Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am so excited to have Jenn here today! She actually writes some of the most tasty cozies I have ever read! They are all fun mysteries and I am always anxiously awaiting the next book in every series. She has just started a newsletter with recipes, book chat, and miscellaneous…because you can’t have too much miscellaneous! You can sign up here.
Help yourself to a cupcake and help me welcome Jenn to Cozy Wednesday. Seems her characters got a little out of control.
Hi Jenn!
Hi Everyone!
When I sat down to write Red Velvet Revenge, 
When the mercury creeps up and hovers around 114 day after day, when you lose half your body weight in sweat just walking from the parking lot to the grocery store, when the bottom layers of your flip-flops melt to the sidewalk because you’re not moving fast enough, that is summer in the desert and it is not for the weak.
As I wrote the opening scene, however, my characters ganged up on me. Angie, Mel, Marty, Oz, and Tate would not speak to me if I made them sweat out the summer in Scottsdale. Still, I refused to change the setting. I was the boss, right? Yeah, right.
They clammed up. They were giving me what every author dreads – the silent treatment. I tried to negotiate. They were having none of it if it involved a summer in the city. When I asked them what they expected, they declared they were acquiring a cupcake van and were going to a rodeo. Huh? No way! I refused to write it, but they badgered and they haggled, they wailed and they whined. I won’t tell you who the biggest whiner was, but let’s just say he’s not known for his thick head of hair.
Sometimes an author has no choice but to rise to the challenge presented to them and so finally, after some pouting of my own, I agreed. With a newly tricked out cupcake van, we were off. Having lived in Arizona for the past twenty years, there aren’t many corners of this state that I haven’t visited. The town of JuniperPass mentioned in Red Velvet Revenge
Don’t tell my characters that I said so, because I don’t want them to get too bossy, but they were right. A vacation out of Scottsdale was a great idea and a rodeo, which celebrates the history and lore of the cowboy, was a fun way to escape the heat. Unfortunately, we were just beginning to enjoy ourselves when we had a run in with the “Bubbas”, a pair of barbecue butt-heads, and then our friend Slim Hazard got shot. But the vacation didn’t really take a downward turn until our buddy Oz had a face off with a runaway bull and the star of the rodeo Ty Stokes, that ego-maniacal bull rider, was murdered.
So much for the cupcake crew’s restful respite from the heat. I tried to tell them I had nothing to do with it, especially when Angie blasted me with her most fearsome stink eye. But as I pointed out to them, what’s a vacation without a little murder and mayhem?
Thanks so much for letting me visit today, Lori. It’s always a pleasure. Yee haw!
~Jenn
Thank you Jenn for stopping by! I hope you will come back soon!!
About This Author
Jenn McKinlay is the NYT bestselling author of the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries and the Library Lover’s Mysteries. She also writes under the names Lucy Lawrence and Josie Belle. Check out her website. Find Jenn on Facebook and Twitter Don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter.
Red Velvet Revenge
(Cupcake Bakery Mystery)
4th in Series
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Jeff Fitz-Maurice
Cover Design by Lesley Worrell
288 pages
Fairy Tale Cupcakes is hitting the road and headed for a rodeo! Off to sell their cupcakes to some cowpokes sounds like fun, but this is not the getaway any of them had in mind. Hang on tight the ride is wild!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I have warned you before and it is still true. You will crave cupcakes while reading this marvelous mystery so be sure to have some handy. That was the case with every book in this series!
Jenn has whipped up another delectable treat for our reading pleasure. The Arizona heat has hit the midwest this summer though we never hit the 114 degrees the characters suffered in this story. My grandma always said that our heat is worse because we have high humidity and Arizona has dry heat 🙂 I enjoyed this story comforted by nonstop air conditioning but I am glad their heat drove them north for the rodeo. All the characters shined in the new setting. You can’t go wrong when you match cowboys and cupcakes with murder and mayhem.
Oz again was my favorite character. You won’t believe what he does with his new cupcake creations. There were also a few unexpected surprises with a couple of other characters. Jenn adds the perfect amount of humor and romance to her mysteries.
I do think this is the best book in this series. I was sad when it ended. The author has included some wonderful recipes to help us bide our time.
Again she gives us just a tasty tidbit of the next book in the series. I can’t wait to take a big bite of Going, Going, Ganache 
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!
U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Sound like a yummy series. Dee
Hi Jenn, It’s nice to meet you. I haven’t read any of your books yet, but I’m excited to start the series! Love the cute covers & the plots & recipes sound delish!
I’m a fan of both your Cupcake and your Library Lover series, so I can’t wait to read this latest adventure. Thanks.
Jenn – I love your books! I know whenever I need a good read all I have to do is pick up one of your books. Red Velvet is my favorite cake flavor. Can’t wait to read the new book.
Based on the reviews from Dollycas and the above, I am going to read one of your books next.
Red velvet is my favorite flavor along with plain old vanilla/birthday cake. I wonder if I would crave a cupcake while I was reading this book? Sounds so interesting that I guess I’ll have to find out!
This book sounds awesome.
Hi Jenn,
I lucked out on an advance copy and would love to win the finished book to match the first two of the series that are in place of show on my burgeoning bookcases. I do love your stories and your writing. I hope you continue doing this until YOU decide it’s time to stop.
I, and all your fans will follow you forever.
The book sounds fantastic…Thank you so much…
Hi Jenn,
I’m right now just starting to read the cupcake bakery series and I love it. Im about to read buttercream bump off soon. I’m currently reading your book due or die and will finish it today I started it yesterday. So that’s a record for me and thats how much I loved the book I could’nt stop reading it. Thanks so much
This sounds like an incredibly fun read and I love anything cake, be it cup or and entire building sculpture LOL Thank you for sharing with us today. I am looking forward to meet this group of fun characters and enjoying the rodeo 😉
Sounds like an awesome read. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
Ashley @ Dr. Pepper Diva
I would luv to have a copy of Revelvet Revenge,I really enjoy the receipes.
How many pounds am I going to gain due to eating cupcakes while reading this book? Sounds like great fun.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds delicious! On my wishlist already.
Gosh – AZ’s heat sounds like something I don’t think I’d like to experience anytime in the near future!!
This sounds like a fantastic (and delicious) series. Thank you for the chance.
Sending lots of cool thoughts your way 🙂
Cupcakes and a cozy! Yum! I can’t wait to read it.
Looks like another fun addition to your cupcake series- I can’t wait to read it! I have to say, I just finished reading the second book in your librarian series, and I really liked it!
Have not read any of this series but they are on my wish list. This pne sounds really good.
Hi Jenn, I haven’t read any of your books yet as you are a new author to me. Your book covers look yummy! I would be delighted to win a copy and dive right in!
Blessings!
Would love to win. I’ve enjoyed all of Jenn’s books and the recipes and food always sound delicious! Thanks so much.
Jenn I LOVE your books! The cupcake recipes always make me hungry. I need to try baking some of them some time.
and I have gotten several of my coworkers hooked on your books too
You have some very quirky and pushy characters in your books and they do sound like fun characters.
I can’t wait to read your series. It sounds awesome. Tore923@aol.com
Looks like a great book. Can’t wait to read itl.
Red velvet..why as a Southern Belle~that is a favorite cake at Holidays, Church potlucks.. really Jenn,anytime I can have a slice! Your cupcake series is on my TRB list pronto! Thanks Jenn(and Dolly’s awesome Blog and Post) for this chance to win a copy. I wish you Happy Writing and Developing your Characters.
Cyndee Thomas
p.s. going to the Women’s Club meeting! I am sure to enjoy Mary Sue’s Red Velvet Cake. I shall suggest your book and try her hand at a cupcake version!
Like the sound of the book
GloriaDeal@aol.com
i would love to start reading this series. i’m glad you visited here. Great post
Wonderful post to read! Very amusing and it definitely has me adding this book to my TBR list! Looking forward to reading this book and others by Jenn 🙂
Those cupcakes look delish. My two favorite things, a good book and a good snack!
Hello Jenn,
I love cupcakes and horses and cowboys and rodeos just a little less. Sounds like a wonderful read. I can’t wait to taste it.
Hi Jenn,
I love your books. Who does your beautiful cover art for your books?
Elisa
Cupcakes, cowboys, what could be better. I want to read this whole series. I love red velvet cake so it is a sure thing for the cupcakes. Thank you for writing this series.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Got all the good things here Jenn the cupcakes and the cozy mystery and the cowboys . Three of my favorite things that I like. Angie blasted some fearsome stink eye . What is that all about? Cant wait to find out.
amhengst at verizon dot net
What a yummy title, I cannot wait to “dig in”!
Yum, cupcakes….I’ve never been in Arizona in the summer, but have heard plenty of stories from my brother and sister-in-law. I love hot sunny summers, so I think I might like it?!? This sounds like a good book, thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks, Lori, for inviting me and everyone else for the kind words. I escaped the AZ heat and went
to Canada where I got to wear a sweatshirt and be cold. It was lovely! I’m home now and
sweating again. Ugh! Happy weekend, everyone!