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Whisper Hollow Cozies #2
Murder With a Sip of Hot Cocoa
Murder under the mistletoe.
Planning a Christmas party at the Hollow Hearth Inn is María’s chance to prove that her event-planning business can handle more than weddings. But when a blizzard traps the guests inside and the host turns up dead, the twinkling celebration becomes a crime scene. Feliz Navidad to her.
Determined to uncover the truth, María teams up with Whisper Hollow’s sheriff—whom she trusts with her life but not her heart. Between chasing a mischievous black cat and sorting rumor from fact with a gossip-loving baker, María discovers everyone trapped inside has something to hide.
After a mistletoe kiss rekindles old feelings, María realizes the only thing scarier than being trapped with a killer is opening her heart again. But in an inn full of suspects and secrets, Lucas might be the only one she can trust. As the investigation deepens, old grudges surface and alibis crumble beneath the holiday sparkle.
Every guest is a suspect, and every clue matters. María has until the snow melts to catch a killer before they vanish with the storm.
(There is no explicit language or spice in any of Laura M. Drake's books.)
Planning a Christmas party at the Hollow Hearth Inn is María’s chance to prove that her event-planning business can handle more than weddings. But when a blizzard traps the guests inside and the host turns up dead, the twinkling celebration becomes a crime scene. Feliz Navidad to her.
Determined to uncover the truth, María teams up with Whisper Hollow’s sheriff—whom she trusts with her life but not her heart. Between chasing a mischievous black cat and sorting rumor from fact with a gossip-loving baker, María discovers everyone trapped inside has something to hide.
After a mistletoe kiss rekindles old feelings, María realizes the only thing scarier than being trapped with a killer is opening her heart again. But in an inn full of suspects and secrets, Lucas might be the only one she can trust. As the investigation deepens, old grudges surface and alibis crumble beneath the holiday sparkle.
Every guest is a suspect, and every clue matters. María has until the snow melts to catch a killer before they vanish with the storm.
(There is no explicit language or spice in any of Laura M. Drake's books.)
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2026
About the author
Laura M. Drake
46 books224 followersMy name is Laura M. Drake, and I'm the youngest of five kids. I grew up in Arkansas and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. After spending three summers abroad in France, Japan, and China, I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and began teaching 4th grade near Salt Lake City. A few years later I moved back to Japan to fulfill a life-long dream of living there. When Covid got bad, I came back to America and have been living in Arkansas and writing full-time ever since. I'll soon be moving to UT and look forward to the new adventures that await me there. When I'm not writing (which isn't very often--I should probably get a life haha) I love playing ultimate frisbee, board games, writing in my journal, and spending time with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Review of advance copy
Every single time I read a book from the Whisper Hollow series, it feels like coming home after being away for a while. I am so in love with this cute, cozy little town!
Every single murder mystery romance in this series, as well as the previous series, has kept me guessing. Usually, with cozy murder mysteries, you can piece things together and have a pretty good idea of what's coming. But with every single one of this author's books, I am constantly kept on my toes. And this book is no exception!
I absolutely adore Maria's character, and I was so happy to get more of her story. If you haven't read the previous books yet, you NEED to! Lucas and Maria had so many unresolved feelings, and in this book, everything finally comes out. I was completely living for it!
I also loved getting more of Harper and Sebastian, and Jiji is still my absolute favorite. Nancy cracks me up.
I just love, love, LOVE this book!
I wish I could give it 15 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I highly recommend this series!
Every single murder mystery romance in this series, as well as the previous series, has kept me guessing. Usually, with cozy murder mysteries, you can piece things together and have a pretty good idea of what's coming. But with every single one of this author's books, I am constantly kept on my toes. And this book is no exception!
I absolutely adore Maria's character, and I was so happy to get more of her story. If you haven't read the previous books yet, you NEED to! Lucas and Maria had so many unresolved feelings, and in this book, everything finally comes out. I was completely living for it!
I also loved getting more of Harper and Sebastian, and Jiji is still my absolute favorite. Nancy cracks me up.
I just love, love, LOVE this book!
I wish I could give it 15 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I highly recommend this series!
November 3, 2026
The more books I read from this author, the more I enjoy them! This is the 6th cozy mystery I've read from her, and I've thoroughly enjoyed each one. They have the perfect seasonal vibes, they're quick reads for when you want something light and fun, and they have a good mystery to them so it's not obvious who the suspect is.
I haven't yet read her first trilogy in Whisper Hollow, and though it's not necessary in order to follow along with the characters, it certainly would provide more information about them.
⚠️ No cursing
🫑 Sweet kisses only
Thanks so much to the author for the chance the ARC read!
I haven't yet read her first trilogy in Whisper Hollow, and though it's not necessary in order to follow along with the characters, it certainly would provide more information about them.
⚠️ No cursing
🫑 Sweet kisses only
Thanks so much to the author for the chance the ARC read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This cozy, Christmas read was a perfect read to set the mood as we enter the holiday season. Whisper Hollow is one of my favorite fictional towns to visit even if murder does seem to happen around every corner.
This story is no expectation as the Christmas party is filled with murder, accusations and just the right amount of romance. Maria and Lucas take center stage at this investigation and it’s fun to see them explore their relationship.
Overall, this is a quick read that is very enjoyable. If you like cozy mysteries, love a good holiday read and enjoy small town drama you’ll enjoy this one.
This story is no expectation as the Christmas party is filled with murder, accusations and just the right amount of romance. Maria and Lucas take center stage at this investigation and it’s fun to see them explore their relationship.
Overall, this is a quick read that is very enjoyable. If you like cozy mysteries, love a good holiday read and enjoy small town drama you’ll enjoy this one.
November 1, 2026
When you just need an easy cosy mystery read then picking up a book written by Laura M. Drake is always the perfect author to turn to.
This was a good read following Maria and Lucas navigating their feelings while being snowed in a an inn and investigating a murder. The story flowed really well and Laura’s hollow books are sweet, fun, cosy and a great mystery you can join in solving. A great read to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa or tea on an autumnal afternoon.
I received this arc from the author and this is my honest opinion.
This was a good read following Maria and Lucas navigating their feelings while being snowed in a an inn and investigating a murder. The story flowed really well and Laura’s hollow books are sweet, fun, cosy and a great mystery you can join in solving. A great read to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa or tea on an autumnal afternoon.
I received this arc from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Laura for another advanced look into your wonderful writing ❤️
There are so many great parts to this book, but one of my absolute favorite things to pick up on was the fact that the characters allude to the murders multiple times. Like yup, we know this town doesn't have the highest success rate with living 😂 I also loved all of the similes for the Christmas season. Characters leaned hard into the season, referring to reindeer, tinsel, and lights throughout. Loved it, can't wait for the next one (especially to see where María and Lucas go from here)!
There are so many great parts to this book, but one of my absolute favorite things to pick up on was the fact that the characters allude to the murders multiple times. Like yup, we know this town doesn't have the highest success rate with living 😂 I also loved all of the similes for the Christmas season. Characters leaned hard into the season, referring to reindeer, tinsel, and lights throughout. Loved it, can't wait for the next one (especially to see where María and Lucas go from here)!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Finally! I was hoping for the ending and got it!
Also the murder mystery? Loved it! Even though I had a hunch on who it could be early on it was such a fun read! Cosy, with so many suspects and twists!
I love this book!
Also the murder mystery? Loved it! Even though I had a hunch on who it could be early on it was such a fun read! Cosy, with so many suspects and twists!
I love this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc review
We have another installment in whisper hollow and it’s another smash hit!
This is a cosy murder mystery but we also get the small town feel of friendships and family which I love from Laura. Maria is the resident event planner and of course something always has to go wrong! This time a snow storm traps guests at the party and the host turns up dead. Maria is on hand to help solve the crime. Every guest is a suspect and whilst she is not only having to find a killer but she is wondering if she can open her heart to lucas.
Laura’s hollow books are sweet, fun, cosy and a great mystery you can join in solving. There’s no smut or bad language just a heartfelt story that will make you smile as you read
We have another installment in whisper hollow and it’s another smash hit!
This is a cosy murder mystery but we also get the small town feel of friendships and family which I love from Laura. Maria is the resident event planner and of course something always has to go wrong! This time a snow storm traps guests at the party and the host turns up dead. Maria is on hand to help solve the crime. Every guest is a suspect and whilst she is not only having to find a killer but she is wondering if she can open her heart to lucas.
Laura’s hollow books are sweet, fun, cosy and a great mystery you can join in solving. There’s no smut or bad language just a heartfelt story that will make you smile as you read
Review of advance copy received from Author
Maria is busy taking care of the details of a Christmas party, doing her best to make sure the guests are happy. With Nancy's delicious treats to help her, she imagines it will be easy to make the event a success.
But once again, fate (or bad luck) seems to show up uninvited to disrupt her new job. Not only does the party host's wife seem to be available 24/7 just to complain about everything Maria does or fails to do for the guests, but everyone is also forced to stay trapped at the inn because of the snow.
In this strange close proximity, Maria discovers more than just a new case to solve. She realizes that things are not always what we assume at first glance...
But once again, fate (or bad luck) seems to show up uninvited to disrupt her new job. Not only does the party host's wife seem to be available 24/7 just to complain about everything Maria does or fails to do for the guests, but everyone is also forced to stay trapped at the inn because of the snow.
In this strange close proximity, Maria discovers more than just a new case to solve. She realizes that things are not always what we assume at first glance...
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a really good and sweet book, even though someone was unalived in the book. I had a feeling of who was behind the whole thing. But this was a really good cozy mystery
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a cute murder mystery. I absolutely love the characters. Its fun to see if I can guess who did it as well. Highly recommend
October 28, 2026
Murder With a Sip of Hot Cocoa, a cozy small town mystery set at Christmas
I love coming back to Whisper Hollow, it is always cozy, but of course there is always a touch of...murder. This time Maria has a big holiday event planned for a very rich client, unfortunately the client ends up dead. Luckily, the sheriff also happens to be at the party, and immediately springs into action. With all the guests snowed in, Lucas and Maria do the rounds and interview all possible suspects to try and uncover the murderer.
I had to laugh at Harper being in charge of room assignments, I just knew with all her hinting what she had done! Talk about some snowed in, forced proximity!! Poor Maria not only has this huge party she planned go awry, she is also stuck with her ex who she definitely still has feelings for. I feel that Lucas is pretty obvious that he is still into Maria, but she is hesitant with the heartbreak from their past. Even though all the party guests were stuck in the inn, all the delicious food that Nancy and Mason cooked made it seem like a mini vacation. There was even possibly some love/hate brewing between the two chefs! And Jiji, also stuck at the inn with everyone else, manages to get up to her own trouble.
There were so many reasonable suspects in this investigation, I could not decide who I thought did it! The killer covered their tracks quite well though and it took Maria and Lucas a lot of time to finally land on the suspect.
I was excited for Maria and Lucas to finally give in to their feelings, after all, there is nothing like a kiss under the mistletoe, while investigating a murder, to rekindle a romance!
Thank you so much to the author for a copy of this story!
Some fav quotes:
"I tried to wrap my head around the fact that my event had, once again, become a crime scene."
"“We are in Whisper Hollow, after all.” At this point, solving crimes was practically a town hobby."
"“Nothing spooks a crowd like a murder.”"
"We were stuck in the Hollow Hearth—with a killer."
"I chewed on the inside of my cheek. This was such a messy murder. How could so many people have so many reasons to want the same person dead?"
"No man should be allowed to wink if they did it as well as Lucas. It was supposed to be cheesy and something only done in old romcoms, so why did my knees feel weak?"
"Dang, he made matching pajamas look good. It was unfair."
"What was I doing staring at him like he was the last drop of horchata and I was dying of thirst?"
"Now that I’d let us break out of the friend zone, it was proving difficult to mentally return to it."
I love coming back to Whisper Hollow, it is always cozy, but of course there is always a touch of...murder. This time Maria has a big holiday event planned for a very rich client, unfortunately the client ends up dead. Luckily, the sheriff also happens to be at the party, and immediately springs into action. With all the guests snowed in, Lucas and Maria do the rounds and interview all possible suspects to try and uncover the murderer.
I had to laugh at Harper being in charge of room assignments, I just knew with all her hinting what she had done! Talk about some snowed in, forced proximity!! Poor Maria not only has this huge party she planned go awry, she is also stuck with her ex who she definitely still has feelings for. I feel that Lucas is pretty obvious that he is still into Maria, but she is hesitant with the heartbreak from their past. Even though all the party guests were stuck in the inn, all the delicious food that Nancy and Mason cooked made it seem like a mini vacation. There was even possibly some love/hate brewing between the two chefs! And Jiji, also stuck at the inn with everyone else, manages to get up to her own trouble.
There were so many reasonable suspects in this investigation, I could not decide who I thought did it! The killer covered their tracks quite well though and it took Maria and Lucas a lot of time to finally land on the suspect.
I was excited for Maria and Lucas to finally give in to their feelings, after all, there is nothing like a kiss under the mistletoe, while investigating a murder, to rekindle a romance!
Thank you so much to the author for a copy of this story!
Some fav quotes:
"I tried to wrap my head around the fact that my event had, once again, become a crime scene."
"“We are in Whisper Hollow, after all.” At this point, solving crimes was practically a town hobby."
"“Nothing spooks a crowd like a murder.”"
"We were stuck in the Hollow Hearth—with a killer."
"I chewed on the inside of my cheek. This was such a messy murder. How could so many people have so many reasons to want the same person dead?"
"No man should be allowed to wink if they did it as well as Lucas. It was supposed to be cheesy and something only done in old romcoms, so why did my knees feel weak?"
"Dang, he made matching pajamas look good. It was unfair."
"What was I doing staring at him like he was the last drop of horchata and I was dying of thirst?"
"Now that I’d let us break out of the friend zone, it was proving difficult to mentally return to it."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! Every time I visit Whisper Hollow, it feels like coming home. There's just something so special about this little town and its characters that makes me never want to leave. Laura has once again delivered the perfect mix of cozy small-town charm, holiday magic, romance, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the end.
This time, we get to spend more time with Maria and Lucas, and I was so happy to see their story unfold. Their history, unresolved feelings, and second-chance romance made me smile so much. I loved watching them work together to solve the murder while figuring out what they really mean to each other. Add in a Christmas party, a snowstorm that leaves everyone trapped at an inn, plenty of suspicious guests, and a murder, and you have the perfect recipe for a fun mystery! I loved trying to piece together the clues and figure out who was responsible. There were enough twists and turns to keep things interesting without taking away from the lighthearted, cozy feel of the story.
I also loved catching up with the familiar faces around town. Harper, Sebastian, Nancy, and of course, Jiji the cat, all bring so much personality to the story. The little moments of small-town gossip, friendships, family drama, and humor make this series even more enjoyable. And Jiji continues to steal the show!
Laura has such a wonderful way of creating stories that are easy to get lost in. Her books are quick, entertaining reads with lovable characters, just the right amount of romance, and mysteries that actually make you think. I especially loved all the Christmas touches throughout this one. It had me craving hot cocoa, holiday treats, and a cozy blanket!
If you enjoy small-town cozy mysteries, sweet kisses only romance, holiday settings, and a mystery with plenty of suspects, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. I always look forward to returning to Whisper Hollow, and this book was no exception. Now I'm already counting down until the next visit! I absolutely loved it!
This time, we get to spend more time with Maria and Lucas, and I was so happy to see their story unfold. Their history, unresolved feelings, and second-chance romance made me smile so much. I loved watching them work together to solve the murder while figuring out what they really mean to each other. Add in a Christmas party, a snowstorm that leaves everyone trapped at an inn, plenty of suspicious guests, and a murder, and you have the perfect recipe for a fun mystery! I loved trying to piece together the clues and figure out who was responsible. There were enough twists and turns to keep things interesting without taking away from the lighthearted, cozy feel of the story.
I also loved catching up with the familiar faces around town. Harper, Sebastian, Nancy, and of course, Jiji the cat, all bring so much personality to the story. The little moments of small-town gossip, friendships, family drama, and humor make this series even more enjoyable. And Jiji continues to steal the show!
Laura has such a wonderful way of creating stories that are easy to get lost in. Her books are quick, entertaining reads with lovable characters, just the right amount of romance, and mysteries that actually make you think. I especially loved all the Christmas touches throughout this one. It had me craving hot cocoa, holiday treats, and a cozy blanket!
If you enjoy small-town cozy mysteries, sweet kisses only romance, holiday settings, and a mystery with plenty of suspects, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. I always look forward to returning to Whisper Hollow, and this book was no exception. Now I'm already counting down until the next visit! I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Laura M Drake always brings the perfect recipe of sweet and cozy to her mystery stories. We get more from Lucas and Maria navigating feelings and a murder at another event-- certainly stressful when you're starting a new party planning business and trying to decide if the guy who broke your heart is worth a second chance. If so, is during a murder investigation while snowed in the appropriate time to reveal feelings?
The mystery is solid, suspects various and believable, and small town gossip and drama fuel events behind the scenes.
I loved seeing the progression of Lucas and Maria's trust in each other in sleuthing and in relationship. I'm getting invested in side characters like Mason and Nancy and can't wait to see how previous couples continue to build these delightful town storylines.
Thanks to Laura for this ARC copy. These opinions are my own.
The mystery is solid, suspects various and believable, and small town gossip and drama fuel events behind the scenes.
I loved seeing the progression of Lucas and Maria's trust in each other in sleuthing and in relationship. I'm getting invested in side characters like Mason and Nancy and can't wait to see how previous couples continue to build these delightful town storylines.
Thanks to Laura for this ARC copy. These opinions are my own.
November 4, 2026
I absolutely love returning to this series every time a new book releases! The familiar characters, cosy small-town setting, and engaging mystery make it such a comforting read. This is exactly the kind of book you want to curl up with under a blanket and try to solve the murder before the big reveal.
Murder with a Sip of Hot Cocoa is packed with festive charm, holiday cheer, cheeky cats, delicious Christmas treats, and just the right touch of romance. The mystery kept me guessing, while the cosy atmosphere made it impossible not to get swept up in the Christmas spirit.
One thing I particularly love about this series is the length. The books are long enough to feel fully immersed in the story but short enough to enjoy over a long weekend or during the Christmas holidays. A delightful festive cosy mystery that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy!
Murder with a Sip of Hot Cocoa is packed with festive charm, holiday cheer, cheeky cats, delicious Christmas treats, and just the right touch of romance. The mystery kept me guessing, while the cosy atmosphere made it impossible not to get swept up in the Christmas spirit.
One thing I particularly love about this series is the length. The books are long enough to feel fully immersed in the story but short enough to enjoy over a long weekend or during the Christmas holidays. A delightful festive cosy mystery that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Murder With a Sip of Hot Cocoa is a fun and cozy small town holiday romance about an event planner who suddenly finds herself snowed in at a Christmas party with a murder to solve. I loved the cozy mystery holiday vibes and was constantly wondering who did it (while craving gingerbread, hot cocoa and cranberry tarts). The second chance romance is sweet, swoony and kisses-only. There is also a very cute, very mischievous black cat! I love the way Laura M. Drake combines cozy with murder mystery and can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Thanks a million to Laura M. Drake for an advanced copy of this book!
Thanks a million to Laura M. Drake for an advanced copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Laura does it again! I’ve to thoroughly enjoyed my time in Whisper Hollow. The characters are consistent with the other books, but this time we are experiencing from the point of view of Maria. Shes a party planner who has been hired to plan a farewell Christmas party for one of the townspeople. We follow along as she and Lucas investigate a murder. Throughly enjoyable and fun to pick who did it throughout the book. Lots of twists, a fun holiday themed read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another sweet and cozy murder mystery by Laura M. Drake. It was so great being back with Maria and Lucas!
There's something so comforting about a cozy mystery, even when there's a murder to solve! I really love a fast paced story and this story hit all the vibes!! Charming characters, a cozy holiday story, and of course all the twists and turns.
This was such delightful read, and I highly recommend if your looking for a fun and cozy murder mystery with a bit of holiday spirit!
There's something so comforting about a cozy mystery, even when there's a murder to solve! I really love a fast paced story and this story hit all the vibes!! Charming characters, a cozy holiday story, and of course all the twists and turns.
This was such delightful read, and I highly recommend if your looking for a fun and cozy murder mystery with a bit of holiday spirit!
November 3, 2026
This was such a fun, cozy read! I loved the small-town atmosphere, the mystery, and the perfect touch of charm. It had that cozy feeling I look for in a good mystery while still keeping me curious about how everything would unfold.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little suspense and plenty of charm, this one is worth adding to your TBR!
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little suspense and plenty of charm, this one is worth adding to your TBR!
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another cute cozy mystery from Laura M. Drake! I’ve really enjoyed all of her books so far, and Murder with a Sip of Hot Cocoa was no exception! I love that there’s a good balance of mystery and a little romance mixed in. And the family drama?! 👀 There’s definitely plenty of that, too! Such a fun read, and I’m already looking forward to the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I will always love a book that takes place in Whisper Hollow! This book made me enjoy Maria and Lucas as characters even more than the first one. Them being trapped in a hotel was a fun twist, different from the rest of the books in the town. The mystery was intriguing and the romance was so cute, I cannot wait for the next book!
October 18, 2026
ARC Review. Laura M Drake writes cozy murder mysteries like no other. Love the small town vibes full of holiday spirit. Once again, community coming together to help one another while solving a murder mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wasn't sure what to expect with the second book but I really enjoyed it. Cozy is the perfect way to describe the book. It had an interesting story with likeable characters in a town that feels like home. Really hoping Jiji gets a book 😂
November 3, 2026
Laura Drake does not disappoint with this warm and cozy read. Grab a cup of your favorite warm beverage and blanket and snuggle in for this read. She pulls you in from the very start and keeps you hooked to the last page. There’s exciting, mystery, flavor all wrapped into one. Grab your copy now.
Review of advance copy
I loved Lucas and Maria's story. Old feelings die hard. But when you put a Mistletoe kiss up against those feelings, you better watch out. I loved the blizzard/trapped guest storyline. I loved the different twists and turns that you had to travel down while trying to solve the murder.
A sweet just kisses romance. A victim that was hard to feel sorry for at times. I mean, after what he did. I might have harbored ill feelings against him as well.
Great read. I would recommend if you're looking for a "feel good" murder mystery. If that's a thing. Not only do you get the MCs. You get meddling towns people and a cat. A cat that I'm still certain understands everything that goes on around her.
A sweet just kisses romance. A victim that was hard to feel sorry for at times. I mean, after what he did. I might have harbored ill feelings against him as well.
Great read. I would recommend if you're looking for a "feel good" murder mystery. If that's a thing. Not only do you get the MCs. You get meddling towns people and a cat. A cat that I'm still certain understands everything that goes on around her.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews