Samantha Sweet Series by Connie Shelton

It’s the height of the wedding season at Sweet’s Sweets and Sam has all she can do to stay ahead of the rush of bakery orders. Plus, her side job—breaking into houses—isn’t allowing much summer time off either. Not to mention that her mother is pressuring Sam and Beau to set a wedding date.When Sam encounters two older women who then die suddenly, it appears that there may be a serial killer on the loose... moreIt’s the height of the wedding season at Sweet’s Sweets and Sam has all she can do to stay ahead of the rush of bakery orders. Plus, her side job—breaking into houses—isn’t allowing much summer time off either. Not to mention that her mother is pressuring Sam and Beau to set a wedding date.When Sam encounters two older women who then die suddenly, it appears that there may be a serial killer on the loose. Sam and Beau are shocked to consider that Beau’s own mother may have been an earlier victim of someone who operates by preying on the women’s trusting natures. As they begin to investigate, a number of suspects emerge and it looks like someone is desperate to keep Sam quiet. less

Praise for USA Today bestseller, Connie Shelton:"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."--The Midwest Book ReviewNew, in the Amazon #1 bestselling Samantha Sweet mystery series--Sweet Payback!Revenge is often a cold dish, but in the tiny northern New Mexico town of Sembramos emotions are running decidedly hot... morePraise for USA Today bestseller, Connie Shelton:"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."--The Midwest Book ReviewNew, in the Amazon #1 bestselling Samantha Sweet mystery series--Sweet Payback!Revenge is often a cold dish, but in the tiny northern New Mexico town of Sembramos emotions are running decidedly hot. When Lee Rodarte and Jessie Starkey, convicted of murdering a local girl, are released from prison after serving only a few years, their convictions overturned, the town’s old pain rises to the surface and tempers flare. Samantha Sweet has her hands full with Easter at her pastry shop, Sweet’s Sweets, while her husband, Taos County Sheriff Beau Cardwell, is charged with keeping order among the two hundred residents of Sembramos. Topping it off, as part of her sideline job, Sam is assigned another house to break into and must drive to the huge abandoned mansion daily, right through the small war zone where payback seems to be on everyone’s mind.Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries:“Shelton, a major success for Intrigue, can only expand her fan base with this solid effort.” —Publisher’s Weekly“Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships.” —Booklist“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque JournalAbout the Author:USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton writes two bestselling mystery series and has had several award-winning short stories and essays. She formerly taught both fiction and non-fiction writing courses, and was a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul. She and her husband and two dogs live in New Mexico. Visit her website at connieshelton.com less

“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review Two things are weighing on Samantha Sweet’s mind this summer—organizing the Sweet Somethings chocolate festival and tracking down information on the mystical carved wooden box that came into her life nearly two years ago, changing her forever. At last, she believes she has located the person who can give the answers... more“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal “Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review Two things are weighing on Samantha Sweet’s mind this summer—organizing the Sweet Somethings chocolate festival and tracking down information on the mystical carved wooden box that came into her life nearly two years ago, changing her forever. At last, she believes she has located the person who can give the answers. The festival is behind schedule, committee members are at each others’ throats, competitors are after the big prize money and hungry crowds will soon be gathering at the gates. A slew of conflicting personalities are going at each other, and Sam is holding her breath, certain that this will not turn out well. When someone does indeed turn up dead, the trick is to find out who among the many parties committed the dirty deed. Meanwhile, Sheriff Beau has his own set of problems trying to keep order at an encampment of free-spirited hippies who have moved into the area, so Sam is mostly on her own to keep the festival on track and find a killer. And the magic box? What Sam learns is that its powers are greater than she ever imagined, its history much more convoluted. less