Mocha mayhem, p.19
Mocha Mayhem, page 19
The sisters looked at each other questioningly, and after a moment, they all nodded.
Scarlett grinned. “You’re hired. When can you start?”
“In a month if that suits? First, I have to get my books in order and see my bank manager and then my lawyer in Destiny.”
“Sounds perfect to me.” Violet was practically bouncing off the rug, and Violet never bounced. “I better give Phin a ring and see when I can begin my training.”
“Lucky we’re used to shocking news and upheavals,” Ruby teased.
Violet laughed. “Lucky we have an aunt who wants a change of occupation.”
Scarlett groaned. “I just thought, if you’re at the café every day, we’ll never get rid of the knitting group.”
“There is that,” Olivia agreed. “But I’ll make them buy something every hour; otherwise, they can hit the road.”
“You can’t do that,” Scarlett protested.
Olivia waggled her eyebrows. “Just you watch me.”
She was so much like their mom that Scarlett’s throat constricted. Just when life seemed to head one way, it laughed in your face and went in the opposite direction.
Still, the unknown wasn’t always a bad thing, and right at this moment in time, Scarlett wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here with her family. Including, Bob, who was now lying across her feet, and George, who lay behind her shielded from the sun by her shadow.
For someone who’d professed not to be a cat-lover, she’d been converted quite quickly, and not wanting any more pets had proved futile because Bob had also decided she was his person.
It was a funny world, indeed. And she had the feeling it was about to get more interesting.
Olivia casually sat forward to refill their glasses. “I forgot to mention that I saw Harvey on my way here. He’s had an offer to lease the diner.”
“But the rebuild has only just begun,” Ruby protested.
Olivia’s eyes twinkled. “The new person is not in any hurry and prepared to wait until he can move in.”
“He? Do you know who it is?” Scarlett asked warily. The glint in her aunt’s eyes meant she was about to spring big news on them.
“It’s not often I hear something before you, dear, and you will certainly be surprised.” Olivia paused for effect. “It’s Alex.”
Scarlett almost dropped her glass. “He can cook?” She’d seen Alex once since the end of the case, but as he and Lexie had ended up staying with Sam, the conversation had proved awkward.
Olivia winked. “The man has many talents. I’m so glad he’s staying around. He’ll be a wonderful addition to Cozy Hollow’s list of eligible bachelors.”
Scarlett sighed, wondering if having Olivia around every day wouldn’t be playing right into her aunt’s match-making hands.
Was it too late to back out of the job offer?
Thanks so much for reading Mocha Mayhem, the third book in the Cozy Cafe Mysteries series. I hope you enjoyed it!
If you did…
1 Help other people find this book by leaving a review.
2 Sign up for my new release e-mail, so you can find out about the next book as soon as it’s available.
3 Come like my Facebook page.
4 Visit my website caphipps.com for all my books.
5 Keep reading for an excerpt from Book 4 - Berry Betrayal.
BERRY BETRAYAL
At the oak door she let the large brass ring drop with a resounding clang and turned to admire the gardens at the front which were a mass of wildflowers. It seemed Arthur had a new gardener.
After what seemed an age, she used the brass knocker again and waited. The front veranda was swept clean, and clematis clung to the trellis at both ends. The riot of white blooms with magenta speckles hid the peeling facade, and the smell wafted over her from several feet away. The hedges of camellias in pink, red, orange, and yellow, made her smile. When Violet and her sisters admired them, Arthur took clippings and helped transplant them around the Finch house.
Their mayor liked things neat and in the past had made derogatory remarks about the state of the Finch house. To be fair, his illness and bad temper aside, he’d been right. After their mom died, money had been worse than tight, but the house had been slipping into decline long before that. With a good deal of community spirit, the old house was looking pretty good these days. Maybe she should offer to get a working bee together to paint Arthur’s house.
She chuckled at the idea of turning up to a working bee as they had for the Finch’s. Arthur wasn’t the type to ask for help and liked his privacy.
Yet, he had asked her to stop by. So, where was he? Maybe he’d gotten so busy he forgot about it. Whatever the reason she couldn’t stand out here all night. Then she remembered, he’d said to come right in.
Cozy Hollow was an old-fashioned town and people didn’t generally walk in unannounced, but there was no telling how long she might wait otherwise. Gingerly turning the handle, she had to use a bit of force to push the door open. It creaked a little and then she was standing in a wide hall. An ornate coat rack stood to her left; the rest of the space was empty.
“Something’s missing,” she muttered. “Hello, Arthur? It’s me, Violet Finch.”
There was a thud from somewhere, then an eerie silence descended. Not known for being a scaredy-cat, and despite her heart thumping, she moved slowly passed the rather grand staircase, toward the back of the house. The doors on either side of the hall were shut. She thought the bedrooms were upstairs, but wasn’t absolutely certain that there wasn’t one on this floor, and wouldn’t like to barge in on him unannounced if he was resting.
She’d been inside the house a few times with her mom before Lilac got sick, however they’d always sat in the conservatory attached to the dining room, which overlooked the back yard. Maybe she should have come via the back door instead.
“Hello?” It didn’t feel right to wander through his house, but it was too late to backtrack now and what if he was laying injured?
~~~
Need more? Pick up Berry Betrayal today!
RECIPES
These recipes are ones I use all the time and have come down the generations from my mum, grandmother, and some I have adapted from other recipes.
Also, I am now in possession of my husband’s grandmother’s recipe book. Exciting! I’ll be bringing some of them to life very soon.
Just a wee reminder that I am a New Zealander. Occasionally, I may have missed converting into ounces and pounds for my American readers.
My apologies for that, and please let me know if you do try them, how they turn out.
Keep well.
Cheryl x
MOCHA CUPCAKES
Ingredients:
2 tbsp instant coffee
1 ¼ cups / 150 g self-raising flour
1 ¾ cup / 165 g soft light brown sugar
6 oz butter or margarine
3 medium eggs
¼ Tblsp milk
Pinch of salt
Instructions:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 160ºC/140ºC fan.
2. Place your cupcake cases into a muffin tin.
3. Sift the self-raising flour, coffee powder and salt into the bowl of your mixer. Add the eggs, butter or margarine, brown sugar, and milk. Mix on slow speed until fully combined.
4. Half fill the muffin cases with the mixture. An ice-cream scoop is perfect for this.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool in their tins for about 10 minutes and then move them to a wire rack to cool fully before decorating.
Mocha Frosting
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup or butter or margarine
3 ½ cups icing sugar
¼ tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp instant coffee
1 ½ tbsp boiling water
Instructions:
1. Mix the instant coffee granules with the boiling water. Set aside to cool.
2. Beat the butter or margarine until with an electric mixer. Add the icing / confectioners sugar a little at a time and beat until fully combined.
3. Add the vanilla extract and the cooled coffee and mix.
4. The consistency should be soft yet firm.
5. Place mocha cream in your piping bag and frost your cakes by starting from the outside and moving in a continuous circle finishing in the middle.
Tip: If the frosting is too stiff, beat in a little milk.
ALSO BY C. A. PHIPPS
The Cozy Café Mysteries
Sweet Saboteur
Candy Corruption
Mocha Mayhem
Berry Betrayal
Deadly Desserts
Midlife Potions - Paranormal Cozy Mysteries
Witchy Awakening
Witchy Hot Spells
Witchy Flash Back
Witchy Bad Blood - coming soon!
The Maple Lane Cozy Mysteries
Sugar and Sliced - Maple Lane Prequel
Apple Pie and Arsenic
Bagels and Blackmail
Cookies and Chaos
Doughnuts and Disaster
Eclairs and Extortion
Fudge and Frenemies
Gingerbread and Gunshots
Honey Cake and Homicide - preorder now!
Beagle Diner Cozy Mysteries
Beagles Love Cupcake Crimes
Beagles Love Steak Secrets
Beagles Love Muffin But Murder
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies
Please note: Most are also available in paperback and some in audio.
Remember to join Cheryl’s Cozy Mystery newsletter.
There’s a free recipe book waiting for you.
Cheryl also writes romance as Cheryl Phipps.
BOOKS BY CHERYL PHIPPS
Women’s Fiction
A New Life by Design
Listening for Love
Contemporary Romance
Billionaire Knights Series
Billionaire Knights Books 1-5
Restless Billionaire
Ruthless Billionaire
Reluctant Billionaire
Reckless Billionaire
Resident Billionaire
Millionaire - Family Ties Series
Millionaire - Family Ties Box Set 1-3
The Millionaire Next Door
The Millionaire’s Proposal
The Millionaire’s Seduction
Sycamore Springs Series
The Trouble With You and Me - Books 1-3
The Trouble with Friends
The Trouble with Exes
The Trouble with Love
Dreamers Bay Series - Set in New Zealand
Dreamers Bay Series – Books 1-4
One More Chance
One More Kiss
One More Dance
One More Step
High Seas Weddings
Against the Tide
Waves of Passion
Romantic Suspense
When We Break
Please note: most of these are available in paperback.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
‘Life is a mystery. Let’s follow the clues together.’
C. A. Phipps is a USA Today best-selling author from beautiful New Zealand. Cheryl is an empty-nester living in a quiet suburb with her wonderful husband, 'himself'. With an extended family to keep her busy when she's not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed breed dog who stole her heart! She enjoys family times, baking, and her quest for the perfect latte.
Check out her website http://caphipps.com
C. A. Phipps, Mocha Mayhem
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Scarlett grinned. “You’re hired. When can you start?”
“In a month if that suits? First, I have to get my books in order and see my bank manager and then my lawyer in Destiny.”
“Sounds perfect to me.” Violet was practically bouncing off the rug, and Violet never bounced. “I better give Phin a ring and see when I can begin my training.”
“Lucky we’re used to shocking news and upheavals,” Ruby teased.
Violet laughed. “Lucky we have an aunt who wants a change of occupation.”
Scarlett groaned. “I just thought, if you’re at the café every day, we’ll never get rid of the knitting group.”
“There is that,” Olivia agreed. “But I’ll make them buy something every hour; otherwise, they can hit the road.”
“You can’t do that,” Scarlett protested.
Olivia waggled her eyebrows. “Just you watch me.”
She was so much like their mom that Scarlett’s throat constricted. Just when life seemed to head one way, it laughed in your face and went in the opposite direction.
Still, the unknown wasn’t always a bad thing, and right at this moment in time, Scarlett wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here with her family. Including, Bob, who was now lying across her feet, and George, who lay behind her shielded from the sun by her shadow.
For someone who’d professed not to be a cat-lover, she’d been converted quite quickly, and not wanting any more pets had proved futile because Bob had also decided she was his person.
It was a funny world, indeed. And she had the feeling it was about to get more interesting.
Olivia casually sat forward to refill their glasses. “I forgot to mention that I saw Harvey on my way here. He’s had an offer to lease the diner.”
“But the rebuild has only just begun,” Ruby protested.
Olivia’s eyes twinkled. “The new person is not in any hurry and prepared to wait until he can move in.”
“He? Do you know who it is?” Scarlett asked warily. The glint in her aunt’s eyes meant she was about to spring big news on them.
“It’s not often I hear something before you, dear, and you will certainly be surprised.” Olivia paused for effect. “It’s Alex.”
Scarlett almost dropped her glass. “He can cook?” She’d seen Alex once since the end of the case, but as he and Lexie had ended up staying with Sam, the conversation had proved awkward.
Olivia winked. “The man has many talents. I’m so glad he’s staying around. He’ll be a wonderful addition to Cozy Hollow’s list of eligible bachelors.”
Scarlett sighed, wondering if having Olivia around every day wouldn’t be playing right into her aunt’s match-making hands.
Was it too late to back out of the job offer?
Thanks so much for reading Mocha Mayhem, the third book in the Cozy Cafe Mysteries series. I hope you enjoyed it!
If you did…
1 Help other people find this book by leaving a review.
2 Sign up for my new release e-mail, so you can find out about the next book as soon as it’s available.
3 Come like my Facebook page.
4 Visit my website caphipps.com for all my books.
5 Keep reading for an excerpt from Book 4 - Berry Betrayal.
BERRY BETRAYAL
At the oak door she let the large brass ring drop with a resounding clang and turned to admire the gardens at the front which were a mass of wildflowers. It seemed Arthur had a new gardener.
After what seemed an age, she used the brass knocker again and waited. The front veranda was swept clean, and clematis clung to the trellis at both ends. The riot of white blooms with magenta speckles hid the peeling facade, and the smell wafted over her from several feet away. The hedges of camellias in pink, red, orange, and yellow, made her smile. When Violet and her sisters admired them, Arthur took clippings and helped transplant them around the Finch house.
Their mayor liked things neat and in the past had made derogatory remarks about the state of the Finch house. To be fair, his illness and bad temper aside, he’d been right. After their mom died, money had been worse than tight, but the house had been slipping into decline long before that. With a good deal of community spirit, the old house was looking pretty good these days. Maybe she should offer to get a working bee together to paint Arthur’s house.
She chuckled at the idea of turning up to a working bee as they had for the Finch’s. Arthur wasn’t the type to ask for help and liked his privacy.
Yet, he had asked her to stop by. So, where was he? Maybe he’d gotten so busy he forgot about it. Whatever the reason she couldn’t stand out here all night. Then she remembered, he’d said to come right in.
Cozy Hollow was an old-fashioned town and people didn’t generally walk in unannounced, but there was no telling how long she might wait otherwise. Gingerly turning the handle, she had to use a bit of force to push the door open. It creaked a little and then she was standing in a wide hall. An ornate coat rack stood to her left; the rest of the space was empty.
“Something’s missing,” she muttered. “Hello, Arthur? It’s me, Violet Finch.”
There was a thud from somewhere, then an eerie silence descended. Not known for being a scaredy-cat, and despite her heart thumping, she moved slowly passed the rather grand staircase, toward the back of the house. The doors on either side of the hall were shut. She thought the bedrooms were upstairs, but wasn’t absolutely certain that there wasn’t one on this floor, and wouldn’t like to barge in on him unannounced if he was resting.
She’d been inside the house a few times with her mom before Lilac got sick, however they’d always sat in the conservatory attached to the dining room, which overlooked the back yard. Maybe she should have come via the back door instead.
“Hello?” It didn’t feel right to wander through his house, but it was too late to backtrack now and what if he was laying injured?
~~~
Need more? Pick up Berry Betrayal today!
RECIPES
These recipes are ones I use all the time and have come down the generations from my mum, grandmother, and some I have adapted from other recipes.
Also, I am now in possession of my husband’s grandmother’s recipe book. Exciting! I’ll be bringing some of them to life very soon.
Just a wee reminder that I am a New Zealander. Occasionally, I may have missed converting into ounces and pounds for my American readers.
My apologies for that, and please let me know if you do try them, how they turn out.
Keep well.
Cheryl x
MOCHA CUPCAKES
Ingredients:
2 tbsp instant coffee
1 ¼ cups / 150 g self-raising flour
1 ¾ cup / 165 g soft light brown sugar
6 oz butter or margarine
3 medium eggs
¼ Tblsp milk
Pinch of salt
Instructions:
1. Pre-heat your oven to 160ºC/140ºC fan.
2. Place your cupcake cases into a muffin tin.
3. Sift the self-raising flour, coffee powder and salt into the bowl of your mixer. Add the eggs, butter or margarine, brown sugar, and milk. Mix on slow speed until fully combined.
4. Half fill the muffin cases with the mixture. An ice-cream scoop is perfect for this.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool in their tins for about 10 minutes and then move them to a wire rack to cool fully before decorating.
Mocha Frosting
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup or butter or margarine
3 ½ cups icing sugar
¼ tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp instant coffee
1 ½ tbsp boiling water
Instructions:
1. Mix the instant coffee granules with the boiling water. Set aside to cool.
2. Beat the butter or margarine until with an electric mixer. Add the icing / confectioners sugar a little at a time and beat until fully combined.
3. Add the vanilla extract and the cooled coffee and mix.
4. The consistency should be soft yet firm.
5. Place mocha cream in your piping bag and frost your cakes by starting from the outside and moving in a continuous circle finishing in the middle.
Tip: If the frosting is too stiff, beat in a little milk.
ALSO BY C. A. PHIPPS
The Cozy Café Mysteries
Sweet Saboteur
Candy Corruption
Mocha Mayhem
Berry Betrayal
Deadly Desserts
Midlife Potions - Paranormal Cozy Mysteries
Witchy Awakening
Witchy Hot Spells
Witchy Flash Back
Witchy Bad Blood - coming soon!
The Maple Lane Cozy Mysteries
Sugar and Sliced - Maple Lane Prequel
Apple Pie and Arsenic
Bagels and Blackmail
Cookies and Chaos
Doughnuts and Disaster
Eclairs and Extortion
Fudge and Frenemies
Gingerbread and Gunshots
Honey Cake and Homicide - preorder now!
Beagle Diner Cozy Mysteries
Beagles Love Cupcake Crimes
Beagles Love Steak Secrets
Beagles Love Muffin But Murder
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies
Please note: Most are also available in paperback and some in audio.
Remember to join Cheryl’s Cozy Mystery newsletter.
There’s a free recipe book waiting for you.
Cheryl also writes romance as Cheryl Phipps.
BOOKS BY CHERYL PHIPPS
Women’s Fiction
A New Life by Design
Listening for Love
Contemporary Romance
Billionaire Knights Series
Billionaire Knights Books 1-5
Restless Billionaire
Ruthless Billionaire
Reluctant Billionaire
Reckless Billionaire
Resident Billionaire
Millionaire - Family Ties Series
Millionaire - Family Ties Box Set 1-3
The Millionaire Next Door
The Millionaire’s Proposal
The Millionaire’s Seduction
Sycamore Springs Series
The Trouble With You and Me - Books 1-3
The Trouble with Friends
The Trouble with Exes
The Trouble with Love
Dreamers Bay Series - Set in New Zealand
Dreamers Bay Series – Books 1-4
One More Chance
One More Kiss
One More Dance
One More Step
High Seas Weddings
Against the Tide
Waves of Passion
Romantic Suspense
When We Break
Please note: most of these are available in paperback.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
‘Life is a mystery. Let’s follow the clues together.’
C. A. Phipps is a USA Today best-selling author from beautiful New Zealand. Cheryl is an empty-nester living in a quiet suburb with her wonderful husband, 'himself'. With an extended family to keep her busy when she's not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed breed dog who stole her heart! She enjoys family times, baking, and her quest for the perfect latte.
Check out her website http://caphipps.com
C. A. Phipps, Mocha Mayhem
