Foodie's Read 2013 - Wrap up!

I just finished this challenge.  I signed up for the Short-Order Cook level and read 3 books.  It's the first time I joined this challenge and enjoyed it.  I will definitely sign up next year if it's still being done.  Next year, I will go to the second level.

This challenge is hosted by Vicki from I'd Rather Be At the Beach Reading. If you'd like to read about this challenge, click here.

These are the books I read for this challenge:

1.  Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette (Click here to read my review.)

2.  Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran (Click here to read my review.)

3.  Pinot Envy by Edward Finstein (Click here to read my review.)

Review: Pinot Envy by Edward Finstein

Genre:
Mystery

Publisher:
Bancroft Press

Release Date:
July 2013

Format:
E-Book (Also available in hardcover)




Wine expert, Woody Robins, is called to investigate the theft of a rare bottle of red burgundy from an estate in the Napa Valley area. Woody figures this would be a great way to earn some extra money to help his aunt who is in desperate need for surgery. However, this case turns out to be anything but easy.

Woody’s investigation takes him in several directions and introduces him to a group of quirky characters – each with a reason to want the wine for themselves. However, things take a nasty turn when a dead body turns up. Woody never expected this case to turn murderous, but when one person is dead and one of the suspects is beaten to a pulp, Woody realizes he has bitten off more than he could chew. Then his girlfriend is threatened and that’s just going too far.

The book started off slow for me, but it picked up speed when this turned out to be more than just a missing bottle of wine. The characters are well developed, unusual and fun to read about.

It felt like a traditional mystery, complete with a finale involving the entire cast. I wasn’t too surprised to see how it all turned out, but untangling the web of this mystery is part of the fun.

I hope we get to see more of Woody and I would like to see how his relationship with Julia turns out. This has the potential to be an interesting mystery series and I hope the author plans to go in that direction.




For reading challenges:
Foodies Reading 2013 Reading Challenge

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

Blog Tour: Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran (Review and Guest Post)

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-Book Arc

Publisher:
Berkley Prime Crime

Release Date:
June 2013





Gigi Fitzgerald is very busy with her gourmet health food catering business in Woodstone, Connecticut. One of her clients, an aging soap opera star, Felicity Donovan, hires Gigi to help her get into shape so she doesn’t lose her stardom status. Gigi is more than happy to work for Felicity since it could do wonders for her business.

When Felicity is found dead in her sauna, things get more than a little difficult for Gigi – especially when her best friend – very pregnant friend, Sienna, is accused of the murder. Much to the dismay of the handsome Detective Mertz, Gigi conducts her own investigation. There’s no way she’s going to let her best friend have her baby in a prison cell.

Gigi is quite shocked to discover there are a number of suspects who wanted to do in Felicity from a thieving step-son to a jealous co-star to a disgruntled agent and who knows how many others? Gigi is determined to get answers.

This is the second book book in Peg Cochran’s “A Gourmet De-Lite Mystery”. I haven’t read the first one yet as I wanted to read this one for the blog tour first. I absolutely loved this book. I wasn’t sure how I would feel since I didn’t read the first book yet, but it didn’t matter. I quickly grew to love the characters, especially Gigi and Sienna.

There is a great mix of romance and mystery in this story. It even includes a few recipes. I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed trying to crack this case along with Gigi. It’s everything I love about a cozy mystery – all the elements are there. It reminded me of the classic Agatha Christie books.

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:
Foodies Read 2013 Reading Challenge
2013 ARC Reading Challenge
2013 E-Book Reading Challenge
What’s in A Name Reading Challenge
Cruisin’ Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge

Recipe Courtesy of Author Peg Cochran

Chicken Tortilla Soup De-Lite

Craving Tex-Mex? This soup will surely satisfy but for far less calories and fat than the typical Tex-Mex meal.

1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins cut into bite-sized pieces.
4 ounce can of chopped green chilies
15 ounce can diced tomatoes
2 cans reduced fat chicken broth
1.5 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 tablespoons flour
½ cup water
1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn



Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until soft and tender, approximately 3 minutes. Add chicken, chilies, tomatoes, chicken broth and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Mix flour and water to create a “slurry.” Add to soup and stir well. Add beans and frozen corn and simmer for 10 minutes more

If desired, top with low fat or fat free sour cream and baked corn tortilla strips: Cut corn tortillas in strips and place on baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and bake at 400° until golden brown.

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!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

And yet another giveaway...check it out by clicking here.

The Foodie's Read 2013 Challenge

I'm starting to put together my reading challenges for 2013. I definitely won't be joining as many as I used to, but there are a few that have already caught my interest. I'm going to join up with the Foodie's Read 2013 reading challenge. Many of the cozy mysteries I read are set around some type of food. So, this should be fun.

Here are the details...

Many of us who love to eat also love to read. But we go beyond that. We love to read about food. If that is you, then you are invite to join us in the Foodies Read Challenge for 2013. This is the second year in which we’ll indulge ourselves with good food writing.

If you are new to a food/reading challenge, you may be wondering – what is a “food book”? A food book is a book which is centered around food and/or drinks. That could be a cookbook, a food biography or memoir, a non-fiction book focused around a specific food, wine, chef or restaurant. Also allowed is a fictional story in which food plays a major role.

Here’s how the challenge works:
1. Decide how many food books you want to read in 2013. Pick one of the reading levels below. Remember, this is a challenge, so try pushing yourself.

Levels:
Short-Order Cook: 1 to 3 books
Pastry Chef: 4 to 8 books
Sous-Chef: 9 to 13 books
Chef de Cuisine: 14 to 18
Cordon-Bleu Chef: More than 19

Vicki from I'd Rather Be At the Beach Reading is hosting this and she set up a great blog for this challenge. Just click here, if you'd like to join us.


I'm going with the Short-Order Cook level and will list my books here:

1.  Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette (Click here to read my review.)

2.  Steamed to Death by Peg Cochran (Click here to read my review.)

3.  Pinot Envy by Edward Finstein (Click here to read my review.)