A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

It has been awhile since I read the first book in this series and I when I saw the next few available in audiobook, I decided I would get back to it. I enjoyed heading back to Santa Sofia, California and the bread shop owned by Olaya Solis. Ivy Culpepper is happily working with Olaya, learning more about baking bread and helping her to run her business. When "Mustache Hank" a local produce provider and friend to the Blackbird Ladies, the group that hang out at the bakery, disappears she is asked by Miguel Batista, a local restaurant owner, to help locate him. Miguel and Ivy used to date in high school, and he is hoping they can rekindle that romance. One thing I liked about this story was that they were not trying to solve a murder, but locate a missing person. Ivy uses her natural curiosity and skill at putting together clues to help Miguel in his search.

I like the characters in this story. Ivy is a well-developed protagonist. She is smart, likeable, loyal and persistent. The secondary characters such as Olaya and Ivy's best friend Sherriff Emmaline Davis are also very likable and relatable. It looks like Miguel and Ivy might be working things out, so perhaps there will be some romance down the road. The mystery itself developed at a nice pace with plenty of twists that took the story in a very unexpected direction. Winnie Archer did a great job dropping clues along the way to follow until the final reveal and one last aha moment. Overall, an enjoyable story.

This is the second book in the Bread Shop Mystery series. I did not read the first one but managed to be ok without it.

I enjoyed the characters but I did not enjoy the issues between Ivy and Miguel. They broke up after high school and have never talked it over. They felt very childish in their actions. The Blackbird Ladies are great!

This book was a little slow paced for me. It had a lot of details that are continually repeated that I didn’t feel were necessary for the story. This book had some definite positives but I feel like a few tweaks might have been beneficial.

I am going to go read the first book in the series and see if that Changes my view on this book.

I like books where the characters are cooking in some way. In this book the main character Ivy helps out in a bread store. When Mustache Hank disappears Ivy feels like she should help to try to find him. She questions different people throughout town. She has help from a neighbor and an old love interest.

Ivy Culpepper is still honing her skills at the Yeast of Eden Bread shop and when one of the patrons goes missing and her old boyfriend ask her help to try to find him, Ivy gets caught up in the mystery of what happened to Mustache Hank?

I really, really enjoyed this mystery mainly I think because of the variation from the typical cozy mystery where within the first few chapters, a character that you have no connection with is found murdered and you are expected to follow the amateur detective (main character) as they try to find out whodunnit. That is not the case here. In this mystery instead of a murder we are handed a missing person - what made Hank disappear, did he run away from a messy divorce, did he leave a failing business, did he swindle a friend out of a lot of money? What really happened?

I loved this story, plot and the characters, including the eventual victim because we really dug down into the personalities of those involved.

I wish more cozies were atypical once in a while. My favorite book so far for 2018!!!

This is really cute! I liked the Blackbird Ladies and their meddling ways. Ivy Culpepper makes a good amateur sleuth trying to find the missing Mustache Hank. Readers who enjoy light cozy mysteries and the imaginary smell of baked goods while reading, will love this series.

Crust No One
Winnie Archer

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. The cover is just perfect for this story. I could almost smell the bread baking.
Ivy had returned to Santa Sofia for a new start and found herself in a hunt for a missing man. A deliciously twisted cozy. Sprinkled with zanny characters and sweeatened with a little romace. Perfect with a cup of coffee and a comfortable chair for an evening read.
I finished the book in one evening. Very well written.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So glad I did.

This is the second book in the series but the first one I have read. I think it was fine as a standalone if once was to skip the first book. Missing mustache Hank was found murdered 75% into the book- which to me seemed like a long time for it to happen. More bodies turn up and people aren't who they seem to be. They do say money is the root of all evil and sometimes that can be true- not always. There are betrayal of friendships- how can one get over that? A lot going on here.

I really enjoyed this cozy. It made me go back and purchase the first book in this series.

I love that series is a cozy but with enough difference in setting and characters to make it unique and its own. I love how Ivy is so conflicted with still being curious and an unwavering sense of needing to help. I think that the characters are still so wonderful and complex, and I love how we learn more and more about everyone and their relationships with each installment. The mystery was solid, well thought out and written with beautiful prose. Definitely a spectacular read.

I thoroughly enjoy the delightful fun of a good cozy mystery. The puns and the incredible characters are really not to be missed and this delightful read was just as good as I'd hoped. I'll be looking for more by this author to add to my reading list.

This is a utterly charming cozy series. This is book two in the Bread Shop Mystery Series . I do recommend the first in series however this book can stand alone . The author has done a wonderful job of introducing characters for anyone reading this series for the first time with book two.
Ivy Culpepper has found her place at Yeast of Eden bakery run by her friend and mentor Olaya Solis in Santa Sofia, California. The Blackbird Ladies (as Ivy as dubbed them) come into the shop to partake in the delicious goodies and gossip. Ivy loves her life of the joy of baking, running a business , taking walks with her friends and enjoying her small town life. As a missing person occurs the Blackbird ladies ask Ivy to step in and in agreement Ivy begins to investigate.
This is the perfect compliment to book number one. The author has set the perfect stage for all the cozy elements mystery readers enjoy including a mysterious disappearance. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next in series.

Crust No One by Winnie Archer is the second book in the Bread Shop Mystery series. I had read the previous book, but it is not necessary. Ivy is continuing her work at Yeast of Eden, a wonderful bread shop in Santa Sofia, California. The mystery in this book for the majority of the time is a missing person. Mustache Hank was last seen at Yeast of Eden but no one can find a trace of him after that. While the mystery in this book was a bit weak, the characters more than make up for it. Crust No One is a good addition to the series, and the ending left me anxious for the next installment.

Crust No One: A Bread Shop Mystery
By Winnie Archer
Kensington
January 2018

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 Hanks 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.

I enjoyed returning to Santa Sofia, the site of a delicious sounding shop called Yeast of Eden. The bread making takes a bit of a back seat to the investigating this time. Ivy hopes to do more of her photography on the side, with both Miguel's restaurant and one of the Mrs. Branford's friends interested in her services. When many local folk become upset at the apparent disappearance of local produce supplier "mustache Hank", Ivy dives right into her new hometown's goings on and tries to help figure out where he is. I really liked the addition of the Blackbird ladies in this story, plus there is no shortage of other good, quirky secondary characters. I look forward to learning more about Miguel and Ivy's past.

So this book was given to me for review by Netgalley and I am rating this like a 3.8 because I was really into the murder mystery and the ending was EVERYTHING but I didn't appreciate the weaving of romance although I did not read the first book in this series I feel the second book gave enough background and I adored all the elderly characters and loved the complexity of Ivy as the main character.

Crust No One by Winnie Archer is the 2nd book in A Bread Shop Mystery series, and is quickly becoming one of my favorite. Wow! This book had more twists and turns, and an excellent mystery that kept me reading. When the dependable mustache Hank Riviera goes missing, Ivy Culpepper is determined to find him and help her ex boyfriend Miguel. Hank is the produce supplier for Miguel's restaurant. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and it can't come soon enough. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

There are so many things I like about this book; the characters, the plot, the bakery, the description of the bread, the touches of Spanish thrown in here and there, and the possibility of romance. All of these things add up to an enjoyable book in a new series which I hope will continue.
Ivy is working in the bakery helping Olaya get ready for the festival and visiting with The Blackbird ladies when Mustache Hank stops by with a produce order. The next thing you know the festival is here and Mustache Hank has disappeared. Ivy, along with her high school boyfriend, Miguel, the highly entertaining Mrs. Branford, and the Blackbird Ladies try to find the newly divorced Hank at his son's request. As they investigate, a peek into Hank's life uncovers some uncomfortable secrets and a man who may have decided to disappear on his own.

This author is great at weaving a tale and getting the reader invested in her characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading both books in the series and hope there will be more and we'll be able to watch Miguel and Ivy repair their high school romance, now that they are adults.
I received an advanced reader's copy of Crust No One from NetGalley. This review contains my thoughts and opinions.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in the series.

I liked this book better than the previous one, Ivy wasn't quite so whiney this time around. But I don't like Miguel much at all. Or his nasty sister.

But what I find the hardest to swallow about the entire series is that Ivy says she's trying to build up her photography business, and then does everything but that. She ignores a potential client for two days, because she wants to do things on her terms? Umm, yeah that's not how work goes, even if the potential client is the guy who broke your heart years ago.

I'm not sure I will read the next book, just because I really don't care too much about any of the characters. Really, I'd like to see the author go back to her Magical Dressmaking series instead.

Crust No One by Winnie Archer is the second installment in A Bread Shop Mystery series. Ivy Culpepper has found solace at Yeast of Eden run by her friend and mentor Olaya Solis in Santa Sofia, California. The Blackbird Ladies (as Ivy as dubbed them) come into the shop to partake in the delicious goodies and chat (gossip). Miguel Baptista calls to hire Ivy (professional photographer) to do photographs for his menus, advertising, and web site for Baptista’s (the restaurant he is remodeling). Ivy had hoped that the spark between them would flare up again, but there is something holding Miguel back. The Blackbird Ladies are worried when Mustache Hank, the local produce man, disappears. He has missed his deliveries, and no one has seen him recently. Miguel is also concerned about Hank who provides produce for his restaurant and has never missed a delivery. Ivy (who only met the man once) and Miguel team up look for Hank Rivera. They get assistance from the loquacious Blackbird Ladies who know all the local gossip. Hank had recently gone through a divorce from his high school sweetheart and he was having financial difficulties. Ivy and Olaya are also preparing for the Winter Wonderland Festival where they will have a booth. What happened to Hank? Will romance bloom between Ivy and Miguel?

Crust No One is the second book in A Bread Shop Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone since the author provides the needed background information and a summary of events from the first book are included. The cozy elements are the dominant part of the book. Ivy settling into her new home, making bread, chatting, enjoying Winter Wonderland Festival, the various Blackbird Ladies, walking, eating, etc. The mystery is different with a missing person (instead of Ivy stumbling over a dead body). It is a medium level mystery and readers might not figure out all the elements (I do not want to say too much and give anything away). The issues between Miguel and Ivy were not enjoyable (I wanted to lock them in a room and tell them to talk it out). They broke up after high school and have yet to discuss the why. At the end of the book, the topic is finally addressed (but you will have guessed what happened long before then). I found the pace to be a little slow for my liking and my attention was not held by this story. The investigation consists of talking to people. These talks can provide pertinent information and vital clues. The story could have used some action and a faster pace. Ivy’s thinking/speculation and repetition of details (how many times do I need to be told Mrs. Branford’s age) along with bread making fill the book. I thought it was odd that Ivy became so invested in looking for a man she only met (briefly) once. Something else that stood out to me was when Miguel contacted Ivy for her photography services, she did not contact him back immediately. She waits two days because she will only do things on her terms (with regard to Miguel). Did she forget this is a business transaction and not personal? I preferred Kneaded to Death to Crust No One. Crust No One could have used a few tweaks.