This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite
In The Soufflé Also Rises (The Lizi Cleverly Midlife Badass Detective Series), Lauren Johnson introduces readers to a fifty-four-year-old divorcee who is at breaking point. She is also broke and struggling to find her footing. Lizi finds a temporary job where she makes friends with a young, bold artist named Frankie. But that is short-lived after a heated encounter with Rob and Amber ends in her hurling eggs at their car. How does a struggling woman pivot after a debacle? By moving to Paris, of all places, and getting back to her love of writing. But things begin to feel off when Lizi realizes that strange men know who she is, where she is staying, and are following her every move. When she convinces Frankie to come to Paris, they discover a stolen canary diamond in a Carmex container among Lizi’s belongings. Things begin to make sense, but now they have to navigate a situation that is far more dangerous than anticipated.
I enjoyed how Lauren Johnson built the narrative around Lizi’s personal evolution. This allowed me to see her growth unfold while the mystery continued to escalate. The pacing was appropriate, mirroring Lizi’s circumstances, then becoming increasingly more urgent. I loved following Lizi and seeing her develop into a more self-reliant individual. It was a joy to see Frankie as the loyal ally and an influential part of Lizi’s journey. Other interesting characters were Gilla Price, a public figure connected to the media coverage of the heist, and Booker Stevens, a public figure whose presence also reinforced the serious nature of the heist. Additionally, the ongoing threat of the mafia felt realistic. Readers who liked Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan is Killing It will enjoy The Soufflé Also Rises.
