"Room With a Roux" By Sarah Fox: Review/Giveaway

 Review by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of the post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

The Flip Side and...Murder!

Marley McKinney, now proudly Mrs. Brett Collins, has been the owner of The Flip Side, a popular pancake house, for awhile. Sadly, she inherited the restaurant from an aging cousin who was the victim of a tragic homicide, and between serving pancakes, scones, and pots of coffee, she’s helped to uncover many a killer. Marley’s decision to stay and make the small northwest community of Wildwood Cove her home has led to many dear friends turned to family: neighbor Patricia Murray, BFF Lisa Morales and her boyfriend/The Flip Side chef Ivan Kaminski and employees Tommy, Leigh, and Sienna along with a plethora of regular customers, many who line up waiting for the doors to open. She recently married Brett Collins with whom she resides in a lovely beachfront Victorian along with roommates Bentley the goldendoodle and an orange tabby aptly named Flapjack. However, it’s the few suspicious deaths accompanying a bit of personal peril that makes her connection with Brett’s uncle, Detective Ray Georgeson, very fortuitous. But what happens when Marley and Brett leave Wildwood Cove behind and venture into the snowy mountains for a little “alone time”?


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Room With a Roux earns 5/5 Cocoas by the Fire...Engaging Fun!

It’s beautiful here,” I said... “And it looks like we’ll get the peace and quiet we’re after.—Marley McKinney Collins

Image Source Lyrical Underground
Famous last words...Marley and Brett didn’t have much of a honeymoon, so this wintery getaway is a long-awaited joy. Holly Lodge may have been eagerly recommended by neighbor and B&B owner Patricia, but the reality is much more than any photo could capture: a mountain retreat with an evergreen fragrance, snow-tipped trees, and a view of the lake rumored to be...haunted! But it seems the idea of a haunting is overshadowed by a friendly greeting from the owners Rita and Kevin Manning, introductions to guests like kindred spirits Lily and Ambrose and even feather-ruffler Wilson, and a delicious dip in the hot tub and hot cocoa by the fire. Until...an overheard disagreement, eavesdropped mention of “publicity,” a cloaked stranger “crunching” in the snow, and a red head seen disappearing into the woods. The “peace and quiet” is completely shattered when a dead body is discovered hidden in the snow.

Wow! Sarah has once again “flipped” me over with an exciting seventh book in her Pancake House Mystery series with an unfamiliar environment to contend with outside of Brett’s uncle and county sheriff’s jurisdiction along with several unknown quantities piling up on a suspect list. Sarah’s writing style keeps readers involved with a first-person narrative with Marley’s “I” perspective. Don’t tell me you don’t relish in the vicarious inclusion, like me...I am Marley! Additionally, Sarah’s use of descriptive language painted a clear picture of the mountain resort and brought the snowy weather and relaxing by the fire into my living room. The dialogue was engaging and illustrated well the various personalities from friendly to snarky, helpful to distant, open to secretive. I enjoyed that the investigation by our duo played out on the pages with discreet questioning, eavesdropping, and brainstorming suspects and motives with only some adversarial banter with law enforcement. I loved it! It’s a good length, well-plotted, and steady-paced with talk about Christmas festivities back in Wildwood Cove and romantic gestures along with all the possible suspects and motives swirling around like the snow, a storm locking them in with a killer, and a bit of peril that ruined my manicure. I did have the killer and motive high on my radar, however I greatly enjoyed the journey and highly recommend this book and series. Newbies...joining in here is fine, but you’ll be encouraged to read the previous books!

BONUS! I am always eager to see what delicious recipes Sarah adds straight from The Flip Side’s kitchen! In this book, we get everything for a quiet Sunday breakfast or a family brunch: my favorite Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze, Cinnamon Pancakes, and Gingerbread muffins. Also enjoy a peek at The Malt in Our Stars, book three in her Literary Pub Mystery series, for which I give high praise!

A Pancake House Mystery (Available in Print, eBook, or Audio)

The Crêpes of Wrath (2017)

For Whom the Bread Rolls (2017) Past KRL Review HERE

Of Spice and Men (2017) Past KRL Review HERE

Yeast of Eden (2018)

Crêpe Expectations (2019) Past KRL Review HERE

Much Ado About Nutmeg (2020) Past KRL Review HERE

Room With a Roux (2020)

Be a Big Sarah Fox Fan! Along with this seven-book Pancake House Mystery, USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox penned the three-book Music Lover’s Mystery taking us into the world of the music with Midori Bishop who is living her dream with the Point Grey Philharmonic. She also writes the three-book Literary Pub Mystery about book lover Sadie Coleman who transforms an old Vermont pub into The Inkwell, a spot to enjoy literary-themed cocktails, a book, and murder.

Facebook – Author Sarah Fox

Website – Cozy Crime with a Foxy Flair

To enter to win an ebook copy of Room With a Roux, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "roux,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 23, 2021. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter.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! A new episode went up this week.

You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

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.
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.

Comments

  1. This sounds like a very tasty cozy mystery and one that I would enjoy reading.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the cover! Another book that I would enjoy reading.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't have this one yet. I would love to continue the journey with Sarah.
    LaurasReadingBlog at Gmail ddot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a good read. Sometimes alone
    time isn't always along. thanks
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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