Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing
Source: Blog Tour company in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: December 2nd, 2025
Buying Links: Amazon* | Apple Books* | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords*
From twelve USA Today bestselling and award winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa!
Stories include:
A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries)
by Rosalie SpielmanGossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena GregoryLarceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries)
by Kelly ReyHolidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries)
by Anne Marie StoddardOrnaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries)
by Jennifer FischettoIt’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries)
by Annie McEwenYou Can’t see the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries)
by Christine KnappJingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries)
by Misty SimonHolly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries)
by Erica WyntersSearch for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries)
by Jamie L. AdamsNothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries)
by Catherine BrunsA Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries)
by Gin Jones
My Thoughts:
Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread by Lena Gregory:
I enjoyed this story and will probably look up the books. This was a good entry to the series for newcomers; I felt we got to know the characters, there was a little action, and a nice little mystery. The reveal of the killer wasn’t much of a surprise but the trail there was interesting. 4 stars
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief: A Northwoods Mysteries prequel short story by Annie McEwen:
Being a prequel, this was a good starting point for someone new to the series. It was a little too sweet and sticky for me but I did appreciate the joyfulness in it. Despite the anthology title, there’s no homicide or murder nor death in the story. The Christmas pranks were fun and funny and provided a cute little mystery. 3 stars
Nothing But Truffle: A Cookies & Chance Mysteries Short Story by Catherine Bruns:
No deaths in this story either but some yummy sounding food and a recipe at the end! Even though I rarely make them, I do enjoy when a food-related story includes recipes. I enjoy reading them and fantasizing about making them, lol. This story took place on New Year’s Eve and revolved around a missing necklace. While it clearly drew on established characters and events, it did work as a standalone. Some of the characters were abrasive and I was glad I didn’t have to spend much time with them. The solution to the mystery was easy and a bit of a letdown. I did enjoy the main characters, Mike and Sally. 3 stars.
There are actually 2 giveaways today; one that is for the whole tour and one for this blog.
To enter the blog giveaway, tell me in a comment below what your favorite stories are to read at Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, or Kwanzaa. The giveaway ends at 11:59pm Eastern time on December 15th, 2025. The winner gets a $10 Amazon gift card, and will need to provide their email address.
To enter the tour giveaway, enter below.
About the authors ~
Catherine Bruns is the USA Today bestselling 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 Italian Chef mysteries, Cindy York real estate and Carrie Jorgenson (Aloha Lagoon) culinary series. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the 2019 Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.
Get a free ebook when you sign up for Catherine’s newsletter at https://www.catherinebruns.net/contact
Please feel free to connect with her on social media as well:
Facebook.com/Catherine-Bruns-Books-218522341685434
Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, and the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest.
Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.
To learn more about Lena and her latest writing endeavors, visit her website at http://www.lenagregory.com/ and be sure to sign up for her newsletter http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
Annie McEwen is the author of the Northwoods Mysteries Series, set amongst the tall pines and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin where she spent vacations as a kid. Because of a sweet love story between her youngest sister and a local Wisconsin boy (storyline idea!), she’s still been able to keep on visiting the beautiful place that means so much to her.
Annie and her husband are empty nesters—their son is married to his high school sweetheart, and their daughter is married with two adorable toddler boys. Being grandparents is definitely the best gig ever! They also have four fur babies who just might make some special appearances in Annie’s books.
When Annie isn’t writing, playing with her grandsons, or tackling trash-to-treasure projects, she works as a radiological technologist, aka, she takes pictures of bones…you can’t hide much from her! Writing, though, is her first love.
