Tag: BOOKS

Special Guest – Abigail Keam – Author of Murder Under A Cold Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery #GuestPost / #Giveaway – Great Escape Book Tour @abigailkeamauthor

Posted on By Dollycas 2 Comments on Special Guest – Abigail Keam – Author of Murder Under A Cold Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery #GuestPost / #Giveaway – Great Escape Book Tour @abigailkeamauthor


Murder Under A Cold Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery
by Abigail Keam

MONA MOON IS A MOST LIKELY HEROINE
By Abigail Keam

William Faulkner’s line, “The past is never dead.  It’s not even past,” is one of the most quoted lines in American 20th-century fiction and resonates today in all literature including historical mysteries.

Does history revolve in circles or undulate in waves? The same patterns keep emerging—the same type of grifters who try to con the gullible, the same type of heroes who risk everything, and those who watch from the sidelines.

I have always been fascinated by history and knew I wanted to write an entertaining mystery series where I could combine fiction with historical fact.

When I began writing my 1930s Mona Moon Mysteries, I decided to weave real people and events into the storyline. I wanted to make those mysteries come alive with both the saints and the scoundrels of the day. After doing much research, I discovered the 1930s had been politically explosive like the 1960s and even today with many of the same issues still confronting the world. So how does one incorporate themes of social justice, world events, and conflict into a mystery and write a story that is still entertaining and fun to read? Not with a hammer, but with a soft wave of a woman’s fan.

One way is to give voice to a female protagonist to whom women will relate. The second is not to become “preachy.” My job as a mystery writer is to author an engaging story with facts that enhance  the reader’s enjoyment of the book—not deter. One thing that helps is that my intrepid champion speaks from the perspective of a gal who needed grit and resolve to survive the harrowing years of the Great Depression. She is my “every woman.”

Enter Mona Moon, my American cartographer, who is broke with no prospects in sight. Not good news for a single woman in one of the worst years of the Depression. A man, wearing a Homburg hat, knocks on her tenement door after midnight.  She answers with a pistol in hand. The man announces he is a lawyer representing her estranged dead uncle and informs Mona that she has inherited the Moon family fortune.

With that introduction, I plucked Mona from New York City and planted her on a horse farm in Kentucky’s Bluegrass where Mona discovers that half of her farm hands can barely read or write, her bank refuses to give her credit because she’s a woman, and the employees at the Moon copper mines are threatening to strike due to low pay. All three concerns were real issues in the 1930s, which caused protests/riots in the dark days of the Depression—lack of educational opportunities, women’s economic rights, and workers scraping by on subsistence pay.

Several years have gone by, and now Mona has married the dashing, but brooding Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth. They take the RMS Majesty ship to Great Britain where they stay at Robert’s ancestral estate, Brynelleth, and then on to a Mediterranean cruise.

However, they receive a telegram from Robert’s old friend, Lady Eustacia, begging them to come. When they arrive Blackhaven Hall, a Norman castle built by William the Conqueror, they find Lady Eustacia missing. To make matters worse, there is a terrible storm which threatens their connection to the outside world.  Our intrepid Mona Moon goes sleuthing and finds out things are not so good in Lady Eustacia’s world.  Where is Lady Eustacia and is she alive?

I believe Faulkner was right about the past. It is never dead, and writers can incorporate the past into their historical mysteries making them richer. If a reader enjoys the mystery and learns something as well, then I am thrilled because we should all be keepers of history. And as we all know from a good mystery, secrets from the past never stay buried.  See you between the pages.

Thank you Abigail for visiting today.

Keep reading for more information about Abigail and her new Mona Moon Mystery!

About Murder Under A Cold Moon


Murder Under A Cold Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
13th in Series
Setting – At Blackhaven Hall in England
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Worker Bee Press (September 30, 2024)
Number of Pages – 230
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CSXV3J1N
goodreads badge

Mona Moon and her new husband, Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth are on their honeymoon at last. They are invited to a weekend party by an old friend of Robert’s family—Lady Eustacia. Mona and Robert arrive in a substantial downpour to find several other couples awaiting the appearance of their hostess.

When Lady Eustacia fails to come downstairs, Mona and Robert search the manor house only to find the lady missing. It is then they discover the telephone wires have been cut and none of the cars are able to drive into town due to the storm. Mona and Robert believe the invitation was a ruse, but for what purpose? And how do they help Lady Eustacia?

About Abigail Keam

Award-winning author Abigail Keam writes the Mona Moon Mystery Series—a rags-to-riches 1930s mystery series, which weaves real people and events into the story line. “I am a student of history and love to insert historical information into my mysteries. There is an addendum at the end of the mystery to give more information. My goal is to entertain my readers, but if they learn a little something along the way—well, then we are both happy.”

Miss Abigail currently lives on the Palisades bordering the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters.

AWARDS

2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee
2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning
2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee
2017 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Design
2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking
2019 Murder Under A Blue Moon voted top ten mystery reads by Kings River Life Magazine
2020 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Murder Under A Blue Moon
2020 Imadjinn Award for Best Mystery for Death By Stalking 2022 Finalist in Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A Full Moon
2022 Finalist the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Category – Murder Under A New Moon
2022 Death By Chance: A Josiah Reynolds Mystery Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Finalist for Best Cozy Mystery
2022 Top Ten Mystery Novel by Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A Bridal Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery
2022 Top Ten Mystery Novel by Kings River Life Magazine for Murder Under A British Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery

THE MONA MOON MYSTERY SERIES
1930s Historical Mysteries
Murder Under A Blue Moon I
Murder Under A Blood Moon II
Murder Under A Bad Moon III
Murder Under A Silver Moon IV
Murder Under A Wolf Moon V
Murder Under A Black Moon VI
Murder Under A Full Moon VII
Murder Under A New Moon VIII
Murder Under A English Moon IX
Murder Under A British Moon X
Murder Under A Bridal Moon XI
Murder Under A Western Moon
Murder Under A Honey Moon
Murder Under A Cold Moon
Murder Under A Mystic Moon

Author Links
Official Site      Facebook    Instagram    Pinterest      Amazon       TikTok 

Purchase Links –



Amazon –  Kobo  – B&N – Google  – Apple 
Abigail Keam also writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series.
Find those books HERE.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
September 30 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 1 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
October 2 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
October 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 6 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
October 7 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
October 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here

signatureYour Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

2024 Great Escapes Tours, Giveaways, Guest Posts

Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance (A Miss Morton Mystery) by Catherine Lloyd #Spotlight / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks

Posted on By Dollycas No Comments on Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance (A Miss Morton Mystery) by Catherine Lloyd #Spotlight / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks


Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance (A Miss Morton Mystery)
International Historical Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – England
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington (August 20, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496740645
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496740649
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CNYL4QQW
Audiobook ASIN B0DCZZLSMH
Audio CD ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CZ7JTYW9
goodreads badge

Social standing is everything in Regency England—and no one knows better than Miss Caroline Morton, a lady’s companion from a disgraced line. But when she has a chance to claim what’s rightfully hers, the one obstacle in her way is a dangerous murder mystery . . .

Miss Caroline has doubts when she receives an urgent invitation from a London law firm to discuss her late father’s estate. After all, the dishonored Earl of Morton died without a pound sterling to pass on to his two daughters. But while immersing herself in helping Mrs. Frogerton’s capricious daughter navigate the high social season, Caroline meets with a cagey lawyer, Mr. Smith, who shares life-altering news—the earl composed a second will, leaving behind an undisclosed fortune.

Mrs. Frogerton, however, is thoroughly unimpressed with the firm’s conduct and suspicious of their true motives. Her instinct proves right when the two ladies find the office ransacked, staff in turmoil, and Mr. Smith missing. The full weight of the situation doesn’t sink in until Mr. Smith dies following a brutal attack on the street—discovered with an empty envelope bearing Caroline’s name in his pocket.

With a connection forming between two deaths at the firm, Caroline can’t imagine why anyone would kill twice over the contents of a will. Further complicating matters is the amorous Mr. DeBloom—who claims his mother goaded the earl into making bad investments and promises to link Caroline to her inheritance—and the disappearance of Susan, her younger sister. As Caroline unwittingly becomes the center of both a criminal case and a sordid love triangle, she must tread with caution while seeking the truth . . . because someone is waiting to reduce her to nothing more than a signature on a dotted line.

About the Author

catherine lloyd
From Amazon

Catherine Lloyd grew up in London, England in the middle of a large family of girls. She quickly decided her imagination was a wonderful thing and was often in trouble for making stuff up. She finally worked out she could make a career out of this when she moved to the USA with her husband and four children and began writing fiction. With a background in historical research and a love of old-fashioned mysteries, she couldn’t resist the opportunity to wonder what a young Regency Miss Marple might be like, and how she would deal with a far from pleasant hero of the Napoleonic wars.

You can find Catherine Lloyd’s website at http://www.catherine-lloyd.com

Also Written by Catherine Lloyd 

giveaway

Thanks to the publisher I have 1 Advance Review Copy of Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance to give away!

The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.

Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.

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 Following My Facebook Fan Page.

Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads
for 3 Bonus Entries.

Follow Kensington Books on Twitter for 2 Bonus Entries!

Follow Kensington Publishing on Facebook for 2 Bonus Entries!

Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

If you share the giveaway on Threads, X, or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

The  Contest Will End on October 17, 2024, at 11:59 PM CST
The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org
The Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

Click Here For Entry Form

signatureYour Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

 

Giveaways, Spotlights

Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold: Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries by Denise Jaden #Review / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @denise.jaden

Posted on By Dollycas 1 Comment on Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold: Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries by Denise Jaden #Review / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @denise.jaden


Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold:
Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries
by Denise Jaden

 

About Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold


Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold: Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting: The Moonlit Majesty cruise ship, sailing the Caribbean
Independently Published (September 26, 2024)
Number of Pages: 297
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D81Q5JZW
goodreads badge

Murder at sea!

Olivia Ocean’s dream job aboard the Moonlit Majesty turns into a nightmare when she witnesses an attempt to dispose of a helpless kitten at sea. Rescuing the kitty entails a chase, which leads her to discovering a dead body!

Armed with her camera and newfound feline friend, Olivia must navigate the ship’s dark corners, pounce on the clues, assist the swoon-worthy security manager, and capture the killer before the ship reaches its final destination.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Fueled by memories shared by her Gran, Olivia Ocean applied for and has been hired as a photographer aboard the Moonlit Majesty cruise ship. She quickly realizes she may have made a mistake but unless she gets fired, the ship will be her home for the next 9 months. She jumps right into the job without any instruction and she knows she hasn’t impressed Photo Manager Phillip Winston when he takes over her spot and sends her to the cargo hold to get a box of photo paper. As she tries to find Cargo Hold 8 and then the item she needs she hears several deckhands arguing about a kitten that has been found on board. One man is holding it over the railing of the ship. She screams and convinces the man to give her the kitten. Before he could pass her the cat the little guy raced through her hands and down the corridor and into the cargo hold she left open. When she finds the feline he is not alone. He is right next to a dead body.

Soon she is meeting with the Security Manager and he realizes she may be able to help him find the killer. He asks her to keep her eyes and ears open while she makes the rounds with her camera. Can she do that and stay under the killer’s radar? Or will she be the next dead body found hidden in the cargo hold?

I enjoyed meeting Olivia Ocean. Her grandmother had told her many stories about working on a cruise ship in her 20s and that her ship family became her real family. Now, that her Gran had passed away she has no one. So looking for a new family she followed in her Gran’s footsteps and took a job as a photographer on a ship. It didn’t start out well but her new roommate Becky takes her under her wing and helps her learn her way around the ship and the ins and outs of life at sea. Becky also falls hard for the kitten. After the murder, Olivia meets the Security Manager, Miles Blackwell. Their relationship really expands throughout the story. We also meet Olivia’s coworkers, Becky’s friends, and a few passengers aboard the boat. The core characters developed nicely throughout the story and the interactions with others made sense.

Getting a look behind the scenes of a cruise ship was interesting. Usually, cozy mysteries revolve around a passenger sleuthing around the ship. Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold is told from the viewpoint of a worker who puts in long hours with barely time to eat or sleep while trying to sleuth out a killer. Olivia learned the murder victim was also a photographer aboard the ship who had received some recent recognition. This put her co-workers at the top of the suspect list. I was entertained following her around the ship and on day trips off the boat as she tried to track down any piece of evidence to move the case along. She worked closely with Miles but that didn’t keep her from getting into quite a pickle. That’s a pun you will realize when you read the book. 

While Olivia’s first voyage didn’t live up to her Gran’s memories, I think that is going to change as she spends more time on the ship and has time to meet more people.

The one thing that I was struck by was when Olivia arrived was that she was handed a camera and just told to go take pictures and then her boss was upset because she was too slow and not taking the type of pictures he wanted. No training, no shadowing, not even a paper handout with a description of a job. She did take some great pictures which I would have liked much better than what her boss wanted but just a few minutes of instruction would have made her first day much easier.

Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold has set this series off to a fine start with a fun and entertaining read. I am excited to cruise off with Olivia and her feline sidekick again soon. The possibilities of murder and mayhem while at sea seem endless.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.

enjoyable getaway

signatureYour Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Denise Jaden

Bestselling author Denise Jaden loves cozy socks, cozy cats, and cozy mysteries. She’s the author of several young adult novels, nonfiction books for writers, and cozy mysteries that will make you laugh out loud while dangling at the edge of your seat.

Prior to becoming an author, Denise worked at everything from mushroom farming to acting and Polynesian dancing. Now she does most of her writing in a holding tent in the background of one of the many film sets in and around Vancouver. Sign up for updates, and exclusive bonuses, and find out more about Denise, her books, and her crazy cat at DeniseJaden.com

Author Links:
Website    Facebook      Twitter     Instagram     GoodReads

Purchase Link


Amazon 

Also Written by Denise Jaden

</div>

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
September 26 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT  
September 26 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
September 27 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
September 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
September 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
September 29 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE
September 30 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
October 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 2 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
October 2 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 3 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
October 4 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 5 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here

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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”

2024 Great Escapes Tours, 2024 Reviews, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, Giveaways, You Read How Many Books Challenge

Book Blast – Murder Among the Pyramids (1920s Lady Traveler in Egypt) by Sara Rosett

Posted on By Dollycas 2 Comments on Book Blast – Murder Among the Pyramids (1920s Lady Traveler in Egypt) by Sara Rosett


Murder Among the Pyramids (1920s Lady Traveler in Egypt)
by Sara Rosett

About Murder Among the Pyramids


Murder Among the Pyramids (1920s Lady Traveler in Egypt)
Historical Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Egypt
Publisher ‏ : ‎ McGuffin Ink (October 1, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950054691
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950054695
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D9KQF7NR
goodreads badge

Escape on an Egyptian Excursion to the Land of the Pyramids!
Tour highlights include: Hieroglyphics and high tea in the desert, followed by murder after sunset . . .

It’s 1924 and Blix Windway has made a career out of her wanderlust, giving lectures to ladies’ groups about everything from the flora of the American desert to the beauty of the Swiss Alps, but she needs new material for her talks.

She strikes what seems to be an ideal agreement with an eccentric older lady. Blix will be her travel companion during a journey to Egypt, helping to smooth the way through customs and coordinate sightseeing tours. The arrangement will provide Blix with the perfect opportunity to photograph the pyramids and gather material for her next lecture series.

But they’ve barely left England before the trouble begins—rough seas and an attempted robbery. Then a murder occurs during a tour of the pyramids.

Despite the attempts of the British officials to sweep the death under the rug, Blix becomes increasingly convinced that one of their tour party is a murderer.

Blix’s search for the truth takes her from the posh sporting clubs and lavish gardens of Cairo to the narrow, twisting lanes of the city’s centuries-old bazaar and the vast desert around the Giza Plateau. Can Blix unearth the truth before the killer makes this journey her last?

Join Blix on this classic murder mystery from Sara Rosett, author of the beloved High Society Lady Detective series.

About Sara Rosett

The author of over 30 novels, Sara Rosett is a USA Today bestselling author who writes mysteries that are the bee’s knees with delightful settings and perplexing puzzles. Sara loves Golden Age mysteries, getting new stamps in her passport, as well as watching foreign-language crime shows, Jane Austen adaptations, and Kdramas. Find out more at SaraRosett.com.

Author Links
Website   Instagram   X   Pinterest   GoodReads

Purchase Links


Buy direct from Sara: https://sararosettbooks.com/collections/lady-traveler
Retailer links: https://books2read.com/MurderAmongThePyramids
Find all of Sara’s books HERE.

BOOK BLAST PARTICIPANTS
October 1
Angel’s Book Nook        
Christy’s Cozy Corners
Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books            
Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense 
Elizabeth McKenna – Author     
Maureen’s Musings
Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book            
Sapphyria’s Book Reviews        
Boys’ Mom Reads!         
Cozy Up With Kathy      
Baroness Book Trove   
FUONLYKNEW
Deal Sharing Aunt         
Reading Is My SuperPower       
Celticlady’s Reviews   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.

signatureYour Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

2024 Great Escapes Tours, Book Blasts
Case of the Bayfront Murder: A Macaroni on Wheels Mystery by S.K. DerbanGet Your Copy Today!
+ +