In Eve Calder’s Sugar and Vice, things are heating up at the Cookie House when star pastry chef and amateur sleuth Kate McGuire finds herself in the midst of a shocking murder mystery. OUT OF THE OVEN Lately, Kate has a lot on her dessert plate. She’s launching a cookie-of-the-day challenge in the heart of Coral Cay, providing sweet treats for the reception of the town’s handsome new … the town’s handsome new veterinarian–not to mention dealing with tourists in town for a pirate festival and the surprise arrival of her former fiancé, Evan, who seems determined to win her back.
AND INTO THE FIRE
And if that’s not enough, a skeleton has been found–in the backyard behind her best friend Maxi’s floral shop. Kate knows Maxi could never hurt a fly. Maybe the remains belong to Sir George Bly, a long-dead pirate whose name has become urban legend–until now? It’s time for Kate to use every trick in the recipe book to prove Maxi’s innocence, and find the truth about the skeleton, before the last of the cookies crumble…
Praise for the Cookie House mystery series:
“Delightful…memorable…satisfying.”–Booklist
“Marvelous.” —Fresh Fiction
more
I was eagerly anticipating this second book in the Cookie House Mystery, but having been in a cozy mystery slump lately was a bit hesitant to start it for fear of being disappointed. I am happy to say that disappointment was not what I felt while reading this book. Eve Calder is doing a wonderful job of crafting the charming town of Coral Cay in South Florida. I am completely charmed by the two main characters, Kate and Maxi. Their friendship comes across as very natural and believable. They are great characters and written so that the reader is rooting for them at every step along the way. The two women are different but they complement each other with natural ease. Maxi lives up to her Cuban ancestry with a bit more of a fiery personality, where Kate is still getting accustomed to her new home so she is a bit reserved. The rest of the secondary cast of characters, including Oliver the dog who adopted Kate in the first book, round out the story nicely and provide perspective and some humor.
I thought the mystery was well done. There are some twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing about the killer’s identity. The reveal was a surprise to me but once I went back and thought about the clues it made sense in hindsight. During the middle of the book, there was a period where the story seemed to concentrate more on the pirate festival and cookie competition than the murder mystery, but even that ties in nicely to the mystery.
I have enjoyed both books in this series to date and I would recommend them to cozy mystery fans. I will certainly be back for the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
Kate McGuire moved to Coral Cay, Florida for a fresh start. She is now the co-owner of the Cookie House bakery and is looking forward to the town’s annual Pirate Festival. She’s helping her new friend Maxi, who owns the flower shop next door to the bakery, install a raised garden when her dog Oliver starts to dig and uncovers a skeleton wearing what appears to be a pirate outfit. Everyone assumes that the remains belong to Sir George Bly, a pirate from the 16th century who was rumored to have been buried with his treasures. But the investigation reveals that the body has been buried less than a year ago. Kate and Maxi work together to uncover the truth about the skeleton.
This is a delightful cozy mystery, with a wonderful setting, mouthwatering descriptions of cookies, and two intriguing mysteries. This was my first visit to Coral Cay, and I am absolutely smitten. I loved the small tight-knit community feeling and the friendship between Kate and Maxi. Kate is a character that readers will find easy to like. She’s kind, caring, and passionate about her job. The town’s history is weaved effortlessly with the present-day mystery. There were plenty of clues and twists along the way to keep me guessing, and the conclusion of both mysteries was a surprise to me.
I look forward to the third book in this charming series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cookies, flowers, and pirates! Arrghh! Eve Calder mixes up a great plot in the second installment of her Cookie House series with a fast-paced story that will leave you craving cookies and the next story!
In beautiful Coral Cay, Florida, Kate McGuire (pastry Chef), and best friend, Maxi (Flower shop owner), watch Kate’s dog, Oliver, dig up a skeleton out back of Maxi’s shop. Could it be the missing pirate known as Gentlemen George Bly? The local detective, Kate and Maxi, the Coral Cay Irregulars Book Club, and a private investigator and his beagle, all want to know whose body was buried there, and when?
I fully enjoyed this fun, light Mystery and Kate’s constant baking kept me hungry for baked goodies! A great cozy series!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you.
Sugar and Vice
A Cookie House Mystery, Book #2
Eve Calder
5 Stars
Synopsis:
OUT OF THE OVEN
Lately, Kate has a lot on her dessert plate. She’s launching a cookie-of-the-day challenge in the heart of Coral Cay, providing sweet treats for the reception of the town’s handsome new veterinarian―not to mention dealing with tourists in town for a pirate festival and the surprise arrival of her former fiancé, Evan, who seems determined to win her back.
AND INTO THE FIRE
And if that’s not enough, a skeleton has been found―in the backyard behind her best friend Maxi’s floral shop. Kate knows Maxi could never hurt a fly. Maybe the remains belong to Sir George Bly, a long-dead pirate whose name has become urban legend―until now? It’s time for Kate to use every trick in the recipe book to prove Maxi’s innocence, and find the truth about the skeleton, before the last of the cookies crumble… (Goodreads)
Review:
The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing. In my mind’s eye, I could picture the pirate festival and cookie house very clearly.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Kate and Maxi are such good friends, even though they have only known each other a short time. I think we should all have a friend like Maxi. The secondary characters added a lot to the story, and I like how everyone seemed to be one big happy family.
The mystery was well plotted and very intriguing. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and this mystery was not easily solved, which is how I like my mysteries.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Everything in this book works, just like it did in the first book. I cannot wait to read book three.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Sugar and Vice is the second in the A Cookie House Mystery series by Eve Calder. This was the first for me and I had no problem in getting up to date.
This is an easy to read cozy that has great main characters, delightful setting, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end.
It’s the start of Pirate Week in Coral Cay when Oliver, Kate’s adorable pooch, digs up a skeleton in her best friend’s backyard. On top of it, the skeleton is dressed in pirate garb. Could it be a true pirate from the past….
Kate knows she has her plate full for the week, having a cookie contest, hosting the dinners for the locals, and dealing with her ex. By the way, who invited him to the island and why. She adds finding out just who is the skeleton and who buried him.
The only problem with this story is you will want cookies, all kinds of cookies!
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and St Martin’s Paperbacks for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Cookie House mystery. This series is quickly becoming a favorite. I really like the dynamic between Kate and Maxi. This story had many twists and keep me guessing to the end. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder is the second book in Ms. Calder’s Cookie House cozy series and was another book that I could not put down.
Kate and Maxi are preparing for Pirate Days in Coral Cay when Oliver finds a buried skeleton in the backyard of Maxi’s floral shop. The plot combines both a past mystery regarding an infamous pirate in Coral Cay, Gentleman George Bly as well as who is the skeleton. The characters are beginning to become fully developed now and I enjoy Kate and Maxi’s friendship. The plot is well-crafted with enough red herrings and twists that I kept guessing throughout the book. In fact, I was shocked at the reveal. Ms. Calder’s series is a winner in the cozy mystery genre.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin’s Paperbacks via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Wow, what a fun book! It’s time for the Pirate Festival in Coral Cay and the town is gearing up for the event. Maxi and Kate are planting vegetables and herbs behind Maxi’s flower shop when Oliver the dog digs up a human skeleton. The skeleton is first thought to be Gentleman George Bly, a pirate who founded Coral Cay. It is later determined that the skeleton is more recent and was purposely made to appear older. Of course, lots of treasure hunters don’t believe the skeleton is not the famous pirate and come to Maxi’s shop at night to try to find the treasure that was supposedly buried with Gentleman George. Maxi and Kate try to figure out who the skeleton could be and how he got there. The Coral Cay Irregulars book group president wants the group to research Gentleman George and see if they can find out what really happened to him. In the midst of all this, Kate’s ex-fiance shows up in town to try to win her back. I enjoyed seeing Kate and Maxi work together. It was also really nice to see Sam socializing more with the town residents and being more open to different things in the bakery. I really loved trying to figure out who the skeleton really was and why they were killed. The truth turned out to be a bit surprising and the tidbit at the end of the book regarding Gentleman George was intriguing. I look forward to reading more of this series with it’s charming town and delightful characters. I highly recommend this series!
If you’re looking for a beach read this summer, Sugar and Vice will fill the bill. The Pirate Festival promises to bring new customers to Kate’s cookie house, but instead she and Maxi must solve a cold case–as in dead pirate. Charming small town Florida provides the perfect fictional getaway.
Sugar and Vice earns 5/5 Pirate Legends…Engaging Fun!
Cookies. Pirates. Skeleton. Legend. Murder. Eve Calder bakes up a great second book in her Cookie House Mystery series with more than one entertaining mysteries. Kate is helping her BFF Maxi build planting beds for edible flowers, herbs, and vegetables—but a skeleton? Oliver, the dog all the town seem to cherish, digs up a skeleton oddly dressed in…pirate gear. At first it is assumed to be an archeological discovery of Gentleman George, a sixteenth century pirate, who founded the Coral Cay, but forensics prove the skeleton is a much more recent demise. Is it murder? Along with an engaging mystery surrounding this twenty-first century pirate, it is the annual Pirate Festival bringing in loads of tourist including Kate’s ex-fiancé who arrives without notice, and then there’re cookies! Eve’s writing style is sensory-laden description including talk of cookies and flowers with wonderful characters, friendships, witty banter, and although the killer had been on my radar, I wavered til the surprise and satisfying ending. I started with the second book, and as a newbie, I easily joined in. Fun! But, no real recipes to enjoy.
Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder has Kate McGuire and her best friend, Maxi planting some vegetable gardens behind Maxi’s flower shop in Coral Cay, Florida. Kate’s dog, Oliver suddenly begins digging frantically and uncovers a skeleton with pirate clothes. They wonder if the skeleton is Sir George Bly, the pirate who founded the town and the reason they have the annual pirate festival. Kate has enough on her plate with baking unique items for the pirate festival and the unknown skeleton. But then her ex-fiancé, Evan arrives in town with an agenda. Kate keeps herself busy (aka avoiding Evan) by investigating the legend of Sir George Bly with the book club hoping they can learn the truth about the gentleman pirate and his long-lost treasure. What happens when they learn the skeleton is more recent than a four-hundred-year-old pirate? Sugar and Vice is the second A Cookie House Mystery. It can be read on its own for those new to the series. Kate is a likeable young woman with a talent for baking. I love her dog, Oliver with his exuberance. Kate loves to bake, and she creates delicious items for the bakery. I enjoy the interactions between Maxi and Kate. I did find the chapters too short and there were too many of them (68). It made the book choppy. The mystery was simple and could easily be solved long before the reveal. But the mystery does suit the book. It is a lighthearted cozy mystery with the focus on baking and friendship than the whodunit. There are lovely descriptions of the town which has friendly residents. I could have done without the Spanish words or phrases used by Maxi. They are not explained which is frustrating (I was never able to master Spanish). I did enjoy the humor and the descriptions of Kate’s baked items. Sugar and Vice is a fun cozy mystery with a peppy pooch, tasty treats, pirate plunder, a bothersome ex-beau, and a screwy skeleton.
Things were going well for Kate McGuire with a new home in beautiful Coral Cay Island with her career blooming as a junior partner and baker at the Cookie House. Then she finds herself involved in a murder when her dog Oliver uncovers a body and her ex-finance makes a very unwelcome appearance.
The history theme is so well written it had me checking to be sure it is not real. I also enjoyed the characters, especially Oliver. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is the second in the series and my first trip to Coral Cay. Eve Calder is a new to me author. The plot is about a body being found in the backyard of the flower shop. At first, everyone thinks it is Gentleman George, a founder of the town or one of his crew.
I enjoyed the theory letting us know of a way the body had been buried without anyone noticing it. I enjoyed this book but found there were too many chapters just a few pages each. I like to get rolling along and enjoy the story.
Along with the mystery of who was in the backyard grave and is there & where is the rumored treasure, there is Evan, the ex-boyfriend that is trying to get Kate to take him back. Unfortunately for him, she loves her new life.
I enjoyed knowing that Kate & crew don’t think that they can do a better job than the police. I liked the characters, the story, and the quaint town of Coral Cay.
This was a good escape from COVID-19 news. I hope to be visiting Coral Cay again, real soon.
I was given an advanced copy through Netgalley and would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author. I am not required to leave a positive review.
Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder is a wonderful cozy mystery with unique characters and realistic subplots. Kate McQuire has recently moved to Coral Cay, Florida and is the proud half-owner of a bakery which previously had only baked bread items, but with her arrival, had begun to branch out. He friend, the florist next door, was Maxi Mas-Buchanan, a lovely young Cuban woman married to a young lawyer. They had three kids, upon whom they doted. Kate was the proud owner of Oliver, a dog-about-town who mostly lived with her. They were digging in the back yard of Maxi’s shop in preparation for planting vegetables with which she planned to expand her business when Oliver dug up a leather boot. It seemed to be attached to a leg so the women wisely decided to call the police and some local archeologists. The story was that Coral Cay had been a haven for pirates in the day and many, along with their treasures, were buried here.
This book was a hoot! These two women were perfect friends, each with their own unique personalities and issues. Kate had an ex-fiance who turns up and gets under foot. He was good for a few laughs. Maxi’s husband was acting squirrely: she could always tell when he was hiding something. The people of Coral Cay and many outside, were enthralled with the possibility of a pirate. Pirates were a theme in their town and a real one would be fabulous. All of this makes for a highly entertaining book with several real mysteries to be found in its pages. This is a lovely setting and cleverly written characters. Any cozy fan will love it. I recommend it. Can’t wait to go back and read the first one.
I received a free ARC of Sugar and Vice from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I would not have read this book had I not been contacted by the publisher. Thank you Stephen Erickson! All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #sugarandvice
Sugar and Vice is the second book in the A Cookie House Mystery series.
Kate is settling in nicely in Coral Cay and is part owner of the cookie shop where she works. Her cookies have brought the shop back to being the bakery to shop at.
Her friend Maxi has a flower shop next door and they are busy putting in a raised beds in the yard behind the flower shop while discussing the upcoming Pirate Festival that is coming up soon. Oliver, who likes to spread his doggy adorableness around town, starts digging where they are working and they soon find that he has unearthed a human skeleton. Also found were some apparel items that suggest this might be the body of a pirate. Maxi is sure they have found the body of Gentlemen George, a legendary pirate of Coral Cay, who was reportedly buried with his share of the treasure they had accumulated. Soon it will be confirmed that it isn’t Gentleman George and Kate and Maxi will set off to try and determine who the skeleton was.
I am enjoying this new series. The story is well-told and plotted. The community of Coral Cay has very believable and interesting characters. The cookie store has some very delicious sounding products, no wonder the business is doing well. My least favorite character is Kate’s ex-fiance, Evan. He needs to wake up and smell the roses. He’s been told no way are they getting back, yet he continues to stalker her. I hope he will soon get the message. My favorite character is Oliver, who thinks he is the “town dog” going about town visiting everyone. He seems to have found a home with Kate, but then he realizes the comfort he brings by being close to Kate.
I will be watching for the next book in this yummy series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sugar and Vice, by Eve Calder, is available at booksellers on 4-28-2020. Sugar is book 2 in Ms Calder’s A Cookie House Mystery series. It’s my 1st experience with this author and I like the way she writes. There’s a nice style and flow to the story. The characters are fleshed out, secondary characters have a little substance too, which makes them interesting. Although book 2 in a series Sugar and Vice works just fine as a stand-alone. There are references to the 1st mystery but not enough to be a bother and cause confusion.
The plot of finding a skeleton and thinking it’s ancient is a nice way of bringing an island lore into the story, mixing an old story with a current crime scene. One investigation blends with the other and both are eventually solved. The food all sounds delicious and I’d have liked a recipe or 2, my mouth watered at the description of the cookies. In my humble opinion the best and most interesting character is Oliver, the dog. He’s absolutely perfect.
#EveCalder #SugarAndVice #ACookieHouseMystery #Netgalley #StMartin’sPaperbacks #cullinarymystery
This series quickly earned its place on my must be read as soon as possible mystery series list. It was easy to give the first, And Then There Were Crumbs, five stars and this has earned its own five stars.
Kate moved away from New York as fast as she could, headed for Florida with no plans for her future – just get away from her finance and start fresh. Luck was on her side and she landed on her feet, meeting some of the nicest characters ever. Now, in the second mystery, she has new friends, a good job (how could baking cookies ever be a bad job?) and she is fully in the swing of things, getting ready for the Pirate Festival. The entire town has pirate fever and it all heats up when Kate and her friend Maxi decide to build new planters in Maxi’s backyard. What could be exciting about that? Well, sweet pup, Oliver, goes and digs up a body, that’s what. Dressed in full pirate attire, word soon spreads that a long lost pirate and maybe even clues to his treasure are lying in Maxi’s yard. Experts arrive and soon declare that the body is way too recent to be the long lost pirate. Fine but who is the body, who buried it….lots of questions and Kate, Maxi and their friends are on the case. If trying to figure out the mystery of the body in Maxi’s yard wasn’t enough for Kate to deal with, her ex-fiance shows up and makes it clear that he isn’t ready to let her go.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and the writing flows very well. When Kate and her circle of friends undertake their investigation it moves effortlessly and naturally. They just ask their questions, listen and don’t think that they can do a better job than the police. It was the perfect reading escape for my days of social isolation.
Since this series is set in Florida and near the ocean (which so far hasn’t really played a role, I don’t think any of the characters even mention it) I thought it was a great fit to have this story revolve around pirates.
Another plus for this series is that Kate has a smart and capable side kick in Maxi. I do like a series which a variety of secondary characters that are actually used. Make a much richer story for me. Maxi, her family, business and local knowledge is well used.
I wasn’t surprised whodunnit, however, there was no way for the reader to follow clues and figure out why. That was presented more as an info. dump towards the end of the book.
Still, I liked Coral Cay community and the combination of historical and contemporary pirates in this story.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
loved the idea of her cookie power!
I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy. It is not the first in the series, but I still understood who the characters all were and how they fit together. Kate runs a cookie shop and her best friend Maxi runs a florist shop next door. They are working on Maxi’s yard at the shop when Kate’s puppy digs up a corpse dressed in pirate gear. At first, it is suspected that this could be the remains of a long dead pirate, Gentleman George. Soon they find out the body is much more recent.
The characters are fun and the story is easy to read. It was fun to meet all the quirky locals. It was a nice escape. I love the puppy Oliver as well. There were lots of suspects as well as several guesses as to who the corpse really was. I was surprised by the ending. I would definitely read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and offer my honest review of this book.