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A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU is the seventh book in the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries by Vicki Delany. What do you get when you combine a year-round Christmas-themed town with Easter week and things that go bump in the night at a purported haunted house? You get a page-turning story with heartwarming vibes, a puzzling mystery to solve, a wedding to plan, and Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. Protagonist Merry Wilkinson, owner of said Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is a terrific character. She’s a bit sassy, puts up with her know-it-all employee with some tongue-in-cheek humor, and knows when to provide support to her friends when they need it the most. Ms. Delany has developed a multitude of characters to inhabit the city of Rudolph, New York, and mostly are people you’d want to spend time with and call friends. Especially Merry and her father, Noel, who just happens to be the town’s official Santa! These characters are what make this series so endearing and make me come back for each new release.

No matter how wonderful the characters are, this is still a cozy mystery and boy, does it provide a doozy of a ride! From investigating her best friend’s haunted house and its tragic history, to clearing her best friend’s fiancé from being a murder suspect, to breaking up a food fight, Merry has her hands full. The well-plotted clues will keep the armchair detective on their toes and with many suspects to consider, it will be a challenge to zero in on the killer. Ms. Delany is an expert at writing perfectly paced tales with twists to keep the reader engaged and guessing. A Slay Ride Together With You is a terrific way to get your Christmas fix with a fascinating whodunit!

There are several recipes included at the back of the book and, with the fall weather season upon us, I couldn’t wait to make the Curried Butternut Squash Soup recipe. It’s just as warming and delicious as it sounds! Chockful of veggies with no added cream or dairy, the soup still tastes creamy and satisfying, with just the right amount of heat thanks to the curry powder and pepper flakes. This soup will be making another appearance in my household to ward off the chilly evenings as winter approaches!

Amazon Synopsis

Rudolph, New York, shop owner Merry Wilkinson’s best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef Mark Grosse and is moving into the historic Cole House–a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting that is in desperate need of renovation. The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the late owner fight over her will. Then, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House–and Mark is the one standing over the corpse.

As Detective Diane Simmonds focuses on Mark as the prime suspect, Vicky asks for Merry’s help to clear her fiancé’s name in time for the wedding. As they dig deeper into the connection between the house, Cole relatives, and town residents, past and present, it becomes clear that plenty of people wanted the victim dead.

With a bakery to run, the busy Easter weekend fast approaching, a house to renovate, and a fiancé to clear of a murder accusation, Vicky’s wedding may end up on the chopping block. It’s up to Merry to put aside the chocolate bunnies and stuffed rabbits and help her best friend save her wedding–and her life.

A special thanks to Vicki Delany for offering a print copy of A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU to one lucky winner! Contest ends October 6, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. and Canadian residents only. 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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Curried Butternut Squash Soup

From Vicki Delany: This is totally my own recipe, so feel free to mix ingredients as you like. This soup freezes well, so I make lots of it to enjoy over the cold winter months. I particularly enjoy soups that have no milk or cream – just the vegetables and a touch of spices.

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped into about 1 inch pieces
• 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into about 1 inch pieces
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and chopped into about 1 inch pieces
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Instructions

1. Combine curry powder, chilli powder and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.

2. Add all chopped vegetables to a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with mixed spices. Toss until coated.

3. Roast about 45 minutes in 350 degree (F) oven, or until the potatoes and squash are soft.

4. Dump the cooked vegetables into a soup pot. Add stock. Bring to boil and then simmer about 20 minutes.
5. Using an immersion blender or blender, puree until smooth. If the soup seems too thick, just add more stock and simmer to combine.

6. Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

1. I garnished the soup with some sour cream and extra red pepper flakes.

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

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