Meg Benjamin

When the toxic head chef of a local restaurant meets his end, Roxy Constantine becomes suspect number one!

The Pepper Peach Murder is an entertaining debut to Meg Benjamin's new cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights. While having all the fun hallmarks of the cozy mystery genre front and center, the story also explores a darker theme: sexual assault/harassment.

The protagonist, Roxy Constantine, is a great character. She's had her life disrupted, and her dreams smashed but is slowly coming show more back to life and taking a new direction with her career. What happened to her was horrible and unforgivable, but she refuses to let the assault and the betrayal which followed define the rest of her life.

Nate Robicheaux, Roxy's delectable love interest, is healing as well but doing so in the kitchen of his family's restaurant, now run by his brother, Bobby, and they don't quite see eye to eye on their business. I was glad there was a glimmer of them coming together by the book's end.

Susa is Roxy's "ride or die" best friend and is a competent and capable partner in crime-solving rather than the comic relief sidekick, which I thought was terrific. And perhaps, there's a little spark between Susa and the new police chief to fan in future books?

The plot builds when Roxy feels Chief Fowler isn't looking hard enough at other possible suspects for Brett's murder. There is little information forthcoming from that sector, so Roxy and Susa must create their own line of questioning based on who and what they know about the people in Shavano. I liked how Susa developed an online method for the two women to record and share with each other the results of their separate inquiries, and laughed over Susa's later discussion of the proper way to fill it out! With Brett's reputation as a jerk and a womanizer, there are quite a few avenues to pursue.

Since this is the first book in the series, many townspeople were introduced, and although many did not appear to have anything to do with the current murder, they were still easy to keep track of or follow as needed. When all was revealed, I thought the resolution made sense, and the case was wrapped up without going down a bunch of unnecessary rabbit holes. I am already looking forward to more of this series.

I enjoyed hearing about all the various jam flavors and enough of the jam-making process to know it was something I wouldn't want to tackle myself. I'll stick to trying out some of those amazing-sounding concoctions when I run across them at local farmers' markets and craft shows. Pepper Peach is absolutely on my shopping list, too.

I highly recommend THE PEPPER PEACH MURDER to cozy mystery readers who enjoy culinary-themed stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours. show less

A solid mystery when Roxy's forgotten past intrudes into her present.

Tangerine Marmalade Murder is the third book in author Meg Benjamin's wonderful culinary-themed cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights Mysteries, and a welcome return to the people and town of Shavano, Colorado. The well-developed and engaging characters really have come to life in this series, and each new book is like reuniting with old friends. While it is very comfortable and fun to catch up with everyone, this visit is show more fraught with mystery, murder, and a few bumps on the road to romance.

Roxy Constantine is a great character, a level-headed and interesting young woman who experienced some sadness in her early life when her mother left her and her father behind to go her own way and the subsequent loss of her father when she was a teen. Thankfully, her Uncle Mike stepped in and gave her the home and love she deserved. When her mother's driver's license is found among the possessions of a stranger found murdered in a car on the side of their farm's road, Roxy must confront her feelings about the woman who gave her life but never knew and find out how this stranger did. Although she's pretty chill about her mom not being in her life at the start, I could understand her curiosity when faced with learning more about that side of her family after that time. In addition to this, Roxy and Nate are struggling as they try to navigate working together and having a personal relationship.

The story begins with the discovery of the victim's body but backtracks in time to establish context. Readers only get a single scene with the victim alive, so while she doesn't have much time to make an impression, she effectively comes across as unpleasant and sly. The twist in the story may explain her sly demeanor when she shows up on Roxy's doorstep, though. The investigation into the murder is well done, and I was on board from the start, even while agonizing with Roxy over Nate's grumpiness. As always, the discussion of jams, flavors, and jam-making, as well as the dishes prepared for the catered events, were tempting and crave-inducing. I was surprised by the resolution of the story, though I'd had my suspicions.

Although the third book in the series, readers new to Luscious Delights shouldn't have any trouble reading and enjoying this one independently. I recommend TANGERINE MARMALADE MURDER to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy culinary-themed stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours. show less

A hurry-up wedding rushes Roxy and Nate into the midst of another murder.

The Wine Jelly Murder is the fifth book in author Meg Benjamin’s clever, cozy, and culinary-themed Luscious Delights Mystery series, and this time, a hurry-up wedding catering job puts Roxy and Nate at the scene of a murder once again. When the obnoxious father of the bride is found murdered after an engagement party and Madge Robicheaux’s friend, wedding planner extraordinaire Thalia Rosenberg, becomes the prime show more suspect in his death, Madge begs Roxy to work her investigative magic to find out who all had it in for Emerson Pollack and get her friend off the hook.

Roxy and Nate are a fun couple, slowly moving closer to a real commitment, and both are working their tails off to build their respective businesses. The upcoming holidays are critical to their success as catering opportunities abound and the demand for Roxy’s gourmet jams and jellies for gifting booms. I enjoyed how they consciously tried to spend additional time together, even if it meant working evening events or completing unplanned tasks to move the arrangements for Uncle Mike’s and Madge’s wedding to each other along to do so.

As is usual for this series, there is a lot of discussion of delicious food and Roxy’s processes for inventing jams and jellies, all worked into the story between wedding preparations, catering events, community dinners, and amateur sleuthing. Roxy’s involvement garners results, though, with twists and turns along the way to keep readers guessing. I enjoyed the appearances of recurring characters and the variety of new ones, especially the awful father of the bride and his daughter, Jennifer. Although this is the fifth book in the series, each one can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel.

I recommend THE WINE JELLY MURDER to cozy mystery readers, especially those who are fans of culinary-themed stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours. show less

Cal is Konigsburg's latest transplant. He has signed on with the local veterinarian as a partner. And as the newest piece of man-meat, the women in town are finding any little reason to bring Fluffy into to see him. But Cal is not interested in anyone until he sees her, his dream woman.

Docia Kent is in need of a margarita. And the only place to get one is the local watering hole. There she catches Cal's eye, and he catches hers. But Docia leaves before introductions can be made.

A few days show more later, Docia comes home to find her cat has been shot. He's still alive so she takes him to the vet, where she finally meets Cal. Cal saves her cat, and these two decide to test out their chemistry.

But Docia has been burned in the past and Cal doesn't want anything serious. What are two commitment-phobe adults to do?

LOL I thought Venus in Blue Jeans was a fun book. At the centre of it all is the small, charming Texas town of Konigsburg. There is quite the cast of characters to this little town. And they all had some depth, even the couple of villains that were floating around.

Docia has a very well known family and wants to do something all on her own, thus her bookstore. But Docia is having a bit of difficulty getting the locals to warm up to her, to see her as a true Konigsburgian. She won't give up though! She's tenacious. And she isn't totally without friends. There's her assistant, the gay couple who own the local winery and her friend who owns a bakery. I liked Docia's friends.

Cal...Cal is a guy. LOL He comes from a nice, mid-western family and he's just looking for a good time. He's also incredibly hot (as all vet's must be). I really liked Docia and Cal together. They meshed well.

But I did have a few quibbles with this book. I felt like there was too much going on at the end - there was the wrap up of the mystery and then Cal and Docia were at odds. I would have preferred if it was one or the other, because the mystery bit kept the conflict between these two characters going on too long. But that's just my opinion. It wasn't a major issue, just would have preferred the ending to be tighter. That's my only complaint though.

I thought this was a solid, light-hearted read. Great characters and some humour. All good stuff. So I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series. 3.75 out of 5. show less