Author: Darci Hannah
Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)
ISBN #: 9781496731739
Kensington Publishing
304 Pages
$8.99; $6.99 Amazon
October 5, 2021
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With the spirit of the holidays wafting through the Beacon Bakeshop, Lindsey thinks she has the recipe for the sweetest Christmas ever -- winning the town-wide cookie bake-off. Unfortunately, striving for a picture-perfect December in Beacon Harbor is a lot like biting into stale shortbread. Low on staff and bombarded by visits from family, Lindsey can barely meet demands at work, let alone summon the confidence to face fierce competition...
Self-appointed Christmas know-it-all Felicity Stewart is determined to take the top spot in the bake-off, and she's not afraid to dump a little coal in everyone's stocking to do it. Just as the competition heats up, everything falls apart when the judge is found dead -- and covered in crumbs from Lindsey's signature cookie!
Solving a murder was never on Lindsey's wish list. But with her reputation on the line during the happiest time of the year, she'll need to bring her best talents to the table in order to sift out the true Christmas Cookie culprit.
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Lindsey Bakewell is finally making money at her bakeshop, and the demands for her tasty goods are growing, especially during the holidays. When her friends Betty and Felicity show up in her shop, they aren't there for the goodies this time. Felicity has convinced the town council to have a Christmas cookie bake-off, with a celebrity chef from Chicago to judge the goods. She's sure she's going to win because of her connection and the fact that she owns the town's year-round Christmas store, but unfortunately, she's up against both Lindsey and the chef from a hotel in town.
Finding out she has stiff competition, Felicity is not happy. She's blatantly flirting with the judge, who tried doing that with Lindsey also but was rebuffed. Her actions are noted by the other bakers, and not in a good way. When Felicity sees the chef flirting with another contestant, she goes ballistic -- but when he doesn't show up for the second half of the competition and is found dead by Lindsey and her boyfriend Rory. Now, along with Rory and her best friend Kennedy (and a little unexpected help from a few others), Lindsey is once again on the trail of a killer who might be cooking up another murder...
This is the second book in the series and I have to say that I loved it just as much as the first. Lindsey is nearly frantic with all the Christmas cookie orders she's taking, especially since she hasn't found an assistant baker to help her, until an older woman shows up and is just what she needs. With perfect help in the bakery, she finally has a little free time -- at least until she's off looking for a killer.
I am glad to see that Kennedy is back, as well as Lindsey's parents James and Ellie, (and, of course, their dogs, the models), as these characters bring a liveliness to the series and make it even more worthwhile reading. Lindsey is smart and business-savvy, and she's just beginning a relationship with her neighbor Rory, which, due to the holidays, is causing a bit of humorous frustration to them (at least for me). They just can't catch a break. Kennedy, however, has a secret of her own, and she's enjoying all of it, while the parents are both terrific people and I would love to spend time with them. Lindsey's lucky in her life, even with her ghostly Captain Willy around, who seems to be guarding her in his own way. I also enjoy looking forward to 'seeing' more of him in future books.
But the murder has the town on edge with everyone wondering who the killer is and a few of them are speculating that it might even be Felicity, fueled by jealousy. But did she kill the chef? And if she didn't, then who is to blame? The suspects begin to mount, and it brings even more questions as to the reasons why. When Lindsey and her friends start digging deeper, they find something they weren't expecting, and it leads to a rather interesting climax that has everyone surprised.
When the murderer is revealed it is rather sad, as most of the time it is; but who can say what is in the mind of a killer. Or what makes them do what they do. It all came together, wrapped in a nice package that completed the story satisfactorily.
And, of course, it's Christmas. Where would Christmas be without a little magic? I saw hints of it at the beginning of the book, and I knew why, although it certainly would take Lindsey a lot longer. After all, sprinkling holiday cheer is all what Christmas is about. Joy, family, and friends. Spreading happiness and love. And let's not forget that Christmas magic...
I received a copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Darci Hannah's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/darci-hannah/
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