Princess Fuzzypants here: Jenn is just about to pop as she waits for her first child to be born and her hormones play havoc with her emotions. Allie is determined to help in any way she can. She does not expect to investigate a murder. Jenn”s doula is arrested for the murder of her fiance and the evidence does not look good. But if Allie cannot spring her out of jail in time for the delivery, Jenn is going to have a conniption fit.

Allie’s boyfriend Rex is not crazy about her getting involved but he understands and actually respects her instincts. That does not stop him from being overly protective which is just the wrong thing to do when Allie is stressed by Jenn, the murder and her mother arriving unexpectedly with a former boyfriend with whom her mother expects Allie to live happily ever after. She manages to survive and get out of a pact with the devil so she can make sure the doula is by Jenn’s side.

She figures out the motive for the murder but she does not, even when she sees the clue that should have pointed the killer out, pinpoint the villain. She does, however, when confronted by the murderer, do something smart that will save her life. Other than missing the obvious clue, she and Rex make a pretty good team…something they both realize by the end of the book

Four purrs and two paws up.

This cozy mystery left me feeling lukewarm. While the premise promised intrigue and fudge-filled escapades, the execution fell short of my expectations.

Allie’s knack for stumbling into murder investigations on Mackinac Island has become the centering focus of this series. This time, Jen’s doula, Hannah Riversbend, is accused of killing her boyfriend, park ranger Matthew Jones. Compounding the situation, Allie’s mother arrives, hoping to rekindle an old romance between Allie and high school sweetheart Brett Summers. With Jenn in labor and Hannah in jail, the clock is running out for Allie to prove Hannah’s innocence. When she is not sleuthing, Allie must decide if she wants to marry Rex Manning since he is becoming bossy and only mentions marriage when another man shows interest in her.

This series depends on amateur sleuthing and fudge recipes. Unfortunately, this outing felt off and is missing twists and turns. Twelve books in, and the characters read tired. Anyone coming into the series would feel a lack of interest to continue with the character’s lives. “Three Fudges and a Baby” left me wanting more complexity, surprises, and depth.

I loved this addition to the series! The mystery was really good but what I enjoyed even more were the relationships all throughout it. The relationships between family, and between friends, between romantic relationships. I did find Allie to be a bit annoying but that’s just because she’s a character I really like and I was doubting some of her decisions! Overall a really great read, read it in one sitting. Thank you to netgalley for a free copy.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Spring on Mackinac Island means the "fudgies" are coming! It also means it is time for Allie McMurphy's best friend Jenn Carpenter to deliver her baby, but it seems Baby Carpenter is in no hurry to exit the safe, warm, comfort of Mama's womb. Her midwife and doula assure her that being two weeks late is no big deal but she is more than ready for the baby to embark on their trip down the birth canal so she can see her toes again.

Movement is a good way to start labor whether it be walking or waddling so Jenn and Allie walk down to the Coffee Bean to meet her doula, Hannah Riversbend. But when they take a shortcut down an alley they find Hannah holding a gun and her fiance, Matthew Jones dead on the ground. It is clear the woman is in shock and she says she didn't kill him but she was holding the gun.

With her doula in the slammer, Jenn is freaking out. She begs Allie to find the real killer fast. She can't give birth without Hannah. She is going to be busy making fudge but she can't let her friend down, so she decides to find out how to do it all, and oh, did I forget to mention her mother is in town with an agenda of her own?

____

McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop owner Allie McMurphy has her hands full in Three Fudges and A Baby and she rolls with just a couple of missteps, just as I have come to expect. Business is brisk and she needs to hire an assistant as soon as possible. Her mother makes a surprise visit and expects her to drop everything so that she can get back together with her old boyfriend because he has money and her current boyfriend, Officer Rex Manning is not good enough for her. Jenn is cranky and rightly so, being nine and a half months pregnant is not fun. And now Allie has a murder to solve. She is a fantastic protagonist and all the people Ms. Coco has put in her orbit are cleverly created and true to life, even Allie's mother.

The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of twists. Rex wasn't totally on board with Heather Riversbend being the killer but he had to follow the evidence. He takes a huge chance to help Jenn. He is such a good guy. Hear that Mrs. McMurphy! Allie gets help from the "seniors" as she and her puppy Mal try to figure out who has a motive to kill Matthew Jones.  Gossip starts to run rampant on the island and in a surprising turn Allie makes a deal with the devil. So much happens within the pages of the book that the pages were absolutely flying. The takedown was scary but I had the right guilty party at the top of my personal suspect list and that always feels good.

Mackinac Island is a special place that I have always wanted to visit. I may never actually make the trip so for now I settle for the virtual trips Ms. Coco takes me on in this series. I know there is nothing like fudge made by a professional like Allie, but the author includes easy recipes at the start of several chapters. I suggest picking one to make before you start reading because you will be craving fudge.

Three Fudges and A Baby is a wonderful addition to this series. It is full of engaging characters, sans a meddling mother and an intriguing mystery set on the #1 Best Island in the Continental U.S. The final paragraphs of the book are not going to make Allie's mother happy but I am thrilled. The teaser chapter has me longing for April 2025 when Fudge and Murder is set to be released.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

As always I’m always grateful and happy to return to the wonderful cozy world Nancy Coco has created. The island of Mackinac is basically its own little world after all, and Ally our main protagonist has to interview and manage the local populace in order to solve a murder mystery, and quick! Her best friend Jenn is due to give birth any day, but refuses to face it without her beloved doula by her side. Ally needs to help her friend, but her mother has also arrived with her ex in tow and is determined to see her married and moved off island.

If this is your first dip into this delightful cozy series I recommend going back and reading the rest to get a real feel for both the atmosphere and character development so far. Each book is as enjoyable as the last and well worth the time spent on Mackinac. Although following the predictable cozy format, there is a certain joy I get from such books. It’s not groundbreaking or surprising and much like slipping on a well used shoe.

As always, a fun romp with great characters and settings. Five stars.

Three Fudges and a Baby: A Candy-Coated Mystery Book 12
By Nancy Coco
Kensington
April 2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s April on Mackinac Island, and The Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop’s owner Allie McMurphy is preparing for the Spring tourist season to resume. Her best friend Jenn Carpenter is also very pregnant and ready to pop, and even though she is two weeks overdue she is relieved to have hired doula Hannah Riversbend to help her give birth. That relief ends when Allie and Jenn find Hannah standing over a body holding a gun, and having her doula suspected of murder sends Jenn into a spiral of panic and hysteria. She demands that Allie once again delve into an investigation and prove that Hannah is innocent, as without her doula Jenn states that she will refuse to give birth. It’s not the best time for Allie to meddle in an official investigation, as she’s questioning her relationship with the investigating Officer Rex Manning just as her mother arrives with Allie’s ex for a visit. Allie’s mother is pushing for a reconciliation between the former couple, especially since the ambitious Brett is aiming to be the next governor and needs Allie’s help in smoothing the way for his development plans. At the risk of alienating Rex even more, Allie begins to look into the exes of the victim, several of whom were angry enough to have wanted him dead.

It’s easy to get frustrated with Allie as she is bulldozed over by her mother’s insistence on marrying a rich man and Jenn’s hormone-induced demands to investigate. So it’s a relief when Allie does stand up for herself and decide to pursue the path she wants. That doesn’t mean that she still doesn’t insert herself rather dangerously into the investigation though, or that she won’t have to juggle the attentions of multiple men. Delicious recipes ranging from Easy Cappuccino Fudge to Raspberry Chocolate Bars will satisfy every sweet-toothed cook, and Allie still manages to fit in her fudge-making demonstrations with her witness interrogations. Longtime fans will be happy that this 12th in the series includes appearances by the adorable Bichonpoo Mal (for Marshmallow) and the similarly confection-inspired-named kitty Mella, along with many scenes featuring delicious fudge varieties. Readers will be carried along with Allie and her investigations by the swift plot that leads to a reveal sure to surprise even the most experienced puzzle-solving mystery expert. Romance-loving readers who love to follow their favorite characters’ relationship challenges will find much to appreciate here as well, with a conclusion that is sure to warm up even the coldest of hearts. This is another entertaining and very tasty installment of a series filled with relatable family dramas as its lead heroine matures and gains confidence in her personal and professional life.

Can this series please go on forever?

Reading these books seriously feels like big, dumb fun. I always enjoy my time spend with these characters and I’m constantly looking forward to the next book.

As always, I absolutely love the recipes included and I’m excited to try a couple out.

Another fun and mystery filled visit to Allie McMurphy on Mackinac Island where we get to follow along as she solves the mystery that revolves around another dead body. It was fun to see how Allies best friend Jenn is dealing with her upcoming birth and running her personal life. I was glad to see what direction Allie and Rexs relationship is heading since they are a nice fit in each others lives.

"Three Fudges and a Baby" by Nancy Coco is a delightful blend of mystery, humor, and small-town charm that will leave readers craving more. Set in the quaint town of Mackinac Island, Coco weaves a cozy tale filled with delectable fudge, quirky characters, and unexpected twists.

Overall, "Three Fudges and a Baby" is a delightful cozy mystery that will satisfy readers' cravings for both suspense and sweetness. With its charming setting, engaging characters, and tantalizing fudge recipes sprinkled throughout, this novel is sure to leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

Highly recommend

The latest candy coated mystery finds Allie investigating a murder to clear her best friend Jenn’s doula of a murder charge. The clock is ticking as Jenn could give birth any day. Along the way, she also has to deal with an unexpected visit from her mom.

Another good entry in this series! I really like the character development we got with Allie here. The mystery was ok compared to some others, but it still was solid. This was definitely more character driven in terms of side plots!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

plenty of twists and turns, the recipes sound yumm,a d characters make you feel like their your friend ,

Jenn, Allie's bestie, is beyond ready to deliver her baby. Everything's in place - the nursery is ready, she has her midwife, and her doula. She's so excited! Until she finds her doula holding a gun, while her fiance lay dead on the ground in front of her. Jenn desperately her doula, so she enlists Allie to find out exactly what happened. Can Allie solve the case in time?

I really enjoy this series. I love Allie and crew, the mysteries are always interesting with plenty of twists and turns, the recipes sound yummy, and all the descriptions of Mackinac Island have me wanting to visit.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Three Fudges and a Baby is book #12 in the Candy-Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco.

This series has me wanting to go to Mackinac Island for some fudge. There was a lot going on. Ally has quite the deadline - she needs to solve the murder before Jenn’s baby is born. And her mom showed up with Ally’s old boyfriend in tow. I wasn’t a fan of Ally’s mom. It seemed like an open-and-shut murder case but it was more complex than it appeared. I really enjoyed the story and plan to try a few of the recipes in the book.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Allie McMurphy runs an historic hotel and fudge shop on Mackinac Island. Her best friend Jenn is pregnant and past her due date. Her Doula suddenly becomes the prime suspect in a murder and Jenn begs Allie to clear Hannah before her baby comes. Hannah was found with the gun in her hand so this will not be easy. Her getting involved will not make her police detective boyfriend happy. Allie's mom and ex-boyfriend make a surprise visit and complicate her already complicated situation.

This is the 12th installment of this series. I have only read one other in this series but that was not a deterrent to my enjoyment of the story. I loved this story and was sucked in from the beginning. Allie is the kind of friend we all need. I was able to guess the killer a little over halfway through the book but still enjoyed it to the end. The characters are so well written and likeable. The story telling is what I love most about this book. I can't wait to visit Mackinac Island again with Allie and her friends. Also, I am a sucker for any book that has cute pets in it!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read this book.

The twelve addition to the Candy Coated Mystery series is as fresh and exciting as the first. Allies bff Jenn is expecting and wants the birth to be on Mackinac Island. She has hired a doula help. But when the doula is found with a smoking gun sitting near a dead man, When she is arrested Allie and the Senior Citizens group set out to uncover the murderer. Thanks#Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

This has to be one of Allie’s craziest cases yet but hey, at least she didn’t end up stuck in a tunnel or a basement far but near, lol. I actually figured out the killer fairly early on and stuck with my guess while still enjoying the red herrings presented. Glad I stuck by my first choice because I was right. I liked the short and effective showdown, and to yay Allie for getting the evidence she needed as well. After twelve books, she’s getting really good at that!

I absolutely love what happened with Allie and Rex! They’ve been through so much in this series and it really came as no surprise. Carol and her senior book club ladies helped out again, but I believe Carol was happy to stay on the researching end instead of the action end! I always love how there’s a preview chapter for the next book included at the end, so of course I always devour that. I can’t wait for the next book now!

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

Three Fudges And A Baby is the twelfth book in the A Candy Coated Mystery series by Nany Coco.

Allie’s BFF, Jenn, is two weeks overdue for the birth of her first child. Jenn has decided to have her child on Mackinac Island and has engaged a doula, Hannah, and a midwife to be there for the delivery. Jenn has an appointment with her doula, and Allie decides to walk Mel and walk part of the way with Jenn. They soon find Jenn’s doula sitting on the stairs to her apartment holding a gun and her fiance lying dead close by. Allie carefully removes the weapon from Hannah’s hands and places it safely out of reach. When the police interviewed nearby residents, no one had heard a gunshot, but one person had heard them having a loud argument that morning. When Hannah is arrested and jailed, Jenn pleads with Aliie to investigate and get Hannah out of jail.

Allie has to manage her hotel, make fudge for her fudge shop, and try to solve the recent murder case. She also has to deal with her mother showing up for a visit with Allie’s former boyfriend. Her mother thinks that Allie should marry her ex-boyfriend. Her mother explains that he has plans for a career in politics and would be a much better choice than the chief of police of Mackinac Island. Allie continuously tells her mother there is no way she will start seeing her ex again, but her mother does not seem to know what NO means.

I love this series and am always looking forward to reading the next book. The story is well-written and plotted, so you feel you are right there with Allie and the island residents. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and believable.

The book also includes delicious-sounding recipes for the fudges that Allie produces at her shop.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this delightful series.

I have read nearly all of Nancy Coco's Candy Coated mysteries and this one certainly does not disappoint! I adored that Jen's baby is finally here and all the attention the event brings! Unfortunately, Jen's doula is found holding the literal smoking gun over a dead body and Ally has to find the real culprit before the baby arrives. With the help of her policeman boyfriend Rex and the Senior Center sleuths, Ally races to piece together the clues in time for the bundle of joy's arrival.

My thanks to Kensington Cozies and Netgalley for this ARC

It had been yet another hectic week for Allie, the owner of the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop. Heading to a meeting with Jenn’s doula, Allie and her best friend Jenn stumbled upon a dead body. Unfortunately, that grim discovery wasn’t the only unpleasant shock of the week. With relationship issues, mother troubles, and a murder investigation underway, one wonders if Allie’s situation could get any worse?

This latest installment in the Candy-Coated Mystery series is an entertaining addition. The book presents an engaging mystery set against the picturesque backdrop of Mackinac Island, featuring a varied ensemble of characters. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are mine.

Three Fudges and a Baby by Nancy Coco is another fun visit to Mackinac Island, the fudge capitol of the world. Allie is hard at work, as always, between making fudge, shipping it, presenting two demonstrations a day and running a hotel. She really shouldn’t have spare time but she seems to fit things in. Her best friend, Jenn, is due to deliver her first child any day now and much of the book was taken up with that as the murder involved was apparently committed by her doula and it became Allie’s responsibility to get and keep her out of jail. It helped that she was in love with a police officer, Rex Manning, who helped as much as he could. It didn’t help that Allie was the person who discovered Hannah’s fiance’s body with Hannah sitting by it, holding the gun. The DA saw this as a slam dunk so there wasn’t much investigating. This situation is all compounded by a surprise visit from Allie’s mother who wants her daughter to see the hotel and become a society wife. She even brings along the intended groom, Allie’s high school sweetheart.

There was a lot of emotion in this book, much of it stemming from the birth of a baby, but also with Allie re-examining her life. Maybe her mother was right and Rex was not the man for her. Hannah was still in shock and couldn’t really remember what had happened. There were suspects but none of them seemed quite right. It didn’t help that a shop owner saw Hannah and her fiance arguing the day of the murder. It was a confusing mystery and Allie had a little trouble getting hold of it. There were plenty of clues spread throughout the book to help the amateur sleuth who was reading the story arrive at a conclusion before the end. Thanks, Nancy, for another fudgey mystery!

I was invited to read Three Fudges and a Baby by Kensington Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #NancyCoco #ThreeFudgesAndABaby