I received this book for free from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid Published by Cipher-Naught on July 14, 2020
Genres: Adult Cozy Mystery
Pages: 351
Source: Social Butterfly PR
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads
Engagement and Espionage, an all-new quirky and swoon-worthy romantic comedy featuring fan favorites Jenn and Cletus Winston from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid is available now!
Synopsis:
Jennifer Sylvester made her deal with the devil . . . and now they’re engaged!
But all is not well in Green Valley. A chicken choker is on the loose, 61 dead birds most “fowl” need plucking, and no time remains for Jennifer and her devilish fiancé. Desperate to find a spare moment together, Jenn and Cletus’s attempts to reconnect are thwarted by one seemingly coincidental disaster after another. It’s not long before Cletus and Jenn see a pattern emerge and the truth becomes clear.
Sabotage!
Will an undercover mission unmask the culprit? Or are these love-birds totally plucked?
‘Engagement and Espionage’ is the first book in the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries series, is a full-length cozy mystery, and is a spin-off of Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series. This novel is best read after ‘Beard Science,’ Winston Brothers #3.
Download your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3auZzqI
Apple Books: https://apple.co/33ONMAK
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/engagementespionage
Nook: https://bit.ly/3dvV8hf
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2wxWreY
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3aqIT3h
Excerpt:
“Don’t stop.” She reached for my belt again, this time completely undoing it, the button of my pants, and my zipper at world-record speed.
Her phone buzzed. Then it chimed. Then it buzzed and chimed two more times. Then it rang again. Reba.
Cursing, Jenn pulled the phone from her pocket, once again her face illuminated, murderous rage in her eyes. Her finger moved to the power off button. She blinked, hesitating. Her eyes widened, her body stiffened, and she gasped.
“Cletus!”
Something about her tone, like she was horrified, and maybe a little afraid, cut through the heavy haze of lust inertia, and my hands stilled. Shaking myself, it took me a few moments to realize she was showing me the phone screen, and another few to bring the content of the text messages into focus.
Momma: Jennifer Anne Sylvester, pick up your phone. If you’re with Cletus, I need his help. Please.
Momma: ALL THE CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS ARE DEAD! PICK UP YOUR DAMN PHONE!
Momma: I’m calling you in a second, pick up the phone. Mr. Badcock’s chickens are dead. All of them. I got here and he’s running around, deranged, yelling about his dead chickens! I called the police and they’re on their way. Please, please, please pick up the phone!
At some point, I must’ve taken the phone from Jenn and stepped away, because I glanced up upon reading the messages for the third time, finding the phone in my hand and Jenn fixing her skirt.
“This is nuts.” Her big eyes searched mine imploringly. “Who could have done this?”
I shook my head, having not yet managed to fully shift head gears—you know, from that head to the one on my neck—and my gaze dropped to the wet patch on the front of her dress just visible in the swath of light. My erection throbbed.
So we’re . . . not having sex?
“Why? Why would they do it? And WHO?” She snatched her phone back, her tone bewildered, distracted, and distraught. She was distraught because of the dead chickens, like any normal person would be.
I was distraught also, but my distress had nothing to do with farm animals.
“We have to go.” Jenn grabbed my hand and began walking toward the direction of the hall. Meanwhile, it took me until her hand found the door handle to realize my zipper and belt were still undone.
“This is crazy.” She paused as I zipped up, her tone halting and distracted. “Poor Mr. Badcock. And those poor chickens.” A sound of distress escaped her throat. “This is terrible.”
It was terrible.
And I was going to hell.
Because all I could think was, Talk about a cock block.
My Review:
To start off I just have to point out how much I love Cletus. He cracks me up so much. I mean the quote on the banner at the top of the post is just so him. Now, this story does not take place after all of the Winston Brothers series books, but rather in the middle kind of. Also if you’ve followed my reviews or blog, you know I don’t really read a lot of what is considered cozy mysteries. I had a short span of time where I loved the Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery series by Diane Mott Davidson, but have since kind of not picked any up. But give me a book with one of the Winston Brothers, and written by the awesome Penny Reid, and I’m in.
Because of my lack of cozy mystery reading lately, I was a bit hesitant to begin this one I think. But I shouldn’t have been. Because I was sucked in from the moment I picked it up until I finally finished it less than 24 hours later. I’d have been done a lot quicker if I hadn’t been dealing with my dogs acting a little sick this past week.
The mystery was all there and from what I remember from past cozy mysteries, it really was all laid out exactly like you’d expect it to be. Followed the usual patterns for sure. Now there were no deaths, humans that is. And it was probably a little steamier than a lot of cozies usually are, but that’s to be expected from this author, and that’s definitely something I was glad hadn’t been completely left out. Even if we were kept hanging along with the characters until the end.
I love, love, loved this book and can’t wait for more Cletus and Jenn mysteries!
About the Author:
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
Connect with Penny:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD
Twitter: @ReidRomance
Mailing List: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/
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Cletus was definitely a breakout character and I am glad he and Jen are getting their own series.
It’s weird to have it set right after their book in a way, knowing what is going to happen with all the other characters. But sometimes that is kind of neat too. Thanks for stopping by!
[…] Penny Reid writes I will read, and probably love. Of course I loved the first book in this series, Engagement and Espionage, so I was extremely eager for this second book. One thing that I know is different, I think, from […]