Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
Today I am pleased to welcome new author J.J. Cook to tell us about their new series.
Cozy fans will be pleased to know that while this is a new name
this author team is very familiar to us.
Jim and Joyce Lavene have written several fantastic mysteries and other genres as well.
One half of J.J. Cook is here today!
Hi Joyce!!
Hi Everyone!
Stella Griffin and the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mysteries
Our main character in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mysteries is Fire Chief Stella Griffin. Stella is part of a strong Irish family that has served the fire department in Chicago, Illinois for many years. She understands the rigors of the life, but when it came time for her to make her choice of career, she knew it was what she wanted.
Firefighters are a strange breed of men, my grandfather used to tell me. They run into the fire instead of away from it. My grandfather, Henry Koch, was a firefighter. He was part of the team that fought the Our Lady of the Angel’s Fire, one of the most devastating because it killed so many children in a Catholic school. That was one fire he wouldn’t talk or joke about.
My great-grandfather, Michael Sebastian, was also with the CFD. In the late 1800s, he drove a team of white horses that hauled the fire wagon. The job was even harder when he was a firefighter because they had no special equipment, no protection.
My husband and my father have both been volunteer firefighters. Basically, this means they get all the danger and the hard work without getting paid. Volunteers have to train for hours every week, as much as the professional firefighters. They have to go out at all hours of the day and night, in every kind of weather, never knowing what’s waiting for them. They do it for their communities.
I wanted to be a firefighter when I was 14. I thought it was the noblest profession in the world. Everyone laughed because GIRLS weren’t firefighters. I cried for days. That’s changed now, for the better of the firefighting community, and probably the food!
Now, I’ve found a way of honoring the people in my family who have fought fires, lost some, and grieved over victims. Stella is the chief of a volunteer fire brigade in the Smoky Mountains. She is who I imagined I could be, at one time. She’s strong and brave, loyal to her volunteers, concerned about people.
She came to life for me in Sweet Pepper. In the first book, That Old Flame of Mine,
She always plans on going back to Chicago, but Sweet Pepper, and the resident ghost in her log cabin there, may change her mind.
I hope this book will be something that would’ve made my family of firefighters proud.
~Joyce
About This Author
Joyce Lavene, and her husband/partner, Jim, write the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mysteries as J.J. Cook. They have written and published more than 60 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family. Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com or www.jjcook.net plus on
That Old Flame of Mine
(A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade)
Brand New Series
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Mary Ann Lasher
Cover Design by George Long
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425252048
E-Book File Size: 738 KB
ASIN: B0099D4B3Q
After knocking the lights out of her boyfriend when she catches him cheating on her, Chicago fire fighter Stella Griffin hops on her Harley and heads for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, where she ends up becoming the small town’s fire chief. When her dear friend Tory Lambert dies after her gingerbread-style house is set ablaze, Stella suspects arson and foul play.
As Stella investigates, she gets help from a most unlikely source—the ghost of Eric Gamlyn, Sweet Pepper’s old fire chief. And if that isn’t enough to rattle her, attractive police officer John Trump seems to have taken an interest in her. But Stella’s got to stay focused if she hopes to smoke out a killer before her own life is extinguished.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As the daughter of a firefighter I was thrilled with this book. My dad passed away 25 years ago and it still seems like yesterday. I wish he would haunt his old firehouse, maybe he does? He did not die on “a scene” but he was a chief too just like Eric Gamlyn and I so wanted to be a firefighter and work side by side with him. At that time female firefighters were few and far between. Ladies were on the auxiliary and handled bake sales and delivered food and drink to the big fires. I would have loved Stella’s life even with the crummy boyfriend.
The story is so well written and full of wonderful real characters. The drill/practice sessions ring true to me as someone who has observed many. Chief Eric’s haunts struck my heart. Another firefighter lost too soon with so many plans and dedication. Stella has a lot on her plate in Sweet Pepper and with a bit of “help” she comes out on top. A sassy, smart, sleuth that this reader plans to enjoy tagging along with for a very long time.
J.J. Cook has written an extraordinary debut. This book will be burning up bookstore shelves next Tuesday. It’s hotter than a 5 alarm fire!! Respond and extricate your copy as soon as possible.
Would you like to win a copy of this wonderful book?
Thanks to the people at Berkley Prime Crime
I have 2 copies to giveaway!!
U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
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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 J.J. Cook 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 10, 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
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.”
Thanks to all the firefighters out there! I like the fact that a ghost will be helping out in this series.
The ghost was a very important part of this book – and the series. Thanks for stopping by.
Love Joyce and Jim’s other series. Looking forward to starting this one.
Thanks, Dotty!
My best friend (female) is a firefighter and I’m glad to learn of this new series featuring these selfless individuals. Keep up the good work, Joyce! (And thanks Dolly Cas for offering this giveaway)
Your cover made me read the blurb. Your blurb made me want to read the book. nice to know things work the way they’re supposed to!
Wow! That IS great, Andrew! Thanks.
Oh my, do love the cover, and after reading this, I HAVE to read this book. It just sounds great! Hope this turns into a long lived series!
Thanks, Donna! Berkley has the best covers.
My family history is full of firemen and policemen. I am looking forward to this series. Dee
I hope you enjoy it, Dee. The second book is Playing with Fire, out January 2014. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for hosting this part of our blog our today!
Love the title, it got me right away and I wanted to read it and the cover, It’s a different cozy and one I will enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway, I hope to win
Thanks, Tina!
I can’t wait to read this one! Hoping that this one might find its way to Tennessee!
The books will definitely be in Tennessee – and so will we next week at Mysteries and More in Nashville!
Hooray for a female Fire Chief! Congrats!
Thanks, Betsy!
What a great sounding book. Can’t wait to read it!!!!
Sound like a fun new series. I like the cover.
Woman can do anything guys can do, and we usually do it with much more passion.
This looks like a great fun read! Thanks for telling me about it!
A salute to fire fighters, an underrepresented group of first responders.
A great book which interests me very much. thanks for this feature.
This series looks very special and interesting.
I haven’t read any of this series however I have added to my TBR list on Goodreads!
Love trying new cozies! Thanks.
I’m a big fan of the Lavene’s books. I had a Lavene cozy mystery summer where I read everybook in the mystery series except one of the Nascar books.
Thanks, Anne!
Love the title! Thank you for the chance to win this book.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Firefighters and a ghost—this should be an exciting series. I’m anxious to star reading it.
What an interesting title and can’t wait to read!
I love hearing about authors. This looks like a fun read.
Ann
I’ve just recently learned of this new series and can’t wait to start it. I love that the MC is a woman!
I like that..firefighters are a strange breed. They run into the fire instead of running away from it. 🙂 Would love to read this book. Thanks!
Thank you for the marvelous giveaway. I love the paranormal aspect and I can’t wait to read this story.
Great authors+new series= YAY!
Another new series. I would love to win this book. Thank you for the chance.
This looks like a fun read! Thanks for the giveaway!!
I can’t wait to read this book. My best friend is married to a fireman. I enjoy hearing his stories.
I keep adding books to my want to buy and read list. Loved the Faire books.
Thanks for reading, Rachelle!
Firefighters are brave and selfless souls! What a wonderful way to pay tribute.
Sweet Pepper sounds like a girl I’d love to be friends with. Even if the ghost is included:)
I’d be thrilled to win your book and if I don’t, Ill be making a trip to Amazon!
I would love to win a copy of this book. The story sounds terrific.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I love firefighters… my son in law was a para medic with the NYFD for over five years..He ended up switching to the PD because the structure of the EMS in the dept. was a dead end. Once you become an Lt. you were stuck in the back doing paperwork or supervising others when you want to be in the thick of it.
I’d love to win a copy of your book for one reason only. I love cozy mysteries and especially ones with the amateur detective having an unusual job.
When I saw that the book was set in Tennessee, I knew I have to read this. The Smoky Mountain area is one of my favorite places.
TCuevas@iccable.com
Sounds fun. I like cozy mysteries with interesting jobs attached
I am so excited they are writing a new series~ cant wait!!
Looking forward to this new series. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I haven’t read any of these yet, but after reading the information and reading the comments – I am sure going to start reading!
this sounds like a nice book. I look forward to checking it out.
sounds good.i really like the cover too.
This is one of those books you pass around to your friends!
looks good to me
love this website