Tag: BOOKS

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #45 – 2025

Posted on By Dollycas No Comments on My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #45 – 2025

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday! 

Where are your books taking you
this week?

I will be traveling to Alabama, New York, and New Jersey!

Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week.

Escapes Completed

Missing at Christmas
by Deena Alexander
Release Date – October 28, 2025
Setting – Montana
The Great Escapes Tour stops here tomorrow!
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Deck the Halls With Homicide: (A Killer Chocolate Mystery)
by Christina Romeril
Release Date – October 28, 2025
Setting – Montana
The Great Escapes Tour will stop here
this week for Cozy Wednesday!
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Claws for Concern (Maddie Sparks Mystery)
by Lesley A. Diehl
Release Date – October 14, 2025
Setting – New York
The Great Escapes Tour stops here Thursday!
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Scheduled Escapes

The Forget-Me-Not Library: A Novel
by Heather Webber
Release Date – November 4, 2025
Setting – Alabama
For Review
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old deadly night cover O, Deadly Night: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery
by Vicki Delany
Release Date – October 14, 2025
Setting – New York
I will feature this book next week
for Cozy Wednesday!
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The First to Die
by Suzanne Trauth
Release Date – November 18, 2025
Setting – New Jersey
The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here next Thursday!
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Possible Future Escapes

November 2 – 8, 2025

Happy Reading!!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Remember – 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.

My Reading Itinerary Monday

Special Guest – Kari Lee Townsend – Author of The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery) #AuthorInterview / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @townsend_harmon_author_samoyed

Posted on By Dollycas 1 Comment on Special Guest – Kari Lee Townsend – Author of The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery) #AuthorInterview / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @townsend_harmon_author_samoyed


The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery)
by Kari Lee Townsend

author interview
I am thrilled to welcome Kari Lee Townsend to
Escape with Dollycas today!

Hi Kari Lee, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi there, Lori. Thanks so much for having me.

I have been married for 36 years to my college sweetheart. We have 4 grown children (3 sons & 1 daughter), but these days our babies are 3 Samoyeds (best breed ever). I love to travel, especially cruising, and my secret addiction is reality TV. I write mysteries, suspense, romances, women’s fiction, and tween novels under both Kari Lee Townsend and Kari Lee Harmon. Storytelling has always been in my blood—I love creating characters who feel real, dropping them into small towns full of secrets, and adding a touch of humor, heart, and sometimes magic. When I’m not writing, you can usually find me chasing after my dogs, planning my next adventure, or cozying up with a good book.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?

I was born on an air force base in Terceira, Azores, Portugal

I’m an adrenaline junkie who will try anything once

I love photography, drawing & painting

What books/authors have most inspired you?

There are so many, but a few who first inspired all the genres I write are Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, Jude Devereaux, Peggy Webb, Liane Moriarty, Kristin Hannah, and Elin Hilderbrand.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

It depends on what genre I’m writing in. I come up with the idea for a book from things I read, see, hear or dream about. Then I tend to research as I go along. All my books take place in the northeast with all four seasons. I love writing about festivals and traditions. I’ll research the state and then come up with a fictional town. I research careers, character backgrounds, different ways to kill people, etc. I’m sure I’m on some FBI list 😉

Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block?

Every author gets stuck at some point, but I have learned not to sit and stare at the screen. I get up and do the dishes or laundry, etc. Anything to distract my mind, and then the answer comes to me. I always have a notebook nearby for when inspiration strikes.

What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?

The only people who will never succeed are the ones who give up. It took me 16 years to get published, but now I’ve written 5 short stories, 7 novellas, and 31 novels.

When you are not writing what do you like to do?

Play with my Samoyeds, go for walks, take pictures, paint, draw, read books, watch reality TV, and travel. I enjoy wine tours, craft fairs, and festivals as well.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

My husband and I have been to a lot of places already, but going to Portugal is on my bucket list. I just want to see where I was born someday, and I hear it’s beautiful.

What is next on the horizon for you?

I’m going to write at least the first 4 books in The Wishville Mysteries (I’m having a blast writing a fantasy cozy), then I’ll probably start the spinoff to my Sunny Meadows Mysteries. It’s called the Stone Investigation Mysteries with Sunny and Mitch’s grown son and daughter. Only this time, the daughter is like Mitch, and the son has psychic powers like Sunny. I may do more with the Greek mamas in the Kalli Ballas Mysteries (no one wants to see that series end). But then I also have a fun paranormal idea for a series set in Maine with my 3 Samoyeds in it. I have so many ideas and not nearly enough time, so stay tuned!

Look for The Well-Laid Trap (A Wishville Mystery #2) 1-20-26

Thank you, Kari Lee, for visiting today!

Please keep reading for more information about Kari and her new book!

About The Well-Kept Secret


The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery)
Cozy Fantasy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Wishville, Vermont
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oliver Heber Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FL8TQXPB
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A Spring Festival. A Magical Murder. A Secret Buried Beneath the Well.

Wishville, Vermont looks like a storybook postcard—complete with forest festivals, quirky locals, and a centuries-old wishing well that allegedly grants one wish each season. But for Lyra Wells, the magic isn’t just folklore—it’s her full-time job. As the half-human, half-Dweller Guardian of the Well, Lyra must keep the peace between the mortal world and the magical realm of Elarion. That means overseeing every seasonal WishFest, keeping tourists entertained, and pretending her glowing cat sidekick isn’t judging everyone.

But when an all-too-nosy antique dealer is found mysteriously dead by the well—and a rare memory crystal is discovered at the scene—the fragile treaty between worlds begins to unravel, and the ethereal Dweller chief enforcer isn’t happy. As the townsfolk whisper about curses and coincidences, something ancient stirs beneath the surface—and it’s not ready to stay hidden.

kari lee townsendAbout Kari Lee Townsend

National Bestselling Author, Agatha, RT Reviewers Choice & Golden Duck Award Nominee. Kari lives in Central New York with her husband & 3 Samoyeds. She’s a lover of wine & travel (especially cruising), obsessed with reality TV, loves to try new things, and thinks there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book with at least some element of mystery, romance & humor. She writes cozy mysteries & upper middle grade as Kari Lee Townsend, as well as suspense, romance, romantic comedy & women’s fiction as Kari Lee Harmon. She’s most known for her Sunny Meadows Mysteries, Kalli Ballas Mysteries, and a crossover series featuring Sunny, Kalli, their detectives, and their crazy families! The Tasty Trio and Greek Mamas are her favorite characters to write about. Granny Gert is based on her late grandmother and Great Grandma Tootsie is based on her husband’s late grandmother who lived to be nearly 109 years old!

Author Links

Purchase Link

 

Find More of Kari Lee Townsend’s Books HERE.

Find Books Written as KarI Lee Harmon HERE.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS  – Please visit all the stops.
October 28 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Wine Cellar Library – REVIEW
October 29 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW ~ Review coming Soon Spotlight
October 31 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 2 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 3 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
November 4 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 4 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
November 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 9 – Socrates Book Review – REVIEW
November 10 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

____________

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

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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.

2025 Great Escapes Tour, Giveaways, Interviews

Rock A Bye Bye Baby: A Cobble Cove Mystery by Debbie De Louise #Spotlight #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @debbie.delouise.author

Posted on By Dollycas 1 Comment on Rock A Bye Bye Baby: A Cobble Cove Mystery by Debbie De Louise #Spotlight #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @debbie.delouise.author


spotlight It is my pleasure to shine the spotlight on
Rock A Bye Bye Baby: A Cobble Cove Mystery
by Debbie De Louise today!

About Rock A Bye Bye Baby


Rock A Bye Bye Baby: A Cobble Cove Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Upstate New York
Publisher: Solstice Publishing (September 25, 2025)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
Paperback ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8267297394
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FSR76Z6S
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When a newborn baby is left on Alicia and John’s doorstep, Sheriff Ramsay sets out to find the parents, but his investigation is put on hold when Mac’s elderly buddy, Bert, is found murdered in his home. The top suspects are Bert’s poker pals who served with him in Vietnam, his ex-wife, and a woman who cleans his house.

Alicia and Gilly team up again to locate the baby’s parents and Bert’s killer while Sneaky conducts a private investigation with Gilly’s cat, Kittykai. Who will find answers to these double mysteries, and are they connected in some way?

Great Escapes Praise for  Rock A Bye Bye Baby: A Cobble Cove Mystery
by Debbie De Louise

Rating – 👶👶👶👶👶
This was such a fun and engaging mystery. It’s mix of suspense, heart, and even a touch of feline charm.
~@bibliophile_foodie

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and retired reference librarian. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Cat Writers’ Association, and the South Carolina Writers Association. She’s published over twenty books including three cozy mystery series, a romance, standalone mysteries, a time-travel novel, and a collection of cat poems. Her stories and poetry appear in over a dozen anthologies. Originally from Long Island, she moved to South Carolina where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and three cats. Learn more about Debbie and her books by visiting her website at https://debbiedelouise.com

Author Links
Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up     Facebook     Twitter / X     Goodreads     Amazon Author Page     All Author Instagram     LinkedIn    Bookbub    Debbie’s Character’s Chat Group      Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog

Purchase Links
Amazon


Also Written by Debbie De Louise

Find more of Debbie’s Books HERE

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
October 27 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW  
October 27 – Infinite House of Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
October 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 29 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 30 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 30 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 31 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
October 31 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
November 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 2 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
November 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
November 5 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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

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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.

2025 Great Escapes Tour, Giveaways, Spotlights

#FlashbackFriday featuring A Murder of Aspic Proportions (A Sunflower Café Mystery) by Amy Lillard #Review / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks

Posted on By Dollycas No Comments on #FlashbackFriday featuring A Murder of Aspic Proportions (A Sunflower Café Mystery) by Amy Lillard #Review / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks

FLASHBACK FRIDAY BANNER

On Flashback Fridays, I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released, that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.

A Murder of Aspic Proportions (A Sunflower Café Mystery)
Cozzy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Kansas
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 27, 2023
Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496733479
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496733474
Kindle
Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496733481
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BGYXKM64
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Twenty-something Sissy Yoder never imagined herself running her Aunt Bethel’s café, but her help is needed, so she’s making a go of it. And she must admit that life in tiny Yoder has been anything but dull–she’s already solved one homicide—after being named the prime suspect in the case! Enjoying a peaceful respite after all that excitement, Sissy just wants to write her advice column, hang out with her loyal Yorkie, Duke, and procure some of local farmer Walt Summers’ scrumptious “To Die For” tomatoes for the Sunshine Café’s menu. But when the unsavory Summers–resented by just about everyone in town–turns up murdered in his garden shed, it’s up to Sissy to roll up her sleeves, dig for some clues, and weed out the culprit . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Sissy Yoder is running her Aunt Bethel’s café with a lot of input from her aunt. She knows they have to keep the menu fresh using crops they can purchase locally. In that effort, Sissy takes the woman and her Yorkie, Duke, to check out some tomatoes said to be “To Die For”. Bethel is less enthused. They arrive at Walt Summers’ farmstand, but the man appears to be missing. After a quick search, they find him in the garden shed, and he isn’t going to be selling any tomatoes today or ever. Walt Summers is dead, definitely murdered.

It looks like there are a bushel of suspects, but Deputy Earl Berry gets a surprising confession from someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Soon, Sissy and Aunt Bethel are traveling all over to find out why the person confessed and trying to dig up clues to pick the actual killer and haul them to a jail cell.

Sissy is getting comfortable in her little Chicken Coop tiny house in Yoder, Kansas. She is still writing her advice column, pretending to be a seventy-five-year-old woman with no one yet the wiser. Her days are filled with running the café and giving Duke, her Yorkie, as much attention as possible. Bethel surprised me. She gets her cast off in the first chapter and is ready to get back to her life. She seems to start to enjoy riding around in Sissy’s “little car”, a Fiat convertible. Enjoy may be a little strong, but she instigated places to go to and people to see to move their investigation along, and didn’t give Sissy too much flak. We meet more Amish family, friends, and neighbors, too. Lizzy continues to be on bed/couch rest as the birth of her twins draws near. I enjoyed the Friday Family Supper night. There’s an open invitation for one and all to come to Bethel’s home. Sometimes the house is pretty crowded, others only a few relatives make an appearance. It brings people together to catch up with family and catch up on the murder investigation. It also allows Sissy to put more of her family history together.

I found Deputy Earl Berry frustrating. Yoder may be a small town, but accepting a confession without family or representation present was beyond the pale. Of course, it was the easy way out and required no additional effort from him. Thank God for Bethel and her push to get to the truth. The residents of Yoder fear the woman enough to answer her questions or put up with her rath. Sissy is happy to help in any way she can. I honed in on the guilty party early in the story, but it wasn’t easy for Sissy and Bethel. They were spinning their wheels, going nowhere a lot. The reveal was exciting and humorous. The ending made me smile.

A Murder of Aspic Proportions is a lighthearted, funny cozy mystery filled with unique characters, and a lot of talk about crops and fertilizer. It’s a story to pick up, relax, and escape into after a stressful day. Book three, A Murder for the Sages, is screaming even louder from my To-Be-Read shelf, now that I have read this one. I hope to get to it early in the new year.

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 Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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amy lillardAbout the Author

Amy Lillard is the award-winning, best-selling author of over fifty books and novellas in a variety of genres. A transplanted Southern belle, Amy was born and raised in Mississippi and now lives in Oklahoma with her husband of a billion years. They have one (almost) adult son whom they are embarrassingly proud of. These days their “empty nest” is rounded out with two spoiled cats who always seem to want to be fed when she’s hit her writing stride for the day. But such is life with felines. –Please visit her online at www.AmyWritesRomance.com.
Also Written by Amy Lillard 
Find all of Amy Lillard’s Books HERE.
giveaway

I am giving away an Advanced Review Copy of A Murder of Aspic Proportions!
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 Threads 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, Facebook, etc., you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

The  Contest Will End on November 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST
The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org
The Winner will be notified by email and 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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.

 

2025 Reviews, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, Flashback Friday, Giveaways, Literary Escapes, Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge, TBR Pile Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge
A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery by Carmela DutraBuy Now - Click Here!
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