Sarah Can't Stop Reading

Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel by Jennifer J. Chow! Today we are featuring a review of the first entry in this new cozy mystery series. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! It’s a great way to add books to your TBR. There’s also a Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow. (US only.)

Ill-Fated Fortune: A Magical Fortune Cookie
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Minotaur Books (February 20, 2024)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250323037
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250323033
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C1X7YG71

My Review:

Felicity Jin lives in the small town of Pixie, California and works alongside her mom in their bakery. Felicity runs the register while her mom pours her joy into baking puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts. It’s assumed that the skill of baking and the magical ability to transfer joy through baking has passed Felicity by. One night, though, Felicity feels inspired to make her own handmade fortune cookies and her magical ability is awakened! The more Felicity bakes, the more her magic develops and it guides her to make personalized predictions for customers. 

Things are going well until one of Felicity’s fortunes predicts the murder of a customer and later the man is found dead outside the store’s dumpster. You can guess who the police zero in on as the number one suspect–Felicity herself. As a result, Felicity dives into her own investigation, determined to save not just herself, but also her family’s livelihood. 

This was so much fun and I tore through it in a day and a half! The little bits of magic sprinkled throughout are lovely and the story has just as much heart as it does mystery. The mother-daughter relationship is heartwarming and the mystery twisty. I had my guesses of the true culprit, but I enjoyed uncovering the clues along with Jin. And like her mother, I was worried for her safety a few times–she is a determined sleuth! Fans of culinary cozy mysteries will be delighted to have a new series to add to their stack! (PS I really want to try an egg tart and pineapple bun now!)

 About the Book:

Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies.

They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion.

About The Author:

Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage. She is an Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-nominated author. Her newest series is the Magical Fortune Cookie mysteries; the first book is Ill-Fated Fortune. Jennifer’s previous series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. Death by Bubble Tea was reviewed by the New York Times, featured in Woman’s World, and hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List. Jennifer currently serves as Immediate Past President on the board of Sisters in Crime and blogs at chicksonthecase.com. She is an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America. Connect with her online and sign up for her newsletter at JenniferJChow.com.

Author Links:

Website www.jenniferjchow.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jenjchow/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JenJChow

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-j-chow

Purchase Links:

Amazon – Macmillian – Bookshop.org – B&N – Kobo

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• February 16 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• February 16 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• February 16 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
• February 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
• February 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
• February 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• February 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• February 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• February 19 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
• February 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
• February 19 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• February 20 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
• February 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
• February 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
• February 21 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• February 22 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
• February 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – RECIPE
• February 23 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW
• February 23 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
• February 23 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

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