Jennifer J. Chow

Fun, sure-to-be addicting new magical, cozy mystery series!

Ill-Fated Fortune, the debut novel in author Jennifer J. Chow’s new Magical Fortune Cookie series, is a fun start to what I think will be an addictive culinary-themed cozy paranormal mystery series. Chow’s characters are engaging, the settings welcoming and comfortable, and the plot features not only the protagonist in trouble but also sweet, baked confections and an intriguing magical element.

I loved the cool backstory about the women in Felicity’s family and the history of their magical ways with pastries. I was immediately sympathetic to her earlier disappointment that their gift had somehow passed her by. Felicity was just such a fun character, and having warm and loving relationships with her mother and best friend, Kelvin, made her story even better.

In addition to the unique culinary theme and magical realism, the murder mystery was compelling. The victim makes quite an impression early in the story, and their demise soon follows, off the page, so no waiting around for trouble to come knocking! It’s an insult to injury when Felicity is eyed for the deed when the victim had treated her and her mother so dismissively, and they’d kept to the high road. So, what’s a girl gonna do? Figure it out for herself, right? There are enough red herrings to make things interesting, but enough information slipped in to get an idea of who did it, too.

I recommend ILL-FATED FORTUNE to cozy mystery readers who enjoy culinary- themes and magical elements in their stories and especially to readers who may appreciate a series’ debut with only a small number of characters to keep up with.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.… (altro)

Book Review: Ill-Fated Fortune
Stars: 4 X 5
Author: Jennifer J. Chow @jenjchow
Publisher: Minotaur Books @minotaur_books @macmillanusa
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC

Felicity and her mom own an Asian Bakery. Felicity’s mom is an amazing baker who has the ability to transfer joy in to her bake goods. Felicity has he knack to write the fortunes for the cookies. All is going well until an ill-fated fortune is found in a dead man’s pocket. She is now at the top of the suspect list. This does not sit well with Felicity. Felicity will do whatever she needs to do to clear her name and fine the real killer. Joining her on this journey is her best friend Kevin who owns the flower shop next door to the bakery. It was a delight taking the journey myself with Felicity and Kevin to find the real murderer.

This is the first book in this new series. I am also looking forward to reading future books and seeing what happens with the relationship between Felicity and Kevin.
The author did a great job with the mystery and the big reveal at the end.

#illfatedfortune #cozymysteryreaders… (altro)

Ill-Fated Fortune Cookie is the first book in the Magical Fortune Cookie series by Jennifer J. Chow.

Felicity Jin works in the family “magic” bakery, where most customers experience a happy feeling when eating the pastries from the bakery. Felicity has had some big disasters in the past and fears that the magic touch in baking has escaped her. Felicity finally has produced some tasty fortune cookies, to which she Ill-Fated Fortune Cookie is the first book in the Magical Fortune Cookie series by Jennifer J. Chow.

Felicity Jin works in the family “magic” bakery, where most customers experience a happy feeling when eating the pastries from the bakery. Felicity has had some big disasters in the past and fears that the magic touch in baking has escaped her. Felicity finally has produced some tasty fortune cookies, to which she has added personalized fortunes. But her first customer is found dead after eating his fortune cookie.

The book was well-written and plotted, but it was not for me. The characters just did not appeal to me.
Ill-Fated Fortune Cookie is the first book in the Magical Fortune Cookie series by Jennifer J. Chow.

Felicity Jin works in the family “magic” bakery, where most customers experience a happy feeling when eating the pastries from the bakery. Felicity has had some big disasters in the past and fears that the magic touch in baking has escaped her. Felicity finally has produced some tasty fortune cookies, to which she has added personalized fortunes. But her first customer is found dead after eating his fortune cookie.

The book was well-written and plotted, but it was not for me. The characters just did not appeal to me.
has added personalized fortunes. But her first customer is found dead after eating his fortune cookie.

The book was well-written and plotted, but it was not for me. The characters just did not appeal to me.… (altro)

Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow is the debut of A Magical Fortune Cookie series. I wanted to like this story, but I was unable to get into it. I found the characters to be flat and I was not a fan of Felicity (she is a whiner especially about getting up early). The plot was predictable with inconsistencies and repetitive details (such as Felicity not being able to bake, not having the family gift, she not like getting up early). I thought the fortune cookies were too simple for a bakery (just plain fortune cookies—did not use a high end vanilla or even dip half the fortune cookie in tempered chocolate). I was baffled as to why Felicity shaped the fortune cookies on the rim of a mug (I know it is a small detail, but it seemed odd considering the items on hand in a bakery). I also thought her fortunes were pitiful (she could have gone online and found fortunes to print). I know I sound nitpicky, but the little details can make a story realistic, entertaining, and interesting. I thought the magical element was lacking (I like the idea). The mystery was simple. Felicity and her friend, Kelvin investigate the whodunit clumsily. The guilty party can be identified easily and early. The resolution was anticlimactic. The story has a feel-good ending, but it took forever to get there.… (altro)