by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a print copy of the book, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

The Curds & Whey cheese shop is celebrating their two-year anniversary in Sonoma Valley’s town of Yarrow Glen, and owner Willa Bauer is preparing for a big event. It’s a happy coincidence that her best friend Hope is also having a grand opening for Hope’s Cakery, with the pastry chef transitioning from baking bread to now specializing in cupcakes and cakes.

What turns out to be an unpleasant surprise is Hope’s new partnership with chocolatier Chocolate Bliss, the company owned by Willa’s ex-fiancé Pearce and his girlfriend Riley, Willa’s former best friend. The betrayal still stings even after 10 years, but as a favor to the cakery Willa offers to deliver their Brenner Rum Crèmes to a reviewer at the Gazette newspaper. It’s a favor that she’s going to regret though, as new reporter Kevin Wallace is soon found dead after eating what are possibly poisoned chocolates. While Willa had the misfortune of including with the treats a note that could have been interpreted as being threatening, it’s Hope and her cakery that quickly become incriminated for the crime. Displaying far more forgiveness than one should, Willa is talked into investigating on behalf of her former fiancé, who begs her to once again use her nosiness to clear his chocolates and save all of their businesses.

Since Willa managed to inadvertently make herself a suspect, her detective boyfriend Jay Heath is forced to remove himself from the investigation. She’s less than pleased with what she interprets as his disapproval, but that only has her even more invested in solving the crime and clearing all of Yarrow Glen’s local businesses. Aided by her sleuthing staff – otherwise known as Team Cheese – they discover a number of possible suspects who include the reporter who Kevin forced out of a job, the editor who felt betrayed, rival candy makers, and even a resentful baker.

This sixth in the series includes a plethora of cheesy details, from demonstration cheese wheel carvings to Willa’s preparation of pizza smashed potatoes (recipe included). Readers will feel as irritated with Pearce’s manipulations as Willa, so it’s a bit frustrating to see her overcome her anger and come to his aid. She’s motivated more by her own curiosity and need to discover the truth than she is by any leftover goodwill towards her ex-fiancé though, even willing to encounter yet another ex-boyfriend to further her investigation.

This cozy mystery is full of different romances and budding relationships, and seeing how they play out is a continual delight. The many romantic complications are an intriguing element of this novel, and readers will enjoy this entertaining mystery full of chocolate, cheese, and humor.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of Bait and Swiss, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “swiss” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 14, 2025. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.