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Helo, and welcome! Pull up a drink and a seat and join me for a new cozy mystery Christmas anthology. I will be reviewing 3 stories but the book has 12 short stories for you to choose from. Being short stories, you can jump around and read whenever you have time and pick one that appeals to you. I'm reviewing Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread: A Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries Short Story by Lena Gregory, whom I've read and reviewed before; It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief: A Northwoods Mysteries prequel short story by Annie McEwen; and Nothing But Truffle: A Cookies & Chance Mysteries Short Story by Catherine Bruns.
Source: Blog Tour company in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: December 2nd, 2025
Buying Links: Amazon* | Apple Books* | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords*
Blurb from tour company:
My Thoughts:
From twelve USA Today bestselling and award winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa!
Stories include:
A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries)
by Rosalie Spielman
Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory
Larceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries)
by Kelly Rey
Holidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries)
by Anne Marie Stoddard
Ornaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries)
by Jennifer Fischetto
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries)
by Annie McEwen
You Can’t see the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries)
by Christine Knapp
Jingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries)
by Misty Simon
Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries)
by Erica Wynters
Search for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries)
by Jamie L. Adams
Nothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries)
by Catherine Bruns
A Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries)
by Gin Jones
My Thoughts:
Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread by Lena Gregory:
I enjoyed this story and will probably look up the books. This was a good entry to the series for newcomers; I felt we got to know the characters, there was a little action, and a nice little mystery. The reveal of the killer wasn't much of a surprise but the trail there was interesting. 4 stars
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief: A Northwoods Mysteries prequel short story by Annie McEwen:
Being a prequel, this was a good starting point for someone new to the series. It was a little too sweet and sticky for me but I did appreciate the joyfulness in it. Despite the anthology title, there's no homicide or murder nor death in the story. The Christmas pranks were fun and funny and provided a cute little mystery. 3 stars
Nothing But Truffle: A Cookies & Chance Mysteries Short Story by Catherine Bruns:
No deaths in this story either but some yummy sounding food and a recipe at the end! Even though I rarely make them, I do enjoy when a food-related story includes recipes. I enjoy reading them and fantasizing about making them, lol. This story took place on New Year's Eve and revolved around a missing necklace. While it clearly drew on established characters and events, it did work as a standalone. Some of the characters were abrasive and I was glad I didn't have to spend much time with them. The solution to the mystery was easy and a bit of a letdown. I did enjoy the main characters, Mike and Sally. 3 stars.
The anthology has a nice mix of short stories, and while not all live up the Homicides promised in the titles, they are all interesting holiday stories. It's a good way to try out a new-to-you series and experiment with authors.
There are actually 2 giveaways today; one that is for the whole tour and one for this blog.
To enter the blog giveaway, tell me in a comment below what your favorite stories are to read at Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, or Kwanzaa. The giveaway ends at 11:59pm Eastern time on December 15th, 2025. The winner gets a $10 Amazon gift card, and will need to provide their email address.
To enter the tour giveaway, enter below.
About the authors ~
Get a free ebook when you sign up for Catherine’s newsletter at https://www.catherinebruns.net/contact
Please feel free to connect with her on social media as well:
Facebook.com/Catherine-Bruns-Books-218522341685434
Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.
To learn more about Lena and her latest writing endeavors, visit her website at http://www.lenagregory.com/ and be sure to sign up for her newsletter http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
Annie McEwen is the author of the Northwoods Mysteries Series, set amongst the tall pines and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin where she spent vacations as a kid. Because of a sweet love story between her youngest sister and a local Wisconsin boy (storyline idea!), she’s still been able to keep on visiting the beautiful place that means so much to her.
Annie and her husband are empty nesters—their son is married to his high school sweetheart, and their daughter is married with two adorable toddler boys. Being grandparents is definitely the best gig ever! They also have four fur babies who just might make some special appearances in Annie’s books.
When Annie isn’t writing, playing with her grandsons, or tackling trash-to-treasure projects, she works as a radiological technologist, aka, she takes pictures of bones…you can’t hide much from her! Writing, though, is her first love.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
- December 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
- December 2 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
- December 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
- December 3 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
- December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW – AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 5 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 5 – Hall Ways Blog – SPOTLIGHT
- December 6 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
- December 6 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
- December 6 – Jemima Pett, Author – REVIEW
- December 7 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
- December 8 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
- December 8 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW – INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
- December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 9 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
- December 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
- December 10 – Caboodle of Cozies – SPOTLIGHT
- December 11 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
- December 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
- December 12 – Salty Inspirations – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
- December 12 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT
- December 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
- December 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
- December 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
- December 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
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