Railroad Recipe for Disaster

by Belinda Page

All aboard! Tickets, please!

Embark on a heartwarming adventure with Max, a charming wiener dog with a big personality, and Sophie, a gifted baker with a passion for pastries. They set off on a vintage luxury train journey to realize their dream of opening a delightful doggy bakery in the quaint town of Glenwood Falls, New Hampshire.

Onboard the magnificent train, where dreams are meant to unfold, a shadowy crime emerges, threatening to derail everything for the beloved sleuthing duo.

With each tantalizing dish they savor, they delve deeper into a web of puzzling clues and culinary delights. Their thrilling adventure takes unexpected twists and appalling encounters , and they race against time to uncover the truth.

Clickety-clack down the railroad track, joining Max and Sophie as they embark on this unforgettable journey filled with intrigue, suspense, and mouthwatering flavors!

Tickets, please!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Animals

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2024

About the author

Belinda Page is the pen name of a cozy mystery writer who has a particular fondness for dachshunds! Her beloved furry companion, Max, has stolen readers' hearts everywhere with his enchanting escapades.
When she’s not spinning intriguing tales, Belinda works as a dedicated counselor in her community. In her downtime, she enjoys the therapeutic joys of meal prep and gardening—especially nurturing her prized tomato plants. Not to mention, she’s always on a quest to perfect her scrumptious spaghetti sauce, adding a pinch of love to every dish.
Keep up with Belinda's newest book release, bundle sales, and more by following her profile.

Reviews

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a prequel of this series from the author and this is my honest review. I round this up to 3.5 stars. This gives a glimpse into Sophie and Max as they travel back to her hometown to open the Max’s Bow-Wow Bakery. Much of the book is spent in introspection and anticipation of the move and clashing with a rude “influencer”. There’s a hint of a mystery about another passenger but the real mystery come late in the book. Overall this was a quick and pleasant read but not exciting. It’s definitely in the cozy without a dead body on the train. The introduction to the characters 👍👍👍

[Lilly Guirguis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book! Read if you love dogs, baking businesses, and female friendships.

Best quotes: “Her friend beamed at her, the kind of smile that radiated warmth and assurance. “Your bakery is going to be wildly successful; I just know it!”

“Trust me, I’m not exactly the epitome of urban adventure. There’s a reason I chose to open my bakery here in this charming little town instead of hustling through the bustling streets of New York. Well, besides the jaw-dropping rents, of course.”
Hadley shrugged, a playful grin spreading across her face. “I don’t know, Soph. Your life is exciting, even if it means saying goodbye to the city lights. I mean, what’s more intriguing than a young woman returning to her roots in search of a quieter, more peaceful existence? But, then again, life can toss in unexpected chaos and hurdles.”

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable short read about Sophie & Max as they start their journey to Owning a bakery for dogs & their humans in Glenwood Falls. They are on a luxury train as a short holiday between leaving New York & their new home. Max helps Sophie decide on the name for her dream bakery. Whilst at dinner someone enters her room & takes her precious blue notebook, full of recipes & other important things. The next morning, Max leads her to a clue, which she follows. Her best friend meets her at Concord & takes her to the shop. Max’s Bow Wow Bakery is named!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie is traveling by train to New Hampshire to build and open her bakery for dogs. Then she returns to her room to find it ransacked and her blue book is gone. It contained blueprints and recipe ideas for her new bakery. What's she to do??? Her and Max (her dog) start sleuthing while the coach detective (security) is investigating also. Cans she kiss her bakery dreams goodbye, or will luck shine its' light on her?
Short but sweet.

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to receive this prequel to what is a great series by this author. It was very interesting to travel on the luxury train with Sophie & Max as they left New York for their new life in Glenwood Falls. The other guests, and even the staff, provided some amusement along the way. On the journey there is a mystery to solve. When they arrive their new bakery is waiting for them. It’s so aptly named…! Recommend this series.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel to Sophie and Max's story before Max's Bow Wow Bakery was started. Sophie decides to give herself a luxury train trip from New York to Glenwood Falls before starting the bakery. Sophie always ends up having to do some investigating and this one is no different. Cute story with a very happy ending.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes place on the Gilded Express which is a train from New York City, New York to Concord New Hampshire. Sophie Harrington and her dachshund, Max, on the way to her hometown of Glenwood Falls, N.H. She is going to open a bakery for dogs and people there. On the train, she meets the staff of the train, an influencer, and an earl who is traveling undercover. When she returns to her room after dinner, she finds her notebook missing. There is a policeman on the train who questions her. Sophie does not wait for him and solves her case. This is a prequel for a series about her bakery, Max's Bow Wow Baker.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book just makes me want to read the Bow Wow Bakery series again! 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.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Railroad Recipe for Disaster offers a sweet, tantalizing glimpse into the lives of Sophie, a gifted baker, and Max, a charming wiener dog. Sophie and Max are on their way to Glenwood Falls, New Hampshire, to open a bakery, a place where humans can dine with their dogs, a spot for both humans and their canine companions to enjoy a meal together.

They decide to make their trip a mini-vacation by taking the train. Sophie has been diligently preparing for months, documenting everything in her blue notebook in preparation for opening day.

While Sophie and Max are enjoying a delicious dinner one evening, someone breaks into her room and steals her blue notebook. Sophie is devastated at the loss, as it may delay the bakery’s opening. Determined to find her notebook before they reach their destination, she realizes that if it remains lost, it could be gone forever.

Sophie and Max encounter some very interesting people on the train; any one of them could be the culprit behind her missing notebook. An Instagram influencer might seek revenge after Sophie turned her down for an interview. A well-known mysterious gentleman could also harbor ill will, especially after Sophie uncovers his true identity.

Railroad Recipe for Disaster captivated me from the first page and held my attention right to the last, and even now it still lingers in my mind. This book is a warm and cozy read that introduces us to a new world and its characters. I eagerly anticipate reading more about Sophie and Max, learning about the bakery they plan to open, and uncovering what mysteries lie ahead.

I highly recommend this delightful morsel of mystery to all mystery fans! Grab a copy of Sophie and Max’s introduction to the world, Railroad Recipe for Disaster, today!

[Aparna J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Belinda Page has crafted an utterly charming, cozy prequel to her beloved Doggy Bakery Cozy Mystery series with *Railroad Recipe For Disaster, featuring my favorite character, Sophie, and her lovable pet, Max. In this enchanting tale, Sophie Harrington is heading back to her hometown of Glenwood Falls, New Hampshire, to pursue her dream of opening a one-of-a-kind bakery that caters to both people and their furry friends.

Belinda Page’s descriptions are so immersive that I felt as if I were right there with Sophie, experiencing the elegance of the luxury train. The way she brings to life the gourmet meals, the picturesque scenery rolling by, and the cozy, plush seating made it easy to imagine the journey firsthand.

But Sophie’s trip isn’t just a pleasant ride home; it's filled with intrigue. Alongside the delectable dishes she samples, Sophie finds herself entangled with a host of strange and mysterious fellow passengers. With each delightful course they enjoy, Sophie and Max are drawn deeper into an unraveling mystery, filled with unexpected clues and thrilling encounters.

Belinda Page’s imaginative storytelling and her knack for blending mystery with mouth-watering details make this a deliciously suspenseful adventure that keeps you guessing till the very last stop. It’s a testament to her creativity and skill that every twist and turn feels fresh and exciting!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
I somewhat enjoyed this book for what it was: a simple, low-stakes cozy mystery. I love cozy mysteries but I didn’t love that the stakes were *that* low for this book. All that happened was her notebook got stolen. I know this is a prequel to the Doggy Bakery series (which I haven’t read) so it’s not meant to be super great, just a short origin story for Sophie & Max. It reminded me of Kill Joy, the prequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, by Holly Jackson, it wasn’t great but if you’ve read the series already you probably enjoyed it.
This book could have benefited from better editing. There were many inconsistencies I noticed such as the characters randomly switching from standing to sitting, the tea table having a tablecloth and then not, and strolling through the new town and then they’re still in the car. The book is told in third person but there were several times it would switch to first person mid-sentence.
Not sure how old the author is, but she clearly has an unfavorable view of young millennials. Her caricature of the “influencer” (her slang, shouting, being obsessed with her follower count, demanding lots of photos, thinking everyone should cater to her, swinging around a selfie stick, etc.) seems like something a boomer would come up with and post on Facebook to express what’s wrong with the world nowadays. 🙄 It felt like lazy, unimaginative writing and was cringey to read.

I received this ebook from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie and her dog, Max are on their way to Glenwood Falls, New Hampshire to follow Sophie's dream. She is opening a new a bakery catering to dogs and their humans contrary to the wishes of her parents. She has been creating a blue notebook of all things she needed to open her bakery. The notebook was full of everything from how she wants to decorate the shop to all recipes she wanted to showcase for both dogs and humans. To celebrate her good new fortune, Sophie decided to take a luxury train from the city all the way up to New Hampshire and her best friend will be picking her up. The train catered to dogs as well as humans so Max was pampered as well. Food was amazing as well as the ambiance. The cook on the train had her precocious, adorable young daughter aboard as well and she met Sophie and Max. All was going went well until someone entered her room and stole her blue notebook. And so the mystery begins. Who stole the notebook, why? With Sophie and Max on the case, will she ever get her notebook back? We also have a very obnoxious influencer and her photographer on the train which creates chaos. This prequel is a great introduction into a new series that looks to be a must read! I can't wait. I received an ARC of this book, but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[DianaRaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

RAILROAD RECIPE FOR DISASTER is the Prequel to the Doggy Bakery Cozy Mystery series by Belinda Page. It's just the right amount of mystery, and it's full of doggy cuteness. I enjoyed this story and look forward to more with Sophie and Max.

Sophie is on the way to Glenwood Falls with Max, her busy little dachshund. She's finally going to open her doggy bakery. The luxury train trip starts out more luxurious than anticipated. Then she encounters an annoying restaurant influencer making videos for her website, and she wants Sophie to work with her. When Sophie refuses, the influencer tells she'll regret her decision. What about the young gentleman traveling under a false name? That's a mystery in itself. When Sophie returns to her room after dinner, she finds her room has been searched and her precious notebook is missing. She doesn't know what to do, the notebook is  filled with all her plans for her new bakery shop and most importantly, years of dog friendly recipes. 

If you love dogs and cozy mysteries, this book is the one to curl up with.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Breana Sprinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Railroad Recipe for Disaster left me feeling the comfort of the delicately detailed description of an old-fashioned train ride reminiscent of much older mystery novels.
Yet, the modern appearance of the attendant felt modern professional as to be expected.

Our protagonist, Sophie, has truly grown on me as a character in the series this prequel is a part of. In this she is written in a way where I can truly feel her wonder and excitement in regards to the historical beauty of the train ride. Her affection to her canine companion as well.

Loved the coziness of of her room in the train and the tea room on board.

The character of Florence was especially annoying and I was feeling it alongside Sophie and Max during that whole disturbing episode.

In these brief pages, you will find a deep comfort and a brilliant mystery.

I've aquired this as an ARC copy but also jumped to pre-order at my own will before it hit my inbox out of anticipation.
My opinions are entirely my own.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great story by Belinda. It was a page turner and the suspense was incredible intense. I was on the verge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. Sophie & Max as they start their journey to Owning a bakery for dogs & their humans in Glenwood Falls. It was a case they had to solve before it was too late. It was an disaster that could have derailed her plan in her hometown in this moment. Who stole n her precious notebook was missing. There were many suspects and who was the culprit behind this incident or will they be arrested for this crime? Or will they get away or will her notebook will ever be returned back to her or will her secret menu be destroyed.
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie, a baker living and working in New York City, finds herself at a crossroads after being laid off. Determined to pursue her dream of opening a bakery that caters to both humans and canines, she decides to return to her small hometown to bring her vision to life. To kick off this new chapter, Sophie splurges on a luxurious train ride, savoring every moment of the experience. However, her journey takes an unexpected turn when her notebook—filled with all her plans and recipes for the bakery—goes missing. With the help of her loyal dachshund, Max, Sophie follows the clues to unravel the mystery and recover her precious notebook.

This short but delightful cozy mystery was a joy to read. I loved seeing Sophie seize the chance to follow her work dreams, and I couldn’t help but wish I could hop aboard that luxury train right alongside her!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in exchange for an honest review. I want to thank Goodreads, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

The premise of a mystery on a train always catches my attention, so I was eager to dive into this short story. I've not read anything by Belinda Page, so I didn't know what to expect.

This was a cute story with a rather easy to solve mystery. The dachshund, Max, was an adorable character. The other characters, including Sophie, were a tad annoying. The unnecessary overuse of exclamation marks is always a source of irritation to me. That said, the plot moved along at a good pace and held my attention to the end. I'm not sure if I'll continue on with the series, but I did enjoy this prequel for the most part, and would recommend it to someone looking for a quick mystery to read.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all things Belinda Page and this does not disappoint, this was a cute short read! This is the prequel to Max's Bow Wow Bakery. Sophie Harrington and her dog Max, are taking a vintage train ride from New York City to Glenwood Falls New Hampshire. This is where Sophie will be opening her bakery. She is always carrying her Blue Notebook with her, it contains her recipes and plans for her bakery. While going to dinner she leaves the notebook in her locked travel compartment. When she returns her compartment is disheveled, and her notebook gone; but her wallet, money, and credit cards were still there! I had two suspects in mind, and one of them did do it. Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I look forward to reading more from Belinda Page!!

[CR1017 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from the author & I am leaving this voluntary, honest review.

This is, as the cover states, a prequel to the Doggy Bakery Cozy Mystery Series.
We are introduced to Sophie Harrington, a baker, and her recently acquired canine companion, Max, a dachshund.
They are on a trip from New York back to Sophie's hometown of Glenwood Falls, via train.
Sophie plans to return to Glenwood Falls & realize her dream of opening her own bakery, but it won't be just the average bakery because Sophie plans to also serve dog friendly treats alongside the usual human bakery fare.
The story is peppered with just enough mystery and quirky characters to make it entertaining, light, easy reading.
A good start to a new series.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very descriptive story that makes one long for a journey on an upscale train. The mystery is quite harmless and easily solved by Sophie in a timely manner but not before investigating a few interesting characters. I think this is going to be a good series and I'm looking forward to a more active role for Max and also getting to know Sophie as she sets up her new pet/people bakery! A renewed, possibly romantic, relationship and a continuation of a life long one with her best friend Hadley will surely bring chaos, humour, along with murder! Definitely on my future reading list is this series! 👍👍👍

[Big Fat Hairy Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie and Max are headed to Glenwood Falls, NH on a vintage luxury train in order to start her dual bakery. While traveling, her notebook containing all her plans and recipes disappears. It's up to her and Max to find out who stole it before they arrive at their destination or her dream bakery may fail before it even starts. This is a quick-read, cozy mystery which provides some background for The Doggy Bakery Cozy Mystery Series.

I'm a member of the ARC team and have left an honest review voluntarily.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel is such a cute story. The main character, Sophie, seems like a delightful person and her dog Max is a companion everyone would want. The story moves along nicely as Sophie is leaving her New York City life to start a bakery in her old small town of Glenwood Falls. She has an issue on the train when her bakery notebook turns up missing. So the story moves along with a little mystery and a lot of descriptions of yummy food served on the train. This is a great start to the new series.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Railroad Recipe for Disaster is the prequel to the Doggy Bakery Cozy Mystery series by Belinda Page.

This is the story of how Sophie and Max moved back to her hometown in Glenwood Falls. I enjoyed this quick read about her dreams and the near disaster that could have derailed her plans. Max is adorable as always.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Railroad Recipe for Disaster is a short, delightful introduction to Sophie and the backstory for Max's Bow Wow Bakery. Ms. Page's writing is so descriptive that it was easy to imagine the luxury train ride. When Sophie's planning notebook goes missing, she and Max do a bit of sleuthing to see if they can recover these important documents. I spent a most enjoyable afternoon getting up to speed for this new series. The ending was brilliant and a lot of fun!

[KZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from a Goodreads giveaway and I’m glad I did - I had never heard of this series before.

The main character, Sophie, was very likable. It was short and although there wasn’t too much going on, I liked the writing style and the vivid descriptions of everything. It made me want to go in a train ride like this, and the food sounded delicious! I enjoyed this prequel - it definitely got me interested in checking out the rest of the series and reading more about Sophie and her bakery.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novella that explained how Sophie and her dog Max returned to her hometown of Glenwood Falls to open Max's Bow Wow Bakery. There was a mystery for Sophie to solve when her Blue Book of bakery plans and recipes was taken from her room on the train. Delightful book with descriptive language such that I could imagine every detail of the luxury train as described by Sophie. I plan to read the rest of the series soon.

[Lavena Spade Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet cozy novella .
Sophie and her dog Max are traveling from
Her old home in NYC to small town NH aboard an elegant train. She is opening a dog friendly bakery and is excited to get there and try out her new recipes . Her book of ideas and recipes gets stolen and there is a variety of suspects. In the end she makes new friends,
solves the mystery and gets to finally see her new bakery. Fun sweet read.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie Harrington is headed from NY City to Concord, New Hampshire, eventually ending up in her hometown of Glenwood Falls, to open her new bakery. She decides to take the Gilded Express, a delightful, old fashioned train, which will take about a day. On her way she meets some interesting characters and even gets to solve a mystery or two with her new dachshund, Max! She decides to call her bakery Max’s Bow Wow Bakery, where she’ll make both human and doggie treats. I loved this prequel and look forward to reading more about these great characters in future books. I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.

[Doreen Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed reading the books in the Doggy Bakery Cozy Mystery Series, so I was very excited to read the new prequel, Railroad Recipe for Disaster. Happily, it lived up to my every expectation. It's amazing how much adventure a young woman and her little dog can enjoy in a single day aboard a scenic luxury train. Highly recommended!

[Dianne Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute cozy mystery.

A very cute cozy mystery with Sophie and her beloved dog, Max, riding the rails to their new home. When disaster befalls, Sophie and Max, cleverly identify the guilty party. It was definitely not who I thought it would be!

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.