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A Baker's Treat Mystery #3
Flourless to Stop Him
The author of Murder Gone A-Rye and Gluten for Punishment returns to Oiltop, Kansas, where gluten-free baker Toni Holmes has to separate the wheat from the chaff to clear her brother of murder…
It’s never a good time for a crisis. Toni’s busy whipping up gluten-free holiday treats when a murder forces her to put baking on the back burner. A dead man has been found in the bathtub of a local inn—in a room registered to her brother, Tim.
With her sibling now a prime suspect in a mysterious homicide, Toni is determined to find out who set him up. But she’s about to get some unwanted assistance from former investigative journalist Grandma Ruth, who won’t let anything slow her progress in running down a killer…
It’s never a good time for a crisis. Toni’s busy whipping up gluten-free holiday treats when a murder forces her to put baking on the back burner. A dead man has been found in the bathtub of a local inn—in a room registered to her brother, Tim.
With her sibling now a prime suspect in a mysterious homicide, Toni is determined to find out who set him up. But she’s about to get some unwanted assistance from former investigative journalist Grandma Ruth, who won’t let anything slow her progress in running down a killer…
294 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 5, 2015
11 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Nancy J. Parra
23 books312 followersBest known for writing plucky heroines, USA Today Bestselling Author, Nancy J. Parra has 30 books published-
Most recently Nancy has five cozy mystery book series going.
All Fudged Up, To Fudge or Not To Fudge, All You Need is Fudge, Oh Say Can You Fudge, All I want For Christmas is Fudge, Oh Fudge, Forever Fudge, Fudge Bites and Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas are part of the USA Today Bestselling Candy-Coated Mystery series (Kensington) -which Nancy writes as Nancy Coco.
Also from Nancy Coco, the Oregon Honeycomb Series which includes: Death Bee Comes Her and a Matter of Hive and Death.
Writing as Nell Hampton, Kale to the Queen is the debut in the Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah and Seven Deadly Zins are part of the Wine Country Tours mystery series.
Gluten for Punishment, Murder Gone A-Rye and Flourless to Stop Him are both part of the Gluten Free Baker's Treat Mystery series. (Berkley Prime Crime)
Then there is Engaged in Murder, Bodice of Evidence and Newlywed Dead, the Perfect Proposal series from Berkley Prime Crime.
Most recently Nancy has five cozy mystery book series going.
All Fudged Up, To Fudge or Not To Fudge, All You Need is Fudge, Oh Say Can You Fudge, All I want For Christmas is Fudge, Oh Fudge, Forever Fudge, Fudge Bites and Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas are part of the USA Today Bestselling Candy-Coated Mystery series (Kensington) -which Nancy writes as Nancy Coco.
Also from Nancy Coco, the Oregon Honeycomb Series which includes: Death Bee Comes Her and a Matter of Hive and Death.
Writing as Nell Hampton, Kale to the Queen is the debut in the Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series.
A Case of Syrah, Syrah and Seven Deadly Zins are part of the Wine Country Tours mystery series.
Gluten for Punishment, Murder Gone A-Rye and Flourless to Stop Him are both part of the Gluten Free Baker's Treat Mystery series. (Berkley Prime Crime)
Then there is Engaged in Murder, Bodice of Evidence and Newlywed Dead, the Perfect Proposal series from Berkley Prime Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 31, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Isn’t that cover wonderful??
Gluten-free bakery owner Toni Holmes is busy filling orders and serving walk-in customers. If she can sell enough cookies and cakes for the holidays she just may be able to get through the lack of sales when everyone goes on a diet in the new year. Her whole plan is turned inside out when a man is found dead in a hotel room registered to her brother Tim. She tried to stay out of the investigation, but when her brother is arrested Toni with a big push from her Grandma Ruth try to solve the murder themselves. At this point Toni decides sleep is overrated, she can bake and take down a killer. She’ll sleep after the holidays because by then her customers will be on that diet she has planned for anyway.
To Toni family is everything, but they do get to be a little much. She lives in a big Victorian house, she inherited with the stipulation that any family member could live there any time they needed to and bring their families. Her brother Tim had just moved out and into his own place, but her cousin Mindy has shown up without much explanation. Grandma Ruth lives in senior housing but she takes off on her scooter day or night, right down the middle of the road and drives herself right into the house. She also shows up at the bakery but Toni makes her leave the scooter outside. Toni would do anything for her family but she really needs a break.
Ms. Parra has created some very enjoyable characters. Grandma Ruth brings the humor and Toni tries to keep everyone and everything on track. The girl needs to learn to ask for help. I really love Toni, she smart and her passion for baking gluten-free treats has to be admired. My favorite character though is Grandma Ruth. I wish I had her spunk and energy.
The mystery is so well written. Finding the truth was difficult but Toni didn’t give up. Circumstantial evidence was overwhelming and it was puzzling to try to determine whodunit and why Tim was being framed.
I spent my entire Sunday afternoon glued to these pages, but the ending for me was bittersweet. The story was entertaining and interesting but I hated to reach the last page because I knew it would be the last time I would be reading about these characters. I don’t think the author was done writing about them either but one of the pitfalls in the publishing world is series’ we love ending too soon. I really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with Toni and her family.
Isn’t that cover wonderful??
Gluten-free bakery owner Toni Holmes is busy filling orders and serving walk-in customers. If she can sell enough cookies and cakes for the holidays she just may be able to get through the lack of sales when everyone goes on a diet in the new year. Her whole plan is turned inside out when a man is found dead in a hotel room registered to her brother Tim. She tried to stay out of the investigation, but when her brother is arrested Toni with a big push from her Grandma Ruth try to solve the murder themselves. At this point Toni decides sleep is overrated, she can bake and take down a killer. She’ll sleep after the holidays because by then her customers will be on that diet she has planned for anyway.
To Toni family is everything, but they do get to be a little much. She lives in a big Victorian house, she inherited with the stipulation that any family member could live there any time they needed to and bring their families. Her brother Tim had just moved out and into his own place, but her cousin Mindy has shown up without much explanation. Grandma Ruth lives in senior housing but she takes off on her scooter day or night, right down the middle of the road and drives herself right into the house. She also shows up at the bakery but Toni makes her leave the scooter outside. Toni would do anything for her family but she really needs a break.
Ms. Parra has created some very enjoyable characters. Grandma Ruth brings the humor and Toni tries to keep everyone and everything on track. The girl needs to learn to ask for help. I really love Toni, she smart and her passion for baking gluten-free treats has to be admired. My favorite character though is Grandma Ruth. I wish I had her spunk and energy.
The mystery is so well written. Finding the truth was difficult but Toni didn’t give up. Circumstantial evidence was overwhelming and it was puzzling to try to determine whodunit and why Tim was being framed.
I spent my entire Sunday afternoon glued to these pages, but the ending for me was bittersweet. The story was entertaining and interesting but I hated to reach the last page because I knew it would be the last time I would be reading about these characters. I don’t think the author was done writing about them either but one of the pitfalls in the publishing world is series’ we love ending too soon. I really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with Toni and her family.
April 20, 2015
Flourless to Stop Him, is the third book in the A Baker's Treat Mystery series.
Times are busy in Oiltop, Christmas is quickly approaching and Toni Holmes is busy baking holiday treats and hoping sales will skyrocket so she can set aside monies to let her make it till the tourist season starts again. The last thing she needs is for her brother to be arrested for murder and a major snow fall to hit town. But as the saying goes: “That's life”.
Toni is visiting with her best friend, Tasha Wilkes, at the Red Tile Inn when Maria, a maid there, comes in and say she has just found a dead body in the room she has started to clean. The body turns out to be Howard Petry, a good friend of her brother Tim and the room was allegedly rented by Tim. When a package of cocaine is found in Toni's garage, Tim is arrested on a charge of murder and drug dealing. But Toni's is too busy at the bakery to really get too involved with clearing her brother's name, relying on Grandma Ruth's investigative reporters skills. But then she finally puts “family” first helping Grandma solve the case.
Most of the regular characters from previous books are back to help Toni, one way or another.
Will be looking forward to the next book in this tasteful series and to see if there is really romance in Toni's future.
Times are busy in Oiltop, Christmas is quickly approaching and Toni Holmes is busy baking holiday treats and hoping sales will skyrocket so she can set aside monies to let her make it till the tourist season starts again. The last thing she needs is for her brother to be arrested for murder and a major snow fall to hit town. But as the saying goes: “That's life”.
Toni is visiting with her best friend, Tasha Wilkes, at the Red Tile Inn when Maria, a maid there, comes in and say she has just found a dead body in the room she has started to clean. The body turns out to be Howard Petry, a good friend of her brother Tim and the room was allegedly rented by Tim. When a package of cocaine is found in Toni's garage, Tim is arrested on a charge of murder and drug dealing. But Toni's is too busy at the bakery to really get too involved with clearing her brother's name, relying on Grandma Ruth's investigative reporters skills. But then she finally puts “family” first helping Grandma solve the case.
Most of the regular characters from previous books are back to help Toni, one way or another.
Will be looking forward to the next book in this tasteful series and to see if there is really romance in Toni's future.
April 28, 2015
FLOURLESS TO STOP HIM is a delectable addition to the Baker’s Treat Mystery series.
This book had me with the first three sentences . . . I love my family. I do. But there are times when I sincerely wish they would take a day off . . . Ha! I know that feeling well! But I do love the concept of a home where extended family members are free to come and go. That they will always have a roof over their heads.
The cast of characters are every bit as much a treat as the delicious recipes that are included. I think anyone would have a hard time not loving lead character Toni’s Grandma Ruth, the ninety something ex-investigative reporter, lifelong member of Mensa. And Grandma Ruth is in great form in this installment!
This was a real page turner of a mystery that kept me reading past my bedtime. I just had to know whodunit, and once I did, I couldn’t believe it!
I also love that in today’s world, with more and more people developing food allergies, author Nancy J. Parra had the idea to do a gluten free bakery. The fact that it is set in the middle of wheat country . . . priceless. As I mentioned above, there are wonderful recipes, gluten free, included in the book.
I look forward to the next book in the Baker’s Treat Mystery series. Ms. Parra has a real job on her hands topping this one!
This book had me with the first three sentences . . . I love my family. I do. But there are times when I sincerely wish they would take a day off . . . Ha! I know that feeling well! But I do love the concept of a home where extended family members are free to come and go. That they will always have a roof over their heads.
The cast of characters are every bit as much a treat as the delicious recipes that are included. I think anyone would have a hard time not loving lead character Toni’s Grandma Ruth, the ninety something ex-investigative reporter, lifelong member of Mensa. And Grandma Ruth is in great form in this installment!
This was a real page turner of a mystery that kept me reading past my bedtime. I just had to know whodunit, and once I did, I couldn’t believe it!
I also love that in today’s world, with more and more people developing food allergies, author Nancy J. Parra had the idea to do a gluten free bakery. The fact that it is set in the middle of wheat country . . . priceless. As I mentioned above, there are wonderful recipes, gluten free, included in the book.
I look forward to the next book in the Baker’s Treat Mystery series. Ms. Parra has a real job on her hands topping this one!
May 17, 2015
Identity Thief?
The first two books of this series; I thought were very good but one seem flat to me. The Celiac Disease information information was good and cover many of the problems a celiac faces with other people. The material on storage of food was excellent. I felt the characters should have been more developed. Toni's brother Tim is being framed for selling drugs and murdering his best friend. Toni is so busy with bakery she has no time to investigate the problem until Tim is arrested. Will Toni save her business and prevent Tim going to prison?
The first two books of this series; I thought were very good but one seem flat to me. The Celiac Disease information information was good and cover many of the problems a celiac faces with other people. The material on storage of food was excellent. I felt the characters should have been more developed. Toni's brother Tim is being framed for selling drugs and murdering his best friend. Toni is so busy with bakery she has no time to investigate the problem until Tim is arrested. Will Toni save her business and prevent Tim going to prison?
October 8, 2019
Flourless to stop him is book three in A Baker's Treat by Nancy J. Parra. Christmas season has arrived in OilTop and Toni Holmes working hard to fill the orders for catering business when the uninspected happened. Toni's brother Tim became the prime suspect after the maid of local Inn found a dead body in one of their rooms. Toni was seeing that the local law enforcement was not looking to find the real killer. The readers of Flourless to Stop Him will continue to follow Toni's investigation to find out does she save her brother.
Flourless to Stop Him is the first book I have read of Nancy J. Parra and will not be the lasted. Flourless to Stop Him is a lovely cozy mystery that engaged me with the plot from the first page. I love the portrayal of the characters by Nancy J. Parra and the way they interact with each other. Flourless to Stop Him is well written and researched by Nancy J. Parra.
The readers of Flourless to Stop Him will learn about Celiac disease and how it affects the suffers. Also, the readers of Flourless to Stop Him will learn about running a Glutin free catering business.
I recommend this book.
Flourless to Stop Him is the first book I have read of Nancy J. Parra and will not be the lasted. Flourless to Stop Him is a lovely cozy mystery that engaged me with the plot from the first page. I love the portrayal of the characters by Nancy J. Parra and the way they interact with each other. Flourless to Stop Him is well written and researched by Nancy J. Parra.
The readers of Flourless to Stop Him will learn about Celiac disease and how it affects the suffers. Also, the readers of Flourless to Stop Him will learn about running a Glutin free catering business.
I recommend this book.
September 2, 2024
Wonderful holiday cozy mystery
This is an intriguing cozy mystery that I really liked.
Toni is working hard to fill her holiday bakery orders, when suddenly her brother Tim is accused of murder.
Toni knows her brother isn't perfect, but she also knows he's not a cold blooded murderer.
Working against the clock, Toni starts to investigate and soon she finds herself in harm's way.
This is an intriguing cozy mystery that I really liked.
Toni is working hard to fill her holiday bakery orders, when suddenly her brother Tim is accused of murder.
Toni knows her brother isn't perfect, but she also knows he's not a cold blooded murderer.
Working against the clock, Toni starts to investigate and soon she finds herself in harm's way.
May 26, 2015
It's a hectic time for baker, Toni at her bakery, Baker's Treat in Oiltop, Kansas, a gluten free bakery in the middle of wheat country. It's the Christmas season and Toni would love nothing better to get all her baking done and shipped out and delivered by Christmas but with snow storms and murder and mayhem it may seem down right impossible. Toni's brother, Tim finds himself in trouble when a dead man was found in a local hotel managed by Toni's best friend and it is discovered that someone used her brother's name to check in to various hotels for the sole purpose of selling drugs.
Grandma Ruth, a spunky woman in her 90's along with her fateful scooter with her previous life as a investigative reporter who still writes a blog tries to convince Toni she needs to help her brother and investigate the crime and find out who could possibly be framing him with a little help from Grandma of coarse. Toni is at first hesitant with being busy with her bakery but when Tim is then arrested she has has enough and decides to start investigating. With Grandma Ruth at her side Toni is on a mission to keep her brother from going to prison and keep her bakery in business.
I just love Grandma Ruth. She gives this series such excitement and keeps you turning the page. A woman in her 90's, a investigative reporter, with spunk and moves on her handy scooter like it's on fire. Toni, who's passion for baking and her bakery is paramount who is hesitant about finding love again after her divorce. This book was a delight and such a treat to read. Like the first line says "I love my family, but there are times I sincerely wish they would take a day off. I so relate to Toni that way. Solving crime from a bakery was a prefect fit for Toni and this reader loved to read about Toni and her helpers preparing the tasty baked goods. Atmosphere, setting and the characters along with yummy treats and murder make Flourless to Stop Him a must read.
FTC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book for review.This did not influence my thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book and review are my own.
Grandma Ruth, a spunky woman in her 90's along with her fateful scooter with her previous life as a investigative reporter who still writes a blog tries to convince Toni she needs to help her brother and investigate the crime and find out who could possibly be framing him with a little help from Grandma of coarse. Toni is at first hesitant with being busy with her bakery but when Tim is then arrested she has has enough and decides to start investigating. With Grandma Ruth at her side Toni is on a mission to keep her brother from going to prison and keep her bakery in business.
I just love Grandma Ruth. She gives this series such excitement and keeps you turning the page. A woman in her 90's, a investigative reporter, with spunk and moves on her handy scooter like it's on fire. Toni, who's passion for baking and her bakery is paramount who is hesitant about finding love again after her divorce. This book was a delight and such a treat to read. Like the first line says "I love my family, but there are times I sincerely wish they would take a day off. I so relate to Toni that way. Solving crime from a bakery was a prefect fit for Toni and this reader loved to read about Toni and her helpers preparing the tasty baked goods. Atmosphere, setting and the characters along with yummy treats and murder make Flourless to Stop Him a must read.
FTC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book for review.This did not influence my thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book and review are my own.
May 20, 2016
Didn't really care for this series or the main character and her manipulative family. Won't be bothering with any of the other books in this series, although I'll still continue with the engagement series.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
July 13, 2022
This is another installment in A Baker’s Treat Mystery Series. Toni’s gluten free bakery is busy as she gets ready for Christmas. She has some extra guests in her home as well. A dead body is found in a local hotel room and Toni’s brother is the prime suspect because his name is on the hotel registration. She tries to stay out of it, but with a lot persuasion from Grandma Ruth, she knows she is the only one who can save her brother. Grandma Ruth is quite the character running all over town in her scooter. You better get out of the way. This was a well written mystery with a surprise ending. I enjoy all of the characters in this book and this series.
August 14, 2015
4.5 stars. Toni Holmes owns a large 3 story Victorian home and a gluten free bakery in Oiltop, Kansas. Right off the bat, the maid finds a body in the bathtub of a motel run by Toni's friend. The room is registered to Toni's brother and her family urges her to find the real killer so her brother doesn't have to go to jail for the crime. However, Toni really needs to be baking in order for her business to survive plus she has several hot guys who would like to date her. But Grandma Ruth intends to pop wheelies in her wheelchair until Toni starts investigating.
Be prepared: Christmas is fast approaching and Toni is baking, baking, and guess what, baking even more. I never saw so much baking in a book and it's all gluten free.
I learned a lot about Celiac disease and gluten free baking in this book. I liked all the characters and thought it was a really cute read. I didn't know who the killer was until close to the end and I would like to read other books by this author.
I received this book in an author giveaway. My opinion is my own and not influenced by anyone.
Be prepared: Christmas is fast approaching and Toni is baking, baking, and guess what, baking even more. I never saw so much baking in a book and it's all gluten free.
I learned a lot about Celiac disease and gluten free baking in this book. I liked all the characters and thought it was a really cute read. I didn't know who the killer was until close to the end and I would like to read other books by this author.
I received this book in an author giveaway. My opinion is my own and not influenced by anyone.
July 27, 2015
This book was a breath of fresh air and wonderful if you have Celiac disease. The main character, Toni owns a gluten-free bakery and does a great job of explaining the problem for those who do not know what it is. When Toni's brother, Tim is the main suspect in a murder, Toni ends up investigating even though she is snowed under trying to keep up with orders because of the holiday season. The other characters fit in nicely. Her quirky grandmother who adds humor, her friends and he possible love interests. Brad is the family lawyer and Sam is a handyman, cowboy, rancher. Both good looking and interested in Toni. Yes, it is a triangle but for once the love interest is not a police officer. The plot is well done and the story moves along easily. A fun read.
May 17, 2015
The first two books of this series; I thought were very good but one seem flat to me. The Celiac Disease information information was good and cover many of the problems a celiac faces with other people. The material on storage of food was excellent. I felt the characters should have been more developed. Toni's brother Tim is being framed for selling drugs and murdering his best friend. Toni is so busy with bakery she has no time to investigate the problem until Tim is arrested. Will Toni save her business and prevent Tim going to prison?
December 11, 2015
One big step in the right direction...Grandma wasn't quite as annoying as in the last one. However, getting beat over the head with the "gluten-free" thing is very tiresome. Yes, I know "gluten-free" is the food fad du jour and I do actually know someone who really has celiac disease and I know how bad it can be for people who do have this, but come on! The story wasn't bad, but I pegged the bad guy from a mile away mostly from things said about the character very early on. I'll stick around for another, but it will really have to knock my socks off to go further than that.
July 27, 2015
It's Christmas and someone is trying to frame Toni's brother for murder. Of course, she has to get involved because no one else seems to want the truth like she does.
I had to force myself to finish what read like a teenage romance rather than a solid cozy mystery. There's way too much talk about boyfriends and who's dating whom. There are some gluten free recipes, but I got a bit bored with the actual story. The main character just came off a bit weak and a bit too young to be running her own business.
I had to force myself to finish what read like a teenage romance rather than a solid cozy mystery. There's way too much talk about boyfriends and who's dating whom. There are some gluten free recipes, but I got a bit bored with the actual story. The main character just came off a bit weak and a bit too young to be running her own business.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2015
i read one review of this one that said it felt like being hit I've the head with a gluten free cookbook & lectured for an hour about minute details of a celiac's life. i think that's a pretty fair description. it's the 3 Rd book of the series so all those details seemed out off place & bogged down the story. the perfect family being helpful & supportive seemed hard to swallow for me to. i guess the author couldn't come up with 200-300 pages of actual story, though & decided to add all the unnecessary celiac & gluten monologues.
July 21, 2016
As if she's not busy enough, Toni is forced to put all of her baking on hold while she solves another murder. What could possibly get her to stop baking in mid holiday rush? The dead man was found in the bathtub at a local inn. In a room that is registered to her brother. That is definitely enough to make her need to investigate!
This is the third book in the Baker's Treat series and I love it! I can't wait to read the next one!
This is the third book in the Baker's Treat series and I love it! I can't wait to read the next one!
July 26, 2015
The mystery wasn't bad, but I felt like I'd been beaten with a gluten free cook book ...
June 19, 2015
After reading this, I plan to go back to read the first two - can't get enough of Nancy Parra's humor and the depth of her characters and their relationships!
September 1, 2018
I so loved this little series. I sent a message to the author and SHE REPLIED TO ME! Which was so cool, and she told me the publisher didn’t pick up any more books for the series. I’m extremely sad and disappointed - they’re NUTS.
So, the way this ends, it does still feel conclusive without being cut-and-dry, all-tied-up. Which leaves room for hopefully more stories about Ms. Toni and her bakery, and her amazing Grandma Ruth and love interest Sam.
I was surprised that Toni decided to date Sam, I felt like he had taken a back seat in the second book. But I like both Sam and Brad and haven’t had like 20 books to really form a solid opinion of them. So it doesn’t bother me much.
Something I noticed was that sometimes there were inaccuracies between the three books. For example, the loyal Jack who buys pastries for his girlfriend Sarah, was setting up a proposal in the last book but I this one, he was called John (which could be his true first name) and he hadn’t planned the proposal yet. Just some little things like that, that I felt would’ve been caught by an editor. But I also read one right after the other so I was more susceptible to catching those than if I had read them each the year they debuted.
Overall, excellent cozy mystery. Seriously recommend it! Plus you can follow the author on Facebook and if you send her a message SHE RESPONDS?! So cool 😍
So, the way this ends, it does still feel conclusive without being cut-and-dry, all-tied-up. Which leaves room for hopefully more stories about Ms. Toni and her bakery, and her amazing Grandma Ruth and love interest Sam.
I was surprised that Toni decided to date Sam, I felt like he had taken a back seat in the second book. But I like both Sam and Brad and haven’t had like 20 books to really form a solid opinion of them. So it doesn’t bother me much.
Something I noticed was that sometimes there were inaccuracies between the three books. For example, the loyal Jack who buys pastries for his girlfriend Sarah, was setting up a proposal in the last book but I this one, he was called John (which could be his true first name) and he hadn’t planned the proposal yet. Just some little things like that, that I felt would’ve been caught by an editor. But I also read one right after the other so I was more susceptible to catching those than if I had read them each the year they debuted.
Overall, excellent cozy mystery. Seriously recommend it! Plus you can follow the author on Facebook and if you send her a message SHE RESPONDS?! So cool 😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2022
This was fun to read while I was doing my Christmas baking, I sympathized with Toni a lot. I’ve enjoyed this series and wish there was more, it was just getting good and I’d love to see where it would go. This story definitely kept me guessing and I was happy with the resolution.
June 20, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/fl...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
How special…a body in a bathtub at the Red Tile Inn. In a room rented out in her brother Tim’s name? Toni was visiting her best friend Tasha, who ran the Inn, and the poor housekeeper found the body while she was there. Toni returned to Oiltop, Kansas, after finding her now-ex-husband to be unfaithful and after her mother’s passing. Toni inherited the family homestead and had to keep some of the many rooms available for any of her family to stay when necessary. With 52 cousins, many with spouses and children, there was almost always someone who coming to stay. Toni had also been diagnosed as celiac; she learned how to cook and bake delicious, gluten-free foods and desserts and decided to open Baker’s Treat, the best (and only!) wheat-free bakery in Oiltop.
Usually Toni was the one who found the bodies. Thankfully this time she was merely visiting Tasha when the dead man was found. Nothing feels right about this murder, however. Tim Ryder had been staying with Toni for several months to save money to get into his own place, which he had done only weeks earlier. He had no reason to spend money on a motel room. Nor did he use or deal drugs, but a large bag of cocaine was found in Toni’s garage based on a ‘tip’ that was called in.
The dead man was finally identified as Tim’s former best friend. A trail of check-ins at the local motels showed that “Tim” checked in at least a couple times a week. Toni had helped solve mysteries since her return to Oiltop, but felt that due process of law would be better served by allowing the police to pursue their investigation, at least until they stopped looking beyond Tim.
Christmas was approaching quickly, and Toni struggled to find moments to sleuth. She had to make all of her promised baking dates for Christmas events so she would have enough money to catch up overdue bills and hold her shop through the lean winter months. Then the first blizzard hit, shutting down Oiltop and the power from Toni’s bakery… which could close her doors permanently if her inventory and work in progress were lost to the outage.
Adding to the confusion, cousin Mindy was visiting from NYC for reasons known only to Grandma Ruth. Two good-looking single guys were interested in asking Toni out, both of whom she had decided to put off until a year after her divorce and after Christmas. Sam Greenbaum, a rancher, frequently bought coffee and treats from her bakery. Local attorney Brad Ridgeway also purchased his share of coffee as he defended Toni’s family members or friends as needed.
Grandma Ruth could almost have her own series – she is a priceless nonagenarian whose scooter chair works better than some 4-wheel drives! Her mind and her tongue are razor sharp; she is an endless source of information and laughs. A retired newspaperwoman, she blogs her investigations online and rivals the local newspaper reporter, Candy Cole. Toni is a strong woman who has taken the lemons of her divorce and her celiac diagnosis and turned them into the lemonade of her own business. Tim, Tasha, and other characters are as developed as necessary for their respective roles in the mystery. I really enjoyed both Toni and Grandma Ruth the most, as well as one of the men who is interested in Toni (and I’m not tellin’ who!).
The plot was thoroughly executed with continuing twists and turns to keep it interesting. Nancy Parra is a delightful writer with imaginative characters, a great sense of humor, and unique talent to create a satisfying murder mystery. No matter how I looked at the given clues, I couldn’t solve the mystery until the final pieces were disclosed and the bad guy revealed. The little town that Toni calls home has a rich blend of residents and sounds like a beautiful place to be. The family homestead sounds like a small mansion where there is still space to maintain a hiding place when all of the family shows up.
I truly enjoyed Flourless to Stop Him, the third in the Baker’s Treat Mystery series. It can be read as a stand-alone mystery, as I have not yet read the earlier two novels – which I plan to remedy! I highly recommend this mystery to anyone who likes unique baking cozies that include humor, an atypical huge family of characters, a challenging mystery, and potential for romance. Don’t wait for December to read it, as thoughts of snow can be refreshing year-round!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
How special…a body in a bathtub at the Red Tile Inn. In a room rented out in her brother Tim’s name? Toni was visiting her best friend Tasha, who ran the Inn, and the poor housekeeper found the body while she was there. Toni returned to Oiltop, Kansas, after finding her now-ex-husband to be unfaithful and after her mother’s passing. Toni inherited the family homestead and had to keep some of the many rooms available for any of her family to stay when necessary. With 52 cousins, many with spouses and children, there was almost always someone who coming to stay. Toni had also been diagnosed as celiac; she learned how to cook and bake delicious, gluten-free foods and desserts and decided to open Baker’s Treat, the best (and only!) wheat-free bakery in Oiltop.
Usually Toni was the one who found the bodies. Thankfully this time she was merely visiting Tasha when the dead man was found. Nothing feels right about this murder, however. Tim Ryder had been staying with Toni for several months to save money to get into his own place, which he had done only weeks earlier. He had no reason to spend money on a motel room. Nor did he use or deal drugs, but a large bag of cocaine was found in Toni’s garage based on a ‘tip’ that was called in.
The dead man was finally identified as Tim’s former best friend. A trail of check-ins at the local motels showed that “Tim” checked in at least a couple times a week. Toni had helped solve mysteries since her return to Oiltop, but felt that due process of law would be better served by allowing the police to pursue their investigation, at least until they stopped looking beyond Tim.
Christmas was approaching quickly, and Toni struggled to find moments to sleuth. She had to make all of her promised baking dates for Christmas events so she would have enough money to catch up overdue bills and hold her shop through the lean winter months. Then the first blizzard hit, shutting down Oiltop and the power from Toni’s bakery… which could close her doors permanently if her inventory and work in progress were lost to the outage.
Adding to the confusion, cousin Mindy was visiting from NYC for reasons known only to Grandma Ruth. Two good-looking single guys were interested in asking Toni out, both of whom she had decided to put off until a year after her divorce and after Christmas. Sam Greenbaum, a rancher, frequently bought coffee and treats from her bakery. Local attorney Brad Ridgeway also purchased his share of coffee as he defended Toni’s family members or friends as needed.
Grandma Ruth could almost have her own series – she is a priceless nonagenarian whose scooter chair works better than some 4-wheel drives! Her mind and her tongue are razor sharp; she is an endless source of information and laughs. A retired newspaperwoman, she blogs her investigations online and rivals the local newspaper reporter, Candy Cole. Toni is a strong woman who has taken the lemons of her divorce and her celiac diagnosis and turned them into the lemonade of her own business. Tim, Tasha, and other characters are as developed as necessary for their respective roles in the mystery. I really enjoyed both Toni and Grandma Ruth the most, as well as one of the men who is interested in Toni (and I’m not tellin’ who!).
The plot was thoroughly executed with continuing twists and turns to keep it interesting. Nancy Parra is a delightful writer with imaginative characters, a great sense of humor, and unique talent to create a satisfying murder mystery. No matter how I looked at the given clues, I couldn’t solve the mystery until the final pieces were disclosed and the bad guy revealed. The little town that Toni calls home has a rich blend of residents and sounds like a beautiful place to be. The family homestead sounds like a small mansion where there is still space to maintain a hiding place when all of the family shows up.
I truly enjoyed Flourless to Stop Him, the third in the Baker’s Treat Mystery series. It can be read as a stand-alone mystery, as I have not yet read the earlier two novels – which I plan to remedy! I highly recommend this mystery to anyone who likes unique baking cozies that include humor, an atypical huge family of characters, a challenging mystery, and potential for romance. Don’t wait for December to read it, as thoughts of snow can be refreshing year-round!
December 6, 2015
Gluten-free baker Toni Holmes is close to exhaustion, working too many hours to meet the demand for her GF treats, hoping the extra revenue over the holidays will keep her fledgling business afloat during the leaner post-Christmas months. The last thing she needs is to add "investigate homicide" to her To Do list, but that's exactly what happens when someone frames her brother Tim for the murder of his former best friend.
I liked this one better than the previous two books in the series, mostly because there was more character development. Grandma Ruth still drives me crazy with her irresponsible behavior, but at least she wasn't the focus of this story, and she did finally get Toni to see that she not only could but should ask her family for help with her bakery during her busiest times. That was a surprisingly difficult realization for Toni.
I am delighted that the character development with this one included Toni choosing between her two potential suitors. Hooray! For a while I was afraid Ms. Parra might write herself into a corner with that one, like Janet Evanovich did, so I'm thankful Toni did some soul-searching and made a choice.
One thing that freaked me out in this book was the part where Toni's cousin brings non-GF bread into her house and Toni says not only the toaster but also the dishes and utensils have to be isolated as permanently contaminated because the gluten can't be washed off. What?! Do I need to replace every dish in my kitchen and ban my family from eating gluten in my house?!
However, I got the chance to have an online conversation with the author shortly after reading this book, and I asked about the contradiction between that scene and the one where Toni eats fast food French fries and gets sick from the contamination. Ms. Parra explained that the French fry scene came from a weak-willpower moment in her own life--she has Celiac disease--and that although not everyone is so incredibly sensitive to gluten, she does know people who not only can't use dishes touched by gluten, they can't even walk down the flour aisle in a grocery store. Wow! That made me incredibly thankful to not be nearly that sensitive to cross-contamination. I can't eat most French fries, but at least I have no problems with freshly washed dishes or baking aisles.
Oh, and the mystery? It kept me guessing, although I did start suspecting the right person by the end.
For readers' advisors: character and story doorways. No sex or swearing that I can recall (or if there is any, it's very mild). A little bit of violence at the end, but not at all graphic.
I liked this one better than the previous two books in the series, mostly because there was more character development. Grandma Ruth still drives me crazy with her irresponsible behavior, but at least she wasn't the focus of this story, and she did finally get Toni to see that she not only could but should ask her family for help with her bakery during her busiest times. That was a surprisingly difficult realization for Toni.
I am delighted that the character development with this one included Toni choosing between her two potential suitors. Hooray! For a while I was afraid Ms. Parra might write herself into a corner with that one, like Janet Evanovich did, so I'm thankful Toni did some soul-searching and made a choice.
One thing that freaked me out in this book was the part where Toni's cousin brings non-GF bread into her house and Toni says not only the toaster but also the dishes and utensils have to be isolated as permanently contaminated because the gluten can't be washed off. What?! Do I need to replace every dish in my kitchen and ban my family from eating gluten in my house?!
However, I got the chance to have an online conversation with the author shortly after reading this book, and I asked about the contradiction between that scene and the one where Toni eats fast food French fries and gets sick from the contamination. Ms. Parra explained that the French fry scene came from a weak-willpower moment in her own life--she has Celiac disease--and that although not everyone is so incredibly sensitive to gluten, she does know people who not only can't use dishes touched by gluten, they can't even walk down the flour aisle in a grocery store. Wow! That made me incredibly thankful to not be nearly that sensitive to cross-contamination. I can't eat most French fries, but at least I have no problems with freshly washed dishes or baking aisles.
Oh, and the mystery? It kept me guessing, although I did start suspecting the right person by the end.
For readers' advisors: character and story doorways. No sex or swearing that I can recall (or if there is any, it's very mild). A little bit of violence at the end, but not at all graphic.
September 6, 2015
Nancy J. Parra has all the right stuff in this series and I'm so glad that this cute title caught my eye. I've had a string of books lately that disappointed me and this one has restored my faith in the beauty of a great cozy mystery - keeping you on your toes (or at least it does for me because I always think I know who the killer is and then am surprised at the end) but giving you the sweet comfort of a splendid main character & a cast of supportive friends to distract from the tension. It's a perfect combination that I never, never tire of.
Toni Holme's little town is a treat to visit, she has a pile of interesting friends, the possibility of romance and a quirky grandmother who really seems too good to be true. The whole series rings true from beginning to end (despite the constant murders in a small town) and I'm so happy to have found it. I love the added bonus of her being a gluten-free baker because, although I am very fond of all of the cozy mysteries taking place in bakeries and candy shops, there haven't been any that show what life is like for someone who suffers from a true food allergy or true need to be gluten-free. This author writes about it very well - she must know it first-hand or have done careful research. It's wonderful to read that level of authenticity + have fun while you are doing it.
So. Crazy good titles in this series, very fond of her Toni the baker and absolutely fun mysteries that keep me guessing. I am rooting for something good to happen for Toni's life in the future... hope that her gluten-free baking catches on. Murders are fine, sure, and she has been doing well so far with her part-time investigations but success in her bakery and a healthy life for her grandmother are what I am really looking forward to because I'm hoping to be reading this series for a long time.
Toni Holme's little town is a treat to visit, she has a pile of interesting friends, the possibility of romance and a quirky grandmother who really seems too good to be true. The whole series rings true from beginning to end (despite the constant murders in a small town) and I'm so happy to have found it. I love the added bonus of her being a gluten-free baker because, although I am very fond of all of the cozy mysteries taking place in bakeries and candy shops, there haven't been any that show what life is like for someone who suffers from a true food allergy or true need to be gluten-free. This author writes about it very well - she must know it first-hand or have done careful research. It's wonderful to read that level of authenticity + have fun while you are doing it.
So. Crazy good titles in this series, very fond of her Toni the baker and absolutely fun mysteries that keep me guessing. I am rooting for something good to happen for Toni's life in the future... hope that her gluten-free baking catches on. Murders are fine, sure, and she has been doing well so far with her part-time investigations but success in her bakery and a healthy life for her grandmother are what I am really looking forward to because I'm hoping to be reading this series for a long time.
October 1, 2015
The author still needs to stay away from legal matters - a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. It would also be beneficial if she created timelines for events. It's disconcerting when a character goes to greet another character who just entered the room, and then that character enters the room 2 pages later. Or if someone has given their testimony to the police for three hours, and then a page or two later they state that they will be going to the police station the next day to give their testimony. Not relying on spell check and actually proofreading would be an asset. In fact, proofreading would take care of the last two items.
ADDENDUM: Having tried some of these recipes, I have to say that they are terrible, absolutely terrible. If a bakery were serving these baked goods to their customers, they would be out of business within a month. How can you put out a recipe for muffins and quick breads that contain no leavening? Recipe testing is not an option when you are including them as part of your book. Proofreading is also not an option. If you are buying this book for the gluten-free recipes, DON'T. There are plenty of other good and great cookbooks, magazines and blogs for the gluten free that have a plethora of delicious recipes.
ADDENDUM: Having tried some of these recipes, I have to say that they are terrible, absolutely terrible. If a bakery were serving these baked goods to their customers, they would be out of business within a month. How can you put out a recipe for muffins and quick breads that contain no leavening? Recipe testing is not an option when you are including them as part of your book. Proofreading is also not an option. If you are buying this book for the gluten-free recipes, DON'T. There are plenty of other good and great cookbooks, magazines and blogs for the gluten free that have a plethora of delicious recipes.
June 14, 2015
This series has been fun from the start. Toni is the independent, spunky owner of the gluten free bakery Bakers Treat. She spends much of her time working to build her new business which would be hard enough in any town but in wheat country it is particularly difficult.
Once again Toni is egged on by her grandmother to solve a murder. This murder involves her brother Tim. As much as she would like to help her brother, she has faith that the police will find the murderer, allowing her the time she needs to work in the bakery to fill the holiday orders that are due even when the weather is sending snow storm after snow storm.
When the police arrest Tim, Toni has no choice but to put her detective hat on to try to figure out who could have framed her brother.
Once again Toni is egged on by her grandmother to solve a murder. This murder involves her brother Tim. As much as she would like to help her brother, she has faith that the police will find the murderer, allowing her the time she needs to work in the bakery to fill the holiday orders that are due even when the weather is sending snow storm after snow storm.
When the police arrest Tim, Toni has no choice but to put her detective hat on to try to figure out who could have framed her brother.
August 15, 2015
For me this had a perfect blend of cozy and thrill. I absolutely loved the characters from the main ones all the way though to the walk-ons. Toni is fabulous and I must say Grandma Ruth really steals the show, what a character see is!! I would love to know a family like this.
The mystery was paced beautifully and at the reveal there was some real tension created. I was seriously worried for Toni and that is a hard feeling to achieve since we all know in most cozies all ends well. I'm not sure how I missed the first two parts but I will fix that quickly. Nancy J. Parra knows exactly how to blend the ingredients to make a cozy work... perfect from start to finish. Oh and being gluten free myself, the recipes in the back will be a valuable resource. I really can't recommend this enough...
The mystery was paced beautifully and at the reveal there was some real tension created. I was seriously worried for Toni and that is a hard feeling to achieve since we all know in most cozies all ends well. I'm not sure how I missed the first two parts but I will fix that quickly. Nancy J. Parra knows exactly how to blend the ingredients to make a cozy work... perfect from start to finish. Oh and being gluten free myself, the recipes in the back will be a valuable resource. I really can't recommend this enough...
August 8, 2016
This installment in the “A Baker’s Treat” mystery series has Toni Holmes whipping up gluten-free holiday treats in her bakery despite December blizzards and a murderer who’s left her brother framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Unable to avoid her sisterly duty in clearing his name, she sets on the trail of a killer who may be someone closer to her than she realizes. Stonewalled by the police who refuse to look further for the culprit, she conducts her own investigation while fending off a couple of potential suitors. This amusing, quick-paced mystery will have your mouth watering for bakery treats while you consume the pages to finish the story.
March 1, 2016
I love this series. Toni runs a small gluten-free bakery in the heart of wheat country, Kansas. People in wheat country are suspicious of gluten-free products and therefore Toni has to work extra hard to keep her sales up. She is in the middle of the Christmas rush, trying to bake as much as possible when her brother's best friend is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect! For once she is determined to keep her nose out of it and NOT investigate but when the police arrest Tim and refuse to look for any other suspects, Toni knows it's time to start asking questions...
June 2, 2015
Book #3 in the Baker's treat Mystery series continues the adventures of Toni Holmes, her gluten free bakery in wheat country Kansas, her wacky grandmother Ruth and the rest of her loveable family and friends as they are dragged into murder in a very personal way. The background and characters are both well written, educational and entertaining. The murder is well plotted, complex and page turning. I really like how Toni works to keep her new business afloat and her relatives out of trouble. Start from the first book and keep going. I am ready for Book #4.
May 13, 2016
This is an excellent book in the Baker's Treat Mysteries series by Nancy J. Parra. The characters, setting, and mystery will keep the reader guessing who did the killing. Having a bakery that is gluten-free is an interesting way to educate people on why gluten-free is not a current fad. Readers will be informed enough to guess what may be the latest twist in the next book. Plus the gluten-free recipes in the story will make readers want to try this type of baking. copy right 2016
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