This is the 10th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series and not having read the first nine left me with a lot of questions. It's a decent stand-alone, especially if you like baking, which I do! It set a wonderful Christmas atmosphere. The mystery is complex enough to keep you guessing with enough clues to prove my first suspect was correct. My biggest question was with the estranged husband, Carlos. A "life-changing secret" is mentioned as the reason for their split but we're never told what the secret is. Apparently, if you don't read the first book, you don't get to know why they are separated. It's hard to get to know Jules or understand her motivations without that information.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

#NetGalley #Reviewathon
#ACupOfHolidayFear

Juliet is back in the bakery getting ready for Christmas. The story is enjoyable being told from her point of view. We get to read a lot of baking tips and recipe ideas. However, I felt that the story focused too much on that type of thing and forgot to flesh out the mystery part. There is a murder and a conclusion, but it seemed as if almost secondary to the book. The explanation didn't quite work for me and I felt it was a bit contrived to make it work as an afterthought. I normally like this series, but this one left me wanting something more.

I absolutely loved this book and this series! It has everything that good cozy mysteries should - a great amateur sleuth, lovely friendships and family relationships, a great sense of community and well plotted mysteries that the whodunnit isn't obvious.

In this entry, Jules and company at Torte are giving a holiday Dickens feast when one of the guests ends up murdered. I absolutely love the Lance/Jules friendship and his willing to help solve the mysteries. The mystery itself I didn't guess the resolution to until it was revealed. Excellent addition to the series!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR (Book 10 of the Bakeshop Mysteries) by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. Jules Capshaw is set to enjoy brisk business and a picture-perfect Christmas season. After all, Ashland, Oregon goes all-out to make the Yule season winter wonderful. This year, Jules and her mother treat the Torte employees to the Dickensian Feast held at the local Winchester Inn. However, their sweet celebration is somewhat soured by the shenanigans of an out-of-town guest. As the evening progresses, go more awry. The grand finale of wrongness presents itself in the murder of the unruly guest. Lance is delighted to have the opportunity for another adventure and urges Jules to investigate the latest homicide. Can Jules find time to capture a killer when she’s up to her eyeballs in hot chocolate, sugar cookies, and other seasonal sweets?

I liked this book and, overall, the series. This book progresses the overall story of the friends and community while also focusing on the current mystery. I look forward to the next tale. I recommend this book to fans of Ellie Alexander, to fans of the series, and to fans of cozy mysteries with small town and food themes.

adore this cozy series and this newest entry didn't disappoint. It's also the perfect book if you are in the mood for a holiday-themed mystery.

Jules (Juliette Montague Capshaw) is busily working at her bakeshop Torte, preparing delectable treats for the holidays. Eventually (almost 1/3 into the book) someone is murdered so between managing the bakery staff and working on new recipes, Jules manages to assist the detectives in the investigation. Sure, the mouth-watering food descriptions and cooking instructions almost eclipse the mystery, but I didn't mind a whit as I enjoy catching up with not only Jules' life but her family, friends, and staff. And if a reader wants to see where some the action takes place, Google "Winchester Inn in Ashland, Oregon" as it is a real Victorian inn where you'll be tempted to book a room.

This is the perfect series for anyone who wants a cozy mystery with no objectionable content -- except perhaps some very appealing and fattening food description and recipes, and OMG! I have to try that recipe for cream cheese frosting, not to mention the Antoinette cookies!)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital review copy. To be published on September 24, 2019.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

STABBED IN THE HEART
AND YOU'RE TO BLAME
YOU GIVE CHRISTMAS A BAD NAME

Thank you, i just had to get that out of my system!

This is a really fun, easy read with likable characters.

The villain pretty much jumped out at me but i didn't feel condescended to so that's always lovely!

I really like Jules' friendship with Christmas-Hating Lance.
She's so determined to have him enjoy the holiday that she invites him to a fancy dinner where an awful woman is stabbed.

Things move at a pretty brisk pace from there and the ending is a Christmas treat!

Jules Capshaw is the head baker and co-owner of her family’s bakery, Torte in Ashland, Oregon. With Christmas coming, Jules and her Torte family are busy baking and making the season bright. To celebrate as a family, Jules makes reservations for the Torte team to celebrate at Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast, a long standing Ashland Christmas tradition.

During the Feast, the new owner of the Inn manages to annoy every staff member, whom she quickly fires, even though no one knows the Inn has been sold. But when the new owner is murdered during a power outage, the festivities take a Bah Humbug turn. Having found the Inn owner drugged in the basement before finding the dead woman, Jules has time to come up with some theories of her own before the police arrive. Can the police solve the murder before Jules gets too close to the truth and becomes the next victim to be wearing a knife with a splash of red for Christmas?

This is a fantastic series, as are all things Ellie Alexander writes. Ellie has a way of bringing the characters, emotions, weather and aromas to life on the pages of her books. This is a series you can binge on with 10 books already in the series. If you haven’t read anything by Ellie Alexander yet, what are you waiting for? You’ll thank me later!

Reading this wonderful Christmas themed cozy mystery is like visiting with old friends. It is a pleasure to spend time with Juliet, Lance, Helen and the Professor and the rest of the gang at Torte, even when there is murder in their midst. Torte is having their Christmas party at the Dickens Feast at the Winchester Inn, which is run by Helen's old friends, Emma and Jon McBeth. The Dickens feast is an Ashland Christmas tradition, loved by all but this year is different. The McBeth's are selling their inn to Cami, who is poised to tear it down and destroy all the lovely Ashland traditions. When the Torte gang arrives for their feast the inn is in chaos with all manner of mishpas - shattered dishes, a power outage caused by someone cutting the power line, Jon's drink being drugged, followed by Cami's body being found with a steak knife through her heart. Once again Juliet, with Lance's instigation, finds herself involved in investigating. I truly love this series - the wonderful characters, the compelling plots and most of all the descriptions of the delicious treats at Torte - don't read this while you are hungry!

What a joyous book. I enjoyed it very much. All the goings on of Christmas and family and friends. All the wonderful food. The mystery was interesting and the ending is absolutely perfect. #A Cup of Holiday Fear #NetGalley

This is a good solid cozy series and one of my top five.
I highly suggest you read them in order.
The characters are first rate and the whodunit was well written.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

The staff at Torte bakery are run off their feet as the holidays approach, but bakery boss, Jules, is determined to give her staff a little R and R. They are all going to the Winchester Inn for a the Dicken’s Feast, a six course meal with all the trimmings. But instead of a relaxing feast, Jules and her staff find themselves putting on detective hats after one of the guests winds up deader than a doornail