Book 20 Rock House Grill

 

Rock House Grill by D.V. Stone fulfilled the category “Book whose Title Begins with the Last Letter of Your Previous Read.” The last title on the blog was A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. So that’s R for the start of Rock House Grill. It’s hard to believe with all the audiobooks I listen to, but I actually read these two back-to-back. I really did!

Rock House Grill is a romantic suspense mystery. It fits into several categories including “Favorite Prompt from Last Year” (audiobook), “Book with a Found Family,” and “Book with a Protagonist with a Mobility Issue.” Our hero is in a terrible car accident early in the story.

In this novel, Shay McDowell is in a tough spot. Her marriage is over, and her ex’s girlfriend is causing trouble. Poor Shay has lost her job, and all her carefully laid plans for the future are in tatters. But she’s not one to sit back and wait. Shay researches other local restaurants and decides that the Rock House Grill would be a great fit for her skill set—hostess, up-front manager, and chef. (Oh, and did I mention she’s a volunteer EMT too?) When she walks into the grill, she sees they need her. Shay finds out later the restaurant was in such dire straits because its owner and head chef was in the hospital. He’s recovering from a terrible accident, an accident she responded to and helped save Aden House from the crumpled car.

This book has a little of everything. Shay is a relatable person in so many ways. She has various interests and skills—no one-note character here. She’s also a victim of women hating on other women. We still compete so fiercely with each other instead of standing together. Shay does find a wonderful sisterly bond with Aden’s sister.

I want to congratulate Ms. Stone for her use of music. The digital and print are published through a small press. There’s no way such a house could afford to put lyrics in the story. It’s too costly. But D.V. worked around that by hinting at the songs, giving the book a full flavor of music without the extra price tag.

I listened to the novel on audio. For those who are hesitant to grab a title in any format by small presses or Indie authors, this production can ease your mind. The reader was excellent, and the quality of the book—both the story and the production were top-notch.

If you are looking for a story with all the elements—music, food, and tons of romance and suspense, grab this one now. The sequel, Jazz House, will be available on August 31, 2022.

I give Rock House Grill by D.V. Stone Five Jukeboxes full of Excellent Tunes.