Three Treats Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is the 3rd book in the Sarah Blair Mystery series, and another fun addition. Sarah and Emily are twins who are very different. Sarah is divorced, and is working at a law firm as a receptionist. Emily is a chef, who is high achieving. Due to an inheritance Sarah was able to invest in Emily's new restaurant. When a restaurant opens across the street, Emily and Sarah are concerned, especially when their chef is murdered. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book for all cozy mystery book lovers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have not read the previous books in the series, so perhaps that colors my review. Also, I was interested in this book because of the description and the positive reviews on the first two books by others. With that said, I started reading with high hopes, but came away feeling this one was just a little too cozy for this cozy fan.

This book should appeal to those who like a steady hand at the writing wheel. There’s plenty of small-town ambience and small-town goings on. With that said, it felt like the small town goings on got in the way of the mystery. On the plus side, the plot did move at a steady pace and I didn’t know who the killer was until the end. Also, there were some twists that surprised me—and that’s always good.

The bottom line is that there were pluses and minuses to this book, but with clever cover art and plenty of food and pets, Three Treats Too Many is clearly targeted at pet and foodie mystery fans.

This was such a fun cozy mystery!

Sarah Blair and her sister Emily are ready to open their new restaurant. When her rival opens a restaurant right across the street, Sarah is determined to get the building inspector to come sooner rather than later. When the sou chef of the rival restaurant is found dead on the night of the grand opening, can Sarah help to find the killer before they strike again?

I really like this series. It's super fun and the characters are all enjoyable. I liked the story and truly had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed. I was a bit bothered by Cliff, the love interest. I adore the rest of the characters, though. I liked that Sarah has a fun personality. She is comically bad at cooking. I can't wait to see what's next in the series!

Sarah Blair has a big problem, bigger even then the major delay in opening her restaurant that she co-owns with her twin sister, Emily and Emily's boyfriend, all due to a slow moving inspector. This bigger problem has two legs, flaming red hair and is her "late ex-husband's bimbo" AKA Jane. Jane has just opened her restaurant, Jane's Place right across the street from the hopefully soon to open Sarah's business, Southwind. What could be worse? A whole lot, it soon turns out. Jane's vegan sous chef is bumped off and Sarah's friend Jacob lands in the hot sear as prime suspect as far as the police are concerned. Not if Sarah has anything to say about it and the investigation begins. Turns out Riley, the victim, had some secrets that added up to being a motive for murder but which one of the long list of possible suspects did the deed?
There are lots of characters in this mystery and there were a few times when something external distracted my reading and I had to reread a bit to get back on track but that was not enough to lessen my enjoyment of every page. The puzzle kept me guessing and yes, I guessed wrong - that's fine with me. Spending time in the company of Sarah, Emily and Marcus is always a treat. RahRah, Sarah's cat, a lovely alpha Siamese and her newly adopted dog, Fluffy, put their own mark on the case at hand.
If you are new to this series, by all means enjoy this one but make sure you have the previous two books in the series lined up to binge read. The first book, One Taste Too Many, sets the stage for the rivalry between Sarah and Jane and RahRah has a starring role.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Three Treats Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is a splendid tale of deceit and sorrow.

Will Sarah find the murderer before her friend is under arrest?

Sarah Blair
Sarah is our sleuth, a legal secretary, friend to many, and she is the human of RahRah (a siamese cat) and Fluffy (a cute white puppy). She is pulled into action as Anne's brother Jacob is the main suspect in the killing of his former girlfriend and chef, Riley. Although she doesn't want to be involved, her curiosity is peaked. But Sarah is leary of Anne's motives again.

Sarah is sweet. However, she is still dealing with some past issues, and sometimes those views cloud her judgment. I am glad that she is working on it and moving past some of them. This girl can't cook much, but she doesn't let that stop her from having luncheons for a house full. Oh, the way she shops with pictures is unique.

The Mystery
Riley, the vegan Chef of Jane's Place, is found murdered in the restaurant's dumpster area. It seems that everyone loves Riley, and there isn't anyone that would want to hurt her. However, that isn't what Sarah finds when investigating. Then the one person that could have done the deed other than Jacob is killed in a biking accident. Coincidence? Only Sarah and the murderer know whodunit.

Four Stars
This story is a good mystery. The secret and motive were well hidden and played out well. I enjoy the parts with RahRah and Fluffy, but I wish there were a few more of them. Oh, and Maybelle is fabulous. My rating for Three Treats Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is four stars. I do recommend this to all cozy cat readers out there.

And there are some lovely recipes at the back of the book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Three Treats Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein.

This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

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 . . .
https://www.debrahgoldstein.com/three-treats-too-many/

Debra Goldstein furthers the character development of protagonist Sarah Blair in Three Treats Too Many. Far from the naïve character in One Taste Too Many, Sarah is once again drawn into a case of murder. But it doesn’t have anything to do with her family or her ex. This time she’s defending a friend from a murder charge with the help of her cat, RahRah, and new puppy, Fluffy. Observing their behavior provides insight to human relationships.

Secondary characters from the first two books make appearances and enhance the cast of characters. Eloise, the older woman whose boss was killed at the bank in the last book, is now a strong councilwoman contending with the aggressive Anne Hightower, now a mayoral candidate.
Sarah’s mother, Maybelle, contrasts to Eloise. Jane, Sarah’s ex’s bimbo (her words not mine) finally gets a comeuppance, and yet, she’ll probably survive to be a pain for another day.

The Sarah Blair mystery series is a continuing pleasure to read. My interviews with Debra about her first two books can be found here and here. Stop by our comments page to leave Debra a message or ask a question. E. B. Davis


In an effort to get commerce in from nearby Birmingham, AL, the Wheaton council rejected an Entertainment district in favor of mixed-use zoning. Jane’s Place restaurant is next to a veterinary clinic. Has the council traded one set of problems for another?

No question about that. In the earlier books in the Sarah Blair series, I promoted the concept of an Entertainment District to introduce the pros and cons of economic development and what might be the driving force behind different opinions on the subject. In Three Treats Too Many, by having the mixed-use zoning concept adopted, I was able to explore some of the problems that may occur when competing interests are involved.

When Jane’s Place opens before Southwind Restaurant, Sarah’s twin Emily and her partner Marcus’s establishment, everyone in the neighborhood goes to the opening. Sarah’s associates are checking out the competition. Have you known those in the restaurant business? Is there friendly competition between them? I’ve heard that it can be a cut-throat business due to low profit margins. So, I wonder if friendly is saying too much.

Birmingham, Alabama, where I live, has become known as a foodie city. Although there is some rivalry and dislike between some restaurant owners, that would probably be the case if these individuals owned similar businesses in another field. Many of our chefs, at some point, trained under our James Beard winners and then went out on their own. My observation of those individuals, and their subsequent disciples, is that they respect and support each other. In Three Treats Too Many, the days of Sarah and Jane being friends is long gone, but it isn’t only because of the restaurant competition between Jane, Emily, Marcus, and now Sarah.

Because the veterinarians are also in a motorcycle club and they have a parking lot, many members of the club park their bikes there. Wouldn’t they have to get permission to do so from the council to do so?

I don’t think so. Although it appears that a lot of the town belongs to this social motorcycle club, there are only a limited number of bikes being parked on a pad on the side of the veterinary practice’s building. The riders aren’t congregating, demonstrating, holding meetings or rallies, or doing anything else that would require a permit. They aren’t even taking up space in the actual parking lot. Besides, Wheaton is a small town where the way it is sometimes takes precedence over the way it should be.

Is Birmingham a big biker area?

To my knowledge, Birmingham has its share of bikers, but no more than other urban areas. What it does have, according to Guinness World Records, is the world’s largest motorcycle collection housed at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Visits to the museum, a friend who also is a motorcycle collector, two teachers I met, who did not meet my stereotyped image of a biker, and a local group that does charity rides sparked me to write the motorcycle club into Three Treats Too Many.

Botts and the first murder victim, Riley Miller, a young chef, have a romantic relationship that seems to be floundering. Sarah sees similarities between them and her puppy, Fluffy, and her cat, RahRah’s relationship. What is it that Sarah sees?

RahRah, like Botts, demonstrates alpha male characteristics. They are both in control, not always kind, and put their own pleasure/desires ahead of the feelings of others. Riley and Fluffy are quite capable, but they become subservient in the hopes of pleasing Botts and RahRah. It is this behavior pattern that Sarah observes. Although she thinks it is amusing watching Fluffy be dominated by RahRah, she finds the same pattern in Riley and Botts disconcerting.

What Sarah sees contradicts what people have told her about Riley, who was a flirt and used men for her own gain. Is Botts more of a user than Riley?

They are users in different ways. Botts is showier and maybe even a little shady, but both are direct in going after what they want.

Sarah is no fan of Acting Chief Dwayne Gerard. She is surprised that her boss, Harlan Endicott, a lawyer, and Gerard act like friends. Is Harland “keeping his friends close and his enemies closer?” Or has Harlan developed a respect and friendship with Gerard?

Sometimes, people who don’t see eye to eye on things still find it is more politic to interact with each other. Harlan is a straight arrow who uses the law to help others. He also, except maybe with Jacob, is a good judge of character. Knowing that Chief Gerard can be a bit lazy or jump to conclusions before all the facts are in, he has learned that he can temper things by using honey rather than coming at Gerard in an attack mode. Harlan also is good at indirectly suggesting ideas that the chief carries out as if they are his own.

The vegan dishes that Riley makes take top honors at Jane’s Place and draws in customers. Is the vegan diet that popular?

Just as there are many people who follow the Keto diet or eat gluten free, a good segment of the population embraces the vegan diet. In this case, Riley’s dishes are a novelty on the menu, but once people sample them, they want more.

Because her friend Jacob is the top suspect in Riley’s murder, Sarah agrees to investigate. Why?

Throughout the Sarah Blair mystery series, the overarching theme is loyalty and caring for family and friends. Jacob is her friend and even though she isn’t sure, especially as different facts come to light, that he is innocent, she won’t allow him to be railroaded if Chief Gerard’s focus is only on Jacob. The other reason she agrees to investigate is because Anne and Eloise ask her to. Sarah feels a loyalty to Eloise and although she doesn’t trust Anne not to manipulate her, she respects Anne’s desire to protect her brother.

Does Sarah always count objects to divert her attention from something ghastly?

If she does, it isn’t a conscious thing. All she knows when she confronts something ghastly is that she must let her mind wander, or the situation will be too much for her to emotionally handle.

What is Rolling Thunder? Do motorcycle clubs still participate or has it been disbanded?

Rolling Thunder is an advocacy organization. It seeks full accountability for prisoners of war and individuals missing in action. The organization has chapters which carry out the group’s mission and do charitable events. In 1988, as a First Amendment protest, the Rolling Thunder event was created. Through 2019, at least two hundred thousand motorcyclists gathered each Memorial Day weekend to ride a designated path from the Pentagon parking lot around the D.C. Mall area. Problems with extra security needs and limitations imposed near the Pentagon led to the ride’s official demise; however, with a different sponsor, the event, or one similar, is planned for 2020.

Do military dogs often end up with PTSD? Is there treatment for them?

A 2011 New York Time article quoted Dr. Walter F. Burghardt Jr., chief of behavioral medicine at the Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base, as saying:
"By some estimates, more than 5 percent of the approximately 650 military dogs deployed by American combat forces are developing canine PTSD. Of those, about half are likely to be retired from service.” As canine post traumatic syndrome has become more recognized, treatment therapies used include vigorous play, love, downtime, and desensitization counterconditioning. If a dog cannot be rehabilitated at its home base within three months, the dog is assigned to other duties or discharged from the service.
Jacob’s sister Anne is on the Wheaton town council and is running for mayor. Sarah and Anne have never gotten on well. How does Anne manipulate Sarah? How will Sarah defend herself?

Anne manipulates by words and playing on Sarah’s emotions. Highly intelligent, Anne can whip out an idea that Sarah agrees with in principle and before Sarah knows it, Sarah is the one doing the behind the scenes work while Anne gets the glory. When readers meet Sarah in One Taste Too Many, she lacks confidence in herself. She was married at eighteen, divorced by twenty-eight, and the only thing she got out of the marriage was RahRah, her Siamese cat. Although never physically abused, Sarah’s ex-husband mentally abused her to a point that after the divorce Sarah questions the correctness of everything she does. Anne, demonstrating some of the same riding roughshod traits as Sarah’s ex-husband, is able to take advantage of Sarah’s instinctive docile reaction to box Sarah into doing things Sarah really doesn’t want to do, but as Sarah regains her sense of self-worth in Two Bites Too Many and Three Treats Too Many, she finds it in herself to stand up to Anne or at least to mentally be ready for Anne – up to a point.

Sarah is going out with Cliff. She questions his relationship with Riley. He explains, but he makes a point of saying that he would only justify his actions in this one instance. Does that mean they aren’t in an exclusive relationship? Not sure if this is a good sign for Sarah.

Cliff has issues in his background that make acting in a trustworthy and honest manner important to him. Sarah, because of her treatment by her ex-husband, has problems trusting. Consequently, when she questions his relationship with Riley, her questions come from her inner fear that neither Cliff nor anyone is what they seem, while Cliff reacts as he does because he believes a relationship implies trust. Although both may want an exclusive relationship, their emotions may preclude it from being with each other.

After Riley’s death, Jane asks Grace, Emily’s younger chef, to become a chef at her restaurant. Grace refuses Jane’s offer. Why does Sarah think it could be Grace’s motive for murder?

Sarah tries to find a motive for everyone, other than Jacob, to have killed Riley. Sarah thinks Grace may be too guilty to take the job or have done it, but wants to demonstrate a loyalty to Emily and Marcus so that when she finally takes the job, no one will suspect her hands are dirty.

When Sarah and Harlan walk dogs at the shelter, Sarah finds out the Jacob lied to him. But Sarah lies to Harlan, too. She claims not to have known that Jacob and Riley dated in the past, but Mandy and Grace just told her that they did. Why did Sarah lie to Harlan?

That lie may have been an author mistake or that Sarah believes her conversation with Mandy and Grace had an element of confidentiality to it. She also may believe she can learn more, for her amateur sleuthing, by leaving the door open for Harlan to talk.

Most defense attorneys know that some of their clients are guilty. Why is Harlan so distraught about Jacob being possibly guilty?

Harlan is a small-town lawyer with a big firm brain. No matter what kind of case he is handling, he does the best job he can for his client. But, as I previously mentioned, he is a straight-shooter and he expects that when he deals with other people. It’s not Jacob’s innocence or guilt that upsets Harlan, but the fact that Jacob lied to him.


Is Sarah interested in Dr. Glenn? She seems relieved that Carole turns out to be his sister.

Yes. But Sarah is disturbed by her interest in him because of her relationship with Cliff. She can’t understand how she can be in a relationship with one person but feel excitement about another.

Is it the other’s smell that repels cats and dogs? I didn’t know that.

In doing research about the relationship between cats and dogs for Two Bites Too Many, I came upon that tidbit and it stuck in my head until it founds its way into Three Treats Too Many. Its true accuracy hasn’t been proven, but it is recommended that a dog and cat be introduced to each other very slowly to give them time to establish a relationship built on smell.

Why does Harlan second guess Sarah? Will she ever tell him off? Will he ever tell her he loves her?

Harlan doesn’t really second guess Sarah, he simply doesn’t want Sarah to get hurt. Consequently, he believes she should leave any investigating to the proper authorities – Chief Gerard or him. Harlan gave her an opportunity to work, recognizing her lack of skills and confidence. In his own way, he helped nurture her personal growth between books 1 and 3, but he doesn’t want to rush her or take advantage of their relationship – again, trust comes into play. When he tries to make the slightest move, she is torn, but her decision not to jeopardize her job overrides any interest in having a relationship while she works for him.

What’s next for Sarah, RahRah, and Fluffy?

I’m excited about Three Treats Too Many and the many opportunities for character growth that it leaves open. I enjoy introducing new scenes and new characters. Book 4 in the series, Four Cuts Too Many, has already been turned in and will be out in June 2021. Still set in Wheaton, it will take a wider look at the Carleton Junior College campus. There will be another book in the series out in 2022.

While Sarah Blair's sister's restaurant is having trouble opening due to a slow kitchen inspector, rival Jane's restaurant hosts a free open house for Wheaton, Alabama's "Who's Who." Her new sous chef Riley has prepared vegan dishes which are the hit of the party. But not everyone is pleased with Riley--after the event she is found dead by her ex-beau Jacob. He was on the scene screaming for help but Sarah is convinced that the Jacob she knows would never harm anyone. When another member of the motorcycle club also dies under mysterious circumstances, Sarah strongly believes the two are connected. But could trying to help a friend cost Sarah her life?

I really enjoyed this book. While it is helpful to have read the prior two in the series, it can be read as a standalone. It was very well-written, and I only put it down due to external factors. There were a lot of interconnections between characters which made the suspect list grow longer as the book progressed. However, I didn't feel overwhelmed as I sometimes do when other cozies seemingly "throw" names out to merely muddle the waters. I fell for one of the red-herrings and didn't guess the killer's identity until it was almost too late. Her relationship with Cliff continues to progress at a comfortable pace for her needs and I am happy that her self-confidence continues to grow after such a difficult divorce

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.

THREE TREATS TOO MANY
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.

While the main thread of "Three Treats Too Many" includes restaurant rivalry, several subplots keep the pot boiling for Sarah Blair and friends. When a new restaurant opens near Southwinds, of which Sarah is part owner, the town inhabitants fall in love with the new vegan dishes offered by Chef Riley. However, when the chef is found dead outside the building after the official restaurant opening, her admirer Jacob becomes the prime suspect. As the plot unfolds, shady dealings with building inspections and romantic entanglements cast suspicion on other characters. Throw in motorcycle riders and barking dogs for added excitement as the plot thickens
and the killer is revealed.

This clean and cozy mystery is part of a series, although it can be read as a stand-alone novel. However, readers may experience some confusion with figuring out the different characters and their relationships to each other if they have not read the previous books. The characters were somewhat one-dimensional, although the animal characters were delightful.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Three Treats Too Many is a character-centered Southern cozy mystery—with recipes!

In small town Wheaton outside Birmington Alabama, everyone is entwined in each other’s life. Sarah, her twin sister chef Emily, and Emily’s boyfriend chef Marcus are opening a restaurant called Southwinds. However, they are delayed at every turn by the city’s building inspector, Louis Botts. Louis is rumored to be dating Riley, the sous chef of another new restaurant across the street, Jane’s Place. The chef at Jane’s Place is none other than the bimbo Jane that broke up Sarah’s marriage to Bill shortly before his death. Cliff, the general contractor doing the remodeling of both restaurants, is the maybe boyfriend of Sarah. He is also best friend of Jacob, who worked at Emily and Marcus’ casual pub in town. Jacob, meanwhile, is enamored with Riley (Jane’s sous chef, in case you forgot). And don’t forget Grace, Emily’s sous chef at Southwinds, who is best friend to Riley (sous chef at Jane’s Place, girlfriend of Louis, target of Jacob’s affection, and murder victim by the end of the second chapter). Because of Jacob’s unrequited love for Riley, and his proximity to her when she is found dead, he is accused of the crime. Sarah is once again compelled to investigate. Wooohooo! The South really is different!

The interrelationships between the characters are complex and feel real. Many of the suspects have good motives for committing the crime. This makes the mystery much more interesting. So many red herrings make finding the solution a real challenge. Three Treats Too Many is a great third addition to the Sarah Blair Mystery Series. While it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading at least one of the previous books first. 4 stars!

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Blair 3
Sarah attends Jane's opening, even though it's the last place she wants to be, and witnesses a disagreement between Riley and Jason, followed by one between Riley and Louis Botts, the inspector stalling the opening of her sister Emily and Marcus' restaurant.
When Jacob is found out back with Riley's body, the acting police chief isn't looking for other suspects, just to nail Jason for the crime.
Harley takes the case and Sarah sets to snooping, her best talent. She finds out plenty of dirt, just not what she's focused on, until she accidentally gets caught up in it as the killer is ready to kill again. She keeps the murderer talking long enough for the officer she called just before entering the building and the Police Chief arrive.
Ms. Goldstein gives us plenty of information, great descriptions, possible motives, but not enough til the end. I read this as I did the first two in one day, it was that intriguing. No sex, gore or profanity, just intrigue. Suitable for all.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and offer my opinion freely.

I couldn’t really get into this one. Perhaps it’s my fault though as this is the third book in a series and I didn’t read the first two. That’s on me.
I couldn’t keep up with all the people in the story line and I have no clue what’s going and with whom.
I just couldn’t follow the story because of that. I’m going to go back and read the first two books then try this one again. I can’t fairly review this book without doing so.

This is the third book in the A Sarah Blair Mystery and the second that I have read. I am hooked on this series.
Ms. Goldstein gives plenty of suspects and has you guessing to the end. The characters are likeable, you get a touch of humor and romance. There is also plenty of family time.
When a sous chef from the rival restaurant across the street is found dead on opening night, all fingers point to Jacob, Sarah's friend. Sarah knows he couldn't have done it. She knows she will have to investigate another murder.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.

I struggled with this book. I read the first book in the series and felt sort of "meh" about it. There are a lot of cozies out there and a lot of books with restaurant settings and unfortunately this series is just not grabbing me into the story the way I would hope with a cozy. I read a lot of cozies, probably hundreds, if not thousands. This just did nothing for me.

Sarah Blair's nemesis, Jane, whom we are introduced to in the first book, opens a restaurant right across the street from Sarah's sister's new restaurant. This was strategic because Jane is a jerk. We already know she is capable of nefariousness after she tried stealing Sarah's beloved Siamese, RahRah (such a horrid name for a dignified cat) in the first book. The usual murder and m,ayhem ensue and now Sarah has to prove her friend innocent of murder.

I think this will be the last book I read in this series. I just cannot get into the writing. I have always thought you could have a brilliant idea for a book but cannot write well, it does not matter how great the idea is. Ms. Goldstein is a writer of average talent but it is not enough for me to keep trying to slog through this series.

I just say this one starts with a bang. Sarah and her sister are waiting for the final inspection which would allow them to finally open their upscale restaurant in the big house. The inspector is dragging things out though which lets her rival Jane open her own fancy place across the street with a very talented sous chef. After several successful soft openings the big day has arrived with a buffet full of the new menu options for free. Tensions are high as pretty much everyone comes to try it. Then the new sous chef is found murdered out back leaving a whole slew of suspects. Sarah's friend is the main suspect though she doesn't believe he did it so she starts poking into things. This leads us on a merry adventure as she tries to figure things out. Add in the adorable pets and you get a cozy mystery you will not want to put down. A great read for fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Sarah Blair's nemesis Jane has been able to open a restaurant across the street from the one she is building with her twin sister chef Emily and her partner Marcus. Jane's Place has been full during the soft openings thanks to chef Riley's superb vegan dishes. Sarah attends one of these free meals with her friend and part-time employee Jacob Hightower. After witnessing an altercation between Jacob, Riley and local building inspector Louis Botts, Sarah hears a scream outside. She finds Jacob hovering over Riley's dead body and Jane accusing him of murder.

Sarah refuses to believe Jacob is the culprit and is pressured by his pushy sister Anne to help find the real killer. As Sarah learns more about Riley, she realizes that many people have been hurt by her casual relationships. One group that unites many of the suspects is the Wheaton Wildcats motorcycle club which includes Botts, Jacob, and several veterinarians at the pet clinic next to Jane's Place. Sarah also suspects that Botts is deliberately delaying the final inspection needed for her restaurant Southwind to open.

After Botts dies in a freak motorcycle accident, Sarah wonders if the two deaths are connected. Sarah's curious nature almost leads to her death when she witnesses one of the suspects entering the workplace at night.

This was another fun entry in the Sarah Blair mystery series. Sarah's two pets, Rah Rah and Fluffy are a welcome presence throughout the story.

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

“I understand why you said everyone is dying for her food.”

Sarah Blair has a problem. Her problem is that her ex-husband’s new wife, Jane, has opened a restaurant right across the street from the restaurant Sarah, her twin Emily, and Emily’s fiance Marcus own. And Jane’s restaurant has somehow managed to clear inspection before the Southwind. When Sarah reluctantly agrees to go to the soft opening for Jane’s Place, she has no idea the trouble it will bring. The head chef, Riley, is found dead at the end of the night, with Sarah’s close friend Jacob, hovering over her body. When a second person dies, suddenly Riley’s death no longer seems like a crime of passion, but a premeditated murder. Now, Sarah is in a race against the clock to prove Jacob’s innocence, and catch the real killer. With the help of her cat RahRah, new puppy Fluffy, and Jacob’s sister Anne, Sarah is determined to solve the case--before anyone else gets hurt.

I cannot tell you how much I love cozy mysteries. A fair amount of the books on my bookshelf and on my kindle are cozy mysteries. I just can’t get enough of them! So, when I saw this was available to read on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance even though I haven’t read the first two books. Three Treats Too Many is absolutely wonderful and definitely lives up to its promise of coziness (it even has recipes at the end of the book)! I admit I certainly would have had an easier time keeping all the names straight at the beginning of the book if I had read the first two, but other than that, I didn’t feel as though I was lost. I also love the way the book perfectly captured the small-town Alabama charm and mannerisms. I highly recommend this book, and this series, for anyone looking for a fast-paced, amazing mystery!

Sarah can't seem to get a break from the hateful Jane - her dead ex-husband's paramour. She's opened a vegan (vegan!) restaurant across from the still hung up in red tape restaurant that Sarah owns with her sister Emily. Sarah's spending a lot of time arguing about various requirements that weren't a problem for Jane or for the vets or anyone else for that matter. Then, in the middle of everything, the hot vegan chef Riley is murdered and Sarah's friend (and sous chef) Jacob is the prime suspect. Yikes! What secret did Riley harbor that made her a target? No spoilers from me. I like Sarah, a woman who doesn't give up, and here she won't stop til she finds the truth (and a little something rotten about Jane). There's two nice pets- RahRah the cat and Fluffy the dog- a motorcycle "gang" focused on a charity, and a good small town atmosphere. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun cozy- with recipes of course!

A scream from the back sets the mystery in motion. When Sarah Blair hears the scream from her position in the dining room in Jane’s Place (which happens to be run by the mistress of Sarah’s ex-husband), she, and others go running. It seems that the new restaurants sous chef has been found dead, and Sarah’s friend Jacob is standing over the body. Sarah’s then asked to please solve this crime. Apparently, people in town don’t trust the now acting Chief of Police to get the correct culprit, and since Sarah’s successfully solved other murders, she’s asked to solve this one as well.
But that’s not all Sarah has to worry about. The building inspector’s taking his sweet time coming to the restaurant that Sarah’s twin, Emily is in the process of opening, and Sarah’s still working full time as a receptionist for a lawyer.
When it’s found out that Jacob’s been infatuated with the victim, all eyes start to turn towards him, except for a few. Then, the building inspector dies in a motorcycle accident right after he and Jacob get into an argument. It’s not looking good for poor Jacob, and Sarah’s got to figure out if he’s really the culprit, or if there’s someone else with an axe to grind. Someone who hates both victims enough to kill them.
Even though this is the third book in the series, it could be read without too much issue. This was the first book for me, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on too much, but with a good storyline, great characters and wonderful recipes at the end, I want to start the series from the beginning.
**I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Maybe it's just because I started with book 3 in this series, but this one wasn't for me. At 10% in, it felt like 20 characters had been introduced or mentioned. I couldn't keep track of them all, and there wasn't anything distinct enough to make me care about them. I love culinary cozies, so I was sad to put this one aside, but it just wasn't holding my interest.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.