Grab your napkins and get your mouth watering for a delicious cozy mystery review, free excerpt, and gift card giveaway with Cornbread, Ribs, and Murder!
BOOK DETAILS:
CORNBREAD, RIBS, AND MURDER
Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Genre: Mystery
SYNOPSIS:
It’s a rib cookoff…with a recipe for murder.
Nicole Earp and Emma Banefield are celebrating another birthday at the Dulce Inn with the added fun of a rib cookoff in the park. Not only are chocolate martinis in their plans, Nic has her heart set on winning the cornbread contest. But as the excitement bakes, someone is stirring up trouble for the inn and its employees.
Strange occurrences at the Dulce are on the rise. Slashed tires, menacing phone calls, and unsavory characters add a vibe that threatens the sisters’ anticipated fun-filled stay. When the hot-headed hotel owner is caught wielding a bloody letter opener over a dead coworker, the sisters are embroiled in a caper to help the one person who finds their sleuthing as welcomed as a rattlesnake in her bed. But is she innocent?
The Chocolate Martini Sisters are primed to find out. First, they’ll have to eliminate a host of suspects that includes a dishonest restaurant owner, a jilted girlfriend, an ex-wife, the barkeeper, and a masseuse with a crush. If they can stay off the radar of the surly chief homicide detective long enough, they can put out the fire…unless the killer burns them first.
The third book in this amateur sleuths, cozy mystery series will have you chuckling and on the edge of your seat as the sisters solve the murder.
BOOK REVIEW OF CORNBREAD, RIBS, AND MURDER
If you’ve got a craving for a delicious delight that won’t worry your waistline, skip the cake and opt for some Cornbread, Ribs, and Murder.
No, I’m not suggesting you head to the Golden Corral for the all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, I draw your attention to the third installment in The Chocolate Martini Sisters series by authors Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell. This dynamic writing duo has “cooked up” another wonderful cozy mystery—a partnership mirrored by their main characters, close-knit sisters, Nicole Earp and Emma Banefield. The sisters, once again, find themselves in the midst of mayhem when another murder interrupts their biannual jaunt to their favorite getaway. However, readers who are meeting these likable characters for the first time will not find themselves lost as Whiteside and Proell do an admirable job of peppering in any necessary backstory without overpowering the story flavor.
Fans of Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy Schultz will enjoy Cornbread, Ribs, and Murder with its similar tone, pacing, and characters you want to coffee klatch with or, in the case of the sisters, chocolate martini with! Both Nicole and Emma are easy to like, and the authors balance their personalities and points-of-view as the chapters shift between each woman.
Readers who are drawn to cozy mysteries looking for familiar flavors (tropes) will find many of them included: amateur sleuths, a no-nonsense policeman who would rather leave the sleuthing to the professionals, a red herring or two, a small town, and many more. The sisters (and readers) get a taste of salty, sour, sweet, and savory as they work through the menu of suspects and dish out some justice to the person cooking up all the trouble.
A deliciously entertaining read for anyone who devours cozy mysteries! Don’t miss out on Nic’s
prize-winning cornbread recipe at the end of the book!
Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
EXCERPT OF CORNBREAD, RIBS & MURDER
“Care for a celebratory chocolate martini?” Grinning, Emma attempted to arch one questioning brow, similar to the dramatic effect she’d seen in movies, but both shot up.
Nic chuckled. “Do you really need to ask?”
In silent agreement, they’d set a course to the Azul Saloon when a piercing scream rang out. Emma startled, then froze.
“What the heck?” Nic grabbed her hand clawing into the skin enough to make her flinch, then gulped and, noticing her pained expression, released her grip. “Sorry.”
The scream set a fire under the desk manager’s feet who darted from the reception area.
“For an older man, Oliver Stonewell sure can move.” Emma hustled after him, sprinting across the lobby, curious about what she might find at the source of the wretched scream. Nic kept pace at her side, hand flat against the top of her hat, holding it steady.
As they closed in on the administrative office corridor, another longer scream morphed into a painful yowl. “Hellllp.”
The agonized cry tripped along Emma’s spine like jagged nails scratching at her skin. She raced past Jillian’s empty office. Following Oliver, she veered into the second open doorway and halted with a gasp. Oh my God. She’d seen the raw ugliness of death before, yet it didn’t prepare her for this—lots and lots of blood blossomed across the man’s shirt. She clapped a hand to her mouth stifling a cry. Unexpectedly light-headed, dots floated across her vision. Teetering, she caught the door jamb. Her legs steadied, but her stomach threatened to revolt.
“Aw, jeez,” muttered Nic, echoing the horror coursing through her shaky body.
AUTHOR INFO & LINKS:
After hearing countless stories as a mental health professional, Joyce Proell retired to create her own tales. As an award-winning author, she writes historical romance and cozy mystery where all endings are guaranteed happy. She shares her home on the prairie with a husband and a little dog with a big personality. When she isn’t reading or writing, she likes to swim and finds baking almost as relaxing as a day at the spa.
Visit here at her website: https://joyceproell.com/ or at https://www.facebook.com/JoyceProellAuthor
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. She writes children’s books under the pen name, Brenda Sue. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
Visit Brenda at https://www.brendawhiteside.com or https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor
Book Link:
Series Link:
#cozymystery #bookstagram #cozymysteryseries #cozymysteries #mystery #cozymysterylover #booklover #murdermystery #mysterybooks #books #cozymysteryauthor #cozymysterybooks #readersofinstagram #bookworm #bookish #authorsofinstagram #reading #writersofinstagram #cozies #cozy #cozymysteryreader #amwriting #kindleunlimited #booksofinstagram #bookaddict #mysteryseries #bookstagrammer #kindle #cosymystery #bibliophile
This looks like a great read. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.
Do you have a favorite summertime treat?
What's your favorite book of all time?
Loved the review. Thanks for reading, liking and reviewing the book.
Thank you so much for the detailed review. We so appreciate it!