Jennifer Sylvester made her deal with the devil . . . and now they’re engaged!But all is not well in Green Valley. A chicken choker is on the loose, 61 dead birds most “fowl” need plucking, and no time remains for Jennifer and her devilish fiancé. Desperate to find a spare moment together, Jenn and Cletus’s attempts to reconnect are thwarted by one seemingly coincidental disaster after another. … disaster after another. It’s not long before Cletus and Jenn see a pattern emerge and the truth becomes clear.
Sabotage!
Will an undercover mission unmask the culprit? Or are these love-birds totally plucked?
‘Engagement and Espionage’ is the first book in the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries series, is a full-length cozy mystery, and is a spin-off of Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series. This novel is best read after ‘Beard Science,’ Winston Brothers #3.
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OHMIGOSH. This book was everything I needed and more! I was so sad when the Winston Brothers series ended with Beard Necessities, but when I realized that we were getting more Cletus & Jenn…I was just ecstatic! Seeing my favorite couple learn to maneuver their way through a new relationship, dealing with family, life, and chicken murders just brought a giant smile to my face.
Cletus was just as amazing as always! I enjoyed seeing him attempt to control his mischievous desires to make Jenn happy. I also loved seeing Jenn work on keeping her boundries. The whole story just kept me captivated and I didn’t want to put it down! These two solving a mystery just made my life! I am so excited for more!!! Plus I loved getting to visit with my favorite family, and see some new favorite characters from the SmartyPants universe!!
Oh how I’ve missed Cletus & Jen!! I am sitting here smiling like a loon right now. Such a happy reader. I think I forget between Penny Reid books just how much joy they bring me. The wit, the banter, the rich, rich dialogue and the way I always learn something new.
Cletus is one of my Forever Book Boyfriends. He’s the smart kind of hottie that most people don’t see coming & boy does he give good swoon when the mood takes him
“I love you, quite a lot more than can be adequately expressed with words.”
This is a spin off from the Winston Brothers and should be read after Beard Science but I have to say it’s also such a fun read you could enjoy it all by itself.
You get laughs, you get intrigue and you get the kind of smart sexiness that Penny’s storytelling always brings. Absolutely loved it!
Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid picks up where Beard Science ended and stars my favorite character- Cletus Winston. I wanted more of his story and we finally are getting it. So the story picks right up where Beard Science ended. Cletus and Jennifer are starting this new relationship while solving mysteries.
I loved the spin off from the Beard series to this new series. Cletus is just amazing and we get a chance to discover his softer side. His love for Jennifer is true and he is willing to prove that. Jennifer’s growth as a character is amazing. She becomes more independent and learn to be what she wants to be, not who her parents want. Just great growth on both sides. Also reading as they solve mysteries..good. I like the interaction and the connection between them. Good story.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *********
What can you do when there is a chicken choker on the lose? If you are Cletus Winston you will find yourself trying to solve a string of events that are hampering Jennifer Sylvester from baking her delectable treats.
Take a trip back to Green Valley brings all of the love for the Winston family front and center. However – this journey involves Jennifer Sylvester’s life at Donner Bakery and the family lodge. With the Donner family pulled apart by Jennifer’s parents’ pending divorce, things are bound to get interesting when delicious treats are involved.
Through it all – Jenn and Cletus are just trying to find a little quality time together. That is a feat that is proving harder than anyone could imagine. With all of Jenn’s suppliers tucking their tales and ‘running’, life just proved even more complex for a gal that only wants to find a few moments to relish in the face of love.
Engagement & Espionage is here!! I have waited for more Cletus and Jenn, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this new release! First – let me address the label of cozy mystery. There is barely any mystery involved in this book, but there is plenty of Winston mayhem to treat readers. This book falls in line after Beard Science, and I strongly suggest reading BS before diving into this spin off.
Now to the nitty gritty…..the plot in this story was very predictable. At times I found Jenn and Cletus’ characters not on the same page as their previous books. What do I mean? Well…..it’s almost like these two are completely different characters than the Jenn and Cletus that we all love. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments when I see my favorite characters peeking through the haze. Then at other times – I found the snark and conniving mind that I have come to expect from Cletus completely absent. What you will find is a string of events that fills in some gaps from the Winston Series.
There was one thing that stuck out in my peruse of the story…..you see…..when you live in a place that is called the Moonshine Capital of the World, you know a thing or two about the drink. When you have a county that built its legacy off illegal ‘shine you pick up on ‘city folks’ who don’t quite know the nuances of illegal spirits. So there is mention of banana moonshine in this book. Hhhmmmmm…..yeah…..ummmmm NOOOOOOO!!! That is the most sacrilegious thing one could come up with for moonshine. Besides the fact that you are talking about a fruit that will turn to mash during processing, the taste would be less than desired. I understand the connection to the Banana Queen, but you really don’t mess with greatness when you are talking about a legacy such as moonshine. So that was a huge ‘no go’ for me!!
All in all this mystery didn’t quite live up to the hype. It was a quick, easy read for a day of lounging. Engagement & Espionage just wasn’t up to the same level I would expect from my favorite Winston Brother of all time!! I have my fingers crossed that the rest of the series picks up the gusto and will deliver all of the nuances that I enjoy in a Reid Romance!
Overall Grade:
We hold these truths to be self-evident when reading a Penny Reid romance, especially one centered in Green Valley, Tennessee, and even more especially when its focus is Cletus Winston that:
*There will be times when you absolutely want to strangle Cletus or hug him or laugh at him or cheer him on. In Reid’s newest book, Engagement and Espionage, you will find this breadth of emotion as it relates to Cletus Winston. And quite frankly, it’s glorious. It’s the reason that you read Penny Reid’s brand of romance because she offers a depth of character in the ways she crafts her heroes and heroines. They are almost three-dimensional in nature, and they feel like real people in your life. In turn, this allows you to connect to their brand of zaniness, especially as it relates to Cletus Winston.
*You will admire his lady love, Jennifer Sylvester (Jenn for short). One of the reasons that Jenn Sylvester exists is to humanize Cletus Winston AND to make him a better, less vengeful person. Yes, he is still wanting revenge, but when it entails Jenn, it is always as a protection and retaliation on her behalf. In other books, honestly, Cletus is the proffer of petty. Yet, in this book, Cletus’s want for revenge is worthy. Beyond that, through Jenn’s character, we are treated to a woman who is burgeoning on the actualization of her self. In Beard Science, Cletus awakens her self-evaluation. In E&E, we find her embracing her needs and making changes to give more of her time and energy to Cletus and herself. In fact, this book explores her journey in setting personal boundaries as protection for herself and her relationship with Cletus.
*The Winston clan will play a huge part. This is definitely the case with E&E. They act as you expect: support, ire-maker, and back-up. However, Cletus being Cletus, we know he won’t be laying his head on the shoulder of his brothers and sister, so there is more witty banter between them all. Isn’t this what we love about a Reid romance? As such, there is a LOT to love about Engagement and Espionage.
*And there is more of Green Valley. The favorites are here, but they are joined by a few mentions of some of our favorite SmartyPants Romance characters and a few characters we have yet to meet. Given this is Jenn and Cletus, yes, there is more of her deliciously villainous father (the character you love to hate) and her mother who looks as though she might redeem herself. Maybe.
But what is new here? What is the ultimate “engagement” of this book? There’s a mystery. Now, when Penny Reid announced this series, I have to be honest, given we’re dealing with Cletus, I thought for sure it would be “keystone cops-esque”. And boy did she surprise me. There is always a little bit of zany humor with Cletus Winston, but that humor is quiet in E&E. For me, the romantic suspense of this story carries it. Yes, romance resides in E&E, but it feels secondary to the overall story, and even though, you want the romantic stuff in this book, you actually want the story more. This illustrates Reid’s prowess as a storyteller. She isn’t simply a romance writer; no, she’s a storyteller for any genre. That’s exciting because it shows her breadth of experience, and you know as a reader that whatever she offers you, you’ll love it because her storytelling is simply delicious.
And lastly, be ready, folks. Even though Cletus and Jenn burned up the sheets in Beard Science, like that book, this is a slow, slow burn. This is where you find Reid’s mastery as a writer. She takes her time in ramping up their chemistry. By the time these two finally find some “alone” time, we, the reader, are all like Cletus, starving for their coupling and then satiated by the end. Little by little, Reid carefully crafts their physical experience in a way that feels explosive when it finally happens, and you can’t help but love that Reid doesn’t make her romance about that. She invites us into their relationship so that we feel emotionally invested in them. This is what I love the most about Penny Reid’s brand of romance.
The truth of Penny Reid’s Engagement and Espionage is that it is a journey. As the first page turns, you invest yourself deeper and deeper in Cletus and Jenn’s story. Reid makes them believable to us because their general experience is our own: we want that person in our life to know their worth in our own. We may fumble with finding the balance of showing that worth, but at the basest of levels, we love them beyond any measure. And that is the ultimate truth of Penny Reid’s newest book, and it will engage you and entertain you and keep you reading to the final page.
Only Cletus and Jenn could pull this off! A whole book about them being their odd, funny and sweet selves while solving a mystery that could only happen in Green Valley. This book (and series) is definitely a gift for the fans that I really appreciate.
This story takes after the events in Beard Science where Cletus and Jenn were beginning their relationship, so this book navigates through this new status for them and how they both have to adjust to it. As we could see from their previous book, Jenn was a woman sheltered and manipulated by her parents who was just finding her freedom and Cletus was… Cletus, so being in a relationship means a new challenge for them, having to juggle their jobs, family and add to that a mystery directly related to them!
Their relationship was the sweetest thing ever. This actually took me a bit by surprise, I was expecting this from Jenn and not from Cletus because despite being attentive he was also reserved, so I loved seeing this soft side of him. And I also loved the way they were so supportive and understanding with each other throughout their relationship, always putting the other’s best interest ahead and talking things out. And the mystery! I hadn’t really thought much about it but it kept me entertained throughout the book and Jenn and Cletus were the best team to solve this kind of mischief. Oh, and their internal monologues were everything! I swear I couldn’t stop laughing at some moments for their reasoning!
The side characters also lived up to it because obviously we are talking about the Winston brothers here. They have some of the best family dynamics so I loved seeing them teasing each other again and helping Cletus and Jenn in their crazy ways, making her feel part of the family. I even liked Jackson James a bit even though I’m not her biggest fan…
On a more personal level, I just want to say that I discovered and enjoyed a lot of books during this quarantine but I missed this. I missed the familiarity and comfort that this series gives me, those characters that I have known for a while now, the internal jokes and those little winks to the stories of the other characters that I already know what they are about. So thanks Penny Reid for delivering amazing stories that make me wanna read everything in one sitting and not leave my couch until I’m done with them!
If you haven’t read the Winston Brothers series yet, go do it. And then read this spin-off. And then the Smartypants Romance books because apparently you can never have enough of these characters and this small town, or at least that happens to me.
Thanks to the author and Social Butterfly for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Beard Science is one of my top books of all time, so I was excited to return to Green Valley and Cletus and Jenn.
The story picks up pretty quickly after the end of Beard Science and the series will fill in the gap and provide information about some years that were not seen in the Winston Brothers series.
Jenn and Cletus have realistic relationship struggles and frustrations here. Through it all it is still obvious how much they love and respect each other. They felt true to the characters we met and loved in Beard Science.
The mix of cozy mystery and romance is perfect. Any fan of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series will love visiting favorite characters, looking for Easter Eggs, and trying to solve whodunnit.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
I hate to be a naysayer but this is a romance trying to be a cozy. I had such hopes for this book. It’s not that it’s bad. It’s just not a cozy mystery. It’s a romance book. I’m an avid reader of both genres. There’s just too many romance novel factors in this book that definitely ARE NOT in cozy mysteries. Obviously fans of the Winston Bros will be reading this book so it’s fine. They like romance. But since it’s being marketed as a cozy mystery I think that will mislead romance readers on what a cozy mystery is. It was an amusing read and quite enjoyable if you’re familiar with the characters.
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be PERFECTION.
Yes, this book is everything I hope and needed and so much more. I already loved Cletus after reading the complete Winston Brothers Series, but now my love for him is bigger.
A delicious mystery with all the shenanigans you’d hope from the mischievous Cletus, we also get a much needed view on the development of Cletus and Jen romance. If you want to laugh, swoon and have an amazing time reading a book, get your copy of Engagement and Espionage.
1. The plot revolves around the mystery of sixty one killed chickens, owned by Mr Badcock who used to supply eggs to the Donner Bakery, along with few other peculiar and heinous crimes that take place in the upcoming days. Jenn and Cletus discover a pattern and start to wonder if these events are in any way connected to either the Donne Bakery or Jenn herself. Soon they start following the clues left by the culprit and as the battle of finding the criminal ensues, the battle to find time to spend in each other’s company rages along with it.
2. The characters were so easy to fall for! And if I didn’t love Cletus and Jenn enough, I do now! Cletus tried so hard to be understanding, caring, helping towards Jenn throughout the book. He never made her feel terrible for not being able to make time for him but instead thought about ways in which he could assist her as to take away some of her responsibilities. And Jenn, she was just as kind and caring and loving towards Cletus. The way she defended Cletus against Billy made me get heart eyes.
3. The writing was fantastic. I adore Penny Reid’s writing in all her books but whenever she is writing from Cletus’s pov it is something else. It is so astonishing and amazing to read that I couldn’t put this book down at all. I usually don’t enjoy the after-effects of a relationship, the becoming distant, growing insecurities part had never appealed to me but needless to say I enjoyed that in this book. I can’t help but admire how all of it transpired, from Jenn’s insecurities towards Cletus and their relationship along with Cletus’s wariness as to not be too imposing was all dealt in the most tender.
4. Since this series can be called a spin off of Beard Science, the third book in the Winston Brother’s series, it had so many hints, clues, and cameos by many characters that we had seen and loved in the original series. I had so much fun connecting the dots, understanding the references and getting more of Green Valley folks. Therefore I would suggest to read Beard Science prior to reading this for greater enjoyment.
The epicness of Beard Science, Cletus and Jenn’s origin story, was so epic that I was both elated and afraid to start Engagement and Espionage. I shouldn’t have fretted though, because Ms. Reid delivered again in the most wonderful of ways.
In general, I don’t particularly enjoy reading series of books about the same couple, but if someone could make it work for me, it’s Penny Reid. Obviously.
Also, although I think this could be read as a standalone it would be kinda ludicrous not to start at least with Beard Science, but I believe that for maximum enjoyment quotient the whole Winston Brother series should be read beforehand (or the first 3 books to start).
I already knew I loved both Jenn and Cletus, but these feelings were cemented here and I’m pretty sure I’m this close to building my first shrine to a literary character, and it will be devoted to Cletus.
Man! I never imagined Cletus could up his hotness levels that much, but just you wait till you get to that phone call *fanning self*. His devotion, pure love and his total commitment to being the best version of himself to deserve Jenn’s love was absolutely amazing.
Jenn couldn’t have had a bigger heart if she tried. I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t a bit miffed and frustrated with her and her inability to keep saying no to people, but I guess there’s a learning curve for everything new you do and she gets there eventually.
They are so adorkable together that I simply don’t have the words to describe how happy reading about them together makes me.
Filled with mystery and a bit of suspense, shenanigans galore and some really, really hot sexy scenes, Engagement and Espionage was everything I was hoping for and more. I love how Ms. Reid always makes me think about things with a new perspective, how she engages my emotion and thoughts so completely I absolutely can not put her books down.
In so many words: this book is fucking awesome perfection and everyone should read it.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
Like curling your hand around a warm cup of tea on a cold winter’s day, this book is instant comfort. It felt like putting on a favorite sweater and snuggling up in its warmth.
I’d say this is definitely a book for people who are already fans of this family and this world, otherwise parts of it may be confusing.
I loved this book and I can’t wait for more! There’s never enough Winston stories for me.
I received an early review copy in exchange for an early, honest review. All opinions are my own
Nothing quite like being back with the Winstons in Green Valley.
I missed Cletus and reading his POV so much. He’s an annoying yet entertaining smartass and I love him for it. The snarky comments in his mind are so funny to read. His mischievous and devious character is perfect for a bunch of cozy mysteries.
I loved that we could see here how much Jenn has grown from Beard Science. YES, she realizes her worth! She’s setting boundaries! She’s standing up for herself and voicing out her opinions! Though she still has a way to go, I can’t help but be so proud of her. It still hurts to see people (even her own parents) diminish her worth and make her feel like she’s anything less than the amazing woman she is. One of the things I love about Cletus and Jenn is that he never made her feel that way.
“She would always be beautiful because her beauty was in her strength and resilience, her goodness and generosity, her cleverness and compassion…”
Honestly, thank you to Penny Reid for giving us more books to see them grow as a couple. All the things they do for each other are just so damn cute, they really are perfect for each other and it shows.
I LOVEEE all the Winston family moments!!! My fave couples are actually CletusJenn, BillyScarlet, and BeauShelly. THIS BOOK IS A TREAT. Scarlet was the only one missing but oh how I loved Cletus’s sneaky mentions of ~his plans~ for Billy and Scarlet.
I gave it a 4 instead of 5 because I found myself uninterested at times with the plot but that didn’t take away too much for me. It helps that I already love the main characters (and the town) that I’m willing to read anything with them. Sometimes it still feels unreal that Cletus and Jenn have a whole other spin-off series tbh. I’m so excited for the rest!!!
Note: Although this is the first in a series, this book is best read after Beard Science (Winston Brothers #3).
What a fun read! If you are a fan of Cletus and Jenn you don’t want to miss this book! Someone is sabotaging all of the suppliers that Jenn uses for the bakery and her and Cletus make it their job to figure out who it is before everting is ruined for her and her mother.
With Jenn’s parents going through a nasty divorce, the holidays and all around busyness, Jenn and Cletus haven’t seen each other a lot lately. Jenn needs to make time for him and put their relationship first and learn how to stand up for herself. She promised these things before, but it is great to see her stand up to her parents and put her needs first. She is growing so much stronger and I feel like with Cletus by her side, she will continue to grow.
I enjoyed the banter, as always, with all of the Winston clan. This is a great spin off series with some of my favorites and lets us remain in Winston land for a little longer.
The thing that excited me most about this was that it feels like it’s a sneak peek into their lives after the romance novel ends. Like at the end of the romance novel we kind of get a blanket, they all lived happily ever after but they still have life to live. And this feels like it’s picked up and showing us the after the happily ever after.
Having been a fan of Cletus and his crazy mind I was so looking forward to getting more of him and Jenn. I went into this not realising that the time line of this is before book six so I had a lot of moments where I was confused for a second, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t immediately shake off. It just made me want to do a reread.
I think the best description for this came from Penny herself when she described it as a cozy mystery. I had a fair idea of what I was going to get but I still couldn’t put it down waiting to see how Cletus was going to handle it all. Sadly he wasn’t very vengeful, but maybe that will be book two.
Engagement and Espionage is quintessentially Penny Reid. Adorably quirky. Enlightening and engrossing. The most unique combination of swoon, steam and feels. And don’t forget the special and unforgettable writing.
This is a Winston Brothers novel. I feel that one line should make you read this story. Specially when we are talking about Cletus Winston. ( Did you hear my sigh? I was really loud). So Jenn and Cletus has been couple and unofficially engaged for a while. But their lives have been a mess with Cletus’ schedule and more importantly Jenn’s crazy life in Donner Bakery. They need time and space. But when the suppliers of Jenn’s baking masterpieces starts getting harmed one way after another, they need to solve the mystery. Before someone gets hurt for real. Beyond strangled chickens, burnt bee boxes and sold farms.
This story was an odd yet fascinating combination of cozy mystery and borderline angsty but predominantly witty romance. Cletus is the weirdest and most brilliant human ever. I found myself more and more attracted to his stimulating mind and of course the epic beard! He is the impossible combination of eccentric, gorgeous, caring, protective, overthinker, shrewd, overachiever, supreme problem solver and controlled recklessness. Jenn is yin to his yang. She has been always pushed to the shadows and to submission. But she has the sweetest, brightest and most precious heart. She is burning herself down to ashes to appease her mother but she is hurting as her love life is hurting. My heart breaks for this sweet girl as her own parents fill her mind with negativity and people try to hurt her because she has true baking talent. My heart was so full to see her getting stronger and braver at the end after enduring all kinds of hell. They tackled misunderstandings and dealt with some frustrating interventions. But their love only became more special and more epic!
The storyline was smart and clean and captivating as we followed the couple, the Winston clan and the “good” citizens of Green Valley through a suspenseful and witty crime story. The details were brilliant as each character and each scene played in my mind in technicolor! Cletus and Jenn’s relationship is evolving as two mismatched soulmates try to navigate through dangerously deceptive land of romance. Expect lots of fireworks. Expect a healthy dose of warm, fuzzy and soft feels. Expect the intense emotions in Penny Reid style. Means you would want to cry because the emotions are so beautiful and at the same time grin like crazy.
Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid is the perfect example of smart storytelling. This story was a riveting journey of love, family and friendship. A mindblowing concoction of mystery and romance.
Received ARC for honest review
Five Stars for Cletus
Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid is the first book in a new series spinoff from the amazingly and deservedly popular Winston Brothers books. This series is a bit of a change from the original Winston stories, as this is a Cozy Mystery. Also – I have to say it – I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you read Beard Science (Winston Brothers #3) before you read this book. You don’t have to, of course, but you will thank me later. If you haven’t read Beard Science, you’re seriously missing out anyway, because…Cletus. Back to my point, this book picks up the threads of time (and characters) shortly after the events of Beard Science, and I want you to receive maximum enjoyment from this cozy, sexy, snarky mischievous, mysteriously clever book.
Before I go any farther, I have to get this out…OH HOW I’VE MISSED CLETUS WINSTON!! I didn’t think I could love him any more, but as usual, Penny has shown me the way. Thank Science for Cletus.
Engagement and Espionage is a well-plotted mystery with excellent pacing and a sneaky keen eye for detail. Since there IS mystery here, I’m being extra careful not to give anything away with my review! Suffice to say that there are plenty of twists and turns on this wild, witty, somewhat hilarious, truly enjoyable ride. The mystery aspect of this book was woven so flawlessly into the romance between Cletus and Jenn – the action, puzzles and hilarious dialogue kept the pages turning!
You’re hooked into this story from the first page, falling right back into the relationships between Cletus and Jenn, Jenn and her mother, the Winston clan…heck, the whole of Green Valley! The small town aspect plays such a great part in all of the books set in the Pennyverse – each of those million little connections working to tie together the threads of the story (and of all those stories yet to come!).
One of my favorite things about the Winstons & their loves is how truly real they are. You’re not looking at an airbrushed, cookie-cutter group of heroes/heroines in Green Valley. The residents are varied, devious, colorful, and deep – and I love them for it. Cletus and Jenn are smart, sneaky, and oh-so-much fun. I was fully invested in seeing Cletus and Jenn work through some of their internal and interpersonal barriers and come through it all with so much love and strength. This book gives us a chance to view their personalities and their relationship from a bit of a different angle while they deal with the current state of mystery and intrigue in town. I can’t wait to see what shenanigans await then in the next installment!
Oh my me!! A new spin-off series from Penny Reid!! Be still my racing heart!
I absolutely love the relationship between Cletus and Jenn. They are truly two souls meant for each other.
This story takes the readers on a bit of a mystery, with some laughs and crazy escapades, true Ms. Reid gold! Even when the scene is tense and riveting, Ms. Reid is able to take the reader by the hand and lead them through it safely.
Who is behind the chick-tastrophe? Who is out to put a bee in Jenn’s bonnet? Will the love between Cletus and Jenn survive? All of these questions will be answered and more! You get a heaping spoonful of Winston family goodness in this lovely tale.
Ms. Reid has magic to her words and the town she has created in Green Valley. I so want to visit. Her words are so descriptive, but not overly so. It gives the readers enough to be able to picture the town and all of its quirky residents.
Cletus and Jenn’s love for each other makes me swoon, makes me melt, and makes me believe there is a soul mate out there for everybody.
Well done Ms. Reid, I cannot wait to see what mystery and mayhem await for Jenn and Cletus next!
4.5 Stars!
Cletus Winston and Jennifer Sylvester live in Green Valley, Tennessee where they unexpectedly fell in love. They were both peculiar and some might say a bit strange, but they just work. He’s protective and always puts her first and wants to fix all her problems, and she accepts and indulges his frequent meddling ways. She’s well know as a fabulous baker and the banana cake queen, and he’s known for his sausage, banjo playing and mischief. Newly engaged they are desperate to find time for one another, but something always seems to get in the way. They are trying to focus on solidifying their place in each other’s lives, and just being a couple, and at the same time Jenn is trying to assert herself and go after what she wants. It’s time she isn’t ruled by unrealistic expectations, and sets boundaries for herself and those in her life, but not everyone has her best interests at heart. There is jealousy in the baking community, and soon local incidents are popping up and when Cletus and Jenn start to notice a pattern they are on a mission to solve the recent small town crimes. While they put on their investigating hats their relationship continues to evolve as they grow closer.
Engagement and Espionage (Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries Series, #1) by Penny Reid is a full length spin off of the author’s Winston Brothers series. This story is best read after Beard Science, Winston Brothers #3. It’s a heartwarming romance full of mystery and intrigue. I didn’t know it was possible to love Cletus Winston more than I already did, but he’s just as swoony and even more loving. He’s her hero, but at the same time let’s her stand on her own. I just adore this character! He’s so cute as he revels in being a fiancé, but at the same time is still up to his usual hilarious shenanigans. He’s dreamy, fixating, quirky perfection, and the way he loves is beautiful! I can’t wait for the next book!
5 STARS
Oh, how I’ve missed Cletus and Jenn! I had so much fun reading this book. Penny Reid never ceases to amaze me with her highly entertaining, intelligent and witty words. Engagement and Espionage (Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries Series, #1) by Penny Reid is an EPIC read that will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!