Bailey has her hand full with the new candy factory, another Harvest event, and hijacked wedding planning courtesy of her mom and future mother in law. The last thing she needs is a murdered employee, but that is exactly what she gets. As always, the characters and setting are wonderful. The mystery was strong, and the series continues to be a favorite.

What’s more festive than a life-sized gingerbread house at the annual Christmas Market? Well… maybe one without a murder inside. When a local businessman is found dead inside the sugary showstopper, Bailey King’s holiday just got a whole lot more complicated. Between running her Amish sweet shop, prepping for Christmas, and now getting wrapped up in yet another murder, Bailey has her hands full. But when it turns out plenty of people had reasons to want the victim gone, she can’t help but start piecing together the clues.

This book delivers all the cozy mystery goodness—small-town charm, festive vibes, and a mystery that keeps things interesting without ever getting too dark. The mix of Amish culture and small-town life gives it a unique twist, and Bailey is such a fun lead—smart, determined, and always in the middle of the chaos (whether she likes it or not). If you’ve read the earlier books in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, you’ll love seeing familiar faces, but if you’re new? You can jump in here without feeling lost. The mystery stands on its own, and while you might miss a little backstory on relationships, it’s still easy to enjoy.

I’m giving “Gingerbread Danger” 4.5 out of 5 stars! It’s festive, fun, and full of small-town Christmas magic, perfect for anyone who loves cozy whodunits with a side of sweet treats. If you’re looking for a holiday mystery that feels like a warm cup of cocoa with just a hint of murder, this one belongs on your holiday TBR!

After reading this one I am never going to look at the board game Candyland quite the same again. Margo Rawlings has come up with yet another amazing idea for increasing tourism in the town of Harvest. Bailey King has a successful candy factory business that works hand in hand with the family Amish sweets shop. It is a busy time for Bailey between the grand-opening, wedding plans with Sheriff Aiden, parents coming from out of town, and Amish targeted burglaries. What appeared to be an unfortunate work related accident turns out to be more nefarious.

Bailey has come a long way since book one when she moved to Harvest from New York, stepped up to help with her Amish grandparents’ sweet shop, was willing to turn her back on a New York uptown chocolatier position, and found herself getting involved in multiple murder mysteries. Bailey’s family ties, with one foot in the Amish community and one in the “English” aka non-Amish make it easier for her to get answers to questions as the Amish feel more comfortable talking to her than with the police. As with the last eight in the series, Bailey cannot not get involved and thankfully her fiancé Aiden is well aware and just requests that she be careful. Believe it or not, suspects are few because the Amish are not known for violence and Zeph seemed like an unassuming young man who was still trying to figure out his place in world and the Amish community. Zeph's sister Lida has no idea who or why, but there are rumblings in the community about nefarious deeds and past problems. You find yourself drawn into the investigation with Bailey as she tries to figure out who had it in for Zeph and why does everyone want to blame Bailey for his "fall" off of the roof.

On top of all the work needed to keep the Candyland event stocked and the usual holiday shoppers, Bailey welcomes her parents for a visit to town but starts to dread the visit when her mom hires Hampton the wedding planner, an especially odd man who seems way to invested. How is Bailey going to keep things sweet while sifting through clues that are leaving her sour. Baily has a quick mind and good heart. Thank goodness for the hijinks of Jethro the pig to keep it light hearted. Just imagine a pig coated in taffy, too bad it wasn't fudge, something much easier to clean up. Speaking of fudge, there is a wonderfully easy recipe for gingerbread fudge found at the conclusion of the mystery.

While I figured this one out, I still absolutely enjoyed reading it. These Amish Candy Shop books are a guilty pleasure of mine.

Worth picking up!

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expresed, are mine and mine alone.

This book is a great addition to the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries series. It's a great cozy mystery with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries, we get a closeup look at Amish life and see how the people fit in to regular society. In this book, Just before Christmas, Bailey, the non Amish owner of Swissmen’s Sweets, finds out that someone she knows was killed just outside her new candy factory. She’s engaged to the sheriff, and so she starts to investigate.
I love this cozy mystery, set in a candy shop at Christmas! 4 stars.

I thought I had lost my love for this series because the mysteries seemed to be lackluster and the relationships between the characters had stalled. But the mystery and the personal life of the characters in this one came alive and made me love the series again.

Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower is a sweet holiday-themed mystery that blends small-town charm with just the right amount of suspense. Amanda Flower has a knack for creating quirky characters and cozy settings, and this novella is no exception. The festive atmosphere and a mystery involving gingerbread add a whimsical, seasonal touch that’s perfect for curling up with on a winter evening.

While the story is short, it packs in plenty of intrigue and clever twists, making it a delightful treat for fans of cozy mysteries. If you love Amanda Flower’s writing, you won’t want to miss this fun holiday read!

Gingerbread Danger is the ninth book in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and is a great addition. The Swissmen Candyworks is operating along with the store, Swissmen Sweets. Bailey is extremely busy, and constantly looking for staff with the skills she needs. Margot has gone above and beyond her normal planning with a Live Candyland Game on the square, a live nativity and a parade, that everyone in a tizzy. When she gets one of Bailey's employees, Zeph, to place a huge red gingerbread man on her roof, she is not happy. Providing candy for the game, trying to run her business and with her parents coming to town, she doesn't have time for Margot's nonsense. When Zeph falls off the roof after Bailey has instructed him not to go up alone, she is upset, especially when Aiden tells her there was someone else up there that probably pushed him. Add in burglaries that are happening in Harvest and Aiden is just as busy as Bailey. Will they solve the crimes that have been overtaking Harvest?

This story has a lot going on, but Amanda Flower does a great job of keeping the reader on track and pulling everything together in the end. Bailey's parents make an appearance, but it is not as happy a visit as I would have thought. Her mother wants her wedding planned and hired a wedding planner. Bailey wants a small wedding and will have to stand up to her mom is she wants her way. With the death of Zeph, she loses one of her employees, his sister Lida, when their parents put their foot down and tell her she has to quit. When the burglaries come close to home, Bailey moves back into Swissmen Sweets so her grandmother isn't there alone at night. Jethro is back, up to his antics and making me snicker. The mystery was an interesting one. Who killed Zeph, and how does it tie into the burglaries was the big question? There were a few twists that I wasn't expecting, but added a lot to the story. I enjoy this series and am already looking forward to the next book in this series. Maybe we will finally see a wedding.

Bailey King finds herself embroiled in a deliciously dangerous situation amidst the festive backdrop of a gingerbread festival. Driven by her passion for baking and her desire to protect her community, she becomes embroiled in the death of one of her workers. As she navigates the complexities of the young mans life she is faced with many twists and turns. She begins to dig deeper into the mystery uncovering hidden truths about the town and its residents. Bailey learns that the ties that bind a community together can also unravel it, remembering that even amidst danger, the spirit of community and the magic of the season can prevail.

Gingerbread Danger is a well written cozy mystery. Good plot and character dynamics. If you enjoy mysteries I recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Gingerbread Danger

by Amanda Flower

Bailey is a prominent chocolatier who owns and manages a candy shop in Harvest, Ohio, with her grandmother. She returns to New York occasionally to film episodes of a cooking show. In Gingerbread Danger, she has just opened a candy factory, Swissmen Candyworks, now selling her famous candy online. Her best seller is Jethro the polka-dotted pig bars, fashioned after her mother-in-law-to-be’s potbellied pig who is frequently left with Bailey for pig sitting duties. Fortunately, Jethro gets along well with Bailey’s huge rabbit Puff and her grandmother’s cat.

A young man falls off the icy roof of Bailey’s candy factory when he is setting up a sign for Harvest’s latest tourist attraction for the Christmas season—a life size version of the board game Candy Land. Is his fall an accident or murder? Meanwhile, Bailey’s parents are in town. Her mother has hired a wedding planner to create the wedding she has always dreamed of for herself, but this one would be for Bailey who really just wants a simple wedding. There are also multiple robberies occurring at Amish stores in Harvest. An Amish Robin Hood seems to be at work. Now Aiden, Bailey’s fiancé, has to try to keep her safe while she insists on investigating; and as sheriff, he is playing “whack a mole” with all the crimes in what should be a quiet tourist town.

Gingerbread Danger is a good cozy mystery, at Christmas, or year round.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #9 in the Amish Candy Shop Mysteries. I advise reading some of the other books in the series first for character development, but I recommend all of the books in this series. They contain a good mystery, humor, and both Englisch and Amish characters.
2. Do you like gingerbread? There is a gingerbread house contest for Bailey’s staff that produces a standout food artist. Also included is a recipe for Maami’s Gingerbread Fudge!

Publication: October 22, 2024—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

At times people could be so caught up in their own lives that they were unaware of the suffering around them. It happened to everyone. I was guilty of it myself. Now I couldn’t say it happened to me when I was standing twenty feet from a dead body…

Grief. It was a feeling I knew well…There was a ringing in my ears that wouldn’t go away for weeks. It was as if I was tuned in to every electric hum around me…I was in the candy shop. I was present. But at the same time, I wasn’t. My soul felt as if it was somewhere lost in space.

“I told my husband that I should at least be there to represent the mothers in the district and show our support. He told me nee.” She sniffed. “He is my husband and I must do his bidding, but if he thinks he is getting a roast when he comes home, he is sadly mistaken.”

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This newest mystery is heartwarming, funny, and full of the joy of winter and Christmas amidst the dark side of theft and murder. Oh, and Jethro! Jethro is a front-and-center character, a spotted, pot-bellied pig who adores his owner and his favorite baby sitter who gave him his first TV gig. Settle in with some fudge and a cup of hot cocoa, because readers may start craving Clara and Bailey’s fudge!

I enjoy the primary characters in Harvest, Ohio, especially Bailey, her fiancé Aiden, and even Margot. Each one comes to life through the author’s beautiful and witty prose. Bailey’s parents arrived for a rare visit. The visit from the wedding planner, who the mothers of the future bride and groom thought was a wonderful gift for Bailey, was a nightmare. Susan, her mother, wants Bailey to have the wedding of her dreams, but Bailey’s and Susan’s dreams are very different. Including the plans to have Jethro as an essential part of the wedding and the reception, as requested by Juliet, Aiden’s mother and Jethro’s owner. Bailey is often volunteered to pig-sit Jethro (who she genuinely loves).

Bailey has been busier than anyone thought possible in recent months. She continues to help her grandmother at Swissmen Sweets, the candy shop that her grandparents started over fifty years ago. She had left her prestigious NYC chocolatier career and became Maami’s partner in the candy shop after her grandfather passed. She is entering the third season with her television show, Bailey’s Amish Sweets, which will require her presence in NYC for a couple weeks of filming. She has also just opened Swissmen Candyworks, the huge factory where candy was made with the same recipes as in the original candy shop. Bailey and Charlotte employ many Amish from the area.

Aiden has been busy as the new sheriff of Holmes County. He and his deputies have been investigating robberies from Amish-owned businesses or homes and now, a death. Since moving here, Bailey has helped solve numerous murders. It was not her intent, but she got involved when people she knew were accused or victims. Aiden prefers that she not help to keep her safe.

Harvest is opening festivities for the Christmas season in the town square even as they point out the new candy factory. Margot, the community organizer, always has excellent ideas that require much work while continuously increases their tourism. Margo’s holiday ideas include a huge, life-size Candy Land board and game pieces for children and adults to play. Bailey’s staff will keep candy stations filled where needed for the in-game rewards.

Something went wrong on the busiest day. Zeph, an employee of Bailey’s, was to clear ice and snow from the factory sidewalks. There is much traffic for many people go in and out for tours or to purchase candy. He put an enormous Candy Land game piece on the roof of the factory at Margot’s request. The game piece was creepy, and Bailey, concerned for customers if wind wrenched it from the roof, told him to take it down when he had at least one, preferably two helpers. Bailey got a text shortly afterwards. An accident occurred and they needed her. Zeph, only seventeen years old, lay dead on the sidewalk.

What Sheriff Aiden saw on the roof pointed to possibly more than an accident. No witnesses to his death have come forward. Bailey visited Zeph’s landlady later that day and found shocking surprises in Zeph’s basement apartment.

The burglar hit the cheese store next to the candy shop, where Bailey’s grandmother lives alone. Bailey immediately became her guest until the killer and thieves are caught. Bailey receives clear, frightening, non-verbal threats to stop asking questions.

I was sorry to see this book end, as I would have loved to stay in Harvest longer! I was surprised at who was involved with the thefts and why, and who was behind Zeph’s death. There were a couple red herrings and fascinating twists. Every incident was wrapped up, and I was fully satisfied with the resolutions. I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series!

Christmas is coming to Harvest, Ohio, and celebrity candy maker Bailey King is up to her ears in work. She's glad for it, though, as the holidays are traditionally some of her most profitable times of the year. With the recent opening of her candy factory, she's more than happy to put in the effort to ensure that her accounts stay in the black, whether through in-store or online sales.

Hampering her efforts is the insistence of town booster Margot Rawlings on getting her more and more involved in Margot’s latest attempt to make Harvest a tourist attraction. Margot has come up with the idea of capitalizing on Bailey’s fame to launch a Candy Land Experience, using oversized props to simulate the classic board game for sweets-lovers of all ages. Bailey will, of course, be providing the candy for participants. She has no complaints about that, but is less enthused about having a giant game piece affixed to the roof of her factory. Besides its menacing aspect, Bailey has no confidence that it will stay in place given the wintry weather.

So Bailey is understandably chagrined when Margot goes behind her back and has one of her Amish employees, Zeph Lantz, tie the piece up there anyway. Annoyed, Bailey asks Zeph to gather a few helpers in order to safely take it down. She’s thus stricken when Zeph plummets off the roof to his death only hours later, seemingly in an effort to get the job done quickly.

Her guilt dissipates when her fiance, Sheriff Aiden Brody, finds evidence that Zeph wasn’t alone on the roof when he fell. Unfortunately, it looks like whoever was up there with him deliberately pushed him to his doom. Soon, Bailey finds herself desperately trying to figure out who wanted Zeph dead, before she herself becomes the next target.

This intricate murder mystery showcases both Bailey’s life as a 21st century business owner and her ties to the local Amish, including her beloved grandmother. Her navigation of both worlds is exemplary as she tries to keep her loved ones safe while penetrating a community that can often be hostile to outsiders. Complicating matters is the return of her wedding-obsessed mother and her formerly Amish father for a Christmas visit. All this makes for engrossing reading in the ninth installment of the Amish Candy Shop mystery series.

There was only one recipe included here, but it’s a winner:

QUOTE
Maami’s Gingerbread Fudge

1 cup sweetened condensed milk
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup molasses
¼ cup salted butter
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Line an 8 x 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.

Add condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, and molasses to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until combined and sugar dissolves.

Continue stirring until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and add white chocolate, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.

Stir until mixture is smooth.

Pour liquid fudge into prepared square pan.

Refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight.

Remove from pan and cut into squares.
END QUOTE

This might actually be the best fudge I’ve ever made! I’m usually not a fudge person – and I’m definitely not a white chocolate fan – but this was some of the most flavorful and rich candy I’ve ever made at home. The gingerbread taste was delicious without being overpowering, in my opinion. Granted, I do really enjoy ginger. I also loved how this reminded me in many ways of dodol, one of my favorite Malaysian candies, though with a definite holiday twist.

Speaking of the holidays, we’ll be taking two weeks off before I come back with a savory baked good to accompany the tale of another fraught workplace situation that leads to murder. Do join me in the new year!

Book Review: Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower

Rating: 4 Stars

Hey there, fellow book lovers! 🌟 I just wrapped up reading Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower, and I’m here to share my thoughts. Spoiler alert: I really enjoyed it!

Bailey King, our charming Amish candy shop owner and star of the hit show Bailey’s Amish Sweets, is buzzing with excitement. She’s set to marry Aiden Brody, the new sheriff in town, and her candy factory is about to have its grand opening just in time for Christmas in the quaint little village of Harvest, Ohio. Everything is looking sweet until tragedy strikes when one of Bailey's Amish employees turns up dead outside her factory. Enter Aiden, who jumps headfirst into the investigation, but of course, Bailey can’t resist getting involved too. As they dig deeper, they uncover some pretty shady dealings that put the entire community—and Bailey—at risk.

First off, can we talk about how adorable the cover is? It totally sets the scene for a cozy read. The writing style was delightful and perfectly captures the festive spirit of the season. Plus, I appreciated that even if you're not familiar with the previous books, this one stands strong on its own. The setting just oozes warmth and charm, making it a perfect backdrop for a holiday mystery.

The characters? Super likable! I found myself rooting for Bailey and Aiden as they navigated through this tricky situation. The plot was solid and kept me guessing—just when I thought I had it all figured out, the author threw in some twists that left me surprised. And let’s not forget the extra treat at the end: a bonus recipe! Seriously, what’s better than a good mystery paired with something sweet?

All in all, Gingerbread Danger is a delightful read that brings together mystery, romance, and a touch of holiday cheer. If you’re looking for something festive to dive into this season, I’d definitely recommend picking it up. Two thumbs up from me! 👍👍

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

“Gingerbread Danger” is the delightful ninth book in Amanda Flower’s Amish Candy Shop cozy mystery series. This is one of my favorite series – I love the setting of Harvest, Ohio where both Amish and Englischers live, the candy shop and candy factory, main character Bailey, Aiden her fiancée, his mother Julie, her Amish grandmother, even Margot, and of course Jethro the pig who is the real star of these stories (and everyone knows it!). Bailey has a lot on her plate in this book – Juliet and her parents are meddling in her upcoming wedding to Aiden, it’s Christmas and both the factory and candy shop are swamped, Margot has her helping with a Candy Land themed life-sized game, and the unfortunate death of one of her workers which may or may not be murder. The mystery aspects were well done although it was pretty easy to figure out who the “bad guys” were and I did think parts of the plot got convoluted towards the end. Still, I really enjoyed this book – and series – and was sorry when my visit to Harvest ended.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Amanda Flower has done it again!!

Bailey King, the owner of a popular Amish candy shop and star of *Bailey’s Amish Sweets* on TV, is eagerly anticipating a perfect Christmas season. She's engaged to Aiden Brody, the newly appointed sheriff, and her candy factory's grand opening is just around the corner. With the help of Margot Rawlings, the community organizer, the town is preparing a Candy Land-themed Christmas celebration, featuring Bailey's special gingerbread men.

However, the festive mood is shattered when Bailey's Amish friend is found dead in what initially seems like an accident just outside the candy factory. Aiden takes charge of the investigation, with Bailey offering her own assistance as they try to unravel the mystery surrounding the tragedy.

I think Amanda Flower’s Amish Sweet Shop Mysteries is one of my all-time favourite cozy mystery series, so it’s no real surprise that I utterly loved this wintery instalment.

I adore the small-town setting of Harvest, Ohio, the quirky cast of characters, and the way Flower puts Bailey in the centre of two very different communities in a way that creates tension and gives the reader a little insight into the Amish way of life from an outsider perspective. Flower’s writing style always feels flawlessly confident and welcoming, so that no matter how long I’ve been away from this world, I’m always able to immediately sink right back into Bailey’s cozy shop, tight-knit town, and myriads of problems!

In GINGERBREAD DANGER, there’s an accident at Bailey’s brand-new candy factory, which might not have been such an accident so-on top of wedding planning, a parental visit, pigsitting, and working with the bossy town organiser on the life-size Christmas Candyland and Nativity events-Bailey now has a close-to-home mystery to investigate and a vulnerable employee to keep an eye on.

I think it says a lot of the way Flower’s has built and writes this series that having read all nine books and its spin-off series, I’m still not bored of the town and its residents, and each book remains fresh and compelling.

The Christmas theming in GINGERBREAD DANGER is a lovely touch, and really makes me want to curl up under a blanket with some sweet treats and hot chocolate. It’s a perfectly warming addition to the series and, I think, one of my favourites. I do recommend reading all the books in the series (in order, if possible), but I think you could still get a lot of enjoyment treating this as a standalone or entry point.

Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower returns readers to Holmes County, Ohio where Bailey King has a little too much on her plate. I felt for Bailey. I do not know how she was going to get everything done. Margot Rawlings and Juliet, Aiden’s mother, do not hesitate to ask Bailey to do more tasks or babysit Jethro (that pig gets into more mischief). I like Amanda Flower’s writing style. It is friendly and engaging. I was quickly drawn into this cute Christmas cozy mystery. I like the characters, including the sweet animals. It was great to catch up with Millie, Uriah, and, Millie’s mischievous goats from An Amish Matchmaker Mysteries. The whodunit involves an employee from Bailey’s new factory. Naturally, Bailey is curious about the case since it involved her factory and employee. Someone, though, does not want Bailey sticking her nose into the crime. I enjoyed following Bailey and Jethro as they searched for clues and questioned suspects. I believe Bailey was a tinge happy to have an investigation to keep her away from her mother who is planning an over-the-top wedding for Bailey and Aiden (the one the mother did not get). Gingerbread Danger is the ninth An Amish Candy Shop Mystery, but it can be read as a standalone for new readers (I do recommend reading all the books in this charming series). I was sad when my visit to Holmes County came to an end. Gingerbread Danger is a lively cozy mystery with sweet treats, a pushy parent, a departed employee, a creepy Candyland game piece, an impish pig, tasty taffy, and a cheerful Christmas.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher. It’s Christmas time in Harvest again, this year with a Candy Land theme. Everything is coming together for Bailey. She is finally engaged to Aiden and her candy factory is finally finished and opening. She is even looking forward to getting to spend time with her parents, who decided to visit. All is well until an Amish lad is found dead in front of the factory. Now Bailey finds herself immersed in another mystery trying to juggle watching Jethro the pig, making chocolates, spending time with her parents and solving the mystery.