Book Review: BURNED TO A CRISP (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book 3) by Catherine Bruns

Synopsis

Just when things appear to be going well for baker and sometime sleuth, Sally Muccio, life turns up the heat again.

It’s summertime, and the living is easy for the Muccio clan. Sal’s wedding to her beloved fiancé is rapidly approaching, Mom’s won a beauty contest, and sister Gianna is now a licensed public defender. But when the bakery Sal’s worked so hard for goes up in smoke—along with her dreams!—she’s not sure how much more she can stand. Even worse, the man found dead in the bakery’s back room is none other than Gianna’s latest client, Bernardo Napoli.

The dough really hits the fan for Sal and Josie when they’re forced to temporarily relocate their bakery to the crazy Muccio home. Trouble is quickly stirred up as the best friend team must now contend with Sal’s father and his new mortuary business “undertakings,” a middle aged mother parading around customers in bikinis, and an Italian family hell bent on revenge. For Sal, several questions demand answers. Where has Gianna disappeared to? What role did she play in Bernardo’s death? What secret is Sal’s fiancé hiding from her? Sal is determined to find answers...before she gets burned once again!

Review

When the bakery burns down with Bernado Napoli dead, Sally and Josie have to come up with a way to meet the orders they have, and Sally is forced to move home with her parents. Aside from the murder, Sally’s sister, Gianna is missing and a suspect. Sally’s parents, not to mention the neighbor lady and her obsession with the fortune cookies, are unique and add humor to the story. The characters are well rounded and well developed. There is drama, humor, romance, and mystery.

The story is well-paced and flows smoothly; the book is a quick easy read.  Although 3rd in a series of 6 in the Cookies & Chance Mystery series, this was easily read as a stand alone. If you like cozy mysteries, I'd recommend this book - as always, it's probably a good idea to start at the beginning of the series though.

AMAZON


Tastes Like Murder (Book 1)
Baked to Death (Book 2)

Guest Post : PATRICE LYLE, Author of KILLER KUNG PAO (Health Nut Mysteries Book 1)

Synopsis of KILLER KUNG PAO

Dr. Piper Meadows heads to the Body, Mind & Spirit Expo expecting to solve health problems, not murder. But her first day starts off wrong when famous psychic Mystic Ming compares her hair to a "dung beetle's nest" and tries to get her kicked out of the show. But Piper's bad-hair day gets worse when her Aunt Alfa gets in a public scuffle with Mystic Ming, where he accuses her of trying to poison him with her peanut oil-based essential oils. When Mystic Ming drops dead from his serving of killer kung pao laced with peanut oil, it's no surprise that Aunt Alfa is fingered as the prime suspect.

Unwilling to let her auntie squander her golden years in prison, Piper orders a set of How To Be a PI flashcards and sets out to find the real killer. Secrets and suspects sprout up faster than wheat grass, including a handsome tattoo artist, Tattoo Tex, who intrigues Piper more than she'd like to admit. But can she trust him? Piper had better solve the case of the killer kung pao before the murderer turns his sights on victim number two...one sleuthing doctor!

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What Comes Next After 

KILLER KUNG PAO

By Patrice Lyle

There will be two more books (and hopefully more!) in the Health Nut Mystery series from Gemma Halliday Publishing. Book 2 is KILLER KARAT CREAM and book 3 is KILLER KALE CHIPS. Here are blurbs for both books:

BOOK 2: KILLER KARAT CREAM 

       Diamonds are a girl’s best exfoliater.

       After Dr. Piper Meadows sends out invitations to an exclusive spa night for holistic professionals to debut Sparkle O’s new Karat Cream – a diamond dust exfoliating cream that experts swear blasts off more layers than dynamite – she’s excited to show off the new organic fountain of youth. But when celebrity dermatologist Dr. Jasmine croaks from a lethal dose of poisoned Karat Cream at Dr. Piper’s event, she must turn to her PI flashcards once more to catch a killer intent on ridding the world of more than just dead skin cells.

BOOK 3: KILLER KALE CHIPS 

      Who knew kale chips could be deadly?

      When famous author Veronica Forks drops dead from a bag of poisoned kale chips, suspicion falls on former-Mafioso-turned-surfer-dude Ken, creator of Ken’s Killer Kale Chips. According to Dr. Piper’s PI flashcards, he has the motive (she witnessed a tiff between him and Veronica), the means (the kale chips), and the opportunity. But he’s too cute to be a killer and, as any good PI knows, the flashcards aren’t always right. Plus Aunt Alfa and Brownie are addicted to Ken’s Killer Kale Chips and if Ken’s arrested, Aunt Alfa and Brownie will never snack again. So Dr. Piper takes it upon herself to root out a killer who loves to dabble in kale chips before he or she strikes again.

Author Bio: 

Patrice Lyle loves green smoothies, dark chocolate, mysteries, and humor. She wove these elements together when she created the Health Nut Mysteries, a cozy series about a naturopathic doctor who solves mysteries at health expos. Patrice also writes paranormal young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as holistic medical suspense. She has an MA in Writing Popular Fiction and a PhD in Holistic Nutrition. She's also a Certified Traditional Naturopath. She now lives in Florida with her husband and two kitties, and is a firm believer in the theory that laughter is the best medicine.

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Excerpt: 

My aunt was the most adorable health nut ever. Clad in her size-two teal velour pantsuit, matching foam rollers, and red, patent-leather Mary Jane pumps, she strutted across the beige carpet pulling a neon green duffel roller bag and munching on a gluten-free Cosmic Cupcake (her favorite). She hadn't changed at all—including her hennaed hair—in the last three decades. And I hoped she never would.

"Hey, Pipe." She planted a kiss on my cheek. "You'll never guess what happened on our walk. It was the craziest thing."

Even though it had only been a couple hours since I'd last seen her, I gave her a quick hug. "I was wondering where you—"

And that was when I noticed the suspicious pink snout sticking out of the side zipper of Aunt Alfa's bag. Oh, holy chocolate babka to the nth degree.

"You heard that yoga girl at registration," I said quietly. "Animals aren't allowed in here, and we have to follow the rules."

She pursed her lips as if she were sucking a lemon, which she did every day because lemons are great for the liver, and pointed at a woman nearby who was accompanied by a guide dog. "Check out that dog. Studies have shown pigs are fourth on the intelligence roll, behind humans, primates, and dolphins."

I was familiar with the study because she talked about it all the time.

"It's rude to point." I gently lowered my auntie's arm before someone noticed her. "That woman is blind, Aunt Alfa. Guide dogs are always allowed."

"I know." Aunt Alfa crumpled up her Cosmic Cake wrapper and tossed it into a nearby trashcan, making the shot like a basketball star. "Our piglet should be allowed too because he's smart enough to be a guide pig. Besides, I'm ninety-one years old. I defy anyone to stop me."

A nonagenarian with a 'tude was what her dead ex-boyfriend had called Aunt Alfa during the nightmare séance. I feared he might have been on to something.

"I don't like it either, Aunt Alfa, but you have to take Brownie to our room."

"You know how depressed he gets alone. He'll pig out." She jutted out her crepe-paper jaw. "I can't believe I forgot Charlotte's Web. That's the only movie he likes."

Finally, progress. "Actually, he loves Babe, and I brought the DVD with me."

"Really?"

"Yeah. We watched it last weekend, and he sniffled at all the sad parts." I'd been in major Floyd-avoid-mode so I'd spent my Friday night curled up with a movie, a bag of dark chocolate chip cookies, and a piglet.

Aunt Alfa shot me her pity grin. "He was just being polite, Pipe."

That figured. Guys were all the same. Even the potbelly breeds.

Aunt Alfa rose on her toes and glanced around the room. "I'm going to find the manager and force him to see things my way."

Oh, no. Had I made a mistake insisting she come? I'd worried about her starting a riot at my condo complex while I was gone, but I hadn't considered the consequences at the expo.

"You have to take Brownie to our hotel room," I said. "Seriously."

Brownie must have recognized his name because just then a high-pitched, someone's-murdering-me piglet squeal erupted from her bag.

Weee. Weee. Weeeeeeeeeeee.

Several people turned in response. One woman having a tarot card reading by the yellow-turbaned psychic looked perturbed and asked, "Was that… a pig?"

Then a sneeze louder than a New York City firework festival rang out. Followed by a coughing attack.

"Mystic Ming allergic to pig," a familiar voice choked out. "Ming berry berry allergic to many things."

I turned to see Mystic Ming wobbling in the aisle across from me. Then his skinny legs buckled, and his face lightened to the shade of a marshmallow. Right before he collapsed onto the expo floor.

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Blog Tour: Guest Post TRACY COMSTOCK (MURDER IS OUR MASCOT: Schooled in Murder Book 1)

Today's post is from TRACY D. COMSTOCK author of MURDER IS OUR MASCOT

Gabby Spencer is the best friend of the protagonist, Emily Taylor, in my debut novel, Murder Is Our Mascot. I thought you all might enjoy learning a little more about Emily’s sidekick. Here is a journal entry from Gabby telling you all a little bit more about herself.

Gabby Spencer’s Journal:

Where do I begin? I hate talking about myself; I’d rather focus on those around me. Being a mom to my two beautiful girls is the highlight of my life. I love being at home with them. I hope we have a brother for them one of these days, but right now, I’m just enjoying the “two’s.” I don’t know why people call them the terrible twos….?? Ha! Just kidding. Our girls are either angels, or demons, depending on the day. They have hidden angel wings and hidden devil horns, as well. J Abigail has thick, curly, dark hair like me, but even though that might benefit her in hiding her devil horns, she is my loud and impulsive one. While neither of the girls inherited my dark green eyes, I would say that Phoebe comes closer to sharing my personality. She is more of the introvert. She is happy to just hang out with her sister. They are wonderful playmates, so I am blessed there. Hopefully, as they get older, Phoebe can balance Abigail’s extreme spontaneity. They remind me of myself and Emily in that regard. Emily was always the more outgoing, impulsive one in high school. We both were probably what you would consider “goody two-shoes,” but Emily never met a fight she‘d back down from, and I hate confrontations. Sometimes Emily listened to the voice of reason (mainly--me), and sometimes she didn’t. I know she was disappointed when I impulsively quit college to marry Greg, but the moment I met him, I wanted nothing more than to be his wife. Having our two beautiful girls was the icing on the cake. Thankfully, Greg agreed that he wanted to raise his kids in a small town, so we ended up back here in Ellington, rather than moving to his hometown of Chicago.

Greg is an awesome dad. He has been hands-on from the very beginning. I always tell him he is my tall, dark, and handsome hero, and he is. He is very tall, has those beautiful brown eyes my girls inherited, and is fantastic at his job as a mortgage broker. He 100% supported me in my decision to be a stay-at-home mom. The one thing--well, really the only thing--that has changed about Greg since we got married is his hair. He was going bald prematurely, just like his dad did, so he shaved his head. He refers to himself as Mr. Clean, but if so, he is the sexiest version of Mr. Clean that I’ve ever seen! J He and Emily are close, as well, so that makes hanging out especially fun. He was all for the idea of having Emily as the twins’ godmother. Now, if we could just get her to open her eyes and see that Tad is madly in love with her…but with her stubborn streak, that could take a while. (Sigh)

I also lucked out in the in-laws department. My own parents, of course, are wonderful, too. I grew up in a big, noisy Italian household with my two older sisters, one older brother, and one younger brother. My youngest brother, Antonio, still lives in Ellington, is still single, and is a dentist. My other siblings all moved to St. Louis to open up a consulting firm. And Mom and Dad ended up following them. I would have joined them if I had finished getting my degree in finance rather than getting married, but I know I made the right choice for me. However, between my three siblings, they have given my parents seven grandchildren. My mom always stayed home with us, so she likes to be close by to help out with all those grandchildren. Dad loves being a retired architect. He’s always busy designing amazing playhouses or treehouses for his grandchildren. But right after my parents, Maria and Carl Moretti, decided to move to the suburbs of St. Louis, Greg’s parents moved here from Chicago. Kathleen and Paul have truly been a godsend. They adore their grandchildren. Greg is an only child like Emily, so Abigail and Phoebe are the only grandchildren for his parents, and they spoil them rotten. They treat me just like their own daughter, too. It’s nice. Plus, I love that they are always up for babysitting so that I can keep up with my volunteer work.

Outside of my husband and my kids, my passions are volunteering and running. I love running for a good cause. My goal is to complete my first marathon in the coming year. I’m still trying to talk Emily into running with me, but running has never been her thing. She will volunteer with me at places like the Food Pantry and the Red Cross Blood Drive, but she draws the line at giving blood herself. (She is slightly needle-phobic…but I love her anyway.

I hate to sound like Pollyanna, and I do have my bad days, believe me, but mostly my life is pretty perfect. I married the man of my dreams, live in the same town as my oldest and dearest friend, and am raising two of the most adorable girls on earth. Lucky? Yeah, I’d said so…and very, very blessed.

Synopsis of MURDER IS OUR MASCOT

Murder is the new mascot at Ellington High...

A murdered coach and a missing counselor has thrown the school into a foreign curriculum of anger, fear, and suspicion. English teacher Emily Taylor is determined to prove that her missing friend is not a murderer. But if she's not, then who is? And where could her friend be?

Against the advice of fellow math teacher and former crush Tad, Emily and her best friend Gabby dig into the dead coach's past. But someone doesn't want Emily unearthing their secrets and is determined to see that she gets a failing grade in the sleuthing department.

Soon, Emily finds herself scrambling for a new lesson plan to solve the murder...before the killer sets his own deadline!


About the Author
Tracy Comstock is a small-town girl from Missouri. She lives in a home where she is outnumbered 3:1 by the males in her life: her husband and their two extremely adorable, but terrifyingly ornery sons. She has no pets as all living things, besides humans, of course, come to her house to die, including the victims in her books. All her life Tracy devoured books. Her parents' most effective punishment was grounding her from reading. Although she has a B.S. in Education and a Masters in Literature, she was nudged down the path to publication by encouraging (and sometimes threatening!) family, friends, professors, and students. When not working on Emily's adventures, Tracy is an adjunct instructor for several local colleges, where she gets to teach others about her greatest passion: writing.

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