Dollycas’s Thoughts
Willow Creek has a big event planned. A Quilt Lover’s Weekend that they hope will bring plenty of tourists to town. Reese Masemer owns the local art gallery and he will be displaying some beautiful antique quilts. Tessa, an artist and Daisy’s BFF has been dating him and helping him set up for the big event. There will be a tea at Daisy’s Tea Garden to wrap up the event and announce the raffle winners.

After their last meeting, Tessa feels there is something off about Reese but he has been busy and she has been working on a project herself too. She spends her early morning sketching the covered bridge just outside of town. She is hoping that after the weekend and things settle down she will be able to find out what is going on with Reese. But before she has the chance, Reese is found dead, right by the covered bridge and Tessa is the police’s prime suspect. Knowing her friend is innocent she is going to do her best to find the real killer. Daisy has a way with tea and cinnamon scones but catching the real culprit will take more than 5 minutes to steep the clues all together and pour out her findings for the police.

The characters in this story have a strong bond whether related by blood or friendship. The group looks out for each other. That is clear not only by the way they try to save Tessa but also when Daisy’s helps out one of her employees. A young man on a different path that his father thinks he should be on. I loved the way they all come together several times in this story to handle normal daily life, business, the murder investigation and its aftermath. The word compassion comes to mind when I think of these characters. All the relationships feel true to life.

Karen Rose Smith has written a complex mystery with some corkscrew twists. More suspects are uncovered as the story reveals more of the victim’s past. Detective Morris Rappaport really started rubbing me the wrong way but a few exciting moments finally put him in his place. I liked that Daisy had help from a retired police detective, Jonas Groft and a high school friend, Cade Bankert but I am not entirely sold yet on a romantic relationship between Jonah and Daisy.

This story is well written and plotted. The characters are well developed as well with plenty of backstory if you missed the first book in this series. I am not a tea drinker but I love the theme of this series. As a former quilter, I also loved the theme of this story. Willow Creek is a wonderful place to virtually visit. I could almost taste the cinnamon scones.

This is another perfect escape from this author. A delightful cozy mystery. I am excited to see what happens next!

Princess Fuzzypants here: When we first met Daisy, she and her aunt had set up a tea shop in a small town in Amish Pennsylvania. A widow, with two daughters, she struggled to balance the needs of her family and friends and her business with solving a murder. She is a fascinating heroine who gets involved even though she knows her own limitations. She seldom does anything that is truly jaw-droppingly silly but still manages to get herself in some very dangerous pickles. She is someone with whom the reader can relate.
She gets involved when her best friend’s boyfriend ends up murdered and Tessa becomes the focus of the investigation. When Tessa finds the murder weapon hidden behind artwork in her apartment, she might have been in the cross-hairs but for a number of incidents that indicate she might have been set up.
Daisy seems to stumble from one life threatening situation to another without any idea why until the final piece of the puzzle falls into place. But is it too late. You will just have to read the book to find out. I will tell you that there are lots of exciting moments as well as some deeply human ones. The characters explore the relationships between parents and children. It is done in a very empathetic and realistic way and that adds to the draw of the characters. They just happen to be people, and kitties, with whom one happily can spend time.
I give this four purrs and two paws up.

Murder with Cinnamon Scones is the second installment in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series set in the small town of Willow Creek, PA and featuring Daisy Swanson, co-owner of Daisy's Tea Garden. Daisy is adjusting to daughter, Jazzi wanting to connect with her birth mother Portia and to the idea that daughter, Vi who is away at college seems to be falling for Tea Garden employee Foster Cranshaw.

Daisy's best friend and fellow Tea Garden worker, Tessa Miller has been dating Reese Masemer, owner of the local Revelations Art Gallery. With the town readying for the upcoming Quilt Lover's Weekend, Tessa invites Daisy to visit the gallery to see the quilts that will be on display. Thinking Reese is away on business, the ladies are startled to hear him moving around in his upstairs apartment. Not long after Daisy and Tess leave, the security alarm from the gallery starts blaring and rushing back they discover Reese stumbling around an apparent victim of an attack. It's only a few days later when Reese's body is discovered out by the old covered bridge, the place where Tessa has been doing a series of sketches and paintings. Tessa immediately becomes the prime suspect in the murder. With Reese's assistant, the jealous Chloe pointing fingers, the police learning that Tessa has been named the executor of Reese's estate, and the arrival of Reese's ex wife and estranged son, Daisy realizes she has no choice but to try and clear her friends name.

With the help of old high school chum and real estate agent, Cade Bankert and Jonas Groft, a retired police detective, Daisy soon discovers that something evil is steeping in the tranquil Amish countryside.

A well crafted plot with delightful characters, Karen Rose Smith pens a story that transports you right into the heart of Willow Creek. With just the right touch of romance and a sensitive approach to issues troubling today's society, this series is perfect.

I received an advanced copy of Murder with Cinnamon Scones from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Another Murder comes to Amish country Pennsylvania, and Daisy is right there to talk to the right people and ask lots of questions. This time the murdered man is dating her friend and employee. She will fight to clear her friend. She will also has a much going on with her family an the men in her life.

This is a great series it really keeps you attention


** I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Murder with Cinnamon Scones

by Karen Rose Smith

Murder with Cinnamon Scones is the tale of an art dealer’s death, suspicions placed on those he loved, and the struggles we all go through in trying to make sense of our lives. As with most cozy mysteries, this one is set in a small town trying to survive. In Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, as January surrounds the town with cold and some intermittent snow, small business owners are cooperating to draw in more tourists through Quilt Lovers Weekend. Daisy, who owns Daisy’s Tea Garden, is one of the leaders of this group. She finds her time divided between running the tea shop, investigating a murder to clear her friend Tessa, and developing friendships with two handsome men. She also devotes time to her two teenage daughters, the quilting weekends, her extended family, and her cats. Oh, and she also has to stay alive!

As busy as Daisy is, she still has the time and skills to maintain her tearoom as a successful business. With an emphasis on customer service, the tearoom draws visitors and locals for its delicious formal teas as well as soups, breads, and more casual tea service. Daisy and others at the tearoom are constantly experimenting with recipes, and the various types of teas mentioned in the book are so appealing. If this weren’t fiction, I’d be eager to visit this delightful tearoom housed in an updated Victorian house.

I highly recommend Murder with Cinnamon Scones for a good mystery, a surprising resolution, and interesting characters and settings. In it lies a poignant reminder that in relationships, things are not always what they appear to be. I’m glad it is part of a series because I was sad to reach the end of the book.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #2 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series, but works well as a stand alone.
2. Look for recipes in the back of the book.


Publication: May 29, 2018—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

“Quilting shouldn’t be about finishing. It’s about putting your heart into each stitch and just relaxing and doing your best in that moment.”

“You should know by now,” Rachel said, “that should and shouldn’t after the fact do no good when you’re a mom. You just start from where you left off, and you try to do better.”

Oh, to be nineteen again, and to know exactly what to do or what was right, Daisy thought.

Murder with Cinnamon Scones by Karen Rose Smith is the second book in A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. Daisy Swanson co-owns Daisy’s Tea Garden with her Aunt Iris in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. The town is getting ready for Quilt Lovers Weekend in three weeks. Daisy has been working with Reese Masemer, owner of Revelations Art Gallery and Tessa’s boyfriend, on the preparations. Unfortunately, Reese will not get to enjoy the fruits of his labors. He is found dead in the woods near the covered bridge and Tessa finds herself at the top of the suspect list. Matters are not helped when Chloie Laird, Reese’s attractive assistant, openly accuses Tessa of the crime at the tea shop. Knowing that Tessa did not commit the crime, Daisy takes a deep dive into Reese’s life. It seems that Reese had some secrets and one of them could have gotten him killed.

Murder with Cinnamon Scones is well-written and has steady pacing. There is a lovely cast of characters and a charming town. Daisy is friendly, smart main character who is moving on with her life after the death of her husband. I think she is handling her adopted daughter’s (Jazzi) search for her biological mother very well. It is sensitive issue that the author handled thoughtfully. Daisy has starting dating Jonas Graft, but their path is bumpy. I could have done with less romance and more mystery. I prefer a romance that plays out slowly in the background. There are beautiful quilt descriptions in the book especially of the Baltimore Album Quilt. There are many cozy moments with cooking, baking, eating, tea events, family time, town events, quilting plus more. I especially like that Daisy and her kids live in a converted barn. Foster Crenshaw’s father is worried about him working at the tea garden and his relationship with Daisy’s daughter, Violet. Mr. Crenshaw does not want Foster’s college plans derailed. The mystery had some good components, a couple of suspects and misdirection. I am not a fan of Detective Morris Rappaport who is a cliché cozy mystery detective. Murder with Cinnamon Scones can be read alone if you have not had the opportunity to pick up Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes. I am rating Murder with Cinnamon Scones 4 out of 5 stars. I thought Murder with Cinnamon Scones was an engaging cozy mystery that will delight readers of this genre and Karen Rose Smith.

The quintessential cozy! Set in a little town in Pennsylvania, this is the second book in the Daisy Tea Garden mystery series. I loved the plot of the book, and how it unraveled so many secrets of everyone--keeping the story fresh and moving right along. I felt as if I were right there, having tea and cakes with Daisy and her friends. It was a great story and a good addition to a series that is a must read for any cozy fan.

Murder with cinnamon scones
Daisy and her aunt Iris run a specialist tea and treat shop in Pennsylvania local Amish country which you will wish you could visit for the delicious recipes.
Daisy and Tessa are looking forward to the quilt lovers weekend with all the local businesses getting involved. Tessa boyfriend Reese is murdered, she becomes the main suspect. Did Reese have skeletons in the cupboard? Daisy will have to investigate herself to help her friend . This is a great paced cozy mystery which just draws you in to local town life.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Murder with Cinnamon Scones by Karen Rose Smith is the 2nd book in a Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery, and another fun addition.  Daisy Swanson, a widowed mother of two daughters, along with her Aunt Iris own the tea garden. While the town gets ready for quilt lovers weekend, one of Daisy's employees, Tessa, finds her boyfriend dead, making her a suspect. Daisy is determined to find the real killer. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book for all cozy mystery book lovers, you will not be disappointed.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher(Kensington Books) for the review copy

The main protagonist of the story is Daisy who runs the Tea Garden with her aunt Iris. All local merchants are getting ready for the Quilt lovers weekend . In the meanwhile Jonas gives out mixed signals and Daisy is confused about their relationship.When her best friend and coworker, Tessa gets accused of the murder of her boyfriend,Reese; Daisy steps in to help.When facts about Reese's past crop up, everyone realizes that they didn't know Reese so well.


Who killed Reese?

Was it someone from his past?

Or someone in the present?

Read to find out


I feel like it is been long since I read a cozy culinary mystery, I was trying out other genres and this month had a lot of readathons finally I'm back to my comfort reads.  I loved reading about the Tea Garden, their different types of teas and goodies. There were times when I wanted to go into the book, just to sample the desserts, the shoofly pie, scones.. This is the second book in the series, I haven't read the first, but I didn't feel lost. I loved Daisy and Jonas and all the characters. I never suspected the killer at all , it was a blow to my detective skills. Overall a great cozy mystery , i enjoyed it a lot

Recommended for readers who love cozy mysteries

I think that the best quality a cozy mystery can have is to make the reader feel they are sitting right at the table along with the main characters. Karen Rose Smith accomplishes that and more with this series.
The characters are well developed and have depth in their relationships, which do not always flow smoothly. Such is the reality in real families and friendships. I especially like how Daisy remains friends with Rachel, an Amish woman she's known since childhood, even though their lives are very different. And how Daisy shares her worries about meeting her adopted daughter's birth mother and about her elder daughter becoming an independent woman. I could relate!

When best friend and coworker Tessa is in the spotlight as a murder suspect, you find out who in town is a true friend. Secrets are revealed about Tessa's male friend and we learn more about Daisy's romantic interest, Jonas. A lot of underlying emotions influence the storyline.

An all around wonderful read. While the ending is satisfying, it also leaves me wanting more to come. I want to visit Willow Creek again!

I accepted a copy of this book via Netgalley to review. The rating and opinions expressed are my own.

This is a delightful series. The Daisy Tea Garden series 2nd installment is so enjoyable you will not put it down until the last page is over. This is the "quintessential" cozy mystery series that we fans love so much.
I highly recommend the first in series but this can be read as a stand alone.
In this next in series our friendly protagonist Daisy is enjoying the beautiful tea garden shop she runs with her beloved Aunt Iris in Willow Creek Pennsylvania. Business is good and she is thrilled with the garden, the shop and to be working alongside her Aunt. The descriptions of the food and tea here are sublime and I even found tea here I had never had before.! The author has included several tea shop recipes in the end of the book that are each and every one a sure culinary delight. " One example is "Daisy's Cinnamon Scones", a new favorite of mine. Thank you to the author for these fabulous recipes.
Daisy and her Aunt are preparing for a weekend quilting event and their shop is displaying many of the handmade quilts and crafts of the area. Daisy's employee Tessa has had words with the louse she was dating and after he is found dead she is being accused . Daisy steps up right away to help her friend and clear her name. She has to traverse many suspicions toward Tessa but soon finds many others had reason to dislike the louse and wish him gone. She is in danger as the suspect soon finds out she is investigating .
The sleuth is so well crafted I was unable to guess the ending. This avid mystery reader was kept guessing throughout. This is Amish country and the location is so beautifully described the reader is swept into the idyllic small town as if we are there. The supporting charcters all add depth to the story and are delightful people we wish we knew as friends. I love the description of the tea shop and the community that is supportive of Daisy and her new venture .
This is a winning series that I look forward to for many more installments. The author has crafted the town, the setting , the sleuth and charcters to perfection. This is undeniably the definitive cozy mystery series.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review. I highly recommend this series for all cozy mystery readers. Review cross posted .

Second in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series, the author shares a cheery setting, well-drawn characters, and mounting suspense that crests to quite a surprise! I really enjoy the characters at tea garden who work together as if part of a finely-choreographed dance. They are warm and welcoming in an atmosphere where one is content to have a cup of tea or coffee and scone and relax. I love this new series, perhaps because of the setting and the leading ladies – Daisy, Iris, and Tessa.
Daisy Swanson grew up in Walnut Creek, PA, then she and her late husband, Ryan, moved away. After his death, Daisy formulated a plan, packed up her delightful daughters Vi, now 18, and Jazzi, now 15, returning to Walnut Creek. Daisy and her Aunt Iris purchased a Victorian home for Daisy’s Tea Garden. Daisy’s best friend Tessa is the kitchen manager, who lives on the second floor of the Tea Garden, and uses the attic for her painting.
Daisy and three other business owners are on the committee planning a Quilt Lover’s Weekend, which will hopefully provide a needed boost to the local economy for the winter weekend. They want to draw in people from nearby towns for year-round returns. There will be a drawing for two quilts, quilted kitchen goods for sale, and a demonstration at the local Quilts & Notions shop owned by an Amish woman, one of Daisy’s childhood friends, Rachel.
All is going well until Reese, Tessa’s boyfriend who she has become very serious about, was found dead by the covered bridge, where Tessa has been working on a series of paintings. Reese, owner of the local gallery where Tessa had a showing last fall, was murdered. Tessa is the only suspect.
Readers are treated to complex characters who we learn about through realistic dialog, actions, and revealing some of their backstories. Iris and Daisy are my favorites. Daisy reflects wisdom learned because of being a mother and, in recent years, a single mother. Each of the ladies, plus Foster, who work at Daisy’s Tea Garden are hard-working and personable. Daisy’s loyalty to Tessa and Foster through the challenges faced is exemplary, although it seemed at times that her words were challenging to a concerned parent and to Jonah when he tried to help her after she was attacked.
Yes, Daisy was attacked on the stairs to Tessa’s apartment. She was injured, but thankfully not as bad as it could have been. Her computer searching skills are still excellent, finding that Reese had a few secrets he hadn’t shared with Tessa. This is a well-planned and executed multi-tiered mystery. Even though coffee is my preferred beverage, I appreciated learning more about the flavors of tea, how to prepare it, and seeing that I must try a white tea. Learning more about quilts, even though I can’t sew a stitch, was also enjoyable. Plot twists and turns brought electrifying changes about the potential suspects. I was stymied by the mystery, and stunned when finding out who the bad guy or gal is! There are no loose ends, and the story is well wrapped up. I highly recommend Murder with Cinnamon Scones, as well as the first in series, Murder with Lemon Tarts.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this e-Arc from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I just couldn’t get into this book. Slow to start and just a basic storyline. I found the characters to be boring.

I just love the characters in this series. Daisy is someone who I would love to have as a friend. She’s loyal, caring, and one that won’t let you down. Aunt Iris is so special, especially to Daisy. The side stories with these characters are great too. It’ll be fun to watch where they go and how they get there. I love Jonas and he seems to be relaxing a little, which is a good thing and could get very interesting. I think it’s going to be entertaining to see how Detective Rappaport develops. I think it would be so fun to go to Daisy and Iris’s tea garden. We need to be hungry when we go cause the food sounds delicious!! I think my favorite this time would be Daisy’s Cinnamon Scones. Yum!! I hope you enjoy the story and see if you can figure out who done it!

In this next book of the series Daisy is getting ready for the upcoming Quilt Lovers Weekend. Her friend Tessa is dating the local gallery owner who will be displaying some of the quilts in his gallery. When Reese, Tessa's boyfriend, is found dead she becomes the main suspect. Who would want to kill Reese and why? Daisy jumps right in to help her friend, she knows Tessa isn't a killer but who out there is? When secrets that Reese were hiding come to light Tessa wonders just how well she knew the man she was in love with. Follow along as Daisy wades through the people who could have wanted to kill Reese in her quest for the truth. This was a fantastic read filled with wonderful characters and a well written whodunit. I would love to visit a tea garden like the one in the book, and enjoyed the lovely recipes included at the end. I like where the characters are going and look forward to seeing where the author takes them next.

Well crafted story with lots of information. I learned a little more about the Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish community, and quilting. The story is set in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. . Daisy Swanson owns Daisy’s Tea Garden and is our amateur sleuth trying to find her way through life after the death of her husband. She has a lot going on in her life.

A riveting read, kept me engaged the entire time, I had a hard time putting it down.
I like that the characters have realistic issues in the story. There are friends and family with caring and compassion who assist Daisy in keeping Tessa from being the only suspect.

Added bonus- recipes included.

The local merchants are looking forward to the upcoming weekend quilting event to bring more business into town including at Daisy’s Tea Garden. Gallery owner Reese Masemer is dating Daisy's friend Tessa who is an artist and chief baker for Daisy. Then Reese is found dead near a covered bridge where Tessa has been doing her sketches and she becomes the prime suspect. Daisy is determined to help Tessa and decides to snoop into Reese’s past.

This was a fun read and another tasty entry in the Daisy's Tea Garden mystery series.

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

MURDER WITH CINNAMON SCONES by Karen Rose Smith is the second book in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series but the first one I’ve read. I found it easy to jump into the story without having read the first book and it didn’t take me long to feel like I knew the characters. I enjoyed that the protagonist, Daisy, is a widowed, single mom to practically grown children, instead of a twenty- or thirty-something single career gal. It allowed the character to have an added depth of life experiences that is used to great effect. The setting of Daisy’s Tea Room, which she co-owns with her aunt, is darling and I liked hearing about the varieties of teas that they serve. I was especially drooling over the mention of Cinnamon Scones being served many times and am looking forward to trying that recipe which is provided at the back of the book. I also enjoyed the bits and pieces of information about the Amish living in their town that was woven into the story. It brings a different cultural feel to this cozy which I found charming.

When Daisy’s best friend, Tessa (who is also the chef at the tea room) is suspected of murdering her boyfriend, Daisy can’t help but jump in to clear Tessa’s name. While their community is small and close-knit, it surprised me that some of the residents were quick to believe the worst of Tessa. However, Daisy is a loyal friend and does everything she can to find the truth. The suspenseful conclusion wrapped the story up nicely and I look forward to catching up with the first book and reading more in this delightful series.

I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

It was a fun mystery with enjoyable characters. I will definitely be looking for the next book in the series!