Going, Going, Ganache

By: Jenn McKinlay

Narrated by: Susan Boyce

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

After a cupcake-flinging fiasco at a photo shoot for a local magazine, Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura agree to make amends by hosting a week-long corporate boot camp at Fairy Tale Cupcakes. The idea is the brainchild of billionaire Ian Hannigan, new owner of SWS, a lifestyle magazine that chronicles the lives of Scottsdale's rich and famous. He's assigned his staff to a team-building week of making cupcakes for charity. It's clear that the staff would rather be doing just about anything other than frosting baked goods. But when the magazine's creative director is found murdered outside the bakery, Mel and Angie have a new team-building exercise - find the killer before their business goes AWOL.

©2013 Jenn McKinlay (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

notable, light fare, perfect snuggle up afternoon read

I thoroughly am enjoying this series set in Fairytale Bakery. Mel and Angie are the best gal pals to hang out with for an enjoyable read. The plots are fresh, characters well fleshed out yet each book stands well on it's own. The story isn't predictable nor do things go the way you would anticipate. I'm going for the next in line!

Cupcake boot camp

As Going, Going, Ganache by Jenn McKinlay opens, Mel and Angie, proprietors of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery, are posing in 1950s clothing and hairdo for a photo shoot for an article about their bakery in a major magazine focused on the Southwest. As the creative director unhappily tries to create a better scene, the women’s archenemy, Olivia Puckett, arrives on the scene in her own 50s clothing and bearing her own cupcakes from her own bakery. She flings a cupcake at Angie, getting it stuck in her rigid beehive hairdo, starting a cupcake battle between the women and two employees of the bakery on one side and Olivia on the other. Now that the photo shoot has become a disaster and cost the magazine thousands of dollars, the new owner of the publication makes a stern decision.

Impressed by the unity of the employees of the bakery with the women who own it and upset at the major personal conflicts he sees within his own magazine, Ian Hannigan decides that the best way for the women to make amends is to host a cupcake boot camp for his entire team in the hopes of teaching them to work together. Things don’t work out quite as they hope the first day, with the stern, bully editor getting into a fight with the creative director and Mel’s getting accidentally punched in the eye, knocking her out completely. Early the next morning, going to unlock the back door, Mel sees a hand on the ground and discovers the body of one of her boot campers, Sam, beaten to death. The pain meds from her eye injury must have knocked her out enough to sleep through any noise from the murder. In the midst of the cupcake boot camp, Mel works to locate the murderer of Sam.

As I listened to this book, I became totally immersed in the world of Mel, Angie, and their friends. I enjoyed the setting of the Cupcake boot camp so much that I almost forgot that I was listening to a mystery and got caught up in the story enough that when the murder happened, I was almost taken aback. The story came so alive that I felt I was part of their lives, experiencing their highs and lows with them and laughing aloud at the fun scenes.

Susan Boyce returns to perform the narration of this book and continues to delight. She helps to take us to this creative world and make Mel, Angie, and their friends become our friends. I really enjoy the narration that Boyce contributes to this book.

Going, Going, Ganache is a terrific addition to the Cupcake Bakery series. While the mystery itself takes less time in this book than in the previous books, the book itself is a total delight because the lives of the characters come across in such a fun way that I loved the book. I give it five stars!

Another Sweet Treat

Would you listen to Going, Going, Ganache again? Why?

I would listen to this book again because it was fun. I can see myself being on a long road trip and wanting something easy to listen to as I ride.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I do not know that this is the kind of mystery that keeps me on the edge of my seat, but I do love it.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the beginning with the photo shoot and when they came up for the cupcakes for the party.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No, this was not really a moving book, but it did make me giggle.

Always Delivers

Jenn McKinlay always delivers a wonderful story and always a great twist not expected and always a shock!

Enjoy led listening

I enjoyed the colorful cast of characters and the slightly darker storyline that was lightened by the usage of cupcakes

Not the sharpest tool in the shed

The books have been getting better. The mother is the most annoying character ever. Mel is not the sharpest tool in the shed. The author ends each book with a teaser that pretty much makes you have to get the next one.

This is so Sweet

The story line was so soft and firm at the same time. Even though a murder took place, it was done in a calm and direct way. I really enjoy listening to these series. Getting ready to start on the next of the series with calmness of thought!

Tired of angst

The story line bugged me. I'm tired of the wishy washy girl that gets what she longed for then doesn't. Keep the drama for the murders.

Where are the recipes?

Loved the performance loved everything about the book except for no recipes… Where are the recipes Loved the story.