Dollycas's Thoughts

So many good things are happening for Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers Melanie Cooper and Angie Harper both personally and professionally. Then they learn one of their friends and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has died. Rene was a local glass artist and has had several health issues over the years. She had been working on a huge project for the city which made her stressed out and not sleeping but Rene did not pass from natural causes or health issues. No, she was poisoned and the police suspect the cupcakes Rene loved could have carried the poison.

Melanie and Angie know they had nothing to do with Rene's death and they are going to prove it before they lose their business or are sharing a jail cell.

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I have gotten behind on this series for a variety of reasons and I am so happy to reconnect with Mel, Angie, Joe, Tate, Oz, Marty, and the fabulous and funny DeLaura brothers. Mel and "Dear Joe" are planning their wedding while Angie and Tate are settling into married life and all that brings. Marty is always a lot of fun and is still dating rival baker Olivia. Oz has been taking time off and made a huge change to his appearance leaving Mel and Angie nervous that are going to lose him. The DeLaura brothers are up in arms when they receive some news and have some crazy ideas. It was so easy to catch right up with these wonderful characters. The banter between them always makes me smile. The movie quotes are just plain fun.

The death of a friend hits Mel especially hard. Feeling she should have been able to help in some way, she is now on a crusade to find her killer. She trusts her Uncle Stan, but the Chief is "concerned" about all the bodies she has found or investigations she has played a part in, so she is opening an investigation and reviewing all those cases. Mel doesn't have time to worry about the past, she needs to live in the present and find out who killed Rene. She is nervous that it was Rene's husband Peter but he seemed to dote on his wife. She has other suspects though. I did too, but one event blew my theory up nicely. I did really enjoy all the twists and found the showdown extremely satisfying.

A lot happens within these pages. These characters have always been some of my favorites.  I laughed out loud and giggled more than a time or two. I was intrigued by the mystery and was delighted by the author's descriptive talents.  Every scene was so well described but Rene created a fantastic and unique piece of art for the town and those descriptions enabled me to envision it so clearly. I can't forget the cupcakes, they had me drooling.  The recipes for Pumpkin Spice, of course, Coffee Mocha, Root Beer Float, and Passion Fruit Cupcakes are all included at the end of the story.

Pumpkin Spice Peril was a totally entertaining read that I enjoyed from beginning to end. The first book in this series, Sprinkle with Murder was one of the first reviews I wrote when I started blogging so I really need to get caught up on this series. Jenn McKinlay never disappoints.

While Mel and Angie enjoy solving mysteries, they don't enjoy being the accused murderers. One of their local customers is killed after her husband purchased a four pack of cupcakes. Mel and Angie have to figure out who is trying to frame them, or risk losing their business forever. Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fall is in the air, the smell of pumpkin spice abounds, along with murder. Local glass artists eagerly devours her weekly delivery of cupcakes from the Fairy Tale cupcake duo.

The last delectable treat she had to eat was from the Fairy Tale cupcake bakers. Unfortunately, this puts them in the bulls-eye for the murder. Join the sisters as they race against time to prove their innocence and save the bakery. Can they do this before the cupcake crumbles?

It's usually pretty bad for a bakery whose cupcakes are the murder weapon, but that's what the killer used. Mel and Angie need to find the killer before "Fairy Tale Bakery" has to close for good.

Jenn McKinlay never fails to write a fun cozy mystery! I love Angie and Mel and their mystery adventures. Highly recommend!

Jenn McKinlay is back with book twelve in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. You would think that with twelve books already out and a happily ever after for one of the main characters that McKinlay would have nothing else to write about, but she proves people wrong with this book.

Not only do we get amazing news for our favorite couple right off the bat, but the same fun banter is still present. Now if you’re used to more fast-paced mysteries then this series may not be for you. But I definitely feel like this is my favorite style of writing that McKinlay does in her Mystery series. I prefer her more playful style with that touch of romance. It offers a more balance storyline in my opinion.

McKinlay’s writing in this book does have quite a bit of repetition. This might be for the newbies to the Cozy Mystery genre to help guide them through the clues. However, it can sometimes slow the book down a touch, especially when it’s being repetitive more than once. But you just need to keep in mind that this is a lighter read in general.

PUMPKIN SPICE PERIL was definitely a fun read and after reading this, I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

When Melanie's artist friend is discovered dead in her studio, it is up to Melan ie and her coworker Angie to find out why and who. Was Renee's husband really as kind to her as Melanie believed? Was the owner of the studio trying to get rid of Renee? How many others in the town might have had a misplaced grudge?

Look! A Jenn McKinlay cozy mystery! My favorite! But seriously, this Cupcake Bakery Mystery was as good as expected. I love visiting Mel, Angie, and the Fairytale Cupcake crew. I will say - I didn’t see the murder coming. I was sure it was someone else. Read the whole series!

An excellent mystery filled with wonderful characters and emotions that embody how a reader should feel. with a highly engaging mystery story.

This is book 12 in the Cupcake Bakery series and it is a good catch up for some of the previous stories. You can read this as a stand alone. Rene, one of Melanie's best customers has died and everyone connected to Fairy Tale Cupcake Bakery wants to solve the murder. Melanie's fiancee, Joe keeps her in the loop of the investigation and follows several leads that she provides. Hopefully he can be there to save her when the killer decides she is making too much headway in the investigation. A good mystery and a fun read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Mel, the owner of Fairy Tale Cupcakes, is all ready to deliver cupcakes to her friend Rene’s glass art show when she finds her friend angry, crazy, and insanely jealous. Something isn’t right with her old friend, but Mel never gets the chance to find out. As Mel navigates the investigation with her fiancee Joe, she finds herself at the top of the police’s suspect list because of a crazy encounter with the victim. Mel is surrounded by friends and family including her Uncle Stan on the police force. This is the twelfth book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series and the author takes some time to catch up new readers to make it easy to read. Favorite Line: Life is beautiful but so very fragile.

I obtained this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.

I only discovered Jenn McKinlay last summer but she is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. I haven't read any of the other books in her Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, but I love culinary cozies so I decided to jump in with book #12, Pumpkin Spice Peril, which just came out last week.

I had no problem with starting with book 12 as the story is self-contained. The relationship connections between characters were easy to understand and background information was naturally worked into the story. Outside of mentioning that Mel had an uncanny ability to be where dead bodies are found, knowledge of past cases is not necessary. That being said, I do hope to find the time to pick up some of the previous books in the series as I really liked the characters and would like to get to know them more.

Even though there is a murder, the overall tone of the book is light and fluffy - like a cupcake. It made for a great bit of escapism reading. I was able to figure out "whodunit" before the characters, but it was okay as the journey was fun.

One of my favorite things about culinary cozies is the recipes. The Pumpkin Spice Cupcake recipe sounds so good. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused there to be a flour shortage in the grocery stores and I'm down to my last cup or so of flour. Otherwise, I would have made the cupcakes this weekend. I wrote it down so as soon as flour is available again I can make them.

If you are looking for a reading treat, then I recommend trying out this series if you have not already.

My review will be published at GIrl Who Reads on Sunday, May 3 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/05/pumpkin-spice-peril-by-jenn-mckinlay.html

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This cozy mystery was a fun, at times frightening, read! I appreciate sleuths who jump in to get justice for their friends or loved ones, or to get a friend or loved one “off the hook”. In this story, our sleuth wants to get justice for a friend even while trying to get that friend’s husband off the hook – and herself – for the murder. The characters are delightfully three-dimensional, the mystery did not have an easy solution, and sometimes friends have secrets best left unknown. Mel could end up in the pokey instead of marrying the love of her life!

Mel Cooper owns an upscale specialty bakery, Fairy Tale Cupcakes in Old Town Scottsdale, with friends and partners Angie and her husband Tate Harper. Mel is engaged to the love of her life, Joe DeLaura. Joe is one of Angie’s seven older brothers and a county district attorney. Her uncle Stan is a long-time detective for the Scottsdale police department.

Along with dreaming up new flavors and decorations for cupcakes, Mel has an unusual hobby. For some reason, Mel seems to be around when dead bodies are found. Often, they are people known by her or her friends, and some are not very nice folks. Mel has a way of finding clues, asking questions, and putting together what she discovers to figure out who committed the crime.

Mel and Angie have known Rene Fischer-Klein for several years. A talented glass artisan, Rene and her husband, Peter, have been an example of what Angie and Mel consider a perfect marriage. The older couple have been at Desert Winds Gallery for years. Mel, Angie, and Rene have been friends within the Old Town Scottsdale “family” since Fairy Tale Cupcakes opened. Peter came into the cupcake shop every Friday to get a four-pack of Rene’s current favorite. Currently, her favorite is pumpkin spice. Mel went to see Rene at her studio later that day to discuss the cupcakes for her upcoming opening of the new installation that will bring her world-wide acclaim in her craft. Rene’s huge, fabulous glass design will be on display over the Scottsdale city canal, in view of a high-end business and condo district.

Mel was shocked when she saw Rene. Her old friend looked as if she hadn’t slept well for a long time. Her weight was down, and she just looked ill. Even worse, Rene accused her of having an affair with Peter, and threw a glass creation at her. When she calmed down, she apologized, saying that the stress of the intense work she had been doing was affecting her, and at times it seemed like someone she didn’t know took over her personality.

It would be the last time Mel saw Rene alive. The following week, the day before the opening of her incredible artistry, Rene died. People thought at first that she had a heart attack. Mel had a feeling it was much worse than that, however, and she was right. Unfortunately, Rene had been poisoned. Really unfortunately, an anonymous tip had been called into the police station, claiming that the cupcakes Mel brought over the day Rene died were suspect because of the argument someone witnessed the week before when Mel was accused of an affair with Peter. It only gets worse from there. The police chief now wants to order an independent investigation of every murder case Mel has ever been associated with whether through friends or acquaintances. Food establishments have long been known for drug dealing or money laundering.

The characters in this novel are a great delight to know! Even so, there are surprises in this novel. Oz has a wild surprise for us this time, as does Angie. Each of our regulars is well-rounded, with more time spent showing us who they are than what they look like. It is still funny to hear Mel’s mother, Joyce’s, nickname for Joe!

Mel found out more about Rene and Peter than she wanted to know. One of the things she must determine is whether their secrets led to Rene’s death. Mel can’t see Peter as the bad guy, but she realized she didn’t know him that well, after all. I simply couldn’t come up with a motive for two of my pet suspects, though! I was somewhat surprised, then, when the real killer and motive were revealed. This mystery exceeded my expectations in every way, and I highly recommend it!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*

There's a lot going on in this 12th mystery in the Cupcake Bakery series! Mel and Joe are planning their wedding, Angie and Tate have changes in their life, assistant Oz keeps having to go to unexplained "meetings", and friend and artist seems to be falling apart right before the opening of a major exhibit. Unfortunately, the falling apart ends with the death of the artist and of course Mel is right in the middle of the investigation.



This seemed a little edgier then previous mysteries in the series and while several scenes did take place in the bakery Mel was definitely the primary character with the rest of the cast fading very much into the background. I kind of missed the ensemble cast feel but I didn't mind Mel taking the lead. This mystery read incredibly quickly which was nice but also made the ending feel a bit rushed. While I feel like everything was wrapped up nicely I would have liked just a bit more detail. I did love the very last chapter where we got to catch up with all the rest of the cast. While not my favorite in the series this was a good mystery that makes me excited for the next book in the series.

Mel, Angie and their staff at Fairy Tale Cupcakes are busy planning a large cupcake order for the opening night of an art-glass installation being created by their friend and long-time customer, Rene Fischer-Klein. Rene and her husband Peter are Mel’s idea of “couple goals” – they have a seemingly loving and supportive marriage.

But things are not as they seem. When Peter stops by the shop to pick up his weekly order of cupcakes for Rene, he confides to Mel that Rene has been feeling sick and acting moody and paranoid. Later, when Mel goes to visit Rene, she finds her friend unkempt and suspicious. Things go from bad to worse when Rene is found dead in her studio. Rene has been poisoned and the last things she ate were … cupcakes from Fairy Tale Cupcakes.

To make things worse, the police chief has begun to be suspicious of why murders always seem to occur when Mel is around and opens an investigation into our favourite cupcake baker. And while the chief seems to (understandably) have it in for Mel, I was far more annoyed by Officer Tara Martinez, aka “Detective Harpy” (as Mel calls her and Mel is a lot nicer than I am). Tara still has a huge chip on her shoulder and her tough cop persona has become more and more annoying with each book in the series.

As for the murder, there are more than a couple of viable suspects, including Peter, Bernadette (a rival artist) and Emersyn (Rene’s intern). While Mel runs around trying to clear her name and solve the case, there’s a ton of other things happening with the other characters. The murder almost feels like a secondary plot when there’s so much else going on that I wanted to find out more about.

As a long-time reader of this series, the usual fun-loving capers abound. There’s the usual antics with the Fairy Tale Cupcakes staff, Angie’s brothers and Mel’s mother. And let’s not forget one of the quirky things I loved about this series – the movie quotes that Mel, Angie and Tate throw into their conversations (this doesn’t happen as often as it used to).

Since this is the 12th book in the series, it’s almost a given that there are going to be some changes in the air for the characters. Mel continues to plan for her wedding to Joe. Angie and Tate are settling into their wedded life. Oz has changed from a goth punk to a well-groomed grown-up (to Mel’s alarm). Angie’s brothers make longer appearances and we’re getting more details into their personal lives. Mel’s mother has started dating again. Whew!

McKinlay’s writing and characters are as strong as ever – she is one of my favourite cozy mystery authors and it’s easy to see why. Her books are incredibly easy to read and packed with fun and action. I did feel that there was a bit *too* much going on with all the characters at the same time in this story and it felt a bit chaotic. As much as I understand the need for change, I also don’t want change. LOL. Still, this is another fun addition to the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series (one of my favourite series) and I’m looking forward to the next one!

*** Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Over the years that best friends Mel Cooper and Angie Harper have run Fairytale Cupcakes, they have made friends with some of their customers. Near the top of that list are husband and wife artists Peter and Rene. Every Friday, Peter comes in to pick up cupcakes for Rene, who is currently putting the finishing touches on a major art installation to be unveiled in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mel and Angie are providing the cupcakes for the opening night party. However, the night before the big event, someone dies under suspicious circumstances. Has Mel been pulled into another murder?

While the murder happens a little late in the book, the time is well used to introduce us to characters and provide plenty of conflict. I was never bored, and that only increased once the murdered happened and Mel started uncovering secrets. The series regulars all sparkle as always, and I enjoyed getting to spend time with them. The new characters are just as strong. The book has a more somber tone than some of the others in the series, but it fits the events of the plot. Don’t worry, there are still some good laughs along the way. We get four new cupcake recipes at the end that sound delicious. I raced through this book like always. This is another fun entry in one of my favorite series.

Pumpkin Spice Peril is the 12th A Cupcake Bakery Mystery. Each book can be read on its own, but you will be missing out on some delightful stories. I thought Pumpkin Spice Peril was well-written with developed characters. Angie Harper and Melanie Cooper have come a long way since Sprinkle with Murder. Angie is married to Tate and they are trying to conceive. Joe DeLaura and Melanie are engaged, and they are looking forward to their nuptials. Marty enjoys his job at the bakery and is dating the bakeries rival, Olivia. Oz has perfected his baking prowess and is a valuable member of their team. I enjoy the descriptions of Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona and the creative people who work in the area. The book is filled with activity. Angie learns some surprising news which has her protective brothers (seven of them) rushing to the bakery. It also has Melanie on her own in this investigation. The local police chief wonders how Melanie keeps stumbling over dead bodies. He intends to have a formal investigation launched into all the past cases that Melanie was involved in. Uncle Stan can only do so much to protect Melanie. One of the DeLaura brother’s is dating and he is keeping the ladies name to himself. You know the family is going to find out. We also get to learn more about the most secretive DeLaura brother. Oz gets a new haircut, has mysterious appointments and is wearing a suit. Melanie gives Oz his privacy, but she has an idea what is behind the sudden changes. The mystery of who poisoned Rene has several suspects including her husband and a rival glass artist. One clue will give you the answer if you pay close attention to the details. I love the movie quotes that the group use. I like the quirkiness it adds to the story. I enjoyed the word imagery of the beautiful glass sculpture. It sounded amazing. Plenty of cupcakes are consumed in this tale. Melanie needs to keep up her strength and deal with all the drama. One situation calls for a cupcake in each hand. There are recipes at the end for the yummy creations. Pumpkin Spice Peril is an engaging cozy mystery with tempting treats, a glorious glass creation, a perilous poison, a remarkable remake, busy brothers, and an amazing announcement.

In this book we learn some news about Angie which has everyone in a bustle add to it that local glass artist Rene has an upcoming show that Mel and Angie are hired to supply with cupcakes when Mel decides to visit Rene to finalize the recipe but finds her friend is anything but fine. Next thing you know Rene is dead and so many are wondering what happened/?

Will Mel be able to put it all together or will she wind up facing a similar fate? So much was going on in this book it pulled you in until you were immersed with the DeLaura family and Mel and her family wondering how it will play out and what the future will hold for Mel and Angie. I enjoyed this series even more than the Hannah Swenson series. The characters feel more real and yes they have their flaws but they don't let them drag them down!

This was my first time reading one of the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries and I will definitely be going back to read the whole series. I loved the characters and their interactions with each other. This cozy mystery, made me want to curl up with a cup of tea and some cupcakes. I liked finding the recipes for the various cupcakes in the book at the end of the book. Pumpkin Spice Peril is the perfect addition to any cozy mystery collection.

Melanie Cooper and Angie Harper are always glad to see their friend and regular customer of their Old Town Scottsdale bakery, Peter Klein. Peter buys cupcakes for his wife Rene every week and now Melanie and Angie will be providing cupcakes for Rene’s upcoming unveiling of her new glass sculpture which will hang above a canal. Rene has been acting erratically and when Melanie visits her to follow up on the cupcakes, she can tell there is something serious wrong. When Melanie goes back to check in with her a few days later, she learns Rene has died under suspicious circumstances. Even worse, Melanie becomes one of police chief Lori Rosen’s main suspects because of Melanie’s bad luck of discovering dead bodies. Melanie is more determined than ever to find the real killer to clear her name and get justice for her friend.

I have read most of the books in this long-running series and think fans of the series will enjoy this fast-paced mystery as well as some new developments for a few of the characters. I think new readers can also enjoy the book but won’t have the background of seeing more of the close friendship between Melanie, Angie, Angie’s husband Tate, and Angie’s brother Joe, who is engaged to Melanie. It is mentioned Melanie, Angie, and Tate have been friends since middle school and that Melanie had a crush on Joe from the time she met him, but there aren’t as many scenes in this book that demonstrate the love they all have for each other. Melanie, Angie, and some of Angie’s other brothers can sometimes act immature for their age, but all are still likable characters. Tate doesn’t play a big part in this installment and I missed his presence.

For such a well-liked woman as Rene, Melanie discovers there are quite a few possible suspects in Rene’s murder. She and Angie are also disappointed to learn everything isn’t as it seems in the life of the “perfect couple” Rene and Peter. I enjoyed Melanie’s investigation, but it felt like just as tension was beginning to build, the drama with Chief Rosen was over and the case was solved. I would have liked a little more substance to keep the suspense going a little longer. However, even though it’s a little rushed, I like the way the case wraps up. The characters are the strong point of the book and the series. I really like Melanie and Angie’s characters and how the friends and their families are always there to support them in times of need. There are recipes at the end for several different types of cupcakes, including Rene’s favorite Pumpkin Spice. Overall, the book is a fun, entertaining read that will please returning as well as new readers.

~ Christine