Up until a couple months ago I would have been able to summarize my daily life in a few sentences, or maybe even less. It was predictable and boring since I worked as an accountant for a large firm in Southern California. My husband, a police officer, worked the graveyard shift so I rarely saw him. Instead I’d hang out with our mixed Golden Labradoodle pup, Piper, and on weekends I’d help my sister with her catering contracts, often baking desserts for her clients.
That all changed when I caught my husband and my best friend cheating on me. And then I was accused of killing that ex-best friend. All of a sudden I found myself with no husband, no best friend, no job, and no home thanks to the man I thought I loved. Now I’m living in a pool house – it’s not as bad as you might imagine like I did when my mother first told me she’d found me a place to live. In exchange for living accommodations, I cook for Tillie along with trying to keep her out of trouble. She’s a feisty octogenarian and it might be harder than you suppose. I also do some accounting and admin work for her son who pays my salary.
Piper generally wakes me around six, long before I feel ready to crawl out of bed. I take her for a walk around Balboa Island where I now reside, and enjoy the fresh sea air and hearing the gulls cry. If I’m lucky, I’ll see a harbor seal swimming in the bay or see a flock of white pelicans flying in formation while skimming the water. Once home, I feed Piper and then whip up a small batch of muffins, prepare a fresh fruit salad, and start a pot of coffee. While the muffins cool, I get ready for the day, which doesn’t take long since I embrace the beach casual look. I forego makeup and pull my frizzy red hair into a messy bun. My twin sister, on the other hand, always looks stylish and sleek, even after a long day of chasing her five-year-old twin daughters. There might just be a little bit of envy on my part.
At around eight Piper and I head across the alleyway to Tillie’s house for breakfast. We eat the muffins and fruit salad I’ve prepared and I try to convince her to eat some eggs for protein. But generally she’d rather have an extra cup of coffee and cajole me into baking cookies instead. Once I’ve done the dishes, Tillie leaves to get ready for one of her many committee meetings, bridge groups, or even a date.
Piper and I stay in Tillie’s state-of-the-art kitchen and I start baking cupcakes for my fledgling cupcake catering company. I’d always dreamt of owning a cupcake bakery but Tillie thought I should dive right in and start catering. It fits nicely with my sister’s company and Tillie, along with her gal pals, place enough orders to keep me busy. Amongst Tillie’s group, my crazy cocktail cupcake concoctions are most popular. Those women must scour Pinterest for the most bizarre cocktails and then ask me to create a cupcake that mimics the flavors of the cocktail. So far I’ve managed to meet their requests but it sometimes takes two or three tries to get it right. Don’t worry, my mishaps rarely go to waste since Tillie has plenty of friends who volunteer to taste test and I enjoy sampling my share (or more) too.
After I deliver the cupcakes I head to Tillie’s son’s home to work on his accounting and social calendar invitations. Since he travels extensively, I come and go as I please which is handy when I have several cupcake orders or need to help my sister with her catering commitments. Tillie and I generally meet up again for pre-dinner cocktails on her patio overlooking the bay (Gimlets are her favorite), and then I prepare our dinner unless she has a hot date. My go-to meal is simple, fresh-caught fish, grilled and served with lemon slices. Tillie wouldn’t be happy unless there’s dessert so I generally save us a cupcake or three from what I’ve baked that day. After cleaning up dishes Piper and I head back to our pool house. If I’m lucky I’ll get to chat with Randall, the hunky ex-vice cop I met while trying to prove my innocence in the murder of my ex-best friend. He’s been in Florida for the last few weeks, wrapping up some business before he moves to Southern California for a new job. After that I prepare for bed and then settle in to dream of buttercream and sprinkles.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win one (1) print copy of Sprinkles of Suspicion, limited to U.S. residents. Giveaway ends June 4, 2020. Good luck everyone!
Sprinkles of Suspicion is the first book in the NEW “Cupcake Catering” cozy mystery series, released June 2, 2020.
One glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles.
Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend. To make matters worse, Tori exacts her revenge by posting a fake photo of Emory in a compromising situation, which goes viral on social media. When Tori is found murdered, all signs point to Emory being the prime suspect.
With the police investigation focused on gathering evidence to convict her, Emory must prove her innocence while whipping up batches of cupcakes and buttercream. Delving into the past of her murdered ex-friend, she finds other people had reasons to want Tori dead, including Emory’s own husband. Can she find the killer, or will the clues sprinkled around the investigation point the police back to her?
Includes recipes!
Purchase Link
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Meet the author
Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When not chasing her two granddaughters, she can be found at her computer writing or blogging at Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up new treats to share.
She has also published a suspense novel, A Game of Deceit, under K. A. Davis, along with several children’s nature articles in a variety of magazines.
Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. To learn more, please visit kimdavisauthor.com.
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks, Doward, and good luck in the contest!
Sounds like a fun series. Would love to read this one.
Thanks for stopping by, Cindy! Good luck!
First of all I love cupcakes. So to have them featured in a cozy mystery series is like too good to be true. So bring it on. Sounds like a great series to start reading.
I love cozy mysteries and this storyline sounds great! I’m on a cupcake eating binge since I’ve been shut in and love the cover.
Thanks, Jeanne! I had a lot of fun creating the cover with my designer… and definitely had a lot of cupcake cravings in the process 🙂 Good luck!
On my list – thanks for the giveaway.
This sounds like a great cozy. Love the cover.
Thank you, Kathy, it was so much fun creating with my designer! Good luck!
You’re welcome and thanks for stopping by, Mary!
Cocktail-flavored cupcakes sound like fun.
Oooh, the cocktail cupcakes were so much fun to create 🙂 It’s a party in your mouth! Good luck in the contest!
Love. Love, love the cover!!!
Thank you for the giveaway..
Thank you! It was so much fun to create and my designer even used a photo of my grand-puppy for the cover 🙂 Good luck!
This book is on my TBR list…I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the chance!
You’re welcome and good luck!
Sounds like a great new series. Looking forward to reading.
This sounds like a wonderful book and I love the cover.
Sounds like a great book. It is on my must read list.
Piper is looking at those cupcakes just like I would be, same thought, lol. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thank you so much for hosting me on your wonderful blog, Dru! I had a lot of fun imagining what Emory’s daily life would be. Good luck to all the contestants!
Captivating and intriguing story which I would enjoy.Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck!
Would love to read this book.
I’m glad you could stop by and good luck in the contest!
This sounds like such a fun series! Congratulations and thanks for the chance to win!
Thank you, Autumn, and good luck!
I enjoyed reading about A Day in the Life of Emory Martinez – thanks for sharing, Kim and Dru Ann!
Thanks for stopping by, Celia! Good luck in the contest!
I love the idea of cupcakes based on cocktails. And I’d buy the book just for that cover.
Awe, thank you! Both the cover and cupcake recipes were so much fun to create!
This sounds great! Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks for visiting and good luck in the contest!
Great review thank you. Sounds very good
Penney
Thanks, Penny, and good luck in the contest!
This sounds like an ideal setup for a new start in life!
Thanks for stopping by, Pat, and good luck in the contest!
Yes please, I’d like to be entered into this giveaway.
Good luck and thanks for visiting!
Sounds like an interesting and entertaining read.
Thank you! And good luck in the contest!
I want it all! The pool house, the dog, the lovely landlady, and of course the cupcakes! I am sure to start reading this new series very soon! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed my descriptions of Emory’s day! Good luck in the contest!
Sounds like a winner and like the title
Murder and food makes a good read.
I completely agree! Good luck in the contest!
a great mystery
cute cover. happy Book Birthday Kim Davis!
Thanks so much, Kathleen! Good luck in the contest!
I am looking forward to this! Congrats to Kim, I am so excited for you! Thanks for the chance to win!
You’re very welcome and thank you!!! Good luck too 🙂
Sounds interesting. I imagine Tillie is a real character.
She ended up being my favorite character to write! Thanks for stopping by!
OK…now I want to read it all!! LOL…sounds amazing. Thank you for the chance to win!
You’re very welcome and good luck!
I’m looking forward to reading Emory’s adventure. Congrats on your new release!
Thank you and good luck in the contest!
Congratulations on your new book! I am looking forward o reading it!!
Thank you, Linda! Good luck and I hope you enjoy!
Nice cover. I liked the synopsis. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Diana! Good luck in the contest!
CONGRATULATIONS, Kim!! Best wishes on your cozy and its adorable cover.
Thanks so much, Meg! I had so much fun working with my designer to create it 🙂
I think it looks and sounds delicious 😋
Thank you and good luck in the contest!
Oh my, this sound good! Thanks for having this fascinating giveaway!
You’re very welcome and good luck!
This looks like a good book. I love books and baking, so it’s a great recipe! 😉
I so enjoyed creating the recipes… especially the cupcakes 🙂 Good luck in the contest!
Sounds good! Love the book cover too!
Thank you for the giveaway!!!!
Sounds like it is a fun book to read. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
**** WINNER ****
Sprinkles of Suspicion is Nora-Adrienne Deret
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Nora-Adrienne!