Blackmail and Bibingka is the third book in the cozy mystery series Tita Rosie's Kitchen. In this book, Lila's cousin and Tita Rosie's estranged son, Ronnie, returns to Shady Palms, bringing trouble with him. When one of Ronnie's business partners dies under suspicious circumstances, and Tita Rosie receives a blackmail e-mail, Lila has no choice but to investigate both crimes with the help of her friends and family.
Overall, this was a fun mystery, and readers who enjoyed the first two books will like this one too. My one complaint is there were too many very detailed food descriptions at the expense of the actual sleuthing. After all, this is a book about solving a murder and not a food guide, mouth-watering as it was.

Yay for another Tita Rosie's Kitchen mystery!! I love Lila so much!!! I really enjoyed this one. When Lila's cousin comes back after over 10 years away, of course things happen. Lila has to figure out why her cousin is back and why his business investor mysteriously died. And you of course gotta love all the FOOD!!! Highly recommend!!

*Thank you @letstalkbookspromo and @berkley for the egalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

Lila and the gang are back! This time with blackmail, murder (of course!) and a prodigal son in tow, all in the backdrop of my favorite season - Christmas!!! Like the first 2 novels, this 3rd book in Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series is filled with yummylicious Filipino food and desserts, nosy but lovable side characters plus chock-full of Pinoy Christmas traditions. I am so proud of the author for writing a novel that speaks so much of what being a Filipino means. Love that she was able to showcase Filipino culture via cozy mystery. Despite being predictable, as most cozies go, I enjoyed reading this and getting re-acquainted with the Shady Palms people. I am especially happy that Lila’s lovelife has finally progressed! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 This is really the perfect novel to read come holiday season! Waaaah… now I am craving for bibingka!

Thanks to @letstalkbookspromo and @netgalley for my ARC. Reading this truly made my heart full!💖

Are you interested in: a cozy mystery about the black sheep of a close-knit family returning to wreak havoc?
How about numerous descriptions of sumptuous sounding cuisine backed up with recipes at the end of the book?
As the third installment of this series, it is very easy to get in touch with the character voice and return to her world. Yet, there are times where the writing suddenly takes the character from one scene into the next without transition, making it feel as if maybe you missed a paragraph or two.

Lila Macapagal is back to solve another murder. And you know what that means? There is more food. The fun and quirky friends have returned. And the Aunties are back!⁣
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I am not one who normally picks up cozy reads, but this series is SO MUCH FUN. So… now I AM that person! It’s got the cozy vibes, but also humor and romance, and a mystery that is always a headscratcher! Seriously - I can never figure out whodunnit and why - and did I mention the FOOD?!? There are recipes!⁣
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This newest installment of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series is just as wonderful as the first two books. This time, her cousin Ronnie is back after 15 years to open a winery in Shady Palms. When one of the partners drops dead from drinking the wine - he’s accused of murder. All the mysterious things start being uncovered, the aunties are cooking and sleuthing, the coffees and baked goods are aplenty... and it is Christmas!⁣
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There’s all the things you could want in a seasonal cozy mystery and it’s always great fun following Lila and her family!

Arsenic and Adobo was one of the first cozy mysteries I read and got me hooked on the genre, so I have been so excited to see where this series goes. I did a reread of the first two books leading up to the latest release, Blackmail and Bibignka to reacquaint myself with Lila Macapal and all of the wild adventures she finds herself on.

The third book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series takes place around the holidays, and I love a good holiday spin on a book, so I was ready for it. Like in the first two books, Lila somehow finds herself in the middle of a mystery. Her cousin is back in town after ghosting the family over a decade ago, and finds himself accused of murder. Although she doesn’t always trust her cousin, Lila sets out to prove he is innocent by finding the real murderer.

One of the things I love most about this series is the food. I can’t read it without wanting to try new Filipino dishes thanks to the incredible descriptions and recipes featured throughout the books. I love Lila’s family and how they support each other, and it was especially fun to learn about various Filipino Christmas traditions in this one. The mystery itself was a bit easy to guess, but the characters and the food make this book so fun and worth reading.

Thanks to @berittalksbooks and Berkley Publishing for the advance copy.

I am such a fan of this series and this one didn't disappoint! I loved being back with Lila and the crew around the holidays. I have to say this series just keeps getting better and I can't wait to read the next one.

This series just keeps getting better! Strong characters and another well plotted mystery and sleuthing.

I am so glad that the author continued this series. I am enjoying the family, the detective and the dentist. The food descriptions make me hungry too :)

I look forward to additional installments in this series.

I enjoyed reading Arsenic and Adobo, and Homicide and Halo-Halo first two books in Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series by Mia Manansala. I was super excited to learn about the release of third book Blackmail and Bibingka and enjoyed reading this book as well.

This was my first holiday read this year and cozy mystery being up my alley, I thoroughly loved the book with Mia’s fun plot and intriguing storyline which involved her usual charm and witty characters showcased through her characters.

With Lila’s cousin back in town, do we smell trouble? This book brings back all the known characters and Filipino culture with lots of food recipes!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted galley! This was my perfect holiday

why my nose was in this book:
you can always guarantee that hunger will strike leading to late night cravings of the delicious Filipino dishes and baked treats in this story
a good change from the usual gore of my beloved thrillers, sometimes you crave something lighter and this delivered
i love the aunties and have my fingers crossed that one day, they solve a murder mystery

Okay, I love this series, but also like why is everyone accused of murder? I mean, I know that is the point, I'm just like "PEOPLE COME ON stop being suspicious!" Blackmail and Bibingka is always mouth watering, talk about some serious food envy. But what always wraps me up in these stories is the sense of mystery. I can't believe Manansala's mind because there were some serious red herrings! I never read mysteries trying to be the detective, I always just kind of let it happen to me, but I am continuously impressed.

A theme I enjoyed in Blackmail and Bibingka is the way Manansala examines how much we know about someone. How someone could be hiding secrets that could be a disaster. We can hide secrets out of a desire to protect, out of shame, but also guilt. I love the different secrets throughout this book. Building on the previous books, Blackmail and Bibingka is grounded also in friendship and family.

Blackmail and Bibingka: A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery
By Mia P. Manansala
Berkley
October 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

For the first big venture of Lila Macapagal’s Brew-ha Café in Shady Palms, Illinois, she and her BFF business partners are planning Christmas menus for the town’s annual Winter Bash holiday celebration. Her family’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen restaurant next door has taken off and become a sought-after tourist destination, so the pressure is on for Lila to succeed and make up for the recent events that have plunged her into criminal investigations. Along with the usual holiday drama is the return of her Black Sheep cousin Ronnie Flores, who has been absent from their lives for 15 years but has come back to open arms from his indulgent mother. Lila can’t help but be suspicious of Ronnie and his track record of get-rich-quick schemes, especially when he shares the news that he plans to open a new Shady Palms Winery specializing in the coconut wine lambanog.

As Ronnie attempts to sway the family into catering for the new investors he hopes to impress, Lila is far more alarmed by the email blackmail threat that her Tita Rosie received. Its demands for $50,000 or Ronnie’s secrets will be revealed have Tita Rosie in tears but adamant that the police not be contacted. That’s going to be impossible when one of the investors is poisoned and police arrive, one of whom happens to be Tita Rose’s sorta-boyfriend Detective Park, the brother of Lila’s own boyfriend Jae. The drama between family members is heightened as the cousins battle through past wrongs and vie to be the most protective over their beloved grandmother. Wealthy investors, delicious Filipino treats, and pre-Christmas revelry compete for Lila’s attention as she attempts to balance her family’s needs with her instinct to protect them.

This third in the series – with a promised three more on the way – is a standout with its celebration of Lila’s family and their Filipino-American cuisine. Rice cake bibingka and the rice-pudding-like champorado are tantalizingly described with recipes included at the end, but it’s the memories and traditions tied to these treats that make them so important. Lila’s besties Elena and Adeena, along with fellow businesswomen Yuki and Sana, are a vibrant and very fun group of modern women supporting one another in a world that is built against them. Lila has grown tremendously since her first appearance in Arsenic and Adobo, with her confidence and family bonds stronger than ever. The same family obligations that tend to get her into trouble are the ones that also help to get her out, as the love from her matriarchal family is unwavering and constant. Even though Lila states that she is not as Christmas-crazy as the relatives who begin decorating in September, she has learned to love the town’s traditions that draw in even their growing Muslim and Jewish communities. Lila’s humor helps to propel her through the holidays and the increased pressure to help her rogue cousin, making this a lively and very entertaining read. The abundance of deliciously depicted treats like pinipig shortbread, pandan crinkles, and salabat snickerdoodles reveal how customs can blend together into a welcoming, multicultural celebration.

This series keeps getting better and I am so happy to hear there will be more to look forward to. Love the characters and enjoy the update of the cozy mystery.

Ohhh! It's that time again! No, seriously, we may only be three books in, but the new release of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery has quickly become something I look forward to. The latest installment is Blackmail and Bibingka, and it is pure perfection.

We're heading into the Christmas season at Shady Palms, which means there wille lots of food and festivals. And probably a murder or two, based on how things have been going here lately. Lila Macapagal will be at the center of all this chaos, naturally.

The odds of mischief and mysteries increase when Lila's cousin, Ronnie, comes back to town. The boy has always caused trouble, and his habits don't seem to have changed much as an adult. Though only time will tell.

“If you've turned up after all these years just to break Tita Rosie's heart again, I'll kill you. I'm serious. And Ate Bernie will help me hide the body."

Guys! Words cannot describe how excited I've been for the next novel in Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery. This has quickly become my favorite cozy mystery, and if you haven't given it a shot, please reconsider. It's amazing.

Blackmail and Bibingka bring us back to Shady Palms – an area full of local cuisine, colorful characters, and a couple of murder cases. Like many a cozy mystery, Lila Macapagal always finds herself in the middle of these investigations. Mostly because she can't leave well enough alone; it's an oddly endearing trait!

I love that this story takes place during Christmastime (though I almost wish I had been patient enough to line up the holidays). It added even more charm and whimsy to an already abundant setting.

Speaking of the setting, I think I enjoyed the setup more for this particular novel. More than the beauty contest, at any rate. This time, we're focused on establishing a new winery, which is fascinating on all fronts. It also fits in nicely with the food-oriented themes.

The mystery was enjoyable; the stakes were high (but not so high as to induce anxiety), and the characters were on point. Oh, and of course - Blackmail and Bibingka made me crave Filipino food like you wouldn't believe. So plan for that.

As always, I'm charmed by Mia P. Manansala's writing and cannot wait for the next addition to this series. Hopefully, we won't have to wait more than a year or two.

Another mystery in which Lila needs to work to solve in order to help a not-so-close cousin.

There's somewhat more of a romance in this one compared to the previous books, so it's nice to see something happening with that. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.

And of course, how could I forget the food? Like I said before...I'm always in a state of perpetual hunger while reading these books!

TITLE: Blackmail and Bibingka
SERIES: A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery 3
AUTHOR: Mia P Manansala
PUB DATE: 10.4.2022 Now Available

When her long-lost cousin comes back to town just in time for the holidays, Lila Macapagal knows that big trouble can’t be far behind in this new mystery by Mia P. Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo.

MY THOUGHTS:
I just love cozies and a cozy with Filipino characters, in a Christmastime setting just makes for a killer read.

In this third installment, we revisit Lia Macapagal, who is now running her successful Brew-Ha Cafe and dabbling in love with our adorable Detective, Jae Park - everyone seems to be enjoying the holiday season, until Tita Rosie’s prodigal son returns after fifteen years. Cousin Ronnie comes back to Shady Palms as the new owner of the local winery just outside town, and unfortunately Lia smells trouble, blackmail, and murder.

This is a great series, and reading any of the books works as a standalone. Manansala gives enough background to get you caught up. I loved reading this book that always gives me the cozy feels of a tight knit family, lots of aunties, mouthwatering Filipino food, and fantastic sleuthing by our beloved Lia. Such an enjoyable and fun read!

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, recipes, and Filipino culture, this book will be for you.

Lila works at a bakery in a town in central Illinois. Her bakery focus on coffee and Filipino inspired treats. When her good for nothing cousin moves back to town to take over the city winery, her aunt gets a suspicious blackmail letter. Then one of the investors is murdered. Lila takes it upon herself to figure out what’s going on.

One of the best parts of the story is Lila’s family. I know that in Filipino culture, family is essential. In other stories I’ve read, they’ve always been close knit with lots of aunties. I loved how Manansala wrote the family relationships and friendships in this story. You could see how close Lila was to her Tita and her Lola as well as how integrated their family businesses were.

The other nice thing was that, while I felt I was probably missing some nods to the earlier books, almost like inside jokes, I never felt lost. I knew who everyone was and how they were connected, even if I didn’t necessarily know how they got there. It made it easy to pick this series up in the middle which I appreciated.

The one thing that did start to bother me after a while was Lila and her tact for the investigation. Long story short, she had none. She very blatantly put her nose in other people’s business and never did it in secret. In fact, she confronted people violently multiple times. Like girl, come on. Don’t aggravate people and make it worse. The amount of times she verbally and even physically attacked her cousin was excessive. Pull him aside and have a conversation. I felt really bad for him after a while because any time he tried to defend himself he would get completely berated.

One other thing that I appreciated in this book was the very beginning. First, Manansala added a trigger warning. Even though this is a lighter mystery, there are still some difficult topics addressed. I appreciated the thoughtfulness. In addition to that, there was an entire glossary of Filipino terms with their definitions as well as pronunciations. I know that this is something that POC authors shouldn’t ever feel obligated to include, but I feel like it helps to educate those outside their culture who choose to read their books. I read books with characters from other cultures to help educate myself, so I greatly appreciate that it isn’t assumed that every reader will know these terms or make it their jobs to look it up.

This book is definitely more along the lines of a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries type of story. In fact, I would love to see them adapt this. It would be adorable and the next Aurora Teagarden. It’s not going to win any awards for its creativity or even the mystery itself. But it was cute and fun and I enjoyed how the holidays were woven in without being over the top. I will definitely keep an eye out for the next book in the series and a fun, quick read.

There are some stories that you just wish you could fall into. This is one of them. (Well, I could do without the murder if I feel into the story, but it's fine for reading about.) The Calendar Crew. Lila's baking. The amazing food at Tita Rosie's Kitchen. The characters and food are what turn this cozy mystery series into a must-read for me. (I even tried to search out some Filipino restaurants near me, but was unsuccessful.)

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In another cozy mystery full of Filipino culture, mouth-watering food descriptions, and, of course, murder, we see the return of Lila's cousin Ronnie, who left ten years ago without looking back and has suddenly appeared to open a new winery. But when one of Ronnie's investors drops dead after drinking his wine, all fingers point to Ronnie. Despite bad blood among the family, blood is thicker than water, and Lila can't help investigating the murder to clear Ronnie's name.

I felt similarly to this book as I have to the previous three in the series. It's an extremely solid cozy mystery, with interesting crime plotting and fabulous food descriptions, but there's just something off about it I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe I'm just not a fan of the author's writing style. There's nothing per se wrong with the book, the vibes are just a bit off.

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10