Iron Canuck Reviews & More: Review Tour: Cornbread, Ribs, and Murder (Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery #3) by Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell with an excerpt, a giveaway, and my review

CORNBREAD, RIBS, AND MURDER

by Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell

GENRE: Mystery

BLURB:

It’s a rib cookoff…with a recipe for murder.

Nicole Earp and Emma Banefield are celebrating another birthday at the Dulce Inn with the added fun of a rib cookoff in the park. Not only are chocolate martinis in their plans, Nic has her heart set on winning the cornbread contest. But as the excitement bakes, someone is stirring up trouble for the inn and its employees.

Strange occurrences at the Dulce are on the rise. Slashed tires, menacing phone calls, and unsavory characters add a vibe that threatens the sisters’ anticipated fun-filled stay. When the hot-headed hotel owner is caught wielding a bloody letter opener over a dead coworker, the sisters are embroiled in a caper to help the one person who finds their sleuthing as welcomed as a rattlesnake in her bed. But is she innocent?

The Chocolate Martini Sisters are primed to find out. First, they’ll have to eliminate a host of suspects that includes a dishonest restaurant owner, a jilted girlfriend, an ex-wife, the barkeeper, and a masseuse with a crush. If they can stay off the radar of the surly chief homicide detective long enough, they can put out the fire…unless the killer burns them first.

The third book in this amateur sleuths, cozy mystery series will have you chuckling and on the edge of your seat as the sisters solve the murder.

EXCERPT:

“Oh, gawd,” her sister said. This time Em nudged her back toward the elevator.

“Not too far.” She tugged on Em’s sleeve. She wanted to be within hearing distance when the detectives reached the administrative hallway.

Detective Guthrie hadn’t changed in the six months since they’d been instrumental in solving a murder in the inn. His tawny-amber eyes appeared all-seeing, even from this distance. He still wore his mix of brown and silver hair in a close cropped, military style. His suit was obviously well-tailored and expensive. An open-neck Oxford shirt in pale yellow completed his professional appearance. He was a handsome early to mid-fifties man—in a conservative, tight-ass sort of way. Her sister had gone toe to toe with the irascible detective they’d nicknamed Dawg on more than one occasion and enjoyed coming out the victor. “Why so reluctant for an encounter with Dawg?”

“Not in the mood.”

This had been a rollercoaster day for Em: the mess at her house had her down, the expectant fun and the cornbread contest had her up, the discovery of a bloody body threw her back down. “Well, pull up your big girl panties because we’d have to do this sooner or later. We’re smack in the middle of another murder mystery.” Could she feel awful for Leo, for Jillian, yet still feel pumped to dive into an investigation? And they would, wouldn’t they? She peered at Em, wondering if this one was too grisly.

“How could I not expect to see the sisters at yet another Dulce Inn mystery?” Guthrie quirked a brow. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think the Dulce is your permanent residence.”

She swore a chuckle rose and died in Em’s throat.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

After hearing countless stories as a mental health professional, Joyce retired to create her own tales. As an award-winning author, she writes historical romance and cozy mystery where all endings are guaranteed happy. She shares her home on the prairie with a husband and a little dog with a big personality. When she isn’t reading or writing, she likes to swim and finds baking almost as relaxing as a day at the spa.

Visit here at her website: https://joyceproell.com/ or at https://www.facebook.com/JoyceProellAuthor

Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. She writes children’s books under the pen name, Brenda Sue. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won't discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.

Visit Brenda at https://www.brendawhiteside.com or https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Book Link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1GPJR7

Series Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQ9T7ZBX

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GIVEAWAY

Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell will award a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4897/

My Review - 4 of 5 stars -

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. It was my first in this series. Emma and Nic were interesting characters that complemented each other as their personalities were different. With the little insights into their personal lives, I came to know and like them. The mystery itself had me going back and forth as to who was the best suspect and villain. This story was worth the read.