by Sandra Murphy
Details at the end of this review on how to win a copy of this Christmas mystery, Murder, Served Simply, along with a link to purchase the book where a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore.
Angie Braddock has a lot going on what with her parents in town for a Christmas visit, a town-wide progressive dinner and a surprise guest. Too bad the surprise is her ex-fiancé! The folks would like Angie to forgive Ryan, forget how he done her wrong and resume their relationship. Not going to happen. Pretty sure anyway.
Mom is OCD, Dad more laid back like Angie. Ryan is, well, in a word, hot. Angie’s store, the Running Stitch, is a stop on the progressive dinner route so she has a good excuse to avoid Ryan for a couple of days. All good things come to an end though. In spite of her attraction for the sheriff, Mitchell, she shares a kiss with Ryan while tree shopping. Things are getting complicated! 
The biggest distraction is the live theater production, called An Amish Christmas. The Amish are sure the play is disrespectful of their lifestyle while the English (non-Amish) are looking forward to an evening’s entertainment. The star of the play is a young woman from the area. Since she chose to be an actress, she is shunned by the Amish community.
Usually in a cozy mystery, the murder victim is the person most hated. In this case, it’s a woman well loved–the actress. Suspects include her rogue uncle who makes up his own religious rules, members of the cast including the understudy, a spurned lover and more. The mystery has a plot with enough twists to stay interesting and to deliver a satisfying solution.
In previous books, Angie has been coasting along as far as feelings go. She left Texas to assume ownership of the store, mostly to get away from Ryan. Now she realizes she’s made a life for herself. She has friends, a sense of community, kinship with the Amish and a good business she enjoys. With her attraction to Mitchell, there’s the possibility of romance. With her attraction to Ryan, there’s the possibility of not only a love triangle but big problems in the future. How she works everything out will make readers look forward to the next installment of her life.
Previous books include Murder Plain and Simple (reviewed for KRL) and Murder Simply Stitched. There are instructions for an Amish Quilted Snowman; something Angie considers a perfect holiday gift, at the rear of the book. An excerpt from the next book, Murder Plainly Read is also there but you’ll have to wait until October 2015 for the book to arrive in stores.
To enter to win a copy of Murder, Served Simply, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Murder,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 20, 2014. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.
Use this link to purchase a copy of the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore:
The community of this mystery sounds so peaceful and then to have a mystery – should be a very good read.
A really good plot from the review. Please enter me.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
A quilting cozy–what’s not to love?
I love this series since it is set in an area close to my home. Thanks for the chance to win.
The reviews look good. I’ll have to look for past books. The Amish Quilted Snowman might be something I would like to make. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
6186pep(at)msn(dot)com
I love. Amanda Flower and Isabella Alan books. I have the whole set of the Appleseed creek mystery books. Read them all waiting on book four. And. Want to read. Murder served simply the Amish quilt shop mysteries. Want them too !!!
Forgot to add my email. Zoot2girl@yahoo.com
i love reading books by Amanda Flower and Isabella Alan. This book sounds like great fun.
Thank you got the opportunity to win this amazing book.
Sounds really good!! Please enter me.
Love your books would love to win,Thanks
Murder, Served Simply sounds like a great book. I can’t wait to read it. Please enter me in the contest.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you.
I would love to win this book. I am an avid reader and Christian fiction is my favorite. This story sounds very captivating.
Thank you for offering this give away.
Merry Christmas
I would enjoy this delightful book very much. thanks for this feature and giveaway.
Thank you so very much for the intro to the latest Amish Quilt Shop series. I love Isabella/Amanda’s reads! Since I am a quilt maker these storylines are right up my alley. Thank you for a chance to win!
sxygrndma48(at)yahoo(dot)com
The cover convinced me and even if I don’t win I put it on my too-read list! Thanks for sharing with us!
I remember a progressive dinner years ago. A group of we women who did tupperware parties, sarah coventry jewelry parties, plant parties, etc. together decided we were going to do a progressive dinner for the Christmas holiday . Our hubbys (all US Air Force enlisted) weren’t at all sure they wanted to take part – but I think they had the most fun! [The children went to the base nursery for the evening.] Hubbys kept asking when we were going to do it again, but we never did. That wasn’t a town tho, just about 6 or 8 couples in a neighborhood.
I really would enjoy reading MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY. I enjoy Amish stories, and a mystery just makes it better.
donna {dot} durnell {at} sbcglobal {dot} net
We have a winner! Thanks for all of the comments
Lorie Ham, KRL Publisher