I love when I come across a book that fits the seasonal theme of when I’m reading it. Such is the case of DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER, the ninth book in the Hayley Powell Mystery series by Lee Hollis. Set against the theme of a summer vacation, we find the protagonist, Hayley, heading on summer vacation to Salmon Cove, Maine with her two best friends, Mona and Liddy. The author provides a generous amount of description to help the reader experience this vacation as if you are really there… and had me chuckling from the get-go! First off, Mona and Libby are exact polar opposites, which gives plenty of opportunities for some very humorous situations. Especially when the three women pull up in front of Mona’s family cabin for their stay… no spoilers, but I think my mouth was left hanging open!
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It doesn’t take long for Libby to be smitten by a man, but then things take a turn for the worse when he’s found murdered on the beach during the lobster festival. The strength of their friendship is shown as they put their differences aside and work together to clear Libby’s name. Most cozies have murders that take place in a town where everyone knows everyone else. With this murder happening in a vacation setting among strangers, Hayley has to work harder to find suspects and dig below the surface to discover their secrets. The author provides enough clues with a few twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages. I found that there was never a dull moment in the book and enjoyed the constant action and humorous dialog. While I’m embarrassed to say that this is the first book I’ve read in this series (trust me, I’ll be trying to catch up and my only excuse is too many books, not enough time!) it was easily read as a standalone. I enjoyed reading Hayley’s food and cocktails column that she writes for the Bar Harbor newspaper. Not only does she share wonderful recipes via her column, she doles out bits and pieces of her childhood and backstory in a creative way.
Now a book with lobster lover in the title is bound to have lobster recipes… and Lee Hollis does not disappoint! So many delicious dishes are provided and I wanted to try them all! In the end I chose to make the recipe for Luscious Lobster Mac & Cheese… oh my! I found it easy to make and even though I didn’t put a ton of lobster in the dish, the flavor came through to provide a rich and satisfying meal. It’s a less pricey way to enjoy lobster without breaking the bank. I’m not sure if it’s a regional thing, but the majority of mac & cheese recipes I make don’t call for a crumb topping (even when ordering out in restaurants in California, you typically don’t see a topping). But I tried the Ritz Crackers topping Lee includes with her recipe and I’ll have to admit, the buttery crunch added another delectable layer to this already delicious dish! Luscious Lobster Mac & Cheese is definitely a company-worthy dish! Please note that I made only half of a recipe for the photos since I didn’t have enough people available at the time to share the dish with. I’ve included half measurements in the video.
Amazon Synopsis
Food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell is off on a girls’ getaway with her two best friends. But soon they’ll have to get away from a killer…
The quaint fishing village of Salmon Cove, Maine, seems like the ideal location for a girls’ weekend with Hayley’s gal pals, Liddy and Mona. Liddy’s on the rebound from a breakup, but when she meets a handsome tourist, it looks like a little romance might liven things up.
Unfortunately, Liddy’s new sweetheart is found dead on the beach the next morning at the town’s Lobster Bake, next to an overturned cooking pot. The liberated lobsters may be scrambling back to the sea, but Hayley’s not about to let a murderer escape so easily. To crack the case, she’ll need to blow the lid off some serious undercover activity—or risk becoming ensnared in a killer’s trap…
A huge thank you to Lee Hollis for providing a print copy of DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER for one lucky winner! Contest ends Monday, July 17 29, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)
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- 1 16-ounce box pasta shells (or your favorite pasta)
- 6 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 cups milk (2% or whole)
- 1 cup sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup gruyere cheese, shredded
- 1 cup fontina cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon each: salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder
- 4 - 5 small lobster tails, cooked and chopped into chunks
- 2 cups Ritz Crackers, crushed
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
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Cook your pasta to almost al dente according to the directions on the box.
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Drain and set aside.
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While the pasta is cooking, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter of the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
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Whisk in the flour, then slowly add your milk.
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Whisk until it begins to thicken a bit, add your cheeses, and keep stirring until they are melted.
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Remove from heat and add your salt, pepper, and garlic.
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In a large bowl, add your pasta, chopped lobster, and cheese sauce. Stir to combine, making sure all the pasta is evenly coated in the cheese sauce.
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Pour into a greased 13" x 9" baking dish.
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In a small saucepan melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and mix with the cracker crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the lobster and pasta.
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Bake in a preheated 375 degree (F) oven for 25 to 30 minutes until hot and bubbly and cracker crumbs are golden brown.
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Remove from the oven and let the dish sit for at least 10 minutes before digging in! Bon appetit!
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I was provided a copy of this book with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
No, I’ve never been to a lobster festival.
Never been to a Lobster Fest.
No but I know I would enjoy it. I love eating lobster. The lobster mac and cheese looks delicious!
I have never been to one, but it sounds like fun! I do love to attend festivals. I am attending a watermelon festival in the small town I grew up in this Saturday.
I have had lobster mac and cheese but I forget which restraunt had it. It wasn’t somewhere I normally ate. I haven’t been to a lobster fest but I have been to other seafood fests- I live in Florida. They are everywhere. Thanks for the chance to win.
I have not! But it certainly seems like something worth celebrating!
Not yet would like to.
I’m really not sure. I remember when rather young we were touring the states, in the Chesapeake Bay area, if I remember right, and we were attending some sort of event. Us kids were giving the folks a hard time. That I do remember. This was back in late 50’s so my memory is very vague
I have never been to one.
I have never been to a lobster festival, but I have been to several crawfish ones!
No I have never been to a lobster festival
Yes I help event plan many lobster fests. So much fun.
I’ve been to a seafood festival, but never a lobster festival.
Totally enjoy this series!! Look forward to next one too!!!!!!!! Great series!!!
No, but I’ve been to lobster dinner parties where the lobsters have been flown in!
Never had the pleasure of attending a lobster fest but would certainly like to enjoy one! Your book sounds fun ? Thanks for chance to win!
I’ve never been to a lobster fest but do go to Lobster truck every chance we ca. We do have a Crawdad fest in the next town over.
Living in landlocked Minnesota, I’ve never been to a lobster festival. But I’d sure like to try that recipe—YUM!
I have been to a lobster fest….might be fun though.
I’ve never been to a lobster fest. And (gasp!) I’ve never had lobster. I do like this series by Lee Hollis and would love to win a copy.
No I have never been to a lobster festival. Sounds like it would be fun and delicious!
Never have I ever been to a lobster festival. Thanks for the review & giveaway.
No, I’ve never been to a lobster festival.
Lobster Festivals? No, but it is on my ‘bucket’ list…my big, big bucket-full list! I’ve been to crap feeds and crawdad festivals along with asparagus, garlic, pear, and jazz festivals. I think I’d have to go to the east coast source for a lobster festival, and being on the west coast that makes it a big vacation…big delicious vacation! Who wants to go? I’m in
OH, MY…CRAB CRAB CRAB…I AM SO SORRY. PERSONAL OR AUTO CORRECT FAILED.
You have me in stitches, Kathleen…Word Press is in serious need of emojis, lol! I hope there’s not any of the other kind of festival 🙂
We go to Maine each summer and visit Bar Harbor serveral times while we are there.
I’m not convinced about putting lobster in mac&cheese. Think I’ll have my lobster on its own with the M&C as a side.
I like the idea of the Ritz cracker topping.
I have never been to a lobster festival but, when my brother was stationed in Biddeford, Maine many decades ago, I got to eat my fill of lobster at one of the local restaurants. I will definitely be trying this recipe out!
No, I’ve never been to a lobster festival, but maybe one day I will get an opportunity to go!
Unfortunately, I’ve never been to a lobster festival…but I’d go in a heartbeat!
I’ve never been to a lobster festival before but I would certainly like to! Eventually I hope to live near the ocean. I really enjoy this series and can’t wait to read this new one.
No I never been to a lobster festival. I haven’t eaten any lobster either. But I would love to win a print copy of Death Of A Lobster Lover. Thank you for the chance.
I have never been to a lobster festival, nor have I ever heard of one!! I can’t wait to try this Lobster Mac and Cheese!! And your book sounds really fun, too.
No I have not but would love to go to a lobster fest. I have seen them on tv!
Love mac n cheese would be interesting to add lobster
No, I have never been to a lobster festival. I would really like to sometime.
I have never been to a lobster festival. We don’t have anything like that in Northern Indiana. ??
I’ve only been to the Lobster Festivals that Red Lobster has once a year. Would love to go to one in Maine. Love this series. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’ve never been to a lobster festival. And doubt I ever will go to one.
I may be one of only a few that think lobster is much ado about nothing. I think it has no taste, and don’t care for the texture. Sorry.
Not an actual lobster fest but a lobster buffet…solid lobster…terrific…and all this is making me hungry…thank you for the review and contest. The Cover looks great.
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We tend to have more oyster festivals than lobster festivals in our area. But they are a great way to try a variety of lobster dishes. I love lobster mac and cheese! Will definitely try this recipe.
I have never been but would like to go someday
I’ve never been to a lobster fest but I would love to go to one someday!
I have never been to a lobster festival. I probably should someday since I love lobster so much. Great recipe for lobster mac and cheese. I make my own version with different cheese.
I have never been to a lobster festival but that sounds amazing! I love lobster!
We have been to several lobster fests in either Maine or Prince Edward Island. Love the memories.
I’ve never lived anywhere that would have a lobster festival but that sounds like fun!
No, but a national chain restaurant has good lobster!
No, but it sounds delicious!
I’ve never been to one. Probably because I live in Ohio, nowhere near the ocean. 🙂 It sounds like tons of fun, though! And tasty.
Never been to a lobster fest. Book sounds interesting! Best of luck with the release!
I’ve never been to a lobster festival. I can imagine all the yummy goodness that would be there.
Living along the northeast corner of Ohio along the shores of Lake Erie there aren’t many lobster festivals but we do have a walleye and wine festival in Ashtabula, OH. The lobster mac and cheese looks so delicious I’m going to try it for a special occasion.
No, but it sounds like it could be fun!
I have never been but it sure sounds like fun.
No but would love to!
Have not been to one . Sounds like it would be fun.
I’ve never been to a lobster festival but it sounds like it would be fun.
Only at Red Lobster. I do love seafood and festivals of all kinds.
I’ve not been to a lobster fest but two years ago when we took our bucket list trip to the New England states in the fall eating all the lobster we wanted in every form was on top of our lists of things to do on the trip. 🙂