State of the Onion (A White House Chef Mystery #1) by Julie Hyzy

Blurb:

Introducing White House Assistant Chef Olivia Paras, who is rising-and sleuthing-to the top. 

Includes recipes for a complete presidential menu.

Never let them see you sweat-that's White House Assistant Chef Olivia Paras's motto, which is pretty hard to honor in the most important kitchen in the world. She's hell-bent on earning her dream job, Executive Chef. 

There's just one thing: her nemesis is vying for it, too. Well, that and the fact that an elusive assassin wants to see her fry.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Finished on 24 February 2017

☆☆☆☆ of 5

Reading this book makes me hungry! Lol. The cuisine describe there drool worthy and more like an art, especially Marcel's dessert (wish for actual photos of the food). I love the balance between the mystery and Ollie's job. Ollie's job description and dynamic fun to read and felt real.

One confusing detail though, the princess allergies, wasn't it Sargeant's fault? He changed the princess' food notes at last minute. (Jeez, i could strangled that guy for being a pain in the ass. It's impressive how the kitchen staffs, especially Ollie maintain calm interaction with him.)

The writing is good, i really enjoy and recommend it.

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Blurb:

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts to "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable. They know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the lies and backstabbing between her fellow students.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

Kindle Edition, 253 pages

Finished on 26 May 2017

☆☆☆☆ of 5 

This is slightly Veronica Mars, with ghost twist. 

Cass is Veronica who can see and speak to the dead (both used to be have close circle of friends, now losing it and became the outcast), Tim is Logan (both are popular guys who lost someone they love and got depressed. Tim losing his mother, Logan losing his girlfriend and mother. Damn, poor Logan..). Not that the similarity is bad.

I love the relationship dynamic here. She's the outcast who used to avoid and rude to everyone to protect her heart. So when she acknowledge and befriend Tim slowly, well this is what should happen, there's a process, not insta-friend, insta-love thing.

I also like the lack of love thing here, there is no swooning, just one time fluttering and some vapid observations on her side. Thank God. They both have more important problem so falling in love doesn't happen here. It's realistic.

Overall i enjoy the writing and the story.