Three Fudges and a Baby is the twelfth installment in the Candy Coated Mystery series set on Mackinac Island and featuring fudge maker Allie McMurphy. Allie is starting her third season on the island and business has been great at her family's Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop.

Allie's best friend Jenn Carpenter is expecting her first baby with husband Shane. Jenn has hired a midwife and doula so that she can have the baby on the island. When Hannah Riversbend, the doula doesn't answer Jenn's texts, Allie and Jenn along with Allie's furry companion Mal, make their way to Hannah's house. There they find the woman sitting on the steps, holding a gun and the body of her finance dead just feet away.

Convinced that Hannah wouldn't hurt a fly, Jenn asks Allie to please find the real killer and clear Hannah's name in time for the birth of her son. Allie teams up with boyfriend, Officer Rex Manning to solve the murder and along the way has to deal with her overbearing mother and an ex-boyfriend.

A great addition to the series with a surprising twist at the end. Featuring returning characters, furry companions and delicious recipes, this installment proved to be another fun filled romp on Mackinac Island.

I received an advanced copy of Three Fudges and a Baby from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Three Fudges and a Baby by Nancy Coco is the 13th book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series.
Allie’s best friend, Jen is due to have her first baby. Unfortunately her doula,Hannah, is fouad holding a gun over her dead fiance. Hannah claims that she did not kill him. However, the police think that she did. Now it is up to Allie to find out who the real killer is so that Hannah can be there when Jen’s baby arrives.

Three Fudges and a Baby is a fun cozy set in a town full of quirky characters. The book also includes several mouth watering fudge recipes!

As the weather begins to warm up a little on Mackinac Island, Allie McMurphy, local hotelier and award winning fudge maker is very busy indeed. Alongside all her usual tasks she is keeping a watchful eye on her best friend, Jenn, who is now two weeks over her due date and desperate for her first baby to arrive. When Hannah Riversbend, the carefully chosen doula, is suddenly the main suspect in a murder case, panic ensues. Jenn is sure the young woman is innocent and absolutely certain she can't give birth without her there and begs Allie to find the real killer, fast.

Unfortunately, as the investigation begins to take shape Allie’s mom arrives on the Island with an old flame she hasn't seen since they graduated college together,  when he proposed! With Jenn's doctor wanting her to head to the mainland to be induced, and Allie’s boyfriend, police officer Rex Manning, not at all thrilled by the arrival of Brett or her mother, both of whom want more of her than she has to spare, Allie isn't sure she won't be breaking the promise she made to her BFF especially as one of the consequences of that promise could ruin her reputation on Mackinac forever.

Book thirteen in this fun cosy series did have a few problems but was still a good read and set the scene for exciting times ahead. Allie, Rex, and Jenn were on great form and I enjoyed her Mom's visit very much especially as she was such an awful woman! My main concern was the actual killer’s identity because when the relevant information was discovered no one seemed able to take the next logical step when I think most of the readers would which proved to be both a disappointing and anticlimactic way to finish the investigation. I gave the book 3.5/4 stars because the rest of the storyline which didn't include the latter part of the whodunnit were great and I enjoyed them the most.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. Although this didn't hit all the high notes there is a teaser chapter from book 14 and I definitely can't wait read that.As the weather begins to warm up a little on Mackinac Island, Allie McMurphy, local hotelier and award winning fudge maker is very busy indeed. Alongside all her usual tasks she is keeping a watchful eye on her best friend, Jenn, who is now two weeks over her due date and desperate for her first baby to arrive. When Hannah Riversbend, the carefully chosen doula, is suddenly the main suspect in a murder case, panic ensues. Jenn is sure the young woman is innocent and absolutely certain she can't give birth without her there and begs Allie to find the real killer, fast.

Unfortunately, as the investigation begins to take shape Allie’s mom arrives on the Island with an old flame she hasn't seen since they graduated college together,  when he proposed! With Jenn's doctor wanting her to head to the mainland to be induced, and Allie’s boyfriend, police officer Rex Manning, not at all thrilled by the arrival of Brett or her mother, both of whom want more of her than she has to spare, Allie isn't sure she won't be breaking the promise she made to her BFF especially as one of the consequences of that promise could ruin her reputation on Mackinac forever.

Book thirteen in this fun cosy series did have a few problems but was still a good read and set the scene for exciting times ahead. Allie, Rex, and Jenn were on great form and I enjoyed her Mom's visit very much especially as she was such an awful woman! My main concern was the actual killer’s identity because when the relevant information was discovered no one seemed able to take the next logical step when I think most of the readers would which proved to be both a disappointing and anticlimactic way to finish the investigation. I gave the book 3.5/4 stars because the rest of the storyline which didn't include the latter part of the whodunnit were great and I enjoyed them the most.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. Although this didn't hit all the high notes there is a teaser chapter from book 14 and I definitely can't wait read that.

Three Fudges and a Baby by Nancy Coco is a sweet culinary cozy mystery that is the 12 th book in the delightful Candy-Coated Mystery series.

I have really enjoyed all twelve books in this series thus far. This was a nice addition. Mackinac Island is such a unique and special location, amd makes for a perfect local for this series. I also liked that Allie’s friend, Jenn, gets a spotlight in this installment when her doula is the suspect in a murder…Allie and company to the rescue…

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books 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 3/26/24.

"Three Fudges and a Baby (Candy-Coated Mysteries #12)" by Nancy Coco is mostly baby themed. However, this one annoyed me more than previous books on the series for a couple of reasons. I am going to be a bit harsher than I usually am. Sorry.

First was Allie's mother and Allie being a push over to her. Her mom shows up with zero warning expecting Allie to entertain her and an ex of Allie's, that she got to bring her. She goes so far as to basically call Allie rude for not being available. Yes, Allie has so much time while running a business that she can drop everything when her mom is unexpectedly around. Then Allie pretty much lets Jenn be the reason she can't do-things instead of just pointing out to her mother that's how things are when you warning of a visit and you run a business. If she can run the business she can stick up for herself with her mom a bit more. Not just try then give up after one comment.

The second thing that really bothered me is the in book continuity issues or Allie's lack of memory for things she's told or talked about. I've come to expect that of this series but this one has been the worst for that. She's told numerous times about a suspect's relationship to another and the victim, acts like she never knew. Gets told by the primary suspect information that is then never talked about and then changed. Seriously, at one point she's told some crucial information about the culprit but it goes right over her head with a different conclusion and can't get past that it's not a particular suspect she's already focused on. If she had been logical about it she would have caught the culprit sooner. Instead this one just keeps going on.

Over all though, it was a nice story for the Jenn narrative side of things. We get the birth of Jenn and Shane's baby. We still have relationship drama for Ali (which I hope is finally over in the next book). Honestly, it feels like the series is winding down to its final book or two. Which is probably good. They're getting to that repetitive spot some series hit.

Another winner! Nancy Coco's "Three Fudges and a Baby" is another great addition to her Candy-Coated Mystery series.

A nice addition to this series. You may solve the mystery before the reveal, but following the characters who are now your friends makes it worth the read

#ThreeFudgesandaBaby #NetGalley Allie McMurphy is back in the 12th addition to this wonderful series.
Allie's best friend Jenn is 2 weeks overdue for her baby, she's tired, uncomfortable, and cranky. All she wants is to have her baby, but when her Doula is suspected of murder, Jenn begs Allie to find the real killer.
I really loved this book, there were so many emotions and twists and turns that I stayed up late to finish it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.