MERRY CHRISTMAS
Yeast of Eden by Amanda Fox
(A Pancake House Mystery)
Kensington Books Publishing
Christmas is right around the corner and things are getting festive at the Flip Side. At least until Wally the self proclaimed Waffle King announces his arrival. Wally is long on odious and short on friends and soon finds himself, or rather Ivan finds the man dead in the Waffle Kingdom store, a victim of foul play and liquid nitrogen. Was it for money, for revenge, or for no other reason than because the guy was a blow hard. Now the sheriff has his sights set on Lisa and Ivan as possible suspects and there is now way that Marley can sit this one out. Balancing the business her boyfriend Brett, Marley will get to the bottom of not one but three murders. This was another great installment and I really enjoyed the mystery within the mystery. Looking forward to the next Flip Side and starting the new book pub series expected to release next month.
Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jaqueline Frost
( A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery)
Crooked Lane Books Publishing
What a fun story! Mistletoe, Maine is a winter wonderland and what better place to grow up than on a Christmas tree farm with a lumberjack for a Dad and a baker supreme for a Mom. The only thing better is to be a crafty gal who is about to run her own Inn on the family property that holds Reindeer Games during the festive time of the year. Unlike other characters I've encountered, Holly is threatened from the get go for trying to help her Caroline who is suspected of knifing a local judge's son and leaving him dead in a giant bowl of candy mints. Several people have a motive and means, more so than cupcake creator Caroline and faster than you can say Chris Cringle the Contractor (could it be) Holly is working through the clues and a menacing mints, while recycling glass into the cutest bracelets that are being ordered faster than she can create. With all of this and the Hearth restaurant going through a major kitchen remodel and the construction of the Inn how will Holly get it all done without being done in! Great read loved the teasing bit of romance with the local Sheriff and the introduction of his sister. Can't wait for the next one!
Premediated Peppermint by Amanda Fowler
(Amish Candy Shop Myster #3)
Kensington Publishing
Bailey King, New York confectionary creator and one of the few non-Amish workers in the town of Harvest, Ohio is ready for the Christmas season with peppermint bark and her new romance with the local deputy. Last thing she needs is for her ex-boyfriend Chef Eric Sharp to blow into her town like a blizzard with Hollywood hype and a producer bent on filming a "real" Amish Christmas. Seems no one likes his yelling personality on the reality chef show. Bailey wouldn't mind a little publicity but not when it becomes murder and the main suspect is Eric. Bailey is as soft hearted as a marshmallow in a cup of warm cocoa and does her best to help Eric while making it clear that his amorous attentions are not wanted. Why give her boyfriend the investigating Sheriff's Deputy any more reason to lock him up than he already has. Thankfully her partner in crime or chocolate; the new boss at JP Chocolates, Cass is back to help. Bailey is a wonderful character and those recipes are the BEST. Read this fast and still didn't figure it out until the very end, so many possibilities and a twist or two for added measure. The only thing sweeter than this story is the next one that I can't wait to read!
(A Tea and Read Mystery)
Crooked Lane Books Publishing
They say you can never go home, but Callie Aspen is just visiting during her slow season as an international tour guide. Back in Heart's Harbor to help Aunt Iphy to oversee an afternoon tea party complete with puzzle cake based on an Brother Cadfael mystery. This authors first cozy is off to a good start. Callie seems to be your typical heroine/main character with the good heart and inquisitive spirit. She is a little older, but she has been leading a busy whirlwind life abroad visiting far off exotic places leading grand tours. She is a little more morose than most but once she realizes that she no longer has the "school girl crush" feelings the thoughts of "what if" or regret disappear making her even more determined to learn who did in the gardener and why. What is the secret of the will and who will be the master of Haywood Hall.. Not as light hearted as a normal cozy but the story ends on a sweet note filled with future possibilities, if Callie just looks for them. Just like I will be on the lookout for Joy Avon's next installment Sweet Tea and Secrets.
(A Food Lovers Village)
Midnight Ink Books Publishing
It's Christmas time and the whole town is busy decorating Main Street with lights and all the trimmings. All those special touches like the items you might find at The Merc, the place to find your boutique-like specialty foods, for the true foodie. It's a time for family and friends or at least you would think so, but not for Merrily who returns home after turning her life around only to find that it isn't enough for her Mom who is as cold as the weather in Jewel Bay. Erin Murphy the manager of Murphy's Mercantile AKA The Merc believes in second chances and befriends Merrily, just in time for the annual cookie exchange. Unfortunately Merrily never makes it to the exchange and won't be able to make anymore in the future. Erin works to not only clear Merrily's name of theft suspicions but to also find the killer as well as plan her wedding that is set to take place on Christmas eve. I would LOVE to have the multitasking skills of the cozy heroine. Erin is a fun character and her conviction in getting to the bottom and belief in someone she barely knew was heart warming. Looking forward to the next installment. OH and if you like to cook you will LOVE the recipes as the end of the story. I really appreciate that they are not in the middle, so that I don't get side tracked.
Christmas Cake Murder by Joanna Fluke
It's Christmas time and the whole town is busy decorating Main Street with lights and all the trimmings. All those special touches like the items you might find at The Merc, the place to find your boutique-like specialty foods, for the true foodie. It's a time for family and friends or at least you would think so, but not for Merrily who returns home after turning her life around only to find that it isn't enough for her Mom who is as cold as the weather in Jewel Bay. Erin Murphy the manager of Murphy's Mercantile AKA The Merc believes in second chances and befriends Merrily, just in time for the annual cookie exchange. Unfortunately Merrily never makes it to the exchange and won't be able to make anymore in the future. Erin works to not only clear Merrily's name of theft suspicions but to also find the killer as well as plan her wedding that is set to take place on Christmas eve. I would LOVE to have the multitasking skills of the cozy heroine. Erin is a fun character and her conviction in getting to the bottom and belief in someone she barely knew was heart warming. Looking forward to the next installment. OH and if you like to cook you will LOVE the recipes as the end of the story. I really appreciate that they are not in the middle, so that I don't get side tracked.
Christmas Cake Murder by Joanna Fluke
(A Hannah Swenson Novel)
Kensington Books Publishing
I have been a long time Joanne Fluke/Hannah Swenson fan. From the story lines to awesome cookie recipes every book has been a blue ribbon winner. The Christmas Cake Murder is the best one yet because it is the prequel. Before she was married, before the dentist and the cop, before the cookie truck and the shop there was a girl who loved to cook and was finished with school, who moved back home and suffered the loss of her father. To get her Mom to reengage life after the death of her husband Hannah, her two sisters and a couple of civic minded ladies. This is a story within a story quite literally as Hannah reads each night from Essie's story book journals. This is a great story and just in time for the holiday season. Wonderful recipes for both cakes and cookies can be found scattered through the story, usually shortly after Hannah makes them. I for one cannot wait to try my hand at the hazelnut truffles.
Death of a Russian Doll by Barbara Early
(Vintage Toy Shop Mystery)
Crooked Lane Publishing
New favorite character! Liz is a no nonsense, straight-up, heroine! So very relatable with spot on character development. While she would never wish her ex boyfriend ‘s wife any ill will, she certainly goes above and beyond to help solve her murder to help prove that Police chief Ken, aka the ex didn’t do it. That doesn’t mean she will forgive his forgetting to mention that he had an estranged Russian bombshell for a wife. Besides, there are better slightly more mature fish in the sea whom even her former police chief father approves of. Speaking of former, Liz’s Dad is put back on active duty to head up the investigation which spurns Liz on even harder to help solve the mystery of the holiday who done it to the hairstylist. Her Dad is supposed to be enjoying his golden years as a rare and collectible toy seller, not giving Liz conniptions about his health and well being. Leave it to Liz though as she pieces the puzzle together.
I have been a long time Joanne Fluke/Hannah Swenson fan. From the story lines to awesome cookie recipes every book has been a blue ribbon winner. The Christmas Cake Murder is the best one yet because it is the prequel. Before she was married, before the dentist and the cop, before the cookie truck and the shop there was a girl who loved to cook and was finished with school, who moved back home and suffered the loss of her father. To get her Mom to reengage life after the death of her husband Hannah, her two sisters and a couple of civic minded ladies. This is a story within a story quite literally as Hannah reads each night from Essie's story book journals. This is a great story and just in time for the holiday season. Wonderful recipes for both cakes and cookies can be found scattered through the story, usually shortly after Hannah makes them. I for one cannot wait to try my hand at the hazelnut truffles.
(Vintage Toy Shop Mystery)
Crooked Lane Publishing
New favorite character! Liz is a no nonsense, straight-up, heroine! So very relatable with spot on character development. While she would never wish her ex boyfriend ‘s wife any ill will, she certainly goes above and beyond to help solve her murder to help prove that Police chief Ken, aka the ex didn’t do it. That doesn’t mean she will forgive his forgetting to mention that he had an estranged Russian bombshell for a wife. Besides, there are better slightly more mature fish in the sea whom even her former police chief father approves of. Speaking of former, Liz’s Dad is put back on active duty to head up the investigation which spurns Liz on even harder to help solve the mystery of the holiday who done it to the hairstylist. Her Dad is supposed to be enjoying his golden years as a rare and collectible toy seller, not giving Liz conniptions about his health and well being. Leave it to Liz though as she pieces the puzzle together.
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