A TREACHEROUS TART
Page 20
Ali paced over to the former pizzeria next door and put the key in the lock. A thrill of excitement rippled through her.
“Ready?” she asked Scruff.
He yapped and wagged his tail.
She turned the key and the lock yielded welcomingly. Then she pushed on the door and stepped inside her new premises.
A vast, empty space awaited her, big enough for her footsteps to echo on the tiles as she paced inside. There was so much potential and Ali almost felt like she could burst with ideas. A bigger kitchen that could accommodate more staff. More dining space that would certainly call for waiting staff. Outdoor seating out the front to attract yet more people. And a garden! An actual garden she could host kids’ tea parties and teddy bear picnics in, and maybe grow some strawberries.
“Chickens!” Ali exclaimed. “I could keep chickens!”
Scruff made a disapproving noise.
“All right, all right not chickens,” Ali conceded.
She threw her arms out wide and spun on the spot. Scruff jumped around, barking merrily as she twirled around, letting her imagination run wild inside of her. The future was full of endless possibilities and she couldn’t wait to get started. She felt giddy from it.
“Oh wait…” she said, stopping. “Actually, that’s just dizziness.”
She laughed and pressed a hand against the wall to steady herself.
But as the spinning in her head stopped, Ali looked up at the still open door through which she entered and realized she was not alone. Someone was standing in the doorway watching her.
Her heart leapt into her throat as she stared at the silhouette of a man backlit by the pale dawn light.
“What do you want?” she demanded. “Don’t take one step in here or I’ll set my dog on you!”
Scruff immediately started to growl.
“Ali?” the man said. “Is that you?”
Ali faltered. “Who are you? How do you know my name?”
“I got the note you left for me. I thought you might … want to see me.”
He took a step into the light, and Ali searched his unfamiliar features, trying to work out who it was.
“Oh,” he said, his tone dropping sadly. “You don’t recognize me anymore…”
Ali’s heart began to race. Her throat went dry. Her hands shook. As she spoke, her voice warbled. “Dad?”
“Yes, Ali,” he replied. “It’s me. It’s Dad.”
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A CALMITOUS COOKIE
(A Beachfront Bakery Cozy Mystery —Book 6)
"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!"
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A CALAMITOUS COOKIE is book #6 in a charming and hilarious new cozy mystery series by #1 bestselling author Fiona Grace, whose bestselling Murder in the Manor (A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery) has nearly 200 five star reviews. The series begins with A KILLER CUPCAKE (Book #1).
Allison Sweet, 34, a sous chef in Los Angeles, has had it up to here with demeaning customers, her demanding boss, and her failed love life. After a shocking incident, she realizes the time has come to start life fresh and follow her lifelong dream of moving to a small town and opening a bakery of her own.
A treasure hunter finds a priceless coin on the beach in front of Allison’s bakery at sunrise, and she is stunned at the treasure.
But she is more stunned to find him murdered.
Allison, left standing at the scene of the crime, dog by her side, treasure in hand, couldn’t have picked a worse place and a worse time. She hardly looks innocent.
And if she doesn’t solve this crime soon, things, she realize, are about to get a whole lot worse.
A hilarious cozy mystery series, packed with twists, turns, romance, travel, food and unexpected adventure, the BEACHFRONT BAKERY series will keep you laughing and turning pages late into the night as you fall in love with an endearing new character who will capture your heart.
More books in the series will soon be available!
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A CALMITOUS COOKIE
(A Beachfront Bakery Cozy Mystery —Book 6)
Fiona Grace
Debut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series, comprising nine books; of the TUSCAN VINEYARD COZY MYSTERY series, comprising seven books; of the DUBIOUS WITCH COZY MYSTERY series, comprising three; of the BEACHFRONT BAKERY COZY MYSTERY series, comprising six books; and of the CATS AND DOGS COZY MYSTERY series, comprising nine books.
Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY FIONA GRACE
LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY
MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book#1)
DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2)
CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3)
VEXED ON A VISIT (Book #4)
KILLED WITH A KISS (Book #5)
PERISHED BY A PAINTING (Book #6)
SILENCED BY A SPELL (Book #7)
FRAMED BY A FORGERY (Book #8)
CATASTROPHE IN A CLOISTER (Book #9)
TUSCAN VINEYARD COZY MYSTERY
AGED FOR MURDER (Book #1)
AGED FOR DEATH (Book #2)
AGED FOR MAYHEM (Book #3)
AGED FOR SEDUCTION (Book #4)
AGED FOR VENGEANCE (Book #5)
AGED FOR ACRIMONY (Book #6)
AGED FOR MALICE (Book #7)
DUBIOUS WITCH COZY MYSTERY
SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF MURDER (Book #1)
SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF CRIME (Book #2)
SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF DEATH (Book #3)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY COZY MYSTERY
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE (Book #1)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A MURDEROUS MACARON (Book #2)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A PERILOUS CAKE POP (Book #3)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A DEADLY DANISH (Book #4)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A TREACHEROUS TART (Book #5)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A CALAMITOUS COOKIE (Book #6)
CATS AND DOGS COZY MYSTERY
A VILLA IN SICILY: OLIVE OIL AND MURDER (Book #1)
A VILLA IN SICILY: FIGS AND A CADAVER (Book #2)
A VILLA IN SICILY: VINO AND DEATH (Book #3)
A VILLA IN SICILY: CAPERS AND CALAMITY (Book #4)
A VILLA IN SICILY: ORANGE GROVES AND VENGEANCE (Book #5)
A VILLA IN SICILY: CANNOLI AND A CASUALTY (Book #6)
A VILLA IN SICILY: SPAGHETTI AND SUSPICION (Book #7)