I enjoyed getting to know Maya and Sandra more but felt that this book was focused more on their relationships rather than the mystery. They did solve several cases but it was all bogged down between dates and conversations with exes. The mystery itself was good and I had no idea who the murderer was until the very end but that may be because of all the relationship talk rather than well placed clues. Still, the story flowed well so I will continue with the series but it is not my favorite by this author.

This was cute but not my favorite, I struggle with books set high schools. All the teenage angst is just too much for me.

That being said I did enjoy the friendship between Maya and Sandra and raising teenagers.

Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis is the second instalment is Maya and Sandra Mystery series.

It is a natural continuation of a previous book, where we see both heroines established in their partnership. It has been a year and not much has changed in their personal lives but it will soon change.
Their professional lives are going to become very turbulent and quite exciting as they get tangled into a mystery surrounding their kids' school.

Well established characters, both main and recurring, where we get to see the further development. I really enjoy the blend between business and private, it is very well done neither overshadowing the other.
Mystery is nicely presented, with clearly shown clues that readers can follow should they wish to resolve the mystery ahead of our heroines.
The pace is nice and steady, each chapter full of action and there is never a dull moment.
This is the perfect example of cozy mystery as it contains all the main ingredients mixing them together into a absorbing and light read.

Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis, one of my favorite authors, is the 2nd book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series, and it is another fun addition. This book is great, and I love the relationship between Maya and Sandra who are total opposites, but have known each other since high school. This book is funny, with twists and turns that keep you reading and guessing. I read this book in one day, because I could not put it down. I strongly recommended this book for cozy mystery book fans, and I can't wait for their next adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I see a new book has been released by Lee Hollis, I immediately snatch it up. These books are full of likable characters, good fun, and a clean mystery with pleasing twists and turns. They do not disappoint.

Maya is a private investigator, who’s ex-husband is in prison for being a dirty cop. Sandra is the local PTA president, separated from her arrogant senator husband. Both women have life experience behind them. Both are highly involved in their community, and both have a gift for detecting deception and unraveling the truth.

Together they navigate divorce, caring for children about to enter adulthood, the oft crazy parents and teachers in the PTA, and of course, solving crimes.

In this book, Maya’s and Sandra’s penchant for solving crimes intersects with their deep involvement in local education. It’s the story of a school baking fundraiser gone terribly wrong. How the story is told, however, is deliciously right.

My advice is to spoil yourself and dive into Murder t the bake sale with a mug of your favorite drink and a delectable treat. It’s fun, it’s light-hearted, and it’s entertaining.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Kensington Books and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The second in the series is just as much fun as the first. The characters are enjoyable and entertaining. The story is fast paced and well done.

Gossip In Maine…
The second in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series finds the duo back in their schooldays when they’re hired to find out who disposed of a seemingly beloved teacher. They’ll have to separate truth from the gossip and rumours that abound in the Maine community first. Enjoyable and entertaining and a worthy follow up to the first in the series.

I enjoyed this book. I really liked the characters. The story was interesting and captivating. I was surprised by who the killer was. #MurderattheBakeSale #NetGalley

This one follows on from Lee Hollis's Murder at the PTA which was published last year. Murder at the Bake Sale certainly lived up to my expectations!

The reader soon meets the stars of the show, Maya and Sandra, who went to the same high school. Sandra Wallage is a PTA president and the wife of a Maine Senator, and Maya Kendrick is an ex-police officer turned private investigator and she runs a PI business with Sandra on board, too. In this tale, both Maya and Sandra are dating again as Sandra has separated from Stephen and Maya's husband is in prison for corruption. When Diego Sanchez the Spanish teacher of the women's children, who is attracted to Maya is found dead poisoned by a cookie at a fundraiser, Sandra and Maya don their sleuthing hats...

I love the relationship between Maya and Sandra who are total opposites. There are twists that held my attention and kept me guessing. The mystery was very involved with clues dotted around and the killer was someone I didn't expect. Would I read more in this series from Lee Hollis? An emphatic... yes! 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I have a weakness when it comes down to cozy mysteries! So earlier this month when I was given the first book in this series and I blew through it I knew I needed more and I jumped at the opportunity to read More of Maya and Sandra!
Maya, an ex-cop, and Sandra, the wife of a political figure, are partners in a private investigator firm! While they don't always have cases they work hard at the ones that they do have along with the ones that kind of just fall into their laps!
Maya's daughter Vanessa's class is having a bake sale to go overseas, while Maya is definitely not a Betty Crocker kind of mom she wanted to show her support and she attempted making cookies for the bake sale. While she is working the bake sale the new Spanish Teacher asks her out on a date, and while she is kinda nervous about the whole dating scene because she is still technically married to her husband in prison. She takes him up on his offer and she goes to the bar to have a drink and she waits and waits but he never shows. Vanessa pushes Maya to go to the teacher's house because she knows him and he would never stand her up on a date. Grudgingly Maya goes to the teacher's house only to find him dead by a box of cookies sold at the bake sale.
While at first, they were not investigating the death, his Spanish class hires Maya and Sandra to solve the case!
While working to solve the case they are also working through personal things such as Sandra getting into the dating field, and Maya figuring out her own feelings about her marriage. Then, other things just happen to come along in the case and more than one person goes down with everything going on at the school! I am in love with this series and will definitely check out some of the other series this author wrote! I love how the author doesn't basically focus on the mystery at hand and shows how the ladies put things together! Such a great series! Thank you Kensington Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to continue on with this series!

I absolutely loved the first book in this series. It was funny, and entertaining and kept me interested. While I did thoroughly enjoy this second installment, it just didn’t hold my interest as well as the first. It was a good story, and I still adore the characters, I just didn’t connect with this one as well. Overall, the story was good, and I was surprised by the ending, and it’s definitely worth a read if you love cozy mysteries.

Maya Kendrick and Sandra Wallage own a budding private investigation company. Each is a semi single Mom raising teenage children. When the popular Spanish teacher dies after asking Maya out, they join forces to find out who did it. Will they find the culprit?
I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries. Something about a short mystery along with a little romance most of the time just has me curled up with my coffee. Lee Hollis books never disappoint. While this series seems a little more serious without as much humor as the others, I really look forward to the next. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

When I see this author I know I'm in for a treat. This book, the second in the "Maya and Sandra Mystery " series is sheer delight! Great character growth. Plenty of twists and turns. Love the story plot. Ready for book 3! Thanks #netgalley and #Keningston for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Lee Hollis has done it again another well-written well-plotted fast-paced story. And, as with all Lee Hollis books, the characters are believable and relatable.
This one features Maya Kendrick a private eye and her new partner Sandra Wallage who is a senator’s wife. Maya has the background as a former police officer and Sandra has the connections.
In this outing the school is all aflutter about Diego Sanchez the new Spanish teacher who is winning the hearts of teachers and students and parents alike but he chooses Maya to go out with. She waits at the rendezvous point but he doesn’t show. Her daughter convinces her mother to go to his house and check on him. She does and finds him dead in the living room.
Maya and Sandra get involved in solving the murder when Diego Sanchez’s Spanish class hires them to solve the case.
Along the way, there is another subplot that I won’t reveal as it is a spoiler but suffice it to say that it is a situation taken from current headlines.
There are many twists and turns, tense moments, and an unexpected ending but in the meantime, the reader is taken on a thrilling adventure that is gripping and exceptionally well written.
I recommend this or, for that matter, any Lee Hollis book they are all excellent.

“Murder at the Bake Sale" the 2nd instalment in the "A Maya and Sandra Mystery" by Lee Hollis.

Maya and Sandra are friends, fellow moms, and private-detective partners in the picturesque waterfront city of Portland—where sometimes their cases can get as rocky as the Maine coast...

I really enjoyed book one and wasn’t disappointed with book two. I really liked seeing how Maya and Sandra are adjusting to being partners in Kendrick Investigations and how much they both have grown personally now that they are single parents. The setting is in Portland, Maine which isn’t really a small town but we get the small town vibes anyway.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. 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.

This series is really hitting its stride, just keeps getting better and better! I love the growth that both women have shown as the series progresses and the mysteries continue to be solved by real detective work. No spoilers, but who knew one murder would lead to everything else. Cannot wait to see what happens next with everyone!

Murder at the Bake Sale is the second installment in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series set in Portland, Maine and featuring the investigating duo of Maya Kendrick and Sandra Wallage. Both ladies are enjoying their newfound partnership and the cases coming along while they attempt to navigate through their personal struggles and raise teenagers. Maya's husband remains behind bars for corruption and Sandra's husband the Senator is staying in DC while the couple determines if their separation will end in divorce.

Longtime South Portland High coach Vinnie Cooper is retiring and being replaced by newcomer Josh Kirby. The new Spanish teacher, Diego Sanchez is causing a stir among the young high school girls and a few of the female teachers. Much to her dismay, Maya finds herself roped into having to participate in the Bake Sale to raise money for an upcoming class trip to Spain, and even more shocked when the hunky Sanchez asks her out on a date. When the teacher doesn't show up for their coffee date, Maya's daughter Vanessa begs her mom to go to his house and check on him. Sadly, Maya discovers the man dead - apparently poisoned by one of the bake sale treats.

Hired by the student's to find their teacher's killer, the duo uncovers several dark and dangerous secrets hidden behind the school walls. An interesting plot that weaves a murder, teenage angst, personal relationships and greed into a well rounded afternoon read.

I received an advanced copy of Murder at the Bake Sale from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Maine, private-investigators, single-parent, verbal-humor, teens, fund-raisers, ex-cop, business-partners, family-dynamics, friendship*****

The story has a small town feel, but Portland, Maine is hardly that. Two women who have been friends for ages are now single parents of teens applying to college and are teamed up as investigators. The one who is ex-cop can't bake to save herself but tries hard to do so for a fundraiser. That is not the worst of it though when a popular teacher is murdered and the sleuthing begins. A good read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via Netgalley.

Another great cozy mystery in this series. Love the characters, great plot, and storyline that flows easily.
Maya and Sandra, partners in a private investigation business, find themselves investigating the death of one of the teachers at their children's high school. Both Maya and Sandra have some personal issues that seem to get resolved, but their professional relationship seems to be going well. When the Spanish teacher is found dead, the night Maya agrees to go on a date with him, and the evidence seems to conclude the cause was a poisoned baked good he ate at the bake sale, fingers point in several different directions. Maya and Sandra uncover a whole lot more than a murder when they start putting the pieces together.
Love this series, and cannot wait for the next book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Maya and Sandra have a history going way back. to high school, where Maya was the free spirit and Sandra was the "goody two-shoes." Their lives continued on very different tracks but after reconnecting as adults they've found that they're surprisingly simpatico. The latest book in the Maya and Sandra series has them investigating a murder at their alma mater, the high school their children now attend, an investigation that ends up taking a backseat to some more pressing drama in their lives as they both dip their toe into the dating pool.

I've been a huge fan of Lee Hollis since I picked up Death of a Kitchen Diva on Christmas break in 2016 and binge read the first 7 books in the Hayley Powell series. Actually, it turns out I've been a fan of half of Lee Hollis (Rick Copp) since I was a little girl watching episodes of Golden Girls on Friday nights (which I loved even though I didn't get any of the jokes and love even more now that I do!)

There's something about the way these books are written that grabs you by the collar and drags you in. When I read anything by Lee Hollis it's like I'm transported and lose all track of time. This series isn't humorous like the Hayley Powell series is, but it's still very cozy. You can't help but love the characters. Maya is a semi-single mom, raising her daughter and supporting her family alone as her husband serves a prison sentence for corruption (a charge that ended Maya's career as well). Sandra is also a semi-single mom, raising two sons while separated from her Senator husband who spends most of his time in Washington D.C. Though the women are in similar circumstances, things couldn't be more different. Maya is scratching out a living as a private investigator after being forced out of her job as a police officer, while Sandra is living high, still supported by her wealthy husband. But both find great personal reward in investigating and their shared passion, along with their shared trials, give them a unique and strong bond.

The mystery in this book was very interesting and for me the killer came completely out of left field. Though there were little clues along the way, I didn't pick them up. There were also some other things going on in the story that may or may not be connected, which kept me guessing throughout.

I thought this book was great, not only the characters and the mystery but also the growth of the characters and the new directions they're taking in their lives. I really look forward to seeing what happens to them as the series goes on.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.