Thursday, February 9, 2023

Review: Bakeries and Buffoonery by Elizabeth Pantley

 



About the Book


Genre
Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

Format
E-ARC

Publisher
Better Beginnings, Inc.

Release Date
February 15, 2023


Synopsis from Goodreads:

It’s a magical book club! When this group chooses a book, magic happens. The mystery comes to life, and they find themselves part of the story. To exit the book and get back home, they need to solve the mystery and reach The End.

This time, the club chooses a book called The Great Cake Rivalry, because, well … cake! They read the back cover and it’s unanimous. So off they go into another grand adventure into a town aptly named Frosting.

Frosting is a rural town in an idyllic setting. The people live quiet lives most of the year. But in the spring, things change. The Annual Cake Competition becomes the focus of every man, woman, and child. They take this competition seriously. The cakes are spectacular. The festival is fabulous. For a week there are contests featuring all kinds of cakes. The people of the community become official tasters and vote for the winning cakes in each category.

The grand finale is a display of finely decorated cakes, made by the town’s bakeries. The winner of the best design receives a prize package that would make any baker dizzy.

Sadly, this event has been tainted. Once a year, each one different, but all somehow related to this event, a person is murdered. The main investigator is stumped, but that could be because he’s an inept buffoon.

Can the book club help the people of this community figure out who is causing this disturbing pattern of deaths, and stop another murder from happening? Can they figure out why some of the citizens dress so oddly, and why they always wear those unique backpacks? All while they fill themselves to the brim with cake, of course.

My Review

Our favorite magical book club members are at it again!  It’s time to choose a new book to discuss for their next book journey.  They must make their selection wisely because the rules of the club include becoming an actual character of the book and not returning home until they solve the mystery.  

This time they’ve chosen a book set in a town called Frosting with their annual cake competition in full swing.  The entire town becomes involved in the contest, but there’s one major problem.  Every year someone connected to the competition is murdered.  Our group plans to solve this crime once and for all.

Elizabeth Pantley has an amazing imagination.  She creates paranormal stories that come alive with each word.  She brings the story to life with such vivid scenes and some of the quirkiest characters I’ve ever read about.

A town that’s all about the cake?  Yes, that’s the place I want to be. Even Frank, the gorgeous Siamese cat, takes part in the investigation.  There’s a beautiful explosive ending as well. These books are fast-paced and filled with mystery and humor.

As soon as I start reading this series, I become totally engrossed in the book.  I feel as if I’m in the fantasy.  It’s a little reality mixed with quite a bit of fantasy.  The perfect escape for me.  

I’m anxiously awaiting to see where the book club goes next.  In the meantime I have a sudden craving for cake.



For reading challenges:

The Purrfect Reading Challenge 2023
Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge 2023
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2023
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2023


FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

5 comments:

  1. Too cute, and the book cover colors fit so well your blog theme as well!!

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  2. Thanks for such a great review! :) I love writing the adventures of this crazy, magical book club.

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  3. I love the idea of murder at a cake competition.

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