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September 30, 2018

Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon - Spotlight and Giveaway

 

Book details
Cozy Mystery 5th in Series 
Kensington (August 28, 2018) 
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496711777 
ISBN-13: 978-1496711779 
Digital ASIN: B077WY2SRQ
  

Book description
A Mediterranean cruise gives glass shop owner Savannah Webb a chance to demonstrate her expertise—and fire up her skills when it comes to foul play . . . When Savannah signs on to perform glassblowing on a ship, part of the appeal is that she’ll get a chance to reconnect with her boyfriend Edward’s family. An added bonus is that Edward’s cousin, Ian, will be joining them on board. But when Ian disappears at the beginning of the cruise, the ship’s authorities initially consider it suicide. Savannah tries to balance her growing suspicions with work on her shows, but her relationship with the other glass artists begins to crack. And she can’t let love color her judgment when Edward suddenly jumps to the top of the suspect list. His fate is in Savannah’s hands, and she’ll do everything she can—on land and sea—to clear his name . . .

Meet the author - Cheryl Hollon
Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks. 

Visit her online at http://cherylhollon.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @CherylHollon. 

Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Kobo BookBub 

Giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
September 17 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
September 17 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT 
September 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
September 18 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 
September 19 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW 
September 20 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
September 20 – MJB Reviewers - AUTHOR INTERVIEW, 
September 21 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST 
September 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
September 22 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
September 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST 
September 23 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
September 24 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW 
September 25 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
September 26 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
September 27 – Valerie's Musings - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 28 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
September 28 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 29 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW 
September 30 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
at 2 comments:

September 29, 2018

Assault and Beadery by Mollie Cox Bryan -- Review and Giveaway

Book details
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series 
Kensington (September 25, 2018) 
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1496716442 
ISBN-13: 978-1496716446 
Digital ASIN: B078QM4V66
  

Book description
All of Cora Chevalier’s dreams are coming true. Since moving to Indigo Gap, North Carolina, the busy crafting maven has been blessed with a great boyfriend, a lovely home, and a booming craft retreat business. But on the eve of her first Crafty Mom’s Escape Weekend, tragedy strikes again in Indigo Gap. This time, it’s curtains for Stan Herald, the disagreeable director of the local theater group, who’s murdered on the opening night of their new production. Worse, Cora’s friend Zee is accused of the crime.

Cora is determined to prove her friend’s innocence, but Zee’s mysterious past is making that difficult. And with a list of suspects longer than a double spool of satin cording, getting a bead on the real culprit won’t be easy. With her friends Jane and Ruby at her side, Cora must string together the clues and solve Stan’s murder before the killer gives an encore performance.

Includes crafting tips!

Meet the author - Mollie Cox Bryan
Mollie Cox Bryan is the author of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbooking mystery series and the Cora Crafts mystery series. She is also author of two cookbooks, the regional bestseller Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book of Southern Pies and Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley. An award-winning journalist and poet, she currently blogs, cooks, and scrapbooks in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Scrapbook of Secrets was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Visit her on the web at molliecoxbryan.com.

Author Links Website - http://molliecoxbryan.com/ 

Purchase Links - Amazon B&N IndieBound Kobo BookBub 

My thoughts
This is one of my go to series so I was happy to read the latest book in it. I like how crafting is included as part of the story. It is fun to see what Cora has been up to this time around. The idea of a Crafty Mom's Escape Weekend sounded like a great idea and lots of fun right up until a dead body is found. I liked that there were twists in the story as just when I thought I figured it all out there would be a twist and I was wrong. I look forward to visiting Cora and all her friends in the next series. 
Giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
September 25 – The Power of Words = REVIEW 
September 25 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST 
September 25 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers -SPOTLIGHT 
September 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 26 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW 
September 27 – The Self-Rescue Princess – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
September 27 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
September 28 – T's Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
September 29 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW 
September 29 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 30 – cherylbbookblog – REVIEW, RECIPE 
September 30 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
October 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
October 1 – Varietats – GUEST POST 
October 2 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW 
October 3 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
October 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
October 4 – Valerie's Musings - GUEST POST 
October 4 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
October 5 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
October 5 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT 
October 6 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW 
October 6 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
October 7 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
October 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
October 8 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 
October 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT/RECIPE
at 2 comments:

September 28, 2018

Trimmed to Death by Nancy J. Cohen - Spotlight and Giveaway


Book details
Cozy Mystery 15th in Series 
Orange Grove Press (September 25, 2018) 
Paperback: 290 pages 
ISBN-10: 0998531766 
ISBN-13: 978-0998531762 
Digital ASIN: B07F2FP55B
  

Book description
Mix together a cocktail for murder, add a few salty suspects, toss in a dollop of sweet humor, and you have the recipe for Trimmed to Death, #15 in the Bad Hair Day cozy mystery series.

Savvy hairstylist and amateur sleuth Marla Vail enters a charity bake-off contest at a fall festival sponsored by a local farm. While she waits to see if her coconut fudge pie is a winner, Marla joins a scavenger hunt where people playing character roles are the targets. Instead of scoring points with a live person, she finds a dead body planted face-down in the strawberry field. Who would want to cut short the life of food magazine publisher and fellow bake-off contestant Francine Dodger? As she investigates, Marla learns there’s no shortage of suspects. A celebrity TV chef, food critic, olive oil importer, food truck owner, pastry chef, and cookbook author may be stirring up more than their next recipe. Can Marla unmask the killer before someone else gets trimmed from life?

Recipes Included!

Meet the author - Nancy J. Cohen
Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have made the IMBA bestseller list and been selected by Suspense Magazine as the best cozy mystery. Nancy has also written the instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery. Her imaginative romances, including the Drift Lords series, have proven popular with fans as well. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences, and community events, Nancy is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who’s Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets. When not busy writing, she enjoys fine dining, cruising, visiting Disney World, and shopping.

Author Links: Website: http://nancyjcohen.com 
Booklover’s Bench: http://bookloversbench.com 
Newsletter Sign-Up: http://nancyjcohen.com/newsletter/ 


Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
September 26 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST 
September 26 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT – EXCERPT 
September 27 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
September 27 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT – EXCERPT 
September 28 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
September 28 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY 
September 29 – Island Confidential – GUEST POST 
September 29 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT – EXCERPT 
September 30 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
September 30 – Lori's Reading Corner – GUEST POST 
October 1 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT – EXCERPT 
October 1 –Laura's Interests – REVIEW - EXCERPT 
October 2 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
October 2 – Mysteries with Character - AUTHOR INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY October 3 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW 
October 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT – EXCERPT 
October 4 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
October 4 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT – EXCERPT October 5 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY 
October 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
at 5 comments:

September 27, 2018

Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick - Review


Book details
Paperback: 463 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books (April 24, 2007)
ISBN-13: 978-0143111979

Book description
How did America begin? That simple question launches the acclaimed author of In the Hurricane's Eyeand Valiant Ambition on an extraordinary journey to understand the truth behind our most sacred national myth: the voyage of the Mayflower and the settlement of Plymouth Colony. As Philbrick reveals in this electrifying history of the Pilgrims, the story of Plymouth Colony was a fifty-five year epic that began in peril and ended in war. New England erupted into a bloody conflict that nearly wiped out the English colonists and natives alike. These events shaped the existing communites and the country that would grow from them.

Meet the author - Nathaniel Philbrick
Nathaniel Philbrick is the author of In the Heart of the Sea, winner of the National Book Award; Mayflower, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Bunker Hill, winner of the New England Book Award; Sea of Glory; The Last Stand; Why Read Moby Dick?; Away Off Shore; and most recently, Valiant Ambition. He lives in Nantucket.

My thoughts
I thought this book was interesting. For being a non-fiction book I thought it read very well, almost like a novel in some parts. It was full of historical details that were new to me. I also learned some things that I did not like. For example when the English stole from the Native Americans or when they started to dig up the burial grounds. But even through all of that I still enjoyed this book and will be reading more by this author. 
at No comments:

The Acid Watcher Diet by Jonathan Aviv MD FACS - Review


Book details
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Harmony; 1 edition (January 24, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-1101905586

Book description
Dr. Aviv guides readers through healthy dietary choices with targeted recipes, helping them balance their bodies and minds for optimal health and break acid-generating habits for good.

Do you suffer from abdominal bloating; a chronic, nagging cough or sore throat; postnasal drip; a feeling of a lump in the back of your throat; allergies; or shortness of breath?
If so, odds are that you are experiencing acid reflux without recognizing its silent symptoms, which can lead to serious long-term health problems, including esophageal cancer.

In The Acid Watcher Diet, Dr. Jonathan Aviv, a leading authority on the diagnosis and treatment of acid reflux disease, helps readers identify those often misunderstood symptoms while providing a proven solution for reducing whole-body acid damage quickly and easily.

His 28-day program is part of a two-phase eating plan, with a healthy balance of both macronutrients (proteins, carbs, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants), that works to immediately neutralize acid and relieve the inflammation at the root of acid reflux.

Meet the author - Jonathan Aviv MD FACS
DR. JONATHAN E. AVIV, MD, FACS is a world-renowned physician, surgeon, educator, inventor, speaker, and author. He is the clinical director of the Voice and Swallowing Center of ENT and Allergy Associates, the largest ear, nose, and throat private practice group in the United States. He is also clinical professor of otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

My thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I have suffered from extreme acid reflux for years now. My was found by a chronic cough and I do have some damage already as I have a burn in my throat. So when I saw this book I thought it would be good for me. I plan on starting the diet here in a week. This book was very informative and I know I will be going back to it time and again. The recipes in the book are actually foods I would eat so I am actually looking forward to starting this. I highly recommend this book if you suffer from any type of acid issues. 
at No comments:

The Duchess by Danielle Steel - Review


Book details
Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Dell; Reprint edition (February 27, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-0425285411

Book description 
The incomparable Danielle Steel breaks new ground as she takes us to nineteenth-century England, where a high-born young woman is forced out into the world—and begins a journey of survival, sensuality, and long-sought justice.

Angélique Latham has grown up at magnificent Belgrave Castle under the loving tutelage of her father, the Duke of Westerfield, after the death of her aristocratic French mother. At eighteen she is her father’s closest, most trusted child, schooled in managing their grand estate. But when he dies, her half-brothers brutally turn her out, denying her very existence. Angélique has a keen mind, remarkable beauty, and an envelope of money her father pressed upon her. To survive, she will need all her resources—and one bold stroke of fortune.

Unable to secure employment without references or connections, Angélique desperately makes her way to Paris, where she rescues a young woman fleeing an abusive madam—and suddenly sees a possibility: Open an elegant house of pleasure that will protect its women and serve only the best clients. With her upper-class breeding, her impeccable style, and her father’s bequest, Angélique creates Le Boudoir, soon a sensational establishment where powerful men, secret desires, and beautiful, sophisticated women come together. But living on the edge of scandal, can she ever make a life of her own—or regain her rightful place in the world?

From England to Paris to New York, Danielle Steel captures an age of upheaval and the struggles of women in a male-ruled society—and paints a captivating portrait of a woman of unquenchable spirit, who in houses great or humble is every ounce a duchess.
Meet the author - Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with over 650 million copies of her novels in print. Her many international bestsellers include Against All Odds, Dangerous Games, The Mistress, The Award, Rushing Waters, Magic, The Apartment, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
My thoughts
I absolutely loved this book. From page one I feel in love with Angelique. There was just something about her that made her very likable to me. I felt so bad for her when her brother turned her out but loved how the book ended. I was so shocked by the job that she took in France but she did very well at it and made her name for herself. 
at No comments:

September 25, 2018

Final Roasting Place by Devon Delaney - Review


Book details
Series: A Cook-Off Mystery (Book 2)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (September 25, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1496714459

Book description
Sherry Frazzelle is back to being Sherry Oliveri, her divorce all but final and her new life in full swing. Her part-time job is helping her father with his hooked-rug business, and her full-time passion is competitive cooking. But murder is about to rock their little Connecticut town . . .

Erno Oliveri made sure to be on set for his daughter’s cook-off appearance on Sunny Side Up with Brett and Carmell. Or as it’s now known, Sunny Side Up with Carmell and Brett—since the ambitious young Carmell seems to have the producer and station owner eating out of her hand. But the important news is that Sherry has bested the competition with her Spicy Toasted Chickpea and Almond appetizer and clinched the spatula-shaped trophy. It’s her shining moment—until everything goes dark.

A quick-moving storm has knocked out power to the studio—and when the lights come back up, Carmell is at her desk with a sharp object lodged in her neck. The weapon is an unusual tool, used by craftsmen who make hooked rugs. Has someone taken corporate backstabbing to a new level, and framed Erno in the process? If Sherry’s going to protect her dad and their family name, she has to find out where he was when the lights went out . . .

Includes Recipes from Sherry’s Kitchen!

Meet the author - Devon Delany
Devon Delaney is a wife, mother of three, accomplished cooking contester, recent empty nester and lifelong resident of the Northeast. She has been handsomely rewarded for her recipe innovation over the last twenty-plus years. Among the many prizes she has won are a full kitchen of major appliances, top cash prizes and four trips to Disney World. She has also won the Grand Prize in a national writing contest for her “foodie” poem “Ode to Pork Passion.” The art and skill of writing a winning recipe lends to her ability to clearly organize her words and ideas in print. The popularity of food competitions, like the Pillsbury Bakeoff (which she has competed in 3 times) and TV programs like Chopped (which she auditioned for) and Top Chef, prove the market is currently sizzling for this subject matter. Her goal is to share her unique expertise and perspective through an entertaining cozy murder mystery series.

Website: https://www.devonpdelaney.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devonpdelaney/

My thoughts
This is the first book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it.  I did not feel one bit lost by starting with the second book although now I want to go back and read the first one. I enjoyed the cook-off theme to this story. It made me hungry thinking about the food. The recipes in this book also sounds good and I will have to give them a try. The author did a good job in developing the characters. I felt as if I could be friends with Sherry and cheer her on in her competition. I look forward to more books in this series. 
at No comments:

A Catered Cat Wedding by Isis Crawford - Spotlight


Book details
Series: A Mystery With Recipes (Book 14)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (September 25, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1496714961

Book description
Sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons run a catering business in their upstate New York town, and they’re ready and willing to handle any wedding—even one where the bride and groom have tails . . .

Susie Katz is known as the crazy cat lady of Longely, New York, and goes out of her way to earn the title, right down to her cat T-shirts and porcelain Hello Kitties. She’s a fanatic for anything feline. Humans, not so much.

So when she decides to put up a tent on her property and hold an extravagant wedding ceremony for her two Russian blues, she makes sure to include a few two-legged guests—primarily to raise some hackles. All her favorite enemies will be there: her bird-loving neighbor, a rival cat breeder, a local animal rights activist, and the niece and nephew who stand to inherit her considerable fortune . . . if she doesn’t spend it all on cat tchotchkes first. Susie can’t wait for them all to watch as Boris and Natasha slink up the aisle in their very expensive diamond-studded collars, before everyone starts digging in to the poached salmon and caviar provided for the occasion by Bernie and Libby.

But chaos erupts when a wedding gift is unwrapped and a mischief of mice jump out of the box—followed by the disappearance of all the pampered partygoers. Just a few hours later, Susie is stabbed in the back while searching for her missing kitties near the now-empty tent—and it’s up to the Simmons sisters to sniff out the killer . . .

Includes Original Recipes for You to Try!

Meet the author - Isis Crawford
ISIS CRAWFORD was born in Egypt to parents who were in the diplomatic corps. When she was five, her family returned to the States, where her mother opened a restaurant in Upper Westchester County and her father became a university professor. Since then Isis has combined her parents’ love of food and travel by running a catering service as well as penning numerous travel-related articles about places ranging from Omsk to Paraguay. Married, with twin boys, she presently resides in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where she is working on the next Bernie and Libby culinary mystery.

Website: https://isiscrawford.com/



at No comments:

September 24, 2018

Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne - Review

I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own

Book details
Paperback: 320 pages
Haven Point #9
Publisher: HQN; Original edition (September 25, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1335947932

Book description
It’s a long way from New York to Idaho…but could they have found a home at last?

Dani Capelli has never truly belonged anywhere. And from her earliest days as a foster child in Queens, she would have been lost if it weren’t for her love of animals. Until high school, when she fell hard for the wrong boy, and found herself pregnant—and married—by graduation. Two daughters later, Dani realized her mistake and filed for divorce, and with the help of scholarships and loans—and a lot of macaroni and cheese dinners—she enrolled in vet school. Things were finally looking up…until her ex-husband became her late husband, in the most notorious way possible.

Now Dani and her daughters need an out-of-town pass more than ever. So when the retiring Haven Point veterinarian offers her a chance to settle in the small Idaho town and take over his practice, she jumps at it. But adjusting to the charming mountain community isn’t easy; thirteen-year-old Silver begins acting out while six-year-old Mia is growing too attached to Haven Point and everything in it, especially their next-door-neighbor, Deputy Sheriff Ruben Morales. And Dani can’t blame her. Ruben is everything she’s secretly wanted—and everything she can’t bear to risk loving…and losing.

As the holidays draw near, their shared concern for Dani’s daughters brings them closer together, giving Ruben the chance to show this big-city woman just how magical Christmas in Haven Point can be...and that the promise of a home at last is very real in the most wondrous season of the year…

Meet the author - RaeAnne Thayne
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

My thoughts
This was a nice installment to add to the Haven Point series. I enjoyed getting to go back to Haven Point. It is almost like visiting family when you start reading this author's books. I liked getting to know Dani and her family. Then the way Dani and Ruben played off of each other added to the story line for me. This was an easy to read book. I just wanted to curl up with it all day and forget the outside world. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. 
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September 23, 2018

Forever Fudge! by Nancy Coco - Review


Book details
Series: A Candy-coated Mystery (Book 6)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington; Reissue edition (September 25, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1496716064

Book description
When a film crew comes to Mackinac Island, the last thing fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy expects to find is a murder victim . . .

SHOT ON LOCATION

It's Labor Day weekend, the official end of tourist season, and the beginning of a whole batch of trouble. First, the island is invaded by a TV crew filming a murder mystery pilot, and handsome Hollywood heartthrob Dirk Benjamin needs Allie’s help to prep for his role as local cop Rex Manning. Then, Allie’s bichonpoo Mal sniffs out a real murder in the alley behind the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, a man shot in the head—with a note challenging amateur sleuth Allie to catch the culprit. Like it or not, the fudge maker has to square off against a crazy killer—but this time she may have bitten off more than she can chew . .

Meet the author - Nancy Coco
Nancy Coco is the byline chosen by popular author Nancy J. Parra for use exclusively with the Candy-Coated Mysteries series. With degrees in engineering, journalism and a MA in Writing Popular Fiction, Nancy has published in cozy mystery, romantic suspense, and sweet western historical romances. An Air Force veteran who rose to the rank of sergeant, Nancy is a member of an on-line group of female veterans who are authors—“Military Women Who Have Turned Sword to Pen.” The group’s website is www.romvets.com. Nancy is also a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She has given workshops on a number of writing topics and enjoys doing author panels at fan conferences such as Malice Domestic and Bouchercon. She lives in Oregon with her dog—a bichonpoo affectionately known as Little Dog on Nancy’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Website: https://www.nancyjcoco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancyjcoco
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancyjparra

My thoughts
This has been a fun series to read and I was happy to get the chance to read this latest installment.  I enjoy the author's writing style as she makes the words just flow off the page. You never know what Allie and her pup are going to be up to next. I liked how in this one the actual murder resembled the show they were filming in Allie's town. You thought you were just going to hear about the show and the next thing you know Mal has sniffed out a murder victim. Then you are led on a series of twists and turns while Allie is trying to solve the case. Just when you think it is all solved her comes another twist. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more by this author.
at No comments:

Murder Flies the Coop by Jessica Ellicott - Spotlight


Book details
Series: A Beryl and Edwina Mystery (Book 2)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (September 25, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1496710529

Book description
One would hardly call them birds of a feather, but thrill-seeking American adventuress Beryl Helliwell and quietly reserved Brit Edwina Davenport do one thing very well together—solve murders . . .

Sharing lodging in the sleepy English village of Walmsley Parva has eased some of the financial strain on the two old school chums, but money is still tight in these lean years following the Great War. All of Beryl's ex-husbands have proven reluctant to part with her alimony, which is most inconvenient.

So when the local vicar—and pigeon-racing club president—approaches them with a private inquiry opportunity, the ladies eagerly accept. There's been a spot of bother: the treasurer has absconded with the club's funds and several prized birds.

Beryl and Edwina hope to flush out the missing man by checking his boardinghouse and place of employment at the coal mine. But when they visit the man's loft, they find their elusive quarry lying in white feathers and a pool of crimson blood, stabbed to death—the only witnesses cooing mournfully.

After a stiff gin fizz, the ladies resume their search for the missing funds and prized birds—and now a murderer. Beryl and Edwina aren't shy about ruffling a few feathers as they home in on their suspects. But they had better find the killer fast, before their sleuthing career is cut short . . .

Meet the author - Jessica Ellicott
Jessica Ellicott loves fountain pens, Mini Coopers and throwing parties. She lives in northern New England where she obsessively knits wool socks and enthusiastically speaks Portuguese with a shocking disregard for the rules of grammar.

Website: https://www.jessicaellicott.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaellicottauthor/

at No comments:

Feral Attraction by Eileen Watkins - Spotlight


Book details
Series: A Cat Groomer Mystery (Book 3)
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (September 25, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1496710604

Book description
Cat groomer Cassie McGlone tails a killer gone wild over feral felines. . .

Cassie's good friend Dawn is part of an organization that's trying to protect a colony of stray cats on the property of a condo community in Chadwick, New Jersey. The residents have got their backs up over the cat invasion, and Dawn has come to Cassie's grooming and boarding shop, Cassie's Comfy Cats, to ask her help in talking sense to them.

Not everyone's against the cats. Eccentric Sabrina Ward feeds them and has even created makeshift shelters for them in the nearby woods, infuriating her neighbors. Following a heated community meeting—in which Cassie and Dawn come up with a proposal—Sabrina's body is found in the woods. The police are calling her death an accident, but Cassie smells a rat. Narrowing down the list of suspects may be tougher than herding cats, but Cassie is determined to collar the killer before another cat lover has a fatal accident . . .

Meet the author - Eileen Watkins
Eileen Watkins worked for daily newspapers for most of her career, writing and editing stories on fine art, architecture, interior design and home improvement. She also has published paranormal mystery and suspense novels. A confirmed “Jersey Girl,” she prefers older houses, has always shared her home with at least one cat and makes frequent visits to the nearest riding stable. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.

Website: www.efwatkins.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenWatkinsAuthor/
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September 18, 2018

The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews - Spotlight and Giveaway


Book details
The Matrimonial Advertisement by Mimi Matthews
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Perfectly Proper Press
Paperback & eBook; 317 Pages
Series: Parish Orphans of Devon, Book 1
Genre: Historical/Romance

Book description
She Wanted Sanctuary… Helena Reynolds will do anything to escape her life in London, even if that means traveling to a remote cliffside estate on the North Devon coast and marrying a complete stranger. But Greyfriar’s Abbey isn’t the sort of refuge she imagined. And ex-army captain Justin Thornhill—though he may be tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome—is anything but a romantic hero. He Needed Redemption… Justin has spent the last two decades making his fortune, settling scores, and suffering a prolonged period of torture in an Indian prison. Now, he needs someone to smooth the way for him with the villagers. Someone to manage his household—and warm his bed on occasion. What he needs, in short, is a wife and a matrimonial advertisement seems the perfect way to acquire one. Their marriage was meant to be a business arrangement and nothing more. A dispassionate union free from the entanglements of love and affection. But when Helena’s past threatens, will Justin’s burgeoning feelings for his new bride compel him to come to her rescue? Or will dark secrets of his own force him to let her go? 

 Praise for The Matrimonial Advertisement
"Matthews' (The Pug Who Bit Napoleon, 2018, etc.) series opener is a guilty pleasure, brimming with beautiful people, damsels in distress, and an abundance of testosterone...It's a well-written and engaging story that's more than just a romance. The author chooses to draw on dark moments in British history to create Justin's and Helena's complicated pasts...It's an unexpected narrative addition that works well, as Matthews seamlessly blends some grim history with light and frothy fiction. An enjoyable love story that dares to dip a toe into bleak social and political history." -Kirkus Reviews

"I don't have enough words to say how unbelievably incredible this book is...I am a huge fan of Ms Matthews, her writing is always flawless and articulate, but this simply is in a league of its own... 'The Matrimonial Advertisement' is a lot darker that what we have come to expect from Ms Matthews, but for me this is Gothic Victorian story-telling at its best. This is how this genre is supposed to be written!...Ms Matthews has out done herself with this, by far one of the best books I have read--ever!...This is a hauntingly beautiful, gripping and heart-wrenching story. It is simply spellbinding!" -Chicks, Rogues and Scandals 

"This is an irresistible romance with the added frisson of gothic fear. At a time in Victorian Britain when a woman belonged entirely to her father, guardian or husband, can Helena ever be free to love and live as she wishes? Mimi's writing style is engaging, and we are plunged immediately into Helena's predicament. Secrets are gradually revealed, adding depth to our understanding of the main characters. This is Miss Matthews' best book so far and it is only the first in a new series!" -Lizanne Lloyd, Lost in a Good Book 

"This delightful Victorian love story took me away to another time and another place for a few blissful hours. Mimi Matthews is a wonderful storyteller. She creates very likeable, memorable, layered characters that quickly feel like friends. Her style is naturally elegant and warmly flowing, full of historical detail and charm...this is the second of her fictional works that I've devoured and I'm looking forward to more." -Jayne Fresina, bestselling author of Once Upon a Kiss 

"Since I first read the sample chapters, I've been eager to read this book. Mimi Matthews does not disappoint. She lures the reader in for an emotional journey. Full of romance and heart, The Matrimonial Advertisement takes a marriage of convenience, a pinch of Beauty and the Beast, and some truly engrossing social history and brings to life a satisfying romantic tale. I look forward to more from this talented author!" -Lena Goldfinch, bestselling author of The Unexpected Bride 

"The Matrimonial Advertisement is a Victorian romance in all its glory...Mimi Matthews definitely knows how to present historical facts effectively and without sounding bookish...a delightful treat for Jane Austen and historical fiction fans." -Readers' Favorite, 5-Stars 

"If I could only have one book for the rest of my life, it would be this one. This is my first time reading anything by Mimi Matthews, but rest assured, I now need anything that this incredible author has ever written. The characters were outstanding, developed with complexity and a humanity all their own. The setting and scenery were described with such perfection that I was able to see the circumstances through the characters' eyes with ease. Both Helena and Justin are forever etched onto this reader's heart, and I greatly look forward to expanding my Mimi Matthews library." -Stacie, NetGalley 

Meet the Author -  Mimi Matthews
Mimi Matthews (A Victorian Lady's Guide to Fashion and Beauty, The Lost Letter) writes both historical non-fiction and traditional historical romances set in Victorian England. Her articles on nineteenth century history have been published on various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and are also syndicated weekly at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and two Siamese cats. For more information, please visit Mimi Matthews' website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, Pinterest, Google+, and Goodreads.

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a signed copy of The Matrimonial Advertisement! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 18th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US residents only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. The Matrimonial Advertisement

Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, September 4 Review at Passages to the Past 
Wednesday, September 5 Feature at Donna's Book Blog 
Thursday, September 6 Review at Based on a True Story 
Friday, September 7 Review at A Chick Who Reads Feature at What Is That Book About 
Saturday, September 8 Feature at The Book Junkie Reads 
Monday, September 10 Feature at The Lit Bitch Review at For the Sake of Good Taste 
Tuesday, September 11 Feature at To Read, Or Not to Read 
Wednesday, September 12 Feature at The Caffeinated Bibliophile 
Friday, September 14 Feature at Maiden of the Pages
Saturday, September 15 Review at Naomi Finley's Blog 
Sunday, September 16 Interview at T's Stuff 
Monday, September 17 Character Interview at Love Books Group 
Tuesday, September 18 Feature at A Holland Reads Review at Library of Clean Reads
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September 16, 2018

Death said the Gypsy Queen by Susan Boles - Spotlight and Giveaway

 

Book details
Death said the Gypsy Queen: 
A Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery 
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series 
Argent Ocean Publishing 
Number of Pages - 210 

Book description
"Beware the sign of the vampire blood," said the fortune teller. "It brings madness and turmoil."

Lily Gayle knows what that means, but, for the life of her, can't figure out how the fortune teller does. A quick road trip with Dixie. An unplanned stop at a roadside park. And, an hour later a dead body. Lily Gayle, Dixie and Miss Edna find themselves knee deep in another homicide investigation when the local vet assistant turns up dead behind an outbuilding at the farmers market.

Lily Gayle believes the words of the fortune teller will have a major impact on the investigation but can't bring herself to tell the other ladies. To reveal what she believes the words mean might bring trouble to another old friend. And would betray a trust. Only Ben knows and he, as usual, advises Lily Gayle to stay out of his investigation – which she isn't about to do.

When the secret is revealed, the townspeople go mad and the fortune tellers words come true. Can Lily Gayle, Dixie and Miss Edna solve the murder before more people are harmed?

Meet the author - Susan Boles
Susan is the award-winning author of the Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery Series and a contributing author to the Brotherhood Protectors World. A lifelong long love of all things mysterious led Susan to write cozy mysteries. Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden were the first to show her that girls can be crime solvers. Agatha Christie showed her that even small towns have big secrets. And Phryne Fisher showed her lady detectives can be outrageously individual. She lives in Mississippi with her rescue mini dachshund, Lucy, and her rescue cat of no particular breed, Zimba. She currently writes the Lily Gayle Lambert mystery series set in the fictional town of Mercy, Mississippi featuring a multi-generational cast of female sleuths and romantic suspense in the Brotherhood Protectors Kindle World. Susan writes mysteries and set in the big city of Memphis, TN and the fictional small town of Mercy, Mississippi. CONTACT SUSAN: Susan loves to hear from readers and book lovers! Visit her website at www.susanbolesauthor.com Or drop her a line at susan@susanbolesauthor.com 

Author Links: Website – Twitter – @SusanBAuthor – Blog – Facebook – Linked In – GoodReads - Instagram - Pinterest - Bookbub 

Purchase Links Amazon

Giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
September 5 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW 
September 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST 
September 6 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
September 6 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – GUEST POST 
September 7 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 8 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
September 8 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - SPOTLIGHT 
September 9 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
September 10 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews - REVIEW 
September 10 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
September 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT 
September 12 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
September 12 – Babs Book Bistro - SPOTLIGHT 
September 13 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW 
September 14 – MJB Reviewers - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 14 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
September 15 – The Montana Bookaholic – GUEST POST 
September 16 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
September 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
September 17 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – GUEST POST 
September 18 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 18 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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September 12, 2018

In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St. James - Guest Post and Giveaway

 

Book details
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 
Crooked Lane Books (September 11, 2018)
Hardcover: 350 Pages 
ISBN-10: 1683317432 
ISBN-13: 978-1683317432 
Digital ASIN: B078M3N9TC
  

Book description
In Dorothy St. James’s third delectable Southern Chocolate Shop mystery, a new batch of chocolate and troubles of the heart cause a string of disasters for the Chocolate Box’s new owner, Charity Penn.

The vintage seaside town of Camellia Beach, South Carolina seems like the perfect place for romance with its quiet beach and its decadent chocolate shop that serves the world’s richest dark chocolates. The Chocolate Box’s owner, Charity Penn, falls even further under the island’s moonlit spell as she joins Althea Bays and the rest of the turtle watch team to witness a new generation of baby sea turtles hatch and make their way into the wide ocean.

Before the babies arrive, gunshots ring out in the night. Cassidy Jones, the local Casanova, is found dead in the sand with his lover Jody Dalton—the same woman who has vowed to destroy the Chocolate Box—holding the gun. It’s an obvious crime of passion, or so everyone believes. But when Jody’s young son pleads with Penn to bring his mother back to him, she can’t say no. She dives headfirst into a chocolate swirl of truth and lies, and must pick through an assortment of likely (and sometimes unsavory) suspects before it’s too late for Penn and for those she loves in Dorothy St. James’s third rich installment of the Southern Chocolate Shop mysteries, In Cold Chocolate.

Meet the author - Dorothy St. James
Mystery author Dorothy St. James was raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on the outskirts of Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, a neurotic dog, and a fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn't as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader's Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: "amazing", "perfect", "filled with emotion", and "lined with danger."

Author Links Website: www.dorothystjames.com 


Guest post
Meet Althea Bays, Owner of The First Wish, Camellia Beach’s Finest Crystal Shop 

Penn thinks I’m nutty. But that’s okay. She doesn’t know what I know. She’s not seen what I’ve seen. I think she’s afraid to see it. There are forces at work in this world that mere mortals will never be able to explain. These forces—whether you call them magic or weird science—are my passion.

Can spirits talk to us from the great beyond? Can the vibrations in crystals heal our bodies and our spirits? Can this mystical vortex that exists right off the coast of Camellia Beach be the cause of all the troubles that Penn has faced since arriving to our small community? I think the answer is a resounding yes to all of these questions.

I own the local crystal shop on the island. Helping people find their way in this world is my calling.



Penn doesn’t believe in any of that. Our relationship got off to a rocky start last year because she thought I was a swindler and a liar. Now she knows I’m neither of those things. She just thinks I’m delusional. And I think she’s closed herself off to a part of the world that could help her overcome the troubles and hurts that she wears like a cloak around her strong shoulders.

So, I’m sure you’re wondering by now how the two of us managed to forge such a close friendship. It was fate, of course. Fate put me in her path in order to remind her to look for the unexpected in life. And to enjoy it. I’m also here to remind her that, yes, there is magic in the natural world and that she doesn’t need to fear it.

I like to help her with those troubles I mentioned. (The murders that have plagued her shop.) Not in any magical way. Penn wouldn’t stand for that. But I make sure she knows I will always have her back. I help her suss out any clues that she might be overlooking. She wasn’t born in Camellia Beach and doesn’t know its quirks and eccentricities like I do.

It’s not a one-way relationship by any means. Just recently Penn helped me when it felt as if my world was falling apart. Just this season, I took over as head of Camellia Beach’s turtle watch team. We’re a group of volunteers who watch over the nests the sea turtles lay on our beach and make sure the baby sea turtles have the best odds of one day making their way back to our shores to nest here again. It’s a serious undertaking. Everyone on the island demand that the volunteers do their best. The sea turtles are our islands legacy and joy, after all.

So when the eggs started disappearing from the nests I was in charge of protecting, I felt as if my world was coming apart. Despite all the pressures Penn already had on her, she rushed to my side and offered all the support and time she could find.

You can read all about our adventures and how they might have ruined our friendship forever— though I dearly hope they didn’t; I’d miss laughing with her as we sipped our chocolate milkshakes—in the third Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery, IN COLD CHOCOLATE.

Giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
September 12 – Valerie's Musings – REVIEW 
September 12 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
September 12 – Writing Pearls - REVIEW 
September 13 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
September 13 – Island Confidential – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 14 – The Power of Words – REVIEW 
September 14 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
September 15 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
September 15 – Community Bookstop – SPOTLIGHT 
September 16 – Readeropolis – RECIPE 
September 16 – Mallory Heart's Cozies - REVIEW 
September 17 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
September 18 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
September 18 – T's Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
September 19 – Jane Reads - GUEST POST 
September 19 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
September 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
September 20 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
September 20 – Mysteries with Character – RECIPE 
September 21 – Rosepoint Publishing - REVIEW 
September 21 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
September 21 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW 
September 22 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW 
September 22 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
September 23 – StoreyBook Reviews - GUEST POST 
September 23 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
September 24 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW 
September 24 – Socrates' Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
September 24 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
September 24 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 
September 25 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 
September 25 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW 
September 25 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
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September 11, 2018

Write-Publish-Profit Super Stack


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