Emily Westhill, along with her late husband's father, owns and runs Deputy Donut, a donut shop that has become a meeting place for many of the town's locals. It's Christmastime, and she's expecting to spend time with her friends, and so has taken some time off to go cross-country skiing with her friend Brent, whom she'd like to move out of the friend zone. When a call comes in that there's been a bus accident not far away, both Brent and Emily go to see if they can be of help.

It's apparent that the passengers are shaken and some are hurt, and there are children on board. The tour bus was making a stop in Fallingbrook to see the local Ice and Lights Festival, and almost made it before the crash. But Emily learns that the driver is from a neighboring town, and that he's had problems before, and learns nothing good about him from others. When she discovers his body early the next morning, it leaves questions all around: could the killer have been one of the passengers? Or worse yet, one of the locals? With the tour guide who was also the victim's girlfriend, staying with Emily, she'll need to watch her back as well as those around her if she wants to discover the truth...

This is the sixth book in the series and I have read all of them. I must say that I think this is one of the best ones. I like the fact that this series progresses, it doesn't leave all the characters in stagnation mode, and things move forward just as they should. It makes each book a fun read, and interesting to boot.

When the victim is discovered to be of a less than stellar person, questions abound and no one seems to have a real answer as to what he was doing in the snow and who hated him enough to kill him. Not even his girlfriend seems to know the truth, thinking he was a wonderful person. But Emily is finding that not to be the case, and her probing -- unofficially -- into the murder gives her clues, which she shares with Brent.

I won't give any more about the book away, but I will say that all the regular characters are here, and all enjoying the holidays as best they can, with houseguests they didn't expect but still want them to have a good time while they're staying in Fallingbrook. When the killer is revealed it is a surprise, just as it should be, and it all comes together nicely in a wrapped package that leaves the ending more than satisfying and the reader wanting the next in the series to be written soon. There are also some yummy recipes in the back. Highly recommended.

Christmas time’s a comin’ and Emily is in the holiday spirit. To set the mood, she and Brent go skiing and just as they wrap up, Brent gets a call for a tour bus that ran off the road. With first aid training, Emily joins him at the scene to triage as they wait for EMTs to arrive. With just one passenger having a broken arm and the driver unconscious, the passengers make it clear the driver was drinking and are not happy about being stuck in tow with ,Ocala taking them into their homes.

The next morning the driver is found dead under a snow sculpture and there are quite a few suspects, including some locals and the woman that is staying with Emily. Hoping to get on with the holidays, yet promising to clear her houseguest’s name, Emily can’t help but ask questions and seek out answers. She just has to hope she doesn’t get on the killer is naughty list or she could get plowed under the snow a blizzard left behind.

I can’t believe this is the sixth entry in this series already! I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them, but this one is my favorite to date. I find myself rooting for the couples, trying to follow the clues and avoid red herrings, and devouring each book as soon as I am able to and always crave my next visit to Deputy Donut!

I love this series! If you haven’t read the first 5, you should before this one so you get the full impact of events that happen to characters. The whole series has characters that are well developed and mysteries full of twists and turns with red herrings thrown in. This is one you shouldn’t miss as the books get better and better!