Book Review: Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower

Bailey King is living the sweet life as assistant chocolatier at world-famous JP Chocolates in New York City. But just when Bailey’s up for a life-changing promotion, her grandmother calls with news that her grandfather’s heart condition has worsened. Bailey rushes to Harvest, Ohio, where her grandparents still run Swissmen Sweets, the Amish candy shop where she was first introduced to delicious fudge, truffles, and other assorted delights.

She finds her grandfather is doing better than she feared. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for a local Englisch developer, whom Bailey finds dead in the candy shop kitchen—with Jebediah King’s chocolate knife buried in his chest. Now the police are sweet on her grandfather as the prime suspect. Despite the sincere efforts of a yummy deputy with chocolate-brown eyes, Bailey takes it on herself to clear Jebediah. But as a cunning killer tries to fudge the truth, Bailey may be headed straight into a whole batch of trouble . . .[summary via Goodreads]

THEME: Culinary. Bailey is a chocolatier and her grandparents own "Swissmen Sweets".

CRIME: Bailey discovers the body of businessman, Tyson Colton, who has been trying to buy her grandparent's shop.

   

DENOUEMENT: I didn't solve the mystery before Bailey! I love when this happens, because I usually have a little idea or a wild guess, that turns out to be right. I was completely clueless! The author definitely kept me guessing!! The mystery is top-notch!

FURRY SIDEKICK: Nutmeg, the cat, and Jethro, the pig, provide a lot of delight furry sidekick action! I'm still trying to decide who is cuter!

ROMANCE: Oh there is so much potential with Deputy, Aiden Brody. Bailey starts the book with a boyfriend in NYC, but well.... things are different by the end of the book! I'm looking forward to see if things progress with Aiden!

MY VERDICT: I loved it! The ending was very bittersweet. [I don't want to spoil it for potential readers!] I absolutely can't wait to read the next book. Not just for the mystery, but also for the chocolate and candy!

Book Review: Closely Harboured Secrets by Bree Baker

It's almost Halloween, and the small island of Charm, North Carolina is decked out for the festivities. When Everly Swan agrees to close her iced tea shop early to help her aunts host their annual haunted historic walking tour, she expects some good-natured spooks. But the night turns grave when one of the ghostly actors is found dead. To complicate matters, the victim scratched Everly's name into the ground before she died, making her a key suspect. 

The murder mystery heats up when Everly's potential boo, Detective Grady, takes the case—and he definitely doesn't want her getting involved. Will their seaside romance be threatened by all the ghostly drama? But when a phantom sailor straight out of local legend starts leaving Everly threatening messages, she has to get involved... With a local election under way, ghosts on the loose, and a search for long-lost buried treasure, Everly can't help but stir the pot![summary via Amazon]

'Tis the season to be... spooked by long-lost sailors in search of their treasure! While it is the season for cookies, gifts and all things Christmas, I will never turn down a good Halloween-themed cozy mystery, no matter what season it is!

I was delighted to pick up the newest offering from Bree Baker. She is taking Everly and her family and friends in Charm, on a spooky ghost walk. However, not everyone is going to make it out alive! One of the actresses turns up dead, and the dead woman has drawn Everly's name right next to her, prior to her death! Naturally Everly can't help but join the investigation and find out who the killer is!

Oh how I love this series! This is the absolute perfect example of a super-fantastic cozy mystery series. There are toe-curling moments, not just between Everly and Detective Grady, but also from the warmth that surrounds Everly in the form of her family. Of course by family I mean her Great-Aunts, Fran and Clara, and also her extended friends-family in Charm. There is such a wonderful community feel, and I always feel like I'm not just checking in Everly, but with everyone else as well!

The mystery surrounds "buried treasure" and it was top notch! I love how the author has intertwined the history of Everly's house with the current mystery. Charm is like an onion - every book reveals more layers! With each layer being better than the previous one!

I simply cannot get enough of this series or say enough good things about it! Closely Harbored Secrets is the best in the series (so far!). It's a heart-warming, thrilling adventure, and it leaves readers guessing right until the end! 

Book Review: Dying in a Winter Wonderland

Christmas has arrived in Rudolph, New York, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to a much needed rest. But before that can happen, Luanne Ireland walks through her door. Luanne had asked Merry to help make decorations for her wedding, but has suddenly moved the wedding months earlier and is now demanding that everyone follow her lead, regardless of the cost.

But that cost is much higher than anyone anticipated. When Luanne's fiancé is found murdered at their proposed wedding venue, Merry resolves to restore peace and calm to the community of Rudolph. But the closer she gets to the killer, the more personal the case becomes, and Merry begins to worry that a death knell could ring in the New Year. [summary via Amazon]

It's almost Christmas and I'm back with the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries for another dose of Christmas Spirit!

This year my Christmas spirit has ran away from me a little. With my father about to start radiation treatment, I'm finding myself not quite enthusiastic about the upcoming holiday season. While I can't say that Dying in a Winter Wonderland cured all my ills, it certainly did make me forget about my father's health for a little while and magically transplant me back to Rudolph. To a little town where Merry Wilkinson knows how to find trouble and solve a crime!

This time Merry is getting ready for the holidays. It should be a peaceful time to spend with her family and boyfriend, Alan. However Luanne Ireland has sped back into her life, and is demanding she help her with her wedding! A wedding that is due to take place in seven weeks! However, before much planning can be done Luanne's fiancé is found dead... and Merry's brother, Chris, is accused of the crime!

What a tantalizing mystery! Early on I guessed who the killer was, but it didn't take any enjoyment away from the story at all!! Vicki Delany writes well plotted mysteries, and I enjoyed watching Merry pick up all the clues and clear her brother's name!

I absolutely love Rudolph and I wish I could visit there. It sounds simply magical in the winter, especially leading right up to Christmas, and Merry's father being the local Santa Claus! I enjoyed visiting with not just the Wilkinson's, but all of their friends as well! I love the little threads that link the characters in previous books, and watching how their lives unfold. You could easily read this as a standalone, but after a taste of Rudolph you're going to want to read them all!

Dying in a Winter Wonderland was simply magical, and I absolutely can't wait for the next book!

Book Review: A Call for Kelp by Bree Baker

Everly Swan is busy as a bee running her beachside iced tea shop, and the small island of Charm, North Carolina is abuzz—Mitzi Calgon, an iconic Hollywood actress, is in town! Everly's great-aunts are making a documentary about beekeeping and Mitzi has agreed to help. Aunt Clara and Aunt Fran are determined to save endangered honeybees but soon find themselves in a bind when Mitzi turns up dead. Soon, reporters and fans swarm the island, muddying the water and disrupting the peaceful lives of the townspeople.

Everly's never been good at minding her own beeswax, so she starts following her own leads and combing through the evidence. Then there's the mystery of Detective Hays—ever since their kiss under the mistletoe, he's been acting distant. And he's annoyingly determined to keep Everly away from the case. With her beekeeping aunts' reputations on the line, the sleuth will stop at nothing to crack the case. But when she receives a cryptic warning to "Bee Careful", Everly realizes that she's gotten herself into a really sticky situation...[summary via Amazon]

I'm back reading cozy mysteries and the first one on my list is the latest Seaside Cafe Mystery, A Call for Kelp. I always enjoy catching up with Everly and her aunts and seeing what is happening in the picturesque town of Charm.

In this adventure Everly's great-aunts have a few visitors in town to help with the documentary they are making about beekeeping. One visitor is a friend of Everly's grandmother, Mitzi Calgon. When Mitzi turns up dead, all evidence points to someone close to Everly and she must do all she can to find the real killer.

The Seaside Cafe Mysteries never disappoint and I'm so glad I picked this one up! The mystery itself was very intriguing, as I tried to solve it alongside Everly. Beyond the mystery, Everly manages to untangle some mysteries surrounding folks in Charm as well. It's these characters with such depth that has me coming back again and again. 

While I'm not an avid beekeeper (beyond enjoying honey!) I like that there is more than just the tea shop to interest readers. I'm definitely learning a lot reading this series.. well enough to know I don't want to tangle with a bee!

If you enjoy a light-hearted, intriguing mystery, with enough charming characters to fill a cozy town, then this series is for you. The absolutely icing on the cake (or lemon slice in your tea!) is the delectable delights that Everly cooks up. I absolutely can't wait to visit Charm again!

Book Review: Southern Sass & Killer Cravings by Kate Young

For generations, the women of the Brown family on Peach Cove Island have been known for their Southern sass and sweet homemade desserts at their beloved Peach Diner. Since their mother's passing two years ago, Marygene has been stuck in Atlanta while her sister Jena Lynn has been running the family business. Now Marygene has left her husband and returned to her hometown, where she can almost feel Mama's presence.

But all is not peachy back home. Marygene has barely tied on an apron when a diner regular drops dead at the counter. When it turns out the old man's been poisoned, Jena Lynn is led away in handcuffs and the family eatery is closed. Now, to save her sister and the diner, Marygene must find the real killer. With some startling assistance from her Mama's spirit, Marygene will be serving up a special order of just desserts . . .[summary via Amazon]

Summer is for reading cozy mysteries set by the sea! This setting is fast becoming my favourite as I've read several wonderful "island" mysteries lately, including the Seaside Cafe Mysteries by Bree Baker and the Cookie House Mysteries by Eve Calder. After finishing Southern Sass and Killer Cravings I can now add another wonderful "island" mystery series to the list!

Marygene is returning home to Peach Cove Island, recovering from an abusive marriage. She's ready to help her sister, Jena Lynn, with the baking at her family cafe, the Peach Diner. However, not all goes to plan when Jena Lynn inadvertently poisons a customer, who moments later turns up dead. Now it's up to Marygene to clear her sister's name and find the real killer.

From the first page I was instantly charmed by Southern Charm and Killer Cravings. For me, southern charm and island delights are the perfect pairing, and I'm happy to report that Kate Young does this combo justice with the first Marygene Brown Mystery.

I like Marygene. She's still licking her wounds from a terrible marriage, but she's all about family and she's determined to find a killer and clear her sister's name. Her adventure is somewhat complicated by her father, who she has a rocky relationship with, and is the Sheriff, and ex-boyfriend and now Deputy, Alex. However her best friend, Betsy, is by her side and ready to get them into lots of trouble!! All of these fun characters combined to create one of the best "firsts" I've read in a while. This was absolutely unputdownable!

If you love books oozing with southern charm, and mouth-watering treats, then you should race to your nearest bookstore/library and grab a copy of Southern Sass and Killer Cravings. It's a charming mystery that will keep you up late, as you try to devour it in one sitting! I absolutely can't wait for the next one!