I really enjoyed this book. I love really books filled with short stories about characters that I already know and love.

Fun Christmas Anthology from a few of my favorite cozy mystery writers. Always great for a little bit more of a story, especially at Christmas time.

This is a collection of three short cozy mysteries by some of my favorite authors. They are quick, relaxing Christmas themed mysteries to help get you in the holiday spirit. Alternatively this would be a great way to introduce yourself to some cozy authors you might not have read before.

This was a great, festive short story collection of mysteries! My favorite was Maddie Day's tale, but they were all good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

I only read the story by Lee Hollis since I have not read the new series by Maddie Day and I have stopped reading the kitchen witch series by Lynn Cahoon. My review for Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter by Lee Hollis was an okay read. I found many of the characters downright unlikable. The exceptions being Hayley Powell and her husband Bruce, her brother Randy and his husband, Sergio, who also happens to be the chief of police. Some of the action was a bit improbable, but still fun and holiday appropriate, murder aside. Three stars.

I only read Two Christmas Mittens by Lynn Cahoon in this book. I don't read the series by the other authors so I wasn't interested in the other two short stories. I did enjoy Two Christmas Mittens though. I liked that the stakes were really high for the main characters because one of their own was under a nasty spell. This short story is a great addition to the Kitchen Witch series.

A fun mitten-themed cozy mystery anthology featuring three whodunits written by some top writers in the cozy mystery genre. I really enjoy anthologies for reading sorry stories in an established series, to meet a new-to-me author, or to introduce a new character/series.

My favorite was TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS by LYNN CAHOON as I love her Kitchen Witch Mystery series. 5 stars

I also enjoyed DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER by Lee Hollis and MURDEROUS MITTENS (prequel to a new series) by MADDIE DAY. 4 stars each

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.

A collection of three great holiday mysteries featuring mittens. It was a fun and entertaining read.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for giving me an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Christmas Mittens Murder, which is a collection of three novellas written by Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, and Maddie Day. I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. I was excited to be approved to read this book!
DEATH OF A CHRISTMAS MITTEN KNITTER (HAYLEY POWELL FOOD AND COCKTAILS MYSTERY, #16.5) by LEE HOLLIS

This particular novella was a fun read, and I enjoyed reading about Haley Powell and her friends trying to solve the latest mystery, which had me guessing. It's always great to revisit characters that are so likable. I haven't read a lot of books in this series, but overall, I have come to enjoy the storylines a lot, and this novella did not disappoint. It's becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I need to find more time to read more by this author. Four out of five stars.

TWO CHRISTMAS MITTENS (KITCHEN WITCH MYSTERIES, #4.5) by LYNN CAHOON

I haven't read any of the books in this particular series, so it took a while for me to really figure out who some of the characters were and how they were connected to the other characters in the story. There really wasn't much backstory either, which was a bit confusing as well. The overall story ended up being great once I figured out how the characters were related to one another. Additionally, it was a little predictable. I enjoyed it enough that I would like to read the first book in the series to give the series a fair chance. Three out of five stars.

MURDEROUS MITTENS (CEECEE BARTON MYSTERY, #0.5) by MADDIE DAY

This novella is a prequel to a new series that brought in a guest character from another series by the same author. The storyline was interesting enough and had plenty of red herrings. With that being said, the ending felt a little rushed, and the motive a little unrealistic. That aside, I am looking forward to reading the first book in the series because this novella was fun and entertaining. Four out of five stars.

Overall, Christmas Mittens Murder by Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, and Maddie Day was a fun, entertaining read that put me in the mood for Christmas. Four out of five stars is what I give this book.

Christmas Mittens Murder is a fun anthology, where mittens play a part in a murder in each of these cozy mysteries. Lee Hollis penned a wonderful holiday mystery with a knitter who is stabbed with her own needle, outside of a church, believe it or not. Was it a member of her knitting group or one of the rival knitters. Hayley is on the case again, helping her brother-in-law Sergio solve the crime. This time when she comes face to face with the killer, her husband is with her but it was still a dangerous situation. Once again, I did not guess the culprit. Of course recipes were included. In Two Christmas Mittens by Lynn Cahoon we are back in the world of the kitchen witches and others from the coven. I am not a big fan of paranormal stories, and don't follow this series. In this story a pair of murderous mittens carry a curse that affects Mia's best friend Christine. I skimmed most of this story, but did enjoy the ending. Finally, Maddie Day gives us a quick introduction to her new Cece Barton series, in Murderous Mittens. Cece is in Colinas, California visiting her sister's family when a local business women is killed. Cece had met her the day before and they discussed her hand knit mittens that she was selling. She was bonked over the head, and the weapon involved one of her mittens. When her sister, Allie, is the main suspect, she and her new friend Cam begin their own investigation. I liked both Cece and Cam, but I'm pretty sure Cam will not be in the rest of the series as she lives across the country. She is the protagonist in one of Maddie Day's other series. Because this was a novella and the introduction of a new character, I found the mystery pretty easy to sort out. The culprit seemed to be obvious and I was right. I liked the original murder weapon and the investigation was interesting. Cece's nephews are adorable and I hope they continue to be in the books in the series. I always enjoy these holiday collections and even though the paranormal story was not my cup of tea, this was a fun anthology. If you are interested in cozy mysteries, or maybe just want to give them a try, pick up Christmas Mittens Murder and see what you think, it might introduce you to three new authors and their series.

Christmas Mittens Murder contains three Christmas cozy mystery novellas. Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter by Lee Hollis (A Hayley Powell Food and cocktails Mystery) is satisfactory. I found some of the characters to be unlikeable (not Hayley, Bruce, Sergio, or Randy). I liked the mystery. There are the normal hijinks along with Hayley’s column and recipes. Two Christmas Mittens by Lynn Cahoon (A Kitchen Witch Mystery) has Mia trying to find a cursed mitten’s mate and break a curse before Christine loses her life. Her family and friends are in on the action. It is a fun story with a touch of suspense and a dose of snark. Murderous Mittens introduces Cece Barton (for A Cece Barton Mysteries). Cece has low self-esteem (she kept calling herself a failure). I found the story to be on the preachy side. There is a cameo by Cam Flaherty (A Local Foods Mystery) who gives Cece tips on solving a mystery. The friendship that developed between Cece and Cam happened too quickly (faster than you can say jingle bells). It felt forced. There were random details with clumsy explanations. I like how mittens tied the three stories together. Christmas Mittens Murder was okay, but they did not fill me with the holiday spirit (nor entice me to read other books in their respective series).

Princess Fuzzypants here: Looking for some light holiday reading, these three short stories will fit the bill nicely. Three well known and well loved mystery writers dish up stories that all revolved around some very murderous mittens. In the first, rival knitting groups take the competition to new levels and someone ends up dead. In the second a magical and deadly mitten causes the death of one characters and almost causes a second until the spell can be broken. And in the third, a mitten becomes an unusual weapon.

The first two stories revolve around established cozy heroines who have a strong fan base. The third one introduces a new character in the world of cozies with a bit of an origin story. I confess my favourite was the witchy one but all three were easy and enjoyable reads. Four purrs and two paws up.

This trio of holiday-themed novellas feels almost like three full culinary cozy novels in one volume!

The first of the three, Lee Hollis’ Death Of A Christmas Mitten Knitter, sees Christmas coming to Bar Harbor, Maine. Hayley Powell is already overworked with her restaurant when Reverend Ted, pastor of the local Congregational church, comes to guilt her into providing a luxe gift basket for the annual church bazaar raffle. She doesn't want to turn him down, given that the proceeds will all be going to help the local poor. Her competitive streak is also piqued when he lets slip that her closest family and friends have put together their own enticing baskets too, and that he's sure they'll all be hotly bid on.

His predictions come true, much to the chagrin of several local yarn craft groups whose own offerings, while traditional, can't compete with luxury food, alcohol and self-care items. But the last thing anyone expects is to find one of the knitters stabbed to death right outside the church during the event. As if that weren't bad enough, a rich but reputation-minded benefactor immediately withdraws his donation to the church, not wanting to be associated with the scandal of murder. In desperation, Father Ted asks for Hayley's help in solving the case, in hopes of getting their one-time donor to change his mind. Can Hayley and her investigative reporter husband Bruce figure out whodunnit and save Christmas for their congregation’s neediest?

The second novella, Lynn Cahoon’s Two Christmas Mittens, takes place in the (literally) magical town of Magic Springs, Idaho. Mia Malone is a little miffed that her employer at the Lodge declined to hire her to cater the staff holiday party. Frank Hines claimed that he didn't want to show any favoritism, then went ahead and hired his girlfriend's not-great company to provide the food instead. As if that weren't bad enough, Mia is leaving the premises with her best friend Christina Adams when the latter picks up a stray Christmas mitten… which turns out to be cursed. With Christina falling ill and another party-goer straight up murdered, will Mia be able to find the unlucky mitten’s missing mate in order to break the curse and bring a mystical killer to justice?

The final story in this collection, Maddie Day’s Murderous Mittens, serves as an introduction to a new series sleuth. Cece Barton is visiting her sister in Colinas, California for the holidays when she finds herself caught up in the murder of prominent local figure Val Harper. As co-chairs of the Colinas Community Coalition, Val and Cece’s twin sister Allie had very publicly butted heads over the direction in which they wanted their small town to go. When Allie falls under suspicion of Val’s murder, Cece is both shocked and determined to clear her sister’s name. With the help of another visiting amateur sleuth, Cece will get to the bottom of the case and, perhaps, set herself up for a big life change of her own.

My favorite novella of the three was likely the first, which perfectly captured the madcap hijinks of Hayley and her crew as they sleuth around their city. I do love a good paranormal mystery though, and continue to enjoy Lynn Cahoon’s world-building. Finally, I adore the multiculturalism at the heart of all Maddie Day’s novels, and am definitely looking forward to seeing more of her intriguing new sleuth.

Lee Hollis provided six delightfully festive food and drink recipes here, and I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Randy’s Favorite Peppermint Bark

12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
12 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 candy canes, crushed

Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Fill the bottom of a large pot with 3 to 4 inches of water.

Bring the water to a simmer. Place a large heatproof bowl over the pot. Add your semisweet chocolate, stirring occasionally until melted.

Stir in the extract. Pour into your prepared baking sheet. Spread out the chocolate into an even layer. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

Over the same pot, place another bowl filled with the white chocolate. Stir until melted. Pour over the set chocolate, spreading evenly.

Sprinkle your crushed candy canes over the top. Place the sheet back into the refrigerator until fully set.

When set, remove the sheet and break apart the chocolate with your hands or with a rolling pin, depending on bark thickness.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
END QUOTE

Everything was going really well with this until my white chocolate seized while on the double boiler! If you’re trying this at home, I give you permission to just melt the white chocolate in your microwave, if the instructions that come with it say you can. It will certainly save you the heartache of feverishly trying to get the white chocolate to melt again so you can continue making this recipe.

The end result is quite tasty, especially if you enjoy mint chocolate. My family can take it or leave it, but my friends have very much enjoyed scarfing down handfuls when I bring this to holiday gatherings.

And this is our last column for the year! Have a very merry holiday season, and we’ll see you in the New Year with a tasty baked treat while investigating a murder and a haunting. Do join me!

A great collection of short stories for ongoing series. All the authors wrote little mysteries that were a nice short read.

I absolutely adore these themed collections of novellas from various cozy mysteries! First, they feed my need for more time with some of my favorite characters such as Mia the kitchen witch from Lynn Cahoon's series which is the second story in the collection. Always fantastic characters and well thought out plots that just draw you in and keep you turning entertaining page after entertaining page! Secondly, and probably most importantly in my opinion, is that it is a great way to find new characters, storylines and authors to fall in love with. Lee Hollis' story, the first in the series, introduced me to a host of new characters that I found absolutely intriguing and I can't wait to go back to the beginning of the series and get to know them all extremely well. The last story was written by Maddie Day and is the set up to a brand-new series that I can already tell will be a must read on my list of series! I love finding main characters that are closer to my physical age as I get older and I can tell that CeCe is going to be one of my favorite characters of all! The fun part of these books is the authors pick a theme and it appears in every story, in this case Christmas Mittens, were somehow worked into each mystery and it was delightful to see how creative the authors could be with their twist on the reveal!

I always like these short story books for the holidays. Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter by Lee Hollis was a good story and kept me guessing. I also enjoyed Murderous Mittens by Maddie Day. There were enough red herrings and prospective murderers to keep me guessing on this one too. I can't really give an honest review of Two Christmas Mittens by Lynn Cahoon because I didn't finish that story. It started off okay, but the more it mentioned witches and covens and such, I realized that I just didn't have the desire to read any more of it. Just not my cup of tea. I do enjoy these short story books in general, because either they contain authors/series that I already read, or they introduce me to series that are new to me. I especially like the holiday themes.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

I began this lovely titled Christmas-themed book of three novella’s with a tad bit of trepidation as novella’s are not usually my thing. Adding to this trepidation is that two of the three authors were new to me. I can say that while I did not love the short stories, I did like it well it enough that I am anticipating picking up full length titles by Lee Hollis and Maddie Day to get good exposure with their writing beyond novella’s.

The three stories all contain “mittens” as the common denominator. One story involves a stolen mitten, another has a cursed mitten, and the third story has the mitten as a murder weapon. I wasn’t as engaged in these stories as I would have liked, though I still enjoyed them. Pleasant enough main characters and the mysteries, for the most part, had satisfying endings. This book was perfect for reading when time was limited and one wants the complete tale.

Of the three stories – I most enjoyed Two Christmas Mittens by Lynn Cahoon. The ancient curse theme added a bit of mystique into the tale. Kept my attention throughout. It may well have been that I also have had exposure to this author’s writing previously.

Should you wish to read three short Christmas-themed tales involving mittens (actually a unique theme – at least to me), then I suggest picking up Christmas Mitten Murders and settle in with a hot cup of cocoa or tea and get reading 🙂 . A book to get you into the winter/holiday spirit.

A super fun collection of three novellas from some of my favorite authors. Hollis delivers a wonderful holiday mystery with a knitter who is stabbed with her own needle. Which friend in the knitting circle did it (right outside a church too!). Cahoon offers another installment in the kitchen witch series with a pair of murderous mittens. Loved getting to know more magical characters. And Maddie Day teases us with the first entry in her new Cece Barton mysteries taking place in a winery in California - what more could I ask for. Good holiday fun. Easy reading. Lovely characters Always look forward to these annual collections.

Book Review: Christmas Mittens Murder by Lee Hollis; Lynn Cahoon; Maddie Day 🎄🔎

This holiday season, readers can immerse themselves in a delightful collection of cozy mystery novellas written by Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, and Maddie Day. Each story revolves around a mysterious death and the discovery of a handmade Christmas mitten as a key clue. 🎅🔍

In "Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter" by Lee Hollis, food writer Hayley Powell finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation when a local knitter is found dead with a mitten stuffed in her mouth. With time running out before Christmas, Hayley must unravel the secrets of Bar Harbor's crafty killer before someone else becomes a victim. 🧤🔪

⭐⭐⭐⭐ – This was a really enjoyable read. The writing was solid, and the plot was well-crafted, keeping me engaged from beginning to end. The characters were likable and relatable, which made it easy to root for them. The festive setting added a nice touch and made the story feel even more immersive. Overall, I had a great time reading it and would definitely recommend it to others. It's a solid 4-star that's worth picking up! 🎄🌟💖

In "Two Christmas Mittens" by Lynn Cahoon, Mia Malone takes on a second job at the Lodge to save her business, Mia's Morsels. However, her holiday festivities take an unexpected turn when she discovers a dead body near a red mitten in the snow outside the Lodge during a party. As Mia delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers an ancient curse and must find the missing mitten to solve the murder before someone she loves becomes the next victim. ❄️🔍🔴

⭐⭐⭐⭐ – This is my favorite out of the three stories in this book. The writing is fantastic, and the pacing is spot on. It's a well-plotted mystery that keeps you hooked until the end. Plus, it has this awesome witchy angle that adds an extra layer of excitement. The characters are all so likable. I couldn't help but get invested in their story. Overall, if you're looking for a festive and enchanting read, this is definitely worth picking up. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. 🧙‍♀️🌟📚

Lastly, in "Murderous Mittens" by Maddie Day, Cece Barton seeks solace in a peaceful Christmas at her twin sister's charming B&B in Colinas, California. However, her tranquility is shattered when the bar's proprietor, who sells mittens on the side, is found dead with a bocce ball nestled in one of her mittens. With her twin sister as one of the main suspects, Cece must unravel the truth behind the murder before the holiday turns into a nightmare. ❄️☕🕵️‍♀️

⭐ – This was undoubtedly my least favorite among the collection. To put it simply, it just didn't click with me. While I wish I could elaborate further, there's honestly not much more to say. Nothing about this book managed to capture my interest or keep me engaged, leaving me with a sense of disappointment and dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, it was a miss for me, and I cannot recommend it to others. 👎😕

These cozy mystery novellas offer readers an intriguing mix of holiday cheer and suspense. Each author expertly weaves together engaging plots filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Moreover, the festive backdrop adds an extra layer of charm to these gripping tales of murder and mayhem. 🎁🔪❄️

Whether readers are fans of Lee Hollis, Lynn Cahoon, or Maddie Day individually or simply enjoy cozy mysteries with a holiday twist, this collection is sure to delight. With its combination of intriguing mysteries, well-developed characters, and a touch of Christmas magic, "Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter," "Two Christmas Mittens," and "Murderous Mittens" are perfect reads to curl up with during the holiday season. 📚🎄✨

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I love the holiday themed Cozy Mystery Collections that Kensington puts out each year. These have become a tradition for me, and I read each one as it comes out! Always enjoyable and gets me in the mood for each holiday season. This one gathers 3 stories from 3 skilled cozy authors all themed around hand knit mittens.

I enjoyed each story!

Death of a Christmas Mitten Knitter - This story features Hayley Powell from Lee Hollis' Food & Cocktails cozy series. I have not read this series yet, so I enjoyed the introduction to the premise, characters and setting. Things get heated at the annual Bar Harbor Church Christmas Bazaar when a piece of jewelry goes missing. While looking for the ring, Hayley finds a dead body instead.

Two Christmas Mittens - This story is a Kitchen Witch series novella by Lynn Cahoon. Mia Malone is working a second job at a local Lodge to make ends meet. A dead body, one red mitten, and an ancient curse form the mystery that Mia has to solve before more people die!

Murderous Mittens - CeCe Barton, owner of a Wine Bar in LA, is the main character in this novella by Maddie Day. Spending a restful Christmas at her sister's B&B away from LA, CeCe finds herself sucked into a mystery when a local bar owner and mitten maker is found dead. Can she unravel the mystery before the holiday is ruined? I'm not much of a wine drinker, but I enjoyed this story!

Reading these three enjoyable cozy novellas made me want to delve into each of these cozy series! I have read other books and novellas by these authors, but not the series featured here!! I have added all three to my TBR list and will definitely be reading more!

This book made me not only want to pick up my knitting needles, but also got me feeling that holiday spirit!!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**