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A Culinary Mystery #12
Wedding Cake
When Sadie Hoffmiller receives a threatening, anonymous text message just days before her wedding, she is determined not to let it interfere with the celebration she has carefully planned for months. But when the threat changes from a distant fear to a frightening reality, Sadie realizes just how much she is underestimated the situation. Desperate to put an end to the game she has been forced to play, Sadie, her fiancé, Pete, and her children pull out all the stops resolved to stop running and see justice done. What they do not know, however, is just how far Sadies nemesis is willing to go and just how many people may be hurt in the process. There is no turning back for anyone in this riveting conclusion to the twelve-volume series, and the question becomes whether or not Sadie will have a future left when the game finally comes to an end.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
40 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
About the author
Josi S. Kilpack
82 books2,047 followers I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child in 1998 and haven't stopped. My most recent books have been Historical Romance through the Proper Romance line with Shadow Mountain Publishing.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
October 14, 2014
This is the final book in the Sadie Hoffmiller series, and it is a doozy. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU HAVE READ EVERY OTHER BOOK IN THE SERIES, it is full of spoilers as several elements from other stories--that stood alone and could be read in any order--come into play. It was a very fun book to write and I hope will be as fun for readers to read.
April 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. Josi really did a good job at ending the series so that your are not left wondering what happens to the cast of characters in this series.
I know there is another book after this. I asked the author of there was more since candy cane caper just released. She said this last book Candy Cane Caper was just a 5 year bonus to the ended series.
I know there is another book after this. I asked the author of there was more since candy cane caper just released. She said this last book Candy Cane Caper was just a 5 year bonus to the ended series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2015
Is it really true? We've reached the end of the Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mystery series? How bitter sweet this feels. It's been a long road to reach the end, the final book, the wedding cake. So, it's good to have that final bit of resolution but it will be sad to leave Sadie, Pete and family behind. They are very familiar to me now.
I'll admit that I was anxious to read this book. Knowing it was the last book left me anticipating the whole time I was reading. I knew I would have to wait to the very end to find that HEA ending I was looking for. Nothing is every easy for the characters in these books. Never, ever easy.
This book was fast paced and jam packed with activity. There was literally not even one dull moment. I loved how the whole clan was together in this book, all part of what was going on. It was a good way to end things. Things don't turn out exactly the way Sadie hopes they will or even the way I thought they would, but I guess that's all part of the fun.
This has been a great series. Not only are the stories great, but there are some fun and yummy recipes in each book. These books are clean- no swearing, no sexual situations. It's just good reading!
I'll admit that I was anxious to read this book. Knowing it was the last book left me anticipating the whole time I was reading. I knew I would have to wait to the very end to find that HEA ending I was looking for. Nothing is every easy for the characters in these books. Never, ever easy.
This book was fast paced and jam packed with activity. There was literally not even one dull moment. I loved how the whole clan was together in this book, all part of what was going on. It was a good way to end things. Things don't turn out exactly the way Sadie hopes they will or even the way I thought they would, but I guess that's all part of the fun.
This has been a great series. Not only are the stories great, but there are some fun and yummy recipes in each book. These books are clean- no swearing, no sexual situations. It's just good reading!
December 26, 2014
Sigh. Loved this book, and the last chapter made me want to start reading the series again. Wedding Cake is book 12--yep--in the Sadie Hoffmiller series and I've read all 12 almost as soon as they came out. Each book has a collection of recipes as amateur sleuth Sadie Hoffmiller solved each mystery. Wedding Cake brings back many of the series' beloved characters as Sadie and Pete are about to get married. But a stalker from Sadie's past shows up just in time to create havoc on Sadie's perfectly planned wedding. Wedding Cake is a fabulous ending to a wonderful series. Well done!
February 4, 2015
I've read this series since it first came out and have absolutely loved every minute of it. I've tried some of the recipes that are included with this series, aside from the ones in this book, since I just finished it. I must say--this is very bittersweet! Sadie, the writing, the series, the characters...all of it...have grown so much along the way. I'm sad to see it all come to an end, yet I'm excited to see what's coming next from this author.
Sadie is being threatened again and is determined not to let it ruin her wedding. Yes, she's finally getting remarried! This stalker is crazy and will stop at nothing to ruin the lives of those chosen to be the target. It was scary, crazy, and intense. I really don't want to give away who it is and the reasoning, so if you haven't read this series, start and work your own way through to the end.
As I mentioned before, Sadie has gone through a lot of growth, yet she still resorts to her usual meddling ways when desperate times call for desperate measures. I love the relationship she has with her kids and the way she acknowledges that not everyone likes her. She is who she is and doesn't change to fit in with the idea that others have of who she should be.
I love Pete. He's such a good balance and fit for Sadie. I love their relationship.
Great end to the series!
Content: no language; brief, extremely mild religious references; mild-moderate violence (shooting, stalking, etc); squeaky clean romance.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Sadie is being threatened again and is determined not to let it ruin her wedding. Yes, she's finally getting remarried! This stalker is crazy and will stop at nothing to ruin the lives of those chosen to be the target. It was scary, crazy, and intense. I really don't want to give away who it is and the reasoning, so if you haven't read this series, start and work your own way through to the end.
As I mentioned before, Sadie has gone through a lot of growth, yet she still resorts to her usual meddling ways when desperate times call for desperate measures. I love the relationship she has with her kids and the way she acknowledges that not everyone likes her. She is who she is and doesn't change to fit in with the idea that others have of who she should be.
I love Pete. He's such a good balance and fit for Sadie. I love their relationship.
Great end to the series!
Content: no language; brief, extremely mild religious references; mild-moderate violence (shooting, stalking, etc); squeaky clean romance.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
February 2, 2015
***4.5 stars***
I love Sadie! She has been a fun character to read about. While I am going to miss her adventures, it's great to see her story come to a conclusion, I can't say that I have read every book in the Culinary Mystery series. There are a few from the beginning that I have missed. Josi Kilpack strongly recommends reading all of the books from the beginning before reading this one. I have read enough of them that I don't think this book will spoil the first few for me.
Sadie knows how to find trouble, I think it is her real talent. This book is no exception. The biggest obstacle is that she is getting married. Problems from her past investigations come back to haunt her and try to ruin the wedding.
This book was full of surprises, mystery, and physical threats. It was a great ending to a great series.
I love Sadie! She has been a fun character to read about. While I am going to miss her adventures, it's great to see her story come to a conclusion, I can't say that I have read every book in the Culinary Mystery series. There are a few from the beginning that I have missed. Josi Kilpack strongly recommends reading all of the books from the beginning before reading this one. I have read enough of them that I don't think this book will spoil the first few for me.
Sadie knows how to find trouble, I think it is her real talent. This book is no exception. The biggest obstacle is that she is getting married. Problems from her past investigations come back to haunt her and try to ruin the wedding.
This book was full of surprises, mystery, and physical threats. It was a great ending to a great series.
June 21, 2017
Wedding Cake by Josi S. Kilpack is the 12th and final book in the Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mystery series. Sadie receives a threatening text message two days prior to her wedding and soon links it to a previous stalker who has resurfaced. As warned by the author you need to have read the previous books in the series prior to this one as it tidies up all the loose ends from previous books. I have enjoyed all the books in the series and this one was no exception. Lots of recipes are included and sound delicious but use a lot of American ingredients. A nice, typically cozy series which I am sad to see has ended.
May 13, 2015
This is the 12th and final book in this series. I really enjoyed the series and am sorry it is ending. The author has a warning that if you haven't read the first 11, before this book you shouldn't read it as it contains spoilers, for things that happened in the rest of the series. In this book Sadie is planning her wedding and her stalker is back. How she finds her is a very interesting story.
April 25, 2018
I enjoyed it, glad I read it. Glad to visit characters from previous books. SO glad Sadie finally took a gun to a gun fight (even if it was borrowed). The ending...cheesy, but still fine.
I have massive respect for people who write books and while this series wasn’t life changing or anything it’s something that’s been there for me when I needed something that didn’t add new stress to my life and that’s an important role to play in lives. I enjoyed my time with Sadie and I think Kilpack did a very respectable job on this series.
I have massive respect for people who write books and while this series wasn’t life changing or anything it’s something that’s been there for me when I needed something that didn’t add new stress to my life and that’s an important role to play in lives. I enjoyed my time with Sadie and I think Kilpack did a very respectable job on this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2018
Loved this book! it was the best in the series but you need to read the rest of the series to understand and appreciate this book. It was so intense and hard to put down. After I was about half way through I could not put it down and had to finish it. I will miss reading about Sadie’s adventures but I loved the way the last booked tied up all the loose ends. Great series over all and I highly recommend it.
August 9, 2022
A really enjoyable relaxed series. I don’t have to pay too much attention, but it kept me interested the whole time.
October 14, 2014
Received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Author and Reviewer Warning!
*Make sure you have read the first 11 books before you start Wedding Cake. The gloves are off when it comes to holding back the details on the previous mysteries. Some of the other book plots are revealed, especially the books that involve Jane.*
My Review
The word perfect doesn't even come close to how utterly awesome this book is. As much as I have been looking forward to reading Wedding Cake, I was also dreading it. Not in a way that it was something I didn't want to do, believe me, it was only because I knew Sadie's story would be ending. That being said, that never would have stopped me from reading and loving Wedding Cake. I know all things must come to an end, like Harry Potter :), and WOW, what an end! My heart raced, my head pounded, and my stomach hurt all while reading in anticipation, turning the pages as fast as I could. As I read, I thought, what next! Poor Sadie, poor Pete, poor everyone!
When I read the teaser chapter at the end of Fortune Cookie earlier this year, I knew this book was going to be a wild ride. Jane has been keeping herself quiet for awhile, but she has been bidding her time. I'm sure we all have been wondering what has happened to Jane since her last words to Sadie in Pumpkin Roll. The books since have mentioned her, but in Wedding Cake, she makes her presence known right at the start, and is not holding back. This will be spoiler free review, with no details given, but when you do get to read this, prepare your life for not getting anything else done until you finish this book. The epilogue is so lovely, it had me smiling through my tears.
5 out of 5 stars. This book is everything I wanted it to be with many surprises mixed in. Again, Jane doesn't hold anything back when it comes to Sadie and the people she loves. It was fun to have the other book's mysteries mentioned and their characters. Sadie will forever be one of my all-time favorite characters, and Pete is including on that list as well. Sadie is nothing short of amazing, as is the author who created her.
Author and Reviewer Warning!
*Make sure you have read the first 11 books before you start Wedding Cake. The gloves are off when it comes to holding back the details on the previous mysteries. Some of the other book plots are revealed, especially the books that involve Jane.*
My Review
The word perfect doesn't even come close to how utterly awesome this book is. As much as I have been looking forward to reading Wedding Cake, I was also dreading it. Not in a way that it was something I didn't want to do, believe me, it was only because I knew Sadie's story would be ending. That being said, that never would have stopped me from reading and loving Wedding Cake. I know all things must come to an end, like Harry Potter :), and WOW, what an end! My heart raced, my head pounded, and my stomach hurt all while reading in anticipation, turning the pages as fast as I could. As I read, I thought, what next! Poor Sadie, poor Pete, poor everyone!
When I read the teaser chapter at the end of Fortune Cookie earlier this year, I knew this book was going to be a wild ride. Jane has been keeping herself quiet for awhile, but she has been bidding her time. I'm sure we all have been wondering what has happened to Jane since her last words to Sadie in Pumpkin Roll. The books since have mentioned her, but in Wedding Cake, she makes her presence known right at the start, and is not holding back. This will be spoiler free review, with no details given, but when you do get to read this, prepare your life for not getting anything else done until you finish this book. The epilogue is so lovely, it had me smiling through my tears.
5 out of 5 stars. This book is everything I wanted it to be with many surprises mixed in. Again, Jane doesn't hold anything back when it comes to Sadie and the people she loves. It was fun to have the other book's mysteries mentioned and their characters. Sadie will forever be one of my all-time favorite characters, and Pete is including on that list as well. Sadie is nothing short of amazing, as is the author who created her.
January 30, 2015
Reviewed by Kim
for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
The wedding dress is hanging in the closet, the cake has been ordered, the venue is set and guest are starting to arrive for the wedding of former teacher, Sadie Hofmiller and retired police detective, Pete Cunningham. All that’s left to do are little small details.
Sadie is attempting to enjoy a nice quiet evening of tying up loose wedding details, when she receives a text message from someone she doesn’t know. What starts out as being something seemingly minor, turns into a game of cat and mouse, with the final course being death.
What’s a wedding without a reunion of current and past characters? That’s exactly what happens in the twelfth and final installment of Josi S. Kilpack’s Culinary Mystery Series. This book brings back characters from past books and mentions past storylines, so if you’re concerned about spoilers, you might want to wait to read this book until after you’ve read the rest of the series. I only started reading the series with Baked Alaska, which was the ninth book in the series. I did have a small issue with understanding the depth of some character interactions, but it really wasn’t a big deal for me.
Wedding Cake pits Sadie and her family up against someone from their past. Every step of this game being played has Sadie and her family on the losing end of things. Just when you think things can not get worse, they do. As with all or most of Sadie’s mystery adventures, she finds herself at odds with the police. This time not only is Sadie’s life at risk, but the lives of her family and friends. One of the reasons I love Sadie so much is because she’s kind and loving. She’s a nurturer through and through. Unfortunately, these qualities are the same qualities which could cost her her life.
Having read Baked Alaska, Rocky Road, and Fortune Cookie, Wedding Cake is by far my favorite book. I loved the climatic end to the story and the Epilogue proved a wonderful end to this series.
**Received a copy from the Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest unbiased review.**
for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
The wedding dress is hanging in the closet, the cake has been ordered, the venue is set and guest are starting to arrive for the wedding of former teacher, Sadie Hofmiller and retired police detective, Pete Cunningham. All that’s left to do are little small details.
Sadie is attempting to enjoy a nice quiet evening of tying up loose wedding details, when she receives a text message from someone she doesn’t know. What starts out as being something seemingly minor, turns into a game of cat and mouse, with the final course being death.
What’s a wedding without a reunion of current and past characters? That’s exactly what happens in the twelfth and final installment of Josi S. Kilpack’s Culinary Mystery Series. This book brings back characters from past books and mentions past storylines, so if you’re concerned about spoilers, you might want to wait to read this book until after you’ve read the rest of the series. I only started reading the series with Baked Alaska, which was the ninth book in the series. I did have a small issue with understanding the depth of some character interactions, but it really wasn’t a big deal for me.
Wedding Cake pits Sadie and her family up against someone from their past. Every step of this game being played has Sadie and her family on the losing end of things. Just when you think things can not get worse, they do. As with all or most of Sadie’s mystery adventures, she finds herself at odds with the police. This time not only is Sadie’s life at risk, but the lives of her family and friends. One of the reasons I love Sadie so much is because she’s kind and loving. She’s a nurturer through and through. Unfortunately, these qualities are the same qualities which could cost her her life.
Having read Baked Alaska, Rocky Road, and Fortune Cookie, Wedding Cake is by far my favorite book. I loved the climatic end to the story and the Epilogue proved a wonderful end to this series.
**Received a copy from the Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest unbiased review.**
December 18, 2014
The wait for this book is SO WORTH IT!
You will be frantically turning pages and biting your nails to see what could possibly happen next!
Sadie and Pete are finally getting married and Sadie is checking off the final things to do on her list when she receives a text from an unknown caller.
As she is trying to find out who the caller is she reads these chilling words...
"Didn't I tell you that you'd never be free of me?"
And with those words everything comes to a screeching halt...Jane is back!
Not wanting to give in to the threats and the fear from the past, Sadie and Pete try to ignore Jane and move forward with the wedding.
But when they find out that Jane has gone to great lengths to destroy not only Sadie and Pete, but Sadie's children too...
They wonder if it wouldn't be better to postpone the wedding.
Will Sadie ever get to say "I DO" to Pete?
How far will Jane go to try to stop Sadie from finding happiness?
It all unfolds in this final book of the "culinary mysteries."
A MUST-READ!
YOU WILL LOVE THIS ONE!
THIS WHOLE SERIES IS PHENOMENAL!
JOSI S. KILPACK IS TRULY A GIFTED WRITER!
You will be frantically turning pages and biting your nails to see what could possibly happen next!
Sadie and Pete are finally getting married and Sadie is checking off the final things to do on her list when she receives a text from an unknown caller.
As she is trying to find out who the caller is she reads these chilling words...
"Didn't I tell you that you'd never be free of me?"
And with those words everything comes to a screeching halt...Jane is back!
Not wanting to give in to the threats and the fear from the past, Sadie and Pete try to ignore Jane and move forward with the wedding.
But when they find out that Jane has gone to great lengths to destroy not only Sadie and Pete, but Sadie's children too...
They wonder if it wouldn't be better to postpone the wedding.
Will Sadie ever get to say "I DO" to Pete?
How far will Jane go to try to stop Sadie from finding happiness?
It all unfolds in this final book of the "culinary mysteries."
A MUST-READ!
YOU WILL LOVE THIS ONE!
THIS WHOLE SERIES IS PHENOMENAL!
JOSI S. KILPACK IS TRULY A GIFTED WRITER!
January 18, 2015
All I could think of as I turned the first pages of this new mystery in this series was, “Jane’s back”. Oh no, not again, and we are off on the roller coaster ride again, and who will win this time?
If Jane put her talents to work in a productive area, she would have been a super star, instead she is up to evil, and why? You will be immersed in this story in no time, and what a time you are going to experience.
Sadie Hoffmiller is in the process of finish up her wedding plans, and has the last minute details to handle. As you can guess, Jane is going to do her best to ruin things, and how she goes about it is amazing. How I have enjoyed this series, and although you would be limiting you enjoyment, this one can be read alone, but you will miss a lot.
Sad that this book is the final installment in this series, loved my visits with these characters and hate to say goodbye. What a great sendoff this book is and you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!
I received this book through I Am A Reader, Not A Writer Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
If Jane put her talents to work in a productive area, she would have been a super star, instead she is up to evil, and why? You will be immersed in this story in no time, and what a time you are going to experience.
Sadie Hoffmiller is in the process of finish up her wedding plans, and has the last minute details to handle. As you can guess, Jane is going to do her best to ruin things, and how she goes about it is amazing. How I have enjoyed this series, and although you would be limiting you enjoyment, this one can be read alone, but you will miss a lot.
Sad that this book is the final installment in this series, loved my visits with these characters and hate to say goodbye. What a great sendoff this book is and you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!
I received this book through I Am A Reader, Not A Writer Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
February 4, 2015
Started and finished this today. Yep...that's how good it is. I love this series and have been a huge fan since I picked up Blackberry Crumble about 3 years ago. Since then, I've gone back and read all the books prior to Blackberry Crumble (which was #5 in the series), and then read all the other books as soon as they have come out. Even though Sadie got on my nerves at times, and I didn't always agree with how she was handling certain situations, I can honestly say that I have fallen in love with her (and her recipes!). This book did NOT disappoint. It was surprisingly shorter than the others in the series, but loose ends were tied up, conclusions were drawn, and you're left with a feeling of everything been taken care of the way that it should. I will miss reading about Sadie...but I'll take comfort in the fact that I can always go back to Lemon Tart and savor the series once more!
May 4, 2015
Kilpack has done it again. She's written a mystery that pulled me in from the first page. Sadie is finishing up preparations for her wedding which is only two days a way when she discovers that an old enemy has returned and is determined to do as much damage as she can. Being the last of twelve books it is definitely better to have read the rest of the series before getting to this one because the climax is a doozy and it helps to know what has happened previously. I'm not really much of a cook but the recipes the author includes sound mouth-watering good. I've also noticed just how good the author is at building tension until it all explodes in the fast-paced, unpredictable climax. I'm sad that this is the last in this series because I've gotten quite attached to Sadie and her family and friends, but I am very much looking forward to reading more from this fabulous author.
February 5, 2015
Bittersweet!
In the acknowledgements, you learn this will be Sadie Hoffmiller's last culinary mystery. That saddened me greatly. I haven't read them all, only five now actually, but I intend to. I am attached to the series and more specifically, the characters. I always try the recipes in the book too, and get totally wrapped up in whatever crazy whodunit Sadie gets tangled in. I seriously could read about her keen insights on situations, (she often puts herself in), endlessly.
Such great storytelling! I cannot wait to see what Josi Kilpack has in store for us in the future. It should be a treat!
4.5/5
In the acknowledgements, you learn this will be Sadie Hoffmiller's last culinary mystery. That saddened me greatly. I haven't read them all, only five now actually, but I intend to. I am attached to the series and more specifically, the characters. I always try the recipes in the book too, and get totally wrapped up in whatever crazy whodunit Sadie gets tangled in. I seriously could read about her keen insights on situations, (she often puts herself in), endlessly.
Such great storytelling! I cannot wait to see what Josi Kilpack has in store for us in the future. It should be a treat!
4.5/5
September 21, 2015
This was definitely one of my favorites from this series! You definitely should read the others in the series before sinking your teeth into this one but trust me it will be well worth it! Although the story is still completely unbelievable, I am so fascinated by the sociopathic character Jane Seeley who makes quite the come back in this book! She comes and totally wreaks havoc on Sadie's wedding and I seriously wanted to throttle her myself! It definitely kept my attention and of course ends happily ever after but was still suspenseful and very fun to read! Ages 13+ for some violence
September 14, 2016
Great way to end this series! This was the culmination of Kilpack's entire culinary mystery series. You really do have to read all of them before you read this one. So many characters are brought back for this great ending. This was the best book I the series. The stakes were higher and the suspense was more gripping. I am sad to see that I have come to the end of the series, but I am completely satisfied at how it ended. Great job, Josi Kilpack!
February 22, 2016
4 stars given its genre/satisfying ending of a series. Not for the literary value. This was a solid ending to a fun little fluffy culinary mystery series. Wasn't expecting it to be so action-packed. All in all, these have been fun to read over the past several years. Mom read them first, then me, and now I mail the last 3 to my sister. And I move on to the piles and piles of other books waiting.
January 20, 2015
A nice wrap up of the series, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as her others. It felt more like tying up any lose ends from the other books.
January 24, 2015
Nice tie up of the characters. The "villain" in this one is just plain creepy! Glad to see the resolution there.
December 11, 2015
A good end to a fun series. 4.5 stars.
April 20, 2015
Great end to a very fun series of books.
November 14, 2022
Enjoyable easy read. I would have really liked this book series in Junior High. An unrealistic, but enjoyable light hearted mystery.
December 7, 2018
As the twelfth and final book in Josi Kilpack’s popular “Culinary Mystery series”, Wedding Cake provides an exciting and suspenseful conclusion to this successful mystery series from Shadow Mountain. Just a couple days before the scheduled wedding of protagonist Sadie Hofmiller to long-time love interest Pete Cunningham, trouble with capital J turns up. Jane Seeley, a dangerous villain from a previous book is back, threatening and stalking Sadie and her family. While hoping to thwart the stalker’s murderous designs, many other characters familiar to those who have read previous books in the series show up for the festivities to stir things up and to resolve their own story lines.
Despite the author’s urging readers not to read this book until after reading others from this series, I dove right in making the last my first. Even though I couldn’t always guess who was an old familiar or a new character, my appreciation of the book wasn’t tainted by “spoilers.” In fact, the jaunty characters, pleasant and quirky townsfolk, quick wit of the dialogue and suspenseful plot made me now want to read the earlier books in this delectable series.
It takes a particular talent to create such an engaging, intelligent, funny and well-paced cozy mystery – not to mention an entire series of them. Ms. Kilpack has done just that. She is pitch perfect in harmonizing her sense of humor, knack for suspense, and her compelling story lines. The recipes included at the ends of the chapters add the perfect garnish.
If Josi Kilpack is as effective in the other 11 Culinary Mysteries as she is in Wedding Cake, I’ll have to go back for 2nds, 3rds…11ths?
Despite the author’s urging readers not to read this book until after reading others from this series, I dove right in making the last my first. Even though I couldn’t always guess who was an old familiar or a new character, my appreciation of the book wasn’t tainted by “spoilers.” In fact, the jaunty characters, pleasant and quirky townsfolk, quick wit of the dialogue and suspenseful plot made me now want to read the earlier books in this delectable series.
It takes a particular talent to create such an engaging, intelligent, funny and well-paced cozy mystery – not to mention an entire series of them. Ms. Kilpack has done just that. She is pitch perfect in harmonizing her sense of humor, knack for suspense, and her compelling story lines. The recipes included at the ends of the chapters add the perfect garnish.
If Josi Kilpack is as effective in the other 11 Culinary Mysteries as she is in Wedding Cake, I’ll have to go back for 2nds, 3rds…11ths?
April 9, 2022
I have a mixed relationship with these books. I enjoyed the series enough to keep reading, but not enough that I'm sad to be done. (There is a Christmas one I will still read.)
In my favorite series, every time I come back to a book, I feel like I'm meeting up with old friends. In my very favorite series, I was cranky the day after I finished because I didn't want to be done. With these books, I never felt really connected to the characters -- I was just reading a story. I think part of it is that people just don't end up in that many life-or-death situations (unless they are in the military or something like that), and it often just seemed like too much. Today there seems to be a lot of confusion between mystery and drama. It is possible to have mystery (even a murder mystery investigation) without a ton of drama. Although even that isn't quite it. I really liked the Amelia Peabody series, and the Emersons had plenty of life and death situations, but there was also a lot of character development, they didn't constantly break the law and somehow get away with it (coupled with constant antagonism with the police), and there was a lot of humor.
I do think it would have been fun to have some books with Sadie and Pete really working together. There was a little bit of that in Fortune Cookie, but they seemed to be working more side by side rather than together. Having them work together could have made some great stories. And even though I am not crying that the books are over, I will still keep my hard copies of the books instead of getting rid of them to clear up space. :)
In my favorite series, every time I come back to a book, I feel like I'm meeting up with old friends. In my very favorite series, I was cranky the day after I finished because I didn't want to be done. With these books, I never felt really connected to the characters -- I was just reading a story. I think part of it is that people just don't end up in that many life-or-death situations (unless they are in the military or something like that), and it often just seemed like too much. Today there seems to be a lot of confusion between mystery and drama. It is possible to have mystery (even a murder mystery investigation) without a ton of drama. Although even that isn't quite it. I really liked the Amelia Peabody series, and the Emersons had plenty of life and death situations, but there was also a lot of character development, they didn't constantly break the law and somehow get away with it (coupled with constant antagonism with the police), and there was a lot of humor.
I do think it would have been fun to have some books with Sadie and Pete really working together. There was a little bit of that in Fortune Cookie, but they seemed to be working more side by side rather than together. Having them work together could have made some great stories. And even though I am not crying that the books are over, I will still keep my hard copies of the books instead of getting rid of them to clear up space. :)
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December 18, 2022Sadie and Pete are planning a lovely wedding with family and friends in attendance and lots of good food, including a spectacular wedding cake. But of course, everything seems to be going wrong. A disclaimer at the beginning of the story warns us readers NOT to read this book until we have read all eleven of the previous volumes because this adventure will refer back to some of them. Actually, only Pumpkin Roll—book six— provides an unsavory character from the past who once traumatized Sadie (with lingering effects) and now turns up to make more trouble. And this person is hostile! If you thought Sadie escaped by the skin of her teeth in Fortune Cookie, just wait until you read about Sadie’s wedding day. After all the trauma is finally over, Sadie surprises us all by announcing she will become Josi Kilpack; that is, she now plans to write books about all of her detective adventures and include the recipes.
November 23, 2020
It is made explicitly clear from the first (warning) page, but this final book in the series is not a stand alone novel. And that is very satisfying. I unintentionally jumped around a bit in this series starting with #13 (!), then 1-5, then 9-11, then 6-8, then finally #12. So it was a bit jarring for me because of the passage (or lack thereof) of time that should have taken place by book 12. Anyway, it was great to see certain characters again and have people come together. And I was glad to have things out in the open rather than alluded to.
Most of the issues, honestly, seemed like relatively minor criminal mischief. I felt like Sadie and co were a little slow on the draw and a lot of the problems could have been avoided. And for the level of police involvement, I found certain events a little unbelievable. But still, a good end to the series.
Most of the issues, honestly, seemed like relatively minor criminal mischief. I felt like Sadie and co were a little slow on the draw and a lot of the problems could have been avoided. And for the level of police involvement, I found certain events a little unbelievable. But still, a good end to the series.
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