I have loved all of the books I have read in the Candy-Coated series by Nancy Coco. They never fail to bring a smile to my face. There is the expected murder mystery in which Allie finds herself working to help solve. The characters are so well developed and you will enjoy spending time again with the people of Mackinac Island and the McMurphy. It has been so much fun watching relationships develop … especially between Allie and Rex Manning. Between the mystery, Allie’s mother’s interference with her wedding, and the delicious fudge options described, you will be flipping through the pages as fast as you can. While you could read this as a standalone, I strongly encourage you to go back to the first in the series and get lost in the pages as you will fall in love with Allie and her peeps.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Contemporary
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It has been fun following Allie as she went through several romances before realizing Rex was “the one” as she solved murder after murder, often to the chagrin of Rex as she put herself in danger. Their wedding is coming up fast and everything is all set until two things happen. There is a murder involving one of her friends and her mother arrives. The latter is far worse than the former. Allie and her book club are determined to prove Myrtle’s innocence and her mother is determined to change everything about Allie’s wedding to suit herself. There was actually more suspense to see what it would be that finally forced Allie to confront her mother and say enough. I think I would have sent her packing after the first couple of attempts to undermine her. But it did take longer.

In fact, the whole business with her mother and her various obnoxious relatives forced the mystery into second place. It was all engrossing but the mystery had a wonderful final twist that was deserving of the top spot. I do hope the series will continue. Each time I read one of the stories, I want to book a trip to the island. Five purrs and two paws up.

In this book the murder mystery takes a back seat not to Allie's wedding, but to her stuck up family. I really wanted her to stand up for herself and so being a doormat. This is the reason boundaries exist. I suppose the mystery was good, but it took a back seat to the family drama. I enjoy the series Judy not this particular book.

Heading back to Mackinac Island with Allie McMurphy each year feels like a little trip to my happy place, especially since my own family vacations in Michigan. I’ve been a long-time reader of the Fudge Shop Mysteries, and Fudge and Marriage was another cozy, murder-filled treat!

This time, Allie is getting ready to finally marry Rex, Mackinac’s finest (literally and romantically), but of course, nothing can ever be simple. Between her overbearing mother arriving two weeks early and a fresh murder on the island (naturally), Allie has her hands full. I mean… a wedding AND a whodunnit? Only Allie could manage both with fudge-making flair.

I loved returning to the island’s idyllic charm, complete with the fudge shop, the quirky locals, and that perfect small-town murder mystery energy. The mystery kept me guessing, the family drama gave it an extra kick, and the island setting brought all the nostalgia. Nancy Coco always knows how to balance sweetness with suspense.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Fudge maker Allie McMurphy and police officer Rex Manning’s wedding is just a couple of weeks away, and they want all their friends on Mackinac Island to attend, followed by a huge potluck. But Allie’s mother has other ideas. She expects a more fancy affair and has arrived two weeks early, along with her siblings and their spouses, to make sure the event meets her high standards. Everything from Allie’s dress to who can attend has turned her mother into a Momzilla.

While the last thing Rex and Allie need is a murder investigation, that is exactly what they get when Allie finds Velma French outside the library, dead with her bashed in and her friend/enemy Mrytle by her side, not too far from a rock/murder weapon. It isn’t long before Allie, assisted by her senior citizen friends is pulling out the stops to find out who killed Velma. Allie has her hands full, though, with her mother, who is trying to control Allie and her wedding.

Can Allie catch the killer before her wedding day? Or will the killer ruin the whole affair?

As a fan of this series, I have been waiting impatiently for this book to be released. Nancy Coco did not disappoint.

Allie McMurphy usually takes things in stride, finds solutions when needed, and holds her family fudge-making traditions dear. In Fudge and Marriage our protagonist is truly tested. Not only trying to catch a killer, but her mother is driving her absolutely crazy. Her mother is from a “quite rich… millionaire rich family,” and Allie gave up her trust fund to take over the McMurphy. We know Allie’s mother was unhappy with the life her daughter had chosen, and the man she would be marrying, but the woman was off the rails this visit. Thankfully, Allie’s Aunt Ginny is a strong woman in her own right. The author could have created two more different women, and she did an excellent job. I love the relationship that developed between Allie and her Aunt Ginny. I also loved that when her mother and her family went too far, Allie reared up and really stood up for herself, her friends, and Mackinac Island.

The wedding subplot was very well-written. There wasn’t a Bridezilla in the wedding party, but there was surely a Momzilla, and I felt so sorry for Allie. She had the wedding of her dreams planned, but the daily stress from her mother was truly over the top. Her meddling set up an expected surprise for one character that could have gone several ways. I enjoyed the real sense of community throughout the story, but especially as the wedding day arrived.

The mystery was well-plotted with many twists, turns, and suspects. Again, Allie’s bichon/poodle mix Mal makes an important discovery. Everyone, including me, thought we had nailed down the true guilty party until a huge twist turns grave, and Mal propels Allie into a serious showdown. The takedown was great too.

Fudge and Marriage is now my favorite book in this series. The characters are well-crafted and feel true to life. I felt so many emotions as Allie dealt with her mom. The story is one that will make you angry in places, joyful in others, but it will also tug at your heartstrings. The mystery will test you. The ending was perfect in its own way. The entire book was a Perfect Escape! Now I will anxiously wait for Some Like It Fudgy to be released.

Our longstanding love triangle... or square... or whatever shape has finally come to a close and heroine amateur sleuth Allie is marrying local cop Rex. But it wouldn't be a Mackinac Island wedding without an overbearing mother of the bride and a bout of murder for Allie to solve.

I am somewhat sad to see Allie pick Rex--she never seemed all that into him, and there were other suitors I preferred. But the wedding was a fun new adventure and setting for a mystery, even if Allie's mom drove me absolutely BONKERS! The mystery was clever and it has just the right amount of hints and clues without being too obvious. I'm curious to see where we go now from here.

Thanks to Kensington for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

What a joy it was to have a front row seat for Allie and Rex’s wedding! It is in June, a week before Mackinac Island’s Lilac festival. I could almost smell the lilacs blooming through the final preparations for this happy event! Jenn, Allie’s best friend, is the matron of honor and the event planner. Jenn has tailored Allie’s dream wedding perfectly, and it is less than two weeks away. All necessary arrangements have been made for adequate coverage at Allie’s McMurphy Hotel to provide coverage so she and Rex can have a short honeymoon.

The nightmare began when Allie found one of her friends from the senior center, Velma, murdered, outside the library. Myrtle, another senior, knelt down, weeping next to Velma. Myrtle and Velma had been rivals over almost everything since they were children. Moments earlier, the two had a nasty spat in the library. The police see Myrtle as the most likely suspect, but none of her friends believe it, especially when she seemed to be suffering ill effects from seeing the remains of her longtime frenemy.

The nightmare worsened that day when Allie’s mom, Ann, a true Momzilla, arrived without notice, two weeks early with a few family members and friends from Detroit’s high society. Their arrival forced Allie send people with reservations to another hotel for one night. The next day, Ann and her entourage would relocate to the Grand Hotel. The “quaint” Historic McMurphy Hotel, in Allie’s father’s family for generations, isn’t up to their standards, yet they all expected Allie to give them rooms for free.

Ann, who had eloped with Allie’s father, thought she could change Allie’s complete wedding plan of having an outdoor wedding and reception to include anyone on the island desiring to attend. Caterers were to come and barbecue all the meats, and islanders would provide potluck. Mom wouldn’t even say Rex’s name. Mom tried to set up a cozy little wedding and reception at the Grand Hotel that Allie refused. The discussions sounded so real that I almost started to hyperventilate! Especially when, the night before the wedding, Allie’s mother finally found a way to drive a wedge between the couple.

Several islanders wanted Allie to help solve Velma’s murder and keep Myrtle out of prison. Unknown to Allie, her aunt Ginny followed the Mackinac Island news through the newspaper and her friends still on the island, and was so proud of Allie! Ginny loved mysteries, and finally divulged that when she was younger, she would look into various crimes and anonymously call the tip line with what she found. I came to love Ginny almost as much as Allie. They are both gems! Ginny was welcomed into the “book club” group of older ladies who slipped around to get information. The book club is a euphemism for when they get together to discuss what they have learned about people involved with the murder.

The regular characters are part of the reason that this is one of my favorite series. The people in the pages come to life through the author’s talent. I again learned more about both Allie and Rex, and began to understand more about Allie’s mother. The characters are realistic, and most are engaging. More than once, I thought “You go, Allie!!” The island itself comes to life through the descriptions. The murder was a tough one. It is hard to imagine that a person could be murdered on a sunny day, near the library, and nobody saw or heard a thing. I had a pair of pet suspects even while trying to find a motive. I was shocked and saddened to learn who really did it and why. I highly recommend this, and any of the other mysteries in this series. You will find a twisty plot, quirky characters, a close-knit community, and much humor throughout.

“Fudge and Marriage”, the fourteenth book in Nancy Coco’s Candy-Coated Cozy Mystery series, finds fudge maker Allie McMurphy weeks away from her wedding to police officer Rex Manning. She has her hands full trying to plan her dream wedding while fending off her mother who has a completely different idea of a dream wedding and her many relatives. The last thing she needs is another murder to investigate but that’s just what happens when she stumbles across a dead body. Will she be able to solve this murder before the wedding?

For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I did love reading about the wedding preparations – Allie’s idea of a wedding seemed perfect. The family dynamics are done well – Coco walks a fine line with Allie’s mother and, while there were a few times when I wanted Allie to grow a spine, all in all I thought the family situation was handled well (although I would not want her mother for my mother). Mixed in with the family drama and mystery elements is a nice sense of humor – I laughed out loud while reading about Allie’s bridal shower. The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects and plenty of red herrings – I was totally surprised when the killer was revealed. Cleverly done!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This one was tough to get through. The treatment of Ali by her mother was hard to read. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who may have been hoping that Ali’s mom might be the victim in this latest installment of the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book series holds a special place in my heart because I read it with my grandma. I will say that the last few books fell a little flat for me. Allie seemed a little immature in them and not the strong twenty-eight-year-old woman who investigates crime and runs her own business that we all fell in love with. Fudge and Marriage changed that. Allie seems much more confident and able to stand up for herself, which I really appreciated.

I also loved that Allie settled down and finally picked one man. Rex was a great choice for her. Although we do get to see a few of her past lovers in this book.

Allie's family descends on Mackinac Island like a hurricane. They think they are better than everyone else and disrespect the people that live there year-round. They even have the nerve to disrespect the Inn that Allie pours her heart and soul into. I absolutely can't stand Allies mother. She is constantly meddling in Ally's life trying to hijack her wedding plans.

We met one of my new favorite characters in this installment of the series, Aunt Ginny. She was such a fun character. I would love to see her more... Maybe even in a series of her own. She said that she has done some sleuthing in her past.

Overall the mystery had me guessing until the very end. I thought I knew what was going on but I was completely blindsided.

HUGE thanks to Kensington Publishing & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Nancy Coco enthralls with another Candy Coated mystery in Fudge and Marriage. Allie is finally marrying Rex Manning, police of Mackinac Island. . Her family are snooty and look down on the islanders and her mother is driving her crazy with the interference. Then an older curmudgeon Velma is found dead and Myrtle, her rival, is found close by. Whodunit? And will Allie survive Bridezilla her mother. Cozy with fudge underpinnings.

It is always such fun to read books of this genre especially when it is a cosy murder mystery that involves a food theme. This one was as much fun as I would have expected and I read it in one sitting. I loved Allie McMurphy and love that there is a mother that is annoying, a murder that has happened and of course Allie who has to sort it all out before her wedding day.

So much fun reading this book, I enjoyed the writing, the mystery, the Mother! And of course the setting. A good cosy read always has a great location to transport you to. Another great book in an already great series.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Fudge And Marriage
A Candy-Coated Mystery, Book #13
Nancy Coco
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Only two things might ruin fudge maker Allie McMurphy’s wedding: murder—and her mother . . .

June is always beautiful on Mackinac Island, which is why Allie chose this month for her wedding to police officer Rex Manning—definitely Mackinac Island’s finest in more ways than one. But if her mother has her way, that’s the last choice Allie will get to make. Allie’s the furthest thing from a Bridezilla—but it looks like she has a Momzilla on her hands. Why else have her mother and extended family shown up a full two weeks before the nuptials to drive Allie to dizzying distraction?

Honestly, a murder investigation is far less stressful—and as it happens, Allie just found Velma French dead on the ground beside the rock that killed her, with her rival Myrtle sobbing nearby. Things don’t look good for Myrtle, but all may not be what it seems. Allie vows to solve the crime before she walks down the aisle. But a killer has other ideas—and they seem to be focused on Allie herself . . .

Praise for Nancy Coco and the Candy-Coated Mysteries

“An enjoyable character-driven whodunit that mixes murder with a touch of romance and the requisite sweet treats.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Exciting, compelling . . . intriguing . . . one of my favorite places to visit, especially when Allie makes fudge!” —Open Book Society

Includes mouth-watering recipes!

Help support pet adoption—see details inside. (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Allie is just two weeks away from her wedding to Rex Manning and she should be very excited. But her mother has stolen her excitement. Her mother wants to change all her wedding plans and make the wedding that her mother wants. And if that was not enough, another murder has occurred. Now Allie has to find another killer and get her mother under control. She does not know which is worse.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by the actions and words. The mystery is well plotted and not easily solved. I was not 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 really enjoy this series and I am looking forward to reading more.

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

Thirteen books in, and I’ve reached my breaking point with the Candy-Coated Mysteries. What was once a promising cozy mystery series set on Mackinaw Island—a place brimming with charm, quirky characters, and the perfect setting for locked-room-style mysteries—has devolved into a recipe for frustration.

Let me be clear: cozy mysteries are supposed to focus on, well, the mystery. A dash of subplot and a sprinkle of character development? Sure, that’s all part of the recipe. But when the main course is hijacked by bridal drama and endless wedding dress shopping, I’m ready to shove this book under a rock and find something else to read. If I wanted to dive into family squabbles, I’d scroll through social media—not pick up a mystery novel.

Initially, I was hooked by Mackinaw Island’s allure—no cars, a tight-knit community, and a setting that seemed tailor-made for suspense. But this series has taken its charm and drowned it in whipped cream fluff. Now it’s all anthropomorphic dogs (can we just not?), police officers arriving last on the scene, forensic investigators whose good looks are inversely proportional to their intellect, and senior center ladies who seem to think murder boards are a competitive sport. At this point, the mystery itself feels like an afterthought.

As much as I tried to hold on, my patience was gone. Nancy Coco’s writing still has its moments, but this book feels like it lost sight of the genre entirely. I’m officially done with the Candy-Coated Mysteries. Unless Figg (OverKill by JA Jance) or Vera Wong (Jesse Q. Sutanto) decide to vacation to Mackinaw and solve a proper mystery, my suitcase is packed—I’m out.

Candy maker and hotelier Allie McMurphy has fought for so long to prove to the other inhabitants of Mackinac Island that she’s truly one of them. With her upcoming wedding to local police officer Rex Manning, she’s hoping to finally cement her insider status by holding a potluck reception open to all the islanders – never mind the fact that the only voice stating that she doesn’t belong is the one inside her head. After all, she’s picked up the McMurphy family mantle of running their hotel and fudge shop after her grandfather retired. Her community ties have only been further solidified by the murder investigations she’s assisted with.

So it’s a double blow when her interfering, disapproving mother arrives on the island two weeks early and insists not only on taking over wedding prep but also belittling Mackinac and its citizens in the process. While Allie’s best friend and wedding planner Jenn Carpenter attempts to run interference, Allie finds herself becoming more and more distraught as her wedding approaches, despite the many friends on her side.

Some of those friends attempt to distract her from her family woes by having her focus on the latest murder to rock Mackinac Island instead. Allie had been in the library, checking out wedding books, when she’d witnessed the latest squabble between long-time rivals Velma French and Myrtle Bautita over, of all things, crafts books. The senior citizens had been frenemies since before the term was invented, so no one really took heed of their latest argument… until Allie walked out of the library to find Myrtle weeping broken-heartedly over Velma’s bludgeoned corpse, a bloodstained rock at her feet.

While Allie is a talented – some might say inveterate – amateur sleuth, she’d ordinarily have no interest in getting involved, not with her wedding nuptials impending. But with the majority of her mother’s side of the family behaving in appalling fashion, going face to face with a murderer seems like an almost appealing alternative. Until, that is, a cunning killer threatens to derail Allie’s wedding plans altogether with yet another slaying…

I was quite impressed with the whodunnit reveal, though the murder mystery does understandably take a back seat to poor Allie’s family drama. Murder isn’t the only thing that threatens to call off the wedding, as the incessant meddling of Allie’s mom crosses one line after another. But more than one mystery is solved as the wedding draws closer. Allie comes to grips with more than one troublemaker, for a very satisfying conclusion.

There were four recipes included here, all for sweets, and I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Easy Dark-Chocolate Slow-Cooker Lava Cake

1 box of dark-chocolate cake mix
½ cup of oil
3 eggs
1 4-ounce serving-size box of instant dark-chocolate pudding and pie filling
2 cups of cold milk
2 cups of dark-chocolate chips

Grease the interior of a 6-quart slow cooker. In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, oil, and eggs for 2 minutes and pour into the slow cooker. In a medium bowl, beat the pudding mix and cold milk until thick. Pour the mixture over the cake batter, being careful not to mix the two. Cover with the dark-chocolate chips.

Put the slow cooker on low heat, and cook for 3 to 3 ½ hours until the cake is set but still soft in the center. Take the ceramic center out of the slow cooker, taking care not to burn yourself, and set it on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. Serve. The remaining cake can be refrigerated.
END QUOTE

I’ve never made a lava cake before, much less any cake in my slow cooker, so was highly impressed with how well this turned out! The cake was moist and springy, and the pudding on top was a deliciously decadent addition. The only less than easy part of putting all this together was beating the cake ingredients: box mixes usually request some water or non-oil liquid, which this recipe does not, making the cake mixture a little tougher to beat than anticipated. It all comes out amazingly in the slow cooker though, especially when freshly baked.

The lava cake isn’t quite as good after being refrigerated, in my opinion. While the pudding is amazing at any temperature, and the cake holds up well too, the layer of chocolate chips on top gets pretty hard. I’m not a fan of contrasting textures in desserts, though people less bothered by that than I am may well enjoy this cake as leftovers more than I did.

Next week, we head to the West Coast to make some tasty savory treats while investigating the death of a reporter. Do join me!

All does not go as planned as Allie finally gets set to marry her boyfriend Rex. First her mother and family show up two weeks early and all have their own ideas about what they want the wedding to be. As if that weren't enough, Allie herself finds a dead body and sets out to find the killer, but nothing seems to go as planned. This is a cozy mystery that keeps you guessing right up until the bride and groom finally get to say "I do."

"Murder, wedding, secrets, and fudge—what a thrilling combination for an unforgettable adventure! I absolutely love this series and have even gone as far as planning a trip to the island myself. It’s been such a joy to watch Allie and Rex's relationship develop, and now, with their wedding on the horizon, the stakes feel even higher. In fact, I think Allie finds the wedding preparations almost more stressful than the murder she’s investigating!

I’ve been following this series from the start, and it’s been incredible to see Allie’s transformation over time. Her growing confidence and determination really add a new layer to the mysteries she unravels. It's clear she’s becoming more comfortable with herself and her investigative skills. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds in the next installment!"

#FudgeandMarriage #NetGalley

A fun addition to the series! We finally find out more about Allie’s fiancé/husband, Rex, and his family. The mystery was interesting and I was surprised by the guilty party (I usually am) and I enjoyed investigating with Allie while dealing with her family’s unexpected arrival and wedding preparations. As usual, the seniors help with the snooping and I loved the introduction of her Aunt Ginny to the mix. Overall, an enjoyable read and a great addition to the series.

Allie and Rex are getting married, and her whole family signs upon the island island. Way earlier than anticipated. Allie’s team pushes her out of work and tells her to focus on her family and wedding. Just when it seems that Allie can focus on her nuptials, she finds the body of a woman who had just been arguing with another in the library a few minutes before. Now Allie finds herself not only dealing with her family, but also trying to figure out who killed the woman and why. Well, I’ll be able to solve the murder, or will the pastor be giving her last rights instead of marrying her and Rex?

I absolutely adore this series. I look forward to each and every entry and love how the characters lives have progressed over the course of the series. Allie is relatable and who done it. It was always well crafted with plenty of red herrings, leaving you guessing until the end. Each one reads fine as a standalone and allows you to go back and have the previous books to binge on if this is your first in the series. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

This is the thirteenth book in the candy-coated series. Allie is preparing for her wedding and her family coming to the island. A murder occurs outside of the library involving members of the senior center the Allie frequents. Allie has to balance wedding planning, family visits, and solving a murder.

I really love this series. It was great that we finally get to see Allie get marries. I did not like the things her mother was doing to change what Allie wanted for the wedding. I am glad her had her best friend, Jen, there to mediate. I love all the side characters and the setting of Mackinac Island. I can't wait to continue this series.