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New. Mass market (rack) paperback. 304 p. A True Confections Mystery. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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Becca Ransom left her idyllic hometown of Larch Haven, Vermont for the glitz and glamor of Hollywood. She had some success, staying there for seven years but now has returned to work in the family chocolate shop, True Confections, with a new passion as a chocolatier. Her timing coincides with her grandparents, Lolly and Pop taking a step back from the business to enjoy their lives in new ways.
The town is now preparing for the Gondola Races where tourists and residents, including Becca's brother race through the canals and around Shadow Lake. Becca works hard to keep the shelves of the shop stocked as do all the other shops around town. With all the tourists it is a very busy time. There is one resident not happy about the influx of guests. Archie Smith hates all the people and is working hard making trouble hoping to get the event canceled. He even gets into a public argument with Becca's grandfather about the event.
Later, Becca finds Archie's dead body floating in the canal and soon Pops is at the top of the list of probable murderers. Stunned by this Becca vows to clear his name knowing she could be the killer's next victim. Tempering chocolate and creating yummy truffles may be her passion but her love for her Pops knows no bounds. She may need to draw on her acting chops to get to the truth.
_________
I really enjoy the Literary Pub Mysteries by Ms. Fox so I couldn't wait to see what she had planned for this new series.
I was immediately struck by the unique setting. Larch Haven also called the Venice of North America is built along a series of canals just like that other Venice. People travel by gondola, boat, or walking. No cars are allowed in the town proper. The homes are unique as well. Like her neighbors, Becca lives in a cottage that looks like it was just plucked out of a fairy tale. The author does a great job of world-building so that her readers can easily visualize everything clearly.
Ms. Fox has also created a fun cast of characters. Becca's life is in flux as she gets resettled at home while leaving her boyfriend back in California. She has her two cats, Binx and Truffles to keep her company.Ã? Ã? Her grandparents live nearby so she can visit with them daily and they always seem to have something tasty to send home with her. Her cousins Angie and Milo work with her at True Confections and her grandparents and other members of her family drop by often. Desiree Bautista aka Dizzy has been her best friend since they met in preschool. She is a librarian and is very happy to have her friend back home. They also make a great team when a bit of sleuthing is needed. Of course, Officer Sawyer Maguire, who she has also known forever, would like her to keep her nose out of police business but he is also very happy that Becca is back in town. All the characters developed nicely throughout the story. Even the victim, "curmudgeon" Archie Smith was fleshed out well.
The murder investigation was personal for Becca so it was easy to get caught up in its process. The victim had angered so many people with his behavior that there were plenty of suspects to question and alibis to check. This was very well-plotted with an extra little twist or two that scared our protagonist but she didn't give up. I really enjoyed that an old missing person case was revisited and that it could be connected to the current case. Becca's love life also took on a life of its own thanks to the Gossip Grannies.Ã? All of this kept me engaged and entertained. I am sure there were clues I missed because I was totally gobsmacked when all was revealed. I truly was on the edge of my seat as the action unfolded.
And yes, there is plenty of talk about chocolate, specifically truffles throughout the book. I really wish each book came with a sampler box of truffles because while reading and still days after my chocolate cravings have not been curbed. The recipes for Mint Melty Truffles and Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles are included at the end of the story, but it may be easier to take a trip to the local candy shop. I am so happy we have one.
Six Sweets Under has set this series off in a delightful way. The setting will grab you, the people will hold you and the mystery will have you hanging on tight. I am excited to see that book two, Baking Spirits Bright will be released on October 3. I have already saved a spot on my reading calendar.
Kristina
Feb 6, 2023
It will have you craving chocolate!
Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox is the debut of A True Confections Mysteries. Becca Ransom was an actress on a popular show before she returned home to Larch Haven. I enjoyed the descriptions of the unique town. Larch Haven seems to be the American version of Venice. Cars are not allowed in the town. People can either walk around the quaint town or traverse the canals via a gondola (or other small watercrafts). The story is told from Beccaââ?¬â?¢s point of view. This allows readers to know her every thought and activity (can be a bit much at times and a tad dull). She gets up feeds the cats, lets them out onto the catio, walks to work going over several bridges, making the chocolates, back home to pet the cats, lunch with her best friend, out in her boat, time with family, off to bed, and the next day the activities are repeated. Did we really need to know every time she made bonbons? There is a significant amount of repetition (Venice Avenue is mentioned over thirty times). Becca being scared to swim in the lake because of the ââ?¬Å"monsterââ?¬Â? would have worked if this was a paranormal story. Instead, it came across as Becca being a touch batty. Beccaââ?¬â?¢s cats are cuties. I like that Becca has a catio for them. The mystery was simple. It was obvious that Archie would soon be murdered based on his attitude and activities. Beccaââ?¬â?¢s sleuthing left a lot to be desired. She thinks about who she would talk to and the questions she would ask, but Becca rarely puts thoughts into action. The information Becca uncovered added little to the investigation. The killer can be identified easily. Beccaââ?¬â?¢s Los Angeles boyfriend, Justin visits the town. He added nothing to the story. The storyline played out in a predicable manner. The story moved along at a slow pace until near the end. There was a lack of action (just the same daily activities). While I like the premise and setting, I was not a fan of the end result. My takeaway was a craving for chocolate. Six Sweets Under is a lighthearted tale with delectable bonbons, cats chilling in the catio, a stolen scooter, a murdered curmudgeon, a water worry, a disappointing picnic, and a killer clue.
