by Cynthia Chow

Check out a guest post in this issue by Krista Davis about animal rescue transport groups (The Dog Underground) & the inspiration for the animal rescue aspect of Diva Frosts A Cupcake. And at the end of this post are details on how to win a copy of this book.

It’s cupcake wars for real during the Cupcakes and Pupcakes fundraiser to benefit animal shelters in Old Town, Virginia. The former business partners of Sugar Baby Cupcakes have disbanded, with Joy Bickford setting up her store, Sugar Mama, directly across from Renee Gatewood’s bakery. This is a concern as Sugar Baby is contributing to the two eight-course cupcake dinners for the sold-out gala, one meal for the four-legged beneficiaries and the other for their two-legged companions. While event planner and all-things-domestic columnist, Sophie Winston, is happy that her best friend Nina Reid Norwood has organized the event supporting such a wonderful cause, the stress this ensues agitates everyone involved.

Humphrey Brown, Sophie’s childhood friend, has transferred his crush from her to Renee, causing him to be her errand boy while he ignores his mortician coworker, Myra Liebling. She in turn is being followed/stalked by Maurice Lester, a notoriously cheap and mostly creepy resident whose attempt to adopt one of the fundraiser’s dogs is motivated solely by his desire to spite a former baking rival. When that dog goes missing, Sophie and Nina engage in paramilitary and highly illegal investigative maneuvers to uncover his guilt and expose his dog-unfriendly attitude.

The shocking discovery that one of Sugar Baby’s employees has been murdered causes Humphrey to be enraged that such an innocent young woman was killed, and he is even more incensed that suspicion seems to be falling on Renee. With a history of sticking their noses into homicide investigations, he spurs Sophie and Nina into detecting who amongst the competitive bakers and animal lovers may have had a hand in poor Muffin Pruitt’s death.

Just as disconcerting to Sophie as the murder, are the rumors rumbling throughout Old Town condemning her for having an affair with Spenser Osbourne, the owner of Cake My Day. Although entirely false, there is some justification considering that Sophie finally ended her relationship with homicide detective Wolf who had been married, but with a long-missing wife. Complications further ensue with unfinished business between Sophie and her ex-husband Marshall “Mars,” who has moved in across the street from Sophie with Natasha Smith, her childhood nemesis who continues to be a thorn in Sophie’s side by having a rival advice column and a Martha Stewart-ish television show. This competition only escalates with the introduction of Alex German, the nephew of an Old Town resident and a very attractive criminal attorney.

Once again Davis takes the reader into this cozy world full of eccentric and occasionally over-the-top characters that enable, hinder and assist Sophie and her friends. Natasha continues to display her absolutely insane and oblivious narcissism by adopting a trendy Chihuahua which loathes her and refuses to be a purse pup. Although it is time for Sophie and Mars to finally resolve their relationship, it would appear that the author is creating a path for a promising future for Sophie’s romantic life. This seventh in the Domestic Diva Series continues to include alternating and contrasting advice letters from Natasha and Sophie, as well as many delectable cupcake recipes. Once again Davis has created a very fun and extremely tasty mystery with a huge dose of humor and many quirky characters.

To enter to win a copy of Diva Frosts A Cupcake, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Diva,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 20, 2013. U.S. residents only.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).