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Samantha Sweet #3
Sweet Holidays
Praise for USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton's previous "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." -- Midwest Book Review In this third book in the Samantha Sweet cozy mystery series, it's Christmas and a quirky Romanian chocolatier shows up at Sweet's Sweets, offering to create a special line of hand-dipped chocolates for Samantha's customers. He says he will work for no pay, just to prove himself. But when she learns that he has connections to the wooden box which seems to give Sam her mystical powers, she discovers that certain evil people may do just about anything to take it away from her. With the same combination of mystery, romance and that touch of the paranormal for which the series has become known, Sweet Holidays carries the reader into the special and magical world of northern New Mexico at the holiday season. Readers are raving about these lighthearted, relaxing, well-written books—Samantha may not be young, beautiful or have the perfect body, but she is intelligent, independent, and hard working, the kind of person you feel you already know. "Connie Shelton has another winner." --The Book Report "Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life." -- Albuquerque Journal * * * USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton is the author of three ongoing mystery series. In the Samantha Sweet cozy mystery books, Connie draws upon her own love of baking (and eating) pastries to bring a sweet element to the business of solving crimes for her new female sleuth. Her original series features female accountant and part-time sleuth, Charlie Parker and her loyal sidekick dog, in a series that is now eighteen books strong. And her Heist Ladies series features a group of women friends who steal stuff … from the bad guys! Connie and her husband live in northern New Mexico with their two dogs. Visit her website at connieshelton.com
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2011
415 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Connie Shelton
94 books309 followersMy love of books started with weekly trips to the library as a child and from the moment I learned to read I can't remember a time that I didn't have at least one book going. For the past 25 years, that list has grown to include what I'm reading and what I'm writing at any given time.
I began writing my Charlie Parker series when my husband and I lived on Kauai, then continued them in my home state of New Mexico. Charlie lives in Albuquerque and manages to travel to a variety of locations, wherever her investigation business and her husband's helicopter business take them. My second series featuring Samantha Sweet, the 50-ish woman who breaks into houses for a living, is set in Taos, New Mexico.
In addition to reading and writing, I've traveled quite a lot, taught writing courses, and been a speaker at a whole lot of mystery conventions and writing conferences. In my spare time I also love to paint, draw, cook and spend time at the beach.
Series:
* Charlie Parker Mystery
I began writing my Charlie Parker series when my husband and I lived on Kauai, then continued them in my home state of New Mexico. Charlie lives in Albuquerque and manages to travel to a variety of locations, wherever her investigation business and her husband's helicopter business take them. My second series featuring Samantha Sweet, the 50-ish woman who breaks into houses for a living, is set in Taos, New Mexico.
In addition to reading and writing, I've traveled quite a lot, taught writing courses, and been a speaker at a whole lot of mystery conventions and writing conferences. In my spare time I also love to paint, draw, cook and spend time at the beach.
Series:
* Charlie Parker Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 24, 2017
Another great addition to the Samantha Sweet series! I feel like I gain 10 pounds while reading one of these books with all of Sam’s bakery treats. The mystery in this one was kind of different but still a good story.
July 4, 2017
Sweet Holidays is a mix of tasty chocolate treats and an intriguing mystery. Samantha Sweet is in the midst of it again as she checks a vacant house for her USDA job. Keeping her Sweet's Sweet shop going especially at this busy time it taking all her energy. When a master chocolatier appears out of nowhere and forms the most beautiful chocolate truffles and candy, Sam asks no questions. She does ask questions about why a house with a million dollars in artwork is vacant and where the owner could be. Connie Shelton does it again.
December 8, 2017
Merry Christmas
This story is set in December and has a ton of magic, a few sad points and then a great big Woo Hoo at the end. I stumbled into this series a couple of weeks ago and can't put them down. They are wonderfully written and the characters come to life. Even the descriptions of the landscape and the town are visible as you read. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I might even ask Santa for the rest of the series for Christmas.
This story is set in December and has a ton of magic, a few sad points and then a great big Woo Hoo at the end. I stumbled into this series a couple of weeks ago and can't put them down. They are wonderfully written and the characters come to life. Even the descriptions of the landscape and the town are visible as you read. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I might even ask Santa for the rest of the series for Christmas.
December 26, 2016
Great holiday mystery mixed with a little Christmas magic.
December 13, 2019
Not my favorite in the series, Samantha seems much more self absorbed.
December 26, 2025
Cakes,Chocolates,Murder and Magic
Sweet little mystery involving a baker, sheriff, magical chocolatier,art ,love and of course, murder. Sam, short for Samantha,is given a magical box by an elderly lady, reportedly a witch. Sam is a baker and owner of Sweets Sweets bakery who is dating the town sheriff, Beau. She has a daughter, Kelly who is caregiver for Beau’s mother. The story goes on about expensive art collections and the art dealer, currently missing. Sam is also working for a company that deals with houses going into foreclosure. She helps manage the properties. The property she is currently working on belongs to the missing art dealer. Someone is after him. He has been missing for three months. Is he dead? What about all the art in his house? His ex wife is looking for the magical box and believes he has it. Bunny, the ex wife doesn’t really know who has it. Strange things happen when Sam handles the box. And who is the magical chocolatier who just showed up out of nowhere and requests to work in the bakery? Lots of twists and turns. Gotta read this one for sure. Oh and it’s also near Christmas time too. Read on!
Sweet little mystery involving a baker, sheriff, magical chocolatier,art ,love and of course, murder. Sam, short for Samantha,is given a magical box by an elderly lady, reportedly a witch. Sam is a baker and owner of Sweets Sweets bakery who is dating the town sheriff, Beau. She has a daughter, Kelly who is caregiver for Beau’s mother. The story goes on about expensive art collections and the art dealer, currently missing. Sam is also working for a company that deals with houses going into foreclosure. She helps manage the properties. The property she is currently working on belongs to the missing art dealer. Someone is after him. He has been missing for three months. Is he dead? What about all the art in his house? His ex wife is looking for the magical box and believes he has it. Bunny, the ex wife doesn’t really know who has it. Strange things happen when Sam handles the box. And who is the magical chocolatier who just showed up out of nowhere and requests to work in the bakery? Lots of twists and turns. Gotta read this one for sure. Oh and it’s also near Christmas time too. Read on!
May 15, 2024
free ebook
like the series
she owns bakery and sheriff is her boyfriend. her daughter took care of his mom till she had a stroke. she was in the hospital and then rehab so her daughter helped in the bakery, they were very busy before xmas
a man appeared and he made magical chocolate candies
he told her the history behind the box her friend gave her before she passed away. it gave her energy and healing
her other job that she broke into houses and kept them up till foreclosure had her going to a missing rich mans house.
two women were looking for the box there, not knowing she had it
the mans brother came and paid the mortgage so it didnt go to foreclosure and then the owner showed up. he killed one of the women in self defense
but he was later run off the road and killed
the man making the choc candy disappeared and even his house wasnt lived in
the sheriff asked her to marry him and she said yes
like the series
she owns bakery and sheriff is her boyfriend. her daughter took care of his mom till she had a stroke. she was in the hospital and then rehab so her daughter helped in the bakery, they were very busy before xmas
a man appeared and he made magical chocolate candies
he told her the history behind the box her friend gave her before she passed away. it gave her energy and healing
her other job that she broke into houses and kept them up till foreclosure had her going to a missing rich mans house.
two women were looking for the box there, not knowing she had it
the mans brother came and paid the mortgage so it didnt go to foreclosure and then the owner showed up. he killed one of the women in self defense
but he was later run off the road and killed
the man making the choc candy disappeared and even his house wasnt lived in
the sheriff asked her to marry him and she said yes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Samantha Sweet lives in New Mexico and she owns a bakery named "Sweet's Sweets". What a talented baker she is. Although she meets a man from another country, who wants to be the chocolatier for her bakery. He will create the most amazing chocolates that her customers coming back for many times. But there is so much mystery over this as the man named Bobul will work for free. Now why does he want to do that? This is part of where the mystery begins.
Samantha also has a second job, she watches and is a caretaker of homes. But this one has a mystery behind it too. How and where did the owner of the home go? A much different kind mystery to solve. So two mysteries in one book, how wonderful that is for us readers. Christmas is the time of year for joy, but mysteries too.
I have learn to love cozy mysteries from a dear friend. Connie Shelton you have me hooked, I cannot wait to read your other books you have penned over the years.
Samantha also has a second job, she watches and is a caretaker of homes. But this one has a mystery behind it too. How and where did the owner of the home go? A much different kind mystery to solve. So two mysteries in one book, how wonderful that is for us readers. Christmas is the time of year for joy, but mysteries too.
I have learn to love cozy mysteries from a dear friend. Connie Shelton you have me hooked, I cannot wait to read your other books you have penned over the years.
December 14, 2020
This is the 3rd in the series, The main character is Samantha. Sam now owns a bakery and is know for her delicious goodies. It's almost Christmas and even though she is so busy at the bakery she is told to go and check out a house that the USDA is foreclosing on. She is thrown into a crazy mess. They can't find the owner and there is all kinds of art work around. She also has a man show up at the bakery who makes the best chocolates in the world who goes by the name of Bobul. It begins to look like someone is after her special box that no one knows she has. She is told a crazy story about her box being owned by a very evil woman in the old country who was burned at the stick but the box didn't burn it just disappeared. Is someone now after her box ? Do they know she has it ? Can she figure this out before it's too late ?
December 3, 2017
There were some things I liked about this book and a few things I didn't. Honestly some of it was the paranormal aspects. This is book #3 and the only thing we know is the box can be used for good or evil and it seems like it has chosen who it belongs to. I generally liked the story until the end. I thought it was left too up in the air or just wasn't clearly conveyed. I understand that some of the cliffhanger aspects are due to it being a series but not enough is revealed to keep it intriguing. Worth reading if you are into this type of paranormal.
September 22, 2018
I think this series just keeps getting better. I enjoy following Sam as she makes her bakery a success. I enjoy learning more about the box that she received in the first book. The houses she breaks into and maintains for the USDA add interest to the storyline and often are the setting for the mystery of the book.
I enjoyed the holiday setting of book 3. I like the mystery of the chocolatier who showed up and knew about the box and made divine chocolates.
I enjoyed the holiday setting of book 3. I like the mystery of the chocolatier who showed up and knew about the box and made divine chocolates.
November 15, 2019
Continually good, and getting more into the supernatural realm of the story. A mysterious chocolatier shows up magically and helps Sam through the Christmas season. He seems to know a lot about the wooden box. Iris is having health issues. And of course, the obligatory crime mystery. The bakery is kicking into high holiday gear and the delicious baked goods abound, all in time for Christmas. Excellent story for a cozy mystery at Christmas.
December 20, 2020
It's Christmastime and Sweet's Sweets has a new product: Chocolate! Life's hectic as a full-time baker, but since Sam is still under contract to the USDA, she's required to winterize and care for an abandoned house at the same time. There just needs to be more hours in the day.
Connie Shelton always crafts a plot full of intrigue and Sweet Holidays, no exception, is full of surprises. I'm overjoyed to have this as a Christmas read this year.
Connie Shelton always crafts a plot full of intrigue and Sweet Holidays, no exception, is full of surprises. I'm overjoyed to have this as a Christmas read this year.
March 12, 2022
very good
This is a very good story. I admit I had a feeling about Bobul but most of the rest of the story was a surprise. Sam has her hands full with everything she does and things get a little hairy for her. I have to say that I really don’t know how she does it all....and still has time to actually have a life of her own but she does. A very good story and you should definitely give it a shot.
This is a very good story. I admit I had a feeling about Bobul but most of the rest of the story was a surprise. Sam has her hands full with everything she does and things get a little hairy for her. I have to say that I really don’t know how she does it all....and still has time to actually have a life of her own but she does. A very good story and you should definitely give it a shot.
December 7, 2022
Samantha Sweet cozy mystery series isn’t my favorite cozy of all time, but this one was a solid story. I found it interesting with the origins with the box and the details of said as well as the mystery with the box. There were elements of feeling that I was on a treasure hunt as not only was the box of interest but also the artifacts found in the house that Sam was doing repo on. The whole meat with Tiffany just upped the stakes and suspense. Also I liked this was where Bobolu was introduced.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2022
What a surprise is in store for the reader of this book! I never imagined the double life that Sam leads. And then throwing in some supernatural forces just made the book one unusual happening after another. There is some violence along with mystery, mixed with everyday business of a bakery at Christmastime and some romance, too. There is something for everyone in this story. I just think you might like it. I sure did!
December 1, 2022
Sweet Holidays is the third in the Sweet Shop series and it is the most entertaining to date! The magical touches add so much fun and the new character--a chocolatier, is both magical and fun! All of these books have been so enjoyable on audiobook! They are available as free Audible reads for members at this time.
December 18, 2022
Cute holiday novella. I didn't like a more graphic reference to sex (I prefer only a quick allusion to it when I'm reading a cozy, and most of them don't make it steamy.) This wasn't steamy, but it also wasn't, well called for. If you don't mind that, and you like cozies set in bakeries, you'll like this book.
March 16, 2024
Samantha Sweets’ newly opened bakery is doing a booming business with the holidays approaching. A chocolate maker is working for Samantha and his products are well received. The most recent house Samantha is caretaking for the USDA has a lot of high end art left behind as well as some blood in one of the rooms. What happened here?
April 21, 2018
Getting Better and Better
This series is getting better with every book. The characters are getting stronger and more engaging and the romance is heating up. This is a great series and it's lighthearted and an eAsy read.
This series is getting better with every book. The characters are getting stronger and more engaging and the romance is heating up. This is a great series and it's lighthearted and an eAsy read.
November 12, 2019
Fun, quick read
I enjoy the images of Taos that the author sprinkles throughout the story. Sometimes the action is a bit predictable but I still enjoy the storyline. The writing is well done and carefully edited which is something I appreciate
I enjoy the images of Taos that the author sprinkles throughout the story. Sometimes the action is a bit predictable but I still enjoy the storyline. The writing is well done and carefully edited which is something I appreciate
December 11, 2020
Very enjoyable read, especially for the Holidays. I love the characters, and the light touch of paranormal. Excellent mystery, too. I read the first in this series some time ago and liked it, as well.
September 17, 2021
Delectable
This series just gets better and better. cozy mysteries, friendships, love and a strange box. Loveable main characters, you feel as if you could walk into the bakery and know everyone. good heartwarming stories I have already bought the next one. happy reading.
This series just gets better and better. cozy mysteries, friendships, love and a strange box. Loveable main characters, you feel as if you could walk into the bakery and know everyone. good heartwarming stories I have already bought the next one. happy reading.
November 7, 2021
Magic box
I really enjoyed this book by Connie Shelton. She knows how to keep a person to want to keep reading.if you are looking for a cozy mystery to read then this is a good one.
I really enjoyed this book by Connie Shelton. She knows how to keep a person to want to keep reading.if you are looking for a cozy mystery to read then this is a good one.
October 16, 2022
An odd chocolatier enters the scene in this installment of the Sweet mysteries. Add in a missing art dealer from his high spread home and you get the 3rd in this series. Light mysteries that are resolved within the last few pages of the books.
December 12, 2022
A paranormal cozy mystery. Unfortunately not enough character development to really make them likable and relatable. Plot and sub-plots seem under-developed as well. The mature MC just seemed to believe everyone’s story
March 10, 2023
Love a bakery at Christmas.
No slow start for this book. I enjoy the characters in this series, and the little bit of magic that is slipped into the story. Looking forward to the next book.
No slow start for this book. I enjoy the characters in this series, and the little bit of magic that is slipped into the story. Looking forward to the next book.
September 20, 2023
I like the hints of magic, but the romance is progressing way too fast. I want to know about the powers of the box. I definitely want to know more about the mysterious chocolatier! This book left me craving chocolate truffles.
December 26, 2024
Great for cozy mystery lovers!
What a sweet, undemanding holiday cozy mystery! Samantha is charming, and her side hustle is unusual. I enjoyed the well-written mystery, although the ending feels rather abrupt and leaves unanswered questions.
What a sweet, undemanding holiday cozy mystery! Samantha is charming, and her side hustle is unusual. I enjoyed the well-written mystery, although the ending feels rather abrupt and leaves unanswered questions.
June 9, 2018
Hoopla
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews