Get your copy here!

Christmas is Bailey King’s favorite time of year. For her first Yuletide in Harvest, Ohio, the former big-city chocolatier is recreating a cherished holiday treat: peppermint combined with molten white chocolate. But her sugar high plummets when her former boyfriend walks into the candy shop she now runs with her Amish grandmother. New York celebrity chef Eric Sharp and his TV crew have arrived to film an authentic Amish Christmas. Bailey’s not about to let her beloved town—and Swissmen Sweets—be turned into a sound bite. Unfortunately, she gets more publicity than she bargained for when Eric’s executive producer is found strangled to death—and Eric’s the prime suspect. 

With Bailey’s sheriff deputy boyfriend out to prove Eric’s guilt, her bad-boy ex tries to sweet-talk her into helping him clear his name . . . and rekindle their romance to boost ratings for his show. Now, between a surplus of suspects and a victim who wasn’t who she seemed, Bailey’s edging dangerously close to a killer who isn’t looking to bring joy to the world—or to Bailey—this deadly Noel . . .

I picked up this book because of the opening paragraph:

Peppermint is much more than a Christmastime treat. It has a thousand uses. It has been used to freshen breath, flavor beverages, calm nerves, and even grow hair. But as far as I could tell, it did not have the power to repel ex-boyfriends.

That type of lighthearted sentiment is right up my alley, so I grabbed the book and ran.

Overall, it was a cute read, if a bit wordy. There was an interesting cast of characters mixed up in a cozy mystery murder that was a unique blend of high jinks, mild suspense, and a smidge of romance. It didn’t quite pull me in the way I’d wanted it to, but it was still enjoyable. A little less repetition and some contractions (please!) would have made it easier to read.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

For more cozy mysteries, see:

Them Bones by Carolyn Haines
Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson