Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Shadow Mountain Publishing via Edelweissplus, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own.
An unexpected romance. A haunting mystery. Pastries to die for.
Synopsis:
When Claire Walker is selected to be a contestant on the immensely popular cooking show, Britain’s Battle of the Bakers, she is thrilled. She can’t wait to spend eight enchanting weeks baking at the picturesque estate of Blackfirth Park. She can almost smell the fresh pastries wafting through the air as she and her fellow contestants use historical equipment to bring pre-1900s recipes to life. If she can win the fifty thousand pounds, she’ll be able to ditch her teaching job and launch her baking career.
The Viscount of Colburn, Jonathan Ainsley, is the custodian of Blackfirth Park and an eligible bachelor. With his family’s income dwindling, he reluctantly agrees to host the entire production team, but he refuses to participate since he’s had enough of single women who see him as nothing more than a potential conquest. But when a contestant is found dead soon after filming begins, Jonathan is forced to get involved. To make matters worse, the baker’s death is eerily similar to the legendary death of the tenth Viscountess of Colburn two hundred and fifty years earlier, which sends rumors racing through the estate.
Even as suspicion falls on some of the bakers, a decidedly different kind of heat begins to simmer between Claire and Jonathan. If they are to have any hope of a future romance, they must first solve the mystery before the show gets canceled or someone else falls prey to the Blackfirth Park ghost.
Review:
Yes, books about cooking show contests have been a dime a dozen lately, BUT nearly all forget about the setting of the original series across the pond, and the landowners there, who generally have inherited a house and lands and not the funds to keep them as they should! With this story we not only get to see behind the scenes as the producers appear to not have the contestants safety ahead of telling a good gothic tale, but also the case of the landed gentry and why they are having to host such a show, and how their lives are affected by it to. In this case though, it's a strong connection for teacher Clair and Lord Jonathan when they meet, offering a touch of chick lit romance into the cozy mystery mix. I'm not sure who is the better character int his book, as even Jonathan's sister and cousin feel like people you want to know, as do most of the contestants! This charming cozy will worm it's way into your heart, have you laughing and sighing, and reading long into the night. I do hope this book turns into a series featuring Clair and Jonathan's family (aka dreams can come true!).
About the Author:
Rebecca Connolly is the author of more than two dozen novels. She calls herself a Midwest girl, having lived in Ohio and Indiana. She’s always been a bookworm, and her grandma would send her books almost every month so she would never run out. Book Fairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place. She received a master’s degree from West Virginia University.
Comments
Post a Comment