Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is the fifth full length novel in the cozy Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Along with two 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.

The time has finally arrived for the wedding of Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook and Bailey has been asked to be a part of the bridal party since she has been dating Juliet’s son. Hoping to make the day a huge success Bailey has done everything she can to please the bride and groom including making a huge marshmallow topped cake for the occasion. Unfortunately an uninvited guest interrupts the ceremony and to make matters worse the woman is found murdered shortly after putting the wedding party on the suspect list.

Having followed this one from the beginning the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series has become one of my favorite cozy series that has me keeping an eye out for each new installment. For me this one has just the right mix of the quirky fun and mystery in it. I loved how the author has taken a regular American and thrust her into the Amish world giving her the means to fit into both the regular community and Amish people. And as much as I like the characters there’s also cute critters stealing the show too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I am a huge fan of Amanda Flower and this series of Amish mystery. Marshmallow Malice is a wonderful addition to this series. I live Harvest Ohio. and the Amish candy store. The characters are like old friends and the mystery is satisfying. This series just keeps getting better with every book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves Amish and cozy mysteries. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the gift of the arc. The review is myopinion.

I love returning to Harvest, Ohio for a visit with Bailey King and the ladies who work at Swissmen Sweets Candy Shop, owned by Bailey and her Amish grandmother. Juliet Brody, mom of Bailey's boyfriend, Aiden, and Reverend Brook are having their wedding with Bailey serving as maid of honor, Aiden as best man, and Jethro, Juliet's pet potbelly pig, as ringbearer. It is all very exciting and going well until a strange woman enters the church to yell as the pastor before she is removed. No one seems to know her and what is going on but she apparently knows Pastor Brook. The next morning as Bailey is about to enter the church to make sure all is ready for service after the ceremony, she discovers the woman's body on the church steps. Bailey's BFF, Cass, is in town for a few days vacation and to attend the wedding so she is happy to help Bailey find out what is going on. Aiden, deputy sheriff, is begrudgingly resigned to Bailey getting involved. As always, this is a great mystery to solve and Bailey cannot seem to stay out of danger and trouble but the Amish trust her over the Englisch law enforcement. With the fourth of July coming up, the store is busy making lots of yummy desserts and candies for the festivities. An old flame of Aiden's is back in town and wants to get back with him. What is going on there? Lots of things to clear up in this great addition to the series.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Another really good addition to this cozy series; if not for a few teeny complaints, this would have been a five star read for me. Very well done.

This time around, it is finally Juliet and Reverend Brook's wedding and everyone is going crazy getting ready for it, including Bailey, who is not only the cake maker, but also the maid of honor. Trusting that the wedding will go off without a hitch, everyone arrives at the church only to have it disrupted by a crazy-looking woman yelling at Reverend Brook and calling him a traitor. The wedding continues after she is removed, but the next morning a dead body shows up on the steps of the church and it looks like Reverend Brook has some explaining to do. Amongst other things.

The topic of this book is alcohol and alcoholism and what it does to both people and families and those we love. The damage from either being an alcoholic or being married or related or a child of one is huge [I am a child of one and I still struggle with the fallout from that on a regular basis, not to mention my own struggle with it] and this book touches on this without being preachy, but showing it in a very honest way and just how it can wreck all those around you without you even being aware of it. And when people lie about their past or their present, the hurt and distrust becomes even bigger. And the fallout can be devastating. I think that the author handled this very well and I was impressed.

Now...for the things I didn't like. Mind you, they are teeny. But they are things that annoyed me to no end.
*Does Bailey ever actually <i>WORK</i>? That makes me crazy - especially when she talks about how she moved to Ohio to help out her grandmother and to me it seems that Clara with the help of Charlotte and Emily, is doing all the work. It annoys me.
*Bailey lives in a little rented house. Know how I know this? She TELLS YOU 1500 TIMES. I almost sprained my eyeballs with this one.
*Cass has been to Harvest before and only brings black jeans and SILK tank tops? Seriously? In the freaking summer? I'm sorry, but I lived in NYC and its hot and humid there too. Its not like she wouldn't have known and having had been there before, she would have known to dress the FRICK DOWN. Sigh.
*THIS one I cannot share as it contains spoilers and those cannot be hidden here. Just know it was very upsetting and made me a bit crazy and was what truly kept me from giving this 5 stars.
Those are the things that keep this from being a 5 star read. I almost gave in when I was shocked at who the killer was, but the stuff in the spoiler part just pushed it back to 4 stars for me.

That said, I love this series and I will keep reading them as long as she keeps writing them. It was a very good read.

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

Exciting Murder Mystery in Amish Country
I have read all of the books in this series and they just keep getting better. This episode certainly checks all of the boxes. I don't want to spoil any of it for you. There is too much going on at once, including romance, pet pigs, and an Independence Day celebration. This one had me smiling from start to finish. It even includes a recipe to try. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

I love Amanda flower book's.
they are alway's so good..
I love the pig in the story.
makes it interesting. I can't wait for more to come, I hope there's more off this series..I adore it. my favorite series off of her. I love all of her book's. but do favor this series.
Bailey is my favorite character.
I do like all the character's But I favor bailey. I do love cozy mysteries lots. it has good plot's.
I love that it has the pig Jethro in the story he makes it interesting..
I received the copy from netgalley

Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is book five in the Amish Candy Shop series. If you are looking for a cozy that will have you guessing to the end, but also laughing out loud, this is it.
It's finally the big day for Reverend Brook and Juliet which means Bailey is being run ragged. Not only is she the maid of honor but is baking the wedding cake with marshmallow frosting which is not a good choice since it is the middle of Summer in Ohio. Oh and to top if off, the reception is outside.
The saying goes, things happen in threes, well Juliet's starts with a slight mishap with her hair while getting ready for the wedding, then a stranger interrupts the wedding yelling at the groom, and the reception has excitement with the cake. (Thanks Jethro..,)
The next day Bailey is on the way to the church to pick up Jethro since she has agreed to babysit while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon, she finds the body of the young lady who showed up during the wedding on the steps of the church. All eyes are on the Reverend, but Bailey knows he couldn't have done it or could he.
This puts Bailey back looking into another murder much to her deputy boyfriend, Aiden's dismay. Throw in, Aiden's ex and her mother, a former Amish girl, and moonshine stills, oh and an ornery pig and you get a perfect Cozy. There are plenty of suspects, you get humor, friendship and family, and romance.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.

Marshmallow Malice
Amish Candy Shop, Book #5
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Caught in a sticky situation . . .

With Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook tying the knot in Ohio's Amish Country's most anticipated nuptials of the year, Bailey King is determined to do everything in her power to make the event a sweet success. Except midsummer heat waves and outdoor ceremonies don't mix, and an exasperated Bailey soon finds herself struggling to fulfill bridesmaid duties and keep her stunning marshmallow-frosted wedding cake from becoming a gooey disaster. Then much to everyone's shock, the entire ceremony crumbles when a guest drops dead, and the cause isn't sunstroke . . .

Turns out, the uninvited victim came equipped with lots of dirt on the devout reverend's hidden past. As Reverend Brook tops the murder suspect list on what should have been the happiest day of his life, Bailey and her sheriff's deputy boyfriend vow to clear his name. Can the duo boil down a series of baffling clues before Juliet considers her marriage a bad mistake--or the killer whips up another deadly surprise?

Recipe Included!

Praise for Amanda Flower and her Amish cozies

"As it turns out, Amanda Flower may have just written the first Amish rom com."
-- USA Today

"Flower has hit it out of the ballpark . . . and continues to amaze with her knowledge of the Amish way of life."
-- RT Book Reviews

"At turns playful and engaging . . . a satisfyingly complex cozy."
-- Library Journal



Review:

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I was so happy that Cass was very involved in this book, she and Bailey make a great crime fighting duo. The situations that they find themselves are funny and dangerous. I am very glad that Juliet and Reverend Brook finally tied the knot, they were made for each other. And what can I say about Jethro, Juliet’s little pig. I love all of his antics, they made me laugh.

The writing style flowed smoothly and defined the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. In my mind’s eye, I could see all of the action taking place during the festival and at the candy shop.

The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I considered the culprit for a moment and then discarded her as a suspect. Sleuthing is not an easy thing to do.

I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I know that anytime I pick up a book written by this author, I am in for a real treat.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

This time in town, we're getting married!! No, Bailey isn't marrying Hot Cop, but Juliet is finally marrying her love, the pastor. There's a marshmallow frosted cake, a polka dot pig, and ... An ex. We do have a murder, but this time it appears to be unrelated to the Amish, until further investigation. I really liked how this case was handled in a new and different way from the last, and tied in well with the wedding. This carries on the theme dealing with addiction from the last novella, but a totally different way. There's also a focus on leaving the community and the faith, as well as family and faith in general.

Baker Bailey King is ready for the premiere of her cooking show. But before that, she is ready to be a bridesmaid at the wedding of Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook. She's made the cake, with its marshmallow frosting, and things are doing splendidly. But during the wedding a woman storms into the church and disrupts the ceremony. Then the pig, Jethro, puts his snot into things, and things really get sticky.

But when the unknown woman turns up dead, it's up to Bailey to get to the bottom of things, before the death is pinned on an innocent person.

This is one of my favorite series, and this book was a perfect addition to that series. I was happy to see Juliet an Rev. Brook tie the knot, and of course there had to be chaos, or it wouldn't be a Bailey King story. One of the things I love the most about Bailey is her independence. She has taken to her life in Amish country with vigor, but she still keeps her sense of self. This story led her to a seedy side of life, and she handled it with great finesse.

I love this series, and I look forward to many more.

I read a digital copy of this story provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

The always upbeat Juliet is trying to remain positive on her wedding day despite major problems. (We won't even talk about the hair incident.) Her maid of honor, Bailey, is having her own concerns because she made and is responsible for the wedding cake. Juliet requested a marshmallow icing and on the hot summer day she is afraid it will melt. However, what happened in the ceremony turned out to be the biggest problem until a body was discovered the next morning.

This story had me guessing from beginning to end about not only the murder but what might happen between Bailey and her boyfriend Aiden now that his old girlfriend has shown up again. As always Juliet's comfort animal, Jethro the pig, kept me entertained with his mischievousness. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. This is the first book I read in the Amish Candy Shop series, and also the First by Amanda Flower. The book starts out with a wedding going rather wrong, but with many of the characters trying their best to make everything work. Bailey and Cass are fun, and I just loved how Cass, being from NYC, seemed completely out oh her element in a rural town. The one thing I could not understand was why would anyone keep a pig as a pet, especially one that wrecks everything. This aspect provided some funny moments in the book, but was rightfully referred to as bacon at times. Also, during the entire book, I wanted to know what was the Reverend's secret.

I really like that the author addressed a serious problem such as alcoholism. It is such a devastating problem in real life, and I think the way the author dealt with this issue can have an impact in the lives of some readers. Highly recommended!

I can't think of a much better combination that a wedding and candy!

It was nice to visit with Bailey again as she prepares for Juliet and the Reverend's wedding. In addition to being the maid of honor, she's also making candy and preparing to 'pig' sit Jethro after the wedding.
After Bailey finds the victim, she and visiting friend Cass starts searching for the killer.

This was a well-written book that flowed well with an interesting mystery. I'm already ready for the next one!

Marshmallow Malice is the fifth book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series.

Once again it is busy times for Bailey King. Bailey works in her grandmother’s candy shop, Swissmen Sweets. Juliet Brody is getting married to Reverend Brook and Bailey is making the wedding cake that will have marshmallow icing. Bailey will also be the maid of honor and will be escorted down the aisle by Juliet’s pet pig and ring bearer, Jethro. The wedding goes off without a hitch and everyone heads outdoor to the reception being held outdoors in the village square next to the church. As Bailey is approaching the table where the wedding cake is, Jethro tugs on his leash and gets away and he soon gets caught up in a table leg and the cake goes crashing to the ground. Bailey then loses her balance and falls next to the cake, getting icing on her, as she calls it, her “upside-down cupcake” dress. While some order is trying to be made a young lady, who is intoxicated, accuses Reverend Brook of being a traitor and quickly leaves. As Bailey is heading home to change her dress, she notices the same lady being forced into a car. Before Bailey can get there the car speeds off. The next morning, Bailey is going to check out the church to make sure that everything was cleaned up from the wedding and finds the lifeless body of the young lady on the steps of the church.

Bailey and her BFF, Cass who has come to Harvest set out find who might have killed the young lady. Their investigation leads them to one of the local Amish farms and also to a local winery and they will end up dealing with illegal moonshiners.

I love books by Ms. Flower and this was another wonderful story. They are always well-written and plotted stories. They all include a believable and well-developed cast of characters. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end of the book.

A delicious-sounding recipe is also included in the book.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this sweet series.

Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is the 5th book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, and another great story. I really love this series, and am looking forward to the next book. Bailey King left her job as a New York chocolatier to return to Harvest, OH to help run Swissman Sweets, a candy shop her Amish grandmother owns. The time has come for Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook to get married, and Bailey is determined to make everything perfect. When a drunk women comes into the rehearsal dinner, yelling it is all the Reverend's fault, everyone is shocked. The next morning, the day of the wedding, the women is found dead on the church steps. Can Bailey and her sheriff's deputy boyfriend, Aiden Brody, clear the Reverend name? I love the quirky people and situations in this book. I found this book to be a quick read, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/ series. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I truly enjoyed this latest entry in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. It was fun visiting Bailey and all the interesting and colorful characters in the town of Harvest, Ohio (including Jethro the pig). The mystery was interesting with different possible suspects that kept me guessing until the very last. And the recipe at the end is definitely something I want to try.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

I loved this book!! It is well written and has just enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. I could picture Jethro trotting down the church isle with the basket in his mouth. Grab this book and settle in for a really good read. I can't wait to read the next book. Thank you Kensington Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this delightful book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Marshmallow Malice picks up right where Botched Butterscotch leaves off. Bailey is the maid of honor (and cake expert!) for her boyfriend's mom's wedding. There's some drama at the ceremony when an uninvited guest crashes the wedding and tries to put a stop to things. When the wedding crasher ends up dead the next morning, Bailey works to solve the murder. This has just the right balance of fun and seriousness - I love learning about the Amish community and the writing feels purposeful throughout the entire story.

This book was a fun and light read that had all the neccessary components for a cozy mystery. I enjoyed Bailey as a character. I do think that if I would have read the others in the series I would have liked this book more.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for my honest review.