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Thursday, May 3, 2018

Cake and Punishment: A Southern Cake Baker Mystery
by Maymee Bell

Incredible start to a brand new series. . . I absolutely loved it . . .
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Maymee Bell has whisked a confection of mystery in her debut novel that will have readers savoring every word.
~Bibliophile Reviews
This cozy mystery has a little bit of everything that makes this book genre one of my favorites: Humor, mystery, romance, and likable characters.
~Ms. Cat’s Honest World
When reading anything written by this author, there are a few things you can be certain of exceptional characters, a homey setting, humor, and a great mystery. And of course, all of those things are found in this book.
~MJB Reviewers 
Delightful characters, delectable southern banter, I guarantee you’ll pick up a few new phrases for your own use, and an unpredictable future for Sophia are all on the menu.
~Laura’s Interests
Nobody does small-town Kentucky quite like Maymee Bell and her alter ego, Tonya Kappes.
~Reading is My SuperPower
Adding this one to my list of favorite reads for the year with a big ‘ole 5 stars!
~My Reading Journeys

About the Book


Cake and Punishment: A Southern Cake Baker Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Kentucky
Crooked Lane Books (May 8, 2018)
Hardcover 257 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683315711
Digital ASIN: B075QJM2W8
In the first of a delectable new Southern-set baking cozy series, Sophia Cummings, pastry chef extraordinaire, must craft the perfect cake for an old friend’s wedding while sifting through the suspects in a murder.
Bucolic Rumford, Kentucky has glowing fields of bluegrass, a fine selection of bourbons, and now a professional pastry chef. Broken-hearted Sophia Cummings has come home from New York City. She’s not there a minute before she’s charmed into making her high school friend Charlotte’s wedding cake. The kitchen at the Rumford Country Club seems perfect until Chef Emile’s body is discovered, sprawled near the stove, a cast iron skillet on the floor close by.
With one look at the shiny, new frying pan, Sophia knows it’s not Emile’s. She offers her knowledge to Sheriff Carter and her talents to Evelyn, the manager, who needs an interim chef. The mood in the country club is grim: Emile’s peppery personality had burned members and staff alike. Sophia wonders which one of them burned him?

About the Author

Maymee Bell is the pen name of USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes. She lives in Kentucky with her family and her two schnauzers. She likes strong coffee, slow-country days, and fresh-baked cookies – but she like telling stores best of all. This is her first SOUTHERN BAKER MYSTERY.
Visit Tonya:
Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes,
https://www.facebook.com/authortonyakappes
Purchase Links:


Amazon  B&N   Kobo 


Review.jpg




In this new series it oozes with southern charm and characters that jump off the pages. The author is amazing in her writing technique. She gives readers the perfect story that captures your attention right away. Sophia is a delightful woman who finds herself moving back home to Kentucky. It sounds so beautiful there that it has been added to my bucket list. Sophia had her life planned out. She was a pastry chef at a very prestigious place. She was in love and the world was perfect. You know how you think you have the perfect life and then reality hits you in the face? That happened to Sophia and now she finds herself back home. 

Her visit home takes a detour when she finds herself making a wedding cake for her old friend. It seems that someone has decided to murder the chef that was helping with the wedding. I loved the reference  to the iron skillet. Everyone knows it has to be seasoned before you can use it. Not everyone knew because a brand new skillet laying beside a dead body spells murder weapon to me. It's a shame when someone dies, people start saying how much they were disliked. What would chef Emile think if he heard the nasty things said about him?

With sayings like, "That woman doesn't have all her chairs in the parlor, " the book is fun and full of southern talk that makes you feel right at home. There are several suspects that look promising for the murder. Will the wedding take place? I know the bride is worried about her perfect day being ruined but really a murder kinda takes a bit more importance . Poor Charlotte sees her dream wedding falling apart and I felt sorry for her. I have to say Bitsy who is Sophia's mother is wacky. She made me laugh more than any other character. She is the perfect southern woman with etiquette dripping off her. I think I would enjoy watching her work a room. You can't help but like her even though she is a bit dramatic at times.

I enjoyed the story very much and wait till you find out who the killer is. Big surprises await readers in this first in a new series. The author is amazing and writes stories that always entertains and leaves readers anxious for more. 

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. The review is my own opinion.





Tour Participants
April 25 –  The Pulp and Mystery Shelf  – CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 25 –  Books a Plenty Book Reviews  – REVIEW
April 26 –  Babs Book Bistro  – SPOTLIGHT
April 26 –  Bibliophile Reviews  –  REVIEW
April 27 –  The Book Diva’s Reads  –  CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 28 –  Ms. Cat’s Honest World  – REVIEW
April 28 –  MJB Reviewers  – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 29 –  Laura’s Interests  – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
April 30 –  Reading Is My SuperPower  – REVIEW
April 30 –  A Holland Reads  – SPOTLIGHT
May 1 –  My Reading Journeys  – REVIEW
May 1 –  Mysteries with Character  – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 2 –  Queen of All She Reads  – REVIEW
May 2 –  Island Confidential  – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 3 –  Texas Book-aholic  – REVIEW
May 3 –  Valerie’s Musings  – GUEST POST
May 4 –  The Power of Words  – REVIEW
May 4 –  Celticlady’s Reviews  – SPOTLIGHT
May 5 –  Varietats  – REVIEW
May 6 –  Brooke Blogs  – SPOTLIGHT
May 7 –  FUONLYKNEW  – REVIEW
May 7 –  Ruff Drafts  – GUEST POST
May 8 –  The Montana Bookaholic  – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 8 –  Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder  – RECIPE POST
May 9 –  Moonlight Rendezvous  – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 9 –  Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book  – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 10 –  That’s What She’s Reading  – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 10 –  Bookworm Cafe  – REVIEW
May 11 –  Lisa Ks Book Reviews  – REVIEW, RECIPE POST
May 11 –  Melina’s Book Blog  – REVIEW


2 comments:

  1. Thank you for your review on "Cake and Punishment" by Maymee Bell. Appreciate your being part of the book tour. I'd love the chance to read the book. Love the cover!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great Post! Thank you for being part of this tour!!

    ReplyDelete