Great idea for a book and really well executed. A thoroughly good read. Highly recommended. .

I enjoyed this book more then the rest. I've enjoyed how the author has grown Stan and given her that self-esteem and confidence not just in her business but her personal life as well. This is a well thought out mystery series that I've enjoyed reading

This is the first book I've read in the Pawsitively Organic series, but it won't be the last - I'm definitely going to check out the previous ones. Stan lives with her boyfriend in a small town and is working on starting up an organic pet food/treat store. When a murder occurs at her mother's engagement party, Stan and her friends investigate. This has all of the good elements of a typical cozy - delicious sounding treats, a fun set of relatives and friends, and cute pets. But I enjoyed it more than most cozies I read because it didn't have other "typical" cozy elements like a love triangle, stupid heroines that rush into danger, etc. Stan is a likable character, the mystery was good, and I think I enjoyed thinking about the store planning as much as I enjoyed figuring out the mystery.
Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

This is the "definitive" cozy mystery series and a personal favorite of mine. I have loved it since the first book. This new release in this pet cozy series is a delight to read !
Custom Baked Murder by Liz Mugavero is the fifth book in A Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. Kristan “Stan” Connor is working hard on getting everything ready for the opening of her shop, Pawsitively Organic Pet Patisserie and Café, in Frog Ledge, Connecticut. The café and shop is a dream of hers and she is thrilled to see it come true. With the excitement surrounding the shop opening in 3 weeks,, Stan is soon drawn into family dramas and a murder to solve. during her Moms engagement party. I loved the sleuth as it centered around the marriage of her Mother to the town mayor and her boyfriend. The clues are rapid fire but kept this avid mystery reader guessing the entire time.. The town is a delight, the community where you want to live and the characters all add to the fun each with depth and humor.. The author has a pleasing writing style that holds the reader until the last page. Each book has a dash of humor and wonderful pets. The addition of the shop and café are going to be great fun to read about in the next book.
.This is the perfect cozy read and I look forward to the next in series.
Thank you with gratitude for the advance reading copy. I cross posted on Amazon.

Mugavero's novels have plenty of pets and plenty of mystery, with a dose of small town life and humor. Stan's mother and her fiance become suspects when a guest at their engagement party is found murdered - but the corporate climber had plenty of other enemies. To protect her mother, Stan takes on the investigation, but what she finds could put all of her loved ones in danger.

A delightful cozy that actually surprised me! Stan is a terrific character- love the pet patisserie and her relationship not only with Jake but with her mother and sister as well. I particularly appreciated that in this cozy, Stan didn't try to solve things on her own but rather also worked with Jessie, a State Trooper. I hadn't read this series before so thanks to Netgalley for the ARC- I'm going to look for it again. There are some nice little details, like the missing black cat. This is a little more serious than you sometimes see in this genre- try it. I hate to put it this way but two paws up@

Kristan "Stan" Connor lives in Frog Ledge, Connecticut with her boyfriend Jake McGee, owns a gourmet pet food business, and is busy planning the opening of her new pet patisserie. She's also dealing with the fact that her mother Patricia is engaged to the town's mayor, Tony Falco (not Stan's favorite person), and expects her to attend the engagement party. But before she can even leave her home her sister Caitlyn arrives on her doorstep along with her daughter Eva, and expects to stay with Stan 'temporarily'. Stan and her sister have never been close - being polar opposites - yet she decides now isn't the time to deal with it and they head out to the party.

Stan has more surprises waiting for her: when she arrives she finds Eleanor Chung, an old co-worker who now has Stan's job and aiming to gloat; and when Stan escapes her she comes face-to-face with other ex-coworkers, including her ex-boyfriend Richard Ruse. But the surprises don't end there: After a confrontation with Richard he storms out of the house in a drunken stupor and Caitlyn finds Eleanor upstairs - dead in the master bedroom with Patricia's engagement ring in her mouth. To top it off, Richard is arrested for the crime.

Stan knows he's innocent, but needs help to prove it. Unfortunately, that help won't come from Jake's sister, Jessie Pasquale, since she's been removed from the case. It also isn't coming from Tony, who arrived at the party shortly after the murder and isn't telling anyone where he was or why. Yet she's determined to help clear Richard, even if she has to do it alone.

While Stan thought the move to Frog Ledge would allow her to live a nice, quiet existence she's finding that's not so in this book. With her business taking off she's busier than ever; along with Brenna's help she's had to hire a new employee to help out occasionally. And with Jessie temporarily out of commission, she's doing a little investigating on her own, keeping Jessie in the loop and trying to fly under the radar because she's sure the Major Crimes unit knows more than they're saying, and that it all has something to do with Tony.

When she discovers that almost everyone had a motive to kill Eleanor - including her own daughter - it makes it even harder to sift through the suspects. With the evidence pointing toward Tony, Stan wonders just how well anyone knows him, and if her mother might be marrying a murderer...

I found this book to be delightful. What a whirlwind of activity, with poor Stan trying to open her business, find a killer, and deal with both her mother's interference in the planning of her new store (since her mother is an investor she decides it gives her the right) and Caitlyn, who is going through a divorce and being courted by an ex-beau who just won't give up, even though she swears she wants nothing more to do with him (or his misguided attempts to win her back).

As the story progresses, we get to know Caitlyn better as a person, which results in surprises for both Stan and the reader. Stan also discovers some facts about Tony, which makes him more human somehow; and we're drawn into these things as much as we're drawn into Frog Ledge and the rest of its inhabitants. The characters are real, fleshed out people, not cardboard; and it's easy to want the best for this little town, Stan and her friends.

When we do discover the identity of the killer (for we know there is one, after all) I can truthfully say I wasn't too surprised; I had an inkling (but then, I read a lot of mysteries and can pretty much decipher clues along the way), and it was rather sad yet understandable all the same. In all, it was done nicely and believable, and that's what mysteries are all about. Ms. Mugavero has once again given us a mystery we can sink into and enjoy, characters that are lively and quick, and a town I would like to visit. Nicely done and highly recommended.

What can I say? I have been a fan of the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series since picking up the very first book years ago. This is the fifth book in the series and the storylines just keep getting better and better! The characters were instantly lovable from the very first book, especially the pets, and have only developed more so with each book! Every supporting character that gets introduced helps build each story and rounds out the series. I loved seeing Stan and Jake’s relationship in this book, it took them a while to get here, but it was so worth the wait. I also enjoyed seeing Stan and her Mother in this book, they have some very interesting dynamics going on and it will be fun to see them in the future, especially now that they are business partners. As for the mystery of the book, it was a fun one and not one that I easily figured out, which made it even more enjoyable for me. This is the fifth book in this series, but can be read as a standalone book. However, you will want to go back and read the first four as well! Overall, Custom Baked Murder was a super, fun read with good writing enhanced by an enjoyable story line and absolutely lovable characters!

I was super excited to receive a NetGalley ARC of the latest in the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. I love this series and the author, Liz Mugavero. Book 5 continued where book 4 left off, with Stan working on starting her organic pet bakery, with the financial backing of her mother and her boyfriend, Jake. The start of this takes place in the Mayor's mansion and the murder of one of Stan's former coworkers. In all honesty, I love the characters in this series and I love seeing how they interact with one another. One thing I did notice about Stan in this book is that she seems a little bit disorganized. There wasn't as much involvement with the animals in this book as in others which I missed. The story was well-written and engaging. I look forward to additional books and additional organic recipes from the Big Biscuit of which I am a frequent patron of!

Princess Fuzzypants here:
When I like a series, I make no bones about it. (Excuse the doggie pun). I like this series and have liked it since the start, always looking forward to the next installment. One of the reasons I like it so well is the character development and interactions of the human characters. When Stan first came to Frog's Ledge she was a lost soul whose life had unravelled. In this book she is on the verge of something wonderful but several blasts from the past rear up and threaten her plans.
Her demanding mother has settled in Frog's Ledge and is about to marry the mayor. Her sister and niece show up unexpectedly at her door followed by cad whom she battled in a previous book. Then, at the engagement party for her mother, several former work associates, including the finance who broke her hear re-enter her lifet. What else could go wrong? The answer is lots and Stan is thrust, once again, into trying to make sure things work out properly. It is a good story with lots of twists and characters who surprise you. It is an entertaining read.
But the piece de resistance for meow is the highlighting of the resident Maine Coon, Nutty, on the cover of a prestigious food magazine. What could top that! Lots of animals and animal treaties add to the pleasure.
If you haven't checked out the series yet, I would recommend it.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

Stan left the corporate world and moved to the small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut and never looked back. In a previous book, Stan's snooty mother, Patricia made her way to Frog Ledge and never left. In fact, she's getting ready to marry Tony Falco, the mayor of Frog Ledge. When Stan and Jake arrive at the engagement party being held for her mom and Tony, it's like she never left her old life. Stan comes face-to-face with former colleagues that include Eleanor, the mayor's new executive coach, Richard, Stan's ex, and Michelle who is now dating Richard.

When Eleanor is found dead at the engagement party, Stan discovers that the list is long of those who had motive. It also appears that that mayor's office and the Major Crimes division are trying to cover up what happened. Stan realizes she must figure out who the murderer is when the cops arrest, charge, and arraign someone that she is 100% positive didn't commit the crime.

Previously, Jake and his dog, Duncan, moved into Stan's home she shares with several rescue cats and dogs. Stan runs the organic pet treat/food business out of her kitchen, so at any given time there's also Brenna, her assistant (and Jake's sister) baking. Stan, Jake, Brenna, and Patrica spend some time finalizing more of the plans for Stan's pet patisserie and café. Early in the novel, Stan's sister, Caitlyn, also shows up at her door with her daughter Eva in tow, rounding out the chaos nicely.

The twists and turns in Custom Baked Murder will definitely keep the reader guessing. There are several people that Stan is forced to be around that fit the bill of murder suspect. Every time someone is suspected, the author has written the case so well that you can't help but believe you've figured out who was behind the murder. The perfect murder mystery, whether it's a cozy novel or not, is the author's ability to not give away any clues to the actual person involved. I find that Liz Mugavero does just that in all of the books in this series.

Book 5 is a wonderful addition to the Pawitively Organic Mystery series. Custom Baked Murder is fast paced and totally engages the reader. The plot is pretty solid and very unique. I love the organic pet food angle and the animal rescue plugs, giving this series a nice change of pace. I'm a huge fan of cozy mysteries, especially if there are animals involved in some positive way. The Pawsitively Organic Mysteries by Liz Mugavero are wonderful and definitely a favorite of mine.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.

Stan is dedicated to getting her new business up and ready for the grand opening but she recognizes the need to make time for her personal life. She can not miss her own mother's engagement party, even if it is not the type of function Stan would prefer. When her sister and niece show up on her doorstep, this becomes quite the family affair. Even boyfriend Jake's family is fully involved.

Totally unexpected, and adding to the stress of the event, is a sort of reunion of Stan's former coworkers, including an old boyfriend who is acting oddly. This is just a shadow of the under current of difficult topics covered in this book. It is to the author's credit how she deals with these topics while delivering a well rounded mystery.

The original discomfort of an overly formal event shifts to the worrisome stress of a murderer among the guests, most of whom have known each other for years.
Stan gets involved because even though she may not like the person of interest arrested, she has to uncover the truth. She wants to help others if t all possible.

What a great cozy mystery this was. I started to read the book thinking I would read a few chapters and come back later to read more. To my surprise I really tried to put the book down but it was so good I had to keep reading. I loved the name of the town called Frog Ledge, Connecticut. What a cute little town it is with shops that are welcoming and people who are like family. Well maybe not everyone seemed like family but you will see who I'm talking about as you devour this incredible book.

Kristan or "Stan" as she goes by is getting ready for her big store opening. She has been busy perfecting recipes and desiging the store with help from her mother. That is another story all on its own but we must focus on this mystery for now. Her store will have specialty treats for animals and I love how the author incorporated the need for K9 bullet proof vests and animal shelters in the story. I love animals and I feel in love with the dogs and cats right away. I must say there are some personalities going on with these pets. They make for some fun moments.

I absolutely adored Jake as soon as I read how compassionate and caring he is. Stan has definitely found a good guy and I hope their relationship continues to develop. He runs a pub but always makes sure he has time to be with Stan. Do I hear wedding bells in the future?

Speaking of wedding bells there is a big shindig happening with Stan's mom and Stan's presence has been requested at the party. Stan's mother is marrying the mayor and they are having a grand gala to have the engagement ring blessed. I thought Patricia, the mom was kinda distant and a bit snotty but perhaps she is just wondering why her fiancé hasn't shown up for their party. Did I mention that Stan's sister Caitlyn is staying with Stan? Well off to the party everyone goes. There are quite a few people at the party that Stan would rather not be around and wonders why her ex co-workers are there.

When there is a scream from upstairs the action takes off in this quirky mystery. A woman who really didn't have a friendly disposition is killed. I did have to laugh at all the suspects there were because they could easily fill a living room . When there is an arrest Stan is convinced the person is innocent. Why is she so determined to clear this person's name? The killer for me was easy to figure out but I did enjoy reading about how Stan and her friends join together to help prove someone innocent. There are hints throughout the book who the killer is but I thought the author brilliantly showed them in a discreet way . Overall you are in for a treat with this wonderful story that is funny and has a way to keep readers entertained till the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

I am a huge fan of any type of book that gives the reader an idea of how to be a better pet owner. Stan sets the bar high, my cats were very annoyed that they haven’t been as famous as the fictitious Nutty. Anyways, there is their ten seconds of fame. I loved the depth of the characters that Liz created. I found the personal story to the mayor to be touching and yet adding to the mystery in a manner that kept me guessing till the end. She leads the reader down a couple of rabbit holes of deception, in order to create the perfect story. I also loved the recipes at the end, can you say yum for the furbabies?It was delightful, full of charm and such strong characters that they jump off the pages. I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers that are also pet lovers, and to readers that enjoy a great book in general!

From the very beginning of the book, this fast-paced mystery is full of charming pets and an entertaining protagonist, Kristan “Stan” Connor. Stan is preparing to open her Pawsitively Organic Patisserie and Cafe in Frog Ledge, Connecticut and has three short months to put it together. She’s also struggling to juggle her overbearing mother, Patricia, (who is also one of her investors), along with her flaky, spoiled sister who decides to move herself and her six-year-old daughter in with Stan. Fortunately, Stan’s live-in boyfriend, Jake, is a very understanding guy and does all he can to support her. But things go from bad to worse when a former co-worker of Stan’s is found murdered at Patricia and the mayor’s engagement party. When Stan’s ex is arrested for the murder, she knows he’s innocent and decides to start finding answers since it appears the local police are hiding the truth.

Even with Stan’s whirlwind problems and schedule, she is still a very loyal, caring person, both towards humans and animals. She has a very contentious relationship with her distant, snobbish mother but wants more. She has also been slightly estranged from her sister so when she shows up on Stan’s doorstep it provides an awkward moment. But Stan steps up to the plate and works on helping her sister and niece out, providing room for growth and the chance to mend their relationship. I enjoyed seeing the changes that came about in their family dynamics. The mystery is satisfying and there is a subplot theme of drug abuse and addiction that adds to the depth of the story.

Stan’s new shop will sell organic pet treats and Liz Mugavero provides several pet recipes at the back of the book. I like that all her treats are human-grade and can be enjoyed by pets and humans alike. I tried the recipe for Blueberry Biscuits which was developed by The Big Biscuit in Franklin, Massachusetts. These whole grain treats are lightly sweetened with vanilla Greek yogurt and blueberries and are a healthy way to spoil your favorite furry friend! My grandpuppy, Piper, certainly loved these treats and gobbled them down as fast as we could feed them to her!

This is a great book; this is the fifth book in the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series written by Liz Mugavero. Summer is winding down in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, but Stan’s love life and career are both heating up nicely. In between planning her new pet patisserie and café, Stan is settling into living-in-bliss with sexy pub owner Jake McGee. Love’s on the menu for Stan’s mom, Patricia, too, who’s engaged to Frog Ledge’s mayor, Tony Falco. Mayor Falco’s dogged ambition isn’t popular among locals, but it’s his executive coach, Eleanor Chang, who’s inspired a dangerous grudge. When Eleanor is found dead, there’s a whole pack of suspects to choose from. Stan has first-hand experience of Eleanor’s unsavory business tactics. But finding out who forced her to take a fatal plunge off the corporate ladder means unearthing some shady secrets…and a killer who’s too close for comfort. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Custom Baked Murder is a perfect addition to Liz Mugavero's Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. Each of the characters is beautifully drawn so that we feel as if we know them personally. Stan Connor is completely likeable and there are no artificial constrictions placed on her growth and development in the series. I appreciate being introduced to a locale to which I've never been exposed in 'real' life. The mystery was sharp and surprising, with enough substance to satisfy even those who are not Cozy fans. I can't recommend it highly enough, along with the rest of the series.

A cute, fun cozy mystery with recipes for making your own healthy pet treats. I think this will be even better once Kristan finally gets her organic pet treat shop up and running. There were no surprises with the murder aspect but the story is entertaining enough and fans of cozies will want to read this. Enjoyable and I plan on reading the next one.

I loved this book! It was a nice change to read about a family trying to learn how to get along. The mystery itself was really good, although I did figure it out pretty easily. Courtney and Kyle were absolutely hilarious. I was laughing during every scene they were in.