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Finally, the most recent installment of Kate Kingsbury's "Pennyfoot Hotel" series is out. Those of us who have been following the series have been waiting anxiously for this one, wondering what will happen next. Will Baxter come back? Will he ever sit down in Cecily's presence? Indeed, does he even have a first name?

The one possible flaw in this book is that too much time is spent teasing the reader about what will happen between Cecily Sinclair, the owner of the Pennyfoot Hotel and Baxter, her former manager. But, and let's be realistic, isn't that why some of us were so antsy waiting for the release of this book? Several other old characters return in this book as well. While I did enjoy this book a great deal, it seemed to me that this book mainly was to rearrange the players and set the stage for the next book. But that is OK. It is still a good book and sometimes a rearrangement is neccesary. This is a wonderful book to take in a hot bath after a stressful day. I couldn't stop smiling after I read it. I highly reccomend this book, and the whole series in fact. Good, light, fun reading. Fans of light mysteries will definitely enjoy this one.

This book, set during St. Bartholomew's Week in Edwardian England is a fast moving little story. Cecily and her hotel are very busy with celebration preparations, and the hotel is full of guests when strange murders happen. That combined with the theft of a priceless chalice have Cecily working overtime with her ex-manager Baxter trying to get things sorted. These little books are enjoyable cozies with wonderful and warm characters. I enjoy each one.

After a long tedious slog, I finished the series of Pennyfoots that I have purchased. Kingsbury writes drivel. There is no complexity to it. There is no historical context or feel to it. You can pick up all you need from two hours of BBC America and you will know as much as the author seems to give you.

I have pointed out before how a large estate transformed into a turn of the last century hotel, would not be run like a modern hotel. All of sudden now there are rooms for more than 50 guests. Our heroine and her dead discarded husband must have had a great deal of money indeed to buy one of the largest homes in all of england.

Houses just weren't built like hotels are now. But the writer has no concept. Again with staffing, trying to make it a plot device. There are always enough staff for the ever large amount of guests. We find there is a Bartender, who we have never seen. Then the stableman is also the man who is the groomsman always on errands for the boss. Well what if a guest wants to ride, who saddles their horse?

When the old maid shows up looking for her job, (married to a farmer, I am so sure that they will be able to maintain the same hours) it is used as a plot device and takes days and many chapters to resolve.

For everything has to fit into Kingsbury 20 chapter, 12 pages to each, formula. Whether it makes sense or not. Whether there is anything to say or not. Whether we have another large group of pages of the dancing girls arguing over nothing or not, or the drunk Colonel with the one clue the heroine needs everytime.

I wasted my money. I've recouped what I could be reading the trash. I hope I can save you from wasting yours.

I was more than happy with this seller's product. It was in better condition than I thought it would be in. It also arrived 2 days after I ordered it without extra shipping and packaged very nicely. I think this seller is very reliable.