Sweet Hearts: The Fourth Samantha Sweet Mystery

Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries:

“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review

“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.”—Albuquerque Journal

“Shelton can only expand her fan base with this solid effort.” —Publisher’s Weekly

“Connie Shelton has another winner!” –The Book Report

Bitter Sweet:
In this fifth installment in the Samantha Sweet mystery series, 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 their 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 out to keep Sam quiet.

Connie Shelton is the author of the bestselling Charlie Parker mysteries and the Samantha Sweet mystery series. She has taught writing—both fiction and nonfiction—and is the creator of the Novel In A Weekend™ writing course. She lives in northern New Mexico.

What Sweet Holidays!
It’s Christmas and a chocolatier shows up at Sweet’s Sweets, offering to create a special line of hand-dipped chocolates for Samantha’s customers. He says he’ll work for no pay, just to prove himself. But when she learns that he has connections to the wooden box which seems to give Sam her mystical powers, she discovers that certain evil people may do just about anything to take it away from her.

"Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to Life." --Albuquerque Journal

"Connie Shelton has another winner." --The Book Report

Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries:

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review

“Shelton, a major success for Intrigue, can only expand her fan base with this solid effort.” —Publisher’s Weekly

“Connie Shelton has another winner.” —The Book Report

Samantha Sweet is about to realize her dream of opening her pastry shop, Sweet’s Sweets. Juggling the crazy amount of work it takes to get her new business off the ground, with her old job of breaking into houses, she’s got her hands full. When a blood-soaked garment is found among the discards at one of her properties, and a friend makes a shocking confession, Sam finds herself pulled into a pair of mysteries.

The wooden box that came into her possession a few weeks earlier is still working its magic, giving Sam the power to see inside people’s secrets and figure out who the killer is.
 

“Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships.” —Booklist

Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries:

“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —The Midwest Book Review

“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal

“Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships.” – Booklist

“Fans of Southwestern mysteries will find that Shelton's engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice.” – Library Journal

Samantha Sweet and Beau Cardwell are getting ready for their September wedding, with the whole Sweet clan about to show up for the celebration. Dealing with her mother may turn out to be the least of Sam’s problems when an unwelcome visitor walks into her pastry shop—Sam’s old heart-throb, the charmer, Jake Calendar. Jake wants money for a Hollywood get-rich-quick scheme and he wants Sam to finance the deal. Can Sam convince him that the answer is ‘no’ or will he sabotage the plans for her wedding?
 

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 Journal
 

Who is buried in the backyard?
Samantha Sweet breaks into houses for a living, and the things she discovers often lead to trouble. When she finds an unmarked grave on a property in a remote spot in Taos County, New Mexico, Sam calls in the authorities. A dead body is more than she wants to deal with. A small mural painted inside a closet in the abandoned house provides clues and Sam is caught up in an investigation. A fortune in artwork, a bogus will, and a wooden box that seems to give Sam powers she never dreamed she possessed—

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review

“…a delightfully complex mystery.” –Romantic Times (4 stars)

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."--Midwest Book Review

It’s Christmas and Charlie and Drake are finally able to go on their honeymoon. It’s a mixed blessing--they get to spend three months at the famed Taos Ski Valley, but Drake will be working, shuttling skiers with his helicopter. When Drake’s assistant, Eloy Romero, is accused of killing his own brother, a Catholic priest, Charlie offers to help sort out the clues.

Drawn into the art world for which Taos is known, Charlie begins to uncover connections between the murdered priest and the theft of millions of dollars in religious artifacts. As the pieces click into place, she finds that she and Drake are placing their lives on the line.

“Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life in her colorful, vivid  description….Readers can only hope the likable characters, fast-paced plots and local color will continue in another installment.” –Albuquerque Journal

"Charlie is a good detective and a pleasant companion to unravel a mystery with."--Mystery News

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."--The Midwest Book Review

Charlie and Drake are off to Scotland, where they will live in a cottage on the grounds of an ancient castle. Taking a helicopter contract to help a friend, they’ll shuttle workers out to the oil rigs in the North Sea. Unfortunately, the boat operators in the area have waged an embittered battle with the helicopter operators and the animosity is palpable. Meanwhile, Charlie is asked by the lord of the castle to help with an unsolved case there, and soon three mysteries are competing for her time. Lives hang in the balance and Charlie’s flying skills are put to the ultimate test over the frigid waters of the North Sea.

"A Charlie Parker mystery is always a good read."--Southwest Book Views

“Memorable details . . . and an edgy, paranoid atmosphere.” –Booklist

Shelton can only expand her fan base with this solid effort.” —Publisher’s Weekly

"A delightfully complex mystery." (4 stars)--Romantic Times

A trip to the attic can be a voyage into a frightening past.

Charlie Parker has no idea, when she begins organizing storage space for her fiance’s move-in, that simply cleaning out the attic will throw her back in time to the events leading up to her parents’ fatal plane crash. Drake will arrive in a few days and Charlie is making room to combine their two households. But the dusty attic holds more than just memories. In her father’s leather notebook is a cryptic message that translates into danger for Charlie, as she discovers that his top secret work as a scientist at Sandia Labs during the Cold War years still has certain people worried.
 

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." --The Midwest Book Review

"Shelton again has done a superb job." --Albuquerque Journal

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."--The Midwest Book Review

An unpleasant female lawyer barges into Charlie’s office and demands that the firm immediately drop everything and find her elderly father, who has gone missing-all because there is a big family reunion coming up. Charlie knows she’s going to regret this, but she gives in. The hunt takes her on a wild chase when she learns that Willie McBride was an avid gold prospector.

Praise for the Charlie Parker mystery series:
“...a female sleuth with an original slant to her methods.”  —Small Press Magazine

“Charlie is slick, appealing, and nobody’s fool—just what readers want in an amateur sleuth.” —Booklist

“Tension is fast-paced in this involving account.” —Midwest Book Review

"Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships." --Booklist

"Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."--The Midwest Book Review

"A Charlie Parker mystery is always a good read."  --Southwest Book Views

Rachael Fairfield is a balloon pilot out to set a world altitude record during the upcoming Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. But she’s received threats and wants to hire Charlie and Ron to keep the stalker away from her. It shouldn’t be a problem, says Rachael, because she knows who is sending the notes—her own father. Her testimony sent him to prison years ago and now he’s out. They agree to take the case, but Charlie begins to suspect that it’s not such a simple assignment.

“Fans of Southwestern mysteries will find that Shelton’s engaging story, likable heroine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice.”— Library Journal