Tag: cozy mystery

Cozy Wednesday with Author Victoria Hamilton (Giveaway too!)

Posted on By Dollycas 37 Comments on Cozy Wednesday with Author Victoria Hamilton (Giveaway too!)

cozy wednesday 2013 640Welcome To Cozy Wednesday!!

I am super excited to welcome Victoria Hamilton here today!!

Cozy Is As Cozy Does
by Victoria Hamilton

 

VictoriaHamilton-WebWhen I started writing mysteries I wasn’t really aware of sub-genres. I wrote what I wanted to write, disregarding what I considered arbitrary rules.

And I couldn’t get published to save my life.

I happened upon a great agent who, just before she went on hiatus from accepting any more proposals for a matter of months, gave me some tips, the most important of which was to read some of the cozies she represented. It was the best advice I’ve ever gotten. I ‘got’ it after reading a few.

BranNewDeathcover mediumHere are my conclusions:

– Cozies don’t focus on the guts and gore of the murder itself, thought the body may be examined and the death may be gruesome.

– Cozies may, but do not have to, focus on the protagonist (the main character) and the complicating factors in his or her life.

– Cozies may have elements of suspense and action, but these must not overwhelm the working-out of the puzzle by the protagonist.

And that’s about it. I don’t believe that writing in the cozy genre necessarily means you cannot have a sexually active main character, nor does it have anything to do with race, religion or sexual orientation.

But not everyone agrees with me. I had one ‘reviewer’ on Amazon give my book A Deadly Grind one star because he/she said, and I quote: “I like my cozy mysteries to be a true definition of cozy. I felt that having Homosexual characters was not necessary to the plot. Did the author really intend for it to be in there or is the editor trying to push an agenda? If homosexuality is going to be in a book, shouldn’t it be under “Gay/Lesbian” and not “Mystery”?”

So… disregarding that she was factually incorrect about A Deadly Grind, and the crack about an editor pushing an agenda (something that has never happened to me), what about her ‘true definition of cozy’ remark? Is there a true definition of a cozy?

If you asked a hundred cozy readers, you’d probably come up with a wide range of opinion as to what is a ‘true’ cozy, and maybe that’s the way it should be. Some say that a police detective or officer should not be the main character, but Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache mysteries are considered cozy by most. Some, like the quoted ‘reviewer’, feel that there shouldn’t be any gay characters in a cozy mystery, but what, then, do you say about Monica Ferris’s Needlecraft Mysteries and her protagonist’s needlework shop employee, Godwin?

I say it’s individual. Your cozy is not necessarily the next reader’s cozy. Of course there are parameters and conventions, but rules were made to be bent, and the guidelines are malleable. I like stretching them a bit, and I enjoy reading mysteries that will not be bound by the rules. But I think we’re each allowed to make up our own guidelines and decide what cozy is for us.

What about you? As a reader, do you have any guidelines as to what YOU think a cozy is or should be?

~::~

BranNewDeathcover medium
Bran New Death
(A Merry Muffin Mystery)
BRAND NEW SERIES
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (September 3, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Ben Perini
Cover Design by Lerley Worrell
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425258835
E-Book File Size: 1071 KB
ASIN: B00BDQ39E4

goodreads-badge-add-plus

When Merry Wynter discovered that she inherited a genuine American Castle in the ‘wilds’ of upstate New York, her first reaction was to contact a real estate agent to sell it, sight unseen. Things were a little complicated, what with a lunatic employer making her life miserable. But after losing her job and with the castle not sold, Merry decides to trek to Wynter Castle to see what the problem is.

One barrier to selling is immediately evident; someone is digging giant holes on the property! Merry accuses local Tom Turner of being her late night gopher and warns him to stay off her property, or else, but it happens again. Merry storms out to confront whomever is doing the damage, but doesn’t count on finding a dead man at the bottom of the hole.

What is going on at Wynter Castle and in Autumn Vale? How can Merry convince hunky sheriff Virgil Grace that she is not the one who bashed the victim over the head?

Dollycas’s Thoughts
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Or in Merry Wynter’s case if life gives you questions you make muffins while you try to find the answers.

She has not recovered from her husband’s death, she has lost her job, and she has inherited A CASTLE!! A castle that needs a lot of work before it will be ready for sale. Plus Autumn Vale is not your normal small town.  Just a couple of people welcome Merry, she gets an icy reception from most of the residents. Then she find one of them dead on her property.

Victoria Hamilton has written an extraordinary story featuring some very eccentric characters in some unique situations. This story twists more than Chubby Checker.  These characters all have so much depth and we learn so much about them in this series debut but I feel like we are just starting to scratch the surface to their stories. Plus in addition main mystery there are many subplots intertwined and the story flows effortlessly. The reader is drawn right into Autumn Vale and into this wonderful castle and into all the drama that ensues.

I want to visit this castle. It sounds like a place I would love. If Merry is baking I will probably never want to leave. Plus is sounds like in Autumn Vale you never what is going to happen next.

~There are yummy recipes included too!

a perfect escape

5 STARFISH

Dollycas
Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Victoria Hamilton, nationally bestselling author of the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series, is the pseudonym of Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of romance and historical mystery novels.

Victoria starting reading mystery novels at the age of 12 and devoured Agatha Christie mysteries, as well as those of Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh. She still adores mysteries, especially the cozy mysteries of Janet Bolin, Krista Davis, and others.

She loves to cook, and collects teapots and teacups, as well as vintage kitchen utensils and bowls. She also enjoys crafts, especially cross-stitching and crocheting, and spends summer days in the garden, drinking tea or wine. Besides the Merry Muffin Mystery series (Bran New Death – September 3rd) Victoria writes two other mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series (Book 3, Freezer I’ll Shoot debuts November 5th) and the Teapot Collector Mystery series which debuts with Tempest in a Teapot, out June 3rd, 2014.

Author Links:

Victoria Hamilton Mysteries

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

Merry Muffin Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MerrysMuffinsMysterySeries

Twitter: @MysteryVictoria

 

Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 2 copies to give away!

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.

Leave a comment for Victoria for 5 Bonus Entries !

What about you? As a reader, do you have any guidelines as to what YOU think a cozy is or should be?

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

Contest Will End September 18, 2013 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.”

Cozy Wednesday, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Reviews 2013

Cozy Wednesday with Author Dawn Eastman (Giveaway too!)

Posted on By Dollycas 62 Comments on Cozy Wednesday with Author Dawn Eastman (Giveaway too!)

cozy wednesday 2013 640Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am thrilled to Welcome Dawn Eastman here today!!

What’s in a name?

headshot dawn eastmanThank you, Lori, for inviting me to Cozy Wednesday! I’m glad to be here.

PALL IN THE FAMILYMy debut novel, Pall in the Family, was released on August 6.  Because I use my maiden name as my pen name, I get a lot of questions about why I chose to use something other than my “real” name. The short answer is that my married name is hard to spell and pronounce. But the questions got me thinking about names, and how they are chosen.

When I was eight years old, I wanted a different first name. Dawn was too simple and too plain for me. I wanted something substantial like Samantha or Alexandra. Something with more syllables. However, I planned to shorten the name to Sam or Alex as a nickname. There’s no nickname for Dawn. It’s probably the same desire to pretend to be a fireman or a princess. What would life be like with a different name?

Now that I am a writer, I get to be all sorts of people with different names – at least in my head. I can be a pet psychic who longs for adventure when I blog as Violet Greer. I have adventures and live in a lovely small town when I write as Clyde.

Reflecting my childhood name-changing desires, many of my characters have changed their own names. Clytemnestra Fortune shortened her name to Clyde, much to her mother’s dismay. Mac McKenzie is actually named Phillip McKenzie. And Clyde’s sister married a man named Proffit after she discovered her talent for predicting the stock market.

Then there’s Diana. A few years ago, when I was working on Pall in the Family, a writer friend sent me a link to a website where you can enter your name (or any phrase) and it will kick out an anagram. Since there’s nothing a writer likes more than a distraction that can be called “work,” I quickly clicked on the link. (Try it for yourself here: http://www.arrak.fi/en/ag – I’ll wait) My married name produced a whole list, but one of them jumped out at me: Diana Moonward.

I loved the way it tied the name Diana to the moon, since Diana is the moon goddess. Moonward, as if she is leaning toward the moon. At the time, Clyde didn’t have a best friend who was a Wiccan and owned a witch supply store. But what else would a person name Diana Moonward do?

One of my favorite authors is JK Rowling. The names she uses in her Harry Potter series are so fantastic and they are like a little treasure hunt. Sirius is the dog star and her character Sirius Black changes into a large black dog. If someone is lupine, they are wolf-like and Professor Lupin turns into a werewolf. Luna Lovegood is a little on the crazy side but loyal to her friends.

What do you think? Do you notice character names and look for deeper meanings? Do you have any favorite character names? Are you happy with your name, or do you wish for something different? I’d love to discuss it in the comments!

~Dawn

_____________________________

O.K. Dawn, that site is addicting, :p

 Result:

My married last name produced

slew lac    
lews lac    
well sac    
well sac    
sell caw    
cell was    
cell saw    
calls we    
call sew    This one jumped out at me. Before my accident I loved to sew!!

Result:
First and Last name produced:
scowler lila     willer coals     carlisle low     closer willa     recoil walls
swiller cola     wile collars     solacer will     slier callow     collier slaw
swiller coal     rowel scilla     oracles will     lollies craw     collier laws
wiles collar     rowel lilacs     oracles will     allelic rows     collier laws
lewis collar     rowel lilacs     rallies cowl     oracle wills     collier awls
slower lilac     orwell salic     recoils wall     oracle swill     collier awls
roswell laic     lower scilla     slicer allow     coaler wills     relic sallow
lowers lilac     lower lilacs     relics allow     coaler swill     relic allows
waller coils     lower lilacs     relics allow     locale swirl     cello aswirl
willer socal     carlisle owl     cresol willa     recoil walls     rollie claws
None of these struck me but I do love lilacs.

Result:
Dollycas Produced:
scylla do    slay clod    as coldly    sold clay    
scaly old    sally doc    codys all    sold acyl    
clays old    sally cod    scold lay    dolls cay    
clays old    lays cold    colds lay    dolls cay    
scald loy    lays clod    clods lay    
sac lloyd    days coll    clods lay    
sac dolly    days coll    cods ally    
sadly col    lads cloy    solly cad    
ladys col    sad colly    sly acold    
slay cold    ads colly    sold lacy
Nothing here better than Dollycas~
_______________________
Back to business!! Dawn, THANK YOU! I hope you will come back soon and often!!

About Dawn Eastman

Dawn Eastman lived in Michigan for many years, in a house full of animals, unusual people, and laughter. She now lives in Iowa with her husband, son, daughter, and one extremely bossy small dog. Pall in the Family is her first novel.

Links:

http://www.dawneastman.com/

http://familyfortunemysteries.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @DawnAEastman

 

PALL IN THE FAMILYPall in the Family
(A Family Fortune Mystery)
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery (August 6, 2013)
The Berkley Publishing Group
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Daniel Craig  – AWESOME COVER!!
Cover Design by Judith Lagerman
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425264270
E-Book File Size: 662 KB
ASIN: B00A6WV6S2

goodreads-badge-add-plus

 

The aptly named Crystal Haven is the destination for tourists seeking psychics, séances, and the promise of contacting the spirit world. In this small western Michigan town, everyone knows the Fortune family. Rose is gifted with tarot card readings. Her sister, Vi, is a self-proclaimed pet psychic. And Rose’s daughter Clyde is… …

A cop. She has returned home from Ann Arbor on a “leave of absence”. No one really knows the whole story.  Her mom and aunt think she has come home because she is ready to join the family business and use her psychic gift.  Clyde would just like to relax and reflectand is happy walking some of her Aunt Vi’s clients and spending time with her nephew Seth.  But when a local psychic ends up dead Clyde finds herself right in the middle of the investigation and when the killer thinks she may “know” more than it seems her own life is danger.  Her trip home is definitely not a good fortune.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Clytemnestra, oh what a name, (Clyde) is quite a character! Trying to remain “normal” in a family of psychics is tough. It has already cost her one romantic relationship and maybe her job, but she is trying to hold it all together in a town where she is definitely in the minority. Crystal Haven is known for its psychics and is a major tourist destination for that reason.

She wants to let the police handle the investigation but her family wants her to “help””. Her father doesn’t have any “gifts” but he has his police scanner handy and will do almost anything Rose tells him to do. The way he deals with the women in his family just cracked me up.  Clyde, Rose, Vi and even Seth are all using crystals, pendulums, and following suspects around town to try and catch the killer. Hilarity ensues!!

From the first pages when a bat is chased around the house and out an open window until the last page when a question asked long ago is answered, this book will have you fully engaged and captivated. I would classify this as paranormal light. You don’t need to believe  to enjoy this story but you may believe a little by the end.

This is the author’s first novel and she has created a divine cozy. I don’t need a fortune teller to know this series has a promising future.

a perfect escape5 STARFISH

Dollycas
Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Thanks to the people at Penguin I have my review to give away
Plus the author is giving away a copy!!!!

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.

Leave a comment for Dawn for 5 Bonus Entries !

What do you think?
Do you notice character names and look for deeper meanings?
Do you have any favorite character names? A
re you happy with your name, or do you wish for something different?
I’d love to discuss it in the comments!

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

Contest Will End September 11, 2013 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.”

Cozy Wednesday, Giveaways, Guest Posts, Reviews 2013

Review: Cloche and Dagger by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on By Dollycas 4 Comments on Review: Cloche and Dagger by Jenn McKinlay

clothe and dagger august
Cloche and Dagger
(A Hat Shop Mystery)
Brand New Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group August 6, 2013)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Robert Steele
Cover Design by Diana Kolsky
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425258897
E-Book File Size: 679 KB
ASIN: B009RYS39A
goodreads-badge-add-plus

 

Not only is Scarlett Parker’s love life in the loo—as her British cousin Vivian Tremont would say—it’s also gone viral with an embarrassing video.

Scarlett agrees with Viv that it is time to get out of Florida for awhile so she jets across the pond to visit her cousin and check in on the business they share.  Mims’s Whims was left to them by their grandmother. Viv has the perfect touch of creating outstanding and outlandish hats just like her grandmother, Scarlett is a novice when it come to creating any type of chapeau.  So when Scarlett arrives in London only to find her cousin not in residence she is like a fish out of water.

Harrison Wentworth is the business manager for the hat shop and is used to Viv taking off on whims of her own. But when one of Viv’s hoity-toity clients ends up dead people including Scarlett and the coppers start to wonder if she is really off on a buying trip or in hiding.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Jenn McKinlay has done it again!!! Scarlett is a fantastic character! I absolutely love her. She spent most of the book worried about her missing cousin and I did too.

With all these viral videos hitting the internet lately, and I know a couple from one of the latest personally, Scarlett’s story is current and believable and hilarious!! I didn’t need to see it with my eyes this author made me see it in my mind perfectly.

It was fun to follow the murder mystery too along with a couple other unusual happenings. No spoilers here!!

Jenn has laid the foundation for another wonderful series. Harrison has captivated me with his stories of infatuation for Scarlett when they were young and she still holds a place in his heart. After recent events she is not ready to see that yet. Viv was missing for most of the story but these three together along with Fiona “Fee”, Andre and Nick are going to take us on some wild rides. Death of a Mad Hatter can’t be released soon enough for me!! I wonder what part Ferd the Bird will play in that one.

a perfect escape
5 STARFISH

Dollycas
Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

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.”

Reviews 2013

Review & Giveaway: You Can Only Die Once by Shelley Costa

Posted on By Dollycas 16 Comments on Review & Giveaway: You Can Only Die Once by Shelley Costa

YOU CANNOLI DIE ONCEYou Cannoli Die Once
(Miracolo Mysteries)
New Series
Cozy Mystery
Pocket Books (May 28, 2013)
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1476709352
E-Book File Size: 890 KB
ASIN: B00A6CM4YC
goodreads-badge-add-plus

 

From Back Cover

At Miracolo Northern Italian restaurant, one can savor brilliantly seasoned veal saltimbocca, or luscious risotto alla milanese, but no cannoli. Never cannoli. Maria Pia Angelotta, the spirited seventy-six-year-old owner of the Philadelphia-area eatery that’s been in her family for four generations, has butted heads with her head chef over the cannoli ban more than once. And when the head chef is your own granddaughter, things can get a little heated.

Fortunately, Eve Angelotta knows how to handle what her nonna dishes out. But when Maria Pia’s boyfriend is found dead in Miracolo’s kitchen, bludgeoned by a marble mortar, the question arises: Can a woman this fiery and stubborn over cream-filled pastry be capable of murder?

The police seem to think so, and they put the elder Angelotta behind bars, while Eve, sexy neighborhood attorney Joe Beck, and the entire Miracolo family— parenti di sangue and otherwise—try every trick in the cookbook to unravel a tangle of lies and expose a killer.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a tasty debut!!  Eve and her Nonna don’t agree with what’s on and not on the menu but she knows her grandmother didn’t kill anyone. Eve pulls her friends and family together to do whatever they have to so she is cleared of the crime and back at the restaurant where she belongs. Even if it means breaking and entering!

When you pick up this book be prepared to laugh and laugh a lot. This is a true group of quirky characters and I was surprised at their depth for this being the first book in the series. This is a big Italian family so there are many characters to keep straight but as the story progresses they each come into their own and are very easily pictured in the reader’s mind. Don’t be scared off by the hard to pronounce or long Italian names, soon you will feel right at home at Miracolo’s.

The story unfolds slowly with delectable dialogue, a few bites of tongue in cheek moments,  some crumbs of sarcasm, and references of some great operas.  Then it picks up steam as the clues start to come together. There is also a little romantic tension we all love too.  All together a yummy cozy mystery.  I can hardly wait for my next reservation at this wonderful Italian eatery.

just you and a friend

4 STARFISH

Dollycas
Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Find out more about Shelley Costa on her webpage here.

I would love to share my review copy with one lucky winner!!
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.

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

Contest Will End September 5, 2013 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.”

Alphabet Soup - A - Z Reading Challenge, Giveaways, Reviews 2013
What Grows From the Dead by Dave Dobson Get Your Copy Today!
+ +