Saturday, January 21, 2012

Review & Giveaway: Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy




Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Penguin Group (USA)

ISBN: 0425245837 (ISBN13: 9780425245835)
edition language: English

From the publisher:
White House chef Olivia Paras and her arch nemesis, White House Sensitivity Director Peter Everett Sargeant, must work together to solve the double murder of one of the First Lady's assistants and the Chief of Staff-before they become the next victims of a merciless assassin with a secret agenda.

My thoughts:  Another fun culinary adventure with Ollie Paras and the staff at the White House. Hyzy consistently delivers the goods - well drawn characters, superb sense of place, excellent suspense set up, twists,  and non-stop action. I swear my heart rate increased several times during this read, but in a good way of course!

It's obvious that Hyzy has done her homework regarding the day to day ops at the White House. With every book in the series I've read, I've learned something new while feeling that I was on hand with the characters as they went about their daily jobs.

Even though this is #5 in the series, it is easily a stand-alone. The advantages to reading from the beginning is that you can follow Ollie's career, all her escapades and her relationships. All books have numerous recipes at the end. A fun must-read for cozy fans! 4****

Julie Hyzy, a Barry and Anthony award winner,  is also the author of the Manor House Mysteries. Julie can be found at her website and on facebook.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being Jan 29th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:

+1 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for following through netwoked blogs
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Affairs of Steak in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

36 comments:

  1. This series is on my list because I've read so many great reviews. Yours is the final seal of approval! That said, don't enter me in the giveaway because it would probably be years before I get to it. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would love to read this book. I think the name is great.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  3. I am a old gfc follower
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  4. All the reviews I've seen of this series have been positive. I'd love to be entered in your giveaway. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

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  5. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  6. I follow on GFC

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  7. One of my very favorite series - as is Manor House Mysteries. Affairs of Steak is on all my wish lists!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  8. Email subscriber and GFC follower as Karen B.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  9. +3 Networked blogs as Karen Purbaugh Barnett.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  10. I love steak, this has got to be a good book, thank you for hosting the giveaway.

    I'm an old GFC follower, wfnren.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I posted the giveaway on my blog, here:
    http://wrensthoughts.blogspot.com/p/contests-and-giveaways-good-luck.html

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I follow you on networked blogs, Wendy Newcomb

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I tweeted the giveaway here:
    https://twitter.com/#!/wfnren/status/160780431887835136

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't read this series yet, so glad to hear I could start with this one! Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I'm an old GFC follower.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. thank you for this giveaway!!!!
    i'm a GFC follower as cyn209

    cyn209 at juno dot com

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  17. Glad you liked this one! It seems like it would be a fun read!

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  18. I haven't read any of this series yet but it does look like fun and lots of people enjoy them. I'm an old follower. I'll post the contest in my sidebar.

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  19. I'd love to win a copy of this book!

    I follow you under the name of Susan.

    sdryburgh at hotmail dot com

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  20. I have been wanting read a Julie Hyzy book so long!! Your review is great. Please enter me for this giveaway.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  21. +1 for being an old follower


    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  22. +3 Follower through NetworkCarolNWong(at)aol(dot)comed Blogs.

    I received an e-mail yesterday that they finally got the problem fixed. Hooray!!!

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. +3 I tweeted:


    http://t.co/lmmesOh3

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  24. So the chef solves the crime? Seems like the Secret Service would be all over this! HAHA!

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  25. this is a series that I've been meaning to read!!

    stacijoreads@gmail.com

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  26. Thanks for the giveaway.

    sgiden at verizon.net

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  27. I'm a GFC follower - SandyG265

    sgiden at verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  28. I follow with GFC.

    monie at readingwithmonie.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I listed your giveaway on my blog here:

    http://www.readingwithmonie.com/2008/08/book-giveaways.html

    monie at readingwithmonie.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am an old follower (griperang), I also follow thru Networked blogs. I have also posted the giveaway on my blog: http://griperangsbookmarks.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html

    Thanks for the chance to win.

    griperang at embarqmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I haven't heard of this series before! Thanks for the giveaway!
    irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  33. Old GFC follower: Vicki Newell
    irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Networked Blogs follower: Vicki Summers Newell
    irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. GFC Follower.


    melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I *love* a good cozy! Thank you for the giveaway!
    +1 I follow
    +3 I'm linked w/ networked blogs
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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