Source: Janel Gradowski
EBook, 195 pgs.
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Banana Muffins & Mayhem by Janel Gradowski is the fifth book in the Culinary Competition Mystery series, but it can be read as a standalone mystery, though some things change in the characters’ personal lives that you might prefer to unwind in order.
Amy Ridley is still wrestling with the idea of having her own children after her best friend Carla gave birth to Macy. While that debate wages on in the back of her mind, that doesn’t stop Amy from entering culinary contests of every sort, and it certainly doesn’t stop killers from striking fear into the residents of Kellerton, Michigan. During the first annual Cabin Fever Cure event, DIY Home Improvement star, Phoebe Plymouth, winds up on someone’s naughty list after her sour attitude leaves many of the culinary and home improvement crowd cold.
“Every recipe for the competition had to be made in a muffin tin, but that didn’t limit the entries to just sweets.”
“Both of the police officers and Alex still towered over her — she was always the short tulip in the bouquet of life.”
“But that was a tall order when her thoughts were reproducing like furry little Star Trek tribbles.”
Following a few near misses in the last book, Amy’s learned to be a bit more cautious, but her new mystery-solving sidekicks are less so. She and the team begin their work independently to uncover the mystery behind Plymouth’s death and the real reason why the show’s producers are still in town even though little to no progress has been made on the case by newbie Homicide Detective Lauren Foster. When her husband Alex and his business begin receiving threats, Amy deduces that there is more to the murder than meets the eye and she’s more determined than ever to get the case solved.
Banana Muffins & Mayhem by Janel Gradowski is a delightful treat to read on a summer’s afternoon with some ice tea or coffee — your preference — and settle into the chair with some Malted Chocolate Banana Muffins (recipe included). Gradowski has cornered the market on creating fun cozy mysteries with delicious recipes and quick quips.
RATING: Quatrain
About the Author:
Janel Gradowski lives in a land that looks like a cold weather fashion accessory, the mitten-shaped state of Michigan. She is a wife and mom to two kids and one Golden Retriever. Her journey to becoming an author has been littered with odd jobs such as renting apartments to college students and programming commercials for an AM radio station. Somewhere along the way she also became a beadwork designer and teacher. She enjoys cooking recipes found in her formidable cookbook and culinary fiction collection. Searching for unique treasures at art fairs, flea markets and thrift stores is also a favorite pastime. Coffee is an essential part of her life. She writes the Culinary Competition Mystery Series, along with The Bartonville Series (women’s fiction) and the 6:1 Series (flash fiction). She has also had many short stories published in both online and print publications. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, and sign up for the Newsletter.
Other books by this author, reviewed here:
- Haunted
- Revenge
- Must Love Sandwiches
- The Queen of Bad Decisions
- Pies & Peril
- Chicken Soup & Homicide
- Christmas Canapes & Sabotage
- Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes
- Fudge Brownies & Murder
The Treasure Hunt letter for Savvy Verse & Wit is: A
Collect all of the letters to spell out the Treasure Hunt word then use it to gain extra entries in the Grand Prize giveaway. You can find all of the blog tour stops and enter the giveaway at www.janelgradowski.com.
6/14 – My Cozy Book Nook has Letter #3
6/15 – Book Babble has Letter #5
6/16 – Life’s A Stage has Letter #8
6/17 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews has Letter #1
6/18 – Joy’s Book Blog has Letter #4
6/20 – Knyttwytch’s Crafts and Stuff has Letter #7
6/22 – Savvy Verse & Wit has Letter #2
6/24 – Romancing The Books has Letter #6