Rate this book

Gluten For Punishment (2013)

by Nancy J. Parra(Favorite Author)

3.76 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0425252108 (ISBN13: 9780425252109)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Berkley

series

A Baker's Treat Mystery

review 1: irst in a new cozy series set in Kansas, the story centers around Toni Holmes and her new gluten-free bakery, Baker's Treat (yes, I happen to appreciate the play on words). When a local wheat farmer is murdered near her bakery, suspicion falls on Toni. Supported by her crazy grandmother and her best friend Tasha, Toni has to try to clear her name. Overall this was an enjoyable first book and I'd be interested in reading more. I'm hoping that the love triangle dies off soon though as it didn't really add much to the book and seemed a bit cliched. One of my best friends suffers from Celiac's so it was nice to have a book that focuses on the importance of gluten-free foods in their lives.
review 2: I'm not a foodie, so it was with trepidation that I read Gluten fo... morer Punishment. I have to say that there were two surprises - the ending, and how much I enjoyed the book. Toni Holmes is a single (divorced) woman working hard at getting her own business off the ground. The gluten free bakery is at odds with a small town mentality, but therein lies the murder and the fun. Toni constantly makes observations (in the privacy of her own head) that I can completely see myself making were I in her shoes. When the officer called in to check on the dead body enters her bakery to take statements, she can't help but think, "The man had just touched a dead person and had yet to wash his hands." Way to focus, Toni! There are so many little touches that make Toni very real. Then there are the larger issues that reflect real life - How hard it is to run a small business when it looks like someone wants to kill you, the issues parents face with autistic kids, the violence that some women find in relationships. Nancy Parra finds the funny in a sordid small town population in dire need of gossip ... er ... entertainment, while not shying away from the ugly side of life in the climax. The romantic issues are also interesting. I know some reviewers dislike romantic triangles, but Toni's case is quite different as she constantly chooses her needs over an male's wants. My only complaint is that there was too much of a hint of the murderer and the ending was a tad abrupt. Though the murderer was caught, I felt something needed to be said at the end (whether procedural or philosophical) to bring things to closure. Still, I've grown to like Toni, and Parra brings great depth to even the smallest characters. This non-foodie is looking forward to the next book in this series. (I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review) less

Download links for: Gluten for Punishment

Advertising