Custom Baked Murder by Liz Mugavero: Blog Tour & Book Review

From the publisher: Summer is winding down in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, but Stan’s love life and career are both heating up nicely. In between planning her new pet patisserie and café, Stan is settling into living-in-bliss with sexy pub owner Jake McGee. Love’s on the menu for Stan’s mom, Patricia, too, who’s engaged to Frog Ledge’s mayor, Tony Falco.

Mayor Falco’s dogged ambition isn’t popular among locals, but it’s his executive coach, Eleanor Chang, who’s inspired a dangerous grudge. When Eleanor is found dead, there’s a whole pack of suspects to choose from. Stan has first-hand experience of Eleanor’s unsavory business tactics. But finding out who forced her to take a fatal plunge off the corporate ladder means unearthing some shady secrets…and a killer who’s too close for comfort.

Stan isn't looking forward to attending her mother's engagement party but family obligation forces her to leave her thriving business and pets behind for awhile and put on a happy face. Things are quite odd from the get go when mom Patricia's fiance is a no show at his own party yet co-workers from Stan's past mysteriously are in attendance including her cheating ex-boyfriend. Things go from bad to worse when one of these unlikable former colleagues is found dead in an upstairs bathroom, strangled with a scarf and Patricia's diamond engagement ring inexplicably between her teeth! None other than Stan's ex Richard is arrested for the crime when he stumbles drunk out of the woods with the lame excuse that he was chasing a cat. Stan knows that Richard might be a lot of things but he's no killer, so she puts their past aside to prove his innocence. On top of this her sister shows up on her doorstep after a split from her husband, daughter in tow, with a lovesick ex-lover on her tail, poor Stan can't help but wonder if her new shop, Pawsitively Organic Pet Patisserie and Café, is going to be ready in time for it's planned opening!

Animal lover extraordinare Stan is one of my favorite fictional heroines, so I'm always looking forward to reading her latest adventure. I love the sub-plots in this one about her cat Nutty's unexpected debut as a magazine cover model (which he'll tell you all about in his guest post below!) and her plans to help raise money to get a new K9 officer her bulletproof vest. Catching up on the goings on in Frog Ledge is always a delight and I'm particularly looking forward to reading about the Christmas opening of her bakery in September's release, Purring Around the Christmas Tree. (The cover is already up on Amazon and it's to die for!!!)

Character Guest Post by Nutty

Hello, friends! It’s been a while since I’ve stopped by to visit with Melissa and Mudpie, so I thought it would be nice to do so during launch week of my new book, Custom Baked Murder. (Yes, I consider it my book. Everyone knows I’m the real star.)

I must confess, I have an ulterior motive for being here today. That big goofy dog Duncan, who is now living in my house—as if two dogs weren’t bad enough, now there are four!—was trying to take this guest spot, but I threatened him with my sharp claws and he backed off. As it should be. So anyway, I wanted to tell you about my latest foray into stardom. I am on a magazine cover. Yes, that’s right. Foodie magazine. Really high end publication. And I didn’t get nearly enough attention for it, so I’m turning to all you loyal readers. I know you’ll be happy to fawn all over me…right?

So this is how it happened. You may remember during Murder Most Finicky the photo shoot that was supposed to be all about the fancy party, and ended up being all about me? Again, as it should be…Anyway, the magazine did me proud and made me the cover photo of the latest issue! And a huge spread inside, all about me and Mom, and how she rescued me and started cooking for me. Which led her to the new career, and the new shop that’s about to open.

I expected mad amounts of kudos—and food—for this accomplishment. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited about this? But my mom has been distracted lately. I heard all the humans talking about another dead body, this time at Grandma’s house. Plus we’ve got a houseful of people now, between Mom’s boyfriend moving in with the two silly dogs and Aunt Caitlyn and cousin Eva staying here…indefinitely. I’m not sure how I feel about all this. Mom’s boyfriend is pretty cool, but those dogs could be a deal breaker. Aunt Caitlyn cries a lot, and Eva is always trying to pick me up. I think she should go play with the foolish canines and leave me and Benny alone to eat our treats.

Which also brings me to another point. If I were my mom, I’d be baking me special treats every day to celebrate my magazine cover. Wouldn’t you? Well, I’ve been getting regular, every day treats. The ones she bakes for customers. Really, I find it insulting. As a matter of fact, the only person who’s adored my achievement appropriately has been Auntie Char. She bought a million copies of the magazine and had some framed for my mom. At least someone has some sense in this town.

So, I wanted to ask if you all could gently remind Mom that my cover story is a pretty big deal. Also, if you could mention that I really love peanut butter flavored treats best, so when she makes me a custom treat she gets it right? That’d be great. Oh, and ask her if she could stay away from dead bodies for a while too, okay? It would make life around here so much less chaotic…

Thanks, and much love,

Nutty

About the author: Liz Mugavero has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera–all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, “So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?” or, “That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?”

She went on to get a master’s in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, and presently, corporate communications. And she’s confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.

Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers’ masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.

Author Links

Webpage – http://www.lizmugavero.com;

Twitter – https://twitter.com/lizmugavero;
GoodReads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475412.Liz_Mugavero;
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Liz-Mugavero/329291780446231;

Purchase Links

Amazon – B&N

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