Member Reviews
Princess Fuzzypants here: Bailey is faced with culture clashes on all fronts. Her cousin Charlotte, who has left the Amish ways, will marry her policeman boyfriend soon. Her family is still snubbing her for what they perceive as her betrayal and she is about to meet her future in-laws. Bailey is also clashing with the builder who is contracted to finish the candy factory that has the community divided. And all of this is being caught on tape as she agreed to have her network film the building of her factory but the producer who is doing the filming does not understand boundaries. The contractor ends up dead and Bailey is in the cross-hairs of the top cop who despises her. Thank Bast her boyfriend, Adrien, is returning to town. Now if his mother would stop dropping Jethro, her pet pig, into Bailey’s care maybe she could sort out all of the messes.
I have enjoyed this series…and who could resist Jethro. Definitely it is one that should be read in sequence because the development of the characters and how they deal with the conflicts in the mystery. It also makes the conclusion of the story more satisfying because the reader has been transported along through trials and tribulations. Four purrs and two paws up.
Bailey King was hoping to have her candy factory up and running for the end of August. She even arranged for a small crew to be on hand filming for a new realty show on Gourmet Television. But it's the end of June and progress has come to a grinding halt, with Wade Farmer, general contractor, claiming materials delays and issues with employee retention, then requesting additional advance monies to compensate for these issues. This is the last straw and Bailey fires Wade, publicly and caught on camera...a fact that is held against her when Wade's dead body is later found at her construction site. Can Bailey prove her innocence and pinpoint the real killer, despite the Sheriff focusing all his efforts on her. Besides the murder, the town is also involved in a blueberry festival, as well as preparations for the wedding of Charlotte and Deputy Luke Little. Lots of action as always in this series, with delightful comic relief from the adorable pet pig, Jethro. I was glad to see that Millie and her friend Lois make an appearance in this story (although I missed Millie's goats). I can't wait for the next book in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.
I thoroughly enjoy how this book series blends together two worlds - Amish and non-Amish. This book was not quite as strong as some of the others - a bit extra fluff and a weaker mystery. I do still enjoy the series and will continue to read it.
Bailey is finally getting her factory built but is running into all kinds of issues. The builder wants more money and when it is not given he slows things down. Adding to the chaos is the fact that a reality show is coming to film and finds things not as far along as planned. While Bailey is no stranger to the reality world she still cannot believe it was even a possibility as most of the workers are Amish. Adding to the drama someone gets killed and Bailey must figure it out so her plans can continue and of course the antics of Jethro are fun to see in this new adventure.
I love visiting Harvest, Ohio and Swissmen Sweets. It is the Blueberry Bash and Margot has of course talked Bailey into being the Blueberry princess. Bailey not fitting into the dress and dealing with construction on her candy factory asks Charolotte to take her place. Bailey's contractor is found dead and Charolotte's father is arrested for the crime. Bailey helps clear his name.
I love the characters in this series. The characters are what you would expect for a small town. I love that Bailey, even though she is English, has so much respect for the Amish community when she is sleuthing. The ending was so shocking but in the best way possible. It makes me want the next book right now.
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
This is another fun and intriguing mystery about Bailey King, her family, and her friends in the Amish village of Harvest, Ohio. It includes much humor, sweet romance, and a businesswoman who had been a highly successful chocolatier in New York City but now has a specialty show on Gourmet Television while helping her grandmother with her grandparents’ dream of a specialty candy shop using Amish recipes and techniques. The characters are three-dimensional and so engaging as to be the kind of people I would enjoy as neighbors. Relationships between most folks there are heartwarming and caring. The mystery kept me stumped and throughout.
Gourmet Television, who carries Bailey’s Amish Sweets, has begun filming a reality show watching the construction of Swissmen Candyworks. It is Bailey’s dream, a huge factory for their fabulous recipes. Sweets will still be sold in Swissmen Sweets, where Clara, Bailey’s grandmother, and Bailey run the family business. It will also provide more products for wide distribution via the internet.
They can film everything related to the construction except Bailey’s Amish family, friends, and workers. Devon, the producer, and her cameraman, Z, are there when Wade, the contractor, is finally coming to meet Bailey regarding the work his several-week work stoppage. Bailey’s opening date was scheduled for August; now only a miracle could get it completed on time. They are at an impasse unless Bailey acquiesces to his demands for more money due to price and labor increases. Instead, she canceled his contract to hire someone else.
That night, Bailey’s boyfriend Aiden is moving back to Harvest after working for the state bureau of investigation. The actual position was different than the offer made to him, so he was returning to be close to Bailey and begin his own PI firm. His decade-long career with the local sheriff’s department gave him a solid background in law enforcement and investigations.
Bailey’s cousin Charlotte, raised the Amish way, chose to not be baptized and join her parents’ church district. She lived with Clara since her family turned their back on her. When she met and fell in love with Luke, who had been mentored by Aiden and was now the sheriff’s second in command, Charlotte chose to leave the Amish way. She and Luke will get married in a few days, but her family refused to attend.
The First Annual Blueberry Bash began that day, and Bailey shared samples of a new blueberry-based fudge to tourists and residents. Later that night, Bailey and Charlotte went to the factory to make sure it was secured. It was Charlotte who noticed Wade’s dead body on top of the scaffolding. Within a short time, Charlotte’s father, Sol, is arrested and charged with his murder. The sheriff, who doesn’t like the Amish he is supposed to serve and protect, is railroading him for some reason. Bailey and Charlotte have just over a week before her wedding to find the real killer, even as Bailey seeks a new contractor to complete the candy factory.
It is a delight to watch the well-defined characters grow and change throughout this series. With few exceptions, most are endearing, memorable, and easily invested in by this reader. Charlotte in particular has blossomed through her relationship with Luke and close friendship with Bailey. Jethro steals many scenes. He is the polka-dotted comfort pig belonging to Juliet, Aiden’s mother and recent bride of Reverend Brook.
This fast-paced novel is full of twists and turns that kept me actively pursuing the case with Bailey, Aiden, and Charlotte. Descriptions of the people and area are richly colorful, especially those related to the Blueberry Bash. We won’t even talk about the fudge and other tempting sweets! I was startled to see who was involved with Wade’s murder and the reasons behind it. Fans of this series and the associated Amish Matchmaker series won’t want to miss this, or the surprises throughout! I highly recommend it!
After the last book, we were so excited that Bailey was going to have a new candy factory built, but we didn't know it would lead to another murder.
This cozy mystery had a bunch of interesting aspects like a construction project, film crew, petting zoo, Jethro the pig, upcoming wedding, and a blueberry festival. This whodunit had me guessing several suspects, but I definitely didn't guess one individual's involvement.
I liked learning a little more about Charlotte in this book and her family. Some of the character plot side points continuing from book to book are nice. Bailey's personal life has some excitement in it by the end since Aiden is back. I felt like they were more of a sleuthing duo in this one.
As always, these mysteries are well developed and have fun characters and plot points. I loved the blueberry princess part!
Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
I LOVED being back in Harvest with Bailey and her crew. Amanda Flower has done a fabulous job of fully building this cozy town with vivid descriptions and dynamic characters. Jethro is still my favorite. I enjoyed following Bailey as she once again investigates the murder. I really loved the progression of the storyline of Bailey and Aiden's relationship. This is one of my favorite cozy series, and Blueberry Blunder did not disappoint!
Dollycas's Thoughts
We arrive in Harvest, Ohio just in time for the First Annual Blueberry Bash complete with a Blueberry Princess, blueberry pies, and blueberry fudge. While Bailey King has been busy making tons of fudge she also has to deal with a contractor who has stopped working on the Swissman Sweets Candy Factory until she pays him more money. She is not falling for his games. If he can't abide by the contract they signed including the payment schedule he was fired. To add more stress her network has green-lighted a reality show about building the factory so she has a cameraman and a pushy producer following her everywhere she goes. Margot Rawlings, the organizer of all the special events in Harvest is practically dancing with glee about the project because it includes the Blueberry Bash and it will bring tons of tourists to the little town that thrives on visitor dollars.
But tragedy strikes soon after the first day of the bash when Bailey finds her former contractor dead in her shell of a factory. It isn't long before she finds out he angered quite a few of his customers, even some of the Amish. So she has another murder mystery to solve and the police's main suspect hits pretty close to home. She is excited that her boyfriend Aiden is coming back to Harvest to take his career in a new direction but he isn't going to like her getting involved in another murder.
Can she track down the real killer, get the factory back on track, and really plan a future with Aiden? Or will she be the killer's next victim?
____
Ms. Flower has created a very strong core cast of characters in her Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series, both human and animal. The humans are so genuine and true to life in a small town where the English and Amish reside close together. Many are unsure about Bailey's factory including her Amish grandmother but Bailey hopes they will see the many good things the factory will bring, like jobs. Bailey and others like community organizer Margot Rawlings are very mindful and consider the Amish community in everything they do. Bailey also opens her heart to people like her cousin who has left the Amish way of life to pursue a life among the English. As for the animals, Jethro, the miniature pot-bellied pig spends a lot of time with Bailey in this story but her rabbit and the candy shop's kitten are always around too. I love how they all get along so well together, better than most people.
Bailey's contractor was not a nice man and he was clearly hiding something. After his death so much was revealed that the suspect list really grew. Bailey worked hard trying to get answers and I love tagging along with her and she tries to get all the clues and evidence to fall into place. In Blueberry Blunder she is hindered by a television producer with her own agenda especially when Bailey is trying to get information from members of the Amish community who don't allow their pictures to be taken or their happenings filmed. Bailey was their champion and I loved how she stood up for them.
The ending served up quite a surprise, someone I thought maybe was behind everything but I discounted them early when I clearly should have kept them on my list. I will say the ending though was a bit abrupt as a conversation turned into a huge reveal. I was like WHOA! That was not how I thought that would happen. I loved being surprised but still thought there would be more tippy-toeing around before the guilty party would be apprehended but it was a great conclusion for the mystery.
After the mystery was all wrapped up a wonderful event took place followed quickly by another. I had a tear or two in my eye. Thank you, Amanda Flower for such a fantastic ending.
Blueberry Blunder has everything cozy lovers love. Fabulous characters, a marvelous mystery, perfect amounts of humor and romance all set in a town everyone would love to visit. I am so excited for this series to continue.
I have enjoyed the books I’ve read in the Amish Candy Shop series. I love how the Amish and “Englisch” communities work together...some days better than others. The characters are well developed and Jethro, the pig, Nutmeg, the cat, and Puff, the rabbit, add to the delightful cast of characters. The murder mystery keeps you guessing until the story is almost over. There is a nice surprise at the end which has me waiting anxiously for the next adventure in Harvest, Ohio.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
I loved this book about a small town with English and Amish working together. There is a Blueberry Festival and Bailey King who makes candy at her shop is serving blueberry fudge to the festival goers. She is excited because she is expanding and building her candy factory. Delays in construction and the contractor asking for more money is putting the stress on Bailey. She has an argument with the contractor and fires him and then disaster strikes and she finds her contractor dead at the job site. This was so fun candy and mystery go well together.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I have been reading this series from the beginning as well as the concurrent Matchmaker one. While overall the writing is easy to read and will draw you into the story; there were a few things that felt off. Bailey seems to have become a boring character with not much of her original traits. The victim was not a surprise and the reveal was not either. It was a good little read but not one that had much depth
Love Bailey and her sweets in this series that has progressed so well to building a factory, Would not have thought that's where we'd be back at the beginning. A busy mystery with these fun characters and a great addition.
This book was my introduction to Amanda Flower's works. I love cozy mysteries and blueberries, and this book has them both! I recommend giving this book a try. Drama, a good mystery, and charming characters.
My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review!
Bailey is excited that her dream to build a candy factory is finally coming true. The tv execs have even sent a crew to film the building of the factory from start to finish. Things were going well until her contractor stopped doing his job and asked for more money to continue the build even though he had been paid. Life gets even worse when Bailey finds the man dead and the sheriff is looking at her as a suspect. She soon learns that the man had quite a few enemies even some Amish ones. Bailey begins.to investigate in hopes of finding a killer before the sheriff finds a way to lay the mans death at her feet. Follow along as she juggles the blueberry festival that is going on in town as well as investigating. Will she find a killer before something else bad happens?
I liked this one better than previous books in the series. But I think at least for me as a reader this series has run its course.
This was a wonderful and sweet cozy mystery that I very much enjoyed!
The author has done well with making us guess until the on who it was!
What's even better?! By adding a pig to it. So very cool! He was my favorite character lol.
There is something sour in the candy world and it isn't the candy! Once again, we are treated to a wonderfully written mystery set in the Amish Candy Shop and Bailey King is once again in the center of the investigation. This time things take a deadly turn and Bailey may be the next person caught in the crossfire. An intriguing tale of murder, marriage, crooked construction and so much more are on the agenda in this book. You won't want to miss it! I am amazed that the author keeps coming up with such creative storylines to entertain and delight us with. I can't wait to see what happens for Bailey and crew in the next installment!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cozy Murder Mystery
Bailey is preparing to open her new candy factory but delays keep happening like a dead body.
This book was so fast paced and fun. Sometimes you get those cozy mystery that just complete brag and get boring. This was not one of them. This kept me entertained and going.
I did not guess the motive and killer by the end of the book. I was surprised to find out who it was.
I haven’t read the first in this series but now I want to go back and read the rest of series. This really puts respectful light on the Amish community.
Once again Jethro, the pig, steals the show. He is so funny and just loves being the star of the show. However, Bailey is starting to thrive in Amish country with her grandparents business, Swissmen Sweets. Now if she can just get the factory for the sweets built things can continue to grow. But when her contrator, Wade Farmer, turns up died in her unfinished factory after Bailey fights with him and fires him everything is put on hold. Including her TV show for Gourmet Television comes to a halt but no thanks to her ambitious new producer Devon who wants to continue with a true crime vibe. But Bailey tries to halt all production while trying to figure out who in the Amish community could have killed Wade. Unfortunately, the list of potential murder suspects is a huge one including family members that Bailey must help to prove their innocense. With everything going on Bailey is still getting ready for Charlotte's wedding and Aiden's return from working with the Ohio's Bureau of Investigation.
Harvest is still full of craziness and lots of talk (gossip). But the big question is will Aiden and Bailey ever get married or even profess their love for each other? Can't wait for the next book to see what happens for Bailey?