Christmas Carols and Lipstick Perils

Sunshine Cove Cozy Mystery #5

by Ava Zuma

Everybody's looking forward to Christmas but not Celia.

Why?

Because she's been making promises all year that she can't seem to keep.

Promises to take her young children on a luxurious holiday.

Promises to her clients to make them look like a million bucks over the holiday season.

Promises to a friend to sing Christmas carols.

Celia knows if she can work a bit harder, maybe, just maybe, she'll be able to fulfil her promises.

She's in for a shock when a client dies at one of the corporate functions she's a part of. The incident seems coincidental until someone else dies at another corporate function. It seems Celia is the common denominator at both murder scenes.

Celia's blood pressure goes through the roof when she's identified as a person of interest by the police. She feels the world closing in on her and wonders if there's anyway out.

Christmas is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year but it seems Celia's living in her worst nightmare. Will she piece the clues that'll lead her to the murderer or become the killer's next victim?

If you want to enjoy a light-hearted read, with an amateur female sleuth and a gripping murder mystery with a touch of romance, then you'll love Celia Dube and all the friendly and not-so-friendly characters in Sunny Cove.

No cliffhanger, swearing or graphic scenes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

154 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2020

Reviews

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This e-book ARC was given to me freely by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars.

Celia was a bit annoying and over the top in the latest installment in the Sunshine Cove Cozy Mystery series. And the murder mystery was a bit weak and messy. Not the best book in the series.

[Michele Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Black Friday and Cece Dube and her mother are shopping. Cece is not really into the spirit of shopping yet. She wants to take her family on vacation for the Christmas season, but since investing in the Nail Salon with her friend Melanie, funds have been tight. Melanie convinces her to re-establish her working relationship with Fezile, a photographer whose makeup artist is taking maternity leave. They have booked three parties in the following weeks. During the first party, one of the employees dies. No one thinks much of it until the same thing happens at the second party. Cece talks with her police detective friend Bill, who upon receiving a copy of both autopsy reports realizes the deaths are murder. Meanwhile, Cece is receiving strange texts concerning her first year in highschool. They become threatening and state that unless she remembers the texter, another person will die.

I received this book free from the author for my review of same.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cece wants to take her family on vacation over the holidays but cash is tight. Her friend and salon co-owner Melanie suggests she sign on with photographer Fezile while his regular make-up artist is on maternity leave. She has reservations due to a negative past experience with him, but decides to do the corporate Christmas party shoots with his anyway. But when people start dying at the parties and she starts getting strange messages, she is concerned! What is going on and what could possibly be her connection. I receive ARCs from this author and enjoy her books, so am happy to write a review.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Copy

It’s the Christmas season but Celia isn’t that merry. Her family wants to go on a holiday but she cannot afford it. She even takes a gig doing makeup for business holiday parties.

Things start to go deadly as individuals are dropping dead at the party. Like if Celia does not have enough on her plate, she starts getting texts from an unknown source about her early high school years where she was picked on.

Could these things be related? Once again she will not be able to let things go as she seeks answers.

[Susan Franke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Likeable characters and interesting stories lines keep me involved with this series. You not only have an engaging mystery ,you also learn snippets of African history customs and lore. Celia signs on with photographer Felize as makeup artist for corporate events . At each one there is a death and some one is sending Celia cryptic messages from her past She sets out to uncover who before anther dies

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoy reading this cozey murder mystery full outrageous caracters, intreage with a slice of humor. Cicie's past has appeared to come to haunt her Christmas present. An old friend may have become a new enemy. The reunions of strayed acquaintances ,forgotten hurts, intreage,and a race against time . Ava Zuma has given it all in "Christmas Carols and Lipstick Perils " aquier a copy and start enjoying it as much as I have. ☺😐🤔😯😮🤔🙄☺Kat

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Celia wanted to do was enjoy a great Christmas with her family and friends. What she didn't want to do is be a top suspect in not one but two murders! Can Celia prove her innocence and still enjoy Christmas? Another great addition to this series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Terri Deans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, keeps you guessing right to the end! I am awful for figuring out who did it but this one I didn’t!
Fast paced story, with twists I didn’t see coming.
Highly recommend for fans of cozy mystery’s.

[Marianne McGinnis]

Ist time reading this author. I'll be looking for all the others!