I am very happy to be able to help celebrate Linda Wiken’s new release, TOASTING UP TROUBLE, in her brand new Dinner Club Mystery series! I first met Linda this past February during the Left Coast Crime conference in Phoenix and had a chance to talk about her new series. I loved the premise of her book and couldn’t wait to read it!
Synopsis
J.J. Tanner works for Make It Happen, an event planning company owned by her best friend, Skye Drake. Business is growing for them in Half Moon Bay, Vermont and J.J. is busy planning an Italian designer themed 21st birthday celebration. The catering company she contracted with quits a week before the party and talented Chef Marcotti agrees to step in due to the prestige of J.J.’s client. However, at the last minute the arrogant chef demands J.J. accept his extremely expensive signature dish even though the budget doesn’t allow for it. J.J. think she’s got a handle on the situation until she finds out that the sneaky chef served the dish anyway at the party and expects her to pay for it! Late, after the party, tempers fly and the chef threatens her during their vocal argument.
J.J. returns to the client’s home to supervise the cleanup and finds that the chef was murdered. The police question her and consider her a strong suspect since she was the last person to be seen with the chef. However, J.J. finds out that one of her friends, Evan, from her Culinary Capers Dinner Club is a suspect too. Chef Marcotti cheated Evan out of money and they had a huge public argument. Knowing that she and her friend are innocent, J.J. decides to ask questions and clear their names. It doesn’t take long before she finds out a lot of people in town had reasons to want the chef dead. Can she sift through the clues and find the killer or will she take the blame?
My Review
It’s always fun to start a brand new series with the very first book. Linda Wiken did not disappoint with her new culinary cozy. I loved how the murder mystery was intertwined with J.J.’s Culinary Capers Dinner Club. The links between her friend being a suspect to another member being a police officer to the other members wanting to help find clues (which, of course, did not please the police officer!) kept the story flowing. J.J. starts out being a tentative cook when she joins the Dinner club, but I enjoyed how she gained confidence as time goes on, turning her love for collecting cookbooks into actually cooking from them. And boy would I love to be able to browse through J.J.’s collection! I have my own “small” collection of cookbook and dessert decorating books but there’s something that draws me to beautiful food photos and I find I can’t resist buying just one more book. The author introduces and develops the characters setting the stage for both this mystery and subsequent books which slowed the beginning down just a bit. But once the murder takes place the pace of the book accelerates and kept me turning pages to find answers! There are plenty of suspects and red herrings that kept me guessing until the very end…and what a surprise ending it was!
Of course a Dinner Club themed book must have food and Linda provided plenty of it. From the descriptions of dishes prepared for the dinner club and the recipes included at the back of the book I was ready to eat. One of the recipes Linda shares is Roasted Pears, which I found perfect for serving as a light dessert on a hot summer night. Super fast to prepare with just the right amount of sweetness, the Roasted Pears can be topped with any fresh seasonal fruit, a splash of liqueur, and a creamy dollop of light Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese. I added some toasted nuts for additional texture and visual appeal. This is another one of those desserts that I didn’t share with anyone else. It was equally wonderful eaten while the pears were still warm and then again chilled, which makes it convenient to make ahead of time. Thank you, Linda, for allowing me to share your delectable dessert!
A very special thank you to Linda Wiken for providing an autographed copy of TOASTING UP TROUBLE! (U.S. and Canadian residents only.) Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Thursday, July 14, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Roasted Pears
One of the characters in the book, Beth, is always looking for light, healthy desserts to balance the delicious baked goods and pastries she sells in Cups ‘n Roses. Mix and match the ingredients according to seasonal produce. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Roasted Pears
3 ripe pears
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
Zest from one large lime
Garnishments
1 cup Greek-style plain yogurt or smooth ricotta
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries
Clementines
Seeds from one medium pomegranate
Toasted walnuts, pecans, or almonds
Limoncello or Chambord
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
Line baking pan with parchment paper.
Halve pears lengthwise, remove stems and cores.
Place pears on baking sheet, cut side up; drizzle with honey or maple syrup and sprinkle with lime zest.
Bake for 18 – 20 minutes, depending on size of pears, until softened.
When done, place portions on individual dessert plates, top with yogurt or ricotta, and sprinkle with desired add-ons.
Drizzle with Limoncello or Chambord to taste.
Tip
If you aren’t going to serve the pears right away, drizzle a bit of the lime juice over the cut surface to cut down on the browning.
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I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks for the recipe, it sounds good, I am looking forward to reading this,
Penney
I have not participated in a dinner club although the idea intrigues me! One of the main reasons I haven’t pursued joining one is that my food allergies would prohibit me from enjoying everything that is prepared and I would hate to be the person to limit what other participants could make.
We did try a dinner club for a brief period of time. Had one child that just did not want to eat most of what was on the schedule. And though the rest of us enjoyed it and the other members insisted it wasn’t a problem. I didn’t think it was fair to subject others to her sullen brat attitude. Granted she can’t help most of it. And it really wasn’t to bad. She’s older now and has finally agreed to some treatment and can be more easily left behind. Think we will try again. Hadn’t thought about it in a long time. Thanks for reminding me.
The pear recipe should be a breeze. We love all the berries and we have a Bartlett pear tree in the back yard. Thanks for the recipe and a chance at the book
I have never participated in a supper club. I’ve also never tried roasted pears, but looks good! Thanks!
I have never participated in a supper or dinner club. I’d like to try this recipe. It sounds like one I would enjoy! Thank you!
Sounds yummy. I’ve never been part of a supper club. Our small town doesn’t do them.
The recipe sounds delicious, no supper club here.?
My book club always served dinner, usually with the menu related to the book. Since moving I’ve not been involved with another book club. The pear recipe sounds easy and delicious. And Toasting Up Trouble sounds delectable!!
No I haven’t but it sounds so fun.
The recipe looks good. I have never participated in a dinner club but my sister-in-law has. She thought it was wonderful but a lot of work.
A treat for the tummy, and a treat for the mind. I can’t wait to try them both.
Love to cook, looking forward to trying this recipe. Have added this book to my tbr list!!!
I’ve never been a part of a supper club. Sounds like a great idea.
I have not participated in a dinner or supper club.
I have not been privileged to be a participant in a supper club. It sounds like an interesting activity to partake in
but not sure it would work in my rural area. Thanks for the chance to enter the giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
I have not participated in a dinner club, as a matter of fact I’ve never heard of one, that’s one of the reasons this book caught my eye, it sounds like it would be fun.
Well, I guess you could call it a ‘club,’ but not ‘supper.’ Myself and four friends met every month for Saturday lunch. We went to various restaurants, cafes, and specialty places to enjoy a meal and gossip. A few times lunch was changed to dinner. It is fun!
No, I ‘ve never participated in a dinner or supper club. Thanks for sharing this pear recipe.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot) com
For a brief while, some friends and I had a supper club — it was a lot of fun!
I have never participated in a dinner club but am intrigued with the concept. Now on my list to locate!!
No, I haven’t . Sounds like fun , though .
Yes, our church had a group we called F.E.A.S.T. ( Friends Eating and Sharing Together)
What a yummy recipe!! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!!!
My brother belongs to a club in downtown Buffalo, which is more than a supper club, but we go there for our formal dining. The recipe and book sound delicious. Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for the chance
I have never participated in a dinner or supper club. The pear recipe looks amazing, can’t wait to give it a try.
Yummy recipe and thanks for offering the giveaway!
I have not participated in a supper or dinner club. Thank you for the chance to win.
No I have not..but it looks like fun!
No, I have never been involved in a large supper club. ??
I’ve never attended a dinner or supper club. Does sound like fun though. Can’t wait to read the new book!!
I have been on a sunset dinner cruise in Hawaii, but no supper clubs
Thanks for the giveaway! I’ve never participated in a dinner club but it sounds like it would be fun.
Hi Kim! No, I’ve not participated in a supper/dinner club, but, I’ve always liked doing a “progressive dinner” with family or friends. They are a bunch of fun! Thanks for the chance at the give-a-way.
I haven’t ever been a part of a supper/dinner club. It’s something I kind of wish I could try though. Thanks for sharing the recipe and thanks as well for the chance to win.
Never have participated but it always seemed like it would be fun! And the pear recipe sounds delicious– would even be appropriate for the fall!