| Title | : | Revenge Is Sweet (Vintage Sweets Mysteries #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1516105435 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781516105434 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 178 |
| Publication | : | First published March 10, 2020 |
Tally Holt has poured her heart, soul, and bank account into Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets, specializing in her grandmother’s delicious recipes. Tally’s homemade Mallomars, Twinkies, fudges, and taffy are a hit with visiting tourists—and with Yolanda Bella, the flamboyant owner of Bella’s Baskets next door. But both shops encounter a sour surprise when local handyman Gene Faust is found dead in Tally’s kitchen, stabbed with Yolanda’s scissors.
The mayor’s adopted son, Gene was a handsome Casanova with a bad habit of borrowing money from the women he wooed. It’s a sticky situation for Yolanda, who was one of his marks. There are plenty of other likely culprits among Fredericksburg’s female population, and even among Gene’s family. But unless Tally can figure out who finally had their fill of Gene’s sweet-talking ways, Yolanda—and both their fledgling businesses—may be destined for a bitter end . . .
Revenge Is Sweet (Vintage Sweets Mysteries #1) Reviews
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Revenge Is Sweet, Deadly Sweet Tooth and Into the Sweet Hereafter by Kaye George are the first three books of the cozy Vintage Sweets Mysteries series. Each book of the series does contain it’s own mystery to be solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is however some character development that carries over from book to book for those that read the series from the beginning.
The Vintage Sweets Mysteries series features Tally Holt who owns Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets in Fredericksburg, Texas where she recreates her grandmother’s old recipes. Tally is good friends with the owner of the shop next door, Bella’s Baskets, Yolanda Bella. Tally and Yolanda’s first adventure in nabbing a murderer came when Tally found a body in her kitchen that had been stabbed with Yolanda’s scissors so of course they need to cross themselves off the suspect list. From the on Tally and Bella have had to again and again track down murderers in the quaint town.
The Vintage Sweets Mysteries series is another cozy mystery series that really seems to have all the things I could ask for in a mystery series but yet I still found myself walking away thinking just that was alright. There was just a spark missing that really pulls me into loving cozy series and I thought perhaps it was just having more characters and shorter stories that didn’t give a lot of chance for depth but even after reading the first three I just wasn’t wowed and that the were just ok mysteries.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
https://carriesbookreviews.com/ -
In the lovely little tourist town of Fredericksburg, Texas, Tally Holt has opened a vintage candy store, Tally's Olde Tyme Sweets next door to Bella's Baskets owned by her best friend, Yolanda Bella. When Gene Faust, the mayor's adopted son and notorious womanizer, is found murdered in Tally's shop with Yolanda's scissors, the two friends immediately become suspects. Can they find the killer before one of them is arrested for the crime?
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a promising start to a new series. With the author's vivid description, I instantly fell in love with the charming little town of Fredericksburg, and the candy shop setting with all the delectable sweets. I found Tally and Yolanda to be likable and relatable characters and their friendship felt realistic to me. The murder mystery was intriguing and had plenty of suspects to choose from. It wasn't too difficult to figure out the identity of the culprit and their motive for the murders, but I still enjoyed watching the mystery unravel. This was a fun and delightful cozy that drew me in right from the start and kept me hooked until the last page. I will definitely be reading the second book. A delicious recipe for homemade twinkies is included at the end.
I received an ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. -
I was so excited when I heard I was getting the chance to visit Texas! Fredericksburg, Texas to be exact, and I was going to be meeting Tally Holt and her best friend Yolanda Bell. They own shops right next door to each other...Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets and Bella’s Baskets….sounds like so much fun! Well upon arriving it was until…... Tally’s fridge broke down, and she had to bring in Gene Faust. Gene is Fredericksburg’s bad boy….and adopted son of the mayor. It seems Gene has been dating well….everybody, and these women rightly don’t want to share. Yolanda, Mart, and Andrea (that we know of). Now...I know I mentioned that Yolanda and Tally’s shops are right next to each other, but what I didn’t mention until now are Mart and Andrea. These two women are part time employees at Olde Tyme Sweets. This means in a very small town Gene was dating at least three women who worked within a few yards from each other….not smart Gene...not smart. Gene also had a tendency to use women, and borrow money that he didn’t have intentions of paying back.
So it’s no surprise that when Gene comes to fix the aforementioned broken refrigerator...things get a little sticky (get it cause it’s a candy shop lol), however murder seems a little drastic...but that is exactly what happened.
There are several suspects...considering all the people who didn’t exactly love Gene and his choices. Plus because he is killed in tally’s store with a pair of scissors from Bella’s Baskets these two friends are among the top suspects. So Tally and myself set out to find the real culprit. We really have our hands full...along the way her brother Cole stops in for a visit with Nigel a coon cat that seems he is more mountain lion then cat, money is missing from her stores till, and oh yeah a second murder!
My thoughts:
I really loved the setting! I love cozies in quaint small towns with lots of touristy shops. An old time Candy store really fits that bill. The author did a great job with the mystery...with lots of good suspects and motives! The cover art is cute...feels very cozy!
I didn’t care for the two narrators that flipped flopped sometimes without any notice. The character development needs to be stronger...including Tally and Yolanda. I think the author has a lot of potential in her secondary characters...again they just need more development. Her mom and dad sound like a hoot!
My actual rating for this book is 3.5 stars. This series has a lot of potential, and I look forward to visiting Tally’s olde time sweets soon! I recommend you stop in, and while you're there try one of Tally’s homemade whoopie pies!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Kaye George, and the publisher for this opportunity. -
A good start to a sweet new cozy series taking place in the cozy tourist town of Fredericksburg, Texas. Two friends split the role of protagonist (IMO)—Tally Holt, owner of Olde Tyme Sweets, and Yolanda Bella, owner of Bella’s Baskets. Both are hard workers intent on operating successful businesses on their own. Missing money from the cash drawer and a murder in Tally’s kitchen create unwanted havoc in their shops and on their nerves.
I enjoyed the charming setting, and the Maine coon cat, Nigel. The murder mystery was intriguing and following along as it unfolded was nice and relaxing. However, the main female characters were continually weak and fell flat for me. The killer reveal was surprising and the author offered several suspicious culprits. My actual rating is 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Underground. Thank you. -
Revenge is Sweet by Kaye George is the debut novel in The Vintage Sweets Mysteries. Tally Holt has opened Old Tyme Sweets next door to Bella’s Baskets owned by Tally’s best friend, Yolanda Bella. When the local Romeo handyman, Gene ends up dead in her kitchen, Yolanda finds herself the prime suspect. Tally searches for the killer so she can clear Yolanda from suspicion. I enjoyed the descriptions of Fredericksburg, Texas and the charming shops in the tourist town. I also liked the delectable descriptions of Tally’s sweet confections. I was put off, though, by the point-of-view being split between Tally and Yolanda. It was confusing because both characters seemed similar. Plus, it took me out of the story as I adjusted to the new speaker. The characters felt flat and lacked development. They never came to life for me. I thought the mystery was too simple. I was able to identify the guilty party immediately (there might as well have been a giant neon arrow over the killer’s head). Tally questions people as does Yolanda. They are both obvious and abrupt when talking to people (the way they questioned people made it sound like accusations). There is a lot of personal drama happening for various characters in Revenge is Sweet. Tally has her brother visiting town and he brought his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Nigel (my favorite character in the book). Nigel is a large Maine Coon cat with a sweet personality. You can tell the brother is trying to unload Nigel on Tally. Yolanda has financial trouble and issues with her father. She also has terrible taste in men and lacks business acumen. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I also found some conflicting details. I also thought it was gross when Tally failed to hire a crime scene clean up crew for her kitchen after the first body was removed. I do not believe the local health inspector would be happy with the do-it-yourself job. I know it is fiction, but little details are important for a believable story. Romance is in the air for our two main characters. There are two potential suitors for Tally (unfortunately). Revenge is Sweet needed another round of rewrites and editing in my opinion. There is a recipe for twinkies at the end (homemade version) and a preview of Deadly Sweet Tooth which is the second book in the series. Revenge is Sweet is a new cozy mystery with tempting treats, sharp scissors, money misfortunes, fridge on the fritz, proof of pilfering and multiple murders.
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Tally Holt has just opened a vintage sweets shop next to the basket shop operated by her best friend, Yolanda Bella, in the town of Fredericksburg, Texas. Tally’s opened in time for tourist season, and she’s hoping that will give her new business a boost. However, things get derailed when she finds a body in her kitchen. The victim was Gene Faust, the mayor’s adopted son. Gene didn’t have a good reputation, dating multiple women and borrowing money from all of them. Yolanda was one of his victims, and her scissors are the murder weapon. Can Tally and Yolanda figure out what really happened before one of them is arrested for the crime?
This book gets off to a good start, with several strong suspects before Gene even dies. From there, we have fun watching Tally and Yolanda try to figure out who actually committed the crime. The clues are woven into the story well, but one aspect of the plot is never fully explained. Who killed Gene and why is solved, however. The book is written third person from both Tally and Yolanda’s points of view. These switches definitely help tell the story and are always easy to follow. The characters could have been stronger at the beginning of the book, but we do get some development by the time the book is over. This is the first in the series, and I’m sure the characters will get stronger as the series progresses. There is a recipe at the end for one of Tally’s specialties – homemade Twinkies. This is an entertaining debut in what could turn into a series as addicting as Tally’s sweets.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at
Carstairs Considers. -
This is the first book in a new series by Author Kaye George, who is an author I have not previously read. I was looking forward to this debut in the series as it sounded intriguing. The setting was charming and the mystery unfolded at a nice pace throughout the book. However, where it fell flat for me was with the characters. I found it difficult to have the story told from the dual point of view of both protagonists. I found it a bit confusing at some points in the book. I also didn't really connect with the characters, which a problem for me as a reader. Overall, the writing was good, the mystery was interesting and the setting charming, but if I don't care about the characters, the odds are I won't continue with a series.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley. -
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Newly opened Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets in Fredericksburg, Texas is a popular place. The vintage shop uses Tally’s grandmother’s recipes to make treats from the past like Mallomars, Clark Bars, and Twinkies along with taffy and fudges. Her friend Yolanda Bella owns Bella’s Baskets right next door. They are in and out of each other’s shops several times each day. Tally has two part-time workers Mart and Andrea who tend to customers while Tally creates her delicious goodies. When the women need and handyman, Gene Faust is the man they call. Gene is the adopted son of the mayor. He is a real ladies’ man who has a penchant for borrowing money his girlfriends, usually right before he dumps them.
Tally left Gene repairing her refrigeration unit in the kitchen while she served customers at the front of the store. When she closed up and went into the kitchen she found Gene dead on the floor from an apparent stabbing. She’s confused because several people went through the kitchen before she did. There is no way they missed his body. Could one of them be the killer or did the murderer come and go through the back door without her knowing? Yolanda, Andrea, and Mart all seemed to have their issues with Gene, but she can’t believe they would kill him. How many other women has Gene hurt? Or could it be someone else he pushed too far?
The cover of this book grabbed me as soon as I saw it. I love the vintage candy store theme. It is always so much fun to visit one. The author has a nice descriptive writing style so it was very easy to visualize everything, especially Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets Shop and all the yummy treats.
Ms. George introduces a vast cast of characters. It was easy to keep everyone straight but we don’t get to know them well enough to truly get invested in them. Gene had quite a checkered past and by the end, it was pretty fleshed out but the rest of the characters are still one-dimensional for me. Since this is a series, I know we will learn more in future stories but wished they were more developed in this story. One character I did fall hard for is a big Maine Coon cat named Nigel. I do have a soft spot for those big kitties.
The mystery was well-plotted with plenty of suspects. I did hone in on the culprit early but the motive wasn’t clear until the end. I did enjoy that the story swapped points-of-view between Yolanda and Tally. Sometimes it was confusing because it switches mid-chapter, but I think my problem may be attributed to the digital advanced copy I was reading. I am hoping in the finished book there was better spacing without the paragraphs running together.
I was excited that the Twinkie recipe was included at the end of the story.
Ms. George has laid a nice foundation for her series in Revenge Is Sweet. I am looking to Deadly Sweet Tooth, which will be released on June 2, 2020. -
I was so excited when I heard I was getting the chance to visit Texas! Fredericksburg, Texas to be exact, and I was going to be meeting Tally Holt and her best friend Yolanda Bell. They own shops right next door to each other...Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets and Bella’s Baskets….sounds like so much fun! Well upon arriving it was until…... Tally’s fridge broke down, and she had to bring in Gene Faust. Gene is Fredericksburg’s bad boy….and adopted son of the mayor. It seems Gene has been dating well….everybody, and these women rightly don’t want to share. Yolanda, Mart, and Andrea (that we know of). Now...I know I mentioned that Yolanda and Tally’s shops are right next to each other, but what I didn’t mention until now are Mart and Andrea. These two women are part time employees at Olde Tyme Sweets. This means in a very small town Gene was dating at least three women who worked within a few yards from each other….not smart Gene...not smart. Gene also had a tendency to use women, and borrow money that he didn’t have intentions of paying back.
So it’s no surprise that when Gene comes to fix the aforementioned broken refrigerator...things get a little sticky (get it cause it’s a candy shop lol), however murder seems a little drastic...but that is exactly what happened.
There are several suspects...considering all the people who didn’t exactly love Gene and his choices. Plus because he is killed in tally’s store with a pair of scissors from Bella’s Baskets these two friends are among the top suspects. So Tally and myself set out to find the real culprit. We really have our hands full...along the way her brother Cole stops in for a visit with Nigel a coon cat that seems he is more mountain lion then cat, money is missing from her stores till, and oh yeah a second murder!
My thoughts:
I really loved the setting! I love cozies in quaint small towns with lots of touristy shops. An old time Candy store really fits that bill. The author did a great job with the mystery...with lots of good suspects and motives! The cover art is cute...feels very cozy!
I didn’t care for the two narrators that flipped flopped sometimes without any notice. The character development needs to be stronger...including Tally and Yolanda. I think the author has a lot of potential in her secondary characters...again they just need more development. Her mom and dad sound like a hoot!
This series has a lot of potential, and I look forward to visiting Tally’s olde time sweets soon! I recommend you stop in, and while you're there try one of Tally’s homemade whoopie pies!
check out my blog at:
http://beachbumbookworm.com/
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Kaye George, and the publisher for this opportunity. -
A new culinary/candy cozy series "Vintage Sweets Mysteries" from Kensington Books, Revenge Is Sweet by author Kaye George hits stores this week.
It is always thrilling to read the first book in a series, and culinary or candy cozy's are among my favorites. They usually have great recipes and mouth-watering descriptions. I understand that new series need time to develop, and character growth is spread out over several books. I know this going in but… I do expect when a new series is being written by a veteran writer that the time allowed for character and story development shouldn't be as long or as hard to achieve. Unfortunately, I do not feel that any of this was attained in this new book.
Tally and Yolanda are in their mid 30's, but they have the emotional maturity of 15-year olds. They do not treat each other as best friends, but more like rivals in high school. In fact, I couldn't find any character in this book that I liked even a little bit. The two main characters in this candy cozy are supposed to be business owners, Tally owned and ran a thriving bakery previously. Yet, she does not seem capable of hiring her staff or balancing the business accounting books. She gets her advice from Yolanda, who depends on her father's money to keep her business afloat.
The murder(s) is unique but not exciting. The investigation is not believable. Tally would have been detained immediately, and anyone who was in the shop at the time of the first killing, not to mention the second, would most likely have been taken in for questioning as well. Every inch of the shop would have been searched, and it would have been closed until the police investigation concluded. The fact that the writer has everyone just going home after speaking briefly, if at all with the police, and living their normal lives makes the premise hard to swallow. The resolution and unmasking of the killer is no surprise what-so-ever; even the motive was easily known immediately. There is no mystery or real investigation. Although this book is a candy cozy, in other words, based in a candy shop, the candy part seems irrelevant. The setting could have been any retail shop of any type.
I can only hope that the second book in this series will show growth and a real mystery. Revenge Is Sweet is not a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a mystery. -
Tally Holt is excited to open her new vintage candy store. To make it even more exciting, she’s opening it right next door to her best friend Yolanda Bella, who owns Bella’s Baskets. Then, disaster strikes both women when their handyman, Gene Faust, is found murdered in Tally’s shop with Yolanda’s scissors sticking out of him.
Gene had been the adopted son of the town’s mayor and was also a womanizer. He conned Yolanda out of money and now the police suspect her of the murder. However, Yolanda wasn’t his only enemy. Even Gene’s parents didn’t like him. Tally believes in her friend and intends to find the proof to clear her name.
This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. I was drawn to this one since the setting is a vintage sweet shop and look at the cute kitty in the window. How could I resist?
Sorry to the humans in the book, but the Maine Coon cat, Nigel, is my favorite character by far. I wanted to cuddle him. Yes, I’m a cat lover and my focus leans towards the feline of the book, but there’s a whole mystery here that doesn’t really involve the cat, although he makes a good listener.
The story moves at a fast-pace with many possible suspects. I had my suspicions early on in the story, but that was fine. I was still intrigued to find out how it all played out.
It took me some time to warm up to the main characters. I still feel as if we need to learn more about Yolanda, Tally and their friendship. There are also two romantic possibilities for Tally to be explored.
The author used an interesting technique that I don’t see often in cozy mysteries. The story is told in the third person, but changing point of views between Tally and Yolanda. I liked how this is used as it gave me insight into both characters’ motivation. I do think Tally is our main amateur sleuth though.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. -
2.5
I wasn't sure how to pinpoint what I liked/didn't like so, the easiest way to do that was to make a list.
What I Liked:
-NIGEL (Main Coon cozy companion)
-Setting has great potential. ( cute shop/small town - the staple of fun cozies)
-Sister/sister relationship between Yolanda and Violetta. I feel like this is one you don't see in too many cozies so it was really fun to see that representation in here.
-The chase scene at the end. This is a very detailed scene that definitely stood our from the rest of the story.
What I Did Not Like:
- One-dimensional characters. I didn't feel like I connected to anyone, and at times, it was hard to really differentiate among them all as their personalities seemed similar
-Unnecessary switching of perspectives. I think this would be a stronger book if the author chose to either tell the tell tale from Tally's or Yolanda's individual perspective, not both. The story is too short to really delve deep into both .
-Forgettable love interest? I am not even 100% certain if Allen was considered a love interest but if he was, I didn't even really care about him.
-Tally/Yolanda relationship. They are supposed to be Best Friends, and in the beginning you got that for sure. As the events of the mystery unfold, they didn't really seem that way. Always flying off the handle with each other and not being as supportive as you would think given the circumstances (IMO).
-Tally/Cole relationship. I was loving that Tally and her brother seemed close at the start... they just didn't seem like they were family throughout the rest. Not really seeming supportive and lack of dialogue that would develop their relationship.
-Overall family dynamics - I mention this because, while every family is different, it seemed like much of the family drama was just that, just negativity with no real contribution to the plot.
Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for the eArc. -
I enjoy books that are set in small cozy towns. And the small touristy shops are a plus. I love those types of towns and the people who live there. The mystery was handled well by the author. However, the dual POV was confusing. The main characters, Tally and Yolanda, were not that well developed. That prevented me from connecting well with them.
I really enjoyed the delicious items from Tally’s shop. Yum! Yum!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lyrical Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. -
Tally Holt moves back to her hometown of Fredericksburg, Texas to open up a candy shop, Tally's Olde Tyme Sweets. After just opening up her shop, a local handyman is found dead there. Tally's best friend Yolanda who owns the shop next door is arrested for the crime. I found this fun and entertaining as the beginning of a cozy mystery series. I really like the characters and the mystery was interesting to solve
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My favorite part of this book was Nigel, the Maine Coon cat. He was a great fur character. I also really enjoyed the Fredericksburg, Texas setting, a place I've enjoyed visiting. The author did a good job of making the setting authentic.
The main character, Tally Holt, was mostly likable, and I enjoyed the backdrop of her shop, Old Thyme Sweets. At one point, Tally ran off and did something that only the worst of TSTL heroines would do, and that left me feeling very annoyed. Other than that, she was okay.
I was rather ambivalent about her friend, Yolanda, and maybe that's why I found the times the book switched for a very short time from Tally's point of view to Yolanda's incredibly jarring. I also believe this may be the first of the many cozy mysteries I've read that switched back and forth in that manner. In my view, it didn't work.
I liked the mystery itself, of the town mayor's troublesome adoptive adult son's murder and the quest to find the killer. Other than Nigel, the Maine Coon cat, my favorite character was Detective Rogers.
This book had some issues, but could be the start of a potentially good series. If another book follows, I'll try it to see if it's a little stronger than this one. -
This is a good beginning to a new series set in one of my favorite places to visit — Fredericksburg, Texas. I love cozies set in small towns. The main character, Tally Holt, owns a vintage candy shop. Her best friend, Yolanda Bella, owns a gift basket boutique right next door. When the town bad boy is murdered, Tally and Yolanda work together to discover the killer. The narration of the books switches back and forth between Tally and Yolanda, but it is easy to follow. I did figure out who the Killer was but the reason was a surprise. I am looking forward to Book 2 of the series, Deadly Sweet Tooth, which releases in June, 2020.
I won a copy of this book in a Facebook Contest -
I DNF'd this at 20%. I probably could've finished it and it might still get a 3 star barely. But after wading through the first few chapters I had to conclude it just wasn't gripping me. Something about the dialogue and writing style felt off to me. The conversation felt stilted and unnatural. The writing style wasn't working for me and the way the events where described didn't pull me in.
Very quickly and in what I thought was a forced way we get introduced to a bunch of possible suspects. I didn't understand why Tally let a handyman she didn't trust fix things in her beloved store. The whole situation with her employees felt a bit off, something about how it got described and I wasn't sure if the situation was supposed to be awkward or not. I had trouble getting a good feel for the characters and didn't feel invested in what was going on.
What I liked. I liked the friendship between Tally and Jolene and the way these two best friends both had their own shops next to each other. I like the themes for their shops, the vintage sweets for Tally and the basket shop for Jolene. I haven't read about these types of shops before and I liked that. I liked the multiple point of views as that is unusual for a cozy mystery, although I can't fully determine whether I thought it worked well or not. It ruined some of the mystery about Jolene and at the same time I found it hard to get a good grip on both their personalities. I also think a more even split might work better or longer parts for Jolene as her parts where so short now that it was harder to get to know her than Tally.
To summarize: while this one had a fun set up, it wasn't working for me. The dialogue felt stilted and off. The writing style didn't work for me. And I didn't feel any connection to the characters or invested in the story. I liked the theme of the book with these two best friends having shops next to each other and the unique themes for these shops. -
3.5 out of 5
REVENGE IS SWEET is the first book in brand new Vintage Sweets Mystery series by Kaye George. The reader is introduced to Tally Holt and her delectable shop, Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets, and her best friend Yolanda Bella, owner of Bella’s Baskets. This is one of the very few cozy mysteries in which there are two protagonists with alternating points of view. I found that it was an effective way to impart information that wouldn’t appear from a single point of view. That said, I wasn’t expecting it and it took me awhile to become accustom to the switch between the two protagonists. It might have been easier to follow had the sections been labeled with the protagonist’s name other than the asterisks used, since the switches occurred mid-chapter.
The candy shop setting is oh so delicious and I enjoyed the descriptive language used. I felt like the characters weren’t quite as developed as they could be but given that this is a short and sweet read, I’m hoping we’ll get to know Tally and Yolanda better in the second book. This first story was a nice introduction and a good set up for future installments. The murder mystery starts off fairly early but when another murder takes place, the stakes prove to be even higher for both Tally and Yolanda. There are plenty of suspects and the author writes a hair-raising finale that gives me hope the second book in the series will find its stride.
Tally makes so many delectable vintage candies and treats for her shop from recipes handed down from her grandmother. I drooled over the yummy descriptions and could practically smell the sugar cooking and the chocolate melting! I’m enthralled by recipes that have survived for generations and have been passed down. Ms. George does include a recipe at the back of the book which sounds quite delicious.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. -
Tally Holt is a candy shop owner who finds herself in the middle of a double murder investigation. If Tally doesn't do some quick sleuthing, she may be the next victim.
What a fun cozy mystery setting - Fredericksburg, Texas - a real life tourist destination. I loved the descriptions of the town and it's citizens. Tally is a likable character who is smart, kind and loyal to her friends. When a young heartbreaker targets her best friend Yolanda as his next "target" and then is murdered, Tally has to find out "whodunit" before Yolanda is convicted of the crime. I liked Tally & Yolanda's bantering and their friendship.
Looking forward to going back to Texas soon!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions are my own. -
I think this could be classified as a cozy mystery now. First in the series I might try the second. I did like that it was a shorter story not the 300-400 page monstrosities that everyone thinks they need to write now. It did kinda keep you guessing for most of the book. I just didn’t get interested in too many of the characters. But it was well written just not the pull I should have felt.
Tally, the main character in the book seems to feel older than I think she is meant to be. I would like to see where it goes in the next book. Library book. -
Revenge is Sweet is the debut of the Vintage Sweets Mystery series set in Fredericksburg, Texas and featuring Tally Holt, owner of Tally's Olde Tyme Sweets and her friend Yolanda Bella, owner of Bella's Baskets. The two are best friends who have set up shops next to each other on the main street and work together with Tally supplying delicious desserts to include in the extravagant baskets that Yolanda makes for all occasions.
Yolanda has been seeing the mayor's adopted son, Gene Faust. Gene has a reputation for getting in trouble in his youth, being a womanizer, and borrowing money from people that he can't (or won't) pay back. Unfortunately, Gene has borrowed money from Yolanda and also hasn't paid his help, so it's not really a surprise when he turns up dead, the shock is that the murder happens in the middle of Tally's kitchen. When Tally sets out to clear her friends name, things get worse when one of Tally's employees is also found dead in the store.
With plenty of twists and turns the plot is good, however the story is difficult to follow as it's written from both the perspective of Tally and Yolanda and the narration switches back and forth. I was never able to really warm up to either character, but did fall in love with Nigel, Tally's Maine Coon Cat.
I received an advanced copy of Revenge is Sweet from NetGalley via Lyrical Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion. -
Revenge Is Sweet by Kaye George, who also writes as Janet Cantrell, is the first book in the Vintage Sweets Mysteries series, and it's off to a great start. Tally Holt has recently opened Tally's Olde Tyme Sweets shop in Fredericksburg, Texas. Next door, her best friend Yolanda Bella owns Bella's Baskets. Trouble comes in the form of Gene Faust, the mayors adopted son, local handyman, and notorious lady's man who dies in Tally's shop. When Yolanda becomes a prime suspect, Tally is determined to find the real killer. There are so many suspects who disliked Gene, including his own parents. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. -
Tally Holt has moved back to Fredericksburg, Texas, where some of her fondest memories lie. Her parents are traveling entertainers, and she's had enough of moving around. She sold her bakery in Austin and moved to be near her best friend, Yolanda Bella. Tally has opened Olde Tyme Sweets, a candy store that creates candies and fudge using her late grandmother's recipes, and luckily, her shop is right next door to Yolanda's flower shop. Everything would be good if it weren't for their handyman, Gene Faust, whom Tally doesn't trust and Yolanda is interest in. But Tally soon finds out that Yolanda isn't the only one Gene has been leading on, and that includes her own young employees, Andrea and Mart.
Things go downhill when the shop is full and Gene is working in the back trying to fix Tally's refrigerator. Eventually Tally closes her shop but finds a surprise -- the body of Gene, who's definitely been murdered. Now Tally's wondering who had the chance to kill him and who wanted him dead more than anyone else -- all she knows is it couldn't have been Yolanda, and she's working to find a killer. The only good part of this is her brother Cole, who showed up unexpectedly and somehow got tangled in a murder investigation himself...
This is the first book in the series and I wanted to read it because my son lives in Fredericksburg, and part of my family resides in Texas. The bad first: unfortunately, it didn't give me that feeling of "being there." While there were references to Fredericksburg being wine country and the tourist shops, and included a couple of the names, there wasn't much of a description of the surrounding area. The addition of Yolanda living in a Sunday house gave the book charm, and I'm hoping there will be more of the restaurants and description of the area in the next book. (FYI, I've been to Fredericksburg in June -- it does rain, and it comes down heavy!)
Saying that, I enjoyed this book enough to want to read the second one, if for no other reason than to see if there is any character development. Tally and Yolanda shouldn't be out on their own if they're having that many problems owning businesses; perhaps they might want to think about taking on partners. It also might be nice that if this is a series about a candy shop, then Tally spends some time making candies there. Once in the morning isn't going to keep a shop thriving in a tourist town. She'll run out of her treats fast. Maybe she should hire an assistant candy maker to help.
The plot was interesting and kept me guessing through a main part of it, but I did discern the murderer well before Tally, although that might be due to the fact that I didn't have as many people to sift through as she did, and I also read a lot of mysteries.
At first it bothered me that the action was sifting between Tally's and Yolanda's point of view, considering I've rarely read books that do that. While I prefer a book to be from the POV of the protagonist only, this wasn't too disconcerting. It was just odd, considering Tally was the main character and Yolanda secondary, and she wasn't all that interesting to begin with. Perhaps in the next book she'll actually grow somewhat.
It also bothered me that Yolanda played with her hair like a teenager. What woman in her thirties curls her hair around her fingers and 'flips her hair' like a teen? That seemed immature. I also didn't understand why Tally, who had a successful business in Austin, couldn't balance her own books and hired people without completely vetting them. Why she left her shop in the care of only one employee also seemed odd. No wonder money was missing. I also found that it wasn't believable that when the murder occurred everyone in the shop was allowed to leave, and the police didn't do a thorough search. Sometimes it takes days to release a crime scene; but Tally was allowed to open the next morning.
Tally, for her part, is doing her best to make a life for herself and seems to be on the right track. It's obvious she loves her brother; I actually found Cole to be the most interesting character in the book, regardless of his womanizing, since it was apparent he loved Tally and deep down was a gentle soul. That stands for a lot. I even liked the detective investigating. The only thing I didn't care for about Tally was the fact that she was downright asking people what they were doing at the time of the murder. Surely she could come up with more surreptitious ways to ask them without them feeling like they're being interrogated.
When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, as I stated above, it wasn't a surprise, but still the murderer stated the reasons for killing and a warped mind makes their own decisions, while there are people who are driven to do the things they do. It was rather sad all the same.
All in all, it wasn't a bad start to a new series and I will probably read the next to see if it has improved, and hopefully, there will be more descriptions of the town so people can get a 'view in their mind' of what it looks like; and also, hopefully Tally and Yolanda will have grown up and not be acting like they're still in high school. -
I loved this cozy mystery!!!
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Good start to a new series. Lots of potential for further adventures for the two ladies. Switching between the two was fine and kept the story moving along. Nice setting. I am eager to learn more about several of the secondary characters. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.
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Revenge is Sweet by Kaye George is the first in the Vintage Sweets Mysteries. This was the first book by this author for me.
I was excited to read this from the description, as the vintage candy theme caught my attention. I did enjoy that part of the story. I also liked Nigel, the Maine coon cat.
The downfall for me was the story has two main characters and the story jumped back and forth without a warning.
I enjoyed the setting and the additional characters are promising for the next book. I had figured out who had done it a little off half way through. There is a bit of history and a hint of romance.
I am planning to read book two.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
