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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

This Christmas, Sadie Hoffmiller Cunningham is making a list and checking it twice. For the first time since she and Pete married five years ago, their combined families are gathering for the holidays in Fort Collins, Colorado, for a party that would make Santa and Mrs. Claus proud. She just has to bake the famous Cunningham Candy Cane Cake, make sure the looming snowstorm doesn't derail everyone's travel plans, and oh, yes, solve one teensy-tiny mystery before the big day. At ninety-four and nearly blind, Mary, Sadie's friend and neighbor, knows this will be her last Christmas. When Sadie learns that someone has stolen antique Christmas ornaments from Mary's tree, she vows to find the thief, no matter what. The ornaments had been appraised at more than $40,000, but they were worth even more to Mary, who had intended to bequeath them to her great-granddaughter, Joy, as a final gift. With Pete in Arizona wrapping up a case of his own, it's up to Sadie to question the residents …

The Candy Cane Caper

by Josi S. Kilpack

Reviewer: Rachel
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+

Overall Book Review:

Feel the holiday cheer with this scrumptious new mystery! Fans of Josi S. Kilpack will be delighted with the latest Cozy Culinary Mystery starring the beloved Sadie Hoffmiller Cunningham. In The Candy Cane Caper, Kilpack creates vivid and descriptive scenes, including plenty of suspense and foreshadowing in the fast-paced plot. Sadie skirts trouble constantly, engaging in hilarious moments and laugh-out-loud dialogue. Readers will find themselves cracking up one minute and then wiping away tears as Sadie not only solves the case, but helps friends and family remember the true spirit of Christmas.  The novel includes several of Sadie’s recipes (the cinnamon pie and candy cane cake sound delicious!) No need to have read the previous culinary mysteries to enjoy this book. Christmas won’t be nearly as sweet without reading The Candy Cane Caper!

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Shadow Mountain


Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 1 offensive hand gesture

Violence/Gore:  None

Sex/Nudity:  A few instances of kissing; mention of teenage pregnancy.

Mature Subject Matter:

Theft, death of family members, strained family relationships, breaking and entering/lock-picking, contraindicated medicine given to elderly, mention of teenage pregnancy and placing the baby up for adoption, terminal cancer, macular degeneration, anxiety, criminal past, mention of drug use. 

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Mention of a figurative drunk uncle; mention of a teenager smoking pot; mention of a car accident caused while driver was high. 

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
3
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
1
10

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About the Reviewer

Rachel
My mother was the one who sparked my love of books. Long before school instruction, she sat me down and taught me to read. My childhood was filled with trips to the library and bookmobile to find great books. My first loves were The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lingren. Now as a mom and speech pathologist, I am constantly looking for good, clean books to use at home and in therapy. I enjoy reading many different genres, but my favorites are usually historical fiction. I married my best friend, the “boy next door”, and we have a beautiful little girl who we often find sprawled out on the floor, flipping through picture books. Together our family likes to swim, run and play tennis. Besides reading, I also love to bake, garden and travel.

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