Death of a Christmas Caterer (Hayley Powell Mystery)

I am pleased with these books when they arrive well-wrapped from the seller. Training youths to run a business well is great! Well done to each of these specific businesses!

I've been so ready to read another hilarious Hayley adventure, and this one was up next in my quest to get caught up in this series. (I currently do read and review the newest books in the series that come out as ARCs). Christmastime + Hayley and friends' = hystericalness and laughing out loud at random times while reading.Sometimes the Island Times column in between some of the chapters just haven't interested me, or I've barely skimmed them, but these Christmas-themed ones are a hoot and every bit worth reading for some great backstories, ie. Hayley going into labor with Gemma during an ice storm. If you've read some of the newer books and know what direction Hayley's life took in the last year or so, definitely give the very last Island Times in this book a read. Foreshadowing much?Mona is probably my favorite friend character! That woman, well you just never know what she'll do next. She came in very handy when the church had its Christmas play and another instance as well. There was a good twist regarding the murder and what a showdown! I liked that after the showdown there was more telling about Christmas with the family, and the coroner who's Hayley's ex-nemesis from school wanted to turn over her life and make friends. It's things like that that I love about this series along with all the explanations given. Now I'm one book closer to caught up!

The best part of former Golden Girl's TV Series writer, Rick Cobb/Lee Holis' Cozy Mystery Stories about Hayley Powell living in Bar Harbor, ....is that she is living in Bar Harbor. Sorry Sis, but the recipes can be found in any standard cook book, or Googled, nothing outstanding, just simple pecan pie, and sweet potato fare....but to be fair, that Spinach Strawberry Salad in one of the other Stories was pretty unique <3.....Still, I didn't mind the ordinary recipes, because I wasn't enjoying the overall entertainment of visiting Hayley'es little Cozy mystery topsey turvey world, :) ... but then that shocking price jump knocked me flat on my keister ! lol <3 Ugh ! No way Jose' !The folksy descriptions of local color and characters, and the humor :)The dear character of Hayley Powell, is a self instruction manual of exactly what not to do, as an investigator, every step of the way, :) .... even dumber than Mike Faricy's Detective, Dev Haskell....and a lot less funny..than Dev Haskell, too..This is the best mystery plot of the bunch in these who-done-its, and I guess Lee thinks he has us hooked buy now because, afterreading all his little stories so far, for around two bucks, the next two leap up to around seven dollars ! LOL ! :)Sorry Lee, think I'll go back to reading Mike Faricy, who offers a lot more bang for the buck...I read the first one, as a free offer, and decided aprox. 2 dollars was okay for the next few, but was shocked to see a high hurdle price jump of over $7.00. tagged on the next one I brought up on Amazon Kindle....and that stopped me in my tracks. :)There are so many great reads to choose from on Kindle, or Amazon, for 2 bucks or less, that spending Seven dollars is absolutely out of the question. :)The author may be a great TV Series writer, but I think I'm more apt to save up my pennies for a more awesome Cozy Mystery writer, such as Rita Mae Brown, with her beloved Mrs. Murphy Series <3IF the price had continued to be reasonable, I would have happily continued with this series, to keep abreast of Hayley's BFF wacky sidekicks, her dear Boss, Sal, her obnoxious, work mate, Bruce , and her typical teenage kids ,and the clumsy antics of Hayley :)

Before I start my review, I have to say I have been remiss in writing a review for this book. I should have done it last year (2014) when I read it, and indeed thought I had, only to find I hadn’t when I went to refer to my review for this title while writing one for the newest book in the series, DEATH OF A CUPCAKE QUEEN. It’s very important to post reviews ASAP, especially if you read the book when it first comes out. It helps the authors by letting the publisher see how well a book is liked, and it lets other readers see if they would also like to read it. Those numbers on the first week after release really help decide rather or not a series will continue. And I for one want all of my favorite series to continue, don’t you? Thanks. And now my review.I loved DEATH IF A CHRISTMAS CATERER as much as every book in this series, and I’ll tell you . . . that is a lot! This is one of my favorite series and I always look forward to a new one. With this fifth book in the series, author Lee Hollis has penned another wonderfully thrilling well plotted, funny mystery. Honestly, it was one of the best so far.Hayley Powell is one of the most imperfect protagonists in a cozy mystery I have ever read, and I have to say, I love that about her! She makes mistakes, gets caught way too much when she’s being nosey, and pretty much feels her way through every mystery she tries to solve. It’s great! She is the everyday woman that we can relate to. But I will give her credit, she always manages to save the day.  Hayley, her friends Libby and Mona, her brother Andy and his partner Sergio, and Hayley’s kids are among my favorite cast of characters.I think you can start this series with any book and not be lost. But I would suggest reading them all because you will be treating yourself to one of the best cozy mystery series you’ve ever read. Trust me, you’ll find yourself laughing out loud.There are also delicious recipes throughout the book, and a recipe index in the back to help you find each one easily. And check out the back of the book for an excerpt of DEATH OF A CUPCAKE QUEEN!

Decent plot. Not a predictable story line. Loved the main characters. Definitely like the the included recipes. Especially the Bourbon chocolate pecan pie. Yummy!

What's not to enjoy about the life and adventures of Hayley Powell.An enjoyable book which had an unusual murder to solve but Hayley got there in the end as usual.Plenty of receipts of food and drink to try out along the way.