Bake Until Golden

The Potluck Club #6

by Linda Evans Shepherd, Eva Marie Everson

The ladies of the Potluck Catering Club may have thought that winning The Great Party Showdown reality show in New York City would be the biggest adventure of their lives. But they weren't counting on the strange goings-on they would confront when they returned to Summit View, Colorado. When a shocking event rocks their small town the ladies are stunned--especially when one of them is accused. And a 100-year-old legend about buried gold unearths some unsavory characters. Will old friends stick together through their trials? Or will they be torn apart by tragedy?

Full of mystery, friendship, and faith, Bake Until Golden is the final book in this popular series.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Chick Lit, Contemporary

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Author of When You Don't Know What to Pray-How to Talk to God About Anything & Potluck Club novels, speaker, TV host, President of Right to the Heart & AWSA.com

Reviews

[Yvette]

I loved this series. I wish she would write more books with these characters.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. I enjoyed this series, but more for the characters than the story lines I think. This last book turned ot to be a mystery, but a not-too-interesting one in my view. I'm glad it's over, because if I had to spend any more time with evil Evie I think I'd strangle her. There's not a lot to like about this over-bearing, controlling, opinionated, pushy.....well, you get the picture. A nice easy-reading series though, along with the first one; "The Potluck Club."

[IrishFan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This third and last book in this series was a quicker read for me. I felt the story flowed better and I didn't have to look back as many times to figure out who was who or who was narrating the story each chapter. I felt bad for Donna when her mother died, she never really got to know her. At least they figured out the story of what happened. I thought the story of Lisa Leann's daughter/husband was a little bit out there, not sure why they even needed them to be in Egypt; I guess to draw her husband away and figure out that their marriage can work. I'm glad Donna made her decision about David/Wade. Wade was a momma's boy who was never going to take Donna's side on anything. Glad this series is over, I did enjoy it overall.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit-I'm really sorry to see this 6 book series end. I loved reading about what sort of mischief each of the women were getting into. Were the endings predictable? Sure they were for the most part. But that was OK with me.

I think this is the fastest I've ever read a group of books! As I said before, no, they're not "deep"-they're easy fun reads that allowed me to escape into the catering club's comings and goings. I looked forward to my reading time each night.

[Brenda Slaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to read this series. They are so us - or maybe not us, but for sure me! That no matter how hard we try to be good we just can't be good without Jesus! And we can be singing a praise song one minute in the car and the next minute fussing at the driver in front of us. Fun books and you will get recipes along with the stories!

[Suzen · Rating 3 out of 5]

the 6 women of the Potluck Catering Club won a million dollars in a national cooking show. But now Goldie's formerly cheating husband dies of a heart attack and "Evil Evie" is charged with the murder of Doreen, her husband's former wife. There is something afoot, and the praying cooks are banding together.

[Patricia M. Marston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden!!

I like how each chapter is from a different point of view. Nice to see the character of each person develop. A great read as a stand alone book or as the next book in the series. I hated to see it end!

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book shelved with my cookbooks! I decided to read the story (again I think) before I tried some of the recipes. I found each chapter written in first person from the point of view of the cook named at the start of the chapter a little hard to follow.

[Tonya Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in one day. I hate to see the series end. But what a good story and ending. I'll probably buy these book, even though my library owns them just so I can have the stories and recipes at my fingertips.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved this whole series and was VERY sad to see it come to an end. The ladies are like family to me and I'm sorry to see them go. The last 2 in this series are my favorite. This final one was full of mystery, intrigue and had more surprises than most mystery novels I've read recently. I loved the friendship each of these woman shared. I still am laughing at the ending of this book. I can just picture the whole scene and it is a riot. I would love for this series to continue. Good, clean wholesome fun. Go read it!

[Virma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best was saved for the last. This was the exciting finale that wrapped up the loose ends and stirred up new plots and even left a few cliffhangers. A do not miss!

[Cyndee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but I enjoyed the first 2 a lot more.

[Lisa Lewis Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining book, though I'm sure I would've enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books in the series.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

All's Well That Ends Well!

This is a great book like all of the Potluck books. Best one of all. So sorry they've ended. Full of so much adventure, both unusual and common everyday living. Found as stress increases, so does the prayer. A delightful book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would've like a more thorough ending to the series but really enjoyed these books!

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I anxiously awaited the review copy of this third and final book in the Potluck Catering Club series. I had read and enjoyed the other two books in the series and couldn’t wait to read this one.

Things start to get crazy once a body is found in Summit View, Colorado and one of the Potluck Catering ladies is a prime suspect in the murder investigation! No one can believe it. Instead of exciting things happening in New York on their TV audition they have a wild time in their own back yard. All the characters you've known and loved from the series are in this novel as well. The Potluck Club members’ faith and friendship is tested like never before. I enjoyed the way these authors tackled tough topics in this book with honestly and compassion.

Both of these authors bring the reader up-to-date on the relationships, friendships and lives of all the ladies in the Potluck Club as the story unfolds. Will these ladies stick together no mater what? Will they stay the course and believe their fellow member was innocent-even though the evidence pointed toward her looks pretty bad? Could they and would they help to prove their friend didn’t do this crime?

Bake until Golden is a book filled with fun, intrigue and heart-felt drama as the search for the murderer heats up. Besides all the surprising elements in the story and the faith lessons to be learned along the way-I enjoyed the recipes at the end of the book. I’ve enjoyed the recipes in the other books too!.

There are thirty-six yummy recipes ranging from Easy Crock-Pot Pumpkin Soup, Doreen’s Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole to fun desserts like Sunshine Cake and everything in-between.

Finding Hope Book Club cooked up ten of Linda and Eva’s recipes from their other books for a special book club cooking event last year. We really enjoyed how easy the recipes were to make and how great they tasted. We spoke to Linda and Eva via speaker phone at book club and learned that most of the recipes were passed down through Linda’s family line. This book is not only a fun read; but it has a variety of easy to make and delicious recipes. Bonus book – food and fun, makes for great summer fun!

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: BAKE UNTIL GOLDEN
Authors: Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson
Publisher: Revell
January 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3210-3
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction

If you thought that the Potluck Catering Club ladies’ lives would settle down once they won the national bake-off competition, then you were wrong. The ladies are barely back in town when a round of television and radio interviews are lined up. Goldie returns home from one of them to find her husband, Jack, dead from an apparent heart attack. Evie is still hunting down her husband’s ex-wife, and having confrontations with her, and Donna is still running interference between her mother and her stepmother.

Donna’s love life is still topsy-turvy too. Her old boyfriend, Wade, is trying to woe her back, while her new boyfriend, David, apparently has some secrets. Like who his friend Bobby really is that’s coming to town.

When a shocking murder rocks the town, the ladies are stunned. Especially when one of them comes under a cloud of suspicion. Will these friends stick together through their trials—or will tragedy tear them apart?

I have read all the books in both the Potluck series, and enjoyed them, especially the relationships between the ladies. I especially enjoyed it when Donna ended up in a love-triangle and I wondered which of the two men she’d end up choosing.

BAKE UNTIL GOLDEN wasn’t quite as good of a read as the previous books, it was quite sad in spots, and I was getting irritated at Evie for sticking her nose in places it didn’t belong. But the book was still engaging, and I had to keep reading to see what would happen next. I missed the recipes at first, that they used to put between chapters, but I found a whole bunch of yummy sounding ones at the end of the book. If you read the other books in this series, be sure to pick up this last book, BAKE UNTIL GOLDEN. If you haven’t, then I suggest starting at the very beginning, with The Potluck Club. $14.99. 350 pages.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third installment of the Potluck Catering Club series is lighthearted and enjoyable, with a hint of mystery. The sheer number of characters is often difficult to keep straight, especially if you have not read all of the books in the series. At times, the actions of the characters seem a bit slapstick and unrealistic, but the delicious recipes and swiftly moving plot will keep the reader engaged.
SUMMARY: After winning the reality cooking show The Great Party Showdown, the ladies of the Potluck Catering Club return home to Colorado to their regular lives. Yet their lives are anything but regular, as one member loses a husband and everyone is stunned by a murder and accusation of one of one of their own members for the crime. Can they work together to figure out what is going on around town?

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited for this book for quite come time. I finally started it and then it was different then the last few books. The girls are all still together but now the author has them texting which I dont remember happening in the other books. There is so much going on I found it hard to keep all the characters straight even though I have read all the books up til now.
There is a death the a murder, someone goes to jail, there is someone new in town and strange things happening. It was a good book just different. This time there was a ton of recipes at the end. Usually only 4-6 so this was the best part for me.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. I am just now finding out this is the third book in a series. I didn't read the other two books but had no trouble following the women's friendships and lives at all.

All of the women in this story were women I would like to know in real life. They were spunky, energetic, and very "southern". I like the fact that the heroines in this book are all older. They are in their late 40's/early 50's.

Bake until golden is a book I would recommend. I am going to look for the other 2 in the series. Oh, and as an added bonus all the recipes mentioned in the book are in the back of the book!

[Jane Healy]

A group of church prayer group friends has won a cooking contest and is making the rounds of talk shows, gaining fame to accompany their fortune. Each woman has her own version of family trouble. It all comes to a head with the planning of the Founders Day events and the legend of Old Zeke leaving his treasure in the pastor's hands resurfaces. About the same time, a stranger is seen around town, one of the women's group's mother is murdered, and another woman in the group is accused. This Christian mystery novel is similar to Diane Mott Davidson's catering series and contains easy-to-make recipes referred to in the book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm amazed with two things: that this series takes place in about a year (as reminded in the book0 and that is already over! All together now: "Awwww!" This particular book in the series has gloom written on it for a good portion of the read, because they're dealing with a --insert dramatic gong from Law & Order-- a murder mystery. And, my goodness, are the gossips of innuendo out in full force in this book, especially at the grocery store. Recipes are yummy like the other books in this series, and I like how they're incorporated into the story.
Thanks authors Linda and Eva Marie!

[Emily Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another mystery series involving food that I stumbled onto out of order in the library. I really enjoyed it and will have to look up the others! The six different voices were a bit hard to follow since some of the names are similar Lisa/Lizzie, Vonnie/Donna, but I eventually kept them all straight. A quick fun read!

[Kimbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was different than the other Potluck books in that it was a murder mystery. I didn't really get into it as much as the other books. The plot was pretty basic and the perpetrator is really easy to spot early on in the book. But I love the characters. The end was kind of abrupt, but again I love Summit View and the potluck girls.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this series - wish there more to read. I was a little put off by parts of this story, but the ending made up for a lot and the recipes are divine - I'm determined to try a few of them. Oh, I hope there will be another potluck club series, please!!!

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I love this series and am sad to see it come to an end. I feel like the characters are old friends, with words of wisdom, great recipes, and cozy homes and stories to tell. I'm sorry to be leaving them behind, but like how they concluded things in this final book.

[Dru · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sad to see this series of books end. All six books kept your interest. This last one had a few mysteries that needed to be solved but in the end it all came out. An excellent set of books and worth reading.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd book in the Potluck Catering Club series that followed 3 books in the Potluck Club Series. An old mystery and a murder and lots of recipes!

[Marnea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first couple of books in this series more than this one. It was an easy read, though, and I do like the characters, so it made it enjoyable.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every book I have read of this series!!!! And lots of good recipes!