Batter Off Dead is a cute cozy mystery. Super fun light read for a relaxing day. It's charming and informative with all sorts of cake tidbits and bites. Adorable smart characters and an engaging plot make for a great read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Sophia Cummings has returned home to the small town of Rumford, Kentucky, where her mother rules the local society and her father is a successful attorney. She's recently opened a bakery, For Goodness Cakes, and has been kept busy with catering jobs, special orders, and people wanting to buy her amazing pastries. She's surrounded by her best friends Madison, who's a real estate agent, and Charlotte, who's a newlywed come to work for Sophia.

She's working on a charity fundraiser for the library, to be held at a local winery. Although Sophia hasn't been paid yet for the treats she's created, she hopes to collect a check that evening from the winery's owner, Giles Dugan. The librarian, Catherine Fraxman, is also excited because a local bigwig, Ray Peel, has offered a huge donation that will pay for the library's new addition.

When she arrives at the winery she runs into Madison, who seems excited about an upcoming meeting with Ray; and she also heads to Giles' office to collect her check, but finds him having a heated argument with his daughter, which she finds out due to an employee, is because Ray is planning on selling the winery immediately, which explains his meeting with Madison.

While shes' setting up Madison returns, obviously upset. Unfortunately, she's not in a good mood anymore, due to the result of her meeting with Ray. It seems Ray doesn't think Madison is right to sell his property, and she's understandably angry. But when she goes looking for Giles in order to get her check, she literally trips over the body of Ray.

Someone murdered the man, in the middle of the party, in the vineyard, and Sheriff Carter Kincaid, now Sophia's boyfriend, isn't pleased that this is the second time she's found a dead body. But then again, neither is Sophia. According to her, all she wants to do is create the tasty pastries for the town and live a quiet life.

But that's not to be, especially since she learns that Madison is the main - and probably only - suspect in the murder, since what she said to Sophia about Ray was overheard. When Carter refuses to eliminate Madison, Sophia feels that her only choice - with Madison and Charlotte begging her to help - is to try and figure out who hated Ray enough to kill him. Once she starts looking, she finds out that there are several people who might have wanted him out of the picture. But who had the best motive? And which one of them were angry enough to kill?...

This is the second book in the series, and, I am glad to say, is just as good as the first. I was delighted in the first book, Cakes & Punishment, and this one picks up shortly after the last. The plot is again well thought out, with a host of suspects who all had a reason for Ray to be out of the picture. However, it seems that Carter is only focused on Madison, which irritates Sophia no end.

When he asks her to stay out of the investigation, deep down he knows it isn't going to happen; and when her mother Bitsy seems to 'want in', it only makes it worse. Carter accepts the fact his girlfriend isn't going to stop what she's doing, but only hopes that she doesn't try to expose herself to danger, and insist she share all her information with him.

The characters are a lively bunch, and Sophia and her friends and family have a believable relationship with each other. You can practically feel the rapport between the three women, their closeness with each other coming through the pages. Her relationship with Carter is also very well done. He's an intelligent man who follows the clues and does a thorough job, even if it's not fast enough for Sophia. He knows he can't change her and doesn't try, and she never imagines herself smarter than him or a better sleuth.

There were a couple of things that bothered me, even as I didn't allow them to spoil my enjoyment of the book. I was a tad uncomfortable with some of Sophia's blatant questioning of people and then going so far as to search offices while there were people right down the hall (not a smart move); and I did get tired of everything being 'mouth-watering.' Really, I don't think I've ever in my lifetime had any food make my mouth water thinking about it or seeing it, yet this happens a lot to her. (Maybe I just don't have tons of saliva in my mouth, but hey...)

When the ending came and the killer was revealed, it made sense in a twisted sort of way, although I didn't feel that we were given any clues to the murderer (although I may or may not have hidden a few in my review). Although the ending was put together well, it would have been nice to have a couple of clues at least that led us in the right direction.

Ms. Bell has given us a tale with crisp writing and a great deal of southern charm, people you'd like to know and a town you'd like to visit. All in all, a worthy second entry to a series that I hope will be around for a good long while. Recommended.

This is a great book; this is the second book in the Southern Cake Baker Mystery series written by Maymee Bell. I loved the first book in this series and was so excited to read this one, and it was just as good. Sophia Cummings is the owner of For Goodness Cakes that she opened recently. She has invested a lot of money in supplies to make the sweets for the for the Town Library charity fundraiser at the Grape Valley Winery. On her way to the office to collect her payment she stumbles over the dead body of Ray Peel the owner of the property of the winery. She once again puts her sleuthing skills to the test to find the killer. This is a great book with well-developed characters. Once I started reading this book I didn’t want to put the book down until the end. I can’t wait to read then next book by this author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This book is an amazing source of cake recipes, which I enjoyed very much. Sophia is taking care of the sweets for an event, but when a body is found at the event things are getting complicated.
Thank you Netgalley for this nice cozy mystery.

I love this series. This is a great installment and I truly enjoy this author. The book was a fun, quick read. I would recommend this book to others!

Sophia is cakes for a fundraiser at a local winery when she falls over a body. Her best friend Madison is prime suspect and despite her boyfriend Sheriff Carter Kincaid warning her off Sophia is determined to clear Madison's name. There are lots of interesting characters and the town seems to have a real sense of community.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I really loved the first book in this series when I read it last year, so I knew the second book wouldn't disappoint, and it sure didn't! I didn't want my visit to Rumford, KY to end!

Sophia was hired to do the dessert catering at a library and winery event. When she found the former benefactor to the library dead by the vineyard and one of her best friends was the prime suspect in the murder, Sophia knew she'd never be able to leave this one alone. It's a good thing Carter loves her so much, or he'd have been furious at her a few times. He did continue to give her warnings. There was a little side story of Sophia wanting to make the famous donut recipe that the bakery before she bought it was known for. After that, her house was broken into, and someone threw a rock through the bakery window. Could it be the killer wanting her to back off investigating?

I get such a kick out of Bitsy, Sophia's Southern mama. She even got into the whole investigating this time and went as far as calling it Operation Merlot. I love how fiercely loyal Sophia is, not only to to her close friends, but the entire town. I had absolutely no clue who the killer was until the last minute at the showdown, which was excellent. The library got a happy ending as did everyone else, but I especially love it when a library gets a happy ending! I can't wait for the next book! Oh, and the recipes at the end sound scrumptious! I would actually like to try the one for the Maple Long Johns mentioned in the book.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Delectable, just like the cakes that Sophia Cummings bakes at her Kentucky shop. Her latest catering gig at a winery ends in fiasco with a murder and her best friend in the crosshairs as most likely suspect. Luckily, Sophia has good friends, family and her boyfriend, the sheriff, who join together to solve the murder. You'll enjoy your visit to Rumford, Kentucky and hopefully we'll be back there soon in Sophia's next adventure.

A fluffy book - much like a good cake - that wasn't demanding, but fun to read: a good book to read while one is waiting to see the doctor or on a rainy day. The characters are interesting - it's nice to see how they have changed since the first book, Cake and Punishment . I look forward to future books in the series and see how those relationships continue to grow and develop.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and voluntarily chose to review.

Sophia Cummings, proprietress of For Goodness Cakes, has been commissioned to cater the Heart of the Town Library charity fundraiser at Grape Valley Winery. Everything goes smoothly.... until she trips on a body. Now she needs to identufy the killer since one of her best friends is a suspect in the crime.

I loved the characters and the story. Unfortunately the errors were very distracting. For example the waitress needed sugar so she gave HIM some FLOUR, and 'planning on visiting someone at the B&B the chapter BEFORE finding out she's staying there. This book was a nice read so I hope these errors were fixed before it was released. I would have given a higher rating if not for the errors.

Batter Off Dead by Maymee Bell is a really good cozy mystery. It's the second book in the series, but the first one I've read. I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first book before this one. The author did a really good job writing well-developed characters that readers can enjoy and root for. I was completely surprised at who the killer was. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series to see what happens next to Sophia and everyone else in Rumford.

Note: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Maymee Bell has hit another homer un with the second book in her Southern Cake Baker series! Our main character, Sophia, is back and in the middle of another murder investigation. Luckily she is not the prime suspect, but one of her best friends is! Even with Sophia’s police chief boyfriend, Carter warning her off the case she knows she needs to clear Madison’s name.

I am a big fan of this series. I love the characters, the storylines and just the overall writing! I am looking forward to the next book!!

Batter off Dead is the second installment of the A Southern Cake Baker Mystery series set in Rumford, KY and featuring bakery owner, Sophia Cummings. Sophie and best friend, Charlotte Harrington are busy at For Goodness Cakes, baking for the Heart of Rumford fundraiser to benefit the library that is being held at the Grape Valley Winery.

Local resident Ray Peeler seems to be attracting the most attention as he's promised to donate a half a million dollars towards the library expansion. But, as the ceremony approaches, Ray tells head librarian Catherine Fraxman that he's not going to donate money after all. To make matters worse he springs on the Winery owners, the Dugan Family, that he's not going to renew their lease and instead sell the winery land out from under them. Icing on the cake is when he offends Sophie's friend and realtor, Madison Ridge by telling her that she doesn't have enough of a reputation to handle the listing.

Sophie hadn't collected payment in advance for her tasty treats and knowing that she needs the hefty sum in order to keep the bakery going, she sets out to find Ray and ends up tripping over his dead body in one of the grape rows. With all of the enemies the man has made it's really no surprise that someone has finally done him in, and Sophie sets out to track down a killer.

Against the advice of her boyfriend Sheriff Carter Kincaid, Sophie teams up with her mother Bitsy, and friends to form Operation Merlot. A fast paced plot featuring series regulars offers just the right blend of mystery and laughs.

I received an advanced copy of Batter off Dead from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

For Goodness Cakes is open for business and Sophia Cummings is doing everything to build her clientele and bring in customers. She is thrilled to be catering the desserts at the Heart of the Town Library charity fundraiser at Grape Valley Winery. The library is planning a huge addition and most of the money has been pledged by Ray Peel. He is the winery’s landlord and has his hands in many other businesses in the area.

Shortly after the fundraiser begins he informs the librarian he will no longer be funding the renovations, insults local realtor and Sophie’s friend, Madison Ridge, has an argument with woman in town for a wine conference, and tells Giles Dugan owner of Grape Valley Winery that he will not be renewing their lease and plans to shut them down at the conclusion of the night’s event.

Sophia thinks with all the chaos caused by Mr. Peel she’s better get her money for her part of the fundraiser as soon as possible. On her way to the main office, she trips over something and comes face to face with a very dead Ray Peel. She quickly makes a call to boyfriend, Sheriff Carter Kincaid who does his best to calm her down. After looking at the crime scene and interviewing witnesses he decides Sophie’s friend, Madison is his prime suspect. Seriously?? For Goodness Sakes! This put Sophie into a tizzy and she proclaims she will do everything she can to prove her friend had nothing to do with that man’s demise.

I was having a stressful day, my husband was having a long and complicated surgery and I really needed something to keep my mind off that and watching the clock. I can say this book was just what I needed. Maymee Bell’s (Tonya Kappes) story worked on me just like A Calgon, take me away bath. Of course, I had to keep my giggling internal because the waiting room was full of people, but I did share bits with the woman sitting close to me. She was quick to write down the author and the title as well as some of the author’s other books I told her about. 🙂

Maymee Bell has a distinctive voice and she creates such unique characters. Sophie softens up the suspects with treats from her shop to get them to talk. Carter is not happy with her “help” and sometimes she tells him her plan and then does the complete opposite that frustrates him to no end. At least he knows from the start, she is going to butt in, especially with her best friend involved. Sophia’s mother, Bitsy, just cracks me up. She was my favorite in this story. The dialogue between all the characters is very comfortable which makes the story so easy to read.

Solving this mystery wasn’t easy. It was fun to follow along with Sophie as Operation Merlot was put into effect and suspects were crossed off the “murder board”. The story was very well-plotted with plenty of red herrings. I was totally surprised by the ending.

Engaging characters and a delightful mystery. A truly Perfect Escape for me. Thank you, Ms. Bell, your story was just what the doctor ordered. The pages flew and so did my day.

Batter Off Dead was a sweet cozy mystery treat. Sophia is a southern girl just trying to run a bakery and solve murders that she can't help stumble upon. When her bakery caters for a local Winery, Sophia sees a boost of sales to the bakery. But when she literally stumbles over a body she has to run a bakery and find a murder. I love a Southern setting and I live this small Kentucky town and its quirky residence. There was so many suspects it was hard to know who the killer was. I highly recommend this book

Batter Off Dead is a cozy mystery with some really fun, sassy characters and some laugh-out-loud moments. Of course there's a murder to solve to clear her best friend, who is the primary suspect. The mystery kept me guessing with a lot of false leads. Overall, a great cozy! I have not read book 1 in this series, but will definitely do that now!

Batter off Dead
The second book in this series by Maymee Bell.
Sophia is enfolded again in a murder as her best friend Madison is top of the suspects list and has to clear her name..
Love all the characters especially Bitsy (mum). Who made me laugh. Never guessed who the killer was a lot of red herrings in the book.
Enjoyed this book very much.
Would definitely look out for the next in this series.

This is the second book in this series, and has everything a cozy reader could want. Small town girl who moved to the big city and is crushed by love and moves back? Check! Needs to help solve an untimely murder? Check! Colorful characters? Check! Basically, if you like cozies, you'll love reading about Sophia and the citizens or Rumford.

Batter Off Dead is a fun cozy read that takes place in a small town in Kentucky. Sophia Cummings returned home after going to culinary school and working in New York City as a pastry chef. She opened a bakery called For Goodness Cakes where she and one of her best friends, Charlotte, create some yummy sounding desserts. For Goodness Cakes was hired to make treats for a fundraiser for the town library at a local winery where a wealthy local businessman, Ray Peel, has pledged to donate a half million dollars for renovations to the library. Ray owns the land that the winery and vineyard are on. But Sophia literally stumbled upon Ray's body in the vineyard during the festivities. There are several possible suspects who Sophia saw arguing with Ray before the event started but her boyfriend, Sheriff Carter Kincaid, thinks that Sophia's close friend, Madison, is the prime suspect. Madison is a realtor and had been hired by Ray to try to sell the land that the winery and vineyard is on but Ray decided that she was too small town for selling his property. The two were seen arguing and Madison threatened him. But the Giles father and daughter team that own the winery have reason because Ray had decided to end their lease that night. Sophia, Madison, Charlotte and Sophia's mother, Bitsy, organize Operation Merlot to find the killer among all of the various people who were unhappy with Ray.
Sophia sets out talking to any and everyone that she can conceive has a motive or may know someone who might want Ray dead. She uses treats from the bakery help smooth the way to butter folks up and get them to talk, much to Carter's distress. He tries to rein her in but Sophia has a mind of her own when it comes to saving her friend. Filled with lots of quirky small town characters, delightful sounding treats and funny dialect, Batter Off Dead is great mystery that is engaging from beginning to end, especially with an unexpected twist at the end.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions stated are mine only.

Maymee Bell (aka Tonya Kappes) is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers as I love the way she writes her charcters and stories of such adorable Southern charm. I am always thrilled to read another of her books. Thank you for the ARC that does not influence my review.
Batter off Dead is the second book in the Southern Cake Baker mystery series. i have read the first in series and highly recommend that all readers read the first in series to enjoy the series fully . This is a series that is a delight to all cozy mystery lovers.

Sophia Cummings is the protagonist and has recently moved back to the town of Rumford Kentucky after leaving New York. She is enjoying working at her new bakery and loves her new home. The towns people are charming and have welcomed her . She is at a catering job when she finds a body and her best friend is soon prime suspect number one. Determined to clear her friend she is on the case and soon clues abound as she delves into possible suspects.
I found the sleuth very well developed and the whodoneit kept me guessing throughout to the end. i love the Southern charm in this series and the smart savvy protagonist of Sophia. A added enjoyment are the receipes at the end of the book ! I highly recommend this book for all who enjoy a great sleuth , Southern charm and cozy mysteries. Very well done to the author !