Frosted Yuletide Murder (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
by Kim Davis
About Frosted Yuletide Murder
Frosted Yuletide Murder (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher : Cinnamon & Sugar Press (December 17, 2021)
Digital ~300 Pages
ASIN : B09M939WKD
Set against the holiday cheer of twinkling lights, costumed carolers, and a festive line of extravagantly decorated boats participating in the annual Christmas boat parade in Newport Beach, California, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez finds that the grinch has crashed the party. Together with her sister Carrie, Emory is catering a delectable feast of holiday cupcakes and cookies aboard a luxury yacht for the new Mrs. Blair Villman and her guests.
Sparks fly when Carrie comes face-to-face with the hostess, who just happens to be Carrie’s high school frenemy, and old grievances are dredged up. Adding fuel to the fire, Blair’s stepson brings his mother, the former Mrs. Villman, to the party. Instead of celebrating holiday cheer, someone seems intent on channeling the Burgermeister Meisterburger and shutting down Blair’s party permanently. When Emory finds a body aboard the yacht, she needs to discover who iced the victim before the Scrooge ruins not only her livelihood but her freedom as well.
Includes delicious holiday recipes.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I absolutely love this series!
Christmas time in California is so different from what I am used to here in the midwest so I escaped right into this book looking for sun, warmth, holiday cheer, and a lively mystery and Ms. Davis gave me a wonderful holiday gift.
Emory Martinez is excited to serve up cookies and cupcakes at a party her sister Carrie is catering for a mystery client on a luxury yacht. That is until she learns the hostess of the party is a bully from Carrie’s high school days. Emory quickly learns Mrs. Blair Villman now has a glamorous lifestyle but she is still a bully and maybe even worse than she was in high school. Both Carrie and Emory do their best to keep their cool as Blair hurls her insults but they are not the only ones receiving the gift of Blair’s rath. Her stepson brought his mother to the party and Blair is livid.
Carrie’s catering contract also required she serve brunch the next day again on the yacht. She and Em arrive early to get the dishes baked and ready. Everything was going as planned until Emory opens the freezer and finds a body. This job has just been a nightmare and now they are sure to be on the suspect list. So she has to find the killer before she or her sister get frosted for a murder they didn’t commit.
The author has created such a sensational cast of realistic characters. Emory is a great protagonist with a lot on her plate even before the murder. Carrie is still struggling with a new baby in the house. Tillie is always on the go but always ready to help Emory sleuth out a killer. The supporting cast is diverse and interesting. Their interactions are all believable and the dialogue is crisp. Tillie is my hand-down favorite. She has a huge heart and loves to be surrounded by family and friends. She also always knows the right people to visit to get answers to move the case along. She is a spunky woman who knows what she wants and knows how to get it and she is a very good soul.
I found the mystery to be pretty complex. Emory worked hard to speak to everyone on her suspect list. Emory knowing the detective on the case, another strong woman, brings a nice element to this story. Detective Natasha Tran is open-minded and didn’t believe Emory and Carrie killed anyone but she always does things by the book. So of course she didn’t want Emory involving herself in her case. I really enjoyed the back and forth between these characters. In the end, Emory makes a mistake that leads up to a very exciting ending. Again, the author frosted my cookies with the way everything played out. I have become invested in these characters and when one or more of them are in peril it moves me to the edge of my seat.
The reason I have become invested in these characters is that they are well developed and we get an in-depth look into their lives. This time a visitor arrives from across the pond and there is an interesting turn of events for another character. Throughout the book, there are plenty of family moments and times away from the murder investigation. All these moments flowed seamlessly with the mystery.
Ms. Davis is such an outstanding storyteller. Everyone has known or dealt with a bully in our lives so it is so easy to identify with Carrie and Emory and what they felt dealing with Blair, so that draws you into the story right away. After that, the author pulls you in even tighter with the murder and then you find you just can’t put this book down. You just have to know what happens next. And along with all that Emory continues to bake cupcakes. So now your mind isn’t just engaged with the story, your taste buds are tickled too, just wanting a taste, a bite, or alright, the whole darn cupcake. I have learned my lesson from reading the previous books in this series. I made sure there were cupcakes in the house before I started reading. They weren’t homemade but they did the trick. Just don’t ask how many I ate by the end. That is a secret I will never reveal.
Every book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery Series is fantastic. You can jump right into this holiday read but they are best read in order to get to know these superb characters. This is the third book in this series to make my yearly Best Reads List. I can’t wait to return to Newport Beach to see what these ladies get into next.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About Kim Davis
Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not chasing her new puppy or spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats. She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, and cozy mystery, SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION, CAKE POPPED OFF, and FRAMED AND FROSTED. She also has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Author Links – Website – Facebook – Twitter: – Goodreads – Pinterest – Blog
Purchase Link – Amazon
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December 14 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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December 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
December 15 – Our Holiday Journey – SPOTLIGHT
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I love seasonal themed mysteries. A plot involving a former friend who is now an enemy is a plot that I’d like to read.
I’m with you, Dianne, I love holiday-themed mysteries! Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the contest!
This sounds like a fun book, I haven’t read any by this author yet.
Thanks for dropping by Julie, and good luck in the contest!
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading.
I hope you enjoy the book, Rita, and good luck in the contest!
This is such a good series. I love it!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the contest!
Great review on a new book by a great author! I love all of Kim’s books, blog articles, and newsletters.
Awww, I’m so delighted to hear that! Thanks for coming by and good luck in the contest!
Thanks so much for hosting me today! I can’t thank you enough for not only putting together the blog tour but for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read and review my books. I practically cried tears of joy over your review and you certainly made my day!
I love this series and can’t wait to read about Emory’s latest adventure!
Awww, thank you so much! And good luck in the contest!
I love Christmas stories.
I do too! Good luck in the contest!
Very cute cover.
Thanks, Deborah! I just adore my cover designer and how she’s able to use my granddoggy and my new puppy on it!
Sounds like a great addition to the series. Can’t wait to read.
Thanks so much, Dianne, and good luck in the contest!
Love book cover and title. Love books like this. Would love to read & review in print format. Sounds and look like a fantastic read even a best seller. Can’t wait to read in Print format
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Thanks for stopping by Crystal! And good luck in the contest!
LOVE this author’s books and can’t wait for the opportunity to read “Frosted Yuletide Murder”. Great cover too! Thank you for your review.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Awww, thanks so much Kay! And I just love how my cover designer was able to fit both my granddoggy and my new puppy on the cover 🙂 Good luck in the contest!
What a great holiday mystery! Love the cover too.
Thanks so much, Bonnie! My granddoggy and new puppy are the models 🙂 Good luck in the contest!
I love the cover! The two dogs are adorable.
Thanks so much, Jeanna! I love that my cover designer was able to use my granddoggy and new puppy as the models 🙂 Good luck in the contest!
Thanks for suggesting reading the books in order.
I can’t imagine Christmas without snow & cold temperatures.