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Jalapeno Cupcake Wench (The Amazing Gracie Trilogy, Book 1) (Amazing Gracie Mysteries) Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

A hot and spicy taste of murder—and beyond.

Law enforcement consultant Gracie Hofner is assigned to a trendy San Antonio pastry shop to watch for a delivery. In addition to the intoxicating aromas of sugar and chocolate, she also has to fight her own attraction to the man working beside her, Donovan Beck. He’s a hunk and a half and perfect for a spring fling.

If she had more time, Donovan would rank higher on her to-do list. But the number one spot is occupied by her search for a missing little girl, the target of a killer. Gracie needs to find her pronto, and the odd super-instinct quirk that’s started plaguing her may help. If not, she can always see what happens if it tells her to buy a lottery ticket.

Jalapeno Cupcake Wench is the first book in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy, a story so big, it takes three books to tell it.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carol Kilgore is the author of Jalapeno Cupcake Wench, the first book in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy, and three romantic suspense novels: In Name Only, Solomon's Compass, and Secrets of Honor. She's married, guardian to two quirky dogs, and lives in San Antonio, the setting for the trilogy.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0767XGZZS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (October 4, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 4, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3061 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1977849679
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 194 ratings

About the author

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Carol Kilgore
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Carol Kilgore is the award-winning author of the House Witches Mysteries. The first book in this series is Witches and Fairies and Tacos... Oh My. Like her other books, the House Witches series is set in Texas.

Carol is also the author of the Amazing Gracie Mysteries, consisting of the three books that make up the Amazing Gracie Trilogy and the standalone Gracie and the Trouble with Pinatas. In addition, she is the author of In Name Only, Solomon’s Compass, and Secrets of Honor, three standalone romantic suspense novels.

She and her husband live northwest of Houston with the sweetest rescue beagle ever, who wishes they dropped more food on the floor.

Visit her website at https://www.carolkilgore.net to subscribe to her newsletter and find her social media links.

Carol is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
194 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book and find it an enjoyable read. The story is captivating with twisty plots and multiple surprises that keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed and believable, with plenty of personality. They appreciate the pacing and relatability of the characters, which feels like real friendships.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

14 customers mention "Enjoyment"14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the books. They find the series engaging and well-crafted. The characters are likable and relatable.

"...three stories, weaving in and out of each other, which really keeps your interest...." Read more

"...If you want a suspenseful, yet fun read this is the book for you." Read more

"...All in all these books are a very pleasant read without any gratuitous swearing or ugly violence to get in your head...." Read more

"...Gracie is easy to relate to..so believable. Looking forward to next summer and the second part of the trilogy...." Read more

11 customers mention "Suspense level"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story with its twisty plot and multiple surprises. They find the writing engaging and the characters well-developed. The book covers a lot of ground with investigative suspense action that will satisfy procedural mystery fans. Readers describe the story as cute, fast-paced, and fun.

"...late to finish this book, which I rarely do, so it’s definitely engaging and fast paced! Enjoy!" Read more

"This is a nice story (actually three, because the bad guy isn't caught until the third one - which is very tiresome!) -..." Read more

"...Check. I like short descriptions that pack a punch. Check. And I like twisty plots and multiple surprises. Check...." Read more

"...The story is absolutely captivating and the writing is top-notch. PLUS, and to me this is a HUGE plus... this is NOT a cliff-hanger!..." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed and believable characters. They appreciate reading female characters who are competent in their jobs and relationships. The characters also have plenty of personality and spunk.

"...Gracie is an amazing character with lots of spunk and personality and, oddly enough, not a lot of Grace, being somewhat of a clutz!..." Read more

"I like spunky main characters and well-fleshed-out secondary characters. Check. I like unique settings, such as San Antonio, Texas. Check...." Read more

"...The main character Gracie is so well-developed, she feels like a flesh-and-blood friend, and I think most readers will love her, warts and all...." Read more

"...I enjoy reading female characters who are competent in their jobs and relationships...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find the character relatable and believable.

"...Gracie is a strong, caring person, with great friends and associates...." Read more

"...Gracie is easy to relate to..so believable. Looking forward to next summer and the second part of the trilogy...." Read more

"...an amazing job, and can't wait to read the next book and keep up with the amazing Gracie!" Read more

"Gracie Really Is Amazing..." Read more

3 customers mention "Friendship"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's friendship. They say it has action, mystery, and a well-developed character who feels like a real friend.

"...Gracie is a strong, caring person, with great friends and associates...." Read more

"...The main character Gracie is so well-developed, she feels like a flesh-and-blood friend, and I think most readers will love her, warts and all...." Read more

"This book was full of action,good friends,mystery,family and a great storyline.What more could you want? 5 stars easy.Bring on the next book." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
    Gracie Hofner is called to the scene of a double murder, man and wife, along with a missing trio of man, wife and 6-year-old girl. Gracie now works for a private agency but is working with a former partner and detective Nick. Gracie is an amazing character with lots of spunk and personality and, oddly enough, not a lot of Grace, being somewhat of a clutz! This actually three stories, weaving in and out of each other, which really keeps your interest. Gracie goes undercover to work in a local bakery and their treats doing yummy! I wound up staying up pretty late to finish this book, which I rarely do, so it’s definitely engaging and fast paced! Enjoy!
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
    This is a nice story (actually three, because the bad guy isn't caught until the third one - which is very tiresome!) - as long as you don't mind the gore, sex and "bad language," as well as a touch of the paranormal. Gracie is a strong, caring person, with great friends and associates. I didn't like the villain's icky POV constantly interspersed with the good guys' and the action - hence the 4-star rating instead of 5.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2017
    I don't know what's more exciting, reading this story or knowing there's two more Gracie books.

    The best part, this book stands alone. No cliff hanger ending that has you biting your nails while awaiting the next book. Nope, we can go on with our life, yet we know at some point our friend, Gracie, will come back to visit us. Not once, but two more times.

    Gracie is part of a special unit. She's handed an undercover assignment to help out in a bakery so she can keep an eye out for a delivery that's supposed to arrive. She also wants to help locate a missing little girl. Between the two assignments, her former partner from the SAPD going through a divorce, trying to locate a tenant for her aunt's apartment, Gracie is kept busy.

    Will Gracie find the little girl before the killer, who has already killed her grandparents, find her? Will Gracie recognize the delivery to the bakery when it arrives? Will the odd instinct quirk save her or those she's trying to protect? And just where did that quirk come from?

    If you want a suspenseful, yet fun read this is the book for you.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2018
    I like spunky main characters and well-fleshed-out secondary characters. Check. I like unique settings, such as San Antonio, Texas. Check. I like short descriptions that pack a punch. Check. And I like twisty plots and multiple surprises. Check.
    I also like characters who have interesting occupations, especially if they are a bit different from mainstream. Amazing Gracie works for a private agency in the investigation field with singular capabilities. They often help the police out. Gracie has a friend she used to partner with when she was a police officer, and he has an unusual personal dilemma to solve. He also ends up helping Gracie solve her case. The guy working at the jalapeno cupcake bakery is a hunk. Gracie is interested.
    Actually, there are two mysteries. A package that is supposed to arrive at the bakery where Gracie has gone undercover to wait for it, and the mystery of an older couples’ murders. And of course, Gracie is smart enough to capture that murderer, but we are left with part of the mystery unsolved. And then, another hunk shows up. We have to wait for the second and third books to tie everything up. But this book can stand alone because there is so much going on, and so many things resolved.
    Five stars. Check.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2017
    Judging by this book, calling this trilogy "Amazing" Grace is spot on. The main character Gracie is so well-developed, she feels like a flesh-and-blood friend, and I think most readers will love her, warts and all. (Well, she IS a bit accident-prone and klutzy...)

    Grace isn't the only terrific character in this book, but she's definitely the star. The story is absolutely captivating and the writing is top-notch. PLUS, and to me this is a HUGE plus... this is NOT a cliff-hanger! This book could stand on its own quite nicely, but I, for one, am delighted there are two more stories yet to come. Trust me. You will be, too.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2020
    Gracie Hofner, a staff team member at Bastion Group, a private police intelligence consulting firm, receives a call from her former San Antonio PD partner, Nick, about a new murder and missing person case, hoping to get her input assistance in the investigation. Her boss is willing to let her assist the investigation even as she is about to start a small undercover job at a local bakery. However, the investigation will soon find a connection between both cases, creating a major rush to find and protect the missing family members from a major criminal plot. Even as this is the first novel of a trilogy series, it is a hefty start that covers a lot of ground with investigative suspense action that will please many procedural mystery fans. However, the occasional touch of paranormal intuition was more a distraction to the basically engrossing plot and complex mystery.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2018
    I got a copy of Jalapeno Cupcake Wench from Goodreads giveaway and was initially interested because of the title. If you’re looking for a cozy with a female protagonist who has a soft spot for kids, hot guys, and her beat up Jeep read on. Personally, I’m all cozied out, so I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I could have. It was an easy read, but I’m tired of fluff in my novels like what the characters ate for lunch. Mostly this is a solid cozy with some romance and worth reading if you’re into the genre.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2019
    I bought all three books in this series after reading the free sample. I enjoy reading female characters who are competent in their jobs and relationships. The books read smoothly without any hiccups to pull you out of the story and there aren't any places where the action gets stagnant. All in all these books are a very pleasant read without any gratuitous swearing or ugly violence to get in your head. Now to try some of her other books.
    3 people found this helpful
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