Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Murder Most Wholesome is the 5th in the Blossom Valley cozy mystery series centered around Dana Lewis. Dana's primary job is marketing for the O'Connell Organic Farm & Spa in Blossom Valley, California, but she often finds herself working as a jack of all trades around the establishment.
Dana, who exists on processed and microwavewable foods decides to accompany co-worker and Farm Chef, Zennia to the Farmer's Market in an effort to expand her knowledge regarding the healthy living lifestyle and vegetables the Zennia promotes. Dana notices a man watching Zennia's every move and just when she is about to confront the stranger, Zennia notices him too. He turns out to be Zennia's first true love, Birch.
Birch and Zennia had met over twenty five years ago and fallen madly in love. Together they travelled to Evergreen, the commune hidden in the hills of Blossom Valley. After spending several years at Evergreen, the couple split up and went their separate ways not keeping in touch. Eager to reconnect the couple exchanges phone numbers and makes plans to get together soon, not knowing that Zennia would discover Birch dead in her flower garden the next morning.
Zennia has no idea why Birch was in her yard or how he even knew her address. In an effort to learn more about the recent life of the man and perhaps discover who would have wanted him dead she enlists Dana to go with her to Evergreen.
Evergreen is not the ideal bucolic community that Dana expected. A divide between the older original members of the commune and the newer members is becoming apparent. The older members including Frank, the commune bookkeeper; Millie and Pearl are fighting hard against the introduction to new technology such as online sales being presented by newcomer Ryan.
Dana finds herself thrust into the position of cooking for the O'Connell Bed and Breakfast guests when Zennia decides to take a leave of absence. Fortunately, she has her boyfriend Jason to give her a few instructions and she can rely on the cookbooks of her health conscious mother. Dana soon discovers that cooking and the healthy foods she is forced to prepare are really not that bad.
A fun loving cast of characters includes returning Spa owner and employees Estelle, Gordon and Gretchen, plus Dana's sister Ashlee is back with her revolving door of boyfriends. A swift moving plot with plenty of suspects. I would love to live at the O'Connell if only to play with Wilbur the pet pig everyday.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
Dana, who exists on processed and microwavewable foods decides to accompany co-worker and Farm Chef, Zennia to the Farmer's Market in an effort to expand her knowledge regarding the healthy living lifestyle and vegetables the Zennia promotes. Dana notices a man watching Zennia's every move and just when she is about to confront the stranger, Zennia notices him too. He turns out to be Zennia's first true love, Birch.
Birch and Zennia had met over twenty five years ago and fallen madly in love. Together they travelled to Evergreen, the commune hidden in the hills of Blossom Valley. After spending several years at Evergreen, the couple split up and went their separate ways not keeping in touch. Eager to reconnect the couple exchanges phone numbers and makes plans to get together soon, not knowing that Zennia would discover Birch dead in her flower garden the next morning.
Zennia has no idea why Birch was in her yard or how he even knew her address. In an effort to learn more about the recent life of the man and perhaps discover who would have wanted him dead she enlists Dana to go with her to Evergreen.
Evergreen is not the ideal bucolic community that Dana expected. A divide between the older original members of the commune and the newer members is becoming apparent. The older members including Frank, the commune bookkeeper; Millie and Pearl are fighting hard against the introduction to new technology such as online sales being presented by newcomer Ryan.
Dana finds herself thrust into the position of cooking for the O'Connell Bed and Breakfast guests when Zennia decides to take a leave of absence. Fortunately, she has her boyfriend Jason to give her a few instructions and she can rely on the cookbooks of her health conscious mother. Dana soon discovers that cooking and the healthy foods she is forced to prepare are really not that bad.
A fun loving cast of characters includes returning Spa owner and employees Estelle, Gordon and Gretchen, plus Dana's sister Ashlee is back with her revolving door of boyfriends. A swift moving plot with plenty of suspects. I would love to live at the O'Connell if only to play with Wilbur the pet pig everyday.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
