#Review / #Giveaway – Shadow Dancing (The Country Club Murders) by Julie Mulhern – Great Escapes Book Tour @HeneryPress

2018 Reviews, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, E-Book Challenge, Giveaways, Great Escapes Book Tours, Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge No Responses »

Jun 192018

Shadow Dancing (The Country Club Murders)
by Julie Mulhern

Shadow Dancing (The Country Club Murders)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Missouri
Henery Press (June 19, 2018)
Print Length: 210 pages
Digital ASIN: B07BMJM89K

Visiting a psychic is outside the norm for Ellison Russell. Finding bodies is not. Unfortunately, the psychic’s crystal ball says she’ll soon be surrounded by death. Again.

Drat.

Now there’s a corpse in the front drive, a witchy neighbor ready to turn Ellison and her (not so) little dog into toadstools, and a stripper named Starry Knight occupying the guest room.

How did 1975 go so wrong so quickly?

Ellison must handle Mother (who’s found a body of her own), make up with a certain handsome detective, and catch a killer, or the death surrounding her might be her own.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

She’s done it again! Julie Mulhern has topped herself again!

It’s 1975 and Ellison Russell has been dragged to a psychic by her best friend Libba. She is not interested in learning what is in the future, she has a heck of a time just keeping up with the present. When the psychic tells her death may be surrounding her soon, all she thinks is Not Again!!

This story was mega entertaining. Remember the days before cell phones and cable television, when kids played outside, kitchens had avocado appliances and living rooms had shag carpeting! Julie Mulhern takes us there.

Ellison has her hands full with her daughter Grace, her mother, her friends, and Detective Anarchy Jones. Grace makes a new friend, well sort of. Her mother makes an unusual discovery in her closet. Libba took her to a psychic! Her relationship with the good detective has hit the skids but there is still that spark when they are in proximity of each other, plus he needs to keep her safe. She is also busy with her dog Max. Let me tell you, one of his adventures had me laughing so hard I had tears running from my eyes. My daughter was laughing too because she knew exactly whose book I was reading. “Julie Mulhern??”

I love the characters in this series. They are expertly written and feel like old friends. Their dialogues are fantastic. The way Ellison has learned to handle her mother always makes me smile.

The story is very well plotted. One little accident sends Ellison life reeling. A dead body in her front yard, a strip club, another murder. Can’t this woman catch a break? While there is a lot of humor in this story, the reason behind the murders is a very serious issue. It takes a talented author to mesh it all together.

As has become my custom with this author’s books, I devoured this story all in one sitting. The television is turned off, my feet go up, and I escape right into Ellison’s world. The only thing missing is my own Mr. Coffee.

This entire series is extraordinary, so I do recommend you start at the beginning and read them in order. But . . . if you wish you can jump right in with this one, I bet then you will know you have to read them all. For me, every one of them has been a Perfect Escape.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

– Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders. She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean–and she’s got an active imagination. Truth is–she’s an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.

Author Links

Website – FB – Twitter – Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon kobo B&N BookBub
Books in the Country Club Murders Humorous Mystery Series:

THE DEEP END (#1)
GUARANTEED TO BLEED (#2)
CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE (#3)
SEND IN THE CLOWNS (#4)
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES (#5)
COLD AS ICE (#6)
SHADOW DANCING (#7)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 18 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
June 18 – My Fiction Obsession – AUTHOR INTERVIEW GIVEAWAY
June 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
June 19 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 20 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 20 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
June 21 – Varietats – REVIEW
June 21 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 22 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 22 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 23 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 23 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 25 – My Fiction Obsession – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 25 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 26 – Valerie’s Musings – GUEST POST
June 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 27 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
June 27 – Books Direct – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
June 28 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
June 28 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 29 – Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW
June 29 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 30 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
July 1 – A Holland Reads – 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.”

#ReviewRewind /#Giveaway – A Deadly Éclair: A French Bistro Mystery by Daryl Wood Gerber – Great Escapes Book Tour

Giveaways, Reviews 2017, Spotlights No Responses »

Jun 192018

About the Book

This book has now been released in Trade Paperback and
at the time of this posting, you can get the Kindle version for just $1.20!!!

A Deadly Éclair: A French Bistro Mystery
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Setting – California
Crooked Lane Books (June 12, 2018)
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683316046
Kindle ASIN: B06XWDWRLF

It’s always been Mimi Rousseau’s dream to open her own bistro, but it seems beyond her grasp since she’s been chased back home to Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley by her late husband’s tremendous debt. Until her best friend Jorianne James introduces her to entrepreneur Bryan Baker who invests in promising prospects. Now, working the bistro and inn until she’s able to pay it off and call it her own, Mimi is throwing the inn’s first wedding ever.

The wedding will be the talk of the town, as famous talk show host Angelica Edmonton, daughter of Bryan’s half-brother, Edison, has chosen the inn as her perfect venue. Anxious, Mimi is sure things are going to turn south, especially when Edison gets drunk and rowdy at the out-of-towners’ dinner, but by the evening, things begin to look up again. That is until six AM rolls around, and Bryan is found dead at the bistro with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. And the fingers point at Mimi, whose entire loan is forgiven in Bryan’s will.

Now it’s up to Mimi to clear her name and get to the bottom of things before the killer turns up the heat again in A Deadly Éclair, the scrumptious series debut by Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This series is off to a magnificent (magnifique) start! Mimi Rousseau is living her dream of owning her own inn and bistro. She has collaborated with Bryan Baker for the financial backing needed for the purchase and the vast remodeling effort to get both places open. In fact, the story opens with Mimi and her staff getting reading to host its first wedding. Bryan’s niece, talk show host, Angelica Edmonton and her fiancé are excited to be married at the inn. Things start to go awry with Angelica’s father, Edison, arrives at the out-of-towners’ dinner, but when Bryan is found dead the next morning at the bistro with an éclair in his month, Mimi doesn’t think things can get any worse. Now her mentor is dead and she is the prime suspect.

I have been looking forward to the book since I first saw the cover pop up on Facebook and it certainly exceeded my expectations. As a fan of the author’s Cheese Shop Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries, I knew the characters would be strong and the food descriptions would have my mouth watering and I was right.

Mimi Rousseau has a lot on her plate but I knew right away she could handle it. She is strong and savvy and has hired a top-notch staff. Chef C. and sous chef Stefan keep the kitchen under control while Heather runs the dining room. The inn, a fancy bed, and breakfast is managed by Mimi’s BFF, Jorianne. Mimi oversees everything from the menus and wine to all the events happening at the inn and bistro. All of the characters are very well defined for the first book in a series but there is plenty of room for them to grow. The secondary cast, the wedding party, family, and friends, are also very well crafted. I was drawn right into all of their drama.

The story was very fast paced with some corkscrew twists and more suspects than I at first set my sites on. This author knows how to set the scene and have readers nibbling on each little clue as we follow Mimi in her investigation. The mystery is well plotted and so entertaining. I was enthralled from the first page until the last and then I wanted more.

Now let me talk about the food. Oh, my! Thanks to the tantalizing descriptions I could almost taste and smell so many delightful dishes and even the unique flavors of the wine served. I love onion soup so every time it was mentioned my cravings stepped up another notch. Daryl Wood Gerber does share some recipes in the back of the book including recipes for Chocolate Éclairs and Onion Soup Gratinée. Both have been copied into my recipes file.

I am really excited about this new series and can’t wait for book #2, A Soufflé of Suspicion, coming in July 2018.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Agatha Award-winning Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries and CHEESE SHOP MYSTERIES, which she pens as Avery Aames. She will soon debut the new French Bistro Mysteries. Daryl also writes stand-alone suspense: DAYS OF SECRETS and GIRL ON THE RUN. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!

Praise for A Deadly Éclair: A French Bistro Mystery
by Daryl Wood Gerber

Great cozy mystery filled with all the things I love…great characters, great storyline, great food, and a dash of romance!
~Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews

What a wonderful start to a new cozy mystery series . . . This really is a must-read for fans of the genre and food. I just loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

My vocabulary also got a workout, which I enjoy. Reading a good cozy should expand your world and this does that very well.
~Laura’s Interests

A DEADLY ECLAIR serves up a delicious blend of characters, setting, and mystery in the first French Bistro Mystery.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through most of the book, I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place. And the descriptions of the foods had me salivating.
~MJB Reviewers

Setting, characterization and plot all come together beautifully in A Deadly Éclair, book #1 in Daryl Wood Gerber’s entertaining new French Bistro series.
~The Power of Words

This was a great new series which leads us to another food cozy mystery . . . I love reading how Mimi clears her name.
~Community Bookstop

The setting descriptions were great, which I’ve come to expect from this author. She usually has a good balance of details and leaving some things to the imagination. I’m totally in love with the fact that the inn and gardens are based on Monet’s house in Giverny.
~Valerie’s Musings

A Deadly Éclair is well-written, contains good characters, and luscious food descriptions. Daryl Wood Gerber sets up a lovely backdrop for A French Bistro Mystery series.
~The Avid Reader

I loved the story and plot. I loved the characters.
~My Reading Journeys

What a wonderful start to a new series. The author has mesmerized me with her exquisite meals served at the beautiful restaurant our main character runs.
~Texas Book-aholic

A fun read with a wonderful setting, a blossoming relationship, and a perplexing murder.
~Mysteries with Character

The fictional setting of Nouvelle Vie, including the inn and bistro, will have you seriously considering a vacation to Napa Valley, and the food mentioned throughout the novel will leave your mouth watering!
~Reading is My SuperPower

The author’s descriptive style beautifully captures the setting and paints a lush and inviting place you would want to visit on your next holiday.
~That’s What She’s Reading

Author Links

Visit Daryl or Avery at www.darylwoodgerber.com.

Daryl’s Blog – Avery’s Blog – Mystery Lover’s Kitchen – Killer Characters –

Facebook: Daryl Avery

Twitter: @AveryAames @DarylWoodGerber

Goodreads: Daryl Wood Gerber Avery Aames

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N Kobo BookBub
Coming July 10

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click on covers to view details on Amazon.

Tour Participants

June 6 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 6 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews– REVIEW
June 7 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
June 7 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 7 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
June 8 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
June 8 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 9 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
June 9 – The Power of Words – REVIEW*
June 10 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
June 11 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 11 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW*
June 12 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
June 12 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW*
June 13 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW
June 14 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW*, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 14 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW*
June 15 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
June 16 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW
June 16 – Lisa Ks Book Review – REVIEW*
June 17 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW
June 18 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW, RECIPE – GUEST POST
June 18 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW*
June 19 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
June 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW*

*Review Repost from Hardcover tour.

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

#Spotlight / #Giveaway – Once Upon a Spine (Bibliophile Mystery) by Kate Carlisle – Mass Market Paperback Edition @BerkleyMystery

Giveaways, Spotlights 1 Response »

Jun 162018

Once Upon a Spine (Bibliophile Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
11th in Series
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery (June 6, 2017)
An Imprint of Penguin Random House
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451477729
Kindle ASIN: B01LZRPHHK

San Francisco bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright stumbles through the looking glass in a tale of murder, rare books, and a quest for the perfect pie…

Brooklyn’s oh-so-proper future in-laws are traveling from England to meet her, and if that’s not enough to set her on edge, rumors abound that the charming Courtyard Shops across the street may be replaced by high-rise apartments. Their trendy neighborhood will be ruined unless Brooklyn and her fiancé Derek Stone can persuade the shopkeepers not to sell.

But with a rare edition of Alice in Wonderland causing bad blood at the Brothers Bookshop and a string of petty vandalism making everyone nervous, Brooklyn and Derek feel like they’re attempting six impossible things before breakfast. Then the owner of The Rabbit Hole juice bar is felled by his own heavy shelves, and the local cobbler lies dead beside him. An accident . . . or something more sinister? Things get curiouser and curiouser when a second priceless copy of Alice is discovered. Will it stir up more trouble within the close-knit community?

As the Brits descend, Brooklyn learns they’re not so stuffy, after all. Derek’s dad is won over with chocolate cream pie, and his psychic mum would kill to help Brooklyn solve this murder—before another victim takes a tumble.

Read more about Kate and her mysteries at www.KateCarlisle.com!

COMING JUNE 26!

Also by Kate Carlisle

GIVEAWAY
Thanks to the publisher I have 1 copy to give away.

The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US 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 receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End June 30, 2018, 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

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

#FlashbackFriday – Reading Up a Storm (A Lighthouse Library Mystery) by Eva Gates

2018 Reviews, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, Finish The Series Challenge, Flashback Friday, Giveaways, Purrfect Reading Challenge, Read The Printed Word Challenge, TBR Pile Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge 2 Responses »

Jun 152018

On FlashbackFridays 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.

With this book, I will be caught up on this series and ready to review The Spook in the Stacks next week!

Reading Up a Storm (A Lighthouse Library Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Berkley (April 5, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 0451470958
ISBN-13: 978-0451470959
ASIN: B011IVP8Q0

Misfortune blows into North Carolina’s Outer Banks when a dead body in a boat on the shore leaves local librarian Lucy Richardson racing to solve a strange new mystery….

After a successful party at Bodie Island’s Lighthouse Library, librarian Lucy Richardson is ready to curl up with her cat, Charles, and a good book. But her R and R is cut short when she notices some mysterious lights leading a small boat to crash into the coast.

The two shipwrecked seafarers survive the ordeal—but one of them shows up dead ashore a few days later. Lucy finds herself again roped into a murder investigation and navigating a sea of suspects, all of whom had motives to deep-six the deceased. And this time, she has a sinking feeling that finding the real killer won’t be so easy…

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Lucy Richardson loves her view from her apartment on the 4th floor of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library especially at night with the rhythm of the light flashing in intervals out to the sea even during a storm. Tonight though, with the rain pouring down and the waves crashing she notices lights that appear to be coming from the beach. She also notices a boat in trouble not far from shore. She calls 911 so the Coast Guard can be called to help the passengers of the boat. The passengers do survive and even show up at Lucy’s book group. Then one of them is found dead in a boat washed up on the shore. Lucy is on the scene and then finds herself caught up in another murder mystery. She would rather read mysteries than solve real ones, but she thinks those lights she saw on the beach are a key piece of evidence everyone else is ignoring.

Each story in this series tops the last. The author asks us at the beginning of each story to suspend reality because there is no way all the wonders of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library could fit into a normal lighthouse. I have to say she makes suspending that reality very easy. Her descriptive writing pulls us in and there is never any thought that it all can’t be real.

This time Lucy gets so involved that it takes her away from her job at the library a lot. Her co-workers and boss completely understand and fill in for her when necessary. Even with the time off she is still able to take part in a fun surprise. She is also trying to make a decision about her love life. She can’t keep stringing two men along.

The supporting cast adds so much to the story. Louise Jane continues to try to insert herself into the library staff. She has been after Lucy’s job even before Lucy arrived. She has all her ghost stories about the library in the Nags Head area. She tries so hard to frighten Lucy away but it is not working. Research Librarian Charleen has a fantastic idea for promoting the upcoming election and the community really gets involved. And of course, Charles, the library cat always warms my heart.

This story has a really nice flow. It mixes mystery, romance and life at a library in perfect amounts. The characters are appealing and genuine. The setting is delightfully picturesque.

When this book was released back in 2016, the publisher had decided to discontinue the series. Thankfully the author didn’t take their decision to heart, because it has now found a new home at Crooked Lane Books. The Spook in the Stacks was released June 12. I will be reading and reviewing that one soon.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than twenty-five books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing three cozy mystery series: the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane, the Year Round Christmas mysteries for Penguin Random House and, under the pen name of Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series, for Crooked Lane Books.

Vicki lives and writes in bucolic Prince Edward County, Ontario. She is the past president of the Crime Writers of Canada. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards.

Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com. On Facebook at www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor. Twitter @vickidelany @evagatesauthor

Written as Vicki Delany

GIVEAWAY I am excited to give my review copy 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 receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End June 29, 2018, 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

#Review / #Giveaway – Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot (A Ditie Brown Mystery) by Sarah Osborne

2018 Reviews, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, E-Book Challenge, Giveaways, Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge 4 Responses »

Jun 142018

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot (A Ditie Brown Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Georgia
Lyrical Underground (May 29, 2018)
Paperback: 244 pages
ISBN-10: 1516108108
ISBN-13: 978-1516108107
Kindle ASIN: B078LQTSCN

Pediatrician Mabel Aphrodite Brown adores kids. So when a childhood friend asks Ditie to babysit her kids for a few days, she jumps at the chance. She never imagined she’d be solving a murder too . . .

Despite growing up together, Ditie hasn’t seen Ellie Winston in two years, and she didn’t even know Ellie was living in Atlanta. But when Ellie asks her to take care of Lucie and Jason for the weekend, she thinks nothing of it. They’ll bake cookies together, play with her dog—it’ll be fun! Until the police call with terrible news . . .

Ellie may not have been the best friend, but who would want her dead? Could it have something to do with the vague get-rich-quick scheme she mentioned to Ditie? Or the men in a black truck following her and breaking into her home? Not sure who to trust other than her best friend, Lurleen, Ditie’s buried maternal instincts kick in to protect the kids and find their mother’s killer—before they’re orphaned again . . .

Includes Family-Friendly Recipes!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Pediatrician Mabel Aphrodite Brown – Ditie – who spends her life saving kids. She works at a refugee clinic and sees kids with everything from malnutrition to abusing “uncles”. She comes to care a lot about these children in just the few minutes she spends with them. She has no kids of her own and would make a wonderful mom. She is stunned when her friend, Ellie Winston shows up at her door asking her to watch her kids, Lucie and Jason for a few days while she straightens out some things. Ditie quickly agrees but is worried about what kind of scheme her friend is caught up in.

When the police call informing Ditie her friend is dead she feels like she has to do something. Her friend Lurleen has been helping with the kids and they may now be in danger. She will do anything to protect Lucie and Jason. Which may mean moving out of her home and taking time off from work. This mom thing is much harder than she thought. Who knew she would be wrapped up in whatever got Ellie killed?

I really enjoyed this story! Mabel Aphrodite Brown is a strong woman but she doesn’t take off trying to solve everything herself. Detective Mason Garrett is assigned the case. He is the one who notifies Ditie of Ellie’s death. He is the one that comes to talk to the kids and Ditie to get their statements. He becomes invested in their lives right away, and there may just be a little spark between Mason and Ditie. He brings in a hunky P.I. to watch over Ditie, Lurleen, and the kids when he can’t be there. Later we meet Mason’s mom, a retired police officer. Together they all work to solve the case. It was refreshing to watch it all play out, even with the bumps the powers that be put in the road.

Sarah Osbourne gave us such wonderful characters. We learn some of their backstories, some of which may not be entirely truthful in Lureen’s case, while enjoying getting to know them in the present. They have tons of room to grow. I was immediately engaged and wanted to know all of them better. The children, Lucie and Jason have had a hard life, Lucie more mature than her actual 9 years. She was responsible for 5-year-old Jason even when their mother was still alive. My heart broke for them. I can’t wait to see them hopefully develop more natural relationships as they grow.

In addition to these characters, Ms. Osboune gives us one heck of a mystery. So many people seem to be involved, one that was very surprising. Some great red herring diversions kept me guessing. It had some really suspenseful moments and some of the subject matter was a little grittier than in traditional cozy mysteries. The author tempered this with the right about of romance and humor.

I did find myself very emotional about the children in this story. Not just Lucie and Jason but the ones seen at the refugee clinic. With the way, children are now being taken away from their parents at the Mexican border and put in cages, and people seeking asylum being arrested instead of helped, Ditie has a very relevant job. While the story takes place in Georgia there are still families there that need help and I love that Mabel Aphrodite Brown is dedicated to just that.

This series is off to a super start!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Sarah Osborne is the pen name of a native Californian who lived in Atlanta for many years and now practices psychiatry on Cape Cod. She writes cozy mysteries for the same reason she reads them—to find comfort in a sometimes difficult world. Too Many Crooks Spoil The Plot is the first novel in her Ditie Brown Mystery series. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at doctorosborne.com.

I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy.
Book will be sent directly from Amazon U.S.
The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
that can accept gift books from Amazon U.S.

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.

Leave a comment for the author for 5 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 publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End June 28, 2018, 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

Cozy Wednesday – Featuring Murder with Cinnamon Scones (A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery) by Karen Rose Smith #Review / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks

2018 Reviews, Cozy Wednesday, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, E-Book Challenge, Giveaways, Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge 2 Responses »

Jun 132018

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am excited to tell you all about Karen Rose Smith’s new book!

Murder with Cinnamon Scones (A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Pennsylvania
Kensington (May 29, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 344 pages
ISBN-10: 1617739626
ISBN-13: 978-1617739620
Kindle ASIN: B075C95LG8

Daisy Swanson and her Aunt Iris run a delightful shop in Pennsylvania’s Amish country with an emphasis on tasty teas and treats—but murder is not so sweet . . .

As local merchants unite to attract tourists for a much anticipated weekend quilting event, business is sure to spill over into eateries like Daisy’s Tea Garden. Gorgeous craftwork is hanging everywhere—but among the quilts, potholders, and placemats, one gallery owner is wrapped up in some dangerous affairs . . .

Reese Masemer had been dating one of Daisy’s employees, Tessa, an artist, though their last interaction was as strained as a cup of loose leaf tea. Now Reese has been found dead near a covered bridge where Tessa’s been practicing her sketches. She’s the obvious suspect, but Daisy’s learning that there were some major secrets in Reese’s background, and several of his relationships were infused with resentment. To save Tessa, she’ll have to find out who’s tainted this quaint little town with murder . . .

Includes delicious recipes!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Willow Creek has a big event planned. A Quilt Lover’s Weekend that they hope will bring plenty of tourists to town. Reese Masemer owns the local art gallery and he will be displaying some beautiful antique quilts. Tessa, an artist and Daisy’s BFF has been dating him and helping him set up for the big event. There will be a tea at Daisy’s Tea Garden to wrap up the event and announce the raffle winners.

After their last meeting, Tessa feels there is something off about Reese but he has been busy and she has been working on a project herself too. She spends her early morning sketching the covered bridge just outside of town. She is hoping that after the weekend and things settle down she will be able to find out what is going on with Reese. But before she has the chance, Reese is found dead, right by the covered bridge and Tessa is the police’s prime suspect. Knowing her friend is innocent she is going to do her best to find the real killer. Daisy has a way with tea and cinnamon scones but catching the real culprit will take more than 5 minutes to steep the clues all together and pour out her findings for the police.

The characters in this story have a strong bond whether related by blood or friendship. The group looks out for each other. That is clear not only by the way they try to save Tessa but also when Daisy’s helps out one of her employees. A young man on a different path that his father thinks he should be on. I loved the way they all come together several times in this story to handle normal daily life, business, the murder investigation and its aftermath. The word compassion comes to mind when I think of these characters. All the relationships feel true to life.

Karen Rose Smith has written a complex mystery with some corkscrew twists. More suspects are uncovered as the story reveals more of the victim’s past. Detective Morris Rappaport really started rubbing me the wrong way but a few exciting moments finally put him in his place. I liked that Daisy had help from a retired police detective, Jonas Groft and a high school friend, Cade Bankert but I am not entirely sold yet on a romantic relationship between Jonah and Daisy.

This story is well written and plotted. The characters are well developed as well with plenty of backstory if you missed the first book in this series. I am not a tea drinker but I love the theme of this series. As a former quilter, I also loved the theme of this story. Willow Creek is a wonderful place to virtually visit. I could almost taste the cinnamon scones.

This is another perfect escape from this author. A delightful cozy mystery. I am excited to see what happens next!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Karen Rose Smith likes to chat with her readers on social media. You can find her on Facebook at KarenRoseSmithBooks and on Twitter @karenrosemith. Find out more about her mysteries at https://www.karenrosesmithmysteries.com.

Thanks to the publisher I have 1 copy of Murder with Cinnamon Scones to give away!
The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US 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.

Sign up for Karen’s Newsletter for 5 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 publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End June 27, 2018, 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

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #24 2018 – Missouri, Michigan and back to North Carolina

My Reading Itinerary Monday 2 Responses »

Jun 112018

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!

Where are your books taking you this week?

I am traveling to Missouri, Michigan and back to North Carolina.
I love North Carolina. The best vacation our family ever had was the week we spent there on Caswell Beach. I hope we can return there someday.

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

Escapes Completed

A Just Clause (A Booktown Mystery)
Hardcover Release Date – June 13, 2017
Paperback Release – June 5, 2017
Setting – New Hampshire
My Flashback Friday Review!

The Optimist’s Guide to Letting Go
Release Date – May 15, 2018
Wisconsin Author
My Review will be posted tomorrow!

Murder with Cinnamon Scones (A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery)
Release Date – May 29, 2018
Setting – Pennsylvania
I will feature this book on Cozy Wednesday this week!

Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot (A Ditie Brown Mystery)
Release Date – May 29, 2018
Setting – Georgia
My Review will be up on Thursday!

Reading Up a Storm (A Lighthouse Library Mystery)
Release Date – April 5, 2016
Setting – North Carolina
My Flashback Friday Read

Scheduled Escapes

Shadow Dancing (The Country Club Murders)
Release Date – June 19, 2018
Setting – Missouri
The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Tuesday!

Bought the Farm (Farmer’s Daughter Mystery)
Release Date – June 5, 2018
Setting – Michigan
Peg will be guest for Cozy Wednesday next week!

The Spook in the Stacks: A Lighthouse Library Mystery
Release Date – June 12, 2018
Setting – North Carolina

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

#Spotlight / #Giveaway – Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery) by Linda O. Johnston – Great Escapes Book Tour @midnightinkbook

Giveaways, Spotlights 4 Responses »

Jun 092018

Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery)
by Linda O. Johnston

About the Book

Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Midnight Ink (May 8, 2018)
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738752457
Digital ASIN: B075W2BCW6

Carrie Kennersly tries to help her veterinarian boyfriend when he’s under suspicion of murder…Is he a keeper, or should she let him go off-leash for good?

As a technician for a local vet and the owner of the Barkery & Biscuits dog bakery, Carrie Kennersly is excited to host a rescue animal adoption event. She’s also excited to be in a relationship with veterinarian Dr. Reed Storme, despite his pleas for her to butt out of the murder cases she keeps finding herself involved with. Yet when Reed is accused of killing his former veterinary colleague, he seems a lot more agreeable to having amateur detective Carrie butt back in. Can Carrie clear Reed, or does she care too much for a killer?

Includes recipes for dog treats and people treats!

Praise for Pick and Chews (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery)
by Linda O. Johnston

The well-written story will suck you in until you find yourself on the last page amazed at the ending.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

I truly love cozy mysteries, and when they include pets, I’m over the moon! Almost every character in this story, no matter gender, personality, or career, is owned by one or more pets, and animals play a highly significant role.
~Mallory Heart’s Cozies

Author Linda O. Johnston puts her all into each and every book she writes. PICK AND CHEWS, like her stories before, leads readers on a whodunit that in the end, I didn’t guess.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Love for animals is a well-developed theme, and I wanted to cheer for the pet rescue efforts between the vet clinic and the Mountaintop Rescue facility. . .
~The Power of Words

You will find yourself drawn to solving the mystery with Carrie and you will want to cozy up in her barkery and enjoy seeing the pets!
~Bibliophile Reviews

One of the things I love about this series is the emphasis on animal adoption. It is so nice to see awareness about a problem that so many animals face. The author always does such a great job of putting pet adoptions in the stories and it makes me smile every time I read it.
~Texas Book-aholic

. . . the conclusion is suspensefully surprising!
~Laura’s Interests

. . . you can tell how much the author loves animal, especially dogs. The rescue shelter made for some heartwarming moments. And I really enjoyed reading about that.
~MJB Reviewers

About the Author

Linda O. Johnston, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, currently writes the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series for Midnight Ink. She has also written the Superstition Mysteries for Midnight Ink, and the Pet Rescue Mystery Series and Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Linda also writes the K-9 Ranch Rescue miniseries for Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as a paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne. And all her current stories involve dogs.

Author Links:

Website: www.LindaOJohnston.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaOJohnston

Purchase Links:

Amazon B&N BookBub Kobo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 29 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
May 30 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
May 30 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
May 31 – Books Direct – GUEST POST
May 31 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 1 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW
June 1 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
June 2 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 2 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
June 3 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST
June 4 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
June 4 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
June 5 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
June 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 7 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
June 8 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
June 9 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
June 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
June 11 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 11 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

#Review / #Giveaway – Crime & Punctuation (Deadly Edits) by Kaitlyn Dunnett

2018 Reviews, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, E-Book Challenge, Giveaways, Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge 6 Responses »

Jun 072018

Crime & Punctuation (Deadly Edits)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Kensington (May 29, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496712554

After splurging to buy her childhood home in the Catskills, recently widowed Mikki Lincoln emerges from retirement as a freelance editor. With her ability to spot details that others fail to see, it’s not long before Mikki earns clients—and realizes that the village of Lenape Hollow isn’t the thriving tourist destination it was decades ago. Not with a murderer on the loose . . .

When perky novice writer Tiffany Scott knocks at her door holding a towering manuscript, Mikki expects another debut novel plagued by typos and sloppy prose. Instead, she finds a murder mystery ripped from the headlines of Lenape Hollow’s not-too-distant past. The opening scene is a graphic page-turner, but it sends a real chill down Mikki’s spine after the young author turns up dead just like the victim in her story . . .

Mikki refuses to believe that Tiffany’s death was accidental, and suspicions of foul play solidify as she uncovers a strange inconsistency in the manuscript and a possible motive in the notes. Then there’s Tiffany’s grandmother and husband, who aren’t exactly on friendly terms over the local area’s planned rejuvenation efforts . . .

Unable to convince police that they are focused on the wrong suspect, Mikki must rely on her keen eyes to catch the truth hidden in Lenape Hollow. As she gets closer to cracking the case, only one person takes Mikki’s investigation seriously—the cunning killer who will do anything to make this chapter of her life come to a very abrupt ending . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Mikki London was a school teacher, she retired and then her husband passed away. To fill the time and make some money to help with her home renovation she becomes a freelance editor. She makes most of her contacts online so she is surprised when Tiffany Scott shows up at her home with a 500-page manuscript. She gets another surprise when she looks over the first few pages and is drawn in by both the story and the lack of grammatical errors. The story is a little graphic for her taste but is intrigued by its local theme.

When the young author dies 3 days later, just like the victim in the story Mikki immediately suspects foul play but it has been ruled accidental, maybe even a suicide. She tries to work with the police but gets nowhere. Then Tiffany’s grandmother is arrested, accused of killing her granddaughter. Again, Mikki tries to convince the police they have arrested the wrong person. Unfortunately only the killer is paying attention. Mikki may be joining her husband in the great beyond much sooner than planned.

I am sure Mikki London would cringe at all the typos and grammatical errors I make every day on this blog. I don’t do it on purpose. I always received good grades in English but I have forgotten so much of what my teachers tried to cram into my brain. I like that Mikki is an older protagonist, complete with hearing aids, something new for me in a cozy. She is taking great strides to carry on her life without her husband. Buying and renovating her childhood home is a huge undertaking. She hires help for the things she can’t do and takes on the projects she can complete, mindful that it is going to take time to get everything just right. She is also a reluctant sleuth. When she finds what she thinks must be a key piece of evidence she is not sure how to handle it but quickly finds herself digging for answers.

There is a character a lot like me, Darlene – challenged by our body’s betrayal. Mine due to an auto accident, her due to crippling arthritis. She doesn’t let it slow her down, electric scooter, walker, wheelchair, she gets to where she wants to go. She deals with a scary moment and my heart was breaking for her. She handled it just like I would have, thankfully her friend Mikki had her back. Together they make an amazing team.

The other characters in the story were well developed as well. I also enjoyed that Mikki has a feline companion, Calpurnia.

I found the mystery to be very interesting with a limited number of suspects. The pages were turning at a speedy pace. I followed along with the twists and turns, solved the mystery and reached the end. Surprised I had read the entire book in one sitting.

I really like Mikki and Darlene. I am hoping to visit them again soon.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Kaitlyn Dunnett writes the Liss MacCrimmon Mystery Series and now the Deadly Edits Mystery Series. You can find out more about her and her books on her website here.

Thanks to the publisher I have 1 copy to give away!
The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US 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.

Leave a comment for the author for 5 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 publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End June 21, 2018, 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

Cozy Wednesday with Leslie Budewitz – Author of As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles #Excerpt / #Review / #Giveaway

2018 Reviews, Cozy Wednesday, Craving For Cozies, Cruisin Thru Cozies, E-Book Challenge, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge, Purrfect Reading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge 31 Responses »

Jun 062018

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am happy to share an excerpt from Leslie’s new book and to kick off her Great Escapes Book Tour!

The Great Christmas Cookie Debate
By Leslie Budewitz

Excerpt from As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles (June 8, 2018, Midnight Ink)

In the dining room, we oohed and ahhed over the offerings. Date pinwheels, spritz cookies, bourbon balls. Candy cane cookies studded with crushed peppermint. Big, soft coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate. Jam thumbprints. Fudge ecstasies—crackle-topped cookies that make me ecstatic.

“No biscotti?” Heidi said. “Isn’t it a law that every Italian must make biscotti?”

“Everyone makes biscotti,” I said, “Italian or not. So what’s the point?”

“You brought peanut butter cookies?” Chiara asked Molly, who is not half Italian.

“They’re my favorite,” Molly answered. “Everyone loves peanut butter cookies. These are simple—six ingredients.”
“But they’re not Christmas cookies.”

When it comes to cookies, my sister and I were on the same page. Certain traditions must be followed.

As you might imagine, in anticipation of a book with cookies in the title and all over the cover, I’ve been talking cookies a lot lately. Christmas cookies. And I’ve been as surprised as Erin Murphy, my main character, to discover that not everyone agrees with her about Christmas cookies.

Don’t get us wrong. We both love peanut butter cookies, and the flourless version her young cousin Molly brings to the Murphys’ annual friends-and-family cookie exchange is both yummy and easy. We bow to no one in our love of a good chocolate chip cookie. And snickerdoodles? Joy, rolled in cinnamon sugar.

But they aren’t Christmas cookies.

What, to Erin, me, and both our mothers, makes a cookie a Christmas cookie? Some are clearly seasonal—only an author testing a recipe is likely to color dough red and twist it into candy canes in June. Christmas cookies feature an ingredient not used in an everyday cookie. Fruitcake has long been relegated to December—or in some households, to the trash bin, but I don’t hold with that either—so that’s when fruitcake cookies or bars surface. Candied fruit, dates, and nuts are holiday staples.
A gingerbread boy or girl served any other time of year? Just plain wrong. A sugar cookie in the shape of a star or a bell, trimmed with frosting or sprinkles? You know I’m right. And spritz? Case closed.

Quite a few readers mentioned jam thumbprints as holiday faves, and I can’t recall eating one any other time of year. Other cookies are holiday stars in certain European traditions—pfeffernusse, Berlinkranzer, lebkuchen, pizzelles.

Then there’s the snowball with its pseudonyms—Russian tea cakes or cookies, Mexican wedding cakes, and pecan sandies. So important to the holiday that they even play a role in the mystery. I can hardly wait to try the “Dirty Snowball” one reader created by adding cocoa powder added to the powdered sugar. But I will wait, until December 1.

And we haven’t even talked about fudge, divinity, or peppermint bark.

Now it has been brought to my attention that some cookbooks call the snickerdoodle a Christmas cookie. If it meets your criteria for special, and you only make it in December, then by all means, go ahead and give it that label. After all, traditions do vary. Frankly, I think you’d be unnecessarily depriving yourself the joy of those little balls of crackly dough wrapped in sugar and spice and everything nice the rest of the year.

Or maybe that just leaves more for me. And Erin. And you, if you stop by. Because no matter what the cookie, no matter what the season, cookies taste better when they’re shared.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles (A Food Lovers’ Village Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Montana
Midnight Ink (June 8, 2018)
Paperback: 288 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738752419
Digital ASIN: B075W25FNF

Erin is one smart cookie, but can she keep the holiday spirit—and herself—alive till Christmas?

In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily has turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.

When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve?

Includes delicious recipes!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Time to celebrate Christmas and a wedding in Jewel Bay. Adam and Erin are getting married on Christmas Eve! That is after she gets Murphy’s Mercantile all ready for the holidays. The community has turned out for Decoration Day and Erin is surprised to see Merrily Thornton has returned to town. She is even more surprised about how Merrily’s family is treating her. She immediately invites Merrily to her cookie swap the following Sunday,

Merrily fails to show up at Erin’s house or at work the next day. Then her boss notices his bank deposit was short the cash Merrily was supposed to take to the bank. The woman is reported missing and sadly her boss is the one to find her dead eerily with a string of lights wrapped around her neck. Erin is rocked by her new friend’s death and decides she must find her killer. Hopefully, she doesn’t cross the killer or Adam may be left standing at the altar all by himself.

It was a lot of fun to read a story set at Christmas when the temperatures outside were climbing way past 90 degrees. Decorating Day is Jewel Bay sounds like the perfect way to get in the Christmas Spirit.

The characters in this series are some of the most realistic I have ever read. It is very easy to get invested in their lives. Even though Merrily’s family wasn’t the nicest they still come across as real. I don’t agree with the way the handled things in their family, but we have all met people we don’t agree with.

The mystery this time really keep me guessing. Truthfully at one time or another, I suspected everyone the victim had come into contact with. Red herrings, there were a bunch. Several twists too. I was right about one part of it and totally surprised about everything else. I enjoyed how Erin jumped right into her investigation even with the holidays and her wedding coming up quick. I loved her method for keeping all the facts and suspects straight.

The story has an excellent pace. Many events take place within the 288 pages, but nothing is rushed or missed. The author describes people and places so clearly that pictures formed quickly in my mind. The dialogue was wonderfully written too.

A loving family and a family pulled apart come together in this terrific cozy mystery.

The author also includes recipes in the back of the book. The one I am excited to try is the Classic Italian Lasagna. Several differences from ours but without the Murphy’s sauce, it will probably be hard to duplicate.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

Leslie Budewitz is the author of the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries and the Spice Shop Mysteries—and the first author to win Agatha Awards for both fiction and nonfiction. She lives in northwest Montana with her husband, a musician, and doctor of natural medicine, and their cat Ruff, a cover model, and avid bird-watcher.

Connect with her on her website, http://www.LeslieBudewitz.com, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N BookBub Kobo