I’m excited to share the cover reveal for my new upcoming release, FROSTED YULETIDE MURDER! 

Releasing December 17, 2021

And, as a holiday gift to you, the ebook price will remain at
$0.99 for the month of December,
so preorder your copy now!

(Print will be available around the time of the release date.)

To celebrate my upcoming release, I’m giving away a $5 Amazon gift card. Please use the Rafflecopter link below the recipe. Contest ends 12/8/21.

Click title to preorder your copy:

FROSTED YULETIDE MURDER

FROSTED YULETIDE MURDER

Set against the holiday cheer of twinkling lights, costumed carolers, and a festive line of extravagantly decorated boats participating in the annual Christmas boat parade in Newport Beach, California, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez finds that the grinch has crashed the party. Together with her sister Carrie, Emory is catering a delectable feast of holiday cupcakes and cookies aboard a luxury yacht for the new Mrs. Blair Villman and her guests.

Sparks fly when Carrie comes face-to-face with the hostess, who just happens to be Carrie’s high school frenemy, and old grievances are dredged up. Adding fuel to the fire, Blair’s stepson brings his mother, the former Mrs. Villman, to the party. Instead of celebrating holiday cheer, someone seems intent on channeling the Burgermeister Meisterburger and shutting down Blair’s party permanently. When Emory finds a body aboard the yacht, she needs to discover who iced the victim before the Scrooge ruins not only her livelihood but her freedom as well.

Includes delicious holiday recipes.

In my household Christmas means cookies galore! I’ve included several cookie and cupcake recipes in FROSTED YULETIDE MURDER. One of the cookie recipes is Hot Cocoa Cookies which I’m sharing below. Rich chocolate cookies are topped with a chocolate wafer and a mini marshmallow. Thanks to the caramel undertones from brown sugar and a bit of coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor, these cookies are sure to be a hit with Santa and his merry little elves!

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Hot Cocoa Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup hot chocolate mix
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee (such as Starbucks VIA)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar for rolling
• chocolate candy disks
• mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a standing mixer, add the butter, hot chocolate mix, brown sugar, salt, and instant coffee. Beat the mixture until smooth and creamy. Add in the egg and the vanilla and mix until incorporated.
2. Beat in the baking powder, then slowly add in the flour, mixing until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Allow the dough to chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
5. Place the granulated sugar in a bowl. Form dough into 1 1/2-inch sized balls and roll in the sugar. Place on baking sheet at least 3 inches apart.
6. Bake for 8 minutes, until cookies appear set but not fully cooked. Remove the cookies from the oven and press a chocolate candy disk into the center of each cookie and top with a mini marshmallow.
7. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the chocolate softens.
8. Remove baking sheet from oven and slightly press the marshmallow into the melted chocolate to secure. Allow the cookies to mostly cool then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days with parchment or wax paper separating the layers.

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Mark your calendars and be sure to follow along on my Great Escapes Virtual blog tour. There will be a gift card giveaway and a chance to win a print copy of FROSTED YULETIDE MURDER!

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 14 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 14 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW
December 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
December 15 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT
December 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 15 – Our Holiday Journey – SPOTLIGHT
December 16 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
December 16 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
December 16 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
December 16 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
December 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 17 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 17 – My Journey Back – SPOTLIGHT
December 18 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 19 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
December 19 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT
December 20 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
December 20 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
December 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

In person appearance!!!

If you live in Southern California, I hope you’ll be able to join me and
these two fabulous authors at Creating Conversations
for some cookies and fun!

Click on title to preorder now:

FROSTED YULETIDE MURDER

P.S. Did you know that FRAMED AND FROSTED is available to read for free if you belong to Kindle Unlimited?!

Click on book to visit Amazon

Click on book to visit Amazon

THE ENEMY YOU GNOCCHI, the third book in the Italian Chef Mysteries by Catherine Bruns, continues the story of Italian chef, Tessa Esposito, with a temptingly delicious read. From the start, the author’s strong descriptive voice brings the reader right into the thick of things, with the sights, sounds, aromas, and tastes of Tessa’s cooking evoking the holiday season. Ms. Bruns has also taken care to create memorable characters that complement each other on the pages, as well as change and grow over the course of the series. Especially enjoyable are Tessa and her cousin/best friend, Gabby. Their repartee adds a sense of family and closeness, which allows the reader to feel like they’re getting to know them on a deeper level. While this book can be read as a standalone, starting from the beginning builds an appreciation for how the characters’ personalities and lives move forward.

With a tightly plotted mystery of finding out who would have wanted to kill Santa during the town’s Festival of Lights, including Tessa herself, I was kept glued to the pages. There were clues to keep me on my toes and suspects aplenty that kept me guessing, unsuccessfully I should add. The surprising and suspenseful reveal had me on the edge of my seat until I’d read the very last page. This drool-worthy mystery is a great way to usher in the holiday season while munching on cookies and sipping hot cocoa!

With so many mouthwatering dishes and desserts mentioned throughout the story, it was a pleasure finding several recipes at the back of the book. I also had the honor of creating the recipe for Gingerbread Pizzelles, a holiday twist on the quintessential Italian cookie. While a pizzelle iron is preferable for cooking these lacy cookies, you can use a skillet instead. Either way, the warming spices and sugary goodness will make your kitchen smell like Christmas!

Amazon Synopsis

It’s Christmas time in Harvest Park, so grab your cocoa and sleuthing snow boots for a Christmas cozy mystery sure to sleigh!

It’s the deadliest thyme of the year…

With snow dusting the ground and sauce sizzling on the stove, local chef Tessa Esposito is ready to serve up some holiday cheer. And with the annual Festival of Lights underway, it seems nothing can dim her spirits. Not even Mario Russo, the newest scrooge in town whose espresso bar has been quickly disrupting businesses and stealing customers from Harvest Park’s favorite coffeehouse.

But when Mario is discovered at the festival’s opening, face down in a Santa suit, Tessa realizes the bah humbug runs deeper than she could have imagined. And when one of her dearest friends is implicated in the crime, she must make a list of Mario’s enemies, check them twice, and discover the cold-blooded killer. Especially before they can sleigh again.

A special thanks to Poison Pen Press for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of THE ENEMY YOU GNOCCHI. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends November 7, 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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Gingerbread Pizzelles

Recipe makes approximately 50 3-1/4" pizzelle. Quantities may be different depending on the size of your iron. 

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Optional

• Confectioners' sugar for dusting cookies

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, molasses, coconut oil, and vanilla until smooth.

2. Whisk in the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Once incorporated stir in the all-purpose flour.

3. Heat pizzelle iron according to manufacturer's instructions. Spray or brush the iron with high temperature cooking spray or vegetable oil.

4. Once pizzelle iron is hot, drop batter by tablespoon into the center of each cookie well. Close iron and bake until cookies are golden brown in color.

5. Transfer hot cookies to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining batter.

6. If desired, dust cookies with confectioners' sugar.

7. These are best served within a day of making. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week but the cookies will soften over time.

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

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MURDER AT THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE BAKE-OFF, the second book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah, is another stellar addition to a yummy series! From the scrumptious and inviting cover, to the heart-felt and tender dedication and acknowledgements, to the enchanting Christmas theme, to the delectable Christmas cookie bake-off event, I didn’t want to put the book down until I’d read the very last word. Infused with the spirit of Christmas and a hint of a lighthouse ghost resident, Ms. Hannah brings the magical holiday season to life. With a strong descriptive voice, the reader will feel like they are experiencing the town festivities and the cookie bake-off right alongside protagonist, Lindsey Bakewell, owner of the Beacon Bakeshop in Beacon Harbor, Michigan. With humor sprinkled throughout, Lindsey and her comedic sidekick, Kennedy, provide entertaining repartee which made me feel like I’d like to be a part of their circle of friends. Other supporting characters are just as well-developed and I like that relationships are progressing and changing with each book.

Despite Christmas cheer taking over the town, someone is intent on playing Scrooge and ruining the festivities for everyone. Could it be the egotistical celebrity chef brought into town to judge the cookie competition? Or could one of the contestants be behind the theft of Lindsey’s signature cookies? When a judge is found dead, beneath mistletoe and covered in crumbs from Lindsey’s cookies, fingers point at Lindsey being the culprit. I greatly enjoyed that Lindsey isn’t a lone ranger in trying to solve the murder. Assisting Lindsey is her ex-special forces boyfriend, Rory, her best friend, Kennedy, her parents, and a mysterious elderly woman who swept into town to help Lindsey and her bakeshop. Clues were sprinkled around like cookie crumbs and there were several viable suspects to keep the reader guessing. Twists and turns kept me on my toes yet it was still a surprise at the final reveal. With a heartwarming ending, I’ll be savoring this story throughout the holiday season.

With a Cookie Bake-Off mentioned in the title you can be sure that there are cookies galore mentioned throughout the book. And trust me, there are so many swoon-worthy cookies! Many thanks to Ms. Hannah for indulging the reader by including several Christmas cookie recipes at the back of the book, including one no-bake cookie. With so many choices it was hard to decide on trying just one cookie recipe, but, in the end, I decided on Lindsey’s Signature Lemon-Ginger Sandwich Cookies first. While sandwich cookies are more work than typical cookies, the ending result is pure perfection! A bit crunchy on the edges and soft (and sweet) on the inside, these cookies have a pleasing texture. The unique combination of lemon and ginger is heavenly and a refreshing change from chocolate and heavily spiced Christmas cookies. And while the recipe says the cookies will last one month in the refrigerator, these were so delicious they barely lasted three days in my household. These will become a go-to cookie for special occasions for certain!

Amazon Synopsis

Tucked away inside an old lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan, bakeshop café owner Lindsey Bakewellis ready to make her first Christmas in town shine bright. But her merry plans crumble fast when murder appears under the mistletoe . . .

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.

A special thanks to Darci Hannah for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of MURDER AT THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE BAKE-OFF. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, October 10, 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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Lindsey's Signature Lemon-Ginger Sandwich Cookies

Makes 40 1-1/2-inch sandwich cookies

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from fresh lemon)
• 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream

For the filling:

• 1-1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon pure lemon extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

For the dough:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F), place rack in the middle position. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine sugar, butter, molasses, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon zest. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 5 minutes, until butter mixture is soft and light.

3. Reduce speed to low and add flour and cream. Mix until a nice dough is formed.

4. Using a teaspoon, scoop rounded portions, dividing dough roughly into 40 equal portions. Cut each portion in half and roll between your hands until smooth. The dough balls will look tiny, but they will spread as they bake.

5. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving 1-1/2 inch spaces between each.

6. Bake until cookies are golden brown and firm around the edges, about 7 - 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

For the filling:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine powdered sugar, butter, lemon juice, lemon extract, and salt. Beat until soft and fluffy, about 5 minutes. If frosting is too soft, add additional powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

2. Transfer filling to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch pastry tip. (If you don't have a pastry bag, you can use a gallon-sized zip-lock bag and cut one of the bottom corners off, enough to make a 1/2-inch hole.)

3. Since the cookies will be slightly different sizes, match them up in pairs as best as you can. Flip one of the cookies over, pipe a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center, and sandwich with the matching cookie.

4. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

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

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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!)

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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

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix flour, oats, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a medium bowl.

3. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.

4. Add pumpkin, eggs, and extract. Mix well.

5. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Add nuts and chocolate chips.

6. 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.

7. Bake for 14 - 16 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes and then remove to wire racks.

8. Decorate with icing when cool, if desired. Vee uses orange icing to outline the pumpkin ribs and green icing for the stem and leaves.

Makes approximately 40 cookies.

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