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Magical Fortune Cookie #2
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts
Felicity Jin returns in the second book in the heart-warming and deliciously mysterious Magical Fortune Cookie series from Lilian Jackson Braun Award-nominee Jennifer J. Chow.
Jin Bakery has been asked to cater the Lum-Wu outdoor wedding at Pixie Park. The day of the ceremony, Felicity is finishing the “cake” of tiered egg tarts as the wedding party arrives for the ceremony. When one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, doesn’t arrive, Felicity’s best friend and local florist Kelvin generously steps in for him and the wedding goes smoothly—until cake cutting time.
That’s when Felicity finds Miles’ dead body beneath the table with her egg tarts display, stabbed by Kelvin’s gardening shears. With the detective’s sights on Kelvin, Felicity starts sleuthing away to prove his innocence, revealing dark secrets about all the wedding's attendants. They each had something to hide—and a reason to quiet Miles forever. To make matters worse, Felicity’s powers of prediction are on the fritz thanks to the emotional turmoil of a surprise visit from her estranged father.
When the groom gets poisoned at the send-off party and winds up in a coma, the stakes are even higher, not to mention Felicity’s feelings for Kelvin are beginning to feel more than friendly. Will Felicity’s magic return in time to catch the true culprit and rescue her budding relationship with Kelvin?
Jin Bakery has been asked to cater the Lum-Wu outdoor wedding at Pixie Park. The day of the ceremony, Felicity is finishing the “cake” of tiered egg tarts as the wedding party arrives for the ceremony. When one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, doesn’t arrive, Felicity’s best friend and local florist Kelvin generously steps in for him and the wedding goes smoothly—until cake cutting time.
That’s when Felicity finds Miles’ dead body beneath the table with her egg tarts display, stabbed by Kelvin’s gardening shears. With the detective’s sights on Kelvin, Felicity starts sleuthing away to prove his innocence, revealing dark secrets about all the wedding's attendants. They each had something to hide—and a reason to quiet Miles forever. To make matters worse, Felicity’s powers of prediction are on the fritz thanks to the emotional turmoil of a surprise visit from her estranged father.
When the groom gets poisoned at the send-off party and winds up in a coma, the stakes are even higher, not to mention Felicity’s feelings for Kelvin are beginning to feel more than friendly. Will Felicity’s magic return in time to catch the true culprit and rescue her budding relationship with Kelvin?
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2025
16 people are currently reading
4132 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer J. Chow
25 books611 followersJennifer J. Chow writes multicultural stories. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
Her accolades include: Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, & Lilian Jackson Braun Award nominations; SoCal Indie Bestseller; Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB finalist; and Teen Vogue coverage.
Find out more and join her monthly newsletter on her author website.
Her accolades include: Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, & Lilian Jackson Braun Award nominations; SoCal Indie Bestseller; Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB finalist; and Teen Vogue coverage.
Find out more and join her monthly newsletter on her author website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 8, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jin Bakery has been given the honor to provide a circular display of egg tarts in place of a cake for the Lum-Wu wedding being held at Pixie Park. Felicity is so excited. Her friend Kelvin Love is taking care of all the beautiful flower arrangements and her godmother Alma Paz has made all the candle displays. Felicity is not only setting up the tarts, but she is also helping with the traditional tea ceremonies.
Shortly before the wedding is to start they notice one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, has disappeared. To proceed with the wedding Kelvin is asked to take the man’s place. The day is going great until it is time to serve the egg tarts. After the bride and groom “smooshed” each other in the face with a tart Felicity moved to the table to put the tarts on serving trays when she thought she stepped on a tart. But it wasn’t a tart, she had stepped in blood. Moving the tablecloth they find the missing groomsman dead – stabbed with Kelvin’s garden shears.
With evidence pointing directly at Kelvin, Felicity immediately slips into sleuth mode to clear him of the crime. All the wedding attendants had issues with Miles Wu and any of them could have killed him. She tries to use her special magical talents to get to the truth but is distracted by one of the guests at the wedding.
Then the groom is poisoned when he and his bride are getting ready to leave on their honeymoon. With Colton Wu in a coma, Felicity knows the killer has to be stopped before anyone else is hurt. She and Kelvin work closely together to find answers. When the killer is found she will have to answer a huge question – Are she and Kelvin becoming more than friends?
Ms. Chow has created characters who feel like friends. Felicity “Lissa” is much stronger and more confident in this story because she has found her place in the Jin family baking hierarchy by discovering her magic recipe – fortune cookies. Her magic also comes with a bonus. Her cookies not only bring happiness but she can also predict future happenings. That extra special bonus can make things complicated. Lissa’s mother is having a stressful time and because of that, she makes a new friend, Detective Sun. The good detective has moved close to the Jins and Lissa’s mom Angela welcomes her to the neighborhood with plenty of oranges while telling her about a problem she is having.
Both Felicity and Kelvin get involved with the wedding party who are stuck in town because of the murder. It gives them the chance to observe and question them in their quest to find the killer, something Detective Sun and Angela warn them against. But with each visit, they learn more. Everyone had a secret they didn’t want to be revealed. Some connections were very strong while others were hanging by a thread. Alibis were iffy and hard to pin down. I enjoyed following along as some clues fell into place and others were discarded. Like Felicity, I didn’t have “all the pieces of the mystery puzzle in place” but was drawn to the same person she was for various reasons. I do applaud Felicity’s smart thinking and clever way of diffusing the tense situation when the killer was revealed.
There is an important subplot within this story that changes things for Felicity and her mom. I know others have mentioned it as does the synopsis but I don’t want to share more because I enjoyed it so much going in fresh. I loved the small part Felicity’s bunny Whiskers had and how Felicity handled the whole situation. While the murder is the main story, this subplot is significant in many ways.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts was a very enjoyable mystery infused with the perfect amount of magic. The characters are engaging with new friendships and friendships going to the next level. I am looking forward to what Ms. Chow has in mind for her characters next. “New beginnings” can mean so many things. New “enchanting adventures” sound like a wonderful place to start.
Be sure to check out the Floral Tips from Love Blooms and the Auspicious Almond Cookies recipe at the end of the book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Jin Bakery has been given the honor to provide a circular display of egg tarts in place of a cake for the Lum-Wu wedding being held at Pixie Park. Felicity is so excited. Her friend Kelvin Love is taking care of all the beautiful flower arrangements and her godmother Alma Paz has made all the candle displays. Felicity is not only setting up the tarts, but she is also helping with the traditional tea ceremonies.
Shortly before the wedding is to start they notice one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, has disappeared. To proceed with the wedding Kelvin is asked to take the man’s place. The day is going great until it is time to serve the egg tarts. After the bride and groom “smooshed” each other in the face with a tart Felicity moved to the table to put the tarts on serving trays when she thought she stepped on a tart. But it wasn’t a tart, she had stepped in blood. Moving the tablecloth they find the missing groomsman dead – stabbed with Kelvin’s garden shears.
With evidence pointing directly at Kelvin, Felicity immediately slips into sleuth mode to clear him of the crime. All the wedding attendants had issues with Miles Wu and any of them could have killed him. She tries to use her special magical talents to get to the truth but is distracted by one of the guests at the wedding.
Then the groom is poisoned when he and his bride are getting ready to leave on their honeymoon. With Colton Wu in a coma, Felicity knows the killer has to be stopped before anyone else is hurt. She and Kelvin work closely together to find answers. When the killer is found she will have to answer a huge question – Are she and Kelvin becoming more than friends?
Ms. Chow has created characters who feel like friends. Felicity “Lissa” is much stronger and more confident in this story because she has found her place in the Jin family baking hierarchy by discovering her magic recipe – fortune cookies. Her magic also comes with a bonus. Her cookies not only bring happiness but she can also predict future happenings. That extra special bonus can make things complicated. Lissa’s mother is having a stressful time and because of that, she makes a new friend, Detective Sun. The good detective has moved close to the Jins and Lissa’s mom Angela welcomes her to the neighborhood with plenty of oranges while telling her about a problem she is having.
Both Felicity and Kelvin get involved with the wedding party who are stuck in town because of the murder. It gives them the chance to observe and question them in their quest to find the killer, something Detective Sun and Angela warn them against. But with each visit, they learn more. Everyone had a secret they didn’t want to be revealed. Some connections were very strong while others were hanging by a thread. Alibis were iffy and hard to pin down. I enjoyed following along as some clues fell into place and others were discarded. Like Felicity, I didn’t have “all the pieces of the mystery puzzle in place” but was drawn to the same person she was for various reasons. I do applaud Felicity’s smart thinking and clever way of diffusing the tense situation when the killer was revealed.
There is an important subplot within this story that changes things for Felicity and her mom. I know others have mentioned it as does the synopsis but I don’t want to share more because I enjoyed it so much going in fresh. I loved the small part Felicity’s bunny Whiskers had and how Felicity handled the whole situation. While the murder is the main story, this subplot is significant in many ways.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts was a very enjoyable mystery infused with the perfect amount of magic. The characters are engaging with new friendships and friendships going to the next level. I am looking forward to what Ms. Chow has in mind for her characters next. “New beginnings” can mean so many things. New “enchanting adventures” sound like a wonderful place to start.
Be sure to check out the Floral Tips from Love Blooms and the Auspicious Almond Cookies recipe at the end of the book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
January 24, 2025
Another really fun book in this series. This is a wedding mystery, which always makes me feel so bad for these poor characters, but also makes for an extra dramatic story. I loved all the twists and was completely stumped then entire time. Also, I love seeing Felicity and Kelvin's friendship through the lens of the sleuthing. I still can't decide how I feel about their relationship because I don't see much romantic sparking, and kind of hope they stay sleuthing friends! I was shocked by some personal reveals in Felicity's life and think she handles them so well.
My favorite part of this book and series is the baking magic. Though we do see a tiny bit less than the first book (which makes sense because that one set the scene) I did enjoy the use of the fortunes and seeing Felicity really come into her own with the baking magic.
Thanks to the publishers for a free copy; my thoughts and reviews are my own.
My favorite part of this book and series is the baking magic. Though we do see a tiny bit less than the first book (which makes sense because that one set the scene) I did enjoy the use of the fortunes and seeing Felicity really come into her own with the baking magic.
Thanks to the publishers for a free copy; my thoughts and reviews are my own.
June 14, 2025
First miss by Chow IMO. This book was very hectic and so many scene changes with people finding clues and confessing left and right, it felt way too easy to solve the mystery. The personable scenes were very rushed and I did not feel invested in any characters. Sad about this one.
January 21, 2025
I really enjoy these key characters and had a great time sleuthing along with Felicity and Kelvin as they worked to figure out who was framing him for murder. He definitely hadn't signed up for that when he agreed to be a substitute groomsman.
The showdown with Felicity and the killer was a good one and I loved how Felicity got the upper hand. Something super sweet happened for her at the end and now I can't wait to see what happens next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
The showdown with Felicity and the killer was a good one and I loved how Felicity got the upper hand. Something super sweet happened for her at the end and now I can't wait to see what happens next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
February 12, 2025
I always enjoy a good story that incorporates magical realism, an amateur sleuth, or multi-cultural characters, and the Magical Fortune series by Jennifer J. Chow delivers all three! In Ill-Fated Fortune, we met Felicity Jin and her mom who run a bakery using their generational family magic to infuse joy and peace into their treats. In this second book, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts, we get to see Felicity come into her own with her recently-discovered abilities, both in the overall inherited family magic and in the new layers to her specific gift. I loved this aspect of the story – it’s creative and well-plotted, and it brims with possibilities for future books. Something else that has me excited for future books? Felicity’s evolving relationship with her bestie Kelvin, including an intriguing twist near the end that’s related to a subplot in this book and could complicate any romantic possibilities between them.
The mystery in Star-Crossed Egg Tarts involves a Chinese-American wedding, a murdered groomsman, and a wedding party full of suspects. I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the wedding (like the tea ceremony) while the complex interpersonal relationships between the attendants and the bride & groom – not to mention the groom’s estranged parents – had me quickly hooked on figuring out whodunit. Chow lays out a delicious spread of false leads, red herrings, and clever distractions, all of which she seamlessly mixes with the legitimate clues, to keep armchair sleuths like me invested in the outcome. I’m pretty sure I suspected each member of the wedding party AND the newlyweds before all was said and done, but still managed to be surprised by the murderer’s identity and motive.
Bottom Line: Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow creatively combines several of my favorite things into one delightful story, and the author’s warm and engaging writing voice is just the icing on the cake. Or, in this case, the chocolate coating on the fortune cookie. The well-plotted mystery, the nuances of the Jin family magic (and Felicity’s ever-developing abilities), and the affectionate relationships between Felicity and her inner circle all kept me engaged to the end. (The first couple of chapters did feel a bit disjointed or rushed or something to me but once the mystery really got going, the rest of the story did too. So if you start reading it and feel the same way at first, stick with it!) Fans of Sarah Addison Allen who loved the magical realism of her Waverley Family series but prefer no curse words or profanity, Jennifer J. Chow’s Magical Fortune series is for you!! I’m delighted to have found these books and look forward to the next.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
The mystery in Star-Crossed Egg Tarts involves a Chinese-American wedding, a murdered groomsman, and a wedding party full of suspects. I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the wedding (like the tea ceremony) while the complex interpersonal relationships between the attendants and the bride & groom – not to mention the groom’s estranged parents – had me quickly hooked on figuring out whodunit. Chow lays out a delicious spread of false leads, red herrings, and clever distractions, all of which she seamlessly mixes with the legitimate clues, to keep armchair sleuths like me invested in the outcome. I’m pretty sure I suspected each member of the wedding party AND the newlyweds before all was said and done, but still managed to be surprised by the murderer’s identity and motive.
Bottom Line: Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow creatively combines several of my favorite things into one delightful story, and the author’s warm and engaging writing voice is just the icing on the cake. Or, in this case, the chocolate coating on the fortune cookie. The well-plotted mystery, the nuances of the Jin family magic (and Felicity’s ever-developing abilities), and the affectionate relationships between Felicity and her inner circle all kept me engaged to the end. (The first couple of chapters did feel a bit disjointed or rushed or something to me but once the mystery really got going, the rest of the story did too. So if you start reading it and feel the same way at first, stick with it!) Fans of Sarah Addison Allen who loved the magical realism of her Waverley Family series but prefer no curse words or profanity, Jennifer J. Chow’s Magical Fortune series is for you!! I’m delighted to have found these books and look forward to the next.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
April 7, 2025
This is a light, unputdownable, and cosy mystery. Author’s writing is so engaging. The book gripped me from page one . This was such a delightful story filled with murder, friendship, family, mystery, and magic. I felt the characters were warm. The whole setting was warm. Though I suspected 2-3 characters. But my predictions were wrong. The investigation is spot on. Loved the warm and suspenseful vibe of the book. So many unexpected things happens. There are some twists. When one of the groomsmen is found dead, Kevin, the local florist becomes the suspect. The twists were unpredictable.
Thanks to the Publisher
Thanks to the Publisher
January 25, 2025
Book #13 read in 2025
I think I liked this second installment of the series even better than the first. Felicity already has a strong hold on her magical power and how she can use it, but it isn't the central part of this story. In this one, Felicity and Kelvin are working at a wedding when chaos ensues. One of the groomsmen is murdered with Kelvin's pruning shears. To make sure Kelvin isn't blamed, Felicity decides she should investigate. Also, Felcitiy's absent father is a guest at the wedding and takes that as a sign that he should try to reconnect with his daughter. This gives us even more insight into Felicity's background.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, and how they all connect to the bride, groom, and dead groomsman was a little complicated to track. The pacing was great, and the story moved along in a way that kept me interested throughout. I am excited to continue this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 21, 2025.
I think I liked this second installment of the series even better than the first. Felicity already has a strong hold on her magical power and how she can use it, but it isn't the central part of this story. In this one, Felicity and Kelvin are working at a wedding when chaos ensues. One of the groomsmen is murdered with Kelvin's pruning shears. To make sure Kelvin isn't blamed, Felicity decides she should investigate. Also, Felcitiy's absent father is a guest at the wedding and takes that as a sign that he should try to reconnect with his daughter. This gives us even more insight into Felicity's background.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, and how they all connect to the bride, groom, and dead groomsman was a little complicated to track. The pacing was great, and the story moved along in a way that kept me interested throughout. I am excited to continue this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 21, 2025.
July 26, 2025
This was a fun murder mystery. I did not read the first book in the series and did not feel lost when I read the second book.
I love the inclusion of Chinese culture and all the delicious egg tarts and tea.
The story was entertaining and kept me interested in finding out who the killer was.
Thank you @minotaur_books for a copy of the book.
I love the inclusion of Chinese culture and all the delicious egg tarts and tea.
The story was entertaining and kept me interested in finding out who the killer was.
Thank you @minotaur_books for a copy of the book.
January 18, 2025
Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for my eARC of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow. All opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery about a magical baker, Felicity, who caters a wedding which turns deadly and ends up helping to solve the murder with her best friend Kelvin.
This book checked off so many boxes: murder, mystery, love, food, magic, friends-to-lovers, and frenemies. I liked the development of the plot and how we're led down different leads to suspect multiple members of the wedding party before ultimately figuring out who did it.
There were a few different side-stories to follow along with, but it didn't take away from the story or feel like they were out of place, which can sometimes happen. One other thing that I appreciated was that Felicity's solution is to always give someone a fortune cookie -- that's something my grandma would do and though for Felicity it was a way to use her magic, it's a fun addition to this novel.
If you're into cozy mysteries, food-centered books, a bit of magical whimsy, or a fun whodunnit, I recommend this one. This can be read as a standalone, but I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series!
Thanks, Minotaur!
I enjoyed this cozy mystery about a magical baker, Felicity, who caters a wedding which turns deadly and ends up helping to solve the murder with her best friend Kelvin.
This book checked off so many boxes: murder, mystery, love, food, magic, friends-to-lovers, and frenemies. I liked the development of the plot and how we're led down different leads to suspect multiple members of the wedding party before ultimately figuring out who did it.
There were a few different side-stories to follow along with, but it didn't take away from the story or feel like they were out of place, which can sometimes happen. One other thing that I appreciated was that Felicity's solution is to always give someone a fortune cookie -- that's something my grandma would do and though for Felicity it was a way to use her magic, it's a fun addition to this novel.
If you're into cozy mysteries, food-centered books, a bit of magical whimsy, or a fun whodunnit, I recommend this one. This can be read as a standalone, but I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series!
Thanks, Minotaur!
March 20, 2025
Totally enjoyed, kept guessing the wrong person. Looking forward to the next one.
April 26, 2025
2.5–it was an ok read but I’m not a fan of magic/fantasy genres so not for me.
December 28, 2024
This cozy mystery is the second in the Magical Fortune Cookies series. Felicity Jin has been hired to supply a wedding cake of tiered egg tarts for the Lum-Wu wedding being held outdoors in Pixie Park. Besides the groom's bickering parents, things are going well until a body is discovered underneath the cake table.
Miles Wu is a cousin of the groom's and is found with Felicity's best friend Kelvin's pruning shears stabbed into his neck. In order to clear her best friend's name, Felicity goes on the case to discover who murdered Miles and discovers that most of the wedding party had sufficient motives to want him dead.
Adding to the stress, Felicity meets her father for the first time since he is a guest at the wedding. Richard Zhou abandoned his wife and daughter when Felicity was an infant. While her mother is very bitter, Felicity has always been curious about him. Deciding whether or not she wants to build a relationship with her absentee father is a problem that winds through this story.
This was an entertaining cozy mystery. Felicity's ability to design custom fortunes in the fortune cookies she bakes in the bakery she owns with her mother helps in solving the case. I liked the small town setting although I question the viability of a bakery that only sells three items even if they are magical. I liked Felicity's determination to solve the murder and clear her friend. I also liked that she was gradually and hesitantly changing her relationship with Kelvin as she discovers that friendship can also be romantic love.
Miles Wu is a cousin of the groom's and is found with Felicity's best friend Kelvin's pruning shears stabbed into his neck. In order to clear her best friend's name, Felicity goes on the case to discover who murdered Miles and discovers that most of the wedding party had sufficient motives to want him dead.
Adding to the stress, Felicity meets her father for the first time since he is a guest at the wedding. Richard Zhou abandoned his wife and daughter when Felicity was an infant. While her mother is very bitter, Felicity has always been curious about him. Deciding whether or not she wants to build a relationship with her absentee father is a problem that winds through this story.
This was an entertaining cozy mystery. Felicity's ability to design custom fortunes in the fortune cookies she bakes in the bakery she owns with her mother helps in solving the case. I liked the small town setting although I question the viability of a bakery that only sells three items even if they are magical. I liked Felicity's determination to solve the murder and clear her friend. I also liked that she was gradually and hesitantly changing her relationship with Kelvin as she discovers that friendship can also be romantic love.
December 21, 2024
The second book in this cozy series, and it was a good follow up to the first. As Felicity and her bff Kelvin provide services to a wedding in the park, Felicity finds the dead body of the groom’s cousin. With the entire wedding party as suspects, Felicity and Kelvin investigate the crime. On top of that, Felicity runs into someone unexpected and has to evaluate her feelings. This is shaping up to be a really good cozy mystery series and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.
January 28, 2025
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts is the second in the Magical Fortune Cookie culinary cozy mystery series. Set in a little town near San Francisco, it mixes magic into murder. Felicity and her mother run a Chinese bakery where their baked goods make their customers feel good, and her speciality happens to be fortune cookies with a side of personalized fortunes that have a way of coming true. With her best friend Kelvin, a florist, by her side, and Detective Sun becoming fast friends with her mother, Felicity can’t help but stumble into murder mysteries.
In this second installment, Felicity is catering a Chinese wedding in her own little town of Pixie, but things start to go wrong right away with the groom’s parents being frosty, at best, during the tea ceremony. They just get worse when a groomsman goes missing, only to turn up dead under the dessert table. With the wedding party now stuck in Pixie as the police investigate, Felicity and Kelvin, the florist for the wedding and stand-in groomsman, can’t help but nose around since Kelvin himself is a suspect and Felicity won’t stand for it. But, the deeper they dig, the more secrets they uncover. And then there’s the matter of Felicity’s father, who abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby, coming back into their lives, and Felicity’s powers growing.
I love a good culinary cozy mystery, and this offers plenty of baking and plenty of mystery solving to keep my heart happy. I also love that it’s infused with Chinese traditions and culture as Felicity and her mom are Chinese American. It doesn’t hurt that these books give me the chance to indulge in Chinese desserts, even if fortune cookies aren’t actually Chinese, and the recipes at the end certainly are welcome. That said, these books really shine when it comes to the actual investigations, but not so much everything else.
Where the first book was a little lighter on things since it needed to introduce the world and characters, this one dove deeper into the mystery and into Felicity’s personal life. I liked the developments it threw in, but the mystery was absolutely the star for me. There were twists and turns, and plenty of characters to keep things interesting and secrets flowing. There were so many times when I thought it could have been any member of the wedding party who had done it. The victim wasn’t exactly well-liked, and he had a way of collecting their secrets. I had a fantastic time sleuthing with Felicity and Kelvin, and I loved how much Kelvin threw himself into helping Felicity solve this case, which was a nice change as he spent more of the first book cautioning her. They really worked fantastically together, and I loved how much they supported each other through every turn.
Felicity’s personal life ends up turning on its head while she’s busy tracking clues and suspects in order to clear Kelvin’s name. Her father unexpectedly turns up during the wedding as he was a guest, and Felicity’s stuck having to figure out whether to let him into her life. Things are complicated by her mother’s vehement refusal to have anything to do with him; she just wants her family’s cookbook back from him. I loved how well-balanced this subplot was with the mystery. When the mystery seemed a little stuck, this one reared its head and really made things more complicated for Felicity. I loved how split she felt, and I really liked how she resolved it. At the same time, her powers are growing. Now, she has more power in choosing what kind of fortune to give, and she uses it spectacularly in solving this case. I loved the detail that went into it, and I kind of wish Felicity were real so she could write a personalized fortune for me. The magic works really well in helping her solve mysteries, and I loved how instrumental it is.
But I had some difficulties getting into this one. The first few chapters are eager to get things started, for the dead body to materialize, and I felt it in every word. I thought the prose was rushed and the parts that should have landed some kind of emotional punch felt very dry, almost clinical. There was no emotion; it felt like a collection of words. It also rushed headlong into the story, making the first few chapters feel hurried and me feeling a little knocked off balance. I would have loved it if the story had taken its time to really set the scene and make me more emotionally invested in what was happening. There are some interesting threads that are introduced, but none if it felt real enough for me to care.
Fortunately, the characters managed to step in just in time. While there was no helping things until the body turned up, I did adore the relationship between Felicity and Kelvin, and the angling for a love triangle was actually really well done. It prodded Felicity to think about her friend in a different light while also managing to muddy the waters of the investigation. The best part, though, was just how invested Kelvin was in helping Felicity solve the case, sometimes to amusing ends. Where Felicity can rush headlong into things, Kelvin really balanced her out, being a little more methodical and considering. They worked brilliantly together, and I loved the strides they made in their relationship.
Felicity’s mom continues to be a delightful presence, and I really loved her relationship with Detective Sun, who has just moved to Pixie. Mrs. Jin feels so much like a Chinese mother, but she recognizes her daughter’s more American spirit. She’s always there for Felicity, as well as Felicity’s godmother who was instrumental in helping Felicity and Kelvin solve this case, and the love between mother and daughter is absolutely wonderful. I adored the friendship that develops between Mrs. Jin and Detective Sun. Both agree Felicity shouldn’t investigate, but both also know it’s pointless to dissuade her, and I loved the knots it put into Felicity with her mom being so close, kind of like an auntie, to Detective Sun.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts may have had a rough start, but I really loved the way it ended. The characters are really settling into their places and roles, and the mystery was delightfully twisty. I loved the wrenches this one threw into Felicity’s life, and it was so good to see what a pillar of strength Kelvin is for her. There’s a lot of warmth and love in these books, and a highlight for me is always the mother-daughter relationship, closely followed by all the desserts. But the mystery is strong enough to hold its own, and the twists and turns really kept me guessing this time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
In this second installment, Felicity is catering a Chinese wedding in her own little town of Pixie, but things start to go wrong right away with the groom’s parents being frosty, at best, during the tea ceremony. They just get worse when a groomsman goes missing, only to turn up dead under the dessert table. With the wedding party now stuck in Pixie as the police investigate, Felicity and Kelvin, the florist for the wedding and stand-in groomsman, can’t help but nose around since Kelvin himself is a suspect and Felicity won’t stand for it. But, the deeper they dig, the more secrets they uncover. And then there’s the matter of Felicity’s father, who abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby, coming back into their lives, and Felicity’s powers growing.
I love a good culinary cozy mystery, and this offers plenty of baking and plenty of mystery solving to keep my heart happy. I also love that it’s infused with Chinese traditions and culture as Felicity and her mom are Chinese American. It doesn’t hurt that these books give me the chance to indulge in Chinese desserts, even if fortune cookies aren’t actually Chinese, and the recipes at the end certainly are welcome. That said, these books really shine when it comes to the actual investigations, but not so much everything else.
Where the first book was a little lighter on things since it needed to introduce the world and characters, this one dove deeper into the mystery and into Felicity’s personal life. I liked the developments it threw in, but the mystery was absolutely the star for me. There were twists and turns, and plenty of characters to keep things interesting and secrets flowing. There were so many times when I thought it could have been any member of the wedding party who had done it. The victim wasn’t exactly well-liked, and he had a way of collecting their secrets. I had a fantastic time sleuthing with Felicity and Kelvin, and I loved how much Kelvin threw himself into helping Felicity solve this case, which was a nice change as he spent more of the first book cautioning her. They really worked fantastically together, and I loved how much they supported each other through every turn.
Felicity’s personal life ends up turning on its head while she’s busy tracking clues and suspects in order to clear Kelvin’s name. Her father unexpectedly turns up during the wedding as he was a guest, and Felicity’s stuck having to figure out whether to let him into her life. Things are complicated by her mother’s vehement refusal to have anything to do with him; she just wants her family’s cookbook back from him. I loved how well-balanced this subplot was with the mystery. When the mystery seemed a little stuck, this one reared its head and really made things more complicated for Felicity. I loved how split she felt, and I really liked how she resolved it. At the same time, her powers are growing. Now, she has more power in choosing what kind of fortune to give, and she uses it spectacularly in solving this case. I loved the detail that went into it, and I kind of wish Felicity were real so she could write a personalized fortune for me. The magic works really well in helping her solve mysteries, and I loved how instrumental it is.
But I had some difficulties getting into this one. The first few chapters are eager to get things started, for the dead body to materialize, and I felt it in every word. I thought the prose was rushed and the parts that should have landed some kind of emotional punch felt very dry, almost clinical. There was no emotion; it felt like a collection of words. It also rushed headlong into the story, making the first few chapters feel hurried and me feeling a little knocked off balance. I would have loved it if the story had taken its time to really set the scene and make me more emotionally invested in what was happening. There are some interesting threads that are introduced, but none if it felt real enough for me to care.
Fortunately, the characters managed to step in just in time. While there was no helping things until the body turned up, I did adore the relationship between Felicity and Kelvin, and the angling for a love triangle was actually really well done. It prodded Felicity to think about her friend in a different light while also managing to muddy the waters of the investigation. The best part, though, was just how invested Kelvin was in helping Felicity solve the case, sometimes to amusing ends. Where Felicity can rush headlong into things, Kelvin really balanced her out, being a little more methodical and considering. They worked brilliantly together, and I loved the strides they made in their relationship.
Felicity’s mom continues to be a delightful presence, and I really loved her relationship with Detective Sun, who has just moved to Pixie. Mrs. Jin feels so much like a Chinese mother, but she recognizes her daughter’s more American spirit. She’s always there for Felicity, as well as Felicity’s godmother who was instrumental in helping Felicity and Kelvin solve this case, and the love between mother and daughter is absolutely wonderful. I adored the friendship that develops between Mrs. Jin and Detective Sun. Both agree Felicity shouldn’t investigate, but both also know it’s pointless to dissuade her, and I loved the knots it put into Felicity with her mom being so close, kind of like an auntie, to Detective Sun.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts may have had a rough start, but I really loved the way it ended. The characters are really settling into their places and roles, and the mystery was delightfully twisty. I loved the wrenches this one threw into Felicity’s life, and it was so good to see what a pillar of strength Kelvin is for her. There’s a lot of warmth and love in these books, and a highlight for me is always the mother-daughter relationship, closely followed by all the desserts. But the mystery is strong enough to hold its own, and the twists and turns really kept me guessing this time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 12, 2024
Felicity Jin is creating an egg tart wedding cake for a wedding in Pixie Park. Kelvin Love is the florist. When one of the wedding party is found dead under the cake table, Kelvin becomes the main suspect. This requires Felicity to investigate and Kelvin helps, once being cleared by the cops. Many twists and turns keep the reader guessing who the real killer could be. The subplots provide interesting turns in the story. Love these characters and I would love to visit the family bakery. A good read that holds the readers interest and is entertaining.
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.
March 5, 2025
The Jin Bakery has been asked to cater a outdoor wedding in Pixie Park. The day of the wedding Felicity Jin is finishing the cake tower which is a tower of egg tarts instead of cake. One of the groomsmen Miles Wu does not arrive. Felicity best friend and the florist for the wedding Kelvin steps in for Miles at the wedding and everything goes smoothly until it is time to cut the cake. Then Felicity finds Miles body underneath the table of her display with egg tarts stabbed to death by Kelvin's gardening shears. The Detective's sights are on Kelvin, Felicity starts to investigate right away to prove his innocence, as she is doing this she also reveals dark secrets about all the wedding attendant's. They all have something to hide and all have reasons to keep Miles quiet forever. Felicity's power's of prediction are on the fritz thanks to the emotional turmoil of a surprise visit from her estranged father.
The groom gets poisoned at the send off party and then ends up in a coma, the stakes are even higher, and Felicity's feelings for Kelvin are beginning to feel more than friendly.
Thank you St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy. I truly do appreciate it.
I am one of those people that did not read the first book, honestly I feel like you don't have to read the first book in order to read this book. They could be standalones. The magic and the premise of this story was cut and I loved Kelvin and Felicity and their friendship that they have the seem really close. I think that they also truly understand each other. I can't wait to see more of their friendship/relationship in the next book hopefully. The detective character might be a bit much for me, she's honestly kind of annoying to be honest.
I did enjoy this book but their wasn't anything exciting or left me on the edge of my seat that happened. This is a very cozy mystery which I do love those types of mysteries but sometimes they can be a bit boring. I also enjoyed the magic in this book, I like how the magic was incorporated into this book through the food.
I do wish that at the end of the books they put a recipe for egg tarts, yes it would be a complicated recipe but you talk about egg tarts the entire book and their no recipe ugh. Unless they were in the first book, then that's a different story and I should probably read the first book. The cover of this book I love, especially the heart shaped egg tarts on the front of the cover. I am interested in reading the 3rd book in the series whenever it does come out. I also would like to see what happens with Kelvin and Felicity
I think that I am going to try and find the first book of this series so I can read it and see what happens in that books, but if you love cozy mysteries, magic, and food then you will enjoy this book. Happy Reading!!!!!
The groom gets poisoned at the send off party and then ends up in a coma, the stakes are even higher, and Felicity's feelings for Kelvin are beginning to feel more than friendly.
Thank you St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books for an advanced reader's copy. I truly do appreciate it.
I am one of those people that did not read the first book, honestly I feel like you don't have to read the first book in order to read this book. They could be standalones. The magic and the premise of this story was cut and I loved Kelvin and Felicity and their friendship that they have the seem really close. I think that they also truly understand each other. I can't wait to see more of their friendship/relationship in the next book hopefully. The detective character might be a bit much for me, she's honestly kind of annoying to be honest.
I did enjoy this book but their wasn't anything exciting or left me on the edge of my seat that happened. This is a very cozy mystery which I do love those types of mysteries but sometimes they can be a bit boring. I also enjoyed the magic in this book, I like how the magic was incorporated into this book through the food.
I do wish that at the end of the books they put a recipe for egg tarts, yes it would be a complicated recipe but you talk about egg tarts the entire book and their no recipe ugh. Unless they were in the first book, then that's a different story and I should probably read the first book. The cover of this book I love, especially the heart shaped egg tarts on the front of the cover. I am interested in reading the 3rd book in the series whenever it does come out. I also would like to see what happens with Kelvin and Felicity
I think that I am going to try and find the first book of this series so I can read it and see what happens in that books, but if you love cozy mysteries, magic, and food then you will enjoy this book. Happy Reading!!!!!
December 10, 2025
Be careful what you wish for because you just may get it. Felicity Jin grew up without her father; in fact, her mother never spoke of him so of course Felicity has had questions. With her newly awakened talent for infusing joy and prophecy into her fortune cookies she wonders if this unusual “gift,” could be from her father. Ah but that is only part of the mystery, and Felicity will need more than just her special skills, her ability to bake, her friend Kelvin, and her magic bunny to get to the bottom of the murder.
On the plus side, this time there is no real reason for Felicity to get involved. She catered a wedding, she didn’t really know any of the people involved. But then an unexpected connection between Kelvin’s dad and the victim is discovered, and once again she is pulled into sleuthing. Thankfully she has a semi-working relationship with Detective Rylan Sun and while she is dangerously close to interfering with the investigation she also manages to help. There are plenty of suspects with plenty of secrets that Felicity is very good at ferreting out with the aid of cookies and sweet treats.
The subplot is well constructed and adds another layer of mystery that explains more of Felicity’s family history and gives an excellent backstory of the Jin family’s gift. The deep dive into the colorful A few of the story ends are tied off but not so many that this series is finished. In fact, things are just starting to heat up between Kelvin and Felicity, and I can’t wait to see what the dynamic duo solve next. In the meantime, I will make Auspicious Almond Cookies from the recipe found at the back of the book. Both this book and the series starter come complete with a baking recipe, a candle related craft, and floral craft as an extra cozy aspect to an enjoyable series.
On the plus side, this time there is no real reason for Felicity to get involved. She catered a wedding, she didn’t really know any of the people involved. But then an unexpected connection between Kelvin’s dad and the victim is discovered, and once again she is pulled into sleuthing. Thankfully she has a semi-working relationship with Detective Rylan Sun and while she is dangerously close to interfering with the investigation she also manages to help. There are plenty of suspects with plenty of secrets that Felicity is very good at ferreting out with the aid of cookies and sweet treats.
The subplot is well constructed and adds another layer of mystery that explains more of Felicity’s family history and gives an excellent backstory of the Jin family’s gift. The deep dive into the colorful A few of the story ends are tied off but not so many that this series is finished. In fact, things are just starting to heat up between Kelvin and Felicity, and I can’t wait to see what the dynamic duo solve next. In the meantime, I will make Auspicious Almond Cookies from the recipe found at the back of the book. Both this book and the series starter come complete with a baking recipe, a candle related craft, and floral craft as an extra cozy aspect to an enjoyable series.
February 20, 2025
Felicity Jin has the job of catering the Lum-Wu wedding. She is busy creating the wedding cake of tiered egg tarts when she learns that one of the groomsmen hasn’t arrived and the wedding cannot begin without him. Felicity’s best friend and florist, Kelvin, fills in. The wedding begins. Felicity is shocked to find the groomsmen under her cake table, but he's very much dead.
The deadly deed was done with Kelvin’s pruning shears. The police turn their attention towards Kelvin as the killer. Felicity isn’t about to stand around and let them arrest her best friend for a crime he did not commit.
Felicity has her hands full when her father shows up at the wedding. A man she hasn’t seen since she was a baby. Now he coincidentally shows up at a wedding she is working. She’s more than a little suspicious.
This is the second book in the series. The mystery is wrapped up in this one book so I don’t think readers will be lost if they haven’t read the first one. However, I do think it’s best to start at the beginning to get to know the characters. Readers learn more about Felicity and her family’s history. The characters are portrayed realistically and can easily be the neighbors next door. I enjoyed getting a better look at the Jin family and what makes them tick. I really like the way the family dynamics are written.
The storyline keeps you guessing until the end. There’s even a dash of romance and a cute magical bunny named Whiskers. It’s a fun, engrossing series and I do hope it continues. I’ll be waiting for book #3.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free 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.
The deadly deed was done with Kelvin’s pruning shears. The police turn their attention towards Kelvin as the killer. Felicity isn’t about to stand around and let them arrest her best friend for a crime he did not commit.
Felicity has her hands full when her father shows up at the wedding. A man she hasn’t seen since she was a baby. Now he coincidentally shows up at a wedding she is working. She’s more than a little suspicious.
This is the second book in the series. The mystery is wrapped up in this one book so I don’t think readers will be lost if they haven’t read the first one. However, I do think it’s best to start at the beginning to get to know the characters. Readers learn more about Felicity and her family’s history. The characters are portrayed realistically and can easily be the neighbors next door. I enjoyed getting a better look at the Jin family and what makes them tick. I really like the way the family dynamics are written.
The storyline keeps you guessing until the end. There’s even a dash of romance and a cute magical bunny named Whiskers. It’s a fun, engrossing series and I do hope it continues. I’ll be waiting for book #3.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free 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.
February 25, 2025
The young woman who employs Felicity Jin's best friend Kelvin to provide floral displays at her wedding is now at the centre of a murder mystery when Miles, the best man, is found dead near Felicity's tiered egg tarts.
When Miles is discovered to have been stabbed with Kelvin's gardening shears, Detective Rylan Sun immediately zeroes in on Kelvin as her prime suspect. Naturally, Felicity begins sleuthing so she can point Detective Sun to the actual killer.
Then the groom is poisoned, and Felicity realizes that things are even more serious, and it becomes much more urgent to solve the case. Along the way, Felicity begins to slowly reevaluate how she feels about the ever loyal, kind and considerate (and good looking!) Kelvin.
This is another satisfying story from Jennifer J. Chow. Felicity has a better handle on her power to predict, and while this comes in handy this time around, it's her ability to root out truths about the relationships between the friends in the wedding party that really serves her well.
And, as if that wasn't enough, Felicity has a chance to reconnect with her father.
This was both fun and entertaining, with some deeper emotional stakes than the first entry in this cozy mystery series. Felicity is kind and caring, and very nosy, and Kelvin is such a sweetheart. I like how Felicity and her mother interact in this novel, and in general, all the relationships are explored more deeply and well by the author.
The murderer was who I thought it was, but the fun of these stories is watching Felicity get to the truth, while baking delicious treats. (I HAVE to try making the almond cookies recipe the author provides at the back!)
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When Miles is discovered to have been stabbed with Kelvin's gardening shears, Detective Rylan Sun immediately zeroes in on Kelvin as her prime suspect. Naturally, Felicity begins sleuthing so she can point Detective Sun to the actual killer.
Then the groom is poisoned, and Felicity realizes that things are even more serious, and it becomes much more urgent to solve the case. Along the way, Felicity begins to slowly reevaluate how she feels about the ever loyal, kind and considerate (and good looking!) Kelvin.
This is another satisfying story from Jennifer J. Chow. Felicity has a better handle on her power to predict, and while this comes in handy this time around, it's her ability to root out truths about the relationships between the friends in the wedding party that really serves her well.
And, as if that wasn't enough, Felicity has a chance to reconnect with her father.
This was both fun and entertaining, with some deeper emotional stakes than the first entry in this cozy mystery series. Felicity is kind and caring, and very nosy, and Kelvin is such a sweetheart. I like how Felicity and her mother interact in this novel, and in general, all the relationships are explored more deeply and well by the author.
The murderer was who I thought it was, but the fun of these stories is watching Felicity get to the truth, while baking delicious treats. (I HAVE to try making the almond cookies recipe the author provides at the back!)
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
January 20, 2025
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is a fantastic small town mystery.
Will Felicity figure out who killed the Groomsman?
We start this installment with Felicity catering a wedding in Pixie, California. The groom and bride are planning a whimsical wedding with egg tarts instead of cake when the groom's cousin is found dead under the dessert table. Then, her father shows up at the wedding, which confuses Felicity. However, it gives her a chance to possibly get some answers to her questions.
Felicity can't seem to stay out of the investigation, and her curiosity may get the best of her. She tries to be neighborly and helpful but still gets involved, much to the disapproval of her mother and Detective Sun.
Felicity Jin
Felicity is different now that her Jin future has shown itself. She seems more confident and happier. Even her relationship with Kelvin is advancing into more than friendship. Of course, Felicity doesn't have all the answers, but she seems to be in a good place now. I like Felicity and Mrs. Jin. They are hardworking and faithful to their community.
I look forward to seeing how she and Kelvin handle their relationship in the next installment.
Five Stars for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts
My rating for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is five stars. I genuinely enjoy returning to Pixie, California, with Felicity and her crew. Ms. Chow does an amazing job showing Felicity's life in small town America, her hardships, and her accomplishments. I highly recommend this series.
The story includes a recipe for Auspicious Almond Cookies, floral tips, instructions for making a simple Rosebud Bouquet, an Easy Wrist Corsage, and instructions for making a Lace Votive Candle Holder.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is a fantastic small town mystery.
Will Felicity figure out who killed the Groomsman?
We start this installment with Felicity catering a wedding in Pixie, California. The groom and bride are planning a whimsical wedding with egg tarts instead of cake when the groom's cousin is found dead under the dessert table. Then, her father shows up at the wedding, which confuses Felicity. However, it gives her a chance to possibly get some answers to her questions.
Felicity can't seem to stay out of the investigation, and her curiosity may get the best of her. She tries to be neighborly and helpful but still gets involved, much to the disapproval of her mother and Detective Sun.
Felicity Jin
Felicity is different now that her Jin future has shown itself. She seems more confident and happier. Even her relationship with Kelvin is advancing into more than friendship. Of course, Felicity doesn't have all the answers, but she seems to be in a good place now. I like Felicity and Mrs. Jin. They are hardworking and faithful to their community.
I look forward to seeing how she and Kelvin handle their relationship in the next installment.
Five Stars for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts
My rating for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is five stars. I genuinely enjoy returning to Pixie, California, with Felicity and her crew. Ms. Chow does an amazing job showing Felicity's life in small town America, her hardships, and her accomplishments. I highly recommend this series.
The story includes a recipe for Auspicious Almond Cookies, floral tips, instructions for making a simple Rosebud Bouquet, an Easy Wrist Corsage, and instructions for making a Lace Votive Candle Holder.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
February 15, 2025
I love cozy mysteries. When I was getting ready to write this review I had a thought. How did I get started on reading them. And I remembered. I was at the library, casually browsing shelves when a book cover caught my eye. It was colorful and cute and the clever title made me grin, so I checked it out. After having such fun reading it I went back and checked out the rest of the series. Thus, my love of cozies began.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts checked all my boxes for a cozy. A fun, colorful cover. A clever title. A murder mystery. And entertaining characters with a sprinkling of romance added to the mix.
Speaking of romance. I wondered whether Kelvin and Felicity would pursue more than being friends. They sure worked well together when trying to solve the murder and I really liked them.
Something I forgot to mention is how many cozies have some kind of theme. It often shows in the title and cover. This one had magical baking. That really made me curious. I was wondering if it would be similar to a movie I’d seen some time ago. The woman’s emotions would become a magical ingredient when she baked and the customers would experience those emotions while eating her creations. That wasn’t the case here but it was still intriguing.
I had a lot of fun trying to figure out who the bad guy was and getting to know the characters. This is the second book in the series and now I want to go back and read the first one. I’ll probably reread this after and plan on following this clever series.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts checked all my boxes for a cozy. A fun, colorful cover. A clever title. A murder mystery. And entertaining characters with a sprinkling of romance added to the mix.
Speaking of romance. I wondered whether Kelvin and Felicity would pursue more than being friends. They sure worked well together when trying to solve the murder and I really liked them.
Something I forgot to mention is how many cozies have some kind of theme. It often shows in the title and cover. This one had magical baking. That really made me curious. I was wondering if it would be similar to a movie I’d seen some time ago. The woman’s emotions would become a magical ingredient when she baked and the customers would experience those emotions while eating her creations. That wasn’t the case here but it was still intriguing.
I had a lot of fun trying to figure out who the bad guy was and getting to know the characters. This is the second book in the series and now I want to go back and read the first one. I’ll probably reread this after and plan on following this clever series.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
February 19, 2025
So much fun to read! Star-Crossed Egg Tarts is book 2 of the Magical Fortune Cookie series, and while it can be read as a stand-alone novel, I really wish I had read the first book because this one was so enjoyable!
From the moment chaos first ensued, I felt like I had stepped inside the boardgame of clue. There were so many people around at the time of the murder. Any one of them could have been involved! Each member of the wedding party – aka suspect pool – had enough secrets to uncover that they all certainly had the motive, but each of them also had an alibi. So what on earth was going on here? Small town baker, magical fortune teller, and amateur sleuth Felicity was on the case! When suspicions turned to her best friend Kelvin, they attempted to prove his innocence together by going on a crazy investigative journey toward discovering what really happened that day.
I was kept guessing the entire time, and my predicted suspect often changed with each chapter!
I really enjoyed the character development within the story lines. Their shady connections and tenuous friendships with each other had the reader mistrusting everyone, with the exception of Felicity and Kelvin, who were so sweetly loyal and trusting toward each other. There were also very interesting family dynamics as recipes were laced with generational magic, fortunes were told, and wishes seemingly came true.
A perfect mix of cozy magical realism and investigative mystery!
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this virtual book tour, Partners In Crime Tours
From the moment chaos first ensued, I felt like I had stepped inside the boardgame of clue. There were so many people around at the time of the murder. Any one of them could have been involved! Each member of the wedding party – aka suspect pool – had enough secrets to uncover that they all certainly had the motive, but each of them also had an alibi. So what on earth was going on here? Small town baker, magical fortune teller, and amateur sleuth Felicity was on the case! When suspicions turned to her best friend Kelvin, they attempted to prove his innocence together by going on a crazy investigative journey toward discovering what really happened that day.
I was kept guessing the entire time, and my predicted suspect often changed with each chapter!
I really enjoyed the character development within the story lines. Their shady connections and tenuous friendships with each other had the reader mistrusting everyone, with the exception of Felicity and Kelvin, who were so sweetly loyal and trusting toward each other. There were also very interesting family dynamics as recipes were laced with generational magic, fortunes were told, and wishes seemingly came true.
A perfect mix of cozy magical realism and investigative mystery!
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this virtual book tour, Partners In Crime Tours
February 1, 2025
STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS by Jennifer J. Chow
The Second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery
While her mother may be content staying in the Gold Bakery, now that Felicity Jin has come into her own baking magic she'd love to expand their business. So it is that she's providing the egg tarts "cake" for the Lum-Wu wedding accompanied by her best friend, Kelvin, who's providing the flowers. Despite a missing groomsman and divorced parents who can't stand each other the bride and groom happily say, "I do". But as Felicity checks on her pastries she finds the missing man under the table-stabbed with Kelvin's shears. Now Felicity will try to uncover the real killer with the help of her best friend and a little bit of magic.
A volatile wedding party is at the heart of the second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery. I enjoyed watching Felicity and Kelvin infiltrate this discordant group of friends, continually bringing delicious treats in order to check motives and track suspects. Several subplots are seamlessly tied in to the murder, the appearance of Felicity's father, the development of her powers, and her friendship with Kelvin, each of which add a layer of complexity to this delightfully nuanced story.
So much of STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS had me smiling. The depth of feeling these characters have for each other jumps off of the page and gives me the warm fuzzies. Seeing the interactions between Mama Jin and Detective Sun, the friendship between Felicity and Kelvin, even the love of Felicity and her bunny bring a magic of its own to the book.
Asian pastries, rich characterizations, an intricately plotted mystery, and a hint of magic combine to make STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS a fantastic tale that will have you craving egg tarts and fortune cookies.
The Second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery
While her mother may be content staying in the Gold Bakery, now that Felicity Jin has come into her own baking magic she'd love to expand their business. So it is that she's providing the egg tarts "cake" for the Lum-Wu wedding accompanied by her best friend, Kelvin, who's providing the flowers. Despite a missing groomsman and divorced parents who can't stand each other the bride and groom happily say, "I do". But as Felicity checks on her pastries she finds the missing man under the table-stabbed with Kelvin's shears. Now Felicity will try to uncover the real killer with the help of her best friend and a little bit of magic.
A volatile wedding party is at the heart of the second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery. I enjoyed watching Felicity and Kelvin infiltrate this discordant group of friends, continually bringing delicious treats in order to check motives and track suspects. Several subplots are seamlessly tied in to the murder, the appearance of Felicity's father, the development of her powers, and her friendship with Kelvin, each of which add a layer of complexity to this delightfully nuanced story.
So much of STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS had me smiling. The depth of feeling these characters have for each other jumps off of the page and gives me the warm fuzzies. Seeing the interactions between Mama Jin and Detective Sun, the friendship between Felicity and Kelvin, even the love of Felicity and her bunny bring a magic of its own to the book.
Asian pastries, rich characterizations, an intricately plotted mystery, and a hint of magic combine to make STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS a fantastic tale that will have you craving egg tarts and fortune cookies.
November 19, 2025
Jin Bakery has been asked to cater the Lum-Wu outdoor wedding at Pixie Park. The day of the ceremony, Felicity is finishing the egg tarts as the wedding party arrives for the ceremony. When one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, doesn’t arrive, Felicity’s best friend and florist Kelvin generously steps in for him, and the wedding goes smoothly, until cake cutting time. That’s when Felicity finds Miles’ dead body beneath the table with her egg tarts display, stabbed by Kelvin’s gardening shears. Felicity starts sleuthing away to prove his innocence, revealing dark secrets about all the wedding's attendants. To make matters worse, Felicity’s powers of prediction are on the fritz thanks to the emotional turmoil of a surprise visit from her estranged father. Can Felicity get it together to find the true killer?
This paranormal cozy mystery was a really interesting read. I'm not usually into paranormal cozies because the sleuth relies on her "gift" rather than common sense or a good investigation. But this sleuth actually had good investigative skills and used her observations to figure out who done it in the end. Felicity is a likable character and was the main reason why I continued to read until the end of the story. Another reason was because of the plot. I, myself, could not figure out the identity of the culprit. Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
This paranormal cozy mystery was a really interesting read. I'm not usually into paranormal cozies because the sleuth relies on her "gift" rather than common sense or a good investigation. But this sleuth actually had good investigative skills and used her observations to figure out who done it in the end. Felicity is a likable character and was the main reason why I continued to read until the end of the story. Another reason was because of the plot. I, myself, could not figure out the identity of the culprit. Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
January 19, 2025
A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel
By: Jennifer J. Chow
Publish Date: January 21, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books
Mystery and Thriller.
I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's/Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
This is the second book in a series. I really enjoyed this book just like the first one. I gave this book 4 stars. Felicity is catering a wedding as her best friend is doing the flowers for the same wedding. Everything seems to be going ok until one of the wedding party isn't showing up or can't be found. The groom of the wedding asks the florist to take his place since he is almost dressed in the same clothes as the weeding party. As they gather to cut the cake which are actually the egg tarts Felecity discover a flower on the ground behind the table. As she picks up the flower, she discovered that it is soaked in blood. Under the table they find the missing person. Everyone is held at the tent until the police can talk to them. As the story goes on there are too many people who wanted to see this person dead because he wasn't well liked. Who did it and why? You are taken on the adventures of trying to figure out who did it and other adventures of this small town. I still love the friendships and the family in this book.
By: Jennifer J. Chow
Publish Date: January 21, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books
Mystery and Thriller.
I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's/Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
This is the second book in a series. I really enjoyed this book just like the first one. I gave this book 4 stars. Felicity is catering a wedding as her best friend is doing the flowers for the same wedding. Everything seems to be going ok until one of the wedding party isn't showing up or can't be found. The groom of the wedding asks the florist to take his place since he is almost dressed in the same clothes as the weeding party. As they gather to cut the cake which are actually the egg tarts Felecity discover a flower on the ground behind the table. As she picks up the flower, she discovered that it is soaked in blood. Under the table they find the missing person. Everyone is held at the tent until the police can talk to them. As the story goes on there are too many people who wanted to see this person dead because he wasn't well liked. Who did it and why? You are taken on the adventures of trying to figure out who did it and other adventures of this small town. I still love the friendships and the family in this book.
August 22, 2025
Weddings are known for love, romance, and ... murder. Well. not typically, but small town Pixie seems to suddenly be the center of crime and mayhem.
When the cousin of the groom is found dead under the cake table, it is a murder that Felicity feels compelled to get involved in, since the number one suspect is best friend Kelvin Love.
The wedding also brings a mysterious person from Felicity's past into the light. Aside from dealing with solving a murder-mystery, Felicity also needs to figure out how to handle complicated relationships with this relative stranger who popped into her life.
In true cozy mystery fashion, fans of the genre will fall into the comforts of the plot and enjoy trying to figure out who did what. I still didn't care for the whole narrative of racism--look, the three minorities in this book are obviously successful with their businesses; I think it's time to drop this sort of talk. It gets wearying especially when the main characters and those in the wedding party are all Asians
I also felt the ending was a little meh. Not sure how I feel about the next step Felicity and Kelvin took in their relationship. It's good to have a nice sidekick for these kinds of genres, so I am not sure how this will be treated in the next book in the series (should there be another one).
When the cousin of the groom is found dead under the cake table, it is a murder that Felicity feels compelled to get involved in, since the number one suspect is best friend Kelvin Love.
The wedding also brings a mysterious person from Felicity's past into the light. Aside from dealing with solving a murder-mystery, Felicity also needs to figure out how to handle complicated relationships with this relative stranger who popped into her life.
In true cozy mystery fashion, fans of the genre will fall into the comforts of the plot and enjoy trying to figure out who did what. I still didn't care for the whole narrative of racism--look, the three minorities in this book are obviously successful with their businesses; I think it's time to drop this sort of talk. It gets wearying especially when the main characters and those in the wedding party are all Asians
I also felt the ending was a little meh. Not sure how I feel about the next step Felicity and Kelvin took in their relationship. It's good to have a nice sidekick for these kinds of genres, so I am not sure how this will be treated in the next book in the series (should there be another one).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2025
First of all, what a cute cover. I love the art and the way the colors pop and complement each other. Star-Crossed Egg Tarts grabbed my attention immediately. I did not read Jennifer Chow's first book prior to reading Star-Crossed Egg Tarts but will probably go back and pick it up. The book definitely fits the cozy mystery vibe, which is what I've been into lately.
Magic, baked goods, and murder, what more could a reader ask for? Felicity and her mother both have magical powers that are passed to others through specific baked items that they sell in their bakery. Once upon a time, I took a class that emphasized the role and importance food has in culture, and the power of food on culture, and it's not too far off to think that food can heal or cause happiness in my personal opinion. The book was really balanced as well. The discussions of the baking and the work Felicity and her mother do did not overpower and distract from other parts of the story, which can sometimes be the case.
Chow did a great job at portraying family dynamics, and how sometimes the answers we get may not be the ones we want but are instead the ones we need to move forward. The reader can watch how Felicity grows throughout the novel, and how her interactions with others grows and matures. I really enjoyed the book, and I encourage readers to purchase from your local indie bookstore (I can recommend a store or two or ten) or check out a copy from your local library. The book was just recently published, so should be available at all major retailers. There's magic in reading, and Chow brought some of that magic to the pages of her book.
Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Magic, baked goods, and murder, what more could a reader ask for? Felicity and her mother both have magical powers that are passed to others through specific baked items that they sell in their bakery. Once upon a time, I took a class that emphasized the role and importance food has in culture, and the power of food on culture, and it's not too far off to think that food can heal or cause happiness in my personal opinion. The book was really balanced as well. The discussions of the baking and the work Felicity and her mother do did not overpower and distract from other parts of the story, which can sometimes be the case.
Chow did a great job at portraying family dynamics, and how sometimes the answers we get may not be the ones we want but are instead the ones we need to move forward. The reader can watch how Felicity grows throughout the novel, and how her interactions with others grows and matures. I really enjoyed the book, and I encourage readers to purchase from your local indie bookstore (I can recommend a store or two or ten) or check out a copy from your local library. The book was just recently published, so should be available at all major retailers. There's magic in reading, and Chow brought some of that magic to the pages of her book.
Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2025
This is an enjoyable cozy mystery. I like being introduced to a new culture experience and Chow does that here. I found the book very informative on Chinese American culture. While I am not so much into magic, the special powers Felicity had and the positive influences from her baked goods were entertaining. Felicity and her mom freely gave of pastries that brought luck or encouraging feelings, helping and supporting others who needed a boost.
There is a good mystery investigated by likable characters. True to cozy mystery form, Felicity and her good friend Kelvin must work to solve the murder when the police are stymied. There is also a personal side to Felicity as she meets her long absent father. That added to the balance of Felicity's investigation and her personal life. While this is the second in a series, it's the first I've read and feel it reads well on its own.
This is a fun cozy mystery set in an informative Chinese American culture. Added features include a recipe and floral tips. I hope there are more in this series.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
There is a good mystery investigated by likable characters. True to cozy mystery form, Felicity and her good friend Kelvin must work to solve the murder when the police are stymied. There is also a personal side to Felicity as she meets her long absent father. That added to the balance of Felicity's investigation and her personal life. While this is the second in a series, it's the first I've read and feel it reads well on its own.
This is a fun cozy mystery set in an informative Chinese American culture. Added features include a recipe and floral tips. I hope there are more in this series.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
January 26, 2025
This is such a wonderful series. The way the author mixes the magical with everyday normalcy is done so expertly. Felicity’s ability & the magic that comes from her family’s bakery is delightful. I loved the first book so much, I knew I’d be reading more. And the budding romance with her best friend Kelvin, I actually find it very sweet & I’m eager to see how it plays out. There’s not exactly fireworks yet but future books will tell.
This time around the murder of a groomsman at a wedding is the perfect setting for dram & many suspects to emerge. And as the connections between the victim leads to Kelvin, Felicity is determined to clear his name. If you like a little dash a magic in your cozy series then this is the perfect one for you. It’s blended in very naturally. Though it’s a little less prevalent in this books than the first.
Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this ARC for an honest review.
🥠
Read if you like:
* Noodle Shop series by Vivien Chien
* Witch Way Librarian series by Angela M. Sanders
* Kitchen Witch series by lynn Cahoon
January 26, 2025
This is my first book from this author and my first in this series. I really enjoyed it! I absolutely love cozy mysteries and this book had a fun twist of magic! I will definitely be searching out the first book in the series, and more from this author.
I loved how the author brought Chinese culture in the book. I loved the glimpse into the culture the reader gets.
Felicity is such a great character. She’s witty and kind. I enjoyed her mom and godmother’s characters too. And there’s Kelvin, the perfect best friend next door, and partner in crime for Felicity.
The books starts at a wedding where Felicity’s egg tarts are featured and there’s a murder. Food and murder are the perfect combo! There are many suspects and even a long lost relative. Don’t forget about Felicity’s magical fortunes! This book has charming characters, page turning plot, magical recipes, and the cozy small town vibe.
I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.
I received an ebook for tour purposes from the publisher. All views are my own.
I loved how the author brought Chinese culture in the book. I loved the glimpse into the culture the reader gets.
Felicity is such a great character. She’s witty and kind. I enjoyed her mom and godmother’s characters too. And there’s Kelvin, the perfect best friend next door, and partner in crime for Felicity.
The books starts at a wedding where Felicity’s egg tarts are featured and there’s a murder. Food and murder are the perfect combo! There are many suspects and even a long lost relative. Don’t forget about Felicity’s magical fortunes! This book has charming characters, page turning plot, magical recipes, and the cozy small town vibe.
I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.
I received an ebook for tour purposes from the publisher. All views are my own.
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