Carole J. (PianoLady357) reviewed Cake and Punishment (Southern Cake Baker Mystery, Bk 1) on + 157 more book reviews
Cake & Punishment, book #1 in Maymee Bell's new series, is a delightfully satisfying cozy mystery. The âcity girl returning to her small hometownâ theme that works so well for Hallmark works here also. It's easy to feel Sophia's uncertainty ⦠go back to her job at The Manhattan in NYC job or put down roots in Rumford, Kentucky? The setting and community are so appealing that I'd love to visit and eat one of Sophia's Red Velvet Crunchies.
There's also plenty of southern charm and humor to go around. Sophia's mom, Bitsy, is one of my favorite characters, for she embodies the warmth, charm, and traditions of a true southern lady. I'm pretty sure that, like my own mom, she would have put away her white shoes and handbag on Labor Day and dutifully brought them out again on Easter.
Friendships with ladies like Charlotte and Madison also play a big part in this story, as they lend a sense of bonding and community. Some good chemistry between Sophia and Sheriff Carter suggests that a relationship might be developing for them.
And then there's the murder mystery itself. Rarely do I pick up on hints the author might scatter here or there, but I did notice one little thing that caused me to wonder about halfway through. However, I was actually more interested in whether or not Charlotte's wedding took place than the whodunit part â but let me quickly say that this is a well-crafted mystery.
The only thing I didn't care for was the occasional use of profanity.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
There's also plenty of southern charm and humor to go around. Sophia's mom, Bitsy, is one of my favorite characters, for she embodies the warmth, charm, and traditions of a true southern lady. I'm pretty sure that, like my own mom, she would have put away her white shoes and handbag on Labor Day and dutifully brought them out again on Easter.
Friendships with ladies like Charlotte and Madison also play a big part in this story, as they lend a sense of bonding and community. Some good chemistry between Sophia and Sheriff Carter suggests that a relationship might be developing for them.
And then there's the murder mystery itself. Rarely do I pick up on hints the author might scatter here or there, but I did notice one little thing that caused me to wonder about halfway through. However, I was actually more interested in whether or not Charlotte's wedding took place than the whodunit part â but let me quickly say that this is a well-crafted mystery.
The only thing I didn't care for was the occasional use of profanity.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Cake and Punishment is the debut of the A Southern Cake Baker Mystery series set in the small town of Rumford, Kentucky and featuring pastry chef Sophia Cummings. Sophia has been living in NYC and working at the job of her dreams alongside her boyfriend Chef Noah. On a day off she heads to the restaurant to surprise Noah and discovers him in a compromising position with the hostess, unable to cope with the embarrassment she heads back to her hometown of Rumford with her tail between her legs.
Sophia's mom has never been too happy with her daughter's choice of profession, having much preferred that she stay at home in Rumford and join the society set. With her daughter back in town she's determined to drag her to every club meeting she can. At a meeting of the Junior League Sophia runs into her old high school friend Charlotte. Charlotte is getting married in a few short days and her wedding cake baker has up and quit - she guilts Sophia into baking the cake for her and using the kitchen at the Rumford Country Club.
Arriving early at the club one morning, Sophia and Charlotte find Chef Emile bludgeoned to death with a frying pan. Knowing full well the skillet didn't belong to the Chef, Sophia offers her opinions to the hunky Sheriff Carter and before she knows it is caught up in the investigation of his murder.
A terrific start to a series - full of well developed quirky and fun characters, a bucolic Southern town full of charm, the hint of romance and plenty of suspects. The author has done a great job of transporting the reader right into the heart of Rumford. With plenty of possibilities on the horizon for Sophia, this series is sure to delight for a long time to come. Oh, the recipes are mouth watering too.
Sophia's mom has never been too happy with her daughter's choice of profession, having much preferred that she stay at home in Rumford and join the society set. With her daughter back in town she's determined to drag her to every club meeting she can. At a meeting of the Junior League Sophia runs into her old high school friend Charlotte. Charlotte is getting married in a few short days and her wedding cake baker has up and quit - she guilts Sophia into baking the cake for her and using the kitchen at the Rumford Country Club.
Arriving early at the club one morning, Sophia and Charlotte find Chef Emile bludgeoned to death with a frying pan. Knowing full well the skillet didn't belong to the Chef, Sophia offers her opinions to the hunky Sheriff Carter and before she knows it is caught up in the investigation of his murder.
A terrific start to a series - full of well developed quirky and fun characters, a bucolic Southern town full of charm, the hint of romance and plenty of suspects. The author has done a great job of transporting the reader right into the heart of Rumford. With plenty of possibilities on the horizon for Sophia, this series is sure to delight for a long time to come. Oh, the recipes are mouth watering too.
Kristina A. reviewed Cake and Punishment (Southern Cake Baker Mystery, Bk 1) on + 1528 more book reviews
Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell is the first tale in A Southern Cake Baker Mystery series. Sophia Cummings, a pastry chef, has returned home for a visit to Rumford, Kentucky after finding her boyfriend, Noah in a compromising position with the maître d' where they work. At the Rumford Country Club (RCC) she encounters her friend, Charlotte Harrington who is getting married in a few days. Charlotte's cake baker has quit, and Sophia offers to make her a beautiful wedding cake. The next day they head to the RCC kitchen and find Chef Emile dead on the floor with a new cast iron skillet nearby. When Evelyn Moss, the RCC manager, becomes the primary suspect, Sophia sets out to prove her innocence (plus she is plain curious). To help out Evelyn and for a chance to snoop, Sophia agrees to be Emile's replacement until a new chef can be hired (oh dearâcan you see where this is heading). Emile may have been a good chef, but he was lacking in the personality department. Sheriff Carter Kincaid may wish Sophia would keep her nose out of his investigation, but he does enjoy spending time with her and Sophia does uncover some helpful information. Which one of the people Chef Emile antagonized whacked him with an iron skillet? Sophia needs to work quickly, or she will find herself the latest resident of the Rumford cemetery!
Cake and Punishment is a humorous new Southern cozy mystery written by Tonya Kappes using the non de plume of Maymee Bell. It is a light-hearted story full of quirky characters and small-town charm. Gossip spreads faster than a forest fire during a dry spell in Rumford, Kentucky. Sophia's mother, Bitsy is a force to be reckoned with. When she sets her mind upon a task, people need to watch out (especially Sophia). Sophia is a pastry chef who loves to bake and goes around with baked goods in her bag (which makes her a very popular person). It was entertaining to see her get pulled back into her hometown and the subtle hints from friends about how they would like her to stay. I thought Cake and Punishment contained good writing and a steady pace. I would like for better character development. We get to know very little about Sophia's past and we are not given the last names of many characters. The mystery had misdirection and a few suspects. Avid mystery readers will have no problem pinning down the killer's identity. There is flirtation and attraction between Sophia and Carter which is helped along by Bitsy Cummings. There are delectable baked good descriptions included in the book with recipes at the end. I appreciated the addition of little libraries in the story. They are a great way to get people of all ages to read. We have several in my community with one being just down in the street in my local park (I am a frequent visitor). Cake and Punishment is an entertaining story that will have you chuckling frequently.
Cake and Punishment is a humorous new Southern cozy mystery written by Tonya Kappes using the non de plume of Maymee Bell. It is a light-hearted story full of quirky characters and small-town charm. Gossip spreads faster than a forest fire during a dry spell in Rumford, Kentucky. Sophia's mother, Bitsy is a force to be reckoned with. When she sets her mind upon a task, people need to watch out (especially Sophia). Sophia is a pastry chef who loves to bake and goes around with baked goods in her bag (which makes her a very popular person). It was entertaining to see her get pulled back into her hometown and the subtle hints from friends about how they would like her to stay. I thought Cake and Punishment contained good writing and a steady pace. I would like for better character development. We get to know very little about Sophia's past and we are not given the last names of many characters. The mystery had misdirection and a few suspects. Avid mystery readers will have no problem pinning down the killer's identity. There is flirtation and attraction between Sophia and Carter which is helped along by Bitsy Cummings. There are delectable baked good descriptions included in the book with recipes at the end. I appreciated the addition of little libraries in the story. They are a great way to get people of all ages to read. We have several in my community with one being just down in the street in my local park (I am a frequent visitor). Cake and Punishment is an entertaining story that will have you chuckling frequently.
