Product Description
A "delightful new series." -- Kaye's Penguin PostsCake decorator Daphne Martin once again finds herself and her cakes at the center of a murder mystery. Half the town gets sick following a cake event, but for poor Fred Duncan, a bout with potential food poisoning quickly turns fatal. Now it's up to Daphne to sort through the likely suspects and figure out who frosted Fred. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

dead pan
I REALLY LOVE GAYLE TRENTS BOOKS. IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A COMFY CULINARY MYSTERY, I RECCOMMEND HER BOOKS. CAN'T FOR MORE!!!!!!!!

Daphne
I enjoyed this 2nd book just as much as the first.It was nice to see more of Daphne and Ben and a few new characters at that.Daphne tires not to get involved in the recent case of a death of a friend, but she can't help herself.The recipes are worth the read as well for some yummy sweets.

Great sequel
Just finished reading "Dead Pan" by Gayle Trent.It was enjoyable, and I love that Gayle incorporates some recipes into her stories.I decorate cakes, so I even learn some 'tricks' of the trade by reading the main characters descriptions of her cake making.I can't wait until the next installment.

Don't Waste your Time or Money!
I never thought I'd write a bad review, but this book didn't have much of anything going for it except the recipes included.There was a storyline, but it never really developed.All of a sudden, case solved!Huh?There was no sleuthing, no wondering "who done it?" There was really a whole lot of nothing.

Ms. Trent's first book, or at least the first I read, Dead Pan, was a delight and I was looking forward to this one.So much so that I had it on pre-order, at full price (big mistake), and was so incredibly disappointed, that I can honestly say, if you get it free, by all means read it, but don't spend more than $0.99 cents for it.I spent the requisite $9.99 and could kick myself for that now, but as I said, the first one was really good, so one would assume subsequent reads would be as well written, with a storyline and actual sleuthing and case solving, that you're willing to pay the price.Not so with this one; it seems that nothing really happaned, and as I said, all of a sudden, poof, it's over and the culprit is caught and the main character didn't have anything really to do with it.

There was no "case building" or character building, so it left you with not really "knowing" the characters, their personalities, their problems, etc.Don't waste your time; big disappointment; not worth the money; drags; not well written.Sorry, Ms. Trent - thank you for reading my review.I would have rated this 1-1/2 stars, but I don't know how to do half stars :-)

Dead Pan? More Like Dead Wrong!
Ultimately, I was displeased with this book.If you take out the detail given to baking the cakes, the book would be incredibly short.Great detail was given to develop the story while the solving of the crime was summed up in 3 or 4 pages.Many loose ends were left untied upon the conclusion of the book.What ultimately killed Fred?Why did Daphne's uncle warn her to stay away from Ben?Also, several characters had no real purpose for being in the story.What was the point of reintroducing Belinda Freemont and her guinea pigs?Why was the Sav-A-Buc store manager's brother even mentioned?I think that this book should have been free instead of Murder Takes The Cake.It wasn't worth the $9.99, especially since the last 25% of the book was recipes and excerpts from other books.If I wanted dessert recipes, I would have purchased a cookbook. ... Read more

Product Description
Cozy murder mystery.When the meanest gossip in Brea Ridge dies mysteriously, suspicions turn to cake decorator Daphne Martin. But all Daphne did was deliver a spice cake with cream cheese frosting--and find Yodel's body. Now Daphne's got to help solve the murder and clear her good name. Problem is, her Virginia hometown is brimming with people who had good reason to kill Yodel, and Daphne's whole family is among them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Murder Takes the Cake
1st in a cozy mystery series.Daphane is a cake decorator who stumbles on her neighbor's dead body.Police decides the neighbor was murdered and Daphane begins to investigate, putting herself in harm's way.Good mystery and good characters, I will continue with this series.I borrowed this book from my public library.

Good Book Considering It Was Free!
I got this book on Amazon when it was free.I've been sick so I read through it in one day.It was a good book, I enjoyed the murder mystery.I'm glad I didn't pay a lot for the book though.I felt like the end was very abrupt, and while I realize there is 1 sequel out thus far, I wish the end of this book was more thorough.It was just kind of like BAM, mystery solved, the end, but it felt like it needed just a bit more.

I'm considering buying the sequel, but it's not super high on my priority for my wishlist.I definitely recommend this if you got it for free, but as for paying a lot more for it?I'm not so sure it's worth it!

Cherries
I have to admit I thought this book was going to be rather cheesy, but turned out to be quiet funny and interesting.I would not mind reading more about Daphne and her sister Violet.See if they can solve any more mysteries while Daph runs her cake business as well.

Did a child write this?
I found most of the storyline slightly intriguing and moderately compelling...but that was about it. Being a writer myself I found this book lacking in a lot of technical aspects. The author did a fantastic job of creating a dynamic leading lady, but the praise stops there. I believe more time could have been spent on the murder and less on the boring neice and nephew and posibly some more research into the cake business could have done the author some good. If you are not looking for heart pounding excitement, this book is for you. But I'll stick with Nicholas Sparks and Stephen King...hell, Miley Cyrus is a better writer than Gayle Trent!

Great for gaining weight
There were some positives about this book:
A)Got it free.
B)I did actually finish it.
C)It's many discriptions of cakes and decorating caused me to check out the website www.cakewrecks.com, and I spent an enjoyable hour purusing the horrible (and beautiful Sunday posts) cakes.

And some negatives:
1)Simplistic writing, repeting the same plot points over and over.
2)Way too many characters, by the time it ended it was anti-climactic because I couldn't remember who they were refering too and how that person's life tied into other peoples lives.
3)Too many eccentric characters in one town.Rich lady breading champion guinee pigs?Really?
4)Daphne's (main character) mother thinks Daphne should have stayed with her abusive ex husband who tried to kill her....... Uh, if that's the case, you have no business being around your mother, this is a toxic (not quirky) relationship.
5)Not only was there way too much information on cake decorating, which really had nothing to do with the story, halfway through I had to go out and buy pound cake mix.While the story was tepid at best, it DID cause me devour 1/2 a pound cake.Reader beware!

Would not recommend this if you have to pay for it, or read anything other than Harliquin romance type books. ... Read more

Product Description
No description available ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A real Blessing
THe Mossy Creek books aren't exactly cutting edge fiction, but they are a wonderful way to pass some time with characters that you know fairly well. Blessings is the 5th (I think) book in the series, and it is as wonderful as the rest. There is some small town pettiness and some small town loving-kindness, and an enjoyable time will be had by all.

more uplifting blessings from the Mossy Creek crew
It is a blessing to live in Mossy Creek located hours North of Atlanta, where everyone who lives there wants to stay there.Neighbors help friends and arguments are usually settled amicably.Outsiders who move there are warmly welcomed as long as they treat others, as they want to be treated.

When the bride has no flowers for her wedding day, the groom tries to find them but it is the people of Mossy Creek who work together to fill up the church with roses and one woman donates her prize winning rose instead of entering them in the local competition.The owner of a ballet school and the owner of the funeral home are feuding and disturbing the newly bereaved.Tango lessons temporarily solve the problem and friendship finds a solution.

Even the children in Mossy Creek are kind hearted.John Wesley has been saving up all summer to buy his mother a birthday present but when a homeless hungry family of migrant workers passes through town, he gives them his money for gasoline and food.On an amusing note, the town bands together to save a tree from being torn down while Amos the chief of police tries to get Ida the mayor to admit she has feelings for him.

There are many more blessings in Katie Bell's column in the Mossy Creek Gazette; they are all tender, worn-hearted and uplifting as the ones in this review.Mossy Creek combines the atmosphere of an Anne River Seddons' novel with the magic of a Barbara Samuels' character study.The latest trip is worth the journey.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

marvelous fun
I really enjoyed "Between a Clutch and a Hard Place". Myrtle is a great character and the story is refreshing. I like how Gayle Trent avoids being overly sweet and "cozy" yet isn't "hard-boiled" either. The second book "When Good Bras go Bad" is just as fun to read. I look forward to more books about Myrtle! However, I understand Grace Abraham Publishing went out of business and the series will die with the company, which is truly a shame!
... Read more

Product Description
Cake decorator and amateur sleuth Daphne Reynolds must clear her name after a routine cake delivery ends with one of her clients dead. ... Read more

Product Description
Roxanne Weatherly's life is upside down. By day, she's Rocky, the new "boy" at the construction company. By night, she's a single mother trying to take care of a two-year-old daughter as best as she can. The last thing she needs in her life is a man; but when she finds an injured deer on the side of the road and calls veterinarian Ethan Bragg, that's just what she gets.

>/P> ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Midwest Book Review -- Mayra Calvani
Laughing and Learning: Adventures in Parenting is a collection of touching, heart-warming tales written by real parents from around the globe.

Compiled by author/publisher Gayle Trent, the book is divided into four sections.

In "The Sweetest Days We'll Know," the authors share those moments when parents wish their children would never grow up, those sweet, unforgettable times when children say things that stroke the heart.

In "The Times That Try Our Souls," the authors offer the readers a glimpse into the fear,pain, frustration, and helplessness that sometimes parents experience during difficult moments of parenting.

"When To Hold Them and When to Walk Away" deals with those melancholic situations when parents wish children would never grow up and leave home.

Finally, in "You Can't Really DIE From Embarrassment," readers will have a few laughs reading about some very real, horrible moments when parents wish they could become invisible to hide from public shame, like those nightmarish times at the supermarket with your toddlers.

Written in light prose with a touch of humor, these are relaxing stories any parent will enjoy, the perfect book to curl up in a chair with a cup of hot tea.

It is worth noting that ten percent of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Speedway Children's Charities.



... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

WHAT AHOOT!
Colombo's got nothing on Myrtle Crumb, who is like a cross between "Granny of the Beverley Hillbillies" and "Matlock".I absolutely fell in love with Myrtle, her dog Matlock and even her neighbor and arch nemesis, Tansie Miller.

It's the perfect size to enjoy while on a trip to the doctor's office.But be prepared to share, because everyone will want to know why you're laughing.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I just loved it
If I had a teenager at home, this would definitely be a book I would buy for her.It's a great mystery and a clean love story.Gayle did a wonderful job and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Susan Younan Attiyah Author of, "I'll Never Find Anything in Here!"...

Photo Finish by Gayle Trent
Hoorah!At last a mystery for teens as intriguing and satisfying as the old Nancy Drew books that whetted my own appetite for reading three decades ago.No graphic and gratuitous sex scenes detract from the plot (thank goodness). Instead, just a titillating whisper of sex is securely anchoredin love and woven beautifully into the contextual action, conveying asubtle and refreshing 'watch-out' for romantic young ladies whose romeosare often frightened away by the words "I love you."

Asuperb choice for parents who wish to kindle reading interests in theirteens who may be leaning too much to the sex- and violence-saturated primetime television programs andvideo-computer-games.

Trent's fast-pacedplotting leaves no investigative loose ends, and includes no highlymelodramatic implausibilities--a skillful accomplishment considering thesuccint size of the book and the intensity of the action, appropriatelyexplicated by vivid dialogue.() ... Read more

Product Description
Devon is just like any other kid starting tokindergarten.So why are Nanny and Papaw acting so nervous? He findsout when prejudice rears its ugly head.Join Devon as he learns toovercome that prejudice and believe in himself. ... Read more