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I’m delighted to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour, introducing THE CORPSE IN THE GAZEBO, the fifth book in the Food Blogger Mystery series by Debra Sennefelder. With a cast of realistic characters, chief amongst them protagonist, Hope Early, a successful food blogger, the reader is treated to a delicious mystery. I have so enjoyed watching Hope and her friends and family grow over the series and, as in real life, they face life changing events. In addition, Hope gives back to the community by teaching women, coming out of troubled situation, how to start their own online business. Not only does this help the reader get a glimpse into the kind and generous woman Hope is, but showcases social issues that might be overlooked. Even when a curmudgeonly neighbor, Birdie Donovan, tries to force Hope into moving out of the neighborhood, Hope bakes and delivers muffins to the woman instead of planning revenge!

Ms. Sennefelder expertly sets the scene up for the victim’s murder. Birdie seemed to go out of her way to wreak havoc on her neighbors’ lives and as such, there are a lot of suspects to consider. The police zero in on Hope, since it was her muffins that caused Birdie’s death. Instead of plain curiosity spurring Hope to investigate, this time it’s her freedom and her livelihood that’s at stake. With her sense of urgency to find the truth, I felt Hope crossed the line a few times in her attempt to find evidence and she was much pushier with people than in previous books. Despite that, the author does an admirable job of planting clues and throwing in some twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The surprising reveal had me revisiting the clues and admiring how Ms. Sennefelder pulled it all together.

As a food blogger, Hope is constantly working on perfecting recipes to showcase on her blog. Be prepared to repeatedly drool as you read! And be prepared to be tempted by all the recipes included at the back of the book! With autumn upon us, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the unique flavor combination of Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies. Plus, it’s a gingerbread cookie that doesn’t have to be rolled out and cut into shapes, making it much easier to whip up. I’ll be honest, my taste testers were divided: half really enjoyed the flavor combination and the generous amount of chocolate chips, while the other half would have preferred it without the chocolate. The next time I make these, I’ll satisfy both by baking half the dough sans chocolate chips and then adding in half the amount of chips to the remaining dough. It’s like getting two different cookies in one batch!

Amazon Synopsis

It seems everyone loves Hope’s blog these days, and she’s busier than ever volunteering to help other women create their own paths to success. So she’s shocked when a neighbor petitions to run Hope right out of her small Connecticut town! Set in her ways, apparently Birdie Donovan doesn’t like the chaos Hope’s sleuthing creates, the police activity and crime scenes, and it’s happening way too often lately. Eager to make amends, Hope bakes Birdie a batch of her best muffins. The delicious treats might have smoothed things over—until Hope discovers Birdie dead in her gazebo the very next day . . .

Now instead of worrying about holding on to her beloved home, Hope is trying to stay out of jail. Because suddenly she’s the lead suspect in the case. Not even her boyfriend, Police Chief Ethan Cahill, is promising he can clear her name, much less discuss the investigation with her. It’s up to Hope to get to bake new ground on the case before the lifestyle brand she’s created—and her whole life—crumbles . . .

A special thanks to Debra Sennefelder for providing one lucky winner with a (1) Grand Prize – Prize Package including a signed copy of The Corpse in the Gazebo. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends October 4, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) Contest is administered by Great Escapes Book Tour.

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Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted by Hope Early

Hold onto your Christmas stocking, because this soft gingerbread cookie packs a wallop of flavor and all the cozy holiday feels. The soft gingerbread is filled with chocolate chips, so every bite is a flavor combination like none other. According to the girls, this would be the perfect cookie to leave Santa. I think they're right. These are also perfect when you want a gingerbread cookie but don't want to deal with rolling and cutting out the dough. They're also ideal when you want a gingerbread cookie but also a chocolate chip cookie. Come on, you know you've been there. I know I have. Now you have the recipe that will take care of that craving. Ready to bake a new favorite cookie?

Ingredients

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons molasses
• 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon ginger
• Pinch of ground cloves
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars. With the mixer on slow speed, add in molasses and vanilla.

2. Add in the dry ingredients, reserving the chocolate chips until later. Mix until the dough comes together and is smooth.

3. Remove from mixer or set aside hand mixer and stir in chocolate chips by hand.

4. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour, making sure it's chilled through but not firm

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

6. Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop out cookies and space 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake for 10 - 11 minutes.

7. Let cookies res on baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Store in an airtight container.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 21 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 21 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
September 22 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE
September 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
September 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 24 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
September 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST
September 25 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
September 26 – Brooke Blogs – RECIPE POST
September 26 – Lisa Ks Book Review – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 27 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
September 27 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 28 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
September 28 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
September 29 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
September 30 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 2 – Laura’s Interests – GUEST POST
October 3 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – GUEST POST
October 3 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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

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PARTNERS IN LIME is the sixth book in the Seaside Café Mystery series by Bree Baker. Set on the island of Charm, North Carolina, this charming book features protagonist Everly Swan and her delightful tea shop Sun, Sand, and Tea. Ms. Baker has developed a strong cast of characters alongside Everly. I especially love her elderly aunts, one who just happens to be the mayor of the town and the other who runs their shop, the Blessed Bee, which sells all sorts of bee products from their hives. Everly is also dating Detective Grady Hays and their relationship is moving forward and provides a subplot thread throughout the story. The author’s strong descriptive voice captures all that island life has to offer. There are beaches and tourists, plus surfers coming into town for a competition. Alongside that is the backdrop of the upcoming historical production, The Lost Colony with its more than one hundred participants. Ms. Baker intertwines the events and people together in a convincing fashion, setting the stage for murder and lots of suspects!

When the reigning surf champion is found murdered, Everly’s one-time fling, Matt, is the prime suspect. Here the storyline fell off for me as Everly ignores all the evidence piling up against Matt. Despite her detective boyfriend’s advice and warnings, she repeatedly meets up with Matt, even in unsafe locations. At times it felt like the author wanted to introduce a love triangle but wasn’t sure if that was the direction she wanted to go. Fortunately, it’s resolved by the end. That said, the author weaves a tightly plotted mystery with plenty of clues and suspects to keep the reader guessing and writes an edge-of-your-seat reveal. With a heartwarming and hopeful ending, Partners In Lime will appeal to fans of this series and will have us coming back for more.

While running the Sun, Sand, and Tea shop, Everly serves up all sorts of tempting treats and drinks. Thankfully, Ms. Baker includes several recipes at the back of the book to entice a hungry reader. I ended up making her recipe for Swan’s Southern Tea Cakes, which are basically simple cookies that are traditionally served with tea. With only six pantry and refrigerated staples, these mix up quickly and make a large enough batch to share with family and friends! In the book, Everly spreads a lime glaze over the cookie, but the recipe has them served plain. These are delicious any way you serve them: plain, glazed with a simple confectioners’ sugar thinned with lime juice, rolled in confectioners’ sugar, or brushed with butter and rolled in cinnamon and sugar mixture and evoke the traditions of generations past.

Amazon Synopsis

It all seems to be smooth sailing for Everly Swan. The island of Charm, North Carolina is hosting tons of fun summer events, her iced tea shop is a hit, and best of all, she’s finally dating the handsome Detective Grady Hays. But their romantic bubble bursts when tragedy strikes: a surf-pro is found murdered on the beach, killed with a theater prop.

Grady follows the evidence, all of which points to Matt, Everly’s friend and one-time fling. As Grady does his job, so does Everly—her unofficial chef-turned-sleuth-job, that is. She’s determined to clear her friend’s name but the arrival of a fancy new teashop and The Town Charmer, a gossip blog determined to rock the boat, complicates things. As Everly tries to keep rumors at bay and investigate the murder (and her new tea rival), the killer leaves a message in the sand…

A special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of PARTNERS IN LIME. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, September 12 , 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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Swan's Southern Tea Cakes

Indulge your sweet tooth and impress your friends with a taste of island history. This Swan family recipe has been enjoyed for generations. Make it your family's newest tradition!

Ingredients

• 4 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 sticks butter, melted
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon pure almond extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Pour the flour into a large bowl. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients until smooth.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of flour and stir carefully to combine.

5. Work the dough into balls, and drop onto the baking sheet.

6. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve.

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