The Diva Delivers on a Promise by Krista Davis (Domestic Diva Mystery #16) 3.5 stars

In this new Sophie Winston outing, you have a committee meeting at the home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield and a dead body in the kitchen. Add in imperfect family relations and unscrupulous entrepreneurs and you have a fine suspect list. Unlike previous Domestic Diva mysteries, I found this one slow at times. But the fact, that I didn’t guess whodunnit until nearly the end of the book is a plus. With the expected charming recipes and domestic advice made this book a fun read.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

Sophie is busy handling the first ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens, restaurants that do delivery only, but she’s taking a little time out for a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal. The group is dedicated to providing meals for children in need, and as a bonus, it’ll give Sophie the perfect opportunity to ogle the lavish Old Town home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield. Gerrie’s dining room is impeccably furnished except for the dead man lying on the floor. Sophie needs to find the truth before someone else winds up dead.
This was a great cozy mystery to read to escape the annoyance of life. I love Sophie and her intelligence in figuring out whodunit every time. I love reading about all the characters in this book because it seems relaxing to read about something familiar. I wasn't able to figure out the culprit's identity and was surprised at the big reveal in the end. I will definitely read another one from this series. Thanks to Kensington books and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Although I liked elements of this cozy, I felt there was a lot of plot and not enough character growth happening. And normally, Davis’ hits a good balance between the two but I felt it hit the mark with this story. I felt a bit bored at times and this could have been edited down to not drag on as long. I didn’t feel connected to the story as the previous novel I read of the same series. The protagonist, Sophie, is relatable and down-to-earth but I would have loved more of her character arc instilled in the story.

I can always count on the Diva cozies to educate me on the latest in culinary and catering trends.
This time it’s ghost kitchens which seems just like a pop up place with pizzaz.
I do like it when Sophie and Nina run around Old Town and we get to peek into other’s people’s houses.
The mystery got dragged out a little long and I was frustrated with an interesting development with Sophie and Mars but then it was dropped flat.
Guess I have to wait to see what next awaits the gang.

This is the first book I have read in the Domestic Diva series. It was entertaining and I think it was okay not to have started with the first book. The characters are well developed and the mystery will have you invested in the story. I was not familiar with ghost kitchens so I ended up doing some research after reading this book. Sophie is a wonderful person … caring, compassionate, gives back to the community, great friend, good ex-girlfriend … just an amazing woman. I loved getting to know her better and look forward to future adventures with her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I enjoyed following along on Sophie’s adventures again. The plot was cleverly crafted with some fun characters. I look forward to more about Sophie.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: The Diva Delivers on a Promise by Krista Davis

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

In “The Diva Delivers on a Promise,” Krista Davis delivers yet another delightful installment in her Domestic Diva Mystery series. Set in the charming town of Old Town, Alexandria, the story follows entertaining guru Sophie Winston as she takes on the task of coordinating the first-ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens. However, Sophie’s plans take an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a dead body during a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal, a group dedicated to providing meals for children in need.

One of the aspects that immediately catches the reader’s attention is the captivating cover. It perfectly captures the essence of this cozy mystery, enticing readers to dive into the book’s pages. Davis’s writing is impeccable, effortlessly weaving together an engaging plot filled with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

While “The Diva Delivers on a Promise” is part of a series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. Davis skillfully introduces the main characters and provides enough backstory to make new readers feel right at home in Old Town. The setting itself adds to the cozy atmosphere, with its quaint streets and charming shops.

The pacing of the story is well-executed, with a perfect balance between action and character development. The author expertly intertwines the convention of ghost kitchens with the mystery surrounding the dead body, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.

One of the highlights of this novel is the well-developed and likable cast of characters. Sophie Winston shines as the protagonist, showcasing her intelligence and determination as she navigates through the investigation. The addition of the “Domestic Diva” letters at the beginning of each chapter adds depth to Sophie’s character and provides insights into her personal life.

Furthermore, Davis tantalizes readers with delicious recipes sprinkled throughout the book. The mouth-watering descriptions will leave readers craving the dishes and create a sensory experience that adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading experience.

In conclusion, “The Diva Delivers on a Promise” is an outstanding read that combines all the elements of a great cozy mystery. Krista Davis’s writing is top-notch, the plot is engaging with plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing, and the characters are well developed and likable. With its cozy setting and delectable recipes, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and enjoyable mystery novel.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

This book was fun and interesting. I love Sophie and her crew. They always make things exciting. And the mystery was full of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. I was captured from the first page.
I had never heard of a ghost kitchen, but now I'm intrigued by the idea.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

This book was incredibly fun to read with lots and lots of exciting characters. I thought the plot was unique and clever. I always look forward to reading a new book in this series because it feels like a visit with old friends. I love them.

Sophie Winston is helping with a luncheon for A Healthy Meal when a dead man is found as the group enters the dining room. The hostess and her family become the chief suspects so Sophie is enlisted to help find the real murderer at the same time as she coordinates the Association of Ghost Kitchens. While another murder and unusual occurrences keep Sophie on her toes, she is determined to solve the mystery.

Sophie and her whacky friends are great characters and seem like old friends with each installment.

The mystery is well-plotted and full of twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and the ending is satisfying. The characters are also well-developed and likable.

A fun and entertaining mystery with a satisfying conclusion.

The characters are well-developed and likable, and the mystery is well-plotted.

I’ve enjoyed the Diva series but this one made the whole premise seem tired. The murder is kind of random and the book theme being ghost kitchens feels like it’s trying to be trendy without any substance. I’ve liked the rotating door of characters before but at this point, everyone is just kind of friends and there’s little tension. I’m just kind of over it.

This was really interesting in how the book related the information about ghost kitchens. Especially coming out of the pandemic, having a commercial type of kitchen where delivery or take out are the only options, would cut down on some of the overhead of running a full restaurant. Sophie is actually manning a convention of ghost kitchens, but there is a murder almost immediately during a meeting of one of her other causes and that man may have ties to the other association. I wasn't a fan of Wong's ex.

Both the Diva and Ms. Davis do an outstanding job on delivering with this latest Domestic Diva Mystery. I had not read a Domestic Diva book in a while and am not sure why. This mystery has all the right ingredients to be the perfect cozy and you don't need to have been reading the series all along to be able to follow along. Plenty of suspects and red herrings, as well as a supportive crew for the sleuther and even a furry friend. The story pulled me in instantly with an early body drop and a sleuth who seems to let nothing ruffle her feathers from tomato sauce on a light colored dress to being accused of sabotaging someone's good name (questionable) and cookie business (please she didn't even bake them). Speaking of cookies, there is an wonderful cookie recipe at the conclusion of the story that has both of my favorite flavors, cherries and chocolate.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Ghost kitchens are the last craze. They pop up all over the place and deliver meals and goodies. Sophie is organizing the first convention for them but did not expect to find a real ghost. Well, maybe not a ghost but definitely a dead body.

How and why the deceased ended up in Geraldine’s house is a big question. How no one heard anything nor discovered the body is also a question and one that makes Geraldine and all of her family suspects. There are some very odd goings on including fraud and theft but it is going to take all of Sophie”s skill and smarts to unravel this complex mystery.

Four purrs and two paws up.

The mystery was not as strong as in other books. I did find the idea of ghost kitchens to be a novel one that added to the book's interest. It is a fun read for cozy mystery fans.

Krista Davis is back with a new book: The Diva Delivers on a Promise! After reading the previous book in this series, I just had to check out this book. This book is charming and fun to read, especially with the mystery and characters. I recommend giving this book a try!

My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review!

The Diva Delivers on a Promise by Krista Davis

Characters: I love the characters in this series. Sophie and Natasha are polar opposites and everyone else fits somewhere in between. It would be fun to rate each character on a scale from easy going to uptight. The distinct personalities are easy to remember from book to book.

Setting: The Domesticated Diva series is set in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. It's made up of historical townhouses, antique shops, cobblestone streets and delicious restaurants. These make interesting murder spots and provide venues for new people to be introduced. You never know where a murderer might be lurking in Old Town.

Another common setting is a table. Food is the theme throughout the series so you'll wish you were able to taste the wonderful food they share. How fabulous that there are different recipes included in each book.

Plot: The Diva Delivers on a Promise is now one of my favorites in the series. It's a great whodunit that kept me guessing. The chain of events were well paced and kept my interest high.

Final Thoughts: I trust Krista Davis to produce a clean cozy mystery filled with undeniable personalities, beautiful historic places and events to die for. This is one of my favorite series and I would recommend it to anyone who likes clean cozy mysteries.

This addition to the series was wonderful! I love returning to Sophie and her friends, and I enjoyed this murder/adventure and, as always, the food mentioned!

Sophie is busy handling the first ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens—restaurants that do delivery only—but she’s taking a little time out for a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal. The group is dedicated to providing meals for children in need, and as a bonus, it’ll give Sophie the perfect opportunity to ogle the lavish Old Town home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield. Gerrie’s dining room is impeccably furnished, the table laden with gleaming crystal and prized china. If it weren’t for the dead man lying on the floor, everything would be perfect . . .
Sophie is trying to keep her nose out of it but it is so hard . Her and her friends jump right in to solve the crime. She just can't make sense of the crimes that have been committed and then a friend ends up in the hospital it makes her want to solve it even more. Through many twist, it takes she comes out on top. I have to tell you it is not who I thought it was!! Can't wait for the next one.