{"product_id":"sapphire-beach-starter-bundle-books-3-ebooks","title":"Sapphire Beach Starter Bundle (Books 4-8), Ebooks","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #00aaff;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBooks 4-8 of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\"\u003eSapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Series\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrefer paperbacks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca title=\"Click here for paperbacks.\" href=\"https:\/\/store.angelakryan.com\/collections\/paperback-bundles\" style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.angelakryan.com\/collections\/paperback-bundles\" style=\"color: #ff00ff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eClick here.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.angelakryan.com\/collections\/paperback-bundles\" style=\"color: #ff00ff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eCandy Canes and Cadavers\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e (Book 4)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSnowbirds and Suspects \u003c\/i\u003e(Book 5)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eBridesmaids and Bodies\u003c\/em\u003e (Book 6)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eHurricanes and Homicide\u003c\/em\u003e (Book 7)\u003cbr\u003eKayaks and Killers (Book 8)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg height=\"17\" width=\"89\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0754\/5444\/7933\/files\/SmallerFiveStarsCropped_480x480.jpg?v=1706237296\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"This series keeps getting better with each new book. I love Connie and her willingness to help her friends with their problems. I liked learning more about Grace and Ruby and their families. Can’t wait to see what happens to Connie next time.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\"Another great one from Angela K. Ryan. Sally is estranged from some members of the family but could it be a new member no one knew about who killed her? Or did she discover a secret in her charity work? Lots of suspects and the snowbirds are back so everyone is busy at their businesses. A great read and a bit of a surprise at the end. You'll love it!\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Very pleasant book, like all the books written by Angela K. Ryan. This is the 4th book in the Sapphire Beach collection and each and every one has been equally good. I couldn’t put it down until I came to the end.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"I loved Connie, the jewelry-making heroine, along with her friends and family. It was a charming mystery set at Christmas time. I didn't want to put it down.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis product is an EBOOK and is compatible with any modern digital app and device, including:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKindle or Kindle App for phones\/tablets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApple Books\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGoogle Play Books\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNook\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKobo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNative e-readers on Apple and Android products\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMicrosoft Surface and Tablets of all kinds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eiPads, iPods, iPhones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndroid phones and devices \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"color: #00aaff; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrefer paperbacks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca title=\"Click here for paperbacks.\" href=\"https:\/\/store.angelakryan.com\/collections\/paperback-bundles\" style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.angelakryan.com\/collections\/paperback-bundles\" style=\"color: #ff00ff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eClick here.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.angelakryan.com\/collections\/paperback-bundles\" style=\"color: #ff00ff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"color: #00aaff; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eExcerpt\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCandy Canes and Cadavers: Chapter 1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDura’s warm voice floated through the phone and tugged at Connie Petretta’s heartstrings. Although Connie’s dear, longtime friend was eight thousand miles away in Kenya, modern technology made it feel as if they were sitting across from one another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eExcitement spilled from Dura’s words. “I’m so happy that our plan is coming to fruition.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie could picture her friend’s eyes dancing with joy the way they always did when she was helping others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOver email, Connie and Dura had hatched a plan for a special fundraiser whose proceeds would go toward a project at Dura’s church, a church that Connie also attended during her two-year term of volunteer service after college. The parish had a nutrition center that drew hungry families when their situation became desperate, but, since the parish was poor too, the church had little or nothing to offer lately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDuring one of their online conversations, Dura was lamenting over their predicament, and the two women came up with an idea for a project they had affectionately dubbed Operation Chicken Coop. They would raise money to build and fill a chicken coop so the parish would have eggs to provide lifesaving food for local families. Any extras could be sold at the local market to cover other needs. The eggs would provide local families with much-needed protein and vitamin A, both of which helped prevent blindness, as well as other issues connected with malnutrition, in children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Did you receive the estimate I emailed to you?” Dura asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“I’m looking at it right now.” Connie glanced through a printout of the estimate, which itemized the cost of building materials, chickens, vaccinations, and food. The labor would be donated by residents of the village. If they could raise four thousand dollars, they would be able to build a large coop and purchase enough chickens to benefit many families in Dura’s village.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Do you think you’ll be able to complete all the earrings we’ll need and sell them before Christmas?” Dura asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie ran a hand through her dark, shoulder-length hair. “It’s a tight timeline, but with some hard work and a lot of prayers, I think we can pull it off. If we sell each pair for twenty dollars we need to make and sell two hundred pairs of earrings in the two weeks between now and Christmas to meet our goal.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFortunately, Connie’s Thursday evening jewelry-making class had committed wholeheartedly to spending the next two Thursday evenings, and as much time as they could spare at home, to creating the candy cane earrings, and Connie had already made fifteen pairs since the supplies arrived yesterday. With Christmas right around the corner, business was strong at\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eJust Jewelry\u003c\/i\u003e, which was Connie’s store where she sold her handmade creations, as well as Fair Trade pieces from Kenya and Ecuador. “We’ll get it done,” Connie said, trying to convince herself as much as Dura.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie was thrilled to be working with Dura on this project. The two had been close friends since Connie’s postgraduate term of volunteer service. In fact, it was Dura who taught Connie how to make jewelry, instilling in her a lifelong passion for the craft. So much so that, last year, after inheriting a beachfront condo from her aunt and namesake Concetta Belmonte, Connie relocated to southwest Florida to open a jewelry shop, combining her love for jewelry making with her passion for humanitarian work.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eDura was one of her Fair Trade artisans and her biggest supplier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAs soon as Connie hung up with Dura, she resumed pacing the weathered hardwood floors of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eJust Jewelry\u003c\/i\u003e, stopping at the front window every few seconds to check for her family, due to arrive from the airport at any minute. Between the fundraiser and her family’s visit for Christmas, it would be a hectic couple of weeks. Connie couldn’t wait for them to see\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eJust Jewelry\u003c\/i\u003e. The grand opening had been in April, but this would be the first time her parents, sister, brother-in-law, and twin three-year-old niece and nephew would see the store. She didn’t know what she was more excited about: her family’s arrival, it being her favorite time of year, or the nutrition center project coming to fruition. Connie felt like a child on Christmas morning, and Christmas morning was still two weeks away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Staring out the window is not going to bring them here any earlier,” Grace Jenkins, Connie’s friend, neighbor, and employee said. Grace had agreed to work that evening instead of her usual morning shift, so Connie could return with her family to Palm Paradise, the condominium building where she lived, and help get them settled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie sighed. “I know. I should be making candy cane earrings instead. But I can’t sit still.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eGinger, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that Connie had also inherited from her aunt, looked up every so often from the plush rug under the glass coffee table in the store’s seating area. Connie and Grace had been scurrying around all afternoon, making sure that everything was looking its best, and sweet Ginger seemed to be wondering what all the fuss was about.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eShortly after 6:00, two mid-sized cars pulled up in front of her store. Connie squinted as she peered into the passenger side window of one of the cars. She’d recognize her mother’s long, dark hair anywhere. Her family had arrived!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie’s parents, Josephine and Greg, exited their car first. Connie smiled as her mother pointed excitedly toward the storefront, with a gentle breeze from the nearby Gulf of Mexico pushing back her hair. Connie’s father hopped out of the driver’s seat wearing a broad smile. The next to emerge from their rented cars were Connie’s sister, Gianna Bianchi, and brother-in-law, Gary. Their three-year-old twins, Noah and Hannah, waited to be freed from their car seats.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie’s heart raced with excitement. Until she saw their faces, she hadn’t realized how much she missed them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJo and Greg were the first in the store. Jo squealed as she ran over to Connie, who was already halfway to the door. The two women embraced until Greg eventually broke them apart so he could hug his daughter, as well. Shortly behind Jo and Greg were Gianna and her family. It was only a three-and-a-half hour flight from Logan Airport to the Southwest Florida International Airport, but with a couple of energetic three-year-olds in tow, Connie wasn’t surprised that Gi and Gary looked like they had just run a marathon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie bent down to embrace the twins as they ran into her arms.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“How did these two do on the flight?” Connie asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJudging from the weary expressions on their parents’ faces, Connie already knew the answer to that question.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eGianna shrugged. “Could have been worse, I guess.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie hugged her weary sister and brother-in-law, then gave her family the grand tour of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eJust Jewelry.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eShe began with the Fair Trade section, which she was most proud of. It contained an array of handmade jewelry from Kenya and Ecuador, some in muted earth tones and others in vibrant blues, greens, and oranges. Then they moved on to the rest of the store, including the circular checkout area in the middle and the storeroom out back. Next, she brought them to the large oak table where she and her students created their jewelry masterpieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“This dentistry cabinet is such an exquisite piece,” Jo said, referring to Connie’s creative storage solution for her beads and other jewelry-making supplies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eNext, they took a moment to admire some of Connie’s handmade pieces on the displays beneath the driftwood accent wall. Connie ended the tour in the seating area by the Fair Trade section, where two delicate armchairs face a red loveseat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie and Grace brought out some iced tea, which Connie had brewed extra strong, anticipating her family’s travelling fatigue, and joined the others. They also pulled over two extra chairs from the table. Grace had been a friend of the family for more than ten years, so everyone was ecstatic to see her, as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“I almost forgot how beautiful your jewelry is,” Jo said. “I’m glad you are sharing your talent with the world.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“I don’t know about the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eworld\u003c\/i\u003e, Mom,” Connie said. “But at least the residents and tourists who visit Sapphire Beach.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eGianna scanned the store as she sipped her tea. “I have to say, sis, that Mom’s and my decorating experience has rubbed off on you.” Jo and Gianna owned a home staging company back in Boston and were the professional decorators in the family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie smiled proudly. “I learned from the best.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhen everyone finished their drinks, Connie offered to bring them back to Palm Paradise to settle in. Gianna, Gary, and the twins were staying at Connie’s, while Jo and Greg would sleep in Grace’s spare bedroom. Four houseguests would make it tight at Connie’s place, but she insisted. She wanted to spend as much time with her family as possible, and she was afraid if they stayed in a hotel, she wouldn’t see them as much.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“You know where I keep the spare key,” Grace said to Connie. Then, to Jo and Greg, she said, “Just make yourselves at home. The refrigerator is full, and there is a bottle of wine on the counter.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Thank you,” Jo said, embracing Grace. “We are so looking forward to spending time with you during this visit. It’s been too long.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn three separate cars, Connie and her family made the one-mile commute along Sapphire Beach Boulevard to Palm Paradise and lugged the suitcases upstairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“I forgot how much stuff these little guys require,” Connie said, throwing a couple of duffel bags over her shoulders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhile the others unpacked, Connie took the pan of baked ziti she had prepared that morning out of the fridge, put it in the oven, and made a salad.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eWithin forty-five minutes, everyone gathered around the dining room table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThey said the blessing together and dug into their dinner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“So, the play is Friday night?” Greg asked, directing his question to nobody in particular.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe family had come a full two weeks before Christmas so that they could attend a production of “A Christmas Carol” at the Sapphire Beach Playhouse. Being a former actress, Concetta had served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the theatre, and the play was being performed in her memory. Damian Pritchard, the executive director of the playhouse, had reached out to the family and personally invited them to opening night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eConnie nodded. “The play opens on Friday night, but we’ve also been invited to a Christmas party at Damian’s home tomorrow night.” His parties were legendary. Damian, who would play the role of Scrooge this season, owned a beautiful Gulf-front mansion. Concetta often came home to Boston for Christmas but would always make it a point to remain in Sapphire Beach until after Damian’s party. Anything that Concetta enjoyed that much had to be special.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eGreg and Gary exchanged a glance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Sounds like fun,” Greg said. “But Gary and I have decided we’d rather stay home and watch the twins while you ladies and Grace go to the party. It’s not really our thing. We’ll do something fun with the kids instead.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“That’s not a bad idea,” Gianna said. “It will save us from having to find a sitter on short notice.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“In that case,” Connie said, “let’s not waste their invitations. I’ll invite Elyse and Stephanie.” Elyse had been Connie’s realtor, and the two had become fast friends when Connie relocated, and Stephanie, also a good friend, was Grace’s daughter.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Why not invite your cop boyfriend instead?” Jo asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDetective Zachary Hughes wasn’t exactly Connie’s boyfriend. They went on a first date last March, and, due to a miscommunication and both of their unusually busy schedules the past few months, they hadn’t yet made it to their second date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e“Mom, I promise to introduce you to Zach before you leave, but please remember that we’ve only been on one date.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAfter a long day, everyone decided to call it an early night. Connie and her parents cleaned up so Gianna and Gary could put the twins to bed. Then, they all retired for the evening. Connie took advantage of her free time to make some candy cane earrings with materials she had brought home. She was bound and determined to make this fundraiser a success.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Angela K. Ryan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51658720018749,"sku":"SBEBOOKS4-8","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0754\/5444\/7933\/files\/SBEB4-8.png?v=1777651109","url":"https:\/\/store.angelakryan.com\/products\/sapphire-beach-starter-bundle-books-3-ebooks","provider":"Angela K. Ryan","version":"1.0","type":"link"}