Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who made the launch of SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION such a huge success! I debuted at #38 on Amazon’s Cozy Culinary Mystery spot — a dream come true to be in the top 50!
I’m celebrating with another giveaway (see below) and a recipe for Gimlet Cupcakes which I developed for the book. These cupcakes have earned top ratings from my taste testers! While there are a lot of steps involved, the components work together to layer the flavors of the gin and lime cocktail. I’ll be the first to admit that I wouldn’t make these often because of the time involved but for a special occasion to treat yourself or family, or to celebrate a memorable event, these capture the feeling of a party!
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With the success of the release of Sprinkles of Suspicion I’ve decided to leave the special sale price of $0.99 up until the the end of this contest, Sunday, June 21, 2020. If you haven’t done so already, grab it before the price goes up or download for FREE via Kindle Unlimited! Print is also available.
You can visit Amazon by clicking here:
SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION
Amazon Synopsis
One glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles.
Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend. To make matters worse, Tori exacts her revenge by posting a fake photo of Emory in a compromising situation, which goes viral on social media. When Tori is found murdered, all signs point to Emory being the prime suspect.
With the police investigation focused on gathering evidence to convict her, Emory must prove her innocence while whipping up batches of cupcakes and buttercream. Delving into the past of her murdered ex-friend, she finds other people had reasons to want Tori dead, including Emory’s own husband. Can she find the killer, or will the clues sprinkled around the investigation point the police back to her?
One lucky winner will win their choice of either print or an e-book copy of SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION plus a cupcake bangle bracelet. Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, June 21, 2020 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!) For those outside the U.S., I’m happy to offer the winner e-book copies of both my books SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION and A GAME OF DECEIT via BookFunnel instead.
Makes 15 cupcakes
- 1-1/4 cups (161g) cake flour
- 1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- Zest from 1 lime
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup gin
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/8 teaspoon pure lime oil, optional
- 1/2 cup (64g) confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons gin
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- Zest from 1 lime
- 4 cups (506g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons gin
- 1/8 teaspoon pure lime oil, optional
- 1 drop mint green and 2 drops yellow gel food coloring, optional
- Fresh lime wedges
- Candied lime peel
- Lime fruit gel candies
- Sprinkles or candy confetti
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Line cupcake tins with paper liners.
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Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl. Set aside.
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Whisk the gin, lime juice, and pure lime oil (if using) together. Set aside.
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In the bowl of a standing mixer, whisk the eggs on medium speed for 30 seconds.
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Add the sugar and the lime zest and continue to whisk an additional minute.
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With the mixer running on low, slowly add the vegetable oil. Increase mixer to medium and whisk an additional minute.
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Reduce mixer speed back to low and add half the flour mixture to the sugar mixture. Beat on low until mostly incorporated.
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Add half the gin mixture and stir to combine.
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Repeat with remaining flour and gin mixture and beat until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
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Fill cupcake liners about 1/2 - 2/3 full. Batter is quite thin, and I like to use 1/4 cup measuring cups for filling liners. Bake 12-15 minutes. Edges will be slightly golden and a wooden skewer inserted into center should come out clean.
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Remove from oven and allow to cool in the cupcake tin for 5 minutes.
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Move the cupcakes to a wire rack and immediately proceed with glaze.
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Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, gin, lime juice, and lime zest.
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Pierce each warm cupcake 4 times with the tines of a fork.
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Brush the glaze over the cupcakes, allowing the liquid to soak in before applying more. Be sure to use all the glaze.
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Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before proceeding with the frosting.
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Place butter and salt into the bowl of a standing mixer and whip until the butter is creamy, approximately 2-3 minutes on medium-high speed.
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With the mixer running on low speed, add confectioners’ sugar a little at a time, mixing until sugar is coated with the butter.
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Whisk the gin and lime juice together along with the pure lime oil and gel food coloring if using.
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Once the butter and sugar mixture is creamy, slowly add the gin mixture.
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Increase the speed to medium-high and whip for approximately 5 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
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Frost the cupcakes and garnish if desired.
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Here are some blurbs from reviews received for Sprinkles of Suspicion:
Once again, the writing is delightful and the characters are nicely and vividly fleshed out. They added ‘sprinkles of delight and flavor’ to this fun cozy-mystery and kept me hooked from the beginning to finish, for sure!
~Diary of a Book Fiend
Her (Emory) trusting nature definitely gets her into sticky situations and makes her an easy mark. The pace is steady and her cluelessness adds a touch of humor. An enjoyable read.
~Christa Reads and Writes
Sprinkles of Suspicion kept me on the edge of my seat. The revelations make you go “Say whaattt????” The identity of the killer was surprising.
~The Book Decoder
. . . .a fun debut. . . Sprinkles of Suspicion sets up a promising new series. You’ll enjoy meeting Emory here and be anxious to find out where cupcakes and murder take her next.
~Carstairs Considers….
Wow!! This book started off with a bang . . . This is a well-written, fun mystery and the reader is bound to have a good time with this one!! Highly recommend.
~Moonlight Rendezvous
This story moves along at a great pace and doesn’t lag anywhere. There is always something happening, drama, twists, and yes, cupcakes. So well-plotted, I was totally taken in by the entire story and flabbergasted when the real killer was revealed.
~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
Emory is a hilarious character with a true flair for baking which really brings the story to life. Looks to be a fun series that I will thoroughly enjoy.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
This new series is just amazing! . . . Very enjoyable new series that checks off all the boxes for me. There are also many recipes and I might have to give some of the cupcake ones a whirl. We give this book 5 paws up.
~Storeybook Reviews
Your basic cozy mystery only with the sweetness of cupcakes galore and some yummy recipes for us to try! I love both the cozy mystery and a book with recipes sprinkled inside so this was a win win situation!
~Gimme the Scoop Reviews
Near the end, as Emory finds respite, I finally find a character I love. Tillie steals the show, bringing humor and fun to the book. Hopefully, she’s be able to teach Emory a thing or two.
~Cozy Up With Kathy
My favorite character is Tillie – she is a hoot and I hope we see a lot more of her in future books. You’re never quite sure what she’s going to do or say next, and her heart is genuine.
~Reading Is My SuperPower
A good first in a series, SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION was a story that had me so absorbed that I didn’t even realize the sun had gone down until I could no longer see the words. With a lamp flipped on, I finished this mystery to its satisfying conclusion, and am already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews
I prefer print copy. Thanks for the chance!
What a creative use for gin! ? I would prefer a print copy, thanks.
I read print. Thanks for the chance. Your covers are always so cute. I think the story is interesting. A best friend and husband betrayal then the husband turns up dead. I would like to read it.
I read in print.
I read print copies. Love the cover and I can always use a new cupcake recipe. The books sounds like a terrific read. Thanks for your great generosity.
Always a print copy. Thanks so much for the chance and congratulations on such a successful debut!
I prefer a print copy. I’d love to try the cupcakes but it would mean having to buy a bottle of gin which would probably remain in the cupboard for forever and a day.
This sounds like such a good book. Would love to win a print copy.
Congratulations on Top 50! I prefer print books.
Print, please
I prefer print. Thanks!
I prefer print copy. Thanks for the chance!
I prefer a print copy. That recipe looks so good! I LOVE the shade of green of the frosting! Thank you for the chance to win!
I prefer print. Thank youm
I’m looking forward to reading this, thank you, the cupcakes sound very good too, I prefer print
Penney
We have a family book club so print book please, that way I can share.
Prefer print books. Congrats on being in the top 50. We’ll see if we can’t get that higher.
I prefer a print copy, please. Congrats on your success!
Thank you for the Gimlet Cupcakes recipe. It sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to try it.
Can’t wait for the opportunity to read SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION which most definitely is on my TBR list.
Thank for the chance to win a copy! Shared and hoping to be the fortunate one selected. If I were picked, I would love a print copy.
These look so pretty & delicious. Prefer a print book. Thanks for the chance.
I prefer print.
Print, please. Not only are those cupcakes visually appealing but they sound delicious as well. Fantastic!
Congratulations on being in the Top 50. The cupcakes are so pretty and look very appetizing! I would prefer a print copy, the bracelet is adorable.
Thank you for the giveaway!
I prefer print but would happily take ebook. Thanks for the chance to win!!
I prefer print books but also read e books.
These cupcakes sound terrific!
I really prefer print books. I just like holding them. And, believe it or not, my eyes do not give me as much problem with print as they do with electronic ( unfocused, blurry, shadow vision).
Congratulations on the success of your new book!
I prefer a print copy. Can’t wait to read.
Congratulations! I prefer an ebook, please.
I keep trying to win this book – fingers are crossed – I prefer a print book please if I am lucky enough to win.
Print for me. The recipe sounds delicious. The book sounds interesting and fun to read. Thank you for the chance
I prefer a print copy. Congrats on the release!
Congrats on the release. I would prefer a print copy.
print
I usually prefer ebooks.
Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of copy of Sprinkles of Suspicion + a cupcake bracelet.
I prefer print books. I love holding them and turning real pages while reading.
I prefer print books. Thank you for the recipe, and this chance to win!
E-book would be lovely, please! Thanks for this opportunity.
Print copy please.
Print copy please. Your cupcakes look yummy! So does your book!
I prefer a print book please!
I would prefer a print copy. Thanks for the opportunity.
A print copy would be terrific!
Don’t guess there is a chance of “receiving” some of those cupcakes, right?
I prefer a print book.
I prefer a print book. I don’t have a working Kindle and I don’t want to read on my laptop. 😉
I prefer print, but I’m only asking for e books due to space lmitations.
I prefer print books
I prefer print copies
E-book would be wonderful! Thanks for the opportunity!
I prefer print please. Wow, those cupcakes are great. They could tempt a saint. My hubby is getting plain brownies for father’s day. But they are chocolate with chocolate chips inside, so should be pretty good.
Just a little incintive to keep up your creative side. When we were stationed in Bangkok, Thailand in the 1970’s, My mom sent me a birthday cake,decorated and picture taken of it and included. She sent it through the Red Cross services and I was able to share it with many people there. The decorations were smashed but it was still fresh tasting. She packed the cake box inside another box and filled the outer space with popcorn. That was one of the many great things I remember about my mom.
I prefer print books.
looks delicious! i prefer print thanks!