Batter Up!

by Stella Dorn

Sienna Monroe sat on the bottom row of the Little League baseball aluminum bleachers beside Columbia's other favorite bakery owner, Pierre Delacroix, along with her recently adopted stray, an adorable cocker spaniel she named Blondie.

If she only knew this seemingly innocent outing would turn into one of her most heart wrenching cases ever,Even Zane, Sienna’s star employee and ex-con given a second chance, was surprised how low this criminal mind stooped.

Sergeant Jackson let her run point on this, as her track record of solving mysterious crimes spoke for itself.

In true Sienna Monroe fashion, case is not only solved, but many lives are positively impacted.

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2024

Reviews

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another excellent book in the Sienna Monroe mysteries. It is full of mystery and action and of course the adorable Blondie. It is so easy to become invested in these wonderful characters from book to book and it leaves waiting on pins and. needles for the next book in the series.

[John Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the ten books so far this has been the most fun yet. You are instantly pulled into the characters and feel for them and the struggles they go through, whether it's the children or Priscilla and Mike. Sierra is trying to figure her life out while saving everybody else. I had more fun reading this book than most any other I've read recently. I received this book free from Stella Dorn and I leave this review voluntarily.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading this series, it is a well written storyline and the characters are enjoyable. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Mariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batter Up!
by Stella Dorn

I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Sienna Monroe, owner of a local bakery, is also an amateur super sleuth. She can't help noticing two boys on the town's Little League baseball team who seem neglected and poorly dressed. The situation piques her interest, and when she investigates further, she discovers that the foster family they are living with is involved in a scam and is illegally housing too many children. Sienna is determined to uncover the truth and find a safer environment for these children.

Batter Up! focuses on Sienna's investigation as she juggles her budding relationship with Pierre Delacroix and her bakery business - no easy feat!
The book in question is a Sienna Monroe Mystery. Although the story refers to some events in previous books, it can be read independently as the author has provided explanations of the characters and past occurrences.

The characters were captivating, and I found it fun to follow their story. Sienna, in particular, was an excellent main character. You could sense her newfound happiness with Pierre, especially considering how much her first husband, Jack, meant to her. Although their romance is developing, Pierre is content to wait until Sienna is ready. The language used was simple and easy to comprehend, which made it a pleasure to read.

However, I had a few concerns about the book. While it was good to have ingredient details for the new cupcake recipes, the food explanations were too lengthy and too descriptive for my liking. It wasn't necessary to have a detailed description of every single meal that was consumed. I understand Sienna owned a bakery with several employees, but she was hardly at work. Fortunately, Zane was her manager, because without him, she would be lost!

Stella Dorn has written another cosy mystery featuring an adorable cocker spaniel, Blondie, and I recommend this book to all fans of the genre.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna owner of a bakery in town, an the mom to an adorable adopted dog, Blondie, is a successful member of the community and has a heart and hires employees that may have had a troubled past because she feels they deserve a second chance. Pierre, owner of a different type bakery and Sienna have grown close given some of her cases in the past that she had solved, one specifically helped Pierre. So they decided to take a break from their jobs and watch a little league game. Watching the game, she sees two of the team members, two little boys who were great players, but there was something just not right with them. She and Pierre decided to sponsor the team. That was great, but Sienna still felt there was a problem with the boys. So, although she is not investigating a murder this time, she is investigating what is wrong in the home where the boys are living and why are their clothes not so good and how is their treatment. This book was really a page turning dealing with her investigation on Fostering and abuse. Sienna got a whole group of people together to help. I couldn't put this book down. This entire series is wonderful, I highly recommend this book and the whole series. There are great characters you feel can be your friends. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Debbie Orazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a culinary cozy mystery.

This story broke my heart. The author does a wonderful job of integrating The mystery into the main characters lives. Would recommend.

The story starts with Sienna Monroe and her boyfriend Pierre Delacroix attending a Columbia Rangers Little League baseball game for a date night. While watching the kids play they both decide they would like to become sponsors of the team. This also sparks an idea for a specialty cupcake. Sienna has entered the Columbia Culinary Awards competition and decided to enter the baseball cupcake as well as a Limoncello cupcake. While watching the kids two youngsters catch her attention - Tommy Kramer and Andrew Bailey - she noticed they are more subdued even after winning. She makes a point of looking into the boys' backgrounds and finds out they are in foster care. Coincidentally the local grocery brings something to her attention that causes her to start an investigation. She works with the Detective to get the kids into safe foster homes and arrest the scamming fosters.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna has come a long way with her business, her relationship with Pierre, and her ability to continue to help those in her community. Whether it is giving a job to those who need a second chance like Zane and recently Raquel or sponsoring the local Little League, she can't seem to stay away from cases.

Luckily this time no dead bodies were discovered but the fate of two of the Little Leaguers has her investigating as to whether they are being taken advantage of. What she doesn't realize is how many are impacted by this new case.

Always enjoy having someone stand up for the little guys, this time literally.

I received a complimentary ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna is having a period where she is working on just her bakery and dating Pierre when she is asked to donate some cupcakes to the local little league. She decides to also enter the local culinary contest and manages to win not one but two prizes for her "Batter Up" cupcake based on crackerjacks and a Limoncello cupcake that is done with the Italian liqueur. She notices that while she is at the little league game there are two boys that seem to be not as well kept as the rest of the kids. It starts into her sleuthing mode and uncovers a lady that is making fraudulent money by using foster kids to make money. Sienna can't let that continue so with help from a lot of people she manages to make everything right.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is the best of this series and that's saying something because the Sienna Monroe series is a fabulous series each mystery is well written and definitely worth reading but this one completely blew me away. There are the familiar colorful and quirky characters but the new characters bringing that little extra to this mystery that ramped up Stella Dorn's character Sienna Monroe herself I can hardly wait to see how she's going to keep up her momentum for this series. Once again Stella Dorn had me captivated by her characters plight and unable to put down this cozey mystery until I came to the unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire " Batter Up " today so you yourself can enjoy for hours this intriguing enthralling and enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seinna Monroe, owner of one of the local bakeries along with her boyfriend who is also the owner of a different bakery join forces to sponsor the local youth baseball team.
Sienna is worried about a couple of the players on team and starts to investigate their circumstances.

Batter up is the 10th book in the Seinna Monroe series.
There are developed characters and a bit of humor.
This was the first book I read in this series.
While this is a mostly stand alone book, I would recommend reading from the start to get the full background on the characters and the development of the characters past.

[Wanda Siesicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a bit different. Instead of sleuthing a murder, Sienna is checking out a couple who are using foster kids for money. It started with Sienna and Pierre sponsoring a baseball team. 2 of the boys, while fantastic baseball players, seem a little downtrodden. Read this book to see how she got a "tribe of people" together to help her carry out a way to help the children that are in a bad foster home.
This book touch me as I worked for the front end of a pediatricians office, years ago. I saw good and so-so foster care givers. You can tell which ones were only doing it for the money.
I highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC copy of this book and volunteered my honest review.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna Monroe has been taking in some little league baseball games as inspiration for a new cupcake.
But those games end up being more important to her than just research for her bakery delicacies.
She meets two boys who live with foster carers.
But things aren't what they seem and she feels the boys are desperately unhappy.
She swings into action with Sergeant Jackson to solve this puzzling case and all while her love life is hotting up too.
Can Sienna save the day and rescue these kids from a bad situation?
Only time will tell.
Really enjoy these stories and always look forward to seeing a new one come out.

[MsBitsyB · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love early morning sunrises, brisk walks, second chances, pastries, Gordon Ramsey & baseball - you’re in the right book!
Sienna is excited & focused to have entered her famous cupcakes in The Columbia Culinary Awards. Her romance with Pierre (another bakery owner in Columbia) is doing great, and her sense of “community” is in full swing as she & Pierre sponsor the junior high baseball team - the Columbia Rangers - for new uniforms & much needed equipment. A few players catch Sienna’s attention & soon there’s a mystery brewing! This series by Stella Dorn has been an absolute delight, & is a series you don’t want to miss!

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna and Pierre decide to go to a local boys baseball game and find out the team needs a sponsor. Next thing you know they are the proud sponsors and regularly attending games. But Sienna notices two of the smaller but excellent players are rather unkempt and using trash bags to carry their gear. This leads to some sleuthing to find out more about the boys, who turn out to be foster kids, but not well cared for and inspires her baseball cupcake for the Columbia Culinary Awards! A fascinating mystery without a murder this time, but a situation that’s needs a solution! I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily

[Baby Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sienna is an amateur sleuth with many great qualities and those include being kind and caring about her bakery and her community. In this book, Sienna sheds light on the foster system and how many kids are mistreated by parents only interested in making money by fostering children. With the help of her current employee Zane, and her close friends in the community, she breaks the case and brings justice to the foster children, to include Tommy and Andy. Her sleuthing brough over fourteen foster kids a happy ending by placing them in their forever homes with parents that truly care.
I received this book for free as an ARC and my review is my own!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a change for Sienna, no murder to solve this time, just a pair of crooks who are milking the foster system for all they can and Sienna can't let them get away with it, not to mention she is concerned about the children, especially two boys who are part of the baseball league she and Pierre are sponsoring. Sienna's relationship with Pierre also goes up a notch which causes her some concern but I'm sure it'll all come right in the end, they seem to go together too well. I love this series and can't wait to read more.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most touching of the series so far!

I really enjoy the Sienna Monroe books. The best part of this series, to me anyway, is how with each book, Sienna becomes more involved with her new home in Columbia. We meet new characters who all carry forward into the series. Of course, I do love Blondie as well. However, this story is the most touching because it involves children and the lengths Sienna and her friends will go to in order to help them. I highly recommend this whole series of books to all lovers of cozy mysteries!

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna and Pierre go to a baseball game for young boys
They see two young boys who are amazing — but seem to be very poor. They decide they need to do something about this, and become sponsors. And as they look into the boys, they realize they are orphans, living with their foster parents. . . . .of 14 children!!!THIS - an amazing story that highlights how some people are very willing to cheat the system. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Robin Blanksguster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna’s, something is off, meter starts clanging when observing two rather smallish but excellent little league ball players. They don’t seem to smile, are hungry, wear old clothes that have seen better days, and none of their parents or guardians have been seen. Thus, a new mystery is begun to find out what is happening with these boys and their foster parents. This looks at a way children might fall through the cracks and/or be neglected. I loved the many people that were involved and trying to help Sienna with this mystery and their observations. Great read!

Red Robin

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot of this story is sincere and you can understand why soft hearted Sienna would get involved with the problem. I'm not sure the conclusion is believable in these days of excessive government red tape, but it is hopeful. Sienna is a smart, resourceful woman and I found the narrative telling readers beforehand what Sienna was thinking or going to do next annoying. I received this book as an ARC team member and this is my honest and voluntary review. I would read this story to keep up with Sienna's life, but I didn't find it as appealing as the first several books in the series.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another super Sienna Monroe mystery. She has the reigns on this awesome story. A low criminal indeed needs to be caught in swift fashion. Who knew a nice day out with her boyfriend and bakery owner Pierre and Blondie the cocker spaniel would lead to this? Brilliant as always . Immersive , engaging storytelling with good solid characters, great plot structure and the narratives are all very well written. I was forwarded this book and I’m leaving my review voluntarily in my own words

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna keeps running into cases around her town. Who would have thought she finds a new potential case at a baseball game?
These books are just so much fun. The characters are great and the compassion and energy that Sienna shows are inspiring. I really like the storyline and the little surprises throughout.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Doreen Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna and Pierre go on a date, to a Little League game and decide spontaneously to sponsor the team. While there, Sienna notices that 2 boys on the team, both star players, have tattered gear and don't seem to have anyone cheering for them. What's going on? Her investigation goes deep, and many secrets are uncovered. This book is very well-written, as are all of Stella Dorn's books, and it was so intriguing that I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy through Book Funnel. I have read a few other Sienna Monroe cozy mysteries. This is book 10 in the series. The world of foster parenting plays a huge role in the story. Having limits on how many children, monthly payments, and care of the children are areas that are explored. Maybe states have different rules, but I found it hard to think the home wasn’t being visited often by social services. Read to find out what Sienna discovers!

[HEATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another cute mystery by Stella Dorn. This series is so cute and I just love all the different mysteries Sienna has to solve. The Characters are always well written and you have a good time with them. This one was different from the others since there was no dead body. If you like a cute story with fun characters then I would definitely recommend this book and series.

Thank you Stella Dorn for allowing me to read this ARC for my opinion.

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Stella´s books and characters but they always remind me of how low some people are willing to stoop for their own gain, not caring about the fact how much misery they bring to other peoples´lives. So when Sienna and her friends join forces to help children in foster care, it´s a pleasure to see them win in the end. This review copy contains a well balanced depiction of how harsh life can be and how wonderful we wish it were.

[Dave Measner · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 10th book in the Sienna Monroe series the story shifted from solving a murder mystery to a more social crime and child rescue project. The story and plot were well written out but the advance copy I received was full of grammatical errors. While annoying they did not detract from the over all story. It was for me my least favorite in the series as it wasmore focussed on the social aspect of the characters and less on a mystery.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed another one of Stella Dorn books and it was just entertaining as all rest of series was. I loved all the twist and turn to solve the problems. I wish I could eat all those sweets that everyone enjoy but I would get very large if I did. So it is to read about it anyway. I love how the author has Sienna working with so many different people to solve the problems and protect the innocent. I would recommend this series for anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery.

[Ruth R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that im reading,I know that this is not the first book of the season but the author introduce the book like a solo. And she is good on her writing.

Sienna likes to committed to solving mysteries and crimes to help the helpless”
this story about two foster boys she notice some things that its not in place.
But with her help as always she helped not only the 2 boys.
Good reading❤️

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great book in the Sienna Monroe series by Stella Dorn. I love this series because it’s not the usual cozy mystery. There’s no dead bodies! Sienna has a huge heart for people especially those who are mistreated. This story addresses issues with the foster care system. Very well written book that tugs at the heartstrings! Once I started reading I just couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait for the next one!