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Cookies & Chance Mystery #3
Burned to a Crisp
From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns comes the next sinfully delicious Cookies & Chance Mystery...
Just when things appear to be going well for baker and sometime sleuth Sally Muccio, life turns up the heat again.
It’s summertime, and the living is easy for the Muccio clan. Sal’s wedding to her beloved fiancé is rapidly approaching, Mom’s won a beauty contest, and sister Gianna is now a licensed public defender. But when the bakery Sal’s worked so hard for goes up in smoke—along with her dreams!—she’s not sure how much more she can stand. Even worse, the man found dead in the bakery’s back room is none other than Gianna’s latest client, Bernardo Napoli.
The dough really hits the fan for Sal and Josie when they’re forced to temporarily relocate their bakery to the crazy Muccio home. Trouble is quickly stirred up as the best friend team must now contend with Sal’s father and his new mortuary business “undertakings,” a middle aged mother parading around customers in bikinis, and an Italian family hell bent on revenge. For Sal, several questions demand answers. Where has Gianna disappeared to? What role did she play in Bernardo’s death? What secret is Sal’s fiancé hiding from her? Sal is determined to find answers...before she gets burned once again!
**Recipes Included!**
The Cookies & Chance Mysteries:
Tastes Like Murder (book #1)
Baked to Death (book #2)
A Spot of Murder (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)
Burned to a Crisp (book #3)
What critics are saying:
"Catherine Bruns has whipped up another delicious treat with this delightful cozy. . If you like your mysteries to taste sweet this one is a good choice."
—Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick!
"I want to visit more with all of the quirky characters just to see what crazy and outrageous things they will do next!"
—Fresh Fiction
"The delightful whodunit kept me guessing until the end, and the tasty treats had my mouthwatering from start to finish! A fantastic culinary mystery in the vein of Joanne Fluke and Diane Mott Davidson!"
—Gemma Halliday, New York Times & USA Today bestselling mystery author
"Catherine Bruns has found a winning recipe for an exciting mystery mixed with a dash of humor and a heap of danger. Add in a little romance for spice, and you get one sweet reading treat."
—Mary Marks, bestselling author of the Quilting Mystery series.
Just when things appear to be going well for baker and sometime sleuth Sally Muccio, life turns up the heat again.
It’s summertime, and the living is easy for the Muccio clan. Sal’s wedding to her beloved fiancé is rapidly approaching, Mom’s won a beauty contest, and sister Gianna is now a licensed public defender. But when the bakery Sal’s worked so hard for goes up in smoke—along with her dreams!—she’s not sure how much more she can stand. Even worse, the man found dead in the bakery’s back room is none other than Gianna’s latest client, Bernardo Napoli.
The dough really hits the fan for Sal and Josie when they’re forced to temporarily relocate their bakery to the crazy Muccio home. Trouble is quickly stirred up as the best friend team must now contend with Sal’s father and his new mortuary business “undertakings,” a middle aged mother parading around customers in bikinis, and an Italian family hell bent on revenge. For Sal, several questions demand answers. Where has Gianna disappeared to? What role did she play in Bernardo’s death? What secret is Sal’s fiancé hiding from her? Sal is determined to find answers...before she gets burned once again!
**Recipes Included!**
The Cookies & Chance Mysteries:
Tastes Like Murder (book #1)
Baked to Death (book #2)
A Spot of Murder (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)
Burned to a Crisp (book #3)
What critics are saying:
"Catherine Bruns has whipped up another delicious treat with this delightful cozy. . If you like your mysteries to taste sweet this one is a good choice."
—Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick!
"I want to visit more with all of the quirky characters just to see what crazy and outrageous things they will do next!"
—Fresh Fiction
"The delightful whodunit kept me guessing until the end, and the tasty treats had my mouthwatering from start to finish! A fantastic culinary mystery in the vein of Joanne Fluke and Diane Mott Davidson!"
—Gemma Halliday, New York Times & USA Today bestselling mystery author
"Catherine Bruns has found a winning recipe for an exciting mystery mixed with a dash of humor and a heap of danger. Add in a little romance for spice, and you get one sweet reading treat."
—Mary Marks, bestselling author of the Quilting Mystery series.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2016
244 people are currently reading
795 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Bruns
61 books905 followersCatherine is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in Upstate New York with her very patient husband, three sons and several spoiled pets. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. Catherine also writes the Italian Chef, Maple Syrup, and Cindy York mysteries. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 12, 2017
This series is so much fun. Go ahead and give it a try...you don't want to miss out!
It is right that the antics of Sal's family remind a bit of the Stephanie Plum series but the events aren't so ridiculously over board. I like this more "normal" craziness without exploding cars etc a lot better. Great characters and another intriguing mystery made this book a quick read that I couldn't put down.
There are once again some great recipes added at the end...
It is right that the antics of Sal's family remind a bit of the Stephanie Plum series but the events aren't so ridiculously over board. I like this more "normal" craziness without exploding cars etc a lot better. Great characters and another intriguing mystery made this book a quick read that I couldn't put down.
There are once again some great recipes added at the end...
October 11, 2016
This tasty installment of the Cookies & Chance Mysteries had my stomach growing, and my inner sleuth working overtime!
Having read the first two books in this delightful series, I had no doubt I would enjoy BURNED TO A CRISP. Well, I liked it about as much as Sal’s costumers like her cookies. If you’ve read this series, you’ll know that means a liked it a lot! Haven’t read the series? You’ll see what I mean when you do. And you do need to read the Cookies & Chance Mysteries!
One thing is for certain, author Catherine Bruns knows how to write a story that draws emotions out of her readers. She burned down her lead character’s business! I was broken hearted for Sally when she came upon the scene of her bakery up in flames. Sally was devastated, and so was I! Then a man’s body is found in the backroom of the bakery, and Sally’s sister is missing. All in the first few chapters!
Everything I found enjoyable about the author’s writing in the first two books, and more, was present in BURNED TO A CRISP. Ms. Bruns has raised the bar in her story telling, and baked up a tale that is the best of the batch so far.
Don’t forget to check out the yummy cookie recipes in the back of the book!
Having read the first two books in this delightful series, I had no doubt I would enjoy BURNED TO A CRISP. Well, I liked it about as much as Sal’s costumers like her cookies. If you’ve read this series, you’ll know that means a liked it a lot! Haven’t read the series? You’ll see what I mean when you do. And you do need to read the Cookies & Chance Mysteries!
One thing is for certain, author Catherine Bruns knows how to write a story that draws emotions out of her readers. She burned down her lead character’s business! I was broken hearted for Sally when she came upon the scene of her bakery up in flames. Sally was devastated, and so was I! Then a man’s body is found in the backroom of the bakery, and Sally’s sister is missing. All in the first few chapters!
Everything I found enjoyable about the author’s writing in the first two books, and more, was present in BURNED TO A CRISP. Ms. Bruns has raised the bar in her story telling, and baked up a tale that is the best of the batch so far.
Don’t forget to check out the yummy cookie recipes in the back of the book!
July 16, 2019
Book 3 "Burned to a Crisp" earns 5/5 Slices of Ricotta Cheesecake!
Everything is wonderful in Colwestern, New York, for Sally Muccio, her family, and her friends. The weather is warm and sunny, the cookie shop is a popular destination, and everyone is looking forward to the upcoming nuptials. Gianna, Sally’s younger sister, is now a public defender, and her first case was huge. Although, it ended in a mistrial, she is sure, if her client goes back in court, she does not want to continue representing him. Bernardo Napoli, characterized as a “total sleaze,” may have an eye for Gianna, but she is not amused.
Sally’s signature homemade fortune cookies have always been a big hit with the customers, but Sally has always been skeptical that the fortunes are often more cryptic than comical. At first, the fortune, Things will heat up for you tonight, brought a blush to Sally’s cheeks thinking of a late night rendezvous with her fiancé, but she soon finds out ’heat up’ has so many different possibilities: a fire at the bakery, a dead body in the ashes, her sister a ‘person of interest.’
We know official investigations have to run their course, but Gianna is no where to be found and actively sought by the police, a couple of seamy wise guys, and a not-so-distraught widow. Josie struggles with the new bakery location dealing with Sally’s quirky family, and another one of those worrisome fortunes appears. Your lover is keeping secrets, causes Sal’s brown eyes to turn green…what? They dated?
Catherine has served us ‘cozy-holics’ and cookie connoisseurs an entertaining ‘sugar and spice’ series and provided another exciting ‘page turner’ with a clever mystery, outlandish family dynamics, and once again ‘Lucy and Ethel’ antics. We join Sally Muccio (Mooch-EE-o) as she navigates her post-divorce life back in her hometown in upstate New York trying hard to make a success of her cookie shop, Sally’s Samples. The story was engaging including a nice romance between Sally and Mike. And Sally’s father? Her mother? They are both quite the comic relief. Recipes once again are keepers giving us cookies galore: Oatmeal Crème Pie Cookies, Mocha Cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Sally’s Shortbread. These could become your family’s favorites.
Updated 7/16/19
I so enjoyed Catherine's book, I found the audio version narrated by Siobhan O'Day quite a delightful way to revisit it. Siobhan's very pleasant voice goes beyond the traditional reading aloud format. Her talented voice artistry is on display with her portrayal of tone and emotion along with the accents and dialects. She also met the challenge many female narrators have mimicking the various male voices. The audio version does not include the easy-to-follow recipes, so my suggestion is to pick up both! Follow along with O'Day's entertaining narration and get the recipes in the deal!
Everything is wonderful in Colwestern, New York, for Sally Muccio, her family, and her friends. The weather is warm and sunny, the cookie shop is a popular destination, and everyone is looking forward to the upcoming nuptials. Gianna, Sally’s younger sister, is now a public defender, and her first case was huge. Although, it ended in a mistrial, she is sure, if her client goes back in court, she does not want to continue representing him. Bernardo Napoli, characterized as a “total sleaze,” may have an eye for Gianna, but she is not amused.
Sally’s signature homemade fortune cookies have always been a big hit with the customers, but Sally has always been skeptical that the fortunes are often more cryptic than comical. At first, the fortune, Things will heat up for you tonight, brought a blush to Sally’s cheeks thinking of a late night rendezvous with her fiancé, but she soon finds out ’heat up’ has so many different possibilities: a fire at the bakery, a dead body in the ashes, her sister a ‘person of interest.’
We know official investigations have to run their course, but Gianna is no where to be found and actively sought by the police, a couple of seamy wise guys, and a not-so-distraught widow. Josie struggles with the new bakery location dealing with Sally’s quirky family, and another one of those worrisome fortunes appears. Your lover is keeping secrets, causes Sal’s brown eyes to turn green…what? They dated?
Catherine has served us ‘cozy-holics’ and cookie connoisseurs an entertaining ‘sugar and spice’ series and provided another exciting ‘page turner’ with a clever mystery, outlandish family dynamics, and once again ‘Lucy and Ethel’ antics. We join Sally Muccio (Mooch-EE-o) as she navigates her post-divorce life back in her hometown in upstate New York trying hard to make a success of her cookie shop, Sally’s Samples. The story was engaging including a nice romance between Sally and Mike. And Sally’s father? Her mother? They are both quite the comic relief. Recipes once again are keepers giving us cookies galore: Oatmeal Crème Pie Cookies, Mocha Cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Sally’s Shortbread. These could become your family’s favorites.
Updated 7/16/19
I so enjoyed Catherine's book, I found the audio version narrated by Siobhan O'Day quite a delightful way to revisit it. Siobhan's very pleasant voice goes beyond the traditional reading aloud format. Her talented voice artistry is on display with her portrayal of tone and emotion along with the accents and dialects. She also met the challenge many female narrators have mimicking the various male voices. The audio version does not include the easy-to-follow recipes, so my suggestion is to pick up both! Follow along with O'Day's entertaining narration and get the recipes in the deal!
September 8, 2016
I enjoy this series about a bakery that hands out fortune cookies to their customers. It is interesting to read how much those fortunes mean to some of the people-including the owner, Sally Muccio. Are they predictions of the future?
Sally and her partner Josie are having a good summer as Sal is planning her wedding to Mike. Her sister Gina has finally finished law school and is practicing law. Her mother has won a beauty contest. Her father is selling coffins...er, wait. that isn't really something she is happy about. But all of a sudden the bottom drops out of her world when the bakery catches on fire and a body is discovered in the back room.
Sal and Josie can't find another building to move into, and are forced to temporarily move the business into her family's kitchen. A decision made out of destitution and fraught with disaster, customers end up witnessing her mother walking around in her contest bathing suit and her father's mortuary business set up in the front room. Add to these troubles a fiance who is busy night and day and seems to be lying to and avoiding Sal. Thank heavens for good friend Josie and her grandmother! To compound matters, her only additional helper quits suddenly and her sister is suspected of murdering the man in the bakery fire.
Ms Bruns brings all of these threads to a conclusion with plenty of laughs along the way. It is a good mystery and happily she gets to move out of her family's kitchen before her business suffers. This book will keep your attention and make you want cookies! (Don't say I didn't warn you.) It can stand alone, but you will enjoy the characters a lot more if you have read the previous books in the series.
Sally and her partner Josie are having a good summer as Sal is planning her wedding to Mike. Her sister Gina has finally finished law school and is practicing law. Her mother has won a beauty contest. Her father is selling coffins...er, wait. that isn't really something she is happy about. But all of a sudden the bottom drops out of her world when the bakery catches on fire and a body is discovered in the back room.
Sal and Josie can't find another building to move into, and are forced to temporarily move the business into her family's kitchen. A decision made out of destitution and fraught with disaster, customers end up witnessing her mother walking around in her contest bathing suit and her father's mortuary business set up in the front room. Add to these troubles a fiance who is busy night and day and seems to be lying to and avoiding Sal. Thank heavens for good friend Josie and her grandmother! To compound matters, her only additional helper quits suddenly and her sister is suspected of murdering the man in the bakery fire.
Ms Bruns brings all of these threads to a conclusion with plenty of laughs along the way. It is a good mystery and happily she gets to move out of her family's kitchen before her business suffers. This book will keep your attention and make you want cookies! (Don't say I didn't warn you.) It can stand alone, but you will enjoy the characters a lot more if you have read the previous books in the series.
October 11, 2016
This is such a delightful series. It's full of interesting characters that are a little quirky and a lot of fun. The story is well written and the mystery well plotted so that it keeps the reader guessing. The talk of all the bakery items will have your mouth watering for one of the treats, there are even receipes included. The author has written another terrific story and I can't wait to read what happens next.
November 5, 2019
Sally Muccio's life is busy with running her bakery, loving Mike and her family, and planning her wedding. When her Mother throws a surprise birthday party for Sally her sister is summoned away by a mobster she was representing as a public defender. When the man is found murdered in a fire at Sally's bakery and Gianna is missing, things really heat up.
During her search for Gianna and then the killer, Sally finds that Mike is keeping secrets and lying to her. Having been lied to by her first husband, a fortune cookie message telling her that her love is keeping secrets, Sally can't help but worry. Sure, she trusts Mike and knows he loves her, but trust is hard when you've been lied to before. But with Mike so busy with whatever is keeping him out late at night, this gives Sally time to try and find the murderer and clear her sister from the suspect list.
Things get even crazier when Sally and Josie relocate the baking shop to her parents' house until they can settle the insurance claim and find a new spot. While her parents are eccentric enough in their own right, it's her father's new career that is throwing customers for a loop, as he has a casket in the living room and people can't miss it! Heck, he's even letting them try it on for size...and you thought your family was crazy! With the wedding just weeks away, Sally needs to get things settled on all fronts quickly and hope that the next time the priest is blessing her it's at her wedding and not her funeral.
Another fun entry in the series. Gotta love the fortune cookie messages being tied into the story line and how they seem to be harbinger of things to come for those who read them. Can't wait to read book number four!
During her search for Gianna and then the killer, Sally finds that Mike is keeping secrets and lying to her. Having been lied to by her first husband, a fortune cookie message telling her that her love is keeping secrets, Sally can't help but worry. Sure, she trusts Mike and knows he loves her, but trust is hard when you've been lied to before. But with Mike so busy with whatever is keeping him out late at night, this gives Sally time to try and find the murderer and clear her sister from the suspect list.
Things get even crazier when Sally and Josie relocate the baking shop to her parents' house until they can settle the insurance claim and find a new spot. While her parents are eccentric enough in their own right, it's her father's new career that is throwing customers for a loop, as he has a casket in the living room and people can't miss it! Heck, he's even letting them try it on for size...and you thought your family was crazy! With the wedding just weeks away, Sally needs to get things settled on all fronts quickly and hope that the next time the priest is blessing her it's at her wedding and not her funeral.
Another fun entry in the series. Gotta love the fortune cookie messages being tied into the story line and how they seem to be harbinger of things to come for those who read them. Can't wait to read book number four!
March 25, 2023
Sally Muccio is doing a great business in her bakery.
Sal's weddings coming up in a few weeks and Gianna, SAl's sister is now a public defender.
Unfortunately, Gianna's first client is found dead in the bakery and the bakery has been torched.
Gianna has disappeared.
Sally's crazy family is driving her nuts and now Sal has to figure this out or her sister could be in danger.
If you like the Evanovich Plum series this is a bit similar.
Lots of crazy and funny characters.
Sal's weddings coming up in a few weeks and Gianna, SAl's sister is now a public defender.
Unfortunately, Gianna's first client is found dead in the bakery and the bakery has been torched.
Gianna has disappeared.
Sally's crazy family is driving her nuts and now Sal has to figure this out or her sister could be in danger.
If you like the Evanovich Plum series this is a bit similar.
Lots of crazy and funny characters.
October 11, 2016
Burned To A Crisp
Cookies & Chance Mystery, Book #3
Catherine Bruns
5 Stars
Synopsis:
From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns comes the next sinfully delicious Cookies & Chance Mystery...
Just when things appear to be going well for baker and sometime sleuth, Sally Muccio, life turns up the heat again.
It’s summertime, and the living is easy for the Muccio clan. Sal’s wedding to her beloved fiancé is rapidly approaching, Mom’s won a beauty contest, and sister Gianna is now a licensed public defender. But when the bakery Sal’s worked so hard for goes up in smoke—along with her dreams!—she’s not sure how much more she can stand. Even worse, the man found dead in the bakery’s back room is none other than Gianna’s latest client, Bernardo Napoli.
The dough really hits the fan for Sal and Josie when they’re forced to temporarily relocate their bakery to the crazy Muccio home. Trouble is quickly stirred up as the best friend team must now contend with Sal’s father and his new mortuary business “undertakings,” a middle aged mother parading around customers in bikinis, and an Italian family hell bent on revenge. For Sal, several questions demand answers. Where has Gianna disappeared to? What role did she play in Bernardo’s death? What secret is Sal’s fiancé hiding from her? Sal is determined to find answers...before she gets burned once again! (Goodreads)
Review:
Sally is a hard working business owner who has made her dream come true of owning her own bakery. But those dreams turn into a nightmare when her shop burns down and a dead body is found in the charred remains. Not only has she lost her dream, she has also lost her sister. She has no idea where she is and if she is in any danger. Sally has to find her sister and figure out who torched her bakery before things get even worse.
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I really enjoy the friendship between Sally and Josie. You can tell that they are best friends and would do anything for the other one. We all need a friend like this in our life. Sally’s parents are crazy and they lend a lot of humor to the book. And everybody loves Sally’s grandmother and I enjoy reading about the interactions between her and her granddaughters. The author is very talented in her character development and they are top notch.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is also very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the story I felt like I was right there, watching all the action take place. I could almost smell the fire and I could listen in on conversations going on around me. That is definitely a plus in my book.
The author is also very talented (yes, she is multi-talented) in creating suspense and tension with the written word. There were times that I was afraid to swipe the page because I did not know what was going to happen. I do not ask for more when I am reading a cozy mystery. The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book and I was very surprised to learn who the culprit was. I had no inkling of the killer until the very end when I picked up on a clue, I was pretty proud of myself for that.
I would absolutely recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted, well plotted cozy mystery. Every book that I have read by this author has been fantastic and I look forward to reading more of the books she pens. Do not miss out on her awesome books.
Cookies & Chance Mystery, Book #3
Catherine Bruns
5 Stars
Synopsis:
From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns comes the next sinfully delicious Cookies & Chance Mystery...
Just when things appear to be going well for baker and sometime sleuth, Sally Muccio, life turns up the heat again.
It’s summertime, and the living is easy for the Muccio clan. Sal’s wedding to her beloved fiancé is rapidly approaching, Mom’s won a beauty contest, and sister Gianna is now a licensed public defender. But when the bakery Sal’s worked so hard for goes up in smoke—along with her dreams!—she’s not sure how much more she can stand. Even worse, the man found dead in the bakery’s back room is none other than Gianna’s latest client, Bernardo Napoli.
The dough really hits the fan for Sal and Josie when they’re forced to temporarily relocate their bakery to the crazy Muccio home. Trouble is quickly stirred up as the best friend team must now contend with Sal’s father and his new mortuary business “undertakings,” a middle aged mother parading around customers in bikinis, and an Italian family hell bent on revenge. For Sal, several questions demand answers. Where has Gianna disappeared to? What role did she play in Bernardo’s death? What secret is Sal’s fiancé hiding from her? Sal is determined to find answers...before she gets burned once again! (Goodreads)
Review:
Sally is a hard working business owner who has made her dream come true of owning her own bakery. But those dreams turn into a nightmare when her shop burns down and a dead body is found in the charred remains. Not only has she lost her dream, she has also lost her sister. She has no idea where she is and if she is in any danger. Sally has to find her sister and figure out who torched her bakery before things get even worse.
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I really enjoy the friendship between Sally and Josie. You can tell that they are best friends and would do anything for the other one. We all need a friend like this in our life. Sally’s parents are crazy and they lend a lot of humor to the book. And everybody loves Sally’s grandmother and I enjoy reading about the interactions between her and her granddaughters. The author is very talented in her character development and they are top notch.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is also very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the story I felt like I was right there, watching all the action take place. I could almost smell the fire and I could listen in on conversations going on around me. That is definitely a plus in my book.
The author is also very talented (yes, she is multi-talented) in creating suspense and tension with the written word. There were times that I was afraid to swipe the page because I did not know what was going to happen. I do not ask for more when I am reading a cozy mystery. The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book and I was very surprised to learn who the culprit was. I had no inkling of the killer until the very end when I picked up on a clue, I was pretty proud of myself for that.
I would absolutely recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted, well plotted cozy mystery. Every book that I have read by this author has been fantastic and I look forward to reading more of the books she pens. Do not miss out on her awesome books.
October 11, 2016
Sally is waiting for Mike, her fiance, to pick her up when Mrs Gavelli comes along demanding fortune cookies. Her grandson, Jonny, is with her and he has moved back to teach at the hight school. Josie, Sally's best friend and partner, states the Mrs. G is a rude old lady. Sarah, the part-time worker, says she is afraid of her. Mike finally arrives and they leave to get ready for the party. They have had a long road getting to this point. Mike assures Sally that nothing is going to happen to interfere with the wedding.
Catherine Burns has a winning series. The characters are all flawed in some way but they are still likeable. Sally has a interesting family who are so funny. Sally has to do some major maturing in the book and she does. I love this series and look forward to the next book in this series.
Catherine Burns has a winning series. The characters are all flawed in some way but they are still likeable. Sally has a interesting family who are so funny. Sally has to do some major maturing in the book and she does. I love this series and look forward to the next book in this series.
May 6, 2017
Burned to a Crisp is the third book in Catherine Brun’s Cookies & Chance Mystery series. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The storyline is well thought out with likeable, well-developed characters, an interesting mystery to solve, and a perfect mix of mystery, romance, a few quirky characters, and humor. There are plenty of twists and turns, and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The reveal of villain surprised me.
Sally Muccio and Mike Donovan are getting married in a few weeks. Sally and Josie Sullivan, her best friend and business partner, are devastated when their bakery goes up in flames, a man’s body is found in the back room, and Sally’s sister, Gianna, who lives in the apartment over the bakery, is missing. Sally’s parents, Domenic and Maria, insist they ‘reopen’ the bakery, Sally’s Samples, in their home, which they reluctantly agree to do. Their parents are always doing something to embarrass Sally and Gianna and now their antics have Sally and Josie worried they may drive customers away from the bakery. Domenic is taking online classes to become a mortician and has a casket in the living room. Maria is preparing for a beauty contest and is often seen prancing around in skimpy bikinis and clothes that leave little to the imagination. Grandma Rosa, who is always mixing up the words in everyday cliché sayings, continues to provide sage advice to Sally. The victim is identified as Bernardo Napoli who was recently on trial and a client of Gianna, who is a public defender. Bernardo’s death is ruled a murder, the cause of the fire has been determined to be arson, and Gianna is a person of interest.
Sally Muccio and Mike Donovan are getting married in a few weeks. Sally and Josie Sullivan, her best friend and business partner, are devastated when their bakery goes up in flames, a man’s body is found in the back room, and Sally’s sister, Gianna, who lives in the apartment over the bakery, is missing. Sally’s parents, Domenic and Maria, insist they ‘reopen’ the bakery, Sally’s Samples, in their home, which they reluctantly agree to do. Their parents are always doing something to embarrass Sally and Gianna and now their antics have Sally and Josie worried they may drive customers away from the bakery. Domenic is taking online classes to become a mortician and has a casket in the living room. Maria is preparing for a beauty contest and is often seen prancing around in skimpy bikinis and clothes that leave little to the imagination. Grandma Rosa, who is always mixing up the words in everyday cliché sayings, continues to provide sage advice to Sally. The victim is identified as Bernardo Napoli who was recently on trial and a client of Gianna, who is a public defender. Bernardo’s death is ruled a murder, the cause of the fire has been determined to be arson, and Gianna is a person of interest.
January 10, 2017
Even though you know that the bakery burns down, it still doesn't make it any easier when you read it. At least for me .... I have read all of the books in the Cookies & Chance Mystery series and I feel like I know the family. Even though the Muccio family is crazy they are a believeable crazy. I can actually see them as neighbors and being a customer of the bakery.
Catherine Bruns has an amazing talent.....her writing of the story takes you there !! You will feel like you are standing in the middle of the bakery, or what is left of the bakery, you can feel the emotion Sally has when she has a breakdown over the bakery, and you will absolutely catch your breath over ANYTHING Mike does for her. You will long for a friendship like Sal and Josie have, you will be thankful you have the parents that you have....or you may wish your parents were a little like Sal's parents, and you will completely love Grandma Rosa.
When you are looking for a book to read or a new author to follow, I highly recommend Catherine Bruns and the Cookies & Chance Mystery series. When you read a book, you want a connection, a feeling of belonging and a reason to stay. That is what will happen when you read this series. I can promise you that you will find a place for you at the dining room table with the girls enjoying coffee and some of Grandma Rosa's cooking or maybe a fortune cookie. Just be careful with the fortune and don't freak out because of the coffin in the living room..... It's all just part of the charm of the family.
Catherine Bruns has an amazing talent.....her writing of the story takes you there !! You will feel like you are standing in the middle of the bakery, or what is left of the bakery, you can feel the emotion Sally has when she has a breakdown over the bakery, and you will absolutely catch your breath over ANYTHING Mike does for her. You will long for a friendship like Sal and Josie have, you will be thankful you have the parents that you have....or you may wish your parents were a little like Sal's parents, and you will completely love Grandma Rosa.
When you are looking for a book to read or a new author to follow, I highly recommend Catherine Bruns and the Cookies & Chance Mystery series. When you read a book, you want a connection, a feeling of belonging and a reason to stay. That is what will happen when you read this series. I can promise you that you will find a place for you at the dining room table with the girls enjoying coffee and some of Grandma Rosa's cooking or maybe a fortune cookie. Just be careful with the fortune and don't freak out because of the coffin in the living room..... It's all just part of the charm of the family.
June 1, 2025
Things were looking up for Sally Muccio. Her business was going great and soon she would marry her high school sweetheart, Mike. Her family is doing well too. Her sister is officially a lawyer and her mother is participating in a beauty pageant of all things. But things take a turn when she find out her bakery is on fire. They rush to the bakery only to find out that not only is the bakery on fire, but there is a body in the building. Sal is terrified it's her sister Gianna who rents the apartment above the bakery. They soon find out it's Gianna client, Bernardo Napoli and that Gianna is missing. The police assume Gianna is the killer, so Sal has to find her first. Josie and Sal also reopen their business in their parents house, but then have to contend with her quirky parents - her dad's mortuary "business" and her mom parading around in her outfits for the pageant, including and itsy bitsy bikini. And to make matters worse she doesn't even have Mike to support her because he's out working late most nights trying to get a job done.
I love this book. It was full of action and several twists that I didn't see coming. Another great book in the series.
I love this book. It was full of action and several twists that I didn't see coming. Another great book in the series.
September 1, 2022
With business picking up, Sally and Josie hire an employee who only shows up for one day. They are selected to be contestants in a cookie reality show and they won, despite their "one day employee " stealing their famous cookie recipe to help her parents who were also contestants in the reality show. After winning the contest, Sally hires a single mom who is in desperate need of a job. Within a short time at their bake shop there is a murder, a fire to cover the murder, and clues that point to Sally's lawyer sister Gianna as the murderer. With her life apparently going up in smoke, Sally and Josie set out to discover more about the case. Who murdered Bernardo? And where was the money he embezzled from his step-father? Will the crazy antics of Sally's parents get even more bizarre - her father's obsession with death leads him into taking an on-line mortician course and her mother entering a beauty contest? Will Sally get to marry Mike, the love of her life, or will the "lies" he's been telling her end their relationship? This action packed story is a real page turner.
August 15, 2020
Thank you to Catherine Bruns for a free copy of this audiobook! Burned to Crisp is the third book in the Cookies and Chance Mysteries by Catherine Bruns. I love this series, and have been wanting to go back and read some that I missed when they were first published. A little bit ago, I was lucky enough to win the audiobook from a giveaway Catherine Bruns did on her Facebook page.
In this installment, Sally Muccio is looking forward to her wedding, and her sister Gianna is working on her first case as a lawyer. One night, Sally and Josie are called to their bakery because it is on fire. When the smoke clears, Gianna’s client, Bernardo Napoli, is found dead in the remains. Sally and Josie now have to find a new place for the bakery and solve the mystery of what happened that night.
This book was narrated by Siobhan O’Day. It was very enjoyable to listen to the narration. The voices she created for Catherine Bruns’s characters were distinct and engaging. I would recommend this book be consumed either in print or as an audiobook. Both the story and audio are well done!
In this installment, Sally Muccio is looking forward to her wedding, and her sister Gianna is working on her first case as a lawyer. One night, Sally and Josie are called to their bakery because it is on fire. When the smoke clears, Gianna’s client, Bernardo Napoli, is found dead in the remains. Sally and Josie now have to find a new place for the bakery and solve the mystery of what happened that night.
This book was narrated by Siobhan O’Day. It was very enjoyable to listen to the narration. The voices she created for Catherine Bruns’s characters were distinct and engaging. I would recommend this book be consumed either in print or as an audiobook. Both the story and audio are well done!
January 7, 2018
Burned to a Crisp
Sally sometimes has the worst luck, but she has a big heart. After her bakery went up in flames, Sally and her best friend and business partner, Josie, find themselves working from Sally’s parent’s kitchen. With close quarters and having to deal with Sally’s parents well-intentions, life has become chaotic to say the least. Sally also wants to help figure out what happened that night at the bakery, because he sister is a suspect in the murder that also occurred that night. Trouble seems to always find Sally no matter how hard she tries to stay away from it!
Sally sometimes has the worst luck, but she has a big heart. After her bakery went up in flames, Sally and her best friend and business partner, Josie, find themselves working from Sally’s parent’s kitchen. With close quarters and having to deal with Sally’s parents well-intentions, life has become chaotic to say the least. Sally also wants to help figure out what happened that night at the bakery, because he sister is a suspect in the murder that also occurred that night. Trouble seems to always find Sally no matter how hard she tries to stay away from it!
December 19, 2019
this is the series of sal who runs a cookie bakery with her best friend. she is getting married and her sister the new lawyer has moved upstairs from the bakery where she used to live.
the bakery was burned down after a dead man was found in the kitchen
her sister disappeared but they found her at a hotel. she didnt kill the man
her husband to be is a carpenter. he lied about a job he was working on but it turned out he was fixing up a new place for her bakery since she couldnt continue to run it out of her parents kitchen. her mom entered a beauty contest and won her a trip to hawaii for her honeymoon
the bakery was burned down after a dead man was found in the kitchen
her sister disappeared but they found her at a hotel. she didnt kill the man
her husband to be is a carpenter. he lied about a job he was working on but it turned out he was fixing up a new place for her bakery since she couldnt continue to run it out of her parents kitchen. her mom entered a beauty contest and won her a trip to hawaii for her honeymoon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2023
It’s summertime, and the living is easy for the Muccio clan. Sal’s wedding to her beloved fiancé is rapidly approaching, Mom’s won a beauty contest, and sister Gianna is now a licensed public defender. But when the bakery Sal’s worked so hard for goes up in smoke—along with her dreams!—she’s not sure how much more she can stand. Even worse, the man found dead in the bakery’s back room is none other than Gianna’s latest client.
Relocating her business to her parents' home is a challenge for Sally. Her father is obsessed with his mortuary business, her mom dresses like a teen tramp, and Gianna has disappeared. Before she goes up in smoke, Sally needs to solve this one fast. Good recipes.
Relocating her business to her parents' home is a challenge for Sally. Her father is obsessed with his mortuary business, her mom dresses like a teen tramp, and Gianna has disappeared. Before she goes up in smoke, Sally needs to solve this one fast. Good recipes.
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September 20, 2021Everything is going well in Sal's life, she's getting married in a couple of weeks, her sister is a working her first big law case and her mom and dad are as crazy as ever. That is until her cookie shop is set on fire, her sister disappears and her mom enters a beauty contest. To get her life back on track she must find her sister and solve the mystery of the dead body in the bake shop.
I love this series so much the mom and dad are crazy the grandmother is the sense of reason and Sal's always finding trouble wherever she goes.
I love this series so much the mom and dad are crazy the grandmother is the sense of reason and Sal's always finding trouble wherever she goes.
November 13, 2023
A story that’s very ridiculous 90% of the time but has just enough sweet to make me kind of want to keep reading. The ridiculousness of the characters most often falls short of funny for me (her mom and dad are not funny and quirky, they’re just pathetic). Sally is still a doormat. Josie crossed the line in this one. They had a couple TSTL moments in this one. I think I dislike it as much as I like it. I have to skim through it at times because I get so annoyed. So I really don’t know why I keep reading them.
November 17, 2024
Another great mystery! Sal and Josie’s bakery burns down one night and Gianna’s client is found dead inside. There are many people who would have wanted Bernardo dead so narrowing down the suspect list will take a while. Unfortunately, Gianna is at the top of the list since she was the last one seen with him. Luckily, no one believes she did it. I am really starting to love Sal’s grandmother Rosa – I would love to have a grandmother like her! I did not see this ending coming! What a great twist!
November 8, 2016
Another great mystery for Sally to solve with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I really have enjoyed every Sally Muccio mystery the characters are all great sisters, grandmothers, fiance's even embarrassing parents and psycho employees, these mysteries will keep you guessing and make you laugh so much along the way you will forget your reading about murder and mayhem.
I really have enjoyed every Sally Muccio mystery the characters are all great sisters, grandmothers, fiance's even embarrassing parents and psycho employees, these mysteries will keep you guessing and make you laugh so much along the way you will forget your reading about murder and mayhem.
August 2, 2018
The third in this series, Burned to a Crisp is good ol' rollicking fun! Sally and Josie must relocate the bakery due to fire and a murder--- what place better than Sal's family home? Chaos ensue when the wedding day for Sally and Mike draws near, but he is holding back secrets. I enjoyed getting to the bottom of this one. If you enjoy humor, food and cozies, this book is for you.
March 4, 2023
Although I have enjoyed the main storyline and majority of regular characters in first three books, Sally has just become more self absorbed with each page, and it has got so annoying that I’m afraid this will be the last book for me.
The first audio narrator was really good, but books 2 and 3 were nowhere near as good.
The first audio narrator was really good, but books 2 and 3 were nowhere near as good.
May 4, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable
Now I'm going back to Books 1 and 2! I really liked this book; storyline was good & the characters made me LOL several times. Looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
Now I'm going back to Books 1 and 2! I really liked this book; storyline was good & the characters made me LOL several times. Looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
March 15, 2019
Great
More than cookies are being baked in this third installment of Cookies and Chance Mystery series. Sal's bakery goes up in flames, a man is dead, and her sister is missing. This is another great read from Catherine Bruns.
More than cookies are being baked in this third installment of Cookies and Chance Mystery series. Sal's bakery goes up in flames, a man is dead, and her sister is missing. This is another great read from Catherine Bruns.
July 9, 2017
I am so enamored of these characters! I wish they actually were alive and living in my neighborhood! Oh yeah! The plots are fun too!😂
January 22, 2018
This series is fun but not outstanding.
March 29, 2019
I received an ARC of this book and loved it. Characters are fun too. It’s the second book I’ve red in the series and look forward to reading more.
November 5, 2019
Another good story. Boy what a twist!
July 18, 2021
This series is so much fun. I got the next four books
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