Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am so happy to feature Marshmallow Malice
by Amanda Flower today!
Marshmallow Malice (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher: Kensington (May 26, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1496722035
ISBN-13: 978-1496722034
Kindle ASIN: B07W8Y8V7V
Caught in a sticky situation . . .
With Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook tying the knot in Ohio’s Amish Country’s most anticipated nuptials of the year, Bailey King is determined to do everything in her power to make the event a sweet success. Except midsummer heat waves and outdoor ceremonies don’t mix, and an exasperated Bailey soon finds herself struggling to fulfill bridesmaid duties and keep her stunning marshmallow-frosted wedding cake from becoming a gooey disaster. Then much to everyone’s shock, the entire ceremony crumbles when a guest drops dead, and the cause isn’t sunstroke . . .
Turns out, the uninvited victim came equipped with lots of dirt on the devout reverend’s hidden past. As Reverend Brook tops the murder suspect list on what should have been the happiest day of his life, Bailey and her sheriff’s deputy boyfriend vow to clear his name. Can the duo boil down a series of baffling clues before Juliet considers her marriage a bad mistake—or the killer whips up another deadly surprise?
Recipe Included!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Like other fans of this series, I have been looking forward to Reverend Brook and Juliet Brody’s wedding complete with Jethro, the pig as ringbearer, and Bailey King as the maid of honor. Bailey has worked tirelessly to give Juliet the wedding of her dreams. The wedding is going along nicely until a stranger arrives shouting at the reverend. The person is removed and the ceremony continues.
Juliet wanted a cake with marshmallow frosting even though the heat of the day could ruin all her hard work. But it was other forces that be that send the reception into a sticky mess. Even then the party goes on and everyone seems to have fun.
Then the next day, a body is found at the church. The stranger from the wedding has been murdered and we find they are not a stranger after all. They have a connection to the community and to the good Reverend Brook. Will he and Juliet be able to go on their honeymoon? Only if Bailey and Aiden can clear his name and frost the real killer.
I do love this series. The way the community of Harvest comes together to celebrate always warms my heart. There are always a few rotten apples around trying to throw shade but by and large, the town is full of good people. Bailey has really worked her way into many people’s hearts. She loves working with her grandmother in the family sweet shop and she dreams up such wonderful creations. She is smart and independent and people, both Amish and Englisch open up to her making her a huge asset to her deputy boyfriend. This time her friend Cass is visiting Harvest too and is a great sidekick for Bailey. All Ms. Flower’s characters continue to grow in believable ways.
A lot happens within the pages of this book and at times it seemed a bit chaotic but in Amanda Flower’s hands, we see it is all a very well-constructed plot with plenty of theories, twists, secrets, and suspects. She serves up misdirection like a master and had me stymied almost right up to the big reveal. It is so much fun to follow along with these characters.
What I really love about Ms. Flower’s stories is that while giving readers an entertaining mystery she dishes up a high level of humor. Almost from the start, I was laughing out loud as Juliet was getting ready for the wedding, the issues with the cake and Bailey in her bridesmaids dress and so much more. She really knows how to tickle her reader’s funny bones.
Marshmallow Malice
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About This Author
Amanda Flower, a two-time Agatha Award-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth-grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as national bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.
Author Links:
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Due to COVID 19 the publisher is unable to provide a book for a giveaway
so I am giving away a $5 Amazon Gift Card!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thank you for your review on “Marshmallow Malice” by Amanda Flower.
I’d love the opportunity to read it.
2clowns at arkansas dot net