Lemon Tart

 'Lemon Tart' is Josi Kilpack's debut culinary murder mystery novel. Sadie Hoffmiller is a widow, substitute teacher, mother, and your typical nosy neighbor who prides herself on knowing everything about her neighbors. When a young single mother is murdered in Sadie's cul-de-sac, she is determined to help the police find the culprit, even if that means crossing the line a time or two. The victim's son is missing and the clock is ticking to find him before anything worse happens to him. There are plenty of suspects and Sadie soon discovers that she might not know her neighbors as well as she thinks she did. 

I haven't read mystery books in a while, but I found this one very intriguing. I love when books keep me guessing until the very end and this one definitely kept those pages turning. It was also refreshing to read a murder mystery that wasn't gory, disturbing, or too scary. I am pretty sensitive to those kind of books, but love mysteries, so this one was right up my alley. 

The Valet's Secret

Rebecca Parker is a lonely widow whose only child is already grown and on her own. After her husband died she was forced to move back in with her abusive artist father and help him with his work to provide for her and her daughter. Her father has been drinking more and more, which also means he is becoming even more mean to her. She feels the future is dreary until one day when a valet named Malcom Henry almost runs her over with his wild out of control horse. In the moments afterwards she finds herself kissing this complete stranger, which is very unlike her. Rebecca believes that the love at first sight, fairy tale ending isn't meant for her, but she can't keep herself from thinking about Malcolm and the feelings that he stirs in her. She begins to fantasize about life with him and away from her father. However, when she helps serve at a dinner party for a rich family, she discovers that Malcom is a guest, and definitely NOT a valet, but the heir to an earldom. Rebecca is humiliated and all her day dreams of a better life come crashing down around her. 

Josi Kilpack is a proper romance genius. Reading her books is like reading a Hallmark movie. You know that the two protagonist characters will end up together, but you can't help being intrigued by the plot and the events that get them there. This book is all about second chances at love, overcoming trials and obstacles, hope, and of course, romance. It is an intriguing story that keeps the pages turning until the sun comes up.