A cozy mystery that makes you want to pack up and move there (yep, even with MURDER!). Great plot, atmosphere and fantastic characters- everything that gives a cozy the charm we love! Another GREAT book in the series!

Book 11 in the Domestic Diva Mysteries by Krista Davis, The Diva Cooks up a Storm finds Sophie Winston attending an exclusive foodie get together, and one guest, Hollis Haberman brings his new girlfriend even though his ex-wife and son are also attending. This is not only a tacky move on his part, but he ends up murdered, and Sophie, as usual, decides to investigate on her own.

In addition to some new secondary characters such as the murder victim, the usual characters are included – Sophie Winston, the protagonist, Mars, her ex-husband, Natasha, her rival in everything domestic, and her best friend, Nina Reid Norwood, as well as neighbors and other friends. The books in this series are fun, and The Diva Cooks up a Storm is no exception. There is domestic advice from both Sophie’s and Natasha’s advice columns, as well as recipes. Since the books in this series are cozies, there is no graphic violence, sex, or foul language, and they are easy, fast reads. The conflicts between the likeable and relatable down-to-earth Sophie and the arrogant, difficult, selfish and unlikeable Natasha as both interact with Mars, Sophie’s ex-husband and of course, the readers of their columns make for interesting reading, and some difficulty in solving the murder without getting into too much trouble.

This novel is well-written, and most readers who enjoy the series will definitely be excited, as always, about the next installment to come. The Domestic Diva series is unique, the characters are fun, and the scenarios are fairly innovative. Incidentally, the Chocolate Truffle Tart with Strawberries is divine.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Another first rate, fast-paced Diva mystery from Krista Davis! I'm so glad to see this series continue.

A new installment in the Domestic Diva series catches up with Sophie and her cast of characters. Fun cozy, mystery.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

The eleventh installment in the A Domestic Diva Mystery series, The Diva Cooks Up a Storm, is a delightful cozy mystery. Sophie Winston is preparing for a mini vacation with her bestie Nina Reid Norwood….but then an impending hurricane changes all that! So to have some fun – they attend a pop-up dinner party. What fun….until it wasn’t – at least for Hollis Haberman (criminal attorney in his mid fifties) who has now had his last supper. But “the last supper” bit is not evident until the next day when Hollis collapses in front of his house. Hollis is taken to the hospital but sadly does not survive. We quickly learn that Hollis is not the most loved man in Old Town…having a teenage angst ridden son (Gavin) and ex-wife (a wee bit bitter I might add) as well as a young new wife.

So what is an amateur sleuth to do…but solve the mystery, especially when the first to be accused is a friend whom Sophie swears “could not have done it”. Prior to his demise – Hollis had asked Sophie “if there was a way to test food at home to be sure nobody poisoned it.” So this begs the question – who wanted Hollis dead? Let me tell you…no end of potential suspects. The path Sophie takes to eliminate each suspect in determining who the killer is is a rocky road filled with pitfalls and misdirection along the way. These twists and turns kept me guessing until the end….just the way I like my cozy mysteries.

The descriptions of food certainly had me chomping at the bit – especially when Nina was preparing for the trip that was not to be with Sophie:

“She opened the box and arranged the contents on a poppy-colored platter. Chocolate croissants, ham croissants, cherry Danish, cinnamon rolls with vanilla icing, and bear claws….”

I got a real chuckle out of a conversation between Gavin and Sophie:

“Gavin!” I playfully pushed his thin upper arm. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

He laughed at me. A truly lovely genuine laugh, like the one I’d heard often when he was a kid. “I’m a teenager, Mrs. Winston. I do stupid stuff all the time.”

I really enjoyed the “Dear Sophie’s” at the beginning of each chapter. I did fret about starting a series at book 11, but not to worry, there was enough introduction to the characters that I quickly became familiar with the inhabitants of Old Town. So this book can easily be read as a stand-alone.

I will most undoubtedly continue my stay in Old Town by picking up another book in this series…with the intent of beginning at book 1 of the “A Domestic Diva Mystery” series – The Diva Runs Out of Thyme.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught.

I can't even with this series!! I have no idea how she does it! This is my favorite cozy mystery series, hands down. The books are set in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Sophie and her semi nemesis Natasha are dueling divas with advice columns. On the side, Sophie is an amateur sleuth. The core group of characters are so well developed that you feel like they are friends of yours. I want to be Sophie Winston. I want a bff like Nina and a circle of friends like Mars, Francie, Bernie, and Humphrey. I have taken so many of her domestic hints and incorporated them in my life. Every book, Krista Davis brings in an additional cast group for that book's mystery. There are many players in the plot. Usually, I do not like books with too many characters because they can be underdeveloped and it can get confusing. That is not the case in this series. Heck, even the animals have great personalities. I obviously have favorites and least favorites of the series, but even the least favorites are 4 star reads. If you enjoy audiobooks or if you want to give them a try, this is the series to start with. Hillary Huber is phenomenal!! I cannot express how much I love this series and I want everyone I know to read it!

I am not sure how I am supposed to wait until April for the next book. I never want this series to end!

This was the first of the Diva series that I've read. I enjoy cozy mysteries, especially ones with recipes, and The Diva Cooks Up a Storm did not disappoint. There were moments of surprise, suspense, and laugh-out-loud humor, and I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes included. I didn't have a clue who the culprit was until nearly the end of the book! I'll definitely be reading more of the Diva.

Note: I received this book from the author/publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This series continues to be one of my favorite cozy series to read. I really enjoy the characters and how everyone gets along (or not, in the case of Natasha) and the town seems to be its own character too. The series balances all of the best mystery elements well- romance, drama, crime solving (my biggest pet peeve- main characters who are always overstepping boundaries and acting as cops- is almost never a part of the plots in this series), and good old fashion domestic tips and tricks. I really enjoy Sophie and find her to be the perfect protagonist for a cozy series- smart and observant but not overly confident in her sleuthing skills (see above, my pet peeve). I wasn't as impressed with this mystery as I was with some of the previous books in the series but I did have a fun time reading this and enjoyed the ride as usual.

I love this series by Krista Davis and am so glad that Kensington decided to continue this series. This book was definitely worth the wait! Sophie and friends go to an Underground Dinner and shortly afterward one of the people from the dinner ends up dead. A storm also hits Old Town and the power goes out. Everyone thinks that they know who the murderer is, but Sophie isn't so sure. Through her tenacious sleuthing and the help of her friends Sophie turns up clues that keep the reader guessing about who the killer might be. The mystery did keep me guessing, but the thing that I love most about this series is the friendships between the characters. They are so genuine and the way that Ms. Davis writes makes you feel like you are visiting with old friends. You could read this book as a stand alone, but all of the books in the series are so good that you'll want to go back and read them all! And the recipes are great too!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have only read a few books in this series, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story and had no problem enjoying this story. It might have taken me a bit to sort out the characters, but otherwise, it can be read as a stand alone.

In this story, Sophie finds herself investigating the death of one of her neighbors, Hollis. Hollis came to Sophie with fears that he was being poisoned, and it appears that he was right. With a new, much younger wife, a bitter ex-wife, and a teenage son who is having issues with his father due to his remarriage, the suspect list is quite full and keeps growing as the story progresses. The story is full of excellent twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Krista Davis has a way with story-telling. The characters all feel like friends, even Natasha, Sophie's frenemy, and the perpetrator was a huge surprise. The pacing was excellent and the dialogue and scene-setting doesn’t drag. This was an interesting and hard to put down cozy that I found myself reading quite quickly. The publisher, Kensington Books, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The opinions stated are my own.

Sophie Davis is back with another unique foodie spin on murder. Movable underground dinner clubs seem reminiscent of the Prohibition Days and it was a great vehicle for the story. We've had our share of bad weather and blackouts here, especially in the summer, so I really enjoyed Sophie's neighborhood gathering to use up food! I found Hollis' pre-worrying about poison a good way to set the stage and have there be all kinds of possibilities for the murderer. Great visit back to Old Town and many favorite characters.

I am so glad that The Domestic Diva series continues on with a new publisher. Thank you Kensington; I have missed Sophie so much.

THE DIVA COOKS UP A STORM is the eleventh book in the series, and the characters and setting are as fresh as ever. In this installment, Sophie finds herself investigating the death of one of her neighbors, Hollis. Hollis came to Sophie with fears that he was being poisoned, and it appears that he was right. With a new, much younger wife, a bitter ex-wife, and a teen aged son who does not acknowledge his father, the suspect list starts off with a solid base. As the story progresses, there are more and more suspects to consider. The story if full of excellent twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

My favorite thing about the Diva series is the characters. There is such great camaraderie among Sophie’s group of friends, and I felt like I was part of the group as I read. Sophie is relatable and a down to earth sleuth. Most of the other characters are likable, even Sophie’s “rival” Natasha, and the Old Town, Virginia setting is perfect for Sophie’s genteel manners. Oh, and the food! Sophie is almost always cooking something, and the descriptions of the meals make my mouth water. Readers should definitely check out the recipes included in the back of the book.

Davis is a fine storyteller who weaves a complicated and compelling mystery. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley.

Sorry, but the title did not live up to the book. Yes, there was a storm in the beginning that kept the main character from leaving town, and yes, Sophie cooks, but the title seems to be incongruous to what is actually happening in the book.

Unable to leave town and wanting to attend an underground dinner, Sophie stays in Old Town, Virginia and bumps into Hollis Haberman who is stumbling from his home gasping for breath. Since this is not Sophie’s first rodeo when it comes to death, and since Hollis had told her at the dinner party someone was trying to poison him, she is quickly on her phone summoning help – much to the surprise of no one.

With Hollis’s death, all fingers begin to point to his young wife Kelsey, but we all know that the obvious is not going to work, so Krista Davis does her best to confuse the matter and begins throwing more characters and past misdeeds into the mix all the while having Sophie in the kitchen whipping up meals for her neighbors to sit and solve crimes over.

Though not impressed with this book, I do have to admit that I enjoy the recurring characters. They each have their place in Old Town, and their interactions are hilarious especially when Natasha gets a wild idea and they all, in unison, roll their eyes.

Sophie is back with all her friends in book 11 of the Domestic Diva series. Nina and Sophie are attending a new fad dining experience, secret location, secret cook and secret menu. This one has a very upsetting guest list with recently divorced Haberman's both in attendance with a new wife. When he dies the next day Sophie needs to find why her neighbor died since he just asked her about food poisoning. Great cozy with all the gang. You can read this as a stand alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the latest in the Domestic Diva mystery series starring Sophie Winston, an event planner who dispenses advice on sophisticated living. High summer is taking its toll, and the Old Town, North Carolina in-crowd are looking forward to a cool evening's dining at a pop-up dinner party. Nina Reid Norwood, Sophie's neighbour, and her friend Madison Jenkins, have arranged this mystery location meal, with a celebrity chef and gourmet menu.
THE DIVA COOKS UP A STORM explains that amid the high-profile attendees dining at a historic house for sale is another neighbour, Hollis Haberman, who has divorced to remarry a much younger woman, Kelsey. Hollis Haberman fears that his first family may be trying to poison him. No chance of that happening tonight anyway... although his former wife Cindy and scowling teen son Gavin are present, glowering at Kelsey, who is nervous and scantily dressed. Sparks fly.
This town sounds fairly intimate, I have to say, as Sophie has a new boyfriend but is pally with her ex-husband, who also attends the dinner. Readers who have enjoyed the series may find this tale easier to follow. Another domestic goddess called Natasha, who has a friendly rivalry with Sophie, is also enjoying the meal. Next morning, Sophie is out walking her dog early, when a town resident stumbles into the road and collapses, apparently with an asthma attack. Or could it be something else? The EMTs need to check on everyone in the home.
Did I mention this town is intimate? A policeman named Wolf Fleischman, who Sophie used to date, appears at her door later. Seems the luckless resident has been poisoned or inhaled poison. We later hear Kelsey's version of her early life, and troubled doesn't begin to describe it. Can this be real? How did she turn out such a lovely young lady, or is she acting nice? The storyline certainly kept me reading.
At the start of every chapter, we get Sophie or Natalie's tips on etiquette, like cell phones at a funeral or how to oil your kitchen chopping boards. I am sure some fans read for this aspect alone. I also like that, to help a neighbour after a death, or to clear trees downed in a storm, the residents turn out in support. And when Sophie wears a skort, I found it is a pair of shorts with a skirt flap at the front. Always something to learn! This mystery by Krista Davis is typically lively and full of wry observations, and I assure you that THE DIVA COOKS UP A STORM is an apt title.

Sophie lives in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. She is divorced amicably from Mars and currently dating Alex who is a lawyer in town. Actually, there are a lot of lawyers in town. The firm of Dixon, Haberman, and Jenkins is getting smaller as two of the three partners either met their ends before the book started, or shortly after. Of course, the first death looks purely accidentally and unrelated to the second. And certainly not related to the third (not a lawyer).

Many of the characters are quirky and I enjoyed them immensely. Natasha, who must have had Emily Post as her primer when she learned to read, is quite amusing, although not especially to the other characters in the book. There is an charming, older gentleman who won't let anyone into his home and hears the voices of what he assumes are ghosts. The other characters include wives of the deceased attorneys, the son of the one who dies shortly after the book begins along with the trophy-wife widow. Let's just say that although the evidence points immediately to one person having committed murder, it is soon clear that there are others with either motive or opportunity or both.

A fun story, the only real drawback was how hungry I got while reading the book. Fortunately, recipes for some of the foods served and eaten are included in the back of the book. A great plus for me is that I have friends who live in Old Town Alexandria and am familiar with the area. I enjoyed imagining each setting as I read.

I had not read any others in this series but look forward to catching up and reading them all.

This is my first “Dva” book and I thought it was GREAT! I did not have any trouble figuring out who was who and that is amazing considering this is book #11! I have had so many books fail at this one aspect of writing.

Sophie is an event planner and somewhat of a notorious snoop in town. So, when a man she knows tells her he thinks he is being poisoned. She is on the case. Not soon enough as it turned out since the man was murdered the very next day.

The cast list of possible suspects is pretty large. And he is not the only person to die suspiciously in the recent past. I like that there are so many suspects and the guessing of whodunit was not a breeze at all. I had no clue through most of the book who I thought might have been the killer. Kudos to Ms. Davis for excellent plotting. The writing flowed well and I didn’t feel anything was left out as the book ended. No loose ends here.

I would have liked to see a bit more of her friends and possible love interests. Since this is the first book for me, I wasn’t completely clear on those dynamics. But just excellent all around.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely pick this one up. I will be checking out the rest of the series ASAP!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Oh how I have missed Sophie and all her cohorts!! I was so glad when I saw that Krista Davis was going to release another book in this series and I was absolutely not disappointed!!

This book had a great story-line, the banter between the friends was as good as ever and I am so happy that Mars got smart and dumped Natasha; if anything was a negative it was Natasha. I know she is a thorn in everyone's side, but in this round, she is mean. And petty. And way worse than she has been in previous outings and that truly bothered me. It was one of the reasons the book didn't go to 5 stars for me - all of Natasha's "helpful hints", her chasing of Jay Charles [and her wanting to "help" him] were mean and snarky and I was disappointed in the direction that the author is taking her. I hope that things clear up in that department by the next book.

I am so glad that I got to read this book and I thank both NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have not read all the books in this series but thinking I may start with the first and work my way through. I like the character of Sophie and thought the mystery a little predictable but ok. The food descriptions made me want to cook dinner. ( well almost). I recommend this book for cozy foodie fans . Thanks netgalley for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review