In this sweet (pun intended) novella, Bailey King and her cousin, Charlotte return to NYC. Bailey will be filming a series on Amish style candy making for the Gourmet Network. Charlotte will assist her. This is Charlotte's first visit away from Harvest. More than that it is her first exposure to the world outside the Amish community, The world of the “English”, the world to which she has been cautioned. Her delights and confusion about her adventure contribute to the charm of the book.

While Bailey cooks and films, someone is plotting to sabotage the show, or are they?
Can a pot bellied pig, yes Jethro is back, be expected to behave in a kitchen filled with chocolate and other treats? Is Charlotte's responsible if the show never airs?

I have not read the previous books in the series. The brief background character sketches helped me understand who everyone was (including Jethro). Flower's description of New York City and the inner workings of a television film crew are realistic. The book's humor is fanciful, sometimes bordering on farce. Violence included is at a low level. This book is appropriate for readers YA to Adult.

I began a diet last week. Today I finished reading Criminally Cocoa. I am doomed.

Be warned that this is a novella- and so it's treat to whet your whistle for the next full length book! This time out, Charlotte is on rumspringa in New York. She's rightfully worried that someone has set out to ruin her cousin Bailey's big TV opportunity. Of course someone has and Charlotte, who has heretofore lived a protected lifestyle, sets out to find the culprit. No spoilers but this IS cozy country and it does involve a nice Amish girl so take it from there. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a pleasant cozy series and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Criminally Cocoa by Amanda Flower is the 3.5 book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series novella, and another fun addition. I really enjoy this series, and am looking forward to the next book in the series. This book is told through Charlotte Weaver, Bailey cousin, point of view. Charlotte travels with her to film Bailey's Amish Sweets in New York City. When Bailey's show is being sabotaged, the mystery begins. I found this book to be a quick read, and interesting from an Amish girl's point of view. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book/ series. 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bailey is in New York City to film her new cable TV show, and she's taken Charlotte with her. The Amish girl is in her year of Rumspringa, and is determined to experience as much of the English world as she can, but the big city has her completely overwhelmed. When things start to go wrong during the filming, Charlotte suspects that someone is out to sabotage the show, and she takes it upon herself to figure out who – and why.

This is what I call a half-step book – a novella that, chronologically, falls between two main books in a series – and as such, it didn't take long to read, but I'm glad I read it. While the other books in the series have been written from Bailey's point of view, this one is told by Charlotte. That worked for this story, as it gave the reader a chance to see a big city like New York through the eyes of an Amish farm girl from a small town in Ohio, which was important to the story, as were the new characters. While I enjoyed the story, I'll be glad to return to Harvest and the regular cast of characters in the next book.

Criminally Cocoa is a novella and a quick read in the Amish Candy Shop series. Bailey, a Chocolatier and candy maker, has caught the eye of a producer who wants to give her a food show of her own, showcasing candies made in the Amish Sweets Candy Shop that her grandparents have in Ohio. Her grandfather has passed so now she helps her grandmother in the shop. Her cousin Charlotte, who also works in the shop, goes with Bailey to New York City to start filming the show. This story is told from Charlotte's perspective and her view of the city is naturally a strange one to a young Amish girl. Charlotte is not a member of the church yet so she is able to pursue and explore her options before she makes a decision to join the church. When things start going bad on the set, Charlotte observes what is happening and forms an opinion of who is behind the events. Finally, she gets brave and lets everyone know what she thinks and for a young Amish girl, it is not an easy thing to do.
For a quick visit back to see some of the characters of the series, this is a fun and quick mystery to get into. Even Jethro, the pig, and his owner, Juliet, make an appearance. I did miss seeing Deputy Aiden, Bailey's special friend, maybe even boyfriend.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All opinions stated are mine only.

Criminally Cocoa is a short novella in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Bailey is back in New York City filming her new candy show but this time the story is told from the view point of her Amish friend Charlotte. Nobody is murdered in this story but someone is trying to sabotage Bailey's new show. Who can it be? Charlotte has her theories and in the end she solves the case. There is plenty of humor in this story as Jethro, Juliet's pet pig makes an appearance. Highly recommend this series.

I received this ebook from Kensington Books through Netgalley.

This is a fun novella set in New York City. Bailey King is in New York filming her new TV show with Charlotte Weaver, Bailey’s cousin. Charlotte is on rumspringa, in some Amish communities it is a period of adolescence in which boys and girls are given greater personal freedom. She gets to experience the outside world. This should allow help her decide whether or not to be baptized Amish.

The story is told from Charlotte’s view. Charlotte believes someone is sabotaging Bailey.
Charlotte investigates the accidents and mishaps to prove they aren’t Bailey’s fault.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. The mystery is well crafted. See if Charlotte figures out who is trying to undermine her cousin.

Recipe included for an easter basket.

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from Kensington Books via Netgalley and these are my own opinions.

I love any book by Amanda Flower and this book was not a disappointment.
Being in New York City is a big change for Bailey's cousin, and it was fun to read about how Charlotte wasn't going to let anyone take advantage of her cousin.

A novella from the Amish Candy series. The story is told by Charlotte Weaver, a cousin of Bailey. We find Charlotte and Bailey in New York to film a new show that will feature Bailey and Amish Candy store. Things for wrong on the set and Charlotte feels someone is out to harm Bailey. She sets out to find an answer. Juliet Brody brings Jethro to add humor to the tale. This is a fast-moving story. I highly recommend this novella and the series.
A Recipe for the Easter baskets is in included.

Disclosure: Thanks to Kensington Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

This was a fun read as we get Charlotte solving the crime instead of the usual main character Bailey's cousin. We don't get Bailey's boyfriend in this one, but we do get his mother, Juliet and her pig Jethro. As this is a novella, it is fast paced. Instead of being in Harvest, Ohio, we are visiting New York City for the filming of Bailey's TV show. Fun mystery and a nice addition to the Amish Candy Shop series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me preface this by saying I love this series. That said this novella had it all. The characters I've come to love, a story that holds your attention and sweets! What's not to like? The fact that I have to wait for the next book in the series!

A lovely novella i really enjoyed. It was fun to read and entertaining.
Even if I missed the usual setting it was great to see the characters in an urban setting.
It was also great to see Charlotte in a different setting and read the development in her character.
This is a fast read with no murder but with a mystery that have to be solved.
I look forward to reading the next installment and see what will be of Charlotte.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Criminally Cocoa
Amish Candy Shop Mystery, Book #3.5
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

A taste for trouble . . .

As if being in New York City for Easter isn’t exciting enough, Charlotte Weaver has another reason to be thrilled. She’s helping her cousin, Bailey, on the set of her first cable TV show, Bailey’s Amish Sweets. Bailey will even be re-creating the delectable hand-woven chocolate Easter baskets she once crafted for the city’s world-famous JP Chocolates. But once things start rolling, Charlotte starts to notice odd things
happening—things that seem intended to make Bailey look bad . . .

With Bailey feeling extra nervous about being on camera, Charlotte decides to keep her suspicion of sabotage to herself. But she knows that among Bailey’s fans at the Gourmet Television network lurks a dangerously jealous rival. Now Charlotte will have to find out who that person is—before sour grapes turns one of the sweetest times of the year fatally bitter . . .

Recipe Included!

Praise for Amanda Flower and her Amish cozies

“As it turns out, Amanda Flower may have just written the first Amish rom com.”— USA Today

“Flower has hit it out of the ballpark . . . and continues to amaze with her knowledge of the Amish way of life.”— RT Book Reviews

“At turns playful and engaging . . . a satisfyingly complex cozy.”— Library Journal (Goodreads)


Review:

I really enjoy this series and I really liked this novella. It will hold me over until book four is released.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Charlotte is an Amish girl who is on her Rumspringa and she is in New York, helping her cousin Bailey as she prepares for her new food show on television. After a series of incidents happen that disrupts the filming of the show, Charlotte is afraid someone is trying to derail the show. She has to keep her eyes and ears open to protect Bailey.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I could just imagine Charlotte’s excitement and confusion as she is visiting New York. Talk about culture shock. This story is told from Charlotte’s point of view and that took a little getting used to. I really liked the fact that although there was a mystery to solve, it did not revolve around a dead body. I found that refreshing.

I would recommend this novella (and series) to anyone that enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading Toxic Toffee when it is released.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This is a charming short story. Told from Charlotte’s perspective, the reader sees New York and the TV industry in a refreshing new light.

—-

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

This mystery novella comes after Premeditated Peppermint and before Toxic Toffee (if you are anal like me and have to read them in order), though while this is another excellent writing by Amanda Flower, it is different from her others. It is her first novella in this series. It is written from the POV of Bailey's cousin, Charlotte. There is no murder. In this novella, Bailey has asked Charlotte to come with her to New York to assist her on her new TV show. As Charlotte has not yet been baptized into the Amish church, she is willing an able to do so. Though as Bailey starts her first few days on the show, it is Charlotte that first notices there might be a common thread among the "accidents" that keep happening on set.


I pretty much love all of Amanda Flower's books and this is no exception. It was interesting to see her in a different setting, and to see how Charlotte does in New York. Ms. Flower manages a cozy mystery in a typically not-cozy setting. I recommend - if not as a stand-alone to introduce new readers that might not have seen the others in the series, than as a snack to hold us over until the next meal of a new book.

Bailey and her Amish friend Charlotte are in New York to film Bailey's new TV show. When mysterious things begin to happen on set Charlotte begins to wonder if someone is trying to sabotage Bailey.



No murders in this novella, but plenty of mystery and fun characters, including Jethro the pet pig from Bailey's hometown. I enjoyed this novella in the Amish Candy Shop series. Seeing Charlotte out of her element trying to decide whether to stay in her Amish community or pursue her dreams was interesting. As always Jethro was full of trouble, but cute as a pig can be! The mystery was solid even though I found the "who-done-it" pretty obvious. Looking forward to the next full-length novel in the series TOXIC TOFFEE due out in June.

This novella, book 3.5 in the series to be exact, is the perfect quick read to hold you over before book four in the Amish Candy Shop series is released.

Told from cousin Charlotte’s point of view, Bailey is off to NYC to film her new candy making show, Bailey’s Amish Sweets. On the set things behind to happen that makes it clear SOMEONE is out to ruin Bailey and her show before it even hits the airway. But all isn’t as it seem sat Gourmet TV and Charlotte finds herself not only on Englischer TV but also doing a little sleuthing of her own to find out who has it in for her cousin.

Love this series by Amanda Flower. Actually I like all of this author’s writing. She keeps the story moving, fun and engaging. Can’t wait for Toxic Toffee to be released in June. A simple, cozy, and sweet read!

This novella installment in the Amish Candy Mystery series follows Bailey King and her Amish cousin Charlotte as Bailey is working on her cable show Bailey’s Amish Sweets. The story is told from Charlotte’s perspective and I like that.. Charlotte has noticed a couple of accidents that have halted production on Bailey’s show. She does not want to tell Bailey as she is hoping she is wrong. First a double boiler explodes due to the knobs on the stove being upside down and a cracked bowl. Bailey could have been seriously hurt. Next Cass brings in Juliet and Jethro her pig to New York to get in on the show and Jethro is almost lost in Central Park. Last is sneezing powder. Charlotte thinks she has found one of the culprits. Charlotte confronts Maria in front of everyone (so not like her Amish behavior) and the truth unravels. That not only was Maria involved but Todd the young man who had “befriended” her as well as the director. I enjoyed this from Charlotte’s perspective and am curious to see what she decides after her Rumspringa. Looking forward to the next installment.

Criminally Cocoa is the 3.5(novella) book in the An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series.

Bailey King’s Amish cousin, Charlotte Weaver, a secondary character in previous books, becomes the main character in this exciting addition to this wonderful series.

Bailey finally convinces Charlotte to go to New York City with her to help off camera, prepare the amazing Amish candies for her new series, Bailey’s Amish Sweets, on the Gourmet Television network. Charlotte is on her Rumspringa where she will determine whether she wants to be baptized into the Amish faith or live in the Englisch world.

As the taping of the first show is beginning, Bailey is describing how to weave a chocolate basket when the double boiler that Bailey is melting chocolate on the stove behind her explodes, sending shards of glass and chocolate all over the studio. Quite naturally this will put production behind schedule and the director wants to stop production as he feels the show is destined to be a disaster. The first thing Raymond Reynolds, the director, says is that it was Bailey’s fault. Charlotte has seen Bailey make enough candy that she is that it was not Bailey’s fault and that someone is trying to sabotage the show. The next they doing some filler shots outdoors with Charlotte walking through the park with Jethro, Juliet Brody’s potbellied pig when a horn honks and send him running. Charlotte is watching even closer now to see who might be behind these disruptions. Back in the studio, Bailey is opening a container of pretzels that someone has put sneezing powder in and Bailey has a sneezing attack and once again production is interrupted. Then when things get settled down Charlotte points how all these interruptions have to directed at Bailey. Charlotte also tells Bailey about a conversion she heard where someone was definitely trying to get the show canceled before the first episode even airs.

This is a wonderfully told story with believable characters.

This novella has certainly whetted my appetite for the next book in the series, Toxic Toffee, coming out in June.

This series keeps getting better. I really liked that Charlotte narrated. The action was great and didn't lag. Good food and murder!