Karen Rose SmithReseñas

Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith is the debut of A Tomes & Tea Mysteries. This series is a spin-off of A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries. I did not find myself liking Jazzi. She had a mother who loved her and supported her, but Jazzi does not seem to appreciate it. There is the implication that Jazzi has a strained relationship with her mother, but it is not explained. Jazzi wants to do things on her own (she makes that abundantly clear). The main characters need more development (need details on Jazzi for those who have not read A Daisy Tea Garden Mysteries). The pacing is slow which is due to the repetition and detailed descriptions. Character’s outfits are described in detail (especially the type of braid Jazzi was sporting that day) plus we get to learn about every plant Jazzi encounters. As expected, food and tea are itemized as well. I wanted more substance and less filler. Adoption and locating birth parents are a major part of the story, and it overwhelms the whodunit. Jazzi does some investigating by questioning the various men in the victim’s life. There is a good wrap up at the end. While Jazzi makes it abundantly clear that she is not ready for a romantic relationship (mentioned repeatedly), she interprets interactions with men as romantic interest. Jazzi will analyze her feelings for that person (does she like them, does that person have a crush on her, should she step back from this individual, etc.). I liked the community of Belltower Landing. It sounds like a charming town. The kittens are adorable, and we get to know all about them (how they look, their antics, what they eat, the bells on the door, and so much). As you can tell, Murder Marks the Page was not my cup of tea.

This spinoff series centers on Jazzi as the main protagonist. Now out of college and co-owner of a tea and book shop, Jazzi is determined to make it on her own. She and co-owner Dawn have to increase their business by drawing in more customers. They also adopt two homeless kittens who are sometimes a diversion from the endless brainstorming. Jazzi befriends a young woman who recently found her birth father. Jazzi, also adopted, shares her experiences in looking for her own birth parents. Just when she thinks she’ll have a new friend, Brie is murdered, and Jazzi finds herself, like her mom before her, involved in solving a murder. This is a nice follow up to Daisy’s Tea Garden mystery series. The characters are still growing and developing. The mystery was pretty good, although most of the story was about the characters themselves. It will be interesting to see where the author takes these characters, and if Jazzi’s family will play a part in future stories.

Daisy is busy with her upcoming wedding plans and with her daughter Jazzi who is going off to college as well as being on call to help out with her grandson Sammy. And, oh yes, she still runs a tea shop. Despite all this, she finds time to be a guest on Trevor’s crime podcast. A tip comes in with a clue to a cold case that is twenty years old. A teenager from their town disappeared one night and was never seen again. Did he run away or did he meet with foul play? Daisy gets drawn into the case when a man, possibly the tipster, is found murdered. The police ask for her unofficial help, and it leads her down a path that no one should take. After a slow start, this mystery picked up speed in a hurry. The conclusion of the story is both exciting, and then heartwarming. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here. These characters are delightful and likable. I would love to spend some time in a tea shop like Daisy’s.

Daisy hosts a delightful Alice in Wonderland tea event, but her pleasure is short lived when a friend of hers is murdered. She needs to find the killer for her own mental health, since she nearly was a victim, too. She also has other, more pleasant tasks to think about, like planning her own wedding. She is definitely being pulled in all directions, and it’s a wonder she doesn’t snap. This mystery is well written and quite gripping, but the author hasn’t neglected the family aspect in the telling of the story. These characters will seem like old friends to regular readers.

Daisy wants to get her boyfriend Jonas a special birthday gift, and goes to Rumple’s Statuary to get a dog statue. Little does she know that this trip will put her smack dab in the middle of a murder. Later, when Rumple is found dead, she has to tell all she knows about her visit and the strange little man who ran the shop. This mystery series is definitely getting better. This mystery is more intricate and intriguing, but the author still manages to entertain readers by keeping up with the characters’ ever-changing lives. It’s the best of both genres - mystery and romance.

Daisy is working a fundraiser for a homeless shelter that is disrupted by demonstrators. An accident at a fertility center also figures into the story, when the lawyer representing the clinic is murdered. The husband of a new friend is a person of interest, and Daisy is drawn into the murder, always wanting to help out her friends. It’s quite the intriguing mystery, but readers will still be entertained by Daisy’s family problems, and the new dog she and her boyfriend have adopted. This story is another fine installment in this delightful series.

Daisy is catering a high school get-together, and she is there when the body of an unpopular teacher is found in the swimming pool. Digging into the death, Daisy uncovers the not so surprising fact that the teacher had more enemies than friends. Now, she has to sort out the clues to find the killer. This sixth installment of the series continues the family life of the characters, which at times, is more interesting than the mystery, although both are entertaining. Read the series from the beginning to get the most enjoyment from the stories.

Daisy has a catering job to serve tea at a historic farmhouse, and is busy making the guests happy, but the grim reaper has other ideas and serves up a corpse as dessert. Daisy finds hostess dead and covered with clotted cream. Of course, Daisy is intrigued and caught up in the mystery. Her family problems might be put on hold for a bit while she delves into the murder. As usual, it’s an entertaining and well written story, and the family aspect continues to be interesting as the characters grow and their lives change.

Daisy is busy helping her daughter plan her wedding, but she never too busy to help a homeless man and his young daughter. When a man is murdered, this man comes under suspicion, but Daisy believes him to be innocent. Her dogged determination to gather proof is almost her undoing. It’s a clever mystery, and quite intriguing. And the problems that Daisy has to deal with her daughters just adds to the reality of the story as well as adding interest.

It’s never good when your food is connected to a death, especially when you are in the food service business. This is the unhappy position that Daisy unfortunately finds herself in, as she struggles to clear her name and save the reputation of her tea shop. The mystery is quite good, and the family drama as Daisy’s adopted daughter attempts to get to know her birth mother is equally entertaining. Well written with interesting characters, this series is a hit.

3.5-3.75 Stars.
The first novel in a Daisy Tea Garden spinoff series featuring Daisy's adopted daughter, Jazzi. The MC is the co-owner of a quaint bookshop (with tea) in a small lakeside tourist community. The quirky but loveable supporting characters and the well-written mystery storyline are what will keep readers coming back. A couple of chapters dragged a little for me because of the time that was dedicated to the internal struggle with a few topics (relationship with her mother and her issues with dating). I think it was because I am able to relate more to the mom series. This may be for a younger cozy reader audience, say mid-twenty somethings (especially those who like paddleboarding or biking). Coming-of-age fiction meets cozy mystery. I did enjoy it enough to definitely give the next book in the series a try!

Net Galley Feedback½

Daisy finds herself up to her tea leaves in trouble in this cozy. One of her employees, Tessa, is dating Reese, the owner of an art gallery. But the relationship seems to be going nowhere, and a public argument the two had turns the tide against Tessa when Reese is murdered. After some digging, Daisy discovers some secrets that Reese had been keeping, as well as some other problems in his life. It's Reese’s complicated past that affects the future of so many people. A well-written mystery with equally well-developed characters, this second installment in the series holds the promise of even better books to come.

new-series, first-in-series, bookseller, tea-shop, adopted, small-town, small-business, New-York-state, cozy-mystery, recipes, families, family-dynamics, amateur-sleuth, murder, investigation, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip****

The story is a good one, but the writing is a bit disjointed at times. But. This is only book one and books usually get better as the series progresses, so the next one will be great (I believe). The publisher's blurb is unusually good, so there's no need to repeat it, and spoilers are just wrong. I did enjoy it and am looking forward to the next in this series.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 6 Mar 2024 #TomesAndTeaMysteriesBkONE

tea-shop, small-town, small-business, wedding, family, family-dynamics, friendship, friends, series, amateur-sleuth, ex-cop, cozy-mystery, Pennsylvania, pets, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, recipes, suspense, woodworker, local-law-enforcement, murder-investigation, murder, Amish, podcaster, cold-case, disappearance*****

First there was an anonymous tip to the podcaster regarding an antique trunk with revelations in it about a cold case murder. Then there were attempted robberies and a current murder. All this plus the countdown to her wedding, helping her friends' families, both Amish and Englisher. Daisy is an Englisher in an Amish neighborhood, has many friends, both Amish and Englisher, an ex-cop/woodworker for a boyfriend, and operates a tea shop in their small town.
Good sleuthing with interesting twists and red herrings. Nice addition to a fine series. This is not an unbiased review because I love this series!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

4.5 Stars
One of the best cozy mystery authors and series out depending on your cup of tea,, especially considering the elegant flow of the writing. This latest addition is spot-on in continuing a wonderful series. Adorable tearoom and town setting and mostly likable characters, some with extremely realistic issues,. Delicious recipes at the end as always too. Wished there was a little more regarding the town event,but overall, if you like the quintessential cozy mystery, this novel is for you

Net Galley Feedback½

Terrific start to the series. After her husband died, Daisy and her two daughters moved home to Willow Creek, a community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania's Amish country. She and her Aunt Iris started Daisy's Tea Garden, a tea shop that serves soups, scones, and tea to locals and tourists. Things are going well for Daisy: the shop is thriving, and her daughters Violet and Jazzi are settled, with Violet recently off to college. She's a little worried about Iris, who is dating wealthy and not-quite-divorced men's shop owner Harvey Fitz. Then Harvey is found murdered in the tea shop's garden, and Iris is at the top of Detective Rappaport's suspect list.

I enjoyed seeing Daisy get involved in attempting to clear Iris's name. Her work is cut out for her, as the detective indicates that he believes Iris is the killer. She has plenty of suspects to choose from, whether it's Harvey's soon-to-be-ex, his possibly disinherited children, or one of several business rivals. The mystery was well done, as it kept me guessing who did it until the end. The final confrontation was intense, with Iris and Daisy surprised by the killer. The takedown was fantastic - I loved how Iris and Daisy kept their wits about them and saved themselves with a little bit of outside help.

I enjoyed the variety of characters. Daisy's family love each other but have their own personalities. Iris and Daisy's mother, Rose, are sisters who don't always get along. Rose can be a bit judgmental, which puts her at odds sometimes with others. Iris is sweet and well-liked by the guests at the tea shop but shows a feisty side when she gets riled up. I liked Daisy's daughters, Violet and Jazzi. Violet is away at college though we see some of her at the end. Jazzi is involved in a secondary storyline as she expresses her desire to find her birth mother. I liked how Daisy handled this issue.

Outside the family, we meet the tea garden employees, other business owners, and two intriguing men. I enjoyed the various employees who have unique personalities and stories of their own. I enjoyed Tessa, one of Daisy's friends and baking assistant. Tessa is also an artist, and I liked the scene of her gallery show and getting to know that side of her. Her new employee, Foster, is an interesting young man. I loved how easily he fit in and seeing his ideas for the tea shop.

There is a hint of romance running through the book. Cade, one of Daisy's high school classmates, appears to be interested in her. He's a nice guy, though he tends to be cautious. His warnings against investigating irritate Daisy though it doesn't stop her from going out with him. Jonas is new to Willow Creek. A former police detective, now a furniture maker and store owner, is often on the spot when Daisy runs into trouble. He is sweet and attentive, and I loved how he helped Daisy, Iris, and Jazzi. Daisy is a little surprised by the feelings he sparks in her. I look forward to future books and seeing what happens with both men.

The descriptions of the tea shop, the teas, and the food made me feel like I was there. As a tea drinker myself, I would love to pop in at Daisy's and enjoy a cuppa and a lemon tea cake or cinnamon scone.

Daisy Swanson is one of 4 members on a committee from the Chamber of Commerce group to finalize preparations for a Quilt Lovers Weekend. All merchants are hoping to attract residents and draw tourists to enjoy the festivities and plan future visits. Sadly, the loss of Reese Masemer, owner of Revelations Art Gallery, has cast shadows over the weekend and suspicion hovering over his girlfriend, Tessa Miller.

Even though I prefer iced tea to any flavor of hot tea, I love visiting tea rooms in cozy mystery settings. Daisy’s Tea Garden offers an extra sweet treat for me as the author has created a lovely small town of Willow Creek within Pennsylvania, a state that has a special place in my heart for so many reasons. As I’ve often enjoyed visits with family and friends and visited small towns in Lancaster County, it is easy to imagine the tea garden's warmth, friendship, aromatic pleasure, and flavorful menu options. It would be a delight to meet and talk with Daisy and Aunt Iris and maybe even have the opportunity for time with Tessa and Foster, employees at the tea garden.

Former detectives from Pittsburgh PD and Philly (Philadephia) PD, residents in Willow Creek, have key roles as business owners and in Daisy’s life. I also love the generational relationships in the storyline—a well-crafted mystery for armchair sleuths with intriguing twists.

Recipes for Daisy’s Cinnamon Scones, Beef Barley Soup, and Lemon-Pepper Tomato Mozzarella Salad are provided at the end of the cozy.

For your 1st visit to Daisy’s Tea Garden, I suggest you order Lemon Tea Cakes and Cinnamon Scones for your 2nd visit. The next time I visit this charming tea room, I’ll order Cucumber Sandwiches. If you’ve read the series, you remember the charming venue. If my review is your introduction, I hope you enjoy the books and cozy moments as much as I do!

Masked protesters interrupt a fundraiser where Daisy Swanson, owner of Daisy’s Tea Garden is serving up her orange pekoe teal along with tasty goodies. The fundraiser is for building a homeless shelter, but the protesters aren’t in favour of it. This is just the beginning…

Next came work Hiram Hershberger was dead. “Natural causes” was the reason, but it didn’t ring true. He was perfectly healthy a day or two before. Further inspection of his body found burn marks, as if someone used a stun gun on him! There was also a cup of tea on his desk with a tea bag from Daisy’s shop. Poisoning? This brings Daisy into the hunt, as she knows her tea wasn’t poison.

In sleuthing for clues to solve the case, Daisy finds out Hiram is representing the local fertility clinic in a case where it is being sued for the loss of some clients’ stored sperm. Talk about a list of possible suspects!

Daisy’s curiosity gets the better of her and she knows she’ll be able to find who the killer is. This puts her in some not so safe situations.

A fun, cozy read in this series. It’s a series that includes recipes for some of the goodies mentioned in the story.

Daisy Swanson, co-owner of Daisy's Tea Garden, is as busy as ever - helping her daughter's family move to their new home, Alice in Wonderland Tea, family celebrations as well as setting the date for her own nuptials. However, a new item is drop on her plate when she discovers a friend dead on the hiking trail, just where she was supposed to be. Apparently a hit and run, but was it?

Daisy needs to find out why her friend was killed and was she a target too?

I love this series not just for the mysteries which are so entertaining, but because the characters seem so real and the food sounds so good!½

This book is one of the best cozy mystery novels I've read in recent years and my first Amish cozy mystery. It did not disappoint and even though this work is #9 in a series, I had no issue whatsoever reading it as a stand-alone. Endearing and complex characters, enchanting settings, and some yummy recipes included at the end. It's a quick and easy lighthearted read and I look forward to reading all of the books in the series.

Net Galley Feedback

This book, wow I truly hated it. I am not going to leave a star rating because that seems unfair because I was always going to dislike this book. I do not read romance novels, moreover I don't even like romances when they come up in books as a side plot usually. So, why did I read this book you ask, well when your friend looks at you with her big green eyes and asks how far you are in this book you both bought as a joke for like 3.99, her face all eagerness, you just have to read it. I will refrain from that star rating because I don't think it is fair to knock a book that I was always going to dislike no matter how well written it was, and this is not one of those well written books out there. And maybe I am merely just one of the uninitiated and I don't understand that romance novels are just supposed to be painful and poorly-written, and if that is the case I would say 10/10 would recommend.

cozy-mystery, Pennsylvania, pets, relationships, twins, sisters, amateur-sleuth, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, lawyers, small-business, small-town, family, family-dynamics, family-drama, friendship, ex-cop, woodworker, pet-dog, PTSD, Amish, suspense, recipes *****

Daisy is an Englisher in an Amish neighborhood, has many friends, both Amish and Englisher, an ex-cop/woodworker for a boyfriend, and operates a tea shop in their small town.
Although Daisy has done sleuthing on a murder case before, this time she finds the bloody body of a friend and it is devastating to her. All this plus planning her wedding and helping her friends' families, both Amish and Englisher.
Good sleuthing with interesting twists and red herrings. Nice addition to a fine series.
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

Daisy Swanson is the co-owner, with her aunt Iris, of Daisy’s Tea Garden in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania.

She has been asked to cater an event at the high school after a concert. While meeting with the staff, she finds there seems to be some friction among the staff. The person causing it is Althea Higgins.

Althea is an older teacher who has been at the school for a very long time. She is also outspoken with her opinions of the staff and the running of the school. These qualities have not endeared her to anyone.

During the event, Althea is found floating in the school pool with a rope around her neck.

Daisy, and her curiosity, wind up getting involved in finding the murder and the why of Althea’s death. It is a trail that reveals much about Althea’s life, and the large number of suspects who may be the murderer.

Baking and brewing her way through the investigating of this murder keeps Daisy busy. Also her family responsibilities and her love interest.

A fun, cozy, romantic mystery series set in the Amish area of Pennsylvania.

It was pretty predictable and not many of the characters were very likeable, even the main couple.

Daisy Swanson and her Aunt Iris opened Daisy’s Tea Garden as partners offering soup, baked goods, and various teas and catering special events. Daisy moved to Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, after the loss of her husband. She has one teenage daughter in high school and one daughter in her 1st semester at college. Aunt Iris has never married but enjoys an excellent relationship with another local entrepreneur. They’re both looking forward to the next step in their relationship after his divorce is final. No one envisioned the next step would be fatal instead of a new beginning.

It was so refreshing to enjoy a cozy where relatives are partners bringing the joy and diversity of generational relationships to the storyline rather than a new beginning in a woman’s life from life insurance or inheritance.

I love armchair travels with novels, but there is also something delightfully heartwarming reading about a small town an author has created within a state you know extensively. The inclusion of a well-known university, sports team, tourism, and surrounding town names to name a few, were seamlessly weaved into the setting and surrounding area and/or lives of the characters. I particularly enjoyed that the current town detective was formerly from Pittsburgh PD, and a fellow business owner that offers Daisy a listening ear and advice is a former Philly (Philadelphia) detective.

Menu items that sounded so tempting when offered in the tea garden will delight readers viewing the recipes at the end of the book.