Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Buttercream Betrayal by Kim Davis

BUTTERCREAM BETRAYAL by Kim Davis
SERIES: Cupcake Catering Mystery #5
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
PUBLISHER: Cinnamon & Sugar Press
RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2022
PAGES: 320

Intent on getting their two mischievous dogs under control, Emory Martinez and her half sister, Vannie, join a group dog training program led by Shawn Parker. With a graduation certificate just within grasp and a party to celebrate their hard-won achievements, what could go wrong? For starters, their two dogs have decided to wreak havoc during the party and tempers flare. It turns out not everyone is pleased with the dog trainer and his mother, the condo association president. Whispers of the mother and son’s misbehavior, or worse, fly amongst the barks, whines, and growls of the canines.

When Emory finds the body of Mrs. Parker amidst an explosive situation, it becomes apparent there is more truth to the whispers instead of just gossip. Could one of the canine-loving participants be responsible? Or an outsider who hated her heavy-handed rule over the condo homeowners? Emory, Vannie, and octogenarian Tillie must sift through the clues to find out who has been betrayed and who has decided to take justice into their own hands.

Recipes included!

Other Books In This Series

I’ve been reading the Cupcake Catering Mystery series since book one, and my craving for cupcakes just keeps getting stronger lol. Another thing that gets stronger is my appreciation for Emory, our protagonist. I wasn’t a huge fan of hers in the first book, but I was so charmed by the author’s writing style and the premise of the series that I grabbed book two when it released and I’m glad I did … because I became a Emory fan after all. She’s definitely a character I would want to hang out with in real life, and it’s not just because she makes such delicious cupcakes (though, of course, that doesn’t hurt haha)

In Buttercream Betrayal, we see right away – in the first few pages – that Emory & her half-sister Vannie’s attempts at taking dog training classes with their bighearted-but-slightly-rambunctious dogs Piper and Missy have not been successful. We also see right away that this is likely the fault of the trainer, not the sisters or their sweet dogs. Soon, however, dog training becomes the least of their problems when the trainer’s contentious mother is murdered and of course poor Emory discovers the body. Rumors accusing the trainer & his mother of blackmail, embezzling, puppy mills (so awful!) and an almost mafia-esque hold on people swirl, adding depth to the murder plot and to the plausible suspects. We’ve seen several detectives in this series, and the one assigned to this case is (I think) my favorite so far! I really liked Detective Hawkins and I hope we see him again.

Bottom Line: One of my favorite things about this series (besides the yummy cupcakes ☺️) has always been Emory’s dog Piper – now also joined by Tillie’s rescue Missy – and in Buttercream Betrayal the dogs are front and center. Not to worry though, we still get to hang out with Emory & her tight circle of family & friends who make a delightful ensemble cast. The mystery was, as always, cleverly crafted and surprised me more than once. As a past rescue dog owner, I also appreciated how the author used the mystery plot to bring awareness to the horrible problem of puppy mills. Grab a cupcake for yourself, a treat or two for your furbabies and curl up with Buttercream Betrayal by Kim Davis!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!

Reviewer’s Note: Readers of this blog may want to be aware that this book features an unwed couple preparing to move in together and a couple of same-sex relationships. Nothing explicit is discussed in either of these instances and the book is definitely what I consider to be a clean read.

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Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not chasing her puppy or spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats.  She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, the Cupcake Catering Mystery series, and the Aromatherapy Mystery series. She also has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Buttercream Betrayal by Kim Davis?