Spotlight & Giveaway: Murder With Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith

Posted June 4th, 2020 by in Blog, Spotlight / 65 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Karen Rose Smith to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Karen Rose and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Murder With Clotted Cream!

 
Hi Everyone! It’s so good to be here again to spotlight the release of Murder With Clotted Cream, the fifth book in my Daisy’s Tea Garden Cozy Mystery series.
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

A secret in an actress’s past leads to her murder. Daisy finds herself in danger as she searches for clues.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

“But what if Margaret doesn’t like the apple gingerbread with clotted cream?” Aunt Iris asked Daisy as they stood at the sales counter of Daisy’s Tea Garden.

Daisy Swanson was co-owner of Daisy’s Tea Garden with her Aunt Iris. Willow Creek, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, experienced a thriving tourist trade even into November and December if the weather held.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • Daisy daughter Violet’s baby is born.
  • Daisy celebrates Thanksgiving with her family.
  • Daisy’s best friend Tessa begins to date.
  • The dress rehearsal for the play at the new Little Theater is a disaster.
  • Daisy’s cat Pepper likes to play with her favorite toy–a black mouse.
  • This mystery series is set in Pennsylvania Dutch Amish country.

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Daisy and Jonas have been dating. She is attracted to his integrity and values. They come to a crossroads in their relationship in this mystery.
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?

Tender, compassionate, honest, uncertain, meant-to-be.
 

The First Kiss…

Jonas and Daisy’s relationship carries through and develops throughout all the books in the Daisy’s Tea Garden mystery series.
 

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

Daisy holds her grandson after his birth.

Daisy would never forget the expression on Vi and Foster’s face when little Sammy had been laid in Vi’s arms. Willa had stayed until Sammy had successfully breastfed and she’d given Vi other instructions. Gavin had stopped in to give his support but hadn’t stayed long. Jonas had left to take Jazzi to school and go to work. He’d only had a few hours of sleep on the couch but he’d told Daisy he was used to that. As a detective, he caught sleep when he could. Jazzi had insisted she was fine. She’d crash tonight.

Mid-morning, Daisy walked into the kitchen, little Sammy cuddled in her arms. She could lay him in the crib. Vi and Foster were sleeping. Still…she couldn’t stop looking at the baby and drinking him in—the little wisps of medium brown hair, his tiny button nose, his pudgy cheeks, and the definite cleft in the chin that was just like Foster’s. He was indeed a miracle.

 

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

Daisy visits backstage at the Little Theater during preparations for the play CHRISTMAS IN THE NORTH WOODS. An accident befalls her there.

The scent of newly sanded wood, paint, and stain was strong at the rear of the stage. She wandered along the row of trees wondering where the costumes were kept. She wouldn’t mind having a glimpse of those.

Just then she saw a shadow above her. Before she could even think about taking a step, a row of plywood pine trees fell on top of her, jostling her onto the floor. The noise was loud enough to capture everyone’s attention, she supposed, because she heard footsteps on the side stairs and on the stage.

Jonas was the first one to reach her. Although she was under the wooden trees, she could see Jonas’s feet. She’d recognize those black shoe boots anywhere.

 

Readers should read this book …

Readers should read this book because each of these mysteries doesn’t only have a murder to solve. They are about family relationships as well as a romantic relationship. In this cozy, Daisy’s daughter Vi goes through postpartum depression after the birth of her son. Daisy helps her with the strategies she needs to overcome it.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I am currently working on Daisy’s Tea Garden mystery #7, MURDER WITH ORANGE PEKOE TEA. MURDER WITH OOLONG TEA, book #6, will be released at the end of December.

 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: A $10 Amazon e-card.

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Have you ever visited Amish country? If so, where?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Murder With Clotted Cream:

However, now in the morning light, possibly he was ready to share with her.

“Okay, Jonas. I’m in my office. How can I help?”

After silence for a few beats, she knew she’d probably said the wrong thing. She suspected he wasn’t going to want her help.

Without commenting on her question, he turned to the topic he wanted to talk about. “I heard from my friend in New York.”

It took her a moment to remember what that was all about—the photograph that Vanna had showed her and she’d taken a photo of…the photo that Jonas had sent to his friend.

“Did he recognize where it was taken?”

“He did. It was shot at Chelsea Market.”

“What do you think I should do next? How can we find out if Margaret lived around there…and what she was doing then?”

“There is one way,” he said as if he’d expected her question and considered it. “It depends on how much Margaret shared with Rowan. They would have had to file their income taxes separately until they were married, and my guess is maybe even after they were married. As precise and responsible as Margaret was, she might have had copies of her income tax forms from even the time before she met Rowan. It’s quite possible he could have them at the house. If he does, he could look up her addresses and you could check if any of them were near Chelsea Market.”

Thinking about what had happened since she’d last spoken with Rowan, she responded, “I don’t know if he’ll do that.”

“If he wants to find out who killed Margaret, he will.”

If Rowan wanted to clear himself, he would agree. Even if he wanted to clear Glenda because they were having an affair, that would give him even more reason. “I’ll call him and ask. Right now.”

She waited a beat to see if Jonas would jump into the awkward silence. Silences hadn’t been awkward between them for a very long time. Last night could have changed that. Last night might have put Jonas back on the road he’d been on when she’d first met him—closed off, guarded, not sure he wanted to be involved in a relationship. The fact that he now could feel betrayed by a woman he’d loved didn’t bode well for the two of them.

The aroma of cinnamon, vanilla and sugar wafted into Daisy’s office, even with the door closed. Instead of asking a question that Jonas might find obtrusive, she jumped into what might be a normal conversation for them. “If you were here, I’d offer you a just-baked cinnamon scone.”

She thought she heard a sigh of relief when he said, “I’d tell you to save one for me, but I’m driving up toward Caledonia today to see a man about walnut timber. I’ll probably be gone all day. I might even stay over up there. He has a cabin.”
Without putting his thoughts or feelings into words, Jonas was telling her that he needed to get away. He needed to be in a different location—away from people he would normally see. He needed to be alone in a cabin with his cell phone turned off. All of that could be what he thought he needed.

She didn’t agree.

“If you change your mind and you want company tonight, you know where I’ll be. Jazzi is eating with Vi again and staying to chat while Foster has class. I’ll be home.”

“Thanks, Daisy.” His voice was husky when he added, “But I need time to myself.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

A catering job has come in for Daisy’s Tea Garden in Pennsylvania’s Amish country—but death will be served before dessert . . .

Margaret Vaughn has hired Daisy to provide afternoon tea for her theater group. A local girl who left long ago for an acting career in New York, Margaret has returned home—with a multimillionaire husband in tow. But while Daisy bustles around Margaret’s historic farmhouse, she senses that there’s tension behind the scenes. Then she discovers the hostess on the floor of the pantry—dead and covered with clotted cream.

Barely recovered from her previous sleuthing adventure, Daisy joins forces with the former detective she’s been dating to help solve the case. Should she cast suspicion on the stars of the upcoming play? Can Margaret’s sister shine a spotlight on potential culprits? Or are there clues to be found in the victim’s past? With plenty of family stress of her own to deal with, all Daisy knows is she better act fast . . .
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |
 
 

Meet the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith’s 104th novel will be released in 2020! Her passion is caring for her five rescued cats…and strays who are siblings. Her hobbies are gardening, cooking, watercolor painting and photography. An only child, Karen delved into books at an early age. Even though she escaped into story worlds, she had many cousins around her on weekends. Families are a strong theme in her novels in both her mysteries and romances. One of her romances about a country singer hero was developed into a TV movie aired on the UP network the past two Christmases. Watching A VERY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS with friends is one of her dreams come true. Besides romances and mysteries with Kensington, she has published with Meteor/Kismet, Harlequin/Silhouette and Harper Collins/Harlequin. She has also indie published over 20 titles.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | | Instagram |

 
 
 

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65 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Murder With Clotted Cream by Karen Rose Smith”

  6. Jeanna Massman

    Yes, we lived near an Amish Community in Hazelton, Iowa. We visited their country store and sampled their wonderful baked goods.

  12. Jennifer Shiflett

    I haven’t, but I would love to visit with my daughters.

  13. laurieg72

    Right where I live central Wisconsin between Wautoma and Coloma. There is a bakery, quilt shop, lumber yard, farms to buy produce and eggs, a small grocery store in Spring Lake where they sell canned jams and fruits. They due carpentry projects, sell cut wood etc. You always see them hard at work in the fields and in their horse drawn carriages or in the grocery store.

  16. Amy Donahue

    Yes, I have been to Lancaster County PA many years ago. I remember it being very pretty but also kind of smelly (lots of manure).

  21. dbranigan

    I have visited the Amish in Pennsylvania. I also live in Southern Maryland and shop at their garden and foodstuff shops frequently.

  26. Karina Angeles

    No, but I have seen them in town when I go buy groceries. The men have beards that are nicely groomed, and the women and girls have plain dresses with a bonnet. They must live near by because they next town over has an Amish furniture store. The furniture is beautifully made and kind of expensive.

  28. Taryn Lee

    No I haven’t but I think it would be a fun trip to take and experience.

  36. jovialvampyre

    All the time. It’s only about 15 minutes from my house in Ohio.

  38. Caro

    Yes, I visited Lancaster County in PA like ten years ago. It was a pretty place, very calm.

  39. diannekc

    I have visited Amish country several times. I’ve been to Shipshewana IN, Lancaster PA and Holmes County OH.

  42. Betty Tyler

    I would so love to visit one. We do have some Mennonite communities near us and I think even Amish, but I have never been. Thanks for the great interview

  51. Janie McGaugh

    I’ve traveled through an Amish area in Missouri, but that’s all.

  52. Lorraine Kraft

    Yes, I’ve been once. When I was a kid, my grandfather took my sister and I to an Amish community named Kidren (I’m spelling it the way it sounds) in Ohio. I remember seeing a woman with a long black dress, white apron and caps on in the yard hanging up her clothes. When we pulled up to the general store, before I opened the door, a horse and buggy pulled up next to us. The horse was gorgeous, and my sister and I, lover of horses asked if we could pet him, but the guy who was really nice said he might bite so we couldn’t pet him. My grandfather, after he retired, raised pigs on my uncle’s farm and sold them to the Amish.

  54. Nina Lewis

    No. I buy cheese, bread, honey & cookies from the Amish at the local farmer’s market on Sundays, though. I love it! 🙂

  56. Jess Dimovski

    Yes I have visited Lancaster which is definitely Amish country!

  62. Michelle Fidler

    Yes, in Ashland or Mansfield, Ohio. We used to go down there to see my great-aunt years ago.