Sally first appeared in Tastes Like Murder, the first book in the series and the best way to know a person is by asking questions, so let’s meet Sally.
What is your name?
Sally Muccio Donovan.
How old are you?
I just celebrated my 30th birthday a couple of weeks ago.
What is your profession?
I own Sally’s Samples, a novelty cookie shop.
Do you have a significant other?
Yes, my husband. Our first anniversary is coming up later this week. (blushes)
What is his name and profession?
Mike and he owns a construction company.
Any children?
Not yet, but hopefully soon!
Do you have any sibling(s)?
Yes, a younger sister named Gianna. She’s a lawyer, and the brains of our family.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Mike and I have a Shih Tzu named Spike.
What town do you live in?
Colwestern, New York. It’s cold here much of the time, and it’s in Western New York…well, you get the picture.
House or building complex? Own or Rent?
We own a ranch house. It’s small, but cozy for the two of us.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
Probably the living room couch. Mike and I both work long hours and usually fall asleep there, in front of the television.
Who is your best friend?
Josie Sullivan. She’s also the primary baker (okay, my only baker) at Sally’s Samples.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Oh, definitely amateur. I don’t go looking for trouble, but somehow it always seems to find me anyway.
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Josie.
Favorite meal?
Cheesecake. I mean, an entire one counts as a meal, right?
Favorite dessert?
See answer above.
Favorite hobby?
I really don’t have much time for hobbies, if you mean things like crocheting or Facebook. I have a business to run and there always seems to be some homicidal maniac loose in Colwestern who just happens to wander into my bakery. . .
Favorite vacation spot?
Hawaii. We went there on our honeymoon. Unlike Colwestern it was so. . .uncomplicated. (sighs)
Favorite color?
Midnight blue, like my husband’s eyes. (blushes again)
Favorite author?
If my father was here, he’d demand that I say him. Dad’s written a book about death, based on his blog. (squirms uncomfortably) Is it terrible to hope it won’t sell?
Favorite sports team?
Well, I like the Red Sox, and Mike’s a Yankee fan. I guess opposites really do attract.
Movies or Broadway?
Movies, especially chick flicks. The Devil Wears Prada, 13 Going on 30, The Notebook. . .oh gosh, I’m crying already.
Are you a morning or a night person?
Neither. I usually hit my stride at two in the afternoon, after about five cups of coffee.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Is typical the same thing as normal? Because I don’t do normal very well. My first mistake was renting the apartment over my bakery to Allegra Fiato. And when I found out what she was doing up there. . .well, that was the last straw. Allegra and Josie got into an argument, then Allegra ran out into the street and was the victim of a hit and run. She also had one of my homemade fortune cookies in her hand at the time. Of all the rotten luck. . .no pun intended. Then things got even worse. It turns out that Allegra’s death was no accident. Now I’m on my way to Vegas with Josie and two elderly women looking for a mysterious locket and a secret Allegra was keeping. Oh, and did I mention that I might have a secret of my own as well?
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win one of the books in the “Cookies & Chance” series (Tastes Like Murder, Baked to Death, Burned to a Crisp, Frosted with Revenge, Silenced by Sugar), either Kindle/Nook (open to everyone) or paperback (U.S. residents only), winner’s choice. The giveaway will end September 19, 2018. Good luck everyone! Bonus question: what’s the largest amount of cookies you’ve ever baked?
You can read about Sally in Crumbled To Pieces, the sixth book in the “Cookies & Chance” mystery series.
In need of some quick dough, full-time baker and sometime sleuth Sally Muccio decides to rent the vacant apartment over the bakery to a friend of her grandmother’s. Allegra Fiato is nothing like Sal’s darling Grandma Rosa, though. She’s mean, dishonest, and harboring a deadly secret.
When the elderly woman is mowed down in a hit and run, it quickly becomes obvious this was no accident. Grandma Rosa asks for Sal’s help to find the killer which involves a last minute trip to Vegas crashed by Sal’s crazy parents, stolen fortune cookies, and a mysterious missing locket. To add more spice to the mix, a loved one makes a startling admission to Sal that shocks her to the very core. Suddenly, Sal’s world is in danger of crumbling around her. Can she put the pieces back together in time before the killer makes her the next victim?
Recipes included!
Purchase Link
# # # # # # # # # # #
About the author
Catherine is the USA Today best selling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in New York with her very patient husband, three sons, and several spoiled pets. Catherine has a B.A. in English and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. She also writes the Cindy York real estate and the Carrie Jorgenson (Aloha Lagoon) culinary mysteries. Her new series, The Italian Chef Mysteries, debuts in 2019.
Get a free Cookies & Chance ebook when you sign up for Catherine’s newsletter here.
Please feel free to connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
Have not read any books in this series. But sounds like a very good concept for a mystery series. Which I love to read. Thanks for this chance to win a print book in the cookies and chance mystery series. Probably would like Tastes Like Murder, the first in the series.
Thanks for commenting, Linda. Good luck!
I haven’t read any of these. I guess it’s best to start a series at the beginning.
They can all stand alone but not a bad idea to read them in order. Thanks for commenting!
Time for some binge-reading….
Thank you for the giveaway…..
Good luck!
Since this author is not in our statewide library, I’d love to win a print copy of the first in the series. Thanks.
Unfortunately these books aren’t in the library, unless you happen to live in certain parts of New York State. Thanks for commenting!
The most cookies I’ve ever baked is probably 7 or 8 dozen for holiday gifting (and eating lol).
This sounds like a fun series and I love the book cover!
Thanks, Amy. The cover artist is amazing.
I would love to own a bakery! I know it is hard work, and long hours, but what fun it would be! I was in charge of a huge bake sale once and everyone was to supply 3 to 4 different types of cookies. Me, being a tad over zealous, made 5 different types, 10 dozen of each!
If I win, I would love to win a print edition, your choice.
Wow, that must have taken a while! I can never resist a bake sale, lol. Thanks for stopping by!
I love this author’s books. Thanks for the giveaway. My great-aunt always made my favorite oatmeal & raisin cookies. They were huge, 2 to a cookie sheet, but made with lots of love.
Those sound delicious. Good luck!
This sounds like a fun series. I’d love to win the first one. I’ve never baked more than a double batch so probably 45 or so.
Thanks for commenting. Good luck!
I love this series. I baked 6 dozen once for a cookie walk at church, and I think I smelled like sugar for the next week.
That’s definitely not a bad thing, lol. Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Dru, I haven’t read any of the books in this series yet. Guessing it’s because the library doesn’t have them. So please toss my name into the magic contest hat. I’d love to win a book to try out.
Good luck, Nora!
This series sounds wonderful and unique. When I bake I bake enough for friends and neighbors so a few dozen usually.
That’s one of the best things about cookies. No matter how many you bake, they’re never hard to dispose of, lol.c
You have to eat the crumbles too, they are just as good as the cookie! This sounds like a ‘yummy’ cozy, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
They sure are! Thanks for commenting, Wendy.
Cute post – and Sally has some good movie choices!
Thanks, Sally. It was hard for her to narrow it down to just a few. 🙂
I haven’t read this series yet
I’d very muchine to read this series . Mystery and food are a great combination! Thank you for the chance to win this interesting sounding story.
Cynthia
Thanks, Dru, for hosting Sally today. She always has a great time visiting!
Oh cool giveaway!!! Any of the real books would be so wonderful!!!! Thank-you for the chance and the good review!Have a safe and great day everyone!!
Ah, thick with mysteries! Perfect.
The biggest batch of baking that I have done (so far) is probably 4 dozen. I haven’t really had an occasion yet to make batches of something larger then that.
One year I was in a cookie swap at Christmas and had to bake about 15 dozen cookies. That was the last time I did a cookie swap. Looking forward to reading the new book, thanks for the chance.
Not a huge baker. My brother and his wife back about 20 to 40 dozen cookies every Christmas. I just sample them, lol. Thanks for the chance to win and for including a print copy in the contest.
I love Catherine Bruns books and Sally Muccio handles the many challenges with much courage. I would love a print copy of Burned to a Crisp if my name is chosen. Thank you for this chance. My fingers are crossed.
Mystery and food! I’d love to read this series in print form.
Enjoyed the Q&A.
I don’t think I’ve ever made more than a couple dozen at one time.
This is a series I’ve missed. Sure would love to win!
Catherine, I love this series and am anxious to read the new book!
I have had some pretty hefty cookie baking sessions. I think my one day record was 24 dozen, 3 recipes of 8 dozen each. Man my feet were about to fall off after that. The next day I stayed home and soaked my feet and elevated them off and on all day. 2 of the 3 kinds had to have decorative icing as well…I had a friend help for a few hours thank goodness!!! Baking cookies is hard work! (Nice work if you can get it, right?)
I have all your books, so no need to enter me in the contest. I am up to date! 😁
Sounds like a great character. Can’t wait to read more about her.
We backed over 200 cookies for an American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser.
So dying with someone’s fortune cookie in their hands sounds like a great premise. Thank you for the contest and if I win I would love a Kindle ecopy.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I have wanted to read Silenced by Sugar since I saw it. Thanks for the opportunity.
I have one of these books but would love to win another. Thanks for this chance.
Awesome author! I would love to win a paperback!
Can’t wait.
Four dozen cookies for a bake sale for my son’s school, and I think I bought a dozen myself because there were a lot of other moms who also baked oatmeal cookies that year! (I’d like to win a paperback.)
**** WINNER ****
Burned to a Crisp is Robin Coxon
Congratulations!