A new administration is entering the White House.  White House Executive Chef Ollie Paras & her staff are struggling with the change.  It’s not out of the ordinary for White House staff to be replaced when a new administration comes in.

Inauguration Day is a hectic day at the White House, for obvious reasons.  When a box of take-out chicken shows up in the White House kitchen, with the names of the First children listed on the box, Ollie follows Secret Service protocol and refuses to deliver the chicken to the First Family, for good reason it turns out. This causes an uproar with the First Lady who is unaccustomed to the strict safety rules enforced by the Secret Service.  This isn’t exactly put Ollie in a good light, in the First Lady’s eyes. 

As if things can’t get worse, Ollie learns that the First Family intends on bringing their personal chef into the White House, causing more drama and stress on Ollie & her staff. 

Simultaneously, drama unfolds at a local hospital when Armustonian extremists take the hospital, and several White House staff, captive. It’s obvious that someone is after the new First Family.  An agent that played a big role at the White House in the past has returned to head up the investigation.

Can Ollie, and her career, survive this change in administration?

Buffalo West Wing is the fourth book in the White House Chef Mystery series and without a doubt is my favorite.  The new First Family mirrors the Obama family, down to the grandmother living at the White House to help with the children & the creation of a new White House garden.  Not knowing much more about the family, I hope the not so pleasant things Ollie experiences with them is pure fiction!

Another reason I enjoyed this book is it really showcases how much Ollie’s grown & evolved since becoming the Executive Chef. Not that she was ever weak, in Buffalo West Wing the reader really gets to see the strong & tough side of Ollie.

I can’t forget to mention the lovely recipes printed in the back of the book, including one for buffalo wing sauce that I plan on trying out this weekend!

Upon finishing this book, I quite literally regretted turning the last page.  The characters were so real that I feel as though I’m saying goodbye to friends who are moving away.  I’m hoping there are many more books to be released in this series, as Hyzy has won me over with her writing. I’m still kicking myself for not starting this series sooner, but now I hope to be able to relive the characters in subsequent books she publishes.

Stay tuned for a special guest post from the author Julie Hyzy later today.

Olivia “Ollie” Paras is the White House Assistant Chef.  Her mentor, Henry, is retiring and Ollie is in the running for his spot.  Also in the running is TV celebrity chef Laurel Anne Braun, an obnoxious and condescending woman.  Ollie & Laurel have a past, one that Laurel won’t let Ollie forget. As if Ollie doesn’t have enough to worry about, she literally runs into an intrude on the front lawn of the White House.  While she tries to stay out of the way of the Secret Service Agents chasing the masked man,  when Ollie sees he’s getting away she knocks him out with a frying pan she’s planning on giving Henry as a retirement gift.

The Secret Service is less than impressed with her interference, specifically Secret Service Agent Thomas MacKenzie, Ollie’s boyfriend. 

The stress and tension increase when the President becomes involved in a peace treaty agreement in the Middle East.  The Chameleon, an extremely dangerous assasin, is out to put a stop to this agreement. Ollie’s involvement puts her life in danger as well. Will she survive long enough to be granted the position as White House Executive Chef?

I’ve kicked myself for not reading this series sooner!  As a resident of the DC area, I really loved that this series is based in my “hometown.” The White House kitchen setting was fresh and unique.  The additional details about the White House & the inner workings really added to the story.  The author had the opportunity to interview a former Executive Chef to the White House, so the information revealed is true to life.

Additionally, one can’t help but fall in love with the characters, even the irritating ones.  As if this isn’t enough, the mystery behind the intruder & the subsequent actions really pull you in.  Food lovers will love the 20+ pages of recipes at the end of the book!

Stay tuned for reviews of the rest of the books in this series, including HAIL TO THE CHEF, EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS & BUFFALO WEST WING, scheduled to post later this week!