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: 

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Website: vmburns.com  

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Two Weddings and a Murder - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a recent release in a series in which I am woefully behind. Two Weddings and a Murder by Alyssa Maxwell is the ninth book in the Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery series.

Blurb: 

June 1922: The blessed day has finally arrived. Phoebe Renshaw and Owen Seabright are to be wed, and lady’s maid Eva Huntford could not be more delighted for her lady’s happiness. But she is disturbed by one notable absence from the ceremony—her beau, Police Constable Miles Brannock. When Miles finally does appear, breathlessly running into the reception at Foxwood Hall, he brings grim news: he’s found Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins murdered, shot in his home in his favorite parlor chair with his own gun.

A policeman naturally makes enemies, especially those of questionable character. In charge of finding his former boss’s killer, Miles reviews the details of the crime scene. The murder weapon has been wiped clean and left on the table next to the remnants of the chief inspector’s breakfast: sausage pasty and coffee reeking of a bit of whiskey. No sign of forced entry. A seemingly peaceful scene—other than the bullet hole in the victim.

Before Miles can make much progress in his investigation, a Scotland Yard detective arrives in Little Barlow to take over the case—and promptly focuses his suspicions on the constable himself, who he reasons had motive and opportunity. Coming to their maid’s defense, Phoebe and Owen postpone their honeymoon to join Eva in clearing her beau’s good name and unmasking the identity of the true killer . . .

High Tea and Misdemeanors - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

 

HIGH TEA AND MISDEMEANORS by Laura Childs
The Twenty-Ninth Tea Shop Mystery 

It should have been a glorious autumnal wedding, even if Delaine Dish was running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, and Drayton Conneley, her friend and tea sommelier had the catering well in hand and the dining space was all set up in the greenhouse when a mighty crash sent the pair rushing out to see what happened. The walls and roof of the greenhouse collapsed killing a bridesmaid and seriously injuring the groom who was sent to get her. This was no accident, however. A killer fully intended to disrupt the wedding. Theodosia, never content to sit by the sidelines decides to run her own shadow investigation. The killer hasn't finished and Theodosia just might become the next victim.

HIGH TEA AND MISDEMEANORS pits a killer against tea shop owner and sleuth Thedosia Browning. What's unusual is that readers are privy to part of the killer's point of view. Although not given the exact motivation or plans, readers are privy to some of the thoughts, ideas, and actions, as well as the killer's thoughts about Theo! I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel as it brings something fresh to the twenty-ninth book in the series! 

One of my favorite aspects of this book, indeed the whole series, is the description, be it the scenery, design, and architecture of Charleston, or the amazing food, teas, and events at the Indigo Tea Shop! Those food descriptions, as well as the recipes and tips found at the end of each book, make my mouth water and have me dreaming of my own tea parties.

The mystery was compelling, but yet again Theo takes matters into her own hands, running her "shadow investigation". Asking questions is one thing, but it seems she thinks breaking and entering is fine now. She's even cajoled Drayton into helping her against his better judgement. I wish she'd stop breaking the law in order to solve the crime. She's also developed a know it all attitude which is off putting. I wish she'd take a vacation and let Drayton and Miss Dimple solve a mystery on their own!

HIGH TEA AND MISDEMEANORS is a fast paced thrillzy that will have you wondering just who-dun-it as your mouth waters over the delectable food and tea offered by Theo and her friends at the Indigo Tea Shop.

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 High Tea and Misdemeanors (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

About High Tea and Misdemeanors

High Tea and Misdemeanors (A Tea Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 29th in Series
Setting - South Carolina
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (March 4, 2025)
Hardcover: ‎ 320 pages

When a wedding is tragically averted by the death of the bridesmaid, Theodosia is determined to prove that it was murder in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series. Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are tapped to cater the elegant wedding of Bettina and Jamie. Theodosia and Drayton are setting up when they hear a crash from the greenhouse. Shockingly, they discover that part of the roof has collapsed trapping a bridesmaid and the groom. He will pull through but the bridesmaid is no more. Theodosia is convinced it was murder. INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

About Laura Childs

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that takes place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links:  

Website – Facebook  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - PenquinRandomHouse 

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading High Teas and Misdemeanors by Laura Childs. This book is the twenty-ninth in the Tea Shop Mystery series and was released last week.

It should have been a glorious autumnal wedding, even if Delaine Dish was running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop, and Drayton Conneley, her friend and tea sommelier had the catering well in hand and the dining space was all set up in the greenhouse when a mighty crash sent the pair rushing out to see what happened. The walls and roof of the greenhouse collapsed killing a bridesmaid and seriously injuring the groom who was sent to get her. This was no accident, however. A killer fully intended to disrupt the wedding. Theodosia, never content to sit by the sidelines decides to run her own shadow investigation. The killer hasn't finished and Theodosia just might become the next victim.

Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Ellen Butler to Cozy Up With Kathy. Ellen writes the Ariadne Winter Mystery series. INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN is the first book in the series and was released earlier this month.

Kathy: In INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN we meet Ariadne Winter. Though she dreams of being an investigative reporter, it's 1958 and she's tasked with writing fluff pieces for a woman's magazine. If you were looking for work what career would you want...and what would society expect?

EB: To be honest, I would have liked to work for Ariadne’s magazine. However, like Ariadne, it’s likely I would have found it difficult to move up to a more senior level position.

Kathy: What made you choose 1958 as the time period for your series?

EB: The soon-to-be princess was inspired by Grace Kelly who married Prince Ranier in 1956. Originally, I planned to have my novel take place in 1956. As I was writing, I realized I needed it to happen after the Sputnik launch in 1957, which is how I settled on 1958.

Kathy: Ariadne is sent to interview a starlet about to have the "Wedding of the Century". I admit to getting up in the middle of the night to watch Lady Diana marry Prince Charles, but that's been the extent of my interest. What about you? Do you find celebrity weddings compelling?

EB: I find royal weddings chockfull of eye candy—the dress, the tiara, the bouquet, etc. The excitement and joy from the crowds adds to the captivating quality of the ceremony. However, I also pity the wedding couple. I know I wouldn’t want that type of circus for my wedding—so many things are dictated to the bride because of tradition. Brides marrying into royalty can’t marry in their own church or hometown. Even their attendants are dictated. Every little girl wants to marry a prince. Then you grow up and realize the pressures of what that means and it isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

EB: I grew up reading Agatha Christie. I loved Ten Little Indians, Murder on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express, and the Miss Marple series.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

EB: Yes, romance, crime fiction, and historical espionage.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

EB: I began writing in romantic suspense with the Love, California Style series. While writing the romances, I realized I enjoyed the suspense side more, and moved onto writing the Karina Cardinal mysteries, a contemporary crime fiction series. Sprinkled in between the Karina Cardinal mysteries, I wrote a spy fiction duology that takes place during WWII and the Cold War—The Brass Compass, and Operation Blackbird, both of which are multi-award-winning historical fiction. Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn, is the start of the new Ariadne Winter series.

Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

EB: In Ink and Intrigue, I’d have to say my favorite character is Aunt Ruby. She’s lived an interesting life, she’s confident, and ageing gracefully. I also made her a business owner which I love, especially considering the time period.

Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

EB: Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Mertz), JK Rowling, and Ian Fleming

Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

EB: THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW by I.S. Berry
 

Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

EB: When I’m not writing I enjoy reading, spending time with family, working on home improvement projects, and attending car shows. Butler has a passion for classic cars, especially the bright colors of the 1950s vehicles replete with fins and bulbous lights.

Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry. 

EB: Milk, eggs, bread, and wine.

Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series? 

EB: Working on the next Ariadne Winter mystery, tentatively titled MURDER AT BALLYFORD CASTLE. It takes place in Ireland near the Cliffs of Moher.

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

EB: When readers reach out to tell me they loved my book so much it kept them up late into the night reading. 

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Review

INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN by Ellen Butler
The First Ariadne Winter Mystery

 

Ariadne Winter dreams of being an investigative reporter as she works for Ladies’ Lifestyle Magazine. It may not be a crime beat, but thanks to Aunt Ruby's connections she has the opportunity of a lifetime. Traveling to Rhode Island, Ariadne will get to interview a Hollywood star who's about to marry a real prince in what's being called the "Wedding of the Century"! Staying at the Ivy Tree Inn she soon discovers anger simmering amongst the other guests and staff. Problems seem to be plaguing the inn and someone has leaked a secret about the future princess. Then murder strikes. A dead body may be bad news for some, but for Ariadne it could open up a whole new career, if it doesn't kill her first.

INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN is told from multiple points of view. Indeed, almost everyone has a chapter devoted to their perspective. While this method does give more insight into the characters, as you see their views on the situation, it takes away a sense of continuity. The majority of the story is told from Ariadne's point of view, but by reading all the other characters thoughts about her, I lost a sense of closeness and had a difficult time relating to and even liking her. Instead of the protagonist she was more like just another character with issues. The person I really liked was Aunt Ruby. She was a definite scene stealer and I'm much more interested in her!

 

I enjoyed going back in time to 1958 noticing all the differences you don't see today, typewriters, rotary phones with long cords, and, notably, almost everyone smoking. Sadly, some things are just as prevalent today, such as the difficulty women journalists face due to their gender. 

INK AND INTRIGUE AT IVY TREE INN captures the historical flavor of the United States in the late 1950s and creates a compelling mystery whose characters are full of resentment and secrets.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Mystery by Ellen Butler

About Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn

Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: ‎ Power to the Pen (October 2, 2024)
Print length: ‎ 323 pages

Stumbling across a dead body could be the making … or breaking of an aspiring reporter.

During 1958, when the workforce is predominantly male, societal norms dictate women should be compliant, fashionable housewives. To Ariadne Winter, the sole tradition she aims to embrace is that of being fashionable. Amidst the ambiance of Ivy Tree Inn, where she's been dispatched as a writer for Ladies’ Lifestyle Magazine, her focus wavers as she grapples with an interview assignment concerning a Hollywood starlet on the cusp of royal matrimony—an event hailed as the "Wedding of the Century." While Ariadne dutifully attends to her task, her heart yearns for the pursuit of her collegiate ambition: to be an investigative reporter for a renowned newspaper.

However, fate intervenes when she discovers a dead body and recognizes the opportunity it presents to write her way into the role she desires. Yet, as Ariadne delves deeper into the lives of the inn's inhabitants, she uncovers a labyrinth of intertwined relationships and long-buried secrets among guests and staff alike, yielding a plethora of suspects. With a murderer on the loose, her magazine deadline looming, and the inn cordoned off by authorities, Ariadne faces a race against time to untangle the web of deceit and solve the murder before she loses more than just her job.

About Ellen Butler

Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Multiple books in the series have hit #1 on Amazon bestseller lists in the US and abroad. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism." Butler is also the author of the award-winning historical suspense novel, The Brass Compass. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction including: 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award, 2018 Indie Reader Discovery Award, 2019 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal Winner. Butler started writing in the romance genre and won the The Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award 2015 with her novel Planning for Love. Her 12th book Operation Blackbird, a Cold War Spy novel, was published in October 2022 and won a Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal for historical fiction.

Serving Up Suspense with Style Ellenbutler.net Instagram Facebook  

Purchase Link - Amazon -

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Poison in Piccadilly - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release that's on my TBR pile. Poison in Piccadilly by Kelly Oliver is the sixth book in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery series. It will be released September 14, 2024.

 Blurb:

1918 London

Is Fiona Figg ready to exchange her sleuthing cap for a bridal veil?

Fiona is set to tie the knot with her dashing flyboy, Archie Somersby. But, while Fiona is busy planning her happily ever after, side-kick Kitty Lane and a group of judo-chopping suffragettes are kicking up trouble at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club.

When Kitty is found unconscious in the locker room during a high-stakes competition, Fiona must forsake her bouquets and bridal gown to investigate. Her sleuthing leads to a posh lady's luncheon where a mysterious death crashes Fiona's wedding plans.

To make matters worse, the arch-nemesis of all things matrimonial, Fredrick Fredricks is up to his old tricks, attempting to put the brakes on Fiona's journey down the aisle. Will he succeed in tripping up Fiona's wedding vows? Or will she finally say "I don't" to the charming devil?

With humor as sharp as a judo chop and suspense as tight as a wedding corset, Poison in Piccadilly invites you to matrimonial mayhem that will have you saying "I do" to laughter and "forever more" to page-turning suspense.

The book features real life suffragettes Sylvia Pankhurst and her bodyguards trained by Edith Garrud, who taught them jujitsu, which became known as Suffrajitsu.

Syrup to No Good - A Review

 Review

SYRUP TO NO GOOD by Catherine Bruns
The Second Maple Syrup Mystery 

 

In addition to running Sappy Endings, her family's maple syrup farm, Leila Khourey is busy preparing for her best friend's wedding. Unfortunately, this means everyone has to deal with Uncle Grant and his obnoxious wife, Monica. Finding Monica's murdered body after the bridal shower is a big shock for Leila, but an even bigger shock is discovering Heather's wedding will be postponed unless the killer is found. With a short deadline, Leila has no intention of leaving the investigation to the police. Will Leila be able to solve the murder or will Heather lose the wedding of her dreams? Or is something even worse in store? 

Weddings can be stressful, even when everything is going to plan. Dealing with family you don't like is often par for the course, but in Heather's case things are a lot worse. Not only does she have to welcome the uncle no one likes, but also his wife that no one can stand. Monica's death makes things even worse with Uncle Grant now calling all of the wedding shots. Heather's lucky she has a friend like Leila. I'd tell her to forget it and elope, but Leila decides to try and solve the murder so Heather can have a huge wedding...putting herself in the crosshairs yet again. Adding to the drama, Leila's former fiance is back in town and looking to get back together. If that weren't bad enough, her mom is encouraging him!

 

In the second Maple Syrup Mystery danger, treachery, and obnoxious family members come together in a thrilling mystery. There are plenty of surprises to keep Leila and readers on their toes. In addition to the action, Leila has to confront a lot of personal issues and does so with grace. She can be hard headed, but this dogged determination is also one of her strengths.

SYRUP TO NO GOOD is full of pulse pounding moments, not so subtle investigations, and some really awful people. Be prepared to be craving Lebanese food and maple syrup infused treats as you enjoy this delectable mystery.

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Syrup to No Good by Catherine Bruns. This book is the second in the Maple Syrup Mystery series and will be released October 31, 2023.

In addition to running Sappy Endings, her family's maple syrup farm, Leila Khourey is busy preparing for her best friend's wedding. Unfortunately, this means everyone has to deal with Uncle Grant and his obnoxious wife, Monica. Finding Monica's murdered body after the bridal shower is a big shock for Leila, but an even bigger shock is discovering Heather's wedding will be postponed unless the killer is found. With a short deadline, Leila has no intention of leaving the investigation to the police. Will Leila be able to solve the murder, or will Heather lose the wedding of her dreams? Or is something even worse in store?

Wedding Bells Brew Murder - A Spotlight & Giveaway

Wedding Bells Brew Murder (Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series) by Carolyn Arnold

About Wedding Bells Brew Murder

 Wedding Bells Brew Murder (Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - New York
Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. (August 29, 2023)
Print length: ‎ 244 pages

With all the guests at Sara and Sean’s wedding suspected of murder, her walk down the aisle will need to wait...

Everything is going perfectly on the big day until Sara opens the door of her bridal suite. Darlene Day, who made the wedding cake, falls into the room, a serving knife plunged into her back.

As the organists start to play “Here Comes the Bride,” Sara calls a pause to the proceedings. There’s a murder to solve, and the motive may be in the icing.

Darlene wasn’t the most loved person in the small town of Cotton Spring Falls, but rumor has it that she refused the offer of a big franchise to buy her bakery. Did they go so far as murder to put her out of business?

But when it’s discovered their wedding cake was poisoned, Sara and Sean could have been the intended victims all along. Did Darlene stumble upon the killer’s conspiracy and they silenced her before she could reveal their secret? Is it someone on the invitation list or the mysterious wedding crasher?

As long as the coffee is hot, and Sara has Sean and her beagle, Magnum, at her side, she isn’t going down in a heap of tulle and lace.

Wedding Bells Brew Murder is a closed-room mystery in the fashion of the great Agatha Christie that fans of Emma Davies, Verity Bright, and Helena Dixon will enjoy reading.

About Carolyn Arnold

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an internationally bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers readers police procedurals, hard-boiled and cozy mysteries, thrillers, and action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Author Links:  

Website https://carolynarnold.net/  

Blog https://carolynarnold.net/blog-posts/  

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold 

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GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4893460.Carolyn_Arnold  

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Fatal Fudge Swirl - A Review

 Review

FATAL FUDGE SWIRL by Meri Allen
The Third Ice Cream Shop Mystery 

Despite the cooler temperatures of late October business is booming at Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop as tourists and locals alike line up for delicious frozen treats. Not only that, shop manager Riley Rhodes has been commissioned to make the Halloween themed wedding cake for the celebrated owner of the Inn on the Green. The whole town is buzzing with excitement, not only about Diantha's wedding, but the fact that a film company has come to town to film the latest Skylark production. There will be no happy wedding bells, however, when the bride-to-be is found dead. A tragic accident? Or something more nefarious? 

If Halloween, a wedding, and a film crew aren't enough, add in relationship issues, staff shortages, and star struck citizens and you have an intricate mystery with lots of moving parts. I really enjoyed the twists and turns made by those movable pieces. Lots of new characters with overlapping connections and a variety of plotlines kept me involved, curious how everything would ultimately be tied together. While there was a lot going on, everything fit together without superfluous bits.

I love how Riley's CIA background makes her a smart and unobtrusive sleuth. Respectful of local law enforcement, with a keen eye and mind, she has a unique ability to ferret out the truth. I really got a kick out of Sprinkles, not only her behavior, but how others react to her! I enjoy this series so much, and the third Ice Cream Shop Mystery kept me involved with not only a great mystery, but delicious sounding ice creams (with an odd one or two), captivating relationships, and an exciting hint at what's coming next. It's not just gelato!

Multiple paths converge in FATAL FUDGE SWIRL creating a chilling new mystery.

Murder at the Pontchartrain - An Interview

I'm pleased to welcome Kathleen Kaska to Cozy Up With Kathy. Kathleen writes the Sydney Lockhart Mystery series. Murder at the Pontchartrain is the sixth book in the series and was released last week.

Kathy: The Sydney Lockhart Mystery series is set in the 1950s. Why choose this timeframe?

KK: I was born in the 1950s. I love the decade’s fashion, music, and movies. It was an exciting time for women. WWII had ended, and more women were claiming their independence and entering the workforce. I wanted my protagonist to be a young woman ahead of her time, struggling to make it in a man’s world.

Kathy: In Murder at the Pontchartrain, Sydney, and her boyfriend/partner have come to the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans to get married. New Orleans has a truly unique ambiance with voodoo and hauntings being the norm. How have these things influenced your book?

KK: A book set in New Orleans calls for elements of voodoo, which I included in the story. My Sydney Lockhart series is a lighthearted and humorous cozy. In Murder at the Pontchartrain, which comes out on June 28, one of the victims visits the House of Voodoo in the French Quarter because she believes her hateful deceased husband is abusing her from his grave. As a result, Sydney’s investigation begins with a visit to the current voodoo queen, the historic St. Louis Cemetery, and eventually to the nearby swamps where she came close to being lost forever.

Kathy: Sydney relies on Rip Thigbee, a ghost detective. Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a ghostly encounter?

KK: Tough questions. There is so much we don’t know, and more we can’t understand. I like to think that the human mind has not yet evolved to understand the strange phenomena that occasionally occur. I’ve never had a ghostly encounter, but I have experienced odd happenings that I couldn’t explain. One time I just started reading A Son of a Circus by John Irving. The novel begins with a family of circus dwarfs. I was on page two when I heard a racket coming from a vacant lot next door. I went to investigate and found a family of dwarfs in an old station wagon, listening to rock music. My husband, still to this day, thinks I imbibed too much wine.

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

KK: I love reading cozies. They are void of explicit violence and sex, and most are humorous. I read other mystery genres, but reading and writing cozies help me relax and put me in a good mood. Who doesn't like to laugh? Some of my favorite cozy authors are Carl Hiaasen, Spenser Quinn, Elizabeth Peters, Ben Rehder, and Janet Evanovich. Several readers have told me that my Sydney Lockhart series reminds them of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Sydney has also been compared to the delightful Mrs. Maisel character from the Amazon Prime series.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

KK: I just completed a hardboiled detective story set in Manhattan in the 1940s. Since I love reading Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Mickey Spillane, I wanted to try writing a gritty detective story. I had great fun delving into New York City of long ago. My protagonist is a down-and-out ex-cop who lands a high-profile case. It’s his one big chance to pull himself out of the Hell’s Kitchen gutter he calls home. I lived in Manhattan in the 80s when Hell’s Kitchen was a rough, dangerous neighborhood. I think that’s when the seed for this mystery began to germinate.

I also wrote three mystery trivia books on Agatha Christie, Alfred Hitchcock, and Sherlock Holmes. The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book is in its third printing.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

KK: Allow me to use a fellow author’s flattering review of the Sydney Lockhart series. “What is it like reading a Sydney Lockhart mystery? Picture, if you will, Carl Hiaasen writing a classic film noir featuring the zany, red-haired reporter Sydney Lockhart who somehow gets herself into more tight situations than Lucille Ball did in a whole season of I Love Lucy.”

My Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Series is a suspense mystery. Each book centers around an animal-right issue in which my protagonist, Kate Caraway, finds herself caught in the middle of doing what’s right and what's ethical, which are not always the same. She’s not a vigilante, but she's relentless when it comes to righting a wrong.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

KK: In my Sydney series? It’s hard not to love all the characters, even the bad guys. In Murder at the Driskill, the fourth in the series, Lydia LaBeau showed up, and I instantly fell in love with this girl. She was a big hit with many of my readers, too, so she’s going to stick around. Lydia is twelve years old and possesses the wisdom of a seventy-year-old. She runs her neer-do-well’s father’s live theater in downtown Austin. Having a prop and costume room at her disposal, Lydia often dresses in whatever reflects the case Sydney is trying to solve. In Murder at the Pontchartrain, her chosen costume was that of a voodoo queen.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

KK: Since I love reading humorous mysteries, I wanted to try writing one. Sydney showed up in my imagination and began to tell her story. I just had to listen and write it down. Thankfully, Sydney has not stopped talking.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

KK: I love writing. It’s an excellent way to connect with people; to do that, I needed to publish my work.

Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

KK: I used to work in marketing at a publishing company. Brainstorming ideas with my colleagues was a blast, and those sessions enhanced my creativity. So, at this special dinner party, I would invite Agatha Christie, Martha Grimes, Raymond Chandler, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

KK: I’m rereading Martha Grimes’ Richard Jury series to get in the right frame of mind because I’m working on a British crime mystery. Grimes is a fabulous writer and a true inspiration. She’s a master of metaphors. Looking through her books on my bookshelf, you will find that many of the sentences are highlighted because they deserve to be reread.


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

KK: I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time birding. I also enjoy running, and I do two or three marathons a year. I have the most fun attending baseball games with my husband and hanging out with my three fabulous sisters.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

KK: You will always find a bottle of gin in my freezer, and olives, leafy lettuce, blueberries, bananas, lemons, and almond milk in the fridge. I always stock sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, oatmeal, and olive oil in the pantry. As you might guess, my husband and I dine out a lot.


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

KK: I have three hotels on my list for the next three Sydney Lockhart mysteries. And I have a list of hotels suggested to me by my readers. I just hope I get to all of them.

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

Creating something out of my imagination. Writing is an art that doesn’t require going to the store for supplies. I also get to meet other authors and readers.

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 Murder at the Pontchartrain by Kathleen Kaska

About Murder at the Pontchartrain

Murder at the Pontchartrain
Cozy Mystery (Humorous) 6th in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Louisiana
Anamcara Press LLC (June 15, 2023)
Paperback: ‎ 280 pages

“My name is Sydney Lockhart. I solve murders, most of which I’m the primary suspect.

My boyfriend/partner, Ralph Dixon, and I came to the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans to get married. Instead, Dixon’s in jail for a double murder. I’m in a swamp, spying on the KKK. Helping me untangle this mess is my bubble-headed cousin Ruth who’s undercover as a chef at the Pontchartrain. My twelve-year-old charge, Lydia LaBeau, dressed as a voodoo queen, is looking for clues at Pat O’Brien’s in the French Quarter. Rip Thigbee, a ghost detective, is my only hope.

I’m not making any of this up. This is my life and this is what I deal with, like it or not. So, mix yourself a Hurricane and join me in the Big Easy for another historic hotel murder case.”

About Kathleen Kaska

Kathleen Kaska is the author of the awarding-winning mystery series: the Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series. Her first two Lockhart mysteries, Murder at the Arlington and Murder at the Luther, were selected as bonus books for the Pulpwood Queen Book Group, the country’s largest book group. She also writes mystery trivia. The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book was published by Rowman & Littlefield. Her Holmes short story, “The Adventure at Old Basingstoke,” appears in Sherlock Holmes of Baking Street, a Belanger Books anthology. She is the founder of The Dogs in the Nighttime, the Sherlock Holmes Society of Anacortes, Washington, a scion of The Baker Street Irregulars. Watch for Murder at the Pontchartrain: the 6^th Sydney Lockhart Mystery in June 2023.

Author Links:

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Purchase Links - Anamcara Press - Amazon