This ebook contains a bonus vignette!Someone’s sweet on revenge . . . Christmas is Bailey King’s favorite time of year. For her first Yuletide in Harvest, Ohio, the former big-city chocolatier is recreating a cherished holiday treat: peppermint combined with molten white chocolate. But her sugar high plummets when her former boyfriend walks into the candy shop she now runs with her Amish … candy shop she now runs with her Amish grandmother. New York celebrity chef Eric Sharp and his TV crew have arrived to film an authentic Amish Christmas. Bailey’s not about to let her beloved town—and Swissmen Sweets—be turned into a sound bite. Unfortunately, she gets more publicity than she bargained for when Eric’s executive producer is found strangled to death—and Eric’s the prime suspect.
With Bailey’s sheriff deputy boyfriend out to prove Eric’s guilt, her bad-boy ex tries to sweet-talk her into helping him clear his name . . . and rekindle their romance to boost ratings for his show. Now, between a surplus of suspects and a victim who wasn’t who she seemed, Bailey’s edging dangerously close to a killer who isn’t looking to bring joy to the world—or to Bailey—this deadly Noel . . .
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
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Premeditated Peppermint is book three in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower’s. I loved this book. Amanda did a wonderful job. I was transported back to small town Harvest, Ohio with all of it’s wonderful characters. I so love Bailey and her determination. There are lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up to the very end. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. If you enjoy mysteries and Amish fiction that this is the book for you.
PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT, the delightful third book in Amanda Flower’s charming Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, finds former New York City chocolatier Bailey King up to her elbows in peppermint confections. It is her first Christmas in Harvest, Ohio, and the town’s celebrations are underway. Bailey is speechless when her bad boy ex-boyfriend, pastry chef Eric, walks into her grandparents’ candy shop with a television crew in tow. In town to film a holiday special for Gourmet TV, he hopes to spin his and Bailey’s headline making split into TV reconciliation gold. When Bailey finds the executive producer Rocky dead in the town square, Eric is quickly named the prime suspect. Despite her dislike for Eric, she knows he is innocent and sets about finding the real killer’s identity. Throw in a live nativity with a rogue camel, a jealous love interest, a pig with dreams of stardom, and an offer that Bailey does not know if she can refuse, and readers have a wonderfully entertaining read full of Christmas spirit.
Flowers is one of my favorite authors, and I was not disappointed with PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT. The lovely tourist town setting with its mix of Amish and English residents is the perfect backdrop for Bailey and her candy shop. I like Bailey. She is smart and empathetic and makes a good amateur sleuth. I appreciate that she is not perfect. She struggles with feeling left out of her grandmother and cousin’s blossoming relationship, and I think this influences her decisions in the book. Of course, her love interest, sheriff’s deputy Aiden, makes a good foil for her investigating efforts, and he is a really decent guy. Eric is indeed rather self-centered and not easy to feel sorry for, and the victim has some skeletons in her closet. A highlight of this series is Aiden’s over-the-top mother Juliet and her pet pig Jethro. They provide some of the books laugh out loud moments.
The mystery surrounding Rocky’s death is complex enough to be compelling. There are plenty of clues along the way, with just the right amount of misdirection, to keep readers guessing. The conversational writing style keeps the pace of the book steady, and I felt like I was right there in the middle of the action.
PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT is sure to please any cozy mystery reader, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series to be published. I hope there are many more adventures with Bailey. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the author and publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower is the 3rd in the Amish Candy Shop mystery series.
It’s time for the annual Christmas Holiday Market in Harvest and Bailey is running around trying to get all the peppermint treats ready to sale when her ex comes into the candy shop. Needless to say, she is shocked, after all New York City is no where close to Harvest, Ohio.
Chef Eric is there, along with a film crew, wanting her to tape a special for his show. She can not agree to the filming since her Amish grandmother is the owner of the shop and the district would have to agree.
When a member of the film crew is found murdered and Eric is next to the body, Bailey is drawn into finding the murderer before Eric is charged.
The story has plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.
There is a great cast of characters and Jethro the pig is back. Flower gives you not only mystery. but also humor, romance, and a craving for peppermint. This is a great Christmas mystery.
I enjoy this series and highly recommend it.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.
Christmas is approaching and Bailey is busy preparing peppermint candies for the Harvest Christmas market when trouble appears in the form of her ex-boyfriend, Eric.. He is in Harvest because his reality bakery show is filming a holiday special but he seems to have an ulterior motive.. Things go from bad to worse when there is a murder and Eric, who is the prime suspect, convinces Bailey to help clear his name. On top of that, Bailey is facing a decision that could change her life forever.
This well written story has characters you’ll love and characters you’ll love to hate. Set in Amish country you get a peek at the unique culture of the Amish people.
This is the third book in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series but could easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
We are back in Ohio with Bailey King, and just in time for the Christmas Market, and helping in the family candy store.
Of course, as in the past two books there is a murder, and somehow our Bailey is in the middle of the investigation again, along with some other familiar characters, including our loveable pig Jethro.
Will this be the end of Bailey’s involvement in the family business, will she decide to go back to NYC now that Eric her former boyfriend has come back into her life?
This book is going to keep you guessing almost to the last page, and danger is ever present, will you be able to guess ahead of time as whom the culprit is? Enjoy this cozy Christmas mystery!
I received this book through Net Galley and the published Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.
Christmas is Bailey King’s favorite time of year. For her first Yuletide in Harvest, Ohio, the former big-city chocolatier is recreating a cherished holiday treat: peppermint combined with molten white chocolate. Her sugar high plummets when her ex-boyfriend walks into the candy shop. New York celebrity chef Eric Sharp and his TV crew have arrived to film an authentic Amish Christmas. Bailey’s not about to let her beloved town, and Swissmen Sweets, be turned into a sound bite. Unfortunately, she gets more publicity than she bargained for when Eric’s executive producer is found strangled to death—and Eric’s the prime suspect.
With Bailey’s sheriff deputy boyfriend out to prove Eric’s guilt, her bad-boy ex-tries to sweet-talk her into helping him clear his name and rekindle their romance to boost ratings for his show. Between a surplus of suspects and a victim who wasn’t who she seemed, Bailey’s edging dangerously close to a killer who isn’t looking to bring joy to the world this deadly Noel.
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Series: An Amish Candy Shop Mystery – Book 3
Author: Amanda Flower
Genre: Cozy/Culinary Mystery
Publisher: Kensington Books
Amanda Flower is a delightfully creative and entertaining writer. Her characters in this series come to life. She weaves a web of clues and suspects that leaves the reader guessing the identity of the killer until the very end. Premeditated Peppermint is no exception. This is the third installment in the “Amish Candy Shop Mystery” series and will add to the pleasure of readers everywhere.
Bailey thought she was done with the big city and with her ex, Eric. But when both abruptly come back into her life, she is not thrilled. Yet, there are opportunities she cannot ignore. Torn between her commitment to her grandmother, Swissmen Sweets, and her desire to do the right thing for everyone, she isn’t sure which way to turn.
The characters in this story are insightful, humorous, and filled with the holiday spirit. Returning characters such as Bailey’s best friend, Cass, her grandmother, and her handsome boyfriend, Aiden add dimensions to the book that keep the reader turning the page and happy.
The suspects range from the obvious to the unsuspecting. The victim is likable, yet mysterious, with just enough personality to make the reader want to know more. The killer is personable, and like the victim, more than he/she seems. The story is fast-paced with smooth transitions, seasoned characters and an palpable delight in making candy. The recipes are delectably tantalizing. The sweet shop and the delicious concoctions they create will make everyone want to try to make their own candy.
The small town surrounded by Amish country gives the reader a sense of home. The community closeness as well as the personalities that abound throughout this book have the feel of small-town America at its best. Readers will want to take a trip to this beautiful area and surround themselves within its warmth.
Premeditated Peppermint is a trip into a world that is kept private even in today’s age of cameras and computers that hurl everyone’s private life onto the worldwide web. It reminds us that there are places on this earth that still retain a feeling of privacy, of belonging, of commitment, and of a time that no longer exists for most. I am happy to recommend this book as well as the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series to readers who have a love of friends, family, and outstandingly well written mystery.
Premeditated Peppermint is the third book in the An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series.
Another wonderful addition to his this delicious series.
Bailey, her grandmother, and Charlotte are busy making Peppermint Bark and other different types of peppermint candies as they prepare for the Harvest(OH) Christmas Market. The last person she wants or expects to see walks through the door at Swissmen Sweets. That would be Eric Sharp, Bailey’s former boyfriend, and celebrity chef. He claims that he wants to see what an Amish Christmas Holiday in the country is like. He plans to film his time in Harvest and to air on his cooking show. Eric’s real reason is that he wants to win Bailey’s heart back. Bailey has no intention of getting back with him and if they won’t take out the romantic link in the filming there will be no show at all. Rocky Rivers, the show’s executive producer, asks Bailey to meet her at the gazebo across from Swissmen Sweets the next morning to discuss what Bailey is willing to go along with. The next morning as Bailey is approaching the gazebo she notices that a string of lights decorating the gazebo has come loose, but then when she looks into the gazebo she sees the body of Rocky, with a string of lights wrapped around her throat and Eric standing over her lifeless body. Eric swears that he didn’t kill her and pleads for her help in finding the murderer. Bailey reluctantly agrees, but not so much to clear Eric’s name but to find the killer or Rocky as she thinks they could have become good friends.
As Bailey begin to look into the murder, she has to admit to herself that Eric certainly looks likely, but she also learns that Rocky was one to do whatever was needed to get what she wanted. She soon learns that Josie, the make-up girl had a loud argument with Rocky the night before her death. Also, the owner of the Keim Christmas Tree Farm, Thad Keim is making it difficult to locate, what might he be hiding.
This is another well-told and plotted story from Ms. Flower. Most all of the regular characters are back. Margot Rawlings is back and once again making life difficult for Bailey. Juliet Brody and her pot-belly pig, Jethro, are back and giving quite a few chuckles. And of course, Aiden Brody is busy policing the streets of Harvest and the romantic interest in Bailey is going smoothly.
Recipes are also included with the book.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this sweet series.