Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis is an intriguing book about a wealthy family that has hit a bit of a rough patch with bodies being found near them.

Can Emory figure out who would have killed Mandy?
Emory Martinez is our main character, point of view character, and our main sleuth. Emory loves the life that she lives with Matlida, Tillie, Skylar in her pool house with her Goldendoodle dog named Piper. This character is a hoot to read, and I love her descriptions of the food she is eating. Keynote for anyone that plans to read this book, don't do it on an empty stomach. Though Tillie is also a sleuth as she is the one that convinces Emory to get involved in solving these cases. These two ladies are hoots, and I love reading about them.

The Mystery
Emory and Tillie have a Halloween party two weeks before Halloween, and a waitress dressed as a barmaid is killed in Emory's bathroom in the poolhouse. Now Emory has to make sure that her brother-in-law isn't going to go to jail because the barmaid named Mandy was blackmailing him and has a motive. I never thought that this mystery could have turned the way that it did. I never did guess who did it, but wow, was I surprised at who it was.

5 Stars
Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis is my first book of this series and author. I do have to say that I loved reading it and wouldn't mind reading the next one. These ladies are so fun, but thanks to this book, I don't have to read the first one as it can be read as a standalone. Not only that, but it discusses enough of it that you get a sense of what happened in that book already. Ms. Davis did an excellent job, and I have to say that I now want some baked ziti and lobster mac and cheese thanks to this book.

I am giving this book five stars and recommending it to all culinary cozy mystery readers out there. Don't forget to check out the recipes in the back of this book. Yum!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escape Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Cake Popped Off
Cupcake Catering Mystery, Book #2
Kim Davis
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Cupcake caterer Emory Martinez is hosting a Halloween bash alongside her octogenarian employer, Tillie. With guests dressed in elaborate costumes, the band is rocking, the cocktails are flowing, and tempers are flaring when the hired Bavarian Barmaid tries to hook a rich, hapless husband. Except one of her targets happens to be Emory’s brother-in-law, which bodes ill for his pregnant wife. When Emory tracks down the distraught barmaid, instead of finding the young woman in tears, she finds her dead. Can she explain to the new detective on the scene why the Bavarian Barmaid was murdered in Emory’s bathtub with Emory’s Poison Apple Cake Pops stuffed into her mouth?

With an angry pregnant sister to contend with, she promises to clear her brother-in-law’s name. As Emory starts asking questions and tracking down the identity of the costumed guests, she finds reasons to suspect her brother-in-law has been hiding a guilty secret. Her search leads her to a web of blackmail and betrayal amongst the posh setting of the local country club crowd. Can Emory sift through the lies she’s being told and find the killer? She’ll need to step up her investigation before another victim is sent to the great pumpkin patch in the sky.

Includes spooky Halloween recipes! (Goodreads)



Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really enjoy the relationship between Emory and Tillie. Although they have not known each very long, they have become very close. Tillie is quite the character and she keeps Emory on her toes. Emory is starting to feel like she belongs and that she is making some friends.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is quick and easy read. The author created a setting that was inviting (except for the killing) and engaging. Through much of the book I felt like I was right there, going to the Country Club with Emory and Tillie, enjoying the finer things in life, as well as snooping.

The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a nice pace. The suspects and motives were plentiful and I was once again surprised at the outcome.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you have not read this one yet, I would suggest you do.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Cinnamon and Spice Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

In Cake Popped Off!, the second book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery Series, author Kim Davis weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the amateur sleuth adventures of aspiring cupcake caterer Emory Martinez.

Set in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, California, Emory Martinez is getting her cupcake catering business off the ground with the help of her octogenarian employer/landlady, Tillie Skyler. Emory and twin sister Carrie are catering Tillie's Halloween costume bash, and everything is going fine until Emory catches her brother-in-law Thomas Berger in a heated argument with Mandy Grater, the event waitress. Next thing you know, Emory finds Mandy dead on the bathroom floor with several of Emory's poison apple cake pops stuffed in her mouth in her pool house residence. Emory's brother-in-law Thomas is considered a suspect in Mandy's murder, and with Tillie's help, Emory is determined to clear Thomas' name, and find the real killer!

Cake Popped Off! is an entertaining and fast-paced cozy whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, romance, family secrets and drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns. Told in the first person narrative, the reader can't help but get caught up in Emory's latest crazy amateur sleuth adventure as she and Tillie try to clear her brother-in-law's name and solve Mandy's murder.

The story unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, romance, family secrets and drama that easily kept me guessing and in stitches. The reader follows Emory three months after her own scrape with the law, and it was nice to see how her cupcake catering business was getting help from Tillie and her bridge club cronies. But who knew Emory would once again find herself caught up in a murder investigation! Emory and Tillie's investigative adventure was fun to follow, these two crazy ladies find themselves caught up in a mess when the murder involves Tillie's family, and Emory's digging into the murder has the killer planning the next victim!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that at the end of the book is a scrumptious collection of Halloween inspired recipes that will make your mouth water!

Cake Popped Off! is an entertaining story that cozy murder mystery fans will enjoy reading!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/10/cake-popped-off-by-kim-davis-vbt-book.html

Cake Popped Off is the second book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery Series. But can be read as a stand-alone in my opinion. It was the perfect book for October since it centers around a Halloween party.

This book was such a fun cozy mystery and I was so glad to be reunited with all of the fun characters. Emory and Tillie are back at it with their crazy antics and not so normal sleuthing abilities.

It had some laughable times, some cringe worth moments and a little romance thrown in. Lots of twists and turns that made it harder for me to figure out whodunnit. The writing was great and flowed easily, no moments of confusion.

Once again it has some amazing recipes at the end of the book just like the first one in the series. Definitely don’t read it if you’re hungry! 🤣

I highly suggest you grab this book and read it this month. It would be a perfect addition to your October reads.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Kim Davis and the Publisher for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis is the perfect cozy mystery for Halloween. Though it’s the second book in the series, it’s the first I’ve read, and it is delightful. Halloween is such a fun time of year. Emory and Tilly are celebrating with a costume party and food, of course! After all, Emory is a cupcake caterer. She comes up with the most amazing cupcake recipes both with and without alcohol. The party is a hit…until someone is found dead in Emory’s tub!

I really enjoyed reading Cake Popped Off. It’s set right near the water in a gorgeous beach town. Emory lives in a cozy guest house while “caring for” Tillie Skyler, an octogenarian with a son who believes his mother needs care. You’ll quickly realize that she doesn’t, but since she loves Emory, it’s the perfect solution. It’s also the perfect solution for their extracurricular activity…solving murders!

I absolutely love Tillie. I’m always drawn to older characters in books since I was very close to my grandma and spent lots of time with her. My grandma lived well into her 90s, and I imagine Tillie will too! Tillie reminds me so much of my grandma! They both dress and look fabulous all of the time, and they’re full of spunk. Dining out was one thing my grandma and I did a lot of. Tillie and Emory dine out a lot because that’s how they get to hear the latest gossip which helps them figure out whodunit. As you may well imagine, this is much to the chagrin of the police.

I believe that the Cupcake Catering Mystery Series is going to become one of my favorites. With its gorgeous setting, heavenly cupcakes, baffling mysteries, and entertaining characters, you’ll love this cozy mystery book and series too!

I loved the first book in this series and I loved this one which is even better.
It's a highly entertaining and engrossing story that kept hooked.
The characters are fleshed out, the setting is lovely and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the second cozy I've read recently that floored me when the killer was revealed. Normally I have a clue as to who might be guilty but in this case? Nada, zip, zilch, nothing.

I always love cozies when food is involved especially anything sweet. The descriptions of the various cupcakes, muffins, and other items had me drooling all throughout the book. Thank goodness for recipes at the end!

This is quite a diverse cast of characters and many of them are endearing and others, well we just hope that they see the light and turn their attitude around. I'm talking to you Theodore (not that he can hear me or even read this since he is a fictional character!). I adore Emory, she is one tough woman but at the same time has a vulnerable side when it comes to her past and possibly even her family. Emory and Carrie learn some interesting news from their mother in this book which will be an adventure as they seek to learn more about this secret.

Tillie is also another favorite character and as a woman in her 80's, I just hope I am something like her at that age. She seizes life to the fullest, much to the chagrin of her son and one grandson.

We saw Emory's high school friend Brad a little bit but not much and I hope he makes more of an appearance in the next book. But we do have a lot of interaction with Brad's new beau, but that would be because he is the detective assigned to the murder case.

The crime was quite intriguing - a young woman ends up dead during a costume party at Tilly's. Why would someone want to kill her? Emory and Tillie feel that they have to do their own sleuthing much to the dismay of Detective O'Neill (Brad's beau). But they are instrumental in helping solve the murder and the clues they unearthed really came together at the end. I didn't suspect this character in the least and to learn what led up to this moment was incredulous. WOW is all I can think to say when the killer revealed themself.

This is a fantastic new series, but make sure to start with the first book because it will set up how Emory and Tillie met and it will explain the relationship of many characters.

We give this 5 paws up.

I really liked the first of this new series but I loved this one. No sophomore slump for this series. Emory and Tillie make a great team. Tillie may be a senior citizen and Emory's employer but they are truly in sync and it shows.
Emory is trying not to blow up the oven while she tries to get the right balance of booze in her latest creation with a name that's a real mouthful - Fireball Pumpkin-spice Coffee cupcakes. Hey, it's a work in progress with a deadline looming. She wants it to be ready for Tillie's pre-Halloween bash to be held the following evening. If that wasn't enough, in walks Tillie's family with enough tension and attitude to blow up stuff without the Fireball. Grandson Teddy wants Emory fired (there goes her living on site), Tillie's son wants Tillie in an assisted living situation so he can get control of her piles of money and, last but so not least......in walks daughter-in-law #4. Explosive, indeed. By this page I was totally hooked, eager to find out who was going to become a corpse. This family has lots to hide and, within 24 hours, Mandy, the Bavarian Barmaid, is dead. That's all bad enough but she's found dead in the pool house bathtub with some of Emory's Poison Apple cake pops crammed down her throat. The pool house that Emory currently calls home. But wait, there's more! The prime suspect is a member of Emory's family. What to do? Start her own investigation, that's what.
I won't say anymore for fear of spoilers. I enjoyed every chapter and now I'm looking forward to the next book.
My thanks to the publisher Cinnamon and Sugar Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Charming cozy mystery series featuring Emory Martinez and her little dog Piper. Emory lives in the guest pool house octogenarian Tillie, and her companion/cook while she tries to launch her cupcake business. The newest wife of her benefactor causes grief for all and shortly after is found dead. Who killed her and why? Emory is determined to find out.

This book started off a little slower than the first book, but I actually enjoyed this book more. I really enjoyed the character development in this book. I love the friendship that is forming between Emory and Tillie. Tillie is one of my favorite characters; she is so full of life. As for Emory, she is evolving into a happier person. However, we learn some shocking news that will impact her and her sister's lives. The murder mystery was well plotted and was full of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I am looking for to reading the next in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Emory who loves to bake is working for her 80 year old boss Tillie at a Halloween costume party. Tempers flare as the hired barmaid begins hitting on people's rich husbands. The barmaid flees the scene and Emory goes to look for her. She finds her but not like she expected for the barmaid has been murdered and has Emory's special Poison Apple Cake pops stuffed into her mouth. As Emory, goaded on by her boss Tillie begins to search for possible reasons, especially since she had baked those cake pops she is suddenly drawn into a world of blackmail and betrayal. She begins not receive some, not so subtle, threats to stop looking for the killer. The twist at the end was totally unexpected. While I enjoyed the overall plot and story, I did feel that the detailed information on the recipes within the story itself were uncalled for especially since these recipes are given to you at the end of the book. I received this e-book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Cake Popped Off, is the second book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery Series. The story begins with Em, Tillie, and Tillie’s two grandsons awaiting a big announcement from Tillie’s son. When he shows up with wife number four, it was not a pleasant reveal. Especially since the new wife is already looking at putting Tillie into a home. As soon as they leave, the boys put plans in the works to get rid of the newest stepmommy dearest, whom they are sure is after their inheritance! Thankfully Em and Tillie have costume party details to keep them busy.
Tillie is throwing a costume party with the help of Em, who is busy devising new ways to infuse alcohol into her cupcakes, with her twin sister Carrie, in charge of catering. At the party Em’s Poison Apple Cake Pops are a hit. As she notices one of the guests, the Bavarian Bar Maid, having a very public argument with her brother-in-law, her curiosity is peaked, as the guest storms off into the pool house. When several minutes passed, Em decides to check on the guest. Opening the door to the restroom she finds the women dead, with several of her Poison Apple Cake Pops in her mouth. Fearing her brother will be the prime suspect in the murder investigation, Em and Tillie join forces to find the real killer! Em and Tillie make a great team with Tillie’s connections, and Em’s thought process, and baking skills. They begin to interview several suspects, finding more than they bargained for!

Ms. Davis, has once again produced a page-turner you just can’t put down. This book has all the qualities that make it a perfect cozy. Plenty of intrigue, multiple twists and turns, giving several suspects, that kept me guessing. I never considered the killer and, when revealed, I was completely caught off guard! This is definitely a series to keep on your reading list! The delicious recipes included in the back, are to die for! I requested and received an advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley, and the author. The comments and opinions are my own.

Cake Popped Off by Kim Davis is the second in this inviting series about a baker who is living as the caretaker for an eighty-something, wealthy widow, Tillie. Just Tillie's family alone are enough to send a reader into gales of laughter. There's David, the son, who seems incapable of spotting a gold digger and continues to pursue them, sometimes even into marriage. There's Theodore, who is as uptight as his name suggests. And there's Brian, an up and coming restaurateur who is the black sheep of the family. Tillie is having a Halloween party, keeping it on the down low from David and Theodore. Her caretaker, Emory, is helping her pull it off and making some spooky treats for dessert. Carrie, Emory's twin is catering but has a staff so she and her husband can party, too. There is a young waitress, Mandy, who seems to have had arguments with several of the guests, including Carrie's husband.
Not a problem except soon Emory finds her dead.

This is such a fun series. Tillie adds quite a bit with her antics and her son and grandsons definitely add color to the story. Emory's family adds interest as well, with her sister, her sister's twin daughters, and her mother, who has secrets of her own. Emory is in the process of a divorce and so is at sixes and sevens much of the time. She's a good character, with her fledgling business and her natural curiosity. Her dog, Piper, adds a little comic relief. The mystery was a good one, with, two murders, and then an "accident" added to the count. Emory solves it, but at what cost? An enjoyable read. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Cake Popped Off by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #cakepoppedoff

Cake Popped Off is the second book in Kim Davis’ Cupcake Catering Mystery series. The affable characters are well developed, and the storyline is well plotted. The mystery in this installment is complex, with multiple suspects, and lots of twists and red herrings to keep readers engaged and guessing. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy well written cozy mysteries.

Emory Martinez is enjoying her new life, working for Theodore Preston Skyler, caring for his mother, Tillie, who he incorrectly believes is suffering from dementia, and living in Tillie’s luxurious pool house with her Labradoodle mix, Piper. In addition to doing office work for Mr. Skyler and caring for his octogenarian mother, Tillie, Emory is a baker who specializes in cocktail flavored cupcakes. Emory provides sweet treats, including Poison Apple Cake Pops, and her twin sister, Carrie, a caterer, provides the food at Tillie’s Halloween party. When Emory discovers the body of Mandy, a flirtatious barmaid, in her bathtub with cake pops stuffed in her mouth, Emory’s brother-in-law, Thomas, becomes a prime suspect because he was observed arguing with Mandy. Emory vows to clear his name, and Tillie, who has a nose for sleuthing, refuses to sit on the sidelines and insists on being included in her investigation. They soon discover that Mandy wasn’t well liked and that there are multiple viable suspects. They share the information they gather with Detective Gabe O’Neill, who is grateful for the information but worried about their safety.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This book by Kim Davis grabbed me from page one and never let me go. I finished the whole book in just three readings, staying up far too late into the night so I could polish off the last few chapters. Fun characters, the perfect level of mystery and a delightful fall setting. This is a great book to help jump start the Halloween season.

In Cake Popped Off!, Emory has a cupcake catering company that specializes in cupcakes flavored like cocktails. She is also a companion to octogenarian Tillie.

When Tillie has a costumed Halloween party, Emory provides Fireball cupcakes and “poisoned apple” cake pops. Emory’s twin sister Carrie provides the catered food.

Both Carrie and her husband, Thomas, are party attendees too. Thomas is seen arguing with the one of the catering staff, a sexy waitress named Mandy.

Soon after, Emory finds Mandy dead in the pool house’s bathtub. She was killed by a handful of cake pops shoved in her mouth.

Emory, with Tillie’s help, must clear Thomas’ name. After all, her poor sister Carrie is pregnant with their third child.

In the meantime, Tillie’s son, David, and grandson, Teddy, are waiting for Tillie to die so they can inherit her substantial fortune. However, when David comes to the party, he introduces a new wife, number four, the duplicitous Barbara. It seems David and Barbara were having an affair before his previous wife’s still unsolved death by hit and run vehicle. Could one of them have been her murderer? Or was it just an unrelated tragic accident?

With loads of family drama, charismatic and genuine characters, and a delectable mystery (or two) to solve, Cake Popped Off! is a wonderful cozy mystery with a Halloween theme.

With twelve Halloween-themed recipes, you can make enough food for two Halloween parties. My only disappointment was there was no recipe for Fireball cupcakes. I even perused the author’s website. Tons of other recipes but no Fireball. Maybe in the next book?

Overall, Cake Popped Off! is highly recommended for cozy mystery fans! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to the author, Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book of in this series. I loved this one as much as the first one. The story line is great and I just wanted to keep reading. I like the new characters that were introduced in this story and how they mesh with the original folks so well. I wish I could bake/cook like Emory. There are recipes included if you want to see what you can do. How much fun to work with your sister, not all the time, but on special occasions. Tillie is a hoot! What a feisty lady! Piper is a sweetheart. I hope you’ll enjoy this series as much as I do. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

My biggest complaint about Sprinkles of Suspicion was the character I liked the best didn't show up until the book was nearly over with. This time Tillie is in the entire book and takes the spot of the lead's best friend. Emory and Tillie not only have to deal with a murder occuring on Tillie's property, they have to deal with Tillie's son's newest wife. The fourth wife has her own ideas on how thinks are supposed to be ran no matter what other agreements might be in place. There are a few things we find about Emory's and Tillie's families that sets the next book in the series which I am looking forward too.

Thanks to NetGalley for this early read.
It was good to see an older person as one of the main characters but otherwise this book was not a new favorite for me. It was perfectly okay, just not my preference.

Loved it. This is a fun series with two delightful protagonists. I especially enjoy the location, too, as I am familiar with it. I envy the living situation. Is there room in the pool house for me? The murder mystery kept me guessing and surprised me. Fantastic.