Murder in the Secret Garden

Normally I would start with the first book in the series, but I just picked this up from the used books at the library and it is obvious that I missed a lot of background information from the previous 2 installments in this "Book Retreat" mystery series by Ellery Adams. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read and I would certainly read other books by this author...after all, her bio says she owns 3 cats so we are partners in cat love.
The series is set at the book themed resort of Storyton Hall in Virginia. Not only do they have extensive libraries for guests, but they offer wonderful gardens in which to perambulate and outstanding food, including afternoon tea with delicious pastries in the Agatha Christie Tea Room. What's not to like?!
Jane Steward, widowed mother of 7 year old twin boys (Fitzgerald and Hemingway), is the manager and guardian of Storyton, along with a somewhat unusual cohort of staff with special skills who are referred to as the Finns. On the weekend our story opens, Jane is expecting members of the Medieval Herbalist Society as well as a wedding party. The herbalists are interested in Storyton Hall's walled garden. When one of them turns up dead in the river during the 1st annual rubber duck race, and it's determined that she did not drown but was poisoned, Jane and her cohort of guardians begin to investigate. Then a rare book that had been on display in Storyton Hall's library is found stolen from its locked case. A former love interest of Jane's shows up after an unexplained absence of several months and declares his undying affection for Jane, but she is not sure whether he is trustworthy given the rumors of his being a book thief. A reclusive herbalist living off the grid also gets murdered by poisoning when the Medieval Herbalists go to see his locked garden of poisonous plants. There are too many suspects! but the Poison Princess--an expert on poisonous plants--appears to have an airtight alibi. This is a light but engaging read with endearing characters. Cosy mystery and romance fans would appreciate this book.