Muff Stuff

by Ann Royal Nicholas

Costly, coddled canines are going missing all over the Southland. Sarah, a baking whiz and member of LA’s most dynamic women’s book club, The Muffia , is a soon-to-be single mom who’s about to get foreclosed upon thanks to her philandering ex-husband. Her son, Nathaniel, is being bullied at science camp, his Ls sound like Ws and the only movie he’ll watch is The Princess Bride. No wonder she’s having trouble getting through the muffs’ latest read. Sarah launches a plan to save her house while building a baking goods empire, and before too long, things start looking up—her cookies are a hit, Nathaniel’s Ls are improving and she meets a handsome widower who makes her feel sexy for the first time in years. But when she foils a plot to steal the family’s adopted French Bulldog and Muff Lauren’s Boston Terriers go missing in the middle of her Labor Day barbecue, it’s time for The Muffia to mobilize. With the assistance of a Palm Springs Magic Men Live! aficionado, a vengeful Pug owner and three Bichon Frises, the muffs set out to nab the nappers, and discover dog thieves come in surprising guises.

328 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2019

About the author

Ann Royal Nicholas is the author of THE MUFFIA series: THE MUFFIA, MORE MUFFIA and MUFF STUFF. THE MUFFIA series is a collection of sexy, contemporary womens' fiction, each with a light mystery component.

Published and available at www.bournos.com. See www.annroyalnicholas.com for more

Under her pseudonym, Royal Mack, Ann Royal writes about wine. THE TEENY TINY WINE GUIDE was published by Spitfire Ventures and reissued as part of the Dummies series of books.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicholas’s 3rd mystery, Muff Stuff, set in LA’s Southland, finds Sarah, a baking whiz and member of LA’s most dynamic women’s book club, The Muffia, trying to make ends meet after separating from her philandering husband. As if the financial strain is not enough, Sarah is weighed down with plenty of personal problems. There are also rumors of missing pets in the neighborhood, with the family’s adopted French bulldog, Flan, barely escaping a kidnapping attempt. The Muffia gets involved after one of its members' Boston terriers go missing in the middle of her Labor Day barbecue. With the help of a vindictive pug owner and three fluffy bichon frises, the “muffs" lay out a plan to nab the dog thieves. In good-humored fashion, Nicholas expertly explores Sarah’s multiple difficulties, while the latter whips up baked goodies for her future baking empire.

The mystery element is light in the story and The Muffia’s investigation into the missing dogs happens only in the last one-third of the book. The final solution itself may be a bit too convenient, but the events leading up to it are side-splitting and highly entertaining. And Flan’s dog antics are endearing.

It will be better for the reader to start from The Muffia’s first adventure as this story has some spoilers from earlier books in the series. Fans of chick-lit and cozies will be equally rewarded.