A Composition in Murder by Larissa Reinhart - Spotlight and Giveaway

Published: November 15, 2016

Number of pages: 266

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Cherry Tucker Mystery #6

Synopsis:

With a new art teaching gig at Halo House—Halo, Georgia’s posh independent living home—and Halo society scrutinizing her family and her love life, Cherry Tucker needs to stay out of trouble. However, her sleuthing skills are sought by Halo House’s most famous resident: Belvia Brakeman, the ninety-year-old, blind CEO and founder of Meemaw’s Tea. Belvia confides in Cherry that the family tea empire is in jeopardy. The CEO suspects her daughter, the COO, has been murdered and she might be next. Her offer is hard to refuse, but will have Cherry treading on Forks County Sheriff toes, namely her personal Deputy Heartache, Luke Harper.

Amid her town troubles, can Cherry put her reputation, romance, and life on the line for the final request of a sweet tea tycoon? While she juggles senior citizen shenanigans, small town politics, and corporate family scandals, Cherry finds the sweet tea business cutthroat in more ways than one.

About the author:

A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery series. The first in the series, Portrait of a Dead Guy, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. The sixth mystery, A Composition in Murder, releases November 15th. Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, now live in Nagoya, Japan, but they still call Georgia home.

Author Links:
Website: http://larissareinhart.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1qMwr29
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RisWrites
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RisWrites
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806614.Larissa_Reinhart
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/LarissaReinhart/
Join her Facebook street team, The Mystery Minions

Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N

Giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 14 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 14 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT 

November 15 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW

November 15 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – THE PULP AND MYSTERY SHELF – INTERVIEW

November 17 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW

November 18 – Varietats – INTERVIEW

November 19 – Brooke Blogs – INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW 

November 21 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT

November 22 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 23 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – THANKSGIVING U.S.

November 25 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

November 26 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

November 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

November 28 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 29 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

Journey to Hawk's Peak by MK McClintock - Spotlight

Published: October 19, 2016

Number of pages: 244

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: Montana Gallaghers #5

Synopsis:

One woman's desperation to escape would become the greatest journey of her life.

Briarwood, Montana Territory—1884

Amanda Warren arrived in Briarwood, Montana, with one satchel and a dream. After death destroyed her happiness, she fled, unwilling to believe that was the end, yet her weary spirit thought only of survival.

Then she met the Gallaghers.

They took a chance and gave her a home and a family, but is she strong enough to make a new start?

Ben Stuart has seen more of life than he wants to remember, but with the Gallaghers he had found a place where he could forget times gone by and live the life he always wanted. When Amanda arrived at Hawk's Peak, Ben saw a woman hiding from secrets and running from her past. How will he convince her that the journey is over? Join us on a journey to Hawk's Peak for a romantic adventure you'll never forget.

The Montana Gallagher Series (historical western romance adventures): 

Gallagher's Pride

Gallagher's Hope

Gallagher's Choice

An Angel Called Gallagher

Journey to Hawk's Peak 

Buy Links
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

About the author:

MK McClintock is an award-winning author who has written several novels and short stories, including the popular "Montana Gallagher" series, the "Crooked Creek" series set in post-Civil War Montana, and the highly-acclaimed "British Agent" novels. She spins tales of romance, adventure, and mystery set in the 1800s. MK enjoys a quiet life in the Rocky Mountains.

MK is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America. Learn more at www.mkmcclintock.com.

MK also writes contemporary romance and romantic thrillers as McKenna Grey.

Genres: historical romantic westerns, historical romantic mysteries, western short stories

Contact & Connect
www.mkmcclintock.com
mk@mcclintockmt.com
Facebook.com/mkmcclintockbooks
Twitter.com/mkmcclintock
Pinterest.com/mkmcclintock

A note from the author . . .

Dearest Reader,
Little did I know that my first published book, Gallagher's Pride, would lead to a fifth Montana Gallagher book and yet here we are. Amanda Warren entered the Gallaghers' lives in book three, and I immediately knew she would need a story of her own. Her past held many unanswered questions, and I wanted to learn more about her and how she came to be in Briarwood. Ben Stuart, the ranch foreman at Hawk's Peak, has a bit of his own mysterious past, and the more time I spent with him and Amanda, the clearer their stories became. I hope you enjoy their tender, romantic adventure.

Happy Reading!
-MK

Excerpt from Journey to Hawk’s Peak

From Chapter Ten

“Would you rather continue to hide and live in fear of the unknown? You can resolve this by sharing your story with the Gallaghers. They have connections and influence that can help.”

Ben’s words ignited a spark within Amanda. “I wonder if I’m strong enough for a fight, if it comes to that. I was here for only the end of the troubles this family faced because of Nathan Hunter.” Amanda recalled those last days of Hunter with clarity. The destruction and fear he caused to his own flesh and blood had been abominable, and yet his grandchildren—Brenna and Ramsey—were stronger for it. “I don’t know how Brenna and Isabelle and Eliza got through it all.”

“You have the strength, and deep down, you know you’re capable of facing whatever might come your way.” He stepped closer, his voice soft yet unyielding. “You’re forgetting something very important about what Brenna and the others went through.”

Amanda’s eyes met his. She felt his strength and more palpably, his love.

“They weren’t alone, Amanda. Not for one minute, no matter if they were apart from the people they loved for a brief time. They were never alone. And neither are you.”

End of Excerpt
Continue Reading Sample Selection

Chamomile Mourning by Laura Childs - Review

Published: March 7, 2006

Number of pages: 320

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series; Tea Shop Mystery #6

Synopsis:

Charleston, South Carolina, is alive with music, dancing, and the arts as the Spoleto festival gets underway. But Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning feels far from festive when the inaugural Poet’s Tea is forced into one of the Heritage Society’s austere halls by rain. And when it rains, it pours—as proven when a respected auction house owner plummets from the balcony, landing dead on Theodosia’s specially-prepared cake. Worse yet, it looks like someone helped him over the edge. With a full kettle of suspects, Theodosia pursues an investigation into the murky swamps of the Low Country, where she uncovers a thriving criminal enterprise of art forgery, fraud—and murder…

My thoughts:

Another hit by Laura to a great series. This book gave us plenty of twists. There was some relationships that ended but then some that are just beginning. I can't wait to see what is in store for us in the upcoming books. Through the whole book you have one person that the police were focused on and one person that Theo was focused on but thanks to Theo's good investigative skills she found the real killer. My thoughts on some of the characters - I wish Haley would grow up, I think she acts like a teenager as times and she is not one of my favorite people. I love Drayton and as the series goes on I love him even more. Delaine is a rude uppity person and is someone I would not care to be around. Timothy was a little off and grumpy in this book. Gracie I think is going to be a good addition to this series and a friend to Haley. I loved the idea of a tea cup exchange party at the tea shop. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. 

About the author:

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 fund raising 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.

Deadly Dog Days by Jamie M. Blair - Guest Post and Giveaway

Published: November 8, 2016

Number of pages: 240

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Dog Days Mystery #1

Synopsis:

New to the historic town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is looking to make friends with her neighbors. What she isn’t looking for is one of their bodies floating in the canal.

When she and her estranged husband, the town sheriff, are both named suspects for the murder, Cameron takes solving the crime into her own hands, teaming up with her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency.

As if hunting for a murderer with two high school geniuses, the town drunk, and an elderly kleptomaniac isn’t hard enough, Cameron adopts the five mangy guard dogs of her deceased neighbor. But maybe a stint at playing gatekeeper is just what she needs to come face-to-face with the killer and save another neighbor from being the next victim.

About the author:

Jamie Blair (Ohio) is the award-winning author of young adult and romance books, including Leap of Faith (Simon & Schuster, 2013) and Lost to Me. Visit her online at www.JamieBlairAuthor.com and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JamieMBlair

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

Guest Post:

Dogs: A Mystery Writer’s Best Friend

Cozy mysteries come in many shapes and forms. Sometimes the amateur sleuth is a baker, a quilter, or a book collector. Mine collects dogs—but not on purpose. If you’re like me and stray animals seem to have a GPS straight to your door, you know how that happens.

Cameron Cripps Hayman, the heroine in my Dog Days Mysteries series, adopts the unruly pack of six guard dogs owned by the murderer’s victim in the first book, Deadly Dog Days. There’s Gus, the giant, laid back Newfoundland; grumpy Isobel, the geriatric German Shepherd; the medium-sized yet-to-be-named twins shaped like tanks who appear to be some type of wiry-haired terriers; Liam the puppy, the teeny, tiny ball of fluff Yorkie/Maltese; and large and in charge Brutus, a snarly Doberman Pincher/Rottweiler mix, prone to bite, who trees cats and howls at the moon.

Writing the different personalities of each dog is a blast. No, they don’t speak, but their actions speak louder than words. Although they were technically guard dogs, not one of them has had any training. They don’t even sit or shake, let alone worry about intruders—especially not Spook, the sly black cat who sneaks into Cam’s house from time to time who the dogs never seem to notice.

And what good would be having dogs in the book if they don’t help solve the crime? They might not be trained, but they sure are loyal!

Giveaway:

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Tour Participants

November 8 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

November 9 – Books,Dreams,Life – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT

November 10 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 10 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my! – REVIEW

November 11 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

November 11 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW

November 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

November 13 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

November 14 – A Date with a Book – REVIEW

November 14 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Book Babble – REVIEW

November 16 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 16 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

November 17 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 19 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

November 20 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

Nourishing Meals by Alissa Segersten & Tom Malterre - Review

I voluntarily reviewed this book

Published: October 11, 2016

Number of pages: 528

Genre: Non-Fiction, Cookbooks

Synopsis:

From two popular bloggers and leaders in the functional medicine movement, here’s the ultimate guide to eating healthfully as a family—a simple, practical cookbook that shows how easy it is to ditch processed foods one meal at a time with 365 delicious, whole food-based, allergen-free recipes that the entire family will love.

It can be daunting to live a whole foods lifestyle in today’s busy world—even more so to prepare plant-rich, allergen-free meals that’ll get the whole family around the table. Popular blogger Ali Segersten and functional medicine expert Tom Malttere are a team devoted to teaching their children—and readers—the importance of living a whole foods lifestyle. Nourishing Meals makes it easy and fun with dishes that burst with flavor, such as their Cherry Pecan Salad, Butternut Squash and Pinto Bean Enchiladas, Chipotle-Lime Roasted Chicken, and Banana Coconut Cream Pie.

Every recipe in the book is free of the most common allergens: gluten, soy, eggs, and dairy, as well as refined sugar. And these dishes are designed to appeal to everyone, including vegan, vegetarian, seafood, and meat-eaters. In addition to wonderful food, Ali and Tom offer easy, doable steps to help you change your family's health, tips for making the transition easier, and ways to get the kids excited about wholesome foods. They map out the best foods and recipes for every stage of having a family, from pre-conception and pregnancy through each year of a child's life. And they explain in accessible terms what makes their recipes so effective for achieving optimal health. Originally self-published with an avid following, this edition will feature more than 30 new recipes, and many of the original recipes have been updated. This new edition will also include 100 beautiful all-new food photos featured in two inserts.

With an easy, tasty recipe for every day of the year, it’s never been simpler to adopt a healthy, whole foods lifestyle!

My thoughts:

I was not sure what to expect when I decided to review this book. My family and I have been wanting to try an eat healthier so I thought this would be a way to get some new recipes. The problem I have with a lot of healthy recipes books is that the recipes do not sound good to me. When looking through this book I found myself saying ooh I want to try this ooh that looks good. Now I know my family would eat this. Then I told both my husband and daughter that I want them to look through it as well so they can pick out some things to try. Not only are these recipes good for you they taste good too. Who knew you could have a chocolate cake that is healthy. Along with the recipes they provide colored pictures of some of the dishes so you can see what they look like. Another thing I liked is how at the beginning of each section they give you ten tips for whatever that section is about. For example ten tips for snack ideas, ten tips for using natural sweetners and so on. The beginning of the book also teaches you about eating healthy with whole foods, allergy free and gluten free. It also gives you tips on raising a heathly child. I recommend this book for all families looking for an alternative way to eat. 

About the authors:

Alissa Segersten is a cooking instructor and author of the food blog,www.nourishingmeals.com, empowering people with cooking skills and knowledge of whole foods so that they may reconnect with pleasure in eating delicious, nourishing food.

Tom Malterre, MS, CN, is a certified nutritionist who holds two degrees in nutritional sciences, and is a faculty member of the Autism Research Institute. He coaches physicians and other health care practitioners on using Functional Medicine principals in their clinical practices, and travels the U.S. and Canada lecturing on the biochemical interactions within the body and their relationship to diet.

Tom and Ali are often described as "food whisperers" who speak and write on the connection between diet and autism, fertility, and raising healthy children. They live in Bellingham, Washington.

Key to a Murder by Vicki Vass - Review and Giveaway

I voluntarily reviewed this book

Published: August 12, 2016

Number of pages: 176

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series; Antique Hunters Mystery #4

Synopsis:

A mysterious woman appears on the doorstep of Great Aunt Sybil’s Attic in the middle of the night. Owner Anne Hillstrom lets her in, only to have the woman die in her arms. With no final words, and only an old lantern clutched to her chest, the dead woman provides Anne and her partner CC precious few clues to discover her murderer or why she spent her last moments in their antique store. The two Antique Hunters search for clues, finding themselves entangled in a centuries-old mystery leading them to a cemetery in Ireland where a ghost from the past has left them a cryptic message, and a killer has left them no choice but to discover his identity before he kills again. On their journey, the two best friends encounter antiques, romance and the key to a murder.

My thoughts:

This series has been such fun to read and follow along with. With each new book I enjoy it even more. This time we get to go to a cemetery in Ireland and collect clues from a ghost. What can be better than that. Oh and add in the antique collecting and a little romance all things for a fun mystery. The author did a good job in her descriptions of the setting that you felt as if you were right along with Anne trying to solve this case. The characters in this series are fun and easy to like - the author has a way of making them seem very real to you and the way they work together is great. There are plenty of twists and turns in this book so you will be kept guessing until the end as I was. Another thing that I like about this author is how she always includes a bit of history about the antiques in her stories. For a history buff like me this adds to the story. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. 

About This Author

With a passion for shopping and antiques, Vicki Vass turned in her reporter’s notebook to chronicle the adventures of Anne and CC, two antique hunters who use their skills to solve a murder case.

Vicki has written more than 1,400 stories for the Chicago Tribune as well as other commercial publications including Home & Away, the Lutheran and Woman’s World. Her science fiction novel, The Lexicon, draws on her experience in Sudan while writing about the ongoing civil war for World Relief.

She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, writer and musician Brian Tedeschi, son Tony, Australian shepherd Bandit, kittens Terra and Pixel, seven koi and Gary the turtle.

Author Links –
Website – http://www.vickivass.com/
Blog – https://vickivass.wordpress.com/2015/07/04/heading-home/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/vickivassauthor

Purchase Links –
Amazon B&N

Giveaway:

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 1 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

November 2 – Books,Dreams,Life – REVIEW

November 3 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW(Killer Finds)

November 3 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 4 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 5 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

November 6 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 7 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

November 7 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST

November 8 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 9 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW

November 10 – Book Babble – REVIEW

November 11 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

November 12 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 14 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

Maggie Dove's Detective Agency by Susan Breen - Spotlight

Published: November 8, 2016

Number of pages: 225

Genre: Cozy Mystery 

Second in series

Synopsis:

As Susan Breen’s compelling cozy mystery series continues, Maggie Dove’s budding detective agency has given her a new lease on life. Only one thing stands in the way of success: her clients—or lack of them.

After catching the killer who shook her small Hudson River town, former Sunday School teacher Maggie Dove stumbled onto an exciting new career and found a way to take her mind off her own tragic past. Now, despite her best efforts to promote the agency, Maggie can’t seem to land any new cases—until Racine Stern, one of the village’s wealthiest residents, offers her a thousand dollars to convince her “evil” sister, Domino, to stay out of town.

While Maggie’s business partner thinks she’s crazy for turning down a potential client, she doesn’t want her agency to get a reputation for accommodating bizarre requests. However, Maggie is soon caught up in the family drama anyway. Racine may fear for her life—and her inheritance—but it’s Domino who takes the fall when she plunges to her death from a tower at Stern Manor. Was it an accident or something more sinister? Maggie’s investigation will test her faith—and her ability to survive.

About The Author:

Susan Breen is the author of The Fiction Class, her debut novel that won the Washington Irving Book Award. Her stories and articles have appeared in many magazines, among them The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Compose, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. She teaches at Gotham Writers in Manhattan; is on the faculty of the New York Pitch Conference, South Carolina Writers Workshop, and the Women’s National Book Association; and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters-in-Crime. Breen lives in a small village on the Hudson River with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. Her three children are flourishing elsewhere.

Webpage – http://www.susanjbreen.com/about.htm

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N

Tour Participants

November 7 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – Blogger Nicole – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW 

November 10 – Books Direct – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 13 – Varietats – INTERVIEW 

November 14 – off

November 15 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 17 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

November 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

November 19 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – REVIEW

November 20 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

November 20 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

November 21 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GUEST POST