Courting Can Be Killer

An Amish Matchmaker Mystery #2

by Amanda Flower

“The Amish Miss Marple strikes again…exciting.” —Kirkus Reviews“Refreshing…Flower combines quirky characters, close-knit community, and first-class sleuthing to great effect. Fans of Amish mysteries will love this.” —Publishers Weekly  “There is nothing cozier than the second ‘Amish Matchmaker Mystery.’” —Library Journal Between minding a pair of rambunctious goats, meetings with her quilting circle, and matchmaking, Millie Fisher has plenty to keep her busy through her golden years. But the witty widow always makes time to solve the odd murder . . .   Some Amish men don’t know what’s good for them. That’s what Millie Fisher told herself when young Ben Baughman set his heart on marrying Tess Lieb. With Tess’s father refusing to give his blessing and Tess’s ex-boyfriend being a wet blanket, the hapless couple was bound to butt heads more than Millie’s Boer goats. But when Ben tragically dies in a mysterious fire, Millie wonders if someone in her hometown of Harvest, Ohio, wanted Ben out of the wedding picture altogether . . .   With the help of her quilting buddies, and her outspoken Englischer friend Lois, Millie is determined to patch together all the clues without even dropping a stitch. She only hopes it won’t be the death of her . . . 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

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Amish, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2020

About the author

Amanda 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.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courting Can Be Killer by Amanda Flower is the second book in the cozy An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series. This series is a spin off of Amanda Flower’s cozy Amish Candy Shop Mystery series with it being set in the same Amish town but with a new lead character. Readers do not need to have read the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series to enjoy this one, although I will say it’s a fun one that I have enjoyed. As with most cozy series too each book of this series will have it’s own mystery that will be fully solved within the book so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so although there is character development carrying over from book to book for those who follow from the beginning.

Millie Fisher has just moved back to her Amish community in Harvest, Ohio after being gone for several years taking care of family in other Amish communities. Millie is now a widow and is a quiltmaker, that is how she makes money to pay her bills, but Millie has always considered herself to be a matchmaker. Millie doesn’t think it would be fair though to use her gift of knowing what couples will be a good match to make money and does this out of the kindness of her heart. Unfortunately for Millie she has also picked up another side hobby that is keeping her busy and that is hunting for murderers in her Amish community with her best friend, Lois, who is actually an Englischer. This time around a young Amish man, Ben Baughman, has tragically died in a fire but Millie doesn’t think this fire was just an unfortunate accident and again does her best to figure out just what happened to the young man.

The An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series is now the third series by Amanda Flower that I am following and have read all of from the beginning. This is another series that is full of wonderful characters, cute critters, a lot of quirky humor, and a great mystery held in each. I loved switching over to an Amish lead in this series that is now, as her best friend suggested, becoming the Amish Marple. There are also glimpses of the characters from Amish Candy Shop Mystery series in the stories but as I mentioned you do not need to have read that one to enjoy these. Amanda Flower always does a wonderful job with each book letting new readers learn of the characters and also refreshing who they are to the readers who follow each book. As a fan I will continue to come back each time to return to the laughs and this wonderful little community.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy the books that Amanda Flower writes with the setting of Harvest, Ohio, home to Amish and Englisch families. This story is a crossover between the Amish Matchmaker Mysteries, main character Millie Fisher, an Amish woman, and the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries, main character Bailey King, whose grandmother is Amish. Millie is an Amish matchmaker and helps the Amish find a match. Her best friend Lois is an Englisch woman and the two have been friends since childhood and have recently reunited after both moved back to Harvest. They also like to solve mysteries. In Courting Can Be Killer, the two are trying to find out who caused a fire that killed Ben Baughman, a young Amish man, and to clear his name. Some believe that he started the fire that burned down a flea market where he was a night guard. Ben followed Millie to Harvest from Michigan where he was living with his father and Millie was looking after her sister before she passed away. Millie is like an aunt to Ben and is heartbroken when he dies. Is his death an accident or foul play?
This is a funny series of two opposite women who unite in friendship and enjoy each other's company. I like the town of Harvest and the different characters. It feels like a real place that I enjoy visiting through the books. I look forward to the next adventure with Millie and Lois. Millie has another friend, this time an Amish man, who would like to court her but Millie is trying to stay loyal to her deceased husband. Maybe they will spend some time together in the next book.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a young man very dear to Millie Fisher dies in a fire at the local flea market the Amish community suspects that he had set the fire himself. Wanting to clear his good name Millie and Lois Henry begin shifting through evidence and and questioning suspects who would benefit from Ben's death. Who really started the fire that night at the flea market?
I always enjoy a Cozy Mystery written by Amanda Flower. This story yanked me in and kept me from the beginning. I listened to the audio of this book and thought it was very well narrated. This mystery kept me guessing and I was surprised by the ending. I thought it was entertaining, and I enjoy the sleuths , Millie and Lois.
I recommend Courting Can Be Killer to fans of Cozy Mystery and fans of the Author. This is book two of An Amish Matchmaker Mystery.

[Moondance · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is the very best day of my life," my dear friend, Lois Henry, proclaimed as she wove up and down the aisles of the Harvest Village Flea Market.

This is the second book in the Amish Matchmaker series and what a delight! Millie is back in Harvest, Ohio and has rekindled a childhood friendship with Lois. It is wonderful to see that the interaction between these two women considering their differing backgrounds. Millie is the local Amish matchmaker and Lois is a loud and proud "Englisher". Together they are the perfect pair to sniff out crime.

Ben moved to Harvest from Michigan after his father remarried, He knew Millie from when she was taking care of her ailing sister there. Ben falls for a local girl whose father does not want him courting her. Ben's body is found in the aftermath of a fire at the local farmer's market and our two ladies go into sleuth mode.

I love the small town of Harvest. This book can be read a s a stand alone although it is part of a series and a spin off of another series. I highly recommend that you read both to get the full understanding of the town and the Amish community. The characters are well written and I fell like I know everyone in town. Cameo appearances of townspeople from the Amish Candy Shop series is an added bonus.

Millie is a smart, capable woman of a certain age that knows how to take care of herself. Lois is an absolute hoot! I laughed every time a mention was made of what she carries in her purse. I felt a kinship with her as I could play "Let's Make a Deal" with the contents of my purse. The two of them together make a great team.

Animals always play a big part in Ms. Flower's books. Millie's goats, Peter and Phillip, make me smile. Their personalities shine even brighter in this book. Of course, it wouldn't be a visit to Harvest with Jethro, the pig. His scenes are some of the best written about an indulged pet.

The mystery is very well done and I suspected several people before the true culprit was revealed. Such a sad ending for a young man that had potential.

I can't wait for the next book.

I love this series and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Company for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery Book. I really enjoy the characters in this series. The friendship between Millie and Lois, who is English, is really well done. I like how they have crossed the cultural divide but that Millie stays true to her Amish roots. Millie's goats, Phillip and Peter are hilarious and provide some comic relief in a book that was a bit more melancholy than previous books by this author. Ben Baughman is a young Amish man who moved from his community in Michigan to Harvest, but his life is tragically cut short. I think, for me, that is the part that made me melancholy. He was not even 20 years old. There were very few suspects to choose but the author does a nice job of making the reader work to determine the culprit. I was surprised by the killer's identity and how everything came together in the end. I also like the glimpses of Bailey King and Deputy Aiden that we get to see from time to time in this series. The author does a nice job with the crossover of her two series that are set in the same fictional town.

I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The thoughts expressed are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Amish town of Harvest, Millie and her English childhood friend of 60+ Lois make an odd pair. They are determined to investigate the death of Ben, an Amish young man without family. Millie is like a relative to him and wants to ensure that his reputation is not sullied.

I really enjoy reading this and other series written by the author. This second book can be read as a standalone. Lois and Millie's characters are such opposites in some ways but their friendship continues to deepen. Lois' outgoing personality helps to embolden Millie's willingness to sleuth. It's nice to have the ties to her candy shop series, especially Deputy Aiden. I appreciated Millie and Lois' maturity. I look forward to the next book in this series!

Thanksto NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC. My review is voluntary.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully entertaining cozy mystery with the unique twist of being set in an Amish community with the main character being an older Amish lady in her 60's. Sleuthing with little technology and just an innate curiosity along with her childhood best friend who isn't from the Amish community keeps things fresh and realistic. This series is a spin off of the Amish candy shop series which you don't have to read to enjoy series, but you really should as you will be prolonging your enjoyment and entertainment. The town characters are all the same, you are just getting a different perspective of them from this older Amish lady than you'll get from the younger main character in the candy shop series. An intriguing twist to this Amish lady is that she is a natural "matchmaker" and that aspect of her life is woven into the stories in a fun and endearing way as well. If you haven't put this series on your cozy mystery must read list, you really should!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millie and her childhood best friend Lois have taken up where they left off years ago and are enjoying their time together. Millie is also continuing her involvement in her quilting circle. The group has started to sell their creations at the local Framer’s Market.

A young man that Millie lived in while caring for her sister has moved to Harvest. Ben quickly began courting a local woman, Tess and the two want to marry. Tess’ father does not approve of the courtship and is doing his best to break-up the couple. Sadly, he gets his wish when Ben dies in a fire at the Farmer’s Market where he worked nights. When the fire appears suspicious Millie begins to wonder if Ben’s death was intentional.

With the help of her best friend and her quilting circle, Millie turns detective and comes up with a list of suspects. After she is threatened at her home Millie knows she is getting close to learning the truth.

This is the second book in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series. I enjoyed the first book and was excited to move right into this book. I enjoy the characters and find them to be well-developed. Lois is a great comic foil to Millie’s conservative personality. The setting is a typical smalltwon with an Amish community. This story moves at a good pace. It is easy to become engrossed in the action and hard to put down. I recommend this book. It can stand alone, but I like to read a series in order.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always excited to read a book by this fabulous author.
Millie and Lois are back in this second installment of the matchmaker series.
Millie is a sixty something Amish woman, and Lois, an englisher, is her best friend.
Even though they have different lifestyles, these two childhood friends are thick as thieves.
While visiting a local flea market, Millie wants to check on her friend Ben, a young Amish man, who holds a special place in her heart. Ben is sweet on a young Amish girl, but sadly for Ben, her father is refusing to let him court her .
Things turn deadly when a fire breaks out at the flea market, and Ben becomes a prime suspect.
Millie and Lois consider themselves amateur detectives, and when they begin to get to the truth, Millie finds herself in harms way.

I have grown to love Millie and Lois, and I love the crossover of the authors other series. I had so many laugh out loud moments with Lois and of course, Millie’s goats.
I’m excited to see what’s in store next for this dynamic duo.

[Annu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Flower is a really fine author. I love her magical bookshop mysteries. I haven’t read the first book in this series but I had no problem getting into this one. There was a lot of crossover with the characters from her Amish mystery series. Coming to the mystery, Millie gets involved in solving the mystery of uncovering the murder of a young chap (only 19), who had helped Millie’s sister when he was younger. The difference here was that the murder victim was not someone who was hated by everyone, like other cozies. Although for me, what kept me going in this book was Millie’s sidekick, Lois. I loved her. She said what was on her mind and I felt at times that she should have been the main heroine. But nevertheless, she provided the feisty, sassy, and crazy as opposed to Millie’s calm and kind nature. So they are a great duo. The mystery was great and I did not see that ending. And is it weird that I want to have goats for pets like Peter and Philip, they were SO adorable 🥰 My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amish Marple and her nameless sidekick are back at it again. Deputy Aiden definitely has his hands full in Holmes county as everyone wants to help him solve crimes. I really like Millie and Lois and their friendship and how they work together to help solve crimes. This one had me guessing and I enjoyed the ride.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older Amish matchmaker, Millie, and her dear friend, Lois, a flamboyant "Englischer" make for quite a pair and when Millie's friend dies a mysterious death Lois is right there to help her get answers. Rumors are flying and getting facts in a tight lipped Amish community seems to be almost impossible but Millie is determined to set the facts straight.

As a fan of Amanda Flower's Amish Candy Shop Mysteries I immediately felt at home with this series set in the same town of Harvest with some crossover characters. I also enjoyed the Amish proverbs that were sprinkled in throughout the story. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courting Can Be Killer
An Amish Matchmaker Mystery, Book #2
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In the second Amish Matchmaker Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower, Millie Fisher has plenty to keep her busy through her golden years, whether it's minding a pair of rambunctious goats, meetings with her quilting circle, and matchmaking. But the witty widow always makes time to solve the odd murder...

Some Amish men don't know what's good for them. That's what Millie Fisher told herself when young Ben Baughman set his heart on marrying Tess Lieb. With Tess's father refusing to give his blessing and Tess's ex-boyfriend being a wet blanket, the hapless couple was bound to butt heads more than Millie's Boer goats. But when Ben tragically dies in a mysterious fire, Millie wonders if someone in her hometown of Harvest, Ohio, wanted Ben out of the wedding picture altogether...

With the help of her quilting buddies, and her outspoken Englischer friend Lois, Millie is determined to patch together all the clues without even dropping a stitch. She only hopes it won't be the death of her... (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I love the relationship between Millie and Lois. They are so different but they get along great and care about each other a lot. They spend a lot of time together, especially when they are sleuthing, which they seem to do a lot. When an Amish man is killed in a fire, the circumstances are suspicious. Millie and Lois decide to do some sleuthing to try to help law enforcement solve the case. I really enjoyed seeing some of the characters from the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, that was a lot of fun.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it added to my enjoyment. I felt like I was right there with Millie and her goats, seeing what mischief they would get into. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. When I have a book to read by this author, I know 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.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courting Can Be Killer by Amanda Flower is an entertaining cozy mystery. Millie Fisher is a great main character. I like how she talks to the goats and lives on her own. Millie is the matchmaker for her community as well as Amish Marple (Lois nicknamed her this). She is a sixty-seven-year-old Amish woman who is the opposite of her best friend and Englischer, Lois Henry. Lois is a hoot. I like that she is so different from Millie (pink hair, colorful clothes, loud voice). I laughed often while reading about Millie’s and Lois’ antics as well as those of Millie’s goats, Peter and Philip (they seem to get into more mischief than my cats). The goats are hilarious. I thought Courting Can Be Killer was well-written with steady pacing. The story moved along quickly and was over way too soon. I like the characters and the town of Harvest, Ohio. An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series is a spin-off from An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. While Bailey King is out of town, we do visit Swissmen Sweets and catch up with Charlotte. We get a quick visit with Bailey later in the story, and get to see what Jethro, the polka dotted pig, is up to (it is funny). Courting Can Be Killer can be read as a standalone if you have not had the time to read Matchmaking Can Be Murder. The mystery was fun to follow. There are a couple of suspects along with good clues to help readers solve the crime. Deputy Aiden Brody and Deputy Little are on the case. Deputy Brody would prefer Millie and Lois stay out of the investigation, but he does find their information helpful. Courting Can Be Killer is an amusing cozy mystery with hooligan goats, a rash of robberies, a bothersome bishop’s wife, a dubious blaze, a curious chair, a domineering dad, and two senior sleuths.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fully enjoyed the second addition in this new series by the prolific author Amanda Flower; I am so glad that she is writing more in this series.
Millie [who is Amish] and her childhood "Englischer" friend Lois are at it again and it is one interesting romp from page one until the end. I love Millie and her open outlook on life and how she doesn't let being Amish dampen her interests and inquisitiveness, all while staying very true to her faith and what she believes at her very core. She is a good mix of how people of faith should be and I really like her because of it. And Lois? Lois is what everyone wishes they could be - a lover of life, a devoted friend and an instigator to the very end, Lois is absolutely an amazing character. I love how she teases Millie about her Amish life, but never, ever makes fun of her or what she believes; she in fact accepts and respects what Millie believes and supports her in that, but isn't afraid to speak real truth to her when needed. She is the bestest of best friends and we ALL could use a friend like that in our lives. I love how they work together and support each other [even in the face of dealing with the terrifying Ruth Yoder] and have the easy kind of friendship that is only comes out of being friends for years, even when distance has happened. Their relationship really makes these books and makes the mysteries more believable.
This mystery was good [and having Aiden and glimpses of Bailey and her crew is a fun addition], but very sad. And that is all I will say about it. This one you need to read from page one. Any review about it will influence the future reader and that would be a great disservice to them. So suggest you read it and find out for yourselves; and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Flower, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it proper to say that a murder mystery was a joy to read? I can't help but be happy when I finish an Amanda Flower cozy mystery. Especially when it weaves two of her series together. Characters from her Amish Candy Shop series make plenty of appearances and yes, for those that have read that series, Jethro makes himself known!

The combination of Amish Millie and Englisch Lois is a hoot. I would love to follow them for one day just to see their thinking in action. Wherever they are you can guarantee that trouble will not be far behind.

I cannot wait to read more of their antics.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

[Leane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery was exciting and made sense and I love the people of Harvest.
I LOVE Millie and Lois and as a team.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Amish Matchmaking series. I hadn’t read the first book, but still thoroughly enjoyed this volume. I really love the heroine, matchmaker, and amateur sleuth. I like that Tillie is more of a grandmotherly figure than most cozy mystery protagonists. Plus she and her English best friend Lois are an absolute hoot to read about. Tillie gets caught up int he mystery when her psed-nephew is killed in a fire and the whole Amish community seems determined to blame him. With lots of colorful characters including animals like naughty goats this book was fun to read.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just something special about Millie, the main character in the “An Amish Matchmaker Mystery” series. In the latest addition to the series, Courting Can Be Killer, Millie finds herself caught n the middle of a matchmaking conundrum, a father who doesn't like his daughter's would-be suitor and a murder that hits far too close to home. Being retired hasn’t slowed her down, and even though she is an older sleuth, who happens to be Amish, doesn’t stop Millie from bringing a killer to justice.

Readers have to love Millie; there simply is no other choice. An older sleuth can be hard to sell to readers, but Millie, and her childhood BFF Lois, make everyone wish they could be their friend, neighbor, or relative. The two women are full of mischief and mayhem but with good hearts and a lifetime of understanding. The Amish life isn’t for everyone, yet Millie makes you want to join her. Even when there is a killer on the loose, and no one is certain when or if they will be caught, and in some cases, don’t care, the simple life Millie leads forces readers to sit back, reflect, and relax.

Suspects are few and far between; in a small Amish community, there isn’t a lot of people who would want the victim dead, but those that there are, have good motives that keep Millie and Lois on the move. The victim is young, hard-working, and not someone most people think would be murdered. Ms. Flower does a remarkable job of giving readers just enough detail and evidence that they can figure out who the killer is, as well as understanding, and at times, sympathizing with, not only the victim and suspects but with the murderer. Adding to the fact of the author’s use of an older sleuth who is Amish make this book and series magnificent and delightful.

I have one small complaint; however, there just wasn’t enough action from Millie’s fantastic goats; I adore Peter and Phillip! I am happy to recommend Courting Can Be Killer to lovers of mysteries with older sleuths, a simple life with insights into Amish life, and friends that will stay with you for many years to come.

[Daniele · Rating 4 out of 5]

COURTING CAN BE KILLER, the second Amish Matchmaker Mystery by Amanda Flower, is a great sophomore offering in this fun series. A spin-off of the Amish Candy Shop series, it can be read as a standalone or as part of either, or both, series.

Main character Millie is of a certain age and known for her matchmaking skills among the Amish community in Harvest, Ohio. Having returned to her hometown after caring for her ailing sister, she has rekindled her friendship with Englisher Lois and welcomes Ben, a youth from her sister’s district, with open arms. Ben is only nineteen years old but thinks he has found his match with Tessa, a local apple grower’s daughter, and works four jobs in effort to impress Tessa’s disapproving father. When Ben tragically dies, Millie, with the help of Lois, set out to find a killer and preserve Ben’s reputation and memory.

I really like Millie. She is mature, intelligent, compassionate, and thorough is all that she does. Her “opposites attract” relationship with Lois is my favorite aspect of the series. Neither character is a blown out of proportion caricature of her respective culture, and their friendship seems natural and firmly rooted as only long-term relationships can be. It is nice to see characters from the Amish Candy Shop series drop in here and there, and Millie’s goats provide comic relief.

The mystery is well plotted and paced. There are only a few suspects, but Flower definitely kept me guessing until the very end. This story feels a little more somber than some cozy mysteries out there, perhaps because the victim is so young and seemingly a good guy or because his future was not going to be what he thought.

COURTING CAN BE KILLER is a wonderful cozy. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this title from the author and Kensington Publisher through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millie has learned that she is really good at one thing and that is matching couples together, she can always tell when a couple doesn't match. She sees that young Ben Baughman is barking up the wrong tree when it comes to Tess Lieb. The two aren't a good match and Tess's father agrees, he refuses to give his blessing. That isn't going to stop the two from getting married though. When Ben is killed in a house fire Millie wonders if it was an accident or murder. She truly thinks someone wanted Ben out of the picture when it comes to Tess but who and why needs to be answered. Millie looks to her quilting buddies for help not to mention aide from her very outspoken English friend Lois. Will she be able to work all the pieces into one whole picture before she herself ends up a part of the puzzle?

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Amish matchmaker series. There is a fire at the local flea market and a friend of Millie's, Ben, dies in the fire. A rumor starts spreading through the community that he started the fire. Millie, to clear his name starts investigating with her best friend, Lois. Millie is a wonderful character. I love how she and Lois balance each other. They make a perfect team. I love Millie's goats, Peter and Philip. They provide numerous laughs throughout the book. The mystery was well done and i didn't guess the killer until the end. I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amish matchmaker Millie Fisher has moved back to her home county in Ohio after caring for her sister in Michigan. Now that they are 67, Millie and her non-Amish friend from childhood, Lois, are still great friends despite their differing lifestyles. So when a young man from the Amish community in Michigan who had moved to Ohio with Millie winds up dead in a suspicious a fire the two old friends sleuth together when not chasing Millie's goats or piecing quilts. I really enjoyed the story about a different Amish community than the ones I am familiar with, and the mystery was pretty good, too!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book by Netgalley for an honest review. Thank you.
I was interested in reading this book because I have read several books from Amanda Flower's other series and have enjoyed them very much. Although this is the second book in the Amish Matchmaker series (I did not read the first) I enjoyed it just as much. I didn't have a problem with not knowing what was going on. Millie is a middle aged, okay, in her sixties Amish woman with an "English" best friend. When one of the young men in her community that she has taken a grandmotherly interest in is killed in a fire, they make it their mission to find out what happened. One of the things that I especially liked was that this took place in Harvest, OH which is also the site of one of her other books. She includes characters from those books as well, so you see this book as being part of a community. While another series has Jethro the pig, Millie owns two goats, Peter and Phillip and their antics are sure to bring a smile to your face.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really loving this series! The author has another series titled the Amish Candy Mysteries, and I was very happy to learn that the Amish Matchmaker Mysteries is a companion series to it. Both series have the same setting with the same characters. The difference is that the leading characters of the Amish Candy Mysteries are different from those in the Amish Matchmaker series. The minor characters in one series are the major characters in the other series, resulting in character development that you would not know if you only read one of the two series. It's great that they share the same Deputy Aiden as well as his sweet but naive mother. The same beloved pets are in both series, too! I highly recommend both series under the genre of cozy mysteries!

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating

Who knew that courting could be a killer? Who knew that matchmaking can get a woman in trouble? Millie and Lois are insisting on helping the police solve the mystery of Ben's death in the fire at the local flea market, and the sweet, amusing pair of friends just don't heed the warnings along the way. And they don't heed the deputies warnings to let them handle the investigating, leaving it to the professionals.

I loved this mystery and I never did figure out "whodunit" until I read the ending. I love mysteries that leave me guessing.

I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and Kensington Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/c...

Courting Can Be Killer
An Amish Matchmaker Mystery #2
By Amanda Flower
ISBN 9781496724038
Author’s website: amandaflower.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

In the second Amish Matchmaker Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower, Millie Fisher has plenty to keep her busy through her golden years, whether it’s minding a pair of rambunctious goats, meetings with her quilting circle, and matchmaking. But the witty widow always makes time to solve the odd murder…

Some Amish men don’t know what’s good for them. That’s what Millie Fisher told herself when young Ben Baughman set his heart on marrying Tess Lieb. With Tess’s father refusing to give his blessing and Tess’s ex-boyfriend being a wet blanket, the hapless couple was bound to butt heads more than Millie’s Boer goats. But when Ben tragically dies in a mysterious fire, Millie wonders if someone in her hometown of Harvest, Ohio, wanted Ben out of the wedding picture altogether…

With the help of her quilting buddies, and her outspoken Englischer friend Lois, Millie is determined to patch together all the clues without even dropping a stitch. She only hopes it won’t be the death of her…

Review:

This delightful new novel in the series that shares characters with the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series is thoroughly fun when one isn’t trying to find who the killer is. I was genuinely saddened by who the murder victim was. The mystery is complex; there was no easy solution to it. The characters are brought to life through excellent descriptions, and the Midwest setting reminds me of being back home.

Millie, an Amish woman widowed for more than twenty years, has the talent of helping men and women find their perfect match. She is the only person who can stop her goats in their tracks when they misbehave, and they understand every word she says. Millie’s best friend, Lois, isn’t Amish and dresses in bright, interesting attire. Millie moved back to Holmes County about a year ago after the death of her sister, for whom she had been caring in Michigan for a decade. She reconnected with Lois, who had also returned to Holmes County. They have been best friends since childhood, and both are thankful to be back together again, despite what some of the more proper Amish women in her district feel.

Ben is a young Amish man who lived next door to Millie and her late sister in Michigan. When he left there, he came to Holmes County because Mille, who is like a beloved aunt to him, had moved back was here. She had told him what a great place it was, with a large Amish district that provides a variety of work and friendships. Ben is currently working four jobs as he is love with a young Amish woman, Tess, and wants to prove to her father that he could care for a wife and children. Tess’s father, however, would not let him court Tess. Ben had hoped Millie could talk with her father to convince him that Ben is a good guy. There are things that Ben hasn’t shared with Millie, however, that have a bearing on why Josiah denied his request for Ben to court his daughter. Likewise, there are things that Tess didn’t tell Ben. Sooner or later, those secrets will come out. No matter how Millie feels about Ben, even as the matchmaker, she can’t make Tess’s father allow them to court.

One of Ben’s jobs is as night guard for the flea market. Thefts have occurred, as vendors can leave their wares overnight, including those of the quilting group that Millie belongs to. Early one morning, the flea market and its contents was destroyed by a mysterious fire. One life was lost, that of the night guard, Ben. Horrified and grief-stricken, Millie learns that Ben was suspected of setting the fire and going to sleep with drugs in his system. They claim the motive was that he wasn’t allowed to court the girl he wanted to marry and it was his way of committing suicide. She knows Ben wouldn’t do so, but since he was a newcomer to the community, nobody except Millie and Lois will stand up for him. They believe it was murder and are determined to find who did the deed. Millie believes if she had tried harder to find out what was bothering the Ben the day before his death, he would still be alive.

Most of the characters are endearing. I enjoyed seeing Bailey, Deputy Aiden, his mother Juliet, and her pet pig, Jethro from the Amish Candy Shop series. I adored Peter and Phillip, who behave like mischievous boys. I particularly enjoyed Millie and Lois, two mature sleuths who couldn’t be more opposite of each other yet work well as a team. The author is remarkably versatile to step into the shoes of the older women to portray them so well.

This cozy mystery invited me in from the beginning and held my attention throughout. There is laugh out loud humor amidst the gravity of the plot thanks to Lois, Jethro, and Millie’s goats. I was surprised at Deputy Aiden’s grudging acceptance of the two ladies trying to find the killer despite his warnings. Plot twists reveal possible suspects and motives, as well as the secrets of both Ben and Tess. I was very surprised at the full resolution of the mystery; there was much more to it that I had imagined. There were no loose ends remaining, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series as well as catching up on the Amish Candy Shop series. I highly recommend this!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in An Amish Matchmaker series and it was another great mystery. I love that this series takes place in the same town, Harvest Ohio, as Amanda Flower's other series, the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries, with characters being mentioned and some making an appearance. Millie and Lois are once again together, trying to solve a crime. If you did not read the first book in this series, I recommend you do. You will learn about Millie's background and how she and Lois became unlikely friends. I love seeing them together interacting considering their differing backgrounds. Millie is the local Amish matchmaker and Lois is a loud and proud Englisher, who is able to use technology and even cars that Lois would not be allowed to use. This story finds Ben and Tess trying to get Millie to intervene with Tess' father. They want to get married, but her daed is against it and has forbidden them to court. When Ben ends up dead in a fire, Millie and Lois stick their noses in to figure out who the killer is. I enjoy this series and its characters. Millie is a smart, capable woman of a certain age that knows how to take care of herself. Lois is an absolute hoot! She can pull just about anything out of her huge purse. The secondary characters play a role in solving the mystery and Amanda Flower does a great job creating realistic characters, some that I don't like very much. Animals always play a huge part in these books and this one has Millie's goats, Peter and Phillip, adding humour and warmth to the story. Even Jethro the pig makes an appearance and I always laugh at his antics. The mystery was well-plotted and had enough suspects to keep me guessing. There is a hint of romance for Millie and I am interested to see where that goes in future books. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Vanessa Daniels. I have listened to a few books that she voiced and once again, I was pleased with her performance. She uses her expression and intonation to differentiate characters. She has a pleasant voice and I enjoyed listening to this one. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish matchmaker Millie Fisher excels at putting couples together. But sometimes she has to put the brakes on things, too. Such is the case with Ben Baughman, who has moved to Harvest and fallen in love with Tess Lieb. But Tess' father is not happy with the match, and Millie tells Ben to slow things down and try to bring her father around to the couple's side.

But then Ben is found dead after a fire at the Amish Flea Market, and there are a lot of suspects, including Tess' father and ex-boyfriend. Was it love that caused the death, or something else all together?

It's up to Millie, nicknamed Amish Miss Marple by her best friend, Englisher friend Lois, and her quilting group to out what really happened.

Amanda Flower's Amish Matchmaker series is a spin-off of her Amish Candy Shop mysteries, both set in Harvest, Ohio. I love the candy shop books, and sometimes it's hard to like spin-offs when you enjoy a series so much. But that is not the case with the Matchmaking series. I love Mllie and Lois, and the adventures they've had together. Maybe it's because i am close to their age, but I find myself relating to them and loving these books.

I especially loved this one, and the way Ms. Flower tackled relationships and the way they affect people, both those in the relationships and those who have contact with those people. Ben's death hit me hard because I really liked him as a character, and wished he had not been the victim. Still, there are great characters, both human and animal (the goats are hilarious!) and it makes for lively writing.

This book is packed with emotion, and it kept me turning the pages long into the night. I can't wait to see what Millie and Lois get up to next. Kudos to Ms. Flower for turning out another wonderful book.

I read a digital copy of this book provided by the publisher through NetGalley, but I also bought a copy for my Amanda Flower collection.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Matchmaker Mystery #2

In the second Amish Matchmaker Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower, Millie Fisher has plenty to keep her busy through her golden years, whether it’s minding a pair of rambunctious goats, meetings with her quilting circle, and matchmaking. But the witty widow always makes time to solve the odd murder…

When Millie came home from caring for her sister in Michigan her young neighbor boy follows her to Ohio. Ben Baughman left home when his father remarried and wanted to start a new family.

Ben has his own place now and has at least four jobs, all in the hope that Tess Lieb will marry him. But Tess’s father has no intention of marrying his daughter off. Instead, she can go to Wyoming and live with his sister. But Tess is wily. Does she love Ben or is she using him to get away from her father?

Millie thinks it’s the latter and counsels Ben to slow down but we all know young love won’t wait.

When Ben dies in a fire at his night job, Millie is definitely grabbing Lois and finding out who did what! And lucky for her gossip is thick around town on the whys. Not so much on the who.

I love Amanda’s series. I enjoy the crossovers as well. Why shouldn’t they crossover? They all live in the same small area and know each other and while I wait for another Bailey’s Sweet's book, I can find out how she is while reading Millie’s adventures. Brilliant!

I can’t wait for the next one!

NetGalley/ December 1st, 2020 Kensington Publishing