What do you think?
Rate this book
Cookies & Chance Mystery #0
Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud
A short story and prelude to Tastes Like Murder, the first book in the Cookies & Chance series!
Ten years before Sally Muccio became the owner of a a novelty cookie shop in Western New York, she had other things on her mind...namely, the senior prom. With a lovely pink gown, the prom's enchanting fortune theme and handsome beau Mike Donovan by her side, Sal's got all the necessary ingredients for a perfect evening.
How did everything manage to go so wrong?
Ten years before Sally Muccio became the owner of a a novelty cookie shop in Western New York, she had other things on her mind...namely, the senior prom. With a lovely pink gown, the prom's enchanting fortune theme and handsome beau Mike Donovan by her side, Sal's got all the necessary ingredients for a perfect evening.
How did everything manage to go so wrong?
66 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2022
18 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Bruns
60 books900 followersCatherine is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in Upstate New York with her very patient husband, three sons and several spoiled pets. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. Catherine also writes the Italian Chef, Maple Syrup, and Cindy York mysteries. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 19, 2022
Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud earns 5/5 Fortuitous Fortune Cookies…Fabulous Fun!
Set ten years before the time of the first book, “Tastes like Murder,” Catherine provides fans with a glimpse into the tragic misunderstanding on prom night between Sally and her high school beau, Mike Donovan, events that would ultimately catapult Sally on one of life’s detours. We have prom, a formal affair at the country club, prophetically themed with gypsy fortune tellers, fortune machines, and plates of fortune cookies with Catherine’s signature cryptic messages to ponder. Sally’s reads “There are several more fortunes in the future,” and Mike’s warns “An act of haste may cost you happiness.” By the end of the evening, we see Sally and Josie exhibiting a penchant for investigating criminal activity and we know the journey ahead will lead everyone to the fortune they deserve.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Set ten years before the time of the first book, “Tastes like Murder,” Catherine provides fans with a glimpse into the tragic misunderstanding on prom night between Sally and her high school beau, Mike Donovan, events that would ultimately catapult Sally on one of life’s detours. We have prom, a formal affair at the country club, prophetically themed with gypsy fortune tellers, fortune machines, and plates of fortune cookies with Catherine’s signature cryptic messages to ponder. Sally’s reads “There are several more fortunes in the future,” and Mike’s warns “An act of haste may cost you happiness.” By the end of the evening, we see Sally and Josie exhibiting a penchant for investigating criminal activity and we know the journey ahead will lead everyone to the fortune they deserve.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
January 31, 2024
"Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud" by Catherine Bruns was a great start to the " A Cookies & Chance" series. It's about Sally (Sal), who is a senior going to prom with Mike. Her and Mike have been dating for about two years, and things couldn't be better. That is until something happens, and Sal questions everything. I can't wait to read others in this series by Catherine.
October 10, 2022
Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud is the prequel to Catherine Bruns’ awesome Cookies & Chance Mysteries series. This short story provides the backstory that fills in some blanks in the main characters’ lives, including the reason behind Sally and Mike’s epic breakup and the story behind Sally’s famous fortune cookies. Ms. Bruns’ descriptive writing draws readers in, making them feel like they’re taking part in the action. I recommend this delightful series to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries.
In this short story, we’ve traveled back ten years to the night of Sally Muccio and Mike Donovan’s ill-fated high school prom and the misunderstanding that sets the course for their lives. We’re introduced to Sally’s family, including Grandma Rosa, who’s the glue that holds the family together and always provides Sally with sage advice. During the course of the evening, we have a front-row seat as Sally and her best friend, Josie Brooks, don their sleuthing caps for the first time.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
In this short story, we’ve traveled back ten years to the night of Sally Muccio and Mike Donovan’s ill-fated high school prom and the misunderstanding that sets the course for their lives. We’re introduced to Sally’s family, including Grandma Rosa, who’s the glue that holds the family together and always provides Sally with sage advice. During the course of the evening, we have a front-row seat as Sally and her best friend, Josie Brooks, don their sleuthing caps for the first time.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
December 7, 2024
I’ve been wanting to read this series for a while and when I saw this introductory novella, I figured it was a good place to start. I was right. Although it takes place many years before the series starts, I immediately liked the characters.
This story takes place at the high school prom of our amateur sleuth, Sally Muccio. She gets thrown into the middle of a mystery and her sleuthing career begins.
This looks like a series I’ll be addicted to in no time. It looks as if I have much catching up to do since there are 14 books in the series. I’m looking forward to reading more.
I received this one as a freebie from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This story takes place at the high school prom of our amateur sleuth, Sally Muccio. She gets thrown into the middle of a mystery and her sleuthing career begins.
This looks like a series I’ll be addicted to in no time. It looks as if I have much catching up to do since there are 14 books in the series. I’m looking forward to reading more.
I received this one as a freebie from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 6, 2023
This story is the set of for a whole mystery story series. We get to see the main character faced with both a mystery and a choice. The next book in the series starts out letting you know how those choices played out. #CMCon24
November 7, 2022
Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud is the prequel to the Cookies & Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns. Despite being a short story, the author manages to pack a lot of entertainment on the pages. A longtime fan of the series, it was a delight to “go back in time” and see how the protagonist, Sally Muccio, diverged from the path she thought she’d take in life and answers questions that are hinted at in the full-length books. And, of course, cryptic fortune cookies play a role during the story. I also greatly enjoyed the introduction to the core characters from the series, especially Sally’s parents and Grandma Rosa… they add a lighthearted touch to the story. Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud is a terrific introduction to those who haven’t read the series yet and a fun blast to the past for those who have read the previously released books.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 26, 2023
Ugh! Maybe I would have been better off reading this after reading the first book in the series. Since it was a prequel, I thought it would give me an idea if I might like the series. Unfortunately, it made me not even want to give the series a chance. A bunch of high school kids at a prom, teen hormones, a controlling, potentially abusive boyfriend that the main character wanted to "fix," spiked punch, the most unbelievable case of theft...It read like a very bad teen romance very badly written by a very young, inexperienced, writer. I kept bringing up the keyboard to make snarky comments about every other page or so! The prequel included the first chapter of the first book in the series which slightly redeemed the main character. Since I already bought the first book, I'll probably go ahead and read it.
Fortunately, this was a very short read!
Fortunately, this was a very short read!
November 9, 2022
I saw this in the author's newsletter and thought the timing of the release was pretty perfect since I've been wanting to start the Cookies & Chance series. It was a fun way to get to know Sal when she was still in high school. Her sister sure is a hoot and now I absolutely can't wait to start the regular series!
The whodunit was fairly easy to figure out, but in reading the blurbs for the Cookies & Chance series, I could see how some of the various classmates played a role later on. I can't wait to see Gianna as an attorney! I was grateful this was released in KU so I could grab it and read right away. A super fun little prequel!
The whodunit was fairly easy to figure out, but in reading the blurbs for the Cookies & Chance series, I could see how some of the various classmates played a role later on. I can't wait to see Gianna as an attorney! I was grateful this was released in KU so I could grab it and read right away. A super fun little prequel!
July 16, 2023
Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud is a short prequel to the Cookies and Chance Mysteries. It takes place 10 years before book 1 in the series. Since it was released after book 12 in the series, I am not sure if the author intended the story to be a slice of life look back for series readers or an introduction of the series for new readers (or both). For series readers it provides insight as to how the characters ended up where they are. As a new reader, it did its job as an introduction – I have book 2 loaded onto my eReader ready to go. I look forward to seeing Sal and her friends’ story develops.
September 28, 2022
Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud is the prequel, set 10 years fore the series start, to the Cookies & Chance mysteries. The reader meets Sally and Mike on prom night. This book fills in the back story for so many favorite characters; shows how Josie and Sally got their start sleuthing; and details the scene that cause Sally and Mike's break up. It is a short, fun read that makes me want to binge read the entire series again!
October 1, 2022
I highly recommend the Cookies and Chance series by Catherine Bruns. She recently wrote a prequel called Formals, Fortune Cookies & Fraud and just like the rest of the series it's a great book. It was fun to go back in time and read about the characters as teenagers. If you have already read the rest of the series, you will want to read this as well, and it can be read at any point along the way.
July 2, 2023
This was acute little book. It dealt with their senior prom and life thereafter. The main character is Sally. She has been with her boyfriend for almost two years. She can see them together forever. Then the night of the prom all heck is turned loose. This story shows us how life can change so fast and why a single deed can change everything.
October 9, 2022
I absolutely loved this story, the characters were great! The setting is brilliant! I loved the mystery in it.
One of the best mystery story I have read so far, I am looking forward to the next in this series, I highly recommend reading this.
One of the best mystery story I have read so far, I am looking forward to the next in this series, I highly recommend reading this.
November 8, 2022
This prelude was a great read!
It’s short and sweet. A fast read that was nonetheless well developed. It’s a prelude to the Cookies and Chance series, ten years before book 1. A fun and lighthearted introduction that I highly recommend!
It’s short and sweet. A fast read that was nonetheless well developed. It’s a prelude to the Cookies and Chance series, ten years before book 1. A fun and lighthearted introduction that I highly recommend!
October 12, 2024
I enjoyed this quick short story. This sets up the series and intrigued me enough to download book one. Sally thought she knew what she wanted, prom, falling in love and the wondering how it could go so wrong. I'm very curious to see how she puts her life back together as an adult.
February 20, 2023
A short story.
Missing money to pay for Prom expenses. PLUS teenage romance and cheating.
Having to grow up
Missing money to pay for Prom expenses. PLUS teenage romance and cheating.
Having to grow up
February 21, 2023
This is a short story which covers the most disappointing prom in history.
June 10, 2023
Cute, short prequel to a series.
December 27, 2023
Good background for the main characters in the Cookies snd Chance series.
November 22, 2023
free ebook
i love this series
this is the first mini book, very short
she at her high school prom
they figured out who stole the prom money
she caught her boyfriend in the back seat of another girls car
she broke up with him and accepted a date with another boy
i love this series
this is the first mini book, very short
she at her high school prom
they figured out who stole the prom money
she caught her boyfriend in the back seat of another girls car
she broke up with him and accepted a date with another boy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews