This is the second book in the Killer Chocolate series. I did not read the first book, however, you won't be lost or miss anything by starting at the second book. This went against every grain of my being because I always have to start at the first book LOL. It was fine though. This was such a cute cozy mystery. It has been a hot minute since I've read a cozy mystery. I used to pounce on every new book from Diane Mott Davidson as soon as it came out. I realized reading this one how much I've missed them.

Two sisters own the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop. They are helping to organize their high school reunion. At the reunion, things go awry and one of the sisters discover a dead body. The reunion was full of gossip and bickering so there are many suspects, but one of the sisters is suspected of murder. The story unfolds from there. This is set in the winter months, so there is snow, but not much else is Christmas like about it. There are recipes at the end which I just love. This was a very good read and I loved it. 4 stars because cozy mysteries deserve love too. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC is exchange for my review. I greatly appreciate it.

I loved this cozy Christmas mystery! I loved the first book and this follow-up in the series is just as good if not better. I simply adore Hanna and Alex and cannot wait to see what they get into next.
I just reviewed A Nutcracker Nightmare by Christina Romeril. #ANutcrackerNightmare #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

A Nutcracker Nightmare is a good cozy Christmas mystery.

With a high school reunion old friends reunite. Kyle, the old football quarterback, is back and makes a real nuisance of himself.
Twins, Hanna and Alex, are central to the planning and execution of the event. They own the local book and chocolate store. Kyle goes all out to win Hannah's heart - even when she sets a very clear boundary with him. At one point she is so tired of him that she slaps him.
Then his dead body is found. The most obvious suspect is not the killer so it is crucial that the mystery be solved pronto.

Twin sisters Alex and Hanna, owners of Murder and Mayhem. book and chocolate shop, are providing chocolates for the community's high school reunion dance and dinner. When obnoxious former football star Kevin is found in the basement. bludgeoned to death by a nutcracker; with only Hanna's fingerprints on it, Alex puts her sleuthing skills to use to clear her sisters name. This book started off slow, there really wasn't much of a holiday theme, and there is no mention of the bookstore part of their business. On the plus side, this book had a good solid plot, with plenty of red herrings, likeable characters, a smart dog, and even a little romance for both sisters. The killer was a complete surprise to me. Thank you netgalley for allowing me to Read and review this book.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. The author is very fond of describing a scene with so many extra and unnecessary words that you find yourself looking at entire paragraphs confused by what their purpose was.

First, I want to say thank you for a copy for review.

Unfortunately I'm DNFing after chapter one because frankly this writing is so painful. It's so much unnecessary information, it's exhausting to read.

"“I got the real Canadian maple syrup. The clerk at the Black Currant ordered it for me from a small business in Ontario weeks ago, and it finally came. Did you know it takes forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup? I once went to the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival and got to see how it’s made. I’ve been dying to create a chocolate with some of the real stuff.”

This is a good Christmas cozy mystery. The main character reminds me of Joanna Fluke's Hannah Swenson mysteries with the chocolate making, so it felt familiar without being a direct connection. I will look into the first of this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

It’s a cozy little mystery that takes place during the winter months. Two twins are going to their school reunion, which of course can be dramatic in itself. But to make everyone more highstrung, a murder happens. And now it’s up to Alex to exhonorate her twin in the eyes of their former peers.

Though not as christmassy as I first thought it would be, It still makes for an interesting winter (or whatever season you choose) read, and is extra perfect with a hot beverage and plenty of chocolate. Maybe even homemade using some of the recipes in the back of the book.

When a class reunion turns murderous, Alex has to throw her hat into the sleuthing ring when her sister becomes the prime suspect. With so many secrets coming out from the past, there’s no lack of suspects. But can Alex clear her twin before everyone leaves town and leaves Hanna holding the title of most likely to have killed the man?

Another great entry in this series. I really enjoy the camaraderie the sisters have and the link between them as twins. If the forties are the new twenties, these two are in the prime of their life and the series just gets better with each entry. PS have some very good chocolate handy as you’re reading it. You’ve been warned.

I love a good cozy mystery-especially set during the holiday season. Book 2 to the Killer Chocolate mystery series was a great read!

“Hanna and Alex, owners of the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are busy preparing for the Harriston High School’s reunion weekend. Neighbors will connect with old friends and perhaps try to avoid old foes. One person no one can avoid is Kyle, the former star quarterback, who is busy using his entire playbook to try and score with Hanna, even threatening her if she doesn’t play nice. At the reunion, Alex glimpses more drama than nostalgia as insults are flung around like a football at a Friday night game. The party is put on hold when Alex finds the dead body of none other than Kyle himself, bludgeoned to death by a nutcracker that the sisters admired earlier in the night.”

This was a good cozy mystery. It was an easy read which I appreciate. I had no idea who the killer was until the end which makes for a great mystery I want to keep coming back to read. I did not read the first book before this one (which I will now be doing) but even not reading the first I was able to still know who the characters were and was not lost at all. I will be recommending this book for a great holiday mystery read. #netgalleyread

Already posted to Goodreads

A Nutcracker Nightmare features twin sisters, Alex and Hannah, who own a chocolates and mystery bookstore. Alex finds a body and begins to investigate. I haven’t read the first in this series (yet), but I had no problem reading this as a stand-alone. The story was fun, with just a hint of romance and a well-plotted mystery. I liked the characters and the small town setting and was guessing whodunnit right up until the reveal. It was all a cozy mystery should be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

I like books about holidays this cozy mystery was no different it had snow in it and it even has a competition and it includes recipes with chocolate. This book was approved by netgalley and the publisher for me to read and review.

"A Nutcracker Nightmare" makes for an interesting 2nd book in the "Killer Chocolate' series by Christina Romeril. I haven't read the first book in the series yet, but I think I will after having read this one. To be fair, you don't have to read to first book to enjoy this one. It doesn't go it the "Previously in Killer Chocolate" type retelling some sequel books can do. Which I love. Thank you. This is okay too. The story goes well without needing to rehash details.

I didn't feel it was very Christmas-ie. It did have the occasional holiday mention, but the overall story barely touches on it being the holiday season. This I found a bit odd for a seemingly holiday centered series. At least based on the title/little bit of details you get in book too about book one. I don't mind but feel that if it's going to have such a holiday feel to the cover and title a little more holiday should be in the book.

I was kinda completely thrown off at the reveal of the killer. That was not the direction I was going. However, after the reveal I did thing "Hmmm, that does make sense though."

#ANutcrackerNightmare #NetGalley is the second book in this new series, and it very good.
Sisters Hanna and Ali own Murder and Mayhem, a local chocolate and book shop, and Ali has a knack for getting involved in murder investigations.
This book has a lot going on, and I was involved in the story early on.
I like the characters, they are strong and smart, which makes this a great start to a new series.
I'm looking forward to recommending this book to other myster fans.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

A Nutcracker Nightmare was a fun cozy mystery to get me into the Christmas spirit, and now I really want to visit a chocolate and book shop. This was the first book I've read by Romeril (and the second in the series), but I really enjoyed it. I get the sense that I might get a fuller understanding of the characters and their contexts if I had read both books, but I think it works as a stand-alone. The descriptive copy compares this book to Joanna Fluke and Laura Childs--I think fans of those authors will really enjoy this book too, and I'll be sure to recommend it to our cozy mystery-loving patrons.