Cady's Canteen*****
Extended Version (by Andrea Maxand)
Last Christmas, author Andrea Maxand wrote a nine-episode Kindle Vella story called Christmas at Cady’s Canteen. I guess she had so much fun writing this little love story that she decided to keep it going into the new year. Now, the extended version, Cady’s Canteen, has 53 episodes and counting. The holiday short, let’s call it, had only four characters: Jess’s mom, Jess the Gal, Dev the Guy, and Canteen waitress Mimi. The extended version gives us many more characters, including, and definitely not least, Jess’s cat, Bianca. The first episode of the extended version brings us back to the canteen, where we learn a little more about Mimi than we did previously. We learn that Mimi is quite adept at dealing with misogynistic clientele. We see a bit of her sisterly tenderness toward Dev. She fondly remembers Jess, who she feels to be a good match for Dev and hopes will return to the canteen. Dev, who lives within walking distance of the canteen, is the subject of the second episode. Maxand gives us a basic character sketch for him. For example, we learn of the personal tragedy that motivated him to become an EMT. Then we’re back to Jess in the third episode, and that successfully sets the stage for the forthcoming plots. The primary plot, of course, is the budding romance between Dev and Jess; but in the background there’s a serial killer mystery in which Mimi plays a leading part as amateur sleuth. Mimi furthermore lies in wonderful contrast to the rosy interactions between the principals, for, as you will learn if you proceed beyond the free episodes, she is a married woman whose marriage has lost its spark. Her husband, Brian, is a dud whose only after-work interest is television. With a young (20-something) love main plot, a faded love sub-plot, and a murder spree, Maxand gives us three genres for the price of one.
If you like my Kindle Vella write-ups, consider dropping a dime in my tip jar: https://ko-fi.com/heavycrownpress.
The story: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BRBMB148
The prequel:
Christmas at Cady's Canteen*****
The story: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BQQPM449 A heroine named Jess, who might or might not be comparable to Bridget Jones, spends a lonely Christmas Eve with a mother she barely tolerates. She wants to have a great relationship with her mom, if only her mom would be less aggravating. They watch