BOOK TOUR: Sweet Pepper Hero by J.J. Cook

Sweet Pepper Hero: A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade

Cozy Mystery

4th in Series

A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Published by Penguin Random House, LLC.

Release Date: January 5, 2016

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0425279236

E-Book ASIN: B00W2ZKNZ8

Synopsis: Old rivalries heat up in the fourth Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade mystery from the national bestselling author of In Hot Water.

Fire chief Stella Griffin has been put in charge of judging the annual recipe contest, but Eric—her resident ghost and true culinary genius—has vanished. Before she can track down his latest haunt, she’s called in to investigate a local moonshine distillery that was set ablaze, making her realize there’s more than pies and cakes cooking in Sweet Pepper.

As rumors of a revived whiskey war ignite, Stella turns to the town’s elders to help her find answers. The past might have some clues as to what has sparked the present fires. But when following a lead lands her in buried rubble, Stella realizes she must extinguish this case fast or she might be going down in flames.

Review: This is my favorite series written by the Lavenes.  The last book left us with such a cliffhanger, that I was waiting VERY impatiently for this book. 

I have so many favorite characters in this series, but most especially Stella and Eric. I enjoy the interactions between them, and the chemistry. At least once in every book I wish he weren't a ghost, so that they could have a romantic relationship.

The rest of the fire brigade are also great characters, and I enjoy getting to know more about them in each book, and the same is true of other Sweet Pepper residents. I even find myself liking Stella's grandfather a little more after this book. 

The writing is smooth and well crafted. The plot is suspenseful, and keeps you turning pages to find out what will happen next, and how it will all play out. There is also a touch of humor throughout the book.

I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun, easy read with characters who stick with you long after the book ends.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

Rating: Five stars

About The Authors

J. J. Cook is a pseudonym for a married couple, Joyce and Jim Lavene, who writes mysteries, mostly set in the South, with a touch of paranormal and romance.

Author Links:

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Purchase Links:
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In Hot Water (Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery #3), by J.J. Cook

Synopsis: Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, has the world’s hottest and sweetest peppers—as well as a ghost that cooks and a fire chief who fights crime… 

SPARK OF INTEREST 

Stella Griffin should be bubbling over with joy now that she’s the full-time fire chief of Sweet Pepper, except trouble is brewing on her doorstep. An angry resident has purchased her cabin, and—with a bulldozer in tow—is ready to tear it down. But as Stella worries over the fate of her home and Eric, her ghostly roommate, there’s soon an even greater cause for alarm.

A suspicious house fire in the pricey Sunset Beach community at Sweet Pepper Lake claims the life of ex-state representative Barney Falk. The nature of the death has Stella feeling out of her depth, so she teams up with the state’s arson investigator. Moving full steam ahead with the case, they must smoke out a killer before the firebug strikes again…

Thoughts: **I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

This is the third installment in the series, and it just keeps getting better. There's a new wrinkle in Stella and Eric's relationship which gives it more diversity than before. They are growing even more dependent on one another, which could create problems in the future.

Besides trying to solve yet another murder, Stella is trying to get approval from the town council for a fireboat, as well as trying to line up new volunteers for the fire brigade. Her relationship with her grandfather seems to be improving in each book, as does her working relationship with the police chief.

Once again, the book ends with a cliffhanger...one that I never would have expected. I can't wait for the next book!! 

My rating: Four stars

Playing With Fire (Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery #20, by J.J. Cook

Synopsis:  Welcome to Sweet Pepper, Tennessee. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s home to the hottest and sweetest peppers in the world—as well as at least one ghost and a hotbed of secrets…
 
GETTING WARMER
 
Fire Chief Stella Griffin is working to solve the mysterious death of her predecessor, Eric Gamlyn—who also haunts her cabin. Yet the more she learns, the more burning questions she must answer. Just as Stella thinks she has a lead from Deputy Chum, someone snuffs her hopes—and the lawman.
 
Adding fuel to the fire, Stella’s parents soon arrive—with her ex-boyfriend—hoping to persuade her to return to Chicago. Now Stella is torn between the life she left behind and uncovering what happened to her ghostly friend. But she’d better think fast or more than her investigation could go up in flames…

Thoughts: **I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All comments and opinions below are entirely my own.**

This book picks up where the first one left off, with everyone in town trying to solve the mystery of the previous fire chief's murder. Stella can't seem to keep herself from getting involved in the investigation, no matter how many people warn her against it.

When her parents show up for a visit, bringing along her cheating ex-boyfriend, the cabin she shares with the ghost of the former fire chief gets a little too crowded and tension-filled. The three guests are trying to talk Stella into going back to Chicago, but she can't make up her mind whether to stay or go.

Another well written story. I love the interaction between Stella and Eric. The cliffhanger in this one had me rushing right on to book three, In Hot Water.

My rating: Four stars

That Old Flame Of Mine (Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery #1), by J.J. Cook

Synopsis: Set in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, J. J. Cook’s thrilling new mystery series features Fire Chief Stella Griffin, who solves crime with the help of her predecessor, who just happens to be a ghost…

NO MATCH FOR MURDER
After knocking the lights out of her boyfriend when she catches him cheating on her, Chicago fire fighter Stella Griffin hops on her Harley and heads for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, where she ends up becoming the small town’s fire chief. When her dear friend Tory Lambert dies after her gingerbread-style house is set ablaze, Stella suspects arson and foul play.

As Stella investigates, she gets help from a most unlikely source—the ghost of Eric Gamlyn, Sweet Pepper’s old fire chief. And if that isn’t enough to rattle her, attractive police officer John Trump seems to have taken an interest in her. But Stella’s got to stay focused if she hopes to smoke out a killer before her own life is extinguished.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!

Thoughts: Great beginning to a series! I love all the characters introduced in this book, and look forward to getting to know them better in future volumes.

The writing is wonderful, the characters are very well-developed, and the setting is described in just enough detail to make it vivid without being overwhelming. 

The mystery is well done also. I figured out who the killer was only shortly before it was revealed in the story. And the discovery made at the end of the book, which obviously leads into the next book, definitely makes me look forward to continuing on with this series.

**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

My rating: Four stars