I love this series. The characters feel like friends, the plot is solid and there is always a twist. The witty dialogue, the action is all superb. I can't wait for the next book in the series. And more in her Hat Shop Mysteries too please!

Two professional football players sign on as franchisees with the Fairy Tale Cupcakes gang and shortly after, the owner of the football team is found dead in the new bakery. As usual, Mel and the gang find themselves in the middle of the investigation. Absolutely loved the plotline with football players as bakery owners.

"Fondant Fumble" by Jenn McKinlay is a delightful romp through the world of cupcakes, football, and unexpected mysteries. Professional football players Keogh Graham and Tyler Matthews find themselves embarking on a new adventure as they pursue their dream of owning a bakery franchise. McKinlay expertly blends the excitement of sports with the sweetness of baking as Keogh and Tyler work alongside Mel in their new bakery, creating delectable treats that draw in hordes of eager customers.
As the tension rises with the suspicion surrounding the football stars, McKinlay keeps readers on the edge of their seats with twists and turns that keep the pages turning. With a charming cast of characters and a cleverly crafted plot, "Fondant Fumble" is a winning combination of humor, suspense, and mouthwatering desserts. (I received an advance reader copy of this book, and all opinions are my own.) Fans of cozy mysteries will devour this delightful treat of a novel."

When Keogh Graham and Tyler Matthews, two star football players for the Arizona Scorpions, decide to open a cupcake franchise, what could possibly go wrong? A dead body in the franchise building, for starters. Can Mel and her team of fellow sleuths solve the crime before the franchise dies, too?

A fun whodunit!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This had everything that I was looking for in a mystery novel, it had everything that I was looking for from the description. It was a great entry in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of them in this story.

Although this cozy series is totally outlandish, I've always loved it. Cupcakes, close friends, and murder--an excellent combo. Angie and Mel and Tate are such good friends, and their relationship is the bedrock of the series for me. Angie and Tate marrying didn't upset my applecart too much, but now that they have a baby, I feel like the whole series has changed. Angie is barely in this book at all. And Tate is only in it as much as usual, which is a minor amount.

Football player Keogh is really playing the male lead here, and it feels like this book is setting up a spin-off series or something, with Keogh's Fairy Tale Cupcake franchise introducing a whole new set of characters. I hope that's not the case, but that's the vibe I get.

I like the plot here, and I like the characters, including Keogh, Tyler, and Mama June. But it feels like the end of an era, now that Mel is pregnant too. (And that's not a spoiler because the reader will realize it long before Mel does. And the way everyone else instantly knows at a glance that she's pregnant...that gets old long before the book ends.)

It's a well-plotted mystery, and I want to eat every cupcake that is mentioned. But it also feels like the end of an era, which makes me sad.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun read involving food and sports. 2 almost retired football players are considering their options for the future, baking cupcakes ranks high on the list to the delight of Mel and all her co-workers. But who is trying to fun their future? A death withIn days of opening doesn't look good. Will the case get solved before the entire franchise gets burned?

Wow! Football and murder, along with some delectable cupcake treats. I finished two books this morning, and I had a light day, so I moved on to a third in between my nap and dinner prep this evening. Two famous football stars want to open a franchise, so Mel and Angie allow it to happen. This installment mostly focuses on Mel and how she solves the crime... less on Tate and Angie. I liked the side cast but there weren't a whole lot of possible suspects. It also felt like it moved rather quickly... so while I enjoyed it, I think it needed a bit more substance. That said, Jenn McKinlay is writing 4 books a year lately, so I totally understand why it's lighter this time. Hoping it gets back on track in the next one.

I really love these characters and the Arizona setting. I loved the football players! The mystery was good and kept me guessing. I really hope this series continues!

This was a fun mystery as I still think that the characters are growing and evolving and football players owning a bakery was a fun plot device.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book--all opinions are my own.

When a couple of NFL stars decide a Fairy Tale Cupcake franchise would be a great investment and retirement plan, Mel and the gang can't believe it. Once the bakery is open though everything starts to go wrong. Great addition to the series. I could not put this book down. Amazing characters with some laugh out loud surprises, with a good mystery.

The Cupcake Bakery mysteries are total cozy comfort reads for me. As an OG in the bakery mystery subgenre, I appreciate the author adding diversity and sports into the mix in FONDANT FUMBLE.

When the newest franchisees, two pro football players, end up with a scorpion covered body in the new bakery, it's up to Mel and company to figure out whodunit to save her business and her new friends.

Expect all of the usual crew to make appearances with the same zany dialogue, same luscious cupcake descriptions, and Mel's same dogged determination to get to the bottom of the mystery. Quick, delicious read that will leave you wanting another taste. Includes recipes.

The gang at Fairytale Cupcakes is back and taking us on another adventure....in baking and football. When two from the gridiron invest in a bakery franchise with Mel, Angie, Tate and the rest you can expect that the transition from the end zone to the kitchen might not be a smooth one. When a body is found at the new site, Mel must help solve the mystery to protect the reputation of her business as well as that of her new friends. A fun twist makes waiting for the next book even harder than usual!

Fondant Fumble by Jenn McKinlay carries on the story of the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakeries and the various people involved in them. When two professional football players decide to invest in a franchise and a murder victim is found there, Mel and her family and friends rush to solve the case. This is another good read in the series.

When local pro football players buy a cupcake franchise from Mel, Angie and TTe, trouble follows. 16th in this series and one of the best yet!

Mel, Angie, and the gang are back! And I am here for it. Loved the idea of two football players starting up another location of the bakery. I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was following the wrong lead. Well done Ms. McKinlay. Well done!!

#NetGalleyARC Oh man, I love this series. This next installment was a super fun read—I love the football tie in! No spoilers here but I loved the new information detailed in this book. Excited for the next book! Classic cupcake mystery all around!