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katherineep's review against another edition
3.0
This was such a fun take on the classic "locked room" murder mystery. There are five suspects and one of them has to be the killer but how could one be the killer without everyone being in on it? Add in the fact that none of the five suspects is in a particularly talkative mood and Winnie has quite the tangle of a mystery!
This was my first visit to Silver Lake Ohio and the Emergency Dessert Squad but it was a fun one! It took me a couple of pages to get who was who figured out but once I got that sorted I had no issues keeping track of all the whos, whats, and whys of the series. The concept of the Emergency Dessert Squad is so fun! I mean I can't think of anything better when I'm sick or stressed or just out of sorts than to have a personalized dessert delivered right to my door. This needs to be an option! Winnie and her friends are a lot of fun. I loved Bridget's investigating abilities and Renee and Mr. Nelson's humor. Winnie's boyfriend, Jay, is away for most of the book but I did like their relationship and I enjoyed Winnie's inner monologue about their relationship status. It felt very realistic.
There's a lot going on in this book and while the investigation isn't always front and center it's such an enjoyable read that it never felt like the pacing was off or that the plot was convoluted. It was something a day in the life of Winnie and her friends and now all of it was mystery focused.
This was an incredibly entertaining read filled with delicious sweets and all kinds of fantastic cozy style puns. I'm looking forward to going back and reading the previous 2 books in the series while I wait for book #4!
Review from I Wish I Lived in a Library (http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com
This was my first visit to Silver Lake Ohio and the Emergency Dessert Squad but it was a fun one! It took me a couple of pages to get who was who figured out but once I got that sorted I had no issues keeping track of all the whos, whats, and whys of the series. The concept of the Emergency Dessert Squad is so fun! I mean I can't think of anything better when I'm sick or stressed or just out of sorts than to have a personalized dessert delivered right to my door. This needs to be an option! Winnie and her friends are a lot of fun. I loved Bridget's investigating abilities and Renee and Mr. Nelson's humor. Winnie's boyfriend, Jay, is away for most of the book but I did like their relationship and I enjoyed Winnie's inner monologue about their relationship status. It felt very realistic.
There's a lot going on in this book and while the investigation isn't always front and center it's such an enjoyable read that it never felt like the pacing was off or that the plot was convoluted. It was something a day in the life of Winnie and her friends and now all of it was mystery focused.
This was an incredibly entertaining read filled with delicious sweets and all kinds of fantastic cozy style puns. I'm looking forward to going back and reading the previous 2 books in the series while I wait for book #4!
Review from I Wish I Lived in a Library (http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com
dollycas's review against another edition
4.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Winnie’s business continues to grow. With all her friend’s help, she creates delectable desserts to rescue her customers from things like a bad breakup, loss of a job, and anything else you can imagine. In this story, she has been asked to bake up motivational treats for a group of artists with different talents at a local retreat. After she delivers the goodies she goes to tell the owner and finds her dead on the floor with all the artists standing nearby. The police immediately suspect foul play and Winnie has a dessert connection with all the viable suspects which lands her right in the middle of another murder investigation.
The author has created a very unique theme for this series. After the expenses of having a bakery in a storefront became beyond what Winnie could afford she started a home-based business and uses an old ambulance she inherited to deliver her desserts to her customers. The treats even arrive on a stretcher complete with icing IV’s. She also inherited a cat that goes along for each delivery.
The characters are all very well developed. Most of Winnie’s friends are senior citizens and she has a real bond with them. They along with her best friend Renee are her taste testers and her confidants. Renee is also Winnie’s only employee. Her romantic relationship with a local college professor, who she met when making a delivery to him, is a little murky. His teenage daughter does not like her father giving anyone else attention and she has done everything she can to break them up.
I thought solving the murder this time would be easy as we knew from the start there were only five suspects, but it turned out to be very complex. None were very forthcoming and all appeared to be hiding something. Winnie didn’t give up though and I really enjoyed following each little hint and clue right along with her.
The clever theme of this series, interesting characters, and a very imaginative plot kept this reader very entertained. All the dessert talk and descriptions made my mouth water. I loved the names Winnie gave her goodies.
A fun read that stands on its own but the series is better served if you start at the beginning.
Winnie’s business continues to grow. With all her friend’s help, she creates delectable desserts to rescue her customers from things like a bad breakup, loss of a job, and anything else you can imagine. In this story, she has been asked to bake up motivational treats for a group of artists with different talents at a local retreat. After she delivers the goodies she goes to tell the owner and finds her dead on the floor with all the artists standing nearby. The police immediately suspect foul play and Winnie has a dessert connection with all the viable suspects which lands her right in the middle of another murder investigation.
The author has created a very unique theme for this series. After the expenses of having a bakery in a storefront became beyond what Winnie could afford she started a home-based business and uses an old ambulance she inherited to deliver her desserts to her customers. The treats even arrive on a stretcher complete with icing IV’s. She also inherited a cat that goes along for each delivery.
The characters are all very well developed. Most of Winnie’s friends are senior citizens and she has a real bond with them. They along with her best friend Renee are her taste testers and her confidants. Renee is also Winnie’s only employee. Her romantic relationship with a local college professor, who she met when making a delivery to him, is a little murky. His teenage daughter does not like her father giving anyone else attention and she has done everything she can to break them up.
I thought solving the murder this time would be easy as we knew from the start there were only five suspects, but it turned out to be very complex. None were very forthcoming and all appeared to be hiding something. Winnie didn’t give up though and I really enjoyed following each little hint and clue right along with her.
The clever theme of this series, interesting characters, and a very imaginative plot kept this reader very entertained. All the dessert talk and descriptions made my mouth water. I loved the names Winnie gave her goodies.
A fun read that stands on its own but the series is better served if you start at the beginning.
jackielizn's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed the first book in this series, the second book and now this one have really disappointed me. The idea for the Emergency Dessert Squad was such a unique idea. I'm sad that this series just isn't working out for me. I don't think I will continue with this series if there are any future books coming.
I think there has become a really strong focus on the romance/relationship building with Jay in these last two books that it is taking away from the mystery aspect. The death scene in this book just really had me confused. Someone is dead on the floor and the others are just standing around? I wish more sleuthing was done during this story. That is one of my favorite parts of a cozy mystery. The sleuthing just seems to take a back seat to the romance and love triangle in this book.
I did still enjoy the aspect of the Emergency Dessert Squad and watching Winnie come up with the names for the desserts. They all sound amazing and I enjoyed looking over the recipes at the back of the book. I'm going to try one of them sometime. I also find Lovey to be amusing, still. His constant hissing at Winnie adds a little bit of humor to the story.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I think there has become a really strong focus on the romance/relationship building with Jay in these last two books that it is taking away from the mystery aspect. The death scene in this book just really had me confused. Someone is dead on the floor and the others are just standing around? I wish more sleuthing was done during this story. That is one of my favorite parts of a cozy mystery. The sleuthing just seems to take a back seat to the romance and love triangle in this book.
I did still enjoy the aspect of the Emergency Dessert Squad and watching Winnie come up with the names for the desserts. They all sound amazing and I enjoyed looking over the recipes at the back of the book. I'm going to try one of them sometime. I also find Lovey to be amusing, still. His constant hissing at Winnie adds a little bit of humor to the story.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
bindingthepages's review against another edition
3.0
When Winnie gets called for a rescue delivery from the owner of an artists’ retreat, she’s excited to put together a series of desserts for a group of performers s. However, things go awry when the delivery is over, and she stumbles upon the body of her newly dead client. To top things off, her personal life is in shreds when she accidentally hurts some feelings of a close friend and her boyfriend is barely touching base. Determined to bake her way through her personal woes, Winnie throws herself into work… and a murder investigation.
I absolutely love this series. The characters are quirky and fun, and the desserts always sound tasty. Sadly, Winnie was down in the dumps from the start, but it somehow made the entire story drag along. Even though it was chugging along, it was still charming, and I enjoyed watching the characters interact with each other. It’s so much fun because I feel like I learn a little bit more about the cast of characters with each book even though I’ve been following them since day one. It keeps things fresh while remaining realistic.
It’ll be interesting to see how Winnie’s relationship with Jay’s daughter progresses from here. I understand her jealous response to her dad hitting the dating scene for the first time in her life, but she’s really getting on my last nerve. I’m glad that Winnie and Jay plan to try and get through her shenanigans together, but I have to say that it was a real delight when Winnie met one of her friends and they got to see that Winnie isn’t some vile person. I hope that she matures as the books progress. She may be a teenager, but she’s old enough to know that there’s a thin line between respectfully hating someone and just being vile herself.
All in all, I had fun reading this installment. I’m interested in seeing what mysteries Laura Bradford will cook up for the next book and where the characters will go from here. Winnie and company are just one big mostly happy family and I enjoy reading about their lives and adventures.
I absolutely love this series. The characters are quirky and fun, and the desserts always sound tasty. Sadly, Winnie was down in the dumps from the start, but it somehow made the entire story drag along. Even though it was chugging along, it was still charming, and I enjoyed watching the characters interact with each other. It’s so much fun because I feel like I learn a little bit more about the cast of characters with each book even though I’ve been following them since day one. It keeps things fresh while remaining realistic.
It’ll be interesting to see how Winnie’s relationship with Jay’s daughter progresses from here. I understand her jealous response to her dad hitting the dating scene for the first time in her life, but she’s really getting on my last nerve. I’m glad that Winnie and Jay plan to try and get through her shenanigans together, but I have to say that it was a real delight when Winnie met one of her friends and they got to see that Winnie isn’t some vile person. I hope that she matures as the books progress. She may be a teenager, but she’s old enough to know that there’s a thin line between respectfully hating someone and just being vile herself.
All in all, I had fun reading this installment. I’m interested in seeing what mysteries Laura Bradford will cook up for the next book and where the characters will go from here. Winnie and company are just one big mostly happy family and I enjoy reading about their lives and adventures.
beachbumbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Although not the most exciting state Ohio that is (sorry buckeye’s...in my defense i'm also from the not so exciting state of Illinois) Silver Lake, Ohio is another story. I was excited to see Winnie and the gang again...ok, ok, ok, I really wanted to ride around more in the ambulance or “emergency squad” mobile. So, upon arriving and hearing we had a big delivery...I was super excited. Then when she explained the order...I was beyond excited!! I mean a magician, mime, poet, puppeteer, and comedian...if you knew me right now you would get how excited I was lol. Like thinking and plotting how I could run away with this eccentric group. Things took a downward spin and left me rethinking my getaway when we found the organizer of the event dead. I realized right away IT HAD TO BE one of the five entertainers. That will sober up grand illusions really quick. Winnie wanted to find out the truth, and it didn’t take long to figure out that everyone had a secret and a reason for wanting Sally Dearfield dead. Once again, I knew I was in for a wild ride!!...
My thoughts:
STAT, STAT, STAT, CODE RED if you have not checked out this series...STAT!! What a different fun premise. The irony of an ambulance that usually signifies hurt, illness, tragedy to be used for something good is so awesome!! But it is the whole concept...an emergency dessert...with a funny descriptive name (based on the emergency), transported by ambulance and delivered on a stretcher. Even an IV is included...of course the bag is filled with icing. I love her “senior” friends, and all their “ailments” and shenanigans. The mystery was well done. I thought it would be easy to deduce with only 5 suspects, but Bradford was able to weave an intricate plot. The recipes in this book sound mouth-watering and made me want to go on a sweet binge. There goes my diet...thanks Laura...thanks...sigh... lol. I was frustrated with her relationship with Jay, and even more so Jay’s daughter Caroline. I get the jealousy (her dad starting to date), but i'm ready to see the relationship grow or fizzle out.
For more book fun subscribe to my blog @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
My thoughts:
STAT, STAT, STAT, CODE RED if you have not checked out this series...STAT!! What a different fun premise. The irony of an ambulance that usually signifies hurt, illness, tragedy to be used for something good is so awesome!! But it is the whole concept...an emergency dessert...with a funny descriptive name (based on the emergency), transported by ambulance and delivered on a stretcher. Even an IV is included...of course the bag is filled with icing. I love her “senior” friends, and all their “ailments” and shenanigans. The mystery was well done. I thought it would be easy to deduce with only 5 suspects, but Bradford was able to weave an intricate plot. The recipes in this book sound mouth-watering and made me want to go on a sweet binge. There goes my diet...thanks Laura...thanks...sigh... lol. I was frustrated with her relationship with Jay, and even more so Jay’s daughter Caroline. I get the jealousy (her dad starting to date), but i'm ready to see the relationship grow or fizzle out.
For more book fun subscribe to my blog @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
apoppyinthewind's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0