What do you think?
Rate this book
Courtney Archer #1
Cobblered to Death
Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .
Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle . On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . .
During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . .
Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle . On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . .
During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . .
312 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 26, 2019
37 people are currently reading
2397 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
October 11, 2021
Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross, Rose Ross Zediker is the first book in the cozy Courtney Archer series. As with most cozy mystery series each book of this series will contain it’s own mystery that will be fully solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There will be character development that carries over from book to book though for those who follow the series from the beginning.
Courtney Archer was proud of herself for getting her own cooking show which had become quite a success. However, Courtney was not proud that her cooking show, Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter, was basically a lie with Courtney being a city girl and not having been raised on a farm but the network had insisted that Courtney use the persona and protect the lie of where she was really from.
Now Courtney is participating in a reality show, The American Baking Battle, filming in the Pocono Mountains and Courtney hopes she can be more herself on this show. Unfortunately for Courtney another contestant in the baking battle has learned her real identity and that same contestant is then found murdered. To top things off for Courtney and put her as a suspect it was her own frying pan that was used as the murder weapon.
I’m always excited to pick up a new cozy series and quite often love those centered around food of some sort. The Courtney Archer series however got off to a slow start for me when I didn’t find the overly humorous and quirky content that I seek out in cozies. I think for me the repeated mentions of the lead not being who she was pretending to be kind of dragged the story down instead of being humorous. When finished I just found this first book to be just so-so but I do have the second so I’m crossing my fingers the second book is more my speed.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Courtney Archer was proud of herself for getting her own cooking show which had become quite a success. However, Courtney was not proud that her cooking show, Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter, was basically a lie with Courtney being a city girl and not having been raised on a farm but the network had insisted that Courtney use the persona and protect the lie of where she was really from.
Now Courtney is participating in a reality show, The American Baking Battle, filming in the Pocono Mountains and Courtney hopes she can be more herself on this show. Unfortunately for Courtney another contestant in the baking battle has learned her real identity and that same contestant is then found murdered. To top things off for Courtney and put her as a suspect it was her own frying pan that was used as the murder weapon.
I’m always excited to pick up a new cozy series and quite often love those centered around food of some sort. The Courtney Archer series however got off to a slow start for me when I didn’t find the overly humorous and quirky content that I seek out in cozies. I think for me the repeated mentions of the lead not being who she was pretending to be kind of dragged the story down instead of being humorous. When finished I just found this first book to be just so-so but I do have the second so I’m crossing my fingers the second book is more my speed.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 7, 2019
Cooking show host Courtney Archer is asked to participate in a new baking competition show. While filming the show, a contestant learns a secret about her that could ruin her entire career. When he is found murdered the next day, She immediately becomes a suspect. Courtney has a few theories about the murder and is determined to uncover the truth. Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross is a great start to a new series. It's a fun, enjoyable cozy mystery, with delicious descriptions of food, a likable main character, and a murder mystery that will keep readers turning the pages. The plot was unique, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining. If you are looking for a cozy mystery that doesn't follow the usual tropes, then this is the perfect book for you. I look forward to the next book and can't wait to see what's in store for Courtney and her career. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2019
Courtney Archer has become known to her fans from the TV cooking show, The Farmer’s Daughter. Just one catch – she is actually the daughter of a doctor from Chicago. She hates keeping this secret, but is even more worried when her secret is discovered. The man who makes the discovery is Mick, one of the contestants on The American Baking Battle, a new show that Courtney is co-hosting. Courtney isn’t the only one having issues with Mick. Still, Courtney doesn’t expect to find his dead body on the second day of filming. Worse yet, Mick was hit over the head with a pan of Courtney’s cherry cobbler. Who killed him?
This book started out well, and I was quickly hooked. The setting is a lot of fun, and the characters are wonderful. I was drawn to Courtney and wanted her to succeed. I enjoyed watching her friendship with another character grow, and her producer is a strong character as well. The plot started out strongly, setting up suspects and the victim before killing Mick off. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough suspects to sustain it, and the twists and clues were fewer than they needed to be in favor of time spent on the set of the baking show watching everything being filmed. I suspect the characters and setting will be strong enough to draw people to this new series, but I hope the plots get stronger as the series progresses.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book started out well, and I was quickly hooked. The setting is a lot of fun, and the characters are wonderful. I was drawn to Courtney and wanted her to succeed. I enjoyed watching her friendship with another character grow, and her producer is a strong character as well. The plot started out strongly, setting up suspects and the victim before killing Mick off. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough suspects to sustain it, and the twists and clues were fewer than they needed to be in favor of time spent on the set of the baking show watching everything being filmed. I suspect the characters and setting will be strong enough to draw people to this new series, but I hope the plots get stronger as the series progresses.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 8, 2022
Good start to the series. Courtney reminds me of every reality tv star. They speak white lies and put their nose in others business 🤣🤣
December 30, 2019
Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross is the first in the Courtney Archer mystery series. This is an enjoyable, easy to read cozy mystery.
Courtney is the host of the popular cooking show, Cooking With the Farmers Daughter, and is currently co-hosting a reality cooking contest on location in the Pocono Mountains. She also is using the set to film her series. But is she really a farmers daughter?
When things heat up on the set, between the contestants, she starts to notice some animosity between Mick and one of the judges. Then when Mick turns up dead on the set, the murder weapon is an iron skillet belonging to Courtney with a cherry cobbler baked in it, she is named one of the people of interest. In addition, her secret may be coming out.
Ross gives you plenty of twists and turns to have you guessing until the end. The setting and characters are relatable and likeable.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Courtney is the host of the popular cooking show, Cooking With the Farmers Daughter, and is currently co-hosting a reality cooking contest on location in the Pocono Mountains. She also is using the set to film her series. But is she really a farmers daughter?
When things heat up on the set, between the contestants, she starts to notice some animosity between Mick and one of the judges. Then when Mick turns up dead on the set, the murder weapon is an iron skillet belonging to Courtney with a cherry cobbler baked in it, she is named one of the people of interest. In addition, her secret may be coming out.
Ross gives you plenty of twists and turns to have you guessing until the end. The setting and characters are relatable and likeable.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
November 12, 2019
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
I liked the set-up for this book with the baking show and I requested this one soon after I spotted it on Netgalley. It's a fun cozy mystery set around a baking competition. However the mystery fell a bit flat and that among with a few other things prevented me from enjoying this one as much as I had hoped.
The mystery started off interesting, with one of the contestants found dead. He is hit upon the head with the main characters cast iron pan and cobbler. Which ofcourse makes the main character one of the suspects and she sets out to clear her name. The rest of the mystery just wasn't as engaging to me. There's two obvious unlikable characters who with their unlikable behavior hit a spot on the suspects list. But most of it was actually guessing. There just weren't many clues to point to the murderer or suspects that got ruled out. And the reveal was just a bit anti-climactic, although there were a few interesting twist along the way, the overall mystery just fell flat to me. While I hadn't predicted who the murderer was, I also wasn't too surprised.
It made sense how the main character got involved, but I thought her actual involvement was still pretty mild. She mostly asks a few questions and researches things online. There aren't many clues she finds in person. And while her producer kept warning her to keep her noose out of it, compared with some other cozy mysteries I thought she didn't put herself in danger too much. Most of the time she was pretty smart about. Asking questions in public places or researching things from the safety from online. Most of the bigger clues and reveals are all kept to the end, which made the earlier part of the story feel a bit slow. I did guess the murderer wrong, but I think there aren't many good clues to figure it out. Even the obvious suspects lack a clear motive. I liked how the detective on the case seemed capable enough and also was friendly enough to the main character.
I did like the food theme and the baking contest focus. I also like how the set-up for book 2 is done at the end of this book. I had mistakenly believed the main character would be one of the contestants, but she is actually the host. So there isn't as much of her actually cooking and baking things as I had hoped. We mostly see the contestants do some baking and descriptions of what they have mad,e but not much of the actual baking. The contest itself also was less interesting as we don't get to know a lot about most contestants, so it's hard to get invested in who does well, who is send home and who wins.
Courtney was a decent main character. I liked how she handled things. Her curiosity into the murder made sense. I also liked how she wanted to come clean to her fans about her not being a farmer's daughter, but I have to admit I didn't really care about the whole drama/ trouble surrounding her not being a farmer's daughter, but having to pretend she did. There wasn't much that made me really like her though, there just wasn't much that really made her stand out somehow.
There are some side characters, but few who are really interesting. It was a bit difficult at the start to remember who was who as there are a lot of characters and not many of them really show a lot of personality of things to distinguish them form one another at first, but as the story progressed this resolved itself when you get to know the characters a bit better.
It was nice to see Courtney struck up a friendship with Shannon, although I didn't really feel like we got to know her much, it was clear these two quickly considered each other friends. Courtney also is pretty close to her producer Eric. And then there is Drake, the owner of the security company. Courtney has an eye on him, but is he interested in her or only because she's a suspect? The other host, judge and the contestants all stay to the background a bit, although there are some interesting scenes of glimpses into their personalities at times.
The setting at the castle for the filming was interesting. It was a bit of a locked room mystery feel as you know someone who was there is the murderer and one of the characters there has done it. It also was nice to get a bit of a feel for the setting and surrounding area. And it was fun to read about a show like this being filmed.
To summarize: this cozy mystery has a fun theme with a cooking/ baking show. I liked the food theme and seeing the show being filmed. The mystery fell a bit flat for me, with there being only a few obvious suspects and very few clues. The biggest clues and reveals all come at the end of the story. I had guessed wrong who the murderer was, but then again with very few clues to go on I just guessed on someone. I liked Courtney well enough, but I never fully cared about her and what she was going through. I liked how she handled most of the investigating in a relatively smart manner. I didn't really care for the whole drama around her not being a farmer's daughter and her having to pretend she is, while actually wanting to reveal her secret. I was a bit surprised at the start of the book that Courtney wasn't a contestant as I had expected, but the host of the show instead, so there was less actual baking she did than I has expected. There is a hint of romance and a few side characters that play a role in the story as well. The castle setting for the filming was interesting and gave the mystery a bit of a locked room vibe. All in all a fun food themed cozy mystery, but it fell a bit flat for me.
I liked the set-up for this book with the baking show and I requested this one soon after I spotted it on Netgalley. It's a fun cozy mystery set around a baking competition. However the mystery fell a bit flat and that among with a few other things prevented me from enjoying this one as much as I had hoped.
The mystery started off interesting, with one of the contestants found dead. He is hit upon the head with the main characters cast iron pan and cobbler. Which ofcourse makes the main character one of the suspects and she sets out to clear her name. The rest of the mystery just wasn't as engaging to me. There's two obvious unlikable characters who with their unlikable behavior hit a spot on the suspects list. But most of it was actually guessing. There just weren't many clues to point to the murderer or suspects that got ruled out. And the reveal was just a bit anti-climactic, although there were a few interesting twist along the way, the overall mystery just fell flat to me. While I hadn't predicted who the murderer was, I also wasn't too surprised.
It made sense how the main character got involved, but I thought her actual involvement was still pretty mild. She mostly asks a few questions and researches things online. There aren't many clues she finds in person. And while her producer kept warning her to keep her noose out of it, compared with some other cozy mysteries I thought she didn't put herself in danger too much. Most of the time she was pretty smart about. Asking questions in public places or researching things from the safety from online. Most of the bigger clues and reveals are all kept to the end, which made the earlier part of the story feel a bit slow. I did guess the murderer wrong, but I think there aren't many good clues to figure it out. Even the obvious suspects lack a clear motive. I liked how the detective on the case seemed capable enough and also was friendly enough to the main character.
I did like the food theme and the baking contest focus. I also like how the set-up for book 2 is done at the end of this book. I had mistakenly believed the main character would be one of the contestants, but she is actually the host. So there isn't as much of her actually cooking and baking things as I had hoped. We mostly see the contestants do some baking and descriptions of what they have mad,e but not much of the actual baking. The contest itself also was less interesting as we don't get to know a lot about most contestants, so it's hard to get invested in who does well, who is send home and who wins.
Courtney was a decent main character. I liked how she handled things. Her curiosity into the murder made sense. I also liked how she wanted to come clean to her fans about her not being a farmer's daughter, but I have to admit I didn't really care about the whole drama/ trouble surrounding her not being a farmer's daughter, but having to pretend she did. There wasn't much that made me really like her though, there just wasn't much that really made her stand out somehow.
There are some side characters, but few who are really interesting. It was a bit difficult at the start to remember who was who as there are a lot of characters and not many of them really show a lot of personality of things to distinguish them form one another at first, but as the story progressed this resolved itself when you get to know the characters a bit better.
It was nice to see Courtney struck up a friendship with Shannon, although I didn't really feel like we got to know her much, it was clear these two quickly considered each other friends. Courtney also is pretty close to her producer Eric. And then there is Drake, the owner of the security company. Courtney has an eye on him, but is he interested in her or only because she's a suspect? The other host, judge and the contestants all stay to the background a bit, although there are some interesting scenes of glimpses into their personalities at times.
The setting at the castle for the filming was interesting. It was a bit of a locked room mystery feel as you know someone who was there is the murderer and one of the characters there has done it. It also was nice to get a bit of a feel for the setting and surrounding area. And it was fun to read about a show like this being filmed.
To summarize: this cozy mystery has a fun theme with a cooking/ baking show. I liked the food theme and seeing the show being filmed. The mystery fell a bit flat for me, with there being only a few obvious suspects and very few clues. The biggest clues and reveals all come at the end of the story. I had guessed wrong who the murderer was, but then again with very few clues to go on I just guessed on someone. I liked Courtney well enough, but I never fully cared about her and what she was going through. I liked how she handled most of the investigating in a relatively smart manner. I didn't really care for the whole drama around her not being a farmer's daughter and her having to pretend she is, while actually wanting to reveal her secret. I was a bit surprised at the start of the book that Courtney wasn't a contestant as I had expected, but the host of the show instead, so there was less actual baking she did than I has expected. There is a hint of romance and a few side characters that play a role in the story as well. The castle setting for the filming was interesting and gave the mystery a bit of a locked room vibe. All in all a fun food themed cozy mystery, but it fell a bit flat for me.
October 16, 2019
Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross is an enjoyable new entry into the culinary cozy mystery genre.
Ms. Ross' writing flows smoothly and her descriptive writing made it easy to imagine how this reality show was being taped. Courtney, Shannon and Eric are all likable characters who are developed slowly throughout the story. The plot definitely had a few twists and turns but only a few suspects to consider as the story progressed. I never guessed who was behind the murder until the reveal which is the way I like my mysteries.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Ms. Ross' writing flows smoothly and her descriptive writing made it easy to imagine how this reality show was being taped. Courtney, Shannon and Eric are all likable characters who are developed slowly throughout the story. The plot definitely had a few twists and turns but only a few suspects to consider as the story progressed. I never guessed who was behind the murder until the reveal which is the way I like my mysteries.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
November 7, 2019
This was fun to read!
I was kept guessing who the murderer was throughout. As I read more and got to know the characters, I was able to relate to Courtney and her stress of keeping her secret safe. It was nice to see the friendship between Courtney and Shannon form, as well as the possibility of more adventures in future books featuring the two. I'm curious to see what will happen with Eric and Courtney's relationship in the future and if it will ruin their working relationship. Since I just finished watching the finale of the Great British Bake Off and was starting to miss the show, this book filled in quite nicely. It was great to have a story of the behind the scenes action featuring the hosts and judges. I can't wait for the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an advanced copy!
I was kept guessing who the murderer was throughout. As I read more and got to know the characters, I was able to relate to Courtney and her stress of keeping her secret safe. It was nice to see the friendship between Courtney and Shannon form, as well as the possibility of more adventures in future books featuring the two. I'm curious to see what will happen with Eric and Courtney's relationship in the future and if it will ruin their working relationship. Since I just finished watching the finale of the Great British Bake Off and was starting to miss the show, this book filled in quite nicely. It was great to have a story of the behind the scenes action featuring the hosts and judges. I can't wait for the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an advanced copy!
December 2, 2019
I received a copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Courtney Archer has made a career out of being a country girl with her cooking show, Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter. The problem? She’s a city girl and the daughter of a pediatrician. Itching to get out of her contract and finally let the world know the truth, she’s left holding a secret that could ruin her career and a gag order to boot. Unfortunately for Courtney, the truth about her background falls into a contestant’s hands on her new show, The American Baking Battle. Just when she thinks things couldn’t get any worse, the sneaky contestant turns up dead, and the murder weapon is a cast-iron pan with Courtney’s fingerprints all over it. Courtney suspects judges and contestants alike and finds herself toeing the line of danger to get her name off the suspects list.
I love cozy mysteries, and this one in particular caught my eye because Courtney is a cooking show host. I love watching cooking shows, especially the contest ones, so I knew this book would be up my alley. What I didn’t expect was to love the behind the scenes feel this book gives. It was so much fun to watch Courtney, her co-hosts, and the contestants work on and off the camera for their show. It gave the reality TV show feel that older reality shows gave.
This book also has a great cast of characters. Courtney is the cool, successful cook and TV show host with a big secret that she wants to get out in the open. However, she wants it to come out on her terms since the truth about her background could destroy her career on a good day. I think she means well and didn’t think about how becoming a farmer’s daughter for TV would turn out the way it has.
Like some other amateur sleuths, Courtney gets involved to clear her name but continues her investigation once she’s in the clear. I think that her investigating is realistic because she’s an amateur poking around in the danger zone. Courtney doesn’t happen upon information and scenarios that are totally unrealistic, and I felt that the story and her investigation read as something that could really happen.
I found all of the characters believable, especially the contestants and how they act one way on camera and another once the cameras are turned off. I found the behind the scenes drama very entertaining, and I enjoyed following each of the characters and finding out their personal stories. I’m excited to see some of them return in the next book because I loved so many of them.
All in all, I found this to be an entertaining story and I’m already excited about the next book. I will definitely be returning when that book eventually drops because I want to see what happens next and how the characters will continue to develop.
Courtney Archer has made a career out of being a country girl with her cooking show, Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter. The problem? She’s a city girl and the daughter of a pediatrician. Itching to get out of her contract and finally let the world know the truth, she’s left holding a secret that could ruin her career and a gag order to boot. Unfortunately for Courtney, the truth about her background falls into a contestant’s hands on her new show, The American Baking Battle. Just when she thinks things couldn’t get any worse, the sneaky contestant turns up dead, and the murder weapon is a cast-iron pan with Courtney’s fingerprints all over it. Courtney suspects judges and contestants alike and finds herself toeing the line of danger to get her name off the suspects list.
I love cozy mysteries, and this one in particular caught my eye because Courtney is a cooking show host. I love watching cooking shows, especially the contest ones, so I knew this book would be up my alley. What I didn’t expect was to love the behind the scenes feel this book gives. It was so much fun to watch Courtney, her co-hosts, and the contestants work on and off the camera for their show. It gave the reality TV show feel that older reality shows gave.
This book also has a great cast of characters. Courtney is the cool, successful cook and TV show host with a big secret that she wants to get out in the open. However, she wants it to come out on her terms since the truth about her background could destroy her career on a good day. I think she means well and didn’t think about how becoming a farmer’s daughter for TV would turn out the way it has.
Like some other amateur sleuths, Courtney gets involved to clear her name but continues her investigation once she’s in the clear. I think that her investigating is realistic because she’s an amateur poking around in the danger zone. Courtney doesn’t happen upon information and scenarios that are totally unrealistic, and I felt that the story and her investigation read as something that could really happen.
I found all of the characters believable, especially the contestants and how they act one way on camera and another once the cameras are turned off. I found the behind the scenes drama very entertaining, and I enjoyed following each of the characters and finding out their personal stories. I’m excited to see some of them return in the next book because I loved so many of them.
All in all, I found this to be an entertaining story and I’m already excited about the next book. I will definitely be returning when that book eventually drops because I want to see what happens next and how the characters will continue to develop.
January 5, 2021
Synopsis:
Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .
Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . .
During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
The premise of this book is a good one, a baking competition. It reminded me of a cooking show that is currently on television, The Great British Bake Off. It was great to see some of the behind the scenes that go into making such a show. It showed a different type of cooking cozy and I enjoyed that.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Courtney is smart and a hard worker and it seems as though she is good at gathering information. That comes in handy when someone in the set is killed. The co-hosts and the contestants added a realistic feel to the book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted but I do think there could have been more suspects to consider. That is only my opinion and others might not agree with me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like cooking competitions like I do, you should pick up this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .
Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . .
During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
The premise of this book is a good one, a baking competition. It reminded me of a cooking show that is currently on television, The Great British Bake Off. It was great to see some of the behind the scenes that go into making such a show. It showed a different type of cooking cozy and I enjoyed that.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Courtney is smart and a hard worker and it seems as though she is good at gathering information. That comes in handy when someone in the set is killed. The co-hosts and the contestants added a realistic feel to the book.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted but I do think there could have been more suspects to consider. That is only my opinion and others might not agree with me.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like cooking competitions like I do, you should pick up this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
September 19, 2020
Courtney Archer is a TV chef. Her character is a farmer's daughter, but she's really a doctor's daughter from the big city. The situation fills her with guilt,and we have to read about her pining for authenticity for most of the book.
She's co-hosting a reality show/cooking contest. One of the contestants is a real jerk, and as per the rules in the genre, is quickly murdered, with a cast iron skillet Courtney used to bake a cobbler.
She has to clear her name, find the real killer, assuage her guilt, and try to sort out her love life.
Probably could have cut 50 pages without any problems.
She's co-hosting a reality show/cooking contest. One of the contestants is a real jerk, and as per the rules in the genre, is quickly murdered, with a cast iron skillet Courtney used to bake a cobbler.
She has to clear her name, find the real killer, assuage her guilt, and try to sort out her love life.
Probably could have cut 50 pages without any problems.
October 8, 2019
Cobblered to Death by Rosmarie Ross is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries focussing on the female lead of Courtney Archer.
I enjoyed this first book and I think the author did a good job in creating a like able and down to earth female character. Courtney seems just like anyone else despite her culinary school education and her father being a Pediatrician. She seems humble, friendly, and has a good heart. I also like Shannon, Eric, and Drake and I look forward to seeing how these seconday characters develop.
The murder mystery component was interesting and I did not know who the culprit was until it was revealed. I also enjoyed the ending and it felt that the author left it on a positive note, as well with some strings unattached so that there can be a lead for the next book.
All in all a good start and I look forward to reading the future installments.
4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am submitting this review to my GR account immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.
I enjoyed this first book and I think the author did a good job in creating a like able and down to earth female character. Courtney seems just like anyone else despite her culinary school education and her father being a Pediatrician. She seems humble, friendly, and has a good heart. I also like Shannon, Eric, and Drake and I look forward to seeing how these seconday characters develop.
The murder mystery component was interesting and I did not know who the culprit was until it was revealed. I also enjoyed the ending and it felt that the author left it on a positive note, as well with some strings unattached so that there can be a lead for the next book.
All in all a good start and I look forward to reading the future installments.
4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am submitting this review to my GR account immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.
October 17, 2019
When a new baking competition is being filmed, Courtney Archer, star of” Cooking with the Farmers Daughter”, finds herself sequestered with three other food stars, contestants and crew. When a contestant is murdered with Courtney’s cobbler in her cast iron pan, she needs to clear her name from the list of potential murderers.
Courtney saw a contestant and a judge speaking with the murdered man in a heated conversation the day he was murdered, but needs proof to take it to the police. Even though her Producer has told her time and again to stay out of it and let the police handle it, she just can’t help herself. But will Courtney be able to clear her name before she becomes the next victim?
This is a strong entry in a new series and I cannot wait for more!
Courtney saw a contestant and a judge speaking with the murdered man in a heated conversation the day he was murdered, but needs proof to take it to the police. Even though her Producer has told her time and again to stay out of it and let the police handle it, she just can’t help herself. But will Courtney be able to clear her name before she becomes the next victim?
This is a strong entry in a new series and I cannot wait for more!
April 22, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/c...
Cobblered to Death
Courtney Archer Mystery #1
By Rosemarie Ross
ISBN#9781496722751
www.rosemarieross.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Summary:
Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .
Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes .
During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
Cobblered to Death, the first book in the Courtney Archer Mystery series, has a great premise that is sure to please fans of culinary cozies with its focus on a TV cooking show host and a baking competition, but the book is uneven.
The story started out interesting. Courtney is a trained pastry chef from Chicago, the daughter of a doctor. However, her television persona is that of a down home cook who grew up on a farm. As time goes on, she is more and more uncomfortable keeping up this façade. She is hired to be a host of The American Baking Battle, and contestant Mick soon starts to cause trouble, threatening to expose Courtney’s secret. Courtney finds herself the prime suspect in Mick’s death when her cast iron pan full of cherry cobbler is used as the murder weapon.
Unfortunately, the mystery here is thin and, ultimately, disappointing. There are too few suspects to work through, and there are virtually no clues to move the investigation along. Courtney does not do anything stupid or particularly dangerous while investigating, but most of her investigating seems to be lucky guessing. I blame not figuring out whodunit on the lack of good clues and plotting. That said, the behind the scenes look at filming a baking competition and the emphasis on food, for me, saves the book. I liked these foodie bits, but even they teetered on being too repetitive.
Courtney is an average character, and I do not think I got to know her well enough to decide if I like her very much. As the book went on, I found her fear of being outed tedious. There are some (intentionally) unlikable characters and a couple of more relatable ones such as Courtney’s producer Eric and competition judge Shannon, but none of them are endearing or very memorable.
Cobblered to Death has its failings, but the food theme is great. I hope the next installment I the series is stronger.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Cobblered to Death
Courtney Archer Mystery #1
By Rosemarie Ross
ISBN#9781496722751
www.rosemarieross.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Summary:
Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .
Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes .
During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
Cobblered to Death, the first book in the Courtney Archer Mystery series, has a great premise that is sure to please fans of culinary cozies with its focus on a TV cooking show host and a baking competition, but the book is uneven.
The story started out interesting. Courtney is a trained pastry chef from Chicago, the daughter of a doctor. However, her television persona is that of a down home cook who grew up on a farm. As time goes on, she is more and more uncomfortable keeping up this façade. She is hired to be a host of The American Baking Battle, and contestant Mick soon starts to cause trouble, threatening to expose Courtney’s secret. Courtney finds herself the prime suspect in Mick’s death when her cast iron pan full of cherry cobbler is used as the murder weapon.
Unfortunately, the mystery here is thin and, ultimately, disappointing. There are too few suspects to work through, and there are virtually no clues to move the investigation along. Courtney does not do anything stupid or particularly dangerous while investigating, but most of her investigating seems to be lucky guessing. I blame not figuring out whodunit on the lack of good clues and plotting. That said, the behind the scenes look at filming a baking competition and the emphasis on food, for me, saves the book. I liked these foodie bits, but even they teetered on being too repetitive.
Courtney is an average character, and I do not think I got to know her well enough to decide if I like her very much. As the book went on, I found her fear of being outed tedious. There are some (intentionally) unlikable characters and a couple of more relatable ones such as Courtney’s producer Eric and competition judge Shannon, but none of them are endearing or very memorable.
Cobblered to Death has its failings, but the food theme is great. I hope the next installment I the series is stronger.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
November 14, 2019
Series: A Courtney Archer Mystery – Book 1
Author: Rosemarie Ross
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 304
Coming soon from Kensington Books is Rosemarie Ross’ newest sensational culinary cozy series, “A Courtney Archer Mystery.”
Cobblered to Death is the debut book in what is sure to be a fascinating culinary cozy series. The main character, Courtney, is spirited, with just enough snark to make her delightful, and enough faults to make her human. It takes time to develop characters, to find out who they are, where their passions and fears will lead them. Courtney isn’t what she seems in the first part of this book; she may not even be liked by many readers. However, there is plenty of potential for her to grow into a character readers will love. Other supporting characters, such as Shannon and Eric, are interesting enough to be enjoyable without being too sweet. Shannon, in particular, is a great sidekick and might be a more significant focus for readers overall.
The setting in this series appears to one that will change with each new book. There is a lot of potential for plotlines with each of the characters. I can easily see these culinary cozy books turning into a much more serious murder mystery series as more books are added. I would like to see more returning characters and a little more emotional substance for the main characters.
The discovery of the murder is a visual scene that leaves readers visualizing the body and the mess. No matter how many murder mysteries a person has read, they will enjoy the unique use of a cooking utensil as a murder weapon, who hasn’t felt like bashing someone over the head with a frying pan at one time or another?
The unveiling of the killer is a little slow, and if readers are paying attention, it may not come as a huge surprise. There are few suspects, or at least it initially seems that way, but in truth, there are plenty to go around. There are multiple twists and red herrings in this culinary cozy book to follow, which makes it attractive.
Overall, for a culinary cozy book, Cobblered to Death is a great beginning, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series and find out how Courtney and friends grow and mature.
Author: Rosemarie Ross
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 304
Coming soon from Kensington Books is Rosemarie Ross’ newest sensational culinary cozy series, “A Courtney Archer Mystery.”
Cobblered to Death is the debut book in what is sure to be a fascinating culinary cozy series. The main character, Courtney, is spirited, with just enough snark to make her delightful, and enough faults to make her human. It takes time to develop characters, to find out who they are, where their passions and fears will lead them. Courtney isn’t what she seems in the first part of this book; she may not even be liked by many readers. However, there is plenty of potential for her to grow into a character readers will love. Other supporting characters, such as Shannon and Eric, are interesting enough to be enjoyable without being too sweet. Shannon, in particular, is a great sidekick and might be a more significant focus for readers overall.
The setting in this series appears to one that will change with each new book. There is a lot of potential for plotlines with each of the characters. I can easily see these culinary cozy books turning into a much more serious murder mystery series as more books are added. I would like to see more returning characters and a little more emotional substance for the main characters.
The discovery of the murder is a visual scene that leaves readers visualizing the body and the mess. No matter how many murder mysteries a person has read, they will enjoy the unique use of a cooking utensil as a murder weapon, who hasn’t felt like bashing someone over the head with a frying pan at one time or another?
The unveiling of the killer is a little slow, and if readers are paying attention, it may not come as a huge surprise. There are few suspects, or at least it initially seems that way, but in truth, there are plenty to go around. There are multiple twists and red herrings in this culinary cozy book to follow, which makes it attractive.
Overall, for a culinary cozy book, Cobblered to Death is a great beginning, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series and find out how Courtney and friends grow and mature.
January 5, 2020
Woohoo -- a debut cozy mystery series with some unique twists.
First off -- love the baking show backdrop. I've been binge watching The Great British Bake Off and just discovered the Irish version online -- eeeeppp!!! So it was really fun to witness the behind the scenes shenanigans of a similar fictional reality show in this novel. And Ross's comedy show quips are funnier than any I've seen in the real productions. In fact, this author knows how to turn a catchy phrase -- "came up as empty as a dieter's hand in a cookie jar." Lots of fun foodie references which really enhanced the ambiance.
Courtney's caught in a secret that is at odds with her friendly, open personality. The inner turmoil it brings is heightened when a contestant who discovers her secret is murdered hours later. With her cast iron frying pan. Suddenly keeping secrets is the least of her worries because Courtney ends up as a person of interest in the ensuing investigation. So, of course, what's a practical cooking show host to do but turn her hand at sleuthing so she isn't the one led off in handcuffs. :-)
A great cast of intriguing (and sometimes volatile) secondary characters provided lots of scope for this armchair sleuth's active imagination. I love the way Courtney slowly got into her detecting groove and the final showdown was epic!
While the mystery is solved, the author has left some sub-plots open-ended -- such as the dreaded beginnings of a love triangle -- nooooooooooo!!! A cozy staple, I fear. But she's also done a great job of setting the stage for more deliciously deadly destruction in future books. Can't wait to see what's in store for Courtney next.
I listened to the audible version of this book and enjoyed Callie Beaulieu's narration. Great pacing, distinctive character voices and a whole lot of charm.
First off -- love the baking show backdrop. I've been binge watching The Great British Bake Off and just discovered the Irish version online -- eeeeppp!!! So it was really fun to witness the behind the scenes shenanigans of a similar fictional reality show in this novel. And Ross's comedy show quips are funnier than any I've seen in the real productions. In fact, this author knows how to turn a catchy phrase -- "came up as empty as a dieter's hand in a cookie jar." Lots of fun foodie references which really enhanced the ambiance.
Courtney's caught in a secret that is at odds with her friendly, open personality. The inner turmoil it brings is heightened when a contestant who discovers her secret is murdered hours later. With her cast iron frying pan. Suddenly keeping secrets is the least of her worries because Courtney ends up as a person of interest in the ensuing investigation. So, of course, what's a practical cooking show host to do but turn her hand at sleuthing so she isn't the one led off in handcuffs. :-)
A great cast of intriguing (and sometimes volatile) secondary characters provided lots of scope for this armchair sleuth's active imagination. I love the way Courtney slowly got into her detecting groove and the final showdown was epic!
While the mystery is solved, the author has left some sub-plots open-ended -- such as the dreaded beginnings of a love triangle -- nooooooooooo!!! A cozy staple, I fear. But she's also done a great job of setting the stage for more deliciously deadly destruction in future books. Can't wait to see what's in store for Courtney next.
I listened to the audible version of this book and enjoyed Callie Beaulieu's narration. Great pacing, distinctive character voices and a whole lot of charm.
November 19, 2019
4.75 Stars
This is the first book in the Courtney Archer series by Rosemarie Ross.
What a great and exciting start to a series! I am already hooked. Add yet another author/series to my must read list.
I really liked how this book was structured. Courtney wasn’t in the cooking competition and was merely a judge but she still got her cooking time in with the segments of the Farmer’s Daughter that she was filming. This gave Courtney access to all the suspects and gave us the much needed bakery accents to balance everything out.
I think cast iron may be a theme right now. It is the second book I have read featuring this cookware. And I hope it is a trend that continues. I could use a cast iron cookbook, if any bakery cozy authors are out there listening. Hint, hint. It has been used as a weapon in both books and I can see why it was chosen. What a hefty little death instrument to wield.
I enjoyed getting a look into a baking show competition. I love watching similar shows on the Food Network. It is just my jam.
*spoiler alert* There is a question running through the entire book where Courtney really isn’t a Farmer’s Daughter and instead a city girl masquerading against her will as a country girl. I hope this tension remains for a few books since it was hinted that this issue might be resolved before the beginning of the next book.
I am so happy with this book. It hits all the sweet spots in everything I love about cozy mysteries. I can’t wait for book two to see what unfolds. If you love cozy mysteries, this is definitely a keeper.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the first book in the Courtney Archer series by Rosemarie Ross.
What a great and exciting start to a series! I am already hooked. Add yet another author/series to my must read list.
I really liked how this book was structured. Courtney wasn’t in the cooking competition and was merely a judge but she still got her cooking time in with the segments of the Farmer’s Daughter that she was filming. This gave Courtney access to all the suspects and gave us the much needed bakery accents to balance everything out.
I think cast iron may be a theme right now. It is the second book I have read featuring this cookware. And I hope it is a trend that continues. I could use a cast iron cookbook, if any bakery cozy authors are out there listening. Hint, hint. It has been used as a weapon in both books and I can see why it was chosen. What a hefty little death instrument to wield.
I enjoyed getting a look into a baking show competition. I love watching similar shows on the Food Network. It is just my jam.
*spoiler alert* There is a question running through the entire book where Courtney really isn’t a Farmer’s Daughter and instead a city girl masquerading against her will as a country girl. I hope this tension remains for a few books since it was hinted that this issue might be resolved before the beginning of the next book.
I am so happy with this book. It hits all the sweet spots in everything I love about cozy mysteries. I can’t wait for book two to see what unfolds. If you love cozy mysteries, this is definitely a keeper.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
January 6, 2020
Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross has readers enjoying the Pocono Mountains in May. Courtney Archer is the host of Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter even though she has never stepped foot on a farm in her life. Courtney is now co-hosting The American Baking Battle on location while filming episodes of her own show. The one thing Courtney wishes is to present her real self to the audience, but her contract precludes her from revealing the truth. She finds it even more challenging working alongside Shannon Collins, host of Southern Comfort Foods, who is so genuine and extends friendship to Courtney. There is drama on the set between the baking contests and problems off screen thanks to contestant Mick who overheard a conversation between Courtney and her producer. Courtney sheds her worries while baking a cheery cobbler in a cast-iron pan for her show the next day. The next morning, she stops to pick it up and finds it on the floor alongside a very dead Mick. With Courtney in the hot seat as the police’s top suspect, she digs in to find the true culprit. Cobblered to Death is the debut of A Courtney Archer Mystery series. Courtney was a mixed bag for me. I liked her, but I also found her frustrating. If you are presenting yourself as a farmer’s daughter on air, would you not visit a farm and do research? I did not understand why the author has Courtney floundering after hosting the show for three years especially when Eric’s family owns a farm. I hope in the next book we get to know more about Courtney besides she likes to carve fruit, from Chicago, and dislikes lying to her viewers. I liked Courtney’s friend and producer, Eric Iverson. I found him friendly and caring. I also enjoyed the blossoming friendship between Courtney and Shannon Collins. Shannon was my favorite character in the story. There is baking galore for those readers who enjoy culinary cozies. I loved the descriptions of the red mixers on the lovely blue countertops (my two favorite colors). The mystery was lacking. It was obvious who would die and who would be blamed. I was easily able to solve this whodunit. There was an absence of suspects and pointed clues. I wanted less of Courtney upset about her situation (not being a farmer’s daughter, the clause in her contract) and a more solid mystery. There are two love interests for Courtney (of course). Cobblered to Death is what I call a light and breezy cozy mystery. Cobblered to Death is a new culinary cozy mystery with a crushing cherry cobbler, an abundance of baking, a complaining contestant, and a carking contract clause.
February 18, 2020
This is the first book in the Courtney Archer series. Courtney has her own show, Cooking with the Farmer's Daughter. She takes a role as a guest judge for The American Baking Battle to help change her image. One of the contestants found out about her fake past of growing up on a farm. Shortly after the contestant is found dead, having been hit over the head with Courtney's cast iron frying pan.
I liked the concept of this book. A mystery on the set of a cooking show is the kind of story I like. I liked the mystery and the characters. However, I felt that Courtney wasn't fleshed out enough. I don't think we really got to know her. Overall it was an enjoyable read.
I liked the concept of this book. A mystery on the set of a cooking show is the kind of story I like. I liked the mystery and the characters. However, I felt that Courtney wasn't fleshed out enough. I don't think we really got to know her. Overall it was an enjoyable read.
October 26, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the delightful beginning to the Courtney Archer Mysteries and features a likable lead who can't tell the truth about her background.
I loved this book! It was such a fun read! Can't wait for the next one in the series!
This book is the delightful beginning to the Courtney Archer Mysteries and features a likable lead who can't tell the truth about her background.
I loved this book! It was such a fun read! Can't wait for the next one in the series!
November 4, 2019
Utterly delightful!
Do you like The Great British Bake-Off and Pioneer Woman? What about Krista Davis and Jenn McKinley? Then this is the book for you! The premise is cute and original, the writing is good, the characters are likable, and the food sounds delicious - what more could I ask for?
This is a promising new series that I'm very interested to see where it is going.
Do you like The Great British Bake-Off and Pioneer Woman? What about Krista Davis and Jenn McKinley? Then this is the book for you! The premise is cute and original, the writing is good, the characters are likable, and the food sounds delicious - what more could I ask for?
This is a promising new series that I'm very interested to see where it is going.
April 11, 2022
A solid start to a new to me cozy series. I liked this one, it was am interesting mystery and the end was well done. Looking forward to more of the series.
November 28, 2019
A baking competition gone wrong with secrets, threats and murder. The suspect list is short but baking show host Courtney Archer has some suspicions of her own which could put her life in danger too.
The baking competition had some strong similarities to The Great British Baking Show without the supportive contestants. Protagonist Courtney is likable and there is a lot to build on in future additions of this series. On the whole a good start to a new series.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
The baking competition had some strong similarities to The Great British Baking Show without the supportive contestants. Protagonist Courtney is likable and there is a lot to build on in future additions of this series. On the whole a good start to a new series.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 22, 2019
Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross is the first book in the Courtney Archer mystery series, and it is off to an excellent start. Courtney Archer has been hosting her own cooking show, Cooking with the Farmer's Daughter, the problem is she is not a farmer's daughter, her father is a pediatrician. Courtney has just signed on to host The American Baking Battle, and she is afraid someone will find out. When one of the contestant finds out, she finds him dead the next day, killed with her cast iron pan cobbler. I really enjoyed this book, and looking forward to reading the next book in the series. The story has a bit of everything, humor, terror, and romance, which keeps you reading page after page. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
November 1, 2020
2.5 stars
Courtney Archer is a trained chef specializing in carved fruit and vegetable art. (That's a thing?) Unfortunately there's no market for her skills right now and she went to work doing food demonstrations at a grocery store named The Farmer's Daughter. There, her producer and best friend Eric discovered her and now she hosts a cooking show aptly named >i>Cooking With the Farmer's Daughter. The only problem is Courtney is a city girl from Chicago - a far cry from the farm but she can't ever tell her fans because of a gag order in her contract. She's asked to co-host a new cooking show The American Baking Battle and hopes that will change her career trajectory so she can try something new and finally reveal the truth about her background. However, it's not all fun and games when a contestant, Mick, overhears her secret. Courtney knows he's planning to reveal it to everyone but when, where and how she isn't sure but she's not about to let him bother her. She's more concerned over the fact that Mick seems to know one of the judges. Another contestant, Tabitha, also seems to know Mick and/or Harrison, the judge. Courtney tries to focus on cooking for her show, filming on location after a day's taping of the baking competition but when Mick turns up dead with Courtney's cherry cobbler all over him, she becomes a "person of interest" in the police investigation. Courtney is determined to clear her name!
This book was just too long and slow for me. I LOVE baking shows and I thought a story based around a Great British Baking Show inspired show would be fun. The author must have worked on one of these shows or know someone who did because she included waaaaaayyyyyyy too many details about how the show is filmed and everything Courtney does, pretty much minute by minute. There are numerous trips to wardrobe, chatting with contestants as they bake, relaxing on set, going back to the hotel to do research online- repeat. That's all there is to the plot basically. We don't even get a recipe for cast iron cherry cobbler out of it. Watching a show being filmed takes the fun and magic out of it and I'd rather not know, not to mention it drags the story on forever. I also don't care for love triangles. I prefer a slow burn romance. This one sets up a potential love triangle. It would be nice if Courtney and Eric really were just friends.
Courtney is an OK heroine. She's human, she makes mistakes. I found her a little annoying. She's a city girl and afraid of nature and doesn't know a thing about farming. You would think she would have done some research on her own by now. Also, Chicago has green spaces, neighborhoods and parks so it's not like she's never seen anything except asphalt or smelled anything except exhaust fumes. Her dad is a doctor. Surely she's been on vacation or traveled with her dad somewhere? She dresses in designer clothes and shoes. She must be making good money from her show because her pediatrician dad isn't making that kind of money! However, I think she has a good heart because she doesn't want to lie to her fans. She feels anxious about it and if she weren't worried about losing her career, she'd do the right thing. Her friend Eric is kind of obnoxious. He feeds her information about country life, being a farmer's son himself and he's the one pushing her to not break her contract. He seems more worried about his own career than hers. Eric gets snippy and rude when Courtney flirts with another man and then he's no longer her bff. If he loves her in a romantic way, he should want her to be happy but I think he should say something.
The cast members of the baking battle show are largely unappealing. There's Brenden, the director/producer, who seems nice enough and fair. Shannon Collins, host of Southern Comfort Food is a real country girl. She is eager to be Courtney's new bff. I don't quite trust her. I think she's too nice to be true and is waiting to get revenge on Courtney for pretending to be a country girl. Harrison Canfield, Shannon's co-judge, is a silver fox type the ladies love. Hmm who does that sound like?? He's also arrogant and rude because he's the only trained chef there and la di dah. He has a horrific temper and gets huffy at the slightest provocation. Courtney is certain he's the murderer. I'm not sure but I don't like him much so it would be nice. Skylar Daily, Courtney's co-host is a little slick but that's because he's a game show host. He knows how to dial it back and be genuine and friendly. Skylar and Courtney seem to bond but she doesn't know him that well. He keeps disappearing and doesn't have a solid alibi for the time of the murder. Drake Nolan, former FBI and head of security, is also rude. He's crazy serious about security, even before the murder and snippy with Courtney. He runs hot and cold with her. One minute they're flirting, the next they're all business. Make up your mind, dude! His assistant, Travis, seems to hate Courtney for some reason. He's always very frosty towards her. I don't know what bug crawled up his butt.
The contestants are a mixed bag too. Mick was an awful, slimy person yet when secrets are revealed, he sounds more like a good person but perhaps had some questionable ethics. He didn't deserve to die. If Harrison didn't do it then it had to be Tabitha. She's out of control. She is whiny, mean, angry and just awful. None of the other contestants care for her antics. On camera she tries to put on a sympathetic vibe but off camera she's nasty. I do think she has the temperament for murder. I'm a little confused by her motive. Otto is nearly as arrogant as Harrison. Barb, a real farmer's daughter, is kind and lovely. She's an honest, non-egotistical down home cook. Rhonda too is nice and I feel sorry for her. I like LeAnne because she's camera shy and focuses on cooking.
I'm going to give the second book in the series a try and see if I like that better.
Courtney Archer is a trained chef specializing in carved fruit and vegetable art. (That's a thing?) Unfortunately there's no market for her skills right now and she went to work doing food demonstrations at a grocery store named The Farmer's Daughter. There, her producer and best friend Eric discovered her and now she hosts a cooking show aptly named >i>Cooking With the Farmer's Daughter. The only problem is Courtney is a city girl from Chicago - a far cry from the farm but she can't ever tell her fans because of a gag order in her contract. She's asked to co-host a new cooking show The American Baking Battle and hopes that will change her career trajectory so she can try something new and finally reveal the truth about her background. However, it's not all fun and games when a contestant, Mick, overhears her secret. Courtney knows he's planning to reveal it to everyone but when, where and how she isn't sure but she's not about to let him bother her. She's more concerned over the fact that Mick seems to know one of the judges. Another contestant, Tabitha, also seems to know Mick and/or Harrison, the judge. Courtney tries to focus on cooking for her show, filming on location after a day's taping of the baking competition but when Mick turns up dead with Courtney's cherry cobbler all over him, she becomes a "person of interest" in the police investigation. Courtney is determined to clear her name!
This book was just too long and slow for me. I LOVE baking shows and I thought a story based around a Great British Baking Show inspired show would be fun. The author must have worked on one of these shows or know someone who did because she included waaaaaayyyyyyy too many details about how the show is filmed and everything Courtney does, pretty much minute by minute. There are numerous trips to wardrobe, chatting with contestants as they bake, relaxing on set, going back to the hotel to do research online- repeat. That's all there is to the plot basically. We don't even get a recipe for cast iron cherry cobbler out of it. Watching a show being filmed takes the fun and magic out of it and I'd rather not know, not to mention it drags the story on forever. I also don't care for love triangles. I prefer a slow burn romance. This one sets up a potential love triangle. It would be nice if Courtney and Eric really were just friends.
Courtney is an OK heroine. She's human, she makes mistakes. I found her a little annoying. She's a city girl and afraid of nature and doesn't know a thing about farming. You would think she would have done some research on her own by now. Also, Chicago has green spaces, neighborhoods and parks so it's not like she's never seen anything except asphalt or smelled anything except exhaust fumes. Her dad is a doctor. Surely she's been on vacation or traveled with her dad somewhere? She dresses in designer clothes and shoes. She must be making good money from her show because her pediatrician dad isn't making that kind of money! However, I think she has a good heart because she doesn't want to lie to her fans. She feels anxious about it and if she weren't worried about losing her career, she'd do the right thing. Her friend Eric is kind of obnoxious. He feeds her information about country life, being a farmer's son himself and he's the one pushing her to not break her contract. He seems more worried about his own career than hers. Eric gets snippy and rude when Courtney flirts with another man and then he's no longer her bff. If he loves her in a romantic way, he should want her to be happy but I think he should say something.
The cast members of the baking battle show are largely unappealing. There's Brenden, the director/producer, who seems nice enough and fair. Shannon Collins, host of Southern Comfort Food is a real country girl. She is eager to be Courtney's new bff. I don't quite trust her. I think she's too nice to be true and is waiting to get revenge on Courtney for pretending to be a country girl. Harrison Canfield, Shannon's co-judge, is a silver fox type the ladies love. Hmm who does that sound like?? He's also arrogant and rude because he's the only trained chef there and la di dah. He has a horrific temper and gets huffy at the slightest provocation. Courtney is certain he's the murderer. I'm not sure but I don't like him much so it would be nice. Skylar Daily, Courtney's co-host is a little slick but that's because he's a game show host. He knows how to dial it back and be genuine and friendly. Skylar and Courtney seem to bond but she doesn't know him that well. He keeps disappearing and doesn't have a solid alibi for the time of the murder. Drake Nolan, former FBI and head of security, is also rude. He's crazy serious about security, even before the murder and snippy with Courtney. He runs hot and cold with her. One minute they're flirting, the next they're all business. Make up your mind, dude! His assistant, Travis, seems to hate Courtney for some reason. He's always very frosty towards her. I don't know what bug crawled up his butt.
The contestants are a mixed bag too. Mick was an awful, slimy person yet when secrets are revealed, he sounds more like a good person but perhaps had some questionable ethics. He didn't deserve to die. If Harrison didn't do it then it had to be Tabitha. She's out of control. She is whiny, mean, angry and just awful. None of the other contestants care for her antics. On camera she tries to put on a sympathetic vibe but off camera she's nasty. I do think she has the temperament for murder. I'm a little confused by her motive. Otto is nearly as arrogant as Harrison. Barb, a real farmer's daughter, is kind and lovely. She's an honest, non-egotistical down home cook. Rhonda too is nice and I feel sorry for her. I like LeAnne because she's camera shy and focuses on cooking.
I'm going to give the second book in the series a try and see if I like that better.
October 17, 2019
Cobblered to Death, the first installment in the Courtney Archer Mystery Series from Rosemarie Ross, will not disappoint you! The story takes place on the set of a reality network cooking show, with culinary expert Courtney Archer on the scene as a celebrity host. But things soon heat up when a dead body is discovered on the show’s set.
Rosemarie Ross has written a finely crafted puzzle for readers, and I was kept guessing until the end of the book. If you love cozy mysteries, this is a book for you to read.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author for my impartial review.
Rosemarie Ross has written a finely crafted puzzle for readers, and I was kept guessing until the end of the book. If you love cozy mysteries, this is a book for you to read.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author for my impartial review.
December 26, 2020
If you're a fan of GBBO, read this cozy! Love a baking-themed cozy and this one was picturesque and a lot of fun!
November 15, 2019
What a delightful debut. This is the first installment of the Courtney Archer mystery series. Courtney is the host of Cooking With The Farmer’s Daughter and is at a resort in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania to co-host a new reality cooking contest The American Baking Battle in addition to filming a couple of her own shows. Courtney and producer Eric are having a private discussion in the hotel café about this as a good break and Courtney is stressing because she is not a farmer’s daughter and she hates lying to her audience. She wants to come clean but the network and Eric don’t want her to. As the judges, hosts, producers and contestants meet for the first time one of the contestants turns out to be a man that was “supposedly reading a paper” when Courtney and Eric were having this discussion. Mick is the contestant and he lets Courtney know he is aware of her little secret. This is of course after he appears to ruffle the feather of one of the judges and chef Harrison. The other judge Shannon is a “farm” girl as well and her own show and becomes fast friends with Courtney so each time she brings up farm girl stuff Courtney feels even more guilty. One the first morning of filming another contestant Tabitha accuses Mick of knowing both Harrison and Courtney. Security plans to do more background checks which seems to bother Harrison. That evening after a 14 hour day, Courtney stays in the location they are filming to work on her cast iron cherry cobbler for her own show. She is told by security to hurry up as they need to secure the location so when the cobbler is done she leaves it on the counter to cool and plans to grab it first thing in the morning. The unthinkable happens the next day and Courtney discovers the body of missing contestant Mick covered in cherry cobbler with the cast iron skillet the apparent murder weapon. The local sheriff and security team headed up by Drake think Courtney is the top suspect as her fingerprints are the only one on the skillet. Courtney starts asking around to clear her name. I really liked how the friendship with Shannon evolved as well as with the Skylar the other co-host and even Harrison. The shooting of the show continued as the sheriff and Drake are investigating. There were lots of twists and turns as Courtney tries to find the connection between Harrison and Mick and Tabitha. Mick turns out to be undercover and was an investigative reporter working on a story about Harrison but the police also find a file labeled with Courtney’s name labeled “bonus story” – the background checks revel she is not a farmer’s daughter and her guilt over that really troubles her as she pushes to be able to tell the truth to everyone. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next installment.
December 12, 2019
I am a huge fan of baking and cooking competition shows (and the food network in general). So a cozy mystery that takes place during a food competition taping and a sleuth who is also a celebrity chef sounded right up my alley. And for the most part, I really enjoyed the aspects of the competition and getting a bit of "behind the scenes" of filming such a show. I also enjoyed the idea behind Courtney's character and the secret she is keeping about her background.
_
However, the mystery was a little flat for me. There was certainly a lot of drama, lots of scowls and yelling and storming off by the characters. But after a little bit, those aspects got a little repetitive and the story lost its forward momentum. It seemed like Courtney would interrogate someone, they would get mad and storm off, and then she would go back to thinking about the suspects and her secret. I was a bit surprised by the ending and the culprit, but it was definitely someone I had suspected because of their demeanor. Also there were some resolutions between suspects that just seemed over the top and choppy.
_
While I enjoyed the idea of Courtney, I just didn't find a lot of depth to her. Most of her character was built on her tv persona and her secrets about her past. But other than that, I didn't feel like I really got to know her well. I know this is just the first book in the series, but I couldn't connect to her in a way that I love to connect with the amateur sleuths. I actually didn't connect with any of the characters, and that made some of the scenarios (the rushed romance and possible love triangle) just not as enjoyable; I am not invested in the outcome of the romance at all at this point.
_
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but had a hard time really getting invested in the characters and the plot. I think with some growing of Courtney and maybe a faster plot, the series could really grow well. Thank you to the publishers for a copy of this book, I was happy to give my honest thoughts.
_
However, the mystery was a little flat for me. There was certainly a lot of drama, lots of scowls and yelling and storming off by the characters. But after a little bit, those aspects got a little repetitive and the story lost its forward momentum. It seemed like Courtney would interrogate someone, they would get mad and storm off, and then she would go back to thinking about the suspects and her secret. I was a bit surprised by the ending and the culprit, but it was definitely someone I had suspected because of their demeanor. Also there were some resolutions between suspects that just seemed over the top and choppy.
_
While I enjoyed the idea of Courtney, I just didn't find a lot of depth to her. Most of her character was built on her tv persona and her secrets about her past. But other than that, I didn't feel like I really got to know her well. I know this is just the first book in the series, but I couldn't connect to her in a way that I love to connect with the amateur sleuths. I actually didn't connect with any of the characters, and that made some of the scenarios (the rushed romance and possible love triangle) just not as enjoyable; I am not invested in the outcome of the romance at all at this point.
_
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but had a hard time really getting invested in the characters and the plot. I think with some growing of Courtney and maybe a faster plot, the series could really grow well. Thank you to the publishers for a copy of this book, I was happy to give my honest thoughts.
November 23, 2019
Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross is the first book in Courtney Archer mystery series.
Courtney is a chef who has her own TV show where she is presented as a farmer's daughter. She is no such thing and together with her producer Eric she really wishes to come out the the truth to her viewers. In the meantime she is offered to host a baking show which she accepts hoping that it will give her even more publicity and help her career.
From the first moment there is tension on the set, then weird accidents keep happening. Until one of the contestants is found dead, murdered with Courtney's pan and covered with her cherry cobbler.
As she instantly becomes person of interest she realizes that she should do a little investigating herself in order to clear her name.
Very solid start of a new series. I especially liked the setting and learning what making the cooking show really is all about. I also found the tasks that contestants faces very challenging.
Main protagonist is likable, relatable and realistic. She is hard working, has a nice disposition and is people friendly.
Not much is said about her past, family or friends which I hope will be amended as the series progresses. I also liked the romance angle in the book.
Murder was well presented. Readers could follow the investigation from main character's perspective. The killer did come as surprise.
It has a nice pace although at times I felt it was a bit slow.
All in all good first book and I am looking forward to seeing how it will develop further.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Courtney is a chef who has her own TV show where she is presented as a farmer's daughter. She is no such thing and together with her producer Eric she really wishes to come out the the truth to her viewers. In the meantime she is offered to host a baking show which she accepts hoping that it will give her even more publicity and help her career.
From the first moment there is tension on the set, then weird accidents keep happening. Until one of the contestants is found dead, murdered with Courtney's pan and covered with her cherry cobbler.
As she instantly becomes person of interest she realizes that she should do a little investigating herself in order to clear her name.
Very solid start of a new series. I especially liked the setting and learning what making the cooking show really is all about. I also found the tasks that contestants faces very challenging.
Main protagonist is likable, relatable and realistic. She is hard working, has a nice disposition and is people friendly.
Not much is said about her past, family or friends which I hope will be amended as the series progresses. I also liked the romance angle in the book.
Murder was well presented. Readers could follow the investigation from main character's perspective. The killer did come as surprise.
It has a nice pace although at times I felt it was a bit slow.
All in all good first book and I am looking forward to seeing how it will develop further.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews