MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP by Darci Hannah

 

Publisher:      Kensington

Published:      February 23, 2021

ISBN:      978-1496731722Genre:     Cozy Mystery 

Format:     Print from Publisher

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  myreviewbooks@aol.com

 

FIVE HEARTS

 

 

After walking in on her fiancé with his assistant in a compromising position in his famed New York restaurant kitchen Lindsey Bakewell quit her high powered job and moved to Michigan where she bought a lighthouse.  Not just any lighthouse but the old, run down Beacon Point Lighthouse. Lindsey doesn’t see a crumbling structure.  What she sees is a chance to live out her dream of having a bakery where she can indulge in her passion for cooking.  As she sets about restoring the old lighthouse along with her loveable New Foundland, Wellington, she meets many of Beach Harbor’s townsfolk and quickly becomes a member of the community.  On the recommendation of her real estate agent and all around community cheerleader Betty, Lindsey hires Dylan who turns out to be an amazing baker and all around hard worker.  She also meets and begins to spend some significant time with her hunky neighbour, Rory Campbell.  Even the rumoured lighthouse ghost is on board with Lindsey being successful. Everything is moving along and looking toward a successful opening of the lighthouse bakery including the arrival of Lindsey’s best friend, Kennedy who is a major social media influencer.  When opening day dawns a crowd is ready to enjoy the tasty treats. But there is a fly in the ointment…Lindsey’s former fiancé and his current girlfriend, Mia, are also in the crowd and they aren’t there to celebrate Lindsey’s success. Mia immediately begins disrupting the celebration but within minutes of doing so she collapses, dead. Given Lindsey’s connection to the dead woman it doesn’t take the local police long to take aim at her as their number one suspect.  Not one to take things lying down, Lindsey begins to dig into just who killed Mia.

 

I read Darci Hannah several years ago, the Exile of Sarah Stevenson which also features a lighthouse.  As someone enthralled with lighthouses, traveling out to our nearby Point Reyes Lighthouse at least once a year just to admire its beauty, when I saw Hannah’s new series, the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries, and that they feature a lighthouse I had to read it. Not only does the series center around a lighthouse—it has a hunky hero side kick, a loveable dog and a ghost!  Not only are the elements I just can’t resist, there are some fantastic characters that will hopefully continue to appear in the books as the series continues.

 

Hannah gives her readers a good mystery—who killed Mia and why? There are just enough red herrings and clues to who the killer is to keep you turning the pages without wanting to put the book down.  Her characters are all terrific…even slimy, ex-fiancé, Jeffrey, is enjoyable to read.  Rory Campbell is a dream hero—good looking, smart and loves dogs.  Cozies seem to have a rule that somewhere along the way there is a love triangle that usually shows up around books three or four. I can see the start of one in this series and hope it doesn’t deteriorate into that direction. In my book club if there is one thing that turns us off on different series is when that annoying love triangle shows up.

 

Lindsey’s friend Kennedy is a hoot. She lives in New York and loves that fast paced world but I hope we see more of her in future stories. Normally my favorite character in any book is when there is a dog or cat, especially if they add to the story but in this case, I have to say Lindsey is the best.  She’s smart, creative, practical and pragmatic. She’s the kind of character you wish was a real friend in your life.

 

With some recipes that seem simple to make as well as delish included this series is off to a great start and I can’t wait for book two.

 

 

 

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

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THE ANGEL OF BLYTHE HALL by Darci Hannah

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date published: July 2011
ISBN 9780345520562
Historical romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained via Publisher


Lady Isabeau Blythe is determined to lay claim to her family’s fortress and restore her family’s name. But Isabeau has no easy job. Scotland is torn with strife and although she is usually a headstrong, realistic person, even she cannot withstand the lure of Blythe Hall. Amid her troubles is a knight, Sir George who wants her land and her heart. He is very determined and will fight for her until his last breath. Her brother seems to be mad and is looking for power beyond this world. Then an army gathers outside her gates and Isabeau needs help. There is one man she can call on for help. An elusive, handsome man who haunts her dreams. But can he help her? Does he know the secrets?

This story has all the elements of a Gothic novel with a bit of the paranormal thrown in. I found this a fascinating mix as I am a big paranormal fan. Darci Hannah is a superb writer who brings to life times gone by and vividly describes the times and places. She writes multi-dimensional characters and I really did enjoy her heroine, Isabeau. The secondary characters enlivened the story too. This story was kept interesting by various twists in the plot which had me turning the pages to see what would happen next. I did find the first sixty pages or so a bit slow, but do keep on reading and don’t give up too easily. I am sure you will be wonderfully surprised! I know historical fans will like this one, especially if they like a little of the paranormal too.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE EXILE OF SARA STEVENSON by Darci Hannah

Publisher: Ballantine
Date published: July 27, 2010
ISBN: 978-0345520548
Historical Fiction, paranormal
Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
Obtained by publisher


Daughter of Robert Stevenson, grandfather of famed Robert Louis Stevenson, Sara has a quick mind and a strong will. When she spies a bony young man, a man she refers to as "golden" and her Adonis, coming from her father's office her heart is lost. She soon finds herself with her father, the Lighthouse Board, and her golden man on a ship, visiting several notable locales. Bit by bit Sara comes to know Thomas Crichton as a man and her lover. When they return home to Edinborough Sara and Thomas consummate their relationship. Before they can wed, Thomas disappears and the truth of Sara's pregnancy becomes known to her parents. Her father wastes no time banishing her to far away Cape Wrath lighthouse along with her companion, Kate and Kate's husband. There they meet William Campbell who Sara initially finds surly and revolting. Bit by bit though, the foursome form a peculiar bond and the truth of what happened to Thomas is made plain to Sara. With the birth of Thomas' son she learns just how far Thomas has traveled to tell her he loves her one last time.

William finds himself torn between his own broken heart, his duty to the lighthouse and the task set upon him by Sara's father. Hidden activities take place in Cape Wrath and he must walk a fine line between what is right and what he must do.

I was drawn to Darci Hannah's THE EXILE OF SARA STEVENSON for several reasons. I am fascinated with lighthouses and with one featured in this story I couldn't resist. I enjoyed the movie The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. When I read the back cover blurb it seemed to be a similar plot line as that marvelous film. I'm also a fan of time travels and there were hints of one in the blurb for the book.

I set my expectations too high. Part of my problem is that I'm not a fan of first person writing. While it seems an easy point of view to write in, it is difficult to do well. Far too often first person point of view seems to deteriorate into a series of "I, I, I, I" and takes on the feeling of reading someone's none too interesting diary. That is how most of the book read to me. I didn't find Sara very interesting or likeable. I liked Kate even less although at the end we learn why she was so hard to warm up to. However, when I mentally changed all the "I's" to "she" or "Sara" I found the story a bit more interesting.

The ending was well done with a few more twists and turns than I expected. The final pages are told from Alexander Seawell's point of view in the third person and that portion of the book was wonderful. I felt drawn into his story and wished more had been told from his point of view.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a twist, a pinch of gothic romance, the flavor of a ghost story and first person writing THE EXILE OF SARA STEVENSON should take its place on your to be read pile.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.