Juliet Capshaw, owner of Torte Bakery in Ashland, Oregon, stays very busy with the bakery and the winery she and her husband own. Ashland is readying itself for the big Shakespeare Festival and the crowds who will fill the streets. Juliet is also busy preparing food for her friends Kerry's and Thomas's wedding. While making sure everything is ready at the park, she discovers a body in the storage room. Not having enough on her plate, she decides to involve herself deeply in the investigation. Somehow, she and Kerry are convinced that Kerry's father, newly released from prison, must be somehow deeply involved in the murder.

This story is #15 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. It is not necessary to read them all in order, although it might simplify keeping track of all the characters and subplots. The dishes turned out by the bakery sound delectable.

I keep reading these mysteries because of Torte's ever changing delectable menu items. However, the rest of the plot seems to have become formulaic with me. Plus I am not understanding why Ms. Alexander wants to change some aspects of Ashland but not others. In this book Jules mentions going to Lithia Springs, the high rise hotel near the theaters to see Kerry getting ready for her wedding. The real hotel is called Ashland Springs and there is actually a hotel called Lithia Springs as well in Ashland and it's SUPER FAR from the actual Ashland Springs. However, the Tudor Gift Shop is right where she says it is and didn't bother to change their name.

If you're going to make up fictional places in a real place, make sure the name isn't the same as another real place that makes no geographic sense. I couldn't figure out how Jules walked to Lithia Springs considering it's several miles away. Ashland is a delightful place and I am not sure why she feels the need to change it. I have said in other books I question if the author has ever been there since her theater locations don't jive with the real city either.

Lance's over the top behavior and Richard's grumpiness are also getting to be the same. I think this is the last book I'm going to read in this series.

This is the fifteenth book of A bake shop mystery series and my first. It's definitely better to read the series in order. I had no idea who any of the characters were and their relationship to each other. Other than that I really enjoyed the characters and the mentions of the food and tips on cooking. The mystery kept me intrigued and I had no clue who had done it until the end.

This series made me fall in love with Ashland (it is real and spectacular!) and this fabulous addition made me remember why. The characters, setting and mystery with a twist will not disappoint.

*3 stars plus

The crew at Torte in Ashland, Oregon, are busy preparing food for Kerry and Thomas's wedding feast, when the owner, Juliet Capshaw, discovers a body in the storage room at the park. When Kerry's father is taken into custody, Jules becomes determined to figure out what really happened.

There are likable characters and an intriguing mystery but, for me, the biggest draw is reading about the wonderful pastries, cakes, coffees and dinners the crew create. One could gain weight just reading these descriptions! It's probably a good thing recipes are not included, haha.

I received an arc of this new cozy mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest
review. Many thanks.

Donut Disturb is another solid entry in the long-running Bakeshop Mystery series. It’s only the second one I’ve read (there are 15 now!) but I felt like I was revisiting old friends. Nevertheless, this would work as a standalone.

The “cast” of characters are diverse and lovable and the location in Ashland, Oregon, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is delightful. Having visited Ashland a few years ago and attended a play at the OSF, I could picture everything easily. I loved Lance, the flamboyant artistic director of OSF, and the various staffers at Torte, the titular bakeshop.

The mystery this time is the murder of a member of a popular locally-based jazz trio, right before the outdoor wedding of two series regulars that was to take place in the center of town.

As you might expect, there are detailed descriptions of the fabulous food being prepared for both the bakeshop and the wedding. While I love good food and drink, I felt that the extensive descriptions slowed down the action of the book, so I wound up skimming some of them. Other readers may not feel the same way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy of DONUT DISTURB (Book 15 of the Bakeshop Mysteries) by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. Jules Capshaw is on the case again. Jules works to save her friends' wedding by proving the bride's father innocent of murder. I liked it. I really enjoy this series and look forward to reading the next book.

#DonutDisturb #NetGalley

Donut Disturb by Ellie Alexander is the 15th book in the Bakeshop Mystery Series and a wonderful and enjoyable read. Thomas and Kerry are getting married, but uh oh her father shows up! Then on the morning of the wedding there’s a murder! Kerry asks Jules to figure out who the killer is so she can enjoy her honeymoon. Jules is up to the task with her friends and family supporting her the whole way. A delicious read that has you guessing until the very end!

3.5 stars

Baker supreme Jules is back with her whole ensemble. They are trying to help friends and local police officers Thomas and Kerry pull off a perfect wedding. But the appearance of Kerry's black sheep father and then a murder that he is a suspect in make it difficult.

It's always fun to follow Jules, her hunky husband Carlos, her mom and the Professor and their quirky bakeshop employees in their interesting lives in Ashland, Oregon. As with many cozies, her involvement in the local crime solving is often preposterous -- in this one, the local police actually ask her to help them, totally unbelievable.

The bakery details and local setting make this a fun series to follow. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Here’s a sweet cozy little mystery with just the right ingredients to keep you interested. In the little town of Ashland, Oregon, Juliet Capshaw of Torte finds a dead body beneath the grandstand in Lithia Park on the morning of her friends’ wedding. It was the bass player from the wedding band. Who could have stabbed Brett with his broken bass and left him for dead? Lots of possible suspects and clues and red herrings. Juliet Capshaw sets off the along with her friend Lance to help solve the case and assist her stepfather, The Professor, the police chief, before her friends come home from their honeymoon. But for each question she asks, Juliet might be putting her life in jeopardy. Can she solve the murder?
I found that this was a very quick and fast paced cozy mystery. I enjoyed all the descriptions of foods and dishes, but would have loved to have the recipes included. Although this could be read as a stand-alone book, it is part of a series. I haven’t read others yet, but plan to do so. Lots of red herrings and motives abound. Typical to have a whodunit where a local (ala Ms. Marple) steps in to solve the mystery. It’s a wholesome read and a great way to while away the afternoon or evening. You may want to have a snack though as this book will make you hungry.

Many thanks to #netgalley #donutdisturb #elliealexander for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Although it's difficult to jump into a series at book number fifteen, I decided to do just that when I received Donut Disturb as an Advance Reader Copy. What a fun series Ellie Alexander has written if all of them are as good as this one. Set in a small college in town in souther Oregon, the primary setting is a coffee shop, baker, restaurant name Torte. Juliet Capshaw grew up in the shop and runs the family bakery along with a winery with her husband Carlos. This volume centers on a wedding of two police officers that are beloved by the community. Alexander weaves the foodie elements of Torte into the mystery that develops after a sudden death occurs just hours before the nuptials. Her involvement in the investigation seems authentic and not forced as some cozy mysteries are after so many books. I look forward to going back and starting this series from the beginning!

Donut Disturb by Ellie Alexander is the 15th A Bakeshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I found Donut Disturb to be easy to read. I like the author’s writing style. It is light and casual. Jules and Carlos have settled into their new home and are enjoying their time together. Both are busy but they make sure to make time for each other. I enjoyed learning more about Kerry. We finally learn about her background and why she is the way she is (totally makes sense now). There is plenty of baking and cooking. The food descriptions will have your mouth watering. Brett, a bass player with Heart Strings, ends up dead in a park storage area. Jules stumbles upon the scene. I found it odd the way Jules acted upon seeing the victim. This is not her first rodeo. By now, Jules should be used to seeing dead bodies (I do not expect her to be casual, but I did not expect her to act like this is the first time she has seen such a sight). I expected her to take note of the scene and any potential clues. I did not expect her to freeze up and go into shock. In fact, Jules seemed to freeze up frequently. Whenever she would end up alone with a suspect, she acted like they were going to attack her any second. Jules is a smart woman who has to think on her feet in the bakery. I expected her to be logical and no act like a scaredy cat. I could excuse it once, but it happened multiple times. There are several suspects in this whodunit along with a red herring or two. There are good clues to help readers solve the crime before the reveal. I enjoyed the lovely word depictions of Lithia Park. It is a lovely park, and I can see why the wedding took place in that location. Donut Disturb is an upbeat cozy mystery with an offender father, park nuptials, a stabbed bass player, the problematic Richard Lord, curious clues, delicious donuts, and a tricky takedown.

It is spring in Ashland, Oregon and Juliet Capshaw and many others in town are looking forward to the wedding of detectives Thomas and Kerry. Juliet's bakery, Torte is catering the wedding and when the usually private Kerry asks to meet with her, Juliet is pleasantly surprised. However, the big surprise is that Kerry's estranged dad has recently been released from prison and Kerry did not want him at the wedding. Fortunately, Thomas and Kerry come to terms with her father, but then someone is murdered hours before the wedding. The wedding is lovely anyway and the couple go off on their honeymoon cruise, but Kerry asks Juliet to work with her stepdad "the professor" and Kerry and Thomas's boss, to find out what happened. The author brings in the regular minor characters from her previous books in the series and I like that she gives more backstory to these characters as the series proceeds. As always, I got hungry just reading about her recipes in the story. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What is it about weddings! Everything should have been wonderful for police officers Kerry and Thomas but nooooo. First, her estranged father shows up, having escaped from prison (or did he?) and then Jules finds one of the members of the wedding band dead. Did Kerry's dad do it? Well, readers of cozies know that there was more to Brett than met the eye but there's also more to both Jules and her love Carlos. Employees at their bakery Tarte - especially Lance-and their winery help them find the real villain, prevent more tragedy, and see Kerry and Thomas down the aisle. Know that although this is set in a bakery, there are no recipes (but boy do the treats sound wonderful). Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good cozy read.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, which has a Shakespearean theme. She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school. After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery. She now shares ownership of it with her mother, who recently married the local head of police. After a two year separation, Jules has worked things out with her Italian husband and Carlos is running the winery they have majority ownership of.

Jules' friends, Thomas and Kerry, as getting married and everyone in the town is involved and/or invited. Kerry becomes distressed when she discovers her father, who should be in prison, is in town and plans to attend the wedding. Thomas and Kerry are police officers and Kerry is concerned how it will look if her father had escaped from prison. Jules tells her not to let it get to her and ruin her big day. But when the bass player of the wedding band is found murdered and Kerry's father is taken into custody, how can that not ruin her day? As Kerry and Thomas head off on their honeymoon, Kerry makes Jules promised she'll check into things to see what really happened and, of course, she does.

This is the fifteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay. It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Love is in bloom in Ashland, Oregon. The Shakespearean hamlet is bursting with fresh spring energy. Fragrant lilacs and the sweet aroma of vanilla cake fill the air as everyone in town gathers at Lithia Park for the celebration of the year—Thomas and Kerry’s wedding.

It’s a picture perfect day. Guests gather on picnic blankets in front of the bandshell to watch Kerry walk down the aisle and wed Ashland’s favorite detective in training, Thomas. Jules and her team at Torte have been tasked with catering the outdoor reception and everything is going according to plan, until a wedding crasher shows up.

The uninvited guest isn’t just someone looking to score a free glass of champagne. It’s Kerry’s estranged father who is supposed to be behind bars. Kerry is distraught. Jules vows to do everything she can to make sure that there are no other surprises on her friend’s big day. But when the bassist for Heart Strings, the wedding band, is found stabbed with the blunt end of his instrument Jules’s promise takes on new meaning. Now she’ll have to slice through the five tiered cake and a bevy of potential suspects in order to track down a killer before they turn the knife on her. (Goodreads synopsis)

I have read Ellie Alexander’s novels before but this is only my 2nd in her Bakeshop Mystery series, so I am coming into the character’s storylines rather late. However, I don’t think that matters all that much. There are very few confusing moments (only when Juliet starts describing her marriage with Carlos and their previous work experience on board a cruise, or when talking about why they don’t have children), but the author writes well enough that it doesn’t disturb or take away from the main parts of the characters or the novel.

The mystery itself wasn’t what kept my interest, though. The blurb makes out that Jamie, Kerry’s estranged father, would be the person of interest, but he only appears sparingly. I would have liked to have him cooperating or assisting with Lance and Juliet. At least have them keep more of an eye on him. As for the ending, I sometimes think that the person who was less likely to commit the crime is being taken a little too seriously. I wish there had been more interactions with more of the suspects, and with Lance. This seemed more about Juliet’s baking and her thoughts.

While I love that Juliet is a baker and (since it’s from her POV) she explains her processes when baking, I would have loved it more if there had been some recipes at the end. I think my husband would have enjoyed the chocolate cherry torte. I know I definitely would have.

Overall I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me the advance on the book. The author has done it again. A real winner I enjoyed reading this installment and looking forward to what happens to Juliet. They left the book at a great spot looking forward to reading more. A real relaxing book to get lost in and forget what is going on around me. THANK YOU!!!!

Ellie Alexander delivers another great cozy mystery with Donut Disturb. Her characters and plot lines are the best around. Two thumbs up!!

Not the best cozy. Overdone backstory and not much fun
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

So as anyone who follows my reviews knows, Ellie Alexander can do no wrong in my eyes when it comes to writing. And she still hasn’t! I love returning to Ashland & all the characters there. This book is all about spring & planning a wedding & that lends itself to lovely descriptions. Of course a murder occurs & Jules has to be on it to clear names. But the lead up is so colourful & charming & the sleuthing is handled expertly. This series has the strongest & most endearing supporting cast I’ve ever read. It began my love for cozy mysteries so it’s always going to be special to me. This one is probably my favourite of the more recent books in the series. I’m happy to say there’s another book in the series Muffin But the Truth coming in December! Alexander is as prolific as she is talented ☺️