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October Reads Worth Falling For

Danger, desire, second chances, and unexpected romanceβ€”discover this month’s Fresh Fiction Featured Books.

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A poisoned cousin, a five-year-old's life, and a family with too many secrets.


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Supernatural sparks fly
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If Her Highness thinks I’ll let another man claim her and my child, she’s lost her royal mind. Sophaya’s mine.


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She found a body. Then she started asking the wrong questions.


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He ghosted her ten years ago. Now she’s stuck with him for Christmas.


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She’s the lady everyone overlooks. He’s the prince who can’t look away.

SUGAR PLUM POISONED

Sugar Plum Poisoned, October 2023
Cupcake Bakery Mystery #15
by Jenn McKinlay

Berkley
Featuring: Shelby Vaughn; Mel; Angie
304 pages
ISBN: 0593549120
EAN: 9780593549124
Kindle: B0BRMFGYX8
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book / audiobook
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"SUGAR PLUM POISONED definitely got me in the merry spirit!"

Fresh Fiction Review

SUGAR PLUM POISONED
Jenn McKinlay

Reviewed by Annie Tegelan
Posted October 10, 2023

Mystery Cozy | Mystery Culinary | Holiday

I was very excited to see that the newest installment of the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series was a Christmas-themed one. I’m such a sucker for a holiday cozy mystery, so I had high hopes for this one. SUGAR PLUM POISONEDΒ involves an up-and-coming singing sensation. However, when her manager is found dead, it’s up to Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to figure out what happened.

This holiday theme paired with the concert was really fun. I enjoyed the entire cast of characters with this concept and I definitely feel like many would like this book. It’s more light-hearted than other cozy mysteries I’ve tried, so I would recommend it to readers who want to try the genre out or those who are looking for a fun and light-hearted read.

SUGAR PLUM POISONED definitely got me in the merry spirit and now I can’t wait for my next taste of the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series!

Learn more about SUGAR PLUM POISONED

SUMMARY

It’s Christmastime, and this holiday season, things are heating up for the bakers at Fairy Tale Cupcakes, in the newest Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.

When up-and-coming singing sensation Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for two weeks of concert dates, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to supply cupcakes for the VIP guest lounge every night.

After overhearing Shelby in a heated argument with her manager, Mel is concerned, but she and the crew decide to make the best of their time working with the star. Just as the bakers fall into the rhythm of the job, Shelby’s manager is found dead, clutching a bit of fabric from a Santa suit and a cupcake. With the bakery crew and Shelby’s backup dancers all dressed in similar Santa costumes, it’s impossible to say who is the killer. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she’s frosted for a crime she didn’t commit.

EXCERPT

No excerpt available.

BOOK SERIES

Cupcake Bakery Mystery

Sprinkle With Murder
SPRINKLE WITH MURDER
#1.0 β€’ March 2010
Buttercream Bump Off
BUTTERCREAM BUMP OFF
#2.0 β€’ January 2011
Death By The Dozen
DEATH BY THE DOZEN
#3.0 β€’ October 2011
Red Velvet Revenge
RED VELVET REVENGE
#4.0 β€’ July 2012
Going, Going, Ganache
GOING, GOING, GANACHE
#5.0 β€’ April 2013
Sugar and Iced
SUGAR AND ICED
#6.0 β€’ April 2014
Dark Chocolate Demise
DARK CHOCOLATE DEMISE
#7.0 β€’ April 2015
Vanilla Beaned
VANILLA BEANED
#8.0 β€’ April 2016
Caramel Crush
CARAMEL CRUSH
#9.0 β€’ April 2017
Wedding Cake Crumble
WEDDING CAKE CRUMBLE
#10.0 β€’ April 2018
Dying for Devil's Food
DYING FOR DEVIL'S FOOD
#11.0 β€’ May 2019
Pumpkin Spice Peril
PUMPKIN SPICE PERIL
#12.0 β€’ May 2020
For Batter or Worse
FOR BATTER OR WORSE
#13.0 β€’ May 2021
Strawberried Alive
STRAWBERRIED ALIVE
#14.0 β€’ May 2022
Sugar Plum Poisoned
SUGAR PLUM POISONED
#15.0 β€’ October 2023
Fondant Fumble
FONDANT FUMBLE
#16.0 β€’ June 2024