Despite feeling unwell, Jules is determine to figure out who committed a murder during a play being performed at UVA, her and Carlos' winery. Many suspects had a motive, but who actually committed the awful crime?

Excellent addition to the series. This is the 19th book in the series, but the characters and setting are still as fresh and interesting as they were in the very first book. Ms. Alexander consistently weaves mysteries that keep readers guessing until the end. I love reading about Jules, Carlos, the rest of the staff at Torte, Lance, and rest of the very colorful characters in town.
Highly recommend this book and the whole series.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I always enjoy returning to Torte to see what Jules and the gang are up to. This installment did not disappoint. The way everyone in the series grows and is more like a family warms the heart. The mystery was good, even though I had an idea from the start who did it.
I am looking forward to the next installment.


I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What's continuing to work so well in this series is that while each book does a great job with its contained mystery, the characters are all being given plenty of room to grow and change throughout the series. This one advances multiple characters' storylines in interesting ways that provide fodder for future books and excellent plot points for this story. Ellie Alexander is at the top of the game.

This book was a true delight... not only is it a cozy mystery, it takes place in a town I'm familiar with! When the owner of a bakery/eatery in Ashland, Oregon finds a dead body in the cellar at a winery she and her husband own, her life turns upside down. Who did it? Why? Join in the thrills and find out. A bonus is the recipes made throughout the book are included at the end!

Jules Capshaw is happy to be providing the venue and the foods and drinks for the opening night celebration for her best friend Lance. Lance has created a modern spin on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, but someone seems to be trying to sabotage the play with props going missing and a set collapsing. When the difficult lead actor is killed, there is no shortage of suspects. In spite of the potential danger, Jules and Lance team up to find out who killed Jimmy Paxton.

This is the 19th book in the Bakeshop Mystery series which takes place in the Shakespeare-loving town of Ashland, Oregon. For me, this series started getting really good when Jules quit fighting her feelings and reconciled with her charming husband Carlos. Carlos doesn't play a huge role in this book, but it's nice to know he's there and see him supporting Jules when he is part of the story. I enjoyed this book and always love the banter between Jules and Lance when they investigate together. Changes are coming for Jules and for Torte so fans of the series won't want to miss this book. New readers may want to read some of the prior books first to get to know the characters better. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store in future books.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Another charming installment in the Bakeshop Mystery series. The author somehow keeps this series fresh. I love the characters, the location and the community. The food is always beautifully described. and I am often tempted to try out a recipe at the end of the book. Each time I visit the Torte bakeshop and Ashland I feel like I am reconnecting with old friends. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I'm so happy to return to Ashland and Torte to see what Jules and her team are cooking up!

For Stick and Scones, we are traveling between the bakery and the winery as Lance and his acting troupe are putting on a show! Too bad one of the actors ends up dead and poor Jules is the one to find him..

I love returning to this world and seeing what Jules, Carlos, and see what all the lovely people at Torte are up to! This case is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. While I did end up guessing the killer there were plenty of moments that had me second-guessing myself.
This series is fast and fun, and something that you can easily get sucked into. I hope we get more books in this series as I can't wait to see where the story is going to go next!!
I also love all the recipes at the end and am determined to finally make one!!

Loved this Cozy mystery . Jules is the amateur sleuth and also runs Torte a bakery cafe in ashland Oregon. Her artistic friend Lance runs a Shakesperian playhouse. Well, this time the lead actor Jimmy is murdered. Follow the journey to find the killer. Jules and Lance have so many suspects you just have to wonder who did it. Has a really could ending that L hope leads in to the next installment.

I love visiting Torte and the Rogue Valley when I read Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop mystery series. It’s springtime, a time for change. Lance has begun his own company on the side and they are premiering the first show when the lead actor is killed on opening night. Juliet, Lance and the Professor work to find the killer. All the while, Juliet’s life is changing at work and home. Can’t wait for the next book!

This felt like a classic, cozy Ellie Alexander book and was so much fun to read! I loved how much it involved Lance and his new passions, and his shenanigans with Jules felt like so much fun! While I felt like I guessed the killer early on, Alexander did a great job making me second-guess myself until the killer was revealed. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of Ashland and Torte and the Torte crew's delicious makings. I'm so sad to see that Torte's crew is changing, but also I trust Alexander to have new exciting things in store for them!

This series is new to me and this is book 19 in the series. I did enjoy this read but found myself wishing I knew more about some of the backstories of some of the characters. That will easily be rectified once I go and read the previous books in the series.
Let me say that you should not read this book on an empty stomach because the description of the food is intoxicating. I can't tell you how happy I was once I got to the end of the book and found the wonderful recipes to make. Yum! This book will keep on giving :-)
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC This is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Sticks and Scones is the nineteenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series. As with the previous books in this series, Sticks and Scones is an absolutely delightful cozy mystery. Ellie Alexander's writing makes you feel as if you are in all the locations described. Not only can the reader "see" every detail, but the aromas of baking, cooking and coffee brewing are also conjured up. The action of the mystery is gripping, but there are very relaxing moments in the book as well. Sticks ans Scones is a must-read for those who have enjoyed previous books, and can be also enjoyed by newcomers to the series. This time, the mystery involves the death of an actor during the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Jules investigates this latest murder taking place in Ashland. Solid storyline, great characters, and all the ingredients to make a great reading experience are present in Sticks and Scones.

A good cozy mystery and tasty recipes to try at the end, Juliet’s friend Lance is organizing a theater group performing “Taming of the Shrew” when the main male character is found in the wine cellar with a cork screw in his neck. While not a very nice man, he was a good actor, so there are a lot of conflicting views and characters to go through to find the killer. Enjoyed this one, and would highly recommend.

Sticks and Scones
A Bakeshop Mystery

By: Ellie alexander

Published Date: August 20, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Mystery and Thriller

#SticksandScones#NetGalley

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I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

This is the first book I have ever read from Ellie Alexander. My oldest daughter loves these books. This is the 19th book in the series. With that being said I didn't feel like I was missing anything as I read this book. I wish I did know more about each character by reading the other books, but it didn't stop my enjoyment. I gave this book 4 stars.

In this book The Taming of the Shrew is being played at the theater. Jules is part owner along with her friend Lance. After this first showing the main actor is find dead in the tasting room of the restaurant. Jules finds him with a corkscrew in his neck. Who killed him and why? Jules needs to know and there are many people who could have done it. This actor was not a nice guy. Also, Jules isn't feeling well and decides she needs to probably slow down and have her staff do more and possibly hire more help. As Jules looks into the murder, she gets so much information and can't narrow down the who done it. It seems like when she thinks she the person more information comes to light and it's impossible to figure out who done it.

I love the family and friends in this story and can't wait to go back and the other books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, St Martin's Press, and Ellie Alexander for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

**Warning ⚠️ this book will make you hungry with the food descriptions and make you want coffee!**

This book has everything you want in a cozy mystery: good atmosphere, relatable characters, a good mystery with some twists, easy to read, and baked goods and coffee. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and felt it was everything a cozy mystery should be. It was fast paced and kept you on your toes guessing whodunit. In Ashland, OR during the late spring the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is putting on a production of "Taming of the Shrew" by a theater troupe known as the Fair Verona Players. Local vineyard Uva is hosting the event with treats from Torte, Jules's bakery. As the curtain rises so does the constant mishaps and strange occurrences including bickering among the crew. But the real mystery begins when the lead actor Jimmy is found dead. With Jules being stuck in the mix can she craft the perfect recipe for solving this theater whodunit or will it be a flop?

Ellie has a way with her descriptions that puts you right in the book and town. You feel connected to the characters like you are watching a show and watching it unfold. She holds your attention to the mystery but doesn't make it too easy with figuring out the murderer. Since this was the uncorrected ARC there were a couple errors I found, and I would have liked some of the transitions to flow better or left a gap to know the scene was switching. Some scenes just jumped from one moment to the next without a transition knowing there is time between the events. However, it still worked really well, and I highly recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys good cozy mysteries.
The recipes in the back sound so good and sound easy to make. I am interested in trying one to see how it turns out.

Favorite quote - "That was life. Love, loss, food, family, and sharing a comforting meal around a table while raising a glass in toast to all the good things yet to come."

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #sticksandscones #elliealexander #minotaurbooks #stmartinspress #cozymystery #cozy

Ellie Alexander does it again with a great addition to the series. It’s like meeting old friends, with a few new ones thrown in for variety!

I love this series and this was a fun one! Jules is busy with her team at Torte cooking up yummy spring treats and coffee blends. As well, they've added in new vineyard performances at the winery - Uva. I've always loved when the Sharkepeare Festival actors and politics get invovled with the mystery but this might be even better as Jules isn't going to the festival - the festival is going to her. The play in the vineyard sounds super fun and the food and treats sound amazing. I'm pretty sure that if the Torte bakery really existed I would make the cross country trip to Oregon just to get one of Andy's creations and eat lunch (and dessert - LOTS of dessert) at Torte.

But not only is there drama both on and off the stage and the side characters that I've come to love as the series has developped but there's also a murder! The victim spends all their page time just begging to be murdered and it doesn't take long before they get their wish. Suspects and motives abound and I absolutely loved following along with the investigation as it unraveled. I'm pretty sure Lance is my favorite Sleuth-assistant in all of cozy mystery land.

I did notice that while the reviews on Goodreads were mostly glowing there were a few meh reviews from people who were new to the series. While I thoroughly enjoyed this one it doesn't sound like it works as a true stand alone. That said I have enjoyed every single book in this series so even if you are going to start at the beginning you are in for a treat. And I recommend having a treat nearby as you read because the food descriptions of Jules' baking are fantastic.

Thank you to the author, Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. This is one of my favorite cozy series and I always enjoy returning to Juliet and friends in Ashland Oregon.

Juliet and friends are back with their sucessfull bakery Torte in charming Ashland Oregon. I love the descriptions of the Bakery Torte in this series and the relationships with her employees. One of the wonderful aspects of this series is reading about the growth of Torte over the years and its vibrant success in Ashland. The wonderful receipes at the end of the book are each from this book.

When a murder occurs and Juliet is first on the scene she is determined to find the rightful suspect while handling her busy catering business and bakery. Lance is at the forefront of this next in series with his Shakespear company. A surprise ending in this next in series for devoted readers of this series leaves us in anticipation of the next in series. This has all the perfect cozy elements we readers enjoy. A atmospheric charming setting, great characters and always a fun sleuth. I look forward to the next in series.

Another wonderful entry in the bake shop mystery series! I love this town and characters. I can’t wait to read more.

Sticks and Scones is the 19th book in Ellie Alexander's A Bakeshop Mystery and it is a wonderful addition to the series! The characters are very likable and the mystery kept me guessing. The relationships between the family members and friends is what makes this such an awesome series! Juliet (Jules) manages Torte, a bakery, and her husband Carlos manages the vineyard and Uva. Jules' friend Lance is the artistic director for a modern version of The Taming of the Shrew put on by the Fair Verona Players. One of the lead actors ends up dead. There are unusual accidents and things missing plus Jules has some staff challenges. Lance and Jules are trying to solve the murder. It all keeps Jules very busy! All of the descriptions of the food and the settings bring the story to life. This is a very enjoyable book and series!
#SticksAndScones #ABakeshopMystery #MinotaurBooks