Gluten-free in Kansas

It takes a lot of courage to open a gluten-free bakery in the middle of wheat country, but that's exactly what Toni Holmes does in Flourless to Stop by Him by Nancy Parra. Toni sets up shop in Oiltop, Kansas, the heart of the wheat belt.

Not everyone is thrilled about the Baker's Treat bakery (get it Holmes and Baker's Treat) and some people don't even want to sample her products. While Toni is visiting her friend Tasha at the Red Tile Inn, one of the maids discovers a body in the bathtub. The body turns out to be a close friend of Toni's brother Tim.

To make matters worse, the room has been reserved in Tim's name. When the police discover several other rooms booked in Tim's name over a period of time, they arrest him for murder and selling drugs.

Toni's scooter-riding grandmother wants her to investigate, but Toni is up to her ears in baking orders for the Christmas holidays. She knows Christmas time can be the make or break time for her small business and she struggles with baking around the clock and squeezing in time to investigate.

Another problem for Toni is her decision not to date anyone for a year because of her acrimonious

divorce. With two handsome men competing for attention, her resolve begins to weaken. Will she choose the handsome lawyer or the cowboy handyman? And can she prove her brother is innocent while baking dozens and dozens of gluten free products?

My only complaint about this book is the over-the-top scooter riding 90-year-old grandmother. I know you have to suspend disbelief in mysteries, but please, this is too much.

The first book in the series is entitled Gluten for Punishment.