Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton

Late last night I finished Lord of the Pies the second in the Kensington Place Chef Mystery series.This was a very fun read. I have long been a fan of the Royal Family and while I love that this is centered around their palace home, it actually has nothing to do with the Royals really themselves and is an absolutely brilliant concept.  As much as I love the Royals, I often wonder about those who dedicate their lives to working for the family and to those who work in such a proximity to them. Even though I know this book is fiction it is still fun to imagine and picture everything author Nell Hampton describes so well to us in the books. This is a great read and a fun cozy mystery. I really look forward to reading the next one and many more to come!
This book is out April 10th and is published by Crooked Lane Books. 

When Carrie Ann Cole bakes a lemon meringue pie to die for that actually kills someone, she must find out who the real killer is before her time at the Kensington Palace expires.The elegant Orangery at Kensington Palace is the perfect setting for the bridal shower of Carrie Ann Cole’s best friend’s sister. Personal chef to the royal family, Carrie Ann’s pie theme is naturally winning. But a waiter later keels over dead into the lemon meringue pie she leaves as a thank-you to the staff and Carrie Ann realizes that somebody slipped a mickey into that meringue. Her floury fingerprints are all over that pie and the authorities suspect her distress is a cover-up for murder. Carrie Ann must set out to clear her name if she wants to stay at her dream job any longer. But all too soon, another body drops in the Orangery. This time, it’s the Orangery chef. 
You can preorder from Amazon by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmial.com 

On my table and in my January 21-28th

Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a week in review. This has been a very difficult week for me, in many ways. While I was very lucky to have had some fantastic books to read and take me away from the world for a few hours each day, I have been troubled by how much pain and suffering has surrounded so many people I know this week. I am so very blessed in my own life, but I am not with out anxiety and stress. This Wednesday was Bell.ca's Let's Talk day, a day to bring awareness to the important task of removing the stigma around mental illness. A very large sum of money was raised with each text sent, or #letstalk tweet, message and more. The photo above was my contribution, I salute Bell for this campaign . This week I have witnessed strength and courage previously not witnessed by own eyes and it has had a impact on my life I have yet to fully understand. There are people in life that will have the most profound effect on the trajectory of your future, by how they become solidified in your past. The ones we seek the most are in the happy memories, however it is the difficult defining moments and memories that show our true character. I have lit many candles this week and said many prayers for strength for so many.

There have been incredibly happy moments this week as well, my son turned 16, I got flowers twice, from my husband this week, visits from friends and support from people placed so very perfectly in my life. I also sipped tea from some of the most beautiful and delicate vessels, tea made from perfectly formed leaves and infused flavors complemented each moment of reflection and self care.
And there have been so many wonderful books! And yes I have read them all this week!

Currently on my table is Granny Hooks A Crook, by Julie Seedorf, a gift of humor and mystery from my wonderful and thoughtful friend Lisa from lisaksbookthoughts. 

Nell Hampton's April 11th release was a delight to have on my table and a great escape, imagine working for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace! Honestly this was a great cozy in a very perfect imagined great British home. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table by Janet Finsilver was not at all what I thought, not exactly a paranormal mystery however this was a fun book 3, first I had read in the series and I enjoyed the team feeling of this book.

An impromptu visit to Scotland this week with Of Books and Bagpipes, a true arm chair travelers delight. I could picture so easily this setting and the story was filled with history and mystery. I highly recommend it. 

I was off skiing in Colorado with Lynn Cahoon's Fatality by Firelight, a lovey writers retreat mystery with Cat as she handles her second writers retreat while living in her own mystery. So many elements of this story to love, the food mentions as well had me making soup and feeling as though I was snowed in and loving it. 

I shared a review of a very fun cozy by CeeCee James, this one is out now and a great deal of fun.

I also was delighted with Snowed in with Murder by Auralee Wallace, I was very lucky to have so many wonderful stories to read and escape with. I hope that you may also have the same experience with these titles, a cozy spot and a cup of tea too. 
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Kale to the Queen by Nell Hampton

Yesterday I read Kale to the Queen a new April release by Nell Hampton, I loved it. Growing up my maternal grandfather went out of his way to share his love of the royal family with me. I Have always loved and admired the Royal family, following the ups and the downs and the celebrations. I have watched every wedding and funeral with awe, respect and wonder. So when I learned about this very fictional cozy mystery about the Royal family I was very interested. This is a great cozy. I thought the story was very plausible, even given the circumstances. I loved the mystery but I did have a good idea who the murderer was. The food references were wonderful, and I appreciated the banter and hierarchy of the relationships between all the characters in this book. It felt real to me, having worked in kitchens as a chef, the time lines, the menus along with the bravado of the chefs was familiar and even comforting. I enjoyed this book and I am so looking forward to reading more in this series. If you love BBC, or PBS programming about life of the aristocracy and royal family you are going to love Kale to the Queen.

Chef Carrie Ann Cole is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime--an assignment as the new Personal Chef to the Royal Family at Kensington Palace. But no sooner has Carrie Ann touched down across the pond and donned her apron than a dead body crops up beneath the royal kale beds.With one assistant dead and the other soon under suspicion for his murder, Carrie Ann is scrambling to keep her kitchen up and running. Not to mention she gets off to an immediate bad start with the tempestuous Royal Chef Butterbottom, who has a bitter taste in his mouth since the prestigious position in the Royal Family's kitchen was given to an "over-privileged, under-educated American chef."But the Royal Family's appetites wait for no one, and Carrie Ann must solve the murder and still get supper on the table on time--even with the annoyingly handsome Head of Security Ian Gordon tracking her every move like an MI6 agent. Suspects abound as an American chef adds a bit of spice to the traditional royal household in the first in Nell Hampton's charming and tasty Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series, Kale to the Queen.

Click here to learn more about this April 11th release 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com