A Day in the Life with Sophie Florine by Janel Gradowski

Jul 5, 2015 | A Day In My Life

Doughnuts and Deadly SchemesIt’s a little after 5 a.m. and the kitchen is already filled with the rich scent of dark chocolate brownies mingling with the yeasty aroma of whole wheat bread. I’m Sophie and I own Riverbend Café in Kellerton, Michigan. I’m a pastry chef and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how well my business is doing. What started out as a small coffee shop a year ago has expanded to a large, full-fledged café with a brand new catering division. All of my employees are wonderful, especially my friend Amy.

Amy is a bit of a star in our small town. She loves to compete in cooking competitions. There is a trophy case in her living room that is a testament to how well she does. When I decided to expand the café’s menu, to go along with the added dining space, Amy was my menu consultant. Then she signed on to be my early morning prep partner.

Every morning I look forward to chatting with her while I make bread dough. Amy is usually in charge of baking brownies and quick breads, like the beer bread we customize with things like cheese, olives or even roasted vegetables. After all of those things are in the ovens the baked doughnuts are next on the daily agenda. They have become the café’s most popular treat, selling out every day. In fact, Amy’s best friend, Carla, has requested those instead of a wedding cake.

Usually our pre-dawn chats are light and cheerful, but the conversations have turned darker lately. There was a murder across the street from the café at the menswear shop my boyfriend owns. Of course he’s upset over losing his business partner, but there are many more downtown businesses having problems. The summer shopping season, which is usually filled with happy customers strolling along the sidewalks in the sunshine, is off to a frightening start. Everybody is stressed out, even the police officer who is investigating the murder. He happens to be the fiancé of Amy’s friend. While Amy is helping plan the wedding, he’s trying to solve the murder before his honeymoon. I’m hoping the added incentive to solve the case quickly will lead him to catch the killer soon. Every morning it gets more difficult for me to pretend everything is okay.

You can read more about Sophie in Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes, the third book in the “Culinary Competition” mystery series, published by Gemma Halliday Publishing. The first two books in the series are Pies & Peril and Chicken Soup & Homicide.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on July 10 for the chance to win an autographed copy of Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes. 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. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

About the Author:
Janel Gradowski lives in a land that looks like a cold weather fashion accessory, the mitten-shaped state of Michigan. She is a wife and mom to two kids and one Golden Retriever. Her journey to becoming an author is littered with odd jobs like renting apartments to college students and programming commercials for an AM radio station. Somewhere along the way she also became a beadwork designer and teacher. She enjoys cooking recipes found in her formidable cookbook and culinary fiction collection. Searching for unique treasures at art fairs, flea markets and thrift stores is also a favorite pastime. Coffee is an essential part of her life. She writes the Culinary Competition Mystery Series, along with The Bartonville Series (women’s fiction) and the 6:1 Series (flash fiction). She has also had many short stories published in both online and print publications. You can stop by her website at: www.janelgradowski.com.

51 Comments

  1. Barbara Hawk
    Barbara Hawk on July 5, 2015 at 1:08 am

    Sounds like a fun read! Thanks for the opportunity!

  2. ktbeeblog
    ktbeeblog on July 5, 2015 at 1:12 am

    I really love Amy, Carla, & Sophie in the Culinary Competition mysteries. You’re hitting high marks consistently in your work. I really love your books.

  3. Barbara Tobey
    Barbara Tobey on July 5, 2015 at 1:18 am

    Sounds like fun.

  4. Kaye Killgore
    Kaye Killgore on July 5, 2015 at 1:33 am

    I would like to read this series

  5. Wanda downs
    Wanda downs on July 5, 2015 at 1:44 am

    Great contest

  6. Jan Kurtz
    Jan Kurtz on July 5, 2015 at 2:03 am

    Sounds like a book I’d really enjoy! I’m keeping all appropriate body parts crossed!:-)

  7. Celest Mattis
    Celest Mattis on July 5, 2015 at 3:04 am

    Thanks for another fun book to wish for.

  8. Jen
    Jen on July 5, 2015 at 3:19 am

    This is a new cozy mystery series for me, and Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes sounds like a delightful book. I will have to check out the books in this series. Thank you for a chance to win.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

  9. Sheila K.
    Sheila K. on July 5, 2015 at 6:55 am

    Sounds like a fun read—thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  10. Jill Lauder
    Jill Lauder on July 5, 2015 at 7:33 am

    Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!

  11. Judy Weaver
    Judy Weaver on July 5, 2015 at 7:34 am

    Sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway.

  12. Peggy Hyndman
    Peggy Hyndman on July 5, 2015 at 7:59 am

    Sounds like a good read. Thank you for this opportunity.

  13. Gram
    Gram on July 5, 2015 at 8:26 am

    New to me…count me in 🙂

  14. Nancy Funkhouser
    Nancy Funkhouser on July 5, 2015 at 8:55 am

    This is a series I would like to read. Thanks for the offer.

  15. Barbara Hackel
    Barbara Hackel on July 5, 2015 at 8:59 am

    Somehow I have missed this series…and I will have to rectify that! Thanks for introducing me to Sophie-and Janel.;) Thanks also Dru for the chance to win a copy…even though June 4th has passed. 🙂

  16. Jill Broussard
    Jill Broussard on July 5, 2015 at 9:29 am

    This sounds great! Hope you had a nice 4th!

  17. kidisitor
    kidisitor on July 5, 2015 at 9:33 am

    Read and enjoyed the first two in the series. 🙂 Enjoy the recipes included as well.

  18. jagjhd
    jagjhd on July 5, 2015 at 9:52 am

    New to me series. Sounds yummy. There’s a certain doughnut shop with the initials KK holding a sale on two dozen July 14. Thanks for the contest and reminder.

  19. Robin L. Coxon
    Robin L. Coxon on July 5, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Thanks so much for the introduction to this author and her books. I find it very nice to find a blog that provides me with new info. robeader53@yahoo.com

  20. noraadrienne
    noraadrienne on July 5, 2015 at 10:14 am

    I love cooking related cozies. Toss my hat into the contest ring Dru.

  21. Doward Wilson
    Doward Wilson on July 5, 2015 at 10:16 am

    Sounds like great series. Thanks for the chance to win and get acquainted with this author.

  22. cyn209
    cyn209 on July 5, 2015 at 10:29 am

    added this to my Wish List!!
    thank you for the giveaway……..

  23. Dawn Frazier
    Dawn Frazier on July 5, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win!

  24. marylouh
    marylouh on July 5, 2015 at 11:00 am

    Just had some chocolate cake for breakfast. Love the note about the scent of brownies in the first paragraph
    sounds good.
    thanks for the chance to try.

  25. sharon
    sharon on July 5, 2015 at 11:07 am

    Thanks for this delightful giveaway.

  26. elainehroberson
    elainehroberson on July 5, 2015 at 11:29 am

    Another series to try. Thanks for the chance.

  27. Rita Wray
    Rita Wray on July 5, 2015 at 11:40 am

    Sounds like a great read.

  28. bettyl
    bettyl on July 5, 2015 at 11:54 am

    Fun read, would love to win, ty for the chance

  29. Shelly
    Shelly on July 5, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    This series is new to me. It sounds like a delightful read!

  30. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on July 5, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    New series for me, looks great, thanks for the chance

  32. Mary Jane H
    Mary Jane H on July 5, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    So many cozy mysteries — so little time! This series sounds great!

  33. Libby Dodd
    Libby Dodd on July 5, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    I wish there were a cafe with homemade baked goods near me.
    Wait. Maybe it’s a good thing there isn’t one! I’d be there constantly.

  34. Amy Gill
    Amy Gill on July 5, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    Dang! I want this one, too.

  35. servedogmom
    servedogmom on July 5, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    I love every book I’ve read by Janel Gradowski. The interactions of the characters and plot lines are well written. servedogmom@yahoo.com

  36. Debby Kimmel
    Debby Kimmel on July 5, 2015 at 4:15 pm

    This sounds like this would be a great read, thanks for the chance to win, and I look forward to being able to read this one 😉

  37. Penny
    Penny on July 5, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    This is an incredible giveaway:) Thank you. Can’t wait to read this one:)

  38. cjreynolds52
    cjreynolds52 on July 5, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    Would love to read this book.

  39. Robin in NC
    Robin in NC on July 5, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing the chance to win!
    rw620 AT aol DOT com

  40. Cynthia E. Blain
    Cynthia E. Blain on July 5, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    Having entered many recipe, cooking and tasting competitions over the years (and years ago), this book hits home with me in a big way. I would love to become the recipient of this; I am sure it would bring lots of smiles to my face thinking back to some of the things that this book refers to. Thank you for the chance to win, Dru Ann. Sounds soooooooo good.

    Cynthia

  41. Jess dimovski
    Jess dimovski on July 6, 2015 at 6:49 am

    Thanks for the chance. looks like a fun read.

  42. rochf
    rochf on July 6, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    Love the combination of baking and mystery–sounds like a great read.

  43. beth Prentice
    beth Prentice on July 6, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    I’m hungry now!! Love these books and the author is amazing :))

  44. Shawn
    Shawn on July 7, 2015 at 6:14 am

    Another series for me to start reading.

  45. Jennie Knight
    Jennie Knight on July 7, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    I love mystery that involves a startup. Thanks for the chance to win the book.

  46. Marilyn Watson
    Marilyn Watson on July 9, 2015 at 5:23 am

    Sounds fun…I’d love to read it…
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

  47. Sha
    Sha on July 9, 2015 at 3:11 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway! Another great book to add to my TBR pile!

  48. Prentiss Garner
    Prentiss Garner on July 9, 2015 at 7:49 pm

    Thanks for the chance to win.

  49. Edith Patchan
    Edith Patchan on July 9, 2015 at 8:07 pm

    I’m in! Thanks for the giveaway.

  50. Kathleen Bylsma
    Kathleen Bylsma on July 9, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    This sounds very good. I am a fan of culinary mysteries and know Janel’s work. She adds levity with the leavening!

  51. Dru
    Dru on July 10, 2015 at 5:02 am

    Contest is closed.