Murder with Chocolate Tea is another excellent read by Karen Rose Smith. The characters are well developed and likable. I enjoy the small town setting of Pennsylvania as the backdrop. The elements of a podcast with murder also make this read more relevant in today’s time. A good solid plot and excellent clues will lead you to a satisfying end. I highly recommend it!

This fabulous mystery is the best in the series! Her wedding is a few short weeks away, and Daisy has important things to do before that special day, like choose a dress, select flowers, and help her younger daughter, Jazzi, get a bridesmaid dress. Daisy’s Tea Garden keeps her busy, also. There is no time to get involved with another murder.

Since moving back to Willow Creek, in Lancaster County, Daisy helped solve several murders. It just kind of happened, such as when the main suspect was her beloved Aunt Iris. From then on, if somebody she was close to was involved with a murder, whether as a suspect or a victim, Daisy asked questions and found whodunit.

Daisy’s fiancé, Jonas, is a former detective from Philadelphia who moved here when he left the force. Being an excellent craftsman, he opened a shop called Woods, where he sold or took commissions for furniture he builds. He also sells furniture made by local Amish craftsmen. With his background, Jonas’s help was invaluable to Daisy.

This time, Jonas and Daisy can be valuable to Trevor. He is a reporter, dates Daisy’s best friend, Tessa, and is trying to establish his niche in podcasting. After interviewing Daisy regarding murders she helped solve, he got a call on his tip line. A man called anonymously to report that the contents of two storage units would be auctioned in a few days. A trunk containing evidence of a murder from twenty years ago was in the units.

Trevor, Daisy, Jonas, and a friend, Amelia, went to the auction. It was poorly attended, allowing them to obtain both units, five trunks, and furnishings. Amelia and her husband owned a B&B, so she could use some of the furniture. Jonas would take the rest to repair, refinish, and sell at his shop. They would split the trunks, as long as Jonas and Daisy were able to thoroughly search Amelia’s. All they found was an older photograph with no information on it.

A couple days later, the body of a man with no ID was found in Willow Creek, having been murdered and dumped there. A burner phone was found on the river bank. The phone number of it matched the one used to call Trevor’s hotline with the tip. Daisy helped the police by helping calm down the victim’s wife so they could interview her.

Trevor was stubborn, and didn’t want to share any information with the police. He believed he and Daisy could solve the crimes before the police could. He was taking critical risks on his podcasts, including clues he’s found, names of people he’s talked to, and indiscreet use of Daisy’s name.

I enjoyed watching the friends discuss their finds and concerns about the current case even as they struggled to find who was murdered twenty years ago and by whom. The cold case is one of the things I found fresh and exciting. I also enjoyed seeing how far the main characters have come since Daisy and her daughters arrived, not long after the death of her first husband. I appreciate how Daisy, her family, and her friends act with wisdom and maturity. I wish I hadn’t abandoned my favorite suspect as a red herring, but I did…and I was surprised, and very saddened at the motives and the years of deception. I highly recommend this novel and series to those who appreciate clever sleuths, well written mysteries, tea rooms, and romance.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Book 10, in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery. I haven’t read this author before nor the series and i am hooked, cant wait to go back to the beginning! I really enjoyed the mystery and the character, i really liked this one even though i jumped in too far in the series.

I love cold cases being solved in mysteries; the thought of long-deserved justice being served is so satisfying. The mystery was interesting in this one and there’s a lot of investigation (and not a lot of working) in this one. There’s also a lot of tying up of loose ends so the series can end with all questions answered. Lots of twists and turns but there was just too much going on in this one and yet it seemed to have something missing.

This is one of the best instalment in this series I read in some times: well plotted, twisty and entertaining.
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and the evolution of the relationship of Daisy's extended family and friends.
I was glad to catch up with the characters and enjoyed the plot that I found entertaining and enjoyable.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Murder With Chocolate Tea by Karen Rose Smith is a Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery and a great entry into the series. Daisy and Jonas’ wedding is just days away. She is totally preoccupied, so much so that she decides to let Abigail be the lead on planning a tea to celebrate the reopening of the local covered bridge. She was also involved slightly with her friend Tessa’s boyfriend, Trevor Lundquist, who was trying to get his podcast off the ground with an interview with Daisy. After the podcast, he got a call from an unknown number giving him a tip about a clue to a twenty-year-old disappearance being in a trunk that was being auctioned this Saturday by a storage place. He was determined, so Daisy and Jonas, plus their friend who owned a bed and breakfast, went, bid, and won two units, both of which had trunks. They found nothing in the trucks but someone had come to their home and tried to break into Jonas’ SUV where their two were until he had help to bring them in, and someone had broken into the shed at the bed and breakfast. Trevor was not letting this go. Then, there was a murder, and Trevor connected the anonymous call to the burner phone found with the body. Despite police warnings, he was ramping up the podcast, and mentioning Daisy’s name far too often.

This is a cute series and Daisy is a good lead. She is a widow and has found love a second time with Jonas, who is an ex-police detective turned woodworker, who owns his own business. They are a wonderful couple and he backs her up, while worrying, every step of the way. The wedding is small, in their back yard. Jonas build a gazebo for them to be married under and she is wearing her grandmother’s wedding dress. Everything is perfect, but the case gets more and more complicated. Of course, things eventually fall into place and Daisy is able to give the correct clue to the police and they solve both the twenty-year-old disappearance and the current murder. It’s never easy though, and things almost go awry. This is a terrific cozy series and this was a good book!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder With Chocolate Tea by Kensington Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #KarenRoseSmith #MurderWithChocolateTea

Murder with Chocolate Tea promised to serve up a cozy mystery. As with any brew, it has its nuanced flavors.

As the narrative unfolded, the writing did not really engage me. It felt like I was listening to a friend recount the plot of the book to me; it felt very procedural and action-based rather than crafting an engaging plot (i.e.: The cat jumped up on the chair. I reached for the teacup. We drove to the scene. I answered the call.). This was my first book by this author, which might explain why I felt this way.

I did appreciate the unhurried and cozy vibes, as well as the description of the town and teahouse... and perhaps I would have felt more engaged if I had read any of the other books, as I would have been more invested in the characters. I have seen that others found this to be a delightful mystery. It just wasn't my cup of, well, tea.

I was so excited to spend time with Daisy, Jonas, and friends in the Amish country of Pennsylvania in the latest installment to the Tea Garden Mystery Book series, Murder With Chocolate Tea. Chocolate tea is one of my favorite flavored teas, while the Tea Garden Mystery series is also a favorite---I knew I was instore for a good read.
So much is happening in Willow Creek in this fast-paced story, but the biggest interest to me are the preparations for Daisy and Jonas' wedding. A local podcaster discovers a tip that causes Daisy to jump in and investigate. As illustrated in the blurb there are two cases--one is twenty years old, and one is current. The mystery is twisted, the clues are helpful---though I did not quite guess the culprit correctly. A very enjoyable read.

I recommend this book and series to other cozy mystery lovers, tea drinkers, and to those who enjoy trying new recipes. I am waiting for Spring to try the rhubarb muffins. Yum!

What a pleasure to have received a copy of this novel from #NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #KensingtonCozies, #KarenRoseSmith to read and give an honest review. #MurderWithChocolateTea #NetGalley

Here I am jumping in at number ten of A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery Book series. It is a good story with nice characters and I need to go back and read the earlier nine books!

In Murder with Chocolate Tea Daisy Swanson, owner of Daisy's Tea Garden, is preparing to for her wedding to Jonas. Meanwhile she becomes involved in a twenty year old cold case and a brand new murder. Are they related and who dunnit?

There is an Amish angle to the book which is nice. The mystery is twisty and intriguing and it is altogether an excellent read.

It was good to visit with Daisy, Jonas and friends again. The Tea Garden is always a fun place, but I really want some of the furniture Jonas makes. This was an interesting story line with a cold case and a current case. Loved the thought process to get it solved. I love how the Amish and the English folks all live in and around Willow Creek in harmony. We certainly need more of that. I received an ARC of this book, but my opinion is my own.

Daisy and Jonas are preparing for their wedding. Daisy does an interview with Trevor's podcast. When an anonymous phonecall comes in with a tip on the hotline. A storage shed is about to be sold with chests and one of the chests has information on a twenty year murder. Trevor, Daisy and Amelia jump at the chance to buy the contents. A dead body is found in the creek. Trevor wonders if they are connected. Trevor and Daisy start their own investigation.
I enjoyed following the clues with Daisy. I wish I knew all the characters better. Sometimes I was confused as to who was who. Probably better to read the series in order.

A nice addition to a series that's just as much about friends and family as it is about murder- and it should be just fine as a standalone. Daisy's meant to be working on her wedding to Jonas but Trevor, a podcaster, ropes her into his exploration of a 20 year old murder case. And of course, that turn into a current case when a body is found. Meanwhile Daisy's got her daughters to help and her business to run. I like the setting of this series in a small town populated with both Amish and English people (it adds to the atmospherics) as well as the mysteries but I most enjoy reading about Daisy, Jonas, and the girls. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Twisty enough to keep you guessing.

Release Date: November 28, 2023
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Daisy has a lot to celebrate this summer. She’s supervising a special tea event to help commemorate the 100-year-anniversary of her town’s historic covered bridge. But the main event is her upcoming wedding to her beloved fiancé Jonas. Somehow Willow Creek’s busiest brewer of specialty teas and amateur sleuth still finds time to be a guest on local journalist Trevor Lundquist’s crime podcast to discuss the last murder she solved. After the podcast, Trevor receives an anonymous tip from a caller who claims a travel chest that’s about to be auctioned holds a clue to a twenty-year-old unsolved murder. Is it a hoax or a genuine lead? When a body turns up in Willow Creek, Trevor suspects a connection between this current homicide and the cold case. Has the murderer killed again to cover their tracks? Now Daisy has another mystery steeping and Trevor may just have his next podcast . . .

I enjoyed this book. I do feel like I missed a lot of context and backstory. The wedding planning seems to be frequently interrupted for murder matters but I hope to hear more about that gazebo in future books. I would read this series again.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#murderwithchocolatetea #Daisysteagardenmystery #karenrosesmith
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tea-shop, small-town, small-business, wedding, family, family-dynamics, friendship, friends, series, amateur-sleuth, ex-cop, cozy-mystery, Pennsylvania, pets, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, recipes, suspense, woodworker, local-law-enforcement, murder-investigation, murder, Amish, podcaster, cold-case, disappearance*****

First there was an anonymous tip to the podcaster regarding an antique trunk with revelations in it about a cold case murder. Then there were attempted robberies and a current murder. All this plus the countdown to her wedding, helping her friends' families, both Amish and Englisher. Daisy is an Englisher in an Amish neighborhood, has many friends, both Amish and Englisher, an ex-cop/woodworker for a boyfriend, and operates a tea shop in their small town.
Good sleuthing with interesting twists and red herrings. Nice addition to a fine series. This is not an unbiased review because I love this series!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Fun, cozy read. I ended up picking up the first book in the series after starting this one, and I hope to read the entire series.

What a great addition to the wonderful series. Daisy and Jonas are eagerly awaiting their wedding day, when Trevor discovers a little mystery that draws them in. But, when someone is found murdered, things get risky. Somehow the recent death and a 20 year old missing person is related, and of course Daisy can't resist poking around. But, this time it is Trevor's podcast that may cause Daisy's life to be In danger.
As always, the characters are like old friends the reader gets to visit, the plot is exciting and flows easily from scene to scene. And.... the gazebo seems so enchanting. Overall a must read for lovers of cozy mysteries.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the tenth and possibly the last book in the series. Daisy is finalizing her plans for a close intimate wedding to Jonas, trying to get Jazzy ready to go off to college, and of course, solving a twenty-year old mystery.
Trevor ropes her into trying to solve the current murder after a caller to his podcast tells him some trunks are linked to a death twenty years ago and the caller winds up dead.

The series is set in Pennsylvania Amish country. Throughout the series, the Amish culture has a large part. The series and this book are well-plotted, the characters are a great mix and balance each other out, and the look into the culture in this Pennsylvania town quite charming.

I highly recommend this book and the series to those wanting a no-nonsense cozy. The people seem genuine, realistic, and do not go running towards danger.

As an added bonus, each story comes with recipes.

I received an advance copy from Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

Being a fan of "Only Murders in the Building" on Hulu television, I found the use of a true crime podcast as part of the plot intriguing. That said, if Trevor continues with the podcast, he really, really needs to tone down both the name dropping and be smarter himself about the possible danger. Words matter. It probably goes without saying that the mystery storage trunks mentioned to Trevor after his initial podcast relating to the murder wind up with Daisy and friends.

The story centers around Daisy Swanson and podcast journalist Trevor Lundquist investigating not just a 20 year-old murder case but a modern one, too. Both become targets. Daisy should be focused on her upcoming wedding but can't seem to stop thinking of anything other than the investigation. She keeps asking questions, many pointed, and, well, this is a cozy mystery. You know she'll eventually face danger. In-between, there's a 100 year anniversary of the local covered bridge to celebrate, finding the perfect gown for her wedding, getting her daughter ready for her first year of college, trying to help her oldest daughter mend her worrisome marriage, and more.

I won't detail the plot further. The characters were largely likable and the setting sounds charming. I mean, carriage rides? Well, this does take place in Pennsylvania's Amish country. Daisy's soon-to-be husband, Jonas, is a former cop, now woodworker/furniture maker, and provides a solid foundation for Daisy's sometimes over zealousness. The wedding planning seems to be frequently interrupted for murder matters but I hope to hear more about that gazebo in future books. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me to the wedding. I'm looking forward to Daisy's next adventure. This one was a fun read that kept me guessing until the very end.

Love the tea shop owner Daisy Swanson and her shop. The stories are always fast paced fun. The characters are well developed. Very believable. It's always a pure delight to hold one of Karen Rose Smith's mystery novels in my hands. Thanks #Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Daisy agrees to participate in a podcast by Trevor Lundquist, and during the course of the interview, he receives a tip about evidence of a 20 year-old crime to be found in a chest coming up for auction. Out of curiosity, Daisy and Jonas go to the auction with Trevor and buy all 4 of the trunks for sale. There seems to be nothing them, yet someone tries to break into the storage area where they were kept. And then a murder, possibly connected to the anonymous call. Daisy is resolved not to get involved. After all, her wedding is coming up in a few short weeks, her daughter Jazzi is getting ready to leave for college, her other daughter is having some issues in her relationship with her husband, and there's another township event coming up. But she soon gets pulled in, first by the police, asking for help calming down the victim's wife. And then by Trevor, as he keeps recklessly pursuing this mystery for his podcast, often dropping her name as being part of it. Once again, the author has provided an enjoyable and challenging mystery, while focusing on family and friends relationships. This series truly meets the challenge of a cozy mystery - minimal violence and bloodshed, and tons of personal interactions (rated PG), typical personal issues, and sheer joy at maintaining good relationships. Looking forward to the next story in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.