It's Christmas time in Harvest, Ohio and Bailey is excited to be sharing a small town Christmas with her Amish grandmother making treats for the shop and the Christmas Market on the Square. Her happiness soon fades when her ex-boyfriend walks in the shop with a TV crew wanting to film a reunion of their love and to showcase a real Amish Christmas. As Bailey tries to navigate her feelings for the local sheriff deputy with her ex standing nearby she finds the body of the executive producer of the show. Will Bailey help her ex clear his name or will she find out he really is a scoundrel only thinking of himself?

One can never go wrong reading a book written by Amanda Flower. My favorites are her Amish cozy mysteries.

The town of Harvest is a wonderful little town that will have you longing to visit. You will be hoping to run into Bailey, her grandmother and of course Jethro, the town's polka dotted pig.

Premediated Peppermint will have you longing for Christmas and craving everything peppermint. There is a recipe for Peppermint Bark at the end that sounds divine and does not seem too hard to make.

I enjoyed the book and was riveted until the end. The ending is a swoon worthy ending that has me longing for the next book in the series, Toxic Toffee. I am on the edge of my seat to see how the relationship between Bailey and Aiden blossoms.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

I love this series. I missed book 2 but there was no spoilers or feeling like I missed something. I do want to go back and read the second book just because the books are so great. The characters are well developed with plenty of growth in each book. The writing keeps your interest. There was more than one thing to figure out and both kept me guessing. One I had guessed right fairly early but the other I was completely off base with. The world building is fantastic and the glimpse we get in the next book shows that we will become more familiar with the "other life" that Bailey left for her new one.

There's a big difference to me between moving on and actually getting closure. I'm glad that we got to see Bailey get the closure that was needed. Yeah, she had moved on from her previous romance but now, even the reader feels ready for that next step. I am also glad we saw some character development in Eric too. I'm not sure what his future is or if we will see more of him in the future, but I enjoyed how things played out there.

Overall, this continues to be a fantastic series and I recommend them in any order.

Recipe Included: Bailey's Peppermint Bark

Thank you to Amanda Flower, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this wonderful story and share my thoughts and opinions with others.

Bailey King loves Christmas. For her first holiday season n Harvest, Ohio, Bailey is getting ready, along with her Amish grandmother, and her cousin, for the annual Harvest Christmas Market when the front door to Swissmen Sweets opens in and in walks New York celebrity chef Eric Sharp, and a TV crew.

Eric plans to shoot scenes for his cooking show, and part of the charm, he says, is his rekindling his romance with Bailey. Bailey is not sure about either part. Shooting in Amish country is not that easy. You need permission from the deacon, and she definitely does not want to rekindle her romance with Eric. But things take a dangerous turn when Eric’s executive producer is found strangled to death—and Eric’s the prime suspect.

Bailey's sheriff deputy boyfriend, Aiden, is sure that Eric is guilty, but Bailey is not. She agrees to help Eric and find the real killer. And there are plenty of suspects, both Amish and English. But will her sleuthing lead to death for her, or someone close to her?

How is it that this is only the third installment in the Amish Candy Shop series? I feel like I've known these characters far longer than that, and spending Christmas with them was very entertaining.

There is a wonderful blend in this series of the English and Amish lifestyles. Ms. Flower perfectly blends them together to create intrigue and draw her readers into a very intriguing story. The characters grow in this series, and watching as relationships changed and grew was an integral part of this tale.

Jethro the pig has a large part in this book, and Ms. Flower has managed to introduce a camel, something I don't think I've seen in a cozy mystery.

Characters and settings is what draws me to Amanda Flower's books, and Premeditated Peppermint is one of the finest in the bunch. It is definitely my favorite of the series, and the ending of it had me turning pages as quickly as possible, and left me wishing for a return visit to Harvest.

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

This series has just become one of my top five [ongoing] cozy mystery series. I really like Bailey; she is who she is, but she is also so very respectful of the Amish and her Grandmother and does what she can to honor their traditions while also trying to have her own as well. Sometimes she fails [as in this book] and that is another reason I like her. She is so very human. She makes mistakes, recognizes that and apologizes and moves on. She truly tries her best.

We had to deal with her douchecanoe ex-boyfriend Eric in this one [no I am not biased against the name, whydoyouask? ;-) ] and his extremely arrogant ways. I get that you are not supposed to like him, but I think the author went a touch overboard! LOL Maybe she has an ex in her past that he is based on! I am glad that Bailey was able to deal with him and her issues with him in this one.
The only character I am not a huge fan of is Aiden's Mom, Juliet. And that PIG! <eyeroll> I am so over characters that have pets that they just assume they can take ANYWHERE, including a hospital.. Ergh. And how she just assumes that Bailey and Aiden are engaged simply because SHE wants them to be - how annoying.

There are some seriously laugh-out-loud moments in this book along with the usual murder and mayhem and they add to the story well.
This is a very good book and an excellent series and I cannot wait until the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review - all opinions are my own.

Premeditated Peppermint is the third installment in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series set in Harvest, Ohio and featuring chocolatier, Bailey King. Adjusting to life away from New York and helping her grandmother run the family's Amish Swissmen Sweets candy shop, Bailey is looking forward to the Christmas season.

Swissmen Sweets will be featuring everything peppermint you could possibly think of in their booth at the Christmas Market on the square. Working alongside her grandmother and Charlotte, Bailey thinks they have more than enough candy ready for the festival and is looking forward to enjoying the festivities.

When Bailey's ex boyfriend, playboy Eric Sharp and his television production crew roll into Harvest, she is not too happy to see him and even less interested in his pitch to film his cooking show inside of Swissmen Sweets. It's only one day before Bailey stumbles upon the strangled body of the show's producer Rocky Rivers in the town gazebo. Bailey is not really surprised to learn that Eric had been having a relationship with the woman, but she is surprised when he becomes the prime suspect in her murder.

Once again Bailey finds herself mixed up in an investigation against the wishes of Deputy Aiden Brody. Even though she knows that Eric is a first class jerk, Bailey knows he is too self-centered to commit a crime so she sets out with the help of her best friend Cass to catch a killer.

A delightful romp from the first page to the last. Just the right setting to get you in the holiday spirit - filled with Christmas tree farms, a live nativity scene and a troublemaking camel, the return of Aiden's mom and her pot bellied pig Jethro, and lots of mouthwatering candy. Plus a surprising twist at the end that may mean a change for Swissmen Sweets.

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

Bailey King is preparing for the Christmas Market when her old flame Eric shows up. He has decided to make Bailey part of a Christmas special for his cooking show. Right from the start things go wrong and the next morning Bailey finds the producer dead in the gazebo on the square.
Then ensues an investigation into who killed Rocky and why did Rocky know the Amish name for grandmother?
Margot causes no end of complications by roping Bailey into the live nativity and spreading word that Bailey will be part of the TV scene.
Cass’s visit and Juliet’s pig raised the level of drama that in some ways was a little annoying and didn’t necessarily add to the story.
I enjoyed reading this third book in the Amish Candy Shop mystery series. It could be read alone but I always recommend starting at the beginning of a series so you know more about the characters and what’s happening in their lives.

Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower is the third tale in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Bailey King is looking forward to a peaceful Christmas in Harvest, Ohio with her grandmother, Clara and cousin, Charlotte. They have been busy preparing a variety of peppermint candies for their Swissmen Sweets table at the Harvest Christmas Market. Then a grinch arrives in the form of Bailey’s ex-boyfriend and baker, Eric Sharp along with a camera crew. He wants to film the Christmas special of his show in Harvest with Bailey. Bailey agrees to meet the producer, Rocky Rivers the next morning to discuss the proposal. On her way to the meeting, Bailey notices a set of lights out on the gazebo. When she enters the gazebo, Bailey finds Rocky dead with the lights wrapped around her neck and Eric standing over her body. Deputy Aiden Brody quickly arrives on the scene and targets Eric as his prime suspect. Eric asks Bailey to prove his innocence before he ends up as head baker at the local prison. Linc Baggins (not a hobbit) arrives to take over production of the show and he has a surprising business proposition for Bailey. Then Juliet Brody approaches Bailey with a special request for her almost daughter-in-law (Aiden and Bailey have yet to have a first date). Juliet feels that Jethro has the face for television, and she wants Bailey’s help jumpstarting the pig’s career. Then Margot needs Bailey’s help with the live nativity. Bailey’s Christmas is quickly spiraling out of control.

Premeditated Peppermint is an entertaining cozy mystery as you can tell from my summary. You will be hooked from the very first page. While Premeditated Peppermint can be read alone, I suggest reading the series in order. It will provide you a better understanding of Bailey and how she came to live in Harvest. I thought Premeditated Peppermint was well-written with a good pace. It is just the right length at 306 pages. I had been reading a different book that was dragging along (I fell asleep), so I switched to Premeditated Peppermint and quickly devoured it. Harvest is a quaint small town that has a mixture of Amish and English citizens. There are charming shops and events that attract tourists such as the Harvest Christmas Market. Bailey is a smart and talented main character. I was happy to see Bailey’s best friend, Cass pop up in Harvest to help Bailey. Juliet Brody is quite a character. She goes around town with her pig, Jethro on a leash. I can see Jethro acting as the ring bearer if Aiden and Bailey ever marry (picture Jethro wearing a cute little tux). There are many laugh out loud moments in Premeditated Peppermint courtesy of Juliet, Jethro, Eric, Margot Rawlings, and the camel, Melchior. I enjoyed the descriptions of the delectable candies being prepared at Swissmen Sweets. The mystery was interesting with a handful of suspects and misdirection. The method of murder fit in with the book and the author provided good clues to aid the reader in solving the crime. There are recipes at the end of book and a preview of Toxic Toffee. My rating for Premeditated Peppermint is 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the review copy of this book. This was just published 9.25.18!! All opinions are my own.

Premeditated Peppermint is the third book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. It’s Christmas time in Harvest, Ohio. Bailey thought the only thing she had to worry about was making enough sweet treats to sell at the holiday market. However, when her famous ex-boyfriend, Eric Sharp, shows up things quickly go bad. Eric wants to film a special in the quaint town, but when one member of the production crew is found murdered in the square gazebo, Bailey finds herself involved in yet another mystery.

This is such a fun series. I absolutely love the charming setting and mix of English and Amish references. The cast is fantastic too. Bailey is smart, successful and motivated. I adore her best friend Cass and was excited when she showed up. Aiden is a great love interest and I appreciate that the author is slowly building their relationship. Juliet and her pet pig Jethro offer the best comedic relief. In fact, there were quite a few scenes that made me giggle throughout this book. Be on the lookout for Margot’s nativity and Melchior the camel.

The mystery was well done. I figured out one connection fairly early on, but didn’t know the reasoning behind it. I also kept going back and forth on deciding who my main suspect should be. I’m definitley curious to see how the storyline pans out with Bailey heading back to New York. It will be interesting to see her in a completely different setting. The ending includes a sneak peek at book 4, Toxic Toffee, as well a recipe for Bailey’s Peppermint Bark.

Things are a little bit wack-a-doo in Harvest, Ohio, where chocolate-maker Bailey lives with her Amish grandmother. And, honestly, that's the way I like it. From bossy Margot to Jethro's eccentric owner, the townspeople keep things lively. The writing at times feels a little bloated to me, with lots of filler phrases I'm itching to cut out. But the lively plots keep me coming back. It's kind of like visiting your favorite crazy relatives.

In this installment, I also liked getting to know Eric, the former boyfriend Bailey escaped from when she left NYC. And it was nice that he was a well-rounded character, not just some stereotype.

You definitely have to be willing to suspend disbelief, as I'm sure cooking shows aren't handed out like Halloween candy, but if you can set aside such rational thoughts and just relax into the story, you'll be entertained and drawn into the mystery of who killed producer Rocky Rivers.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Premeditated Peppermint is the 3rd book in the Amish Candy Shop cozy series. Bailey King left New York City to return to her roots in Harvest, OH. She helps her grandmother run the family candy business, Swissmen Sweets. It's nearly the holiday season in this newest book and the shop is gearing up for the annual Harvest Christmas Market. Peppermint is the theme for the candy shop's table this year, so the shop is filled with all things chocolatey and minty. mmmmm :) Just as she is feeling her holiday spirit returning, Bailey is horrified when her ex-boyfriend, Eric Sharp shows up with a television crew in tow. While this would help boost business for Swissmen Sweets and all the businesses in Harvest, Bailey knows Eric and his entourage will cause a disturbance in the village. Unfortunately, it's a bit more than just a disturbance... The executive producer for the holiday special is found strangled to death with Christmas lights in the village square. Decking the halls with a dead producer is not a great way to start off the holiday season. Bailey finds herself investigating to find the killer before the holiday season is ruined.

I really enjoy just about anything Amanda Flower writes. I enjoy the characters in this series and the candy shop theme is just yummy (not to mention the great peppermint bark recipe included in the back of this newest book!). The mystery moves along at a nice pace. Strangling someone with Christmas lights was a nice sinister touch. The plot was entertaining and engaging. All in all, a nice addition to this series.

The next book, Toxic Toffee, will be coming soon! Yay!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Another murder for Bailey to solve in the excellent cozy mystery, Premeditated Peppermint, the third entry in the Amish Candy Shop series.

Bailey works with her Amish grandmother and cousin in her deceased grandfather’s candy shop, Swissmen Sweets in rural Ohio. When Bailey’s NYC ex-boyfriend hits town, he asks her for help in filming the local Harvest Christmas Market for his reality series. Bailey has a table at the Market featuring peppermint candy.

When the series’ producer ends up dead with Eric as the prime suspect, Bailey investigates. Meanwhile, the mother of Bailey’s boyfriend, Deputy Aiden, asks Bailey for help making her pet pig, Jethro, a movie star.

I loved this series from the beginning. However, this entry is the best yet. It is a perfect blend of kooky locals, light romance, a pleasant setting, a tasty sounding recipe for Peppermint Bark and humor within an intriguing mystery.

Because the story moves forward in each entry in the series, it is best to read them in order. However, there is enough back story quickly presented in this book to allow Premeditated Peppermint to be read as a stand-alone too.

I can’t wait to read Toxic Toffee, the next series entry in the series, previewed in this book! Premeditated Peppermint does not disappoint. It is highly recommended to cozy mystery fans. 4 1/2 rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance copy.

PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT is the third book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Bailey King is working at her grandparents Amish candy store, Swissmen Sweets where she is getting ready for the annual Holiday Market. But before she can represent her family’s legacy, her ex boyfriend and former boss, Eric, shows up! He is tyere to film a TV show and Bailey knows it’s a bad idea. When Bailey goes out to the square to meet the producer, Rocky, she finds her dead with Eric standing over her. Hang on my reading friends, it’s going to be a crazy but fun ride!



PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT is filled with twists and turns and I was instantly hooked and in everyone’s business! It is a very quick read and when the mystery of who killed Rocky was solved, I was in shock. I had no idea! Also, it was interesting, learning how Bailey was trying to find her place as an Englischer in a mostly Amish community of Harvest, Ohio. Deputy Aiden Brody really likes Bailey, but he knows she isn’t ready for anything more than friends with him, but he is willing to wait. It was cute watching these two dance around their feelings for each other.



PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT is a wonderful addition to the perfect Amish cozy series! All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. While Bailey isn’t Amish, her grandparents are and she has the same values they do. As I was reading I could tell Amanda Flower had done her research as it is the best cozy I have read in a very long time! There are plenty of suspects, the action is face paced, and there are many surprises. There is also a bit romance and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series to see what happens with that. Amanda Flower sure knows how to pull at her readers heart strings and I’m so excited to continue this series!

I’m giving my honest review after receiving an ARC from NetGalley.

This is the first Amanda Flower book I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. The Amish setting is beautiful and she is really descriptive and a talented story teller. A fun and delighted Christmas theme cozy with a candy shop. What more could one want? This book will get you in the spirit for the season!

This book is jammed pack with sweet treats. I love this series and could not wait for Christmas with Bailey and the town of Harvest. I laughed so much when Bailey was helping with the Nativity and was so glad Jethro was there. I thought Bailey having to help her Ex boyfriend prove his innocence added to an already great mystery.. I loved this book so much I am getting it for friends for their stockings because it is a fantastic treat for the holidays. I recommend this book to everyone who loves a heartwarming story with a great mystery

It's two weeks before Christmas, and Harvest, Ohio, is preparing for the annual Christmas market. This will be Bailey's first Christmas in Harvest, and she's looking forward to all of the festivities – until Eric, her ex, shows up, TV crew in tow, to film an authentic Amish Christmas. His plans include Bailey, and she has no plans to allow herself, her town or her grandmother's shop to be part of whatever plans he has beyond boosting his ratings. When one of the TV crew ends up dead, with Eric as the prime suspect, Bailey finds herself dragged into investigating yet another murder in Harvest.

This is the third book in this series, and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first two. I would love to spend time with the residents of this town where, for the most part, the Amish and the English peacefully co-exist. Like Bailey, Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I would love to sample some of the peppermint goodies made for the Christmas market. There were plenty of suspects, each with a valid motive, and I suspected the identity of the villain as the book progressed, but wasn't sure about it until just before the reveal in the book. I can't wait to read the next book in this series to see what happens next to Bailey and the rest of our friends.

Christmas is just around the corner and the small Ohio town of Harvest, with a large Amish population, is getting ready for the festival events at the town square. Bailey with the help pf her grandmother and her cousin, are setting up their tables to sell peppermint candies. There will be a live Nativity but no one expected a corpse to be added to the festivities. The day before the grisly discovery, Bailey's ex boyfriend (a real jerk, very full of himself) showed up complete with a film crew, trying to convince her to let him film the candy shop and maybe getting back together with her. Bailey has, sort of, moved on and hopes to start dating the deputy sherif, Aiden. (ex boyfriend, Eric, is SO out of his league when he goes toe to toe with Aiden) Soon, Eric is the prime suspect because the murder victim just happens to be the woman in charge of the film project. Without her on his side, his future on cable tv could go down in flames.
All Bailey wants to do is the work needed for the festival, not get involved with investigating a murder. Enter her friend Cass, all the way from NYC. Add her "almost, maybe sometime, future mother in law" Juliet, who wants Bailey to help get screen time for Juliet's pot bellied pig, Jethro. Sure, why not? Welcome to the weird world Bailey inhabits. First question will have to be - was the killer waiting in Harvest for the victim to arrive or did she bring a killer along with her? Bailey is on the case - just as good at solving a murder as she is at making mouth watering candies.

As you can tell probably by the cover this book falls on the day leading up to a Christmas Market. We are back in the Amish Community of Harvest, Ohio. The characters have not changed so much, but the sweets sound more my thing. I was thrilled with Licorice, Peppermint...Yum!. Bailey King is on the case again, this time dealing with the strung up semi hanging (with Christmas lights) of a Television Producer. Why is there a TV Higher Up in town? Because of Eric. Yes this whole time in the series I was thinking of the Ex-Eric for so many books. Well he makes his big debut as a fully fleshed out character this time. But did he kill his career killing his Producer? Who is Linc Baggings? And atleast Jethro the pig is safe this time. The clues are solid. The path is clear. A really good book in the series.

PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT, the delightful third book in Amanda Flower’s charming Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, finds former New York City chocolatier Bailey King up to her elbows in peppermint confections. It is her first Christmas in Harvest, Ohio, and the town’s celebrations are underway. Bailey is speechless when her bad boy ex-boyfriend, pastry chef Eric, walks into her grandparents’ candy shop with a television crew in tow. In town to film a holiday special for Gourmet TV, he hopes to spin his and Bailey’s headline making split into TV reconciliation gold. When Bailey finds the executive producer Rocky dead in the town square, Eric is quickly named the prime suspect. Despite her dislike for Eric, she knows he is innocent and sets about finding the real killer’s identity. Throw in a live nativity with a rogue camel, a jealous love interest, a pig with dreams of stardom, and an offer that Bailey does not know if she can refuse, and readers have a wonderfully entertaining read full of Christmas spirit.

Flowers is one of my favorite authors, and I was not disappointed with PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT. The lovely tourist town setting with its mix of Amish and English residents is the perfect backdrop for Bailey and her candy shop. I like Bailey. She is smart and empathetic and makes a good amateur sleuth. I appreciate that she is not perfect. She struggles with feeling left out of her grandmother and cousin’s blossoming relationship, and I think this influences her decisions in the book. Of course, her love interest, sheriff’s deputy Aiden, makes a good foil for her investigating efforts, and he is a really decent guy. Eric is indeed rather self-centered and not easy to feel sorry for, and the victim has some skeletons in her closet. A highlight of this series is Aiden’s over-the-top mother Juliet and her pet pig Jethro. They provide some of the books laugh out loud moments.

The mystery surrounding Rocky’s death is complex enough to be compelling. There are plenty of clues along the way, with just the right amount of misdirection, to keep readers guessing. The conversational writing style keeps the pace of the book steady, and I felt like I was right there in the middle of the action.

PREMEDITATED PEPPERMINT is sure to please any cozy mystery reader, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series to be published. I hope there are many more adventures with Bailey. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this title from the author and publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower is the 3rd in the Amish Candy Shop mystery series.
It's time for the annual Christmas Holiday Market in Harvest and Bailey is running around trying to get all the peppermint treats ready to sale when her ex comes into the candy shop. Needless to say, she is shocked, after all New York City is no where close to Harvest, Ohio.
Chef Eric is there, along with a film crew, wanting her to tape a special for his show. She can not agree to the filming since her Amish grandmother is the owner of the shop and the district would have to agree.
When a member of the film crew is found murdered and Eric is next to the body, Bailey is drawn into finding the murderer before Eric is charged.
The story has plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.
There is a great cast of characters and Jethro the pig is back. Flower gives you not only mystery. but also humor, romance, and a craving for peppermint. This is a great Christmas mystery.
I enjoy this series and highly recommend it.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.

We are back in Ohio with Bailey King, and just in time for the Christmas Market, and helping in the family candy store.
Of course, as in the past two books there is a murder, and somehow our Bailey is in the middle of the investigation again, along with some other familiar characters, including our loveable pig Jethro.
Will this be the end of Bailey’s involvement in the family business, will she decide to go back to NYC now that Eric her former boyfriend has come back into her life?
This book is going to keep you guessing almost to the last page, and danger is ever present, will you be able to guess ahead of time as whom the culprit is? Enjoy this cozy Christmas mystery!

I received this book through Net Galley and the published Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.