Murder, Marriage, and Money: Those three items were absent from my life a few years ago. That was before my best friend since age ten, Olivia (Livie) Greyson, returned to her hometown, Chatterley Heights, Maryland, with a divorce decree and a dream. Together, Livie and I opened The Gingerbread House, a wonderland of cookies, cookie cutters, and… well, everything cookie aficionados didn’t know they needed. The money isn’t exactly pouring in, but it sure beats my previous, sub-minimum wage job at a now-defunct bakery, where we peddled plain donuts and oatmeal cookies. On Saturdays, we sprinkled powdered sugar on the donuts and threw a handful of raisins into the cookie dough.
Now I’m chief cookie creator and decorator for The Gingerbread House. It’s the perfect job for me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I tend to get enthusiastic. Also, I don’t need much sleep, and I often wake up early with a scrumptious idea for a cookie recipe. I may stumble over simple math, but when it comes to decorated cookies, I’m a creative genius. Or was that over the top? Anyway, I adore inventing new cookies recipes and decorating cutout cookies with wildly colored royal icing.
As if all that weren’t enough to make me deliriously happy, I’m about to marry Lucas Ashford. He owns Heights Hardware, right next door to The Gingerbread House. I’ve had a crush on Lucas forever, but nothing blossomed between us until Livie and I opened the store. Lucas is shy. I guess he didn’t notice me until I became the girl next door.
Between you and me, I do have one concern, and it’s a big one. I’m worried we might soon have a murder in Chatterley Heights. (No, I’m not planning to do away with anyone, but if I were, it would be Binnie Sloan, editor of The Weekly Chatter. When Binnie can’t dig up dirt on us, she makes it up.) I wouldn’t be so anxious if it weren’t for my upcoming wedding. Maybe I’m superstitious, but whenever we have an important event or a new arrival in Chatterley Heights, murder makes an appearance. And somehow Livie and I wind up in the thick of it.
It all started when a good friend of Livie’s was murdered. (Cookie Dough or Die) Livie was devastated. At first, the police thought Clarisse had killed herself, but Livie couldn’t believe that. Well, we had to get involved, of course. We got through that whole episode, which wasn’t easy, and we figured life would quiet down again. We figured wrong. A sugar-phobic, health-food nut, who severely tested my sunny disposition, opened a store next to The Gingerbread House. (A Cookie Before Dying) Pretty soon we, meaning Livie, found a body in the park. Coincidence? I’ll leave that to you to figure that out.
I’d love to say that murder has taken a break since then, but no such luck. Last fall, in the midst of Chatterley Heights’ two-hundred-fiftieth birthday celebration… you guessed it, we had another murder. Once again, Livie got sucked into the investigation—by the sheriff, no less! Livie and Sheriff Del Jenkins are an item, by the way. That’s just between you and me… and the entire town of Chatterley Heights.
You can see why I am, as they say, gun shy. I’m not one of those bridezilla types who demands a perfect wedding or else, but it would be nice to get through the ceremony in one piece. Although if anyone ruins the gorgeous dress my Aunt Sadie made for me, I’ll kill… um, never mind. I’m probably worrying for nothing. Hey, you should come to my wedding! It’ll be fun! I promise lots and lots of decorated cookies and—keep your fingers crossed—no dead bodies. Or did I just jinx my own wedding?
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of ONE DEAD COOKIE to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. Contest ends July 12; US entries only per publisher’s request.
Spend some time with Maddie Briggs and Livie Greyson as they solve another murder and bake lots of cookies in ONE DEAD COOKIE, the fourth book in the “Cookie Cutter Shop” mysteries. The book was released July 2. Join the fun and try the recipes!
Meet the author
You can visit and contact Virginia Lowell, author of the national bestselling Cookie Cutter Shop series, at www.virginialowell.com. The first book in the series is Cookie Dough Or Die. Virginia is hard at work on the fifth book in the series, as yet untitled; however, she promises a murder will be involved. And cookies.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Maddie, Livie, cookies, and a murder! Count me in!
Welcome to The Gingerbread House! Have a cookie… no, not the poisoned one!
Virginia
Virginia, I will no doubt enjoy reading One Dead Cookie, thanks for writing it. Maureen
I love books with recipes, and this one sounds like fun, too. In the meantime I will look for #1 in the series Dee
Hope you enjoy a little murder with your cookies!
Virginia
Who does not love a book about mysteries and cookies. Thank you for the chance to win.
Nobody I know!
Good luck!
Virginia
I love the mystery books that have recipes. I really would love love to win 🙂
Me, too! Good luck!
Virginia
I enjoy this series and am looking forward to adding this to my TBR list.
Thank you! I enjoy writing them.
Virginia
This is new to me and I’ll be purchasing the first one today! Thanks for the opportunity!
Hope you enjoy it! And don’t forget to have a cookie…
Virginia
This is a really great cozy series. I have enjoyed the first two books, and have the third yet to read, and will just have to get the latest one as well.
The characters are humorous and believable, and I love any story that pertains to cooking or baking. Food in general in a cozy makes me want to read it so this is a hit with me with all of the elements of a good book.
Keep up the great writing, Virginia, and thank you Dru for featuring this book and author. Good job!!!
Thank you so much! You made my day!
Virginia
So glad Virginia’s series is continuing and doing well! Book four sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks! I’m having a lot of fun writing about Livie and Maddie and, of course, cookies.
Good luck!
Virginia
I love this series. I appreciate this offer.
Thank you, and I love writing it. Good luck!
Virginia
I am adding this series to my list of tbr’s ! Thanks for the chance to win !
Great! And good luck!
Virginia
Added to list!
Enjoy!
Virginia
I would love this!
I hope so! Good luck!
Virginia
I love the series and already own 2 of the books. I’d love to win this one to add to my collection.
I’m so glad your enjoying the stories. And good luck!
Virginia
I can’t wait to get my TBR pile caught up so I can read this series. Please don’t enter me in the giveaway as I already have all of the books in this series.
My TBR pile fills several shelves, so I know what you mean. Hope you enjoy the stories!
Virginia
Great series. I love the idea of a cookie cutter store.
Thank you! I love just imagining what a store like that would look and, especially, smell like. Yum!
Virginia
I love this series and would love a copy of One Dead Cookie. Especially since the Yorkie on the cover looks exactly like my Rufus!!!
I loved Virginia’s first “cookie” book, and can’t wait to read this one ~
I’m so glad you enjoyed Livie and Maddie’s first adventure, and I hope your next visit is fun, too! And tasty, of course.
Sounds like a fun book and a good series!
Hope you enjoy the stories… with a cookie, of course.
Virginia
I would love to win this book!
Good luck!
Sounds like a yummy read! Would love to win a copy of this book!
I highly recommend eating a cookie while you read. It vastly increased the “Yum”!
Virginia
I love cookies and to have them in a cozy is perfect. Would love to win this one!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I love cookies, too, as well as mysteries. Getting to write about both is a fun way to work!
Virginia
Another new to me author and series. Thanks Dru for letting me know.
And thank you for visiting!
Virginia
Sounds like a fun read.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
It was fun to write!
Virginia
Sounds, interesting enjoy reading a great mystery.
Me, too! Especially with a cookie…
Virginia
Sounds perfect for me
Thanks!
Virginia
I’m always interested in a new (to me) cozy series. Please include me in this giveaway. Thanks.
Great series. Thank you for the giveaway.
Glad you’re enjoying the series! Good luck!
Virginia
This sounds like a great one! Thanks for offering the giveaway.
Thanks and good luck!
Virginia
The title intrigues me. I’m still trying to imagine what a “dead cookie” would look like 🙂 Thanks for the contest. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
Hmmm. I suppose it depends on the cause of death? A bullet hole through the center? Crushed and crumbled by a blunt instrument? Please, anything but burned by over baking. That’s just too cruel.
Virginia
I love this series and would like to be entered to win this title! Thanks to Dru for featuring it and to Virginia for writing them!
This sounds like my type of series, another one to add to my list.
I have enjoyed this series so far and look forward to reading VLs latest. Thanks for the delightful reads.
This is cute and entertaining, a real cozy.
Sounds like the perfect cozy!
Truly enjoyed the previous books and can’t wait to read this one 🙂
I love cozies and this series sounds interesting–a cookie lover’s dream. As an animal lover I’m wondering if that cute dog on the book cover shows up in the book someplace.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love cozy mystery. Can’t wait to read this book.
This has to be good if it involves cookies!
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I love mysteries and cookies! This sounds really good! Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks Virginia for giving us a glimpse into Maddie’s upcoming events and also thanks for commenting.
contest is closed.