The Great Escapes Book Tour for this book starts July 31.

I loved Guidebook to Murder and couldn’t wait to read this one.

Be sure to check out the tour and enter the giveaways!!

Mission to Murder
A Tourist Trap Mystery
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington Trade (July 1, 2014)
Paperback: 238 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1601833051
E-Book File Size: 1196 KB
Publisher: eKensington (July 31, 2014)
ASIN: B00IO3QR98

In the California coastal town of South Cove, history is one of its many tourist attractions, until it becomes deadly. Jill Gardner, proprietor of Coffee, Books, and More, has discovered that the old stone wall on her property might be a centuries-old mission worthy of being declared a landmark. But Craig Thomas, the obnoxious owner of South Cove’s most popular tourist spot, The Castle, makes it his business to contest her claim. When Thomas is found murdered at The Castle shortly after a heated argument with Jill, even her detective boyfriend has to ask her for an alibi. Jill decides she must find the real murderer to clear her name.

But when the killer comes for her, she’ll need to jump from historic preservation to self-preservation.

To find out more about Lynn Cahoon and her books visit her blog 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.”


Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

My Bloody Valentine – Short Story Collection
Romantic Suspense
Publisher: The Story Vault (February 9, 2014)
E-Book File Size: 529 KB
ASIN: B00ICNBDP8

MY BLOODY VALENTINE
Curl up with this delightfully dangerous collection of short stories, aimed at making the heart grow colder.

Love sometimes requires restraints…. In Tiffinie Helmer’s “Heartless,” Roxie Scott moonlights as a dominatrix, trying to survive the financial cost of her divorce, until her clients start turning up dead.

A mystery turns personal in Alex Bledsoe’s “Tantrabobus,” when Professor Tanna Tully of “the Firefly Witch” series, leads a team of graduate students in paranormal studies to investigate the ghost of a woman who burned to death on her wedding day.

A jilted mistress is after revenge In V.R. Barkowski’s “Just a Lie,” and a Homicide Inspector must choose between revealing a truth that will destroy lives or ignoring the savage fury of a woman scorned.

Can an immortal blood drinker find redemption? In Erica Hayes’ “Unforgiven,” Lisette, who long ago learned the price of pleasure, meets an ancient enemy, a dark prince and lover who rekindles her forbidden thirst for power — and blood.

CIA operative and bioterrorism expert Mackenzie Conley comes face to face with a madman obsessed with possessing her in Lizbeth Lipperman’s SWEEPERS: A Kiss To Die For, but soon discovers escaping from her mountain prison is the least of her worries.

A broken heart leads to rebellion in Charlie Holmberg’s “Salt and Water,” in which a beautiful slave is tortured to make her cry tears that possess healing powers. Her keeper’s generosity may be the key to her escape, but even the soft-hearted slaver has secrets to hide.

When two worlds collide, chaos is inevitable, in Coreene Callahan’s “Fury of Fate,” in which Sasha Cooper embarks on a night of passion with a complete stranger who turns out to be a Dragonkind warrior. Her dream-come-true may turn out to be her worst nightmare.

Sherry Papers knows that love hurts, in S.G. Redling’s “The True Love of Sherry Papers,” and she isn’t afraid to prove it. But when the love of her life forgets that important fact, she’ll stop at nothing to remind him.

For more information about the individual authors, please see the links below.
Tiffinie Helmer: http://www.tiffiniehelmer.com/
Alex Bledsoe: http://alexbledsoe.com/
V.R. Barkowski: http://www.vrbarkowski.com/VR_Barkowski/Author_VR_Barkowski.html
Erica Hayes: http://www.ericahayes.net/
Lizbeth Lipperman: http://lizlipperman.com/
Charlie Holmberg: http://myselfaswritten.blogspot.com/
Coreene Callahan: http://www.coreenecallahan.com/
S.G. Redling: http://www.amazon.com/S.G.-Redling/e/B007F37JR2

Now in a quick Valentine’s Giveaway I will give 1 person
a gift of this collection of short stories from Amazon.
Just leave a comment below telling me if you have special plans
with your Sweetheart today.
I will choose the winner tomorrow.
Be sure to leave your email address!!

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.”


The Murderous Matrimony Book Tour stops here today!!

I have been looking forward to this book since
I finished reading Perilous Pranks back in August.

Murderous Matrimony
(Renaissance Faire Mystery)
6th in the Series
Cozy Mystery
Self Published
E-Book File Size: 367 KB
Print Length: 206 pages
ASIN: B00GOA74N6

In just 2 weeks Jessie Morton and Chase Manhattan will become man and wife in one of the biggest Adventureland events ever. That is if Jessie can get Wanda’s ghost to behave and leaver her alone, get pass the fact that Chase’s family thinks she is all wrong for him and solve a murder or two. Maybe she and chase should just elope.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love these books. I have never been to an actual Renaissance Faire but because of these books I hope to attend one in the future. What a great ESCAPE from reality! Where else can you see Kings, Queens, Lords, Ladies, madmen, fairies, mermaids, dragons, Robin Hood and hundreds of people in full costume walking about enjoying the fantasy of it all? Plus the food, don’t forget the food.

Joyce and Jim Lavene take us there and they add the suspense of a murder or two in each installment. The descriptions are so vivid. I can see Sherwood Forest, the castle, the dungeon, the streets, the shoppes and every colorful character. Their words paint beautiful pictures in my mind. Even the curmudgeonly outsiders who enter the village who don’t believe. It is usually the outside police that come in to assist Chase but this time it includes Chase’s family as well.

 This story has a great mystery with plenty of suspects to keep us guessing – Fabulous characters including a ghost – Takes place in a fantastic setting. I love reading stories that leave me smiling at the end with a few giggles throughout and anxious for the next book.

You just can’t go wrong with a Joyce and Jim Lavene mystery. (Or a J.J. Cook or an Ellie Grant, yep, that’s them too!) While I would recommend reading the series from the start the authors do a wonderful job making each book read well all on its own. Congrats Joyce and Jim and thank you for inviting me to the spectacular wedding!!

About the authors:
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, best-selling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family. Visit them at www.joyceandjimlavene.com.
Plus
Website: http://www.renaissancefairemysteries.com/
Blog: www.romanceofmystery.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
Twitter: @authorjlavene
Amazon : amazon.com/author/jlavene

Giveaway: The authors are giving away to one winner a copy of each of the 5 print books in the Ren Faire mystery series as well as the E- novella, Perilous Pranks. and an E- copy of Murderous Matrimony.

The entire collection, for now, of our Ren Faire Mysteries. Plus a Ren Faire Mystery tote bag to hold all of them.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.”


Relatively Dead
Historical Mystery
Published by Beyond the Page (May 16, 2013)
E-Book File Size: 497 KB
Print Length: 211 pages
ASIN: B00CUEGU4E

Abby Kimball moved to New England with her boyfriend when he accepted a new job. He made a good salary which gave her some time to settle in and decide whether to return to teaching or take some of her other experience and try something new. Boyfriend Brad spent a lot of time working or hanging out with his other coworkers that left Abby with a lot of alone time on her hands.

Abby decides to take a tour of historic homes in the area where she meets Ned. He was the docent for the last home on the tour. He also was a witness to a very strange experience she had in the house. As she entered one of the rooms she saw a family scene but it wasn’t a recreation using actors it was a haunting vision of a family who had lived in the house nearly a century ago. Having never had anything like that happen before she was positive something was very wrong with her. Thankfully Ned was helpful and encouraging and open to what she described to him. He even offered to help her investigate the vision and why she was seeing it in the first place. Abby leery at first eventually decides to spend her free time exploring and she finds out these visions may be connected to her own past.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
If you are familiar with Sheila Connolly or her books at all you know history is a major theme that runs trough her stories and that she is very interested in genealogy. That is what first drew me to this story but she is also a fantastic storyteller and that is what kept me reading.

I struggled a bit with Abby and Brad’s relationship at first but things started to click into place there for me rather quickly. As an avid mystery reader I kept waiting for Ned to show his ulterior motives and be the bad guy. Ned does have secrets but in a whole different direction than I originally thought.

What I really enjoyed was the process Abby followed to dig in to the local history and the visions she continued to have and the emotions she felt. People are investigating into exploring their family trees and history right now. With so much information being made available on the internet and the several websites created to help people connect the story is very current. Granted not everyone has visions like Abby but it is not beyond the realm of possibility. I have decided to keep an open mind on anything of that nature. My parents have both passed away and while I have never “seen” them or any of my other relatives there are times I just “feel” their presence. I think it would be cool to have way to really connect with them and learn more of my family history to pass on to my kids.

I thought this was a very original story tying a little paranormal activity into a different type of mystery with a bit of romance thrown in too. Connolly’s  writing is very descriptive and I love it.  

It was a nice, light,  easy read and a perfect book for me to curl up with on a dark rainy evening.

 To find out more about Sheila Connolly visit her webpage here.

~I had received a copy of this book from NetGalley but when I went to read it the file would load on my Kindle correctly so I purchased a new copy from Amazon.

Big Numbers (Austin Carr Mystery)
1st in Series
Mystery/Thriller
Published by Down & Out Books (June 2, 2013)
Paperback: 204 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1937495541
E-Book File Size: 457 KB
ASIN: B00D3DJMJQ

Divorced father Austin Carr wakes up every day in a beat-up camper, parked on someone else’s private property. Why? Because his alimony and child support payments were established by New Jersey’s family court system when his income was double, and for the last two years he has failed to earn the legally mandated monthly nut. He’s had his savings drained, his Maxima repossessed, his salary attached, and his visiting rights suspended. He bought the twelve-year-old Chevy pick-up with the rusty camper for $800 last month because another landlord tossed his butt in the street.

Will stretching the rules, his own morals, and the boundaries of common sense raise the cash needed to get his kids back? Or will his big mouth and bad behavior set him up for a nasty double-cross? Find out if Austin can redeem himself and win back his children.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Man, I thought I had bad luck! Austin Carr seems to be cursed and his ex-wife sounds like she was based on my ex-daughter-in-law. So I clearly had a soft spot for Austin from the beginning.

This story covers his life for about 3 short weeks in his life and Austin ends up in the emergency room more times than I can count, wonder if he had insurance 🙂 While tragic circumstances seem to sneak up all around him, Austin has a keen sense of humor and even when facing his own death he comes up with some classic one-liners. The author calls the story a “screwball mystery” and that describes it perfectly. It is full of suspense with snippets that will make you laugh out loud.

All Austin wants is get get his ex off his back so he can spend time with his kids. He owes her a lot of back support to make that happen so he is drawn into an unusual scheme or schemes and at times he in way over his head, drowning quite literally. 

Getze has created a sensational character in Austin Carr. Even when he is breaking the law you want him to come out on top. Let’s face it a guy who wears a Speedo to his daughter’s swim competition to go unnoticed can’t be all bad.

If you like your mysteries with plenty of thrills with a side of crazy these pages will be flying. I hated for this book to end!!! I can’t wait for the re-release of Big Money!!!

About The Author
Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet’s oldest websites for noir, crime, and horror short stories. Through the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Syndicate, his news and feature stories were published in over five-hundred newspapers and periodicals worldwide. His two screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, are being reissued by DOWN & OUT BOOKS, with the new BIG MOJO to follow. His short stories have appeared in A Twist of Noir and Beat to a Pulp. Getze is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.

Author Links:

http://austincarrscrimediary.blogspot.com

http://jack-getze.blogspot.com

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18050373-big-numbers

Purchase Links:
AMAZONB&N

Thanks to the author I have 1 e-copy to give away!

Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

E-BOOK – INTERNATIONAL

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 October 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

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 30 – Socrates’ Book Review Blog – Review, Giveaway
October 1 – Turning the Pages – Review
October 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review, Giveaway
October 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review, Giveaway
October 9 – fundinmental Review, Giveaway
October 10 – fuonlyknew – Guest Post
October 11 – Reviews By Karen – Review, Giveaway
October 12 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway
October 13 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – Review, Giveaway
October 14 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
October 15 – Celticlady’s Reviews – Review
October 16 – Brooke Blogs – Review
October 17 – Turning the Pages – Review
October 18 – Rose & Beps Blog – Guest Post
October 18 – Queen of all She Reads – Review, Giveaway
October 19 – Books and Needlepoint – Review, Giveaway
October 21 – Omnimystery – Interview
October 22 – Darla King Series – Review, Giveaway
October 24 – Community Bookstop – Review
October 26 – readalot – Review, Giveaway
October 27 – Jane Reads – Review, Giveaway
October 28 – THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK – Review, Giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. 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.”


Streak of Lightning:
A Penguin Special from Plume  (July 30, 2013)
(A Someday Quilts Mystery)
E-Book File Size: 946 KB
ASIN: B00938YEES

A stand alone story for mystery fans that will also tide over series fans over until O’Donohue’s next novel, The Double Wedding Ring, this October.

Nell and Jesse are finally taking some time off to celebrate New Year’s in the Big Apple. They really need a romantic weekend away. Nothing is going to ruin their plans. BUT before they even get off the train in New York City they are called back to Archer’s Rest.

A man in jail for disorderly conduct has been found dead in his cell. Jesse had left his most trustworthy deputy in charge. This freak event sets the town abuzz like a streak of lightning. He has no choice but to go back and find out what the heck happened!

Dollycas’s Thoughts
A wonderful short story to bridge the gap between full length novels. These are great characters and the story has a very interesting twist which I loved.

Add this one to your e-reader today and head to the beach. A fun, quick read even those not familiar with the series will enjoy! Fans of the series will be counting the days until The Double Wedding Ring hits shelves. Amazon says September 24!!

To Find Out More About Clare Visit Her Website http://clareodonohue.com

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.”


Ode to a Fish Sandwich (Quirky Tales from the Caribbean)
Short Mystery Story
Green Vase Publishing (June 24, 2013)
E-Book File Size: 252 KB (92 pages)
ASIN: B00DLQJXQC

Recently jilted at the altar, Dr. Walcott Emerson Jones decides to set off on his honeymoon without his runaway bride. An adventurous week on a remote Caribbean island is just what the sun-averse dermatologist needs to mend his broken heart.

Along the way, he braves a creepy cane field, tracks a grief-stricken fisherman up the side of a volcano, and befriends a chef at the local beachside diner.

But the calculating cook has broader ambitions than spending the rest of her life serving up fish sandwiches, and the spurned diamond ring hanging from the doctor’s neck is a prize too tempting to resist. Will the vacationer’s last meal on the island turn into his last meal – ever?

A story about a man, a fish, and the daily special.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
This novella is Rebecca Hale’s first Quirky Tale from the Caribbean and it was a real treat.

Following Dr. Jones around the island for a week was fantastic and yes, quirky! Not happy staying with the confines of the posh resort he travels outside the gates and meets the unique residents of the island like Winnie, owner of Delilah’s Beachside Diner, who makes the best fish sandwiches ever. The islanders don’t know what to make of this man covered head to toe with either clothes or sunscreen but for the week he becomes a daily fixture in their lives. The even give him the nickname “White Wally”.

The story also has some quirky twists that had me humming the theme music from the old Twilight Zone television show as I reached the end.

A fun read for a quick summer escape to the Caribbean. One problem, I am now craving an authentic island fish sandwich 🙂

Rebecca M. Hale is the NY Times bestselling author of How to Wash a Cat. The series, starring Rebecca’s cats Rupert and Isabella, takes place at an antique shop in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square. While fictional, each book features a different aspect of California history — from the Gold Rush (How to Wash a Cat), to the San Francisco exploits of Mark Twain (Nine Lives Last Forever), to the Bear Flag Revolt (How to Moon a Cat). The fourth book in the series, How to Tail a Cat, came out September, 2012.

Rebecca just released a new Mystery in the Islands series, set in the US Virgin Islands, which starts with Adrift on St. John.  The second book in the series, Afoot on St. Croix (Mystery in the Islands), is scheduled for an October 2013 release.

Ode to a Fish Sandwich (Quirky Tales from the Caribbean) is the first short story in this series available as an e-book only.

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.”


Shattered
Suspense/Thriller
Published by The Story Vault (March 25, 2013)
Paperback: 256 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0615788296
E-Book File Size: 907 KB
ASIN: B00BSESWPW

Jennifer Lozano has just landed in Costa Rica for a friend’s bachelorette party. She was hoping a few days on a sunny, sandy beach would help her get over her broken heart. She doesn’t even get out of the airport before she finds herself in the middle of a gunfight. The man she sat next to on the plane is gunned down and one of the gunman is hit as well. Her nursing instincts kick in and she tries to help the man closest to her only to find herself being taken hostage by a group of Colombian rebels. They use her a shield to get out of the airport and take her with them as they head back to Columbia. She hears her captors talking about killing her and leaving her on the side of the road but right now they need her. The man hit was their leader and her nursing skills are needed to keep him alive. As long as she does that they will let her live, but then what?

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Wow! Wow! WOW!!!

Lipperman takes us deep into the Colombian jungle and like Jennifer the reader will be deeply affected by this group of Freedom Fighters. Men, woman and children fighting against the powerful Cali Cartel to make the region safe for them and others. Jennifer also has an awakening about her own life witnessing “the family” she has been drawn into and by the person who comes to rescue her. He too will learn his life path before was cloudy, but after his time in Columbia everything becomes clear and in total focus. It takes time before they both realize they want the same thing.

We are taken from Texas to Costa Rica then on to Columbia and back to Texas. It is quite a journey and you will be glued to the pages for the entire trip. The characters and settings are so real. This author is excellent in putting the reader right there. You can hear the gunfire, smell the food, and feel the heat. The reader is immersed into the story and you become invested in these characters.

I found this author through her cozy mysteries so I want to warn there is nothing cozy about this story. It is a suspense and thrill filled story with just a bit of romance and a strong sense of family dynamic. It is a story of courage and perseverance, hope and dreams! This is story for your keeper shelf because it is a story you will want to read again and again.

Wow!! You need to get this book today!!

Find out more about this author at her webpage here. Follow her on

 

 

 

Liz has a new book out next month!

Just click on the cover to pre-order your copy!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. 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.”


Share this:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest
• Tumblr
• Print
• Email

Like this:

Like Loading...