Here I am with another new cozy series to share with you!
Killer Wedding Cake is the fifth book in the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery Series.
A yummy cozy with a colorful cast of characters.
Enjoy my review.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win a copy of this book!
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Killer Wedding Cake
A Daphne Martin Cake Mystery
by Gayle Trent
My Review
I’ve read several of The Embroidery Shop Mystery books under this author’s pseudonym of Amanda Lee and really enjoyed them. So I couldn’t pass up a chance to try this series too.
I felt for Daphne. Her wedding to the man of her dreams is only weeks away. She’s an award-winning cake decorator and has lots of orders to fill. On top of that she has a lot of last minute issues to take care of before the big day.
What she doesn’t need is a surprise visit from her ex-husband, Todd. After seven years in prison for shooting at her, he surprises her at her doorstep, professing his undying love and begging for a second chance. He hustles her inside her house and when she sees her chance, she rushes out and over to the neighbors to call the police.
Upon their arrival, Todd is gone and the police do what they can, getting her a temporary restraining order and making sure she gets to a safe place for the night.
Worried he might come back, she’s stunned when the police come to her door, telling her they found Todd dead in his hotel room.
Why did Todd wait months after his release from prison to come to her door? Who wanted him dead? Was she next? Daphne needs answers quick or she just might be the next dead body found.
This was a super fast read for me. The author gave me so many fun characters to love. I’d like to share something about all of them with you, but that would take a lot of words. Young and old. Friend, neighbor, or family. All of them don’t hesitate to jump in and help Daphne with her wedding and the investigation.
There’s more than one murder and I had Todd’s figured out rather easily. What I didn’t see coming was who was behind all of it. The author was sparing with her clues and it came as a surprise.
I wish I could say what hooked me the most, but not being a writer, I’m stumbling here. Everything worked to keep me reading one more page, one more chapter, until I reached the end.
While this is the fifth book in the series, you don’t have to have read the other books to enjoy this one. It reads well as a stand alone.
Make sure you check out the recipes too. Some delicious ones.
4 Stars
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Synopsis:
Daphne Martin’s wedding to Ben Jacobs is only a couple of weeks away. An award-winning cake decorator, Daphne is busy designing their wedding cake. Her twin nephew and niece, Lucas and Leslie, are excited about being in the wedding party. And Daphne’s brother-in-law Jason is planning a bachelor party for Ben. Everything is going beautifully until Daphne’s ex-husband Todd shows up. Just released from prison after serving a sentence based on his shooting a gun at Daphne, Todd comes to Brea Ridge to profess his undying love for her.
Despite Daphne’s attempts to make Todd leave town, he insists on hanging around to reconnect with people he used to know. When he’s found murdered, Daphne finds herself at the center of the investigation. Now she must track down Todd’s killer before she becomes the next victim. Can she still make it to the church on time?
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About The Author
Gayle Trent (and pseudonym Amanda Lee) writes the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating series and the Embroidery Mystery series. The cake decorating series features a heroine who is starting her life over in Southwest Virginia after a nasty divorce. The Embroidery Mystery series features a heroine who recently moved to the Oregon coast to open an embroidery specialty shop.
Author Links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest
Purchase Links –
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I have one eBook copy of Killer Wedding Cake to give away!
Entry is easy.
Just leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and leave some comment love. Ask the author a question, comment on the cover or synopsis. Just say something!
Ends August 17th.
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Follow the tour for more fun posts and chances to win!
Tour Participants
August 4 – fuonlyknew – Review
August 5 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post
August 6 – Queen of All She Reads – Review
August 6 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review
August 7 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post
August 8 – Christa Reads and Writes – Review
August 9 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview
August 10 – Back Porchervations – Review
August 11 – MysteriesEtc – Review
August 12 – Community Bookstop – Review
August 13 – readalot – Review
August 14 – Bunny’s Review – Review
August 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Spotlight
August 15 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review
August 16 – dru’s book musings – Guest Post
August 16 – A Cozy Girl Reads – Review
August 17 – Babs Book Bistro – Review
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I think I’ve read two of the “Embroidery Shop” mysteries. This was my first “Daphne Martin”. Yup. I’ve got to go back and read the others now.
Between the Trent and Lee personas, this author is quickly finding her way onto my list of favorite cozy authors!
I’ve read some of the Embroidery Shop books. I still need to go back and start from the beginning. This is another series I’ll be doing that with.
Thank you so much, fuonlyknew! 😀
Thank you so much, LuAnn! You’ve made my day! 🙂
A great review thank you. I’m going to enjoy this.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks Mary. I had a lot of fun with this one:)
Thank you, Mary! 🙂
This sounds like a great book. Thank you for the chance.
Moonbay7399@gmail.com
Another fun cozy series for sure!
Thank you, Candace! 🙂
Looks great, thanks for the chance and I hope to get a chance to read it soon 🙂
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
I hope you do too!
Thank you, Lisa! 🙂
Looks like a fun read 🙂 The author has a very beautiful dog !
Lots of fun and yes, such a beautiful dog!
Cooper says, “Aw…shucks!” 🙂
Thank you, Red! He’s a sweetheart! 🙂
Love the title. It calls to mind all sorts of things.
debby236 at hotmail dot com
Some fun things!
Thank you, Debbie! 🙂
The cake is so beautiful, then bam! That red hand! Sounds like a good cozy, I haven’t read this persona of Amanda Lee’s yet! Thanks!
LOL I loved that bloody hand!
Dun, Dun, DUNN! 😉
A great review thank you. I love the title!
peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net
Thank you, Peggy! I love the title too. It’s fun to see what the author comes up with for each book in the series:)
Thank you, Peggy! Doesn’t fuonlyknew ROCK?! 🙂
Thank you, Peggy! 🙂
The title cracks me up…lol. 🙂
Stormi
booklady2007 @ gmail dot com
Thank you, Stormi! 🙂
I hear ya! And that cover is perfect!
Absolutely can’t wait to read it! I have read all the Daphene Martin cake mysteries and love them!
Aw, thank you so much, Audrey! I appreciate you! 🙂
I plan to!
Love the cozy mysteries and looking forward to reading yours. jchizmar01@windstream.net 🙂
You’ll have a lot of fun:)
Thank you, Jane!
Sounds like “my kind of book”. My wish list just got longer. Your dog is stunning! servedogmom@yahoo.com
Thank you so much! He isn’t spoiled at all (eye roll)! 😀
I LOVE ALL YOUR BOOKS!! YOUR BOOKS ARE A WONDERFUL ESCAPE AND WIND DOWN AFTER MY 24HOURS ON AN AMBULANCE AS A PARAMEDIC.
Wow. These should help you unwind:)
Thank you, Sherry, for both your kind words and the service you perform!
I like the cover; I know it’s a bloody handprint but it reminds me of little kids sneaking a handful of cake. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Rose M.
harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you, Rose! 🙂
It could be finger paint. LOL
I love the cover! This sounds like a series I need to start. Thanks for the chance to win.
So do I:) And I will be reading the other books now. How can I resist.
Thank you, Laura!
Thank you, Marsha!
Looks like a good book. Even if I don’t win, I will read it.
Yeah! You’ll get hooked:)
Thanks so much, Julia!
This would be my 1st summer read of this year! It’s time I stop and relax with a great read.
It sure is and you’ll get a fun read with this one:)
Thank you, Robin!
this book looks really good..would love to read it..
I sure had fun:)
Thanks, Cheryl!
Sounds like a good book!
No doubt about it!
Thanks, Michelle!
Looking forward to reading this – hopefully soon! cheers@marjimmanor.com
I hope you do:)
Thanks, Margo!
I haven’t read any of Gayle’s books yet but love the sound of this one. Will be adding it to my tbr list!!!
yellowwyytch@yahoo.com
I hope you try her books. You’ll have fun:)
Thank you, Taryn! I hope you enjoy it!
This sounds like a great book. Have to add this to my TBR list!!!
Yep, it was a lot of fun:)
Thanks, Debbie!
Would love to have this book to read. The synopsis was very enticing.
The blurb and the cover and the title all make it one to read!
Thank you, Mary!
Definitely added to list to read…. Cake is beautiful…. the bloody hand, maybe not as much.
afarage (at) earthlink (dot) net
That hand does catch your eye, doesn’t it!
Let’s just think of it as strawberry filling. 😉
How much input did you have on the final cover, Gayle.
sherry @ fundinmental
Good question, Sherry!
Not a lot, but when the designer sent me the proof, I fell in love with it.
Oh my, I think I’d be torn about my feelings for the ex. On one hand I’d be relieved that he’s head while on the other I’ll be scared because… killer on he loose!
Yeah. The good, the bad, and the Uh Oh!
Exactly! 🙂
love to read your book
You’ll enjoy it!
Thank you so much!
Hope you plan to continue this series California fire officials say the flames are heading north and Harintri brush!! I love ir!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
I hope she continues it too:)
I do plan to continue the series, Sandy. I appreciate your encouragement. Please stay safe!
I’d love to win! Thanks for the opportunity!
sharonbabyme@yahoo.com
Thank you!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I have been enjoying this series. Happy to see a new one. Congrats
gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net
I do love a series and now I’m going back to the beginning.
Sounds like a fun book! Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Indeed, it is!
I love this series! I feel like a bad fan because I didn’t realize another book was released 🙁
If you fan the author on Goodreads, you’ll get her updates. That’s how I keep track. Plus signing up for their news letters! Don’t want to miss a thing. LOL
Email is sbandjz@yahoo (dot) com
Love, love, love your cozy reviews, Laura!
Thanks so much Taylor! I have a bunch more coming up too. I’m so addicted. LOL
I loved the two I’ve read in this series and I love the Amanda Lee books too.
kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net
I enjoy them all too! This author is one I’ll be reading for a long time. Now to catch up on all of these series. LOL
I read one of your books a long time ago and remember enjoying it a lot, so I am sure I’d like this one!
It’s a fun one!
Cute cover.
It sure is:)