Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Review & Giveaway: Buttercream Bumpoff by Jenn McKinlay



It's another busy day at Fairy Cupcakes bakery and the two owners, Angie DeLaura and Melanie Cooper are gearing up for Valentine's day. During a baking class, Mel's mom, Joyce, bursts through the door to tell her that she has a date. This is big news since she has been widowed for ten years and has not had a date since.

When Mel gets a frantic call fom her mom the night of the big date with Baxter Malloy, Mel can't believe what Joyce tells her; someone has murdered Baxter and Joyce never saw or heard a thing. Baxter may have seemed like a hot catch but apparently someone wants him stone cold dead.

Being the only person with Baxter at the time, the investigation turns their focus to Joyce. Mel  knows her mom couldn't possibly be a murderer so she cooks up a few schemes to try and find the real perpetrator. The more she delves, the more people she finds who had a motive to see Baxter permanently iced.

Can Mel continue to beat out her cupcake competitor, cope with a stalled love life and at the same time help her mom beat a murder rap?

Jenn McKinlay has cooked up a truly fun cozy in Buttercream Bumpoff . Jenn has a wonderful sense of humor and it clearly shows in her writing. There were some scenes where I just had to laugh out loud. I could easily picture the entire book in my head as I was reading. Not too many authors can consistently pull that off! I just love the characters in this series and the deep friendship they share. The rival bakery owner, Olivia Puckett, cracks me up with the crazy antics she goes through to get attention. Jenn has left her characters with some decisions to make and a few unresolved issues. Dang, now I just can't wait for the next one in the series, Death by the Dozen, due out this year.

If you're looking for more info on Jenn and her books, try her website. The first book in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series is Sprinkle with Murder. Once I read that I was hooked. If you like cozy mysteries with a culinary flavor and yummy sounding recipes included, you'll love this one! 5*****

For another opinion, visit with Kay of My Random Acts of Reading.

Disclosure: A Review copy of the book was provided by Berkley at no charge to me for my honest opinion.

Now for the giveaway details: To celebrate last week's release of the book, Berkley is allowing me to give away 1 copy of Buttercream Bumpoff . US only. Deadline to enter is January 21st at 5 PM (est) Please be sure to include an e mail address.

As always bonus points are available by:

+ 2 being a follower, Tell me under what name you follow
+3 tweeting  or posting about and linking to contest (sidebar is ok) Just be sure to give me the link in a comment. Good luck!

63 comments:

  1. Count me in please. I love cupcakes and cozies!

    bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm also a follower under either bookingmama or Julie P. -- not sure which one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Would love to own the Fairy Cupcake bakery!

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  4. Thanks for the giveaway. I've started to read cozies and am having alot of fun

    jgoffice (at)cox (dot) net

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  5. I am also a follower
    jgoffice (at) cox (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like a fun read, Kaye. I'd love to win a copy.

    I follow (Mary)

    meah56 AT gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love cooking mysteries. This sounds like a great book.
    I am a gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Count me in!

    I am a follower under rhapsodyinbooks

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks like fun! I'd love to win!
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. +2 I follow your blog!
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. +3 Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/chickitsarita/status/24857735178752000
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. any look that makes you laugh out loud is a winner in my book!

    Caitemaire@hotmail.com

    +2 I follow you on Google Reader and Google Friend Connect

    ReplyDelete
  13. This looks like a good one. Please count me in.

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I follow under the name Sandy Jay.

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/ForWhlz/status/24899248491339776

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. This looks like a really good read. Thanks for the great giveaway :)

    mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I follow with GFC. Username: missreneer

    mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com

    #1

    ReplyDelete
  18. This sounds like fun! Enter me for sure!

    lisamos64@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am a follower of your blog via GFC
    Pamela Keener or my e-mail addy
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  21. sounds like a fun cozy mystery.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great storyline! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Kaye, don't enter me, but I reviewed this yesterday. Such a fun book!! I'm going to add the link to your review on mine.

    Good to know #3 will be out later this year! Now if we can just get her to provide a 4-pack of cupcakes with each book!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just read another excellent review of Buttercream yesterday and would love to win it to read it myself!

    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  25. GFC follower as Karen B.

    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sounds interesting!
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. follower (Throuthehaze)
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Please toss my name in the hat - I'm a big cozy fan. Thanks.
    pennyt at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sounds like a fun cozy. I'd love to read it.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  30. +2 follower

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  31. +3 tweet:
    http://twitter.com/#!/darcy1956/status/24997658586255360

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  32. This sounds like such a cute series! I'd love to be entered. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'd love to get this book - love culinary cozies

    cyderryATyahooDOTcom
    Chèli
    Cheli's Shelves

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love a good mystery.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Please count me in! I loved Sprinkle with Murder and have been anticipating Bumpoff! Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. +2 I am a GFC follower--holdenj.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Following you under the name Teslaca.

    ReplyDelete
  38. No need to enter me but I adore that title!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Please enter me. Am a GFC CMash.
    Mash1195 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Retweeted under CherylMash
    Mash1195 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love mysteries and cupcakes. This sounds like a winning combination to me.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  42. +2 Follow your blog
    As Renee G on GFC.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sounds like a good book. Please enter me.

    GFC follower

    sgiden at verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  44. Book sounds fun! I'm on twitter @AvidRdrBookRev.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Please enter me! I am a follower

    dancealert at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thanks for the heads-up Kaye...I seem to be 'unfocused' today. My email is laphillips.div@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Count me in please! I am a follower, too. (Snap at Twisty Lane)

    ReplyDelete
  48. I'd love to win this! I'm just getting into "foodie mysteries"

    bfaos[@]mail[.]com

    ReplyDelete
  49. +2 I'm a GFC follower: Ellie

    bfaos{@}mail{.}com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/#!/bfaos/status/26324397669224448

    bfaos[@]mail[.]com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Mmmm, a culinary mystery with a sense of humor. Please count me in.

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thanks so much for the kind words
    about BUTTERCREAM, Kaye! I love your site.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Love yummy mysteries. And I follow as Jodi

    webbJM AT verizon DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  54. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  55. How cute! I'd love to read this :) Thanks for the chance to win.

    safoga at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I'm a follower under my first name (Susan).

    safoga at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I posted about this giveaway on the sidebar of my blog here:

    http://sugarandspark.blogspot.com

    Thanks again!
    safoga at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I'd really love to win this book! Thanks for the chance.

    +2 I follow under pbclark

    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  59. Sounds like a great book, count me in!

    booksfan@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. GFC roller as lilk13
    kkapplebyatmsndotcom

    Great giveaway

    Karen

    http://lilk13.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. That's follower as lilk13
    kkapplebyatmsn.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. Please add me; cozies are my newest reading addiction and I just cannot read enough of them. This one sounds delightful!

    Anne R.
    booklady85(at)hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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