Last year I heard a lot of buzz about the new Bel MacGrath Mystery series by Maggie McConnon and was intrigued. My great-grandmother immigrated from Ireland to America so I’m drawn to everything Irish and loved the premise of the story. When I had a chance to read BEL OF THE BRAWL, the second book in the series, I jumped at the chance! Even though I still haven’t read the first book (I need to correct that soon!), this second book was easily read as a stand-alone. There is just enough backstory to help the reader know what’s going on but not so much that it detracts from the pace of the book. BEL OF THE BRAWL starts out with a flashback to a dark mystery surrounding Belfast ‘Bel’ McGrath the summer after graduating high school. She can’t remember what happened the night her best friend disappeared and became “the girl who never came home”. Bel moved away from Fosters Landing and moved on with her life, becoming a chef.
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Fifteen years later Bel is back home and working as head chef for her family’s Irish wedding venue, Shamrock Manor, where the murder of a groom during his wedding, threatens to ruin their business. When one of their waitresses disappears with a huge sum of money belonging to her family, Bel decides she needs to get some answers. It’s not long before unsavory characters make their way to Shamrock Manor and Bel has her hands full trying to find the killer before another murder takes place. Working with her traditional Irish parents and her four brothers leads to shenanigans that had me laughing out loud at numerous scenes. While there is, at times, heart-wrenching anguish over the loss of Bel’s best friend, the author provides many humorous interludes to break up the darkness so that the reader doesn’t get overwhelmed with the tragedy. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a dark mystery, but a traditional cozy with a long unsolved disappearance theme running through it. Ms. McConnon skillfully writes the transitions so that the flow and pace of the story never lags making me want more after I devoured the very last page!
While there aren’t any recipes included with the book, there are plenty of mouth-watering mentions of food coming from Bel’s kitchen. I was inspired to create a recipe for one of the appetizers she serves at the wedding: Scallops wrapped in bacon. I added the addition of a maple soy glaze brushed on to the bacon before broiling. Besides providing a delicious flavor, the sugars add to the caramelization during broiling. While I made these as appetizers that quickly disappeared from the platter, next time I will make more and serve over steamed white rice for an entrée.
Amazon Synopsis
Bel McGrath loves her work as a wedding chef. But with her latest event set to take place at Shamrock Manor, she just can’t seem to catch a break. The Casey wedding has left her with ten thousand greenbacks in the hole, a missing staff member, and a dead groom. Now, in between Guinness beers and pub brawls, Bel must find a way to crack the case—even though what she should be cracking are eggs into the batter of the wedding cake. A good Irish girl’s work is never done. . .
What begins as local town fodder for an episode of “Wedding Gone Wild” is turning into “Gangsters with Guns.” With the Casey family spiraling out of control, and billable McGrath hours being lost by the minute, Bel is definitely in too deep. With all these shenanigans, she barely has time to obsess over her new boyfriend and her own unsolved mystery from years ago! Time is running out on getting the next couple down the aisle before the so-called luck of the Irish takes a deadly turn… Bel of the Brawl will keep Maggie McConnon’s fans, new and old, guessing.
A special thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing a copy of BEL OF THE BRAWL for one lucky winner! Contest ends Thursday, March 23, 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!)
Ingredients
- 12 bacon slices
- 1/4 cup cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 12 large sea scallops (dry scallops are preferable)
- 24 Toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).
- Soak the toothpicks in water.
- Cut each bacon slice in half (kitchen shears work well for this task).
- Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange bacon pieces on sheet.
- Bake for 7 - 8 minutes, until bacon is partially cooked but not crisp.
- Remove baking sheet from oven and place bacon on paper towels to absorb grease and cool.
- Discard the bacon grease on the baking sheet, and wipe excess grease with a paper towel. Set baking sheet aside.
- Whisk together the maple syrup, soy sauce, and brown sugar.
- Slice each scallop in half, horizontally.
- Wrap each scallop in bacon and secure with a toothpick.
- Place the bacon-wrapped scallops on the baking sheet and brush with maple syrup glaze.
- Turn the oven on to broil and broil the scallops for 2 minutes. Be sure to carefully watch and if a piece starts getting overly brown, turn it over.
- Remove pan from the oven and turn each piece over then return to oven.
- Broil for another 2 to 3 minutes until bacon is done. Turn pieces over again as necessary to complete cooking.
- Remove to a serving plate and serve immediately.
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I received a copy of this book and willingly provided a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I got married on cliffs overlooking the ocean in Hawaii. We had to hike in to get there, so I wore tennis shoes for the hike, then changed into heels for the wedding photos.
No, not really. Most have been in churches, or a couple outdoor ones.
I’ve only been to one wedding, and I was a junior bridemade. I was in a church.
I’ve never been to a wedding in a unique location but when my granddaughter married a few years ago, my son-in-law arranged for a special appearance of Star Wars characters in authentic costumes during the reception because both the bride and groom are huge fans.
I attended a fun family wedding in San Diego several years ago – it was held in a historic hotel in
the Gaslamp area and was a great opportunity to visit Coronado Island, enjoy Balboa Park, etc. The marriage didn’t last but the memories are happy ones.
The only wedding held in a non-traditional place that I’ve attended was an outdoor venue that was just gorgeous. So nothing really that unusual I guess.
Churches or areas set up for weddings- like a dude ranch.
overlooking the local lake is about as unique of a wedding as I have attended. Always wished someone would have an oddball wedding for fun
To be honest my wedding was the most unique wedding I have been to. I know that sounds crazy, but here’s a quick story. I was late to my own wedding, and while we were driving to the beautiful park that we were to get married in, it started pouring down rain. I was so upset! The guests that were already there didn’t stick around, obviously. Two of my bridesmaids were there, and they got soak, along with my husband to be. As I’m having a fit in the back seat of the car, my sister was on the phone with my husband to be, Jeff. When everyone tried to escape the rain, they ran into a Panera Bread that was right at the corner. Well, Jeff made arrangements to have the wedding there. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Panera Bread was soooo gracious, and allowed us to be married in there restaurant. There were customers in there already, who became part of my wedding day! They laid a white runner down the aisle in between the tables, and our unity candle was on a trash can. Guess what? We loved every minute of it, and on every anniversary, we laugh about it. You can actually read our wedding story, and see some pictures on Panera Bread.com.
Oh my goodness, that is the best wedding story, ever!!! Thanks for sharing!
Not really. I have attended on on the beach.
My husband’s nephew was married at a winery and the reception was also held there. It was a beautiful day and the smell of the grapes on the vine were mouth watering. Thanks so much for the opportunity to learn more about this book.
A wedding chef sounds like a great protagonist for this series. And who cannot love scallops WITH BACON!
No only in churchs
I attended a co-workers wedding were all co-workers were invited. It was held in a Community Park and it was an all day affair. First thing the wedding and many kids attending were given horns and whistles to parade after the new bride and groom . It was a wonderful fun filled day with the park filled with laughter and food.
I have never been to a destination wedding — maybe one of these days. I love maple-glazed bacon but never would have thought of pairing it with scallops. This is definitely a must-try dish!
I once was at a wedding that they held outdoors just like if we were camping. I was really surprised as the girl that was getting married was a Ms Priss and couldn;t figure out why she was having it in the woods where they had camped but then i never featured her camping to start with. Bacon wrapped scallops sounds so good and so does a print copy of the book sounds great!
This looks very tasty. Just the right combination of flavors and textures.
I’ve only ever attended church or civil weddings in the usual places… blessed events all! The book sounds liker a cracker- I’m looking forward to it ?
Cheers-
Kelly Braun
Nope. All the weddings we been to were just simple weddings. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy Bel Of The Brawl.
I’ve only been to simple weddings, nothing fancy and not sure I would eat a Scallop anyway! Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy of Bel of the Brawl.
Mine…we had our wedding at an farmhouse-style B&B called the Wine & Roses. It was a glorious garden setting where we had a delicious lunch and danced under the oak trees.
I did attend a long, long time ago a wedding in the woods with a Renaissance themed wedding, a wedding on a boat, my dad’s second wedding at a roadside chapel in Lake Tahoe, and one in an old little church up at the gold rush museum in Coloma.
Despite not the typical religious cathedral venue, all were a marvelous celebration of love. Me? Married to that guy in the gray tuxedo who said ‘I Do!’
No, I’ve never been to a wedding in a unique venue. I’ve been to a couple in a backyard and that was pretty, gazebos and lights. I haven’t known a lot of people who got married that I could attend their wedding. That makes me sad, I love weddings!
I have only attended the traditional church weddings and receptions afterwards.
Not very many weddings, and they have usually been buffet style. This looks amazing though, great idea!
Outdoors on shore of Lake Tahoe.
My wedding was in Las Vegas. No unusual locations or weddings
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No unusual weddings for me. All were at churches, or Lodges. Although I was remarried 6 months after I got married. My Grandmother told my new hubby she was so sorry to miss our wedding. Extenuating circumstances had prevented her from going. Jim left shortly after that. When he got back he told her we’d like to take her to lunch. But on the way there was something she could do for us if she would. We arrived at the courthouse to find a justice of the peace waiting. He performed our marriage with my grandmother in attendance. Made her day. And mine. It was so thoughtful of him.
I love going to wineries. They are beautiful and smell wonderful.
No, I’ve never attended at wedding other than at a church.
My niece decided to get married out in the middle of TVA Reservation under a huge old tree but it had a road beside it for convenience. The original Preacher had gotten sick so they ended up with a very elderly man who kept telling her to mind her husband every other word and we could see the steam coming from her head. Her to be Husband kept interrupting him on that. At the same time Cars kept circling and yelling and screaming all during the wedding and we couldn’t figure out what was going on…later someone told us it was a pickup spot. At the Wedding dinner though we all had a good laugh.
Never been to a unique wedding.
This book sounds great. There’s nothing better than combining food with reading. The recipe looks amazing. I’ve had bacon wrapped scallops but not with those ingredients. Thanks for the review, recipe, and a chance to win this book!
I left the comment before entering the contest. I haven’t been to a wedding other than a church or at someone’s house.
I’ve been to weddings inside a barn, ouside a barn sitting on hay bales, at an historical house, on top a hill under an arbor with the preacher in a long frock coat (western preacher garb) and double 6-shooters he fired at end of ceremony .
No I have never been to a wedding that was unusual however my son is getting married this September. He is a Civil War Reenactor and he will be in his uniform for the wedding as will all of his friends.
Yummy! I have never attended a wedding held at a unique location.
Not really. A lot of beautiful outdoor and indoor locations with some fun activities at the receptions but nothing that unique.
Book sounds wonderful, new author for me. I have attended a wedding at the Arista Winery last June in Healdsburg CA. Thanks