Back home again after being falsely accused and arrested for a crime she didn't commit, aromatherapy shop owner Carissa Carmichael finds herself a target again. Even worse, a dead body is found in her as yet unopened shop. One she was seen having an altercation with earlier. Never mind that the man, Russ, is the son of the next door shop owner, Victoria, who believes Carissa and she can work together to benefit both shops. Russ is angry and fears Carissa will take business, ie money, from his mother. Oh, did I mention he is, er, was in his 30's? Never mind. He's dead and the detective sent in to relieve her police chief father of the case due to conflict of interest is determined she is guilty. He may be wickedly handsome but he is definitely not on Cari's side. Heck, even Victoria accuses her of killing her son in an outburst of emotion. And this is where the story begins to take off.
I won't detail the plot. As it turns out, Russ had more than his share of enemies and, well, small towns have secrets. Never mind that Oak Creek seems an idyllic place, full of artists, New Age type residents and businesses, and is one of those small towns that help us stereotype small towns. So, who killed Russ? Why are the detective and Cari's police chief father seemingly at odds? Why is everyone telling her she needs a dog? What's going on with Jasper? Why has Cari shut herself off from most old friends? Why is Mari there? Will Ashley be a help or hindrance? How does one hire new workers while under suspicion of murder? Will Cari ever stop saying, "Daaaaadd!" And, oh, so much more. There are even hints of romance.
Bottom line, I liked Oak Creek and the characters. Heck, even the bad guys had interesting backstories. The dialogue seemed natural and I definitely loved Carissa's chats with her father. Well, aside from her flipping back into school girl mode at times. I'll also point out that as can be expected by a Kim Davis book, there is lots of talk about food. Definitely do not miss Jasper's recipe at the end. Speaking of not to be missed, do not skip the Aromatherapy Basic Care Guide at the end, either. I was expecting lots of talk about mixing and creating but, instead, it's full of practical, daily life suggestions on how aromatherapy ingredients can be a help in one's day-to-day life. The plot, while there were a few slow moments, often when Carissa mused about the food or her crush on someone or how handsome another guy was, moves along well and Davis does a good job tying the various seeming side-stories together at the end. I'm looking forward to next book when the shop fully opens and watching the development of the interesting cast of characters growing about Carissa. Thanks #BookSirens and #KimDavis for allowing me this look into Carissa's business and all the related info shared. I found it both helpful and intriguing.
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