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Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries #1
Cupcakes & Chaos
Hi! I'm Ava Decker, forensic accountant turned pastry chef. After being ghosted at my own wedding, I decided to leave California and return home to Maine where I grew up. While my parents are enjoying an all expenses paid cruise, aka as my non-refundable honeymoon, I’m house sitting for them back in Clover Creek.
My lifelong dream of owning my own bakery finally comes true but unfortunately, it’s only because the owner of the bakery turns up dead in the cupcake truck that I was driving. And to make things worse, I’m the prime murder suspect because she decided to leave both her bakery and her house to me in her will, despite the fact that I just met her two weeks ago.
In the process of being arrested, I also became a kitty mom to an adorable ruddy Abyssinian who thinks he’s a dog and suffers from separation anxiety. Now, it will take of my mystery movie watching know-how to help solve this crime myself.
My lifelong dream of owning my own bakery finally comes true but unfortunately, it’s only because the owner of the bakery turns up dead in the cupcake truck that I was driving. And to make things worse, I’m the prime murder suspect because she decided to leave both her bakery and her house to me in her will, despite the fact that I just met her two weeks ago.
In the process of being arrested, I also became a kitty mom to an adorable ruddy Abyssinian who thinks he’s a dog and suffers from separation anxiety. Now, it will take of my mystery movie watching know-how to help solve this crime myself.
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2020
398 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Siefert
9 books149 followersLisa Siefert is a USA Today Bestselling Mystery Author of the Frosted Misfortunes Cozy Mysteries. Her latest release is VANILLA & VENDETTAS (Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries Book 3), a diamond heist whodunit that involves a field of cows that love to cuddle with kitties and the surprise early return of her feminist father and matchmaking mother. Oh and there could be a pancake tower of chocolate chip nutella pancakes involved. Right now Lisa's plotting a Christmas novella that will be FREE to her mailing list only - are you on the list? Join at her website https://lisasiefert.com and get a FREE copy of Candy Canes & Crime when it comes out later this year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
December 18, 2021
Cozy mysteries are my weakness. It is not healthy of me to attach my emotions to a genre that has brought nothing but disappointments recently (these past 3 years). I am slowly rehabilitating and marshalling, though. The tries of giving the genre a chance are keeping on becoming fewer and far between.
As well as not being fun to read, cozies are a terrible subject for a review. One cannot get creative as there is no room to. The choice of the victim is usually better than the choice of the culprit. The saving grace of this cozy is that it takes a joke and turns it into a plot twist.
Please do not read this book even if you borrowed them. Albeit, you might like this book. Many have. And they rate it highly enough. Maybe they had a gun pointed to their head. I don't know.
This book is not a guilty pleasure for me. It is a cruel punishment. I have heard that the author wants to write contemporary mysteries a la Evanovich. I sincerely wish her better luck with that venture as she has already done everything possible for cozies and has hit her ceiling.
To recap, this book for me was not enjoyable. It feels like I'm cutting myself from flavorful food and wasting my time over frothy and airy junk food. Ever since I marginalised cozies I have been doing well. But it is proving difficult to turf them out forever.
The thing is, bad cozies ruin my day - you get the picture. There is a nice Fantasy book waiting on my Kindle to be read. There are promising and new books that are likelier to be enjoyed by moi. I know I need to read and erase these books, eroding them word by word, from my e-reader. Right? Right.
As well as not being fun to read, cozies are a terrible subject for a review. One cannot get creative as there is no room to. The choice of the victim is usually better than the choice of the culprit. The saving grace of this cozy is that it takes a joke and turns it into a plot twist.
Please do not read this book even if you borrowed them. Albeit, you might like this book. Many have. And they rate it highly enough. Maybe they had a gun pointed to their head. I don't know.
This book is not a guilty pleasure for me. It is a cruel punishment. I have heard that the author wants to write contemporary mysteries a la Evanovich. I sincerely wish her better luck with that venture as she has already done everything possible for cozies and has hit her ceiling.
To recap, this book for me was not enjoyable. It feels like I'm cutting myself from flavorful food and wasting my time over frothy and airy junk food. Ever since I marginalised cozies I have been doing well. But it is proving difficult to turf them out forever.
The thing is, bad cozies ruin my day - you get the picture. There is a nice Fantasy book waiting on my Kindle to be read. There are promising and new books that are likelier to be enjoyed by moi. I know I need to read and erase these books, eroding them word by word, from my e-reader. Right? Right.
August 6, 2021
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March 15, 2021
This was a fun, easy-to-read first in a series. I adored the author's type of humor and a touch of romance. Cupcakes and Chaos had me craving some stuffed cupcakes and the hottie detective Wesley Lockwood. The author's writing style was great and I loved her voice and the characters were diverse. Most of all I loved Lucky the cat, the cupcakes, and the murder had me guessing until the end.
July 14, 2020
2 .3 stars
Positive:
I liked the cop-Wesley the 3rd (ie. officer McHottie) and his chemistry w/Ava. i did actually like Lucky as well. I found the use of a kitten as an emotional support animal amusing.
I chuckled at Ava's references to Hallmark Movie Mystery Channel as I'm also a fan of those movies. (Duh!)
The mystery plot was pretty good though. Simple yet still not too obvious.
Negative:
too cutesy. too many characters. I could tell it was a spin-off & since i hadn't read other books by writer that was a bit annoying and made me feel a little left out. This was a first time read by this author for me.
And Ava was a little too silly at times which I found irritating.
I'm not a big fan of books that list a table of characters at the beginning. (usually means i'm going to lose track of people & will need to consult it, which i did)
Overall, it was a quick, light cozy which was just okay.
I would recommend this to those who like food/bakery themed cozy's as well as ones w/cute pets.
Or those who've read & liked this writers other books.
Thanks to Hidden Gems for a copy of the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Positive:
I liked the cop-Wesley the 3rd (ie. officer McHottie) and his chemistry w/Ava. i did actually like Lucky as well. I found the use of a kitten as an emotional support animal amusing.
I chuckled at Ava's references to Hallmark Movie Mystery Channel as I'm also a fan of those movies. (Duh!)
The mystery plot was pretty good though. Simple yet still not too obvious.
Negative:
too cutesy. too many characters. I could tell it was a spin-off & since i hadn't read other books by writer that was a bit annoying and made me feel a little left out. This was a first time read by this author for me.
And Ava was a little too silly at times which I found irritating.
I'm not a big fan of books that list a table of characters at the beginning. (usually means i'm going to lose track of people & will need to consult it, which i did)
Overall, it was a quick, light cozy which was just okay.
I would recommend this to those who like food/bakery themed cozy's as well as ones w/cute pets.
Or those who've read & liked this writers other books.
Thanks to Hidden Gems for a copy of the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Ava and Officer Lockwood are the main characters but the story is filled out with lots of likable characters. Best friends, neighbours and relatives. The mystery is very well done with appropriate clues and an exciting end.
Ava bakes stuffed cupcakes and those cupcakes sound wonderful! But when her boss is murdered she becomes a suspect. It gets even worse when it turns out that her boss left her the bakery and her house. Of course Ava becomes involved in solving the crime. There is laughter, great relationships and enough suspense to keep everything moving at a good pace. I can hardly wait for the next book.
I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems. The honest opinions in this review are my own.
Ava bakes stuffed cupcakes and those cupcakes sound wonderful! But when her boss is murdered she becomes a suspect. It gets even worse when it turns out that her boss left her the bakery and her house. Of course Ava becomes involved in solving the crime. There is laughter, great relationships and enough suspense to keep everything moving at a good pace. I can hardly wait for the next book.
I received a free copy of this book from Hidden Gems. The honest opinions in this review are my own.
October 2, 2022
So this started as a 2.5- almost 3 stars. The author I think did the main character, Ava, a disservice by making her appear this man hungry, ditzy, “girl” at the very beginning of the book, looking to use her “feminine wiles” on every “hunky” swoony” man she just has to look and see if there’s a wedding ring, never mind she was just ghosted at her wedding a month ago. 🙄🙄👀👀😒
Anyway, she’s a smart woman, an accountant, making a career change to being a pastry chef. Her boss is murdered and Ava is arrested as the main suspect. Despite being warned away by one of the hunky men, 🙄 Officer Wesley, she proceeds to investigate to clear herself. Along the way she inherits a cat, drags her best friend Ruby into the investigation, another murder occurs that she’s also arrested for, before the culprit is unmasked. There’s a plethora of secondary characters, some interesting and and some forgettable. I think the most interesting character was Lucky the Cat and Grandpa. Overall, this was ehh
Anyway, she’s a smart woman, an accountant, making a career change to being a pastry chef. Her boss is murdered and Ava is arrested as the main suspect. Despite being warned away by one of the hunky men, 🙄 Officer Wesley, she proceeds to investigate to clear herself. Along the way she inherits a cat, drags her best friend Ruby into the investigation, another murder occurs that she’s also arrested for, before the culprit is unmasked. There’s a plethora of secondary characters, some interesting and and some forgettable. I think the most interesting character was Lucky the Cat and Grandpa. Overall, this was ehh
February 25, 2021
Ava got pulled over for a speeding ticket.for trying to get to a Bake off contest. But when officer Wesley pulled her over he found Francine body (Ava boss) in the Cupcake truck that Ava was driving. Ava was suspected of murder. Her best friend helped her with a lawyer. The police let her go.Officer Wesley asked Ava that there was a kitty in the Cupcake truck. They thought it was stray. Ava never had animals but she took the kitty she named it Lucky.. Francine was Ava boss from Frosted. A cupcake bakery. This was a great plot. Will read other series. Love it
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June 27, 2025it was all going so well and then we started calling out people on mood stabilisers crazy for no reason and suddenly even officer mchottie could not save my rating of the book
July 10, 2020
I received an early copy of this book for an honest review. I don't think I have read anything by this author before.
Ava has been jilted at the altar, and in an attempt to change her life, moves back to her home town of Clover Creek, Maine. She manages to get a job as a pastry chef, and makes killer cupcakes. On her way, late, to a baking competition, she is stopped for speeding. When the officer checks out her van, a dead body tumbles out of the back. Surprise! It is her boss, a really nasty lady. Ava decides that she and her friend Ruby will investigate her death, when she learns that the business and the woman's house was left to her in the will. Also left to her is a really cute kitten, who thinks he is a dog and goes everywhere with her. When an attorney is found murdered with a box full of poisoned cupcakes, Ava is again accused. I had to wonder why they kept letting her out on bail with all the evidence against her. Can she solve the crime before she is finally arrested? This will probably make a cute series.
Ava has been jilted at the altar, and in an attempt to change her life, moves back to her home town of Clover Creek, Maine. She manages to get a job as a pastry chef, and makes killer cupcakes. On her way, late, to a baking competition, she is stopped for speeding. When the officer checks out her van, a dead body tumbles out of the back. Surprise! It is her boss, a really nasty lady. Ava decides that she and her friend Ruby will investigate her death, when she learns that the business and the woman's house was left to her in the will. Also left to her is a really cute kitten, who thinks he is a dog and goes everywhere with her. When an attorney is found murdered with a box full of poisoned cupcakes, Ava is again accused. I had to wonder why they kept letting her out on bail with all the evidence against her. Can she solve the crime before she is finally arrested? This will probably make a cute series.
June 19, 2025
Left at the altar, Ava Decker escapes possible humiliation in San Diego for her hometown life in Maine. Once an accountant, now turned baker, Ava creates delicious stuffed cupcakes for Francine's bakery, Frostings. When Francine is found murdered, the suspicion falls on Ava, who is set to inherit Frostings and Francine's mansion. With the police firmly convinced of her guilt, it's up to Ava to clear her name.
At first, I wasn't an Ava fan. She swears off men forever, only to check the local cop's hand to see if he's single. She's frivolous and confrontational, two characteristics that usually irritate me. But something happened midway through the book, and Ava grew on me. I don't know if it was the way she treated her newfound kitty, her puppy-like tendencies to attempt to make friends, or just her sheer persistence, but something made me like her. I got lost in the chaos of all the legalities, which left me in confusion over the ending, but by suspending my disbelief, Ava and I managed to arrive at the conclusion.
I'm looking forward to seeing where Ava goes.
At first, I wasn't an Ava fan. She swears off men forever, only to check the local cop's hand to see if he's single. She's frivolous and confrontational, two characteristics that usually irritate me. But something happened midway through the book, and Ava grew on me. I don't know if it was the way she treated her newfound kitty, her puppy-like tendencies to attempt to make friends, or just her sheer persistence, but something made me like her. I got lost in the chaos of all the legalities, which left me in confusion over the ending, but by suspending my disbelief, Ava and I managed to arrive at the conclusion.
I'm looking forward to seeing where Ava goes.
September 18, 2025
Ava Decker returns home to her small town of Clover Creek, Maine, after being away for ten years. The reason she returned is because she was left at the altar by her fiancé Ben. But one bright light is she's able to do what she's always wanted to: give up her job of forensic accounting and become a pastry chef, specializing in filled cupcakes.
Although her boss Francine is horrible, Ava loves what she does. But one morning she's running late for a baking competition, and if she doesn't make it, Francine might fire her. When she's stopped for speeding by Officer Wesley Lockwood, she offers him a cupcake from the back of the truck. Unfortunately for her, the truck also holds the dead body of Francine...
Now Ava is the prime suspect in the murder, not only because she doesn't have an airtight alibi, but because at the reading of the will she inherits Francine's mansion, its contents, and the bakery. Unless Ava can find the guilty party, she won't be making cupcakes...she'll be doing time...
This is the first book in the series and the reason I read it is I just finished the sixth, and I was so enamored by it that I felt I had to go back and read the series from start. I am glad to say that I am not disappointed. In fact, I am just as enamored by this book as I was from the other.
In this book, we get to know a little more about Ava's background, although we don't know the entire story of why she was dumped. (To put it succinctly). We do know she's rather tall (5'11") and is very pretty, and that she has a loyal friend in Ruby, her BFF from high school. True friendship never fails...even when that friend is telling you not to investigate (but you do anyway).
We also get to meet the delightful Lucky, an Abyssinian kitten that belonged to Francine and is now Ava's. Abyssinians are known for separation anxiety, so Ava is determined to make him an emotional support kitten, therefore taking him everywhere (which only adds to the fun).
There are suspects aplenty, and even if Ava is trying to bribe them with cupcakes to get information, something else occurs that causes her to move even higher on the suspect list (if that's even possible). There isn't much time left if she's going to save herself, but with new friends and old, Ava is pushing through...and might just be left alive after all....
In the end, the murderer was unexpected (in a way), but you can't reason with a killer (nor would you want to). An engaging story with plenty of action, and I will definitely continue with this series. Highly recommended
Although her boss Francine is horrible, Ava loves what she does. But one morning she's running late for a baking competition, and if she doesn't make it, Francine might fire her. When she's stopped for speeding by Officer Wesley Lockwood, she offers him a cupcake from the back of the truck. Unfortunately for her, the truck also holds the dead body of Francine...
Now Ava is the prime suspect in the murder, not only because she doesn't have an airtight alibi, but because at the reading of the will she inherits Francine's mansion, its contents, and the bakery. Unless Ava can find the guilty party, she won't be making cupcakes...she'll be doing time...
This is the first book in the series and the reason I read it is I just finished the sixth, and I was so enamored by it that I felt I had to go back and read the series from start. I am glad to say that I am not disappointed. In fact, I am just as enamored by this book as I was from the other.
In this book, we get to know a little more about Ava's background, although we don't know the entire story of why she was dumped. (To put it succinctly). We do know she's rather tall (5'11") and is very pretty, and that she has a loyal friend in Ruby, her BFF from high school. True friendship never fails...even when that friend is telling you not to investigate (but you do anyway).
We also get to meet the delightful Lucky, an Abyssinian kitten that belonged to Francine and is now Ava's. Abyssinians are known for separation anxiety, so Ava is determined to make him an emotional support kitten, therefore taking him everywhere (which only adds to the fun).
There are suspects aplenty, and even if Ava is trying to bribe them with cupcakes to get information, something else occurs that causes her to move even higher on the suspect list (if that's even possible). There isn't much time left if she's going to save herself, but with new friends and old, Ava is pushing through...and might just be left alive after all....
In the end, the murderer was unexpected (in a way), but you can't reason with a killer (nor would you want to). An engaging story with plenty of action, and I will definitely continue with this series. Highly recommended
January 15, 2025
I just finished reading Cupcakes & Chaos, the first book in the Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries series by Lisa Siefert, and let me tell you, it was a delightful treat!
From the get-go, you’re thrown into the charming world of small-town baking, where our protagonist, Ava Decker, is not just a whiz with cupcakes but also finds herself tangled in a deliciously mysterious murder case. I mean, who doesn’t love a good whodunit with a sprinkle of sweetness?
Ava comes back to her hometown after a botched wedding attempt to end up inheriting a cupcake shop from (by all accounts) the town meanie. The supporting cast is also well written and leave space for future story lines and perhaps romance, as is the way with so many cozy mysteries do.
I appreciated that the author included a list of characters at the start to give me a little background before reading. New series can be hard to get into without knowing the cast so I enjoyed being able to read a short synopsis of each person.
Overall, Cupcakes & Chaos is a delightful blend of mystery, humour, and baking that makes it a perfect read for a cozy afternoon. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted mystery with a dash of sweetness, this might be the new series for you!
From the get-go, you’re thrown into the charming world of small-town baking, where our protagonist, Ava Decker, is not just a whiz with cupcakes but also finds herself tangled in a deliciously mysterious murder case. I mean, who doesn’t love a good whodunit with a sprinkle of sweetness?
Ava comes back to her hometown after a botched wedding attempt to end up inheriting a cupcake shop from (by all accounts) the town meanie. The supporting cast is also well written and leave space for future story lines and perhaps romance, as is the way with so many cozy mysteries do.
I appreciated that the author included a list of characters at the start to give me a little background before reading. New series can be hard to get into without knowing the cast so I enjoyed being able to read a short synopsis of each person.
Overall, Cupcakes & Chaos is a delightful blend of mystery, humour, and baking that makes it a perfect read for a cozy afternoon. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted mystery with a dash of sweetness, this might be the new series for you!
July 10, 2020
Cupcakes & Chaos (Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries Book 1) by Lisa Siefert is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one in this wonderful mystery series that I have loved reading and can not wait to read the rest of this series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about mysteries.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
July 10, 2020
This is a fun cozy mystery full of murder, mayhem, cupcakes and kittens ! Well written this had me guessing from start to finish, it had me laughing out loud, it has twists and turns and has fantastic characters that will have you cheering them on! A great first book, I look forward to reading more!
July 8, 2021
I follow Lisa on YouTube and at the beginning each video she mentions her books. I finally decided to give them a chance and I am glad I did. This was such a fun cozy mystery. I will be picking up the rest of the series.
July 10, 2020
What a delightful story. Ava is now a Wedding Planner and was hoping all would go well. Murder was definitely not in the planning. A story for everyone.
June 20, 2025
Cute little cozy with a cute little cat. What can I say? Too easy to figure out who the killer was.
July 14, 2020
This was a good read. Ava is working at a bakery. The owner ends up dead. Of course she becomes their prime suspect. Of course she spends the rest of the book trying to figure out who the real killer is.
September 8, 2020
I loved reading this wonderful cozy mystery.
Ava is a really awesome character. And with her little
Kitten Lucky makes this book so much fun to read.
Ava is a really awesome character. And with her little
Kitten Lucky makes this book so much fun to read.
September 3, 2020
Great cozy mystery
I really liked this cozy mystery. It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I also liked the using of the cross over character, Charles, from Molly Fits' series. I kept thinking " Charles should get Octo cat to talk to lucky" Lol. I had to keep reading to find out who did it and I'm looking forward to reading more. I also might try one of the cupcake recipes at the end of the book. They all sound so delicious. 😋
I really liked this cozy mystery. It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I also liked the using of the cross over character, Charles, from Molly Fits' series. I kept thinking " Charles should get Octo cat to talk to lucky" Lol. I had to keep reading to find out who did it and I'm looking forward to reading more. I also might try one of the cupcake recipes at the end of the book. They all sound so delicious. 😋
December 21, 2020
This is such a cute story. Ava was left at the altar and decided to go back to her hometown. She gets a job baking cupcakes until her boss is murdered and she is high of the suspect list. Her boss even left her the bakery and her house. That bumps her up more on the suspect list. Ava knows that she has to solve this mystery so she can go ahead and reopen the bakery. Will she end up in jail, or will she find the real killer?
April 4, 2021
I don't know what to say. It was the worst silly, flirty novel I ever read in my life. Bad mystery, bad romance, bad characters, bad writing style. I know it seems a little rude, but I can't help it! It was really, really bad!
First things first, our protagonist Ava acts stupidly most of the time! She plays detective sticking her nose everywhere and ignoring the most obvious clues. However, she solves the case before the police! Not to mention she won a super expensive cat and a full house from her most hated person. Yay!
Secondly, what the hell is wrong with Officer Lockwood?! Doesn't he understands he's flirting with a prime murder suspect? Seriously, what the hell?! I thought he wanted to solve the case, not get a murderous girlfriend. But yeah, she's too beautiful so she surely is innocent, right?
Thirdly, is Lucky a stuffed cat? Cause he's only there to be an ornament that meows occasionally. In fact, he spend all day in the car or different offices cause cats are allowed in everywhere! And he never goes to the bathroom cause he's a toy, of course!
I don't recommend it. In fact, avoid it as much as possible! Runaway now!
First things first, our protagonist Ava acts stupidly most of the time! She plays detective sticking her nose everywhere and ignoring the most obvious clues. However, she solves the case before the police! Not to mention she won a super expensive cat and a full house from her most hated person. Yay!
Secondly, what the hell is wrong with Officer Lockwood?! Doesn't he understands he's flirting with a prime murder suspect? Seriously, what the hell?! I thought he wanted to solve the case, not get a murderous girlfriend. But yeah, she's too beautiful so she surely is innocent, right?
Thirdly, is Lucky a stuffed cat? Cause he's only there to be an ornament that meows occasionally. In fact, he spend all day in the car or different offices cause cats are allowed in everywhere! And he never goes to the bathroom cause he's a toy, of course!
I don't recommend it. In fact, avoid it as much as possible! Runaway now!
February 16, 2021
Fun and entertaining
December 7, 2022
For the love of writing and reading ........ NO !!
Not again an drooling, swooning female
Not again a huck of a cop .....
NO NO NO NO !!
made it as far as chapter 1 .......will not read any futher !!
Not again an drooling, swooning female
Not again a huck of a cop .....
NO NO NO NO !!
made it as far as chapter 1 .......will not read any futher !!
August 25, 2020
Yummy recipes
Well written without the usual amount of " I'm going to investigate -- don't investigate" wordage. The cat behaves as a normal cat would.
Well written without the usual amount of " I'm going to investigate -- don't investigate" wordage. The cat behaves as a normal cat would.
January 13, 2025
Cupcakes and Chaos is the first book in Lisa Siefert’s new series, Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries. Lisa is a new to me author and I enjoyed this cozy mystery very much. The book is set in Clover Creek, Maine. The heroine is Ava Decker, who has moved back to her hometown from San Diego after she was left at the altar. She was a forensic accountant who has taken a job in a bakery as a pastry chef. As the book opens, Ava is driving the bakery’s truck to deliver some of her specialty cupcakes for a contest. She is speeding because she is late and is afraid of getting fired. Her boss is very difficult to work for. The policeman stops her for speeding and he discovers the body of her boss in the back. He arrests her for the murder. They also discover a kitten in the truck. Ava’s friend gets her a lawyer and she is released on bail. She agrees to take care of the kitten that she names Lucky.
Ava decides she will try to figure out who murdered her boss so that she won’t have to go to jail. She comes up with a list of suspects that includes her boss’s half brother, her fiancé, her best friend who was also the ex of her fiancé, the lady who sold her the kitten and her interior decorator. She returns to the bakery to discover that someone broke in and trashed the place. It is apparent they were looking for something. Ava goes to interview each of her suspects to try and figure out who killed her boss. The police detective catches her talking to the various people and warns her it is police business and the murderer is possibly still out there. It is so cute how Ava takes Lucky everywhere she goes.
I tried to solve the murder along with Ava but sadly I never guessed correctly. This is a well written book with lots of fun character interactions and suspense. I found many of the characters to be likable and even quirky. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next books in the series. This is a five star book.
I was fortunate to receive this ARC from Tule Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Ava decides she will try to figure out who murdered her boss so that she won’t have to go to jail. She comes up with a list of suspects that includes her boss’s half brother, her fiancé, her best friend who was also the ex of her fiancé, the lady who sold her the kitten and her interior decorator. She returns to the bakery to discover that someone broke in and trashed the place. It is apparent they were looking for something. Ava goes to interview each of her suspects to try and figure out who killed her boss. The police detective catches her talking to the various people and warns her it is police business and the murderer is possibly still out there. It is so cute how Ava takes Lucky everywhere she goes.
I tried to solve the murder along with Ava but sadly I never guessed correctly. This is a well written book with lots of fun character interactions and suspense. I found many of the characters to be likable and even quirky. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next books in the series. This is a five star book.
I was fortunate to receive this ARC from Tule Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2020
**Presented with an ARC via HiddenGems in exchange for an honest review.**
A sweet and sassy cozy mystery.
If you are a fan of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Murder, She Wrote; Castle; and/or Rizzoli & Isles, you’ll love this book. Ava has both charm and strength, with just enough sass to help her find her footing again when she moves back home to Clover Creek, from San Diego, after being stood up at the alter by her fiancé.
In the front of the book, prior to the story itself, is a list of character where you are given a run down of names, connections, and information about each character. It’s something that I truly appreciate as some of the main cast come from other series by the same author. It helps you get a basic snapshot of who everyone is without spoiling anything about the story itself.
Within the pages of Cupcakes and Chaos, you get to meet Ava Decker—the protagonist and main character, her best friend Ruby, Officer Lockwood McDreamy, and Ruby’s lawyer friend, Charles. The characters are vivid and alive in this cozy mystery, with women you’d love to have coffee with and men you’d simply love to have.
It is a fun and page-turning read that you can lose yourself in to escape the world for a little while. I highly recommend it.
There a few slight mistakes in the story, things I notice due to my beta reading and editing assistance I give my friends who are writers, but the average reader may not notice them at all. That would be the only reason for the 4-star review. I’d review sites allowed for it, I would’ve marked this book as a 4.5-star rating.
A sweet and sassy cozy mystery.
If you are a fan of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Murder, She Wrote; Castle; and/or Rizzoli & Isles, you’ll love this book. Ava has both charm and strength, with just enough sass to help her find her footing again when she moves back home to Clover Creek, from San Diego, after being stood up at the alter by her fiancé.
In the front of the book, prior to the story itself, is a list of character where you are given a run down of names, connections, and information about each character. It’s something that I truly appreciate as some of the main cast come from other series by the same author. It helps you get a basic snapshot of who everyone is without spoiling anything about the story itself.
Within the pages of Cupcakes and Chaos, you get to meet Ava Decker—the protagonist and main character, her best friend Ruby, Officer Lockwood McDreamy, and Ruby’s lawyer friend, Charles. The characters are vivid and alive in this cozy mystery, with women you’d love to have coffee with and men you’d simply love to have.
It is a fun and page-turning read that you can lose yourself in to escape the world for a little while. I highly recommend it.
There a few slight mistakes in the story, things I notice due to my beta reading and editing assistance I give my friends who are writers, but the average reader may not notice them at all. That would be the only reason for the 4-star review. I’d review sites allowed for it, I would’ve marked this book as a 4.5-star rating.
December 28, 2024
I enjoyed this book. It is your typical cozy mystery were the heroine gets accused of killing someone and talks her best friend into being her sidekick in the hopes of clearing her name, they get into trouble with the killer and the local hot law man. Add in a cute cat and you know the rest. It works for a reason and this author knows it. So while there isn't any surprises it is still a good read. This is mainly down to the characters that the author creates, they are likeable, entertaining and down to earth. A bit like the character the author keeps mentioning Aurora Teagarden from the Hallmark channel. Off to start the next book.
Ava Decker returns home after getting ghosted at her own wedding and while her parents are off on her honeymoon she is house sitting for them and working in the local bakery, with the meanest woman in town. That is until she is stopped speeding in the bakery van and her boss's dead body is discovered in the back, along with a tiny kitten. Ava is quite happy to claim the kitten but not the responsibility of the murder. She is the number one suspect for the police and that is before the reading of the will. Despite having only worked at the bakery for two weeks, she is left the bakery and her boss's mansion. She just has to clear her name in order to keep them.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review
Ava Decker returns home after getting ghosted at her own wedding and while her parents are off on her honeymoon she is house sitting for them and working in the local bakery, with the meanest woman in town. That is until she is stopped speeding in the bakery van and her boss's dead body is discovered in the back, along with a tiny kitten. Ava is quite happy to claim the kitten but not the responsibility of the murder. She is the number one suspect for the police and that is before the reading of the will. Despite having only worked at the bakery for two weeks, she is left the bakery and her boss's mansion. She just has to clear her name in order to keep them.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review
January 22, 2025
Cupcakes & Chaos is the perfect blend of sweet treats and unexpected suspense. In this delightful first book of the Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries series, Lisa Siefert introduces readers to Ava Decker, a former forensic accountant who embarks on a new chapter as a pastry chef. Her dream of owning a bakery is quickly overshadowed when her unpleasant boss turns up dead—right in the back of the delivery truck she was driving.
Ava finds herself in a sticky situation as the prime suspect in a murder investigation. When it turns out her late boss left her the bakery and her house, Ava's life goes from chaotic to even more chaotic. With only her quirky best friend and a kitten who seems to think he's a dog by her side, Ava is determined to uncover the truth and clear her name.
The characters are so endearing—Ava’s humor, her best friend’s exasperation, and the antics of the adorable (and mischievous) kitten kept me laughing throughout. The mystery itself is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns, and I found myself eagerly flipping the pages to see who would be revealed as the true culprit.
Siefert perfectly captures the charm of a cozy mystery with a healthy dose of humor, mystery, and delectable treats. If you’re a fan of lighthearted whodunits with a dash of sweetness and a sprinkle of chaos, Cupcakes & Chaos is sure to leave you craving more. I can't wait to see what Ava bakes up next!.
Ava finds herself in a sticky situation as the prime suspect in a murder investigation. When it turns out her late boss left her the bakery and her house, Ava's life goes from chaotic to even more chaotic. With only her quirky best friend and a kitten who seems to think he's a dog by her side, Ava is determined to uncover the truth and clear her name.
The characters are so endearing—Ava’s humor, her best friend’s exasperation, and the antics of the adorable (and mischievous) kitten kept me laughing throughout. The mystery itself is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns, and I found myself eagerly flipping the pages to see who would be revealed as the true culprit.
Siefert perfectly captures the charm of a cozy mystery with a healthy dose of humor, mystery, and delectable treats. If you’re a fan of lighthearted whodunits with a dash of sweetness and a sprinkle of chaos, Cupcakes & Chaos is sure to leave you craving more. I can't wait to see what Ava bakes up next!.
July 26, 2021
Cupcakes & Chaos is an adorable cozy mystery and my first exposure to the writing talents of Lisa Siefert. I am so new to this genre but I love that you get the mystery aspects of trying to solve a whodunnit murder investigation without the scare-your-pants-off thriller aspect. I'm too chicken for thrillers.
I loved all the Aurora Teagarden references!
It was such a cute addition how often Ava referred to Aurora Teagarden or the Hallmark Mystery Channel, referencing her wealth of cozy mystery knowledge to try to prove her own innocence. While she seriously makes light of the fact that she’s the prime suspect in a murder she didn’t commit, I loved the references 🙂 And I agree with her best friend Ruby … the girl doesn’t understand that the situation she’s in is DANGEROUS!
I loved Officer Lockwood. And Ava’s best friend Ruby referring to him as “Officer McHottie” is hilarious! I know this isn’t a romance but I was so hoping for more between her and the sexy almost-detective … maybe in a future book (one where she isn’t accused of murder).
While I am 100% definitely a dog person, not a cat person … this was a cute story. I liked Lucky the kitten … probably because he’s still just a kitten and not a full-grown cat. I would love to see Lisa write a dog mystery but for now, I’ll definitely be continuing the Frosted Misfortunes and see what other troubles befall Ava and little Lucky.
I loved all the Aurora Teagarden references!
It was such a cute addition how often Ava referred to Aurora Teagarden or the Hallmark Mystery Channel, referencing her wealth of cozy mystery knowledge to try to prove her own innocence. While she seriously makes light of the fact that she’s the prime suspect in a murder she didn’t commit, I loved the references 🙂 And I agree with her best friend Ruby … the girl doesn’t understand that the situation she’s in is DANGEROUS!
I loved Officer Lockwood. And Ava’s best friend Ruby referring to him as “Officer McHottie” is hilarious! I know this isn’t a romance but I was so hoping for more between her and the sexy almost-detective … maybe in a future book (one where she isn’t accused of murder).
While I am 100% definitely a dog person, not a cat person … this was a cute story. I liked Lucky the kitten … probably because he’s still just a kitten and not a full-grown cat. I would love to see Lisa write a dog mystery but for now, I’ll definitely be continuing the Frosted Misfortunes and see what other troubles befall Ava and little Lucky.
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