Were is it written in the duties for a maid of honor that she might have to uncover a killer so that the accused killer - the groom - can get to the wedding? In a footnote someplace at the back of the maid of honor handbook? Allie hasn't the time to figure out that bit as she is on the case from the moment Shane (the groom) is found by Allie and Jenn (the bride to be) standing over a dead body and another person badly injured. That bloody knife he's holding sort of states the case loudly. Despite being told to "let the police handle it" by the police and Shane, Allie, Jenn and a few others start to investigate. Turns out some residents of picturesque Mackinac Island have some major secrets hiding in their closets and somebody resorted to killing to keep one there.
What should have been a lovely run up to the busy tourist season for the island and Allie's Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop plus a lovely wedding turns into a race to clear Shane so he and Jenn can finally say their I do's. Following the clues and red herrings with Allie and Jenn made for an engrossing read that had me telling myself to read just one more chapter - sleep can wait.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington ad to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Normally, the maid of honor duties does not include keeping the groom out of jail for committing a murder. That doesn't stop Allie from attempting to find the killer of a local pharmacist. The groom is found standing over the body with a bloody knife. Despite repeated requests by Red to not investigate, Allie still gets involved in the case. Also there is a new man in town who looks like a potential love interest for Allie.

I'm not too sure about this new man that Allie is interested in. What I am sure of is if Rex and Allie get married she would soon be the next ex wife. The way that Allie gets involved in Rex's cases I think that would causes problems in their marriage.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love visiting Mackinac Island via Candy Coated Mysteries. The Murphy is getting back to fighting fit shape in time for the summer season. Allie’s best friend Jenn is getting married to her CSU hottie Shane. Everything is proceeding to plan until the night Shane goes missing and Allie and Jenn find him holding a bloody knife in a back alley.
Allie and Jenn are convinced Shane is innocent but neither Shane nor Rex, the police chief on Mackinac, is talking at all about what happened.
Allie is determined to get to the bottom of things so the wedding can go on as planned. And per usual, Allie walks right into danger.
I did not see the culprit coming and neither did Allie.
The book finishes on the high note of Jenn’s wedding.
There are yummy sounding fudge recipes throughout the book because we ought to be able to enjoy some of the fudge and not just read about it.
This book works as a stand-alone and you might be better off seeing it that way because there is no way this can be the 9th book and only a year has passed since Allie first came to Mackinac. This bit is what knocked off a star for me. There have been at least two winters since Allie first moved back. I guess I’m a stickler for time progressing. I just don’t think Jenn would be marrying Shane after only knowing him about 6 months, she just doesn’t strike me as the type. I’ll be reading the next book despite any issues I may have with how the author is progressing the series.

Taken by itself the story is a great mystery in an amazing setting with fun and entertaining characters.

I’m not sure why Nancy Coco turned Allie McMurphy into a foolish person, but that is all I could think when reading this book. What woman, in their right mind and a killer on the loose, would decide to repeatedly leave their hotel and fudge shop out the back door into an alley? Nothing good ever happens in allies.

There are other issues with the book, such as repetition, talking down to the reader, and a person put in a medically induced coma for a stabbing. Oh, and Nancy, we know the deck is on the rooftop -- no need to tell us a dozen times.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley
This is my first book by this author and I am very pleasantly surprised and how much I enjoyed it.

Here Comes the Fudge by Nancy Coco is an excellent cozy mystery that is the ninth book in the wonderful series: Candy-Coated Mysteries. I just love this series!

It was wonderful visiting Mackinac Island, Michigan again. Such wonderful descriptions of the landscapes and locations!

Allie McMurphy is such a fun and entertaining main character. Fudge shop owner/amateur sleuth is at it again helping solve the murder that ensnares her friend’s fiance as a suspect. Shane has secrets of his own as well, so it is all hands on deck as a murder needs to be solved so that the wedding bells can go on ringing.

Such an excellent murder/mystery with the right balance of suspense, twists, and light banter and wit.

This series is getting better and better as it goes on. I highly recommend them all!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/28/21.

This is the 9th installment in the Candy Coated Mystery series. Allie McMurphy is getting ready for the upcoming summer season on Mackinac Island and her best friend Jenn’s wedding to Shane in a couple of weeks. Allie’s love life is still up in the air as she has not yet heard anything from Rex (the police on the island) since his ex-wife has come to the island and moved in with him. She is no longer at his house but no action on his part well she is not going to focus on that but Jenn and getting the McMurphy to have a great 2nd tourist season on the island. Jenn calls Allie late one night when she cannot find Shane and he stood her up for dinner which he has never done. Allie and Jenn along with Mal (Allie’s body finding pooch) are looking for Shane when Mal takes off and leads them down an alley where Shane is standing with a knife in his hand over a dead body (Christopher) and a badly injured body of Becky who was Shane’s fiancé several years ago and Christopher’s current girlfriend. Shane becomes the number one suspect but refuses to talk to Jenn about the murder. Hardly a good way to start with her wedding just over a week away. Rex is telling Allie to stay out of it and so is Shane asking the ladies to let the police handle it but no one on the Island is letting it go. All the ladies at the senior center start to prod Allie about what is going on with the investigation. Allie is trying to stay out it but it is very hard when nothing is known. I love this mystery and the friendship of Allie and Jenn along with Liz (reporter on the Island). Was not really sure who the culprit was but Allie keeps a cool head and the case is ultimately solved and although a little belated Jenn and Shane get a beautiful Mackinac Island wedding. I love this series and being from Michigan and having been to the Island make this series so special. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series. I just love this series.

Wow, a case without Shane is like (insert anything you think goes together, only imagine it without one of those items)...and this murder wasn't going to have Shane due to his being a suspect. I was literally going "What??" when I read that scene, 'cause we all know sweet, lovable Shane wouldn't kill someone. I was proud of Jenn for never faltering in her belief of him and standing by him as best she could. Not her fault he wasn't talking, but later after finding out the reason, I can't say I blame him! You'll just have to read and find out too, hehe.

This mystery had one epic showdown! From the minute it started, I knew it'd be a nail biter, but Allie always comes through and gets reinforcements coming even if she's involved in the showdown. Needless to say, the wedding did have to be postponed, but it was amazing when it did happen. Everyone came together and helped, and it might've caused a little teensy bit of eye leakage! I love the happy note everything ended on, and I'm really hoping Allie and Rex finally get enough dates to feel like they're together. Team Rex all the way...ever since the beginning! Don't miss this installment that releases next Tuesday, September 28, 2021!

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

Another entertaining and engaging visit to Mackinac. As usual, I am now craving fudge. Some yummy recipes are included. Will the BFF's wedding happen? Nice to see the protagonist not doing those too stupid to live things, but still getting involved in dangerous endeavors. The romance situation has some interesting developments also.

I received an advanced reading copy of Here comes the Fudge from NetGalley and Kensington books in exchange for my honest review.

As Allie and her friends and family get ready for re-opening the Historic McMurphy hotel and Fudge shop and for her best friend Jenn‘s wedding. While walking around town Allie and Jenn come across Shane holding a bloody knife where a murder that has taken place. He is quickly taken into custody and stays silent which makes the girls and their friends and family go into detective mode to clear him of any murder charges that he faces.

I love how the friends and family get together to help Allie and Jen solve the murder mystery in time for Jenn and Shane to get married and for the reopening of the McMurphy hotel and fudge shop. Also love how the author shares fudge recipes even tempting readers to give the recipes a go.

You can never go wrong with Fudge! I wish there were more of it in the latest installment in the “A Candy-Coated Mystery” series, Here Comes The Fudge. But even without the hoped-for fudge overload, this was a fun and enjoyable read. Jenn’s wedding and future happiness are at stake as Allie works against time to solve the newest murder on the island.

The characters in this fudge-inspired series are always up to something. Usually, that something involves murder, and this time is no exception. However, when it comes to victims and suspects, this story leads readers on a merry chase. Jenn’s wedding is looming, and the groom is the prime suspect in the murder of a local pharmacist. No matter what anyone says, Allie and Jenn set out to prove Shane innocent, and save Jenn’s wedding. All of the wonderful secondary characters join them in the hunt, and all add some evidence or motive that leads readers on a mystery ride they will love. The location of Mackinac Island is a perfect setting for this story. Not only does it have one of the oldest hotels in the country, but it is also filled with fudge shops (the last time I read a book in this series, I ended up ordering 2lbs of fudge from the island!) no cars, and mostly happy people. A wedding on this island would be a dream for any bride.

The killer isn’t who most readers will think it is, and the victim wasn’t as innocent as most would like. Still, in the end, the motive makes sense and brings the story to a believable and satisfying conclusion. Here Comes The Fudge is the ninth book in this series, and it’s a perfect fit. The characters are well-rounded, readers love spending time with them. Add in Jenn’s wedding, although I would have loved to see it be Allie and Rex’s wedding, and you have a cozy that readers will be happy with and will put a smile on their face. I am always happy to recommend this author, this book, and the entire series to readers.

I really enjoy this series. The setting of Mackinac Island has always appealed to me. The inn and fudge shop remind me of my hospitality days and it's been a delight to read of the changes she is making to the family business to make it her own. The mystery in this one was more pressing than in the past and had a real time crunch which added to the intensity of the book. I thought it was all put together well and there weren't too many superfluous conversations about not investigating/staying out of the way. <spoiler> The wedding and the conclusion of the dreaded love triangle were a definite bonus </spoiler>. Looking forward to the next one.

Allie owns a hotel on picturesque Mackinac Island, as well as her family's fudge business. She's getting ready for her best friend's wedding, too. Busy as she is, she can't keep from getting involved when her friend's fiancé is suspected of murder.

The plot has some problems; this is definitely one of those stories in which there is no good reason for an amateur sleuth to put herself and her friends and family in danger while snooping around in a case the police are doing just fine with. But it's still a fun read.

There are lots of lavish descriptions of renovations, decorating projects, clothes, meals, and scenery. There are multiple-layered relationships among lots of characters. And there are several romantic subplots to enjoy.

I have read all the Mackinac Candy-Coated mysteries and novellas by Ms. Coco and this one is definitely one of the best. I appreciate how real Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island is portrayed in these books. I have been to the island and it is as picturesque and adorable as Ms. Coco paints it, save for the fictitious McMurphy.

Allie McMurphy is planning her best friend Jenn's wedding to CSI investigator Shane. When ever reliable Shane fails to turn up for their dinner date, Jenn is worried. When Allie and Jenn find Shane standing over a dead body holding a bloody knife, Jenn is terrified. Shane appears to be the prime suspect in a murder just a week before his wedding. Allie is determined to get to the bottom of things so the wedding can progress. Oh and did we mention the investigating officer is Shane's best man?

This book will have you turning pages and getting a severe hankering for some fudge (yes, it really is everywhere on the island). It's hard to believe it has barely been a year that has transpired for Allie and the McMurphy in the books, given that this is the ninth book in the series. However, the time doesn't feel rushed and helps one recognize how much Allie has grown as a character and business owner.

These books are a delight to sink your teeth into and I heartily look forward to the next book in the series!

This is the newest story in the Allie McMurphy Mackinac Island series, and it was worth the wait. Allie's best friend Jenn's wedding is coming up in a couple of weeks and there's still a lot of details to finish. But before they can finish those details they need to clear Jenn's fiance of murder. Now no one thinks Shane killed the person but all the evidence is pointing right at hime. Allie has to prove his innocent so the wedding can take place. Our friend puts herself in some pretty serious situations that could be harmful to her and her puppy Mal. We get to meet Jenn's parents and Allie's parents return for the wedding too. Allie has a new man that is showing some interest in her as well. Will Rex step up? Great story with a beautiful backdrop of Mackinac Island.

Weddings and murder don't mix and when Allie finds a body it could ruin best friend Jenn's wedding. However, with the help of friends and the ladies at the senior center Allie is digging up clues to help solve the murder hopefully in time so that Jenn can have the perfect wedding.

This story combines a great setting (Mackinac Island) with strong characters and a great plot. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an advanced copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

The very last thing Allie and Jenn expected when they went looking for Jenn's missing fiance Shane is that they would find him standing over the corpse of Christopher, a local pharmacist, with a bloody knife in his hand. And who is the woman leaning against the wall? Despite warning from Allie's love interest Rex, the chief of police who had to arrest his friend, the pair of course investigate. Along the way, they learn more about Shane, as well as about Christopher. And Allie learns a little more about her relationship with Rex. Oh, and she's also running her business, the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop. This has a delightful setting, good characters, and a twisty mystery that actually surprised me. I've been a fan of the series but think that this latest installment will be fine as a standalone, especially for fans of the genre. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm eager to know what will happen next in Allie's life.

"Here Comes the Fudge" the 9th instalment in the Candy-Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco. I really love this series and visiting Mackinac Island! I’m hoping to go there in next few years so then I can really see it in my minds eye.

Fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy never expected her maid of honor duties to include clearing the groom of murder...

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in one day. 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 Lindi. I think this might be my favourite book in the series but I say that every time.

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I did not figure out who the villain was until Allie did.

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.

Fans of Nancy Coco Mackinac Island centered A Candy-Coated Mystery are going to love the ninth book in the series, Here Comes the Fudge. It is my favorite of the series so far and I think many readers will agree. With Jenn wedding in the offing and tourist season about to start, Allie is happily busy and working to bring in even more guests and helping Jenn with wedding plans. Suddenly everything changes when Jenn, Allie, and of course Mal, discover a body with Jenn's fiancee Shane standing over dead man holding a bloody knife! When Shane refused to tell the women anything about what happened, he claims that it is to keep them from getting involved in the investigation and running into danger. While that is in keeping with how he and Rex have always reacted to the women "interfering with police work" and putting themselves in harm’s way, something feels off.
The police investigation also pretty much stops the barely moving romance between Allie and Rex. It doesn't not however stop another attractive man from moving a little closer. Here Comes the Fudge is too serious the be called fun but whole experience was delightful for this reader.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for allowing me to enjoy and share my delight in the ARC of Here Comes the Fudge. Thank you to Nancy Coco for building a world on the island that I love to visit, one that in spite of the cozy aspects of the books feels very real.
#Kensington #NetGalley #HereComestheFudge #NancyCoco

Here Comes The Fudge is the ninth book in the Candy-Coated Mysteries series by Nancy Coco.

Spring is coming to Mackinac Island, and soon the visitors will be arriving. Allie McMurphy couldn’t be happier; the renovations at the McMurphy Hotel have been completed, and she is looking forward to using the roof-top dining area.

Allie’s best friend, Jenn’s, who runs an event planning business from the hotel, marriage to Shane, a Crime Scene Investigator, is just around the corner. They are busy putting the final touches together for the event. Days away from the wedding, Allie gets a frantic phone call from Jenn telling her that Shane has failed to show up for dinner as planned, and he doesn’t answer his cell phone or texts. Jenn and Allie meet up to search for Shane. As they enter an alley, they find Shane standing over a body and holding a bloody knife. Shane asks them to call 911. There is also an injured young lady seated and leaning against a building. Shane refuses to tell Jenn why he never made it to their dinner date or why he was in the alley. Once the police arrive, Rex, the chief of police, takes Shane into custody as the prime suspect, as he is also not willing to say why he was in the alley or why he was holding the murder weapon.

Allie and Jenn have their work cut out for them, with Shane unwilling to share any information and the young lady in the hospital unable to remember anything that happened in the alley. They will soon learn that the victim is Christopher Harris, a local pharmacist, and everyone they talk to believes that he was well-liked and had no known enemies.

Allie and Jenn have to start their sleuthing by learning about Shane’s and Christopher’s activities that day. They will begin to wonder about Shane’s innocence when Allie discovered that the girl in the alley used to be his girlfriend. Hopefully, the murderer will be in custody before the wedding.

This book is a wonderful addition to this informative series. This story is well-written and plotted. There were enough red herrings in the story that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the killer was. I love the characters in the series. They are developed and believable.

There are recipes included throughout the book.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.