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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Bake Offed in Books

Dec 1, 2022 (Updated Dec 1, 2022)  
Bake Offed
Bake Offed
Maya Corrigan | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mystery at the Mystery Convention
Val Deniston and her granddad are going to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest to help her friend Bethany with it. And Granddad, aka the Codger Cook, is participating in the mystery themed baking competition the first night. One of his fellow contestants is Cynthia Sweet, the woman that Granddad feels stole his shot at turning his Codger Cook recipe column into a book. But when Val finds Cynthia dead in the middle of the night, the two of them start to discover that other people didn’t like Cynthia either. Can they figure out who killed her?

Since the fest is out of town, we don’t see much of the other series regulars, but the series usually focuses on Val and Granddad, so it’s not too big of a loss. This also gives us plenty of time to get to know the new characters, who rise to the occasion. And there is a return appearance by a character from early in the series that is fun. The plot is wonderful. It is intricately plotted, yet it holds together at the end. As someone who complains about the timelines in books when they don’t work, I have to praise this one for holding together perfectly. I got a kick out of the mystery fest setting. The recipes at the end are great fun as well, but I’ll leave that for you to explore on your own. Fans of the series will be happy with this book. If you are looking for a fun culinary cozy series, I definitely recommend you check this one out.
  
Sir Avery's Wish (Club Sensation #3)
Sir Avery's Wish (Club Sensation #3)
Morticia Knight | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SIR AVERY'S WISH is the third book in the Club Sensation series, and tells us the story of Eli and Avery. Eli is originally from LA, but escapes to Boston after witnessing a murder. Avery is the owner of a hotel/conference centre and is friends with Zane. He has been on hiatus from playing at the club for a while, but doesn't fully understand why until Zane lays it out for him. Avery meets Eli when it comes to his attention that a boy is sleeping in the laundry room, but Eli takes off before Avery can help. Through a series of events, Eli ends up staying with Zane, Ty, and Ryan. Through them, he gets a job and sees Avery again for the first time since running away, and this time, Avery intends to do all he can to help him stay.

This was a sweet story with a solid connection between Avery and Eli, once they actually get into the same physical space. Through Avery's care and praise, Eli blossoms in so many ways, not only in trusting Avery and telling him about his past. It is definitely a two-way street in this relationship, as Avery benefits too.

I found the pacing to be smooth up until the end, and then it seemed a little rushed to me. Saying that, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters, and look forward to seeing more of those in Club Sensation, especially Gabe, who had a little crush on Avery. Definitely recommended by me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Aug 22, 2025