It is the holiday season and thanks to the Candy Cane Exchange, where people can send candy cane messages, love is in the air. When Charlotte volunteered to be in charge of the exchange the last thing she thought would happen is that she'd get anonymous notes from a secret admirer. Now the question is are they a prank or real.

Short but sweet this novella features Charlotte, a cousin of protagonist Bailey in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. For those of us who have read the whole series we get to learn more about Charlotte with some good hints about the future.

Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is a cute, sweet, cozy. Charlotte volunteers to take over the Candy Cane Exchange. As she gathers up the messages, she finds some for her fro an anonymous admirer. Charlotte's curiosity is peaked. She also thinks something odd is going on. This is a fun, little escape. It is a short, easy read. If you need a few hours of down time, this is the book for you.

I love the Amish Candy Shop mystery series. This novella focuses on Bailey King's cousin Charlotte. Charlotte is working in the candy shop as she decides weather to embrace the Amish culture or enter the main stream. In previous stories we saw Charlotte decide not to return to her conservative home district.

The town is conducting a fund raiser to be able to purchase new costumes for the Christmas pageant., When Bailey refuses to give into pressure and become responsible for putting the messages on candy canes to be delivered on Christmas eve, When she finds several messages to her from a secret admirer she is determined to uncover who they are from.

As she is working on finding who has feelings for her she uncovers more than she bargained for. Will she save the fund raiser from ruin? Will she uncover the identity of her potential suitor? Will she finally figure out which life path to follow?

This is a stand alone feel good story. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick easy read that will fill you with thoughts of the Christmas holidays.

Christmas is coming fast for everyone in Harvest, Ohio, where the Englischers live peacefully amongst the Amish -- at least for the most part. But no one can dispute that Margo Rawlings wants the town to be the best, even if it means hounding poor Bailey with more work. But while Bailey steadfastly refuses to accept anything, telling Margot she has her hands full as it it, Charlotte finds herself offering to attach the notes to the candy canes so the volunteers can deliver them on Christmas Eve to their recipients.

The notes, which are meant to be small reminders of love or affection for someone else, are attached to the canes and given to them. People will put a dollar for the cane along with a note so the town can afford better costumes for the Living Nativity. Charlotte doesn't think it will be too much trouble for her, but when she finds a note addressed to herself, she's stunned and excited at the same time. She can't imagine anyone wanting to be with her, since she left her own district to live with her Cousin Clara, Bailey's grandmother. At twenty-two and still unbaptized, she hasn't made the decision whether she wants to join the Amish faith or not. This has caused a rift in her family, and even with some of the local Amish. But now she has another problem: who is the man who is sending her notes?

When Bailey's neighbor Abel Esh seems to know what's going on, Charlotte is disturbed and wonders if he's sending them as a prank to hurt her feelings. Determined to find out the truth, Charlotte, along with an elderly Amish man named Uriah who has a secret of his own, sets out to 'stakeout' the box where people are putting the money and notes for her to collect. But what she finds out isn't what she expects, and it could change her life forever...

This novella in the series is delightful in the fact that it's told from Charlotte's point of view. She takes center stage and does an admirable job of narrating the story. While it's not a murder mystery, there is definitely a mystery (or two) within, and Charlotte is trying to find out the truth of who is sending her notes of affection.

While this book can be read in an hour or two, it's a welcome relief from the world around us, and brings us closer to the holidays with a nice tale of how Harvest decorates for the Christmas season and Charlotte coming closer to making a decision about the direction her life will be going in the future. It also shows us a dark side of one of the inhabitants; but I can't say we didn't expect anything less of that person anyway.

In the end, everything comes together in a lovely Christmas package and it's a wonderful addition to the series. Highly recommended.

Charlotte is surprised (and more than a little pleased) to receive what's essentially a mash note among the notes she's agreed to attach to the candy canes for an exchange, She shines in this novella from the Amish Candy Shop series- fans will be pleased to get to know her a bit better AND this will make a nice introduction for those who haven't read the others. There's no murder here but Charlotte does help solve a mystery, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A pleasant read that has me eager for the next installment.

I love Christmas Stories and this one was no exception. It was also very interesting learning a little about how the Amish live. A delightful Christmas story that will warm your heart! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Candy Cane Crime
Amish Candy Shop Mystery, Book#5.5
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

A candy-striped caper . . .

Christmas is coming all too quickly for Harvest, Ohio’s famous chocolatier, Bailey King. Thanks to her new cable TV show, her shop has more candy orders than she can handle this holiday season. Fortunately, her beloved Cousin Charlotte is happy to take the Candy Cane Exchange off Bailey’s to-do list. After all, Charlotte has come to Harvest from her conservative home district to find her future outside of her family’s influence. What better way than by taking on the Englisch task of pairing the sweet notes everyone is exchanging with a peppermint treat, just in time for Christmas Eve delivery? But when Charlotte discovers some of those delicious missives are for her, suddenly she’s staking out the festive postbox, hoping to catch her secret admirer in his intriguing tracks . . .

When Charlotte sees something underhanded going on beneath the merrymaking, she enlists the help of Sheriff Deputy Luke Little to find out if her unknown correspondent is none other than the town’s biggest suspect. And the surprising truth about her suitor’s identity has her contemplating leaving her Amish roots behind forever . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Charlotte is still on her Rumspringa and has not made up her mind what she wants to do. When Margot needs help with the Candy Cane Exchange, Charlotte is happy to help. When she finds out that she has a secret admirer who is giving her candy cane. She does not know who is doing it and what it means. But she plans on finding out.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. There were a couple of mysteries for Charlotte to solve, although none involved a dead body.

I would recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Although it was short, it still had everything that I look for in a cozy mystery. And we even got to spend some time with Jethro, the pig.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Candy Cane Crime is a short novella, and book 5.5 of the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. It can easily be read on its own, however.

I loved this story by Amanda Flower. Bailey, the owner of the candy shop in Harvest Ohio, is too busy to take on running the town candy exchange, so her cousin Charlotte steps in and begins collecting the messages that will be attached to candy canes and delivered all over town. To Charlotte's amazement, some of the notes are addressed to her, and a sweet mystery begins. Who is sending the notes?

This story is short, but fun, and does what a Christmas story is supposed to do--it transports you instantly to the Christmas season, no matter what time of the year it might happen to be. It didn't bother me a bit that the mystery was easy to figure out because the book was so enjoyable. The town of Harvest is brimming with life and fun, and I definitely want to read the rest of the books in this series. And Jethro! I won't spoil it for you, but I loved Jethro.

I received a free copy of this story from Kensington Books via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

Amanda Flower's books are fun and easy reads. I really enjoy getting to know her characters. This tells the story from her cousin Charlotte's perspective. While a shorter novella, I was not disappointed in the storyline or character development. Not necessarily a murder mystery but finding out who is Charlotte's secret admirer added to the fun. I was happy to read this through Netgalley. A review was not required.

5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating
What a sweet little Christmas mystery/romance ! This one will leave you smiling and laughing. This is definitely a "feel good" Christmas read. But it's fun to read at anytime of year. I love reading Christmas books. This one brings us back to some familiar beloved characters but Bailey is usually the one to solve the crimes and this time, it's sweet Charlotte who works at the sweet shop who is searching for the answer to the "candy cane crime". While this is part of a series, it could easily be read as a standalone.
I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and the publishers, Kensington Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Amanda Flower and Kensington Books for the ARC of Candy Cane Crime. This is my personal review in exchange for this ARC.
Candy Cane Crime is the 5.5 book in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. This is a fabulous cozy mystery series to enjoy.
This story is a mystery to solve and not a murder.
Charlotte who is Bailey’s cousin has volunteered to handle the Candy Cane Exchange, a fundraiser to help fund the annual Christmas pageant. For one dollar, residents can write a note that is then put on a candy cane and that candy cane is delivered on Christmas Eve. When Charlotte was putting the notes on the candy canes, she discovers that some of the notes are for her. Charlotte now wants to find out who has written the notes for her.
It is a fun story and a very quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley.
This is a favorite series of mine and Charlotte is a favorite character, especially in her own novellas.
So it’s Christmas, Charlotte has a secret admirer, there is a little mystery, a little crime and an appearance by Jethro the pig. I also enjoyed seeing Millie the matchmaker and her secret admirer.
Short, cute, sweet holiday story. What more could you want.?

This is a well written book that was a joy to read. It has a mystery to solve and romance. It has just enough twists and turns to keep you turning the the pages. Come enjoy Christmas at Harvest, Ohio with this sweet book. This novella is the perfect length to curl up with after a long day. I loved it. Thank you Kensington Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

While Bailey is busy doing some promos in New York, cousin Charlotte is busy over-seeing the Candy Cane Exchange fundraiser. Definitely a story as sweet as a candy cane and with a little bit of mystery. No bodies or mayhem but there is conflict and Charlotte is left a little conflicted. A short story that will give you a little inside view of the Amish, or at least the Amish of Harvest, Ohio. No need to have read the other Amish Candy Shop stories to keep up with this one since it is from Charlotte's point of view and not Bailey's. It does introduce you to some of the main characters and a yummy recipe from Charlotte herself which will make a perfect little something to hand out to just about anyone who might have a sweet tooth. While this will hold me over until the New Year, I look forward to Bailey's next adventure.

This is a novella and the 6th or 5.5 in the series. The Christmas season is upon Harvest Ohio and organizer Margot is trying to tap Bailey King our favorite chocolatier to handle the candy cane exchange for charity. Bailey is giving Margot a firm no when Charlotte (Bailey’s cousin who is living with her Grandmother) steps up and agrees to help. Charlotte is Amish but not yet baptized in the faith. This gives her more leeway in what she can do as she is not fully Amish and not English. When Charlotte goes to the candy cane booth to pick up the notes that will need to be attached to the candy canes Bailey and everyone made for the fundraiser. When Charlotte takes out the notes she finds out addressed to herself from a secret admirer. Charlotte is not sure if her secret admirer is either English or Amish. She is checking the box multiple times and even gets teased by one Amish man the store’s neighbor who is very nasty and she is hoping he is not the one. The fundraiser is so popular she must go to local grocery store to get more candy canes and overhears some Amish women talking about her. Charlotte must soon choose Amish or English but will her secret admirer factor into her decision. The story is from Charlotte’s perspective and although no final decision is made you begin to think how she might decide. Cute and heartwarming story. Love this series.

This was the first book I had read in the Amish Candy Shop series. While there was no murder or major crime in this story, the plot centered around a secret admirer in the Candy Cane Exchange. I enjoyed this light hearted story which got me in the mood for Christmas. Parts of it were monotonous when Charlotte kept returning to the postbox to check for notes though. This is a series that I will be returning to when I need a feel-good mystery. I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Candy Cane Crime is Book 5.5 in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower.
I love that the story was told from Bailey's cousin Charlotte. Its really nice to learn more about her character. Charlotte is running the Candy Cane Exchange. There is a fun mystery here. This Novella is Christmas themed, but I would recommend reading it any time of the year.

This was a feel good story with a different type of mystery to solve that wasn't a murder, which was really well written.

I really enjoy this series and look forward to more by this author.

A sweet and easy read. I love that Amanda FLower is such a versatile author; that she can write multiple genres and still make them enjoyable. My complaint? This one felt incomplete and rushed (maybe because it's a novella) This book is 5.5 in the series and you definitely want to read the others before you read this one. It can be read as a standalone, but you will for sure understand everything better if read in order.

Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3548386154

Candy Cane Crime by Amanda Flower
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: October 6, 2020

To start with, isn't the cover just the cutest?!?!

Candy Cane Crime is book #5.5 in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series and is a novella. I have not read the other books in the series (yet!) and found it to be a great stand-alone story.

This was the sweetest Christmas story featuring Charlotte, a young woman with a big heart and a helper spirit. It is a quick read and a great introduction to the series!


I'm so grateful to Amanda Flower, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A novella is available wherever you download books right now to get you in the Christmas spirit. Amanda Flower brings back a side character from her Amish Candy Shop series to track down a candy cane mystery. While Charlotte has been helping her Englisch cousin, Bailey, with her candy shop, she gets to be in charge of the town's candy cane exchange, in which notes are exchanged with the canes and delivered. When Charlotte gets one herself signed from a secret admirer, she's determined to figure out just who it is. And while crime never seems far away from the sleepy town of Harvest, Charlotte just might find some Grinch-y behavior from a town member! This is a cute novella that is a perfect mix of cozy and holiday spirit with familiar characters.