CONGRATULATIONS TO GINGER HERUSKA!!!
If you were to ask Bitsy, that’d be my mama, why I became a pastry chef, she’d say that it was to make her life all doom and gloom. I’m not going to lie, it was a little satisfying seeing her cringe on the inside when I strategically told her ten years ago in front of her friend at the Rumford Country Club, RCC for short, that I wasn’t going to college and heading to pastry school.
Seriously, you would too if your mama had you call her by her nickname, Bitsy, instead of calling her mom, mama, or mother. Yes. Bitsy is as southern as you can get.
Now do you blame me for getting out of our small southern town of Rumford, Kentucky right out of high school?
Becoming a pastry chef was really a dream of mine. I’d spent the better part of the past ten years going to school and moving up in my industry. Can you imagine my joy and excitement when I hired as the head pastry chef at The Manhattan, the fanciest restaurant in New York City.
It was all mine. All my creations. Then. . .he walked in as the head chef. I can’t even bring myself to say his name because I swore that after dating him for years and then moving in together and then finding him doing more than cooking food in the kitchen of The Manhattan with the hostess, I’d never let his name cross my lips.
This was how Bitsy got back into my life. She might be a hard pill to swallow, but she’s a southern mama and no matter what, she’s loyal to me to the end. With my tail tucked and a couple of weeks off work to get my head on straight, I found myself right back in Rumford where I’d tried to escape ten years ago and in my old bedroom.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, Bitsy definitely dragged me all over Rumford to all her clubs for the first few days.
“Put on some lipstick and put on some more,” she says before we walk out the door. I had to keep up the appearance even though my heart was broken, and I didn’t have an ounce of creative baking in me.
That is until Charlotte, my high school best friend who was getting married over the weekend, cake baker had quit, and she asked me to do her wedding cake. What an honor! I was all over it.
The kitchen at the Rumford Country Club seems perfect until Chef Emile’s body is discovered, sprawled near the stove, a cast iron skillet on the floor close by and Charlotte was the number one suspect.
Charlotte can be bit of a southern pill, but she’s not a murderer. I sure hope I can help her figure out who is framing her so her wedding can go off without a hitch and before I head back to my life in New York.
Besides, I can’t wait to get out of Rumford, like I was ten years ago, because Bitsy keeps telling everyone that I’m staying. . .forever!
SIX MONTHS LATER....
If there were a plate of crow in front of me, I'd have to say I'd be eating a big heaping lot of it.
Here's a little update. My friend, Charlotte, yep, she got hitched. Chef Emile's murderer has been brought to justice. That's big news, but NOT the biggest.
The biggest new is that I decided to stay in Rumford, buy the old Ford's Bakery and open up FOR GOODNESS CAKES BAKERY.
I know. I know what I said and that's where the crow comes in.
I'm super busy. I bought a house and my mama's cat, has now become my cat.
Rumford is going crazy with all the buzz about the Rumford Library addition. I'm very excited to be catering the big charity event being held at the Grape Valley Winery. It's the biggest event I've done so far and I'm in desperate need for the pay check. After all, I've got bills to pay.
Seriously, look at this amazing winery in the holler of Kentucky with the amazing Kentucky Bluegrass. It's the limestone rich soil that makes all the grapes perfect for the winery. And if the rumor swirling around here about Ray Peel, Rumford's most eligible bachelor, not making good on his big donation because he's selling the land the winery is on. . .has put a little damper on this event.
I better go and hurry on over to the winery office so I can get paid and things go from bad to worse.
BATTER OFF DEAD IS WOMEN'S WORLD MAGAZINE BOOK CLUB PICK OF THE WEEK!
Pick up your copy of Women's World!!!
Did you know that Maymee Bell is the pen name of USA Today Bestselling Author Tonya Kappes?
Today I'm giving away a Camper and Criminals swag pack filled with goodies from me and other authors!
How do you enter?
Leave a comment about what you're doing for Christmas and I'll pick a winner tomorrow!
For Christmas Eve our family makes their own individual pizza __ it's so much fun and becomes a competition. . Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWe will be home enjoying our children and grandchildren, cooking and eating too much. It will be a different Christmas since our community is still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Michael--feeling very blessed though. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to leave my email. gda523(at)comcast(dot)net
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays! We have Christmas Eve dinner and then open presents!
ReplyDeleteI love your stories. I am going to my daughter's for Christmas. It is her first time hosting and she is very excited.
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
We're hopefully going to my parents' to exchange gifts then having dinner at home :-)
ReplyDeleteDonah42 at aol dot com
Both paternal and maternal grandparent's have passed on so it will be a quiet Christmas day for our family. We will catch whatever is on the television and eat our ham and cheesy potatoes for our main meal. Opening of presents will take place when the adult kids get moving. We focus more on the reason for Christmas than the actual presents. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteJust a quiet Christmas with my mom.
ReplyDeletekkat(dot)edwards(at)gmail(dot)com
Having our granddaughter and her husband visit for a few days with our delightfully exhausting 4 great-grandchildren! Can't wait!
ReplyDeletesallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com
Merry Christmas! Loved the first book in this series and I'm looking forward to reading "Batter Off Dead". I'm spending time with my sister and we are having friends over for Christmas dinner.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Hopefully I will see my daughters and their family. First Christmas that I may be on my own, except for my sweet puppy!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway. I love your books!
debprice60@gmail.com
We won't be doing anything for Christmas but staying home. I miss getting together with family but everyone lives too far away these days.
ReplyDeletenvictoria77@yahoo.com
My whole family will be descending on my home soon for the holidays. I am adding 3 extra people to stay in house. It will get crowded. My brother's birthday is on Christmas eve so party for him. Saamm7@msn.com
ReplyDeleteI am spending time with my family and watching my nieces and nephews open their presents. I really want to read this book. I love her books. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteTammy Hudson
Tighefan42 atgmaildotcom
having ham and pie staying home it is just me and my daughter my email is patricia_rose2@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteWe'll be opening presents with just our little family and I will cook a big breakfast (we're not a big breakfast family so it's special). We will go to a family dinner in the evening to celebrate with grandparents,aunts,cousins,ect.
ReplyDeletectoups84@gmail.com
Weather permitting I'll be going to my daughter's house.
ReplyDeleteWe will be laying low.. spending the day with the kids and hubby. Watching TV, and playing dice or uno (maybe a new Nintendo game if we find a good one for Austin) While Austin plays games on the switch, that's my time to read and enjoy the day 😊🎅☃️🎄
ReplyDeletelilyanngill56(at)Gmail(dot)com
Spending time with my family and eating yummy food .
ReplyDeleteIt's only hubby and I so it will be a quiet Christmas. We will enjoy a good meal that will depend on the weather on what we have. It could be a grilled steak if weather permits or a pot of homemade soup if it's dreary or anything in between. We both love to bake so I'm sure there will be some fabulous dessert. We love to watch Christmas movies so that may in store as well.
ReplyDelete2clowns at arkansas dot net
Just going to stay home and enjoy having my children all home this year!
ReplyDeleteIt's Christmas Eve with the grand kids with a good meal cooked by my son and daughter in law. Christmas Day will be just me and the hubby as it usually is. We'll have something simple to eat and relax. griffvan(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteChristmas eve, we are going to my daughter and new son in law 's house for there first Christmas as husband and wife :)
ReplyDeletePatricia Bennett Barber
DeleteHosting my husband's family on either Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, depending on when my stepdaughter gets her oldest son and on Christmas Day we will be at my Mom's for what could be our last Christmas with her. Either way, it will be merry, fun and full of good food, love and laughter.
ReplyDeletejohnstonkaren(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Christmas Eve dinner with my parents and then church. Christmas Day will just be me and my parents at home having a lazy day opening gifts, games, puzzles, and movies with a nice dinner. mcastor07 (at) gmail (dot) com.
ReplyDeleteChristmas Day is my Sister's Birthday and yet she insists on doing all the cooking as she is the better cook...I only protest a little..so its eating all day, movies, taking the kids to the historical Park as they are from Atlanta, driving around looking at lights and then hot chocolate.
ReplyDeleteForgot email thanks, Marilyn
Deleteewatvess@yahoo.com
We're having a potluck Christmas dinner and a Yankee swap.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
As a shift worker, I will be working Christmas Day and Mr. B is working Christmas Eve. The young'n decided we could just celebrate on the 22 [for Christmas Eve] and 23 [for Christmas Day]. For Christmas Eve, the young'n and I will have A Christmas Story evening of Chinese food for dinner.
ReplyDeleteVWinship at aol dot com
We will be home enjoying the time when everyone who works is off and watching the grandchildren opening presents Christmas morning. My favorite part though is Christmas eve, when everything settles down and read the Christmas story,sing some carols and three little ones go to bed.
ReplyDeleteMeg85242 (at) gmail (dot) com
We shall spend morning with grandchildren and breakfast. Then home to open our gifts and nap. Then off to dinner and the movies. Merry Christmas!!! Thank you for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to my Son's house to spend Christmas morning & then we will head out to N. Aurora, Illinois & spend the rest of the day with our extended family. Thanks for this amazingly generous giveaway.
ReplyDeleteNo real plans as of right now. Family always does stuff at the last minute. Dec 23rd hubby and I are going to see Home Free in concert.
ReplyDeletebearsgal(dot)sweet1964(at)yahoo(dot)com
Spending Christmas with my parents! Thanks for the chance. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWe are going to the annual Christmas parade and this year decided to go see a movie on Christmas day
ReplyDeleteI plan to go to eat Christmas dinner with my cousin’s family. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I will be staying home hanging around the tree and listening to Christmas music while we open our 1 or 2 gifts. There will be gifts for the 2 kitties too and 3 stray kittens I am taking care of. Thank you so much for this chance. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately we have to work overnights 6pm to 6am so we are working and sleeping. At least the hubby and I work at the same company and same shift so we will be together. Well that is when he is out of the clean room. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteWe will have a quiet Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWe will have a quiet day at home. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletesalvatoresmom71(at)yahoo(dot)com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI will be reading on my couch. Thank you for the contest. trwilliams 69 at msn dot com
ReplyDeleteOpening the presents with our grown kids on Christmas Eve, with snacks and finger foods, and then having a full family dinner Christmas evening.
ReplyDeleteWe open presents at our house in the morning and then we head over to my mom's house to graze buffet style all day and open more presents.
ReplyDeleteWe've already had the celebration with our extended family, so Christmas Eve/Day is just going to my mom, the cat, and I. We'll do presents, watch TV, and eat. Maybe play a game or two of something. It'll be quiet, but it'll be with each other which is what matters to us. Thanks for the chance to win. robbfan141729@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMidnight mass, Christmas Story marathon, eating, looking at lights, lots of things!
ReplyDeletebrowninggloria(at)hotmail.com
I'll be going to my son's home where he is hosting for his very first holiday.
ReplyDeleteSleeping in....lol kids and grandkids will be here the 26th so celebrating then!
ReplyDeleteGoing to my sisters house and having a lot of fun with my family
ReplyDeleteSpending time with my family. It’s the best!
ReplyDeleteChristmas will be spent with our kids and grandkids, plus anyone who doesn't have anyplace to go is welcome here.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I didn't realize it hadn't shown my name. My email is somesmartcookle@ aol dotcom. and cookle has an L, not an i.
ReplyDeleteI'm spending the day with my younger sister and family.
ReplyDeleteI'll be spending it with Paul's brother and 2 sisters up in the mountains of NC. There's no snow there yet though in Durham where I live we've had about 7". This is a surprise to me because they usually get the snow and we don't. They live in the north west part of the state which only got rain with some mix(very little). :)
ReplyDeleteCat and I will be lazing around, and playing, and play~fighting. We will eat wild-caught salmon, and chat with friends on speaker-phone :)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my family, including my son, two daughters and two sons-in-law, and 8 of my 9 grandkids. Everyone will gather at my house after church on Christmas morning for brunch and gifts, and will return in the evening for dinner. Family memories are the best memories!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to says thanks for the opportunity to win this giveaway. I haven't been lucky enough to win one of your bags with swag in it. Hoping this is the time for me to win for Christmas. This is a second posting but I know my name can only be considered once.I'm not trying to cheat but I wanted to add these comments but forgot to add them to my original post which I still don't see. My name is Ginger Heruska which I didn't include in the original message. Fingers are crossed :) in hopes of winning this as a Christmas gift. You can tell Santa I've been good this year. lol <3
ReplyDeleteChristmas Eve my oldest daughter and her family will come over. My youngest daughter her family, my Mom and her friend will come over Christmas day.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to celebrate with my sons their children and enjoy this precious time together. A beautiful day to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWe always stay home and just wait for the kids to call from Ca to see how their mornings went with my grandkids and the presents. The hubby cooks dinner for us which is usually some type of beef. Peggy Clayton
ReplyDeleteHaving my 94 yr old mom and her 92 yr old brother to my house for dinner.
ReplyDelete