Recipe for Deception

Recipe for Deception photo

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From the moment Shannon McClain set foot in America, she's dreamed of the day her teenage twins, Alec and Lara, could join her. Now that the college semester is over, Shannon's dreams have finally come true!

The twins arrive in Apple Grove just in time for the grand opening of Espresso Yourself, the new coffee shop addition to the Paisley Craft Market & Artist Lofts, and both spend much of their time helping out at the store. Thrilled to have her kids with her again, Shannon looks forward to a summer together filled with laughter and fun.

But her plans quickly spoil when her daughter takes a part-time delivery job working for Joyce Buchanan at the Pink Sprinkles Bakery and a customer dies after eating a cupcake delivered by Lara. Consumed by guilt for having served the fatal dessert, Lara turns to local bad boy Chaz Loper for comfort -- the last boy Shannon would ever want her daughter to date. Shannon and Alec each have their own suspicions about Chaz and his true motives for befriending Lara, but when they try to warn her about him it only pushes her away and creates tension in the house.

Meanwhile, rumors about the deadly cupcake spread like wildfire through the small town, and Joyce's business begins to suffer. As more unsavory events unfold, all seemingly connected to Joyce, it becomes clear to Shannon, and the other women of the Purls of Hope knitting circle, that someone is trying to set her up. They decide to take matters into their own hands and find out who's really behind all the trouble before Joyce is arrested for a crime she didn't commit.

With two irascible teens breathing down her neck and a busy craft business to run, can Shannon whip up a crime-solving recipe in time to catch the killer before another deadly dish is served? Join Shannon and the Purls as they tackle this latest mystery to come to Apple Grove.

The Characters

Alec has his father's calm, thoughtful nature. He is a good son and very supportive of his mother's quest to learn the truth about her past. When he's not out with his friends, or studying for his classes, he enjoys fishing, something his father taught him to do years earlier.

Deborah was Shannon's grandmother's cook and confidant for more than 30 years. She becomes a comforting presence in Shannon's life, helping her adjust to life in America. Deborah is thrilled that Shannon has inherited the crafts mall. An avid quilter herself, she and Shannon find much to talk about.

Lara has inherited her mother's flashpoint temper. But she also inherited her mother's creative talents and is an expert crocheter. Lara possesses a rare talent for noticing things others miss -- seen as well as unseen. This makes her a great asset to her mother throughout the series as Shannon is drawn into the mysteries of Apple Grove.

A striking and personable 42-year-old, Michael is 6 feet 2 inches, with straight black hair and striking blue eyes. He owns an elite security consulting firm with many long-reaching connections to nearly all levels of industry and politics. He is strongly attracted to Shannon from the moment he meets her, but unwilling to reveal his secrets, which raises a barrier between them. Death has followed people he's loved, having lost his wife as a result of his dangerous career -- and he is unwilling to trust his heart again. This will change with Shannon, though he tries to hold her at a distance for a long time.

Morgan is the manager of the craft market and quite the expert at card making and stamping. She is most unhappy to have Shannon on the scene as her new boss but she hides it well. What dark secret lurks behind her friendly facade?

Shannon is an avid beader -- running her own custom jewelry business. She thrives on expressing her talents through her one-of-a-kind creations. She is headstrong and can be stubborn at times. But she's best known for her sensitivity to the feelings and needs of others, and for her beautiful smile. Widowed at only 37, she draws strength and inspiration from her two teenage children, but worries about their future. She knows she needs to move on with her life... but she never expected anything like this mysterious inheritance!