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True Confections Mystery #2
Baking Spirits Bright
In a cute new culinary cozy from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, budding chocolatier Becca Ransom must solve a murder before she meets a sticky end.
Winter has arrived in Larch Haven, Vermont, bringing with it holiday cheer, lots of snow, and freezing temperatures. Becca Ransom is squeezing in time to skate on the frozen canals and drink hot chocolate by a roaring fire while also whipping up new creations for her family’s chocolate shop and experimenting with holiday flavors like eggnog, gingerbread, and peppermint. At the same time, Becca is preparing for the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition, a popular annual event. She’s planning to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, with a mountain backdrop made of cake, gingerbread cottages, and chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals.
Professional bakers and a local food blogger are also participating in the event and they aren’t about to go down without a fight. The competition quickly heats to a boiling point, with flaring tempers and mysterious happenings. When one of the entrants is found dead, stabbed with Becca’s chocolate chipper, Becca tries to salvage the season by finding the killer. But the heat is on, and Becca is in danger of getting burned.
Winter has arrived in Larch Haven, Vermont, bringing with it holiday cheer, lots of snow, and freezing temperatures. Becca Ransom is squeezing in time to skate on the frozen canals and drink hot chocolate by a roaring fire while also whipping up new creations for her family’s chocolate shop and experimenting with holiday flavors like eggnog, gingerbread, and peppermint. At the same time, Becca is preparing for the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition, a popular annual event. She’s planning to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, with a mountain backdrop made of cake, gingerbread cottages, and chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals.
Professional bakers and a local food blogger are also participating in the event and they aren’t about to go down without a fight. The competition quickly heats to a boiling point, with flaring tempers and mysterious happenings. When one of the entrants is found dead, stabbed with Becca’s chocolate chipper, Becca tries to salvage the season by finding the killer. But the heat is on, and Becca is in danger of getting burned.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 10, 2023
44 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Fox
23 books741 followersSarah Fox, writer of cozy mysteries, was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.
Sarah is the author of the Literary Pub Mysteries, the Pancake House Mysteries, and the Music Lover's Mysteries.
Sarah is the author of the Literary Pub Mysteries, the Pancake House Mysteries, and the Music Lover's Mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
January 1, 2024
I love a good culinary-themed cozy mystery, so that's why I grabbed this one. While I did enjoy these moments, I feel like that could been better described to spur my food envy. I also liked the winter snow descriptions, and Becca's cute kitties. Good mystery overall, but the characters could have been more distinctive and there were some good opportunities to play up the quirkiness of small town life. Overall an entertaining book, despite some shortcomings.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Berkley.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Berkley.
December 18, 2025
3🌟
Mood/ Seasonal Reading: Christmas Time
Sadly this series isn’t for me. I can’t put my finger on why I just find it very boring. Nothing stands out. I was hoping to give it another shot after disliking the first book but it a Christmas themed cozy can’t win me over I think it might be time to quit.
I do think others will enjoy this series however, so give it a shoot and see how you like it.
Mood/ Seasonal Reading: Christmas Time
Sadly this series isn’t for me. I can’t put my finger on why I just find it very boring. Nothing stands out. I was hoping to give it another shot after disliking the first book but it a Christmas themed cozy can’t win me over I think it might be time to quit.
I do think others will enjoy this series however, so give it a shoot and see how you like it.
October 19, 2023
As with the first one, I still find that the characters and setting are great so I’m not sure where the disconnect is with me. I did like this one better and I enjoyed the baking competition portion. Also, huge fan of Filipina best friend but other than that, there’s nothing that really stands out about this series as a whole from other cozies: cute small-town setting, culinary location, cop love interest. I will read the next one to see where it goes and hope I find that spark that I’m looking for.
August 20, 2023
Thank you to Berkeley Pub for a free eARC on Edelweiss.
Sarah Fox has created another irresistible mystery series with a magical Vermont setting, delectable chocolate details, and likable characters. Cozy fans will especially love the holiday cheer and baking show premise of this second book.
I thought this was a perfect cozy mystery. My child and I had so much fun reading this together and discussing our different theories. There were lots of suspicious characters to keep us guessing, and I loved how clues were sprinkled throughout the entire book yet the answer wasn’t totally obvious.
Sarah Fox excels at balancing seasonal activities with sleuthing to equal a perfect cozy feeling in her books. I will read anything she comes out with, and my child and I both really hope there will be more in this series.
Sarah Fox has created another irresistible mystery series with a magical Vermont setting, delectable chocolate details, and likable characters. Cozy fans will especially love the holiday cheer and baking show premise of this second book.
I thought this was a perfect cozy mystery. My child and I had so much fun reading this together and discussing our different theories. There were lots of suspicious characters to keep us guessing, and I loved how clues were sprinkled throughout the entire book yet the answer wasn’t totally obvious.
Sarah Fox excels at balancing seasonal activities with sleuthing to equal a perfect cozy feeling in her books. I will read anything she comes out with, and my child and I both really hope there will be more in this series.
January 14, 2024
I don't want to say much about this book so I don't ruin it for anyone but it was amazing. I loved the story and the mystery in this one better than the first book. The winter setting was just as descriptive and amazing as the first book. There is a lot of Christmas in this book for those wondering about that. The ending is magical! I'm concerned that a third book has not been announced for 2024 since this is now amongst my favorite cozy mystery series of all time. Also, make sure you have cake or cupcakes before reading this book. Yes, cake not chocolate.
May 11, 2023
I really do enjoy a good Sarah Fox cozy. Just the right amount of cozy food related fluff and mystery plus a dash of romance.
October 7, 2023
Becca is a former actress who has returned to her hometown to run the family shop (True Confections candy shop) with her grandparents (parents now live in Florida). The big event now is the
Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition which sets the scene as to Most Likely To Be Murdered On Purpose. Yup, that's the one, but the problem is that she is done in with Becca’s chocolate chipper! Even though she has a solid alibi, she and her best friend hop in to do some amateur sleuthing, much to the dismay of her possible boyfriend who is the local police chief. And so it begins! Good story with fun characters, distracting red herrings, and really unexpected twists. Loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!
Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition which sets the scene as to Most Likely To Be Murdered On Purpose. Yup, that's the one, but the problem is that she is done in with Becca’s chocolate chipper! Even though she has a solid alibi, she and her best friend hop in to do some amateur sleuthing, much to the dismay of her possible boyfriend who is the local police chief. And so it begins! Good story with fun characters, distracting red herrings, and really unexpected twists. Loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!
September 8, 2024
I enjoyed this one. It really was a whodunnit and the killer was a surprise. Becca just can’t stay away from a mystery so when the town blackmailer is murdered, she, along with her best friend decide to investigate the murder despite Sawyer’s warning. Her relationship with Sawyer is progressing slowly but in the right direction.
December 9, 2023
The True Confections Mystery series by Sarah Fox is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Baking Spirits Bright is the second one which just came out in October. I read the first one earlier this year and loved it. So I was very excited to read this one which takes place around Christmas. Plus look at the cover! It's one of my favorites this year.
It's Winter in Larch Haven. Becca is encouraged to join the Baking Spirits Bright baking competition. The competition soon turns deadly as a prickly competitor is found dead, stabbed with Becca's own chocolate chipper.
I wish Larch Haven was real. It's such a charming place. The residents get to ice skate around the frozen canals! There are plenty of baked goods and hot chocolate too. The charm extends throughout the story with the writing flowing smoothly and naturally. There isn't a wasted scene. Everything furthers the plot or gives us something to smile about.
Speaking of smiling... Every scene with Sawyer will have your heart melting faster than a chocolate Santa. Cat lovers will be happy as we get fun stuff from Truffles and Binx. The scene with Binx and the Christmas tree is perfection.
The mystery is fun too. There is a lot of action and things going on that keeps you guessing as to what is connected or if it's a deadly distraction. It was nice to see Dizzy so involved with the investigation and there is a nice balance of Becca snooping and trying to listen to Sawyer.
This is such a fun, sweet read, perfect for the holiday season. The last scene left me excited for the next one in the series!
It's Winter in Larch Haven. Becca is encouraged to join the Baking Spirits Bright baking competition. The competition soon turns deadly as a prickly competitor is found dead, stabbed with Becca's own chocolate chipper.
I wish Larch Haven was real. It's such a charming place. The residents get to ice skate around the frozen canals! There are plenty of baked goods and hot chocolate too. The charm extends throughout the story with the writing flowing smoothly and naturally. There isn't a wasted scene. Everything furthers the plot or gives us something to smile about.
Speaking of smiling... Every scene with Sawyer will have your heart melting faster than a chocolate Santa. Cat lovers will be happy as we get fun stuff from Truffles and Binx. The scene with Binx and the Christmas tree is perfection.
The mystery is fun too. There is a lot of action and things going on that keeps you guessing as to what is connected or if it's a deadly distraction. It was nice to see Dizzy so involved with the investigation and there is a nice balance of Becca snooping and trying to listen to Sawyer.
This is such a fun, sweet read, perfect for the holiday season. The last scene left me excited for the next one in the series!
October 18, 2023
Always a fun read by a favorite author. Loved that the competition didn't drag on forever. Good mystery. Great series!
January 4, 2024
4.5/5 starts. I really enjoyed this book. The main characters were all really sweet and the town sounds so charming. The mystery was very interesting and it was so fun trying to guess who the killer was. A great book to start the new year.
January 16, 2024
A quick easy cozy. I enjoyed this as the main character wasn’t always making ridiculous choices. So for a cozy mystery pretty good.
December 18, 2024
Cozy winter mystery
November 29, 2025
Actually didn’t finish this book. Could not connect with this story.
February 13, 2024
I liked listening to this cozy mystery with its likeable characters and fun Christmas theme.
December 18, 2023
3.25 stars
Baking Spirits Bright is the second book in the True Confections Mystery series by Sarah Fox. This is a lightly, Christmas-themed story with a baking competition at it’s center. This story is set in the small town of Larch Haven, Vermont, a charming and unique town that allows no motorized vehicles, other than golf carts and foot traffic. It’s has connecting canals, much like the city of Venice, and in winter, the citizens skate along the canals like their very own frozen freeways. It’s picturesque and truly one-of-a-kind.
When one of the competitors is murdered during the competition, there appears to be many suspects with a host of secrets, and multiple mysteries that need solving. Becca, the chocolatier at True Confections Candy Shop and baking competition contestant, cannot help but involve herself. She is naturally curious and feels compelled to investigate, even though her boyfriend and policeman has urges her not to for her own safety. In this edition, I did find her character to be a bit aggravating in her pushiness and overly inquisitiveness, and disingenuity to her boyfriend, but that’s often what makes a cozy mystery what it is and draws the amateur sleuths and common citizens into the process.
Baking Spirits Bright wasn’t quite as engaging for me as the previous mystery, but it does proffer a number of red herrings and options for culprits. I enjoyed the delightful town, the family bonds, the friendship between Becca and Dizzy, and the growing romance between Becca and Sawyer. I look forward to the next installment and will be sure to carry-on with this cozy series.
Baking Spirits Bright is the second book in the True Confections Mystery series by Sarah Fox. This is a lightly, Christmas-themed story with a baking competition at it’s center. This story is set in the small town of Larch Haven, Vermont, a charming and unique town that allows no motorized vehicles, other than golf carts and foot traffic. It’s has connecting canals, much like the city of Venice, and in winter, the citizens skate along the canals like their very own frozen freeways. It’s picturesque and truly one-of-a-kind.
When one of the competitors is murdered during the competition, there appears to be many suspects with a host of secrets, and multiple mysteries that need solving. Becca, the chocolatier at True Confections Candy Shop and baking competition contestant, cannot help but involve herself. She is naturally curious and feels compelled to investigate, even though her boyfriend and policeman has urges her not to for her own safety. In this edition, I did find her character to be a bit aggravating in her pushiness and overly inquisitiveness, and disingenuity to her boyfriend, but that’s often what makes a cozy mystery what it is and draws the amateur sleuths and common citizens into the process.
Baking Spirits Bright wasn’t quite as engaging for me as the previous mystery, but it does proffer a number of red herrings and options for culprits. I enjoyed the delightful town, the family bonds, the friendship between Becca and Dizzy, and the growing romance between Becca and Sawyer. I look forward to the next installment and will be sure to carry-on with this cozy series.
December 15, 2023
I honestly don't know what to rate this, I gave it a solid 3, average. I read this for a book club and funnily enough, this was my first ever murder mystery. Actually, this book was kind of everything I expected from a classic, cheesy, stereotypical murder mystery novel. It was so silly because of the levity of the murder and attempted murders. I mean yes, the characters were shaken but the feel of the story lacked the heaviness I would expect from a literal, brutal murder happening in a small, cozy Vermont town where everyone knows each other. The characters seemed less than truly bothered, let alone disturbed one of their own was killed in their community center.
The writing and the dialogue was too constructed, like people wouldn't really talk like that in real life. It sounded scripted and bland. The characters, 2 dimensional at best.
With that being said, why did I eat this book up? I mean, it definitely kept me turning pages. I was seriously curious about what happened and who actually committed the crime. It felt like I was reading a giant game of Clue, with all of the potential suspects the main character considers. It was a page turner for sure and very easy to read. I liked that about it, it felt like a brain snack.
Oh and their little village sounded adorable. I'd love to live there. Minus the murders.
The writing and the dialogue was too constructed, like people wouldn't really talk like that in real life. It sounded scripted and bland. The characters, 2 dimensional at best.
With that being said, why did I eat this book up? I mean, it definitely kept me turning pages. I was seriously curious about what happened and who actually committed the crime. It felt like I was reading a giant game of Clue, with all of the potential suspects the main character considers. It was a page turner for sure and very easy to read. I liked that about it, it felt like a brain snack.
Oh and their little village sounded adorable. I'd love to live there. Minus the murders.
October 15, 2023
This is a fun series. I really like the characters, the different small town and the chocolate, yum! This author does a wonderful job of creating a sense of community, and with the winter backdrop and the holidays it's a charming tale. When Becca agrees to compete in a holiday baking contest to gain publicity for the chocolate shop she has no idea what she's really getting into. With murder and mayhem surrounding all the holiday events it makes for a hopping mystery surrounded by holiday fun. You can feel the cold, taste the holiday chocolates, and ask questions right along with Becca, Dizzy and Sawyer. This is a sleigh ride you definitely want to be on!
April 15, 2023
I was excited to return to what sounds like the world’s most picturesque town with some thoroughly likable characters. I really like the growing romance between Sawyer and Becca, and the other minor characters continued to be charming. The murder was intriguing, but the resolution felt somewhat out of nowhere. I was thoroughly fooled, but at the same time, there didn’t seem to be any breadcrumbs leading to the conclusion, so it wasn’t overly satisfying. All in all, a series that I continue to enjoy and will certainly check out the next in series.
November 23, 2023
https://openbooksociety.com/article/b...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
I am extremely impressed with the talent, skill, and heart in this mystery! I felt that the setting and characters were at least as developed as a fourth or fifth in the series rather than the second. I was able to know the characters better and truly enjoy this unique town of Larch Haven, Vermont. The characters are very likeable and well-depicted and the setting is amazing. The mystery itself kept me guessing throughout, with a red herring that looked almost like the real bad guy.
Christmas is a couple weeks away, so I was surprised to see a baking competition so close to the big day. An actress, Becca had moved back to Larch Haven when her grandparents planned to retire from the family candy store, True Confections. Becca learned how to make chocolate from her grandmother as a child, and she just went to school to become the new chocolatier for the business. Her cousin Angie focused on the business aspects and the store itself.
Dizzy, Becca’s best friend, brought her a flyer for the third annual Baking Spirits Bright competition. As a chocolatier, Becca’s baking skills are not as extensive as her talent with chocolate, so she didn’t intend to compete. Finally, Dizzy and Angie wore her down, and she entered. If she makes it as far as the finals, True Confections will be written up in a magazine published for the New England area and hopefully gain new in person and on-line customers.
Encouragement from Angie, their beloved grandparents Lolly and Pops, Dizzy, and Becca’s high school crush, Sawyer, helped Becca begin the first round of competing with confidence. All snarky comments and rude behavior of a couple contestants aside, the first round went extremely well, and Becca was chosen as one of the four finalists. The night before the final, Becca took the supplies she needed to set up her cooking station at the town hall and heard a loud disagreement between Irma, a finalist who is an excellent baker, and her daughter Juniper. She also witnessed Irma’s long-time assistant shuffling through her boss’s handbag while she was out of the competition room.
The next morning when Becca arrived for the final, she went in with Stephanie, a top-notch cake baker and decorator. Becca thought she saw spots of blood both outside and inside the building. Irma was lying on the floor dead, with an injury she could not have made herself. There would be no final competition that day, or maybe ever. Especially when it is discovered that one of Becca’s specialized chocolate-making tools was the murder weapon.
Most people in town did not like Irma, but most would not kill her for being a grump, either. This was not a high-stakes competition, so other contestants had no real motive. Days later, when the final competition is rescheduled and another contestant has replaced Irma, a warning letter is left for one of the four, then Becca is pushed down a flight of stairs. This is not the normal contest.
Larch Haven, Vermont, would be the country’s leading tourist attraction if it were real! The word pictures are amazing! Instead of streets, there are canals with limits to watercraft used. Ice skates and snowshoes are perfect when canals are solid ice. Cobblestone walking areas, business, homes, and gardens have an old-world charm.
The town, its shops, and offices are so well-planned that I would anticipate seeing a print of street elevations. The characters are depicted as if known by the author for a long time. Conversations, attire, background, and behaviors bring them to life. I really enjoy almost everyone I’ve “met” so far.
This complex mystery was constructed with so many layers! The author does an excellent job of taking all the seemingly unrelated components and put everything together for a cohesive whole, like Becca making her detailed, edible “slice” of Larch Haven scene for her entry. For as much as I was wrapped up in this little town and its people, I not only did not come up with the real bad guy(s), I also didn’t have a motive that made one person different from any other. I love everything about this very surprising cozy mystery, and highly recommend it!
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
I am extremely impressed with the talent, skill, and heart in this mystery! I felt that the setting and characters were at least as developed as a fourth or fifth in the series rather than the second. I was able to know the characters better and truly enjoy this unique town of Larch Haven, Vermont. The characters are very likeable and well-depicted and the setting is amazing. The mystery itself kept me guessing throughout, with a red herring that looked almost like the real bad guy.
Christmas is a couple weeks away, so I was surprised to see a baking competition so close to the big day. An actress, Becca had moved back to Larch Haven when her grandparents planned to retire from the family candy store, True Confections. Becca learned how to make chocolate from her grandmother as a child, and she just went to school to become the new chocolatier for the business. Her cousin Angie focused on the business aspects and the store itself.
Dizzy, Becca’s best friend, brought her a flyer for the third annual Baking Spirits Bright competition. As a chocolatier, Becca’s baking skills are not as extensive as her talent with chocolate, so she didn’t intend to compete. Finally, Dizzy and Angie wore her down, and she entered. If she makes it as far as the finals, True Confections will be written up in a magazine published for the New England area and hopefully gain new in person and on-line customers.
Encouragement from Angie, their beloved grandparents Lolly and Pops, Dizzy, and Becca’s high school crush, Sawyer, helped Becca begin the first round of competing with confidence. All snarky comments and rude behavior of a couple contestants aside, the first round went extremely well, and Becca was chosen as one of the four finalists. The night before the final, Becca took the supplies she needed to set up her cooking station at the town hall and heard a loud disagreement between Irma, a finalist who is an excellent baker, and her daughter Juniper. She also witnessed Irma’s long-time assistant shuffling through her boss’s handbag while she was out of the competition room.
The next morning when Becca arrived for the final, she went in with Stephanie, a top-notch cake baker and decorator. Becca thought she saw spots of blood both outside and inside the building. Irma was lying on the floor dead, with an injury she could not have made herself. There would be no final competition that day, or maybe ever. Especially when it is discovered that one of Becca’s specialized chocolate-making tools was the murder weapon.
Most people in town did not like Irma, but most would not kill her for being a grump, either. This was not a high-stakes competition, so other contestants had no real motive. Days later, when the final competition is rescheduled and another contestant has replaced Irma, a warning letter is left for one of the four, then Becca is pushed down a flight of stairs. This is not the normal contest.
Larch Haven, Vermont, would be the country’s leading tourist attraction if it were real! The word pictures are amazing! Instead of streets, there are canals with limits to watercraft used. Ice skates and snowshoes are perfect when canals are solid ice. Cobblestone walking areas, business, homes, and gardens have an old-world charm.
The town, its shops, and offices are so well-planned that I would anticipate seeing a print of street elevations. The characters are depicted as if known by the author for a long time. Conversations, attire, background, and behaviors bring them to life. I really enjoy almost everyone I’ve “met” so far.
This complex mystery was constructed with so many layers! The author does an excellent job of taking all the seemingly unrelated components and put everything together for a cohesive whole, like Becca making her detailed, edible “slice” of Larch Haven scene for her entry. For as much as I was wrapped up in this little town and its people, I not only did not come up with the real bad guy(s), I also didn’t have a motive that made one person different from any other. I love everything about this very surprising cozy mystery, and highly recommend it!
October 13, 2023
Larch Haven, Vermont, is a charming small town. There are no cars or trucks, but there are canals where gondolas transport people through town. But when the year is closing out and the holidays are coming fast, the canals are frozen and perfect for ice skating. Becca Ransom has moved back home after several years in Los Angeles, where she had been an actor in a hit show. But now she’s back in Vermont, working as a chocolatier in her family’s chocolate shop, and she couldn’t be happier.
True Confections was started by her grandmother and now Becca makes the chocolates and her cousin Angela runs the business side. It’s a perfect setup for Becca, and she enjoys the quiet nights at home with her two cats, Truffles and Binx. But there is a baking competition coming to town, and her best friend Dizzy thinks Becca should join in and give it a shot.
It’s the third annual Baking Spirits Bright competition, and there are two rounds. In the first round, the 16 competitors are grouped into fours, and each group gets 90 minutes to bake two treats. Once everyone has baked, the judges will decide which four bakers will make it to the final round. Becca is in the first group to bake, so she can make her candy cane bonbons and not have to spend a lot of time worrying about the other contestants. After all, there is Irma Jones, who owns a local bakery. And Roman Kafka, the pastry chef from Becca’s brother’s restaurant. And there is Stephanie Kang, who owns a cake shop and makes Becca’s favorite cupcakes, and food blogger and influencer Amber Dubois.
Becca and her delicious chocolates and gingerbread make it through to the final round, along with Irma, Stephanie, and Roman. But when Becca and Stephanie arrive early to drop off their baking materials, they find Irma already there. But she is in no condition to bake. Someone has killed her.
The baking competition is postponed while the police investigate, but they don’t have any answers several days later. Becca gets the text that the competition is moving forward, with food blogger Amber taking Irma’s place. Becca decides to focus on the competition and do her best. For the five-hour competition, she has planned out Larch Haven in summer, with gingerbread shops and cottages, chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals, and mountains made of chocolate cake. But before they can get going, Amber bumps into her, spilling coffee all over Becca’s shirt.
Becca finds a light sweater she can wear instead, but as she makes her way back downstairs to where the competition kitchens are set up, someone pushes her from behind. Becca is okay, bruised and with a sore wrist, but she can still compete. But the police are concerned that these bakers are in danger. One has been killed and another attacked. Is that about Baking Spirits Bright, or is there something else going on in the small town?
Baking Spirits Bright is the second book in Sarah Fox’s True Confections Mystery series. And while the mystery is layered, with red herrings and twists throughout, I thought the real charm of this book was the town. Between the Christmas festivities and the layout of the town, I think it would be so much fun to live there or even to visit. Especially since the small town has a chocolate shop, a bakery, a cake shop, and a bookstore. I mean, what more do you need?
I thought Baking Spirits Bright was a fun cozy. I loved the baking competition, and the characters were interesting. I haven’t read the first one in the series yet, but I will need to go back and get caught up, just to hang out in Larch Haven some more. I think this series has a lot of potential, and I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble Becca finds herself in next.
Egalleys for Baking Spirits Bright were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.
True Confections was started by her grandmother and now Becca makes the chocolates and her cousin Angela runs the business side. It’s a perfect setup for Becca, and she enjoys the quiet nights at home with her two cats, Truffles and Binx. But there is a baking competition coming to town, and her best friend Dizzy thinks Becca should join in and give it a shot.
It’s the third annual Baking Spirits Bright competition, and there are two rounds. In the first round, the 16 competitors are grouped into fours, and each group gets 90 minutes to bake two treats. Once everyone has baked, the judges will decide which four bakers will make it to the final round. Becca is in the first group to bake, so she can make her candy cane bonbons and not have to spend a lot of time worrying about the other contestants. After all, there is Irma Jones, who owns a local bakery. And Roman Kafka, the pastry chef from Becca’s brother’s restaurant. And there is Stephanie Kang, who owns a cake shop and makes Becca’s favorite cupcakes, and food blogger and influencer Amber Dubois.
Becca and her delicious chocolates and gingerbread make it through to the final round, along with Irma, Stephanie, and Roman. But when Becca and Stephanie arrive early to drop off their baking materials, they find Irma already there. But she is in no condition to bake. Someone has killed her.
The baking competition is postponed while the police investigate, but they don’t have any answers several days later. Becca gets the text that the competition is moving forward, with food blogger Amber taking Irma’s place. Becca decides to focus on the competition and do her best. For the five-hour competition, she has planned out Larch Haven in summer, with gingerbread shops and cottages, chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals, and mountains made of chocolate cake. But before they can get going, Amber bumps into her, spilling coffee all over Becca’s shirt.
Becca finds a light sweater she can wear instead, but as she makes her way back downstairs to where the competition kitchens are set up, someone pushes her from behind. Becca is okay, bruised and with a sore wrist, but she can still compete. But the police are concerned that these bakers are in danger. One has been killed and another attacked. Is that about Baking Spirits Bright, or is there something else going on in the small town?
Baking Spirits Bright is the second book in Sarah Fox’s True Confections Mystery series. And while the mystery is layered, with red herrings and twists throughout, I thought the real charm of this book was the town. Between the Christmas festivities and the layout of the town, I think it would be so much fun to live there or even to visit. Especially since the small town has a chocolate shop, a bakery, a cake shop, and a bookstore. I mean, what more do you need?
I thought Baking Spirits Bright was a fun cozy. I loved the baking competition, and the characters were interesting. I haven’t read the first one in the series yet, but I will need to go back and get caught up, just to hang out in Larch Haven some more. I think this series has a lot of potential, and I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble Becca finds herself in next.
Egalleys for Baking Spirits Bright were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.
November 13, 2023
One of the most charming winter-y settings I’ve read, Sarah Fox’s Baking Spirits Bright is the perfect winter mystery! A chocolatier finds herself on the case to solve a mystery when a fellow contestant in a holiday baking competition is murdered with her chocolate chipper!
I am so happy I discovered this cozy mystery by Sarah Fox! I expected it to be a standard holiday-baking-competition-cozy-mystery, but it wasn’t that at all. This is a well-crafted, winter mystery that kicks off in the final round of a baking competition but isn’t necessarily related to the competition (though it could be). This mystery isn’t overly Christmas-y. In fact, I would describe this as more of a winter-theme than Christmas, taking place in December in the adorable town of Larch Haven, Vermont.
This is the second book in the True Confections Mystery Series, but it was easy to jump into without reading the first. Becca Ransom is a strong, caring, intelligent leading character. This is her first holiday season since she moved back to her hometown in Vermont. The town of Larch Haven is a charming setting. The town has canals and gondolas (in the summer) in place of roads. Now that it is winter, many of the residents get around town by ice skating, snow mobiles, snow shoes, skiing, or rented golf carts.
Becca and her cousin Angie co-own the True Confections chocolate shop, with Becca providing the creative side and Angie running the business. Angie encourages Becca to enter the Baking Spirits Bright competition because it is covered by a well-known magazine and would be great for their business. Becca is thrilled to make it to the final round, where she gets to flex her creative side making a chocolate model of Larch Haven. However, the finals are delayed when talented-but-disliked baker and contestant Irma is found dead.
Though the murder weapon is one of Becca’s tools, she’s quickly cleared as a suspect. This was a nice surprise, since cozies tend to have the protagonist as the leading suspect. The rest of the mystery unfolds with Becca and her best friend Dizzy sleuthing, with some help from their childhood friend and current police officer, Sawyer.
Though Irma was murdered at Town Hall where the baking competition was hosted, I thought it was clever that the murder wasn’t necessarily linked to the competition (at least not fully). The other finalists are suspects, but Irma had plenty of people who may have a motive to kill her. The mystery kept me engaged through out. Fox crafted it so the mystery was both who committed the murder and why were needed in order to solve it.
The mystery had some great twists that took it into new directions. I loved getting to know the different townspeople while also keeping the book focused exclusively on the mystery. The side plots all tie into the central mystery and I never felt the book strayed too far. This was necessary since the mystery was highly complex and had a lot of layers to it.
There were a few scenes that got my heart rate up, including a winter-y chase that terrified me and thrilled me in equal measure. The reveal at the end was surprising but also made sense, and I thought back to scenes and clues that I had overlooked starting way back at the beginning of the book and throughout.
I loved the narrator for the audiobook. She brought Becca and the mystery to life. I actually just grabbed the first book in the series on audiobook as well because I enjoyed it so much!
This mystery kept me guessing until the final page. The mystery is the best part but the setting and characters make this a must-read series. I loved everything about this winter-y cozy mystery!
I am so happy I discovered this cozy mystery by Sarah Fox! I expected it to be a standard holiday-baking-competition-cozy-mystery, but it wasn’t that at all. This is a well-crafted, winter mystery that kicks off in the final round of a baking competition but isn’t necessarily related to the competition (though it could be). This mystery isn’t overly Christmas-y. In fact, I would describe this as more of a winter-theme than Christmas, taking place in December in the adorable town of Larch Haven, Vermont.
This is the second book in the True Confections Mystery Series, but it was easy to jump into without reading the first. Becca Ransom is a strong, caring, intelligent leading character. This is her first holiday season since she moved back to her hometown in Vermont. The town of Larch Haven is a charming setting. The town has canals and gondolas (in the summer) in place of roads. Now that it is winter, many of the residents get around town by ice skating, snow mobiles, snow shoes, skiing, or rented golf carts.
Becca and her cousin Angie co-own the True Confections chocolate shop, with Becca providing the creative side and Angie running the business. Angie encourages Becca to enter the Baking Spirits Bright competition because it is covered by a well-known magazine and would be great for their business. Becca is thrilled to make it to the final round, where she gets to flex her creative side making a chocolate model of Larch Haven. However, the finals are delayed when talented-but-disliked baker and contestant Irma is found dead.
Though the murder weapon is one of Becca’s tools, she’s quickly cleared as a suspect. This was a nice surprise, since cozies tend to have the protagonist as the leading suspect. The rest of the mystery unfolds with Becca and her best friend Dizzy sleuthing, with some help from their childhood friend and current police officer, Sawyer.
Though Irma was murdered at Town Hall where the baking competition was hosted, I thought it was clever that the murder wasn’t necessarily linked to the competition (at least not fully). The other finalists are suspects, but Irma had plenty of people who may have a motive to kill her. The mystery kept me engaged through out. Fox crafted it so the mystery was both who committed the murder and why were needed in order to solve it.
The mystery had some great twists that took it into new directions. I loved getting to know the different townspeople while also keeping the book focused exclusively on the mystery. The side plots all tie into the central mystery and I never felt the book strayed too far. This was necessary since the mystery was highly complex and had a lot of layers to it.
There were a few scenes that got my heart rate up, including a winter-y chase that terrified me and thrilled me in equal measure. The reveal at the end was surprising but also made sense, and I thought back to scenes and clues that I had overlooked starting way back at the beginning of the book and throughout.
I loved the narrator for the audiobook. She brought Becca and the mystery to life. I actually just grabbed the first book in the series on audiobook as well because I enjoyed it so much!
This mystery kept me guessing until the final page. The mystery is the best part but the setting and characters make this a must-read series. I loved everything about this winter-y cozy mystery!
December 16, 2023
This fabulous cozy mystery takes place just before Christmas, but can be enjoyed any time of year. I could almost smell the chocolates and gingerbread with every page turned! I am happy to see the main characters again, as well as this charming little town I would love to visit.
Larch Haven is very different from the usual New England town. Using her wonderful imagination, the author gives us a town without streets. Instead, there are canals on which certain kinds of watercraft can navigate, and cobblestone walkways. Most of the buildings and gardens are works of art, somewhat resembling Venice.
This will be Becca’s first Christmas as the professional chocolatier at True Confections, the elegant, hand-crafted chocolates company that her grandparents are retiring from. Becca loved making candy since her grandmother, Lolly, taught her as a child. She set aside her acting career in California to return to her hometown of Larch Haven.
Becca is participating in the Baking Spirits Bright baking competition. She had not planned to, as it is the shop’s busy season and her specialty is chocolate rather than baking. Her cousin Angie, handling the admin and sales for the store, pointed out benefits for the shop, including coverage in a regional magazine if she is chosen as a finalist.
Well beyond her expectations, Becca was chosen as one of the four finalists, and had a couple days to prepare for the big event. The work is to be an edible outdoor scene meeting several criteria, one being a set time frame in which to complete it. The night before, she moved most of the necessary supplies and ingredients to the town hall, where the competition is held. That is allowed so the bakers have little to be concerned with the next morning other than bringing any perishable ingredients. As with the first competition, Becca has timed every step of what she is doing, then written the order of what to prepare when to meet that time. Inside the building, she heard angry voices, one of them being finalist Irma, a local bakery owner. She is an excellent baker, but not a nice woman. She and her adult daughter are having an argument, so Becca didn’t enter the room until it was over.
The next morning, she and master cake baker and decorator, Stephanie, arrived at the same time and went in. They found Irma on the floor; it looked like she had been attacked and died. The contents of her purse were scattered. Whoever killed her also did a disservice to Becca. Whodunit took one of her chocolatier tools from her work station to use as the murder weapon. It was a couple more days, a different venue, and choosing another finalist before the next big day arrived. Her high school crush and now police officer friend Sawyer is doing what he can to encourage Becca, as is best friend Dizzy. Dizzy and Becca are trying to find whodunit, which they did successfully on another case in recent months.
Plot twists continued to change who was first on Dizzy and Becca’s suspect list. I admire Sawyer in that he didn’t discount any of Becca’s suspicions or theories. There were more components to this mystery than met the eye. I didn’t have an idea whodunit. The mystery is so masterfully told that I became content to watch Becca. I was very surprised with the resolutions, and very pleased with the ending. I can’t wait to read the next one, and highly recommend this to anyone who loves well-written cozy mysteries, Christmas, and chocolate!
Larch Haven is very different from the usual New England town. Using her wonderful imagination, the author gives us a town without streets. Instead, there are canals on which certain kinds of watercraft can navigate, and cobblestone walkways. Most of the buildings and gardens are works of art, somewhat resembling Venice.
This will be Becca’s first Christmas as the professional chocolatier at True Confections, the elegant, hand-crafted chocolates company that her grandparents are retiring from. Becca loved making candy since her grandmother, Lolly, taught her as a child. She set aside her acting career in California to return to her hometown of Larch Haven.
Becca is participating in the Baking Spirits Bright baking competition. She had not planned to, as it is the shop’s busy season and her specialty is chocolate rather than baking. Her cousin Angie, handling the admin and sales for the store, pointed out benefits for the shop, including coverage in a regional magazine if she is chosen as a finalist.
Well beyond her expectations, Becca was chosen as one of the four finalists, and had a couple days to prepare for the big event. The work is to be an edible outdoor scene meeting several criteria, one being a set time frame in which to complete it. The night before, she moved most of the necessary supplies and ingredients to the town hall, where the competition is held. That is allowed so the bakers have little to be concerned with the next morning other than bringing any perishable ingredients. As with the first competition, Becca has timed every step of what she is doing, then written the order of what to prepare when to meet that time. Inside the building, she heard angry voices, one of them being finalist Irma, a local bakery owner. She is an excellent baker, but not a nice woman. She and her adult daughter are having an argument, so Becca didn’t enter the room until it was over.
The next morning, she and master cake baker and decorator, Stephanie, arrived at the same time and went in. They found Irma on the floor; it looked like she had been attacked and died. The contents of her purse were scattered. Whoever killed her also did a disservice to Becca. Whodunit took one of her chocolatier tools from her work station to use as the murder weapon. It was a couple more days, a different venue, and choosing another finalist before the next big day arrived. Her high school crush and now police officer friend Sawyer is doing what he can to encourage Becca, as is best friend Dizzy. Dizzy and Becca are trying to find whodunit, which they did successfully on another case in recent months.
Plot twists continued to change who was first on Dizzy and Becca’s suspect list. I admire Sawyer in that he didn’t discount any of Becca’s suspicions or theories. There were more components to this mystery than met the eye. I didn’t have an idea whodunit. The mystery is so masterfully told that I became content to watch Becca. I was very surprised with the resolutions, and very pleased with the ending. I can’t wait to read the next one, and highly recommend this to anyone who loves well-written cozy mysteries, Christmas, and chocolate!
February 5, 2024
Baking Spirits Bright
A True Confections Mystery, Book #2
Sarah Fox
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In a cute new culinary cozy from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, budding chocolatier Becca Ransom must solve a murder before she meets a sticky end.
Winter has arrived in Larch Haven, Vermont, bringing with it holiday cheer, lots of snow, and freezing temperatures. Becca Ransom is squeezing in time to skate on the frozen canals and drink hot chocolate by a roaring fire while also whipping up new creations for her family’s chocolate shop and experimenting with holiday flavors like eggnog, gingerbread, and peppermint. At the same time, Becca is preparing for the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition, a popular annual event. She’s planning to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, with a mountain backdrop made of cake, gingerbread cottages, and chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals.
Professional bakers and a local food blogger are also participating in the event and they aren’t about to go down without a fight. The competition quickly heats to a boiling point, with flaring tempers and mysterious happenings. When one of the entrants is found dead, stabbed with Becca’s chocolate chipper, Becca tries to salvage the season by finding the killer. But the heat is on, and Becca is in danger of getting burned.(Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Becca has decided to enter the holiday baking competition and make an edible model of Larch Haven. Before the competition is done, someone has been murdered. Becca will have to figure out who the culprit is and the why.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. Whether I was walking around Larch Haven or watching Becca make the chocolates, I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place. The writing flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and it was not easily solved. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
A True Confections Mystery, Book #2
Sarah Fox
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In a cute new culinary cozy from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, budding chocolatier Becca Ransom must solve a murder before she meets a sticky end.
Winter has arrived in Larch Haven, Vermont, bringing with it holiday cheer, lots of snow, and freezing temperatures. Becca Ransom is squeezing in time to skate on the frozen canals and drink hot chocolate by a roaring fire while also whipping up new creations for her family’s chocolate shop and experimenting with holiday flavors like eggnog, gingerbread, and peppermint. At the same time, Becca is preparing for the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition, a popular annual event. She’s planning to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, with a mountain backdrop made of cake, gingerbread cottages, and chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals.
Professional bakers and a local food blogger are also participating in the event and they aren’t about to go down without a fight. The competition quickly heats to a boiling point, with flaring tempers and mysterious happenings. When one of the entrants is found dead, stabbed with Becca’s chocolate chipper, Becca tries to salvage the season by finding the killer. But the heat is on, and Becca is in danger of getting burned.(Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Becca has decided to enter the holiday baking competition and make an edible model of Larch Haven. Before the competition is done, someone has been murdered. Becca will have to figure out who the culprit is and the why.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. Whether I was walking around Larch Haven or watching Becca make the chocolates, I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place. The writing flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and it was not easily solved. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
October 10, 2023
Becca Ransom is getting settled back into life in Larch Haven, Vermont, after working in Los Angeles as an actress. The holidays are coming up, and the canals throughout the town are frozen and perfect for skating and getting into the Christmas spirit. Becca is looking forward to her first Christmas since returning to her hometown. She is busy preparing holiday sweets for the family chocolate shop, but her best friend, Dizzy Bautista, convinces her to enter the annual Baking Spirits Bright competition. The excitement of the contest is dampened when one of the bakers is murdered. Even though her friend, Sawyer Maguire, who is on the local police force, tells Becca to stay out of it for her own safety, Becca can’t help but launch her own investigation into the death.
This is the second book in a charming series, but you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one. The small-town atmosphere with so many cute shops is ideal for a cozy mystery series. Becca is a likable main character, and I especially enjoy her friendship with Dizzy. They are there for each other during their sleuthing escapades and in the ups and downs of their lives in general. I also like Becca’s renewed friendship and the promise of something more with Sawyer.
The murder victim in this story was an unpleasant person, so there is no shortage of suspects. There are also plenty of townspeople willing to gossip, so Becca is able to get information that the police can’t by talking to people and keeping her ears open. I wasn’t able to guess who the killer was, but there didn’t seem to be any clues leading to this person either, so the resolution wasn’t very satisfying. On the other hand, the overall ending of the book was wonderful and uplifting for a mystery set around the holidays.
~ Christine
This is the second book in a charming series, but you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one. The small-town atmosphere with so many cute shops is ideal for a cozy mystery series. Becca is a likable main character, and I especially enjoy her friendship with Dizzy. They are there for each other during their sleuthing escapades and in the ups and downs of their lives in general. I also like Becca’s renewed friendship and the promise of something more with Sawyer.
The murder victim in this story was an unpleasant person, so there is no shortage of suspects. There are also plenty of townspeople willing to gossip, so Becca is able to get information that the police can’t by talking to people and keeping her ears open. I wasn’t able to guess who the killer was, but there didn’t seem to be any clues leading to this person either, so the resolution wasn’t very satisfying. On the other hand, the overall ending of the book was wonderful and uplifting for a mystery set around the holidays.
~ Christine
November 9, 2023
BAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT is the second book in the True Confections Mysteries by Sarah Fox. This book has everything a holiday cozy mystery should be: a charming town, snow, ice skating on frozen canals, hot cocoa, a Baking Spirits Bright baking competition...and murder. The author brings each holiday scene to life with Christmas cheer, through her strong descriptive voice, including the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells. It makes the reader feel like their right there in Larch Haven, Vermont celebrating alongside protagonist, Becca Ransom. I adore her family’s chocolate shop, True Confections, and the close relationship she has with her cousin and her grandparents, Lolly and Pop. Like the candies Becca makes, this book is charmingly sweet.
Lest the reader gets lulled into a sense of comfort and joy, the author stays true to the book’s genre and murder ensues. One of Becca’s competitors is found murdered at the baking competition’s venue. Was one of the participants trying to weed out their competition? That seems possible after an unknown person pushed Becca down the stairway. However, as Becca asks questions and delves into the victim’s personal life, she discovers the hateful woman had more than her share of disgruntled employees and acquaintances. There were suspects galore and clues were sprinkled throughout for the sharp reader to follow. And, as Becca gets more embroiled in uncovering the killer, heart-pounding danger follows her. With an edge-of-your-seat reveal, the clues dropped into place and justice was served.
The yummy confections mentioned throughout the book will have you craving chocolate. My advice is to make one of the recipes at the back of the book to have on hand while you read this charming holiday cozy mystery!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lest the reader gets lulled into a sense of comfort and joy, the author stays true to the book’s genre and murder ensues. One of Becca’s competitors is found murdered at the baking competition’s venue. Was one of the participants trying to weed out their competition? That seems possible after an unknown person pushed Becca down the stairway. However, as Becca asks questions and delves into the victim’s personal life, she discovers the hateful woman had more than her share of disgruntled employees and acquaintances. There were suspects galore and clues were sprinkled throughout for the sharp reader to follow. And, as Becca gets more embroiled in uncovering the killer, heart-pounding danger follows her. With an edge-of-your-seat reveal, the clues dropped into place and justice was served.
The yummy confections mentioned throughout the book will have you craving chocolate. My advice is to make one of the recipes at the back of the book to have on hand while you read this charming holiday cozy mystery!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 21, 2025
Becca Ransom is ready to deck the halls and bake the absolute most extra holiday treat for Larch Haven’s Baking Spirits Bright competition—until someone literally drops dead and takes the festive mood with them. In Baking Spirits Bright, Sarah Fox serves up another cozy mystery, this time with a side of murder that threatens to ruin Becca’s Christmas cheer. When a fellow contestant meets an untimely end and the evidence starts looking way too suspiciously in Becca’s direction, she has no choice but to trade her rolling pin for a magnifying glass. Because nothing says holiday spirit like solving a murder before the cocoa cools.
This book has everything: murder by chocolate chipper, town-wide Christmas festivities, a dash of romance, and enough baked goods descriptions to make you consider quitting your job and opening a bakery. Becca is as charming as ever, and the Larch Haven setting—basically a Hallmark movie set but with homicide—adds a magical, snow-dusted backdrop to all the amateur sleuthing. The mystery is layered with just the right mix of intrigue and small-town gossip, and the supporting cast (including some delightfully nosy locals) keeps things light and fun. And yes, there is romance tension brewing, because what’s a holiday mystery without a little will-they-won’t-they coziness?
At 4 stars, Baking Spirits Bright is a deliciously festive mystery that can be enjoyed as a standalone—even if you haven’t read the first book in the series, you’ll settle in just fine. With charming small-town drama, a well-plotted whodunit, and enough holiday sweetness to give you a sugar rush, this is the kind of cozy crime-solving you’ll want to curl up with next to a crackling fire.
This book has everything: murder by chocolate chipper, town-wide Christmas festivities, a dash of romance, and enough baked goods descriptions to make you consider quitting your job and opening a bakery. Becca is as charming as ever, and the Larch Haven setting—basically a Hallmark movie set but with homicide—adds a magical, snow-dusted backdrop to all the amateur sleuthing. The mystery is layered with just the right mix of intrigue and small-town gossip, and the supporting cast (including some delightfully nosy locals) keeps things light and fun. And yes, there is romance tension brewing, because what’s a holiday mystery without a little will-they-won’t-they coziness?
At 4 stars, Baking Spirits Bright is a deliciously festive mystery that can be enjoyed as a standalone—even if you haven’t read the first book in the series, you’ll settle in just fine. With charming small-town drama, a well-plotted whodunit, and enough holiday sweetness to give you a sugar rush, this is the kind of cozy crime-solving you’ll want to curl up with next to a crackling fire.
October 8, 2023
Baking Spirits Bright by Sarah Fox takes us back to Larch Haven, Vermont where Becca Ransom is entering the Third Annual Baking Spirits Bright competition. Larch Haven is a unique town. It is a cross between a cozy Vermont town and Venice with the canals. I would love to skate on the canals in the winter and then warm up with a delicious cup of hot chocolate. Becca is getting the hang of being a chocolatier. The luscious descriptions had my mouth watering (had me heading to the pantry where I keep my chocolate stash). Competition brings out the bad side in individuals. Irma, the perpetually grouchy owner of the local bakery, is found dead before the final round in the competition. Becca switches her tam O’shanter for a deerstalker cap and begins sifting through the clues. Becca needs to be careful, or she could get burned. I figured out the mystery before Irma was murdered. I felt that there needed to be more clues along the way to help lead readers to the guilty party. I would have loved a twist. There is some action to spice things up. The whodunit is neatly wrapped up at the end. One of my favorite characters is Lolly, Becca’s grandmother. She is a sweet, warmhearted woman. There is some romance as well. It seems that Becca’s old schoolgirl crush might finally reciprocate her feelings. I could have done with less repetition. The author captured the chilly climate of Vermont in the winter. I could feel Jack Frost nipping at my nose. Baking Spirits Bright is the second book in A True Confections Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Baking Spirits Bright is a merry mystery with chocolate confections, a butchered baker, a distinctive stranger, taking a tumble, gossip girls, and enlightening notes.
December 13, 2023
Baking Spirits Bright is the second book in Sarah Fox's True Confections mystery series and I truly loved it! First it is set during Christmas and it gives me all the Christmas cozy feelings. Being back in Larch Haven, VT with Rebecca "Becca" Ransom along with her friends and family was great and I loved Dizzy who was her sleuthing sidekick or as she calls herself Dr. Hazellit to Becca's Jessica Fletcher.
When Becca enters the Baking Spirts Bright competition she saw it as a opportunity to get some great publicity for the family business True Confections weather she wins or not what she wasn't expecting to discover the body of her competitor namely the very disliked Irma Jones. Irma was a great baker was thoroughly disliked by everyone in Larch Haven so the list of suspects is longer than Santa's naughty or nice list. Irma kept a notebook full of notes she made on just about everyone in town. Plus who is the mysterious Daniel Hathaway who is Becca keeps seeing around town could he be Irma's killer or Irma's employee or Irma's daughter or could it be someone mentioned in the missing notebook?
Becca really tries to stay out of it but soon she and Dizzy find themselves investigating despite their friend Officer Sawyer repeatedly asking them to leave the investigating to the police but hey find it very hard.
I was so wrapped up in the mystery and although everyone in town could have been a suspect my hats off to the author for keeping the list of suspects very short and the red herrings plentiful and the Gossip Grannies gossiping.
Great 2nd book and can't wait for the thirst book in this great series!
When Becca enters the Baking Spirts Bright competition she saw it as a opportunity to get some great publicity for the family business True Confections weather she wins or not what she wasn't expecting to discover the body of her competitor namely the very disliked Irma Jones. Irma was a great baker was thoroughly disliked by everyone in Larch Haven so the list of suspects is longer than Santa's naughty or nice list. Irma kept a notebook full of notes she made on just about everyone in town. Plus who is the mysterious Daniel Hathaway who is Becca keeps seeing around town could he be Irma's killer or Irma's employee or Irma's daughter or could it be someone mentioned in the missing notebook?
Becca really tries to stay out of it but soon she and Dizzy find themselves investigating despite their friend Officer Sawyer repeatedly asking them to leave the investigating to the police but hey find it very hard.
I was so wrapped up in the mystery and although everyone in town could have been a suspect my hats off to the author for keeping the list of suspects very short and the red herrings plentiful and the Gossip Grannies gossiping.
Great 2nd book and can't wait for the thirst book in this great series!
August 20, 2023
“Baking Spirits Bright” by Sarah Fox the 2nd instalment in the "True Confections Mystery" series. I love this series and book 2 did not disappoint!
Budding chocolatier Becca Ransom must solve a murder before she meets a sticky end.
I loved it! I really enjoyed visiting Larch Haven , and the True Confections shop at Christmas. How fun skating along the canals to get hot chocolate or work. Larch Haven is magical and I only wish it was a real town so I could go visit. Truffles and Binx get into a bit of mischief with the Christmas tree which is exactly what my cats did to mine so I could totally picture it. Another thing I enjoyed was the budding relationship between Becca and Sawyer.
This go around Becca is preparing for the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition, a popular annual event. She’s planning to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, with a mountain backdrop made of cake, gingerbread cottages, and chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals.
Irma was a grouchy woman who never seemed to be happy but did she deserve to die …
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Becca did. I am ready for some Christmas chocolates now, thank goodness Recipes are in the back of book…
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
I requested and received an Advanced Reader copy from Berkeley and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Budding chocolatier Becca Ransom must solve a murder before she meets a sticky end.
I loved it! I really enjoyed visiting Larch Haven , and the True Confections shop at Christmas. How fun skating along the canals to get hot chocolate or work. Larch Haven is magical and I only wish it was a real town so I could go visit. Truffles and Binx get into a bit of mischief with the Christmas tree which is exactly what my cats did to mine so I could totally picture it. Another thing I enjoyed was the budding relationship between Becca and Sawyer.
This go around Becca is preparing for the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition, a popular annual event. She’s planning to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, with a mountain backdrop made of cake, gingerbread cottages, and chocolate gondolas on sugar-glass canals.
Irma was a grouchy woman who never seemed to be happy but did she deserve to die …
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Becca did. I am ready for some Christmas chocolates now, thank goodness Recipes are in the back of book…
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
I requested and received an Advanced Reader copy from Berkeley and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
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