Tag: small amish town kansas

A Murder of Aspic Proportions review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Sunflower Café Mysteries by Amy Lillard who also wrote the fairly recent cozy mystery Main Street Book Club Mysteries. These are the only two series of hers that I’m familiar with, but I’m interested in reading her Amish Mysteries as well. I’d really enjoyed the book club series and its characters, and I’m finding this series lotsa fun too as I’m getting more familiar with the various characters. Sissy’s little dog Rocky cracks me up! He’s tiny (Bethel also cracks me up calling him a rat dog but I can tell she means it fondly) but like all small dogs, he seems to believe he’s a giant and needs to live up to his name lol.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #AmyLillard

My Goodreads review:

A Murder of Aspic Proportions (A Sunflower Café Mystery, #2)A Murder of Aspic Proportions by Amy Lillard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sissy had a super unlikely sleuthing buddy in this case where her Amish cousin had confessed to a murder everyone knew she didn’t commit. She and Aunt Bethel set out to find the real killer knowing there’s no way Emma did this. Bethel surprised me by initiating trips to either visit Emma in jail or talking to possible suspects. And that little stinker Bethel’s secretly a fan of Agent Gibbs, who knew? I’m betting there’s lots of secrets we don’t know about this mysterious little woman who I’m pretty sure Sissy wishes was a teeny bit more loving.

The showdown was almost funny in parts, you’ll see when you read it. Sissy had a side story going on concerning a new hot guy in town, but I’m pretty sure nothing’s gonna come of that. She’s not even sure if she thinks of Gavin in that way. At least he’s a good friend to her which is what she needed still being fairly new to the town. I think it’s pretty cool though how Sissy found all these people she’s related to and really took to them and enjoyed their get-togethers. I’m definitely hoping another book comes out! It’s available Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Dairy, Dairy Quite Contrary review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new cozy series, the Sunflower Café Mysteries by Amy Lillard. I’m sorry I can’t link the series name, but Goodreads apparently doesn’t have that feature on some of the newer listings unfortunately. Amy Lillard also wrote The Main Street Book Club Mysteries, yes I can link that because it’s done the good old way on Goodreads, lol. Her other books appear to be some Amish romances, so I have every confidence that she’ll bring Sissy and Gavin together in this cozy mystery as well.

Isn’t that cover just the cutest? Little Duke looks worried like he’s hoping no one thinks he broke that milk bottle!

#KensingtonCozies  #AmyLillard  #NetGalley

My Goodreads review:

Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary (A Sunflower Café Mystery #1)Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary by Amy Lillard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sissy Yoder’s definitely a different type main character than most cozies have since she came from her big city job to her aunt’s café, but not just any old café. This one’s Amish and run by her Amish Aunt Bethel who sure didn’t seem welcoming like we always hear the plain people are. But we did get to see a crack or two in her grumpy veneer, and I’m thinking maybe Sissy might just win over this disgruntled little woman, maybe not in this book but sometime. I especially got a kick out of a comment Bethel made about the lake!

I liked when Sissy sleuthed with Gavin. They made a nice investigating team and if Sissy’d just admit he’s nice to hang out with, I have every faith in the author to make them a couple eventually. 😉 And Gavin liked little Duke pup, so that counts a lot in saying he’s an awesome guy. I enjoyed Sissy’s visits with her cousin Lizzie who despite being Amish and on bedrest carrying twins had her finger on the gossip pulse of the town.

By the time the showdown rolled around, I was leaning heavily toward the person whodunit and I was right. At least Sissy wasn’t in any danger, and now Sheriff Earl could stop watching her and making her feel guilty, lol. I’m really looking forward to the next book to see that hopefully Lizzie’s given birth and maybe just maybe Aunt Bethel might crack a smile!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

View all my reviews