The bad news is that this is the last book in what is a very, very well written cozy series. There aren't enough good cozy series left out there and the loss of one is disappointing.

The good news is that this was the author's decision and as such, this book is written with no loose ends and for that I am thankful. It's bad enough to lose a good series, but for it to end abruptly, with stories half-told, is an insult on top of injury.

Hyzy doesn't own the copyright on this series or the characters, so while the story brings us to a good place for a series end, it's also left in an interesting place that allows for someone (Hyzy, one hopes, after obtaining copyright on what is arguably her own work) to someday bring Ollie and Gav back into the thick of things where they belong.

The plot is action packed, fast paced - almost a cozy thriller. It's got a bit of an out-there plot like a thriller too, but it works within the confines of the world Hyzy has created from the first. This isn't really a mystery at all; we always know who the perpetrators are and what they want; it's just a matter of what the solution will ultimately cost our MC. The final part of the roller coaster plot was gripping and left me with a bit of an adrenaline rush.

Thank you, Julie Hyzy, for 9 wonderful adventures with Ollie. I'm gonna miss her and Gav, although I'll revisit them often in my re-reads. ( )

While I understand why this series is ending, I have to say I am tremendously disappointed. I have followed Ollie from the very beginning, and this series, set in the White House kitchens, has been one of my favorites. Over time, the books have ranged farther afield, and this last one finds Ollie being pursued by a vengeful terrorist. I enjoyed the books more when they remained centered on Ollie's work and the White House setting. Still, it's a good story.

Married life is as unsettled as before for Ollie and Gav. He's off on a mission and she's trying to stay out of trouble and hire a new chef. But try as she might Ollie can't avoid danger. Mugged on the way home, she is not the only White House staffer having trouble. Peter Sergeant's assistant goes missing and is later found murdered. Secret Service determine that both instances are related and that Ollie is in great danger.

The danger and how the issues revolve around Ollie will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, permanently!

I was so looking forward to this the next in the White House Chef series but when I found out that it was the last in the series, I put off reading it because I didn't want these characters to end.

This was best in the series so Ms. Hyzy has done Ollie and Gav proud by leaving the reader wanting more.

I haven't read any of Ms Hyzy's other series, but now that Ollie and Gav are going into the sunset, I will hopefully finding characters and stories that are as entertaining and as well written.

Well done Julie Hyzy! Your books in this series were tremendous! ( )

Foreign Eclairs is the ninth book in the A White House Chef series.

Another excellent story from Mz. Hzyz. It's possibly the most exciting in this wonderful series

The story starts out with an attempted prison breakout of Farbod Ansari, an Armustan national, that Ollie helped imprison. Gav has been assigned to investigate the attempted breakout, then one evening as Ollie is on her way home, she is accosted with the person only taking her Cellphone. What with the breakout and so little being taken from her, the Secret Service believes the attack was at Ollie and not just a random robbery.

Then when Margaret, the Chief Usher's secretary, is tortured and murder, the Secret Service know that security at the White House has been severely compromised. Then when Gav gets back they plan to go out to dinner at little place they frequently dine at. They are late in leaving for the restaurant and as they are just a block away, an explosion rocks the restaurant. It is soon learned that the bomb went off at the table they had reserved.

There now is now doubt in anybodies mind at the White House that the leader of Arnustan is definitely trying to kill Ollie. Now it is up to Ollie and Gav to decide if they will walk away from the jobs and town they love or let Ollie be the bait to draw these despicable character out into the open.

The book has a very exciting and surprising ending.

As always, another excellently plotted and written story from Mz. Hyzy.

It is with a heavy heart that I say this is the last book in The White House Chef series. I fell in love with the title of the first book, State of the Onion, and have enjoyed all nine of the books immensely.

Delicious recipes are also included in the book ( )