Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am thrilled to have Livia return to Escape With Dollycas! Last year she was here talking about holiday pies and cookies and promoting The Gingerbread Bump-Off
Hi Livia,
Thank you for having me here again! I always enjoy it.
My new book Wedding Cake Killer
Today it’s much more common for series characters to have major things going on in their personal lives, along with the mysteries they have to solve. Which brings us to Wedding Cake Killer,
To be honest, I put a lot more thought and effort into planning Eve’s wedding than I did my own!
When I got married it was long before the Internet and there were no bookstores in the small town where I lived. I didn’t have any wedding books or magazines to go by. I just did what friends and family suggested and what made sense to me. (I must have done something right, because more than 36 years later, I’m still married to the same guy!)
So I actually had a lot of fun coming up with all the details of Eve’s wedding, but I also enjoyed getting the chance to share more of her background with the readers. We learn a lot about Eve’s history in this one, and trust me, there are some surprises in store! I’ve always liked taking the long-term approach to character development and plotting. Years ago I collaborated with my husband on a series that contained a major twist at the end of the sixth book. We knew exactly what that twist was going to be before we ever wrote a word of the first book, so all along we were able to set it up and plant clues. The Fresh Baked Mystery series is very similar. All along I’ve known things about Eve that weren’t readily apparent and have been waiting for the right time and the right book to reveal them.
Wedding Cake Killer
~Livia
Thank you so much Livia for being my guest today! Same time, next year, o.k.? I can’t wait for my next visit with Phyliis, Eve, Sam and Carolyn.
Wedding Cake Killer:
A Fresh-Baked Mystery
7th in Series
Cozy Mystery
Obsidian (November 6, 2012)
Published by New American Library
Trade Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451238092
The big day has arrived! Wedding Bells are ringing for Eve and Roy! Even the forecast of a snowstorm can’t ruin this special day. Phyllis, Carolyn, and Sam have everything under control. The whole day is wonderful.
When Eve and Roy return from their honeymoon they move to a local B&B while they continue to look for their own place. Who could have guessed that Eve would be moving back in with Phyllis? She has no choice when Roy is found dead in their room at the B&B and Eve is the prime suspect.
Phyllis has been warned to leave the investigation to the police but she has to prove that Eve is innocent. She needs to find out who iced Roy before Eve ends up with a life sentence.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I loved this story. We learn about the men of Eve’s past, I knew there was more to her story. The author tempted us a bit in the last book and I couldn’t wait for this installment. Washburn did not disappoint. This character’s development was perfect.
Livia J. Washburn is quite a storyteller. She brings her characters to life and readers become invested in their lives effortlessly. She has the perfect recipe to keep those pages turning and readers wanting to know how these retired teachers will get out of trouble this time. A cup of murder, a tablespoon of intrigue, a teaspoon of humor and a pinch of romance, mix together with fabulous characters and it bakes up to the perfect cozy mystery readers just can’t wait to bite into. A delectable delight!! with another temptation that has me anxiously awaiting book #8.
To Find Out More About Livia J. Washburn Vist her Webpage HERE!
Thanks to the people at Penguin
I have 3 copies to giveaway!!
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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.”
Wow, that’s quite a story! I think I need to start at the beginning of this series. Dee
I love this series. Would love to win.
I can’t wait to start this series, I’ve been wanting to read it for awhile. I love the covers of the books. Keep writing your great cozies !!!
This sounds great! Definitely going to have to start at the beginning. Heading to the bookstore shortly!
Awesome giveaway I wish I read the series sooner! The book cover is so pretty 🙂 it looks interesting. I am loving the summer of the plot so far.
Looking forward to this one! It’s on the TBR list!
This sounds really fun. I like some humor along with my murder. lol Thanks for the giveaway.
This series sounds unique and lovely. Thanks for this giveaway.
Hi Livia,
I adore your books and own a few of them in my home library. I also share them with my partner and our kids (who are all readers). Have a wonderful holiday season. Thank you so much for offering this book for the giveaway.
I was married during a snow storm—I’m just so glad that my marriage has lasted for 30 years and did not end up like Eve’s. I’ve got to read this book.
This sounds really great, I love weddings and had so much fun planning mine that I love to see the inner workings of others 🙂
I love stories that deal with weddings…perhaps because my own was very minimal 🙂
I really enjoy this series!
I think my wife would find this to be the perfect book to curl up with some chilly winter night. Thanks for making a copy available. Happy Thanksgiving.
Great cover – I love trying out new (to me) cozy series. Thanks.
I do like your covers! I’ve not read the series, but am looking forward to it! Thanks for a chance to win!
I need to start at the beginning of this series so I am surprised later 🙂 Thank you for sharing the books with us!
Love the title! Thank you for the giveaway.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Weddings and snowstorms and murder – sounds like a terrific read for a snowy day in MN!
kpbarnett1941@aol.com
This looks like a fun series. I chuckled when the author said she spent more time planning the wedding in the book than she did on her own. Thanks for the giveaway.
Love reading Livia’s books. Would love to win and read the newest one. Putting it on my wish list.
Livia I am enjoying your series. Thank you for such fun reads. I also like the titles. Thank you
New to this series of books. Cant wait to read it.
Looks like an interesting book.
This has convinced me to pick up the first book in the series! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing!
Marie
I really enjoyed the Gingerbread Bump-Off and really looking forward to enjoying The Wedding Cake Killer.
I have this book on my Want List & would love to win a copy! It just keeps getting better & better! Thanks for a great series, Livia 🙂
I would love to read this book! I have the first one on my to be read shelf, — I love cozies, and this one sounds so good!
Livia is a great cozy author, I always enjoy her books. I love weddings, especially the wedding cakes because you can make them so individualized and snow storms are great to watch but of course, bad to be in!
Thank you for all of the wonderful comments. I love this series and appreciate the fans who have allowed me to continue writing it. Life has been throwing me a few surprises along with multiple computer failures, so I missed when this came out Wednesday.
One of my favorite writers and series! Read them all but this one! Here’s hoping I win ! Happy Holidays!
I love a good cozy mystery series. I haven’t started this one yet, but I look forward to it especially since there are already several books in it. I love continuing series, because I can move through them and really get engaged in the story. Thank you Livia for writing a series that looks incredibly tempting. I can’t wait to get started.
Thank you Vivian, that’s kind of you.
I love cozies and Livia’s bakery series sounds perfect, I am looking forward to checking it out.
Love this series~ I love the gang- but would love to see some romance with Sam and Phyllis.
Kelly, I love series, too. You can really get to know a character or characters in a series. I just recently signed contracts for 3 more, so Sam and Phyllis will be getting into even more trouble.
Merry, I hope you enjoy it.
Samantha, Sam and Phyllis may be taking it slow, but there are definitely romantic feelings between them.
Thank you for taking the time and effort to share with us today. I love a long running series and I think it is great that this story could finely be told. I certainly hope there will be more Fresh Baked mysteries to come 🙂
Thank you Denise. The next book, The Fatal Funnel Cake has already but written, and there are plans for even more.
I am new to this author. Cant wait to read this book. Just love cozy mysteries.
I love a good mystery–sometimes so hard for me to find good ones! This sounds great.
As a retired teacher, I especially enjoy this series.
I appreciate all of the kind comments. I created the Fresh Baked series for my mother, a retired first grade teacher who had a great love of books. The characters were a mixture of some of my great teachers and her friends blended with imagination. Unfortunately by the time the first book, Peach of a Murder was published Alzheimer’s had taken Mom’s ability to read. I will continue to write about Phyllis and her friends, getting tickled by scenes I know my mother would have loved reading. I took Mom some children books that she seems interested in and wonder about creating a line of simple adult books for Alzheimer’s patients. She still has me wanting to create something she’d like to read.