Monday, September 11, 2017

Assaulted Caramel

GIVEAWAY
FLOWER, AMANDA
ASSAULTED CARAMEL

Sometimes you need a sweet tooth to take a bite out of crime...

Bailey King is living the sweet life as assistant chocolatier at world-famous JP Chocolates in New York City. But just when Bailey's up for a life-changing promotion, her grandmother calls with news that her grandfather's heart condition has worsened. Bailey rushes to Harvest, Ohio, where her grandparents still run Swissmen Sweets, the Amish candy shop where she was first introduced to delicious fudge, truffles, and other assorted delights.

She finds her grandfather is doing better than she feared. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for a local Englisch developer, whom Bailey finds dead in the candy shop kitchen -- with Jebediah King's chocolate knife buried in his chest. Now the police are sweet on her grandfather as the prime suspect. Despite the sincere efforts of a yummy deputy with chocolate-brown eyes, Bailey takes it on herself to clear Jebediah. But as a cunning killer tries to fudge the truth, Bailey may be headed straight into a whole batch of trouble...

My Review:

Nothing like combining the lure of chocolate with a great cozy mystery to get me drooling!  Amanda Flower is my top go-to cozy mystery writer. I love her quirky humour and unconventional characters. Not to mention the unusual and opinionated critters that find their way into her stories. This time it's a polka-dotted pot-belly pig that shows up in the most unexpected places.  :-)

Assaulted Caramel (clever title!) is the first book in a new series and there's a reason Amanda Flower is an Agatha Award-winning author. She knows how to spin a captivating mystery with plenty of surly suspects in a town full of secrets. I love the Amish connection. Bailey comes home to a town her father couldn't leave fast enough in his youth. She adores her Amish grandparents and is determined to help in any way she can -- even if that means tracking down a killer.

Which means she and a certain handsome deputy get off to a rocky start but I'm not fooled -- the potential for romance is definitely in the air based on how flustered Aiden makes Bailey and how amused that makes him. Can't wait to read further romantic developments in future books.

A winning combination of laughter, faith and intrigue make this a cozy mystery you don't want to miss.



GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Assaulted Caramel, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 17 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.

51 comments:

  1. I have read a few cozy mysteries and I've heard so much about Amanda's books. Never read a story with a polka dot pig though.....you have me squealing with delight! ;-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  2. This has got to be a must read for me. I love cozy mysteries and pot bellied pigs. I knew someone once who had a pot bellied pig and when you picked it up (he was small then) he loved to cuddle. They can be just as loving as a dog.

    Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Amanda's book.

    Blessings,
    Cindy W.
    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. I've never met a pot-bellied pig but I'd like to. Apparently they make great pets. You can even get a mini kind that doesn't grow as big as a hog. LOL I think that's the kind Jethro is. Good luck, Cindy.

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  3. I've had this book on my radar for a while. I've never read a cozy. I tried one once and couldn't get into it so I set it aside, but I'm going to try one again, this one. If a chocolate mystery won't do it nothing will :) Cute review.
    Thanks Kav!
    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. LOL -- I think you're either a cozy mystery reader or you're not. There are some very distinctive features in a cozy -- like quirky characters, small town setting, opinionated pet and usually it's a slow burn romance between the amateur sleuth heroine and a law enforcement type. Some people say it's just the same ol', same ol' but I get a kick out Amanda's stories every time. She also writes cozies under Isabella Alan -- your library might have some of those you could try. Another small town Amish setting. Good luck, Tracey.

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    2. Thanks for the info on Amanda's alias (Isabella), the Overdrive digital library system has some of her books! I'll have to check them out ( no pun intended)!

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    3. Bwahahaha -- too 'punny', Trixi, but very appropriate for Amanda's books.

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  4. I love cozy mysteries. They always sound so fun and I love the titles. Thank you for sharing it with us 😃😍🙂
    iamabho AT gmaildotcom

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    1. I know -- and Amanda has some of the cleverest titles. Good luck, Linda.

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    2. Yes I've heard of her books
      Thanks Kav :)

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  5. I haven't read any of Amanda's books yet, but I would like to.

    dandtdearing@roadrunner.com

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    1. Perfect place to start with this brand new series. Good luck, Tammi.

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  6. Love mysteries, this sounds great and love the title :)
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

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    1. Isn't the title the greatest? I wanted this book just for that title! Good luck, Lisa.

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  7. I enjoy cozy mysteries so very much. I would love to read this one. I have not read a book by this author and since it is #1 in the series it would be a super start. Thanks for the chance to read it.

    cenya2 (at)hotmail (dot)com

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    1. Yes -- a great place to dive into Amanda Flower's writing. Good luck, Marjorie.

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  8. Love her books. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Isn't she great? Good luck, Kim.

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    2. Yeah she is and I love that she includes one of her cats in her books.

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  9. Love pigs,love cozy mysteries..would love this one! I happen to see a little pot bellied pig running down the street just the other day.. what a sight! Thanks, Kav! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Really?! That must have been a sight! I'm jealous. I need to meet a pot bellied pig...preferably polka-doted. :-) Good luck, Melanie.

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  10. I just Googled Amanda Flower - to learn more from her website. I realize I have seen some of the Magical Bookshop mysteries (cute covers) but have never read any of her books. This sounds like such fun, particularly with chocolate/goodies involved. Also, I have no idea of the typical habits of a little pot bellied pig! Thanks for the fun review! dixiedobie at yahoo dot com

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    1. I love the Magical Bookshop series too. Anxiously waiting for the next installment. Must check on that. Good luck, CC.

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  11. Amanda's books are always an entertaining read and I have a bunch on my Kindle but I don't have this one. I just love cozy mysteries and this one has calorie free chocolate! It's a win-win. Thank you, Kav!

    Dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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    1. lol -- well calorie free chocolate if it doesn't make you crave the caloric kind. Good luck, Diane.

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  12. oh this sounds wonderful. I have not really read a mystery in ages. I adore this little piglet. Reminds me of "Squeak" my pig on the farm. He was born a runt. Mom and I saved him. He grew to be 900 lbs. He thought he was human. LOL. We rode him. He played with the dogs until he got too big and they shied away from him.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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    1. Oh, that's such a fun story. I had no ideas a pig got that big. 900 lbs!!!!!! He kind of outgrew his cute little name, didn't he? Good luck, Lori.

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  13. :D A POT BELLIED PIG!!!! I'm THERE! ;) LOL! That sounds so fun!

    Many Blessings, Amada
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

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  14. Sounds entertaining. Thank you.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  15. I love mysteries but I'm new to cozy mysteries, so I'm really glad to read your review of this book. It sounds like a fun book and a great place to start. It's officially on the list! Thanks for the great review.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Cozies are so much fun -- this would be a perfect one to test the cozy waters. Good luck, Pam.

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  16. I love cozies. This series sounds just so cozy! Mis Marple ish! Thanks. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

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    1. It's brilliant in it's coziness. LOL Good luck, Paula.

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  17. Love me some good caramels, good cozies and good authors, gotta have this book! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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    1. Yes -- it's a win-win for you, Wendy. Good luck.

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  18. Love Amanda Flower. Thanks. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet

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  19. I haven't read any of Amanda's books yet but oh my this cover looks like a caramel candy too. becci43atgmaildotcom

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    1. Here's a great opportunity to try one of Amanda's books since it is the first in a series. Good luck, Becky.

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  20. I've only read one of Amanda Flower's books but I really enjoyed that one. And from your review I know that this is one that I really want to read!

    Blessings!
    Jasmine A.
    montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. She's got such a way with a mystery! Good luck, Jasmine.

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  21. I'd like to enter. I have read Amanda's books before and enjoyed them
    marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  22. Makes me want to go to a candy store! I haven't read any of Anmanda's books but need to put her on my ever growing list of authors!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. This is the perfect place to start reading her books since it's the start of a new series. Good luck, rubynreba.

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  23. I love reading Cozy Mysteries! That little pig is so cute but he wouldn't stay that small. This sounds like a great one to add to my tbr pile! Thanks for your review and giveaway!
    d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. But they do have pygmy pot bellies that supposedly only get as big as a medium sized dog. I'm thinking that's the kind Jethro is. Hope so anyway. LOL Good luck, Donna.

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