Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am excited to tell you all about Karen Rose Smith’s new book!
Murder with Cinnamon Scones (A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Kensington (May 29, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 344 pages
ISBN-10: 1617739626
ISBN-13: 978-1617739620
Kindle ASIN: B075C95LG8
Daisy Swanson and her Aunt Iris run a delightful shop in Pennsylvania’s Amish country with an emphasis on tasty teas and treats—but murder is not so sweet . . .
As local merchants unite to attract tourists for a much anticipated weekend quilting event, business is sure to spill over into eateries like Daisy’s Tea Garden. Gorgeous craftwork is hanging everywhere—but among the quilts, potholders, and placemats, one gallery owner is wrapped up in some dangerous affairs . . .
Reese Masemer had been dating one of Daisy’s employees, Tessa, an artist, though their last interaction was as strained as a cup of loose leaf tea. Now Reese has been found dead near a covered bridge where Tessa’s been practicing her sketches. She’s the obvious suspect, but Daisy’s learning that there were some major secrets in Reese’s background, and several of his relationships were infused with resentment. To save Tessa, she’ll have to find out who’s tainted this quaint little town with murder . . .
Includes delicious recipes!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Willow Creek has a big event planned. A Quilt Lover’s Weekend that they hope will bring plenty of tourists to town. Reese Masemer owns the local art gallery and he will be displaying some beautiful antique quilts. Tessa, an artist and Daisy’s BFF has been dating him and helping him set up for the big event. There will be a tea at Daisy’s Tea Garden to wrap up the event and announce the raffle winners.
After their last meeting, Tessa feels there is something off about Reese but he has been busy and she has been working on a project herself too. She spends her early morning sketching the covered bridge just outside of town. She is hoping that after the weekend and things settle down she will be able to find out what is going on with Reese. But before she has the chance, Reese is found dead, right by the covered bridge and Tessa is the police’s prime suspect. Knowing her friend is innocent she is going to do her best to find the real killer. Daisy has a way with tea and cinnamon scones but catching the real culprit will take more than 5 minutes to steep the clues all together and pour out her findings for the police.
The characters in this story have a strong bond whether related by blood or friendship. The group looks out for each other. That is clear not only by the way they try to save Tessa but also when Daisy’s helps out one of her employees. A young man on a different path that his father thinks he should be on. I loved the way they all come together several times in this story to handle normal daily life, business, the murder investigation and its aftermath. The word compassion comes to mind when I think of these characters. All the relationships feel true to life.
Karen Rose Smith has written a complex mystery with some corkscrew twists. More suspects are uncovered as the story reveals more of the victim’s past. Detective Morris Rappaport really started rubbing me the wrong way but a few exciting moments finally put him in his place. I liked that Daisy had help from a retired police detective, Jonas Groft and a high school friend, Cade Bankert but I am not entirely sold yet on a romantic relationship between Jonah and Daisy.
This story is well written and plotted. The characters are well developed as well with plenty of backstory if you missed the first book in this series. I am not a tea drinker but I love the theme of this series. As a former quilter, I also loved the theme of this story. Willow Creek is a wonderful place to virtually visit. I could almost taste the cinnamon scones.
This is another perfect escape from this author. A delightful cozy mystery. I am excited to see what happens next!
About the Author
Karen Rose Smith likes to chat with her readers on social media. You can find her on Facebook at KarenRoseSmithBooks and on Twitter @karenrosemith. Find out more about her mysteries at https://www.karenrosesmithmysteries.com.
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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.”
When I think of Lancaster County, I picture Amish buggies, manicured gardens, fertile farms, hex signs on barns, delicious baked goods, and home-grown food, handcrafted quilts and cottage industries. As I researched elements I wanted to use in the series, I took a drive, concentrating on the towns of Bird In Hand, Paradise, and Intercourse. As I passed Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, I realized a rhubarb festival was being held! There was a rhubarb race-car derby, a Best Rhubarb Dessert contest, and a mini parade. It emphasized all the feelings that I want my readers to have when enjoying 
—a strong sense of home, belonging, friendship and warmth. Setting the series in a similar town was taking a step back in time to when values, home, and hearth mattered.
My sleuth, Daisy Swanson, is a widow with two teenage daughters—Violet aka Vi and Jasmine aka Jazzi. Daisy’s mother Rose named her two daughters Daisy and Camellia. Rose’s sister’s name is Iris. Flower names are a family tradition. Since Daisy likes to garden, she followed the tradition. BTW, Daisy and her daughters adopted two cats—Marjoram and Pepper.
Daisy’s Tea Garden, a Victorian house in downtown Willow Creek, has become a gathering place. Daisy and her Aunt Iris are the proprietors. Although Daisy’s aunt is in her golden years, she’s enjoying the company of Harvey Fitz, wealthy CEO of Men’s Trends. Lemon tea cakes are Harvey’s favorite snack at the tea garden. The only problem is that Harvey isn’t yet divorced. When Harvey is murdered on the tea garden’s patio with a foot-high unicorn statue as the weapon, Aunt Iris is the prime suspect. But Daisy soon discovers many residents of Willow Creek are suspects—from Harvey’s soon to be ex-wife, to his children to his business colleagues.
, was released December 26, 2017. The second book, 
, will be released in June. At present, I’m working on book #3, MURDER WITH CUCUMBER SANDWICHES. I hope you enjoy them all. I like to chat with my readers on social media. You can find me on Facebook at 
, Book 1.