There were a lot of characters to keep track of in this story. I found it difficult to connect with them as I kept trying to figure out who was who and who they belong to and etc. As you can tell, it’s the first time I’ve read the series and this is book 17. My suggestion, start with book one.

The plot was so-so. I did enjoy all the dog characters and their process through the story. The author had clever dog puns for different scenarios. The story started out well, but lost something in the middle. My attention never returned to the story like it was at the beginning.

The author is a very descriptive writer. Her baking/cooking descriptions were so clear you could smell the food. She definitely put the reader in her book with the detailed descriptions of places, activities, and food. That was a positive for me.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the eARC!

Is this really the 17th book in this series? It's been a delightful ride! The reason I mention the series length is that this one works as a stand alone and considering how character based the series is, that's pretty impressive.

Jules must band together with her friends and family as to discover who slew a man in a dragon costume. There is also mahjong. And dogs.

These seemingly disparate elements mix together like the finest dough. Mmmm, dough.

This book also made me really hungry.

This is the second book from this series that I've read. It's the 17th in this series. It was fun to return to Ashland and see what the main character was up to. It's Halloween season and lots of baking is happening. Dogs features in this book with a dog show, a Mahjong set is stolen, and a murder occurs. With a busy season, so much activity was occurring. The read was action-packed and fast-paced. At the end, it hints of change to come. This was a fun read. Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC.

CATCH ME IF YOU CANDY is the eighteenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. This character-driven cozy has everything cozy mystery fans love: a worthy protagonist in bakery owner Jules Capshaw; the charming setting of Ashland, Oregon; a fun-filled Halloween event; and a puzzling murder to solve, in this case, a dragon…err, a costumed man! I love the close relationship Jules has with her family, with her employees, who are treated like an extended part of her family, and with her friends. She’s just as sweet as the pastries sold at Torte, yet intrepid when it comes to protecting those she cares about and tracking down a killer. The author’s strong descriptive voice brings the characters and each scene to life, so I felt like I was there, experiencing it alongside Jules. The mystery was straightforward, and I enjoyed the addition of competing dogs for the lead part of the Shakespearean stage production. It added some lightheartedness to the story. I haven’t had the chance to keep up with this series (a case of too many books, too little time) and found it easy enough to slip right back in and catch up on what’s happened previously. If you’re new to this series, this can easily be read as a standalone, but you might want to consider starting with the beginning to fully appreciate the character development.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Jules Capshaw and her team have been baking up autumn delights and trick-or-Torte bags filled with sugar cookie cutouts, spiced cider, and mummy munch. It’s the end of the season at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which means that the costumes for the parade are going to be out of this world. The elaborate guises even extend to pets. The grand marshal of this year’s parade is no other than a regal pug aptly named King George. Jules is delighted to get to share the experience with Carlos and Ramiro, but things take a dark turn when she discovers a dragon slumped in front of the bakeshop." This is a good mystery. It seems that Jax is a suspect because she wants the role for her poodle.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Jules and the gang at Torte are busy after the Halloween parade in Ashland. After they close, they find a body, dressed as a dragon, dead at Torte's door. Could this be related to the strange message found in an old Mah Jong set? Or was it a case of jealous fur baby mamas trying to get their pooches in a play?

This is the seventh in the Bakeshop Mystery series. I always enjoy my trips to Ashland, Oregon. Jules is a straight shooter and I like how she cares for her adopted bakeshop family, her own immediate relatives, and friends.
It’s Halloween in Ashland and Ramiro has not experienced this holiday in the USA. Unfortunately, a man is killed outside of Torte on the eve of Halloween dressed as a dragon. A few days earlier, a mahjong player/friend of her mother’s finds a note in her recently purchased second-hand mahjong set. It refers to the death of the dragon. The crime’s afoot with Jules and friends on the case.

I love the descriptions of the town, food and relationships in this series. I always have a warm feeling at the end of story.

I also enjoy the covers in this series. I thank Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

I received a free copy of, Catch Me If You Candy, by Ellie Alexander, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is book seventeen in The A Bakeshop Mystery Series. Jules Capshaw owns Torte a bakery in Oregon. It Halloween and there is a murder that has to be solved. While busy baking and getting ready for Halloween Jules has a mystery to solve. Whats the motive for the murder? Such a delectable read, I wish I could visit Torte, and sample some of Jules baked goods, they sound delicious.

Ellie Alexander has written another winner of a book. Her bakeshop mysteries always involve baking and murder and Lance and Jules are on the case. Her stepson Ramiro is living with her and her husband for the school year and is experiencing his first American Halloween. Well there is a murder to solve involving people who work at the OSF and dogs. The author keeps you guessing right up until the end of the book and that’s what keeps you coming back for the next book in her bakeshop series which will be titled . The Smoking Bun I believe and I for one can’t wait to read it. Bravo Ellie and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early E- digital release copy of this book.🙋‍♀️🇨🇦📚👏👏🙏🥰

Another fun Fall themed cozy mystery. I've been enjoying these lately.This is part of the Bakeshop series but can be read as a standalone. It's the end of the season at the Oregon Shakespeare festival in Ashland Oregon. Jules Capshaw is busy baking up treats and the residents are excited to dress up for the street parade. Then Jules comes across the body of dog trainer, Anton, in front of her bakeshop. He's been murdered and now she is on the mission to find out who the murderer is.

This was a great cozy, a nice change of pace from my usual murder thrillers. It will have you wondering whodunnit and give you those Halloween and spooky season vibes. Lots of fun.

Out August 22.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon once it publishes.

It's Halloween time in Ashland and Torte bakery/cafe is making creative delights (so appetites be warned). Ashland turns out for their annual Halloween parade. Unfortunately after the parade ends Jules and Carlos find a severely injured man. His death prompts Jules to investigate. Is the murder related to a dog-themed play currently in rehearsal or a note left in a mahjong set recently purchased by a friend?

Another fun and delicious read in the Bakeshop series.

I have enjoyed the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander, but this offering was a little weak for me. There is a detachment between the characters that is off-putting to me, and the relationship between Lance and Juliet eliciting a question of Carlos if it bothered him was a challenge to loyalty I expect in relationships. I just feel like the characters (with the exception of The Professor) just need to grow up. Hopefully the characters will be more substantive in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I adore my little trips to Ashland to visit Jules and the Torte gang - I'm invested in the characters of this series and feel like the food references and recipes add to the coziness-factor for me. If you're a fan of the Bakeshop series this will be no exception - the Halloween setting was especially cozy and has me ready for fall! Highly recommend to any cozy mystery fans!

Title: Catch Me If You Candy
Author: Ellie Alexander
Series: A Bakeshop Mystery #17
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: August 22, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 rounded up
Pages: 352

Halloween has arrived in the Siskiyou Mountains in the quiet town of Ashland, Oregon. The whole town loves to dress up for the Main Street parade which is actually more like a costume street party!
Jules Capshaw is once again creating treats at Tortes for this annual street party.
Of course, our baker and amateur sleuth is soon in the middle of another bizarre murder when dog trainer Anton Dudley is found dead outside the bakeshop.

About Author ~ Ellie Alexander she is a writing teacher and coach, Plus an awesome storyteller. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us.
My Comment: Yep! 😊

I am a big thriller fan with twist and turns that have me on the edge of my seat and up half the night thinking about whodunit. So a nice cozy is a ‘stress free’ enjoyable read. I did enjoy this story as well as the characters.
I am not a foody and yes many cozies include food as well as recipes. This didn’t include recipes but did mention an oatmeal dish with cranberries and toasted almond that I immediately jotted down as something I want for breakfast!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press- Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 22, 2023.

This is such a fun (and delicious) cozy series! I swear I gain a few pounds just reading them as Jule’s descriptions of her bakeshops offerings are mouthwatering. When a dead body turns up just outside of Torte, and it has possible ties to a mysterious note found by her mothers friend earlier in the week, Jules feels compelled to help the police investigate. The shop staff, friends and family relationships are always fun to read about, and this latest book in the series centers around dogs in the theater, which was enjoyable as well.
I generally enjoy British police procedurals, but always look forward to reading the newest in this series as a change because of the characters, the location, and the writing. There is a lot of detail given, for example Jules explains how creaming together butter and sugar should be done, and why, rather than being too much information it just seems to add authenticity.
I highly recommend the entire series and thank the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

I loved the Halloween theme of this book! The Ashland crew is back and gained to do all source of Halloween fun. I'm really invested in the characters of this series. This mystery is so cozy and perfect to get you in the Halloween mood/spirit. Anyone, new and current fans of this series will enjoy it. I really recommend this book!

Note that readers will definitely be hungry for food and Halloween treats while reading this book.

My thanks to NetGallery and St.Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for a digital copy of this book for my review. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Jules Capshaw and the Torte staff are busy preparing seasonal dishes for Halloween. A man found slumped in front of Torte after the Halloween parade. Does it have anything to do with the warning note found in a recently purchased mahjong set by a friend? Or is it tied to the dogs cast in the latest theater production? Fun Halloween cozy.
#CatchMeifYouCandy #NetGalley

I have enjoyed this series, set in a bakeshop in Ashland, Oregon. The mouth-watering descriptions of the pastries and food are very appealing. And Jules, the main character and pastry chef, is a likeable and complex character, surrounded by a strong cast of family, co-workers and community members.

This wasn't a particularly strong series entry, but still fun for series fans. It is Halloween in Ashland, which is a big deal with all kinds of celebration. But when a body turns up on the bakery doorstep, Jules gets involved.

Part of the plot revolves around dogs performing in theater, and was over the top cutesy. A few of the characters were fairly unbelievable. Jules hints of changes to come so we'll have to wait and see what that means. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Catch Me if You Candy is a delicious treat of a book. I have previously read two books in this series, and this is definitely the best. I enjoyed the witty puns, the small town nosiness, and the drool worthy baking descriptions. The mystery was interesting, and this is a super cozy comfy book. It’s set during early Autumn with some fun Halloween shenanigans, There is also some doggy and Shakespeare love. What more could anyone ask for in a cozy mystery? I will be returning to this series and continuing on.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy for my honest review.

Catch Me If You Candy, the 18th book Ellie Alexander's wonderful Bakeshop Mysteries series, will delight fans of the series and offer a lovely introduction to the warm and welcoming cast to any new to the series. Like all the books in the series it offers an intriguing mystery, but it is the character interaction that keep me coming back. That is a group of people that I would love to spend IRL time with. The gentle repartee is the kind of fun I enjoy with my friends, and the support they offer one another makes the series special. I love the fact that Juliet's life, and the lives of her team, is ever evolving so the series stays alive.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Catch Me If You Candy! I enjoyed it tons.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPaperback #EllieAlexander #BakeshopMysteries #CatchMeIfYouCandy