by Cynthia Chow

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

NFL professional football players and cupcakes wouldn’t seem to go hand in hand, so no one is more surprised than Fairy Tale Cupcakes owner Melanie DeLaura by her new franchise candidates. Star quarterback Keogh Graham and his Arizona Scorpions teammate Tyler Matthews are interested in a George Foreman-like business tie-in, one that will keep them profitable after their eventual retirement. The entire Scottsdale bakery crew is overwhelmed to see the extremely photogenic, massive athletes in their kitchen, especially Mel (despite being happily married, she has always considered Keogh to be her fantasy “NFL husband”). Scorpions Coach Casella and team owner Chad Dayton are both adamantly against their business venture though, claiming that it is counter to the macho, tough guy image they need to promote. Chad also happens to be married to Keogh’s ex-girlfriend, which is why when the owner is murdered in the player’s new bakery kitchen, the quarterback becomes the main suspect.

The scandal threatens to shut down the players’ Fairy Tale Cupcakes franchise before it has barely started, especially when their promising new chef skedaddles at the first hint of a police investigation. Having had more than a little experience in amateur detecting themselves, Mel and Angie immediately begin their own investigation into the players’ lives and who would have wanted the team owner dead. A fifty million dollar sports contract is on the line for Keogh, and the possibility that a bakery franchise could distract him from signing it means that there are an assortment of fans and teammates willing with motives for murder.

This 16th in the series is a ton of fun as it mixes together ingredients that shouldn’t go together but definitely do. Football players Keogh and Tyler must contend with the very probable future of injuries and even brain injuries, which is why Keogh wants to create a contingency plan when his career ends. Fans can be as supportive as they are toxic, turning on a whim depending on a team’s success and perceived image. Jealous teammates and “appropriate” sponsorships stand in the way of the cupcake franchise, but if Keogh’s Mama June has anything to say about it their bakery’s opening should be a success.

Delicious recipes from both Mama June and Fairy Tale Cupcakes are included in the end, with one even flavored with Kool-Aid for a watermelon twist. Mel’s bakery partners and best friends Tate and Angie stand on the sidelines for much of this installment, but Angie’s brother Ray comes to the forefront with the very “bro-ish” brother showing a shocking amount of bakery and cupcake knowledge. Another surprise looms on the forefront for Mel and the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakery, and readers should look forward to the continuation of their tasty adventures. Football, friends, good humor, and a lot of tasty baking deliver another winning installment in this bestselling series.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of Fondant Fumble, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “fondant” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 27, 2024. 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.