SOUTHERN SASS AND A BATTERED BRIDE (Book 3 of the Marygene Brown Mysteries) has a little bit of sumthin tropey for every cozy lover. Great recipes for the foodies, terrifically fun and quirky secondary characters, and even a sassy ghost. Marygene Brown, co-owner of the local diner has been asked to cater the wedding reception of her ex. It is, of all things a murder mystery-themed party. The real mystery begins when the bride is found dead and then her body disappears. Marygene and her trusty besty, Betsy, head into investigation mode to clear the growing suspicion that they might be the killers.

It is a page-turning, read-in-one-session kind of book with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader fully engaged until the big reveal. There is plenty of drama, a few chuckles, and a fair amount of misdirection along the way.

Though this is my first read in the series, I know it won’t be my last.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
I received an advance review copy for free through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and I am leaving this review voluntarily ( )

This is the first book I have read from the author. It is the first book in the series.

I was totally caught up in the story. I am a domestic abuse survivor. I was surprised to see that Marygene was also a survivor. I totally paid attention to how this was treated. The author did an awesome job with it. It was a secondary story but was not graphic or excessive. It was a part of the reason why Marygene was returning home. It was something she needs to deal with. I was heartened to see the author did not toss out the reason and then never mention it again. I was able to connect with Marygene as she tried to figure out and deal with the many emotions that come with leaving. Amazingly, in my opinion, the author struck a balance between the mystery, (not using him as a suspect which had to have been tantalizing), potential love interests and her need to process what she went through. I thought the situation was handled honestly and sensitivity. I hope that future books continue with her growth as a background story. Domestic abuse still carries with it guilt and shame, even as more victims speak out. It took me almost 10 years to be able to talk about some of my experience. Books, like this one, are important because they not only let us identify with a main character, they help break through the silence. Thank you Ms. Young.
The mystery was well done. I don’t like to talk a lot about the mystery. I would rather let you figure it out yourself. There are several potential suspects. I found myself second guessing, and still trying to decide on who, in the last part of the book. I liked many characters. More I liked the exploration of relationships. Despite the serious subject, the book never felt heavy to me. I loved Mama popping in. She made me laugh out loud. I’m kind of hoping that her love for her children, along with her need to make atonement to them, will keep her in the series. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
There are several recipes included. I definitely need a waffle iron. The recipes are unique, at least to me. They can look intimidating, I’m not a baker so they did look it to me, but the cookies were pretty easy and wow! Very much worth it. I love the author’s trick of using ziplock bags to mix in. I am planning to make those peach rolls. They made me drool when I was reading. That waffle iron I mentioned...potato waffles! Another diner menu item that had me drooling while reading. Maybe I can borrow a waffle iron.

This book is due out at the end of May, just in time for beach reading. I won an advanced paperback copy. I had some family issues pop up while reading it so it took longer than I expected to read it. I voluntarily reviewed the book as I try to review all the books I read. All the thoughts of the book are my opinions. As always, if a book interests you, I encourage you to read it. If you aren’t certain it is for you, please request it from your library or a library app. ( )

Books that take place in the South always seem to draw me to them. Perhaps, it’s because I was born in the North, but I feel it’s more the food and the slower pace of life, along with the gorgeous porches, flowers that last longer during the year, and the mint juleps. Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young did not disappoint in any of these areas, especially the food.

While most towns in cozies are places I would like to visit, Peach Cove Island is one of the places I would love to live. Everyone seems so friendly, and yet, they all have secrets and the gossip abounds. The town has tons of great shops and I would have to take up running otherwise I would seriously become overweight with all the delights I would be enjoying at the peach dinner.

And I do love a cozy with fun, quirky characters. This book is riddled with them, including Betsy, Marygene’s BFF. And talking about characters, I have to mention the romantic prospects. I feel like Young hasn’t quite decided in which direction she is going to go, which goes hand in hand with the domestic abuse that Marygene has gone through with her ex-husband. Marygene is hesitant to rush into anything, even with a previous boyfriend, so Young has time to think on what is going to happen. I do have to say I’m not really enamored by any of the men that Marygene has to pick from.

As far as the mystery goes it wasn’t as earth shattering as some other cozies I’ve read. I think mainly because there weren't a lot of male characters to choose from that weren’t ones you knew were going to be in future books. And I feel that we do learn early on that it is going to be a man. But even with the easier to solve mystery aspect of Southern Sass and Killer Cravings, I am really looking forward to reading more books in the Marygene Brown Mysteries! ( )

Marygene Brown grew up on Peach Cove Island, Georgia, where her family owns the Peach Diner. However, she's lived in Savannah with her husband Peter. Her mother passed away two years ago, and since then, her sister Jena Lynn has been running the diner along with her half-brother, Sam, who's the cook. After a tumultuous marriage that sent her to the hospital one too many times, Marygene has had enough and decided to return home to help Jena Lynn -- if she'll have her. Since her mother's death, things haven't been the same, and she's afraid that Jena Lynn will have hard feelings.

But Marygene, broken and bruised in more ways than one, is surprised when Jena Lynn welcomes her back; and Marygene moves into her mother's home on the island, which was left to her. What she didn't realize, however, is the fact that her mother's spirit came with the house. And even though Marygene is having a hard time dealing with it, she discovers that maybe she can put her tangled relationship with her mother to rest.

After her mother warns her not to open the diner because someone is going to die, she does. And someone does die. Then Jena Lynn is accused of murdering the man, and since the 'imported' detective is determined to pin it on her, Marygene knows she has to prove her sister innocent. But complicating things along the way is the fact that her biological father, Eddie, is chief of police; her ex-boyfriend Alex is his deputy; and there's a report in town named Calhoun that has an eye for her. Life just got confusing, and Marygene needs to try and concentrate on finding a killer who might be right around the corner...

This is the first in a new series and it's not your typical cozy. Yes, there's the protagonist who is running from a bad marriage, but not an ordinary one; and she's damaged in more than that. It makes her not only sympathetic, but understanding of why she keeps herself aloof from the world. She's stronger than most because she's been through more, and come out a better person, in my mind.

Much of the action is centered around conversations, and I'm fine with that. I've had enough car chases to last awhile. She gets help from Calhoun, and I've grown fond of the character - more so than Alex, whom, while in anger says some unforgivable things. If he allows his anger to get the better of him where he'll hurl hurt at her, then he'll do it again. Mental abuse is just as bad as physical abuse, and no amount of apologizing will end that. I'd rather see her with Calhoun, who treats her as an equal and doesn't make judgments; but then, that's not my decision.

At any rate, I really enjoyed this mystery. It was peppered with interesting characters, and I liked the still fledgling relationship between Marygene and Eddie; I thought the clues were scattered throughout nicely; and when we discovered the murderer, it was a surprise, though not unexpected. I look forward to the next in the series and hope that it goes on for a long while. Highly recommended. ( )

Good beginning, good characters, good setting. ( )