Welcome To Cozy Wednesday!
I am so happy to have Julie Hyzy as my guest today, but it is a sad day as well. Read her post and my review and you will see why.
White House Chef Mystery Trivia!
To celebrate the ninth installment in the White House Chef Mystery series, I’ve come up with nine all-new trivia questions. Test your knowledge about Ollie and the gang for fun and bragging rights (answers below).
In State of the Onion, the First Lady must decide who to name as executive chef when Henry retires. There’s no doubt that Henry prefers Ollie succeed him, but who else is in the running for the top job?
a. Martha Stewart
b. Laurel Anne Braun
c. Julia Child
d. Buckminster (Bucky) Reed
2. Hail to the Chef is the second book in the White House Chef series, but many readers pick it up mistakenly believing it to be the first in the series (meaning: they haven’t read State of the Onion). What is the number one comment/complaint I’ve received via email from this group of readers?
a. New readers don’t believe that an underground bunker exists in the White House
b. New readers think that Marcel’s gingerbread White House is too big
c. New readers have an issue with (fictional) President Campbell
d. New readers don’t immediately realize that Ollie is female
3. Which members of Ollie’s family do we meet for the first time in Eggsecutive Orders?
a. her brother and father
b. her mother and nana
c. her sister and cousin
d. her twin nephews
4. There is an “oops” moment in Buffalo West Wing that occurs near the end of the book. While there is a logical explanation for the reappearance of a formerly lost item, that explanation isn’t provided on the page. What is the item in question?
a. Ollie’s cell phone
b. Ollie’s diary
c. Ollie’s house keys
d. Bucky’s favorite knife
5. Peter Everett Sargeant despises Ollie, yet he’s required to work closely with her in Affairs of Steak. Someone close to the persnickety fellow plays a key role in the story. What’s the character’s name and how is he related to Sargeant?
a. Doug, Sargeant’s cousin
b. Ferdinand, Sargeant’s dog
c. Milton, Sargeant’s nephew
d. Frank, Sargeant’s son
6. What about the story line made Fonduing Fathers unique?
a. Ollie investigated a personal matter
b. The story opened in Chicago
c. Ollie took some vacation time
d. All of the above
7. What’s unique about the cover of Home of the Braised?
a. It’s the first book of mine to feature the words “New York Times Bestselling Author”
b. It’s mostly red
c. There are four words in the title
d. It’s a different size
8. What absolutely awful title was suggested for Book #8 before Berkley settled on All the President’s Menus?
a. Plate of the Union
b. War and Peas
c. Need to know Basil
d. Star Spangled Banana
9. Speaking of titles, although I really like Foreign Eclairs, I’d originally suggested something else entirely – a title I thought fit the storyline nicely. Berkley disagreed. What was my suggestion?
a. White House Dressing
b. A Bombe in Nation
c. Bread of State
d. A Salt on Freedom
ANSWERS:
- b – Laurel Anne Braun is Ollie’s nasty (and sometimes comical) nemesis in this first book
- d – I had quite a few people write to let me know that they believed Ollie to be male for the first chapter or so of the book
- b – Ollie’s mom and nana make their first appearance in Eggsecutive Orders
- a – Ollie’s cell phone gets flushed but then later, she (miraculously) receives a text. What actually happened (though not explained in the book) is that the White House quickly replaced her lost cell. Oops!
- c – We meet Milton in Affairs of Steak. He’s Sargeant’s adult ne’er-do-well nephew.
- d – All of the above. I loved this storyline because we got to know more about Ollie’s family and especially her deceased father. Most readers seemed to love it, too, though there were a handful who voiced their disappointment that Ollie didn’t spend more time at the White House during this installment.
- a – Yay!!
- d – The original title for this book could have been (ugh!!) Star Spangled Banana. Doesn’t that sound silly and slapstick? I despised the idea so much, I begged Berkley to drop it. Fortunately, they did. Whew!
- b – As much as I lobbied for A Salt On Freedom for several other installments (including Book #8), I believed A Bombe in Nation would have made an ideal title for :::ahem::: explosive Book #9. Berkley disagreed, but that’s okay. Foreign Eclairs is a great title, too.
Thank you so much for your interest in Ollie and the gang! I truly appreciate all your wonderful support over the years.
As you may know by now, Foreign Eclairs, the ninth White House Chef Mystery, will be the last one in the series that I write. Whether the series continues without me is anyone’s guess, but if you’re curious as to why I’m stepping away, I invite you to visit my blog http://juliehyzy.blogspot.com/2015/12/all-good-things.html
Best always,
Julie
Foreign Éclairs: A White House Chef Mystery
9th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Washington D.C.
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425262405
E-Book ASIN: B00W2ZKN2G
White House executive chef Ollie Paras has served plenty of meals to foreign dignitaries from around the world. But someone is ready to serve her an ice-cold dish of revenge. . .
Things are about to really heat up for Ollie. News of a bombing and attempted breakout at a federal prison reveals that the brother of a terrorist she helped defeat is back with a vengeance. And after she gets mugged on her way home from work, the Secret Service won’t leave her side, fearing that she is now a target.
When a White House staff member is murdered, officials rush into action over a possible security breach. It may be time for Ollie to trade in her apron for a bullet-proof vest as she becomes part of a bold strategy to make sure this terrorist gets his just desserts. . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Most times we don’t know that a book series is ending or has come to an end. The author is informed and sometimes they have the option of continuing the series on their own, but most of the time the reader is left in the dark. Social media has changed that some, in that the authors can stay in touch with their readers and give us a heads up. Even when we get a heads up the characters/authors are usually left without a chance to wrap up their stories.
Julie Hyzy blogged back in December that Foreign Eclairs would be the last book in this series and explained why. This is one of my very favorite series so I was sad, but after reading her post I am thankful for the nine adventures we did have with Ollie.
Hyzy does not have Ollie leave us quietly either. This cozy crept right into the suspense/thriller genre and when I reached the final word all I could say was WOW!!!
The story started with a bomb explosion in Wisconsin so I was immediately on high alert. From there I just held on tight.
In D.C. Ollie and head usher, Peter Everett Sargeant, are holding interviews for a new chef, first son, Josh isn’t visiting the kitchen as much, and Gav is off on assignment. Then Ollie is attacked on her way home, she is okay, but her purse was stolen. Then a White House staffer is found dead after she was clearly tortured. Agent Neville Walker, the new head of the Secret Service, thinks the two events may be connected. Another bombing solidifies his thinking. After a little investigating it is determined the Armustanian terrorists are to blame and Ollie may be the target. Ollie doesn’t have much time for cooking this time as she is trying to save her life and maybe others. She also needs to figure out what is going on with Josh. Definitely not a woman with time on her hands.
The story starts with a slow build but soon we are going at breakneck speed just hoping our protagonist is alive at the end. I started this story in the evening. Thankfully I found the perfect stopping point so I could sleep. Good thing too, because when I picked it up the next day there was no putting it down. Things got really intense and the pages just flew. There were the normal things we come to expect in this mystery series, Bucky and Ollie in the White House kitchen planning meals, Ollie butting heads with Sargeant over the way the kitchen should be run, and Ollie and Gav still adjusting to married life and him being gone so much. But this being the last installment written by Hyzy, she had to tie things up but still leave the door open a crack just in case someone else is hired to continue the series. She did it in an amazing way and true fans will understand. I hope this is that last we see of Ollie as I don’t think anyone else could do this character justice.
So we say good bye to our behind the scenes access to the White House and I say thank you to Julie Hyzy for giving us so many wonderful stories and some truly memorable characters.
This book gets my first Paradise Rating of 2016!
About The Author
Julie Hyzy is the New York Times bestselling author of the White House Chef Mysteries and the Manor House Mysteries. She’s won the Anthony, Barry, Derringer, and Lovey Awards for her novels and short stories. Her first Manor House Mystery, Grace Under Pressure, earned a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly.
Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 1 copy to give away!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
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Contest Will End January 27, 2016 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Click Here For Entry Form
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I have always liked the setting for this series.
I love this series and I’m looking forward to this new one. Thanks for the chance to win.
I am sorry to hear that Foreign Eclairs will be the last book in the series . I did read the reasons why, and I completely support you in your decision. I never realized what happens “behind the scenes.”
I signed up for the cozy challenge and would love to add this book to my list. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Thanks for your thoughts on the book. It sounds interesting although I haven’t read this author yet! Great post!
Sorry to see this come to and end, but understand why….
This is such a fun series – I can’t wait to add this book to my collection
Julie, best of luck with your other story lines. Thank you for sharing Ollie and her friends with us! Take care, Di R.
Loved the Story line and I hate that this is the end. I had this on my list to read and so this perfect…a contest…thank you,
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
So sorry to hear this is the last in the series, but I’m sure there is more good reading to come in your other books. Looking forward to reading this one.
So sorry to see this series ending, but it sounds like Julie is sending it off in style.
Love both of your series going to miss Ollie and all the rest
This is my all-time favorite series. I’m sad to see it end, but as a fellow author, I understand perfectly why it must.
And Star Spangled Banana? I agree that’s the worst title ever, lol.
No need to enter me in the contest. I already have the book on my shelf!
Hope that Julie comes up with a new series that again puts us behind the scenes with such excitement!
Julie has long been one of my favorite cozy authors and a terrific person. Looking forward for more Grace!
This series is my favorite. Thanks for this lovely giveaway.
Looks like a good read.
Great post. Sorry this series is ending.
The narrow-mindedness of publishing makes me crazy! (Well, crazier than I already am.)
I could easily rant for hours about this.
I can’t believe the publishing co would not ask you to return and write more of the President’s books and if they have someone else write them they will not be nearly as good as you write. Nor with the suspense and also the wow why would they do this to such a wonderful series you know i read why and wow they are looney just out of their cotton pickin mind that is more than i am sometimes! Love you and your writing and just ordered the last book and so excited to read.
Looks like a good series.
Hi Julie, I’m going to miss reading this series. But I know that you’ll find something just as entertaining and interesting to replace it. I have trust in that because you are a fantastic author.
I enjoyed the White House Chef Mystery trivia, but am sad to say goodbye to Ollie. I am reading the last 2 books in the series slowly to postpone the end! Thanks Julie for one of my favorite series!
I’ve not read any of these, but I’m hooked after reading this. So sorry it had to end, but thank you so much for including a link to your blogpost about it. An intriguing insight into the real world of getting published. Thank you so much! (Oh, and I hope I win a book 🙂 )
I’m so sad to learn that this is the last book of the series. Hope you start another great series soon.
What a fun post! And while I’m sorry to see the series is ending, I can’t wait to see what Julie has up her sleeve next. Thanks!
I will miss this series…. Loved the trivia!
This sounds like a good ending for the series. I hope I get to read it.
Looks like a great read! Books are on my TBR. Just found, only to loose? Pits. Hope I find all. thanks for a chance at this one. Hope it will be an early start and into to the series, more or less. Loved the post informative. Deeply appreciated