Member Reviews
Oh my goodness! I’ve always enjoyed this series, but the last few, I’ve really loved! I’m so grateful to have been approved to read this installment early, by NetGalley.
From the way Ellie Alexander paints a vivid picture of the Pacific Northwest, to her delicious descriptions of sweet and savory treats, to some much needed progress with romantic relationships (that brought tears and joy to my heart), to a side of murder! You absolutely will not be disappointed with Chilled to the Cone! I’ve had a physical copy preordered for months and I’m so glad I have! I can’t wait to hold this wonderful, albeit somewhat sad, story in my hands.
The Bakeshop Mystery series continues to get better and better with every new installment and I look forward to reading many more adventures with Jules and the gang, in the future!
I received this ARC via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, in return for an honest review. While the twelfth book in this series (the Bakeshop Mysteries), it is easily read as a standalone. Juliet (Jules) Capshaw is thrilled with the remodel and expansion of her existing bakery/ice creamery/pizza shop, Torte. However, her personal life is troubled as her husband, Carlos, is on shore leave as a cruise ship chef to both work on their marriage and see if he’s suited to life on land long-term. When Jules has an opportunity to open a walk up, seasonal, limited menu location in the revitalizing Railroad District, she takes the risk and signs the lease. Her encounters with new neighbors, her landlady and some of the local homeless population means she’s on hand when someone is found dead on the railroad tracks. Jules decides this needs resolution, so she adds one more item to her ever-growing to-do list – find the murderer!
This series is set in Oregon and Ms. Alexander does an excellent job with setting and throwing in yummy recipes. There are lots of people to keep track of but she does a good job of clearly writing each character. I did find some of Jule’s angst over her husband to be immature – why aren’t they actually talking to each other? The storyline of the murder and related reasoning flows well.
Wonderful as always.
Jules' husband Carlos is on leave from his ship and is visiting Ashland. Jules' friend Laney who owns a food truck in the Railroad District invites Jules to look at a vacant place for a possible 2nd Torte.
This time it is Sterling and Laney who stumble on a dead body.
I enjoyed this book very much. It's a fast read. I loved the characters and their interactions. The mystery is interesting and I didn't suspect a thing when the killer was revealed. #ChilledtotheCone #NetGalley
Thank you so much NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Chilled to the Cone by Ellie Alexander. I love her books! Jules has a café called Torte that her parents opened in Ashland, Oregon. Now she has an opportunity to open a small shop, maybe selling ice cream (concrete) and iced coffees. The store would need a lot of fixing up though. While working painting and fixing up new place, Scoops, they hear some screaming at same time a train is going by. A homeless man is laying on the train tracks as a neighbor is screaming while standing on the tracks. Jules and Sterling pull him away and find out he is already dead. The police show up quickly. Jules and her crew work on the new place, trying to get it ready to open. Then someone starts a fire. The lady on the second floor, who runs a yoga studio, seems to have anger issues. This is not a good thing for a yoga teacher.
What a book! Ellie Alexander is such a fantastic author. I have enjoyed reading this whole series in Ashland. I can't wait for the next book!
In Chilled to the Cone, we've returned to Ashland just as Jules is thinking of opening a second location. The new spot shares the building with a yoga studio. A Hawaiian style food truck, a thriving bike shop, bike trails and the rail road tracks are nearby. The neighborhood is also home to Wizard, a homeless man who is suddenly found dead. Crime doesn't end with Wizard's death - break-ins, arson and drug deals are part of this new neighborhood.
Jules and Lance conduct their quiet investigation. Jules also worries that Carlos is unhappy in Ashland and plans to return to the sea.
The sleuthing and the love stories combine to make Chilled to the Cone a delightful escape!
Great one sitting mystery. Themes of community, love, acceptance and second chances. What do a yoga studio, bike shop and ice cream parlor have in common? You'll have to read the book to find out.
I like this series very much but found this installment a bit on the boring side. The plot was interesting but there seemed to be missing some of the oomph of the characters. Juliet was very low-key.
As a resident of the west coast, i have really enjoyed this series that takes place in oregon. It was nice to see resolution on the love triangle. this was a fun mystery. looking forward to more in the series.
I received an advance copy of, Chilled to the Cone, By Ellie Alexander. This is an ok book. It was a mystery and a who done it. The characters were ok.
Juliet Capshaw runs Torte, her family bakery. She’s been given the opportunity to start a new location that would grow the business, but she and her husband are also giving their relationship a chance to determine if they are meant to be together. With so m much going on, she almost passes the new space up, but decides to go for it. After all, their relationship should be based on whether or not it can handle the daily grind of work.
When a local homeless man is murdered and the new space is set on fire, Juliet may have bitten off more than she can handle. She needs to focus on her relationship with Carlos, but to walk away from a crime that happened on her turf is just not in her. With her partner in crime, they do a little digging and have to hope that Juliet can keep all the balls she is juggling in the air and not lose everything at once.
I adore all books from Ellie Alexander and this series is no exception. As a matter of fact, this was the series where I discovered her books. She has several series and I never miss a new release! If you haven’t read a book from Ellie yet, it’s time! You will not be disappointed.
An absolute return to form for this series - Juliet opens an ice cream shop in Ashland and investigates the murder of a gentle but troubled soul.
The murder was so sad, so deeply sad, and I was afraid I wasn't going to love this book as much because of it. Usually, loathsome characters nobody likes end up dead and I couldn't care less but the victim here is really hard to stomach. That being said, this book is full of gorgeous recipes, new lattes, ice cream extravaganzas, secondary characters who find love and happiness in many different ways (go Lance!). I do love that Juliet's business is growing so much and she's evolving so much as a character too - her romance with Carlos takes a very unexpected turn here and I couldn't be happier. What a lovely book, and since I'm one of those weird people who enjoys ice cream in the middle of winter, I think it's the perfect release this time of year. Happy holiday season, everybody!
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My endless thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced copy. I've read all of the Bakeshop Mystery books and will buy a copy when it's released but thank you for not prolonging the agony!
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of CHILLED TO THE CONE (Book 12 of the Bakeshop Mysteries) by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. As spring begins, new beginnings are abundant for Juliet Capshaw. Jules’ husband Carlos has taken an extended leave from the cruise line so they can try to mend their differences and so Carlos can decide if he’s suited for a life ashore. Also, Torte is opening a seasonal second location in the Railroad District to sell cold coffees and frozen treats. During her work to ready the second location, Jules comes into contact with her business neighbors and witnesses their interactions with some of the local homeless people. It appears that some of her new business neighbors habitually engage in angry harassment of one of Ashland’s most beloved homeless street performer called, “The Wizard.” Then, The Wizard is murdered on the train tracks, and Jules soon finds herself seeking the scoop on her neighbors in the hope of putting a killer on ice.
I liked this book and love the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series. I recommend this series to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, food, small businesses, themed towns, theater, and quirky villagers.
#ChilledtotheCone #NetGalley
Ellie Alexander has quickly become one of my favorite cozy authors, and this latest book does not disappoint. While I guessed the killer relatively early on, I didn’t know how or why, so the conclusion was still satisfying. Even more importantly, the residents of Ashland continued to be charming and develop in new and likable ways. Alexander deftly closed the love triangle teased in earlier books but also introduced new romance to keep that spark lit.