Simmer Down

I've read both Steamed and Simmer Down--they are now on my "favorites" list. Very entertaining, particularly for food-o-philes who will love the passionate and detailed way that food is described. The recipes included are a real bonus. Very contemporary story lines that make these two books both fast reads and great beach books! Can't wait for the next one!

Chloe Carter finally feels that her life is falling into place. She's managed to leave the Online dating scene in the dust by snagging a hottie boyfriend, Josh Driscoll, who just happens to be a chef with the ability to concoct amazing meals out of little to no ingredients; she's finally getting the hang of working at the Boston Organization Against Sexual and Other Harassment In the Workplace - aka The Organization - by advising callers to commit brutality towards their offenders; and she's free from school - at least until the holidays are over. All in all, everything is perfect. That is, until Chloe takes into consideration the amount of time the new love of her life will have to slave away at his job, as the head chef at new Boston hotspot, Simmer. Sure, Chloe wants Josh to succeed in his chosen career, but she also wants him around to cook her elaborate dinners, and cuddle when it gets cold outside. And his new job, working six days a week? It sure doesn't seem to leave room for Chloe. Things only seem to get worse when Josh's ex-girlfriend, and turkey burger fanatic, Hannah Hicks, makes an appearance at a fund-raiser where The Organization and Simmer have teamed up to give out pamphlets about harassment, and offer samples of Josh's decadent creations. Hannah is as horrible as Chloe pictured her to be: thin, well put together, pretty...the list goes on and on. It doesn't help that Hannah seems convinced that she's going to reclaim her man, and cast Chloe out of the picture. But things turn sour when, during the fund-raiser, Oliver Kipper, the owner of a string of trendy Boston nightclubs - that feature atrocious frozen foods on the menu - turns up dead. Chloe doesn't want to be involved in yet another murder, but, alas, the deceased was found bludgeoned to death at the hands of Josh's newest toy - a professional-grade food-processor titled the Robocoupe - landing her, and her beloved, smack dab in the middle of another homicide investigation. Luckily, Josh isn't even a suspect in this case, leaving Chloe interested in pinning the murder on someone she despises - like little Miss Hannah. But, as much as Chloe would love to see Hannah arrested, and locked behind bars, she finds that there's no proof linking Hannah to Oliver's untimely demise. In fact, other than the fact that Hannah was working for Oliver's company, the Full Moon Group, there's no evidence that she wanted him dead. Unfortunately, there is a finger pointing at someone close to Chloe - her granola-loving, Birkenstock-wearing boss, Naomi Campbell. Naomi is known to hold grudges against any sexual harassment offenders she encounters, and word about town is that the wealthy Oliver was known to go way beyond flirting. In fact, he was often found surfing the touchy-feely wave, leaving both female employees and acquaintances, with a desire to avoid the creep. Chloe can't help but wonder if one of his conquests didn't kill him for going too far. But, in the same thought, that leaves Ol

Simmer Down is part cozy, part chick-lit, and part cookbook -- three of my favorite types of books. Loved the recipe for Seared Shrimp with Corn Polenta and Sweet Corn Sauce at the back of the book -- and can't wait to try more of the recipes. Looking forward to the next installment!

Loved the first Gourmet Girl Mystery - Steamed. Love this one, too! Chloe sniffs out a murder plot as though it were a plate of Josh's culinary concoctions. Surrounded with an engaging cast of characters, Chloe brings a witty, quirky and sometimes self-deprecating charm you won't find elsewhere! Can't wait for the third title in the series!!

This Christmas Chloe Carter believes life is great as she has a terrific loving boyfriend, Josh Driscoll, who is also a gourmet chef. When they met he was between jobs so she was his only "customer" in the kitchen and in bed. However, Josh has accepted the executive chef position at Simmer, a restaurant opening on New Year 's Eve in downtown Boston's posh Newbury Street so is quite busy with hiring and the menu. However, to showcase their food in advance, Simmer has provided some of their items at the Food for Thought fundraiser. Things are defiantly looking good until someone kills Oliver Kipper of the Full Moon Group using Josh's state of the art Robocoupe food processor as a murder weapon. The publicity helps make the new restaurant a success, but Chloe realizes the notoriety in the long run is not good so she begins to draw up a list of suspects starting with Josh's ex girlfriends that could fill up Fenway Park. This is a fun "Gourmet Girl" mystery as a STEAMED Chloe seeks a motive and opportunity to narrow down her list; however, motives and opportunity are abundant so she has a standing room only horde to inquire about. Readers will enjoy the heroine's escapades as she risks her life to uncover the identity of a killer. The mother-daughter author team provides the audience with a delicious chick lit cozy filled with lists, recipes and asides as Chloe takes on Beantown. Harriet Klausner