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RISKY BISCUITS, the second book in A Sugar & Spice Mystery series by Mary Lee Ashford, is an entertaining addition to a delightful series! I greatly enjoyed the first book (GAME OF SCONES) but feel that Ms. Ashford has found her stride with this second book. Protagonist, Sugar Calloway, and her business partner, Dixie Spicer, have been allowed to fully display their personalities in this newest book, all to the readers’ advantage. The humorous one-liners kept me chuckling and Sugar’s Aunt Cricket’s idioms added to the folksy narration provided by Sugar. Ms. Ashford’s colorful descriptive settings are brought to life with an added humorous touch: such as the town’s Red Hen Diner, (which Sugar frequents often) where the door clucks every time it’s opened and the owner’s apron announces her as The Head Chick. The author creates several imaginative characters to support Sugar and Dixie, each well developed and each with unique personalities. I enjoyed the interaction between Dixie and her former flame, Sheriff Terry, while Sugar’s friendship with food photographer, Max, has the potential to flourish.
I greatly enjoy character-drive cozy mysteries, and RISKY BISCUITS not only met my expectation but exceeded it. The initial murder itself was tragic, but eventually it managed to bring the town together in support of the senior citizens’ group, The Crack of Dawn Breakfast Club. There were twists and turns, old secrets brought to light, and old rivalries revived. Subplots were intertwined with the murder and at first I didn’t see how they connected. But as the story progressed and clues were introduced, Ms. Ashford pulled it all together into one satisfying read.
With Sugar and Dixie working on The Crack of Dawn Breakfast Club’s cookbook, there are all sorts of yummy dishes mentioned throughout the story. Fortunately, Ms. Ashford includes several delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book for the reader to try. One of the recipes submitted by Sugar’s elderly landlord is Greer’s Better than Robert Redford Cake. Oh. My. Word! It’s amazing!!! I prepared it for my granddaughter’s Teacher Appreciation goodie day and there wasn’t even one crumb left. On top of receiving rave reviews, I was thankful that it was a snap to make and relied on convenience products. I ended up using Cool Whip instead of fresh whipped cream because I knew the cake would sit at room temperature for a couple of hours due to transporting it and then waiting for the teachers to start break time. I worried fresh whipped cream might collapse under those circumstances. Either way, you will be the dessert star with this cake!
Amazon Synopsis
Former magazine editor “Sugar” Calloway’s life has taken a delicious twist since she launched a community cookbook publishing business with blue-ribbon baker Dixie Spicer. Now these amateur sleuths must solve a small-town murder—without getting burned.
Sugar and Spice Cookbooks’ newest project is a fundraiser organized by the St. Ignatius Crack of Dawn Breakfast Club, famous for their all-you-can-eat biscuits and gravy events. But when a group member is found dead, Sugar and Spice’s priorities change from raising dough to figuring out who put murder on the menu.
The return of former badboy Nick Marchant has stirred the town’s gossips too. Add a few grudges and some old-fashioned greed over a land deal into the mix, and it’s a recipe for mayhem. And when someone serves up a second helping of murder, Sugar and Spice need to sift the guilty from the blameless, or their next breakfast may be their last . . .
A special thanks to Mary Lee Ashford for providing one winner with their choice of either a print copy or e-book of RISKY BISCUITS. Contest ends Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and print is limited to U.S. 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!)
Greer thinks this cake may be better than Robert Redford but not George Clooney. Just her opinion, of course.
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1-1/4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (11.5 ounce) jar salted caramel sauce
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (8 ounce) bag Heath candy pieces
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F) and spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
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Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the package, but use milk in place of water.
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Pour the batter into the baking dish and bake according to the package directions.
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Let the cake cool.
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Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes throughout the cake.
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Pour the whole can of sweetened condensed milk over the caking, filling the holes.
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Drizzle the cake with half of the jar of salted caramel sauce.
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With an electric mixer, whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form, adding the powdered sugar and vanilla while whipping.
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Spread the whipped cream over the cake.
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Drizzle with the remaining salted caramel sauce and sprinkle with bits of Heath candy pieces (small chunks, but not crushed).
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You can use frozen whipped topping, but make sure it's completely thawed before you put it on the cake.
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I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I prefer e-books.
I prefer a print copy. Thanks so much for the yummy recipe and the giveaway!
I prefer a print copy of Risky Biscuits. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
I am looking forward to reading this. I really enjoyed the first one!
I prefer physical books…forgot to answer the question with my previous comment.
The book looks awesome and the author is new to me…off to find the first in the series!
Print would be awesome. And that cake looks awesome! I would love to try it and mix some cream cheese into the whipped topping (not much of a fan of just whipped topping for icing lol) Decadent! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve had this cake years ago. OMG, it is so amazing! I’ve forgot about this recipe! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
I would like a print copy
Yummy recipe
Thank you for the recipe. It looks yummy. And thank you for this chance to win. I would prefer a print copy.
I would love a print copy if I’m lucky enough to win. Thank you for the chance.
Wow, Kim. That cake … omg.
Thanks as always for letting us know about books we ought to be reading!
I would love to win a print copy. Thanks for the chance.
I prefer a print book.
I prefer paper back thank you for the chance
I would love a print copy..thanks for the review.. the book sounds fun, the cake delicious!
I’d love a print copy, as I don’t have an dreaded. The book sounds great and that cake looks sooo luscious- I have to try both!
kozo8989@hotmail.com
I prefer a print copy. The cake looks delicious. Chocolate is my weakness.
I prefer print books. The title is wonderful, I love it! Thank you for the giveaway and the delicious looking recipe. ringo_94@hotmail.com
I prefer print.
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I am loving all the recipes that are coming our way.
print for me fingers are so crippled with nerve disease. i tried the one sent in the email but the link was wrong so i went to your website to get here! peggy clayton ptclayton2@aol.com
I prefer print books please.
scarletbegonia5858(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for bringing “RISKY BISCUITS” by Mary Lee Ashford to my attention. Sounds like a marvelous book and one I would greatly enjoy having the opportunity to read.
There recipe for Greer’s Better Than Robert Redford Cake sounds delicious and one that I am going to have to try.
If I were fortunate enough to be selected, I would love a print copy.
I prefer print
I only read print. Rich looking cake.
Right now I prefer ebooks because they take up less space and my Kindle is easier to carry around. I can’t wait to make this cake!
I prefer a print book of “Risky Biscuits”.
I prefer a print copy of “Risky Biscuits”.
If I had a choice I would prefer a print copy. Thank you so much for the chance ? lilyanngill56(at)Gmail(dot)com
I prefer a print book. Thx for the chance!!
Print. But the book – and the recipe look amazing.
I prefer a print copy. Thanks for the chance!
Print copy, please.
Print copy, please
definitely a print copy type of person
I love print books, I prefer to hold them in my hands and not have to worry about charging them. I love this recipe, Thanks for this amazing chance.
I prefer a print book. The recipe looks delicious!
I’d prefer an ecosystem of the book.
Love that autocorrect. That should have said ecopy.
That cake looks awesome!!! I will have to try that. I can only read print books and would LOVE to win!! Thanks for the chance!
I prefer print books! Guess I’m old fashioned! Recipe looks yummy! Thanks for the chance to win!
I prefer the print copy.
Thank you for a very nice review and adding a yummy recipe is wonderful! I would prefer a print copy if in large print because I really love the feel of books; otherwise eBooks so I can actually read it easily on my Kindle Tablet! Y’all have a magical weekend!
Oh my, that sounds wicked!
Any tips on poking the holes? I tried that recently and it didn’t go well. The cake stuck to the spoon end and it was a mess.
I’d love to win a print copy! Thanks for the chance!
I prefer print books.
I prefer print, please. Thanks for the giveaway!
I prefer print books. Thank you for the chance! I love the Robert Redford cake too! Thanks so much for the recipe!
I prefer print copy. I love this cake!
Thank you for solving my problem – love your page and i’m so grateful for all your contests – I do my reading from the library, so the chance at winning a physical book is a real treat.
I prefer print books. That cake looks sinfully delicious!!!!!!! Thank you for the the giveaway and the recipe!!
I like print copies. These recipes looks yummy..
I would prefer a print copy please
Sounds great. I prefer print books. Thanks for the chance.
Print, please! And/or a piece of that cake!!
I prefer print.
I prefer a print copy. Thanks for the chance.
I prefer print .
All I have to say is yum ?. Going to give it a try this weekend.
I do prefer a print copy.
I just ordered a Paperwhite, but I am not sure if I will like reading on it. And I KNOW I like reading an actual printed book. 🙂
I am also going to try this cake for our next ladies meeting.
I prefer a print copy please.
I plan on making this cake for our next ladies meeting.