Murder & Marble Cake - Comfort Cakes Mystery #1
Rachel Rowan has inherited her Aunt Rose's bakery and moved to the coastal town of Swaddle, CA. Aunt Rose did not have a will, so Attorney Arthur Rafferty helps Rachel with the necessary paperwork. When Arthur is found dead in the bakery while Rachel is on the phone, Sheriff Scott Tanner immediately suspects Rachel of killing him.
Who killed Arthur and why? Who is trying to frame Rachel? Can Rachel convince Sheriff Tanner of her innocence and find the real killer?
Guilt & Galaxy Cake - Comfort Cakes Mystery #2
Stan Stickman, a famous Science Fiction writer, is planning to do a book signing at Tricia Crane's Cranium Bookstore. Tricia asks Rachel to bake a special Galaxy Cake for the event. Rachel is surprised to learn that Stan's assistant is her ex-boyfriend, Brandon. The next morning, Stan is found dead, face-down in the cake, just like in his first book, Nebula Next.
Who killed Stan Stickman and why? Will Brandon be able to win Rachel back? Can Scott and Rachel figure out what happened?
Strangulation & Strawberry Cake - Comfort Cakes Mystery #3
Sheriff Scott Tanner and his sister, Emily, have been invited to attend their estranged grandmother's 90th birthday. Rachel Rowan has been hired to bake the special strawberry birthday cake. Since Emily refuses to go, Scott and Rachel attend the family gathering together. When Johnny Hayes, Grandma Mallory's accountant, shows up just before dinner, he is told to wait in the parlor until after dinner. Suddenly the lights go out and when they come back on, Johnny Hayes is dead.
Who killed Johnny Hayes? Why was he killed? Can Scott and Rachel uncover the killer and the motive?
Bodies & Bundt Cake - Comfort Cakes Mystery #4
Rachel Rowan has been asked to be a judge for the annual Home-baked Cake Contest in Swaddle. Being a professional baker, she is obviously ineligible to participate. Due to an issue the previous year, all cakes were to be delivered to Gina Graham, who would transport them to the contest. When Gina fails to show up, Rachel and her friend, Tricia, go to check on her. Arriving at Gina's house, they find the front door open and Gina in the kitchen - DEAD!!
Who killed Gina? Why was she killed? Can Rachel unravel the puzzle without jeopardizing her friendship with Tricia?
Weddings & Wine Cake - Comfort Cakes Mystery #5
Rachel Rowan gets an unexpected call from her father, Ryan Rowan, telling of his plan to get married again. surprisingly, Valentina, his bride-to-be, is only 33 years old, just slightly older than Rachel. The wedding will take place on a small private island near Key West, FL that is owned by his business partner Leon Ericson. Rachel manages to talk Scott into accompanying her on the trip to Florida. Shortly after their arrival, Rachel, Valentina, and Denise (Leon's wife) go on a shopping trip to Miami. The three ladies returned just before midnight. While Rachel and Scott are discussing some of her family's history, they hear a gunshot close by. Rushing to Leon's cabin, they find Rachel's mother, Lily, in the room with a gun in her hand and Leon on the floor dead.
Did Lily shoot Leon? Why is she even on the island? What was she doing in Leon's cabin? If Lily did not shoot Leon, who did? Can Rachel and Scott solve the mystery? Will Rachel and Scott's relationship survive the "vacation"?
Nancy McGovern has a wonderful way of drawing her readers into her stories, that make it nearly impossible to put any her books down before you have finished them. Then you want to immediately reach for the next one in the series. All of her books have plenty of twists and turns regarding the culprit and their motives.