Newlywed Marley McKinney and her husband Brett are headed up to Holly Lodge for a much needed getaway in the seventh installment of The Pancake House Mystery series, A Room with a Roux by bestselling author, Sarah Fox. While it’s a beautiful place, and the couple is excited to be there, they discover the body of the owner’s husband, Kevin, buried in the snow; it’s definitely murder, and while Brett and Marley would prefer to go home, they must stay because the weather has made it too dangerous to drive on the roads. They aren’t comfortable knowing there is a murderer in their midst, and must watch carefully to avoid the same fate as Kevin. Between the guests and employees of the lodge, there are several suspects, as well as a so-called ghost with long flowing red hair. Marley and Brett, as well as others are in danger until they find who the murderer is.

This is a fun series and Fox has done a good job developing the characters over the course of the series. Marley and Brett are both likeable, and the supporting characters are believable. While readers don’t need to read the previous books to enjoy the characters, it is a good idea to read the previous books since they are short, light, and excellent. The story in this novel is good; there is a suspenseful plot, and readers won’t find who-done-it until the very end. This one can be read in a few hours and even though it is a mystery and there is a murder, it’s more of a “feel good” cozy. The recipes that are included are also very good.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

This is the seventh book in a series by Sarah Fox about Marley McKinney who started over in Wildwood Cove, Oregon, as a breakfast restaurant owner, following her uncle's passing and is hugely successful. With her business, Flip Side, booming, Marley and her new husband, Brett are taking a well-deserved break. Arriving in the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula at the quaint Holly Lodge, they’re enjoying their romantic getaway, the snow-themed excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddles in front of a roaring fire. Whilst enjoying the peace and quiet at the enchanting hotel, they decide to try out the hot tub before dinner and overhear arguing between members of the hotel management and another man. Then a body is discovered, partially buried in the deep snow...

I thoroughly enjoyed A Room with a Roux and found it extremely compelling. I've read a novel from a different series (Literary Pub Mystery) by Sarah Fox and although I haven't yet read any of the other instalments from this Pancake House Mystery series this did not mar my appreciation for A Room with a Roux as it was easy to read. The author's fabulous use of descriptive language painted a clear picture to me of the mountain resort and brought the snowy, freezing weather, the scent of pine and the twinkly lights directly into my lounge. The dialogue was engaging and showcased the cast's colourful and varying personalities really well. I thought protagonist Marley was a great character as she was personable, and warmhearted, though many of the characters were endearing and vibrant.

The mystery itself included more than enough twists and variety to keep me guessing and turning the pages. This is a great, very high quality, fun read, and I intend to catch up with the other books in the series. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Marley. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I had fun in reading this book as it's engrossing and entertaining.
It's fast paced, engrossing, the characters are likable and fleshed out.
The mystery is solid and it kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

4.5 stars

This is the seventh book in the Pancake House mystery by Sarah Fox.

This book starts off at a holiday location and the mystery follows them back home. I thought that was an interesting dynamic. This series just keeps getting better and better. What a delightful read.

The thing I missed was The Flipside and all its aspects including minor characters. Oh, it does show up eventually but it wasn’t in a big enough dose for me. I am a big culinary cozy fan and love all their foodie talk.

The mystery drew me in and had me at its mercy. It is so fun to follow the rabbit trail and find out what the author has in store for us. Can’t wait for the next installment.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Sometimes you just can't get away from your job and hobbies, LOL. Poor Marley and Brett just want some fun days together and instead get immediately wrapped up into 'something's not right', which soon evolves into murder. Then when they try to leave it behind, the suspects follow them home, and stay nearby. So what are you gonna do? In Marley's case, it's put your teeth into it and try to solve the case! This is a fun cozy read with a few red herrings along the way to keep you turning the pages. Just don't read on an empty stomach, as those recipes will get you!

Marley McKinney is looking forward to a winter getaway with Brett, her husband of three months, even if it’s only for a few days away in the next county over from her beloved seaside town of Wildwood Cove, Washington. Holly Lodge, the mountainside retreat they’ve booked themselves into, is everything she imagined and more: a perfectly cozy place to spend time with her new husband. What she didn’t anticipate is being involved in a murder investigation so soon after she arrives.

Lodge owner Kevin Manning was involved in several disagreements not only with his wife Rita but with a property developer eyeing the land Holly Lodge stands on, as well as with a disgruntled employee. So when Marley and Brett find Kevin dead in a snowbank, there’s no shortage of suspects, even if none of their motives seem strong enough to warrant murder. Despite having solved several murders before, Marley is distinctly uncomfortable at the idea of being stuck in a secluded resort with a killer, so is relieved when the local sheriff gives her and Brett the all-clear to return to Wildwood Cove.

Back home, all Marley wants to do is run her beloved pancake house, The Flip Side, and think up decorating ideas for the Christmas tree she’s entering in the town’s first (and hopefully annual) Festival Of Trees. But murder has a way of following Marley around, and when several suspects show up in Wildwood Cove, Marley can’t resist investigating. When an invitation to Kevin’s memorial service ends up with Marley and Brett back at Holly Lodge again, a showdown with a killer will turn deadly once more.

This was another satisfying installment in the Pancake House Mystery series as Marley solves not only Kevin’s murder, but also a case of missing Christmas ornaments and, more or less, the mystery of the ghost of Holly Lake. I especially enjoyed the resolution of the missing ornaments, as it showcased the large-hearted nature of this series, exploring a restorative approach to justice that merges community spirit with accountability. Another key feature of this series that I always enjoy is how Brett backs up Marley’s plays. They work so well as a team, and it’s nice to see that kind of supportive relationship depicted in a cozy mystery.

There were three recipes included here, and I was pretty torn between all of them but ultimately decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Gingerbread Muffins

1 cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup molasses
⅓ cup vegetable oil
½ teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 420°F.

Mix together the applesauce, sugar, molasses, oil, and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Sift together the dry ingredients and add them to the egg mixture. Mix well. Fill the muffin tins to the top.

When you place the muffin tins in the oven, reduce the heat to 375°F and bake for approximately 15-16 minutes. Take the muffins out of the tins and allow to cool before serving. Makes 12 muffins.
END QUOTE

While I couldn’t quite get the mixture to hit the tops of the muffin tin, this did make a good portion of nicely risen muffins that somehow managed to combine the rich flavor of dark gingerbread with a surprisingly light, fluffy texture. The muffins are also not too sweet, which is always a bonus in my book. These are truly spectacular with a touch of unsweetened whipped cream, or even with a glass of milk. I should have thought to grease my muffin tins beforehand, though, or at least considered using liners to make clean-up a little easier. Regardless, this was a quick-to-make recipe that plays with interesting contrasts in texture and flavor to create a playfully unique treat.

Next week, we go cross-country to check out a paranormal culinary cozy (one of my absolute favorite sub-subgenres!) debut while baking a delicious cake. Do join me!

Marley and Brett are enjoying their weekend away when they stumble upon the body of one of the owners of the lodge they are currently staying in. After answering all the questions they can, they happily return home...leaving the mystery and murder behind them. Unfortunately, it manages to follow them. Marley's going to have to put her sleuthing cap on to solve this mystery and keep everyone safe.

Love this book and the series. Marley, Brett, and all of the characters are fun and unique and quirky and people you just want to hang out with. I really wish I could sit down for pancakes and gossip at the Flip Side.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

This was my first "Pancake House mystery," but I loved it! I'm definitely going to search out the rest of this series!

Even though I was skipping prior books, I still felt like I wasn't missing much info from the series. For one thing, most of the story didn't even take place in Marley's restaurant. Marley and new husband Brett are at Holly Lodge for a romantic getaway when a dead body is found. They end up going back home early but toward the end of the book they travel back to Holly Lodge. The story is Christmas-themed, but I didn't mind reading this in January :) Marley was a great amateur sleuth, and I loved the restaurant setting and the minor characters, especially her husband, Brett.

I'm looking forward to reading other Pancake House books! Thanks, Netgalley, for my arc!

This series is up there with some of my absolute favorites. Okay so I have a million favorites, but this series is up there. This series has everything, mystery, romance, sadness, joy, and a few twists that will keep you guessing. A very interesting feature in this series, there is often another mystery in the background. I have enjoyed that a few books in the series have mysteries from the past pop up or we are presented with cold cases.

Protagonist, Marley McKinney, inherits an old Victorian home and a Pancake House restaurant on the Pacific Coast when her uncle passes away. Needing a change, Marley uproots her city life to start over and accept her inheritance. Marley makes some great friends and finds love but she also finds dead bodies.

In this installment, Marley and Brett go on a romantic getaway, but what they cannot get away from is murder. When everyone is a suspect, can Marley and Brett figure this out before there is another victim?

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley as well as having the audio version narrated by Marguerite Gavin. I highly recommend this series.

A Room With a Roux earns 5/5 Cocoas by the Fire...Engaging Fun!

It’s beautiful here,” I said... “And it looks like we’ll get the peace and quiet we’re after.” Famous last words...Marley and Brett’s lack of a real honeymoon precipitated a wintery getaway. Holly Lodge is much more in reality than any photo could capture with its snow-covered mountain, an evergreen fragrance, and a view of the lake rumored to be...haunted! But the idea of a haunting is overshadowed by friendly owners, interesting guests, and a delicious dip in the hot tub and hot cocoa by the fire. Until...an overheard disagreement, eavesdropped mention of “publicity,” a cloaked stranger “crunching” in the snow, and a redhead seen disappearing into the woods. Their hopes for “peace and quiet” are completely shattered when a dead body is discovered hidden in the snow.

Wow! Sarah has once again “flipped” me over with an exciting seventh book in her Pancake House Mystery series with an unfamiliar environment to contend with outside of Brett’s uncle and county sheriff’s jurisdiction along with several unknown quantities piling up on a suspect list. Sarah’s writing style is a first-person narrative with Marley’s “I” perspective...Don’t tell me you don’t relish in the vicarious inclusion, like me...I am Marley! Additionally, Sarah’s use of descriptive language painted a clear picture of the mountain resort and brought the snowy weather and relaxing by the fire into my living room. The dialogue was engaging and illustrated well the various personalities from friendly to snarky, helpful to distant, open to secretive. I enjoyed that the investigation by our duo played out on the pages with discreet questioning, eavesdropping, and brainstorming suspects and motives with only some adversarial banter with law enforcement. I loved it! It’s a good length, well-plotted, and steady-paced with talk about Christmas festivities back in Wildwood Cove and romantic gestures along with all the possible suspects and motives swirling around like the snow, a storm locking them in with a killer, and a bit of peril that ruined my manicure. I did have the killer and motive high on my radar, however I greatly enjoyed the journey and highly recommend this book and series. Newbies...joining in here is fine, but you’ll be encouraged to read the previous books!

Also! Delicious recipes are added straight from The Flip Side’s kitchen with everything for a quiet Sunday breakfast or a family brunch: my favorite Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze, Cinnamon Pancakes, and Gingerbread muffins. Also enjoy a peek at “The Malt in Our Stars,” book three in her Literary Pub Mystery series, for which I give high praise!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

What do a ghost, a snowdrift, and a Christmas tree have in common?

I was happy that this mystery, like the rest of this series, caught my attention from the beginning and was hard to put down. While the series is enjoyable if read in order, each novel can easily be read as standalones. The settings are gorgeous, including the mountain lodge the couple goes to for a short getaway. The characters are endearing and vibrant, and the mystery kept me guessing.

Marley is the owner of a breakfast restaurant, The Flip Side, in Willowood Cove. She inherited that and the beautiful oceanside Victorian home from her cousin less than two years earlier, and she loves her life there. She and her husband Brett are still newlyweds and will soon celebrate their first Christmas as husband and wife. Marley seems to either find the remains of murdered people or get pulled into cases, but she does not pursue either. This delicious mystery includes fabulous foods served at The Flip Side, the breakfast restaurant Marley owns, and recipes are included.

Marley and Brett take a much-needed break and go to Holly Lodge in the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. They are instantly at ease when they see the gorgeous scenery and comfortable furnishings of the lodge. Kevin and Rita are the owners and managers and are excellent hosts except for the disagreement they are having being overheard. The next morning, they learn Kevin has been missing since late the night before. They go snowshoeing around the lake and see a red-haired woman flitting through the woods in a long green dress that does not look adequate for the cold and snow. They later learn that the lake is haunted by the ghost of a woman who disappeared nearly a century earlier.

Later, they see something odd sticking out of a snowdrift; it looks like the fabric of the jacket Kevin had worn the day before. They hurriedly look deeper into the snow drift and are horrified to find the dead body of the missing man. After the sheriff arrives and investigates, it is determined that Kevin was murdered.

The lodge has lost its appeal, so Brent and Marley return to Willowood Cove the next day. Active in their community, Marley and Brett begin to help with the Festival of Trees, in which The Flip Side is decorating a tree with special ornaments. All the money raised in the festival will go to charity, and they hope it will become an annual tradition. When ornaments begin to go missing from trees decorated by the vendors, however, it could keep people from wanting to participate again. Marley also runs into two of the people who had been guests at Holly Lodge. One had recently moved to Willowood Cove, and the other was at the B&B owned by one of Marley’s friends, and is doing research for her next novel.

Marley and her friends are people I would enjoy having as neighbors. They genuinely care about each other and their community, from the festival that will benefit local charities to a single mom new in town. I enjoyed seeing the balance in the lives of the newlyweds; their life is included without weighing down the story.

The mysteries in this novel are very well plotted. Each one presents a challenge, especially the murder. It seems that Marley can’t escape that mystery, especially when Lily, the novelist, receives a threatening note. They return to Holly Lodge to pay respects at Kevin’s memorial service to find everyone who had been present the night of the murder. Being snowed in with a ghost and a murderer was not in their plans. I enjoyed watching the events unfold, from the community gatherings to Marley’s days at The Flip Side,

In the seventh entry to this wonderful series set on the Olympic Peninsula we find Marley and her husband, Brett taking a romantic getaway into the mountains. They've only been married a very short time and their honeymoon had been too short. What could be nicer than a picture perfect small lodge on a wintery frozen lake? Time to spend in front of a cozy fire after snowshoeing in freshly fallen snow - that's their plan. There is some tension between the owners of the Holly Lodge but was that the reason for murder? Marley may be away from home but murder has followed them and they are the ones to find Kevin Manning dead in a snowbank. They are not involved in the investigation - or so they assumed - and they return to Wildwood Cove and the town's Christmas festivities. It isn't long before they discover they are involved in solving the crime. It has followed them home.
This was a well constructed puzzle with enough twists in it to keep me guessing. The settings of Holly Lodge and the town of Wildwood Cove were so clearly described that I want to pack my bags and head on down the coast for a nice long visit. But omit the homicide, please. I'll be wanting pancakes.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

They went to the mountains for a little quiet time and what they found was a body in a snowbank. Marley, who is known for being unable to leave a mystery alone, and husband Brett plan a snowy mountain getaway at Holly Lodge only to have to cut their trip short when one of the owners is found dead, murdered. Back in Wildwood Cover and trying to get ready for Christmas with not one but four trees to decorate, Marley has plenty on her plate, and not just the yummy gingerbread muffins or cinnamon pancakes either (recipes included). From disappearing ornaments to red headed ghost sightings and a slew of questions to be asked, Marley is definitely up to figuring out the who done its in this one. A story with some great characters and life lessons plus the plot build up was like a snowball rolling down the hill, gaining speed and getting bigger until the finish and the big reveal. I was right about the murderer but not the motive.

What a delight to be back in Willowood Cove on the Olympic Peninsula! I have loved this series from the beginning, and this one is no exception. First, I love the cover with Flapjack – the feline, not the food! The novel and characters invited me in from the start, and the descriptions of the ocean, town, and mountain lodge are beautifully enticing. Whodunit was a puzzle, a mystery that wouldn’t leave Marley alone even when back at their oceanside Victorian home.

Marley owns the Flip Side, a breakfast restaurant in Willowood Cove, and in the winter, Brett works for a contractor who does remodels. Their friend and neighbor recommended Holly Lodge in the mountains for a gorgeous, peaceful getaway for the still-newlywed couple. The drive into the mountains is harrowing, but once they arrive at the lodge, they are captivated by the splendor of the lake and surrounding woods. The lodge is everything they could hope for, and they look forward to their time there. Tension between owners Rita and Kevin, and between Kevin, and a guest, Wilson, are evident, but won’t spoil their stay. Two of the guests are writers. Ambrose is a poet and Lily an author of both romance novels and mysteries, and Lily says they are kindred spirits. During the night, Marley saw a man walking towards the lodge in snowshoes even as she hears someone walking in the hall outside their room.

The next morning, Kevin is missing; Rita has not seen him since late the previous night. It is not like him to go anywhere without telling Rita or Harvey, their groundskeeper and the man Marley saw outside during the night. Not long afterwards, when returning from taking photos, Marley spotted fabric that looked like that of Kevin’s jacket poking out of a snowdrift. She and Brett begin to scoop through the snow with their bare hands only to make the terrible discovery. Kevin was dead, buried in the snowdrift, and he appears to have had a head injury. The following day, Marley and Brett returned to Willowood Cove and began to prepare for Christmas festivities.

Marley didn’t forget about the murder, but she was happy to not be involved in another mystery. At least until Lily arrived at their neighbor Patricia’s B&B to continue research for her next novel. Ambrose actually lives in Willowood Cove, having moved there a short time ago. It seems this case isn’t going to leave her alone.

Plot twists kept bringing the mystery to Marley, and she and her friends talked through what they learned about it. Just when I thought I knew whodunit, there was another surprise, and someone I had briefly considered earlier took top spot. There are some heart-pounding scenes and surprises throughout, including the real motive for Kevin’s death. I was very satisfied with the ending, and I highly recommend it to those who like challenging cozy mysteries, engaging, personable characters, the best of oceanside and mountain settings, and delicious recipes.

From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

A Room with a Roux by Sarah Fox is book seven in the A Pancake House Mystery. It can be read as a stand alone. This is only the second in the series I have read.
Newlyweds, Marley and Brett just wanted to have a quiet week-end getway in the near by mountains. They arrive at the inn recommended by a friend and are amazed at the beauty of the snow and ice and are a bit curious of the idea that the lake is haunted..The stay is just what they needed until, while on a walk, they come across the body of one of the owners buried in the snow with his head bashed in. Marley doesn't want to get involved but when asked, she can't say no.
Fox gives just enough suspects that has you guessing to the end. The main characters are likable as is the setting. There is also friendship, famiily, romance, a little side mystery and recipes.
I was given an ARC from Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review..

A ROOM WITH A ROUX, the seventh entry in the delightful Pancake House Mystery series, finds newlyweds Marley and Brett leaving The Flipside restaurant and Wildwood Cove, Oregon, to spend a romantic weekend in the mountains. They find Holly Lodge to be a charming winter wonderland, and everything is ideal…until they discover the body of one of the lodge owners murdered and hidden in a snowbank. Marley is glad to leave the lodge and the murder behind, but she continues to be drawn into the mystery.

The Holly Lodge sounds wonderful, and I would love to visit. Sans murder, of course. Author Fox invokes a perfect backdrop for this almost closed-room murder mystery. All of the guests and employees, and even one of Marley’s customers at the restaurant, seem to have good motive and opportunity to commit the crime. The clues kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was surprised when the killer’s ultimate motive.

This book is a bit of a divergence from the others in the series since a good portion of it does not take place in Wildwood Cove. As a result, some of the recurring characters are not featured, and longtime fans will miss them. That said the new characters are interesting and varied. Even though the story focuses on the murder of Kevin, there is also a minor secondary mystery concerning the theft of Christmas tree ornaments that adds local color and a feel good holiday season resolution.

I really enjoy my time with Marley, and A ROOM WITH A ROUX is a captivating escape from the troubles of real life. I cannot wait to read more. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this title from the author and Kensington Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this new entry in the series. It was fun to have the mystery in a different setting. The description of the lodge and the surroundings made it easy to imagine. Brett and Marley are pleasant characters, they made the story come alive. There are quite a few potential suspects, all the better to keep the reader guessing until the end. Another positive point is that this book can be read as a standalone, which is great for newcomers to the series. In all, a very entertaining book.

A Room with a Reux is the 7th book in the Pancake House Mystery series by Sarah Fox and another great installment. Marley and Brett decide to go on a romantic weekend getaway to Holly Lodge, they are expecting rest and relaxation before the busy holiday season, what they get, is murder.
I liked the change in locale, and having the murder committed at Holly Lodge, the poor residents of Wildwood Cove have had their fair share of murder!
I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to any cozy lover looking for an entertaining read. It can be read as a stand alone, but for maximum enjoyment I would suggest reading the entire series.

I would like to express my thanks to Kensington, Netgalley and Sarah Fox for an ARC for which I voluntarily reviewed.

This is the first book that I have read in the series and I regret that I haven't read the rest on the series. Marley and Brett are on a short getaway before the Christmas season begins at Holly Lodge. Their vacation is cut short when they discover the body of one of the co-owner of the place in a snow bank. A few of their fellow guests end up in Wildwood Cove which leads to Marley investigating the murder. Marley and Brett are invited to the co-owner's funeral at the lodge. Marley puts the pieces together and figures out who the murderer is before he kills again

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.