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An Amish Candy Shop Mystery #7
Peanut Butter Panic
Thanksgiving is Bailey King’s busiest holiday weekend. This year promises to be even more hectic, since Bailey’s candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, is providing desserts for Harvest, Ohio’s first village-wide Thanksgiving celebration. Yet, even with a guest list close to seven hundred people—Amish and English alike—the event’s organizer, Margot Rawlings, is unfazed . . . until she discovers her mother, former judge Zara Bevan, will be in attendance.
Zara’s reputation as a harsh critic is matched only by her infamy as a judge who has actively harmed the Amish community. So no one is prepared when Zara arrives with much younger boyfriend Blaze Smith and reveals their impending nuptials at dinner. That should have been the day’s biggest news, except shortly after the announcement, Blaze suffers an allergic reaction to something he’s eaten and dies on the spot.
Now, Bailey’s desserts are prime suspects, along with Margot and nearly everyone who attended the meal. With such a cornucopia of possibilities, Bailey must dig in and get to the bottom of this murder, before the killer goes up for seconds…
Zara’s reputation as a harsh critic is matched only by her infamy as a judge who has actively harmed the Amish community. So no one is prepared when Zara arrives with much younger boyfriend Blaze Smith and reveals their impending nuptials at dinner. That should have been the day’s biggest news, except shortly after the announcement, Blaze suffers an allergic reaction to something he’s eaten and dies on the spot.
Now, Bailey’s desserts are prime suspects, along with Margot and nearly everyone who attended the meal. With such a cornucopia of possibilities, Bailey must dig in and get to the bottom of this murder, before the killer goes up for seconds…
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2022
325 people are currently reading
1860 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Flower
61 books2,945 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 260 reviews
April 5, 2023
This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the 7th book in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. I have read and reviewed some of the other books in this series before picking up this book. This book has some of the funniest and cutest animal characters, and I love that pig so much...LOL. The other characters are good too. The mystery in this book was ok, and I enjoyed the ride to solve the mystery. I guessed who did it way before the reveal. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington) or author (Amanda Flower) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
May 4, 2022
Have you ever had the urge to binge out on peanut butter Reese Cups while reading a cozy mystery? This book is about peanut butter buckeyes with a heaping portion of Murder if the Vic happens to be allergic to nuts! Peanut Butter Panic is book seven of Amanda Flower's Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and so far I’ve read every book in the series. These books are so good I can’t wait for the next book to be released. Book seven certainly didn’t disappoint this cozy mystery reader. Readers are kept almost to the end before they get to find out who murdered the Vic. There were plenty of suspects with good motives to want the Vic dead but only one killer! I found this book to be a very good mix of English and Amish characters. It was entertaining and I found it to be an easy and quick read. I didn’t want to stop reading once I started. I was immediately drawn into the story and I was kept glued to the pages till the very end of the book. Five stars !!
Bailey King is very busy helping her Amish Grandmother and their two employees prepare for the Black Friday and Small Business Monday sales that will bring an avalanche of tourists to Swissmen’s Sweets. Not only that but the village event planner Margot Rawling has planned a community Thanksgiving Day feast with over 800 guest attending the meal in the village square and the near by church. What Margot hadn’t counted on was that her picky, fault finding mother was planning to attend the holiday feast. The two do not get along and Margot gets herself in a tither and asks Bailey for help while she runs to the airport to get her mother. Margot never allows herself to get this upset and is always in control of every situation but her mother springs another surprise on her daughter when she brings along a man half her age and claims he is her fiancé. Margot is beside herself and the entire village of Harvest Ohio knows it. Then Blaze Smith, the fiancé turns up dead with his face in a bowl of mashed potatoes, at the Thanksgiving meal. Things look bad for Margot!!
Bailey springs into action when both Margot and her Mother ask her to find out who killed Blaze. So Bailey is busy with the two biggest days of business of the year and also trying to dig up clues to find out who killed Blaze and keep Margot out of prison. Not only that but Aiden Brody, her boyfriend, is in town and she’s very insecure in her relationship with him ever since he quit his job as deputy sheriff at the Harvest Sheriffs Department . She has a lot on her plate and little time to get it all done! Can she hold everything together and find out who really killed Blaze Smith?
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mystery and to anyone who has been keeping up with this series. I recommend that the books be read in order because it is easier when you are familiar with the characters. As far as the mystery part of the story it could be read as a standalone. This book is scheduled to be released on 8/23/22
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#PeanutButterPanic#NetGalley
Bailey King is very busy helping her Amish Grandmother and their two employees prepare for the Black Friday and Small Business Monday sales that will bring an avalanche of tourists to Swissmen’s Sweets. Not only that but the village event planner Margot Rawling has planned a community Thanksgiving Day feast with over 800 guest attending the meal in the village square and the near by church. What Margot hadn’t counted on was that her picky, fault finding mother was planning to attend the holiday feast. The two do not get along and Margot gets herself in a tither and asks Bailey for help while she runs to the airport to get her mother. Margot never allows herself to get this upset and is always in control of every situation but her mother springs another surprise on her daughter when she brings along a man half her age and claims he is her fiancé. Margot is beside herself and the entire village of Harvest Ohio knows it. Then Blaze Smith, the fiancé turns up dead with his face in a bowl of mashed potatoes, at the Thanksgiving meal. Things look bad for Margot!!
Bailey springs into action when both Margot and her Mother ask her to find out who killed Blaze. So Bailey is busy with the two biggest days of business of the year and also trying to dig up clues to find out who killed Blaze and keep Margot out of prison. Not only that but Aiden Brody, her boyfriend, is in town and she’s very insecure in her relationship with him ever since he quit his job as deputy sheriff at the Harvest Sheriffs Department . She has a lot on her plate and little time to get it all done! Can she hold everything together and find out who really killed Blaze Smith?
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mystery and to anyone who has been keeping up with this series. I recommend that the books be read in order because it is easier when you are familiar with the characters. As far as the mystery part of the story it could be read as a standalone. This book is scheduled to be released on 8/23/22
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions expressed here in this review are entirely my own.
#PeanutButterPanic#NetGalley
August 27, 2022
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series! I love the way Amanda Flower's can pull you into a setting and you feel like you are there w/ the characters.
This installment was really fun! It takes place @ thanksgiving, and im a sucker for holiday cozies. We also got a back story for event planner Margot Rawlings. I enjoy when Flowers does this w/ the side characters, and you finally are able to understand that characters behaviors.
The recipes in this book sound delicious!
There were some developments in this book that lead me to believe that Bailey King and Swissmen Sweets are going to be around for a long time!
I highly recommend this cozy!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Amanda Flower, and the publisher for this opportunity.
This installment was really fun! It takes place @ thanksgiving, and im a sucker for holiday cozies. We also got a back story for event planner Margot Rawlings. I enjoy when Flowers does this w/ the side characters, and you finally are able to understand that characters behaviors.
The recipes in this book sound delicious!
There were some developments in this book that lead me to believe that Bailey King and Swissmen Sweets are going to be around for a long time!
I highly recommend this cozy!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Amanda Flower, and the publisher for this opportunity.
August 5, 2022
This is the seventh book in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series set in Harvest, Ohio, a small town where the English and Amish live and work together. I always enjoy this series with the interesting recurring characters, including Jethro, the polka dot pig and a murder mystery to solve. It is Thanksgiving and event planner for the town, Margot Rawlings, has planned a community wide meal on the town square for all with many people providing food. Bailey King and her Amish Maami, co-owners of Swissmen Sweets, are providing dessert candy. Margot's mother (retired judge of the county, living in Florida) stirs things up when she and her much younger boyfriend decide to visit, and it throws Margot into a tizzy. The Thanksgiving meal ends badly when the boyfriend dies from a peanut allergy that is determined to be murder, not an accident. Bailey has solved other murders and investigates the death as requested by Margot and her mother. There are several avenues to pursue but all seem to have dead ends. I did have some thoughts about what was going on but did not have it all figured out. In addition to the murder, Bailey has lots on her mind these days. She and her boyfriend Aiden has been separated with his job taking him out of town and her thoughts about expanding the business. This is an enjoyable series that I recommend for cozy mystery readers, and especially candy lovers.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.
August 23, 2022
Death by peanut allergy, Blaze dies at Harvest's community Thanksgiving dinner. Was it an accident or did someone intentionally put peanuts in his food?
This would be a perfect cozy mystery to curl up on a holiday weekend and read. I have enjoyed previous books in this series since the characters are always fantastic, but this one had a fun plot. So many potential suspects, older fiance Zara who has wronged many, event planner Margot, and several Amish men that were wronged by Zara being a harsh judge.
Bailey does her usual amateur sleuthing, but has some lighter activities going on too. I loved the candy shop Black Friday portion of the story and of course the cute Jethro the pig antics.
Zara was a new character to the series and she was done well. She was so easy to hate with her harsh punishments and pressure for perfection, but it really worked. Her character gives the reader a whole new view and appreciation for Margot.
I'm excited for the next book in the series, which hopefully has a bunch of Jethro!
Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
This would be a perfect cozy mystery to curl up on a holiday weekend and read. I have enjoyed previous books in this series since the characters are always fantastic, but this one had a fun plot. So many potential suspects, older fiance Zara who has wronged many, event planner Margot, and several Amish men that were wronged by Zara being a harsh judge.
Bailey does her usual amateur sleuthing, but has some lighter activities going on too. I loved the candy shop Black Friday portion of the story and of course the cute Jethro the pig antics.
Zara was a new character to the series and she was done well. She was so easy to hate with her harsh punishments and pressure for perfection, but it really worked. Her character gives the reader a whole new view and appreciation for Margot.
I'm excited for the next book in the series, which hopefully has a bunch of Jethro!
Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
June 2, 2024
Peanut Butter Panic by Amanda Flower is the seventh full length novel in the cozy Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Along with three companion novellas in this series each of the books holds it’s own mystery that will be solved so they can be read in any order or as a standalone if choosing to do so. For those that follow from the beginning in the series though there is character building carrying over from book to book to tie them altogether.
The main character in this series, Bailey King, had been working in New York as a chocolatier before she decided to return to Harvest, Ohio and help her Amish grandmother run their family owned candy shop, Swissmen Sweets. While Bailey is not Amish herself she does find herself fitting into the community with her Amish roots and trusted more than other outsiders so they often turn to her for help.
This time around it’s Thanksgiving in Harvest and Bailey has agreed that Swissmen Sweets will be providing desserts for the town’s celebration. With hundreds of people from town, English and Amish alike, expected to attend Bailey is amazed at how well the event’s organizer, Margot Rawlings, is keeping pace. That is until Margot’s mother shows up at the event with a new younger boyfriend, Blaze Smith. Things definitely heat up when right in the middle of eating Blaze has an allergic reaction and dies and Bailey knows from experience there is a murderer to be found among the many guests.
First I’ll just say that the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series is probably at the top of my favorite cozies list to keep returning to time and again and this installment was just as much fun as the rest of the series. At this point though I should also mention I’ve lost track of how many series I am reading from this author as she keeps bringing me back to all of her books. This particular series has all of the quirkiness In the characters, a fun sidekick in a rambunctious little piggie and always a great mystery to follow while laughing out loud the entire time. Another great installment, can’t wait for the next!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The main character in this series, Bailey King, had been working in New York as a chocolatier before she decided to return to Harvest, Ohio and help her Amish grandmother run their family owned candy shop, Swissmen Sweets. While Bailey is not Amish herself she does find herself fitting into the community with her Amish roots and trusted more than other outsiders so they often turn to her for help.
This time around it’s Thanksgiving in Harvest and Bailey has agreed that Swissmen Sweets will be providing desserts for the town’s celebration. With hundreds of people from town, English and Amish alike, expected to attend Bailey is amazed at how well the event’s organizer, Margot Rawlings, is keeping pace. That is until Margot’s mother shows up at the event with a new younger boyfriend, Blaze Smith. Things definitely heat up when right in the middle of eating Blaze has an allergic reaction and dies and Bailey knows from experience there is a murderer to be found among the many guests.
First I’ll just say that the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series is probably at the top of my favorite cozies list to keep returning to time and again and this installment was just as much fun as the rest of the series. At this point though I should also mention I’ve lost track of how many series I am reading from this author as she keeps bringing me back to all of her books. This particular series has all of the quirkiness In the characters, a fun sidekick in a rambunctious little piggie and always a great mystery to follow while laughing out loud the entire time. Another great installment, can’t wait for the next!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 26, 2022
This is the 7th book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. I really love the collection of fun characters, especially the animals in this series. I didn’t think his mystery was quite as good as some of the previous books, and I am tired of the drawn out drama between the main protagonist Bailey and her love interest, but overall it was a great and enjoyable story. Bailey is enjoying the town’s giant Thanksgiving feast when the event organizer, Margot’s mother’s much younger fiancé has an allergic reaction and dies. Bailey is drawn into the investigation not only because of her natural curiosity, but the village’s expectations that she will be helping out. The story was fun although at times it moved a little slowly. This series overall is great, and if you like funny animal sidekicks in cozy mysteries than you’ll love this one.
April 24, 2022
Peanut Butter Panic is the 7th book in this fun cozy mystery series by Amanda Flower.
Bailey King may not be Amish, but that doesn't stop her from being protective over her Amish friends or family.
As the town prepares for their harvest festival, Bailey is shocked and surprised when she meets the mother of Margot, the leader of the festival.
Zara is a retired judge, and not well liked by the local residents, or her own daughter.
Zara doesn't seem to like the people of the Amish community, and she certainly likes to voice her opinion.
During the harvest meal, Zara makes an announcement that shocks her daughter, and possibly causes the death of another visitor.
I became intrigued with the story immediately and I could relate to Margot on so many levels regarding her relationship with her mother.
The surrounding stories were well done and of course, I loved reading about Jethro and his silly antics.
This is a great series and I recommend it to any reader who enjoys a solid mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#PeanutButterPanic #NetGalley
Bailey King may not be Amish, but that doesn't stop her from being protective over her Amish friends or family.
As the town prepares for their harvest festival, Bailey is shocked and surprised when she meets the mother of Margot, the leader of the festival.
Zara is a retired judge, and not well liked by the local residents, or her own daughter.
Zara doesn't seem to like the people of the Amish community, and she certainly likes to voice her opinion.
During the harvest meal, Zara makes an announcement that shocks her daughter, and possibly causes the death of another visitor.
I became intrigued with the story immediately and I could relate to Margot on so many levels regarding her relationship with her mother.
The surrounding stories were well done and of course, I loved reading about Jethro and his silly antics.
This is a great series and I recommend it to any reader who enjoys a solid mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#PeanutButterPanic #NetGalley
August 10, 2022
The story was filled with so many interesting aspects that I couldn't put it down until the very end. My interest was piqued not only by the mystery but also by Bailey's relationships, the future of the candy store, and the struggles of a young Amish man trying to support himself.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own
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August 25, 2022Peanut Butter Panic by Amanda Flower is book seven in the 'Amish Candy Shop Mystery' series and my 4th book in that series.
It is an exciting time at the family-run candy shop, Swissmen Sweets as the desserts need to be prepared for the village of Harvest's Thanksgiving celebration. The guest lists for the event run to 7oo-800 people. The event has been organised by Margaret Rawlings whose mum is Zara Bevan, and assisted by the pastor's wife. Blaze Smith, Zara's toyboy, arrives too and Zara has some big news to impart. But then Blaze collapses and dies with his face in the mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving meal. Things look bad for Margot...
Peanut Butter Panic was a compelling and fun cosy read and you'll want to read the other instalments if you are new to this series. I was sold from the very beginning with its solid characters, great writing and a marvellous mystery that provided a good sprinkling of clues. The cast is quirky, and the busy protagonist Bailey is spirited, big-hearted and sparky.
The mystery itself was well done and there were enough red herrings and twists to keep me guessing the culprit's identity. Overall, a marvellous cosy and very worthwhile read with friendship, romance, and a good dollop of humour. Jethro, the black polka-dotted, pot-bellied, mischievous pig needs an individual mention. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
It is an exciting time at the family-run candy shop, Swissmen Sweets as the desserts need to be prepared for the village of Harvest's Thanksgiving celebration. The guest lists for the event run to 7oo-800 people. The event has been organised by Margaret Rawlings whose mum is Zara Bevan, and assisted by the pastor's wife. Blaze Smith, Zara's toyboy, arrives too and Zara has some big news to impart. But then Blaze collapses and dies with his face in the mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving meal. Things look bad for Margot...
Peanut Butter Panic was a compelling and fun cosy read and you'll want to read the other instalments if you are new to this series. I was sold from the very beginning with its solid characters, great writing and a marvellous mystery that provided a good sprinkling of clues. The cast is quirky, and the busy protagonist Bailey is spirited, big-hearted and sparky.
The mystery itself was well done and there were enough red herrings and twists to keep me guessing the culprit's identity. Overall, a marvellous cosy and very worthwhile read with friendship, romance, and a good dollop of humour. Jethro, the black polka-dotted, pot-bellied, mischievous pig needs an individual mention. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
April 18, 2023
Book 7. Margot the mayor was preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner on the square. Ad usual she asked Bailey for help. She was reluctant to help since Thanksgiving would be a major holiday for her and her Amish grandmother shop Swiss man Sweets. Her cousin Charlotte ( that has decided to become an Englisahner ) and her friend Emily and Grandma worked there. ( it was Bailey and her Grandma Clara and grandfather shop orignally) Bailey had now a Swissmen Sweets show in NYC. That she attended with her boyfriend Aiden mom ( Juilet ) black and white spotted pig Jethrothatwas stealing the show with his funny antics. Margot found out her mom Zara ( she once was a Judge in Amish County and most all of the Amish hated her because of her very bad arrests made there ) Margot was very upset about having her there she would always criticize her for everything. On top of that Zara had found a very young tennis pro for a boyfriend (Blaze). When the festivities got started Blaze announced to Bailey ( actually screamed that he was very very allergic to peanuts and that he could not have the Buckeyes candies. that Bailey handed him full of peanuts. ) and every Thanksgiving there also was Marshmallow Fluff with Peanut butter in it too. well he fell in his mashed potatoes headfirst. Andone was stunned. (Especially after Sara announced that they were getting married. ) . there were a lot of little sleuthing with Bailey and Charlotte her cousin make it laughable. I bet you will never guess who offed The fiancee
July 11, 2023
Sometimes I'm just in the mood to read a cozy mystery. And Amanda Flowers knows how to write some good ones! I was happy to revisit Holmes County and its quirky, funny community. As always, the appearances of animals sprinkled throughout made me smile :-) ... Let's admit it, Jethro really is the star here!
September 10, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We arrive in Harvest, Ohio just in time for the village-wide Thanksgiving celebration, another event planned by Margot Rawlings to bring more attention to the little town. Bailey King was already busy handling the customers and online orders pouring into Swissmen Sweets but she has agreed to provide the desserts for the event.
Margot has her clipboard and is checking things off her long list so the celebration will bring the Amish and English together for a fine feast. Then she learns her mother Zara Bevan, a former judge who many feel she did great harm to the Harvest area Amish is coming to the event. Margot does her best but knows her mother will be critical of everything she does.
As the crowd of more than 700 makes their way to their tables with filled plates Zara has an announcement to make. She and her much younger boyfriend are getting married, Margot was more than surprised but before the meal ends the groom-to-be suffers a fatal allergic reaction and it was no accident. Margot and almost everyone at the meal along with Bailey and her desserts become the prime suspects. She knows she needs to find the killer to clear her name and Margot’s and fast.
I love the core characters in this series. They are so genuine and true to life. They are people I would love to meet. They all have huge hearts and always strive to do the right thing even if it means a lot of extra work.
The animal characters have such great personalities too. I love that a miniature pot-bellied pig, a rabbit, and a kitten can coexist with no drama. Jethro does love attention though and his person, Juliet will do almost anything to make him a star. He also brings a lot of funny to the story
This time we get to learn more about Margot’s life and her mother is quite a piece of work. Bailey and Aiden are trying to figure out their relationship with his new job. Charlotte is still trying to make her way now that she has left the Amish community. She and her Deputy Little are taking things slow. I really enjoy all the subplots the author blends into the mystery. As this is the 7th book in the series and the novellas in between the characters are well developed but they still grow in each story. They stay relevant and fresh and with each book, I feel like I am catching up with old friends.
As someone with a peanut allergy, I found the method of death a little scary but it was perfect for this situation. I am happy Charlotte and Bailey are close. They make a fun sleuthing team. Sometimes even Jethro went along as they followed the clues and questioned people of interest. There was an interesting twist that shook the investigation up. I did solve the mystery before the big reveal but boy what a reveal it was. A fantastic way to end the mystery. I was nervous one moment and thankful the next. I guess that works for a book set around Thanksgiving.
Peanut Butter Panic has it all, mystery, family, friends, and romance laced with humor in all the right places. Amanda Flower is a wonderful storyteller. I am always a bit melancholy when I flip the last page. Every visit to Harvest seems to end too soon. I will be impatiently waiting for the 8th book in this series because the author has piqued my interest with what appears to be exciting times ahead.
We arrive in Harvest, Ohio just in time for the village-wide Thanksgiving celebration, another event planned by Margot Rawlings to bring more attention to the little town. Bailey King was already busy handling the customers and online orders pouring into Swissmen Sweets but she has agreed to provide the desserts for the event.
Margot has her clipboard and is checking things off her long list so the celebration will bring the Amish and English together for a fine feast. Then she learns her mother Zara Bevan, a former judge who many feel she did great harm to the Harvest area Amish is coming to the event. Margot does her best but knows her mother will be critical of everything she does.
As the crowd of more than 700 makes their way to their tables with filled plates Zara has an announcement to make. She and her much younger boyfriend are getting married, Margot was more than surprised but before the meal ends the groom-to-be suffers a fatal allergic reaction and it was no accident. Margot and almost everyone at the meal along with Bailey and her desserts become the prime suspects. She knows she needs to find the killer to clear her name and Margot’s and fast.
I love the core characters in this series. They are so genuine and true to life. They are people I would love to meet. They all have huge hearts and always strive to do the right thing even if it means a lot of extra work.
The animal characters have such great personalities too. I love that a miniature pot-bellied pig, a rabbit, and a kitten can coexist with no drama. Jethro does love attention though and his person, Juliet will do almost anything to make him a star. He also brings a lot of funny to the story
This time we get to learn more about Margot’s life and her mother is quite a piece of work. Bailey and Aiden are trying to figure out their relationship with his new job. Charlotte is still trying to make her way now that she has left the Amish community. She and her Deputy Little are taking things slow. I really enjoy all the subplots the author blends into the mystery. As this is the 7th book in the series and the novellas in between the characters are well developed but they still grow in each story. They stay relevant and fresh and with each book, I feel like I am catching up with old friends.
As someone with a peanut allergy, I found the method of death a little scary but it was perfect for this situation. I am happy Charlotte and Bailey are close. They make a fun sleuthing team. Sometimes even Jethro went along as they followed the clues and questioned people of interest. There was an interesting twist that shook the investigation up. I did solve the mystery before the big reveal but boy what a reveal it was. A fantastic way to end the mystery. I was nervous one moment and thankful the next. I guess that works for a book set around Thanksgiving.
Peanut Butter Panic has it all, mystery, family, friends, and romance laced with humor in all the right places. Amanda Flower is a wonderful storyteller. I am always a bit melancholy when I flip the last page. Every visit to Harvest seems to end too soon. I will be impatiently waiting for the 8th book in this series because the author has piqued my interest with what appears to be exciting times ahead.
August 24, 2022
The people of Harvest, Ohio, prepare for their first-ever village-wide Thanksgiving celebration, trying to blend the Amish and the English traditions. Nothing about the event bothers Margot – until she learns that her mother will attend. Zara, a former judge who was very harsh on the Amish, made few friends when she lived in Harvest, and many in town have not gotten over her strict sentences. When her much younger boyfriend dies from an allergic reaction and Margot is the primary suspect, Bailey feels compelled to investigate.
This is the seventh book in this series, which I have enjoyed from the start. Reading one of these books feels like visiting old friends, and I enjoy watching relationships grow from one book to the next. While there always seems to be a bit of tension between some of the Amish and some of the English, for the most part, they’ve learned how to peacefully coexist, and usually in a way that is mutually beneficial. The mystery here had a good twist or two that made it hard to figure out until just before it was revealed in the book, and there were some personal developments with some of the characters that make me even more eager than usual to read the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is the seventh book in this series, which I have enjoyed from the start. Reading one of these books feels like visiting old friends, and I enjoy watching relationships grow from one book to the next. While there always seems to be a bit of tension between some of the Amish and some of the English, for the most part, they’ve learned how to peacefully coexist, and usually in a way that is mutually beneficial. The mystery here had a good twist or two that made it hard to figure out until just before it was revealed in the book, and there were some personal developments with some of the characters that make me even more eager than usual to read the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 10, 2023
Peanut Butter Panic is the seventh book in Amanda Flower’s Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. I really love this series and loved Peanut Butter Panic.
Bailey King is the non-amish granddaughter of wonderful amish grandparents. At the beginning of the series Bailey leaves her job at a prestigious chocolatier shop in Manhattan to help her Grandmother, after her grandfather’s death, in the small amish candy shop her grandparents had owned and operated for 60 years. Bailey fell in love with Harvest, Ohio and stayed on becoming a partner in the candy shop with her grandmother.
It’s Thanksgiving and Margot Rawlings is planning yet another town square extravaganza. This time an area wide Thanksgiving feast for 500-700 towns people and amish folks alike. However, Margot is uncharacteristically frazzled because her overly critical mother is coming to town. She arrives with a much younger (young enough to be her grandson) boyfriend. At the feast Zara announces her engagement to Blaze. Then a few short minutes later Blaze keels over into his mashed potatoes and dies from a severe peanut allergy. Margot is a person of interest so Bailey gets to work trying to discover who put peanuts in Blaze’s last meal.
I am so excited that the eighth book will be released soon as this is a must read series for any cozy mystery reader!
Bailey King is the non-amish granddaughter of wonderful amish grandparents. At the beginning of the series Bailey leaves her job at a prestigious chocolatier shop in Manhattan to help her Grandmother, after her grandfather’s death, in the small amish candy shop her grandparents had owned and operated for 60 years. Bailey fell in love with Harvest, Ohio and stayed on becoming a partner in the candy shop with her grandmother.
It’s Thanksgiving and Margot Rawlings is planning yet another town square extravaganza. This time an area wide Thanksgiving feast for 500-700 towns people and amish folks alike. However, Margot is uncharacteristically frazzled because her overly critical mother is coming to town. She arrives with a much younger (young enough to be her grandson) boyfriend. At the feast Zara announces her engagement to Blaze. Then a few short minutes later Blaze keels over into his mashed potatoes and dies from a severe peanut allergy. Margot is a person of interest so Bailey gets to work trying to discover who put peanuts in Blaze’s last meal.
I am so excited that the eighth book will be released soon as this is a must read series for any cozy mystery reader!
August 18, 2022
Peanut Butter Panic is the seventh book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. It's Thanksgiving in Harvest, Ohio and Bailey King is getting ready for the busiest weekend of the year at Swissmen Sweets. In addition, she's helping to organize things and supply desserts for the town's community Thanksgiving celebration that will include both Amish and non-Amish residents. When one of the attendees is murdered, Bailey has to put her candy-making on hold to investigate.
Bailey is a likable character. She is hard-working, loyal, and is able to get along with both the Amish and non-Amish residents of Harvest. This makes her the perfect person to investigate this crime (and others in prior books) since the Amish feel more comfortable talking to her than they do members of law enforcement. Amish customs and foods are discussed throughout the book and one popular food item that I hadn’t heard of before this book plays an important role in the story.
I was fairly sure I knew who the killer was but still enjoyed reading about the investigation. I remained entertained throughout the book, in part because there was a lot going on in the story in addition to the murder mystery. As always, Jethro the pot-bellied pig gets into plenty of mischief, but is always forgiven. Bailey’s cousin and employee Charlotte is gaining more and more confidence and adjusting to recent changes in her life. Bailey is considering expanding the candy shop, but needs to find a way to satisfy her ambition while still honoring her Grandmother’s wishes and Amish ways. There are also complications in Bailey’s personal life now that her boyfriend Aiden Brody is now working for the Ohio Bureau of Investigations in Columbus, two hours away from Harvest. Bailey and Aiden have a lot to talk about besides the murder. Readers who also follow the author’s Amish Matchmaker series will love seeing best friends Louis Henry and Millie Fisher in this book. Peanut Butter Panic has a satisfying ending and is a great installment in this charming cozy series. I would rate the book 4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The ebook was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Bailey is a likable character. She is hard-working, loyal, and is able to get along with both the Amish and non-Amish residents of Harvest. This makes her the perfect person to investigate this crime (and others in prior books) since the Amish feel more comfortable talking to her than they do members of law enforcement. Amish customs and foods are discussed throughout the book and one popular food item that I hadn’t heard of before this book plays an important role in the story.
I was fairly sure I knew who the killer was but still enjoyed reading about the investigation. I remained entertained throughout the book, in part because there was a lot going on in the story in addition to the murder mystery. As always, Jethro the pot-bellied pig gets into plenty of mischief, but is always forgiven. Bailey’s cousin and employee Charlotte is gaining more and more confidence and adjusting to recent changes in her life. Bailey is considering expanding the candy shop, but needs to find a way to satisfy her ambition while still honoring her Grandmother’s wishes and Amish ways. There are also complications in Bailey’s personal life now that her boyfriend Aiden Brody is now working for the Ohio Bureau of Investigations in Columbus, two hours away from Harvest. Bailey and Aiden have a lot to talk about besides the murder. Readers who also follow the author’s Amish Matchmaker series will love seeing best friends Louis Henry and Millie Fisher in this book. Peanut Butter Panic has a satisfying ending and is a great installment in this charming cozy series. I would rate the book 4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The ebook was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
August 25, 2022
Poor Bailey was already under bunches of pressure from overseeing the rest of the Thanksgiving meal event for Margot. She sure didn't need a dead body making an appearance at dinner. But knowing Bailey even though she had no real connection to the murder victim, she wasn't about to let someone get away with it.
I just love how Charlotte's character's getting so much more developed now that she's engaged to Luke Little the deputy and decided to leave the Amish church. She was a pretty good sleuthing partner for Bailey now. Even before, she was just too curious and Bailey normally gave in and let her help. At least now Bailey didn't have to worry about making anyone mad about what Charlotte was up to, well there was always Luke to answer to because he worried about Charlotte.
I really admire Bailey and Aiden as a couple for working out the outside issues in their relationship. They really came a long way and seem so strong now that not even a two-hour drive for his new BCI job was gonna ruin this awesome relationship. I love what Aiden said to her before he left!
And that little Jethro was at his best mischief and cuteness-wise. I thought it was about time Bailey admitted the little pig was really growing on her since Juliet always had her pigsitting. The little dude's definitely a star in his own little world!
Oh that showdown was so awesome and satisfying! Couldn't have wished for anything more or better justice! It'll be interesting to see how Bailey's dream for a candy factory for Swissmen Sweets works out now that she's got the first part somewhat taken care of. Don't miss this seventh installment in the Amish Candy Shop series that releases this coming Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I just love how Charlotte's character's getting so much more developed now that she's engaged to Luke Little the deputy and decided to leave the Amish church. She was a pretty good sleuthing partner for Bailey now. Even before, she was just too curious and Bailey normally gave in and let her help. At least now Bailey didn't have to worry about making anyone mad about what Charlotte was up to, well there was always Luke to answer to because he worried about Charlotte.
I really admire Bailey and Aiden as a couple for working out the outside issues in their relationship. They really came a long way and seem so strong now that not even a two-hour drive for his new BCI job was gonna ruin this awesome relationship. I love what Aiden said to her before he left!
And that little Jethro was at his best mischief and cuteness-wise. I thought it was about time Bailey admitted the little pig was really growing on her since Juliet always had her pigsitting. The little dude's definitely a star in his own little world!
Oh that showdown was so awesome and satisfying! Couldn't have wished for anything more or better justice! It'll be interesting to see how Bailey's dream for a candy factory for Swissmen Sweets works out now that she's got the first part somewhat taken care of. Don't miss this seventh installment in the Amish Candy Shop series that releases this coming Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
August 25, 2022
4.5 stars
Of all the wonderful Amanda Flower series, the Amish Candy Shop series is my favorite. I am so invested in Bailey and Aiden’s relationship that I won’t be content until they are married. Plus I want to continue to follow Charlotte’s decision to go from Amish to English.
In Peanut Butter Panic, we join Bailey and crew as Harvest prepares for the first ever town held Thanksgiving meal on the square. Happiness and fellowship is in the air until word gets around that a hated ex-judge is returning for the holidays. Can those wronged in the past by the judge forgive or will someone makes sure she suffers like they did?
I know the mystery should and did take center stage but I was more interested in the relationship turmoil between Bailey and Aiden. I had to resist the temptation to flip to the back to see the outcome. I never want to do that but oh my heart!
The murder mystery was well thought out with plenty of red herrings. I didn’t guess the murderer. When it was revealed and why I was shocked. I didn’t expect the turn it took. A cozy mystery that takes me by surprise like that is a highly rated mystery.
My reason for not giving a full 5 stars is a personal peeve of mine…there was only one recipe included. I expect my culinary cozies to have several. There was so many opportunities for more recipes being a Thanksgiving themed cozy. In no way did it distract from the entertaining Murder mystery and romance between Bailey and Aiden.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
Of all the wonderful Amanda Flower series, the Amish Candy Shop series is my favorite. I am so invested in Bailey and Aiden’s relationship that I won’t be content until they are married. Plus I want to continue to follow Charlotte’s decision to go from Amish to English.
In Peanut Butter Panic, we join Bailey and crew as Harvest prepares for the first ever town held Thanksgiving meal on the square. Happiness and fellowship is in the air until word gets around that a hated ex-judge is returning for the holidays. Can those wronged in the past by the judge forgive or will someone makes sure she suffers like they did?
I know the mystery should and did take center stage but I was more interested in the relationship turmoil between Bailey and Aiden. I had to resist the temptation to flip to the back to see the outcome. I never want to do that but oh my heart!
The murder mystery was well thought out with plenty of red herrings. I didn’t guess the murderer. When it was revealed and why I was shocked. I didn’t expect the turn it took. A cozy mystery that takes me by surprise like that is a highly rated mystery.
My reason for not giving a full 5 stars is a personal peeve of mine…there was only one recipe included. I expect my culinary cozies to have several. There was so many opportunities for more recipes being a Thanksgiving themed cozy. In no way did it distract from the entertaining Murder mystery and romance between Bailey and Aiden.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
August 15, 2022
I have loved these books since the beginning. I had no idea that I would end up having them on my "favorite series" shelf, but here we are. I have read most of what this author has written and I have loved them all with the exception of one]. So imagine my surprise [AND disappointment] when I started reading this and realized that it was going to be problematic for me.
There is a certain trend in cozies right now to beat the reader over the head with the same information, just told in different ways [sometimes its obvious, other times less so] and I have to tell you, it is both tedious to read and INSULTING to the reader. We do not need to be told the same thing over and over and over again. In the case of this book, we are ALL aware that Bailey both missed Aiden and "knows she needs to talk to him about him being in Columbus" and the fact that Aiden has changed since taking the job at the BCI. We've known that since he left in the previous book. Unfortunately, we are hit over the head with this over and over and O V E R again. It was unnecessary - even new readers would get that after a couple of mentions, but it is mentioned in every single chapter [I was keeping track. I realized early on this was going to happen and started to pay attention to it], sometimes more than once. And more often than not, it was just the same thing over and over, no attempt to disguise it. We are also told [at the beginning] that Bailey wants to expand Swissman Sweets and needs to talk to her grandmother about it. Great. Awesome. Unfortunately, that talk doesn't happen until late in the story and by then, I was almost yelling at the book TO GET IT DONE ALREADY. IF it was as important as she makes it out to be, she would have carved out time. Her grandmother loves and respects her and respects her business sense and is not a monster. She's not even Ruth Yoder [ ;-)]. It just made me eyeroll over and over and over again.
Now, all that makes me sound like I didn't like the book. I did. It was okay. The murder was interesting [though I knew who the killer was early on <--to me it was pretty obvious] and the means was a new one and I liked how the author handled the idea of food allergies as they are very real and scary [as someone who suffers from them, I know first hand]. Was it the best book in the series? No. Not at all. Sadly. But there are really good parts that I truly enjoyed. I love Puff and Jethro [WHO could hate that adorable but obnoxious pig - every scene he is in is hilarious. The whole scene at Ruth Yoder's farm is...well, I'll let you read it and find out for yourself]. I love how Charlotte is coming into herself and how she is growing and learning to speak up for herself and how she truly helps Bailey [it is like she is Bailey's commonsense sometimes] and how the Amish still treat her well, even though she's left the Order] and her relationship with Officer Little is very sweet. And we get a glimpse into why Margot Rawlings is the way she is [and isn't her Mom a real TREAT. UGH]. It was interesting to have a story centered around her and I liked that aspect of it as well. It shows what a good person she really is and how hard she truly works for the community she loves.
Do I wish the reveal and the end were better? Yes. I despise rushed reveals [this is another trope that cozy writers are indulging in and it is also NOT okay. I don't want an info dump in the last chapter pleaseandthankyou] and the whole conversations that Bailey needs to have felt rushed and...well...unrealistic. Though I will always love how gracious and loving Bailey's Mammi is. She is a lovely, lovely character and I truly hope we see more of her in the next book. I have missed her in the past few books.
Overall, this was not the best read for me, but it was by far better than some I have read [and not finished] recently. I love these characters and Harvest so much and 10 books in [7 full books, 3 novellas], I have no intention of abandoning ship now. I will be waiting with baited breath for the next one and and all the adventures that Bailey and her crew get into.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Flower, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is a certain trend in cozies right now to beat the reader over the head with the same information, just told in different ways [sometimes its obvious, other times less so] and I have to tell you, it is both tedious to read and INSULTING to the reader. We do not need to be told the same thing over and over and over again. In the case of this book, we are ALL aware that Bailey both missed Aiden and "knows she needs to talk to him about him being in Columbus" and the fact that Aiden has changed since taking the job at the BCI. We've known that since he left in the previous book. Unfortunately, we are hit over the head with this over and over and O V E R again. It was unnecessary - even new readers would get that after a couple of mentions, but it is mentioned in every single chapter [I was keeping track. I realized early on this was going to happen and started to pay attention to it], sometimes more than once. And more often than not, it was just the same thing over and over, no attempt to disguise it. We are also told [at the beginning] that Bailey wants to expand Swissman Sweets and needs to talk to her grandmother about it. Great. Awesome. Unfortunately, that talk doesn't happen until late in the story and by then, I was almost yelling at the book TO GET IT DONE ALREADY. IF it was as important as she makes it out to be, she would have carved out time. Her grandmother loves and respects her and respects her business sense and is not a monster. She's not even Ruth Yoder [ ;-)]. It just made me eyeroll over and over and over again.
Now, all that makes me sound like I didn't like the book. I did. It was okay. The murder was interesting [though I knew who the killer was early on <--to me it was pretty obvious] and the means was a new one and I liked how the author handled the idea of food allergies as they are very real and scary [as someone who suffers from them, I know first hand]. Was it the best book in the series? No. Not at all. Sadly. But there are really good parts that I truly enjoyed. I love Puff and Jethro [WHO could hate that adorable but obnoxious pig - every scene he is in is hilarious. The whole scene at Ruth Yoder's farm is...well, I'll let you read it and find out for yourself]. I love how Charlotte is coming into herself and how she is growing and learning to speak up for herself and how she truly helps Bailey [it is like she is Bailey's commonsense sometimes] and how the Amish still treat her well, even though she's left the Order] and her relationship with Officer Little is very sweet. And we get a glimpse into why Margot Rawlings is the way she is [and isn't her Mom a real TREAT. UGH]. It was interesting to have a story centered around her and I liked that aspect of it as well. It shows what a good person she really is and how hard she truly works for the community she loves.
Do I wish the reveal and the end were better? Yes. I despise rushed reveals [this is another trope that cozy writers are indulging in and it is also NOT okay. I don't want an info dump in the last chapter pleaseandthankyou] and the whole conversations that Bailey needs to have felt rushed and...well...unrealistic. Though I will always love how gracious and loving Bailey's Mammi is. She is a lovely, lovely character and I truly hope we see more of her in the next book. I have missed her in the past few books.
Overall, this was not the best read for me, but it was by far better than some I have read [and not finished] recently. I love these characters and Harvest so much and 10 books in [7 full books, 3 novellas], I have no intention of abandoning ship now. I will be waiting with baited breath for the next one and and all the adventures that Bailey and her crew get into.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Flower, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2022
It is almost Thanksgiving in Harvest and Bailey is extremely busy at the chocolate shop. When Margot announces that her mother is coming to town and asks for Bailey's help in making sure the Thanksgiving event goes well, Bailey agrees to help. Margot's mother, Zara, arrives along with her much younger boyfriend, Blaze. Blaze, who has a peanut allergy, dies at the town Thanksgiving dinner, shortly after Margot and Zara argue. His allergy looks to be the cause of his demise. Bailey starts investigating when the police suspect Margot.
I always love this series. Bailey is a great lead character. I love her cousin Charlotte and Deputy Little. It has been wonderful to see how far they have come in the series. I do wish there had been more of Aiden in the book. I hope to see more of him in the next book. I received this book from Kensington publishing and net galley in exchange for an honest review.
I always love this series. Bailey is a great lead character. I love her cousin Charlotte and Deputy Little. It has been wonderful to see how far they have come in the series. I do wish there had been more of Aiden in the book. I hope to see more of him in the next book. I received this book from Kensington publishing and net galley in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2023
I thoroughly enjoy the Amish Candy Shop Mystery and Peanut Butter Panic was a great addition to this series. In this book, we meet Zara Bevan, the mother of Village organizer, Margot Rawlings. Zara was previously a judge in the area and she had treated the Amish that came before her in court very severely. She was not well liked and it was surprising that she chose to return to Harvest Ohio in such a public way, attending the town Thanksgiving Dinner. When Margot goes to pick her up at the airport, she finds her dragging along her boy toy, a man younger than Margot herself. At the dinner Zara announces that she and her boyfriend Blaze Smith, are going to get married. At the dinner Blaze suffers an allergic reaction, and his epi-pen is nowhere to be found. He dies and suspicions abound. Will Bailey be able to help find the culprit before the local police once more bumble the case.
I enjoy all the talk of chocolate, festivals and life with the Amish in this series. It is a very busy time for Bailey and the employees of Swissmen Sweets. Learning about Margot's mother reminded me that prejudice abounds in our world against people of all races, cultures, religion and more. Blaze is after Zara's money and everyone knows it, including Zara. He is also deathly allergic to peanuts and even brought his own Amish Spread without peanuts, so how did peanuts get in his food. Bailey's boyfriend, Aiden is now working for the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, so he isn't around much, although he is called in for this case. I was worried that their relationship might not last, but fortunately, Amanda Flower has a twist for us. As usual, all the pets are there including Jethro the pig. This was another well written and plotted cozy mystery with lots of suspects, some red herrings and some big twists. I definitely recommend Peanut Butter Panic to cozy mystery lovers, better yet, read the whole series if you haven't already. I was fortunate to be able to do a read listen with the audiobook narrated by Rebecca Mitchell. She does a great job giving individual and recognizable voices to the main characters and adding expression and emotion. I recommend either format depending on your preference.
I enjoy all the talk of chocolate, festivals and life with the Amish in this series. It is a very busy time for Bailey and the employees of Swissmen Sweets. Learning about Margot's mother reminded me that prejudice abounds in our world against people of all races, cultures, religion and more. Blaze is after Zara's money and everyone knows it, including Zara. He is also deathly allergic to peanuts and even brought his own Amish Spread without peanuts, so how did peanuts get in his food. Bailey's boyfriend, Aiden is now working for the Ohio Bureau of Investigation, so he isn't around much, although he is called in for this case. I was worried that their relationship might not last, but fortunately, Amanda Flower has a twist for us. As usual, all the pets are there including Jethro the pig. This was another well written and plotted cozy mystery with lots of suspects, some red herrings and some big twists. I definitely recommend Peanut Butter Panic to cozy mystery lovers, better yet, read the whole series if you haven't already. I was fortunate to be able to do a read listen with the audiobook narrated by Rebecca Mitchell. She does a great job giving individual and recognizable voices to the main characters and adding expression and emotion. I recommend either format depending on your preference.
June 9, 2022
The Amish Candy Shop mysteries are my favorite that Amanda Flower has written. Peanut Butter Panic is the 10th book the author has written in this series. As the title implies you know that someone will have a peanut allergy and die as a result. There was one character that I initially thought was the culprit in the beginning but as I read the book I started to change my mind. It appears my original theory was correct but did not know the reason. I love returning to Harvest. I have gotten to know all the characters and the adorable little trouble maker pig Jethro and his quirky human Julliet always makes me laugh.. I look forward to reading more books in the series and hope that Aiden and Bailey will come closer to making the step of at least getting engaged.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a digital copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own. Book is highly recommended for those who love a good clean cozy mysery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a digital copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own. Book is highly recommended for those who love a good clean cozy mysery.
April 12, 2023
The surprise arrival of her termagent perfectionist mother has, Margot, the normally super efficient town special events planner in panic mode. On her way to the airport, she enlists the already over-committed, Bailey King, to manage the tasks for tomorrow's Thanksgiving events. Seems that two decades into her Florida retirement has not been long enough to erase the memories of the anti-Amish judge in Harvest, Ohio. When a suspicious death is ruled a homicide, Bailey is drawn into investigating to protect those she knows are innocent. It's not so much the plot, but also the beloved characters residing in Harvest that make each of the books in this series so enjoyable. Still the mystery is well-paced with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2023
Another good trip to Harvest. I felt like Jessica Fletcher reading this as one sentence clued me in to the murderer. I love the characters and seeing them grow and their continuing relationships. I will comment on the buckeye recipe at the end - I’ve been making buckeyes since I was a kid, we never chill them until they’ve been dipped in the chocolate (we include paraffin in ours) and we always close the toothpick hole so they look nice.
May 12, 2022
Is it good or bad that at one point I was so caught up in the antics of Jethro the pig that I momentarily forgot there was a murder? I'm going with good. It simply shows how focused main character Bailey King could be in the face of, well, I won't share because I want you to enjoy them as they happen, but will say in the face of some funny but pulse raising events. Heck, she even manages to elude some attack turkeys. Nope, don't ask. Not telling. You really, really need to read this book.
In any case, back to the murder. If it wasn't bad enough that Margot, organizer of Harvest, Ohio's Thanksgiving festivities, is upset by the visit of her overbearing, self-focused, and, well, terribly unlikable mother, Zara, but her mother's much younger boyfriend is murdered at the event. Who did it and why? Was it daughter Margot, already distressed by her mother's unexpected visit? How about one of the Amish who suffered because of the harsh punishments Zara doled out as a judge? Or, hmm, maybe someone from Blaze's own past? How will Bailey sort it all out while getting up to make candy for the shop in what amounts to the middle of the night for most of us, babysitting Jethro, juggling her media presence, avoiding the sharp teeth of Zara's little dog Gator, making future business plans, investigating the murder, and trying to sort out her own relationship with Aiden? There are even some genuine booby-traps she has to avoid.
Nope, not telling, but you'll enjoy the ride. Not only is Bailey likable but her family and friends are, too. They're people we'd like to know and spend time with. I love how sensitive Bailey is to the Amish community, for instance, an affection that isn't always readily returned, but it shows her caring personality. Aiden, the love interest, shows an emotional, caring side of himself, too, and, well, his mother seems to be a lovable force all her own. Read this one. You'll love it. Number 7 in Amanda Flower's longer running series to date, "Peanut Butter Panic" is a winner. I hated to see it end.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to spend some time with Bailey while I enjoyed Jethro's antics, not to mention flashing back to my own encounter with some "attack turkeys". Amanda Flower knows her farm critters.
In any case, back to the murder. If it wasn't bad enough that Margot, organizer of Harvest, Ohio's Thanksgiving festivities, is upset by the visit of her overbearing, self-focused, and, well, terribly unlikable mother, Zara, but her mother's much younger boyfriend is murdered at the event. Who did it and why? Was it daughter Margot, already distressed by her mother's unexpected visit? How about one of the Amish who suffered because of the harsh punishments Zara doled out as a judge? Or, hmm, maybe someone from Blaze's own past? How will Bailey sort it all out while getting up to make candy for the shop in what amounts to the middle of the night for most of us, babysitting Jethro, juggling her media presence, avoiding the sharp teeth of Zara's little dog Gator, making future business plans, investigating the murder, and trying to sort out her own relationship with Aiden? There are even some genuine booby-traps she has to avoid.
Nope, not telling, but you'll enjoy the ride. Not only is Bailey likable but her family and friends are, too. They're people we'd like to know and spend time with. I love how sensitive Bailey is to the Amish community, for instance, an affection that isn't always readily returned, but it shows her caring personality. Aiden, the love interest, shows an emotional, caring side of himself, too, and, well, his mother seems to be a lovable force all her own. Read this one. You'll love it. Number 7 in Amanda Flower's longer running series to date, "Peanut Butter Panic" is a winner. I hated to see it end.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to spend some time with Bailey while I enjoyed Jethro's antics, not to mention flashing back to my own encounter with some "attack turkeys". Amanda Flower knows her farm critters.
August 24, 2022
Peanut Butter Panic is the seventh book in The Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower.
Bailey, her grandmother, and Charlotte, an employee, are very busy at Swissmen Sweets making candies for Harvest’s Thanksgiving Festival and having enough inventory for Black Friday. The whole village, Englischer and Amish, have been invited to the Thanksgiving dinner that will be held on the village green. Bailey is looking over where the dessert will be arranged when Margot Rawlings approaches her and asks, well, tells her to supervise the set-up for the dinner, as she has to go to the airport to pick up her mother, Zara. When Margot returns, Zora has her much younger boyfriend, Blaze. Shortly after everyone has commenced their Thanksgiving meal, Zora announces that she and will be getting married. Soon after, Blaze collapses into his plate. He’s rushed to the hospital, where he dies. Blaze was allergic to peanuts, and his EpiPen couldn’t be found. Somebody had switched his peanut-free marshmallow fluff with one tainted with peanuts.
Margot will soon ask Bailey to find out who might have murdered Blaze as she is afraid she will be arrested for his murder. It seems that her mother has re-written her will, that her mother marries Margot would be written out of her will.
Bailey is also facing indecision about whether she and her boyfriend, Aiden, will be able to take their budding romance to the next step.
The book is well-written and plotted, with most of the believable and well-developed characters from the previous books are back once again. And again, Jethro, the polka-dot pig, is back to add some humor with his cute antics.
A delicious recipe is also included in the book.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this enjoyable series.
Bailey, her grandmother, and Charlotte, an employee, are very busy at Swissmen Sweets making candies for Harvest’s Thanksgiving Festival and having enough inventory for Black Friday. The whole village, Englischer and Amish, have been invited to the Thanksgiving dinner that will be held on the village green. Bailey is looking over where the dessert will be arranged when Margot Rawlings approaches her and asks, well, tells her to supervise the set-up for the dinner, as she has to go to the airport to pick up her mother, Zara. When Margot returns, Zora has her much younger boyfriend, Blaze. Shortly after everyone has commenced their Thanksgiving meal, Zora announces that she and will be getting married. Soon after, Blaze collapses into his plate. He’s rushed to the hospital, where he dies. Blaze was allergic to peanuts, and his EpiPen couldn’t be found. Somebody had switched his peanut-free marshmallow fluff with one tainted with peanuts.
Margot will soon ask Bailey to find out who might have murdered Blaze as she is afraid she will be arrested for his murder. It seems that her mother has re-written her will, that her mother marries Margot would be written out of her will.
Bailey is also facing indecision about whether she and her boyfriend, Aiden, will be able to take their budding romance to the next step.
The book is well-written and plotted, with most of the believable and well-developed characters from the previous books are back once again. And again, Jethro, the polka-dot pig, is back to add some humor with his cute antics.
A delicious recipe is also included in the book.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this enjoyable series.
April 27, 2022
First, I was surprised by the choice of victim, I was sure that it would be the very obnoxious retired judge who seemed to disdain everyone, including her perfectionist daughter. As the publisher's blurb tells, it was that woman's "fiancé" who was decades younger who was murdered by anaphylaxis. The noxious woman bullies Bailey into sleuthing the case even as Bailey's state police boyfriend is assigned to work with the locals on that very same case. Good sleuthing is done by all, but I still don't know why everyone's teeth don't fall out. A really good whodunit in a captivating series.
The publisher's blurb is pretty good for a start but can't tell you about the engaging characters, plot twists, red herrings, and some other interesting sidelines. Loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
The publisher's blurb is pretty good for a start but can't tell you about the engaging characters, plot twists, red herrings, and some other interesting sidelines. Loved it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
October 30, 2022
Although the author had me worried over a certain plot point for most of the read, she didn't let me down. Happy sigh. I know I should have trusted her but...sometimes authors have been known to veer off my preferred course from time to time. :-)
Jethro, pet pig extraordinaire, is in his element in this 7th Amish Candy Shop Mystery book. He's quite the famous pig now and might be playing up the notoriety a bit. And he is an absolutely adorable scene stealer. And Puff the rabbit comes in a pretty close second. When I wasn't chortling over critter antics, I was stewing over that worrisome plot point while trying my hand at sleuthing. So happy there are more Amish Candy Shop books in our future.
Jethro, pet pig extraordinaire, is in his element in this 7th Amish Candy Shop Mystery book. He's quite the famous pig now and might be playing up the notoriety a bit. And he is an absolutely adorable scene stealer. And Puff the rabbit comes in a pretty close second. When I wasn't chortling over critter antics, I was stewing over that worrisome plot point while trying my hand at sleuthing. So happy there are more Amish Candy Shop books in our future.
April 21, 2022
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of PEANUT BUTTER PANIC (Book 7 of the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries) by Amanda Flower in exchange for an honest review. I liked it and look forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series and the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring Amish living, candy shops, and town events.
#PeanutButterPanic #NetGalley
#PeanutButterPanic #NetGalley
April 23, 2022
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
The seventh in the well known and established cozy mystery series. Bailey’s charming and charismatic, a wonderful character for this genre.
A great addition to the series.
The seventh in the well known and established cozy mystery series. Bailey’s charming and charismatic, a wonderful character for this genre.
A great addition to the series.
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