Bucolic Rumford, Kentucky has glowing fields of bluegrass, a fine selection of bourbons, and now a professional pastry chef. Broken-hearted Sophia Cummings has come home from New York City. She’s not there a minute before she’s charmed into making her high school friend Charlotte’s wedding cake. The kitchen at the Rumford Country Club seems perfect until Chef Emile’s body is discovered, sprawled near the stove, a cast iron skillet on the floor close by.
With one look at the shiny, new frying pan, Sophia knows it’s not Emile’s. She offers her knowledge to Sheriff Carter and her talents to Evelyn, the manager, who needs an interim chef. The mood in the country club is grim: Emile’s peppery personality had burned members and staff alike. Sophia wonders which one of them burned him?
Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and JoAnna Carl, Cake and Punishment―with authentic Southern recipes!―will satisfy your sweet tooth. (Summary via Goodreads)
Grab a glass of sweet tea or a cookie before you pick up Cake & Punishment by Maymee Bell. You will want a sweet treat while you are reading it !! ( You can thank me later....)
Cake & Punishment introduces you to Sophia Cummings who returns home for a "short" visit after catching her boyfriend in the act. She thinks that she is only home for a short time to mend her broken heart but her mama, Bitsy, has a completely different plan.
Within a matter of a New York minute of being back home in Rumford, Kentucky Sophia has agreed to make a wedding cake for her friend Charlotte. As they are discussing the cake at the Country Club, they happen upon the body of Emile, the head cook of the Country Club.
All Sophia wants to do is make Charlotte's wedding cake but when the manager of the Country Club hits the top of the list of murder suspects, she finds herself knee deep in investigating. This puts her in hot water with the Sheriff. Unfortunately Bitsy and friends are hoping to keep Sophia and the Sheriff together personally ..... not professionally.
I just LOVED the Southern town feel of Cake & Punishment !!! And having the main character a baker who only wants to bake treats and make everyone feel good is always a win in my book. The relationships that develop throughout the story leave the reader looking forward to the next installment of The Southern Cake Baker Mystery series. I, for one, cannot wait to see what recipe Sophia bakes up.....
I love that some cozy mystery books include recipes in the back of the book and with Cake & Punishment I took advantage of that. My mom and I baked up Kentucky Derby Pie which was featured in the story and I can say it was a winner !!!! Take a look.....
Review by Missi S.
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