, Sadie drops everything when word gets out that her friend, Mary, is the victim of a holiday robbery.   

"At ninety-four years old, and nearly blind, Mary knows this is may be her last Christmas and the last year to enjoy her family heirloom Christmas tree ornaments. She wants just one more holiday to display her ornaments and following Christmas Eve Mass, she’ll pass them on to her great-granddaughter, Joy. Though priceless to the family, the collection has been valued at $40,000, and the Christmas tree in the care facility has never looked so good. But before the ornaments can be retrieved by Mary, eleven of the most expensive ornaments are stolen.  

"A holiday Christmas caper might be new to Sadie, but she’s ready to mix in her seasoned crime-solving skills with a pinch of new holiday recipes."

I learned something about myself while reviewing this book, that has the most adorable cover, by the way. I can read most books out of season, but I cannot read Christmas books out of season. I tried, getting about 50 pages in to The Candy Cane Caper, but ultimately put it down because I knew I would simply enjoy it more reading it in December rather than October. That being said, I am looking forward to picking it back up nearer to Christmas. I have never read any of Kilpack's culinary mysteries, but I am familiar with her other books and have enjoyed them, so I am hopeful I will enjoy this one as well. In case you are interested, here is my favorite Kilpack book.

The Lady of the Lakes (Historical Proper Romance)

Title: The Candy Cane Caper

Author: Josi S. Kilpack

Publisher: Shadow Mountain 

Format: Paperback 

Price: $15.99 on AmazonThe Candy Cane Caper (Cozy Culinary Mystery)
Source: Shadow Mountain

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Review: Six Ingredient Meals with Six Sisters' Stuff

"With only six ingredients or less per recipe, making dinner has never been easier.

"Six Sisters’ Stuff is one of the most popular blogs for quick and easy cooking and entertaining at home for families. In their eighth cookbook, they tackle how to master meals for any cook with any skill level with more than 100 easy recipes made with incredible flavor combinations from just six ingredients or less.

"From beginning cooks learning the basics to busy parents looking to save time in the kitchen, this cookbook is loaded with entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Whether it’s a one-pot wings dish or a no-bake peanut butter bar this cookbook is a fool-proof solution to meal planning and features kid-friendly chapters such as “Kid Favorites” and “Kids Can Cook.""

I have to admit, when I received Six Ingredient Meals with Six Sisters' Stuff in the mail, I may have squealed. I love cookbooks. I cannot get enough of them. And I could not be happier to add Six Ingredient Meals to my collection of cookbooks. Here is what I love about this particular cookbook. It is beautiful. It has full page photographs of every single recipe. (Anyone else dislike cookbooks with no photos?!) When opened to a recipe, it lays open flat on my kitchen counter without the need to crack the spine. (It's the little things, I tell you!) It has a great index. (Again, the little things!) And the recipes. They are truly simple and so many look and sound terrific. I am particularly drawn to the side dishes, which frankly I need more of in my personal collection. I cannot wait to try the maple-roasted butternut squash, the twice-baked bacon-and-chive sweet potatoes, the watermelon feta salad and the pomegranate salsa. Now, excuse me while I get into the kitchen and start cooking.

Title: Six Ingredient Meals with Six Sisters' Stuff

Author: Six Sisters' Stuff

Publisher: Shadow Mountain 

Format: Paperback 

Price: $15.32 on AmazonSix Ingredient Meals With Six Sisters' Stuff

Source: Shadow Mountain 

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Review: Mr Dickens and His Carol

"For Charles Dickens, each Christmas has been better than the last. But when his newest book is an utter flop, his publishers offer an ultimatum: either he writes a Christmas book in a month, or they will call in his debts, and he could lose everything. Grudgingly, he accepts, but with relatives hounding him for loans, his wife planning an excessively lavish holiday party, and jealous critics moving in for the kill, he is hardly feeling the Christmas spirit. Frazzled and filled with self-doubt, Dickens seeks solace and inspiration in London itself, his great palace of thinking. And on one of his long walks, in a once-beloved square, he meets a young woman who might be just the muse he needs. Over the next few weeks, Eleanor Lovejoy propels Dickens on a Scrooge-like journey that tests everything he believes about generosity, friendship, ambition--and Christmas. Laced with humor, rich historical detail from Dickens' life, and clever winks to his work, Samantha Silva's Mr. Dickens and His Carol is an irresistible new take on an adored classic."

Considering how much I enjoy Charles Dickens, I was surprised by how little I knew about him. I've read over a handful of his novels, enjoying every single one, yet I had never researched his personal life. Until now. When I saw the cover for Mr. Dickens and His Carol, and read its description, I knew I had to read it. It did not disappoint. It was perfectly enjoyable. It is well researched, well written, and simply fun, while also being poignant, as one would expect. I believe it to be the perfect read this Christmas season.

My personal rating: 3/5 stars

Title: Mr Dickens and His Carol
Author: Samantha Silva
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Format: Hardcover
Price: $16.50 on Amazon Mr. Dickens and His Carol
Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Review: Havencross

Mystery, a scandal, death, smugglers, King Arthur and true love. Havencross has everything I love in a Historical Romance. Here is the description for this book:

"When a shocking scandal involving her father spreads through London society, Elaine Cardinham and her parents are forced to retreat to their country home in Cornwall for refuge. But Havencross is no sanctuary for Elaine. She is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her brother—and the heartbreak she left in her wake all those years ago.

"It has been five long years since Gareth Kemp last saw Elaine—when she rejected his marriage proposal. Her reappearance convinces him of one thing: he has never stopped loving her. To put his feelings for her aside, he focuses his attention on the dangerous smuggling plaguing the Cornish coast. As Elaine attempts to run from her past, she ventures ever closer to a dangerous truth—and Gareth may be the only one who can save her from a deadly finish."

There is not a whole lot I can say about Havencross, other than I really enjoyed it. If you are looking for a quick escape, filled with excitement and a little romance, I think you will really enjoy Havencross as well. 

My personal rating: 3.5/5 stars

Title: Havencross
Author: Julie Daines
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Format: Paperback
Price: $14.99 on Amazon Havencross
Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Miss Leslie's Secret

"Decorated war hero Conall Stewart has spent ten years envisioning his return to his beloved Scottish Highlands. But now, with the days of battle finally behind him, it seems that his dreams of home have been in vain: the land of his youth lies in ruins and his family is gone. Though he will never stop searching for his kin, Conall knows he must begin again. But when he takes on a rented farm in a nearby town, he finds far more than the fresh start he was looking for.

"After catching a mischievous local lad stealing, Conall returns young Jamie to his mother, Aileen Leslie, and finds the woman's coddling of the child maddening. What Conall does not realize is that Aileen hides a frightening secret: her devoted protection of Jamie is all that shelters them from discovery by a dangerous man from their past. Drawn together by circumstance, Conall soon develops a fatherly relationship with Jamie as well as romantic feelings for Aileen. But even as the couple accepts their growing affection for one another, time runs out for Aileen and her son: after years of hiding, they have been found. Conall lost his family once. He will do all in his power not to let history repeat itself."

Jennifer Moore is good at what she does. She knows how to write simple, yet enjoyable Historical Romance. Miss Leslie's Secret was no different. I did enjoy the change in location however. Not a lot of the Historical Romance I read is set in Scotland and, more specifically, Jennifer Moore sets a lot of her books in the Caribbean. This change in location was a nice one. My only complaint, and it is a small one, is that the epilogue felt out of place. It tied up a story that simply wasn't well developed in the book. If that story had been more fully developed, I think it would have been a perfectly fine epilogue. Besides that small complaint, I enjoyed this book. It was simple and sweet, just what I look for in a Historical Romance.

My personal rating: 3/5 stars

Title: Miss Leslie's Secret

Author: Jennifer Moore

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Format: Paperback

Price: $12.17 on Amazon Miss Leslie's Secret

Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Review: Searching for Irene

"Anna Coughlin is a modern 1920's woman armed with a college education and a partiality for numbers. Now, within the walls of a fantastic castle-like mansion in the hills of Virginia, her skills will be tested as never before. Hired to serve as financial advisor to wealthy Lawrence Richardson, Anna finds the welcome she receives anything but warm. Lawrence's handsome but antagonistic son Tyler wants nothing more than to send her packing. The household staff isn't much better, but who can blame them, considering Lawrence's last advisor, Irene, disappeared. Convinced that one of the enigmatic members of the household has something to do with Irene's disappearance, Anna doesn't dare trust anyone--not even temperamental Tyler Richardson, who, despite her best intentions, is beginning to steal her heart. A series of frightening incidents ensnare Anna in a maze of intrigue, putting her life in peril. But even as Anna begins uncovering the secrets hidden within the mansion's stone walls, she harbors a secret of her own. Now, the only question that remains is whether she will disappear as mysteriously has Irene."

One look at its cover and a quick reading of its description, I found myself excitedly requesting Searching for Irene from NetGalley. Living in Virginia, I was happy to see it was set here. I was also happy to see it was set in the 1920's, one of my favorite eras. Throw in a "fantastic castle-like mansion" and a mysterious plot, I was sold.

Unfortunately, Searching for Irene didn't quite live up to all I hoped it would. The story started well, instantly drawing me in, but after a promising start, it seemed to stall. There didn't seem to be any plot movement. This wouldn't have bothered me if, during this stall, there had been indepth setting or character development, but that seemed missing as well. When the plot finally moved forward, I found myself at the end of the book. The ending was good, just a little too quick.

Overall, if you are looking for a quick, simple mystery, with a little bit of romance, I think you will enjoy this one. If you want something with a bit more depth, this may not be for you. It wasn't for me.

My personal rating: 2.5/5 stars

Title: Searching for Irene

Author: Marlene Bateman

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Format: Paperback

Price: $15.99 on Amazon Searching for Irene
Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Review: Lily of the Manor

If you're a long-time reader of Fashion & Fiction, you know I have a soft spot for simple, sweet, well-told historical romances. That is why I requested Lily of the Manor from Netgalley. It sounded right up my alley. Before sharing my review, let me share with you the description of this book:

"Broadbent Manor is a home brimming with life and love. With eleven adopted children in her care, young widow Lily Broadbent is in search of the right tutor to instruct and nurture her young charges. So when Frederick Woodstone arrives on her doorstep seeking the position, Lily is quickly impressed by his qualifications--but even more pleased with his gentle manner and immediate rapport with the children that society cast aside. It is clear: Mr. Woodstone is a perfect fit for the family. From the moment he arrives at the manor, Frederick is enchanted by the lady of the house. Lily is a pillar of strength and compassion, and her striking beauty is undeniable. As the pair works side by side to teach the children, their professional association evolves into something far deeper. But when they stumble upon a young boy in dire circumstances, their relationship is put to the test as Lily makes the impetuous decision to rescue the child--no matter the consequences. What follows is a chain of events that will threaten all that Lily has built for her young family, as the fight for the safety of one small boy becomes a battle between life and death."

Such promise! The premise is a good one and one I hadn't read before. Unfortunately, Lily of the Manor fell short for me. Though I love simple and sweet stories, this one felt much too simple and sweet. I felt like I was only being told what was happening. I was never being pulled into the story. I never felt myself living within the story. This simplistic storytelling, combined with characters that felt not fully formed and so sappily sweet--the entire thing didn't feel real. 

Despite my lack of love, I know there is an audience for this book. I learned, after finishing this book and doing a little research on its author, Anita Stansfield is the LDS market's #1 best-selling romance novelist. She obviously has an audience that loves her simple and sweet storytelling. I'm just not a part of that audience. 

My personal rating: 2/5 stars

Title: Lily of the Manor

Author: Anita Stansfield

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Format: Paperback

Price: $16.97 on Amazon Lily of the Manor
Source: NetGalley

Fashion & Fiction was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

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Review: Bible Origami

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