Cheese Shop #6
Gouda news readers, the sixth book in Korina Moss’ Cheese Shop Mystery series is here. In Bait and Swiss, Willa Bauer is celebrating the second year of her shop, Curds and Whey, being open and successful in Yarrow Glen. Her employees and friends, Mrs. Schultz and Archie, are now also joined by a fellow cheese enthusiast, June. Willa is rightfully proud of her shop’s success and is going all out for its birthday celebration, complete with cheese from around the world themes on rotation throughout the day and costumes to match. There is more cause to celebrate around town when Hope is ready to reveal and open her new cakery shop. Ever ready to support her community and friends, Willa and team are excited to attend the grand opening event, until she sees who Hope’s new partners are.
They are two people Willa had hoped to never see again, and who permanently put her off chocolate. It’s ex-fiancé Pearce Brenner and her ex-best friend Riley Stephens, who are still together ten years after betraying Willa’s trust. With no warning or indication that they were opening a shop in Yarrow Glen, let alone be there in person, Willa feels ambushed and attacked. It all seems just a bit too coincidental that they decided to come to her small town for her to brie comfortable. Unfortunately, Pearce isn’t about to let Willa just skip the opening once he sees her and seems determined to make her interact and deal with him and Riley.
Her emotions are raw and Willa does her best to try and get through the opening and away from her the painful duo as quickly as possible. Any hope that the two will leave quickly is dashed when some of the chocolates from their shop result in the death of the Yarrow Glen’s newest, and less than pleasant, reporter. Despite being truly insensitive to Willa, Pearce isn’t above begging her to do her own investigating to try and clear his and Riley’s name and save their shop. While they are far from her favorite people, Willa would hate for a murderer to go free and for the poisoning to continue to affect the whole town by putting people off the shops and restaurants in town. Determined to bring the town and herself some peace of mind by clearing it up, and clearing out her ex’s, Willa and Team Cheese are back on the case.
I have loved the Cheese Shop Mystery series since it began, and cannot recommend it highly enough to fellow cozy enthusiasts. Bait and Swiss really had me hooked with finally getting to experience, as a reader, Willa’s ex friend and fiancé. Long time readers of the series like myself will be unable to put the book down, determined to see how things work out for Willa. Korina Moss introduces characters and setting effectively enough that Bait and Swiss can be enjoyed by new readers as well. However, given the emotional charge of Bait and Swiss, I highly suggest for readers to enjoy the other books first. It really amplifies the suspense and enjoyment of Bait and Swiss to have already gone on some adventures with Willa and to have gotten invested in her story and life. – Carla Schantz