Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. Anne Blackburne was able to bring both history and mystery to this story. Lizzie Miller has wanted to run a french bakery since she was a young girl. With permission from her bishop she was able to fulfill her dream. Coming home, Lizzie worked at an Amish bakery until she was able to buy it and open her French bakery. Now someone wants her out. With help from her friends and an unexpected source, will she be able to stay in business? I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Spiritual Themes
Overt spiritual content is light, aside from the characters being members of the Amish church. I did like one scene where a character is praying and determines to pray for God’s will — not just his own.

What I Liked
I really enjoy stories with a strong food emphasis, and I found the bakery setting to be highly appealing. It was delightful to read about the abundant French pastries, cookies, and strudel. There were also a few mentions of pizza (which was not one of the bakery’s offerings), which I consider to be an added bonus!

This is Blackburne’s third contribution to the Heart of the Amish series, and she makes a point to bring back the characters from the earlier installments. I am most intrigued by the slowly-developing relationship of two background characters. (As a note, readers will benefit from reading Blackburne’s installments consecutively, since they are set in the same community as her other books in the series).

I planned to read LIzzie’s Little Mouse because I’ve enjoyed the other title in the series. As such, I did not give much attention to the synopsis, nor did I realize that the book would be something of a mystery. With that said, I liked the mystery element in its departure from the standard arc of romantic Amish books. Lizzie’s bakery is located in a historical building, and I enjoyed how that setting framed the plot in terms of timeline and long-forgotten intrigue. The inclusion of a titular cat is also a unifying thread between the books, and I liked that Little Mouse has a more significant part to play in “her” book.

The female friendships in the book are sweet! Eliza and Jane (and I just realized why I kept thinking of Eliza Jane Wilder while reading! I only now connected that the girls have both her names– not just Eliza) are supportive and kind and also lend a touch of humor to the story. I enjoyed reading Jane’s knowing observations about Lizzie’s developing romance.

Lizzie’s friendship with John presents an interesting exploration of gender roles in the context of friendship. I feel that Lizzie raises an excellent point when she weighs John’s level of involvement in her life, considering that he is not a family member, nor is he her husband. I think that sometimes, Christian women can overextend the idea of masculine authority beyond the words of Scripture. We see fathers and husbands presented as “coverings” for women, but that does not mean women are called to come under the authority of all men, simply because of their gender.

Content Notes
I was a bit surprised by the frequent references to luck, including casual conversational use and comments about it being “fun” to pretend to believe in luck. There’s a similar approach to the concept of ghosts, with one character commenting that it’s fun to pretend, and Lizzie feeling unnerved by the history of her bakery, even though she doesn’t believe in ghosts.

There’s an interesting, but very brief, comment about Lizzie’s decision to bake French, New Orleans-style, pastries, rather than sticking with traditionally Amish fare. I think this could have been a valid point of discussion, but it’s undermined by the fact that the character making the claim is not from New Orleans, either.

Recommendation Status
French cuisine pairs nicely with a light mystery in Lizzie’s Little Mouse. Recommended for readers who enjoy Amish romance and historically-motivated intrigue.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.

Lizzy's Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne

Rating: Four Stars

Language/Profanity: Mention of cursing; 'Drat'; 'Good Grief'.

Faith: Praying; reading the Bible; people being in heaven with Jesus; Having Faith; a God loving woman; God's will. Also mention of a Baptist preacher, a Catholic priest, spand the Amish leader.

Romance/Sex: Looking at a woman's mouth; hand holding; wanting to kiss; kisses (barley described); falling in love.

Violence ect.: Threats; brick in the window; gun pointed at people.

Other: Gossiping; calling people cronies.

Part of a Series: part of a multi-authored series called: The Heart of the Amish Series

Synopsis:
Lizzie Has Dreams That Won’t Be Deterred
 
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
 
Lizzie Miller has wanted to own a New Orleans-style French bakery since she attended a wedding in New Orleans at age fifteen. So with her parents’ and the bishop’s permission, she did a two-year internship in a French bakery in New Orleans. Then she came home and worked for several years in the local Amish bakery, buying the business when it became available. And now someone wants her out. 

A string of unsettling events is surely meant to scare her away. But with the help of her friends, she will get to the bottom of why someone wishes her to fail in the bakery business. And along the way, she just may realize that sometimes dreams can be fulfilled unexpectedly—with the help of someone who was just waiting to be noticed. 

Maybe all Lizzie needs is a little faith and a lot of love.

Thoughts:
A good, clean mystery that, while it does deal with murder, is not directly a murder mystery as the murder happened 100 years before. The culprit of the mystery was surprising to me, though that has to do with the fact that the person was practically never in the story until they show themselves as the culprit.
I liked how protective John was, and how Lizzy and the others didn't refuse his help. They appreciated it. Far different from other books where the female character refuses any help or support until they collapse. I like how the romance was slowly building up, not instantaneous. And I even appreciated how Lizzy wanted to court/be courted by John but she also didn't want to give up her bakery.
The baked goods that were mentioned in the book honestly sounded so good! I wanted beignets, and strudels while I was reading! I also like that there are recipes in the back of the book. Maybe I can make a notebook with all the recipes from the books I read! That would be good!
I liked Petite Souris, Little Mouse, and liked how she saved the day.

Bible Verse
James 4:17 KJV
[17] Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Lizzie Miller is an Amish woman who has learned to bake New Orleans–style French pastries. When she opens a bakery, she soon starts having issues with someone trying to scare her into shutting down. With the help of her friends—and her good friend’s older brother—they begin investigating who might be behind it and why. Their search uncovers a 100-year-old mystery they must solve to get to the bottom of everything.

This is a cute cozy mystery with a touch of romance—not much. It was a little better than most cozy mysteries I’ve read. There were a few moments that genuinely made me smile, and I thought the book was really cute.

Cozy mysteries aren’t exactly my favorite, but they’re a nice break from my usual reads. I felt this one was done really well. I liked that an element of surprise was saved for the very end—it was something I had been wondering about for several chapters. As with most cozy mysteries, the love story wasn’t a major focus. I always want more romance, but what was there was sweet, and I marked several parts I really enjoyed. If I could, I’d rate this book 3.5 stars.

This is definitely for readers who prefer a cozy, sweet read that’s well-paced but not overly emotional or suspenseful. Even though it’s Amish fiction, I think people who don’t typically read Amish fiction could still enjoy this—if they like this kind of mystery.

I received a copy of this book through the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to the author, Barbour Fiction and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#LizziesLittleMouse #AnneBlackburne #BarbourPublishing #NetGalley #AmishMystery #AmishFiction #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInAmishCountry

I love books set in bakeries especially when we get a recipe at the end.
Lizzie went through school to own , run , and bake her own baked goods. That doesn’t seem typical work for an Amish girl but she has the blessing of her parents , bishop and friends.
Her friends are a big part of her success at the bakery . The opening seems to go well except when a man tells her she shouldn’t have opened the business . She chalks that up to nothing . Then a break-in happens in the middle of the night and the sleuthing begins . Mystery , baked goods and maybe some romance ? Can’t beat that .

Thank you to netgalley for a copy in exchange for an unbiased review .

A fantastic read! I love how this Amish romance incorporates a mystery and a strong female main character!! Lizzie purchases a bakery and plans to make French style pastries as well as Amish. Someone is trying to get her to close her bakery and is making threats as well as breaking in. They discover a history at the inn where the now bakery stands. Previously an author was murdered there. This was such a fun and enjoyable Amish read.

Elizabeth "Lizzie Miller is the owner of the new pastry shop, The Plain Beignet. After training in New Orleans, she has realized her dream to have a French pastry business. Her close friends, Jane Bontrager and Eliza King support her as she opens the business. She is even able to have her own living space over the shop. Everything is off to a good start until someone tosses a brick through a window on opening day with a threatening message attached. Her friends and Jane's brother, John try to help her figure out what is going on.
Petit Souris, or Little Mouse, her sweet kitty is one of a litter that has appeared in previous books in the series, The Heart of the Amish, written by various authors.
I received an advanced e-copy of the book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. This is my own opinion of the book. I enjoyed it so much. The mystery is intriguing and well done. I liked the characters and noticed those who have been in previous books in the series. Lizzie is a determined and kind person who works hard to bring the shop to reality. She cares about her friends. This is an Amish story that feels real as does the other books in the series. The sweet romance is special too.
This is five stars for me.

What a delightful book from the Amish community. Lizzie owns a bakery with French/Amish bakery goods in her small Amish community. Her grand opening in this historic building was anything but grand. The first of several troublesome events began on that day with a brick thrown through her store window. Her family and friends gathered round as they solved what was going on. I enjoyed the book and the characters.

I think anyone will enjoy this fun, heartwarming book. I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and Net Galley and was under no obligation to post a review.

It is unusual for an Amish woman to open a French bakery but Lizzie is pretty unusual. She had purchased a building to house her shop and living quarters for her to live. Unbeknownst to her, the shop has a 100 year old mystery. A author was murdered there and the murderer was never caught. Lizzie and her supportive friends are excited for opening day however, it becomes a tragedy when a brick goes thru the window and a stranger threatens her with a message that is cryptic.

Of course her friends and the brother of her friend John becomes concerned and they are ready to solve the mystery. They uncover the history and possible motives. It all comes to an head when the whole community comes together to "search" the house for the lost manuscript.

John and Lizzie add to the mix their mixed up feelings for each other and make their own story.

A special thank you to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Lizzie's Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne, book eight in the Heart of the Amish series, is full of faith, hope, dreams, supportive friends, humor, danger, mystery, and an unexpected romance growing between friends.

Lizzie Miller has waited a long time to own her New Orleans-style French bakery. With her parents’ and the bishop’s permission, she did a two-year internship in a French bakery in New Orleans. When she came home, she worked in the local Amish bakery, buying the business when it became available. Now that she has opened her dream shop, The Plain Beignet, with the help of her good friends Jane Bontrager and Eliza King, someone wants her or her shop gone. A few disturbing events have occurred, trying to scare her away. Thankfully with her friends’ help she will find out why someone wants her bakery business to fail. Maybe, along the way, she just may realize that sometimes dreams can be fulfilled unexpectedly; with the help of someone who was just waiting to be noticed.

Lizzie and her friends get caught up in playing detective, trying to figure out who wants to shut The Plain Beignet down. Other encounters with strange, mysterious men asking questions didn't help matters. Aiding Lizzie in chasing down clues is John Bontrager, Jane's brother, and Lizzie's grey tabby, Le Petit Souris, aka Little Mouse. As the friends work together, collecting clues and following up on them, they discover the history of the building, a murder, and a mystery that occurred within the former inn that stood there before becoming a bakery.

I loved the friendships and caring here; even the whole church community rallies around her and helps looks for answers. It was fun watching John become aware of his attraction to Lizzie and confused when he was unsure if she reciprocated. Their sweet romance had obstacles but these two were able to finally overcome all that is thrown at them. Characters from previous books in the series make an appearance, which was a nice way to catch up with them. I enjoyed how the mystery had twists and turns and an ending I never saw coming.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Barbour # LizziesLittleMouse

I was looking forward to a sweet romance and this book was definitely that with a delightful mystery to solve, as well.

What a surprise that was!

Lizzie is a fiercely independent Amish woman with a big, loving heart. When her dream to open a French bakery/patisserie is threatened she takes action.

Thanks to her good friends and faithful cat, she successfully manages to solve a centuries old crime and save her dream.

Enter John, her best friend’s brother who she is suddenly seeing in a different light. For his part, John is quite smitten with Lizzie and becomes her biggest supporter and protector.

I enjoyed watching them work together and solve the mystery, all while falling it love. This book was fantastic. I’m giving it the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy

Simple and sweet Amish story that was an easy read each evening. A cozy mystery and delightful romance wrapped into one, with a plot twist you won't see coming. Really enjoyed this book!

Joy to Read

The story is such a wonderful mix! It is a mix of some long-standing relationships between friends that become even more solidified through work but also through a mystery that gets them working together in a different way. Through it all, one relationship takes on an entirely new direction, which is quite endearing and entertaining. Along the way, many sweet and funny occurrences had me laughing out loud more than once, making the story all the more captivating. When you add the mystery, romance, and faith together, along with one very intuitive little feline, you have a great story that is a joy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

Amish fiction readers will enjoy this lighthearted story. Lizzie opened her own bakery after being trained in New Orleans to make French pastries. Things go wrong when her shop is vandalized on opening day. Lizzie and her friends set out to find what’s behind the vandalism. The author’s portrayal of Lizzie is definitely unlike other Amish. The mystery proved to be a little hard to believe. Quick read with personable characters.

In Lizzie's Little Mouse, written by Anne Blackburne, we find Lizzie Miller, a very unique person, in that she achieves her goal of owning & operating a New Orleans type French bakery, despite being Amish. Her grand opening in a historic building with an interesting past doesn't go as well as planned. Right away mysterious events begin happening, threatening her very livelihood. Even more strange is the people she encounters that are determined to shut her down. The Plain Beignet won't succeed with these ominous threats that Lizzie & her friends face unless they put their heads together & come up with a plan. The characters were all very likeable & for me it had a wonderful plot. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.

Amish Lizzie Miller has always wanted to open a New Orleans-style French bakery. Finally the day is here. Opening day finds two different men making threatening remarks and someone smashes her bakery front window. What is going on. Lizzie and her friends decide to investigate. Good story.

Lizzie's Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne is the eighth book in The Heart of the Amish series. It is a very good story that is full of mystery.

Ms. Blackburne’s characters are well developed and you will love watching Lizzie, a new business owner, her two friends and her best friend’s brother tackle the mystery of who wanted her new bakery to close and why.

The author uses such interesting words in her tales that you can’t help picking a few new vocabulary words along the way.

The movement of the storyline is well paced, and characters are very realistic. Don’t miss this well written book.

I was given an ARC by the publisher through NetGalley, but was not required to give a positive review.

#LizziesLittleMouse #NetGalley

Lizzie's Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne is the eighth book in The Heart of the Amish series. This story's main characters are Lizzie, who has, at long last, fulfilled her dream of opening her own New Orleans style French pastry and Amish bakery, and John, Lizzie's best friend's Jane's, brother. But everything is not all roses, as on opening day, someone throws a brick with a nasty note tied on it, and breaks the front window. Who wants to ruin her bakery business, and why do they want to do that? And as Lizzie and John rediscover each other, could they become more than friends?

I enjoyed this story, as we re-conncect with old characters and meet new ones. It's a bit of an unusual Amish story, with the inclusion of an ongoing mystery. And it was fun to have Lizzie's cat, Little Mouse, play such a large role in the story. If you've read other Anne Blackburne books in this series, you'll definitely want to read this one!

Thanks to #NetGalley for an advanced e-pub of this book. All opinions expressed herein are strictlly my own.

#LizziesLittleMouse #NetGalley

Every single book in this series gets better and better. Such heartwarming tales of an extraordinary people. This one has quickly become my new favorite as I loved that it had a mystery wrapped up in it. That it had a lot of my new favorite friends in here also helped. They have really become a lot like family.

The history we got to learn about and the mysteries inside of the mysteries was just plain fun. I mean it also gave my heart pause in several places, but it was so much fun to read. I loved every second of the book and I heartily recommend any of the books of this series, especially this one.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Anne Blackburne for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.