CANR
WORK TITLE: FLOUR IN THE ATTIC
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Bourbon, Melissa; Archer, Winnie
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://misaramirez.com/
CITY:
STATE: TX
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: CA 294
http://www.themysteryreader.com/nf-ramirez.html
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1966, in CA; married Carlos Ramirez; children: four sons, one daughter.
EDUCATION:University of California at Davis, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and educator. Middle school teacher. Former elementary school teacher.
AWARDS:Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Prize; Dana Award, 2003; James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction, 2011, for The Lotus Eaters; New York Times Notable Book citation, for The Forgetting Tree.
WRITINGS
Contributor of short stories to the Quarterly, Sonora Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Sun, StoryQuarterly, Confrontation, Gulf Coast, Other Voices, Nimrod, Third Coast, and Carolina.
SIDELIGHTS
A former elementary school teacher, Misa Ramirez began her writing career with a children’s book, The Flight of the Sunflower. Illustrated by Nadine Takvorian, the book follows the path that a sunflower seed takes as it is dislodged by the wind from its parent and flies over various landscapes before taking root in the soil and starting to grow. Though she later began work on a second children’s book, Ramirez told Oklahoma City Examiner writer Mayra Calvani, “the magic wasn’t happening.” So Ramirez shifted directions, creating a detective character, Lola Cruz, to be the protagonist of a series of mystery novels.
“I wanted to write a fun, sassy, strong, smart woman who wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted most of all … a career as a detective,” said Ramirez in the interview. The character, a private detective with a small firm in Sacramento, California, debuts in Living the Vida Lola. Lola is assigned a high-profile missing person case, and the job brings her back in touch with her former crush, Jack Callaghan. Emily Diggs has disappeared, and her brother wants to know why. When Lola starts searching for clues, she finds Jack’s business card tucked into Emily’s journal. Teaming up with Jack, Lola discovers that Emily had been looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of her older son, Garrett, and suspected that a tainted tattoo—obtained at a tattoo parlor where his sister Allison works—was the cause. As Lola gets deeper into the case, she falls harder for Jack, who eventually reciprocates, but not before Lola gets into, and out of, plenty of hair-raising scrapes, including being locked inside the refrigerator at a flower shop. However, Lola is no damsel in distress waiting for a hero to rescue her from such situations, as she manages to save Jack at least once. Entertaining subplots involve Lola’s close-knit but sometimes exasperating family, who runs a local restaurant. It includes her charmingly macho brother, her teenage niece, and her meddlesome mother, who frets over Lola’s active sex life.
Living the Vida Lola, commented Lynne F. Maxwell in Mystery Scene, “has it all: murder, romance and humor.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor, on the other hand, felt that the book’s sexy content eclipsed its mystery plot. Others enjoyed the book’s tight plotting and erotic charge. Harriet Klausner, writing in Genre Go Round Reviews, enjoyed its “half-boiled noir” quality, “with a touch of romance to spice up the proceedings.” A writer for Publishers Weekly deemed the mix just right, calling the novel “a spicy blend of crime-solving and romance.” The reviewer also enjoyed Lola’s Latina perspective.
One of Ramirez’s motives in the novel, she explained to Calvani, was to show the multidimensionality of her protagonist’s culture. The author is not Latina by birth, but married into a large Mexican American family, which she used as inspiration for Lola’s background. “None of my husband’s family are ‘stereotypical’ Latinos,” said Ramirez, “They are all complex, multi-cultural individuals and I’ve learned so much from them.” Explaining that she wanted to capture this reality in the novel, the author stated: “I really wanted to have Lola be an American who was also Latina. I wanted her to balance all the different parts of who she is, all the while being true to herself.” The biggest challenge in writing about Latina characters, Ramirez said in an interview for Teacherwriter.net, “seems to be breaking free of stereotypes within ‘Latina’ fiction. I’ve had editors tell me that my characters are extremely authentic and so free of stereotypes. I take this as a huge compliment.”
Lola investigates the murder of a professional cheerleader in the third installment in the series, Bare-Naked Lola. The professional cheerleading squad, the Royals Courtside Dancers, is managed by an elegant woman named Victoria and owned by Victoria’s husband, Lance. Victoria hires Lola’s detective agency to look into threats made against the dancers, and Lola’s boss, Manny Camacho, assigns her to go undercover for the investigation. Lola begins training to be a cheerleader and meets the other women on the team, who initially treat her with disdain. When one of the dancers is killed, Lola follows the clues to a nudist resort, and she reluctantly checks in. Meanwhile, her relationship with boyfriend Jack continues to be turbulent. A contributor to the Book’d Out website asserted: “Bourbon has a great sense of humor, and this book is a quick and easy read.” A critic on the Book Lovers website suggested: “If you enjoy a good mystery with a comedic touch, made special by a feisty endearing heroine and a coterie of memorable supporting characters, you may like to give Bare-Naked Lola a try. This is the third novel in Bourbon Ramirez’s ‘Lola Cruz’ mystery series but can be read as a standalone with no difficulty.”
In 2011, Ramirez released the first book in her “Magical Dressmaking Mystery” series, written under the name, Melissa Bourbon. The series includes the volumes, Pleating for Mercy, A Fitting End, Deadly Patters: A Magical Dressmaking Mystery, A Custom-Fit Crime, A Killing Notion, and A Seamless Murder. The series’s protagonist is a small town dressmaker and amateur sleuth named Harlow Cassidy. Reviewing A Killing Notion on the So Many Reads website remarked: “The Cassidy family with their extra charms (or talents) are really interesting.”
Kneaded to Death finds Ramirez opening another series, this time using the pseudonym, Winnie Archer. This first installment in the “Bread Shop Mystery” series introduces readers to its protagonist, Ivy Culpepper, a young woman who has recently returned to the small town of Santa Sofia, CA after her mother’s untimely death. Ivy begins taking bread-making classes at a shop called Yeast of Eden, owned by Olaya Solis. When one of her classmates is killed, Ivy takes it upon herself to investigate. A writer on the Reading Is My Superpower website suggested: “If you are looking for a new cozy series to start, look no further! Mouthwatering food, a quaint setting, vivid characters, and a stunning mystery. The first person voice is engaging and perfectly styled, and there is a nice blend of humor and heart.” Debbie Wiley, reviewer on the Fresh Fiction website remarked: “Winnie Archer crafts likable, albeit slightly quirky characters that immediately draw you into the story line. The mystery itself has all sorts of intriguing twists and turns.” Wiley also described the volume as “the perfect start to a cozy mystery series.”
Crust No One finds Ivy and the other women connected to the Yeast of Eden bakery preparing for the Winter Wonderland Festival. When their produce man, Mustache Hank Rivera, unexpectedly disappears, Ivy is disappointed by the efforts made by the local authorities and decides to look into the matter herself. Meanwhile, she runs into her former flame, Miguel Baptista, and is forced to come to terms with her feelings for him.
Ivy returns in Flour in the Attic, the third installment in the “Bread Shop Mystery” series. In this volume, she looks into the murder of Marisol Ruiz, whose body turns up on the beach where Ivy’s brother, Billy, is proposing to her best friend, Sheriff Emmaline Davis. Marisol was an acquaintance of Ivy’s and the mother-in-law of Miguel’s sister, Laura. Ivy hopes that finding Marisol’s killer may have the added benefit of bringing her closer to Miguel. “Wheels within wheels power a dark-inflected cozy,” commented a Kirkus Reviews writer.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2008, review of Living the Vida Lola; June 15, 2019, review of Flour in the Attic.
Publishers Weekly, November 3, 2008, review of Living the Vida Lola, p. 41.
ONLINE
Back Porchervations, http://backporchervations.blogspot.com/ (April 8, 2014), review of A Killing Notion.
Book Lovers, https://www.bookloversinc.com/ (May 23, 2012), review of Bare-Naked Lola.
Book’d Out, https://bookdout.wordpress.com/ (May 18, 2012), review of Bare-Naked Lola.
Chasing Heroes, http://chasingheroes.com/ (October 13, 2009), Ramirez profile.
Fresh Fiction, http://freshfiction.com/ (May 15, 2017), Debbie Wiley, review of Kneaded to Death.
Genre Go Round Reviews, http://genregoroundreviews.blogspot.com/ (October 13, 2009), Harriet Klausner, review of Living the Vida Lola.
Kings River Life, http://kingsriverlife.com/ (January 20, 2018), Cynthia Chow, review of Crust No One.
Melissa Bourbon website, http://misaramirez.com (July 18, 2019).
Mystery Reader, http://www.themysteryreader.com/ (October 13, 2009), Cathy Sova, “New Faces: Misa Ramirez.”
Mystery Scene, http://www.mysteryscenemag.com/ (October 13, 2009), Lynne F. Maxwell, review of Living the Vida Lola.
Oklahoma City Examiner Online, http://www.examiner.com/ (October 13, 2009), Mayra Calvani, interview with Ramirez; Mayra Calvani, review of Living the Vida Lola.
Reading Is My Superpower, https://readingismysuperpower.org/ (March 2, 2017), review of Kneaded to Death.
Romance Bandits, http://romancebandits.blogspot.com/ (October 13, 2009), Jo Robertson, interview with Ramirez.
Romantic Times, http://www.romantictimes.com/ (October 13, 2009), Page Traynor, review of Living the Vida Lola.
So Many Reads, http://www.somanyreads.com/ (April 28, 2014), review of A Killing Notion.
Teacherwriter.net, http://teacherwriter.net/ (October 13, 2009), interview with Ramirez.
Winnie Archer website, http://winniearcher.com (July 18, 2019).
Melissa Bourbon is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, and the Bread Shop Mystery Series, written as Winnie Archer, as well as a few top secret projects. Her dogs, Bean, the pug, Dobby, the chug, and Jasper, a cattle dog/lab keep her company while she writes.
Questions and Answers
Q. You are Latina by marriage, and have one daughter and four sons. To what extent did your family influence your decision to make your protagonist Latina?
How important was it that Lola identifies with her Latina roots?
A. Lola was greatly influenced by my love of my husband’s native culture. He’s first generation Mexican-American.
The more I thought about Lola, the more I wanted to develop her as a woman straddling two cultures. I wanted her to be a character that lived the basic type of life that my own children do. They are Americans, but the Mexican culture infuses certain parts of their lives, most fundamentally through their experiences and relationships with their aunts, uncles and cousins who have similar upbringings and backgrounds.
I created Lola to be a non-stereotypical Latina, someone like my daughter, who’s smart and strong, who loves her family for who they are, and who is not afraid to live the life she chooses, even if that life is different than the one her parents want for her. As for my boys, I wanted to show them some behind-the-scenes elements of a strong woman and how she can be uncompromising, loving, and so much more.
Q. One of the most compelling aspects of the book was the heat between
Jack Callaghan and Lola. Despite her overwhelming attraction to Jack,
Lola is determined to remain true to herself at all costs. Why was it
important for you to create such a dynamic between the two of them?
A. I love the idea of Lola finding love, but she has to find it on her terms. Living the Vida Lola is really half mystery / half romance. The romance, though, is an ongoing situation with a larger arc than one book. Lola has to find a way to balance her personal goals, her family, and her values with the man she loves and his expectations. Also, how her romance with Jack develops or doesn’t develop directly influences her mystery-solving. It ups the stakes for Lola because she’s not just fighting for the people she’s working for; she’s also fighting for her own future, even as it’s still developing.
Lola–just like me, and my daughter, and all women out there–is about so much more than love and a man! Love makes everything sizzle, but Lola has to find happiness with herself first and that was essential to me.
Q. The Cruz family is very close; what was the inspiration behind this
closeness?
A. When I first married my husband, I was enthralled [and sometimes overwhelmed!] by his family–he’s one of seven who are close in age and are all strong personalities. I came from a small [two brothers] family so the Ramirez family gatherings were unusual to me–like parties every weekend!
Carlos’s sister, Gloria, has become my best friend, and I see her as my sister as much as if we were blood. Her two boys are my oldest boys’ greatest friends. That type of sibling/friendship, as well as the inherent closeness and respect, were the very things I wanted to try to capture and highlight in the Lola Cruz Mystery Series [though, of course, Lola’s family is entirely different than my husband’ Carlos’s!].
Q. Families portrayed outside of the Cruz clan in the book are riddled
with problems: parents abandoning children and husbands abandoning
their wives. Why this contrast?
A. In a way, Lola’s family is the “ideal”. It has its problems like any other family, but this doesn’t affect Lola’s love for them.
Jack Callaghan’s family, by comparison, is different. The contrast between his family and Lola’s hopefully illustrates that despite the dysfunctions Jack grew up with and his own personal failures, he still recognizes the value of family [through la familia Cruz]. That is part of his attraction to Lola. She embodies the values he didn’t have growing up, and that he wants to create in his own life.
As to the others, well, it’s a mystery, and death and mysteries and such stem from dysfunctions!
Q. What is next for Lola?
A. Oh, Lola has SO many great adventures coming up! In Dead Girl Walking, book two in the series, her identity is stolen, her mafioso grandfather ropes her into investigating her cousin’s marriage, and heartthrob boss Manny Camacho assigns her a new case that makes her question people’s ability to commitment.
In book 3, Bare Naked Ladies, Lola’s battling, well, bare naked ladies–at a nudist resort. Among other things, the question is, will she or won’t she get naked herself?! And what will Jack Callaghan think about that?
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, is a middle school teacher by day, and a writer by night. She lives lives in an inspiring century old house in North Texas and loves being surrounded by real-life history. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.
She is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, and the upcoming Bread Shop Mystery Series. She also has written two romantic suspense novels, a light paranormal romance, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox, a practical marketing guide for authors.
Professional Bio:
The indefatigable Winnie Archer is a middle school teacher by day and a writer by night. Born in a beach town in California, she now lives in an inspiring century-old house in North Texas and loves being surrounded by real-life history. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with both yoga and chocolate, adores pumpkin spice lattes, is devoted to her five kids and husband, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams. Visit her online at WinnieArcher.com.
Winnie Archer is the pseudonym for national bestselling author Melissa Bourbon. Learn more at http://melissabourbon.com.
A pseudonym used by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams. She is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL, and co-author (with Tonya Kappes) of The Tricked Out Toolbox.
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery
New Books
July 2019
(hardback)
What Lola Wants
(Lola Cruz Mystery, book 4)
Series
Lola Cruz Mystery
1. Living the Vida Lola (2008)
2. Hasta La Vista, Lola (2010)
3. Bare-Naked Lola (2012)
4. What Lola Wants (2019)
The Lola Cruz Christmas Story (2010)
Magical Dressmaking Mystery
1. Pleating for Mercy (2011)
2. A Fitting End (2012)
3. Deadly Patterns (2012)
4. A Custom Fit Crime (2013)
5. A Killing Notion (2014)
6. A Seamless Murder (2015)
Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
aka Melissa Bourbon
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and cant believe shes lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.
She is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox and two romantic suspense novels to be released in 2012.
Picture Books
The Flight of the Sunflower (2002)
Non fiction
The Tricked Out Toolbox (2012) (with Tonya Kappes)
Winnie Archer
The indefatigable Winnie Archer is a middle school teacher by day and a writer by night. Born in a beach town in California, she now lives in an inspiring century-old house in North Texas and loves being surrounded by real-life history. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with both yoga and chocolate, adores pumpkin spice lattes, is devoted to her five kids and husband, and can't believe she's lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.
Genres: Cozy Mystery
New Books
August 2019
(paperback)
Flour in the Attic
(Bread Shop Mystery, book 4)
Series
Bread Shop Mystery
1. Kneaded to Death (2017)
2. Crust No One (2017)
3. The Walking Bread (2018)
4. Flour in the Attic (2019)
Melissa Bourbon, the author of the Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name, Misa Ramirez. She gave up teaching middle school and high school kids in Northern California to write full time amid horses and Longhorns in North Texas.
The indefatigable Winnie Archer is a middle school teacher by day and a writer by night. Born in a beach town in California, she now lives in an inspiring century-old house in North Texas and loves being surrounded by real-life history. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with both yoga and chocolate, adores pumpkin spice lattes, is devoted to her five kids and husband, and can't believe she's lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams. Visit her online at WinnieArcher.com.
Winnie Archer is the pseudonym for national bestselling author Melissa Bourbon. Learn more at http://melissabourbon.com.
QUOTED: "Wheels within wheels power a dark-inflected cozy."
Archer, Winnie: FLOUR IN THE ATTIC
Kirkus Reviews. (June 15, 2019):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Archer, Winnie FLOUR IN THE ATTIC Kensington (Adult Fiction) $7.99 8, 27 ISBN: 978-1-4967-2439-7
A baker turns sleuth to solve a murder with overabundant clues.
Ivy Culpepper (The Walking Bread, 2018, etc.) is bummed when her best friend Emmaline Davis' beachside marriage proposal to Ivy's brother, Billy, is interrupted by the discovery of the body of Marisol Ruiz floating near the shore. But Ivy's pique goes nuclear when Sheriff Emmaline reveals that Marisol had been strangled before being dumped in the water. Marisol had been a fixture at Baptista's Cantina and Grill, where she was not only a beloved longtime employee, but the mother of Sergio Morales, the husband of Miguel Baptista's sister, Laura. Miguel not only owns Baptista's, but has a long-term lease on Ivy's heart: The two were high school sweethearts before Ivy temporarily lost her mind, moved to Austin, and married no-good Luke Holden. Now divorced from Luke and working at Yeast of Eden, an artisanal bakery in her hometown of Santa Sofia, Ivy wants Miguel back. What better way to return to her man's good graces than to find the lowdown dog who killed his sister's mother-in-law? Unfortunately, the path to the killer is cluttered. Marisol had been acting strangely since the recent death of her own father, turning away from her second husband, David, and writing urgent messages to her ex-husband, Johnny Morales. She quarreled with some of her children and changed her will. But nobody could have anticipated the depravity Ivy uncovers when she learns of the nasty secret at the heart of Marisol's murder.
Wheels within wheels power a dark-inflected cozy.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Archer, Winnie: FLOUR IN THE ATTIC." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2019. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A588726955/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=dde8f805. Accessed 12 July 2019.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A588726955
Crust No One By Winnie Archer: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post
IN THE January 20 ISSUE
FROM THE 2018 Articles,
andCynthia Chow,
andFood Fun,
andMysteryrat's Maze SECTIONS
by Cynthia Chow
& Winnie Archer
This week we have a review of another fun food mystery, Crust No One, by Winnie Archer. We also have a fun food guest post by Winnie. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Crust No One, and a link to purchase it from Amazon and an indie bookstore where a portion goes to help support KRL.
Crust No One: A Bread Shop Mystery By Winnie Archer
Review by Cynthia Chow
It took the death of her mother to finally bring Ivy Culpepper back to Santa Sofia, California, but that tragedy led to her finally feeling she was home. A professional photographer, Ivy has also found delight working in the Yeast of Eden bakery, under the tutelage of master magical baker Olaya Solis. The uncharacteristic disappearance of the produce delivery man Mustache Hank Rivera calls to Ivy’s third unexpected talent, that of a sleuthing, part-time Nancy Drew.
While Ivy’s best friend Deputy Sheriff Emmaline Davis has no actual evidence to conduct a Missing Persons investigation, few would argue that Mustache Hank’s actions are normal. Those in the minority include his ex-wife as well as his old high school girlfriend, both of whom blame the other for his leaving town. Feeling responsible to take some action considering that the authorities do not, Ivy looks into his disappearance with no little instigation from octogenarian Penny Branford. One of the four friends Ivy nicknames the Blackbird Ladies – due to the pin on their hats – Mrs. Branford’s long career made her a teacher for nearly everyone in Santa Sofia, meaning that she knows their families, their struggles, and whether they may have gotten a little too far in over their heads.
In this second of the series, Ivy very reasonably and sensibly pursues her professions as baker/photographer/sleuth. She and Mrs. Branford never intrude too far into any actual police investigation, instead meeting and questioning Mustache Hanks friends as a part of being caring, if somewhat nosy, neighbors. Taking promotional pictures for Baptista’s restaurant brings Ivy’s photography skills into play, but it also places her once again in the orbit of her ex-boyfriend Miguel Baptista. They’ve never discussed the reasons he abruptly left town – and Ivy – following their high school graduation, and it remains an uncomfortable barrier between them.
What cozy readers will delight in are the descriptions of baking as Yeast of Eden prepares for the Winter Wonderland Festival, and these tasty details lighten and enliven the novel as it delves into far more somber themes. The conclusion is more than satisfying, leaving readers just as anxious to see what the future holds for Ivy and her friends. This is a novel that veers into unexpected directions while providing the right amount of warm sentiments, strong protagonist, and hints of romance.
Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).
Behind the Scenes Crust No One
by Winnie Archer
Crust No One is the second installment in The Bread Shop Mysteries. The first book, Kneaded to Death, introduced Ivy Culpepper to the world. At thirty-six, she had returned to her hometown of Santa Sofia and was promptly wrapped up in a murder investigation. Crust No One takes Ivy into a new investigation when “Mustache” Hank, a local produce man, goes missing.
Let me take a minute to tell you about Santa Sofia. It’s a fictional small seaside town, which is sort of a cross between Santa Barbara and Aptos. It is a place I’d love to live! Of course, it’s right off the Pacific Coast Highway, there’s a pier with typical beachy businesses, as well as Baptista’s Cantina and Grill, owned by Miguel Baptist (Ivy’s love interest). In the heart of the quaint town is Yeast of Eden, the local artisan bread shop. If I lived in Santa Sofia, Yeast of Eden is a place where I’d spend an awful lot of my time. The owner of the bread shop is Olaya Solis. Bread is her passion. And once Ivy Culpepper moves back home, the bread shop becomes a home away from home for her.
Winnie Archer
And then there’s Penelope Branford. She’s spunky. She has a love of velour lounge suits in every color. She’s eighty-six. And she’s Ivy’s neighbor and partner-in-investigation.
Ivy, Olaya, and Mrs. Branford = my three favorite ladies!
In fiction, it’s the details that bring a place alive. Olaya is from Mexico, which many people don’t know has a very rich tradition of bread. She brings elements of the Mexican culture into the bread shop in little ways, including the sugar skull cookies she bakes. But she doesn’t sell the sugar skull cookies; she hides them amidst the loaves and croissants and rolls. When a kid comes in and spots one of the “easter eggs,” Olaya gives it to the child. It’s a little something special she does for them, and it celebrates her culture.
If you haven’t had a sugar skull cookie (sometimes referenced as Day of the Dead), check out this video. It is truly artwork.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajy0Ll42J0s
Bread, bread, and more bread. Can there ever be enough bread? I would venture to say…NO!
To enter to win a copy of Crust No One, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “crust,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 27, 2018. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section.
QUOTED: "If you are looking for a new cozy series to start, look no further! Mouthwatering food, a quaint setting, vivid characters, and a stunning mystery. The first person voice is engaging and perfectly styled, and there is a nice blend of humor and heart."
Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer
Posted March 2, 2017 by meezcarrie in contemporary, cozy mystery, giveaway, mystery/suspense, Winnie Archer / 15 Comments
Everyone swears by Yeast of Eden, the Mexican bread shop in town. But tonight, the only thing on the menu is la muerte . . .
Struggling photographer Ivy Culpepper has lots of soul-searching to do since returning to seaside Santa Sofia, California. That is, until the thirty-six-year-old enters a bread making class at Yeast of Eden. Whether it’s the aroma of fresh conchas in the oven, or her instant connection with owner Olaya Solis, Ivy just knows the missing ingredients in her life are hidden among the secrets of Olaya’s bakery . . .
But Ivy’s spirits crumble when a missing classmate is suddenly discovered dead in her car. Even more devastating, the prime suspect is Olaya Solis herself. Doubting the woman could commit such a crime, Ivy embarks on a murder investigation of her own to prove her innocence and seize the real killer. As she follows a deadly trail of crumbs around town, Ivy must trust her gut like never before—or someone else could be toast!
SERIES: A Bread Shop Mystery #1
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
PUBLISHER: Kensington
RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2017
PAGES: 352
“Trying to act like Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher seemed like a very bad idea.”
Kneaded to Death is so much more than a cozy mystery. It’s also a story that reflects sincere grief and authentic friendship. And it will make you hungry for bread. Just sayin’.
Ivy is still grieving the tragic loss of her mother and has moved back home to Santa Sofia to be with her father and brother. The local bread shop and its unique owner Olaya Solis fill a void in Ivy’s life, and when she begins taking a bread making class from Olaya their friendship really blossoms. Despite their nearly 30 year age difference, I loved the warm affection these two have for one another. The same can be said for Penny and Ivy, though we’re looking at a 50 year age gap there. (Penny is a hoot, by the way! I want to be her when I get old.)
The mystery is exceptionally well-plotted and nicely paced, and the author has done a great job of weaving the murder investigation seamlessly throughout the rest of the plot. Since this is the first book in a new series, there is also some setting up of the backstory and the town but this never felt overdone or crammed in.
And then there’s Miguel. And bread. Both yummy. Both tempting. Both probably bad for you but so difficult to resist. Miguel is Ivy’s one that got away, her first love, and they reconnect just enough in this book to leave the door open to all kinds of deliciously romantic possibilities later in the series.
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a new cozy series to start, look no further! Mouthwatering food, a quaint setting, vivid characters, and a stunning mystery. The first person voice is engaging and perfectly styled, and there is a nice blend of humor and heart.
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some foul language in this book.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received via Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 stars / Love it!
QUOTED: "Winnie Archer crafts likable, albeit slightly quirky characters that immediately draw you into the story line. The mystery itself has all sorts of intriguing twists and turns."
"the perfect start to a cozy mystery series."
Kneaded to Death, March 2017
Bread Shop
by Winnie Archer
Kensington
Featuring: Ivy Culpepper
352 pages
ISBN: 1496707729
EAN: 9781496707727
Kindle: B01GBAG7KO
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"What secrets lurk in Santa Sofia?"
Kneaded to Death
Winnie Archer
Reviewed by Debbie Wiley
Posted May 15, 2017
Mystery Cozy
Ivy Culpepper hadn't intended to return to her hometown of Santa Sofia, but the unexpected death of her mother in a hit and run accident has brought her back to help her dad deal with the aftermath. A local bread shop, Yeast of Eden, offers Ivy some solace as she struggles to recover the inspiration that fueled her photography career. Bread making appeals to Ivy but it is the owner who draws her in and welcomes her. However, Ivy soon finds herself caught up in a mystery as someone has murdered one of the women from their bread making class. Can Ivy uncover the identity of the murderer?
Ivy's grief over her mother's death is palpable, maybe even a bit overwhelming, but it makes her reason for returning home seem all the more realistic. I love how Winnie Archer creates a sense of warmth and bonding between Ivy and two older women, Olaya Solis and Penny Branford. In fact, it is the relationships that are the heart and soul of KNEADED TO DEATH.
And oh, the atmosphere of Yeast of Eden draws the reader in! I want to sit in the warmth of the store and smell the fresh aroma of bread baking. Winnie Archer does a marvelous job at crafting an atmosphere that is both homey and comforting. You feel like you are among friends in Yeast of Eden.
KNEADED TO DEATH is the first book in A Bread Shop Mystery series, but I'm already hooked on it! Winnie Archer crafts likable, albeit slightly quirky characters that immediately draw you into the story line. The mystery itself has all sorts of intriguing twists and turns as I kept envisioning all sorts of possible scenarios. KNEADED TO DEATH is the perfect start to a cozy mystery series and easily recommended!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
BOOK REVIEW: A Killing Notion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Cozy Mystery
Published by Obsidian (April 1, 2014)
Penguin Publishing Group
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451417206
E-Book ASIN: B00F9EZBXS
Link: GoodReads
SYNOPSIS:
Harlow Jane Cassidy is swamped with homecoming couture requests. If only she didn’t have to help solve a murder, she might get the gowns off the dress forms….
Harlow is doing everything she can to expand her dressmaking business, Buttons & Bows—without letting clients know about her secret charm. When she has a chance to create homecoming dresses with a local charity and handmade mums for several high school girls—including Gracie, whose father, Will, has mended Harlow’s heart—she is ready to use her magical talents for a great cause.
But when Gracie’s date for the dance is accused of murder, Harlow knows things won’t be back on course until she helps Gracie clear the football player’s name. If Harlow can’t patch up this mess before the big game, her business and her love life might be permanently benched.
~~~oOo~~~
MY REVIEW:
In Texas they have a saying, "Go big or go home." Melissa Bourbon (Ramirez) does that in "A Killing Notion". Harlow Cassidy is a dressmaker in the town of Bliss, Texas. She is great-great-great-grand-daughter of the Butch Cassidy. (I was grateful for the family tree at the beginning of the book.) Because of this connection she has a 'gift', the ability to see people in the outfit that will usher in their destiny.
It's prom season in Texas, and all the girls are a-twitter about their 'mums'. The corsage girls used to get from their dates were made of chrysanthemums. Over the years, they have morphed into accessories that can be huge, weighing up to 20-30 pounds and requiring a frame to distribute the weight on the wearer's body. The daughter (Gracie) of Harlow's current love-interest (Will) comes into Harlow's shop, Buttons & Bows, with her boyfriend (Shane). Shane's attention to Gracie is engaging. Unfortunately, at the end of the first chapter, Shane receives news that his father has been killed in an auto accident.
Even worse, Shane becomes prime suspect. Gracie insists Shane is innocent, and Harlow believes likewise. Then, Harlow promises Gracie that she will help prove Shane's innocence. The town's sheriff (Harlow's step-father) and deputy (her step-brother) want none of her 'assistance'. (Isn't that always the way in cozy mysteries?)
There is no shortage of suspects for the crime, as it turns out many people in town (and in nearby Granbury), who could have a motive to want Shane's father dead. One of the more unusual sources of help for Harlow comes in the form of the ghost of her maternal great-grandmother, Loretta Mae. This worked for me, as the subject of the paranormal had already been introduced with Harlow's 'gift'.
Just when we think we have a handle on the story, and Harlow thinks she has a handle on the crime, a new twist appears. This happens several times, enough to keep us enrapt, but not enough to make us dizzy. When your truck (this is set in Texas, after all) rounds the final bend, you will be surprised at the scene on the road in front of you.
"A Killing Notion" is the latest installment in the Magical Dressmaking Mysteries
~~~oOo~~~
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.
She is the Marketing Director with Entangled Publishing, is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur and Entangled Publishing, and A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL. She also has written two romantic suspense novels, a light paranormal romance, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox, a practical marketing guide for authors.
QUOTED: "Bourbon has a great sense of humor and this book is a quick and easy read."
Review: Bare-Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
18
May
2012
5 Comments
by shelleyrae @ Book'd Out in ★★★, Crime & Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Provided by Publisher/Author
Title: Bare-Naked Lola {A Lola Cruz Mystery #3}
Author: Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Published: Entangled Publishing May 2012
Synopsis: Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing—but parading around in nothing but smile? If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend Jack, she’s going to have a lot more than her duct tape bra and killer dance moves to keep under wraps…
Status: Read on May 15, 2012 — I own a copy {Courtesy Entangled Publishing/NetGalley}
My Thoughts:
Bare Naked Lola is the third book in the Lola Cruz Mystery series by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez, who is also the author of the Magical Dressmaking Mystery series. This fun, cozy series features Latina Delores (Lola) Cruz, a private detective at Camacho and Associates by day and a waitress at the restaurant owned by her family, Abuelitas, by night. Despite her penchant for finding herself at the center of awkward and dangerous situations, Lola is determined to prove herself as a PI, even with the objections of her traditional Catholic family and constant distraction in the form of gorgeous journalist, Jack Callaghan. The comparison to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series is inevitable and there are general similarities, but that doesn’t detract from the enjoyment this author provides.
Lola is a fun and feisty heroine who is witty, smart and capable of looking after herself (as evidenced by her Black Belt in martial arts). She is determined to solve her first undercover case, investigating threats made against the Royals Courtside Dance team, even if it means wearing the skimpy cheer outfits, and duct tape, in front of thousands of people. As a good Catholic girl, Lola finds baring too much skin uncomfortable so when the clues lead her to a Naturist resort she has to decide where to look, and exactly how far she will go, to close the investigation.
While the mystery element, identifying the sender of the notes, and later the killer, worked out satisfactorily, I think the plot would have benefited by having different perpetrators for the incidents, just to add a little more depth to the investigation. I really had no clue who to suspect for at least three quarters of the book and didn’t see the motive coming at all which I am not too sure about. I think a few hints seeded earlier in the story would have been a good thing. Sara, Callaghan’s loco ex, does provide a sub plot of sorts but no real complications.
I enjoyed meeting the characters that populate the series – Lola’s family, colleagues and friends. Even though this is the first of the series I have read I didn’t feel as I was missing anything crucial as Bourbon provides some back story.
I enjoyed Bare Naked Lola, Bourbon has a great sense of humor and this book is a quick and easy read. If you are a fan of the mystery/comedy genre the Lola Cruz mystery series is sure to please, keep an eye out for the previous titles Living the Vida Lola and Hasta la Vista, Lola!.
QUOTED: "If you enjoy a good mystery with a comedic touch, made special by a feisty endearing heroine and a coterie of memorable supporting characters, you may like to give Bare Naked Lola a try. This is the third novel in Bourbon Ramirez’ Lola Cruz mystery series but can be read as a standalone with no difficulty."
Review: Bare Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Filed in 4 Stars , featured , Melissa Bourbon , Review , The Danger Lover Posted on May 23, 2012 @ 11:00 am
4 comments
Bare Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Format Read: ebook provided by publisher for review
Length: 300 Pages
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Mystery with Romantic Elements
Formats Available: Paperback
Purchasing Info: Author’s Website, Publisher, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, The Book Depository, Powell’s
Book Blurb:
Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely-there cheerleading outfit is one thing—but parading around in nothing but smile? If she has any chance of hiding this from her traditional family and on-again/off-again boyfriend Jack, she’s going to have a lot more than her duct tape bra and killer dance moves to keep under wraps….
Excerpt
My Thoughts:
Delores “Lola” Cruz has no idea what she is in for when she walks into Camancho & Associates, the small Sacramento investigative firm where she is the junior private investigator. Lola’s boss Manny Camancho, is chatting with beautiful woman with a gazelle like body, and there are two other equally gorgeous silent nubile females sitting at the office conference table. As it turns out, the gazelle is married to the Lance Wolfe, the owner Courtside Dancers and said gazelle, Victoria, is the manager. The team has celebrity status thanks to the girls previous involvement in their own reality TV show. It seems the cheerleaders have been receiving disturbing anonymous notes that have frightened them to the point where one of the dancers has been scared off. Lance has hired Camancho & Associates to discover who is messing with the girls and because Lola is “curvy but athletic and fit” she is assigned to work undercover as one of the Courtside Dancers.
Ay Caramba!
Bare Naked Lola is a fun ride! The story is told in the first person and narrated by it’s savvy, smart and Latino heroine as she executes her plan (or lack of it) to solve Operation: Dance. Lola suffers through grueling cheerleading practices, is given the cold shoulder by her “teammates” and must come to terms with the indignity of dancing wearing next to nothing costumes in front of stadiums full of fans (not to mention the games are televised). She is however determined to prove herself and do what it takes to get the job done. The plot thickens when Lola finds herself on the hunt for a killer as one of the dancers is brutally murdered. The clues lead Lola to a nudist resort!
Lola definitely walks a tightrope. She loves her investigative work and painstakingly turns over every stone in her quest to solve a case. She isn’t afraid to put herself at risk—she has a black belt in martial arts after all! However, Lola has very strong moral values ingrained from her upbringing in a close knit Catholic Hispanic family. She is not a prude by any means but stripping down to her birthday suite to infiltrate a nudist resort? There must be some other way? Isn’t there? Hijinks ensue, there are plenty of laughs to be had as Lola is confronted with large number of nude bodies of all shapes and sizes. But never fear, our heroine is very resourceful!
The humor is tempered with suspense as Lola guides us through a tangled web of deceit and villainy. Melissa Bourbon Ramirez incorporates plenty of intrigue into her narrative and there are a couple of surprising plot twists in store.
Lola as another life and still works part-time in her family’s busy Mexican restaurant, she walks on eggshells with her protective family concerning her crazy and sometimes dangerous activities. In addition, she deals with plenty of angst concerning newspaper columnist Jack Callaghan, a man she has been attracted to since her school days. Bare Naked Lola has very light romantic elements but the sexual tension certainly sizzles between these two which is amplified by considerable conflict arising from Jack’s non-Mexican heritage (which doesn’t sit well with her family) and some rather annoying baggage he can’t seem to get rid of. What I really liked about the relationship development in this story is that while yes, Jack wants to be Lola’s lover, but considers himself her partner. He is protective but but empowers her and assists in piecing together a complex puzzle uncovering some extremely nefarious activities, an intricate cover-up and murder.
I have to talk about the enigmatic Manny, who is a man of few words with a sensual commanding presence. Lola considers him her mentor, and while their relationship is purely professional as a reader I couldn’t help but feel there is an underlying attraction there, particularly on Manny’s part. There is plenty of tension between Jack and Lola’s boss, the former has no intention of letting the later poach on his territory so to speak. Lol
If you enjoy a good mystery with a comedic touch, made special by a feisty endearing heroine and a coterie of memorable supporting characters, you may like to give Bare Naked Lola a try. This is the third novel in Bourbon Ramirez’ Lola Cruz mystery series but can be read as a standalone with no difficulty. I’m looking forward to finding out where the author takes Lola, Jack, and….Manny next!
QUOTED: "The Cassidy family with their extra charms (or talents) are really interesting."
Review & Giveaway: A KILLING NOTION by Melissa Bourbon
Apr
28
We are celebrating the release of A Killing Notion by Melissa Bourbon today on the blog with a review from Abby and an awesome giveaway!
Review from Abby:
A Killing Notion by Melissa Bourbon was a fun little mystery for an amateur book sleuth like myself. This is the fifth book in the series about Harlow Cassidy, a dressmaker and small town mystery solver. I haven’t read the other books in the series but I liked this book so much that I am going to start from the beginning and read them all.
In this book Harlow is making dresses and mums (a ribbon corsage) for a group of high school girls for their homecoming dance. A local mechanic iskilled because someone messed around with his car to make it crash. All fingers point to the mechanics son and Harlow is determined to prove that the son is innocent. I was able to figure out a few pieces of the mystery before Harlow did in the book but I was still surprised by who was guilty! The Cassidy family with their extra charms (or talents) are really interesting and I can’t wait to read the entire series.
* * * * *
About the Book:
Title: A Killing Notion (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery, #5)
Author: Melissa Bourbon
Publisher: Penguin Group
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Category: Romantic Suspense
Source: ARC received from Publisher via NetGalley
Book Summary:
Harlow Jane Cassidy is swamped with homecoming couture requests. If only she didn’t have to help solve a murder, she might get the gowns off the dress forms….
Harlow is doing everything she can to expand her dressmaking business, Buttons & Bows—without letting clients know about her secret charm. When she has a chance to create homecoming dresses with a local charity and handmade mums for several high school girls—including Gracie, whose father, Will, has mended Harlow’s heart—she is ready to use her magical talents for a great cause.
But when Gracie’s date for the dance is accused of murder, Harlow knows things won’t be back on course until she helps Gracie clear the football player’s name. If Harlow can’t patch up this mess before the big game, her business and her love life might be permanently benched.
Amazon –Barnes and Noble – Goodreads