One of Shakespeare’s most famous quotes begins with “What’s in a name?” Well let me tell you when your name is Juliet Montague Capshaw and you live in the charming Shakespearean town of Ashland, Oregon there’s a lot in that name. As in a lot of pressure, and a lot to live up to.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved growing up in the sweet Southern Oregon town surrounded by actors, playwrights, artists, and a warm and welcoming community of locals. My dad was a Shakespeare buff and thought naming me after the bard’s most romantic heroine would set me up for a life of love. He was wrong. Let’s just say that I haven’t exactly been lucky in love.
I thought shortening my name might help. That’s why I go by Jules. It fits. And it kept the nasty chef I trained under in culinary school from mocking me by singing, “Romeo, oh Romeo, where are you?” whenever I made a mistake.
After I graduated from culinary school, I landed a job as an apprentice pastry chef on a cruise ship. I left Ashland and the name Juliet behind, and set sail for new adventures. Working on a cruise ship had its advantages like exotic ports of call, experimenting with high-end pastry recipes, learning new techniques from world-class chefs, and meeting seductively handsome foreigners like my estranged husband Carlos.
I never thought I was homesick until things fell apart with Carlos. Suddenly I found myself longing for my idyllic childhood home with its quaint Main Street, friendly shop keepers, sun-drenched mountains, wild rivers, and our family bakeshop, Torte. When I called Mom to tell her I was coming home I could hear the excitement in her voice, mingled with unspoken worry. We’d kept in touch during my years at sea, but I hadn’t been home in a decade.
Returning to Ashland felt both familiar and entirely new. The town hadn’t changed much since I’d been away. I recognized its bubbling sulfur fountains, the meandering trails through Lithia Park, and all of the shops themed after Shakespeare, like Puck’s Pub and A Rose By Any Other Name. I recognized many faces too. They greeted me with hearty hugs and genuine excitement, “Juliet, you’re home!” Was I home? What did home even mean?
I wasn’t sure of much these days, but I did know one thing—baking. The only remedy for my problems was to lose myself in the dough. So I cinched on an apron and returned to my roots.
Torte, our family bakeshop, sits right in the middle of all of the action downtown. Our handcrafted pastries and treats are legendary with tourists and locals alike. The busy bakeshop was the perfect place to disappear for a while. Mom and I quickly found our rhythm while rolling out pie crust and piping decadent layers of chocolate frosting on hazelnut cakes.
My legs felt less shaky. Baking on solid ground certainly had its advantages. Returning to Ashland may have been the best choice I’d made in a while. I began to wonder why I ever left. That is until I discovered a body in the bakeshop and one of Torte’s employees was named the top suspect.
Murder was on the menu, and I was on a mission to find the killer and settle back into the delicious life I never knew I was missing.
You can read more about Jules in Meet the Baker, the first book in the new “Bakeshop: mystery series, published by St. Martin’s Press.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on January 2 for the chance to win a copy of MEET THE BAKER. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Meet the author
Ellie Alexander, author of the Bakeshop Mystery Series (St. Martin’s Press), is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her here:
Love to win a book.
Fingers crossed, Melissa!
This book sounds very good. I would love to win it. Thank you for the chance
Candace, I hope you enjoy it!
Sounds like I will enjoy this whodunit!
Kelley, hopefully it will keep you guessing!
Sounds like a good read, with good food. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sally, good food and a cozy mystery what could be better?!
I would love this!
Sarah, good luck!
I would love a copy of this book.
Nancy, thanks for checking it out!
Sounds like a great start to a new series!
Gram, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.
I’d love to read this! Thank you!
Carol, happy reading!
Oooh, this sounds yummy! I’m glad there will be a new series for me to read (as well as more books about food. Hahaha). 🙂
Caroline, just make sure you have a yummy snack on hand while you read!
Wow, looks like a great cozy mystery. Would love to win this book.
xzjh04@ Gmail.com
Kiki, best of luck!
Sounds great, I love foodie cozies . Is now on my TRL , would love to win it
Debbie, thanks so much for adding it to your TRL!
This is a definite “I have to read!”
Thanks!
Stephanie, I hope you love it!
Looking forward to hanging out in Torte!
Lisa, sometimes I forget that Torte isn’t real. I so wish I could hang out with a pastry and write there all day.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT NEW SERIES. WOULD LOVE A COPY OF THIS BOOK! THANKS!
Mary, I have many more adventures in store for Jules and the staff at Torte.
I love a new series…this one sounds great. I can’t wait to read it!
Happy reading, Christi!
looks so good, thank you for the chance 🙂
Lisa, thanks for being part of this! I’m so excited to connect readers to Torte!
Sounds like a fun book – thank you for the chance to win
I hope it’s a fun read! Enjoy.
Sounds perfect for me.
Rhonda, yay! Happy reading.
Love tryin new series. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks for trying new series. I hope you enjoy it!
Sounds like a great mystery.
Rita, a mystery and baking. A perfect pairing IMHO.
Would love to read the book. sounds like fun.
Good luck!
Love bakery cozies!!!! If I can eat as much cakes, pies and doughnuts as I want at least I can read about them!
Exactly! All the delicious pleasure. No calories!
I was lucky to get an early copy of this book and it was very enjoyable.
Thank you so much for having me on the blog today.
Sounds like a great book
Thanks, Becky!
This sounds great! I’d love a copy!
Best of luck, Jan!
This book sounds like great fun. While I was reading it I was thinking about what it would be like to return to my hometown after so many years. It would be quite a life changer! Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway.
Ruth, I totally agree. Going home again (and whether or not we really can) is one of the themes I love exploring in the series. Happy reading!
Another new series….I can’t wait!!
Teresa, happy reading!
More for my TBR pile
Daniele,thanks so much for adding it to your TBR pile!
The book sounds enjoyable. I am looking forward to reading it. I am adding it to my list. 🙂
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the giveaway.
Jen, thanks for adding it. Happy reading and baking!
With a name like Mark Baker, how can I resist reading this book?
Mark, it’s meant to be.
This sounds like the start of a great cozy, you can never go wrong with food. Thanks for the chance to win, and congrats on your release.
Thanks so much, Debbie!
Ah, it sounds delightful. I can tell I will be tempted to look for pastries while reading. I’m so impressionable.
Libby, I highly recommend reading with a pastry in hand.
This sounds like a yummy new cozy series! I’d love to read it! Thank you!
Linda, yummy and cozy are two of my favorite things.
What a great title!
Connie, coming up with punny titles is the best part!
Sounds interesting
Thanks!
Thanks for a chance.
Good luck!
The cover is delicious– sounds like a GREAT read!!
Nancy, I was thrilled when I saw the cover for the first time! The designer perfectly captured Torte.
This book sounds great~thank you so much for the opportunity to win a copy!
Best of luck, Betty!
Fingers crossed.
Crossed 🙂
This sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway
Thanks for checking it out, Terry.
I always like to start with the first book of a series—so I hope I win this one. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I hope you enjoy it!
Sounds like a fun new series.
Thanks 🙂
Love starting a new series! This one sounds like a good read!!
Happy reading!
I would love to read this. I love reading books set in my home state.
Greetings from the PNW!
I love Ashland and visit every year for the festival. This books sounds wonderful and I appreciate the opportunity to win a copy – thank you!
Vivian, isn’t Ashland the best?
I’d love to give this book a try. It sounds interesting. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Good luck!
Sounds like a good book. Thanks for the chance to win.
🙂
Yum! Food and a mystery. Cool!
Victoria, it’s a perfect pairing, right?!
I love the Shakespeare references. Sounds good.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Marilyn, I really enjoyed adding in little touches of Shakespeare. There’s so much good stuff to work with.
Another new series for me. Sounds great and would love to win ! Thanks for the giveaway. Good luck all 🙂
Good luck to you, too!
Sounds like this is going to be a great new series! I would love the chance to win a copy of the book. Thanks!
Thanks, Barbara. I hope you enjoy it!
I am looking forward to reading Meet the Baker. It sounds like a series I would like to try. Thank you for a chance to win a copy.
Happy reading and baking!
I can’t wait to read the rest!!!!
Yay!
Thanks for the opportunity. Haven’t read but would like to.
Sharon, I hope you enjoy Jules and her team at Torte!
Looks like a fun new series. Congrats.
Thanks!
It sounds like an enjoyable read. The cover is really cute. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Anita, I know I love the cover too!
This sounds like a book I will really enjoy
Paula, I hope you do!
Sounds like a fun read
🙂
I have a friend whose husband called her Jules.
This book appeals to me from what has been shared, so include me in the draw. I love the idea of Shakespeare though I am not someone who has read him. I have been to Verona, however, and Juliet has always fascinated me.
Hello to your friend Jules. Can I join you in Verona next time?!
would love to read this one!
Good luck!
Sounds like a great book. I will be reading it 🙂
Shawn, happy reading! I hope you enjoy it!
Definitely on my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks so much for adding it your TBR list!
A definite ‘must-read’ for me!!!
Thank you for the giveaway!!!!
I love that it’s a must-read for you!
I am really looking forward to Meet the Baker! Looks like a great book. Thank you for a chance to win and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year and happy reading in 2015!
I LOVE COZY MYSTERY SERIES!!!!!!!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
Sandy, me too 😉
Oh a new author. I so need more. 🙂
Thanks for checking it out!
Always looking for a new series. Happy eading
I saw a blurb for this seties on-line and have been wanting to read it since then. It sounds like an fun read. I love foodie mysteries, though they do make me hungry, lol. I would love to win a copy, but I think I need to add this to my TBR list regardless. Thanks for the chance.
Happy release day!
Sounds like a fun read!
Food and murder that is the ticket.
Love the cover and it sounds like an awesome read. I’ve seen this book mentioned on several blogs and it’s certainly on my TBR list for 2015.
I love to read and it gets better every year!!!
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
Love your books! lkleback@hotmail.com
I love to start out with a new series and so this would be ideal as the story sounds really unique and I have a connected to a town called Ashland, but not in the west but here in the east. So, I consider it an omen for me to read this book. 🙂 You do a great job with your blog Dru; I try to never miss a day although if I do, I catch up the next day. You are one terrific blogger and I want to thank you for all of the great information and smiles that you have given me all year long.
Happy New Year.
Cynthia B.
Two of my favorite things…food and reading!
Would love to read this!
Happy New Year! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!
While I love mysteries, my favorites are the ones food related. This sounds like a great story and I would love to win. Thanks for the chance.
I’ve so been looking forward to this book! Thank you for the chance to win Ellie and Dru!
Looks like a great read.
Looks like a yummy mystery!
Sounds like another great book that I need to read. Hopefully I won’t gain weight reading this delicious mystery.
Food and mystery – can there be a better combination?
I really enjoy reading a mystery and am always on the lookout for one.
Sounds like a good read.
I would love to win this book and read this series
Not sure how I missed one but looks great!!
Wow…this sounds good…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Sounds great! Can’t wait to read!
What a great title. Would love a chance to read it.
Happy New Year! Sounds awesome!
I love mysteries with recipes.
Thank you so much for all the good mysteries coming up. I can’t wait to read.
Culinary cozies are some of my favorites! Happy New Year!
My favorite thing to do is read
sounds like a great series, wpould love to win
sounds like a great series, would love to win
This book sounds great
Shakespeare and food, sounds good!
I don’t cook anymore [hubby does the cooking and has spoiled me], but I do occasionally still bake some. But I sure wouldn’t want to find a body in the bake shop! Reading about it is A-OK though. 🙂
Hope your New Year is is filled with good books — and my year too. This would be a good start.
This is a book I am looking forward to reading. Too bad it never became available on Netgalley or I would have done a review. A new series I really want to read.
contest is closed.