Maya and Sandra are both grappling with the same decision…do they divorce their partners or do they stand by their man? When both are asked out on dates, they figure why not? They’ve got to make a decision one way or the other, so why not take the handsome men up on their offer. What’s the worse that could happen?

For Maya, the worst that could, and did, happen is finding her date, the believed Spanish teacher at SOPO, dead at his home when he stood her up. For Sandra, the tech billionaire that asked her out is acharming man and is working hard to impress her, but there’s something has put her off about him just a tiny bit. When the teacher’s students hire Maya and Sandra to find out who killed their favorite teacher, they start seeing a whole other side to some of the parents in their community. But is this reason enough to kill a teacher? That’s what they hope to find out without become another notch in the killers belt.

I am not a big fan of taking on every single topic out in the world within cozies, because I like to escape from said world when I fall into a cozy, but it worked. These books can be read stand alone, but you’ll definitely want to catch up on previous entries. I’ve been reading since the first book dropped and this is one of my must read series and I watch for each new entry as soon as I finish the most recent one…it’s that good.

In Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis, which is the second book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series, the local high school Spanish teacher is the murder victim. Maya Kendrick who is an ex-police officer and now a private investigator has agreed to let Senator's wife Sandra Wallage assist her in investigations. Maya and Sandra are hired by the high school students to find who poisoned their beloved teacher. The storyline is slow but the book itself is well-written. I prefer a faster pace. Plus there's more about relationships than mystery solving.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

Who poisoned Diego, the handsome Spanish teacher at Portland High? That's the question Maya, a former cop and licensed PI, and Sandra, new to the investigation game, must answer asap. Know in advance that this cozy is as much about relationships as it is about the murder. Maya's husband is in prison for murder and Sandra's is a Senator who strayed. Then there's the college admissions issue- so topical. The characters are good, I liked the back and forth between Maya and Sandra, and I didn't guess the villain. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the genre.

What a great cozy mystery!

Murder at the Bake Sale kept me guessing incorrectly until the very end. A surprise ending it has well-crafted characters and an easy to follow storyline.

I've become a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A really good mystery. Maybe not my ultimate favorite but definitely worth a read

Most of us know that it's a nervous feeling waiting for a college acceptance letter.
Unfortunately, Sandra & Maya, a duo detective team, find out that some parents feel it's perfectly fine to bribe your child's way in to a prestigious school.
With this comes a murder investigation, accusations and deceit.
Who knew life could be this exciting!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#MurderattheBakeSale #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis in exchange for an honest review. Sandra Wallace and Maya Kendrick runs a detective agency. Maya's husband is in jail and is in the process of getting a divorce. There is a death at the local high school. Large checks are being given to the coach by wealthy parents to get their children into good schools. I liked this story. It pulled stories from the headlines.

Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis is a great cozy mystery that is the second book in the Maya and Sandra Mystery series.

I enjoyed the first book, Murder at the PTA, so I knew I needed to read the follow-up to see the progression of Maya and Sandra’s partnership after their introduction in the first novel.

This time they are drawn together for a new murder/mystery plot when a teacher ends up dead with a suspicious cause.

Wading through the politics of high school, kids, dating, shady marriages/ex-marriages, and finding themselves in the middle of their lives….Maya and Sandra have their work cut out for them.

I enjoyed the character building, the murder/mystery plot, and I think as this series gets its sea legs, we will find it will continue to fit into itself quite well and find its footing.

Looking forward to continuing this series.

4/5 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 11/30/21.