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A Brie Hooker Mystery #1
Bones to Pick, A Brie Hooker Mystery #1
“How vegan Brie Hooker balances cheese-loving carnivores, more than one romantic interest, and murder . . . is a humorous delight. A well-crafted series debut.” —Debra H. Goldstein, award-winning author of the Sarah Blair Mysteries
Living on a farm with four hundred goats and a cantankerous carnivore isn’t among vegan chef Brie Hooker’s list of lifetime ambitions. But she can’t walk away from her Aunt Eva, who needs help operating her dairy.
Once she calls her aunt’s goat farm home, grisly discoveries offer ample inducements for Brie to employ her entire vocabulary of cheese-and-meat curses.
The troubles begin when the farm’s pot-bellied pig unearths the skull of Eva’s husband, who disappeared years back. The sheriff, kin to the deceased, sets out to pin the murder on Eva. He doesn’t reckon on Brie’s resolve to prove her aunt’s innocence.
Death threats, ruinous pedicures, psychic shenanigans, and biker bar fisticuffs won’t stop Brie from unmasking the killer, even when romantic befuddlement throws her a curve.
“Grabbed me at chapter one and refused to let go until the very last page . . . Lovely offers up a charming setting that’s so real you can almost smell the hay, a story that’s laugh-out-loud funny, and a mystery that will keep you up past your bedtime.” —Annette Dashofy, USA Today–bestselling author of the Zoe Chambers Mysteries
“Between the four-legged farmyard shenanigans, the two men vying for Brie Hooker’s favor, the formidable task of proving her aunt’s innocence, plus the villain’s attempts to end her life, this book is a thrill-a-minute read.” —Cindy Sample, national bestselling author of the Laurel McKay Mysteries
Living on a farm with four hundred goats and a cantankerous carnivore isn’t among vegan chef Brie Hooker’s list of lifetime ambitions. But she can’t walk away from her Aunt Eva, who needs help operating her dairy.
Once she calls her aunt’s goat farm home, grisly discoveries offer ample inducements for Brie to employ her entire vocabulary of cheese-and-meat curses.
The troubles begin when the farm’s pot-bellied pig unearths the skull of Eva’s husband, who disappeared years back. The sheriff, kin to the deceased, sets out to pin the murder on Eva. He doesn’t reckon on Brie’s resolve to prove her aunt’s innocence.
Death threats, ruinous pedicures, psychic shenanigans, and biker bar fisticuffs won’t stop Brie from unmasking the killer, even when romantic befuddlement throws her a curve.
“Grabbed me at chapter one and refused to let go until the very last page . . . Lovely offers up a charming setting that’s so real you can almost smell the hay, a story that’s laugh-out-loud funny, and a mystery that will keep you up past your bedtime.” —Annette Dashofy, USA Today–bestselling author of the Zoe Chambers Mysteries
“Between the four-legged farmyard shenanigans, the two men vying for Brie Hooker’s favor, the formidable task of proving her aunt’s innocence, plus the villain’s attempts to end her life, this book is a thrill-a-minute read.” —Cindy Sample, national bestselling author of the Laurel McKay Mysteries
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2017
65 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lovely
16 books305 followersA native of Iowa, Linda has called the South home for more than forty years.
Her eleventh novel, A KILLER APP, will be released November 7, 2023 by publisher Level Best Books. It's the third book in a new HOA (homeowner association) Mystery Series set in the South Carolina Lowcountry and featuring heroine Kylee Kane, a retired Coast Guard investigator.
New editions of Linda's cozy Brie Hooker Mysteries will be released fall/winter 2023 by Level Best Books. The humorous mysteries are set in a fictitious county near Linda's current Upstate South Carolina home. The heroine is a vegan chef who lives on a goat dairy farm with her aunt, a cantankerous carnivore. BONES TO PICK, PICKED OFF, and BAD PICK are the titles.
Linda has published books in two other series. Her Marley Clark Mysteries dish up a main course of suspense, action and adventure with a generous side of humor and romance. DEAR KILLER and NO WAKE ZONE feature Marley Clark, a kick-ass, 52-year-old heroine.
Linda's Smart Women, Dumb Luck romantic thrillers chronicle the adventures of smart women, who became friends through dumb luck, but now depend on each other when luck turns bad. DEAD LINE, the first "Smart" novel, was honored as a finalist in the National Readers' Choice Awards and the published Maggies. DEAD HUNT, second in the series, is set in Upstate South Carolina.
Prior to landing her first publishing contract, Linda's manuscripts made the finals in 15 contests, including RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier competitions and mystery contests such as Deadly Ink, Murder in the Grove and Malice Domestic.
The author belongs to Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. For several years, she helped organize the Writers' Police Academy. She feels lucky to have found close friends and exceptional critique partners—snarky, funny, talented and generous—through these organizations.
Linda lives with her husband beside a South Carolina lake, where she regularly perturbs the geese and one honking big turtle by jumping off her dock for a swim or pedaling (yes, pedaling not paddling) her kayak.
Linda can’t imagine going to bed without a book nightcap. Thankfully, her husband shares her passion for reading so she doesn’t have to use a miner’s light.
Her eleventh novel, A KILLER APP, will be released November 7, 2023 by publisher Level Best Books. It's the third book in a new HOA (homeowner association) Mystery Series set in the South Carolina Lowcountry and featuring heroine Kylee Kane, a retired Coast Guard investigator.
New editions of Linda's cozy Brie Hooker Mysteries will be released fall/winter 2023 by Level Best Books. The humorous mysteries are set in a fictitious county near Linda's current Upstate South Carolina home. The heroine is a vegan chef who lives on a goat dairy farm with her aunt, a cantankerous carnivore. BONES TO PICK, PICKED OFF, and BAD PICK are the titles.
Linda has published books in two other series. Her Marley Clark Mysteries dish up a main course of suspense, action and adventure with a generous side of humor and romance. DEAR KILLER and NO WAKE ZONE feature Marley Clark, a kick-ass, 52-year-old heroine.
Linda's Smart Women, Dumb Luck romantic thrillers chronicle the adventures of smart women, who became friends through dumb luck, but now depend on each other when luck turns bad. DEAD LINE, the first "Smart" novel, was honored as a finalist in the National Readers' Choice Awards and the published Maggies. DEAD HUNT, second in the series, is set in Upstate South Carolina.
Prior to landing her first publishing contract, Linda's manuscripts made the finals in 15 contests, including RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier competitions and mystery contests such as Deadly Ink, Murder in the Grove and Malice Domestic.
The author belongs to Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. For several years, she helped organize the Writers' Police Academy. She feels lucky to have found close friends and exceptional critique partners—snarky, funny, talented and generous—through these organizations.
Linda lives with her husband beside a South Carolina lake, where she regularly perturbs the geese and one honking big turtle by jumping off her dock for a swim or pedaling (yes, pedaling not paddling) her kayak.
Linda can’t imagine going to bed without a book nightcap. Thankfully, her husband shares her passion for reading so she doesn’t have to use a miner’s light.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 7, 2017
What's a vegan chef doing working on a goat cheese farm? I had the best time discovering why in this debut southern cozy mystery series! Author Linda Lovely clearly has a knack for storytelling and it's showcased in this clever, humorous plot.
Brie Hooker moves to the Udderly Kidding Dairy Farm to live with her fiesty Aunt Eva after her Aunt Lilly suddenly passes away. When a pot-bellied pig digs up an old skull in the yard and Eva is accused of murdering her no-good husband some forty years earlier; the bad news is just beginning. I adored tough-talking, wise-cracking Eva as she refused to budge under the pressure the crooked sheriff is putting on her and Brie. Two of Eva's good friends, Paint and Andy, are determined to protect both women plus romance Brie every chance they get! Mollye, an old friend of Brie's is a fun character I really enjoyed, also.
There's plenty of dastardly doings in this action packed, very, very funny mystery as there's much going on behind-the-scenes to be discovered and dealt with in order to solve the murder mystery. If you enjoy the Jana DeLeon 'Miss Fortune' mysteries, like I do, you're sure to love the Brie Hooker series. Reading this story is a rootin' tootin' good time!
Note: There is some mild bad language.
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Brie Hooker moves to the Udderly Kidding Dairy Farm to live with her fiesty Aunt Eva after her Aunt Lilly suddenly passes away. When a pot-bellied pig digs up an old skull in the yard and Eva is accused of murdering her no-good husband some forty years earlier; the bad news is just beginning. I adored tough-talking, wise-cracking Eva as she refused to budge under the pressure the crooked sheriff is putting on her and Brie. Two of Eva's good friends, Paint and Andy, are determined to protect both women plus romance Brie every chance they get! Mollye, an old friend of Brie's is a fun character I really enjoyed, also.
There's plenty of dastardly doings in this action packed, very, very funny mystery as there's much going on behind-the-scenes to be discovered and dealt with in order to solve the murder mystery. If you enjoy the Jana DeLeon 'Miss Fortune' mysteries, like I do, you're sure to love the Brie Hooker series. Reading this story is a rootin' tootin' good time!
Note: There is some mild bad language.
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
November 23, 2017
Brie Hooker agrees to help her Aunt Eva run her goat farm, even though Brie is a devout vegan. Her aunt desperately needs her help after the death of Eva’s twin sister. Brie and her family are still grieving for the loss, but know they have to carry on with their lives.
The entire Hooker family is shocked when their pot-bellied pig digs up a skull that had been buried on the farm. Things get even worse when they discover the skull belongs to Eva’s husband, who disappeared many years ago. Now, the sheriff is convinced the man was murdered and the killer is Brie’s aunt. It’s up to Brie to prove her aunt is innocent.
Brie is a strong character who can handle herself, but she doesn’t have to. She has a family that loves and supports her. There are also two very handsome men vying for her attention.
This is the first book in the Brie Hooker Mystery series. It’s off to a fun start. It has quirky, offbeat characters that will make you both laugh and bring tears to your eyes. This is a mystery with attitude and just the right amount of romance mixed in . I’m looking forward to reading more of Brie’s adventures.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The entire Hooker family is shocked when their pot-bellied pig digs up a skull that had been buried on the farm. Things get even worse when they discover the skull belongs to Eva’s husband, who disappeared many years ago. Now, the sheriff is convinced the man was murdered and the killer is Brie’s aunt. It’s up to Brie to prove her aunt is innocent.
Brie is a strong character who can handle herself, but she doesn’t have to. She has a family that loves and supports her. There are also two very handsome men vying for her attention.
This is the first book in the Brie Hooker Mystery series. It’s off to a fun start. It has quirky, offbeat characters that will make you both laugh and bring tears to your eyes. This is a mystery with attitude and just the right amount of romance mixed in . I’m looking forward to reading more of Brie’s adventures.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 3, 2018
A fun and fast paced first mystery in the series with a very prominent love triangle. I had a great time with this 40 year old murder that didn't spend a lot of time in the past.
Brie Hooker (the name already makes me giggle) is a vegan chef that ends up working on her aunts goat cheese farm and is hoping her vegan food creations may convert all the meat and cheese loving friends and family into vegans. When human bones are dug up on the farm the police is suspecting her aunt to have murdered her husband 40 years ago. Now it is up to Brie to find the real killer.
There was a lot going on in the mystery and it kept me interested from the first to the last page. I am looking forward to future adventures from Brie and the gang.
Brie Hooker (the name already makes me giggle) is a vegan chef that ends up working on her aunts goat cheese farm and is hoping her vegan food creations may convert all the meat and cheese loving friends and family into vegans. When human bones are dug up on the farm the police is suspecting her aunt to have murdered her husband 40 years ago. Now it is up to Brie to find the real killer.
There was a lot going on in the mystery and it kept me interested from the first to the last page. I am looking forward to future adventures from Brie and the gang.
January 7, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this new cozy mystery series, we meet Brie Hooker when she arrives to help her Aunt Eva with her farm after her Aunt Lilly passes away. Brie, a chef, and a vegan is sure her diet choices are going to be fodder for many jokes and make meals very interesting, but that is the least of her worries when her aunt’s pig, Tammy, digs up a human skull right in the middle of Aunt Lilly’s wake.
It is soon determined that the bones belong to Aunt Eva’s husband that had been declared dead after he went missing many years ago. The sheriff is quick to try to pick Eva as his prime suspect. But Brie is going to prove him wrong even if she may get killed in the process. Thankfully she has a couple handsome men ready to stay by her side to protect her, even if she knows she can take care of herself.
I liked main character Brie right away. Her relationship with her aunt and her parents was very caring and loving. While being a vegan is very important to her she understands that lifestyle is not for everyone. She can cook anything and makes delicious meals but always has a vegan dish for herself and others to try. She gets that she is working on a goat farm and they sell goat milk items. She also realizes she needs to learn a lot more about goats if she is going stay on the farm.
We also meet Andy and Paint, two young men, friends of Aunt Eva, and very interested in a romantic relationship with Brie. For the first book in a new series, I found all the characters very well developed. The dialogue was spot on and Brie’s meat and cheese curse words cracked me up. Her aunt holds her weight in the comedic department too but her minimal cursing in a little stronger than Brie.
The murder was a real cold case happening so long ago. It turned out there were quite a few suspects and took a lot of more digging after Tammy’s discovery to wrap this mystery up. There were several exciting moments as Brie got closer to the truth.
I really enjoyed all the “pet’s” names. The author explains some of them at the beginning of the book. I also enjoyed Ms. Lovely’s writing style. It is very descriptive. I felt right in the middle of all the drama, but especially at the end when Brie and her friend were in so much danger. I was on the edge of my seat.
This book was a perfect escape for me. Great characters, a strong plot, Southern charm and a wheelbarrow full of humor. I am not sure when the next book will be released but it can’t be soon enough for me.
In this new cozy mystery series, we meet Brie Hooker when she arrives to help her Aunt Eva with her farm after her Aunt Lilly passes away. Brie, a chef, and a vegan is sure her diet choices are going to be fodder for many jokes and make meals very interesting, but that is the least of her worries when her aunt’s pig, Tammy, digs up a human skull right in the middle of Aunt Lilly’s wake.
It is soon determined that the bones belong to Aunt Eva’s husband that had been declared dead after he went missing many years ago. The sheriff is quick to try to pick Eva as his prime suspect. But Brie is going to prove him wrong even if she may get killed in the process. Thankfully she has a couple handsome men ready to stay by her side to protect her, even if she knows she can take care of herself.
I liked main character Brie right away. Her relationship with her aunt and her parents was very caring and loving. While being a vegan is very important to her she understands that lifestyle is not for everyone. She can cook anything and makes delicious meals but always has a vegan dish for herself and others to try. She gets that she is working on a goat farm and they sell goat milk items. She also realizes she needs to learn a lot more about goats if she is going stay on the farm.
We also meet Andy and Paint, two young men, friends of Aunt Eva, and very interested in a romantic relationship with Brie. For the first book in a new series, I found all the characters very well developed. The dialogue was spot on and Brie’s meat and cheese curse words cracked me up. Her aunt holds her weight in the comedic department too but her minimal cursing in a little stronger than Brie.
The murder was a real cold case happening so long ago. It turned out there were quite a few suspects and took a lot of more digging after Tammy’s discovery to wrap this mystery up. There were several exciting moments as Brie got closer to the truth.
I really enjoyed all the “pet’s” names. The author explains some of them at the beginning of the book. I also enjoyed Ms. Lovely’s writing style. It is very descriptive. I felt right in the middle of all the drama, but especially at the end when Brie and her friend were in so much danger. I was on the edge of my seat.
This book was a perfect escape for me. Great characters, a strong plot, Southern charm and a wheelbarrow full of humor. I am not sure when the next book will be released but it can’t be soon enough for me.
August 4, 2017
A cheese-swearing heroine, goats, a hunky moonshiner, a hippie friend, and a handsome vet... A book with those ingredients immediately grabs your attention. Add a pot-bellied pig digging up a skull and you have a classic Linda Lovely mystery.
Brie Hooker loves her Aunt Eva and can't say no when asked to help operate Eva's goat farm--no matter that Brie is a vegan chef. Brie's fear of meat becomes the least of her worries when the pot-bellied pig (named Rita) digs up a skull. Said skull just happens to belong to Eva's long missing hubby and the local sheriff immediately decides Eva must have been the murderess.
Brie does what she does best--anything and everything to protect her aunt, even if her investiagion to clear Eva puts Brie in great danger. Author Linda Lovel also does what she does best--weaves a fascinating mystery with quirky characters, high suspense, and a non-stop, didn't-see-it-coming plot.
Brie Hooker loves her Aunt Eva and can't say no when asked to help operate Eva's goat farm--no matter that Brie is a vegan chef. Brie's fear of meat becomes the least of her worries when the pot-bellied pig (named Rita) digs up a skull. Said skull just happens to belong to Eva's long missing hubby and the local sheriff immediately decides Eva must have been the murderess.
Brie does what she does best--anything and everything to protect her aunt, even if her investiagion to clear Eva puts Brie in great danger. Author Linda Lovel also does what she does best--weaves a fascinating mystery with quirky characters, high suspense, and a non-stop, didn't-see-it-coming plot.
April 16, 2021
Vegan chef Brie Hooker hadn’t planned to start working on her aunt Eva’s goat farm and dairy, but when Eva needs help, Brie is happy to step in. That’s before a pot-bellied pig turns up bones – human bones. The skeleton turns out to be Eva’s husband, who disappeared four decades ago. There was no love lost between Eva and her husband, but Eva didn’t kill him. However, he has too many relatives in the area who are willing to blame Eva, so Brie starts investigating, hoping to clear her aunt. When another dead body turns up, Brie finds herself in trouble with the law as well. Are the two dead bodies related? Can she figure out what happened?
The characters drew me into this book right away; they are fully developed and fun. Their teasing and Brie’s creative meat and cheese curses added a level of humor that I enjoyed. The book was hard to put down with plenty of events to keep me engaged. Unfortunately, I did feel that the events took the place of the investigation moving forward, which frustrated me. However, the climax resolved things and upped the stakes in a major way. This book is a bit edgy for my normal reads, on the border between PG and PG-13, thanks in part of the teasing Brie gets about her love life. Yes, this book does introduce a love triangle. While I am getting tired of them, I do like both of the guys here, so I hope it doesn’t get dragged out for very long. Overall, I enjoyed this book. If you enjoy humor in your mysteries, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The characters drew me into this book right away; they are fully developed and fun. Their teasing and Brie’s creative meat and cheese curses added a level of humor that I enjoyed. The book was hard to put down with plenty of events to keep me engaged. Unfortunately, I did feel that the events took the place of the investigation moving forward, which frustrated me. However, the climax resolved things and upped the stakes in a major way. This book is a bit edgy for my normal reads, on the border between PG and PG-13, thanks in part of the teasing Brie gets about her love life. Yes, this book does introduce a love triangle. While I am getting tired of them, I do like both of the guys here, so I hope it doesn’t get dragged out for very long. Overall, I enjoyed this book. If you enjoy humor in your mysteries, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 6, 2017
I loved this book. It had wit and humour, wonderful characters, compelling setting, suspense and mystery – basically everything you could want in a crime novel – with some mild romance, a wide selection of engaging animals and foodie stuff thrown in for good measure.
The heroine, Brie, is a vegan chef, who has come South for her Aunt Lily’s funeral. Lily and her twin sister, Eva, ran a goat farm called Udderly Kidding, making goat cheeses. During the funeral wake, a skull is dug up by one of the dogs. The local sheriff immediately suspects that it is Eva’s abusive husband, who disappeared without trace 40 years ago. The husband, Jed, just happens to have been kin to the sheriff (and other less salubrious members of the community), and the suspicion very quickly falls on Eva – whom many of the locals had taken a dislike to, on account of her being a Yankee who ‘stole’ Jed from local girl, Nancy, and then inherited his farm when he was eventually declared dead in absentia. Brie decides to stay with Eva to help out on the farm, to offer moral support – and maybe help solve the skull mystery before her aunt is sent to jail.
A goat cheese making farm is not the ideal place for a committed vegan (despite her name), nor is Ardon County. As the local Moonshiner, Paint, points out “Here abouts it’s considered unpatriotic to serve eats that haven’t been baptized in a vat of lard. Vegetables are optional; meat, mandatory.” Although a committed omnivore myself, my mouth could not help watering at the description of some of Brie’s vegan meals. All her offerings are gladly consumed by her friends and relations – provided there is some meat on the side.
Paint is one of the two local (and very desirable) hunks on offer in Ardon County – the other being the lovely vet and pig whisperer, Andy. They are best friends, but both determined to woo Brie – and to help out with Eva’s problems. How is a woman to choose? “Breathe in, breathe out. Meditate. Erase those lustful visions. Going…going…sort of gone. Meditation isn’t foolproof”.
Brie, being a vegan, and determine to clean up her language, has developed an ingenious new range of swear words based on foodstuffs she will never again let pass her lips: “Son of a Porterhouse”; “Limburger and Blue Cheese … I felt certain that snaggle-toothed bologna brain was capable”. Aunt Eva, the cheese-making omnivore, is not impressed: “Seeing how you’re the only one sleeping in, you get a free bathroom pass, even though you’re still taking the names of heavenly cheeses in vain.”
I just fell in love with the characters in this book (well, the ones on team Eva anyway), and hope there are many more books in this series to come. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to fans of the Country Club Murders by Julie Mulhern.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The heroine, Brie, is a vegan chef, who has come South for her Aunt Lily’s funeral. Lily and her twin sister, Eva, ran a goat farm called Udderly Kidding, making goat cheeses. During the funeral wake, a skull is dug up by one of the dogs. The local sheriff immediately suspects that it is Eva’s abusive husband, who disappeared without trace 40 years ago. The husband, Jed, just happens to have been kin to the sheriff (and other less salubrious members of the community), and the suspicion very quickly falls on Eva – whom many of the locals had taken a dislike to, on account of her being a Yankee who ‘stole’ Jed from local girl, Nancy, and then inherited his farm when he was eventually declared dead in absentia. Brie decides to stay with Eva to help out on the farm, to offer moral support – and maybe help solve the skull mystery before her aunt is sent to jail.
A goat cheese making farm is not the ideal place for a committed vegan (despite her name), nor is Ardon County. As the local Moonshiner, Paint, points out “Here abouts it’s considered unpatriotic to serve eats that haven’t been baptized in a vat of lard. Vegetables are optional; meat, mandatory.” Although a committed omnivore myself, my mouth could not help watering at the description of some of Brie’s vegan meals. All her offerings are gladly consumed by her friends and relations – provided there is some meat on the side.
Paint is one of the two local (and very desirable) hunks on offer in Ardon County – the other being the lovely vet and pig whisperer, Andy. They are best friends, but both determined to woo Brie – and to help out with Eva’s problems. How is a woman to choose? “Breathe in, breathe out. Meditate. Erase those lustful visions. Going…going…sort of gone. Meditation isn’t foolproof”.
Brie, being a vegan, and determine to clean up her language, has developed an ingenious new range of swear words based on foodstuffs she will never again let pass her lips: “Son of a Porterhouse”; “Limburger and Blue Cheese … I felt certain that snaggle-toothed bologna brain was capable”. Aunt Eva, the cheese-making omnivore, is not impressed: “Seeing how you’re the only one sleeping in, you get a free bathroom pass, even though you’re still taking the names of heavenly cheeses in vain.”
I just fell in love with the characters in this book (well, the ones on team Eva anyway), and hope there are many more books in this series to come. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but particularly to fans of the Country Club Murders by Julie Mulhern.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
October 1, 2017
I read Bones to Pick by Linday Lovely September 19-21, this book is out October 24th and published by Henery Press. This is the first book in the Brie Hooker series and a first by this author for me. The humor is not lost on a main character who is not just vegetarian but vegan, a chef no less, who finds herself running a goat farm with her aunt. When a skeleton is unearthed on the family farm during a wake, all heck breaks loose, a battle reminiscent of the Hatfields and Mccoys ensues. The mystery is a good one and I do like family history mysteries but I don't always love the Yanks Vs Southerners theme, there is a mild one in this story. I did love the best friend love interests who add quite a bit of charm to the story, both men are polar opposites and give the story an added boost of not just romance but that cozy mystery love triangle that keeps the reader guessing and choosing sides. I liked this book more for the backstory and relationships more than the mystery itself. Feisty family vs Small minded/towned sheriff and crooked police force in this story but a very good start for a very interesting series. I found myself dreaming about the characters and series when I finished the book so they clearly cemented themselves in my consciousness and I look forward to reading what happens next....I invite you to read this one and to let me know if you are on Team Paint, or Team Veterinarian....
August 28, 2017
Bones To Pick
by
Linda Lovely
A Review
Brie Hooker is a vegan, not a vegetarian, a vegan. And she has just inherited her family's goat (from which they got meat and cheese) and chicken (meat and eggs) farm. All of which are verboten to the vegan appetite. And that does not include the newest member of the family, Tammy, a Vietnamese potbellied pig. And as the reader moves from chapter one to chapter two, we find that Tammy has opened a barrel of worms - except the worms were gone and now all we had were human bones.
Now to find the killer - the victim had probably been killed forty years or so in the past. Even then, he was not well liked. Any number of people could have involved in the murder forty years ago, but now there were questions to be addressed in the present.
We get to meet the people of Ardon County, South Carolina. There seems to be as much love in this county as there was between the Hatfields and McCoys a bit further to the northwest. Families are convinced that they have been defrauded, others are accused of stealing land, and the legal paperwork is covered with forged signatures that might make any check writer proud.
Like most of the cozy mysteries coming from Henery Press, the story combines suspense, humor, and a smattering of romance (hey, Brie is being courted by two great, but very different guys). What is there not to like. To quote the last sentence in the book, “Holy ham hocks. Life [on the farm] was going to be interesting.”
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.
by
Linda Lovely
A Review
Brie Hooker is a vegan, not a vegetarian, a vegan. And she has just inherited her family's goat (from which they got meat and cheese) and chicken (meat and eggs) farm. All of which are verboten to the vegan appetite. And that does not include the newest member of the family, Tammy, a Vietnamese potbellied pig. And as the reader moves from chapter one to chapter two, we find that Tammy has opened a barrel of worms - except the worms were gone and now all we had were human bones.
Now to find the killer - the victim had probably been killed forty years or so in the past. Even then, he was not well liked. Any number of people could have involved in the murder forty years ago, but now there were questions to be addressed in the present.
We get to meet the people of Ardon County, South Carolina. There seems to be as much love in this county as there was between the Hatfields and McCoys a bit further to the northwest. Families are convinced that they have been defrauded, others are accused of stealing land, and the legal paperwork is covered with forged signatures that might make any check writer proud.
Like most of the cozy mysteries coming from Henery Press, the story combines suspense, humor, and a smattering of romance (hey, Brie is being courted by two great, but very different guys). What is there not to like. To quote the last sentence in the book, “Holy ham hocks. Life [on the farm] was going to be interesting.”
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.
August 3, 2017
What a fun and fast read! I usually prefer darker thriller/mysteries, but I had a blast with Brie and her friends and family. Lovely has done a great job of setting up developed characters that will only become more so in the next series installments. The story is paced in such a way that while I kept telling myself I'd only read one more chapter, that one would become five. I was pretty sure I knew who the guilty party(ies), no spoilers here, but finding out the how and why kept reading past my bedtime. And, on a personal note, I can't wait to see what develops with BOTH the vet and the moonshine man.
Check out BONES TO PICK if you like a fun read with rich characters in a setting that makes you want to go visit.
Check out BONES TO PICK if you like a fun read with rich characters in a setting that makes you want to go visit.
September 21, 2017
Cozy mystery fans might enjoy this book. The storyline was fine. I read the first half of the story with no problems. However, I started to find myself getting bogged down; not by lengthy details but mainly due to minimal excitement and the characters. Speaking of the characters, I wanted to really love them but found them to be more casual acquaintances. I could not really find my footing with them, although Brie, her Aunt Eva, and the rest of the folks were a bit whimsical.
When it came to solving the mystery behind Eva's husband, it seemed that there were many opinions. Some were plausible and others not so believable. Yet, it was interesting to see all of the did angles. Again, I would have enjoyed it more if the story had more action and not so much talking amongst the characters. Hopefully, the characters and the next story get stronger.
When it came to solving the mystery behind Eva's husband, it seemed that there were many opinions. Some were plausible and others not so believable. Yet, it was interesting to see all of the did angles. Again, I would have enjoyed it more if the story had more action and not so much talking amongst the characters. Hopefully, the characters and the next story get stronger.
August 5, 2017
Bones to Pick (Brie Hooker Mystery #1) by Linda Lovely
Ms Lovely weaves an engrossing cozy, creating a wide variety of characters from sweet and lovable to downright detestable.
Brie Hooker comes to live with her Aunt Eva after her Aunt Lily's deadly accident...but was it an accident.
While vegan chef Brie struggles with the changes in her life, life at the farm becomes anything but 'quiet in the country'. From two smokin' hot age appropriate males showing interest in her...to Tammy the pig showing interest in the body buried near the barn, life becomes one challenge after another.
Don't miss this tale of intrigue that contains more than a bit of humor. I can't wait to see where she goes next.
I requested and received an ARC from NetGalley, much to my delight.
Ms Lovely weaves an engrossing cozy, creating a wide variety of characters from sweet and lovable to downright detestable.
Brie Hooker comes to live with her Aunt Eva after her Aunt Lily's deadly accident...but was it an accident.
While vegan chef Brie struggles with the changes in her life, life at the farm becomes anything but 'quiet in the country'. From two smokin' hot age appropriate males showing interest in her...to Tammy the pig showing interest in the body buried near the barn, life becomes one challenge after another.
Don't miss this tale of intrigue that contains more than a bit of humor. I can't wait to see where she goes next.
I requested and received an ARC from NetGalley, much to my delight.
October 1, 2017
The first in a new book, a new author for me. I found a well written easy to read the story. The plot is unusual and creative on an old theme. An excellent comment about the difference between a vegan and a vegetarian. The characters are developed and several are offbeat. Like animals this book has a number 400 hundred goats, Their 5 guard dogs voice announced rather friend or enemy. There is even a wolf. Guns are plentiful and surface violence is in play. An unusual love triangle is forming. I didn't like the negative comments about the rival clan. They were unnecessary.
Tammy, the pig unearths a skull rooting around the area. The skull proves to be that of Jed Watson, Aunt Eva missing husband. Aunt Eva is arrested for his murder and it up Brie Hooker to save her from a life in prison. Brie needs to work fast before she ends up like Jed. I recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Henery Press through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Tammy, the pig unearths a skull rooting around the area. The skull proves to be that of Jed Watson, Aunt Eva missing husband. Aunt Eva is arrested for his murder and it up Brie Hooker to save her from a life in prison. Brie needs to work fast before she ends up like Jed. I recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Henery Press through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
March 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The title was interesting and the story was excellent.
I had a great time reading this book and I loved the way I connected with all the characters.
The story itself was interesting and I was pleasantly surprised with the story line.
I can't wait to read more in this series.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
I had a great time reading this book and I loved the way I connected with all the characters.
The story itself was interesting and I was pleasantly surprised with the story line.
I can't wait to read more in this series.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
October 7, 2017
I have a bone to pick with Bones to Pick. I found myself reading it when I needed to be working. Linda Lovely’s newest mystery series (Brie Hooker Mysteries) is packed with suspense and action and some spicy romance. Its excitement wasn’t the only thing that kept me flipping pages. The characters are funny and sweet and I look forward to getting to know them better in future books. Brie Hooker, a committed vegan, takes a job on her aunt’s goat farm. And if that wasn’t enough trouble for her, she’s thrown neck deep into a mystery when her aunt’s missing husband’s bones are unearthed by the resident pot-bellied pig. I ate up every morsel of fun the book had to offer and was also reminded of how much I love goat cheese. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
October 15, 2017
Bones To Pick
A Brie Hooker Mystery, Book #1
Linda Lovely
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Living on a farm with four hundred goats and a cantankerous carnivore isn’t among vegan chef Brie Hooker’s list of lifetime ambitions. But she can’t walk away from her Aunt Eva, who needs help operating her dairy. Once she calls her aunt’s goat farm home, grisly discoveries offer ample inducements for Brie to employ her entire vocabulary of cheese-and-meat curses. The troubles begin when the farm’s pot-bellied pig unearths the skull of Eva’s husband, who disappeared years back. The sheriff, kin to the deceased, sets out to pin the murder on Eva. He doesn’t reckon on Brie’s resolve to prove her aunt’s innocence. Death threats, ruinous pedicures, psychic shenanigans, and biker bar fisticuffs won’t stop Brie from unmasking the killer, even when romantic befuddlement throws her a curve. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded, and very likable. Brie, Aunt Eva and Mollye, Brie’s friend, were all people that I would like to meet and get to know better. Living on a goat farm is not the ideal scenario for Brie, who is a card-carrying vegan, but she knows her aunt needs her and she will do whatever is necessary to help her family. When her aunt is accused of a long ago murder, Brie will do whatever it takes to see the real killer brought to justice. Paint and Andy, two locals that are close to Aunt Eva, provide love interests for Brie, and I am curious to see who and how she will choose between the two.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place. I could see the goats and potbellied pig and all of the chores that were required on the farm.
The mystery was well plotted and difficult to solve. With a lot of suspects and plenty of clues to sift through, with a few red herrings thrown in, it will take all of the reader’s sleuthing abilities to solve this one.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. There is plenty of humor (wait until you hear how Brie cusses), great characters and a well developed mystery that will keep you guessing. There is a little bit of minor language but it is very mild. This is a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this great book.
A Brie Hooker Mystery, Book #1
Linda Lovely
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Living on a farm with four hundred goats and a cantankerous carnivore isn’t among vegan chef Brie Hooker’s list of lifetime ambitions. But she can’t walk away from her Aunt Eva, who needs help operating her dairy. Once she calls her aunt’s goat farm home, grisly discoveries offer ample inducements for Brie to employ her entire vocabulary of cheese-and-meat curses. The troubles begin when the farm’s pot-bellied pig unearths the skull of Eva’s husband, who disappeared years back. The sheriff, kin to the deceased, sets out to pin the murder on Eva. He doesn’t reckon on Brie’s resolve to prove her aunt’s innocence. Death threats, ruinous pedicures, psychic shenanigans, and biker bar fisticuffs won’t stop Brie from unmasking the killer, even when romantic befuddlement throws her a curve. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded, and very likable. Brie, Aunt Eva and Mollye, Brie’s friend, were all people that I would like to meet and get to know better. Living on a goat farm is not the ideal scenario for Brie, who is a card-carrying vegan, but she knows her aunt needs her and she will do whatever is necessary to help her family. When her aunt is accused of a long ago murder, Brie will do whatever it takes to see the real killer brought to justice. Paint and Andy, two locals that are close to Aunt Eva, provide love interests for Brie, and I am curious to see who and how she will choose between the two.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place. I could see the goats and potbellied pig and all of the chores that were required on the farm.
The mystery was well plotted and difficult to solve. With a lot of suspects and plenty of clues to sift through, with a few red herrings thrown in, it will take all of the reader’s sleuthing abilities to solve this one.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. There is plenty of humor (wait until you hear how Brie cusses), great characters and a well developed mystery that will keep you guessing. There is a little bit of minor language but it is very mild. This is a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this great book.
September 8, 2018
Brie Hooker, a vegan cook returns to her Aunts
farm called Udderly’s, when one of them dies.
The aunts were twins sisters. She is going to
stay on the farm to help her surviving Aunt Eva
operating the goats and cheese farm. There are
four hundred goats, a mixture of Nigerian Dwarf,
Pyrenean, Alpine, Anglo-Nubian, and La Mancha
goats on the farm plus five Great Pyrenees dogs,
Riley Roo, the roaster with his flicks of egg-laying
hens, Lilly the mule plus Brie’s dog, Cashew joining
them. There is also a pig named Tammy who
happens to dig up part of a dead body while
Brie’s Aunts condolence party is happening.
Turns out the body is Aunt Eva’s husband who
disappeared 40 years ago. He walked out on her
and now we know what really happened to him.
Soon after another Grave is discovered plus a
woman who was Aunt Eva’s husband girlfriend
back when then the woman’s husband supposedly
commits suicide. Who is killing off all these people
and trying to frame Aunt Eva?
Brie along with two suitors plus her best friend,
Mollye decide to investigate.
Great array of artistically create characters and
quirky, colorful, vivid supporting characters
involved in a well plotted, puzzling plot.
Great job in description making the reader a part of
their experiences.
farm called Udderly’s, when one of them dies.
The aunts were twins sisters. She is going to
stay on the farm to help her surviving Aunt Eva
operating the goats and cheese farm. There are
four hundred goats, a mixture of Nigerian Dwarf,
Pyrenean, Alpine, Anglo-Nubian, and La Mancha
goats on the farm plus five Great Pyrenees dogs,
Riley Roo, the roaster with his flicks of egg-laying
hens, Lilly the mule plus Brie’s dog, Cashew joining
them. There is also a pig named Tammy who
happens to dig up part of a dead body while
Brie’s Aunts condolence party is happening.
Turns out the body is Aunt Eva’s husband who
disappeared 40 years ago. He walked out on her
and now we know what really happened to him.
Soon after another Grave is discovered plus a
woman who was Aunt Eva’s husband girlfriend
back when then the woman’s husband supposedly
commits suicide. Who is killing off all these people
and trying to frame Aunt Eva?
Brie along with two suitors plus her best friend,
Mollye decide to investigate.
Great array of artistically create characters and
quirky, colorful, vivid supporting characters
involved in a well plotted, puzzling plot.
Great job in description making the reader a part of
their experiences.
October 22, 2017
A fun cozy and I'm not kidding. Okay, since it is a goat farm you know I had to go for it. Not a vegan, do not like goat cheese, but do enjoy reading about the various foods and critters on this dairy. Rita, the mule, is my hero. Amusing love triangle. 40 year old mystery is revived when skeleton is unearthed and then the wackiness ensues. I am so glad to see this is just the beginning of a series. The publisher provided a copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review.
September 1, 2017
Bones to Pick is a clever mystery with a cast of interesting characters. When a vegan chef inherits a goat/cheese farm, she must contend with a newly discovered skeleton, a sheriff who espouses alternative facts, a family of gun-toting malcontents, and a variety of meat eaters. Oh, and a couple of hunky neighbors. It all makes for a fun mystery with a bang-up finale.
I was given an Advance Reader Copy for review and enjoyed it. It's a good read for fans of cozy mysteries.
I was given an Advance Reader Copy for review and enjoyed it. It's a good read for fans of cozy mysteries.
October 23, 2017
BONES TO PICK, the debut in the Brie Hooker Mystery series by Linda Lovely starts out with humor in her acknowledgement and the chuckles continue throughout this delightful read! The quirky characters add to the charm of the story and captured my attention from the very first page. I found the protagonist, vegan chef Brie Hooker, to be an entertaining character from her ironic name to the situation she finds herself in helping her aunt run a goat farm, to her dilemma of the handsome vet and the moonshine man showering her with attention. The author provides many clever names and sayings that are quite entertaining. “Limburger and Liverwurst” is one of many creative cheese and meat swear words that Brie uses and just might find their way into my own vocabulary.
There’s nonstop action in the plot, especially after Tammy the pig digs up bones belonging to Brie’s long-gone uncle by marriage. The local sheriff seems to have it in for Brie’s family with her Aunt Eva in his crosshairs. Brie shows her devotion to her family and jumps in to prove her aunt’s innocence even to the peril of her own life. There are plenty of people who are viable suspects in the decades old murder mystery and when one of Brie’s suspects is murdered, the stakes are even higher. I was intrigued with how the cold case was woven into the new murder along with fraud and forgery that kept me guessing at how the threads were going to come together. But come together they did in a very exciting, suspenseful conclusion!
I received an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There’s nonstop action in the plot, especially after Tammy the pig digs up bones belonging to Brie’s long-gone uncle by marriage. The local sheriff seems to have it in for Brie’s family with her Aunt Eva in his crosshairs. Brie shows her devotion to her family and jumps in to prove her aunt’s innocence even to the peril of her own life. There are plenty of people who are viable suspects in the decades old murder mystery and when one of Brie’s suspects is murdered, the stakes are even higher. I was intrigued with how the cold case was woven into the new murder along with fraud and forgery that kept me guessing at how the threads were going to come together. But come together they did in a very exciting, suspenseful conclusion!
I received an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 14, 2018
What a great beginning to a new series. The characters are delightful and have so much potential for trouble, danger and fun! I felt as if Brie was an actual thirty something person telling this story from her viewpoint.
Brie's life is about to change. She had a scumbag fiance she was able to leave behind, a job she didn't care for, and dreams about doing something more enjoyable and valuable in her future. Sadly, the event that brought about her opportunity to change was her aunt's death. Family is very important to Brie, even when they have different ideas for her life. Her choice of cheesy swear words is to please her mother.
Being vegan is a core value for Brie who also loves adapting recipes to leave out any animal products. Still, when called upon, she will sell cheese to keep her remaining aunt's farm in the black.
She is not interested in dating until she finds herself sandwiched between two hunky and available bachelors. Not just bachelors - best friends but oh so different from each other! I see her resolve melting quicker than cheese on a griddle, which leads to the difficult decision - who to choose and how to keep both as friends?
Dating has to be put on the back burner when a skeleton is discovered on the farm which heats up a 40 year old cold case. A cold case that centers right there on the farm and threatens its survival.
Brie and wacky friend, Mollye, make it their mission to uncover the truth behind dirty dealings and crooked cops. It doesn't hurt to have the two hunks protecting their backsides.
Or to have a killer attorney in the family!
One bad thing happens after the other and more skeletons will fall from the closet (or be unearthed) before this tangled tale is disentwined. If you pay close attention you may even pick up a few tips and tricks. Sadly, there were no vegan recipes included at the back of my advance copy.
I was delighted to see Sisters in Crime and the Writers' Police Academy mentioned.
My only question at the end is about a deed with a forged signature. Will that come up again in future books?
Spoiler - but a good spoiler - all the animals live.
I accepted (OK, I begged for) an advance copy of this novel. The rating and opinions are my own.
I look forward to visiting this group again.
Brie's life is about to change. She had a scumbag fiance she was able to leave behind, a job she didn't care for, and dreams about doing something more enjoyable and valuable in her future. Sadly, the event that brought about her opportunity to change was her aunt's death. Family is very important to Brie, even when they have different ideas for her life. Her choice of cheesy swear words is to please her mother.
Being vegan is a core value for Brie who also loves adapting recipes to leave out any animal products. Still, when called upon, she will sell cheese to keep her remaining aunt's farm in the black.
She is not interested in dating until she finds herself sandwiched between two hunky and available bachelors. Not just bachelors - best friends but oh so different from each other! I see her resolve melting quicker than cheese on a griddle, which leads to the difficult decision - who to choose and how to keep both as friends?
Dating has to be put on the back burner when a skeleton is discovered on the farm which heats up a 40 year old cold case. A cold case that centers right there on the farm and threatens its survival.
Brie and wacky friend, Mollye, make it their mission to uncover the truth behind dirty dealings and crooked cops. It doesn't hurt to have the two hunks protecting their backsides.
Or to have a killer attorney in the family!
One bad thing happens after the other and more skeletons will fall from the closet (or be unearthed) before this tangled tale is disentwined. If you pay close attention you may even pick up a few tips and tricks. Sadly, there were no vegan recipes included at the back of my advance copy.
I was delighted to see Sisters in Crime and the Writers' Police Academy mentioned.
My only question at the end is about a deed with a forged signature. Will that come up again in future books?
Spoiler - but a good spoiler - all the animals live.
I accepted (OK, I begged for) an advance copy of this novel. The rating and opinions are my own.
I look forward to visiting this group again.
July 31, 2017
Amateur, female investigators………………
Apparently, Linda Lovely writes a blend of mystery and humour. Well, you could have fooled me.
Brie Hooker returns to help out her aunt Eva when Eva’s twin sister dies unexpectedly. Brie is a vegan chef with a predilection to uttering food types instead of expletives. Her aunts run a goat farm and make cheese which is sold locally and by mail order. During the family get together to read the will the remains of a body are found which turns out to be those of Eva’s long lost, abusive husband Jed. The wicked sheriff points the finger at Eva and locks her up. So starts a run of murders and mystery. Laugh? I thought I’d never start.
The characters are two dimensional and the local lawmen are caricatures of the Deep South crooked constabulary. Think of a villainous J W Pepper from Live and Let Die and The Man With the Golden Gun and you get the idea. I am quite happy to suspend belief when reading a crime mystery novel but in this case, credulity was stretched to breaking point and beyond. I awarded 3 stars as the plot hung together and moved forward logically although I almost deducted a star for the whimsical tone.
The novel is promoted as Brie Hooker#1. I shall not be rushing out to purchase the second or subsequent releases. As Brie’s mother comment at the end of the book, “It would make one heck of a murder mystery. But who’d believe it really happened?” Quite! I couldn’t have put it better myself.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Apparently, Linda Lovely writes a blend of mystery and humour. Well, you could have fooled me.
Brie Hooker returns to help out her aunt Eva when Eva’s twin sister dies unexpectedly. Brie is a vegan chef with a predilection to uttering food types instead of expletives. Her aunts run a goat farm and make cheese which is sold locally and by mail order. During the family get together to read the will the remains of a body are found which turns out to be those of Eva’s long lost, abusive husband Jed. The wicked sheriff points the finger at Eva and locks her up. So starts a run of murders and mystery. Laugh? I thought I’d never start.
The characters are two dimensional and the local lawmen are caricatures of the Deep South crooked constabulary. Think of a villainous J W Pepper from Live and Let Die and The Man With the Golden Gun and you get the idea. I am quite happy to suspend belief when reading a crime mystery novel but in this case, credulity was stretched to breaking point and beyond. I awarded 3 stars as the plot hung together and moved forward logically although I almost deducted a star for the whimsical tone.
The novel is promoted as Brie Hooker#1. I shall not be rushing out to purchase the second or subsequent releases. As Brie’s mother comment at the end of the book, “It would make one heck of a murder mystery. But who’d believe it really happened?” Quite! I couldn’t have put it better myself.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
September 22, 2017
****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review****
Um. Right. I had some issues with this. But it's the first in a series, so it could just be teething troubles.
Firstly Brie. On paper a nice idea, the reality is that she's too stupid to live, constantly getting herself into situations anyone can see are a bad idea and then she's all sanctimonious about the joys of veganism everytime any food is mentioned. And food is mentioned a lot.
Secondly, the local police. I mean, I know that police getting the wrong end of the stick is a regular trope in cozy crime, but this lot take the biscuit in so many ways. They are so over the top rubbish it is bonkers. And the one thing that is actually a sensible thing to do (even if Brie can't see that it is) - question the wife of the deceased - is done in such a bonkers over the top way that my eyes nearly rolled out of my head.
Very few of the characters in this felt like three dimensional people, and the love interests that are being set up are done so clunkily that it drove me mad.
As I said at the start, this is the first book in a series, so it gets a slight pass on that so I may check back in in a few books time to see if anything has improved/settled down/got better.
Um. Right. I had some issues with this. But it's the first in a series, so it could just be teething troubles.
Firstly Brie. On paper a nice idea, the reality is that she's too stupid to live, constantly getting herself into situations anyone can see are a bad idea and then she's all sanctimonious about the joys of veganism everytime any food is mentioned. And food is mentioned a lot.
Secondly, the local police. I mean, I know that police getting the wrong end of the stick is a regular trope in cozy crime, but this lot take the biscuit in so many ways. They are so over the top rubbish it is bonkers. And the one thing that is actually a sensible thing to do (even if Brie can't see that it is) - question the wife of the deceased - is done in such a bonkers over the top way that my eyes nearly rolled out of my head.
Very few of the characters in this felt like three dimensional people, and the love interests that are being set up are done so clunkily that it drove me mad.
As I said at the start, this is the first book in a series, so it gets a slight pass on that so I may check back in in a few books time to see if anything has improved/settled down/got better.
October 19, 2017
No Bones About It – Bones to Pick is a Hit
What the heck is a vegan chef doing on a goat farm? That is what we find out in Bones to Pick, the first installment in a new series by Linda Lovely. A death in the family brings Brie Hooker home and before she knows it she finds herself moving back home to live with her aunt on her goat farm.
When some old bones dug up on the property end up being identified her Aunt Eva’s late husband who mysteriously disappeared years ago, it is up to Brie to solve the mystery and clear the family name.
This book is a nice start to a new series. Full of action, adventure, and cozy fun. Here are my top reasons to check it out.
The Title Fits the Book
So many cozy mysteries have cleaver titles, but they have nothing to do with the book or the story. Bones to Pick is a fitting title for this book and gives the reader insight into the story.
Great Supporting Cast of Characters
I love a good multi-generational family story. And Brie’s family is full of entertaining characters. I especially love Brie’s relationship with her Aunt Eva. Aunt Eva added humor and spice to the book and she kept me entertained from start to end.
Laugh out Loud Humor
This is an entertaining read. The author does a great job keeping things light hearted with lots of back and forth banter between the characters, jokes about Brie’s name (how can you not eat cheese with a name like that?), and Brie using the names of cheeses instead of swear words. It is witty and keeps the pace of the book moving along.
No Bones About It
Bones to Pick is a hit. It is fun, creative, and will keep you engaged until the very end. I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing where Brie’s adventures take her next.
Review first published at: https://cozyexperience.com/no-bones-b...
What the heck is a vegan chef doing on a goat farm? That is what we find out in Bones to Pick, the first installment in a new series by Linda Lovely. A death in the family brings Brie Hooker home and before she knows it she finds herself moving back home to live with her aunt on her goat farm.
When some old bones dug up on the property end up being identified her Aunt Eva’s late husband who mysteriously disappeared years ago, it is up to Brie to solve the mystery and clear the family name.
This book is a nice start to a new series. Full of action, adventure, and cozy fun. Here are my top reasons to check it out.
The Title Fits the Book
So many cozy mysteries have cleaver titles, but they have nothing to do with the book or the story. Bones to Pick is a fitting title for this book and gives the reader insight into the story.
Great Supporting Cast of Characters
I love a good multi-generational family story. And Brie’s family is full of entertaining characters. I especially love Brie’s relationship with her Aunt Eva. Aunt Eva added humor and spice to the book and she kept me entertained from start to end.
Laugh out Loud Humor
This is an entertaining read. The author does a great job keeping things light hearted with lots of back and forth banter between the characters, jokes about Brie’s name (how can you not eat cheese with a name like that?), and Brie using the names of cheeses instead of swear words. It is witty and keeps the pace of the book moving along.
No Bones About It
Bones to Pick is a hit. It is fun, creative, and will keep you engaged until the very end. I enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing where Brie’s adventures take her next.
Review first published at: https://cozyexperience.com/no-bones-b...
October 24, 2017
What a wonderfully fun start to a fabulous new series, and you don't have to be vegan to love it! In this new series you meet Brie who has moved in with her Aunt to help run her goat farm because her other aunt has died in an accident. While at the wake a precocious pig named Tammy finds a bone who ends up being the missing husband of her living aunt. During the wake Brie is introduced to Andy the local vet and Paint the local moonshine maker. Both men have been friends for years and both are attracted to Brie. They both jump in to help her figure out just what happened all those years ago when everyone thought her aunts husband had just run off. With half of the town being related to the man and most thinking her aunt murdered him for his land will Brie be able to keep her aunt out of jail. This was a well written story filled with eccentric characters that you can't help but fall in love with. The banter between Brie and her Aunt is hilarious especially when it comes to the food that they choose to eat. I so look forward to what comes next for these two and to finding out if Brie will be able to choose between the two guys. I usually like one guy over another when reading a book but in this case I loved them both so it will be interesting to see who she picks if she even picks one of them.
October 25, 2017
Transplanted Yankee vegan chef Brie Hooker leaves her Asheville job to help out her Aunt Eva in South Carolina. Eva's twin sister, Lilly, has died recently, and Eva needs her help in the goat cheese business and farm the sisters co-owned. It seems to be an odd match for a vegan, but Brie is devoted to both aunts. Things begin to get strange at the farm during Lilly's wake. The pet potbelly pig is rooting around and turns up a long-buried skull. It turns out that Eva had a past Brie didn't know about including an abusive ex-husband who went missing 40 years earlier. Who else could it be but Jed Watson? The assorted Watson clan is sure that Eva murdered him and even worse, so is the sheriff. Brie, her flamboyant friend, Mollye, and two dishy men with interest in Brie are determined to find the real killer. The bodies keep piling up, and all of them had a long-ago connection with Jed.
I have to admit that I found the beginning of the book a bit "folksy" for my taste but a combination of well-developed characters, tight plotting and a wealth of humor won me over. The mystery is not so much "whodunnit" but "how did he get away with it?" I am looking forward to the next book in the series and the love triangle that is developing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Henery Press for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.
I have to admit that I found the beginning of the book a bit "folksy" for my taste but a combination of well-developed characters, tight plotting and a wealth of humor won me over. The mystery is not so much "whodunnit" but "how did he get away with it?" I am looking forward to the next book in the series and the love triangle that is developing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Henery Press for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.
November 15, 2017
I’m sure you’ve read the blurb so you have an idea what kind of fun you’re in for when you read this book.
Brie, a vegan, wonders what she was thinking moving to her Aunt Eva’s goat farm. It’s smack in the middle of meat lovers territory where everything is better when fried. Still, she’s determined to stick it out. What’s the worst that could happen?
The worst that could happen is when a pig rooting in the soil uncovers a human skull. That skull belongs to her Aunt Eva’s husband, missing for some time now. Connections place suspicion right on Eva, and Brie needs to do some digging of her own to clear her aunts name.
The story is chock full of quirky and fun characters, a healthy dose of snark. and enough laughs to make your cheeks hurt from all the smiling.
And the mystery is like an onion. A layer is peeled back and then another and another. It’s not easily solved and has surprising connections.
This book is a hoot. And the last paragraph. Oh boy, it’s just right.
Bones To Pick is the first book in the Brie Hooker Mystery Series. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Brie, a vegan, wonders what she was thinking moving to her Aunt Eva’s goat farm. It’s smack in the middle of meat lovers territory where everything is better when fried. Still, she’s determined to stick it out. What’s the worst that could happen?
The worst that could happen is when a pig rooting in the soil uncovers a human skull. That skull belongs to her Aunt Eva’s husband, missing for some time now. Connections place suspicion right on Eva, and Brie needs to do some digging of her own to clear her aunts name.
The story is chock full of quirky and fun characters, a healthy dose of snark. and enough laughs to make your cheeks hurt from all the smiling.
And the mystery is like an onion. A layer is peeled back and then another and another. It’s not easily solved and has surprising connections.
This book is a hoot. And the last paragraph. Oh boy, it’s just right.
Bones To Pick is the first book in the Brie Hooker Mystery Series. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
June 28, 2018
Oh my, I loved this book. A vegan chef living on a goat farm, hmmm, that makes perfect sense. What a cast of characters! I loved all the good ones. Brie, the vegan chef and her best friend Mollye (be sure to get the e on there), they are hilarious together. Who wouldn’t want two hunky men vying for your attention? Eva is awesome and who wouldn’t want an aunt like her. Love her and Brie’s relationship. Course it never hurts to have a lawyer in the family, especially when a family keeps you this busy. I won this book in a contest. I can’t wait to read the next installment of the Brie Hooker story.
October 18, 2017
What a fun beginning to a new cozy series!! A vegan chef, a goat cheese farm, a dead body dug up by a pot-bellied pig, and two guys interested in being more than friends---this is the life of Brie Hooker.
There's a lot of humor in this story, along with a very well written murder mystery. A small-minded crooked sheriff and a feud worthy of the Hatfields and McCoys add to the suspense around town.
I enjoyed the backstory of the main characters, and look forward to getting to know them all better.
**I received a copy of this book through the publisher and NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**
There's a lot of humor in this story, along with a very well written murder mystery. A small-minded crooked sheriff and a feud worthy of the Hatfields and McCoys add to the suspense around town.
I enjoyed the backstory of the main characters, and look forward to getting to know them all better.
**I received a copy of this book through the publisher and NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**
October 16, 2017
This story starts laugh out loud funny and then continues to pull you in page by page, body by body. Brie Hooker is at the Udderly Kidding Dairy for her Aunt Lilly's Wake when Tammy, the pig, unearths a skull. Eva, Lilly's twin, is just sure that is belongs to her husband who has been missing for 40 years. The story becomes more complex as more bodies are discovered and the question is can Brie figure out what is going on before she too becomes a victim.
This story is the first in the Brie Hooker Mystery series. It is a great blend of mystery and humor with a side of romance. The supporting characters are fun and likeable. The author has left plenty of loose ends to make way for further stories in this series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This story is the first in the Brie Hooker Mystery series. It is a great blend of mystery and humor with a side of romance. The supporting characters are fun and likeable. The author has left plenty of loose ends to make way for further stories in this series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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