I am so thrilled to have D.E. Haggerty back on this blog. I have been looking forward to this novella for months. After you read about why she decided to write a novella in her ongoing Death by Cupcake series, be sure to scroll down for my review and to click the big red button for a chance to win a $10 amazon card.
Why I wrote Christmas Cupcakes & A Caper
D.E. Haggerty
When I finished writing Self-Serve Murder, the third novel in the Death by Cupcake series, I was convinced I was finished with the series. I’ve developed a formula for writing a cozy mystery series that I’m comfortable with. Each series consists of three books with each book revolving around a different but connected character. The characters are usually a group of three women who work together. The idea being readers can enjoy the same set of characters for each book, but see the action from different perspectives with each story.
The ladies of Callie’s Cakes, the cupcake bakery where the Death by Cupcake series is set, however, wouldn’t let me go, though. Nope. The tenacious women kept invading my thoughts and dreams – sometimes they even interrupted my shower! – to give me other book ideas. Anna the baker insists there are tons of murders she’s yet to solve. I can remind her she’s not a detective until I’m blue in the face – it doesn’t make a bit of difference.
If I’ve told the ladies once I’ve told them a million times – I don’t have time for another Death by Cupcake story. The ladies do not listen. Not for a second. Instead, they suggested I write a novella. Surely I could fit writing a novella into my busy schedule, they insisted. The concept of ‘I don’t have time’ is obviously foreign to the ladies.
Push, push, push. After firmly planting the novella idea in my head, the cupcake bakers started telling me about all these wonderful holiday story ideas they have. Anna the baker wants a Fourth of July book dedicated to her. Kristie wants a Valentine’s Day story. Callie doesn’t care as long as she doesn’t have to solve another murder. (Sorry, Callie. I can’t make that promise.)
I finally gave in and wrote Christmas Cupcakes & A Caper. Don’t tell the girls, but it was tons of fun to write. In fact, I now have three novellas in the series planned for next year.
About The Book:
Christmas Cupcakes and a Caper (Death by Cupcake)
by D.E. Haggerty
It’s all candy cane cupcakes and peppermint coffee until you find a dead elf on your doorstep.
Only the elf wasn’t a real elf, because elves don’t actually exist – not even at Christmas time. A college student dressed like an elf decided taking a nap in sub-zero winter temps was a good idea. It wasn’t. Anna, the pink-haired baker extraordinaire of Callie’s Cakes, is convinced the student’s death was not an accident. She drags Callie and Kristie along with her as she attempts to discover who killed the elf … um… student.
Will the gals of Callie’s Cakes find the killer before Christmas is ruined?
Cupcakes not included, although you’ll find recipes for all the delicious Christmas cupcakes Anna baked.
Book Links: Amazon / Goodreads
The three ladies at Callie’s Cakes find a dead elf on their doorstep, what could possibly go wrong?
It isn’t enough that the dead guy is found propped against the front of their store, it turns out to a student from the university that each of the ladies knows in some way. When it turns out to be a homicide, Anna is full speed ahead on solving it. Her sleuthing tool of choice is, of course, cupcakes. Ooey gooey Christmas flavored cupcakes that have blown my diet just from reading about them. When the murdered student’s unsavory reputation comes to light Kristy feels the need to join in the investigation and it is all Callie can do to keep their enthusiasm for the hunt reigned in. Add to that end of term papers to grade, the Christmas rush at the bakery, and uncertainty about her relationship with Ben. Does it need to be said that Callie is having a rough couple of days?
A label on the cover promises laugh out loud fun and for a story that is a little over 100 pages with three spunky heroines, it definitely makes good on that guarantee. I snorted my tea when the friends were referred to as Lucy and Ethyl. The description so fits. Of course, as always, the author had me at the chapter titles. Santa will be tugging his beard over this one.
Everyone knows my sincere dislike for short stories. I understand why a novella format was chosen for this story, and though the pages more than deliver on Cozy goodness with a nice little twist, I am naturally going to say that 100 pages just isn’t long enough to spend with these characters. I am once again waiting for the next installment. Luckily I have the recipes for Anna’s cupcakes to keep me busy in the meantime. With the snow falling outside, Hot Chocolate cupcakes sound heavenly.
My review of Never Trust A Skinny Cupcake Baker (Death by Cupcake Book 1)
About The Author:
I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.
Author Links:
Website: http://dehaggerty.wordpress.com
Blog: https://dehaggerty.wordpress.com/category/mymusings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dehaggerty
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dehaggerty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dehaggerty/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210211.D_E_Haggerty
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/D.E.-Haggerty/e/B00ECQBURU/
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/027b2768aa1c/newsletter-sign-up-for-a-writers-life-by-de-haggerty
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/denahaggerty/
Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/d-e-haggerty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-e-haggerty-4b49a29/
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Thank you for taking the time to read and review the Christmas cupcake novella. The next installment in the series will be a 4th of July story. I’m planning on releasing it in May. In the meantime, there are cupcakes to bake!
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