Book 33, 2023

[chez_jae]

Six Sweets Under by Sarah Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Between yesterday, when I had nothing I could do but read, and today, I finished Six Sweets Under, which is the first book in author Sarah Fox's "True Confections" cozy mystery series. The main character is Rebecca "Becca" Ransom, an LA actress who has returned to her hometown of Larch Haven VT.

Becca spent several years in Hollywood and enjoyed mild success as an actress. A health scare, however, reminded her what's truly important in her life and she has come home to Larch Haven, the so-called "Venice of North America". Larch Haven has canals instead of streets, and travel by gondola is popular. Becca has taken up working in the candy shop owned by her grandparents, Pops and Lolly. She's enjoying herself until the town curmudgeon is found floating in the canals and Pops is considered a person of interest. Determined to clear her grandfather's name, Becca starts asking questions around town. She is aided by her BFF, Dizzy, but her childhood friend, Sawyer, now a detective, warns her to stay out of the investigation. When someone threatens Becca, she realizes that Sawyer was right, but she's not backing down.

The setting in the story was utterly charming. Characters were fleshed out, including nasty old Archie, and I nearly drooled as Becca created chocolate treats for sale in True Confections. Pacing was good, alternating Becca's sleuthing with her time at work and down time, too.

Favorite line: There was nothing quite like pizza night or a lunch date with my bestie.

Charming read, and I look forward to more. Four stars.


1. Does the mc work at/as one of the following: baker/bakery/sweet shop/tea shop/coffee shop, library/librarian, antique/vintage shop, book store, fashion/boutique, bed & breakfast? Yes, she works in a chocolate shop.
2. Does the mc live at her (or his) place of occupation? No, she does not
3. Is the love interest involved in law enforcement? (Police officer, sheriff, detective, PI, FBI) Yes, Sawyer is a detective
4. Does the mc have a dog/cat as a pet? Yes, she has 2 cats
5. Is the mc's BFF either a gay guy or a ditzy/zany woman? No. Despite her nickname, Dizzy is down to earth.
6. Did the mc find the body? No, but she was in the vicinity.
7. Did the mc wind up in mortal danger at the end of the book? Yes, she did
8. Is the mc's mother either: dead, absent, far removed, ditzy and dithering, or overbearing/disapproving/meddling? Yes, her mother lives in FL
9. If mother is dead/absent, does the mc have another mother-figure (grandmother, aunt, mom's friend, or an older friend)? Yes, her grandmother
10. Is the mc child-free? (Either no children or else grown children--i.e. no small children to look after) Yes, she's child-free