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A Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery #1
Grilled and Seasoned With Murder
Josie Rizzo has a lot on her plate.
(Double bacon cheeseburger not included)
She and her furry companion, Petey, set out to start fresh in the food loving town of Greenville. Josie is excited to introduce the readers of her food blog to the town's delicious creations.
But when a young woman is murdered at a local burger joint, Josie must sacrifice all she has planned to accomplish to prevent a person from her past from being wrongly accused of the woman's death.
And things start to heat up when the killer sets his sights on Josie.
Will she be able to enjoy Greenville's belly-rubbing cuisines and begin a new chapter in her life? Or will the killer cut Josie's dreams short and make sure that basket of onion rings are her last?
(Double bacon cheeseburger not included)
She and her furry companion, Petey, set out to start fresh in the food loving town of Greenville. Josie is excited to introduce the readers of her food blog to the town's delicious creations.
But when a young woman is murdered at a local burger joint, Josie must sacrifice all she has planned to accomplish to prevent a person from her past from being wrongly accused of the woman's death.
And things start to heat up when the killer sets his sights on Josie.
Will she be able to enjoy Greenville's belly-rubbing cuisines and begin a new chapter in her life? Or will the killer cut Josie's dreams short and make sure that basket of onion rings are her last?
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
April 3, 2016
There was something different about this cozy mystery!
J.R. PEARSON debuted with her first novel and I was impressed. Everyone knows I'm a sucker for the love story in a cozy and I really appreciated how she went about this part of the story.. It wasn't the sleuth falls for the detective that I am used to!
I did feel that were quite a lot of characters introduced in this book so I'm hoping they continue on in the rest of the books so that I can learn more about who everyone is!
Josie was fun! She was well developed and quirky and I really enjoyed all of the food combinations she ate and wrote about!
I thought fat Petey and his new BFF were entertaining, animals are so much fun in a cozy!
Although she played a small part, I simply loved Greta, in all of her gurgling glory!!
I found myself snickering more than once at the wit throughout this book!
Around 90% I was sitting on the edge of my seat!! At the finish line...I was surprised it took this turn yet very intrigued!!
Bravo Pearson! Congrats on your new novel and I look forward to book 2!
J.R. PEARSON debuted with her first novel and I was impressed. Everyone knows I'm a sucker for the love story in a cozy and I really appreciated how she went about this part of the story.. It wasn't the sleuth falls for the detective that I am used to!
I did feel that were quite a lot of characters introduced in this book so I'm hoping they continue on in the rest of the books so that I can learn more about who everyone is!
Josie was fun! She was well developed and quirky and I really enjoyed all of the food combinations she ate and wrote about!
I thought fat Petey and his new BFF were entertaining, animals are so much fun in a cozy!
Although she played a small part, I simply loved Greta, in all of her gurgling glory!!
I found myself snickering more than once at the wit throughout this book!
Around 90% I was sitting on the edge of my seat!! At the finish line...I was surprised it took this turn yet very intrigued!!
Bravo Pearson! Congrats on your new novel and I look forward to book 2!
September 17, 2018
Short story. Major editing problems, but it was a light and entertaining read for an hour or so. On to book two!
April 14, 2016
Grilled And Seasoned With Murder
A Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery, Book #1
J R Pearson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Josie Rizzo has a lot on her plate.
(Double bacon cheeseburger not included)
She and her furry companion, Petey, set out to start fresh in the food loving town of Greenville. Josie is excited to introduce the readers of her food blog to the town's delicious creations.
But when a young woman is murdered at a local burger joint, Josie must sacrifice all she has planned to accomplish to prevent a person from her past from being wrongly accused of the woman's death.
And things start to heat up when the killer sets his sights on Josie.
Will she be able to enjoy Greenville's belly-rubbing cuisines and begin a new chapter in her life? Or will the killer cut Josie's dreams short and make sure that basket of onion rings are her last? (Goodreads)
Review:
Josie just wants to make it on her own, away from her big overprotective family. That is why she has moved to Greenville, with her dog, Petey. She wants to continue to work on her food blog and hopes to someday be noticed by the popular food magazine, Forks and Knives. Until that happens, she will be content to continue her blog, work at In The Box, the bistro that she works at, and hang out with friends and Petey. She does not plan to be reintroduced to a childhood friend that she has not seen in ten years. And she definitely does not expect to be attracted to him. But she is and when she spends more time with him, the more that attraction grows. When he is wrongly accused of a crime, she agrees to help him prove his innocence, much to the dismay of her family and friends. Will they be able to find the killer before someone else gets murdered?
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Josie has a large family and I enjoyed meeting them. I hope that they will be featured in more books in the series, I thought they added a lot to the story. Petey was adorable and I smiled each time I read about his antics. In fact, I laughed out loud when he makes a doggy statement in the bathroom about how he felt about moving. There was plenty of humor dispersed throughout the book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The mystery was well plotted but I felt like it was solved rather abruptly. I would have liked for there to be a few twists and turns before the killer was identified and caught. But, with that being said, there is a very big twist to end the book and that one shocked me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. But be forewarned, you will become hungry while reading this book because there are many references to delicious food.
A Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery, Book #1
J R Pearson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Josie Rizzo has a lot on her plate.
(Double bacon cheeseburger not included)
She and her furry companion, Petey, set out to start fresh in the food loving town of Greenville. Josie is excited to introduce the readers of her food blog to the town's delicious creations.
But when a young woman is murdered at a local burger joint, Josie must sacrifice all she has planned to accomplish to prevent a person from her past from being wrongly accused of the woman's death.
And things start to heat up when the killer sets his sights on Josie.
Will she be able to enjoy Greenville's belly-rubbing cuisines and begin a new chapter in her life? Or will the killer cut Josie's dreams short and make sure that basket of onion rings are her last? (Goodreads)
Review:
Josie just wants to make it on her own, away from her big overprotective family. That is why she has moved to Greenville, with her dog, Petey. She wants to continue to work on her food blog and hopes to someday be noticed by the popular food magazine, Forks and Knives. Until that happens, she will be content to continue her blog, work at In The Box, the bistro that she works at, and hang out with friends and Petey. She does not plan to be reintroduced to a childhood friend that she has not seen in ten years. And she definitely does not expect to be attracted to him. But she is and when she spends more time with him, the more that attraction grows. When he is wrongly accused of a crime, she agrees to help him prove his innocence, much to the dismay of her family and friends. Will they be able to find the killer before someone else gets murdered?
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Josie has a large family and I enjoyed meeting them. I hope that they will be featured in more books in the series, I thought they added a lot to the story. Petey was adorable and I smiled each time I read about his antics. In fact, I laughed out loud when he makes a doggy statement in the bathroom about how he felt about moving. There was plenty of humor dispersed throughout the book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The mystery was well plotted but I felt like it was solved rather abruptly. I would have liked for there to be a few twists and turns before the killer was identified and caught. But, with that being said, there is a very big twist to end the book and that one shocked me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. But be forewarned, you will become hungry while reading this book because there are many references to delicious food.
March 31, 2016
I loved this book! It's delizioso! This is the first book in a fun new series! Josie Rizzo is a funny girl I would love to hang out with and tag along with on all her culinary adventures around town. It sounds so fun to eat at different restaurants and write a food blog. I really liked the mysterious twist at the end. I am excited to see where that leads in book 2 of the series, which I must start straight away! Do not miss out! If you love culinary cozies, you must read this book!
June 2, 2016
This was my first Josie Rizzo mystery but it won't be my last. A fun loving, fast paced cozy mystery. The characters are all amazing and all work so well together. I just love Petey Josie's Corgi. Josie gets involved helping an old friend of hers who is accused of murder. Just loved the surprise ending. Looking forward to see what Josie gets involved with next. Love the title and the cover of the book too!
April 4, 2017
This was a fun cozy mystery which involved a food blogger and her dog. Josie was trying to be more independent of her family and just wanted to be noticed by a popular food magazine -- she never expected to renew an old friendship and try to help solve a murder while falling for the number one murder suspect. The book was well-written and was a quick, easy read, but even though I knew it was a 'food' book, I grew tired of the many food descriptions and the blog excerpts. The mystery itself was very good, and I would have liked to have seen more twists and turns. Even though I felt like I was skimming over the food references, I enjoyed the mystery so much that the author left me wanting to read the next book to see what happens.
October 27, 2018
A cute cozy with an amateur helping to solve a murder – getting reacquainted with an old school chum – blogging and cooking for a living! A nice short read!
April 25, 2016
This is the first in the Josie Rizzo Mystery Series and I will be back for more. This is a quick and very enjoyable read. The story is well written and has a good pace that keeps the reader turning the page until a climactic ending. I liked that Josie, our protagonist, didn't stumble over a body but rather was recruited to help an old friend prove his innocence when he is named the prime suspect in a murder due to circumstances. The characters in this story are wonderful. Josie is independent, determined and often frustrated by her over protective mother and siblings. She is the girl next door and someone that you could see as one of your friends. Tony has experienced tragedy in his past, but is coming to terms with his new job and reconnecting with Josie, whom he knew when they were children. The secondary cast of characters, which includes Brad, Josie's best friend, and her parents, siblings, aunt and cousins are great. They are over protective and interfering, but in the best way possible for a family. They are fun and add to the enjoyment of the overall story. And lets not forget Petey, Josie's "puffy" dog. His antics will make you smile.
The mystery is a little different than other cozy mysteries in that the identity of the killer is known about 3/4 of the way through the book. However, this does not detract from the enjoyment of the story. Rather, the author uses the rest of the book to tie up how the killer is caught which leads to a climatic ending. There is also an interesting twist at the end of the story that I was not suspecting. This ending plus my overall enjoyment will keep my reading the other two books in the series to see what happens to Josie and the rest of the gang.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion and the thoughts expressed are my own.
The mystery is a little different than other cozy mysteries in that the identity of the killer is known about 3/4 of the way through the book. However, this does not detract from the enjoyment of the story. Rather, the author uses the rest of the book to tie up how the killer is caught which leads to a climatic ending. There is also an interesting twist at the end of the story that I was not suspecting. This ending plus my overall enjoyment will keep my reading the other two books in the series to see what happens to Josie and the rest of the gang.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion and the thoughts expressed are my own.
April 12, 2016
What a fun new cozy. It was fast paced excitement from beginning to end. Loved the main character Josie Rizzo. She is an independent young woman that has just moved away from home to Greenville. She has started a new chapter in her life as a food blogger. It's called Good Eaten For the Curvy Soul and a new job at The Box Bistro where her friend Brad got her a job. Brad is a part time actor until a full time gig comes around.
Josie is happy to have her own apartment with her Welch Corgi Petey. Although she is on her own she still has family close like her cousins and Aunt. When she and Brad go out to Triple B's she ends up seeing a blast from her past, Tony Santino. She hadn't seen him for over 10 years after his dad was sent to prison for killing his mom. Suddenly a woman runs through the front door screaming that there is a dead woman out back. Everything goes into slow motion until Detective Evans shows up and guess who becomes the prime suspect??? You guessed it Tony. Then out of nowhere Tony locks eyes with Josie who didn't even realize he had noticed her.
Next thing she knows Tony is at her front door asking for help. And her dog Petey has jumped into his lap like they are buddies. Josie is confused one why is Tony here and where is her real dog that doesn't like anyone? Should she trust him??? She decides to trust him and begins to help him clear his name much to the dismay of her family. They have eyes and ears everywhere! Things begin to get crazy from here on out. From hit and run to breaking and entering you will be on your toes.
What has she gotten herself into and will she be able to get out before its too late???
This cozy will have you holding onto your chair with adventure and suspense. You will not be disappointed. Can't wait for book two.
Josie is happy to have her own apartment with her Welch Corgi Petey. Although she is on her own she still has family close like her cousins and Aunt. When she and Brad go out to Triple B's she ends up seeing a blast from her past, Tony Santino. She hadn't seen him for over 10 years after his dad was sent to prison for killing his mom. Suddenly a woman runs through the front door screaming that there is a dead woman out back. Everything goes into slow motion until Detective Evans shows up and guess who becomes the prime suspect??? You guessed it Tony. Then out of nowhere Tony locks eyes with Josie who didn't even realize he had noticed her.
Next thing she knows Tony is at her front door asking for help. And her dog Petey has jumped into his lap like they are buddies. Josie is confused one why is Tony here and where is her real dog that doesn't like anyone? Should she trust him??? She decides to trust him and begins to help him clear his name much to the dismay of her family. They have eyes and ears everywhere! Things begin to get crazy from here on out. From hit and run to breaking and entering you will be on your toes.
What has she gotten herself into and will she be able to get out before its too late???
This cozy will have you holding onto your chair with adventure and suspense. You will not be disappointed. Can't wait for book two.
June 7, 2016
Fun Loving, Fast Paced Cozy Mystery
Grilled and Seasoned With Murder is the first book in J R Pearson’s A Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery series and is a delightful read. Ms. Pearson is a “new-to-me” author and I love her witty writing style that flows smoothly. This book a quick easy read and the mystery well plotted. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
Josie Rizzo is an independent young woman who has recently moved away from hometown to Greenville with her little Welch Corgi, Petey. She is starting a new chapter in her life as a food blogger (called Good Eaten For the Curvy Soul), is starting a new job at The Box Bistro that her friend, Brad, helped her get, and hope to eventually get a job with a local food magazine. Josie and Brad go to Triple B’s for a meal and conversation and she sees Tony Santino, an old friend she hasn’t seen in ten years, ever since his father went to prison for murdering his mother. A beaten and murdered body is discovered outside the bistro, Tony quickly becomes Detective Evans’ prime suspect because he had given the stranger a ride to town that evening, and he asks Josie to help clear his name. The next day, she learns that Tony is her new boss. Josie believes he is innocent and, much her family’s dismay, starts asking questions to help him clear his name.
Grilled and Seasoned With Murder is the first book in J R Pearson’s A Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery series and is a delightful read. Ms. Pearson is a “new-to-me” author and I love her witty writing style that flows smoothly. This book a quick easy read and the mystery well plotted. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
Josie Rizzo is an independent young woman who has recently moved away from hometown to Greenville with her little Welch Corgi, Petey. She is starting a new chapter in her life as a food blogger (called Good Eaten For the Curvy Soul), is starting a new job at The Box Bistro that her friend, Brad, helped her get, and hope to eventually get a job with a local food magazine. Josie and Brad go to Triple B’s for a meal and conversation and she sees Tony Santino, an old friend she hasn’t seen in ten years, ever since his father went to prison for murdering his mother. A beaten and murdered body is discovered outside the bistro, Tony quickly becomes Detective Evans’ prime suspect because he had given the stranger a ride to town that evening, and he asks Josie to help clear his name. The next day, she learns that Tony is her new boss. Josie believes he is innocent and, much her family’s dismay, starts asking questions to help him clear his name.
March 8, 2016
Short and sassy describes Josie Rizzo and her plump little dog, Petey. She is a food blogger hoping to eventually get a job with a local food magazine. In the meantime, she has moved 30 miles away from her immediate family into her own apartment and taken a new job at a local deli with her friend Brad. When her old neighbor, Tony Santino, whom she hasn't seen in 10 years turns out to be her new boss, things heat up between them. Tony's father went to prison for murdering his mother. When a woman is found beaten and murdered Tony becomes a suspect. Josie gets involved and ends up being run off the road, but that doesn't stop her. The writing is sharp and crisp and keeps you moving. The characters and background are developed enough to get your attention, while leaving room to learn more about them in future books. The pace was fast, but the story held together well. Some transitions between scenes was a little abrupt but didn't detract from the story. For a quick adventure this is a fun read. I am looking forward to the next book!
March 31, 2016
Really A 3 3/4 Star
This is a pleasant surprise to the basic culinary and single girl cozys I usually seem to read. A 20 something gal who is a blogger and trying to get noticed by a big time food magazine moves to break away from an over protective family, who I truly hope we see more of in future books, takes a job and meets an old friend. I don't want to say more because I hate when people review and tell whole plot. The storyline is easy to follow, the humor perfect and Josie, the main character never ran around like a fool or put romance before life. Wish characters had a little more depth but hopefully that will come in following books my biggest complaint, not long enough. I wanted to keep reading about Josie, Petey Jennie, and everyone else the rest of the day.
This is a pleasant surprise to the basic culinary and single girl cozys I usually seem to read. A 20 something gal who is a blogger and trying to get noticed by a big time food magazine moves to break away from an over protective family, who I truly hope we see more of in future books, takes a job and meets an old friend. I don't want to say more because I hate when people review and tell whole plot. The storyline is easy to follow, the humor perfect and Josie, the main character never ran around like a fool or put romance before life. Wish characters had a little more depth but hopefully that will come in following books my biggest complaint, not long enough. I wanted to keep reading about Josie, Petey Jennie, and everyone else the rest of the day.
December 16, 2016
Quick and fun, but needed the services of a good editor. Some of the missing words and changes in tense were a bit distracting.
It was refreshing that the main character, Josie, did not fall madly in love/lust with the local policeman investigating the murder as is the case in a lot of these cozy mysteries. Instead, we had the slow, sweet beginnings of a possible romance between her and a childhood friend whom she hadn't seen in several years. I also liked the idea of Josie being a food blogger instead of coming into possession of a bookstore or coffee shop as is also the case in a lot of these types of books. Not that I don't enjoy reading about bookstores or coffee shops, but those concepts do seem to be getting a bit repetitive in this genre.
Of course, Petey the Poofy Corgi had to be my favourite character!
It was refreshing that the main character, Josie, did not fall madly in love/lust with the local policeman investigating the murder as is the case in a lot of these cozy mysteries. Instead, we had the slow, sweet beginnings of a possible romance between her and a childhood friend whom she hadn't seen in several years. I also liked the idea of Josie being a food blogger instead of coming into possession of a bookstore or coffee shop as is also the case in a lot of these types of books. Not that I don't enjoy reading about bookstores or coffee shops, but those concepts do seem to be getting a bit repetitive in this genre.
Of course, Petey the Poofy Corgi had to be my favourite character!
April 20, 2016
Diciamo 3 stelle e 1/2.
La storia è buona, ottima l'idea di inserire i testi del blog della protagonista, ma ci sono sono due difetti: troppo corto (lo so, è un mio problema, ma non amo i racconti) e in alcuni punti la narrazione non mi ha convinto (sì, lo so pure questo: sono un'autodidatta per l'inglese e non dovrei permettermi di criticare la scrittura... dico solo che in alcuni punti mi sembrava un modo di scrivere troppo scolastico, di sicuro diverso dai libri che sono abituata a leggere). Però continuerò a leggere il seguito perché sono incuriosita dalla possibile storia d'amore della protagonista. Saranno una lettura veloce per quando vorrò rilassarmi leggando qualcosa di breve.
La storia è buona, ottima l'idea di inserire i testi del blog della protagonista, ma ci sono sono due difetti: troppo corto (lo so, è un mio problema, ma non amo i racconti) e in alcuni punti la narrazione non mi ha convinto (sì, lo so pure questo: sono un'autodidatta per l'inglese e non dovrei permettermi di criticare la scrittura... dico solo che in alcuni punti mi sembrava un modo di scrivere troppo scolastico, di sicuro diverso dai libri che sono abituata a leggere). Però continuerò a leggere il seguito perché sono incuriosita dalla possibile storia d'amore della protagonista. Saranno una lettura veloce per quando vorrò rilassarmi leggando qualcosa di breve.
June 6, 2016
Fun new series
I bought the 3 book series when I saw it posted online. Josie, the main character is wonderful, I liked her sense of humor. As the first in the series, it left a great cliff hanger at the end. I can't wait to read the next one.
The mystery portion of the book was really good and the touch of romance was a nice addition.
I bought the 3 book series when I saw it posted online. Josie, the main character is wonderful, I liked her sense of humor. As the first in the series, it left a great cliff hanger at the end. I can't wait to read the next one.
The mystery portion of the book was really good and the touch of romance was a nice addition.
May 30, 2016
Great read
This is a Great read ! Loved all the storyline and characters that keep me continuing to read. I would recommend all cozie mystery readers to read this one !
This is a Great read ! Loved all the storyline and characters that keep me continuing to read. I would recommend all cozie mystery readers to read this one !
June 6, 2016
Fantastic!! This is the first book that I've read by Ms Pearson and it won't be the last one!! I immediately connected with the characters, setting, and storyline. This cozy mystery has it all. :)
July 4, 2016
Good cozy
Good fast and eady read. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Good fast and eady read. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
September 11, 2023
This book follows Josie Rizzo as she has moved out her family home and make it on her own as a food influencer. When Josie ends up seeing a boy she knew long ago Tony who moved in with his uncle after his mother was murdered by his father. Tony is back and people are wondering what is up with him and his intentions towards the town he use to run loose in? When a girl winds up dead in a local parking lot of a food restaurant that both Josie and Tony are in, Tony ends up in trouble and who can he trust only Josie who is willing to help an old friend. Who killed the mysterious girl and why?
This book was crazy fun adventure watching as Josie and Tony try to get to the bottom of what is happening and why? Tony steps up multiple times when Josie finds herself in big trouble. They seem to bond over the trauma which has Josie having mixed feelings about Tony.
I really enjoyed both Tony and Josie and the people they interact with. It was a fun quick read that really held my interest to see what Josie would do with being an armature mystery sleuth. She held her own against what other cozies offer up she is just as good as they are and fun to read about at the same time.
This book was crazy fun adventure watching as Josie and Tony try to get to the bottom of what is happening and why? Tony steps up multiple times when Josie finds herself in big trouble. They seem to bond over the trauma which has Josie having mixed feelings about Tony.
I really enjoyed both Tony and Josie and the people they interact with. It was a fun quick read that really held my interest to see what Josie would do with being an armature mystery sleuth. She held her own against what other cozies offer up she is just as good as they are and fun to read about at the same time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2017
Josie Rizzo is a crafty food blogger with a voracious taste for good eats. She just moved back to her old town to scope out the local dives, and, on her first night, a body is discovered and an old friend is accused of the murder.
Story is a quick, easy read, but it was far too predictable and convenient towards the end. Story definitely had a lot of food, but, as far as mysteries go, this was fairly average. I don’t know why they depict her as a burger waitress on the cover when that isn’t the case in the story. But whatever.
Story is a quick, easy read, but it was far too predictable and convenient towards the end. Story definitely had a lot of food, but, as far as mysteries go, this was fairly average. I don’t know why they depict her as a burger waitress on the cover when that isn’t the case in the story. But whatever.
May 4, 2017
Without typos, a 5!
Loved it! Believable characters who are well rounded. I appreciate the role the animals play. Great fun watching how the hotdog bistro is run---i want to eat there! The ONLY criticism I have is that there are TOO MANY typos, like sentences with multiple words omitted and confusing pronouns. Now i'm going to discover next book in series. BRAVO! (Just please get a better proofreader.)
Loved it! Believable characters who are well rounded. I appreciate the role the animals play. Great fun watching how the hotdog bistro is run---i want to eat there! The ONLY criticism I have is that there are TOO MANY typos, like sentences with multiple words omitted and confusing pronouns. Now i'm going to discover next book in series. BRAVO! (Just please get a better proofreader.)
May 9, 2017
Food is deadly
A great little read right before bed. First time I've read this author. I plan on getting the rest of the books. I enjoyed thee dogs Petey and Jade. I think Tony reminded me of my hubby. Josie was so sweet. Felt bad for her meddling family. But we all have that. Lol
A great little read right before bed. First time I've read this author. I plan on getting the rest of the books. I enjoyed thee dogs Petey and Jade. I think Tony reminded me of my hubby. Josie was so sweet. Felt bad for her meddling family. But we all have that. Lol
January 19, 2018
Short cozy mysteries always seem to be missing so much in the telling. This one did have some character development, but there was no lull in the action, no building up in the story. It was just over so quickly, I didn't really have time to even get a grip on what was happening. I do have the other books in the series on my Kindle, and since they are longer, I might enjoy them more.
August 7, 2022
Short and sweet!!
That's sometimes just the perfect read, isn't it! I enjoyed this short mystery about Josie and her childhood friend Tony. I do not like romance novels, so this read was perfect for my taste. If you want a quick read and don't have much time to spend on a long, involved story, this is perfect!! ENJOY!
That's sometimes just the perfect read, isn't it! I enjoyed this short mystery about Josie and her childhood friend Tony. I do not like romance novels, so this read was perfect for my taste. If you want a quick read and don't have much time to spend on a long, involved story, this is perfect!! ENJOY!
June 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick read, good plot, and lovely characters. This short story it's different from other cozies. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
Highly recommend this book!
Highly recommend this book!
March 24, 2018
A quick read
Good food descriptions throughout. It made me hungry. Three stars for the typos and missing words in some areas. That can take you out of the story.
Good food descriptions throughout. It made me hungry. Three stars for the typos and missing words in some areas. That can take you out of the story.
December 22, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/gr...
Grilled and Seasoned With Murder
Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery, Book #1
By J R Pearson
ASIN: B01C0TBZFC
Author’s Website: http://JosieRizzoCozyMysteries.weebly...
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
Josie Rizzo has a lot on her plate.
(Double bacon cheeseburger not included)
She and her furry companion, Petey, set out to start fresh in the food loving town of Greenville. Josie is excited to introduce the readers of her food blog to the town’s delicious creations.
But when a young woman is murdered at a local burger joint, Josie must sacrifice all she has planned to accomplish to prevent a person from her past from being wrongly accused of the woman��s death.
And things start to heat up when the killer sets his sights on Josie.
Will she’s be able to enjoy Greenville’s belly-rubbing cuisines and begin a new chapter in her life? Or will the killer cut Josie’s dreams short and make sure that basket of onion rings are her last?
Review:
What a gem. I have not read any of JR Pearson’s books until today. I certainly have been missing out! Pearson writes a series of short, quick read, cozy mysteries. The amateur sleuth is Josie Rizzo. Josie writes a food blog – Good Eatin’ for The Curvy Soul with the idea that her blog would gain attention from the ever popular food magazine, Forks and Knives.
I love how Josie is honest about her family…definitely kept me chuckling for a few minutes:
“Despite the warnings and pleadings from her loving but bat-crap crazy mother….”
Another thing that kept me giggling was Petey, Josie’s slightly overweight dog (Josie referred to Petey as her baby-hippo-sized friend). He definitely had attitude about the move from Jewel Cove to Greenville and to show his displeasure he peed on Josie’s new bath rug. Once this was done, all was well with the move. Petey definitely has attitude!
Now on to the serious business of what makes this story a good cozy mystery. Josie has met up to reconnect with her buddy Brad (no, not a love interest, just a good friend) at Triple B’s – a restaurant specializing in burgers, bacon and beer. After some much needed catching up, what do they notice??? Tony Santino in to the Triple B. Tony is Josie’s childhood next door neighbor…and a hunky, six foot tattooed hottie (boy has he aged well)! Tony quickly knocked back his drink and as he was preparing to leave, all the patrons of the Triple B heard a woman scream. Turns out a woman was dead in the back alley. One thing leads to another and Tony is a prime suspect in her murder.
Flash forward a bit and Tony comes knocking on Josie’s door and asks that she help him prove his innocence.
While Josie is attempting to help Tony, sparks fly. Wonder how far this attraction will go? Good thing there are four books in the series, should be able to find out how the relationship develops over time ☺ You can tell Tony is a good guy who values what is on the inside most of all:
“…Tony took in Josie’s appearance, unable to hide his grin. A few strands of hair escaped her high ponytail, her new name tag hung upside down, and patches of mustard stained her shirt. She looked beautiful.”
I loved how Josie did not let Tony get away with anything either:
“…Don’t give me that. I don’t care what others think or say about you, and if you fight me on this, she said, pointing a finger at him, I will take you down like I did when we were kids playing football in Buck Tooth Sammy’s backyard. Tony smiled broadly. He very much remembered that day.”
The murder was solved in due time (and no, I can’t and won’t give any spoilers….). It was pretty straight forward and having said that, a bit more intrigue, twisting and turning might have upped the enjoyment factor with respect to the cozy mystery aspect; I overall enjoyed the story and writing style of J R Pearson.
I must say…with Josie being a food blogger, there was definitely a plethora of food described throughout the book, which made me want to go out and eat at Triple B’s!!! Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is a delightful cozy mystery which kept me engaged and guessing through the whole book. The characters were depicted in such a manner that I must continue on in my discovery of the Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery series by reading the next book in the series, Sliced and Toasted with Murder. As well, there was a BIG twist at the end which just screamed at me to continue with this series…so I am ☺
Grilled and Seasoned With Murder
Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery, Book #1
By J R Pearson
ASIN: B01C0TBZFC
Author’s Website: http://JosieRizzoCozyMysteries.weebly...
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
Josie Rizzo has a lot on her plate.
(Double bacon cheeseburger not included)
She and her furry companion, Petey, set out to start fresh in the food loving town of Greenville. Josie is excited to introduce the readers of her food blog to the town’s delicious creations.
But when a young woman is murdered at a local burger joint, Josie must sacrifice all she has planned to accomplish to prevent a person from her past from being wrongly accused of the woman��s death.
And things start to heat up when the killer sets his sights on Josie.
Will she’s be able to enjoy Greenville’s belly-rubbing cuisines and begin a new chapter in her life? Or will the killer cut Josie’s dreams short and make sure that basket of onion rings are her last?
Review:
What a gem. I have not read any of JR Pearson’s books until today. I certainly have been missing out! Pearson writes a series of short, quick read, cozy mysteries. The amateur sleuth is Josie Rizzo. Josie writes a food blog – Good Eatin’ for The Curvy Soul with the idea that her blog would gain attention from the ever popular food magazine, Forks and Knives.
I love how Josie is honest about her family…definitely kept me chuckling for a few minutes:
“Despite the warnings and pleadings from her loving but bat-crap crazy mother….”
Another thing that kept me giggling was Petey, Josie’s slightly overweight dog (Josie referred to Petey as her baby-hippo-sized friend). He definitely had attitude about the move from Jewel Cove to Greenville and to show his displeasure he peed on Josie’s new bath rug. Once this was done, all was well with the move. Petey definitely has attitude!
Now on to the serious business of what makes this story a good cozy mystery. Josie has met up to reconnect with her buddy Brad (no, not a love interest, just a good friend) at Triple B’s – a restaurant specializing in burgers, bacon and beer. After some much needed catching up, what do they notice??? Tony Santino in to the Triple B. Tony is Josie’s childhood next door neighbor…and a hunky, six foot tattooed hottie (boy has he aged well)! Tony quickly knocked back his drink and as he was preparing to leave, all the patrons of the Triple B heard a woman scream. Turns out a woman was dead in the back alley. One thing leads to another and Tony is a prime suspect in her murder.
Flash forward a bit and Tony comes knocking on Josie’s door and asks that she help him prove his innocence.
While Josie is attempting to help Tony, sparks fly. Wonder how far this attraction will go? Good thing there are four books in the series, should be able to find out how the relationship develops over time ☺ You can tell Tony is a good guy who values what is on the inside most of all:
“…Tony took in Josie’s appearance, unable to hide his grin. A few strands of hair escaped her high ponytail, her new name tag hung upside down, and patches of mustard stained her shirt. She looked beautiful.”
I loved how Josie did not let Tony get away with anything either:
“…Don’t give me that. I don’t care what others think or say about you, and if you fight me on this, she said, pointing a finger at him, I will take you down like I did when we were kids playing football in Buck Tooth Sammy’s backyard. Tony smiled broadly. He very much remembered that day.”
The murder was solved in due time (and no, I can’t and won’t give any spoilers….). It was pretty straight forward and having said that, a bit more intrigue, twisting and turning might have upped the enjoyment factor with respect to the cozy mystery aspect; I overall enjoyed the story and writing style of J R Pearson.
I must say…with Josie being a food blogger, there was definitely a plethora of food described throughout the book, which made me want to go out and eat at Triple B’s!!! Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is a delightful cozy mystery which kept me engaged and guessing through the whole book. The characters were depicted in such a manner that I must continue on in my discovery of the Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery series by reading the next book in the series, Sliced and Toasted with Murder. As well, there was a BIG twist at the end which just screamed at me to continue with this series…so I am ☺
December 20, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/gr...
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
What a gem. I have not read any of JR Pearson’s books until today. I certainly have been missing out! Pearson writes a series of short, quick read, cozy mysteries. The amateur sleuth is Josie Rizzo. Josie writes a food blog – Good Eatin’ for The Curvy Soul with the idea that her blog would gain attention from the ever popular food magazine, Forks and Knives.
I love how Josie is honest about her family…definitely kept me chuckling for a few minutes:
“Despite the warnings and pleadings from her loving but bat-crap crazy mother….”
Another thing that kept me giggling was Petey, Josie’s slightly overweight dog (Josie referred to Petey as her baby-hippo-sized friend). He definitely had attitude about the move from Jewel Cove to Greenville and to show his displeasure he peed on Josie’s new bath rug. Once this was done, all was well with the move. Petey definitely has attitude!
Now on to the serious business of what makes this story a good cozy mystery. Josie has met up to reconnect with her buddy Brad (no, not a love interest, just a good friend) at Triple B’s – a restaurant specializing in burgers, bacon and beer. After some much needed catching up, what do they notice??? Tony Santino in to the Triple B. Tony is Josie’s childhood next door neighbor…and a hunky, six foot tattooed hottie (boy has he aged well)! Tony quickly knocked back his drink and as he was preparing to leave, all the patrons of the Triple B heard a woman scream. Turns out a woman was dead in the back alley. One thing leads to another and Tony is a prime suspect in her murder.
Flash forward a bit and Tony comes knocking on Josie’s door and asks that she help him prove his innocence.
While Josie is attempting to help Tony, sparks fly. Wonder how far this attraction will go? Good thing there are four books in the series, should be able to find out how the relationship develops over time ☺ You can tell Tony is a good guy who values what is on the inside most of all:
“…Tony took in Josie’s appearance, unable to hide his grin. A few strands of hair escaped her high ponytail, her new name tag hung upside down, and patches of mustard stained her shirt. She looked beautiful.”
I loved how Josie did not let Tony get away with anything either:
“…Don’t give me that. I don’t care what others think or say about you, and if you fight me on this, she said, pointing a finger at him, I will take you down like I did when we were kids playing football in Buck Tooth Sammy’s backyard. Tony smiled broadly. He very much remembered that day.”
The murder was solved in due time (and no, I can’t and won’t give any spoilers….). It was pretty straight forward and having said that, a bit more intrigue, twisting and turning might have upped the enjoyment factor with respect to the cozy mystery aspect; I overall enjoyed the story and writing style of J R Pearson.
I must say…with Josie being a food blogger, there was definitely a plethora of food described throughout the book, which made me want to go out and eat at Triple B’s!!! Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is a delightful cozy mystery which kept me engaged and guessing through the whole book. The characters were depicted in such a manner that I must continue on in my discovery of the Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery series by reading the next book in the series, Sliced and Toasted with Murder. As well, there was a BIG twist at the end which just screamed at me to continue with this series…so I am ☺
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
What a gem. I have not read any of JR Pearson’s books until today. I certainly have been missing out! Pearson writes a series of short, quick read, cozy mysteries. The amateur sleuth is Josie Rizzo. Josie writes a food blog – Good Eatin’ for The Curvy Soul with the idea that her blog would gain attention from the ever popular food magazine, Forks and Knives.
I love how Josie is honest about her family…definitely kept me chuckling for a few minutes:
“Despite the warnings and pleadings from her loving but bat-crap crazy mother….”
Another thing that kept me giggling was Petey, Josie’s slightly overweight dog (Josie referred to Petey as her baby-hippo-sized friend). He definitely had attitude about the move from Jewel Cove to Greenville and to show his displeasure he peed on Josie’s new bath rug. Once this was done, all was well with the move. Petey definitely has attitude!
Now on to the serious business of what makes this story a good cozy mystery. Josie has met up to reconnect with her buddy Brad (no, not a love interest, just a good friend) at Triple B’s – a restaurant specializing in burgers, bacon and beer. After some much needed catching up, what do they notice??? Tony Santino in to the Triple B. Tony is Josie’s childhood next door neighbor…and a hunky, six foot tattooed hottie (boy has he aged well)! Tony quickly knocked back his drink and as he was preparing to leave, all the patrons of the Triple B heard a woman scream. Turns out a woman was dead in the back alley. One thing leads to another and Tony is a prime suspect in her murder.
Flash forward a bit and Tony comes knocking on Josie’s door and asks that she help him prove his innocence.
While Josie is attempting to help Tony, sparks fly. Wonder how far this attraction will go? Good thing there are four books in the series, should be able to find out how the relationship develops over time ☺ You can tell Tony is a good guy who values what is on the inside most of all:
“…Tony took in Josie’s appearance, unable to hide his grin. A few strands of hair escaped her high ponytail, her new name tag hung upside down, and patches of mustard stained her shirt. She looked beautiful.”
I loved how Josie did not let Tony get away with anything either:
“…Don’t give me that. I don’t care what others think or say about you, and if you fight me on this, she said, pointing a finger at him, I will take you down like I did when we were kids playing football in Buck Tooth Sammy’s backyard. Tony smiled broadly. He very much remembered that day.”
The murder was solved in due time (and no, I can’t and won’t give any spoilers….). It was pretty straight forward and having said that, a bit more intrigue, twisting and turning might have upped the enjoyment factor with respect to the cozy mystery aspect; I overall enjoyed the story and writing style of J R Pearson.
I must say…with Josie being a food blogger, there was definitely a plethora of food described throughout the book, which made me want to go out and eat at Triple B’s!!! Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is a delightful cozy mystery which kept me engaged and guessing through the whole book. The characters were depicted in such a manner that I must continue on in my discovery of the Josie Rizzo Cozy Mystery series by reading the next book in the series, Sliced and Toasted with Murder. As well, there was a BIG twist at the end which just screamed at me to continue with this series…so I am ☺
December 29, 2016
3 1/2 Stars
Josie Rizzo is a mid-twenties woman craving independence. She just moved from her home town of Jewel Cove to Greenville, about a half an hour away. The writer behind the food blog Good Eatin' for the Curvy Soul, Josie is looking for a change in cuisine she can taste test and recommend to her followers. What she wasn't planning on is murder behind a restaurant she's dining in or a long ago neighbor to come into that same restaurant.
Tony is neck-deep in the case as the woman that was murdered was picked up and driven to Greenville by none other than himself. The only pair of friendly eyes he was able to capture in the restaurant is a girl from his past, Josie Rizzo. In hopes that she could help him out, he seeks her out. This, unfortunately, puts her in danger.
Josie, Tony, and the cops race to solve the case before anyone else ends up dead.
Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is a fun start to a new series by an author that is new to me. Josie is a happy character that gets along with everyone she meets. This is a great quality for someone that frequents restaurants and writes about the food on her successful food blog. Josie is a really likable character. Her bestie, Brad, is protective but more interested in his career at one point. He's around but not really involved in anything pertaining to the plot. The story is unique and I enjoyed it for the most part.
Only a couple things were distracting me with this book. First, there were a lot of thought and scene shifts that were abrupt. The usual transitions weren't there; i.e. end of a chapter, mention of a new topic in the previous paragraph that leads into the next, even asterisks across the page to indicate a new subject that didn't warrant a new chapter yet. The second thing relates directly to a scene in the book involving Josie and a road rage incident. Again, there wasn't any lead up to the event, making it seem completely out of place. It wasn't out of place as you read on but there could have been something added prior to the event so that when it actually happened it was clearer. Plus, Josie and her car were injured, there is a murderer in town, and she chose to call Tony - not an ambulance or you know, the cops.
I enjoyed the writing style of the author and she told a pretty good tale of murder. I was engaged in the fast-paced story from the beginning and read it in one sitting. Even with the distractions I noted above, Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is an entertaining who-done-it. Josie doesn't knowingly put herself in harms way and I enjoyed that about her. I also liked that Josie and Tony had a small reunion (not sexual) after not seeing each other for many years. Like typical friends, they were able to pick up where they left off and there wasn't any discomfort between them. A romance between seems natural and I hope that the author explores that in future books.
Josie Rizzo is a mid-twenties woman craving independence. She just moved from her home town of Jewel Cove to Greenville, about a half an hour away. The writer behind the food blog Good Eatin' for the Curvy Soul, Josie is looking for a change in cuisine she can taste test and recommend to her followers. What she wasn't planning on is murder behind a restaurant she's dining in or a long ago neighbor to come into that same restaurant.
Tony is neck-deep in the case as the woman that was murdered was picked up and driven to Greenville by none other than himself. The only pair of friendly eyes he was able to capture in the restaurant is a girl from his past, Josie Rizzo. In hopes that she could help him out, he seeks her out. This, unfortunately, puts her in danger.
Josie, Tony, and the cops race to solve the case before anyone else ends up dead.
Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is a fun start to a new series by an author that is new to me. Josie is a happy character that gets along with everyone she meets. This is a great quality for someone that frequents restaurants and writes about the food on her successful food blog. Josie is a really likable character. Her bestie, Brad, is protective but more interested in his career at one point. He's around but not really involved in anything pertaining to the plot. The story is unique and I enjoyed it for the most part.
Only a couple things were distracting me with this book. First, there were a lot of thought and scene shifts that were abrupt. The usual transitions weren't there; i.e. end of a chapter, mention of a new topic in the previous paragraph that leads into the next, even asterisks across the page to indicate a new subject that didn't warrant a new chapter yet. The second thing relates directly to a scene in the book involving Josie and a road rage incident. Again, there wasn't any lead up to the event, making it seem completely out of place. It wasn't out of place as you read on but there could have been something added prior to the event so that when it actually happened it was clearer. Plus, Josie and her car were injured, there is a murderer in town, and she chose to call Tony - not an ambulance or you know, the cops.
I enjoyed the writing style of the author and she told a pretty good tale of murder. I was engaged in the fast-paced story from the beginning and read it in one sitting. Even with the distractions I noted above, Grilled and Seasoned with Murder is an entertaining who-done-it. Josie doesn't knowingly put herself in harms way and I enjoyed that about her. I also liked that Josie and Tony had a small reunion (not sexual) after not seeing each other for many years. Like typical friends, they were able to pick up where they left off and there wasn't any discomfort between them. A romance between seems natural and I hope that the author explores that in future books.
September 21, 2016
Wanted a quick in-between-other-books read, and that's what I got.
Josie Rizzo just moved back to the area, and she's looking to get more readership for her food blog, to put her in the spotlight for the food magazine in town. Needless to say, there's a lot of food discussed here, but there's also murder while she's checking out the local burger joint, and her childhood friend Tony is involved. Maybe she can solve it and free him...and get reacquainted at the same time?
Pearson's writing style is very light and carefree. I appreciated the length, though--just right to wrap it up without dragging it out after the reader figures out the whodunnit aspect.
Lots of missing words...nothing a quick re-read from an editor wouldn't fix, but rather distracting for the reader.
Josie Rizzo just moved back to the area, and she's looking to get more readership for her food blog, to put her in the spotlight for the food magazine in town. Needless to say, there's a lot of food discussed here, but there's also murder while she's checking out the local burger joint, and her childhood friend Tony is involved. Maybe she can solve it and free him...and get reacquainted at the same time?
Pearson's writing style is very light and carefree. I appreciated the length, though--just right to wrap it up without dragging it out after the reader figures out the whodunnit aspect.
Lots of missing words...nothing a quick re-read from an editor wouldn't fix, but rather distracting for the reader.
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