I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Kennersly is busy between working as a vet tech and running two bakeries; one for pets and one for humans. Plus she is in the beginning of a relationship with one of the veterinarians where she works and helps plan adoption events for the local shelter.

Her boss invites two potential new vets to interview for a veterinarian position. Her boyfriend used to work with these two doctors, but another old coworker of his shows up, intent on causing problems. Raela wasn't invited to interview, so she decides to start her own practice, creating enemies in the process.

Because she was so unlikeable, there were lots of people who didn't like her, so the mystery was interesting, but I really had a hard time being vested in this story. I couldn't connect with the characters, and I found some of the writing seemed less than professional. She described an uneventful day as "kind of dull" and consistently referred to her brother as "bro" when thinking of him.

I wish I liked it more, and I'm sure that others would like it.

I was fortunate to have read book #1 in the Barkery & Biscuits mystery series. I enjoyed that one and was excited to have the opportunity to read book #4.

As cozy mysteries go, I find this to be fun and entertaining. Carrie has a natural curiosity about things. This comes in pretty handy as she goes around talking to people and asking questions in an attempt to solve a murder. She's pretty smart when it comes to gathering info and then putting it all together. The story moves along quickly and I was able to read it in one sitting!


I liked this installment and look forward to future books in the series.


My thanks to Midnight Ink and Netgalley.

Pick and Chews is the fourth book in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series, and although this is the first one that I have read, it read like a stand-alone novel. The story focuses on Carrie Kennersley, a veterinary technician and the owner of the Barkery & Biscuits dog bakery. When her boyfriend, veterinarian Dr. Reed Storme, is looked at as a possible suspect in the murder of an old veterinarian-colleague of his who comes to town to cause trouble, by opening up a competing veterinary clinic, Carrie sets out to clear his name. This book was a quick read, but was just ok- didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. Thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for providing me with and advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading other books by this great author.

I feel terrible about just getting back to you now - a death in my family prevented me from reading and reviewing the book you so graciously gave me early access to.

This book sure had a lot about dogs in it, almost to the point of overshadowing the mystery. I enjoyed the story but felt it could have left some of the dogginess out. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest review.

PICK AND CHEWS is the fourth book in the Bakery and Biscuits Mystery series but the first that I have read. Having enjoyed other works by Johnston and loving the dog-centric theme of the series, I had high expectations. However, I came away from PICK AND CHEWS disappointed.

Carrie, vet tech and bakery owner, puts her investigative skills to the test when her boyfriend/coworker Dr. Reed Storme becomes the prime suspect in a former colleague’s murder. The death does not occur until about a third way through the book. I kept waiting for someone to die, and this made the story drag. Even after the murder, the pace suffers, partly because the writing is a bit clunky.

Carrie and Reed have no chemistry or romantic vibe going on, and I kept wondering why she stayed with him even though she was never quite sure that he wasn’t guilty. I understand that she wants him to be innocent, but…. There are several suspects to keep the story plugging along, but the killer’s identity seemed to come out of nowhere.

The best part of the book is the fictional setting in the Southern California Mountains. Knobcone Height seems like a great place to visit, especially with dog in tow. My favorite character is Carrie’s dog Biscuit.

I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Picks and Chews by Linda O. Johnston Cute idea but with a little too much scattered behavior that read as unreal. I could totally buy Carrie working only part time as a vet tech, as most of the techs at my vet work part time (with a couple of full timers) and a couple work for two different hospitals so they can have full time work. I didn't buy her working part time as a vet tech and running not one but two bakery businesses on the side. Despite being told that she arose early to go get some fo the baking in before the people and dog bakeries open, I just was incredulous that Carrie was falling asleep behind the wheel of her car or over dinner with her hunky vet boyfriend--and I found that perfection a little irritating. I've always worked at least two jobs and I'm tired all the time; c'mon, Carrie, admit you're tired. I loved some of the secondary characters, but thought the portrayal of Raela was a little over the top. As a long time volunteer with several dog-related and other charities, the community outpouring of support was a little too unrealistic and again, too perfect. But it's an easy summer read, with generally genial characters, and what more can a reader ask when the temperatures are in the triple digits?

Linda O Johnston's fourth book in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series is Pick and Chews. When the veterinary office that Carrie works for wants to hire a new vet, her boyfriend suggests two candidates and gets a third in the form of an annoying former colleague, who winds up murdered. I honestly found myself anxiously waiting for the murder to happen since this character was just awful. This story had a good flow although I was a bit overwhelmed with unnecessary information at times. Still I enjoy the idea of the dog bakery and the emphasis on animal rescue.

Synopsis:

Carrie Kennersly tries to help her veterinarian boyfriend when he's under suspicion of murder...Is he a keeper, or should she let him go off-leash for good?


As a technician for a local vet and the owner of the Barkery & Biscuits dog bakery, Carrie Kennersly is excited to host a rescue animal adoption event. She's also excited to be in a relationship with veterinarian Dr. Reed Storme, despite his pleas for her to butt out of the murder cases she keeps finding herself involved with. Yet when Reed is accused of killing his former veterinary colleague, he seems a lot more agreeable to having amateur detective Carrie butt back in. Can Carrie clear Reed, or does she care too much for a killer?

Includes recipes for dog treats and people treats!


Praise for Linda O. Johnston:
"Veteran Johnston has her formula down."--Kirkus Reviews

"This cozy will appeal to fans of Susan Conant's Dog Lovers' series and is also reminiscent of Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen novels."--Booklist


"A whole lot of fun and the animals, who are all about spreading warmth and friendship, come alive on every page."--Suspense Magazine (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are real developed and well rounded. Carrie is one busy person, working part-time as a vet tech and owning bakeries for pets and humans. That does not leave her a lot of time for other things, but when someone she cares about is a person of interest in a murder case, she knows she has to make the time to figure out who the real culprit is. Which is exactly what she does. I did not feel all warm and fuzzy when I was reading about Carrie and Reed’s time spent together. It is not the most romantic relationship I have ever read about. That is only my opinion and other readers may not agree. On the other hand, her relationships with the numerous animals involved made me feel happy.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the town she created in the San Bernardino Mountains, Knobcone Heights, is some place that I would enjoy visiting. And you can tell how much the author loves animal, especially dogs. The rescue shelter made for some heartwarming moments. And I really enjoyed reading about that.

The mystery was well plotted, although the death did not happen right at the beginning of the book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through, and I was surprised at who the killer was. They were not on my radar at all.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery with adorable animals. And there are recipes at the back of the book for you and your pet to try and enjoy.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Midnight Ink, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I’ve read two other books in the Barkery & Biscuits Mysteries, and I really enjoyed them. Great characters, fun locations, and pets. A perfect trio for me in cozy mysteries.

PICK AND CHEWS has a well thought out plot. The murder comes later in the book which gives readers a chance to learn more about their surroundings and characters instead of jumping right into the murder.

Author Linda O. Johnston puts her all into each and every book she writes. PICK AND CHEWS, like her stories before, leads readers on a whodunit that in the end, I didn’t guess.

The is one negative about the book that stands out. . . Ms.. Johnston’s writing style does not shine through in this tale. It feels a bit subdued, and it reads as though written for much younger readers. At times reminiscent my childhood Nancy Drew books. I hope the author gets back up to her full writing strength for the next book in the series.

If you enjoyed the first three books in this series, please do give PICK AND CHEWS a read. There really are nice elements to the story that you shouldn’t miss.

Having enjoyed two books in this series, I gladly accepted an advanced readers copy (ARC) from the publisher for PICK AND CHEWS.

I am so excited to read another book in this series. The author writes a great story with interesting characters. I love that animals are in the series because they just make the story fun. I have thought it would be fun to work at a Vet clinic. You get to see all different breeds of dogs, cats and other animals. I would want to take them all home but I think the owners may get a bit upset if I did.

Carrie is such a great character with a big heart for her patients and her care for them is wonderful. Reed seems nice but I don't think he cares for Carrie getting involved with murder cases.I think it is great that she has a keen eye for detail. Perhaps her investigative skills will come in handy when her boyfriend Reed is accused of murder.I knew from the first few pages who was going to be killed, but I still liked how the character was introduced. Raela is just a nasty person who has a grudge against Reed for some reason. Her presence at the clinic would make dogs howl with displeasure. I almost thought of her as the mean person from 101 Dalmatians. Well at least I pictured her like that because she is just an angry, snotty unhappy person. What is the real reason Raela is in town? Why does she keep showing up at every place Carrie goes to?

One of the things I love about this series is the emphasis on animal adoption. It is so nice to see awareness about a problem that so many animals face. The author always does such a great job of putting pet adoptions in the stories and it makes me smile every time I read it. As you can tell, I love animals especially dogs. I love how the animals play a big role in the series and how easy it is to fall in love with them. On the day of the adoption I was very mad at what I read. Why would some vicious out of town person say negative things about the vets that see the animals before being adopted? The poor animals are trying to find new homes and it is being ruined. I would have walked over to the person and kindly shoved her out the door.I loved how the author allowed Raela to become nastier with her unfounded claims of shady work being done a the clinic Carrie works for. Some people may believe her and that could be the end of the well known veterinarian clinic.

I remember from the last book how Reed didn't like Carrie getting involved with murder investigations. Funny how he changes his mind when he finds himself as a murder suspect. The book is quite intriguing and has twists that I found surprising.Who killed Raela and why? All these questions will be answered when you read this well written story.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escape Virtual Blog Tour. The review is my own opinion.

You will have a howling good time reading this book! I love the treats, the villains (including the murder victim, seriously so happy to see that one dead) and the community that this novel is set with. You will find yourself drawn to solving the mystery with Carrie and you will want to cozy up in her barkery and enjoy seeing the pets!

This is the 4th installment in Linda O' Johnston's delightful Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series. I love this series as a animal lover. I have read the previous books in the. series and I adore them all. This next in series is a fun read and appeals to all animal lovers. I received a ARC for review which does not influence my personal opinion.
Protagonist Carrie Kennersly is the owner of the Barkery & Biscuits organic treat pet bakery plus The Icing on the Cake bakery for human treats. She wears many hats running and managing her businesses.. She also works at the vet clinic with her boyfriend who is the veterinarian. . She is also a successful amateur sleuth having solved many murders in the past much to the chagrin of her boyfriend who wants her to stay out of murder investigations from now on as a condition of their moving forward in their relationship.
The location of this lovely fictional town is called Knobcone Heights in the Mountains in Southern California. The two bakeries she owns are described with so much passion and fun I would love to visit them both both for human and pet treats. They are part of this readers enjoyment of this series.
When Carrie's boyfriend is accused of murdering a former co-worker Carrie steps up to save her man. She has a reputation in town for solving murders so he asks her to help prove his innocence.
There are plenty of suspects and twist and turns to this sleuth. I found the mystery intriguing and interesting with all of its possible clues. I love the aspect of rescue events Carrie is involved in and how that is a theme in her books. Her adorable dog Biscuit is always a fun addition to these books. I admire a protagonist who is so multi talented and has at her core animal rescue and care of animals as a life priority. Carrie is someone you definitely want to be friends with. I enjoy the supporting charcters as they all add depth to the story.
This is a delightful cozy series with a wonderful mystery. I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next in series. Thank you with gratitude for the ARC. I enjoyed reading this fun mystery with a pet theme as always !

Pick and Chews, set in the Knobcone Heights community in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California, is a cozy mystery that should especially appeal to animal lovers. Everything revolves around the local veterinarian clinic and its staff, which includes part-time technician Carrie and her veterinarian boyfriend, Reed. Pride, envy, and vindictiveness all factor into the mystery theme, and there’s no love lost for the murder victim.

Love for animals is a well-developed theme, and I wanted to cheer for the pet rescue efforts between the vet clinic and the Mountaintop Rescue facility run by Carrie’s friend. That Carrie isn’t 100% certain that Reed didn’t commit the murder also adds tension to the narrative.

As far as the mystery goes, Pick and Chews easily stands alone. However, the characters lacked a certain depth and relatability that reading the series from the beginning would probably have given. I was also uncomfortable that Reed and Carrie had an intimate relationship without any serious commitment to each other. And one other thing that would have made this story much better? Omit the profanity.

Overall, I enjoyed the veterinarian world and emphasis on animal rescue. The murderer’s identity was a surprise and it was fun to look back at clues that I had missed.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Carrie Kennersly is a very busy lady. She is running two connected businesses, works part time as a vet assistant, has time to volunteer and support an animal shelter, socialize with friends and kep up her relationship with her boss/boyfriend, veterinarian Dr. Reed Storme.

When a less competent and not so nice veterinarian moves into town to start a competing practice but end up dead, Reed becomes person of interest and suspect number one. Of course Carrie can not stay out of this and takes it upon herself to prove him innocent.

While the beginning of the book takes its time with a slower pace, the conclusion is suspensefully surprising!

Pick and Chews by Linda O. Johnston is the 4th book in the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series, and my first book by this author. I was excited to read this book, especially since my daughter is a vet tech, but overall the book was just OK. Carrie Kennersly is a part time veterinarian technician for a local clinic, that includes Dr. Reed Storme, her boyfriend. When the clinic is interviewing for a new veterinarian, an ex co worker of Reed's winds up dead, and he becomes the prime suspect. I will give this author one more try before I give up on her. This book was not judged on the grammatical errors, because it was an advanced reader copy.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

So after giving the previous installment if the Barkery & Biscuits mystery a 3/5, which was still good, I am glad to say that this most recent installment jumped back up to 4/5. Carrie is still working double time and running her dual dog/people bakery as well as working part time as a vet time. Yet when her boyfriend's ex comes to town and tries to open a new vet clinic and suddenly winds up dead, she also takes on the role of amateur sleuth in order to clear many of her loved ones.

I will admit that I sort of had the perpetrator pegged about 3/4 of the way through but seeing as I had no idea why they might have done it, it was still an interesting read to the very end. But another great element in "Pick and Chews" is the town itself and its inhabitants. I love almost all of the characters Johnson creates and I could totally see myself living and working in this quaint mountain town. And of course, we can't forget the animals. There are plenty around since Carrie owns a dog bakery and also works at a vet office. There is even a animal rescue which gets quite a lot of mention and which must be dear to Johnson's heart as she is frequently mentioning rescue pets.

If you like cozy mysteries you should consider reading at least the first in this series to see if it's for you. And if you like dogs, it should be a no-brainer. I do hope the series continue and I would love to see more of "the Joes" as they are two of my favorite minor characters.

Review: PICK AND CHEWS by Linda O. Johnson
(BARKERY AND BISCUITS MYSTERY #4)

Fourth in the endearing BARKERY AND BISCUITS MYSTERY Series, PICK AND CHEWS tosses vet tech/bakery owner Carrie Kennersley right back into amateur sleuthing, solving her fourth murder. When she or a friend is the principal suspect, Carrie becomes a combination of bloodhound and pit bull, both curious and inquisitive, and indefatigable.

A San Diego vet visits the San Bernardino Mountains top-flight veterinary practice at which Carrie is a part-time vet tech, ostensibly seeking a position there, managing to alienate every single individual she encounters. Dr. Raella Fellner is a tough act to cope with or to confront, and soon someone decides she's too contrary to live.

I truly love cozy mysteries, and when they include pets, I'm over the moon! Almost every character in this story, no matter gender, personality, or career, is owned by one or more pets, and animals play a highly significant role. This becomes seriously tense later on as Carrie's sleuthing antagonizes some unknown party, and her precious Biscuit is threatened. Just as only a thriller targets a mother's children, so you don't threaten Carrie's small breed Biscuit, or you'll have an enraged pet lover after you!

Carrie Kennersly is a technician for a local vet and the owner of the Barkery & Biscuits dog bakery, as well as an amateur sleuth. In this book she uses her sleuthing abilities to clear her veterinarian-boyfriend of killing another veterinarian.

This is a light cozy mystery with an emphasis on dogs. I like dogs, (although I'm more of a cat person) and I've read several 'dog cozy mysteries'. Unfortunately this story had more dog than mystery. There were a lot of details that didn't add to the story. That being said, I did enjoy the book.