Assaulted Caramel

Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower begins An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Bailey King has rushed to Harvest, Ohio to check on her grandfather, Jebidiah King. She received a call from grandmother, Clara that his heart condition was worse and he had been taken to the hospital. Bailey is walking up to Swissmen Sweets (where her grandparents work and live) to sees her grandfather having a disagreement with someone before collapsing (he would not stay in hospital). Her grandparents are Amish and have a strong work ethic. It was at her grandfather’s side that Bailey learned her love of chocolate. It turns out that the man arguing with Jebidiah was Tyson Colton. Tyson has been trying to convince Jebidiah to sell the shop. Tyson has big show more plans for the town. The next morning, Bailey heads downstairs to get her phone and finds Tyson Colton stabbed to death in the shop’s kitchen. It is soon apparent that the police consider Bailey’s grandfather their prime suspect. Bailey knows that this situation will only worsen her grandfather’s heart condition. She switches out her sugar thermometer for a deerstalker cap and sets out to find Tyson’s killer.

I found Assaulted Caramel to be well-written and engaging. It has an easy writing style which made for an enjoyable read. The story has real characters, a lovely setting, steady pace and plenty of humor. One of my favorite things in the book (besides the luscious chocolate and fudge descriptions) was Jethro, the spotted pig. Jethro’s description and antics had me chuckling. I also appreciated the snark from Bailey’s best friend, Cass Calbera. I hope we see more of Cass in future novels. My rating for Assaulted Caramel 4.5 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but easily solve the mystery). I did feel that there was too much internal dialogue (Bailey thinking). The mystery had some good elements and many readers will not guess the identity of the culprit until the second half of the story (or you might be surprised). There are the right number of suspects and pointed clues. I am eager to read Lethal Licorice when it comes out in February. show less

Bailey King lives in New York City, working as assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates. She learned to love chocolate and making candy from her Amish grandfather. When she receives a phone call that her grandfather is very ill, she drops everything and rushes to Ohio. When she arrives, she discovers her Daadi is not only having health problems but he's also being pressured to sell his candy shop to a local developer, Tyson Colton. Several other Amish business owners have been pressured by Colton as well. Bailey is so upset that night she can't sleep. She wanders down to the candy shop from her grandparents upstairs living quarters, only to discover something horrific -- Tyson Colton's dead body bleeding all over the store's kitchen show more floor. Immediately Bailey finds herself the main suspect in the murder. How can she prove her innocence, make candies for a local wedding, and make it back to NYC in time to find out about an important job promotion?

I loved this book! It is hands-down the best cozy I've read in a long time! The setting and characters are interesting and engaging (except for one annoying woman I wanted to throttle....but I was supposed to hate her. ha ha). The mystery was well-paced, exciting and had plenty of suspects and surprises. I was reading an advanced readers copy on my phone.....I stayed up til 2 am to finish it, reading in bed. I felt like a kid again reading under my covers with a flashlight. :)

I am not surprised at all that I loved this book. Amanda Flower never disappoints me. I enjoy her Magical Bookshop series too! She also writes the Living History Museum mystery series and the India Hayes series. Assaulted Caramel is the first book in the new Amish Candy Shop cozy series. A second book in this series, Lethal Licorice, will be coming out in February 2018. For more information on the author and her books: check out her website at http://www.amandaflower.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less

This was a fantastic intro to a new series by Amanda Flower. Don't let the cute title fool you, this book was rich in storyline, characterization and of course, candy. Bailey King works in NYC and is about to be named head chocolatier at the prestigious JP Chocolates. However, her grandfather's progressively worsening heart condition leads her to Ohio the weekend before the announcement to check on her beloved grandparents. When a local developer is found murdered in her grandparents candy shop, she remains both as a suspect and support for her family. I enjoyed the details of how this Amish community is coexisting with the local English and the characters, both local and her friend Cass from New York are very well developed. The only show more thing I thought a bit odd was that while Bailey's love of chocolate and candy making clearly comes from her summers spent with Daadi and Mammi in Ohio, her best friend Cass seemed to have no idea about her Amish heritage. I look forward to reading more about Bailey, Aiden, Juliet and hopefully Cass in subsequent stories. show less

Bailey works as a chocolatier in New York and is a rising star in her field, but she travels to rural Ohio to visit her Amish grandparents because her grandfather is seriously ill. She plans to return to New York soon, but that does not work because the body of a businessman is found in the kitchen of her grandparents' candy shop.

I enjoyed this book much more than I expected: The story, the characters, the atmosphere. I only have basic knowledge of the Amish, but I liked how little bits of information were included in an organic way that did not hinder the flow.
The story drags a bit in the second quarter and the murderer lacks a motive - at least it isn't explained - , but otherwise it was a good cosy read and I am looking forward to show more the next one. show less

Bailey is an up and coming chocolatier in NYC and is just about to be named the successor of her mentor and owner of a famous chocolate...place (chocolaterie?) when she gets a call that her grandfather is seriously ill. So, she drops everything and heads home to the middle of Amish country in Ohio. Her grandparents run a chocolate shop in a small Amish town, which sounds cozy and welcoming as heck, but then of course there's a murder, right in the chocolate shop's kitchen. And Bailey is Suspect Number One.

A good, solid start to a new (for me) cozy mystery series. Very Hallmark-like, what with the Big City Girl coming back to Small Town Midwest, needing to choose between the a-hole boyfriend she left behind in the city and the handsome show more and sweet small town deputy she finds here. Plus, I didn't at all guess correctly who the killer was, which is always a good sign. I'll likely continue with the series. Bonus: it's set in an area of Ohio that's nearby to me! show less

ASSAULTED CARAMEL (Amish Candy Shop Mystery #1) by Amanda Flower is a perplexing little confection. This book is like a much hyped chocolate chip cookie that, when you finally locate one and bite into it, you find that it is a run of the mill cookie with only one chip in it. Yes, this story is set in the Amish area of Ohio, the grandparents are Amish as are many of the people of the town, but the book makes almost no use of this "Amishness" to tell the story. Amish is just a term used to make this story different from Ms. Flower's past writing. This story could have been set in any small town and worked quite well. Calling it "Amish" does a disservice to the people who are and to those, like me, who live in a community with them.
Any of show more Linda Castillo's fine mysteries set in this same type of community within the borders of Ohio pays greater homage to the Amish and their ways than this slap dash effort. Putting "Amish" on the cover doesn't add to the respect that should be given to this religious community. I found the most Amish aspect of the entire outing to be the cover image, but beyond that, this was a book conceived and written to cash in on whatever cachet this religion holds for the outside world. Shame on you.
And while there is a murder and and the murderer is revealed, the why of the killing was never explained. What is up with that?
And just one recipe? Again, what up? show less

Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower is the first fantastic book in a new Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. It is fresh, emotional, fun and made up of strong characters that you love and others you despise. The story takes you on a roller coaster of emotions as you try to figure out who has murdered the despicable Tyson Colton and why. The way Amanda Flower weaves the Amish community in with the Englischers makes it the fabric of the mystery. I loved it and definately look forward to the next book in the series.

Bailey returns to Ohio to check on her Grandfather who is ill but finds the Amish community being targeted by Tyson Colton. When she arrives and Colton is badgering her Grandfather causing him to collapse it sets her up as a suspect show more when Tyson is found by Bailey dead in her grandparents kitchen in their Amish Candy Shop Swissmen Sweets. Bailey has to help her grandparents keep their business going, clear her name and figure out who really killed Tyson.

Bailey is a strong, confident, smart character that seems to be able to hold her own. I think how she handles the arrogant demanding Eileen mother of the bride is awesome. Her chocolate expertise keeps Eileen at bay and her Grandparents business from being maligned by the wicked Eileen. When she meets Juliet and Jethro her pet pig I HAD TO LAUGH. I think her reaction is so funny seeing a pig in a Church and you just have to love Jethro. Aiden the sheriff deputy is compassionate yet smart and doesn't hold a grudge against the Amish unlike his boss the sheriff. When Cass, Baileys best friend, shows up and her quirkiness as well as her smart mouth adds a fun element to the situation. Cass as Baileys side kick in the investigation has a comical relief element and yet her straight forwardness seems to get some results. All characters from Bailey right down to Jethro the pig makes the book work and keeps you engrossed in the story.

I laughed, got angry, cried and stewed right along with the story. This book is a great mixture of love, family, faith and friendship. If you like a good mystery, set in a small town with an Amish Community as part of the plot, strong unique characters, with twists and turns on an emotional roller coaster, and so many suspects that make you wonder whodunit to the end then you must read this book. The ending was a surprise but I won't spoil it for you. I couldn't put it down. I would give it 5 stars.

If you want to learn more about this book or the authors other books go to:
amandaflower.com

UNTIL NEXT TIME:

GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA, SOME CHOCOLATE, A GOOD BOOK AND KEEP ON READING show less