Blog Tour: Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette (Review, Guest Blog and Book Giveaway!)

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-Book (also available as paperback)

Publisher:
Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Release Date:
April 2013






Food critic, Hayley Snow, is back for another adventure in Key West, Florida. Much to her dismay, her boss signs her up to be a judge for a new reality cooking show called Topped Chef. As the judges get ready to choose the next big cooking star, Hayley can’t believe her eyes when she sees who one of her fellow judges is – Sam Rizzoli, the owner of the restaurant she recently gave a scathing review to. Talk about an awkward situation!

When Rizzoli is found murdered, everyone connected with the show becomes a suspect. Hayley can’t help wondering if one of the contestants wasn’t taking the contest just a bit too seriously. However, as the saying goes, “The show must go on” and it does. However, things take another sinister turn when one of the other judges nearly dies after being shot at, a tourist nearly dies after tasting the food, and a homeless man is nearly beaten to death.

Despite warnings from her on again/off again detective boyfriend, Hayley throws herself into the middle of the investigation. She finds herself in just as much danger as anyone else associated with the show.

Topped Chef is the third book in the series and what a delight! I adore Hayley and the cast of characters surrounding her. It’s a fun series expertly crafted with a fast-moving plot. I was totally taken off guard by the ending. I will definitely be reading more of this one.

FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

For reading challenges:

2013 ARC Reading Challenge
Foodies Read 2013 Challenge
2013 E-Book Challenge
What’s in a Name Reading Challenge
Cruisin’ Thru the Cozies Reading challenge
What An Animal Reading Challenge
Where Are You Reading Challenge (Florida)

Guest Blog

Why Key West? by Lucy Burdette

Key West is one of those places that's a slam dunk as a choice for setting. It has all the usual draws--palm trees, turquoise water, Conch-style houses with eyebrow windows and gingerbread trim. It perches on an exposed coral reef at the very end of the keys, as close as you can get to a Carribbean island without leaving the country.

Besides all that, my writer's brain is constantly fed by a stream of events and people that fire up my imagination. Where else but Key West could you…

Pay a dollar to get your picture taken with Elvis?



March your Australian shepherd in a parade of Dachshunds dressed in hot dog costumes? (Believe me, I am so working on Tonka's weiner costume for next year!)



Celebrate Sunset every night with a tarot card reader?



I could go on and on--chickens, cats, sunsets, drag queens-- but I think you get the idea. I love Key West and so does my main character Hayley Snow. In Topped Chef, she's been suckered into judging a reality TV show called KEY WEST TOP CHEF--but she's also attending the Key West Food and Wine Festival, eating at Michael's restaurant, and cooking up a storm on her houseboat. We will be delighted to have you join us on a tour...

 Author Bio

Lucy Burdette is the author of the Key West food critic mysteries. As Roberta Isleib, she has also written the golf lovers mystery series and the advice column mysteries. Her books and stories have been nominated for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards.

You can find her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lucyburdette), Twitter (www.twitter.com/lucyburdette), Mystery Lovers Kitchen (www.mysteryloverskitchen.com), and Jungle Red Writers (www.jungleredwriters.com).

BOOK GIVEAWAY !!!!

How would you like to win a copy of this book for your very own? Thanks to Berkley Publishing, I can a paperback copy of Topped Chef to one lucky winner.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the form below (including a valid email address).

2) US residents only.

2) For an extra entry: Follow this blog

3) For an extra entry: Follow me on Twitter

4) For an extra entry: Follow me on Goodreads

5) For an extra 2 entries: Post this giveaway on your blog.

6) For an extra 2 entries: Tweet about this giveaway.

The giveaway begins on May 1st (midnight est) and ends on May 8th (midnight est).

The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!


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