Like nearly everyone else in Paradise, Ohio, local laundromat owner and stain-removal expert Josie Toadfern eagerly awaits the upcoming July 4th Founders Day celebration with its highlight, the annual Breitenstrater Pie Company pie-eating contest, sponsored by the owners of the town's upper...  more

Like nearly everyone else in Paradise, Ohio, local laundromat owner and stain-removal expert Josie Toadfern eagerly awaits the upcoming July 4th Founders Day celebration with its highlight, the annual Breitenstrater Pie Company pie-eating contest, sponsored by the owners of the town's upper crust enterprise. But things may not be so sweet this year, what with juicy rumors flying that a black sheep Breitenstrater wants to spill the beans about some deep, dark family secret. And when a pie-making bigwig suspiciously drops dead after sampling the company's latest wares, Josie leaps into action. She loves her teeny-weeny community, despite its blemishes -- and any stain on its reputation must be eradicated! But if she sticks her thumb -- or her nose -- into this particular pastry, she's going to pull out more than a plum...and she may end up getting her own lethal just desserts.

Bakery owner Hannah Swensen just can't keep her hands out of the batter when murder stirs things up in Lake Eden, Minnesota, leaving the sheriff dead, a deputy accused, and a killer on the loose... For Hannah, life seems to be lacking a certain flavor lately. Maybe it's the local...  more

Bakery owner Hannah Swensen just can't keep her hands out of the batter when murder stirs things up in Lake Eden, Minnesota, leaving the sheriff dead, a deputy accused, and a killer on the loose... For Hannah, life seems to be lacking a certain flavor lately. Maybe it's the local sheriff's election that's got her down. For years, Sheriff Grant's been the iron hand in town. But now, Hannah's brother-in-law Bill is giving the old blowhard the fight of his long, dubious career - and Grant's not taking it well, especially once the polls show Bill pulling ahead. But before anyone can taste victory, thing go sour. While Hannah's emptying the trash, she makes a very unappetizing discovery: Sheriff Grant's body in the Dumpster behind the high school where she's teaching her cooking class. And as if that weren't bad enough, the poor man still has fudge frosting on his shirt from one of her cupcakes. The number one - and only - suspect is Bill, but Hannah's not swallowing it. Plenty of people had reason to hate Sheriff Grant. Soon, Hannah's dishing up scandalous secrets, steaming hot betrayals, and enough intrigue to keep the gossip mill at The Cookie Jar going through several pots of decaf. And the closer Hannah gets to the truth, the closer she gets to smoking out a murderer with a very nasty recipe for silencing people...

Summertime has finally arrived in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar bakery, is looking forward to warm, lazy days, eating ice cream, and sharing picnics with friends.  But when a family reunion takes a deadly turn, it's up to Hannah to find a...  more

Summertime has finally arrived in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and Hannah Swensen, owner of The Cookie Jar bakery, is looking forward to warm, lazy days, eating ice cream, and sharing picnics with friends.  But when a family reunion takes a deadly turn, it's up to Hannah to find a killer... Hannah Swensen has a lot on her plate, baking up a storm for The Cookie Jar.  But she'll always make time for her business partner, Lisa, who's preparing for a big family reunion.  Everyone is delighted when Lisa's long-lost uncle makes a surprise appearance.  No one has heard from Gus in twenty-five years.  Uncle Gus is immediately the hit of the reunion.  He's almost as popular as Hannah's scrumptious carrot cake.  But the next morning, as the whole family gathers for the group photo, one person is missing.  Hannah offers to track down Uncle Gus, but her search leads to a shocking find.  Over by the bar at the pavilion, she spots two slices of her infamous carrot cake, frosting side down on the floor - and Gus's corpse with an ice pick jutting out of his chest! A little snooping reveals that not everyone was celebrating Gus's return.  And when Hannah unearths secrets from Gus's past, she discovers many more people with an axe to grind.  Now Hannah's got to sift through a long list of suspects to find a killer - even if it could be a recipe for her own demise...

FOUND OUT! Heloise Edwina Marchant longs for the beauty and comfort of her former life, before she was forced to flee her family home.  Coming to London in the guise of a boy, she has learnt the hard way how to survive among the hovels and alleyways of St. Giles.  There is shame in...  more

FOUND OUT! Heloise Edwina Marchant longs for the beauty and comfort of her former life, before she was forced to flee her family home.  Coming to London in the guise of a boy, she has learnt the hard way how to survive among the hovels and alleyways of St. Giles.  There is shame in having to pick the pockets of unsuspecting passers-by and the inevitable happens -- she is caught! The gentleman who seizes hold of her is not angry for long.  In fact, his firm kindness is almost her undoing.  For he has come to St. Giles with a purpose -- and she will help him if she doesn't want to be reported to the authorities.  But how can she agree, when at any moment this good-looking man could find out that he is a she?  

Tom Langdon, a weary and cash-strapped journalist, is banned from flying when a particularly thorough airport security search causes him to lose his cool. Now, he must take the train if he has any chance of arriving in Los Angeles in time for Christmas with his girlfriend. To finance the trip,...  more

Tom Langdon, a weary and cash-strapped journalist, is banned from flying when a particularly thorough airport security search causes him to lose his cool. Now, he must take the train if he has any chance of arriving in Los Angeles in time for Christmas with his girlfriend. To finance the trip, he sells a story about a train ride taken during the Christmas season. Thereupon begins one of the most hilarious-and heartwarming-journeys ever told. Along the way, Tom encounters a ridiculous cast of characters, unexpected romance, and an avalanche that changes everyone's Christmas plans. As the mighty Southwest Chief chugs along, Tom learns what really makes the holiday special in a remarkable novel that will charm all who read it.