Have you every read a book that makes you want to vacation so much you can smell the salt in the air? You can feel the warmth of the sun kiss your cheeks? You can hear the waves hit the side of the shop? And look out into the vast endlessness of the ocean with your eyes closed?

This is how I felt reading the 6th installment of the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. Jules has been asked by her estranged husband to come to his rescue. Well, not his rescue, but to come and be head pastry chef until the cruise liner can meet up at a port to pick up the replacement chef.

Although Jules is apprehensive to join her husband out on the sea that they fell in love on, Carlos sweetens the deal. The Captain of the ship agreed to let Helen and the Professor have a free vacation and they will double her salary for the week. Finally she gives in.

Torte is in the middle of construction with the new addition and Lance has agreed to watch over things while Jules is gone. She knows that she has an amazing team and isn't too worried. Helen, the Professor, and Jules are heading their way to endless buffets, good wine, and great entertainment. Or so they thought.

Jules notices a young woman wandering around the boat that is acting strangely. Before she is able to find out who the young woman is, Jules finds her floating dead in the pool on cruise. The Captain asks Julies and the Professor to figure out what happened to the young lady.

Not only is Jules trying to figure out who Jane Dough is, but she is also soul searching herself. Will she be able to find out who the girl is? Will she be able to come to terms with what she wants? Carlos or Torte? Both? You'll have to read to find out! ( )

I'm surprised at how much I liked a book set on a cruise ship. I found the details about working on a cruise ship believable and interesting. The descriptions of food were wonderful, as always. The mystery was not that intriguing, as is usually the case. I still don't find Juliet's romantic life compelling. Lance is a hoot. ( )

I have a new favorite Cozy Mystery Series! This book pulled me in right from the start, I loved the hometown Northwest setting of this book. It is set in a bakery , for the first few chapters, in a small town in Oregon and the description of the bakery itself and the pastries had me wanting to visit! I thought that the side characters quirkiness added to the overall feel of this foodie cozy mystery. Soon hunky sounding Jules's estranged husband calls and begs Jules to return temporarily to the cruise ship where he is the head chef. Now I have to say that this is a series but you can most definitely read this as a standalone although I wish that I had read all of the previous books as this is my first book in this series that I am reading. Soon Jules, her mom and her mom's boyfriend are departing for the cruise. Not soon after there is a corpse found by Jules and it is time for the mystery to begin. There was lots of action , drama and a big storm going on in this book. I loved every minute of this and found myself rooting for Jules and Carlos to get back together but that topic will be continued in books to come, I hope. There is a nice twist in the mystery of the murdered stowaway and I was surprised by whodunit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery and it had a nice twist at the end, also there were recipes included at the end of the book. I am thrilled that I found a new series.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge ( )

In this outing with Jules, Torte moves into the background. She received a call from Carlos (her estranged husband) that the pastry chef on the upcoming cruise has quit and they need someone for a short four day cruise until the new hire can arrive. To sweeten the pot, her mom and "The Professor" are invited along free of charge. She can not turn this opportunity down. Not only does her mother really need a vacation, but it will give her time to decided what to do about Carlos. Of course on the second day of the cruise, Jules finds a dead body floating in the pool early in the morning. Knowing that The Professor is a detective, the captain asks for his help. There is a lot going on in this novel. First Jules needs to deal with her relationship with Carlos, she is helping the professor figure out who the dead woman is as well as who killed her, and they are sailing into an impending storm/hurricane which is dangerous for the small ship. There is a lot of suspense and mystery in this book with tidbits via email, keeping us updated on what is happening back at Torte. i am already looking forward to the next book.

The story moved quickly and even though the setting was completely changed and the story did not happen locally, it was still an enjoyable mystery with many suspects and clues. The new characters on the ship were interesting, some more than others. The descriptions of the shipboard activities and food were amazing. I recommend this book to all cozy mystery fans. ( )

I seem to gravitate to cozy mysteries. A Crime of Passion Fruit fits that bill. The story does not display a graphic murder scene. Juliet Capshaw and her mother, Helen, run Torte, a bakery in Oregon. In her past life, Jules worked on various cruise ships as a pastry chef. Now her estranged husband, Carlos, has asked for Jules assistance for a few days on the cruise ship he works. As a push to get Jules to agree, Juliet’s mother and her mother’s boyfriend, the Professor, will be given a free cruise. Jules, Helen, and the Professor, all board the ship in hopes of fun and relaxation, but a death of a young woman ends that dream. Ellie Alexander provides a detailed explanation of the life of the employees on a cruise ship. Lavish food and entertainment surround the passengers. The series showcases plenty of amazing recipes. ( )