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DYING FOR DEVIL’S FOOD, the eleventh book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, by Jenn McKinlay, is another fun addition to an entertaining series! The three long-term friends, who banded together during the tumultuous years during high school, have created a successful chain of cupcake bakeries called Fairy Tale Cupcakes. I greatly admire the strong bond between Mel (Melanie), Angie, and Tate and how they have strengthened their friendship throughout the years. It’s been fun watching them evolve throughout the series while the author inserts lots of laugh out loud humorous moments. In DYING FOR DEVIL’S FOOD, Ms. McKinlay recreates the angst of bullying in high school when the committee planning their fifteen class reunion asks Mel and Angie to design and provide a huge order of cupcakes for the party. Mel, a victim of bullying, is adamant that they aren’t going to do it and she will not attend their reunion. Angie, on the other hand, has her own plans and she creatively changes Mel’s mind through joining forces with their bakery’s nemesis.
While murder is never good, it’s a little more palatable when a truly awful person is the victim. Such was the case in this newest release. A bully that tormented Mel all through high school and hasn’t grown out of that bullying, is found murdered in the ladies’ room. Unfortunately it’s Mel that finds the victim. Ms. McKinley weaves clues into a tightly plotted tale of angst, ambition, and acceptance. There are many suspects (because there’s almost no one who didn’t hate the victim) but still the author manages to bring some twists and turns to surprise the reader. With a heartwarming ending, this reader is looking forward to the next book in this series.
Fairy Tale Cupcakes serves an amazing assortment of delectable cupcakes! Ms. McKinlay offers several delicious recipes at the back of the book and they all sound mouthwatering. I was drawn to the Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes because they provide a gorgeous presentation without relying on heavy buttercream. Perfect for hot summer months when frosting can melt during outdoor picnics or parties. Plus, the generous amount of pineapple keeps the mini cakes super moist.
Amazon Synopsis
Melanie Cooper has zero interest in catering her fifteen-year high school reunion, but Angie insists it’s only right that they bask in the success of Fairy Tale Cupcakes–and Mel’s engagement to the delicious Joe DeLaura is the cherry on top!
Everything is going better than expected until Cassidy Havers, resident mean girl and Mel’s high school nemesis, picks a fight. No longer willing to put up with Cassidy’s bullying, Mel is ready to tell the former homecoming queen to shut her piehole and call it a night. But as Mel and Joe prepare to depart, Cassidy is found dead in the girl’s bathroom, next to a note written in lipstick that points right to Mel–making her the prime suspect.
Now, Mel must follow the clues to find the real killer and keep her reputation from being frosted for a crime she didn’t commit.
I’m please to have a print copy of DYING FOR DEVIL’S FOOD for one lucky winner. Contest ends Monday, June 24, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is open to U.S. and Canadian 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!)
A rich, buttery pineapple cake topped with a caramelized pineapple ring and maraschino cherry.
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
- 12 pineapple rings
- 12 maraschino cherries
- Brown Sugar
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with paper liners.
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In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla.
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In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
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Alternately, add the flour mixture and the crushed pineapple to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing until batter is smooth.
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Fill paper liners until two-thirds full. Place one pineapple ring and one cherry on top of each cupcake.
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Bake for 17 - 22 minutes until golden brown.
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After cupcakes cool, sprinkle brown sugar on top of the pineapple ring and use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar and pineapple.
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Leave plain or top with vanilla buttercream.
Makes 12
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No I have not.
I attended my 10th and 20th high school reunions. The 10th was fun, the 20th, not so much. Thank you for the chance to win!
No, I’ve been out of school for 31 years and have never attended a class reunion. I don’t care too.
No, I have not.
Nope, have never attended one. Our 50th reunion party is this coming Saturday but it’s halfway across the country and we’re celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary (yesterday) closer to home instead.
I have attended some of my high school reunions. I think my husband enjoyed them more than I did!
I attended a couple…will never go again. The cliques were still in full force. And the people I care about FB with me so it’s good.
I have never went to any of my class reunions. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of Dying For Devil’s Food.
Love love love this series. Thanks for the opportunity!!
Never went to a reunion and don’t plan to
I did attend my 35th and it was a strange feeling!!
Yes, I have.
The mini version of a pineapple side down cake that has to be just as good as the normal size. ?
I have not attended class reunions.
I might have thought about attending one of mine, but hubby isn’t from where I went to school and wouldn’t know anyone. … And after this length of time, I probably wouldn’t know or remember anyone either. Even my COLLEGE 50 year reunion was last year.
Now if I could go to the all school reunion for my elementary/ junior high school [smaller town — we’d moved to large city my sophomore year], I might do that. Of course, the kids I knew back then are all very late 60s and early to mid 70s — how many are still alive &/ or healthy?
I have attended a few class reunions.
I went to my 10th high school reunion. We went to my husband’s 30th and had a lot of fun.
And this recipe is a must-try! Pineapple upside down cake is one of my husband’s favorites, so it will be fun to have in cupcake form.
Thank you for the giveaway!
I have never gone. I was one of those that was happy when school was over and ready to move my own direction. Facebook is good enough for keeping in contact at this point. My inner circle changed a lot over the years and I love who’s in it now.
Yes I went to my 5th and 10th High School reunion
I go to my college reunions most of the 5 years.
Both this recipe and the book look deliciously fun. Thank you for the review. I have never been to a reunion of any kind.
Yes I have. The recipe looks and sounds delicious. Thank you for the chance. I can’t wait to read this book.
I have never attended a class reunion.
I have never attended a class reunion.
Two of my favorite things! Books and pineapple upside down cupcakes!
I have gone to all my college reunions, but not high school.
The last time my high school had one I was in England and missed it so no I never went to them
Penney
I’ve never been to a class reunion.
I have been to my 10th & my 50th.
I attended 10 year, 30 year but not 50 year.
I’ve attended one of mine and went with my husband to a couple of his.
i have never been to a class reunion and have no intention of going to one. I can totally sympathize with Mel on that.
I have attended a couple of them. Most recently, I attended the 50 year reunion 2 years ago. It was fun.
I have never been to a class reunion
No, I have not attended a class reunion.
I have been to a class reunion.
I don’t attend reunions, but those are some good looking cupcakes!
I have attended a few of my class reunions
I went to our 5 year class reunion and haven’t been to one since. I would like to go to the next one which is next year.
Yes my husband’s class reunion and we have one this year
No I have not been to any of my class reunions.
I attended one class reunion and I really didn’t enjoy it much. I probably won’t attend any more.
No to the high school reunion.
I have not attended any of my class reunions, but if I recall the 20yr reunion ended up being just a meet up at a bar. Not sure how many people ended up going.
I went to my 40th class reunion. We were a small class so not alot of us there. Thanks for the wonderful recipe
I i have not
I went to my 10 year reunion, but none since then. The cupcakes sound delicious!
I have been to a few reunions but they always pop when when we are doing something with family during the summer. I loved our 5th and 10th. I would love to read about a mystery at one. Thanks for the chance. And I do love cupcakes.
Oops. My email was typed wrong. Again thAnks for the chance.
Never attended any reunions
I have never gone to my own reunion, but now live in a small town where they make a huge deal of the reunions!
I have never gone to one and never will.
I’ve been out of school for awhile. They had reunions every year, but I never went to any.
No I haven’t. I would like to though but live so far away. Thanks for the chance to win.
I have not attended any class reunions. I have thought about it but times did not work out. Thanks for the chance!
I have not attended any of my high school class reunions but have gone to my husband’s class reunions. It is interesting to find
out information about my husband while he was in high school. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway and the chance to win a book.
No. Never did. I have thought about it but, did not work out.
I’ve never been to a class reunion.
NO I HAVE NOT ATTENDED CLASS REUNIONS
I attended my 10th and 20th and had so much fun. I was planning to go to my 30th, but I’d recently had a surgery, had a complication and couldn’t attend. The end of this mo is my 40th and once again I planned to go, but it didn’t work out. I was sad, but at peace with it.