THE CAKE THERAPIST (Judith Fertig)

The cake therapist is Claire O'Neil (Neely), who has a rare talent for discerning exactly what her customers need.

DELICIOUS (Ruth Reichl)

Billie Breslin leaves her home and family to join the staff of Delicious!, a food magazine based in an old mansion in New York City.  She is welcomed by the staff and warmly embraced by the food community in the area.  When the magazine suddenly shuts down, Billie is asked to stay on to respond to reader complaints, mostly from people who have failed at creating the recipes featured in the magazine.  Billie eventually discovers a hidden room in the locked library, where she reads a series of letters written years ago to chef James Beard by a 12-year-old girl named Lulu Swan.

While reading this wonderful novel the reader can almost taste the cheese at Fontanari's and smell whatever is rotting at the now almost deserted mansion! Reichl's years as a food critic serve her well here as she creates an atmosphere almost ripe with the smells and tastes of food.  I loved this novel!

DEADLY ADVICE (Robert Isleib)

I was so excited to have Roberta Isleib send me copies of the first two books in her Advice Column mystery series and soon they will be gracing our library's shelves!

In Deadly Advice, Dr. Rebecca Butterman is still reeling from her husband's infidelity.  She has moved to a new condo complex and is focusing on her therapy practice while also writing her "Ask Dr. Aster" advice column for Bloom!  magazine.  Rebecca is appalled when she learns of the apparent suicide of her next-door neighbor, an attractive young woman who appeared to have everything to live for.  Rebecca is asked by the woman's mother to "look into" the death and becomes convinced that the woman was murdered.  Despite warnings from Detective Meigs, who is in charge of the case, Rebecca feels obligated to find answers on her own, putting her own life in danger. 

This is a cozy series with a bit of a gritty edge.  Isleib adds just enough of a touch of graphic realism to elevate Deadly Advice from a traditional cozy to a mystery with a bit more of a bite.  her characters are interesting (I'm looking forward to see what develops between Rebecca and the married Meigs) and the plot gets your attention.  I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series as soon as I pry it away from my daughter, the clinical psychologist!