We’re introduced to the characters in this story and I knew whom I would like and wouldn’t like. Drew was good from the start – I liked his easy narration and his character grew on me quickly – which I’m happy about as it’s hard to read and finish a book where you don’t like the main character/their narration.
 
I sort of liked Mac – Drew’s love interest. He’s unfortunately a cop – plus there’s a thing of his family being in law enforcement. That coupled with it being a small town – there’s a big possibility of there being… bias for the cop family. This showed itself in the third story. It did make me dislike Mac and it seemed to me like he just fell into being a cop because there was basically a job waiting for him. Did he not want to become something else? Or did he have to go into law enforcement because “that’s what the family wanted/needed”.

I did like Mac’s stoic personality – especially when met with Drew’s almost chaotic personality. I liked seeing the two mix and that they (their personalities as well as the characters) and I thought they would probably continue to be a good couple. A feature/? of cozy mysteries is that the solver (who’s usually in a profession not known for solving crimes) often buts heads with the law enforcement, often creating banter. This did well here as the banter flowed easily into a relationship.

I didn’t care for Sam – Drew’s business partner. She flits in and out of the stories and I felt I could never get her personality? Either she wasn’t fleshed out properly or just not written well in the first place. So every time she was on the page (screen for me) I sort of skimmed over until she left again. 

 
Michael is terrible (he’s Drew’s ex that pops up) – is it bad to say I was sort of… rooting for him to end up on the other side of the living experience? 😂 He was just really annoying. But I did like that it got Mac to show some jealousy and their relationship to improve – I can handle jealously in relationships but only some times and written well. Thankfully it was so I was happy. 

Kimberling did a good job in describing all the food well – I kept wanting to try some of what Drew was serving! I liked the competition that was featured in this story – especially as it had a little bit of drama for some of the side characters – Julie and Evelyn – an elderly sapphic couple who appointed themselves as Drew’s grandmothers and Joyce, Evelyn’s annoying cousin. That was entertaining to read – I definitely wouldn’t mind another story focusing on Julie and Evelyn. 

I think this story is my least favourite of the three. I liked the the family dynamic and most of the family. Except for the Sheriff – he made a stereotypical homophobic comment towards Drew. I didn’t care for his wife either – I felt like she was basically on the verge of doling out her own share of homophobic comments.

 I thought the way they handled the crime in this not as well written as the previous two? I just didn’t enjoy it, gave less effort working out the murder like the others. Which is fine and all – can’t always have 5 stars and all that. But it’s the last story in the book so I’d hoped I would as it wrapped up everything. I actually would’ve preferred the second story to not be as good; which would (hopefully) leave the third story free to be good.