Tag: Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Crimes and Covers by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

One week before her wedding, when Violet’s thoughts should have been on Christmas or her groom, she was distracted by an unpleasant visitor to her shop, Charming Books.

The rude and insistent woman had wanted Vi to buy a book. It *looked* like a signed first edition of Walden, something Vi would have loved to have owned. But the woman was so unpleasant and demanding – and in a terrible hurry. Something seemed fishy. So Vi said she needed an appraisal. And the woman left.

It’s a shock then when Vi and Rainwater find the woman’s body right after their wedding – but maybe not so surprising that the book has gone missing.

Review

This has been my favorite Amanda Flower series from the start. No matter how long it has been since I read the last book, I fall right into the stories and the characters as if it’s been no time at all.

One of the fun pieces of this series is the magical bookshop. What avid reader wouldn’t want to visit a bookshop that knows just the right next book for you? While none of the bookshop’s crime-solving tomes have been favorites of mine so far in the series, the premise is right up my alley.

The mystery was wonderfully plotted as always. I was completely caught up in the character I wanted to be the killer that I was distracted from hints I caught early on and then forgot. The whole case was completely satisfying.

Amanda Flower fans and fans of this series hardly need my encouragement to pick up a new mystery from the prolific author. (I can think of 7 series she has going or starting this year.) But you have that encouragement anyway – this was a fun read! Newcomers could probably start here without issue – and I’d encourage you to do so if you love cozy mysteries with great characters (including some fun animal ones) and a touch of magic.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Courting Can Be Killer by Amanda Flower

BONUS REVIEW: Courting Can Be Killer by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Millie spent 10 years in Michigan, caring for her ailing sister. While there, she became acquainted with a boy named Ben. Now an adult, Ben has followed Millie back to Holmes County, Ohio, to start over. He has fallen in love with a young woman named Tess. Ben hoped his honorary aunt, Millie, as the local matchmaker, would help him convince Tess’ father to let them marry. While Millie can see the love Ben has for Tess, she advises patience rather than going against Tess’s father’s wishes. But Ben seems to be in a hurry to move the relationship along. Millie can’t get him to explain why.

When tragedy strikes at the Amish Flea Market where Ben worked, Millie and her best friend, Lois, are determined to find out what happened to Ben and if it had anything to do with Tess or her father. “‘Amish Marple’ and her lovely sidekick are on the case.”

Review

Millie and Lois are such a fun sleuthing team! I am thoroughly enjoying this Amish Matchmaker Mystery series by Amanda Flower. There’s just enough crossover with the Amish Candy Shop series to make fun connections. But not too much that it would alienate readers unfamiliar with that series. And I love Millie’s goats! (Far more than the pig, Jethro, from the other series. That pig is a menace.)

I was caught off guard that Ben was the victim in this book. It’s in the official synopsis, but that wasn’t in my head when I started reading. Usually there’s some emotional distance between the protagonist and the victim. And often the victim is odious. But that wasn’t the case here. Ben is earnest and hard working. And he’s loyal to Millie who cares for him as if he’s family. That connection gave this mystery an unexpected emotional edge, and I liked it.

I will read pretty much anything Amanda Flower writes at this point, but I think this is my favorite series of hers right now. Millie and Lois are an odd couple in all the best ways. They make for a dynamic and FUN duo. Add in those hilarious goats, and a great mystery that kept me guessing until the end, and I am a happy reader. You can read my review of book one, Matchmaking Can Be Murder, here.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Hallmark Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Darby Piper and Samantha Porter were detectives in Herrington. Their agency, the Two Girls Detective Agency, had been in business for ten years. But it was all about to end.

Samantha wanted out. As majority owner, with 60% of the business, she got to make the decision. She’d been offered a job as head of security for Lake Waters Retreat. She said she was ready for something more simple and stable.

Then, right before Samantha could sign the paperwork to dissolve the business, she’s killed.

Everyone seems to know the business was closing. Darby would have lost not only her job but also her home in the building where their offices were if that happened. So she is the number one suspect. She was unhappy about Samantha’s plans. She had the most to lose – and the most to gain, at least until Samantha’s nephew, Tate, shows up and learns he has inherited everything, including Samantha’s portion of the business.  Now Darby and Tate are circling each other warily, suspicious of each other’s motives, while also trying to work the case together and determine who killed Samantha.

Review

This was so fun! I loved Darby and Tate together! Tate is a fun character with a fascinating back story. I enjoyed all the things he brought to the book. The author does a great job of teasing out information. There are still some unanswered questions about his background that could be explored in future books. I wasn’t super excited about the hints at a possible love triangle. That’s a matter of personal preference. I don’t care for them. I have my clear favorite for Darby’s love interest, and I have my fingers crossed for that fella.

The mystery in this was front and center. There are a few introductions to the town at large, but most of the action was focused on the case. This made the mystery highly satisfying for me, but I am eager to read more about the town, and the townspeople, in future books.

I was able to figure out the killer about halfway through the book, but I needed Darby’s investigation to understand all the reasons why. This made for a fun reading experience for me. I got to feel triumphant about my armchair sleuthing while enjoying the reveals that the book still held for me.

I could absolutely see this playing out on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. If you are a fan of their cozy shows, you don’t want to miss this one. Amanda Flower fans as well as cozy fans who maybe haven’t tried her work yet should be sure to pick this one up. It’s a fun read with an engaging cast. I am already looking forward to the next Piper and Porter mystery!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great, might re-read

REVIEW: Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Juliet and the Reverend are getting married. Bailey and Aiden – as well as Jethro the pig – are their attendants. The whole community has turned out for the event, both the Amish and the “English.” Bailey’s biggest concern is the wedding cake – a four-tier cake with marshmallow frosting and pink fondant polka-dots. Ohio temperatures in July are not friendly for the decorations.

The real wrinkle in the day, though comes from the woman who stormed in during the middle of the wedding to create a scene for Reverend Brook. But no one could have anticipated that.

It was even less expected when Bailey later found the woman dead.

What was the woman’s connection to Reverend Brook? Why did she crash his wedding and call him a “traitor?” Who was the man Bailey saw her with after the wedding? Could the Reverend have been the one to kill her?

Review

This was great. The mystery was excellent! The pacing was perfect, as was the solution. I was caught completely off guard in the end. I loved that.

The ongoing character development pieces were interesting. I was pretty frustrated with Juliet and Jethro the pig early on. That pig is a menace! And there’s an interesting wrinkle in Aiden and Bailey’s relationship in this book. Bailey shows remarkable restraint in the face of rude condescension and manipulation. There are also developments in Juliet and the Reverend’s relationship in addition to the wedding. On top of all that is the lead up to Bailey’s new TV show (which hasn’t launched yet by the end of the book). The only thing that would have made me happier with this is to get some resolution with the nasty pretzel shop owners. Maybe that is coming in a book soon.

Fans of the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series should not miss this one. The mystery is top notch, and series regulars are in top form. I am also impressed by how well the author incorporated faith pieces into this so naturally. This is not published by a Christian publisher, but the faith pieces in this are supremely well done. I have read Christian novels that haven’t done as nice of a job.

It looks like Amanda Flower has three more books releasing this year – Mums and Mayhem, the next book in her Magic Garden series, releases in August. Its release date was pushed back due to the pandemic. Dead-End Detective, a new mystery from Hallmark Publishing, releases in August as well. Finally, Courting Can Be Killer, the second book in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series releases in November. The author is even launching another new series in 2021 with the book Farm to Trouble, a Farm to Table Mystery. Flower fans have a lot to look forward to!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: Botched Butterscotch by Amanda Flower

BONUS REVIEW: Botched Butterscotch by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this novella from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Bailey is looking forward to spending time with her parents, especially considering it’s Mother’s Day weekend. Aiden’s mom has invited Bailey and her parents to a Mother’s Day brunch. And the ladies have tickets for a women’s tea that weekend as well.

The tea is a fundraiser for Abigail’s Farm, a program for women in recovery who have finished rehab. Going into it, Bailey assumes the riskiest thing about the tea is having Aiden’s match-making mother spend time with Bailey’s mom. But that’s before thousands of dollars are stolen in the middle of the fundraiser.

Review

This is the second novella in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower. It’s considered book 4.5 in the full series. Book 5, Marshmallow Malice, will release at the end of May.

This was a fast read. Readers should note this is a novella, not a full length novel. There’s no murder, and the story is pretty straightforward. Series regulars like Juliet, Aiden’s mom; her pig, Jethro; and community leader Margot make appearances. The ladies at Abigail’s Farm and their neighbors are new characters for this story.

As this is a novella, there’s not the same pacing and suspense as you would find in a full book. I missed those elements. I like the twists and turns in a full length cozy. Fans of the series will want to check this out so you have all of the adventures for your favorite characters. There’s a new pig in this story that was a hoot! If you are more interested in  a regular mystery with Bailey and Aiden and the rest of the folks in Harvest, you don’t have to wait long.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Matchmaking Can Be Murder by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Matchmaking Can Be Murder by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Millie Fisher recently moved back to Holmes County, Ohio. She had lived in Michigan for years, taking care of her sister. But now she’s back, enjoying being home in her Amish community with family close by.

Millie has a reputation as something of a matchmaker in her community. God has given her a sense for when two people are a good match – or not. Which is why Millie is so eager to talk to her niece, Edith. She rushed into an engagement to Zeke Miller, but it’s obvious to Millie that the two are ill-suited for one another. Thankfully, Edith agrees and breaks her engagement.

Gossip spreads quickly in the small community. And people have some strong opinions about the break up. It caught everyone but Millie by surprise. But it’s nothing compared to the surprise of finding Zeke, murdered. Millie is desperate to help Edith, but she’s keeping secrets and she looks guilty. Millie’s going to have to work her people skills to figure out who wanted Zeke dead – and why.

Review

This was terrific! It’s a spin off of the author’s Amish Candy Shop series, so the setting and several of the secondary characters are familiar.

I loved Millie and her English friend, Lois. They are a delightful contrast, and they are hoot together! Because of those two, this is my new favorite Amanda Flower series.

Flower does a great job weaving this book together. There are enough connections to the other series that readers of those books will feel instantly at home. But they are presented in such a way that newcomers won’t feel like they’ve missed something. The author also seeds the book with story threads that can play out in future books. I can’t wait.

The mystery was great. All the pieces came together well. The pacing of the sleuthing worked, too. I enjoyed everything about this one – don’t miss it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower

BONUS REVIEW: Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Violet Waverly is the Caretaker for a magical tree located at the center of her bookstore, Charming Books. Women in Violet’s family have been caring for the tree for generations, protecting its secrets. But under Violet’s care, those secrets are in danger.

A private investigator named Joel Redding was in Cascade Springs before investigating a murder, but now he’s back, determined to find out what Violet is hiding. He’s casing her store and following her.

While she’s come to expect their run-ins outside the shop, she doesn’t expect to see him in the middle of a 30 mile bike race.  But wearing loafers and street clothes, Redding zooms by her, taking her picture. Only a few minutes later, at the bottom of Breakneck Hill, Redding is dead.

When a copy of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman is found on him, Violet knows. The shop had given her the same book twice lately. The shop obviously wants her to solve Redding’s murder.

Review

This is book four in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series, my favorite series so far by Amanda Flower. Of the four books in the series so far, I have only known or read the bookstore’s book of choice once. This has never impacted my enjoyment of the series. There’s plenty of Walt Whitman history in the novel as well as an author’s note. While Whitman isn’t a writer I enjoy, I did enjoy the historical pieces here – both real and fictional.

The mystery in this one was solid. I did feel like there was a lot of time spent on Violet searching for, finding and losing the young woman she was trying to help. This started to get old. Violet was far too kind to someone who pushed her away with her words and with her behavior.  And the will-she-or-won’t-she over Violet telling the detective about the shop’s secrets, something she started debating in a previous book, also stretched into this book. I was happy to see that plot thread finally settled. I also felt like one piece of the mystery solution wasn’t explained, but it was a minor piece. The solution was solid otherwise – nice and twisty!

Amanda Flower has another book out this month – Matchmaking Can Be Murder. This is the first in a new Amish Matchmaker Mystery series which is a spin off of the Amish Candy Shop series, which I have also enjoyed. I’ll be reviewing that one at the end of the year.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Murders and Metaphors by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Murders and Metaphors by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[ I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

There were a lot of wineries in the Niagara region of New York, and Cascade Springs was no exception. And since it was her home town, it was the perfect place for Belinda Perkins to  hold her book signing.

And as the only bookstore in town, Violet and Grandma Daisy’s store, Charming Books, was the natural choice for handling the details of the signing. Yes, it meant Violet had to spend an evening at the Morton Vineyard, but the signing would be good for business.

At first, Violet didn’t realize she knew Belinda Perkins. She was a well-known and popular author when it came to wine. And her opinion could make or break a vineyard – like she broke the nearby Bone and Hearth Vineyard. But Violet knew Belinda from her own childhood in Cascade Springs. She was the older sister of one of Violet’s closest friends, Lacey. What Violet didn’t know was that the Perkins girls had had a huge falling out after Violet left town. At the signing, Lacey tried to approach Belinda to make amends. But Belinda flew into a rage and ordered Lacey to leave. When Belinda’s body is found later, Lacey becomes a murder suspect.

Review

This is my favorite of Flower’s many mystery series. I’ve also read her Amish Candy Shop series and the Magic Garden series. (Her Instagram feed at @amandaflowerauthor is also delightful!) I adore the characters, the town and of course the magical bookshop in this series. All three of the books in this series so far have been well-done and really kept me guessing!

There are some interesting extra wrinkles in this book – an obnoxious private investigator following Violet around, new additions to the writers’ critique group that meets in the shop, and an exploration of the book Little Women. I loved all of it – the ongoing character development, the celebration of books and reading, the fun animal characters. The whole book was a treat to read.

I felt like there were a couple pieces of the mystery that weren’t as fully spelled out as I wanted – a clue that maybe should have been a bigger deal to the police and a suspect with an excellent motive who was almost a non-factor in the investigation. These are minor observations that did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of the mystery in the big picture. The culprit was a nice development. I had toyed with that solution but never committed completely, so I enjoyed the final reveal. It handled several threads of the story nicely.

I highly recommend this book, and the whole series! Book one is Crime and Poetry and book 2 is Prose and Cons.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Lethal Licorice AND Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Lethal Licorice AND Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

Lethal Licorice – Summary

Weeks after the death of her grandfather, Bailey King is representing him in the Amish Confectionery Competition in their home town of Harvest, Ohio. She’ll be competing with her licorice, taffy, peanut brittle, and fudge. Bailey is hoping to win the fudge contest at least, since chocolate is her forté, but winning the whole contest would be excellent PR for their candy shop, Swissmen Sweets.

Several of the Amish contestants are unhappy that Bailey is in the contest. She isn’t Amish, even though she is following all the same cooking rules as the other contestants. No one is as bitter about Bailey’s entry in the contest as Josephine Weaver. So when Josephine turns up dead, Bailey is a murder suspect again.

But she’s not the only suspect. Josephine’s niece is pushing against the rules of her strict Amish district. She and Josephine may have had words. And then there’s the matter of Josephine’s candy shop – who will inherit her successful business and prime location? And what about her antagonistic shop neighbor? Bailey is determined to dig through the motives of these other suspects, find the real culprit, and clear her name.

Lethal Licorice – Review

This was a great second mystery in this series. You can read my review of book one here. I am enjoying the Amish/English differences and the conflict that arises from them. Bailey and her grandmother are great characters, although the young Amish women around them – Emily, and now Charlotte, are my favorite characters.

The mystery was great. I was guessing all the way to the end. But honestly, I was just as interested in the ins and outs of the Amish community in the story as I was in figuring out the murderer. My only complaint in the whole novel was about the poor lost pig. At one point, Bailey gets a clue about the location of the missing pig – more than 24 hours after he disappeared – but she doesn’t call someone while she deals with murder stuff, or go on her own to check out the clue. While it all works itself out in the end, it was a jarring delay considering the animal was likely without food or water while missing.

Overall, I am loving this series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

Premeditated Peppermint – Summary

It’s Christmas in Harvest, Ohio, and Bailey King and her grandmother are preparing an assortment of peppermint treats for the Christmas Market to showcase their store, Swissmen Sweets. The plans for the event are all in place – the live nativity, the parade, and the Amish businesses selling their wares. What is NOT in the plan is Bailey’s New York ex, Eric Sharp, coming to town.

Eric has convinced his television crew to come to Ohio and film an Amish Christmas – including Amish candies from Swissmen Sweets and a romantic reconciliation with Bailey. The fact that Bailey doesn’t want anything to do with Eric’s plan doesn’t seem to be getting through to anyone. But when the show’s executive producer is found murdered, Eric needs Bailey for more than his TV show. He needs her to find the killer before he’s arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.

Premeditated Peppermint – Review

This is such a fun series! The mix of English and Amish characters, many with strong personalities, makes for great interactions. The only down side is the way those strong personalities tend to bulldoze right over Bailey much of the time. Her best friend, Cass, is one of my favorite characters because she puts herself between Bailey and those other characters. Of course, she can be just as guilty of pushing Bailey into all sorts of crazy scenarios. But because she is protective most of the time, her meddling isn’t as frustrating. I would like to see Bailey stand up for herself a little more as the series goes on.

The mystery in this book was solid. There were dueling motives for the murder, and Bailey tackled both with some great sleuthing. There are some interesting developments for the overarching story of the series in this book, too. I’m eager to see where those developments lead for book four – Toxic Toffee – out in the spring of 2019.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: 2018 Christmas Books

REVIEW: 2018 Christmas Books

Posted on by Jaymie

Last year I did a list of Christmas book reviews, and that seems like a good idea for this year, too. I am pretty far backlogged on reviews, so unless a Christmas book is something I am reviewing for a publisher (like this one and this one and this one), I have a hard time squeezing in reviews. So here are the Christmas books I have read so far this season and what I thought of them! You can see last year’s post here.

 Santa Bruce – This is the only Christmas book I have read for kids so far. It was adorable! I love the Bruce books! Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 

 

 

 Catching Christmas – A first year law associate and a cab driver connect over a wheelchair-bound old lady who is on the hunt for a date for her granddaughter. Overall this was cute, but I didn’t click with the characters. Other readers, especially fans of the author’s other work, might enjoy this one more than I did. Rating: ♥♥♥½

 

 

 

The Christmas Remedy – A young Amish woman runs into issues when she tries to help her community recognize how important it is to value their health and wellness, and the pharmacy that serves the community comes under fire. You can read a full summary and review here. I will say that this book ends at Christmas, but a lot of the action happens in the months leading up to the holiday. Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

 

 

 

The Christmas Star – A girl in foster care plays matchmaker for an after-school program volunteer. This is a sweet Christmas story with lots of heart. There’s not a lot of conflict or suspense in this one – just a touching Christmas tale. I read one of the other books in this series a couple years ago and loved it. Now I make a habit of looking for a new Christmas book from this author. You can read my review of the other book here.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

Dear Santa –  You’ve Got Mail with a Christmas twist. A woman running her family’s Christmas shop writes to Santa through an app about the national chain that has come to town, not knowing that the guy from the chain is the one answering the Dear Santa letters. This is another story without a ton of conflict or tension – just a nice holiday story to help you enjoy the season! Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

Deck the Hounds – The first Andy Carpenter book I ever read was a Christmas one – The Twelve Dogs of Christmas – and it launched me into a frantic  quest to read every book in the series. The second Christmas tale in the series is just as enjoyable. Everything I love about the series as a whole. In this book, Andy and his wife get more than they bargained for when they reach out at the holidays to help a homeless man and his dog.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

In Peppermint Peril – A woman home for the holidays finds murder at a stately manor where she played as a child. This is the first in a new mystery series. You can read a full summary and review here next Wednesday. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

 

Lark! The Herald Angels Sing –  Meg’s brother, Rob, is named as the father of an unknown baby left in the manger at their church’s live Nativity. For me, this was the quintessential Meg Langslow mystery – it has all the family and town antics that I love as well as a first rate mystery. (This time the mystery focuses less on a murder, which happens off the page, and more on the fall out from it. It’s a fascinating story!) Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 

 

 

 

Murder in Her Stocking – First in the new Granny Reid Mystery series, a spin off of G. A. McKevett’s Savannah Reid/Moonlight Magnolia series. This one goes back to when Savannah was a kid and Granny looked into a murder at Christmas time. I loved seeing Savannah as a 12 year old and see how the personalities of her siblings were already on display at a young age. I think readers will enjoy this more if they are already familiar with the characters from the original series. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

The Peppermint Mocha Murder – A chocolatier/”chocolate whisperer” heads out on vacation for the holidays and finds murder at a holiday musical production. I’ve only read the first book in this series, and then this one, so the relationships aren’t quite solid in my head for this series, yet,  but the mystery was good.  Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

 

Premeditated Peppermint – Another chocolatier finds herself investigating a murder when her ex comes to town to do a show on her family candy shop and his producer winds up dead. I enjoyed the mystery in this one, and the characters are always a treat for me in this series. I’ll be writing up a more detailed review of this in December. Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

 

 

 

Six Cats a Slayin’ – Someone leaves a set of kittens on Charlie’s door and a murderer hits the neighborhood as well. You can read a full summary  and review here. This is probably my new favorite book in this delightful series. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 

 

 

 

 

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas – In the midst of Christmas celebrations on the tree farm, a woman’s best friend is accused of killing a sleazy guy she dated one time. This is book 2 in this series and I have loved both of the books. The characters and the setting for this mystery series are first rate. You can read a full summary and review here. Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥