Lucky number 13 in the cupcake bakery mystery series is the eagerly anticipated book where long time readers may finally see Mel and Joe walk down the aisle. However the road to matrimonial bliss has never been smooth and things are no different this go around. On a visit to their former employee Oz's new job as pastry chef at the swanky and exclusive resort that Mel and Joe just so happened to choose for their reception, Angie and Mel realize that things are not all rainbows and buttercream frosting. Oz's new boss, Miles is the head chef but also a bit of a bully who seems to rather enjoy making the lives of those around him miserable. However he takes things one step too far when he insults Mel's bakery which leads to a heated and very public argument between Oz and Miles that is witnessed by many, including Mel herself. When Miles winds up with his head smashed in, it is no surprise that suspicion quickly falls on Oz however Mel knows Oz would never resort to murder. With her wedding fast approaching, as well as Angie's due date, the gang at Fairy Tale cupcakes must team up once again to free Oz of suspicion and find out who really murdered the odious chef. As the gang starts investigating they find that there are numerous people with a motive as Miles collected enemies rather too easily. Will they be able to solve the mystery in time for the big day?
For Batter or Worse is the newest release in a long standing, fast paced, witty, clever, and lighthearted cozy series. Reading each new addition to the series feels a bit like catching up with old friends as character development has always been a central theme throughout the series. Seeing Mel and Angie grow up, get married, and have kids has been a wonderful and special journey of character development for readers to experience. While the mysteries plays a central role in the story, the real fun is the characters as they are a close knit, fun, and lively bunch with plenty of jokes and witty banter thrown in for good measure. When things get tough the gang bands together to help support one another in the most loving and endearing manner, and things are no different in this newest addition. I recommend readers new to the series to start at the beginning as much of the enjoyment found in For Batter or Worse is found in the flash backs and character development that has taken place over the course of this amazing series. As always there are enticing recipes that will have you headed to the kitchen (or the bakery) as soon as possible. For Batter or Worse is an excellent choice for those looking for a fast paced mystery with plenty of fun loving characters and witty banter.

This was a fun quick read with discussions about cupcakes, weddings, and murder. What's not to like? Mel and Angie have come a long way since Fairy Tale Cupcakes first opened both personally and professionally. In this book there's a mix of both as Mel and Joe's wedding is coming up up quickly and former employee Oz gets himself suspected of murder. And of course, luck with have it that Mel just happens to be on the scene.

I enjoyed the flow of this book quite a bit. It's fast paced with characters I enjoy spending time with and a mystery that surprised me a bit. Mel and Angie aren't as hands on in the bakery as they used to be but I like that that issue is addressed and they even got a bit nostalgic. I loved seeing the DeLaura brothers en masse as any time that happens there are sure to be hijinks and laughs.

I don't feel this series in general is quite as strong as her Library Lover's mystery series but this was one that I especially enjoyed. It was a nice bit of escapism with a wonderful ending. I'm looking forward to what happens next in the lives of all these characters (and seeing what trouble they get into!).

“A decadent cupcake was always the right answer no matter the question.”

The Fairy Tale Cupcake crew must uncover the truth behind a suspicious death before Mel and Joe can say “I Do.”

Whelp I see now that this is the 13th book in a series . Here’s to hoping it is good as a stand alone. I’m going in...

**Update: IT IS! This was the sweetest *see what I did there* cozy murder mystery. I have not read even one of the prior twelve books in this series, and yet I still fell in love with these characters and did not at any point feel lost or that I was missing something. I blew through this book in a day! As an added bonus there are recipes to the referenced cupcakes at the end of the book. Ummm yes please! I never not want cupcakes. I will definitely be reading more in this series. I would love to know more about the backstory of Mel, Joe and Angie and how they got their bakery started.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for this earc in exchange for an honest review.

This delicious delight is the latest book from Jenn McKinlay, and has been long awaited for me! In this new installment we might just see Mel and Joe walk down that aisle, but first we have Angie and Tate awaiting that sweet baby. But first, we know there will be trouble in store. While visiting Oz at his swanky pastry job we find that it might not be all it is cracked up to be. Mel and Angie find him less thrilled than they thought it would be. When a crime goes down, eyes turn to their friend, and the gang is up and willing to prove he did not commit this awful act. Who did it? You might just be surprised!

As always, everything sounds so delicious, and we are, thankfully, granted access to these yummy confections. I think this might be one of my favorite books in the series so far!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC of the delightful as always Cupcake Mystery book, in exchange for my honest review.

For Batter or Worse is the thirteenth installment of the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series and it would have been my first if I wasn’t able to get a hold of the series’ first audiobook, Sprinkle with Murder. I’m glad I did listen to the first book before really diving into this one so that I learned the initial foundation of the characters and their relationships with one another. But with that being said, Jenn McKinlay does an awesome job at getting the reader up to speed on who’s who in this novel so you won’t be lost if you start with this book.

As this is the third book that Jenn has written, I really love the way she writes. She sets up the characters clearly and sprinkles witty banter and scrumptious puns throughout the story. I also enjoy that the history of characters were added but didn’t take over the actual mystery story. Although I guessed who the murderer was in the last third of the book, there were many red herrings that made this story so fun.

And to top it off, as a big cupcake fan, she includes recipes for the delicious cupcakes she describes in the story.

For Batter or Worse: A Cupcake Bakery Mystery
By Jenn McKinlay
Berkley
May 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

Life has become a real life fairy tale for Fairy Tale Cupcakes owner Melanie Cooper. She is about to marry her lifelong crush Joe DeLaura, while his sister - and Mel’s best friend - Angie is herself 32-weeks pregnant and feeling ready to pop. Mel’s planned wedding reception is even going to be held at the Sun Dial Resort, where her former employee Oz Ruiz now works as their master pastry chef. The first bump in the road comes when Mel witnesses the chaotic abuse of power within the resort’s kitchen, led by the egotistical and near-maniacal Miles Gallway. While Oz considers working in such a hostile work environment to simply be a part of “paying his dues,” Mel sees this as an outdated concept and asks if he is truly happy. While Mindfulness and being Present is something that Mel and Angie value in their own cupcake bakery, Miles prefers taking credit for other’s work, wielding his authority like a weapon, and hoarding attention and praise. An opportunity at the Foodie Channel only amplifies his combativeness, especially when Oz is seen as a more appealing contender. So when Oz is found standing over the head chef’s body, Oz immediately becomes the police’s number one suspect.

Oz’s alibi that he was only in the kitchen to feed his master sourdough starter is believable only to his fellow bakers and chefs, and it only looks worse for Oz when the resort owner’s wife claims to have been having affairs with both Oz and the victim. Having mentored Oz and adoring him as a little brother, Mel doesn’t hesitate to begin investigating the lurid machinations going on within the resort’s kitchens. Angie isn’t about to let her pregnancy keep her on the sidelines either, despite seven protective older brothers, all of whom are insisting on naming rights on the baby.

This 13th in the series brings together all of the elements readers have grown to love from this series. DeLaura sibling shenanigans, insane rival baker Olivia Puckett, baked treats, and of course the delightful friendships between Mel, Angie, and Angie’s now-husband Tate. That baking elements are both clues and weapons is an ingenious twist to this mystery, which revels in the unique aspects of restaurant kitchens, wedding planning, and television cooking shows. Oz’s descriptions of the wedding cupcakes are outstanding and will have readers drooling, but of course the real draw is seeing these friends not only solve a murder together but deliver Mel’s happily-ever-after. The one thing fans of this series know is that while things may never go as expected, the love and affection the characters have for one another ensure a rewarding and charming conclusion. Angie’s uncharacteristically Mama Zen outlook, Mel’s mentorship of Oz, and the bond between Mel and Angie deliver all of the humor and genuinely emotional moments longtime readers of these books so appreciate in these books of food and friendship.

A wonderful cozy mystery, For Batter or Worse by Jenn McKinlay, book thirteen in her Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, was a fun read as the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew once again find themselves involved with a murder, with one of them being the suspect.

Business is booming and life is sweet at the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakery as Mel and Joe are finally getting married. They decided to have the reception at a fancy resort where Oz, Mel’s former employee, is now working as the pastry chef. Meeting with Oz to taste test the cupcakes for the reception, Mel and Joe meet the head chef at the resort; a man who’s life goal is make life miserable for those working for him, especially Oz. When this crazy chef insults Mel’s bakery and Oz’s training; Oz gets into a huge argument with this male diva. Unfortunately, witnessed my many. When the chef if found murdered and Oz is the police’s main suspect, Mel knows she will have to help, despite the wedding day fast approaching. The Fairy Tale Cupcake crew, including Mel and Joe, sifts through clues in order to find the real killer and clear Oz’s name before their wedding plans are ruined.

I’ve read this series from the beginning, enjoying the growth of the characters and the bakery. This story and the entire mystery series had all the elements I enjoy, interesting lovable characters, an intriguing mystery, friendship, and romance. Ms. McKinlay did an excellent job keeping her readers on their toes as they read this story. She had me miss-guessing who the killer was, quite often. I highly recommend For Batter or Worse to other readers and will miss Mel, Joe, Angie, Tate, Oz, and Marty.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

FOR BATTER OR WORSE, the thirteenth book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay, is another scrumptious addition to a yummy series! For fans, this is a much-awaited book as it looks like Mel will finally make her way down the aisle to wed Joe. However, as you might suspect, there are all sorts of hurdles to overcome to get it done and no one creates those hurdles better than Ms. McKinlay. First and foremost, is the imminent birth of Mel’s best friend’s baby. The soon-to-be mother, Angie, is not only Mel’s future sister-in-law but is her matron-of-honor. Could the newest family member upstage the nuptials? Next, Oz (Mel’s pastry chef for the wedding feast), is accused of murdering the head chef at the swanky resort chosen for the wedding and reception. Oz, formerly Mel and Angie’s employee at their Fairy Tale Cupcake bakery, has struck out to make it on his own in the highly pressurized kitchen of the resort. The head chef is clearly a bully and there’s no surprise when tempers flare between the two men.

Mel, knowing that Oz is innocent no matter the circumstantial evidence, is determined to clear his name in time for him to create his culinary magic and bake her nuptial cupcakes. As she investigates, there are plenty of people at the resort who had reasons to hate the head chef. There are clues to keep a sharp reader on their toes, but true to Ms. McKinley’s books, this is one to sit back and enjoy the ride. Filled with heartwarming friendships and close family ties, there’s humor to keep the mystery lighthearted and fun. It has been such a delight watching the characters grow and develop over the course of the series, and seeing their lives change as they would in the real world. While FOR BATTER OR WORSE can easily be read as a standalone, this is a great series to start at the beginning and binge the fun to catch up.

Naturally owning a cupcake bakery and ordering cupcakes to serve at the wedding reception, there are so many mouthwatering flavors described throughout the book. Ms. McKinlay doesn’t disappoint as she comes through with several tantalizing cupcake recipes at the back of the book to tempt readers into baking.

For Batter or Worse features the long-awaited wedding of main characters Melanie and Joe, and it was worth the wait! While the two previous entries in the series were not completely up to par, this book is a return to form for the most part. Besides the anticipated wedding, the plot focuses on fan favorite Oz and his attempt at breaking out into his own territory as a chef, which serves as the setting for the murder and mystery. While the culprit is somewhat easily identified almost from the character's introduction, the twists are intriguing and hold the reader's attention. Marty, who has become somewhat of a caricature in recent books, is 100% redeemed in this novel and plays an important yet still endearing role in contributing to solving the case. The Angie/Tate baby plot was entirely predictable and somewhat cloying, but overall, longtime fans of the series will end the book satisfied with the ending.
Net Galley provided me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

We're approaching the big day, Mel and Joe's wedding. When Mel and Joe show up for their cupcake tasting at the resort, where Oz is the head pastry chef, they're just in time to see an argument between Oz and the Head Chef Miles. Later when Oz finds Miles with his head bashed in, he's the prime suspect. With the wedding coming soon, will Mel find out who killed the head chef before Oz is arrested? will the wedding actually take place?
The books in this series have been up and down and this is an "up" one. I enjoyed the mystery, the bit of romance and overall the interplay between the characters. I heard one person describe cozy series as "visiting my friends" and I really think reading each new book fits the description.
#netgally #forbatterorworse

Mel and Dear Joe are finally getting married! Or are they. It is just days until the big event and Mel, Angie and Joe are meeting Oz at his new place of employment to finalize the wedding cupcakes. But all is not right in the kitchen. Oz gets into a big fight with the egomaniac head chef. We he ends dead Oz becomes a prime suspect. Mel and friends race to find the real murder before the wedding is derailed completely. An absolute must read full of twist and turns and laugh out loud moments.

Oz has left Fairy Tale Cupcakes and is now the pastry chef at an exclusive resort, where Mel and Joe will hold their wedding reception in just a few short weeks. When they go to the resort to taste test Oz's recommendations for the party, they meet the resort's head chef, a prima donna who doesn't like the attention Oz has been receiving. When the chef turns up dead and Oz is suspect #1, Mel and their friends are determined to clear his name before their reception -- and his career -- is ruined before it even begins.

This is the 13th book in the Cupcake Bakery series, which I've enjoyed since the very first book. The characters feel like old friends, and it's been fun watching friendships and relationships grow and develop as the series has progressed. Probably because this book focused so much on Mel and Joe's upcoming wedding, there weren't many appearances by the series regulars not directly involved with the bakery, and I found it a refreshing change of pace. That said, there were plenty of suspects to choose from, and the person who was later identified as the killer was near the top of my list right from the start, but I wasn't certain about my suspicions until late in the book. Parts of this book read almost like it could be the end of the series, but by the time I reached the end, it seemed like that's not going to happen after all… I hope! I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Jenn does it again with a carefully woven tale of mystery and love! When her former employee is the prime suspect in the murder of a “bully” chef, Mel does all she can to help! After all, Oz is in charge of making the cupcakes for her wedding to Joe! How will the Fairytale Cupcake Crew catch the real killer?

It's time for another mystery with the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew! My favourite bakers are back for another tantalizing mystery... this time involving one of their own!

Mel and Joe are getting ready to (finally) walk down the aisle. However, it's not going to be easy, if their past experiences is anything to go by! With Angie mere weeks from giving birth, Mel thinks this is the biggest thing she has to worry about. However, when their friend and fellow baker, Oz, has to heal with an egotistical chef, things go from bad to worse... with Chef Miles turns up dead! Now Mel and her friends will have to solve the crime before her wedding day, lest Oz spend life in prison!

I absolutely love the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries. I've been reading them from the very first book, where I was charmed with the delectable cupcakes and delightful characters. With each book, they're friendships have grown stronger, and new friends have been added.

While this is a long-running series, the mysteries are kept fresh and interesting. This one involved a new set of characters at the local resort, where Oz now works, and it was interesting trying to solve the murder, alongside Mel and Oz. As many would know, running a kitchen is very high intensity and there were many suspects to choose from, as Chef Miles was very disliked. I didn't solve the mystery before Mel, but I sure had fun trying!

If you're looking for a tantalizing mystery, with memorable characters and mouth-watering cupcakes, then this series is for you. For Batter or Worse is the best in the series (so far) and I can't wait to see where Jenn McKinlay takes the gang next!

This is the 13th book in Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. As a Jenn McKinlay fan, I was not disappointed although it was rather predictable. All of the regular characters were included although this story focused on Oz, the intern baker who has gone out on his own and found work as a pastry chef in a resort restaurant. The job came with an overbearing head chef and other sleazy resort characters. The chef is murdered and fingers are pointing directly at Oz. The main cupcake baker, Mel, is about to get married and her partner, Angie, is about to have a baby. Everyone goes into overdrive to save Oz and the wedding. Chaos ensues which includes all the recurring characters who all have a plan to solve the mystery. It is fast paced, humorous, and entertaining, especially if you are a fan of the series. It is not great literature but it is definitely an enjoyable read

Mel and Joe are finally about to have their own Fairy Tale dream come true. Until murder once again crashes the scene, and Oz is the prime suspect. All hands are on deck in this latest Fairy Tale Cupcakes book as the crew works to clear Oz and get Mel and Joe down the aisle safely.

I always love the Fairy Tale Cupcakes cozies, and this was no exception. This book had good storylines for the crew— Mel and Joe getting married, Angie and Tate having a baby, and Oz being accused of murder, but it was sorely lacking in Marty and the bakery itself. It was still a fun story but it felt like the crew was splintered.

Some nice twists and turns lead to finding the murderer in this one! The end started out predictable, but then a lovely twist and one I didn't expect. Overall a nice, cozy read with a fun ending.

Lucky number 13 in the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries comes in as a real winner! I’ve read this entire series and I can’t tell you how nice it is to slip back in with the Fairytale Cupcake’s crew for another murder mystery.

Mel and Joe are finally getting married. Oh, we’ve had some challenges getting these two to the altar, but hell of it isn’t happening this time! Well, you know, unless there’s maybe a murder or something.

Of course there’s a murder! At the reception site, no less. When one of their own is accused and there’s no way that our familiar foodie family will let that fly.

I honestly think this is one of the best of the series, all of the characters are on point. The callbacks to past books in the series are flawless, the addition of plausible suspects is subtle and keeps you guessing. Only the odd “murder weapon” we find out about at the end is a little out there but it was still a good book. I didn’t have it picked right, and I love when I can’t figure out who dunnit before they tell you!

McKinlay includes mouthwatering cupcake recipes as well as her very sharp writing skills to each of her mysteries. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves cozies. They’re excellent!

This series is a lot of fun and after thirteen books, I read mainly for the character updates, than the mysteries (but they are a lot of fun, too). I liked how Oz played a bigger role in this book. I also liked how we weren't sure if the wedding would happen or not or how it would look. I look forward to the next book to see what Mel, Angie, and everyone is up to!