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PICTURE PERFECT FRAME is the twelfth book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. This newest addition to a long-enjoyed series is a fun return to the small beach town of South Cove, California and catching up with protagonist Jill Gardner. It’s like visiting a friend and their charming town after an absence. The descriptive setting is picture perfect, especially Jill’s delightful shop Coffee, Books, and More… a place I’d dearly love to hang out in. Ms. Cahoon has created appealing characters and I love how she introduces new ones who grow into key supporting characters over time. Most of them are hardworking, caring townsfolk, with minor idiosyncrasies. Except for Esmerelda, the town’s quirky medium, who marches to the beat of her own drummer. I really, really have enjoyed Esmerelda, who livens up each of the scenes she’s been in throughout the series and I was happy to see her receive more page time in this book.

In Picture Perfect Frame, Esmerelda is in trouble and seems to be involved in the newest murder in town. Jill’s detective boyfriend, Greg, asks Jill to find out what’s going on with Esmerelda, after she quit her job working for Greg. From there, it doesn’t take long for Jill to start hunting down clues to clear her friend’s name. I liked that instead of Greg telling Jill to stay out of the investigation, he appreciates her valuable input as long as she’s mindful of her safety. Despite there not being a plethora of suspects, there are plenty of twists and clues to keep the reader guessing. The plot moves along steadily and kept my interest. While the reveal was a bit anticlimactic, it wrapped up the threads of the investigation and with a hint at new changes in Jill’s life, leaves me wanting the next installment sooner than later.

Ms. Cahoon includes a recipe for Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake at the back of the book. I’ve never heard of gooey butter cake before so I did a bit of research. This ultra-sweet treat is a St. Louis tradition starting in the 1930’s. I appreciate that the modern version starts out with a boxed cake mix to simplify matters and with the addition of dairy and pantry staples, a scrumptious dessert is created. Ms. Cahoon puts her own spin on this yummy cake because, in her words, “…everything is better with a little chocolate, right?”

Amazon Synopsis

As the owner of Coffee, Books, and More, Jill Gardner likes to support other Main Street businesses, so she attends a paint-and-sip event where, sadly, her brushstrokes look more like blobs. It’s still fun, though—aside from some disruption by a couple doing more sipping than painting. Jill’s police-detective boyfriend is on alert, but a designated driver volunteers to take the drunken pair back to their bed and breakfast, and everything seems resolved. Until the wife’s body turns up the next morning back in the studio.

The victim, Nan, is from out of town, so it’s hard to imagine who’d have a motive aside from her spouse. Now, in between puzzling over her fortuneteller neighbor’s strange behavior, preparing for her best friend’s wedding, and pouring cups of java at the bookstore, Jill must uncover the secrets of Nan’s life and find out who wanted her out of the picture . . .

A special thanks to Lynn Cahoon for providing a winner with an E-BOOK copy of PICTURE PERFECT FRAME. Contest ends Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 11:59 pm PST. 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!)

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake

From Lynn Cahoon: Dear readers, I have to say when I moved to St. Louis I didn't get the gooey butter cake craze. It just seemed too buttery, too wet, too gooey. Maybe it was for kids. Maybe that was the magic. Because the ones I tried were way too sweet. Then I made a chocolate gooey butter cake for Thanksgiving. And I totally fell in love. So here's my gooey butter cake. Sorry it's not the original, but everything is better with a little chocolate, right?

Ingredients

2 sticks butter, melted (keep separate)
1 package chocolate cake mix
3 eggs (1 egg for bottom cake layer, 2 eggs for cake filling layer)
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup cocoa powder
16 ounces powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees (F) and grease a 9-inch-by-3-inch round springform cake pan.
Mix together the cake mix, 1 egg, and 1 stick melted butter until well blended.
Pat the mixture into prepared pan and set aside.
In the stand mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining 2 eggs and the cocoa powder until well mixed.
Lower the speed of the mixer and add the powdered sugar, then mix. Slowly add the remaining stick of melted butter, then mix. Add vanilla and continue to beat the mixture until smooth.
Pour the filling over the cake mixture in pan.
Bake for 40 - 50 minutes.
Cake center should still be a little gooey when finished. Remove cake from pan and let it partially cool on a wire rack before cutting into pieces.
Enjoy with whipped cream.

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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46 thoughts on “Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake”

Nope, never have attended a painting party but it sure sounds like a lot of fun!

No, I’ve never attended a painting party. The recipe for chocolate gooey butter cake looks delicious!! I love chocolate!

The cake looks so good. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

I will be trying to make this cake!

Never attended a painting party but it sounds fun.

I have not, but they sound fun!

I have never attended a painting party.

I’ve never been to a painting party. I feel like I’m missing out some times living in such a small town.

Can’t wait to try the Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake recipe and the opportunity to read “PICTURE PERFECT FRAME”.

I’ve never attended a painting party but it sounds like fun!! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Picture Perfect Frame!

I have never attended a painting party but it sounds like great fun and would love to go to one.

I have been to a painting party. In my mind there are 2 types of painting, one fun and one not do fun but necessary. Thr fun one is where you get to paint on a canvas. The other one is where you paint walls, cabinets or the outside of a house. Thanks for sharing.

I have been to 4 of them, they are so much fun! Now we “Bob Ross” at home. Oh, this is definitely up my alley and that cake! I want a taste right now. I just printed the recipe so maybe this weekend…How many Weight Watchers points do you suppose that is? Lol. Thank you for the recipe and the opportunity!

I went to a painting and drinking place once. It was a fundraiser for an animal shelter. Everybody did a picture of their pet. It was really fun and the teachers were really helpful which is good because I had no idea what I was doing. I love my picture. Ooh, that cake looks good!

I attended a number of tile painting classes, with the first one being 41 years ago! No wine was involved but friendships were formed! My son-in-law is from St. Louis and used a third generation family recipe to build his business concept, Mama Bev’s St. Louis Butter Cake, introducing the Milwaukee, WI area to multiple flavors of gooey butter cake deliciousness!

Kim says:

March 23, 2021 at 9:16 am

What an amazing and yummy concept for your son-in-law’s business! This was my first time making gooey butter cake and definitely won’t be my last!

No, never have. Cake sounds delicious as does the book!

I’ve never been to a painting party. Sounds like it could be fun even though art is not my strong suit.

Recipe sounds like something I need to try. I’ve never been to a painting party but hopefully some day. Thanks for your great generosity.

Thanks for the recipe and goodies

No, although I have been invited to several. I am still trying to let go of my mom’s personal items & need to keep things simple now.

Yes, I have been to a painting party. They are a lot of fun and this cake looks delicious!?

No, I have not.

I have been to a painting party. There is seven of us girlfriends that get together every year and do a Christmas painting. We have done it for eight years now. It’s a blast!!!!
The cake looks delicious!!

Oh my goodness! That sounds like total decadence.
Bring it on!

I’ve never attended a painting party.

Not a painting party but I have attended a silk scarf painting class

No I haven’t ever attended a painting party but I have seen pictures done at them. They are really good! Thanks so much for the recipe! It sounds really good!

I attended a ceramic painting party and it was so much fun! Thank you for the recipe, and this chance!

No, I have never attended a painting party.

Yes i actually did attend a wine glass painting party.

No, I’ve never been to a painting party although I have been to a pottery painting party. Seeing that chocolate cake makes me wish that I wasn’t allergic to chocolate. Thank you for the giveaway!

No I have never attended a painting party.

I have not attended a painting party. I do have painters in right now but, it’s not really a party.

No, never.

I never attended a painting party. Thank you for the chance to win a print copy of Picture Perfect Frame.

I have never attended a painting party. Thank you for the chance.

I have attended a painting party, or a paint and pour as they’re sometimes called around here. So much fun, but I realized that I am not an artist! Also, I just had my first gooey butter cake last year in St. Louis. I had never heard of such a dessert before, but it was sinfully delicious. Cannot wait to try this recipe!