"Glazed Murder"

"Glazed Murder" by Jessica Beck is her first in a series of Donut Shop Mysteries featuring newly divorced Suzanne Hart who used her divorce settlement to open Donut Hearts coffee shop in her home town of April Springs, North Carolina. Running a donut shop means early morning hours and long days (every day!) with the part-time help of a single employee. It's during her early morning baking that Suzanne has a dead body dumped at the front door of her shop. Although everyone is telling her not to investigate because she could be putting her own life at risk, she doesn't listen. She's afraid the killer thinks she knows who he is so she sets out to find him first. As she snoops, she upsets a few of her fellow townspeople.

The married chief of police who wanted to marry her widowed mother when they were young,seems to have no patience with Suzanne so she enlists the help of a retired policeman to aid her in her investigation.

In the meantime, Max, her ex-husband, is making overtures at wooing her again but she's not forgiving his marital infidelity. When Jake Bishop, a state police inspector, is called to town to help in the investigation, a chance for a new romance appears to blow into town with him. However, Suzanne's penchant for investigation may be putting her as well as her friends and family at risk.

I found this to be a fun mystery read and the inclusion of recipes throughout the book is reminiscent of Diane Mott Davidson's mystery series.
If you're looking for a "light" mystery that is a quick read, this is it. I enjoyed it so much that I already have her second book in hand.

pazt

"Hold Me Tight & Tango Me Home"

Maria Finn discovers her husband (and salsa dancing partner) is cheating on her so she throws him out and files for divorce. "Hold Me Tight & Tango Me Home" is her memoir that details how she worked through the aftermath of the breakdown of her marriage by taking up tango lessons in preparation for attending a wedding in Argentina. There's a great paragraph on page 53 where Maria explains why being physical is a way of feeling better for her -- and also a form of prayer. Maria's life is consumed by lessons and attending regular tango social dances in New York City where she lives but she still finds time to explore internet dating. Her forays into dating are insightful as well as (at times) amusing. Tango also brings new friendships as her life revolves around this dance. I found the explanation (pages 114-115) of how chemistry plays a part in dating and in dancing interesting. Eventually she travels to Buenos Aires for the wedding and more tango lessons. Along the way she looks at a career change and gives us a fascinating look at the history of tango. I never expected a memoir about divorce and lost love to be so uplifting. I highly recommend this book!