Candy-Coated Secrets

Title: CANDY-COATED SECRETS
Author: Cynthia Hickey
Publisher: Heartsong Presents Mysteries
2009
ISBN: 978-1-60260185-7
Genre: Inspirational/cozy mystery

The circus is coming to town! Who wouldn’t be thrilled with this? But Summer Meadow doesn’t exactly expect part of the caravan to break down right in front of her house. The scene is chaotic at best, with wild animals wandering lose. When the trainers finally get them rounded up, Summer is quick to volunteer to walk the elephant down the Highway to the circus grounds. After all, who wouldn’t want to lead an elephant through town!

But the trainer seems to have vanished by the time Summer reaches the site where the carnival will be held. Going in search of him, Summer wanders in to one of the trailers that the circus employees reside in. Instead of finding the trainer though, Summer finds a body. And once again, Summer finds herself in the thick of another mystery. Even though her cousin, Joe, warns her to stay out of things, Summer is quick to get involved. But a slew of mishaps and misadventures follow when Summer and her new fiancé, Ethan, sets out to solve the mystery.

I enjoy Heartsong Presents Mysteries, and A Summer Meadows Mystery is one of the funniest. Ms. Hickey definitely has a knack for putting her heroine in humorous situations, and keeping them there, while the danger builds. While the situation isn’t exactly realistic the story line will be sure to tickle funny-bones even while the reader has to keep reading to find out what will go wrong next.

Summer is a fun, quirky and adventurous heroine, and she can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Opposites do attract, and Ethan is as stable as they come, but even he can’t control Summer. I absolutely adore Summer’s aunt, she’s a breath of fresh air, and as quirky as Summer.

Don’t miss CANDY-COATED SECRETS or Ms. Hickey’s first book, Fudge-laced Felonies. They are sure to keep you laughing as you attempt to solve the mystery. $6.95. 247 pages.