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An Amish Candy Shop Mystery #1
Assaulted Caramel
A New York chocolatier lands in a sticky situation when she returns to her Amish roots in this debut cozy mystery by the Agatha Award-winning author. Bailey King is living the sweet life as assistant chocolatier at a famous New York chocolate company. But just when she’s up for a major promotion, she gets word that her grandfather Jebidiah’s heart condition has worsened. Bailey rushes to Harvest, Ohio, where her grandparents still run Swissmen Sweets, the Amish candy shop where she first learned about delicious fudge, truffles, and other assorted delights. Unfortunately, Baily’s grandparents are suffering from more than just heart trouble. A local Englisch land developer is trying to take over their shop. And when the man is found dead in the candy shop kitchen—with Jebidiah’s chocolate knife buried in his chest—the sheriff suspects Bailey. Now, with the sweet help of a handsome deputy, Bailey is out to clear her name. But as a cunning killer tries to fudge the truth, she may be headed straight into a whole batch of trouble . . .Recipe Included!
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
1014 people are currently reading
5032 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Flower
61 books2,948 followersAmanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 803 reviews
August 29, 2018
What a fantastic cozy mystery! I thought this one would be right up my alley as it features the Amish, candy, and a recipe. Amanda Flower is skilled at character development; every person has dimension and personality. This in turn leads to several possible suspects to keep the reader guessing. The setting is idyllic and charming with its Amish run shops and village square. This was a fast-paced read that had enough of a varied storyline that at times I forgot I was reading a mystery. A fabulous start to a wonderful new series!
March 25, 2020
Let me start by saying I rate my cozy mysteries different than all other genres of books I read. I still use a five star rating system (or with cozies I like to think instead of stars how many cups of coffee/tea.….which is my idea of cozy). The following is how I rate my cozies:
1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series.
2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence about whether I will read the next book.
3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues
4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues
5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL!
What I think about when I give my ratings:
1.) There called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them!! Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy are they? The more cheese the better for me…lol. The horrible puns in the titles…LOVE THEM. Yes…if you’re wondering... I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes.
2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters
3.) Setting/theme
4.) The mystery
This book is everything I love in a cozy! The title...hilarious...get it..."assaulted caramel"...that's funny. The cover is great. I loved the candy shop, and the town of Harvest! I enjoyed Bailey, and the other cast of characters.
Flowers had me engaged from the start. She weaved a great mystery with a solid plot, and had me guessing up until the very end.
This is a great start to a new cozy series, and I will definitely be looking forward to returning to Swissmen sweets. If you are a fan of traditional cozies...this is for you!
Check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
Hope everyday is a great reading day!!
1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series.
2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence about whether I will read the next book.
3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues
4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues
5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL!
What I think about when I give my ratings:
1.) There called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them!! Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy are they? The more cheese the better for me…lol. The horrible puns in the titles…LOVE THEM. Yes…if you’re wondering... I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes.
2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters
3.) Setting/theme
4.) The mystery
This book is everything I love in a cozy! The title...hilarious...get it..."assaulted caramel"...that's funny. The cover is great. I loved the candy shop, and the town of Harvest! I enjoyed Bailey, and the other cast of characters.
Flowers had me engaged from the start. She weaved a great mystery with a solid plot, and had me guessing up until the very end.
This is a great start to a new cozy series, and I will definitely be looking forward to returning to Swissmen sweets. If you are a fan of traditional cozies...this is for you!
Check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
Hope everyday is a great reading day!!
August 10, 2017
Bailey King has been working hard as an assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates in New York City and crossing her fingers she is the one that is going to get the promotion to be announced soon. But Bailey gets a phone call from her grandmother with some bad news, her grandfather's health has gone downhill. Bailey just knows it's pretty serious since her grandparents are Amish and simply using a phone to contact her is no small thing in the Amish community.
Bailey decides to take a few days and head to Harvest, Ohio to make sure things are alright with her grandparents. Shortly after arriving however Bailey finds herself walking into the kitchen of the Amish candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, that her grandparents own and where Bailey learned her love for chocolate, but instead of chocolate Bailey finds that a local developer that had been pressuring her grandparents to sell has been murdered in their kitchen. Not only is Bailey's grandfather now a suspect even with his poor health but also Bailey herself so she needs to stay and find out just what really happened in that kitchen.
Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower is the first book in the new cozy mystery series An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. As with most cozies that I find myself enjoying this series has it's own unique setting bringing the main character to the small town charm with her Amish grandparents. Just infusing the Amish ways within the story added it's own bit of flavor that was hard to not like getting to know a bit about.
The characters in here have a wide range of personalities to get to know but I found them all likable, although I do believe Jethro, a pet pig, might have stolen the show at several points in the book. The author did a good job slowly building the list of suspects as Bailey begins to investigate the small town that kept me wondering just who the murderer would turn out to be in the end. I will certainly be interested in seeing what happens in this small town and with these characters in any future installments to the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Bailey decides to take a few days and head to Harvest, Ohio to make sure things are alright with her grandparents. Shortly after arriving however Bailey finds herself walking into the kitchen of the Amish candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, that her grandparents own and where Bailey learned her love for chocolate, but instead of chocolate Bailey finds that a local developer that had been pressuring her grandparents to sell has been murdered in their kitchen. Not only is Bailey's grandfather now a suspect even with his poor health but also Bailey herself so she needs to stay and find out just what really happened in that kitchen.
Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower is the first book in the new cozy mystery series An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. As with most cozies that I find myself enjoying this series has it's own unique setting bringing the main character to the small town charm with her Amish grandparents. Just infusing the Amish ways within the story added it's own bit of flavor that was hard to not like getting to know a bit about.
The characters in here have a wide range of personalities to get to know but I found them all likable, although I do believe Jethro, a pet pig, might have stolen the show at several points in the book. The author did a good job slowly building the list of suspects as Bailey begins to investigate the small town that kept me wondering just who the murderer would turn out to be in the end. I will certainly be interested in seeing what happens in this small town and with these characters in any future installments to the series.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
May 7, 2025
3.5 stars
In this first book in the 'Amish Candy Shop Mystery' series, chocolatier/amateur sleuth Bailey King investigates the murder of a businessman.
*****
Twentysomething Bailey King has worked for Jean-Pierre's New York candy shop, called 'JP Chocolates', for six years. Now that Jean-Pierre is retiring, the selection committee will name a new head chocolatier in a few days, and Bailey is a shoe-in for the job. So Bailey's friends are surprised when she suddenly takes off for Harvest, Ohio, possibly jeopardizing her chance to get the coveted promotion.
It turns out Bailey's grandfather's heart condition is getting worse, and Bailey plans to help out in her grandparents' Ohio candy store, called Swissmen Sweets, for a few days.
Unknown to Bailey's friends, her grandparents - whom she calls Maami and Paapi - are Amish.
Bailey's dad left the Amish community to marry her mom, but Bailey and her parents are still embraced by their Amish relatives. In addition to containing Amish residents, Harvest, Ohio also contains Englischers (non-Amish people), and for the most part, everyone gets along very well.
Soon after Bailey arrives in Harvest she sees an aggressive Englischer businessman called Tyson Colton confronting her Paapi, insisting that Paapi sell him Swissmen Sweets. It turns out Colton has purchased all the Amish stores on the block and he's furious that Paapi refuses to sell.
Early the next morning Bailey finds Tyson Colton in the kitchen of Swissmen Sweets, stabbed to death with a fudge-cutting knife. Bailey fears that she and Paapi will be prime suspects, and decides to investigate the homicide to clear their names. Bailey hopes to solve the crime quickly so she can return to New York for the head chocolatier announcement.
As Bailey is looking into Colton's murder, she clashes with handsome Deputy Sheriff Aiden Brody, who has milk chocolate brown eyes and a dimple in his right cheek.
Deputy Brody doesn't want Bailey interfering in the official investigation, especially since the supercilious sheriff is determined to arrest Bailey for the crime. However, as always happens in cozy mysteries, Bailey goes around questioning people, looking for suspects, examining the crime scene, and so on.
While all this is going on, a new problem arises. Jase Colton (the murder victim's son) and his fiancée Mira are getting married tomorrow, and Mira's mother Eileen has scheduled a dessert tasting at Swissmen Sweets. The candy shop, now a crime scene, is unavailable to showcase candies, and Eileen is very annoyed with Maami and Paapi.
Luckily, the Englischer church has an available kitchen, and the church quilting ladies help Bailey make truffles, chocolate-covered strawberries, and other desserts.
Bailey's best friend Cass even turns up from New York, and helps cater the wedding goodies. Cass's fun remarks add a touch of humor to the story.
To add to Bailey's troubles, she has a secret boyfriend in New York, a wealthy celebrity chef named Eric, who isn't answering her texts.
All this drama makes Bailey very anxious, but her Maami and Paapi - as well as the nicer people in Harvest - ease things considerably.
By the time the crime is solved Bailey has to make a big decision about her future, both personal and professional. The book has an interesting array of Amish and Englischer characters, and - with a pet potbelly pig named Jethro and a sweet kitten called Nutmeg - the cast is in place for an engaging cozy mystery series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Amanda Flower, and Kensington Books for a copy of the manuscript.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
September 3, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Wow! What a fantastic start for this series!
Bailey King is up for a huge promotion at JP Chocolates in New York City, but she receives a call that her grandfather is very ill in Harvest, Ohio. Her grandparents are the ones that introduced her to everything chocolate at their Amish candy shop, Swissmen Sweets. Hoping it will be a quick trip she rushes to be with them. Her grandfather pushes away any concern but she can see he is failing.
Adjusting to their Amish ways she has to charge her cell phone in the shop kitchen as their are no outlets in their living quarters above the shop. When she sneaks downstairs in the middle of the night to retrieve it she almost trips over the dead body of an Englisch developer, a man with a grand scheme to buy all the shops in Harvest. There should be plenty of suspects but the police have decided that Bailey’s grandfather is their prime suspect. His shop – his knife – case closed – almost. A very handsome deputy has a special relationship with the King’s. Bailey doesn’t know what it is but she knows she isn’t going to take her sweet time jumping into his case. Her grandfather is innocent and she is going to prove it or fudge things up royally 🙂
I loved this story. The characters are very believable and very engaging. Maami, Clara King and Daadi, Jebediah King are such wonderful people with huge hearts. Even with his heart condition, Jebediah puts the needs of others first and never loses his strong work ethic. Clara, a strong woman in her own right is the perfect helpmate. While Bailey is not Amish, she clearly has the same values as her grandparents. Their close bond remains even though she has been away in New York.
The story moves right along not only trying to catch a killer but following the King’s as they deal with not being able to use their kitchen. Commitments have been made and must be fulfilled. Bailey takes on providing the desserts for a wedding she is surprised is still taking place. With this event we meet more characters, Amish and Englisch, from the bridal couple and the bride’s mother to the ladies of the church plus a cute little kitten and a potbellied pig too.
The mystery was a twisty one. I thought I had it figured out but at the big reveal I was completely surprised. They may not have chocolate covered red herrings in the candy shop but this story is full of those buggers.
Amanda Flower and her unique writing style has given her readers a terrific story to savor. She has blended captivating characters, a marvelous mystery, a charming town, and scrumptious chocolate in a way that is sure to please every cozy reader!
Pure bliss – this book plus anything chocolate!
Wow! What a fantastic start for this series!
Bailey King is up for a huge promotion at JP Chocolates in New York City, but she receives a call that her grandfather is very ill in Harvest, Ohio. Her grandparents are the ones that introduced her to everything chocolate at their Amish candy shop, Swissmen Sweets. Hoping it will be a quick trip she rushes to be with them. Her grandfather pushes away any concern but she can see he is failing.
Adjusting to their Amish ways she has to charge her cell phone in the shop kitchen as their are no outlets in their living quarters above the shop. When she sneaks downstairs in the middle of the night to retrieve it she almost trips over the dead body of an Englisch developer, a man with a grand scheme to buy all the shops in Harvest. There should be plenty of suspects but the police have decided that Bailey’s grandfather is their prime suspect. His shop – his knife – case closed – almost. A very handsome deputy has a special relationship with the King’s. Bailey doesn’t know what it is but she knows she isn’t going to take her sweet time jumping into his case. Her grandfather is innocent and she is going to prove it or fudge things up royally 🙂
I loved this story. The characters are very believable and very engaging. Maami, Clara King and Daadi, Jebediah King are such wonderful people with huge hearts. Even with his heart condition, Jebediah puts the needs of others first and never loses his strong work ethic. Clara, a strong woman in her own right is the perfect helpmate. While Bailey is not Amish, she clearly has the same values as her grandparents. Their close bond remains even though she has been away in New York.
The story moves right along not only trying to catch a killer but following the King’s as they deal with not being able to use their kitchen. Commitments have been made and must be fulfilled. Bailey takes on providing the desserts for a wedding she is surprised is still taking place. With this event we meet more characters, Amish and Englisch, from the bridal couple and the bride’s mother to the ladies of the church plus a cute little kitten and a potbellied pig too.
The mystery was a twisty one. I thought I had it figured out but at the big reveal I was completely surprised. They may not have chocolate covered red herrings in the candy shop but this story is full of those buggers.
Amanda Flower and her unique writing style has given her readers a terrific story to savor. She has blended captivating characters, a marvelous mystery, a charming town, and scrumptious chocolate in a way that is sure to please every cozy reader!
Pure bliss – this book plus anything chocolate!
April 30, 2018
This book has everything I look for in a cozy mystery. It takes place in a small town which just happens to have a large Amish community. There is a murder, a wonderful protagonist, food, some romantic tension and a strong family connection. There is also a recipe included at the end. It is the first in a new series by Amanda Flower. I have read other books by this author, and I enjoy her character development, plot development and storyline. A winner in my books.
Bailey King is up for a huge promotion at JP Chocolates in New York City as head chocolatier. Just before the announcement, her grandmother calls her to say that her grandfather is in the hospital in Harvest, Ohio and is very ill. She loves them very much, especially because she developed her love for chocolates spending summers with her grandparents and working in their sweet shop. she heads off and arrives to see her grandfather's health failing and he collapses outside his store. He has just had an argument with an English developer who wants to buy his store. Because her grandparents are Amish, they have no electricity in their apartment above their store, so Bailey has to charge her phone in the kitchen of the store. When she goes to retrieve it the next day, she finds the English Developer dead in the kitchen with the fudge knife sticking out of his chest. Of course, Bailey becomes a suspect not only because she observed the argument and may have killed him because of her grandfather, but her prints are the only ones on the knife.
There should be plenty of suspects but the police have decided that Bailey or perhaps her grandfather might have done the murder. A very handsome deputy has a special relationship with the Kings and Bailey finds herself comparing him to her boyfriend back in New York. As she investigates, she finds out that many of the Amish that sold their businesses to the victim, also had a reason to kill him. Bailey continues to search out information to find the real murderer.
I loved this story. The characters are very believable and very engaging. Maami, Clara King and Daadi, Jebediah King are wonderful people with huge, generous hearts. Even with his heart condition and weakened state, Jebediah puts the needs of others first and never loses his strong work ethic. Clara, a strong woman in her own right is the perfect helpmate. While Bailey is not Amish, she clearly has the same values as her grandparents. Their close bond remains even though she is living in New York. Her father left the Amish faith when he married her mother many years before.
The pace of the story moves nicely not only trying to catch a killer but finding out that the Kings had committed to making desserts for a wedding and they are not allowed to use their kitchen. Bailey jumps in to help and finds out things about the groom that she shares with the police. The wedding itself is interesting, the mother of the bride especially. The groom is the son of the murdered man and the wedding is going on as planned. Seems a bit odd to Bailey. There is a lot happening with quilting bees, community dinners, and even a pot bellied pig that is invited to the wedding. The mystery was a twisty one. I thought I had it figured out but was very surprised by the reveal. Amanda Flower has given her readers a terrific story to savor. I am ready to read the next one in this series. A great book for any cozy mystery reader to enjoy.
Bailey King is up for a huge promotion at JP Chocolates in New York City as head chocolatier. Just before the announcement, her grandmother calls her to say that her grandfather is in the hospital in Harvest, Ohio and is very ill. She loves them very much, especially because she developed her love for chocolates spending summers with her grandparents and working in their sweet shop. she heads off and arrives to see her grandfather's health failing and he collapses outside his store. He has just had an argument with an English developer who wants to buy his store. Because her grandparents are Amish, they have no electricity in their apartment above their store, so Bailey has to charge her phone in the kitchen of the store. When she goes to retrieve it the next day, she finds the English Developer dead in the kitchen with the fudge knife sticking out of his chest. Of course, Bailey becomes a suspect not only because she observed the argument and may have killed him because of her grandfather, but her prints are the only ones on the knife.
There should be plenty of suspects but the police have decided that Bailey or perhaps her grandfather might have done the murder. A very handsome deputy has a special relationship with the Kings and Bailey finds herself comparing him to her boyfriend back in New York. As she investigates, she finds out that many of the Amish that sold their businesses to the victim, also had a reason to kill him. Bailey continues to search out information to find the real murderer.
I loved this story. The characters are very believable and very engaging. Maami, Clara King and Daadi, Jebediah King are wonderful people with huge, generous hearts. Even with his heart condition and weakened state, Jebediah puts the needs of others first and never loses his strong work ethic. Clara, a strong woman in her own right is the perfect helpmate. While Bailey is not Amish, she clearly has the same values as her grandparents. Their close bond remains even though she is living in New York. Her father left the Amish faith when he married her mother many years before.
The pace of the story moves nicely not only trying to catch a killer but finding out that the Kings had committed to making desserts for a wedding and they are not allowed to use their kitchen. Bailey jumps in to help and finds out things about the groom that she shares with the police. The wedding itself is interesting, the mother of the bride especially. The groom is the son of the murdered man and the wedding is going on as planned. Seems a bit odd to Bailey. There is a lot happening with quilting bees, community dinners, and even a pot bellied pig that is invited to the wedding. The mystery was a twisty one. I thought I had it figured out but was very surprised by the reveal. Amanda Flower has given her readers a terrific story to savor. I am ready to read the next one in this series. A great book for any cozy mystery reader to enjoy.
January 10, 2018
Assaulted Caramel
Amanda Flower
ASSAULTED CARAMEL is the first book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Bailey King is an assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates in New York City and has been praying that she is going to be getting a huge promotion very very soon. But she has just received a phone call from her grandmother saying that her grandfather is very ill and his health is declining quickly. Even though her grandmother tells her not to come Bailey is on the next plane out, leaving her life in NYC behind without a second thought. Once she is there, she learns that Tyson Colton is buying up all the Amish businesses and wants to turn the Amish community into an Amish Disneyland. He is trying to buyout Bailey's grandparents candy shop and he is bullying them and is very persistent. They are the last holdouts and Bailey can't understand why the rest of the business owners have agreed to sell.
Bailey is so upset and cannot sleep. She decides to go down to the candy shop, the only spot with electricity to check her phone to see if her secret boyfriend has left her a message. She steps in something sticky, thinking its some chocolate only to discover it is blood and not just any blood but Tyson Colton's blood! He is dead and Bailey becomes the police departments number one suspect. ASSAULTED CARAMEL is filled with twists and turns and I was instantly hooked and in everyone's business! It is a very quick read and when the mystery of who killed Tyson was solved, I was in shock. I had no idea!
ASSAULTED CARAMEL is a wonderful start to the perfect Amish cozy series! All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I've known them for a long time. While Bailey isn't Amish, her grandparents are and she has the same values as them. As I was reading I could tell Amanda Flower had done her research as it is the best cozy I have read in a very long time! There are plenty of suspects, the action is face paced, and there are many surprises. There is also a bit romance and I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Lethal Licorice, to see what happens with that. Amanda Flower sure knows how to pull at her readers heart strings and I'm so excited to continue this series!
Amanda Flower
ASSAULTED CARAMEL is the first book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Bailey King is an assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates in New York City and has been praying that she is going to be getting a huge promotion very very soon. But she has just received a phone call from her grandmother saying that her grandfather is very ill and his health is declining quickly. Even though her grandmother tells her not to come Bailey is on the next plane out, leaving her life in NYC behind without a second thought. Once she is there, she learns that Tyson Colton is buying up all the Amish businesses and wants to turn the Amish community into an Amish Disneyland. He is trying to buyout Bailey's grandparents candy shop and he is bullying them and is very persistent. They are the last holdouts and Bailey can't understand why the rest of the business owners have agreed to sell.
Bailey is so upset and cannot sleep. She decides to go down to the candy shop, the only spot with electricity to check her phone to see if her secret boyfriend has left her a message. She steps in something sticky, thinking its some chocolate only to discover it is blood and not just any blood but Tyson Colton's blood! He is dead and Bailey becomes the police departments number one suspect. ASSAULTED CARAMEL is filled with twists and turns and I was instantly hooked and in everyone's business! It is a very quick read and when the mystery of who killed Tyson was solved, I was in shock. I had no idea!
ASSAULTED CARAMEL is a wonderful start to the perfect Amish cozy series! All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I've known them for a long time. While Bailey isn't Amish, her grandparents are and she has the same values as them. As I was reading I could tell Amanda Flower had done her research as it is the best cozy I have read in a very long time! There are plenty of suspects, the action is face paced, and there are many surprises. There is also a bit romance and I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Lethal Licorice, to see what happens with that. Amanda Flower sure knows how to pull at her readers heart strings and I'm so excited to continue this series!
June 4, 2020
Because of an issue with one of my eyes I decided to try an audio book. This was my first experience with it and I was very much impressed . The narrator was very good and I enjoyed my audio reading experience. Will definitely not be the last time I use audio books.
I loved the book written by cozy mystery Writer Amanda Flower. Most chapters ended with a situation where you just wanted to immediately rush into the next chapter. I loved the characters and the way the narrator used a different voice for each one. I was truly surprised by who the real murderer turned out to be. I really don't think there was anything I didn't like about this cozy mystery.
Main character Baily gets a call from her grandmother that her grandfather isn't doing well. It's not a good time for her to leave her job in New York as she is in line for a promotion to the top . This however doesn't stop her from going Bach home to Ohio as her grandfather is more important to her than a promotion. When she arrives in Harvest Ohio to her Amish grandparents she finds that grandpa is worse off than grandma led her to believe. Her grandparents run The Swiss Mans Candy shop and has been under a lot of pressure to sell it to a real estate developer . However no one is expecting to find that hateful man dead in the shop's kitchen at 1:30 in the morning with a fudge knife sticking out of his chest. Who hated the developer that much to kill him in the candy shop kitchen?
If you love cozy mystery read this book to find out who killed this real estate developer. There are plenty of people with motive to do it but only one person is suspected of the crime. Can you guess who the real killer is. Dust off your sleuthing skills and read this book.
I downloaded a audio ebook copy of this book to my Hoopla App. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own .
I loved the book written by cozy mystery Writer Amanda Flower. Most chapters ended with a situation where you just wanted to immediately rush into the next chapter. I loved the characters and the way the narrator used a different voice for each one. I was truly surprised by who the real murderer turned out to be. I really don't think there was anything I didn't like about this cozy mystery.
Main character Baily gets a call from her grandmother that her grandfather isn't doing well. It's not a good time for her to leave her job in New York as she is in line for a promotion to the top . This however doesn't stop her from going Bach home to Ohio as her grandfather is more important to her than a promotion. When she arrives in Harvest Ohio to her Amish grandparents she finds that grandpa is worse off than grandma led her to believe. Her grandparents run The Swiss Mans Candy shop and has been under a lot of pressure to sell it to a real estate developer . However no one is expecting to find that hateful man dead in the shop's kitchen at 1:30 in the morning with a fudge knife sticking out of his chest. Who hated the developer that much to kill him in the candy shop kitchen?
If you love cozy mystery read this book to find out who killed this real estate developer. There are plenty of people with motive to do it but only one person is suspected of the crime. Can you guess who the real killer is. Dust off your sleuthing skills and read this book.
I downloaded a audio ebook copy of this book to my Hoopla App. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own .
April 8, 2019
.
As you enter this book, you will discover the small serene town of Harvest, Ohio. I found this sweet, cozy mystery a delight, especially with an Amish twist. Although it wasn't totally an accurate Amish reverie, since it omits the day-to-day, Pennsylvania Dutch patterns, and church attendance altogether. It is interesting but not as captivating as I wish. I didn't really get a feel for the characters themselves, only snippets of visual descriptions and others perceptions of them.
Bailey King's visit to check on her Amish grandparents upon hearing about her grandfather's poor health, leads to unexpected trouble. She accidentally stumbled into a murdered real estate man, at Swissmen Sweets, her grandparent's shop. Being considered the prime suspect, she decides to investigate, hoping to find leads to direct the police to the actual murderer. Many secrets of those people in the town ended up being revealed, including Bailey's. Secrets can't be maintained forever.
I listened to this book through Hoopla. The narrator is Rebecca Mitchell. I'm not sure I actually cared for this rendition. It did make my mouth water for some yummy chocolate though!
This is a clean & wholesome stand-alone book with unexpected twists, which I appreciate very much. I enjoyed the unconventional storyline, but would not recommend it to those who prefer traditional Amish literature.
As you enter this book, you will discover the small serene town of Harvest, Ohio. I found this sweet, cozy mystery a delight, especially with an Amish twist. Although it wasn't totally an accurate Amish reverie, since it omits the day-to-day, Pennsylvania Dutch patterns, and church attendance altogether. It is interesting but not as captivating as I wish. I didn't really get a feel for the characters themselves, only snippets of visual descriptions and others perceptions of them.
Bailey King's visit to check on her Amish grandparents upon hearing about her grandfather's poor health, leads to unexpected trouble. She accidentally stumbled into a murdered real estate man, at Swissmen Sweets, her grandparent's shop. Being considered the prime suspect, she decides to investigate, hoping to find leads to direct the police to the actual murderer. Many secrets of those people in the town ended up being revealed, including Bailey's. Secrets can't be maintained forever.
I listened to this book through Hoopla. The narrator is Rebecca Mitchell. I'm not sure I actually cared for this rendition. It did make my mouth water for some yummy chocolate though!
This is a clean & wholesome stand-alone book with unexpected twists, which I appreciate very much. I enjoyed the unconventional storyline, but would not recommend it to those who prefer traditional Amish literature.
November 21, 2018
What an amazing start to a series!I could not put it down,Amanda flower is such a talented writer and I can't wait to continue on with the next book.
August 28, 2017
Bailey King lives in New York City, working as assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates. She learned to love chocolate and making candy from her Amish grandfather. When she receives a phone call that her grandfather is very ill, she drops everything and rushes to Ohio. When she arrives, she discovers her Daadi is not only having health problems but he's also being pressured to sell his candy shop to a local developer, Tyson Colton. Several other Amish business owners have been pressured by Colton as well. Bailey is so upset that night she can't sleep. She wanders down to the candy shop from her grandparents upstairs living quarters, only to discover something horrific -- Tyson Colton's dead body bleeding all over the store's kitchen floor. Immediately Bailey finds herself the main suspect in the murder. How can she prove her innocence, make candies for a local wedding, and make it back to NYC in time to find out about an important job promotion?
I loved this book! It is hands-down the best cozy I've read in a long time! The setting and characters are interesting and engaging (except for one annoying woman I wanted to throttle....but I was supposed to hate her. ha ha). The mystery was well-paced, exciting and had plenty of suspects and surprises. I was reading an advanced readers copy on my phone.....I stayed up til 2 am to finish it, reading in bed. I felt like a kid again reading under my covers with a flashlight. :)
I am not surprised at all that I loved this book. Amanda Flower never disappoints me. I enjoy her Magical Bookshop series too! She also writes the Living History Museum mystery series and the India Hayes series. Assaulted Caramel is the first book in the new Amish Candy Shop cozy series. A second book in this series, Lethal Licorice, will be coming out in February 2018. For more information on the author and her books: check out her website at http://www.amandaflower.com/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I loved this book! It is hands-down the best cozy I've read in a long time! The setting and characters are interesting and engaging (except for one annoying woman I wanted to throttle....but I was supposed to hate her. ha ha). The mystery was well-paced, exciting and had plenty of suspects and surprises. I was reading an advanced readers copy on my phone.....I stayed up til 2 am to finish it, reading in bed. I felt like a kid again reading under my covers with a flashlight. :)
I am not surprised at all that I loved this book. Amanda Flower never disappoints me. I enjoy her Magical Bookshop series too! She also writes the Living History Museum mystery series and the India Hayes series. Assaulted Caramel is the first book in the new Amish Candy Shop cozy series. A second book in this series, Lethal Licorice, will be coming out in February 2018. For more information on the author and her books: check out her website at http://www.amandaflower.com/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
November 6, 2017
I have been looking forward to this series for what seems like forever and I was not disappointed at all! Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower is the first book in the new cozy mystery series An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. As with most cozies that I find myself enjoying this series has its own unique setting bringing the main character to the small town charm with her Amish grandparents. Just infusing the Amish ways within the story added its own bit of flavor that was hard to not like getting to know a bit about. Living close to Amish country in Pennsylvania it is fun to see the blend of the “English” and Amish lifestyles.
The characters have a wide range of colorful and quirky personalities. Bailey King is a very likable character. The love, respect and loyalty that she shows to her Amish grandparents made her feel "real" to me. She is also smart and determined to help her grandparents and the family business, Swissmen Sweets, as much as she can while she is visiting Harvest, Ohio. Ms. Flower's descriptive writing clearly paints the emotional rollercoaster Bailey is experiencing both personally and professionally. All of the characters are well developed but have plenty of room for growth as the series progresses. Her best friend and fellow chocolatier, Cass, adds a touch of contrast and humor with her fashion sense and hysterical one liners. You can’t help but laugh. Plus I can’t forget Jethro, the polka dotted pot bellied pig, who is definitely a scene stealer. This book has the perfect balance of mystery, romance and humor to keep you totally engaged. The plot was steady paced with enough twists to keep me guessing until the final reveal and that was a shocker for me. The added bonus of the chocolate caramel fudge recipe will have your sweet tooth craving more. Counting down the days until book two, Lethal Licorice, is released!
The characters have a wide range of colorful and quirky personalities. Bailey King is a very likable character. The love, respect and loyalty that she shows to her Amish grandparents made her feel "real" to me. She is also smart and determined to help her grandparents and the family business, Swissmen Sweets, as much as she can while she is visiting Harvest, Ohio. Ms. Flower's descriptive writing clearly paints the emotional rollercoaster Bailey is experiencing both personally and professionally. All of the characters are well developed but have plenty of room for growth as the series progresses. Her best friend and fellow chocolatier, Cass, adds a touch of contrast and humor with her fashion sense and hysterical one liners. You can’t help but laugh. Plus I can’t forget Jethro, the polka dotted pot bellied pig, who is definitely a scene stealer. This book has the perfect balance of mystery, romance and humor to keep you totally engaged. The plot was steady paced with enough twists to keep me guessing until the final reveal and that was a shocker for me. The added bonus of the chocolate caramel fudge recipe will have your sweet tooth craving more. Counting down the days until book two, Lethal Licorice, is released!
April 4, 2020
I don't think this series is going to be for me. The set-up had one too many sources of irritation for me (main character has to rush home due to an emergency the exact week that her past six years of work are supposed to be realized, ridiculously convenient murder frame-up, an extremely prejudiced and unpleasant sheriff, a cardboard cut-out of a cozy mystery novel law enforcement love-interest, and the needing to leave the superficiality of the big city for a more meaningful life in the country to find yourself is a bit... un-subtle).
Also, not wild about the character-work. There's nothing to the main character, beyond she's generically plucky, loyal, kind and likes to insert herself in things she shouldn't, and is apparently lacking deeper meaning in her life. The romantic lead is lovely, but also just sort of generically kind and lovely, without anything more to him. Seriously, really the only memorable characters are her grandparents and his mother (who loves polka dots, is adorably dating the minister, and has a pet pig).
Think I'm cutting my losses on this series here.
Also, not wild about the character-work. There's nothing to the main character, beyond she's generically plucky, loyal, kind and likes to insert herself in things she shouldn't, and is apparently lacking deeper meaning in her life. The romantic lead is lovely, but also just sort of generically kind and lovely, without anything more to him. Seriously, really the only memorable characters are her grandparents and his mother (who loves polka dots, is adorably dating the minister, and has a pet pig).
Think I'm cutting my losses on this series here.
July 10, 2017
I am a huge fan of this author so anything new either in an existing series or the start of a new one I will automatically read. This was a one day read for me as I couldn't put the book down. I was so engaged I just kept turning pages to learn who killed Tyson and why. Ms. Flower has an incredible writing style that transports her readers to whatever the story take them. I know that when I pick up one of her books I will be entertained by an engaging mystery, quaint locations and characters that are authentic and genuine. I am eagerly looking forward for more to come in this series. This was an fantastic start to a new series.
A full review will be posted to my blog closer to release date.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
A full review will be posted to my blog closer to release date.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
April 8, 2020
It kinda held me but after a while I started to skim read it.
October 17, 2023
Bailey King is assistant chocolatier at world famous J P choocolates in New York City. She is one of a couple of people in line for a promotion. But when her grandmother rings with news of Bailey’s grandfather’s heart condition is worse, Bailey drops everything and rushes to Harvest Ohio. In Harvest her grandparents run Swissmen Sweets the Amish candy shop where Bailey was first introduced to chocolate, fudge and other sweet treats.
In the candy shop kitchen Bailey finds a man with a knife sticking out of his chest. Worse still it is her grandfathers knofe. He vbecomes the chief murder suspect in the murder of this property developer who has tried to buy up many Amish businesses. Unlike his neighbouring store owners Jebediah King has refused to sell. The handsome deputy Aiden Brody and another deputy are investigating. But Bailey cannot leave it alone. She knows her grandfather could never murder anyone and sets out to prove it and to find the real killer. Could it put her own life in danger.
This is book 1 in the Amish Candy Shop series, which I picked up after having read a later book in the series, it was such fun I decided to go back and read the earlier books.
It is light and amusing. Cleverly written with likable characters. Bailey has not been brought up as Amish as her father left the faith when young. But a deep love still exists between Bailey and her Amish grandparents. Bailey and her grandparents are likable characters and the setting in interesting. I also liked Aiden, the deputy sherrif, his mother Juliet with her pet polka dot pig Jethro,and Bailey's New York friend and chocolatier Cass. There are some other unlikable characters and lots of red herrings before the murder is solved. A fun read well told.
In the candy shop kitchen Bailey finds a man with a knife sticking out of his chest. Worse still it is her grandfathers knofe. He vbecomes the chief murder suspect in the murder of this property developer who has tried to buy up many Amish businesses. Unlike his neighbouring store owners Jebediah King has refused to sell. The handsome deputy Aiden Brody and another deputy are investigating. But Bailey cannot leave it alone. She knows her grandfather could never murder anyone and sets out to prove it and to find the real killer. Could it put her own life in danger.
This is book 1 in the Amish Candy Shop series, which I picked up after having read a later book in the series, it was such fun I decided to go back and read the earlier books.
It is light and amusing. Cleverly written with likable characters. Bailey has not been brought up as Amish as her father left the faith when young. But a deep love still exists between Bailey and her Amish grandparents. Bailey and her grandparents are likable characters and the setting in interesting. I also liked Aiden, the deputy sherrif, his mother Juliet with her pet polka dot pig Jethro,and Bailey's New York friend and chocolatier Cass. There are some other unlikable characters and lots of red herrings before the murder is solved. A fun read well told.
September 4, 2017
Assaulted Caramel is an awesome start to the new series, An Amish Candy Shop Mystery, by Amanda Flower. She does a good job creating a novel that integrates the Amish and Englisch worlds, especially where a murder is committed.
Bailey King is a assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates in New York City where she is in line for a major promotion when she receives a call from her Amish grandmother (Maami) that her grandfather (Daadi) is very ill. Bailey learned her love for making chocolate from her grandfather growing up and she is very close to her grandparents. Her father left the faith to marry her mother and Bailey grew up Englisch but visited her grandparents every summer until high school. In spite of the pending promotion, she leaves for Ohio thinking that it will be a quick trip. Things become more complicated when she arrives just in time to see her grandfather collapse outside of his candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, and she realizes the severity of his heart issue. A local businessman is trying to buy up all of the Amish businesses in town and her grandfather is arguing with the man as he collapses. Her grandfather has refused to sell his shop where he has poured his life into and where their home is upstairs. To make matters worse, Bailey discovers the man's body in the kitchen of the shop during the night. Bailey and her grandparents are naturally the number one suspects. But there are many people who are not sad to see the man dead, including his own son. Bailey's best friend, Cass, is sent to fetch her back to New York by their boss, Jean Pierre, but Bailey can not leave town until the murder is solved. As the two try to clear Bailey and her family of the crime, they realize that there are many that could be responsible for the murder. The sheriff and at least one of the deputies believe that Bailey is guilty but one really cute deputy is close to Maami and Daadi and believes that she is innocent in spite of how it looks.
This is a great mystery that is made more special since it involves both Amish and Englisch. The characters are believable and real and the plot is a strong and well developed. I was trying to figure out who committed the crime until the end. It is fast paced with twists and secrecy among the Amish population.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased my own copy to have and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Bailey King is a assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates in New York City where she is in line for a major promotion when she receives a call from her Amish grandmother (Maami) that her grandfather (Daadi) is very ill. Bailey learned her love for making chocolate from her grandfather growing up and she is very close to her grandparents. Her father left the faith to marry her mother and Bailey grew up Englisch but visited her grandparents every summer until high school. In spite of the pending promotion, she leaves for Ohio thinking that it will be a quick trip. Things become more complicated when she arrives just in time to see her grandfather collapse outside of his candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, and she realizes the severity of his heart issue. A local businessman is trying to buy up all of the Amish businesses in town and her grandfather is arguing with the man as he collapses. Her grandfather has refused to sell his shop where he has poured his life into and where their home is upstairs. To make matters worse, Bailey discovers the man's body in the kitchen of the shop during the night. Bailey and her grandparents are naturally the number one suspects. But there are many people who are not sad to see the man dead, including his own son. Bailey's best friend, Cass, is sent to fetch her back to New York by their boss, Jean Pierre, but Bailey can not leave town until the murder is solved. As the two try to clear Bailey and her family of the crime, they realize that there are many that could be responsible for the murder. The sheriff and at least one of the deputies believe that Bailey is guilty but one really cute deputy is close to Maami and Daadi and believes that she is innocent in spite of how it looks.
This is a great mystery that is made more special since it involves both Amish and Englisch. The characters are believable and real and the plot is a strong and well developed. I was trying to figure out who committed the crime until the end. It is fast paced with twists and secrecy among the Amish population.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased my own copy to have and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 13, 2017
Bailey King is most likely next in line has head chocolatier at the prestigious JP Chocolates in New York City when she receives a call from her Amish grandma in Ohio that her grandpa's heart condition has taken a turn for the worse. Family is always first for Bailey so even though the position at work she's wanted for a long time is at stake, she hurries back home to Harvest, Ohio and the shop, Swissmen Sweets, that she has fond memories of as a child. Bailey always came to stay with her grandparents in the summer and she wasn't about to abandon them now.
Grandpa is rallying when she gets there but when she finds the body of a not so nice businessman in her grandparents' kitchen, Bailey becomes the prime suspect in this man's murder so she is trying to beat the clock by proving her innocence since she can't go back to NY until the case is solved. Her BFF Cass from New York comes looking for her and gets pulled into the investigation by Bailey. Hopefully they can succeed in finding the killer before the killer decides to make them his next victims.
I never would have guessed the killer in this. All along I had one person in mind so it was a really awesome twist. I knew at one point but I think the author was deliberately giving some clues so readers could think towards that. I enjoyed the growing love/hate friendship between Bailey and the yummy-licious deputy named Aiden. It'll be fun seeing what happens next. The book's ending was also really good, everything wrapped up very neatly but enough information to make a person want to read more in the series.
This book was overall a really enjoyable read. Not only was it set in my home state of Ohio but it's very apparent that the author has done extensive research on or lived near Amish country herself. I can't wait till her next book comes out since I've really grown to think of these characters as friends I want to revisit.
Grandpa is rallying when she gets there but when she finds the body of a not so nice businessman in her grandparents' kitchen, Bailey becomes the prime suspect in this man's murder so she is trying to beat the clock by proving her innocence since she can't go back to NY until the case is solved. Her BFF Cass from New York comes looking for her and gets pulled into the investigation by Bailey. Hopefully they can succeed in finding the killer before the killer decides to make them his next victims.
I never would have guessed the killer in this. All along I had one person in mind so it was a really awesome twist. I knew at one point but I think the author was deliberately giving some clues so readers could think towards that. I enjoyed the growing love/hate friendship between Bailey and the yummy-licious deputy named Aiden. It'll be fun seeing what happens next. The book's ending was also really good, everything wrapped up very neatly but enough information to make a person want to read more in the series.
This book was overall a really enjoyable read. Not only was it set in my home state of Ohio but it's very apparent that the author has done extensive research on or lived near Amish country herself. I can't wait till her next book comes out since I've really grown to think of these characters as friends I want to revisit.
February 17, 2020
Review coming soon
May 1, 2023
I really enjoyed this new cozy mystery by Amanda Flower! It had great characters and some faith elements since the grandparents are amish and in the amish community. I listened to this on audio so I didn't find any issues with the language differences / verbiage that you sometimes find in amish fiction. It was just precious. I LOVED the grandparents, the small town vibes, the family aspect, and of course, we love a good cozy mystery set in a candy shop! I am a chocolate lover so this was a bonus for me too! 4.5 to 5 stars. I will be continuing on with the series for sure!
This is all about Bailey who is living her best life at the world-famous JP Chocolates in New York City. She is about to get a new promotion when she has to leave to go see her grandfather in Ohio due to his heart condition worsening. When she gets there, we see drama with this guy who wants to buy up all the Amish businesses in town - but her grandfather isn't selling. Next thing you know - Bailey ends up finding this man dead in her grandather's candy shop and she becomes the main suspect. Things go on from here with tons of drama between things going on back home in New York and things happening in Ohio as she tries to put together pieces of the murder to clear her name.
My favorite parts in this were when the Deputy and Bailey would talk and how he was tied in with his story and her grandparents. Also of course - the family aspect with her grandparents was so precious. Such a simple life here in this little town. I, as usual, didnt figure out who the killer was soooooo LOL no surprises there for me. Great ending!
This is all about Bailey who is living her best life at the world-famous JP Chocolates in New York City. She is about to get a new promotion when she has to leave to go see her grandfather in Ohio due to his heart condition worsening. When she gets there, we see drama with this guy who wants to buy up all the Amish businesses in town - but her grandfather isn't selling. Next thing you know - Bailey ends up finding this man dead in her grandather's candy shop and she becomes the main suspect. Things go on from here with tons of drama between things going on back home in New York and things happening in Ohio as she tries to put together pieces of the murder to clear her name.
My favorite parts in this were when the Deputy and Bailey would talk and how he was tied in with his story and her grandparents. Also of course - the family aspect with her grandparents was so precious. Such a simple life here in this little town. I, as usual, didnt figure out who the killer was soooooo LOL no surprises there for me. Great ending!
January 5, 2018
A very different type of Amish story, one where a young woman finds her roots in her Grandparents, but she was not raised in the Amish Community.
Bailey returns to help her Grandparents in their Amish Candy Shop, when her Grandfather has health problems, not at a good point in her life, she is up for one fantastic promotion, but family comes first.
When a murder happens in the back of the store, all of the characters are called into question, and we are left guessing almost to the end. I love when I can’t guess the “who done it” right away, and this one did not disappoint.
I loved the relationship she has with her family, but you keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, and page turning to the end.
I received this book through Net Galley, and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.
Bailey returns to help her Grandparents in their Amish Candy Shop, when her Grandfather has health problems, not at a good point in her life, she is up for one fantastic promotion, but family comes first.
When a murder happens in the back of the store, all of the characters are called into question, and we are left guessing almost to the end. I love when I can’t guess the “who done it” right away, and this one did not disappoint.
I loved the relationship she has with her family, but you keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, and page turning to the end.
I received this book through Net Galley, and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.
April 23, 2018
Great book! Loved the characters, especially Deputy Aiden Brody. Nice clean book. The murder reveal really surprised me. I would highly recommend.
Amanda Flower also writes under the name Isabella Alan and I highly recommend the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries under that name.
Amanda Flower also writes under the name Isabella Alan and I highly recommend the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries under that name.
October 30, 2019
A wonderful take on the cozy mystery genre. A professional chocolatier visits her Amish grandparents and gets caught up in a murder mystery. Good character growth and relationships. The emotional engagement is a bit up and down but it made me laugh and cry.
November 4, 2025
There are some fun characters in this story, including a polka dotted pig, and a purple -haired, straight-talking best friend. The main character herself I really liked, and her "investigating", unlike some other cozies I've read, seemed more realistic and more appropriately motivated.
The pacing was really slow. The whole book, except the epilogue, covers like three days, and they do a LOT in those three days. I think the pacing kept me from being more engaged in the story.
I did love how the author's faith shone through in the writing. I don't think it was published under a Christian imprint, although I could be wrong, but there were definite Christian threads running through the dialogue and the narration.
A clean and sweet -no pun intended- story.
The pacing was really slow. The whole book, except the epilogue, covers like three days, and they do a LOT in those three days. I think the pacing kept me from being more engaged in the story.
I did love how the author's faith shone through in the writing. I don't think it was published under a Christian imprint, although I could be wrong, but there were definite Christian threads running through the dialogue and the narration.
A clean and sweet -no pun intended- story.
December 22, 2023
I started reading this series out of order with Lemon Drop Dead, which caught my eye at the library. I really enjoyed that book, so went back to start at the beginning. Lemon Drop Dead continues Emily's storyline that is briefly mentioned in this one.
Assaulted Caramel has to be one of the funniest/best pun titles I've seen. Well done there.
I liked the book overall, though not as much as LDD. I liked the culinary theme (mostly chocolate, some cheese), and the cute pets (Nutmeg the cat and Jethro the pig). I mostly liked Cass, the best friend, she was funny for the most part.
As others have pointed out, this could have used better editing. There were a lot of small typos/missing words, and I caught a small continuity error:
At the beginning of Chapter 7, Bailey mentioned that the farmers market started "that afternoon" but in Chapter 12, it opens shortly after 11 am. Stuff like this tends to jump out at me especially in mysteries, where I am trying to pay attention to what might be important later.
I found it a bit hard to suspend my disbelief that they would be tasting wedding desserts the day before the wedding, although it was partially explained by the bride putting it off.
I was also not too happy with the reveal at the end as it wasn't fully explained and felt abrupt. (Spoilers below)
Assaulted Caramel has to be one of the funniest/best pun titles I've seen. Well done there.
I liked the book overall, though not as much as LDD. I liked the culinary theme (mostly chocolate, some cheese), and the cute pets (Nutmeg the cat and Jethro the pig). I mostly liked Cass, the best friend, she was funny for the most part.
As others have pointed out, this could have used better editing. There were a lot of small typos/missing words, and I caught a small continuity error:
At the beginning of Chapter 7, Bailey mentioned that the farmers market started "that afternoon" but in Chapter 12, it opens shortly after 11 am. Stuff like this tends to jump out at me especially in mysteries, where I am trying to pay attention to what might be important later.
I found it a bit hard to suspend my disbelief that they would be tasting wedding desserts the day before the wedding, although it was partially explained by the bride putting it off.
I was also not too happy with the reveal at the end as it wasn't fully explained and felt abrupt. (Spoilers below)
August 3, 2018
Meet Bailey King, assistant chocolatier to Jean Pierre, the world famous founder of JP Chocolates in New York City. Bailey is up for a life changing promotion. She is expected to replace Jean Pierre when he retires but then she receives an emergency call from her Amish Grandmother in Harvest, Ohio. Her Amish Grandfather has been ill and in the hospital but he doesn't want Bailey to come home because he knows how important the promotion is to her years of hard work and training. Ignoring his request, Bailey flies home only to witness her Grandfather collapse on the sidewalk after arguing with a local real estate developer about selling his Amish chocolate shop, Swissmen Sweets.
The next morning, Bailey discovers the developer in the shops kitchen, with her Grandfathers chocolate knife buried in his chest! With her Grandfather as the prime suspect, Bailey gets to work to find the real murderer and keep the shop going!
I found the characters to be very lifelike and lots of fun to get to know. My favorite character of all, has to be Jethro, the pet pig! His antics will keep you laughing all the way to the end. The murder was intricately done with several suspects floating around. The chocolate descriptions will keep you drooling and yes there is a recipe for fudge at the end of the book.
The next morning, Bailey discovers the developer in the shops kitchen, with her Grandfathers chocolate knife buried in his chest! With her Grandfather as the prime suspect, Bailey gets to work to find the real murderer and keep the shop going!
I found the characters to be very lifelike and lots of fun to get to know. My favorite character of all, has to be Jethro, the pet pig! His antics will keep you laughing all the way to the end. The murder was intricately done with several suspects floating around. The chocolate descriptions will keep you drooling and yes there is a recipe for fudge at the end of the book.
September 12, 2017
Anche questa serie di ambientazione Amish, come le altre scritte da questa autrice, si dimostra vincente.
Confesso di aver sospettato praticamente di tutti (o quasi), quindi alla fine posso dire che ci avevo visto giusto. In realtà il colpevole è il primo che ho sospettato, più per istantanea antipatia che per altro, ma alla fine stavo puntando su altri candidati. Sì, più di uno perché non avevo le idee molto chiare...
Confesso di aver sospettato praticamente di tutti (o quasi), quindi alla fine posso dire che ci avevo visto giusto. In realtà il colpevole è il primo che ho sospettato, più per istantanea antipatia che per altro, ma alla fine stavo puntando su altri candidati. Sì, più di uno perché non avevo le idee molto chiare...
February 25, 2021
Cute start to a new series. This was my first Amanda Flower book, but it won’t be the last. I loved the Amish setting and all the characters. I am excited to read the rest of the series.
November 30, 2022
Cozy Mystery Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/T0iugjtvsnc
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
August 29, 2017
Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower begins An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Bailey King has rushed to Harvest, Ohio to check on her grandfather, Jebidiah King. She received a call from grandmother, Clara that his heart condition was worse and he had been taken to the hospital. Bailey is walking up to Swissmen Sweets (where her grandparents work and live) to sees her grandfather having a disagreement with someone before collapsing (he would not stay in hospital). Her grandparents are Amish and have a strong work ethic. It was at her grandfather’s side that Bailey learned her love of chocolate. It turns out that the man arguing with Jebidiah was Tyson Colton. Tyson has been trying to convince Jebidiah to sell the shop. Tyson has big plans for the town. The next morning, Bailey heads downstairs to get her phone and finds Tyson Colton stabbed to death in the shop’s kitchen. It is soon apparent that the police consider Bailey’s grandfather their prime suspect. Bailey knows that this situation will only worsen her grandfather’s heart condition. She switches out her sugar thermometer for a deerstalker cap and sets out to find Tyson’s killer.
I found Assaulted Caramel to be well-written and engaging. It has an easy writing style which made for an enjoyable read. The story has real characters, a lovely setting, steady pace and plenty of humor. One of my favorite things in the book (besides the luscious chocolate and fudge descriptions) was Jethro, the spotted pig. Jethro’s description and antics had me chuckling. I also appreciated the snark from Bailey’s best friend, Cass Calbera. I hope we see more of Cass in future novels. My rating for Assaulted Caramel 4.5 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but easily solve the mystery). I did feel that there was too much internal dialogue (Bailey thinking). The mystery had some good elements and many readers will not guess the identity of the culprit until the second half of the story (or you might be surprised). There are the right number of suspects and pointed clues. I am eager to read Lethal Licorice when it comes out in February.
I found Assaulted Caramel to be well-written and engaging. It has an easy writing style which made for an enjoyable read. The story has real characters, a lovely setting, steady pace and plenty of humor. One of my favorite things in the book (besides the luscious chocolate and fudge descriptions) was Jethro, the spotted pig. Jethro’s description and antics had me chuckling. I also appreciated the snark from Bailey’s best friend, Cass Calbera. I hope we see more of Cass in future novels. My rating for Assaulted Caramel 4.5 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but easily solve the mystery). I did feel that there was too much internal dialogue (Bailey thinking). The mystery had some good elements and many readers will not guess the identity of the culprit until the second half of the story (or you might be surprised). There are the right number of suspects and pointed clues. I am eager to read Lethal Licorice when it comes out in February.
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