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BEAR A WEE GRUDGE, the fifth book in the shamelessly adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series by Meg Macy, is as darling as cozy mysteries come! I can’t help but become captivated with the delightful setting of the Silver Bear Shop and Factory and the Silverman family who own it. The protagonist, Sasha Silverman, manages the teddy bear shop, working alongside her aunt and uncle. With a Scottish-themed Highland Fling festival coming to town, the entire family is pitching in to prepare their teddy bear booth: from her mother, the mayor of the village; to her dad, who’s a champion ax-thrower (and is also competing in the ax throwing contest); to her graphic artist sister; and lastly, her boyfriend, Jay, also a competitor at the Scottish games. I love how close-knit the family is (even when there’s a squabble or two). They know they have the support of each other no matter what happens. And, of course, the setting of a Scottish festival brings a unique twist to the mystery. Ms. Macy does an admirable job of bringing the festivities’ costumes, food, and competitions to life with a strong descriptive voice. Haggis anyone?!
When the Silverman family’s nemesis is found murdered with a competition ax in his back, Sasha’s dad is the number one suspect. It doesn’t help that the investigating detective seems to have it in for Sasha’s family. With a strong curiosity and a desire to see justice prevail, Sasha takes matters into her own hands and starts investigating. With the victim being an obnoxious man and several shady business dealings from his past, there were a slew of suspect possibilities. The author even brings in suspects from the previous book, but rest assured, this can still be easily read as a standalone. The quick pace of the story kept me turning pages and I was intrigued how the clues fit together as they lead toward the suspenseful reveal. With a heartwarming and life changing conclusion, I can’t wait to find out what’s coming next for Sasha and her family!
While BEAR A WEE GRUDGE doesn’t contain recipes, (and I promise I won’t introduce any haggis recipes here), Meg and I decided a cute teddy bear cookie craft fit the theme of the book. You can use any rollout cookie dough (including store bought) and I provided my favorite sugar cookie recipe along with links to other rollout cookie recipes on my blog. For these teddy bear cookies, I used this recipe: Christmas Mézeskalács This makes for a fun cookie craft with young children and feel free to use your imagination to decorate the teddy bears any way you choose!
Amazon Synopsis
It’s springtime in Silver Hollow, Michigan, and Sasha is looking forward to the village’s inaugural Highland Fling weekend. Plans are underway for a Kilted 5K, athletic competitions, dancing, live music, and even a Hurl-the-Haggis contest. Meanwhile, Sasha’s staff is busy crafting custom teddy bears in kilts for the Silver Bear Shop’s vendor booth. But trouble’s brewing behind the scenes, as the obnoxious Teddy Hartman, former owner of a rival teddy bear company, sows seeds of discord about town, targeting Sasha’s family and their business.
Things go from plaid to worse when—just a week before the festival kicks-off—the disgruntled gossip is found murdered with an ax buried in his back. Sasha’s dad is arrested, since he’s a champion ax-thrower. But she doesn’t give a dram what it looks like—Sasha knows that despite the old business rivalry with Hartman, her father is innocent. So with a spot of help from her friends, Sasha must bag the real killer before her first Fling also becomes her last.
A special thanks to Meg Macy for providing a winner with a print copy of BEAR A WEE GRUDGE plus some teddy bear swag. Contest ends Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)
- Your favorite rollout cookie dough (or purchased sugar cookie dough)
- All-purpose flour for rolling out dough
- Whole almonds
- Small candy hearts
- Royal icing
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Lightly flour a work surface then roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thick. Using your favorite teddy cookie cutters, cut the dough out and place the shapes onto the prepared pans.
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If desired, place an almond in the center of the teddy bear and press the arms around the almond. OR press a small candy heart onto the chest.
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Optional: Instead of using royal icing for decorating the face, use a toothpick to create small dots for eyes and nose before baking.
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Refrigerate the cutouts for ten minutes.
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Bake the cookies for 9 - 11 minutes, until the edges turn light golden.
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Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
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Once cooled, pipe eyes, mouth, and ears with royal icing if desired.
Check out these rollout cookie dough recipes from my blog! Click on the title to see the recipe:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or other flavor such as almond or Fiori di Sicilia, my favorite)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
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In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the butter until light and creamy on medium-high speed. Add in the sugar and beat until well combined.
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Beat in the egg and the vanilla (or desired flavoring).
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Mix in the salt and baking powder. Lower the speed to low and slowly add the flour. Mix just until combined.
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Divide the dough into 2 portions and wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F) and line baking sheet(s) with parchment paper.
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Lightly flour work surface and rolling pin, and roll dough out to 1/4" thick. Cut out with desired cookie cutters and place the shapes on prepared baking sheet(s). Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
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Bake for 8 - 11 minutes, until edges become lightly golden.
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Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack and cool completely before decorating as desired.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’ve never attended a Scottish Festival before but I would love to some day! Those cookies are completely adorable!! ???
No, but I worked with someone who was involved Iiin the planning of a local one every year.
I never have gone to a Scottish festival. I’m absolutely sure I would enjoy it! Thank you for the recipe and giveaway!
No
I have not attended a Scottish festival. I do not believe there are any Scotch festivals in the area. I do like bagpipers though.
I’ve never been to a Scottish festival but it would be fun. Love this series and the cookies are adorable!
“Have you attended a Scottish festival?” I have not attended any festivals in Scotland, nor have I attended any Scottish-themed festivals, so I believe that the answer is, alas, no.
No, I have never attended a Scottish festival. It sounds like they would be fun!
I have not but would LOVE to! I love anything Scottish or Irish. These cookies are so cute! Love the cover of the book too! Sounds like a great read!
I have not attended a Scottish festival. Thanks for the chance!
I’ve never had the opportunity to attend a Scottish fling.
I’ve never attended a Scottish festival.
I have never attended a Scottish festival. There are none anywhere near us
I have attended a Scottish festival, years ago in Estes Park, CO. I even still have the teddy bear I got as a souvenir. He is very Scottish!
Those cookies are downright SHAMELESSLY ADORABLE!!! Thanks so much, Kim, for having me on your blog today! So glad you enjoyed BEAR A WEE GRUDGE, too. I have never attended a Highland Fling, but I did watch a few on Youtube to get the “flavor” right. No haggis, LOL.
Awww, thank you Meg! It’s always a pleasure hosting you on the blog – I just love your shamelessly adorable series!!!
I love these books and these cookies are adorable. I need to find a teddy bear cookie cutter. I’ve never been to a Scottish Festival but it sounds like fun.
I have never attended a Scottish Festival but want to go to one someday.
I really would love to attend a Scottish Festival. I haven’t discovered all the festivals in Kentucky, so I may look into it. Such cute cookies!
I have never attended a Scottish festival but it sounds interesting. Thank you for the chance
I never attended a Scottish festival but it sounds like fun. Thank you for the chance!
I have never attended a Scottish festival. It does sound fun though!
Very cute cookie designs.
I’ve never attended one, but I’d like to.
I have never been fortunate enough to attend a Scottish Festival but would be thrilled to do so! Those cookies are adorable!!
The cookies look amazing. I’d never been to a Scottish Festival maybe some day. Thanks for your great generosity.
I have been lucky enough to attend a Scottish festival.I would love to go to Scotland and do it!The cookies are adorable. My grandchildren would love them.Thanks for the recipe and the to win Teddy Bear!
I have attended a Scottish festival, but I would love too.The cookies are great and my grandchildren would love them
I have not!
I have not attended a Scotish festival.
I haven’t attended a Scottish festival. The cookies are adorable. Thank you for sharing the recipe, and for this chance to win!
They do have highland games here every year, but I haven’t gone. Maybe I will this coming year.
They do have Highland Games up in the mountains but never had a chance to go see them.
I have never been to a Scottish festival but these cookies are adorable!
I never have gone to a Scottish festival.
I have not been to a Scottish Festival but I think it would be great fun. These cookies look yum! I am in love with that book cover.
I’ve never had the opportunity to attend a Scottish festival, but it sounds like they would be loads of fun.
I have never attended a Scottish Festival.
I have not attended a Scottish festival, but I am sure I would enjoy it. “Ethnic” festivals are fun, especially the food.
I have not attended a Scottish festival but it sounds like fun.
I have not attended a Scottish festival but have an interest in all foreign events., Thank you for sharing Meg’s latest
book.
No, I’ve never attended a Scottish festival. I like bagpipes! Thanks for a chance to win!
No I have not attended a Scottish festival. Sounds like it would be a lot of fun. This sounds like a wonderful book to read. I love this cover.
I have never attended a scottish festival although we used to deliver the newspaper to a customer that their house was decorated year around scottish it was so pretty that was inside and outside. Such a cleaver and expensive thing to do but so pretty.
I have attended a Scottish festival. The city where I live held the Highland Games festival every year for a while. It was a lot of fun. The festival is still held…just not in my city.
I have not attended a Scottish festival. It sounds fun though. I love this cover. the books sounds wonderful
I have not attended a Scottish Festival, but it would be nice to do so.
No
No I sure haven’t attended a Scottish Festival
I haven’t attended a Scottish Festival but I would love to!!
I attend the local Scottish festival every year. Wouldn’t miss it for anything!
I never attended a Scottish festival.
I have not attended a Scottish festival but would like to. The bear cookies would be a hit with my family.
No I haven’t.
I haven’t attended one as of yet.
No I have not.
Sounds interesting, but I have never attended one.
Sounds interesting but I have never been to one.