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MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP is the first book in the brand new Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah. First off, I adore the location… who can resist a small-town Michigan lighthouse turned bakery and home? However, protagonist Lindsey Bakewell, newly arrived from New York, finds the lighthouse she purchased (sight unseen!) doesn’t even come close to living up to the description provided by the town’s real estate agent. The author’s humor, given the situation, captured my attention and had me eagerly turning pages to find out how Lindsey recovers from her setback. I enjoyed how the reader gets to follow Lindsey from her first arrival into town and through the setup of the bakery. I felt like I got to know her better rather than read bits and pieces of backstory before she had a successful bakery. Another unique thing with this series is that Lindsey is quite wealthy instead of a struggling business owner. This gives her a lot of leeway when it comes to dealing with the setbacks.
I found the characters well-developed and love the small core group that surrounds Lindsey, including her Newfoundland, Wellington. I especially hope to see more of her quirky social-influencer best friend, Kennedy, who brings lighthearted humor to the story. When someone murders Lindsey’s ex-fiancé’s girlfriend in the bakery, during the grand opening, Lindsey realizes she has to search out the truth or lose her business and most likely her freedom. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and some twists that got me off track. And in amongst the murder and mayhem, Lindsey finds she just might be living and working in a haunted lighthouse. With a surprising reveal, the threads of the story were wrapped up into a cohesive conclusion and makes me wish the next book was releasing already!
Lindsey’s bakery offers many delectable dishes and treats, and the author has thoughtfully included several recipes, both sweet and savory, at the back of the book. Our family is especially fond of muffins (perfect for a quick breakfast or snack when schedules get hectic) so I chose to try Ms. Hannah’s recipe for Carrot-Raisin Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting. With a generous portion of carrots, these are super moist without using a lot of fat. We loved the addition of sweet raisins and crunchy walnuts which gave them a nice texture. Mounds of cream cheese frosting swirled over the tops, elevated these muffins from delicious breakfast or snack fare, to delectable dessert!
Amazon Synopsis
After catching her celebrity chef fiancé sizzling in the arms of another woman, Lindsey Bakewell left big city Wall Street for small town Beacon Harbor, Michigan to pursue her own passion as a pastry baker—and gets mixed up in someone’s sweet taste of revenge . . .
More interested in kneading dough than adding it up, Lindsey’s breakup inspired her to set up the shop she always wanted in a place that always made her happy. She’d spent many childhood summers near this beach community and converting the old run-down lighthouse into a bakery café and home offers a perfect fresh start for Lindsey and her devoted Newfoundland dog, Wellington.
But not everyone in town has a sweet tooth. The preservation society won’t have the lighthouse’s history sugar coated by lattes and cakes—and a protest group crashes Lindsey’s Memorial Day opening. Then her ex-fiancé Jeffrey Plank and his girlfriend Mia Long arrive to trash the place. In the ensuing chaos Mia chokes on a donut and dies.
An autopsy reveals cyanide in Mia’s bloodstream and Lindsey is the police’s prime suspect. To clear her name, she’s going to need to combine ingredients found in the town’s checkered past to uncover the identity of a desperate killer . . .
A special thanks to Darci Hannah for providing a winner with a print copy of MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP. Contest ends Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. 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!)
Prep time: 20 minutes. Bake time: 25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
- 1 cup peeled and grated carrots
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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Heat oven to 375 degrees (F). Grease muffin cups or use paper baking cups.
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In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
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In bowl of electric mixer, mix eggs and brown sugar until smooth. Add milk and melted butter and continue mixing. Add flour mixture and blend well. Stir in carrots, raisins, and nuts.
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Scoop batter into muffin cups and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely and frost with cream cheese frosting.
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In bowl of electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, blending well. Add in the vanilla extract.
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Beat until frosting has a light, fluffy texture, about 5 minutes.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Yes I have toured a lighthouse. Love visiting them!
Thanks for the chance.
I’ve never seen a lighthouse except on TV. I’d love to though. Thanks for the contest.
I’ve not visited a lighthouse, and someday I hope to. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve never visited a lighthouse, but I’d really like to. Thank you for the chance.
I have never toured a lighthouse but it is something I have wanted to do.
I have not toured a lighthouse, and probably couldn’t because the stairs would be daunting to me.
Never visited/toured a lighthouse, but would love to!
I grew up in NC and every summer my folks and I went to the beaches. I toured every lighthouse down the coastline of NC. And I loved every minute of those tours.
I’ve never been to a lighthouse but it’s something I’d like to do someday.
Yes – Splitrock Lighthouse on MN’s north shore. Fascinating!!
I have not went inside a lighthouse but have visited the outside of lighthouses. I love the way they look.
The muffin recipe looks and sounds delicious but I would leave out the raisins.
Yes, I’ve toured a few light houses.
Yes, I have.
No, I haven’t but I’d love to visit a lighthouse one day. I think they’re pretty. Thank you for the chance at the giveaway!
Yes I have.
Years ago I visited the Victorian-style Point San Luis Lighthouse is near the town of San Luis Obispo California and I loved itI wish I could go back and see it. I always wanted to live by one or in one.
Penney
Love the recipe thank you. I’m looking forward to your new book love that cover
Penney
I have visited an old lighthouse on the west coast. Was fascinated with how they were able back then to make the light bright enough to be seen far away. I was delighted to see the carrot raisin muffin recipe. It sounds perfect for that elusive craving I have been having which I couldn’t quite place my finger on and seems relatively healthy for my purposes, too!
No, I never toured or visited a lighthouse.
Thank you for introducing me to a new to me author, telling me about a fabulous book which is now on my TBR list and giving me a great new recipe to try, which sounds to die for!
We were fortunate enough a few years back to take a bucket list trip to the New England states in the fall. Part of that trip was going up the entire coastline of Maine. Hubby had never seen the ocean. 🙂 We saw a lot of the lighthouses and got to visit quite a few of them as well. Fun time and I would love the opportunity to go back.
I love lighthouses. One spring vacation was spent traveling north along the coast touring several in California and Oregon. We always return to Pt Reyes.
I haven’t visited a lighthouse, but I find them fascinating.
I have visited several lighthouses. North Shore in Minnesota and a few in the Caribbean. The views can be breath taking. There is so much history within the lights beam.
I have. I love lighthouses!
I have not. Thanks for the chance.
I been to a lighthouse it was so beautiful! Thank you for the give away!
I have never visited a lighthouse.
Sadly I haven’t ever visited a light house but I love them and still hope someday I will be able to visit one!
I’ve visited a lighthouse, but I wasn’t able to go in.
Thank you for the chance.
The closest lighthouse to our home is Montauk Lighthouse and we have visited it.
I have never visited a lighthouse but I would like to some day.
I never have, thanks for the recipe! Carrot cake is my favorite!
I have been in a lighthouse and loved it! I love lighthouses. Thank you for the delicious looking recipe and giveaway!
I never have. Just what I seen in movies. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop.
I haven’t I’d love to. Your book sounds interesting and fun to read. The setting is so inviting. Thank you for the chance ? the recipe looks and sounds delicious.
The cover is amazing.
No, but I would love to! I picture a cold dampness to the stone and a wonderful sea smell… I hope to find out one day! I love spice cake, I’ll definitely give this a try…spice cake with veggies!
Yes, I have toured a lighthouse. I actually ate lunch in one. My friend’s Dad knew the lighthouse keeper and he let us go up in it. This was years ago, in Cape Cod, during a summer vacation. Thanks for the chance!
Yes, I have toured a lighthouse. I actually ate lunch in one. My friend’s Dad knew the lighthouse keeper and he let us go up in it. This was years ago, in Cape Cod, during a summer vacation. Thanks for the chance!
No I have never visited or toured a lighthouse.
yes i have.
I love stories that have to do with Lighthouses, I’m a big fan of them. These carrot raisin muffins look delicious. I would absolutely love a chance to win this book. Thanks for your great generosity.
Those cupcakes look so delicious!!
Being from Michigan originally and living near Lake Michigan, I have visited several lighthouses. I have toured some that are open or have museums.
I live in NC and have visited the lighthouses on the outer banks many times.
I have only seen one from afar in Maine. I would love to visit more and tour them! Thanks for the chance!
Yes I have actually spent a lot of time in my youth living at a light house on summer vacations. My paternal grandfather owned a gorgeous lighthouse and attached home on a peninsula in Vermont and it is something I sketch and paint often as it had fabulous memories for me. The view from the top was outstanding! Great memories!
I have not yet visited a lighthouse. I would like to do so.
No. I have never been to a lighthouse. I drove past a few.
I enjoy visiting lighthouses, and I have been to many along the east coast. Murder at the Beacon Bookshop sounds great!
I have read a lot of books about lighthouses but my dream is to go to a lighthouse I am disabled so my scooter would have to access it and there are many that don’t have access.. Your book sounds awesome would love to read and review!
I have never visited or toured a lighthouse. Thanks for the giveaway!
Only once, years ago, have I been in a lighthouse, it was very interesting. Thanks for the recipe & the book sounds great!
I have never visited a lighthouse. Thank you for the recipe, and this chance!
Yes, I have visited many lighthouses and try to plan at least part of my vacations around them.
I have visited a couple of lighthouses but haven’t toured one, I would love to one day. Congrats on your release!
I have not visited or toured a lighthouse before.
I have been to many lighthouses! I love to visit them. One trip we took to a light house, we missed seeing a whale’s tail come out of the water by just seconds!!!. We try to visit lighthouses wherever we find one on our travels. We also met a man that was retired from the Coast Guard and rejoined so he could help out the lighthouse.
Yes, I have visited several lighthouses and what’s fascinating is that they are all different even if it’s in a small way. The views are always breathtaking! Thank you for the giveaway!
No, I have never had an opportunity to visit a lighthouse. I would love to though.
I have visited and toured several lighthouses.
yes, A few. I always enjoy visiting them.
Yes, I been in the lighthouse in Key West Florida
I have visited several on the outside but would like to see one from the inside.
I love the cover. If I was in a bookstore and saw this book, I would have picked it up immediately just because of the lighthouse on the cover.
Yes I have been in one at oak island North Carolina and loved it!
i have been to a few lighthouses in Maine
i visited and toured some as a kid
I have toured a lighthouse before. I would love too, though.
Sadly, I have never had the opportunity to visit a lighthouse; would like to though.
I went to a Lighthouse in Superior WI once years ago.
I’ve never been to a lighthouse but it sounds like a cool thing to do!
I haven’t had the opportunity to visit a lighthouse but it’s definitely on my bucket list.