Despite being blindsided by a stranger who threatens to expose her past and take everything from her, Jo Pepperdine must help clear the name of one of the Second Chance residents after she becomes a prime suspect in a co-worker’s murder. Read all of Hope Callaghan’s books and box sets for FREE with Kindle Unlimited. “Divine Blindside,” is Book 3 in the Divine Cozy Mystery SeriesBONUS: Recipe … “Divine Blindside,” is Book 3 in the Divine Cozy Mystery Series
BONUS: Recipe Included!
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Fall has arrived in the tiny town of Divine, Kansas, and the area residents are gearing up for the annual fall festival including Delta, who is determined to win the baking contest and beat last year’s reigning champion.
Meanwhile, one of Joanna Pepperdine’s Second Chance residents, Sherry Marshall, is hired as a server at Divine Delicatessen. Not everyone is thrilled with the new employee and soon after, the person tasked with training her is murdered, and Sherry becomes the prime suspect.
Jo is convinced Sherry was not involved and is determined to clear her name, despite being blindsided after a stranger shows up at the farm, threatening to expose Jo’s secret past and take everything that matters most…her family, friends and beloved farm.
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Really enjoyed this book!
Hope Callaghan’s writing style immediately hooks me when I read her well-crafted stories. The Divine Cozy Mystery delights the reader with the Midwest setting of Divine, Kansas – the Midpoint of the continuous 48 states, stereotypical and intriguing small town characters, and blocks of unique stores. As a cozy mystery, the story is never too preachy with just the right blend of spiritual elements (prayer and scripture). As a reader, I enjoy how Hope Callaghan summarizes what happened previously, and then throws the reader a new idea or red herring. This helps the reader remember what has happened in previous books and makes the reader speculate who dun it. Hope Callaghan in a non-judgmental way addresses small town stereotypes, as well as contemporary issues (Seond Chances, a halfway house for released female convicts and small town prejudices against these ladies). Hope Callaghan weaves in elements from her other series: an older sleuth, surveillance equipment, second chances, and a scrumptious recipe.
Book 3 Divine Blindspot reveals Joanne Pepperdine’s secret past, hints at two different romances, and has the reader begging for Book 4. Who will win the Divine Fall Festival Baking Contest (Sherry or Delta)? Will Joanne and Delta find love? Will Miles return and create havoc in Joanne Pepperdine’s future? The Raspberry Dream Bars are divine! “Sometimes Family wasn’t the ones you were born with, but the ones you grew to love, the ones you counted on to support you, the ones who had your back when the going got tough.”
Joanna (Jo to her friends) runs Second Chance, a halfway house for ladies recently released from a local prison. She takes personal pride in her success, and tries to make each lady feel special. Her ownership of Second Chance Mercantile, along with the Divine Bakeshop give them a working participation in rejoining society. Delta is her friend, chief cook and bottle washer, and is ready to enter a baking contest in town. Nash is her right hand man, and works along with her retired farmer friend Gary who grows the best produce in town. She has decided resident Sherry could try waitressing at Marlee’s Divine Delicatessen in town. This adventure finds unsavory characters, baking contest entries, murder, and a potential life changing situation. It is fast paced and an enjoyable easy read. Hope Callaghan does not disappoint.
Divine Blindside is the third book in Hope Callaghan’s awesome Divine Cozy Mystery series. This heartwarming series is full of inspiration, hope, and second chances. This well-plotted mystery is a clean read, with affable characters. I’m enjoying getting to know the delightful cast of characters, watching them grow, and learning their backstories. There are lots of twists and turns, along with multiple suspects to keep readers engaged. The reveal came as a surprise to me. I highly recommend this series.
Joanna “Jo” Pepperdine recently opened Second Chances in Divine, Kansas, a haven for women who have recently been released from Central State Women’s Penitentiary. The women, who are down on their luck, have nowhere to go, and Jo provides them with a second chance in life, teaching them how to maintain vehicles, manage their finances, and job skills among other things. In addition to Second Chances two stores, Divine Baked Goods Shop and Second Chance Mercantile, where the women work, which help subsidize the halfway house, there are two gardens that are cared for by Gary, Jo’s gardener, that help feed the residents and provide additional income. Delta, a talented cook and second in command, previously worked as a prison cook at the penitentiary. Nash, their skilled handyman who teaches the women how to build and repair things, has feelings for Jo. Gary, who instructs the women on successful gardening, and Delta grew close while she helped him heal from a physical attack, and they’ve started spending time together.
Everyone is looking forward to the Divine Fall Festival, decorating for the festival and season, plus the baking contest Delta hopes to win. Delta claims winning will put their bakeshop on the map and everyone is enjoying being her recipe testers. Marlee Davison, Jo’s friend and the owner of Divine Delicatessen, hires Sherry Marshall, one of Jo’s residents, to work for her. Janet, who’s tasked with training her, isn’t happy and does everything she can to cause problems for Sherry. After the two women have an argument, Janet heads to the Four Corners Mini-Mart, where she works part-time and causes a scene before she quits and storms out. She never returned to the deli, and Marlee assumes she made good on her threat to quit, but one of the busboys spotted her car behind the building while taking the trash out. Marlee went to talk to Janet, but found her in her car, a victim of foul play. Unfortunately, Sherry becomes a suspect, and Jo is determined to prove her innocence. Jo has fought hard to put her tragic past behind her and the appearance of Miles Parker, who claims to be her half-brother, causes her great distress. Jo doesn’t hesitate to inform him that her parents are both deceased and that she has no siblings. After explaining the relationship his deceased mother had with her father, he tells her that he’s researched her background and is surprised she’s using her massive resources to fund a halfway house and that he’s going to enjoy living in Divine and running her impressive businesses. Now Jo is living in fear that her past and wealth will be revealed and that she will not only lose the farm but everything and everyone dear to her.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.