Sophie and the gang are back. A neighbor (Hollis) thinks he is being poisoned and asks Sophie to have some food tested for him. That evening is a "pop-up" dinner event. Hollis, his new wife, his ex-wife, son are all there along with many others including Sophie. Kelsey, the new wife starts tongues wagging with her dress (revealing and short). Hollis' ex-wife is there and has a a fight with him and his son is avoiding him. Early the next morning and Sophie and her dog Daisy are taking a walk, she see's something in the middle of the street. It turns out to be Hollis and he is very sick. Hollis does not survive and Sophie feels that Kelsey, an obvious scapegoat, did not kill him. Could it be Cindy the ex-wife, his teen-age son, his law partner, or someone else. Sophie is determined to find out.

The cozy is great. I like Sophie and her friends and pets. There are twists and turns in this plot. I wasn't sure who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end. What fun!

In this new book Sophie is approached by a friend who thinks he is being poisoned and asks her for help with finding out if it's true or not. She thinks Hollis should take his concerns to the police but that is something that he is not prepared to do just yet. When Hollis ends up dead Sophie worries that she didn't make Hollis talk to the police. Hollis who has recently married a much younger woman instantly becomes the main suspect but so is the ex-wife. Who killed Hollis, what killed him, and why are the questions that keep running through Sophie's mind. Follow along as she looks for a murderer among her friends and neighbors. Will she figure out who the killer is before she herself gets in harms way? Dive in and see if you can figure it out! This is such a lovely series, filled with wonderful tips on food, decorating and etiquette, there is something for everyone. You never know what you might learn throughout the read!!! Don't forget the wonderful recipes included at the end, I always have fun trying out my favorites.

Eleven books in this series and still going as strong as ever. While this series can be read out of order, if you are new to the Diva mysteries, do yourself a favor and read them in order to get the most out of each one. Sophie is a neighbor I would love to have. Not only would she be a great friend to lean on, her cooking skills make me swoon. She can whip up an awesome meal with such ease and so little fuss, it blows me away. Natasha, on the other hand, drives me nuts, so full of herself but she has her place in every mystery, irritating though she may be.
Sophie is attending a popup dinner, something new to me but it sounds like fun. She buys a ticket to a dinner without knowing any details until about two days before and then dinner is a gourmet adventure. Friends and neighbors attend and one quietly asks her to help him find out who might be poisoning him. Not long after the request, he stumbles out of his house, collapsing in the middle of the street, gasping for breath. He becomes the first murder victim. With the help of her friends, Sophie sets out to figure out who would want her friend dead. It gets very complicated with lots of twists, turns and read herrings. I changed my pick as to the killer many times and was dead wrong every time. Hearts will be broken and love will take root and I can't wait to read the next entry. Now to see if I can master some of Sophie's wonderful recipes.

When I came to the end of this story I wanted more. Yes, the murder had been solved but the story was flowing so nicely I just wanted to keep reading.

In this 11th book in A Domestic Diva Mystery series Sophie Winston had quite an interesting evening at an underground dinner but that turned out to be nothing compared to the discovery she makes in middle of the street at 4 a.m.

This story is well written with an enjoyable cast of characters. If you're a fan and have read previous books you'll be glad to know your favorites are back plus some interesting new characters. Even if you have not read the previous books you could easily read and enjoy this story as a stand alone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Diva Cooks Up A Storm is the eleventh book in the A Domestic Diva Mystery series.

Sophie, Natasha(the Diva) and their friends are back once again to solve another exciting mystery and tempt the reader with delicious foods.

A nearby neighbor, Hollis Haberman, asks Sophie if she knows a way to check food at home to learn if it has been poisoned, but is unwilling to provide more information. She suggests that he bring some of the food that he is suspicious of to the “underground dinner” that they will be attending that evening. Sophie begins to wonder if there is trouble in paradise and his new “trophy” wife might be trying to poison him. The next morning, Sophie is up at 4:00 AM to get ready to go on vacation and while walking Daisy she finds Haberman lying in the middle of the street having breathing difficulties. Haberman is transported to the hospital where he dies.

When Sophie and her friends and neighbors begin to look into Haberman’s they find several people who can be treated as prime suspects. First on their list is his wife, Kelsey. They have to seriously look at her as her provocative apparel makes them think she might be looking for husband #2, plus they soon learn that she had a violent past. Cindy, his ex-wife is also a possibility, having gone through a messy divorce. Also, Sophie wants to take a look at his law office, as there was a suspicious passing of one of the firm’s partners.

Ms. Davis always provides well-plotted and told stories and this was no exception. She also provides an interesting and believable cast of characters. Once again, Natasha, shows why she is called The Diva. Her actions just make me shake my head at her.

Delicious sounding recipes are also included in the book.

I will be watching for the next book in this enjoyable series.

The Divas are back and they don’t disappoint! A fun and engaging book that was well worth the wait.

I’ve never met a Krista Davis book I didn’t like. The Diva Cooks Up a Storm is quick paced and easy to read. The mystery kept me guessing and I was surprised by the ending. I’d recommend to any fan of cozy mysteries.

Sub Themes
culinary cozy, entertaining, do-it-yourself, animals, historic Virginia

Can You Start this Series in the Middle?
Each book in the series can be read independently. I feel this series is easy to start anywhere and feel that you are caught up in the story.

If You Like …
Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop Mystery Series, you’ll love this book.

This is the first book of the series that I have read. Normally I do not like reading books from a series in that you need to have read the prior books so that you know and understand the characters. However, this book was an exception. While it does make some reference to earlier books, one does not have to be that involved. It does well as a stand alone.
I immediately liked the premise of the book as a cozy mystery. That it includes recipes and deals with food is a plus. Sophia Winston is a strong independent woman who just happens to be a great cook and a sleuth. When one of her neighbors thinks he is being poisoned and then turns up dead, Sophia must try to clear the new young wife of his murder. The trail will keep you guessing until the end. I plan to look up the rest of this series very soon and add to my to be read pile. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

I have a few in the series but haven’t read them, yet. I was given an opportunity to read this egalley from Netgalley and the publisher, Kensignton Publishing. These are my own opinions. This story may be read as a standalone.

Sophie Winston is sleuthing again to find out who killed Hollis Haberman. Was it his new wife, ex-wife, son or someone else. Ms. Davis takes on a wonderful trip through the town. By the time you’re almost done, you’ll wonder if the town is safe and can you trust your friends.

I liked that the plot was well crafted, the characters well written, and storyline interesting.

I had a great trip. Thanks for entertaining me Ms. Davis.
An added bonus, there are recipes included.

I really like Sophie and her friends. Sophie and her friends are back to solve another murder. It seems clear who murdered Sophie's neighbor at first, but she has her doubts. The more she digs into things, she realizes that more than one person had a motive. There is a big storm, all the power goes out and they have a big party to use all the food that will go to waste if not used right away. While having the party, they are trying to come up with the right suspect before anyone else is murdered. Sophie discovers things about her neighbors that were quite unexpected. Love the quirky characters.

I have loved every Diva book. Each one gets better and better. Davis's descriptive writing style makes you feel as if you are in the scenes. They are expertly woven mysteries with lots of twists and turns and keeps you guessing to the very end. I always love the little tips at the beginning of each chapter. Love this series and hope it continues for many, many years

So glad there's a new installment in Davis' Domestic Diva series. When a neighbor drops dead in the middle of the street, Sophie and her friends find that local gossip says his much younger wife is to blame. But with some careful investigating, Sophie finds that everyone on the block has secrets. There were a lot of twists and turns, which made this a super compelling read! The conclusion made a lot of sense, but there were lots of dead ends and red herrings along the way. A great read!

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Krista Davis is an author that throws fun, adventure, laughs, and tears all in the pot and comes up with an entertaining read. Sophie and all of her friends add integral pieces to each book. Sophie is everyone's friend and neighbor along with being an awesome event planner and amateur sleuth. She will figure out who done it even if it's an old case. Begin with an underground dinner event and end up solving three murders............that's Sophie! Enjoy reading this most entertaining book.

Lots of characters in every sense of the word. Southern charm and quirks galore. An entertaining cozy mystery. Familiar characters along with some new ones. Definitely can be read as a standalone, but if you read one you will want to read them all.

I happen to love Sophie Winston and her ability to cook a meal for one to six effortlessly as her neighbors gather at her house. I envy her ability to have a well stocked freezer and fridge ready for anything. Apparently she also has a self cleaning house and regenerating supply of all necessities. I think this was the first book I read in the series that she stepped into a grocery store! Ah to be so organized and offer good advice on top of that. She even manages to interview and re-interview murder suspects without upsetting them! The fact that she shares everything with the police instead of actively trying to take over their job makes one more reason to hold her in such high esteem.

Meanwhile Krista Davis, the author of this wonderful series, is a master of description right down to the color of fiesta dishes being used on the table or the kinds of flowers grown in a garden. She makes it easy to visualize Sophie's house and neighborhood. The mysteries and murders she writes are also clear to visualize but not upsettingly graphic. This fine line makes her an author that appeals to a wide range of age and type of reader.

So you have a descriptive murder book about a group of friends who go to an underground dinner. (Did I mention I always learn something interesting when reading these books? I had never heard of an underground dinner before!) Even before the dinner one person suspected they were being poisoned, and after the dinner...well why don't you read it and find out. It is like taking a vacation in Old Towne and solving murders and mysteries on your vacation! Enjoyable, and I was sad to see it end. Great to the last word!

Krista Davis delivers again! I was really looking forward to more adventures with the Domestic Diva and this did not disappoint. Felt so great to be back in Old Town with Sophie and her crew.

Sophie Winston and her friends are enjoying a pop-up gourmet dinner party in Old Town Alexandria but lawyer Hollis Haberman's new trophy wife Kelsey is not welcome by the regulars. Sophie is surprised by Hollis asking for advice on how to test whether his food is being poisoned. The next day, she finds Hollis gasping for breath outside his house and he dies shortly later in hospital. Sophie, her friends and domestic diva rival Natasha do some snooping to find his killer. Was Kelsey responsible? Kelsey had a troubled childhood and lots of secrets in her past. Hollis' law office is buzzing about his ex-wife and teenaged son, as well as possible strange goings-on amongst the law partners.

This was a welcome return of the beloved characters in the Domestic Diva mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Kensington with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

THE DIVA COOKS UP A STORM by Krista Davis is the newest release in the Domestic Diva Mystery series and one that I, and so many fans, have been long waiting for with great anticipation! Sophie Winston, event planner, is a delightful protagonist and dare I admit it, could be one of my role models! Sophie’s attention to detail and style is both elegant and casual at the same time. She has no problem whipping up amazing meals for last-minute drop-in guests and serving them on thoughtfully-chosen plates and linens. That attention to detail is what helps her solve murder mysteries. She also has a generous, caring heart which is exhibited when she befriends the young widow of the murder victim. Most of the town shuns the young woman because she was that “other woman” who broke up a marriage and even suspect her of being the murderer. Yet Sophie manages to see below the surface and uncover the truth. I also love how the author starts each chapter with an advice column. It gives insight into the characters via their answers.

The wonderful characters are what draws readers in but it’s the well-developed plot that keeps us turning pages. The action starts right from the very beginning: ‘killer’ bees swarming and attacking a man (enjoyed the facts provided about bees!); a husband worried about being poisoned; a pending summer hurricane; and even an underground dinner (sounds like fun!). Ms. Davis effortlessly weaves the story together which kept me turning pages late into the night. The exciting conclusion wove each piece of the story together into one satisfying read!

With all the entertaining Sophie does, she’s always preparing dishes to share. Fortunately, Ms. Davis provides several mouth-watering recipes at the back of the book.

It was a interesting cozy mystery. The plot was intriguing and had good characters. I would recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries.

This is a series that is probably best read in order. I didn't really have trouble following the story, I just kept feeling like I was missing something. I loved all the twists in Kelsey's story. She ended up being a much more developed character than I was expecting. The mystery was great, with a nice twist at the end. I was actually slightly horrified reading the ending since it plays into a fear of mine.

This book follows Sophie and her friends as Sophie and Nina are looking forward to a little getaway but when bad weather gets in their way they make the best of Old Town. After a dinner at a new place called underground dinning, an acquaintance of Sophie's ends up dead and all eyes look to his flashy wife Kelsey did she kill him or was it someone else?

As Sophie digs more into finding out what happens it leads to ex-wives, a young angry teenager, and a law office that holds it owns secrets.

This book offers so much with so many people. We see how life has been treating everyone from Mars and Natasha to Humphrey and Nina and many other people show up in this book. I thoroughly enjoy this series as Sophie does he best to figure out what is going on with the murderer, and those who are impacted by the death of loved ones. I can't wait to see what is next for our Domestic Diva and where she will head next!