Sandy M’s review of The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay Dimon
Romantic Suspense published by Avon 11 Mar 25
I can definitely see why this family has usual mayhem. And more is about to rain down on several unsuspecting folks when Kasey Nottingham makes an unexpected appearance.
Kasey makes tracks to her grandmother and her partner, who own Mags’ Desserts, a successful and well-loved bakery in North Carolina, because she’s been tasked by her boss to help their company buy the bakery, but it’s Kasey herself who is stunned he likes her idea and wants her to run with it. Kasey knows good and well her grandmother and “aunt” will never part with their business. But Kasey heads out anyway, figuring she can come up with a plan once she’s on site. Little does anyone know all the roadblocks that will end up in her way.
But the biggest roadblock is Kasey herself. It’s very difficult to warm up to her. She lies, she diverts, she sneaks around, and so much more. She’s not mean in any way, she’s just plain old unmotivated to go in any right direction in life. Even when she meets up with Jackson, Aunt Celia’s nephew, again, she dances around the attraction at every turn, despite how straightforward he is about how he feels. When she discovers some oddities going on with Grams and Celia, she investigates on her own and draws whatever conclusions and, right or wrong, she goes with them, getting further and further down a path she probably shouldn’t go – all until it comes to a head and others are forced to let their secrets go whether they want to or not. I’m surprised Jackson really does love the girl!
That all being saId, I did enjoy Grams and Celia and all their baking prowess and need to help other women. It’s a good thing Jackson has a level head on his shoulders, because he’s going to need it to spend the rest of his life with Kasey. The banter throughout the book is vintage HelenKay Dimon, and that sort of makes up for dealing with Kasey for so many pages. Yes, I know, I’ve said enough about her. She just really did get on my nerves. So I’m quite grateful for all the other characters.
Still a good, fun read from Ms. Dimon. Not her best, in my opinion only, but it’s fun anyway.
Grade: B
Summary:
Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem.
Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.
As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge.
