If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion (Country Cooking School Mystery Book 3)

In this third novel of the series, A Country Cooking School Mystery, the story plot did indeed rise to the occasion. I simply look forward to each novel with anticipation of true enjoyment of a murder mystery written in the cozy genre.This tale follows the adventures of Grandmother, Missouri Anna Winston, and her Granddaughter, Isabelle 'Betts' Winston as they operate their cooking school and live their lives in Broken Rope, Missouri, a small western town that is open as a tourist attraction set in the 1800's with the days of cowboys etc.Miz and Betts have the genetic ability to talk and visit with ghosts. The ghosts are 'usually' inhabitants of the cemetery that lies back of their cooking school. The ghosts pop in and out asking for various aid from the couple. In this novel, we have a murder of a student, and the un-proven murders of a family close to Miz's childhood.Betts is finding her psychic ability beginning to strengthen and encounters a new phenomenon of possible time travel while trying to find out the mystery of the old dilapidated Bakery in town.Romance is a sub-theme in this series. Betts has her heart divided and seeks to find the path that is best for her. We also get a glimpse into Miz's early girlhood.As in all good cozys, character development is crucial and Ms. Shelton is a professional at drawing up believable but fun personalities for the living and the dead in this book. We have Miz and Betts aided in their cause by the police, historians, ghostly cowboys, Fire Marshal and more!This series is one that I find myself looking for the next book out. I ask my friends and look at the book sellers sites for upcoming titles. That, for me, is a sign of a favorite series and I haven't even touched upon the fabulous recipes included at the ending of the tale. I love this series!

If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion is the 3rd book in the Country School Mystery series. The newly screened and accepted students have arrived for the new cooking school term. Freddie O'Bannon is the first student to arrive but he is not on Betts and Grams list of accepted students. He, however, has a damaged acceptance letter that is from Betts and Grams. They accept him into the class with plans to check out his references later. The rest of the students arrive and everyone makes their own sour dough starter. Later a body of a student is found outside the school.This is a favorite series of mine for several reasons. First, I love the location of Broken Rope Missouri. Broken Rope is rich in history of notorious characters and events that have occurred in the past. Betts, along with her grandmother, can see and speak to the ghosts from the past. Each ghost arrives with a scent that signals they are in the area.I, also, like this series because all of the books have had a mystery from the past which involves a ghost and a present day mystery. Perhaps one of the best features of the books are the ghosts themselves. A favorite character Jerome is back in this book to watch over Betts and her gram. I normally am not a fan of paranormal mystery but I do really like this series. I think it is because the ghosts are so well developed and made interesting as a character that they become one of the best parts of the book.This is also a series that I wait for and read as soon as it comes out. If new to the series, I would try to start with the first book If Fried Chickens Could Fly. That book introduces the reader to Jerome, the cowboy ghost and sets the foundation for the following books.I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to seeing what ghost of Broken Rope appears next. Broken Rope has a wealth of history to draw from.

This has got to be the best ghost/mystery series I've read in a long time! I downloaded all 3 a few days ago and was totally hooked. Since other reviews have detailed the story I won't. All of the characters are great but Betts and her best friend sidekick Jake are really the HUMAN stars of the mysteries. How they go about digging for information and getting into tight situations to solve mysteries from the past as well as present with the help of the ghosts is riveting. As for the ghosts, OH MY, I fell for Jerome in the first book as much as Betts did. I was excited he was also in this 3rd book and will also be in the next one. Sally was a hoot in the 2nd and Gent in this 3rd endearing. I also enjoyed Gram and her cooking lessons and will definitely be trying some of the recipes.One of the things I really like about this author is that she ties up loose ends at the ends of her stories. I've read a LOT of books where there were still un-answered questions at the end and that can be very frustrating.My only disappointment is that this series is only coming out once a year. Paige is a very good writer and I will be checking on her other series the 'Farmers' Market Mysteries'. I've definitely pre-ordered the next 'Country Cooking School Mystery' out in August 2014.

In this episode of Shelton's Country Cooking School series, Betts must solve parallel mysteries. One of her new cooking school students is murdered, and a couple of the others are acting very suspiciously about everything. But, there's another murder, one from the past that remains unsolved, and another ghost has shown up to get Betts' help.Best of all, however, Jerome, the ghost cowboy from the first book in the series, has returned! Yeehaw! I must say that he is my favorite character in all of Shelton's novels. And those readers who require a bit of romance in their cozies will not find this smokin' hot (somewhat literally) cowboy disappointing at all. :DI also really liked what Shelton did with a bit of ghostly time-travel at the bakery, the scene of the past murder. (It was very clever, but I refuse to give you details so that you can read it for yourself.)

easy reading interesting unusual plot ,I have read others in the series and not been disappointed with any suit someone who wants a cosy read with a little bite in it

Not a bad story but won't be buying anymore. Not really into books with ghosts