Pease, Rosie: Sweets and Santa

Christmas magic, mystery, and matchmaking. Although my recipes are a perfect fit for the town Santa next door, without a budget for ads, I'm counting on word of mouth to drive business during my first Christmas as a bakery owner. But as things around town start to disappear, it's all people can talk about as they wait in line for the jolly old elf. Rumors swirl as residents speculate whodunnit. And when one of the missing items is revealed to be an engagement ring last seen in my shop, my reputation is thrown in jeopardy. To save it, I'll have to crack this case wide open like the tops of my chocolate kringle cookies. Will a bit of Christmas magic allow me to find the ring-along with the other stolen goods-and win over Heartwood Hollow with my festive treats? Or will my efforts for a sweet holiday season for all earn me a permanent place on the town's naughty list?

Rosie Pease is a native Rhode Islander but has lived in Vermont, New York, and Ohio. She uses the places she's traveled to as inspiration for the settings of her cozy mysteries, pulling the theater from one, the cider mill from another, the river from another to create a fictitious town that feels familiar.She collects Funko Pops of the Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Doctor Who, DC TV, and Marvel variety, with a few others thrown in for fun. Her desk is a mess, but she can find everything on it, so it works for her.When she's not writing, she's playing with her daughter, hanging out with her husband, or being amused by her two crazy cats.