About the book
Cocoa butter soap, check. Lemon lip balm, check. A dead body?
That's just what Sophie Mae Reynolds finds in her workroom: the corpse of Walter Hanover, the neighborhood handyman. He died from drinking lye, something she has in good supply. But the police don't suspect Sophie Mae, a thirty—something widow who makes and sells beauty products. Instead they call it a suicide. But why would a man with lottery cash and a loving fiancée kill himself?
No one can stop the impulsive Sophie Mae from answering this riddle, not her sensible best friend Meghan or Detective Ambrose, who incites annoyance as well as stomach flutters. Sophie Mae's big mouth and sharp nose lead her to a peppermint—scented trail of arson, bigamy, and a shocking family secret that reveals a personal connection to Walter . . . and his killer.
This crafty new series features real recipes and a blundering, yet lovable, amateur sleuth who brings a fresh face to cozy mysteries.
Something seemed off but it was probably me. I did enjoy it. I will try the next one. Lately I am leary of new series.. Especially if I fall in love with the series and the author only writes a few books and disappears into the sunset which has been happening alot lately.
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12 comments:
I can see why you'd be bummed about authors suddenly stopping a series. This has been a big year for sudden endings to book series, hasn't it?
The ones that really get me are the ones that just seem to fade away. Nothing is said about the series ending, there is just no new books by them, when you email the publisher or the author they don't respond.
I am annoyed by the ones that I really enjoy that say the series is ending..I am not happy but at least they let you know what is going on.
The decision to end series is usually not the author's choice, but the publisher decides that the series is not selling well enough to continue. It's very hard to move a series from one publisher to another, so the author really has no choice but to move on to something else. Years ago, it was easier for an author to have five or six books in a series to try to grow a readership, but publishers are very reluctant these days to give it that much time. It's unfortunate.
Karen,
I guess I am spoiled. I have a long list of authors that write series that I have been reading since their first book, some of them started 20 years ago and at that time there was no guarantee that their books would become popular. I guess back then publishers were more willing to take a chance.
I try to hold the publisher responsible, but my way probably also hurts authors. When a series that I love just disappears, I try to not buy anymore books from that publisher. Instead of buying I borrow them from the library. I figure if the publisher does not care about my feelings and the time I invested in reading and falling in love with a book that they published, then they don't need my money.
I wish there was a way for things to change.
Blame the DaVinci Code for this phenomenon, Heidi.
Actually, not buying the books doesn't hurt the publisher at all, but it does hurt the author. Bad sales means the author loses a contract and may not get another. The publisher moves on. The author has no choice and struggles to get another deal with another publisher.
I'm lucky because while my series is ending, my publisher opted to give me another contract for a new series. But not every author is that lucky, unfortunately.
I guess I looked at this the wrong way.
I guess the publishers are already making enough money that if me and other people quit buying their books it does not matter to them. It really annoys me that the publisher's don't care what the readers think or what we like to read.
I love reading series, and look forward to each new book to find out what has been happening to the characters since we last heard from them. I can still do this with my old established writers. I will have to detach some when reading a new series, and care a lot less about the book. But that will also ruin my reading experience. This is a no win situation. I will have to rethink my position.
I am curious I have not read it but why blame The DaVinci Code?
Barbara
Because the DaVinci Code was a fluke, it was a little book that hit it big, it blindsided everyone. Now all publishers are looking for the next DaVinci Code, the next little book that manages to catch a wave and create a phenomenon. I guess Harry Potter is also like this. Both books were bought for little money and little expectation.
Oh, wow, what an interesting conversation you two have been having! I had no idea The DaVinci Code was such a troublemaker. Would you believe, I have my 25 cent library-reject copy sitting right here? I feel guilty. LOL
Karen,
Thanks for explaining. I never realized this. Darn DaVinci Code.
I really appreciate you taking the time to explain things to me and helping me to look at things differently. I guess I will have to continue buying books from the publishers that annoyed me, since I don't want to hurt an author.
Also, I dug Sacred Cows out of my book case and will be reading it shortly.
Barbara
Bookfool,
I think you were charged to much for the DaVinci code. LOL
It has been an interesting conversation. Jump in anytime.
I think 25 cents is too much, too, for the DaVinci Code! Although I do like Harry Potter and think that those books are well worth all the hype. And it's got my daughter reading avidly about dragons.
Hope you like Sacred Cows. The fourth in that series will be out in November, and the first in the new series will be out next July. They couldn't be more different — it's really been interesting and fun writing something totally different!
I did notice that the 4th one is coming out, while I was looking online for the second book.
I am looking forward to reading the first one. At least I know going in that there are only 4 books in this series. But if I really like Annie I will be whining that there are only 4 books.
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