I was surprised at how much I liked Sophia, because when the book first started I was a bit annoyed by her. By the end of the book, not only had she grown on me but I found I couldn't wait to dive into the next book in this new cozy mystery series.

Cozy mystery check list:
-Heroine returns to hometown after having heart broken and somehow ends up involved in a murder case.
-Definite lead up making you think you know who the killer is only to be a bit surprised to find out who it actually is.
-Awesome childhood friends who show up, no questions asked, to help with the "investigation".
-Sophia is a pastry chef.
-Romantic entanglement with local police that will definitely be developing more throughout the series
-Lost a star because she gets to confront her ex a little too early in the series.

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series penned under the name Maymee Bell, actually Tonya Kappes. It has her fun and easygoing style that I would expect from this author. It takes place in the south, Kentucky with some southern humor. Sophia Cummings has returned home for visit while nursing her wounds after catching her boyfriend with the hostess of the restaurant where they work. While she is there, she finds the chef of the country club dead in the kitchen. When her friend, manager of the country club is the main suspect. she steps in to see what she can find. I enjoyed this story with its various characters and easy to follow plot. There were a few red herrings, several suspects and some danger that Sophia got into, all in all, a cute cozy. I did figure out who the culprit was quite early in the story. If you enjoy a fun, Southern cozy mystery, then pick up this series.

This book remind me kind of something Janet Evanovich would write. It was a cute little thriller, but not something that made me want to read more from Maymee. I think I am more of a psychological thriller type than a mystery, cute thriller.

A new series set in Rumford, Kentucky. Sophia Cummings is a pastry chef at a ritzy Manhattan restaurant, but is home in Rumford visiting her parents to get over her broken heart. She caught her boyfriend, a chef at the same restaurant, cheating on her. While in town she reconnects with many of her high school friends that she hasn't seen in 10 years, since she left to pursue her dream in culinary school. One of them, Charlotte, is getting married and her baker has just quit. Sophia is persuaded to make her wedding cake and while they are discussing the details at the country club they find the chef's dead body. Sophia knows many of the people at the country club and wants to help solve the crime so that her friend's wedding won't be disrupted. The investigation leads down many roads, and there are many good possibilities as to who the killer might be. Will the murder be solved in time for Charlotte's wedding? I fell in love with these characters and the small town of Rumford, Kentucky. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I also am looking forward to trying some of the recipes included in the back of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this first book in this new series.

The characters were likable and acted just like friends in a small town where everyone knows everything about everybody.

The mystery was top-notch and had me guessing until the end. It was a well-written book and I can't wait to read the next one!

Sophia Cummings is a pastry chef and her dream was to work alongside her fiancé, a chef, but those dreams were dashed when she discovered him playing around with the Maitre d' at the restaurant where they worked. She leaves and heads home to nurse her wounds. When she arrives she is persuaded my a longtime friend to make the wedding cake for the upcoming nuptials. Planning to work her magic in the Country Club kitchen, surprise, surprise, when they walk in and find the Head Chef dead. So Sophie sets out to find the murderer while doing her culinary specialties,

There may have been a few too many characters in this new series to start but I liked their interaction and assume that their development will improve in future installment. It was fun.

I believe I have found my new favorite cozy mystery series! After returning home for a short visit after a bad breakup, Sophia, pastry chef extraordinare, finds herself making an old friends wedding cake. In the midst of it all the head chef at the country club where the wedding is going to be is murdered. Can Sophia help bring down a killer and save a wedding?

The characters are well thought out and the book is a fun read. I cannot wait to read the next book. I also love that there are recipes of what she makes in the story at the end of the book!

Princess Fuzzypants here: There is a lot of potential in this series. A successful pastry chef from New York returns home after she breaks off the relationship with her cheating boyfriend who happens to be the chef in the same restaurant.. Everyone from her parents to her friends hope she will make this temporary respite permanent and there is a great opportunity to do so. Getting in the way is the murder of the chef of the local country club. Sophia wants to exonerate her mentor who is the prime suspect.
Between helping out at the country club, designing and making the wedding cake for a high school friend and snooping around, she is a busy lady and someone does not appreciate her meddling, including the police chief who has designs on her in a professional and personal way. I do like the characters and found the story to be engaging. I do have some issues with Sophia as she does tend to run headlong into danger in a way most intelligent people would not.
However, having said this, I was engrossed in the story and loved Duchess, her mother's cat. The story flowed well and kept my attention right to the end.
While it is not a story that grabbed mew by the throat and would not let go, I found it a pleasant and entertaining read. I give it four purrs and one paw up.

Cake and Punishment is the first book in the Southern Cake Baker Mystery series! It stars Sophia Cummings, a pastry chef who leaves her life in NYC to go back to her hometown of Rumford, Kentucky after she finds out her boyfriend cheated on her.

While nursing her broken heart, Sophia gets roped into making and designing the wedding cake for an old friend. And while they’re checking out the wedding venue, they stumble upon the dead body of a chef—the same chef that’s supposed to cook for the wedding. So Sophia must find out who killed the chef before her friend’s wedding is ruined and her old boss goes down for it.

I had so much fun reading this book! I literally devoured it in one sitting. From page one, it roped me in with its colorful descriptions and southern charm and delectable desserts. Yummy!

The characters had to be my favorite thing about this book. I fell in love with everyone. They all had this charming aura to them, and they were all interesting and well-developed. Sophia, the main character was very relatable in all aspects, from her life to her feelings. The chemistry between Sophia and the town sheriff was amazing—sizzling! I’m rooting for them.

The mystery itself was a bit predictable I will admit. I guessed the bad guy about halfway through, but I still had a wonderful time reading.

Overall, a great start to a new cozy series! It’s witty, charming and suspenseful. I loved it. I will definitely be picking up the next one!

The first book in the Southern Cake Baker Mystery series by Maymee Bell is Cake and Punishment. Sophia returns to her hometown of Rumford, Kentucky, to recover following a bad breakup. She has taken a break from her job as head pastry chef of a New York restaurant. Rumford lacks a bakery, and Sophia soon finds herself baking for every event in town. When the chef of the country club is murdered, Sophia is knee deep in a mystery. Some parts of this first book were quite predictable, but this is the first book of the series. I read this in less than a day since it was interesting and also a quick read. I am looking for a little more depth in the second book.

Cake & Punishment, book #1 in Maymee Bell’s new series, is a delightfully satisfying cozy mystery. The “city girl returning to her small hometown” 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 – 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.

I sure do love a Cozy Mystery, especially one with some delicious recipes given at the end of the book. After catching her boyfriend in a compromising situation, Sophia heads home to visit her family and take some time away from NYC and her job, where she works with her ex. While there she manages to get coaxed into making the wedding cake for an old high-school friend. When the chef at the local country club is murdered, Sophia steps up to be in charge of the kitchen for a few days. Since her dear friend, Evelyn, the manager of the country club, is the prime suspect, Sophia also tries to figure out who killed the chef. There is a budding romance in this story and also some surprises. This is the first book in the Southern Baker Mystery series and I am glad to have started reading at the very beginning. Looking forward to more of the adventures of Sophia Cummings, the country club, Sherrif Carter, and of course Bitzy. This Cozy was such fun, I am giving this a solid 4-star rating.

This first novel in the Southern Cake Baker mystery series takes a slightly different road towards placing our heroine where everyone knows she’s meant to be. Usually, culinary cozies open with the heroine fresh off of a heartbreak and ready to start a new life in new circumstances. Sophia Cummings is just recovering from her fiance’s betrayal but she definitely isn’t ready to give up on her life as a New York City pastry chef, despite the blandishments of the townsfolk of Rumford, Kentucky. Sophia is back in her childhood home for a few days just to take a breather before plunging back into the lifestyle she’s always wanted, but darned if everyone isn’t doing their level best to get her to stay a little, or perhaps a lot, longer.

One of these people is her old high school friend, Charlotte Harrington, who insists that Sophia bake the cake for Charlotte’s upcoming wedding at the Rumford Country Club. Sophia is happy to help, as she has fond memories of working at the RCC as a teenager under the supervision of the now-general manager, Evelyn Moss. But when the head chef is discovered murdered in the RCC’s kitchen and Evelyn becomes prime suspect, Sophia finds her hands full not only with baking, but with helping to take over from the dead man while trying to clear Evelyn’s name.

Part of the charm of reading Cake And Punishment is being privy to Sophia’s struggle to hold on to her grown-up life in the big city against the seductive idea of moving back to a small town that desperately needs her skills. As she investigates with the help of another old friend from high school, Madison Ridge, she can’t help but fall back in love with her hometown and the many possibilities that unfold before her. But there are shocks in store before Sophia can really make an informed choice, and bring a killer to justice in the process.

Maymee Bell includes recipes for six of the mouth-watering desserts she describes in this novel, and since you all know I’m partial to cupcakes, I had to try out the following:

QUOTE
Kentucky Butter Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 cup salted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt (optional; I don’t add any since I use salted butter)
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk)

Glaze
⅓ cup salted butter
¾ cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla
Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tins.
2. Combine all of the cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase the speed and mix for 2-3 minutes.
3. Pour the batter into muffin tins, filling them three-quarters of the way full.
4. Bake 17-19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in one comes out clean. The tops will be golden brown. Let the cupcakes set in the muffin tins while you prepare the glaze.
5. Prepare the glaze by heating the ingredients on the stovetop in a saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted.
6/ Move the cupcakes to a cooling rack or baking sheet and pour warm glaze over the tops, about a spoonful on each. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.
END QUOTE

These cupcakes were incredible. They tasted, to a very large extent, like pound cake in cupcake form, only a wee bit lighter, which suits the idea of a cupcake perfectly. The glaze was the perfect topping, causing me to forego the powdered sugar dusting. I did get to break out my brand new electric mixer for this recipe, which was quite thrilling for me. My only criticism is that the recipe as it’s printed in the back of the book doesn’t state that it makes 24 cupcakes instead of the usual 12, and while that is mentioned in the body of the novel, it does seem like a bit of an oversight (not that I’m really complaining, as that just means more cupcakes for me!)

Next week, we head northeast to Amish country to try out a fortifying soup! Do join me!

Southern cozy at it’s finest, author Maymee Bell has penned what is sure to be one of the top new cozy mysteries of 2018.

As a lover of culinary cozies, I had been looking forward to CAKE & PUNISHMENT since I first heard about it. Starting a new series can be a bit dicey. You’re never sure if it will live up to your expectations. I’m happy to say, this book did that and more!

CAKE & PUNISHMENT drew me in immediately. Great characters, southern charm, detailed descriptions that made me feel like I was part of the story, and a truly wonderful murder mystery all kept me turning page after page until I was blindsided by the clever reveal.

If you have to be choosy about what books you can buy, make sure CAKE & PUNISHMENT is one of the ones you choose. Seriously, a fabulous mystery, and tasty recipes, you won’t go wrong with this one!

There were a lot of inconsistencies, legally/ethically questionable actions (in particular by the realtor friend) and some dropped threads that were not tidied or cleared up by the end of this book. I also found it lacking in substance and details. The fact that Sophia blithely, albeit a little reluctantly, 'took over' another chef's kitchen without any consideration to the fact that no one knows her, also sat very awkwardly with me the entire book. I'm not convinced this is how it would be done, particularly if the person appointing the 'new-if-temporary' chef is the murder suspect, who should, by all accounts, not even be at work. Google didn't really clarify anything for me, so this remains a slightly grey area for me.

I didn't dislike it, however, and enjoyed the premise as it's promising and leaves the series open to much more development. I'd like to read the second in the series to see if, hopefully, the series gets its footing.

Adding this one to my list of favorite reads for the year with a big 'ole 5 stars!
Maymee Bell starts things off from the first few pages drawing the reader in with a little murder to solve.
The main character Sophia comes home to lick her wounds for a few days after a nasty break up with her cheatin' boyfriends.
Sophia's plans for a few days away suddenly get thwarted when she runs into a high school buddy that begs her to bake her wedding cake when the hired baker backs out.
Who can say no to that?
And then when they meet at the country club to discuss the cake and the venue what happens but the chef gets whacked in the head with his own skillet! Or is it his?
There's no place like home.
When Sophia's mentor gets becomes the prime suspect the wedding becomes jeopardized. And so Sophia becomes a sleuth to save her friend and the wedding.

It seems everyone is against her leaving and returning to NYC.
Her mom begins matchmaking. Her friends keep coming up with
important events for Sophia cater.

And there is no shortage of suspects who could have been the one weilding that iron skillet!

And then there's that closed up and empty bakery space in town.
And a charming little house with a kitchen that needs a baker.

Sophia's heart is torn between returning to NYC and her dream job and staying in her hometown.

I loved Cake & Punishment I am looking forward to
more in this series.

This review will appear on retail sites, Good Reads and Net Galley.
I received a complimentary copy.

What a fun cozy mystery with a southern drawl! A Kentucky drawl, to be precise, so you know I love it. Perfect for the armchair sleuth with a sweet tooth, this new series is off to a great start!

Sophia is a little bit ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, returning home to small town Kentucky from her high-profile job as a pastry chef for an elite restaurant in Manhattan after she catches her chef boyfriend cheating on her with the hostess. Her group of long-time friends, not to mention her colorful mother, are the perfect counterparts to Sophia – not to mention the swoony sheriff Carter with the slow drawl who is smitten with Sophia from the get-go. Loved the romance angle to this story! (I’m sure none of you are surprised lol) It’s just so tender while at the same time completely knee-weakening.

The mystery is very well-plotted and is the perfect blend of amateur sleuthing and consulting with the swoony sheriff. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, only to discover that I didn’t. By the end, I knew who the murderer was before Sophia did – or at least I thought I did – but the story itself is so enjoyable that it really didn’t matter.

Bottom Line: Nobody does small town Kentucky quite like Maymee Bell and her alter ego, Tonya Kappes. Add in a delightful cast of quirky and endearing characters, one swoony sheriff, delectable baked goods, and an intriguing cozy mystery with a whole menu of suspects. Stir things up a bit with a no-good ex. Blend in the perfect amount of nostalgia, wit, and some gorgeous Kentucky scenery and Voila! A delicious first book in what proves to be a wonderful new series!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I’m a big cozy fan and, being, a southern gal, I enjoy books set in my neck of the woods. The icing on the cake for me was. literally, the dessert. The author described some sweet concoctions that had me craving something sweet. And there’s more than one kind. The possible romance between Sophia and Sherriff Carter of the adorable dimples added to the flavor.

I like a story about starting over too. Been there. Done that. And with loads of humorous scenes and eccentric character’s I couldn’t help but laugh and relate. Sophie might have begun the story in emotional shock from a cheating boyfriend, but after returning to her roots, her sassy mother shows her she’s tough and smart enough to begin anew and her friends lend charming and funny support.

The mystery wasn’t easy to solve either. I couldn’t pick any obvious suspects. And the thing with the new frying pan kept me especially intrigued.

The author mixed together all the right ingredients for a fun cozy mystery.

What a great 1st book in the Southern Cake Baker Mystery series. Sophia returns to her home town when she discovers her chef boyfriend with another woman. As pastry chef in the same restaurant she decides to visit her family and nurse her bruised heart. She is roped into baking her high school friend’s wedding cake and helping out when the chef at the country club is murdered. Great characters and instant attraction between Sophia and the sheriff. This cozy is a good mystery and is well written. You won’t want to lay it down until it’s finished. Can’t wait for the next book.

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 dear—can 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.