In this second Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery, threats have been made at a beauty pageant and Lila Macapagal has her eyes open and sleuthing goggles on and ready to go.

This mystery is definitely not as light hearted as the first in the series as Lila is dealing with issues from PTSD to reliving her own past as a beauty pageant contestant.

When there is a murder and Lila’s cousin Bernadette is the primary suspect, Lila but make sure that family comes first. There is a lot of growth in the characters in this second book. It ends on a happy note which gives a nice balance to some of the heavier topics.

Thanks to Berkley Books for my review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The second in this cozy mystery series entertains with the addition of delicious descriptions of food. Lila is asked to judge a local beauty pageant, as a former winner and a local business owner. When threatening letters to the pageant come to the attention of the local detective, Lila gets embroiled in the pageant, and then a murder. Still traumatized from events from the first book, Lila enlists the aid of her Filipino aunties, and her two best friends, Adeena and Elena, to help clear the name of her cousin. Bernadette. Recommended.

I really enjoyed this sequel! It was incredible to get to know Lila even more than you do in the first book. It was great to get more into her head, especially when it came to her own history with pagents. I can't wait for the next book in this series and will continue to recommend them!

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery Series by Mia P. Manansala. Lila Macapagal is feeling pressure over the opening her new cafe, the Brew-ha Cafe, with her two partners. She feels uninspired in creating her portion of the menu. Her time is spread even thinner as she has reluctantly agreed to be a judge of the Miss Teen Shady Palms Pageant. As a former winner, she knows all about the pressure, parental and otherwise, of competing in the pageant as well as the opportunity winning it presents for some lucky girl.
Things take a turn for the worse when a fellow judge who happens to be from a powerful Shady Palms family turns up dead. When Lila's cousin, Bernadette, becomes the chief suspect Lila is dragged into investigating the crime. Bernadette and Lila are past rivals, but any trace of that is put aside when family is in trouble.

Lila is a likable and sympathetic character, particularly in her sympathies for the girls in the pageant, her care for her family, and how much she does not want to let down her business partners. As a cozy mystery, the stakes here never seem especially high. Much of the time is spent discussing food, treats and the pageant. Lila is still dealing with trauma from events in the previous book and is reluctant to seek out help. She is dealing with the stigma of mental health as well as older family members who are not supportive of it.

The investigation consists mostly of Lila and her large family being nosy. The police are unusually communicative with the family about the investigation. In one baffling passage, the police officer takes care to don gloves and hand an evidence bag with a note in it to Lila, only to allow her to take it out of the envelope and handle it bare-handed. The romantic angle is handled oddly as well. Lila is attracted to two men she finds handsome, yet is not ready or interested in a relationship. Still she becomes jealous of their attention to other women. This by itself is not troubling, but there doesn't seem to be any real romantic spark between Lila and either man aside from them being nice to her.

The investigation moves ahead with a few red herrings and plenty of secrets being discovered about community members, especially the family of the murdered man. You might spot the killer ahead of time, but it doesn't spoil an exciting conclusion.

Homicide and Halo-Halo is a pleasant cozy mystery with a likeable lead character and plenty of emphasis on Filipino food and culture.

Another great installment in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen cozy mystery series! I love this new series centered around Lila Macapagal, a young Filipino American woman who dreams of opening her own Filipino inspired dessert café. Still reeling from the events of the last book, Lila is struggling with her mental health and the courage to pursue her dreams. Then the head judge of the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant is found murdered and Lila (a former winner) is hooked into helping judge the contest and defend her cousin.

So much more than your typical cozy mystery series. These books are full of heart, mouth-watering food recipes and a strong Filipino American family who might drive Lila crazy at times but are always there for her when she needs them. I was really impressed with the strong focus on Lila addressing her depression and actively seeking therapy in this book!

Perfect for fans of Abby Collette's Ice Cream Parlor series or Jesse Q. Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties books. Great on audio too, narrated by Danice Cabanela. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for my advance review copy!!

I really enjoyed the first in this series, Arsenic and Adobo where we met the Lila and her friends and family in their town of Shady Palms.

For fans of cozy mysteries, this one checks all the boxes. Relatable and lovable protagonist, a cute sidekick pet, a band of fun, crazy family/friends, and all the delicious food talk - *bonus* it's Filipino food and I am so happy to see representation in this genre! Oh yes - and of course murder!

I liked how seamlessly Manansala was able to incorporate all of the above while giving us an entertaining story and leaving us wanting more about this town and what they'll be up to next.

The aunties are my favorite and it's the commentary and the light of diverse women that make this such a great read a new auto-read author for me!

I am a big fan of Halo-Halo AND Lila Macapagal solving mysteries.

Mia P. Manansala again charms the pants off her readers with ube and calamansi pastries, Aunties, friends, and romance. The mystery centers around the town's "beauty" pageant, which is updated for modern girls looking for ways to get to college, and possibly for recognition, set against the pushback of what traditionalists think girls should want.

Looking for a cozy with a little more oomph and a lot more adobo? Here's your answer.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read!

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mystery series, a set of novels that revolve around a young restauranteur solving crimes in the small town of Shady Palms, IL. I would strongly recommend reading the tales in order since a lot of the character building and relationship building between the characters is done in the first volume.

After almost dying while solving the mystery of her ex-boyfriend’s murder, Lila Macapagal is ready to put sleuthing behind her and concentrate on opening a café with her best bud Adeena and Adeena’s girlfriend Elena. The decor, beautifully redone by Elena, has turned their small, bland space into a welcoming, enticing local, and Adeena has outdone herself by creating unique drinks that will tempt even the fussiest of palates. The only problem is that Lila is experiencing major baker’s block. Everything she makes turns into a disaster – and the shop is just days away from its soft opening.

Lila is on the verge of confessing her failure to her business partners when she is saved by the bell. The ringing bell over the café door to be exact – her cousin Bernadette walks in and advises Lila she is needed at her Tita Rosie’s restaurant. Turns out Detective Park is there waiting for her because he wants her help with a new case.

Lila is serving as a last-minute addition to the judge’s panel for the Miss Teen Shady Palms pageant. It was a position she would normally not have taken but since they offered to give the café a catering contract, as well as a free booth at the Founder’s Day Festival (something she and her partners could not afford on their own), she agreed to the gig. As a former winner, she knows how important the pageant is to the community and how much the scholarship awarded to Miss Teen Shady Palms means to the girl who receives it. Detective Park wants Lila to use her position to serve as his eyes and ears inside the pageant. Someone has been sending the city threatening letters, demanding they shut the contest down, and te police are concerned for the safety of everyone involved and anxious to discover if the nasty notes are just sour grapes or the prelude to violent action.

Lila of course agrees to spy for the cops. She begins that very night at the first pageant session by getting acquainted with her fellow judges – Rob and Sana – and Valerie, the event director. She enjoys meeting the two ladies. Valerie has done a lot to make the contest more modern and inclusive, allowing anyone who self-identifies as a young woman as well as teen moms to participate and requiring the contestants to take part in volunteer work as well as excel academically. Sana seems smart and strong and compassionate, all excellent qualities for someone determining the winner of such an important competition. But Lila is disgusted to watch the married Rob hit on every woman within a few feet of him – including the teenage contestants! She determines to keep an eye on him at all times, something the other two women heartily agree with.

But they don’t have to worry about Rob for long. The next morning he is found dead, the victim of an apparent homicide. Was Rob’s murder just unfortunately timed, a result of his lascivious behavior rather than his work on the pageant? Or is this the first act of someone willing to do anything to keep the event from happening?

Culinary cozies are all about good food, good friends, and good times. Ms. Manansala delivers on those expectations, providing a wonderful meringue cookie of a book that deals with serious subjects in a light-hearted, sunny manner that makes it a complete treat to read. The cast of characters is very diverse and the author creates a setting where everyone is welcomed and included. Especially if they bring food – which Lila often does. The delicious goodies she makes are described in delectable detail, causing at least this reader (and I would imagine many others) to have a hankering for sweets.

What cozies are not about is serious crime-solving, and the author continues that tradition as well. The mystery is interesting – I’m always up for a good whodunit – but the resolution is not reached in a realistic manner. That is par for the course for these books, so this is in no way meant as a critique. I did enjoy watching our amateur sleuth discover the villain and was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the case.

When last we saw the funny, feisty Lila, she was in the midst of a love triangle, deciding between the delightful, sweet-natured, caregiving Jae and the serious, intelligent, compassionate Amir. In this book, she realizes she needs to make her choice and moves closer to a final decision.

Lila also examines the darker side of being a fledgling detective, mainly that having your life endlessly endangered by nosing about for clues can create some mental health struggles. Detective Park has been urging her to receive counseling for possible PTSD from the dangers she faced in Arsenic and Adobo but Lila has been reluctant to do so. Throughout the tale, we watch her struggle with that decision and come to some realizations about herself as she does.

The aunties play a smaller role in this book than in the last, which I thought was a good thing. They still do their part, just in a less obtrusive way. The rest of Lila’s loving, boisterous family makes an appearance as well, especially her cousin/arch-rival Bernadette who winds up being the primary suspect in the homicide. The secondary characterizations are a bit sparse but that is to be expected in a novel told in the first-person style.

One sour note in our savory story is that the author’s political opinions, via Lila and her friends’ dialogue, come across very, very clearly. I think it is normal for people at this moment in time to be very political and discuss their views on just about any issue with a slant towards their chosen idealogy but it veers dangerously close to sounding like tedious lectures here..

Despite that, Homicide and Halo-Halo is a fun book and the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series as a whole is a refreshing, diverse voice in the cozy category. I would recommend it to fans of that genre – but be sure to read book one first.

Loved this latest installment. Manansala does a beautiful job of creating realistic, complex characters in a cozy mystery setting. My favorite part of this series (other than the amazing food descriptions) is that the characters are flawed and still lovable. Can't wait for the next one!

Yes! The sequel to Arsenic and Adobo is finally here! Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second novel in Mia P. Manansala's series, Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery. My only regret is that the Book of the Month Club didn't have it available as an add-on. I would have loved to have a matching set.

Lila Macapagal's life has been through the wringer in recent years. After returning home, she found herself framed by murder and then very nearly a victim to the same criminal. She survived, and she's trying to get her life back in order now.

But she's got so much on her plate these days. Starting up a new business with her friends, judging the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant (something she didn't exactly want to do), and juggling her family and personal life. It's a lot – and that's before considering the latest murder.

“Was it so wrong to want to make my own choices, even if they were the wrong ones? I already had Lola Flor and the rest of my family telling me what to do, I didn’t need my romantic partner doing the same.”

I legit have been counting down the days for the release of Homicide and Halo-Halo. I adore Lila, the world she lives in, and Mia P. Manansala's writing. It's the perfect storm, and I just can't get enough of it.

So, the real question is: did Homicide and Halo-Halo live up to my hyped expectations? I would have to say yes! I enjoyed the story, characters, and of course, all of the delicious food described within these pages. I'm already looking forward to the next novel in this series. I'm hooked.

The thing I love the most about this series is that it is a cozy mystery with a twist. There's just so much personality within each and every book. Lila is bursting with it, and the same could be said for nearly every other character that appears.

The other thing I love about it all is how light and welcoming it feels – despite being centered around crimes and murders. It makes for a fun read, one that is unusually bright in contrast to my normal reading selections. It's the perfect change of pace.

Finally, I adore that Homicide and Halo-Halo tackled some very real concerns and issues. I won't spoil the book by talking about them, but it addresses mental health concerns, including PTSD. Remember how the last book concluded, and that connection is pretty clear.

Likewise, Homicide and Halo-Halo addressed many concerns surrounding beauty pageants. This made me really happy to see, and I know I won't be the only one feeling that way. It was tactful and upfront about each and every concern.

The third novel in Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery is set to release on October 4, 2022. It's titled Blackmail and Bibingka, and I am once again counting down the days. No regrets here.

I loved book 1 in this series. While it was heavy on Filipino culture and very heavy on the food aspect I looked past it. Book 2 however is so heavy on the food I just couldn’t get into the mystery of it all.

Ahh don’t you just love it when a sequel is just as good as the first book? Coincidentally, this is also my second cozy mystery. ⁣
⁣
What I loved about both books in the Tita Rosie Kitchen series is Lila. She’s the perfect main character for me. I enjoy the complex relationships and emotions she experiences. In this book, she felt much more anxiety and PTSD, yet she still remains the loving and caring woman she was in book one. Her family is complicated and I think we can all relate to that idea. ⁣
⁣
Am I just as hungry in this book? Yup. Must read this with snacks. ⁣
⁣
If you’re looking for an introduction to mysteries and thrillers, look no further. This series is delightful and suspenseful all at once.

The sequel brought us right back to Tita Rosie’s kitchen, but make it Miss Congeniality! This book seriously reminded me so much of those movies and made it a fun storyline as the new mystery unfolded. To me this series almost reads as YA. The plot was super similar to the first novel, and it seemed unlikely that the police would be relying on Lila to assist in solving the case when they so passionately dissuaded her from participating in the first investigation.

Oh I was so excited to get this one because I loved the first. This one did not disappoint! I liked seeing Lila’s character grow, and learning her back story was able to help me understand her more too. I liked how important family was in this book as well. Of course, I enjoyed the aunties and the side stories that take part in this one. Oh and the food was mouthwatering! I can't wait to read the next one.

I haven’t had a lot of Filipino- American food, but I bet it would quickly go in my list of favorites based on the food descriptions in this series.

I love cozy mysteries and this is a fun series! Lila is a great protagonist and the amazing food descriptions, her best friends, her meddling aunts, extended family, two love interests, a beauty pageant, and a related mystery to solve are definitely kept me engaged. I love how there are both short-term and long-term storylines.

The author has a note at the beginning of this book indicating that there is some heavier content. I felt the more serious aspects made the book better and I appreciate her sensitivity with the content warning.

I recommend starting with Arsenic and Adobo because it will add to the experience of reading this one. I’m also planning on trying out the recipes at the back of the book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series by Mia P. Manansala. In this fairly new series, Lila Macapagal is back. However, she is still not ready to open her new café after the first instance of unpleasantness at her Aunt's Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie's Kitchen.

The small town of Shady Palms has resurrected the teen beauty pageant which Lila won many years ago. This win caused a wedge between Lila and her cousin Bernadette. But when the head judge of the pageant is found murdered, Lila must put aside their rivalry and help clear Bernadette's name as the main suspect. And highlight the tasty dessert known as halo-halo while at it!

Slow and steady is this novel's game. The murder didn't occur until a quarter into the novel. The characters played a backseat to the boring sleuthing. Not exactly what I want in a cozy mystery. Honestly I was just here for the dessert, drink and food descriptions.

Homicide and Halo-Halo features an Asian-American lead. Yay for diversity! Per the Author's Note, she wrote this follow-up while in a rather dark place. All my positive thoughts and wishes for success are with the author Mia P. Manansala as she works through mental health issues brought about by the pandemic. She has a good series that I will continue to support despite this "just okay" rating.

Happy Early Pub Day, Mia P. Manansala! Homicide and Halo-Halo will be available Tuesday, February 8.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

~LiteraryMarie

𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐨-𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐨⁣
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐏 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚⁣
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝟐.𝟖.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰 ⁣
⁣
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in this slightly darker Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, which works great as a stand alone. Summer has come upon Shady Palms, and the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant is heating up. Lila Macapagal is back and as a previous Miss Teen, she is now chosen as a pageant judge. Everything seems to be going well until a dead body is involved, and Lila finds herself as the prime suspect. ⁣
⁣
I enjoyed seeing Lila’s character grow, and learning her back story really helped me understand and relate to her character more. The theme of family and relationships in this second book were front center. ⁣The Calendar crew is back with aunties April, May, and June of course always adding a bit of humor to the grim story line.There are so many side stories that I enjoyed like the coffee shop Brew Ha Cafe, a play on a Filipino word bruha for witch, and opening the shop with her friends, while Lila works through recipes for the coffee shop pastries. The food descriptions are mouth watering so be forewarned!
⁣
This was certainly an enjoyable read!

These books are so much fun. The food descriptions, the friend groups, and the family dynamics...I just can't get enough. Then you throw in a murder, a beauty pageant, and a love triangle just to spice things up and it was impossible for me to put the book down. I may have enjoyed this book just a little bit more than the first book in this series.

I loved watching Lila come into her own. She was dealing with so much during the course of this book. Not only was she opening/starting a new business but she was also a judge in the local beauty pageant (which of course brought up family issues she never faced when younger). Then you throw on her PTSD from the events that happened and book one and Lila was a mess. I really enjoyed watching her navigate all of this and eventually learn that she didn't need to take on everything by herself. She has so many people in her life that can help her carry the load.

I can't wait to see what kind of trouble Lila, her friends, and her family get into next.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the digital copy.

Homicide And Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal is fine. She's just fine, which is what she tells everyone who asks her how she’s doing in the aftermath of the events that rocked her small town of Shady Pines, Illinois just a few short months ago. Her ex-boyfriend was killed, her family was under suspicion of his murder, and she and her best friend Adeena Awan were – for a brief, terrifying time – in the clutches of his killer. But she's fine now, as she's quick to tell anyone who asks, whether it's a concerned new friend or the police detective who keeps bringing up the therapist he's recommended she see. Plus, she’s just too busy for therapy. Not only is she opening the Brew-ha Cafe with Adeena but also, with significantly less enthusiasm, judging the Miss Teen Shady Pines beauty pageant, which she herself won in her teens.

To her surprise and delight though, Miss Teen Shady Pines has reorganized itself into more of an actual scholarship competition than the rather superficial parade of years past, largely due to the influence of Valerie Thompson, daughter of the family that owns the pageant's largest sponsor. Valerie’s younger brother Rob is head judge, and Lila and another local entrepreneur, Sana Williams, round out the rest of the judging panel. Under the new rules, they're to score the aspiring beauty queens based on thoughtful interviews, volunteer work, design and talent, not just on appearance.

Lila has a lot of bittersweet memories wrapped up in her pageant days, mostly to do with her former beauty queen mom and her own rivalry with her not-quite-cousin Bernadette. She's pleased to see that most of the contestants she’s judging are far more assured and generous with each other than she and Bernie were back when they were competing for the crown.

She's the opposite of pleased, however, when she and Sana stumble across Rob's body, drowned in a local river. When Bernie becomes prime suspect in his murder, their extended Filipina family closes ranks, and looks to Lila yet again to protect them by uncovering the truth and bringing the real killer to justice. But for all that Lila insists that she's fine and totally up for more sleuthing, she hasn't really recovered from her prior ordeal, nor come to terms with all the ways being on the pageant scene again has invoked her late mother's memory. Will a murderer be able to take advantage of her emotional turmoil to evade exposure, or even worse, kill once again?

This was another extremely absorbing installment of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen mystery series, as Lila has to come to terms with her own personal trauma and biases in order to not only thrive but to save another family member from being wrongfully imprisoned for murder. I loved the varied representation of cultures throughout, but especially of Lila's own Filipino heritage. The food descriptions were absolutely mouthwatering, and Mia P. Manansala generously includes recipes for several of the dishes she lovingly describes in the narrative. Of the four included here, I decided to try the following:

QUOTE
Tita Rosie's Grilled Adobo Chicken Wings

Ingredients (per pound of chicken)
1 pound of chicken wings and/or drumsticks per person
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the sauce (per pound of chicken):
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar (white cane vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bay leaf
Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Black pepper, to taste

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Mix the baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, and coat the wings.

Lay flat in baking trays or zippered plastic bags and store in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.

The next day, prep your grill and cook the wings over indirect heat for 30 to 40 minutes until the skin is crisp, turning once or twice. You can also bake in a 400°F. oven for 40 to 60 minutes, turning every 20 minutes to evenly crisp the skin.

While the chicken is cooking, add all the sauce ingredients to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered until the liquid reduces to a thin glaze.

Toss the grilled chicken wings in the sauce until evenly coated and serve.
END QUOTE

This was the first time I've put baking powder in a marinade but it is certainly something I'll be doing again! I loved the texture of the chicken skin, which crisped up nicely even when baked, as I chose to do. My only regret is that I didn’t use plumper wings here. The sauce was very tasty and made for delicious wings that reminded me of my own Malaysian relatives’ much-missed cooking.

Next week, we stay in the Midwest to bake another savory treat while solving a murder mystery on the water. Do join me!

It’s hard to wrap murder, mystery, and family into a tidy bow. Mia P. Manansala, author of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, has successfully pulled off this feat in her latest release, Homicide and Halo-Halo.

Family ties are immediately apparent as the families of both main character of the series, Lila Macapagal, and the murder victim—and sexual predator—Rob Thompson’s relatives are integral to the story. For Lila this manifests in all aspects of her personal and professional life. She still lives in her family home, regularly contributes desserts to the family restaurant, and leans on the investigative gossip skills of her aunties to probe into answers surrounding the murder of Rob Thompson, patron and fellow judge of the town’s beauty pageant. Rob’s family is responsible for the industry in the town and have long used their wealth and influence to act in any manner they like. Because of his history of lewd and unforgivable behavior, the list of possible suspects for his murder is long. Though the Thompson family is responsible for her returning to the pageant scene as a judge, Lila has no intention of getting to the bottom of who did him in after she and a fellow judge stumble upon his body—primarily because she is dealing with PTSD from the last time she investigated a murder—until everyone begins to blame her cousin for the murder. Unfortunately, Lila’s cousin was seen openly reprimanding Rob for hitting on her teenage pageant protege before he was found dead and has motive as a former pageant contestant who lost to Lila due to an accident. Fortunately, Lila finds herself drawn into situations with people who have more motive for seeing Rob dead: his calculating wife, passed over older sister, a person he blackmailed, and some underhanded pageant moms.

This is definitely a cozy mystery for those who want all the familiar beats of the genre along with compelling character dynamics. Yes, Lila investigates the murder like all of the protagonists in mystery series but her personal and professional conflicts are given as much time and develop in the story as the mystery itself. Her avoidance of failure mirrors the reality of how hard it is to balance everyday needs and responsibilities when you feel off balance. As a big fan of the genre, I found this a satisfying read, even without reading the first book in the series. If you’re interested in strong family/friend relationships, personal growth as an adult, town intrigue, and cozy mystery drama, you should give Homicide and Halo-Halo a try.