This is the next addition to the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. At the start of this episode dear readers, Jules Capshaw is eagerly anticipating the arrival of Ramiro's family from Spain. She has made painstaking plans to take the family to Mount A for a break and enjoy time taking in the beautiful scenic trails and night sky, then continuing to the rustic lodge to wait for the dummy competition. Her employees at Tarte bakery have joined the annual competition of creating a "dummy" of a large cake and sending it down the hill to a large ski jump. People from all over town have gathered for the festivities and are having a great time, until tragedy strikes, and someone lands up dead.

Jules and the gang get immersed in this mystery once again pulling us into the action. The snowy atmosphere and the addition of Ramiro and his family give a coziness to yet another case. If you have been following this series from the start these characters have probably found a place in your heart like mine and are starting to feel nostalgic like an episode of Scooby Doo. If you are looking for a light cozy mystery this series is one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC for review. 3 1/2 stars

Ellie Alexander once again did not disappoint me with this latest book "A Smoking Bun" I enjoyed every minute of the book. It went so fast I couldn't put it down. Exciting Moving fast paced. Jules was really amazing how she has accepted Carlos's son and now the family came for a visit to meet. It is beautifully written and amazing how they all got along. Looking forward to what happens next with Jules and the bakery and even Richard Lord. Watching out for the next Book. Ty.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

This is book 18 in the Bakeshop Mystery series. It could be read as a stand alone but this one does concentrate on family so you might need some background. Ms. Alexander does a good job of including enough info from previous books to follow the story. It's winter in Oregon and Ramiro's mother and step family are visiting from Spain. Jules has lots of plans including the moonlight hike at the nearby ski lodge and the downhill dummy run which the bakery has an entry. Another great addition to this fun series.

This is a new-to-me cozy series, and I really liked it. However, jumping in at the 18th book, I missed a lot in the backstory. I enjoyed the setting, characters, and mystery, so I bet I would have liked it even more if I had started from the beginning.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Jules has loved having Carlos’ son with them for the year and is looking forward to the rest of the family arriving just before Christmas. Many of the activities she has planned revolve around Mount Ashland or Mount A. It becomes evident that there are some serious issues going on behind the scenes. Things get out of hand when a young man is murdered and the suspects all appear to be connected to the mountain.

While she has the best intentions not to get involved, between the Professor, her step-father cop, Andy her employee and the overall welfare of the tourist driven community, she is drawn into the investigation with her best friend, Lance. Trying to figure out who is the villain is nigh impossible since everyone seems to be somebody else. It is a rather complex mystery with lots of dead ends and false clues. But Jules is able to bring the killer to justice and possibly save the beloved Lodge and Mountain.

I have enjoyed this series as the characters have evolved and grown. This one did not disappoint. Four purrs and two paws up.

This was a fun read. I've read other books in this series and was excited to read another. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the 9pportunity. Juliet is excited to ring in New Year with her family and the visiting parents of her stepson. They are enjoying skiing and the annual Downhill Dummy event until one of the dummies takes off and lands atop Fitz Baskin, killing him. Jules finds herself drawn into the investigation. There are suspects aplenty, and intrigue abounds as Jules and her bestie question suspects, explore motives, and have adventures.

I like the coziness of the mountain setting, the town's celebrationof Shakespeare, the relationships between the characters, and the yummy recipes from Torte Bakery. The mystery is engaging. I love how Jules' family is expanding with the addition of Ramiro and now, his mother and her family.

A delightful read. I look forward to more from this series.

The characters at Torte are always a joy. I love how things from the food to the surroundings are described. The mystery was okay in this one. I found myself wishing Lance played a bigger role.

A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander is the latest fun entry in this series. Being from Oregon myself, I love that the series takes place in Ashland, which allows me to really visualize the story's location. Jules and the crew are always fun to catch up with and being caught up in a murder investigation during the winter and the snow was a fun mystery.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A SMOKING BUN – A BAKESHOP MYSTERY — Book Eighteen – by Ellie Alexander

I LOVE the characters, a bakeshop whodunit set in the snowy Mountains of Southern Oregon, coupled with amateur sleuths—Yes, Please!

Unfortunately, what doesn’t work, is the speculation and logic surrounding the events of the whodunit throughout the narrative, in my opinion.

As I mentioned, I love the characters, and I can’t help but want to read book one in the series to discover how Carlos and Jules’ journey began.

Side Note: I really, really, really want that chai cookie recipe with the eggnog glaze frosting *drools*

Thank You, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Paperbacks, for providing me with an eBook of A SMOKING BUN at the request of an honest review.

Another great instalment in the series. I don’t know what else to say other than I love this series and think anyone who likes a cosy mystery should read it! As someone who loves the snow I love that this one took place in the snow on a mountain! I also loved the mystery and all the food descriptions. I can’t wait for the next one. Thank you netgalley and st Martin press for a free copy!

This was such a great book!! I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I thought I had it all figured out and of course I didn't!! I would definitely recommend this book to all my family and friends.

This is one of my all time favorite cozy mystery series and I look forward to every new book! Jules and her bake shop are busy providing great food to the people of Ashland, OR. Her boyfriend’s teenage son is staying with them and his family is visiting from Spain. They’ve been snowshoeing and are now watching the slopes for the Downhill Dummy, where teams send a decorated stuffed dummy down a ski jump. Unfortunately, this year an actual dead body comes down instead of a dummy. Jules gets involved with the investigation and there are red herrings galore. I really like the characters and the delicious descriptions of all the food!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I just reviewed A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander. And I must say this do not disappoint. I love that I am able to be transported to Ashland to experience this amazing world. Thank you for bringing life to this new adventure and allowing me to catch up with old friends. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to share and review. This is my own review #ASmokingBun #NetGalley

This book was amazing !! The mystery was interesting, and the storyline was well written. I love the characters and were fun to hang out with! I look forward to reading the next book to release! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!

The mystery seemed a little flat in places with some suspects and clues that felt like they didn't need to be included. It was nice to see the town going through a mystery through the eyes of some out of the country tourists.

I loved being back in Ashland and amongst characters that feel like family, especially with Ramiro's family visiting. The winter setting amongst snowshoe trips, the annual downhill dummy competition and the risk of developments looming made this a great, entertaining book perfect for winter. I love the writing style and how vivid the descriptions are from the setting to the food in the bakery. The characters are so likable and I love seeing what's developed with them since the last book. The mystery was so relatable (at least for someone who has lived in a ski town) and I like how the clues were laid out.

I’m been waiting on this release and we’re back with Jules and the crew as her favorite crew as they try save the ski lodge. Not only did we try to figure out the mystery, but we also got to see a look on the secondary plot on meeting Carlos’s son family.

It was an interesting cozy mystery. I appreciated the characters, and look forward to more by this author.

very enjoyable mystery filled with plenty of red herrings and false trails. And also, a lot of winter fun and delicious food. I have read several of this series and I have enjoyed getting to know these characters and seen how they have grown. It was very nice to read about a good relationship between a woman and her husband's ex with whom he shared a child. In this case the child was an older teen in high school and the relationship ended a long time ago. There was mutual respect, care about the well being of the young man, and genuine warm feelings for each other. In the end, the story ended on a positive note with all the nice fuzzy feelings you expect from a cozy and hope to have for a new year.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.