Aug 242011
 

Blackberry Crumble

Author: Josi S. Kilpack

Published Date: March 2011

Publisher: Deseret Book

Softcover; 366 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN# 978-1-60641-941-0

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: Free review copy in exchange for honest review. (Or did I buy this one? I can’t remember now.)

First Things First

I am a big fan of Sadie Hoffmiller. I think it’s because she is so many things I am not and I get to experience the story through someone very different than myself.

Sadie is a widow; I’m celebrating 15 years with my hubby next month. Sadie is a fifty-something retired school teacher with two grown children in college; I am a stay-at-home mom with four kids ranging in ages from 13 to 2.5 years old. Sadie loves to cook and bake; I love to eat things other people have cooked and baked. Her curiosity gets her into some serious scrapes; I would be to nervous to do anything and just let the police handle it. She loves food; I love food. Wait…

Speaking of food, the Blueberry Muffin Tops on page 11 are absolutely delicious. They make me so HAPPY. Light, sweet, lemon-blueberry goodness…*ahem*…

Blackberry Crumble is the fifth book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Mystery series. This story is different in that Sadie is sought out by another character, May, to look into her father’s death. May feels that her father was murdered, though his death was ruled as a heart attack. Sadie is undecided about helping May, especially after Jane, the easy-to-despise reporter publishes a sensationalized article about Sadie in the Denver Post.

Sadie finds herself being shunned by those who know her because of the lies printed about her in the article. Even her church “friends” are being uncharitable, condemning Sadie without asking her side. Ultimately, Sadie decides to get away from all the gossip, takes the case and heads up to Portland.

My Thoughts

Blackberry Crumble was well-written, descriptive and full of red herrings. I honestly didn’t know who would end up being the bad guy and I was surprised by the end. The overall pace felt a little slower than the others but there was still plenty of suspense and action. There was a bit of humor along with a higher level of emotions like grief, guilt, regret, resentment, and family contention.

I’ve already mentioned the Blueberry Muffin Tops, but did you know there was such a thing as Bacon Ice Cream? At first I wrinkled my nose but looking at the recipe it actually sounds really good. My husband would love it.

There was also a certain amount of resolution with Pete that I’ve been waiting to see for a couple of books. While Lemon Tart and Devil’s Food Cake are my favorites in the series, there is something to be appreciated in each of the books. I feel that Blackberry Crumble is where action and consequence come full circle for Sadie and I’m very interested to see where Josi takes the series from here.

What’s Next?

Luckily, the wait for the next book in the series is almost over. Pumpkin Roll is due to be released September 7, 2011. I can’t wait. Not only does the cover make me hungry, it actually makes me look forward to fall. (Summer took so long to get here that I’ve been intentionally avoiding anything that even hints that winter is coming again.)

Josi is currently working on the seventh Sadie Hoffmiller Mystery book, Banana Split.

For more information and a list of book signings and other events where you can find Josi, visit her webpage and follow her on Twitter @josiskilpack.

Jun 082011
 

13 days until summer!


Josi started writing in 1998, and has written 13 novels since then. Her most recent book, Blackberry Crumble, is book five in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. She’s active in her local writing community and tries desperately to keep up with life in general. She currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her husband, four children, one dog, and varying number of chickens.

Josi’s sixth book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series, Pumpkin Roll, is due to be released this fall.

Visit Josi’s website: www.josiskilpack.com and blog: WHAT IS A SUNDIAL IN THE SHADE?

Follow Josi on Facebook: Josi S. Kilpack and Twitter: @josiskilpack

LDSWBR: If you had an entire day to read (on the beach, at the lake, by the pool, etc.), what book(s) or genre would you reach for first?

JOSI: I don’t even know. I read in such a variety of genres, but am so picky about what books I’ll pick up and even pickier on what I’ll finish. My favorite genre to get lost in, however, is probably suspense. I love Sue Graphton so I would hope that should a day such as this happen, it would coordinate with her next book.

LDSWBR: What book(s) do you look forward to reading the most this summer?

JOSI: I’m going to be re-reading Poisonwood Bible by Brenda Kingsolver, and I just ordered Possession by Elana Johnson. Beyond that, I don’t know yet. I scan Facebook and Goodreads to see what my friends liked.

LDSWBR: What is your favorite outdoor cooking recipe? (Can be grill, campfire, Dutch oven, etc.)

JOSI: I’m not a great outdoor cook, but I make Mountain Man Hash every time we camp because it’s hard to mess up too much. To make it, I brown a pound of country sausage in a 12” Dutch oven, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. When it’s cooked through, I add 18 eggs and stir it around to scramble them. When they are about half cooked, I add a bag of tater tots, top it with a 8 oz bag of shredded cheese, put on the lid and let it cook for about 30 minutes. Either with briquettes, 12 on top, 12 on bottom, or over a gas stove, on low heat—you just need to finish cooking the eggs, warm the tater tots, and melt the cheese. I’ve yet to mess that one up :-)

LDSWBR: That one’s going in my camping cookbook. Thanks, Josi!

Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack (Deseret Book, February 2011) is available for purchase from Amazon and Deseret Book (comes with 2 Lagoon discounts).

Where do you look for your next read? Do you belong to any of the book-related social media sites (Goodreads, Shelfari, etc.)?

***

***Countdown to Summer 2011 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on June 25, 2011 for a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors featured in the Countdown. This will be a raffle-type drawing, so more entries means more chances to win. There are several ways to enter the Countdown to Summer 2011 contest. See details below.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

  • The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley
  • Gifted by Karey White
  • Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey
  • Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes
  • The Perfect Fit by  Michele Ashman Bell
  • River Whispers by Kathi Oram Perterson
  • Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright & Kevin Wasden
  • Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins
  • Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys
  • The List by Melanie Jacobson
  • The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum
  • The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden
  • Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack
  • **Bonus Prize** An autographed copy of BLOODBORNE by Gregg Luke (released August 2011)

Do ANY of the following to enter:

  • Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Summer 2011 author posts. Comments can be added on any of the author posts anytime during the contest period (June 1, 2011 through June 24, 2011). Only one comment per person per Countdown to Summer author post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Send LDSWBR an email to ldswbr AT gmail DOT com telling us which of the following you have completed. If you already do these things, email us and let us know. Each item gets you 1 entry.
  1. Follow LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook
  2. Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter
  3. Subscribe to LDSWBR by email (see top right sidebar on website)
  4. Follow LDSWBR with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar beneath “Follow LDSWBR”)
  • On each Countdown to Summer author post, leave a comment telling us which of the following you completed or already do. Each item gets you 1 entry.
  1. Follow the author’s blog (if they have one)
  2. Follow the author on Twitter (if they tweet)
  3. Follow the author on Facebook (if they have a Facebook page)
  • Tweet this message each day. One entry per day. Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw @ldswbr
  • Blog about this contest on your blog then send us the link to your specific blog post. You can find the Countdown graphic badge/button to include in your blog post here. (5 entries)
  • Post the following on your Facebook page (3 entries) then send us an email (ldswbr AT gmail DOT com) telling us that you did: LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw

Here are the rules:

  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MDT on June 24, 2011.
  • Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MDT on July 2, 2011 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.
  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

Let’s keep counting down to summer with some great reads!

Apr 262011
 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Shanda’s Teaser

Her tone was angry, as he’d expected, and he’d be angry too, waking tied up like that. But there wasn’t much he could do about it so long as she remained uncooperative.

Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes, page 70

Sheila’s Teaser

“I know that this is weird David, but the thing is, Oscar never really spends any time with the patients. He usually just goes off and hides. Lately though, we have noticed that he’s spending time with certain residents.”

I shrugged, “And why is that weird?”

“The thing is,” Mary said slowly, “Oscar only spends time with patients who are about to die.”

Now I had heard everything.

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat by David Dosa, M.D., page 8

Mindy’s Teaser

What was Jane trying to find out? What had she hoped Mindy knew? It was an unsettling thought, and one Sadie was determined to ponder as soon as Mindy stopped talking.

It might be awhile.

Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack, page 66