Bread Over Troubled Water - A Recipe, Review, & Giveaway

Today I'm pleased to be able to share a recipe from BREAD OVER TROUBLED WATER by Winnie Archer. This book is the eighth in the Bread Shop Mystery series and was released this week.

Olaya’s Morning Cookies (naturally gluten free!)

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup light brown sugar lightly packed

• 1 large egg

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3/4 cup oat flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 cup golden flaxseed meal

• 1 1/2 cups extra thick rolled oats (or substitute gluten free old-fashioned oats)

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

• Other Add Ins of choice


Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

2. Prepare two baking sheets by lining with parchment.

3. Cream butter and both sugars together in large bowl.

4. Mix in the egg and the vanilla.

5. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon until combined.

6. Add the oats, flaxseed meal, cranberries, and walnuts (or other Add Ins). Stir until just combined.

7. Using a spook, form cookie dough into small to medium-sized balls. Place on the baking sheets. Press down slightly to flatten.

8. Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes.

9. These cookies keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container.


ADD INS

• Raisins

• Pecans

• Slivered almonds

• Golden raisins

• Dried cherries

• Dried blueberries or other dried fruit

• Chocolate chips• Sweetened dried coconut

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Review

BREAD OVER TROUBLED WATER by Winnie Archer
The Eighth Bread Shop Mystery

A staple in Santa Sofia, Yeast of Eden has its share of regulars, including the charming Josh Prentiss. After a tumultuous morning at the bread shop Ivy Culpepper and her pug, Agatha, take a break in the park that will be the site of her engagement party. Instead of a relaxing stroll, Agatha is on the scent of something else and leads Ivy to Josh's dead body. Before long protests against Yeast of Eden begin, with people claiming it was bread that poisoned the man. With the beloved bread shop in the crosshairs and the owner's sister a suspect, Ivy delves once more into a murder investigation. But will she find a killer, or will a killer find her?

 

New characters add more layers and decidedly more spice to this eighth Bread Shop Mystery and not everyone is what they seem. While on the surface everyone seemed to love Josh, his true colors are slowly revealed, providing lots of motive to a variety of suspects. Detailed descriptions enrich the drama and immerse readers into the story. I found characters I wanted to smack, and breads I really wanted to eat!

BREAD OVER TROUBLED WATER skillfully blends misdirection, red herrings, and surprising twists into a cleverly written character driven mystery.

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 Bread Over Troubled Water (A Bread Shop Mystery) by Winnie Archer

About Bread Over Troubled Water 

Bread Over Troubled Water (A Bread Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 8th in Series
Setting - California
Kensington Cozies (November 29, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback: ‎ 304 pages

Rising cozy mystery author Winnie Archer cooks up her latest installment in her delightful and delicious Bread Shop Mystery series.

Photographer Ivy Culpepper is soon to make a home with her husband-to-be in the California beach town of Santa Sofia—but the Yeast of Eden bakery remains her second home. It’s not just a place to work, but a community. And now one member of the community has been murdered . . .

A regular who used Yeast of Eden as a workspace, Josh Prentiss always turned heads with his startlingly good looks and thousand-watt smile. But Ivy can’t help noticing one morning that he seems distracted and off his game. Later, during a visit to the park where she and Miguel plan to hold their engagement party—with plenty of baked goods on the menu—her rescue pug, Agatha, sniffs out Josh lying in a bed of poppies…scone cold dead.

There’s no reason for Ivy to get involved. She’s busy enough holding down the fort as the shop’s owner, Olaya, cares for her recently orphaned niece, not to mention the stress when a new employee is fired and storms out in a rage. Then a band of rabble-rousers starts picketing the bakery, claiming that Olaya’s sourdough roll is what killed Josh—and Ivy hears some salacious gossip about her beloved boss. She doesn’t think there’s a grain of truth to the seedy rumors—but to prove it, she’ll have to start sleuthing . . .

About Winnie Archer

Winnie Archer is the nationally bestselling author of the Bread Shop Mystery series, as well as the Lola Cruz Mysteries and the Magical Dressmaking Mystery series written as Melissa Bourbon. A former middle school English teacher, lives in North Carolina with her educator husband, Carlos, and the youngest of their five children. Visit Winnie Archer online at www.MelissaBourbon.com!

Author Links

• • Website: http://www.melissabourbon.com/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaBourbonWinnieArcherBooks/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookishly_cozy/

Purchase Links: Kensington - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound  

 

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S. K. Golden. This book is the first in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series and was released last month.

Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy loves fashion, movie stars, and solving puzzles. A Manhattan girl at heart, Evelyn has no desire to leave neither the city nor the Pinnacle, her father's hotel. Her every need is satisfied, including solving puzzles and throwing parties. The hotel's latest party is the unveiling of Billie Bell's newest painting. Fireworks erupt however, when a fight nearly breaks out and the painting is stolen. Determined to put her sleuthing abilities to good use, Evelyn is stunned to learn that she is a suspect after she find's the artist's murdered body. Together with her "boyfriend" and her crush, Evelyn will prove her innocence and find a killer.

Death by Puffin - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Lana Hansen to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Lana on the pages of the Travel Can Be Murder Mystery series by Jennifer S. Alderson. Death by Puffin is the ninth book in the series and was released last week.

Introducing Lana Hansen - Tour Guide Extraordinaire
By Jennifer S. Alderson

Hello! I’m Lana Hansen, a senior tour guide for Wanderlust Tours, a travel company based out of Seattle, Washington.

Becoming a tour guide has been the best thing to happen to me in quite a while. I’ve gotten to fulfill a long-cherished dream to travel the world, and I’ve met so many interesting people along the way!

However, it’s not the kind of work I ever thought I would be doing. My resume is what my mother politely calls “varied” – before landing this job I worked primarily as an investigative journalist and magician’s assistant. It was a string of unhappy coincidences that brought me to Wanderlust. Thankfully, life has been looking up ever since.

Our week-long guided vacations tend to attract the wealthier residents of the Pacific Northwest – the kind that are used to living the high life and being pampered along the way. I feel pretty spoiled being able to travel around Europe and stay in luxurious hotels, eat at top-notch restaurants, and go on fascinating day trips with my guests. Most tours are comprised of ten clients or less and are always accompanied by two guides, in case of emergencies. Randy Wright has always been my favorite guide to work with, and together we’ve had quite a few interesting adventures.

My first tour in Budapest was memorable for many reasons, mostly because it was also my first trip abroad! I had visions of a grey, somber, soviet-era architecture, but it wasn’t like that at all. The imposing statues, tiered-fountains, captivating monuments, delicate spires, and majestic buildings decorated with snow and sparkly lights made me feel as if they were driving through a postcard. Everything was so much bigger than I had imagined. Several buildings seemed to fill an entire city block and many monuments stretched high into the sky, often topped by a stately figure, angel, or knight. It was truly magical.

Unfortunately my first tour was also a trial by fire because my fellow tour guide Carl died under mysterious circumstances on our third day! After the police wrongly accused another guest of murder, I ended up tracking down the real culprit.

Most of my tours have been fatality free, though I have, on occasion, been forced into the role of amateur sleuth while on tour duty. The worst was when my mother was accused of killing one of my clients during our Mother’s Day tour of the Netherlands. I am so grateful to my friends for helping me clear her name.

After leading groups through Europe’s finest destinations for the past two years, my wings are itching to spread a bit more. If things work out as planned, I hope to be traveling even further abroad on future tours!

There is only one slight problem… as much as I love my job, recent events have turned my world upside down. Let’s just say that three murder investigations on three consecutive tours did my head in. Even worse, my boss, Dotty, now thinks I am some sort of angel of death and took me off tour-duty last week!

So I hopped on the next available flight and soon found myself checking into Hotel Puffin in downtown Reykjavik. I hope being here will give me a chance to destress and find direction again.

My best friend, Willow, is convinced that Dotty has got it wrong. She is certain that there is a reason for me being involved in these traumatic events – and that it’s a positive one. Which is why she flew all the way to Iceland to be with me. I’ve heard her out, but don’t yet know if I trust her theory.

She’s got a week to convince me, before she flies back to her family in Seattle. And I truly hope that we can resolve this crisis before Willow leaves. I do love Iceland, but I don’t want to hide out here forever!

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 Death by Puffin: A Bachelorette Party Murder in Reykjavik (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery) by Jennifer S. Alderson

About Death By Puffin

Death by Puffin: A Bachelorette Party Murder in Reykjavik (Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 9th in Series
Setting - Iceland
Traveling Life Press (November 24, 2022)
Number of Pages: 180

Iceland—land of fire, ice … and murder? 

After a nasty fight with her boyfriend, tour guide Lana Hansen takes a week off work to get her head straight. Fate brings her to Iceland and the Hotel Puffin where she hopes the magnificent natural surroundings will help heal her heart and point the way forward.

Instead of the rest and relaxation she wishes to find, Lana ends up neighbors with a group of rowdy Americans in town for a bachelorette party and wedding. Their joyous frivolity is a painful reminder of her own relationship problems, and Lana does her best to steer clear of the group.

Yet when someone in the wedding party dies under mysterious circumstances, she gets pulled into the investigation. Can Lana help unmask the killer before they strike again—or will this trip be her last?

The Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries are heartwarming stories about making friends, traveling, and celebrating new experiences. Join tour guide Lana Hansen as she leads tourists and readers to fascinating cities around the globe on intriguing adventures that often turn deadly.

Books in the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery series: Book 1 - Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in Budapest Book 2 – Death by Baguette: A Valentine’s Day Murder in Paris Book 3 – Death by Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder in Amsterdam Book 4 – Death by Bagpipes: A Summer Murder in Edinburgh Book 5 – Death by Fountain: A Christmas Murder in Rome Book 6 – Death by Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick’s Day Murder in Dublin Book 7 – Death by Flamenco: An Easter Murder in Seville Book 8 – Death by Gondola: A Springtime Murder in Venice Book 9 – Death by Puffin: A Bachelorette Party Murder in Reykjavik Books 10-12 – More adventures are coming soon!!

 

About Jennifer S. Alderson

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she moved to Darwin, Australia, before settling in the Netherlands. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels. When not writing, she can be found in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.jennifersalderson.com  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferSAldersonauthor  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSAauthor 

 Instagram: https://instagram.com/JSAauthor  

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-s-alderson  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JennifeSAlderson  

Purchase Links Amazon( (US) Amazon Worldwide

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Gingerdead House - A Review

 Review

GINGERDEAD HOUSE by Nancy Warren
A Great Witches Baking Show Novella

Being part of the Great British Baking Contest has made Poppy Wilkinson a bit of a celebrity. As such she's encouraged to participate in a charity event over the holidays. Thus Poppy finds herself in Bath, participating in a Gingerbread House competition. Thoughts of a more relaxing baking experience are dashed when Poppy finds a militant organizer, bad feelings among the contestants, and a possible cheater! When a fellow contestant winds up dead, Poppy will use her skills to not only complete her gingerbread construction, but uncover a murderer as well! 

I love the Great British Bake Off, the Great Witches Bake Off, and Christmas so this standalone holiday whodunnit is perfect. It doesn't matter where in the series you are when you read this as there are no spoilers. Although it may help to have read the first one, even that isn't necessary to enjoy this novella. It's short, so you can easily read it in between your own bakes, or holiday busyness.

Despite it's brevity there's a full fledged mystery with great characters and fascinating descriptions of Bath and its historic buildings which become the theme of the competition. I loved meeting Catherine Palmer and the clever and adorable stray dog, both of whom make the story more meaningful and fun.

Heartwarming with plenty of laughs GINGERDEAD HOUSE makes a delightful holiday treat.

Through the Liquor Glass - A Review

 Review

THROUGH THE LIQUOR GLASS by Sarah Fox
The Fifth Literary Pub Mystery 

Food critics, travel writers, and tourists are descending on Shady Creek for the village's Taste of Shady Creek. Sadie Coleman and her team are hosting a table at the event as well as serving up their literary themed food and drinks at the Inkwell. Sadie can't help but notice one critic has garnered a fair share of hate, from fellow journalists and townsfolk alike. A visit to her boyfriend's brewery leads the pair to discover the critic dead. With someone trying to frame Grayson for the murder Sadie is going to have to pull out the stops to find the real killer.

I'm always delighted to visit Shady Creek, but it's especially nice to visit this picturesque Vermont town in the autumn. Brilliant foliage, crisp air, and murder! I love the idea of the Taste of Shady Creek, especially as it brings in new drama and suspects. Although it was obvious that many people disliked the victim, it came as a surprising twist that Grayson not only had a connection with her, but would become a prime suspect. 

I really like Sadie, but I was ready to smack her in this fifth Literary Club Mystery. I understood why Grayson went into hiding and why he kept his location from her. What got me was Sadie's desperation to find him. She made more than one attempt, knowing she could possibly lead the police to him-and he'd only been gone a day! Her need to be with him was cloying, annoying, and dangerous. Pushing that annoyance away, I did like how she uncovered and followed clues and that she called the police prior to the penultimate confrontation scene.

I also enjoyed the entire ambiance of the book. How the cold rainy weather corresponded with the emotions of the characters. It was fun having Sadie's mom come to visit and explore the many wonderful venues in and around Shady Creek while surreptitiously digging for clues. Sadie's interactions with her mom, as well as her friends, leads to stronger character development. Sadie is growing, even if she can't be parted from her boyfriend for a few days.

Surprising connections, a puzzling mystery, and richly drawn characters make THROUGH THE LIQUOR GLASS an enjoyable autumnal read.

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Cold Drip by Heather Day Gilbert. This book is the sixth in the Barks and Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery series.

It's Thanksgiving week and Macy Hatfield is excited as her boyfriend, Titan, is coming into town for the whole week. Touring the area, the couple go on a self guided tour of the nearby caverns. When the lights suddenly go out a scream pierces the darkness. Apparently one of the socialites fell down a chasm while taking a selfie. When the woman's body isn't found, despite search and rescue efforts, Macy starts looking into the rich woman's social circle. Will Macy be able to enjoy the holiday and time with her family and friends? Or will her search for the truth put her life in jeopardy?

Trapping, Turkeys, & Thanksgiving - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a Thanksgiving themed mystery released just last week. Trapping, Turkeys, & Thanksgiving by Tonya Kappes is the twenty-eighth book in the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series.

Blurb:

Mae West is bound and determined to stay in shape for her wedding day and with all the delicious southern dessert Mary Elizabeth is serving for Thanksgiving Mae has joined the local running group to race in Thanksgiving’s annual Turkey Trot.

She never figured murder would be on the menu and a couple of people she loves have a perfect motive.

The list of suspects isn’t exactly brief especially when one of the governor’s recently pardoned prisoner is at the top of the list. Mae has a pretty full plate between trying to plan a wedding that will satisfy everyone, keeping Dottie in line as well as trying to get a long with her future mother in law.

So what’s a little investigation to keep her mind off things? If Mae’s not careful, she may find herself served up as a last-minute course with all the trimmings.