Occupation: Director of Barton Farm
My day began each morning with an argument with a five-year-old about what to eat for breakfast, and usually I didn’t win the argument because I was outnumbered.
“Hayden,” I said to my son that morning. “Eat your breakfast.”
He turned up his nose at the scrambled eggs and bacon I had diligently cooked for him.
“I wanted this for breakfast yesterday. Today, I want Fruit Loops.”
“Fruit Loops sound good to me too this morning,” my sixty-something father agreed. Dad, who was a college drama professor nine months of the year, lived with Hayden and me in our little cottage on Barton Farm’s grounds during the summer. He was a great help to watch out for Hayden during the busy tourist season. At least he was most of the time, not so much when it came to breakfast. He had a five-year-old’s taste buds.
I frowned at the pair of them. “You wanted eggs and bacon yesterday too.”
“That was yesterday,” Dad said. “Today is Wednesday. I believe a person must have Fruit Loops on hump day. It’s the longest day of the week.”
“Me too,” my towheaded son chimed in.
I was about to argue more when the radio clipped to jeans crackled. “Kelsey? It’s Ashland. Do you copy?”
I removed the radio from my hip. “Yes, Ashland?”
“You’re going to want to come to the visitor center. We have situation.” There was a pause. “With Shepley.”
We always had a situation with Shepley. My temperamental master gardener was one of my biggest headaches as the director of Barton Farm, a living history museum and village nestled in Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley just a half hour south of Cleveland.
I clipped the radio to my belt. “You two are going to have to figure breakfast out on your own.”
Before I left the cottage, they gave each other a high five.
I walked out the front door of the cottage and was greeted with the smell of the forest. There was a faint scent of burning wood too as the historical interpreters working on the village side of the Farm prepared their hearths for a day of nineteenth century style cooking demonstrations for the visitors that would arrive when we opened at ten sharp.
Outside the cottage, my corgi, Tiffin, sniffed to the ground and kept an eye on the trees for squirrels. Tiff and the squirrels were sworn enemies. When he saw me, he shook his tail-less rump and stood at the gate that led out of our fenced front yard.
I opened the gate, and he galloped down the path that led through the maple grove from my cottage to the visitor center.
As soon as I emerged from the woods and the visitor center came into view, I saw what the problem was. Shepley and Ashland stood in front of the visitor center with another man. A few feet away an enormous riding lawnmower hummed.
Shepley spotted me first and pointed at my chest. “What are you going to do about this?”
I straightened my shoulders and joined the fray. “What’s going on?”
Shepley scowled at the other man. “He’s the problem. He’s mowing were he shouldn’t be. In his haste to finish the mowing, he ran over my thistle with that monster.” He pointed at the lawnmower. “What are you going to do about it?”
“I thought they were weeds,” the other man protested.
I looked at him. I had hired him to mow the grounds from a local lawn service. “Technically, they are weeds, but we keep them to show off native plant species in the area.”
“Who cares if weeds are native?” he asked.
Shepley shook with fury. No one insulted his plants, especially his native plants.
I stepped between them. To the man, I said, “Please finish your mowing and stay on the grass. Don’t mow anything other than grass whether you believe it should be there or not.”
The man shrugged and walked back to his lawnmower without another glance in Shepley’s direction.
After the man rode away on his mower, Shepley glared at me. “I’m holding you accountable if the garden is ruined.” He stomped away.
Ashland clutched her notebook to her chest. “Every day starts with an argument.”
I sighed. “It’s just another day at Barton Farm.” And it was. At the Farm, there was always a fire or two to put out. Sometimes, it even involved a murder.
You can read more about Kelsey in The Final Reveille, the first book in the NEW “Living History Museum” mystery series, published by Midnight Ink.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 p.m. eastern on May 15 for the chance to win a copy of The Final Reveille. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the author
Amanda Flower, a three time Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland. She also writes as National Bestselling Author Isabella Alan.
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The Final Reveille sounds terrific. Can hardly wait to read.
Oh, does this sound like my kind of book! And I love starting a new series. Thanks for the chance to win.
I enjoyed reading the day in the life of Kelsey Cambridge, and I am looking forward to reading the book. Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the chance to win this book as The Final Reveille sounds like another winner! Love finding a new series of cozies to read.
Looks like a great start to a fun new series! Thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
I am going to have to read this book. I love history and add mysteries to the mix what a great book.
looks great, thank you for the chance to win 🙂
Looks like a good series with a different setting. Would love a copy of the giveaway.
One of my previous jobs included taking part in a living history program. It was great fun and,of course, totally unscripted. So anything could happen. I think this new series is right up my alley. Thanks for the heads up.
Love the setting and the story sounds wonderful. Would love to read it!
Thank you for sharing the post, Dru!
This sounds great!!!! I would really love to win this book! Oh and I like that it is the first in the series! Thanks for the giveaway!
Looks like another great read by my favorite local author! By the way, if I don’t win, at least I know where to find her most Sunday mornings to purchase a copy instead.
Really looking forward to this book!
Can’t wait to read it!
Would love to read this, We have several Civil War enactments where I live now and it is like a walk back into history.
I went to a reenactment once, very very different and very interesting.
I really want to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.
I just finished one of Amanda’s series. I am looking forward to staring another! Thanks, Amanda.
Child and grandfather plotting against mom. What to do? At least when it comes to breakfast, leave them to make it on their own.
Because you cannot win this one!
I would love to win!
I love to start a new series with the first book. I have been to a “living history” museum once and found it interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
Looking forward to it
I can’t wait to read this!
This book sounds great. My husband is a past president of our local museum so he would enjoy this one too. I am currently reading and enjoying A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower.
I always like to start a series with the first book and this one is perfect. I have been around to museums in Ca then 12 years ago moved here to Ia. and have been to several small ones but whenever we see one we have to stop as they are just so interesting. diisliked history in h.s. but now 39 and holding love it !
I would like to win this, as I really want to read this. Thank you for all the contests you have, giving us a chance to win.
A new series by a favorite author – be still my heart! <3
Yay, another book for my shelf. Thank you for the chance Dru.
Wow I can hardly wait to read this one!! Just in this day in the life of I see so many things that I love. A dog (a corgi at that), gardens (including thistles which I love), living history (went to tons of reenactments and love living history museums) and that this is written by Amanda Flower (one of my favorite authors). Who could ask for more? Not me, although if the dog was named Tyler I would have to give Amanda one seriously big hug. So probably better for her, lol. Thanks for the chance to win and all you do!
This one really sounds interesting. I can imagine how much research it takes to pull this type of book off. I can hardly wait to read it.
I am looking forward to reading The Final Reveille. It looks like it will be good. Of course, all of Amanda Flower’s books are great! Thank you for a chance to win!
I have been looking forward to reading this since I first heard about it – one of my favorite authors, excellent time period and subject. All the best to Amanda as the sales of it continue!!
Looking forward to reading this one.
Sounds like a great read.
I love “living history” sites. This story is starting off well. I will have to win it or buy it.
This sounds like a good start to a new series.
Exciting read.
Oh, I need to read this!!!
Love Amanda’s other books…..
Thank you for the giveaway…
I would like to know more about Kelsey’s family!
Kelsey sounds like a pretty busy woman. Small fires to put out and eventually big ones I bet. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of The Final Reveille.
I had to chuckle at this, since I battled thistle for years. Tell the gardener not to worry, the thistle will come back with a vengeance.
This is one new series I don’t want to miss.
Book sounds great, can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
History and a mystery all in one, you can’t get any better:) Thank you for this giveaway.
Great feature and giveaway.
Sounds like an awesome book. Love the cover too.
Great Book from the reviews…love to read it!
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I love Amanda’s writing and history so this is a definite TBR list addition! Thank you for the review & giveaway.
Loved the breakfast battle.
I’ll have to remember to have Fruit Loops on Wednesday! Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Yay – a new series by a favorite author! Smiling about the Fruit Loops. It would have been Tony the Tiger and Frosted Flakes at my house so thanks for the memory.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Looking forword to reading this new series. Congrats
This one has been on my list for a while. Thanks for the giveaway!
I once considered joining the Navy, but reveille was not one of the things I was looking forward to. As it turned out, I did not enlist. Eager to get a bit of history with my mystery.
Would love to win a copy of Amanda Flower”s book. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks for the chance to win!
A new author for me. Amanda Flowers has discovered a new tist and locale. Hope I win, but will look for her books even if i don’t. Thanks for the chance .
Twist – not tist 🙁
Thank you so much for the giveaway opportunity!
on my wish list – unless I win it, of course!
Thank you for the chance to win this book!
Thank you! =)
Should be an interesting new series and it sounds like a great beginning for it. Thanks for the chance to win.
Enjoyed the preview of your book and would love to jump into your series. I will whether I win or not.
Looking forward to the new series! Thanks for the chance to win!!
This sounds like fun – I’d love to win!
contest is closed.