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 … 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!
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We are going to a wedding in Ohio’s
Amish Country in a village named Harvest
located in Holmes County, Ohio.
The Reverend Simon Brook is marrying Juliet Brody.
Juliet’s son, Sheriff Deputy Aiden Brody will be
giving the bride away and be best man .
Bailey King is will be the maid-of-honor
and wedding cake designer. The bride
wants a marshmallow cake as her wedding
cake.
Jethro, the black and white, polka-dotted
pot bellied pig will be the ring bearer.
Jethro is Juliet’s pet. He mostly goes
everywhere with her.
It is also time for the Fourth of July
festival.
Bailey was the assistant chocolatier in
New York’s famous JP chocolates. She
came home to Harvest when her Daadi
(grandfather) became ill. After his death,
Bailey moved to Harvest with her big
white rabbit, Puff, to run Swissmen Sweets,
the Amish candy shop. Bailey and her
Maami (grandmother) both own the shop
now. Nutmeg, the thin-striped orange tail
cat is the shop cat.
What more could go wrong after the young
girl doing Juliet’s hair burns it off, Bailey
looks like a polka dotted cupcake in her
bridesmaid dress plus a strange woman
runing down the church aisle yelling “Traitor”
at the Reverend during the ceremony??
Just watch out for Jethro being let loose
at the reception…..
The following morning, Bailey discovers
the body of the wedding intruder dead on
the front steps of the church.
A diverse set of characters featuring both
Amish and Englishers involved in puzzling,
complex murder mystery filled with thrills
and chills.
Bailey and best friend, Cass, visiting from
the New York decide to help solve the case.
They discover secrets, illegal activities such
as moonshine stills being operational then
exploding when shot.
I enjoyed the mystery. I also liked how
Bailey communicated between the Amish
and the Englishers. I was fascinated by how
the rabbit, cat and pig were able to play with
each other with no problems. I thought the
mystery moved along fast holding my attention
from the beginning to the end. It was a
mouthwatering story filled with humor along with
the serious issues.
This is book # 5 in the Amish Shop Candy
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand as
I felt the author mix the past with the present
effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Marshmallow Malice.
Thanks to Kensington Publishers for the
opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my
own.
There is the recipe for Marshmallow Sticks
after the story finishes. Good eating!!!
The Amish Candy Shop Mystery series is guaranteed to give you a few hours of laughs. Jethro, the pig, steals the show each and every book. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, just close your eyes and imagine a pig being carried around like a baby who is dressed up in something polka dot. Now, tell me you didn’t feel yourself smiling. Smiling is what you will do plenty of even while solving a murder or two.
Again, Flower has provided us with a clean murder mystery with no unnecessary gory details, no foul language, and no sex scenes. It is definitely a series I would share with a teenager looking to get into the cozy mystery world.
Word of warning, be prepared to crave everything chocolate. I found myself craving a wedding cake with marshmallow topping and I have never had one with that topping. Flower does such a good job describing sweets you will be craving things you’ve never had.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
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 is a terrific addition to this series. Unique, charming, and engaging characters along with a first-rate mystery make this story a Perfect Escape.
Bailey King is back making candy for us again in a new instalment of the Amish Candy Shop mysteries. Plus her friend Cass is there, partly to vacation and partly to help out at Swissmen Sweets for Harvest’s Fourth of July celebrations. Another exciting event this time around is the wedding between Juliet and Reverend Brook. Only, a woman comes in and causes a disturbance, calling the reverend a liar. The next day after the wedding Bailey finds the same woman dead on the church steps. Aiden clears the reverend of wrongdoing so he and Juliet can go on their honeymoon. Jethro is left in Bailey’s care. Then Aiden, Bailey, and Cass work the case to find out whom the woman was and who killed her. Bailey is also getting nervous for the premiere of her television show.
I quite enjoyed this story. In fact, it might be my favourite Candy Shop mystery yet. I did not figure out the solution to the case this time around. (Though I suspect I may have been more on-the-ball about it if I hadn’t taken a break in the middle of the book to rush-read a couple other books. I wouldn’t necessarily have definitely come up with the correct solution even then, though.)
Even though I did not solve the mystery this time around, I did know the ending of the book but yet it still brought a tear to my eye, and it is this final scene that makes this my favourite story.
Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is the 5th An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. While it can be read on its own, I do recommend reading each book in this entertaining series. I like Amanda Flower’s engaging writing style. I was quickly drawn into the story and I did not want to put down my book (a very pushy cat got insistent at dinner time). I laughed often while reading Marshmallow Malice. Jethro is one mischievous pig. Of course, Bailey manages to get herself into some sticky situations. I love the cast of characters in this series. Bailey, Cass, Emily, Charlotte, Aiden, Juliet, Jethro, and even Margot. I like that Bailey is close to her grandmother and has a wonderful group of friends. Aiden and Bailey make a cute couple. There are also some adorable little animals. It is so cute how Nutmeg, the cat at the Swissmen’s Sweets, likes to play with Bailey’s rabbit, Puff. Don’t forget Jethro who can get into trouble faster than you can say chocolate. Harvest, Ohio is a charming small town with a mix of English and Amish shops and residents. There are one or two bad eggs (two people at Esh’s Pretzel Shop spring to mind), but the rest of the people are friendly and welcoming. The mystery was well-crafted. I had a good time playing sleuth alongside Bailey and Cass. There are good clues along with a red herring and misdirection. Bailey had an additional worry in Marshmallow Malice. A woman from Aiden’s past has returned to town and she seems determined to rekindle her relationship with the dashing deputy (and so does her pushy mother). I like how Millie Fisher from An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series attended the wedding. This was a delightful story that I finished much too quickly. Marshmallow Malice is witty cozy mystery with hair hijinks, a playful pig, marshmallow madness, a plethora of polka dots, hot hooch, and partner problems.
Bailey’s boyfriend Aiden’s mom and the local Reverend are ready to tie the knot. As maid of honor Bailey is doing everything she can to make sure Juliet’s day goes off without a hitch. Everything seems to be going well until a woman steps in during the wedding to make slanderous accusations against Reverend Brook. The woman is removed and Juliet ignores what the woman said, marrying the reverend without further interruption. Things get worse at the reception when Juliet’s pig Jethro trips Bailey making her crash into the wedding cake destroying it. When the day is finally over Bailey sighs with relief, the happy couple will be off on their honeymoon after church the next day. When Bailey goes to the church early the next morning to make sure everything is as it should be she finds the woman from the previous day dead on the steps. Who is this woman and why was she killed and left on the church steps? The reverend only knows her first name and gives Bailey all the information he can about the woman. The reverend is soon eliminated as a suspect so off he goes on his honeymoon with Juliet. Bailey knows she must figure out who the woman was before she can look at people who might have wanted her dead. There is an Amish connection Bailey just has to find out where it leads. Follow along as she investigates, will she be able to figure out who the killer is before she herself becomes a victim?
Marshmallow Malice
Amish Candy Shop, Book #5
Amanda Flower
5 Stars
Synopsis:
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!
Praise for Amanda Flower and her Amish cozies
“As it turns out, Amanda Flower may have just written the first Amish rom com.”
— USA Today
“Flower has hit it out of the ballpark . . . and continues to amaze with her knowledge of the Amish way of life.”
— RT Book Reviews
“At turns playful and engaging . . . a satisfyingly complex cozy.”
— Library Journal
Review:
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I was so happy that Cass was very involved in this book, she and Bailey make a great crime fighting duo. The situations that they find themselves are funny and dangerous. I am very glad that Juliet and Reverend Brook finally tied the knot, they were made for each other. And what can I say about Jethro, Juliet’s little pig. I love all of his antics, they made me laugh.
The writing style flowed smoothly and defined the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. In my mind’s eye, I could see all of the action taking place during the festival and at the candy shop.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I considered the culprit for a moment and then discarded her as a suspect. Sleuthing is not an easy thing to do.
I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I know that anytime I pick up a book written by this author, I am in for a real treat.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook are finally getting married. Everyone is excited and Bailey is busy baking the stunning marshmallow-frosted wedding cake and fulfilling bridesmaid duties. The day is filled with ups and downs, including a ruined wedding cake, Juliet’s hair being burned off with a curling iron, and a drunk wedding crasher who objects to the wedding because she doesn’t think Reverend Brook deserves to be happy. When the wedding crasher is found dead on the church steps the next day, Bailey and her best friend Cass, decide to their own investigation, much to the dismay of her sheriff’s deputy boyfriend, Aiden Brody. Meanwhile, Aiden’s high school sweetheart is in town for the wedding, and she is determined to win him back.
This is the fifth book in Amanda Flower’s An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. This is a delightful series, with wonderful characters, a charming small-town setting, and a sense of community and family. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and when a new installment comes out it feels like catching up with old friends. Amanda Flower’s writing style is engaging and filled with humor. Our main character, Bailey, is loyal, caring, hardworking, and independent. Her relationship with Aiden is progressing nicely, but I would like to see them communicate better and not keep things from each other. The mystery is well-plotted, with plenty of red herrings and false leads to throw readers off the scent. The reveal came as a complete surprise to me because the culprit wasn’t even on my radar.
Overall, I think this is a fantastic addition to the series and I eagerly await the next book. Amanda Flower never disappoints, and I highly recommend any of her series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t think there has been a cozy mystery written by author Amanda Flower that I haven’t devoured. Ms. Flower is one of my favorite authors in this genre and I know when I start a new book by her that I am going to fall down the rabbit hole and be transported to a charming setting, populated with wonderful characters and a mystery that keeps me guessing. This is the 5th installment in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery, and pun intended, each one is a sweet treat. Bailey King is a terrific protagonist. She is really coming into her own and I love how she is able to have one foot in both worlds. Her romance with Aiden is progressing nicely and things are going well at Swissmen’s Sweets. Unfortunately, the one area where Bailey can’t catch a break is stumbling over dead bodies. This time, it’s on the steps of the church the morning after Juliet’s wedding to Reverend Brooks. This time, she has her best friend Cass, who is visiting from New York, to help her with her sleuthing.
I thought the mystery was well done. Ms. Flower, once again, did a traffic job of cast suspicion on a number of characters while dotting clues throughout the storyline. I was completely surprised by the identity of the killer. I followed the false trail of clues provided by the author and came to the wrong conclusion. I love when an author has created characters that have me so engaged and invested in their lives that I miss the small nuggets that are carefully placed throughout.
I highly recommend this author and if you haven’t had a chance to read any of her series, I say pick up the first book in any one of them and crack it open. You will be entertained and satisfied when you finish reading the final page.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington Books. through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Bailey King questions her relationship with Deputy Sheriff Adin Brody when his old high school sweetheart shows up and tries to win his heart again. Will this be the end of their relationship or is Adin sincere in his feelings for Bailey?
During Juliet and Reverend Brooks wedding a strange lady crashes into the ceremony demanding that the wedding be stopped. She calls the good Reverend a traitor as Deputy Little escorts her from the church. Later the Reverend Brook becomes a murder suspect when that same woman is found dead in front of his church. Does the Reverend have a secret that he’s been hiding from Juliet and the church.
Bailey gets involved in the investigation of this murder when friends ask her to try to solve it. Deputy Brody fears for her safety but reluctantly agrees to allow her to help him gather evidence. Her friends are drawn to Bailey’s kind nature and confess their problems and secrets to her that help her to unravel clues to find out what happened to the murder victim. Could Reverend Brook be capable of murder? Someone wanted this victim dead! Bailey and Adin hope to find out who killed the woman and bring the killer to justice.
This is the fifth book to Amanda Flowers Amish Candy Shop Mystery. So far I think this is the best book of the series. The author gave her readers a puzzling mystery to solve. I was fearful for Bailey’s and her friend Cass safety when time after time they would put themselves in dangerous situations. Kept me on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. I thought the book was a page turner and a mystery that was hard to piece together. It was exactly what I love to see in a Cozy Mystery. The characters have become my fictional friends that I get to know better with each book in this series.
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy mystery and readers of Amish Fiction. This book could be read as a stand alone but to understand the significance of the characters it’s best to begin at book one.
I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.
I love the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and this new book does not disappoint. Mrs. Flower has once again written an interesting plot with a story twist. Who said the Amish were boring? Certainly not in this series of books.
Love this series!! Getting a glimpse into the Amish world is interesting and I love Bailey’s relationship with her grandmother. In this latest book, Reverend Brook and Juliet are finally getting married, though things don’t go quite as planned when a woman crashes the wedding and calls the groom a traitor. The woman is discovered murdered the next day lying in front of the church. Juliet begs Bailey to help find the killer. Bailey and her friend Cass set out to find the killer with a little help from Jethro, Juliet’s pet pot-bellied pig. Interesting story with the Amish and moonshine sellers. I was surprised at the identity of the killer. I am looking forward to more books in this series, hopefully, and seeing more of Bailey and Aiden’s relationship as well as more of the King ladies working at Swissmen Sweets and seeing what delicious treats they create next!!
I truly enjoyed this latest entry in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. It was fun visiting Bailey and all the interesting and colorful characters in the town of Harvest, Ohio (including Jethro the pig). The mystery was interesting with different possible suspects that kept me guessing until the very last. And the recipe at the end is definitely something I want to try.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
This is a fun sweet cozy mystery that can be enjoyed as a stand-alone or part of the series. The characters, both human and furbabies, are likable and interesting. However, we do learn a few new surprising tidbits about one of our beloved characters. The mystery is entertaining and funny but is still full of suspense. I was surprised at who the killer was.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.
The “An Amish Candy Shop Mystery” series written by Amanda Flower and published by Kensington Books has quickly become one of my favorite cozy series on the market.
The characters are good, down to earth people who work hard, keep busy, and try to be helpful to their fellow man. These are wholesome country folk who want people to be happy, and this makes for some of the most lively and entertaining characters ina series. The setting is in the heart of Amish country, although all places have issues, this one has as few as possible, aside from the occasional murder that is.
Readers will find themselves not just liking the quirky characters, especially Juliet and her pet pig, but loving many of them as if they were a part of their own family. Bailey and her grandmother are as always there to lend a hand when the big wedding day arrives, even members of the Amish community show up to be a part of the festivities. But everyone knew Juliet’s big day couldn’t possibly go off without a hitch or two. It doesn’t take long for things to spiral, and before you know it, murder becomes a guest.
The victim is a magnificent casualty of the past and how communities shape our lives. The suspects are all equally capable and believable. No one is spared this time around, everyone from the small town, even the Amish become suspects. Bailey uncovers the true killer almost unexpectedly, and the unveiling is filled with real-world consequences for everyone involved.
I am happy to recommend the fifth book, Marshmallow Malice, in this tasty confectionery and Amish driven series to readers who love small-town politics, mystery with delightful characters, a torrent of suspects, twists and turns that will keep them guessing, a smattering of mouth-watering treats, and copious amounts of intrigue.
I t was ok.I wanted more of Jerome the pig.
Amanda just keeps them coming. All of her mysteries are fun and keep you turning the page and you can’t wait for the next one!
Wedding bells are ringing for Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook. Bailey King, chocolatier, works in her family’s candy shop, Swissman Sweets. As she is part of the wedding party and is dating the bride’s son, Bailey is in the middle of the event. She has even created the wedding cake per the bride’s wishes, complete with a special marshmallow frosting. Fingers crossed that all goes well, that the cake doesn’t fall apart and there are no surprises. Well, there is a big surprise just around the corner and Bailey, with her best friend. Cass, end up in the thick of it. If a cake disaster isn’t enough plus a bridal mishap, a drunk woman crashes the party and focuses her ire on Reverend Brook. When she later turns up murdered, guess who becomes the prime suspect? Yep, Reverend Brook tops the list.
Bailey and Cass, much against the advice of Aiden Brody, boyfriend and deputy sheriff and son of the bride. Life sure is complicated but, wait, there’s more. One of the guests in town for the wedding just happens to be Aiden’s former high school sweetheart and she wants to rekindle the relationship.
I enjoy spending time with Bailey, her family and friends in Harvest, Ohio. Bailey is a wonderful character, full of heart and is the kind of person anyone would want for a BFF. When it comes to tracking down a killer every once in awhile, she gets the job done. The puzzle is complex enough to keep me guessing to the end with various twists, turns and red herrings leading me astray. Just the way I like it. As a series, each book can be read as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The always upbeat Juliet is trying to remain positive on her wedding day despite major problems. (We won’t even talk about the hair incident.) Her maid of honor, Bailey, is having her own concerns because she made and is responsible for the wedding cake. Juliet requested a marshmallow icing and on the hot summer day she is afraid it will melt. However, what happened in the ceremony turned out to be the biggest problem until a body was discovered the next morning.
This story had me guessing from beginning to end about not only the murder but what might happen between Bailey and her boyfriend Aiden now that his old girlfriend has shown up again. As always Juliet’s comfort animal, Jethro the pig, kept me entertained with his mischievousness. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Candy maker Bailey King has her hands full as her boyfriend’s mother’s maid of honor in MARSHMALLOW MALICE, the delightful fifth book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series. The July heat threatens to ruin the wedding cake, and bride Juliet has a hair emergency right before the wedding is scheduled to begin. But, worst of all, a drunk wedding crasher disrupts the ceremony, calling Reverend Brooks a traitor in front of all of the guests. When Bailey finds the crasher dead on the steps of the church the next morning, she knows she must do all that she can to get to the bottom of her death and find the truth about the Reverend’s secrets.
I always enjoy my time spent with Bailey and her friends and family. Bailey is a loyal, compassionate, and intelligent. Of course, she is nosy, but only because she cares about those around her. I think she does a fine job of straddling the Englisch and Amish worlds. Bailey’s grandmother and cousin do not play as big of a role in this tale, but it is nice to have Bailey’s best friend Cass from New York as a sidekick this time around. Talk about a fish out of water! I really like Aiden, and readers should enjoy how his and Bailey’s relationship progresses. I do wish they would communicate better because Bailey makes some assumptions early on that feel uncharacteristically immature. Of course, I would be remiss in not mentioning Jethro the “emotional support” pig. He always provides much of the humor within the mystery and plays a prominent role in the story.
The mystery here is well thought out and finely executed. There are plenty of clues scattered throughout the story all of which seem to lead readers in the wrong direction. I was blown away by the killer’s identity.
MARSHMALLOW MALICE is an excellent addition to the Amish Candy Shop series, and I look forward to reading many more adventures with Bailey. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.