Quick Summary: A sweet and tart mystery

My Review: Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith was a fantastic intro to A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The plot, the characters, and the intrigue were fresh and engaging.

My Final Say: My interest has been piqued. Bring on book 2!

Rating: 4.75
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

Thanks to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who brought this work to my attention and afforded me an opportunity to read it.

#NetGalleywishlist
#libraryread

* A Goodreads review has been posted.

Daisy is a widow with two daughters. She is the birth Mom to Violet, who is away at college. She is also the adoptive Mom to Jazzi, who still lives at home. Daisy and her Aunt Iris own and operate Daisy's Tea Garden. Iris is dating Harvey, who is not yet divorced fom his wife. When Harvey is found murdered on the tea garden's property, Iris is high up on the police suspect list of possible murderers. Daisy is determined to prove her Aunt's innocence. As we go along with Daisy, we meet several intersting characters. Amongst them are Harvey's children and his ex-wife. Also, Cade and Jonas who are possible love interests for Daisy. As a side story, Jazzi expresses an interst in finding her birth Mom and Jonas has agreed to help.

I'm not really sure why, but I did have a hard time warming up to this book. Maybe it was Daisy's squeeky clean image or that I did not really connect with her. But the more I read, the more involved I became in the different characters. I liked how Daisy was supportive of both Aunt Iris and Jazzi. By the end of the book, I found myself wanting to spend more time in Willow Creek. Will Jazzi connect with her birth Mom? And what about Daisy's attraction to both Jonas and Cade? What's next for Daisy and Aunt Iris?

All in all, this turned out to be a fine start to a new series. My thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley.

This story was cute and entertaining. Not particularly mysterious or thrilling, but it is fun to cozy up to on a rainy day.

I delayed reading this book because I wasn't sure that this series would be an enjoyable as her first series. However, I enjoyed this one and didn't want to put it down. The characters kept my interest from the first chapter to the last page. They are likable and feel like 'real' people. And I would love to visit Daisy's Tea Garden. It is written in an easy to read style with the perfect amount of description. My only complaint is that I always wanted scones while reading this one!

Daisy's Tea Garden is a delightful setting that turns dangerous when the owner(Daisy)'s aunt is suspected of the murder of her boyfriend. Daisy has so much going on in her life but still takes the investigation to protect her aunt as a priority.

The plot was crisp, the characters were warm and felt like old friends and the tea descriptions -mouth-watering.

I thought this was super cute. This is the first in a new series. The tea shop is just darling and makes me wish I could visit. Daisy is great! I love how she looks out for her Aunt Iris. Cozy mystery readers will enjoy this and getting to know Daisy. Just love these type of books!

This is a cute cozy mystery but it was just an OK read for me. Daisy and her Aunt Iris own and operate Daisy's Tea Garden in Pennsylvania. Her aunt is dating a local store owner Harvey while Daisy a widow is still healing her broken heart. When Harvey is found dead in their garden her Aunt is the prime suspect. Daisy tries to the solve murder to clear her aunt. The author does a good job with the small town setting and the tea room background. The mystery however was weak. Daisy did not solve the crime. There were not any real suspects. It was easy to figure out the killer. The author also spent way too much time describing clothes and appearances of very minor characters. Recipes are included in the back.

What a great start! I want to visit the tea garden- Always wanted to go to a place like that. This book brought the expierence to life for me. I really thought things were going to go one way when it ended up going another. It was a well written Cozy Mystery. Also, a little romance is alway welcome. Recipes are included.

Nice start to a new series. Daisy is a strong character that seemed to be handling workshops and single parenting fairly well. She runs a tea shop with her Aunt who gets accused of murder when her married boyfriend is found dead in their outside path. Daisy can only see how this will ruin their business so She starts investigating until She finds herself in danger. Overall this is a well written cozy mystery that had vivid characters, a sweet setting, and a captivating mystery. If you enjoy cozy mysteries then you should try this book. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Daisy Swanson runs Daisy’s Tea Garden in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania with her aunt Iris where they serve specialty teas and homemade baked goods. Daisy is a young widowed mother with two teenaged daughters. She worries a bit when her aunt Iris starts seeing local business owner Harvey Fitz. Their relationship seems to be getting serious. When Harvey is found bludgeoned to death in the tea garden, Iris becomes the prime suspect. Daisy is determined to clear her aunt's name and does her own snooping with the help of former policeman Jonas Groft. Harvey's estranged wife Monica and his two adult children may have personal grudges and financial motives to kill him. Meanwhile, Daisy's younger daughter Jazzi surprises her by saying she wants to find her birth mother.

This is the first book in the Daisy's Tea Garden mystery series and was an enjoyable read.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

I loved this cozy mystery. Daisy and Iris are owners of Daisy's tea garden, when a murder occurs in their garden, lots of suspicion of the owners occurs. lots of twists and turns, wonderful story and wonderful characters.

I am so excited that Karen Rose Smith is gifting us with another exciting cozy series.
I love the way she portrays families, loyal yet not always seeing eye to eye, and the beautiful way she writes about places I may only visit in my mind's eye. She makes me feel as if I am there amidst the scenery and action. Not that I want to be at a murder scene, but I can feel the emotions the main characters and those closest to them are expressing in Karen's words. She has a wonderful way to turn a phrase and write descriptive passages.
This murder was not as simple to solve as one might first think. The victim has disinherited his children and was going through a contentious divorce. With any rise to financial success a person makes enemies. There are motives and suspects from different directions and areas of his life.
Along with the murder aspect, this series has an under current of romance and some family draa. Besides being widowed, heroine Daisy has an adopted daughter going through those teenage years of angst and doubt, and an older daughter adjusting to college life. Stressful times regardless of any mother's personal situation. Add in a murder - and at one's own place of business - and you can understand how poor Daisy feels life may be heading out of control.
I am looking forward to more books in this series.
We also receive bonus recipes at the back.

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. I found it delightful from the very beginning. It was not heavy, but a light murder mystery involving Daisy Swanson and her family. It is an easy read, just a couple of days, but it kept my interest and I am already wanting more! The writing is very good and the characters are wonderful. It was so easy to picture the characters, the tea shop, and the town. It was not packed with too much information, but rather, just enough to make the storyline enjoyable and easy to read. I highly recommend this new series if you like cozy mysteries. It is great!

Daisy Swanson and her aunt Iris run a teashop in the middle of Pennsylvania's Amish country. Daisy is a widowed mother of two, one who has just left for college and the other in high school. Iris, who never married, has recently become involved with Harvey Fitz, who is in the process of a divorce. When Harvey is found murdered in the tea garden, Iris makes the top of the police's suspect list. It is up to Daisy to get to the bottom of things before a killer strikes again.

If there were a place for it, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. It has a wonderful setting that is extremely cozy and made me want to sit down for tea and scones. I liked Daisy and her family, and the interactions between them. They were perfectly drawn and I could see them as real life people, which makes for a great read. Daisy especially spoke to me, a widow who was working to put her life back on track, and who worked to keep her children at the forefront of her life.

The one tick I had with this book is I felt as if the possible romances for Daisy, between two different men, and her daughter's hunt for her birth mother, took top billing over the mystery. I would have liked a few more twists and turns that made me wonder who the killer was. Instead I figured it out partway through and my mind never changed. Still, I liked the story and the setting enough that I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley

Princess Fuzzypants here:
Daisy’s Tea Garden is a delightful place to enjoy a cuppa and a yummy treat. Daisy and her aunt Iris who is co owner have created a little island of calm..that is until Iris’s still married boyfriend Harvey is found bludgeoned by a garden gnome in said garden.
Naturally Iris, Daisy and the man’s almost ex-wife and children are high in the suspect pool. Daisy become embroiled in the investigation when she thinks the local “fuzz” are trying to blame her aunt and she does not want her railroaded. Helping Daisy, and trying to keep her out of trouble, are a couple of very eligible gentlemen.
Daisy, a widow with two grown and almost grown daughters, must decide if she is ready to live life again fully. Her aunt, despite the tragedy that ended her happiness, shows Daisy it is time to think about love again. But not until the perp is caught since he is threatening both Daisy and her aunt.
This a light bit of froth. It is entertaining but without the characters that truly grab me and keep me turning the page to make sure they are all right.
I give it four purrs and one paw up.

Widow and single mom Daisy and her aunt Iris are partners in a Pennsylvania tea room that gets a surprising boost of publicity when Iris's married boyfriend turns up murdered in their garden.

Daisy and her friends and family all work together to figure out the mystery (solving it by a stroke of luck during the predictabe penultimate scene where they confront the murderer), but the relationships are much more important to the book than the mystery. There are lots of red herrings and loads of characters, luscious descriptions of tea and baked goods (with some recipes in the back), and the whole thing is cozy as all get-out.

The book is written in a simple, matter of fact style and the characters are believable and likeable, too. I liked the level of emotional authenticity with which they approach the myriad side issues.

I think there will have to be a long series so we can find out what happens to everyone in the book.

This is the exciting debut of the new "Tea Garden Mystery series by beloved cozy author Karen Rose Smith. " This is a delightful cozy story that captivated my attention as I read it cover to cover.
In this series Daisy Swanson co-owns Daisy’s Tea Garden (in a beautiful Victorian) with her aunt, Iris Albright in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. The location of the old Victorian is described so beautifully you want to jump on a plane and visit if only it was real. The wonderful descriptions of running a tea garden business is pleasing and a delight to read. The recipes and teas will have you diving into the wonderful recipes in the back of the book. The characters all add to the story and provide unique small town friendships .
Our protagonist is Daisy Swanson is a Mom to two daughters and a caring compassionate person. She works hard to make the Tea Garden Shop a success and manage her life with her daughters as a single parent. When her Aunt is accused of murdering her boyfriend for his money Daisy is on the case to clear her Aunt working with the local police. She proves to be a able and smart sleuth and has a talent for finding clues.
I found this new series delightful and look forward to the next in series. The author has all the right elements for a successful series. I enjoyed the well crafted exciting sleuth and how the author incorporated the business, neighbors and setting so perfectly for the reader. I read this book cover to cover and was unable to part with it until the end.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC which did not influence my review. I look forward to the next in series by this wonderful author.

I really enjoyed this book from the start. I liked the setting with the tea and food. The characters were great. I hope to read more books in the series.

“Murder with Lemon Tea Cake” earns 5/5 Tasty Lemon Cakes…Sans the Murder!

My introduction to Karen Rose Smith’s work came through reading books in her delightful Caprice DeLuca Home Staging series, so I was very eager to read her new series Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery. Of course, every first book in a series takes the additional time to introduce the relevant backstory and character connections which often determine whether or not a reader will become a fan…I am now a fan! We meet Daisy Swanson, a late-thirties widow with two children (one starting college, one fifteen-year-old showing a rebellious side). She returned to Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, her hometown set in the middle of Amish country, and partnered with her Aunt Iris to manage a quaint tea garden in a converted Victorian. I love culinary/beverage themed cozies and with this book we are treated to subtle references rekindling my passion for all things tea along with three original recipes found in the story: Daisy’s Leek & Potato Soup, Tessa’s Carrot Salad, and of course, Iris’s Lemon Tea Cakes. The supporting cast are all delightful from Daisy’s BFF Tessa Miller, to daughters Violet and Jasmine ‘Jazzi,’ to possible renewed love interest Cade Bankert, and lots of residents, witnesses, and suspects.

I was immediately hooked and eager for an “on the horizon” release of book two “Murder With Cinnamon Scones” (Chapter One is available to read in the eBook version). Karen penned engaging dialogue and descriptions bringing to life the tea garden, the Victorian house, and all sorts of characters. The clever story is the epitome of the ‘cozy’ genre with a murder treated lightly, but using characters, clues, twists and turns, a reasonable amateur investigating style as the driving force. Aunt Iris is dating a soon-to-be divorced Harvey Fitz, owner of Men’s Trends, and is helping him plan a twenty-fifth anniversary party for his business at the tea garden. Sadly his murder puts Aunt Iris at the top of the suspect list and Daisy on the track to save her from prison. Lost of suspects with motives…dysfunctional siblings? A soon-to-be Ex Wife? Competitors? Secrets? Lies? Karen entwines all this together in a well-written mystery with a myriad of delightful characters, a couple of “Oh my!” twists, and even a few giggles out loud. I loved it!

Karen Rose Smith is the author of Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes, the first book in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. Daisy, widowed mother of two, and her aunt Iris are the owners of a tea garden. Iris, who has never married, is in love with the almost divorced Harvey Fitz. The romance comes to an abrupt halt when Harvey is found murdered at the tea garden. This is a great start to a new series. The characters, setting, and strong mystery were all assets. I look forward to more in this series.