Intriguing twist to a cozy mystery and sweet romance. Claire is quirky, optimistic, and willing to take on the challenges that come her way. Jonny turns out to be far less grumpy than he first appears. His character is my favorite in this story. I wasn’t sure that a baking reality show would interest me, but add a beautiful historic estate and a mystery to solve and I quite enjoyed the story. Parts of it seemed overly simplistic to me, but I enjoyed it all the same.

The premise gave me Golden Spoon vibes. I liked the added details associated with the filming of the show in the plot line and the recipes at the end. Did take a bit for me to get into the story and characters.

Cute, cozy mystery in a fun setting in England with a contemporary romance involved. Definitely enjoyed it with the baking aspect although I have not ever watched a baking show before.

Book Review: A Whirlwind of Romance and Mystery
An unexpected romance. A haunting mystery. Pastries to die for.
In the delightful novel that unfolds within the pages of Britain’s Battle of the Bakers, readers are treated to a captivating blend of culinary competition and intrigue. Claire Walker, an enthusiastic contestant, is overjoyed to join the ranks of bakers at the enchanting Blackfirth Park. The picturesque setting sets the stage for eight weeks filled with the sweet aroma of fresh pastries and the thrill of bringing historical recipes to life. Claire’s ambition to win the £50,000 prize, which would allow her to pursue her baking dreams full-time, makes her journey all the more inspiring.
The Viscount of Colburn, Jonathan Ainsley, adds another layer of depth to the narrative. As the reluctant host of the show, he grapples with his own reservations about the attention he receives from contestants. His complex character is intricately woven into the fabric of the plot, especially when a shocking murder occurs, echoing a dark historical mystery tied to his family.
The story excels in its ability to create tension and suspense, with the atmosphere thickening as rumors swirl around the estate. This captivating mystery not only keeps readers on the edge of their seats but also allows for the development of a budding romance between Claire and Jonathan. Their chemistry is palpable, and as they navigate the challenges posed by the investigation, the potential for a heartfelt connection blossoms.
Britain’s Battle of the Bakers is a delightful read that seamlessly combines the thrill of competition with the allure of romance. With its rich characters, engaging plot, and mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods, this novel is sure to leave readers hungry for more—both for the story and perhaps for a pastry or two! Don't miss this enchanting tale that is perfect for fans of culinary adventures and romantic mysteries alike.
#netgalley

This was a fun read! If you like The Great British Bake Off you will love this! Plus, the mystery is an added bonus. I did find that the characters were a little flat but overall it was still so enjoyable. I also loved the romance and the banter between them.

I loved the setting of a television baking contest as a whodunit. The Great British Baking Show has been a favorite of mine, so it was fun to imagine what it would be like if there was a murder that occurred during the taping. Ms. Connolly made the show come alive with the baking terms, the challenges the contestants faced, and having one of the contestants to help with the investigation. There are recipes in the back of the story, which is a delicious addition!

I loved the detecting duo and budding romance of Claire Walker and the brooding viscount, Jonny. With the old mill and an unsolved murder from centuries ago, you’re sure to enjoy unraveling the mystery yourself. I recommend readers from teens through mature readers grab your favorite baked good, a cup of tea, and this book for an enjoyable afternoon of mystery.

I received a copy of this cozy mystery book from the publisher through AustenProse. All opinions expressed are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

Rebecca Connolly has been one of my "instant purchase" authors for years. She does an excellent job of crafting unique stories with complex, relatable characters. I was super excited to hear she was entering the Cozy Mystery genre, as I'd been interested in testing out the genre for a while.

The premise: Claire, a (slightly) disenchanted middle school teacher with a penchant for baking, auditions for Great Britain's popular baking show. After committing to the season, she is less-than-excited to hear that it will be a historical season, set on one of Britain's old estates. She meets the estate's grouchy-but-handsome bachelor viscount, Jonny, and -- shockingly enough -- sparks ... spark. Then a murder happens, dredging up the estate's infamous murder of the past, and we're off on the cozy murder mystery train.

As I said, this is a new genre for me, but I do love a good mystery. I grew up on Mary Higgins Clark, Lillian Jackson Braun, Christopher Pike, Caroline Cooney ... if it was a (tame) mystery, I was THERE. This book, by contrast, is milder in every way. I expected a low-stress mystery, but I was left hoping for a bit more dimension and depth with the characters themselves. They were both delightful, but a quite predictable grumpy/sunshine pairing. Still, there is something to be said for predictability, and I did find it to be a comfortable, enjoyable read.

I only had two minor complaints:
- First, there was a significant suspension of disbelief required at the point where the two characters were **invited** to investigate the murder. Without spoiling details ... it felt extremely improbable. I wish it would have happened more organically, with the two characters becoming intrigued by the happenings, then pursuing the mystery on their own.
- Second, the baking swears. The main character, and later the male character, swear in baking terms/ingredients. It felt cute at first, then cutesy ... but it got so distracting. It was the one thing that repeatedly pulled me out of the story. One or two would have been charming, but this little detail fell flat for me. That's a personal taste piece though -- your mileage may vary!

Will I continue with the series? Perhaps. Do I recommend it? Yes. This is a sweet option for those needing a bit of a mental break. Yearning for a Hallmark Movie's book equivalent? This is it.

Thank you, author and publisher, for sharing an advance copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

Content:
Sensuality: kisses only
Swearing: fake swears, as mentioned above
Violence: high mild, with light descriptions of assault, murder, death

Overall an enjoyable read! I liked the crime mystery being a part of a baking show competition, and having it be on an old historical estate was also fun. It really felt like diving into a cozy mystery from the start. The ending and the murderer was a wee bit too predictable, and I don't even read mysteries that much. Nevertheless it was a quick and engaging buddy read with my friend Colleen and I definitely recommend this book if you are interested in the premise! Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my thoughts!

Mystery combined with romance is one of my favorite combinations. I was so excited to receive an ARC copy of this book!

The setting is a historic manner in England. The main female character, Claire, is a contestant on a baking show. The main male character, Jonny, is an English Viscount, who is letting his property for the baking show. I loved these two together. Grumpy/sunshine vibes that made such a great detective team.

I loved the hilarious banter, the witty way the main characters converse using baking words, a historic mystery, family history, and characters so unique they stay with me.

If you like a light mystery, this is for you!

This was an okay book. It had way more of the cozy mystery feel rather than a romance with mystery. We have our heroine who is a teacher and goes on a baking show. Our hero is the Viscount of the property where the show is being filmed. Very soon into production there was a murder. The police don’t really have resources to handle things, so our main characters band together and basically investigate everything themselves. That felt a little unrealistic and odd to me. It was a fine mystery, and a fine read. There was plenty of romance. it just didn’t delight me.

Claire’s dream of being on her favourite baking show comes to life, unfortunately not everything goes as planned. The series is being filmed on an estate owned by a rather grumpy Viscount (Jonny) who isn’t sure if he wants the, there.

Things take an unexpected turn when one of the contestants turns up dead in a manner very similar to a mysterious death that happened on the estate a long time ago. Claire and Jonny team up to try to help the inexperienced local Police solve the case.

I loved the concept of this book. It combined two of my favourite things, baking shows and murder mysteries. Unfortunately it seemed to be missing a few ingredients! It needed a bit more pace, It was pretty slow, about half way in and all that had happened was the murder and Claire & Jonny starting to become friendly.

I did find the main characters Claire & Jonny likeable and liked the setting.

It’s a really great idea and if you don’t mind a slow paced murdered mystery with hints of romance this would be a nice read, but it just didn’t really capture my attention.

This book is intended to be the first in the Claire Walker Mystery Series. It follows Claire as she participates in a baking competition show on the possibly haunted estate of Johnny, Viscount Colburn. When one of the contests is found murdered in a similar way to the resident ghost, Claire and Johnny are enlisted to help DS Watson investigate discreetly while the show goes on. I liked the concept of the book more than the execution. I felt like every part (the mystery, the baking show, the romance) was just a little too surface level for my taste. I was hoping for more sleuthing, but Claire mostly just stumbled upon things. The baking show was both very present and also not? Most of it revolved around the actual ins and outs of filming it. I was hoping we could get some baker interactions that made us question the killer a bit more. The romance for me was okay. I think I maybe was looking for something in this book that just wasn't what it was going to be. I'm not sure how the series will continue, but I am mildly interested to see what the next one would be about.

I think this book had strong potential given the baking show x murder mystery aspect, but it fell flat for me. I loved the idea of the book and the tribute to The Great British Baking Show, but I wish there had been some plot twists or that the characters were more fleshed out. While this was a clean, cookie-cutter mystery, some points felt overly cutesy and a little slow. I did, however, enjoy some of the baking bits and appreciated the recipes at the end of the book. While this wasn’t the read for me, I could see others enjoying it :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC!

This book is brings two of my absolute favorite things in a book, cozy mysteries and baking shows. GBBS is a staple at my house and I don’t even bake!

I loved every page of the book. Not only did it have an intriguing mystery but a blooming romance and competition baking. Jonny and Claire were lovely together. Jonny and his grumpy, Viscountness. Claire with her kindness, and baking knowledge, I was hooked from the start.

Jonny and Claire were delightful, as was the entire cast of characters. All were so well done. I loved their involvement in the murder mystery sleuthing. The history that occurs at Blackfirth ties the story to the present in an enjoyable way. There is humor, mystery, romance, and food! I can’t wait for another Claire Walker Mystery!

I received a paperback ARC from the author and a NetGalley link. All views are my own.

I love this author. She is one of my favs! Her regency romance books are just the funnest books and I love the romantic chemistry in those. This book was more about the mystery. The great British Baking show is one of my favorites to watch. It was different then I thought it would be. This is like the great British baking show gone wrong! I couldn't figure out the murderer and that is always a plus. I enjoyed reading this. I missed her chemistry between the characters.
This book has a bit of violence. There is a murder. There is some kissing. Nothing detailed. 14 and up

The Crime Brûlée Bake Off is the first in the Claire Walker cozy mystery series. Other than pairing a baking competition with a murder mystery, I had no idea what I jumped into, and I still have no idea what the premise behind this series is. If it involves baking and murder mysteries, though, I’m all for it. This one introduced the main characters, Claire and Jonny, and set them on a path of mystery and romance, all while Claire is busy filming a baking competition.

Claire is a history teacher who loves to bake, and her whole life changes when she’s selected as a contestant in the twelfth season of Britain’s Battle of the Bakers, a British baking show inspired by the Great British Baking Show, which is set to feature historic bakes and be set at an historic British estate with a generations’ old murder mystery of its own. Viscount Colburn, Jonny, has no interest in baking and has never seen the show, but the estate could use the money, so he agrees to let the show film on his estate, and because his sister and cousin are huge fans. While Claire is settling in and baking up a storm, a murderer is afoot. When one of the contestants ends up dead in the same manner as the tenth Viscount’s wife, the local Detective ropes Claire and Jonny into helping him investigate so he can hide it from his superiors, who sweep it under the rug with the show’s executives in order for filming to continue. In between baking, Claire and Jonny work hard to investigate, all while slowly falling for each other.

The Crime Brûlée Bake Off gave itself perhaps a little too much to juggle and equally balance. There’s the baking, of which there’s actually quite a lot. With Claire taking part in the competition, there are plenty of scenes where she’s baking or discussing what happens behind the scenes of filming. The book takes pains to describe the theme of each week, list out what several contestants are baking, and provide information about the baking of each item. Then there’s the romance, which progresses nicely throughout the book. It’s sweet and soft, and quite clear as day. It was lovely to get both Claire’s and Jonny’s perspectives, though I did notice it split Claire’s attention between Jonny and baking while Jonny just seemed focused on Claire and the mystery, completely ignoring the fact that he probably had work to do. I was disappointed to never see him actually do his own job. Finally, there’s the mystery, which felt lackluster compared to everything else. It’s simple and straightforward, and I figured it out halfway through. There isn’t actually much danger; just a really obvious suspect. I was disappointed that the mystery seemed to take a backseat to the romance and baking, but I’m hoping the mystery aspect will improve in the next installment now that Claire and Jonny have been established as a couple.

I did like Claire and Jonny. Claire is a very competent baker, and I liked how the competition turned her into a bit of a wreck. She felt normal and human with a bit of a spunky streak in her. She’s also delightfully friendly and kind, and wants so deeply for that family baking contestants are typically shown to have. I love her heart, and all the ways she shows it. Jonny is supposed to be a grumpy Viscount, and, in some ways, he is. But, when it comes to Claire, he’s nothing but sweet and thoughtful. I thought the two halves of him were nicely balanced, though he sometimes felt a little too obsessed with Claire. I liked the way his character grew, though, and seeing him take an interest in baking was a lot of fun. They made a lovely couple, and I found little to fault in their relationship. It was just sweet and slow, nicely balanced with both of them caring about the other while also recognizing how competent the other is as well.

The baking was probably my favorite part, though there’s so much of it I almost lost track of the mystery in all of it. It did feel a little episodic with the story going back and forth between the baking and the mystery, with the romance a constant little thread between them, so I started to feel like I could predict when the pendulum was going to swing one way or the other. It was great to learn about different historic bakes and see how the contestants were challenged with only using ingredients that were available up to a certain point in time. There are so many baked goods described, and so many details to how to make them and different components, that I felt my own baking muscles twitch in response. The depth of detail this book went into the novel was both fantastic and a little too much. I didn’t like how I felt like it was taking away from the mystery, but, unlike other novels where I’ve complained there wasn’t enough baking or cooking, this has it in spades.

Finally, the mystery was the weakest part to me. Even though the motivation eludes everyone until the culprit confesses, maybe a little too weirdly eagerly, I figured out who did it way too early and then had to watch everyone else try to figure it out. It was sometimes agonizing, so I suppose it wasn’t all bad that more of the story focused on the baking and romance; it helped make me forget I had already solved it. The culprit isn’t exactly subtle, instead seemingly catching attention at every turn, which was eventually kind of annoying. There are no real twists and turns; it’s all rather straightforward, so this part didn’t really hold my attention. There were quite a few times when I actually forgot this was a mystery.

But the secondary characters are lovely, especially Jonny’s sister, who got on fabulously with Claire. I wasn’t so keen on the show’s executives as all they wanted to do was ensure the filming went off without a hitch. But the other contestants were quite fun. There are a lot of big personalities, and a lot of quieter ones. I did get several of the men mixed up, but I absolutely loved the bookish one. I could definitely not see them becoming a big family, but there were some that seemed really close, so that was nice to see. I also loved the setting. Even if there’s no real detail to the massive Colburn estate, I loved how wide open it felt. With its functional historic mill and historic kitchens, it definitely felt like the right place to host a baking competition, and I did love how the kitchens were utilized.

The things that bothered me feel a little more trivial, but were enough to drop me out of the story now and then. The constant discussions about continuity in filming were enough to make me want to roll my eyes. I didn’t need a million mentions of it; I would like to think I’m smart enough to have figured out a long time ago that they don’t film an entire episode in one day. It just felt like overkill with the number of times someone had to complain about it. The other thing that bothered me was how un-British the characters sounded. I’ve read a lot of books by British authors with British characters, and I love how they always made me feel like I was transported to the UK with the way they spoke. I could always hear it clear as day in my head. These characters felt more muddled to me. Sometimes I heard them with a British accent, and sometimes they sounded American to me. It sometimes felt like phrases and words were copy pasted in, but there was no real feeling behind them. It made reading their speech, especially at the beginning, a little awkward.

The Crime Brûlée Bake Off really shone when it came to the baking and romance. I was disappointed the murder mystery was the weakest part with no twists and turns and surprise reveals. It barely held my attention. Instead, this felt like a lovely baking romance with a bit of suspense to liven things up. I did adore Claire and Jonny, and wonder where their mystery solving characters will take them, and I really hope the next book really brings the mystery now that the romance has been established.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was another fun spin on the Great British Bake Off plus cozy murder mystery! I enjoyed it a lot even though it was a bit more murder speculation than I anticipated. The setting was great and if love baking, baking shows and cozy mysteries, you will love this one!

The Crime Brûlée Bake Off comes out next week on February 4, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

He liked her. He liked Claire, and not in a "she's really good company" way, though she certainly was. He liked her in the "he liked looking at her" way, or the "liked laughing with her" way, or the "lost track of time when he was with her" way. It was a strange feeling. Minutes usually crawled by when he was in the company of most people, and the exceptions to that unofficial rule were few and far between. And nobody had ever given him these extremes in emotion before. Hilarity until he almost cried. Fear that could keep him awake at night. Anticipation that made his legs buzz in the strangest ways. Curiosity that made him go where he hadn't ever intended on going. Investment that made him watch hours of a baking competition he had happily avoided all these years.

He genuinely and thoroughly liked Claire.

This is a cozy mystery but ultimately it didn't work for me. This was a tribute to the Great British Baking Show.

Claire is outwardly a calm and confident baker and Jonathan is a bit of a grump and the show is filmed on his estate. A dead body is found and some passion begins with Claire and Jonathan. But if they are to have a future romance, they have to solve the mystery.

This was fun and a little to cozy mystery for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for this ARC.

This was an engaging murder-mystery romance. The balance between baking, who-done-it mystery, and romance was superb.

There are no swears, only mentions of alcohol and Level 1 lightly-descriptive kissing only. Dual POV.

I received a complimentary arc of this book from @netgalley and @covenantcommunnucations All opinions listed are purely my own.

The Crime Brulee Bake Off was an absolute delight from beginning to end!
I loved the mix of mystery, romance, and history. Add in the setting reminiscent of The Great British Bake Off, and you have a recipe readers will devour.
The author did a phenomenal job of balancing all of the elements. Just the right amount of romance, baking, mystery, and character development to keep the story moving at a quick pace.
I loved the feeling of getting a peek behind the curtain of the show as it was filming. The inclusion of some of the mentioned recipes at the end of the book was an unexpected delight.
Claire was a breath of fresh air and Jonny was the perfect reformed grump. The romance between these two was so sweet. I loved all of their baking puns as well as the creative use of baking terms in lieu of swearing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who likes clean cozy mysteries with a dash of romance.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.