Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking

cooking, romance, law-enforcement, murder, California, contemporary****

The good--a fine romance, an interesting piece of sleuthing., THE FOOD.
The bad--a really unprofessional cop coworker of the female lead.
I'm biased because I used to work with cops and that guy would have been toast even twenty years ago.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from The Wild Rose Press via NetGalley.

Thoughts: I wasn’t sure if this was supposed to be a mystery or a romance. It’s kind of a balanced intertwining of the two. The romance goes back and forth so many times, it was like watching a bad tennis match. “We need to be just friends” but “I agree, let’s have sex”. Reid actually comes across as a bit of a stalker to me. And the sudden “I love you” attraction just didn’t work for me. But… if you’re looking for a book with a ton of food? This is it! I got hungry just reading some of the foods he made – and wishing he lived near me! I’d pay him to cook for me. Yum.

What I liked: The foods. I can honestly say that was my favorite part of the book. And there is a satisfying “happily for now” ending that leaves you smiling. One thing I wish was that the author might have put a recipe or two at the end. I’d love to have one for that apple cider roast!

What I didn’t like: Reid. He just came across as too “stalkerish” for me. He actually gave me the creeps at times.

Recommendation: If you love books with a lot of food references, a bit of suspense, a bit of romance, pick this one up. It’s not a bad story – it just didn’t grab me and that’s okay. You may love it.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book. Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Don’t read this book on an empty stomach. The hero of the book, Reid Lucas, is an excellent cook and the many meals he makes and describes will make you want to raid the refrigerator. Reid, is a software designer and has arrived in California to begin a new job. He is pulled over for driving intoxicated and the only person he knows is a woman named Jane. He calls Jane, but when she is not home, her roommate, Officer Alyssa Knight agrees to bail him out of jail. He is like no other man that Alyssa has ever met and she tries to remain immune to his charm (and cooking). Soon after his boss is murdered (of course he is a suspect) he is attacked and almost killed. Will Alyssa ever accept his love for her as she accepts the delicious meals that he prepares? A quirky love story with a hint of danger. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Two perfect strangers, a suspicious murder, and the sublime power of cooking… can one man’s gift for culinary creations convince Alyssa to drop her guard and let love in? The first time Alyssa meets Reid, she’s bailing him out of jail. Years on the police force raise her hackles about how nice he’s being, cooking and all. She knows he’s up to no good and makes rash judgments, even as he’s creating mouth-watering food. When Reid’s boss shows up dead, she’s even more convinced. But the more time they spend together, her walls and convictions begin to crumble. Is he a serial killer type who has an angelic face or is he telling the truth? While she sorts out her own heart, she investigates what could be a frame-up. One thing is certain: his food is straight from heaven as is his love for her.

Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking is a brilliant romantic suspense I couldn’t put down. It has all the elements I enjoy in an unputdownable story: independent heroine, suspenseful plot with a few red herrings, unexpected romance, great amounts of food, witty dialogue, murder, and a happily for now ending. Linda Griffin is masterful when it comes to original storylines but what I love most is her ability to write a realistic love story. There’s no rescuing heroine and sweeping her off her feet. There’s no billionaire hero to shower gifts and make everything in her life better. In this story, Linda Griffin takes two jaded characters and shows how love isn’t the be-all but instead adds to what makes life worth living. Romance is different for everyone, and I loved seeing romance from Alyssa’s point of view. I also enjoyed the sweet, sensitive Reid trying to navigate through the troubled waters of Alyssa’s heart. The descriptive narration on the food and cooking made my mouth water. The suspense part of the story had me whipping through the pages. Just when I thought I’d figured out who the murderer was, Linda Griffin wrote a twist that knocked me for a loop. So well done. The ending made me gasp aloud. Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking is a romantic suspense not to be missed. Perfect for fans of Diane Mott Davidson. Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5 stars

Alyssa Knight is a tough street cop. When she receives a late night call from someone looking for her roommate who isn't there, she reluctantly winds up bailing Reid Lucas out jail.

Reid has just moved to California and only knows one person .. who may or may not remember him. But he will never forget Alyssa.

It's an immediate attraction for him and he wants to show her how much he cares by cooking for her. For him, it's an act of love. But Alyssa only wants friendship. She's in the midst of shedding her husband and doesn't particularly want a new relationship.

When Reid's new boss is murdered, he becomes a suspect, although he had an alibi for that night .. he was with Alyssa. Local detectives come to think that maybe Reid was the intended target.

Alyssa wants him to stay safe. All Reid wants to do is cook his way to her heart.

This was a kind of fun read. It's more like a rung below a cozy mystery, with more focus on the relationship between Alyssa and Reid. It's a short read, a little less than 200 pages. I liked the characters .. they're funny, they're extremely likeable. I did enjoy all the cooking that Reid did ... I may have to try a couple of those myself.

Many thanks to the author / Wild Rose Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this most engaging novel. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

A ok contemporary romance with a law enforcement element and lots of yummy cooking going on. Throw in murder and intrigue for a interesting read.
Cooking and food was the highlight for me. I kept getting hungry reading this book! I want the recipes!
To sum it up…a quirky story that keeps you smiling.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Yummy on the food … no no on the stalkerish vibes. Other than the written volleyball game i enjoyed this book..

Although a slow read, it was a sweet love story. Reed is in town for a job interview and gets a DUI. He calls a girl he just met (whose roommate is a cop) to bail him out. Instead of the girl, her roommate shows up. Reed has secrets. Things are not going well for Reid, he’s in the middle of a murder investigation, and his past is interfering with his future. He’s also falling in love with a cop that doesn’t trust him. The ending wasn’t quite what I expected. I received a free copy of this book from hidden gems and am voluntarily leaving a review.