I absolutely adore this series and each book is better than the last...but this book, well it was SO good! The story line was so well written and entertaining. I just love the characters in this series. Poppy, a smart and sassy forty-something that loves desserts and coffee and has a nose for sleuthing, has to be one of my favorites. And then throw in Aunt Ginny and her clan of older friends, who stole the show, literally! Her antics and craziness are over the top and hilarious! And my love of Gia just continues to grow...Team Gia all the way! The mystery in this book was really well developed, I was left guessing all the way up to the moment of discovery, when it finally clicked for me. I was so sad when I turned the last page and saw that it was over...and speaking of last page...hello cliff hanger! What a way to leave this book! When can I get my hands on book 4?

This is the third book in the Poppy Mc Allister series, and I liked it just as well--if not better--than the others. Poppy's dream of finally working in a pro kitchen has finally come true, but of course there are some issues. Between catty co-workers and problems on the job, there is of course a murder to solve. I love this series because of all of the characters, and because I myself grew up on the Jersey shore, but I'm not big on the love triangle. That would be the only thing I would change--but other than that, this is a great book.

Poppy McAllister teams up with her former lover Tim Maxwell and his condescending partner Gigi to compete in Cape May's first Restaurant Week competition. When accommodations for the judges become unavailable, Poppy offers rooms in her new B&B to save the competition.

The competition gets off to a rocky start when some ingredients get switched and Tim is accused of sabotage by rival Adrian Baxter. The pranks soon escalate into real hazards on the second day with sabotaged cooking equipment. Things turn deadly when judge Bess Joyice dies after taking a bite of Poppy's cannoli. Several of the chefs have secrets to hide and the judges continue to drop off like flies as the competition continues.

With the intense competition, catering to the judges at the B&B, going off her gluten-free Paleo diet, dealing with romantic signals from both Tim and bakery owner Gia as well as doing some snooping to find the killer, Poppy is seriously stressed. This was another hilarious quick read in the Poppy McAllister mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Kensington with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Poppy McAllister is so excited. Her ex, Tim and his partner Gigi are representing his restaurant in the upcoming Restaurant Week Challenge for a local television station, think Chopped, but crazier :), and Tim as asked her to be their pastry chef. It will be tough spending that much time with Gigi, but cooking in a professional kitchen and showing her talents with desserts has been her dream, so she quickly accepts.

The “Challenge” is not creating awesome appetizers, entrees, and desserts from the crazy basket ingredients, it is making it through the week. Less Chopped – More Survivor. Pranks like the labels being switched on ingredients escalates to machinery malfunctions including an exploding deep fryer, to one of the judges being poisoned. The chaos in the kitchen is getting out of control so Poppy does it again. She starts her own investigation. If she isn’t careful she may find herself cooking her very last dessert and chopped down before any of her dreams come true.

I have loved these characters since book 1, Class Reunions are Murder. Aunt Ginny always has me laughing out loud. This time her antics were a little tamer but they still cracked me up. Poppy is growing stronger. Her confidence is shaky at first but she gets some nice feedback that by the end helps her to really move forward. I am excited about the opening of her B&B because I think she will really shine, depending of course what kind of obstacles Aunt Ginny throws in her path. I loved every scene when Poppy and Gia were together. I could feel the heat right through the pages. Don’t worry the author keeps it cozy and G-rated. I can’t forget Figaro, that naughty, naughty, kitty. A cat with a mission and he was hilarious.

As a huge fan of Chopped, I really enjoy the Restaurant Week challenge with its own little twist of a points system. The themed baskets and what the chefs did with them was fun even with all the struggles they had along the way. The author shares some of the recipes at the end of the story.

The mystery was very developed. Secrets, grudges, innuendo, revenge, all play into this captivating whodunit. With plenty of suspects, the author set a blazing pace with the twists. The last one almost gave me whiplash. The ending was edge of my seat exciting. I was totally surprised.

Ms. Klein has found the perfect recipe for a marvelous cozy mystery. Wonderful characters mixed in a sensational story with a dash a romance and sprinkled liberally with humor. A delectable treat for every cozy lover.

This is an extraordinary series and while each can stand on its own, they are best read in order for maximum enjoyment.

The dynamic duo of Poppy McAllister and her Aunt Ginny return in the wholly entertaining Restaurant Weeks Are Murder. It’s a clean, light-hearted read with lots of local color from Cape May, New Jersey. Filled with sparkling humor and rich characterization, this story captured my interest from the first and moves at a steady pace throughout. From Paleo diet to the most exquisite culinary delights, Poppy’s creative genius shines. My favorite feline buddy, Figaro, is also very much present, with his cute antics and effective methods for expressing disdain to those who might not care for him. My own cat can suddenly flop over the way he does, but with a softer thud.

Poppy is a strong, appealing leading lady and I adore her. She’s very funny but can easily laugh at herself. Every story in this series has been excellent so far, even though I’m not usually a fan of food-themed mysteries. The restaurant-week competition is fascinating, as each team member is given a mystery basket containing three ingredients and has to create a dish using all of them. A competitive spirit abounds, for success equates with financial gain for their restaurants. From contestants to judges, the characters are interesting and quirky, many with egos a mile high.

The mystery plot itself is well crafted and not easy to solve, at least for me. But my favorite part of this story is its humor. In fact, I wish I could meet the author, because she would certainly bring much joy and laughter into my life. Romance isn’t a major theme, but the love triangle between Poppy, Gia, and former fiancée Tim continues. I hope this resolves itself soon, because I don’t enjoy triangles, but this is no way lessens my enjoyment of the series.

Within the cozy mystery genre, 5 stars. Highly recommended.

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

I enjoyed this book despite a few flaws and the ease of figuring out whodunit! I smiled alot and was interested in how we were getting to the resolution that i early in the book!

Another fun, funny and interesting mystery with Poppy McAllister and friends.
A local, yet cut throat, restaurant competition has come to town. Based on the premise of Iron Chef as well as those Great Bake-Off competitions, each team must create a three course meal from secret ingredients. Sounds difficult enough, doesn't it? Well, these tricky producers have upped the difficulty level and added twists. Someone else has added their own challenges to this competition.
If that is not enough, Poppy finds herself sandwiched between two handsome and attractive men.
Part of the intrigue is who is sabotaging the competition and teams. When someone dies, are all bets off or are the stakes (steaks) even higher?
Among my favorite characters are a mischievous cat with a mind of his own and a "granny" unlike any you've met or dealt with in your own life. (I hope.) I was rolling when Poppy told her Aunt Ginny she could not wear a ballgown. Aunt Ginny went one better.
Will Poppy survive until the end of Restaurant Week? Who else will feel the effects of grudges and a sharp competitive edge?
Laugh your way through this fast paced cozy mystery but watch your back!

I found this to be an OK story, a little amusing, but mostly messy. As a murder mystery, it's rather boring, with a very long intro and a slow start.

I seriously love this series...I don't know what it is about the characters or the setting (maybe it is the recipes), but I can't wait to read these books as they are released!

Poppy is an engaging protagonist. A mistake in her youth altered her future but she seems to be doing ok trying to get a B&B off the ground, baking gluten-free items for a coffee shop, and solving the murders that happen in her town. It doesn't hurt that she has two potential love interests - Gia, the owner of the coffee shop and a hot Italian and Tim, her college sweetheart who owns a local restaurant. I am team Gia - just putting that out there - because, while Tim wants to be with Poppy, he lets himself get distracted by GiGi and other women. Anyway, you can make your own decision on which team to belong.

I love to cook (which may be why this series appeals to me) and this one brings together cooking with reality TV. Poppy teams up with Tim and Gigi to represent Tim's restaurant in a cooking competition. Gigi is not likable and she gets her due many times throughout the book. I think my favorite is when the network decides that anyone on the team must cook one of the courses. This infuriates Gigi because she doesn't think Poppy is a chef because she didn't attend culinary school. Gigi is in for a rude awakening because not all great cooks have attended cooking school and Poppy knows her way around a kitchen which is more than can be said for Gigi. As is to be expected, there is murder during the show and Poppy has to figure out the killer before she becomes the next victim. I really tried to decipher the clues but I did not do a good job because I was quite surprised to learn who the murderer was and the reasoning behind the death(s).

There is a cast of quirky characters that liven up the storyline and of course, we can't forget Aunt Ginny and her antics along with the rest of her Senior friends. She knows how to liven up this book with her shenanigans.

We give this 5 paws up and suggest reading the whole series starting with the first book so you can understand the back story.

Restaurant Weeks are Murder is book three in the Poppy McAllister Mysteries. This was the first one of the series I have read but Ms Klein does a great job of getting new readers up to date.
There is a great story line that has plenty of twists and turns and even an explosion. I love the setting and felt like I was there. The characters are relatable and likeable and add a cat, perfect! Plus, I want an aunt like Aunt Ginny.
There is mystery, murder, romance, and a lot of humor. This is one of the funniest books I have ever read! It is a great, easy to read cozy mystery. I can't wait to return to Cape May.
There are recipes included and some are gluten free.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Kingsington Books for an honest review.

Restaurant Weeks Are Murder
A Poppy McAllister Mystery, Book #3
Libby Klein
5 Stars


Synopsis:

Poppy McAllister is happy about opening a Jersey Shore B&B--but working in a professional kitchen has always been her real dream. Now it's coming true, at least briefly, as she teams up with her former fiancee, Tim--and his condescending partner, Gigi--during the high-profile Restaurant Week challenge. Poppy's specialty is pastries, despite her devotion to a Paleo diet. But if anyone can make glorious gluten-free goodies, it's Poppy.

Things get heated quickly--especially when some ingredients get switched and Tim's accused of sabotage. Relatively harmless pranks soon escalate into real hazards, including an exploding deep fryer. And now one of the judges has died after taking a bite of Poppy's cannoli--making her the chef suspect . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy's Kitchen! (Goodreads)

Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and she pulled me right into the story from the very beginning. Whether at the Restaurant Weeks challenges or back at the Bed and Breakfast, the story remained interesting and exciting.

Poppy gives her all no matter what she is doing and she likes to help people if she can, even her ex-fiance. She also seems to be a dead body magnet, much to her dismay. She will have her hands full trying to solve this murder, but she will give it her all, before the murder is pinned on her.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Poppy’s family and friends are funny and unpredictable and you never no what they are going to do next, which is great as a reader, but not so great for Poppy. Figaro, Poppy’s cat, is one of my favorite animals in a cozy, I just laugh whenever I am reading about him.

The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The murder did not happen until about 40% into the book but that was okay because I was enjoying all of the other things that were happening.

I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. If you like food cozies, this is a must read. I felt like I was watching an episode of Chopped as I was reading this book, which was a very good thing.

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

I just loved this latest Poppy McAllister book. The cast of characters are delightful and often hilarious. The mystery was exceptional, and kept me guessing until the very end. The romantic tension kept building with the ending providing an explosion of angst for the next in the series. I can't wait to find out if Poppy makes the right choice. I highly recommend the entire series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is the third book in the series and each book is a laugh out loud fun enjoyable read that kept me guessing throughout. I love the witty repartee in this series and such clever dialogue throughout. I do recommend the entire series and found each in series so enjoyable that I look forward to the next book with anticipation. This is a fun clever series that will not disappoint and is the perfect culinary cozy series.

Protagonist Poppy McAllister is a pastry chef who lives in Cape May, NJ, with her funny cat, Figuro, and her elderly Aunt Ginny. Aunt Ginny is always in trouble and is a active fun character of the series. Fans of the series will delight in these two . This next in series starts when Poppy agrees to be the pastry chef on her ex-fiance’s (Tim) team for a televised Restaurant Week Competition. The panel of judges is very funny and I found myself laughing out loud throughout. Figaro has a thing for the only judge who has an allergy to cats of course as all cats do and that was so funny.

When a murder occurs Poppy is on the case with hilarious antics following her as she pursues clues and suspects. There is plenty of clues to keep the reader guessing and a well crafted clever sleuth that had me guessing to the very end. Another great addition to this fun series that is a laugh out loud fun cozy to read. I look forward to the next in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC for review with gratitude. My opinion is my own. Simply put, I love this series and it always makes me laugh ! 5 stars are not enough to rate this wonderful cozy series.

Wonderful Cozy with Great Recipes
This fun cozy takes place at a chef's competition. Every recipe that our heroine makes is included at the back of the book. Most are Paleo and gluten-free. The mystery is pretty intense with many crimes, many suspects, many secrets and lots of motivation. This builds on prior episodes but stands alone well. I believe that I will go back and read the earlier episodes. There are a couple of great characters in Aunt Ginny and the cat, Figaro. I received this ARC book for free and this is my honest review.

I fell in love with the Poppy McAllister Mystery series with the first book and love it more with each novel I read. Restaurant Weeks Are Murder is the best of a fantastic series! The great characters feel like people I know and the plot offers many reasonable possibilities but no easy answer. The humor ranges from witty to silly and is always fun. It is the strength of our protagonist that calls to me most. Poppy is very human with health and emotional issues and a temper that she really tries to control. She has recently discovered that many of her physical issues come from the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's which is similar to celiac disease and can lead to the more common disease, so she is a baker who loves food and is gluten intolerant. I know a lot of people who can relate to that problem! She is willing to work hard to take care of her aunt who raised her, and loves the Chaos Queen in spite of the trouble Aunt Ginny causes. I am not sure how she manages to stay so kind to some people but kindness and loyalty are two of the keys tenets that she lives by. In spite of her great character, she is a strong multidimensional person who is sure to hold this series at the top for a long time.
The only thing I do not love is that here is a tradition love triangle. I like both guys but do not like that she is pulled between them. Of course for a person who has not been all that popular, she kind of likes the attention from two hot men and I can't blame her for that. After living her teen years with the weight problems and breakouts that come with the disease, she eats up the attention of those two pretty great guys.
Thanks to NetGalley of provided the ARC for Restaurant Weeks Are Murder, I am already sharing my excitement with my friends. #NetGalley #RestaurantWeeksAreMurder.

Restaurant Weeks Are Murder is like getting a Food Network episode along with reality show with some snippets of Bad Kitty thrown in for good measure!
Poppy, Aunt Ginny and Figaro are once again up to their eyeballs in Paleo treats, naughty cat hi-jinks, and murder! In this book, stakes are high when Poppy tries to help her old flame Tim in a cooking competition. Not only is there sabotage on the set with some innocent (and some downright deadly) pranks but something on the menu ends up being fatal. This well planned mystery is fast paced with many twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end! The author generously includes some mouth watering recipes! This is a must read for fans of cooking competitions or just fun, engaging cozy mysteries!
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

You have mystery, humour and romance all in one book. Poppy has opened a Bed and Breakfast along with Aunt Ginny..
Poppy is helping out her college boyfriend Tim by making the desserts for the “reality type cooking show “ that turns into murder and mayhem. It took a hospital stay and stitches but Poppy figured out who “done it”. If only her vying beau’s could be figured out as easily!

I really loved this book! It was fast-paced and fun! I think this is becoming my favorite cozy mystery series. Can’t wait for the next installment as this one ended on a cliffhanger.

I have read all 3 of Libby Klein's Poppy and Figaro series . They are great that makes you not being able to wait until the next one to see what Poppy is into. This one was the best one so far. It was a page turner as I couldn't wait to see what happens next. This was a well planned murder and I never even guessed who the murderer was. How she makes these books so interesting I don't know. I highly recommend this book to anyone but it is a must for cozy mystery readers. Anxiously awaiting the next. I just love the characters in this series especially Poppy, Figaro and Granny.

Watch out Food Network! Poppy McAllister is in the kitchen and on the case! Poppy, along with her ex-fiancé Tim, and his annoying sous chef and restaurant owner Gigi, are part of Cape May’s first ever “Restaurant Weeks” competition, like the Food Network’s show, Chopped! Each kitchen has an executive chef, sous chef and pastry chef. When the event starts to experience sabotage, and a judge is murdered, Poppy involves herself in solving the mystery! Her romantic triangle with Tim and Gia, a hot Italian she bakes for, are all part of the story that gives it that interesting edge. Which one will Poppy choose? No telling at this point but for me, I am Team Gia!

Ms. Klein’s Poppy series is one of my favorites! I love the well-developed characters, especially Poppy’s Aunt Ginny, as well as her friends and cat Figaro! The recipes at the end of the book are always a bonus. I find myself laughing out loud as well as some suspenseful moments as well. Great author! Great series! Join in on the fun and mystery of Restaurant Weeks Are Murder! Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing the free copy via NetGalley!