I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Miss Frost Cracks a Caper
by
Kristen Painter
mystery, magical realism in a Kindle edition that was published by Sugar Skull Books on October 3, 2017 and has 302 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon, Audibles.
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Blood Rights, Flesh and Blood, Bad Blood, Out for Blood, Last Blood, House of the Rising Sun, City of Eternal Night, Garden of Dreams and Desires, Miss Frost Solves a Cold Case, All Fired Up, "Prologue to The Vampire's Mail Order Bride", The Vampire's Mail Order Bride, The Werewolf Meets His Match, The Gargoyle Gets His Girl, The Professor Woos the Witch, The Vampire's Fake Fiancée, The Shifter Romances the Writer, "The Witch's Halloween Hero", The Dragon Finds Forever, The Vampire's Accidental Wife, The Reaper Rescues the Genie, The Detective Wins The Witch, The Vampire's Priceless Treasure, The Werewolf Dates the Deputy, "When Birdie Babysat Spider", Miss Frost Ices the Imp, Miss Frost Saves the Sandman, Miss Frost Braves the Blizzard, "The Werewolf's Christmas Wish", The Vampire's Cursed Kiss, Her First Taste of Fire, The Trouble With Witches, Moody and the Beast, The Vampire's Sunny Sweetheart, Miss Frost Chills the Cheater, Lost in Las Vegas, Wrapped Up in Christmas, Mystified in Music City, Sucks To Be Me, A Sky Full of Stars, Suck It Up Buttercup, The Forgettable Miss French, Sucker Punch, The Suck Stops Here, Nixed in New Orleans
Fourth in the Jayne Frost magical realism mystery series (a spin-off from the Nocturne Falls Universe where it slides into 8.1) revolving around Jayne Frost, a winter elf managing Santa’s Workshop in Nocturne Falls, Georgia.
My Take
Oh, yeah, Lark is all about herself. Sinclair, now, he’s a sweetie, and I don’t just mean his doughnuts! Yep, the man is a sweet talker and persuasive.
“. . . word on the street is you’re a top consumer of sweets in this town, and I was afraid if you hated my doughnuts, it could be bad for business.”
Hmmm, I’m trying to visualize a costume of snow at midnight. Then there’s the jewel heist, and everyone in town is being taken to the station. And even more events that are so unexpected.
Painter is using first person protagonist point-of-view from Jayne’s perspective so we hear all about her angst over Lark, Cooper’s problems, her own suddenly dateless issue . . . and this new thrill in her life.
Hey, we get to meet Jayne’s mother and aunt! It’s good and bad as there is more than one betrayal in this tale as well as an unexpected break-up. Whoa.
Despite all the action and the characters’ personalities shining forth, the pace is easy with some emotional ups-and-downs.
A fun read and not to be missed if you’re interested in the Nocturne Falls Universe!
The Story
Oh, man. Lark is here to set up the final details to deejay Elenora Ellingham’s Black and Orange ball . . . and apologizing to Jayne for events eleven years in the past.
Jayne’s not sure she can forgive her old frenemy, but she’s trying, even through that chilling event at the Black and Orange Ball that puts Jayne at odds with the powers that be.
She knows she’s on thin ice, but she’s determined to crack the caper.
The Characters
The sugar-lovin’ Jayne Frost manages Santa’s Workshop Toy Store in Nocturne Falls. She’s also the Winter King’s daughter, Kris Kringle’s niece, and a winter elf. Spider is her talking cat.
Klara Frost is Jayne’s mother and the Winter Queen; Jack Frost is her father. Martha Kringle is her aunt and married to Santa. Yep, he’s her uncle.
Cooper Sullivan is a fireman and a summer elf who had dated Jayne in college. Greyson Garrett is a vampire who does odd jobs helping out various supernaturals around town: part-time deputy, Vampire on Duty, and super-secret missions for Lucian. Both of them are dating Jayne.
Lark Bramble, a.k.a. DJ Ice Queen, is the former best friend who betrayed Jayne and Cooper. Her parents are toy scouts. Lance LaFlame, an elf, is Lark’s lover and her assistant who runs the scenes behind her shows.
Nocturne Falls, Georgia, is . . .
. . . a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business, and they celebrate Halloween 365 days per year. It’s also a town that’s mostly owned by a vampire family, the Ellinghams. Elenora is the matriarch with three grandsons: Sebastian, Hugh, and Julian. The Heart of Dawn is Elenora’s latest jewelry purchase. Hugh is married to Delaney who runs Delaney’s Delectables (The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride, 1). Alice Bishop is a powerful witch and Elenora’s secretary.
Santa’s Workshop
Juniper Trembley (she’s dating Pete the fae pharmacist), Buttercup, the part-time only Rowley, and Kip, who’s “dating some chick who works at Insomnia”. Vale Bright and Crystal Holliday are the temporary employees Jayne’s dad sent to help. Santa’s Bag is a miracle of freight handling, a portal directly to the North Pole.
Titus Merrow, a werewolf, is the fire chief. Hank Merrow, his brother, is the sheriff and married to Ivy (The Werewolf Meets His Match, 2). They have a son, Charlie. Birdie Caruthers is their aunt as well as the receptionist for the sheriff’s department. Birdie, the unofficial mayor of Nocturne Falls, is also dating Jack Van Zant. Jenna Blythe is one of the deputies; she’s a valkyrie and Tessa’s sister.
Sinclair “Sin” Crowe is a necromancer who owns Zombie Doughnuts. Two of his specialties are opposites. The good is a Dr Prepper doughnut while the bad is that touch of death. Sugar is Sin’s white cat. Pandora Williams is engaged to Prof Cole Van Zant (Jack’s son). Lucian Dupree is a retired grim reaper who owns Insomnia, a supernaturals-only nightclub. Chet, a bearshifter, is one of the doormen. Monalisa Devlin, a Will-o’-the-Wisp, and Ivan “Van” Tsvetkov, a dragonshifter (The Dragon Finds Forever, 7), are off in Vermont.
Willa Iscove, a lapidus fae, runs the town jewelry store, Illusions (The Gargoyle Gets His Girl, 3). Jasper is her cat. Nick Hardwin, a gargoyle who fills in as a part-time deputy, is Willa’s boyfriend. Bridget Merrow, a werewolf, owns Howler’s, a popular bar and grill. Mia is one of the servers. Mummy’s Diner is fabulous for their breakfasts. The perspicacious Arty is one of their servers. Café Claude. The Poisoned Apple is a pub. The Hallowed Bean is across the street from Delaney’s shop. Melworth’s Kitchens and More is preferred by the more reputable construction companies. Mrs D’s Dairy Barn sells ice cream. The Pinehurst Inn is more low-rent than high class.
Tempus Sanders, a.k.a. the Sandman, had been a feature in Miss Frost Saves the Sandman, 3. Shimmer is magical snow that disappears. Wouldn’t we love to have that kind on our paved surfaces! Ada is a ghost in a long flannel nightgown and sleeping cap.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a light and bright blue sky background with a frame of huge snowflakes encircling the central snow globe that holds the pink Heart of Dawn, standing up in a slope of snow. Spider is to the left and right up against the base that provides the series info while Jayne with her long blue hair draping her shoulders. It’s a bright yellow sundress she’s wearing, her right arm holding a deep royal blue coat. The title is at the top in a fanciful font all white with a fuzzy black shadow. Below that is a deep gray bit of universal series info. Below the snow globe is the author’s name in a white serif with a darker shadow. Below that is an info blurb in white with a fuzzy black background.
The title finds that Miss Frost Cracks a Caper is so convoluted.
