It’s the grand opening of The Deerbourne Inn! Award-winning Chef Nathan Harte has worked long and hard to restore this historic property in Willow Spring, Vermont. He’s ready to greet his guests with fine cuisine, comfortable rooms, and maybe even a ghost or two. He’s escaping the rat-race of the city for a slower more rewarding life, but is he ready to deal with a broken arm, a quirky arsonist, … arsonist, and a long-ago mystery? And what might he find up in the three-hundred-year-old attics?
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This was an enjoyable cozy story. The main character is a chef and the author makes the reader’s stomach rumble with all the food described throughout the story. I liked that the story had a mystery, but would have liked a longer chase finding the antagonist. Barbara Edwards is a skilled writer and craftily brings in subplots, introducing characters and romances. I wish the ending would have brought the two main characters (Nate and Emily) together, but Edwards sets up the possibility to a sequel that I would love to read. Likeable characters, natural dialogue, worth your time to read.
arson, small-business, small-town, family, chef
The publisher’s blurb isn’t half bad, but this first book is more novella length so that’s okay. Most of it is a lovely story about people finding their way as family and new neighbors building a business. Parallel to that is a vacationer who really needs to complete her research in the attic of the Inn and becomes involved in the dailies. And then there’s the arson problem. A nice comfortable read that you don’t want to end!
The excellent narration is performed by Nila Brereton Hagood and she makes a good read even better!
This was an enjoyable read that took us into the first book of the Deerbourne Inn series. Be warned – it may make you hungry, because the main protagonist is a chef! The author described this lovely town in Vermont, that makes you feel like you are there, down to a cast of lovable characters and an interesting story line. Looking forward to reading more books in the series.
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
This is the first book in the Deerbourne Inn series. Here, Chef Nathan Hart has inherited the inn and decides to renovate it and reopen it. Close to the grand opening, Nathan is hit by a hit-and-run driver causing him some injuroes which impede his abilities to work on the inn. On top of that, a guest shows up before the inn is even open, wanting to stay at the inn to do research. Finally, there are a rash of arson fires leaving the townsfolk on edge.
This book mostly centers on the inn’s renovations, Chef Nate’s meal preparations and getting to know the good people living around the inn. The arson mystery is given a bit of a short shrift. It’s a nice quaint story and an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon in a scenic Vermont town with some nice people.
I listened to this book – the narrator did a nice job.
This was an entertaining set up for the new Deerbourne Inn Series. It’s a mystery so don’t look for a HEA. A few loose ends are left to tie up in the upcoming books.
The small town descriptions and the loveable characters development were well done. The main character is a chef. His culinary talents will leave your stomach rumbling. I look forward to reading more Deerbourne Inn series.