Chocolate Smash Bombs

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DESSERT IS THE BOMB, by Catherine Bruns, is the eleventh book in the Cookies & Chance Mysteries. I think this series keeps getting better and better with each installment, which is saying a lot since I’ve loved it from the very first book. At the center is protagonist Sally Muccio Donovan and her zany, loveable family. The characters are what keeps me coming back to the series and this newest addition is no different. While Dessert is the Bomb can be read as a standalone, starting at the beginning will give the reader a greater appreciation of the author’s skills in developing and growing the characters. Each of the core characters are expertly penned with their own individual personalities and mannerisms. I’m especially drawn to Sally’s endearing, always misspeaking common clichéd sayings, grandmother. Some of them have me laughing out loud! Her funeral-home owning, Father of Death blogging father also adds a level of wacky humor.

When Sally’s cookie shop is threatened by Celeste Delgado, the owner of the new It’s the Bomb bakery right across the street, sparks fly. It gets even worse when Celeste inserts herself in between Sal’s parents creating a rift where there had only been unity before. Tempers flare and Sally and her best friend, Josie, are arrested for the murder of Celeste on Halloween night. A new detective in town seems to have it in for the pair. Joining in the effort to find the killer and clear Sally and Josie, are Sally’s grandmother and her elderly Sicilian friend, Nicoletta, who usually has a vendetta against Sally. Twists and turns keep the mystery fast-paced and clues are sprinkled throughout to keep a sharp reader on their toes. With several viable suspects, I was kept guessing throughout the story. As usual, Ms. Bruns has penned an entertaining read that keeps me coming back for more!

Sally and Josie bake up all sorts of tempting treats for the bakery and both agreed that their competitor, It’s the Bomb, also sold delectable desserts before the owner was brutally killed. Luckily for the reader, there are several enticing recipes included at the back of the book to try at home. I was honored when Catherine asked if I would like to come up with a recipe for chocolate smash bombs for the book. I was doubly honored when her designer was able to use my photos of the finished dessert for the cover of DESSERT IS THE BOMB! I stuck to a simple candy smash bomb and decorated it to fit the Halloween theme using candy melts, fondant cutouts, and colored sprinkles. Using your imagination to decorate for any holiday or event and filling with whatever treats you want, makes these a versatile and fun dessert.

Amazon Synopsis

Baker turned sometimes-sleuth Sally Muccio has always loved Halloween, but this year she has more on her mind than ghosts and goblins. In addition to catering a party at her wacky father’s funeral home, a competing bakery has just moved in across the street from Sally’s Samples. The new owner, Celeste Delgado, seems intent on burying Sal’s novelty cookie shop into the ground with her sensational smash cake bombs. Suddenly, the homemade fortune cookies that Sal and her best friend Josie create with loving care are predicting an ominous future for their business.

Before Sal can discover what’s behind Celeste’s grudge, the woman is killed by an explosion. To take the cake, Josie was heard threatening Celeste shortly before her death. A night in the slammer, another deadly explosion, and dangerous family secrets all add to Sal’s growing list of concerns. Like an oven timer, precious minutes of her life are ticking away. Can she find Celeste’s killer before everything blows up in her face?

A special thanks to Catherine Bruns for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of DESSERT IS THE BOMB. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Chocolate Smash Bombs

Ingredients

Equipment needed:

Small round bowls (equally sized) or specialty small ball pan such as from Wilton
Small wooden or rubber food-safe mallets
If using fortunes: paper and fine tip edible black pen

For the smash bombs:

2-1/2 ounces chocolate candy melts for EACH 3-inch smash bomb
Assorted candies to fit the theme of the holiday or event

For decorating use an assortment:

Candy melts in colors to fit the theme of the holiday or event
Sparkling sugar in colors to fit the theme
Fondant cut out in mini shapes to fit the theme

Instructions

If desired, cut small fortune cookie-sized strips of clean paper. Using a fine tip edible pen, write out fortunes or messages. Set aside.
Melt the chocolate candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl at 50% power in 30 second increments. Stir well after each heat cycle. As they begin to melt, stir to use the residual heat of the bowl to smooth out the chocolate, as much as possible. Do not overheat the chocolate or it will become thick and clumpy. If this happens, try adding a 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil at a time, stirring in well to smooth the chocolate out. It sometimes helps.
Using a spoon, spread a thick layer of the melted chocolate into the cavities of the bowls. You will need 2 half spheres per smash bomb. Refrigerate for 10 minutes until chocolate is firm.
If needed, re-melt the leftover chocolate (using the method above) then, using a pastry brush, spread a thin layer over the set chocolate. Refrigerate 5 minutes until firm.
Carefully remove the chocolate half spheres from the molds. Fill half with your choice of candy and a fortune.
Re-melt the leftover chocolate (using the method above) then, using a pastry brush, carefully brush the rim of the empty half sphere with the chocolate. Immediately press into the filled half sphere and align the halves together. If gaps are visible, use your finger or pastry brush to apply extra melted chocolate to fill them in. Refrigerate for 5 minutes until set. Repeat with remaining half spheres. To smooth out the seam, if necessary, dip a spoon in hot water then dry. Using the back of the heated spoon, gently smooth out the seams. Heat the spoon as often as necessary (just be sure to dry it before using) to melt the rough edges of seam into the sphere.

To decorate:

Melt a small amount of candy melt colors to fit your theme. Place in a piping bag (or small ziplock sandwich bag) and snip a small opening. Drizzle over the tops and sides of the spheres, enough to cover the seams. Repeat with additional colors to create layers if desired. Refrigerate until firm.
If desired, use coordinating sparkling sugar colors or sprinkles, and distribute over the drizzled candy melts before it sets.
Alternately, cutout holiday-themed mini shapes from fondant. Using an edible pen, embellish as desired. Moistened the back of the fondant shape with a tiny bit of water to adhere to the spheres.

The fun part:

Using a wooden or rubber food-safe mallet, smash through the chocolate sphere shell and enjoy the treats!

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies

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I’m delighted to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour, introducing THE CORPSE IN THE GAZEBO, the fifth book in the Food Blogger Mystery series by Debra Sennefelder. With a cast of realistic characters, chief amongst them protagonist, Hope Early, a successful food blogger, the reader is treated to a delicious mystery. I have so enjoyed watching Hope and her friends and family grow over the series and, as in real life, they face life changing events. In addition, Hope gives back to the community by teaching women, coming out of troubled situation, how to start their own online business. Not only does this help the reader get a glimpse into the kind and generous woman Hope is, but showcases social issues that might be overlooked. Even when a curmudgeonly neighbor, Birdie Donovan, tries to force Hope into moving out of the neighborhood, Hope bakes and delivers muffins to the woman instead of planning revenge!

Ms. Sennefelder expertly sets the scene up for the victim’s murder. Birdie seemed to go out of her way to wreak havoc on her neighbors’ lives and as such, there are a lot of suspects to consider. The police zero in on Hope, since it was her muffins that caused Birdie’s death. Instead of plain curiosity spurring Hope to investigate, this time it’s her freedom and her livelihood that’s at stake. With her sense of urgency to find the truth, I felt Hope crossed the line a few times in her attempt to find evidence and she was much pushier with people than in previous books. Despite that, the author does an admirable job of planting clues and throwing in some twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The surprising reveal had me revisiting the clues and admiring how Ms. Sennefelder pulled it all together.

As a food blogger, Hope is constantly working on perfecting recipes to showcase on her blog. Be prepared to repeatedly drool as you read! And be prepared to be tempted by all the recipes included at the back of the book! With autumn upon us, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the unique flavor combination of Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies. Plus, it’s a gingerbread cookie that doesn’t have to be rolled out and cut into shapes, making it much easier to whip up. I’ll be honest, my taste testers were divided: half really enjoyed the flavor combination and the generous amount of chocolate chips, while the other half would have preferred it without the chocolate. The next time I make these, I’ll satisfy both by baking half the dough sans chocolate chips and then adding in half the amount of chips to the remaining dough. It’s like getting two different cookies in one batch!

Amazon Synopsis

It seems everyone loves Hope’s blog these days, and she’s busier than ever volunteering to help other women create their own paths to success. So she’s shocked when a neighbor petitions to run Hope right out of her small Connecticut town! Set in her ways, apparently Birdie Donovan doesn’t like the chaos Hope’s sleuthing creates, the police activity and crime scenes, and it’s happening way too often lately. Eager to make amends, Hope bakes Birdie a batch of her best muffins. The delicious treats might have smoothed things over—until Hope discovers Birdie dead in her gazebo the very next day . . .

Now instead of worrying about holding on to her beloved home, Hope is trying to stay out of jail. Because suddenly she’s the lead suspect in the case. Not even her boyfriend, Police Chief Ethan Cahill, is promising he can clear her name, much less discuss the investigation with her. It’s up to Hope to get to bake new ground on the case before the lifestyle brand she’s created—and her whole life—crumbles . . .

A special thanks to Debra Sennefelder for providing one lucky winner with a (1) Grand Prize – Prize Package including a signed copy of The Corpse in the Gazebo. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends October 4, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) Contest is administered by Great Escapes Book Tour.

Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted by Hope Early

Hold onto your Christmas stocking, because this soft gingerbread cookie packs a wallop of flavor and all the cozy holiday feels. The soft gingerbread is filled with chocolate chips, so every bite is a flavor combination like none other. According to the girls, this would be the perfect cookie to leave Santa. I think they're right. These are also perfect when you want a gingerbread cookie but don't want to deal with rolling and cutting out the dough. They're also ideal when you want a gingerbread cookie but also a chocolate chip cookie. Come on, you know you've been there. I know I have. Now you have the recipe that will take care of that craving. Ready to bake a new favorite cookie?

Ingredients

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
6 tablespoons molasses
1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ginger
Pinch of ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars. With the mixer on slow speed, add in molasses and vanilla.
Add in the dry ingredients, reserving the chocolate chips until later. Mix until the dough comes together and is smooth.
Remove from mixer or set aside hand mixer and stir in chocolate chips by hand.
Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour, making sure it's chilled through but not firm
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop out cookies and space 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake for 10 - 11 minutes.
Let cookies res on baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container.

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September 21 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Spoonbread

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Sometimes you come across a new book that has you smiling from the very start. BURDEN OF POOF, the first book in the brand-new Bonnie & Clyde Mystery series by Julie Anne Lindsey, had that effect on me. From the downhome Southern charm of protagonist, Bonnie Balfour, to her adorable rescue cat, Clyde, to the witty and humorous dialog, Ms. Lindsey pens an entertaining tale. I loved the premise of Bonnie’s new shop, Bless Her Heart, a second chance dress shop and boutique. It seemed to be a fitting metaphor for a great deal that went into the development of the charming story and the characters. Another thing that I admire is that there is so much kindness and caring between Bonnie, her parents, and her friends, new and old. It left me with a comforting, warm feeling of wanting to spend time with Bonnie and the community of Bliss.

However, someone in the community had it in for the only curmudgeon in town, and Bonnie is the unfortunate one to find the victim. Too many clues point to Bonnie being the viable suspect and the new detective has set his sight on her. I like that she’s a “soft” investigator who gets information by being pleasant and getting clues by chatting and asking gentle questions, instead of in-your-face interrogating. Despite this gentle style, the book is fast-paced and kept me turning pages to find out what happens next. The reveal left me well-satisfied as the clues clicked into place and has me yearning for another trip back to Bliss!

When Bonnie gets stressed, she turns to baking to calm herself down. There are lots of mentions of delectable desserts and dishes in the book to keep the reader hungry. While there aren’t any recipes in the book, Ms. Lindsey has kindly provided her own recipe for Spoonbread for this blog post. A southern side dish, I’ve never had it before and I found it to be a cross between cornbread and polenta, but with a lightened texture thanks to the whipped egg whites. I probably should have browsed Pinterest before making and photographing the recipe because I found out it’s named Spoonbread because you’re supposed to serve it with a spoon from the dish. Instead, I cut it into squares as I would have done for cornbread. But no matter how you decide to serve it, it’s a delicious change to the usual side dish staples!

Amazon Synopsis

An amateur sleuth named Bonnie and her kitty companion Clyde, with names like those, what could possibly go wrong?

Life hasn’t sparkled too brightly for Bonnie Balfour over the past few years, but a heart-breaking divorce has brought her back to her small rural hometown of Bliss, Georgia, and things are starting to shape up.

The proud new owner of Bless Her Heart—a second chance dress shop and boutique on the town square—Bonnie thinks thirty-eight might not be too late for a fresh start in life after all.

Until a grouchy old widow turns up dead in a pile of donations meant for Bonnie’s shop, and the town’s new detective pins her to the top of his suspect list!

To save her shop, dream and reputation, Bonnie must coordinate clues and stitch together the truth about her innocence, but the unreasonably handsome detective and prying eyes of the local gossip mill are fast fraying her nerves.

When a series of anonymous attacks begin to hem her in, Bonnie fears the real killer is fixing to make her his next victim. Can this amateur sleuth measure up?

A special thanks to Julie Anne Lindsey for providing one lucky winner with a Kitty Prize Package. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends September 24, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) Contest is administered by Great Escapes Book Tour.

Spoonbread

From the author, Julia Anne Lindsey: I hope you’ll enjoy this recipe. It’s pretty simple, but I really loved the idea of this one. The fact it has long-been, and continues to be, a staple in southern households, and that there are apparently evidences of similar recipes going back to the 1700s,makes me automatically intrigued. And a version of this recipe was printed in Sarah Rutledge’s, The Carolina Housewife, 1847! I’m a huge sucker for history, and anytime a recipe sticks around this long, I’ve got to think there’s something right and worthy about it.

Ingredients

4 large eggs, separated
1 cup ground cornmeal
2-1/2 cups milk, whole or 2%
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Prepare 8-inch square or 1-1/2 quart baking dish with butter or spray.
Combine milk and salt in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
Whisk in the cornmeal, gradually, whisking out all clumps. Whisk 6-8 minutes, or until thick.
Remove from heat and blend in the butter.
Add egg yolks and blend until smooth.
Beat egg whites until medium stiff peaks form, then fold into mixture.
Move mixture to prepared baking dish and bake 35-45 minutes, until golden brown and puffed. *A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
Serve warm

Other suggestions:

Spoonbread is a sweet treat when served with a pat of butter and drizzle of honey, or made more savory by adding shredded cheese or diced onion to the mixture before baking.

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September 15 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
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September 15 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
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September 16 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
September 16 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
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September 17 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 17 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
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September 23 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
September 24 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Essentials of Murder Release Day Giveaways!

It’s release day for

E S S E N T I A L S O F M U R D E R

and I’m celebrating with a giveaway for a
$10 Amazon gift card and a
Saje Peppermint Halo® Wand Cooling and Soothing Oil Blend for the Head*

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Saje Peppermint Halo is available in limited countries and as such, may not be awarded if winner lives outside their delivery zones. Contest ends 9/14/21.

As a bonus, read Chapter 1 before you buy ➾ https://bit.ly/2WVeEAk

ABOUT THE BOOK

Following a scandal that chased her from San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael struggles to find acceptance in her small Southern California hometown as she opens her aromatherapy and reflexology shop.

When she finds a man murdered in her distilling room, Carissa becomes the main suspect, especially when her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, most townspeople assume she’s guilty—including the new leading detective.

Refusing to run again, Carissa knows she must prove her innocence to save her shop and her family’s reputation. With suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it’s up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it’s too late.

** If you like your cozies with quirky hometown characters, small-town California charm, recipes, and essential oil and reflexology tips, Book 1 in the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series is for you. Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

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BOOK LINKS

Publisher website – https://kindredinkpress.com/titles/essentials-of-murder/

Read Chapter 1 before you buy – https://bit.ly/2WVeEAk

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/ASIN/B09BBLP2C2

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/ASIN/B09BBLP2C2

Amazon CA – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/ASIN/B09BBLP2C2

Amazon AU – https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/ASIN/B09BBLP2C2

Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/essentials-of-murder-kim-davis/1139912711

Apple Books – https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1578537176

Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/essentials-of-murder

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58756107-essentials-of-murder

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/books/essentials-of-murder-aromatherapy-apothecary-cozy-mysteries-book-1-by-kindred-ink-press-and-kim-davis

Click to visit Saje

*My favorite headache relief essential oil blend, it includes:

peppermint (mentha piperita)
eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus)
cajeput (melaleuca cajuputi)
rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis)
lavender (lavandula angustifolia)
vetiver (vetivera zizanoides)

To use: depress tip of wand onto scalp for 1-2 seconds in 8-12 spots. For increased cooling, apply in 15-25 spots. Avoid eyes.

Winner of Best Headache Remedy, Best Health Editor’s Choice Awards, 2018!

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Swan’s Southern Tea Cakes

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PARTNERS IN LIME is the sixth book in the Seaside Café Mystery series by Bree Baker. Set on the island of Charm, North Carolina, this charming book features protagonist Everly Swan and her delightful tea shop Sun, Sand, and Tea. Ms. Baker has developed a strong cast of characters alongside Everly. I especially love her elderly aunts, one who just happens to be the mayor of the town and the other who runs their shop, the Blessed Bee, which sells all sorts of bee products from their hives. Everly is also dating Detective Grady Hays and their relationship is moving forward and provides a subplot thread throughout the story. The author’s strong descriptive voice captures all that island life has to offer. There are beaches and tourists, plus surfers coming into town for a competition. Alongside that is the backdrop of the upcoming historical production, The Lost Colony with its more than one hundred participants. Ms. Baker intertwines the events and people together in a convincing fashion, setting the stage for murder and lots of suspects!

When the reigning surf champion is found murdered, Everly’s one-time fling, Matt, is the prime suspect. Here the storyline fell off for me as Everly ignores all the evidence piling up against Matt. Despite her detective boyfriend’s advice and warnings, she repeatedly meets up with Matt, even in unsafe locations. At times it felt like the author wanted to introduce a love triangle but wasn’t sure if that was the direction she wanted to go. Fortunately, it’s resolved by the end. That said, the author weaves a tightly plotted mystery with plenty of clues and suspects to keep the reader guessing and writes an edge-of-your-seat reveal. With a heartwarming and hopeful ending, Partners In Lime will appeal to fans of this series and will have us coming back for more.

While running the Sun, Sand, and Tea shop, Everly serves up all sorts of tempting treats and drinks. Thankfully, Ms. Baker includes several recipes at the back of the book to entice a hungry reader. I ended up making her recipe for Swan’s Southern Tea Cakes, which are basically simple cookies that are traditionally served with tea. With only six pantry and refrigerated staples, these mix up quickly and make a large enough batch to share with family and friends! In the book, Everly spreads a lime glaze over the cookie, but the recipe has them served plain. These are delicious any way you serve them: plain, glazed with a simple confectioners’ sugar thinned with lime juice, rolled in confectioners’ sugar, or brushed with butter and rolled in cinnamon and sugar mixture and evoke the traditions of generations past.

Amazon Synopsis

It all seems to be smooth sailing for Everly Swan. The island of Charm, North Carolina is hosting tons of fun summer events, her iced tea shop is a hit, and best of all, she’s finally dating the handsome Detective Grady Hays. But their romantic bubble bursts when tragedy strikes: a surf-pro is found murdered on the beach, killed with a theater prop.

Grady follows the evidence, all of which points to Matt, Everly’s friend and one-time fling. As Grady does his job, so does Everly—her unofficial chef-turned-sleuth-job, that is. She’s determined to clear her friend’s name but the arrival of a fancy new teashop and The Town Charmer, a gossip blog determined to rock the boat, complicates things. As Everly tries to keep rumors at bay and investigate the murder (and her new tea rival), the killer leaves a message in the sand…

A special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of PARTNERS IN LIME. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, September 12 , 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Swan's Southern Tea Cakes

Indulge your sweet tooth and impress your friends with a taste of island history. This Swan family recipe has been enjoyed for generations. Make it your family's newest tradition!

Ingredients

4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 sticks butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure almond extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Pour the flour into a large bowl. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients until smooth.
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of flour and stir carefully to combine.
Work the dough into balls, and drop onto the baking sheet.
Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve.

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Vee’s Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies

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HALLOWEEN PARTY MURDER is a compilation of three cozy mystery novellas by three terrific authors: Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross. If you haven’t yet read any books by these authors, this Halloween trilogy is a great way to try them out. And if you’re already a fan, you’ll love catching up with favorite characters via these quick vignettes. Despite the shortened length of each story, the authors do a marvelous job of setting the stage, capturing the essence of Halloween with spooky atmospheres, and creating a murder for the heroines to solve. The short books are well-plotted with a quick pace, yet the stories never feel rushed.

Each author brings their individual styles and strengths to their novella, from Leslie Meier tackling social issues, to the humor and wit imbued by Lee Hollis, to the strong character development and descriptive voice embraced by Barbara Ross. Each of their strengths has a hand in creating stories that captured my attention and kept me glued to the pages all the while adhering to the theme of the title. Another aspect I enjoy about the annual cozy mystery novella trilogy published by Kensington, is that each story is short enough to finish in one evening without feeling the need to stay up half the night to find out the conclusion. Of course, if you have time on your hands, you’ll want to gobble up the entire book all at once while munching on trick-or-treat goodies!

Barbara Ross and Lee Hollis are known for adding tempting recipes to their books, and Halloween Party Murder is no exception. With several tempting Halloween treats mentioned on the pages, be prepared to be hungry and be sure to check out the Halloween-themed recipes included. Barbara Ross includes a recipe for Vee’s Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies, which sounded intriguing because you don’t have to roll out the dough to cutout pumpkin shapes. Instead, these cookies are shaped free-form (or patted within the confines of a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter like I did). You can easily swap out all-purpose flour for the gluten-free blend called for. Full of flavor, these cookies are pumpkiny and spicy, chocolately and cakey, yet moist with a crunch from the walnuts added. Your ghouls and goblins will thank you for this yummy treat!

Amazon Synopsis

Small town traditions are celebrated throughout Maine during the holiday season. But when it comes to Halloween, some people are more than willing to reap a harvest of murder . . .

HALLOWEEN PARTY MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Tinker’s Cove newest residents Ty and Heather Moon turn their Victorian home into a haunted house to raise funds for charity. But the Halloween fun turns to horrific fright when Heather overdoses on tainted drugs—and Ty finds himself accused of murder. Digging deep into the story, journalist Lucy Stone uncovers some sinister secrets in the Moons’ past linked to a conspiracy in her hometown . . .

DEATH OF A HALLOWEEN PARTY MONSTER by LEE HOLLIS
Everyone attending Island Times Food and Cocktail columnist Hayley Powell’s Halloween bash is dressed as their favorite movie monster from the Bride of Frankenstein and Jaws to Chucky and Pennywise the clown. But when partygoers stumble upon Boris Candy’s bludgeoned costumed corpse, it falls to Hayley to discover who among her guests wanted to stop the man from clowning around permanently . . .

SCARED OFF by BARBARA ROSS
Three teenage girls having a sleepover on Halloween night get spooked when high schoolers crash the house for a party. But no one expected to find a crasher like Mrs. Zelisko, the elderly third floor tenant, dead in the backyard—dressed in a sheet like a ghost. With her niece traumatized, Julia Snowden must uncover who among the uninvited guests was responsible for devising such a murderous trick . . .

A special thanks to Barbara Ross for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of HALLOWEEN PARTY MURDER. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Thursday, September 9 , 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Vee's Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies

In the story, Vee Snugg makes her traditional pumpkin cookies gluten-free in an attempt to entice Sergent Tom Flynn. In reality, you can make them either way. Vee's recipe is a twist on the one that used to appear on the Libby pumpkin can. Lots of people make versions of these cookies, but I think Vee's are particularly delicious.

Full of flavor, these cookies are pumpkiny, and spicy, chocolately and cakey, yet moist with a crunch from the walnuts added.

Ingredients

3-1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Flour (or standard all-purpose flour)
2-1/3 cup old-fashioned oats (if gluten-free is necessary, make certain to use gf oats)
1-3/4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
3-1/2 sticks butter, softened
1-3/4 cup sugar
1-3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 (15-ounce) can of pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
1-3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1-3/4 cup chocolate chips
Decorator icing (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix flour, oats, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a medium bowl.
In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.
Add pumpkin, eggs, and extract. Mix well.
Gradually stir in flour mixture. Add nuts and chocolate chips.
Drop 1/4 cup dough onto a parchment-covered baking sheet. Spread into a pumpkin shape, about 1/4 inch thick. Continue until all dough is used.
Bake for 14 - 16 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes and then remove to wire racks.
Decorate with icing when cool, if desired. Vee uses orange icing to outline the pumpkin ribs and green icing for the stem and leaves.