This one is a little different then the usual mystery. There's no dead body to be tripped over a few pages in. This is much more of a missing persons case - and even more of a just what exactly is going on kind of case. I love Kate, Maxi, Oliver and the rest of the rest of crew on Coral Cay - especially when the Coral Cay Irregulars (a book club) get involved.

This story involves a friend from Kate's past life in New York. Desiree was always unflappable, kind and helpful when she was head of concierge at a major hotel so Kate is loving seeing her old friend so relaxed in happy. The new man in her life seems just as head over heels and happy - or is he. When the groom disappears more and more details emerge that make Kate wonder if maybe nothing was what it seems - or was it. This one really kept me guessing up till the very end and completely pulled in. It was a fast read that I absolutely enjoyed though it did make me want cookies. I feel a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies will be being baked in the near future!

If you enjoy a fun, fast paced cozy with characters you want to be friends with in a town you'd want to visit then this is the perfect series for you.

A visit to the Cookie House is like going home.

A Tale of Two Cookies finds Kate McGuire nicely settled into her own new home of Coral Cay. The Cookie House is doing well and Oliver is as friendly as ever! The beautiful and slow pace of the resort town it’s just what a former New York pastry chef truly needed. With cookie baking classes with the locals and her mentor and friend visiting from New York for her wedding, Kates got plenty of good times I’ve had. Until the day of the wedding when the groom is a no-show and the pieces just don’t add up. Mix in a reality TV show filming within the small town really shakes things up for Kate and the Cookie House gang.

I absolutely adore this series. A Tale of Two Cookies is like a vacation with a mystery. Author Eve Calder truly transports the reader to the gorgeous island of Coral Cay. Kate and Maxi’s friendship has developed into a strong bond and I love their interactions with each other. The townsfolk are colorful and charismatic and truly help bring the series together. Kate has a way of picking up the crumbs and putting the pieces together with the help and wisdom of the Coral Cay Irregular‘s. Kate never doubted her friend Desiree even though pieces of the puzzle would have made her look like the crazy one. I love how it seems like most of the town comes together to get to the bottom of the craziness that happens in their town. A Tale of Two Cookies is a fun and twisting Mystery that had me reading from beginning to end in one sitting. You can gobble up the story just like you can Kate’s delectable cookies. This is a fine addition to the Cookie House Mystery series and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Right from the start, this book had pulled me in and didn’t let go until the last page. The first few chapters were so engaging – we quickly become acquainted with the main character Kate’s friend Desiree and her new fiancé, Judson (aka Judd) and the fact that they’re going to tie the knot in a casual, beach wedding. The couple seems well-suited and very much in love, despite the fact that Judd’s kids disapprove of the union (according to Judd, they worry it will cut into their inheritance). I couldn’t read fast enough. Even though this was the third book in the series, you can definitely start this as a standalone without any confusion.

When Judd doesn’t show up for the wedding, things look bleak for Desiree. Especially when no one can recall Judd even mentioning that he was getting married. Was Desiree more in love with Judd than he was with her? Did he just run away? Kate’s not convinced (and frankly, neither was I).

Along with her best friend Maxi, and popular pup Oliver, Kate starts to look into Judd’s disappearance. They also have the help of Kate’s friends in the Coral Cay Irregulars book club (I love that name!) and the local detective, Ben Abrams.

In fact, the characters are one of the reasons I love this series (also… cookies – who doesn’t love cookies?). All of the people we meet from Coral Cay are charming and friendly. It seems like a lovely place to live (well, except for the murders). The residents are a stark contrast to the film cast and crew who have descended onto the island town to film their new show. It added for an interesting mix of personalities.

Kate is a wonderful protagonist – she’s smart, capable, loyal and is a talented pastry chef (you know there’s always bonus points from me for any cozy mystery that involves food!). I love baking, but cookies in all forms are a favourite. But to be honest, when the Kate mentions that she had made a “3-tier key lime wedding cake with buttercream frosting”, I started drooling. Key lime is definitely a Florida thing and one of my absolute favourite pies. YUM!

The pacing of this mystery is quite quick and it kept me turning the pages until really late into the night. I couldn’t put this one down because it seemed like there was always a new clue or suspect to look at. I was kept guessing until almost the very end and even then it was a very eye-opening and satisfying reveal. The mystery was well put together and the reader was given enough clues to be able to put together a solid case in their own head, but with enough twists to keep things from getting too easy. It had a lot more twists and turns than I’m used to in some cozies but it was totally worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

And I can’t end my review without mentioning – SEA TURTLES. I can’t give away too much but turtles are mentioned quite a bit in this book and there’s a beautiful scene where baby turtles make their dash from the nest to the ocean. I have a very soft spot for sea turtles (one swam right next to me when I was snorkeling in Hawaii once) and I could very easily picture the beach scene with all the tiny turtles racing for the water. That scene alone made this book extra special for me.

*** Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. ***

We travel back to the lovely, small town of Coral Cay on the barrier island on the Southwest Gulf Coast of Florida where the close knit townspeople know each other and news travels fast. Kate McGuire left New York City for a change and is co-owner of the Cookie House Bakery with Sam Hepplewhite. Her friend Desiree from NYC is in town with her fiancé, famous marine specialist Judd and the two are planning a beach wedding. Kate is making the cake and other goodies while her best friend Maxi is furnishing the flowers. The small wedding party is excited but the groom never shows. Desiree is sure that something has happened and that Judd would never leave her at the altar. But his boat is missing. Kate and Maxi and other friends, including Oliver the dog owned by the town but lives with Kate, stand by Desiree and work to find evidence of what happened and they did find some evidence to kick the investigation in high gear. The title is very appropriate as Detective Ben Abrams investigates, no one close to Judd knew about the wedding-not his adult children nor his business partner Zoey. An ex girlfriend, actress Lola Montgomery, is in town claiming that the two are back together. It doesn't look good for Desiree's story.
A reality show has rented a large house in a cove where Judd was concerned about an endangered species. Could this be tied in with his disappearance? This is a mystery that had me guessing as tension builds up. Not an ending that I expected but a satisfying one! I had thought that there may be romance in the air for Kate but the wind may be blowing in a different direction. Hmm. I am looking forward to the next story.
I received a complimentary ARC from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Kate McGuire took a big chance leaving the big city and heading south to find a job in the island community of Coral Cay, Florida. The Fates made sure she didn't get the job she set out for and what she did get was a new life and a real family and good friends. Her magic with cookies is a real draw and now she's co-owner of the Cookie House. She even has a quirky pooch named Oliver, loved by all and considered to be the unofficial town mayor. Besides being a genius with cookies she and her friends help solve crimes.Not one to think that she and her bestie, Maxi along with the Coral Cay Irregulars can do a better job than the local police, they simply keep their eyes and ears open and ask some questions here and there, working well with Det. Ben Abrams to catch the killer. That's very refreshing when so many cozies feature amateur sleuths who drive the police nuts.
In this outing, Kate is looking forward to helping her friend, Desiree marry Judd in an impromptu beach wedding. It hits a snag when the groom is a no show. Did he get cold feet or did he meet with foul play. Desiree is certain it's foul play and asks Kate to help find Judd. If that wasn't enough to deal with a reality show has come to town and are causing lots of consternation amongst the locals. How might that be connected to the missing groom? I won't say any more for fear of committing spoilers. I will say that this is one series that is a standout in the cozy genre. The mystery is complex and will keep you guessing wrong to the very end. The characters are well drawn and realistic so I would love to spend some time with all of them. They are a very welcoming bunch. Oliver is an added bonus and those cookies....oh my!
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up. There were a lot of good elements to this one- I liked the reality tv side plot, and this one revolved around a missing persons case for something a little different from the usual cozy murder mystery plot. I did find that in terms of providing further character development or creating/carrying out a plot line to be developed throughout the series (two things I'm always hoping for in a cozy series), this didn't really deliver. This is still a series I'd be happy to continue.

A missing person mystery that'll have readers guessing the whole time "Is this person dead or not?" It was an interesting case as Kate and her friends sleuthed along with Ben and the police. One of her good friends was in town and her fiance disappeared right before their wedding, so Kate felt like this woman had taken her under her wing in a previous career, and being the awesome friend Kate is, she didn't want to let Desiree down. I really like all Kate's friends (especially that fun and crazy Maxi!) and it's so cool how Sam's character changed for the better from the very first book. He always does a little something in each book to let Kate know he completely trusts her now.

I love how the whole town always works together during a case. The cookie lessons at the Cookie House turned into a sleuthing session or a session where Ben would give them the lowdown on the case progress. The perp was a very sneaky and convoluted planner that was for sure, but there were a lot of someones who were equally smart and able to figure things out. The showdown was great!

The very ending of the book was really good, because it did the complete wrap-up of anything that wasn't explained along the way. I'm always looking forward to the next in this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I have really been enjoying cozy mysteries lately, and this book is one of my favorites that I have read. I love how the author described the setting in a way that made me feel like I was really there, in the middle of the story. This was a fast pace story and it wasn't as predicatable as some cozy mysteries I have read. This is the third book in a series that I hadn't head of previously, but I will definitely be picking up the other two books before this to read more about the mysterious happenings in Coral Cay, Florida.

This is the third book in the Cookie House Mystery series by Eve Calder. Kate McGuire is a co-owner of the Cookie House Bakery on the small island, Coral Cay, FL.

Kate’s friend shows up with her fiancé, Judd Cooper. An impromptu wedding on the beach is decided upon. When the groom doesn’t show, most people believe it is a case of cold feet. The bride doesn’t buy it.
I liked that this amateur sleuth doesn’t intentionally put herself in danger. I think it lends credence to real life where many people would not try to become the next victim.

Looking forward to another installment from this author.

I was given an ARC e-book copy from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

This series is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites. I started reading it and just sighed in contentment; it was like coming home and all your fabulous friends are there to meet you with amazing cookies, fantastic bread, strong coffee and mysteries, and it just so glorious!! Being back with Kate and Co [though I missed Jake in this one as he is only in it briefly] was just so fun and this mystery was a real doozy!!

Unfortunately, I figured it all out fairly early [the cost of being a voracious cozy and mystery reader].

Fortunately, it didn't matter. The writing is just SO GOOD, and the story just so engaging [and it never gets lost in the midst of introduction of a lot of new characters, nor do all the characters get lost in the story. I never once thought "WHO are they again" which is nothing short of amazing these days], that it was such a delightful ride to the end, and that reveal is really the best there is. Ms. Calder knows how to write both a reveal AND an excellent ending and it was just so satisfying. My only concern is that we may be headed into a love triangle and I am so hoping that isn't the case. I despise them and I do not want this beautiful and fun series ruined by something so trite as a stupid love triangle.

I really love this series and am really glad that the bestie <s>forc</s> *AHEM* <i>recommended</i> ;-) to me; I have not been disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Eve Calder, and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Cookie House series and it’s just as good as the first two. Kate’s friend and her fiancé visit the small Florida town and the groom to be soon vanishes. Kate works to find out if it was a case of cold feet or something nefarious all while making delicious cookies.

4.5 stars

Pastry chef Kate McGuire moved to Coral Cay, Florida for a fresh start and is now co-owner of the Cookie House Bakery. In this third installment, Kate's friend Desiree is in town with her fiancé Judd Cooper, a famous marine biologist, and the two decide to have a spur-of-the-moment beach wedding. The entire town is abuzz with the news and Kate couldn't be happier for her friend. But when the big day finally arrives, the groom never shows up. Desiree is convinced that Judd has been kidnapped, however, all signs point to him being a runaway groom. Kate and her friends are determined to help Detective Ben Abrams uncover the truth behind Judd's disappearance.

A fun, fast-paced mystery that kept me engaged and guessing until the end. Loved the characters and their interactions. The setting was really lovely as well and so vividly described that I felt like I was right there on the beach, enjoying the sunshine and I could practically smell the delectable goods being baked at the bakery.
As for the mystery, I thought it was well-crafted and not at all how I expected it to turn out ( always a plus).
All in all, I enjoyed the third book in this charming series and look forward to another visit to Coral Cay.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series is the gift that keeps on giving! The first page feels like opening the door into a different world where the reader can walk along with the characters. This latest installment let’s the reader visit with characters that feel like family as they dive into yet another mystery. I cannot wait to see what else the author has in store.

This is a fun series. Kate is a co-owner of a bakery in a small Florida town. One of her friends from New York is getting married and has decided to tie-the-know in Coral Cay. That is until the Groom disappears. Kate and her friend Maxi and the Desiree, the Bride, decide to find out what happened to the groom. Lots of finger-pointing at Desiree. No one else heard of the wedding, even the Groom's children!!

This is a fun set of characters. Kate, Oliver her dog, Maxi and the other members of the community sound fun. An eclectic bunch. Then there is the Reality Show that is being taped in their community and the colorful characters there. Lots of theories of what happened to the Groom. This is a fun, escapist read. Just chill and enjoy!

It's been a while since I haven't been able to put a book down because I couldn't stop reading, and this book was it. So much mystery and conflicting stories going on that you didn't know what to believe. Such a fun read! I really love this series! Great ending!

Eve Calder has a hit series on her hands here. Each book is more engaging than the last. Kate, Sam, Maxi, Jack, Ben, and, of course, Oliver, welcome new visitors to Coral Cay for a wedding and a reality show in A Tale of Two Cookies. As expected, chaos ensues. However, the main storyline (with red herrings) never gets lost in the frenzy. The visiting characters also remain well-defined and memorable. That is no small achievement. To avoid spoilers, I won’t say much more about the mystery other than the fact that is is definitely NOT cookie cutter. ;) Add in Kate’s mouth-watering creations, and you have one fantastic read. A truly excellent cozy.

Thank you to Eve Calder, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Tale of Two Cookies: A Cookie House Mystery
By Eve Calder
St. Martin’s
April 27, 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s been four months since pastry chef Kate McGuire’s life imploded, she moved to Coral Cay, Florida, and unexpectedly partnered up with Sam Hepplewhite to run his Cookie House bakery. She’s never been busier nor prouder as she bakes for customers while also conducting classes for aspiring bakers. Kate is delighted when her friend Desiree Goldsmith drops in for a visit that includes a spontaneous wedding ceremony on the beach. Judson Cooper is a renowned marine biologist made famous for his ecological missions as well as his ingenious Green inventions, which have earned him praise and a considerable fortune. That wealth is also a reason for Judd’s adult children to be less than thrilled with a rival to their inheritances, although they have agreed to arrive for the ceremony. The day of the beach wedding arrives without both a groom and an officiant though, and the left-at-the-altar Desiree declares that this is definitely not a case of a Runaway Groom. While Kate trusts her friend’s judgment and begins a search for the missing Judson, a cascade of evidence has authorities and even Kate wondering if perhaps the groom was not as committed to walking down the aisle as the aspiring bride asserts.

The slow island lifestyle is amped up by the arrival of a film crew and cast for a reality show filming at the Conch House, where attractive young contestants vie for camera time and the chance to win a hefty money reward. It’s also a place where Kate finds herself unexpectedly hosting a cooking class-turned-challenge, which she and accomplices turn into an opportunity to investigate. Kate has enlisted florist Maxi Mas-Buchanan as an assistant investigator looking into the life of Judd, his environmental causes, and his contentious children. A glamourous actress staying on the island proclaiming her not-so-ex status to Judd complicates matters, especially when it looks as though Desiree could be either delusional or a criminal.

This third in the series presents an enviable setting in the tropical, laid-back lifestyle on the small Florida island. The town goldendoodle/labradoodle Oliver has pretty much settled in at home with Kate, while she herself is being pulled towards both veterinarian Jack Scanlon and police detective Ben Abrams. Kate’s off-the-books investigation is surprisingly rational and well thought out, especially when it comes to her and her friends’ safety. A possible solution to the mystery arises early but is quickly complicated and clouded by the twists and turns of clever plot developments. Kate is extremely likable and will have readers delighting in her adventures as she balances her baking with the support she gives to Desiree. Her pastry skills and her classes allow Kate to discreetly question suspects, with both aspects handled realistically and rather deftly. Descriptions of Kate’s bridal cake topper cookies and her everyday delicacies will have readers drooling in envy and ready to hop on the next plane to Coral Cay and Kate’s charming Cookie House bakery.

A Tale of Two Cookies by Eve Calder (Cookie House Mystery #3) 5 stars

Kate McGuire, baker extraordinaire is on a boat with her pup, Oliver en route to a beach venue near the Coral Cay area. She is with her old friend, Desiree Goldsmith and her fiance, Judson Cooper, world renown marine biologist. They are pre-scouting the location of the upcoming wedding of Desiree and Judson. Kate will be baking the wedding cake and other items. On the day of the wedding, the groom is a no-show and Desiree believes foul play is the cause. Kate must help Desiree find Judson and when the authorities focus on Desiree, keep her friend out of jail or there will be no Happily Ever After.

I adored this book - every book in this series has been a 5 star book. Kate is an able investigator, with friends and neighbors ready to lend a hand to solve this mystery. (Special Note: I really want to try all the desserts that were mentioned throughout the book, they all sounded delicious) the mystery expanded to include strange occurrences at the set of a reality show filming out of a mansion in Coral Cay. Even with a few red herrings, Kate was able to provide valuable insights to the police in order to catch the culprits. This series is terrific and the supporting characters add something special to make it outstanding. (Oliver rules). I eagerly await the next installment in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

A Tale Of Two Cookies
A Cookie House Mystery, Book #3
Eve Calder
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In A Tale of Two Cookies, a cozy mystery from Eve Calder, it's nothing but sugar and spice at The Cookie House, but elsewhere on Coral Cay everything isn't so nice.

Pastry chef Kate McGuire is loving life on the laid-back island of Coral Cay, Florida. As junior partner in a bakery renowned for luscious desserts--especially her cookies--life is pretty sweet. So when an old friend arrives and announces a spur-of-the-moment beach wedding, that's just the icing on the wedding cake.

But the groom vanishes right as a television crew descends on the town to film a hot, new reality show. Is there a connection? Is her friend Desiree somehow involved? Or did groom Judson simply get cold feet? The bride and groom were paired better than warm cookies and cold milk, so Kate doesn't buy it.

As the show's cast runs amok on the island and the investigation into Judson's disappearance heats up, Kate and her pal Maxi, along with town dog Oliver, will brave the rambunctious world of reality TV and a wedding weekend gone awry, in an all-out effort to find the missing groom. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Kate and Maxi get along really well and they will do anything for the other. Maxi is more than ready to help Kate find the missing groom and figure out what happened. Kate does not agree that the groom got cold feet and left on his own. She knows her friend Desiree did not imagine their connection, something is not right, and her and Maxi are determined to find the truth.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning and kept me engaged until the end. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I did not see the ending coming.

I would highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what kind of trouble Kate and Maxi get into next.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley.

I have read the other two books in this series and was eagerly awaiting this one. However, I was a little disappointed with the result.

Kate McGuire is continuing to bake cookies and other goods for her tiny island home of Coral Cay, FL. Her friend from New York is in town to get married and have a lovely and simple sunset beach wedding. However, the groom is a no-show and has disappeared from the grid in the process. What was thought to be cold feet turns out to be a much bigger plot involving endangered turtles, reality TV and a washed up starlet looking to reclaim the spotlight. Did the groom really get cold feet or was he kidnapped?

I like Kate but I feel like Maxi, Kate's friend and flower shop proprietor is the star of these books. She is such a fun character and the dialogue between them is charming. I thought Eve Calder did well with her portrayal of the reality TV crowd and their general obnoxiousness, I wanted to change the channel in the book!

I like these mysteries a lot and hope there is a new one soon!