Christmas time on Mackinace Island where the winter is cold but the candy kitchen is hot from all that fudge that Allie McMurphy is busily making for her online orders. By the way, there are several fudge recipes that grace the pages of this sweet yet satisfying cozy that you will want to make before you even finish the book. There is a big secret in this story and it isn't that Allie and Mal, her bichonpoo, have a tendency to come across a body or two. One of the best aspects about these stories that you can pick up any of the Candy-Coated Mysteries and have no problem following the plot or keeping track of the characters. As the story progresses, Allie thinks back to past events so we can all be on the same page. I love her upbeat attitude and how nothing seems to get her down for too long. As with any good cozy, Allie has her eye on a guy, the strong silent type and local law enforcement officer, Rex. Things have become a little complicated what with his ex-wife coming back as a damsel in distress. Allie is pretty much a do it yourself type of gal and isn't going to wait for someone to rescue her, even if she does get into some sticky situations.

This is the 8th installment (including the novella’s) in this series. Allie McMurphy runs the McMurphy hotel and it is close to Christmas. After the damage to the hotel in the last book she is staying at Frances apartment until the McMurphy can be repaired. As she is finishing one of her fudge shipments she receives a knock on her door and finds a note on her door. Someone unnamed left a note asking Allie to meet her at the steps of the Fort. As Allie plans to meet Frances and Douglas to work on their light display she decides to meet the person whoever it is. She arrives a few minutes late but finds no one there, however, Mal her dog starts barking and goes around the steps and they find a body lying facedown in the snow. Allie calls 911 and she as well as others try to revive her and later she dies. Frances is taken in for questioning and Allie is mad at Rex as everyone knows Frances and there is no way Frances could have been involved. The victim, Kayla is new to the Island and little is known about her. Kayla’s Mother arrives and she is ready to accuse Frances of murder. It turns out Frances has a secret and it is going to get out. Then during a winter storm, one of Allie’s housemates (she is living in a Victorian home divided into 4 apartments) is found near death she begins to wonder what is he connection between the victims if there is any. This was a good solid cozy and I read within one day. I enjoy this series and like how Liz is taking a bigger role since Jenn is still in Chicago (although she returns at the end). Rex is typical Rex and is juggling his ex-wife living with him and she tells Allie she plans to win him back and to back off. Rex does nothing to keep the relationship going so disappointed at this but there is a new guy who has arrived who could prove to be another love interest. Do not like this aspect of the story. Pick a guy and move on. Hate love triangles. Would like to see Liz get a love interest as well. Allie is a great character and I look forward to the next in this series. This series is an automatic buy for me!

Eighth in Coco's Candy-coated series has Allie McMurphy and friends getting ready for Christmas on Mackinac Island. Fudge is being g made and shipped (a little harder with her McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop under renovation), houses are being decorated and the Light-up displays are almost done when a body of a young woman is found in the snow. Unfortunately her last word implicates Allie's friend, Frances. A sudden blizzard, another murder and hidden family relationships add to the drama of this taut cozy. Old fans will love this Christmas caper and new ones will drool at the yummy recipes.

Once again Allie is determined to help her friend, Frances, when Frances is falsely under suspicion for a crime she didn't commit.

I love the setting of this series on Mackinac Island and the descriptions of the Christmas decorations had me ready to pull out my Christmas tree a little early.

This is an easy to read book with characters that seem like friends. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

I love reading this series because Mackinac Island is my happy place where my mother and I spent our vacation for several summers. I like that the author describes places so well that I can picture them from when I was there. I like the recurring characters. It was hard to solve the murders ahead of the characters in the book, so that's a plus. I liked all the Christmas activities. It put me in the mood for Christmas even though it's only September. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a Christmas cozy mystery.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

This is the eighth book in the Candy-Coated mystery series by Nancy CoCo.

While Allie is still dealing with repercussions from the last book, she comes across a woman in a snowbank right where a mysterious note asked her to meet someone. This book was easy to follow and you get quickly invested in the action due to what is impacting Allie and her friends right from the start of the book. I enjoyed the mystery. It was well-plotted and kept our interest all the way through.

Allie is living in her friend, Frances’s apartment while waiting for the renovations of the Historic Murphy Hotel to be completed due to the explosion in the previous book. She is also still dealing with Rex’s ex-wife who has suddenly decided she wants Rex back and wants Allie out of the picture. I wish Trent would come back now just to make everything just a little more interesting

I couldn’t decide if I liked the ladies book club or just found it irritating. They sort of burst in on Allie at a time when I think she just wanted to be alone. Frances’s apartment used to be the place where they all met and I guess they figured they could come and go as they pleased even though Allie was staying there currently. Like I said, annoying.

Overall, great story. Love the cast and the mystery never disappoints.

If you like cozy mysteries, 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.

A light murder mystery; a big secret revealed about Frances; and a great home, hearth and family Christmas story frame fudge maker Allie McMurphy’s life on Mackinac Island this year. When Allie’s precious bichonpoo, Mal, sniffs out a half-frozen body....Officer Rex Manning responds. Unfortunately, Frances is the #1 suspect when the woman dies.

This plot showcases Frances‘s past. Author Nancy Coco gradually reveals The Who’s and why’s leading up to the murder. Very interesting. The author shares sweet treat recipes at the end of every chapter!

The Candy-Coated Mystery series is a long-time favorite series of mine, and I’ve read every story in the order they were released. Book #8 is a delightful treat, as well as the previous seven books. I highly recommend!

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Living Mackinac, fudge making, the crime just wish the characters were a bit more involved, Rex isn't such a wuss and Jenn.....(spoiler)
I think it's time to forget about Rex and get together with the new guy in town
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

This was again, a wonderful read. The author does a wonderful job and can't wait to read the next.
This is a great series for those who really enjoy cozy's.

'Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas' is a perfect addition to Nancy Coco's A Candy-Coated Mystery series. The depth of the characters was explored and this elicits hope for much more to come in this delightful series. Allie's devotion to Frances, her business, her love-life and her island home are all on display in this expertly crafted and believable mystery. I highly recommend it and the entire series. I can't wait for the next offering.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is the first time I have read this author and I really enjoyed this book. Allie owns the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop. She is also the amateur sleuth. This is one of those mysteries that you don't find out who did it. until the end. Allie ends up putting herself in danger. A GOOD READ. Guess what now I have to back track and read the 5 before this one in this series.

Allie is busy getting back The McMurphy Hotel in working order. She is staying at Frances old apartment making her online fudge orders for the Christmas season. Mackinac Island is decorating and getting ready for the Christmas festivities. Allie and Mal discover a new resident dead in the snow. Frances becomes number one suspect and has her secret of 50 year exposed. This one is a great mystery with lots of twist and turns. Big surprises through out! I can’t wait for the next!
#HaveYourselfaFudgyLittleChristmas #NetGalley

Christmas time on MacKinac Island was the perfect holiday experience until a mysterious note lures Allie McMurphy to a dead body. Suddenly Frances becomes the main suspect. But why? Was it because the dead woman's last word was "Frances" or does it go deeper? Since the accused isn't talking it's left to Allie to find out why and hopefully solve the murder. All the while making holiday fudge orders and over seeing the renovations to her beloved McMurphy hotel.

Allie McMurphy is renovating the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, on beautiful Mackinac Island during the Christmas season. Until renovations are completed, she's staying at her newly married friend Frances's previous apartment. When she finds an anonymous note asking her to meet someone at noon, she takes the chance and a chain of murderous events begin. Allie finds her dear friend Frances accused of murder, a killer on the loose and a Christmas that may not be Merry!

I wasn't sure about starting my holiday reading so early but I'm so glad I did! The book was the perfect Christmas gift - mystery, humor, surprises, bit of romance and a group of supporting characters that are fun and heartwarming! I love that Allie is independent and determined to succeed. The surprise at the end of the book was unexpected and touching. And of course the descriptions of the fudge and recipes included were wonderful!

I'm ready for the next book!

Thought enjoyed this book, In fact I'm going to get the next in the series. The characters were believable and I want to move there. It was nice seeing recipes but unfortunately I'm a type 2 diabetic. I would recommend this book and series. Imagine hunkering down in a large chair, soft blanket on my lap with a cat sitting on it, hot chocolate next to you and reading this book. Perfect.

A guaranteed good read. Buy this book now. You will devour it. This is a sweet (pun intended 😄), fast paced, intriguing, cozy mystery that keeps you turning the pages. The characters and scenes are so well developed that you feel like you personally know the characters and actually live on Mackinac Island. With each book I love this series more and more. This book kept me guessing right until the end as I had no clue who the murderer was.

My gratitude to the publisher for a complementary Netgalley for a copy of this novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Another enjoyable read from Nancy Coco. I loved that we learned more about Frances in the book. Definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

I'd like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ecopy of this book in exchange for my review.

I've been a fan of this series since the beginning and have read the whole series. I was excited to get the approval for this book and the chance to read it. This series is a true cozy mystery, set in one of my favorite places, Mackinac Island, Michigan, which is what drew me to the series in the first place. True to form, our main character found a dead body in the first few pages, is told not to investigate, and does anyway, along with her pup Mal and her friends, while making fudge and getting ready to reopen her historic family hotel.

Books like these are a bit like what I think of as a family reunion. You get to catch up with some of your favorite people and as as some you'd rather not see again. But they're fun. While I do like to see what happens next, if I've guessed the suspect properly, they are relaxing reads.

And, bonus, you get cookie and fudge recipes!

As I've read the whole series, I'm not sure if you could really pick up book 8 and enjoy the story, but if you haven't read the whole series, I think you could still enjoy this one. And you just might want to go back and read the rest!

It's winter on Mackinac Island and Allie is staying in Frances' old apartment while the McMurphy is being repaired. She hears a knock on the door and when she goes to answer it no one is there but there is a note taped to the door asking her to meet someone at the Fort Mackinac steps. When she goes there, she pup, Mal, leads her to a body in the snow. Allie and two others try to help the woman but learn later that they were unsuccessful. Frances is questioned by the police as it appears she had a connection to the victim. Allie decides to investigate to help Frances. Frances' husband, Douglas, and her friends also help Allie as they all agree Frances could never hurt anyone.

This was a great Christmastime cozy. I loved the lighting festival and Allie and Frances shopping for Christmas trees. Allie has a possible new romance brewing in this book. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I love that an old friend of Allie's comes back at the end of the book. The mystery was good. I had a theory as to the killer and was close but I didn't quite figure it out. I liked that we learned more about Frances in this book. I also love the fudge recipes throughout the book. I can't wait to try some of them. This was a good book and I can't wait to read more.

Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas by Nancy Coco was a pleasant surprise from Netgalley. This book takes place on Mackinac Island. Allie owns the McMurphy Hotel. There is a death, Christmas tree lighting contest, and a major snow storm all going on. Within the all the excitement, Allie is making fudge and sending off online orders. At the back of the book there are some recipes for the famous Mackinac fudge. A definite must for the holiday season.