Murder with Cherry Tarts is book four of the Daisy’s Tea Garden #cozymysteryseries by Karen Rose Smith. It was the book I chose to read for week seven of our #cozymystery #bookbingo which was read a tea themed cozy mystery.

Don’t let the cute tea treat named books fool you that this is a fluffy series. In book four we have the continued story of an unplanned pregnancy, rushed wedding planning, homelessness of a parent and child, adoption growth pains of creating a relationship with a birth parent, love after loss, and old family hurts.

I happen to really enjoy this series because it reads like a family drama you would watch weekly. The flow of the stories is fantastic. I also enjoy that it is Amish adjacent.

I listened to the audiobook as that is the only version my library has and while the narrator is great I miss not getting the extras at the end like the recipes. The food mentioned always sounds so delectable.

The tea pot pictured is one of my very favorites my mama got me as a housewarming present almost 19 years ago. It’s almost too delicate for me. 🤣

I had heard of Ruth Reichl mentioned many times watching food shows but did not know much of her written work. When this book first published last year I remember snagging it off the library shelf and utterly disappointed that it did not interest me. Fast forward to last week and I feel in love with the book immediately. It goes to show that you should give certain books a second chance as you might fall in love the second time around.

The Paris Novel is set in the 1980s first in NYC then Paris. After the death of her mother, Stella finds herself a little adrift until her mother’s lawyer states her mother left her with a plane ticket to Paris. Stella is unsure but uses the encouragement from her boss and takes a leap of faith. One that broadens her horizons and allows love to find a way in.

I have no desire to physically visit Paris but I do love to read about the bookshops and restaurants. The much younger me would have jumped at the chance to live in a bookshop. I would have made a great Tumbleweed. The food descriptions will make your mouth water. What an amazing gift to look at many different ingredients and come up with a new recipe.

This book will draw you in slowly but engulf you with all your senses.

I think I have found a new series to possible binge. I was worried it might be too heavy of a political cozy but it wasn’t. Just enough intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Olivia aka Ollie is an assistant chef at The White House and is vying for a chance to become the executive chef as her mentor retires. While attending to an errand for the retiree she runs into some trouble or maybe the trouble runs into her. As she finds herself embedded into a political mystery she is also trying to impress the powers to be that she can handle the executive chef position. Will she survive? Turn the pages to find out.

Ollie is a little dynamo that can wield a gun as well as she can a spatula. Her romance with Tom seems like it could be fireworks of good and bad. I can’t wait to see how the series develops.

Yummy recipes are included in the book.

Let me start this review with this warning: you will want to throw this book across the room many, many times.

Beth has spent her life being the older sister who feels like she has to protect and take care of her younger brother Rick. This has followed them long into adulthood. She gave up her culinary dreams to put him through medical school. Her love life is nonexistent after a divorce from a man that she really wasn’t compatible with. Her friends are mainly the people she works with until one fateful day while volunteering at a local food bank and she meets Jana.

Jana is a single mom who is working towards nursing school. She lives with her widowed brother and his three kids. Pretty soon everyone’s lives are entangled and happy until Beth spies Rick in a comprising position.

Rick is the reason you will want to throw the book. I can’t say much because it will take away from your reading but AARGH! Rick is an A$$! I have read characters who make me mad but this guy infuriated me. I actually yelled him while reading.

This is the perfect book to start your beach/summer reading experience.

A wonderful story about second chances in life, love, and family. We all need a second chance at one time or another. Are you willing to give second chances? I like to think I do but I know I’m not as gracious with my feelings as Hope and Amos.

Hope needed to get her three boys out of Lancaster, PA so she bought a home sight unseen in Shipshewana, IN. The home was not as expected but she turned the other cheek and made the best of the situation. Her middle son was not as willing and quickly returned to his bad habits.

Amos, the local operator of the famous flea market, took a chance on hiring both Hope and her troubled son. As the days go on Amos finds himself with feelings towards Hope.

Can Amos save Hope’s son and find a new love or will he have to choose?

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Indiana Amish Market series. Shipshewana is a favorite vacation destination for me so I love being able to picture the places as I read them. Definitely visit JoJo’s pretzels if you find yourself in Shipshe.

Monica is back in action sleuthing the town after having baby Teddy.

The book opens with Monica’s brother, Jeff, marrying Lauren. Towards the end of the reception a woman is found deceased in the porta potty. Who is the woman and how did she die? Monica finds clues as she navigates new motherhood.

I enjoyed the mystery but it wasn’t as attention grabbing as the books before in the series. I’m sure it is just me as I usually view the character in a much different light when they start becoming new mothers. In my mind I would think they would be less likely to put themselves in danger.

I will continue the series if more are written. A cranberry bread recipe is included in the book.

I didn’t expect that ending. Based on the first chapter I read the entire book from a different point of view.

After a shocking revelation, pregnant Teegan, decides to visit her brother at a ski resort in Maine. The drive turns snowy and treacherous. She finds herself in a precarious situation and is unable to help herself or determine who to trust. Will she and her unborn baby survive?

No matter how many Frieda McFadden books I read I am still shocked at some point.

Countess Frances finds herself involved in another murder mystery this time involving her cousin and friend. Most of London retires to the countryside in the heat of August but Frances decides to stay in town with her visiting sister and in the process with the help of her sister she also finds out who is writing the scandalous gossip column that everyone is talking about. Could you imagine such a column today? Maybe that is what Facebook is now. Hmm…

This book opens with a tidbit of shocking news that I was not expecting. Very interesting indeed. If you haven’t read book one then you won’t quite understand the shock.

Again, I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a superb job of making all the characters come to life and feel unique.

A good start to a new to me series but not a favorite. I’m holding off to say it’s not for me if I get a chance to read the second book. I listened to the audiobook for this one and it didn’t grasp me.

I did enjoy the dynamics between Felicity and her mom.

I laughed my way through this book from the beginning. Lucy knows how to make you forget the real world within a paragraph. 

Once top of the world romance novelist, Hazel, finds herself at the bottom and struggling. In an impulse she buys a house in Pennsylvania sight unseen. Starting with her dramatic entrance to Story Lake she finds more love than she ever dreamed in Campbell. Is Campbell the fix to her writing and her love life?

Be prepared to laugh so hard you may hyperventilate. I can’t pick a favorite character there are so many wonderful ones. Bertha the raccoon gives Goose the Eagle a run for his money. I hope they continue to make appearances in the next Story Lake book. 

This is not a clean romance. It does have spice but not overly done. There is cursing but it doesn’t distract from the story. 

Eagerly awaiting book two.