This one's okay for me. I found the big personalities to be a little too extreme for me, and the idea that Savannah would use the caterer even when said caterer and her spouse are reasonably considered suspects in a murder...The overall plotting of the mystery is fine, but I found myself being drawn out of the story sometimes while wishing the author had made some different choices. But it still kept me engaged until the resolution!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Whole Latte Murder and Mistletoe Cake Murder by Lena Gregory are the fifth and sixth books in the cozy All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. Each book in the series centers around it’s own mystery that will be fully solved within the book so they could be read and enjoyed as a standalone. However, there is some continuing character development that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.

The All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series features Gia Morelli who is a New Yorker at heart but after going through a messy divorce Gia decided to follow her best friend down to central Florida. The small town of Boggy Creek is certainly the exact opposite of what Gia was used to but she was determined to make a success out of her new diner she’d opened, the All-Day Breakfast Café.

Somehow Gia’s life in the small town has been balanced between running her cafe, taking care of her puppy Thor and solving murders. In Whole Latte Murder Gia was waiting for her friend Savannah who is a realtor to show a property and then meet Gia to shop. When Savannah didn’t show Gia went looking only to find a dead body and no Savannah anywhere to be found. Then in Mistletoe Cake Murder Gia again happens to be near when another woman nearby suddenly died after eating at the business so of course Gia looks into the mysterious death.

The All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series is another cozy series I have been following from the beginning and really do enjoy. This is one that has that great mix of humor and quirkiness that I enjoy. Of course after six books it’s obvious that I enjoy the characters in the stories and there’s some cute animal action on occasion too. The location is a different more laid back version of Florida than the touristy side one might expect too with a small town charm. I will definitely keep coming back to this series as long as the author continues to expand it.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Breezy and salty as a gust of wind off the chilly bay water. An intriguing opening to a fun new series. This is a great season for a wedding in the season with Yuletide festivities. All comes to a stop when an individual is naughty delivers a most unwanted Christmas gift murder

Getting used to Christmas in Florida without cold and snow is challenging enough without adding in her best friend's Christmas eve wedding. Going with Savannah to the caterer's place to finalized them wedding meal choices should have just been an enjoyable ticking off of one more last minute wedding chore, until another wedding party has a medical emergency in the other room. Savanah and Gia both attempted CPR but the other bride died before reaching the hospital. As the groom and Gia's boyfriend are both the law in Boggy Creek, finding the murderer becomes one more to do before the wedding. Both Savannah and Gia are women that I would love to hang out with. They are caring, strong and supportive of each other and their friends. A full cast of characters are suspects with a rabge of motives. Plenty of red herrings, the plot moves right along and kept me enthralled

Mistletoe Cake Murder by Lena Gregory
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Publication Date: October 12, 2021

Mistletoe Cake Murder by Lena Gregory is the sixth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe series. This book can easily be read as a standalone cozy mystery or as part of the series.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. I love that it is set in Boggy Creek, Florida, so it brings me back home. While I did not live near the Ocala National Forest, a lot of the nature Gia experiences was found throughout Central Florida.

I loved the Christmas Eve wedding and all of the preparation that took place leading up to it! It made for a fascinating storyline. This was a great book to read to welcome the Christmas season!

This is such a fun cozy mystery! I love the characters and how they all look out for each other. The story was so much fun to read and very interesting! The mystery was great! There was a lot of depth to it with great twists and turns!

I can't wait to read the other books in the series! I would definitely recommend this to cozy mystery fans!

I'm so grateful to Lena Gregory, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

With a few days to go until Savannah's Christmas wedding, Gia and Savannah witness the death of another bride to be while finalizing the plans for Savannah's wedding with the caterer. The suspects are the caterers, the bride's son, the groom to be, and the maid of honor. Several of the bride's party accounts of her death don't match with what Gia witnesses. The biggest question isn't who murdered the bride, but will the wedding be in this book or the kickoff to the next book.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable seasonal read which easily puts the reader in the mood for the holidays and allows you to forget the 90 degree day you are reading in!

I. Love. This. Series. I just do. It’s one of my fave series that I keep up with, and I get a little giddy when I know a new book is releasing. Such was the case with Mistletoe Cake Murder – add in Savannah’s wedding & CHRISTMAS too and I’m there for it. (The way this book ended – while I loved it – made me a little nervous that the series was ending, but my googling informs me that there are at least 3 more books in the works. Hooray!)

Gia’s cafe is the place to be in Boggy Creek, and it doesn’t take much reading of the series to understand why. Her warm personality and genuine affection for the people in her circle make it more than just a place to get yummy waffles or breakfast casseroles – the cafe is a bright light in the community and so is Gia. I always love hanging out there on the pages, even as my mouth waters over all the delicious sounding food that she & her cafe family serve up. It’s also a great source for intel (otherwise known as ‘local gossip’) which acts as a sort of enabler for Gia’s sleuthing urges. I enjoy how the author frames her snooping in a way that makes sense and that, overall, she doesn’t make foolish decisions… mostly.

The mystery is smartly done, and I had to keep changing my guesses as to whodunit. There are certainly enough characters who could have murdered the victim, whether intentionally or accidentally, which ensures that Gia, Savannah, and their law enforcement boyfriends have their work cut out for them. In the middle of solving a murder (with a valid motive for Gia to be doing her own sleuthing), they are gearing up for Savannah & Leo’s Christmas Eve wedding, and I thought the author did a great job of weaving those moments throughout the story without distracting from the mystery (or vice versa).

Bottom Line: Mistletoe Cake Murder by Lena Gregory is full of suspects and friendship and, of course, all kinds of Christmas goodness. A clever murder mystery will keep you guessing, and you’ll be cheering for romance and the power of friendship (the latter is often the case in this series). The recurring supporting cast – including the 4-legged variety – adds so much color to the story, whether they are adding dimension & layers to the plot or buoying Gia with affection and help. I love everything about this series, including this latest book, and I can’t wait for the next one!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Dollycas’s Thoughts

You may hear New York native Gia Morelli humming Let It Snow but the only snow falling Boggy Creek, Florida will be of the artificial variety courtesy of her friend Trevor Barnes who has gone all out decorating his home for the Christmas Eve wedding of Gia’s best friend Savannah Mills. Gia and Savanah are finishing up all the details for the nuptials and that includes the final tasting with the caterer. When they arrive they overhear another bride embroiled in an argument with her son. He is definitely not on board with her getting married. A short time later Gia and Savannah hear a bloodcurdling scream. When they rush to see what is happening they find the other bride dead after sampling a piece of wedding cake. The cake was beautifully decorated with fondant mistletoe and berries and the same cake Gia and Savannah had just sampled too. Savannah loved it so much she wanted to switch the cake she had chosen with this mistletoe cake.

Gia and Savannah are clearly alive and well as were all the other people that had a piece of the deadly cake. It is also clear that the bride’s slice of cake contained some type of poison. Of course, the caterers are the number one suspects but Gia just can’t wrap her head around them killing one of their customers. She also wants to be sure Savannah’s big night is marvelous and merry so she is going to be sure this murder investigation is wrapped up before Savannah walks down the aisle.

I loved this story. This is the second book I have reviewed this week that had a great mystery set during the holiday season where the characters created by the author are the reason I couldn’t wait to read this story. Gia and Savannah have such a strong friendship, it is what brought Gia to Florida. They are also in strong romantic relationships. Savannah and Leo are getting married on Christmas Eve at Trevor’s opulent home. Gia’s relationship with Hunt is progressing comfortably. Their jobs sometimes get in the way but they work hard to spend time together even if it is just a few minutes at a time.

Sadly all this romance is marred by a murder. A murder that could blow up Savannah’s wedding plans. I really enjoyed the way the mystery was plotted out. I had theory right away but the author provided several clues that changed by theory time and time again. It was not the easy solve I had first imagined. Finding the right person with the right motive is key and I didn’t find it until Gia did.

I really love Lena Gregory’s writing style. Her in-depth descriptions are well placed and she knows when to pull back and let the characters drive the story. I was so thankful for her detailed description of the magic Trevor created for Leo’s and Savannah’s wedding. I had my virtual invitation and I was able to feel like I was right there. He created a winter wonderland and all the characters we have grown to love were in attendance. And when the clock struck midnight . . . nope you have to read the book yourself.

Mistletoe Cake Murder was a wonderful Christmas gift for readers. Lena Gregory never disappoints. The characters in this series are absolutely delightful and some of my cozy faves. I am so excited to see what happens next for them. I am so glad the future of this series is merry and bright.

Thank you NetGalley, Lena Gregory and Kensington Books for the book Mistletoe Cake Murder. This is my personal review.
This is the first book I have read in this series, and I have to say after reading this book I am excited to go back and start the series with book one.
Gia and Savanna are two woman I want to get to know better. I like the way they just click together. The author makes them feel like someone I have known for a long time even with this being the only book I have read in the series.
The mystery was so well written, and I thought I had it figured out who did it but was I wrong!
Thank you, Lena Gregory, for this series that is new to me. I have put this series on my birthday wish list for my husband to buy me. That solves the mystery for him of what to get me this year!

This book is the 6th in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series which I have enjoyed since Book 1. This one did not disappoint. Gia Morelli, the main character and owner of the All-Day Breakfast Cafe, is busy with the Christmas season and her best friend's wedding. When Gia's catering friend gets blamed for a murder, she is determined to find the truth and save the wedding, Christmas, and her reputation. This book was a quick read with a multitude of characters, which may be confusing for some to follow. However there were a lot of red herrings and twists and turns which kept your interest until the end! I recommend this fabulous cozy mystery series to all that love a great mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mistletoe Cake Murder
All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery, Book #6
Lena Gregory
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Tis the season for celebrating when Gia Morelli’s holidays include both a wedding and yuletide festivities. Until someone naughty delivers a most unwanted Christmas gift—murder. . .

For a native New Yorker, palm trees and warm temperatures don’t equal winter, much less Christmastime. Nevertheless, Gia Morelli’s friends have decked the halls and trimmed the trees to truly welcome her into their “family” with an old-fashioned Boggy Creek, Florida holiday season. Even more joyous, Savannah Mills is getting married on Christmas Eve—the greatest gift Gia could ever wish for her best friend.

But when Gia and Savannah stop by the caterer for a final tasting a week before the wedding, they overhear another bride arguing with her son about her husband-to-be. Moments later, the woman is sampling a piece of wedding cake—gorgeously decorated with mistletoe frosting—then suddenly dies.

Now Gia’s caterer friends are the prime suspects in what appears to be murder by poisoning. To clear their names and ensure Savannah has a merry matrimony will require Gia to conjure up a Christmas miracle . . .
Includes recipes from the All-Day Breakfast Café!

Praise for Lena Gregory

“As breezy and salty as a gust of wind off the chilly bay waters.”
—Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchcraft Mysteries on Death at First Sight

“An intriguing opening to a fun new series.”
—E. J. Copperman, national bestselling author of the Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries on Death at First Sight

“Hold on to your plates for this fast-paced mystery that will leave you hungering for more!”
—J.C. Eaton, author of the Sophie Kimball Mysteries, on Scone Cold Killer

“It’s fast paced, [Gregory] never misses a beat. There’s mystery mixed with just a small hint of romance and paranormal activity. It’s the perfect blend for cozy mystery fans. I’m hoping to read more in this captivating series.”
—Socrates Book Review on Occult and Battery

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Gia and Savanna are the best of friends, as close as sisters. I really enjoy spending time with them, they are so much fun. They are getting ready for Savannah's wedding and all that entails. When they go by the caterer for a final tasting, another bride is killed. When Savannah’s caterer is considered a prime suspect, they decide they will have to find the killer themselves. And they better do it quickly, Savannah has a wedding.

The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it pulled me onto the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider and I was entirely sure who the culprit was until it was revealed at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to reading the next one in the series

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Mistletoe Cake Murder by Lena Gregory is the 6th book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series, and another great addition. Gia Morelli is the owner of the All-Day Breakfast Cafe, and she is busy with Christmas and her best friend, Savannah, wedding. Moving to Florida from New York, it's hard without the snow and cold of Christmas. When Gia's catering friend gets blamed for a murder, Gia is determined to find the truth, and save the wedding and Christmas. I love this series! I found this book to be a quick read, with well developed plot and characters. There are a lot of twists and turns that kept me reading. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book/series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mistletoe Cake Murder is the sixth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series by Lena Gregory, and I can’t wait to read more.

Mistletoe Cake Murder is the first book I’ve read in the series, and there were enough details to give me some background from previous books. It’s also the first book I’ve read by Ms. Gregory, and I look forward to reading more of her books if this is her caliber of writing.

The characters and the story had depth. There were many characters, and while best friends, Gia and Savannah, are front and center, many other characters add layers to the story. Of course, Gia and Savannah are amateur sleuths and help their significant others, who are on the police force, solve several murders. There are clues galore sprinkled throughout, along with lots of finger-pointing of who could be the murderer. Money seems to be the root of all evil in this tale, and there are many stories woven together to get us to the conclusion of whodunnit!

There is lots of food since Gia owns the cafe, and a lot of the story is set there. There are also other businesses sprinkled throughout as well as family and friends. There is angst, sadness, tears, injuries, wedding planning, lots of shout-outs to Christmas, happiness, and a happily ever after, all set in a small town in Florida. There is a good flow to the story, and it’s a quick read as I kept turning the pages. There is nice closure and a happily ever after along with another in the offing.

The book to me was reminiscent of those written by both Maria Geraci, now writing her mystery series as Maggie March, and the Auntie Clem Bakery series by P.D. Workman.

I look forward to reading the books I missed in the series and hope there will be more since there seem to be more stories to tell.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Fun holiday read. I love this holiday cozy so much fun.

Gia and Samantha are best buddies who are preparing for Samantha's wedding. As they attend a cake testing, they hear a scream through the wall and discover another bride-to-be has been killed. The plot revolves around the two of them trying to discover who the murderer was, even both of your boyfriends are police officers.

At the beginning of the book, there was a list of characters in the story, which I thought was a great idea. However, as I read, I found myself wishing I were reading a print book., so I could quickly (and often) refer back to it. Maybe because I couldn't bring myself to read straight through it, I had a hqrd time keeping track of some of them. Honestly, the story felt SO long to me that I even checked Amazon to see if it had 500 or so pages. Otherwise, I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it didn't seem to move so slowly. Also, I think it would have helped if I had read previous installments in the series.

This is my favorite book in the series yet! The mystery leading up to Savannah and Leo's wedding was a good one and if anything, it kept Savannah busy instead of worrying about details which their awesome friend Trevor had covered anyway. I'm with Gia, I hope we see wedding bells between him and Zoe sometime soon! He's one of my favorite characters and needs a happily ever after.

I kind of had a feeling all along of whodunit, but falling for the red herrings was still fun and seeing Gia and Savannah in sleuthing action's always worth it. The showdown was great and featured our two fave couples.

I loved how nearly the whole town was gathered in Trevor's magical setting for Savannah and Leo's wedding. All our favorites were there like Earl and his family, Cole and Cybil as well as Willow and her mom Skyla. Trevor had gone all out, and with the author's gift of just the right amount of description, it was so easy to picture this amazing Christmas Eve wedding. Get a tissue ready, because the ending is sweet, funny and absolutely perfect!

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

Mistletoe in Juneau is a lovely holiday offering by author Dahlia Rose. Danni St. Peters has made a name for herself in the world of influencers with her Danni on the Run blog. Her self appointed manager Austin Hammond has helped further her presence, has even tried to make himself her boyfriend, but he isn’t listening to what Danni says and she has had it.

When Danni’s best friend Amy begs her to come spend Christmas with her and her young family just outside of Juneau, Danni surprises them both and says yes, planning to spend the month of December with them. With many plane changes, Danni finally arrives at the small airport in Juneau on the double prop plane piloted by local pilot Cooper. Expecting Amy to pick her up at the airport, Danni is surprised by the handsome trooper who is there in Amy’s stead.

This is a healing trip for Danni, who is seeking direction in her life. She feels a disappointment to her very conservative family. She is no longer as excited about her blog as she was in the early days when she first began on a shoestring budget she had scrimped and saved for that first Paris trip. Now, in Auke Bay, she is feeling acceptance and clarity. And then there is the quiet, handsome, veteran who is now the sergeant trooper for the small town.

This is a lovely holiday story with the perfect setting! With real reindeer and pretend Santas, and the wit and warmth of the people of this out of the way town, Danni is on the cusp of finding her new direction. Mistletoe in Juneau is such a fun holiday read. I very much enjoyed it and I do recommend it!

MISTLETOE CAKE MURDER by Lena Gregory
The Sixth All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery

It's the week before Christmas and Gia Morelli is preparing, not only for her second Christmas in Florida, but her best friend's wedding. The final tasting at the caterer's turns out more final than everyone thought when another bride screams and collapses after eating a sample of the wedding cake. With her son accusing the fiance of murder and rumors abounding that the intended groom was having an affair with the very married caterer, Gia's boyfriend and Savannah's betrothed have a powder keg of a mystery to solve. Between finding the perfect Christmas gifts and keeping the bride-to-be calm, Gia will still manage to fit in a little snooping. After all, it wouldn't do for the caterer to be arrested before the wedding!

While I certainly prefer a white Christmas, I'm happy to spend this holiday in Boggy Creek, Florida, especially with the promise of Savannah's wedding. I love the holiday ambiance and am stunned by Trevor's house and his decorating abilities. I want to live there,!!! Or at least visit! In addition to Christmas and a murder, there is romance, nicely balanced with reality, culminating in a dream wedding.

I like how the murder was tied to Gia, but not intrinsically so. The murder mystery itself was fascinating, with so many components and I wanted most of the suspects to be guilty! What a nasty crew of characters, it made me feel for the victim even more. Lots of surprises and smart moves by Gia and Savannah made for a fun, exciting, and fist bumping read. "You go girl!" I said to myself more than once.

MISTLETOE CAKE MURDER delightfully blends the Christmas holiday, a beautiful wedding, and all of the feels to create a wonderful mystery.

Mistletoe Cake Murder (All Day Breakfast Cafe 6) by Lena Gregory

Gia’s back!

Gia’s definitely in my top 10 favorite modern female sleuths. So, I was very excited to see the new release. While the Christmas theme is a little early for me in reality. I couldn't force myself to wait a month before devouring this sixth installment!

We pickup where we left off from Whole Latte Murder (ADBC 5) Savannah is finalizing preparations to get married. We join her, Gia and the crew in this book to celebrate her wedding and a Christmas surprise!!!

While finalizing the cake the ladies witness a family altercation. This is the start of our murderous adventure. It was a wonderful addition to a fabulous series with mystery, serious emotional growth, small town gossip, and laughter. 5*****

Wedding, family, Christmas, surprises and Murder!

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.