I enjoyed this first book in the series. Ivy has returned home after a failed marriage and the death of her mother. She finds solace in a local bakery and begins taking classes there. When a body is discovered in the parking lot of the bakery she and her friends set out the solve the mystery. I really enjoyed the bakery setting and the characters. The mystery was good with plenty of suspects and twists and turns. Enjoy

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I liked the concept of Kneaded to Death and when a cozy mystery mood hit me I decided to finally read this one. Kneaded to Death was such a fun cozy mystery read and I definitely will be reading more by this author. It has everything I look for in a cozy mystery book, from a likeable main character, side characters, fun setting, a nice theme and a good mystery.

Kneaded to Death follows the story of Ivy, her mom died 6 months ago and she returned from Texas to her hometown in California to be there with her dad and brother. She's still dealing with her grief and decided to take a bread making class, there she meets Olaya the owner of the store. And during that same class they stumble upon a dead body. I liked the mystery in this book. I thought it felt realistic how Ivy got involved with her curiosity and with how two of her new friends where connected to what was going on. I also liked the pace of the mystery. Ivy wasn't running around questioning everyone, but over the course of the book spoke to some people and unearthed some clues. I liked how slowly the picture becomes clearer about what happened.

I was thinking in the right direction for the murderer, but didn't pierce together the motive and my reasoning for thinking that person was the murderer wasn't correct. So that was a bit weird how I was thinking in the right direction for the wrong reason. I think there aren't enough clues to really figure part of this one out, which was a shame. I liked how the mystery progresses throughout the book, but wasn't a fan of the ending. It all felt rushed, not enough time for the truth to sink in or elaboration about how and why. Ivy also didn't figure it out at all, it was just a coincidence how they found out the truth, which was a little unsatisfying. And looking back there are a few things they didn't even look into, like a big clue about the murder weapon they never delve into. There also is a side plot line regarding a possible suspects that never got resolved, not sure if that's intentional or not.

I liked how the police officer on the case, Emmaline, is actually Ivy's best friend and how Ivy did bring any evidence she unearthed to the police. Although at the same time I really wonder what the police did. As it's all from the point of view of Ivy and Ivy sharing information with the police, we never get a good feel for what the police know. Although there are a few tidbits of information the Emmaline shares with Ivy.

I thought Ivy was a likable main character. She still griefs her mom and there are multiple scenes where it's obvious how much she still struggles. I liked how she went to the baking shop and seeing her make new friends. I liked her passion for photography and how her photography skills are mentioned a few times throughout the book. She also has a dog called Agatha, whom I liked to read about, although I wouldn't have minded seeing a bit more of the dog.

I liked reading about the new friends Ivy made and seeing her interact with them. There also is a hint of a possible romance with her first crush who broke her heart when he left town and now there's the possibility of a second chance romance. I liked them so far and am curious to see how things play out.

The bread theme was a fun addition to this book, although thee isn't as much focus on it as I had expected with the cover featuring it so prominently, but it was an important setting for the book. With the baking classes and one of Ivy's friends running the shop. I hope to see more of it in future books.

To summarize: This was a great start to this series. Ivy was a likable main character, there was a compelling mystery, fun side characters and I liked the bread theme. I liked how the mystery progressed with the truth about certain events coming slowly to light. There are some interesting reveals along the way. Unfortunately the big reveal at the end felt rushed and incomplete with no additional info about how and why. I liked following Ivy's character around and seeing how she handled things. There is a hint of possible romance, we'll see how that develops. I liked the bread theme and reading about the bread baking. And I hope to see more of that in book 2. All in all this was a solid read and I plan to read more books by this author.

I loved of this book that, besides the mystery, there was more: the protagonist Ivy has lost her mother and has to face grief and suffering. It was useful for her to participate in a bread baking class,( it was also interesting to see the various stages of bread preparation).
Ivy is a photographer and has returned home after her mother's death. She helps Olaya, the owner of the village bakery to advertise for her store. She also organizes bread baking class there. When one of her students is killed, Ivy will help investigate.
The plot is interesting, well built with lots of twists, it's hard to put it down before you've solved the case. The setting is lovely and the characters are amazing. A good start for this series.

I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kneaded to Death starts by introducing us to Ivy, a young woman who has come back to her home town following the death of her mother. To aid in the grieving process, or possibly to avoid it, she enrolls in a local bread making class. Murder quickly follows.
I found this cozy to be just that-cozy. Likable, easy to read characters, and a fairly straight-forward plot made for a relaxing, fun evening. All in all, a great start to a new series.

It took me a few chapters too get into this book. I enjoyed the mystery that was solid the characters are okay I just couldn't find one to relate too.

Synopsis

Ivy Culpepper has moved back home after her mother died in a hit and run accident. Her father, her brother and herself are devastated and slowly trying to rebuild their lives. Ivy’s mother was a teacher at a local high school, where she was loved and respected. Her kneaded-to-deathfather is a city manager. Ivy had a photography business in Texas and she is slowly rebuilding her passion for life in general, photography specifically. A bakery titled the Year of Eden that she visits every day, she buys every type of item that they sell. One day she is invited to take a class to learn how to bake bread. Ivy develops new relationships and old relationships from the past. A new friend is found murdered in her car. A new thought begins to form in her mind and secrets from the past begin unfold. Now the awful thought occurs and proof develops that her mother was murdered.Now what does she do?

Summary and rating of 4.8

This is a new author for me and I really liked the book. The story was well written and moved along at a great pace. It wasn’t so much the crime, but the psychology of the people left behind after a murder. There were no suspects and not though it was murder; but loved ones of the person who died are trying to move on and get their lives back in order. It was different approach to a cozy mystery, and I really enjoyed it!

I loved the whole bread baking class. It seems like such a soothing way to relieve stress. A nice solid cozy with a small-town theme where everyone knows each other. Ivy Culpepper happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when she decides to take a bread baking course. While trying to solve a murder, Ivy makes some wonderful friends, and along the way, surprising revelations come to light. This is certainly a series worth checking out.

Kneaded to Death was a charming culinary mystery that will definitely have me coming back for more. I loved meeting Ivy and the colorful cast of characters that resided in Santa Sofia and this mystery definitely had me guessing right along with Ivy. This mystery was well-written and entertaining and a great start to a brand new series. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next for Ivy as she settles back into life in this delightful little seaside town.

When her mother is killed in a hit-and-run accident, Ivy Culpepper returns from Austin, Texas to the small California town where she grew up. She's having a hard time getting a handle on her grief, so she takes a bread baking class to somewhat ease her pain.

On the first day of class one of the students - Jackie Makers - rushes in late, takes a phone call and rushes out again just as quickly. When the bakers hear an argument outside, they are drawn to it and Ivy discovers to her dismay that one of the people involved is her high school boyfriend Miguel Batista, and it seems he's also returned to town after leaving abruptly after graduation. But when Jackie doesn't return to class it's not long before they find her in her car - dead.

What she doesn't count on is that Miguel would also bring with him the ability to confuse her feelings still, nor that she would be drawn into a nasty neighborhood dispute over historic homes. But the big thing she discovers is that her mother's accident may have been no accident at all...and that the killer may very well have been the same one who killed Jackie...

I did like the idea of Ivy taking a bread making class to cope with her grief, and the recipes sound delicious, but I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters. While she supposedly has a history with Miguel, and her brother Billy has a hankering for police officer Emmaline (and she for him), I didn't sense the chemistry between any of the characters. In fact, the only real chemistry came between Ivy and Penny Branford, an elderly widow who knew her mother and befriends her and becomes a sort-of partner in Ivy's investigations.

However, while I enjoyed the mystery, I felt that it was wrapped up very quickly, not giving the reader time to decide whether they cared what happened one way or another, due in part to the fact that a character who should have been a big part of the mystery was only in a few pages altogether. Since this is the first in a new series, a lot can be done with it, and the writing itself is very good; plus the recipes in the back are a nice bonus. I hope that in the next book we will learn more about Ivy (other than her grieving process) and I look forward to reading more about Santa Sofia, its inhabitants, and of course, Yeast of Eden; a place I imagine all of us bakers would love to spend time in. Recommended.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This series is off to a wonderful start.

Ivy Culpepper has returned to Santa Sofia following her mother’s death to be closer to her father and brother and to deal with her own grief. I myself am dealing with the grief of losing my son so I clearly identified with Ivy’s grief. We all grieve differently and Ivy find herself taking a bread making class at Yeast of Eden, the Mexican bread shop in town. Before they even finish the first lesson one of the students in murdered just outside of the shop. When she learns the owner of the shop is the police’s prime suspect, Ivy starts to poke her nose into the investigation. The bread crumbs she is following lead her somewhere very unexpected. Can her theories really be true or is this just a half baked idea she has come up with to deal with her pain? She rises to the occasion as she tries to catch the real killer.

For me there was much more to this story than a cozy mystery. I was very interested to see how Ivy dealt with her grief. I was happy to see her find a support group in the woman in her bread making class. I have learned how important it is to surround yourself by individuals that have your back and are there for you whenever you need them. For me it has been family, friends and surprisingly an online support group. The theme of this story, the making, kneading and baking the bread was a great way to facilitate just what Ivy needed. Of course, a murder to solve is a great diversion that works in books, not so much in reality. 🙂

The characters in this story are all very well developed. I love the smattering of Spanish within the dialogue. Surprising how much of high school Spanish I remember. Don’t worry everything is translated in a very natural way the does not obstruct but adds to the conversations.

The mystery itself takes some really nice twists to get us to the final reveal. Secrets and surprises drive the plot to a very captivating conclusion.

Ivy grows so much within these pages. Her life is really at a crossroads. I was so happy with the way the story ended.

I am so excited for the next installment of this series. I really want to visit these characters again soon and get to know them even better.

I was nervous about reading this story last week as we hit the two year mark of my son’s death, but in a way I can’t really explain it gave me “food for thought”. Support can be found in so many places. We just need to have the courage to reach out or step into places and circumstances that may be uncomfortable at first but beneficial in the long run. I am not sure if the author’s mission was to give this type of a lesson, but I sure appreciated this story.

To make good bread you have to start with the right ingredients and combine them in the right way - let the dough develop properly, and then bake. Kneaded to Death takes that idea to heart. Not only does the story center around a charming Mexican bread bakery, it has just the right mix of characters and just enough excitement and romance to keep the blend balanced.

Ivy Culpepper returned to Santa Sofia when her mother was killed by a hit and run driver. Her death hit Ivy hard, and now she is struggling to regain her inspiration. Taking a bread baking class at Yeast of Eden seems a perfect choice. Olaya’s bakery has been a home away from home; her bread a comfort. The first class goes well until a classmate is found dead in her car. Ivy’s natural inquisitiveness and her desire to protect the Dias sisters leads her to start her own investigation.

Kneaded to Death is a cute mystery that will leave you eager to bake. (I like baking bread, and since I started reading Kneaded to Death, I’ve made quite a few loaves for family and friends) The food descriptions are delectable. The characters are charming, particularly Ivy and the Dias sisters. The plot isn't without flaws, but it is enjoyable nonetheless. (Spoiler- I still can’t figure out how discovering you have a half sister leads to you running down your mother's culinary rival). There is little violence and no sex, so the book can be read by younger mystery lovers.

4 / 5

I received a copy of Kneaded to Death from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

I loved this book! It is a great start to a new series. I love the main character as well as the supporting characters. I can't wait to see where the romance in this series goes, as well as the character's personal and professional growth.

Ivy Culpepper has returned to her home town because of the hit and run death of her mother. In an effort to sooth her spirit since the driver was never found, she enrolls in a bread making class not knowing the direction that it will lead her. When another class attendee is found dead in her car at the bakery parking lot and Ivy discovers that she was acquainted with her mother, she begins to feel that the two deaths are related and starts delving into what they were both involved in.

This is a start of a new cozy series and the characters were down-to-earth and at times a bit quirky, but I look forward to seeing them again.

It took me a little bit to get into this new story, but once I did, I was hooked.. Photographer Ivy Culpepper has returned home to Santa Sofia, California after the accidental death of her mother. At loose ends living with her father, she decides to take a bread making class at a heavenly sounding bakery, Yeast of Eden. There, she meets a small cast of characters that will nudge her back into the real world. Olaya Solis, the sister I tend to think that has the most to do with the bakery becomes a suspect in a murder of a woman who is both a neighbor and member of the class. In addition to the bakery, I loved the descriptions of life and homes on Maple Street. The mystery had a lot of twists and turns, to keep me (and Ivy) guessing for quite a while. I thought it was interesting how the author tied a personal connection in with the final piece, really help flesh out some characters. I really look forward to another book featuring Ivy.

Ivy Culpepper is back home in Santa Sofia, California after living in Texas. Her return comes on the heels of a tragedy and she struggles to make sense of the turn of events. Ivy, while trying to make sense of things, finds herself on the doorstop of Yeast of Eden and becomes involved in bread making classes. During one class, a member of the group is found dead in her car while a fight brews in the street near by. Does one event have anything to do with the other? When the local police names the owner of Yeast of Eden and her two sisters as suspects, Ivy knows it's not true and finds herself on a quest to clear their names. The deeper Ivy gets involved the more secrets come out about the residents of her sleepy little town.

The author did an excellent job keeping the murderer(s) under wraps. She cleverly brought in many people that it could be, some more prominent than others, and slid the revelation in all wrapped up with a bow. Looking back, there are recognizable yet subtle clues and hints.

The character development and world building was done well. We get back story as necessary but most of the book focuses on the past six months to the present. The dialogue is conversational and characters are likable. Ivy is strong yet emotional since the tragedy. She needs an outlet for her grief and finds it with baking classes at Yeast of Eden. She can focus on something else, she's in good company, and making bread is fun. The secondary characters are unique and bring their own style to Kneaded to Death.

The pacing of the story, however, is rather slow for about half of the story. It took me much longer to read the book than it should have. I just didn't get engaged in the story right away. I was able to put the book down and walk away without really feeling a pull to come back and read more. The last half of the book was much better in terms of pacing, interest, and engagement. The solution to the mystery was satisfying, albeit heart wrenching at one point.

Review Copy Compliments of author/publisher - I reviewed voluntarily.

Cozy mysteries are new to me and I am learning that I quite enjoy them. They're like the adult version of Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys. still love Nancy Drew books...

Anyways...

I wouldn't say I am a great baker (that's my mother's area of expertise in the kitchen), but do know how to bake. This story's setting is in the kitchen, which is why I mentioned the above. Ivy has been dealing with loss and grief but finds that baking fills that void and makes her happy. Sadly, during her first class, she learns someone has been murdered and the dead body is in her car. Thus, a murder mystery has begun!

The only thing about this book I didn't care for was that it seemed to focus more on the grieving process than the actual plot. That said, aside from that, I really enjoyed this book and really look forward to the rest of the series! This was a well-written, well-developed cozy mystery that I snuggled up to read without hesitation.

This is a wonderful first book in a new cozy series. The writing draws you into the story from the very start and keeps you engaged until the last word. The descriptions of the various breads at Yeast of Eden are mouthwatering--and there are two recipes included at the back of the book!

The town of Santa Sofia has some very interesting residents. Ivy and Olaya are the main characters, but we also get to know the members of the baking class (feisty Mrs. Branford is my favorite!) as well as Ivy's father and brother--and her brother's girlfriend, who is also Ivy's best friend AND the local law enforcement.

There are plenty of clues to lead you to the killer's identity, but you have to be paying very close attention in order to catch them. Quite a bit of the book shows how consumed Ivy is with her grief, but I believe that solving her mother's murder will lessen that for her in future stories.

This is definitely a book worth reading.

Kneaded to Death is the first book in a new series and it definitely shows a lot of promise. This book had some really enjoyable characters. Along with Ivy, the main character, I also was particularly fond of the Solis sisters. The book started out a little slow with pacing but it most definitely picked up later on. There were several different things happening at once and it really grabbed my attention and kept the pages turning to see how everything would turn out. The murderer was not easy to figure out, which is always nice. I like to be surprised and definitely was in this case. There were several different suspects and we didn't find out the true culprit until the end of the book. The recipes at the back of the book sounded delicious so I will make sure to give them a try sometime. Everything was described really well, giving you a picture of Santa Sofia and the bakery. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series in the future.

You can almost smell the bread while you're reading this book and the recipes in the back aren't bad either. This series is one that I'll enjoy.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer is the first book in the new Bread Shop Mystery series and it's a wonderful beginning to the series!

I really enjoyed this first installment of this brand-new Bread Shop Mystery series.

The characters in this series are unique, complex, and delightful. It's always hard to come back to where you were raised and even harder after a tragedy has struck, but I thought Ivy handled seeing old friends/boyfriends and dealing with her grief very well. I like the fact that it's Ivy's friend who is part of the police force and not her romantic interest. It makes for a nice change.

The setting descriptions were okay, but not quite as detailed as I would have liked. Other than the bakery itself, I had a hard time imagining the various places in the book.

The story line was clever and interesting. It moved along at a decent pace. There were plenty of suspects to choose from and I didn't figure out the culprit before it was revealed (yay!).

I didn't give this 5 stars partially because while I enjoyed it, I doubt this will be a book I read more than once. The other reason was my thought that there should be more description if the settings. However, I did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend it! I look forward to the next book in the series.

** I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions and conclusions are my own. **