I sent a review in way last year. But the book was very good and all the main characters were easy to remember from the past books. Lots of action .

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

A Murder Yule Regret is the seventh book in the A Bread Shop Mystery series and also my first read in this series.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the different types of bread baking in this book and how it was made. It made me hungry for delicious fresh, hot bread with butter melted on it.
Santa Sofia bakery, Yeast of Eden is overflowing with business even off peak. Bakery assistant Ivy Culpepper may be up to her elbows in dough early every a.m. but she's got a wonderful chance to get her startup photography business off the ground as the photographer shooting the Dickensian dress-up X-mas party thrown by It Girl film actress Eliza Fox.
I enjoyed the characters, and we get an in-depth backstory for some of them here which really explains their behavior. One character I was completely off the mark with my thinking, they surely took me by surprise.
When some of Ivy's photographs may contain photographic evidence in a murder, she and her Pug are in feet first sleuthing.
Fast paced with red herrings thrown in, I was surprised how this turned out and just did not see this ending playing out as a possibility.
I enjoyed the plot and will be reading more of this series.
Delicious recipes included to try.

Pub Date 30 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

a new photography business, a christmas party in the style of Charles Dickens and characters I would sit to have coffee with, all lead to a good read.

Some romance and some murder make for a spicy holiday

A Christmas costume party, an engaging group of characters, and a well-developed plot make this another terrific entry in this great series. I've enjoyed all the earlier books and admire the way the author creates such layered characters like Ivy and Olaya. We know their backstories, their lives, their hearts and we immediately feel drawn to them. Another winner, if you haven't been reading the Bread Shop Mysteries, you are in for a treat!

This was an excellent addition to the series. Some grammatical errors while reading. Hopefully, proofreaders will catch before final publication.

Costume Party Woes…
A costume party turns fatal in this seventh instalment of the Bread Shop Mystery series. A fun cosy mystery with a colourful cast, a delightful backdrop and an entertaining and enjoyable plotline. A worthy addition to the series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: When Ivy is hired to help serve bread and take pictures for a Dickensian Christmas Party, she does not expect to become friendly with the movie star hostess. The two click and when a sleazy tabloid hack is pushed off a cliff at her home during the party, Ivy provides solace as well as assistance to her best friend who is the chief of police.

What a tangled web is Eliza’s life. Like so many celebrities, she has changed her name and her story but her past is coming back to haunt her as is the father she left behind at the age of 16. She also has an estranged husband involved who may or may not have cheated on her. The hack printed the story but there is some suspicion that it was faked. Who can Eliza trust when it seems the people who should be most protective are unreliable at best and duplicitous at worst. And one of them may be a murderer. Twice.

The reader, like Eliza, go back and forth from one suspect to another before the true story unfolds and the killer turns out to be someone unexpected. Murder is just one of the crimes this person has committed. This is one slippery individual. But Ivy solves the mystery and brings the villain to justice. It’s a good mystery with interesting characters and a lovely core of characters who form Ivy’s extended ‘family”. Four purrs and two paws up.

A charming and food-centric cozy mystery.

This is a traditional cozy mystery, rather than what I call an elevated cozy mystery, so expect plot and dialogue accordingly. That said, it’s a likable and fun story with amiable characters, a logical solve, and lots of food-driven content.

The mystery is pretty light and simple as befits the subgenre, though it’s better written than many of its ilk. I didn’t love the Hollywood star angle (not very cozy, no?) but the mystery still plays well.

I had hoped for more holiday atmosphere, since this is really the only reason I come to a book like this, but there are some clever aspects to the book in that regard, and the Dickens party was a nice touch.

Ivy is a struggling photographer and works part time at Yeast of Eden bakery. Her boss was hired to cater a very private Christmas party for Elisa fox. Playa, Maggie and Ivy go to set up and serve. It turns out to be a beautiful Dickens character party with everyone in costume. Uninvited guests show up and there is a body found outside of the party. This book with keep you entertained with it's wild cast of characters and the beautiful town. The twists and turns are very tricky. Just when you think you are close to solving it, another unexpected surprise blows you away. This is one fantastic book.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books. Happy reading

A MURDER YULE REGRET by Winnie Archer
The Seventh Bread Shop Mystery

Ivy Culpepper is surprised when bread maven Olaya accepts a last-minute request to provide Yeast of Eden breads for a holiday party. Hollywood star Eliza Fox, who recently moved to Santa Sofia, is hosting a Dickensian celebration and not only will Yeast of Eden be providing plenty of carbohydrates for the event, but Ivy will also be its official photographer. Even with gossips and guests only there for the free food and drink, the party seems to be a success, until a scream pierces the night. A body has gone over the edge of the cliffside home. Who had the temerity to push a man to his death in the middle of a Christmas party? Eliza seems to be a genuine and down to earth young woman, but is it just an act?

Celebrity gossip, unscrupulous people, a hint of past abuse, and a desire to reinvent oneself are at the heart of the seventh Bread Shop Mystery. The writing is as crisp as a December evening in Santa Sophia and I enjoyed every word. Lush descriptions made me feel as if I was there. Serious subjects are raised and dealt with in a mature and respectful manner making the book, not only more realistic, but more pertinent, especially in today's world.

In addition to stimulating your mind with a well plotted mystery, A MURDER YULE REGRET will ignite your desire to attend a holiday party in order to indulge in scrumptious appetizers and holiday beverages. Descriptions of food may me long for some of Olaya's creations. I'll have some star bread, please, and though I'm not sure about the combination, I'll try Mrs. Bradford's Sparkling Peppermint Swirl!

A MURDER YULE REGRET is a festive holiday mystery pitting celebrity dreams against reality with unsavory characters quietly driving the action. Filled with bright and shining stars and mouthwatering carbs A MURDER YULE REGRET makes for a perfect holiday read.

A MURDER YULE REGRET-Winnie Archer

Well, what a fun book to read. She was so clever in her story and kept interest high. As a super sleuth, Ivy, who was also trying to get to begin her photography business was right in the middle of murder at the home of the actress Eliza Fox. Each new character including the Yeast of Eden owner, Mrs. Bransford were creatively explained and I wish there was a bread shop and a Mrs. Bransford near me. After a second murder Ivy began truly putting pieces of the puzzle together. Many strings that ultimately came full circle and made sense but multiple possibilities of "who dun it" in each chapter.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it quite intriguing.....

I received this to my Kindle for the purpose of review. I only have to write an honest review.

#A Murder Yule Regret #Net Galley #Goodreads

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was a light, Christmas-time cozy mystery that was a fun read in between heavier novels. And it was easy to jump right in with book #7 even though I hadn't read any of the others in the series. Ivy Culpepper, amateur sleuth and part-time photographer, also helps out at the Yeast of Eden bread shop. Everyone knows everything about everyone in her small town on the California coast (modeled after Santa Barbara), even the movie star celebrities who come to Santa Sofia for privacy.

A few days before Christmas, Ivy is recruited as a photographer for a celebrity's Christmas party, where all the guests are dressed as Dickens' Christmas Carol characters. Soon after the celebrity makes her theatrical entrance, a dead body is discovered, which kills the party mood. *ha ha*

Ivy has taken hundreds of photos during the party, and thinks she might have a clue to share with the town's police chief, who also happens to be her lifelong best friend. I thought it was refreshing to have the sleuth's police connection be her girlfriend, instead of a romantic interest. As Ivy has become friendly with the celebrity, she is drawn to investigate some of her hunches, but tries not to intrude on the official police investigation. This leads to some independent deductions on Ivy's part as well as mine.

It took me a while to guess who the murderer was, as the story offers many suspects, clues, and red herrings throughout. In addition to the traditional cozy motifs (i.e. pet, supportive older women, food), the author skillfully added themes of reinvention, parenting, acting and pretense, and I was thankful the novel was written without the silliness that often infuses cozies.

This was fun to read during the holidays, and all the delicious food descriptions were rewarded with a few recipes added at the end of the novel. If you're looking for an easy-to-read cozy with likeable characters, a make-you-think mystery, and mouthwatering food descriptions, this is the book for you.

Celebrity Eliza Box is having a costume Christmas party and has hired the Yeast of Eden Bread shop for some of the catering. She also hired Ivy Culpepper to photograph the event. Everyone seems to be enjoying the festivities until a scream rings out and everyone becomes aware that there is a body lying at the bottom of the cliff. The victim turns out to be a sleezy reporter who apparently snuck in to get some dirt on the guests. Did he fall accidently or was he pushed? Who would have a reason?

Murder has been determined and Ivy's photos may hold a clue but will she and the police be able to figure it before the photos disappear?


I enjoy this series mainly because of the characters and their generous spirits that shine through. The mysteries are entertaining too.

The plot of the book was such a great page turner. The plot of the book was very well written. I truly cannot wait to read another wonderful book from this new to me great author. This was a truly great book.

I found the pace of this book a little slow at time. I normally finish a cozy mystery within 1-3 days (depending on my work schedule) but this one took me 6 days to finish.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. The story had twists and turns, interesting characters and events, and I will continue reading this series.

Ivy and Yeast of Eden have been hired last minute for a Christmas costume party. When one of the uninvited guests is found dead, Ivy is determined to figure out what happened. Unfortunately, there are suspects a-plenty and another murder happens, too. Can Ivy wade through and figure out the answer?

I really like this series. I love Ivy and all of the characters in this series. I am a little sad that we didn't get much of Miguel in this book, I missed him. I was kept guessing throughout the whole story and I loved it. It was so twisty! I can't wait to read more from this series!

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

Ivy is going to have a Dickens of a time solving this mystery. Starlets, a sleazy reporter, ghosts of secrets past, and some incredible sounding baked goods. Like all cozy sleuths, Ivy is in the wrong place at the right time or the right place at the wrong time, either way she has an eye for detail as well as for photography. Did she see something through the lens of her camera or did someone see her snapping pictures. Is this a case of Hollywood hoopla turned homicide or an attempt to hide the ugly truths from a paparazzi past.? I particularly like how good Mrs. Branford is at reading Ivy's mind, not to mention the way the Blackbird Ladies use their book club skills to help Ivy , who in turn helps her bff/sister in law Emmaline. The story was a page turner, and not just because I wanted to get to the end and see what recipes Winnie Archer had decided to share. Yule truly enjoy not only the well crafted mystery but also the Buche de Noel and the Star Bread!

Ivy Culpepper, photographer and part-time employee of famed bread shop Yeast of Eden in beautiful Santa Sofia, receives an opportunity of a lifetime when she is asked to document Eliza Fox’s holiday party. As fitting a Hollywood starlet, Eliza’s asked guests to come dressed costumed as characters from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Shortly after Eliza makes her grand entrance, a scream brought guests outside to find one of the caterers gesturing over the cliffs: a man had fallen—or been pushed—to his death.

The man, paparazzi Ed Yentin, had no shortage of enemies. He had already published one scathing article about Eliza’s husband and was rumored to be writing a second more shocking piece. Eliza’s wasn’t the only career or marriage he devastated. Actress Cordelia Knight, who also had secrets exposed by Yentin, was rumored to be in attendance.

Ivy, no stranger to investigations, becomes embroiled in the case when her photographs from the party become important evidence. Though Ivy wants to prove Eliza innocent, she may have the strongest motive of all.

All year, I read cozy mysteries but they seem particularly fitting during the holiday season! This is the seventh book in the Bread Shop Mystery Series, and though I had no problem starting here, I might have missed some background on the recurring characters: Emmaline, the no-nonsense sheriff and Ivy’s best friend, Olaya, the talented owner of Yeast of Eden and Ivy’s mentor, Mrs. Branford, Ivy’s older neighbor and partner-in-crime, and her boyfriend, Miguel.

The mystery—Hollywood intrigue exported to a small costal town—was fun with many possible suspects. I was surprised by how things wrapped up.

All the descriptions of baked goods were so tempting, but the book includes several recipes (including one for a fun cocktail that I am definitely trying soon). Best of all, the animal sidekick is a pug!