Red Velvet Revenge (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Wow... These books are just great! This is not the first in the series, so If you haven't already read the others I suggest you read them first. The characters in these books are funny and entertaining. They have great chemistry that makes reading about their lives really fun. Suspenseful and funny all in one book. A great read!

This is the 4Th book in the A Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. It just might be the best one, too.

Angie and Melanie, owners of the Fairy tale Cupcakes bakery, are riding with Oz and Marty in a recycled Good Humor van that Oz has recently purchased. They are discussing how it can become the bakery delivery van when the van breaks down. Shortly after Slim Hazard. who heads the Juniper Pass Rodeo, stops to help. Once Slim learns of their bakery, he talks them into becoming a vendor at the upcoming rodeo. Angie and Mel set out baking cupcakes for the event, while some favors are called in to make the van road worthy.

They arrive in their decked out cupcake van, to find themselves assigned a spot next to Billy Bobs BBQ. Much to there displeasure Billy Bob's busy smoking the meat for tomorrows opening. Billy Bob's BBQ owners Billy and Bob are beside themselves at being next to cupcake vendor. Angie, who can have a bit of a temper, agrees to put their total sale against Billy Bob's, and the loser needs to work the others site.

Now that they set up for tomorrow's opening they head into town to check in at their hotel, that is over the local saloon. As they are watching the parade for the opening of the rodeo, from there balcony, Slim Hazard is shot in the shoulder. It turns out to be just a minor injury and is back the next day for the opening on the rodeo. It is thought that some cowboy in the audience had just gotten carried away and shot his gun in the air, but Melanie and her coworkers just couldn't see that happening. Then later Mel bumps into the star of the rodeo, Ty Stokes. Stokes who is three sheets to the wind and when he realizes who she is wants a dozen cupcakes delivered to his room. As Mel and Angie are looking for Ty to deliver his cupcakes, they find Ty in a bull's pen, apparently gored to death. Granted their encounter hadn't been the best, but because of that they don't want suspicion to fall upon them.

In addition to wanting to investigate the death of Ty, they have another problem. It seems that the electricity hook-up hook up to their van had been unplugged and most if not all of the cupcakes have thawed. Mel comes up with a recipe for cake pops to save the day and cupcakes.

Of course there is an update of the love interests of Mel and Angie. this a very enjoyable series and an interesting cast of characters. For the movie buffs, there is a selection of lines movies to guess what movie they came from.

Looking forward to the next in the series.

Once again our bakers are hard at work, winning the hearts and stomachs of the rodeo crowd. It kept my interest and like always, wanted more when the story ended.