I’m very happy to be a part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for the brand new release, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE by Rebecca Adler! From the moment I read the title and saw the cover I knew I wanted to dip into this book.

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Synopsis

Josie Callahan has moved back to Broken Boots after being abandoned at the alter by her fiancé. Trying to forget her humiliation she takes a job as a journalist for the Broken Boot Bugle and to help make ends meet, works at her family’s restaurant, Milagro. When country western performer, Jeff Clark, comes to town for the Homestead Days Musical Festival, Josie has her hopes up for a killer interview. After all her best friend, Patti, used to date Jeff and it appears they might be rekindling the romance. When Jeff Clark blows off their interview, Josie tracks him down and finds him dead, face down in a bowl of guacamole in Patti’s house.

The police arrest Patti after her fingerprints were found all over the murder weapon and a witness claims they heard Patti and Jeff violently arguing late the night before. Despite what the police say, Josie is positive her friend is innocent. Using her journalistic skills, she starts asking questions hoping to track down the real killer and free her friend. Plus it wouldn’t hurt her career to scoop the story for her newspaper. But the more questions she asks the more people she finds wanted Jeff out of the way. Can Josie sift through the clues and suspects or will the real killer salsa away while her friend takes the fall?

My Review

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE did not disappoint! I loved Josie’s relationship with her aunt, uncle, and grandmother, Señora Mari. She’s been raised by her relatives after her parents died in an accident when she was twelve and it’s obvious that Josie has a very close bond with them. They also provide a bit of comedic relief with their meddlesome antics, especially Señora Mari, who while appearing gruff on the outside, has a heart of gold. Josie’s Chihuahua, Lenny, is a nice sidekick for her and I would dearly love to read Lenny’s blog! And then there is her best friend, Goth princess Patti Perez. While some folks might look at the exterior of Patti and only see a hardened gal, the author helps us see below the surface and get to know the real person. A good lesson in real life not to judge people based on their appearance alone!

Rebecca provides a satisfying mystery to whet your appetite for more, with plenty of suspects drawn from both the townspeople and the band’s roadies. The dialog is snappy and the down-home sayings are cute and add to the feel of the western Texan town of Broken Boots. And then there’s the food…oh my, so many mentions of tamales made me want to run to Costco and pick up a dozen (although I know they would not be as yummy as Señora Mari’s, but at least they’d satisfy my craving) along with lots of other delectable Tex-Mex food served at Milagro. Although I’ll admit I will be pausing for a moment whenever I eat guacamole after reading this book 🙂 Rebecca has also graciously allowed me to share her recipe for The Cogburn Hotel’s Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies. These delightful treats have just the right amount of soft chewiness with melt in your mouth creamy chocolate chips and buttery, crunchy pecans. The perfect combination! Be sure to check out the back of her book for other mouth-watering recipes, all which sound delicious.

Thanks to the publisher, I have a print copy of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE to give to one winner. Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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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The Cogburn Hotel's Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup butter 2 sticks, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F).
2. In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until combined.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
5. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture.
6. Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans.
7. Spoon the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet by tablespoons.
8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Tip:

1. According to King Arthur Flour, refrigerating your dough for at least 30 minutes prior to baking results in a tastier cookie that browns more evenly. I tried it and it really does work!

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Tour Participants

October 24 – Sleuth Cafe
October 24 – Books,Dreams,Life
October 25 – View from the Birdhouse
October 25 – Bibliophile Reviews
October 26 – StoreyBook Reviews
October 26 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary
October 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
October 28 – Shelley’s Book Case
October 28 – A Blue Million Books
October 29 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
October 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy
October 31 – Back Porchervations
October 31 – Readeropolis
November 1 – LibriAmoriMiei
November 1 – A Holland Reads
November 2 – Brooke Blogs
November 2 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!
November 3 – Texas Book-aholic
November 4 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder
November 4 – Varietats
November 5 – Community Bookstop
November 6 – MysteriesEtc 

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As I’ve mentioned before (and will probably say it a few more times) I just love the Christmas season! When I found out that Vicki Delany was releasing her new holiday-themed book, WE WISH YOU A MURDEROUS CHRISTMAS, I was elated… Besides, don’t you just love the clever play on Christmas carol titles?

Synopsis

Merry Wilkinson owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures in Rudolph, New York. Rudolf is America’s Christmas Town and the place for year-round Christmas celebrations. The town is preparing for Christmas day with lots of festivities and holiday cheer. One of the elegant places to celebrate is at the Yuletide Inn and as Merry and best friend leave the Inn after dinner, they witness the owner, Jack Olsen, suffer a massive heart attack. Merry’s father, Noel, is Jack’s best friend and does everything he can to help his friend. Jack survives but has a long recovery so asks his son, Gordon Olsen, to help out at the Inn. But once Gordon arrives from California he does everything he can to take control of the restaurant and Inn away from his father and step-mother.

When Gordon cuts corners and fires local vendors who supplied the restaurant and Inn with local fares, many of the townspeople are appalled. But when he brings in a budget hotel chain to discuss selling Yuletide Inn, someone is so angry they stab him to death and leave him out in the snowy garden late one night. The police set their sights on Noel, who was overheard threatening Gordon over ruining Christmas and their town. Merry likes the new detective but worries that since she is an outsider, Noel will take the blame for the killing. Merry starts asking questions trying to decipher long buried secrets that could destroy their town. Will she be able to find the grinch who stole Gordon’s life and save Christmas?

My Review

The town of Rudolph will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit! I loved the sights, the sounds, the smells of holiday cheer that Vicki Delany weaves into WE WISH YOU A MURDEROUS CHRISTMAS, along with a murderous plot that kept me turning pages and guessing until the reveal. There were plenty of suspects with believable reasons why they would have wanted Gordon Olsen dead, while the subplots added dimension to a terrific story without detracting from it. The author has also created memorable characters, especially with Merry’s father, Noel, who epitomizes Christmas and was born on Christmas day. By the end of this book, you’ll be left with a magical feeling that just maybe Santa does exist!

While there aren’t any recipes included in the book, Vicki has shared her own recipe for Molasses Spice Cookies. These delightful treats bring an incredibly delicious smell to your kitchen which will instantly put you into the holiday mood. And once you take a bite of these spiced chewy cookies, you’re bound to find you have a new favorite Christmas goodie! Vicki tells me that these cookies are sturdy enough to package and ship which makes them perfect for gift-giving this holiday season. Thank you, Vicki, for sharing your recipe for Molasses Spice Cookies!

A huge thank you to Vicki Delany for providing an autographed copy of WE WISH YOU A MURDEROUS CHRISTMAS to one winner. Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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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Vicki’s Molasses Spice Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups sugar divided
• 3/4 cup 6 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup molasses

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.
4. With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined.
5. Beat in egg and then molasses, until combined.
6. Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until dough forms.
7. Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon.
8. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.
9. Arrange cookie balls on a baking sheet, 3 inches apart.
10. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes.
11. Cool 1 minute on baking sheet then transfer to racks to cool completely.

Vicki's Tips:

1. If you bake 2 cookie sheets at a time the cookies will not crackle uniformly.
2. These cookies are sturdy enough to hold up for shipping to family and friends!

Cinnamon & Sugar's Tips:

1. I like to add 1/4 cup of finely chopped candied ginger to these cookies.
2. If dough seems too sticky for rolling, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. I made a gluten-free / dairy-free batch of these by substituting with King Arthur's new gluten-free flour, Measure For Measure, along with Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks. They turned out amazing!

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One of the nice things about finding a series I really enjoy is when a new book is released it’s like receiving a platter of cookies…I can’t wait to try them and then I want to savor the enjoyment. Such is the case with the Cookies and Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns. Her newest release, BURNED TO A CRISP, had me ready to pour a glass of milk and sample Sally’s baked goods while turning pages!

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Synopsis

Sally Muccio owns Sally’s Samples, a cookie bakery. Business is good even if she’s sorry she started the tradition of giving away a free fortune cookie with each order. Somehow the fortunes come eerily close to becoming reality and Sal would rather not have them around, especially with her wedding to Mike Donovan right around the corner. However, her grandmother’s best friend demands Sally keep serving them so she gives in and almost immediately regrets it.

Her mother throws the bridal couple a party and one of her sister’s clients shows up. Gianna is a public defender so the client, mobster Bernardo Napoli, isn’t someone Sally is happy to see her sister leave with. Later that evening Sally’s bakeshop goes up in flames and Bernardo is found inside, murdered…with Gianna no where to be found. The police treat Gianna as the prime murder suspect and with her disappearance things don’t look good. On top of that, Bernardo’s unsavory family think Gianna stole from them and want to find her too. Can Sally find her missing sister and clear her name or will the mob find her first? Will Sally be able to reopen her bakery or will this be the end of Sally’s Samples? And will Sally’s mom be able to pull off a win in a bikini contest?

My Review

Oh my goodness…what a fun read! The mystery is everything you could want in a good book with twists and turns, and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. But it’s the characters that keep me coming back for more! Sally seems like an average gal who is finally over her cheating ex-husband and is ready to move on with fiancé Mike Donovan. She still has the scars from her miserable first marriage that make her feel insecure but she’s willing to give love a chance. However, it’s Sally’s family and friends surrounding her that push and pull Sally out of the “average” zone which makes the Cookies and Chance Mystery series such a fun read.

Her parents are perpetually embarrassing Sally and her sister. Her father wants to open a mortuary in his home while her mother (who acts and looks like a teen) prances around in bikinis while preparing for a beauty contest. Neither of her parents are good for her cookie business, but what’s a girl to do? Her best friend and baker, Josie, is sassy with a sarcastic edge and challenges Sally to step out of her comfort zone. Her Grandma Rosa is the stability to the family and has the very cute idiosyncrasy of mixing up words for everyday cliché sayings. Even with the quirkiness of the characters, there is still a fundamental close and caring bond between them which has helped create Sally’s compassionate personality. I think that’s what strikes me with this series, no matter what shenanigans are going on Sally is very tenderhearted person which adds depth to the story.

Of course a book about a cookie bakery must have cookie recipes. Catherine has graciously allowed me to share her recipe for her very delicious Oatmeal Crème Pie Cookies. Creamy marshmallow filling is sandwiched between two soft and chewy oatmeal cookies that are lightly scented with cinnamon. These cookies are reminiscent of Little Debbie’s (remember those?) but Catherine’s cookies are so much yummier!

A huge thank you to Catherine Bruns for providing winner’s choice of print or an e-book copy of BURNED TO A CRISP to one winner. Print limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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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Oatmeal Crème Pie Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies:

• 1 cup butter-flavored Crisco or margarine
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1-1/2 cups quick oats

Filling:

• 2 teaspoons very hot water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 7- ounce jar marshmallow fluff
• 3/4 cup butter-flavored Crisco
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

Cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
2. In a large bowl, beat margarine or Crisco, brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, and vanilla.
3. Mix well and then add eggs, one at a time, beating until light and fluffy.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
5. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture.
6. Add in the oats and mix until blended.
7. Drop by tablespoonful onto parchment-lined baking sheet or non-greased stoneware.
8. Bake sure the cookies are at least 2 inches apart for them to spread out. Cookies will flatten.
9. Bake 8 - 10 minutes or just until starting to brown around the edges. Do not overcook.
10. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before filling.

Filling:

1. Combine hot water with salt and mix until the salt is dissolved.
2. In a large bowl, beat the marshmallow fluff with Crisco, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
3. Beat on high until fluffy.
4. Add the salt water and mix until well combined.
5. Spread filling onto one cookie and press second cookie on top....ready to eat immediately!
6. Makes 3 dozen oatmeal cookies or 18 cream pies.
7. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Tips:

1. If filling seems too soft add additional powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
2. These are the perfect soft oatmeal cookies to use for ice cream sandwiches too!

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Even though I over-schedule and drive myself crazy the last month of the year (much to my husband’s distress), Christmas is by far my favorite holiday! Sharing food, decorations, desserts, and especially cookies, with friends and family are what makes the season so memorable. I was beyond delighted to have the chance to read EGGNOG MURDER, three short Christmas cozy mysteries written by authors Barbara Ross, Lee Hollis, and Leslie Meier, and get into the holiday spirit early!

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Synopsis
(From Amazon)

With the fireplace crackling, the tree twinkling, and the carols humming, few things in life are as picture perfect as Christmas in Maine—until murder dampens the holiday spirit. It must be something in the eggnog . . .
 
EGGNOG MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
When a gift-wrapped bottle of eggnog—allegedly from the Real Beard Santa Club—proves to be a killer concoction for a Tinker’s Cove local, all Lucy Stone wants for Christmas is to find the murdering mixologist who’s stirring up trouble.
 
DEATH BY EGGNOG by LEE HOLLIS
Food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell has never cared much for Bar Harbor’s grouchy town librarian, Agatha Farnsworth. But after the Scroogy senior has a fatal—and suspicious—allergic reaction to supposedly non-dairy eggnog, it’s up to Hayley to ladle out some justice.

NOGGED OFF by BARBARA ROSS
Julia Snowden’s tenant Imogen Geinkes seems to be jinxed. First, her poorly named “Killer Eggnog” gives all her co-workers food poisoning at the holiday party, then her boyfriend’s body shows up in Julia’s moving truck as she’s headed back to Busman’s Harbor. Now Julia has to get moving to catch the cold-hearted culprit.

My Review

I am most familiar with the Maine Clambake Mystery series written by Barbara Ross but have read a book or two, long ago, by both Lee Hollis and Leslie Meier. (I’ll admit I have several more of their books in my very large to read pile…one of these days soon…) All three authors have used their long-running series as the setting for each of the Christmas short mysteries. Even if you haven’t read any of their series before, the authors have expertly written their story to make you feel comfortable with the characters and you’ll want to know more about each of them after you’ve finished the last page!

One of the many things I enjoyed in this book was that the protagonists, Lucy Stone in EGGNOG MURDER by Leslie Meier and Hayley Powell in DEATH BY EGGNOG by Lee Hollis, are more “mature” women. Lucy is a grandmother already and Hayley is the single mom of grown children. Maybe because I’m at that, ahem, age, it’s refreshing to see such vibrant women portrayed who are willing to seek justice for others. Don’t get me wrong, Julia Snowden from NOGGED OFF by Barbara Ross, is a wonderful protagonist too! I’ve enjoyed following her story over Barbara’s four books (and soon to be five!) since the author has created a young woman who grows and develops with each book. It’s been exciting to see each new adventure Julia finds herself in 🙂

I also loved how each of the authors incorporated the theme of eggnog as the part of the murder, but in unique and creative ways. Who would have thought an iconic holiday drink could create such mayhem! Each of the well developed mystery plots, while short, still held my interest since none of them felt rushed and have plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. EGGNOG MURDER is the perfect book for pouring a cup of cheer, snuggling up in front of a roaring fire, and celebrating the spirit of Christmas!

Of course with both Christmas and eggnog as the theme of the 3 stories, numerous delightful holiday recipes are included such as drinks, appetizer and desserts! Thank you to the authors for allowing me to share the recipe for Missy’s Eggnog Cookies from DEATH BY EGGNOG by Lee Hollis. With the Christmas season often frantic at times, this recipe is the perfect choice since it is not time consuming and is so easy that a beginning cook will be able to make them! Even though this is an almost effortless recipe, the cookies are still a yummy treat and perfect for sharing with family and friends. My 11-year-old granddaughter, Emory, made them for me with minimal input on my part. I have a feeling Missy’s Eggnog Cookies will be what Santa finds under the tree for him this year at her house!

A huge thank you to Barbara Ross for providing a hardcover copy of EGGNOG MURDER to one winner. Limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. 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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Missy's Eggnog Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies

• 2 cups yellow cake mix
• 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons eggnog
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg fresh is best!

Frosting

• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons eggnog
• Ground nutmeg for sprinkling

Instructions

Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
2. In a bowl, mix all of your ingredients together until blended. Do not overmix.
3. Divide your dough into six balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.**
4. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 9 - 10 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and cool for 2 minutes then place on a wire cooling rack and cool completely.
6. When cooled you can frost them.

Frosting

1. In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar and eggnog together until you have a frosting consistency. You can use more powdered sugar and eggnog to achieve this.
2. Frost your cooled cookies and sprinkle with a bit of nutmeg.
3. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

1. If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, stir in additional cake mix 1 tablespoon at a time until dough can be handled.
2. **You can also form into smaller cookies but decrease the baking time by a minute or two.

EGGNOG MURDER contains a recipe for eggnog but in the meantime, if you want to make these cookies and need only a small amount, here is my own recipe.  I’ve made eggnog for numerous years when eggnog is out of season at the grocery stores. I’ve scaled the recipe down so there won’t be a huge amount left over after making this recipe.

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Homemade Eggnog

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• Pinch of salt
• 2-1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• Dash of fresh grated nutmeg

Instructions

1. In a heavy pot, whisk together sugar, salt, egg, vanilla and nutmeg.
2. In a microwave safe container, heat the whole milk in the microwave until very warm (I use the beverage button on my microwave.)
3. Once heated, whisk the milk very slowly into egg mixture.
4. Place over low heat and stir constantly until mixture reaches 160 degrees. (If you don’t have a thermometer, mixture will be thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon with a thin film. However, for safety, a thermometer is a must.)
5. Remove mixture from heat upon reaching 160 degrees and add heavy cream and the grated nutmeg. Stir to combine.
6. Use a fine mesh strainer and strain eggnog before chilling.
7. Eggnog should be consumed within 3 days.

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I have been a fan of the mother-daughter writing team, Victoria Abbott, for quite some time. I was thrilled when I heard that not only were they coming out with a new book in their Book Collector Mystery series, but it was going to be set in San Francisco! I just love that city and spent some time there when I lived up in the wine country for a couple of years. Victoria Abbott expertly captures the flavor and feel of San Francisco while delivering their best story yet with
THE HAMMETT HEX.

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Synopsis

Jordan Bingham is finally taking a vacation away from her not-quite-so-lawful uncles and her crabby employer, Vera Van Alst. Vera is against Jordan leaving, even if it’s only for a week, but finally relents when Jordan agrees to track down a rare copy of Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett. Accompanying Jordan to San Francisco for the romantic getaway is Officer Tyler “Smiley” Dekker. Smiley, it seems, is keeping a few secrets from Jordan, like reconnecting to his estranged grandmother who lives in San Francisco. Smiley is also a huge fan of Dashiell Hammett and wants to visit some of the places mentioned in his books.

However, from the very beginning of their stay in the City by the Bay, things go terribly wrong. Jordan is pushed from a cable car and then a car almost runs them over. When they meet with Smiley’s grandmother an unknown person puts her in harms way. Someone seems to be following them but they have no idea why. When Jordan’s Uncle Kev shows up it can only mean more bad news. Can Jordan find out what their assailant is after or will their vacation end up in tragedy? Can she learn to completely trust Smiley or will her family’s unsavory background pull them apart?

My Review

THE HAMMETT HEX pulled me in from the very start and I became so engrossed in the book that I forgot to take notes for my review! The story has lots of exciting twists and turns that had me turning pages late into the night. I love the characters surrounding Jordan in Harrison Falls but the new addition of Smiley’s grandmother and her helper in San Francisco adds a whole new dimension to the series. Smiley’s Gram has a spunkiness and zest for life that compliments Jordan’s adventurous spirit. I also enjoyed “The Kelly Rules” that started each chapter, shared by Jordan’s uncles. It gives some insight in to how Jordan was raised and her outlook on life, while providing a bit of humor.

Victoria Abbott also shares several recipes, all of them sound oh so yummy! I chose to make Chocolate Chip Meringue Kisses which are naturally gluten-free. These delicately delicious cookies had me nibbling the delectable treats often over several days…and they stayed just as fresh as the first day I made them. Thank you for allowing me to share your amazing recipe, Victoria!

A huge thank you to Victoria Abbott for providing a signed copy of THE HAMMETT HEX to one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe for a chance to win. Contest ends Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!) Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.

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Chocolate Chip Meringue Kisses

Author's NoteThese are the meringue kisses that Smiley remembers from his childhood. They're very easy, as long as your eggs are room temperature and there's not a speck of anything greasy near bowl or beaters and that means not a single drop of yolk, according to Gram.

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites from extra large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup minus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3/4 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips mini chocolate chips work great!

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 225 degrees (F).
2. Beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
3. Add the vanilla and almond extract.
4. Slowly add sugar, tablespoon by tablespoon, beating well after every addition, until stiff peaks have formed.
5. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
7. Scoop out meringue and shape into "kisses".
8. Bake in preheated oven at 225 degrees (F) for about 50 minutes.
9. Turn off oven and let kisses dry for at least an hour.
10. Don't let them brown at the edges.
11. If your oven runs hot, reduce temperature.
12. Store in a cookie tin in a cool, dry place.
13. Makes about eighteen kisses, depending on size. They keep well if no one finds them. (Cinnamon & Sugar's note: I made mine "mini" and got about 80 cookies. Baking time was still the same.)

Tips:

1. Eggs separate easier while they are cold and then allow the egg whites to come to room temperature.
2. Mini chocolate chips make great eyes if you want to turn the kisses into little Halloween ghosts.

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