Callie’s life is rather awesome. She owns a successful bakery and teaches German literature at the local university. There’s just one tiny problem. She has no self-confidence when it comes to her body. And then there’s the little matter of her being accused of murdering her pole dancing instructor. There’s no way Callie’s going to risk losing her teaching position and thus she embarks, with her best baker bud Anna, on a journey to discover the real killer. Between stripper auditions and a detective who insists Callie is the woman of his dreams, it’s a roller coast adventure. Cupcakes not included.
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MY REVIEW
I have something in common with Callie. I, too, am a woman with a little more than meat on my bones. And while I have not taken a pole dancing class, I did take a few belly dancing lessons. The teacher was very nice and supportive, saying it actually helped to have a little bit of a belly!
So Callie was going to a pole dancing class at a nearby gym. She probably wouldn't have gone if her business partner, Anna, didn't drag her. Because Callie was rather uncomfortable going there. She did not see herself as beautiful, despite her business partner and her wanna-be boyfriend telling her she was.
Of course, it didn't help that the pole dancing instructor was gorgeous and very fit, and walks into Callie's class and says, "Oh great. Another group of heifers to teach. I hope the poles don't break." It was definitely hard to like Dolly (the instructor). She also called her class attendees "sluts" just about any time she started a direction.. And Dolly was an equal opportunity abuser. She ticked off just about everyone she met; but seemed to take particular pleasure in torturing Callie. I think Dolly could even make me forget I'm trying to cut down on the saltiness of my diet - my language diet, that is.
On the one hand, Callie needn't have worried, because Dolly ticks someone off a little too much and winds up a corpse. On the other hand, Callie really needs to worry because she is looking like the prime suspect! And her policeman admirer can't help her because he cannot be on the case. It's a good thing Callie has the cupcake business because her position at the local college is not looking all that stable after Dolly's murder, because the college doesn't want 'that kind of publicity'. The dean gives her a weekend to do what she can to clear her name, unfortunately providing her with maybe more than the usual motivation to find the real killer.
I know how it is to not have confidence in oneself or one's looks, so Callie's troubles in that department resonated with me. It was heartening to see her friends' support her - and even give her the occasional loving 'shove' for her own good. That's part of what makes this book special to me. Everyone needs friends like that. It's also part of what will make me come back for more cupcakes in the future.
And about the cupcakes ... it's really too bad that they are not included. But there are cupcake-related humor at the beginning of each chapter and they are gems! Those alone are with the price of admission. That you get a great story along with it is the icing on the cupcake!
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MEET THE AUTHOR
I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although I did manage every once in a while to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. Another job change, this time from lawyer to B&B owner and I was again fed up and ready to scream I quit, which is incredibly difficult when you own the business. Thus, I shut the B&B during the week and in the off-season and started writing. Several books later I find myself in Istanbul writing full-time.
More Books By D. E. Haggerty
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GIVEAWAY!!!
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(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author and publishers via Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. Post contains affiliate links.)
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This book helps me fulfill the following 2016 Reading Challenges:
Thanks for reading & reviewing another one of my cozies. I'm so glad you liked it. I think a lot of readers can identify with Callie's insecurities. I know I can!
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