I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington Books and Krista Davis for the E ARC of this book. This is book 15 in the Domestic Diva Mystery Series.
Sophie is hired by the local celerity cheesecake maker, Bobbie Sue, to organise her Midsummer dinner and dessert buffet on the town’s waterfront as part of the town’s midsummer celebrations. The one demand she has is no Cheesecake on the menu, as this celebration is for her employees.
The night is a success but there is only one thing that mars it and that is that Tate, Bobbie Sue’s husband, misses it all. The next morning Tate is found dead, Bobbie Sue insists she has nothing to do with it and asks Sophie to investigate. The more Sophie delves into Tate’s life the more she finds out and, in the process, maybe puts her own life in danger.
This is a well-paced book, with a good plot line, good characters that draws you in from the first page. I loved the small domestic hints at the beginning of the chapters and also all the recipes at the end.
You do not have to have read all the other books in the series before reading this one, it can be read as a standalone. I would recommend it and will be reading more in this series.

Another good cozy mystery.
Good characters drama intrigue.mystery
Easy enjoyable read.
Voluntarily reviewed.

This quality cozy series never disappoints with likable, familiar characters and complex plotlines that take many twists and turns before the ultimate reveal. The Diva Says Cheesecake! made me crave-you guessed it!--cheesecake in all of its iterations, and, of course, the rich dessert plays an important role in solving the murder of a well liked restauranteur in this outing. Each book in this series features mouthwatering recipes as well as cooking and entertaining tips at the beginning of each chapter in the form of questions from fans of heroine Sophie Winston and Sophie's archrival Natasha. The Oldtown Alexandria, Virginia, setting also makes a charming backdrop to the adventures of Sophie and her friends. Fans of the series will be pleased with this entry and new readers will be coming back for more.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

I have always loved this series, in fact is started me on my love of cozies. This is another story by Krista Davis.

The featured food is cheesecake - see title. There's a murder involving it, along with the restaurant industry and one of Sophie's friends is accused of the murder!

Of course Sophie and Nina have to investigate. I love how they work together and then the other friends meet with them to share information. They are a group you would enjoy being around.

Sophie comes too close to the killer and there are several attempts on her life. Eventually she lands on who the real killer is and they all move on to celebrating the 4th of July.

I must add I love how the author ends a chapter making you have to turn the page to read the next. So many cliffhangers make for my lack of sleep and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love this series! The characters are so realistic that I often forget that Sophie and Nina are not real people while I'm reading. I often wish I could meet them for coffee and chat! Even the characters that you aren't supposed to like are so believable that you find yourself ducking down a bit when reading in hopes that you aren't spotted! I think that is the true beauty of the cozy mystery genre, you don't just get a good mystery, but you also feel like you have gained a friendship as you come to know the characters so much better as each book builds upon the last one. This is one of my favorite must read series and I already can't wait for the next book to come out!

While this is book number 15, and a new read for me, I didn't feel lost. I really enjoyed the storyline and the mystery. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Highly recommend!

THE DIVA SAYS CHEESECAKE, the fifteenth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis, hits all the right marks for capturing my attention and keeping it throughout the entire book. And if you haven’t read any in the series, this can be read as a standalone. However, with the memorable and relatable characters that populate the series, it’s been a pleasure reading from the first and watching the character growth and the changes over the years. Protagonist Sophie Winston is one of those people you’d love to have as your best friend. She’s kind, she loves to share her baked goods, and she’s ready to jump in and help whenever someone has a problem. The author weaves a puzzling mystery into the charming setting of Old Town Virginia, set against the backdrop of A Midsummer Night’s Dream festivities. Her descriptive voice makes the words come alive on the pages so that the reader feels like they’re right there experiencing everything Sophie does. Another favorite aspect of each book is the advice column question, to either Sophie or her nemesis, Natasha, and the corresponding answer that begins each chapter. These are entertaining all on their own!

When Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake’s husband is found murdered, she begs Sophie to solve the crime. Adding to the urgency, the police have named one of Sophie’s close friends, Bernie, as the prime suspect. I love the loyalty that Sophie and her friends show toward each other and they all pitch in to help Sophie sleuth. I also enjoyed that with the spotlight turned on Bernie, the reader has an opportunity to know him better and find out some of his closely held secrets. There are plenty of suspects for Sophie to sift through, and the clues are woven in for an armchair detective to collect. I’ll admit I was thrown off scent by some of the twists and turns, but it made the story even more intriguing as it unfolded.

Did someone say cheesecake? With the title and theme of the book, Ms. Davis does an admirable job of weaving in mouthwatering descriptions of cheesecake throughout the book and includes several delectable recipes.

This seriously is one of my favorites. I love this group of friends that always seem to get into trouble together while having each other’s backs. Sophie has the knack for finding the killers with the help of her best friend Nina, her ex Mars, and their friend Bernie. Of course, you can’t forget that Wolf who is an ex of Sophie and a cop for Old Town is there to always keep her safe. Sometimes they even call in Sophie’s ex who is a lawyer to help with those that are being framed. Amazing story, amazing people, and some of the best who have done it stories out there!

Once again Sophie is playing the sleuth. How does she find the time with everything else? The secrets that she discovers just makes it even more difficult to figure out. This book was very suspenseful. Once everything is revealed it is head spinning. I love all of the characters and the Cast of Characters always helps me. It was hard to put this book down. I definitely give it 5 stars, is there a bonus star somewhere? The recipes are an added bonus.

I have read many titles in this series and this one did not disappoint. This is a series but may be read as a standalone. I love Sophie Winston and her sleuthing ways, what an original crime solver. This is one of those, curl up in a blanket and read, cozy mysteries With plenty of red herrings, cozy intrigue, and drama this installment does not disappoint. Between solving the murder and making her recipes, which are included, this is a delightful addition to this series. The quirky cast of side characters are a yummy side dish for sure. For lovers of a solid cozy mystery series, this will not disappoint. Pull up a chair, a slice of cheesecake, and dig into this delicious book!

This book was just as delightful as previous Diva books, and includes all of your favorite characters. These books are about mysteries, but also about the people of Old Town. Bobbie Sue's husband is found dead in the cellar of his restaurant and all signs point to Sophie's friend Bernie. Sophie and her friends could never believe Bernie to be capable of murder and set out to prove his innocence.

This is my absolute favorite cozy mystery series, as the characters and the setting make you feel like you are a part of this group of friends in cozy Old Town, Alexandria. I love how the main character can walk to all the shops and restaurants, and how her friends live right across the street or around the corner. This book has a summer / July 4th setting, and revolves around the murder of a man who is married to the Cheesecake Queen. There are so many delicious descriptions of (and recipes for) cheesecake and the mystery is so engaging that the book is very hard to put down. Highly recommended!

Loved this story. It kept my interest and the characters are wonderful. There are some interesting relationships between some of these folks. That makes for some entertaining times. There are so many yummy recipes. If I were there with them, I would gain so much weight from all the wonderful food they fix and eat. How great would it be to have friends who could cook like that and also have your back? I love the way they look out for each other. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for the advance copy of The Diva Says Cheesecake! by Krista Davis.

I love the Domestic Diva Mystery series and when I saw the advanced copy available, I had to request it. Sophie Winston is one of my absolute favorite amateur sleuths.

Old Town’s midsummer festivities are getting a tasty addition this year. To coincide with a public performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake, has hired Sophie to organize a dinner with a dessert buffet on the waterfront. Bobbie Sue’s homegrown company is thriving, and since her baking dish overfloweth, she wants to reward her employees.

Bobbie Sue has only one menu demand: no cheesecake! But her specialty isn’t the only thing missing from the evening—Tate, Bobbie Sue’s husband, is too, much to her annoyance. Next morning, however, Tate’s dead body is discovered. Bobbie Sue insists she didn’t kick her spouse to the curb and begs for Sophie’s help finding the real killer. Digging in, Sophie discovers an assortment of Old Town locals who all had reason to want a piece of Tate. Can she gather together the crumbs the killer left behind in time to prevent a second helping of murder

The Diva Says Cheesecake! is a fun, quick cozy mystery. While this book is the fifteenth in the series you do not have to read the prior books but I definitely would since this is one of my favorite cozy mystery series.
Sophie Winston is a great main character. I love watching her work her jobs and solving the mystery. Sophie is a smart amateur sleuth and I love how as the books have expanded the residence of Old Town Virginia come to her for advice and help finding the murder.

The supporting cast is a reason why I really love these books. I love Sophie’s friends and I think it is hard to find a cozy mystery with such well developed and loyal friendships as these books. Every one of my favorite characters were in the book as supporting casts, while you didn’t get a lot of time with some it was still great to see them. While Natasha is not my favorite character, she is well developed and makes the perfect “villain” outside the suspect.

The Diva Says Cheesecake! transported me to Old Town Virginia and I can see the streets and restaurants and want to visit. The recipes included in the book also sound delicious and I will have to try making them sometime.
The mystery was interesting with several suspects that kept you guessing. When Bernie turns up as a suspect you know Sophie and gang would not rest until the real killer was found. While I figured out the suspect relatively early, I do not believe that this was due to the writing of the book. I think when you read as many cozy mysteries as I have you start to pick up clues faster than most. However, I was not sure of the reasoning for the murder so it kept me guessing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and hope that I will get another Diva Mystery Series book next year.

Have you read The Diva Says Cheesecake!? If not, I hope you will give it a try and preorder it for its May 31st publication.

This ARC was provided to me by Kensington Books and by NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I have always enjoyed every book in this Domestic Diva series and this was no exception! Once I started it, I could not put it down. Sophie and her friends kept me entertained throughout the book. I didn't want this book to end even though I wanted to know if the murderer was who I thought it was. This book did have me second guessing throughout and definitely kept my interest. I can't wait for the next one in this series!

I absolutely love this series and am so glad she has continued it. Not only do you get a great mystery, you get some really good recipes at the end of the book. I'm looking forward to making the Strawberry Butter because that sounds pretty good to put on toast or pancakes.

Sophie Winston is a party planner who always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. This time one of her good friends is taken in custody for murdering a fellow restaurant owner. Sophie and her friends know Bernie couldn't have done it so they get together to try to figure out who did.

Krista Davis brings the pages to life with her writing and you feel like you are at Sophie's house having cheesecake and coffee helping them all solve the case.

#TheDivaSaysCheesecake #KristaDavis #Netgalley

Sophie Winston, event planner, domestic diva, has a "side gig" investigating murders. It's not her fault she keeps stumbling over bodies. Or that friends and family keep getting accused of them. In this case, she plans a company party for the Cheesecake Queen, Bobbie Sue Bodoin. The event goes as planned, but Bobbie Sue calls late that night because her husband, Tate, hasn't come home and asks Sophie to help find him before any bad publicity hurts his restaurant. And, you guessed it, Sophie finds him in the cellar of his restaurant, but worse, Sophie's friend Bernie is being framed for the murder, supposedly because of their rival restaurants. But wait, what about the argument with his step-son that morning? Why is Pierce, Bobbie Sue's ex-husband hanging around? What about Coach, the long time family friend? What is going on with Marsha, the restaurant manager? Sophie, her ex-husband Mars, best friend Nina and assorted other friends pull together to clear his name.
I love this series, especially how kind and forgiving Sophie is toward her frenemy Natasha, who has always been in a one-sided competition with Sophie since grade school. Natasha wants to BE Sophie, but can't seem to understand that her perfectionism just doesn't equal Sophie's generosity and warmth.
Can't wait for the next book in the series!

The Diva Says Cheesecake! By Krista Davis is the fifteenth mystery in the A Domestic Diva Mystery series. In this mystery, Sophie, an amateur sleuth, finds herself helping local ‘Queen of Cheesecake’ Bobbie Sue Bodoin find her husbands murderer.

The Diva Says Cheesecake! Is the first in this long series that I have read, but I enjoyed it just the same and look forward to reading more of this series. I enjoyed the characters and liked getting to know who they were. The mystery kept you guessing as Sophie and company slowly crossed off one possible suspect after another until they had located the murderer. This was a good cozy mystery and I look forward to exploring this series further.

How I love being back in Old Town!
Old Town itself is a character in these books, but it is Sophie and the gang I keep coming back for. I love how each book introduces new characters, but the core group remains the same (and I love them all!).
Sophie once again is on the case, but this time she's very open about investigating...turns out those in town see her as a private investigator. Even Wolf knows not to try and stop her. I was happy that Alex wasn't a big or small part of this book (he never worked for me) and that Humphrey was in it-so glad he's part of the team (please, lets find him a great girlfriend!). My only negative was I usually listen to these books and greatly missed the fantastic narration and Nina's distinctive accent.
Can't wait for book No. 16.

The Diva says Cheesecake was a great read! Sophie is pulled into yet another investigation when she finds the body of a local restaurant owner. I love this series and especially enjoy the interactions between Sophie and the detective, even though they are no longer a couple. I guessed the killer early on in this one, but it was just that…a guess. The mystery was very intriguing and kept me interested to the very end. As always, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!