Wreath Between the Lines

Daryl Wood Gerber

Nov 2018 · A Cookbook Nook Mystery Book 7 · Beyond The Page

About this eBook

The Agatha Award–winning author of Pressing the Issue returns to the Cookbook Nook, where Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer . . .

 

The holidays are Jenna Hart’s favorite time of year, but just as she’s decorating the Cookbook Nook for all the festive events, her imperious older sister makes a surprise visit, anxious that her husband’s been more naughty than nice. To make matters worse, her father’s good friend Jake shows up on her doorstep with a frantic report that his friend has been murdered—trussed with Christmas lights and impaled with a tree star.

 

Worried that Jake was the intended victim, Jenna makes a list of suspects and checks it twice. Swapping her Santa’s hat for a sleuthing cap, she gets busy investigating Jake’s long-lost sister, his Grinch of a neighbor, and a stamp collector who covets Jake’s most treasured piece. When Jake himself is poisoned and nearly dies, Jenna knows she’ll have to do whatever it takes to corner the culprit before it’s lights out for Jake . . .

 

Includes tantalizing holiday recipes!

 

Praise for Daryl Wood Gerber and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries:

 

“There’s a feisty new amateur sleuth in town and her name is Jenna Hart. With a bodacious cast of characters, a wrenching murder, and a collection of cookbooks to die for, Daryl Wood Gerber’s Final Sentenceis a page-turning puzzler of a mystery that I could not put down.” —Jenn McKinlay, New York Timesbestselling author of the Cupcake Mysteries and Library Lovers Mysteries

 

“In Final Sentence, the author smartly blends crime, recipes, and an array of cookbooks that all should covet in a witty, well-plotted whodunit.” —Kate Carlisle, New York Timesbestselling author of the Bibliophile Mysteries

“Readers will relish the extensive cookbook suggestions, the cooking primer, and the whole foodie phenomenon. Gerber’s perky tone with a multigenerational cast makes this series a good match for Lorna Barrett’s Booktown Mystery series . . .” —Library Journal

 

“So pull out your cowboy boots and settle in for a delightful read.  Grilling the Subject is a delicious new mystery that will leave you hungry for more.”  —Carstairs Considers Blog 

Ratings and reviews

Wreath Between the Lines by Daryl Wood Gerber takes us to Crystal Cove, California just two weeks before Christmas. Jenna Hart owns the Cookbook Nook, and her shop is filled with customers looking for gifts for the cook, baker, and reader in their life. The Crystal Cove Christmas Festival is taking place and since wreaths are the theme, every shop features a unique wreath. Jenna is surprised to see her sister, Whitney and her family. Jenna’s niece, Lacey and her group are participating in a cappella competition. In addition, Whitney is worried that her husband is cheating on her while Lacey wishes to avoid her critical mother. Late one evening, Jake Chapman knocks on the door needing assistance. Jake found his friend, Geoffrey strangled with Christmas lights and impaled with a tree topper. Jenna is worried it was a case of mistaken identity and the killer might try again. Jenna dons her sleuthing cap once again, makes a list of the suspects and sets out to wrap up the murder before Santa rides into town. Could it be the neighbor angry over Jake’s Christmas decorations or a philatelist after Jake’s rare and valuable Blue Mauritius? Someone has been naughty, and Jenna has no intention of letting them have a merry holiday. Wreath Between the Lines is a joyful cozy mystery. I like the warm, friendly characters that have grown over the course of the series. Bailey, Katie, Rhett, Jake and Tigger return and are ready to celebrate Christmas. I am hoping that Whitney has seen the error of her ways and we see a change in her in future installments. Crystal Cove is a quaint town with lovely shops and activities year round. I like a cappella competition taking place in town with Lacey’s unusual group. The mystery was multi-faceted with multiple suspects, red herrings, and good clues. While pinpointing the grinch is a cinch, I wanted to keep reading Wreath Between the Lines to see how the various storylines would play out. While Wreath Between the Lines is the seventh book in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series, it can be read alone. Everything a reader needs to know about Jenna is included for new readers. I could have done without the frequent references to Jenna’s former job working at Taylor & Squibb (you know I am not a fan of repetition). I truly loved the Christmas spirit woven throughout the story. There is a delightful description of the wreath on the front door of the Cookbook Nook along with the Dickensian carolers who are strolling around the village. The narratives of the delectable cuisine will have your mouth watering. Wreath Between the Lines has a heartwarming ending. Wreath Between the Lines combines charming characters, a cozy town, Christmas festivities, romance and murder into one jolly cozy mystery.

I've stated many times in the past that I love the work of Daryl Wood Gerber no matter what pen name she writes under. This, however, was my first time reading anything from her Cookbook Nook series and I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I wasn't just jumping into the series a few books in, this book is number 7 in the series. So, how does that play out as an intro to the series? Surprisingly well, actually. There wasn't a bunch of introductions to people with spoiler-ish mentions of how they came to be in the main character's (Jenna Hart) life. I could just as easily have been reading the very first book in the series the way everything was written. Even still, the world was fabulously written and well-developed. The characters were realistic and situations made for believable character development. All in all, I have to say that this was definitely a series that I'm glad to finally find myself involved in. Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing, NetGalley, and Daryl Wood Gerber for the opportunity to read this delightful book and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

About the author

Agatha Award–winning and nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber is the author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, the Cheese Shop Mysteries (as Avery Aames), and stand-alone suspense thrillers. Little known facts about Daryl are that she’s jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, has hitchhiked around Ireland by herself, and has appeared on an episode of Murder, She Wrote.She loves to read, cook, and golf, and has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!