Three Treats Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein

"Three Treats Too Many" is the third book in the Sarah Blair series by Debra H. Goldstein, and is a fabulous addition to the series! Goldstein has scored a home run with main character Sarah, who is practical, straight-forward, and genuinely kind. I've enjoyed watching Sarah's growth through the first two books, and was pleased to see it continue in this one. I also appreciate that Sarah herself knows and admits she still has some self-improvement to do, and spends some time thinking about it. I can't wait to see what comes next for her. Minor characters (including snippy rival Jane, up-and-coming politician Anne, Rah-Rah the Siamese cat, and Fluffy the puppy) are also well-drawn, with distinctive personalities. I'm particularly excited to see what Anne will tackle in upcoming books! In this installment, Sarah gets involved when a young woman is murdered near her home/business, and one of her friends is the main suspect. Once again, Ms. Goldstein manages to avoid the typical cozy mystery romance tropes. Three books into the series, and our heroine is still single, and just embarking on a new romantic relationship that definitely takes a back seat to the rest of the story. That is refreshing! Yes, cozy fans, a mystery can be fabulous and filled with important relationships without focusing on romance (or a love triangle). I honestly didn't know who to suspect until very near the end, when some new clues come to light. Everything made sense at that point, but I honestly had never thought of the killer as a suspect. Everything about this book was great...the characters, the pets, the mystery, the descriptions and world-building....give this series a try! You won't be disappointed! Five out of five perfect chunks of ultra-sharp cheddar!