Dianne Bahn's Reviews > Simmering with Resentment

I received an advanced readers’ copy in order to review this book. Simmering with Resentment is he 11th book in Daryl Wood Gerbers Cookbook Nook Series.

Jenna Hart owns and operates the Cookbook Nook along with her Aunt Vera Hart in Crystal Cove, California. The beginning of this book, she is planning her wedding to Rhett Jackson who owns and is chief chef at Intime. Not having had a big wedding when she married her 1st husband who is deceased but its also indicated that he was a cheat, she plans a bigger and more lavish affair this time around.

Much to Jenna’s dismay, she learns that Sarita Strachline is back in town. Sarita was the owner of a restaurant in which Rhett was the main chef but the restaurant was destroyed by fire in what eventually turned out to be arson along with insurance fraud and Sarita spent time in prison for her crime. It was Jenna’s friendship with Cinnamon Pritchett, who is chief of police, that resulted in the reopening of the restaurant fire case and the eventual arrest of Sarita. Rhett had been initially blamed for causing the fire.

Sarita and Jenna accidently bump into each other at a local restaurant and have words, ending with Sarita telling Jenna to “Back off”! Jenna goes home to find a brick has been thrown thru her front window with the message to “Back off!”

Rhett plans an intimate dinner for the two of them at his restaurant and a bomb explodes in the kitchen, seriously injuring Rhett. Jenna escapes with only some minor cuts/bruises but now she fears for Rhett’s life and his livelyhood since the restaurant has sustained considerable damage.

A couple days later, Sarita is found dead, a bomb having been detonated on the yacht she’d been living on. Jenna had been wondering how Sarita could afford such a nice boat and the rent for the slip where the boat is tied up, given she had just gotten out of prison and had to repay the insurance company for the money she had gotten from them.

In addition, there is a Bridal Fair going on, keeping the community busy with the additional attendees.

There are many suspects in this story: Sarita’s ex husband, some businessmen in the community who, unknown to Jenna, have ties with Sarita and many bridezillas who are disgruntled by the fact they cannot hire the caterer, photographer, florist, or wedding venue they desire. Expensive merchandise is also being stolen from various Bridal Fair vendors, throwing more problems into an already complicated situation.

I enjoyed this book, the plot has a steady pace without drowning you in a lot of small details. The plot is well formed. Jenna learns that the road to matrimony is not always smooth and does not run according to plan.