Mysterious Saturday Review; Dark Chocolate Demise

* Book 7 in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series *

Mel and Angie are participating in the first annual Old Town Zombie Walk - in full costume. The day is going well, until disaster strikes. At first, Mel thinks Angie's playing a trick on her. Soon she realizes that the body in their coffin display isn't fooling around.

A sigh of relief goes around the bakery crew, when they realize Angie isn't dead. But someone who looks similar and dressed in the same costume is dead.

Now Joe and Angie's brothers have created around the clock surveillance on the bakery. The death could have been a mob hit and it could be in relation to the case Joe is currently working on. Could Mel and Angie be in danger or was this murder unrelated?

My Thoughts: I love this series - for the friendship, for the romance, for the quirky secondary characters, and for the cupcakes. Seriously my mouth waters every time I read one of these books and I always crave cupcakes.

I love the moments between Mel and Tate and Mel and Angie. They've funny, sweet, and supportive. Mel tries to calm Angie after the murder, even putting herself in danger to get answers.

I liked the return of Roach and his need for closure with Angie. His moments with Tate were priceless. The moments between Joe and Mel were both sweet and frustrating - I can't wait to see what happens next.

I really loved getting to know more of Angie's brothers. They added comic relief to the tension of the book. I hope to see more of them.

As usual, that ending makes me need the next book immediately. 

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: Cupcakes, friendships, romance, and murder - how can you go wrong with this series? It's perfect. Pick up the first book and start reading. 

Mysterious Saturday Review: Sugar and Iced

 * Book 6 in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series *

Tate is driving Mel crazy with ideas on ways to expand, but even Mel agrees to provide cupcakes for the 75th annual Sweet Tiara beauty pageant when her mother asks. Setting up a cupcake display tree for three days is great publicity for their bakery.

And it works in their favorite when their friend decides to enter the competition. Lupe gets rid of her green hair and dresses in a more feminine style. She wants to win the scholarship money so she can attend Stamford.

Unfortunately, not everyone's happy to see her at the pageant. The other girls are horrific and their mothers are worse. Even the judges aren't thrilled with a new comer - going so far as to judge her harshly.  When the judging is called into question - Lupe and the judge argue.

The next day, the judge ends up murdered. Lupe's the prime suspect. Can she handle the stress of the competition and the stress of the investigation?

My Thoughts: I love this series - and this book was great! All the talk about Mel's cupcakes makes my mouth water. I might have to try a recipe or two. I really liked the family relationship with Mel and her mother. I like how Tate is driving Mel crazy, but also making her think. Marty and Olivia's relationship makes me laugh, as does Olivia with Mel and Angie. I really liked seeing more of Lupe and Oz in this book and I love how they fit into the circle of friends. The pageant scenes seemed like a nightmare - making it hard to believe anyone wants to be under that kind of pressure. I loved hearing about what the contestants came up with for cupcake recipes - very entertaining. I loved the really happy moments, but I'm sad about the twist at the end - which is making me anxious for the next book. 

Cover Thoughts: Super Cute
Source: My Library

Review: Bittersweet

Hudson used to want to be a figure skater - a nationally ranked one. But that was before. Before she knew that her father cheated on her mother. Before her father left them. Before she tanked her skating career just at the most important moment of career.

Three years later, opportunity comes knocking again.Loudly. Hudson receives an invitation to a competition with a large scholarship prize. She hasn't skated since that awful day, but she finds herself wondering what if.

What if she wasn't the girl who worked at the diner. What if she could go back? Should she take that chance? As Hudson attempts to figure out the answers to these questions - life races by and she's pulled too many directions. Which life will she choose?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. I felt bad for Hudson and how her entire life changed that one day. But I also like how she picked herself up and got on with life. I loved the baking scenes and her goofing off with Dani. I really liked Dani - how different the two girls are and how they work together. Bug was my favorite - sweet and smart. I just wanted to give him a hug. I loved the moments that Hudson spent helping out the hockey team - I loved how they gave her crap and she gave it right back. Romance, family drama, and dreams of escaping make this a wonderful read.

Cover Thoughts: It's ok, but I think a cupcake would have been better
Source: My Library

4 Years and Counting

My 4 year blog-oversary passed last week. It's been four year of chatting about books, talking with authors, and talking with people who read similar books. I've loved every moment of it. Thanks for being along for the ride.

Have a cupcake with me!

Adult Review: Fool For Love

 *A Cupcake Lovers Novel*

Chloe Madison graduated with honors from the Culinary Arts Institute on the same day her boyfriend tells her he's leaving her. He's been cheating on her, but didn't want to tell her and stress her out before her exams. With two years of her life wasted on him, Chloe has no idea what to do.

Her best friend invites her for a visit to Vermont. Before long, Chloe packs up her things and heads for Sugar Creek. There she takes a job as a cook/chauffeur for an older woman who's family worries about her. Daisy and Chloe get on amazingly well, they both have a devilish outlook on life.

However, Devin, Daisy's grandson isn't too keen on Chloe. He also can't stop thinking about her. As they banter back and forth, everyone in town realizes what they don't; sparks fly when they look at each other.

My Thoughts: I ADORED this novel and from the tagline, I'm hoping there's more coming. First, it's set in Vermont - which is where I grew up. So I loved all the Vermont quirks - the muddy roads, the flannel, the maple syrup, and the small town charm. 
Second a group of women (with one male addition) come together to talk about cupcakes each week. Who doesn't like cupcakes? The club has a unique history. Now they want to put together a book with their history and cupcake recipes.  
I really liked Chloe - she's feisty, sweet, loyal, and witty. She fit into town perfectly, even though she's barely spent time there. 
I liked Devin - how he tried to control everything and how that backfired on him. I adored his family. They were loud, secretive, and charming. 
I loved Daisy for her sense of humor and her quest for freedom. She's be fun to hang out with. 
All in all a charming story and I hope there's more about this small town and about the Monroe family. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect - the cover sold me on this book
Source: My Library

Fins Are Forever Week!

Tomorrow is the release date for...
Tonight it also the BIG author event with Tera at the Otis Library. I'm SUPER excited to meet Tera and for the event!!!

I'm working on decorating the room and putting out the cupcakes:


If you want to know how awesome the book is, I gush about it here.

Plus you can watch the book trailer I made here:

If you're in the area, come meet Tera tonight!!!! It's going to be an awesome event. There will be prizes!

Did you see those cupcakes?!

If you can't make it, I'll spill all the secrets I learned and post a bunch of pictures tomorrow :)

Mysterious Saturday Review: Sprinkled with Murder

Mel and Angie, BFFs, recently opened up Fairy Tale Cupcakes. They're so happy about their dream come true until their first big order comes from their other best friend Tate. He's getting married to a girl they both despise. When the bride asks for 500 cupcakes - original recipes only that she owns from then on out, Mel wants to kill her. Instead, she whips up some cupcakes, sends them with her designers, and agrees to meet early the next morning to discuss them. She walks into her store only to discover a dead body. Now she's the prime suspect in a murder investigation and the press spins a love triangle gone wrong tale. Sacred that the police investigation is focused on her and her alone, Mel takes up her own investigating. Will she more luck tracking down a killer on the loose?

My Thoughts: A delightful scrumptious new series filled with luscious treats (recipes included), a dash of romance, and loyal friends make this read a real treat.

The Cover: Cute and Eye catching

Source: Purchased

Author Spotlight: Lisa Schroeder

Lisa has a new book out TOMORROW for tweens and she graciously answered a few questions for me:

What made you choose to write?

I have always loved to write, but to try and write for publication? I think about ten years ago, I just wanted to learn everything I could about the publishing industry for kids and teens and see if I could write something that might be publishable. Of course, like so many others, I thought it was much easier to get something published than it actually is.

Where do you write best?

In my office, with the heater on and the door closed. I have a dinosaur of a desktop in there and when I go in there, it says “work” to me.

What was the last book you’ve read that you’ve been recommending to everyone?

I really, really loved THE SMALL ADVENTURE OF POPEYE AND ELVIS by Barbara O’Connor. It’s a middle-grade novel, but there’s something so special about it, I can’t even describe it. I just loved the characters, and following them around in the woods to find out who was sending the little boats with messages down the river. Sometimes you don’t want a book with lots of turmoil and angst, you just want to spend an afternoon going on a small adventure with a couple of fun characters. That’s what you get with this book.

How do you get your ideas? Do you use real events in your novels and if so, can you describe one?

Oh wow, ideas are hard for me. Usually they come about because I sit there with a notebook and simply brainstorm words, phrases, places, situations. They don’t just randomly fall from the sky for me very often. Occasionally, but not often. The idea for IT’S RAINING CUPCAKES came about when I was trying to think of a subject to write about that would make people smile. Cupcakes came to mind and I thought, how fun to make the setting in or around a cupcake shop! Of course I then had to come up with characters and what they were doing there, but with this book, it all came really easily, which is so nice.

How smart. Cupcakes make me happy!

How do you come up with your titles?

Mostly I think about how I can capture the essence of the story in a few words. Sometimes they come easily, and sometimes I really struggle. IT’S RAINING CUPCAKES came pretty easily. When I knew the cupcake shop would be called that name, I thought, that would make the perfect title!!

It's very cute.

Can you tell us a little bit about It’s Raining Cupcakes??

It’s about a 12-year-old girl, Isabel, who dreams of traveling and seeing the world. She spends lots of time in the library, looking at the travel books, dreaming about where she’d like to go. When she hears of a baking contest hosted by a magazine where the finalists get to go to New York City to compete, Isabel decides to enter. Only problem is that her best friend, Sophie, is entering too, and things always seem to go Sophie’s way. And with Isabel’s mom getting ready to open a cupcake shop, she has certain ideas on what kind of recipe Isabel should enter.

*****************My Review ****************

Isabel's mom just decided to open up a cupcake shop in a small town of Oregon. They moved across town to live above the shop. Isabel must spend her summer helping getting the store ready and also testing the cupcakes to decide which ones will be offered first. Isabel doesn't mind helping out her family, although her mom isn't the most upbeat person and frequently isn't sure of her decision. Plus, Isabel longs for adventure but she'll settle for leaving Oregon and traveling somewhere. When her BFF shares a baking competition with her, Isabel can't wait to enter. She might get to go to New York City if her entry is chosen. She bakes up a series of cupcakes and other desserts, not knowing what recipe to send in. Her mom's pressuring her to create a cupcake they could sell in the store as well as generate publicity. Isabel's not sure she wants to bake cupcakes, in fact, she's sick of cupcakes entirely. Can she branch out on her own and still make her mother happy?

My Thoughts: A cute tale that deals with finding yourself and following your dreams while dealing with family drama, fashion emergencies, and jealousy. Plus it includes cupcake recipes. Reading about all the cupcakes, definitely made me crave one.

Cover: Very delicious

Source: Simon & Schuster (THANK YOU!)

************************************************************************

Will it also be in verse? If not, was it hard to switch writing styles?

It’s in regular old chapters, which was part of the reason I wrote it! I was ready to do a fun project where I could let my characters talk and talk and TALK, which you can’t really do in a verse novel. So it wasn’t hard at all – Isabel’s voice came easily and it was a really fun book to write, I loved it!

You write both ways so well!

What’s your favorite type of cupcake?

Mmmm, cupcakes...I love applesauce ones, actually. There is a recipe in the back of the book for applesauce cupcakes, too, along with one for S’mores cupcakes.

I can't wait to make the S'mores cupcakes. They sound delicious!! Plus I Love that you've included recipes.

Was it hard to switch from writing teen to tween?

No, not really. I read a lot of middle grade fiction, and I adore it. I actually wrote three novels (that became drawer novels) before I started to write novels for teens. Some of my fondest memories of reading are from those middle grade years. So writing for that age group feels kind of like going home.

What’s up next?

I have a couple of projects out on submission right now, so I can’t really say anything about them other than, I hope they sell!! I’m currently writing a new verse novel now as well, hoping it might be something my editor is interested in. We’ll see!

Can't wait to read them.

Do you have a favorite quote?

I have many, but I love this one today:

“Follow your bliss.” Joseph Campbell

Listing if your favorites:

Candy - Snickers

Pizza topping – Canadian Bacon, Pepperoni and Pineapple

Genre of books – The good ones!

Singer and/or Song – I’m currently obsessed with Glitter in the Air by Pink

Restaurant – The Cheesecake Factory

TV show /Movie – Friday Night Lights

Color - Fuschia

Shoe - Barefoot

Video Game – Rock band

Thanks for chatting with me Lisa!

Everyone grab this book to read and go have a cupcake! :)