Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!

Where are your books taking you this week?

I will be traveling to Florida, Kenya, and Italy!

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

Escapes Completed

Much Ado about Nauticaling (A Whit and Whiskers Mystery)
by Gabby Allan
Cozy Mystery
Release Date – July 27, 2021
Setting – California
The Great Escapes Tour stops here this week for Cozy Wednesday!

On Skein of Death (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery)
by Allie Pleiter
Cozy Mystery
Release Date – June 1, 2021
Setting – Maryland
The Great Escapes Tour stops here this Thursday!

Candy Slain Murder: A Jolly & Delightful Cozy Mystery
(A Country Store Mystery)
by Maddie Day
Cozy Mystery
Release Date – September 29, 2020
Setting – Indiana
My Flashback Friday Read!

Scheduled Escapes

A Time to Swill (A Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mystery)
by Sherry Harris
Cozy Mystery
Release Date – July 27, 2021
Setting – Florida
I will feature this book next week for Cozy Wednesday!

Grevy Danger: An Entertaining Cozy Murder Mystery
(A Kenya Kanga Mystery)
by Victoria Tait
Cozy Mystery
Release Date – August 6, 2021
Setting – Kenya
The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Thursday!

Death by Fountain: A Christmas Murder in Rome
(Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery Series)
by Jennifer S. Alderson
Cozy Mystery
Release Date- December 18, 2020
Setting – Rome, Italy
My Flashback Friday Read!
–

Future Escapes

August 1 – 7, 2021 

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways!

Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below!

Happy Reading!!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Pork Chopped to Death (The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series)
by Jodi Rath

I am giving Pork Chopped to Death by Jodi Rath four stars and recommend it to anyone that loves a good culinary cozy mystery. There are also recipes in the back. Ms. Rath has done another great job on this book, and I can’t wait for the next one.
~Baroness’ Book Trove

There are mobsters, escapades, and corrupt officials everywhere! . . . If you have ever been pregnant, you will enjoy this wacky look at how it feels to be expecting
~Diane Reviews Books

It was a good read and while it seems like a rollercoaster of a ride, it’s enjoyable.
~Literary Gold

. . . a hilariously captivating cozy just full of the unexpected. A must read for fans of culinary cozies. I totally loved it . . .
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

About Pork Chopped to Death

Pork Chopped to Death (The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Publisher: MYS ED LLC; 1st edition (July 23, 2021)
Digital ~230 Pages
ASIN: B08FGFSWGL

You know what they say, you are what you eat, and Jolie and Ava are about to turn into everything they have been craving including pounds of chocolate, pizza, pickles, and ice cream.

 

Mafia, urban sprawl, gentrification, newborn babies, and the lives of the Leavensport villagers will be altered forever. Change is inevitable. Jolie Tucker is a Type-A perfectionist with fanatic tendencies who detest the very thought of change. Regardless of what she wants, change is a comin’ along with a grizzly discovery of murder of one of the village’s most beloved, mayhem between the villagers and the urbanites of Tri-City, and new dynamics of family dysfunction.

 

Get ready for a roller coaster ride from the peaks of new life, yummy food, and blossoming relationships to the lows of slayings, chaos, and war. The residents of Leavensport are in for the battle of their lives, and it’s up to Jolie, Ava, and their crew to determine the future of their village.

 

Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUS turn!

 

About Jodi Rath

Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her nine cats.

Author Links:  Webpage: https://www.jodirath.com/   FB: https://www.facebook.com/jodirath FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorjodirath  Twitter @jodirath

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18363719.Jodi_Rath

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodi-rath

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jodirath/

• Monthly Newsletter Link: http://eepurl.com/dIfXdb Get  Short Story “Sweet Retreat” for free by subscribing to my monthly newsletter. Subscribe to my newsletter to receive free flash fiction, A Mystery a Month, serial scenes from series, and deleted scenes).

Purchase Link – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – 

The Rest of the Series

NOW AVAILABLE!

Coming October 29, 2021

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 23 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
July 23 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
July 24 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 24 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 25 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
July 25 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 26 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 27 – Literary Gold – REVIEW
July 27 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE
July 28 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 28 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
July 29 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST
July 29 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 30 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
July 30 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 31 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
July 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
August 1 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW
August 1 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

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.

Real-life has cut into my reading time lately so I didn’t get a book read for this week’s Flashback Friday. So I am rewinding my review of  Fowl Murder by  Victoria  Tait.  I have really enjoyed  this series.  Fowl  Murder is the first book in the series.

Fowl Murder: A Cozy Mystery with a Determined Female Amateur Sleuth (A Kenya Kanga Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Kenya
Publisher: Kanga Press (July 21, 2020)
ebook, 190 pages
Digital ASIN: B089RRXBC1

A shooting on the savannah. A tragedy she’d rather forget. When past and present collide, will she survive to see her future?
Kenya, 2016. Semi-retired vet Rose Hardie just wants to enjoy her golden years and care for her disabled husband. But her peace of mind shatters when a forgotten confidant returns and reopens a case where Rose pulled the trigger. With her memories of the poacher’s shocking death flooding back, she barely catches her breath before her childhood friend is brutally murdered.

 

Braving blackmail and entrenched corruption, the tireless woman dives headfirst into helping the victim’s son solve the crime. But when the lead suspect is killed, Rose’s plans for a peaceful life end up dead and buried…

 

As her own traumatic history unravels, can Rose catch a killer before she becomes the next victim?

 

Foul Murder is the first book in the compelling Kenya Kanga Mystery series. If you like determined heroines, unpredictable twists and turns, and vivid African settings, then you’ll love Victoria Tait’s pulse-pounding tale.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Note: Take a moment to read the Glossary of words before starting to read the books because the author uses many words local to the region. I love that she did this. 

We meet Rose Hardie, known as “Mama Rose,” and her invalid husband, Craig, in Nanyuki, Kenya.    Rose works as a volunteer vet. She also helps anyone with a need the best she can. They are happily married but do clash when Rose is away and not tending to Craig.

When a childhood friend, Aisha, suddenly moves nearby talking about an event that happened decades ago, an event Rose would like to forget, she gets nervous. Soon after the friend is murdered. True to her nature Rose jumps in to help the victim’s son find her killer. She is also being blackmailed by someone connected to the event Aisha reopened. Unfortunately, Aisha was killed before Rose could get any details from her.  Now with Aisha’s son and a little help from Craig, Rose is doing her best to catch a killer and find the truth, but she could end up the killer’s next victim.

Ms. Tait has taken us to Kenya and creates wonderful imagery with her words. I could easily envision every place the characters went. The dryness of the land, the weather that comes in, Mount Kenya, the homes of the characters. I will never travel to Africa but enjoyed this virtual trip immensely.

(Mama) Rose is such a strong character. She is smart and, in some ways, methodical as she ventures into her investigation. She sees things others don’t. She knows everyone and they open up and tell her things they wouldn’t share with others. Husband Craig makes a great sounding board even though his disability keeps him from going everywhere Rose goes. Aisha’s son Thabiti steps in as her sidekick but his youth sometimes gets in the way. Other characters weigh in with information. All these characters develop over the course of the book. They come across as believable and real.

The mystery is full of twists and turns. The subplots blend in easily and the flow is great. The story has many layers to hold readers’ attention from beginning to end.  I did figure out part of the whodunit before Rose but was totally surprised when all was explained. Rose also gets some unexpected news that really evokes a change.

Fowl Murder is an exceptional start for the Kenya Kanga Mystery Series. Rose and Craig are definitely characters I want to visit again. Victoria Tait is an author to watch.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Victoria Tait

Victoria Tait is an exciting new author launching her Kenya Kanga Mystery series.  She’s drawn on 8 years living in rural Kenya with her family to transport her readers to a world of curiosity, community and conspiracy.  The Kenya Kanga Mystery series brings to life the beauty of the Kenyan landscape, the magic of its wildlife and the warmth of its people.

Author Links

Website  –  Facebook  – Blog/News  – GoodReads – Pinterest

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – 

Coming August 6, 2021

Coming November 12. 2021

I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy!

The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

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.

Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

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

Contest Will End August 13, 2021, at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
The Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

Click Here For Entry Form

The Cider Shop Rules (A Cider Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – West Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington (July 27, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496723511
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496723512
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08MBD78KS

Autumn in Blossom Valley means pumpkin patches are ripe and Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe’s cider shop is flourishing. But with this season comes . . .

A FATAL HARVEST

The Fall Festival is in full swing. Civil War reenactors from three counties are partaking in Blossom Valley’s tribute to John Brown. Blue Ridge Mountain foliage is in full bloom. And best of all is Jacob Potter’s pumpkin farm where his hayrides, piglet races, pumpkin picking, and corn maze are time-honored draws for locals and tourists alike. That’s why it’s such a shock when Mr. Potter is found dead, hidden under a tarp in the back of Winnie’s pickup truck. This certainly betrays Potter’s reputation as one of the town’s most popular citizens. Fortunately, when it comes to solving a murder, no one has a patch on Winnie. Now, all eyes are on her to do it. Unfortunately, that includes those of the killer who’ll do anything to keep an orchard full of secrets buried.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

There are some great things happening in Blossom Valley. The Potter’s Pumpkin Farm is having a fall festival as is Smthye’s Orchard. There is a civil war reenactment that brings some wonderful guests to Blossom Valley and Winnie’s new cider shop has become a location to visit for cider and baked treats. It’s too bad one venue has to close when the owner is killed and his body is stashed under a tarp in the bed of Winnie’s beloved pickup truck. Sheriff Colton Wise is not happy when many Blossom Valley residents assume Winnie will pare down the suspects and serve up the killer. Sadly the killer knows that too and they are not the only one looking to harm Winnie and Colton.

Take a deep breath of the wonderful autumn air and look around to see all of the beautiful fall foliage. Amble over for a glass of Winnie’s delicious cider and sit back and relax.

Unless your want to trail along with Winnie as she pulls out the stops to catch Mr. Potter’s killer and help her to avoid a criminal from Sheriff Colton’s past. Winnie has her hands full this time trying to take care of everything that has been tossed on her plate.

I love this series. Winnie is a wonderful leading character. Her heart is always in the right place but she sometimes treads into situations she should have avoided. Thankfully Colton Wise is wise to Winnie’s ambitions and does his best to keep her safe. This time his brother Blake is in town to help him. But Blake is a notorious flirt and Winnie gets a little rattled with two Wise men in her life. The handsome brothers are also joined by their parents which adds some really nice things to the story. Best friend Dot is around to play Watson to Winnie’s Sherlock and Winnie’s grandmother is nearby with words of advice. Granny’s group of friends are great sources for local gossip. Ms. Lindsey has created such a wonderful group of truly genuine characters. They kept me engaged from the first page to the last.

Ms. Lindsey has wrapped these wonderful characters into an exciting mystery. Who killed Mr. Potter? Is there a fugitive lurking nearby? Twists, turns, flips, and a trip through the corn maze kept my eyes glued to my Kindle. I would have read the entire book in one sitting if my brain would not have demanded sleep. The author has done an excellent job dropping clues throughout the story but you could have knocked me over with a feather when the killer was disclosed during a thrilling reveal.

The Cider Shop Rules is a fantastic cozy mystery. Charming characters and an exhilarating mystery make this a must-read for cozy mystery lovers. I thoroughly enjoy my visit to Blossom Valley. This book exceeded my expectations and will take a slot on my Best Reads of 2021 list.

This story reads well all on its own but for maximum enjoyment, I recommend ready the series from the start.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

You can read my review of Apple Cider Slaying here. and Pulp Friction here.

About the Author

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. When she’s not creating new worlds and organizing the epic adventures of fictional characters, Julie can be found carpooling her three kids around Northeastern Ohio and plotting with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Visit her online at www.JulieAnneLindsey.com

Facebook – Twitter – Pinterest – 


Coming Soon from Julie Anne Lindsey

Also by Julie Anne Lindsey

Find more by Julie Anne Lindsey 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.”

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! 

I am happy to share my thoughts today about Dead as a Duck!

About Dead as a Duck

Dead as a Duck (A Washington Whodunit)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Publisher: Camel Press (July 14, 2021)
Paperback: 230 pages
ISBN-10: 1942078323
ISBN-13: 978-1942078326
Digital ASIN: B08WTPNBD6

Congressional staffer Kit Marshall is looking forward to a much-deserved summer vacation in the Outer Banks. When the mayor of the beach town turns up dead, Kit and her friends need to put their fun and relaxation on hold to help solve the crime.

August has been a busy month for congressional staffer Kit Marshall. She hit the road with her boss, Congresswoman Maeve Dixon, who is considering running for the United States Senate in North Carolina. After endless town halls and meet-and-greets, Kit is happy to end the tour in Duck, an upscale beach town in the Outer Banks.

Before Kit can relax on her much-deserved vacation with her husband Doug, brother Sebastian, best friend Meg, and beagle mutt Clarence, the body of Duck’s mayor is found floating in the shallow waters of the Currituck Sound.

Kit’s brother Sebastian, who got in a public kerfuffle with the victim the day before, becomes the prime suspect. Solving the mystery takes her to popular hotspots in the Outer Banks, including a private tour featuring the wild horses of Corolla.

Kit must sacrifice sun-filled days of relaxation to clear her brother. In the end, Kit and Sebastian put their own lives on the line to secure a confession from the killer and make sure justice is served.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Congressional staffer Kit Marshall has hit the road for a listening tour as her boss, Congresswoman Maeve Dixon,  considers a run for Senate. The tour’s last stop is the town of Duck and Kit is looking forward to sticking around and vacationing in the outer banks with her husband, friends, and her brother. Oh, the dogs have come along too. The last town hall meeting gets out of hand when the mayor is put in the hot seat to answer questions about some of the plans he has initiated and his future plans. Congresswoman Dixon doesn’t get much time at all as the event breaks up when things get out of hand.

Kit barely gets to wind down and start her vacay when she finds the now dead mayor of Duck floating in the Currituck Sound. Because her environmental activist brother Sebastian got into it with the mayor at the town hall meeting and has no alibi matching the time of death he becomes the police’s number one suspect. So instead of hitting the beach Kit hits the town’s businesses and residents to find the real killer and clear her brother’s name. It isn’t an easy task and both she and her brother could end up dead instead of catching the killer.

The author takes her wonderful characters out of Washington D.C. to Duck, North Carolina and I enjoyed that very much. One of our best family vacations was in North Carolina. We did stay on our namesake Caswell Beach but did visit the outer banks on a day trip. We have wonderful memories of the area and I felt bad that Kit’s vacay was marred by murder. She did get to visit a few places but clearing Sebastien was her main focus.

It was fun to see the characters out of their high-pressure element and be able to kick back and relax a little bit.  The dogs had a good time too but one enjoyed the beach much more than the other. They did have to deal with the murder and a couple of characters are faced with a vital decisions so it wasn’t all sunshine and beaches. These characters are all very strong and well-developed. Their interactions are all believable. They really are a fun group of people.

The mystery is very well written. The mayor had ruffled a lot of Duck feathers and it really made sense that the suspect pool was drawn from its residents rather than a tourist after just one meeting but the police seemed remiss about pinning it on a member of the little town. With a more open pool Kit’s snooping lead to some nice twists and turns. I was really kept guessing right up to the very end.

I really enjoy Ms. Shogan’s writing style. It is comfortable and makes her books easy to escape into. Even though politics to a backseat to the mystery this time there was enough for those readers who like the political theme.

Dead as a Duck takes us to a wonderful place with fantastic characters wrapped up in a marvelous mystery. For me, it was definitely a Perfect Escape. The author took me on a nice little escape to Duck and the story had everything I look for is a stellar cozy mystery. Kit has some immense duties coming up as her boss makes a huge decision so I am really looking forward to the next installment of this series too.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Colleen J. Shogan

Colleen J. Shogan has been reading mysteries since the age of six. A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at numerous universities. She previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as a senior executive at the Library of Congress. Currently, she’s a Senior Vice President at the White House Historical Association. A member of Sisters in Crime, Colleen splits her time between Arlington, VA and Duck, NC.

Authors Prior titles: STABBING IN THE SENATE, HOMICIDE IN THE HOUSE, CALAMITY AT THE CONTINENTAL CLUB, K STREET KILLING, GORE IN THE GARDEN, LARCENY AT THE LIBRARY

Author Links

Facebook – Twitter – Website – GoodReads –

Purchase Links –

Amazon – B&N – Kobo

Praise for the Series

“The mystery is perplexing—for Kit and company, and for me—and well done. I was impressed by the complexity of the murder plot. I enjoyed the political theme, and all the details about lobbyists.” —Jane Reads

“To someone who has mastered that uniquely Washington skill of bobbling two cell phones and a glass of wine without spilling a drop, solving a murder is practically child’s play.” —HillRag

“A solid choice for political junkies and readers of ­Maggie ­Sefton, Fred Hunter, and Mike Lawson.” —Library Journal

“The fourth volume in author Colleen J. Shogan’s simply outstanding ‘Washington Whodunit’ series, K Street Killing is a consistently entertaining read with many an unexpected twist and turn by a true master of the genre.” —Midwest Book Review

“Shogan does a good job depicting the creaky, squeaky wheels of government, and Marshall plays politics and sleuth with equal dexterity in this capital Capitol Hill mystery.” —Publishers Weekly

“Loads of inside scoop about the workings of Senate offices—complete with all the gossiping, back-stabbing, and procedural maneuvering—plus an appealing young sleuth, sprightly pacing, and an edge-of-your-seat showdown on the Hart-Dirksen underground train.” —Literary Hill

“An excellent whodunit…. I was really impressed with this very smart story. The author is a former Senate staffer so she is writing what she knows, less the murder, I hope.”    —Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book

“Readers who enjoy amateur sleuth mysteries written in the style of Agatha Christie will enjoy this promising debut mystery.” —The Washington Independent Review of Books

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
July 15 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
July 15 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
July 16 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
July 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 17 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
July 18 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 19 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT
July 20 – The Book Diva’s Reads – GUEST POST
July 20 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 21 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
July 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
July 22 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 23 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
July 24 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
July 24 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
July 25 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT
July 26 – Brooke Blogs – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 26 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
July 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 27 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 27 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
July 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
July 28 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

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.”

Body Over Troubled Waters: A Cozy Mystery
(Welcome Back to Scumble River)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Illinois
Poisoned Pen Press (July 27, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 149268600X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1492686002
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08SDTFVH4

Love is deadly

Stupid Cupid is making School psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd regret returning to work after her maternity leave. It starts with an emergency school lockdown, continues with her godfather’s arrest by the state police, and ends with a dead body!

It’s every teacher and administrator’s worst nightmare—a school shooter lockdown. And even worse for Skye because she’s trapped in a tiny room with the district’s creepy superintendent, Dr. Wraige while they wait for the all-clear.

When Dr. Wraige turns up dead in his home just a short time later, is it a coincidence, or something more?

Skye joins her police chief husband, Wally, in an investigation that becomes more complicated by the minute. With a dead boss and a mysterious killer on the loose, Skye is caught between a rock and a heart place—but she won’t give up until Scumble River is safe once again.

Dollycas’s Thoughts 

It’s almost Valentine’s Day in Scumble River and a couple of cupids are causing a little mayhem.

Skye Denison-Boyd is back to work after her maternity leave but she may wish she was still at home. First, there is a crazy school lockdown. Next, the state police arrest her godfather. And then there is that pesky dead body. Skye finds herself sitting out the lockdown with the school superintendent who is just plain creepy. She is totally surprised when he is found later dead at his home. Police chief/hubby has asked Skye to assist him on the case because she knows the would-be suspects at the school. But this case doesn’t have an easy solution. Skye doesn’t give up though. She keeps digging until the killer is found.

I really enjoy visiting these characters. The bond between Skye and Wally is so strong. They make an excellent team both as parents and catching criminals. They are surrounded by an excellent supporting cast. Strong relationships really bring the story to life. The Dooziers also return in this story and shake things up a little bit. Ms. Swanson has kept these characters fresh which is hard to do with a long-running series. Nineteen books with one publisher and now four books with a new publisher. I hope this series continues for many years.

There is more than one mystery to solve in this story. Before his murder, someone was stealing the superintendent’s valuable items. Also, Skye’s godfather is behind bars for illegal activity at his motor court.  The author twists the mysteries together along with daily life happenings like the pro she is. The murder weapon is truly unique. I had my own theories on the murder and thefts as I read the book but wasn’t completely sure of anything until the final reveal. Uncle Charlie’s arrest had his family up in arms but that mystery wrapped up the way I hoped it would.

The fictitious Scumble River, Illinois setting is really ideal. It is the perfect size with plenty of quirky characters and everyone knows everyone’s business. It has its issues and the occasional murder but it sounds like a nice place to live.

Body Over Troubled Waters was a fun and entertaining read. I am really invested in these characters and I can’t wait for my next visit to Scumble River.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Denise Swanson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River Mysteries, the Devereaux’s Dime Store Mysteries, the Change of Heart romances, and the Delicious romances She worked as a school psychologist for twenty-two years before quitting to write full-time. She lives in Illinois with her husband, classical music composer David Stybr.

Check out the publisher’s book page with a list of characters and a Scumble River map here.

Thanks to the publisher I have 1 print copy 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 Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

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

Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

 

Contest Will End August 10, 2021, at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner 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.”


Sand Trapped: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series
by Joanna Campbell Slan

About Sand Trapped

Sand Trapped: Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Florida
Publisher: Spot On Publishing (May 16, 2021)
Paperback: 292 pages
ISBN-13: 979-8503202564
Digital ASIN: B091S4S2MW

A Cozy Mystery That’s a Real Hit!

 

First they warned Jocelyn Johnson.

 

Then they ticketed Jocelyn Johnson.

 

Then someone murdered Jocelyn Johnson.

 

And Cara Mia Delgatto was looking for a lost ball when found Jocelyn “JJ” Johnson face down in a sand trap. Gave a whole new meaning to “take a drop.”

 

It wasn’t a surprise. The neighbors hated JJ for the reckless way she drove her golf cart. Sure, she lived on the grounds of a swanky golf club, and yes, she had tons of money, but JJ ruined flowerbeds, terrorized grandkids, and made a nuisance of herself.

 

Except…except…she’s quiet now. Lying there in the dirt at Hole #6. Someone bashed in JJ’s head. (Who would risk ruining an expensive Homna golf club like that?)

 

Cara doesn’t want to get involved. But when Gerta Hunsickler is named the prime suspect, and Gerta’s husband is so angry at his wife that he’s starting divorce proceedings, Cara can’t sit on her hands. She knows what it’s like to be unfairly accused. So she promises to take a swing at it and see if she can hit a long drive down the fairway of justice!

 

Meanwhile, back at The Treasure Chest, Cara’s friends are busy creating fabulous and fun Mother’s Day gifts. There are two brides-to-be working for Cara, and their two mothers-in-law-to-be have decided not to play nice. Can you say, “Mama’s boy” ten times really fast? I thought you could.

 

If you love warm-hearted, clean books, that feature female amateur sleuths, fur babies, family, and friends, you’ll love this charming DIY/recycling/upcycling series set on the Southeast Coast of Florida.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Jocelyn Johnson wasn’t a good neighbor. She pushed people’s limits and she broke rule after rule. So when she is found dead in a sandtrap on the sixth hole not a lot of tears were shed. Cara is sorry she agreed to be her friend’s teammate in a golf tournament because again she finds herself knee-deep in another murder investigation. Just what she didn’t need as her store, The Treasure Chest is gearing up for Mother’s Day and the merchandise is flying off the shelves. She also has two brides to be on pins and needles as their future mothers-in-law are coming to town. She has done it before, she will just have to multitask and putt the murderer right into a jail cell while not shanking all her other duties.

Cara Mia Delgatto owns The Treasure Chest,  specializing in upcycled, recycled, and repurposed goods. She has a great group of friends working for her. It appears that over the course of the series they have become more like family. They support each other in everything they do, even helping Cara catch a killer. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters. They are well developed but still have room to grow as the series continues.

The Treasure Chest is a very interesting shop. It is well stocked with a variety of items but I was pleasantly surprised that they have pet memory items and Cara is working to increase the products she has to offer. I also enjoyed the descriptions of all the places Cara traveled, her home, her store, the Sandy Ridge Golf Club, and more. This area of Florida sounds like a wonderful place to live sans the crazy neighbors and the murder.

The murder mystery was very well done. Joanna Campbell Slan weaves the main plot together with the subplots very nicely. There is always something happening and the murder mystery has some really great twists. The big reveal was done in a fantastic way and I was surprised by whodunit.

I have read other books by this author but this is the first book in the series I have read but it won’t be my last. I am so happy that the author wrote the story so I new readers won’t feel lost or pressure to read the previous books in the series prior to reading Sand Trapped. I do hope to read the rest of this series and more books by this author.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Joanna Campbell Slan

“Our best friend, our next-door neighbor, and ourselves with just a touch of the outrageous.” That’s how RT Book Review describes Joanna’s protagonist, Kiki Lowenstein. The truth is that’s a pretty good description of Joanna Campbell Slan as well.

Joanna is a New York Times Bestselling, USA Today Bestselling, and Amazon Bestselling author as well as a woman prone to frequent bursts of crafting frenzy, leaving her with burns from her hot glue gun and paint on her clothes. And the mess? Let’s not even go there.

Otherwise, Joanna’s a productive author with more than 80 written projects to her credit. Her non-fiction work includes how to books, a college textbook for public speakers, and books of personal essays (think Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Currently, she writes five fiction series: The Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award Finalist, contemporary, St. Louis setting, crafting), the Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series (contemporary, Florida setting, DIY, and recycling), the Jane Eyre Chronicles (Daphne du Maurier Award Winner, 1830s England, based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic), the Sherlock Holmes Fantasy Thrillers (late 1800s, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s books), and the Zen Cozy Mystery Series (launch 2021).

A former TV talk show host, college teacher, and public relations specialist, Joanna was one of the early Chicken Soup for the Soul contributors. She won a Silver Anvil for her work on the original FarmAid concert to benefit farmers.

In her ongoing quest never to see snow again, Joanna lives with her husband and their Havanese puppy, Jax, on an island off the coast of Florida. You can email her at jcslan@joannaslan.com or visit her website at https://linktr.ee/jcslan

Author Links

Website     Facebook     Twitter    BookBub    Pinterest

Purchase Links – Amazon 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
July 19 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
July 19 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT
July 20 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE
July 20 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
July 21 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
July 21 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
July 22 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 23 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
July 23 – My Journey Back – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 24 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
July 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
July 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 26 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 26 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 27 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 28 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 29 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST
July 30 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
July 31 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
August 1 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

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.”

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.

Real-life has cut into my reading time lately so I didn’t get a book read for this week’s Flashback Friday. So I am rewinding my review of Pulp Friction by Julie Anne Lindsey. The next book in the series, The Cider Shop Rules will be released next Tuesday. 

Pulp Friction (A Cider Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – West Virginia
Publisher: Kensington (April 28, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 149672349X
ISBN-13: 978-1496723499
Kindle ASIN: B07TT2LWBQ

Nothing’s sweeter than a fruitful family business, and for Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe, that means Smythe Orchards in Blossom Valley, West Virginia. But this year’s apple crop is especially juicy—with scandal . . .

 

SEEDS OF DANGER

 

Thanks to Winnie’s new cider shop, Smythe Orchards is out of the red and folks can get their fix of the produce and other delectable products they love all year round. The locals are even booking the shop for events, including a June wedding! Winnie couldn’t be happier to see the barn filled to the rafters for the big bash—until her doting ex, Hank, is caught in a heated argument with the groom. Winnie plans to scold Hank after the party, but spots him running off instead. And when the groom turns up dead, apparently hit by the honeymoon getaway car, Hank is the main suspect. Now Hank is on the lam, and it’s up to Winnie to get to the core of the truth—before the real killer puts the squeeze on her . . .

 

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back in Blossom Valley just in time for a wedding at Smythe Orchards. Winnie’s is so excited to have her new cider shop used for weddings and local events. She knows this is the way to make the orchard fruitful and helps keep the place open year-round. But this time, the wedding ends on a sour note, and Winnie’s ex Hank right in the middle of it. He had a dust-up earlier with the groom and now that groom is dead. Winnie knows she should stay out of it but finds herself slicing through the clues to juice the real killer before Hank winds up behind bars.

I loved the first book in this series, Apple Cider Slaying, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. The author exceeded my expectations.

I find Winona Mae Montgomery to be an excellent protagonist. She is smart, and for the most part, thinks things through but like all amateur sleuths just sometimes finds herself in the thick of things she never imagined could happen when she leaps into something. Her friend Dot is a reliable sidekick and a strong character in her own right. Winnie is close to her grandmother and they make a great team running the orchard. We learn some new things about Sheriff Colton Wise as he and Winnie grow closer. Hank is still hanging around and is sometimes his own worst enemy. They are also several animal characters that have their own unique personalities. What I love is all the characters are engaging and realistic in their own ways. They continue to grow and become more endearing.

The mystery was very intriguing and unfolded at a perfect pace throughout the book. There were plenty of suspects and twists and turns and a real edge of your seat moment to grab my attention and hold on tight. I wasn’t totally surprised when the killer was revealed but I had discarded this person earlier.

I love the apple orchard theme. I love visiting local orchards and we can never have enough apples in the house.

A well-plotted mystery, wonderful characters, and a terrific setting make Pulp Friction a must-read.

I do encourage you to read Apple Cider Slaying too so you can get to know these characters from the beginning.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

You can read my review of Apple Cider Slaying here.

About the Author

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. When she’s not creating new worlds and organizing the epic adventures of fictional characters, Julie can be found carpooling her three kids around Northeastern Ohio and plotting with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Visit her online at www.JulieAnneLindsey.com

Facebook – Twitter – Pinterest – 
Coming July 27, 2021


Coming Soon from Julie Anne Lindsey

Also by Julie Anne Lindsey

Find more by Julie Anne Lindsey here.

I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy of Pulp Friction!

The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.
The copy will be sent directly from Amazon US.

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 Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Follow Kensington Books on Twitter for 2 Bonus Entries!

LIKE Kensington Publishing on Facebook for 2 Bonus Entries!

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

Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

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

Contest Will End August 6, 2021, at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
The Winner 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.”

Music is Murder: A Musical Murder Mystery
by B.J. Bowen

I am delighted to welcome Barbara Bowen to Escape to Dollycas today!

Many Musings, Mostly Musical: The Origin Story

By B.J. Bowen

My cozy series, Musical Murder Mysteries, began twenty-five years ago. I was a professional musician and had loved cozy mysteries for years. A symphony orchestra seemed a perfect setting for a mystery, with its intrigue, and air of elegance. At that time, I wasn’t expecting to write seriously, but wanted to let off steam and escape to a different world. I once saw a list of a hundred professions, ranked by the most satisfaction experienced by its employees. Symphony musicians were number seventy-six, just above prison guards at seventy-seven; writers were above that, but I don’t remember exactly where.

When I had the opportunity, I joined a writer’s group. I was awed by the other writers! They were imaginative problem solvers, able to think up twists and turns, while teaching the basics of writing by example. They also taught diligence. You had to have a certain number of pages written, or you couldn’t participate.

When that group disbanded, missing my fellow writers, I put Music is Murder in a drawer and forgot it.

Then the symphony folded, and I had to find another job. The manuscript, when I thought of it, seemed to belong to another life.

It wasn’t until twenty years later, when I quit work to take care of my mother, who had dementia, that I took up writing again. I figured I’d sell the novel and write more to make my living. No problem, right?

After a few rejections, I began to study professional writing. First off, at 25,000 words, my “opus” was way too short. Secondly, writing wouldn’t pay unless you had a following, a publisher or the willingness to self-publish, and were very prolific. And, most importantly, marketing had changed in the era of Facebook, Twitter, and ebooks.

But writing kept me sane. I could go into a world of my own creation and escape monitoring medications, dodging mail scams, and changing the diapers of the woman who had changed mine. So I kept going, expanding the novel: developing the characters, giving them life and backstories, escalating suspense.

Then I found my current writing group. Recommended by a friend and consisting of published writers led by a former English teacher, they encouraged me, nurtured me, and were my friends. I kept at it. They helped me shape up the manuscript, begin to understand modern marketing, and find an agent, who helped me find a publisher.

So, how did the series develop? Playing in the symphony was a place to start. Working out the problems I wrote my characters into forced me to find solutions and gave me an alternate reality. Encouragement from others kept me going and contributed in no small way.

How do your accomplishments find life? Answer in the comments. I’m curious about your responses and look forward to reading your answers.

Thank you, Barbara, for visiting today! 

Keep reading to learn more about Music is Murder!

More About Music Is Murder

Music is Murder: A Musical Murder Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Camel Press (June 8, 2021)
Paperback: 242 pages
ISBN-10: 1942078161
ISBN-13: 978-1942078166
Digital ASIN : B08WTLNXJP

When a symphony musician is murdered—bashed with her own bassoon—flute player Emily Wilson becomes the prime suspect. To save herself and secure justice for her murdered friend, she must find the killer.

 

In the close-knit, unforgiving environment of the symphony orchestra Emily makes her way through the tender egos and warped relationships of her fellow musicians to find tantalizing clues. Blackmail, the victim’s abusive ex-boyfriend, an angry neighbor, and a shifty Symphony Board member all lead her to feel she is on the right track.

 

With the dogged Lieutenant Gordon on her trail, she must flee from the police so she can continue her search. She unexpectedly finds a loyal female friend and the possibility of a new man in her life. But she must learn to trust again after her failed and abusive marriage. With time running out, will she be able to evade the lieutenant, face her personal demons, and clear her name?

 

About B.J. Bowen

Barbara Bowen is a freelance writer. She was a finalist and Honorable Mention in the 2018 Focus: Eddy Awards for her article, “Letting Go with Grace,” published in Unity Magazine. Ms. Bowen is also an accomplished professional oboist who played with the Colorado Springs Symphony for nineteen years.

Drawing on her quirky fellow musicians and orchestral experiences, she created the mystery series, “Musical Murders.” The first is “Music is Murder” (Release date, 6-9-21). The second is “Ballistics at the Ballet” (Release date TBA) The third is “Fireworks on the Fourth” (Release date TBA).

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, lives in Colorado with two canine friends, and has a stock of musical puns and a song for any occasion. Contact Barbara at: www.barbarabowenauthor.com or www.bookbub.com/authors/b-j-bowen

Author Links

Website – Facebook – GoodReads –

Purchase Links –

Amazon – B&N – Bookshop  – Target – 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
July 14 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
July 14 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
July 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 15 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT
July 16 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
July 16 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
July 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
July 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 18 – Brooke Blogs – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
July 19 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
July 19 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT
July 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
July 20 – Baroness’ Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 21 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – GUEST POST
July 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST
July 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST
July 23 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, GUEST POST
July 23 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Murder at the Lakeside Library: A Lakeside Library Mystery
by Holly Danvers

About Murder at the Lakeside Library

Murder at the Lakeside Library: A Lakeside Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (July 13, 2021)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1643856324
ISBN-13: 978-1643856322
Digital ASIN: B08L5VF4X5

In this series debut perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Miranda James, Rain Wilmot must discover the killer, before the book closes on her life.

 

Rain Wilmot has just returned to her family’s waterfront log cabin in Lofty Pines, Wisconsin after the untimely death of her husband. The cabin is peaceful compared to Rain’s corporate job and comes with an informal library that Rain’s mother, Willow, used to run. But as Rain prepares for the re-opening of the library, all hopes for a peaceful life are shattered when she discovers the body of Thornton Hughes, a real estate buyer, on the premises.

 

The community of Lofty Pines starts pointing fingers at Willow, since she has been unusually absent from the library this summer. A fishy rumor surfaces when Rain learns that Willow had been spending a lot of time with Thornton. The town even thought they were having an affair.

 

While theories swirl about Thornton’s death, Rain takes it upon herself to solve the case to exonerate her mother. As more clues surface, Rain will have to piece together the mystery. But if she isn’t careful, she may be the next to end up dead in the water in Murder at the Lakeside Library, the first in Holly Danvers’ new Lakeside Library mysteries.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In this first Lakeside Library Mystery, we meet Rain Wilmot. She has come home to the family’s cabin in Lofty Pines where she reconnects with her childhood best friend Julia. She hopes for a relaxing solitary summer to start to heal from the grief of losing her husband. Her friend Julia has other ideas. She expects Rain to open the library that is part of the family’s cabin. Rain’s mother usually runs the library but is traveling with no plans to visit Lofty Pines this summer. Julia has big plans so she needs Rain on board and opening the library.

Julia’s plans go seriously awry when they find a very dead Thorton Hughes on the property. Hughes, a real estate developer, had some big plans of his own and had made a few enemies around the area but he was apparently close to Rain’s mother, Willow. Her absence in Lofty Pines this year is questioned and some people think she had something to do with the man’s murder.

Rain decides to do some investigating of her own while rumors fly. She needs to be careful of she could be the next dead body found in Lofty Pines.

I was immediately drawn into this story by the author’s descriptions of Wisconsin’s beautiful Northwoods. I have been to several places like Lofty Pines, none that had a library in one of the cabins, but Ms. Danvers’s descriptions rang true and made it very easy to picture the setting.

I liked Rain and totally understood her need for a quiet place. I also understood Julia’s quest to not allow her friend to wallow in her pain, but boy, that Julia is a pushy woman. She made plans and expected Rain to just fall in line. There was one scene where Rain spends the night in the library and Julia arrives the next morning like a bull in a china shop. I wish Rain would have responded in a stronger way. More insight into Rain and her adult life would have been helpful. We know that the cabin was a special place for her but because her husband didn’t appreciate the area they rarely went there. Again, she allowed another person to make decisions for her. Her behavior really does show a pattern.

I did love the “Laker” attitude. The people that own property in the area and spend every summer there or live there full time are a very cool group. They reach out to help each other whether it be doing a little yard work or bringing treats to share on the deck or just have a listening ear when needed.

The mystery was a little murky for me. There was a bit of repetition and Rain seemed unfocused at times but again she is dealing with a loss and then found a dead body that was oddly connected to her family. Of course, she does get some assistance from Julia, and an elderly library volunteer Marge. They know the people and all the connections that Rain is now unfamiliar with because she has been away so long. The author has a very descriptive writing style but here some of the narration and descriptions get to be too much. I found the treasure found in the library to be a very interesting twist, revealing something important that did move the story forward.

I did have a few issues with the story but Murder at the Lakeside Library was a very entertaining read. It has laid the groundwork for what I hope will be a long-running series. I really liked how important literacy was to Rain’s family going back to her great grandfather, himself an author. The library is a wonderful family legacy. That gives this series a grand uniqueness that cozy readers will love.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

About Holly Danvers 

Holly Danvers grew up devouring every mystery novel on the shelf of her local library. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and 3 chickens, where she’s already plotting her next novel.

Author Links – 
Website –   GoodReads –  Facebook –

Purchase Links –

Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound 
Coming in February 2022

Written as Holly Quinn

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Great Escapes Praise for Murder at the Lakeside Library: A Lakeside Library Mystery
by Holly Danvers

Author Holly Danvers has created an appealing physical environment and cast of characters that cozy mystery fans will want to revisit time and again.
~Book Club Librarian

Murder at the Lakeside Library is a blithe cozy mystery with a lakeside library, a curious corpse, a firm friend, uncertain rumors, and a boatload of books.
~The Avid Reader

I loved the cozy setting and the whole idea of “Lakers” (not the basketball team) and running a summer library. It gave me that On Golden Pond feeling but with a delicious cozy mystery wrapped up in it!
~Books To The Ceiling

What a fabulously fun start to a new cozy series. . . a fun delightful read full of clues mixed with characters you can really picture while getting to know them. 5/5 stars.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 13 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
July 13 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
July 13 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
July 14 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
July 14 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT 
July 15 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
July 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
July 16 – Books to the Ceiling – REVIEW
July 16 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW  
July 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 18 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
July 19 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 20 – Ascroft, eh? – GUEST POST
July 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
July 21 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
July 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
July 22 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT
July 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 23 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
July 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, RECIPE
July 24 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW
July 24 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
July 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 25 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
July 26 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  
July 26 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

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.”