Allison Janda

Really, don't bother. It's incoherent.

First off, neither seduction nor apple pie figure in the plot except as incidental. Why name it after these?

Also, as other reviewers have noted, Janda does not have a decent grasp on when to use "I" vs "me", a grammatical failing I find especially irritating, especially in a purportedly professional's writing. Lorelei Lee can get away with "a girl like I", but that's a part of her voice! and telling, character-wise. Here, it's just a sloppy mistake, repeated often.

The plot makes no sense. It starts as a kidnapping and turns into a drug ring for no obvious reason, and the resolution doesn't even hold up to casual inspection.

Similarly, the charcters behave in essentially random ways. OK, this makes them unpredictable, so the plot is full of surprises!!!! but it also makes those surprises stupid and arbitrary. People keep secrets for no apparent reason, then tell them again for no apparent reason. And if the Big Bad were that reluctant to take care of things himself, why do him minions fear him? it's a clear weakness.

It does start out pretty solid, but don't be fooled- it devolves into a hot mess.

Don't bother.… (meer)

Marian Moyer is the proud owner of Food Porn, an underground magazine that publishes reviews of patisseries along with photographs of naked models holding baked goods. She also makes ends meet as a crime scene photographer with Barry, a detective in the Milwaukee police force. But nothing could have prepared her for the mysterious death of one of her models. And the reappearance of James, a high school crush, in her apartment parking lot seems a bit suspicious. Lucky for her, her friends Addison and Rory are here to help her. It doesn’t hurt either that a hot new model shows up for an audition for her magazine. But when she realizes that someone is trying to kill her, she’s starting to wonder who she can trust…

Sex, Murder & Killer Cupcakes is the first book in the Marian Moyer series. The story is fast-paced and fun to read. In addition, Marian is a relatable character with flaws and doubts, and her two professional occupations are an interesting combination of naughty and nice. However, I thought the motive for the crime was a bit unrealistic but, since the perpetrator had mental health issues, I guess it could be plausible after all. Also the title promises sex but the story does not in fact contain steamy scenes, so some readers may find themselves disappointed. I would be curious to read the other two books in the series though to see how murders are integrated into Marian’s life and how her relationships evolve. Overall, Sex, Murder & Killer Cupcakes was an entertaining and light read with a surprising ending.

Sex, Murder & Killer Cupcakes was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).… (meer)