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The Pink Cupcake Mysteries #1
Sweets and a Stabbing
After a messy divorce, forty-four-year-old Amelia Harley has taken back her maiden name and decided to sell homemade cupcakes out of a food truck. With the help of her two teenage kids in picking out the name and color of her truck (pink, of course) and using social media to help spread the word, Amelia is ready to roll in Food Truck Alley.
However, a man is found stabbed to death in the dining area, and the young man from the burrito food truck next to Amelia’s is arrested. Matthew is a big, tattooed former gang member, an obvious suspect, but Amelia believes he is innocent.
Can Amelia save an innocent man? Can she make her food truck a success and make her children proud? Find out in the first novella (30,000 words) in The Pink Cupcake Mysteries.
However, a man is found stabbed to death in the dining area, and the young man from the burrito food truck next to Amelia’s is arrested. Matthew is a big, tattooed former gang member, an obvious suspect, but Amelia believes he is innocent.
Can Amelia save an innocent man? Can she make her food truck a success and make her children proud? Find out in the first novella (30,000 words) in The Pink Cupcake Mysteries.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2016
1102 people are currently reading
1238 people want to read
About the author
Harper Lin
90 books931 followersHarper Lin is the 3x USA Today Bestselling Author of several popular cozy mystery series—8 and counting!
When she’s not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga class, hiking, and baking with friends and family.
Be the first to hear about early bird discounts and new book releases by signing up for Harper's Newsletter: https://goo.gl/R7XmFR
www.harperlin.com
When she’s not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga class, hiking, and baking with friends and family.
Be the first to hear about early bird discounts and new book releases by signing up for Harper's Newsletter: https://goo.gl/R7XmFR
www.harperlin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
January 17, 2025
This! This right here is why I rarely read self-published authors, because I hate being the jerk who gives an indie author a two-star review. I needed “a book about a food truck” for my reading challenge, however, so here we are. I do have to say that Lin does a great job writing books that fit my niche reading challenge prompts, because I've read one other novel of hers, A Hiss-tory of Magic, and it was because I needed a “a book with an onomatopoeia in the title” back in 2022.
Anyway, I didn't love this one. Why? Well, first and foremost, the main character is incredibly irritating. She's a bit of a snob, scoffing over store-bought cookies at a Gamblers Anonymous meeting and dissing on a neighborhood because it has a White Castle and an “open-late McDonald's,” which in her opinion doesn't “attract the most stellar pillars of the community.” (There's literally a McDonald's in Tribeca, which is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States, Amelia!) And she's concerned that's she's gone to this super dangerous neighborhood (hamburger pushers on every corner!) in a form-fitting sweatsuit because it makes her stand out “a little more than she would have liked.” Oh, yes, a sweatsuit, truly the most sexy and unusual of clothing. 🙄 She also needs some serious therapy, because she is obsessed with her ex-husband and their divorce. I mean, at one point her food truck gets damaged and someone asks if she's okay, and she starts going on about how her ex left her for a twenty-five year old and she doesn't get enough alimony. Pretty sure that's not what the “are you okay?” was referring to, Amelia, but, uh, you do you. Amelia's also not very good at emotional regulation, as she cries, almost cries, or thinks about crying every few pages.
The main character's issues aside, there are just lots of other weird little pieces to this book that don't make a lot of sense. There's the jailed murder suspect who “the public defender won't help,” even though I'm positive that's not a thing they can do without an extremely good legal reason. Oh, and apparently having tattoos, a knife in your food truck, and arguing with someone over an unpaid check is enough to get you thrown into jail on suspicion of murder in Gary, Oregon, which is especially scary considering their public defender's dereliction of his/her duties. There's also a really bizarre conversation between Amelia and her "techie" son about Facebook, where he insists that someone who has over a hundred Facebook friends can't possibly know all of them personally and that the murder victim, who has twenty-seven Facebook friends, probably only actually knows half of them. Um, okay. I'm beyond antisocial and even I know all of my 200-ish social media friends in real life. Some of us have lots of cousins, thank you very much.
The big reveal, however, is beautiful. It goes something like this:
Amelia: Did you damage my truck?
Murderer: That's right, I did it! I murdered Peter! And you can't prove it because you're divorced!
Okay, perhaps I paraphrased a bit, but that's basically the gist of it. And then they sentence the murderer literally days after their arrest, which I imagine probably has something to do with the quality of public defenders in Gary, Oregon.
On the positive side, lots of other reviewers enjoyed this book more than I did, and it does have a cute premise?
Anyway, I didn't love this one. Why? Well, first and foremost, the main character is incredibly irritating. She's a bit of a snob, scoffing over store-bought cookies at a Gamblers Anonymous meeting and dissing on a neighborhood because it has a White Castle and an “open-late McDonald's,” which in her opinion doesn't “attract the most stellar pillars of the community.” (There's literally a McDonald's in Tribeca, which is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States, Amelia!) And she's concerned that's she's gone to this super dangerous neighborhood (hamburger pushers on every corner!) in a form-fitting sweatsuit because it makes her stand out “a little more than she would have liked.” Oh, yes, a sweatsuit, truly the most sexy and unusual of clothing. 🙄 She also needs some serious therapy, because she is obsessed with her ex-husband and their divorce. I mean, at one point her food truck gets damaged and someone asks if she's okay, and she starts going on about how her ex left her for a twenty-five year old and she doesn't get enough alimony. Pretty sure that's not what the “are you okay?” was referring to, Amelia, but, uh, you do you. Amelia's also not very good at emotional regulation, as she cries, almost cries, or thinks about crying every few pages.
The main character's issues aside, there are just lots of other weird little pieces to this book that don't make a lot of sense. There's the jailed murder suspect who “the public defender won't help,” even though I'm positive that's not a thing they can do without an extremely good legal reason. Oh, and apparently having tattoos, a knife in your food truck, and arguing with someone over an unpaid check is enough to get you thrown into jail on suspicion of murder in Gary, Oregon, which is especially scary considering their public defender's dereliction of his/her duties. There's also a really bizarre conversation between Amelia and her "techie" son about Facebook, where he insists that someone who has over a hundred Facebook friends can't possibly know all of them personally and that the murder victim, who has twenty-seven Facebook friends, probably only actually knows half of them. Um, okay. I'm beyond antisocial and even I know all of my 200-ish social media friends in real life. Some of us have lots of cousins, thank you very much.
The big reveal, however, is beautiful. It goes something like this:
Amelia: Did you damage my truck?
Murderer: That's right, I did it! I murdered Peter! And you can't prove it because you're divorced!
Okay, perhaps I paraphrased a bit, but that's basically the gist of it. And then they sentence the murderer literally days after their arrest, which I imagine probably has something to do with the quality of public defenders in Gary, Oregon.
On the positive side, lots of other reviewers enjoyed this book more than I did, and it does have a cute premise?
December 24, 2020
The title and cover of this book caught my eye and I’m so pleased they did. Harper Lin's Sweets and a Stabbing is the first book from The Pink Cupcake Mystery series and it was a great start.
I hadn't read a lot of cosy mysteries until the last couple of years because it was a genre I didn't really think I liked, but I was mistaken. I think they are very fun, entertaining and quick to read, which is sometimes what I need. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended.
I hadn't read a lot of cosy mysteries until the last couple of years because it was a genre I didn't really think I liked, but I was mistaken. I think they are very fun, entertaining and quick to read, which is sometimes what I need. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended.
October 31, 2018
Amelia Harley’s children, Adam and Meg, encouraged her to design and set up her cupcake truck – painting it pink and preparing it for Food Truck Alley. The first day of trade, with her employee Lila by her side, Amelia thought it might be a failure from the start. But once the rain had stopped, the customers flocked. Amelia’s homemade cupcakes were a hit.
But when a man was found stabbed in the seating area the customers used, and then young Matthew from the burrito truck was arrested, Amelia knew she had to do something. Matthew couldn’t have murdered that man, even though he was covered in tattoos. She was determined to find the real killer – but was she putting herself in danger?
Sweets and a Stabbing is the 1st in The Pink Cupcake Mystery series by Harper Lin and is a light and fun cosy mystery – something I needed after my last book! Plenty of twists and misdirections, it was a quick read that I enjoyed. And I loved Lila – she was great! Recommended.
But when a man was found stabbed in the seating area the customers used, and then young Matthew from the burrito truck was arrested, Amelia knew she had to do something. Matthew couldn’t have murdered that man, even though he was covered in tattoos. She was determined to find the real killer – but was she putting herself in danger?
Sweets and a Stabbing is the 1st in The Pink Cupcake Mystery series by Harper Lin and is a light and fun cosy mystery – something I needed after my last book! Plenty of twists and misdirections, it was a quick read that I enjoyed. And I loved Lila – she was great! Recommended.
July 8, 2018
This was a good one, a quick and easy read. I can't believe how long I kept it on my TBR mountain! Really liked the characters, including the mc's teenagers. Really enjoyed her food truck employee/friend. Looking forward to the next.
June 8, 2020
A typical cozy mystery with lots of cupcakes. My mouth watered the whole time I was reading this book. A sweet story with a reasonably good mystery. What took it up to 4 stars for me was the characters. They are wonderful. Warm and interesting with the kind of relationships I like. Amelia is a single mom with two kids. She starts up a business with a cupcake truck. The great-aunt and nephew running the burrito truck are sweet and neighbourly. When the nephew is accused of murder, Amelia and friends cannot help but get involved to save them.
June 13, 2018
This book is a very quick, easy read! I just happened to be very busy and unable to read it fast as I wanted to do.
Amelia and John get a divorce so for income Amelia decides on a Cupcake Food Truck, but there is a murder right by it which normally isn't good for business.
Mrs. Vega, Amelia's food truck neighbor, Amelia believes in his innocence and sets out to prove him to not be the killer.
I love mystery but this book didn't really have me on the edge of my seat ever, for any period of time. The suspense wasn't there either. It was not intricately detailed enough for me either. But it wasn't a bad book. Just too simple for my taste.
Amelia and John get a divorce so for income Amelia decides on a Cupcake Food Truck, but there is a murder right by it which normally isn't good for business.
Mrs. Vega, Amelia's food truck neighbor, Amelia believes in his innocence and sets out to prove him to not be the killer.
I love mystery but this book didn't really have me on the edge of my seat ever, for any period of time. The suspense wasn't there either. It was not intricately detailed enough for me either. But it wasn't a bad book. Just too simple for my taste.
June 26, 2017
First book by this author and I enjoyed it. After a bitter divorce and with two kids Amelia decides to sell homemade cupcakes out of a food truck. With help from her kids they have the truck painted pink and so becomes the name Pink Cupcake Truck. Everything is set and even though it rained the first day things did pick up after the rain. But the next day a man is found stabbed to death in the dining area near the food trucks and the guy from the burrito food truck is arrested. Amelia doesn't believe he is the killer and she sets out to prove it and save her food truck and make a success of it. I like the way Amelia went about gathering clues and meeting people. Nice mystery, easy read but very entertaining. Couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading the next one.
June 29, 2018
Sweets & a Stabbing is a short, probably novella length, cosy. The theme is a cupcake food truck. Amelia Harley is a recently dumped wife and mother, who embarks on a career as a food truck cupcake baker, to support herself. The lifestyle is definitely a step down from her former “ladies who lunch” life. A food truck competitor is murdered and it seems as though a miscarriage of justice is occurring. Amelia takes on the task of investigating the murder herself. A quick cosy mystery with an interesting theme.
July 24, 2017
A short and cute mystery with likable characters and a main character who, while helping to solve a crime, does not believe the police are idiots or interfere with the police investigation.
March 8, 2021
After reading Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse and Killer Christmas by Harper Lin, I can't say I had very high expectations for Sweets and a Stabbing by the same author. However, I was pleasantly surprised to have these expectations exceeded.
This novel brings something I don't often see in cozy mysteries to the table: a character with a functional family that includes child and teenage characters. Because of this, Lin is able to look at Amelia's divorce from a few different and rarely-seen angles, including her own and her daughter's. It also explores the story as a family business.
Two other tropes that I see played a lot, but that are done well in this book, are the detective love interest and the quirky friends. I am kind of lukewarm about the detective love interest, as it's definitely an overused trope in the genre, and I've seen it done well in only a few cases. Surprisingly, this was not one of them. While I at first hoped the main character would end up with the accused murderer she was attempting to fight for, I get the impression that he was actually a lot younger than her. They could have worked, but there were definitely other factors at play. In this novel, Lin managed to work in the detective romance a lot more subtly than I've seen it done in many cases, and in a way that makes me support them as a couple.
In terms of the quirky friends, I like middle aged detective novels when they're done well, although I've only read two or three before this one and not all of them were. I liked how this one had a protagonist and friends who were still feisty and helped and defended each other, while also coming off as ridiculous characters. I had a lot of fun with Lila especially, and Christine was pretty great too.
The one thing I liked less about this novel was that it had a much more linear plot line, crossing off the suspects without any return to them. The ending also fell a little bit flat with who the murderer ended up being.
Still, I am considering buying the second book, and I'm glad this novel has rekindled my interest in Harper Lin.
This novel brings something I don't often see in cozy mysteries to the table: a character with a functional family that includes child and teenage characters. Because of this, Lin is able to look at Amelia's divorce from a few different and rarely-seen angles, including her own and her daughter's. It also explores the story as a family business.
Two other tropes that I see played a lot, but that are done well in this book, are the detective love interest and the quirky friends. I am kind of lukewarm about the detective love interest, as it's definitely an overused trope in the genre, and I've seen it done well in only a few cases. Surprisingly, this was not one of them. While I at first hoped the main character would end up with the accused murderer she was attempting to fight for, I get the impression that he was actually a lot younger than her. They could have worked, but there were definitely other factors at play. In this novel, Lin managed to work in the detective romance a lot more subtly than I've seen it done in many cases, and in a way that makes me support them as a couple.
In terms of the quirky friends, I like middle aged detective novels when they're done well, although I've only read two or three before this one and not all of them were. I liked how this one had a protagonist and friends who were still feisty and helped and defended each other, while also coming off as ridiculous characters. I had a lot of fun with Lila especially, and Christine was pretty great too.
The one thing I liked less about this novel was that it had a much more linear plot line, crossing off the suspects without any return to them. The ending also fell a little bit flat with who the murderer ended up being.
Still, I am considering buying the second book, and I'm glad this novel has rekindled my interest in Harper Lin.
April 5, 2023
This was book 1 in
"The Pink Cupcake Mysteries"
series. This was a pretty good read. Amelia Harley is a forty-four-year-old who just went through a messy divorce when she decides to open her own business baking cupcakes and selling them in a pink food truck. When a man dies Matthew from the burrito truck is accused of the crime. Matthew is a former gang member with a past but Amelia believes him when he said that he didn't do it. This was a pretty good read Amelia works to prove his innocence. I liked the secondary characters in this book. This was my first time reading this author. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
May 29, 2022
Stabbing on Food Truck Alley
Amelia opens The Pink Cupcake truck along with the help of her two children. While getting up and running, a stabbing occurs and an innocent man is put in Jail. Amelia takes it upon herself to set things right.
I thought the book was cute but the resolution of the crime was too easy. There was too much that could've gone wrong.
The book was entertaining to a degree but not enough to get me to read the second book.
Amelia opens The Pink Cupcake truck along with the help of her two children. While getting up and running, a stabbing occurs and an innocent man is put in Jail. Amelia takes it upon herself to set things right.
I thought the book was cute but the resolution of the crime was too easy. There was too much that could've gone wrong.
The book was entertaining to a degree but not enough to get me to read the second book.
May 3, 2022
Quick and easy read. I liked the main character and a lot of the side characters and they were what made this book fairly readable. I would say overall though I felt like the plot felt rather rushed at times and at other times a bit confused. It felt a lot more like a good draft than a final novel, lots of potential but not quite there.
July 20, 2018
Having never worked outside the home before her divorce, Amelia decides to become her own boss and open a food truck called The Pink Cupcake in order to support her and her two teenagers. Everyone is excited for her, except her ex. Especially after her truck was near the scene of a brutal murder. The nephew of a neighboring food truck is jailed as a suspect, but Amelia is certain the police have the wrong person in custody. With a little snooping, she provides the police with enough evidence to solve not one, but two crimes.
Short but sweet mystery with recipes included at the end. Love the characters, especially Amelia's bubbly employee, Lila. (Can't wait to see where she lives.)
Short but sweet mystery with recipes included at the end. Love the characters, especially Amelia's bubbly employee, Lila. (Can't wait to see where she lives.)
August 24, 2020
Start of a new series about a woman with a new food truck. A quick read with likable characters.
November 16, 2018
Clean, enjoyable
Cozy with a few twists. Liked this start of a new series which had a wisp of romance to come in other episodes. Recommended.
Cozy with a few twists. Liked this start of a new series which had a wisp of romance to come in other episodes. Recommended.
October 30, 2020
This is a nice quick read, perfect for a quiet weekend or a holiday away.
Whether I’ll remember this story a few months down the line remains to be seen. However it has brought me some short term enjoyment.
I’ll have to check out the other books in the series...
Whether I’ll remember this story a few months down the line remains to be seen. However it has brought me some short term enjoyment.
I’ll have to check out the other books in the series...
July 5, 2018
Sweets and a stabbing
Free for a review. That being said, this was a cute inspiring read. Family values and faith come into play. This is the way people should be with each other.
Free for a review. That being said, this was a cute inspiring read. Family values and faith come into play. This is the way people should be with each other.
August 2, 2016
I received a free e-copy of this book as a member of the author's review crew. Thank you!
Sweets & a Stabbing is the first book of a brand new series by the popular cozy mystery writer Harper Lin. The Pink Cupcake Mysteries series follows Amelia Harley, a forty-four-year-old divorcee, who has decided to try her hand at selling her baked goods. What marks this series as unique right from the start is the fact that her business is currently limited to a food truck, although I can't wait to see her (hopefully) branch out to catering.
Amelia is set apart from other Harper Lin's heroines by another couple of traits that give her a refreshing and perhaps more relatable aura. As I previously mentioned, she had a particularly messy divorce, which left her with two teenage children and a minimal alimony to keep up with. She's very dedicated to her children, but welcomes an evening of peace and quiet all the same. When a body turns up on the Food Truck Alley, Amelia is driven by the need to protect her seemingly innocent neighbour from being wrongly convicted on account of his past records and scary countenance.
As for the other characters, they are as well-developed as they can be in a 30 000 words novella. The mystery itself is also surprisingly well-crafted, despite the solution being a bit predictable. There were various twists and turns that I hadn't expected. Another thing I admired is the sleek design of both the cover and chapter headers.
All in all, this short novella is a promising start of a new book series that I can't wait to get my hands on.
Sweets & a Stabbing is the first book of a brand new series by the popular cozy mystery writer Harper Lin. The Pink Cupcake Mysteries series follows Amelia Harley, a forty-four-year-old divorcee, who has decided to try her hand at selling her baked goods. What marks this series as unique right from the start is the fact that her business is currently limited to a food truck, although I can't wait to see her (hopefully) branch out to catering.
Amelia is set apart from other Harper Lin's heroines by another couple of traits that give her a refreshing and perhaps more relatable aura. As I previously mentioned, she had a particularly messy divorce, which left her with two teenage children and a minimal alimony to keep up with. She's very dedicated to her children, but welcomes an evening of peace and quiet all the same. When a body turns up on the Food Truck Alley, Amelia is driven by the need to protect her seemingly innocent neighbour from being wrongly convicted on account of his past records and scary countenance.
As for the other characters, they are as well-developed as they can be in a 30 000 words novella. The mystery itself is also surprisingly well-crafted, despite the solution being a bit predictable. There were various twists and turns that I hadn't expected. Another thing I admired is the sleek design of both the cover and chapter headers.
All in all, this short novella is a promising start of a new book series that I can't wait to get my hands on.
August 19, 2016
This short book/novella is the first in a new series about a pink food-truck that specializes in cupcakes and not letting innocent people get framed for murder. Divorced mother of two teenagers, Amelia, is encouraged by her children to get into the food-truck business. After repeatedly telling her that her cupcakes are better than any other mother's baking in the school, she gives in. With help from the kids, all the permits have been obtained, the truck is tricked out with three ovens, the outside is painted an outrageous pink and decorated with a decadent looking cupcake. An assistant, Lila, has been hired, and the food-truck is up and running-in the black as everyone loves her cupcakes! Little by little they establish their routines and get to meet a few of their neighbors. All too soon the body of an acquaintance is found stabbed near the area of the food-truck tables. When a sweet nephew of the burrito truck's owner is arrested for the murder mostly because he is big and has many tattoos, Amelia is outraged. She decides to take matters into her own hands and investigate so this innocent young man is not charged with a murder she knows he didn't commit.
I liked Harper's characters and the way she wove them all together. I especially liked how Amelia would never speak poorly of her ex to the children. Her upstanding principles made me respect her. This all too short book rolled right along to a very unexpected conclusion. This is a fun read that I recommend for mystery lovers of all ages.
I liked Harper's characters and the way she wove them all together. I especially liked how Amelia would never speak poorly of her ex to the children. Her upstanding principles made me respect her. This all too short book rolled right along to a very unexpected conclusion. This is a fun read that I recommend for mystery lovers of all ages.
June 11, 2018
Sweets and a Stabbing is the first book in the Pink Cupcake Mystery series. The construction of the book is well put together in my opinion and kept me reading. I have read a few cozy mystery series and they almost all have someone dead by chapter 2. This book didn't and I liked the fact that the author started the book off just by giving the readers a vibe of the main character's personality and routine of her life before giving us the setting of the unfortunate demise of character.
This was a nice short read and I have very much enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the next book and I hope I like it as much as I liked this one.
This was a nice short read and I have very much enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the next book and I hope I like it as much as I liked this one.
September 18, 2016
Amelia opens a cupcake food truck after her divorce. Her ex is not happy about it. A few weeks after her opening a body is discovered in the bushes at Food Truck Alley. The police question everyone and make an arrest but Amelia does not believe they have the right person. She does a little investigation on her own.
This is a good set up for this series. The main characters are introduced. I like Amelia and her kids, Meg and Adam. They are a strong family unit. Her ex, John, is a jerk but we do need one of those to roll our eyes at and to cheer Amelia on to continue her food truck. I like the secondary characters. I cannot wait to find out Lila's, her employee, story. I'll bet it's a doozy as is Lila. I hope to see more of Mrs. Vega and her family in future books. They and Amelia watch out for each other. I liked her best friend Catherine. This is going to be a good cast of characters and we'll see if Lila is right about the detective.
The story was quick and light. The mystery was believable. I didn't solve to almost the end. The explanation was very welcome.
I look forward to more of this series.
This is a good set up for this series. The main characters are introduced. I like Amelia and her kids, Meg and Adam. They are a strong family unit. Her ex, John, is a jerk but we do need one of those to roll our eyes at and to cheer Amelia on to continue her food truck. I like the secondary characters. I cannot wait to find out Lila's, her employee, story. I'll bet it's a doozy as is Lila. I hope to see more of Mrs. Vega and her family in future books. They and Amelia watch out for each other. I liked her best friend Catherine. This is going to be a good cast of characters and we'll see if Lila is right about the detective.
The story was quick and light. The mystery was believable. I didn't solve to almost the end. The explanation was very welcome.
I look forward to more of this series.
February 6, 2017
Before this book, I don't think I would have considered myself a 'cozy mystery' fan. As a subgenre, they always seemed a bit too tidy and dull. But Sweets and a Stabbing has converted me!
Despite its short length, the author did not skimp on complex characters and community dynamics. Amelia is such a lovely protagonist that I truly think anyone can identify with. I remember being surprised at her use of the word 'noob' at one point and then realizing "Hey, she has two teenage kids. Of course that would be in her vocabulary!" I love those moments when a book teaches you to see something new.
This book was irresistible. Like the sweets detailed in the prose, I could NOT bring myself to put it down! The author is an absolute master of pacing, every chapter pulling you into the next.
Usually I'm able to read the first of a series and stop there, particularly if I was able to pick up the first book for free. But not this time! I've already picked up the next two books in The Pink Cupcake Mysteries series as my first book purchases of the year. Thanks for the wonderful read!
Despite its short length, the author did not skimp on complex characters and community dynamics. Amelia is such a lovely protagonist that I truly think anyone can identify with. I remember being surprised at her use of the word 'noob' at one point and then realizing "Hey, she has two teenage kids. Of course that would be in her vocabulary!" I love those moments when a book teaches you to see something new.
This book was irresistible. Like the sweets detailed in the prose, I could NOT bring myself to put it down! The author is an absolute master of pacing, every chapter pulling you into the next.
Usually I'm able to read the first of a series and stop there, particularly if I was able to pick up the first book for free. But not this time! I've already picked up the next two books in The Pink Cupcake Mysteries series as my first book purchases of the year. Thanks for the wonderful read!
June 2, 2017
Amelia is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after a messy divorce, so she sets her sights on having her very own food truck. To help ease everything going on, she lets her two kids help her pick out colors and teach her social media to get everything rolling (see what I did there!)
Her ex-husband isn't so thrilled about - no surprise there - hence the messy divorce part. But her kids seem happy and so all seems to at least be heading up, even if it feels like it's going at a snail's pace.
But then someone is found murdered near the food truck plaza. And another food truck operator is arrested. But somehow Amelia doesn't feel like all the pieces go together right, so she starts to look around a bit. And as we know, when someone in these books starts to look around, things can get very scary very quickly!
Anyway, I rated this book 4 stars because a) it made me smile b) I enjoyed and c) it was a cute story. It's not deep or great literature in anyway, but sometimes that's what you need. Also, I liked Amelia. I felt like we could be friends. A great book, that I'd classify as a beach read. Grab a nice drink, get comfy, crack it open and dive right on in!
Her ex-husband isn't so thrilled about - no surprise there - hence the messy divorce part. But her kids seem happy and so all seems to at least be heading up, even if it feels like it's going at a snail's pace.
But then someone is found murdered near the food truck plaza. And another food truck operator is arrested. But somehow Amelia doesn't feel like all the pieces go together right, so she starts to look around a bit. And as we know, when someone in these books starts to look around, things can get very scary very quickly!
Anyway, I rated this book 4 stars because a) it made me smile b) I enjoyed and c) it was a cute story. It's not deep or great literature in anyway, but sometimes that's what you need. Also, I liked Amelia. I felt like we could be friends. A great book, that I'd classify as a beach read. Grab a nice drink, get comfy, crack it open and dive right on in!
September 1, 2016
I love cozies, especially if they revolve around food! This is a shorter book (more of a novella) but it does not skimp on content or characters. I especially liked the 2 cupcake recipes at the end of the book....I have to try those out!
The mystery was well written considering the shorter length of the book. I don't think I truly had any clue who the killer was until they were revealed. There are a lot of possibilities and even some twists that I wasn't expecting (that didn't have a lot to do with the murder, but still intriguing). Although, as I look back I think I might have missed a clue earlier on that would have let me to figuring out who the killer was but I won't swear to it.
I liked how Amelia is not letting her divorce get to her and has gotten back into the swing of life with a bright pink food truck. Her ex may not like it, but good thing he has no say in her life now. She is even teaching some good values to her 2 kids about life.
I can't wait for another book and another recipe!
The mystery was well written considering the shorter length of the book. I don't think I truly had any clue who the killer was until they were revealed. There are a lot of possibilities and even some twists that I wasn't expecting (that didn't have a lot to do with the murder, but still intriguing). Although, as I look back I think I might have missed a clue earlier on that would have let me to figuring out who the killer was but I won't swear to it.
I liked how Amelia is not letting her divorce get to her and has gotten back into the swing of life with a bright pink food truck. Her ex may not like it, but good thing he has no say in her life now. She is even teaching some good values to her 2 kids about life.
I can't wait for another book and another recipe!
September 21, 2016
I was really excited to learn there would be another new series by Harper Lin. Sweets and a Stabbing is book one in The Pink Cupcake Mysteries series. Amelia is starting a new venture, a food truck specializing in cupcakes. When a murder happens in the dining area where the food trucks park, one of the other vendors is arrested. Amelia doesn't believe he is the true culprit and sets out to prove who really committed the murder. Can she do it and stay safe at the same time? Can she make a success of her food truck and make her children proud? This book was really good. It kept me interested throughout, and I look forward to reading more in this series. Highly recommend. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2016
A Cupcake food truck? I'm so there, I love cupcakes and I love mysteries that have food paired with them, so this book was right up my alley, I'm anticipating the next book already, I liked this little Jem it is different but just as cute and well writing as Lin's other books, Amelia divorced with 2 teenage kids decides to sell homemade cupcakes out of a food truck however, someone is murdered around the same area, the suspect the police have in custody Amelia believes he didn't do it, can she find out who did?
I received this book in exchange for an honest review as part of Harper Lin's review crew.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review as part of Harper Lin's review crew.
August 19, 2016
A brand new series by author Harper Lin! This one revolves around Amelia Harley, 44 years old with 2 teenage kids, whose husband left her for a 25 year old chickie. Never having to work before, Amelia takes good advice from her two kids & starts her own food truck business, The Pink Cupcake. However, Amelia not only has to deal with her new business & an obnoxious ex-husband, but also the body of a murdered man found right near her food truck. This is a delicious new cozy mystery with a likable cast of characters by one of my favorite authors. A fun breezy read!!
January 16, 2017
A culinary themed mystery. Amelia is a recently divorced mother of two with a new food truck, The Pink Cupcake. Shortly after she starts her stint in the food truck section, a man is stabbed. The grandson of one of Amelia's new friends is arrested, but Amelia doesn't believe he's guilty, despite his past.
It was a fun read, but as always, I wonder how the author will sustain the series in a realistic manner--I mean, at some point, if dead bodies turn up wherever you are selling your cupcakes, wouldn't you just stay away?
It was a fun read, but as always, I wonder how the author will sustain the series in a realistic manner--I mean, at some point, if dead bodies turn up wherever you are selling your cupcakes, wouldn't you just stay away?
August 16, 2016
Sweets and a Stabbing is a new cozy series by Harper Lin. This is an enjoyable book with fun and realistic characters. The main character is a recent divorcee who starts up a cupcake food truck with the help of her two teenagers. There is a murder in the immediate vicinity and Amelia believes the person accused of the murder is innocent.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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