It’s always fun to be introduced to a new author who is debuting a new series! I had the pleasure of recently reading BREWING UP MURDER by Neila Young, where the very first sentence and then paragraph captured my attention. The protagonist, Blake Harper, owns Mystery Cup Café in Wilton, Missouri. The town is known for a string of murders that happened 50 years ago, the crimes never solved. While the author doesn’t go into great detail, there is enough information provided that makes me curious if subsequent books in this series will lead the protagonist to find answers to the deaths of twelve young women. I’m definitely intrigued with this plot! In addition to the old, unsolved murders, a new murder has taken place. Blake finds her assistant, Nikki, dead in the Mystery Cup Café and her kitchen trashed. Even though Blake’s sister, Kyle, is the detective working the case, the café owner still feels responsible for bringing the murderer to justice.
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The two sisters have strong personalities and I enjoyed the close bonds they share with their brother, Ryan. There is fun interaction between the three siblings and a bit of entertainment with Ryan always trying to set Blake up on blind dates. Ms. Young has created a great cast of characters to surround her protagonist; some are there for support, a couple to offer romance, while others to create tension and conflict in Blake’s life. The town and the characters are good backdrops for a puzzling mystery with plenty of suspects that kept me guessing. When I finally read the surprising conclusion the only thing on my mind was wondering when the next book is coming!
The Mystery Cup Café serves up delectable treats and fortunately for the reader the author provides a couple recipes at the back of the book. Blake has indeed perfected her Espresso Brownie recipe and Ms. Young has graciously allowed me to share it with you. Super rich, super gooey and oh so decadent is the only way to describe these amazing brownies! I found small squares, each topped with a chocolate covered espresso bean, and served with a piping hot cup of coffee made the perfect pick-me-up for a morning snack. The staff at my granddaughter’s school certainly enjoyed having these show up in their break room and I was happy that I could share such a delicious treat with them!
Amazon Synopsis
As the owner of Mystery Cup Café in Wilton, Missouri, a town made famous by a string of long-ago murders, Blake Harper is used to the mysterious. When her barista is found strangled in a mound of coffee beans, Blake vows to find the killer, even though her sister, the town’s lead police detective, tells her to stay out of it. Blake finds plenty of suspects, like the owners of a rival coffee shop and the handsome new bookstore owner. But when new threats are made, she soon realizes the danger is centered around Mystery Cup and someone is targeting her personally. Will Blake be able to solve the murder, find a new barista, and perfect her recipe for espresso brownies before she becomes the next victim?
A special thanks to Neila Young for offering a copy of BREWING UP MURDER for one lucky winner! Contest ends Friday, September 22, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST and is open to U.S. residents only. 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!)
- 1-1/3 cup butter, softened
- 2-2/3 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1-1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup baking cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chocolate-covered espresso beans
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Cream butter and sugar together.
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Beat in eggs and vanilla.
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Combine flour, cocoa, salt, and instant coffee. Add to the creamed mixture.
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Add chocolate chips and pecans and mix well.
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Spread into a greased 9x13-inch pan.
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Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and espresso beans.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 26 to 28 minutes.
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Cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.
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If the brownies seem too soft after cooling, chill in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.
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I was provided a copy of this book with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I don’t have s favorite coffee house. I don’t drink coffee.
I don’t have a favorite coffee house. I brew my coffee at home.
I dont have a favorite coffee house and in fact I dont drink coffee.
I live in asmall town in a rural area. My favorite coffeehouse is right here in my recliner :-). Thanks for this giveaway.
No I don’t have a favorite coffeehouse
I like Starbucks and like any kind of “doctored up” coffee, lol.
In all honesty my favorite place to go to and get a great cup of coffee is Dunkin Donuts. I love their ice coffee!
However, I enjoy the Christmas season flavored coffees, especially the Egg Nog latte.
I don’t have a coffeehouse I go to often. I occasionally go to Starbucks but not very often. It’s too expensive.
My husband and I have coffee breakfast dates on Saturday mornings while our daughter is in dance lessons and there is just a Starbucks within walking distance so we go there but also in town is a local coffee place called Java Crew which has to die for chai!!! It’s my all-time favorite and I suck everyone into going there whenever I can!
We have a coffeehouse that started locally that has now begun to branch out to other states. Scooter’s coffee is phenomenal and their drinks are even better than Starbucks! I highly recommend it to anyone who is an espresso aficionado because their blended espresso drinks are heavenly!
No I do not have a favorite coffee house. Always trying them. Haven’t found one feels comfortable.
I do not drink coffee so I don’t have a favorite coffee house but my son loves Dunkin Donuts. Thanks for the chance to win.
I like the brewed coffee at either Panera Bread or Starbucks. I do not like fancy coffee, but just plain, good coffee WITHOUT sugar or cream, so Starbucks really isn’t anymore expensive for me than IHOP or another good restaurant.
But, neither Panera nor Starbucks is close, and I do not know of any other coffee place close by either. So I drink coffee at home. ☺
I love Starbucks as they make drinks that are so good as i don;t drink coffee or tea can;t due to the meds that I am on for a nerve disease RSD! I sure hope that if I win that an ebook can be exchanged for a print copy. Thank you for coming to Kims site!
No coffee houses close to our rural town here in Iowa but I do like McDonald’s speciality coffees after working there for 11 years. LOL For the most part now that I am retired, I drink tea. Thanks for the great review & recipe.
Alas, no interesting coffee houses in my area.
And for non-coffee drinkers, coffee houses have other drinks, too.
No, I don’t have a favorite coffeehouse, although recently I saw a place that I would like to try. Thanks for the recipe!
I don’t have a favorite coffee house. I’m one of the few that didn’t drink coffee. I like hot chocolate with peppermint creamer.
I do not like coffee. But I would love to win a e-book copy of Brewing Up Murder. Thank you for the chance.
No favorite coffee house as I do not drink coffee.
I make my own coffee at home, don’t go to a coffeehouse.
No!! I live in a very small town and all we have is a post office.Sad huh? lol
No I don’t, wish I did.
CHOCOLATE AND ESPRESSO? H@11 YES! Although finding someone strangled in a mound of coffee beans might put me off coffee for a bit. LOL!
Yes I do have a favorite coffee house. Downtown we have a great one called Aromas and I go in there usually during the Winter more than other seasons. Great to see a new writer to me at least and yay on the ebook…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
i don’t have a favorite coffeehouse any more, there used to be one in oakland that had big cushy chairs and good coffee, i don’t think i ever knew the name. it was my fave. now i make it at home and drink it in bed or at the computer.
I live in a small town. No coffee houses. Probably 30 miles or more before I could find one.
When I visit my boys in Salem MA, I love to go to Jaho for coffee but I usually go to Starbucks since my daughter works there.
I love our little coffee shop, it is just a shop and no where to sit. But the drinks are delicious. They roost their own Kona beans from Hawaii.
Howdy 🙂
I hate coffee but like Starbucks… their tea is really good & it’s a great place to read!
Cheers-
Kelly Braun
Have a great local place called C&C Cafe
I have a favorite coffee house in Florida where we used to live that I miss very much. It is called Java Jungle. I don’t have one here yet.
I really don’t have a favorite place other than my kitchen and back porch!
I use to, however, I recently moved so haven’t found a new favorite.