Give Fudge a Chance , what is not to like about this book? I love a good series 1st of all, and have not read any of the others yet, but plan to make my way through them after reading this book!
Second of all, although there’s a lot of tongue and cheek humour in this book, starting from the title all the way to the antics that ensue and sorting out this mystery, it is well written enough to be enjoyable, read quickly, and look forward to the next one!
I love a good cosy mystery, and the quaint setting and charming premise were very enjoyable.
Thankyou to author Nancy Coco, Kensington Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Charlene 📚🤗🌸 @lastnownext

This series is one of the first that truly made me want to travel to a setting. Character driven (human and 4 legged), fantastic setting, light romance, fudge, AND murder mysteries.... WIN WIN!!!

Fantastic series. One of the first Cozy series I started way back when. Highly recommend!

Book Review: “Give Fudge a Chance by Nancy CoCo 📚

Summary ✍🏻
It's time again for the Mackinac County fair. The smell of funnel cakes and the sound of carnival rides fill the air. Allie is focused on the fudge competition, hoping that another win will bring more attention to her hotel and fudge shop. Taking a brief break to explore the haunted house attraction with her friend Jenn they unexpectedly stumble upon an actual body instead of a prop. Things become even more personal when a suspicious death occurs at Allie's hotel, leading her to suspect there may be a connection between the two deaths!

My Thoughts ✍🏻
First off, let’s take a moment to appreciate the delightful cover of “Give Fudge a Chance.” With its vibrant colors and captivating design, it immediately catches your attention and sets the tone for a fun-filled reading experience. Now, let’s dive into what makes this cozy mystery worth your time.

1️⃣ Standalone Appeal 💯
While “Give Fudge a Chance” is part of an ongoing series, it stands strong as a standalone read. As someone who has only previously read book number 7, I found that I didn’t miss out on important background information or feel lost within the story. This makes it accessible for both longtime fans of the series and newcomers alike.

2️⃣ Well-Written and Well-Paced 👍🏻
Nancy CoCo demonstrates her skill as a writer in this novel. The writing flows smoothly, allowing readers to easily immerse themselves in the story. The pacing keeps you engaged without feeling rushed or overwhelmed, striking a perfect balance between plot development and suspenseful moments.

3️⃣ Enchanting Setting 🎪
One highlight of “Give Fudge a Chance” is undoubtedly the captivating setting of Mackinac Island. CoCo beautifully brings this location to life, making readers feel as though they are strolling through the Mackinac County fair themselves. The vivid descriptions of funnel cakes, carnival rides, and the general atmosphere add an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading experience.

4️⃣ Intriguing Plot with Red Herrings 🐟
The plot of this cozy mystery is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Just when you think you have it all figured out, CoCo throws in some well-placed red herrings to keep you on your toes. The unraveling of the mystery is both satisfying and unpredictable, making it an engaging read for mystery enthusiasts.

5️⃣ Likable Characters (Except Harry) 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏽👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏾
The protagonist, Allie, is a likable lead who manages to balance her role as a confectioner and amateur sleuth effortlessly. Her determination and wit make her relatable and endearing to readers. Additionally, the secondary characters are well-developed and add depth to the story. However, there’s one character that stands out for all the wrong reasons–Harry. Why is Harry so creepy and swarmy?? It wouldn't surprise me if he turns out to be a serial killing in an upcoming book! lol I jest, but...👀

6️⃣ Delicious Recipes Included 🧑🏻‍🍳
One fantastic aspect of “Give Fudge a Chance” is the inclusion of mouthwatering recipes throughout the book. These delightful additions allow readers to not only enjoy a thrilling mystery but also try their hand at creating some delicious treats inspired by the story. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself itching to whip up some fudge after reading this cozy mystery!

In conclusion, “Give Fudge a Chance” by Nancy CoCo is a solid cozy mystery that will satisfy fans of the genre. The well-written plot, captivating setting, likable characters, and tantalizing recipes make for an enjoyable reading experience. Whether you’re new to the series or a longtime fan, this rollercoaster ride through Mackinac County fair will keep you entertained until the very last page.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Give Fudge A Chance
A Candy-Coated mystery, Book #11
Nancy Coco
5 Stars

Synopsis:

It’s time for cozy readers to return to the magic of Mackinac Island where sleuth extraordinaire Allie McMurphy solves another unsolved murder in Nancy Coco’s perennially popular Candy-Coated Mystery series.

FORECAST: FAIR WIH A CHANCE OF MURDER . . .

The Mackinac County fair is in full swing, and the air is rich with the scent of funnel cakes and the sound of carnival rides. Allie is focused on the fudge competition—another win would really put her hotel and fudge shop on the map. But she’s willing to take a little break and walk through the haunted house attraction with her friend Jenn.

When they come across a body, though, it turns out not to be a prop. Soon Allie’s cop boyfriend is on the scene, and the sleuthing confectioner is hunting for clues. Danger strikes too close to home when the hotel becomes the scene of a suspicious fatal accident, and Allie suspects the two deaths are connected. The case is turning into a real rollercoaster. Allie will need to hold on tight . . .

Praise for Nancy Coco and the Candy-Coated Mysteries

“I will be counting down the days until the next mystery with Allie McMurphy.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“Full of disguises, danger, and one determined amateur sleuth.” —Fresh Fiction

“A sweet series for cozy mystery readers.”—Parkersburg News & Sentinel (Amazon)


Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. There is a county fair for Mackinac Island and Allie and her friend, Jenn, want to go through the haunted house. But before they get through it, they find another dead body. They will have to figure out who the killer is before they strike again.

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 and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Whenever you read a book by this author you know you are in for a real treat.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I so enjoyed this book! Coco is one of my favorite authors to read because she takes me back to my happy place!
I give this sweet novel 5 stars because I really enjoyed being back on Mackinac Island without leaving the comfort of my home. I do miss this place though. I haven't been back since 2019.
Funnel cakes are my very favorite fair food! Yummy! Can't go to a fair without having one of those!
I loved the many twists and turns and some were unexpected.
These are what kept me turning the pages.
Coco kept me guessing until the end! I love guessing in who done it. Coco did such a fantastic job in making this seem realistic and relatable. Along with describing the area that I felt at home in my happy place.
And might I add that they have the best fudge in the world! We never leave the island without grabbing some fudge! Chocolate is the best!!
5 stars for a well written book and series! I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Only Allie can find a real dead body at a haunted house,” Rex said.

With this statement, Nancy Coco sets the next installment of the Candy Coated Mystery series in motion. Allie and Jenn decide to spend a relaxing day at the Mackinac County Fair exploring the haunted house when they notice that one of the dead bodies is not fake. There is a lot happening in this book between the dead body, candy contest, and amateur parkour trials.

Allie is a bit frustrating at times. I’m just glad she has moved past her foot stomping and pouting phase.

The mystery is interesting and offers some more insight into the island’s history.

Allie finds herself tangled up with a very sore loser in a fudge competition. The entire town is taking sides, and she feels a bit overwhelmed. When a prop in a haunted house turns out to be an actual dead body, she finds herself engulfed in another mystery. Add in a nosy video blogger and this book is packed with action. It has a mystery strong enough to keep readers guessing and a great cast of characters. I look forward to the next book in the series!

I’ve been reading this series since I first found it and it never disappoints. This is the eleventh entry of the series and each one has been a solid mystery that leaves me wanting the next one the minute I finish reading the current one. I adore the setting of Mackinac Island since I have spent many summers visiting the island and I can picture where a lot of the places on the island are.

This is a light-hearted mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat with murder, suspense, secret passageways, kidnapping and more.

Another good book in the series! I love the plot of the characters. If you’ve been following along you’ll particularly like this one! I really enjoyed the mystery. I found it easy to figure out who done it but I enjoyed it anyway. I look forward to the next one!

A Cozy mystery + fudge? Sign me up! Nancy Coco did a wonderful job with this book. It's food, fun, and a cozy mystery for readers. This book can be read as a standalone, but I also recommend checking out the other entries in this series.

My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book!

Princess Fuzzypants here: When a woman, whose hobby it is to leap from the tops of one building to another, falls to her death, the initial reaction is her own foolhardiness was the cause. But hers is the second death on the island and Allie and Rex suspect they may be connected. The book club ladies are determined that Allie should investigate while Rex is concerned that her own penchant for getting kidnapped might put her in danger. Turns out both are right. Allie does figure out who is behind the murders but not before she is fighting for her life.

When the actual motive is revealed, it is nothing more than greed and avarice to blame. But it turns out there is more than one villain at work and it will take the entire book before all their complicities are uncovered. Complicating things for Allie are two videographers who want to do a piece on Allie and follow her everywhere. So does a very handsome fellow who would like to take Rex’s place as Allie’s beau. Decisions. Decisions. Four purrs and two paws up.

Love catching up with Allie and Jen and the gang. It's like visiting old friends for a few days and catching up. Great mystery. Didn't know what parkour was till I read this book. So much fun!

Reading the books in the Candy-Coated series has me wanting to travel to Mackinac Island and stay at the McMurphy Hotel. Great characters, delightful pets, and a well-developed mystery made this book one I couldn’t put down. The author did a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat and guessing until the end. Can’t wait for the next adventure with Allie and the rest of the gang.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

When a real murder occurs in a haunted house, Allie feels compelled to investigate. Can she figure out whodunit in time to rescue a friend...and herself?

I enjoy this series so much! Actually, it's one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love the characters, the mystery, the setting (Mackinac Island is now on my bucket list), and, of course, the fudge recipes.
I highly recommend this book and series.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

After Allie finds a dead body in a haunted house (yes, a real one), and then another falls (or is pushed?) off her roof, she can't help but investigate the strange goings-on on Mackinaw Island. But in addition to investigating the murders, she has to contend with two nosy podcasters, her boyfriend Rex trying to profess his love while another man continues to vie for her affections, and beating sore loser and longtime winner Christine in the county fair with her special deep mint chocolate fudge.

This book starts off at WARP SPEED. Like, I'm pretty sure we see our first dead body in the first five pages. There's no ramping up, here, folks! I'm not sure how I feel about it. In some ways, I like not wasting time with unimportant things, but it almost felt too random and didn't give me enough time to care about what was happening. The ending was also a bit muddled, with a lot going on and a lot of questions being answered by Rex, rather than discovered by Hallie. The middle of this book was the best part, which is kind of odd. I still love Allie and this series, and will keep reading, but this one had some odd pacing that wasn't my favorite.

Thanks to Kensington for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

Hotelier and fudge-maker Allie McMurphy is really excited about showing her fudge at the Mackinac County Fair, held for the first time in a long while on Mackinac Island itself. Winning Best In Show would not only provide excellent publicity for her historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, but would also be her ticket to entering the even more prominent, and prominence-boosting, state fair. She’s got some stiff competition, though, in twenty-time winner Christine Keller, who has no intention of going down without a fight.

Fortunately there are plenty of other fun fair attractions to distract Allie from overly competitive senior citizens. Her pregnant best friend Jenn Carpenter really wants to check out the new haunted house at the fair, and Allie goes along to humor her. The last thing either woman expects is to stumble across an actual dead body while navigating the supposedly harmless chills and thrills of the fairground staple.

Allie’s boyfriend, Police Officer Rex Manning, would really love it if Allie wouldn’t risk her neck investigating the dead bodies that keep throwing themselves into her path. For once, perhaps surprisingly, Allie agrees. She has no personal connection or interest in the dead man, and is happy to leave the investigating into what happened to him to the professionals. Alas, her resolve only lasts until another, perhaps connected, death puts her very livelihood in jeopardy. As she strives to clear her hotel from the cloud of suspicion it’s now under, some of those closest to her go missing. Will she be the next to disappear under suspicious circumstances, and possibly even for good?

This was another terrific installment of the long-running series, with very realistic 21st century conversations and complications. I loved the appearance of the influencer duo, and really appreciated the very sensible opinions of Allie’s right hand woman Frances on topics as seemingly diverse as trust between partners and letting kids make their own decisions, among others. The exploration of Mackinac Island was also really well done, spurring me to learn more about the beautiful tourist destination’s fascinating geography and history.

There were eight recipes included here, all for sweet treats. The easy take on Allie’s prize-winning Deep Chocolate Mint fudge recipe was very tempting, but I ultimately settled for making this mint-free variation instead, lightly edited here for format:

QUOTE
Dark Chocolate Coffee Fudge

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons finely ground freeze-dried coffee
Pinch salt
3 cups chopped dark baking chocolate or dark chocolate chips

Pour sweetened condensed milk into medium-sized, microwavable glass bowl. Add freeze-dried coffee and salt. Stir. Let set for 20 minutes to allow coffee to dissolve. Stir again. Then add chopped chocolate and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until chocolate just melts. Grease an 8x8x2-inch pan and line with parchment paper. Pour fudge into pan and chill. Cut into squares to make 48. Enjoy!
END QUOTE

I’m usually pretty indifferent to both the making and consumption of fudge, but the results of this recipe were truly out of this world! This dark chocolate coffee fudge has no business being as delicious as it is, especially given how little effort it takes to make.

I was actually surprised by how rich the fudge was as it cooled. I chose to let it cool at room temperature for several hours before chilling in the fridge, in order to avoid any of the crystallization that detracts from fudge’s ideal smoothness, and found that the texture as it cooled was delightfully brownie-like. Once the fudge completely hardened, it became the smooth coffee-flavored chocolate of my dreams. I’m not the biggest fan of dark chocolate, but the rich flavor was really nicely balanced against the instant espresso I used for this recipe.

Next week, we stay in the midwest to try a different but equally delicious kind of fudge, while solving the murder of a cranky contractor. Do join me!

Give Fudge a Chance
By Nancy Coco
Kensington
June 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s August on Mackinac Island, and the Lake Huron town is in the midst of celebrating the Mackinac County Fair with cornhole contests, cooking competitions, and even a haunted house. Unfortunately it’s the latter where Allie McMurphy stumbles onto a very real corpse, which even more disturbingly isn’t that unusual an event for the hotel and fudge shop owner. So it shouldn’t be too surprising that her fudge entry in the candy contest momentarily overshadows the death, as winning would qualify Allie for the State Fair. No one is more surprised that her Deep Chocolate Mint Fudge wins Best in Show than Christine Keller, whose caramels have taken the trophy for the past twenty years. Immediately protesting the loss and accusing Allie of cheating, Christine creates a hashtag war of TeamChristine that forces the town known as the Fudge Capital to choose sides.

Clues that Allie overheard just outside of the haunted house lead Police Officer Rex Manning to a variety of possible suspects, but another death on the historical McMurphy hotel has Allie concerned that the parkour athlete may have been thrown and not just fallen off of the roof. It’s probably not the best time for wildly popular food video podcasters to arrive with the mission to feature Allie as their guest, but she can’t deny the boost that their Tailored Food Adventures TikTok account would give to her business. Her inability to remain uninvolved in murder investigations, combined with the romantic attentions from both a jealous Rex and the undeniably flirtatious B&B owner Harry Winston, ensure that Allie’s Fall season will be filled with more than just fudge making, book clubs, and Fall Festival Committee meetings.

Filled with candy-making descriptions, awkward romantic dinners, and scenes of Allie’s adorable Bichonpoo Mal and calico cat Mella, this 11th in the series delivers everything the prolific author’s fans could desire. The use of social media to both attack and promote Allie’s businesses is depicted all too realistically, examining a trend that doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. Easy fudge recipes will please cozy mystery readers looking for their next tasty treat, but the majority of readers will vicariously devour the many varieties of Allie’s extraordinary and mouth-watering creations. This is another very fun installment that will have fans both cheering for and groaning at Rex’s slow-but-determined efforts to romance Allie. Cozy mystery fans shouldn’t delay booking their next visit to Mackinac Island and its equally charming McMurphy Hotel.

Give Fudge a Chance is the latest book in a series featuring Allie McMurphy and friends, set on beautiful and quaint Mackinac Island.

What I liked:

- The beautiful setting. I've been to Mackinac and every time I read one of these, it makes me want to go back for another visit!
- Unlike some cozy series, there is actually progress and maturity in relationship development.
- The author captures small town vibes and drama in a way that is funny and mostly accurate (if over the top for dramatic effect).

What didn't work as well for me:
- There were SO many plot points in this one it felt a little bit all over the place. The carnival, the county fair, the woman unhinged about a candy award, the book club, the parkour, Mal turning out to be a tracking dog, a media duo who literally stalks Allie... I know it was all tied together at the end but it felt like a lot.
- While Allie is maturing from a relationship perspective and as a business owner, she's still that girl from a horror movie who makes all the wrong choices and takes dumb risks. She seems to at least be self aware about it, though.

All in all, a fun, quick read! 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

August in Michigan means it is fair season. Due to a renovation at the fairgrounds on the mainland, the county fair is taking place on the island this year. In addition to the normal hustle and bustle of visitors to the island there is the din of carnival rides and the scent of fair foods. Allie has joined the fun and entered a fudge in the candy competition. Jenn and Allie decide to go through the haunted house and are frightened by more than the attraction itself.
The two find a real body and suddenly the fair is a murder scene. Unfortunately this is not the first death to mar the fair. Many lives are suddenly in danger and Allie is in the thick of things.
This is another great story in the Candy-Coated Mysteries series. I love the setting of Mackinac Island. The characters are realistic and developed nicely. The plot of this story is engaging and unique. I recommend this book. If you haven’t read this series it is worth going back to the beginning, but this book can stand alone.