Review: The Pickled Piper (Pickled & Preserved #1) by Mary Ellen Hughes + Giveaway!

The Pickled Piper (Pickled & Preserved #1) by Mary Ellen Hughes

Published May 6th 2014 by Berkley

Paperback, 304 pages

Series: Pickled & Preserved

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Heat Rating: Kissing

Source:  I got a copy of this book from the publisher  in exchange of an honest review.
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!

After her dreams of romance are crushed, Piper Lamb decides to pursue her dream of opening her own shop of pickles and preserves, called Piper’s Picklings, in the idyllic small town of Cloverdale. But she isn’t in town long before she encounters a barrelful of trouble…

The Cloverdale fair offers Piper a sweet opportunity to promote her business. With her new assistant, Amy, she sets up a booth centered around an eye-catching display of the ever-popular dills in an old-fashioned barrel of brine.

But things soon turn sour when fairgoers witness a fight between Amy’s boyfriend, Nate, and town council blowhard—and bagpipe player—Alan Rosemont. When Rosemont is found floating in Piper’s barrel, Nate becomes the prime murder suspect. With Amy’s boyfriend in a pretty pickle, there’s no time to dillydally. But as Piper searches for the real killer, she needs to be careful to preserve her own life…or she may end up a pickled Piper herself.

INCLUDES RECIPES

There is a reason I love cozy mysteries so much and the first book in The Pickled Piper brings everything that I love about the genre to the table topped with a nice strong of bow.

After watching her love life crash and burn Piper Lamb has made a move to Cloverdale a quaint little town in order to pursue her life long dream of opening her own pickles and preserves store, Piper's Pickling. With the help of her new assistant Amy, they get a chance to set up a small booth during the Cloverdale fair. Piper isn't even in town long enough before a bagpipe player - Alan Rosemont is found head first in her old-fashioned barrel near her both. The last person to see him? Amy's new boyfriend Nate.

Amy and Piper are sure that the cops are going after the wrong person. It doesn't help that Amy's father happens to be the Chief of Police and doesn't even like Nate. Now it's up to Piper to find the real killer before an innocent person takes the blame.

Exciting! Such a great fresh start to a new series. Piper is an amazing new sleuth. I absolutely loved her. So endearing and smart. I did love how she kept a cool head most of the time while strange things began happening around her store. Like her car tires got slashed and someone dumped a coat of paint on the front of her store. Instead of jumping to conclusions of who it might be, she continued to observe and evaluate the facts.

Then there is Cloverdale itself and it's cast of characters that I am looking forward to continue running into throughout the series. Especially Piper's possible new love interest Will, a guy who owns his own Christmas Tree Shop!

Anyway, overall The Pickled Piper was a really fun new chapter for a brand new series with a promising cast of characters and a sleuth that really makes me smile. I enjoyed following Piper's adventure as well as her way of thinking when it come's to approaching this mystery. Looking forward to more!

Oh and I love the canning recipes on the back, really wanting to try them!

So my loveliess. Thanks to the publisher I have for you today (1) copy of The Pickled Piper. Just fill out a really quick raffle and comment below. 

Open to US Address only

Must be at least 13+ to enter

Winner will have 24 hours to claim their prize. Giveaway ends May 13.

a Rafflecopter giveaway   I have a quick question for you readers! Have any of you tried canning before? If so, how did it work out? Got any good recipes? :)