Fabulous and Brunette: Love, Death, & the Art of Cooking by Linda Griffin - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway

Hey, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Linda Griffin and her new book, “Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking,” here on FAB!! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Linda and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking

by Linda Griffin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Romantic Suspense

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Software engineer Reid Lucas loves to cook and has a history of falling in love with married women. When he leaves his complicated past in Chicago for a job in California, he runs into trouble and must call a virtual stranger to bail him out of jail. Alyssa Knight, a tough street cop waiting for a church annulment from her passive-aggressive husband, is the roommate of the woman Reid calls for help, and she reluctantly provides bail for Reid. He falls for her immediately, and cooking for her is an act of love. She just wants to be friends, but they keep ending up in bed together. When his boss is murdered, Reid is a suspect—or is he the intended target?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT ONE:

Alyssa was patting down a suspect, checking for weapons, a task that called for her full attention, but she was a little distracted. Last night’s events had seemed natural at the time, but now she couldn’t imagine what she had been thinking. She had taken an enormous leap of faith—or else she had taken leave of her senses.

At first sight she had dismissed Reid as harmless, not sexy, not her type, but he had been a surprisingly physical presence as he escorted Paul out of the apartment. Nothing had changed, but maybe he was a little less harmless than she had thought, a little more interesting? He did have very nice eyes, even if they reminded her of a cocker spaniel’s, and he was a fabulous cook.

She had images of him now that she didn’t want to have, sense memories, as her actor friends would say. His body was not as soft as she had expected. He was pretty fit compared to the skinhead slob she was frisking and other guys she had been seeing all day. She had wanted to direct him and then hadn’t needed to. The way he touched her had made her feel soft and warm, as if her flesh was melting under his hands.

She tugged the suspect’s right hand behind him and snapped on the cuff. She remembered Reid’s mouth on hers. There was more tenderness in his kisses than she would have expected him to show this soon, if ever. Could he honestly feel that…for her?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY BOOK REVIEW:

Warning!! Do NOT read this book on a diet or an empty stomach lol!!

This book was an interesting, intriguing, suspenseful read filled with delicious, mouthwatering cooking that is sure to leave your tummy growling and your mouth drooling over the pages lol!!!

This is the second book I have had the pleasure and privilege of reading and reviewing from Linda Griffin. I really enjoy her unique ability to blend multiple genres together in a smooth transition and flowing story line design.

Now, I have to admit, I may be a bit biased in my review, as Linda used my name (Alyssa) as the main characters lol. Okay, I’m sure it’s all a coincidence, but growing up no one shared my name or even knew how to pronounce it. My grandparents would go on vacations and try to bring me back those personalized souvenir gifts and they NEVER would have my name. It was always Allison or Alice or Alex even. Never Alyssa. Usually I’d get “Granddaughter,” or “Princess,” on those travel tags, mini license plates, stickers, notepads, pens, etc. So, anytime I see my name, which surprisingly is becoming a bit more common these days, I truly get sooooo excited!!! So, thank you Linda for throwing spotlight on a name that often gets left out and overlooked for the more common, popular names!!!

I think one of the best features of this book, is definitely the food and Reid’s cooking skills!!! There were many delicious meals that had me fantasizing about cheating on my diet lol!!! I think Linda could easily follow this book up with a fun, recipe book – “Love, Recipes, and the Art of Cooking with Reid Lucas.” I’ve known many authors that have successfully published short recipe eBooks inspired by their books and/or main characters. Or at the very least include a recipe section at the end of the book!! Readers like me get so invested in connecting with characters that this would really help connect the dots and allow for more personal interaction. PLUS, we all want these recipes!!! LOL!!!

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how it started out. Right away the reader is swept into the excitement, intrigue, and suspense when Reid is arrested for a DUI. Now, if you’ve only read the title, this seems like out of left field. However, this start is the most important as it sets up the meet cute for Reid and Alyssa, the two main characters. When Reid calls Jane (Alyssa’s roommate and the only person he sort of knows in town) to bail him out of jail, he reaches Alyssa, who informs him that Jane is not home. Reid, completely alone and lost in a new city, begs Alyssa to come down and bail him out. This is quite hilarious as Alyssa is a police officer!!! How many people would seriously ask a cop to bail them out of jail?!?! LOL!!! So already this book starts out with lots of fun, LOL moments!!!

There is definitely a mutual instant attraction between Reid and Alyssa. I absolutely believe in love at first sight, that people can fall in love multiple times throughout their lives, and even have more than one soulmate. However, did this seem true of Reid and Alyssa? I honestly have to say no. Yes, there were sparks and passion – but it felt more like lust than love. And it definitely felt wayyyyy more one-sided with Reid excessively chasing Alyssa. Perhaps that’s because Alyssa was just getting out of a difficult and complicated marriage and was still in the process of finalizing her annulment. She often voiced that she wasn’t looking for a relationship or anything “heavy,” right now, especially not wanting to start a new relationship without understanding why the first one failed. Which let’s be honest, is completely understandable – a girl needs space.

I really liked Alyssa as she was smart, strong, fierce, kick-*ss, determined, and a bit stubborn. She was a very likable character and was easy to connect with – and not just because we share the same name lol!!

I found Reid a bit off-putting. Perhaps because he reminded me of someone? The way he just continued to repeatedly pursue Alyssa, felt needy, overly persistent, inappropriate, and almost stalkerish. I also found his love for only dating married women on the more distasteful, unappealing characteristic side.

He did, however, occasionally have at times, a more charming, compassionate side. And of course, a strong passion for cooking – especially for those he identified as love interests, like Alyssa. Whenever he was in the kitchen cooking or talking about all thing’s food, you could feel the warmth, sincerity, and excitement of his true passion come alive.

The murder plot point was a valuable (and quite important!!) ingredient to this book. I think that this additional element to the story line really helped round out the book giving it balance. I enjoyed getting to see the tough street cop side of Alyssa and watch her in action!!! When Reid’s new boss is murdered, he immediately becomes a suspect, even though he may have a solid alibi. Could he still be the killer? Can he be trusted? New developments may indicate Reid was the real target. Regardless, a killer is on the loose and quickly closing in. Alyssa must determine if Reid is guilty or innocent – a killer or a victim.

There are some predictable scenes. However, there are still a few very unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming but will enjoy watching unfold!!

This book is not currently listed as part of a book series. It can be read as a standalone. This book does have a satisfyingly tidy ending with loose ends thought-out and neatly tied up in a bow.

All things considered, there were many things I enjoyed about this book. I love that Linda’s books always contain so many components and this book is no different. This book is filled with romance, friendship, murder, mystery, suspense, intrigue, scrumptious meals, and so much more!!!

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!! I think all romantic suspense readers, mystery romance readers, cooking fans, amateur chefs, and home cooks will like this book too!! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

Linda Griffin is a native of San Diego and has a BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. She retired from a position as fiction librarian for the San Diego Public Library to spend more time on her writing. Her stories have been published in numerous journals, including Eclectica, Thema, The Binnacle, Orbis, and The Nassau Review. Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking is her fourth romantic suspense novel published by the Wild Rose Press, following Seventeen Days (2018), The Rebound Effect (2019), and Guilty Knowledge (2020).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONNECT WITH LINDA:

Website:

http://www.lindagriffinauthor.com

Email:

linda.griffin.50702@facebook.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/lindagriffin.author

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/LindaGriffinA

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-griffin-20be6ac5-19d4-4c89-9205-2d372a485a32

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/love-death-and-the-art-of-cooking-by-linda-griffin

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18396185.Linda_Griffin

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58441773-love-death-and-the-art-of-cooking

Amazon Author Page:

http://amzn.to/2VXVkBS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

http://amzn.to/3nP6UKZ

Amazon US Paperback:

http://amzn.to/3hRUmyH

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Love-Death-Cooking-Linda-Griffin-ebook/dp/B09827RTP2

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Love-Death-Cooking-Linda-Griffin/dp/1509237771

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-death-and-the-art-of-cooking-linda-griffin/1139749608?ean=2940162343059

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-death-and-the-art-of-cooking-linda-griffin/1139749608?ean=9781509237777

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Death-Art-Cooking-Linda-Griffin/9781509237777

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Love-Death-Art-Cooking/Linda-Griffin/9781509237777

The Bookshop Paperback:

https://bookshop.org/books/love-death-and-the-art-of-cooking/9781509237777

Google Play eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Linda_Griffin_Love_Death_and_the_Art_of_Cooking?id=_Hs8EAAAQBAJ

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-death-and-the-art-of-cooking

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/love-death-and-the-art-of-cooking

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFO:

Linda will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.