Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Helpful Score: 2
Murder with Cinnamon Scones is the second installment in the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series set in the small town of Willow Creek, PA and featuring Daisy Swanson, co-owner of Daisy's Tea Garden. Daisy is adjusting to daughter, Jazzi wanting to connect with her birth mother Portia and to the idea that daughter, Vi who is away at college seems to be falling for Tea Garden employee Foster Cranshaw.
Daisy's best friend and fellow Tea Garden worker, Tessa Miller has been dating Reese Masemer, owner of the local Revelations Art Gallery. With the town readying for the upcoming Quilt Lover's Weekend, Tessa invites Daisy to visit the gallery to see the quilts that will be on display. Thinking Reese is away on business, the ladies are startled to hear him moving around in his upstairs apartment. Not long after Daisy and Tess leave, the security alarm from the gallery starts blaring and rushing back they discover Reese stumbling around an apparent victim of an attack. It's only a few days later when Reese's body is discovered out by the old covered bridge, the place where Tessa has been doing a series of sketches and paintings. Tessa immediately becomes the prime suspect in the murder. With Reese's assistant, the jealous Chloe pointing fingers, the police learning that Tessa has been named the executor of Reese's estate, and the arrival of Reese's ex wife and estranged son, Daisy realizes she has no choice but to try and clear her friends name.
With the help of old high school chum and real estate agent, Cade Bankert and Jonas Groft, a retired police detective, Daisy soon discovers that something evil is steeping in the tranquil Amish countryside.
A well crafted plot with delightful characters, Karen Rose Smith pens a story that transports you right into the heart of Willow Creek. With just the right touch of romance and a sensitive approach to issues troubling today's society, this series is perfect.
Daisy's best friend and fellow Tea Garden worker, Tessa Miller has been dating Reese Masemer, owner of the local Revelations Art Gallery. With the town readying for the upcoming Quilt Lover's Weekend, Tessa invites Daisy to visit the gallery to see the quilts that will be on display. Thinking Reese is away on business, the ladies are startled to hear him moving around in his upstairs apartment. Not long after Daisy and Tess leave, the security alarm from the gallery starts blaring and rushing back they discover Reese stumbling around an apparent victim of an attack. It's only a few days later when Reese's body is discovered out by the old covered bridge, the place where Tessa has been doing a series of sketches and paintings. Tessa immediately becomes the prime suspect in the murder. With Reese's assistant, the jealous Chloe pointing fingers, the police learning that Tessa has been named the executor of Reese's estate, and the arrival of Reese's ex wife and estranged son, Daisy realizes she has no choice but to try and clear her friends name.
With the help of old high school chum and real estate agent, Cade Bankert and Jonas Groft, a retired police detective, Daisy soon discovers that something evil is steeping in the tranquil Amish countryside.
A well crafted plot with delightful characters, Karen Rose Smith pens a story that transports you right into the heart of Willow Creek. With just the right touch of romance and a sensitive approach to issues troubling today's society, this series is perfect.
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Helpful Score: 1
Good story, didn't guess who the culprit was. Fun characters, good location and very cozy. Love the cats with spice names and the flower names for the family. Great addition to the series, look forward to number 3.
Kristina A. reviewed Murder with Cinnamon Scones (Daisy's Tea Garden, Bk 2) on + 1528 more book reviews
Murder with Cinnamon Scones by Karen Rose Smith is the second book in A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series. Daisy Swanson co-owns Daisy's Tea Garden with her Aunt Iris in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. The town is getting ready for Quilt Lovers Weekend in three weeks. Daisy has been working with Reese Masemer, owner of Revelations Art Gallery and Tessa's boyfriend, on the preparations. Unfortunately, Reese will not get to enjoy the fruits of his labors. He is found dead in the woods near the covered bridge and Tessa finds herself at the top of the suspect list. Matters are not helped when Chloie Laird, Reese's attractive assistant, openly accuses Tessa of the crime at the tea shop. Knowing that Tessa did not commit the crime, Daisy takes a deep dive into Reese's life. It seems that Reese had some secrets and one of them could have gotten him killed.
Murder with Cinnamon Scones is well-written and has steady pacing. There is a lovely cast of characters and a charming town. Daisy is friendly, smart main character who is moving on with her life after the death of her husband. I think she is handling her adopted daughter's (Jazzi) search for her biological mother very well. It is sensitive issue that the author handled thoughtfully. Daisy has starting dating Jonas Graft, but their path is bumpy. I could have done with less romance and more mystery. I prefer a romance that plays out slowly in the background. There are beautiful quilt descriptions in the book especially of the Baltimore Album Quilt. There are many cozy moments with cooking, baking, eating, tea events, family time, town events, quilting plus more. I especially like that Daisy and her kids live in a converted barn. Foster Crenshaw's father is worried about him working at the tea garden and his relationship with Daisy's daughter, Violet. Mr. Crenshaw does not want Foster's college plans derailed. The mystery had some good components, a couple of suspects and misdirection. I am not a fan of Detective Morris Rappaport who is a cliché cozy mystery detective. Murder with Cinnamon Scones can be read alone if you have not had the opportunity to pick up Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes. I am rating Murder with Cinnamon Scones 4 out of 5 stars. I thought Murder with Cinnamon Scones was an engaging cozy mystery that will delight readers of this genre and Karen Rose Smith.
Murder with Cinnamon Scones is well-written and has steady pacing. There is a lovely cast of characters and a charming town. Daisy is friendly, smart main character who is moving on with her life after the death of her husband. I think she is handling her adopted daughter's (Jazzi) search for her biological mother very well. It is sensitive issue that the author handled thoughtfully. Daisy has starting dating Jonas Graft, but their path is bumpy. I could have done with less romance and more mystery. I prefer a romance that plays out slowly in the background. There are beautiful quilt descriptions in the book especially of the Baltimore Album Quilt. There are many cozy moments with cooking, baking, eating, tea events, family time, town events, quilting plus more. I especially like that Daisy and her kids live in a converted barn. Foster Crenshaw's father is worried about him working at the tea garden and his relationship with Daisy's daughter, Violet. Mr. Crenshaw does not want Foster's college plans derailed. The mystery had some good components, a couple of suspects and misdirection. I am not a fan of Detective Morris Rappaport who is a cliché cozy mystery detective. Murder with Cinnamon Scones can be read alone if you have not had the opportunity to pick up Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes. I am rating Murder with Cinnamon Scones 4 out of 5 stars. I thought Murder with Cinnamon Scones was an engaging cozy mystery that will delight readers of this genre and Karen Rose Smith.
