The first book in this delightfully kooky culinary cozy mystery series finds our heroine, Val Harris, trying to sell off her wedding dress after her engagement implodes. Now she’s stuck in the Northern California small town of San Nicholas, having poured all her savings into opening her beloved pie bakery, Pie Town, back when she…
Ivy Culpepper is initially dismayed to hear that the already hard-working Olaya Solis, her boss at the Yeast of Eden bakery, has accepted a last-minute catering job. But when she hears that she’s been asked to photograph the swanky soiree in addition to helping bake and serve food, she’s much more amenable to the idea.…
The third book of the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series starts out with a scene that could have been ripped from the pages of the very book our titular group of readers is currently enjoying (the very excellent Fogged In by one of my all-time favorite cozy writers, Barbara Ross, coincidentally). Our heroine, Mac…
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…
