On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
Flourless to Stop Him (A Baker’s Treat Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Kansas
Berkley (May 5, 2015)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425252604
Kindle ASIN: B00O2BKL5C
It’s never a good time for a crisis. Toni’s busy whipping up gluten-free holiday treats when a murder forces her to put baking on the back burner. A dead man has been found in the bathtub of a local inn—in a room registered to her brother, Tim.
With her sibling now a prime suspect in a mysterious homicide, Toni is determined to find out who set him up. But she’s about to get some unwanted assistance from former investigative journalist Grandma Ruth, who won’t let anything slow her progress in running down a killer…
Isn’t that cover wonderful??
Gluten-free bakery owner Toni Holmes is busy filling orders and serving walk-in customers. If she can sell enough cookies and cakes for the holidays she just may be able to get through the lack of sales when everyone goes on a diet in the new year. Her whole plan is turned inside out when a man is found dead in a hotel room registered to her brother Tim. She tried to stay out of the investigation, but when her brother is arrested Toni with a big push from her Grandma Ruth try to solve the murder themselves. At this point Toni decides sleep is overrated, she can bake and take down a killer. She’ll sleep after the holidays because by then her customers will be on that diet she has planned for anyway.
To Toni family is everything, but they do get to be a little much. She lives in a big Victorian house, she inherited with the stipulation that any family member could live there any time they needed to and bring their families. Her brother Tim had just moved out and into his own place, but her cousin Mindy has shown up without much explanation. Grandma Ruth lives in senior housing but she takes off on her scooter day or night, right down the middle of the road and drives herself right into the house. She also shows up at the bakery but Toni makes her leave the scooter outside. Toni would do anything for her family but she really needs a break.
Ms. Parra has created some very enjoyable characters. Grandma Ruth brings the humor and Toni tries to keep everyone and everything on track. The girl needs to learn to ask for help. I really love Toni, she smart and her passion for baking gluten-free treats has to be admired. My favorite character though is Grandma Ruth. I wish I had her spunk and energy.
The mystery is so well written. Finding the truth was difficult but Toni didn’t give up. Circumstantial evidence was overwhelming and it was puzzling to try to determine whodunit and why Tim was being framed.
I spent my entire Sunday afternoon glued to these pages, but the ending for me was bittersweet. The story was entertaining and interesting but I hated to reach the last page because I knew it would be the last time I would be reading about these characters. I don’t think the author was done writing about them either but one of the pitfalls in the publishing world is series’ we love ending too soon. I really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with Toni and her family.
Find out more about Nancy J. Parra/Nancy Coco and her books on her webpage here.
I am giving away my copy!
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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.”
Thank you for your review on “Flourless to Stop Him” by Nancy J. Parra and bringing this book to my attention!
Love the title! Love the adorable cover! Love to have the opportunity to read the book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy. <3
Thanks so much for the review. I haven’t had the opportunity to read any of Nancy J. Parra/Nancy Coco’s books. This won’t be for long.
I love this cover, thank you for the chance to win a copy of this cozy.
wfnren at aol dot com
I really want this book!
This sounds like a fun book! I really like this genre.