While I have the opportunity to read and share so many wonderful cozy mysteries on my blog, every once in a while I come across one that has me grinning from ear-to-ear during the entire read. (I’m sure my seatmate on my flight home from the Malice conference was wondering what kind of drugs I was on…lol.) Such is the case with DEATH BY CHOCOLATE LAB, the first in a new series by Bethany Blake! This charming book captured me from the very first page. I adored the characters from the free-spirited pet-sitting protagonist, Daphne Templeton, to her long-suffering basset hound, Socrates, and especially her foster pet, an imprudent Chihuahua named Artie, who is “a big, hot, steaming mess”! The addition of Daphne’s straight-laced veterinarian sister, Piper, added to the opportunity for humorous situations. Ms. Blake deftly writes great descriptive scenes and characterizations without detracting from the plot. With just a few creative sentences she had me envisioning the settings and the action, making me feel like I was right there.
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The mystery about who killed Piper’s ex-boyfriend was well plotted and the author provided plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. She also includes a subplot that brings to light the social issue of domestic violence, not only the physical kind but psychological abuse as well. Ms. Blake expertly weaves it into the storyline with a light hand, yet manages to convey the importance of an issue that is often ignored or overlooked.
The author includes several recipes at the back of the book, most for our furry friends and one dessert recipe for people. I chose to make Banana-Apple Pupcakes for a couple reasons: after reading the ingredients I realized that not only would my grand-puppy, Piper, love them, but my granddaughters would have fun eating them as well! With just a bit of honey for sweetness, these mostly whole-wheat pupcakes rely on flavor using ripe bananas and apples. Of course my granddaughters added maple syrup to their pupcakes, but Piper gobbled them up as is and literally whined and begged for more after seeing the container going into the refrigerator. We made Piper share the Banana-Apple Pupcakes with some of her friends in the neighborhood and it wasn’t long before I received requests for the recipe. It’s safe to say these pupcakes received 2 paws up for deliciousness!
Amazon Synopsis
Pet sitter Daphne Templeton has a soft spot for every stray and misfit who wanders into the quaint, lakeside village of Sylvan Creek. But even Daphne doesn’t like arrogant, womanizing Steve Beamus, the controversial owner of Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy. When Steve turns up dead during a dog agility trial, Daphne can think of a long list of people with motives for homicide, and so can the police. Unfortunately, at the top of the list is Daphne’s sister, Piper—Steve’s latest wronged girlfriend.
Certain that Piper is innocent, in spite of mounting evidence to the contrary, Daphne sets out to clear her sister’s name—and find Axis, Steve’s prize-winning chocolate Labrador, who went missing the night of Steve’s death. Aided by Socrates, her taciturn basset hound, and a hyperactive one-eared Chihuahua named Artie, Daphne quickly runs afoul of Detective Jonathan Black, a handsome and enigmatic newcomer to town, who has no appreciation for Daphne’s unorthodox sleuthing.
Can a free-spirited pet sitter, armed only with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and her two incompatible dogs, find the real killer before she becomes the next victim?
A special thank you to Kensington for providing a print copy for one lucky winner! Contest ends Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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!)
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup mashed bananas, plus 1/2 cup for topping (optional)
- 1/2 cup diced apples, plus 1/2 cup for topping (optional)
- Cooking spray, for greasing the griddle
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt (optional)
Instructions
- Heat up a griddle or a large skillet.
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, buttermilk, and honey in a medium bowl.
- Carefully add the whole-wheat flour, the all-purpose flour, and the baking powder to the egg-milk mixture, doing your best not to make a mess.
- Take a moment to clean up the mess.
- Fold the bananas and apples into the egg-flour mixture.
- Spritz your skillet or griddle with the cooking spray.
- Next, spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of the batter at a time onto the hot surface, forming pupcakes.*
- Cook until the tops of your pupcakes get bubbly, and then flip and cook them another 2 minutes or so, being careful to not burn them. When both sides are light golden brown, they're done.
- Allow the pupcakes to cool. then serve them topped with extra diced apples and mashed bananas, if desired. A dollop of yogurt is nice too.
- Makes about 10 pupcakes, depending upon size.
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I was provided an advanced copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I don’t make treats for my dogs, but the dog aisle at the grocery store has a worn path.
Love the sound of this new series! I can’t wait to read the book.
Love to read the book.
Do not have a dog but if i did i would try these. Maybe next summer i’ll get that chance.
Wonderful review, I don’t make our dog treats we buy them, he’s a oicky eater and will only eat Alpo treats and dential chews
Penney
No we don’t have any furry friends to make treats for. I would enjoy reading this book.
Would love to read. Looks like a great story. I do on occasion make treats for my kids. Pear and apple treats along with pumpkin are her favorites.
Forgot to mention. She LOVES my banana pancakes. So does my son. One very ripe banana into a bowl with a beaten egg, combine the two thoroughly, pour into hot buttered skillet and cook till done. About 3 minutes on each side. And sometimes for an added treat will top with apple or pear slices. And sometimes even blueberries.
I don’t make treats for my kitty.
My dogs would go crazy for those pancakes. I guess I make treats for my pups—they like to eat my human food as treats. Thanks for the chance to win the book.
No pets but I do love a great stack of pancakes!
Nice review. No I don’t make treats
Cant wait to read! Puppy cookies for his bday!
This book looks adorable! Can’t wait to read it. My mom loves Bassett hounds, so her dogs have a special place in my heart. Can’t wait to meet/read about Socrates! Thanks for the contest!
I have not made special treats for our four dogs, but know I should. There are so many good recipes out there, like this one!
I don’t make treats for my dog, but she gets plenty of store bought treats.
I don’t make treats for my cat. Haven’t found any good recipes. He loves anything that tastes like fish.
He gets fishy dental treat, though.
I would love to make these for my 2 fur babies! I’ve been looking for the perfect mystery to read next, and this meets all of my criteria. Thatnks for the review!
Not st this point. But I’m open to the idea. I think homemade must be healthier?
I’ve never made treats for our pup but I’m sure he’d love and appreciate them. Maybe we’ll have to give them a shot! Thanks for the recipe.
I’ve never cooked special for my dogs but my favorite Aunt and Uncle had father and son labs when I was little and we became the kids. My Aunt always had birthday parties for us. She’d bake special cakes for Butch and Ricky . and of course me.
Oh yes we seem to always keep our pups happy with a few of their favorite things but we don’t give them it all the time although they would love it. Just like us humans who would love treats all the time.. [email protected] thank you for the chance to win a printed book.
Well, for Easter last year we made a ham. I made special plates of ham and applesauce for my Bassett Hound Boomer and my Yorkie Calvin. I have never seen them eat so fast. Thanks for the chance to win ? ❤?
I have two kittens and I don’t make treats for them. However, I do buy treats for them.
I do, and I have a feeling Pep is going to love these pupcakes!
No, I don’t make treats for my dog…I think my kids would rebel, I don’t make treats for them too often either, LOL. We laugh, my oldest orders a box with fun stuff for the dog, now he thinks every box that comes in the house is for him.
I’m not generally a breakfast person, but this recipe may change my mind. Then again, why not have breakfast for supper? 😉
Snickerdoodle loves when we have pulled pork because he knows that he’s in for some special treats. He loves it so that we freeze up little portions for him for when he’s been very good and as a special treat.
No I buy them already made at the store. He likes the Pup-Peroni Original Beef Flavor Dog Snacks. And thank you for the chance to win a print copy of Death Of A Chocolate Lab.
I don’t have a furry friend now, but growing up we had a fawn boxer Casey. Homemade treats? Well, it wasn’t ‘a thing’ back then, but we always made sure to have some gravy on hand to mix with his food, and when we had ice cream…he always got his scoop, too.
Love this post & recipe. I have been looking at pet recipes & this looks like it is easy. I want to make treats for my 2 puppy friends next door.
No, I’ve never made treats for my cats, although I do sprinkle cat nip on things for them..LOL.
I’ve never made treats for my furbaby.
would love to read this book…and my 15 yr old JRT loves treats only from a local store here called Land of Paws
In the past I often made treats for our fur babies. It was quite a production because I made mass quantities when I did it. LOL Ryan. Mollie, Skippy, and Penny all had their favorites, from peanut butter to liver cookies.
Sometimes I do make treats for my two girls, rescue dogs, Rosie and Trixie. Mostly though, I buy them dog bone treats from Trader Joe’s and also some Milkbone Gravy Bones. My girls like variety or they will diss the bone I am holding out for them if it is not the type/and or flavor they want right then. Spoiled darlings! LOL
I don’t have any pets right now, but if I did I don’t think I would make anything special for them to eat, I would stick to healthy dog food. Love the review & Thanks for this generous chance.
I’ve never made any special treats for my babies but I’d like to try some out. Thank you for the chance to win!
I have two cats and just read another cozy which had recipes for cat treats so I may try baking them for my “boys”.. Thanks for the review and chance to win!!
I have never made in treats for the dog.
No I haven’t made treats for our furry friends but may try out these pup cakes!
No We buy treats for my dog.
Cool!! My Hudson would LOVE these treats! ^_^
I have been known to make chicken just for my cat George. Thanks for the chance to win.
my furchildren love chilled carrot sticks so I always keep them on hand
Yes, I. Have a bacon treat I make the dogs
my fur baby gets Mommy Monzie’s homemade doggie treats! (She is just down the street from me and Harley knows exactly where!)
love to look up interesting recipes for dog cookies shaped like bones.
Cute book idea! I bet my dog would love those recipes! And she’s picky!
I do make Zoey special treats. She likes bananas so I will try these pancakes. Her favorite are anything with sweet potatoes or grits. The book sounds like a super fun read! Thank you for the opportunity and the recipe!
i sometimes make treats for our 3 girls, but mostly i share my food (as long as it isn’t chocolate) with the dogs. and of course there is the cat throw up that Citrine LOVES t o clean up 🙁
i sometimes make treats for our 3 girls, but mostly, i share my food (as long as it isn’t chocolate) with the dogs. and of course there is the cat throw up that Citrine LOVES to clean up 🙁
BTW i love the title of this book!
I don’t have a dog right now but my Sister has a Scottie that we both buy treats for. He is very finicky and does not like either of us as a cook…thank you for the review and contest.
Marilyn [email protected]