Marshmallow Malice

It’s Mother’s Day weekend and Bailey King has a busy few days ahead of her. Bailey’s parents are visiting from New England. Her father, Silas, left the Amish community of Harvest and Holmes County when he was a young man and the only time he’s ever returned was for the funeral of his father, Bailey’s grandfather, Jerimiah King. Bailey’s mother, Susan, is also a Holmes County native and she has stayed away from her birthplace as well. But this weekend, they have left New England to spend time with Bailey.
Soon after their arrival, Bailey’s parents meet Juliet Brody (and Jethro the pig) and Juliet wastes no time bringing up a marriage between Aiden Brody, Juliet’s son and Bailey’s boyfriend, and Bailey. Silas and Susan aren’t opposed to the idea, but Bailey and Aiden aren’t even engaged and Bailey will be pressed for time trying to keep her parents separated from Juliet and her wedding-to-be plans.
Out of town visitors aren’t the only things taking up Bailey’s time. Margot Rawlins has planned a Mother’s Day tea as a fundraiser for Abigail’s Farm, a place for women battling drug addiction to get a start on a new life. Swissmen’s Sweets, the candy shop started by Bailey’s Amish late grandfather and now co-owned by Bailey and her Amish grandmother Clara King, have donated several types of sweet treats for the event.
On her way into the church to set up for the tea, Bailey’s wagonful of desserts is nearly knocked over by a large man and Bailey is too busy trying to keep her wagon upright to identify him. While Bailey is setting up for the event in the church, she hears an argument between Polly Anne Lind, the owner of Abigail’s Farm, and someone Bailey hears but can’t see. During the tea, Bailey also spots an Amish woman she doesn’t know. Before Bailey can get her grandmother to identify the mystery woman, she’s gone, as is the ten thousand dollars raised at the tea.
The list of suspects for the theft is fairly long and grows longer when Bailey discovers disgruntled neighbors of Abigail’s Farm. These neighbors are unhappy with the fact that these women live next door and would like nothing better than to see them gone. Without the money, Abigail’s Farm will be forced to close. But without any evidence and fearing the cash donations may already be spent, will Bailey be able to find the thief and save the farm?

Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is a welcome trip back to Ohio and to Swissman Sweets and the wedding of Juliet Brody and Reverend Simon Brook. The much-anticipated events was the talk of the town and everyone was ready: Bailey, the maid-of-honor and wedding cake baker; Aiden Brody, who would walk his mother down the aisle and double as best man; and Jethro the pig, who was to be the ring bearer. Juliet was getting her hair done when Jethro popped out from under her robe and startled the hairdresser, who yanked the curling iron in her hand and along with it came part of Juliet’s bangs. It was a momentary panic until Bailey’s friend, Cass suggested a hat would cover up the damage nicely. That arranged the wedding went of nicely, despite the fact that the dress Juliet had chosen for Bailey made her look like a giant cupcake. Even Jethro behaved. There was that little moment when a drunken woman interrupted the ceremony screaming that Rev. Brook was a traitor, but that moment passed and all was well.

Plenty of things happening in this sweet book by Amanda Flower. Too many to divulge. Sad to say, the net morning Bailey arrived at the church to discover the dead boy of the woman from the day before on the church steps. Bailey and Aiden are such a cute couple. He is always there for her and accepts her as she is. They both love and accept Juliet, and her pig, Jethro. Life is looking good for all of them except the outside world is intruding into their little paradise with the spate of murders lately, and no one is happy about that. The book gives us a gentle look into the lives of the Amish and how they co-exist with their non-Amish neighbors as well as into the personalities of Bailey and her nearest and dearest. These are truly lovely people and plenty of fun to read about. I recommend this and the other books in the series.

I received a free ARC of Marshmallow Malice from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #marshmallowmalice

Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is book five in the Amish Candy Shop series. If you are looking for a cozy that will have you guessing to the end, but also laughing out loud, this is it.
It’s finally the big day for Reverend Brook and Juliet which means Bailey is being run ragged. Not only is she the maid of honor but is baking the wedding cake with marshmallow frosting which is not a good choice since it is the middle of Summer in Ohio. Oh and to top if off, the reception is outside.
The saying goes, things happen in threes, well Juliet’s starts with a slight mishap with her hair while getting ready for the wedding, then a stranger interrupts the wedding yelling at the groom, and the reception has excitement with the cake. (Thanks Jethro..,)
The next day Bailey is on the way to the church to pick up Jethro since she has agreed to babysit while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon, she finds the body of the young lady who showed up during the wedding on the steps of the church. All eyes are on the Reverend, but Bailey knows he couldn’t have done it or could he.
This puts Bailey back looking into another murder much to her deputy boyfriend, Aiden’s dismay. Throw in, Aiden’s ex and her mother, a former Amish girl, and moonshine stills, oh and an ornery pig and you get a perfect Cozy. There are plenty of suspects, you get humor, friendship and family, and romance.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.

Marshmallow Malice is the fifth book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series.

Once again it is busy times for Bailey King. Bailey works in her grandmother’s candy shop, Swissmen Sweets. Juliet Brody is getting married to Reverend Brook and Bailey is making the wedding cake that will have marshmallow icing. Bailey will also be the maid of honor and will be escorted down the aisle by Juliet’s pet pig and ring bearer, Jethro. The wedding goes off without a hitch and everyone heads outdoor to the reception being held outdoors in the village square next to the church. As Bailey is approaching the table where the wedding cake is, Jethro tugs on his leash and gets away and he soon gets caught up in a table leg and the cake goes crashing to the ground. Bailey then loses her balance and falls next to the cake, getting icing on her, as she calls it, her “upside-down cupcake” dress. While some order is trying to be made a young lady, who is intoxicated, accuses Reverend Brook of being a traitor and quickly leaves. As Bailey is heading home to change her dress, she notices the same lady being forced into a car. Before Bailey can get there the car speeds off. The next morning, Bailey is going to check out the church to make sure that everything was cleaned up from the wedding and finds the lifeless body of the young lady on the steps of the church.

Bailey and her BFF, Cass who has come to Harvest set out find who might have killed the young lady. Their investigation leads them to one of the local Amish farms and also to a local winery and they will end up dealing with illegal moonshiners.

I love books by Ms. Flower and this was another wonderful story. They are always well-written and plotted stories. They all include a believable and well-developed cast of characters. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end of the book.

A delicious-sounding recipe is also included in the book.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this sweet series.