Three fudges and a baby, p.1
Three Fudges and a Baby, page 1
Mouthwatering Praise for Nancy Coco’s Mysteries
GIVE FUDGE A CHANCE
“An enjoyable character-driven whodunit that mixes murder with a touch of romance and the requisite sweet treats.”
—Kirkus Reviews
HAVE YOURSELF A FUDGY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
“Two nasty murders, charming surviving characters, plenty of Christmas cheer, and enough fudge recipes for a major sugar rush.”
—Kirkus Reviews
DEATH BEE COMES HER
“Personable characters and lots of honey lore.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Sprinkled with delightful notes on honey and its various uses, this debut novel in the Oregon Honeycomb Mystery series is a fun introduction to a new cozy series. Everett, the Havana Brown cat, is an animal delight, often proving to be smarter than the humans around him.”
—Criminal Element
“The author writes a captivating story with interesting characters. Naturally, Everett [the cat] contributes to the solution. A charming read.”
—Reviewingtheevidence.com
“This warmhearted book is fast-paced, with realistic dialogue and a captivating plot.”
—Mystery and Suspense Magazine
FOREVER FUDGE
“Nancy Coco paints us a pretty picture of this charming island setting where the main mode of transportation is a horse-drawn vehicle. She also gives us a delicious mystery complete with doses of her homemade fudge . . . a perfect read!”
—Wonder Women Sixty
OH, FUDGE!
“Oh, Fudge! Is a charming cozy, the sixth in the Candy-Coated Mystery series. But be warned: There’s a candy recipe at the end of each chapter, so don’t read this one when you’re hungry!”
—Suspense Magazine
OH SAY CAN YOU FUDGE
“Beautiful Mackinac Island provides the setting for a puzzling series of crimes. Now that Allie McMurphy has taken over her grandparents’ hotel and fudge shop, life on Mackinac is good, although her little dog, Mal, does tend to nose out trouble . . . Allie’s third offers plenty of plausible suspects and mouthwatering fudge recipes.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“WOW. This is a great book. I loved the series from the beginning, and this book just makes me love it even more. Nancy Coco draws the reader in and makes you feel like you are part of the story.”
—Bookschellves.com
TO FUDGE OR NOT TO FUDGE
“To Fudge or Not to Fudge is a superbly crafted, classic, culinary cozy mystery. If you enjoy them as much as I do, you are in for a real treat.”
—Examiner.com (5 stars)
“We LOVED it! This mystery is a vacation between the pages of a book. If you’ve never been to Mackinac Island, you will long to visit, and if you have, the story will help you to recall all of your wonderful memories.”
—Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries and Meows
“A five-star delicious mystery that has great characters, a good plot, and a surprise ending. If you like a good mystery with more than one suspect and a surprise ending, then rush out to get this book and read it, but be sure you have the time, since once you start, you won’t want to put it down.”
—Mystery Reading Nook
“A charming and funny culinary mystery that parodies reality-show competitions and is led by a sweet heroine, eccentric but likable characters, and a skillfully crafted plot that speeds toward an unpredictable conclusion. Allie stands out as a likable and engaging character. Delectable fudge recipes are interspersed throughout the novel.”
—Kings River Life
ALL FUDGED UP
“A sweet treat with memorable characters, a charming locale, and satisfying mystery.” —Barbara Allan, author of the Trash ’n’ Treasures Mystery Series
“A fun book with a lively plot, and it’s set in one of America’s most interesting resorts. All this plus fudge!”
—JoAnna Carl, author of the Chocoholic Mystery Series
“A sweet confection of a book. Charming setting, clever protagonist, and creamy fudge—a yummy recipe for a great read.”
—Joanna Campbell Slan, author of the Scrap-N-Craft Mystery Series and the Jane Eyre Chronicles
“Nancy Coco’s All Fudged Up is a delightful mystery delivering suspense and surprise in equal measure. Add that to the charm of the setting, Michigan’s famed Mackinac Island, and you have a recipe for enjoyment. Mouthwatering fudge recipes are included. A must-read for all lovers of amateur sleuth classic mysteries.”
—Carole Bugge (Elizabeth Blake), author of the Jane Austen Society Mystery Series
“You won’t have to ‘fudge’ your enthusiasm for Nancy Coco’s first Mackinac Island Fudge Shop Mystery. Indulge your sweet tooth as you settle in and meet Allie McMurphy, Mal the bichon/poodle mix, and the rest of the motley crew in this entertaining series debut.”
—Miranda James, author of the Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series
“Enjoyable . . . All Fudged Up is littered with delicious fudge recipes, including alcohol-infused ones. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and look forward to reading more in this series.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Cozy mystery lovers who enjoy quirky characters, a great setting, and fantastic recipes will love this debut.”
—The Lima News
“The first Candy-Coated Mystery is a fun cozy due to the wonderful location filled with eccentric characters.”
—Midwest Book Review
Books by Nancy Coco
The Oregon Honeycomb Mystery Series
Death Bee Comes Her
A Matter of Hive and Death
The Candy-Coated Mystery Series
All Fudged Up
To Fudge or Not to Fudge
Oh Say Can You Fudge
All I Want for Christmas Is Fudge
All You Need Is Fudge
Oh, Fudge!
Deck the Halls with Fudge
Forever Fudge
Fudge Bites
Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas
Here Comes the Fudge
A Midsummer Night’s Fudge
Give Fudge a Chance
Having a Fudgy Christmas Time
Three Fudges and a Baby
Three Fudges and a Baby
Nancy Coco
Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Table of Contents
Praise
Also by
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Acknowledgments
Teaser chapter
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2024 by Nancy J. Parra
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
KENSINGTON and the KENSINGTON COZIES teapot logo Reg US Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-1-4967-4370-1
ISBN: 978-1-4967-4371-8 (ebook)
This one is for Ashley and Mike. Thank you for taking care of me so that I could write these books. Your care, understanding, and love have enriched my life more than you will ever know!
Chapter 1
Don’t tell my boyfriend, Officer Rex Manning, but Mackinac Island might just be the love of my life. It’s April and I’m prepping for my third season on the island. The Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop had made it through nearly one hundred and fifty winters on the island. I felt pretty proud about the fact that I had made it through my second with flying color s.
The fudge shop sales soared with my best-in-show fudge flavor driving most of the online sales. Who knew dark chocolate mint would be popular?
“Morning, Allie,” my general manager, Frances Devaney, said as she walked into the hotel promptly at eight a.m. “It’s going to be a gorgeous day. They say it might even get up to seventy degrees.”
I glanced out the front window. “That would be a heat wave for this time of year. But I’ll take it because it could snow tomorrow.” Frances chuckled.
Main Street Mackinac was busy as more and more shop owners trickled back into town to open and get ready for the “fudgie” season. We love to call the tourists who came to spend time in the beautiful parks and the Victorian era no-cars-allowed feel of the island fudgies. I saw my best friend, Jenn Carpenter, who shared my office for her event planning business, reaching for the door, I opened it and waved her inside.
“Don’t say I look positively radiant, or I will slug you,” she said. Her cheeks were red as she waddled in. “This baby was supposed to come two weeks ago. I’m no longer worried about the pain of childbirth. I’d just like to see my toes again.”
Jenn’s pregnancy felt like it had gone on for years, but in fact it was just over nine months. She was one of those lucky women who looked even prettier while pregnant. She held her back and sat in a wingback chair near the front door. I had designed a seating area with a cozy gas fireplace and a wonderful view of Main Street. There was no need for a fire today.
“Hello, Jenn.” Douglas Devaney, my curmudgeonly handyman and Frances’s new husband, walked toward the front door. “You look—”
“Don’t say it,” I warned and put up my hand in a stop gesture.
“What? I was going to say she looks—”
“Ready to pop?” Jenn said from her perch on the edge of the chair. She told me last week that if she sat back, she would never be able to get out of it due to her current low center of gravity.
“I was going to say, lovely as ever,” Douglas said. “What is wrong with that?”
“Nothing,” I answered. “Absolutely nothing.” I hurried to the coffee bar behind the fudge shop and grabbed a bottle of water for Jenn.
“I’m sorry,” Jenn said to Douglas. “I’m just so crabby these days.”
“That’s understandable.” Douglas scooted the foot stool over so that she could prop her feet up. “Are you sure you should be working?”
“Sarah, my midwife, said it’s good to move around as much as possible,” Jenn said. “Although I feel more like I’m waddling than walking. That and I have to get out from under Shane. That man drives me crazy with his hovering. Just last night I woke up to find him watching me with the go bag at the foot of the bed.”
“How does he handle going to work in St. Ignace and leaving you here on the island?” I asked.
“Oh, he’s not going to St. Ignace. No, no, he’s built a small lab in the shed, complete with an evidence cage and chain of custody logs.”
“That had to be expensive,” I said.
“You don’t want to know.” She shook her head. “But he got it okayed by the county so there’s that.”
“How’d he manage that?” Frances asked.
Jenn shook her head again. “His father is good buddies with the governor so that might have helped him.”
“Then you have definitely decided to have the baby on the island?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said and rubbed her belly. “Sarah has permission to set up at the clinic, and I have a doula, Hannah Riversbend. She’s been working with us through the birthing classes and such. In fact, she’s supposed to be meeting me at the Coffee Bean.” Jenn held up her hand. “Before you say anything, I’m not drinking coffee. They have this nice triple-berry herbal tea. Anyway, I’m supposed to head over there, but I thought I’d stop for a moment and take a load off.”
“I’m done stocking the fudge shop,” I said. “Why don’t I go with you? I would love to meet your doula.” I unbuttoned my baker’s coat and pulled off my baking hat. “As long as you don’t mind my going smelling of sugar.”
“Sure,” she said. “You know I love the smell of sugar. But I’m going to rest a bit if you would feel better about changing first. I can text Hannah what’s going on.”
“Great,” I said. “I’ll just be a minute. Besides, that way if we run into Rex, I look less like the walking dead.”
“You know he doesn’t mind how you look,” Douglas said.
I shook my head and scurried up the stairs; my Bichonpoo pup, Mal, raced ahead of me. It took less than ten minutes for me to wash up and change. I even brushed out my wavy hair and pinned it up into a top bun, which I hear is all the rage for busy women these days.
I came down wearing jeans, a pink polo with the McMurphy logo on it, and my favorite pair of black flats. Mal loved it when I hurried. She would dance around picking up on my excitement.
“You can’t come with us,” I said to my pup as she raced down the stairs and watched me descend, her stub tail wagging. “It’s still too cool for Jenn to be sitting outside and the Coffee Bean doesn’t allow dogs inside.”
Mal sat and cocked her head to the side and just kept looking at me like I spouted nonsense.
“Oh, let’s take her.” Jenn rose awkwardly from the chair. “Sarah said sitting out in the sunshine was good for the baby. Plus, I have my sweater.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Jenn waddled toward us at the back of the lobby. “Grab her leash, we’ll cut through the alley.”
I slid Mal into her halter and leash and opened the door for Jenn. The back alley was Mal’s favorite spot. There was a small strip of grass between the alley and the fence of the neighboring hotel.
“How are you feeling really?” I asked.
“Do I look that bad?” Jenn asked as she held her low back and walked slower than I’ve ever seen her walk.
“Hey, only child here.” I waved my hand. “I have no idea what you should look like at this stage of pregnancy. I asked because you don’t complain about anything.”
“Oh, I complain plenty,” she said. “But only Shane gets to hear it because he helped this whole situation.” She gestured toward her belly. “Not that I’m not excited for the baby.”
“Oh, I know you’re excited. You had your nursery done in October.” We exited the alley and Mal turned left, not right toward the Coffee Bean. “This way, silly.” I pulled her toward us, but Mal insisted that we had to go left toward Main Street. “I’m sorry,” I said to Jenn. “She wants to go for a longer walk.”
Jenn glanced down at her phone. “I texted Hannah we’d be running late, and she didn’t get back to me. I see no harm in taking a detour. Maybe I can walk this baby out.”
“Fine, we’ll go around the block,” I said. “You might want to text her and let her know where we are.”
“Got it,” Jenn paused and thumbed in her message, hit send, and we let Mal lead us to Main Street. The street itself held the usual bustle of handymen and shopkeepers, touching up paint and washing windows and prepping things for the season. Overeager fudgies spilled onto the island from the ferries, but mostly it was fishermen, hikers, and park enthusiasts. Thankfully, the sidewalks weren’t crowded yet. Mal seemed to know which way we wanted to go and led us to the right. Joann’s Fudge Shop hadn’t opened yet. The ticket booth where people paid for horse-drawn-carriage tours around the island was also closed with a note that tickets were available at the visitors’ center.
