I love the ways in which this series has gone deeper into the psyches and relationships of the Ferrara Family it’s named for as it progresses, culminating in this excellent examination of mothers and daughters and what siblings owe one another, all with a murder mystery woven throughout. Murder at the Mistletoe Ball is almost…
Donut-maker Emily Westhill is looking forward to a white Christmas, especially if it means extra ski time with police detective Brent Nyce at the chalet home he’s just bought a short way outside of their town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Of course, ski time isn’t the only kind of time she’s looking forward to spending with…
Samantha Barnes is hoping that her notoriety as a viral YouTube star for slicing off her now-ex-husband’s fingertip during an ill-advised knife fight has died down so she can concentrate on her life as a restaurant critic and maker of far tamer accompanying food videos. With the holiday season coming up, she’s also preoccupied with…
Mia Carina is gearing up for a busy holiday season, both at the Belle View Banquet Manor she runs with her dad, Ravello—former mob guy gone straight—and at home with her paternal grandmother, Elisabetta, who is hellbent on winning the annual block decoration award. At work, at least, she has the help of a mostly…
Time to check out the beginning of a delightful culinary cozy mystery series by one of my favorite authors! I came to this series a bit later in its run and am so thrilled to get a chance to go back to its very start here for this column. Thirty-something artist Maggie Crozat has returned…
Vintner Parker Valentine is looking forward to a working vacation with her boyfriend, Reid; her brother Liam, and her best friend, Sage—the latter two of whom are dating as well. The foursome is headed to the Silver Creek Lodge where Parker plans to pitch her Snowy Day Syrah and accompanying mulling spices to the ski…
Lindsey Bakewell is settling into life in Beacon Point, Michigan, running her bakery out of the old lighthouse, making friends, and nurturing her romantic relationship with new boyfriend, Rory Campbell. With the Christmas season approaching, she’s especially excited to host her parents and best friend, Kennedy Kapoor, for the holidays. Sure, she’s having a little…
I can’t believe it’s already the ninth installment of the Candy Coated Mystery series! Our heroine, Allie McMurphy, is gearing up for her first full tourist season on Mackinac Island, now that she’s finally restored her family’s historic inn and fudge shop to its fully functioning glory. She’s also excited to be hosting upcoming wedding…
Food blogger Hope Early has found more than her fair share of corpses since returning to her hometown of Jefferson, Connecticut. She’ll be the first to tell you that it’s been a distressing chain of events that she certainly did not sign up for, so discovering that a petition is being circulated to run her…
Tea garden owner Daisy Swanson is thrilled to be donating her time to a social event meant to promote the building of a new homeless shelter in her small town of Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. With reports of homelessness in their area on the rise, kind-hearted Daisy wants to make sure that anyone who wants a…
