I’m very happy to be a part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for the brand new release, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE by Rebecca Adler! From the moment I read the title and saw the cover I knew I wanted to dip into this book.
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Synopsis
Josie Callahan has moved back to Broken Boots after being abandoned at the alter by her fiancé. Trying to forget her humiliation she takes a job as a journalist for the Broken Boot Bugle and to help make ends meet, works at her family’s restaurant, Milagro. When country western performer, Jeff Clark, comes to town for the Homestead Days Musical Festival, Josie has her hopes up for a killer interview. After all her best friend, Patti, used to date Jeff and it appears they might be rekindling the romance. When Jeff Clark blows off their interview, Josie tracks him down and finds him dead, face down in a bowl of guacamole in Patti’s house.
The police arrest Patti after her fingerprints were found all over the murder weapon and a witness claims they heard Patti and Jeff violently arguing late the night before. Despite what the police say, Josie is positive her friend is innocent. Using her journalistic skills, she starts asking questions hoping to track down the real killer and free her friend. Plus it wouldn’t hurt her career to scoop the story for her newspaper. But the more questions she asks the more people she finds wanted Jeff out of the way. Can Josie sift through the clues and suspects or will the real killer salsa away while her friend takes the fall?
My Review
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE did not disappoint! I loved Josie’s relationship with her aunt, uncle, and grandmother, Señora Mari. She’s been raised by her relatives after her parents died in an accident when she was twelve and it’s obvious that Josie has a very close bond with them. They also provide a bit of comedic relief with their meddlesome antics, especially Señora Mari, who while appearing gruff on the outside, has a heart of gold. Josie’s Chihuahua, Lenny, is a nice sidekick for her and I would dearly love to read Lenny’s blog! And then there is her best friend, Goth princess Patti Perez. While some folks might look at the exterior of Patti and only see a hardened gal, the author helps us see below the surface and get to know the real person. A good lesson in real life not to judge people based on their appearance alone!
Rebecca provides a satisfying mystery to whet your appetite for more, with plenty of suspects drawn from both the townspeople and the band’s roadies. The dialog is snappy and the down-home sayings are cute and add to the feel of the western Texan town of Broken Boots. And then there’s the food…oh my, so many mentions of tamales made me want to run to Costco and pick up a dozen (although I know they would not be as yummy as Señora Mari’s, but at least they’d satisfy my craving) along with lots of other delectable Tex-Mex food served at Milagro. Although I’ll admit I will be pausing for a moment whenever I eat guacamole after reading this book 🙂 Rebecca has also graciously allowed me to share her recipe for The Cogburn Hotel’s Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies. These delightful treats have just the right amount of soft chewiness with melt in your mouth creamy chocolate chips and buttery, crunchy pecans. The perfect combination! Be sure to check out the back of her book for other mouth-watering recipes, all which sound delicious.
Thanks to the publisher, I have a print copy of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE to give to one winner. Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Ingredients
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks), room temperature
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F).
- In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until combined.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
- Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans.
- Spoon the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet by tablespoons.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- According to King Arthur Flour, refrigerating your dough for at least 30 minutes prior to baking results in a tastier cookie that browns more evenly. I tried it and it really does work!
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Tour Participants
October 24 – Sleuth Cafe
October 24 – Books,Dreams,Life
October 25 – View from the Birdhouse
October 25 – Bibliophile Reviews
October 26 – StoreyBook Reviews
October 26 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary
October 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
October 28 – Shelley’s Book Case
October 28 – A Blue Million Books
October 29 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
October 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy
October 31 – Back Porchervations
October 31 – Readeropolis
November 1 – LibriAmoriMiei
November 1 – A Holland Reads
November 2 – Brooke Blogs
November 2 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
November 3 – Texas Book-aholic
November 4 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder
November 4 – Varietats
November 5 – Community Bookstop
November 6 – MysteriesEtc
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I grew up eating Tex-Mex with my dad growing & pickling jalapenos, which I ate frequently as a young child. I’m not sure I’ve tried a dish that I haven’t loved with the exception of menudo. I serve tamales for our Christmas meal every year and often for birthday celebrations, but I also make enchiladas and pork chili verde often. It’s hard to pick a fav 🙂
Fajitas are a favorite at our house.
*My cookie monster impersonation insert here* “Coooooookies!!!” Wonderful review. Can not wait to read this one.
My family enjoys Fajitas.
No favorite! I’ve never eaten Tex-Mex.
i love Spanish Rice!
A recipe for my favorite cookie and a chance to win a great book. I love all kinds of Mexican food. I order Fajitas most of the time.
How can I think about TexMex when I’m salivating over these cookies?!
I live in Texas, and eat Tex-Mex so often it’s hard to pinpoint a favorite. But, one local restaurant has fajita smothered enchiladas. I’m drooling just thinking about it.
My favorite Tex-Mex meal is enchiladas. Either shredded chicken or shredded beef are both tasty. The more filling, sauce, and
cheese in them, all the best. Thanks for including the chocolate chip pecan cookies recipe on your blog.
My favorite Tex-Mex food is Nachos with everything on them, a close second is a Chimichanga with lots of queso on it – YUM!
Wow! What a great theme….I’m hungry.
Favorite? Oh…fajitas!
The chocolate and pecan cookies look amazing! I have all the ingredients at home to make these. Thanks for sharing this recipe and the review about this interesting book!
I like nachos, enchiladas, street tacos, spanish rice, refried beans, chicken tamales and so many others that to pick just one is darn near impossible for me! LOL 🙂
My favorite Tex-Mex favorite is Fajitas. The chocolate chip pecan cookies look really good. Those would be good anytime. Can’t wait to read “The Good, the Bad and the Guacamole”.
If it’s a Texas dessert, it has to have pecans in it! Looks yummy! I grew up there and still love all kinds of dishes, chili and enchiladas for sure. And nothing beats a soft, warm tortilla with a little salsa! Thanks for the chance to win!
My favorite comfort food – cheese enchiladas, my favorite cookie – chocolate chip and a series that I know is going to be one of my favorites!! Many thanks for the opportunity to win!!
I love Fajitas! We have been making them for years and it’s so delicious.
The cookie recipe looks great!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Both the book and the recipe look YUMMY!
I would love to try Tex-Mex food, but due to my health issues with ANYTHING spicy, I can’t. Wish that I could it all looks so good.
I’m not sure what Tex Mex is but in my small town you have 6 choices where to eat ,3 Mexican delis and a whole grocery store with a bakery from scratch , deli and a meat counter to die for.. We use them all
I’m not sure what Tex Mex is. We like eating at places like Ponderosa, and Golden Corral.
Enchiladas and Chile rellanos!
I am not sure if this is tex-mex or just straight mex, but I love chimichangas!
I just love guac and my fav mex food is chili reaano i am not sure how to spell will have to look it up but i love it with sour creme and guac also love cheese enchiladas as you can tell i am not a spicy kind of person . I would love to read and post a few reviews.
Guacamole and chips would be my favorite Tex Mex treat. Chocolate chips and pecans are my two favorite ingredients to go in cookies! Thanks!
Tex Mex enchiladas are my favorite!! beef and cheese!
Our family is very fond of chili and enchiladas. But at 2 levels. My daughter and I prefer things a bit on the mild side. My son & hubby like it blazing hot. jalapenos with seeds and Tabasco sauce. Extra pepper flakes, etc. And as a side? Tortilla chips and guacamole. We make our own tortilla’s. Flour and corn. And the guacamole. Which we make often. Use it on sandwiches instead of mayo. Works as a salad dressing, too
Book looks most interesting. But the death scene? What a waste of guacamole.
Appreciate the intro to a new author and book cover and the post are real nice.
No but I want to try one!
Fajitas, definitely. oh, and Chile rellenos, and enchiladas, and burritos, and taquitos. yum yum, now I am hungry lol
I love all Tex-Mex foods.
I grew up in New Mexico. I’m not sure that our Mexican food was Tex-Mex, but we ate plenty of it. Now I live in Oklahoma, and I still wouldn’t say it’s Tex-Mexico. But I like the ‘real’ chili relleno (and it’s cheese stuffed), enchilada S (preferably flat), and tamales.
I’m not sure if I have a favorite tex mex dish. I do however like to try new things. If anyone has a good recipe let me know.
Fajitas are my favorite! Steak or chicken.