by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

It’s April on Mackinac Island, and the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop’s owner Allie McMurphy is preparing for the spring tourist season to resume. Her best friend Jenn Carpenter is also very pregnant and ready to pop, and even though she is two weeks overdue she is relieved to have hired doula Hannah Riversbend to help her give birth. That relief ends when Allie and Jenn find Hannah standing over a body holding a gun, and having her doula suspected of murder sends Jenn into a spiral of panic and hysteria.

She demands that Allie once again delve into an investigation and prove that Hannah is innocent, as without her doula Jenn states that she will not give birth. It’s not the best time for Allie to meddle in an official investigation, as she’s questioning her relationship with the investigating Officer Rex Manning just as her mother arrives with Allie’s ex, Brett, for a visit. Allie’s mother is pushing for a reconciliation between the former couple, especially since the ambitious Brett is aiming to be the next governor and needs Allie’s help in smoothing the way for his development plans. At the risk of alienating Rex even more, Allie begins to look into the exes of the victim, several of whom were angry enough to have wanted him dead.

It’s easy to get frustrated with Allie as she is bulldozed over by her mother’s insistence on marrying a rich man and Jenn’s hormone-induced demands to investigate. So it’s a relief when Allie does stand up for herself and decide to pursue the path she wants. That doesn’t mean that she still doesn’t insert herself rather dangerously into the investigation though, or that she won’t have to juggle the attentions of multiple men.

Delicious recipes ranging from Easy Cappuccino Fudge to Raspberry Chocolate Bars will satisfy every sweet-toothed cook, and Allie still manages to fit in her fudge-making demonstrations with her witness interrogations. Longtime fans will be happy that this 12th in the series includes appearances by the adorable Bichonpoo Mal (for Marshmallow) and the similarly confection-inspired-named kitty Mella, along with many scenes featuring delicious fudge varieties.

Readers will be carried along with Allie and her investigations by the swift plot that leads to a reveal sure to surprise even the most experienced puzzle-solving mystery expert. Romance-loving readers who love to follow their favorite characters’ relationship challenges will find much to appreciate here as well, with a conclusion that is sure to warm up even the coldest of hearts. This is another entertaining and very tasty installment of a series filled with relatable family dramas as its lead heroine matures and gains confidence in her personal and professional life.

You can click here to purchase this book.

To enter to win a copy of Three Fudges and a Baby, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “fudges” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 11, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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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).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.