I haven't read the first book in this series so was a bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to enjoy this book as much, since it's the second book in the series. And while there were a few references to things that (I assume) happened in the first book, I didn’t feel like I was lost or confused all all. Calder does a fantastic job introducing all the characters, giving a brief background and how they relate to each other.

Pastry chef Kate and her friend Maxi find a body in Maxi’s yard and things quickly escalate from there. At first, the town is excited that it might be the body of Sir George Bly, the pirate who the town’s beginnings are based upon, but that’s quickly resolved and the ladies must try to quickly solve the case and clear Maxi’s name.

I had a pretty good guess as to who the killer was early on but it was an incredibly fun ride to see if I was right. I enjoyed the journey (and the cookies) so much I didn’t want this book to end.

I had some very strong reactions to the characters in this cozy mystery and got attached to some of them fairly quickly considering this is a new-to-me series. The characters are all well written (for good and for bad) and their interactions felt realistic.

As for love interests, cozy mysteries often play up love triangles, but I think that this is one that will be short-lived (I hope). While Kate’s ex-fiance (aka Evan The Jerk) seems determined to win her back, Kate seems just as determined to keep him out of her life. I came to loathe Evan within a few paragraphs. Like shouting at my book loathing. I also shouted at Kate’s sister for being such a jerk as well.

But the best thing about Calder’s writing – even though she wrote these characters that I loathe, I loved loathing them. I enjoyed seeing how Kate would deal with them. I actually want them to make another appearance in a future book just so I can see Kate give them what they deserve. How often can I say that about jerky characters in cozy mysteries? Not very often. Usually I just want them to disappear forever, but these characters were fun to hate.

I also really enjoy Kate and her friends, Maxi and the Coral Cay Irregulars. These strong characters and their relationships with each other that will keep me coming back to this series for a long time.

Fun cozy mystery set in a small town in Florida, It hits all my favorite things: dogs, yummy baked goods, and good friends. I read fast but flew through this book to see what happened. If you like cozy mysteries give this one a try.
I received this as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

Eve Calder is a new author to me. I really enjoyed this mystery. There were two mysteries in this book and really liked the small town aspect and the fun characters. I will definitely be returning for more in this series.

Second in the series, but you need not have read the first. Gentle, somewhat slow-moving cozy mystery within a mystery, set in beautiful Coral Cay, Florida. The emphasis is on the appealing protagonist's bakery, baking, friendships, and winsome dog. The mysteries - a corpse buried in the neighbor's garden; intrigue about a vanished pirate and his treasure - are resolved with straightforward clues and little suspense. Good for readers who want to spend some time in peaceful pages in a lovely place, soft with sea breezes and rich with the scents of baking, and every now and then a murder.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun and interesting cozy with the added dynamic of an ex who is a real self serving idiot.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

This second in a cozy series featured a pirate story and historical mystery along with a current body in Coral Cay. The author did a great job carrying through minor plot mentions in the previous book as plot points in this one, as well as continuing to build the community and characters in this adorable town. There was no sophomore slump with the second in this series and I'm looking forward to more.

4.5 Stars

This is the second book in the A Cookie House mystery by Eva Calder.

Basic premise: When they are digging up her yard to put in a garden, the dead body of what looks like an old but familiar pirate is unearthed. Before long they realize this isn’t the body of Gentleman George but instead someone murdered!

I like how the author paired the mystery of what really happened to Gentleman George and who the mysterious dead body might be dressed in pirate finery. I am happy to say that I figured out what happened to Gentleman George but the dead body mystery eluded me. Loved following this whodunit. It felt more like a whole town mystery than just a cookie shop mystery and I liked that so much. This book really gives you this sense of community.

I wish I understood what motivated Kate’s ex-finacee, Evan, to try to force himself on her during this entire investigation. He was there one minute being a big annoyance and then later just gone. I wish there had been more insight on what his motivations were and what happened between him and his new real estate girlfriend. Maybe I just overlooked that part.

Totally in love with this new series and look forward to reading book one and any other new books that come out in the future! Yay! A new exciting series to follow!

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

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.

I love this cozy mystery series! I’m not even mad about all the carbs I’m eating while reading it 🤣.
.
Sincerely the characters are fantastic. The setting...spot on. And the cookies, mouth watering.
.
I can’t wait to keep diving into this series!

Kate and Maxi are BFF's in Coral Cay, Florida. Kate owns the Cookie House and Maxi is a florist but they also solve crimes, in this case the murder of the man whose skeleton Oliver the dog dug up! There's a pirate festival in town so at first everyone assumes this is the remains of Gentleman George but noooo. I missed the first book so this was a standalone for me and it was fine. I liked Kate and Maxi (great dialogue), the sense of of place, and the mystery (both the identity and the why) was well done. It's a classic cozy minus, oddly for a book about a pastry chef, recipes. Oh well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to more from Calder.

Sugar and vice will keep you turning the pages in this book. The characters are diverse and intriguing. With the help of Oliver a very smart dog two friends try to solve the mystery of the skeleton they find buried in the backyard. This mystery will keep you guessing up till the end.

This fast-paced and well-written light drama grabbed my attention immediately and didn’t let go until the last page was read. The tone was very comfortable making it easy to follow along with the characters. The mystery was nicely done with plenty of suspects and clues that kept me immersed in all aspects as the pieces begin to fall into place. There were several red herrings that enhanced how well this story was told and I like how they led us closer to the killer’s identity. Bonus to me was the interaction between Kate and Maxi and they really light up some of the scenes, especially when you add Oliver to the mix. Overall, this was an enjoyable and engaging tale and I look forward to the next book in the delightful charming series.

I enjoyed this book. Between the recipes, the friends and the pirates, this book totally captured my attention. I like the characters as they seem very approachable.

I thought the ending had a nice little twist. I'm looking forward to the next one!

The eagerly anticipated follow up to And Then There Were Crumbs contains cookies, pirates, pastries, and laughter and is sure to delight fans new and old. It's a busy time of year in Coral Cay, Florida as residents are gearing up for the influx of tourists that accompanies the town's pirate days celebration. This year there is added excitement when a body is discovered buried behind Maxi's flower shop. Maxi's best friend and local pastry chef is present at the discovery and it is her beagle Oliver who digs up the body. Immediately the girls assume it must be the body of the infamous and long dead pirate gentleman George Bly. George Bly is a local legend and with Pirate Days approaching the girls become excited with the thought that they have solved an ancient local mystery however the police and historical experts soon put these thoughts to rest as they discover the body has been in the ground less than a year. Kate and Maxi soon start their own investigation in the hopes of clearing Maxi of suspicion and figuring out the identity of this new corpse and how it showed up behind the floral shop. And as if that wasn't enough to handle, Kate's ex-fiance is back in town and intent on winning her back.
The newest in the cookie house mystery series has all the elements readers look for in a cozy mystery series. Coral Cay Florida is full of small town charm and warm inviting characters with plenty of sass and personality. The beginnings of a cleverly crafted love triangle that will satisfy those looking for some swoon worthy romance as well as plenty of cookie, pastry, and bread descriptions to have you headed to the pantry in search of a sweet treat. Ancient pirate lore is weaved seamlessly with the newer mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged and guessing. The mystery itself starts off fast from the beginning and culminates in a surprise ending few are sure to guess early. Grab some cookies and settle into your coziest chair as once you begin reading this delightful tale, you won't be inclined to put it down.

I could barely wait for this second book in The Cookie House series to finish baking, and it is just as scrumptious at the first one. The setting, the characters, the cookies (oh my, the cookies!), and lovable Oliver all pick up right where they left off. There are a couple new characters and an appearance by someone we may or may not have wanted to meet, but the writing is spot on and flows smoothly to a satisfying reveal. My only complaint? No recipes!

Although I missed the first installment of this series, the author provided enough background on the characters that I quickly caught up. While planting, Maxi finds a corpse presumed to belong to a legendary pirate. The Coral Cay grapevine alerts residents to the discovery. When an archaeologist arrives on the scene, he delivers the verdict the man died in the last ten years. Soon Kate and the gang begin investigating. My biggest complaint involves the choppiness of the writing. 68 chapters provided far too many breaks in a novel this length. Between the choppy chapters and COVID-19 distractions to reading, I found it difficult to concentrate. I'd give it 2.75 stars, but since I realize these are unusual times and my ability to fully enjoy any book is marred, I'm rounding it up to 3. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fun fact: if you look up "enchanting" in the dictionary, it says "Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder." This book swept me away from today's worries and dropped me right into the care-free Florida I needed. With a dash of pirate murder-mystery, a splash of plant lore, two shakes of baking, and a pinch of ex-fiance drama, and I couldn't help but be hooked!

This is the second book in the Cookie House mystery. This series is quickly becoming a favorite. I really like the dynamic between Kate and Maxi. This story had many twists and keep me guessing to the end. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

SUGAR AND VICE is the second book in the Cookie House Mystery series by Eve Calder but the first I’ve had the chance to read… and it won’t be my last! The action starts right off the bat and pulled me into the story and didn’t let up until the final page. Ms. Calder has created memorable characters with the protagonist Kate, owner of the Cookie House in Coral Cay, Florida, and her best friend, Maxi, a fiery Cuban florist. I loved the interaction between the two women and especially loved the adorable dog, Oliver, who “adopted” Kate but basically thinks he belongs to the entire town. The author does an excellent job weaving in an ancient pirate mystery with a current day murder. There were plenty of clues and several twists to keep the reader guessing. With a satisfying conclusion that wrapped up the threads of the story, I’m looking forward to the next book in this delightful series. The only downside of the book is Kate bakes up so many incredibly yummy sounding cookies for the Cookie House that I craved a plateful of cookies. Unfortunately, there aren’t any recipes included.

Settling in at the Cookie House in Coral Key, FL, Kate McGuire finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation when a body is discovered in the backyard next door. Originally presumed to be of a pirate, it turns out to be a less than a year old. Between the body, a cookie contest, and a pirate festival, Kate doesn't need the arrival of her ex-fiancee who's determined to rekindle the embers of their relationship. Fun and a quick read. Rounding up from 3 1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed Sugar and Vice. The friendship between Kate and Maxi makes the book really pleasant, along with the island setting, and all the mystery around pirate Sir George. I like the fact that the book is character driven, and there was enough said about Kate's background story to make her an interesting character. From the instant the body was discovered, I wanted to know who had been buried, as well as who was the culprit. I will check out Eve Calder's first book in the series, as Sugar and Vice sparked my interest for the previous book. I will definitely read the third book when its gets published. I hope other readers will enjoy it as I did. Highly recommended!