Things are looking up for the Brew-ha Cafe, and Lila Macapagal can’t think of anything that could break the spell, especially with Valentine’s Day coming up—she can’t wait to celebrate with her boyfriend, Jae Park. Adding to the lovey-dovey atmosphere is Hana Lee, Shady Palms’s newest resident. She’s also Jae’s beloved cousin and chocolatier at Choco Noir, the latest addition to the town’s culinary offerings. Everything is coming into place for Hana, who left her old life in Minnesota behind to work at Choco Noir, owned by her best friend.
Unfortunately, beneath the sweet surface of Shady Palms runs a bitter undercurrent, as a series of attacks against women-owned businesses in the area escalates from petty theft to assault and murder when Hana is found knocked unconscious inside Choco Noir, and the chocolate shop owner is put out of business—for good.
With Hana left in a coma, a murderer hiding amongst them, and the safety of the women entrepreneurs of Shady Palms at risk, the Park brothers team up with the Brew-ha crew to put a stop to the villain before they strike again.
As the sixth and final book in this delightful series, Death and Dinuguan left me feeling a little sentimental—I’m truly going to miss Shady Palms and the friends I’ve come to know through Mia P. Manansala’s writing. This book is a strong, satisfying finale to a series that’s been an absolute joy to read.
This time around, Lila Macapagal is deeply concerned when a string of burglaries hits town. All the targets have been women-owned businesses, but things turn tragic when the latest break-in ends with the death of a beloved chocolatier and leaves her partner in a coma. Lila refuses to stand by and let fear take over. Instead, she joins forces with the always-entertaining Calendar Crew at the Brew-ha Café to get to the bottom of things.
As usual, Lila and her friends aren’t shy about asking questions, poking around, and talking to anyone who might hold a clue. Along the way, readers are treated to mouthwatering food, warm friendships, and plenty of humor. Whether Lila is whipping up a comforting dish or crafting a plan to catch the culprit, the story stays engaging from beginning to end.
While the large cast is fun enough that newcomers could jump in here, I’d still recommend reading the series in order to fully appreciate the relationships and running threads. Yes, it follows the cozy mystery formula, but each book brings its own charm and freshness.
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