Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 12/28/2017 + 465 more book reviews

Cake and Punishment is the debut of the A Southern Cake Baker Mystery series set in the small town of Rumford, Kentucky and featuring pastry chef Sophia Cummings. Sophia has been living in NYC and working at the job of her dreams alongside her boyfriend Chef Noah. On a day off she heads to the restaurant to surprise Noah and discovers him in a compromising position with the hostess, unable to cope with the embarrassment she heads back to her hometown of Rumford with her tail between her legs.

Sophia's mom has never been too happy with her daughter's choice of profession, having much preferred that she stay at home in Rumford and join the society set. With her daughter back in town she's determined to drag her to every club meeting she can. At a meeting of the Junior League Sophia runs into her old high school friend Charlotte. Charlotte is getting married in a few short days and her wedding cake baker has up and quit - she guilts Sophia into baking the cake for her and using the kitchen at the Rumford Country Club.

Arriving early at the club one morning, Sophia and Charlotte find Chef Emile bludgeoned to death with a frying pan. Knowing full well the skillet didn't belong to the Chef, Sophia offers her opinions to the hunky Sheriff Carter and before she knows it is caught up in the investigation of his murder.

A terrific start to a series - full of well developed quirky and fun characters, a bucolic Southern town full of charm, the hint of romance and plenty of suspects. The author has done a great job of transporting the reader right into the heart of Rumford. With plenty of possibilities on the horizon for Sophia, this series is sure to delight for a long time to come. Oh, the recipes are mouth watering too.

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