First Chapter Friday

A new type of post starts today on Big Otter Books.  We are calling it First Chapter Friday and it’s just what it sounds like:  I’ll read the first chapters of some great books and let you know what I think! Easy, peasy, right?  Might be …meh… might be …WOW… , you just don’t know what you’ll find in the first chapter of a book.  Today it’s two Cozy Mysteries–let’s take a look and hopefully they will be just what we “Otter” be reading!

Oh, my goodness-the first chapter of this book is GOOD!  There is an introduction that gives us the background on Andy (short for Andrea) and her short-lived TV cooking show.  Then the first chapter sets up the plot with Andy’s family, her life after the TV fiasco, some hard decisions to be made at the family pasta shop and a hunka hunka potential love interest.  Jennifer Hart writes like I think she probably talks-if you know what I mean!  I’ve read several of her books and this goes to the top of my must read now list.

I always enjoy spending time in the worlds of Kathi Daley!  She writes these great books that are all about small towns/extended family/close-knit communities with a twist that always includes a super mystery to be solved by our intrepid heroine!  This one is the first in a series so there is some scene setting & character introductions at the beginning but it just whets your appetite to read more.  TJ is a very likeable lead character with some secrets & back story that I can’t wait to explore; she seems like a girl we all could have known in high school!  The first chapter doesn’t get to the mystery/murder part of the plot but I know it’s coming up!  Another #1 on my must read list.

What do you think of First Chapter Friday?  I enjoyed it taking a quick look at these books and adding to my ever lengthening “Otter” read list!  Have a great reading weekend and join me for Cozy Mystery Monday!!