January 22, 2020

Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy - Review

Book details
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 
Publisher: Kensington (December 31, 2019) 
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 
ISBN-10: 1496724186 
ISBN-13: 978-1496724182 
Digital ASIN: B07Q3NPNFB
  

Book description
In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty, murder occurs at the feet of sweet Molly Malone . . .
Ferrying tourists around Dublin for the Leprechaun Limo Service makes quite a change after years in the military. Still, Megan Malone is enjoying her life in Ireland. She likes the scenery, the easy pace, the quirky, quick-witted locals. Everything—except having one of her clients drop dead at the statue of fabled fishmonger, Molly Malone.

Most restaurant critics notch up their share of enemies. Elizabeth Darr, however, was a well-loved international star. She and her husband, Simon, had just had dinner when Elizabeth collapsed, and spoiled seafood is the first suspect. The restaurant’s owner, worried her business is doomed, begs Megan to look into it. Between her irate boss and a handsome Garda who’s both amused and annoyed by her persistence, Megan has her hands full even before she’s cajoled into taking care of two adorable Jack Russell puppies (which she is almost definitely not keeping). But if cockles and mussels aren’t to blame, can Megan find the real culprit . . .before another fishy death occurs?

Meet the author - Catie Murphy
Catie Murphy, who has written numerous award-winning fantasy and Sci-fi books under the pseudonym C. E. Murphy, began writing around age six, when she submitted three poems to a school publication. The teacher producing the magazine selected (inevitably) the one she thought was by far the worst, but also told her—a six-year-old kid—to keep writing, which she has. She has also held the usual grab-bag of jobs often seen in an authorial biography, including public library volunteer (at ages 9 and 10; it’s clear she was doomed to a career involving books), archival assistant, cannery worker, and web designer. Writing books is better. She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.

Author Link - Website Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Kensington 

My thoughts
I enjoyed reading this first installment of a new cozy series. I enjoyed that it was set in Ireland which is a place I would love to visit. It was nice to follow along with Megan while she tried to figure out who murdered a client of hers. Another part I liked was that the author wrote parts of conversations with an Irish accent just like you would hear it if you were talking to the characters. I love an Irish accent. It was nice of Megan to take in the stray doggie mom and her new babies.  This was a nice book and I am interested to see where this series takes us. 

Giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
January 13 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW 
January 13 – The Power of Words – REVIEW 
January 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
January 14 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW 
January 14 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
January 15 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
January 15 – Carole's Book Corner – REVIEW 
January 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
January 16 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT 
January 17 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
January 17 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT 
January 17 – Christy's Cozy Corners – GUEST POST
January 18 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
January 18 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
January 18 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT 
January 19 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
January 20 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW 
January 20 – Diane Reviews Books - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
January 21 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW 
January 21 – ebook addicts – REVIEW 
January 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW 
January 22 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
January 22 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW 
January 22 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW

January 13, 2020

Hems & Homicide by Elizabeth Penney - Spotlight


 

Book details
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (December 31, 2019) 
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages 
ISBN-10: 1250257948 
ISBN-13: 978-1250257949 
Digital ASIN: B07SBQ9Y2Z


Book description
Welcome to the first in the Apron Shop mystery series by Elizabeth Penney, set in the quaint village of Blueberry Cove, Maine where an expert seamstress turned amateur sleuth is getting measured for murder. . .

Iris Buckley is sew ready for a change. After the death of her beloved grandfather, Iris decides to stay in her Maine hometown to help out her widowed grandmother, Anne—and bring her online hand-made apron designs to real-time retail life. Her and Anne’s shop, Ruffles & Bows, is set to include all the latest and vintage linen fashions, a studio for sewing groups and classes, and a friendly orange cat. The only thing that they were not planning to have on the property? A skeleton in the basement

Anne recognizes the remains of an old friend, and when a second body shows up in the apron shop—this time their corrupt landlord, whom Anne had been feuding with for decades—she becomes a prime suspect. Now, it’s up to Iris to help clear her name. Enlisting the help of her old high-school crush Ian Stewart who, like certain fabrics, has only gotten better-looking with age and her plucky BFF Madison Morris, Iris must piece together an investigation to find out who the real killer is. . .and find a way to keep her brand-new business from being scrapped in the process.

Meet the author - Elizabeth Penney
Elizabeth Penney is an author, entrepreneur, and local food advocate living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In addition to writing full-time, she operates a small farm. Elements that often appear in her novels include vintage summer cottages, past/present mysteries, and the arts. She is represented by the fabulous Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Elizabeth's writing credits include over twenty mysteries, short stories, and hundreds of business articles. A former consultant and nonprofit executive, she holds a BS and an MBA. She's also written screenplays with her musician husband.

She loves walking in the woods, kayaking on quiet ponds, trying new recipes, and feeding family and friends.

Author Links Webpage: www.elizabethpenneyauthor.com 

Twitter: @liz2penney 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7877413.Elizabeth_Penney 

Purchase Links - Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
January 13 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
January 13 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT 
January 13 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
January 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT 
January 13 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 
January 14 – The Power of Words – REVIEW 
January 14 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
January 14 – Sneaky the Library Cat's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
January 14 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT 
January 14 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT 
January 15 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW 
January 15 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT 
January 15 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
January 15 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT 
January 15 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW 
January 16 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 
January 16 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW 
January 16 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW 
January 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 
January 16 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
January 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW 
January 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW 
January 17 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
January 17 – TBR Book Blog – REVIEW 
January 17 – That's What She's Reading – GUEST POST 
January 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW 
January 18 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW 
January 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT 
January 18 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW 
January 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW 
January 19 – Lisa Ks Book Review – REVIEW 
January 19 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW 
January 19 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW

January 7, 2020

The Country Guesthouse by Robyn Carr - Review

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

Book details
Series: Sullivan's Crossing (Book 5)
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (January 7, 2020)
ISBN-13: 978-0778309055

Book description
Hannah Russell’s carefully crafted plans for her life have been upended without warning. When her best friend died suddenly, Hannah became guardian to a five-year-old named Noah. With no experience at motherhood, she’s terrified she’s not up to the challenge. She and Noah need time to get to know each other, so she decides to rent a country house with stunning views on a lake in rural Colorado.

When they arrive at the house, they are greeted by the owner, a handsome man who promises to stay out of their way. But his clumsy Great Dane, Romeo, has other ideas and Noah immediately bonds with the lovable dog. As Hannah learns to become a mother, Owen Abrams, who is recovering from his own grief, can’t help but be drawn out of his solitude by his guests.

But life throws more challenges at this unlikely trio and they are tested in ways they never thought possible. All three will discover their strengths and, despite their differences, they will fight to become a family. And the people of Sullivan’s Crossing will rally around them to offer all of the support they need.

Meet the author - Robyn Carr
Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr’s website at www.RobynCarr.com.

My thoughts
This is the best book in the Sullivan's Crossing series yet. I fell in love with little Noah from the first time he appeared. He is such a cute little kid and so very smart and had so much to deal with at such a young age. Hannah was a good person to take on little Noah and to love him unconditionally. Who can forget Owen who had his own past but along with his dog Romeo falls in love with Noah from the start. I like how the community of Sullivan's Crossing comes together to all protect Noah. I did not want their story to end.