Sweet shop owner turned amateur sleuth in a cozy seaside town full of mystery and murder.It is the start of a new venture for Margaret and her son, Zach, setting up their dream candy store, Nichol’s Candy Store. With the business owners around her, there is never a dull moment – from Stacy Koontz the café owner, Mr. Stewart, the dog-groomer who needs a new personality, and Simone Peretti, who is … Simone Peretti, who is as eccentric as the antiques she sells.
It was nothing Margaret couldn’t handle, until their neighbor, Dorothy, was found murdered. A woman who was hated by everyone – making the entire neighborhood a suspect. On top of that long list is the new resident, Kyle, who’s kind-hearted beneath a gruff around the gills hard coating. Wanting justice for Dorothy and Kyle, Margaret decides to investigate this mystery herself. With an attractive detective by her side, it’ll lead to more connections than she ever anticipated.
Is she sweet enough to solve this sour blooded mystery
Previously published as Gumballs and Murder. This version has been rewritten.
This cozy mystery is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language. It can be read in one to two hours. It is perfect for those moments when you are waiting at an appointment or want to enjoy a quick read.
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Margaret and her son Zack have began a new phase in their lives. After divorcing her husband, she moves to a small town and opens a candy store. But all is not perfect, her next door neighbour is killed and she finds herself embroiled in the mystery.
What a wonderful start to a new series, The Sweet Shop. The characters are well crafted and engaging. As a new series, there are a lot of characters to be introduced and this is done very well. The narrative gives a picture of the small town and insight into the heroine’s thoughts, emotions and motivations. The storyline flows along smoothly and is full of surprises and twists that hold your interest. The character interaction is my favourite part with quirky personalities and witty dialogue. I almost really liked how the main character has taken control of her life and is overcoming her past experiences. She still struggles with some aspects but exhibits personal growth that is inspiring. If your looking for a new cozy mystery series to sink your teeth into, try this one out.
An entertaining fun short murder mystery. This engaging storyline had me wondering throughout. The characters were well developed and interesting. A charming enjoyable start to a new series that I voluntarily read and reviewed.
Charming New Cozy Mystery Series!
Margaret Nichols and her son move to the quaint seaside village of Rockshield Ct to start over. Anxious to get away from the hectic city, she’s shocked by the murder of their neighbor Dorothy King. When the detective in charge, David Graham, is determined to arrest the wrong man Margaret gets involved to clear his name. A delightful combination of suspense, drama, quirky heartwarming characters with plenty of secrets and a touch of romance. I look forward to reading more of the series. Enjoy!
I received an arc copy and am happy to leave my honest review.
” Chocolate Grunge” by Wendy Meadows is a tale of one Margaret and her son, Zach, who are just starting their dream candy store, Nichol’s Candy Store. …Rockshield, Connecticut! …The seaside retail business area is filled with charming businesses from Stacy Koontz’s café …Mr. Stewart, the dog-groomer who needs a new personality, and Simone Peretti …eccentric as the antiques she sells….However when Dorothy King… a known gossip…..is found murdered…the whole business section looks bad…and so Margaret decides to step up and solve the case…with her assistance of Handsome Detective David Graham…and unfortunately anyone could have been the guilty party. Will she & David solve the puzzle?!? Read and See what happens. Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Phenomenal! Love the new start to this series. I already am enjoying the characters and the mystery was great. There’s some low key flirting, so it looks like there is the start to a nice romance too. Looking forward to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chocolate Grudge is the first book in a cute new series by Wendy Meadows. The characteristics of a true small town can be found within Rockshield. The relationship between Margaret and her son, Zack, is something to be desired in the real world. Not to ramble on, but this series will be worth the read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a revision of a previous book. It is a short read, but a read that will keep you reading to see what is going to happen. Will Margaret and her son make a go with the candy story? Will she be able to solve the murder?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Margaret and Zack Nichols open a candy store in the small seaside town of Rockshield Connecticut leaving the big city behind them both. Margaret had enough of her domineering husband and finally divorced him with Zack’s blessing. Bought a house and together they are moving on with their lives. This small town everyone knows everyone’s business. Also, everyone hates Dorothy, Margaret and Zack’s next-door neighbor. Then Dorothy is murdered and Margaret just can’t help but get involved in the investigation. She believes the Detective is wrong on his suspect, but can she prove it? Things get rather strange in this small town. What do you ask? You will have to read the book to find out. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Booksprout.
I loved this cozy mystery.the storyline is interesting and keeps you pulled in throughout the book. I loved the characters. If you love cozy mysteries you will love this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read this book under the old name and now again with the new updates and a new name. Loved the book the first time and even more now with the updates to the story. The plot is fun and interesting and the people are well crafted. Love all the books by Wendy Meadows and this one is a good choice to start reading her books if you have not already tried them. Highly recommend this series to all cozy lovers.
Margaret and Zach have moved back to her home town after a nasty divorce. She has purchased a building on main street in which she is going to open her candy store to fulfill a long time dream. On their first night home, their neighbor Dorothy and her daughter Mary come over to give them the scoop on the neighborhood. During the night they are both awakened by a noise that they cannot place and since they don’t hear it again, they just go back to sleep. In the morning, they discover that one of their neighbors has been murdered. Margaret, naturally, jumps in to help solve the case and make sure the guilty party is brought to justice
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sweet shop mystery book 1, Chocolate Grudge. A great start to a new series. The characters are fun and entertaining and the story line is captivating and easy to get wrapped up in. Add in a bit of romance and a dash of humor and you end up with a fun cozy mystery read. No spoilers here, just the advice to grab your copy and start reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Margaret broke away from an unhappy marriage to open her own candy shop. Her 20 year old son, Zack, is helping her settle in, and while he takes care of the store, Margaret oversees the movers. She meets new neighbors and quickly realizes they harbor strong feelings. Only after one of them is murdered does Margaret realize that she may be able to ask the right questions to find the truth. I enjoyed reading this mystery and will continue with the next Sweet Shop Mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It is the start of a new life for Margaret and her son, Zack, who are setting up their dream candy store, Nichol’s Candy Shop, in Rockshield, Connecticut. Typical of small towns where everyone gets into your business, the first customer immediately criticizes the location of the cash register and having to walk that far to pay. Other shopowners come in to say hello (or to criticize something else), most just poking into Margaret’s business for some gossipy news.
When the day is over, Margaret meets her neighbor, Dorothy King, and her daughter Mary. Dorothy is very critical of other neighbors and loves gossip. While Zack goes to work at the candy store, the moving truck arrives, and neighbor Kyle from across the street, along with Greg and Frankie down the street, grab boxes and furniture and help Margaret move in. The first night spent in their new home, both Zack and Margaret are awakened by a loud crack outside. By the time they check on it, all is quiet again.
As they sit down for breakfast, an ambulance and a police car are parked at the curb. Sadly, when it’s confirmed that Dorothy, whom everyone seemed to dislike, was killed with a single gunshot wound to the head at point-blank range, there are plenty of suspects to consider since the entire town had a motive to kill the woman, even her own daughter! It was the logical next step that when Margaret sees the detective taking pictures of the “suspects” houses, she invites interesting detective, David Graham, to observe from her house instead. They get to know each other better, are actually comfortable with each other, and just maybe she can be of some help in tracking down the killer!
This was a good story with adequate time taken to introduce the reader to the characters. Having so many suspects makes it difficult to pick out the likely suspect, but we have David and Margaret on the case to do that! I look forward to more from this series. The relationships among the various characters are fun and interesting. Grab your copy and get to know the townsfolk!
An excellent start to a new series. Characters are quirky, eccentric and lovable just as you would expect in a small town. The mystery was good with pretty much the whole town being suspects. Dorthy, the victim, was mean to everybody so nobody really mourned her loss. There was a little romance and some humor. All in all, a good time!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
the book motivated me about life
I read this book under the original title years ago, and just finished the revised, updated version. Margaret Nichols and son Zack leave a bad marriage, move to a new neighborhood, and open a new candy shop. As they settle in, things seem to go well. Then, a neighbor is killed and everyone becomes a suspect. Soon Margaret is wrapped up in the investigation, and getting way to close to the sheriff.
This is a great quick read and the characters are well developed. I cannot wait to read the revised editions of the rest of the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
New Beginnings Can Be A Good Thing
When a very bad and controlling marriage ends in divorce after 20 years, it can leave you feeling very beaten down and unsure of things. The best thing to do is move on and start your own business…and succeed! This story is a testament of strength, durability and determination! Don’t let the dead lady next door get you down…she was a monster anyway…lol! Great cozy!
Spend a couple of hours in Rockshield, Connecticut with this family-friendly cozy about candy shop owner Margaret Nichols.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author has given us some wonderful characters. These people pull you into their lives and feel more like friends than fictional characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.