This is book 3 in the Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe cozy series. It can be read as a stand alone but I have enjoyed the previous books. Kate is decorated for the Halloween season and is coming up with some creative menu ideas to get the public inside for ice cream in cold Hudson Valley. Kate is given a large amount of money to let a film crew use her store for an afternoon's shooting. Sounds good until the star drops dead after eating a spoon of her ice cream. A good cozy to solve with some great characters to fall in love with. I enjoyed the story a little more because I scooped ice cream many years ago in my teens. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Last Licks by Cynthia Baxter is the third book in the Lickety Splits Mystery series. Kate, owner of Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe, is thrilled when a movie crew wants to use her shop to film a scene. When the rising starlet in the scene dies in the shop, Kate sets out to solve the murder and save her shop's reputation. This is a fun series both with the setting and the characters. There are several twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to more from this light-hearted series.

I love the cover! I like reading the ice cream facts at the beginning of each chapter, I think it's a nice touch. There's nothing different I can say from the second book in the series - great characters, great setting, great mystery. I felt like I was part of and not just reading a book. Lots of creativity in that ice cream shoppe! I look forward to reading more.

I loved this latest edition in the series. The characters and their relationships are continuing to develop and the ice cream flavors are sounding even more yummy. The mystery moved at a nice pace and with just enough twists and turns.

This one kept me reading late into the night! I can't wait for the next one in the series.

Today's book is Last Licks and was written by Cynthia Baxter. This book is the third in the Lickety Splits Mystery series, a contemporary romance series. I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy from Kensington through NetGalley.

I was impressed by Kate's wit and protectiveness of not only her business but also of her family and community. I wonder why the author didn't include more interactions with the authorities. This is similar to Kathy Krevat's Gourmet Cat Mystery. The most interesting part was discovering the truth about the rival starlet.

The overall plot development was done quickly but effectively as there was a good amount of dialogue to action and included a back story, so 8 points. The overall character development was done well as the characters story lines did not evolve just around the mystery, so 8 points. The overall layout was done excellently as the chapters were evenly paced even with a quick time line, so 8 points. So the final grade is 80% or 5 stars. Yes, I would recommend this books. Those who enjoy female heroine, light dusting of romance, Hollywood drama and ice cream may have their next read. Those who do not enjoy corrupt politics, small town living, and limit authority involvement may need to keep searching.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Do not read this book on an empty stomach if you love ice cream. You will be drooling all over your Kindle. Lickety Splits becomes the set for a big Hollywood movie with an up and coming starlet playing the lead role. Everything is magical for Kate until she serves the star a bowl of her ice cream and the actress is poisoned. While there is plenty of negative publicity, Kate is not really considered a viable suspect but she still wants to clear her shop of any residual stain.
She decides to prod into the life of Savannah Crane both professionally and personally to figure out who wanted her dead. It takes her to NYC and into the Hudson Valley as she talks to the people closest to the actress. She comes away with the feeling that Savannah was well liked but may have stumbled upon something that was nasty enough to get her killed.
As Kate searches far and wide for clues, when all is revealed, she discovers, almost too late, that the murderer was closer than she ever imagined. This is an exciting tale with lots of twists and turns and suspense. But beware. The ice cream dishes sound way too yummy.
Five purrs and two paws up.

This is the first book I have read in this series but won't be the last, an interesting mystery and engaging characters i want to know more about i can't wait to read more.

Description
It’s autumn in the Hudson Valley, and Kate McKay has some tricks up her sleeve for a deliciously spooky season at her Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe. But with a cold-blooded murderer thrown into the mix, the scares are about to become a little too real . . .
Kate receives the shock of a lifetime when she’s blindsided by an offer she can’t refuse. An assistant movie director desperately wants to shoot a key scene at Lickety Splits and she’s willing to pay big bucks to sweeten the last-minute deal. All Kate has to do is tolerate a bustling film crew for a few hours and provide one important prop—a scoop of handmade ice cream . . .

But when up-and-coming actress Savannah Crane drops dead after spooning down some chocolate almond fudge, Kate’s first taste of Hollywood might be her last. Someone poisoned the leading lady, and with Lickety Splits draped in yellow crime scene tape, detectives are ready to cast Kate as the leading suspect . . .

Determined to clear her name, Kate finds herself churning through a long list of unsavory characters to catch the real killer lurking around town. As she uncovers the truth about the jealous rivals and obsessive stalkers who haunted Savannah’s life, Kate soon realizes that tangling with the late starlet’s “fans” could make this her most terrifying fall yet . . .

Includes mouthwatering ice cream recipes from the Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe!

My Review

This ARC book "Last Licks" was provided to me free in exchange for my honest opinion. The third book in the Lickety Splits Mystery series can be read as a standalone. But, you should definitely start at the beginning. The characters are well described and written to be believable and loved. The main character Kate has gone back home to run her business, an ice cream shop. Everything is going great when a movie director asks her for the use of her shop for filming. Of course things get sticky when the lead actress is found dead after tasting some of the ice cream from the shop.

Can Kate save her shop and can she figure out who is the culprit? Pick up your copy today and find out what happens in this great cozy mystery. And, as a bonus there's a recipe you might like to try in the book. I tried it and boy was it good!!

Last Licks
A Lickety Splits Mystery, Book #3
Cynthia Baxter
5 Stars

Synopsis:

It's autumn in the Hudson Valley, and Kate McKay has some tricks up her sleeve for a deliciously spooky season at her Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe. But with a cold-blooded murderer thrown into the mix, the scares are about to become a little too real . . .

Kate receives the shock of a lifetime when she's blindsided by an offer she can't refuse. An assistant movie director desperately wants to shoot a key scene at Lickety Splits and she's willing to pay big bucks to sweeten the last-minute deal. All Kate has to do is tolerate a bustling film crew for a few hours and provide one important prop--a scoop of handmade ice cream . . .

But when up-and-coming actress Savannah Crane drops dead after spooning down some chocolate almond fudge, Kate's first taste of Hollywood might be her last. Someone poisoned the leading lady, and with Lickety Splits draped in yellow crime scene tape, detectives are ready to cast Kate as the leading suspect . . .

Determined to clear her name, Kate finds herself churning through a long list of unsavory characters to catch the real killer lurking around town. As she uncovers the truth about the jealous rivals and obsessive stalkers who haunted Savannah's life, Kate soon realizes that tangling with the late starlet's "fans" could make this her most terrifying fall yet . . .

Includes mouthwatering ice cream recipes from the Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe! (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really enjoy getting to spend time with Kate and her family, friends and coworkers. They all get along great and care about each other. The relationship between Kate and her Grams is heartfelt, you can feel the love between them.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I enjoyed the Halloween setting and all of the decorations that were described as part of Lickety Split’s Halloween theme. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read.

The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a steady pace. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. Throw in some red herrings and it was not easily solved. I was surprised at who the killer was,which is great.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This book is a sweet treat, just like all of the ice cream that Kate serves.

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

Last Licks by Cynthia Baxter is the third book in the cozy A Lickety Splits Mystery series. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone however i highly recommend the entire series from book one for your reading enjoyment.

Kate McKay is happily living back in her hometown running her new business, a ice cream shop called ' lickety Splits.' i love how the author incorporates information on ice cream in every chapter. She has a good relationship with her Grandmother and is enjoying her new life. Her shop is successful and well liked by the town. When she is approached by a movie director to use her shop for a movie she agrees
When the crew is in the shop the actress drops dead after eating Kate's ice cream. Kate has to step up to save her business and find out what happened before she has to shut down her business.

The sleuth was well crafted, the charcters as always in this series are enjoyable. i look forward to the next in series and Kate's next adventure. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the ARC,. My review opinion is my own.

LAST LICKS, the third book in the Lickety Splits Mystery series by Cynthia Baxter, is a fun Halloween treat of a read filled with all sorts of sweets to tempt the reader. I love how each chapter begins with an ice cream factoid which adds to the appeal. Protagonist Kate McKay is owner of Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe and lives to dream up yummy and unique ice cream flavors. The reader will be drooling over the descriptions and Ms. Baxter’s writing makes you feel like you’re right there in the shoppe, tasting the confections. I also liked that she includes recipes at the back of the book for ice cream treats.

Kate McKay is a well-developed character and I’ve enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the series. Her relationship with her 18-year-old niece, Emma, and her Grams brings heartwarming scenes to the book while giving greater insight into her character. The murder victim is basically a walk-on character so I never felt like I could really care about her despite the info Kate digs up as she tries to find the killer. Still, the author provides plenty of suspects and a suspenseful reveal to keep the pace moving. If you like a delicious setting, lots of Halloween chills, and an entertaining cozy mystery, LAST LICKS fits the bill.

Last Licks by Cynthia Baxter is the third book in the cozy A Lickety Splits Mystery series. Each book in the series does contain it’s own mystery that will be solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. However, for those that follow the series from the beginning there will be some character development that carries over from book to book.

In this series Kate McKay had left her hometown after high school and gone onto college and then a career in Manhattan. However when Kate received news that her grandmother needed someone to come care for her Kate quickly returned to Wolfert’s Roost giving up her career. Once back in her hometown Kate decided she would follow her dream of opening her own ice cream shop to begin a new career path.

Now with Kate’s business in full swing she has an offer from a movie director that is desperate for a shop to use as a setting in a movie. All Kate would have to do is close for a few hours of filming in Lickety Splits and the offer is one she couldn’t refuse. However, while the crew is in the shop the actress, Savannah Crane, drops dead after eating one of Kate’s creations.

A Lickety Splits Mystery series is another I’ve been following since the beginning and have come to enjoy the characters and humor in each. One standout in these cozies are the ice cream facts that come with the beginning of each chapter, such a nice touch to spotlight the cozy concept of the series. And as nice as it was to return to the characters and setting there was also another solid mystery to be solved in this edition.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

As we go into this third book of the series we find Kate excited over an offer that will pay out some big bucks. There is an assistant movie director that would like to use Kate's shop to shoot a pivotal scene. The money would be great so Kate doesn't want to refuse, she can put up with a crew for a short time. Things start of well that is until new actress, Savannah Crane, dies while eating ice cream. Kate's first shot into making some Hollywood connections might just be her last. She can't believe what has happened and worries that people will think something is wrong with her ice cream. Knowing that she is among the main suspects Kate jumps right into the investigation hoping to clear her name. With so many stalkers and rivals among the suspects she knows that she must find a way to put all the puzzle pieces together. Will she be able to find the killer among all the pieces she has come away with it will This puzzle remain a mystery. This is a fun series that not only brings an interesting mystery throughout its pages but will have you craving ice cream by the end.

Halloween Horror Cozy Mystery
This book is part of a series and can stand alone. It has a beautiful setting, lots of moving pieces and a very surprising ending. Like the rest of the series, there is a bit of romance, a bit of country charm and a bit of delicious ice cream. The author includes a few recipes at the back of the book. This is a fun story that I enjoyed. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Reading this series makes me head for the freezer and pull out a pint of really good ice cream. With that in mind, I planned which flavor I wanted beforehand. (mint chocolate chip) Once that was settled I dove into this, the third in the series after Murder with a Cherry on Top and Hot Fudge Murder. I wasn't disappointed.
It's almost Halloween and Kate and her niece are trying to come up with some themed flavors to serve at Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe which she owns. Located in the Hudson Valley of Wolfert's Roost, it fits in with the small town appeal. That is until a murder intrudes on their Halloween plans. For a small business owner, money is always a concern. When Gram and Emma put their talents to work they created awesome decorations including a full size Frankenstein seated out front at one of the tables enjoying a triple scoop cone. A real attention getter. Too bad the other attention getter involved a homicide with Kate as the prime suspect. With money always an issue, Kate says yes, a bit reluctantly, when Chelsea Atkins shows up and wants to rent the whole shop for a movie scene. The eatery that was supposed to be available was shut down due to a fire in the kitchen and the filming is set for the next day. Her hesitation goes out the front door when she sees how much they will pay her for a couple of hours filming. Too bad Kate couldn't see what was lurking around the corner. The next day the filming starts, the young female star, Savannah Crane eats some ice cream and CUT! She's been murdered, the ice cream shoppe is a crime scene complete with yellow tape and Kate is top of the list of suspects.
This was a very satisfying mystery complete with a charming setting, great characters, a touch of romance and enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep me from spotting the killer - just the way I like my mysteries.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Last Licks by Cynthia Baxter is the 3rd book in A Lickety Splits Mystery series, and another fun addition. Kate McKay left her high powered job in New York to return home to care for her grandmother and open up her dream ice cream shop. Kate and her niece Emma are busy coming up with Halloween flavored ice cream flavors when a women walks in and inquired if they could rent Lickety Splits for a few hours for a scene in a movie. Kate is not sure it's a good idea, until she sees how much it will pay. When the female star dies after eating her ice cream, Kate must find out the truth. I really love this book, and can't wait to continue Kate's adventures in the next book. Not only is this book fun, it has a great mystery also.. I found this book to be a quick read, with twists and turns around every corner. If you love fun cozy mysteries, I recommend this book. 
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

This was quite a nice cozy mystery, fun to read and engrossing.
I liked the well thought cast of characters, the setting, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's the first book i read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Last Licks is the third book in Cynthia Baxter’s A Lickety Splits Mystery series. This is a fun and easy read, with well-developed and likable characters, an interesting mystery with multiple suspects, twists and turns, and red herrings. The reveal surprised me.

Kate McKay lives in her childhood home in Wolfert’s Roost, New York, a quaint Hudson Valley village, with her grandmother, Caroline “Grams” Whitman, and her eighteen-year-old niece, Emma Pritchard. Kate loves everything related to ice cream and opened Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe. Her best friend and yoga instructor, Willow Baines, Emma, and Emma’s boyfriend, Ethan Love, help in the ice cream parlor. Jake Pratt, a high school flame who runs his family’s organic dairy and is a semi-retired lawyer, and Brody Lundgren, who recently opened Hudson Valley Adventure Tours, are vying for Kate’s affection. Emma has outdone herself decorating Lickety Splits for Halloween, and Grams is on the Halloween Hollow committee, whose goal is to create a safe Halloween experience for the kids in the community. Chelsea Atkins, the assistant director of a movie being filmed in the Hudson Valley, makes Kate an offer of a substantial sum to film one scene in Lickity Splits. Unfortunately, the well-loved actress, Savannah Crane, is poisoned during the filming while eating Kate’s ice cream. Kate becomes Detective Stoltz’s prime suspect in Savannah’s death, and she’s determined to clear her name and save Lickety Splits.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Regular cozy readers know that Kate is not the one who poisoned the ice cream which killed Savannah Crane. Nope. Kate owns the ice cream shop and she stood to benefit greatly from filing there. Savannah, a hot young actress, had stalkers and haters and all sorts of things going on her life that weren't obvious immediately. Well, unfortunately, suspicion falls on Kate (it is her shop after all) and she's got to exonerate herself. Luckily, she's got good friends, a nascent love triangle, and a history of solving crimes. This has good characters and some nice info about ice cream (made me head for the freezer!). The mystery isn't too convoluted and while you might think you know who the killer is, think again! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is the third in a series but it would be fine as a stand alone.

*got for free from netgalley for honest review* Too cute!!!! First off, we had tons of extra Halloween candy this year bc the weather was crappy and i suggested cutting up the extra candy to make ice cream or cookies and eveyone acted like i was werid, but i must have been on to something bc they make it in this book! 😂

I haven't read the second book yet but i love this series, its so cute, i like the characters, it has little ice cream facts every chapter AND it has recipes! Its the perfect cozy read book for me!