A perfunctory rendition of what seems to be the standard outline for American craft-themed mysteries... fight with perfect boyfriend... tips on hostessing and theme craft... fabulous gay friend and Holly Golightly BFF... and so on. I did have to give it one star because it made me laugh so hard. The author clearly knows so little about wine making and grape growing that I nearly fell over giggling when I read her descriptions. Cabernet and Beaujolais and Chardonnay and Shiraz and Syrah all growing near New Orleans? And the winery went from planting to serving in a restaurant in year or so? Hilarious!Won't be reading any more books from this series or this author. I got exhausted just reading about the dinners, parties, and late nights that Carmela and Ava had during this book! Don't people in books like to have a 'night in' once in a while, too, or is it too boring to write the characters like 'real' people?? There was so much going on that I actually got more caught up in that than wondering who the murderer was. I like the scrapbooking series, but this one was a bit too chock-full of activities, even for me. Thank goodness Carmela is finally divorced from Shamus, but even so, she still can't get rid of him and his nasty sister!I will admit, this slipped by me when I read the book, but another reviewer pointed it out-- all those different types of wine grapes, growing in Louisiana, and going from brand-new vineyard to their first harvest so quickly?? I hardly think so. (I wonder if wine grapes will even grow at all in that climate-- off to Google it, now!)I like the series in general, which is why I gave this one three stars (in general, I like to give the benefit of the doubt), but this one was not one of her better ones.
What do You think about Fiber And Brimstone (2010)?
love the series. can't wait for the next book!
—PGill
