This is the fifth book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Although these books do not have to be read in order, I think reading this series in order is helpful to gain a better understanding of the characters, especially Jethro the pig.

This mystery centers around Bailey King, who is a chocolatier and her small town of Harvest, Ohio. The town brings in lots of tourists due to the Amish population and this time, it's the fourth of July. Bailey is getting ready to launch a new cable TV series in New York featuring her family's candy recipes and her Amish roots.

Bailey is unlucky enough to find a dead body on the steps of the church, and in typical cozy mystery style, gets pulled into solving the crime. Due to Bailey's connection to the Amish (her grandparents are Amish), many Amish residents talk to her and tell her things that they would not disclose to the "English" police.

I love this series and enjoy all the humor the story holds. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery! (and the ending was not as I expected!)

Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is a fun cozy mystery. i recommend that readers read these books in order of publication.

The author and series give you pretty much what you expect in every book, the same secondary characters pop up and do their thing. But, there is progression. The characters grow and change. We've all read some series where 10+ books down the pike and the characters are still the same, nothing has really changed in their lives (including their age). Here we learn about at least one person's secret and see how others are changing.

The ending for me was a wee bit sad. No details so i don't spoil.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book picks up where the "in between" book (Botched Butterscotch) left off with Mother's Day weekend in Harvest, Ohio. With the wedding of Julia and Rev happening, Bailey is busy making the marshmallow frosted wedding cake until she has to solve a murder. For such a wholesome town, there are a lot of murders! This story has everything you've come to love from Amanda Flower. Great book!

I love a cozy set during a wedding and Bailey had her hands set making sure Juliet's wedding was perfect but murder always puts a damper on a bride or candy makers plan.. There was so many good suspects in this book and I love all the characters and did not want the book to end. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out

Once again Amanda Flower doesn't disappoint with Marshmallow Malice. I've been reading this series since the beginning and each new book is better than the last. Bailey King is such a great protagonist and even though this is the 5th book in the series, there's still more for the reader to learn about her. The mystery was written and crafted very well. I was truly surprised by the big reveal. I'll definitely keep reading this series as long as she keeps writing them.

In this book, I found myself going back to the small town of Harvest, where candy maker Bailey has her hands full yet again. Between being the maid of honor at her boyfriend Aiden's mother's wedding, making the wedding cake, preparing to babysit the bride's pet pig, and meeting up with her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, Bailey barely has time to breathe, let alone investigate a murder. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens when a drunken wedding crasher is found murdered on the chapel steps the day after the wedding. Now Bailey finds herself looking for a killer in the midst of a town full of secrets, while trying to deal with Aiden's ex...who has no intention on staying an "ex".

Thanks to being given an ARC by Netgalley, I find myself reading this series out of order, but that's not stopping me from enjoying it! The sweet (no pun intended!) setting of an Amish community, the mix of colorful characters- both Amish and non Amish- and overall fun of this story makes for an enjoyable read. The humor is a wonderful, the plot is well drawn, and the mystery kept me guessing almost up until the big reveal. Definitely a 5 star read!

Another book in one of my favorite Cozy Mystery series of all time!!! Amanda Flower has hit another book out of the park as we once again enjoy Jethro's crazy antics. Bailey must solve a new mystery to save the relationship of the sweetheart's mother. I just love this series! What better than candy, a mystery, and the cutest little pig you have ever seen!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* yikes what a wild read :0 the ending was too cute too!

Marshmallow Malice

by Amanda Flower

From a chunk of burnt hair to drunken accusations to murder on the doorstep of the church, disasters just keep happening on Juliet Brody’s wedding day, and she is depending on her “possible” future daughter-in-law, Bailey, to help her out. Bailey is a chocolatier who is working in her grandmother’s candy shop in the Amish/Englisch town of Harvest. She is also dating Juliet’s son, Sheriff Deputy Aiden Brody.

Amanda Flower’s Marshmallow Malice is a fun cozy mystery with new problems arising from all directions as Bailey is encouraged by locals to help solve the murder case and act as a go-between for the Amish with the Englisch law enforcement. The humor comes into play with Jethro, Juliet’s adored and adorable polka-dotted pig that gets into lots of mischief. There is also light-hearted teasing between Bailey and her visiting New York friend Cass. At times the plot turns to danger as Bailey advances on moonshiners in Harvest Woods. Serious themes take the forefront with alcoholism, secrets from the past, and hints of domestic violence.

Marshmallow Malice is filled with likable characters. Bailey’s grandmother Clara whom she calls Maami is Amish to her roots and in her everyday living. Although she follows her bishop’s rulings precisely, she is practical and accepting of Bailey’s activities as an Englischer. Cousin Charlotte works with Bailey in the shop, and her life gives the reader insight into the dilemma of the young Amish as they decide whether to join the church or not. Shunning is also explored as the method the Amish use to try to get a member to abandon sin. Flower’s depiction of characters from both cultures is fair in that criminals and those with personal problems are drawn from both Amish and Englisch societies. This is a cozy mystery series with an Englisch main character; it is not an Amish romance. As such, it adds both humor and complications to what might be the basis for a typical Amish story. Don’t label this story as a sweet Amish tale. It is not dark, but it does have depth. It is well-written and leaves me eager for more in the series.

I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #5 in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series. The author throws you right into the storyline, so it would probably be best (and also a delight) to read the first books in sequence.
2. Recipe included for Charlotte’s Easy Marshmallow Sticks

Publication: May 26, 2020—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

“She looks like a cotton candy machine exploded, doesn’t she?”…”Well…” Aiden trailed off as if he was dumbstruck by my appearance. Then he said, “It’s the kind of outfit that makes you believe there just might be unicorns out there.”

“The celebration will be a hit,” I said. “I know it will be,” Margot said. “I won’t allow anything less.” With that, she patted her curls and bustled out the door.

“The Amish look down on pride, but at the heart of it, we are a very proud culture. Our pride doesn’t come from material things. We take pride in how gut we are.”

This was a well paced mystery with engaging characters and adorable animals, I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more.

Rounding up from 4 and a half stars because it is always such an enjoyable visit to Harvest, OH and Swissman Sweets. Amanda Flower is an adept storyteller combining characters you care about with a well plotted and paced mystery. It's the middle of summer for the wedding of Juliet (the mother of Bailey's beau, Aiden) to Reverend Brooks. Bailey is in charge of walking Jethro, the pot-bellied pig, down the aisle, making and protecting the marshmallow frosted cake from melting all while dressed to resemble a cupcake.The ceremony being interrupted by an inebriated woman threatening the groom is only the beginning of the mishaps leading to murder. Bailey straddles a fine line of respect for the Amish community, including her grandmother, while promoting the business and investigating the murder.

Going to the chapel and we’re going to get marrrrieed…I just had to make a trip to Harvest for the wedding of Reverend Brook and Juliet Brody. If for nothing else to see Jethro as ringbearer. As always, this trip was never a dull moment! It started when a strange intoxicated woman burst into the church and tried to disrupt the wedding, then Jethro ruined the wedding cake and Bailey’s maid of honor dress, and then the next day finding a dead body. Whew...that’s a lot for a sleepy little Amish town! Lol. Turns out Reverend Brooks had ties to the mysterious young girl, and Bailey needs to find out what happened after all her future mother-in-law (hopefully) just said I do to the man!...


Another sweet treat!! I just can’t say enough about this series!! It is exactly why I love cozies! The small town, community involvement, quirky characters, and candy...OH MY! If I only had a better sense of humor!..ok ok no more bad Wizard of Oz jokes. I like that the police department needs her as a bridge between the Amish and Englisch. The mystery was like being a maze the whole time...twisting, turning, dead ends...and like I usually end up disclosing I did not solve the mystery before the big reveal. Actually, I have taken to cheating...I now just suspect everybody that way I'll finally be right! Pathetic I know! I can’t wait for the next installment!

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I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Amanda Flower, and the publisher for this opportunity.

Bailey King is prepping for the marriage of Juliet Brody (her boyfriend's mother) and Reverend Brooks - she is the maid of honor as well as being responsible for the wedding cake and walking Juliet's pot bellied pig, Jethro, who is serving as the ringbearer, down the aisle. Everything seems to be going well until a strange young woman interrupts the service to call the groom a traitor. What was he accused of betraying? The young woman is found murdered on the church steps the next day and after discovering that she was an Amish girl who had been shunned, Bailey feels the need to find who killed her and why.

I love this eries and the interactions of the English world with the Amish. The details that are related have been educational as well as entertaining. Love the characters and the setting!

We are going to a wedding in Ohio's
Amish Country in a village named Harvest
located in Holmes County, Ohio.
The Reverend Simon Brook is marrying Juliet Brody.
Juliet’s son, Sheriff Deputy Aiden Brody will be
giving the bride away and be best man .
Bailey King is will be the maid-of-honor
and wedding cake designer. The bride
wants a marshmallow cake as her wedding
cake.
Jethro, the black and white, polka-dotted
pot bellied pig will be the ring bearer.
Jethro is Juliet’s pet. He mostly goes
everywhere with her.
It is also time for the Fourth of July
festival.
Bailey was the assistant chocolatier in
New York’s famous JP chocolates. She
came home to Harvest when her Daadi
(grandfather) became ill. After his death,
Bailey moved to Harvest with her big
white rabbit, Puff, to run Swissmen Sweets,
the Amish candy shop. Bailey and her
Maami (grandmother) both own the shop
now. Nutmeg, the thin-striped orange tail
cat is the shop cat.
What more could go wrong after the young
girl doing Juliet’s hair burns it off, Bailey
looks like a polka dotted cupcake in her
bridesmaid dress plus a strange woman
runing down the church aisle yelling “Traitor”
at the Reverend during the ceremony??
Just watch out for Jethro being let loose
at the reception.....
The following morning, Bailey discovers
the body of the wedding intruder dead on
the front steps of the church.
A diverse set of characters featuring both
Amish and Englishers involved in puzzling,
complex murder mystery filled with thrills
and chills.
Bailey and best friend, Cass, visiting from
the New York decide to help solve the case.
They discover secrets, illegal activities such
as moonshine stills being operational then
exploding when shot.
I enjoyed the mystery. I also liked how
Bailey communicated between the Amish
and the Englishers. I was fascinated by how
the rabbit, cat and pig were able to play with
each other with no problems. I thought the
mystery moved along fast holding my attention
from the beginning to the end. It was a
mouthwatering story filled with humor along with
the serious issues.
This is book # 5 in the Amish Shop Candy
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand as
I felt the author mix the past with the present
effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Marshmallow Malice.
Thanks to Kensington Publishers for the
opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my
own.
There is the recipe for Marshmallow Sticks
after the story finishes. Good eating!!!

How much fun can you possibly have in Amish Town in Harvest, OH??? TONS!!

With a great core group of characters, the amazing setting and fabulous plots; this series makes you feel that you are part of the story. When picking up the next installment, its like visiting friends.

A wedding, a murder, moonshine, and chocolates... sounds like a regular day in Amish country right?

This series makes me laugh out loud but its the sense of community and friendship that brings me back every time. I am almost sad that I am caught up with this series.

I wish there was a half star rating because I would this book is 4.5 stars. Amanda Flower did it again, I could not put this book down and finished it in three sittings. The plot/murder was unique and I appreciated that! This book was a real page turner and I could not put it down.

Another fun book in this series! I love these characters, and this book did not disappoint. There were some twists and turns in the plot, and it wasn’t easy to solve the mystery before the end. It was fun to “attend” this wedding, and see everything that went on. I’m hoping there’s another book in this series,

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower is the fifth book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Juliet and the reverend are getting married so of course Bailey is pulled into the nuptials. She is serving as maid of honor as well as preparing the cake along with her grandmother. Summer heat and marshmallow frosting are not a good mix. Even that mess does not compare to the shocking events during and the morning after the wedding. Bailey and her friend Cass find themselves in the middle of a mystery. I adore this series, and it is easily one of my favorites. The author tackles religious differences as well as alcoholism in this book. The subjects are handled with tact and well woven into the mystery. I look forward to the next installment!

The Amish Candy Shop Mystery series is guaranteed to give you a few hours of laughs. Jethro, the pig, steals the show each and every book. If you haven't read the previous books in the series, just close your eyes and imagine a pig being carried around like a baby who is dressed up in something polka dot. Now, tell me you didn't feel yourself smiling. Smiling is what you will do plenty of even while solving a murder or two.

Again, Flower has provided us with a clean murder mystery with no unnecessary gory details, no foul language, and no sex scenes. It is definitely a series I would share with a teenager looking to get into the cozy mystery world.

Word of warning, be prepared to crave everything chocolate. I found myself craving a wedding cake with marshmallow topping and I have never had one with that topping. Flower does such a good job describing sweets you will be craving things you've never had.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.