Great addition to Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop series. Juliet and Lance once again unite to help solve a murder. While Juliet is a little under the weather, she keeps going to find justice. This has been a delightful series and this volume does not disappoint. The writing is vivid enough that you actually feel like you are visiting Ashland. While NetGalley was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reader copy, the opinion is my own..

I love Ellie Alexander's books. They are always just a cozy delicious vibe.

I love that this book is leading into a lot of character growth for some of the characters that we have followed now for 17 books. These can get a little repetitive as the story goes on and I'm glad that we are getting some different storylines!

This one had a lot of nostalgia and made me a little teary.

Juliet’s life is about to change both personally and professionally. Changes often come with growing pains and in Juliet’s case it also includes a death. Her friend Lance is starting a new venture in collaboration with the Juliet and Carlos’ winery. On opening night, the lead is murdered with a corkscrew. His ego and his treatment of others did not win him many friends so the question is, who had enough to kill him.

Always known for having a full plate, Juliet may have overdone things. She is not feeling well and the stress of all the changes and the murder are not helping matters any. She realizes that she is taking on too much but how does she cut back and to whom does she hand the mantles. Her decisions are thrust upon her just as she is trying to determine the killer’s identity. I confess I did figure it out quite early but there were several red herrings that made mew question it. I have always said about this series that the mysteries come second to the relationships of the characters. This is true in this one too. I have enjoyed watching the characters interact and grow. It will be interesting to see where the author will take this next.

Four purrs and two paws up.

Baker Jules is busy whipping up fall treats while her friend Lance is preparing for a new outdoor theatrical performance in their winery, Uva. But the show seems cursed, with issue after issue plaguing the production, culminating in the murder of their lead actor right after the opening night performance! Jules, Lance, and the local police work to figure out who killed the obnoxious star who had many enemies.

I've read about half this series (mostly the second half, with a few gaps and additions) and am so impressed with how long Alexander has managed to keep it going. Each book brings a new avenue, character, business venture, or twist--even nineteen books later. And this book sets up SEVERAL possible arcs for a next book, so I'm excited to see where things go. This book fits right in with the rest, not really breaking much new ground, and a little chaotic, but a fun read with an interesting mystery. At this point, these characters feel like family, so it's always nice to see what they're up to.

Thanks to St. Martin's for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

Another great book in the bake shop mysteries series. Jules and her team are back again to solve another mystery. There is some change coming with the team . I can’t wait for the next book!

I love cozy mysteries and I love this series so I was excited to read the new installment. It follows Juliet, a baker, who is friends with Lance, who is directing a Shakespearian play, The Taming of the Shrew. However, when the play starts, strange occurrences start too, including the death of the leading actor.

This book was filled with deliciously divine baking and I love Juliet's sleuthing skills. A cast of characters makes you wonder whodunit. Red herrings pop up until the end. I look forward to reading more about Juliet and her baking mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

It is always great to be back in Ashland with characters that feel like old friends. In this book Jules and her crew at Torte are catering the opening night for the Fair Verona Play's production of The Taming of the Shrew when a cast member is found dead. I enjoyed the mystery and investigation in this book. There were several suspects and all seemed to be hiding something. Mixed in with the mystery is the daily life of the characters, lots of food. The authors descriptions are so vivid and make this series very enjoyable to read.

Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: cozy mystery
Themes: community, power of food, poverty in the arts

I am new to this series and while reading the previous books may give you some insight into the relationship between various characters it wasn’t necessary to enjoy this instalment. Imagine a murder mystery in a quaint town like Stars Hollow where coffee and sustenance are basically given freely at the local cafe, the community is an extended family where everyone looks out for one another and food forms its own narrative. Now you have the foundations for this book.

This was the perfect light and cozy read when I had a lot going on and was at my emotional limit. As a baker, I adored the tips and descriptions of food and confection. It was as much about the food culture as it was about the murder mystery, which actually took a back seat in my mind. “Sometimes having coffee with a friend is as good as therapy” really formed the ethos to this book. The healing power of food and someone to listen to you is really how these sleuths went about their investigation that is when they weren’t making food or art!

The mystery itself had several possible leads, but wasn’t necessarily a big shock nor full of thrills. The cast of friends and their wholesome relationships really played the supporting role to the power of food that really took centre stage. As the author states, “We agreed on the transformative power of a good, hand-crafted meal served with love. There was no denying the emotional quality of food” - need I say more?

I also really appreciated the theatrical references and discourse on wine snobs - I know the type. The message on those in the artistic community being underpaid is one that can always use further endorsement. This is basically a town that I would love to live in, even with the occasional murders! There is a burgeoning theatre group, the nicest people, a cozy cafe with delicious treats and a vineyard a short drive away. All it needs is a nice bookstore and I would be set. I will also say that this series would translate well to TV in that cozy Hallmark mystery style - hint hint networks.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel. It was just what I needed and I surprised myself by really enjoying it.

After the lead actor in Lance's most recent production is found dead at Uva, Jules dives in to help find the culprit. Lots of changes for the Torte family as well as happy news for Jules and Carlos.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

My second book in this Bakechop Mystery series and I really want to go back and start from the beginning! Jules and Carlos are working with Lance and his Fair Verona Players theater troupe in the Uva vineyard when one of the actors is murdered in the wine cellar. And Jules is dizzy on and off the whole book.

I like how the story progresses from the monotony of everyday life in the bakeshop to a murder and investigation and then back to the bakeshop to make adjustments to everyday life as needed. The supporting characters seem to be well rounded and fit in to help with the mysteries and to keep things running at Uva and the bakeshop. The recipes also sound wonderful! And this is why I want to read all of the books in the series. And visit Oregon!

This is my all time favorite cozy mystery series and the latest installment does not disappoint. Set in Ashland, Oregon- the home of the Oregon Shakespeare festival and centered around local bakeshop Torte, you cannot help but fall in love with the town and ALL of the characters! I literally miss this place when I’m not reading one of the books. Ellie Alexander develops the setting and characters so well that it peaked my interest in Shakespeare. And when I found out Ashland and the festival are real— well let’s just say I’ve had to had it to my places to visit! I highly recommend you read the series in order and jump into the first one now…. You won’t be disappointed !

I generally love this series and really enjoyed this book overall! The ending of this book was a little weird and not my favorite…. I’m interested to see how the next book goes. I do really love that Alexander appears to be breaking some of the standstill that the series and character development have been dealing with. Having more of the mystery take place at Uva was a fun change!

This was my first cozy mystery! I read a lot of domestic thrillers, so I enjoyed reading a different type of mystery--one where everyone is nice and no one has any secrets. I felt that the resolution was a bit predictable, and frankly the stakes weren't compelling to me, but I enjoyed the lovely descriptions of food and the setting.

“Sticks and Scones” is the nicely done twentieth book in Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop cozy mystery series. There is a lot I love about this series including Torte Bakery Owner Juliet, her husband Carlos, stepson Ramiro, her best friend Lance, her mother, stepfather, and coworkers at Torte. I love the way these characters have grown throughout the series and continue to grow in this book. I also love the description of the food made at Torte (I wish Torte actually existed and was close by so I could visit there) as well as Ashland itself and all the references to Shakespeare. Mixed in with all of this is a well done mystery – a leading actor is killed after a performance – that has plenty of suspects, twists and turns, and more than a few surprises. All in all an enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

We're back at Torte, in the Rogue Valley of Oregon, and Jules is helping to support her friend Lance's Shakespeare production taking place at their vineyard. When the difficult lead actor is killed the list of suspects seemingly includes everyone involved in the production. I had my suspicions about who the culprit was early on, and I was right, but I don't think the author was trying to be too tricky. Separate from the mystery, there are a lot of other changes happening with Jules and her Torte team.

I'm curious about the author will choose to do next - there is a sense that the series could end with this novel and it would be a decent conclusion or the author could resolve some of the personal threads that were left hanging and conclude the series with the next installment. Or, it could continue for several more books and be just as delightful.. Whatever the author chooses, I look forward to it.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I liked it, but I was underwhelmed by the reveal of the murderer. When they were revealed, I wasn’t sure who they were. This series is stilll one of my favourites.

Another phenomenal installment in this series! I love this series of cozies and these characters so much and they just keep getting better.

Sticks and Scones is a fun cozy mystery that continues Jules' adventures in the charming town of Ashland, OR. Jules' best friend Lance's new theater troupe, The Fair Verona Players, is set to make their opening night debut at Uva. With Carlos providing his homegrown wine, Jules baking delicious snacks, and Lance ensuring the highest level of talent, nothing could go wrong, or so they hoped. By the end of the night, the star of the show is discovered murdered in the wine cellar with a corkscrew in his neck. Unfortunately, the individual had quite the ego and a long list of enemies. Solving this mystery will not be easy.

Sticks and Scones is a great cozy mystery. Each installment in this series is fantastic. I love the characters, and Ashland is the perfect setting for a charming cozy. I also love that this series has the culinary aspect. Each dish that is described throughout the book sounds absolutely delicious. I just wish they had room at the end to share ALL of the recipes. I already can't wait to try some of the ones provided at the end of Sticks and Scones. I will definitely be continuing with this series!

This is the nineteenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. This is a standalone book. You will not feel in the dark. Enough background information is given, when needed.

This story revolves around, Lance’s staging of a gender bender Taming of the Shrew at Uva, Jules & Carlos’ winery. I really enjoyed the story. Loved to dislike the star actor. Did I know who killed him – yes very early on but I did need to get my facts to prove it.

Ashland is always a delight to visit and the characters are exceptional. All I can say is “enjoy the ride; it’s terrific.”

I was given an advanced readers copy days before it’s release. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Sticks and Scones is Ellie Alexander’s latest mystery baking book in the new series and it is a great read. All the regular characters in her book are back and working together like a well oiled machine. Jules and Carlos are beginning a new adventure with Lance at their winery Uva with the first production of Taming of the Shrew along with tasty treats provided by Torte. Along comes a murder and Jules is the one to discover the body in their wine cellar. Lance and Jules are on the case alongside the Professor, Thomas, Kerry and Carlos. Great food, coffee and wine prevail throughout the book and changes to the Torte family are on the way. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend this book to mystery lovers and lovers of this baking series. Bravo Ellie and I can’t wait to read your next book in this series and all the new developments for the Torte family.🙋‍♀️🇨🇦🙏❤️📚👩🏻‍🍳💐👏😋