Sophie Winston is Old Town, Virginia’s expert on entertaining…and a foodie to boot! But she’s between gigs and when a celebrity’s ghostwriter disappears, she’s asked to fill in and finish the assignment.

Sophie had never considered ghostwriting before, but her ex Mars asks her to help former actress and now lifestyle authority Tilly Stratford finish her celebrity cookbook. The fact Tilly is the wife of Mars’ boss, politician Wesley Winthrope, may complicate things, but the paycheck will ensure Sophie can complete her much-needed bathroom renovation. So she steps up and steps in to replace the missing Abby Bergeron, who quit without notice and is now nowhere to be found. What happened to Abby and where did she go?

As the danger increases, Sophie works to determine how someone’s past history has led to two bodies and the discovery of one badly beaten woman. Can she find out if there is any connection and what’s going on before there’s another victim…or she becomes one?

The Diva Spices It Up is a fast read with interesting characters, a plot with enough twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest and some fun recipes.

The Diva Spices It Up by Krista Davis is the thirteenth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series. Sophie is looking forward to a bit of a break in between jobs when a ghostwriting job falls into her lap via her ex-husband Mars. Tilly is a former actress and current politician's wife whose former cookbook ghost writer Abby has dropped off the face of the Earth. In addition to Abby's recipe notes, Sophie finds a mysterious code. Sophie wonders if it has anything to do with Abby's disappearance. Add in a second missing woman and a woman beaten nearly to death plus a mysterious stranger and Sophie has more on her plate than just delicious food. The story is sprinkled throughout with domestic diva tips. While this book had tons of stuff going on, it all worked well together. It was one of those books that made me want to read "just one more chapter".

Oh my diva!! This was a fun read and one of my favourites in the series! Must be that lucky 13. This one involves a death of a ghost writer and our fave sleuth Sophie gets on this case. I thought this was a fun read, I really enjoyed reading about the celebrity cookbook and lifestyle guru Tilly Stratford. As a foodie myself I found this to be quite interesting and a wonderful afternoon escape read. I highly recommend this lovely cozy mystery.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Sophie’s bathroom is in desperate need of first aid but money is tight. When Mars, her ex, offers her a ghost writing job on a cookbook, it is an offer she cannot refuse. She is going to work with an ex-childhood star who is married to a rising politician. The previous ghostwriter up and quit then disappeared. Then the next door neighbour ended up in the woman’s freezer, and things just keep getting weirder and weirder.
Sophie discovers a coded message in the margins of the recipes that seem to imply there is a long ago kidnapping, spies and blackmail all tied up in the mystery of the disappearing ghost writer. Two bodies and one badly beaten woman later, Sophie is able to untangle the mess, save her husband and his client’s careers and stop an international spy ring. Oh yes, she also is able to solve the kidnapping. Fine work for an event planner turned ghost writer.
It’s fun, it’’s fast and it’s highly entertaining. Five purrs and two paws up.

Another instalment of Krista Davis’ Diva series starring Sophie Winston. Sophie agrees to take on ghostwriting a cookbook for Tilly, suggested for the job by Mars. Sophie is reluctant to agree to this but needs the money to repair her bathroom. While at Tilly’s, Sophie becomes intrigued by the fate of the previous ghostwriter who quit rather abruptly and unexpectedly. Sophie also feels compelled to find out the meaning of a code left in the book by the ghostwriter.

I enjoyed this book but felt the title was left not well tied-in to the plot. I know the important part is the plot itself but I kept wondering why Spices were mentioned in the title when they don’t feature prominently in the story. The plot itself is compelling though I was wondering why one part of the investigation was not carried out sooner but I guess the book would have been shorter then. (Not that much shorter.) But, I still enjoyed this trip to Old Town greatly and look forward eagerly to my next visit.

The Diva Spices it Up: A Domestic Diva Mystery
By Krista Davis
Kensington
May 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

When Domestic Diva Sophie Winston spots a suitcase floating in the Potomac, she immediately assumes the worse. After all, she’s no stranger to murder and mayhem, having encountered killers over a dozen times. After being laughed at by the 911 operator though, Sophie puts it to the side as she has to deal with a more immediate complication. Her ex-husband Mars has offered up Sophie’s services as a cookbook ghostwriter to Tilly Stratford, a former teen television star and current wife of Congressman Wesley Winthrop. It seems that Tilly’s former cookbook author ghosted her, and after being charmed by the insecure and vulnerable celebrity Sophie finds herself with only three weeks to create a cookbook from Tilly’s unwritten family recipes.

As Sophie test-cooks recipes and attempts to decipher strange abbreviations, she is led down the trail of the writer’s disappearance. Not only had Abby Bergeron been dating Mars, her disappearance coincides with the body Sophie and her friend Nina Red Norwood find in Abby’s large freezer. While Sophie’s police investigator ex-boyfriend warns her away from the investigation, pleas from both Mars and her eternal nemesis/frenemy prevent that. Rival (in her mind, anyway) TV host Natasha Smith had recently discovered a half-sister due to a DNA family search, but Charlene Smith was brutally beaten into unconsciousness before they could meet. Unable to believe that all of recent criminal activities could be unrelated, Sophie and Nina begin tracking the paths of the various missing women and those who would want them out of the picture…permanently.

This lucky 13th in the series continues to delight readers with the complicated life of the advice columnist Sophie Winston. Her practical, often ingenious tips on cooking and entertaining are not only helpful, they provide hilarious contrasts with the pretentious Natasha. The Gwyneth Paltrow Goop-ish consultations have Natasha advising the gifts of licorice root, saffron, and ghost chili pepper as spices for a new homemaker, while Sophie wisely suggests oregano, cinnamon, and of course salt and pepper. By now readers will have grown to accept the outrageous behavior and over-the-top demands of Natasha, not to mention Mars’ accustomed intrusiveness into Sophie’s life. A new intriguing element to this latest installment has Sophie sparring with Benton Bergeron, Abby’s ex-husband who is making spy-like dead drops around Old Town Alexandria. Mouth-watering recipes, adorable pets, and creative domestic advice all deliver the reliably crafted cozy mystery readers have come to expect, with code-breaking and spy-intrigue pushing it over the top. Even a crumbling bathroom renovation is deftly handled by the sure-footed Sophie, who capably tackles domestic living along with attacks on her actual life. The Domestic Diva’s future looks to be very bright and even more hilarious, which will more than satisfy her fictional fans and very real readers.

I read and loved The Diva Spices It Up by Krista Davis in one sitting on Tuesday night. I could not put it down. This is a series I fell in love with years ago with book 5, the first I had read in the series, I quickly ordered the previous 4 and have read every one since. In the Diva Spices it up there were so many twists and turns and so much wonderfully addicting plot lines. Everything blended and meshed so well together, there was so much mystery, plenty of crimes, mouth watering recipes and deep relationship themes. This book was action packed, it was endearing, it was full of surprises. Krista Davis absolutely spiced this 13th book in the series up!

An interesting and intriguing cozy mystery with great thrill factors and characters. Sophie has a nosey disposition and quickly found herself entwined in a murder mystery. It is filled with great recipes and other tidbits.

Another fun instalment in the Domestic Diva series! An intriguing mystery, lots of small town charm, and mouth-watering food descriptions made for an enjoyable read. I felt that one of the side mysteries was handled somewhat strangely in the reveal / how the character reacted to certain information but other then that I liked this and will read the next in the series.

I love Sophie and the other wonderful characters in the Domestic Diva books. Krista Davis has a talent for developing characters that feel like your friends that you visit in each installment and her descriptions of Old Town Alexandria really paint a picture for the reader. In this book Sophie is helping a congressman's wife finish her cookbook after her previous ghostwriter quits unexpectedly. This was definitely a new twist to Sophie's career. Although she is always making wonderful meals and desserts in the previous books, so this isn't too far out of her realm of expertise. I love that recipes for some of the dishes are always included in the back of the book too. Sophie notices some strange things happening in town and has to work to put the pieces of the many puzzles together in this one, but it comes together in a satisfying conclusion. I always look forward to the new books in this series and can't wait for the next one!

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It was nice returning to this series. The plot was engaging, complex and well written. The descriptive writing is good and I also really liked the characters

This book follows Sophie who is brought in by her ex- Mars to help his clients wife ghostwriting her cookbook, when the previous cook disappeared and quit. Tilly hires Sophie very quickly and Sophie can't help but wonder what happened to the previous cook Abby Bergeron. As Sophie begins to try to piece together what happened strange things happen which make Sophie really wonder what is up!

Soon bodies are piling up and Sophie finds herself with more questions that answers. Sophie can't rap her head around all that is going on and it's going to take a duo to straighten all this stuff out. Will Sophie figure it out in time or will her number be up as well?

I love Sophie she's great she doesn't pretend to be what she isn't. She's so down to earth and someone you could talk to and be friends with and every time I visit Old Town I feel like it's going back to visit a group of friends you haven't seen in a while but you know the time hasn't changed the friendship.

I have no idea how this phenomenal series continues to get better, but Krista Davis makes it happen. I had binge read this series, books 1-11, and reading each new installment makes me feel like I am reuniting with old friends. I cannot say enough about the core characters of this series. Not only are they extremely well developed but you actually feel like you are a part of their world.

In this installment of the series, Sophie is ready for some R&R until Mars has her hired out as a ghost writer for a cookbook for one of his clients' wives. In need of a major bathroom renovation, Sophie takes on the job. How hard can it be to write recipes?? This should be a breeze until people around this group begin going missing and dead bodies start popping up. There seems to be many with secrets, the question is, who is willing to kill to keep them buried?

I can never get enough of these books. Once I start them, I devour them, then I am devastated that I have to wait another year for the next one. I strive to be like Sophie in my daily life in the entertaining of family and friends. I adore her friends, Nina, Mars, Bernie, etc.

This is by far my favorite Cozy series and in my top 5 overall. I cannot sing the praises for these books any louder. I recommend them to anyone and everyone, cozy readers or not. If you have never tried audiobooks and don't know if you would like them, this is the series to do it.

I have a digital copy from NetGalley of this book and the audible version. Hillary Huber, is as phenomenal of a narrator as Krista Davis is a writer.

And now we wait.......

Krista Davis' 13th Domestic Diva Mystery is a perfect reading escape ! Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC. My review opinion is my own. I have read most of the series and always enjoy returning to this fun cozy mystery world that author Krista Davis has created. I highly recommend this series. This book can be read as a stand alone however every reader will want to dive into this wonderful series from the beginning.

In this next in this popular series Sophie takes on a ghost writing gig to help pay for her remodel of her ancient bathroom. Soon she is deciphering secret codes and embroiled in a wonderful mix of mystery of two missing women, clues and secrets.

I love the charcters in this series and the complex mystery . I was surprised to the ending and enjoyed reading this mystery to conclusion. I look forward to returning to Krista Davis next Domestic Diva Mystery! A wonderful read.

The Diva Spices it Up by Krista Davis is a quirky, entertaining novel, featuring Sophie who is an event planner, sometimes, and has her fingers in other pies as well. Right now she is going to help finishing up a cookbook by a local celebrity whose ghostwriter just up and left. She is doing this at the behest of her ex-husband with whom she had stayed on good terms. It turns quickly to a presumed murder, then to an actual murder of a totally different victim. It was a cleverly constructed plot with twists and turns aplenty as well as complicated human relationships. It takes place in and around Washington DC so there is politics and even a little covert international activity. It was a thoroughly engaging novel. I full recommend it.

I received a free ARC of The Diva Spices It Up from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thedivaspicesitup

Like all the Domestic Diva series, this was a really fun read. I loved how the two senior ladies in town, Eunice and Francie teamed up as investigators too. Sophie's friend Wolf, the police sergeant has been conferring with her on different investigations, and it's always cool how Sophie and all her friends get involved in the mysteries.

Sophie was working as a cookbook ghostwriter for a wealthy former actress who loved cooking. There were all kinds of great red herrings, possible spies? Well, it was the DC area, and that was to be expected, but sweet little Eunice surprised Sophie with her knowledge of said spies. I just love that lady! I always enjoy how the entire mystery from start to finish all comes together at the end. Readers get the entire explanation instead of just Sophie's conjectures, and there was the usual back-to-life scene at the end. Until next time, Sophie and pals! Although I have most of the series I still have to catch up on, since I came in on it in the middle so I could go to an online book chat. Lots of fun yet to be had!

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

I loved this book!! Great story!! Love that there was advise at the beginning of each chapter!! 1st book I have read by this author!! Might read more of her books!! Received this book from Kensington books from netgally!!

I love spending time in Sophie's world. She is the kind of person who has your back, a friend who will help you through the rough spots and feed you comforting food. You can share the good and the bad times with her. She even has a great relationship with her ex husband, Mars. It's Mars who gets her involved with this latest investigation. The wife of one of his clients is 'writing' a cookbook with a ghostwriter and the writer has gone missing. Mars asks Sophie to take over and, though she has never done a cookbook, she sure can cook. Gone are her plans to kick back and recharge, she realizes how much money is involved and visions of a bathroom renovation start dancing in her head. It turns out that she gets along great with Tilly. This looks like it will be a good partnership. But there remains the question of what happened to Abby, the first ghostwriter...was her departure voluntary or involuntary and is she still amongst the living?
This mystery is full of twists, turns and red herrings and multiple story lines, more than enough to keep me glued to the page, totally absorbed with Sophie, Mars, Natasha (who I'm starting to sort of like) and various other regular characters. This may be book #13 but it's just a number - for one of the best books in the series, so far.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

Krista Davis' The Diva Spices is up is the 13th book in The Domestica Diva mysteries and it is just as well written as the first 12. The characters are well developed and the story line is well researched.

When a celebrity's ghostwriter quits and then disappears, Sophie is hired to finish the cookbook. Along the way, there are twists and turns to find the missing ghostwriter in time to save her life. All of the characters that we love are included in this book and even a few new ones that you will love. I won't leave a spoiler because I think it spoils it for the reader.

Sophie and her friends are a one-click five star read whenever a new book is released. So when the Diva Spices it up it becomes a spicy book to read.

The Diva Spices It Up
A Domestic Diva Mystery, Book #13
Krista Davis
5 Stars

Synopsis:

She's a young Martha Stewart...in Old Town Virginia!
New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis delights with the 13th in her enormously popular and completely charming Domestic Diva Mystery series. When a celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job, it's up to Sophie Winston, Old Town, Virginia's favorite entertaining expert and sporadic sleuth, to whip up an impromptu investigation...

Sophie never considered ghostwriting as a side gig, until former actress and aspiring lifestyle guru, Tilly Stratford, trophy wife of Wesley Winthrope, needs someone to write her celebrity cookbook. Sophie agrees, hoping she'll earn enough bread on this assignment to finish her bathroom renovations. But as it turns out, Sophie isn't the first foodie to get a taste for recipe ghostwriting, and if the marginalia are any indication, this project could be a killer...

Wesley claims professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned Tilly's cookbook with no warning. But Sophie quickly discovers that Abby may be more ghost than writer now...and her disappearance was no accident. So Sophie cracks open a fresh investigation but sifting the seasoned murderer from this sampling of salty suspects won't be easy. Will Sophie savor another case closed or will the culprit simply melt away? (Goodreads)




Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Even though this is the first book that I have read in this series, I did not have any trouble keeping track of who everyone was, I did not even have to check the character list. I liked the way that Sophie and Mars, her ex, got along. That is an unusual thing for exes. I thought that all of the characters added a lot to the story.

I really enjoyed the beginning of each chapter,where there was an advice column questions for either Natasha or Sophie and their answers. This gave us a better insight into these two characters and helped us get to know them better.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The mystery was not easily solved and I did not know who the culprit was until it was revealed.

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