Simmer Down (Gourmet Girl Series #2) by Susan Conant, Jessica Conant-Park

Simmer Down is as yummy as a brownie straight from the oven!by TheBookResort

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October 12, 2009: How do you spell fun? S-i-m-m-e-r D-o-w-n! The 2nd installment in the delightful Gourmet Girl series is even zanier than the first. Conant~Park & Conant are more in sync & @ ease w/ their hilarious heroine Chloe. Let me tell you, friends, she is definitely full of energy. Spending time w/ Chloe is like hanging out w/ your bestie. I do my best not to sip anything while flipping the pages for fear of ruining the book... just a lil' warning ; ).

Simmer Down is as yummy as a brownie straight from the oven. It is a fast-paced read filled w/ hijinks. I just lose myself in the pages & consider the Gourmet Girl series one of my all time favorite comfort reads.

I am a moody reader & when I just can't find something to whet my appetite, I reach for a Gourmet Girl Mystery. I just adore Chloe.

Simmer Down is an animated adventure bubbling w/ humor, charm & straight out screwball comedy. You will bolt from your seat as soon as the last page is read to devour the next whimsical stew Chloe has gotten herself into.

Chloe is a well developed protagonist. Where this mother & daughter team shine is in creating engaging characters. Every character is entertaining, witty & just riotous. From the most charismatic cast member to the most unruly, these ladies keep you turning the pages.

What this duo does best is endear Chloe to the readers, foibles & all. Chloe is not your "cookie cutter" heroine, you know, all pulled together & just waiting for a body to "appear". No, she's authentic, appealing, intelligent, unassuming, self-conscious, whimsical, vacillating & exposed. She is me, she is you ~ she is every woman riding this wave we call life.

The writing is smooth, the witticism skillfully crafted & Josh... well decadent!

I think they are the perfect recipe like REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS!

When I first read Steamed, I thought Lindsay Lohan would make an excellent Chloe but unfortunately, she would be more of a hindrance & I want to see this series thrive on the screen.

Isla Fisher would make one fantastic Chloe on the big screen but if Lifetime or Hallmark did a TV verison, Amy Davidson has it hands down!

I Also Recommend: Steamed (Gourmet Girl Series #1), Fed Up (Gourmet Girl Series #4), Dying for Chocolate (Culinary Mystery Series #2), Catering to Nobody (Culinary Mystery Series #1), Turn up the Heat (Gourmet Girl Series #3).

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.comby TeensReadToo

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November 15, 2008: Being in the restaurant business can be hazardous to your health.

Chloe's witnessed murder before, but now it hits closer to home. Her new boyfriend, Josh, is preparing a menu for a new restaurant, which will open on New Year's Eve in Boston. Now that he has this great job lined up, Josh is no longer cooking for just two.

Trouble starts brewing at a fundraiser where Josh caters the party, previewing the new restaurant.

When a rival club owner turns up dead from a blow to the head with Josh's cooking tool, things start getting dicey. On the same night, Josh's ex-girlfriend appears. This, combined with the recent time apart, makes Chloe anxious. Can she solve the murder before the restaurant's opening night -- and save her personal life at the same time?

SIMMER DOWN, the follow-up to STEAMED, is for anyone who likes both food and mysteries. Indulge yourself with something scrumptious while reading this delicious mystery.