Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack – Countdown to Summer 2011

 Posted by  Countdown to Summer, Special Features
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!

Teaser Tuesday – April 26, 2011

 Posted by  Special Features, Teaser Tuesdays
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

Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Mar 022011
 

Key Lime Pie

Author: Josi S. Kilpack

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: 2010

Softcover: 345 pages

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

ISBN-13: 978-1-60641-813-0

FTC FYI- I purchased my own copy

Hello, all!  Don’t adjust your computer screen.  It’s me!  I am taking over Wednesday’s.

Key Lime Pie is book four in the Sadie Hoffmiller mystery series.

While planting flowers for her required community service (see Devil’s Food Cake), Sadie Hoffmiller’s new friend Eric comes to say hi, and to flirt. Sadie can’t deny that she likes Eric, but she is dating Pete. While Pete and Sadie have never defined their relationship, she is torn with her feelings for both men. Eric takes a phone call. His daughter, Megan, has been missing for three years and the phone call was informing Eric that they found a body and need him to come to Florida right away. Sadie and Pete go on their date, but Sadie can’t get Eric and his situation out of her mind.  After her dinner, armed with cookies, she goes to Eric’s and asks what she can do to help, Eric asks Sadie to come to Florida with him, she says no.  They say goodbye and Eric is on his way. The next day, Sadie gets a call from Eric. He needs her to clean out a trailer so he can sell it right away and he also needs a box of Megan’s items sent to Florida right away. She rushes over to the house, finds the box, but can’t fight her natural “busy-bodiness”. She opens the box, and with the items inside, she can’t figure out why they would be of such importance. Because she is too curious, Sadie makes the decision to go to Florida herself to deliver it. When she gets there, however, things don’t go as planned.  We meet Layla, Megan’s mother and Larry, Layla’s second ex-husband.  And they have secrets of their own.

I loved this book. Josi’s stories are so expertly detailed and very well written. I was surprised with the turn that Key Lime Pie took, and was happy that I didn’t figure it out. Sadie has gotten herself in some pickles before, but this was by far the most suspenseful. Although she is very curious and a self-described busy body, Sadie genuinely cares about the people she is helping and is very resourceful. I really enjoyed the ending, and felt she made a very good decision about the men in the life.

Would I:

  • Recommend this book?  Absolutely.  It reads very fast, and is very exciting.  The ending surprised me too.
  • Read it again?  Yes!  Excited to read the next in the series Blackberry Crumble.

4 stars out of 5

Teaser Tuesday & Kick-Off Contest Winners

 Posted by  Contests, Special Features, Teaser Tuesdays
Mar 012011
 

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:

Hannah leaned her head against the wall as if having heard a death sentence pronounced on her and Beatrice. She saw the young, blond doctor returning from his errands. As soon as he crossed the threshold, she pounced on him. ” Typhoid fever? Is it true?”

Twilight’s Last Gleaming by L.C. Lewis, page 64

Sheila’s Teaser:

She feared that she had fallen in love with him, which was senseless beyond belief, but try as she might, she didn’t seem to be able to tell her heart to keep it’s distance.

Journey of Honor by Jaclyn M. Hawkes, page 63

Mindy’s Teaser:

Sadie winced as she heard it land, all the items inside crashing into each other. Now, instead of a meticulously organized arrangement, her purse would be a mess. So far things were off to a fabulous start.

Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack, page 163

Does anyone else think it’s interesting that the page numbers we found our teaser quotes on were 64, 63, & 163?

Contest Winners!

So far, twenty people have joined the “Read ’em All” 2010 Finalists Challenge, which means four people who participated in our Kick-Off Contest will win a bookmark! The winners are:

  • Susan (Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books)
  • Karlene Browning
  • Evelyn (Better on a Budget)
  • Luann Staheli

Congratulations!

Send an email with your address and which bookmark you prefer in the picture below to ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you for participating in our Kick-Off Contest!

LDStorymakers 2010 Podcast: Part 2

 Posted by  Podcasts
May 232010
 

Time Flies

One month ago today I was enjoying my first day ever at LDStorymakers Conference in Provo, UT. The sights and sounds have faded a bit in memory, but I was taken back to relive the excitement and energy of the conference listening to the podcasts that will be posted today and tomorrow. Part 1 of the LDStorymaker podcasts is available here.

The two days I spent at the Conference were a much needed step “out of the norm” for me, and it’s no surprise that within a few days of stepping back into my life, LIFE took over, derailing my plans to get the large amount of material we collected during those two days posted within a week. But that’s okay. After a month, it’s nice to revisit the whole conference experience again. Take a few moments on this one month anniversary of the 2010 Storymakers Conference and relive it with me. It’s almost like being there all over again.

Part 2

In Part 2 of our LDStorymakers Conference 2010 podcast, we meet up with Josi Kilpack and Heather (H.B.) Moore. They are two of the sweetest women and are always willing to take a few minutes to speak with LDSWBR. Both Heather and Josi taught classes at the LDStorymakers Conference. Josi dishes out some goods about her next book, Key Lime Pie, due to be released in August 2010. Heather shares her experiences with researching and writing her first nonfiction book, Women of the Book of Mormon: Insights and Inspirations.

[podcast]http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/shows/2010-LDSStorymakers/ldswbr_storymakers2010_part2.mp3[/podcast]

Devil’s Food Cake by Josi Kilpack – Book Review

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Feb 162010
 


Title: Devil’s Food Cake

Author: Josi Kilpack
Publisher: Deseret Book
Published Date: 2010
ISBN#: 978-1-60641-232-9
I first met Josi Kilpack in a hallway all dressed up in a dark blue gown and waiting for the very first Whitney Awards Gala to begin. Sheila, Hillary and I introduced ourselves as LDS Women’s Book Review and interviewed her for the first Whitney Award podcast.

Since then, Josi’s been hard at work writing her culinary mystery series that began with Lemon Tart, which is currently a 2009 Whitney Award finalist. English Trifle, the second book in the series, took us “across the pond” and gave us all a craving for crumpets and scones while trying to figure out whodunit. I thoroughly enjoyed both Lemon Tart and English Trifle, and though I anxiously awaited the release of Devil’s Food Cake I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Sadie.

I was not disappointed in the slightest.

Sadie has been back from England for several weeks and is struggling to stick to her diet after making several Devil’s Food cakes for the library fund-raiser. When the agent of a former-resident-turned-famous-author is murdered on stage during the fund-raiser, Sadie really does want to let the local authorities handle the situation. When she starts noticing details that the police are overlooking, Sadie tries to inform them but due to her previous meddling several members of the police department, including her date, Detective Pete Cunningham, are reluctant to listen and Sadie is told to leave.

Before Sadie has the chance to gather the remaining Devil’s Food cakes and leave for home, an encounter with a person-of-interest in the case leaves Sadie with questions that can only be answered with a little investigating of her own. Sadie soon finds herself, as well as her son, Shawn, on a road filled with risks that will lead them to answers but at a cost that Sadie finds she may not be able to live with.

Devil’s Food Cake is full of fresh material and new twists. We are introduced to Sadie’s adopted son, Shawn, an impressively-large, Polynesian young man who is more than willing to jump into the fray. Some additional new characters are introduced, including a certain someone I hope we will see again.


What worked for me: I love all three books in this series so far and each one is just as good as the others. I’ve rarely read a series where I’ve liked all the books equally. There are usually a few in the series that I don’t care for as much. Not so with Lemon Tart, English Trifle and Devil’s Food Cake. I love how Josi writes Sadie, and the story never fails to grab me from the start and keep me turning pages. You’ve done an amazing job, Josi. Best of luck at the Whitney Awards!

What didn’t work for me: Waiting for Key Lime Pie to be released, though I will wait, because there are only going to be so many books and I don’t want to rush the end of the series. (Heather, I am SO jealous! I’m seriously “key lime” green with envy!)


Rating: 5 out of 5
Would I read it again? Definitely!
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. To everyone.
Would I read more of Josi Kilpack’s books? That’s the plan!
FTC FYI: The copy of Devil’s Food Cake that I reviewed was a free review copy sent by the publisher and did not affect my review in any way.
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