If you haven’t yet had a chance to pick up Spellbound Statues, released last week, head on over to my blog post now!
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
In Sweet Hearts, the fourth installment of the Samantha Sweet series, Connie Shelton delights readers with her signature blend of culinary charm and cozy mystery infused with a hint of the paranormal. Having previously enjoyed other books in this series, I was eager to dive into Sam’s latest case.
As the story unfolds, we find Sam Sweet in a bit of a pickle. With her wedding date set for February 14—a date that coincidentally happens to be Valentine’s Day—Sam decides to immerse herself in a new cause as she juggles her culinary endeavors. Why someone making chocolates, engagement cakes, and wedding cakes would ever pick Valentine’s Day to get married, I don’t know, but it does not go well.
What makes Sam such an endearing protagonist is her unwavering kindness and compassion. She has an innate desire to help those around her, often taking on more responsibilities than she can handle without first considering her own needs. This relatable aspect of her character resonates deeply with readers; after all, who among us hasn’t found ourselves overwhelmed while trying to do good for others?
Shelton’s descriptions are delicious and the plot is well-paced, so hopefully readers can overlook certain elements—such as depicting police procedures. For instance, there’s a moment when a crucial file is removed from a police station and handed over to Sam for personal use.
Whether you’re already a fan or new to Samantha’s world, this book provides a delicious escape filled with warmth and intrigue that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.
Well, you’ve got only a week to decide.
Connie Shelton, Sweet Hearts
Summary
Will there be Valentine wedding bells for Samantha Sweet and Beau Cardwell? (introduced in this mystery series opener Sweet Masterpiece) Sam’s bakery, Sweet’s Sweets is busier than ever this Valentine week, as she struggles to replicate the magical chocolate-making techniques of the enigmatic chocolatier who boosted her winter holiday sales into the stratosphere. However, candy classes take second place to a new mystery, when Sam meets a woman whose missing son’s case seems to have been dropped by the authorities. Marla Fresques learns that she is dying and needs for her son to come home and raise the daughter he left behind. Sam agrees to help, hoping that Sheriff Beau’s inside connections will bring about a quick and happy resolution.
But what about Sam’s and Beau’s own wedding plans? They may be in jeopardy when an entirely new development appears in the form of Beau’s ex-girlfriend who is determined to win him back.
With the familiar mix of mystery, romance and a touch of magic that has enchanted readers of this series, Sweet Hearts draws the reader even further into the captivating world of Samantha Sweet.
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