Book ~ "Ale I Want for Christmas is a Clue" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ 'Tis the season for frothy winter ales and the annual Bavarian holiday market in the charming alpine village of Leavenworth, Washington. Brewing partners Sloan Krause and Garrett Strong are debuting their latest collaboration, “Merry Brew Year,” a hoppy ale brewed with caramel, toffee, and cinnamon for the opening night of Christkindlmarkt. It’s a festival atmosphere in Front Street Park as the snow begins to fall and the children’s lantern parade illuminates the street. But not all is merry and bright when a twisted turn of events leaves a local vendor as dead as last year's Tannenbaum. 

Now Sloan Krause must tap into the mystery and pour over the clues. Can she barrel through the lies and uncask the truth, or will the holiday season end in a bitter finish? With their new beer on the line and a killer who's not afraid to malt the competition, Sloan must unravel the mystery before the final toast is made. Will it be a "hoppy" holiday, or will the murderer's cold-hearted draft leave everyone's spirits flat?

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan works with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. It's time for the annual Bavarian holiday market in Leavenworth and Nitro has a booth along with other local vendors. Owen, a merchant who recently moved to the village, isn't particularly liked because he's not a very nice fella. When he's found with a knife in his head and barely alive, there are a few who could have wanted him dead. Sloan sets out to find out who would want him dead.

This is a novella after the sixth book in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it.  I've read the others and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is some talk about beer and food pairings and recipes at the end. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Book ~ "A Brew to a Kill" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ It’s the opening weekend of the spring farmers market in the charming Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, where the hills are alive with the sound of ... murder. 

Sloan Krause and Garrett Strong are eager to showcase their latest offering - canned hoppy Northwest ales. They’re even more enthusiastic when Josh, a young travel influencer known for scaling peaks and downing pints, offers to feature Nitro’s new cans at the top of the latest mountain he’s set to climb. Josh’s A Brew to a View has millions of followers and should mean great exposure for Nitro. 

But when Josh is found stone-cold dead at the local youth hostel, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and brews behind, Sloan and Garrett will have to tap into their sleuthing skills to solve a crime that has left the picturesque village in a state of shock. Could the killer be a jealous rival travel influencer, an enigmatic hiker who has been seen around town or perhaps someone closer to home? Can Sloan piece together this intoxicating puzzle before it's too late? Because if she can’t crack open the truth, she might just find herself crushed under the weight of a sinister beer can conspiracy.

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan works with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. The farmers market is starting up again and Nitro has a table selling their beer and swag. Two influencers are in town and are happy to promote Nitro's products. When one is found murdered in his room, there are a couple suspects ... the rival influencer, the influencer's ex-girlfriend and perhaps a local. Sloan and Garrett set out to help the local police figure it out.

This is a novella after the sixth book in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it.  I've read the others and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is some talk about beer and food pairings and recipes at the end.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Book ~ "Beer and Loathing" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ It’s ski week in everyone’s favorite Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington. Sloan Krause and her brewing partner in crime Garrett Strong are pouring pints of their deliciously decadent obsidian IPA and serving up slices of peanut butter chocolate pretzel bars. 

The mid-winter has everyone buzzing with excitement, especially Garrett. His family is arriving for a long overdue visit to Nitro. He can’t wait to show them around the village, spend afternoons skiing the surrounding alpine slopes and curling up in front of a crackling fire with a hearty evening stout. 

But the cozy vibe takes a dark turn when a young doctor has a fatal fall from the ski lift. At first, everyone assumes it was a terrible accident but Sloan isn’t convinced. Hazel Anders had insider information on medical research that could be worth killing for. Now barstool sleuth Sloan is on the case and using her nose for hops to sniff out murder.

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan has been working with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. Over time, they have developed feelings for each other but are taking it slowly as she recently got out of a marriage to Mac, whom she'd caught cheating on her. Because Sloan and Garret have been getting closer, she is nervous but looking forward to meeting his parents and Leah, his sister, who are coming for a visit.

There is a lot of excitement in the village because the local hospital has been working on an important advancement in medicine. Hazel, one of the doctors on the project, has been jumpy lately, though, and when she mysterious falls from a ski lift, Sloan, Garrett and Leah start asking questions to find out if Hazel's death was an accident or was she murdered.

This is the sixth in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it. I've read all in this series and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice. It was nice to get to know more about Garrett and his back story. There is a lot of talk about beer (which I found interesting) and there are also explanations about what was being talked about (what hops are and the varieties, for example). It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.

Other than murders, Leavenworth sounds like a fun place to visit!

Book ~ "Hold on for Beer Life" (2022) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Spring has given way to early summer in the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, where Sloan Krause and her brewing partner in crime, Garrett Strong, are taking off for a weekend adventure. They’ve been invited to Confluence Brewing in nearby Wenatchee for the brewery’s soft opening. Confluence is taking beer tourism to the next level with farm-to-table dinners in their lush apple orchard, hop field tours, overnight accommodations complete with beer-themed breakfasts, and of course, plenty of tastings.

The trip is part work and part pleasure. Sloan is looking forward to a weekend away with Garrett and getting a chance to learn more about Confluence. There’s no doubt that the nanobrewery is a perfect escape for any craft beer lover. Sloan is immediately captivated by the rustic barn, turned tasting room, and the expansive orchards that stretch as far as her eye can see. Dinner under the stars is nothing short of magical. Maybe it’s the organic food and beer pairings or perhaps it’s the company. Either way, she’s happy to be finally stepping outside of herself and figuring out what’s next for her.

However, the blissful moment is short-lived. Sinister things are brewing at Confluence. When Sloan discovers one of the brewery’s young interns knocked out in the middle of the orchard, she realizes she and Garrett are in for more than sampling summer IPAs. If they can’t get to the bottom of what’s really going on at the new start-up, they might just end up at the bottom of the barrel.

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan has been working with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. Over time, they have developed feelings for each other but are taking it slowly as she recently got out of a marriage to Mac, whom she'd caught cheating on her.

Nearby Confluence Brewing has recently opened and is doing tours and tasting. It sounds like a fun way for Sloan and Garrett to spend a weekend ... supporting the local craft beer industry and spending time together. What they hadn't bargained for is discovering shifty activities at the Confluence and they are determined to find out what's going on to protect their industry.

This is a novella after the fifth book in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it.  I've read the others and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is some talk about beer and food pairings and recipes at the end.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Book ~ "Catch Me If You Candy" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Halloween has arrived in picturesque Ashland, Oregon, and all of the ghouls and goblins have descended on Main Street for the annual parade. It’s a giant street party and Torte is right in the mix.

Jules Capshaw and her team have been baking up autumn delights and trick-or-Torte bags filled with sugar cookie cutouts, spiced cider and mummy munch. It’s the end of the season at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which means that the costumes for the parade are going to be out of this world. The elaborate guises even extend to pets. The grand marshal of this year’s parade is no other than a regal pug aptly named King George. Jules is delighted to get to share the experience with Carlos and Ramiro but things take a dark turn when she discovers a dragon slumped in front of the bakeshop.

Jules is distraught when she realizes the dragon is dead. She’s also shaken because a few days before the parade, her mother's Mahjong partner, Helen, discovered a warning note about a dragon in an antique game set. Jules hopes it’s just a random coincidence but as the clues begin to unfold it becomes evident that there’s been a murder on All Hallow’s Eve. Can Juliet sift out the truth before the killer comes after her?

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, which has a Shakespearean theme. She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school. After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her Italian husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery, Torte. Though she shares ownership of it with her mother, who is married the local head of police, Jules does the day-to-day running of it. Carlos runs the winery they own. Ramiro, Carlos' son from a previous relationship, is in high school and spending a year with them.

Jules' mother and her friends play mahjong on a regular basis. One of the friends had recently bought an antique set and found a note inside saying a dragon would soon be killed. It's the Halloween season and Ashland has a big fun parade where revellers dress up. Coincidentally, someone dressed as a dragon ends up dead in front of Jules' bakery, which sets Jules off to find out what happened and if the death and message are connected.

This is the seventeenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all). It works as a stand alone but I found there wasn't as much background included as others in the past. While it started out okay, I found it got draggy ... I've like others of hers more.  I love dogs but thought Jax's obsession with her dog, Pippa, was way over the top. It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Book ~ "Muffin But the Truth" (2022) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Ashland is known for its Elizabethan charm and touches of Shakespeare around every corner but the surrounding Rogue Valley draws adventure enthusiasts to its outdoor wonderland of high alpine lakes, mountain ranges, and pristine rivers. 

Jules Capshaw and the team at Torte have been hired to cater a weekend getaway on the mighty Rogue River. Jules is going to have to put her culinary skills to the test while baking gooey chocolate chip skillet cookies over an open flame and preparing extravagant feasts under a canopy of stars. 

The executive team at a big city firm will be rafting the Rogue’s rapids and gathering around the campfire for spooky stories but their dysfunction quickly begins to show. Between constant bickering and heavy drinking, Jules wonders how the team can accomplish anything. She’s happy for a brief reprieve when they zip up their lifejackets and head out in their boats but the serenity of the scene quickly vanishes when Jules discovers one of the execs floating face down in the water. She’s going to have to uncover the truth before she gets pulled under.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, which has a Shakespearean theme. She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school. After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her Italian husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery, Torte. Though she shares ownership of it with her mother, who is married the local head of police, Jules does the day-to-day running of it. Carlos runs the winery they have majority ownership of. Ramiro, Carlos' son from a previous relationship, is in high school and spending a year with them.

Jules and the Torte team have been hired to cater an outdoor glamping outing for executives of a firm from the city. It's supposed to be a teambuilding adventure but Josie, the boss, is always being rude to the execs which has everyone on edge. After a night of them eating, drinking and being degraded by Josie, Jules welcomes the quiet the next morning as she heads to the river for water ... until she sees a body in the water. She jumps in but it's too late. While the investigation goes on, the team isn't allowed to leave Ashland and strange things keeps happening to them.

This is the sixteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay. The whodunnit came up rather quickly and I didn't think the reason justified the murder. It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. It works as a stand alone as there is plenty of background info provided.

Book ~ "Donut Disturb" (2022) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Love is in bloom in Ashland, Oregon. The Shakespearean hamlet is bursting with fresh spring energy. Fragrant lilacs and the sweet aroma of vanilla cake fill the air as everyone in town gathers at Lithia Park for the celebration of the year - Thomas and Kerry’s wedding. 

It’s a picture perfect day. Guests gather on picnic blankets in front of the bandshell to watch Kerry walk down the aisle and wed Ashland’s favorite detective in training, Thomas. Jules and her team at Torte have been tasked with catering the outdoor reception and everything is going according to plan, until a wedding crasher shows up. 

The uninvited guest isn’t just someone looking to score a free glass of champagne. It’s Kerry’s estranged father who is supposed to be behind bars. Kerry is distraught. Jules vows to do everything she can to make sure that there are no other surprises on her friend’s big day. But when the bassist for Heart Strings, the wedding band, is found stabbed with the blunt end of his instrument Jules’ promise takes on new meaning. Now she’ll have to slice through the five tiered cake and a bevy of potential suspects in order to track down a killer before they turn the knife on her. 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, which has a Shakespearean theme.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school.  After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery.  She now shares ownership of it with her mother, who recently married the local head of police.  After a two year separation, Jules has worked things out with her Italian husband and Carlos is running the winery they have majority ownership of.

Jules' friends, Thomas and Kerry, as getting married and everyone in the town is involved and/or invited.  Kerry becomes distressed when she discovers her father, who should be in prison, is in town and plans to attend the wedding.  Thomas and Kerry are police officers and Kerry is concerned how it will look if her father had escaped from prison.  Jules tells her not to let it get to her and ruin her big day.  But when the bass player of the wedding band is found murdered and Kerry's father is taken into custody, how can that not ruin her day?  As Kerry and Thomas head off on their honeymoon, Kerry makes Jules promised she'll check into things to see what really happened and, of course, she does.

This is the fifteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. 

Book ~ "Bake, Borrow, and Steal" (2021) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ As the autumnal hues of November fall over the Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, Jules and her team at Torte are working on their biggest event ever. They’ve been invited to create chocolate showpieces for the gala opening of a new exhibit, Shakespeare’s Lost Pages at SOMA. The museum, located on the campus of Southern Oregon University, is getting ready to unveil the Bard’s lost manuscript, Double Falsehood, which is being touted as the greatest artistic discovery of modern times. In addition to molding luscious, silky chocolate into magnificent structures, Torte will be serving an authentic Elizabethan feast straight from the pages of a sixteenth century cookbook featuring Lardy cakes, Frangipane tarts, and jellies with chestnut cream.

Jules has underestimated the amount of work required to pull off such a culinary feat. She finds herself in the strange position of feeling frazzled and stressed as the day of the gala approaches. However, her team rallies around her and once the massive works of chocolate art are safely installed at the museum, she can finally let out a sigh of relief and revel in the excitement of the grand celebration. But her relief is short-lived. Right before the unveiling, news quickly begins to spread that Shakespeare’s lost manuscript is missing. Not only that, but the security guard tasked with keeping the priceless artifact safe has been killed. Is this a case of a heist gone terribly wrong? Or could it be that a killer is lurking in the museum archives? 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school.  After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery.  She now shares ownership of it with her mother, who recently married the local head of police.  After a two year separation, Jules has worked things out with Carlos and he is running the winery they have majority ownership of.

A lost manuscript of William Shakespeare has been discovered and, since Ashland is home to a Shakespearean theatre and the town has a Shakespearean theme, the director of the local museum has managed to have it exhibited in there.  It is a big deal and Tortes has been hired to provide the catering for the opening night gala, which has all the staff at Torte racing around preparing the food.  At the unveiling gala, there is a lot of tension, both with the museum staff and the Torte staff.  It doesn't help when it's discovered that the manuscript has been stolen, the maintenance man has been attacked, a guard killed and the director of the museum is then arrested for everything.

This is the fourteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I suspect there will probably not be many more in this series as everyone is settled down happily and Jules is thinking about having a baby.

Book ~ "Mocha, She Wrote" (2021) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Summer has ushered in a new season in the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon. Torte is bustling with tourists taking in star-drenched shows at the Elizabethan, setting out to hike in the surrounding Siskiyou Mountains, and sampling the bakeshop’s summer lineup of raspberry lemon tarts and mint mojito cold brews. Jules and the team are buzzing with excitement when they learn that Andy, Torte’s head barista, has been selected to compete in the West Coast Barista Cup.

The prestigious competition draws coffee aficionados from up and down the coast to Ashland. The winner will not only claim to be best-in-brew, but also be awarded a hefty cash prize. Andy’s nervous about his chances, but Jules is confident that her star barista will shine. However, things take a grim turn when head judge Benson Vargas spits out Andy’s first offering, claiming it to be the worst thing to ever touch his lips - and hours later, is found dead clutching Andy’s creamy latte. Suddenly Torte’s favorite barista becomes the number one suspect. There’s no roast for the weary. Jules will have to sleuth out whodunit to clear Andy’s name and catch a killer before she ends up with one foot in the grounds. 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery and went on to culinary school.  After working for many years on a cruise line, where she met her husband, Carlos, she moved back home to take over the family bakery.  She now shares ownership of it with her mother, who recently married the local head of police.  After a two year separation, Jules has worked things out with Carlos and he is running the winery they have majority ownership of.

Andy, one of Jules' employees, is really into coffee and has been selected to compete in the West Coast Barista Cup.  He's nervous but ready to go.  Benson is one of the judges and has a flair for dramatics and not in a good way.  He takes a dislike to Andy and even spits out one of his offerings during the competition.  A few hours later, Benson is dead and Andy is the number one suspect.  But Benson was not a nice man and disliked by many so anyone could have killed him.  Because of loyalty to her employee, Jules and her friend, Lance, set out to find out who hated Benson enough to kill him so they can clear Andy's name.

This is the thirteenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series (I've read them all) and I thought it was okay.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I suspect there will probably not be many more in this series as everyone is settling down happily and Jules is thinking about having a baby.

There are recipes at the end.

Book ~ "The Cure for What Ales You" (2021) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ After a long cold winter, spring is beginning to bloom in the alpine village of Leavenworth, Washington, where craft brewer Sloan Krause and her partner in crime Garrett Strong are putting the finishing touches on their bright and refreshing Lemon Kiss ale. They’ll be debuting their new line at the Maifest celebration, which will bring visitors from near and far to dance around the Maipole and shop at the outdoor flower markets.

Despite the festive spirit in the air, Sloan is brewing over her past. She’s spent months following leads that have turned into dead ends. But when she spots a woman who strongly resembles Marianne - a long lost contact who may be her only connection to piecing together her story - she hopes that things might be taking a turn in her favor. That hope is quickly smashed when Marianne is involved in the murder of a local housekeeper. To make matters worse, Marianne issues a dire warning that Sloan and her entire family are in danger. If Sloan can’t figure out who the killer is and what happened in her past, she won’t find any hoppy endings. 

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

When Sloan discovered her husband, Mac, cheating, she kicked him out.  She was working for his family's brewery and got another job working with Garrett in his new microbrewery/pub, Nitro.  Sloan is enjoying working with Garrett in his smaller business as it gives her a more hands-on opportunity to create interesting craft beers with him.  She also realizes that she has feelings for Garrett and is hoping he feels the same.  She recently downsized from their family house outside of the village to a smaller one in the village, which she is happy about.

Sloan grew up in foster care and she has been delving more and more into her past.  When a woman named Marianne shows up in the village, she claims to be Sloane's aunt and that Sloane's family is in danger from a man Marianne's sister (and Sloane's mother) used to hang out with.  When Sloane's mother was killed, it was Marianne who put Sloane in foster care to keep her safe (that storyline was a bit convoluted).

A housekeeper was a found murdered in Marianne's hotel room and she claims it was done by the man who is a danger to Sloane's family.  Marianne seems erratic and at times Sloane doubts her sanity so doesn't know what to think.  The housekeeper's death could also be part of some funky things that are going on at the hotel because there has been a rash of thefts there recently.  Sloane is cautious but carries on with her life.

This is the fifth in the Sloan Krause Series by this author and I liked it.  I've read the first four and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided).  It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is a lot of talk about beer (which I found interesting) and there are also explanations about what was being talked about (what hops are and the varieties, for example).  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.  I'm assuming this is the end of this series as all the storylines seemed to come to a happy completion.

Other than murders, Leavenworth sounds like a fun place to visit!

Book ~ "Nothing Bundt Trouble" (2020) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Spring has sprung in Ashland, Oregon, and everything at Torte seems to be coming up buttercream roses. But just when Juliet Capshaw seems to have found her sweet spot—with her staff set to handle the influx of tourists for this year’s Shakespeare festival while she moves back into her childhood home—things take a dramatic turn. Jules discovers a long-forgotten dossier in her deceased father’s belongings that details one of the most controversial cases in Ashland’s history: a hit-and-run accident from the 1980s. 

Or was it? Now it’s up to Jules to parse through a whole new world of details from another era, from unraveling cassette tapes to recipes for Bundt cakes, before an old enemy brings the Capshaw “pastry case” to a modern-day dead end.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been over two years and, though she doesn't know what will happen with Carlos, she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother, Helen. 

Helen recently married Doug, a police officer.  They bought a house and Helen gave Jules her house, which is the one she grew up in.  While she was cleaning out the basement, Jules uncovers a journal of her dad's, who had passed away when she was a teenager, from the 1980s.  Missing him, she decides to read it.  She discovers that Doug, who had been his best friend, had asked him to help solve a hit and run murder of someone that no one seemed to like.

This is the eleventh in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I didn't like it at all.  Doug was a young officer at that time and this was his first big case and he didn't want to blow it.  I thought it was unbelievable that he would ask his best friend to help him out with the investigation and he wasn't allowed to tell Helen he was involved.  The journal took up most of the book and actually read like a book.  When one writes in a journal, they usually say something like "Doug and I talked about the murder victim" rather than a play-by-play of the exact conversation.  And this happened every time.  I didn't find the journal entries interesting since they were sooooo long and detailed.

I've now read all of the books in this series (there are 12) and, except for this one, I like the series.  I have also read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end. 

Book ~ "A Cup of Good Fear" (2019) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Torte, Ashland’s favorite bakeshop is decking the halls and brewing up cups of holiday cheer. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is dark for the season but spirits are high as twinkle lights illuminate Main Street and snow falls softly on rooftops. Torte is bustling with activity. Jules and her team are rolling out dozens of Christmas tree cutouts and dusting them with sparkling green sugar. Helen’s signature Antoinettes, a delectable almond cookie filled with raspberry preserves and slathered with chocolate buttercream, are an instant hit. As are Andy’s peppermint bark mochas and eggnog shooters. While carolers serenade shoppers in the plaza, Jules packages up festive boxes of holiday sweets. She feels a bit like Santa Claus as she delivers glistening Christmas stolens, dainty tea cakes, and mincemeat pies. 

To cap off the merry season, Jules and Helen host their annual staff party at the historic Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast. The six-course dinner is a beloved tradition, complete with Yorkshire pudding and a Christmas goose. Santa, Mrs. Claus and even a cheerless Ebenezer Scrooge delight dinner guests with jokes, friendly banter and surprise gifts. As snow piles up outside, the hot buttered rum and mulled wine keep everyone toasty inside. However, just as the dessert course is about to be served the power goes out. When the glow of warm light returns, the merriment evaporates. One of the guests is sprawled out in front of the twenty-foot Christmas tree. Suddenly Jules finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Her only wish this Christmas is to catch a killer. 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been over two years and, though she doesn't know what will happen with Carlos, she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother, Helen. 

It's Christmastime and Ashland is a winter wonderland celebrating with a parade, the village shops are decorated and everyone is feeling the holiday cheer.  Jules and Helen have their annual staff party at the Winchester Inn's Dickens Feast.  This may be the last year for it because the owners, Emma and Jon, have sold the Winchester Inn and are retiring.  Cami, the new owner, doesn't seem to have the same warm feelings about the festivities.  During the feast, the power suddenly goes out and Cami then is found murdered.  Cami was not liked so anyone could have killed her.  Was Emma and Jon's son mad that they were selling rather than passing his legacy onto him?  Why were Cami and Francine, the feast's entertainer, fighting just before Cami's death?  

While all this is going on, Jules and her staff are busy baking up delectable treats for the Christmas season.  And Jules is looking forward to celebrating with Helen and Doug, her new stepfather, in their recently purchased house, and wondering if her future will include Carlos.

This is the tenth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've read most of the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading others in this series.

Book ~ "Live and Let Pie" (2018) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ The heat is on for pastry chef, family business operator and unlikely sleuth Jules Capshaw. Just when she thought she could enjoy some time away from the kitchen, Jules manages to discover a skull during a picnic by the lake. 

As if unearthing remains that may be connected to a missing-persons case from the 1960s isn't enough on her plate, Jules must contend with the unsolved matter of her own marriage while her estranged husband Carlos sails the open seas, awaiting a verdict. 

Then there's Jules's bitter landlord Edgar, who is intent on making a sweet deal on a vacant lot down the block from Torte - until he turns up dead. If only Jules could find a recipe that would let her bake her cake and eat it too.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been over two years and, though she doesn't know what will happen with Carlos, she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother, Helen. 

Torte's recent renovations are done.  Because there is more space, Jules has hired three new staff and promoted her existing staff.  Looking forward to having a nice picnic with her mom, she is there when some kids swimming in a lake find an old skull.  It is suspected that it is the skull of George, who disappeared years ago.  This intrigues Jules, specially when one of George's friends, Edgar, now an old man is found dead.  Edgar had a piece of land in town for sale that everyone wants (and it turns out he had promised it to everyone) so was someone mad enough to kill him?  Or is it tied to discovery of George's skull?

This is the ninth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've read most of the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading the others in this series.

Book ~ "Trouble is Brewing" (2017) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Jules Capshaw, owner of the charming bakeshop Torte, meets Sloan Krause, who's in from out of town for the beer festival that has landed in Ashland, Oregon.  Sloan is the brewmaster at the famed der Keller brewing company that operates out of Leavenworth, Washington, and she’s come to the festival to show off the newest spring brew. 

When Sloan drops in to Torte for a pistachio bar and a latte, she meets Jules, who is instantly smitten with the idea of incorporating beer into some baked goods. But when the two go off to sample some of der Keller’s brews, they realize that one of the kegs have gone missing. Is someone trying to steal the secret recipe? It’s up to Sloan and Jules to get to the bottom of this - and soon.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  After spending years working on a cruise ship as a pastry chef, she is now happy to be home and sharing ownership of Torte with her mother. 

Sloan works for her in-laws' brewing company in Leavenworth, WA.  She is in Ashland for a beer festival and meets Jules when she stops in Torte for snack.  The two click and Sloan invites Jules to sample some of the beer before the festival starts.  When Sloan discovers one of their kegs has disappeared, she and Jules set out to find it.

This is the a novella that comes after the sixth one/before the seventh in the Bakeshop Mystery series and it was okay.  It is here that we are introduced Sloan, which started the Sloan Krause Series (which I've read and liked).

Book ~ "A Crime of Passion Fruit" (2017) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Jules Capshaw is trying to keep her cool as Torte gets set to make its transformation from quaint, local confectionary cafe to royal pastry palace. 

Meanwhile, Jules's estranged husband Carlos is making a desperate plea for her to come aboard his cruise ship and dazzle everyone with her signature sweets. She may be skeptical about returning to her former nautical life with Carlos but Jules can't resist an all-expense-paid trip, either. If only she knew that a dead body would find its way onto the itinerary.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been almost a year and she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother, Helen. 

Torte is undergoing renovations ... Jules and Helen are expanding to the basement and there is a lot of work to be done as it's been a while since the space had been used.  Just as the work is about to start, Jules gets a call from Carlos asking her if she can fill in on for a few days on the cruise ship he's on until the new pastry chef can start.  He sweetens the deal by inviting Helen and Helen's beau, Doug, to come along and stay on the cruise for free for a vacation they both need.  How can Jules say no?

The cruise has barely begun when Jules finds a young woman dead in the pool.  No one knows who she is and the captain asks Doug, who is a police detective in Ashland, to investigate.

And in the meantime, Jules comes to terms with what she wants to do with her life.  Step back into her old life and be with Carlos or go back to Ashland to the life she's come to love?

This is the sixth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've been reading the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity (Helen and Doug , who have been dating for a year or so and are in their 50s, have their own staterooms, though they do have a connecting door). There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading the others in this series.

Book ~ "Fudge and Jury" (2017) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ It’s almost spring in Ashland, Oregon, and the town is preparing for the Shakespeare and the annual Chocolate Festival. Business is cookin’ at Torte, and the store is expanding as Jules’ team whips up crèpes filled with mascarpone cheese and dark chocolate. Torte stands a chance of being this year’s confectionery belle of the ball! Life couldn’t be sweeter - unless murder taints the batter. 

Evan Rowe, of Confections Couture, makes a chocolate fountain that would put Willy Wonka to shame, and his truffles are to die for - literally? Yes, the world-renowned chocolatier has just turned up dead … right after sampling a slice of Jules’ decadent four-layer chocolate cake. Now all eyes are on Jules as she tries to find the mysterious ingredient in her own recipe. Can she sift out the truth before another contestant bites the buttercream? 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been almost a year and she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother. 

Ashland is quiet as it's not theatre season.  The Chocolate Festival is happening this week, though, and that's keeping Jules and her staff busy getting ready for it.  Evan Rowe is the owner of Confections Couture and has been the winner of festival for many years.  Before the festival begins, he is going around checking out what everyone else has to offer.  He collapses and dies right after tasting some of Torte's samples.  Murder is suspected and since Evan wasn't a nice man, there are a number of people who could have wished him dead.

In the meantime, Torte is undergoing renovations.  In addition to painting, the long awaited ovens are arriving.  Plus Jules and her mother are considering taking over the basement under their bakery and expanding.

This is the fifth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've been reading the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading the others in this series.

Book ~ "Till Death Do Us Tart" (2018) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Torte - the small-town bakeshop no one can resist - is hosting a midsummer night’s wedding ... where merry-making and murder are served up in equal measure. 

Jules Capshaw has too much on her plate - and she’s feeling the pinch: the whole town of Ashland, Oregon, is in on the surprise Elizabethan-themed wedding she’s planning for her mom and soon-to-be stepdad. But is her secret scheme half-baked? She’s hiding racks overflowing with sweet treats while Torte is topsy-turvy with a major remodel and the return of Jules’s estranged husband, Carlos. 

And until now, Jules had no clue about the bitter family feud that has her friend Lance frazzled and suspicious. But when a party crasher takes someone out with a serving of poisoned wine and Jules discovers the deadly cup was intended for her, it’s time to turn the tables on a killer.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been over a year and she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother. 

Jules' mother is engaged to Doug, the town's head of police, and Jules is planning a surprise A Midsummer Night's Dream-theme wedding (to tie in with the town's Shakespeare Festival) for them at the winery she is a part owner in.  The whole town is in on it and Jules is secretly baking for it while hiding it from her mother and Doug.

Carlos and Ramiro, his teenage son, arrive from Spain for the week to attend the wedding.  Jules has never met Ramiro and only recently learned of his existence.  This is causing extra stress.

And if she didn't have enough on her plate, her best friend, Lance, has been out of town for a couple weeks and when he returns, she finds out then where he was.  He was visiting his father in the next town who is dying.  When he does pass away suddenly, Lance suspects his brother, Leo, had something to do with it and includes Jules in his investigation.

This is the eighth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've been reading the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading the others in this series.

Book ~ "Another One Bites the Crust" (2018) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Torte - the beloved small-town bakeshop run by Jules Capshaw - is set to hit the stage. But who would have guessed that murder would makes a surprise appearance?

It’s the role of a lifetime for Jules. The Shakespeare Festival has returned to Ashland, Oregon, for the season and Torte has been cast as the supplier of Elizabethan-era treats for the main event. But on the eve of opening night, a brawl between Jules’s friend Lance, the artistic director, and a strapping young thespian named Anthony almost brings down the house ... and the next morning, Anthony is dead. 

Jules knows that Lance loves his drama - and his just desserts - but she also knows that murder is way off-script for him. Now it’s up to Jules to cut through a bevy of backstage betrayals and catty co-stars who all have their own secrets - before the curtain drops on someone else.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been over six months and she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother. 

Ashland is a quaint Shakespeare-theme town and the Shakespeare Festival is starting up again for another season.  After opening night, one of the lead actors is found murdered by Lance, the festival's artistic director, and he is soon arrested.  Though Lance and Antony didn't get along and Lance is a drama queen, Jules doesn't think her best friend killed Antony and sets out to find out who did.

In the meantime, Jules' mother recently got engaged to Doug, the town's head of police, and she is busy helping her mother plan the wedding.

This is the seventh in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've been reading the books in this series and have read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading the others in this series.

Book ~ "Caught Bread Handed" (2016) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Jules Capshaw is still chewing over her husband Carlos’s return to Ashland, Oregon. Could there be too many cooks in the kitchen? Whatever is stirring between those two will have to wait. Despite the Oregon Shakespeare Festival being dark for the winter, the bakeshop is bustling, the dough is rolling, and there’s no rest for the weary … especially when murder is thrown into the mix. 

When Mindy Nolan, the owner of a new restaurant in town, turns up dead, the batter at hand thickens. Jules knows that there was bad blood between Mindy and others in town and tracking down the killer could prove to be an unwelcome treat. And to top it all off, there’s Carlos, who is pleading - with those delicious dark eyes and sexy Spanish accent - for Jules to take him back. Is home where the heart is or will she make a fresh start … and risk getting burned? 

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been over six months and she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother. 

Ashland is a quaint Shakespeare-theme town and recently a flashy chain restaurant opened and not many are happy, which has caused conflict.  When Mindy, one of the owners of the restaurant, is found murdered on the site, it could be one of many who killed her ... including Alan, who up until recently had owned the space but lost it due to financial difficulties, or Rosamond, who has the ear of the town council and has been petitioning to have the restaurant closed down.

In the meantime,  Carlos showed up out of the blue wanting to work things out with Jules.  He is spending the week in Ashland before he heads back to the cruise ship and and he wants Jules to go with him, and she is very tempted.

This is the fourth in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series and I'd recently read the first couple and the last one in this series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading the others in this series.

Book ~ "On Thin Icing" (2015) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ Welcome to Torte - a small-town family bakeshop where the treats are killer good.

It's the dead of winter in the sleepy town of Ashland, which means no tourists - and fewer customers - for Jules Capshaw and her bakery. But when she's asked to cater an off-season retreat for the directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, business starts heating up ... until Jules finds a dead body in the freezer.

Someone at the retreat has apparently iced the bartender, a well-known flirt with a legendary temper - that is, before a killer beat him to the punch. Then, from out of nowhere, Jules's own ex-husband shows up - and soon becomes a suspect. With accusations piling up higher than the snow - and thicker than a chocolate mousse cake - Jules has to think outside the (recipe) box to find the real culprit ... and make sure he gets his just desserts.

Juliet (aka Jules) was raised in small town Ashland, OR, but dreamed of seeing the world.  She grew up helping her parents in their bakery, Torte, and went on to culinary school.  She got a job with a cruise line and didn't get home often after that.  She met her husband, Carlos, an executive chef, on a cruise and things were going well until she discovered he had a secret.  With a broken heart, she headed home to figure things out.  It's been six months and she now happily shares ownership of Torte with her mother.  Though she and Carlos had agreed to not contact each other until the new year, Jules thinks of him often.

Things have quieted down for Torte now that it's not the tourist season so when Jules is offered a catering job for a weekend retreat in the middle of nowhere, she accepts it and takes along Sterling, her young employee, as her sous-chef.  She gets quite a surprise when Carlos shows up out of the blue wanting to work things out.  Tony, the bartender, is a jerk and when Jules finds him murdered the next morning, anyone could have had reason to kill him, including Carlos.  Because of the wintery conditions, the roads are blocked for the local police so Jules calls the police officers from Ashland.  Thomas, one of the Ashland officers who arrives, is Jules' high school boyfriend and may still have feelings for her.  Needless to say, this adds more tension to an already stressful situation.

This is the third in the Bakeshop Mystery series and I liked it.  I've read all in this author's Sloan Krause Series and I'd recently read the first couple and the last one in this series.  This book works as a stand alone ... there is enough information provided.  It's written in first person perspective in Jules' voice.   It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.  I look forward to reading the others in this series.