Baking

Katherine Reay: The Undercover Bookshop

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This thoroughly enjoyable read is set in postwar Britain, and follows young Gemma Brown as she attempts to make a life for herself in the small Cotswolds village of Great Rollright.  In London, Gemma had been lonely in her boarding-house, and wanting to find a sense of community she couldn’t find in the big city, so she answers an advertisement for a shop clerk in Great Rollright simply because the job offers the perk of a bedsit. She settles into her new life pretty quickly, getting to know the villagers when they shop in the store, and developing friendships at the pub each night. read more

Valerie Burns: A Cup of Flour, a Pinch of Death

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Baker Street #3

Valerie Burns’ Baker Street Mystery series stars Maddy Montgomery, socialite, famous influencer, and now baker and English Mastiff Mom. Calling her a baker is a bit generous, however, as her skills in that department still need a bit of polishing. She is undaunted in her quest of making New Bison, Michigan her home, and she uses her social media skills to promote her business. However, her old life comes to find her in the third book A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death, in the form of the woman who stole her fiancé and tore her previous life apart, Brandy Denton. Although in a way she did Maddy a favor. It was because of that devastation that Maddy decided to stay in New Bison. At this point, it seems that Brandy is only there to stir things up and cause Maddy as much grief as possible. Given her own social media fame, Maddy’s responses to Brandy’s provocations have to be very carefully considered to avoid backlash. Although getting murdered in Maddy’s bakery Baby Cakes, making Maddy the chief suspect, probably was not the kind of trouble Brandy had in mind. While Trooper Bob is more than happy to lay the crime at her feet, Maddy has plenty of friends who are ready to rally and help her figure out who else could have done it, and English Mastiff Baby to keep her safe. read more

Mia P. Manansala: Murder and Mamon

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Tita Rosie’s Kitchen #4

This is one of the more charming, youthful, and vital series in the cozy universe, combining many traditional cozy elements – cooking, coffee, a dog, family dynamics – and giving all these elements a new kind of flair through the cultural background of the main character and the diversity of the cast.  Series heroine Lila Macapagal now has her own place, the Brew Ha café, next to her Tita Rosie’s restaurant. Her large Filipino family makes for a rich background for the books, and in this installment, her extended gaggle of aunties – called the “Calendar Crew” are starting their own business venture: a laundromat.  They are getting set to open during the town Spring Clean event. read more

Valerie Burns: Murder is a Piece of Cake

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Baker Street #2

Valerie Burns’ second book in her Baker Street series is Murder is a Piece of Cake. Madison Montgomery, known as Maddy to most, runs the local Baby Cakes bakery in New Bison Springs, which, along with her lovable English Mastiff, Baby, were left to her by her great-aunt Octavia. Together they are trying to make a life in this new town, leaving behind a life of superficial living. Her prior goals consisted of being a trophy wife to a wealthy doctor, but thanks to great-aunt Octavia providing the opportunity to do so, Maddy is making a life for herself in New Bison Springs, embracing the challenge, and loving it. She has a group of close friends, an adoring dog, and even a new relationship with local veterinarian Michael Portman. As she is learning how to bake and run a business, she also knows how to keep her social media profile active and engaged through all her #’s scattered throughout the book. With renovations going well at the bakery, Maddy does indeed seem to be #thriving. read more