As I began to rip open the box, I gave Watson what was probably the most foolish of smiles. “Wait until you see this. I ordered it last week before we headed out.”
Despite all the cleaning we’d done the day before, I ripped into it like it was Christmas morning, chunks of cardboard flying and packing peanuts acting like snow.
With a grunt, I pulled the huge wooden board free. The deliveryman had been right. The thing was a heavy beast. Which was good. It was quality. At least it better be, considering what I’d paid for it.
After ripping off the final layer of plastic, I inspected it and let out a happy sigh of satisfaction. The edges of the wood were scrolled so they made the outline of an open book. The interior had been painted white but artistically aged, and arching blue letters near the top of it read: The Cozy Corgi. Beneath the letters, in the same aged blue, was a stack of books with a corgi sitting on the top. It was perfect.
I angled the sign so Watson could see. “What do you think? It’s you!”
Watson leaned warily closer, and gave a little sniff. Some of the packing pieces went flying, and he shook his head. Then he inspected once more, and there was a furrow between his eyes as he studied the corgi.
He didn’t like it.
“I know he’s a little bit fatter… er… fluffier than you, but I thought it made him cute.” I tapped the chubby corgi sitting on the books. “Let’s be honest. With the amount of dog treats you’ve been getting lately, this silhouette is only a matter of days away.”
And at that word, that magical, ridiculous, annoying word, Watson’s displeasure disappeared and he began to pounce on his front paws.
I sighed. “If you are anything, Watson Page, you’re predictable.” I leaned the heavy sign against the wall, then motioned toward the door. “Well, come on. I’m sure I have some treats in the car.”
Katie’s Shortbread Lemon Bar recipe provided by:
2716 Welton St Denver, CO 80205
(720) 708-3026
Click the links for more Rolling Pin deliciousness:
RollingPinBakeshop.com
Rolling Pin Facebook Page
Katie’s Shortbread Lemon Bars
Crust:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup flour
Filling:
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2T lemon juice
Zest from 1 lemon
2 teaspoons flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and powdered sugar. Stir in flour and spread the mixture over the bottom of an 8 X 8 cake pan and pat down. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
2. While crust is baking, prepare lemon filling. Lightly beat eggs, then stir in sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir into egg mixture. As soon as the crust is done baking, pour mixture over the crust. Put it back in the oven and bake until the filling is set and just beginning to brown. About 20 to 25 minutes. Put the pan on a rack and when completely cooled, cut into squares. Remove the lemon bars from the pan and sprinkle them with powdered sugar.
About the Author
Reading the Cozy Corgi series is pretty much all you need to know about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed with everything she writes about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. She’s not obsessed with murder, however. At least not at her own hands (nor paid for… no contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in her personality. Having Fred and Watson stroll into her mind was a touch of kismet.
Website: Mildredabbott.com
Author Note
Dear Reader:
Thank you so much for reading Cruel Candy. If you enjoyed Fred and Watson’s adventure, I would greatly appreciate a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Please drop me a note on Facebook or on my website (MildredAbbott.com) whenever you like. I’d love to hear from you.
And don’t miss book two, Traitorous Toys, coming out this Christmas. Keeping turning the page for sneak peek!
Much love, Mildred
PS: I’d also love it if you signed up for my newsletter. That way you’ll never miss a new release. You won’t hear from me more than once a month, nobody needs that many newsletters!
Newsletter link: Mildred Abbott Newsletter Signup
Acknowledgments
A special thanks to Agatha Frost, who gave her blessing and her wisdom. If you haven’t already, you simply MUST read Agatha’s Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series. They are absolute perfection.
The biggest and most heartfelt gratitude to Katie Pizzolato, for her belief in my writing career and being the inspiration for the character of the same name in this series. Thanks to you, Katie, our beloved baker, has completely stolen both mine and Fred’s heart!
Desi, I couldn’t imagine an adventure without you by my side. A.J. Corza, you have given me the corgi covers of my dreams. A huge, huge thank you to all of the lovely souls who proofread the ARC versions of Cruel Candy and helped me look somewhat literate (in completely random order): Ann Attwood, Meghan Maslow, Melissa Brus, Cinnamon, Janie Beaton, Kristell Harmse, Ron Perry, Rob Andresen-Tenace, Terri Grooms, Michael Bailey, Kelly Miller, TL Travis, Jill Wexler, Patrice, Lucy Campbell, Chris Dancer, Natalie Rivieccio, A.C. Mink, Rebecca Cartee, Becca Waldrop, and Sue Paulsen. Thank you all, so very, very much!
A further and special thanks to some of my dear readers and friends who support my passion: Andrea Johnson, Fiona Wilson, Katie Pizzolato, Maggie Johnson, Marcia Gleason, Rob Andresen- Tenace, Robert Winter, Jason R., Victoria Smiser, Kristi Browning, and those of you who wanted to remain anonymous. You make a huge, huge difference in my life and in my ability to continue to write. I’m humbled and grateful beyond belief! So much love to you all!
Traitorous Toys Preview
Coming December 20, 2017
It’s Christmas in Estes Park, Colorado: cozy fires, twinkling lights, soft snowfall, and… murder.
The winter holidays in charming Estes Park lulls Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, into thoughts of spiced chai and gingerbread as they settle into their new home. Fred’s dream bookshop is becoming a reality, and with Christmas only days away, her only concerns are spending time with family, enforcing Watson’s diet, and finding the perfect gifts.
The toy store beckons Fred and her friend Katie, who dash in out of the cold, during a shopping spree to discover handmade toys, cuddly stuffed animals… and a dying man on the floor.
When Katie’s desperate attempts to save the man ends in her being taken in for his murder, Fred once again dons her detective hat. She puts aside her Christmas list and—with Watson sniffing around—begins a list of suspects. But as quickly as clues point to one person, new discoveries shift the spotlight to another.
With Katie’s freedom in the balance, Fred has little time to think about gifts or to enjoy the holiday lights and music. A killer is on the loose, one who became violent in a picture-perfect Christmas toy shop, and Fred and Watson can’t begin to predict what might happen next…
Cruel Candy Page 17