NYT bestselling author Jenn McKinlay whips up a holiday treat!
An up-and-coming singer, Shelby Vaughn, has some gigs in town and hires her friend Angie and Fairy Tales Bakery to supply cupcakes to her VIP lounge. When Shelby's overbearing manager is killed, Mel and Angie must help prove her innocence.
Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery Mysteries are so much fun to read, and I love that this one is holiday-themed! I enjoyed the show business and holiday subplots and the scenes with Shelby and, of course, Angie's brothers. These books have a delightful cast of characters, with Angie's scene-stealing brothers being some of my fave supporting characters in any cozy series. They never fail to bring comedic relief, and this time, we even get some Santa-suited shenanigans! Mel and Angie make great sleuthing partners and are so likable. Spending time with this crew feels warm and welcoming, like visiting old friends.
The mystery was well plotted, with several suspects and a few surprises. And poor Mel ends up being handed the reigns on hosting the big family Christmas dinner while running her business and trying to solve a murder!
The food descriptions are fantastic! Every time I finish a book in this series, I check if I have the ingredients to make cupcakes because I am
seriously craving them! Fortunately, there are fabulous recipes included to satisfy these cravings.
This series is charming, engaging, well-written, with very likable characters, and this book is another entertaining installment! With lots of holiday cheer, this one is perfect for your holiday tbr!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC. I enjoyed it!
My steep was Sri Lankan Sunrise from Club Magic Hour. A blend of black and green teas with cinnamon, rose petals, jasmine flowers, and nutmeg tastes like an elegant dessert with a sweet cake-like flavor. This just came out last month, and I have already had to reorder! Pairs perfectly with baked goods or a cozy read!
www.clubmagichour.com
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS
It’s Christmastime, and this holiday season, things are heating up for the bakers at Fairy Tale Cupcakes, in the newest Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.
When up-and-coming singing sensation Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for two weeks of concert dates, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to supply cupcakes for the VIP guest lounge every night.
After overhearing Shelby in a heated argument with her manager, Mel is concerned, but she and the crew decide to make the best of their time working with the star. Just as the bakers fall into the rhythm of the job, Shelby’s manager is found dead, clutching a bit of fabric from a Santa suit and a cupcake. With the bakery crew and Shelby’s backup dancers all dressed in similar Santa costumes, it’s impossible to say who is the killer. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she’s frosted for a crime she didn’t commit.
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