by Kathleen Costa
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of this book, and a link to purchase it from Amazon and from an indie bookstore. We also have a fun Father’s Day guest post and recipe from Sarah after the review.
The Flip Side History
Marley McKinney first tumbled onto the cozy scene in August of 2016 with The Crêpes of Wrath as a Seattle transplant in Wildwood Cove. She arrived agreeing to help run The Flip Side, a popular pancake house, while her aging cousin recuperated. However, his murder leads to a discovery of stolen property and secrets bubbling just under the community's surface. In For Whom the Bread Rolls (March 2017), she has inherited the pancake house and a lovely Victorian, and become the victim of a local curmudgeon's vicious pranks. When the prankster is found dead, Marley is uncomfortable as a person-of-interest. In November 2017, Of Spice and Men brings out Marley's insecurities when her boyfriend's ex is suspected of murder. Do you help exonerate her? In the fourth book, The Yeast of Eden (October 2018), Marley's business is being challenged by an arrogant Waffle King. His death puts her and her staff at The Flip Side on law enforcement's radar. A marvelous series punctuated with some delicious crêpe and pancake recipes from The Flip Side kitchen.
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Crêpe Expectations earns 5/5 Amateur Chefs...Deliciously Clever!
Life is buzzing in Wildwood Cove. The town is preparing for the annual amateur chef competition. Marley volunteered to help register competitors and convince her pancake house chef Ivan Kaminski to act as a replacement judge, but the competition turns very competitive with evidence of sabotage. Then, the grand opening of the Wildwood Inn will be marked by a garden party. Brett, Marley's boyfriend, has been hired to manage the renovations of the estate's landscaping, but while Marley and Brett spot and try to rescue a wayward kitten, they come upon a skull. Marley is on overload as she manages her busy pancake shop, continues to navigate a delightful romance, tries to uncover the saboteur of the chef competition, and bring justice to family and friends of the eighteen-year-old victim.
Image Source Kensington Books |
Excellent! Once again I was totally entertained by the fifth book in Sarah Fox's Pancake House Mystery series. She definitely puts the "wild" in Wildwood Cove with a clever mystery focusing on a decades old cold case and the dark side of competition. The story unfolds with a first-person narrative using Marley's "I" perspective putting the reader in the middle along with vivid descriptions and dialogue that does well to illustrate personality and tone. I like Sarah's writing style and clever cozy murder incorporating twists, turns, and a very exciting end, but I really enjoy the well-developed characters and their close-knit nature which comes in handy when one gets interrogated or threatened. Newbies can start her with problems, but be warned you'll be hooked!
Although the phrase "it's murder!" is compelling, I really get excited about "recipes included." From The Flip Side, readers get three delicious easy-to-follow brunch treats: unique Marzipan Pancakes, my favorite Banoffee Crêpes, and hard to resist Boston Cream Crêpes. The separate crêpe recipe gives you the opportunity to be creative with savory or sweet tastes. Yummy!
Alert!
In January 2020, the sixth book is set to release. Much Ado About Nutmeg has Marley's business doing well, and along with a Golden Oldies Games, she is very busy with planning her beach wedding. Then murder may derail everything. Bonus recipes will be included!
Be a Big Sarah Fox Fan!
Sarah also penned the three-book Music Lover’s Mystery: Dead Ringer (2015), Death in A Minor (2016), and Deadly Overtures (2017). Sarah takes us into the world of the music with Midori Bishop who is living her dream with the Point Grey Philharmonic, but in this series she finds a not-so-well-liked cellist, dysfunctional families, and a music competition all seem to lead to murder. “I can name that murderer in five notes!” She also writes the Literary Pub Mystery about book lover Sadie Coleman who transforms an old Vermont pub into The Inkwell, a spot to enjoy literary-themed cocktails and a book: Wine and Punishment (December 2018) and in November 2019, An Ale of Two Cities.
Like, Visit, and Follow…Oh, my!
Facebook – Author Sarah Fox
Website – Cozy Crime with a Foxy Flair
Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
Father’s Day Breakfast
By Sarah Fox
With Father’s Day approaching, some might be thinking about treating the dads in their lives to something special. As the owner of The Flip Side pancake house, Marley McKinney thinks a delicious breakfast is the way to go. On Father’s Day, the most popular item on the menu at The Flip Side isn’t anything fancy; it’s the blueberry pancakes, so I thought I’d share with you one of Chef Ivan Kaminski’s blueberry pancake recipes. These tasty flapjacks are especially delicious when served with pure maple syrup. Add a side of crispy bacon or hash browns to round out the meal and really make dad’s day. Enjoy!
Sarah Fox |
Blueberry Vanilla Pancakes
1.5 cups flour
1.5 cups milk
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1.5 cups blueberries
3 tablespoons vanilla
1 large egg
2 tablespoons melted butter
Vegetable oil for greasing
Melt the butter and set aside to cool. Combine the milk and lemon juice and set aside to thicken.
Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. In separate bowl, beat together egg, milk/lemon juice, vanilla, and butter. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the liquid ingredients. Mix in the blueberries. Ladle batter into greased skillet and cook on medium heat until bubbles form on the top and don’t disappear. Flip and cook second side until golden brown.
Serve with butter and maple syrup. Serves four.
Sarah Fox was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.
To enter to win a copy of Crêpe Expectations, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "crepe,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 15, 2019. If entering via comment please include your email address, and if entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win-it will only be used to send you the book if you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors!
You can use this link to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:
Sarah Fox was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Sounds interesting..
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great. And I love pancakes!
ReplyDeletekozo8989@hotmail.com
Looks like such a good series. Thanks for the contest! ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance! JL_Minter(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have a copy of Crepe Expectations, and the Blueberry-Vanilla pancakes sound delicious. Thanks for both!! crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteOn my TBR list. Looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
The cover is so delightful & the book sounds terrific, Thanks for your generosity. lindamay4852@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the chance to win your book. Really looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeletefaithdcreech at gmail dot com
What fun and do I love Pancakes...yum...thank you for the contest.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
This looks fantastic—love the title and cover. Legallyblonde1961 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteWe have a winner!
ReplyDelete