Mackinac Island sets the scene for murders at the holidays in this latest installment in the Fudge Shop mystery series. Fudge maker Allie and her dog Mal set out to solve the mystery of who is poisoning locals, and they are helped by a group of elderly ladies who become involved in the investigation. In the process, old secrets come to light, new relatives show up, snowstorms blow into the island, and Christmas activities abound.

Although this is part of a series, the novel can be read as a stand alone. The author skillfully brings readers up to speed on the action and characters from previous novels in the series. This is a clean and cozy mystery, without strong language, graphic violence or sexual situations.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A light hearted cosy festive mystery. A light frothy easy read full of tasty Christmas ingredients x

Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas: A Candy-Coated Mystery
By Nancy Coco
Kensington
November 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Christmas on Mackinac Island may be the postcard ideal of snow and horse-drawn carriages, but for Allie McMurphy the holiday is proving to be a little more humbug than ho ho. Extensive renovations on the top floor of her family’s Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop have Allie bunking in her fudge shop manager’s vacant apartment until the construction is completed, but at least Allie has her bichonpoo Mal and calico Mella as roommates. A knock on the door and an intriguing note leads Allie to the steps of Fort Mackinac, where she is shocked to find a body facedown in the snow. Nearby church ladies identify the unconscious woman as Kayla Cramdon, a freelance graphic artist and new resident at the Ambassador apartments. That the note was left at the recently married seventy-something Frances’s apartment – and her name being the last words spoken out of Kayla’s mouth - have police immediately suspecting Frances of being involved in the death. When another death follows and fudge poisoning is suspected, investigating Officer Rex Manning is forced to shut down the Island’s fudge supply. With her business on the line and Frances in danger of being arrested, Allie surprises no one by diving headfirst into the investigation surrounding the mysterious young woman.

Rex has no illusions about dissuading Allie from is investigation, but their relationship is already on the rocks due to the recent arrival of his previous wife. Having his second ex-wife move in with him for protection from a stalker takes Rex off of Allie’s list of eligible suitors, while Trent Jessop only living part-time on the Island means that he pretty much removed himself from it. Just when a frustrated Allie receives the wise advice that she has the same odds of finding a unicorn as finding Mr. Drop Dead Gorgeous No Baggage No Issues Fits into Everything You Think You Want, a newly arrived local would seem to challenge that. When not dreaming up of tantalizing new Christmas-themed fudge recipes or dodging well-intentioned missions to be set up with dates, Allie and her newspaper-owning friend Liz McElroy follow the path of the mysterious woman and the trail that leads back to an uncharacteristically closed-mouth Frances.

This charming holiday-themed is perfect for readers looking to ease into the Christmas season. Fudge recipes abound, along with an enviable snowy Mackinac Island setting. Allie’s loyalty to her friends and loved means that she never hesitates to help them, although she sensibly narcs on the seniors who engage in questionably legal crime scene investigations. With both Trent and Rex likely to receive coal in their stockings from Santa, the third alternative in the form of bed-and-breakfast owning Harry Wooston is a welcome surprise. The presence of Mal and Mella guarantees that cozy-loving readers will find this 8th in the series irresistible, balancing out what is a truly heart-wrenching mystery. Friends, family, and fudge are the perfect trifecta for this seasonal read by a reliable and prolific author.

Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas by Nancy Coco is the eighth in the A Candy Coated Mystery. It can be read as a stand alone.
Allie is anxiously waiting on getting back into her Mackinac hotel. Luckily for her, she has been able to stay in her friend, Frances' former apartment. She gets an unsigned note on her door to meet at the park. Allie and her dog, Mal, are going out anyway so she goes to the place to meet. While waiting, Mal starts sniffing and again comes upon a somebody in the snow, face down. She starts CPR until the squad shows up. Allie didn't know the young woman she found.so why did she want to meet. Unfortunately, Allie will never find out as the girl passes away.
So why did Allie get the note. Was is for her or for Frances. When another resident in the apartment building passes from poisoning, Allie knows she needs to get to the bottom of the murders.
There are decades old secrets, plot twists, wonderful characters, humor, fudge recipes and Coco transports you to Mackinac Island for Christmas, snow and all. It was hard to put this one down
I was given an ARC by Kensington Books and NetGalley for an honest review.. .

As a long time fan of this series I really enjoyed spending the Christmas season with Allie and the gang. Secrets unfold after a young woman is murdered on the island. While this is the latest entry in the series it could also be enjoyed as a standalone book. If you love cozies and Christmas, spend some time with this book. One cute dog, one cute cat, four paws up!

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

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

It is so exciting to be back at the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop on Mackinac Island! It sounds like a gorgeous time of year for those who love snow, especially when celebrating Christmas. While I have read most of the series, I am impressed that I still learn new things about our regular characters. They are three-dimensional and engaging. The mystery is challenging and complex. It can be read as a standalone as the author skillfully includes sufficient backstory for ease for the first-time reader. Once one meets Allie, Frances, Rex, and the gang, the rest of the series will look extremely appealing!

This is the first winter that Allie McMurphy, fudge maker extraordinaire, will spend on Mackinac Island. It isn’t for just anyone, as the second wife of Rex, the guy she had been dating, had left him due to the isolation of the island throughout the cold, snowy winter. Since inheriting the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop from her grandfather, Allie has renovated where needed. She hopes to attract winter guests who come for various festivals.

Allie is staying at the apartment owned by Frances, her manager, who recently married their handyman, Douglas. Someone left a note on the door to meet someone where the light displays are being set up for one of the pre-Christmas events. Allie took Mal, her adorable pup, and left a little early, then will help set up the display for the McMurphy. Nobody was waiting for her at the designated spot, and nobody came to see her. Mal dragged her in a different direction. She saw a body lying face down in the snow and called for help. Someone helped her turn a young woman over, another started CPR, and the EMT’s took her to the clinic where she later died after saying Frances’s name, making her the primary suspect in what became a murder investigation. Kayla, the young woman, had been poisoned.

Allie has helped with several murder investigations on the island since moving there, but Frances does not want Allie involved with this one. Frances doesn’t want to put Allie at risk one more time, as has occurred before, and seems to be holding something back. Frances had been manager at the McMurphy for several years and has been a big help to Allie since she inherited it. Douglas, her husband, would do anything to see Frances not be hurting over the situation, and he will do what he can to help Allie find out who the killer is, as long as Frances isn’t pulled into it.

During a blizzard that knocked out power to Mackinac Island, Allie heard crashes in the upstairs neighbor’s apartment. She and the other ladies living in the building went to see if Manfred was okay, and found him very ill, nearly dead, in his apartment, and it had nothing to do with the power outage or the window that had been smashed in from the storm winds. He, too, died after being taken to the clinic. Frances had been his downstairs neighbor for years until her recent marriage, and he played in a snooker tournament at the bar and grill where Kayla had worked.

The characters are very well defined; I enjoy learning something new each time about the regulars! Descriptions of the new or short-term folks were also well done. It made me yearn for a Mackinac Island Christmas, where there are never too many Christmas trees. Meeting a potential new friend who reminds Allie of the joy of sledding was fun. Learning Frances’s secret made her a more of a woman of grace to me. I could have happily gone through the next eight novels without getting to know Melonie better, however.

There are plot twists that shine a spotlight a red herring or two as well as serve to let Frances look even more like the bad guy. Against the elegant Christmas-card like setting, we enjoy the days leading up to Christmas even while there is a murderer loose on the island. Descriptions of the setting are so perfect that I could imagine being there. I was surprised by who the real bad guy. I thought I had the right one, but … this author has proved me wrong again! All loose ends are tied up, and while one issue is not quite resolved yet in Allie’s life, I highly recommend Allie’s latest adventure! The author has included recipes for holiday fudge and other sweet treats for your enjoyment.

4.5 Stars - Top Pick

Warning: Many diets will be broken with this book.

This book includes delicious and mouthwatering recipes that are just begging to be made. So, get your baking gear ready, because you will want to bake every single recipe in this cozy-mystery book by Nancy Coco. Baking and a great murder-mystery? Count me in!

It’s the off-season; Christmastime at the Island, the perfect setting for Christmas decorating contests and hot cocoa with whipped cream. The reconstruction is coming along nicely at the McMurphy Hotel and it should be up and running in no time. Thankfully for Allie, she’s been able to keep up with her fudge orders by staying at her friend’s (Frances) apartment.

When an anonymous note is left at her door, that then leads to a mysterious death and has Frances as the main suspect, Allie, along with the some busy(body) ladies, will join forces (sort of) to exonerate their friend. But with sudden blizzard conditions and no electricity, things are looking dark and fudged.

Charming and cozy Mackinac Island has a killer on the loose. So, gather your cozy blanket and park yourself on the couch, because you will want to keep reading to solve this one. This story has great flow and you’ll soon fall in love with the Island’s lifestyle and activities. With lots of snow in the forecast, these high-spirited characters will keep you entertained. My favorite characters were the busybody “Book Club” ladies.

I found this book to be quite enjoyable. A classic cozy murder-mystery, filled with great characters, a beautiful setting and creative clues. I loved that the characters knew each other so well and that it would take a newcomer to upend a whirlwind of new information. These characters took care of each other and stood up for one another.

As old secrets are uncovered, this mystery will take you through the very end to solve it. But sit tight, you’ll enjoy going along with Allie to the shipping office and visiting with her friends. The stakes are higher than ever on this one and as rumors run rampant and tensions mount, Allie must find a way to navigate it all, without upsetting those closest to her.

~ Patricia

Few things exemplify holidays more than a fudge treat. Combine the Christmas season with a winter storm, a poisoning or two, and you have a recipe for a holiday story that will keep readers fighting their need to eat delectable desserts and wanting to take a winters trip to a small island. All of this is what makes this series, "A Candy-Coated Mystery" and Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas a winter's must!

Allie is back with an all-new adventure. Her life is unsettled during this holiday season. The McMurphy Hotel is under construction; she is living in her friend's small apartment and trying to get shipments of her fudge treats out to customers before Christmas: to top it all off, her love life is in the dumper. She is ready for winter and the holidays to be over. Allie is a lovable character; her friends are equally charming and as always play a central part in the story. This time Frances is at the heart of a murder, the police think she is a killer, and Allie thinks Franses is keeping a secret, not just from her. It doesn't take long for suspects and evidence to lead straight to Frances, and Allie is determined to prove her friend innocent one way or another.

The twists in this book keep coming throughout, red herrings abound, and suspects and witnesses are falling by the wayside faster than snow can hit the ground. Ultimately, Allie finds herself in danger and has to find a way out. It takes some doing, but thankfully, she manages to stay alive and catch the killer. Throughout the book, the recipes will have readers craving fudge, holiday treats of all sorts, and Christmas. Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas is a book readers will want to read more than once, and each time, it will leave them feeling cheerfully content.

Once you get past a fluffy anthropomorphized dog and settle in to the rhythm of island life, Nancy Coco tells the story of past mistakes, how times were different, and how women have choices now that weren’t available to the women of previous generations. Choices that would not come back to haunt and cause havoc and death.

While preparing for the annual decorating contest on Mackinac Island, Allie McMurphy and her smarter than an average human Bichonpoo stumbles on the body of a woman in the snow. Little did she know this would result in the arrest of one of her closest friends and a story that has laid hidden for 50 years.

With this eighth book in the series, Nancy Coco has created a pleasant ambiance with the place and people that the main characters call home. A home that has been in her family’s blood for decades with a quaint hotel and fudge shop that Allie will never leave, no matter how many bodies Allie and Mal stumble across.

"Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas" the 8th instalment in the Candy-Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco. I really enjoy this series and visiting Mackinac Island!

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in one sitting. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. I especially love little Mal which reminds me of my little furbaby. Plus the recipes between each chapter are sure to please!

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I did figure out who the villain was but the reveal was a surprise.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have Yourself A Fudgy Little Christmas
Candy-Coated Mysteries, Book #8
Nancy Coco
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In Nancy Coco's eighth Candy-Coated Mystery, Christmas on Mackinac Island brings a flurry of festive activity for fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy--but also a body in a snowbank. With fun recipes, cute pets, quirky characters, and an endearing young protagonist, the Candy-Coated Mysteries have the perfect ingredients for cozy mystery fans!

All Allie wants for Christmas is for renovations to be finished on the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop so she can move back home for the holidays. But for now she's staying in her friend Frances' apartment, busily baking batches of holiday fudge. After someone leaves a mysterious note on the door to meet up, the curious fudge maker goes to the rendezvous with her Bichonpoo, Mal--only to discover a woman facedown in a snowdrift. With her dying breath, the woman gasps, "Frances." The police suspect she named her killer, but Allie knows that's impossible. She needs to wrap up this case before the trail runs cold--and give her friend the gift of freedom this Christmas season... (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Allie is busy with getting things ready for Christmas and getting all the fudge orders filled and shipped off. When Allie and Mal find another dead body, things get more busy than ever. She partners up with Liz, the reporter, to try and figure out who the culprit is. And there might be a new love interest for Allie, we will have to wait and see.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. I really did not consider the person that it turned out to be, and I think that is a good thing.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. These books just keep getting better.

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

This entry into this series was just what I needed to escape! It was a comforting read with a strong mystery but not too scary. Wonderful details made me feel like I was right there with them. Excellent addition!

Now THIS was a Christmas murder mystery I enjoyed, and not just because I had to make some fudge for the picture 😆 I loved the setting (Mackinac Island), and the cast of mostly older people. I have a soft spot for little old ladies (and fudge, obvs) 😁

The recipes sounded fun to try out, and it struck the perfect balance between being part of a series, but also working as a standalone read.

I definitely recommend reading this one by the fireplace, with some delicious fudge to snack on, and can't wait to read the others in this series.

I like this series very much but found this installment a little less than fun. Allie seemed sort of boring and annoyed.

This was a really fun, seasonal cozy mystery. Set on Mackinac Island in Michigan, it has a wintry small town-island feel and interesting characters. This was the first book I've read in the series but I'd absolutely go back and read the rest - Allie and her fudge shop/hotel business are very entertaining and I'd like to get to know the other characters better. Definitely a great holiday book! Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the advance digital copy!

It's never too soon to start reading Christmas themed mysteries and this series starts it off with a bang. Allie has already had the bang and now finds herself living the apartment of her dear friend, Frances, once lived in. The renovations to the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop are ongoing and Christmas is just around the corner. Much to Allie's dismay, the holiday comes with a dead woman found in a snowbank. Because of the anonymous note on Frances's apartment door that led her to the poor woman and her last words, well that puts Frances at the top of the list of suspects. Knowing that Frances must be innocent, Allie sets out to track down the killer. Along the way we learn more about Frances's past.
Allie's personal life needs some work, relationship-wise. It's complicated and I'm eager to read the next in the series for more to be revealed. The rest of the recurring characters are present and it was a pleasure to spend time with them. Exception - I did want to have words with the ladies of the book club. They need to learn about boundaries and personal space.
As always, the puzzle is well crafted, the characters well developed and the setting is delightful. If I lived on Mackinac Island I'd be eating at least one piece of their yummy fudge every day if not more.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review,

Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas is by first Nancy Coco read and I will return. The series is the Candy-coated mysteries. Does that not say it all?
The setting is Mackinac Island, Michigan. It is Christmas time. Allie McMurphy has inherited a hotel from her grandparents. Right now it is under construction because the roof caved in. Thankfully most of the damage was limited to her apartment on the third floor, so Allie is living in Frances' old apartment. Frances who has been a mainstay around the hotel for 30 years had recently married Allie's new handyman, Douglas, and they had moved in together. Allie also made and shipped fudge. Her main kitchen had been at the hotel so for now she was using her own or Frances'. She was busy, shipping orders from her website every day. Suddenly, the calm in the island was broken when someone left a note on Allie's door to meet him or her at the old fort steps. When she got there her dog, Mal, found a body; thankfully still alive. Sadly that didn't last. A young woman, a newcomer named Kayla Cramdon, died at the hospital, from an apparent poisoning. Things got worse from there.

What a fun series this is. This book is so chock full of characters and subplots and it moved so quickly from one to another, that one has to focus to stay abreast. It has everything, touching on locating family through DNA, crazy ex-wives, and an emphasis on how much things have changed in the last 60 years. Despite the murders, it has an upbeat tone that is hard to beat. In a way, it is a feel-good cozy mystery. Not all of them are. I had fun reading it and it got me to thinking about fudge. It was also chock full of recipes for those readers who cook and bake. It is definitely worth a try if you car not familiar with Coco's writing, and worth a read if you already know her. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #haveyourselfafudgylittlechristmas

This was a great series when it began but it definitely needs a kick in the pants! There's only so much you can write/read about a girl and her pets finding dead people on an island with no cars. The writing is excellent otherwise and I greatly enjoy the antics of the pets and the people. I would recommend this book but i feel I need to step back for a while. Enjoy!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.

Have Yourself A Fudgy Little Christmas is the eighth book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco.

Forget two front teeth; the only thing Allie wants for Christmas is the McMurphy Hotel’s renovations to be completed. She lived at Frances’ old apartment, a duplex since the hotel’s roof collapsed, and could use the room in her kitchen to complete the online fudge orders.

As she is leaving with her Bichonpoo, Mal, to attend the Christmas tree lighting, she finds a note requesting her to meet with the writer. When they arrive at the appointed spot, they discover a young lady’s body in the snowbank. With her last breath of life, she utters, “Frances.” The police will soon identify the young lady Kayla Cramdon, and all the police know is that she has just recently arrived on the island. Then when Kayla’s mother comes, she claims that Frances has killed her daughter. Frances becomes the prime suspect, and when Rex brings her in for questioning, Allie becomes quite upset and vows to clear Frances’ name. Frances refuses to talk about how Kayla knew her, and Allie will soon learn that Frances has a secret and refuses to also speak about that.

When an older man who lives in the same duplex as Allie is found dead in his apartment, a victim of being poisoned, Allie will have to get to sleuthing before any more unsuspecting residents lose their lives. Allie will get help from her friend and newspaper reporter, Liz, and the other two duplex residents to lead her to the killer.

On the romance side, Allie and Rex have been dating for a while but have not progressed much. Then Rex’s ex-wife arrives on the island and tells Allie that there is not any way that she will Rex go a second time. On the positive side, a new man has shown up on the island, and they seem to enjoy each other’s company.

This book is another well-written and plotted book by Ms. Coco. It’s always enjoyable to visit the residents of Mackinac Island. The characters are well-developed and believable.

Delicious sounding fudge recipes are also included in the book.

I will be watching for the next book in this great series.

What a great Christmas story, with some surprising turn of events. Everyone has secrets or things they would rather not talk about. Would your friends still be your friends if some of your secrets came out? There are some wonderful characters in this story and I think you will enjoy the storyline. I know I would certainly like to eat some of the fudge Allie keeps making. I can’t wait to see who arrives at the McMurphy, now that it’s up and running again. Come join Allie, Frances, Douglas, Rex, Mal, Mella and the rest of the gang as they handle the twist and turns of the story. You also get some yummy recipes included in the book. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.