My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was just okay.

Book 7 in the series.

I was so looking forward to this book. Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I couldn't stay interested for long, and ended up putting it down for different books multiple times. Some of the plot aspects seemed a little preposterous, and Allie spent too much time feeling sorry for herself.

My biggest complaint is still about the love triangle aspect of the story. It's old, and annoys the crud out of me. Seven books in and that should have been wrapped up.

I'm not sure if I would read another in the series at this point.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

I loved this cover!! Always fun to read a holiday themed mystery and this was great. I hadn't read anything by Nancy Coco before so now I have a new author to look for..

Fudge Bites (Candy-Coated Mysteries #7)
Author: Nancy Coco
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: October 01, 2019
3 Stars

It’s Halloween time on Mackinac Island which means it’s time for the zombie walk, an annual charity event. Allie, the owner of the McMurphy Hotel, is dressed and ready to go when her friend, Liz, suggests they go find a costume for Allie’s dog. On the way back from the store, the ladies take a shortcut and cut through an alley. They run into Allie’s cat, and they can’t help but notice that her paws are covered in blood. The next thing they know, they hear a scream, and they follow it until they meet Sophie. Sophie is very distressed, and believes that she has found a dead body. The dead body turns out to be that of Anthony, the son of Maggs who works at the local drugstore. As the police try and figure out who killed Anthony, Allie discovers that someone else in town was dressed almost exactly like Anthony the night he was murdered. Allie begins to wonder if Anthony was truly the intended victim, or was this a case of mistaken identity? Allie would like to get to the bottom of this, and the townspeople are behind her.

Many other reviewers have said that this book could be read as a stand alone outside of the series. I found it hard to completely understand the characters though without some more background information. For instance, both Allie’s friend and boyfriend have moved away, but it was hard to appreciate that loss without knowing what these relationships had been like. Having said that, Allie seems like a very likable character, and she fits in well with the setting. I would like to go back and read the other books in the series to get a real feel for her and the other recurring characters.

This book is a great mystery that is filled to the brim with lots of action. There is so much going on in this story. There are plenty of twists and turns which put not only Allie in danger, but the town’s senior citizens as well. The killer is very crafty and hard to pin down. I was guessing all the way until the end.

There are also some great recipes embedded within the story. My favorite sounding is the butterscotch fudge. I can’t wait to try it.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #FudgeBites

Halloween is a fun time on Mackinac Island, well usually but for Allie McMurphy, this Halloween has been anything but fun. While getting ready for the annual zombie walk Abby and her cat Carmella find a body. This body is not part of the undead citizens that are filling the streets in town the body is truly dead. Allie can’t help but wonder if someone was using the zombie walk as a cover for murder. Allie with the help of officer Rex Manning is determined to solve this murder before someone can perform more unwanted tricks.

This is the seventh book in the series but my first. I was definitely able to enjoy this book as a stand-alone mystery but I know if I’d read the previous books in the series I would understand the characters’ backstories better. The characters are relatable and likable. The mystery had no shortage of suspects. The story moved at a quick steady pace with several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I love that the storyline tied the present day to a legend of the town’s past history. This was a very entertaining read anytime but a must of the Fall/Halloween Season.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

I received Fudge Bites by Nancy Coco from Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I give this book 5 stars! Another great mystery written Nancy Coco!

This was a perfect Halloween book. With a cute cat, zombies and Mackinac Island, how could not be a book to set the Halloween mood. This was another well-written mystery by Ms. Coco. The characters are likable and 'down-to-earth' even if Allie does always seem caught up in solving the mystery.

This book would be great for reading with a cup of Apple Cider.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

What happens on Mackinac Island in the off-season for Halloween? A Zombie Walk! It’s for charity and a lot of fun until one of the “zombies” is found dead. Allie’s calico cat, Carmella appears to have been the first at the scene because she is all bloody when she is found in the alley behind the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop. Everyone knows Allie McMurphy is on the case but an unexpected visitor has returned to the island with a proposition. Can she stayed focused and catch the killer?

This time Nancy Coco has pulled out all the stops and blown up a mystery everyone will love.

Allie wants to be a year-round resident of the island but with her friend Liz off living in Chicago, she is a little lonely and missing her sleuthing buddy. She has contracted the renovation of one of the floors of the hotel and the addition of a rooftop deck this offseason. Newlyweds Frances and Mr. Devaney are there to help her out as she comes up with a few ideas on how to investigate the murder without venturing too far from the hotel. I really enjoyed the way the community came together throughout the story. A little peek into those people the stay on the island the full year or until the snow starts to fly was nice too.

Ms. Coco has filled these pages with action and drama and a huge moment that brought tears to my eyes. The mystery ties into the past in a surprising way. There is even a second body found. A plethora of twists and turns distract and lead both Allie and readers along before the real story comes into focus. A subplot opens a door for Allie and I was cheering as she made her choice.

You will want to take a BIG bite of Fudge Bites! It has fantastic characters, a well-written mystery with suspense, drama, humor, a little bit of romance, and a whole lot of FUDGE. Like Allie, I did miss Liz, With the way to book ends, I think Allie is going to need her friend even more in the next book in the series. I truly can’t wait to see what happens next.

Fudge Bites by Nancy Coco is the seventh A Candy-Coated Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to this sweet series. Allie McMurphy loves living on Mackinac Island and looks forward to her first winter on the island. She has renovation planned for the second floor plus adding a rooftop deck. Allie is feeling a little lonely with her best friend, Jenn living in Chicago and others departing the island for the winter. Allie is a developed character who is friendly and relatable. She has some important decisions to make in Fudge Bites. I enjoyed the twisty whodunit with multiple suspects and unexpected action. I always enjoy a mystery that keeps you on your toes. Nancy Coco gives us beautiful descriptions of Mackinac Island in the fall. I can see how it can be challenging to live on Mackinac Island in the winter with the freezing temperatures, lack of activities and no ferry. Allie’s fudge making will have your mouth watering. There are recipes for brownies and various types of fudge included (Apple Cinnamon White Chocolate Fudge for instance). There is an excerpt from Death Bee Comes Her which is the beginning of a new cozy mystery series for Nancy Coco. I am curious to find out what happens next for Allie and the McMurphy. Fudge Bites is a spooktacular cozy mystery with fabulous fudge, roof renovations, a canine with a keen sniffer, twinkling treasure, zany zombies, and suspicious suspects.

I have to be honest I have not read the entire series... yet. I have read three of the eight and my plan is to read the rest before the next one comes out. I am so invested in Allie and The Murphy. Plus I want to know if she picks Rex. Sigh.. I hope she does. I really think he is the sugar that sweetens her world.

Fudge Bites has everything from murder and mayhem to love. I thought I had the mystery figured out but I was proven wrong. Coco is very good at keeping it hidden until the right time.

Pick this series up with any book and you will be fine. Don’t say that I didn’t warn you that you will be addicted.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This is a perfect October read! I really enjoyed this one! I also really enjoyed reading about Mackinac island. I visited the island when I was younger and really enjoyed myself. One of these I would like to take my children there.

Huge Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington publishing for allowing me this opportunity!

Fudge Bites
(Candy-Coated Mysteries #7)
by Nancy CoCo

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Published October 1st 2019 by Kensington Books





Goodreads synopsis:
Halloween on Mackinac Island is a season of fun tricks, but finding a corpse is no treat for fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy . . .
 
NIGHT OF THE REALLY DEAD
 
It’s late October, off-season for tourists, but locals are up and lurching for the annual zombie walk charity event. Though everyone’s living it up, trouble is a just a few pawprints away. Allie’s followed the bloody tracks of her calico cat, Carmella, to a body in the alley behind the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop. Unlike the island’s other walking dead, this one’s flatlined for good. It seems that someone is using the zombie fest as the perfect backdrop for murder. Now amateur sleuth Allie and dreamboat officer Rex Manning must use every trick in their treat bag to unmask a killer in disguise. 


***

4.5 Stars

This is the seventh book in the Candy-Coated Mysteries series by Nancy CoCo.

This is my first look into the Candy Coated mystery series and I have to say I did enjoy it. The discovery of the body was done well even though particularly gruesome when you think about it. You don’t usually think too much about blood in a cozy mystery. So, when a calico cat goes traipsing through the stuff, you take notice.

Allie is a fudge maker and part-time sleuth in idyllic Mackinac Island, MI. Apparently, fudge is a thing there. It is a popular export. Our lead spends the book pomdering whether to stay on the island or go to Chicago for the winter. Her dream is to stay on the island year round but that doesn’t seem a feasible idea as far as the funds and actually having money to live on during the winter.

I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle, if you want to call it that. One guy was practically blackmailing Allie to get her to move back to Chicago with him while police officer, Rex seemed pretty ambivalent most of the time. I wasn’t feeling the need to root for either of them in getting the affections of Allie. I wanted to like one of them. I am leaning toward Rex. The other guy just seemed like a player.

The mystery was interesting to follow. You feel the sock in the gut when the explosions rip through Allie’s place and you wonder with her if all her dreams have just literally gone up in flames. I need to go back and read more of this series just to keep up on who all the recurring secondary characters are. Since this was my first foray into this world, everyone was a suspect.

Great series. Definitely one to dig into, especially as Halloween approaches.


I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

“Fudge Bites” earns 5/5 Favorite Fudgy Treats...Delicious Entertainment!

Yes, of course! It’s in the title...fudge, candy-coated, and recipes! So, why not! Delicious, easy-to-follow recipes from flourless brownies to truffles to various flavors of fudge are interspersed throughout the book, but it’s the story that kept me totally engaged. Nancy Coco’s seventh book in her Candy-Coated Mystery series puts the ghouls of Halloween on full display with Mackinac Island’s charity zombie walk. But it’s the bloody paw print trail leading Allie to a dead body behind her historic hotel and fudge shop that makes things all too ghoulish. Using an enjoyable first-person narrative from Allie’s perspective, Nancy’s writing style is quite engaging with descriptive language, a bit of humor, romantic triangle dilemmas, dialogue illustrating personalities, twists, turns, and a “trick” of an ending. Sidekicks are always an important role in cozies, and Nancy Coco includes some clever ones with a group of senior citizens, a local detective, a reporter, and Mella the cat. I’m new to the series, and would have liked a bit more background for clarity since the past popped up in the investigation, but it didn’t effect my enjoyment. I don’t know what others expect from a book set at Halloween, and although this isn’t all pumpkins (except the Pumpkin Spice Fudge recipe), ghouls (except some costumed zombies), and trick or treaters (did I mention the recipes?), it is a delightful read for the holidays.

FUDGE BITES is the seventh story in the Candy-Coated Mysteries series – it’s the first story of the series that I’ve read and I didn’t have any difficulty in following the mystery. Of course, there were character interactions that I didn’t know the background of, but that is easily dealt with by going back to the beginning at some point. So, yes, it is a bit far into any series to just jump in, but I was able to and still enjoy the story enough to want to know what happened before, how these people came into the relationship they have with each other now. That’s not easy to say about some series, yet even though I try to stick to a “from the beginning” reading routine I was perfectly fine with Allie and crew at this point in the series.

Most of what you’d need to know about FUDGE BITES is in the Cover Description, and because this is a Cozy Mystery I’m reluctant to say too much about the actual story – you really need to solve or try to solve this mystery on your own. What I did find was an engaging story, likable characters (for the most part) and a mystery that kept me guessing until the reveal. I had my suspects but a few twists and red herrings later I was still uncertain who to put the blame on.

Long-time readers of the Candy-Coated Mysteries series will undoubtedly completely enjoy this story. I did and it got my curiosity stirred enough to want to go back – and when a story can make me be willing to put the time and money into going back to the start, well, that’s a world that I enjoyed and want more of. I would recommend FUDGE BITES to any reader who enjoys a good Cozy Mystery, interesting characters and a solid mystery to solve.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

The tourist season on Mackinac Island is winding down. One of the last events is the Halloween Zombie Crawl. Allie, owner of the historic McMurphy Hotel and fudge maker, is looking forward to attending the crawl. Unfortunately, her plans go awry after her friend finds a body in the alley near the hotel.
Allies dives headfirst into solving the deadly mystery...but she needs to be careful...or she might end up in danger herself.

This is the 7th book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series...and the first one I've read. I was able to follow along without any problems or feeling lost. I really liked Allie and the other characters. There seems to be a love triangle that I hope gets resolved as they are not my favorite. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

Yummy fudge recipes are included in this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

A Candy Store, A Murder and A Halloween Zombie Fest
Running a candy shop on Mackinac Island sounds like a fine daydream and this novel helps the reader experience the historic island. This is a fun cozy mystery filled with recipes for mouthwatering fudge. The characters, both animal and human, make this an even better story to enjoy. There really isn't anything to complain about in this story. I'll have to look into this author's other books. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Fudge Bites: A Candy-Coated Mystery with Recipes
By Nancy Coco
Kensington
October 2019

Review by Cynthia Chow

As Halloween arrives on Mackinac Island, Michigan, residents are celebrating early with a “Night of the Walking Red” American Heart Association charity walk and costume contest. McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop owner Allie McMurphy has already donned her zombie pinup girl, but it is her cat Carmella who arrives covered in very real blood. For once it is the feline and not “Grim Reaper” Allie who has discovered a corpse, with the zombie-costumed victim definitely dead and not just walking dead. Allie’s sporadic suitor Officer Rex Manning warns her from investigating, but pressure from gossipy seniors and the victim’s own mother make that impossible. When the victim’s death appears to be a case of mistaken identity, helpful seniors with an eye for rear-view and rear-end identifications narrow the pool of suspects but make Allie the target for a criminal.

On the tiny Mackinac Island, where motorized vehicles are prohibited, visitors are labeled as “Fudgies,” and life seems to move slower, crimes are usually limited to pranks and minor crimes. This murder, followed by a bomb explosion at the senior center, has Allie grateful for her hotel’s advanced security systems and high tech capabilities. It’s an added expense to her planned renovations, which are pricey but with the approval of the town’s historical committees will make the hotel an enviable tourist destination. If only Allie wasn’t feeling left behind by her newly formed family, as with the island businesses mostly shutting down for the winter most are leaving for the bigger – and warmer – eastern cities.

This is charming cozy mystery that lives up to its title as “A Candy-Coated Mystery with Recipes.” While Allie is appalled at the suggestion of an amateur confectionaire invading her kitchen – a police officer was attempting to make a point regarding her own amateur involvement in official investigations – there are “downsized” fudge and brownie recipes that should have readers willing to break open a bag of cinnamon chips. Witnesses and suspects are rather forthright with their secrets, but perhaps that is due to Allie’s genialness and genuine likability. It helps that commerce on Mackinac Island includes a lot of friendly bartering, with Allie able to negotiate lower construction costs in exchange for her own delectable creations. Her vulnerability and sense of being alone is brought forth by her determination to fulfill her dream of being a year-round Mackinac Island resident, while the most sensible decision would probably be to close and leave for the winter. Being in the “off” mode of her on-and-off relationships with Rex Manning and wealthy Islander Trent Jessop furthers her isolation, although a twist in the love triangle is as unexpected as it is delightful. Allie’s fur babies, Bichon poo Marshmallow and the feline Carmella, not only provide companionship and comfort, they play crucial roles in tracking down the wrongdoers. The author of numerous series written under the name Nancy J. Parra, she ensures that this long running series of seven novels and two e-novellas continues to make Mackinac Island an enviable place to live filled with characters one would want as best friends.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed this series based on Mackinac Island where Allie returns to run the Fudge shop and hotel that has been in her family for more than a century. Now that the summer rush is over, she wants to do some renovations to the hotel in the off-season. She also wants to stay on the island during the winter despite many of the residents going for other parts as it can be too isolating for many of them. But it seems many of her friends are leaving and she is faced with a tough decision. More to the fact, she is faced with more than one tough decision.
It gets no easier for her when she and her dog discover yet another body of a young man in the alley behind the hotel. His grieving mother wants Allie to investigate. Several of the townspeople believe she can solve the murder. And even when she stumbles across an intriguing bag filled with some highly unusual and valuable items nearby where yet another corpse is found, they believe she will figure out the mystery. Unfortunately, so does the killer. In attempts to dissuade Allie, her life, her town and her hotel are all in serious danger.
It’s a good mystery with endearing characters. Allie gets herself into all sorts of danger but she is never cavalier or stupid. It makes the suspense more compelling. She is also the proud pet parent of a cat and a dog who play important parts in the story. They literally save the day.
This was an easy and enjoyable read with characters I have come to love. Five purrs and two paws up.

It’s been a busy first year for Allie McMurphy and the McMurphy Hotel on Mackinac Island, but as they are winding downing into the wintery off-season, two bodies are discovered and once again Allie and her cohorts are trying to put together the clues and discover what a sack of hymnals and gold bars has to do with the two gentlemen.

Nancy Coco winds a few different story plots and aspects to keep the reader engaged, yet at the same time, takes a couple of farfetched leaps in hopes of pulling her characters and conclusions together. While there are parts of this series I like – the town, the people, etc., I am beginning to get frustrated with the personification of Allie’s dog. Granted, the Bichon adds a certain cuteness, but being a canine detective is just pushing it too far for me.

A series which should be read from the beginning due to the recurring characters and needing to keep them straight will have you settling in for a cozy mystery with a little romance on the side on a remote island with their own set of royalty and shenanigans.

This is the seventh candy coated mystery set on Mackinac Island. Fall is here and the island is having a Zombie Walk for charity. Allie is prevented from participating due to finding another body in the alley. There seems little rhyme or reason to why Anthony was killed and Allie spends the entire book investigating the wrong leads.
There was a fall fair and Allie helped and met a potter whose work she liked. Allie was also remodeling the McMurphy.
Rex is a constant, but Trent visits the island and provides some further muddying to the situation.
I love the setting on Mackinac Island and it always makes me want to visit. The mystery was an interesting one and I like how it twisted in the end to be about something different than was expected in the beginning.
I think this could be read alone but a reader would have a better understanding of the dynamics of Allie’s relationship with people and the island if you read the series in order.

It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
It's a gripping and entertaining read and it made me wish to travel to Mackinac Island.
The cast of characters is well written and interesting, all them are likeable and relatable. Allie is more melancholic and realist than other cozy mystery characters and I loved her.
The plot is cleverly crafted and the mystery, full of twists and turns, kept me guessing.
i I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.