Book: Bonbon with the Wind
(Book 4 in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery)
Author: Dorothy St. James
Publication date: 9 December 2019
Publisher: Barking Dog Press
Number of pages: 251 pages
ASIN: B082L528GS
Today, I'm featuring Bonbon with the Wind, a cozy mystery involving a chocolate shop by Dorothy St. James in a spotlight.
Blurb/Synopsis:
There's a legend in the Sea Islands that
before a hurricane hits the Gray Lady can be seen walking down the beach
warning of doom. Penn doesn’t believe in such silly stories, but she does
believe weather forecasters. A powerful hurricane is heading their way.
Everyone on the island of Camellia Beach is busy boarding up windows and
securing valuables to upper levels of buildings. Joe Davies, a local treasure
hunter with an unquenchable sweet tooth, claims to have seen the Gray Lady
walking toward him just that morning and is terrified for his life.
After the storm passes everyone returns
to survey the damage. As Penn walks her little dog Stella on the beach, she
finds Joe Davies’ body washed up onshore. Not only that, it looks as if an
exploding transformer caused Joe’s seaside shack to burn to the ground. Did the
Gray Lady claim another victim? Many on the island believe that is exactly what
happened.
Penn is sure there’s another explanation.
She follows the clues and hints of lost gold to discover that the truth behind
the treasure hunter’s death is as much of a maze as the boating channels
winding their way through the local marshes.
Here's an excerpt from Bonbon with the Wind by Dorothy St. James
"What’s going on?”
“Dead body on the beach,” Byrd answered for me. “Your girlfriend found it.”
Harley tripped over his own feet. “Penn, really?”
I nodded.
“We haven’t been back in town for more than”—he checked his watch—“two hours, and you’re already stumbling across dead bodies?”
“It wasn’t on purpose. Besides, it wasn’t me. Stella found it.”
“You’re blaming the dog?” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Whatever you do, don’t let Fletcher hear about it. He’ll declare it was a murder.”
“He won’t hear about it from me, but this is Camellia Beach. If he’s returned, there’s a good chance someone has already told him,” I said.
Fletcher was my newest employee. He had this unnatural interest in playing amateur detective. It was an interest that had nearly gotten him killed a few months ago.
Harley groaned. “That boy is looking for murders. He was wearing a Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat the last time we saw him, for goodness sake.”
“It might be a murder,” I mumbled. Not quietly enough, apparently.
Harley paled.
I felt for him. He was likely remembering the last murder on the island. He’d helped me track down the killer. Things had turned downright dangerous at the end. Matters between Harley and me had also turned steamy right before we’d confronted someone who had no moral qualms against killing anyone who had gotten in their way.
Like Fletcher, we’d also been lucky to escape with our lives.
“Don’t misunderstand me,” I said. “I hope it’s nothing. I hope I’m seeing dead bodies where none exist.”
We arrived where I’d found the suspicious-looking shirt. Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps that stinky lump in the sand wasn’t a dead body. I grabbed Harley’s hand and held it tightly as both Byrd and Marion donned plastic gloves.
Marion produced a little whisk brush from her medical bag—not something I was expecting she’d have in there and then squatted next to the suspicious lump. With fast, efficient swipes she removed the top layer of sand from a small area. A moment later, Byrd cursed.
I leaned forward to see what had upset him.
A mistake.
What I saw wasn’t something I’d wanted to see. I quickly pressed my face to Harley’s chest, sandwiching Stella between me and her arch nemesis. She wiggled and growled low in her throat.
“I didn’t want to be right,” I choked as I tried to soothe my angry little dog. “Truly, I didn’t.”
“I know, Penn.” Harley rubbed his hand up and down my back.
Marion had uncovered from the sandy grave what was clearly a man’s hand. The action of her brush had dislodged something disc-shaped from his fingers.
“Is that a gold coin?” Harley asked.
“Looks like it,” Marion answered as she continued to clear away the sand.
“It’s an accidental death,” Harley whispered in my ear. “Someone stayed during the storm who shouldn’t have stayed. It’s tragic, but far more common than you might think.”
“I hope you’re right.” It didn’t feel like he was right.
About the Author:
Keep up with the rest of the tour for Bonbon with the Wind by Dorothy St. James via Escape with Dolly Cas; this includes book reviews, author interviews, and guest posts.
February 4 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – Character Interview & Laura`s Interests – Book Review & I'm All About Books – Character Guest Post
February 5 – Celticladys Reviews & Hearts & Scribbles & Reading Is My SuperPower – Spotlights & Jane Reads – Guest Post
February 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book & Books a Plenty Book Reviews – Book Reviews & A Blue Million Books – Author Interview
February 7 – Baroness' Book Trove & View from the Birdhouse Book Review & Brooke Blogs – Spotlight & Recipe & eBook Addicts – Spotlight
February 8 – Christy's Cozy Corners & My Reading Journeys Book Reviews & I Read What You Write – Book Review & Guest Post
February 9 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – Spotlight & A Wytch's Book Review Blog – Book Review & Character Guest Post & My Journey Back – Author Interview
Thank you so much for hosting me! <3
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome :)
DeleteIt's a pleasure having you on my blog
I love these books! They are written around a place I have visited my whole life and where my granddad grew up. Legends abound in this area. I can't wait to read the new book!
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool.
DeleteI think seeing books written about places where I grew up would be fun.
Hope you enjoy the book. The excerpt indicates humor :)