I can’t believe how lucky I am to be doing exactly what I want to be doing, running the Cookbook Nook and the Nook Café in my hometown, Crystal Cove, California. And right now, as I prepare for the Book Club Bonanza, I’m in seventh heaven. What is the Book Club Bonanza? Our sweet mayor always sets a theme to drive tourism. All the shops in town get on board. This week’s theme features book clubs.
Starting tomorrow, Saturday, the inns and hotels will be filled to the max with book club members from all over the West Coast. Tomorrow night, the Mystery Mavens, one of Crystal Cove’s local book clubs, of which I am a member, are putting on a progressive dinner event, meaning our more than twenty members will travel from one house to the next dining on appetizers, tea sandwiches, entrées, and desserts while discussing the culinary cozy mystery we’d agreed to read. I’m providing sinful chocolate cupcakes. You won’t believe how much better a cook I’ve become. I really enjoy baking. Maybe it’s because I was good at chemistry in school. Maybe it’s because I adore sweets.
Today, I’ve got to put the book club display together in the shop. If you don’t know, we feature cookbooks plus foodie fiction. We also sell aprons and saltshakers and other culinary items. I search high and low for items that will appeal to the theme. Wait until you see the cookie jars I found for this week. I also brought in literary-themed serving trays and literary coffee mugs. My favorite saying engraved on one of the trays is: There is no friend as loyal as a book. How true.
Now, I have to admit that I’ve been feeling quite antsy about this week. Maybe it’s because I haven’t quite finished the mystery we’re reading. I’d belonged to a book club when I’d lived and worked as an advertising executive in San Francisco, and invariably one or two members wouldn’t have completed the assignment. I refused to be that person.
On the other hand, if that’s not the reason I’m feeling antsy—and I try to take notice of when I am—then what is going on? Am I sensing danger? Am I picking up on my aunt’s hyper energy? Our clerk came in this morning with a negative attitude. Boyfriend trouble. And my pal Bailey is pregnant, which means she’s not as cool as a cucumber. She’s freaking out. Guess what? A visit to the Nook Café is in order. A cup of tea and a scone and a nice chat with my talented chef, and all will be right with the world. I hope.
Care to join me?
Find out what happens in Sifting through Clues, the eighth book in the “Cookbook Nook” cozy culinary mystery series, coming April 23, 2019.
The Agatha Award–winning author of Wreath Between the Lines returns to the Cookbook Nook, where culinary mysteries are giving everyone food for thought . . .
Book clubs from all over have descended on Crystal Cove to celebrate the library’s Book Club Bonanza week, and Jenna Hart has packed the Cookbook Nook with juicy reads and tasty cookbooks. But she’s most excited about spending an evening with the Mystery Mavens and their moveable feast, when they will go from house to house to share different culinary treats and discuss the whodunit they’re all reading. It’s all good food and fun for the savvy armchair detectives, until one of the members of the group is found murdered at the last stop on the tour.
As if that weren’t enough to spoil her appetite, Jenna discovers that all the evidence points to her friend Pepper as being the guilty party. And with Pepper’s chief-of-police daughter too close to the case to be impartial, Jenna knows she’ll have to step in to help clear her friend’s name before a bitter injustice sends her to jail. Sifting through the clues, Jenna unearths any number of possible culprits, but she’ll have to cook up a new way to catch the killer before Pepper’s goose is cooked.
Includes tasty sweet and savory recipes!
Purchase Link
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About the author
Agatha Award-winning Daryl Wood Gerber writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries as well as the French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she pens the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. Daryl also writes stand-alone suspense. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!
To learn more about Daryl, visit her website at darylwoodgerber.com.
All comments are welcomed.
What’s your favorite treat when reading?
Thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for donating a print copy of one of the books in the “Cookbook Nook” series (Final Sentence, Inherit the Word, Stirring the Plot, Fudging the Books, Grilling the Subject, Pressing the Issue, and Wreath Between the Lines) Contest ends April 25, 2019 and is limited to U.S. residents. Please leave comment in box below. The winner will be notified by email (so check your spam folder). Good luck everyone!
I haven’t read this series yet but it sounds like fun. I try not to snack mindlessly while I’m focused on reading but I can think of lots of treats I enjoy: peanut butter cookies, crackers and cheese (accompanied by wine), chips and guacamole.
Sharon, i just made peanut butter brownies with chocolate chips. Yum! And I’m always up for cheese and wine (after 5, of course) LOL ~ Daryl
Favorite treat while reading, also ‘all the time’, are chips!!!
Cyn, aha! A salt girl. Chips are delicious! I particularly like sea salt varieties. ~ Daryl (writing for Jenna, of course)
I like to snack on cheese and nuts and sometimes cookies while reading. Looking forward to reading “Sifting Through the Clues”.
I don’t normally eat and read at the same time except maybe when I am home eating breakfast alone. Otherwise I try not to eat because I don’t want to ruin my book! (Even if I am using my Kindle.) That doesn’t stop me from craving food or baked goods being discussed in my book however!
Barbara, nothing worse than a sticky Kindle or book. I agree. I have handywipes around. 🙂 Just a thought. Daryl (for Jenna)
I don’t usually eat while I’m reading. I’m always afraid I’ll get food on the book.
I don’t normally eat while reading. I do like a nice cup of tea, though, so I guess you could say that is a treat. Congratulations on the new release, and thank you so much for the giveaway!
Autumn, a nice cup of tea is so soothing while reading. Love it. ~ Daryl
Sandy, I think we’re all on the same page (pun intended) 🙂 ~ Daryl (for Jenna)
I agree with not wanting to get anything on my book. So I guess you could say reading is good for my diet. Peanut butter brownies with chocolate chips sound good. I usually put chocolate chips in my peanut butter cookies. Yum!
Carol, like minds 🙂 ~ Daryl
I am in love with Daryl Wood Gerber’s books. No usually I do not partake of food while I am reading since it causes my attention to the story to be broken. If I have anything it is usually a bottle of water at my side. I’d love to claim one of Daryl’s books as mine.
Robin, you are a super fan in my book! 🙂 ~ Daryl
Chocolate chip cookies and mild–it’s what I had when I was a kid reading a lot. There’s nothing better than a good book and chocolate chip cookies.
Rochelle, chocolate chip cookie sand milk are a perfect combo. ~ Daryl
I drink tea when I read. Soothing and relaxing which gives me great enjoyment.
Ruth, I’m partial to Earl Grey tea. ~ Daryl
I drink chai while I read. I don’t eat but sometimes have red licorice which is not messy.
Laini, I have to admit I’ve never had chai. Must try it. ~ Daryl
definitely enjoy crunchy and salty while reading as in chips or crackers. Love this series! congrats on the new releasej
Johnna, you are not alone. 🙂 ~ Daryl
If it’s after dinner I like something salty: crackers or chips if I have any.
Pat, interesting. If it were after dinner, I’d definitely want chocolate. 🙂 ~ Daryl
I enjoy popcorn with dark chocolate m&m’s thrown in while reading in the evening. My treat to me
Sharon, that’s one of my favorite treats at the movies. ~ Daryl
Coffee and cookies or candy for me. Or crackers and cheese.
Donamae, as you know, I adore cheese. 🙂 ~ Daryl
I like just plain salted popcorn to munch on while I read.
Sue, another salt girl. I think we’re split 50/50. ~ Daryl
Congratulations on another release in this wonderful series.
About the only snack I eat while reading is something easy and not messy usually grapes or a sliced apple or raisins. And I have a bottle of water with a cap tightened on it as my beverage. I tend to read in bed so I’m really careful with what I have with me at my reading location. 😃. Thank you for the chance to win a book that I haven’t bought yet and would love to read!
Cynthia
I have to agree with several others and say that popcorn is one of my favorite snacks to munch on while I read. Congrats on the new release! Looking forward to reading Sifting Through Clues.
Ashley, what’s fun is eating it one piece at a time. Lasts longer. ~ Daryl
I love popcorn and M&M’s. If I’m being good, I try not to snack while reading – but it is hard! Looking forward to this book. Thanks for a chance to win.
Lori, another of my favorite movie treats. 🙂 ~ Daryl
I don’t generally eat while reading because I don’t want to get the books dirty. If I need a snack, I try to find something not greasy. Cheese, crackers, dried fruit, raw and unsalted nuts, and/or a glass of kefir.
Bonnie, you’re like many others who’ve responded. Respectful of books. Love it. ~ Daryl
Love this series & author. Thanks for the giveaway.
Doward, thanks for chiming in. ~ Daryl
First of all, I love this series! I am an avid reader, and I try NOT to snack when I read, but if I do it’s usually a cookie or something sweet. Can’t wait to read the new book!
I enjoy having a cup of tea when I read.
Marcy, love to see you here! ~ Daryl
I like something sweet that’s easy to eat one handed like cookies.
Jana, totally agree. One-handed eating required. ~ Daryl
My favorite treat when I read? A cup of good Assam tea or a glass of iced tea…and maybe a chocolate chip cookie!
Renee, I haven’t tried Assam tea. Looking it up now. ~ Daryl
While I am reading, I like to east nuts!
Linda, when writing, I like to go nuts. LOL Okay, a little slaphappy today. It’s release day. ~ Daryl
Sounds like a winner and I like the titles.
Karen, thanks. I had a great time coming up with them. ~ Daryl
Always happy to read a new book from Daryl!
I read while eating, while going to sleep, while waiting for an appointment, and even while watching tv.
**** WINNER ****
Pressing the Issue is Robin Coxon
Congratulations!