The Italian festival has come to Ranchero and it's a perfect opportunity for Jordan to feed her stomach and garner some fabulous recipes for her readers. Since his sister is one of the festival planners, Kate and her mother, Natalie have come to meet the woman who stole Alex's heart.
Jordan has the family to deal with, and the woman who used to hold her job has come back expecting to get her old job back. Since her uncle owns the paper, Jordan is afraid she may be unemployed any day. The editor offers them the opportunity to write articles about the festival. Based on reader reaction, the job will go to person who best reaches the readers.
When a man is murdered the night of the part celebrating the start of the festival, Jordan will have a lot of work to do. She heads to the fairgrounds to search for recipes and clues. The man was engaged to the daughter of the man whose business is the main sponsor of the festival. He was also having an affair with Kate. Kate and he had a fight just before he died so Jordan's skills will be needed.
Jordan collects several recipes with the promise not to run them until the festival ends. The two sisters who share the recipes are full of information about the victim. When Loretta steals one of the recipes and prints it in her column before the festival ends, Jordan goes back to the fairgrounds to apologize to the sisters. One of them is missing so she has another mysterious event to investigate.
Jordan's friends get involved when Jordan asks for Victor's help. Victor comes up with the idea of leaving another recipe for Loretta to steal with a key ingredient missing. Loretta falls for the ruse and her competition for the job disappears. The investigation is heating up when body is found. Jordan once again finds herself in danger as the identity of the murderer is revealed.
Ms. Lipperman has a really solid series with the Clueless Cook series and CHICKEN CACCIA-KILLER is a welcome addition to the series. The pun titles drew me to the series but the writing keeps me coming back. Jordan and her friends keep the readers entertained as they delve into the mystery with Jordan. Great characters are always my main requirement in a book and Ms. Lipperman delivers those in spades. Her mysteries always keep me guessing and leave me feeling satisfied when I put the book down.
Covering sporting events would have been the perfect job for
Jordan McAllister, but here in Ranchero, Texas, the only gig
available at the local newspaper was food editor. And
although she doesn't know the difference between bruschetta
and biscotti, she doesn't have a problem finding trouble
wherever she goes. Forced to fight to keep her job as the
culinary reporter at the Ranchero Globe, Jordan must cover
the International Italian Festival coming to town. But along
with the festivities and great Italian food, she has to deal
with meeting her boyfriend Alex's mother and sister for the
first time.
When an arrogant Italian playboy falls to his
death from a suite at a swanky hotel during a
pre-festivities party and Alex's sister Kate is charged with
his murder, Jordan springs into action to find clues that
could prove her innocence. But the real killer doesn't
appreciate that she is getting too close. Can Jordan and her
motley crew of friends thwart his efforts and catch the
killer before he succeeds?
EXCERPT
Jordan bit her lip to stifle a grin. Alex wasnโt fooling
anyone with the dad remark. He was simply making sure Emilio
knew his mother was married. Unfortunately, Emilio didn't
look like the kind of guy who cared about small details like
a
wedding ring.
Or was it possible that Alex was reminding his mother?
โThere you all are. I've been looking for you.โ
Jordan swiveled around just as Kate Moreland approached,
her cheeks flushed, her charcoal silk blouse slightly
disheveled.
โOh honey, howโs your headache? I thought you were going to
lie down for a while.โ
โI did, Mother, and Iโm much better.โ She kissed Natalie
then turned her attention to Emilio. โI need to talk to you
later about the shipment from New Jersey. It still hasnโt
arrived, and Iโm getting a little concerned.โ
โDonโt you worry your pretty little head about it.โ Emilio
patted her hand. โMy guys are on top of the liquor
situation. I
guarantee itโll be here in plenty of time.โ
Apparently satisfied with the answer, Kate turned back to
Jordan and motioned for the gang to come over. โThese must
be
the friends I've heard so much about. I hope you all have a
great time tonight and at the festiโโ She glanced up when an
older gentleman tapped her shoulder, and after a brief
exchange
with the man, she excused herself and stepped away from the
group with him.
โSheโs not going to get much time to party tonight, Iโm
afraid,โ Alex explained. โEveryone seems to need her for one
thing or another. Sheโsโโ He stopped when the sound of
breaking
glass was heard from inside.
Emilio stared into the living room. โLooks like a loversโ
quarrel. You know how passionate we Italians are about love
and
war.โ Although his response was flippant, the serious look
on
his face was not.
Jordan followed his gaze and focused on one of the most
gorgeous men sheโd ever seen. Standing about six two and
dressed
in a black suit that had to be pure silk, the man was
visibly
upset. He was frantically trying to calm a woman who was
screaming obscenities and waving her arms in the air with
each
new outburst.
Studying them from a distance, Jordan couldnโt help
thinking that if ever there was a mismatch it was the two of
them. The woman stood around five three with black hair cut
short and framing her round, olive face in a very
unflattering
style. Slightly overweight with a large nose, she wasn't
what
Jordan would expect to see on the arm of someone as debonair
as
the man she was arguing with. Jordan was about to say
something
to Alex when the good-looking man grabbed the womanโs arm
and
marched toward them, stopping directly in front of Emilio
and
Natalie.
โMaybe you can talk some sense into my fiancรฉe,โ he said,
his voice dripping with anger. โShe thinks Iโm cheating on
her.โ
โYour fiancรฉe?โ Kate asked, turning away from the man sheโd
been conversing with and stepping around her mother to face
the
new arrival. โMarco, whatโs going on?โ
โKate!โ Surprise covered his face. โYou said you weren't
staying for the party. I thought youโd left.โ
โIs this the whore, Marco?โ the short woman asked, tears
now beginning to form in her eyes.
Kate's face flamed, and before Alex could stop her, she
lunged at Marco and gave his face a stinging slap, leaving a
bright red imprint of her hand. Without another word, she
turned
on her heels and stomped out.
โWhat are you talking about, Tina?โ Emilio nailed Marco
with an icy stare as he cradled his daughter in his arms.
Tina sniffed and pulled away, swiping at the tears running
freely down her cheeks with the sleeve of her obviously
expensive blouse. โI heard him talking to someone on the
phone a
little while ago, Daddy. He told her he couldnโt quit
thinking
about her body against his, his mouth on hers.โ
Emilio turned to Marco, a stern look on his face. โIs this
true?โ
Marco shook his head. โShe misunderstood me, Emilio. I
swear. I love Tina and I havenโt cheated on her.โ
Emilio studied Marcoโs face for a few minutes before
he bent down and whispered something in his daughter's ear.
Straightening up he gave her a nudge toward the living room.
โGet yourself cleaned up, baby girl. The partyโs just
getting
started.โ
She stole a final look in Marcoโs direction, and then
walked back into the hotel, still sniffling.
When she was gone, Emilio wrapped his arm around the manโs
shoulder and pulled him close.
โThis is my future son-in-law, Marco Petrone.โ
Without warning, Natalie Moreland reached out and slapped
the other side of Marcoโs face. โYou're a lying bastard.โ
The silence following that statement was finally broken
when a stunned Marco recovered enough to confront Natalie.
โAnd who exactly are you?โ
Her eyes flashed anger. โThe whoreโs mother.โ
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