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Gram’s Country Cooking School Mystery #3
If Bread Could Rise To The Occasion
"At Gram's Country Cooking School, Isabelle "Betts" Winston and her grandmother share their home-style culinary secrets. But what they keep to themselves are the secrets of Broken Rope, a quiet little Missouri town, that isn't nearly as quiet as it seems..."
A fresh school year begins as Gram and Betts anxiously await the arrival of their new crop of students. But their enthusiasm is thwarted when a stranger named Freddie O'Bannon arrives and claims to have proof that he was accepted to the school despite what is in their files. And when the ghost of Cylas Gent, a young man who might have a romantic past with Gram, also appears, there are suddenly two mysteries demanding their attention.
But just as Gram and Betts start sifting through the past, one of their new students is murdered. Does the seemingly sweet Freddie O'Bannon have something sinister to hide, or are Gram's ghosts trying to teach her a lesson? Either way, it's up to the country cooks to catch a killer before another living soul gets burned.
Includes delicious recipes!
A fresh school year begins as Gram and Betts anxiously await the arrival of their new crop of students. But their enthusiasm is thwarted when a stranger named Freddie O'Bannon arrives and claims to have proof that he was accepted to the school despite what is in their files. And when the ghost of Cylas Gent, a young man who might have a romantic past with Gram, also appears, there are suddenly two mysteries demanding their attention.
But just as Gram and Betts start sifting through the past, one of their new students is murdered. Does the seemingly sweet Freddie O'Bannon have something sinister to hide, or are Gram's ghosts trying to teach her a lesson? Either way, it's up to the country cooks to catch a killer before another living soul gets burned.
Includes delicious recipes!
367 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2013
42 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 29, 2015
Paige Shelton's Country Cooking School Mystery series is one of my favorites. It's in the category of "Be prepared to suspend your disbelief," and this volume takes that to a whole new level! IF BREAD COULD RISE TO THE OCCASION features the strange and inexplicable ghosts of Broken Rope, Missouri, but adds the very scary element of travelling back in time.
A new school year is starting at Gram's cooking school, but there's a strange, unexpected student who swears he was accepted, but Gram and Betts have no record of him. Then another student is found murdered, poisoned with a strange plant. Meanwhile, some of the ghosts from Gram's past have appeared, asking for help in finding their bodies and the man who murdered them! Couple that with an eerie abandoned bakery that might not be what it seems, and you have the fixings for a delicious mystery dish.
This has all the elements of a fabulous paranormal cozy: an extraordinary setting, quirky characters, both alive and dead, a sweet romance or two, and a plot that is definitely not cookie-cutter. The pace is just fast enough to keep you turning pages without getting out of breath, and the conclusion still leaves a lot of questions to be answered in future episodes. Can't wait to read the next one.
A new school year is starting at Gram's cooking school, but there's a strange, unexpected student who swears he was accepted, but Gram and Betts have no record of him. Then another student is found murdered, poisoned with a strange plant. Meanwhile, some of the ghosts from Gram's past have appeared, asking for help in finding their bodies and the man who murdered them! Couple that with an eerie abandoned bakery that might not be what it seems, and you have the fixings for a delicious mystery dish.
This has all the elements of a fabulous paranormal cozy: an extraordinary setting, quirky characters, both alive and dead, a sweet romance or two, and a plot that is definitely not cookie-cutter. The pace is just fast enough to keep you turning pages without getting out of breath, and the conclusion still leaves a lot of questions to be answered in future episodes. Can't wait to read the next one.
August 31, 2016
This was a cute premise, but I didn't feel that the writing lived up to it. Betts and her grandmother Gram teach a cooking school, and when they have students come in for the next teaching session, several seem odd and one of them is murdered. In addition Betts and her Gram can apparently see and talk to ghosts (one of whom she has the hots for, despite going steady with the live policeman who was her childhood sweetheart), so there is a subplot involving a bakery fire and the unsolved murder of a poor family long ago.
August 3, 2020
I loved how multiple mysteries were intertwined together here. The ghost visits are a lot of fun and I love seeing how Betts is discovering everything and even Gram is seeing some new stuff in regards to the ghosts. Lots of fun and I can't wait to see who shows up in the next book. #readforkimberly
September 25, 2019
After a chapter or two, the characters in the cookery school start talking to ghosts. If you can cope with paranormal events in your cosy mystery, you may enjoy this book. I found it a reasonable mix of a cold case of arson and murder, with a modern murder (which was the weaker of the storylines).
I didn't take to the sleuth having a mad crush on a dead cowboy while hopping into bed with her alive and fine lover. Nor to the ghost delaying her on the step of a burning building to kiss her deeply and give several paragraphs of advice and farewells. Too much information is conveyed through the ghosts, as there just isn't anyone else to ask, although the town archives are computerised and in the library as well.
If you have read and enjoyed earlier books in this series you will probably like this story more than I did. I would read more in the series. The few recipes at the back are good plain cooking. This is an unbiased review.
I didn't take to the sleuth having a mad crush on a dead cowboy while hopping into bed with her alive and fine lover. Nor to the ghost delaying her on the step of a burning building to kiss her deeply and give several paragraphs of advice and farewells. Too much information is conveyed through the ghosts, as there just isn't anyone else to ask, although the town archives are computerised and in the library as well.
If you have read and enjoyed earlier books in this series you will probably like this story more than I did. I would read more in the series. The few recipes at the back are good plain cooking. This is an unbiased review.
April 19, 2020
I loved this book! How the heck the author makes ghostly characters and an almost love triangle with a ghost work, I don’t know but she does! I’m half in love with Jerome myself!
October 16, 2023
If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion by Paige Shelton is set in contemporary Broken Rope MO, famed for its violent Wild West history. Isabelle "Betts" Winston and her grandmother Missouri Anna "Miz" teach students the techniques that make Miz's recipes delicious. The latest "batch" of students includes a class-crasher, Freddie O'Bannon. Betts and Miz are sure he didn't register, but courtesy demands they double-check their records, in case they made a mistake. But they have classes to teach - so they settle for allowing him to stay while they check his references (which are suspicious).
Gent is a new ghost Betts has never seen before. He wants Miz and Betts to solve the mystery of his family's murder. Miz has tried before without luck, cautions Betts to stay away from an abandoned bakery where the Cylas used to work. Betts never follows advice, of course, and is attacked by a malevolent ghost. Meanwhile she's wildly infatuated with ghost Jerome, met in the first book of the series. Her desire for Jerome guilt-trips her, because her high-school boyfriend Cliff is once again her boyfriend. Although Betts and Cliff are in a serious relationship, she hasn't told him she sees and hears ghosts.
Why did Freddie O'Bannon come to Broken Rope? Where are the bodies of the murdered Cylas family? Betts is determined to find out, regardless of danger. Town historian Jake is eager to help Betts sleuth, aware of her paranormal sensitivity, and far more savvy of technology than she is.
Recipes included: Gram's Instant Miracle Rolls, Granny Sebastian's Bread Pudding, Betts' Best Banana Bread, Jake's Favorite Blueberry Orange Muffins, Cliff's Pear Bread
Gent is a new ghost Betts has never seen before. He wants Miz and Betts to solve the mystery of his family's murder. Miz has tried before without luck, cautions Betts to stay away from an abandoned bakery where the Cylas used to work. Betts never follows advice, of course, and is attacked by a malevolent ghost. Meanwhile she's wildly infatuated with ghost Jerome, met in the first book of the series. Her desire for Jerome guilt-trips her, because her high-school boyfriend Cliff is once again her boyfriend. Although Betts and Cliff are in a serious relationship, she hasn't told him she sees and hears ghosts.
Why did Freddie O'Bannon come to Broken Rope? Where are the bodies of the murdered Cylas family? Betts is determined to find out, regardless of danger. Town historian Jake is eager to help Betts sleuth, aware of her paranormal sensitivity, and far more savvy of technology than she is.
Recipes included: Gram's Instant Miracle Rolls, Granny Sebastian's Bread Pudding, Betts' Best Banana Bread, Jake's Favorite Blueberry Orange Muffins, Cliff's Pear Bread
August 15, 2013
Isabelle “Betts” Winston and her grandmother invite students from all across the country to attend Gram’s Country Cooking School. Many apply but only a few are chosen each year. This year a student arrives, Freddie O’Bannon, who has an acceptance letter but Betts nor her grandmother can remember seeing his application or can find any record of him in their files. They decide to allow him to stay if they can verify his references.
Another arrival puts the issue with Freddie on the back burner. Cylas Gent, a ghost who may have been a romantic interest of Gram’s, seems to need some help solving a mystery from the past.
Then another mystery arises as one of the new students is found dead. Gram and Betts have their hands full. Can they solve all mysteries without getting burned??
Dollycas’s Thoughts
One of the reasons I love this series is because each story contains not one but two whodunits. With the help of their friends, both dead and alive, Gram and Betts do everything they can to get to the bottom of these mysteries. The ghosts only know so much and their memories are not very good, but the current residents of Broken Rope, Missouri have some resources that help bridge the gap a bit between the past and the present. Sometimes the mystery from the past points them in the right direction for those in the present and the current ones give a link to those in the past too.
All the characters in this story seem so real and jump right off the page. A picture is easily painted in out minds that bring every one of them to life.
This time a favorite ghost from a past story returns and it is so darn easy to forget he is a ghost for both Betts and us readers. Paige Shelton, you made me cry!!
The new ghost’s story is very unique and it truly captivated me from beginning to end. The author adds just the right little touches that makes it possible for us to step right over into their story.
This book is absolutely brilliant and a pure pleasure to read! I am always a little sad when I reach the last page. My visit to Broken Rope ends much too soon. We are treated to some tasty recipes to tide us over until the next installment. We have had chickens, potatoes and bread…wonder what tasty morsel will be featured next. All I know is I CAN’T WAIT!!!
Another arrival puts the issue with Freddie on the back burner. Cylas Gent, a ghost who may have been a romantic interest of Gram’s, seems to need some help solving a mystery from the past.
Then another mystery arises as one of the new students is found dead. Gram and Betts have their hands full. Can they solve all mysteries without getting burned??
Dollycas’s Thoughts
One of the reasons I love this series is because each story contains not one but two whodunits. With the help of their friends, both dead and alive, Gram and Betts do everything they can to get to the bottom of these mysteries. The ghosts only know so much and their memories are not very good, but the current residents of Broken Rope, Missouri have some resources that help bridge the gap a bit between the past and the present. Sometimes the mystery from the past points them in the right direction for those in the present and the current ones give a link to those in the past too.
All the characters in this story seem so real and jump right off the page. A picture is easily painted in out minds that bring every one of them to life.
This time a favorite ghost from a past story returns and it is so darn easy to forget he is a ghost for both Betts and us readers. Paige Shelton, you made me cry!!
The new ghost’s story is very unique and it truly captivated me from beginning to end. The author adds just the right little touches that makes it possible for us to step right over into their story.
This book is absolutely brilliant and a pure pleasure to read! I am always a little sad when I reach the last page. My visit to Broken Rope ends much too soon. We are treated to some tasty recipes to tide us over until the next installment. We have had chickens, potatoes and bread…wonder what tasty morsel will be featured next. All I know is I CAN’T WAIT!!!
August 9, 2013
If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion is the 3rd book in the Country School Mystery series. The newly screened and accepted students have arrived for the new cooking school term. Freddie O'Bannon is the first student to arrive but he is not on Betts and Grams list of accepted students. He, however, has a damaged acceptance letter that is from Betts and Grams. They accept him into the class with plans to check out his references later. The rest of the students arrive and everyone makes their own sour dough starter. Later a body of a student is found outside the school.
This is favorite series of mine for several reasons. First, I love the location of Broken Rope Missouri. Broken Rope is rich in history of notorious characters and events that have occurred in the past. Betts, along with her grandmother, can see and speak to the ghosts from the past. Each ghost arrives with a scent that signals they are in the area.
I, also, like this series because all of the books have had a mystery from the past which involves a ghost and a present day mystery. Perhaps one of the best features of the books are the ghosts themselves. A favorite character Jerome is back this book to watch over Betts and her gram. I normally am not a fan of paranormal mystery but I do really like this series. I think it is because the ghosts are so well developed and made interesting as a character that they become one of the best parts of the book.
This is also a series that I wait for and read as soon as it comes out. If new to the series, I would try to start with the first book If Fried Chickens Could Fly. That book introduces the reader to Jerome, the cowboy ghost and sets the foundation for the following books.
I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to seeing what ghost of Broken Rope appears next. Broken Rope has a wealth of history to draw from.
This is favorite series of mine for several reasons. First, I love the location of Broken Rope Missouri. Broken Rope is rich in history of notorious characters and events that have occurred in the past. Betts, along with her grandmother, can see and speak to the ghosts from the past. Each ghost arrives with a scent that signals they are in the area.
I, also, like this series because all of the books have had a mystery from the past which involves a ghost and a present day mystery. Perhaps one of the best features of the books are the ghosts themselves. A favorite character Jerome is back this book to watch over Betts and her gram. I normally am not a fan of paranormal mystery but I do really like this series. I think it is because the ghosts are so well developed and made interesting as a character that they become one of the best parts of the book.
This is also a series that I wait for and read as soon as it comes out. If new to the series, I would try to start with the first book If Fried Chickens Could Fly. That book introduces the reader to Jerome, the cowboy ghost and sets the foundation for the following books.
I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to seeing what ghost of Broken Rope appears next. Broken Rope has a wealth of history to draw from.
August 29, 2017
Didn't like this one quite as much as the other two, but still an enjoyable read. I'm kind of ready for the whole Betts/Jerome thing to be done so she can get on with a living boyfriend. And I didn't particularly care for the students who were so central to the story this time. Still love the surrounding characters, and the mystery of the ghosts in this one was very entertaining. Still one of my favorite series and looking forward to the next one.
October 17, 2015
I think I am done with this series. I don't really care for love triangles in mysteries at the best of times. When it's a love triangle where one of the members is a freakin' ghost, I have to just say, "Nope!"
October 3, 2013
I like this series.
January 21, 2014
Ghosts make this series especially interesting!
August 15, 2017
Good book, in another fun cooking related cozy mystery series. I like the MC, she had a lot of spunk, I have been enjoying the dynamics of the MC her Grandmother, her brother, her straight male best friend, and the ghostly visitors. Although she is a little confused in the romance department, she seems to have a head on her shoulders. The secondary characters are more or less interesting and added a lot of fullness to the story, as well as often the antagonist.
I like the small historical aspects of the story, and the series, it added a nice extra level to the whole thing. I, however, have had a bit of a hard time wrapping my brain around Missouri being such a Wild West kind of place, even if intellectually I know it would have been. I guess that is just the influence of me having grown up in the West and visiting places like Virginia City and Bodie growing up.
Overall this is fun series. I think having the series set in a town with lots of historical "characters" is brilliant. It gives the author a lot of different stories as well as personalities to pull from without the location needing to change much. I look forward to where the story will go and also to see what other ghosts might show up.
I like the small historical aspects of the story, and the series, it added a nice extra level to the whole thing. I, however, have had a bit of a hard time wrapping my brain around Missouri being such a Wild West kind of place, even if intellectually I know it would have been. I guess that is just the influence of me having grown up in the West and visiting places like Virginia City and Bodie growing up.
Overall this is fun series. I think having the series set in a town with lots of historical "characters" is brilliant. It gives the author a lot of different stories as well as personalities to pull from without the location needing to change much. I look forward to where the story will go and also to see what other ghosts might show up.
October 21, 2018
Betts Winston and her Gram own and operate a cooking school in Broken Rope, Missouri. They also share the ability to see ghosts, and Broken Rope is an Old West town teaming with spirits.
The two women are beginning a new school year and they are joined by 15 students they hand-picked and one that neither remembers applying. Freddie O’Bannon carries with him an acceptance letter missing vital information due to a juice spill. They allow him to stay conditionally while they plan to check out his references.
As soon as the term begins one the the students is found murdered in front of the school. Betts then meets a ghost with real life ties to her grandmother. While Bets works to find out who killed her student she is tasked with helping a ghost family find their missing grave sites. She may also discover who is responsible for the four deaths.
This is the third book in the Gram’s Country Cooking School series. This has been an enjoyable series and this latest book does not disappoint. The characters are interesting and developed well. The backstory of the ghosts is intriguing. The plot and subplot are engaging and made it hard to put the book down. The setting is easy to picture. I recommend this book and look forward to reading the next.
The two women are beginning a new school year and they are joined by 15 students they hand-picked and one that neither remembers applying. Freddie O’Bannon carries with him an acceptance letter missing vital information due to a juice spill. They allow him to stay conditionally while they plan to check out his references.
As soon as the term begins one the the students is found murdered in front of the school. Betts then meets a ghost with real life ties to her grandmother. While Bets works to find out who killed her student she is tasked with helping a ghost family find their missing grave sites. She may also discover who is responsible for the four deaths.
This is the third book in the Gram’s Country Cooking School series. This has been an enjoyable series and this latest book does not disappoint. The characters are interesting and developed well. The backstory of the ghosts is intriguing. The plot and subplot are engaging and made it hard to put the book down. The setting is easy to picture. I recommend this book and look forward to reading the next.
September 15, 2024
A fresh school year begins as Gram and Betts anxiously await the arrival of their new crop of students. But their enthusiasm is thwarted when a stranger named Freddie O’Bannon arrives and claims to have proof that he was accepted to the school despite what is in their files. And when the ghost of Cylas Gent, a young man who might have a romantic past with Gram, also appears, there are suddenly two mysteries demanding their attention.
But just as Gram and Betts start sifting through the past, one of their new students is murdered. Does the seemingly sweet Freddie O’Bannon have something sinister to hide, or are Gram’s ghosts trying to teach her a lesson? Either way, it’s up to the country cooks to catch a killer before another living soul gets burned. Country Cooking #2
But just as Gram and Betts start sifting through the past, one of their new students is murdered. Does the seemingly sweet Freddie O’Bannon have something sinister to hide, or are Gram’s ghosts trying to teach her a lesson? Either way, it’s up to the country cooks to catch a killer before another living soul gets burned. Country Cooking #2
October 21, 2025
I am loving this series and this is quite possibly my favorite thus far. Shelton does an amazing job of developing not one, but two unique plots--one involving ghosts and an old unsolved mystery and the other involving current day students of Gram and Betts' cooking school. I was excited to meet the new ghost, Gent, who was a childhood (living) friend of Gram, as well as seeing Jerome return. Betts played a big part in solving both mysteries, even though she wasn't actively trying to investigate the current-day mystery. She just stumbled into information and always made a point of sharing it with Cliff right away. I do hope that we'll see her share her secret with Cliff in the future; I was a little sad that she didn't take that leap in this one. Can't wait to see what happens next!
April 15, 2019
Loved this book. Again, we met some very interesting ghosts, and revisited one we've met before, and BOY is Betts in trouble! You just know that having a crush on a ghost is not going to end as well as one might hope...and what about her renewed romance with Cliff? How well would he take to the "other man" being VERY "OTHER?" But for me, the bread was the thing, and now I'm just itching to get some sourdough starter going! I cried like a baby when my great-great-grandmother's died, it was like losing a member of the family!
January 5, 2023
Terrific series if you can suspend your grip on reality long enough to enjoy this cozy mystery. This one was a bit more intense with the ghost goings- on than the previous two. I am starting the 4th in the series, hoping it does not ramp up the scare factor or this will be my last read of this particular series. I do enjoy most of Paige Shelton's book so I will definitely keep reading this author.
March 18, 2025
This is a GREAT series....Paige Shelton does NOT disappoint. This is my favorite book so far of the series because of all the bits and pieces of both little stories to finish them in a grand way. I really wish I could tell you the best parts of this series but I don't want to give it away........it's cute and endearing and I wish it could happen in real life.
If you need a great spring read these books are the ones you need.......
If you need a great spring read these books are the ones you need.......
May 27, 2017
I liked this book a great deal, but it wasn't quite as good as the first two books in the series. It seemed like something was a little off with this one, but I can't put my finger on what it was. I did, however, get to see some of the action I was hoping for so I'm glad for that. Still looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
July 20, 2018
Betts and Gram travel back in time to solve an old murder mystery with the help of their ghosts. I found the story of the bakery fire interesting. The auxiliary characters in this book weren't as good or enjoyable as the prior two books (or the next one - I'm reading out of order). Still entertaining but not as good as the others.
November 4, 2018
I think I'm finished with this incredible clever, fun series.
Betts is annoyingly self centered. This continues how self centered she was in book 2.
In the first chapter, she already wants to ignore her own Gram's request to keep something painful from the ghosts. Her response is disbelief that the ghosts feelings, or even Gram's, could be more important than what Betts want to do.
Betts is annoyingly self centered. This continues how self centered she was in book 2.
In the first chapter, she already wants to ignore her own Gram's request to keep something painful from the ghosts. Her response is disbelief that the ghosts feelings, or even Gram's, could be more important than what Betts want to do.
March 16, 2023
Three people have ***ing red hair?! Is everyone related?!
This book has lazy characterizations. "A ditzy blonde, but she was a brunette." Classy. The blue-haired hippie from Portland OR and in a common-law marriage? Snoooore. An old-fashioned ghost who says inappropriate things. Soooo original. You can really tell when the author doesn't give a crap.
This book has lazy characterizations. "A ditzy blonde, but she was a brunette." Classy. The blue-haired hippie from Portland OR and in a common-law marriage? Snoooore. An old-fashioned ghost who says inappropriate things. Soooo original. You can really tell when the author doesn't give a crap.
August 13, 2022
2022 Pop Sugar Reading challenge-a book with cutlery in the title or on the cover.
I guess this was fine for what it was. There were very few clues given to the murder and the whole thing was kind of back burnered for the ghost story. It was just OK and a little weird.
I guess this was fine for what it was. There were very few clues given to the murder and the whole thing was kind of back burnered for the ghost story. It was just OK and a little weird.
May 30, 2024
This is the 3rd book in Paige Shelton's Grams Cooking Series and did not disappoint. We do not discover until the very end who the murderer is. It revolves around a Cooking school and the killer poisoned someone in a starter bread recipe.
May 27, 2017
Great mystery. Interesting and exciting!
November 26, 2017
I am loving this series. The characters are fun, quirky, and just likable.
April 1, 2018
Amazing series. I can't praise it enough
July 18, 2018
A fun read set in Broken Rope. Missouri's country cooking school. A murder set in the school at the beginning of the school year leads to ghosts and more death connected to the first murder.
April 2, 2019
The ghosts are becoming a larger part of the plot. Also, it is no longer just a single ghost is each book. Murder and mayhem infuse this third book of the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews