I’ve been waiting several months in anticipation of the next installment in the Georgia Peach Mystery series…and it’s finally here! It was a joy to read REST IN PEACH by Susan Furlong and catch up with Nola Mae Harper and her family. To begin with, each chapter starts with a Debutante rule, some are funny or quirky, but to quote Nola Mae’s mama, “Debutante rules help you become the best person you can be which is the secret to a happy life.” This part of the book adds to the Southern charm of the setting and I can hear their slow, honeyed drawl even in the midst of, gasp, murder!
Nola is busy preparing to open her shop, Peachy Keen, which will sell Harper Farm’s Peach products. She, along with help from Cade McKenna, are renovating a space adjacent to Red’s Diner, owned by her very good friend, Ginny. It’s Debutante season and Ginny’s daughter, Emily, is excited her dress is being delivered for the Cotillion ball. However, when the dresses arrive at the boutique, it’s discovered that Ginny’s dress was ordered for both Ginny and the Peach Queen, and only one showed up. The Peach Queen’s mother, Vivien Crenshaw, grabs the dress and lays claim to it. Ginny blows up at the snobbery she is throwing at Emily, and tells the rich, arrogant woman she will get her due.
The next day Vivien is found stabbed to death with a pair of scissors, the fought-over debutante gown clutched in her hands. Many women saw and heard Ginny’s altercation with the dead woman so Sheriff Maudy Payne takes Ginny in for questioning and considers her the main suspect. Ginny won’t provide the name of her alibi since she wasn’t home with her husband or her daughter and Nola begins to worry about the secret her friend is trying to hide. Ginny begs Nola to help find the real killer when evidence appears that will frame her and she worries it will ruin her daughter’s Debutante season. Half the town believe Ginny is guilty so Nola starts talking to people, asking questions about Vivien. It becomes apparent that the murdered woman had made a lot of enemies, including the sweet little old lady who played the organ at church. When the minister’s wife is attacked Nola knows she needs to step up her investigation before another person loses their life. From hunting down a centuries-old buried secret to tea at the Congressman’s mansion to stirring pots of peach preserves, Nola has her hands full in her latest adventure.
The author does a marvelous job in making her characters come to life in the small Georgia town but still weaves a tight plot in this cozy mystery that kept me turning pages late into the night. I loved how Nola is close to her family, especially her mama, and loyal to her friends no matter what. The romantic tension between Nola and Cade adds just the right amount of spice to the story without being distracting. Of course I can’t forget to mention the peach-themed recipes Susan includes at the back of her book…yum! She’s allowed me to share Ida’s Peach Cobbler Cupcakes and they were a hit with my friends and family (these make a big batch so there’s plenty to pass around). The Peach Cobbler Cupcakes start with a boxed mix but with her simple, unexpected add-ins, they taste like you slaved in the kitchen for hours making them from scratch. My eleven-year-old granddaughter, Emory, made this by herself with minimal instructions from me…another plus 🙂 I’ve included a quick video tutorial at the bottom of the page.
Thank you, Susan, for letting me share your delicious recipe!
A very special thanks to Susan Furlong for providing an autographed copy of REST IN PEACH to one lucky winner! Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST and is open to U.S. residents only. Winners will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Ida’s Peach Cobbler Cupcakes
Yields 24 cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 box yellow cake mix plus ingredients as listed on package
1/2 cup applesauce
1 15-ounce can diced peaches in heavy syrup*
1 teaspoon cinnamon
*I could only find peach chunks so I diced into smaller pieces before using
Frosting
1/2 cup (4 ounces / 1 stick butter) softened
1/3 cup diced peaches
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
Cupcakes
Reserve 1/3 cup of the diced peaches and set aside for the frosting.
In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix ingredients according to the package instructions.
Add 1/2 cup of applesauce, the remaining peaches with syrup, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Mix well.
Line a cupcake pan with cupcake wrappers and fill each approximately 2/3 full.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until baked through. A wooden skewer inserted into the center should come out mostly clean, with few crumbs attached.
Frosting
Using a mixer, blend 1 stick of softened butter, 1/3 cup of diced peaches, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until creamy.
Slowly add 2 cups of powdered sugar, mixing as you add.
Mix on high until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. If frosting is too thin, add additional powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached.
Frost the cupcakes once they are cool.
Leftover cupcakes (if there are any!) are best if stored in the refrigerator.
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I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.
I LOVE peach cobbler, especially from Cracker Barrel.
Peach cobbler is my favorite peach dessert. I really enjoyed Peaches and Scream so I’m looking forward to the newest book in this series. Thanks!
Those cupcakes look yummy!
I love peach cobbler!!
I love homemade peach ice cream! But I also think the yummy peach cupcake recipe would be nice with fresh Georgia peaches when they are in season.
Our favorite is a cross between peach cobbler and peach danish. Out of season. But during season? It’s a toss up between just plain ole peach slices or sugared peach slices poured over a scoop of ice cream on waffles, with a handful of chopped nuts sprinkled over it. Never thought of using it in cupcakes. We wii have to do that this weekend
I guess it would be peach cobbler. I do like just eating a good peach!
I love my mother-in-laws peach pie. She makes the most delicious pie crust but she does something with her peach filling that I’ve never had anywhere else. Warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream in a meal in itself. Thanks so much for the review and the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
peach cobbler
I love the idea of peach cobbler cupcakes, and the recipe looks delicious!
Peach cobbler is definitely a favorite!
I make a homemade peach cobbler from scratch that I cook in my large iron skillet….it is always a hit, especially with ice cream
Big, drippy, ripe fresh peaches. Does it get any better than that?
Peach pie is my favorite!!
I would love to win a Signed copy of Rest in Peach. It sounds like its going to be a great book.
My fav peach dessert is peach cobbler. Yummy!
My favorite peach recipe that I make is peach muffins. We love peach season. Thank you for the chance to win.
Oooh favorite dessert?? So hard to decide but I’m going to go with my Grandma’s Banana Split Cake – haven’t had it in years since she used to make it with raw eggs and so nobody wants to make it anymore. Sad.
I realize that this series only consists of two books, but I absolutely love these characters and hope there are many more books to come.
Peach cobbler. I love peaches!!
Peach jacks.
My favorite peach dessert is peach cobbler. Love peaches, especially right off the tree.
I would say peach cobbler, so this cupcake recipe really piqued my interest! Thanks!
I love peach cobbler! I just started reading Peaches and Scream yesterday & am really enjoying it so far. Thanks for the chance to win this installment.
Peach pie warm with ice cream! Looking forward to this story!
I love peach cobbler
This recipe sounds so good. Gonna save this and try when i get some good fresh peaches.
Peach cobbler is my favorite, but these cupcakes look so good and sound so easy they might just become my new favorites! Thanks for the giveaway.
Peach cobbler is my favorite…but man oh man, these cupcakes look delish! Going on my Pinterest…These would be great for a cookout. Thank you for sharing. Can’t wait to read Rest in Peach.
my mom’s homemade peach cobbler!
I love peach pie!
I love peach cobbler, but… sauted peaches on vanilla ice-cream, peach ice-cream, peach melba, peach pie, or just a fresh peach!
peach pie is great..and peach yogurt..yummand peach crumb cake
I’m not very confident in the kitchen and I love how do-able these cupcakes seem. Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to read this new book too!!! Thank you for the chance to win.
Homemade peach ice cream
My all-time favorite is my grandmother’s homemade peach ice cream. I’ve never been able to duplicate the recipe. The peaches came off of her own tree.
I love peach cobbler!!
I love peach pie. My grandmother makes the best peach jam too – it is great on everything!
Thank you for the giveaway! I loved the first book in this series and can’t wait to read Rest in Peach!
I love peach ice cream!
My favorite is peace dumplins.
My favorite peach dessert is peach cobbler. My mom made the best peach cobbler I have ever eaten. However, my daughter made a peach cobbler in the slow cooker several weeks ago that was so delicious, it might have biven my mom’s a run for her money. Yum yum. There is a small town in central Oklahoma that has peach orchards, and anything peach is good to me. Thank you for the chance to win!
I make Bisquick’s peach cobbler. You’re supposed to use fresh or frozen peaches, but I just use two cans of peaches. Simpler that way and cheaper, too.
I would say my favorite is just a cold juicy peach by itself. they are so refreshing and thirst quenching.. But all of your recipes look fantastic and so tasty.