If you loved the Frosted Love series…you’ll love this 4th installment in the series that continues the adventures of Missy, Chas, and the rest of the gang. They’ve moved from Louisiana to Calgon, Florida, and have picked up an interesting cast of characters along the way!
Missy and Echo travel back to LaChance, Louisiana to plan Grayson and Sarah’s wedding. Missy loves the changes that Grayson has made to her old shop, but finds herself feeling nostalgic when she revisits the town where she was born and raised.
When a woman and her mother are found murdered in a “haunted” house just a few miles from Missy’s old neighborhood, Missy and Echo find themselves swept up in a chilling search for the truth. (Summary via Goodreads)
I hope you have eaten before you start reading because the cupcakes in this book are to die for. Loved this book. Chai Cupcake Killer is #4 in The INNcredibly Sweet Series. Summer Prescott was so sweet to dedicate a character to a special young reader in this book. I fell in love with the character of Destiny. She is a smart, adventurous tween that travels the country in an RV with her parents. She loves to read and is described as a bookworm. Her favorite genre is mysteries and ends up being right in the middle of one.
Missy and Echo are headed to LaChance, Louisiana to help her former employee Grayson and his fiancé Sarah plan their wedding. Missy loves what they have done to her old store. She takes a walk down memory lane and ends up at the park where she meets Destiny. Little does Missy know but she will be seeing a lot of Destiny and be in the middle of a murder mystery!
Destiny goes for a seemingly innocent walk when she stumbles upon a house. She loves to meet people since she is in an RV all the time. She goes to the house hoping to meet new people and ends up finding two dead bodies. When she first enters the house she notices a box of G&G Cupcakes Galore on the table half eaten.
By the time Missy ends up back at the store the police are there to question Grayson. And Detective Simmons has already made his mind up that Grayson is suspect number one. YIKES! Destiny comes into the shop and gives just enough information for Missy and Echo to start their own investigation much to the dismay of Grumpy Simmons.
Will they be able to help their friend before he ends up in jail? Can a tween they just met help them track down a killer before he or she strikes again???
I love this series and all the characters. Especially Spencer! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book because this one left us with a lot of of surprises.
Review by Penny M.
Small container of pickle spears......$2.99
Hot corned beef sandwich................$6.99
Large antipasto platter ..................$10.99
*Green olives included*
One cold dead body......(Prices may vary)
Josie and her best friend, Brad, are next in line at Greenville's famous pastrami-sandwich-producing hotspot--Danny's Deli. Their highly anticipated lunch break turns stale when employee Gordy Fitzgerald's body is found in the freezer.
Word soon surfaces that Gordy had been stabbed shortly before being found--and the weapon is missing. Locals are devastated by the discovery, and the amount of speculation on the killer's identity is far greater than the holes on a block of Swiss cheese.
Who killed the beloved sandwich wizard?
Josie's untamed curiosity is determined to answer just that.
Along the way, she has a few tasks at hand: maintaining a blog, coming to terms with her feelings for Tony, and keeping up with the shenanigans of her corgi, Petey.
All this, and finding a killer.
Shouldn't be too hard. Living in a small town like Greenville, there's no place anyone can hide.
Not even a murderer...right? (Summary via Goodreads)
Sliced and Toasted with Murder book two in A Josie Rizzo Cozy mystery series is a culinary and mystery lovers dream come true. Both of these elements along with the amazing characters are a must read!
Josie and Brad are on their lunch break from The Box Bistro and decide to check out a staple in Grenville, Danny's Deli. They don't quite get what they were expecting when the clerk finds Gordy the best sandwich maker in town dead in the walk in freezer. This causes Josie's investigation radar to go off and ends up smack dab in the middle of it along with Brad and of course Petey. They are trying to find out why someone would want to kill a man who everyone loved???
Even with all of her investigating she still manages her food blog "Good Eatin' For The Curvy Soul" and living her dream. But she is also at a crossroads and needs to figure out her true feelings for Tony, her friend and boss who she has known all her life. WOW she has a lot going on! Will she and Brad be able to solve this case before anyone else gets hurt or will someone get away with murder?
I can't say enough good things about this cozy! If I could give it more than five stars I would hands down. It is so fun and entertaining you will be laughing out loud. Especially with Gerte's sense of humor and Petey's lack of exercise. I had tears from laughing so hard with the antics Petey was doing. On to book three.
Review by Penny M.
Real estate agent and super sleuth, Cindy York, has always been haunted by thoughts of her childhood friend, Paul Steadman, who committed suicide 25 years ago. A high school reunion and the prospective sale of his former home—where Cindy was the one to discover his lifeless body—bring the memories back in full force. New boss and best friend, Jacques Forte, pleads with her to accept the listing as their agency is going through some rough financial times.
But Cindy gets more than she negotiated for when new information comes to light that convinces her Paul’s death was anything but self-inflicted. Vowing justice for her friend, Cindy’s meddling only leads to further complications with the Steadman family as she quickly uncovers hot details to a very cold case. Cindy needs to close the deal and find a killer—before she too winds up six feet under! (Summary via Goodreads)
I love it when we can provide you with 2 reviews of a book. And Priced to Kill by Catherine Bruns is one of them. Penny & I have both read the book and I believe you will see that we both agree with how awesome this book is.......
Review by Missi S.....
I fell in love with Cindy York and the author Catherine Bruns with her first book, Killer Transaction, in the Cindy York Mystery Series. Catherine has such a knack with drawing the reader in from page 1 until the end and then she leaves you wanting more ! ! !
I loved the story line with Cindy trying to solve her best friend's death....from 25 years ago ! The story that Paul had committed suicide did not make sense to Cindy and she has never been able to let it go. Even though she married, had kids and had a career, she always held doubt. Then when she goes to a reunion at the house where Paul had taken his life by invitation of his brother, Ben and his wife things change drastically. Now Cindy has proof that he couldn't have killed himself.
How far will Cindy go to solve the case and finally be able to lay her best friend in peace ? How far will the murderer go to keep this 25 year old secret from being solved ?
I don't want to say more, even though I would love to. You will want to read this book yourself. If you aren't already a huge fan of Catherine Bruns and her books, what are you waiting for ??
Review by Penny M.....
Priced to Kill by Catherine Bruns is the second book in the Cindy York mysteries. It is a fast paced, exciting read. I love the strong married heroine, Cindy York. She has a lot to juggle with a set of twins, a teenage daughter, and a husband who is a bit horny. She is also a real estate agent with her best friend Jacques Fortes. She is working for Jacques trying to work through this hard time for real estate.
Things start to look up for them when Cindy gets a phone call from her past. Ben and Michelle Steadman are looking to sell their mansion and moved to Bermuda. They want Cindy to sell it for them. This is really hard for Cindy because 25 years ago Paul Steadman, her best friend died from an apparent suicide in the house and she is the one who found him. Things never sat well for Cindy with Paul's suicide and Ben wants her to not only sell the house but go to the HS reunion at the house to open a time capsule. At the reunion something happens that could change everyone's life forever!
With the help of her best buddy Jacques they are about to make a huge sale and open up a cold case 25 years in the making. This sell may put them in more danger than they realize.
This book sucks you in from the start and doesn't let go till the end. This series has it all, mystery,murder, secrets, lies, and a ton of adventure so hold on to your seats for a great read.
Book 8 in the Darling Deli Series:
Life is good as Moira moves into her new house and Candice prepares for the opening of her Candy Shop, but events suddenly turn sinister as it seems someone in town is trying to sabotage the new business. Moira questions her relationship with David, and Candice is hit with heartache as well, in this latest action-packed installment of The Darling Deli Series. (Summary via Goodreads)
Another home run for The Darling Deli series! This book is Salami Murder book eight. I can't believe how much the characters have grown and have become very beloved.
Moira has finally moved into her beautiful stone house with her dog Maverick. There is plenty of room for him to run around and Moira to enjoy the peaceful privacy. This is also a very exciting time for Candice, Moira's daughter because she is getting ready for the grand opening of her candy store, Candice's Candy. Moira is happy everything seems to be going smoothly because she deserves it. She is so proud of Candice and is happy she has parted ways with Adrian her on again off again boyfriend for good. David, Moira's "friend" is even helping out by installing video surveillance cameras in the store for added peace of mind. This really puts Moira at ease.
But of course not everything goes off without a hitch. Candice is plagued with one problem after another at the store. Then Moira finds one of Candice's workers dead in the kitchen. Moira is beside herself with worry for her daughter. And she has just found out from her friend Martha that things may not be going as planned for her in the romance department??? What next!!!
Will the police find out who murdered Matt before something bad happens to someone else? Will her Grand Opening become a Grand Nightmare??? Will Moira get her life back on track or will she be derailed???
This cozy series is jam packed full of adventure and mystery. It is a must read cozy.
Review by Penny M.
A dead priest, a mobster, and two Blue Hawaiians…
When the state police try to pin the murder of a shady Catholic priest on piano tuner Sammy Young, she works against the clock to clear her name — and find the real killer. With the help of a cake-loving church secretary, a prospective boyfriend, and the town detective, Sammy delves into the reverend’s dark underworld of seedy business dealings and backroom poker games. As word spreads that Sammy is a prime suspect, her carefree career could meet an untimely end thanks to the rumor mill. But with the culprit still on the loose, the case of who killed the popular preacher only uncovers a series of secrets, lies, and dead ends. Will it take more than a prayer and a creepy caretaker to prove that this piano-loving sleuth didn’t finish off the infamous father? (Summary via Amazon)
What do you get when you have characters like a priest, a mobster, a tattoo artist, and a piano tuner??? No, not a bar joke! You get an amazing new debut cozy mystery. This book had me laughing out loud in places and on the edge of my seat in others. This cozy covers it all from murder and mystery to suspense and intrigue.
Sammy Young is a piano tuner in the small town of Rooks Creek,IL. She loves her work. She feels the music flow through her and knows that every piano (baby) is different. We all have our days when things can get hairy at work and Sammy is no exception. She ends up getting a call from the church secretary, Mary Jean, at St Xavier's saying there is a piano emergency and she needs to come today. When she gets there she realizes it really isn't an emergency since the cover on the piano has an inch of dust on it! Uuuggghhhh! Then to top it off she hasn't been paid from the church for all the other repairs she has done totaling about $500 dollars. She is beyond frustrated but calms down when she sits to play after she has meticulously fixed the baby. She begins to go to her own world until Father "Mick" Shawnessy shows up and gives her his condescending and arrogant attitude. She finally tells him how she feels about not being paid and storms out of the church. When she gets to her car she realizes she doesn't have all her equipment and has to go back the next day after she cools down.
When she returns the next morning she notices all of her equipment in a straight line on the bench and the cover back on. She takes the cover off to play the piano just to make sure everything is in tune and finds that it sounds like a sick cat! She lifts the lid to find more than a bad wire she finds Father Mick dead!!! She screams and runs out.
After calling 911 her life will never be the same. She is now the prime suspect and in a small town that is death to a small business owner. People are cancelling left and right. So she decides she is going to have to investigate herself if she wants to keep afloat. This is when she starts to meet some interesting people like Jack Thorton, tattoo artist and very easy on the eyes. Then she ends up in the underbelly of Rooks Creek as well as high society. Talk about the gamit of suspects!
Will Sammy be able to clear her name and save herself and her business or will her musical ear be silenced forever???
This is a wonderful, fast paced must read debut cozy. I can't wait for book two.
Review by Penny M.
If you loved the Frosted Love series, you’ll love its next chapter…
The INNcredibly Sweet series.
The sleepy seaside town of Calgon, Florida is rocked when a pillar of the community is murdered. Much to the astonishment of Chas, Missy and the gang, the suspects are many and the clues are far too few in this suspenseful tale of mystery and intrigue. (Summary via Goodreads)
This series is a yummy one! Book three Caramel Creme Murder of The INNcredibly Sweet series will have you gripped in suspense.
Missy opens her bakery a little early after she sees an older lady with two cute dogs in her arms at the door. She finds out it is Dayne Baker a pillar in the community of Calgon. She has come in to try out the bakery and introduce herself to Missy. Missy instantly falls for Dayne and she starts to come in almost daily. Soon Missy finds out from her friends Echo and Kel that Dayne is finally going to be noticed this year in the MayDay Parade for all that she has done and still does for Calgon.
Dayne ends up going to see an old friend, Walt at Havenwood a nursing facility. He has Dementia and his wife, her best friend Clara couldn't take care of him at home anymore. She and Clara along with a few other old friends play cards at Clara's every Thursday.
While visiting Walt on his birthday she finds out that his wife Clara had been found murdered! Dayne is devastated and ends up at the bakery crying. Missy and her friends Echo and Kel want to help with the investigation to get justice a help Dayne through this hard time.
Meanwhile Spencer is getting closer and closer to Izzy, the writer staying at the Bed and Breakfast. This has his old friend Janssen none to happy! Then something happens to change everything and has Spencer rethinking everything.
Will Kel find out who killed Clara before another person including Echo and himself get hurt???Will Spencer be able to keep his past a secret or has it finally caught up to him???
This series is a fast paced must read!
Review by Penny M.
Former musician Juliet Langley has barely had a day off since taking over management of the coffeehouse owned by her best friend, Pete Bennett. But there's always more to be done—such as prepping for the annual Holiday 5K Race organized by Pete's snobby socialite girlfriend, Cecilia Hollingsworth. This year, Java Jive has a booth right at the finish line, and since Juliet and Cecilia don't always see eye to eye, everything has to be perfect. Nothing can go wrong. Nothing . . . like Juliet stumbling over Cecilia's dead body on the morning of the race.
When Pete is arrested for Cecilia's murder, Juliet sets out to clear his name. She'll do whatever it takes—even if it means standing up to the police, her ex-boyfriend, and the grande dames of Nashville. But there isn't enough espresso in the world for the greatest challenge in her path: infiltrating Nashville's high society to uncover the hidden hotbed of scandal without running afoul of the law herself. With her last dime staked on Pete's bail bond and her staff growing jittery, the last thing Juliet needs is for her trademark temper to land her behind bars. As time drips away, Juliet needs to crack this case before the killer comes back for another shot. (Summary via Goodreads)
Mug Shot book two in The Java Jive mystery series is not your grandmothers cozy. This is jam packed full of mystery, adventure, as well as piss and vinegar. I love this series with its strong red headed She Devil Juliet. She is the manager at the Java Jive Coffee shop owned by her best friend Pete who she has been in love with since college but that's another story. Pete is still with Cecilla Hollingsworth a snooty socialite that is Jules arch nemesis.
Java Jive is to be at the end of the Holiday 5k with coffee and cookies. Jules goes to set up the tent but instead she finds Cecilla laying dead with a milk frothing thermometer sticking out of her neck. Guess who's fingerprints and DNA are all over Cecilla? Yes, the prime suspect, Pete! Sexy Detective Ryder was there helping deliver the cookies so he called in and Detective Cromwell shows up. Yikes!
Juliet finds out that Pete has a lot of evidence stacked up against him. She is going to do everything she can to keep him out of jail. She ends up going against Ryder and Cromwell to investigate on her own!
Will Jules be able to keep Pete out of jail? Will Jules be able to keep herself out of jail while trying to help?
The ending to this book was so unexpected I was shocked!!! I really loved not knowing who murdered Cecilla until the end. There are so many suspects you will be on the edge of your seat. This book has twists and turns galore. Can't wait for book three.
Review by Penny M.
