ÉCLAIR AND PRESENT DANGER by Laura Bradford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the new Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series. I enjoyed the clever new twist it gives to bakery-themed cozies, though I’m left with mixed feelings overall.

The main character, Winnie, is very close to her neighbors, many of whom are elderly. When one friend passes away, Winnie inherits a cool vintage ambulance, and soon her new bakery business is born — emergency desserts delivered right to your door. Winnie discovers the body of a widower on her block while delivering a peach pie, and she and her friends are devastated. The characters are real and likable, though Winnie seems rather sensitive when folks make comments about her hanging with an elderly crowd.

This book focuses on Winnie building up her dessert business, and also on possible romances. Unfortunately the mystery part gets lost in all that, which is my main complaint. There wasn’t a lot of true investigating until the last quarter of the book. I did have to laugh, though, at the antics of Lovey, the temperamental kitty she inherits with the ambulance.

Recipes are included at the end of the book, including “Worry No s’More Bars” and “You Are One Smart Cookie,” which are two of the fun emergency desserts Winnie offers.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.