Summary from Goodreads:
"Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bake shop where the oven is heating up as high as the body count…
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 that 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—for
Jules to take him back. Is home where the heart is or will she make a
fresh start…and risk getting burned?"
My Thoughts:
This is seriously one of my very favorite cozy mystery series, and I've been waiting impatiently to read this book for a very long time. Even when I got an early copy I forced myself to wait until closer to the release date because I knew that I would be left wishing for the next book after I finished. Which is exactly what happened and now I'm going to have to try (try being the key word here) and patiently wait for book five. I love many things about this series but one of my very favorite things about it is all of the characters. This series features such a great cast of characters, and I love that we as the readers are getting to know them more and more as we get further in. I'm not even sure if I read these books for the mystery so much as I read it for the characters. The author has just brought these characters to life for me. It almost makes me feel like I could go visit this perfect little town myself.
Although I fully admit that I love the characters the most about these books there are other elements that I love as well. Namely all of the delicious food descriptions that the author shares throughout the story. My family knows by now that my cooking skills are iffy at best but it doesn't stop me from wishing that I could cook like Jules. These books make me seriously hungry and I'm always tempted to try some of the recipes that are included at the end. The mystery story line in this book was done quite well also although to be honest that was the part I cared about the least. I was more worried about what was going to happen with Jules especially with her estranged husband Carlos leaving to go back to the ship he works on. I'm not a huge fan of his (I like Thomas her old boyfriend more) but I knew that this book might change things with their relationship which left me eager to see what was going to happen. Slight spoiler here but nothing was fully resolved which is why I am really anxious to read the next book in this series. I love how there aren't easy answers given in terms to her relationship with Carlos. It just feels more like real life and I appreciate that. The ending of this book wrapped everything up quite nicely and left me satisfied. I'm always left wishing for more after these books but isn't that what always happens with a series that you love?
Overall, I loved this book just as I have loved every book in this series. I really can't recommend them enough but especially to cozy mystery fans. This is a series that should be read in order just so that you can get the full feel for all of these characters. Each book could be read alone but I really think the overall experience would be improved if you read them in order. Highly recommended!
Bottom Line: I can't say enough good things about this series or this book!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a CBB book tour.
Summary from Goodreads:
"Covering a
windsurfing competition should have been a breeze for reporter Meg Reed,
but with a killer in the curl, she’s headed for rough waters…
Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge is the windsurfing capital of
the world, and Meg is stoked to cover the King of the Hook event for
Portland’s Northwest Extreme magazine. Before the competition
gets under way, Meg has a chance to try some windsurfing on her own. But
when the current sweeps her downriver, she spots a body snagged on the
rocks. The dead man is Justin Cruise, aka Cruise Control, a celebrity
windsurfer and not exactly a nice guy. It’s soon clear his death was no
accident, and Cruise had no shortage of enemies. As Meg dives right in
to discover who wiped out the windsurfer, she’ll need to keep her
balance—or she too may get blown away."
My Thoughts:
I'm three books into this cozy mystery series and am loving this series more and more with each book. I enjoyed getting to jump back into Meg's world where writing about extreme sporting events is her focus (even though she isn't much of an athlete herself). This usually leads to trouble for Meg and this book was no different. I love how each of the books in this series has featured a different type of sporting event. It is so interesting to read about and really unique for a cozy mystery series! I had actually never even heard of windsurfing so I was completely intrigued by the author's descriptions of it in this book. Actually that is one of the things that really seems to stand out for me with this series. The author does an amazing job of making me feel like I am there in the book with the characters experiencing everything for myself. Seriously, the descriptions of Portland, Oregon and windsurfing had me sucked into the book all by themselves. Add to that a mystery and a great cast of characters and you have a winning combination!
I've really grown attached to the characters in this series the further I get into it. Meg is a magnet for trouble but often times it is almost humorous to read about the situations that she finds herself in. She isn't afraid to ask questions and for whatever reason always seems to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation. I just can't help but love her! Then you add in her Gran and friends and there is just an entire cast of characters that I love. Once again in this book the author delves a little further into the ongoing mystery of what really happened to Meg's father. I am really, really eager to learn more especially after the way that this book ended! In fact (without trying to share any spoilers) the way this book ended left me with many, many questions. Now I am desperately waiting to get my hands on book four! The mystery portion of this book was good but it wasn't my favorite of the series. No special reason why, I think I was just more interested in what really happened to Meg's father (and if we were going to find out more or not). Also I was really, really rooting for Matt and Meg to finally figure out their feelings for one another. I won't share if they did or not but I spent the majority of the book hoping that they would! It was a good, solid mystery though and left me intrigued throughout the book. The ending of this book though-that is what made this book stand out for me! I am seriously, seriously anticipating get my hands on the next book!
Overall, this was another great addition to this mystery series and I really enjoyed it! Obviously I am super excited for the next book and am wishing that I already had it in my hands. I really think that these books just keep getting better and better as they go on. This series is on my favorites list and while I don't think that you need to read them in order by any means, you definitely will appreciate the characters more if you do. I highly recommend this book and actually all of the books in the series to cozy fans and mystery lovers as well.
Bottom Line: Yet another great addition to this series! I can't get enough of these books!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher as part of a CBB Book Tour.
If you are interested here are my thoughts on books one and two:
1. Scene of the Climb
2. Slayed on the Slopes
Summary from Goodreads:
"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.
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 Thoughts:
This series is fast becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery series to follow! Last year I read all three of the books in this series and each one was such a fun reading experience. What I love about this series is how focused they are on baking and food in general. It makes me SO hungry while I'm reading at times because the descriptions of food are just amazing! If I could bake and cook like Jules does, well that would be just amazing. Sometimes I truly feel like I am reading more for the food and descriptions of Jules' cooking rather than the mystery itself. I also really appreciate in this series that Jules doesn't have her life figured out. She isn't perfect and is kind of at a turning point in her life. Actually all of the characters in this series are pretty great which is one of the reasons why I love this series so much! Great characters, yummy food descriptions, and suspenseful mysteries are why these books are clear winners for me. I just can't seem to get enough!
One of the things that I really loved about this book was the setting. I loved how the author used a winter snow storm and a mountain lodge to give this book such an isolated and creepy feel to it. I read this book during a snow/ice storm of our own and it just fit in so perfectly with this time of year. This book felt darker and more suspenseful than the previous two books thanks to the setting. I just loved it! The mystery portion of this book was well done and I wasn't able to figure out what was going on until the very end. I also liked that in this book we finally got to meet Jule's estranged husband Carlos. We have been hearing so much about him since the very beginning and now it was interesting finally getting to see him and Jules interact with one another. I can't honestly say how I feel about him at this point. I actually am more a fan of Thomas (Jules' ex-boyfriend) so I am very, very curious to see what happens in the next book! The ending of this book tied up everything quite nicely and left me eager for book four. I especially love how the author includes recipes at the end with some of the different recipes that Jule's has made throughout the book. I just need to get some confidence and try one of them!!!
Overall, this was another great addition to one of my favorite cozy mystery series!! I'm super excited that another book will be releasing in 2016....I just need to get my hands on it as soon as possible. I'm hoping that we will get more resolution to Jules and Carlos' relationship in the next book. And many more delicious recipes of course! These books are just so much fun and are such great reads. I cannot recommend them enough! I feel like you should start with book one Meet Your Baker just so that you get the full reading experience but really these books could be read on their own. Cozy mystery fans and mystery readers in general should really give this series a try! Highly recommended!
Bottom Line: Another standout read from one of my favorite cozy mystery series!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley as part of a CBB Book Tour.
Summary from Goodreads:
"After talking her way
into a job writing for Portland's Northwest Extreme magazine, Meg Reed
may now really be in over her head. Actually, about 8,000 feet over her
head. . .
She's at Mount Hood's remote Silcox Hut, covering the
the seriously hardcore Ridge Rangers-- Oregon's elite high-altitude
rescue team--during their four-day winter training. Sure, Meg beefed up
her outdoor skills over the summer . . . but she's still hoping to cover
the event with some hot chocolate by the cheery fireplace. Then, during
a sudden blizzard, she swears she hears gunshots. No one stranded in
the hut believes her . . . until self-absorbed Ridge Ranger Ben Rogers
is found outside in a pool of frozen blood. Meg's now got to find this
killer quickly . . . before cabin fever does them all in!"
My Thoughts:
Can I just start off by saying how much I loved this book? This book solidified my love for this series with ease and now I'm left impatiently waiting for more! I really enjoyed Scene of the Climb so I went into reading this one with very high hopes. Happily enough I enjoyed this book just as much, if not even more than I did the first book. What more can you ask from with a mystery series? Not much more than that in my opinion! Meg is back and better than ever as she manages to get herself caught up in a whole new set of outdoor experiences. The mystery was compelling and made the book hard to put down. But what really stood out for me in this book is how the author uses the setting to really add to the book as a whole. I loved the fact that I learned a little bit about Oregon thanks to this book and the author's descriptions. I would love to go visit the Timberline Lodge myself and get the chance to go skiing in the mountains. The fact that this lodge was used in some of the filming for The Shining movie (which I learned thanks to this book) makes me want to visit even more! It was these little details that really brought this book to life for me!
The author also continues on with the storyline from book one in regards to Meg's father and his mysterious death in this book. Let me tell you that I am completely intrigued at this point! I need to know the truth behind it all and am looking forward to finding out more of the answers in future books. Really at this point I will be grabbing book three as soon as I can get my greedy hands on it!! I am also really enjoying the chemistry that is growing between Meg and Matt. Sorry if that is a slight spoiler to some of you. I am just impatiently waiting for them to both realize that they are basically meant to be. Ha! (But seriously I hope they figure it out soon!) I did manage to guess the killer with this book but there was so many other twists and turns going on that it really didn't matter. I still loved this book from beginning to end! By the end of this book I was left wanting more yet again and really wishing that I had my hands on the third book. Ugh! The waiting game when you find a great series....I do know already that it is going to be well worth the wait!
All in all, this was a really great follow-up to Scene of the Climb and I am now a huge fan of this author and her books! Her ability to use the setting of this story to allow for me to feel like I was there along with Meg in the wintry cold helped to make this book an instant winner for me. I still have a lot of questions in regards to the death of Meg's father which has me pining for the next book. Plus, I'm absolutely sure that Meg is going to find herself in another crazy situation and I can't wait to read all about it! Highly recommended!
Bottom Line: A cozy mystery series that shouldn't be missed! Read it!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher as part of a CBB Book Tour. Thoughts are my own!
