by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win ebook copy of Deck the Halls with Fudge, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

Frances and Douglas Devaney are not your average newlyweds. While they are just as blissfully in love as one would expect, the couple had only known each other a few months before tying the knot. Having decided that there’s no time to waste when you’re both retired and entering your eighth decade in life, the couple is happily adjusting to life living together on Mackinac Island. The former teachers both work at Allie McMurphy’s Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, Douglas as a handyman and Frances as the hotel’s general manager. Their first Christmas together takes a startling turn when she spots a body being pushed out of a sleigh, the stepson of a woman Frances knew from high school.

Warren Engle was not much liked around town, as the banker had used his power to further his own interests. Now in the midst of her own murder investigation, Frances relies on her own senior citizen network at the senior center to uncover secrets and follow the trail to those who wanted the loan officer dead. No longer on the sidelines of a case, Frances consults her fellow amateur detectives as they question suspects while doing a bit of seasonal charity along the way.

Allie may be the star of the Candy-Coated mystery novels, but these novellas provide narratives from the characters around her. Readers see a glimpse into the negotiations involved in a healthy relationship, especially one so new and with people of a certain age. Frances is a woman you want as your friend, and while she is very intent on her questionings she doesn’t conduct them rashly or break the trust she’s built with her husband. Fudge recipes are tastily sprinkled throughout, but the real focus is on the very smart investigation conducted by Frances and her friends. Not even murder can overshadow the genuine warmth and care the Mackinac Islanders have for one another, especially during the Christmas holiday season. The charming setting, where cars are banned and horse-drawn sleighs a common sight, further sets this series apart and make it the ideal read for a chilly winter night.

To enter to win an EBOOK copy of Deck the Halls with Fudge, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “deck,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 9, 2017. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

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

You can use this link to purchase the novella on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

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 using those links. 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.