Off the Shelf -- Muffin But the Truth

 Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.  In the 16th entry in the Bakeshop Mystery series, Juliet (Jules) and her bakery, Torte, are hired to cater a weekend retreat/camping treat for an executive management team.  It is stressful and chaotic but feels manageable until one of the executives is found dead. Jules finds herself trying to sort it all out with a little help from her best friend and her bakery team.

I have read a book or two in a different series by Ellie Alexander but this is first in this series.  The descriptions of the food and the process of making it are interesting and make me want to eat the food.  I was a little disappointed that there were no recipes in the book.  I found the descriptions of nature delightful.  The characters did not really pull me in and felt a little one dimensional.  There were quite a few moments where Jules reflects on her life,, and it gets a little tedious for me by the end of the book.

As for the mystery, it did not seem to me that Jules' efforts really contributed to solving it.  The whole resolution felt contrived.  All in all, not a series I will likely return to.

Off the Shelf -- Vinyl Resting Place

 Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book. This is a series debut. Junior Jessup has returned to Texas to open record shop/cafe with her sisters in a building full of family history. Their grand opening celebration is less grand after June finds a dead girl in the supply closet! A local detective that happens to be Juni's ex believes Juni's uncle is responsible so Juni and her sisters step in to save their uncle.

The underlying theme here is family. It's done well. The characters are interesting, likeable. The pace is nice without being too slow. The mystery unravels in a nice way. 

All in all, an enjoyable read and a great start to what seems to be a fun series. Lots of great music references and tons of great puns.