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A Diet to Die For
An event planner and yo-yo dieter finds herself embroiled in an intense murder investigation where she must catch the killer...and lose that extra twenty pounds.
BURNING CALORIES AND SOLVING CRIMES
Meet Jen Stevens—a hungry New York City event planner who’s 31 years old, 30 pounds overweight, and flirting with disaster when it comes to sticking to her diet. Working for the food-centric Yummy Channel, it’s hard to resist temptation. But when there’s a crime for Jen to solve, it’s easy as pie. . . .
Baker extraordinaire Bess Brantwood is one of the Yummy Channel’s brightest stars—and biggest divas. Despite the off-camera drama, Jen has to admit that Bess’s chocolate buttercream cupcakes drizzled with caramel are simply to die for—and kill for, as it turns out—when Bess’s body, like a baked good gone bad, is discovered . . . in a Dumpster.
Who iced the cupcake queen? Jen is determined to find out. With the help of her BFFs—fab foodblogger Gabby and lively life coach Elizabeth—she starts sifting for clues. She’s got all the ingredients to solve the perfect crime, including one delectable detective, one divalicious diary, and enough industry rivals for a battle of the network stars. But is Jen prepared to risk her life as well as her waistline? No matter how you slice it, revenge is sweet—and loaded with carbs.
BURNING CALORIES AND SOLVING CRIMES
Meet Jen Stevens—a hungry New York City event planner who’s 31 years old, 30 pounds overweight, and flirting with disaster when it comes to sticking to her diet. Working for the food-centric Yummy Channel, it’s hard to resist temptation. But when there’s a crime for Jen to solve, it’s easy as pie. . . .
Baker extraordinaire Bess Brantwood is one of the Yummy Channel’s brightest stars—and biggest divas. Despite the off-camera drama, Jen has to admit that Bess’s chocolate buttercream cupcakes drizzled with caramel are simply to die for—and kill for, as it turns out—when Bess’s body, like a baked good gone bad, is discovered . . . in a Dumpster.
Who iced the cupcake queen? Jen is determined to find out. With the help of her BFFs—fab foodblogger Gabby and lively life coach Elizabeth—she starts sifting for clues. She’s got all the ingredients to solve the perfect crime, including one delectable detective, one divalicious diary, and enough industry rivals for a battle of the network stars. But is Jen prepared to risk her life as well as her waistline? No matter how you slice it, revenge is sweet—and loaded with carbs.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 25, 2013
1 person is currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Christensen Fu
15 books9 followersSarah Christensen Fu is the author of How Great is Your Guy/Gal, the Bad Birthdays: the Truth Behind Your Crappy Sun Sign (2014), and the author/video producer of the adult non-fiction Baby Sign Language book and DVD kit (Thunder Bay Press, Spring 2014).
Her first adult novel, A Diet to Die For (Simon & Schuster, July 2013) is written under the pen name Sarah Steding.
Sarah Christensen Fu also helps other authors market their books through her company Hey, Sarah! hey-sarah.com
Her first adult novel, A Diet to Die For (Simon & Schuster, July 2013) is written under the pen name Sarah Steding.
Sarah Christensen Fu also helps other authors market their books through her company Hey, Sarah! hey-sarah.com
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 7, 2013
This is my first novel under my pen name Sarah Steding. Love the cover and so excited to share it with everyone!
June 7, 2013
I thought this book was adorable. It's also like the author read my mind. She's obviously lived these diets in real life, too, and writes about them in the most hilarious way. I think it's a great cosy mystery and I am really looking forward to reading the next one!
June 25, 2013
Jen is an event planner. She is currently coordinating a party of celebrity baker, Bess Brantwood. The party is going well until someone yells that Bess is dead. Yup Bess is as dead as a door nail. There is just one question…”Who killed Bess and why?”
Jen finds herself on the case along with her two friends. It is not all bad as one of the police officer’s on the case is named Alex. He is a hunk.
I knew from the book cover and the comment on the front saying “Does this murder make my butt look big?” that this book was going to be a fun one to read. However I was in for a really yummy treat.
Jen and her friends are a hoot. They are so much fun to hang out with. Um hello, Elizabeth. Yeah it is a good thing that I like to work out or I would probably feel the same way as Jen does about Elizabeth. Although, I have to admit that anyone who can make someone else look like they are thin in workout clothing is a goddess.
The romance building between Jen and sexy detective Alex is a good one. Things are going to be interesting between these two. A Diet to Die for is a ridiculously, entertaining, not to be missed, good read!
Jen finds herself on the case along with her two friends. It is not all bad as one of the police officer’s on the case is named Alex. He is a hunk.
I knew from the book cover and the comment on the front saying “Does this murder make my butt look big?” that this book was going to be a fun one to read. However I was in for a really yummy treat.
Jen and her friends are a hoot. They are so much fun to hang out with. Um hello, Elizabeth. Yeah it is a good thing that I like to work out or I would probably feel the same way as Jen does about Elizabeth. Although, I have to admit that anyone who can make someone else look like they are thin in workout clothing is a goddess.
The romance building between Jen and sexy detective Alex is a good one. Things are going to be interesting between these two. A Diet to Die for is a ridiculously, entertaining, not to be missed, good read!
January 16, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A girl after my own heart. Yes, I love the foods that are bad for me, and have walked the same path as Jen, but I have never ended up in the middle of a murder investigation.
Steding has created extraordinary characters and let readers get to know them while leaving plenty of room for growth. I love Jen. The true friendship she has Gabby and Elizabeth just shines, even a bump or two in the road. My favorite character was “Officer Hazel Eyes”. He just kept popping up everywhere Jen went and hopefully that will continue in the next installment.
She also created a great whodunit. It was easy to identify the method of murder but the suspects all had motive and opportunity for icing the Yummy Channel diva. The killer could have been any one of them.
The story is a very entertaining read, definitely written by someone who has to have lived through the diet cycle a time or two. She is able to tell give us a clever mystery, sprinkled liberally with humor and just a touch of romantic tension.
I am looking forward to the next Skinny Mystery!
A girl after my own heart. Yes, I love the foods that are bad for me, and have walked the same path as Jen, but I have never ended up in the middle of a murder investigation.
Steding has created extraordinary characters and let readers get to know them while leaving plenty of room for growth. I love Jen. The true friendship she has Gabby and Elizabeth just shines, even a bump or two in the road. My favorite character was “Officer Hazel Eyes”. He just kept popping up everywhere Jen went and hopefully that will continue in the next installment.
She also created a great whodunit. It was easy to identify the method of murder but the suspects all had motive and opportunity for icing the Yummy Channel diva. The killer could have been any one of them.
The story is a very entertaining read, definitely written by someone who has to have lived through the diet cycle a time or two. She is able to tell give us a clever mystery, sprinkled liberally with humor and just a touch of romantic tension.
I am looking forward to the next Skinny Mystery!
July 4, 2013
A Diet To die For
Sarah Steding
A Diet to Die For: A Skinny Mystery
Author: Sarah Steding
Paperback: 352 pages (also available in e-formats)
Publisher: Pocket Books (June 25, 2013)
Rating
Blurb
Meet Jen Stevens—a hungry New York City event planner who’s 31 years old, 30 pounds overweight, and flirting with disaster when it comes to sticking to her diet. Working for the food-centric Yummy Channel, it’s hard to resist temptation. But when there’s a crime for Jen to solve, it’s easy as pie. . . .
Baker extraordinaire Bess Brantwood is one of the Yummy Channel’s brightest stars—and biggest divas. Despite the off-camera drama, Jen has to admit that Bess’s chocolate buttercream cupcakes drizzled with caramel are simply to die for—and kill for, as it turns out—when Bess’s body, like a baked good gone bad, is discovered . . . in a Dumpster.
Who iced the cupcake queen? Jen is determined to find out. With the help of her BFFs—fab foodblogger Gabby and lively life coach Elizabeth—she starts sifting for clues. She’s got all the ingredients to solve the perfect crime, including one delectable detective, one divalicious diary, and enough industry rivals for a battle of the network stars. But is Jen prepared to risk her life as well as her waistline? No matter how you slice it, revenge is sweet—and loaded with carbs.
My thought
The romance building between Jen and sexy detective Alex is a good one. Things are going to be interesting between these two. A Diet to Die for is a ridiculously, entertaining, not to be missed, good read! Steding has created extraordinary characters and let readers get to know them while leaving plenty of room for growth. I love Jen. The true friendship she has Gabby and Elizabeth just shines, even a bump or two in the road. My favorite character was “Officer Hazel Eyes”. He just kept popping up everywhere Jen went and hopefully that will continue in the next installment.
Author Sarah Steding’s strong point seems to be characters. Billy, Jen’s ex and a bakery employee, was wild — I would love an entire book with him as the main character. And the workplace chefs at the Yummy Channel, complete with baking specialties and personalities to match livened up the book. This would be a fun book for a cozy mystery lover to read while wiling away a summer afternoon at the beach or poolside.
Sarah Steding
A Diet to Die For: A Skinny Mystery
Author: Sarah Steding
Paperback: 352 pages (also available in e-formats)
Publisher: Pocket Books (June 25, 2013)
Rating
Blurb
Meet Jen Stevens—a hungry New York City event planner who’s 31 years old, 30 pounds overweight, and flirting with disaster when it comes to sticking to her diet. Working for the food-centric Yummy Channel, it’s hard to resist temptation. But when there’s a crime for Jen to solve, it’s easy as pie. . . .
Baker extraordinaire Bess Brantwood is one of the Yummy Channel’s brightest stars—and biggest divas. Despite the off-camera drama, Jen has to admit that Bess’s chocolate buttercream cupcakes drizzled with caramel are simply to die for—and kill for, as it turns out—when Bess’s body, like a baked good gone bad, is discovered . . . in a Dumpster.
Who iced the cupcake queen? Jen is determined to find out. With the help of her BFFs—fab foodblogger Gabby and lively life coach Elizabeth—she starts sifting for clues. She’s got all the ingredients to solve the perfect crime, including one delectable detective, one divalicious diary, and enough industry rivals for a battle of the network stars. But is Jen prepared to risk her life as well as her waistline? No matter how you slice it, revenge is sweet—and loaded with carbs.
My thought
The romance building between Jen and sexy detective Alex is a good one. Things are going to be interesting between these two. A Diet to Die for is a ridiculously, entertaining, not to be missed, good read! Steding has created extraordinary characters and let readers get to know them while leaving plenty of room for growth. I love Jen. The true friendship she has Gabby and Elizabeth just shines, even a bump or two in the road. My favorite character was “Officer Hazel Eyes”. He just kept popping up everywhere Jen went and hopefully that will continue in the next installment.
Author Sarah Steding’s strong point seems to be characters. Billy, Jen’s ex and a bakery employee, was wild — I would love an entire book with him as the main character. And the workplace chefs at the Yummy Channel, complete with baking specialties and personalities to match livened up the book. This would be a fun book for a cozy mystery lover to read while wiling away a summer afternoon at the beach or poolside.
August 21, 2013
Jen Stevens - is a hungry New York city event planner, she's 31 yrs old and 30 pounds overweight. Working for the food-centric yummy channel makes it hard to stick to a diet much less resist temptation. But when theres a crime for her to solve, its easy as pir. So when Bess Brantwood Baker extraordinaire one of the brightest stars on the yummy channel- and the biggest Diva. Despite all the off camera drama Jen has to admit Bess's cupcakes are to die for- and kill for as it turns out- when her body is found ..... in a dumpster, who killed her? Jen is determined to find out. With the help Gabby - a fab food blogger and Elizabeth, Gabby's life coach. Jen has everything she needs to solve the crime.A DELECTABLE Detective , a Divalicious diary and plenty of rivals for a battle of the network stars. But is Jen prepared to risk her life and waist line to solve it Revenge is loaded with carbs and sweet. I just love a good food mystery look forward to more books by Sarah Steding
January 24, 2015
A Diet to Die For: A Skinny Mystery
Steding, Sarah
This is an interesting premise, starting out in first person of a male character then switching in the mystery to the first person view of a female character when she is introduced, and the murder happens. It has many aspects of publicity and notoriety, including the dynamics of an imagined cable network. Does a great job in the hiding the perpetrator. You are left guessing until the violent and dramatic ending. Over all Very well written, and one where you want to see what happens next for the character. There are a lot of references to dieting and even seven recipes for food described in the book. This is a great motivational read for life changing events, giving guidelines on how to loose weight, by changing your life style not dieting.
Steding, Sarah
This is an interesting premise, starting out in first person of a male character then switching in the mystery to the first person view of a female character when she is introduced, and the murder happens. It has many aspects of publicity and notoriety, including the dynamics of an imagined cable network. Does a great job in the hiding the perpetrator. You are left guessing until the violent and dramatic ending. Over all Very well written, and one where you want to see what happens next for the character. There are a lot of references to dieting and even seven recipes for food described in the book. This is a great motivational read for life changing events, giving guidelines on how to loose weight, by changing your life style not dieting.
January 13, 2014
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Jen is an event planner who struggles with weight issues and works at the equivalent of the Food Channel - maybe not the best work atmosphere! She works for the three celebrity chefs who have hit shows on the network, except on the night of a huge party celebrating one of the chefs they are found dead. Who did it? Who doesn't have a motive?
What a fantastic, light and funny read! I read this in one day, just enjoying the fun light hearted side of mystery. I loved that quite a few people had a reason to kill the victim and the author revealed each clue at the right time. Although I wasn't right about the killer, I still wasn't disappointed by the outcome!
Jen is an event planner who struggles with weight issues and works at the equivalent of the Food Channel - maybe not the best work atmosphere! She works for the three celebrity chefs who have hit shows on the network, except on the night of a huge party celebrating one of the chefs they are found dead. Who did it? Who doesn't have a motive?
What a fantastic, light and funny read! I read this in one day, just enjoying the fun light hearted side of mystery. I loved that quite a few people had a reason to kill the victim and the author revealed each clue at the right time. Although I wasn't right about the killer, I still wasn't disappointed by the outcome!
August 24, 2016
Jen is an event planner for the Yummy network, which means she's exposed to cooking shows, and ads for diet pills, all day long. She constantly resolves to diet, then goes out with her two girlfriends for margaritas and Mexican food, while wondering why the messages about body image are so inconsistent. When one of her co-workers is found murdered, Jen learns more about the secrets hidden in the network than she wants to know. At the same time, she's attracted to a hunky police officer and decides to really lose some weight (though the low carb diet she goes on, without medical supervision, may not be the best way to go about it). Jen's feelings about her body and food add depth to what the cover indicates will be a light mystery.
May 18, 2013
This is the last free book I have won from GoodReads FirstReads and I am glad that I did, this is my first book from author Sarah Stedding and I found it quite a nice little mystery, no gore no blood, a nice change of pace for me. Our hero is Jen Stevens, and event planner for the Yummy Channel who is planning an event for Bess Brantwoods 100th epsiode of her baking show, Jen is a little overweight and eats under pressure situtations, then Bess is found dead and Jen is trying to solve her murder with office Alex and her friends who are there to support Jen all the way, just like your friends are supposed to do. I look forward to the next book in the series. So Go Jen and hopefully Alex.
May 30, 2013
I won this book from Goodreads. This has a good mystery intertwined with the major character's effort to stay on a low-carb diet and to lose weight. Working at the Yummy Channel caused problems for all the personnel. The ending was a little too pat. Also, a lot was predictable. The chefs all were divas. The press was obnoxious. The handsome police officer fell in love with the major character. The parts dealing with being overweight (accidentally put into a yoga class for expectant mothers because of excess stomach weight) and trying to diet were very credible and well described. A few low-carb recipes are included at the end.
January 14, 2014
The mystery part of this was cute (and fairly well-written), but I don't understand who the audience is. . . people who want to read while dieting? It's like the reverse of a 'cozy' - the recipes all have carb counts (though no calorie counts). I guess if this helped you lose weight, it would be worth it.
I checked this out because the author is a friend of a friend, and my friend told me it was good. But I'm not sure I'd recommend this to anyone, unless you liked dieting and mysteries, which probably does apply to some people. I don't like to talk about dieting, etc, so reading about it didn't really do anything for me.
I checked this out because the author is a friend of a friend, and my friend told me it was good. But I'm not sure I'd recommend this to anyone, unless you liked dieting and mysteries, which probably does apply to some people. I don't like to talk about dieting, etc, so reading about it didn't really do anything for me.
January 2, 2014
A fantastic novel that had me reading it every chance I could! I'm so thankful for the free copy and to Sarah for sending me it after not getting my original copy. The characters were well developed, plot was enthralling and the settings were easy to picture. I highly suggest this book for any adult who really enjoy mystery novels. I also enjoyed the recipes at the end of the book.
My only criticism is that on the back it says she was found in a Dumpster, but Bess wasn't, and the fact Jen didn't do much of the actual investigating. She didn't exactly solve the case since there was the witness.
Thank you for the epilogue as well, that made it extra fun to see what happened after!
My only criticism is that on the back it says she was found in a Dumpster, but Bess wasn't, and the fact Jen didn't do much of the actual investigating. She didn't exactly solve the case since there was the witness.
Thank you for the epilogue as well, that made it extra fun to see what happened after!
January 31, 2014
This is a wh done it book it is done so well that you really don't know who done it till the very end.
Romance, food, New York who could ask for anything more.
If you are a foodie, romantic or a mystery buff this book is for you.
I could really relate to Jen.
Although I found it hard to believe that she lost a pound a day on a no carb diet.
Especially on the very first day she started the diet.
I like the recipes in the back of the book.
Romance, food, New York who could ask for anything more.
If you are a foodie, romantic or a mystery buff this book is for you.
I could really relate to Jen.
Although I found it hard to believe that she lost a pound a day on a no carb diet.
Especially on the very first day she started the diet.
I like the recipes in the back of the book.
October 28, 2013
A fun little fluffy murder mystery quick read. It is what it is and it is kinda fun. Maybe 2 1/2 stars, cuz I called the murderer from the get go, though not the "why". I would read another, though, if the author continues a series. And it seems like a possibility since it's dubbed "A skinny mystery".
May 8, 2013
Loved, loved, loved this book!! It was funny, had a bit of a love story, and a great cozy mystery. The main character is very relatable. Thank you for letting me be a first reader and I am excited for the next one!
May 2, 2013
Enjoyed the book but felt it needed more drama in certain areas. The characters played their role well. Will recommend it to others to read. I got the book on goodreads giveaway.
September 7, 2013
loved this new series. The character of Jen is amazing and her two friends make for a great trio. Officer Alex is charming and I look forward to reading about the quartet's next adventures.
September 9, 2013
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:
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September 30, 2013
Diets are not my favourite mystery topic.
November 14, 2013
Predictable, quick read
May 18, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, the whole time I was trying to figure out who the killer was. When I found out who it really was I was surprised. I'd consider reading another book by this author.
July 14, 2015
The book started out pretty slow but the main character and her two best friends were likable and the plot believable. Would try another book by this author.
November 27, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I wonder of there will be more? I hope so.
March 14, 2014
Easy reading. Enjoyed the mix of characters in this light, fun mystery.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews