I apprecitate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this a really interesting mystery and the characters are quite engaging. it kept me guessing until the end. I highly recommend.

This is a great series! It's the 14th book in the Domestic Diva series. Well worth reading! I found the characters enjoyable and well developed. The mystery was very good and kept me guessing.

Old Town, Virginia, is hosting a DIY Home Decorating Festival that takes a dark turn when murder victims start piling up. Both scenes seemed staged. Sophie and her friends must unravel the mystery which gets more complicated as time passes. While some parts of the plot felt too complicated, overall it was a very interesting book. I kept going back and forth on who the murderer could be. I do adore Sophie and her friends which helps offset any iffy plot lines.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

This fourteenth entry in the charming Domestic Diva Mystery series is full of food, friendship, humor, and murder. The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit is as fresh as ever and delightful cozy reading.

Event planner Sophie Winston is busy with Old Town’s DIY Home Decorating Festival but never too busy to help out her best friend and next door neighbor Nina when she needs a ride home from the airport. Nina is a wreck…obviously her group trip to Portugal did not end well. A member of the travel group is soon found dead, and it initially looks like an unfortunate accident, but Sophie is not convinced. When another of the group also dies, and there is an attempted break-in at Nina’s house, Sophie, Mars, and Bernie move into action to keep Nina safe and solve the crimes.

Krista Davis’s Domestic Diva series has always been a favorite, and it continues to set a high standard in the cozy mystery genre. The mysteries are well plotted, and Davis is a talented storyteller, but the highlight of these books for me is the camaraderie between Sophie and her ex-husband and friends…and, of course, all of the talk of delicious food (recipes are included in the back of the book). Sophie is such a warm and caring character. I find all the characters, with the exception of Natasha, to be so relatable, and this far into the series they feel like old friends. I wish I could hang out in Sophie’s kitchen and enjoy dinner and conversation. I thought I had these murders all figured out but was surprised by how it all played out. The more Sophie investigates, the more suspects with good motives she finds. There are clues and lots of red herrings sprinkled throughout the tale. Readers can count on Davis to consistently spin smart puzzles.

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit is sure to please both established fans and new readers alike. I hope there are many, many more books including Sophie and friends to come. Highly recommended.

THED DIVA SERVES FORBIDDEN FRUIT, the 14th entry in the delightful Domestic Diva Mystery Series, is a charming adventure full of great food and even better characters.

The cozy world building Davis achieves in all of her writing keeps her books among my favorites. The relationships between the recurring characters are warm and realistic. I wish I had a group of friends like Sophie, Mars, Bernie, and Nina. Even Sophie’s nemesis Natasha is fun, providing clueless advice and humor. The glorious food descriptions, and recipes included in the back of the book, are drool worthy.

This book dives into the murders of two members of a group of local Old Town residents that travel to Portugal. Is it all a big coincidence or tied to the vacation? The mystery is well plotted and executed, the pace good throughout. There are several suspects, clues, and misdirection to keep readers guessing. I did not figure it all out ahead of Sophie.

THE DIVA SERVES FORBIDDEN FRUIT is a great representation of the wonderful cozy mystery genre. It is sure to please old and new readers alike. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this title from Kensington Books through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

This is book 14 in the Domestic Diva cozy series and it could be read as a stand alone. All the familiar cast of characters are present. Sophie is in charge of the DIY festival and now has several murders to solve when friends are dead after returning from a tour of Portugal. The list of potential killers is large with folks in town for the festival. With her best friends life on the line Sophie works at a quick pace to solve the crimes. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: On the eve of a big DIY fair she has organized, Sophie picks up her friend from the airport. Dishevelled, exhausted and shoeless, Nina tells Sophie about the tough time she had going through Customs after returning from Portugal. Sophie figures that Nina will be able to relax and rest up after her ordeal. Sophie was wrong.

First one of Sophie’s neighbours who was on the same tour ends up murdered in her own yard. The next night Nina is awakened by a dark menacing man trying to break into her home. Had there been any doubt that the events had something to do with the three week tour, the death of yet another traveller, in eerily similar circumstances, convinces everyone something very suspicious happened during the trip. Between the first victim’s extended family, including in-laws, there were more than a few suspects. Her daughter, Paisley, attempts to run her booth at the show and keep her six boys under control while mourning her mother. Her husband is not helping. In fact, he is pretty high up on the suspect list.

Sophie and her friends keep Nina safe while trying to figure out what is worth so much that the villain is willing to kill for it. There will be more death, injury and destruction before they find out what was so valuable. And while I did not twig to the bad guys nor to what the item was , I did have a suspicion of how the events fell into place. There were lots of twisty turns and surprises which added to the pleasure of reading a good mystery.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Full disclosure: I received this ARC from Kensington and netgalley in exchange for and unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

Krista Davis was a new author for me. She is a New York Times Best Selling Author, now living in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her most well known series is the Domestic Diva Mysteries. While this is
Vol. 14, the book can serve as a stand alone. One of the joys of reading is learning about new things. In the Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit, Sophie is in charge of Old Town's DIY Home Decorating Festival. It was fascinating to learn about all that goes on behind the scenes to keep an outdoor festival running. In addition, the festival allowed for multiple characters to become part of the story line without being forced onstage. Like most cozy mysteries, the actual murders are not witnessed by the reader. Instead the conflicts arise from character confrontation and at times characters being placed in peril. The puzzle was not easily solved, however rereading the story, one can see the clues were carefully provided.

At times I wish the five star system allowed for points as is done in the Olympics. I really enjoyed the series, but did not enjoy the use of product placement. Hence 3.8 stars instead of 4.

This was my first time reading this series and I could read it as a standalone. I have enjoyed books in different series from this author and this cozy mystery series did not disappoint.

Since this is the fourteen book in the series the characters as well- developed, have great chemistry, and relatable. The mystery is well-plotted. The twists and turns pull the reader into the story as you collect the clues to discover whodunnit.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

I love this series! Sophie is always busy with work, but never too busy to help her friends. Although she is coordinating a DIY Festival in Old Town, Sophie gets involved in the death of one of her neighbors. She is especially concerned when it starts to involve her best friend Nina. I love how all of the characters come together to protect Nina and try to solve the mystery. And I love that some of the recipes for the food mentioned in the book are included in the back. I can't wait to make the Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting! This is a wonderful series where each book can be read as a stand alone but I recommend starting with book one because they are so good.

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

Sophie is up to her eyeballs with work now that the DIY Home Decorating Festival is in town. Dealing with all the different people like decorators and artists is definitely a full time job. No matter what she is doing it doesn't keep her from helping any of her friends in need. Her neighbor Nina needs a ride from the airport and she is happy to help although she is shocked by her appearance when she gets off the plane. By the looks of things Nina's trip to Portugal must not have gone as planned. The following day they learn that someone from Anna's traveling group turns up dead. It looks to be an accident but Sophie is sure its murder and decides to look into things herself. Things get even more mysterious when more people end up dead. Sophie knows she has to figure out who the killer is before her friend Nina becomes the next victim. Will Sophie figure out just who the killer is or will they get away with murder?

I'm a longtime fan of Krista Davis and her Diva series and not only did I enjoy "The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit" but have to say it's one of the best of the series. And that's saying something.

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit is the 14th book following the adventures of Sophie Winston (aka The Domestic Diva) and her friends. Set in Alexandria, VA, it was a delight to visit Old Town again.

Recently returned from a trip to Europe, Sophie's BFF Nina seems to be in the crosshairs of a killer after TWO of her fellow touring friends are found DEAD. There are several subplots which seem unrelated, yet pull together brilliantly in the end. That - along with the mouthwatering food - keeps me savoring each page.

One of the things I love so much about Davis's writing is, in addition to the twists and intrigue you look for in a mystery, the characters shift and grow.

While it may be best to read all the book in order, with the list of characters at the front of the book, you could read this one as a stand alone. This was a perfect companion to keep my mind of the news - and I bet it will be for you, too.

(Note: I was gifted an ARC of this book via Netgalley. All opinions, however, are my own.)

Sophie has agreed to be in charge of Old Town's DIY Home Decorating Festival but first, she must pick up her BFF from the airport after an overseas vacation. Nina looks terrible but not as bad as a traveling companion who is discovered dead the next day. Can Sophie uncover the killer before the next place she picks up her BFF Nina is from the state pen?

Several years ago I stumbled upon this series and was instantly addicted. Sophie is the BFF we all want. She cooks, gives decorating advice, and gets to the bottom of all murders no matter what is going on in her personal and professional life. I am expecting to see Sophie walking down the street when I visit Alexandria, Virginia.

Most series feel a little stale by the 14th book and lose their luster but not the Domestic Diva series. Each installment keeps me begging for more. If you have read the series you know Natasha and she is still creating havoc but you have to love her. She keeps Sophie on her toes and makes life interesting. I have not always felt this way as a few books I kept hoping it was her murder Sophie would need to solve.

I'm sure you can pick up this series at any point and be OK but please start at the beginning to get the full beauty of the series.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington Books, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

In this 14th book Krista does not disappoint, This mystery in this book keeps me guessing. Even though the book is part of a series, it reads as a standalone. I've enjoyed others in this series more, but still really liked the book. The books in the Domestic Diva series are always entertaining, I love the characters in this book and the friendships they have all though I find Natasha very annoying not sure how Sophie puts up with her. When Natasha isn’t in the mix, I love the camaraderie between Sophie and her friends Nina, Bernie, and her ex-husband Mars. As much as I enjoy the friendship between Sophie and her ex, I admit to holding out hope for Sophie and Mars to get back together as a couple. The dogs really make the book as well. Love the recipes that she provides in the stories. In this one I would of never figured at the start that it was all about the trip. Keep them coming look forward to reading more,

I alway make sure to read the latest Domestic Diva mystery since they are always fun; yummy food descriptions, interesting town events (this one features a DIY festival), and a good whodunnit. This once had a bit more violence then I was expecting (several slaps and punches to a female character) which was a bit surprising and somewhat unwelcome. Other then that this was good, quick read; it's always nice to revisit these characters.

3.5 stars

In this 14th book in the 'Domestic Diva' series, amateur detective Sophie Winston investigates two murders. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Event planner/amateur sleuth Sophie Winston lives in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, a cozy enclave that harbors an eclectic group of residents. A cadre of Old Town citizens just returned from a trip to Portugal, right in time for the DIY Festival organized by Sophie. The festival venue will be comprised of a large tent for hourly DIY demonstrations, like re-finishing furniture and quilting, and small tents for vendors selling everything from wreaths and children's rockers to golden Oreos, plants, and fresh herbs.

On the first morning of the DIY Festival Sophie strolls over to see how things are going and stops at the home of socialite Lark Bickford, one of the visitors to Portugal. Lark's daughter and son-in-law, Paisley and Frank Eames, are setting up their tent in front of Lark's house while their six little boys are running around playing and fighting. Needing help, Paisley asks Sophie to please get Lark, but that turns out to be impossible......because Lark is lying dead beside a ladder in her backyard. Lark's death is clearly meant to look accidental, but Sophie is certain Lark was murdered, and the police agree.

That night Sophie's best friend Nina, who also went to Portugal, gets a fright when someone tries to break into her house. And the next day another member of the Portugal expedition is murdered. Unable to fathom what's going on, and being concerned for Nina's safety, Sophie, her ex-husband Mars, and their friend Bernie form a protection squad for Nina. When they're not working, the threesome - plus two dogs and a cat - hang out together, share delicious meals, and look out for intruders.

Though Sophie is friendly with the police, she's unable to finagle much information out of Officer Wong or Detective Wolf Fleishman. So Sophie looks for a connection between the Old Town deaths and the jaunt to Portugal. Nosing around Sophie hears something about crown jewels and gold coins, and comes to suspect one person after another of the murders.

The mystery at the center of the story is engaging, but much of the book's fun lies in Sophie's fashion sketches, culinary descriptions, and home improvement tips - which are scattered through the narrative. For instance, Sophie depicts people's outfits (Lark was fully dressed in blue pedal pushers, a blue and white tunic top with three-quarter-length sleeves, a chunky white necklace, two bangle bracelets, one blue, one white, and lapis earrings); dinners (pork tenderloin with mango salsa and berry trifle for dessert); and home tips (to spruce up an old blue lamp, paint it to match your décor and put a pretty finial on it).

The novel has a rich array of interesting characters including Sophie's dog Daisy and cat Mochie. The animals are cute and coddled, and when Sophie stops at Bean Time for a mocha latte, Daisy gets a Puppucini.

This enjoyable cozy mystery is perfect for light reading.

Recipes in the book include:
Freezer Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bourbon Chocolate Chip Blondies
Pork Tenderloin with Mango Peach Salsa
Oven Roasted Potatoes with Bacon
Sugar Snap Peas
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes
Pear Upside-Down Skillet Cake
Berry Pecan Coffee Cake
Rum Runners

Thanks to Netgalley, Krista Davis, and Kensington Publishers for a copy of the book.

Sophie Winston is back and running the DIY festival with great professionalism, if you don't count a black eye or two, until a dead body or two pops up and it looks like her best friend may be in a killer's crosshairs! The gang is back in action working hard to figure out the crime and trying to keep Nina safe! Fantastic setting, superb characters that you both love and love to hate as well as a wonderful plot to keep you on the edge of your seat. This addition to the series is quite wonderful as there is a deep pool of suspects to chose from and just when you think you have it figured out, the pool shifts and you see someone else who appears more guilty! I absolutely love this series and if you haven't started reading it, then you are absolutely missing out on the fun!

With Old Towns DIY Home Decorating Festival in full swing Sophie’s swamped juggling a bumper crop of artisans, antique dealers, and decorators for the busy street fair. When best friend Nina suddenly needs a ride from the airport Sophie is there to help. After one of Nina’s travel companions turns up murdered the following day after her trip Portugal. Though the crime is made to look like an accident Sophie isn’t fooled and conducts her own investigation. Does it point to a cryptic killer in old town? A bitter adversary? Or a cursed artifact smuggled back from the trip? As the mystery grows so does the body count. Sophie must find the murderer soon or her best friend might be next. An enjoyable story even as a number of members from the trip to Portugal are found murdered.

This is book 14 in the Domestic Diva mystery series. I haven’t read the others, but one thing I love about cozy mystery series’ is that I typically can jump in anywhere and never feel lost. I did feel like this book had a lot going on, and I was a little skeptical about what felt like a week like DIY festival. Overall I really liked these characters and I can see why they are so popular. Sophie is managing the event, but when people who just returned from a trip to Portugal are murdered or robbed she and her friends try to figure out who it is before one of their own is next. I loved the animals in this story and felt like they were some of the best characters, The mystery was good and there were some decent red herrings that kept me reading to find out what had happened.