Mother? No, It’s Maybelle
by Debra H. Goldstein
You may call me Maybelle, Maybelle Johnson. Ever since I went to a spa in Mexico and learned that my first name had a certain ambiance and would bring me good karma, I’ve asked everyone to only refer to me as Maybelle.
I think it is a simple request, but my twins, Sarah and Emily, seem to be having a difficult time not referring to me as Mother or Mom. I know they are both busy and worried about other things, like Wheaton’s building inspector signing off so Chefs Emily and Marcus can open their Southwind restaurant in an old house on Main Street that Sarah owns. The inspector let their nemesis open her restaurant across the street from theirs two weeks ago and it is doing fantastic business, especially with the vegan dishes it is serving.
But enough about that dilemma. Surely, as smart as my daughters are, they can remember to call me Maybelle. I mean, Emily is a whiz in the kitchen, but Sarah has a knack for solving complicated murder cases. If it weren’t for her, I’d probably be doing time – and I can assure you I don’t look good in orange and black horizontal stripes. My coloring lends itself to solid black, winter white, red, or purple clothing.
Family is important to Sarah, so I don’t understand why she is having so much trouble calling me Maybelle. I think she thought this was a whim that was going to go away. Not going to be the case. I’m almost sixty and plan to live a good long time, but I want to do it happily. When my husband died, way too young, I was desolate. I feared I’d outlive my money. Sarah and Emily sat me down and showed me the true state of my finances. There was no way I could possibly outlive my money. That’s when I decided to travel, give gifts, and act like there is no tomorrow.
If it is going to make my life a little better, I don’t think it’s too much to ask everyone, including my daughters, to call me Maybelle. Do you?
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Review
THREE TREATS TOO MANY
The Third Sarah Blair Mystery
The Third Sarah Blair Mystery
While Sarah Blair and her sister, Emily, are frustrated with the delays in getting the final inspection completed so that they can open their restaurant, Marcus is furious. What's even more maddening is that the loathsome Jane appeared to have no problems opening her restaurant right across the street. Jane's fare remains mediocre, but her sous chef has created amazing vegan recipes that have people lining up for more. When the gifted chef is found dead by the dumpster during Jane's grand opening Sarah's friend Jacob, who was smitten with the young woman, becomes the prime suspect. As Sarah looks to prove Jacob's innocence, she soon learns that Riley had more people dislike her than not. Will looking into members of the town's motorcycle club prove helpful or will it be a recipe for disaster?
The third Sarah Blair Mystery introduces new characters as we learn more details about others. I enjoy seeing Eloise's rebel side and learning about the veteran veterinarians. Maybelle is always a hoot. Sarah's romantic relationships seem nebulous. While she admits that Harlan and she won't ever be a couple, her relationship with Cliff, her admitted boyfriend, seems strained. And now we have Dr. Glen. I'm pleased that Sarah's romantic relations remain on the back burner while her relationships with RahRah and Fluffy are more important...and intrinsic to both her character and the plot. I appreciate how Sarah is learning to stand up for herself.
THREE TREATS TOO MANY looks at unrequited love and shameless self-aggrandizement. It reveals the darker side of love while providing a complex mystery. Quick and easy recipes from Sarah prove that even someone dangerous in the kitchen has the ability to make some delightful fare.
The third Sarah Blair Mystery introduces new characters as we learn more details about others. I enjoy seeing Eloise's rebel side and learning about the veteran veterinarians. Maybelle is always a hoot. Sarah's romantic relationships seem nebulous. While she admits that Harlan and she won't ever be a couple, her relationship with Cliff, her admitted boyfriend, seems strained. And now we have Dr. Glen. I'm pleased that Sarah's romantic relations remain on the back burner while her relationships with RahRah and Fluffy are more important...and intrinsic to both her character and the plot. I appreciate how Sarah is learning to stand up for herself.
THREE TREATS TOO MANY looks at unrequited love and shameless self-aggrandizement. It reveals the darker side of love while providing a complex mystery. Quick and easy recipes from Sarah prove that even someone dangerous in the kitchen has the ability to make some delightful fare.
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Three Treats Too Many (A Sarah Blair Mystery) by Debra H. Goldstein
About Three Treats Too Many
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Kensington (August 25, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
When a romantic rival opens a competing restaurant in small-town Wheaton, Alabama, Sarah Blair discovers murder is the specialty of the house . . .
For someone whose greatest culinary skill is ordering takeout, Sarah never expected to be co-owner of a restaurant. Even her Siamese cat, RahRah, seems to be looking at her differently. But while Sarah and her twin sister, Chef Emily, are tangled up in red tape waiting for the building inspector to get around to them, an attention-stealing new establishment—run by none other than Sarah's late ex-husband's mistress, Jane—is having its grand opening across the street.
Jane's new sous chef, Riley Miller, is the talk of Wheaton with her delicious vegan specialties. When Riley is found dead outside the restaurant with Sarah's friend, Jacob, kneeling over her, the former line cook—whose infatuation with Riley was no secret—becomes the prime suspect. Now Sarah must turn up the heat on the real culprit, who has no reservations about committing cold-blooded murder . . .
Includes quick and easy recipes!
About Debra H. Goldstein
Judge Debra H. Goldstein writes Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series (One Taste Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, Three Treats Too Many). She also wrote Should Have Played Poker and IPPY winning Maze in Blue. Her short stories, including Anthony and Agatha nominated The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie’s Place and Derringer Finalist Pig Lickin’ Good, have appeared in numerous publications. Debra serves on the national boards of SinC and MWA and is president of SEMWA.
Author Links
- Website – www.DebraHGoldstein.com
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/DebraHGoldsteinAuthor/
- Twitter - @DebraHGoldstein
- Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4906340.Debra_H_Goldstein
- Bookbub - https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=debra%20h.%20goldstein
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Sounds like a great series!
ReplyDeletethank you... hope you'll give it a try.
DeleteI really enjoy cozies and I really like animals in stories. Thanks for this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating... I like animals, too.. that's why I included RahRah, Sarah's Siamese cat, and Fluffy, the dog that's been rescued.
DeleteI love cats we have 2 and then we have numerous outside cats that we feed wet food that we have from our leftovers ground up. I love to read and review cozies also and this is right up my alley. We also have 2 chihuahuas so many nights we have cats chasing pups and then pups chasing cats. peggy clayton
ReplyDeletePeggy, that's almost what happens in the Sarah Blair series. The relationship between a dog and a cat is important ... as is their interaction with Sarah.
DeleteThanks for hosting me.
ReplyDelete