December 20, 2018

From Across the Room by Gina L. Mulligan - Review and Giveaway


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

Book details
From Across the Room by Gina L. Mulligan
Publication Date: September 15, 2016
Five Star Publications
Hardcover & eBook; 271 Pages
Genre: Historical/Epistolary

Book description
Self-indulgent young writer Thomas Gadwell has traveled from Boston to the new Hotel Del Coronado in California to at last finish his novel when he meets the clever and headstrong Miss Mary Harting. At once Thomas tosses aside his literary pursuits for a charmed summer of romance that ends with the happy couple making future plans. However, Mary Harting is the only unmarried daughter of notorious railroad tycoon Charles Harting, and he has no intention of letting a useless wordsmith derail his own critical plans for Mary. The couple must continue a clandestine courtship, but Thomas' ingenuity has unexpected repercussions and he unwittingly uncovers a sinister plot of deception, greed, and blackmail. Guided by mentor Henry James, to win Mary, Thomas must step from the pages of the world he creates to explore his own insecurities, battle against worldly corruption, and expose family demons. Told through a series of clever, heartfelt, and engaging letters, From Across the Room is a voyeuristic escapade that delights at every twist. Reflecting back to a time when letters were saved in the imagination of the reader, the lost art of letter writing brings to life the opulent Gilded Age and unfolds the universal passions of love, ambition, and the resilient bonds of family. 

Praise for From Across the Room

"A passionate love story set in a brilliantly recreated Gilded Age, this intimate epistolary novel takes the reader from a wide-open California to the salons of literary and industrial New York. Colorful and indelible characters stride across the pages of this exceptionally vivid historical novel that brings the past stirringly to life." -Diana Birchall, Bestselling Author of Mr. Darcy's Dilemma

"Gina Mulligan's impeccable prose, engaging characters, and original style reminds us all why we love to read." -Reza Kahlili, 2010 National Best Books winner for A Time to Betray

"The characters have richly defined voices and fascinating lives that sparkle against a transcontinental history of America at the beginning of the twentieth century." -Jessica Klein, Award-winning Writer/Producer of Northern Exposure, Beverly Hills 90210, Gabriel's Fire and other popular TV series.

Meet the Author - Gina Mulligan
Gina L. Mulligan is a veteran freelance journalist for numerous national magazines and the author of the award-winning novel, REMEMBER THE LADIES and FROM ACROSS THE ROOM. After her own diagnosis, Gina founded Girls Love Mail, a charity that collects handwritten letters of encouragement for women with breast cancer. She was honored for her charitable work on the nationally syndicated television talk show The Steve Harvey Show, People.com, and TODAY.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

My thoughts
This is the first book that I have read by this author and it will not be the last. I thought that the author did a good job with the historical details of this story. That is one of he things that I like the best. I also enjoyed the way the book was written. Reading a book written as letters makes the book read quickly and for me it makes the book that much better. The author did a good job of keeping the reader engaged. 

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 3 copies of From Across the Room & Stationary! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 21st. 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. From Across the Room


Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, November 26 
Review at Creating Herstory 
Excerpt at Spellbound by History 

Tuesday, November 27 
Review at Pursuing Stacie 

Wednesday, November 28 
Review at Jathan & Heather 

Thursday, November 29 
Review at Tar Heel Reader 

Friday, November 30 
Review at A Holland Reads 

Saturday, December 1 
Review & Guest Post at Clarissa Reads it All 

Monday, December 3 
Review at Jorie Loves a Story 
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, December 4 

Wednesday, December 5 
Interview at Passages to the Past 

Thursday, December 6 
Review at Peppermint Ph.D. 

Friday, December 7 
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story 

Monday, December 10 
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books 

Tuesday, December 11 

Wednesday, December 12 
Review at Laura's Interests 

Friday, December 14 
Review at 100 Pages a Day 

Monday, December 17 
Review & Excerpt at Locks, Hooks and Books 

Tuesday, December 18 
Feature at Broken Teepee 

Wednesday, December 19 
Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads 

Thursday, December 20 
Review at Bri's Book Nook 

Friday, December 21 
Review at The Book Mind 
Guest Post and Excerpt at Confessions of an Avid Reader 



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December 13, 2018

One Taste Too Many by Debra Goldstein - Spotlight and Giveaway

Book details
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 
Kensington (December 18, 2018) 
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496719476 
ISBN-13: 978-1496719478 
Digital ASIN: B07CDCZXLP
  

Book description
For culinary challenged Sarah Blair, there’s only one thing scarier than cooking from scratch—murder!

Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty‑eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired hometown she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she’s the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily—an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant . . .

Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily’s award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death—being in the kitchen!

Includes quick and easy recipes!

Meet the author - Debra Goldsteins
Judge Debra H. Goldstein’s new Sarah Blair cozy mystery series debuts from Kensington Press debuts with One Taste Too Many. She also is the author of Should Have Played Poker: a Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery and the 2012 IPPY Award-winning Maze in Blue. Besides novels, Debra writes short stories. Her short story, The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie’s Place, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (May/June 2017) is an Agatha Award Short Story Nominee. In addition to being the Sisters in Crime Guppy President, Debra serves on the national Sisters in Crime board and is Vice-President of the Southeast Region of Mystery Writers of America.

Website http://www.debrahgoldstein.com 
Twitter @DebraHGoldstein 
Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play 

Giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
December 3 – Book Babble – REVIEW 
December 3 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
December 4 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW, GUEST POST 
December 5 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
December 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
December 6 – My Reading Journeys - REVIEW 
December 7 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW 
December 7 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 8 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 8 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 
December 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
December 9 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 10 – StoreyBook Reviews - REVIEW 
December 10 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT 
December 11 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
December 11 –A Wytch's Book Review Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
December 12 – Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
December 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GUEST POST 
December 13 – MJB Reviewers - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
December 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
December 14 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
December 14 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE 
December 15 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – REVIEW 
December 15 – Socrates' Book Reviews – REVIEW 
December 16 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 
December 16 – Bibliophile Reviews - REVIEW, GUEST POST
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December 11, 2018

Eggs on Ice by Laura Childs - Review and Giveaway

Book details
Cozy Mystery 8th in Series 
Berkley (December 4, 2018) 
Hardcover: 304 pages 
ISBN-10: 0425281728 
ISBN-13: 978-0425281727 
Kindle ASIN: B07BD23MV9
  

Book description
Some say that casting crusty attorney Allen Sharpe as Scrooge in the Kindred Players production of "A Christmas Carol" is just playing to type. He's not the most beloved man in town. In fact, you'd have a dickens of a time finding someone who liked him. Still it's a shock when the Ghost of Christmas Past stabs him during the first rehearsal. Suzanne, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club café, Kindred's favorite combination diner, craft store and bookshop, chases the murderer out of the building but loses him in the alley. As the days pass the list of suspects grows longer. Is it the disgruntled partner? The former secretary whom Sharpe sexually harrassed? Or is it fellow owner of the Cackleberry Club, Toni's almost ex-husband, Junior? The women of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he can add another victim to his Christmas list.

Meet the author - Laura Childs
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links: Webpage - http://www.laurachilds.com/ 

My thoughts
Laura is one of my go to cozy mystery authors. I liked that this was a Christmas themed mystery. It makes it fun to read this time of year. Of course I always like to revisit Suzanne, Toni and Petra at the Cackleberry Club. You could understand why people would want Allen gone the more you learned about him, but with so many people wanting him gone who did it. I had someone in mind but then in Laura gave me twist and I was wrong. Laura's writing style for me is easy and enjoyable to read. I look forward to the next book by her. 

Giveaway



TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 3 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
December 3 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST 
December 3 – The Power of Words – REVIEW 
December 4 – Valerie's Musings – REVIEW 
December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
 December 5 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW 
December 5 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
December 6 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW 
December 6 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 7 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW 
December 7 – MJB Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 8 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - SPOTLIGHT 
December 8 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
December 9 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
December 10 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW* 
December 10 – My Journey Back – REVIEW 
December 11 – Socrates' Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 11 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW* 
December 12 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW 
December 12 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST 
December 13 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT 
December 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW* 
December 14 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 14 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW* 
December 15 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 15 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
December 16 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
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December 9, 2018

Ask Me No Questions by Shelley Noble - Review and Giveaway

Book details
Historical Cozy Mystery New Series 
Forge Books (October 16, 2018) 
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 0765398710 
ISBN-13: 978-0765398710 
Digital ASIN: B078X2BSDR
  

Book description
From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble, Ask Me No Questions is the first in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series featuring a widow turned sleuth in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City.

A modern woman in 1907, Lady Dunbridge is not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm.

From the decadence of high society balls to the underbelly of Belmont horse racing, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

Meet the author - Shelley Noble
SHELLEY NOBLE is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of women’s fiction. )BEACH COLORS, WHISPER BEACH, LIGHTHOUSE BEACH,)

As SHELLEY FREYDONT she writes cozy mysteries.(CELEBRATION BAY FESTIVAL MYSTERIES, THE SUDOKU MYSTERIES) and the Newport Gilded Age Mysteries beginning with A GILDED GRAVE an RT Reviewer’s Choice nominee for Best Historical Mystery of 2015 and Macavity Finalist.

ASK ME NO QUESTIONS is the first of a Manhattan Gilded Age series and written as Shelley Noble.

A former professional dancer and choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore and loves to discover new lighthouses and vintage carousels.

Author Links Website https://www.shelleynoble.com 

My thoughts
I love when a new book cozy mystery comes out and it is the beginning of a new series. Lady Dunbridge was a strong character and a strong woman in a time when women were supposed to be quiet, even more so she was an English woman moving to a new country after grieving the loss of her husband. So what happens but a the murder of her friend's husband and she feels obligated to find out who did it and why. I like that the author made sure the story was historical accurate as well as she put in many twists and turns to keep me guessing. This book has the beginning of a great new series. Worth the read. 

Giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
November 26 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW 
November 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
November 27 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
November 28 – Island Confidential - SPOTLIGHT 
November 29 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
November 29 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
November 29 – Readeropolis - SPOTLIGHT 
November 30 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW*, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
December 1 – The Power of Words – REVIEW* 
December 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW*, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
December 3 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 4 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
December 5 – Laura s Interests – SPOTLIGHT 
December 5 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW 
December 6 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW 
December 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
December 8 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 
December 9 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW*
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December 8, 2018

Crazy Horse: The Lakota Warrior's Life & Legacy as told to William B. Matson - Review


Book details
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Gibbs Smith; 1st Edition edition (September 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781423641230
ISBN-13: 978-1423641230

Book description
The Edward Clown family, nearest living relatives to the Lakota war leader, presents the family tales and memories told to them about their famous grandfather. In many ways the oral history differs from what has become the standard and widely accepted biography of Crazy Horse. The family clarifies the inaccuracies and shares their story about the past, including what it means to them to be Lakota, the family genealogy, the life of Crazy Horse and his motivations, his death, and why they chose to keep quiet with their knowledge for so long before finally deciding to tell the truth as they know it.

This book is a compelling addition to the body of works about Crazy Horse and the complicated and often conflicting events of that time period in American History.

Floyd Clown, Doug War Eagle, and Don Red Thunder are the sole administrators and spokesmen of the Crazy Horse estate and often speak at historical gatherings and national parks about their family’s history.

William Matson has produced and directed an award-winning video, Sitting Bull’s Voice, as well as the two-part video series, The Authorized Biography of Sitting Bull by His Great-Grandson, and the four-part video series, The Authorized Biography of Crazy Horse and His Family. He regularly speaks about these videos and their content at film festivals and has been working with the Crazy Horse family since 2001 to tell their story.

Meet the author
William Matson has produced and directed an award-winning video, Sitting Bull’s Voice, as well as the two-part video series, The Authorized Biography of Sitting Bull by His Great-Grandson, and the four-part video series, The Authorized Biography of Crazy Horse and His Family. He regularly speaks about these videos and their content at film festivals and has been working with the Crazy Horse family since 2001 to tell their story.

My thoughts
I will not be able to say enough good things about this book. When you read this book it is not like reading a book it is more like you are listening to the family telling your their story. I felt as if I could really hear them. The more I read this book the more angry I got as there were a lot of bad things done by our country to Crazy Horse and his family. It was all hateful and very unnecessary. I am very happy that I read this book and hope everyone takes the time to read it. Today I go the chance to meet Floyd Clown and William Matson. They came to my town and gave a lecture, which was very informative and interesting. When the lecture was over I got the chance to talk to both of them and found out that Floyd Clown is also a grandson of War Eagle who was a big name where I am from. My only wish was that I could have had more time to visit with them. I would love to hear more stories about Floyd and Crazy Horse's family. One of the best books I have read this year. 
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Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr - Review


Book details
Series: A Virgin River Novel (Book 13)
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (February 22, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0778329428

Book description
Rising sous-chef Kelly Matlock's sudden collapse at work is a wake-up call. Disillusioned and burned out, she's retreated to her sister Jillian's house in Virgin River to rest and reevaluate.

Puttering in Jill's garden and cooking with her heirloom vegetables is wonderful, but Virgin River is a far cry from San Francisco. Kelly's starting to feel a little too unmotivated…until she meets Lief Holbrook. The handsome widower looks more like a lumberjack than a sophisticated screenwriter—a combination Kelly finds irresistible. But less appealing is Lief's rebellious stepdaughter, Courtney. She's the reason they moved from L.A., but Courtney's finding plenty of trouble even in Virgin River.

Kelly's never fallen for a guy with such serious baggage, but some things are worth fighting for. Besides, a bratty teenager can't be any worse than a histrionic chef…right?

Meet the author - Robyn Carr
Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. The third novel (THE FAMILY GATHERING) in her fan-favorite new series, Sullivan's Crossing, will be released in April 2018. Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com.

My thoughts
Another great Virgin River book. This series never seems to get old for me. I could not help but feel bad for Kelly after what happened to her. She falls in love with her boss but because he was married she know he was out of reach and then his wife came after her with lies. I thing the best that could have happened was when Kelly went to stay with her sister. Then there was poor Courtney, she was a young girl who had been through so much but did not know how to deal with all the bad things that came her way. I liked how Kelly did not pressure Courtney into liking her but let nature take its course. I am looking forward to the next book in this series to see who we get to meet next. 
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December 5, 2018

The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson - Review

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

Book details
On Sale: December 4, 2018
Gallery Books | Trade Paperback Original
ISBN: 9781501197604 | $16.00
E-ISBN: 9781501197611 | $7.99
Audio-ISBN: 9781508283553 | $17.99

Book description
Charlotte Gorman loves her job as an elementary school librarian, and is content to experience life through the pages of her books. Which couldn’t be more opposite from her identical twin sister. Ginny, an Instagram-famous beauty pageant contestant, has been chasing a crown since she was old enough to enunciate the words world peace, and she’s not giving up until she gets the title of Miss American Treasure. And Ginny’s refusing to do it alone this time.

She drags Charlotte to the pageant as a good luck charm, but the winning plan quickly goes awry when Ginny has a terrible, face-altering allergic reaction the night before the pageant, and Charlotte suddenly finds herself in a switcheroo the twins haven’t successfully pulled off in decades.

Woefully unprepared for the glittery world of hair extensions, false eyelashes, and push-up bras, Charlotte is mortified at every unstable step in her sky-high stilettos. But as she discovers there’s more to her fellow contestants than just wanting a sparkly crown, Charlotte realizes she has a whole new motivation for winning.

Meet the Author - Teri Wilson
Teri Wilson is the author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, and The Art of Us, as well as a fourth Hallmark movie currently in development. Teri is a double finalist in the prestigious 2018 RWA RITA awards for her novels The Princess Problem and Royally Wed. Teri also writes an offbeat fashion column for the royal blog What Would Kate Do and is a frequent guest contributor for its sister site, Meghan’s Mirror. She’s been a contributor for both HelloGiggles and Teen Vogue, covering books, pop culture, beauty, and everything royal. In 2017, she served as a national judge for the Miss United States pageant in Orlando, Florida, and has since judged in the Miss America system. She has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses, Audrey Hepburn films, and good books. Visit her at TeriWilson.net or on Twitter @TeriWilsonAuthr.

Purchase Link: http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Accidental-Beauty-Queen/Teri-Wilson/9781508283553

My thoughts:
It has been awhile since I have read a chick-lit book and after reading this I realized I have missed them. This was a fun quick read for me. I read it in just a couple of days. The author's writing style was easy to read and ranked right up there with Sophie Kinsella for me. I loved how Ginny made Charlotte stand in for her at the pageant. I would have been just like Charlotte - a fish out of water. I related to her in many ways. It was nice to read how close the sisters were and that they helped each other. I liked the added romance to the story. I will be looking for more books by this author. 
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December 4, 2018

Slay Bells by T.C. Wescott - Spotlight and Giveway



Book details

Cozy Mystery Brand New Series 
Better Mousetrap Books (November 23, 2018) 
Print Length: 273 pages 
Digital ASIN: B07HGG7ZFR

  

Book description
‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys; the air was alive with pine and holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!

Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring—

Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.

Welcome to Christmas Village, a magical hamlet where even in December the roses hold their luster and bees buzz among the bluebells. You’re just in time for the week-long Christmas Festival, and nowhere is Christmas celebrated with such unrestrained merriment as the village which bears its name. Mayor Cobblestone and Sheriff Fell will be somewhere nearby, doing all they can to make sure you’re safe during your stay.

Provided you haven’t booked a room at Plum Cottage.

Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Rose Willoughby’s boarding house is plum-full with lodgers. There are no vacancies, but just wait. Soon there will be one…and another…and another.

Presently lodging at the cottage are: the juggler, the acrobat, the magician, the psychic, the strongman, the manager, and the pretty assistant. In town as festival entertainment they’ve each brought their own bag of tricks. And a closetful of skeletons.

When the entertainers begin dying in inexplicable ways, some villagers believe a beast from old village lore is the culprit. The sheriff knows better, but he’s just as helpless to catch the invisible killer as are the town folk with their eyes to the sky in search of a flying creature. But our mysterious murderer hasn’t counted on yet another lodger coming to the cottage: Maribel Claus.

Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel loves a good puzzle. But has she finally met her match at Plum Cottage?

Can you figure out whodunit before Maribel does? If you’re up to the challenge, here’s your first clue—the key to unlocking the secret of the murderer’s identity lies in figuring out how the murders were committed. Good luck!

Meet the author - T.C. Wescott
T.C. Wescott was born in Missouri but has lived in Oklahoma most of his life. Like pretty much every author who has ever breathed, he is an avid reader. His favorites are classic mysteries from the Golden Age, as well as just before or just after that period (which is widely considered the period between the two World Wars). His first mystery novel, Running from Scissors, was published in July 2018 and will be the first of at least three books in the Running Store Mystery series.

The Christmas Village Mystery series will launch in November of the same year with the debut title Slay Bells. The formula for his books is simple - mixing the classic, traditional detective fiction standards with all the trappings of the modern cozy mystery.

Wescott is also (under another name) the author of two award-winning non-fiction books as well as a slew of essays and articles.

Follow on GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18176277.T_C_Wescott
Purchase Link - Amazon

Giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
November 23 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
November 23 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST 
November 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
November 24 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
November 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
November 25 – Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
November 26 – Laura's Interests - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
November 26 – My Devotional Thoughts - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
November 27 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
November 28 – Book Babble – REVIEW 
November 28 – Bibliophile Reviews - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
November 29 – View from the Birdhouse – GUEST POST 
November 29 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
November 30 – A Blue Million Books - AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
December 1 – Readeropolis - AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
December 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT 
December 2 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
December 2 – Island Confidential - CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
December 3 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
December 3 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
December 4 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW* 
December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW 
December 5 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
December 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW 
December 6 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 
December 6 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW
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Tandem Demise by Duffy Brown - Spotlight

Book details
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 
Independently Published (October 28, 2018) 
Paperback: 298 pages 
ISBN-10: 1729374786 
ISBN-13: 978-1729374788 
Kindle ASIN: B07JRB373X
  

Book description
Smugglers on the hunt, a police chief on the run, lost loot and a dead wedding planner have the Mackinac Island regulars riding in circles

After solving two murders, bike shop owner Evie Bloomfield thought life on Mackinac Island would settle into boredom until she finds out Nate Sutter, island police chief and once-upon-a-time under cover cop is on the run. Some badass guys from Nate’s Detroit days think he stole money from them in a champagne smuggling operation and now they’re headed to the island to get their loot. Evie is determined to help Nate because he’s a good cop, Nate is determined to keep interfering Evie and island locals out of harms way, and the crooks are determined to get their money.

To add to the island’s problems there’s a dead guy on the dock and the new wedding planner is more interested in playing bedroom bingo than ordering bridal bouquets. With the help of Fiona, Evie’s BFF and local newspaper editor, Evie is determined to prove Nate innocent, figure out how champagne smuggling, bodies on the dock and a bad wedding planner are tied together and not wind up taking a long walk off a short pier herself.


Meet the author - Duffy Brown
Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While others girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She is a National Bestselling author and now conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own. She has two series the Consignment Shop Mysteries set in Savannah along with rescue pup Bruce Willis and the Cycle Path Mysteries set on Mackinac Island with judgmental cats Cleveland and Bambino.

Author Links: Website - http://www.duffybrown.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com Purchase Link - Amazon


BOOK BLAST TOUR PARTICIPANT

DECEMBER 3
The Book's the Thing – SPOTLIGHT*
Mythical Books - SPOTLIGHT
Rosepoint Publishing – SPOTLIGHT*
Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT
FUONLYKNEW - SPOTLIGHT
Cozy Up With Kathy - SPOTLIGHT
The Montana Bookaholic- SPOTLIGHT* 
Varietats - SPOTLIGHT
Handcrafted Reviews - SPOTLIGHT
The Ninja Librarian – SPOTLIGHT*

DECEMBER 4

The Avid Reader - REVIEW 
StoreyBook Reviews- SPOTLIGHT
Bookworm Cafe – SPOTLIGHT*
Laura’s Interests – REVIEW 
Carla Loves to Read- SPOTLIGHT*
Community Bookstop – SPOTLIGHT*
Melina's Book Blog – SPOTLIGHT*
Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT*
Ruff Drafts - SPOTLIGHT
Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW 
The Power of Words – SPOTLIGHT*
A Holland Reads- SPOTLIGHT 
fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT*
 
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December 3, 2018

A Midwinter's Tail by Bethany Blake - Character Guest Post and Giveaway


Book details

Cozy Mystery 4th in Series 
Kensington (November 27, 2018) 
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496717333 
ISBN-13: 978-1496717337 
Digital ASIN: B07B7C8XQY

  

Book description
To bark or not to bark . . . Professional pet sitter Daphne Templeton loves the holidays in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. And nothing gets her into the spirit more than the town’s annual Bark the Halls Ball. The whole community will be there to wag their tails, especially this year’s special guest—Celeste “CeeCee” French, founder of a national chain of pet care franchises, who’s returning home to announce plans for a bright new flagship store. But not everyone’s celebrating CeeCee’s homecoming. Daphne’s friend Moxie Bloom, owner of Spa and Paw, a unique salon for people and their pets, has plenty to growl about. So when CeeCee is found face down under Sylvan Creek's town Christmas tree, stabbed with a distinctive pair of professional-grade pet shears, suspicion lands squarely on Moxie. Despite Daphne’s promises to Detective Jonathan Black, she quickly reprises her role as amateur sleuth. Ably assisted by her basset hound sidekick, Socrates, she must hurry to prove her friend’s innocence before a killer barks again . . . Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!


Meet the author - Bethany Blake
Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.

Author Links Webpage BookBub Twitter Facebook

Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound BookBub

Character Guest Post

Moxie Bloom’s Holiday Letter
Pet groomer and hairstylist Moxie Bloom is best friends with pet sitter Daphne Templeton, whose hobby is solving murders in the quaint town of Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. But this year, as Moxie notes in her annual holiday letter to friends and family, she’s a suspect!

Dear everybody,

Up until CeeCee French, who stole my boyfriend back in high school, wound up dead under the town Christmas tree, so now I’m accused of murder, this year was AMAZING.

Why?

Well, Sebastian earned first-place in the American Federation of White Rat Fancier’s photo contest, so now his little pink nose is going to be featured in their annual calendar, which is distributed to more than 75 households nationwide! I could not be prouder.

Also, Daphne and Detective Jonathan Black fell in love, and I’m sure they will figure that out sometime next year, if not sooner. Those two are just like Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in Desk Set, only maybe more attractive.

In the meantime, my salon for people and pets, Spa and Paw, is doing great, if you don’t count the fact that some scissors are missing, and there’s a good chance they were used to kill CeeCee. But I am going to stay positive about that, because nothing is proven yet.

Also, I found an honest-to-goodness pair of vintage Versace pumps at the Penny For Your Stuff flea market in nearby Zephyr Hollow, stuck in with a bunch of shoes from Payless. Guess what I’m wearing to the Bark the Halls Ball this year?

Now, if only I had a date.

But, no worries, I have this psychic feeling that things are going to work out, and, at the very least, I won’t be in jail for Christmas — because I am lucky enough to have a crime-solving best friend.

Now I’m off to watch White Christmas for the fifth time, which means I’m halfway to my goal of ten!

Yours truly,
Moxie Bloom

Giveaway



TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
November 26 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT 
November 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY 
November 26 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
November 27 – Here's How It Happened - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
November 27 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY 
November 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST 
November 28 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
November 28 – The Power of Words - REVIEW, GIVEAWAY 
November 29 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
November 29 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
November 29 – View from the Birdhouse - REVIEW 
November 30 – StoreyBook Reviews - GUEST POST
November 30 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE, GIVEAWAY 
November 30 – MJB Reviewers - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY 
December 1 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW 
December 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
December 2 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW 
December 2 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE 
December 3 – Carla Loves to Read - REVIEW 
December 3 – A Holland Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST 
December 4 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
December 4 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW 
December 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST 
December 4 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
December 5 – Melina' Book Blog – REVIEW 
December 5 – My Reading Journeys - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST 
December 5 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW      

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December 1, 2018

The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn - Character Guest Post

Book details
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 
Lyrical Underground (November 27, 2018) 
Paperback: 218 pages 
ISBN-10: 1516108396
 ISBN-13: 978-1516108398
 Digital Print Length: 280 pages 
ASIN: B07B741L6N
  

Book description
Welcome to River Bluffs, Indiana, a cozy small town populated with charming homes, close-knit families, and the occasional deadly secret . . .

House-flipper Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod have found their latest project. The property, formerly owned by the late Cal Juniper, is filled with debris that must be cleared before the real renovation begins. But a trip to the attic reveals something more disturbing than forgotten garbage—a skeleton wearing a locket and rings that Jazzi recognizes . . .

Tests confirm that the bones belong to Jazzi’s aunt Lynda, who everyone assumed moved to New York years ago after breaking up with Cal. Soon enough, the whole family is involved, sifting through memories and rumors as they try to piece together what really happened to Lynda—and the baby she gave up for adoption. In between investigating and remodeling, Jazzi is falling for the old house’s charms—and for her gorgeous contractor, Ansel. But with surprises lurking in every nook and cranny, a killer might be waiting to demolish her dreams for good . . .

Meet the author - Judi Lynn
Judi Lynn received a Master’s Degree from Indiana University as an elementary school teacher after attending the IPFW campus. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades for six years before having her two daughters. She loves gardening, cooking and trying new recipes.

Readers can visit her website at www.judithpostswritingmusings.com and her blog writingmusings.com. 

 Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo
Character Guest Post
Jerod Zanders from The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn

Let me introduce myself. I’m Jerod Zanders, and I flip houses with my cousin Jazzi. She’s not the little blond brat that I used to torment when we were growing up. Now we’re business partners. More than that, she’s one of my closest friends. She gave me all kinds of grief when I went to too many bars and flirted with way too many girls in my teens and early twenties. And she’s the first one who told me that I’d found a winner when I met my Franny.

I’d have never looked twice at Franny if a friend hadn’t set us up on a double date. She wears her carrot-colored hair pulled back in a ponytail, has a face full of freckles, and gray eyes. But man, I’d never met a woman who wouldn’t put up with my B.S. and was happy to shut me down when I thought I was being Mr. Fun and Witty. Five years later, we have two kids—Gunnar, four, and Lizzie, one-and-a-half. And I’ve never been happier.

Jazzi got it in her head that everyone in our family—me and Franny and the kids, my parents, her parents, Gran, and her sister Olivia and her boyfriend—should all get together every Sunday to catch up with each other. Even better, she volunteered to cook for all of us. We toss money in the pot to help pay for the expenses, but she does all the work. And I look forward to eating at her place once a week. Now, I love my Franny, but she’s never going to win any prizes in the kitchen. Jazzi, on the other hand, has a real passion for food. I’d rather go to her place than any restaurant in town.

We work together Monday through Friday, and she packs sandwiches and chips for our lunch every day. Ansel’s included in that. He’s the contractor who works on almost every project we do. Tall. Lots of muscles. Makes ladies swoon. Looks like a Viking, but a great guy. Doesn’t have a clue how good-looking he is. Unfortunately, when he first joined our crew, Jazzi was engaged to a real control freak. It didn’t last. I defy any mortal man to try to control Jazzi for very long. But by the time she broke up with Chad, Ansel had moved in with My Way or the Highway Primadonna Emily. I’d love to see her kicked to the curb, too. But Ansel’s as loyal as his pug, George. Emily would have to kick his dog to make him leave her.



Jazzi and I just bought a stone cottage on the north side of River Bluffs to clean out and fix up. The place used to belong to Cal Juniper, a guy who was engaged to our Aunt Lynda before she left River Bluffs for New York. The house is a beauty, but when Cal died, his nephews rented it out and didn’t care what happened to it. The renter trashed it. There’s so much garbage inside, we got it on the cheap. No one wanted to shovel out all the mess. But once we fix it up, we’re going to make a good profit on it. And we can’t wait to make the old place shine like it once did. We’re ready to dig in and restore it to its former glory.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
November 26 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
November 26 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW 
November 27 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW 
November 27 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW 
November 27 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW 
November 28 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW 
November 28 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
November 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
 November 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT 
November 30 – Varietats - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
November 30 – Here's How It Happened - REVIEW 
December 1 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST* 
December 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
December 2 – Laura's Interests – SPOTLIGHT 
December 2 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 
December 3 – Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, GUEST POST 
December 3 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT 
December 4 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 
December 4 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
December 5 – The Avid Reader REVIEW 
December 5 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
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