When a breakup via cupcake threatens to crumble their friend’s life for good, Mel and Angie race to solve the murder as this New York Times bestselling series continues… Love is in the air at Fairy Tale Cupcakes as Angie prepares for her wedding, but co-owner, Mel, is preparing for a breakup. Her old friend, Diane Earnest, is dumping her fiancé after discovering he’s only marrying her for her … discovering he’s only marrying her for her money. She wants Mel to personally deliver a batch of caramel breakup cupcakes to the louse and give her a play-by-play of his reaction.
When Mel finally tracks the man down, the look on his face isn’t the reaction she was expecting: he’s dead. After the police arrive and see the incriminating cupcakes, Diane becomes their prime suspect. If she hopes to taste freedom again, Mel and Angie must make sure the real killer gets their just desserts…
INCLUDES SCRUMPTIOUS RECIPES
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Back in Arizona to find out what’s up with the crew at Fairy Tale Cupcakes! Which of course is more tasty treats, mayhem, and murder. I spent the better part of this book completely without suspect. In fact, I texted my friend with whom this was a buddy-read when I was halfway through Chapter 24 (of 26) that I finally had a person in mind. (To my credit, it was before the big reveal.) This one definitely kept me guessing. Also as has been established if you’ve read any of my reviews for previous books in this series, I remain in favor of the continued end-of-chapter cliffhangers that are a hallmark of it; it keeps me turning the pages easily. But let’s get down to brass tacks here, shall we?
What I liked about “Caramel Crush”:
The last half of the book – After struggling with the first half (for reasons listed in the following section), chapter 16 made me laugh right out loud half a dozen times. Also, the conclusion of the case, the moment of satisfaction in Chapter 26, and that closing twisty cliffhanger were dynamite. And just like that, the series I know and love wobbled and was back!
Mel and Joe – They are just the cutest. They make my heart happy. The end!
Plenty of good laughs – Marty and Oz. The mothers. The brothers. Even as I was moderately concerned about some of the points I am about to make, there is always levity which I appreciate.
What I didn’t care for:
A little too graphic for my taste – Here’s the thing with cozies: There are certain expectations I have. One of those things is that the gross-factor will be considerably toned down in comparison to, say, a thriller or standard crime mystery. There was just a smidgen too much gore in the “body discovery” scene for me, given that this is within the cozy mystery genre. Sure, there is almost always a deceased victim to be discovered, but in a cozy, there’s just no need to get overly explicit with gore. This is the first time I recall this series crossing that line for me, so I suppose we’ll see how this progresses in subsequent installments.
The new detective – I guess I just would have appreciated more if we’d gone in a new direction with character personality rather than basically just repeating the first one.
The peripheral characters – It was like Mean Girls crossed with Real Housewives (or so I would have to imagine, as I’ve never watched either). I don’t know. Suffice to say they were all awful humans.
Just when I wonder if one of my favorite cozy mystery series has derailed itself, I get reeled right back in. Full disclosure, I was all set to rate this book three stars, until the final few chapters of this book that somehow managed to make up for that list of things I didn’t care for. I have reached the conclusion, though, that I do not care for cozies where all the potential suspects are icky people. I much prefer when most of the peripheral characters are at least tolerable if not sympathetic to some degree. That is the second time this has happened in this series (also happens to be the only time I awarded a book in this series just three stars) and I am decidedly not a fan. But I am a fan of many of the other characteristics I find in this series and I will definitely be back for more. I have to know how that cliffhanger plays out
While Angie is planning her upcoming wedding, Mel from Fairy Tale Cupcakes is hired to deliver break-up cupcakes for her college roommate, Diane. But when Mel finally catches up with the man, it’s to discover his dead body. Diane quickly becomes the prime suspect so she reminds Mel that she owes Diane and asks her to find the real killer.
I’ve really enjoyed this series and this book is a prime example of why. Well-written with well-rounded characters, this book will pull you in from the start and keep you hooked until the end. There’s both action and romance in this intriguing read, and the mystery will keep you on your toes. I’m eager for the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
Great addition to this wonderfully entertaining series.
A wedding in the planning stage with a bridezilla, an old friendship rekindling and of course a murder all ensconce the cupcake shop in murder, mystery, drama and intrigue. Fantastic character development enhance a funny and intriguing plot. As Mel tries to untwist the mystery and deal with a bridezilla meltdown of epic proportions the plot unwinds while keeping you intrigued and turning pages a quickly as possible. My only complaint is that I finished the book too quickly, but the good news is that the next book is available at the library so I’m off to pick it up tomorrow!
Mel’s college roommate has finally come to collect on a favor that Mel owes her, and Diane wants Mel to deliver break up cupcakes to her ex-fiance. However, the delivery doesn’t go as planned when Mel finds Mike’s body. With the police looking at Diane as the killer, suddenly Mel finds herself with a new favor – keep Diane out of prison.
Who can you not love a book that starts out with break up cupcakes? The story that follows delivers on the promise with plenty of viable suspects and some good twists. I did feel Mel was foolish at the end of the book, but that was my only complaint. All the usual supporting characters are here, and they are their usual charming selves. I just love them! And there is one scene guaranteed to melt your heart.
Caramel Crush is a consistent offering from McKinlay with one glaring error.
If you know me, you know I love cozies, especially Jenn McKinlay cozies. I even read her series about a hat shop, though I have negative interest in hats.
The latest in her cupcake shop series, Caramel Crush offers the characteristics that I love her for. Melanie Cooper is funny, clever, and just the right amount of impulsive. Her supporting characters are diverse without being caricatures. I wish Mel was more body positive when dealing with her former fuller bodied self, but that’s still not the cultural norm, so I give her a pass.
However there is a certain backstory element in this book that was handled with naive insensitivity. It is crucial to the plot and Mel’s motivation, so I won’t give it away, but, suffice to say, there was more than embarrassment at stake.
I will still read anything McKinlay puts out because I genuinely enjoy it, but this really stuck in my craw.
Side note: I baked the Banana Foster cupcakes from the recipe in the back of the book and they were amazing.