Pressing the Issue

This is a wonderful booketh. Full of hearty laughs and a most wondrous mystery, Dilly Dilly. Pressing the Issue full of most wondrous characters, most wondrous detail and clues aplenty. In the 6th (thank goodness there are more) installment of Daryl Wood Gerber’s fabulous “Cookbook Nook Mystery Series”, all of our favorite characters are back. I just love this group of what I like to call “friends”. Visiting Crystal Cove is always a pleasure, add in a Renaissance Fair and you have pure delight! As always this author sprinkles enough detail to transport the reader into the story and setting. One of my favorites in this series that I have loved from book one. Another festival is happening in the enchanting town of Crystal Cove. It is the annual Renaissance Fair and of course Jenna and friends have the Cookbook Nook decked out in all it’s finery for the event. If that was not enough excitement, Bailey and Tito are getting married in 2 weeks. Nick is a local who is well liked and just happens to own a winery so when things do not go as planned with Bailey’s wedding venue, Nick comes to the rescue. Tragedy hits when Nick (the king of the Ren Faire) is found dead. Not only do the friends have to deal with his death, but what is going to happen to Bailey’s wedding?? Jenna has to insert herself into the investigation even if the chief is not happy about it. What else can she do when the Ren Faire and Bailey’s wedding depend on the killer being caught and brought to justice. Chief Cinnamon Pritchett has given Jenna a warning, so investigating has to be done quietly. When did that ever work though. With a list of Ren Faire participants, booth owners and competitors the suspect list is pretty long. Jenna does her due diligence as always and hunts for clues. At the same time trying to rescue her friend’s wedding. The detail in Pressing the Issue is outstanding and this is coming from someone who really does not care to get bogged down in it normally. Daryl Wood Gerber is truly a star at researching her books and filling them with life, energy and the ability to bring the story to life. I am always so happy to know she has a new book coming out. This one is just great. I love the characters, their interaction and the storyline. Even though this is the 6th book in this series, I believe a reader could read it as a stand alone or out of order. Alas, wherefore deprive thou self of the pleasure of reading this book which truly art most wondrous! I was privileged to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for my review. My opinion and review is my own and is no way influenced by that.

If you are looking for a good cozy mystery, you’ll enjoy “Pressing the Issue: A Cookbook Nook Mystery” by Daryl Wood Gerber! The book is set near Monterey, California and the story revolves around a Renaissance Faire going on there…and a murder mystery, of course. Since I just spent time in this area of California recently, it was wonderful to read about it. Plus, I love Renaissance Faires!! Even though this is the sixth book in the series, and I have not read the first five books, I had no trouble keeping up with all of the characters and where they fit into the main character, Jenna Hart’s, life. The descriptions of all of the booths at the Faire – and the delicious food – were so vivid I could imagine myself there. The story takes us through the entire Faire. Early on, a local winery owner (who played King Henry the 8th at the Faire) is murdered mere hours after Jenna and her best friend, Bailey, had been at a meeting with him about Bailey’s wedding. Jenna’s penchant for investigating, and her need to clear her friends’ names when they become murder suspects, leads her in many directions gathering clues. As soon as she is convinced she knows “whodunit”, that person is cleared and she moves on to another. This happened with several of her friends and business associates before we finally learned who the murderer was. I was kept guessing throughout the whole book. I really enjoyed how Jenna and the police chief, Cinnamon Pritchett, were constantly at odds throughout Jenna’s (unofficial) investigation. I would definitely recommend this book and I’m planning to go back and read the first five books next. Kudos to Daryl Wood Gerber! I was provided with an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and impartial review

Two things I love, combined into one! I can't pass up a good Renaissance Fair or a cozy mystery. The town is hosting its annual Renaissance Fair when one of its most beloved members is found murdered at his home. Even though she knows she shouldn't, Jenna can't help but investigate. There were quite a few potential suspects and red herrings to keep me guessing while reading this book.

This is the 6th book in the Cookbook Nook series and it’s like welcoming an old friend. From the moment you begin to read you can sense the care the Daryl Wood Gerber puts into researching topics, developing characters and providing an entertaining read that is both comfortable and fresh for her readers. I found that while it had been some time since I had read one of the Cookbook Nook books, the characters quickly came back to me. I loved that a “shout out” was given to the Cheese Shop Mysteries (penned as Avery Aames). If I were a first time reader, I would be motivated to check out that series as well. There were also many cookbooks mentioned throughout the book…..all tying into the Renaissance Fair that was the setting of the story. While I would call this book a “light read”, meaning (to me) that I can pick it up and read it anywhere, the story still presented twist and turns throughout-keeping you guessing as to “whodunit”. I give it 5 stars!

Don’t tarry, this was a great mystery with a wonderful cast of characters. Crystal Cove is hosting a multi day Renaissance Festival, the town going all in with costumes and medieval language. Jenna Hart’s Cookbook Nook is stocked with plenty of books and paraphernalia to catch the interest of attendees. Jenna’s friend Bailey is hoping to hold her wedding at a nearby winery run by brothers Nick and Alex Baldini. Nick is discovered dead, hit by a very interesting object—a wine press that is being sold at the Festival. Jenna can’t help herself when it comes to these local murders. She has to look into them and this time, there are a lot of characters from outside of the Crystal Cove world to contemplate.

Hear ye, Hear ye! “Pressing the Issue” is the sixth book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. This latest installment in the lives of Jenna and her cohorts in Crystal Cove is highly entertaining, a lot of fun, and a really good mystery. Plenty of clues and red-herrings abound, and it’s a race to the finish to find out whodunit. Jenna Hart’s shop, the Cookbook Nook, is brimming with items that help promote and celebrate the local Renaissance Faire. Her best friend Bailey’s nuptials are fast-approaching, but plans slam to a halt when the owner of the vineyard where the wedding is to be held is murdered. The deceased was also King of the Ren Faire and one of the organizers, so it’s a double loss for the community. Jenna’s curious nature won’t let her leave the mystery solving to the local police—it will help the town heal more quickly if she can help bring justice to her dead friend. Daryl Wood Gerber’s Cozy Mysteries are among my all-time favorite series. Her characters are always fully formed and well-thought out. The setting is wonderfully described – I could absolutely visualize the town like a movie in my head. The author brings the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the Faire to life with her story. It made me want to attend a Renaissance Festival post-haste! I highly recommend this book, and indeed the whole series, to anyone who enjoys Cozy Mysteries. This author’s books have never let me down, and I was very happy to have won a copy of the book.

The residents of Crystal Cove come together once again in the spirit of the local Renaissance Fair. Donned in the garb of the time and speaking the language to keep an authentic feel, Jenna, Bailey and friends work together to make this years fair one to be remembered. Unfortunately, their friend Nick, and the king of the fair, is found dead. Who would do this to the owner of Baldini Vineyards? Bailey wants to hold her wedding at the vineyard; will this ruin Bailey's special day? Through some fine detecting and observation on the part of Jenna, getting to know more about her local friends and newcomers to town, the truth reveals itself in a way that is very reminiscent of an episode of "Murder She Wrote"! You will enjoy this fast paced novel and enjoy the characters. I very much look forward to my next visit to Crystal Cove!

There’s a lot of exciting events happening in Crystal Cove in the coming weeks. The Renaissance Fair is about to begin and Jenna has a lot of activities scheduled in the store plus has plans to participate at the pier with Rhett. Also in few weeks Bailey and Tito are getting married at Nick Baldini’s vineyard. Everyone is having fun dressing in costume and conversing in “fair speak”, but Bailey cannot shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen. Even Bailey's mother said she has a vibe of something coming. One evening after having fun at the Ren Fair the two couples (Jenna & Rhett and Bailey & Tito) go to discuss some wedding plans with Nick at the Vineyard only to stumble on his bludgeoned body. Police Chief Pritchett gives Jenna orders to stay out of the investigation but with Bailey’s wedding on the line, Jenna can’t help herself. This book was so much fun to read. I’ve never been to a Ren Fair and reading this book makes me want to go to the next one in my area. I think it would be a lot of fun to dress in costume and speak the renaissance dialect. The plot of the murder mystery was expertly woven with twists and turns in the secondary storylines of Bailey’s wedding and Jenna and Rhett’s relationship. The characters are wonderfully entertaining and complex. The setting of the Ren Fair was a perfect compliment to Bailey’s upcoming wedding at the vineyard. This is book 6 in the series but can definitely be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery. This is a very well written cozy with an entertaining plot and characters. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more of this series. I was provided with an ARC of this book with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A story full of fun, frivolity and of course murder. The town of Crystal Cove is holding its annual Renaissance Fair and everything is perfect until the discovery of a dead body. The body is the King of the fair and the wedding planner for Jenna Hart's best friend Bailey. The question becomes can Jenna figure out this murder in time for Bailey to live happily ever after. The thing that impresses me about this story is how well the author conveyed the setting, costumes, crafts and language. Her descriptions were so explicit I could totally envision the Renaissance Fair. I also enjoyed all the interesting characters and their relationships. This is the 6th Cookbook Nook Mystery but could easily be read as a stand alone. I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Pressing the Issue by Daryl Wood Gerber is the sixth book in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series. Jenna Hart is busy getting the Cookbook Nook ready for the Crystal Cove Renaissance Fair. Bailey Bird, though, is of little help since she is out of sorts. Bailey is getting married in two weeks to Tito Martinez at Baldini Vineyard. Lola Bird has not helped matters by telling Bailey that she has a bad vibe about the nuptials. Bailey receives a cryptic message from Nick Baldini and it sounds like he is in trouble. Jenna and Bailey rush to his home to find him on the floor with blood coming from a head wound. They check for a pulse and find their King of the Renaissance Fair, Nick is dead. Jenna quickly contacts Police Chief Cinnamon Pritchett who warns Jenna to stay out of the investigation. The murder weapon turns out to be a winepress that Nick had shown them earlier in the day. Bailey is thrown into a tailspin. What will happen to her wedding? Jenna quietly (does not want to incur Cinnamon’s wrath) begins asking questions to find out more about Nick and who could have wished him harm. Time is running out because soon the Renaissance Fair visitors will be departing, and the killer could be hiding among them. Who could have committed this dastardly deed? Will Bailey and Tito have their wedding? Pressing the Issue can be read alone. Everything a reader needs to know is included in the book. Returning to Crystal Cove is like visiting old friends. It is a charming town with welcoming townspeople, a beach, and inviting shops. The main characters are warm, friendly and relatable. It was lovely to catch up with Jenna, Bailey, Kate, Rhett and Aunt Vera. The descriptions of the Renaissance Fair are vivid. I enjoyed reading about the costumes, food and activities (the Renaissance Fair speak was entertaining and amusing). It felt like I was there enjoying it with them. There are delightful book descriptions (cookbooks and some cozy mysteries). The tantalizing food narratives will have your mouth watering (recipes included at the end of the book). I appreciated how the author incorporated Charlotte Bessette of Fromagerie Bessette into the story (from the Cheese Shop Mystery series written under her Avery Aames pen name) and her mention of Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes). The mystery was enticing, but avid cozy mystery readers will find it child’s play to solve. There are several suspects and some good misdirection that will lead readers down the wrong path. I do wish that Police Chief Pritchett would start working with Jenna on the investigations. Cinnamon knows that Jenna’s natural curiosity will not keep her away from looking into a case and Jenna is good at ferreting out information. I found the ending to be endearing. I am rating Pressing the Issue 4 out of 5 stars.

This Renaissance Fair infused mystery was a delight to read. It had a wonderful cast of characters and a nice twist to keep things interesting. I look forward to reading more of the series.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I am impressed. Will check out other books by this author.

In Pressing the Issue, book 6 of the Cookbook Nook series, we return to Crystal Cove where a Renaissance Fair is taking place. This is a great series and this one does not disappoint either! When Nick Baldine, the owner of a local vineyard and the King of the fair, turns up dead with numerous possible subjects, Jenna is determined to find the murderer while keeping her fair activities at her store running smoothly and help her friend, Bailey with her upcoming wedding. The story flows and has a great cast of characters. There are plenty twists and turns in the story and you are kept guessing until the end. I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for an honest review.

Jenna Hart, proprietor of the Cookbook Nook, is excited for two reasons. A Renaissance Festival is being held in town, and her friend Bailey is getting married at one of the local vineyards. When Jenna and Bailey arrive at the vineyard for a pre-wedding meeting, they find the owner bludgeoned to death. Can Jenna find the culprit before the wedding gets cancelled? I loved this book and wished it would never end. The characters and setting drew me into a wonderfully plotted mystery. I was surprised about the identity of the culprit. I can’t wait to read another mystery by this wonderful author. An advanced reader’s copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

I was waiting for this book to come out ever since the fifth one, Grilling the Subject had been published in August 2016. I’m thrilled that Daryl Wood Gerber found another publisher to continue the series as I really enjoy it. Even though I’d had a long wait between books, this newest installment in the series did not disappoint at all! It was so good to be back in Crystal Cove with Jenna, Aunt Vera, Bailey, Katie, Rhett, and the rest of the townspeople. It’s one thing I love about reading series – the characters start to feel like they’re old friends that you’re visiting. These are great characters. Daryl Wood Gerber has done a great job creating well-developed and complex characters. They’re fun to come back to book after book. This plotline had several red herrings. I did wonder about the villain but I wasn’t sure about my wonderings until just before they were revealed in the end. I was sorry the victim had to die. We’d met him in other books and I kinda liked him as a character. But alas, what’s a mystery without a victim of some sort? This is definitely a series that you want to read from the beginning, starting with Final Sentence, the first book in the series. Each of the mysteries are stand-alone but there’s a lot of back story that will make MUCH more sense if you read the books in order. I do recommend the series for cozy mystery fans. Come join the fun in Crystal Cove and get to know this great cast of characters!

I was so thrilled when I heard there was going to be another book in the Cookbook Nook Mysteries! It has been one of my favorite series since I read book one, FINAL SENTENCE. In this sixth book in the series, author Daryl Wood Gerber doesn’t disappoint! PRESSING THE ISSUE is the perfect installment to this delightful series. All of the wonderful characters are back and at their best, this time deeply intrenched in the local Renaissance Fair. Seriously, I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it. A fabulously well plotted mystery, I was so engrossed in the story, following along with, Jenna trying to figure the who and the why, that I lost all track of time and didn’t look up until I had finished the last page. Fans of Daryl Wood Gerber, and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, will not be disappointed. Haven’t read this series? If you love cozies, and a culinary theme, it’s time for you to get started!

In this installment of the Cookbook Nook Mystery, we visit Crystal Cove with its Renaissance Faire in full swing. All the businesses are getting their stalls ready so they can entice fair goers with all their goods and products as well as getting into the swing of things with costumes and Faire Speak. When Nick Baldine, King Henry the VIII, turns up dead, it puts a bit of a damper on the event. Is the new couple in town involved in some way? Did Nick know Melody before she arrived in town? Jenna just can’t stop herself from sleuthing, to police chief Cinnamon Pritchard’s chagrin. She asks lots of questions, gets people upset with her, and seems to investigate more than she actually works in her shop. This is the first book I have read in this series, and I had no trouble following the story. There has definitely been a lot of character development along the way that I have missed, and will probably go back and read the first five books in this series now. The book is well-written and fun with captivating characters. The plot is well developed and believable with the murderer being revealed in a dangerous way. I did figure out who it was part way through the story, but the why was revealed slowly and with a twist. The group from the Cookbook Nook, are great friends, work well together, and have rather interesting lives. Bailey, Jenna's partner at the store and BFF, is getting married to Tito and their wedding plans go through a lot of turmoil in this story. They are planning on getting married at Nick Baldini's Vineyard. Aunt Vera and her tarot card readings, her vibes and her personality are quite integral to the story. She is a character who is involved in so many different things in town, yet is lovable and a bit eccentric. The food is also a great part of the story. The cooking demonstrations and the small hand snacks in the story have their recipes at the back of the book. I am hoping to try a couple of them. I hope to be able to return to Crystal Cove over and over. I recommend this story to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy culinary mysteries with recipes. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

This is the sixth book in this series and I thought it looked like a fun read. So this might have been better for me if I had read the other books but I felt overwhelmed with the number of characters I was introduced to and I couldn’t keep track of who was who. I also was surprised that by the end of chapter two there was still no dead body. I thought most of the mystery in cozy mysteries was set up in the first, if not the second chapter. So I got a bit bored and trying to keep track of everyone made this not a great read for me. With that being said, maybe if I had read the previous books in this series I might have enjoyed it more. The setting was nice and had a fun vibe to it, but this book wasn’t for me. A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

I am reviewing “Pressing the Issue” by Daryl Wood Gerber. This book is the 6th book in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series. The book focuses on the Crystal Cove Renaissance Fair, an impending wedding, new engagements, wine/vineyards, premonitions and well of course…. Murder! A town of suspects whose lives have intersected for so many years. It is so nice to be back in Crystal Cove, the Nook Café/Cookbook Nook and Fisherman’s Village. It’s like coming home. Daryl Wood Gerber has such a knack for drawing you into each episode and making you feel like you are part of it. If you have read any of her other books or series, you will not be disappointed in this installment!!! I received this ARC book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions on this book are entirely my own.

What could be more fun than a Cookbook Shop, a group of great friends, and a mystery to solve? A Renaissance Fair! I have always enjoyed visiting the Renaissance Faire in Bristol, Wisconsin and enjoyed reading about the Fair in Crystal Cove just as much. Between getting ready for the fair with period cookbooks, costumes, and food and getting ready for her friend Bailey’s wedding, Jenna already has her hands full. After discovering the body of a local vineyard owner, Jenna has a perplexing mystery to solve on top of everything else. If Nick was so well liked, who would want him dead? This well-paced mystery kept me guessing with plenty of suspects, twists, and turns.

Although I'm not into the middle ages, the Renaissance fair theme was interesting. I've seen that used in other cozy mysteries. There was some Renaissance language used too. I enjoyed the cat Tigger but wasn't really into the book. I felt that there were other books that I'd rather read. There were lots of details in the book and quite a few characters that were introduced at the beginning. I did like the cookbook titles that were mentioned. The paperback A.R.C. I read had narrow margins so the reading wasn't that easy. I do have two other books in the series so I might try to read those someday.

an intriguing mix of suspects and clues PRESSING THE ISSUE by Daryl Wood Gerber The Sixth Cookbook Nook Mystery Excitement is running high in Crystal Cove with the annual Renaissance Fair in town and preparations underway for Bailey's wedding at a local vineyard. While Jenna Hart is practicing her "fair-speak" and stacking the shelves of the Cookbook Nook with Renaissance themed cookbook, Bailey is in a tizzy, worried about her wedding, especially since her mother has got "vibes". And not good ones. A missed phone call sends the pair and their significant others to the vineyard only to find the owner murdered. Bad vibes indeed. Love is in the air, unfortunately, so is murder. Could Nick's death be caused by love gone wrong? There are plenty of possible suspects including the girlfriend he recently dumped, the woman who has stolen his heart, even his brother! The book delves into other loves as well. In addition to Bailey's wedding preparations, wedding bells are on the minds of more than one other character. I enjoyed the Renaissance Fair theme to the latest Cookbook Nook mystery. I've always wanted my own Ren costume and I know I could nail down my "fair-speak". As for solving the murder...Daryl Wood Gerber creates an intriguing mix of suspects and clues which Jenna navigates, well, more accurately, Bailey drags her through. PRESSING THE ISSUE combines Renaissance Fair fun, wedding preparations with a mini bridezilla, and murder to create a delectable mystery. FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.

With Bailey and Tito's wedding quickly approaching, Jenna is helping them with last minute details, including finalizing details at Baldini Vineyards, the venue for the reception. But when they receive a cryptic message from Nick Baldini on Bailey's voice mail, Jenna and her friends rush up to the vineyard where they discover Nick's dead body. Despite all of her friends warning her to stay out of it, Jenna begins questioning several of the potential suspects. Unfortunately, she learns that Nick recently had verbal altercations with many of those same people, leaving her with too many suspects and too many motives. The twists and turns in the story kept the reader guessing through to the end, though I did have a sense of who the killer might be earlier. Nonetheless, it did not detract from reading about Jenna's mind set in solving the murder. The Renaissance Fair background also provided an interesting backdrop to this story. Throughout the fast-paced story, there are detailed descriptions of many of the stalls with their crafts and activities that make the reader feel as if they are actually part of the story. There are also delectable descriptions of Renaissance food, such as a meat pasty, with the recipes included at the end of the story. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this Advanced Reading Copy.

The Renaissance Fair has come to town, and all of Crystal Cove is getting into the act. However, not everyone is in the partying mood, as Jenna Hart discovers when she and some friends stumble on the body of Nick, a local vineyard owner. Nick was universally loved, or so it seemed. Who wanted him gone? It was so glad to be back with Jenna and her community. She really does have a large group of friends and family, and they all get their moments to shine here. Of course, we get some strong suspects. I did figure some parts of the mystery out early, but I didn’t have it all pieced together until Jenna figured it out. And the Renaissance Fair proves to be another fun backdrop for the action. NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Another great book in a fantastic series. Daryl Wood Gerber is a masterful storyteller. Jenna Hart once again finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation, through no fault of her own. This book has a lot of twists and turns, and kept me engrossed from beginning to end. If you love books, food, and cats, then this is the book, and series, for you. I highly recommend this book!