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Murder with Earl Grey Tea–tea, goodies, and danger
Murder with Earl Grey Tea
by Karen Rose Smith
Lots is going on at Daisy’s Tea Garden in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. The tea flavor of the month is Earl Grey—one of my favorites. Daisy and her Aunt Iris, who jointly own the tearoom, are serving up regular tea time favorites like scones with the help of their efficient and friendly staff. They also have seasonal finger foods along with soups and salads.
On the personal front, Daisy and her boyfriend Jonas, formerly a detective, are making wedding plans. Daisy’s older daughter Vi and her husband and son are moving out of Daisy’s small garage apartment into a larger home. Daisy’s youngest, Jazzi, is close to high school graduation with plans to go to college. Daisy’s life is already undergoing lots of changes when she discovers the body of a friend who was murdered, leaving behind a husband, a preschooler, and a restaurant/event center, The Farm Barn.
There are lots of suspects, but everyone in town loved and respected the victim. What happened is quite a puzzle and there are no witnesses. Friends and family ask Daisy to investigate and having been the one to find the body, Daisy feels a responsibility to unravel the mystery. Along the way, Daisy discovers secrets that several people had hidden even from those close to themselves. Her efforts put her in danger and require the rescue of one of her staff members. I didn’t guess the murderer, and the plot included an interesting twist.
All of the characters contribute to the plot development. The two detectives on the case are extremely reluctant to share information, but welcome the clues Daisy gathers, often from overhearing conversations at the Tea Garden and in talking to locals. The reader will like Jonas as he is very supportive of Daisy and her family. Aunt Iris has two suitors actively trying to pursue a relationship. Daisy and Jonas’ dog Felix is present in many scenes and they have two cats as well. Needless to say, there are always plenty of delicious treats enjoyed both at the tearoom and at home.
I always enjoy a visit to Daisy’s Tea Garden and this book is no exception. I especially liked the Alice in Wonderland themed tea event that focused on children.
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 Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series. Although the author does a good job of refreshing the reader’s memories of characters and events in previous books in the series, I recommend starting with an earlier book.
2. It includes 4 recipes.
Publication: May 23, 2023—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“I told them snow was predicted tonight. They shouldn’t have gone on a date.” “They’re teenagers,” Jonas reminded her with a sigh, as if that covered the subject completely.
Buggies were an integral part of the Amish community and signaled a slower paced life. They reminded fellow travelers not to be in a rush. They took the Amish off the grid, so to speak, to a time that was more peaceful, wholesome, and less complicated.
Daisy knew that children and pets were often the best healing medicine.
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous–greed!
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous
by Amanda Flower
Where you see zany, flamboyant Lois, an Englisch grandmother who helps out in her granddaughter Darcy’s café, you will probably also find Millie, her Amish best friend from childhood. Millie tries to stay within the rules of her Amish district, but it’s hard when Lois encourages her as the “Amish Marple” to pursue investigations. This time the victim almost literally falls in their laps in a particularly bizarre means of murder.
There are personal complications also as one of Lois’ many ex-husbands shows up in the little town of Harvest with his new bride of two days. What a shock for Lois to see “Rocksino-Guy” again and in her own hometown. The bride is very interested in Amish furniture specially designed with secret compartments. Millie and Lois investigate three local furniture makers to try to discover what the compartments might be used for.
Millie is an unofficial matchmaker, and she is called on by various Amish locals to determine if a match is suitable. She doesn’t go out looking for people to match, but she has a good feeling about whether a couple is compatible or not. If asked she will give her opinion, but she never offers it unsolicited or charges for her service. Even Millie’s matchmaking skills are an important thread in this mystery.
Harvest is always supporting some community event. In this story, it is a Valentine’s Day Spaghetti Supper that is a fundraiser for a drug counseling treatment program. Both the Amish and the Englisch citizens are concerned about the rising drug problem in Holmes County especially following the recent overdose death of an Amish teenager.
Millie and Lois, in their late sixties, find themselves in dangerous situations as their investigations draw them ever closer to discovering the truth. With someone slinking around the widowed Millie’s isolated farm and the discovery of a threatening note, Lois and chief deputy Brad determine to get the district bishop Yoder to allow Lois better phone access for emergencies. Even Ruth Yoder, the bishop’s strict wife, softens up to Lois and encourages the pair in their investigations.
A visit to Harvest wouldn’t be complete without Jethro, the pot-bellied pig, who puts in an appearance. Millie’s mischievous goats have prominent roles and even come to Millie’s rescue. Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous is a good cozy mystery with lots of threads and humor. The series always shows the ways the Amish and Englisch can work together with respect despite their differences.
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: #4 in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone.
Publication: December 27, 2022—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
What I saw was a man with bloodshot eyes, sunken cheeks, and a heart shattered into a thousand shards.
Even with her zany Englisch ways, my parents welcomed her onto our farm and let her stay as long as she wished. They knew she needed a safe place to go.
“I can speak to bad marriages. They are hard. In fact, I can’t think of anything about the single life that’s as awful as a bad marriage.”
The Brides of the Big Valley: Three Romances from a Unique Pennsylvania Amish Community
The Brides of the Big Valley: Three Romances from a Unique Pennsylvania Amish Community
by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean B. Brunstetter and Richelle B. Brunstetter
Three different Brunstetter authors have combined to create three equally good short Amish romances all set in Big Valley located in Mifflin County. The Amish situation that is unique in this area is that in the 1840’s the congregation broke into three groups based on beliefs, customs, and later the colors on the tops of their horse drawn buggies.
Deanna’s Determination by Wanda E. Brunstetter tells the story of Deanna Speicher, a young Amish widow with a sweet little boy who has Down syndrome. She lives with her father and contributes to their support by creating quilted goods to sell at the local flea market. Her deceased husband’s best friend, Elmer, is the romantic interest in this story until tragedy strikes again. Will Deanna and Elmer’s love survive the new crisis?
In Rose Mary’s Resolve, by Jean B. Brunstetter, we are introduced to a family that was mentioned in the first story, the Rennos, who own a furniture company. With older sister Linda getting married, Rose Mary is learning the ins and outs of the show room so she can help in the family business. Romance is in the air as Tom Yoder courts Rose Mary, but problems arise as Tom thinks of going Englisch and pressures Rose Mary on all of their decisions. Meanwhile Kevin literally drops out of the sky as he crash lands in the Renno field and develops an interest in Rose Mary and the Amish way. Will Rose Mary stay true to God and her family customs?
Leila’s Longing by Richelle Brunstetter is the story of Leila Fisher, a shy young lady who was bullied at school when she was younger and now carries the emotional scars of those experiences. She is a gifted artist, creating sketches and making greeting cards and selling them. Will her new friends Aden and his sister Sue and her new employee Mollie be able to help her emerge from her reclusiveness? Will anyone ever want to court her?
The Brides of the Big Valley is comprised of three novellas, gentle stories combined to make an interesting tale for a calm afternoon’s reading. The characters are likable and the plots are not overly predictable. God and faith are an important part of these tales.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Barbour Publishing (Shiloh Run Press) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Christian Fiction, Romance
Publication: June 1, 2019— Barbour Publishing (Shiloh Run Press)
Memorable Lines:
I bet Rose Mary would say anything is possible with the Lord’s help. But can He truly help me through my relationship with Dad, by repairing the bridge across the chasm that exists between us?
She’d been too trusting of others when she was young, which caused her to be suspicious of disloyalty. No matter how nice she was to others, she didn’t receive kindness in return. That was why it was easier for her to not even try.
When life gets at its worst or drags us down, reading God’s Word provides guidance on good living.”
Amazing Auto History in Asheville
This summer I took a short trip to Asheville, NC and while there got a peek at the impressive Grove Park Inn.
After touring some craft shops with beautiful furniture, paintings, and sculptures, we went to the Antique Car Museum behind the Inn. It is housed in a former weaving shop belonging to Biltmore Industries. I’m sure the large windows were essential to the 40 workers making bolts of homespun fabric. Now the long building displays horse drawn carriages, a 1921 fire engine, and vintage autos.
My favorite is this beautiful 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham of which only 400 were produced.
Here’s the displayed information if you want to know more about this magnificent vehicle.
I can’t resist adding a picture of a cute restaurant that looks like it jumped off the pages of a fairy tale.
education pathways 