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Thursday, July 30, 2020

Blog Tour: Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid + Excerpt & Review!

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Engagement and Espionage, an all-new quirky and swoon-worthy romantic comedy featuring fan favorites Jenn and Cletus Winston from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid is available now!



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Jennifer Sylvester made her deal with the devil . . . and now they’re engaged!

But all is not well in Green Valley. A chicken choker is on the loose, 61 dead birds most "fowl" need plucking, and no time remains for Jennifer and her devilish fiancĂ©. Desperate to find a spare moment together, Jenn and Cletus’s attempts to reconnect are thwarted by one seemingly coincidental disaster after another. It’s not long before Cletus and Jenn see a pattern emerge and the truth becomes clear.
Sabotage!

Will an undercover mission unmask the culprit? Or are these love-birds totally plucked?

'Engagement and Espionage' is the first book in the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries series, is a full-length cozy mystery, and is a spin-off of Penny Reid's Winston Brothers series. This novel is best read after 'Beard Science,' Winston Brothers #3.



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Download your copy today!

Apple Books: https://apple.co/33ONMAK 

Add ENGAGEMENT AND ESPIONAGE to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2UoVpea


Review:

3.75- 4 stars
****

 Aww, this was really good! I wasn't sure what to expect because I have never read a cozy mystery. Reading only romance, I was worried there would not be any romance or heat to keep my interest. But this book was the perfect blend of romance and mystery to me! Engagement and Espionage is the first book in the Solving for Pie Cozy Mystery series by Penny Reid, which is set in the Green Valley world of her Winston Brothers series. This book continues with Cletus and Jenn's story a few months after they got engaged. The two of them get caught up in a mystery in their small town when suspicious calamities begin to happen to the local farming venders that the Donner bakery uses. Cletus and Jenn have to investigate the mystery in hopes of saving the bakery from ruin, while also dealing with Jenn's parents tumultuous divorce drama. The couple makes a great team and they are able to get the mystery solved.

I really liked Cletus and Jenn in this book. It is less angsty than their original book, Beard Science, because their relationship is more settled. But there are still insecurities and minor issues they need to work out between them. There is no doubt that they love each other and are meant to be together. I liked Cletus even more in this book than Beard Science. He seemed more real and less of an "out there", unrelatable character. The two had a great dynamic and chemistry. There is heat and a payoff in way that I was surprised, but loved, to find in a cozy mystery. I really enjoyed this story. The mystery is fun and I loved being back in Green Valley.

Overall, this was a good book! I thought it was an easy, fun, witty, and sweet read. I can tell that I'm really going to enjoy this series! I look forward to the next book asap!



Excerpt:

“Don’t stop.” She reached for my belt again, this time completely undoing it, the button of my pants, and my zipper at world-record speed. Her phone buzzed. Then it chimed. Then it buzzed and chimed two more times. Then it rang again. Reba. Cursing, Jenn pulled the phone from her pocket, once again her face illuminated, murderous rage in her eyes. Her finger moved to the power off button. She blinked, hesitating. Her eyes widened, her body stiffened, and she gasped. “Cletus!” Something about her tone, like she was horrified, and maybe a little afraid, cut through the heavy haze of lust inertia, and my hands stilled. Shaking myself, it took me a few moments to realize she was showing me the phone screen, and another few to bring the content of the text messages into focus. 

Momma: Jennifer Anne Sylvester, pick up your phone. If you’re with Cletus, I need his help. Please. 

Momma: ALL THE CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS ARE DEAD! PICK UP YOUR DAMN PHONE! 

Momma: I’m calling you in a second, pick up the phone. Mr. Badcock’s chickens are dead. All of them. I got here and he’s running around, deranged, yelling about his dead chickens! I called the police and they’re on their way. Please, please, please pick up the phone! 

At some point, I must’ve taken the phone from Jenn and stepped away, because I glanced up upon reading the messages for the third time, finding the phone in my hand and Jenn fixing her skirt. “This is nuts.” Her big eyes searched mine imploringly. “Who could have done this?” I shook my head, having not yet managed to fully shift head gears—you know, from that head to the one on my neck—and my gaze dropped to the wet patch on the front of her dress just visible in the swath of light. My erection throbbed. So we’re . . . not having sex? “Why? Why would they do it? And WHO?” She snatched her phone back, her tone bewildered, distracted, and distraught. She was distraught because of the dead chickens, like any normal person would be. I was distraught also, but my distress had nothing to do with farm animals. “We have to go.” Jenn grabbed my hand and began walking toward the direction of the hall. Meanwhile, it took me until her hand found the door handle to realize my zipper and belt were still undone. “This is crazy.” She paused as I zipped up, her tone halting and distracted. “Poor Mr. Badcock. And those poor chickens.” A sound of distress escaped her throat. “This is terrible.” It was terrible. And I was going to hell. Because all I could think was, Talk about a cock block.


PennyReidMeet Penny Reid

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.


Connect with Penny:

Twitter: @ReidRomance 

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