Red Velvet Revenge by Jenn McKinlay
Narrated by Susan Boyce
Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery #4
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Publication Date: January 31, 2017
Date Read: May 18, 2018
Length: 6 hours 49 minutes
Source: Library via Hoopla
★★★★☆
It may be summertime, but sales at Fairy Tale Cupcakes are below zero–and owners Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are willing to try anything to heat things up. So when local legend Slim Hazard offers them the chance to sell cupcakes at the annual Juniper Pass rodeo, they’re determined to rope in a pretty payday!
But not everyone at the Juniper Pass is as sweet for Fairy Tale Cupcakes as Slim–including star bull-rider Ty Stokes. Mel and Angie try to steer clear of the cowboy’s short fuse, but when his dead body is found face down in the hay, it’s a whole different rodeo.
With a vengeful murderer on the loose, the ladies are quickly realizing that while they came to save their business, they may have to save themselves–and that’s no bull.
I had a great time listening to this cozy mystery! I have been slowly working my way through this series after picking up the first book in the series not quite a year ago. This is the fourth book in the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries and while it can be read as a stand alone readers of the series will appreciate checking in with the cast of characters. I found myself quickly caught up in this mystery and I may have developed a mild craving for cupcakes before reaching the end of the story.
This installment takes the cupcake crew to the rodeo. I have to tell you that this development worried me a bit since sometimes when a series hits the road it looses some of its charm. There was no need to worry since the key characters went on this trip together so I didn’t find myself missing anyone. The Juniper Pass rodeo had its own quirky group of characters including the man who runs the operation, the unpleasant rodeo star, and the owners of the food truck serving Barbecue right next to the Fairy Tale Bakery’s cupcake truck.
Of course, there were a few problems for the crew to work out. There was a shooting at the rodeo’s parade injuring Slim, then the rodeo star is murdered, and to top things off someone has sabotaged the cupcake bakery’s food truck. Nobody knows if these events are connected but Melanie and her friends are in the middle of it all especially since they were the ones to discover the bull rider’s body. There are some developments between Tate and Angie that kept the story interesting on the romantic front.
Susan Boyce continues to do a fabulous job with this series. I love the voices that she uses for this quirky group of characters. She really does a great job in bringing the story to life and is able to add a lot of excitement to the reading. Ms. Boyce has a very pleasant reading voice and I had no problem listening to her narration for hours at a time. I look forward to listening to more of her work in the future.
I would recommend this series to others. This book is filled with great characters and a mystery that kept me guessing. I also love the fact that we get to see enough of the dessert making process to make the cupcake bakery seem real (and to make me crave a few desserts). I can’t wait to start the next book in the series very soon!
About the AuthorNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jenn McKinlay is the author of About a Dog, the Library Lover’s mysteries, the Cupcake Bakery mysteries, and the Hat Shop mysteries.
I do want to try this series at some point. Yes, there is that niggle when a new setting is introduced. I've had a few books in favorite series not do well for that reason. This one was a lucky one, though, and still gave you a good story.
Sometimes when the go out of town they tend to leave some of the charm behind but they took all the important pieces with them in this one.
I love Red Velvet cakes! And it sounds like I would need snacks on standby while reading this mystery 🙂
I did find myself thinking about cupcakes and cake pops while listening to this one.
These sound good and I love the author. But why haven't you started her Library Lover's Mysteries 🙂
I think that I want to finish up with this series before jumping into her Library Lover's series but I do plan to work it in at some point.
it's been a while since I haven't read one but I love cozy mystery!
They are fun every once in a while 🙂
Now I want a cake pop!!
I always want a cake pop!
Mmm, now I want red velvet cupcakes! I haven't made those in awhile and think I might need to do that… right now… haha! I haven't heard of this series or the author, but it sounds super cute! It's always great when the mystery keeps you on your toes, too. Thanks for sharing!
L @ Do You Dog-ear?
The series has been a lot of fun, Lindsi, and I love all of the cupcake references!
You know what…I have never even had a red velvet cupcake!
I think you need to get yourself a red velvet cupcake right away!
I need to try this series!
It has been a lot of fun, Stormi!
I just read the most recent book in the series and really enjoyed. I think I've only read the first 2 but haven't read any in between. Audio sounds like a pretty great way to get through the rest. This sounds like a lot of fun and I love McKinlay's cast of characters.
Susan Boyce does a great job with this series, Katherine! If your library has Hoopla, these books are offered through that app.