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Cozy Wednesday with Author Victoria Abbott (Giveaways too!)

Cozy Wednesday, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, What An Animal Reading Challenge 51 Responses »

Mar 202013

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am thrilled to have this writing team here today! You are going to love their post!
My, they have been tested and have come out shining on the other side.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Thanks so much for inviting Victoria Abbott here to Cozy Wednesday! It means a lot especially as this month The Christie Curse: a book collector mystery hit the stands and the e-readers. This series is a collaboration with me and my daughter, writing as Victoria Abbott. Getting to release day for The Christie Curse has been an emotional roller coaster for us, but in the end we are very happy about the book and excited to keep going with a series we love. And maybe we were just a little bit surprised.

Here’s why:
I have always considered writing to be a solitary business. It’s just you and the crazy people who live in your head. Through many books that worked for me, although I could often be seen talking to people who clearly were not there.

But then, along came this idea for a collaboration with my daughter, Victoria, writing a new series for Berkley Prime Crime. The sleuth is a young graduate student who works as the eyes, ears and feet for a reclusive and difficult wealthy collector of fine first editions.

We decided to jump in. We had a history in mystery: we were involved for several years in Ottawa’s tiny perfect Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore and we both love crime fiction and especially cozies. We know a lot about the golden age of mystery and admire the legacy of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and the writers who developed and popularized the art of detection on the page.

Victoria is a terrific artist and photographer with mystery short stories published and I had thirteen books in three series and two dozen short stories in print. We are both creative and laugh a lot, maybe because Victoria is a very funny lady. We were euphoric when the contract was signed. In fact, we may look a bit deranged in this photo.

So, what was the worst that could happen?

Writers ask this question just before we plunge our protagonist into a vat of trouble. It keeps readers engaged and gives a story substance. However in our case, we lived it. My husband and Victoria’s father had a devastating brain hemorrhage after routine surgery, just after the first book was submitted. He was not expected to live. We were told to take out a Do Not Resuscitate Order. He spent a month in a coma and for seven months was paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. There were operations, procedures, serious setbacks and two bouts of pneumonia. Our wonderful editor at Berkley was kind enough to hold back The Christie Curse, as there was no way we could get the second book, The Sayers Swindle, finished in time. Meanwhile Victoria was going through her own tumultuous time, a story for another day.

With Victoria’s help, we packed up her father’s business and I sold our house (with the thousands of books) and bought a one-story house that would be accessible for a wheelchair and I moved. Two days later my husband was released from hospital. They called him The Miracle Man. This miracle was all very distracting! It took us a long time to be able to get our concentration back and return to our second mystery. We have all rebuilt our lives this past year.

With the release of The Christie Curse, Victoria and I are once again riding high, as is our great supporter, The Miracle Man. The book is getting excellent reviews and we are having fun. We’re editing The Sayers Swindle and we’re into The Wolfe Widow.

But you may want to know how we do it. Well, if we really knew we’d tell you. We try this and we try that. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t The best way for us is to construct scenes and work on character development on the phone. We are less distracted and distracting that way.

We are always surprised at the characters the other creates and yet we always enjoy the results. Our favorite characters in The Christie Curse are Jordan’s lovable criminal uncles Mick and Lucky (and the rest of the minor uncles) all of whom are, as they say, known to the police. They will continue to provide endless fun for us. We also love the eccentric Italian cook, Senora Panetone You! Eat!, and Lance that hot librarian. Of course, we are crazy about the Pug, Walter. Our dachshunds are not too impressed with Walter.

But I digress. Frequently we discuss and act out scenes and dialogue while one of us types like the wind. We also each have characters that we ‘own’ and often write scenes alone and then slot them in. This only works if we know what the other is up to! Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.

For instance, it took us ages to wrestle Uncle Kevin back to where he belonged in The Sayers Swindle, when we each went off in separate directions. But Uncle Kevin tends to bring chaos to any situation. And why was he at that murder scene anyway?
Then there are the Siamese cats … but that’s a dangerous topic.

Another challenge is harmonizing the voice. Jordan must narrate the story, not Victoria and not Mary Jane. We feel it’s worth the investment to make sure she sounds like herself.

Looking back over this writing adventure, I realize that the question “What’s the worst that can happen?” is one that mystery writers throw at their characters all the time. We did it to Jordan and then life threw that same question at our family. In a crime story, we all want our characters to come through their darkest hour, we want justice done and we like a happy ending. We’ve had all that. We have seen the worst and lived to tell the tale. But after this, we’ll take our dramatic moments in fiction, thank you very much. From now on, we hope that Jordan will take the heat.

~Victoria Abbott

About This Author

Victoria Abbott is a collaboration between the always very funny and creative artist, photographer and short story author, Victoria Maffini and her mother, Mary Jane Maffini, award-winning author of three mystery series and two dozen short stories. Their four miniature dachshunds are understandably outraged that a pug and some Siamese cats have wiggled their way into the series.

You can find them at www.victoria-abbott.com or www.maryjanemaffini.com

They have regular slots on www.killercharacters.com and www.mysteryloverskitchen.com

Find Victoria on Facebook www.facebook.com/bookcollectormysteries

Or follow them on twitter @abbottmysteries

They’re dying to tweet you.

Amazon.com Widgets

The Christie Curse
(A Book Collector Mystery)
New Series!
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (March 5, 2013)
Published By The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Mary Ann Lasher
Cover Design by Olivia Andreas
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425255285
E-book File Size: 603 KB
ASIN: B0099CGY2S

In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared—making headlines across the world—only to show up eleven days later at a spa under an assumed name. During those eleven days, did she have time to write a play?

Jordan Bingham needs a job and a new place to live. She has moved back to Harrison Falls and in with her wonderful not so law abiding uncles. Thank to her ex she is deep in debt and the grad school loans are hanging over her head.

She answers a blind ad and crosses her fingers. Thrilled to get an interview, the job sounds perfect and even includes room and board. Then she meets Vera Van Alst. Not the most friendly person and most of the town hates her, but she has this wonderful library. The job is tracking down a play rumored to have been written by Agatha Christie. Jordan knows she can do this job and convinces Miss Van Alst to give her a try. Then Jordan learns her predecessor was killed while looking for this play. She soon realizes that there is someone out there willing to kill to keep the play out of the hands of her new employer. The job is good but is it worth Jordan’s life?

Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a wonderful debut!

Jordan is a very intriguing protagonist. She is strong, smart, almost fearless and funny too. But the author doesn’t stop there. The reader is treated to rich and real treasures in the supporting cast. There are the nefarious uncles who love Jordan so much and will do anything for her even if it means breaking the law. Vera Van Alst is getting a little less cranky but is definitely set in her ways. Officer Smiley and Detective Zinger are polar opposites in their investigative techniques but one is starting to grow on Jordan a lot more than the other. Librarian Lance would have me at the library 24/7 just mooning over him. My favorite human character definitely is Signora Panetone, Vera’s cook. She is priceless with her “EAT NOW!!” shouts at every delicious sounding meal. I think I gained weight just reading about these fabulous meals.

Then there are the felines and the canine. The Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde cat(s) had me in stitches. Walter, the pug, bails Jordan out of a tight situation and melted right into this reader’s hearts.

The Van Alst mansion is a character itself more than a setting. The climate controlled library, the back stairway, servants quarters that become Jordan’s garret, and the conservatory. The game clue kept coming to my mind as we traveled through the monstrous house. I can’t wait to explore more in the next book.

The mystery is very complex and with all the twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing. I was truly surprised by the ending.

An excellent debut. Agatha Christie herself would give it 5 stars!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Victoria for 5 Bonus Entries !

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End April 3, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Mary Jane Maffini – 1 half of Victoria Abbott
has added a Special Giveaway!
A copy of
The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder (A Charlotte Adams Mystery)

CLICK HERE FOR A SPECIAL ENTRY FORM

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cozy Wednesday With Author Ellery Adams (Giveaway too!)

Cozy Wednesday, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, What An Animal Reading Challenge, Where Are You Reading Challenge 101 Responses »

Mar 062013

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am thrilled to welcome Ellery here today. She is the fabulous author of the
Books by the Bay Mysteries and the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries.

Hi Ellery!

Hi Everyone!

Winter is almost over, and in Havenwood, Georgia, things are definitely heating up. Ella Mae LeFaye’s Charmed Pie Shoppe is the most popular place in town and when she’s asked to provide the desserts for the town’s most anticipated wedding, it seems as though her new business is truly taking off.

Unfortunately, Ella Mae’s personal life isn’t as successful. She’s been in love with handsome firefighter Hugh Dylan since middle school, but she can’t act on her feelings until her divorce is finalized. And her husband isn’t willing to let her go. In fact, he’ll go through terrible lengths to keep her.

At least there’s a wedding to look forward to. Ella Mae infuses each of her miniature pies and tarts with sensations of love and joy and the evening promises to be pure magic. The bride and groom dance on the lawn beneath the glow of a million stars and hovering fireflies and Ella Mae hopes to take a turn over the soft grass with Hugh. But not long after the newlyweds gallop away on horseback, the mother of the bride succumbs to a mysterious illness and slips into a coma.

Ella Mae and her family must pool their gifts and talents in order to catch an enchanted killer. All the while, she must continue to dazzle her pie shop patrons with offerings like the one listed below.

This is one of Ella Mae’s magical wedding pies. Try it and enjoy!

And if you leave a comment telling us about your favorite pie, you could win this Charmed Pie Shoppe prize pack featuring a striped apron, heart dish towels, and a mini pie mold!

Charmed Apple Ginger Maple Crumble Pie

Ingredients

1 Piecrust (if you don’t want to make your dough from scratch, use a refrigerated Pillsbury crust)

6 cups of peeled and chopped apples (pick your favorites or substitute the apples for Bartlett pears)

1 ½ tablespoons of cornstarch

½ teaspoon of salt

¼ cup of packed brown sugar

¼ cup of pure Grade A maple syrup

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of lemon zest

½ teaspoon of ground ginger

Crumble Topping Ingredients

2/3 cup flour

½ cups old-fashioned oats

½ cup packed dark brown sugar

1/3 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces

1 Roll out pie dough and place in a 9 ½-inch deep-dish pie dish Put in the freezer to set.

2 Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the chopped apples in a large bowl with the cornstarch, ginger, brown sugar, maple syrup, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Toss well using your fingers.

3 Place the apple mixture into the pie dish. Place the pie into the center oven rack and bake for 45 minutes.

4 While baking take all the Oatmeal Crumb Topping ingredients and place them in a bowl. Use your hands and mix the ingredients until large crumbs form. Refrigerate until use.

5 After the 45 minutes are up remove pie and reduce heat to 375F. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the pie and bake for another 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for at least one hour. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

~Ellery

I can’t wait to try this recipe! Thank you Ellery for being my guest today!!

Check out this trailer to Ellery’s Peach Pies and Alibis (A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery)!

To Find out more about Ellery and her books visit her webpage here.
Find her on Facebook Twitter GoodReads

You can also find her over at The Cozy Chicks and find The Cozy Chicks on Facebook and Twitter.

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Peach Pies and Alibis
(A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery)
2nd In Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Mystery (March 5, 2013)
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Julia Green
Cover Design by Diana Kolsky
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425251997
E-Book File Size: 550 KB
ASIN: B0099CTZGA

Ella Mae has a lot on her plate with running her very successful Charmed Pie Shoppe but has decided to add a little catering to the mix. Her first job is a dessert buffet at a wedding. Things are going well until right after the couple ride away on horseback the bride’s stepmother is rushed to the hospital where she slips into a coma. This on the tails of a prominent member of the community has died. Ella Mae is afraid these two things may be related.

Ella Mae is also trying to understand her enchanted gift and wants to know the origin of her magical powers. She also needs to know if the attraction she feels for Hugh is true. She needs to get her divorce finalized and then see if she can have a future with the guy she has loved since middle school.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Peach Pies and Alibis is a very unique story that will have you enthralled from the first page to the last.

In her search to understand her powers Ella Mae’s journey takes the reader on a magical ride. From her mother’s beautiful gardens to a very special place for those that are charmed. I felt like I was on Ella Mae’s shoulder with a bird’s eye view watching the entire story take place. Ellery Adams has the gift to suspend time as her readers almost descend right into the book for an amazing trip that takes us beyond Havenwood. I was most definitely captivating by her words. The way she weaves this mystery with the mystery of finding the killer is flawless.

The characters are wonderful including the lovable Jack Russell terrier, Charleston Chew (Chewy). Ella’s aunts and mother, each with their distinct charms, are extraordinary characters. Loralyn and her family are the Havenwood residents that must be endured by Ella Mae and her family but they add the strife every good cozy needs. Hugh Dylan brings the romantic tension and sparks actually fly. Mr. & Mrs. Caswell even make a cameo appearance. The Shepard’s pie was delicious!

This story get my highest recommendation! If I could I would award it much more than 5 starfish!! I know this is going to be on my 2013 favorites list!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway in addition to Ellery’s Spectacular Prize.!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Ellery to be entered to win!

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End March 20, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Cozy Wednesday with Author Elizabeth Craig (Giveaway too!)

A - Z Cozy Mystery Challenge, Cozy Wednesday, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, What An Animal Reading Challenge 65 Responses »

Feb 272013

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am thrilled today to welcome Elizabeth Craig to Escape With Dollycas.
Her Southern Quilting Mysteries are so much fun!

Hi Elizabeth!

Hi Everyone!

Writing the South?

You’ve Got Heaps of Material

By Elizabeth S. Craig

Why do I pick Southern settings for my books? Well, for one thing, it’s the only area of the world that I can write about with any degree of authority. As a lifelong Southerner, and an observer of all the South’s fun and foibles, it’s only natural I’d pick the settings I do.

For another—let’s face it. There’s just a lot of material to write about here. Everyone has at least one relative who’s a little bit batty (I claim several), there are family secrets, gossip, interesting diction choices, and quite-involved traditions and customs.

In many ways, the South is very old-fashioned. Most ladies of a particular age still adhere to the no-white-shoes-after-Labor Day rule. Even if you don’t wear pantyhose to work, you should wear it to church and funerals. And nobody wears white at weddings but the bride (wearing black at weddings is considered bad luck.) Take down the Christmas tree by New Year’s Day or else you’re cursed with bad luck for the year. Actually, there are a whole bunch of traditions related to luck and superstition. Eating black-eyed peas at New Year’s is another (this is one you should do, instead of avoid.)

Am I the only one here who was threatened with charm school when I used bad manners as a child? Children are cajoled and scolded into good behavior with plenty of ma’ams and sirs thrown in for good measure—and charm school is still around. Except now I think they call it etiquette class or something. Which doesn’t have the same appeal, to me, somehow.

So for this new book, Knot What It Seams, I figured I’d have to include a smattering of Southern funeral tradition. It might also be tradition where you live, and if it is, I’d love to hear it…or how your traditions differ. Although I only touched on this in the new book, most of my books include Southern funerals. They’re just so distinctive and such occasions for both grief and celebration that it’s tough to leave them out.

Funerals here in the South are occasions for food. Food is considered an amazing balm for the troubled spirit, here. The interesting thing is how heavy the food typically is—you’d think we’d all be a lot more health-conscious since we’ve got funerals on the brain. But there are no antioxidant super foods to be found after Southern funerals. There are plenty of casseroles, brought over by your neighbors, coworkers, church friends, family, and friends—thoughtfully put in throwaway containers with reheating instructions on them. My character in the new books, Meadow, mentions “a cornucopia of lovingly donated casseroles.”

And there will be ham. If you’ve lost a loved one here, the church ladies will descend upon your house with fiercely tender efficiency. They’ll organize the food, freezing some and putting others in the fridge. After your funeral when everyone drops by your house to be fed (does this happen elsewhere, too?), the church ladies will command your kitchen for you, shooing you out gently but firmly as they create a buffet line and serve plates of food to your grieving guests. Eventually, a party-like atmosphere may commence (particularly if the deceased was of an advanced age and the death was not an especially tragic occurrence.) It will be the first time many have seen their cousins and great aunts for years and they can’t resist the temptation to celebrate, despite their grief. Besides, Me-maw would have celebrated, too.

What about where you live? Have you got special customs related to weddings or funerals? What are they like?

~Elizabeth

Thank you so much Elizabeth for visiting today. Ham and church ladies run rampant here after funerals here in Wisconsin too:)

About This Author

Elizabeth’s latest book is Knot What it Seams, which released February 5. Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series for Penguin/Berkley (as Riley Adams), the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin/NAL, and the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently.
Facebook: Riley Adams Author and Elizabeth Spann Craig Author.

Knot What It Seams:
A Southern Quilting Mystery
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Obsidian (February 5, 2013)
Published by New American Library
A Division of The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451239617
E-Book File Size: 716 KB
ASIN: B0099CURF8

When former folk art curator Beatrice Coleman retired to Dappled Hills, North Carolina, for peace and quiet and quilting, she never expected that murder would disturb the peace…

Meadow Downey is on a quest to recruit new members for the Village Quilters Guild. She sets her sights on Jo Paxton, mail carrier, quilter, and judge for many of the nearby quilting contests. She is a much better quilter than mail carrier but all that mail gives her just enough information to cause trouble wherever she goes. Beatrice wonders if Jo is the right fit for the close knit Village Quilters. Before she can voice her concerns to Meadow Jo is killed in a car accident. Evidence shows that Jo’s crash was no accident – someone tampered with her vehicle. Meadow is sure someone is out to kill off the members of her guild. It is time for Beatrice to piece together some clues and pin down the killer before another quilter’s life is cut short.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Never a dull moment in Dappled Hills. Thankfully Police Chief Downey can filter his wife’s comical hysteria and has an open enough mind to listen to Beatrice’s theories.

Beatrice has quickly made herself at home in her new town and is even learning to quilt. Meadow and Ramsey are the perfect couple. She is absolutely as crazy as the quilts she creates and always up to something. Ramsey is calm, cool and collected, and reads poetry to relax after a hard day of fighting crime. Miss Sissy is my absolute favorite character. She is off beat and unpredictable and I love her. Jo was a fabulous character as well. A true troublemaker. Too bad she had to die.

Craig’s whodunit was full of misdirection and curves with bits of humor sewn right in. There is a true Southern feel to the characters and events. More like Southern chaos instead of Southern charm. A fun and entertaining story. These are characters I can’t wait to visit again.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?

Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Elizabeth for 5 Bonus Entries !

Answer her question:

What about where you live?
Have you got special customs related to weddings or funerals? What are they like?

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End March 13, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Review: Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly

A - Z Cozy Mystery Challenge, Cruisin Thru Cozies Reading Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, What An Animal Reading Challenge, Where Are You Reading Challenge 1 Response »

Feb 162013

Cat Trick:
A Magical Cats Mystery
4th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Obsidian (February 5, 2013)
Published by New American Library
A Division of The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451414694
E-Book File Size: 539 KB
ASIN: B008H7KGC0

Kathleen Paulson enjoys her life as a small-town librarian with two extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules, who provide companionship during the quiet times and have a remarkable talent for sleuthing when murder disturbs the peace….

Mike Glazer comes back to his hometown of Mayville Heights as the representative of Legacy Tours, a Chicago based firm the local businesses are hoping to convince set up a vacation destination package for the town. He is not the same guy they remember, he has become a real loudmouth and it isn’t long before someone shuts him up for good.

When Kathleen or should I say Hercules finds the body on the boardwalk she just can’t help but get involved in the investigation. Her boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, has begged her to leave the investigation to him but Kathleen with a little help from Hercules and Owen is determined to book the killer for an “extended stay in prison before someone else takes a permanent vacation”.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Match two magical kitties with a extremely inquisitive librarian and a murder or two and you have all the makings of an extraordinary mystery series.

Kathleen’s contract in Mayville Heights is almost up and she will have to make a big decision whether to stay or go back to Boston where her family lives. Until then she has plenty to keep her busy both at the library and with yet another murder. This time the clues are hard to come by and the “gossip grapevine” is working overtime. It is the cats that literally dig up the clues needed to solve this puzzler. Hopefully Kathleen stepping on the good detective’s toes doesn’t stall their romance. Roma and Maggie would be devastated.

Sofie Kelly has created a very identifiable cast of characters, human and feline. You know we all talk to our cats and her “catversations” are real and true and at times hilarious. I absolutely love Owen and Hercules. It doesn’t hurt that I have their twins living with me. I have not noticed that mine have a magical powers yet but there’s still hope. Kathleen is surrounded by a wonderful group of friends and I know she will realize that no matter home homesick she is for her family Mayville Heights is now her home.

A captivating cozy! Curl up with it, your favorite kitty, and enjoy!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Find out more about Sofie Kelly on her webpage here.

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Review: Out of Circulation by Miranda James

Cruisin Thru Cozies Reading Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, What An Animal Reading Challenge, Where Are You Reading Challenge 6 Responses »

Feb 082013

Out of Circulation (Cat in the Stacks Mystery)
4th in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (January 29, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425257272
E-Book File Size: 580 KB
ASIN: B0095ZP1AU
Cover Illustration by Dan Craig
Cover Design by Lesley Worrell

Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel. He’s returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books.

Charlie has found himself on the committee to plan this year’s library fundraiser gala. Mainly that means staying out of the way as barbs fly between Vera Cassity and Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote. It seems no one really cares for Vera, even Charlie’s housekeeper, Azalea, seems to have it out for her. At the gala Charlie starts to understand why. Apparently no one ever taught Vera that “if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.” She had a verbal jab for almost everyone that night. And these bitter words happened to be her last. Yes, while Vera was not the life of the party her death turned the party upside down. She was found dead and Azalea was standing over her body. Charlie knows there is much more to the story so with a bit of help from his sidekick Diesel he sets out to catch the killer before his last chapter is finished.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This 4th installment is the best one so far. The female characters are the shining stars this time. Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce are wonderful characters. Full of Southern charm and feisty. These are not women to mess with. We get to know Azalea better in this story too, a little blast from her past. She is another strong opinionated woman and I loved her speaking out – finally. Her daughter, Kanesha, gets her spunk from her mother. I see her taking over that police force in the near future.

James writes fun and entertaining mysteries with characters fleshed out making them real and identifiable. Writing strong women that have the relate with each other and relate to the reader can be a difficult task especially when the protagonist is a male. The author, yes also a male, has become a master with this latest story.

I will admit it. I absolutely love Diesel!! He is such a special cat that is tuned in to the humans around him. His meows, warbles, chirrups, and head bumps are priceless. No magical powers just a real cat acting like a cat. I live with one that could be Diesel’s brother who looks and acts exactly the same way.

All of these characters are part of a terrific mystery with a very important and surprising twist. Cozy readers will love this story!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Find out more about Miranda James on her webpage here.

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Cozy Wednesday with Author Linda O. Johnston (Giveaway too!)

A - Z Cozy Mystery Challenge, Cozy Wednesday, Cruisin Thru Cozies Reading Challenge, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013, What An Animal Reading Challenge 44 Responses »

Feb 062013

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!!

So happy to welcome Linda back to Cozy Wednesday!!!!

Hi Linda!

Hi Everyone!

Inspirations are Everywhere…

Writers get their inspirations in all sorts of ways, but this is the first time I think I ever got one of mine because of driving frequently by a certain spot in my neighborhood.

I live in the Hollywood Hills. I love animals, especially dogs, and have a great deal of fun writing my Pet Rescue Mystery series.

One day a while ago, as I drove along Ventura Boulevard near my home, I spotted a new sign outside a building that might previously have been vacant. It indicated that the American Humane Association had moved in there. Since I drive past that area often, I kept seeing that sign… and it inspired the topic of my new Pet Rescue Mystery:Oodles of Poodles.

For, yes, I dropped in one day and began talking to people and learning what American Humane is about–a wonderful group.

Oodles of Poodles takes place in the film industry, very appropriate for a series centered around a no-kill pet shelter in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. It’s sort of a story within a story, since it’s about a movie being filmed about rescued poodles, starring– you’ve got it!–rescued poodles!

My protagonist Lauren Vancouver, who’s the chief administrator of the HotRescues shelter, gets involved because of those cherished and adorable poodles. She’s also involved because one of the film’s co-producers is Dante DeFrancisco, the generous benefactor of HotRescues. Lauren finds herself visiting the film sets often on his behalf–and also to observe how the dogs are being treated. Also present is a Certified Animal Safety Representative™ of the American Humane Association, which is the only group that can provide the coveted “No Animals Were Harmed”® designation–their registered trademark.

One night the director, who had been endangering the poodles during the filming, is run over by a car. Murdered. The chief suspect is Lauren’s good friend, veterinarian and TV personality Dr. Carlie Stellan. Of course Lauren has to find the real murderer and solve the crime to help Carlie… and the dogs.

Oodles of Poodles was a lot of fun to research. I got to communicate with people within American Humane and learn about their work with films and scripted TV shows that include animals.

It was fun to write, particularly since it involved lots of dogs in unique situations–as well as utilizing Lauren’s amateur sleuthing abilities.

And these days, when I attend a movie where animals are included in the cast, I always wait till the very end of the credits to look for that very treasured certification that “No Animals Were Harmed.”

Where do your inspirations come from? Are they everywhere around you?

~Linda

Thank you so much Linda for visiting today!!!

Here’s my review!

Oodles of Poodles
(A Pet Rescue Mystery)
4th in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (February 5, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425259962
E-Book File Size: 594 KB
ASIN: B0095ZPZJ2
Cover Illustration by Jennifer Taylor/Paperdog Studios
Cover Design by Rita Frangie

Lauren is on hand to observe a movie that stars oodles of poodles, a movie about rescued poodles no less. Also on hand are Lauren’s friend, veterinarian Carlie Stellan and Grant, a handsome representative from the American Humane Association. They are all there to insure no animals are hurt or in danger during the movie production.

Unfortunately the movie’s director didn’t have anyone protecting him. He was killed in a very suspicious hit and run accident after arguing with several people about animal safety. Carlie was one of the more outspoken people speaking up for the animal and that lands her in the hot seat as a prime suspect. Lauren start to search through the oodles of clues to try to save her friend and catch a killer before someone else is put out of the picture.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I love this series because the author takes on real things that happen with animals and builds her intriguing mysteries around that issue. I have wondered for years about animals on television and movies and will now look for the “No Animals Harmed” tagline.

Lauren really does step in “it” in this installment, so much so that a few of the members of the production crew really don’t even want to be around her. She was clearly stumped by this mystery until the clues started to come together. I like that in a story – when the protagonist struggles with the evidence and suspects – and things don’t just magically fall into place. The struggles with Matt and Lauren’s relationship scare me a bit. Is their relationship strong enough to weather the ebbs and flows of the life that keep getting thrown at them?

Great Characters – Great Animals – Great Setting – Great Plot – Great Cozy Mystery!!!’

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Find out more about Linda O. Johnston, her books and Pet Rescue on her webpage here.

Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?

Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Linda for 5 Bonus Entries!
Answer Her Question:
Where do your inspirations come from? Are they everywhere around you?

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End February 20, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Dec 302012

The Sunday Salon used to be a meme but was getting so huge it became unmanageable, so it is now a Facebook group that has become an informal week in review
gathering place for bloggers.
It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature.

So Happy Sunday Everyone!

I can’t believe how quickly 2012 flew by. The biggest events for me happened in April and December when my new grandchildren were born. I known their parents won’t agree but the months went pretty fast. I am looking forward to spending as much time with them and 5 year old Kaden and the rest of my family as I can in 2013. I am also excited about 2013 in my blog world. I think it is going to be an awesome year for books and sharing my thoughts with all of you. What are you looking forward to in 2013??

Weekly Recap December 24 – 29

Monday – It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Tuesday – Just For Fun 2012 Challenge Wrap Up
Wednesday – Cozy Wednesday Special Cozy Giveaway
Thursday – Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Spotlight With Giveaway Me Before You: A Novel hits stores tomorrow and I highly recommend it. It is a powerful story that hit me on a personal level but I feel everyone will be touched by this story and it would be an excellent book club selection for the discussions it will start.
Friday – My Best Reads of 2012 This was a hard list to put together because I read so many wonderful books this year.
Saturday – Saturday Surfin’ – Recipes – Romance Challenge and Favorite Reads.

December Wrap Up

Reading Challenge 2012

I finished 2012 reading 222 books. So I completed this challenge and the Outdo Yourself Challenge with some to spare even with going 48 hours this week without reading a word.

I have not seen anyone running a Total Number of Books Reading Challenge for 2013. Please let me know if you know of one.

December Totals
16 Books – 4808 Pages – 2460 KB
2012 Totals – 222 Books – 65744 Pages – 28682 KB

More 2012 Challenges Completed

17 / 19 Challenges. 89% done!

197 / 197 books. 100% done!

20 / 20 books. 100% done!

8 / 12 free e-books. 67% done!

Fell Short on this one

25 / 25 e-books. 100% done!

51 / 51 States. 100% done!

18 / 18 Outside the U.S.A. 100% done!

12 / 12 cozies. 100% done!

13 / 13 cozies. 100% done!

6 / 6 cozies. 100% done!

6 / 6 books. 100% done!

2 / 2 series. 100% done!

26 / 26 books. 100% done!

5 / 5 books. 100% done!

12 / 12 books. 100% done!

6 / 6 books. 100% done!

8 / 8 books. 100% done!

24 / 24 books. 100% done!

12 / 10 books. 120% done!

0 / 3 books. 0% done!
This was a personal challenge to read 3 books from the year I was born.
I failed miserably. I am not going to try in 2013.

So I was successful at all but 2 challenges. Not a bad year.

mail call314

Due to the New Years Holiday January Cozies have a release date of 12/31/2012.
I was getting worried because the review copies had not arrived yet last week.
They finally arrived Thursday.

These books also arrived for review:

and

Mary Daheim will be here January 30 for Cozy Wednesday!

This was a huge post!

Looking forward to an awesome 2013 full of great reads!!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Saturday Surfin’ – Week 10 – Cozy Christmas Countdown Giveaway – More 2013 Challenges

Cruisin Thru Cozies Reading Challenge, Finish The Series Challenge, Saturday Surfin', What An Animal Reading Challenge, Where Are You Reading Challenge 5 Responses »

Dec 012012

One of the things I have been trying to improve on is visiting more blogs each week.

Doing this has led me to some very interesting blog posts so I am going to use
Saturday Surfin” to bring some of these posts to your attention.

HAVE A COZY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN!

Join Killer Characters at the Have a Cozy Christmas Countdown!

In celebration of the holidays, KillerCharacters.com is giving away a book a day. From November 26 to December 25, visit their site and leave a comment, and you’ll be entered for that day’s giveaway. Return the next day to see if you won. You have thirty chances to win! Be sure to come back each day and leave a new comment to enter the drawing for that day. Good luck. From all the Killer Characters and their authors, Have a very Cozy Christmas!

Head over there every day to enter the giveaways!!

2013 WHERE Are You Reading Challenge Sign Up!!!

Sheila at Book Journey is hosting this challenge for the 3rd year.

What is the point of this challenge?
It is to try to read in each of the 50 States
between January 1 2013 – December 31, 2013.

Today I am just 1 book away from completing the challenge for 2012.
It was much easier than I thought it would be.
I only had to search out books for a few states.
My regular reading took care of most of them
plus I visited 18 places outside the U.S. too!
CLICK HERE for all the details!

*****

This is also the third year for this challenge.
To find out exactly what a cozy mystery is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. This site is dedicated to cozy mysteries and does a great job of defining them as well as giving a list of cozy mysteries. This challenge is NOT restricted to what is on their list, it’s just to be used as a guideline in case you need some hints on what to read.

So, here are the rules…

1. Choose the level you wish to participate:
Level 1 – Snoop – Read at least 6 books
Level 2 – Investigator – Read 7-12 books
Level 3 – Super Sleuth – Read 13 or more books

2. The challenge runs from January 1, 2013 and ends December 31, 2013.

3. You don’t have to choose your books in advance. If you do, you can change your list at any time during the year. Books can overlap with other challenges.

4. Books can be in any format – paper, audio, ebooks…it all counts!

5. You don’t have to post a review, but I’m sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists.

NOTE: If you don’t have a blog and want to participate, that’s fine. You don’t have to have a blog, just post in the comments section as you finish books. If you belong to a site like Goodreads and review the books there, that’s fine too. Just leave us the link.

6. Take the button above, put it on your blog and post about the challenge. Then add your name to Mr. Linky at Yvonne’s blog. Please use the link of your challenge post, not the link to your home page.

7. She’s going to have one link for signing up, one link for completed reviews and one link for your wrap up posts.

I am signing up at the Super Sleuth level of 13 or more books!!!

CLICK HERE to join this challenge!

*****

Yvonne at Socrates Book Review Blog is hosting this one too!

Here are the rules guidelines.

1) All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, James Patterson’s Alex Cross, etc. etc.)

2) It doesn’t matter if you have 1 or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Sookie Stackhouse book to complete the goal, that’s fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.

3) The qualification period is January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Books must be read during this time frame to count.

4) Take the button above and post about it. Use the Mr. Linky to sign up and make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge. (Note: She’s not going to be using the Finishing the Series Blog she created last year. She’s going to keep everything right on her blog.)

5) If you don’t have a blog, that’s fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us what you are reading.

IF YOU WANT TO LINK UP YOUR REVIEWS OR, FOR THOSE WITHOUT A BLOG, LEAVE A COMMENT ON YVONNE’S BLOG

6) Any format of book counts – audio, ebook, etc.

7) You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn’t necessary. It’s fine to change series during the year – as long as you complete whichever series it is.

8) Choose a level….

Level 1 – Complete 1 series.
Level 2 – Complete 2 series.
Level 3 – Complete 3 or more series.

I have several series I want to catch up on so I am signing up for Level 3.

Right now the ones I hope to catch up are Janet Evanovich Plum Series, J.B. Stanley’s Supper Club Series and one other series after I tidy up my To-Be-Read stacks.

*****

One more from Yvonne!

What An Animal Reading Challenge VI will begin on January 1st.

The rules are really simple…

1. Read at least 6 books that have any of the following requirements:

a. there is an animal in the title of the book
b. there is an animal on the cover of the book
c. an animal plays a major role in the book
d. a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you’d like).

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)–
dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark…dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf…you get the idea…

3. Challenge runs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
That’s a full year to read at least 6 books (you can read more if you’d like).

4. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.

5. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or you can just list them as you find them.

6. Book titles may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).

7. Crossovers with other challenges are permitted and encouraged.

8. You don’t have to have a blog or write a review, but you can if you want to.  If you don’t have a blog, just post in the comment section that you’d like to join. You can post your books in there.

9. Books can be in any format of your choice (print, audio, ebooks)

CLICK HERE to head over to Yvonne’s blog to sign up!! I sure am!

*****

If you like Reading Challenges as much as I do, you have to subscribe or follow this blog!

There is a team of bloggers at work there to keep us up to date on all the latest challenges. I will post the ones here that I am participating in but there will be tons of challenges out there for 2013 and some start at different times of the year. I subscribe to the blog via email so news of new challenges land right in my Inbox.

That’s it for week 10 of Saturday Surfin’. If you see some posts you feel should be shared please leave the links in the comments section for people to visit. The weeks are too short to travel to all the wonderful blogs in the blogosphere but together we can help find and direct each other to at least a few.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Sunday Salon – May 2012 – The Finale

1st In A Series Challenge, Cruisin Thru Cozies Reading Challenge, E-Book Challenge, Finish The Series Challenge, Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Sunday Salon, What An Animal Reading Challenge 5 Responses »

Jun 032012

So Happy Sunday Everyone!

Books I Read In May

20 Books – 5688 pages – 2878 KB
Totals Though May 95 Books – 25087 Pages – 8275 KB

Challenges Completed During May

I joined at the CD Disk Level – 10 ebooks!

1. Almost Perfect – Patricia Rice
2. Mortal Deception by Liz Roth
3. The Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
4. Last Chance Beauty Queen by Hope Ramsay
5. Doxology by Brian Holers
6. Executive Sick Days by Maria E. Schneider
7. The Half Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter
8. Died on the Vine by Joyce Harmon
9. Skewered Halo by Brenda Youngerman
10. Woodrose Mountain by RaeAnne Thayne

CHALLENGE COMPLETED 5-24-2012

Going to see if I make to the next level in this challenge which is 25 e-books. This is my first year with my Kindle and I had no idea how many books I would use it for and it is turning out to be many more than I thought.
11. Little Night by Luanne Rice
12. The Ninth Step by Barbara Taylor Sissel

I was signed up at the Super Sleuth Level 13 or more books!!

1. An Appetite For Murder – Lucy Burdette
2. Shear Murder by Nancy J. Cohen
3. File M for Murder by Miranda James
4. Clobbered by Camembert by Avery Aames
5. The Walled Flower by Lorraine Bartlett
6. Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay
7. The Probability of Murder by Ada Madison
8. Dread On A Arrival by Claudia Bishop
9. Ocean Waves by Terri Thayer
10. The Long Stitch Good Night by Amanda Lee
11. Copycat Killing by Sofie Kelly
12. Monkey Wrench by Terri Thayer
13. Final Sail by Elaine Viets

CHALLENGE COMPLETED 5-11-2012

Series Lover Level Read the 1st book in 6 new Series!

1. Buried in a Book by Lucy Arlington
2. Amber Eyes by Jolyn Palliatia
3. Blue Monday by Nicci French
4. A Killer Read by Ericka Chase
5. A Grand Murder by Stacy Verdick Case
6. A Deadly Grind by Victoria Hamilton

CHALLENGE COMPLETED 5-16-2012

Signed up to finish 2 series’.

1. The Elm Creek Quilter’s Series by Jennifer Chiaverini
Read: The Aloha Quilt, The Union Quilters, The Wedding Quilt and Sonoma Rose

2. The Quilting Mystery Series by Terri Thayer
Read: Wild Goose Chase, Old Maid’s Puzzle, Ocean Waves and Monkey Wrench

Challenge Complete May 9, 2012
Going to try to still complete more series yet this year.

March 1, 2012 – February 28, 2013 (6 books)

1. Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay
2. Dread on Arrival by Claudia Bishop
3. The Cat, The Wife and The Weapon by Leann Sweeney
4. Copycat Killing by Sofie Kelly
5. A Deadly Grind by Victoria Hamilton
6. The Big Kitty by Claire Donally

Challenge Complete May 18, 2012

There were several giveaways and a month long “Get Caught Reading” Contest.

Looking ahead for June

Armchair BEA starts tomorrow. There will be special posts through Friday. Giveaway Day is Tuesday!

Laura Bradford will be here for Cozy Wednesday this week to tell us about her new Amish Mystery Series. Hearse and Buggy comes out this Tuesday.

Tara McTiernan author of Barefoot Girls will be Guest Posting here Tuesday, June 12.

Alyse Carlson will be here for Cozy Wednesday on June 13 for her new book/series. The Azalea Assault (A Garden Society Mystery) also comes out this Tuesday.

Julie Hyzy is stopping by Cozy Wednesday on June 20. Grace Among Thieves (A Manor House Mystery), release date is this Tuesday, June 5th.

The All He Saw Was The Girl Virtual Book Tour stops by here on June 21.

Kari Lee Townsend will finish out a month of Cozy Wednesday on June 27. Corpse in the Crystal Ball (A Fortune Teller Mystery) is also out this Tuesday.

The month will be filled with reviews and Giveaway Blog Hops too!!

HAPPY READING!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Review: The Big Kitty by Claire Donally

What An Animal Reading Challenge 3 Responses »

May 172012

The Big Kitty
(A Sunny & Shadow Mystery)
Brand New Series
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Tony Mauro
Cover Design by George Long

Meet Sunny Coolidge, a New York journalist who has returned home to Kittery Harbor, Maine, to take care of her father after his heart attack. She finds work at the local travel agency for Ollie Barnstable a.k.a “Ollie the Barnacle”" but she hopes it is temporary and that she will be able to land a job at a local newspaper.

She is surprised one day when Ada Spuance, the eldery woman everyone calls “the cat lady” comes into the office and asks Sunny to help her find a winning lottery ticket. Sunny is not sure the winning ticket even exists but agrees to help Ada search her cat filled home. She thinks there may be a story she can write for the paper to impress the editor enough to hire her.

Sunny arrives to begin her search and she has a “Shadow”, a stray tomcat has followed her right up to the house. When there is no answer at the front door they stroll around to the back of the house and find an open entrance to the basement. Her investigative nature pushes her forward and she discovers poor Ada Spuance dead at the bottom of the stairs.

Did her fall have something to do with the lottery ticket? Was it an accident or MURDER? With her tomcat sidekick Sunny is going to find out. ”Following the trail of the purrloined ticket” Sunny and her feline friend better be careful or the made find their very own tickets punched.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Sunny made some interesting decisions which made this a very interesting mystery. I may not have agreed with her actions but they set in action quite a chain of events. Shadow’s inquisitive nature also drove this story. They are purr-fect partners.

It had several humorous moments, but the ladies of the neighborhood, especially one special lady, sneaking rich, sweet and “unhealthy” food to Sunny’s dad really made me giggle.

This is a light hearted romp with plenty of suspects in a quirky little town. It is a great start to a series that shows much promise.