Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Lethal Licorice

GIVEAWAY

FLOWER, AMANDA
LETHAL LICORICE

Too many sweets spoil the murder

Harvest, Ohio is a long way from New York City, where Bailey King left a coveted job as head chocolatier to take over Swissman's Sweets, her Amish grandparents'candy shop.Now, while caring for her recently widowed grandmother, she plans to honor her grandfather's memory by entering the Amish Confectionary Competition. But between lavender blueberry fudge and choclate cherry ganache truffles, Bailey may have bitten off more than she can chew when the search for a missing pot-bellied pig turns up a body suffering from sugar overload -- the fatal kind.

A candy maker from a neighboring town who wanted Englischer Bailey disqualified for being an outsider, Josephine Weaver died from an allergy from an essential licorice ingredient. The suspects include: Josephine's niece, a young woman going through her rumsprings, or running around time, and Bailey herself. Now it falls to Bailey, who's sweet on the local sheriff's deputy, to clear their names and entice a killer with a cast-iron stomach for cold-blooded murder.

My Review:

Amanda Flower is my go-to cozy mystery author and I am loving this new series with it's clever and catchy titles! And my hero Jethro is back -- the charming troublemaker who just happens to be a polka-dotted pot-belly pig with plenty of attitude! In fact, as the story begins we discover that Jethro is on the ham...er, lam...and the craziness amps up from there.

Harvest may be a small Amish town but it is no stranger to murder just as Bailey is no stranger to being a suspect! Her naturally inquisitive mind and kind-hearted desire to help lead her on another crime solving spree. Love the quirky humour and unconventional characters! And the Amish connection makes me just plain happy.

I adore Bailey's Amish grandmother who is the source of steadfast calm in the midst of chaos. "Every person has to make a decision about how she will live her life. That is no different in the Amish world or the Englisch world. It is the free will that Gott gave us. It is not only a choice, but a responsibility to choose." (p 159) That theme of choice plays out over and over again in various ways as the story progresses.

And one of those choices might involve a certain sheriff's deputy who tries to keep Bailey out of trouble long enough to solve the murder before she does! It's a lost cause though, because she doesn't know how to butt out and even though Aiden finds that exasperating, he can't help but appreciate her spunky doggedness. A sweet stirring of romance with the promise of more to come in future books has me wearing my Cheshire grin.

And though this is book two in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Though, I highly recommend Assaulted Caramel too just because why wouldn't you want twice as much of this quirky goodness?


GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you want a chance to win a copy of Lethal Licorice, leave a comment below ore email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca.  If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 1 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

33 comments:

  1. I am partial to pigs. this year I would like to read cozy mystery and this sounds like it would fit the bill.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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    1. Sounds like Lethal Licorice is the perfect cozy for you, Lori! Good luck!

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  2. Love her amish series she also writes up the name Isabella Alan. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. Yes -- I have that Isabella Alan series. Same quirkiness. I think she's back to publishing just under Amanda Flower now though. Good luck, Kim.

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  3. What a pig! What a book! I would love to read it! Thank you for the opportunity, Kav! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Jethro feeds the Wilbur loving heart of my childhood. :-) Good luck, Melanie.

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  4. I've not read a lot of cozy mysteries over my reading career, but I do love so much about them. Quirky characters (even the four-footed kind), small town atmosphere and honing my amateur sleuthing abilities! You've raved about Amanda Flowers so I think I will enjoy this one too, Kav :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. I am such an Amanda Flower fan!!!! Good luck, Trixi.

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  5. I Love Cozy Mysteries and Amanda Flowers always sound great
    Thank You for sharing and for the chance to win
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com

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  6. Sounds like such a fun book! I enjoy cozy mysteries and Amanda Flowers. Becky lelandandbecky [AT] reagan [DOT] com

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    1. They make a great combination, don't they? Good luck, Becky.

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  7. Thank you for your review on "LETHAL LICORICE". There is so much to love about this book. I love the cover, I love mystery cozies, I love Amish stories, and I love licorice! Throw in some adorable animals and how can you not be hooked.
    I've wanted to read this book since I first heard about it. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Have you ever had homemade licorice, Kay? Bailey makes it as one of entries for the competition and I never much thought about how licorice becomes licorice. lol Good luck, Kay.

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  8. I think a dose of levity is just what I need about now! Count me in please and Thankyou ! paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

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    1. Then this is definitely the book for you, Paula! Good luck!

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  9. I have never read anything by Amanda Flower. So....lavender blueberry fudge? I am already hooked by the goodie comments, not to mention cozy mystery. I went with my ladies' group to a lavender farm several years ago, and the luncheon choices included a lavender/lemon butter cake. As always, education and fun on the blog! Thanks!

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    1. There's a bakery downtown that makes lavender scones in the summer. Incredible!!! Oh...and they carry a local chocolate maker's lavender dark chocolate. To. Die. For. Delish. Now I'm craving a little lavender something. lol Good luck, CC.

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  10. I do love a good mystery and I love the sound of this one. I must check out this author. Thanks for the review and the chance.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. I bet your library has her books, Pam. My library is big on cozy mysteries and they carry all of Amanda Flower's books. Good luck, Pam.

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  11. The title and the pig have me smiling. Thank you, Kav.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Seriously, all our lives would be better for having a cute pig in it. Good luck, Lucy.

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  12. Sounds like a great cozy!

    wfnren at aol dot com

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  13. Would love to read this series! :)
    smincer10(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. I haven't read many cozy mysteries. This one sounds really cute.

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    1. I'm really getting into cozies and I'm thrilled that Amanda Flower is such a prolific author! Good luck, SavingsinSeconds.

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  15. I can hardly wait to read this! Jethro is adorable! Thanks for your review and giveaway.
    d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Nothing like a cozy with a pig to get a reader's interest. :-) Good luck, Donna.

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  16. I've really been wanting to try this series for awhile now. I've read one of Amanda Flower's previous Amish mysteries and I really liked it. Glad to know that they can be read standalone.

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

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    1. She has really found her niche with these Amish cozy mysteries. Good luck, Jasmine.

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