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GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH, the 8th book in the Cookies & Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns captures the spirit and the flavors of the Christmas season. That is except for two carjacking Santas and Sally Donovan’s gingerbread men and her brand new cake server left at the scene of the town’s Casanova-want-a-be’s murder. Sally, owner of Sally’s Samples cookie bakery, is bursting at the seams with her own bun in the oven and Baby Donovan is not wanting to make an appearance. Besides worrying about the delay in delivery, Sally has her hands full with Christmas festivities and her sister’s wedding. But as usual, a creepy fortune cookie her own bakery made, forewarns her of imminent disaster and it doesn’t take long for mayhem to strike. Ms. Bruns takes the reader on a fast-paced caper with several laugh out loud moments (the parental units are the perfect pair to lighten the mood) along with heartwarming scenes that epitomize the holiday theme.

One of the many strengths in the Cookies & Chance series are the characters. The close knit Italian family that surrounds Sally through thick and thin makes me want to revisit them as each book is released and catch up on everything going on. Ms. Bruns does an admirable job of allowing each and every character to grow, to change, and to surprise the reader with every single story. The author also effectively builds suspense in both the murder mystery plot as well in Sally’s personal life. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and plenty of twists to keep me turning pages until the very last page. An edge-of-your-seat reveal added to the holiday cheer and makes me eager to find out what’s in store for Sally and the gang with the next installment!

Sally’s Samples serves up delectable cookies along with their famed fortune cookies. As usual, Ms. Bruns includes a couple yummy recipes at the back of the book that are perfect for holiday baking. I was honored to be asked to include one of my own recipes for the book. I decided on Candy Cane Brownies. Chocolate and peppermint are a favorite flavor combination of mine (Thin Mints!) and the added crunch of crushed candy canes to adorn the tops of the frosted brownies adds a festive touch. Easy to make, this batch will serve a large group which makes it perfect to prepare for any holiday gathering while saving a few pieces for Santa.

Amazon Synopsis

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Unless you’re Sally Muccio.

The full-time baker and sometime sleuth is ready to burst into song. She and her husband are expecting a bundle of joy, her sister’s wedding is just around the corner, and it’s Christmas, her favorite time of year. But when Sal’s the victim of a carjacking by Santa himself and a forgotten item links her to a murder, she doesn’t feel like ho-ho-hoing anymore.

Damian Ruger was a drug user, womanizer and first-class jerk. And unfortunately for Sal, she once had a connection to him in high school. The dough really hits the fan when her bakery’s gingerbread cookies are found next to his dead body, and Sal’s cake server is used as a murder weapon. Someone is trying to frame the expectant mother, but why? Sal has no choice but to try to clear her name…before she and the baby are singing Christmas carols in prison!

A special thanks to Catherine Bruns for providing one winner with a print copy of GINGER SNAPPED TO DEATH. Contest ends Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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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Candy Cane Brownies

Ingredients

Brownies

• 1-1/2 cups butter, room temperature
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder (either natural or dutch cocoa will work here)
• 5 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

Garnish

• Coarsely broken candy canes

Instructions

Brownies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. 

3. Beat in the cocoa powder until thoroughly incorporated and no lumps remain.

4. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add salt and peppermint extract. Mix well.

5. Gradually add in the flour and stir until completed incorporated.

6. Line a jelly roll pan (15-1/2"x10-1/2"x1") with parchment paper. Spritz the parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray, then spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.

7. Bake for about 30 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Rest pan on a wire rack until completely cool before proceeding with frosting.

Frosting

1. Cream the butter then slowly add the confectioners' sugar and beat until incorporated completely.
   

2. Add the peppermint extract. 

3. Mix in 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream. Add additional cream, up to 1 tablespoon, until spreadable consistency is reached. Whip for an additional 3 minutes, until frosting is light and fluffy.

4. Frost the brownies then cut into 2-inch squares. Garnish each square with bits of broken candy canes right before serving.

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THREE WIDOWS AND A CORPSE, the third book in the Food Blogger Mystery series by Debra Sennefelder is another delicious addition! I’ve enjoyed watching food blogger Hope Early’s character develop over the course of the series. In this newest book she’s been invited to contribute to a feature in Cooking Now! Magazine. As a blogger myself, I appreciate the research and detail Ms. Sennefelder provides into her character’s career which lends an air of authenticity to the read. Hope Early is a likeable and friendly person, unless she needs to question you to determine if you’re a viable murder suspect. I liked how the author had people slamming doors in her face and getting mad at her for asking questions since this gives a more realistic scenario of interaction between the characters. The Food Blogger Mystery series has plenty of delightful and not so nice characters. Hands down Hope’s dog, Bigelow, steals each scene he’s in. The author’s slow reveal of the true nature of both primary and secondary characters keeps them three-dimensional, adding layers of enjoyment to the read.

Ms. Sennefelder creates a whopper of a tale by adding in not one grieving widow, but three widows to the same victim. The tension between the three women, none who knew the others existed, added to the suspense and pool of suspects. While the victim was a vile man, Hope can’t help but get involved in finding justice after finding the body. Despite her Chief of Police boyfriend’s warning to stay out of the investigation, she can’t help but ask questions and piece together the puzzle. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing while the suspenseful reveal left me a little sad. Ms. Sennefelder proves to be able to draw the reader in and have them invest emotions in the characters, which is a sign of a great read.

In between questioning suspects and tracking down clues, Hope cooks up a storm and always has plenty of food on hand to share with friends and family. Ms. Sennefelder’s recipes at the back of the book all sound amazing and I’ll admit, I made more than one of them. But for this blog post, I’m sharing her recipe for Chocolate Walnut Cookies. These yummy bites are the perfect combination of chewy and crunchy, thanks to the melted chocolate, chocolate chips, and walnuts. With the combination of granulated and brown sugar, there’s an added depth of rich flavor. I found them to be sturdy enough to package up and share, so made a batch for my granddaughter’s cheer fundraising event. They received rave reviews and will find a place in my regular rotation of cookie recipes!

Amazon Synopsis

Food blogger Hope Early finds one item not on her scavenger hunt list—a dead husband . . .

Between developing her food blog, Hope at Home, and choosing low-cal recipes for a feature in Cooking Now! magazine, Hope has a full plate. Still, she’s never too busy to compete in a Jefferson, Connecticut, tradition—the town’s annual scavenger hunt.

But as she races with her team to check off the next item, Hope discovers a grisly surprise—the body of shady real estate developer Lionel Whitcomb, shot in a parking lot. His wife Elaine, who’s also in the hunt, gasps and nearly faints. But two other women on the scene cry out that their husband is dead.

It turns out this louse of a spouse was more than a little lax in legally divorcing his former wives. Did one of them put a bullet in the bigamist? Number one suspect and number three wife Elaine begs Hope to investigate. Now Hope is on a new kind of hunt—for a cold-hearted killer and triple widow-maker . . .

A special thanks to Debra Sennefelder for providing one winner with a print copy of THREE WIDOWS AND A CORPSE. Contest ends Sunday, November 3, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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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Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Posted by Hope Early: Cookies are pure joy for me. I love baking them, I love sharing them, and I love eating them. These cookies combine chocolate, chocolate chips, and walnuts into a perfect little package. It's hard to stop at one, so don't even try!

Ingredients

• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in a double boiler (or microwave according to package instructions), stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

2. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

3. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy, then stir in egg and chocolate mixture, mixing until combined.

4. Gradually stir in flour mixture, remaining chocolate chips, and walnuts. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).

6. Roll dough into balls, about 1-1/4-inch. Arrange them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake until set but still soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.

7. Let rest on cookie sheet 2 minutes before transferring to cooling rack to completely cool.

Notes

Yield: 32 cookies

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A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR, the tenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander, is a sweet Christmas holiday read that will surely put the reader in the mood for a full cup of holiday cheer. It was a treat to immerse myself in the holly season as protagonist and owner of Torte, Jules (Juliet) Capshaw, contends with keeping the townspeople of Ashland, Oregon filled with sugarplums and other tasty holiday puddings and treats. Ms. Alexander’s endearing series’ greatest strength is the character development of Jules and her close-knit family, friends, and employees. It’s been a pleasure getting to know them from the early books and then seeing them grow and develop over the course of the series. They’ve all become like close friends. A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR can be read as a stand-alone, however as an avid reader, I’ve loved the slow unfolding of the characters’ lives.

Another strength is the author’s ability to effectively capture the sights, sounds, and flavors of the setting. Her detailed descriptions make the reader feel like you’re living right there: tasting Jule’s special cookies and her barista’s coffee of the day; feeling the first snowflakes of the season; and smelling the pine trees as Jules and her best friend, Lance, hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. I love how Jules spreads holiday cheer even to Lance, who would rather be a Grinch than a jolly elf.

Lance isn’t the only one who wants to embrace being a Grinch, and when a woman is found murdered at the long-running Dicken’s feast at a local Ashland Inn, Jules finds herself embroiled in another investigation. I like Jules’ style of investigation. She’s never overly pushy and while she manages to question a lot of people, she still gives her full attention to her bakery. Of course she relies heavily on the fabulous coffee coming from her barista to keep her awake for hours on end so she can accomplish so much. There isn’t a stressful, why is she putting herself in danger, ending which is particularly nice after being cocooned in the holiday festivities. Yet, Ms. Alexander manages to create a satisfying mystery that kept me intrigued and turning pages.

Jules and her staff at Torte are amazing bakers. There were so many delectable goodies being served to the townspeople that I literally had to rush to the back of the book to check out which recipes Ms. Alexander includes. I bookmarked several I have to try but wanted to share her recipe for Mom’s Antoinettes. Buttery, almond-flavored shortbread-style cookies are sandwiched around raspberry jam and then topped with dark chocolate buttercream. It really is as good as it sounds… maybe even better given my taste testers feedback! With the bright red filling and the swirls of chocolate buttercream, these Antoinettes will beautifully adorn any cookie tray, whatever time of year it may be.

Amazon Synopsis

It’s Christmastime and everyone is heading to Torte, the most cheerful bakery in town. There’s no place like home for the homicide…

Ashland, Oregon, looks as pretty as a postcard this holiday season. The halls are decked, stockings hung, and eyes are all aglow―mostly thanks to the buttered rum. Jules Capshaw and her staff at Torte are busier than ever. . . still, even the town’s most in-demand bakers need to take a break. So Jules invites everyone to celebrate at the local Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast, a six-course extravaganza with Yorkshire Pudding, Christmas goose, and all the trimmings. But as the weather outside becomes frightful, things inside turn less delightful when one of the guests ends up as dead as Scrooge’s doornail. Now it’s up to Jules and her helpers to make a list of suspects―and check it twice―to try to find out who’s naughty, who’s nice, and who’s guilty of murder…

A special thanks to Ellie Alexander for providing one winner with a print copy of A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR. Contest ends Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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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Mom's Antoinette Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting

• 1 cup butter
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2-1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream

Filling

• 1 jar raspberry jam

Instructions

Cookies

1. Cream butter and sugar together in a mixer. Add egg and almond extract and mix well. Slowly incorporate flour and salt.

2. Roll dough into a large ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for one hour.

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).

4. Make small balls (half inch) and place on cookie sheet. You should be able to get 4 to 5 balls per row. Then use the palm of your hand to press balls into circles (approximately the size of a quarter.)

5. Bake 6 - 8 minutes. Allow to cool.

Frosting

1. Whip butter in mixer. Slowly incorporate cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream.

2. Mix on high setting for 5 minutes, or until frosting is creamy and light.

Assemble Cookies

1. Assemble cookies by spreading a thin layer of raspberry jam on the flat side of two cookies. Sandwich them together. Spread a generous layer of chocolate frosting on the top.

2. Pop in your mouth and enjoy!

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I’m delighted to be participating in the Great Escapes Book Tour introducing MUMBO GUMBO MURDER! This sixteenth book in the popular Scrapbooking Mystery series by Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran is a fun romp through the streets of New Orleans during Jazz Fest. The author duo brings the French Quarter to life and the reader is treated to the sights, sounds, and tastes of this vibrant city. And oh the tastes… New Orleans is a foodie-lovers’ paradise and the protagonist, Carmela Bertrand, and her sidekick, Ava, eat and drink their way through the festival making me wish I could be there with them. I also enjoyed the parade scenes with the Beastmaster Puppets. The tidbits of information the authors provide on how the puppeteers manipulate them, especially the jumbo-sized puppets, was quite interesting. The reader is also treated to the creepy side of New Orleans through the vampire society and the voodoo shops. Ava, owner of one of the voodoo shops, adds zing to the antics she gets into with scrapbook shop owner Carmela. As a team their capers spice up the pages of this entertaining read and while it’s a mystery with murder, they often reminded me of a younger Lucy and Ethel.

While the settings, tastes, and zany antics contribute lighthearted fun, the authors still deliver a solid mystery for Carmela and Ava to solve. The action starts with a literal bang from the very beginning and continues with page-turning intrigue. Even though Carmela is engaged to Detective Edgar Babcock, who begs her not to get involved, she still manages to insert herself into the thick of the investigation. This time it’s her antiques dealing friend who is murdered and after rescuing the dead man’s adorable pug, she can’t help but want to find out who ended his life. Could his death be related to the rumors swirling around that he owned a piece of President Lincoln’s coat, worn on the night of his assassination? Or was there something of value hidden away in his shop that was worth killing for? As Carmela asks questions and listens to gossip, while eating her way through town, the suspect lists grows. With an action-packed conclusion, Ms. Childs and Ms. Moran provide a satisfactory end to a highly entertaining read.

Like I mentioned before, New Orleans is a food-lovers’ paradise. Fortunate for the reader, the authors include several recipes at the back of the book along with scrapbooking tips and craft ideas. One of the yummy recipes is a cookie recipe title Pecan Jazz Tarts. While I’m not clear why it’s called a tart, I can say that these cookies are scrumptious! Loads of buttery pecans are mixed with a shortbread-style cookie dough, rolled into an oblong shape, and after baking, rolled in sweet powdered sugar. These crunchy cookies are sturdy enough to transport making them ideal for gift giving.

Amazon Synopsis

It’s Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and the giant puppets from the Beastmaster Puppet Theatre are parading through the French Quarter. Some are very spooky and veiled, others are tall and gangly, like strange aliens.

As the parade proceeds, Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava, follow behind, down Royal Street and past the food booths. Suddenly, they hear a terrible crash from Devon Dowling’s antiques shop. They rush inside to find Devon collapsed with blood streaming down the side of his face. Has he been shot? Stabbed? 911 is hastily called, and the police and EMTs show up. After the police examine Devon’s body, they tell Carmela and Ava that their friend was murdered with an icepick. They’re shocked beyond belief—and now Mimi, Devon’s little pug, is left homeless.

Carmela and Ava are determined to catch the murderer, but the list of suspects is long. How long do they have before they find themselves on the killer’s list?

A special thanks to Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran for providing two giveaway copies of MUMBO GUMBO MURDER. Contest ends October 15, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and limited to U.S. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. The contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and the winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

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Pecan Jazz Tarts

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 5 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups chopped pecans
• Additional powdered sugar to roll cookies in

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. Mix together butter, powdered sugar, flour, vanilla, and chopped pecans.

3. Roll out in small oblong balls and place on lightly greased (or parchment paper-lined) cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

5. Roll still-warm tarts in additional powdered sugar.

Notes

Yields 15 to 20 cookies

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 1 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW
October 2 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT – Sapphyria’s Books
October 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 2 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
October 3 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 4 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
October 4 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 5 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW
Oct 6 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 6 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 7 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
October 7 – Reading Is My SuperPower – GUEST POST
October 8 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW
October 8 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
October 10 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW
October 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
October 11 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
October 13 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT
October 13 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT
October 14 – Diary of a Book Fiend – REVIEW
October 14 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
October 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 15 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 15 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW

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