The familiar scent of rich espresso and fresh baked bread hit me as I opened the front door to our family bakeshop, Torte. I couldn’t help but smile. Even though I’d been back in Ashland, Oregon, my hometown, for a few months I still loved opening the front door every morning.
All of my best memories growing up took place at Torte. Torte is more than a bakeshop, it’s a gathering place for friends and neighbors. Whether you’ve lived in our charming town for your entire life or are stopping through for a few days to take in a show at the world famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival, at Torte you’re always family.
When my parents started the bakeshop they wanted to create a cheery and welcoming space where they could share their love of baking and our family recipes. I think they succeeded. From the bright red and teal walls, to the chalkboard menu with a rotating Shakespearean quote and the sunny booths lining the front windows, the bakeshop is the perfect combination of both of them. After my dad died, my mom, Helen, kept the busy shop humming with customers and delectable sweets and pastries while I ventured out on my own to see the world. I’m glad that I did because after exploring the globe, I’ve come to understand that there’s no place as special as Ashland.
Being back again had given me new appreciation for my hometown, with one small exception—my name. My parents named me Juliet after Shakespeare’s most romantic heroine. I prefer Jules. It fits and it’s much less pressure.
I’m a romantic at heart, and my heart was in need of some repair. Ashland was the perfect place to let my heart mend. And, while I wasn’t sure what the future held for me, I knew one thing—I was exactly where I wanted to be at this moment.
I also knew that Torte needed a serious influx of dough. Not in the pastry or pie making form. One of our ovens had finally quit on us. Mom hadn’t upgraded the kitchen equipment in years. Torte was in desperate need of a makeover, and that required cash. Lots of cash.
When a Pastry Channel producer came calling, I thought it was almost divine intervention. The popular network was coming to Ashland to film their hit bake-off series Take the Cake and they wanted to shoot at Torte. Not only would being on the show give us some great national exposure but the Pastry Channel offered to pay us for the use of our kitchen—one step closer to shiny new ovens!
What could possibly go wrong, I thought as I swung open Torte’s front door and inhaled the scent of sweet rolls and banana nut bread.
It turns out a lot could go wrong. I would soon come to learn that new ovens were the least of my worries when I discovered one of the Take the Cake contestants buried in buttercream.
You can read more about Jules and the TV show in A Batter of Life and Death, the second book in the “Bakeshop” mystery series, published by St. Martin’s Press. The first book in the series is Meet Your Baker.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on June 29 for the chance to win a print copy of A Batter of Life and Death. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected.
About the author
Ellie Alexander 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. Visit Ellie at www.bakeshopmystery.com.
Looking forward to reading this one.
Dotty, I hope you enjoy Jules and her team at Torte!
A Batter of Life and Death sounds like a delightful foodie cozy mystery! I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Jen, if you’re a fan of foodie cozies, I think you’ll enjoy it!
A favorite author and great series, can’t wait.
Thanks, Doward. I love that you’re enjoying the series!
I read the first one in this series and enjoyed it looking forward to A Batter of Life and Death. Thanks for the chance to win.
Lisa, thanks for reading it! I’m excited about what’s next for Jules.
This sounds like a good book. This is a series I have not read. Thanks for the.chance to win
Deb, Dru’s blog is the best for finding new series!
Sounds great, I love foodie cozies
Debbie, me too 😉
Thank you very much for the giveaway opportunity!
Good luck!
Love the title, thanks for the chance 🙂
Cozy titles are the greatest, aren’t they?!
I would love to read this book—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Fingers crossed!
Sounds like a good read. Thank you for this chance to win a copy 🙂
🙂
Jules sounds like a very adventurous young woman. A family owned business is a challenge in itself and this book sounds like a page turner. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of it. robeader53@yahoo.com
Robin, you are so right about owning a small business and how much work goes into it!
Sounds like a great book – thank you for the chance to win
Happy reading!
Missed the first. Would love to read this one.
Amy, the first book, Meet Your Baker, is out now, if you want to get a head start 😉
Thanks for the giveaway! The book sounds great!
Best of luck!
A wonderful topic for a series, and I love the name Torte. I will read this book for sure, but would love to win a copy! Thanks Dru and Ellie for the opportunity to be considered. 🙂
Thanks, Barbara. I’m glad to hear that you like the name Torte. I picked it because my dad makes a delectable Chocolate Hazelnut Torte (the recipe is in the first book).
Looks like a great cozy mystery.
I hope you’ll give it a try, Kiki!
Looks like a great series and I would love a copy to start it. Thanks for the offer.
Happy reading and baking, Nancy!
I admit this is a new to me series, luckily there’s not too many so I can catch up easily, LOL. Thanks for bringing this to my attention and the chance to win this one.
Debbie, you can totally catch up! One quick read and you’ll be back in the mix with Jules.
I have read the first in the series and I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait for this one to come out and would love the chance to win this. Thank you so much Dru!!
I LOVE that you loved it! I have so much more in the works for Jules and the entire team.
I would love the chance to read this book it sounds great. Thank you for the giveaway. Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Thanks for checking it out!
Sounds like a delightful read! Thanks for the opportunity!
sharonbabyme@yahoo.com
I recommend reading with a pastry in hand.
Love finding new to me authors and series. Thanks for the giveaway. Kuzlin at AOL.com
Three cheers to Dru for connecting readers and authors!
I love cozy mysteries!! This one sounds like a great one! Thanks for the chance to win it.
Judy, cozy mysteries are perfect summer reading!
After reading this I want something fresh from the oven with my morning coffee! Sounds like a good series and a character I will like. Thanks for the giveaway.
Coffee is a must!
the description is so real – I could smell the bread baking
Reading this probably won’t be good for my diet – but what the heck.
thanks for the chance to win a copy
I feel the same way when I’m writing the series. I have to take lots of walks to burn off my research calories.
I’ve read the first book the series and am looking forward to reading this one too. What can be better than coffee, baked goods and a mystery?
Susan, I’m so glad that you enjoyed Meet Your Baker. Happy reading!
Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds great!
Sounds like a great read.
sounds like a great book would love to read it
I want it! A good mystery with hometown ambience and Mom! Love it.
One of my favorite things about writing the series is the relationship between Jules and her mom.
Those fateful words: What could go wrong?
Cue the scary music!
Buried in buttercream–what a way to go. sounds like a great story.
I was originally thinking of buried in buttercream as a title 😉
Always looking for new series to read. Thanks.
I hope you’ll check it out!
Batter of Life and Death — would like to read!📖📚
Thanks.
Happy reading!
A delightful cozy. Thanks.
I just picked up the first one from the library. Looking forward to reading it.
Thanks for grabbing a copy at your library!
I love cozies. Thanks. For the chance to win.
This book sounds amazing!!!!!! Thanks for the giveaway!!!!!
I really enjoyed Meet Your Baker. Looking forward to reading Book 2. Thanks for the chance to win.
Linda, this next installment has Jules taking the spotlight. It should be fun!
I love foodie cozies!
Sounds like a series I need to get into immediately! Thanks for the chance!
I really enjoyed the first one – I’ve been looking forward to the second. I especially enjoyed the locale as I also live in the Pacific Northwest!
Yay for the Pacific Northwest. I know I’m biased but I think it’s the best place on the planet to live.
Looks like a “sweet” book.
🙂
I love food and mystery.
Sounds like a wonderful new cozy series I will be adding to my list of to read. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!!
Kay, I hope you’ll give it a try!
I’m getting hungry just reading a bit about the Torte. I’d love to read the book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Run to your nearest bakeshop!
I loved Meet Your Baker and can’t wait to read A Batter of Life and Death. Thanks for the giveaway!
Christi, you’re the best! Thanks for reading the series!
Red and teal walls – that sounds adventurous. I would love to see a picture of a room done in those colors. They are both standout colors and I bet they would be stunning together.
I’ve been trying to convince my husband to paint our kitchen those colors.
Sounds like a good series. I’ll have to check this one out.
Looks good.
Thereadmaster@me.com
Love the title and sounds like I need to go and read book 1. Hope to win this one.
Ruth, you don’t have to read Meet Your Baker first, but if you have time it might fun to get the backstory on Jules and her team.
I want to spend time in Torte!
Me too 😉 Sometimes I forget it isn’t real.
Sounds de-lish!!!!
Thanx for the giveaway…..
This sounds good. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Good luck!
Excited to get my hands on The Butter of Life and Death.
Bettyjo.english@gmail.com
It’s coming out in one week! Get those hands ready.
I love to read
This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the chance!
I would love to win this one. I got to meet Ellie at LCC and I’m going to the book launch for this book.
I would love the chance to to enter the giveaway 🙂
I’ve always wanted to visit the Shakespeare Festival, so I think this would whet my appetite til the long awaited day! Thanks for the chance to win!
I read the first book, Meet Your Baker and loved it. Can’t wait to read this one.
If I can’t eat these delights, I can, at least, read about them.
Looking forward to reading this book.
Looking forward to reading this.
This sounds like a great read and look forward to reading it 😉 Thanks
Oh my gosh, this sounds exactly like the kind of cozy that I love. Food, bakery goods, and sleuthing. Definitely want to get this book and begin with this new series. Sounds great. Thank you for the chance to win this book.
I can”t wait to read this Thanks!
Love copies. Love baked sweets. How can you go wrong?
Cozies! Cozies! Cozies
I want this book,yes yes yes
There really is nothing quite like that moment when you first step into a bakery.
Thanks for the chance! I love a cozy mystery ! This brings back memories of walking by the bakery first thing in the morning on the way to school and the smell of fresh baked goods!
Sounds so yummy but no licking the bowl. Two of my favorite things are baking and reading so this book seems to take the cake 🍰📚 Hopi g to win Thanks for the chance
Great , would like to read more about TORTE.
Yummy! I’d love to win this book!
Sounds wonderful!
Wow even the first sentence makes me hungry. This sounds good.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Ohhh pick me!
I look forward to reading this book.
Sounds so good and i can’t wait to read and review on 2 sites fingers crossed!
It sounds like an interesting book!
This looks like a fun read, loved the first book so I know this will be a good one!
My daughter named our two miniature schnauzers, Romeo & Juliet. This series sounds like a must read for me. Thanks for the giveaway!
Did you consider using Buried in Buttercream as the title? My friend’s nickname is Jul. This book sounds like a tasty bite. Count me in.
Thank you Ellie for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.