Amanda Flower has book two in her Amish Candy Shop Mystery out later this month and Lethal Licorice is bittersweet. Fresh on the heels of where book one ends, Bailey and her Amish grandmother are still getting used to daily life without her grandfather. Baliey who is not Amish is doing everything she can to help keep her grandparents store running and is filling in for her grandfather at the Amish Candy Festival. While this ruffles feathers of many in the community, soon there is much more to worry about and a polkadot pig to find! This is a story where love and grief meet determination. Where communities that are divided find common ground. A lovely story and a good mystery await you in Lethal Licorice. This is a February 27th, Kensington mystery to keep your eyes out for!

Lethal Licorice by Amanda Flower is book two in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery. We find Bailey King standing in for her late grandfather, Jebidiah King as a contestant in the Amish Confectionery Competition (ACC) right in their own little Harvest, Ohio. She is up again fifteen of the best Amish candy makers in the county and some of them do not like the fact that an Englischer is allowed.
Josephine Weaver, a candy maker from neighboring town Berlin, is one such person and opening makes her opinion know right before the licorice round is about to start. When Juliet Brody’s beloved pot belly pig, Jethro, goes missing, Bailey is willing to help in the search before the judging starts.
During the pig search, Josephine’s turns up dead. Now Bailey has once again found herself in the middle of a murder investigation, not to mention solving the mystery of her new found cousin, finding Jethro, and participating in the ACC.

This book had me captivated from the beginning with mystery around every turn. So many questions arise during the book, like who is that mystery lady Bailey keeps seeing and does anyone else see her too?
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Kensington and was under no obligation for a review. This is my honest review in my own words.

I love how the author is deepening and developing this world and simultaneously keeping me in suspense with a good mystery. Not all cozies have both but Amanda Flower is a great writer.

I loved this book because it held me captive tell the very end. I was wanting to know what happened next. loved the title and cover to the book. It fit it. I can see where a third book can take place. this book has very good plots and love the characters in never suspected who it was. Love the story line you can tell Amanda had put her time and effort in to this series. very great book make sure you read the epilogue at end of the book it does tell a little but more.. You will find same characters and you will find some new ones! Make sure u read the first book. Hope you get your copt Feb. 27,2018. was approved of this book from netgalley..

The second book in the Amish Candy Mystery, Lethal Licorice is a deliciously suspenseful mystery set during a candy competition in Harvest, Ohio featuring spicy licorice, sweet, silken taffy and decadently flavorful fudge.

This story follows former New York City-based chocolatier Bailey King as she takes over her grandfather's Amish candy shop, experiences more friction in her community, learns about her family roots and falls slowly for the sexy sheriff's deputy. The author, Amanda Flowers gifts the reader with another perfectly crafted mystery in which it is difficult to pinpoint the murderer. Attention is taken to develop all of the characters and their motives, so nothing is formulaic and nothing is predictable. It is a satisfyingly sweet read with a fulfilling conclusion.

Once again, this story will probably have you searching online for the history of the Amish. Or maybe that's just me -  I'm very curious. And then you'll be searching Yelp for the best chocolate shops in your areas. Foodie-themed cozies leave me hungry. And finally,  you'll be waiting impatiently for book three in the series Premeditated Peppermint, pssst - there's a sneak peak at the end of the book.

While Lethal Licorice can be enjoyed as a standalone, do yourself a favor and read the first book in the series. If you love candy-themed mysteries, this is a series you'll want to read from start to finish.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I have read the first book in this series as well, and I love the premise of this story. Bailey, an " Englisch " chocolatier from New York City, returns to small town Harvest, home of her Amish grandparents, to assist with their candy shop. The Amish Candy Competition has come to Harvest, and Bailey is competing in her recently deceased grandfather's place. When a competitor is murdered, Bailey is under suspicion. The characters in the book immediately hooked me, and the mystery begins to unravel just as the book is coming to a close. Readers can feel Bailey's desire to be accepted into the community and support her grandmother and their candy shop. This was an enjoyable read, and I also love the candy recipe found at the end of the book! I look forward to the next book in the series.

It’s the weekend of the Amish Confectionary Competition in the village of Harvest, Ohio. Swissmen Sweet’s was one among the many Amish candy makers from not just the various counties in Ohio but also the state of Wisconsin and Florida. Jebidiah King, Bailey’s grandfather who passed over just a few weeks prior, was accepted into the contest months prior to his death. Bailey was being allowed to represent her family’s business in the contest even though she was an Englisher. Not all competitors were pleased with the decision. Josephine Weaver, Amish owner of Berlin Candies, protests the loudest about Bailey representing Swissmen Sweets. When Bailey asks Josephine if she is making a threat against Swissmen Sweets, Josephine claims it is not a threat but a promise to get Bailey removed from the competition. Beside the tension of competition, Juliet Brody has approached Bailey because her pet pig, Jethro, has come up missing. Juliet has asked Bailey’s help in finding Jethro. Leaving Emily Esh in charge of Swissmen’s booth, Bailey goes with Juliet to search around First Church and its surroundings on Church Street. When the men who were hired to paint the fence behind the church claimed not to have seen Jethro, Bailey and Juliet decided to continue their search to the inside of the church. Entering the sanctuary, a terrible noise came from the organ. Charlotte, a young Amish girl, sitting on the bench behind the organ. Charlotte opened the door to the left of the organ where the working innards of the organ were kept seeing what had happened to the organ to make it emit such a terrible tone. Her scream echoed off the flying buttresses. No, it wasn’t Jethro who scared Charlotte, it was the sight of the dead body of Josephine Weaver. Bailey realized this was not just going to be a day of competition and hunting for Jethro, but also for finding out who wanted Josephine Weaver dead. Deputy Aiden Brody is assigned to investigate. The Deputy’s dimple made Bailey’s knees weaken and although she didn’t want to admit to it, a romance may be in the works. So many factors are presented in this book it will keep anyone reading it on their toes.

In the second book of this very good chocolate series, Bailey King is participating in the Amish Confectionery Competition in Harvest, Ohio to honor her deceased Grandfather. Josephine Weaver, another entrant contested her questions her right to complete as Bailey is not Amish. Bailey is looking for Jethro, a missing pot-billed pig belonging to Juliet Brody, a close for when she finds Josephine dead in the church organ. Josephine has died from a severe allergy to anise, an ingredient in licorice. Bailey is a person of interest in the death of her competitor. She becomes involved with the mystery to clear her name. I highly recommend this book and series. A recipe for LICORICE is included.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Kensington Books for my copy for review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second installment in the Amish Candy series. Harvest is hosting an Amish candy making competition and Bailey has taken the place for her Grandfather who passed away recently. Another contestant Josephine Weaver is challenging Bailey's right to represent Swissmen Sweets in the competition as she is not Amish. Their exchange is heated and Josephine promises to get Bailey removed from the competition. Awaiting the judging of the first Bailey is helping Juliet Brody (Aiden's Mom) look for her pot bellied pig Jethro. During this search Bailey encounters Charlotte in the church and they discover the dead body of Josephine Weaver who was deathly allergic to licorice and with Bailey's licorice in her pocket. With the desire to help Charlotte a cousin to Clara her grandmother and desire to clear her name as a possible suspect. Can't wait for the next installment in this series.

Lethal Licorice is the second book in the Amish candy shop series.
Author Amanda Flower describes the Amish way of life in such detail, I found myself transported to Harvest, Ohio as soon as I read the first paragraph.
Bailey King is trying to balance her life, living in an Amish community while staying true to her English ways.
After the devastating death of her grandfather, Bailey stays in Harvest, helping her grandmother in the family owned chocolate shop.
Taking her grandfather's place in the ACC, Bailey is proud to be doing what she loves best, but a gruesome discovery puts her in the middle of another police investigation.

There hasn't been a book by Amanda Flower that I haven't enjoyed. Her talent goes beyond words. She weaves together a brilliant story where the reader will feel like they are right there with everyone.
I could smell her mouthwatering fudge and taste her grandfather's famous peanut butter chocolate fudge.
Fans of this author will be thrilled with Lethal Licorice.
I am looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

In the name of her grandparents' candy shop, Bailey plans to compete in the annual Amish Confectionary Competition. There is opposition from some of her fellow candy makers because she is not Amish, although the shop and their candy-making techniques are. When one of those confectioners turns up dead in unusual circumstances, Bailey becomes a prime suspect.

This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Most of the residents of the town of Harvest seem like people I'd like to get to know and spend time with. Once again, I learned a few things about Amish traditions and families, which is probably one of the reasons I liked the book so much. Unlike many cozies lately, the reader doesn't have to wait long for the murder to occur, but there are lots of potential suspects. I thought I'd identified the villain, but wasn't sure until the reveal in the story. I look forward to reading the next installment of this series.

Amanda Flower is quite a talented writer, and I have enjoyed all of her suspense books written in the Amish genre. Lethal Licorice is a quickly moving, on the edge of your seat, yet touching mystery set in the fictional Amish town of Harvest, Oho- surrounded by actual Ohio Amish country. Bailey lives with her widowed grandmother and runs her late grandfather's chocolate store, after leaving a very prestigious chocolatier job in New York City. Bailey and the local sheriff's deputy share a special attraction to each other, which she tries to fight so she can focus on her grandmother and on chocolate making....and on helping the deputy solve mysteries! When a rival of hers is killed during an Amish candy contest, will Bailey be able to remove the suspicion from pointing in her direction? I highly recommend this entertaining story!

'Lethal Licorice' was absolutely perfect! The story instantly grabbed me and the suspense, problems, issues and potential romance kept me engaged to the surprising ending. The tickler for the next book in the series has me excited. I would give this more stars if I could!

Lethal Licorice
Amish Candy Shop mystery, Book #2
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Too many sweets spoil the murder . . .

Harvest, Ohio, is a long way from New York City, where Bailey King left a coveted job as a head chocolatier to take over Swissmen 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 annual Amish Confectionery Competition. But between lavender blueberry fudge and chocolate 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 to an essential licorice ingredient. The suspects include: Josephine’s niece, a young woman going through her rumspringa, 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 . . .

Recipe Included! (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really enjoy spending time with Bailey. She is so genuine, honest and loyal. She is a hard worker and a little nosey, which is perfect for solving mysteries. I like the relationship between Bailey and her grandmother, Maami. You can just feel how much love there is between them and how much they love Bailey recently deceased grandfather, Daadi. I felt the secondary characters also added a lot to the story. Bailey found out that she had relatives that she did not even know about, and there is a possible love interest for Bailey, if she is willing to take a chance. I was a little disappointed that Bailey’s friend, Cass was not in the book more. I will hope that she is in the next book more.

I thought that community that was created was absolutely charming and is a place I would like to visit. I really enjoy reading about the Amish lifestyle and all of their traditions and beliefs. This has always fascinated me and this book includes many of those things, which I think added another level to the story.

The writing style flows smoothly and this book is a quick easy ready. The mystery is well plotted had enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through. The culprit surprised me, which was great.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I enjoyed both books in this series a lot and I am already looking forward to the next book already.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Lethal Licorice is the second installment in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series featuring chocolatier Bailey King set in the small town of Harvest, Ohio. Bailey is slowly settling into her new life in the Amish community helping her grandmother Clara run Swissmen Sweets after the recent death of her grandfather Jebidiah.

Harvest has been chosen to host the annual Amish Confectionery Competition and Bailey is determined to win and prove that her family business is still the best in the area. Just when the competition is set to begin Josephine Weaver owner of Berlin Candies, causes a stir claiming that Bailey, as an Englischer, has no right to be including in the competition.

To further complicate the day, Judith Brody's pet pig Jethro has gone missing. In an effort to help her friend, who also happens to be the mother of hunky Deputy Sheriff Aiden Brody, Bailey sets out to find the missing pot belly and instead finds both a dead body and a relative she didn't know existed.

Plenty of suspects surface with Bailey and cousin Charlotte topping the list. In an effort to clear her name and save her family's reputation, Bailey sets out to find the killer. With sabotage running amok at the competition and a disruptive district Deacon, it quickly becomes apparent that maybe life isn't so tranquil and peaceful among the Amish.

A fast paced plot, lovable characters, mouthwatering candies and a touch of romance. A terrific insight into the Amish lifestyle. The book does read as a stand alone but I suggest picking up the first in the series as you won't want to miss a minute with Bailey, her friends and family. Looking forward to the upcoming Premeditated Peppermint.

I received an advanced copy of Lethal Licorice from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Lethal Licorice is second in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and a great addition to the series. Bailey King left New York City where she worked as a chocolatier for a prestigious chocolate shop to help her grandmother run the family candy shop, Swissmen Sweets, after the death of her grandfather. This is where she learned how to make candy, especially chocolate, with her grandfather. There is a contest in Harvest, the Amish Confectionery Competition, to find out who makes the best candy and many different shop owners and workers are in town vying for the honor. Bailey is in the contest being assisted by Emily Esh from the pretzel shop next door. Things get complicated when Jethro, pot-bellied big, owned by friend, Juliet, disappears. About that time, the body of one of the candy shop owners in the ACC is discovered in the church organ. Sheriff Deputy Aiden is on the scene to investigate right away. He is the son of Juliet and there is a little attraction between Aiden and Bailey. Bailey can't help but do her own investigation especially when she becomes a suspect. There is a complicated plot to untangle with the tension between Englisch and Amish and even between the Amish members. Amanda Flower is one of my favorite authors. She always delivers a great read with her Amish suspense in a community of Amish and Englisch living together. Her characters are likable and real with an interesting background. There was a twist to the ending that I didn't see coming and revealed information on an old death in the community.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Amish Candy Shop mystery series, after Assaulted Caramel. We find ourselves back in Harvest, Ohio, with Bailey King who is helping her Amish grandmother in her grandparent's sweet shop. She has entered an Amish candy-making competition, much to the annoyance of Josephine Weaver, an Amish candy-maker from a nearby town. When a body is found, dead in a gruesome fashion, Bailey feels the need to once again find the killer.

Amanda Flower is one of my favorite authors. I loved the first book in this series. I felt like this one dropped off a bit, though it was still enjoy able. The writing is excellent, and I enjoyed the humor mixed in the mystery. The third offering, Premeditated Peppermint, will be out in September 2018, and I will definitely be reading it to find if the writing is closer to the first book or the second. Regardless, I look forward to reading more about Bailey and the gang.

I am probably biased since I love black licorice, but I truly enjoyed this book. I am not particularly a fan of Amish tales, but I adore this series. Just enough Amish to English mix to keep it interesting. The candy competition was a great setting. I am eager to read the next one.

After a rather slow start this second book in the series started to pick up steam at about the halfway point. While I love the setting, the characters and completely enjoyed the first book in the series I found this second book a little lacking. The interaction of the characters seemed bland and the ending seemed flat. One redeeming quality was I never figured out the culprit till the reveal.
Yes, I will read the next in the series because I loved the first one. But this one fell flat for me.

Lethal Licorice is the second novel in Amanda Flower’s An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. This is an easy to read confectionery cozy set in the Ohio Amish country, with great characters and an interesting and entertaining mystery. The story flows smoothly and the author is very talented in her descriptive and witty writing. This well plotted mystery was difficult to solve, with multiple suspects and plenty of clues to sift through. I was surprised when the culprit was revealed. Highly recommended reading for all cozy mystery lovers.

Bailey King was an assistant chocolatier at JP Chocolates in New York City and up for a possible promotion, but she didn’t hesitate to leave her career behind and move to Harvest, Ohio to help her Amish grandmother after her grandfather passed away. Bailey’s father left the Amish community before she was born, but she spent summers with her grandparents, Jebediah and Clara King, and learned to love chocolates in their Amish candy shop, Swissmen Sweets. The annual Amish Confectionery Competition is taking place in Harvest this year and the committee has agreed to allow Bailey to take her grandfather’s place and participate for Swissmen Sweets, but Josephine Weaver, a candy maker from Berlin, is angry that an Englischer is being allowed in the Amish competition. Josephine wants Bailey disqualified and threatens to make it her mission. The four candies for this competition are licorice, taffy, peanut brittle, and fudge and the participants must make their candy using the Amish method of cooking. Using modern cooking implements, including electricity, is not allowed. Juliet Brody isn’t a participant, but volunteered to help with the event setup. When her small black and white polka-dotted pig, Jethro, goes missing, she’s frantic and asks Bailey to help find him. Juliet and Jethro spend a lot of time at the church, so Bailey decides to see if he’s there. Before she can finish searching, a young Amish woman, Charlotte, finds Josephine’s body in the church’s organ. Clara asks Bailey to help Charlotte, who is Josephine’s niece and a cousin Bailey didn’t know about, is going through Rumspringa, which is a rite of passage during adolescence, and trying to decide what to do with her life. Josephine died from an allergic reaction to licorice, which almost everyone knew about, and the death is ruled suspicious. The deceased was not well liked, even in the Amish community, so the suspect pool is plentiful. Bailey has a tendency to poke around and investigate on her own and Aiden Brody, the local sheriff’s deputy, asks her to stay out of this one, but she feels the need to find out what happened and why.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.