Jessica Beck (1)

Suzanne Hart owns Donut Hearts, a donut shop in small-town April Springs, North Carolina, She lives with her mother in the home she grew up in, and has made a nice life for herself after her divorce. But one day she finds her mother completely riled up by the mayor, who has done something no mayor should ever do, and decides to run against him in the upcoming election. But before that can happen, the mayor is discovered dead at one of her properties, and now Suzanne's mother Dorothy is a big show more suspect. When she asks her to help clear her name, how can she refuse? Even if it means going against her police inspector boyfriend Jake. But someone killed the man, and once you've murdered someone, it's a lot easier to murder again...

This is the seventh book in the series, and I'm really starting to enjoy it. I like the fact that it's not stagnating, and is moving right along. I also go back to older series every now and then because I know that the authors aren't going to throw their political beliefs in everywhere. It's sad, but I read to escape from reality, not have it pushed in my face. There's also a cute conversation about male writers using female pseudonyms, which is funny because of the author (who is very good, by the way).

Suzanne has several suspects to sift through, and none of them want to give her any answers, especially the ex-wife of the police chief, who is running against Dorothy. Not even Suzanne's donuts can open her up. But Suzanne has her posse of best friend Grace and retired cop George to help, and they all seem to glean information one way or another.

When the ending comes it is surprising in more ways than one, and there are changes for Suzanne that we will have to wait and see how it plays out. The narrative is lighthearted and playful, just as it's supposed to be. I really enjoyed the book and visiting with these characters again, and will continue on with this series. Recommended. show less

Suzanne Hart is the owner of Donut Hearts in April Springs, North Carolina. It's just before Christmas and everyone is loving the Winter Festival, especially Suzanne. She has a booth set up outside her shop where she's selling her donuts, and couldn't be happier. That is, until there's a commotion in the town square a few blocks away, and Suzanne hears someone shout that Muriel Stevens has been murdered.

Suzanne asks her employee Emma to watch the shop and goes to see what happened, and she show more notices Muriel's distinctive winter coat. But then she notices something else -- Muriel's hair has streaks of grey, which Muriel would never allow, and a touch of blonde. She tells them that's not Muriel, and it's discovered that the dead woman is Darlene Higgins, the woman who destroyed Suzanne's marriage by sleeping with her husband, Max. Now Max is a suspect in the murder, but he's disappeared and Chief Martin thinks Suzanne is shielding him. But Suzanne knows Max is no killer, so she and her best friend Grace set out to find the truth. But that's only going to work if the killer doesn't find her first...

This is the third book in the series and I have to tell you that it's improved over the first two. The characters are starting to come together and Suzanne is beginning to grow on me. I didn't much care for her in the first book, so that's saying a lot. I even like Max the Dirtbag. At least he's remorseful, but I agree with Suzanne wholeheartedly in her decision.

In this book we have a few changes in Suzanne's life and even Emma's, that make them rethink a few things. It's a nice concept and we see how they react to them. In all these cases, I like Suzanne more. She's generous, kind, thoughtful, and whole-hearted. Those are good qualities in a person. She's also strong and independent, and can give as good as she gets. Watching her reactions to people in different situations gives us an eye to her as a person, and it's nice to see.

Suzanne isn't sure who killed Darlene, or why, but she's determined to find out, and with this in mind she and Grace are asking questions -- as surreptitiously as they can, of course -- and while they're not quite discovering a murderer, they are discovering suspects, and reasons why someone would want Darlene out of the picture.

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, it's a bit of a surprise, but not an unwelcome one, at that. I really liked how this was done, and as unexpected as it was, it was a nice touch in the last few scenes. I also did like the ending of the book, giving us a hint of what might be next in Suzanne's life. Recommended. show less

Suzanne Hart owns Donut Hearts in small town April Springs, North Carolina. She's not getting rich, but she's managing to make a decent living doing what she loves. While listening to the radio one night while she's in bed, she hears radio jockey Lester Moorefield -- a thorn in her side -- tell everyone to stay away from her business because she's feeding everyone poison with her donuts. Angry, she dresses and goes to the station to confront him. They have words, and Suzanne leaves, show more determined to make him regret targeting her.

Later on the next morning, police chief Martin comes to the shop and asks her to come with him to the radio station, where he tells her that Lester is dead, and one of her éclairs was found stuffed in his mouth. While he doesn't believe she committed the murder, he wants to know where she was at the time of the murder, and then if she knows anything. Of course she doesn't, but when her business starts to suffer because of Lester's final broadcast, Suzanne can't just sit back and wait for the police.

With the help of her friends Grace and George, she's determined to investigate. But then her boyfriend, state investigator Jake Bishop, is assigned to the case, and there's an accident that puts her in the forefront of knowing it shouldn't have happened, and Suzanne is bound and determined to get the murderer...that is, if the murderer doesn't get her first...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I must say that it's been improving along the way. I do like Suzanne as a person; she doesn't rush headlong into accusing everyone she meets of murder; she asks questions and then eliminates that suspect, which is much nicer and more believable.

She loves her donut shop and the people around her, and it's apparent that they love her, too. I do like the fact that she has a mother who's not hounding her about grandkids and is a good part of Suzanne's life. I'm beginning to enjoy Dorothy's presence in these books; and I do like the fact that Suzanne's relationship with Jake is beginning to take shape and grow.

As far as the murder goes, it was done very nicely, with just enough suspects who may or may not have had solid alibis, and sifting through them with Suzanne was tons of fun. While the murderer wasn't totally unexpected, my dislike of another character really wanted that person to be guilty. Oh, well. In the end, it came together seamlessly, and I spent a good evening with Suzanne and her friends, and look forward to seeing them again in the next book. Recommended. show less

A slow start here was followed by a solid middle act. The book ripened - that's the word I'd use, instead of bloomed - a bit late, but all things considered, it did just enough to earn three stars. So given my expectations, this book was a nice surprise. Cozy mysteries have mostly only temporary changes, but this series moves in unexpected directions. Killing the mayor of the town is no longer an original idea but it still makes for some exciting writing. Emma's quest for bettering herself ; show more that too was a segment that contributed to my enjoyment of this book. Finally I look forward to Peter Forgot the surname, Grace's current boyfriend. I look forward to him starring as the victim, should Jessica Beck's muse lead HIMSELF(Beck, not Peter) that way. PS I was amused by Beck's dedication in that he referred to his better half as spouse instead of giving the game away by writing 'wife'. Who is he trying to kid? show less