Icing on the Murder - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Madison Montgomery to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Maddy on the pages of the Baker Street Mystery series by Valerie Burns. ICING ON THE MURDER is the fourth book in the series and will be released next week.

My name’s Madison Montgomery, but everyone calls me Maddy. It’s been close to a year since I was dumped by my fiancé during our livestreamed wedding. At the time, I thought that was the most humiliating thing that ever happened to me. So, I was thankful when I learned that I’d inherited a house in New Bison, Michigan from my great aunt Octavia. I’d never heard of New Bison and figured it would be a great place to hide out for a while. Turns out my inheritance came with strings. Sure, I got a house. It’s lovely with views that overlook Lake Michigan. But, I also inherited my great aunt’s bakery, and her 250 lb English mastiff, Baby. Oh, and I have to live in the house, run the bakery and keep the dog for one year, or I lose everything. The only problem with this, is that I can’t cook. I can’t even boil water.

Thankfully, Great Aunt Octavia had two bakers who were willing and able to help keep things going, Miss Hannah and Leroy Danielson. I quickly crowned Leroy as my head baker, and thanks to my social media skills, Baby Cakes Bakery is #thriving. Miss Hannah’s grandson, Michael Portman, is Baby’s vet. He’s tall, dark, handsome, kind, and my dog loves him. He’s also the love of my life. So, when he proposed, I said YES. Now, I’ve got to plan another wedding. No way am I willing to do the livestream thing again, but I struggle with making decisions. Should I go with the ladderback chairs or the Chiavaris? I need help. Michael’s wonderful, but he has me on a tight budget which doesn’t leave room for a wedding planner. However, when I learn that famed wedding planner, Seraphina, is going to be giving her wedding planning services to one lucky couple at the New Bison Bridal Expo, I’m determined to win by any means necessary. When Seraphina is murdered, I need to figure out Whodunit or I’ll be wearing black and white stripes to my own wedding.

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ICING ON THE MURDER by Valerie Burns
The Fourth Baker Street Mystery

Social media influencer and bakery shop owner Madison Montgomery is excited that a huge bridal expo is coming to New Bison, Michigan. Not only will she and her crew promote Baby Cakes Bakery, she'll also be able to check out all the nuptial possibilities for her own wedding. The biggest news is that Serafina, the hottest wedding planner in the world, is having a contest for one lucky bride to have a Serafina planned wedding. Afraid of too many bridal decisions Maddie is determined to win. Unfortunately, Serafina is a horrible woman who goes out of her way to make people miserable. Before a winner can be chosen Serafina is murdered, by Baby Cakes' skewers. Trooper Bob is ready to accuse Maddy, but with the expo and subsequent murder occurring at the casino, there's a question of jurisdiction.With little time for the Baker Street Irregulars to solve the crime, the friends divvy up the suspects. Will they solve the murder before it's too late?

I must admit I was behind in this series. I'm generally a stickler for reading series in order, but thought I'd jump in. Consequently, I was a bit confused at the start; Maddie getting married?! However, I soon got caught up and the mystery itself required no prior knowledge, so even if this is your first Baker Street Mystery you'll quickly get into the swing of things.

Perhaps because I'm older I have an issue with social media influencers. But what was really annoying me about Maddie was her inability to trust her own decisions and a need to have another influencer plan her own wedding, despite what her friends and fiancé said. Who cares about the types of chairs or how napkins are folded?! However, this series is one of growth and Maddie does have the ability to develop and grow. For all her insecurities she is smart and likable, although not as likable as Baby. Baby is a wonderful, slobbery, giant ball of love who is a valiant protector as well. The one thing I discovered that I did not like is that Maddie intends to use him as a stud. There are too many healthy animals who are killed as there are not enough homes and promoting breeding, even in a work of fiction, is wrong. Baby is one in a million, but Maddie should not see breeding him as a way to earn money!

I enjoyed the mystery. With a tyrant such as Serafina there were so many suspects. I enjoyed seeing the Baker Street Irregulars work their magic and find the killer. I also loved how the team worked together, not only in solving the crime, but also watching Maddie and Leroy working together to create new cake concepts! 

Bridal options, delicious food, and a 250 pound love bug make ICING ON THE MURDER a delectably fun mystery.

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 Icing on the Murder (A Baker Street Mystery) by Valerie Burns

About Icing on the Murder 

Icing on the Murder (A Baker Street Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - Michigan
Publisher: ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication Date: ‎ July 29, 2025
Print length: ‎ 272 pages

Influencer-turned-bakery-owner Maddy Montgomery has sold plenty of wedding cakes before, but before she turns one out for her and her fiancé’s wedding, she’ll have to solve a little case of murder . . .

Aunt Octavia would be so proud! Maddy has turned Baby Cakes Bakery—named for her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby—into a runaway success, and she’s marrying the love of her life, veterinarian Michael Portman. #DreamWedding! Plus the timing couldn’t be better: the country’s biggest bridal expo has come to New Bison, Michigan, and Maddy has secured a spot for Baby Cakes to showcase their cakes. She’s also entered a contest for an all-expenses-paid wedding extravaganza offered by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina.

Unfortunately, supremely nasty Serafina truly takes the cake—she makes the worst bridezilla seem like a shy flower girl. But there’s one thing the wedding planner didn’t plan on—being impaled by one of the skewers Baby Cakes uses on their tiered wedding cakes.

While Maid of Honor Sheriff April Johnson rounds up suspects at the expo, Maddy and her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even Baby join forces to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight . . . before wedding bells start to chime.

About Valerie Burns

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is an Agatha and Edgar Award-nominated author. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series. As Kallie E. Benjamin, Valerie writes the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series. She is an adjunct professor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA, and a mentor in the Pocket MFA program. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia with her two poodles. Connect with Valerie at vmburns.com.

Author Links: 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/  

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16534140.V_M_Burns  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmburnsbooks/  

Website: vmburns.com  

Purchase Links : Amazon - Apple - Books A Million - Barnes & Noble - Bookshop. Org - Google Play - Hudson Booksellers - KOBO - Target - Walmart   

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Death and the Runaways - A Review

 Review

DEATH AND THE RUNAWAYS by Heather Redmond
The Third Mary Shelley Mystery 

On a hot June day in 1814 most of London is celebrating the peace treaty with France with parades and an influx of dignitaries. Mary Godwin and her step-sister, Jane, are surprised to see their brother Charles with Winnet Davies who works in the cheese shop. They also overhear her trying to get him to buy her a dress! Charles who is as poor as the entire family! By the next day Miss Davies is dead and Charles is missing. Mary and Jane, encouraged by Mrs. Godwin and with help of Percy Shelley start the search for Charles and an investigation into the life of Miss Davies. Trouble looms as Mary and Percy grow closer. A Bow Street Runner has designs on Mary and a killer has only begun. 

Drama ramps up even higher in this, the third Mary Shelley Mystery. We not only have a murder and a missing brother, but the increased intimacy between Mary and Shelley and the subsequent familial fallout. I'm still astonished at the family dynamics with the Godwins. I find it intriguing and makes me want to delve deeper to learn more. The manner in which Mary was treated by her step mother as well as the way Mary idolized her own mother makes it easy to see why Mary was so drawn to Shelley and makes their subsequent actions reasonable. It's also fascinating to see his desire and need to be a hero, "rescuing" both of his wives. It was also curious adding a fictional suitor into the mix for Mary and everyone's reactions.

There were many intriguing layers to the mystery in DEATH AND THE RUNAWAYS. I enjoyed seeing how Mary, Jane, and Shelley investigated and seethed at Mrs. Godwin's behavior. With the story again alternating between Mary and Jane's points of view I find myself pondering the differences between these two young women. Jane has several issues and I must say I'm not overly fond of her. I'm curious as to how true this fictional Jane is to her real life counterpoint. I've always been fascinated by Shelley and once again I'm inclined to do even more research on Mary.

A lecherous cheesemonger, a villainous street hustler, and a devious enterprise bring Mary and Shelley closer in DEATH AND THE RUNAWAYS a riveting historical mystery that will have you at the edge of your seat while providing a unique reason for the trio to leave London. I can't recommend this series enough, especially if you'd like to take a deep dive in the real lives of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley. 

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Death and the Runaways by Heather Redmond. This book is the third in the Mary Shelley Mystery series and will be released next week.

On a hot June day in 1814 most of London is celebrating the peace treaty with France with parades and an influx of dignitaries. Mary Godwin and her step-sister, Jane, are surprised to see their brother Charles with Winnet Davies who works in the cheese shop. They also overhear her trying to get him to buy her a dress! Charles who is as poor as the entire family! By the next day Miss Davies is dead and Charles is missing. Mary and Jane, encouraged by Mrs. Godwin and with help of Percy Shelley start the search for Charles and an investigation into the life of Miss Davies. Trouble looms as Mary and Percy grow closer. A Bow Street Runner has designs on Mary and a killer has only begun.

A Death on Corfu - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book that's been waiting patiently on my TBR pile. A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan is the first book in the Minnie Harper Mystery series and was released at the end of April this year.

Blurb: 

Minnie Harper isn’t used to putting herself first. Not after she moved away from England only to be left raising two children alone on the Greek Island of Corfu following her husband’s unexpected death. But with her daughter begging to be sent to school abroad and her son grasping at his own independence, Minnie realizes she must prepare for the next stage of her life.

When famous mystery author Stephen Dorian settles into a neighboring villa to escape writer’s block and hidden scandals, she is intrigued at first by the handsome Londoner—until he proves to be nothing more than a boorish grump. Determined to avoid the man as much as possible, Minnie is shocked when he offers her a well-paid job as his typist. She isn’t in a position to turn down work, even from a man she has sworn to hate.

But before Minnie can fully regret her decision to take the job, she makes a horrifying discovery that changes everything. A young maid has been murdered, and local authorities aren’t moving fast enough to bring justice to the terrible crime. Unwilling to allow the death to fade into obscurity like the stories of so many other women deemed unworthy by society, Minnie launches an investigation of her own—and reluctantly accepts Stephen’s help. As she embarks on a dangerous search for answers that reveals another side of Corfu, unsettling questions take shape about her employer-turned-confidant and the culprit who just might do whatever it takes to strike again . . .

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

MURDER, SHE WROTE: A BODY IN BOSTON
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Sixty-First Murder, She Wrote Mystery 

Jessica Fletcher is happy that she has time in her busy schedule to accept an invitation to go to Boston. Not only will she be speaking at a library function, she'll get to meet up with several old friends and get some sightseeing in too! She'll also have a travel companion as Seth is also headed to Boston for a medical lecture. Their happy reconnection with old friends is tainted, however, when Cookie's daughter Aileen rushes into the pub with bloodstained hands saying that her boyfriend is dead. Now Jessica, her PI friend Harry, and Seth will do what they can to provide the police suspects other than Aileen. The group soon learns that Aileen's young man was not so upstanding and there's more than one possible motive for murder. Will they find a killer in the midst of Boston while still managing to enjoy the sights of this historic town? 

I feel the same joy as Jessica does when she meets up with Harry, Cookie, and her other Boston friends, as I consider Jess and Seth my old friends, though I know there'll be a murder whenever we get together while Jess may just suspect it! This sixty-first outing is an enjoyable mix of friendship, murder, and healthy dose of Boston tourism. I enjoyed visiting vicariously, seeing the statues of Tadeusz Kościuszko and the Marquis de Lafayette as well as the tour of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, though I say forget the kids-I want to throw the tea overboard! I like that Jessica and Seth managed to fit in fun time with their work and their investigation. I also appreciated how everything dovetailed seamlessly.

I enjoyed how Jessica quietly went about solving the mystery. She didn't even intend to solve it, just drum up more suspects, but solve it she did. While I liked seeing Jessica's old friends I really enjoyed meeting some new ones as well. I loved Mahmood and his take on Jessica's adventures in particular.

MURDER, SHE WROTE: A BODY IN BOSTON brings familiar characters to Beantown where pharmaceuticals, libraries, and murder combine to make an enjoyable mystery.

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 Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

About Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston
Cozy Mystery 61st in Series
Setting - Boston, Massachusetts
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (July 1, 2025)
Paperback Print length: ‎ 304 pages

Jessica Fletcher has dinner with her old pal Harry McGraw and gets pulled into a puzzling murder case.

Invited to deliver a lecture at the Boston Public Library, Jessica Fletcher excitedly makes plans to see local friends. Naturally that includes dinner at Gilhooley’s with PI Harry McGraw. Harry excitedly talks about his latest client, the CEO of Cure All Pharmaceuticals, who’s received anonymous blackmail demands and wants Harry to identify the culprit. Cookie, Gilhooley’s longtime bartender, also has something he wants to tell Jessica: he asked Harry to investigate his daughter Aileen’s boyfriend, who Cookie thinks is too slick by half, but now Harry is too wrapped up in this new case. While Jessica wonders how best to approach Aileen, the young woman stumbles into Gilhooley’s covered in blood. She just discovered her boyfriend’s corpse -- and quickly becomes the chief suspect in his murder!

About the Authors

Terrie Farley Moran is the bestselling author of the Read 'Em and Eat cozy mystery series, including the Agatha Award-winning Well Read, Then Dead. Along with Jessica Fletcher, she co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series. She also co-writes the Scrapbooking Mysteries with Laura Childs. Terrie's short mystery fiction has been published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and numerous anthologies. "A Killing at the Beausoleil" was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Short Story. "Inquiry and Assistance" received the Derringer Award for Best Novelette.

Author Links – Webpage, Facebook  

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse  

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Murder on the Books - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

MURDER ON THE BOOKS by T.C. LoTempio
The First Cozy Bookshop Mystery 

 

Burn out and a case of writer's block cause Charlotte (Charley) James to turn her back on New York City and life as bestselling author C.J. Barrett, much to the dismay of her agent. Deciding on an extended stay in her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania Charley is delighted to spend time with her good friend Zane. When Charley learns Zane's business partner left abruptly she offers to take over the bookstore portion of the business allowing Zane to open her dream bakery. But when a trip to the basement leads to the discovery of a body and Zane becomes a suspect, Charley puts her mystery knowledge to use while getting closer to the grumpy and taciturn detective on loan to the town.

 

I really enjoy when the protagonist of a mystery happens to be an author of mysteries and such is the case in the first Cozy Bookshop Mystery. Not only that, she's going to own a bookstore! It's fun seeing the insider knowledge come out, but what makes it even more fun in this book is that hardly anyone knows that Charley is an author. I can't wait for people discover the truth and I have a feeling she won't be able to hide this fact from Detective Grant for long. I love the dynamic of high school acquaintances grown up and forced to deal with each other for better or worse and it's especially fun to see Barbie as a police officer and watch her attempt to rise in the ranks while keeping her man hunter ways. The addition of Poe is delightful and I hope Charley pays attention to his opinions of other characters. I appreciated how the mystery played out, especially the ending.

 

A smart protagonist, an intriguing detective, and a lucky black cat make MURDER ON THE BOOKS a delightful series opener. I can't wait to see the new shops flourish and watch Charley and Ian get cooking, both literally and figuratively!

 

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 Murder on the Books (A Cozy Bookshop Mystery) by Toni LoTempio

About Murder on the Books

Murder on the Books (A Cozy Bookshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Pennsylvania
Publisher: ‎ Severn House
Publication date: ‎ July 1, 2025
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 240

Newly retired mystery writer Charley James returns to her small hometown only to find herself amidst a real-life murder mystery in this first book in the brand new Cozy Bookshop mystery series by award-winning and national bestselling author T.C. LoTempio.

Thirty-year-old Charlotte James, better known to her mystery fans as C.J. Barrett, decides to take a break from writing her popular Steve Sheppard mystery series. Leaving New York City, she moves back to her hometown of Austin to wind down, recuperate, and maybe come up with some new ideas for her books.

Settling into her new life, Charley reunites with her long-term friend and baker Zane who is about to open a charming double store front. But while Zane is ready to open her café, her business partner Sheila unexpectedly departs town, bailing on her bookshop and leaving nothing but a note behind.

Charley is more than happy to take over, but when she finds Sheila’s body in a chest in the store’s basement, things take a dramatic turn. Now Charley has to juggle the opening of her bookshop, a stoic but attractive Philadelphia detective, and a stray cat, all while solving Sheila’s murder Sheppard-style before the killer can strike again!

Fans of Jenn McKinlay, Ellery Adams, Lucy Connelly, Lauren Elliott, and Ellie Alexander will love this cozy mystery “featuring a plucky, likable heroine, plenty of suspense [and] unexpected twists” (Booklist).

“I was hooked from start to finish!” Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop mysteries, on Eat, Drink and Drop Dead

About Toni LoTempio

• T.C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series! For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco's blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net
• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5
• TWITTER/X: ROCCOBLOGGER
• WEBSITE: https://www.tclotempio.net/
• Purchase Links - Amazon - B & N - Bookshop.org - Kobo -

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Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Murder on the Books by T.C. LoTempio. This book is the first in the Cozy Bookshop Mystery series and was released last week.

Burn out and a case of writer's block cause Charlotte (Charley) James to turn her back on New York City and life as bestselling author C.J. Barrett, much to the dismay of her agent. Deciding on an extended stay in her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania Charley is delighted to spend time with her best friend Zane. When Charley learns Zane's business partner left abruptly she offers to take over the bookstore portion of the business allowing Zane to open her dream bakery. But when a trip to the basement leads to the discovery of a body and Zane becomes a suspect, Charley puts her mystery knowledge to use while getting closer to the grumpy and taciturn detective on loan to the town.

Accidental Murder - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release. Accidental Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber is a standalone suspense novel that is being released today!

Blurb:

When Kayla Macintyre discovers her twin sister Ashley brutally murdered, grief quickly gives way to terror—because Kayla was the real target. A case of mistaken identity fools the police into thinking she’s the one who died, and Kayla seizes the chance to disappear into her sister’s glamorous life as a supermodel. It’s a dangerous gamble for a tech-savvy, adrenaline-chasing computer repair specialist with zero fashion sense.

But the lie buys her time—and a shot at the truth.

As her clients and friends begin turning up dead, Kayla suspects the killer’s motive lies buried in the digital trails she’s been hired to clean. To stay alive, she must dive into the shadows of her clients’ secrets, unravel a conspiracy, and stay one step ahead of a killer who’s finally realized he missed his mark.

Time is running out. The next mistake could be fatal.

Rocky Road to Murder - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

Today I'm happy to welcome Detective Jake Barlow to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Jake on the pages of the Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series by Lena Gregory. ROCKY ROAD TO MURDER is the sixth book in the series and was released this past week.

A Day in My Life 
By Detective Jake Barlow 

 

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jake Barlow, and I’m a detective with the Watchogue Police Department. I’ve always loved helping people. Even when I was a kid, I was the one who tended to stick up for the underdog or stay after class to help out a teacher or a student who needed help. So it seemed natural to choose a career that allowed me to help others. Plus, I’ve always been interested in solving puzzles.

Although, lately, it seems most of my interests revolve around Danika Delaney. I’ll admit I have a sweet spot for her, even if our first two dates ended pretty disastrously. Looking back, I can see the humor. There are two reasons I haven’t yet pushed to have a more serious relationship, even after blurting that I loved her in the heat of a particularly intense moment. One, I don’t think Dani’s ready, and I’m afraid if I push, she’ll bolt. And two, every time I turn around there’s another murder to investigate, and Dani’s right there in the middle of it.

I hate the thought of her and her friends being in danger, which they often are. But, and if you tell Dani I said this I will deny it, they’re good at it. Dani tends to see things from a perspective no one else does, and she’s great at solving puzzles. I just wish they’d stay off killers’ radar. I would like to see our relationship head in a more serious direction—if she could just stop stumbling over dead bodies and interfering in my investigations. But that’s one of the things I lov…uh…like most about her—she’s got such a good heart and always wants to help people out.

All that can make dating a little difficult. So, for the moment, I spend most of my time trying to keep her out of trouble. Not that she means to get herself into these messes (or so she keeps claiming), but the woman seems to be a magnet for trouble. 

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Review

ROCKY ROAD TO MURDER by Lena Gregory
The Sixth Coffee & Cream Café Mystery

Life can never be easy for Danika Delaney. She is thrilled to be attending the Independence Day party at the Rutherford Manor as well as providing their desserts when her mother calls to say Sunday's Independence Day party has been moved to Friday and Danika needs to provide the dessert. Two parties and two desserts on the same day? As her mother guilts her into agreeing (like she even had a choice) best friends Gwen and Eli convince her she can indeed do both. But mishaps at her mother's leads to tragedy at the Rutherford's when Dani finds Jake over their hostess's dead body, a parfait by her side. Could peanuts have gotten into her dessert despite all of the precautions taken? Or was it murder? When the husband fingers Dani for the crime she knows she has to investigate. 

What impressed me most about ROCKY ROAD TO MURDER, indeed all of the books in the Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series, is not just the well plotted mystery, but the love. I'm not even talking about the romantic love, which is nice, but the deep love of family and friends. These friends will do anything for each other...family too. There may be problems, but these people stick together no matter what. When trouble comes they are there to support...and add a few laughs. For this series is laugh out loud funny. From self deprecating remarks to slapstick action you'll be laughing even as you get the warm fuzzies. 

The mystery here was compelling. Did Dani or Eli make a deadly mistake by somehow getting peanuts in the order of a highly allergic person? Does Dani have a doppelganger or is someone trying to frame her? Could her family actually be responsible? Does her death have to do with her refusal to sell the property that's been in her family for generations? I loved how Dani and her friends investigated all possibilities and I loved Dani's brilliant distraction in the final confrontation. 

Scoops of delicious fun sprinkled with a few thrills and dollops of romance make ROCKY ROAD TO MURDER a spectacularly scrumptious mystery. 

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Rocky Road to Murder (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory

About Rocky Road to Murder 

Rocky Road to Murder (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Setting - New York
Publisher: ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (July 1, 2025)
Number of Pages - 220

From author Lena Gregory comes a tasty summer murder mystery...

Danika Delaney is thrilled that her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, has gotten a catering contract for the biggest party of the season, the Rutherford Manor Fourth of July gala. She’ll be providing desserts for the party as well as attending the exclusive event on Eastern Long Island.

However her path to the gala quickly becomes a rocky road...

Dani arrives at the event, only to find the gala's hostess, Cressida Rutherford, dead! What's worse, one of Dani's signature parfaits sits next to the dead woman, with what looks like peanuts in it—a food Cressida is severely allergic to. Amid the melted ice cream mess, Dani initially blames herself, thinking she made a mistake while rushing with the desserts. However she quickly learns that what appeared to be an accident was actually foul play, and suddenly Dani has to spring into action proving that she isn't the perpetrator. Along with her friends, Dani uncovers a string of people in Cressida's life who might have wanted the socialite dead. Can she prove her innocence and make sure the killer gets their just desserts?

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

• Newsletter: http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
• Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/

Purchase Links - Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Kobo

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Homicide in the Indian Hills - A Review

Review

HOMICIDE IN THE INDIAN HILLS
By Erica Ruth Neubauer
The Sixth Jane Wunderly Mystery 

Accompanying her husband to Ootacamund in the mountains of India Jane Wunderly is at a bit of a loss. While Redvers is on a diplomatic mission for the Crown, Jane, for once, has nothing to do. At their first diplomatic meal she meets Gretchen Beetner who points out all of the key players. With her wit and keen intellect Jane was looking forward to getting to know the woman better, perhaps even becoming friends. That hope was dashed the following morning when it was announced that Gretchen was killed, mauled by a tiger. Knowing that a tiger attack was extremely unlikely Jane and Redvers suspect murder. Was her death tied to her belief in Indian self rule? Being on the outer edge of politics who could possibly benefit from her death? As Jane and Redvers investigate they soon discover that someone is willing to do whatever is necessary to stop them. 

A wish for a mystery to solve comes at a steep price for Jane in this, the sixth Jane Wunderly Mystery. As ever, I love how she and Redvers work together. I liked the methodical investigation, with necessary and humorous break ins, as well as the background of British/Indian politics in the 1920s. Secrets, ambition, and an adrenaline pumping race to save a loved one produced an exciting and exotic adventure. 

Political intrigue, romantic liaisons, and a fight for independence combine to make HOMICIDE IN THE INDIAN HILLS an engrossing mystery fraught with drama as well as a few laughs.

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Homicide in the Indian Hills by Erica Ruth Neubauer. This book is the sixth in the Jane Wunderly Mystery series and was released earlier this year.

Accompanying her husband to Ootacamund in the mountains of India Jane Wunderly is at a bit of a loss. While Redvers is on a diplomatic mission for the Crown, Jane, for once, has nothing to do. At their first diplomatic meal she meets Gretchen Beetner who points out all of the key players. With her wit and keen intellect Jane was looking forward to getting to know the woman better, perhaps even becoming friends. That hope was dashed the following morning when it was announced that Gretchen was killed, mauled by a tiger. Knowing that a tiger attack was extremely unlikely Jane and Redvers suspect murder. Was her death tied to her belief in Indian self rule? Being on the outer edge of politics who could possibly benefit from her death? As Jane and Redvers investigate they soon discover that someone is willing to do whatever is necessary to stop them.

A Purrfect Date - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a light on a recent release that's on my TBR pile. A Purrfect Date by Alex Erickson is the second book in the Cat Yoga Mystery series and was released last week.

 Blurb:

Up-and-comer Ashley Branson usually aims to keep both feet placed firmly on the ground—unless she’s instructing a class at her trendy cat yoga studio. But she soon finds herself caught in a downward spiral when a stretch beyond her comfort zone leads to murder . . .

Ashley Branson is sure of one thing after experiencing a disastrous blind date—she would much rather enjoy the single life and hang out with playful felines at her studio, A Purrfect Pose, than ever compromise her inner peace like that again. When the mysterious guy makes a late arrival then has the nerve to dine and dash, it’s embarrassing. But when he winds up dead in his apartment that same night? Ash suddenly finds herself thrust into a twisted murder investigation and questioning if she might be shaping up to be the suspect . . . or the next victim.

Ash races to claw through a web of lies, hidden identities, and love lives even more complicated than her own to uncover the truth. Adding to the chaos, she believes her shifty neighbor—covered in unexplained injuries and rumored to harbor a crush on her—could be connected to the crime. Now, with more leads than she needs, Ash must take a deep breath, pull on her big-girl leggings, and move faster than the cunning killer who wants to put her in corpse pose for good . . .