A delightful new story from a New York Times bestselling author perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen Mystery series! In this page-turning new book, entertaining guru Sophie Winston is faced with a midsummer nightmare when a celebration in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is the appetizer for murder…
Old Town’s midsummer festivities are getting a tasty addition this year. To coincide with a public performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake, has hired Sophie to organize a dinner with a dessert buffet on the waterfront. Bobbie Sue’s homegrown company is thriving, and since her baking dish overfloweth, she wants to reward her employees.
Bobbie Sue has only one menu demand: no cheesecake! But her specialty isn’t the only thing missing from the evening—Tate, Bobbie Sue’s husband, is too much to her annoyance. Next morning, however, Tate’s dead body is discovered. Bobbie Sue insists she didn’t kick her spouse to the curb, and begs for Sophie’s help finding the real killer. Digging in, Sophie discovers an assortment of Old Town locals who all had reason to want a piece of Tate. Can she gather together the crumbs the killer left behind in time to prevent a second helping of murder?
Includes delectable recipes and fabulous DIY decorating tips!
Krista Davis lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she writes mysteries. She lived in Northern Virginia for many years and resided for a time in Old Town Alexandria where her Domestic Diva Mysteries take place.
Krista also writes the Paws and Claws Mysteries, which debuted with MURDER, SHE BARKED. Her Pen & Ink Mysteries featured covers that can be colored! Read the book and have fun coloring the cover.
Always love Domestic Diva Mystery. What I love most are the questions and answers at the beginning of each chapter. Either Sophie or Natasha gives domestic advice. These two are old classmates and sometimes rivals. Sophie loves to eat and is an event planner. Natasha had a stint in beauty pageants and now has a local TV show. They have competing domestic advice columns.
It's almost the Fourth of July in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. The gang is getting ready for the town's summer festivities. Queen of Cheesecake, Bobbie Sue hires Sophie to handle a private party but her husband Tate, owner of an upscale restaurant is found murdered in his restaurant's cellar. There are many suspects and Sophie is asked to help find the real killer.
There are many yummy bonus recipes at the end of the book. I'm interested in Japanese Cheesecake, drools...🍰👩🍳 The audiobook is really excellent, narrated by Hillary Huber. The whole collection is on Hoopla.
I loved reading The Diva Says Cheesecake. It is a great whodunit. Sophie Winston is the main character who owns Sophie Winston Events. I loved all the supporting characters as well as the new ones. Bobbi Sue Bodoin's husband, Tate owns Blackwell's Tavern, When he does not come home that night his she asks Sophie to help her find him. They find him dead in the cellar of his restaurant.. He was murdered. Bobbi Sue asks Sophie and her friend, Nina to help find out who murdered her husband. Bernie Frei, Sophie's friend and manager of the Laughing Hound restaurant had words with Tate and is arrested and prime suspect. Sophie and her friends do not believe he is responsible for Tate's death. This is where the story takes off on an adventure of who killed Tate with all the twists and turns and suspects. I don't want to spoil the story for the reader so I will leave it to them to find out who the murderer is..
I have not read any of the other books in this series but plan to go back and do so.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.
I knew as soon as I started The Diva Says Cheesecake! I would not be able to put it down. Sophie Winston is one of my favorite characters, and her natural abilities to get involved in murder investigations shines in this book. Tate, a local restaurant owner is found, dead, surrounded by broken wine bottles. To the average eye this may look like an accident, however, Sophie is one of the first to discover the body, and she has her own suspicions. Before long, Sophie's dear friend is accused of killing Tate, and the family feels they have the right suspect. Sophie, along with her bestie Nina, and a cast of wonderful characters all put their heads together to discover the truth. I devoured this book in one sitting, and may have to bake a cheesecake this weekend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book. #TheDivaSaysCheesecake #NetGalley
Summer in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia is not complete without a mystery for The Domestic Diva, Sophie Winston and friends, to solve! This time, Sophie and friends are trying to prove the innocence of one of their friends, Bernie Frei. Bernie is accused of murdering a fellow restaurant owner and the evidence against him is growing stronger every day. Sophie and her best friend, Nina, embark on a sleuthing adventure that will hopefully clear Bernie of the crime and bring a killer to justice.
Sophie Winston is one of the most relatable main characters I've read. Working at her catering/event planning business, she serves as a "home base" for a variety of quirky and likable supporting characters - Nina, Max, Bernie, Humphrey, Francie. and even the difficult Natasha all add to the charm of the mystery. This book finds Sophie using all her contacts to solve a tragic murder. With a mystery is full of twists and turns and full of red herrings, I couldn't guess "whodunit" and I loved it!
The mystery is a major part of why I enjoy this series, however other enjoyable aspects of the book are the food descriptions (recipes included!) and the lovely neighborhoods of Old Town Alexandria. The descriptions are so vivid that I feel as if I'm at Sophie's dinner table discussing clues and walking through the historic and lush neighborhoods of O!d Town Alexandria.
Another winner in The Domestic Diva series!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
THE DIVA SAYS CHEESECAKE, the fifteenth book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis, hits all the right marks for capturing my attention and keeping it throughout the entire book. And if you haven’t read any in the series, this can be read as a standalone. However, with the memorable and relatable characters that populate the series, it’s been a pleasure reading from the first and watching the character growth and the changes over the years. Protagonist Sophie Winston is one of those people you’d love to have as your best friend. She’s kind, she loves to share her baked goods, and she’s ready to jump in and help whenever someone has a problem. The author weaves a puzzling mystery into the charming setting of Old Town Virginia, set against the backdrop of A Midsummer Night’s Dream festivities. Her descriptive voice makes the words come alive on the pages so that the reader feels like they’re right there experiencing everything Sophie does. Another favorite aspect of each book is the advice column question, to either Sophie or her nemesis, Natasha, and the corresponding answer that begins each chapter. These are entertaining all on their own!
When Bobbie Sue Bodoin, the Queen of Cheesecake’s husband is found murdered, she begs Sophie to solve the crime. Adding to the urgency, the police have named one of Sophie’s close friends, Bernie, as the prime suspect. I love the loyalty that Sophie and her friends show toward each other and they all pitch in to help Sophie sleuth. I also enjoyed that with the spotlight turned on Bernie, the reader has an opportunity to know him better and find out some of his closely held secrets. There are plenty of suspects for Sophie to sift through, and the clues are woven in for an armchair detective to collect. I’ll admit I was thrown off scent by some of the twists and turns, but it made the story even more intriguing as it unfolded.
Did someone say cheesecake? With the title and theme of the book, Ms. Davis does an admirable job of weaving in mouthwatering descriptions of cheesecake throughout the book and includes several delectable recipes.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A cozy with a great whodunnit..... I loved all the characters. I love Sophie and Nina and the chemistry with all the characters. I love Francie and Mars and Bernie.
When you are new to a series, and start a book that can be read as a stand-alone and still feel connected to all the characters, you are in for a good read. Throw in a good mystery with lots of suspects, and you are in for a great ride. I can't wait to go back and read the other books in the series. I am a new fan and can't wait to read all the books in the series.
PS I think I gained weight with all the cheesecakes lol....
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this fun book.
I may have said before.... I LOVE all Krista Davis cozy mystery series, but this one has a special place in my heart. I was in between jobs, having just gotten out of a bad one, when I discovered this series. Sophie and her friends were just what I needed at the time and they still bring a smile to my face every year when a new book comes out. I was pretty sure whodunit in this one, but that didn't take a thing away from the story. A good mystery and all the cheesecake talk had me hitting the Cheesecake Factory! 5-stars on this welcome entry in a great series! Thanks #NetGalley!
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.
This is the 15th in this charming series that gets better with every book. This is a well crafted fun sleuth with great charcters. The author never disappoints . A fun engaging mystery I highly recommend.,
Midsummer in Old Town means some fun. In addition to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” performance this year the “Queen of Cheesecake” Bobbie Sue Bodoin is hosting a dinner for her employees down by the waterfront. She has hired Sofie to organize the affair with one strict demand – No Cheesecake on the dessert buffet!
The dinner goes off fabulously with only one hitch. Bobbie Sue’s restauranteur husband Tate failed to show up at the event. Bobbie Sue shrugs it off until about 4 A.M. when she calls Sophie for help. Tate has still not come home. Sophie grabs Nina and they meet Bobbie Sue at his restaurant. While doing a thorough search Sophie finds Tate’s body. Bobbie Sue swears she had nothing to do with the man’s death and begs Sophie to help her find the killer. Can she come up with the right recipe to catch a murderer? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I look forward to every book in this series as soon as I finish the last one because these characters are so fantastic. They are realistic, engaging, and fun. I would definitely be friends with Sophie and Nina if I could jump into the book. Francie is a hoot and doesn’t hold back. Mars may not have been the right man for Sophie but he is a great friend. Bernie finds himself needing his friends in this story and they all really step up. Natasha is . . . well Natasha and every good group of friends seems to have a Natasha. It is such a joy to tag along with these characters. No matter what is happening in their world they always pull together and I love that!
Catching the killer was not an easy task and Sophie doesn’t give up even after she is threatened and hurt. Ms. Davis filled this story with some wild twists and turns. All the misdirection did exactly what she planned, I was drawn completely into the story. It grabbed me so tight that was unable to put the book down which means Krista Davis is responsible for my latest book hangover finishing the book just before 3 a.m.
Ms. Davis is an amazing storyteller. Her descriptive details flow so effortlessly, easily taking her readers to Old Town Virginia, and all it has to offer. She mixes up the characters’ daily lives with a marvelous mystery throwing in an ample amount of humor and a dash of romance. She also includes mouth-watering descriptions of food and not just the cheesecake, but Oh! My! The Cheesecake!!! I cheated and purchased one for the grocery store the next day to curb the cravings caused by this book. I am sure it wasn’t as good as Bobbie Sue’s Bodoin’s but it did the trick at least until I wrote this review. I think my husband may need to make a stop on his way home. She does include 12 “delectable” recipes at the end of the book. I can already feel my waistline expanding.
The Diva Says Cheesecake is my new favorite book in this series! I LOVED IT! It is so good it deserves more than 5 stars! You will find this book on my Best Reads of 2022 and it receives my Paradise Rating!!
Sophie Winston is a busy event planner who also has a knack for solving mysteries. Therefore, when a client's husband turns up dead, she now wants Sophie to find the killer.
I always enjoy my time with Sophie and her friends and I've been a fan of this series from the start. There is a great set of characters that work together to unravel what has happened and support each other. Furthermore, chapters often end on mini-cliffhangers, which I find enjoyable, and I get immediate satisfaction since the rest follows in the next chapter. Warning, this story will make you hungry for cheesecake on more than one occasion. Fortunately, some recipes are included.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
The Midsummer Festivities are in full swing and Sophie has been hired by Bobbie Sue to organize a dinner on the waterfront. Things are going smoothly until time for the play and much to her dismay Bobbie Sue can not seem to find her husband, Tate. The next morning Tate is found dead and Bobbie Sue hires Sophie to find the killer.
This series is so well written. This book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery. I have not read all the books but I’ve never had a problem following the storyline. The characters are realistic and relatable. Sophie is a smart, well rounded character. The mystery is well plotted with plenty of suspects and surprises. I recommend this book for cozy mystery as well as foodie cozy fans. Recipes and tips are included.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
A wonderful read!! I entered a drawing and won this book. A first for me!! I was so excited!! #BetweenTheChapters!
The book was so good - a delightful few days following Sophie and her friends, human and pet, through Old Town Alexandria. I was trying to figure out who the killer was along with Sophie. Sophie, of course, was able to find the killer first and save lives in the process!! I can’t wait to read the next adventure in Sophie’s life!!
The cheesecakes sounded sooo good!! As well as all the other yummy food Sophie cooked for her friends!! What a good friend to have!!
This is my absolute favorite cozy mystery series, as the characters and the setting make you feel like you are a part of this group of friends in cozy Old Town, Alexandria. I love how the main character can walk to all the shops and restaurants, and how her friends live right across the street or around the corner. This book has a summer / July 4th setting, and revolves around the murder of a man who is married to the Cheesecake Queen. There are so many delicious descriptions of (and recipes for) cheesecake and the mystery is so engaging that the book is very hard to put down. Highly recommended!
I gave it three chapters, got to thinking about all the great books on my TBR, and decided to move on. None of the characters felt especially likeable.
Krista Davis is a master of the cozy mystery, and the latest entry in her longest running series is a treat even before you get to the delicious looking cheesecake recipes. If you are looking for a light and summery read pick this up. *I won an advance copy of the book from the Kensington email newsletter but would have read it anyway.
This is one of my favorite series because I can relate so easily to Sophie and her life; it's like coming home again when I read one of these. The mystery was well paced and, while I figured out early on who the killer was, I enjoyed the ride so much. I love how her friends always come together to discuss the story and she always has a stocked fridge to feed them. I can't wait to see what they get up to next.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
“The Diva Says Cheesecake ” the 15th instalment in the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis. Entertaining guru Sophie Winston is faced with a midsummer nightmare when a celebration in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is the appetizer for murder…
I really enjoy this series and must read the few books I have missed. Even though I haven't read all the earlier books I was able to follow along, so this can be read as a stand alone book.
I really like Sophie, she is relatable, interesting and I love her relationship with her BFF Nina and her ex Mars as well as several other residents of Old Town. I liked how the characters were there for each other, no matter what was happening.
The mystery itself was interesting, full of twists and turns, red herrings all of which completely drew me into the story. I didn’t want to put the book down and read it till the wee hours.
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Several years ago I was obsessed with cozy mysteries and I would pick up any and all that I saw at the bookstore. The Domestic Diva mystery series was one that I always loved especially since it is said in Alexandria, Virginia. As someone who lives in northern Virginia I always liked seeing and reading about places that I had visited. And the diva says cheesecake we are following Sophie as she looks into the murder of a renowned restaurant owner. When Bernie a close friend of hers is accused of the murder she takes it upon herself to clear his name. We then follow her and her friends as they try to determine who the real killer is. One thing that I really like is it at the beginning of each chapter we get an advice letter to either Sophie are Natasha and then in the style of Dear Abby they respond. There are also recipes at the back of the book that I mentioned. If you were looking for a cozy mystery series to dip your toes into I highly recommend this one. A special thanks to the author for sending me advanced copy to review all of the opinions are on my own.
I love this series! The characters are so realistic that I often forget that Sophie and Nina are not real people while I'm reading. I often wish I could meet them for coffee and chat! Even the characters that you aren't supposed to like are so believable that you find yourself ducking down a bit when reading in hopes that you aren't spotted! I think that is the true beauty of the cozy mystery genre, you don't just get a good mystery, but you also feel like you have gained a friendship as you come to know the characters so much better as each book builds upon the last one. This is one of my favorite must read series and I already can't wait for the next book to come out!
This series is seriously a fun one with such a great cast of characters! I also love that it’s so easy to jump back into whenever I need a palate cleanser.
I absolutely love this series and am so glad she has continued it. Not only do you get a great mystery, you get some really good recipes at the end of the book. I'm looking forward to making the Strawberry Butter because that sounds pretty good to put on toast or pancakes.
Sophie Winston is a party planner who always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. This time one of her good friends is taken in custody for murdering a fellow restaurant owner. Sophie and her friends know Bernie couldn't have done it so they get together to try to figure out who did.
Krista Davis brings the pages to life with her writing and you feel like you are at Sophie's house having cheesecake and coffee helping them all solve the case.
This ARC was provided to me by Kensington Books and by NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
I have always enjoyed every book in this Domestic Diva series and this was no exception! Once I started it, I could not put it down. Sophie and her friends kept me entertained throughout the book. I didn't want this book to end even though I wanted to know if the murderer was who I thought it was. This book did have me second guessing throughout and definitely kept my interest. I can't wait for the next one in this series!
If you like cheesecake, you'll not only thoroughly enjoy this book but get hungry while reading it. Let's just say lots of food and cheesecake involved. This is the 15th in the Domestic Diva series and although I had read some of the earlier books, I wondered if new readers would grasp what was going on with the letters to Sophie and Natasha seeking advice that started each chapter. It was fun, of course, to see how they blended into the story but that wasn't evident at the beginning. Other than that nitpick, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
A seemingly well liked restaurant owner has been found dead. Initially, it appears it may have been as the result of an accident. Sophie, on hand when the body was discovered, had doubts, however. It isn't long before she is busy asking questions and gathering clues. She has the help of her loyal circle of friends and always seems to be dishing up a yummy meal of snack for them as the discuss their own hunches and findings. There are several suspects and so many twists and red herrings that it can almost make you shake your head in an attempt to shake everything into place. I liked how her friends pulled together to solve the crime, at times even rescuing Sophie from danger. I also liked how well Sophie was able to keep her cool when finally confronting the killer, using her wits to escape.
The contrast between Sophie and Natasha provides some humor, with Sophie seeming to have more common sense. But, wait, what do any of those seemingly innocuous letters seeking advice have to do with the murder? Who is that tall woman both the murder victim and friend soon targeted as the chief suspect? Fish fraud? Huh? Will Spence ever have a relationship with his biological father? How does the Coach fit into the whole thing? Would you go out walking your dog if someone had just attacked you? Why did Natasha throw and cheesecake in a smarthy wannabe beau's face? What is the cheesecake queen's role in all this? All these questions and more are answered in this intricate path the the solution of the murder. Grab a piece of cheesecake, some tea, and settle in for an enjoyable ride.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to visit Sophie and friends. My Daisy dog was happy to come along for the ride and meet Sophie's Daisy, too.
It was great visiting with Sophie and her crew of friends again. I loved how she and Nina did a lot of the sleuthing together that involved dog walking, but Soph still went out on her own enough to keep her friends worried about her. Sophie's got an amazing network of awesome friends and I love that she's got a good relationship with her ex as well.
Sophie's also a smart lady who only ends up in weird situations because she's so driven to get to the truth. She's actually the only main character in a cozy that I haven't wanted to fix up with one of the guys because Mars, Bernie and Wolf already are there for her. She had her dating spree with Wolf and stayed friends with him too which turned out great for her.
I had my eye on someone I thought whodunit from fairly early and just kinda watched it play out trying to stick to my choice, and it ended up being right! This mystery was so good and full of twists that I could picture it as a light-hearted mystery movie. I've really come to like Natasha's mom, Wanda, Charlene and Griselda who's Wanda's business partner. Poor ole Natasha just can't win though, lol and she honestly without trying does provide a lot of the comedy relief. Don't miss this fun and sometimes funny fifteenth installment of the Domestic Diva series for sale this coming Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
This was my first time reading from this long running series, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this well written mystery. There were lots of twists and turns, but it kept me guessing. Sophie has her hands full trying to solve the murder of Tate, who is married to the Cheesecake Queen, Bobbie Sue. I like the cast of characters and friendships, especially when Sophie realizes one of her friends is being set up to take the fall. And another fun thing written about is all the food these lucky people get to eat. The bonus for the readers is the recipes at the end of the book! Now I have to play catch-up with the rest of this enticing series.
The Diva is back in the 15th installment of the Domestic Diva Mystery series! I have loved this series on audiobook, but the ebook was equally enjoyable. Krista Davis has created a world that I love to visit--her characters now feel like real friends and I am invested in their lives! The mystery is twisty and difficult to solve, the plot is quick paced and absorbing, and catching up with the gang is so satisfying. I am looking forward to the next visit to Olde Town. The recipes look so yummy---we are making the Japanese cheesecake this weekend. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the ARC I requested. All opinions are my own. I enjoy sharing great reads with my friends and followers.
#TheDivaSaysCheesecake #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks ***************COMING MAY 31st***********
ARC Kindle Copy from Review from Net Galley and Kensington Books.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Cheesecake leads to murder.
Sophie is hired to do a dessert buffet without cheesecake on the menu as the woman who hires her is known as the cheesecake queen as a token to her success with her employees. Cheesecake is not the only thing missing but her annoying husband.
He is found the next morning as the cheesecake diva becomes prime suspect and asks hep to find who killed her husband. Sophie will have work cut out.
You will be craving cheesecake as you indulge in this mystery.
I love books where you start reading and it is like either coming home or coming to a beloved friends house and being welcomed with open arms [and in this case, there just happens to be a murder mystery to solve], and that is the case with this lovely cozy read. As soon as I started the book, I settled in and just let the story happen and it was such a lovely visit. I love how Sophie and Co. work together [especially Sophie and Mars and their ability to be adults and friends after their marriage ended and how well they work together] and even Natasha didn't bother me as much as she normally does [though, she was still a pill and her food is still...ICK. Ew. Gross]. I think having her mother, her father's former paramour AND her half-sister "underfoot" has grounded her some and shown her that even though she wants it to be, life is NOT always about her. Sophie and Co. unintentionally snubbing her on several occasions also helps there.
The mystery was very good with this one. The author was very clever in how she used red herrings and I will admit here that I absolutely fell for one of them [until I sat back and thought about all I had learned to that point and then realized it was just that...a red herring. And went with the character I had the most questions about. THAT was the correct guess. Whew! LOL], which shows just what a deft writer the author is. She leads us on a merry chase and it was glorious.
It is rare, when a series is 15 books in, to have a book that is just so darn good, but here we are. It is one of the many reasons I will always jump at getting a Krista Davis book - I am never disappointed [I just went and checked and out of 15 books, only one was a three star read for me, which does not indicate disappointment, just an average read. All the rest were 4-5 star reads. It is so rare for that to happen with a series, but I have loved these from day 1] and they leave me hoping there will be a next one. There will be a next one right???? ;-)
Thank you to NetGalley, Krista Davis, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.