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NO GRATER CRIME is the nineth book in the Country Store Mysteries by Maddie Day. Set in Indiana, the author captures the essence of the Midwest with the mannerisms and vernacular of the small-town residents. Her strong descriptive voice brings the area to life and allows the reader to feel like they’re living right alongside Robbie Jordan, owner of the Pans ‘N Pancakes. Robbie is busy running her successful café and shop, plus planning her wedding to Abe and getting to know her future step-son. Ms. Day has allowed the characters to grow and evolve over the course of the series, and as a result, I feel invested in what happens to them. I love how they are kind and supportive of each other. Even when facing unsavory characters or delving into investigations, Robbie manages to exude a sense of kindness.

With everything going on the last thing Robbie needed or wanted was for someone to die in her restaurant after eating her omelet containing poisonous mushrooms. With the café temporarily closed, Robbie feels obligated to find out how the mushrooms ended up in her kitchen, and who might have wanted the man dead. Or, is someone trying to frame Robbie and put her out of business? Ms. Day sets the mystery up and then delivers a pitch perfect investigation. While it seems kind of obvious from the onset who might be responsible for the crime, there are twists and turns to follow alongside Robbie. I waffled back and forth multiple times as I followed the clues until the final reveal. Wrapping up the story is a heartwarming end that will leave a smile on the reader’s face and the desire to find out what is in the future for Robbie.

Running a café gives Robbie the opportunity to showcase her culinary skills. Be prepared to be hungry from all the mouthwatering descriptions mentioned on the pages, and be sure to check out all the recipes included at the back of the book. With an overabundance of rosemary in our herb garden, I couldn’t wait to try out the recipe for Ms. Day’s Lemon Rosemary Scones. While rosemary can be overpowering, the scones contained just the right amount while the lemon complemented and tempered the flavor. Flaky and rich, these scones are delightful with or without the glaze included in the recipe. I chose to go the easy route of just a sprinkle of sugar on the tops before baking. Perfection with a cup of fragrant tea!

Amazon Synopsis

Ever since meeting the wary owners of an antique shop opening across the street, Robbie has been scrambling to manage weird incidences plaguing her café and country store. Pricey items vanish from shelves without explanation, a fully equipped breakfast food truck starts lingering around the area each morning, and loyal diners mysteriously fall ill. When an elderly man dies after devouring an omelet packed with poisonous mushrooms, Robbie must temporarily close down Pans ’N Pancakes and search for the killer with a real zest for running her out of business—or else.

A special thanks to Maddie Day for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of NO GRATER CRIME. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Wednesday, September 1 , 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!)

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Lemon Rosemary Scones

Ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached white flour, sifted
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 tablespoon rosemary, finely minced
• Zest of one lemon
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons milk

Optional Glaze

• Zest of half a lemon
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon rosemary, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon milk
• 1 cup icing sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 410 degrees (F). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a food processor, add the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Pulse until combined.

3. Spread the butter on top of the dry ingredients. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

4. Add the rosemary and lemon zest and pulse until combined. Transfer to a large bowl.

5. Add the buttermilk and egg over the flour mixture and stir, using a rubber spatula, until just combined.

6. Flour a work surface and transfer the dough on it. Knead for 1 minute.

7. Using your hands, pat the dough into a circle and cut into wedges. Arrange scones in a single layer on the prepared cookie sheet.

8. Brush tops with milk, then sprinkle with sugar.

9. Bake until tops are golden brown, for 12 - 15 minutes. Let scones cool completely.

Optional Glaze

1. Omit brushing the tops with milk and sprinkling with sugar.

2. Whisk together lemon zest and juice, rosemary and milk. Gradually add the icing sugar until the desired consistency is reached.

3. Drizzle the glaze on the completely cooled scones and serve.

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

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A SCONE OF CONTENTION is the eleventh book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. This newest installment finds newlywed Hayley Snow heading off to Scotland for her honeymoon. But instead of only her groom, Nathan, at her side, octogenarian Miss Gloria and Hayley’s new mother-in-law, also join them then they meet up with Nathan’s sister and husband. While it has nothing explicit with regards to honeymoon (no mention of feeldoe or anything erotic), it does give the reader opportunity to get to know more about Nathan’s family since they’ve been absent from the pages up until the previous book. I also enjoyed that the setting is in Scotland and it was a treat to sit back and enjoy the various sites Hayley and crew visit. The author’s strong descriptive voice makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing the sights, sounds, and especially tastes that Hayley is experiencing on the page. At times it felt a bit like a travelogue and food book instead of a mystery. However, once the murder takes place, the pacing picks up.

Hayley is quick to forge into the thick of things to solve the crime, despite not being on her home turf. With her new husband conscripted into a golf tournament, she, along with Miss Gloria, are on their own in trying to find answers. Maybe because Hayley was out of her usual element, her investigation seemed a bit more forceful than usual and she lacked her usual finesse. The subplot of finding out what happened to Hayley’s new sister-in-law, Vera, years before, and the current maelstrom surrounding Vera’s Scotland book project, adds another layer of intrigue. The heart stopping reveal came as a surprise to me and in the end, the various subplots are wrapped up nicely. While it’s fun to travel, it’s always wonderful to return home and I look forward to visiting with Hayley and the gang back in Key West in the next book!

Hayley is determined to eat her way through Scotland and does an admirable job in consuming a variety of local dishes. Of course, scones are at the top of the list with several varieties offered. Ms. Burdette has included recipes at the back of the book to tempt the hungry reader. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try her recipe for Banana Date Scones. I liked that, instead of using a lot of sugar, the scones rely on a banana and dates for extra sweetness. This rich and flaky pastry only needs a pat of creamy butter and a cup of tea for a delicious breakfast or snack!

Amazon Synopsis

Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow and her groom, police detective Nathan Bransford, chose Scotland for their long-delayed honeymoon, hoping to sightsee and enjoy some prize-winning scones. But their romantic duo swells to a crowd when they’re joined by Nathan’s family as well as octogenarian Miss Gloria.

Nathan’s sister Vera takes the women on a whirlwind tour of some of Scotland’s iconic mystic places as research for a looming book project. But the trip takes a deadly tartan turn when a dinner party guest falls ill and claims she was poisoned. And then the group watches in horror as a mysterious tourist tumbles to his death from the famous Falkirk Wheel, high above the Forth & Clyde canal.

Vera and her friends deny knowing the dead man, but after observing their reactions to the fall, Hayley is not convinced. With one person dead, a second possibly poisoned, and the tension among Vera’s friends as thick as farmhouse cheese, Hayley fears her long-awaited honeymoon might end with another murder.

Far away from home, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, eccentric characters, and a forbiddingly gorgeous setting, Hayley must call on all her savvy to keep a killer from striking again and then escaping Scot free.

A special thanks to Lucy Burdette for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of A SCONE OF CONTENTION! Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, August 15 , 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!)

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Banana Date Scones

From Lucy Burdette: On one of our first days during our trip to Scotland, John and I got separated for a bit in the little town of Melrose And he came back with an incredible banana date scone that he'd found in a small bakery. Actually, it was only part of a small scone because he'd eaten the other half. I've been craving another ever since. I've tried to re-create them for you here. Halyley made these for Miss Gloria before they left on their trip.

Ingredients

• 1-5/8 cup flour
• 1/6 cup brown sugar (= 2 tbls + 2 tsp)
• 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup sour cream (can also use whole milk plain yogurt)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 cup chopped dates

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F).

2. Mix all the dry ingredients (up through the salt) together well.

3. Cut in the cold butter until it's the size of small peas.

4. Mash the banana well, and stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Mix well. Add the dates and stir in.

5. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

6. Knead the dough briefly, and shape it into a circle on a floured surface. Flatten the circle and cut it into 6 pieces.

7. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 10 - 12 minutes.

8. Serve with butter and jam if you like.

Tip

1. Before chopping the dates, spritz the knife with non-stick cooking spray. Reapply as necessary.

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