I have read the first nine books in the series, and I have really liked all of them. Main character Sadie Hoffmiller is someone I could be good friends with. After reading all of the books in the series, you do feel like you are back with an old friend.

In Rocky Road, Sadie is a more restrained Sadie than we have ever seen before. It isn't too long after her adventure in Alaska and becoming engaged. Speaking of that, I truly missed the hunky, strong, and silent type, Pete Cunningham in this story. I kept thinking he would show up, but he never did. I can't wait for the next book when he will return. Sadie was on her own, and performed her super-sleuthing ways quite well. Sadie does have the help of her friend Caro(who wasn't too bad with her own investigative skills) and a new policeman, Officer Nielson, who shows a lot of faith and confidence in Sadie. I really liked this new male character. Tess, Caro's cousin, wasn't to my liking and seemed very immature.

The action is toned down in this book, but the mind games are there aplenty. There are also twists and turns that will continually lead you astray, just when you think you have figured things out, surprise you're wrong! The recipes in this book are off the charts, including the barbacoa pork salad that I love from Cafe Rio.

As I've said before about this series, many of these books can be read alone, but I STRONGLY suggest you read the others first in the order written. You will understand Sadie better and how she ticks. I love this series and I'm always excited when the next one will be coming out.

This book has more Christian themes than other Sadie books, and some violence, but nothing graphic. Rocky Road will take you on another fun ride, where a more sensible and confident Sadie takes the wheel steering the way to another exciting read.

Sadie needs a quiet girls’ weekend after the craziness of her Alaskan cruise. So she’s headed to sunny St. George, Utah for some quiet time with her friend Caro before her wedding to Pete in only 5 weeks. But Caro has other ideas, she’s been talking with her cousin, Tess, and the two have decided that the three women not only need to spend time shopping, eating yummy food, and walking in a breast cancer fundraiser, they also need to solve the disappearance of Tess’ doctor, Dr. Trenton Hendricks. He went out for a hike one day and he never returned. The doctor is presumed dead and his family is about to hold a memorial service. Sadie initially refuses to have anything to do with it and even talks Caro into turning the evidence that she and Tess already found into the police. Sadie knows that it’s the right thing to do, but Tess has other ideas. She’s already set up a way to talk to the man’s ex-wife all while helping to innocently set up for the luncheon to be held after the memorial service. When Sadie ends up helping the woman, Lori, in the kitchen, and they are by themselves, Lori opens up about her life with Dr. Hendricks, and Sadie has more questions than ever before. And when Sadie has questions, you can’t keep her from finding the answers to them. But will Sadie find the answers before someone gets hurt?

This was a great book! I really loved Sadie in this book, I loved how during her adventures, she’s learned to be a little less impulsive and to stop and think for a minute. I love that she has learned to try to stay out of the way of the police and that sometimes they have answers when she doesn’t yet. She has learned these things, but she is still Sadie, so she’s going to always get herself and her friends into a little bit of trouble! I really enjoy the recipes that are in these books, this one included one for Maddox rolls and Raspberry butter, which I’ve already tried, but all the recipes sound amazing, and there are tons to try. I liked the plot of the book, I like that the story moves right along, there wasn’t any place that I thought the story was slow, and the ending, wow! I was surprised with who ended up doing it! Thanks to Josi Kilpack for a great series, with tons of surprises and awesome food included!

Thanks for the review copy. I was not able to read this one, so I did not leave a review on social media.