Member Reviews

This was the first book for me in this series, but I really enjoyed it. Very well written, with good clues and a few red herrings thrown in. There was some speculating and guessing involved, but in the end she did solve it instead of just bumbling into the murderer. The characters were well written and enough background info was given on everything that I could easily follow along without having read anything in the series before.

Was this review helpful?

I often watch a good cosy murder film but have never read one. When this book became available I thought what a wonderful opportunity to try a genre I like in the written form for a change. The book is written in the first person with Ivy telling the reader what is happening. She works in a bakery -The yeast of Eden (fabulous name for a bakery I think) and is starting her own photography business. Her cousin , Emmaline, is the local sheriff and Ivy's attention to detail and curious nature make her the perfect crime solving buddy. When a murder occurs at a Dickens themed Christmas party, at the famous actress Eliza Fox's home , everyone is interested in solving the crime as soon as possible. With lots of twists and turns, secrets from the past being revealed and a suspect list growing by the day the story unfolds. I really enjoyed this book and will be looking at the back catalogue soon to catch up with Ivy again.

Was this review helpful?

A Murder Yule Regret by Winnie Archer/Melissa Bourbon may be the seventh book in the Bread Shop cozy series but Ms. Archer has not lost her talent in constructing a mystery that kept me turning the pages.

Ivy is once again on the scene when a body is found during a Dickens themed Christmas party held by a film actress, Eliza Fox. Ivy was the official photographer for the party so her photos will be needed by the Emmaline once it's determined that it was murder. Twists, red herrings, multiple suspects, a few unpredictable moments for Ivy as she searches for clues and a quickly paced plot kept me engaged from the first page to the reveal. A sweet romantic Christmas ending made this a very enjoyable book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you #Netgalley for the advance reader copy of A Murder Yule Regret by Winnie Archer in exchange for an honest review. Ivy Culpeper works at Yeast of Eden in Santa Sofia, California. The bread made at Yeast of Eden is said to have magical properties. She also has a photography business growing. A movie star has requested bread from the shop as well as a photographer to take pictures of everyone at the party. All of the guest dress up as Dickens characters. One of the guests falls over a cliff.
This was a great book, I really enjoy reading Winnie Archer books. This was a wonderful, touching story as well as a great mystery.

Was this review helpful?

I had just finished another book by this author and decided to hop over to NetGalley to see if there was anything coming soon from her. Sure enough, right there at the top of my search was #AMurderYuleRegret. I figured that since it's Christmas in July time of year, I deserved a present and sure enough #netgalley and #kensingtonpress came through for me.

A Murder Yule Regret (although I think you should read them all) is probably my favorite in the series. The bread shop is catering a Dickens' themed Christmas party for a young actress who has just broken up with her fiance because a sleezy journalist is publishing inflammatory articles about them. When he is found dead in the swimming pool there are a plethora of suspects.

Ivy attended the party as the photographer and also as a caterer from Yeast of Eden so, of course, she.is going to investigate, especially since Captain York, the new detective in the sheriff's office, doesn't seem to be taking Ivy seriously. When there is a second murder at a second party, the stakes are even higher.

This is a very good series, with well rounded characters. The mystery is well written and hard to solve until close to the end. The fun of the bread shop, the information the reader gets about baking bread, cookies, sweet rolls,.etc., plus the recipes will make even the worst baker think she (actually me) can make bread.

Very enjoyable book. I recommend it to all my fellow cozy mystery readers. #amurderyuleregret #kensingtonpress #netgalley #cozymystery

Was this review helpful?

chef, photographer, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, small-business, small-town, relationships, family, friendship, friction, Hollywood, paparazzi, cozy-mystery*****

Ivy is a photographer with a day job at the Bread Shop with her friends. Then Hollywood comes to town and hosts a costumed Christmas event complete with a slimy paparazzo. Who gets himself murdered at the event. Let the sleuthing begin! The publisher's blurb is a decent hook, but there's so much more. Solid mystery with more than enough motives and suspects, plot twists, red herrings, and suspense. Loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

I have been following this series from the beginning and always enjoy it. This was followed along with the premise started at the beginning. I enjoy the characters in the books. I did feel that some of this one was a bit odd and that Ivy needs to start having some success because it is hard to believe at this point. She is such a take charge person and yet is a bottom rung person in all her activities? I will keep an eye out for the next.

Was this review helpful?

The bright and adorable book cover had already sold me on this book, however, the inside story is so good, you will forget that it is not actually Christmas time.

Ivy Culpepper, amateur photographer and bakery assistant, finds herself knee deep into a bizarre murder investigation once again. Film actress, Eliza Fox, hires Yeast of Eden to cater her Dickensian themed holiday costume party, and Ivy is hired to take the photographs.

Ivy is enjoying herself until a frantic scream disrupts the holiday music, and a body is found, prone, on the sharp rocks below. Ivy has no interest in getting involved, until an odd sense of protection for Eliza overcomes her, and she changes her mind.
This is my favorite book in the series so far. I'm excited to read the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

#AMurderYuleRegret #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

I look forward to each addition to the series. This one continues the excellence! The characters and their relationships are developing so nicely. Great plot with lots of intrigue. This book I binged read! (Sorry hubby but it's that good!) You literally smell the delicious aromas from the recipes which are a most welcome addition. If you haven't read the series-DO NOW! It's a treat for readers everywhere. Thanks #netgalley and #Keningston for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

Ivy Culpepper somehow always manages to be at the scene of the crime, the crime being murder. Once again Ivy gets involved in solving crimes. I like how Ivy thinks through what she sees and hears during her crime solving. Her photos come in handy too. This is one Christmas cozy mystery with a surprise happy ending. A Murder Yule Regret by Winnie Archer is the seventh book in this author's Bread Shop Mystery series. I haven't read all the books in the series yet but I plan to.

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A Murder Yule Regret is an easy, light cozy mystery. Winnie Archer hits this one out of the park. If you enjoy the genre you’ll have a lot of fun reading this one.

Was this review helpful?

Christmas is in the air and Yeast of Eden is catering holiday parties. When a celebrity plans a Dickens themed party with short notice, Ivy not only helps prepare for the event, she is also hired to be the official photographer. It’s great for her business, even if she had such short notice and worked before the event. It was all going well until someone screamed and a sleazy reporter was found dead off the cliff in the back yard. Was he pushed or did he jump?

While Ivy was expecting to take pictures to commemorate the event, she certainly wasn’t expecting those photos to be used to help solve a murder. But here she is, sharing the photos with her BFF Em, who also happens to be the sheriff. Can they spot something, or someone, off in the photos? Ivy keeps looking and links her thoughts to some of the attendees, but what Em and the team need is solid proof, not supposition. Will Ivy help them find the right evidence, or will she become just another body in the killer’s spree?

I have enjoyed this series for awhile now and look forward to each new entry in the series. With recipes that you can almost smell while reading the book, you’ll find yourself wanting to knead some dough and make your own bread. It’s a twofer with the recipes and a well written whodunit, so give it a read if you haven’t read one of Winnie’s books yet!

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance copy of, A Murder Yule Regret, by Winnie Archer. This is a good mystery, a little sad, but good. I love the recipes in the back.

Was this review helpful?