Kimmy Tran here. Kimberly, if you want to be on my bad side. Pleased to make your acquaintance. If you’re familiar with Lana Lee, then we’ve, at the very least, met in passing since I’ve basically known her for just about forever. And though we are complete opposites and generally run in different social circles, we’re still best friends after all these years.
I can’t say that my average day is anywhere near as exciting as hers considering she always seems to be getting mixed up in some nasty dramatic event going on around Asia Village. And it’s not like I haven’t tried to assist her on more than one occasion. I’ve tried plenty. If the circumstances are right, she’ll let me help out a little, but for some reason, she has this notion in her head that she needs to shield me from any pending “danger.” If you wondered at all whether or not that annoys me, it does.
But, enough about that. Back to my day. Asia Village is where I work. . .mostly. I help run my parents’ entertainment shop, China Cinema and Song. We specialize in all things Asian movie and music related, but predominantly things from China and some from Taiwan too. Not to say we aren’t willing to special order things when customers ask because that has totally become a major thing now. After all, we have to keep up with people like Amazon.
Anyhow, that’s how I spend most of my days. I cash out customers, order special requests, put away new stock, do inventory, yada yada. On the rare occasion that I’m feeling more sociable than usual, I’ll even make some recommendations. I’m by myself a lot too, so I can basically do whatever I want when we’re not busy. Since business isn’t what it used to be, my parents take some odd jobs on the side to make extra money. I don’t ask for raises because I know there isn’t much room for that sort of thing. That’s where the “mostly” comes from.
My parents are completely unaware of it, but I’ve been—as the older generation says “moonlighting”—as a waitress in a gentleman’s club called the Red Garter. That’s what I call it. . .a gentleman’s club. There’s not a gentleman to be found in the place, but I think it sounds classier than the alternative. I make quite a decent amount of tips there and it helps compensate for the little I make working for my parents. The only people who know about it are my boyfriend, Peter—who happens to be the head chef at Lana’s restaurant,—Lana, and her other best friend, Megan. I didn’t want any of them to know about it either, but things happen, right? It all when downhill when Peter followed me to work one night, and then proceeded to show up claiming to be worried about my safety. Again, I can handle myself. But then, Lana and Megan happened to be following him one night. . .and then it just turned into a big mess. I made Lana and Big Mouth Megan promise they weren’t going to tell anybody. If my parents ever found out, they’d be likely to ship me off to a convent in China. Seeing as I’m rather attached to my current life, I’d rather that didn’t happen.
And that’s basically the gist of my day. Thrilling, right? But I’m cool with it. Life could be way worse. Besides, if things keep going the way they’ve been, Lana is going to need all the help she can get.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win one (1) print copy of Wonton Terror, limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends February 20, 2020. Good luck everyone!
Egg Drop Dead is the fifth book in the “Noodle Shop” cozy mystery series, coming February 25, 2020.
In the fifth in Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop delectable mystery series, Egg Drop Dead, the Ho-Lee Noodle House takes its business to the next level—only to end up in hot water.
It was supposed to be a fancy, intimate dinner party by the pool. Instead, Lana Lee’s first-ever catering event turns into full-course madness when a domestic worker is found dead. Is the party’s host Donna Feng, the sweet-and-sour owner of the Asia Village shopping plaza where Ho-Lee is situated, somehow to blame? That’s what Lana—whose plate is already plenty full with running the restaurant, pleasing her often-disapproving mother, and fretting over her occasionally-serious boyfriend Detective Adam Trudeau—must find out.
Before the police arrived at the crime scene, Donna had entrusted an odd piece of evidence to Lana: a thumb drive shaped like a terra-cotta soldier. Now it’s up to Lana to lead her own investigation, digitally and in real life, into a world of secrets involving Donna’s earlier life in China, whether the victim had a dark agenda, and if the killer is still out there. . .and plans to strike again.
Purchase Link
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About the author
Vivien Chien was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she grew up in a mixed-race home, making for some very interesting cultural experiences. She found her love of books and the written word at an early age while writing short stories about her classmates in elementary school. Currently, she writes side-by-side with her toy fox terrier who refuses to sit anywhere else. When she’s not writing, Vivien enjoys frequenting local Asian restaurants, frolicking in the bookstore, and searching for her next doughnut.
She is the author of the Noodle Shop Mystery series, including Death By Dumpling, and most recent release, Wonton Terror.
Visit Vivien’s website at vivienchien.com. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
So need to binge-read this series!!!!
Thank you for the giveaway……
Sweet and sour owner had me. Intriguing series.
A Day in the Life~ I enjoyed very much…Please continue.
Full of potential and fun for all of Asia Village and our Lana Lee
🍜🥟🥡🍩💖
Loving the series, great to hear Kimmy’s point of view!
I’m currently reading the third book and love the series!! The cover is what initially drew my attention and I’m so glad it caught my eye!
Another new to me series and author which I can’t wait to read. I can well imagine the issues trying to keep a secret from your parents, especially if you are a waitress in a “gentleman’s club”.
This cozy mystery sounds great to me. I haven’t read anything by this author but after reading this synopsis, I think I need to start.
Food and murder is a fun read
I’m rooting for you and Peter, Kimmy! You are sort of an unlikely couple, but I think it’s very sweet that you’ve gotten together. Can’t wait to see what “trouble” Lana gets into in “Egg Drop Dead” … and to see if you (Kimmy) and Peter move forward with your relationship.
I have enjoyed other books by this author and I plan on buying this one for sure. The stories are unique and I truly have enjoyed them a lot. Thank you for letting us know about this release, Dru Ann.
Sounds like a wonderful way to be introduced to this series!
I have recently started this series and it is great! Love the characters and it is a lot of fun to read!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve read lots of good reviews about this series. Looking forward to starting the series.
Vivien Chien is a favorite author and I love reading and collecting this series! So thrilled a new story is coming out so soon! Thank you for the great news, Dru! Thank you also for my recent prize, DON’T LOOK DOWN by Hilary Davidson. I will read it, love it, and collect it with a grateful heart! Your contests are wonderful for readers-such a fun surprise! Thanks to you and all of these great authors and to your other readers for these entertaining comments!
I love the title and the cover is so appealing. Congratulations! When we travel, I always look for China Town because I know there’s going to be good food there.
It’s nice to meet you Kimmy Tran/Vivien Chien!
I love this series and can’t wait to read more installments! Thanks for the giveaway!
I haven’t read this series, but sounds like I need to start! Thanks for a fun blog and a chance to win a copy! win-win!
Is this a stand-alone book as I’ve never read any of the series? It does sound like a good and entertaining book! Thanks for the opportunity to read and review though!
A captivating cozy series. Thanks.
I would love to win this book. Sounds great! Thanks!
I enjoyed reading about a Day in the Life of Kimmy Tran. Thanks for featuring Egg Drop Dead on your blog, Dru Ann!
Great series, love the covers! Such a fun protagonist, and her friends too.
Just found these and I can’t wait to get started. I don’t know much about Asian movies and music but I hope to learn something from these. A secret job at a gentleman’s club sure sounds interesting too.
Yes please, I love the series. Although I still have to read the 4th book in the series, I’d love to win this book for my collection.
This is definitely a series I want to check out. It has all the right stuff. Thanks for the chance to win it also. Good luck to all.
This Day in the Life episode was a hoot! Would love to try Wonton Terror.
This sounds really interesting! Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Love this series!! Kimmy is so funny! Thanks for a chance to win!
Would love to win this.
This has quickly become one of my favorite series! I love the characters.
I love this series–especially how she tries to cope with her family; and all of the yummy sounding Chinese food just adds to the picture.
Maybe Lana will let Kimmy help her with this case.
Great post, would love to be entered in the drawing! Thanks so much!
Food and mysteries are good reads! new author and series for me, sounds good!
This sounds like a great series. I love the covers. Thank you for the chance!
Looking forward to learning more about Donna Feng.
This is a new to me series and one I’ll be putting on my Amazon wish list. I can’t wait to get to know everyone in the series and I love a series with food in them.
scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a big cozy mystery fan. This book cover makes me want to read this book!
I love this series!! Lana is a hoot!
So excited for the release. I’ll be looking for your tour release so I can get my books signed!!
This sounds like a fun read. Thank you for the chance.
I’m a sucker for any book that takes place in Cleveland and have loved this entire series. Can’t wait for more Asia Village sleuthing.
**** WINNER ****
Wonton Terror is Cynthia E. Blain
Congratulations!