Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes

Written by Karen Rose Smith

Narrated by C. S. E. Cooney

Daisy, a widowed mom of two teenagers, is used to feeling protective-so when Iris started dating the wealthy and not-quite-divorced Harvey Fitz, she worried . . . especially after his bitter ex stormed in and caused a scene at the party Daisy's Tea Garden was catering. Then there was the gossip she overheard about Harvey's grown children being cut out of his will. Daisy didn't want her aunt to wind up with a broken heart-but she never expected Iris to wind up a suspect in Harvey's murder.

Now the apple bread and orange pekoe is on the back burner while the cops treat the shop like a crime scene-and Daisy hopes that Jonas Groft, a former detective from Philadelphia, can help her clear her aunt's name and bag the real killer before things boil over . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Dec 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781541488052

Karen Rose Smith

Award-winning author Karen Rose Smith lives in Pennsylvania and has sold over 80 novels since 1991. Her romances have made both the USA TODAY list and the Amazon Contemporary Romance Bestseller list. Believing in the power of love, she envisions herself writing relationship novels and mysteries for a long time to come! Readers can e-mail Karen at www.karenrosesmith.com or follow her on Twitter @karenrosesmith and on Facebook.

Reviews for Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[tututhefirst_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like cozies, particularly in audio, but this one is just so so. Plot is hard to follow, and the narrator's peculiar accent drove me nuts. Won't be reading the rest of the series unless different narrator.

[joannefm2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

After her husband's untimely death, Daisy moved with her two daughters from Florida back to Pennsylvania to open a tea shop with her aunt Iris. With her oldest daughter Violet at college she knows something is bothering her youngest daughter Jazzi but isn't sure what it is. But that has to be on the back burner because she's more worried about Iris, who seems totally in love with a married - but separated - man who owns a mens' clothing store.She's also hosting his twenty-fifth store anniversary at her shop while going through his divorce. It's not pleasant when his almost ex-wife shows up demanding more from the divorce than he's already given her. When she's escorted out, everything seems to go back to normal. But then Harvey is found dead, and Iris is the main suspect. Now Daisy's determined to prove her aunt innocent, but that means finding a killer - who doesn't want to be found...Since I've read Ms. Smith's other series and it was fine as far as easy reads go (until the final book, which I felt was too full of unicorns and rainbows) I thought I would give this one a try. Now I wish I'd read something else. The book was all over the place.First, we're given descriptions of everything people are eating, and honestly, we really don't care. We don't care about the menu the tea room is serving every day. I'm just surprised they don't serve a traditional tea room menu, which certainly doesn't consist of soup or salad. It's things like scones, finger sandwiches. tarts, cakes, etc. - but not soup or salad. In fact, I don't know anyone who has soup and salad with hot tea. It seems very odd to me. Oh, well, to each his own.Then, the story line seems not to be centered on the murder, but on Daisy's relationship with her daughters. She misses her older daughter and now, for some odd reason, her fifteen-year-old has decided to look for her birth mother. The reasoning didn't make sense to me, and it really took away a lot of time from the murder investigation.I basically skimmed through the book because the plot line wasn't that interesting. The conversations were rudimentary and it was almost as if the author didn't want the characters to feel any real emotion. It felt as if everyone were just walking through their scenes. Just like the previous series, this one is more family-based than mystery. What I mean by that is they're written more about the family life of the characters and the mystery seems almost as an afterthought - just something to pass the time while we decide what the family unit is going to do next. This one is no different. If you want a story about a widow with two daughters and her coping with life without her husband, this is for you. If you're looking for a murder mystery you can sink your teeth into, you might want to pass.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daisy, a widowed mom of two teens, owns and runs a tea shop with her Aunt Iris. Iris is getting serious about a wealthy businessman who is not quite divorced. Daisy wonders if her aunt is rushing into something she shouldn’t, as Harvey comes with a lot of baggage: an angry almost ex-wife and two grown kids who feel entitled to everything they want. When Harvey turns up murdered in the tea garden, Iris and Daisy are prime suspects. This cozy has a lot going for it, including secondary storylines that are quite interesting in their own right. Author Karen Rose Smith has done a great job in creating a cast of interesting characters whose variety adds much enjoyment to this new series.

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in a new series by Karen Rose Smith and I enjoyed it. It takes place in a small town with Daisy as the main character. Daisy has returned to her hometown after the death of her husband. She and her two daughters are living in a renovated barn and she and her Aunt Ivy have started a business. Purchasing an old Victorian home, they have opened The Tea Garden. All is going well until Harvey, Ivy's boyfriend, is found dead, bludgeoned in their back garden. Of course, Ivy is a suspect and Daisy is determined to do what she can to get her aunt off the suspect list.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Daisy is a strong, loving person who is dedicated to her family and business. She is smart and is beginning to open up to the idea of having a man in her life once again. Daisy is not the typical sleuth I have come to expect in a cozy. She does not outright investigate, but does ask poignant questions and meet people who might have information about the crime. Her family plays an important role in the story with both background, filling out her character and the main plot of the story. There are a couple of men in the story that look like romantic interests and I am looking forward to seeing where this leads in upcoming books in this series. The police detective is a crochety guy who reminds me of the television detectives who latch onto someone and will not let it go. I always enjoy a cozy mystery that has food and family as part of the story. The mystery was solid and clues were spread out through the story. There were some red herrings and I did not figure out who the killer was until it was obvious at the end of the story. throughout the story. I think fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this series. I have read other books written by Karen Rose Smith and this one did not disappoint. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Daisy and her aunt Iris co-own a tea shop with delightful teas and pastries in Willow Creek, somewhere in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. It's a good start to a series. When the owner of a men's clothing store who has been dating Iris while divorcing his wife turns up dead on the shop's patio, suspicion turns to Iris. Daisy is determined to see her aunt's name cleared. She does that with the help of Jonas, a retired policeman who owns a nearby shop, and to whom Daisy is attracted. In another story line, Jonas helps Daisy's adopted daughter Jazzi find her birth mother. The main characters are developed pretty well and enjoyable. I figured out the guilty party fairly early, but that's not all that unusual. It did not hold my attention quite as much as some mysteries, and I'm not sure if it was because of how busy my life was or because of a flaw in the writing. I do plan to continue with the next installment, although not immediately.

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daisy's Tea Garden is a delightful setting that turns dangerous when the owner(Daisy)'s aunt is suspected of the murder of her boyfriend. Daisy has so much going on in her life but still takes the investigation to protect her aunt as a priority. The plot was crisp, the characters were warm and felt like old friends and the tea descriptions -mouth-watering.

[bonniekernene · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. I found it delightful from the very beginning. It was not heavy, but a light murder mystery involving Daisy Swanson and her family. It is an easy read, just a couple of days, but it kept my interest and I am already wanting more! The writing is very good and the characters are wonderful. It was so easy to picture the characters, the tea shop, and the town. It was not packed with too much information, but rather, just enough to make the storyline enjoyable and easy to read. I highly recommend this new series if you like cozy mysteries. It is great!

[annarellix-322425 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very good debut for a new series. It was well written with no plot hole, all the characters are realistic and there is an interesting family dynamic, a bit dysfunctional to be honest, that differs from so many perfect families in other cozies.
It was a good read and hope that a new instalment in this series.
Really recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith is a 2017 Kensington publication. A fantastic start to a new and refreshing cozy mystery series! When Daisy’s Aunt Iris finds herself under investigation for the death of her boyfriend, Harvey Fitz, who was murdered right there in the garden of their lovely tea shop, Daisy must rise to the occasion and find the real killer before her aunt is arrested. Meanwhile, Daisy is dealing with her adopted teenage daughter’s desire to meet her birth mother, and wrestling with the possibility of dating again after the death of her husband. Although this is the first book in a new series, I felt as though Daisy and I were old friends. I immediately bonded with her and really enjoyed the tea shop setting. The tea servings and all the various flavors of tea were described so beautifully, and the shop seemed truly delightful, even if it was a crime scene- and oh my- I could almost taste those lemon tea cakes! Having all the female characters named after flowers is a nice touch, as well. The town square is picturesque, featuring other small businesses, and the characters are all very interesting and maybe a bit quirky at times. All these elements are very important with a cozy mystery of this nature and is part of the charm. The author did a very good job setting the stage for future installments. The murder mystery is also connected to a coin collection that Aunt Iris has inadvertently found herself involved in and is not quite sure how she should proceed, which complicates an already tense situation. The mystery was cleverly planned out, with plenty of viable suspects, which kept me guessing from start to finish. I am very much looking forward to more adventures with Daisy and am curious to see how her love life develops, as well. I picked this book out on a cold, wet day and it was the perfect cure for a gray, dreary day. I love the bright yellow cover, too!This is a very solid introduction to this new series, which also includes a few of the yummy recipes featured in the book! 4 stars

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith is the first book in A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. Daisy Swanson co-owns Daisy’s Tea Garden (housed in a beautiful old Victorian) with her aunt, Iris Albright in Willow Creek, Pennsylvania. Iris has been dating Harvey Fisk who is working to obtain a divorce from his wife, Monica. At a party honoring the 25th anniversary of Harvey’s store, Men’s Trends at Daisy’s Tea Garden, Monica storms in and accuses Harvey of hiding assets (talk about a party pooper). Iris leaves to meet Harvey for a date and Daisy hears a scream. Harvey is dead in their herb garden from blunt force trauma and one of their statues is missing. Detective Rappaport is on the case, and he has decided Iris is the culprit. Daisy with the help of former detective, Jonas Groft query the various suspects. It turns out that Harvey had recently changed his will which angered his children. Could one of them have murdered Harvey? Daisy is worried about her youngest daughter, Jazzi. She has been acting out lately, and Daisy discovers that Jazzi wants to locate her biological mother. Daisy knows she needs to support Jazzi’s decision and help her in any way she can. Business is booming at the tea garden courtesy of Harvey’s murder and Daisy brings on additional staff. Daisy follows the clues in the hopes of catching the real killer and removing Aunt Iris from the suspect list. Who murdered Harvey? Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes is nicely written and has a good pace. The author sets the stage in this book for the series. She establishes the characters, Daisy’s Tea Garden, and the town. I found the characters to be congenial and relatable (except for Detective Rappaport). Daisy is a smart, strong and caring woman who loves her family and is striving to make a success of her new business. She is a widow with two daughters (one biological and one adopted). Thanks to Karen Rose Smith’s description, I can picture Daisy’s Tea Garden in my head. She provides sumptuous descriptions of the tea and food served at the tea garden (recipes at the end of the book). I was not a fan of cantankerous Detective Rappaport, but their does need to be one disagreeable character (someone who readers love to hate). He was like a dog with a bone. He gets a hold of an idea and does not let go. The mystery was appealing with several suspects and misdirection. The investigation mostly consisted of questioning (I wish there had been more action). The murder was not the prominent part of the story. The mystery can be solved before the reveal if pay careful attention to the clues. More time is devoted to the tea garden, Daisy’s family, food descriptions, tea, talking, cats and flirting. There are two possible romantic partners for Daisy. I am sincerely hoping that this will not result in a love triangle in future books in the series. Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes is a lovely cozy mystery, and I will be reading the next book in A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series. Fans of Karen Rose Smith and A Caprice De Luca Mystery series will be entertained by Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes.