Member Reviews
Another solid installment in the Amish matchmaker series. Millie, series heroine..the Amish matchmaker, and her childhood best friend, Lois, become embroiled in another homicide investigation. Lois, a flamboyant <i>Englisher</i>, runs into ex-husband #4 while he is on is latest honeymoon. When his bride ends up crushed by a cuckoo from giant cuckoo clock, Lois feels obligated to clear his name. Clever mystery and the characters are well drawn and engaging.
Book 4 of An Amish Matchmaker series
Release date 12/1/2022
All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are my own. Thank you to #netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I found the book to be lighted and fun.
#HoneymoonsCanBeHazardous#NetGalley
Amanda Flower's Amish Matchmaker Mystery Series focuses on seventy-odd-year-old widow Millie Fisher. The mystery in Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous is who brought about the demise of Paige "Honeybee" Moorhead?
Set in Harvest, Ohio, Millie leads an active life; she has her long-time best friend, Englisher, Lois Henry. As reserved as Millie is, Lois is her flamboyant opposite. It is such a fun friendship and I enjoyed reading about the two of them. She also has her quilting circle to keep her occupied. This series is an extension of the author's Amish Candy Shop tales and some of the characters from those mysteries are in this series. Add in mischievous goats, a cat and a pig called Jethro to the mix along with some hilarious moments and the cozy mystery reader has a perfect cozy reading escape.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Millie runs into someone she ever thought she would see in her small town, Gerome Moorhead, one of her best friends many ex's. He happens to have his very young and new bride along with him. Lois is quite upset but Millie isn't quite as shocked. When the new bride ends up dead by way of a large wood carving all eyes turn toward Lois. Millie loves her friend and knows she couldn't have done it.so she sets out to find the truth behind the young woman's murder. Follow along as she delves into the background of Honeybee and also her now widowed husband. Will she find the answers she seeks before Lois ends up behind bars?
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous (HCBH) is the 4th Amish Matchmaker mystery. I like Millie and Lois as amateur sleuths. I like the goats. Read it and you'll see how much they are characters in the series.
The descriptions of rural Ohio are a significant part of the story line for HCBH. I think that the drug problems that are a big part of the storyline are likely a real challenge facing Ohio at this time. It made for a sad feeling to the book for me.
I like all the Millie and Lois interactions, but the overall feeling of the book is sad and the outcome of the murder is sad.
I know it's real life issues facing people that the author is bringing into the book, and I am grateful for a wider view of the world outside my bubble. But it was harder to read HCBH than some of the others. For me it's a sad note to end the year on when I would rather feel happy at the end of 2022. Thus the 3 stars rather than rate it higher. It's not a reflection of any lack on the part of the author because she writes exceptional stories. It's simply my reaction to this particular story and the way I wanted to feel but didn't.
I love this series, and I enjoyed this addition! Millie and Lois are such a fun duo! I love the little cameos of the Amish Candy shop characters.
The theme of this book was a little heavier than I expected.
I highly recommend this series to all cozy lovers, fans of the Amish candy shop, and lovers of Amish reading!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Amanda Flower, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!
Love is in the air in Harvest, Ohio....or is it snow? Nope, there is a murder on the horizon. The Valentine's Day spaghetti dinner has arrived and will benefit local drug counseling services. Lois and Millie will have their hands full with a new investigation when Lois's ex-husband turns up with his new wife, Paige. Sad to say she will be the corpse and Lois and the ex, Gerome, will top the list of suspects. Let's just say the meeting of Lois, Gerome and Paige causes quite the floor show for the other cafe diners.
Millie and Lois are ladies of a certain age and are BFF's. Together they unravel the mysteries of love and more murders then you can shale a stick at. Millie is Amish from her bonnet to her shoes and Lois is English with the look of having stumbled into a vivid color wheel. (I love her purse, it reminds me of Mary Poppins) The reader is treated to a well crafted puzzle to solve along with a delightful visit with all of the locals they have come to enjoy hanging out with in Harvest. That includes Jethro, the nationally famous pig.
There are four books in this series and seven in the Amish Candy Shop series. They share location and characters and have never disappointed me. They work fine as standalones.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is an Amish Cozy Mystery, and this is the fourth book in An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series. I have read and reviewed the third book in this series before picking up this book, but I do think you can read this book as a standalone. I love the characters in this book, and it is so much fun following the characters in this book. I really enjoyed the craziness that the two main characters got into solving the mystery in this book. This book was so much fun to read, and I really liked the mystery in this book too. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Books) or author (Amanda Flower) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
This is one of the best of the Amish Matchmaker series so far; I thought it was wonderful. The author continues to outdo herself with Millie and Lois, best friends for over sixty years. The mystery became more complex with each chapter, especially when it seemed there were two separate, unrelated crimes. Some scenes were sad, some were frightening while still others were laugh-out-loud funny. There were times I simply observed and enjoyed the eclectic characters and unusual pets.
Millie is the Amish matchmaker and a widow of more than 20 years. Lois is Englisch, and quite a flamboyant lady when it comes to color and style. She has three ex-husbands and was widowed once. Seniors now, they are respected by most of the folks they know in the Harvest, Ohio area.
Lois and Millie went into the café owned by Lois’s granddaughter and found Lois’s fourth husband there – with his new bride who looked young enough to be his daughter. They were on their honeymoon. Lois was furious, at least until she had time to think about the situation. Lois invited Millie to join her when she went to deliver a letter of apology to Gerome and Paige. When reaching the Munich Chalet, they heard a terrible noise, a scream, and parked by the clock tower. The giant cuckoo from the cuckoo clock crashed to the ground, pinning someone underneath one of the broken pieces. It was Paige, married only two days, and already dead. Gerome begged Lois for help since he doesn’t know anyone in Harvest. The grieving widower wants to know who killed his bride, not go to jail for her murder! Lois and Millie began to ask questions, and found themselves involved in what, at first, seemed like unrelated events and discovered much more going on than initially met their eyes.
The characters, especially Millie and Lois, are very well defined. I found the background on the Amish orders and districts helpful in understanding what is and isn’t allowed. I was startled at how the bishop’s wife, Ruth, has a different attitude than usual towards Millie and Lois’s sleuthing, proving that nobody is too old to change. One thing that the author gently points out is that the Amish are not immune to the temptations of the outside world, especially those whose families have suffered great losses or challenges.
Fourth in its series, this cozy mystery can be read either as a standalone or in series order. This novel has some of the things I enjoy most, including strong female leads, good friends, pets who are as quirky as their owners, humor, suspense, and a challenging mystery. The mysteries were not easy to solve and had enough twists and turns to hold my attention. The end was very pleasing despite the cliff hanger. I highly recommend this novel and series!
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous is the fourth book in the An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series by Amanda Flower.
This series has the most enjoyable and exciting duo that I have read. Millie Fisher is an Amish matchmaker, and Lois Henry is Englisch and has divorced four times. Lois works at her grandaughter’s Sunbeam Cafe.
Millie and Lois enter the Sunbeam Cafe, and Lois is shocked to see her fourth ex-husband, Rocksino Guy, at the cash register. Lois soon learns he is in Harvest with his young wife, Paige, whom he married just days ago. The next morning, Lois wants to apologize for her rude behavior and head for the motel where the couple is staying. The German theme motel has an enormous cuckoo clock, and as it starts to ring the hour, the cuckoo breaks off and falls, killing Paige. The local police have ruled the death an accident, but Lois and Millie don’t think it was an accident. They begin their investigation by sneaking into the cuckoo clock and soon find that the cable that operated was attached to the cuckoo had been deliberately cut partially through so that the cable would snap when the cuckoo began announcing the hour. With this information, Millie and Lois can convince the police that Paige's death was murder.
A book subplot deals with the increased use of illegal drugs by Amish and Englisch teens and young adults. The recent death of a young Amish man. Reverend Brook, pastor of the church on the town square, has started a drug counseling program open to everyone youth in Harvest. The author skillfully intertwines the drug trafficking problem into the murder investigation.
I found the book well-written, plotted, and a quick read. The characters are wonderfully developed and extremely enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the banter between Lois and Millie. There were enough twists and turns that I was kept guessing until the final reveal of the killer.
I’m anxiously awaiting the book to see what Millie and Lois might get involved in.
Another fun and interesting sleuthing adventure with Millie and Lois. There's lots of great dialogue and witty banter, an intriguing mystery, and suspicious-acting sheep. And there's a surprising twist at the end.
I'm already looking forward to the next Millie and Lois adventure.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.
This book was a fun read. Millie Fisher and Lois Henry are doing it again looking for fun and trouble at the same time. I especially like those nosy sheep of Millies they add fun to the book. It's like they know whats going on and they like to have fun. And the two sleuths keep themselves busy and trying to stay out of trouble. It was an enjoyable read all the way to the end. Looking for the next read.
One of my favorite authors! Just like all her other books, this one was a fun read with witty dialogue and an interesting mystery. Amanda Flower is one of the best cozy mystery authors and I always enjoy her books, can’t wait for the next one!
I enjoy all my visits to Harvest, OH, through Amanda Flower’s different series; they’re both different enough that it doesn’t feel like just one series but there are a few characters that overlap, which is nice. I love the friendship between Millie and Lois; they’re both so different but complement each other well and it’s heartwarming to read about their decades long friendship. The mystery in this one was a lot darker than I expected (yes, it’s murder and that’s always dark) with the drugs involved but I found both the method of murder and the crime very creative. With that surprise at the end, I can’t wait to read the next one.
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous is book #4 in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series by Amanda Flower.
Millie’s best friend, Lois Henry, has an ex-husband show up with a new wife. Lois doesn’t take it well and then the new wife is murdered. Lois is a suspect so they need to find the real guilty party.
I really enjoy this series. Millie and Lois are so different and yet they are best friends. There is a lot of humor with the duo’s antics and how can you not love Millie’s goats. Following along as Millie and Lois investigate is always entertaining. I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Take two sixty-something lifelong friends, one Amish one English. Add a quaint small Ohio town. Throw in a murder and a drug trafficking. This is the premise of the fourth Amish Matchmaker Mystery. Author Amanda Flower does a fantastic job of highlighting both cultures that, for the most part, work well together despite their differences. In this particular story, we learn a little more about Lois’s background with her ex-husband. It also sheds light on the often-unspoken drug abuse issues within the Amish community.
Death by cuckoo clock is quite the unexpected manner of murder, and the death of Lois’s ex’s new wife gets the story off to a great start. I do wish readers could have gotten to know Paige a bit better before her demise, by we do learn quite a bit about her through Millie and Lois’s investigation. I like that Millie works with the police, for the most part. Her relationship with Lois is really touching; I can only hope my best friend and I stand the test of time as well.
The mystery provides a satisfying puzzle to solve. There are plenty of potential suspects to keep readers interested. The Amish Matchmaker series is the perfect complement to Flower’s Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, but each series can definitely be read separately. HONEYMOONS CAN BE HAZARDOUS is an entertaining addition to the cozy canon. Highly recommended.
Amanda Flower gives us an amusing cozy in the Amish Matchmaker series: Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous. Millie is with her not Amish best friend Lois Henry when she encounters her ex husband Gerome and his new
wife, called Honeybee. Within the day Honeybee has been killed by a falling wood carving; the police call it murder. Is there any connection with drugs in the community? What about the furniture company run by Honeybee. Millie is immersed in finding the killer and interfering in anyone else's business. Amusing and fast moving.
This is the fourth in the series. I have not read all of them. I like this series. Millie is so down to earth and is offset by wacky Lois who imparts the comic relief when dealing with series topics.
Drugs have intruded into the Amish village and is causing plenty of pain. The community is trying to raise enough money for a treatment center.
Lois runs into her last ex-husband and his new wife in Holmes County. Unfortunately, a woman is killed at the resort they are staying in. Millie and Lois along with the police are looking into the unusual death.
I really enjoyed the book and like how it ties into the other series by Ms Flower in the same town. I like how these characters in this book are the primaries and the other characters take a back seat. What a cool concept.
We get a peek into the next book at the end of this one.
I liked the unusual death and the incidents in the book. I also like how Lois sticks up for Millie with her Bishop whenever Millie’s safety in involved. Millie is lucky to have a good friend like Lois.
I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.
Millie and Lois are back at the granny sleuthing again! This time is is to solve the unfortunate death by cuckoo clock.
I really liked how a couple plot lines were intertwined in this mystery, death and drug issues in the couny. We also go a glimpse into the issues of the Amish youth and got to hear about one of Lois's exes. Of course I always enjoy all of the animals cameos as well, crazy goats.
As with other books in the series, I was guessing at the killer, but really didn't fully make all of the connections until the characters were figuring it out as well. I'm excited for the next book in this series and the candy shop series. So many amateur sleuths in Harvest!
Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
The Amish Matchmaker Mystery series is an enjoyable series that overlaps with the Amish Candy Mystery series, both set in Harvest, Ohio, where the Amish and English live, work, and support each together in a great community effort. The characters are likable, realistic, and well developed. Millie is the Amish matchmaker and Lois, her best friend, who happens to be English, love to solve mysteries. These two sixty something year old ladies are so fun together and really complement each other's personalities. In this case, Lois and Millie are thrown into a murder mystery involving the new bride of Lois's ex=husband. The mystery goes deep into the community and shows how the lure of money and drugs can hurt people and destroy lives. This story has an interesting mystery to unravel with suspense, danger, and humor. We do have visits from some of the characters from the Amish Candy Mystery series make an appearance. It ended with a little surprise forecast of the next book. Looking forward to it. Great for cozy mystery lovers, especially those who enjoy Amish stories. I received a complimentary copy for the purpose of an honest review from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.