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A White House Chef Mystery #7
Home of the Braised
With the pressure of an upcoming state dinner that could make or break the president’s foreign policy, White House executive chef Olivia Paras has precious little time to focus on her wedding plans—or to catch a murderer…
Tensions are running high as the White House staff adjusts to a new chief usher and prepares for a high-stakes state dinner, where everything must be perfect. But as the date for the event approaches, things go disastrously wrong when the secretary of defense is found dead in his home, seemingly killed during a break-in.
At the same time Olivia’s fiancé, Gav, is looking into the mysterious murder of an old friend. Is there a connection? Despite an increase in security following the secretary’s death, Ollie learns the president is in imminent danger at the dinner and must do everything in her power to get to him—before it’s too late…
Includes Recipes for a complete presidential menu!
Tensions are running high as the White House staff adjusts to a new chief usher and prepares for a high-stakes state dinner, where everything must be perfect. But as the date for the event approaches, things go disastrously wrong when the secretary of defense is found dead in his home, seemingly killed during a break-in.
At the same time Olivia’s fiancé, Gav, is looking into the mysterious murder of an old friend. Is there a connection? Despite an increase in security following the secretary’s death, Ollie learns the president is in imminent danger at the dinner and must do everything in her power to get to him—before it’s too late…
Includes Recipes for a complete presidential menu!
293 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 7, 2014
91 people are currently reading
825 people want to read
About the author
Julie Hyzy
46 books873 followersNew York Times bestselling author, Julie Hyzy, has won the Anthony, Barry, Phobos, and Derringer Awards for her fiction.
Novels include:
Virtual Sabotage
The White House Chef Mystery series
The Manor House Mysteries
Deadly Blessings
Deadly Interest
Dead Ringer
Artistic License
Playing With Matches
Visit:
www.juliehyzy.com
Novels include:
Virtual Sabotage
The White House Chef Mystery series
The Manor House Mysteries
Deadly Blessings
Deadly Interest
Dead Ringer
Artistic License
Playing With Matches
Visit:
www.juliehyzy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
January 28, 2025
An excellent cozy mystery! I couldn’t figure out what was going on until close to the end! Great characters! Fantastic mystery with several murders! I highly recommend this story and the entire series.
August 29, 2024
Great book! I wasn’t a huge fan of the mystery (mainly because I figured it out too quickly!) but I loved spending time with these characters
October 17, 2025
Home of the Braised by Julia Hyzy is the 7th book in the White House Chef Mystery series. White House Chef Olivia Paras and her fiance, agent Gav arrange to meet a former colleague of Gav's who has now become a priest, only to find him murdered. When the Minister of Defence is murdered, Olivia finds herself in the middle of a plot to undermine the president and his foreign policy. An enjoyable and entertaining book in the series and it was good to see Virgil removed, although disappointing to hear that he was coming back. I loved catching up with all the characters with the highlight being Olivia's and Gav's wedding at the end. A fun and captivating mystery with some interesting, fancy recipes at the end.
October 26, 2018
I loved this book and I love the series. You really got see Ollie shine in this one - both as a chef and as an amateur sleuth. Nobody but Ollie can pull off a state dinner and save her country at the same time. These books are well written, move at a good pace and are easy to read. The stories are fun and exciting and I love the characters.
September 29, 2020
This was a fun series.... too bad my library only had 3 of the 8 books in the series.
May 20, 2016
This book might have been better than the last in this series, and that's saying a lot. This series keeps getting better and better and I find myself looking forward to reading the next book in this series more than any other book.
The characters were great in this book. I loved the fact that we got to see more of Mrs. Hyden and we actually got a one-on-one talk with President Hyden in this book, which I really liked.
The mystery was well put-together. I thought I knew who had committed the crimes, but I was thrown for a loop when they were revealed.
Overall a really great book. I wish all books were this good.
The characters were great in this book. I loved the fact that we got to see more of Mrs. Hyden and we actually got a one-on-one talk with President Hyden in this book, which I really liked.
The mystery was well put-together. I thought I knew who had committed the crimes, but I was thrown for a loop when they were revealed.
Overall a really great book. I wish all books were this good.
February 23, 2014
Each book has less to do with the kitchen and work of chefs. :(
May 4, 2017
This is the seventh book of the White House Chef Mystery Series and is another great read by Ms. Hyzy. I have read and enjoyed all of the books thus far.
Olivia Paras is the Executive Chef of the White House and always manages to get into some type of trouble as an amateur sleuth investigating someone who appears to be trying to cause trouble around the White House. In the past she and her two assistants have prepared meals for the First Family, state dinners and other events. The family in the White House now, the Hydens, brought in their personal chef, Virgil Ballentine, so their schedule includes regular duties minus the meals for the First Family. Unfortunately, Virgil was under the impression he was to take over Ollie's job and when finding out that he was mistaken, he has made Ollie's life miserable along with her assistants', Bucky and Cyan.
On a more exciting note, Ollie's boyfriend, Secret Service agent, Leornard Gavin (Gav) has proposed and they plan a quiet service at the Moultrie Courthouse but it is backed up for eight weeks. For this reason, Gav has asked a friend, Evan Bonder, who is former Secret Service and now a minister to perform the service. When they go to meet Evan, they stumble upon a scary scene where Evan and four others are bound, gagged and killed by some type of poisonous gas. A team of agents arrive a few minutes after Gav and Ollie and take them in for questioning. Things start off in a tailspin from there. She and Gav are sworn to secrecy about what they witnessed. Once more, Ollie stumbles into a situation that has consequences for her and others. At least this time Gav is with her. One event on Ollie's agenda coming up is a state dinner the White House is hosting for a country during some peace dealings. Ollie has that event to work on while trying to figure out what happened to Evan, dealing with Virgil, working out wedding plans, and on top of all that, her long time coworker and arch nemesis, Peter Everett Sargeant has been promoted to the Chief Usher and her boss. Things are better between Peter and Ollie but there are still some times of tension, especially when she gets into messes she shouldn't.
Once more, Ollie's adventures take us on a wild ride that can get tense and crazy.
Olivia Paras is the Executive Chef of the White House and always manages to get into some type of trouble as an amateur sleuth investigating someone who appears to be trying to cause trouble around the White House. In the past she and her two assistants have prepared meals for the First Family, state dinners and other events. The family in the White House now, the Hydens, brought in their personal chef, Virgil Ballentine, so their schedule includes regular duties minus the meals for the First Family. Unfortunately, Virgil was under the impression he was to take over Ollie's job and when finding out that he was mistaken, he has made Ollie's life miserable along with her assistants', Bucky and Cyan.
On a more exciting note, Ollie's boyfriend, Secret Service agent, Leornard Gavin (Gav) has proposed and they plan a quiet service at the Moultrie Courthouse but it is backed up for eight weeks. For this reason, Gav has asked a friend, Evan Bonder, who is former Secret Service and now a minister to perform the service. When they go to meet Evan, they stumble upon a scary scene where Evan and four others are bound, gagged and killed by some type of poisonous gas. A team of agents arrive a few minutes after Gav and Ollie and take them in for questioning. Things start off in a tailspin from there. She and Gav are sworn to secrecy about what they witnessed. Once more, Ollie stumbles into a situation that has consequences for her and others. At least this time Gav is with her. One event on Ollie's agenda coming up is a state dinner the White House is hosting for a country during some peace dealings. Ollie has that event to work on while trying to figure out what happened to Evan, dealing with Virgil, working out wedding plans, and on top of all that, her long time coworker and arch nemesis, Peter Everett Sargeant has been promoted to the Chief Usher and her boss. Things are better between Peter and Ollie but there are still some times of tension, especially when she gets into messes she shouldn't.
Once more, Ollie's adventures take us on a wild ride that can get tense and crazy.
March 7, 2021
good fun
April 11, 2022
Another good book in the series. In this one Ollie and Gav set out to meet an old friend of Gav’s, who can perform weddings, but instead find him dead. As much as Ollie needs to focus on the upcoming state dinner that is tied to a major peace negotiation, she and Gav are pulled into the conspiracy that already killed someone they know, and now the Secretary of State.
I enjoyed the political intrigue in this one. No one can pull off stopping a a global sabotage and a major state dinner like Ollie. Plus, the ending was so sweet with Gav and Ollie.
I also love the side characters, especially Gav, obviously, Josh and major props to Cyan and Bucky. I really love this cozy mystery series.
I enjoyed the political intrigue in this one. No one can pull off stopping a a global sabotage and a major state dinner like Ollie. Plus, the ending was so sweet with Gav and Ollie.
I also love the side characters, especially Gav, obviously, Josh and major props to Cyan and Bucky. I really love this cozy mystery series.
December 27, 2020
Another great book in the White House Chef Mystery series.
Read
April 28, 2025DNF cause I realized it was part of a series and was too confused to keep going lollll
April 28, 2022
I've loved them all but this is my favorite. Only 1 left. I'm really sad about that.
March 5, 2017
Another great book in this series. I love Ollie Paras!
February 27, 2017
Mystery #7 in the White House Chef series is a fun, easy read, perfect for a rainy day. The action starts quickly, and moves along nicely. This is a well paced novel with more White House lore in the form of a lesson on presidential china. Recipes in the back are from an actual White House dinner. It was gratifying to see Virgil finally get his comeuppance, and the engagement of Ollie and Gav was fun to read. Wedding plans mix with international intrigue and murder in a romping good time. Julie Hyzy never disappoints!
December 18, 2013
Home Of The Braised is the 7th book in the A White House Chef Mystery series.
Home of the Braised gives the reader a helping of cozy mystery, a generous portion of thriller and a pinch of romance to satisfy their reading appetite.
Things are really cooking in the White House kitchen these days. Chef Ollie and Gav, have gotten engaged and the country of Durasi has agreed to a peace settlement and a state dinner is being planned to honor it. And as if that isn't enough, thing continue to boil over with the First Families personal chef, Virgil, putting Ollie's staff on edge.
Ollie and Gav plan to have a private civil ceremony, but when applying for their marriage license they find that there is going to be a two month wait. Then Gav hears from a former agent, Evan, who has left the service to form a ministry to help the homeless and needs to talk to Gav. Gav thinks this may be the answer to their wedding dilemma. When Ollie and Gav arrive at his storefront church, things don't seem right. Soon they Evan and four others dead and a terrible chemical odor coming from the room. As they are hurrying to leave they are met by men in haz-mat clothing and are rushed to a waiting van and interrogated. Ollie soon learns that the men in the haz-mat suits are Secret Service agents. The first questions they have are: who were the other men with Evan and how did the Agents know to come dressed for a hazardous condition. As the investigation unfolds, Ollie has a couple close calls and it appears that the President's life is could also be danger.
Josh is back and helping in the kitchen once again and is quickly becoming an accomplished prep chef. Of course the kitchen wouldn't run as well if it wasn't for Cyan and Bucky. Plus the fact that they are always there for Ollie to keep her focused.
For those that read this wonderful series, you won't be disappointed and if you are new to the series, pick up the first, State of the Onion and begin to enjoy the exciting life of Chef Ollie Paras.
Recipes from the White House are included.
Definitely looking forward to the next book
Home of the Braised gives the reader a helping of cozy mystery, a generous portion of thriller and a pinch of romance to satisfy their reading appetite.
Things are really cooking in the White House kitchen these days. Chef Ollie and Gav, have gotten engaged and the country of Durasi has agreed to a peace settlement and a state dinner is being planned to honor it. And as if that isn't enough, thing continue to boil over with the First Families personal chef, Virgil, putting Ollie's staff on edge.
Ollie and Gav plan to have a private civil ceremony, but when applying for their marriage license they find that there is going to be a two month wait. Then Gav hears from a former agent, Evan, who has left the service to form a ministry to help the homeless and needs to talk to Gav. Gav thinks this may be the answer to their wedding dilemma. When Ollie and Gav arrive at his storefront church, things don't seem right. Soon they Evan and four others dead and a terrible chemical odor coming from the room. As they are hurrying to leave they are met by men in haz-mat clothing and are rushed to a waiting van and interrogated. Ollie soon learns that the men in the haz-mat suits are Secret Service agents. The first questions they have are: who were the other men with Evan and how did the Agents know to come dressed for a hazardous condition. As the investigation unfolds, Ollie has a couple close calls and it appears that the President's life is could also be danger.
Josh is back and helping in the kitchen once again and is quickly becoming an accomplished prep chef. Of course the kitchen wouldn't run as well if it wasn't for Cyan and Bucky. Plus the fact that they are always there for Ollie to keep her focused.
For those that read this wonderful series, you won't be disappointed and if you are new to the series, pick up the first, State of the Onion and begin to enjoy the exciting life of Chef Ollie Paras.
Recipes from the White House are included.
Definitely looking forward to the next book
May 7, 2015
Staffing issues, staffing issues and yet more staffing issues.
This is way down the series so probably not the best place for me to have started. By now the staff's lives are like a running soap opera and take precedence over the mystery. There's a strange and scary scene involving deaths by gassing, in a dingy area of Washington DC. Many people finding this would make sure the Washington Post knew about it, but since the narrator is a chef at the White House she just gets shouted at by security people a lot. She doesn't help her case by refusing to tell them anything. I thought in her position she should either trust the state security or leave, because if she doesn't she'll get fired.
There's a major banquet to be served and I had more fun from the selection of china than the food. I'm puzzled. In such a big gathering there are bound to be some people who are vegetarians. So from the start, like any hotel, the menu must include an option beyond pheasant breasts. There wasn't one. We saw all the deliberations and crossing off of guests who had 'no food issues' as data was provided. But being a non-meat eater is not a food allergy issue, just something we can expect of maybe a fifth of people nowadays. I really can't see any major banquet not being planned from the start to have a vegetarian option available which took as much attention and prep as the meat.
Only four recipes, the 'braised beef' not being used in the book. I think the sweet potatoes with molasses, brown sugar and maple syrup sounds appallingly sweet for a side dish. But I haven't tried it. The dishes include things like kosher salt (why not ordinary salt? I have never seen this kind) and goods which I have never seen on sale in Ireland. The First Family apparently are given dishes like breakfast casserole for breakfast. No idea what would be in that one. I mainly eat porridge for breakfast but the family don't appear to be asked if they want a healthy option.
Overall some interesting reading but too many staffing issues. I'll try an earlier book.
This is way down the series so probably not the best place for me to have started. By now the staff's lives are like a running soap opera and take precedence over the mystery. There's a strange and scary scene involving deaths by gassing, in a dingy area of Washington DC. Many people finding this would make sure the Washington Post knew about it, but since the narrator is a chef at the White House she just gets shouted at by security people a lot. She doesn't help her case by refusing to tell them anything. I thought in her position she should either trust the state security or leave, because if she doesn't she'll get fired.
There's a major banquet to be served and I had more fun from the selection of china than the food. I'm puzzled. In such a big gathering there are bound to be some people who are vegetarians. So from the start, like any hotel, the menu must include an option beyond pheasant breasts. There wasn't one. We saw all the deliberations and crossing off of guests who had 'no food issues' as data was provided. But being a non-meat eater is not a food allergy issue, just something we can expect of maybe a fifth of people nowadays. I really can't see any major banquet not being planned from the start to have a vegetarian option available which took as much attention and prep as the meat.
Only four recipes, the 'braised beef' not being used in the book. I think the sweet potatoes with molasses, brown sugar and maple syrup sounds appallingly sweet for a side dish. But I haven't tried it. The dishes include things like kosher salt (why not ordinary salt? I have never seen this kind) and goods which I have never seen on sale in Ireland. The First Family apparently are given dishes like breakfast casserole for breakfast. No idea what would be in that one. I mainly eat porridge for breakfast but the family don't appear to be asked if they want a healthy option.
Overall some interesting reading but too many staffing issues. I'll try an earlier book.
February 19, 2014
Another installment of the White House Chef mysteries does not disappoint. Jam-packed from the get-go, Ollie and Gav are in the midst of basking in the joys of engagement, but need to set some wedding plans before too long. On a whim, they go to see one of Gav's friends, which has dire and monumentally disastrous consequences. A room full of dead bodies greets them, which only helps to prove that drama and legal matters follow Ollie wherever she goes. While planning for an upcoming state dinner, Ollie and her crew must face the difficult task of working with a runaway cog in the form of one of the team. While dealing with this and the pressing matter of the dinner, Ollie is pushed into danger yet again, all while the bodies keep piling up. How do these murders and the dinner relate? Will the tensions within the White House kitchen prove to be too much for Ollie to handle? What about the nuptials? All is revealed in time...
Hyzy's series is cute, but also highly readable for those who want a good story. While sometimes a little lighter fare, it does have some foundational strengths and the mystery is sound. A collection of great characters and interesting setting brings the story to life and the happenings into the realm of possible. While I do often wonder about some cross-over work with her other series, Hyzy has been able to keep both moving along nicely.
Kudos, Madam Hyzy on another success! I cannot wait to sink my teeth into whatever else you have in store for readers!
Hyzy's series is cute, but also highly readable for those who want a good story. While sometimes a little lighter fare, it does have some foundational strengths and the mystery is sound. A collection of great characters and interesting setting brings the story to life and the happenings into the realm of possible. While I do often wonder about some cross-over work with her other series, Hyzy has been able to keep both moving along nicely.
Kudos, Madam Hyzy on another success! I cannot wait to sink my teeth into whatever else you have in store for readers!
May 31, 2015
Ollie and Gav have finally applied for a marriage license but unfortunately they may have to wait at least six weeks before someone is available to perform the wedding ceremony. And then when Gav gets a call from his old friend, Evan, he realizes that his friend could perform the ceremony. But when Ollie and Gav get there, they find Evan and four other individuals dead, and before they can even look around, six agents in gas masks whisk them away. After questioning, Ollie is forbidden to discuss this with anyone, but her only concern is for Gav, since he was separated from her and she has not heard from him since. In the meantime, she has to concentrate on the preparations for an important state dinner held to help further strained peace negotiations between the United States and the nation of Durasi. And if this wasn't enough drama in her life, she also is trying to develop a more cohesive kitchen team, disjointed with the negative antics of Virgil, who specially prepares the meals for the President's family. I love this series and while it would seem to be unrealistic that the White House Chef could get involved in this much intrigue over the course of the series, the author manages to pull it off and leave the reader wanting more. I love that Ollie's love life is finally settling down (I was not that fond of her former boyfriend) with Gav and that he appreciates her ideas and trusts her instincts. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
September 6, 2016
This was another delightful book in the White House chef series. One of the reasons I really like this series is that it often times gives interesting insight into Washington and life in the White House. This story includes information on the China patterns. The Truman pattern includes the presidential seal that Truman standardized with an Executive Order. He had the head of the eagle turned toward the Olive branch representing peace, rather than turned the other way toward arrows, representing war. I never knew that. This was an entertaining way to get a history lesson.
A second reason I like this series is the characters. Ollie is a tenacious little spitfire. But she also has ethics and class. It is so rare to see a character who can take the high road and treat others as respectfully and honorably as she does. People could take lessons from her. All the usual characters are here...her great team, Bucky and Cyan, her boyfriend, her previous nemesis Sergeant, and all... Now that she and Sergeant have made some progress in their interactions, he has become a likeable character. Virgil also appears in this story, up to his usual destructive tendencies. He and Ollie finally have it out (even though she has given it more effort than anyone would be able to) and we find out what his ties are to the Hyden family. As always, I look forward to the next book.
A second reason I like this series is the characters. Ollie is a tenacious little spitfire. But she also has ethics and class. It is so rare to see a character who can take the high road and treat others as respectfully and honorably as she does. People could take lessons from her. All the usual characters are here...her great team, Bucky and Cyan, her boyfriend, her previous nemesis Sergeant, and all... Now that she and Sergeant have made some progress in their interactions, he has become a likeable character. Virgil also appears in this story, up to his usual destructive tendencies. He and Ollie finally have it out (even though she has given it more effort than anyone would be able to) and we find out what his ties are to the Hyden family. As always, I look forward to the next book.
May 31, 2014
Solid 4.5 star read. This is a series that started out pretty good, but has truly become stellar as it has gone along. The last one was excellent and this one continues in the same vein. Ollie & Gav are hoping for a quick wedding as soon as their marriage license comes through, but it appears the courthouse is backlogged and they're having trouble finding anyone else to perform the ceremony in the timeframe they're looking for. When Gav is contacted by an old friend who left the Secret Service to become a minister to the downtrodden looking for help with a problem he doesn't want to discuss over the phone, he decides to take Ollie along to meet him, too. The thought is that Gav can help him out and maybe the friend would be willing to perform the marriage ceremony, too. Instead, they find 5 dead bodies and the faint lingering scent of a chemical agent. The story goes from there. Some political intrigue figures into the story, along with everything else, making for a roller coaster ride! RECOMMEND!
June 19, 2018
Not a bad book, my first experience with this series. It's the second "cozy" mystery in a row that I was actually able to finish--yay! The 1st-person writing didn't annoy me, thankfully. The story itself wasn't bad, but I found the villains--and their motives--to be pretty weak. Almost as if the author realized she had to end her book suddenly and went with the first option that came to mind. SPOILER ALERT. I thought the whole cookbook thing was pretty lame and convoluted. At first I thought that the cookbook with damaging info inside was meant to frame Ollie somehow. I'm sure that's what *I* would have thought if I was she. Anyway, putting the info (in the cookbook) in the kitchen made absolutely no sense. There must be 100 places in the White House that such info could have been hidden or left for someone else to pick up (dead drop). And the bad guy(s) even went to the trouble of buying a duplicate book and fiddling with the cover. Yeah, there would have been MUCH easier ways to do what they intended to do without all that complicated mess.
January 22, 2014
I love the White House Chef series by Julie Hyzy! Chef Ollie Paras and her crew Cyan and Bucky make a delightful team, whipping up amazing meals for White House guests, but what I love most about these books is the constant adventure…you never know what Ollie is going to get herself into. In "Home of the Braised" the stakes are higher than she could have imagined…when Ollie and fiancé Gav, a member of the PPD stumble across dead bodies, they have no idea that it involves a threat to the President and National Security. As Ollie prepares for an important White House dinner, she faces discord in the kitchen with the temperamental personal chef to the First Family, a threat on her life, and much more that proves to be distracting from the task at hand. In true Ollie fashion, she sets out to set things right, but will she be able to this time?
May 9, 2014
This is my favorite cozy series. Ollie, the main character, is the head chef at the White House. The back story and location couldn't be more fascinating. She is feisty, talented and a strong, honest woman. I devoured the book in one day.
I gave it 5 stars because I felt it was at the top of its genre but I don't really consider cozies great literature but fun, relaxing reads.
Recipes included!
I gave it 5 stars because I felt it was at the top of its genre but I don't really consider cozies great literature but fun, relaxing reads.
Recipes included!
March 29, 2015
Julie Hyzy has a wonderfully engaging, morally unambiguous, strong female character who manages to come out on top despite short stature. It's great to read a story where I'm not cringing over the character's less than intelligent assumptions or improbable set of skills.
February 23, 2014
I love this series and this, #7, was excellent. 4.5 star read.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/800615...
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/800615...
December 19, 2014
An entertaining quick read. It moved rapidly and kept my interest even with figuring out the ending. The only thing I could do without is the Virgil character/storyline.
January 11, 2015
Really fun and interesting mystery
August 27, 2016
another great read in this series---never disappoints---already waiting for next year's book!
June 16, 2024
Home of the Braised by Julie Hyzy is the seventh book of the White House Chef mystery series set in contemporary Washington D.C. Olivia "Ollie" Paras has her dream job: executive chef at the White House. It's her greatest pleasure (and honor) to serve the President and First Lady.
Ollie and her Secret Service boyfriend Gavin "Gav" have decided to get married. To their dismay, they find all ministers and even the justice of the peace are booked solid for the next eight weeks. Then Gav remembers his old friend Evan is a minister. Ollie & Gav go to visit Evan, to ask if he will perform the ceremony. They walk into a multiple murder crime scene. Within minutes, gas-mask-equipped agents arrive and take them into custody.
Perplexed as she is by the mysterious crime, Ollie is very busy preparing for a state dinner celebrating peace with Durasi. Perhaps the most important dinner of the president's term. Complicating the preparations is a battle in the kitchen with an egotistical, arrogant chef. He believes he deserves her job, and furthermore, can get away with sabotaging the kitchen staff because he's related to the First Family.
Ollie copes with kitchen strife while planning a spectacular dinner and coaching the president's son Josh, who's fascinated with cooking. Not to mention worry (in rare spare moments) about the murders. Her intuition leads to a deadly encounter with a killer, and the solution to the murders.
Enjoy a sweet surprise plot twist at the very end.
Fave Quotes:
I'm of the belief that there are precious few moments of absolute clarity in our lives and that, when we're granted one of these deliciously pure bursts of comprehension, we'd best act upon it. Quickly, decisively, boldly.
It's a well-known phenomenon that the more you like a person, the more attractive he or she becomes. I'd come to the conclusion that the reverse was true as well.
People change, often when you least expect them to.
Things work out for the best sometimes, even if it doesn't always feel like it.
Not knowing was often worse than the truth.
If we were taxed mentally, we should get out and do something physical to reclaim our energy. Similarly, if were were taxed physically, we should resort to mental exercises to restore ourselves.
Right after the end of World War II, President Truman issued an executive order that permanently changed the presidential seal so that the eagle faced the olive branch, signifying peace, rather than the arrow, signifying war.
Little clicks of understanding sounded in my brain, like itty-bitty magnets that clack together one at a time, creating an instant column of comprehension.
Recipes from inaugural luncheons: Braised Chuck Roast, Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing, Sauteed Spinach, Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Baby Golden Beets and Green Beans, Lemon Steamed Pudding.
Ollie and her Secret Service boyfriend Gavin "Gav" have decided to get married. To their dismay, they find all ministers and even the justice of the peace are booked solid for the next eight weeks. Then Gav remembers his old friend Evan is a minister. Ollie & Gav go to visit Evan, to ask if he will perform the ceremony. They walk into a multiple murder crime scene. Within minutes, gas-mask-equipped agents arrive and take them into custody.
Perplexed as she is by the mysterious crime, Ollie is very busy preparing for a state dinner celebrating peace with Durasi. Perhaps the most important dinner of the president's term. Complicating the preparations is a battle in the kitchen with an egotistical, arrogant chef. He believes he deserves her job, and furthermore, can get away with sabotaging the kitchen staff because he's related to the First Family.
Ollie copes with kitchen strife while planning a spectacular dinner and coaching the president's son Josh, who's fascinated with cooking. Not to mention worry (in rare spare moments) about the murders. Her intuition leads to a deadly encounter with a killer, and the solution to the murders.
Enjoy a sweet surprise plot twist at the very end.
Fave Quotes:
I'm of the belief that there are precious few moments of absolute clarity in our lives and that, when we're granted one of these deliciously pure bursts of comprehension, we'd best act upon it. Quickly, decisively, boldly.
It's a well-known phenomenon that the more you like a person, the more attractive he or she becomes. I'd come to the conclusion that the reverse was true as well.
People change, often when you least expect them to.
Things work out for the best sometimes, even if it doesn't always feel like it.
Not knowing was often worse than the truth.
If we were taxed mentally, we should get out and do something physical to reclaim our energy. Similarly, if were were taxed physically, we should resort to mental exercises to restore ourselves.
Right after the end of World War II, President Truman issued an executive order that permanently changed the presidential seal so that the eagle faced the olive branch, signifying peace, rather than the arrow, signifying war.
Little clicks of understanding sounded in my brain, like itty-bitty magnets that clack together one at a time, creating an instant column of comprehension.
Recipes from inaugural luncheons: Braised Chuck Roast, Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing, Sauteed Spinach, Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Baby Golden Beets and Green Beans, Lemon Steamed Pudding.
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