Santa Puppy

By Lynn Cahoon

In this novella by the New York Times-bestselling author, a mystery must be solved in time for a merry—and furry—Christmas…
 
Jill Gardner has volunteered her shop, Coffee, Books, and More, to host a Christmas adopt-a-pet party. Among the potential forever friends is a male terrier named Baby, whose owner died of a heart attack. With few clues to go on, even finding the name of Baby’s human is a daunting task. But there’s no challenge too big for Jill this holiday season.
 
Playing Santa’s Little Helper, Jill is determined to find out what happened —and to fulfill a long-time-coming Christmas wish . . .
 
Praise for The Tourist Trap Mysteries
 
“I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly...[A] wonderfully appealing series.”—Dru’s Book Musings

 “Light, fun, and kept me thoroughly engaged.”—The Young Folks

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lyrical Press
• Release date: Nov 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781516108213

Lynn Cahoon

Lynn Cahoon is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of cozy mysteries including the Kitchen Witch Mysteries, the Cat Latimer Mystery series, the Tourist Trap Mysteries, the Farm-to-Fork series, the Survivors' Book Club Mystery series, and The Bainbridge Island Mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers and her books have sold more than a million copies. Originally from Idaho, she grew up living the small-town life she now loves to feature in her novels. She now lives with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town in Eastern Tennessee and can be found online at LynnCahoon.com.

Book preview

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SANTA PUPPY

Also by Lynn Cahoon

The Tourist Trap Mysteries

A Deadly Brew

Rockets’ Dead Glare

Killer Party

Hospitality and Homicide

Tea Cups and Carnage

Murder on Wheels

Killer Run

Dressed to Kill

If the Shoe Kills

Mission to Murder

Guidebook to Murder

The Farm-to-Fork Mysteries

Who Moved My Goat Cheese?

Killer Green Tomatoes

The Cat Latimer Mysteries

Of Murder and Men

Fatality by Firelight

A Story to Kill

Table of Contents

Also by Lynn Cahoon

Dedication

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

Author’s Note

Alternate Opening Scene

Teaser Chapter

About the Author

SANTA PUPPY

A Tourist Trap Novella

Lynn Cahoon

LYRICAL UNDERGROUND

Kensington Publishing Corp.

www.kensingtonbooks.com

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

LYRICAL UNDERGROUND BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2018 by Lynn Cahoon

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, educational, or institutional use.

Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Sales Department. Phone: [phone].

Lyrical Press and Lyrical Press logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

First Electronic Edition: November 2018

eISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0821-3

Printed in the United States of America

Dedication

Sometimes the magic of the season is in the little acts of kindness we show each other. Thanks to everyone who has touched my life this year. Your kindness has made me a better person.

CHAPTER 1

Home. It’s somewhere we can lay our heads at night. Where we can store our belongings and cook our food. Home is where we live with the people we love, raise our children, and cuddle with our pets. Some people live in houses. Some people live in homes. And a few, more than I’d like to admit, live in shelters and on the street, whether they be man or beast. I couldn’t do much regarding the human issue of homelessness today, but I’d had a brainstorm about the beast part.

Today, several of my friends and I were going to the Humane Society. With the window open, I could hear the waves crashing on the rocks as Greg King, my boyfriend and South Cove’s primary police detective, drove his pickup truck up the Pacific Coast Highway to Bakerstown.

Greg’s blond hair was just a little long, and the rushing wind was making him look like one of those models in the slow-motion ads. I’ll totally admit it. My boyfriend is a hottie. But his best attribute is a huge heart. He reached over and squeezed my hand. This is an exciting project. Just think how many pets will be adopted after next Saturday’s party.

What if they’re not? It’s not fair that they have to be in those cages in the first place. They didn’t do anything wrong. My resolve was wavering. Maybe I could bring home at least one small dog. Emma, my golden retriever, wouldn’t mind having a new friend.

Jill, you know you can’t save the world. We’re going to make those dogs so irresistible that no one will be able to say no. He turned up the volume on the stereo and started humming along with a Christmas carol.

I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Jill Gardner, and I run the only bookstore slash coffeehouse in South Cove. Well, I own the place. My aunt Jackie is the manager and she runs the store—and me, most days. Of all the places I’ve ever lived, South Cove feels like home. The town is the perfect little tourist spot right off Highway 1. We have one restaurant and a ton of art studios and galleries and a few specialty shops, so if you’re looking for coffee and a treat, it’s either my place—Coffee, Books, and More—or Diamond Lille’s. We have a pretty good hold on the food business. The closest grocery store is in Bakerstown. A fact I’d bemoaned more than once.

Hey, when we’re done at the shelter, can we stop by the store? I need to pick up some things for the house, and I doubt that I’ll be this way again before the Christmas party.

Greg nodded reluctantly, which was his usual response when I asked him to go shopping with me. The guy didn’t mind cooking dinner, but he hated stepping into the store. I knew I wouldn’t have much time once we stopped, so I took out my phone and started making a quick list of what I needed. I’d told Amy I’d be part of her Christmas cookie exchange, so I needed to bake eight dozen cookies before the party on Wednesday. What had I been thinking? And what was I going to do with seven dozen cookies once I got home?

How many cookies can I bring down to the station on Thursday? The people who worked for Greg were always looking for free food.

He looked at me, not smiling, but I could see the humor in his eyes even through his sunglasses. You know Amy will be bringing in her extras. And Sasha’s going. She’ll bring in some even though Toby’s dating Elisa now. Greg sighed. That guy needs to settle down. I’m tired of the string of women flowing through the station. But that’s not my business. Anyway, cookie-wise, you’re going to have to be more creative than just dumping them at the station.

See, this is the problem with being friends with the people you work with. They all have the same oversupply of cookies. I leaned my head back and let my hand hang out the window, playing with the wind currents. "I should have told Amy I was busy that night. Or sick. I could be sick and then I wouldn’t have to go. No one wants cookies from a sick woman."

"I’ll help you make cookies Tuesday night. It will be fun. We can

Reviews for Santa Puppy

[Jennifer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I adored this little novella! I loved the dogs and the little mystery. I thought it was adorable. It definitely wasn't supposed to be read when I read it in the series. But it didn't really bother me or spoil anything.