Santa Shortbread

by P.D. Workman
Santa Shortbread
Series: Auntie Clem's Bakery #12
Genres: Cozy Mystery

eBook Price: $ 5.99 USD
Paperback Price: $ 14.95 USD

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Ms. Workman delivers another great mystery with nice plot twists and charming characters. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to future installments.
—Sandy, Goodreads Reviewer

Santa Shortbread

Will the Grinch steal Christmas?

Somebody is stealing Christmas gifts from the Bald Eagle Falls children. At the rate that presents are disappearing, there soon won’t be a gift left in Whoville. Err, Bald Eagle Falls.

Gluten-free baker Erin Price and her friends are on the case to try to unmask the Grinch and bring him to justice, and toys to the children. But time is not on their side. Soon it will be Christmas Eve—will the winner be the Grinch or Santa?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If a clean and intriguing mystery with well-drawn diverse characters appeals to you, this book would be a great investment of your time and money. I shall eagerly await my next visit to Bald Eagle Falls to find out what the author has in store for these delightful characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️If you like cozies, this is a series for you. We have a bakery, a dog, a cat and a bunny. What more do you need?

Like baking mysteries? Cats, dogs, and other pets? Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author P.D. Workman brings readers back to small town Bald Eagle Falls for another culinary cozy mystery to be solved by gluten-free baker Erin Price and her friends.

Have your gluten-free cake and eat it too. Sink your teeth into this sweet treat now!

—This lady knows how to write!! I read this during hurricane Irma on my Kindle so I didn’t care the power was out!

—It was very good! But made me hungry!

—Oh my goodness I loved it! The murder mystery was so awesome… I couldn’t put this book down. Props to you again for another amazing read!

—I really enjoyed this book … Would make a great Hallmark movie.

—This very enjoyable story with uncomplicated characters and a sweet and easy storyline was well done.

Author Notes may contain spoilers!

A number of the gluten-free shortbread cookies I see floating around the net use almond ingredients. But of course Erin will not use nuts in her cookies. I have linked to a rice-flour based cookie for you in the resources section below. I don’t like to share recipes without having tested them myself, but these have multiple ingredients in them that I can’t eat, so you’ll have to try them out and let me know how they were!

There are some pictures to inspire you in decorating your Grinch cookies as well. I look forward to seeing your final products!

Santa Shortbread was originally going to be titled Grinch Goodies, but after reviewing The Grinch trademarks, I decided it wouldn’t be a good idea. I might end up having to change it, so it was best to start out with a “safe” title instead. 

I polled readers on my FaceBook page for kinds of cookies that start with the letter S as I was brainstorming titles for the book, and some of the suggestions were:

  • Sandies
  • Springerle
  • Stroopwaffel
  • Spritz-something-or-other
  • Snickerdoodles
  • Sugar Cookies
  • Shortbread
  • Sponge cookies
  • Sandwich cookies
  • Strawberry cookies
  • Samoas

Such great suggestions! The ones that really say “Christmas” to me are shortbread and sugar cookies, and I decided to go with the shortbread. 

Christmas isn’t an easy time for Erin. This is her second Christmas in Bald Eagle Falls, and presents some challenges that her first one did not. I hope you’ll stick with her as she sorts things out!

I am looking forward to a “Christmas in July” release!

“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me … And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”

“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for, I can’t recommend her enough.”

“I’ll read anything by P. D. Workman that I can get my hands on.”

“Every book by PD Workman that I’ve read has been a gripping one, however different the genres are, going from lighter mysteries to really dark ones… this is one of my favourite, most dependable authors.”

“P.D. Workman is an incredibly versatile writer. No matter which of her books I read I am drawn into a great story and honestly, I don’t think I’ve followed another author that could go from cozy mystery to YA to a PI series dealing with mental health issues. Really enjoy her books!”

“[P.D. Workman’s] stories are so believable and you can’t help but feel like you know these people. You find yourself crying, laughing and feeling the characters emotions. Now if an author can make you cry and feel every emotion in a story, she is one hell of an author.”

“P. D. Workman, does not shy from probing the deep psychological scars of childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Also characteristic of this author, these extremely sensitive issues are explored with extensive empathy, described with incredible clarity, and portrayed with profound insight.”

“Once again P.D.Workman has created an intense psychological mystery that impacts a wallop of thought induction. The writing is so well developed and draws you into the characters story.”

Listen to the author reading:

And here is another excerpt:

It’s Christmas in July!


About P.D. Workman

P.D. Workman is a USA Today Bestselling author, winner of several awards from Library Services for Youth in Custody and the InD’tale Magazine’s Crowned Heart award. With over 100 published books, Workman is one of Canada’s most prolific authors. Her mystery/suspense/thriller and young adult books, include stand alones and these series: Auntie Clem’s Bakery cozy mysteries, Reg Rawlins Psychic Investigator paranormal mysteries, Zachary Goldman Mysteries (PI), Kenzie Kirsch Medical Thrillers, Parks Pat Mysteries (police procedural), and YA series: Medical Kidnap Files, Tamara’s Teardrops, Between the Cracks, and Breaking the Pattern.

Workman has been praised for her realistic details, deep characterization, and sensitive handling of the serious social issues that appear in all of her stories, from light cozy mysteries through to darker, grittier young adult and mystery/suspense books.

P. D. Workman does not shy from probing the deep psychological scars of childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Also characteristic of this author, these extremely sensitive issues are explored with extensive empathy, described with incredible clarity, and portrayed with profound insight.
—Kim, Goodreads reviewer

Some of Workman’s titles have been translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, and Italian.

Workman began writing at an early age and is a prolific reader as well as writer. She is also passionate about teaching and learning, expresses her creativity through art and cooking, and loves exploring the Calgary parks and green spaces where the Parks Pat Mysteries are set. She was a legal assistant for many years and has done extensive charitable work.

Workman was born and raised in Alberta, Canada, and is married with one adult son.

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