What do you think?
Rate this book
Magical Fortune Cookie #2
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts
Felicity Jin returns in the second book in the heart-warming and deliciously mysterious Magical Fortune Cookie series from Lilian Jackson Braun Award-nominee Jennifer J. Chow.
Jin Bakery has been asked to cater the Lum-Wu outdoor wedding at Pixie Park. The day of the ceremony, Felicity is finishing the “cake” of tiered egg tarts as the wedding party arrives for the ceremony. When one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, doesn’t arrive, Felicity’s best friend and local florist Kelvin generously steps in for him and the wedding goes smoothly―until cake cutting time.
That’s when Felicity finds Miles’ dead body beneath the table with her egg tarts display, stabbed by Kelvin’s gardening shears. With the detective’s sights on Kelvin, Felicity starts sleuthing away to prove his innocence, revealing dark secrets about all the wedding's attendants. They each had something to hide―and a reason to quiet Miles forever. To make matters worse, Felicity’s powers of prediction are on the fritz thanks to the emotional turmoil of a surprise visit from her estranged father.
When the groom gets poisoned at the send-off party and winds up in a coma, the stakes are even higher, not to mention Felicity’s feelings for Kelvin are beginning to feel more than friendly. Will Felicity’s magic return in time to catch the true culprit and rescue her budding relationship with Kelvin?
Jin Bakery has been asked to cater the Lum-Wu outdoor wedding at Pixie Park. The day of the ceremony, Felicity is finishing the “cake” of tiered egg tarts as the wedding party arrives for the ceremony. When one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, doesn’t arrive, Felicity’s best friend and local florist Kelvin generously steps in for him and the wedding goes smoothly―until cake cutting time.
That’s when Felicity finds Miles’ dead body beneath the table with her egg tarts display, stabbed by Kelvin’s gardening shears. With the detective’s sights on Kelvin, Felicity starts sleuthing away to prove his innocence, revealing dark secrets about all the wedding's attendants. They each had something to hide―and a reason to quiet Miles forever. To make matters worse, Felicity’s powers of prediction are on the fritz thanks to the emotional turmoil of a surprise visit from her estranged father.
When the groom gets poisoned at the send-off party and winds up in a coma, the stakes are even higher, not to mention Felicity’s feelings for Kelvin are beginning to feel more than friendly. Will Felicity’s magic return in time to catch the true culprit and rescue her budding relationship with Kelvin?
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 21, 2025
About the author
Jennifer J. Chow
20 books568 followersJennifer J. Chow writes multicultural stories. She lives in Los Angeles, California.
Her accolades include: Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, & Lilian Jackson Braun Award nominations; SoCal Indie Bestseller; Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB finalist; and Teen Vogue coverage.
Find out more and join her monthly newsletter on her author website.
Her accolades include: Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, & Lilian Jackson Braun Award nominations; SoCal Indie Bestseller; Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB finalist; and Teen Vogue coverage.
Find out more and join her monthly newsletter on her author website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 8, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jin Bakery has been given the honor to provide a circular display of egg tarts in place of a cake for the Lum-Wu wedding being held at Pixie Park. Felicity is so excited. Her friend Kelvin Love is taking care of all the beautiful flower arrangements and her godmother Alma Paz has made all the candle displays. Felicity is not only setting up the tarts, but she is also helping with the traditional tea ceremonies.
Shortly before the wedding is to start they notice one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, has disappeared. To proceed with the wedding Kelvin is asked to take the man’s place. The day is going great until it is time to serve the egg tarts. After the bride and groom “smooshed” each other in the face with a tart Felicity moved to the table to put the tarts on serving trays when she thought she stepped on a tart. But it wasn’t a tart, she had stepped in blood. Moving the tablecloth they find the missing groomsman dead – stabbed with Kelvin’s garden shears.
With evidence pointing directly at Kelvin, Felicity immediately slips into sleuth mode to clear him of the crime. All the wedding attendants had issues with Miles Wu and any of them could have killed him. She tries to use her special magical talents to get to the truth but is distracted by one of the guests at the wedding.
Then the groom is poisoned when he and his bride are getting ready to leave on their honeymoon. With Colton Wu in a coma, Felicity knows the killer has to be stopped before anyone else is hurt. She and Kelvin work closely together to find answers. When the killer is found she will have to answer a huge question – Are she and Kelvin becoming more than friends?
Ms. Chow has created characters who feel like friends. Felicity “Lissa” is much stronger and more confident in this story because she has found her place in the Jin family baking hierarchy by discovering her magic recipe – fortune cookies. Her magic also comes with a bonus. Her cookies not only bring happiness but she can also predict future happenings. That extra special bonus can make things complicated. Lissa’s mother is having a stressful time and because of that, she makes a new friend, Detective Sun. The good detective has moved close to the Jins and Lissa’s mom Angela welcomes her to the neighborhood with plenty of oranges while telling her about a problem she is having.
Both Felicity and Kelvin get involved with the wedding party who are stuck in town because of the murder. It gives them the chance to observe and question them in their quest to find the killer, something Detective Sun and Angela warn them against. But with each visit, they learn more. Everyone had a secret they didn’t want to be revealed. Some connections were very strong while others were hanging by a thread. Alibis were iffy and hard to pin down. I enjoyed following along as some clues fell into place and others were discarded. Like Felicity, I didn’t have “all the pieces of the mystery puzzle in place” but was drawn to the same person she was for various reasons. I do applaud Felicity’s smart thinking and clever way of diffusing the tense situation when the killer was revealed.
There is an important subplot within this story that changes things for Felicity and her mom. I know others have mentioned it as does the synopsis but I don’t want to share more because I enjoyed it so much going in fresh. I loved the small part Felicity’s bunny Whiskers had and how Felicity handled the whole situation. While the murder is the main story, this subplot is significant in many ways.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts was a very enjoyable mystery infused with the perfect amount of magic. The characters are engaging with new friendships and friendships going to the next level. I am looking forward to what Ms. Chow has in mind for her characters next. “New beginnings” can mean so many things. New “enchanting adventures” sound like a wonderful place to start.
Be sure to check out the Floral Tips from Love Blooms and the Auspicious Almond Cookies recipe at the end of the book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Jin Bakery has been given the honor to provide a circular display of egg tarts in place of a cake for the Lum-Wu wedding being held at Pixie Park. Felicity is so excited. Her friend Kelvin Love is taking care of all the beautiful flower arrangements and her godmother Alma Paz has made all the candle displays. Felicity is not only setting up the tarts, but she is also helping with the traditional tea ceremonies.
Shortly before the wedding is to start they notice one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, has disappeared. To proceed with the wedding Kelvin is asked to take the man’s place. The day is going great until it is time to serve the egg tarts. After the bride and groom “smooshed” each other in the face with a tart Felicity moved to the table to put the tarts on serving trays when she thought she stepped on a tart. But it wasn’t a tart, she had stepped in blood. Moving the tablecloth they find the missing groomsman dead – stabbed with Kelvin’s garden shears.
With evidence pointing directly at Kelvin, Felicity immediately slips into sleuth mode to clear him of the crime. All the wedding attendants had issues with Miles Wu and any of them could have killed him. She tries to use her special magical talents to get to the truth but is distracted by one of the guests at the wedding.
Then the groom is poisoned when he and his bride are getting ready to leave on their honeymoon. With Colton Wu in a coma, Felicity knows the killer has to be stopped before anyone else is hurt. She and Kelvin work closely together to find answers. When the killer is found she will have to answer a huge question – Are she and Kelvin becoming more than friends?
Ms. Chow has created characters who feel like friends. Felicity “Lissa” is much stronger and more confident in this story because she has found her place in the Jin family baking hierarchy by discovering her magic recipe – fortune cookies. Her magic also comes with a bonus. Her cookies not only bring happiness but she can also predict future happenings. That extra special bonus can make things complicated. Lissa’s mother is having a stressful time and because of that, she makes a new friend, Detective Sun. The good detective has moved close to the Jins and Lissa’s mom Angela welcomes her to the neighborhood with plenty of oranges while telling her about a problem she is having.
Both Felicity and Kelvin get involved with the wedding party who are stuck in town because of the murder. It gives them the chance to observe and question them in their quest to find the killer, something Detective Sun and Angela warn them against. But with each visit, they learn more. Everyone had a secret they didn’t want to be revealed. Some connections were very strong while others were hanging by a thread. Alibis were iffy and hard to pin down. I enjoyed following along as some clues fell into place and others were discarded. Like Felicity, I didn’t have “all the pieces of the mystery puzzle in place” but was drawn to the same person she was for various reasons. I do applaud Felicity’s smart thinking and clever way of diffusing the tense situation when the killer was revealed.
There is an important subplot within this story that changes things for Felicity and her mom. I know others have mentioned it as does the synopsis but I don’t want to share more because I enjoyed it so much going in fresh. I loved the small part Felicity’s bunny Whiskers had and how Felicity handled the whole situation. While the murder is the main story, this subplot is significant in many ways.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts was a very enjoyable mystery infused with the perfect amount of magic. The characters are engaging with new friendships and friendships going to the next level. I am looking forward to what Ms. Chow has in mind for her characters next. “New beginnings” can mean so many things. New “enchanting adventures” sound like a wonderful place to start.
Be sure to check out the Floral Tips from Love Blooms and the Auspicious Almond Cookies recipe at the end of the book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
January 24, 2025
Another really fun book in this series. This is a wedding mystery, which always makes me feel so bad for these poor characters, but also makes for an extra dramatic story. I loved all the twists and was completely stumped then entire time. Also, I love seeing Felicity and Kelvin's friendship through the lens of the sleuthing. I still can't decide how I feel about their relationship because I don't see much romantic sparking, and kind of hope they stay sleuthing friends! I was shocked by some personal reveals in Felicity's life and think she handles them so well.
My favorite part of this book and series is the baking magic. Though we do see a tiny bit less than the first book (which makes sense because that one set the scene) I did enjoy the use of the fortunes and seeing Felicity really come into her own with the baking magic.
Thanks to the publishers for a free copy; my thoughts and reviews are my own.
My favorite part of this book and series is the baking magic. Though we do see a tiny bit less than the first book (which makes sense because that one set the scene) I did enjoy the use of the fortunes and seeing Felicity really come into her own with the baking magic.
Thanks to the publishers for a free copy; my thoughts and reviews are my own.
January 21, 2025
I really enjoy these key characters and had a great time sleuthing along with Felicity and Kelvin as they worked to figure out who was framing him for murder. He definitely hadn't signed up for that when he agreed to be a substitute groomsman.
The showdown with Felicity and the killer was a good one and I loved how Felicity got the upper hand. Something super sweet happened for her at the end and now I can't wait to see what happens next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
The showdown with Felicity and the killer was a good one and I loved how Felicity got the upper hand. Something super sweet happened for her at the end and now I can't wait to see what happens next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
February 12, 2025
I always enjoy a good story that incorporates magical realism, an amateur sleuth, or multi-cultural characters, and the Magical Fortune series by Jennifer J. Chow delivers all three! In Ill-Fated Fortune, we met Felicity Jin and her mom who run a bakery using their generational family magic to infuse joy and peace into their treats. In this second book, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts, we get to see Felicity come into her own with her recently-discovered abilities, both in the overall inherited family magic and in the new layers to her specific gift. I loved this aspect of the story – it’s creative and well-plotted, and it brims with possibilities for future books. Something else that has me excited for future books? Felicity’s evolving relationship with her bestie Kelvin, including an intriguing twist near the end that’s related to a subplot in this book and could complicate any romantic possibilities between them.
The mystery in Star-Crossed Egg Tarts involves a Chinese-American wedding, a murdered groomsman, and a wedding party full of suspects. I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the wedding (like the tea ceremony) while the complex interpersonal relationships between the attendants and the bride & groom – not to mention the groom’s estranged parents – had me quickly hooked on figuring out whodunit. Chow lays out a delicious spread of false leads, red herrings, and clever distractions, all of which she seamlessly mixes with the legitimate clues, to keep armchair sleuths like me invested in the outcome. I’m pretty sure I suspected each member of the wedding party AND the newlyweds before all was said and done, but still managed to be surprised by the murderer’s identity and motive.
Bottom Line: Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow creatively combines several of my favorite things into one delightful story, and the author’s warm and engaging writing voice is just the icing on the cake. Or, in this case, the chocolate coating on the fortune cookie. The well-plotted mystery, the nuances of the Jin family magic (and Felicity’s ever-developing abilities), and the affectionate relationships between Felicity and her inner circle all kept me engaged to the end. (The first couple of chapters did feel a bit disjointed or rushed or something to me but once the mystery really got going, the rest of the story did too. So if you start reading it and feel the same way at first, stick with it!) Fans of Sarah Addison Allen who loved the magical realism of her Waverley Family series but prefer no curse words or profanity, Jennifer J. Chow’s Magical Fortune series is for you!! I’m delighted to have found these books and look forward to the next.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
The mystery in Star-Crossed Egg Tarts involves a Chinese-American wedding, a murdered groomsman, and a wedding party full of suspects. I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the wedding (like the tea ceremony) while the complex interpersonal relationships between the attendants and the bride & groom – not to mention the groom’s estranged parents – had me quickly hooked on figuring out whodunit. Chow lays out a delicious spread of false leads, red herrings, and clever distractions, all of which she seamlessly mixes with the legitimate clues, to keep armchair sleuths like me invested in the outcome. I’m pretty sure I suspected each member of the wedding party AND the newlyweds before all was said and done, but still managed to be surprised by the murderer’s identity and motive.
Bottom Line: Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow creatively combines several of my favorite things into one delightful story, and the author’s warm and engaging writing voice is just the icing on the cake. Or, in this case, the chocolate coating on the fortune cookie. The well-plotted mystery, the nuances of the Jin family magic (and Felicity’s ever-developing abilities), and the affectionate relationships between Felicity and her inner circle all kept me engaged to the end. (The first couple of chapters did feel a bit disjointed or rushed or something to me but once the mystery really got going, the rest of the story did too. So if you start reading it and feel the same way at first, stick with it!) Fans of Sarah Addison Allen who loved the magical realism of her Waverley Family series but prefer no curse words or profanity, Jennifer J. Chow’s Magical Fortune series is for you!! I’m delighted to have found these books and look forward to the next.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
January 25, 2025
Book #13 read in 2025
I think I liked this second installment of the series even better than the first. Felicity already has a strong hold on her magical power and how she can use it, but it isn't the central part of this story. In this one, Felicity and Kelvin are working at a wedding when chaos ensues. One of the groomsmen is murdered with Kelvin's pruning shears. To make sure Kelvin isn't blamed, Felicity decides she should investigate. Also, Felcitiy's absent father is a guest at the wedding and takes that as a sign that he should try to reconnect with his daughter. This gives us even more insight into Felicity's background.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, and how they all connect to the bride, groom, and dead groomsman was a little complicated to track. The pacing was great, and the story moved along in a way that kept me interested throughout. I am excited to continue this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 21, 2025.
I think I liked this second installment of the series even better than the first. Felicity already has a strong hold on her magical power and how she can use it, but it isn't the central part of this story. In this one, Felicity and Kelvin are working at a wedding when chaos ensues. One of the groomsmen is murdered with Kelvin's pruning shears. To make sure Kelvin isn't blamed, Felicity decides she should investigate. Also, Felcitiy's absent father is a guest at the wedding and takes that as a sign that he should try to reconnect with his daughter. This gives us even more insight into Felicity's background.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, and how they all connect to the bride, groom, and dead groomsman was a little complicated to track. The pacing was great, and the story moved along in a way that kept me interested throughout. I am excited to continue this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 21, 2025.
January 18, 2025
Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for my eARC of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow. All opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery about a magical baker, Felicity, who caters a wedding which turns deadly and ends up helping to solve the murder with her best friend Kelvin.
This book checked off so many boxes: murder, mystery, love, food, magic, friends-to-lovers, and frenemies. I liked the development of the plot and how we're led down different leads to suspect multiple members of the wedding party before ultimately figuring out who did it.
There were a few different side-stories to follow along with, but it didn't take away from the story or feel like they were out of place, which can sometimes happen. One other thing that I appreciated was that Felicity's solution is to always give someone a fortune cookie -- that's something my grandma would do and though for Felicity it was a way to use her magic, it's a fun addition to this novel.
If you're into cozy mysteries, food-centered books, a bit of magical whimsy, or a fun whodunnit, I recommend this one. This can be read as a standalone, but I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series!
Thanks, Minotaur!
I enjoyed this cozy mystery about a magical baker, Felicity, who caters a wedding which turns deadly and ends up helping to solve the murder with her best friend Kelvin.
This book checked off so many boxes: murder, mystery, love, food, magic, friends-to-lovers, and frenemies. I liked the development of the plot and how we're led down different leads to suspect multiple members of the wedding party before ultimately figuring out who did it.
There were a few different side-stories to follow along with, but it didn't take away from the story or feel like they were out of place, which can sometimes happen. One other thing that I appreciated was that Felicity's solution is to always give someone a fortune cookie -- that's something my grandma would do and though for Felicity it was a way to use her magic, it's a fun addition to this novel.
If you're into cozy mysteries, food-centered books, a bit of magical whimsy, or a fun whodunnit, I recommend this one. This can be read as a standalone, but I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series!
Thanks, Minotaur!
December 28, 2024
This cozy mystery is the second in the Magical Fortune Cookies series. Felicity Jin has been hired to supply a wedding cake of tiered egg tarts for the Lum-Wu wedding being held outdoors in Pixie Park. Besides the groom's bickering parents, things are going well until a body is discovered underneath the cake table.
Miles Wu is a cousin of the groom's and is found with Felicity's best friend Kelvin's pruning shears stabbed into his neck. In order to clear her best friend's name, Felicity goes on the case to discover who murdered Miles and discovers that most of the wedding party had sufficient motives to want him dead.
Adding to the stress, Felicity meets her father for the first time since he is a guest at the wedding. Richard Zhou abandoned his wife and daughter when Felicity was an infant. While her mother is very bitter, Felicity has always been curious about him. Deciding whether or not she wants to build a relationship with her absentee father is a problem that winds through this story.
This was an entertaining cozy mystery. Felicity's ability to design custom fortunes in the fortune cookies she bakes in the bakery she owns with her mother helps in solving the case. I liked the small town setting although I question the viability of a bakery that only sells three items even if they are magical. I liked Felicity's determination to solve the murder and clear her friend. I also liked that she was gradually and hesitantly changing her relationship with Kelvin as she discovers that friendship can also be romantic love.
Miles Wu is a cousin of the groom's and is found with Felicity's best friend Kelvin's pruning shears stabbed into his neck. In order to clear her best friend's name, Felicity goes on the case to discover who murdered Miles and discovers that most of the wedding party had sufficient motives to want him dead.
Adding to the stress, Felicity meets her father for the first time since he is a guest at the wedding. Richard Zhou abandoned his wife and daughter when Felicity was an infant. While her mother is very bitter, Felicity has always been curious about him. Deciding whether or not she wants to build a relationship with her absentee father is a problem that winds through this story.
This was an entertaining cozy mystery. Felicity's ability to design custom fortunes in the fortune cookies she bakes in the bakery she owns with her mother helps in solving the case. I liked the small town setting although I question the viability of a bakery that only sells three items even if they are magical. I liked Felicity's determination to solve the murder and clear her friend. I also liked that she was gradually and hesitantly changing her relationship with Kelvin as she discovers that friendship can also be romantic love.
December 21, 2024
The second book in this cozy series, and it was a good follow up to the first. As Felicity and her bff Kelvin provide services to a wedding in the park, Felicity finds the dead body of the groom’s cousin. With the entire wedding party as suspects, Felicity and Kelvin investigate the crime. On top of that, Felicity runs into someone unexpected and has to evaluate her feelings. This is shaping up to be a really good cozy mystery series and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.
January 28, 2025
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts is the second in the Magical Fortune Cookie culinary cozy mystery series. Set in a little town near San Francisco, it mixes magic into murder. Felicity and her mother run a Chinese bakery where their baked goods make their customers feel good, and her speciality happens to be fortune cookies with a side of personalized fortunes that have a way of coming true. With her best friend Kelvin, a florist, by her side, and Detective Sun becoming fast friends with her mother, Felicity can’t help but stumble into murder mysteries.
In this second installment, Felicity is catering a Chinese wedding in her own little town of Pixie, but things start to go wrong right away with the groom’s parents being frosty, at best, during the tea ceremony. They just get worse when a groomsman goes missing, only to turn up dead under the dessert table. With the wedding party now stuck in Pixie as the police investigate, Felicity and Kelvin, the florist for the wedding and stand-in groomsman, can’t help but nose around since Kelvin himself is a suspect and Felicity won’t stand for it. But, the deeper they dig, the more secrets they uncover. And then there’s the matter of Felicity’s father, who abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby, coming back into their lives, and Felicity’s powers growing.
I love a good culinary cozy mystery, and this offers plenty of baking and plenty of mystery solving to keep my heart happy. I also love that it’s infused with Chinese traditions and culture as Felicity and her mom are Chinese American. It doesn’t hurt that these books give me the chance to indulge in Chinese desserts, even if fortune cookies aren’t actually Chinese, and the recipes at the end certainly are welcome. That said, these books really shine when it comes to the actual investigations, but not so much everything else.
Where the first book was a little lighter on things since it needed to introduce the world and characters, this one dove deeper into the mystery and into Felicity’s personal life. I liked the developments it threw in, but the mystery was absolutely the star for me. There were twists and turns, and plenty of characters to keep things interesting and secrets flowing. There were so many times when I thought it could have been any member of the wedding party who had done it. The victim wasn’t exactly well-liked, and he had a way of collecting their secrets. I had a fantastic time sleuthing with Felicity and Kelvin, and I loved how much Kelvin threw himself into helping Felicity solve this case, which was a nice change as he spent more of the first book cautioning her. They really worked fantastically together, and I loved how much they supported each other through every turn.
Felicity’s personal life ends up turning on its head while she’s busy tracking clues and suspects in order to clear Kelvin’s name. Her father unexpectedly turns up during the wedding as he was a guest, and Felicity’s stuck having to figure out whether to let him into her life. Things are complicated by her mother’s vehement refusal to have anything to do with him; she just wants her family’s cookbook back from him. I loved how well-balanced this subplot was with the mystery. When the mystery seemed a little stuck, this one reared its head and really made things more complicated for Felicity. I loved how split she felt, and I really liked how she resolved it. At the same time, her powers are growing. Now, she has more power in choosing what kind of fortune to give, and she uses it spectacularly in solving this case. I loved the detail that went into it, and I kind of wish Felicity were real so she could write a personalized fortune for me. The magic works really well in helping her solve mysteries, and I loved how instrumental it is.
But I had some difficulties getting into this one. The first few chapters are eager to get things started, for the dead body to materialize, and I felt it in every word. I thought the prose was rushed and the parts that should have landed some kind of emotional punch felt very dry, almost clinical. There was no emotion; it felt like a collection of words. It also rushed headlong into the story, making the first few chapters feel hurried and me feeling a little knocked off balance. I would have loved it if the story had taken its time to really set the scene and make me more emotionally invested in what was happening. There are some interesting threads that are introduced, but none if it felt real enough for me to care.
Fortunately, the characters managed to step in just in time. While there was no helping things until the body turned up, I did adore the relationship between Felicity and Kelvin, and the angling for a love triangle was actually really well done. It prodded Felicity to think about her friend in a different light while also managing to muddy the waters of the investigation. The best part, though, was just how invested Kelvin was in helping Felicity solve the case, sometimes to amusing ends. Where Felicity can rush headlong into things, Kelvin really balanced her out, being a little more methodical and considering. They worked brilliantly together, and I loved the strides they made in their relationship.
Felicity’s mom continues to be a delightful presence, and I really loved her relationship with Detective Sun, who has just moved to Pixie. Mrs. Jin feels so much like a Chinese mother, but she recognizes her daughter’s more American spirit. She’s always there for Felicity, as well as Felicity’s godmother who was instrumental in helping Felicity and Kelvin solve this case, and the love between mother and daughter is absolutely wonderful. I adored the friendship that develops between Mrs. Jin and Detective Sun. Both agree Felicity shouldn’t investigate, but both also know it’s pointless to dissuade her, and I loved the knots it put into Felicity with her mom being so close, kind of like an auntie, to Detective Sun.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts may have had a rough start, but I really loved the way it ended. The characters are really settling into their places and roles, and the mystery was delightfully twisty. I loved the wrenches this one threw into Felicity’s life, and it was so good to see what a pillar of strength Kelvin is for her. There’s a lot of warmth and love in these books, and a highlight for me is always the mother-daughter relationship, closely followed by all the desserts. But the mystery is strong enough to hold its own, and the twists and turns really kept me guessing this time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
In this second installment, Felicity is catering a Chinese wedding in her own little town of Pixie, but things start to go wrong right away with the groom’s parents being frosty, at best, during the tea ceremony. They just get worse when a groomsman goes missing, only to turn up dead under the dessert table. With the wedding party now stuck in Pixie as the police investigate, Felicity and Kelvin, the florist for the wedding and stand-in groomsman, can’t help but nose around since Kelvin himself is a suspect and Felicity won’t stand for it. But, the deeper they dig, the more secrets they uncover. And then there’s the matter of Felicity’s father, who abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby, coming back into their lives, and Felicity’s powers growing.
I love a good culinary cozy mystery, and this offers plenty of baking and plenty of mystery solving to keep my heart happy. I also love that it’s infused with Chinese traditions and culture as Felicity and her mom are Chinese American. It doesn’t hurt that these books give me the chance to indulge in Chinese desserts, even if fortune cookies aren’t actually Chinese, and the recipes at the end certainly are welcome. That said, these books really shine when it comes to the actual investigations, but not so much everything else.
Where the first book was a little lighter on things since it needed to introduce the world and characters, this one dove deeper into the mystery and into Felicity’s personal life. I liked the developments it threw in, but the mystery was absolutely the star for me. There were twists and turns, and plenty of characters to keep things interesting and secrets flowing. There were so many times when I thought it could have been any member of the wedding party who had done it. The victim wasn’t exactly well-liked, and he had a way of collecting their secrets. I had a fantastic time sleuthing with Felicity and Kelvin, and I loved how much Kelvin threw himself into helping Felicity solve this case, which was a nice change as he spent more of the first book cautioning her. They really worked fantastically together, and I loved how much they supported each other through every turn.
Felicity’s personal life ends up turning on its head while she’s busy tracking clues and suspects in order to clear Kelvin’s name. Her father unexpectedly turns up during the wedding as he was a guest, and Felicity’s stuck having to figure out whether to let him into her life. Things are complicated by her mother’s vehement refusal to have anything to do with him; she just wants her family’s cookbook back from him. I loved how well-balanced this subplot was with the mystery. When the mystery seemed a little stuck, this one reared its head and really made things more complicated for Felicity. I loved how split she felt, and I really liked how she resolved it. At the same time, her powers are growing. Now, she has more power in choosing what kind of fortune to give, and she uses it spectacularly in solving this case. I loved the detail that went into it, and I kind of wish Felicity were real so she could write a personalized fortune for me. The magic works really well in helping her solve mysteries, and I loved how instrumental it is.
But I had some difficulties getting into this one. The first few chapters are eager to get things started, for the dead body to materialize, and I felt it in every word. I thought the prose was rushed and the parts that should have landed some kind of emotional punch felt very dry, almost clinical. There was no emotion; it felt like a collection of words. It also rushed headlong into the story, making the first few chapters feel hurried and me feeling a little knocked off balance. I would have loved it if the story had taken its time to really set the scene and make me more emotionally invested in what was happening. There are some interesting threads that are introduced, but none if it felt real enough for me to care.
Fortunately, the characters managed to step in just in time. While there was no helping things until the body turned up, I did adore the relationship between Felicity and Kelvin, and the angling for a love triangle was actually really well done. It prodded Felicity to think about her friend in a different light while also managing to muddy the waters of the investigation. The best part, though, was just how invested Kelvin was in helping Felicity solve the case, sometimes to amusing ends. Where Felicity can rush headlong into things, Kelvin really balanced her out, being a little more methodical and considering. They worked brilliantly together, and I loved the strides they made in their relationship.
Felicity’s mom continues to be a delightful presence, and I really loved her relationship with Detective Sun, who has just moved to Pixie. Mrs. Jin feels so much like a Chinese mother, but she recognizes her daughter’s more American spirit. She’s always there for Felicity, as well as Felicity’s godmother who was instrumental in helping Felicity and Kelvin solve this case, and the love between mother and daughter is absolutely wonderful. I adored the friendship that develops between Mrs. Jin and Detective Sun. Both agree Felicity shouldn’t investigate, but both also know it’s pointless to dissuade her, and I loved the knots it put into Felicity with her mom being so close, kind of like an auntie, to Detective Sun.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts may have had a rough start, but I really loved the way it ended. The characters are really settling into their places and roles, and the mystery was delightfully twisty. I loved the wrenches this one threw into Felicity’s life, and it was so good to see what a pillar of strength Kelvin is for her. There’s a lot of warmth and love in these books, and a highlight for me is always the mother-daughter relationship, closely followed by all the desserts. But the mystery is strong enough to hold its own, and the twists and turns really kept me guessing this time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 12, 2024
Felicity Jin is creating an egg tart wedding cake for a wedding in Pixie Park. Kelvin Love is the florist. When one of the wedding party is found dead under the cake table, Kelvin becomes the main suspect. This requires Felicity to investigate and Kelvin helps, once being cleared by the cops. Many twists and turns keep the reader guessing who the real killer could be. The subplots provide interesting turns in the story. Love these characters and I would love to visit the family bakery. A good read that holds the readers interest and is entertaining.
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.
January 20, 2025
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is a fantastic small town mystery.
Will Felicity figure out who killed the Groomsman?
We start this installment with Felicity catering a wedding in Pixie, California. The groom and bride are planning a whimsical wedding with egg tarts instead of cake when the groom's cousin is found dead under the dessert table. Then, her father shows up at the wedding, which confuses Felicity. However, it gives her a chance to possibly get some answers to her questions.
Felicity can't seem to stay out of the investigation, and her curiosity may get the best of her. She tries to be neighborly and helpful but still gets involved, much to the disapproval of her mother and Detective Sun.
Felicity Jin
Felicity is different now that her Jin future has shown itself. She seems more confident and happier. Even her relationship with Kelvin is advancing into more than friendship. Of course, Felicity doesn't have all the answers, but she seems to be in a good place now. I like Felicity and Mrs. Jin. They are hardworking and faithful to their community.
I look forward to seeing how she and Kelvin handle their relationship in the next installment.
Five Stars for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts
My rating for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is five stars. I genuinely enjoy returning to Pixie, California, with Felicity and her crew. Ms. Chow does an amazing job showing Felicity's life in small town America, her hardships, and her accomplishments. I highly recommend this series.
The story includes a recipe for Auspicious Almond Cookies, floral tips, instructions for making a simple Rosebud Bouquet, an Easy Wrist Corsage, and instructions for making a Lace Votive Candle Holder.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is a fantastic small town mystery.
Will Felicity figure out who killed the Groomsman?
We start this installment with Felicity catering a wedding in Pixie, California. The groom and bride are planning a whimsical wedding with egg tarts instead of cake when the groom's cousin is found dead under the dessert table. Then, her father shows up at the wedding, which confuses Felicity. However, it gives her a chance to possibly get some answers to her questions.
Felicity can't seem to stay out of the investigation, and her curiosity may get the best of her. She tries to be neighborly and helpful but still gets involved, much to the disapproval of her mother and Detective Sun.
Felicity Jin
Felicity is different now that her Jin future has shown itself. She seems more confident and happier. Even her relationship with Kelvin is advancing into more than friendship. Of course, Felicity doesn't have all the answers, but she seems to be in a good place now. I like Felicity and Mrs. Jin. They are hardworking and faithful to their community.
I look forward to seeing how she and Kelvin handle their relationship in the next installment.
Five Stars for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts
My rating for Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow is five stars. I genuinely enjoy returning to Pixie, California, with Felicity and her crew. Ms. Chow does an amazing job showing Felicity's life in small town America, her hardships, and her accomplishments. I highly recommend this series.
The story includes a recipe for Auspicious Almond Cookies, floral tips, instructions for making a simple Rosebud Bouquet, an Easy Wrist Corsage, and instructions for making a Lace Votive Candle Holder.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
February 1, 2025
STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS by Jennifer J. Chow
The Second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery
While her mother may be content staying in the Gold Bakery, now that Felicity Jin has come into her own baking magic she'd love to expand their business. So it is that she's providing the egg tarts "cake" for the Lum-Wu wedding accompanied by her best friend, Kelvin, who's providing the flowers. Despite a missing groomsman and divorced parents who can't stand each other the bride and groom happily say, "I do". But as Felicity checks on her pastries she finds the missing man under the table-stabbed with Kelvin's shears. Now Felicity will try to uncover the real killer with the help of her best friend and a little bit of magic.
A volatile wedding party is at the heart of the second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery. I enjoyed watching Felicity and Kelvin infiltrate this discordant group of friends, continually bringing delicious treats in order to check motives and track suspects. Several subplots are seamlessly tied in to the murder, the appearance of Felicity's father, the development of her powers, and her friendship with Kelvin, each of which add a layer of complexity to this delightfully nuanced story.
So much of STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS had me smiling. The depth of feeling these characters have for each other jumps off of the page and gives me the warm fuzzies. Seeing the interactions between Mama Jin and Detective Sun, the friendship between Felicity and Kelvin, even the love of Felicity and her bunny bring a magic of its own to the book.
Asian pastries, rich characterizations, an intricately plotted mystery, and a hint of magic combine to make STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS a fantastic tale that will have you craving egg tarts and fortune cookies.
The Second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery
While her mother may be content staying in the Gold Bakery, now that Felicity Jin has come into her own baking magic she'd love to expand their business. So it is that she's providing the egg tarts "cake" for the Lum-Wu wedding accompanied by her best friend, Kelvin, who's providing the flowers. Despite a missing groomsman and divorced parents who can't stand each other the bride and groom happily say, "I do". But as Felicity checks on her pastries she finds the missing man under the table-stabbed with Kelvin's shears. Now Felicity will try to uncover the real killer with the help of her best friend and a little bit of magic.
A volatile wedding party is at the heart of the second Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery. I enjoyed watching Felicity and Kelvin infiltrate this discordant group of friends, continually bringing delicious treats in order to check motives and track suspects. Several subplots are seamlessly tied in to the murder, the appearance of Felicity's father, the development of her powers, and her friendship with Kelvin, each of which add a layer of complexity to this delightfully nuanced story.
So much of STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS had me smiling. The depth of feeling these characters have for each other jumps off of the page and gives me the warm fuzzies. Seeing the interactions between Mama Jin and Detective Sun, the friendship between Felicity and Kelvin, even the love of Felicity and her bunny bring a magic of its own to the book.
Asian pastries, rich characterizations, an intricately plotted mystery, and a hint of magic combine to make STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS a fantastic tale that will have you craving egg tarts and fortune cookies.
January 19, 2025
A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel
By: Jennifer J. Chow
Publish Date: January 21, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books
Mystery and Thriller.
I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's/Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
This is the second book in a series. I really enjoyed this book just like the first one. I gave this book 4 stars. Felicity is catering a wedding as her best friend is doing the flowers for the same wedding. Everything seems to be going ok until one of the wedding party isn't showing up or can't be found. The groom of the wedding asks the florist to take his place since he is almost dressed in the same clothes as the weeding party. As they gather to cut the cake which are actually the egg tarts Felecity discover a flower on the ground behind the table. As she picks up the flower, she discovered that it is soaked in blood. Under the table they find the missing person. Everyone is held at the tent until the police can talk to them. As the story goes on there are too many people who wanted to see this person dead because he wasn't well liked. Who did it and why? You are taken on the adventures of trying to figure out who did it and other adventures of this small town. I still love the friendships and the family in this book.
By: Jennifer J. Chow
Publish Date: January 21, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books
Mystery and Thriller.
I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's/Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
This is the second book in a series. I really enjoyed this book just like the first one. I gave this book 4 stars. Felicity is catering a wedding as her best friend is doing the flowers for the same wedding. Everything seems to be going ok until one of the wedding party isn't showing up or can't be found. The groom of the wedding asks the florist to take his place since he is almost dressed in the same clothes as the weeding party. As they gather to cut the cake which are actually the egg tarts Felecity discover a flower on the ground behind the table. As she picks up the flower, she discovered that it is soaked in blood. Under the table they find the missing person. Everyone is held at the tent until the police can talk to them. As the story goes on there are too many people who wanted to see this person dead because he wasn't well liked. Who did it and why? You are taken on the adventures of trying to figure out who did it and other adventures of this small town. I still love the friendships and the family in this book.
January 24, 2025
First of all, what a cute cover. I love the art and the way the colors pop and complement each other. Star-Crossed Egg Tarts grabbed my attention immediately. I did not read Jennifer Chow's first book prior to reading Star-Crossed Egg Tarts but will probably go back and pick it up. The book definitely fits the cozy mystery vibe, which is what I've been into lately.
Magic, baked goods, and murder, what more could a reader ask for? Felicity and her mother both have magical powers that are passed to others through specific baked items that they sell in their bakery. Once upon a time, I took a class that emphasized the role and importance food has in culture, and the power of food on culture, and it's not too far off to think that food can heal or cause happiness in my personal opinion. The book was really balanced as well. The discussions of the baking and the work Felicity and her mother do did not overpower and distract from other parts of the story, which can sometimes be the case.
Chow did a great job at portraying family dynamics, and how sometimes the answers we get may not be the ones we want but are instead the ones we need to move forward. The reader can watch how Felicity grows throughout the novel, and how her interactions with others grows and matures. I really enjoyed the book, and I encourage readers to purchase from your local indie bookstore (I can recommend a store or two or ten) or check out a copy from your local library. The book was just recently published, so should be available at all major retailers. There's magic in reading, and Chow brought some of that magic to the pages of her book.
Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Magic, baked goods, and murder, what more could a reader ask for? Felicity and her mother both have magical powers that are passed to others through specific baked items that they sell in their bakery. Once upon a time, I took a class that emphasized the role and importance food has in culture, and the power of food on culture, and it's not too far off to think that food can heal or cause happiness in my personal opinion. The book was really balanced as well. The discussions of the baking and the work Felicity and her mother do did not overpower and distract from other parts of the story, which can sometimes be the case.
Chow did a great job at portraying family dynamics, and how sometimes the answers we get may not be the ones we want but are instead the ones we need to move forward. The reader can watch how Felicity grows throughout the novel, and how her interactions with others grows and matures. I really enjoyed the book, and I encourage readers to purchase from your local indie bookstore (I can recommend a store or two or ten) or check out a copy from your local library. The book was just recently published, so should be available at all major retailers. There's magic in reading, and Chow brought some of that magic to the pages of her book.
Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2025
This is such a wonderful series. The way the author mixes the magical with everyday normalcy is done so expertly. Felicity’s ability & the magic that comes from her family’s bakery is delightful. I loved the first book so much, I knew I’d be reading more. And the budding romance with her best friend Kelvin, I actually find it very sweet & I’m eager to see how it plays out. There’s not exactly fireworks yet but future books will tell.
This time around the murder of a groomsman at a wedding is the perfect setting for dram & many suspects to emerge. And as the connections between the victim leads to Kelvin, Felicity is determined to clear his name. If you like a little dash a magic in your cozy series then this is the perfect one for you. It’s blended in very naturally. Though it’s a little less prevalent in this books than the first.
Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this ARC for an honest review.
🥠
Read if you like:
* Noodle Shop series by Vivien Chien
* Witch Way Librarian series by Angela M. Sanders
* Kitchen Witch series by lynn Cahoon
January 26, 2025
This is my first book from this author and my first in this series. I really enjoyed it! I absolutely love cozy mysteries and this book had a fun twist of magic! I will definitely be searching out the first book in the series, and more from this author.
I loved how the author brought Chinese culture in the book. I loved the glimpse into the culture the reader gets.
Felicity is such a great character. She’s witty and kind. I enjoyed her mom and godmother’s characters too. And there’s Kelvin, the perfect best friend next door, and partner in crime for Felicity.
The books starts at a wedding where Felicity’s egg tarts are featured and there’s a murder. Food and murder are the perfect combo! There are many suspects and even a long lost relative. Don’t forget about Felicity’s magical fortunes! This book has charming characters, page turning plot, magical recipes, and the cozy small town vibe.
I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.
I received an ebook for tour purposes from the publisher. All views are my own.
I loved how the author brought Chinese culture in the book. I loved the glimpse into the culture the reader gets.
Felicity is such a great character. She’s witty and kind. I enjoyed her mom and godmother’s characters too. And there’s Kelvin, the perfect best friend next door, and partner in crime for Felicity.
The books starts at a wedding where Felicity’s egg tarts are featured and there’s a murder. Food and murder are the perfect combo! There are many suspects and even a long lost relative. Don’t forget about Felicity’s magical fortunes! This book has charming characters, page turning plot, magical recipes, and the cozy small town vibe.
I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.
I received an ebook for tour purposes from the publisher. All views are my own.
January 28, 2025
Another fun entry into such an enjoyable series, and not to jump ahead and certainly no spoilers here, but squeee! I loved the ending!
There is a lot going on in this mystery! We’ve got murder, attempted murder and some big revelations for Felicity personally. Nothing slows Felicity down, though, and I absolutely love her determination and bravery. Her friendship with Kelvin adds so much heart to the story, and I love watching them work together as sleuths.
The sparks of magic sprinkled throughout are delightful, and I love that Felicity’s magic shows itself through baking and her fortune cookies. The recipes included in the back sound delicious.
I thought I had the culprit pegged, but I was wrong, and I enjoyed the twists and turns the story took to get us to the resolution.
The writing is vivid so the baked goods as well as the small town (within a big city) came to life on the page and I felt truly immersed into the story and place.
I do hope for more in this series!
There is a lot going on in this mystery! We’ve got murder, attempted murder and some big revelations for Felicity personally. Nothing slows Felicity down, though, and I absolutely love her determination and bravery. Her friendship with Kelvin adds so much heart to the story, and I love watching them work together as sleuths.
The sparks of magic sprinkled throughout are delightful, and I love that Felicity’s magic shows itself through baking and her fortune cookies. The recipes included in the back sound delicious.
I thought I had the culprit pegged, but I was wrong, and I enjoyed the twists and turns the story took to get us to the resolution.
The writing is vivid so the baked goods as well as the small town (within a big city) came to life on the page and I felt truly immersed into the story and place.
I do hope for more in this series!
February 12, 2025
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jenifer J. Chow is a great cozy-fantasy mystery novel. I loved that it had all the drama especially from the wedding families. Of course, they would be the most dramatic bunch in the book. However, it is not just the drama but tensions and secrets too. All of it will leave a dead body, a poisoned groom, and a mystery for the Felicity to solve. Plus, she has even more reason to look into the murder mystery as it now involves her best friend turned into something more. Felicity also has magic and sleuthing abilities. Jennifer Chow made the cast of characters believable and likable. I can picture every single one of them in every scene. The book starts off with a little bit about the character, the setting, and the tensions from the wedding party members. Love, drama, magic, murder, and a whole lot of mayhem is found in this exciting read. Overall, I found this cozy read engaging and fun. A little of everything for all to love.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
January 19, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts is the second charming light paranormal cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow. Due out 21st Jan 2025 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 343 pages and will be available in paperback, mass-market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a well written, engaging, series from a consistently prolific *readable* author. The series features a young Asian American protagonist whose family bakery bakes slightly magical sweets. Felicity and Kelvin are again at the center of a murder investigation when they almost literally trip over the body of a member of the wedding party in a wedding they're serving (as caterer and florist)
The character driven plot moves along at a good pace, and the mystery is well engineered and appealing. It's nice to see healthy supportive relationships. Kelvin's always there for Felicity and they make a nice pair of amateur sleuths. It's also nice that the local police detective isn't incompetent or antagonistic, and they semi-bond over the microaggressions and racism-lite that people of color live with every day in the USA.
Four stars. Eminently readable and pleasant. The language is clean, and there's no on-page graphic violence. The author/publisher have also included some crafty recipes (almond cookies, floral boutonniere, and votive holders) at the back of the book in classic cozy mystery style.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts is the second charming light paranormal cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow. Due out 21st Jan 2025 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 343 pages and will be available in paperback, mass-market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
This is a well written, engaging, series from a consistently prolific *readable* author. The series features a young Asian American protagonist whose family bakery bakes slightly magical sweets. Felicity and Kelvin are again at the center of a murder investigation when they almost literally trip over the body of a member of the wedding party in a wedding they're serving (as caterer and florist)
The character driven plot moves along at a good pace, and the mystery is well engineered and appealing. It's nice to see healthy supportive relationships. Kelvin's always there for Felicity and they make a nice pair of amateur sleuths. It's also nice that the local police detective isn't incompetent or antagonistic, and they semi-bond over the microaggressions and racism-lite that people of color live with every day in the USA.
Four stars. Eminently readable and pleasant. The language is clean, and there's no on-page graphic violence. The author/publisher have also included some crafty recipes (almond cookies, floral boutonniere, and votive holders) at the back of the book in classic cozy mystery style.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 31, 2025
I loved the beginning of Star Crossed Egg-Tarts, there is such a great reading style. It reads like a conversational story, and I love that! The characters were well written, and I was hoping that the book never ended! Our MC is named Felicity Jin, Felicity runs Jin bakery with her mother and is catering a wedding. One of the groomsmen, Miles doesn't show up and then is found indisposed...permanently.
Felicity has a friend named Kelvin who is her BFF and more than that she has feelings for him. I really liked their friendship. This is the second book in the series, but you can read it as a standalone book. It was a great read overall and a great mystery that leaves you guessing till the end!
Felicity has a friend named Kelvin who is her BFF and more than that she has feelings for him. I really liked their friendship. This is the second book in the series, but you can read it as a standalone book. It was a great read overall and a great mystery that leaves you guessing till the end!
January 21, 2025
After reading the first book in this series, I was excited. I couldn’t wait for the second book to be released and here it is. It did not disappoint. I love the fact that the characters have special abilities when it comes to their baking. What a genius concept of being able to write Customize fortunes for customers who buy fortune cookies. It just set up a great scenario that allows the author to really create some interesting mysteries, and sprinkle in Fortunes along the way.
January 22, 2025
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts is the second in the Magical Fortune Cookie series. However, it can be read alone (although the first book is just as good!).
Felicity Jin is asked to cater the Lum-Wu wedding. Her friend, and florist, Kelvin Love, is also one of the vendors. When it's time to cut the cake, er, rather the egg tarts as requested by the happy couple, Felicity discovers the missing groomsman is under the table - dead! At first, the blame is placed on Kelvin, based on how the man was killed, and it's not long before Felicity is on the case!
As Felicity, with help from Kelvin, dig deeper into who killed the groomsman, their relationship also begins to change. And as an added twist, Felicity's father, who disappeared out of her life when she was an infant, is introduced. While she is dealing with that relationship, an attempt is made on the groom's life as well! The clock ticks as Felicity gets closer to discovering the killer. But can she solve the mystery in time?
The author mixes Asian and American cultures, along with magic and mystery to create a delightful story that this reader could not put down! Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of the book!
Felicity Jin is asked to cater the Lum-Wu wedding. Her friend, and florist, Kelvin Love, is also one of the vendors. When it's time to cut the cake, er, rather the egg tarts as requested by the happy couple, Felicity discovers the missing groomsman is under the table - dead! At first, the blame is placed on Kelvin, based on how the man was killed, and it's not long before Felicity is on the case!
As Felicity, with help from Kelvin, dig deeper into who killed the groomsman, their relationship also begins to change. And as an added twist, Felicity's father, who disappeared out of her life when she was an infant, is introduced. While she is dealing with that relationship, an attempt is made on the groom's life as well! The clock ticks as Felicity gets closer to discovering the killer. But can she solve the mystery in time?
The author mixes Asian and American cultures, along with magic and mystery to create a delightful story that this reader could not put down! Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of the book!
January 25, 2025
Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC of Star-Crossed Egg Tarts! All opinions in this review are my own.
While I thought Ill-Fated Fortunes was a solid debut for the Magical Fortune Cookie series, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts blew it away! It was such a strong sequel and had so many red herrings that kept me guessing until the very end!
While I thought Ill-Fated Fortunes was a solid debut for the Magical Fortune Cookie series, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts blew it away! It was such a strong sequel and had so many red herrings that kept me guessing until the very end!
January 26, 2025
Star-Crossed Egg Tarts is the second book in the Magical Fortune Cookie series. It is such an enjoyable cozy mystery. I liked how Jennifer J. Chow upped the drama in this entry. I’m also coming to realize that cozies with some sort of fantastical or magical piece to it are really hitting for me. I will gladly read the next book when it comes out!
January 30, 2025
I couldn't get involved in the story or the characters. It's well written and the plot is fine. I enjoyed the Asian aspect to the food mentioned. Sometimes the subject doesn't resonate, and this was one of those times.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books.
January 26, 2025
1/25/2025 Kinda wish there'd been a recipe for egg tarts in here, tbh. It would have probably been way too complicated for me tho, lol. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
January 29, 2025
A baker who makes magic fortune cookies, murder and poisoning at a wedding, rollicking madcap chaos, and a mysterious return of an estranged father. Lots going on in this and it felt like the narration wasn't up to the task.
Want to read
January 22, 2025Just won this book, can't wait for receive it.
January 16, 2025
What is it about weddings? Felicity and her BFF Kelvin are catering and supplying the flowers for the Lum-Wu wedding-which should be a good thing except that a groomsman is found under the "wedding cake"" display having been stabbed with Kelvin's shears! Well, they know they didn't do it (and that they didn't poison someone else) but who did? If that's not enough, her father has also turned up. Felicity has special powers but she's also got her mom, Kelvin, and Det. Sun (who is a good egg) to help her solve the mystery. It's a genial mystery and the second in a series - but it will be just fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans who like a touch of the paranormal in the mix.
January 10, 2025
Felicity is catering her first wedding and everything seems to be going... well as smoothly as possible on her end, when the body is found and her best friend Kelvin becomes a suspect. Well, she can't let that stand and she and Kelvin proceed to do some sleuthing of their own and begin to question the wedding party, including the bride and groom.
I enjoyed seeing Felicity using her new-found baking skills in pursuit of finding a killer while juggling her father suddenly appearing back in her life, and her friend being a suspect. I didn't suspect who the killer was until it was revealed, and I'm very excited to see where this series is going to go next.
I enjoyed seeing Felicity using her new-found baking skills in pursuit of finding a killer while juggling her father suddenly appearing back in her life, and her friend being a suspect. I didn't suspect who the killer was until it was revealed, and I'm very excited to see where this series is going to go next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews