Caught Bread Handed - Book Review

Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Author

Jules Capshaw is still chewing over her husband Carlos’s return to Ashland, Oregon. Could there be too many cooks in the kitchen? Whatever is stirring between those two will have to wait. Despite the Oregon Shakespeare Festival being dark for the winter, the bakeshop is bustling, the dough is rolling, and there’s no rest for the weary…especially when murder is thrown into the mix.

When Mindy Nolan, the owner of a new restaurant in town, turns up dead, the batter at hand thickens. Jules knows there was bad blood between Mindy and others in town, and tracking down the killer could prove to be an unwelcome treat. And to top it all off, there’s Carlos who is pleading–with those delicious dark eyes and sexy Spanish accent–to take him back. Is home where the heart is or will she make a fresh start…and risk getting burned?

My Review

Page Count: 320 pgs.

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Bakeshop Mysteries, Book 4

Ellie Alexander has become one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery authors, and this book did not disappoint! I usually don't binge read series, but I have for this one! 

The murder in this book wove in seamlessly with the events of the story. Jules bounced back a little from her uncertainty in On Thin Icing, and it was so nice to see her with more confidence. Carlos got on my nerves a little in the last book, but I liked him a lot more this time. He wasn't as stereotypical. Ellie Alexander portrays Ashland, Oregon in a vivid, positive light that makes me want to visit! 

Do yourself a favor and check out this book!

Other Books in the Bakeshop Mystery Series 

Meet Your Baker

This book is set in Ashland, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest. This setting was one of the reasons that I was drawn to this book. Ellie Alexander also writes as Kate E. Dyer-Seeley, and the mysteries she writes under that pen name all take place in the Pacific Northwest. Ashland feels like a cozy little town, which is perfect for this cozy mystery. 

The action starts quickly, and, as with most cozies, readers can easily guess who is going to get murdered. We get a glimpse of Nancy Hudson's nastiness, which provides many people with a motive for murder. 

What I Enjoyed: 

• Juliet "Jules" Capshaw is a very likable protagonist. She is down to earth and has flaws. She is also not too nosy. 
• The setting. Torte sounds like a very cozy, family style bakery, and I enjoyed reading about Jules' baking. 
• The plot. The story was engaging, and I didn't get bored at any point in the story. 
• The characters were realistic, and I loved that Ellie Alexander was able to bring out their personalities so well. 

Overall, this is a quick, fun cozy mystery. Ellie Alexander is one of my favorite cozy authors.

A Batter of Life and Death

This is a quick, fast-paced cozy mystery, and I really enjoyed it!

What I Enjoyed: 

• The plot. I liked that there was a baking contest, and the contestants and their big personalities really added to the story. 
• Jules. Her sleuthing is just right. She isn't too nosy, and I enjoyed her style of investigating. 
• The relationship between Jules and Thomas. They have a long history, and Ellie Alexander has done a good job of portraying their changed and amiable relationship with a hint of possible future romance. 
• Lance. One word: adorable. 

On Thin Icing

Ellie Alexander has become one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. I really love her characters, and she has painted a very vivid picture of Ashland, Oregon and Torte. I didn't find this one as predictable as other cozy mysteries. This book was more relationship centered than the first two Bakeshop Mysteries, but I really didn't mind that. 

However, despite how much I loved this book, I was not a huge fan of the underlying Carlos plot. I wanted there to be more tension, even though I do think that this will be played out more in the next book or two. Carlos also seems like the stereotypical, almost perfect, Latin lover. Everything he does is sensual or romantic, and everyone likes him. I would enjoy Carlos more if he had more flaws so that he would seem like more of a real person. There is some controversy that is touched on, but we don't really get the full story. 

One bone I had to pick with this plot is that the murder occurs outside of Ashland, Oregon; however, the Ashland detectives, Thomas and the Professor, are the ones who show up and handle the case. This wasn't realistic for me because technically it seems like a jurisdictional issue. This could easily be addressed with a small explanation within the story. 

Even though I had a few critiques, I really did enjoy On Thin Icing. It was a fast, light-hearted read, and I am looking forward to diving straight into the next book, Caught Bread Handed!

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On Thin Icing

On Thin Icing by Ellie Alexander - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Welcome to Torte-a small-town family bakeshop where the treats are killer good.

It's the dead of winter in the sleepy town of Ashland, which means no tourists-and fewer customers-for Jules Capshaw and her bakery. But when she's asked to cater an off-season retreat for the directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, business starts heating up...until Jules finds a dead body in the freezer.

"An intriguing new series."-Reader to Reader


Someone at the retreat has apparently iced the bartender, a well-known flirt with a legendary temper-that is, before a killer beat him to the punch. Then, from out of nowhere, Jules's own ex-husband shows up at the shop-and soon becomes a suspect. With accusations piling up higher than the snow-and thicker than a chocolate mousse cake-Jules has to think outside the (recipe) box to find the real culprit...and make sure he gets his just desserts.

My Review
Page Count: 
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: The Bakeshop Mystery Series

Ellie Alexander has become one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. I really love her characters, and she has painted a very vivid picture of Ashland, Oregon and Torte. I didn't find this one as predictable as other cozy mysteries. This book was more relationship centered than the first two Bakeshop Mysteries, but I really didn't mind that. 

However, despite how much I loved this book, I was not a huge fan of the underlying Carlos plot. I wanted there to be more tension, even though I do think that this will be played out more in the next book or two. Carlos also seems like the stereotypical, almost perfect, Latin lover. Everything he does is sensual or romantic, and everyone likes him. I would enjoy Carlos more if he had more flaws so that he would seem like more of a real person. There is some controversy that is touched on, but we don't really get the full story. 

One bone I had to pick with this plot is that the murder occurs outside of Ashland, Oregon; however, the Ashland detectives, Thomas and the Professor, are the ones who show up and handle the case. This wasn't realistic for me because technically it seems like a jurisdictional issue. This could easily be addressed with a small explanation within the story. 

Even though I had a few critiques, I really did enjoy On Thin Icing. It was a fast, light-hearted read, and I am looking forward to diving straight into the next book, Caught Bread Handed!

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Finger Lickin' Fifteen

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Recipe for disaster: Celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle comes to Trenton to participate in a barbecue cook-off and loses his head – literally.

Throw in some spice: Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she'll talk to is Trenton cop, Joe Morelli.

Pump up the heat: Chipotle's sponsor is offering a million-dollar reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of the killers.

Stir the pot: Lula recruits bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to help her find the killers and collect the moolah.

Add a secret ingredient: Stephanie's Grandma Mazur. Enough said.

Bring to a boil: Can Stephanie hunt down two killers, a traitor, five skips, keep her grandmother out of the sauce, solve Ranger's problems and not jump his bones?

Warning: Janet Evanovich's Finger Lickin' Fifteen is habanero hot. So good you'll want seconds.

My Review

This is one of my favorite Stephanie Plum books. It is LAUGH OUT LOUD hilarious! Lula and Grandma Mazur really added to the comedy in this book. Go check it out!

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A Batter of Life and Death

A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Welcome to Torte-a small-town family bakeshop where the coffee is hot, the muffins are fresh, and the cakes are definitely to die for...

It's autumn in Ashland, Oregon-'tis the season for a spiced hot apple cider with a serving (or two) of Torte's famous peach cobbler. It's also the perfect time for Jules Capshaw to promote her family's beloved bake shop by competing in The Pastry Channel's reality show, Take the Cake. The prize is $25,000. But as Jules quickly learns, some people would kill for that kind of dough. Literally.

Then, just as Jules dusts off her Bavarian Chocolate Cake recipe and cinches up her apron, the corpse of a fellow contestant is discovered-death by buttercream. What began as a fun, tasteful televised adventure has morphed into something of a true-crime detective show for Jules and everybody else on set. Who could have killed Chef Marco, and why? Can Jules sift out the killer before someone else gets burned?

My Review
This is a quick, fast-paced cozy mystery, and I really enjoyed it!

What I Enjoyed: 

• The plot. I liked that there was a baking contest, and the contestants and their big personalities really added to the story. 
• Jules. Her sleuthing is just right. She isn't too nosy, and I enjoyed her style of investigating. 
• The relationship between Jules and Thomas. They have a long history, and Ellie Alexander has done a good job of portraying their changed and amiable relationship with a hint of possible future romance. 
• Lance. One word: adorable. 

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Meet Your Baker

Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Welcome to Torte-a friendly, small-town family bake shop where the treats are so good that, sometimes, it's criminal...

After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte's customers turns up dead, there's much ado about murder...

The victim is Nancy Hudson, the festival's newest board member. A modern-day Lady Macbeth, Nancy has given more than a few actors and artists enough reasons to kill her...but still. The silver lining? Jules's high school sweetheart, Thomas, is the investigator on the case. His flirtations are as delicious as ever, and Jules can't help but want to have her cake and eat it too. But will she have her just desserts? Murder might be bad for business, but love is the sweetest treat of all...

My Review
This book is set in Ashland, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest. This setting was one of the reasons that I was drawn to this book. Ellie Alexander also writes as Kate E. Dyer-Seeley, and the mysteries she writes under that pen name all take place in the Pacific Northwest. Ashland feels like a cozy little town, which is perfect for this cozy mystery. 

The action starts quickly, and, as with most cozies, readers can easily guess who is going to get murdered. We get a glimpse of Nancy Hudson's nastiness, which provides many people with a motive for murder. 

What I Enjoyed: 

• Juliet "Jules" Capshaw is a very likable protagonist. She is down to earth and has flaws. She is also not too nosy. 
• The setting. Torte sounds like a very cozy, family style bakery, and I enjoyed reading about Jules' baking. 
• The plot. The story was engaging, and I didn't get bored at any point in the story. 
• The characters were realistic, and I loved that Ellie Alexander was able to bring out their personalities so well. 

Overall, this is a quick, fun cozy mystery. Ellie Alexander is one of my favorite cozy authors. 

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Guilty as Cinnamon

Guilty as Cinnamon by Leslie Budewitz - ⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Murder heats up Seattle’s Pike Place Market in the next Spice Shop mystery from the national bestselling author of Assault and Pepper.

Springtime in Seattle’s Pike Place Market means tasty foods and wide-eyed tourists, and Pepper’s Spice Shop is ready for the crowds. With flavorful combinations and a fresh approach, she’s sure to win over the public. Even better, she’s working with several local restaurants as their chief herb and spice supplier. Business is cooking, until one of Pepper’s potential clients, a young chef named Tamara Langston, is found dead, her life extinguished by the dangerously hot ghost chili—a spice Pepper carries in her shop. 

Now stuck in the middle of a heated police investigation, Pepper must use all her senses to find out who wanted to keep Tamara’s new café from opening—before someone else gets burned… 

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!

My Review

Just like Assault and Pepper, the characters and story in this book were pretty good. The book started off as a quick read, and I really enjoyed it. However, I found myself a little less invested in the story about 3/4 of the way through the book, but it did pick back up at the end. The ending was good! This is a cute, cozy mystery, and I plan on continuing reading the series!

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March 2018 Cozies

Here is a summary of the cozy mysteries I read this month. Check them out! 

The Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website: "From New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams comes the first in an intriguing new series set within a quirky small-town club where the key to happiness, friendship—or solving a murder—can all be found within the pages of the right book . . .

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Strangers flock here hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden.

When a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, she knows exactly which novels will help. But before he can keep their appointment at Miracle Books, he’s found dead on the train tracks.

Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to gain trust and earn redemption by helping others. To join the society, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place.

Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cramped and cozy bookstore to share stories and trade support. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge—proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over . . ."

Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich - ⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website: "Now A Between-the-Numbers Novel A holiday treat from #1 New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich--spicier than gingerbread, with more nuts than a fruitcake--it's Visions of Sugar Plums

It’s four days before Christmas and things are not looking merry for fugitive apprehension agent Stephanie Plum. She hasn’t got a tree. She hasn’t bought any presents. The malls are jam-packed with staggering shoppers. There’s not a twinkle light anywhere to be seen in her apartment.

And there’s a strange man in her kitchen.

Sure, this has happened to Stephanie Plum before. Strangers, weirdos, felons, creeps, and lunatics are always finding their way to her front door. But this guy is different. This guy is mysterious, sexy–and he has his own agenda. His name is Diesel and he is a man on a mission. Diesel is unlike anyone Stephanie has ever met before in her life. The question is, What does he want with her? Can he help her find a little old toy maker who has skipped out on his bail right before Christmas? Can he survive the Plum family holiday dinner? Can he get Stephanie a tree that doesn’t look like it was grown next to a nuclear power plant? These questions and more are keeping Stephanie awake at night. Not to mention the fact that she needs to find a bunch of nasty elves, her sister Valerie has a Christmas “surprise” for the Plums, her niece Mary Alice doesn’t believe in Santa anymore, and Grandma Mazur has a new stud muffin. So bring out the plastic reindeer, strap on your jingle bells, and get ready to celebrate the holidays–Jersey style. Visions of Sugar Plums–the world of Plum has never been merrier!"

Quilt or Innocence by Elizabeth Spann Craig - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website: "Retired folk art curator Beatrice Coleman knows everything there is to know about quilts, except how to make them. But with her recent move to Dapple Hills, North Carolina, she’s learning all sorts of new things—including how to solve a murder…

As the newest member of the Village Quilters Guild, Beatrice has a lot of gossip to catch up on—especially with the Patchwork Cottage quilt shop about to close. It seems that Judith, the landlord everyone loves to hate, wants to raise the rent, despite being a quilter herself…

But when Judith is found dead, the harmless gossip becomes an intricate patchwork of mischievous motives. And it’s up to Beatrice’s expert eye to decipher the pattern and catch the killer, before her life gets sewn up for good."

A Deadly Eclair by Daryl Wood Gerber - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website: "It's always been Mimi Rousseau's dream to open her own bistro, but it seems beyond her grasp since she's been chased back home to Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley by her late husband's tremendous debt. That is until her best friend Jorianne James introduces her to entrepreneur Bryan Baker who enjoys investing in promising prospects. Now, with her own bistro and inn, Mimi is throwing the inn's first wedding ever.

The wedding will be the talk of the town, as famous talk show host Angelica Edmonton, daughter of Bryan's half-brother, Edison, has chosen the inn as her perfect venue. Anxious, Mimi is sure things are going to turn south, especially when Edison gets drunk and rowdy at the out-of-towners' dinner, but by the evening, things begin to look up again. That is until the morning rolls around, and Bryan is found dead on the premises with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. And the fingers point at Mimi, whose entire loan is forgiven in Bryan's will.

It's up to Mimi to clear her name and get to the bottom of things before the killer turns up the heat again in A Deadly Éclair, the scrumptious series debut by Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber."

The Wolfe Widow by Victoria Abbott - ⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website: " As Thanksgiving approaches, Jordan Bingham is grateful for her job researching rare books for Vera Van Alst, the infamous curmudgeon of Harrison Falls, New York. But when an uninvited guest makes an appearance, much more than dinner is disrupted--and Jordan is thankful just to be alive... Vera Van Alst doesn't normally receive visitors without appointment, but she agrees to see the imperious Muriel Delgado upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, Jordan is told that her position is being terminated. Evicted from the Van Alst House, Jordan is determined to find out what hold Muriel has over her erstwhile employer. It seems Muriel has designs on Vera's money and property--not to mention a particular interest in her collection of Nero Wolfe first editions. When Jordan discovers a deadly connection between Muriel and the Van Alst family, it's up to her to put the house in order and stop a killer from going back to press."

The Quick and the Thread by Amanda Lee - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website: "When Marcy Singer opens an embroidery specialty shop in quaint Tallulah Falls, Oregon, she throws a soiree and a Stitch-In. Soon, Marcy’s sign- up sheet for embroidery classes fills up and everyone in town seems willing to raise a glass-or a needle-to support the newly-opened Seven Year Stitch.Then Marcy finds the shop’s previous tenant dead in the store-room, a message scratched with a tapestry needle on the wall beside him. Now Marcy’s shop has become a crime scene, and she’s the prime suspect. She’ll have to find the killer before someone puts a final stitch in her."

A Case of Syrah, Syrah by Nancy J. Parra - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the Barnes and Noble website: "Taylor O’Brian is a new businesswoman, founder of “Taylor’s Off The Beaten Path Wine Tours,” who lives on a small winery with her Aunt Jemma. She plans to take small groups around romantic Sonoma county to discover some of the county’s outdoor gardens. It’s all running as smooth as can be until Laura, the leader of the group of yoga instructors she’s leading, is found dead. And it’s Taylor’s corkscrew that’s found buried in Laura’s neck.

She’s not sure who to trust, and everyone around suddenly seems suspect. Only two weeks after the murder, her very own administrative assistant, Amy, marries Laura’s husband, Dan, who doesn’t seem very bereaved about being widowed, and the three yoga masters who were also out on the tour begin to seem shady. Taylor can’t afford to jump ship from her new business endeavor, but just as she begins her investigation, another dead body surfaces. This time, it’s Dan’s sister. And the killer is coming for Taylor next.

Now it’s up to Taylor to uncork this open-bottle mystery, before more blood is spilled. For fans of Laura Childs and Ellen Crosby, A Case of Syrah, Syrah is the charming first in bestselling author Nancy J. Parra’s Wine Country mysteries."

Silence of the Jams by Gayle Leeson - ⭐⭐⭐

From the author's website: "It's Independence Day in Winter Garden, Virginia, and the residents are gearing up for their annual celebration. The Down South Café is open and flourishing, and Amy Flowers is busy making pies and cakes for the holiday. The only thorn in her side is Chamber of Commerce director George Lincoln, who is trying to buy the café so he can tear it down and build a B&B on the site.

When George collapses while eating at the Down South, everybody assumes it's a heart attack—until the autopsy declares it to be poisoning. Now, it’s up to Amy to prove her innocence before her liberty is lost."

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