I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book from one of my favorite series. It's a Wonderful Knife by Christine Wenger is the fifth book in the Comfort Food Mystery series. Unfortunately, it is also the last as the series fell victim to the publishing house cuts to cozies.
From the back cover:
Comfort food and murder are on the holiday menu in the latest mystery from the national bestselling author of Macaroni and Freeze...
All Trixie Matkowski wants for Christmas is a break-just not the broken leg she gets after slipping on some ice. With Sandy Harbor alive in the hustle and bustle of the season, it's the busiest time of the year at Trixie's Silver Bullet Diner. There are millions of things to do, including catering the town's annual Christmas pageant and community dinner with some delicious holiday comfort food.
But the festivities turn into a bit of a turkey after Liz Fellows, the director of the pageant, is found with Trixie's butcher knife in her back. Now Trixie must help the police arrest the scary gentleman-or lady-guilty of the crime if she hopes to get herself off the naughty list.
Recipes included.
Showing posts with label Wenger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wenger. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Friday, July 24, 2015
Spotlight - Macaroni and Cheese
I'd like to shine a spotlight on another great July release. Macaroni and Cheese by Christine Wenger is the 4th book in the Comfort Food Mystery series, set in my neck of the woods!
From the back cover:
In the latest from the national bestselling author of Diners, Drive-ins, and Death, Trixie Matkowski finds herself in hot water after a killer gets cheesed off at a celebrity chef...
When the library roof collapses from the harsh winter weather, diner owner and comfort food chef Trixie Matkowski decides to organize a mac-and-cheese cook-off to raise funds for repairs. Priscilla Finch-Smythe, famous TV chef and former Sandy Harbor resident, is not only available to judge the contest-she's offering an appearance on her show as the grand prize.
Trixie hopes that winning first place in the cook-off will help boost publicity for her Silver Bullet Diner. But when another winner is announced and Priscilla is later found frozen in a snowbank, Trixie starts getting attention from the police instead. Now she'll have to noodle over this mystery before everything really goes to pot....
Home-style recipes included.
From the back cover:
In the latest from the national bestselling author of Diners, Drive-ins, and Death, Trixie Matkowski finds herself in hot water after a killer gets cheesed off at a celebrity chef...
When the library roof collapses from the harsh winter weather, diner owner and comfort food chef Trixie Matkowski decides to organize a mac-and-cheese cook-off to raise funds for repairs. Priscilla Finch-Smythe, famous TV chef and former Sandy Harbor resident, is not only available to judge the contest-she's offering an appearance on her show as the grand prize.
Trixie hopes that winning first place in the cook-off will help boost publicity for her Silver Bullet Diner. But when another winner is announced and Priscilla is later found frozen in a snowbank, Trixie starts getting attention from the police instead. Now she'll have to noodle over this mystery before everything really goes to pot....
Home-style recipes included.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Review - Diners, Drive-Ins, and Death
Review
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Death by Christine Wenger
The 3rd Comfort Food Mystery
On a cold wintry day there's nothing better than a nice dish of comfort food...and the latest Comfort Food Mystery by Christine Wenger.
Trixie Matkowski is back bringing comfort food to the people of Sandy harbor, NY at the Silver Bullet Diner. Her friend, the irrepressible Antoinette Chloe Brown, is also back with plans to build an old fashioned drive-in movie theater. Unfortunately, on ground breaking day the body of ACB's missing boyfriend is found...dug up by the backhoe! Who wanted Nick dead? Could ACB's ex-husband been jealous enough to kill his own brother? Could it have been one of the men from the gang of biker chefs? A prior business associate? Or ACB herself? Trixie knows she has to help ACB with or without the help of Deputy Ty. Will she be able to find the killer while babysitting a house full of beauty contestants, keep ACB out of trouble, and still cook through the night serving up delicious diner food?
I remember as a kid getting into my pajamas early then grabbing my sleeping bag and pillow and getting into the station wagon. My parents and I were going to the drive-in. It was still light when we got there so I played in the playground till it was dark enough for the movie to start. I can vividly remember that, though I couldn't tell you the film for the life of me! Those days are gone now, and most of the drive-ins with them. I'm pleased that ACB also remembers the fun of the drive-in and the wish to create a new one.
The books in Christine Wenger's Comfort Food Mystery series are comforting and nostalgic in the best ways. They evoke those happy memories of the past while giving us an adventure in the present. The author also adds lots of fun: ACB's fashion sense and the Miss Salmon pageant, complete with an 88 year old choreographer and girls dressed as salmon...and fishermen! That being said, these books are by no means fluff. There are issues at play and underlying everything is the strength of friendship and the power of nostalgia. Of course, we also have a fine mystery as well.
I welcome Trixie Matkowski and the people of Sandy Harbor into my home with each novel. I only wish I could visit the Red Bullet Diner myself and have a heaping plate of comfort food!
Recipes included.
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Death by Christine Wenger
The 3rd Comfort Food Mystery
On a cold wintry day there's nothing better than a nice dish of comfort food...and the latest Comfort Food Mystery by Christine Wenger.
Trixie Matkowski is back bringing comfort food to the people of Sandy harbor, NY at the Silver Bullet Diner. Her friend, the irrepressible Antoinette Chloe Brown, is also back with plans to build an old fashioned drive-in movie theater. Unfortunately, on ground breaking day the body of ACB's missing boyfriend is found...dug up by the backhoe! Who wanted Nick dead? Could ACB's ex-husband been jealous enough to kill his own brother? Could it have been one of the men from the gang of biker chefs? A prior business associate? Or ACB herself? Trixie knows she has to help ACB with or without the help of Deputy Ty. Will she be able to find the killer while babysitting a house full of beauty contestants, keep ACB out of trouble, and still cook through the night serving up delicious diner food?
I remember as a kid getting into my pajamas early then grabbing my sleeping bag and pillow and getting into the station wagon. My parents and I were going to the drive-in. It was still light when we got there so I played in the playground till it was dark enough for the movie to start. I can vividly remember that, though I couldn't tell you the film for the life of me! Those days are gone now, and most of the drive-ins with them. I'm pleased that ACB also remembers the fun of the drive-in and the wish to create a new one.
The books in Christine Wenger's Comfort Food Mystery series are comforting and nostalgic in the best ways. They evoke those happy memories of the past while giving us an adventure in the present. The author also adds lots of fun: ACB's fashion sense and the Miss Salmon pageant, complete with an 88 year old choreographer and girls dressed as salmon...and fishermen! That being said, these books are by no means fluff. There are issues at play and underlying everything is the strength of friendship and the power of nostalgia. Of course, we also have a fine mystery as well.
I welcome Trixie Matkowski and the people of Sandy Harbor into my home with each novel. I only wish I could visit the Red Bullet Diner myself and have a heaping plate of comfort food!
Recipes included.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Currently Reading...
I'm currently reading Diners, Drive-ins, and Death by Christine Wenger. This book, released just this month, is the third in the Comfort Food Mystery series.
Trixie Matkowski is back bringing comfort food to the people of Sandy harbor, NY at the Silver Bullet Diner. Her friend, the irrepressible Antoinette Chloe Brown, is also back with plans to build an old fashioned drive-in movie theater. Unfortunately, on ground breaking day the body of ACB's missing boyfriend is found...dug up by the backhoe! Who wanted Nick dead? Could ACB's ex-husband been jealous enough to kill his own brother? Could it have been one of the men from the gang of biker chefs? A prior business associate? Or ACB herself? Trixie knows she has to help ACB with or without the help of Deputy Ty. Will she be able to find the killer while babysitting a house full of beauty contestants, keep ACB out of trouble, and still cook through the night serving up delicious diner food?
Recipes included.
Trixie Matkowski is back bringing comfort food to the people of Sandy harbor, NY at the Silver Bullet Diner. Her friend, the irrepressible Antoinette Chloe Brown, is also back with plans to build an old fashioned drive-in movie theater. Unfortunately, on ground breaking day the body of ACB's missing boyfriend is found...dug up by the backhoe! Who wanted Nick dead? Could ACB's ex-husband been jealous enough to kill his own brother? Could it have been one of the men from the gang of biker chefs? A prior business associate? Or ACB herself? Trixie knows she has to help ACB with or without the help of Deputy Ty. Will she be able to find the killer while babysitting a house full of beauty contestants, keep ACB out of trouble, and still cook through the night serving up delicious diner food?
Recipes included.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Diner Time!
I'm pleased to welcome Christine Wenger back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Chris writes the Comfort Food Mystery series. Diner's Drive-Ins, and Death, the third in the series, is being released today!
Kathy: In Diner's Drive-Ins, and Death Trixie is helping ACB open a drive in movie theatre next to her diner. I remember going to drive-ins as a kid, but they seem all but extinct today. Are there any drive-ins near you? Or do you just have find memories of them?
CW: We have one drive-in that’s in Fulton (NY) that had a flood or a fire (can’t remember) and I was worried that it wouldn’t rebuild, but the owner said that he will! Happy-happy! I do have very fond memories of my sister, my brother and I wearing our pajamas to the drive-in and sharing a brown grocery bag full of popcorn that my mother made and drinking Kool-Aid that she made. I don’t think my brother ever saw a movie at the drive-in. He’d sleep on the window ledge (behind the back seat) like it was a balcony. LOL. Oh, and we’d play on the playground below the big screen before the movie started. And the movie audio was awful, and the mosquitos came in through the open window. But that was part of the drive-in experience. What great times, and I can remember them like it was yesterday! I put some of those memories into Diner's Drive-Ins, and Death!
Kathy: I look forward to reading the recipes you include in your mysteries. Where do you get them and how do you choose which ones to include?
CW: I try to put in recipes that might relate to the book. For instance, I have a popcorn recipe in this book. Every recipe I put in is from a friend or a relative.
Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?
CW: Not really. But as I write, certain things from my life inspire me. It could be some characteristics of a friend, or an acquaintance, or myself.
Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?
CW: I have to have some kind of road map because my publisher (Obsidian) needs to know what they are buying! But I fill in the blanks myself and sometimes take a detour-which may work, or it may not!
Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Trixie Matkowski?
CW: I love writing Trixie Matkowski stories, and I’ll keep writing about her as long as readers keep buying the books! I have had wonderful compliments about Trixie, and readers do want more, so I’ll keep writing them!
Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?
CW: I have a scathingly brilliant idea for Trixie’s next mystery that takes place during the Christmas season. Oh, and I have a Halloween mystery for Trixie to solve also.
Kathy: A new interview section-this or that. Pick one of the 2 choices given.
Library or Bookstore –
CW: Bookstore. I love to increase my own library.
Expositional or Continuing Story –
Continuing Story
Editing or Marketing –
CW: Marketing.
TV or Film –
CW: Both!
Chocolate or Vanilla –
CW: Both!
Mountains or Beach-
CW: Beach. I love water. It’s so mesmerizing and cleansing.
Tea or Coffee –
CW: Coffee mostly, but I do love ice tea.
Cats or Dogs -
CW: I love to cuddle with kitties, but I have a big dog, a three-year old Golden Retriever by the name of Blondie that I feature in every book. She's also on my covers! She's too big to really cuddle, but I keep trying!
Summer or Winter -
CW: I love snow up until Christmas, then I want the stuff to go! I love summer the most: flowers, the smell of freshly cut grass, going to the beach, barbecuing, having picnics…and going to the drive-in!
Normal or Paranormal –
CW: Normal. Usually, I don’t “get” paranormal stories!
Vampire or Werewolf –
CW: None of the above! Give me a hot cowboy any day!
Kathy: In Diner's Drive-Ins, and Death Trixie is helping ACB open a drive in movie theatre next to her diner. I remember going to drive-ins as a kid, but they seem all but extinct today. Are there any drive-ins near you? Or do you just have find memories of them?
CW: We have one drive-in that’s in Fulton (NY) that had a flood or a fire (can’t remember) and I was worried that it wouldn’t rebuild, but the owner said that he will! Happy-happy! I do have very fond memories of my sister, my brother and I wearing our pajamas to the drive-in and sharing a brown grocery bag full of popcorn that my mother made and drinking Kool-Aid that she made. I don’t think my brother ever saw a movie at the drive-in. He’d sleep on the window ledge (behind the back seat) like it was a balcony. LOL. Oh, and we’d play on the playground below the big screen before the movie started. And the movie audio was awful, and the mosquitos came in through the open window. But that was part of the drive-in experience. What great times, and I can remember them like it was yesterday! I put some of those memories into Diner's Drive-Ins, and Death!
Kathy: I look forward to reading the recipes you include in your mysteries. Where do you get them and how do you choose which ones to include?
CW: I try to put in recipes that might relate to the book. For instance, I have a popcorn recipe in this book. Every recipe I put in is from a friend or a relative.
Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?
CW: Not really. But as I write, certain things from my life inspire me. It could be some characteristics of a friend, or an acquaintance, or myself.
Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?
CW: I have to have some kind of road map because my publisher (Obsidian) needs to know what they are buying! But I fill in the blanks myself and sometimes take a detour-which may work, or it may not!
Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Trixie Matkowski?
CW: I love writing Trixie Matkowski stories, and I’ll keep writing about her as long as readers keep buying the books! I have had wonderful compliments about Trixie, and readers do want more, so I’ll keep writing them!
Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?
CW: I have a scathingly brilliant idea for Trixie’s next mystery that takes place during the Christmas season. Oh, and I have a Halloween mystery for Trixie to solve also.
Kathy: A new interview section-this or that. Pick one of the 2 choices given.
Library or Bookstore –
CW: Bookstore. I love to increase my own library.
Expositional or Continuing Story –
Continuing Story
Editing or Marketing –
CW: Marketing.
TV or Film –
CW: Both!
Chocolate or Vanilla –
CW: Both!
Mountains or Beach-
CW: Beach. I love water. It’s so mesmerizing and cleansing.
Tea or Coffee –
CW: Coffee mostly, but I do love ice tea.
Cats or Dogs -
CW: I love to cuddle with kitties, but I have a big dog, a three-year old Golden Retriever by the name of Blondie that I feature in every book. She's also on my covers! She's too big to really cuddle, but I keep trying!
Summer or Winter -
CW: I love snow up until Christmas, then I want the stuff to go! I love summer the most: flowers, the smell of freshly cut grass, going to the beach, barbecuing, having picnics…and going to the drive-in!
Normal or Paranormal –
CW: Normal. Usually, I don’t “get” paranormal stories!
Vampire or Werewolf –
CW: None of the above! Give me a hot cowboy any day!
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