As my first book to read in the series, and this being the 6th book, I was concerned I would be lost in the story. I was able to keep up and The Who-done-it was a fun one! Cute book and recommend to cozy fans everywhere!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We arrive in Crystal Cove just in time for the Renaissance Fair and Bailey’s wedding. Everyone was having a great time until the Nick, the king of the faire and owner of the venue for Bailey’s wedding is found dead. With a booth at the fair, the Cookbook Nook, and all the wedding plans the last thing Jenna Hart needs in a murder to solve. Nick was a very popular resident of Crystal Cove, who would want him dead? Jenna starts talking to everyone she can, maybe she can find the killer before all the people in town for the faire clear out and maybe Bailey’s dream wedding can take place as planned. Let the sleuthing begin.

The last book in this series had me struggling with many emotions. I was so glad to pick up this book and reconnect with all the characters and their lives at a happy time with the wedding and Ren Faire. The author does an excellent job of getting us up to date and back into the groove with Jenna and her friends and family. We also meet some new characters in town for the faire. Daryl Wood Gerber creates such delightful characters that have grown in each new installment of this series.

I was very taken with the vineyard setting Bailey and Tito had chosen for their nuptials. It was described so nicely and sounded like a beautiful place. I have never been to a Ren Faire but I had in my mind a set-up similar to the setting in Joyce and Jim Lavene’s Renaissance Faire Mysteries, but this being only a pop-up type event it wasn’t as elaborate as the faire in those stories, but it sure appeared to be a lot of fun.

The mystery is so well-written, plenty of suspects and plenty of twists. I do have a problem when I read books by this author. I tend to get all wrapped up in happening to the regular characters and the great books Jenna has a the CookBook Nook that I usually miss some very important clue. This time I made myself pay attention, even highlighting lines from the book on my Kindle. This time when we reached the reveal of the killer I was so happy to see my diligence paid off and I was right.

Another great story from Daryl Wood Gerber.

This series is best read in order for maximum enjoyment.

In this installment of the Cookbook Nook Mystery, we visit Crystal Cove with its Renaissance Faire in full swing. All the businesses are getting their stalls ready so they can entice fair goers with all their goods and products as well as getting into the swing of things with costumes and Faire Speak. When Nick Baldine, King Henry the VIII, turns up dead, it puts a bit of a damper on the event. Is the new couple in town involved in some way? Did Nick know Melody before she arrived in town? Jenna just can’t stop herself from sleuthing, to police chief Cinnamon Pritchard’s chagrin. She asks lots of questions, gets people upset with her, and seems to investigate more than she actually works in her shop.

This is the first book I have read in this series, and I had no trouble following the story. There has definitely been a lot of character development along the way that I have missed, and will probably go back and read the first five books in this series now. The book is well-written and fun with captivating characters. The plot is well developed and believable with the murderer being revealed in a dangerous way. I did figure out who it was part way through the story, but the why was revealed slowly and with a twist. The group from the Cookbook Nook, are great friends, work well together, and have rather interesting lives. Bailey, Jenna's partner at the store and BFF, is getting married to Tito and their wedding plans go through a lot of turmoil in this story. They are planning on getting married at Nick Baldini's Vineyard. Aunt Vera and her tarot card readings, her vibes and her personality are quite integral to the story. She is a character who is involved in so many different things in town, yet is lovable and a bit eccentric. The food is also a great part of the story. The cooking demonstrations and the small hand snacks in the story have their recipes at the back of the book. I am hoping to try a couple of them. I hope to be able to return to Crystal Cove over and over. I recommend this story to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy culinary mysteries with recipes.

This is a series best read in order. I was able to follow along, but there were multiple references to previous events that possibly included minor spoilers. The setting was beautiful. The mystery was great with a really good ending. I had a lot of fun reading about the faire, and all the faire speak was an amusing addition.

I was so thrilled when I heard there was going to be another book in the Cookbook Nook Mysteries! It has been one of my favorite series since I read book one, FINAL SENTENCE. In this sixth book in the series, author Daryl Wood Gerber doesn’t disappoint!

PRESSING THE ISSUE is the perfect installment to this delightful series. All of the wonderful characters are back and at their best, this time deeply intrenched in the local Renaissance Fair. Seriously, I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it.

A fabulously well plotted mystery, I was so engrossed in the story, following along with, Jenna trying to figure the who and the why, that I lost all track of time and didn’t look up until I had finished the last page.

Fans of Daryl Wood Gerber, and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, will not be disappointed. Haven’t read this series? If you love cozies, and a culinary theme, it’s time for you to get started!

Crystal Cove is hosting its annual Renaissance Fair and all the businesses are getting their stalls ready so they can entice fairgoers with all their goods and products. Jenna Hart's Cookbook Nook store is packed with all things medieval. Jenna's friend Bailey Bird is preparing for her upcoming wedding at the Baldini Vineyards. Nick Baldini is also in charge of the fair but he ends up murdered with a winepress. Jenna is determined to find Nick's killer. There are plenty of suspects. Nick was seen to be arguing with Melody, a talented potter who is attending the fair with her husband Sean. A rival vineyard owner had been accusing Nick of stealing precious water from her property. And Nick had recently ended his relationship with Dolly who has been known to have a vicious temper.

This was another fun read and a welcome return of the Cookbook Nook mystery series with a new publisher.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

This is the sixth book in this series and I thought it looked like a fun read. So this might have been better for me if I had read the other books but I felt overwhelmed with the number of characters I was introduced to and I couldn’t keep track of who was who.

I also was surprised that by the end of chapter two there was still no dead body. I thought most of the mystery in cozy mysteries was set up in the first, if not the second chapter. So I got a bit bored and trying to keep track of everyone made this not a great read for me.

With that being said, maybe if I had read the previous books in this series I might have enjoyed it more. The setting was nice and had a fun vibe to it, but this book wasn’t for me.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

Pressing The Issue by Daryl Wood Gerber was given to me thru Net Galley for an honest review. This is the sixth book in Daryl Wood Gerber's Cookbook Nook Mystery series and my first time reading the Cookbook Nook series. The Agatha Award–winning author of Grilling the Subject returns to the Cookbook Nook in Crystal Cove, where the annual Renaissance Fair serves up a helping of crafty courtiers, damsels in distress, and medieval murder . . .

As the annual Renaissance Fair comes to Crystal Cove, Jenna Hart’s Cookbook Nook is packed with tasty treats and all things medieval, while her pal Bailey is ready to swoon over her upcoming nuptials at a local vineyard. But when the two friends discover the body of the vineyard’s owner bludgeoned by a winepress, all their merriment fades, along with their hopes for a vintage year.

Which churlish varlet did the deed? Was it the victim’s errant brother, who stood to inherit the vineyards? Or the owner’s crestfallen ex-girlfriend? Mayhap it was the newly arrived comely wench, or her jealous husband. Fie on them all! Verily, Jenna can’t rest until justice is served, and she vows to track down the killer. But can she sniff out the truth before the villainous culprit strikes again?
Includes tantalizing recipes!
Jenna Hart seems to have a knack for paying attention to fine details and running a great store. To some that is not great. Despite the warning that Chief Cinnamon Pritchett gave to Jenna, Jenna cannot help herself to helping put.
I truly enjoyed reading Pressing The Issue. Daryl Wood Gerber kept the theme of setting woven through out the novel from what the people of Crystal Cove were wearing to the foods that were made, drinks to drunk and the entertainment. I never been to a Renaissance fair, Daryl took me to one, and one I will never forget. She kept me there, I wanted to know what happened to Nick, why, and despite the fact this was the first Cookbook Nook book that I read, I did not feel lost.

This is the sixth book in the Cookbook Nook series, and I enjoyed it very much. Jenna Hart is busy getting ready for the annual Renaissance Faire in Crystal Cove, and she's got a lot on her plate. because her friend Bailey is about to get married at Baldini Vineyards. When Bailey gets a frantic message from Nick Baldini, she and Jenna go there to find his dead body. The police chief, and Jenna's friend, Cinnamon, warns Jenna to stay out of the investigation but as she has in the past Jenna can't help but get involved.

I loved the Renaissance Faire setting and description in this book! The characters were fun and interesting as well. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jenna Hart and the crew at the Cookbook Nook are getting into the spirit of things as Crystal Cove hosts the annual Renaissance Fair--they're cooking up tasty treats and wearing the garb of all things Tudor. But then a local wine maker is murdered, and Jenna goes into detective mode.

There are lots of suspects, the victim's ex, his brother, and a pair of fair crafters who Jenna thinks are hiding secrets. It's up to her to find the killers, and help her best friend, Bailey, plan her wedding on the side.

It's always fun to return to Crystal Cove, and the addition of the Renaissance Fair made Pressing the Issue all the more entertaining. Daryl Wood Gerber's descriptions of the fair took me back to a visit I made to one years ago, and made me want to visit one again. The descriptions were colorful and vivid, and added a great deal of flavor to the book.

As always, there is a colorful cast of characters, and that's what makes the Cookbook Nook series so much fun. You never know what the characters are going to do, and it's fun to guess, and then be surprised.

The mystery was good, and there was a twist that I did not see coming. That is something I always look for. As always, the end of this book left me wanting to visit Crystal Cove again. It would be great if writers could produce as fast as I read, lol.

This book is worth more than five stars, it has all the angles and suspects a mystery fan could ask for. Jenna is on her A++ game in this book, and there is the perfect balance of murderous dark moments,and bright rosy light moments. I think all readers will just love the ending and the entire book. I know I did.

What could be more fun than a Cookbook Shop, a group of great friends, and a mystery to solve? A Renaissance Fair! I have always enjoyed visiting the Renaissance Faire in Bristol, Wisconsin and enjoyed reading about the Fair in Crystal Cove just as much. Between getting ready for the fair with period cookbooks, costumes, and food and getting ready for her friend Bailey’s wedding, Jenna already has her hands full. After discovering the body of a local vineyard owner, Jenna has a perplexing mystery to solve on top of everything else. If Nick was so well liked, who would want him dead? This well-paced mystery kept me guessing with plenty of suspects, twists, and turns.

PRESSING THE ISSUE by Daryl Wood Gerber
The Sixth Cookbook Nook Mystery

Excitement is running high in Crystal Cove with the annual Renaissance Fair in town and preparations underway for Bailey's wedding at a local vineyard. While Jenna Hart is practicing her "fair-speak" and stacking the shelves of the Cookbook Nook with Renaissance themed cookbook, Bailey is in a tizzy, worried about her wedding, especially since her mother has got "vibes". And not good ones. A missed phone call sends the pair and their significant others to the vineyard only to find the owner murdered. Bad vibes indeed.

Love is in the air, unfortunately, so is murder. Could Nick's death be caused by love gone wrong? There are plenty of possible suspects including the girlfriend he recently dumped, the woman who has stolen his heart, even his brother! The book delves into other loves as well. In addition to Bailey's wedding preparations, wedding bells are on the minds of more than one other character.

I enjoyed the Renaissance Fair theme to the latest Cookbook Nook mystery. I've always wanted my own Ren costume and I know I could nail down my "fair-speak". As for solving the murder...Daryl Wood Gerber creates an intriguing mix of suspects and clues which Jenna navigates, well, more accurately, Bailey drags her through.

PRESSING THE ISSUE combines Renaissance Fair fun, wedding preparations with a mini bridezilla, and murder to create a delectable mystery.

It didn't take long to get back into the swing of things in one of my favorite book destinations. Crystal Cove has been well described over the years, and this time, they are ready for the onslaught of tourists for a Renaissance Fair. The boardwalk sounds like it has been transformed, with food and displays of medieval-like fare. With so many new people in town, it's not too surprising there's a murder, but the fact that it is a local vintner is. The winery is where Jenna's friend Bailey wanted to get married, so Jenna ramps up her amateur sleuthing to hopefully save her friend's wedding venue choice.

This is the 6th book in the Cookbook Nook mystery series. The Renaissance Faire has come to Crystal Cove and Jenna is all prepared with all sorts of treats for the festival. The entire town is in the medieval spirit, however, Jenna and Bailey find Nick the owner of the vineyard murder and so she begins investigating. As usual, the police are not thrilled with Jenna investigating yet again. This is a fun fast-paced mystery with loads of fun loving characters. As you stay with a series, you really begin to look forward to the next adventure and mystery as you think of them as family and friends. This was a fun setting and having been to a Renaissance festival before I think the author did a great job with the setting. Lots of twists and fun loving characters round out this story that will not disappoint. Hope this series continues.

Pressing the Issue by Daryl Wood Gerber is part of the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. I have read a previous book in the series, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one. Jenna is busy running the Cookbook Nook along with the extra events for the annual Renaissance Fair plus keeping up with her best friend Bailey's wedding plans at a local vineyard. When the vineyard owner is found murdered, Jenna jumps in to help solve the mystery and maybe save Bailey's wedding. I am not a renaissance fan, but I enjoyed reading what a "ren fair" entails. The mystery was strong with plenty of twists and turns. The characters are engaging, and I enjoyed the interaction with all of the other shops.

The Renaissance Fair has come to town, and all of Crystal Cove is getting into the act. However, not everyone is in the partying mood, as Jenna Hart discovers when she and some friends stumble on the body of Nick, a local vineyard owner. Nick was universally loved, or so it seemed. Who wanted him gone?

It was so glad to be back with Jenna and her community. She really does have a large group of friends and family, and they all get their moments to shine here. Of course, we get some strong suspects. I did figure some parts of the mystery out early, but I didn’t have it all pieced together until Jenna figured it out. And the Renaissance Fair proves to be another fun backdrop for the action.

This is a great book; this is the sixth book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series and is written by Daryl Wood Gerber. As the annual Renaissance Fair comes to Crystal Cove, Jenna Hart’s Cookbook Nook is packed with tasty treats and all things medieval, while her pal Bailey is ready to swoon over her upcoming nuptials at a local vineyard. But when the two friends discover the body of the vineyard’s owner bludgeoned by a winepress, all their merriment fades, along with their hopes for a vintage year.This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This book was jam packed full of details. The author set some of the story in the Cookbook Nook but most of it was set in town at the Renaissance Fair and a bit at vineyards giving us a bigger picture than usual. She really tried to develop the Fair into the story line and not just as a side mention for strangers to be incorporated into the story.

All of that time spent on places and events meant less on characters. All of the usual characters pop in briefly, but weren't really meaningful in this one, despite Bailey's upcoming wedding being, theoretically, a big issue. This left me a little flat.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't want this book to end! From the mystery itself to all the different couples either getting engaged, married or talking about doing that, not to mention a really awesome Renaissance Fair, I could have kept on reading and reading. I wasn't caught up in the series but have read the first three. I was just anxious to read this one and readers will be happy to know it can be read by itself since everything is always explained well without giving away any juicy details from previous books.

Crystal Cove is having its annual Ren Fair and all the businesses are getting their stalls ready so they can entice fair goers with all their goods and products There's a new couple in town, temporarily living in Pepper Pritchard's house (while she lives with her daughter, police chief, Cinnamon...don't ask how that's going lol) and they seem to have an air of mystery about them.

Nick Baldini is in charge of the fair as Henry the 8th as always, and putting together a video of "fair-speak" telling newcomers how to speak medieval and have fun with it along with their costumes. When he ends up dead, there is no end to the possibility of suspects. Jenna, as usual, is investigating against police orders of course while everyone tries their best to be business as usual. It didn't help that poor Bailey and her finace Tito were having Nick plan their wedding which was to be at Baldini vineyards.

Things all around aren't adding up for Jenna but in true fashion, she manages to help solve the case and put the killer away. One of these days she hopes for Cinnamon to actually consider her a friend without scowling at her investigating.

I love returning to Crystal Cove! All my favorite characters and then some were there. I always get such a kick out of Aunt Vera and her vibes, card readings and all that fun stuff. I really enjoyed how all the characters were getting into the medieval thing and using fair-speak. It was pretty funny when Jenna's dad was getting into it because in the first couple of books there's no way he would have. He's been having a lot more fun in life and lightening up.

I can't wait to see what's in store next for my friends in Crystal Cove!