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BAIT AND SWISS is the sixth book in the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Korina Moss. With cheese as a central theme (one of my top favorite things!) I didn’t see how the author could improve upon it. Well, she did. The charming wine country Yarrow Glen in Sonoma Valley has a luxury chocolate pop-up shop come to town. Everyone except protagonist Willa Bauer and the local candy shop owners are excited to have the new shop. Unfortunately for Willa, the chocolate shop is owned by her ex-fiancé and her ex-best friend and as you’d expect, it’s an uncomfortable, emotionally fraught situation. Ms. Moss captures the emotions flying about with a strong descriptive skill. And don’t get me started on her mouthwatering descriptions of the different cheeses her shop serves. It made me want to book a trip and camp out in Willa’s Curds & Whey shop. Another aspect I adore about this series is the close friendship Willa has with her employees and how they’ve created their ‘Team Cheese’ group to help solve crimes. I also enjoyed seeing Willa’s relationship with Detective Jay Heath progress, even if they had to take a break from seeing each other during the investigation because of Willa’s involvement.
After Willa helps by delivering a box of the luxury chocolate candy to a local reporter, a suspicious death occurs. When it’s found that the hapless victim was poisoned by the chocolates and Willa’s fingerprints are all over the box, along with what could be construed as a threatening note written by her, she becomes the number one suspect. Unfortunately, her detective boyfriend is ordered to keep his distance from her, which leaves Willa on her own. The author deftly creates an intriguing plot, making the reader question their guesses as the clues unfold. The read is fast-paced and kept me turning pages to find out what happened next. Was the victim really the intended target, or was Willa the target all along? As food service businesses in town suffer from lack of customers worried about a poisoner, Willa and team cheese (love their name!) come together to solve the mystery. If you enjoy a well-plotted mystery with characters you’d love to call friends, then I highly recommend Bait and Swiss!
There are a few recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try. Especially during warm summer months, there’s nothing better than no-bake desserts and I couldn’t wait to try the recipe for No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Jars. Super easy-peasy to make, the crumb base is made from crushed Oreos and a bit of butter. The delectable combination of chocolate, cream cheese, cream, sugar, and vanilla creates a silky layer of chocolate cheesecake, topped by cream cheese whipped cream. Layered in small mason jars, the presentation is fun and practical for easy serving for gatherings. This recipe received high marks from my taste testers with a request to make it again just as soon as possible!
Amazon Synopsis
It’s been almost two years since Willa Bauer opened Curds & Whey in Yarrow Glen, and both cheesemonger and cheese shop are thriving in the Sonoma Valley. While Willa doesn’t eat chocolate, it’s true that life is like a box of chocolates. Unfortunately, life’s latest curveball is that Willa’s ex fiancé and ex-best friend—the reason for her chocolate aversion—are opening a chocolate pop-up shop across the street. By the end of the shop’s first day, the town’s newest reporter is the victim of death by chocolate. Now Willa’s ex wants her to be Swiss Congeniality, solve the case, and save the day. As much as Willa wants to hit him with the nearest cheese wheel, she can’t stop herself from saying yes. And it’s not long before tourists decide to stay clear of town until the killer is caught. To save Yarrow Glen, Willa and Team Cheese have some work to do.
A special thanks to St. Martin’s Press for offering a print copy of BAIT AND SWISS to one lucky winner! Contest ends May 11, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
I can't make a cheesecake as good as Hope's, but these chocolate cheesecake jars are an easy and delicious substitute...if you like chocolate!
Start to finish time: 15 minutes + 1 hour chill time
Serves: 12 (using 6 oz. glass Mason jars)
Recipe from Jennifer "Mama Jen" Brunetti-Irizarry.
- 20 Oreos
- 2-1/2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
- 12 ounces softened cream cheese
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Piping or ziplock bag
- 2 ounces softened cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Extra crushed Oreos or semi-sweet chocolate chips
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Crush Oreos into crumbs. Stir in melted butter.
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Spoon about 1-1/2 tablespoons of mixture into each jar, pushing slightly down to form a crust. Once all twelve jars have equal amounts of crust, set them aside.
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Melt the chocolate chips in only 1/2 cup of heavy cream until they are melted just enough to stir smoothly. Set aside to cool for a bit.
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In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese until it is completely smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl and make sure there are no lumps.
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Add the sugar and vanilla extract, mixing to combine.
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Add the melted chocolate. Keep the mixer running on low while adding the chocolate so it doesn't harden too fast.
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Slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of heavy cream, mixing as you pour. Then the mixer up to medium and beat until smooth.
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Add the chocolate cheesecake mixture to a piping bag or a gallon size ziplock plastic bag, and pipe the mixture over the crust in the jars.
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Beat softened cream cheese until smooth.
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Add sugar and vanilla, and mix together.
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Slowly pour the heavy cream, as you go, turn up speed and beat until mixture is fluffy and holds a peak.
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Pipe whipped topping over chocolate cheesecake mixture.
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Top with extra crushed Oreo cookies or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
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Chill for 45 minutes to an hour and enjoy!
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
