Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am so excited to have Laurien Berenson visit today!

What a Bright Idea
by Laurien Berenson

The question I’m asked most frequently is, where do you get your ideas? The short answer to that: everywhere. Ideas come from news segments and conversations, and from things that happen all around me. Something as small as a single phrase or a fragment of a description will often cause me to pause and think, But what if…?

Occasionally a great idea will present itself fully formed and demand to be written about. That was the case with my first cozy mystery. A PEDIGREE TO DIE FOR, the debut book in the Melanie Travis series, was published in the 1990’s. But long before I sat down to write it, I already had the germ of a plot in mind.

In those days I was breeding and showing Miniature Poodles. I was also writing occasional articles for The New York Times. So when a Toy Poodle breeder in Michigan announced that her top stud dog had been stolen–and that the FBI and her local police had laughed when she’d asked for their assistance in finding him–that certainly caught my attention. Jane Winne offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to her dog’s return. I queried my editor, then called to interview her about the theft.

Champion Syntifny’s Piece of the Rock was an ice white Toy Poodle who stood just ten inches tall. He had been a star in the show ring and he was proving to be a standout sire as well. Rocky was producing offspring who possessed the conformation, the temperament, and the charisma to become champions like their sire.

Jane had been offered a large sum of money for her dog. When she turned it down, she was offered a blank check. A week after she declined the second offer, Rocky was stolen from her kennel in the middle of the night.

I wrote the story for The New York Times and subsequently, both the FBI and the Michigan police opened their own investigations. I followed all the developments avidly. Unfortunately, Jane Winne’s story did not have a happy ending. Rocky–who was believed to have been taken out of the country–was never found.

Although that tragic event served as the genesis for A PEDIGREE TO DIE FOR, my book was a work of fiction. It had a very different cast of characters. My plot veered off in a totally new direction. And I got to make sure that justice was served in the end.

Since then, there have been twenty-one new Melanie Travis mysteries including the just-released book, RUFF JUSTICE. This time the plot revolves around the death of a canine portrait artist and, once again, Melanie finds herself on the trail of a murderer. I love writing cozy mysteries because it’s important to me that all the animals in my books remain safe. And that my characters—both human and canine–find the happy ending that Jane and Rocky never did.

~Laurien

Thank you, Laurien, so much for being my guest today! My heart just breaks over the loss of that poodle. 

Now let me tell you what I thought of Ruff Justice!

As the owner of prize-winning Poodles, Melanie Travis knows how to handle fierce competition. But when a conformation show turns deadly, it’ll take every trick in the book to outsmart a murderer who refuses to lose . . .

With the excitement of the spring dog show season sweeping Connecticut, Melanie is determined to help her son finally lead his Standard Poodle toward a championship title. Aunt Peg even skips the judging panel to exhibit a pup of her own, and she’s set on standing out from the pack with a handmade leash from Jasmine Crane, a talented canine portrait artist who also crafts stunning accessories for discriminating show-goers. Jasmine’s handiwork is to die for—but Aunt Peg didn’t expect to discover the woman murdered behind the concession booth, strangled by one of her dazzling custom creations . . .

Another shockwave ripples through the close-knit show community when Amanda, Aunt Peg’s longtime dog sitter and a renter on Jasmine’s property, ominously vanishes that same day. While nosing around for clues, Melanie suspects a dangerous connection between Amanda’s disappearance and the homicide case—a hunch that grows as her investigation reveals sketchy secrets about the late artist. Juggling a demanding teaching job, the pressures of the show ring, and a daunting suspect list, Melanie finds herself entangled in a mind-boggling murder mystery . . . and hot on the trail of a desperate killer . . .

About This Author

Laurien Berenson is an Agatha and Macavity Nominee, winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and four-time winner of the Maxwell Award, presented by the Dog Writers Association of America. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky surrounded by dogs and horses.

Find out more about her and her books on her webpage here. Find her on Facebook here and on Twitter here.

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

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Contest Will End July 11, 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

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.”


Throw the Damn Ball: Classic Poetry by Dogs
A Plume Book
Published by The Penguin Group
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Hardcover: 128 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0142180853
E-Book File Size: 44041 KB
ASIN: B00C5R73HY

“Dogs seldom make passes
At dogs passing gasses.”

Are these the words of Dorothy Parker? Ogden Nash?

Nope, the author is Sparky from Milton, Pennsylvania. Sparky, Snowy, Tucker, Louie, these canine laureates have written a volume of poetry displaying the brilliance and wit we’ve always suspected our dogs were hiding from us.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
While the pooches in the pictures are adorable I didn’t “howl with joy, bark with laughter or beg for more” as the back cover says I would do. Yes, a couple of the “poems” were clever most just left me shaking my head, thinking am I really taking time to read these. I can truly believe they were written by dogs so I guess the human authors/editors accomplished what they set out to do.  The introduction as us to “Be open-minded. Embrace the dogs efforts to be better understood.” I know the point is humor and not actual literature, it just wasn’t the book for me.

Here’s a sample:
My Big Bone

Chew, chew, chew, chew
Lick, lick, lick, lick
Gnaw, gnaw, gnaw, gnaw
And so it goes
My big bone

~Mickey

(Picture shows a cute medium size dog with a big bone.)

Many people keep books like this in the bathroom. That is where I think it belongs. Maybe read in small doses it would be more enjoyable.  And I do love dogs!! I will take doggy hugs and kisses anytime, they just don’t have to try to impress with any type of poetic verse.

Note: While the dog pictures are very cute this is definitely NOT a child friendly book!! 

About the Authors

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.”


Following Atticus:
Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship
William Morrow
An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Available Now

Tom Ryan describes himself as middle-aged, overweight and an acrophobic newspaperman. He and his canine companion, miniature schnauzer, Atticus M. Finch, are an unlikely pair of mountaineers. Tom was drawn to the New Hampshire peaks by some childhood memories. When a close friend dies of cancer he decides to climb all 48 four thousand foot peaks twice in one winter as a tribute to her and to raise money for charity. It is an adventure of a lifetime and will test both the man and the dog’s endurance. They trek miles on the dangerous trails covered in snow and ice. The weather becomes an enemy as snow and cold can keep them off the trails as they try to complete this difficult challenge.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
What an inspiring story!!! An incredible journey, just a man and his dog. Perseverance, determination, strength of mind and body. This 5 pound little puppy worked its way into Tom Ryan’s heart and they will both work their way into yours.

I found several interesting things in the book. The first was the breeder’s advice to Tom to carry the pup wherever he went for the first month to bond with the pup. I had never heard that before but Tom and Atticus’s relationship proves how well it works.

The second was the education of The White Mountains. Living in Wisconsin I didn’t know much about them at all except that they were there 🙂 After reading the book I checked out some sources online and there is a lot of information about hiking and the The Appalachian Mountain Club. After reading this book I wish I was able to hike the mountains myself.

Tom Ryan changed his life and his story could change yours. Whether it be climbing actual mountains or the mountains we all face in every day life. Attitcus was like “The Little Engine That Could”, he didn’t know he was so small and he led Tom up those mountains like an animal 100 times his size.

This is not a story you will soon forget. You will want to share the wonder of it with your friends and family. It receives my highest recommendation!

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.”