Tag: Cozy Cat Press

#SpecialGuest – Paula Darnell – Author of Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery – Great Escapes Book Tour @PaulaJDarnell

Posted on By Dollycas 1 Comment on #SpecialGuest – Paula Darnell – Author of Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery – Great Escapes Book Tour @PaulaJDarnell

Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery
by Paula Darnell

I am so happy to welcome Paula to Escape With Dollycas today! 

Hi Paula, 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a former college instructor, and I also worked for seven years as a contract fashion writer for About.com. Now that I’m retired, I’m still busy writing, but I’m concentrating on fiction, rather than non-fiction.

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

  1. I was a manager for several years at a large newspaper chain, but I wasn’t a writer there; I worked in the advertising department.
  2. I like to binge watch old TV series.
  3. I would love to live in St. Mary Mead, next door to Miss Marple.

What is the first book you remember reading?

Little Golden books were the first books read to me. My parents always read to me when I was a young child. I still have a box of these old children’s books in my garage. I read the same books to my daughters when they were pre-schoolers.

What are you reading now?

I just finished reading Died in the Wool, A Knit and Nibble Mystery, by Peggy Erhart, and I’m currently reading a couple of non-fiction books about millinery.

What books have most inspired you?

All the cozy mystery books I’ve read have helped me in one way or another. I think Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple stories have probably inspired me the most.

What made you decide you wanted to write mysteries?

I’m a cozy mystery reader, and I also watch a lot of TV shows and movies in the mystery genre. I like cozies, rather than the hard-boiled detective novels or those with a lot of forensic details because I like the puzzle-solving aspect and dislike graphic violence and gore.

Do you have a special place you like to write?

I write at my PC. It seems like the most convenient way, especially since it’s easy to quickly fact check or do a bit of research online. My printer’s right next to my computer, which is handy when I want to review what I’ve written.

Where do the ideas for your books come from?

Some of my ideas come from places I’ve lived and experiences I’ve had. For example, in Death by Association: A DIY Diva Mystery, I drew on my own experiences as a homeowner in a guard-gated community governed by an HOA, my own crafting hobbies, and my experience as a pet parent to my two Labrador retrievers.

Is there anything about writing you find most challenging?

Just getting it done is the most challenging thing for me.

What do you think makes a good story?

A good story makes the reader want to keep reading to find out what happens.

Which, of all your characters, do you think is the most like you?

Probably the main character, Laurel McMillan, is most like me because she likes craft projects, she teaches, and she’s a pet parent to a Labrador retriever.

What makes your books different from others out there in this genre?

In the DIY Diva Mysteries, I have craft project instructions in the back of the book for projects that the DIY Diva has made during the story. In Death by Association, I also include four dog treat recipes in the back because Laurel is writing her new book DIY for Dog Lovers and including dog treats in it. In Death by Design, she’s working on projects for her next book DIY Perfect Pillows, so I include project instructions for pillows.

Thank you, Paula, for visiting today!

About the Book


Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Cozy Cat Press (June 20, 2019)
Print Length: 184 pages
ASIN: B07T9PFYX3

DIY Diva Laurel McMillan rejoices when her student Jennifer’s peacock pillow wins a design contest; that is, until Jennifer’s husband Matt is smothered with the very same pillow. When the police confiscate her prize-winning pillow, Jennifer freaks out, and Laurel fears that Jennifer may be more upset about losing the pillow than about Matt’s death. But the police arrest disgraced nurse Edna Elkins, not Jennifer. Begging Laurel to find the real killer, Edna insists she’s innocent, but Laurel’s not so sure, and when Laurel encounters Jennifer while walking her lovable Labrador retriever, Bear, she’s left with more questions than answers. Should the crafty DIY Diva play DIY Detective or does Edna really belong in jail?

Includes recipes and pillow project instructions.

More about Paula Darnell

 

An instructor at five colleges over the years, Paula Darnell most often taught the dreaded first-year English composition classes, but she’s also been happy to teach some fun classes, such as fashion design, sewing, and jewelry making. Paula has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Like Laurel, the main character in Death by Association, Paula enjoys all kinds of arts and crafts. Some of her memorable projects include making a hat and a cape to wear to Royal Ascot, sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters, exhibiting her textile and mixed-media artwork in juried art shows, and having one of her jewelry projects accepted for inclusion in Leather Jewelry, published by Lark Books. She sells some of her jewelry and hair accessories in her Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/PaulaDJewelry.

Paula’s interest in DIY craft projects and fashion led to her writing hundreds of articles for print and online national publications.

Living in a guard-gated community governed by a homeowners’ association gave Paula the idea for the setting of Death by Association. She finds that residing in an HOA community can be both a blessing and a curse. A Happy-New-Year greeting from her community association called on residents to “start the new year by reviewing your Rules and Regulations booklet,” something unlikely to top anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions.

Paula lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Gary and their 110-pound dog Rocky, whose favorite pastime is lurking in the kitchen, hoping for a handout.

Author Links –  Author’s Website – Twitter – Goodreads – Pinterest – Etsy shop –

Purchase Links – Amazon
Death by Association: A DIY Diva Mystery Death by Design: A DIY Diva Mystery
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 19 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
August 19 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
August 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
August 20 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – RECIPE
August 22 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
August 23 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  
August 25 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

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Granny Bricks A Bandit (Fuchsia, Minnesota Series) by Julie Seedorf – #Spotlight / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @julieseedorf

Posted on By Dollycas

Granny Bricks A Bandit
(Fuchsia, Minnesota Series)
by Julie Seedorf

 

About the Book 


Granny Bricks A Bandit (Fuchsia, Minnesota Series)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Cozy Cat Press (February 18, 2019)
Paperback: 239 pages
ISBN-10: 194606372X
ISBN-13: 978-1946063724
Digital ASIN: B07P1J663L

Granny and her cohorts are at it again! When Granny and her neighbor Mavis, go water-skiing and discover a dead body, Granny’s sleuthing instincts take over! She is determined to identify the corpse and find the killer. But wait! No sooner are Granny and her cohorts on the murderer’s trail, then Mavis’ husband George suddenly disappears! Could he be the killer’s next victim? Or could he be the killer? When the gals take a side trip to the Mall of America, they find a man fell to his death on a climbing wall––and Mavis is certain she spots George nearby! What does it all mean? Will Granny get to the bottom of it, with the help of her entourage of buddies and pets?

Praise for Granny Bricks A Bandit (Fuchsia, Minnesota Series)
by Julie Seedorf

GRANNY BRICKS A BANDIT had me laughing through practically the entire book. When I wasn’t laughing, I was as intent on discovering the mysteries (Yes. More than one.) in this wonderfully penned tale . . .
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews

The author, Julie Seedorf, has created a well-written novel with a huge helping of fun and crazy antics.
~Brianne’s Book Reviews

Even the local Pastor finds herself embroiled in Granny’s escapades. Add in some rambunctious and uncontrolled animals plus an adorable six-year-old, who wants to be just like Granny, and far too soon. You end up with a wild ride.
~Laura’s Interests

About the Author

A Bit About Me As An Impassioned Writer

As human beings, we are always a work in progress. From birth to death we live, hurt, laugh, cry, feel, and with all of those emotions we grow as people, as family members, and as friends. I am a dreamer and feel blessed to have the opportunity in my writing to pass those dreams on to others. I believe you are never too old to dream and to turn those dreams into a creative endeavor. I live in rural Minnesota and I am a wife, mother, and grandmother.

I have worn many hats throughout my life such as working as a waitress, nursing home activities person, office manager and finally a computer repair person eventually owning my own computer sales and repair business. I never forgot my love of writing and quit my computer business in 2012 after signing a contract with Cozy Cat Press for Granny Hooks A Crook, the first book in my Fuchsia, Minnesota Series.

Adding four more books to the Fuchsia Series, adding a new Brilliant, Minnesota Series and writing a column for local newspapers feeds my writing creativity.

I also dabble a bit in watercolor painting and hope to eventually add pictures to my children’s book series, Granny’s In Trouble.

Oh, and did I tell you I like to be a little bit silly.

Author Links

Website  – Facebook  – Twitter  – Instagram  – Pinterest  – Amazon  – YouTube  – Goodreads

Purchase Links
Granny Hooks A Crook (Fuchsia, Minnesota Book 1) Granny Skewers A Scoundrel (Fuchsia, Minnesota Book 2) Granny Snows A Sneak (Fuchsia, Minnesota Book 3) Granny Forks A Fugitive (Fuchsia Minnesota Book 4) Granny Pins A Pilferer: A Fuchsia, Minnesota Mystery Granny Bricks A Bandit (Fuchsia Minnesota Book 6)
Amazon – Kobo  – Other Formats – Nook, BarnesandNoble.com, Ibooks, Overdrive
Also by this Author
The Penderghast Puzzle Protectors: A Brilliant Minnesota Mystery (Brilliant Minnesota The Discombobulated Decipherers: A Brilliant, Minnesota Mystery (Brilliant Minnesota Series
TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
June 12 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 13 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 13 – Brianne’s Book Reviews  – REVIEW
June 14 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
June 14 – Teresa Watson’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW  
June 15 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 16 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
June 17 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 18 – The Cozy Pages – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 19 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 19 – I’m All About Books – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 20 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW
June 21 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
June 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 23 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – GUEST POST
June 24 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 25 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

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#Review / #Giveaway – An Au Pair to Remember: A Male Housekeeper Mystery by Stephen Kaminski – Great Escapes Book Tour

Posted on By Dollycas 7 Comments on #Review / #Giveaway – An Au Pair to Remember: A Male Housekeeper Mystery by Stephen Kaminski – Great Escapes Book Tour

An Au Pair to Remember:
A Male Housekeeper Mystery
by Stephen Kaminski

About the Book


An Au Pair to Remember: A Male Housekeeper Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Michigan
Cozy Cat Press (January 27, 2019)
Paperback: 260 pages
ISBN-10: 1946063703
ISBN-13: 978-1946063700
Digital ASIN: B07NCBZ23L

From the author of the award-winning Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective series comes the Male Housekeeper Mysteries, focusing on charming characters, snappy dialogue, eclectic murders, and cunning confidence schemes. To his mind, Cam Reddick has failed—as a husband, as a father, and as a professional. After recognizing that his vanilla credentials didn’t stack up in a big city brimming with overachievers and toiling in drudgery for half of a decade, an emotionally raw Cam returns to his childhood hometown—the quaint and quirky village of Rusted Bonnet, Michigan. He’s determined to resuscitate relationships marred by youthful immaturity, most importantly those with his ex-wife Kacey Gingerfield (who doubles as the village’s Deputy Chief of Police) and their first grader, Emma. Armed with striking looks and an endearing proclivity for mixing metaphors, but saddled by “momma’s boy” tendencies, Cam takes the helm of his mother’s housekeeping business—Peachy Kleen. Access to homes across the village facilitates Cam’s penchant for amateur sleuthing as Kacey’s aide-de-camp. Surrounded by Kacey, his sophisticated mother Darby, garrulous senior housekeeper Samantha, and recuse fish cum confidant Bait, Cam’s circuitous journeys to solving murders and unravelling complex cons hasten his struggle down the path of self-healing to self-respect. And there’s hope that—just maybe—he can rekindle the romance he once had with Kacey.

In An Au Pair to Remember, Cam’s plan for a quiet return to Rusted Bonnet is dashed when a beautiful German au pair, Greta Astor, is found dead in Dutch McRae’s foyer with all signs pointing to a hastily disassembled trip wire at the top of the stairs. When Kacey learns that Cam was cleaning the McRae home the previous afternoon, she confides to him that Chief Bernie Leftwich is set on arresting Dutch for the murder—either alone or in tandem with Greta’s bartender boyfriend. But she worries that Bernie’s been duped. And later, when his mother Darby becomes a suspect, Cam inserts himself into the investigation and stumbles through a series of ostensible incongruities—a thief swallowing a cache of stolen diamonds, a snack food distributor laundering money, and a Cash-for-Gold scam. Meanwhile, Peachy Kleen’s young African housekeeper has disappeared with one of the company vans. All the while, Cam finds himself flirting with his new neighbor and struggling with his complicated feelings for Kacey.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Cam Reddick has returned to Rusted Bonnet, Michigan to take over his mother’s housecleaning business, Peachy Kleen. But he has an ulterior motive. He hopes to have a real relationship with his daughter Emma and repair the relationship with his ex-wife Kacey Gingerfield, that blew up when he ran away and headed off to the big city. Kacey has moved on with her life working as the Deputy Chief of Police and taking care of her 6-year-old daughter. Cam’s mother, Darby is also very involved in the child’s life.

Cam is taking a hands-on approach at Peachy Kleen. He is part of the team sent to clean the McRae home where he meets Greta Astor, the McRae’s au pair. He is shocked to learn that the woman was found dead in the home the next morning. Chief Bernie Leftwich has already solved the case to his satisfaction. He deduces a trip wire was placed on the staircase and removed after Greta’s fall. He decides the children’s father, Dutch McRae is the murderer, but Kacey has her doubts. Then due to some “evidence”, he has determined that Cam’s mother Darby did it or is at least an accomplice. Cam can’t take the news sitting down so he starts doing a little sleuthing on his own. His ex-wife isn’t happy about it but at least he is keeping her in the loop with his findings.

I didn’t like Cam from the first sweep but he grew on me more as the story continued. He uses his immaturity as a reason for leaving his family behind and I just wasn’t having it. I pegged him as selfish and conceded.  I do believe in second chances though so I was willing to give him a chance and I am glad I did. I really liked Kacey. A strong woman in a tough job being the best single mom that she can. She does open her life to Cam and allows him to see his daughter a lot without a whole lot of custody craziness. He steps up too with Emma when Kacey needs to work overtime to solve the case.  Darby brings some levity to the story. I was stunned though by the Chief’s stupidity when he actually pulled her in as a suspect.

The mystery is a twisted one with plenty of theories but not a lot of actual evidence making it difficult to solve. The subplot featuring one of Peachy Kleen’s employees was very interesting and I was anxious to see how that played out and how and if it had anything to do with the au pair’s death. I did have an inkling about the murderer early on but can’t point to one thing that took me in their direction, it was just an overall thing until the final clues fell into place.

I hope in the next story we learn much more about the characters. Cam appears to have Celiac Disease and should adhere to a gluten-free diet. His good and bad food choices run throughout the story. I feel we have just scratched the surface on Kacey and Darby and I really want to see more of Emma. Of course, Cam’s fish Bait, yes he named his fish Bait, already plays a crucial role as Cam’s sounding board. I just hope he has a life longer than a typical fish 🙂

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Stephen Kaminski is the author of An Au Pair to Remember, the first installment of the Male Housekeeper Mystery series.  He also writes the award-winning Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective books.  Stephen is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the trade association representing the United States’ poison control system and its fifty-five centers.  He lives with his daughter and rescue kitty in the Washington, DC area.

Author Links – GoodReads – Facebook –

Purchase Links – Amazon Kindle – Amazon Paperback 

Also by this Author

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Be sure to visit all the stops. 
March 18 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
March 18 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
March 19 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
March 21 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
March 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
March 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 23 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
March 23 – The Broke Book Bank – REVIEW
March 24 – My Journey Back – REVIEW
March 25 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 26 – Books Direct – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
March 27 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 28 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
March 28 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

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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.”

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#Spotlight / #Giveaway – Death by Association: A DIY Diva Mystery by Paula Darnell – Great Escapes Book Tour @PaulaJDarnell

Posted on By Dollycas 6 Comments on #Spotlight / #Giveaway – Death by Association: A DIY Diva Mystery by Paula Darnell – Great Escapes Book Tour @PaulaJDarnell


I am delighted to shine the spotlight on Paula Darnell’s 1st DIY Diva Mystery today!

Death by Association:
A DIY Diva Mystery
by Paula Darnell

About the Book


Death by Association: A DIY Diva Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (January 1, 2019)
Paperback: 271 pages
ISBN-10: 1946063681
ISBN-13: 978-1946063687
Digital ASIN: B07MQ73LJQ (215 Pages)

DIY Diva Laurel McMillan learns that the high walls and guarded gates of Hawkeye Haven can’t protect her community. When Laurel takes her pampered, chocolate Labrador retriever, Bear, for an early morning walk, she finds her friend, security guard Bessie, bleeding and unconscious at her guardhouse post. If the attack on Bessie isn’t enough to set the residents’ nerves on edge, the murder of Victor Eberhart, the unpopular president of the powerful homeowners’ association, certainly does the trick. Despite teaching DIY classes and writing project instructions for her latest book, DIY for Dog Lovers, Laurel manages to squeeze in time for some DIY detective work. But as she gets closer to the truth, Victor’s killer would like nothing better than for the DIY Diva to take a dive.

About the Author

An instructor at five colleges over the years, Paula Darnell most often taught the dreaded first-year English composition classes, but she’s also been happy to teach some fun classes, such as fashion design, sewing, and jewelry making. Paula has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Like Laurel, the main character in Death by Association, Paula enjoys all kinds of arts and crafts. Some of her memorable projects include making a hat and a cape to wear to Royal Ascot, sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters, exhibiting her textile and mixed-media artwork in juried art shows, and having one of her jewelry projects accepted for inclusion in Leather Jewelry, published by Lark Books. She sells some of her jewelry and hair accessories in her Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/PaulaDJewelry.

Paula’s interest in DIY craft projects and fashion led to her writing hundreds of articles for print and online national publications.

Living in a guard-gated community governed by a homeowners’ association gave Paula the idea for the setting of Death by Association. She finds that residing in an HOA community can be both a blessing and a curse. A Happy-New-Year greeting from her community association called on residents to “start the new year by reviewing your Rules and Regulations booklet,” something unlikely to top anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions.

Paula lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Gary and their 110-pound dog Rocky, whose favorite pastime is lurking in the kitchen, hoping for a handout.

Praise for Death by Association: A DIY Diva Mystery
by Paula Darnell

Fun and interesting characters, an original setting in a gated community (Oh, the trials of an HOA), Bear the dog, and great writing all make DEATH BY ASSOCIATION a story worth reading, and a great debut for Darnell.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Author Links – Author’s website – Twitter – Goodreads – Pinterest – Etsy shop –

Purchase Links – Amazon  Amazon Paperback
Death by Association: A DIY Diva Mystery
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
March 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
March 12 – CelticLady’s Reviews – RECIPE POST
March 13 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
March 14 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
March 15 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
March 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
March 17 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
March 18 – Books Direct – GUEST POST
March 19 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 20 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
March 21 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW
March 22 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 23 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 24 – Laura’s Interests – GUEST POST
March 24 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

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