Making the Jump

MAKING THE JUMP
Two of my favorite authors who have previously been published in paperback have made the jump to hardcover. They are both cozy mysteries.


“Espresso Shot” by Cleo Coyle continues the adventures of Clare Cosi, manager and head barista of the bustling New York coffeehouse The Village Blend. Clare’s been hired to create a gourmet coffee and dessert bar for a New York wedding to be held at the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art. Famous chefs will be there, celebrities, members of the press, well-known politicians—so why isn’t she thrilled to have this chance to shine? Because the person tying the knot is Matteo Allegro, her ex-husband and current business partner. And while Clare has no plan to ever marry Matt again, she’s afraid he’s making a terrible mistake.
The bride-to-be is “Trend” magazine editor Breanne Summour. Beautiful, wealthy and sophisticated, the snarky tastemaker has never been a low maintenance kind of gal and now she’s in full blown bridezilla mode. The only way Clare can possibly deal with her is to put her misgivings aside and focus on business. But as a successful amateur sleuth, murder is Clare’s business, too, and when fatal accidents begin befalling people close to Breanne, Clare becomes suspicious. Is someone trying to sabotage the wedding? To kill Breanne?


“The Chocolate Snowman Murders” by Joanna Carl features premier chocolatier Lee McKinney Woodyard, part owner of TenHuis Chocolades. With the Warner Pier Winter Arts Festival just days away, everyone in the West Michigan town is looking forward to the big art show—and, of course, the unveiling of TenHuis Chocolade’s special holiday chocolates.
As treasurer of WinterFest, Lee is up to her elbows in the arguments, egos, and last-minute mix-ups that happen behind the scenes. But she’s coping, even when the guest juror of the arts festival shows up drunk. Lee leaves him to sleep it off, but she is stunned the next day when her husband, Joe, discovers that someone has put the visiting dignitary in a permanent state of repose. As the last people spotted near the crime scene, Lee and Joe are in a sticky situation. But after another murder and a run-in with a deadly snowman, they’re more determined than ever to find the real killer before someone else comes to a bitter end.