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Bakeshop Mystery #5
Fudge and Jury
Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bakery where the pastries are delicious…and, now, suspicious.
It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crèpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter—unless murder taints the batter.
Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?
It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crèpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter—unless murder taints the batter.
Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?
297 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 3, 2017
About the author
Ellie Alexander
60 books2,750 followersEllie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
January 22, 2022
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In this 5th book, 'A Bakeshop Mystery Series', you will find another murder mystery. Jule's estranged husband, Carlos, showed up in her tiny hometown of Ashland, after being estranged and still continues to confuse her.
Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?
I was able to read this series on my Kindle through my local Public Library. I am forever grateful for all the books I have been able to access in my exploration of the literary artist this way.
I would recommend this series to anyone who is interested in food and cozy mysteries, that are wrapped with an intriguing H.E.A. regarding the murder mystery.
.
In this 5th book, 'A Bakeshop Mystery Series', you will find another murder mystery. Jule's estranged husband, Carlos, showed up in her tiny hometown of Ashland, after being estranged and still continues to confuse her.
Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for—literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead…right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream?
I was able to read this series on my Kindle through my local Public Library. I am forever grateful for all the books I have been able to access in my exploration of the literary artist this way.
I would recommend this series to anyone who is interested in food and cozy mysteries, that are wrapped with an intriguing H.E.A. regarding the murder mystery.
.
May 30, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Everyone at Torte is excited for the annual Chocolate Festival as the shop will have a featured role at the event. They also are having new ovens installed and a little painting and reorganization taking place while the shop is closed for the festival. So it is all hands on deck to get everything done.
Jules and Helen are handling the festival and are getting their booth set up when chocolatier, Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, is making the rounds of the neighboring booths. Soon after he samples a cake at the Torte booth the man keels over dead. At first, it is thought the man died due to his peanut allergy but Jules adamantly states there are no nuts in the cake and there was no cross-contamination. It wasn’t her cake so now she is out to find what killed Evan Rowe before all her plans are fudged up for good.
Each book in I become more engaged and invested in these characters. Helen Capshaw really treats her staff like family and having Jules home working side by side with her mother is so heartwarming. The people they bring in their lives like Thomas, the Professor, and Lance all bring their own personalities to the story. We are also introduced to some eclectic characters unique to this story. All the dialogue rings true and all the interactions are meaningful. Sadly Carlos has returned to his ship.
The mystery this was a puzzler with a whole festival full of suspects. Who had contact with the famous chocolatier? Did they pull off the perfect crime? I was following right along with Jules right up to the big reveal. The whole thing was very well-plotted and written. The pages were literally flying.
There are delightful chocolate descriptions throughout the book. My mouth was watering and I was truly craving chocolate of any kind by the time I reached the end of the book. The author does include recipes in the back of the book and this time she includes a savory one too, Chicken Apple Sausage Quiche, I can’t wait to try.
Fudge and Jury is my favorite book right now in this series as I continue my quest to catch up on this series.
Everyone at Torte is excited for the annual Chocolate Festival as the shop will have a featured role at the event. They also are having new ovens installed and a little painting and reorganization taking place while the shop is closed for the festival. So it is all hands on deck to get everything done.
Jules and Helen are handling the festival and are getting their booth set up when chocolatier, Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, is making the rounds of the neighboring booths. Soon after he samples a cake at the Torte booth the man keels over dead. At first, it is thought the man died due to his peanut allergy but Jules adamantly states there are no nuts in the cake and there was no cross-contamination. It wasn’t her cake so now she is out to find what killed Evan Rowe before all her plans are fudged up for good.
Each book in I become more engaged and invested in these characters. Helen Capshaw really treats her staff like family and having Jules home working side by side with her mother is so heartwarming. The people they bring in their lives like Thomas, the Professor, and Lance all bring their own personalities to the story. We are also introduced to some eclectic characters unique to this story. All the dialogue rings true and all the interactions are meaningful. Sadly Carlos has returned to his ship.
The mystery this was a puzzler with a whole festival full of suspects. Who had contact with the famous chocolatier? Did they pull off the perfect crime? I was following right along with Jules right up to the big reveal. The whole thing was very well-plotted and written. The pages were literally flying.
There are delightful chocolate descriptions throughout the book. My mouth was watering and I was truly craving chocolate of any kind by the time I reached the end of the book. The author does include recipes in the back of the book and this time she includes a savory one too, Chicken Apple Sausage Quiche, I can’t wait to try.
Fudge and Jury is my favorite book right now in this series as I continue my quest to catch up on this series.
November 10, 2022
Another enjoyable book in this series. Jules and her bakery Torte are entered in the annual Ashland Chocolate Festival and it sounds like a yummy event to attend except when one of the chefs ends up dying of anaphylaxis shock. What caused his allergic reaction? Is it an accident, or is it murder? It's definitely a culinary mystery that only Jules can solve. This can be read as a stand alone for the mystery part but quite a bit is going on in the personal lives of the characters, which may be confusing if you haven't read the previous books.
December 29, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
Juliet, you are the worst liar on the planet. I know exactly what you’re thinking and I assure you that I’m thinking the same thing. Evan was clearly hunted down and killed by a crafty baker. Don’t try to pretend that you’re not as delighted as I am…
She reminded me of a writer who was a regular at Torte. He brings his laptop and plants himself by the front windows while he writes and drinks coffee by the gallon. Andy once asked if we should cut him off because customers around him were complaining that the floor was shaking so much that they thought there was an earthquake.
Mom had made a point of trying to fatten me up, offering me buttery scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam and sausage rolls. She claimed that having a pastry chef who looked like a skeleton was bad for business.
The gyro smelled so good that I would have eaten it off the floor, but I agreed to Lance’s request and tossed the cardboard container back in the bag.
My Review:
Fudge and Jury is book number five of a six book series - although it had strong enough legs to stand on its own. I had not read the previous books and had no difficulty following the story. As the plot revolves around a chocolate festival and features a bakery owner who thoroughly describes her baking process and tasting of her treats, this story would be a mystery loving gourmand’s highest level of heaven or a dieter’s lowest level of hell, I was coveting her confections the entire time I was reading. Written in the first person POV of a somewhat spacey/daydream-prone baker, the story was packed with quirky characters yet was a bit slower paced than I am used to. However, I was far from cracking the inventive murder mystery. The victim was an esteemed chef who died moments before the chocolate festival was to begin, and being that he was a rather atrocious blowhard, there was no shortage of suspects. It looked like someone might just get away with the perfect murder.
Juliet, you are the worst liar on the planet. I know exactly what you’re thinking and I assure you that I’m thinking the same thing. Evan was clearly hunted down and killed by a crafty baker. Don’t try to pretend that you’re not as delighted as I am…
She reminded me of a writer who was a regular at Torte. He brings his laptop and plants himself by the front windows while he writes and drinks coffee by the gallon. Andy once asked if we should cut him off because customers around him were complaining that the floor was shaking so much that they thought there was an earthquake.
Mom had made a point of trying to fatten me up, offering me buttery scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam and sausage rolls. She claimed that having a pastry chef who looked like a skeleton was bad for business.
The gyro smelled so good that I would have eaten it off the floor, but I agreed to Lance’s request and tossed the cardboard container back in the bag.
My Review:
Fudge and Jury is book number five of a six book series - although it had strong enough legs to stand on its own. I had not read the previous books and had no difficulty following the story. As the plot revolves around a chocolate festival and features a bakery owner who thoroughly describes her baking process and tasting of her treats, this story would be a mystery loving gourmand’s highest level of heaven or a dieter’s lowest level of hell, I was coveting her confections the entire time I was reading. Written in the first person POV of a somewhat spacey/daydream-prone baker, the story was packed with quirky characters yet was a bit slower paced than I am used to. However, I was far from cracking the inventive murder mystery. The victim was an esteemed chef who died moments before the chocolate festival was to begin, and being that he was a rather atrocious blowhard, there was no shortage of suspects. It looked like someone might just get away with the perfect murder.
July 10, 2017
It’s been a while since I read the previous book in this series, and I have to say that I forgot how readable these books are! The Bakeshop mysteries are truly a joy to read and I will be sticking with this series for many books to come!
Jules is great, I think my main problem with her in the last books was how she acted with Carlos around, and, though she thought about him often in this book, she was much more likable without him around making her act foolish. Her mother is always a delight, and I’m curious to see how Ms. Alexander incorporates a new feature we learn abour her mom into the next books.
The mystery was excellent. There weren’t an overabundance of clues, but it was simple and neat (which often are the best types of mysteries). Jules didn’t have any “I have to investigate or I might die” moments, and it all wrapped up nicely. The setting was–as always–amazing, and I’m excited to see new features of Torte in the upcoming books.
Overall a wonderful book that left me wanting more. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of A Crime of Passionfruit. (Plus there was an awesome looking recipe for chocolate pasta in the back!)
Jules is great, I think my main problem with her in the last books was how she acted with Carlos around, and, though she thought about him often in this book, she was much more likable without him around making her act foolish. Her mother is always a delight, and I’m curious to see how Ms. Alexander incorporates a new feature we learn abour her mom into the next books.
The mystery was excellent. There weren’t an overabundance of clues, but it was simple and neat (which often are the best types of mysteries). Jules didn’t have any “I have to investigate or I might die” moments, and it all wrapped up nicely. The setting was–as always–amazing, and I’m excited to see new features of Torte in the upcoming books.
Overall a wonderful book that left me wanting more. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of A Crime of Passionfruit. (Plus there was an awesome looking recipe for chocolate pasta in the back!)
January 9, 2021
I liked this better than the previous one. A good cozy read with a side mystery. There's a lot going on with Jules, what with a fest to participate, expanding Torte and the mystery to solve.
December 27, 2023
Another great trip to Torte! I’d love to stop at the bakery and meet Jules and the gang. Part of what I like about this series is the characters. The chocolate festival was a fun setting and the samples all sounded so yummy. The investigating seemed kind of light but I enjoyed the story and didn’t mind.
June 2, 2024
Fudge and Jury by Ellie Alexander is the 5th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. Ashland, Oregon is holding it's annual Chocolate Festival when world renowned chocolatier Evan Rowe dies of an allergic reaction claiming murder. It was great to revisit Torte which is undergoing expansion and renovations and this took centre stage as well as the chocolate treats. The mystery was interesting and I liked that Jules was less involved leaving the investigation to the police. The Thomas situation is a bit awkward and hopefully will be resolved soon. A delightful and delectible cozy mystery.
February 6, 2017
Setting: Ashland, Oregon; annual chocolate festival
Characters
Juliet "Jules" Capshaw: Pastry chef, narrator, and co-owner of Torte, a well-loved local bakery and cafe in Ashland
Helen Capshaw: Jules' mother and co-owner of Torte
The Professor: Police chief detective and boyfriend of Helen
Thomas: Police detective, high school sweetheart of Jules
Andy, Sterling, and Stephanie: Members of the staff at Torte
Plot: The annual chocolate festival is a huge opportunity for Torte to expand their business. Everyone is busy making preparations. But the staff at Torte are also preparing for a renovation at the bakery. To say it's a hectic time is saying the very least. Before the festival opens, more chaos ensues as a renown local chocolatier literally drops dead in front of Torte's booth. The victim was well known but not well liked by any means. It appears as though his death resulted from tasting a tainted sample from one of the event's vendors. Thomas and the Professor face the task of figuring out who among the crowd was aware of the victim's nut allergy and had the motive to do him in.
Pacing: Steady
Predictability: Low
Wild Card: Fudge and Jury is a delectable mystery. As this series continues, I grow more and more enchanted with the world Ellie Alexander creates in Ashland. The characters feel like welcome friends and the stories are always peppered with mouth-watering descriptions of pastry and coffee, chocolates and meals. With and warmth fill each scene - truly tempting tales that are a delight to indulge in.
Hit, Miss, or Draw? Hit!
Characters
Juliet "Jules" Capshaw: Pastry chef, narrator, and co-owner of Torte, a well-loved local bakery and cafe in Ashland
Helen Capshaw: Jules' mother and co-owner of Torte
The Professor: Police chief detective and boyfriend of Helen
Thomas: Police detective, high school sweetheart of Jules
Andy, Sterling, and Stephanie: Members of the staff at Torte
Plot: The annual chocolate festival is a huge opportunity for Torte to expand their business. Everyone is busy making preparations. But the staff at Torte are also preparing for a renovation at the bakery. To say it's a hectic time is saying the very least. Before the festival opens, more chaos ensues as a renown local chocolatier literally drops dead in front of Torte's booth. The victim was well known but not well liked by any means. It appears as though his death resulted from tasting a tainted sample from one of the event's vendors. Thomas and the Professor face the task of figuring out who among the crowd was aware of the victim's nut allergy and had the motive to do him in.
Pacing: Steady
Predictability: Low
Wild Card: Fudge and Jury is a delectable mystery. As this series continues, I grow more and more enchanted with the world Ellie Alexander creates in Ashland. The characters feel like welcome friends and the stories are always peppered with mouth-watering descriptions of pastry and coffee, chocolates and meals. With and warmth fill each scene - truly tempting tales that are a delight to indulge in.
Hit, Miss, or Draw? Hit!
January 16, 2017
Still one of my favourite cozy mystery series!
We are back in Torte and it's time for the Chocolate Festival (mentioned in book 4). Torte is closed for the festival as the kids are painting the kitchen updating the stores, while Jules and her mother are busy with their booth at the festival. One of the vendor's (a famous chef) is found dead after sampling a number of chocolate dishes. Which one of the vendor's is to blame or was it someone close to the chef?
I love reading about Torte and Ashland, there is something cozy about the town. I really like Jules and her mom and their relationship. The mystery was pretty good and I was surprised about who the killer was, and the method used to kill the chef.
Bonus: there was no Carlos!!
Thanks to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
We are back in Torte and it's time for the Chocolate Festival (mentioned in book 4). Torte is closed for the festival as the kids are painting the kitchen updating the stores, while Jules and her mother are busy with their booth at the festival. One of the vendor's (a famous chef) is found dead after sampling a number of chocolate dishes. Which one of the vendor's is to blame or was it someone close to the chef?
I love reading about Torte and Ashland, there is something cozy about the town. I really like Jules and her mom and their relationship. The mystery was pretty good and I was surprised about who the killer was, and the method used to kill the chef.
Bonus: there was no Carlos!!
Thanks to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 26, 2016
In the fifth book of this series Jules and her Mother are attending a Chocolate Festival in Ashland, Oregon. A competitor has a strong allergic reaction and dies just after eating a piece of cake made by Jules before the festival opens. Between overseeing new ovens put into Torte and handling the festival duties, Jules search for an answer. This book is full of cooking and baking instructions and a little romance. Good recipes are included. I recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from St. Martins Press through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from St. Martins Press through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 11, 2016
Oh boy is it fun to read a book about chocolate on a snowy weekend. Ellie Alexander's January release of Fudge & Jury is excellent. The Bakeshop mystery series has quickly become a favorite of mine and Ellie Alexander reminds me of why in Fudge & Jury. Fans of this series, you will want to stock chocolate before you start this book! I had to make brownies while reading it. Mouthwatering food mentions and recipes await you as well as a wonderful mother/daughter relationship and a compelling mystery too!
January 23, 2017
Warning: Reading this book will cause chocolate cravings. Not only does the main character run a bakery specializing in chocolate, but they are currently participating in their local chocolate festival! Chocolate galore.
Fudge and Jury is a cute culinary cozy mystery. (How’s that for alliteration?) Though perhaps it leans a bit more toward the culinary & the cozy than the mystery, that doesn’t make it any less entertaining. It’s full of great chocolate and great characters (Lance is so intriguing!) and seriously your mouth will be watering from all the food and chocolate discussions. The setting – small town Ashland, Oregon – is vividly established in your mind, and even though this is the fifth book in the series it can easily be read as a standalone.
Bottom Line: There’s a bit more fudge than jury in the latest Bakeshop Mystery from Ellie Alexander, but you get so caught up in the delightful back and forth of life in Ashland and at Torte that you almost don’t realize that nothing much is being said about the murder investigation. Juliet is a compelling and likable main character/narrator, and her various relationships (platonic on her end except for one) are complicated and intriguing. I’m definitely following this series to see how this all plays out!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Fudge and Jury is a cute culinary cozy mystery. (How’s that for alliteration?) Though perhaps it leans a bit more toward the culinary & the cozy than the mystery, that doesn’t make it any less entertaining. It’s full of great chocolate and great characters (Lance is so intriguing!) and seriously your mouth will be watering from all the food and chocolate discussions. The setting – small town Ashland, Oregon – is vividly established in your mind, and even though this is the fifth book in the series it can easily be read as a standalone.
Bottom Line: There’s a bit more fudge than jury in the latest Bakeshop Mystery from Ellie Alexander, but you get so caught up in the delightful back and forth of life in Ashland and at Torte that you almost don’t realize that nothing much is being said about the murder investigation. Juliet is a compelling and likable main character/narrator, and her various relationships (platonic on her end except for one) are complicated and intriguing. I’m definitely following this series to see how this all plays out!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 24, 2024
I loved the chocolate competition! Exciting things are happening at Torte, including new ovens and a potential expansion. Things start heating back up a bit with Thomas now that Carlos is out of the picture again (completely out, we don't hear a peep from him in this book). I felt like the end reveal of this book was a bit disappointing, we don't know what the killer's motive was at the end. Perhaps that will be revealed in the next book.
November 27, 2022
This is a great series! One of my favorites. I listened to this on audio but would much rather have read it. Ellie Alexander is an excellent author and I am in love with Jule’s and her friends and mom. My only criticism is she’s choosing the wrong love interest! 😝
March 15, 2019
I really enjoy these Bakeshop Mysteries. In this story, Jules and her crew from Torte have a space at the Chocolate Festival and they hope to bring home the ultimate award for their chocolate. What they do not expect is a rival chocolatier to fall dead at Jules' feet. When her cake is suspected of being the cause of his death, Jules, her crew, and her friend Lance feel compelled to help the police find the murderer. This is a satisfying, page-turner of a mystery that will keep readers coming back for more.
January 5, 2017
Book five in the series was even better than I expected!
With the characters I have grown to love, and a great mystery plot, this is the best in the series so far!
I highly recommend it and look forward to more in the series!
With the characters I have grown to love, and a great mystery plot, this is the best in the series so far!
I highly recommend it and look forward to more in the series!
June 13, 2017
Juliet Capshaw is honored that her family bakeshop, Torte, is to be one of the featured hosts at the Chocolate Fest in her hometown of Ashland, Oregon. While Juliet and her mother are busily preparing chocolate tasting samples, their young staff is gearing up to paint and remodel the bakery kitchen and finally install new ovens. Meanwhile, there is a captivating possibility to expand Torte to the downstairs basement.
In the midst of the chocolate frenzy, Evan Rowe, the conceited and unlikeable owner of Confections Couture, collapses after sampling Juliet's chocolate cake. It is clear he is in anaphylatic shock. Evan had a nut allergy he tried to keep hidden, but Juliet is sure her cake sample did not contain nuts. It is possible Evan could have eaten nuts from another vendor, but wouldn't he have tasted them in the sample?
Along with her friend and artistic director, Lance, Juliet asks some pointed questions. Many people had reasons to dislike Evan, but who would kill him? Meanwhile, Juliet finds her relationship with her old high school boyfriend and detective-in-training, Thomas, becoming uncomfortable. She is still a married woman but unsure if she is unable to forgive her husband for keeping his son a secret from her.
I have read the previous books in the series, and I enjoyed this book as well. I do wish Juliet would sort out her romantic situation with her husband, Carlos, as it is beginning to get a bit tedious and somewhat unbelievable to think that he is content to be cooking on cruise ships apart from Juliet for what has to be nearly a year now.
In the midst of the chocolate frenzy, Evan Rowe, the conceited and unlikeable owner of Confections Couture, collapses after sampling Juliet's chocolate cake. It is clear he is in anaphylatic shock. Evan had a nut allergy he tried to keep hidden, but Juliet is sure her cake sample did not contain nuts. It is possible Evan could have eaten nuts from another vendor, but wouldn't he have tasted them in the sample?
Along with her friend and artistic director, Lance, Juliet asks some pointed questions. Many people had reasons to dislike Evan, but who would kill him? Meanwhile, Juliet finds her relationship with her old high school boyfriend and detective-in-training, Thomas, becoming uncomfortable. She is still a married woman but unsure if she is unable to forgive her husband for keeping his son a secret from her.
I have read the previous books in the series, and I enjoyed this book as well. I do wish Juliet would sort out her romantic situation with her husband, Carlos, as it is beginning to get a bit tedious and somewhat unbelievable to think that he is content to be cooking on cruise ships apart from Juliet for what has to be nearly a year now.
August 16, 2021
1 star
I used to love cozies but every time I try to get back into them, it is a disaster.
This book is 80% cozy, 15% mystery. Suspects are hardly in the book and when they are there, it's to have their motives thinly built. More time is given to subplots I couldn't care less about. Even the resolution of the mystery felt like an afterthought.
I didn’t vibe with the writing style. It felt like the main character was constantly trying to justify her choices or explain them to the reader. It felt kinda condescending, especially some of the food parts.
Typical cozy, where characters have one or two quirks but are otherwise flat. The main characters are more developed but generic and could have come from any cozy
I understand this genre is meant to be wish fulfillment, but this was just too extreme for me. The main character and her mum are unrealistically nice, the local council is dying to give her money, generic multiple love interests with no chemistry, everyone likes her, and she suddenly has to give a presentation and people say it was one of the best of the event.
I used to love cozies but every time I try to get back into them, it is a disaster.
This book is 80% cozy, 15% mystery. Suspects are hardly in the book and when they are there, it's to have their motives thinly built. More time is given to subplots I couldn't care less about. Even the resolution of the mystery felt like an afterthought.
I didn’t vibe with the writing style. It felt like the main character was constantly trying to justify her choices or explain them to the reader. It felt kinda condescending, especially some of the food parts.
Typical cozy, where characters have one or two quirks but are otherwise flat. The main characters are more developed but generic and could have come from any cozy
I understand this genre is meant to be wish fulfillment, but this was just too extreme for me. The main character and her mum are unrealistically nice, the local council is dying to give her money, generic multiple love interests with no chemistry, everyone likes her, and she suddenly has to give a presentation and people say it was one of the best of the event.
January 31, 2017
Book received from NetGalley.
This is a very cute cozy mystery. It takes place in Oregon at a Chocolate Festival. The owners of a local bakery take part and end up embroiled in a murder mystery when one of the other vendors at the festival dies under suspicious circumstances. This is the first book I have ever read in the series, even though it's the fifth book released. It really didn't matter, I had no problem following what was going on and with the bit of explanation about other characters, I could jump right in. So it can be read as a stand alone. I plan on reading other books in the series, especially since it is so hard to find cozy mysteries that keep you guessing on "whodunnit" until almost the end. I really enjoyed this one.
This is a very cute cozy mystery. It takes place in Oregon at a Chocolate Festival. The owners of a local bakery take part and end up embroiled in a murder mystery when one of the other vendors at the festival dies under suspicious circumstances. This is the first book I have ever read in the series, even though it's the fifth book released. It really didn't matter, I had no problem following what was going on and with the bit of explanation about other characters, I could jump right in. So it can be read as a stand alone. I plan on reading other books in the series, especially since it is so hard to find cozy mysteries that keep you guessing on "whodunnit" until almost the end. I really enjoyed this one.
January 2, 2017
A Chocolate Festival sounds like a great idea! Ashland Falls, Oregon is preparing for their festival and Torte, a locally owned bake shop, is excited to be participating.
The delectable chocolate delights will leave your mouth watering and when a local participant drops dead, it seems that Torte needs to prove their innocence.
This book has a lot going on and it is sure to please fans of this wonderful series.
Each book gets better and better and this one is definitely my favorite by far!
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
The delectable chocolate delights will leave your mouth watering and when a local participant drops dead, it seems that Torte needs to prove their innocence.
This book has a lot going on and it is sure to please fans of this wonderful series.
Each book gets better and better and this one is definitely my favorite by far!
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
January 2, 2017
This wasn't quite as entertaining as the previous books, but it was still very good. The delicious descriptions of chocolate and yummy goodies had me salivating, and the mystery kept me on my toes.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
July 9, 2017
Thanks so much Ellie for letting us get to know Lance better! Loved his roll in the mystery!
March 23, 2020
A well plotted and entertaining cozy with wonderful characters and lots of chocolate!
April 3, 2024
3.5 stars!
I accidentally skipped this book and went on to book 6, and I’m glad I found out and could come back to it! This is the Torte series I love. In my review for book 6, I explained that I was stopping the series there because for me, it lost its cozy atmosphere on the cruise ship and I wasn’t looking forward to the other big changes coming. So it was lovely to step back once more before those big changes and enjoy cozy Torte/Ashland!
- This was so snug, and heartfelt, and the Torte team was a pleasure to be around. Sometimes their teasing got a tad too cheesy, hehe, but I got over it.
- I adored Jules even more here! She and her mom’s relationship is so beautiful. I also liked that she stood firmly on her feelings for Carlos this time instead of denying them—Carlos deserves as much! I did find it weird that she and Carlos don’t even call to talk on the phone—I mean they are married and have settled!
- I don’t know how I felt about the whole Thomas’s profession of love for Jules. Usually, the books have a slow burn and so when it gets to the point in the end where the feelings are expressed, I get butterflies. But this time I felt apathetic to Thomas’s long-awaited declaration of love. Maybe because I’m firmly team Carlos now haha. But also because Thomas’s character has been suffering a bit in the writing over the books. I *would* say that I don’t love how Lance refers to Thomas as a puppy dog or whatnot. It’s kinda condescending and also affects Thomas’s character. Let the man have some dignity!
- I loved the Chocolate Fest backdrop. (I was so confused when I was reading book 6 and the Fest was mentioned in passing because I thought it would’ve been more prominent.) It was exactly the atmosphere I love in this series. I also love the rainy season!!! I can’t believe they were at the Fest to give out all their pastries for FREE!! Why??!! They could’ve made so much money. I did love that Torte won the two awards. I feel like Jules and Helen would be wonderful people in real life. And yay new ovens!
- I don’t love how the author keeps acting like Helen being in her fifties essentially makes her an old lady. I’ve seen many fifty year old who are dandy and strong—like my parents. The author constantly calling Helen ‘slower’ and now making her arthritic feels unnecessary and uncomfortable because it makes me panic about my own parents. 50 isn’t 80.
- I enjoyed meeting Bethany here! I met her in book 6 and had wondered how she got involved in the story. She’s so sweet and adorable.
- I’ve not been the biggest Lance fan, even though I think he’s an essential addition to the series. I don’t dislike him, and he IS funny, but I found him annoying in older books. I felt like the writer was purposely trying to make readers like him more here, so my natural reaction was to be resistant. But it was very nice giving him more character and involving him more in the mystery!
- Unfortunately I still think the mystery wasn’t extremely strong. It was strong-ER than some of the other books, and I think the peppercorns-are-nuts angle was clever(!!) but the mystery-baking ratio could’ve been balanced better.
- Unfortunately while reading, I watched the Dune movie and have been in such a massive Dune hangover, that it has affected every media I consumed that wasn’t Dune. From the halfway point of reading, after I watched the movie, I struggled to re-immerse myself in Ashland as I usually do. So it made me feel a bit detached from the story. Buttt I still enjoyed most of it!
3.5 stars, and I highly recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers!
I accidentally skipped this book and went on to book 6, and I’m glad I found out and could come back to it! This is the Torte series I love. In my review for book 6, I explained that I was stopping the series there because for me, it lost its cozy atmosphere on the cruise ship and I wasn’t looking forward to the other big changes coming. So it was lovely to step back once more before those big changes and enjoy cozy Torte/Ashland!
- This was so snug, and heartfelt, and the Torte team was a pleasure to be around. Sometimes their teasing got a tad too cheesy, hehe, but I got over it.
- I adored Jules even more here! She and her mom’s relationship is so beautiful. I also liked that she stood firmly on her feelings for Carlos this time instead of denying them—Carlos deserves as much! I did find it weird that she and Carlos don’t even call to talk on the phone—I mean they are married and have settled!
- I don’t know how I felt about the whole Thomas’s profession of love for Jules. Usually, the books have a slow burn and so when it gets to the point in the end where the feelings are expressed, I get butterflies. But this time I felt apathetic to Thomas’s long-awaited declaration of love. Maybe because I’m firmly team Carlos now haha. But also because Thomas’s character has been suffering a bit in the writing over the books. I *would* say that I don’t love how Lance refers to Thomas as a puppy dog or whatnot. It’s kinda condescending and also affects Thomas’s character. Let the man have some dignity!
- I loved the Chocolate Fest backdrop. (I was so confused when I was reading book 6 and the Fest was mentioned in passing because I thought it would’ve been more prominent.) It was exactly the atmosphere I love in this series. I also love the rainy season!!! I can’t believe they were at the Fest to give out all their pastries for FREE!! Why??!! They could’ve made so much money. I did love that Torte won the two awards. I feel like Jules and Helen would be wonderful people in real life. And yay new ovens!
- I don’t love how the author keeps acting like Helen being in her fifties essentially makes her an old lady. I’ve seen many fifty year old who are dandy and strong—like my parents. The author constantly calling Helen ‘slower’ and now making her arthritic feels unnecessary and uncomfortable because it makes me panic about my own parents. 50 isn’t 80.
- I enjoyed meeting Bethany here! I met her in book 6 and had wondered how she got involved in the story. She’s so sweet and adorable.
- I’ve not been the biggest Lance fan, even though I think he’s an essential addition to the series. I don’t dislike him, and he IS funny, but I found him annoying in older books. I felt like the writer was purposely trying to make readers like him more here, so my natural reaction was to be resistant. But it was very nice giving him more character and involving him more in the mystery!
- Unfortunately I still think the mystery wasn’t extremely strong. It was strong-ER than some of the other books, and I think the peppercorns-are-nuts angle was clever(!!) but the mystery-baking ratio could’ve been balanced better.
- Unfortunately while reading, I watched the Dune movie and have been in such a massive Dune hangover, that it has affected every media I consumed that wasn’t Dune. From the halfway point of reading, after I watched the movie, I struggled to re-immerse myself in Ashland as I usually do. So it made me feel a bit detached from the story. Buttt I still enjoyed most of it!
3.5 stars, and I highly recommend this series to cozy mystery lovers!
January 12, 2017
Four stars: A terrific cozy, bursting with chocolate, and a surprising twist with the murder.
Spring is right around the corner, and the gang at Torte is busy remodeling and painting as well as preparing decadent chocolate creations for the upcoming Chocolate Festival. Luckily, things seem to be going smoothly, and Jules has her fingers crossed that they can finish painting, install the new ovens and participate in the Chocolate Festival. Everything is going to plan until the unthinkable happens. One of the participants, Evan Rowe a famous chocolatier, dies after sampling some of the fares. Did someone inadvertently kill him with nuts or is there something more sinister than chocolate being served?
What I Liked:
*Meet Your Baker continues to be a cozy mystery series that I just can't resist. I love the setting, the characters, the food, the mysteries and the delicious recipes. This is a fun series that I find perfect for when you need a light, cozy, escape read. These books are perfect for stormy afternoons, even better for snow days.
*I loved that this one was all about chocolate. My mouth was watering to taste the delicious chocolate creations being served at the Chocolate Festival. Luckily, the author provided a couple of the chocolate recipes at the end to try. Yum!
*The murder mystery was clever, and I loved the little twist as to how the victim actually died. It was a unique and rather uncommon way to murder someone. I also appreciated that there were several suspects with motives and some interesting developments. I did figure out who the killer was, but it wasn't an easy mystery to solve. A good, solid mystery.
*I continue to love the gang at Torte, and I enjoy seeing them grow as they not only develop the business, but their relationships. The characters at Torte function like a nice, little, happy family.
*I liked that this book refrained, for the most part, with the romance. There really isn't movement as far as Jules' romantic life, except that she seems to have settled her heart on one man. I appreciated that this one didn't have romantic drama.
*One thing that I adore about food based cozy mysteries are the recipes. This installment includes some delicious recipes for chocolate truffles, a rich cake with mocha frosting, meatloaf sandwiches, a chicken sausage quiche, a wonderful latte drink, and chocolate pasta with white chocolate sauce. Yum!
*The ending tied up all the main story threads. The remodel of Torte was done, the murder was solved and things were going well for Jules and the Torte gang. No cliffhangers or nagging questions.
And The Not So Much:
*One thing that bothered me a bit was the rather callous way the whole murder was handled. You would think if a world renowned chocolatier was murdered right before the Chocolate Festival that there would be more fall out. Instead, the Chocolate Festival proceeds as normal after a small delay. It just didn't feel realistic to me. Plus, no one seemed upset at all about Evan's death.
*Even though I was glad to get a reprieve from the romantic drama, it kind of bothered me that one of the suitor's was completely AWOL again. No contact until the final pages. What was up with that? I wish things would settle out one way or another.
Fudge and Jury is another delightful installment in one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love the setting, the characters, the food and the mysteries. This book featured an exciting murder mystery with an unexpected twist regarding the murder weapon. I highly recommend this series when you want a light, cozy, mystery. This book was a perfect snow day read.
I won a copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review, and all opinions are my own.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Spring is right around the corner, and the gang at Torte is busy remodeling and painting as well as preparing decadent chocolate creations for the upcoming Chocolate Festival. Luckily, things seem to be going smoothly, and Jules has her fingers crossed that they can finish painting, install the new ovens and participate in the Chocolate Festival. Everything is going to plan until the unthinkable happens. One of the participants, Evan Rowe a famous chocolatier, dies after sampling some of the fares. Did someone inadvertently kill him with nuts or is there something more sinister than chocolate being served?
What I Liked:
*Meet Your Baker continues to be a cozy mystery series that I just can't resist. I love the setting, the characters, the food, the mysteries and the delicious recipes. This is a fun series that I find perfect for when you need a light, cozy, escape read. These books are perfect for stormy afternoons, even better for snow days.
*I loved that this one was all about chocolate. My mouth was watering to taste the delicious chocolate creations being served at the Chocolate Festival. Luckily, the author provided a couple of the chocolate recipes at the end to try. Yum!
*The murder mystery was clever, and I loved the little twist as to how the victim actually died. It was a unique and rather uncommon way to murder someone. I also appreciated that there were several suspects with motives and some interesting developments. I did figure out who the killer was, but it wasn't an easy mystery to solve. A good, solid mystery.
*I continue to love the gang at Torte, and I enjoy seeing them grow as they not only develop the business, but their relationships. The characters at Torte function like a nice, little, happy family.
*I liked that this book refrained, for the most part, with the romance. There really isn't movement as far as Jules' romantic life, except that she seems to have settled her heart on one man. I appreciated that this one didn't have romantic drama.
*One thing that I adore about food based cozy mysteries are the recipes. This installment includes some delicious recipes for chocolate truffles, a rich cake with mocha frosting, meatloaf sandwiches, a chicken sausage quiche, a wonderful latte drink, and chocolate pasta with white chocolate sauce. Yum!
*The ending tied up all the main story threads. The remodel of Torte was done, the murder was solved and things were going well for Jules and the Torte gang. No cliffhangers or nagging questions.
And The Not So Much:
*One thing that bothered me a bit was the rather callous way the whole murder was handled. You would think if a world renowned chocolatier was murdered right before the Chocolate Festival that there would be more fall out. Instead, the Chocolate Festival proceeds as normal after a small delay. It just didn't feel realistic to me. Plus, no one seemed upset at all about Evan's death.
*Even though I was glad to get a reprieve from the romantic drama, it kind of bothered me that one of the suitor's was completely AWOL again. No contact until the final pages. What was up with that? I wish things would settle out one way or another.
Fudge and Jury is another delightful installment in one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love the setting, the characters, the food and the mysteries. This book featured an exciting murder mystery with an unexpected twist regarding the murder weapon. I highly recommend this series when you want a light, cozy, mystery. This book was a perfect snow day read.
I won a copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review, and all opinions are my own.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
July 31, 2019
Jules and Helen Capshaw and the staff of Torte are busier than ever. They finally have the money to renovate the kitchen and an opportunity to buy the basement space under the bakery with government grants to improve the infrastructure to keep the basement from flooding. Jules and Helen are also participating in the annual local Chocolate Festival (!!!!!) and samples are needed for the hungry masses. Torte is about to be put on the map or wiped off it at the whims of Master Chocolatier Evan Rowe and magazine editor Sandi Kramer. When Evan dies eating one of Jules's delectable creations, she's horrified. Jules knows she was careful and had knew nothing of Evan's nut allergy but it seems someone did and wanted Evan dead. The Professor and Thomas are stumped but Jules and Lance are on the case and determined to figure it out.
FINALLY Jules bakes something chocolate! Be still my heart! Chocolate pasta (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and chocolate truffles are on the menu and my mouth was watering the whole time wishing I could try them. Thank goodness there are recipes in the back but I would have liked more chocolate recipes. I wasn't happy when Jules returned to savory baking in the end, claiming she was sick of chocolate. Um what? There's no such thing as TOO much chocolate! I love chai but the tropical flavored drinks were not to my liking.
Storywise this one is really good. I never guessed who did it. The story is a little slow and long, chronicling the renovations to Torte. There's some romantic drama but only a little. I feel all of this is unnecessary. ALL YOU NEED IS CHOCOLATE!!!!!!! Lance manages not to be too terribly annoying during the investigation and even shows some real emotion at the end.
There are a few new characters here. Evan Rowe, a Master Chocolatier, is a nasty man. He is cranky, temperamental and rude. Evan is an egomaniac no one likes. I didn't like Sandi Kramer either. She's ruthless. Bethany of the Unbeatable Brownie is perky, young and eager to please but she seems to have a lot to learn. Bethany needs to develop a thicker skin but she seems nice. Howard, of Howard's Sea Salt is a crusty old seadog. He is unexpected. His bath salts don't appeal to me and I'm not a fan of sea salt on my chocolate and Howard doesn't sound like someone I'd socialize with. I'm not sure he's not a nice person though. Evan's assistant, Carter, has every reason to hate his boss. He seems like a young man eager to succeed and emulate his boss's success. Does that make him a murderer? Who knows!
FINALLY Jules bakes something chocolate! Be still my heart! Chocolate pasta (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and chocolate truffles are on the menu and my mouth was watering the whole time wishing I could try them. Thank goodness there are recipes in the back but I would have liked more chocolate recipes. I wasn't happy when Jules returned to savory baking in the end, claiming she was sick of chocolate. Um what? There's no such thing as TOO much chocolate! I love chai but the tropical flavored drinks were not to my liking.
Storywise this one is really good. I never guessed who did it. The story is a little slow and long, chronicling the renovations to Torte. There's some romantic drama but only a little. I feel all of this is unnecessary. ALL YOU NEED IS CHOCOLATE!!!!!!! Lance manages not to be too terribly annoying during the investigation and even shows some real emotion at the end.
There are a few new characters here. Evan Rowe, a Master Chocolatier, is a nasty man. He is cranky, temperamental and rude. Evan is an egomaniac no one likes. I didn't like Sandi Kramer either. She's ruthless. Bethany of the Unbeatable Brownie is perky, young and eager to please but she seems to have a lot to learn. Bethany needs to develop a thicker skin but she seems nice. Howard, of Howard's Sea Salt is a crusty old seadog. He is unexpected. His bath salts don't appeal to me and I'm not a fan of sea salt on my chocolate and Howard doesn't sound like someone I'd socialize with. I'm not sure he's not a nice person though. Evan's assistant, Carter, has every reason to hate his boss. He seems like a young man eager to succeed and emulate his boss's success. Does that make him a murderer? Who knows!
May 9, 2017
Juliet (Jules) Montague Capshaw lives in Ashland, Oregon. This little town is home to a Shakespearean Festival and this story takes place during the off season. Juliet is her mother's partner in the family bakery/cafe, Torte. She has returned from working on a cruise ship where she met and married Carlos. Juliet is still trying to figure out where her marriage with Carlos stands, but he is back on the cruise ship and she is in Ashland. Jules and her Mother are participating in the Chocolate Festival in Ashland, Oregon. Jules meets Evan, a famous chocolatier and obnoxious chef to boot, for the first time and is not impressed. When he suffers anaphylactic shock and dies in front of Jules she is extremely upset. Even though she did not like him, no one deserved to die like that. She begins to help the police with the investigation. With all this going on, Torte is undergoing minor renovations with new ovens being put in, Jules' old boyfriend Thomas seems to be attempting to become more than a friend, she finds out that her mother is developing arthiritis, a pastry magazine wants to do a cover story on Jules and Torte, and they are trying to decide if they want to lease the bottom floor of the bakery and do an addition. There is a lot adding stress to Jules' life, can she handle it all? Will they figure out who killed Evan?
This is the fifth book in this series and I love visiting Torte and Ashland. I love the relationship between Jules and her mom, as well the one between Helen and the Professor. The employees at Torte are very different from one another, but they work so well together and they are like a family. The plot moves quickly and kept me reading quickly until reaching the conclusion. The mystery was interesting and I was surprised to see who the killer was, as well as the reason and the method used to do it. This is a fun, interesting series that will leave you wanting more and with your stomach growling. Cozy mystery readers will enjoy this one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
This is the fifth book in this series and I love visiting Torte and Ashland. I love the relationship between Jules and her mom, as well the one between Helen and the Professor. The employees at Torte are very different from one another, but they work so well together and they are like a family. The plot moves quickly and kept me reading quickly until reaching the conclusion. The mystery was interesting and I was surprised to see who the killer was, as well as the reason and the method used to do it. This is a fun, interesting series that will leave you wanting more and with your stomach growling. Cozy mystery readers will enjoy this one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
January 24, 2021
Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world. She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school. She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that. She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret. With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out. It's been almost a year and she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother.
Ashland is quiet as it's not theatre season. The Chocolate Festival is happening this week, though, and that's keeping Jules and her staff busy getting ready for it. Evan Rowe is the owner of Confections Couture and has been the winner of festival for many years. Before the festival begins, he is going around checking out what everyone else has to offer. He collapses and dies right after tasting some of Torte's samples. Murder is suspected and since Evan wasn't a nice man, there are a number of people who could have wished him dead.
In the meantime, Torte is undergoing renovations. In addition to painting, the long awaited ovens are arriving. Plus Jules and her mother are considering taking over the basement under their bakery and expanding.
This is the fifth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it. I've been reading the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series. This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided. It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end. I look forward to reading the others in this series.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2021/01...
Ashland is quiet as it's not theatre season. The Chocolate Festival is happening this week, though, and that's keeping Jules and her staff busy getting ready for it. Evan Rowe is the owner of Confections Couture and has been the winner of festival for many years. Before the festival begins, he is going around checking out what everyone else has to offer. He collapses and dies right after tasting some of Torte's samples. Murder is suspected and since Evan wasn't a nice man, there are a number of people who could have wished him dead.
In the meantime, Torte is undergoing renovations. In addition to painting, the long awaited ovens are arriving. Plus Jules and her mother are considering taking over the basement under their bakery and expanding.
This is the fifth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it. I've been reading the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series. This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided. It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end. I look forward to reading the others in this series.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2021/01...
June 28, 2022
Number five in the Bakeshop Mystery series has Jules and her mom working the chocolate festival and making plans for Torte's future. But when a local chef dies from an allergic reaction, all bets are off.
I had some issues. First, because I keep forgetting about it in my previous reviews, I'm curious how you pronounce Oregon? It didn't happen in this one, but at least in the two previous books, the MC makes a point to tell the reader because "so many" people get it wrong. I'm from Georgia. And while I don't doubt there are a few people who will mis-pronounce pretty much anything, I've never once heard anyone pronounce any other way than OR-uh-gun. Have you?
Okay, now to this book. Lance is still annoying. Early on, when he's speculating with Jules, he says the brownie girl could have given the dead guy nuts in retaliation for saying her brownies were awful. But he walked up to the booth, ate them, insulted them, and then moved on. So how could she have put nuts on the brownie after she was insulted but before he ate them? Time travel?
The flooding seems like a BIG FREAKING DEAL! Why would they agree to the expansion without talking to someone that specializes in fixing that?
The ending was extremely unsatisfactory. Without spoilers, we don't really get a good explanation as to WHY. I mean, since Jules has to do the thing later, maybe we'll get it then?
Thomas. Dude. It's not gonna happen. Quit trying to push your bullshit onto Jules. It's not her job to listen to your professions of love.
Overall, this one felt weak. I felt excited, mostly, for their expansion plans, but the mystery was tepid at best.
I had some issues. First, because I keep forgetting about it in my previous reviews, I'm curious how you pronounce Oregon? It didn't happen in this one, but at least in the two previous books, the MC makes a point to tell the reader because "so many" people get it wrong. I'm from Georgia. And while I don't doubt there are a few people who will mis-pronounce pretty much anything, I've never once heard anyone pronounce any other way than OR-uh-gun. Have you?
Okay, now to this book. Lance is still annoying. Early on, when he's speculating with Jules, he says the brownie girl could have given the dead guy nuts in retaliation for saying her brownies were awful. But he walked up to the booth, ate them, insulted them, and then moved on. So how could she have put nuts on the brownie after she was insulted but before he ate them? Time travel?
The flooding seems like a BIG FREAKING DEAL! Why would they agree to the expansion without talking to someone that specializes in fixing that?
The ending was extremely unsatisfactory. Without spoilers, we don't really get a good explanation as to WHY. I mean, since Jules has to do the thing later, maybe we'll get it then?
Thomas. Dude. It's not gonna happen. Quit trying to push your bullshit onto Jules. It's not her job to listen to your professions of love.
Overall, this one felt weak. I felt excited, mostly, for their expansion plans, but the mystery was tepid at best.
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