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Westford Bay B&B #0.5
Bakeries and Bones
Sticks and Bones and…Baker's Stones?
To most people, Ally Wescott has an idyllic life. Engaged to a French banker, a quaint apartment in Greater London, an array of amazing friends and a family friend whose bakery she gets to spend her free time in, polishing her passion for making sweet treats. What could possibly go wrong?
She’s about to find out.
A surprise letter, a wavering fiancé and the discovery of bones are about to shake her peaceful world to the core, and this time, a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie won’t fix the major upheaval in her life… or will it?
Bakeries and Bones is a 10,000 word Prequel to the Westford Bay B&B Cozy Mystery Series
Ally and her wonderful group of friends live in the United Kingdom, so please note that this book contains British terminology and British spellings.
To most people, Ally Wescott has an idyllic life. Engaged to a French banker, a quaint apartment in Greater London, an array of amazing friends and a family friend whose bakery she gets to spend her free time in, polishing her passion for making sweet treats. What could possibly go wrong?
She’s about to find out.
A surprise letter, a wavering fiancé and the discovery of bones are about to shake her peaceful world to the core, and this time, a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie won’t fix the major upheaval in her life… or will it?
Bakeries and Bones is a 10,000 word Prequel to the Westford Bay B&B Cozy Mystery Series
Ally and her wonderful group of friends live in the United Kingdom, so please note that this book contains British terminology and British spellings.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2017
646 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
December 31, 2017
downloaded and read Bakeries & Bones by Nic Roberts on Thursday evening free from Amazon and I read it on Friday. It is a quick and wonderful prequel to a perfect cozy mystery series that I highly recommend. A charming cozy short at 53 pages and was exactly what I needed on my cold, damp and wet Friday. I settled in with my cup of tea a few of the last shortbread cookies and thoroughly enjoyed this read. I recommend it and look forward to hearing what you think of it.
April 4, 2020
A short read, the beginning of a new series. Light and quick!
September 17, 2017
A fantastic prequel to a great cozy mystery series! A must read!
This is the prequel to a really fun cozy mystery series. With a wedding to plan, a perfect fiancé, her best friend Lizzie and a bakery owned by Tim a 60 year old baker who she and Lizzie help out. Ally loves to bake so this set-up is perfect - almost as perfect as her life is going to be after marrying Phillipe. But then she gets a letter from the solicitor who tells her that her grandfather has died and left her his Bed And Breakfast Inn on the coast. She is torn, should she go to the coast and sell the inn with her childhood memories? Could she run it? Phillipe doesn't think so. AND THEN bones are found under Tim's bakery patio and he gets arrested for murder! Ally and Lizzie can't let that stand, he is innocent and they know it. Phillipe tells her not to get involved, but she just can't let poor Tim take the fall for something he didn't do - especially since his wife is hospitalized. Phillipe hates that Ally is involved and lets her know in no uncertain terms! I really liked this beginning to the series and will definitely want to follow Ally through all of her adventures. She is a very likable character! I received and ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
July 24, 2018
"Light and fluffy"
Summer's here and the time is right for the discovery of a body. If you don't want to tax the brain, this one will fit the bill. Lightly-drawn characters, a simple plot and baked goods everywhere you look. I can't see the fascination myself, but loads of readers lap up this stuff. Like a cat. Oh, they have one of those too, just in case the confectionery wasn't sweet enough. As for Phillipe, Ally's fiance, well, that was the most unbelievable relationship ever. Was I really expected to swallow that she had fallen for such a heel? I hope more thought goes into characters planned for the series.
Summer's here and the time is right for the discovery of a body. If you don't want to tax the brain, this one will fit the bill. Lightly-drawn characters, a simple plot and baked goods everywhere you look. I can't see the fascination myself, but loads of readers lap up this stuff. Like a cat. Oh, they have one of those too, just in case the confectionery wasn't sweet enough. As for Phillipe, Ally's fiance, well, that was the most unbelievable relationship ever. Was I really expected to swallow that she had fallen for such a heel? I hope more thought goes into characters planned for the series.
September 3, 2020
Fun enjoyable quick read. Nothing amazing but was good to read in bed!
October 16, 2020
lovely quick read to pass an hour!
February 26, 2019
Fast, easy and clean plot. Character development’s good for a novella. Like to continue the series. Recommended.
January 26, 2021
Another day, another short “reader magnet” for a cozy mystery series. This one is a prequel for Nic Roberts’ Westford Bay B&B series. It’s an interesting choice for a prequel, as it does not take place in Westford Bay, and does not involve, other than in passing mention, the B&B from the title. My guess is that this was written after other books in the series, and as a prequel it could not take place in the B&B, as the first book in the series describes the arrival of protagonist Ally. This is a common issue with the craze for writing these short prequels, but at least in this case the story makes some kind of sense, and tells the tale of how Ally came to find herself taking over the running of a business in an unfamiliar area, and how she acquired a taste for mysteries.
The book starts with a snapshot of Ally Wescott’s life. A fiance more concerned with his own career reputation than anything she gets up to, a best friend to confide in, and an obsessive relationship with a nearby bakery. It is the bakery, and the references to it, which irritated me first in this story. In the first few pages we read about five separate times that the bakery is “her favourite place”. There really is no need for this repetition, and it just feels like sloppy editing. Into this peaceful, if unfulfilling, situation comes two, and eventually three, different shocks. The first is in the form of a laughably inaccurate representation of a letter from a lawyer to inform Ally that her grandfather has died and that she is the sole beneficiary of his will. It doesn’t quite say that properly, of course, but does mention the key fact that she has inherited a business, the Westford Bay B&B of the title.
While she is still digesting this news, along with some baked goods from her absolute favourite place to be, of course, the second shock comes when a body is dug up during the refurbishment of the bakery patio. When the charming old man who runs the bakery is arrested, Ally resolves to find the real killer.
It will come as no surprise that she does eventually work out “whodunnit”, and given the tiny cast of characters it’s not hard for a reader to work out who, either. Strangely, though, it does seem very hard for the local police who seem to undertake no investigation at all, and merely arrest the nearest warm body, who happens to be the cafe owner. Just as with the implausible legal letter at the start, this broke me out of the story, which is a shame.
This story is, after all, a prequel to another series, yet the reveal and arrest of the villain of the piece still leaves Ally engaged to be married and living in London. This is conveniently, if a little impersonally ended when Ally gets a letter from her fiance calling of the wedding because he is so embarrassed by her involvement in the murder case. With no future left in the city, she picks herself up and heads out to the coast.
As a detective story, this is very simple and straight-forward, and left me wondering if there would be any more complexity to the books in the rest of the series. From that point of view, this book has not really done its job in giving a taster of what is to come to encourage potential readers to buy in to the rest of the series. I was also somewhat irritated by the lack of basic research into legal terminology and police processes. These are not hard to find, and this does leave me worried that I might be similarly irritated by further books. This, on top of the clumsy and repetitive first chapter and the relatively bland characters, means that I will not be buying any more of this series.
The book starts with a snapshot of Ally Wescott’s life. A fiance more concerned with his own career reputation than anything she gets up to, a best friend to confide in, and an obsessive relationship with a nearby bakery. It is the bakery, and the references to it, which irritated me first in this story. In the first few pages we read about five separate times that the bakery is “her favourite place”. There really is no need for this repetition, and it just feels like sloppy editing. Into this peaceful, if unfulfilling, situation comes two, and eventually three, different shocks. The first is in the form of a laughably inaccurate representation of a letter from a lawyer to inform Ally that her grandfather has died and that she is the sole beneficiary of his will. It doesn’t quite say that properly, of course, but does mention the key fact that she has inherited a business, the Westford Bay B&B of the title.
While she is still digesting this news, along with some baked goods from her absolute favourite place to be, of course, the second shock comes when a body is dug up during the refurbishment of the bakery patio. When the charming old man who runs the bakery is arrested, Ally resolves to find the real killer.
It will come as no surprise that she does eventually work out “whodunnit”, and given the tiny cast of characters it’s not hard for a reader to work out who, either. Strangely, though, it does seem very hard for the local police who seem to undertake no investigation at all, and merely arrest the nearest warm body, who happens to be the cafe owner. Just as with the implausible legal letter at the start, this broke me out of the story, which is a shame.
This story is, after all, a prequel to another series, yet the reveal and arrest of the villain of the piece still leaves Ally engaged to be married and living in London. This is conveniently, if a little impersonally ended when Ally gets a letter from her fiance calling of the wedding because he is so embarrassed by her involvement in the murder case. With no future left in the city, she picks herself up and heads out to the coast.
As a detective story, this is very simple and straight-forward, and left me wondering if there would be any more complexity to the books in the rest of the series. From that point of view, this book has not really done its job in giving a taster of what is to come to encourage potential readers to buy in to the rest of the series. I was also somewhat irritated by the lack of basic research into legal terminology and police processes. These are not hard to find, and this does leave me worried that I might be similarly irritated by further books. This, on top of the clumsy and repetitive first chapter and the relatively bland characters, means that I will not be buying any more of this series.
February 17, 2018
If this book had been longer, I would have abandoned it. It was quite ridiculous, and although the Britpicking wasn't bad, it would have been helpful if someone had told Ms Roberts what DCI means as a police rank. The C doesn't stand for Constable, and you generally wouldn 't describe a DCI as 'a young officer' and the narrator would hardly have been surprised to find that he was a long time cop! Ms Roberts might claim to live in the UK, but what British writer would bother to put a foreword in warning her readers that the characters live in the United Kingdom, so the book will contain 'British terminology and British spelling'?
September 24, 2018
LOVED IT!
Even though this was a short book (a novelette) I absolutely loved it. It just had the right feel to it. The author was able to pull me right in; I just felt Ally’s emotions! Ally was likeable, even though she can be pushy too, to protect her friend. Her fiancé Phillipe is very very very self-absorbed and isn’t there for Ally when she needs him so badly. I couldn’t help but think Ally’d be better off without him. The mystery part of this quick read was well thought out and suspenseful. I can’t wait to read a full-length novel!
Even though this was a short book (a novelette) I absolutely loved it. It just had the right feel to it. The author was able to pull me right in; I just felt Ally’s emotions! Ally was likeable, even though she can be pushy too, to protect her friend. Her fiancé Phillipe is very very very self-absorbed and isn’t there for Ally when she needs him so badly. I couldn’t help but think Ally’d be better off without him. The mystery part of this quick read was well thought out and suspenseful. I can’t wait to read a full-length novel!
February 3, 2019
Missing?
After the first few chapters of the novela I wanted to read the finish already. It lacked depth, and you could see the relationship dying, along with a move coming early on. It provided little interest and more irritation that the undeveloped characters were given. The plot had sustenance had the story been developed more.
After the first few chapters of the novela I wanted to read the finish already. It lacked depth, and you could see the relationship dying, along with a move coming early on. It provided little interest and more irritation that the undeveloped characters were given. The plot had sustenance had the story been developed more.
April 4, 2018
Two stars is generous, in my opinion. It was free on Kindle and worth the price.
March 20, 2018
Bakeries & Bones
A Westford Bay B&B Cozy
Prequel
Nic Roberts, Sep 2017
53 pages, ebook only
Cozy mystery series
✭✭✭✭
This was purchased at the current price. This is my honest review for which I receive no compensation of any kind.
The cover is perfectly lovely and relates very well to the series starting with book one. However, it doesn’t relate to this prequel at all, which takes place in London, not in Westford. This scene doesn’t look anything like London. But as an introduction to the series, it will have to do.
The main character, Ally Westcott, loves to bake and is thoroughly indulged by a neighborhood bakery. They allow her to “play” in the bakery kitchen to her heart’s content She’s currently helping the owner come up with the special for the day’s event. But just before she left the flat, she got a notice telling her that her grandfather, Jack, had died and was leaving her his B&B at Westford Bay. She hadn’t seen her grandfather in a long time and hadn’t stayed particularly close, but she had been fond of him when she was young. Phillipe, Ally’s French banker fiance is too focused on his getting off to work to pay any attention to Ally’s grief and confusion. He basically pats her on the head like a dog for all the attention she gets out of him.
Lizzy, Ally’s bff, and Tim Barker, the baker, are much more supportive and sympathetic when she finally arrives at the bakery across the street to help prepare for the event. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this part of the book was the conversation. It was so natural. You know how it is when you have three people and a project, but not everybody’s fully focused on the project throughout. One person prepares coffee and makes a comment about his wife in hospital, while one is checking the news, and another is watching the construction crew in the back courtyard. They’re all listening to each other, but not completely. The conversation sort of pops around and loops back over itself like popcorn over the heat and it allows all sorts of things to come out.
Once the yells came from the courtyard, you went into fast-forward and didn’t stop until it was all over and Ally was saying she was off to Westford to run the B&B. I’m not going to reveal the mystery. Suffice to say that Nic Roberts fit an awful lot into 53 pages. I will tell you that Ally does get rid of the uncaring fiance. In fact, Phillipe dumps her because she gets her picture in the paper in relation to a police investigation and he and his set are horrified. “What will people think?” Well, I think this is a cute introduction to what I hope will be a fun series. I fully intend to try the two books available in the series so far, #1 Beaches & Bodies (212 pages) and #2 Grooms & Graves (178 pages).
Recommended.
A Westford Bay B&B Cozy
Prequel
Nic Roberts, Sep 2017
53 pages, ebook only
Cozy mystery series
✭✭✭✭
This was purchased at the current price. This is my honest review for which I receive no compensation of any kind.
The cover is perfectly lovely and relates very well to the series starting with book one. However, it doesn’t relate to this prequel at all, which takes place in London, not in Westford. This scene doesn’t look anything like London. But as an introduction to the series, it will have to do.
The main character, Ally Westcott, loves to bake and is thoroughly indulged by a neighborhood bakery. They allow her to “play” in the bakery kitchen to her heart’s content She’s currently helping the owner come up with the special for the day’s event. But just before she left the flat, she got a notice telling her that her grandfather, Jack, had died and was leaving her his B&B at Westford Bay. She hadn’t seen her grandfather in a long time and hadn’t stayed particularly close, but she had been fond of him when she was young. Phillipe, Ally’s French banker fiance is too focused on his getting off to work to pay any attention to Ally’s grief and confusion. He basically pats her on the head like a dog for all the attention she gets out of him.
Lizzy, Ally’s bff, and Tim Barker, the baker, are much more supportive and sympathetic when she finally arrives at the bakery across the street to help prepare for the event. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this part of the book was the conversation. It was so natural. You know how it is when you have three people and a project, but not everybody’s fully focused on the project throughout. One person prepares coffee and makes a comment about his wife in hospital, while one is checking the news, and another is watching the construction crew in the back courtyard. They’re all listening to each other, but not completely. The conversation sort of pops around and loops back over itself like popcorn over the heat and it allows all sorts of things to come out.
Once the yells came from the courtyard, you went into fast-forward and didn’t stop until it was all over and Ally was saying she was off to Westford to run the B&B. I’m not going to reveal the mystery. Suffice to say that Nic Roberts fit an awful lot into 53 pages. I will tell you that Ally does get rid of the uncaring fiance. In fact, Phillipe dumps her because she gets her picture in the paper in relation to a police investigation and he and his set are horrified. “What will people think?” Well, I think this is a cute introduction to what I hope will be a fun series. I fully intend to try the two books available in the series so far, #1 Beaches & Bodies (212 pages) and #2 Grooms & Graves (178 pages).
Recommended.
November 30, 2020
A murder mystery which can be finished in an hour
Ratings 3.2/5
A neighborhood bakery which is loved by all, suddenly becomes a crime scene when a body is recovered from its depths during renovation. Ally, the protagonist of the story is emotionally attached to this bakery and takes it upon herself to prove that her friend, Tim Baker, the owner of this bakery, is innocent. Is he though? Read the book to find out.
What I liked about the book:
--> The way the neighborhood is described, especially Ally's home and the bakery.
--> The character of Lizzy (Ally's BFF)
--> It was a quick read (which came as a relief after the full length novel I had just finished reading)
--> How Ally is so fiercely protective of the bakery and of her baker friend, Tim.
What I did not like about the book:
--> There is no revelation about the actual murder, like what was the motive, how did it take place, etc, which kind of is a let down when you're reading a murder mystery.
--> How Ally behaves like a doormat around her fiancé and her reaction to their breakup, when it was clear their relationship is doomed.
Quotable quotes:
--> "It was a joke. What's the matter,love, you lost your sense of humour?"
"There hasn't been much to laugh about of late."
--> Cheer up and chin up.
-->The media people were vultures. They didn't care who they hurt in the process of getting their exclusive.
--> She despised conflict, but she wouldn't put up with such type of treatment.
--> She understood that he was in his high powered job, and she understood that in order to climb ranks he had to look the part, but it couldn't be at the detriment of their happiness.
--> She only ever saw him in their future, with the stucco fronted terrace there were going to buy, the children they kept talking about. Maybe it was a sign.
Ratings 3.2/5
A neighborhood bakery which is loved by all, suddenly becomes a crime scene when a body is recovered from its depths during renovation. Ally, the protagonist of the story is emotionally attached to this bakery and takes it upon herself to prove that her friend, Tim Baker, the owner of this bakery, is innocent. Is he though? Read the book to find out.
What I liked about the book:
--> The way the neighborhood is described, especially Ally's home and the bakery.
--> The character of Lizzy (Ally's BFF)
--> It was a quick read (which came as a relief after the full length novel I had just finished reading)
--> How Ally is so fiercely protective of the bakery and of her baker friend, Tim.
What I did not like about the book:
--> There is no revelation about the actual murder, like what was the motive, how did it take place, etc, which kind of is a let down when you're reading a murder mystery.
--> How Ally behaves like a doormat around her fiancé and her reaction to their breakup, when it was clear their relationship is doomed.
Quotable quotes:
--> "It was a joke. What's the matter,love, you lost your sense of humour?"
"There hasn't been much to laugh about of late."
--> Cheer up and chin up.
-->The media people were vultures. They didn't care who they hurt in the process of getting their exclusive.
--> She despised conflict, but she wouldn't put up with such type of treatment.
--> She understood that he was in his high powered job, and she understood that in order to climb ranks he had to look the part, but it couldn't be at the detriment of their happiness.
--> She only ever saw him in their future, with the stucco fronted terrace there were going to buy, the children they kept talking about. Maybe it was a sign.
January 27, 2021
A fun short story! I really enjoyed the character of Ally and the London setting. Ally has just gotten some news regarding her grandfather and she wants to talk things over with her fiance, Phillippe, but he is too busy. She heads across the street to her favorite bakery to meet her friend, Lizzie, and the bakery owner, Tim. The three are planning for the next day's bakery event where people can come and sell their own baked goods as well as buy Tim's baked goods. Tim is having some construction done on the courtyard, and on the day of the big event, the crew finds a body buried under the flagstones. The body turns out to be that of a girl who went missing several years earlier. Tim is arrested and Ally knows she has to find the real killer. Much to her fiance's dismay, she keeps digging into things. I really enjoyed this introduction to the series and look forward to reading more and seeing what's next for Ally. I absolutely hated Phillips as he was arrogant and very self-centeted. I would definitely recommend this series!
September 17, 2017
A very Short Story
Ally is a young woman living with her fiance, Phillipe, a banker. Ally and her friend, Lizzie, are helping Tim, a 60-year-old baker. Ally's flat looks out upon the back of Tim's bakery. He is having work done on the patio and a body is discovered. When Tim is arrested Ally decides to look into it to help him. Phillipe has wanted her to stay away from it as any notoriety would reflect on him and hurt his chances for promotion. He has been acting strangely--staying late at work, not caring when she tells him her grandfather died, things that indicated to this reader that he was selfish and the bloom was off the rose. He breaks up with her by leaving her a note after she had solved the murder, and she decides she is going to move to Westford (from London) and run the B&B her grandfather left her. She invites Lizzie to come with, and I guess we find out if she does when we read the next book.
Ally is a young woman living with her fiance, Phillipe, a banker. Ally and her friend, Lizzie, are helping Tim, a 60-year-old baker. Ally's flat looks out upon the back of Tim's bakery. He is having work done on the patio and a body is discovered. When Tim is arrested Ally decides to look into it to help him. Phillipe has wanted her to stay away from it as any notoriety would reflect on him and hurt his chances for promotion. He has been acting strangely--staying late at work, not caring when she tells him her grandfather died, things that indicated to this reader that he was selfish and the bloom was off the rose. He breaks up with her by leaving her a note after she had solved the murder, and she decides she is going to move to Westford (from London) and run the B&B her grandfather left her. She invites Lizzie to come with, and I guess we find out if she does when we read the next book.
May 31, 2019
Ally Wescott is leading a charmed life, on the surface anyway. She’s engaged to a French banker, lives in a quaint London apartment, a great group of friends, and she gets to spend her leisure time cooking up beautiful, tasty desserts in a friend’s bakery. She’s feeling some distance from the fabulous fiancé, just weeks before their grand wedding, her grandfather dies and leaves her a B&B, and a skeleton is found in the yard of her friend’s bakery. She’s got a pretty full plate.
I didn’t realize when I started this that it’s a prequel to the Westford Bay B&B Cozy Mystery Series. I must say it made the time on the elliptical fly by. Likeable characters, interesting plot, good set up for the actual series, and I even got to see Ally grow a spine and start to take charge of her life. This whetted my appetite for the rest of the series. I will read more.
I didn’t realize when I started this that it’s a prequel to the Westford Bay B&B Cozy Mystery Series. I must say it made the time on the elliptical fly by. Likeable characters, interesting plot, good set up for the actual series, and I even got to see Ally grow a spine and start to take charge of her life. This whetted my appetite for the rest of the series. I will read more.
September 15, 2017
Ally's life appeared to be perfect - handsome fiance, wedding pending, good part time job, a place to develop her hobbies in between times and good friends. That is until she receives a letter from her grandfather's solicitor, telling her that her grandfather had died and left her his bed and breakfast by the coast. This coupled with the discovery of a skeleton buried under the flagstones of the bakery that she helps out at, turns her world upside down. Her baker friend has been arrested for it and her "wonderful" fiance turns out to be a selfish, self absorbed, controlling idiot who is not prepared to have her help clear her friend's name.
This is the first book of Nic Roberts that I have read and I am certainly on the look out for more. Great cozy mystery!
This is the first book of Nic Roberts that I have read and I am certainly on the look out for more. Great cozy mystery!
September 21, 2017
Ally Wescott lives in a charming apartment in London, with her fiance french banker. Everything seems right in her world. A surprise letter from a lawyer informing her that her grandfather has passed, a wavering fiance and the discovery of bones her life is in upheaval. She spends her free time helping Tim, the 60 year old baker, from the bakery across from her flat. Ally and Lizzie, her best friend, helping Tim with a taste testing of sweets from chefs around the area are thrown into a murder investigation. When bones are uncovered by a construction crew, Tim is arrested. Once all the animosity is over. Phillipe Ally's fiance breaks up with her by leaving her a note. She decides to contact the lawyer. Can't wait to see what happens next.
January 22, 2019
Bakeries and bones
This a cozy mystery about Ally, a young woman who lives across from a bakery and has befriended the owner. The owner , Tim, is an older gentleman who has been a good friend to Ally. Ally is engaged to Phillips, a French gentleman who works at a bank. He is very particular about his reputation and how things will affect his reputation. Ally helped Tim plan an event to help increase his business at the bakery and Tim has a landscaping company redoing the courtyard for the event. They find a body while removing the pavers and Phillips gets upset at Ally for getting involved. The story is a bit disjointed, and could have been more developed to build out the story a bit more.
This a cozy mystery about Ally, a young woman who lives across from a bakery and has befriended the owner. The owner , Tim, is an older gentleman who has been a good friend to Ally. Ally is engaged to Phillips, a French gentleman who works at a bank. He is very particular about his reputation and how things will affect his reputation. Ally helped Tim plan an event to help increase his business at the bakery and Tim has a landscaping company redoing the courtyard for the event. They find a body while removing the pavers and Phillips gets upset at Ally for getting involved. The story is a bit disjointed, and could have been more developed to build out the story a bit more.
September 23, 2019
An enjoyable read!
well this is a good short story it develops quickly and holds my interest the characters are well enough drawn to have some debts and the story is plotted well. A few of the characters could have been drawn in more depth but it's a very short story so there's limited room for that and I needed the diversion have a good read this afternoon!
the character whose eyes you see through is a good person although very young and a little intense in her Focus. she sees things as she wants them to be sometimes more than S what they are, but she has a good head for investigation and is tenacious. This is about an hour long read and the hour is well spent. I won't give away the plot it's too good to waste.
well this is a good short story it develops quickly and holds my interest the characters are well enough drawn to have some debts and the story is plotted well. A few of the characters could have been drawn in more depth but it's a very short story so there's limited room for that and I needed the diversion have a good read this afternoon!
the character whose eyes you see through is a good person although very young and a little intense in her Focus. she sees things as she wants them to be sometimes more than S what they are, but she has a good head for investigation and is tenacious. This is about an hour long read and the hour is well spent. I won't give away the plot it's too good to waste.
September 14, 2017
Nic Roberts' Bakeries And Bones is the prequel to her Westford Bay B & B cozy mystery series.
The prequel introduces the back story for Roberts' amateur sleuth, Allie Wescott. There is not much crime solving happening in Bakeries And Bones as the crime was pretty easy to solve. Some authors can pull off a quick easy mystery and still keep the reader's attention and some cannot. Roberts delivered the goods!
I enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to reading future books from her Westford Bay B & B cozy mystery series. Highly reccomend for those planning to check out this new cozy mystery series.
The prequel introduces the back story for Roberts' amateur sleuth, Allie Wescott. There is not much crime solving happening in Bakeries And Bones as the crime was pretty easy to solve. Some authors can pull off a quick easy mystery and still keep the reader's attention and some cannot. Roberts delivered the goods!
I enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to reading future books from her Westford Bay B & B cozy mystery series. Highly reccomend for those planning to check out this new cozy mystery series.
March 15, 2018
To most people, Ally Wescott has an idyllic life. Engaged to a French banker, a quaint apartment in Greater London, an array of amazing friends and a family friend whose bakery she gets to spend her free time in, polishing her passion for making sweet treats. What could possibly go wrong?
She’s about to find out.
A surprise letter, a wavering fiancé and the discovery of bones are about to shake her peaceful world to the core, and this time, a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie won’t fix the major upheaval in her life… or will it?
Bakeries and Bones is a 10,000 word Prequel to the Westford Bay B&B Cozy Mystery Series
I loved the prequel now i can't wait to read the series. 5 stars.
She’s about to find out.
A surprise letter, a wavering fiancé and the discovery of bones are about to shake her peaceful world to the core, and this time, a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie won’t fix the major upheaval in her life… or will it?
Bakeries and Bones is a 10,000 word Prequel to the Westford Bay B&B Cozy Mystery Series
I loved the prequel now i can't wait to read the series. 5 stars.
September 26, 2017
Simple and to the point mystery. Ally's friend Tim is doing work on his patio at his bakery and uncovers something sinister. When Tim becomes the primary suspect, Ally jumps in to action to clear his name. My biggest problem with this short but sweet book is how quickly she found the answer. If she uncovered the answer so quick and so easily how did the police not? We get a really good feel for the character in this introduction to the series and I look forward to seeing how she continues to solve problems.
September 29, 2017
This is the Prequel to the Westford Bay B&B Cozy Mystery Series. This story features Ally who is engaged to a French banker and sees to have it all. That is until her friend is murdered and her fiance breaks off their relationship. So what does Ally do but decide to move to the lazy coastal town of Westport and run the B & B that she recently inherited from her grandfather. This was a great intro to the series and lots of drama and action in the process. I received an arc copy and voluntarily chose to review it.
October 4, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, and this series overall: great cosy mysteries with some lovely character development and a great small-town setting. It appears that there is an overarching plot that will see romance slowly develop throughout the series, but each book is also a fairly self-contained story with a mystery that's solved by the end. Particularly enjoyable because the crimes are so creative! This first one introduces us to the main character and gives us a bit of background. Not entirely necessary for understanding the following books, but an enjoyable intro.
June 20, 2018
Old secrets come to light with new developments
Great. A nice relaxing cozy that has a great plot and characters you can relate too. Her grandfather's death has thrown her into turmoil. What should she do about the B&B? Her fiance is no help and in an attempt to take her mind off everything she helps out a friend at her local bakery. More turmoil erupts when a skeleton is unearthed at the back of the bakery. Who is it? Is it linked to an old disappearance? To save her friend she starts nosing around. Can she find the real killer? A great little read.
Great. A nice relaxing cozy that has a great plot and characters you can relate too. Her grandfather's death has thrown her into turmoil. What should she do about the B&B? Her fiance is no help and in an attempt to take her mind off everything she helps out a friend at her local bakery. More turmoil erupts when a skeleton is unearthed at the back of the bakery. Who is it? Is it linked to an old disappearance? To save her friend she starts nosing around. Can she find the real killer? A great little read.
January 3, 2020
This was a freebie on Amazon. It's the prequel to a cozy mystery series. It's a fun short story but....I just felt a little 'eh' about it.
It's a short stor,y so there isn't that much space to develop the mystery. So, it didn't draw me into the intrigue of it. There also wasn't enough character development or attraction.
I didn't like or dislike the character. I've read short stories that immediately drew me in and made me feel invested in the MC. This was not one of those.
It was just...alright.
I enjoyed it. Did I enjoy it enough to want to read the series? Not really.
It's a short stor,y so there isn't that much space to develop the mystery. So, it didn't draw me into the intrigue of it. There also wasn't enough character development or attraction.
I didn't like or dislike the character. I've read short stories that immediately drew me in and made me feel invested in the MC. This was not one of those.
It was just...alright.
I enjoyed it. Did I enjoy it enough to want to read the series? Not really.
November 4, 2017
This is the first of a series. However, I read book 2 first. Bakeries and Bones explains why and how Ally left London and began the running of her Grandfathers Bed and Breakfast. It was very well written and totally enjoyable. Also, book 2 makes a perfect addition to how Ally’s life changed. Highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers. It contains all the ingredients of a good mystery. Cannot wait to read book 3 and see how Ally’s story progresses.
July 14, 2018
Nice quick cozy mystery!
This is a short but likable cozy mystery and is the prequel for the series. Ally has the perfect life, the perfect fiance, and nice friends. Her friend is having a baking competition at his bakery to bring in more business. While some patio construction is going on, some bones are found. Ally helps to figure it out to help her friend who is accused of the murder. A fairly common theme but enjoyable.
This is a short but likable cozy mystery and is the prequel for the series. Ally has the perfect life, the perfect fiance, and nice friends. Her friend is having a baking competition at his bakery to bring in more business. While some patio construction is going on, some bones are found. Ally helps to figure it out to help her friend who is accused of the murder. A fairly common theme but enjoyable.
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