Sammi Carter - Goody Goody Gunshots

Table of Contents

PRAISE FOR THE Candy Shop Mysteries

A sweet tale of the coziest kind! Mix a little chocolate with a dash of murder and a pinch of deception, and you get Candy Apple Dead , a new mystery that is sweet, deadly, and highly entertaining... A lively, fast-paced story of sweet and sour.

The Best Reviews

A promising new mystery series. Abby is a wonderful new character... Anyone with even a minor sweet tooth will enjoy the various descriptions and recipes included here.

The Romance Readers Connection

Small-town intrigue, a juicy conflict or two, and some fun characters are the highlights of this story, which launches what will probably be an exceedingly popular new series. Carter has a very accessible styleand is equally talented at inducing sugar cravings in the reader. Dieters beware!

Romantic Times

Delightful start to a new mystery series featuring a feisty heroine... An engaging, entertaining tale... Abby is a sensible, believable heroine. Shes strong, yet vulnerable, and definitely feisty! The story moves along at a quick pace... And the Divine Almond Toffee... yummy! Fresh Fiction

A delicious whodunit full of interesting, well-developed characters. I cant wait for the next installment!

Affaire de Coeur (four and a half stars)

An exciting one-sitting amateur-sleuth tale... Readers will appreciate [Abbys] spunk and desire to insure justice occurs. Midwest Book Review

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Sammi Carter

CANDY APPLE DEAD
CHOCOLATE DIPPED DEATH
PEPPERMINT TWISTED
GOODY GOODY GUNSHOTS

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

PUBLISHERS NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.

GOODY GOODY GUNSHOTS
A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / September 2008

Copyright 2008 by The Berkley Publishing Group.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

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375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

eISBN : 978-0-425-22332-1

BERKLEY PRIME CRIME
Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
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Chapter 1

A chill November wind howled outside the win dows of my car as I pulled into the drive outside my brothers old farmhouse. Lights spilled from the windows, making the house look warm and welcoming, and I allowed myself a moments regret that I wouldnt be going inside. In the distance, the Colorado Rockies formed a protective barrier around the valley and the town of Paradise. I could see their snow-covered spines arching upward in the moonlight to meet the night sky.

Trees towered over the two-story house, and even from where I sat I could hear the branches scratching the walls of the old house. Dry leaves and bits of dirt scuttled across the gravel driveway. A cool gust of wind filled the car as the back doors opened and my nephews, Brody and Caleb, spilled happily out into the storm. Each clutched a small tin of their favorite candy under one arm. With a wave, nine-year-old Caleb raced up the driveway and disappeared into the kitchen. His older brother Brody hung back for a minute.

My sister-in-law, Elizabeth, appeared in the kitchen window and peered out into the darkness. I flashed my lights, hoping shed realize that Brody was still with me.

A gust of wind swept a lock of Brodys dark blond hair into his eyes. Looking far too serious for a twelve-year-old, he reached back into the car for his basketball, and I was struck by his resemblance to my brother. When he suddenly grinned, the resemblance grew even stronger. So, have you thought about it?

He was like his father in more than just looks. Neither of them had any patience, and once they got their teeth into something, they didnt let go. Elizabeth said it was a trait all of us Shaws shared, but I couldnt see it in myself.

Since Wyatt had to work late and Elizabeth had had a conflicting engagement, Id gone with the boys to their Youth League basketball game that evening. Frankly, Id jumped at the chance. Id lived away for most of their lives, and I welcomed every opportunity I could find to bond with them now.

Once there, theyd talked me into sitting on the bench in the empty assistant coachs spot to keep the team from forfeiting the game. It wasnt until the game was over and the three of us were eating pizza and chugging Cokes that my sneaky little nephews revealed their true reason for asking me to come with them tonight.

I motioned for Brody to get in out of the wind. You only asked me about being assistant coach an hour ago. I havent had time to think about it.

If you think about it too much, you might say no, Brody said impatiently. Please? We need you there.

I laughed and shifted into park. So your nefarious plan is to lock me into a promise before I can say no? Nice try, but I know better than to think you need me. Id be about as useless when it comes to coaching a team as your dad would be in the candy shop.

Brodys smile faded. Thats not true. Dad said you used to play on a team and everything.

That was many years ago. Ive forgotten everything I used to know. His little face registered such disappointment, I looked away before it could influence me. Im a sucker when it comes to Wyatts four kids, and they all know it. In case you didnt notice, I didnt do anything tonight.

You dont have to do anything, Brody insisted. Coach knows plenty. We just need another grown-up there, or we cant play anymore.

I made the mistake of looking at Brody, and a powerful auntlike instinct urged me to say yes. Unfortunately, I had half a dozen good reasons for saying no. Dont you think Coach Hendrix would rather have an assistant coach who knows something about the game?