Bleeding Hearts (China Bayles Mystery) | Susan Wittig Albert

Bleeding Hearts (China Bayles Mystery) | Susan Wittig Albert | Beware the Rosemary!

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Bleeding Hearts (C...

	Bleeding Hearts (China Bayles Mystery) Susan Wittig Albert Berkley, 2007 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 16 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

When local football coach and hero Tim Duffy is accused of improper behavior, lawyer-turned-herbalist China Bayles investigates, following a trail of obsession and murder that may lead to her own doorstep.

A visit with a friend

Reading another China Bayles mystery is like having a cup of China's lemon-lavender tea with the author and China in Thyme for Tea, the tearoom owned and run by China and her seemingly goofy business partner, Ruby, and listening to another of China's intriguing stories. I've read them all, but one does not have to read from book one, Thyme of Death, to make sense of the herbal mystery series. Susan gives the reader just enough information about China's past in each book to either pique one's interest into reading others or to just read on through. Each book of the series revolves around a particular herb, which is part of the title.

My problem with Susan's books is that once I pick them up, I am useless until I turn the last page. Her China Bayles mysteries portray China and Ruby's maturation processes along with mystery, murder, occasional mayhem, the growth of their Pecan Springs, Texas, enterprises, lotsa herb information, and recipes for a great variety of food. What else would one desire for an afternoon or evening [and into the night]? Perhaps a cup of herbal tea and just a bit of chocolate.

Bleeding Hearts continues Susan's tradition of feeding us an amazing amount of esoteric information about the herbs, this time, Bleeding Hearts. However, the sexual misconduct of an athletic coach forms the basis for this realistic story line. The high school principal approaches China with a request to quietly look into an allegation of misconduct of the highly popular coach of Pecan Springs' winning football team. The background of this tale, more serious than many of the China Bayles series, ultimately concerns China's stepson, his good [girl] friend, the apparent suicide of a young woman attending a local college, and the pressures and secrets of the local high society.

The story line is complex and a surprising delicious read. Not only is the recipe for lemon-lavender tea included, but several others, including a healthy dog biscuit recipe [for the overweight Basset Hound of China's household, Howard Cosell]. Alas, I must wait until next April for the next in the series. Or I could pick up one of Susan's Beatrix Potter mysteries or her Victorian series written with her husband under the name of Robin Paige.

Susan Wittig Albert is a friend as well as an outstanding writer. I may be biased; however, I've read some pretty bad books by other friends.

by Judith Helburn
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviews.org
reviewing books by, for, and about women

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Beware the Rosemary!

Loved the book, excited to have a trilogy started, decide to try one of the recipes. Made the Lemon Rosemary cookies and 2T of Rosemary is waaaaaaaaaay too much. My husband will eat anything and he won't eat another of these!

Title very appropriate

I liked this mystery for it kept my interest all the way to the end. Will not give any clues. Also liked that there was really more than one mystery in the book, so more than one plot. This author reminded me of Diane Mott Davidson. Davidson's main character is a caterer while Albert's is into herbs and a tearoom. There are recipes at the end of the book. Not that interested in the herb information, but there might be some who are. Highly recommend this book.

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bleeding hearts

"Bleeding Hearts" is my favorite entry into the China Bayles series. Even though the plot is pretty predictable, I found myself still wanting to read to the end. We even get a few more details regarding the Colin mystery. I appreciate that the author keeps this series fresh by introducing us to new characters such as China's half-brother. "Bleeding Hearts" gives China an interesting new asset to her family.

Read on Fools

Actually before I read this book I was thinking of buying the entire work of Susan just to have around for a rainy day. Until this one, the books have been kind of comfort food. But this novel set my teeth on edge. China Bayles knew there were painful issues between Brian and Jake and yet she made absolutely no effort to get him to share with her. His father is gone most of the time. This is no way to raise a child. China Bayles is just another George Bush from Texas.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

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