Cozy Mystery – Page 10 – Books-n-Kisses

April 5, 2014April 4, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Death on Eat Street by J.J. Cook

I’m pleased to welcome J.J. Cook here today to talk about their new book, Death on Eat Street. I love culinary mysteries so this one is definitely high on my list.

1. Tell me about your new release.

Death on Eat Street is about Zoe Chase who gives up her job at a bank to follow her heart, and become a food entrepreneur. She buys a diner that needs substantial renovations, and creates a food truck to finance that plan. Her ace-in-the-hole is the biscuit bowl: a deep friend biscuit with the center hollowed out and filled with pie filling, custard, beef stew, or chili. She has some difficulties getting started when she finds a dead rival food truck owner, but has friends who help her through the bad times.

2. What inspired you to write mysteries?

We have both always loved mysteries! Sherlock Holmes, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew. We love the puzzle, and solving it while we write the story.

3. What is the most interesting/strange thing you had to research for your books?

We actually got in the middle of a food truck feud over parking places. We put that into Death on Eat Street since we lived through it. People hire others to keep certain places open in good sales areas. Failing that, they get physical pushing other food trucks out of the way. It was a strange, and scary experience!

4. What are you working on now?

We are working on our next food truck book, FRY HARD, and our seventh Peggy Lee Garden Mystery, LETHAL LILY, which is out in May. Our first book in the Retired Witches Spell Book Mystery, SPELL BOOKED, will be out in December.

5. Are there any authors or books that have influenced you to become a writer?

We read across genres – mystery, romance, science fiction, fantasy – and like to write in all those genres. We love Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Tanith Lee, Carole Nelson Douglas, and Barbara Hambly.

6. What was the first book you ever wrote and was it published?

The first book that we wrote was A Family for the Sheriff, and it was published by Silhouette in 1999 under one of our pseudonyms, Elyssa Grant.

Thank you so much for being here on Books-n-Kisses.

Thanks for having us here today!

About the Author:

J.J. Cook writes award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, Joyce and Jim Lavene, 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.jjcook.net.

Twitter/Facebook

Zoe Chase always wanted to own her own restaurant—but first, she’ll have to serve up a heaping helping of meals on wheels, with a side of mystery. When she’s once again passed over for a promotion at work, Zoe decides to take the big leap and go for her dream. She quits, gives up her fancy digs, and buys a fixer-upper diner in a shady part of town. To keep above water during the renovation, she buys a used food truck to serve the downtown and waterfront of Mobile, Alabama. Zoe starts to dish out classic Southern food—but her specialty is her deep-fried biscuit bowls that blow traditional bread bowls away. After a promising start, things start to go downhill faster than a food truck without brakes. First, someone tries to rob the cash register. Next, Zoe is threatened by the owner of a competing food truck for taking their spot. And when the owner ends up dead inside Zoe’s rolling restaurant, Zoe and her sole employee, Ollie, find themselves hopping out of the frying pan into the fryer. They need to find the real killer, before both of them get burned.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Death on Eat Street

Review (4.5 Stars): Zoe was a great character for me because she took a chance on making her dreams come true and quit her dead-end job to open up a diner. Her family thought she was crazy because all she wanted to do was make people smile by having them eat her food. She quickly becomes involved in the death of a food truck competitor whose dead body ends up in the driver seat of her food truck. Even though she is cleared as a suspect, Zoe still finds herself in dangerous situations from someone who believes that she is hiding something that belonged to the deceased. She now has to find the true identity of the killer before her dreams of success go up in smoke.

This is the first book in the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck mystery series and I’ve already become a fan of Zoe and her friends. I liked how Zoe was truly a good person who always looked for ways to help other people even though she barely knew them. She came from a rich family who tried to push her into staying at a boring job and marry a guy who was absolutely wrong for her. She believed in the people that she just met and they turned out to be people that she could really count on when her family wouldn’t support her dreams. I thought the murder mystery was exciting and full of plot twists that will definitely keep you on your toes. Death on Eat Street is a delectable mystery that will have you craving one of Zoe’s famous biscuit bowls and I can’t wait to see what is in store for Zoe next.

Giveaway

I have one copy of Death on Eat Street to giveaway. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by April 10th, please leave a comment or question for J.J. Cook:

April 3, 2014April 2, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Killing Notion by Melissa Bourbon

Today we have Melissa Bourbon here on Books-n-Kisses to talk about her new book, A Killing Notion. She is also the author of the Lola Cruz mystery series, so please give her a warm welcome. 🙂

1. Tell me about your new release.

A Killing Notion is the 5th book in A Magical Dressmaking mystery series. If you know anything about Texas homecoming, you may have heard about big Texas mums. Homecoming and mums set the stage for the latest mystery Harlow Cassidy needs to solve.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?

I live in Texas and wanted to create a small, quaint town that would be one I’d like to live in (minus the murders!). When creating Harlow, I wanted her to have an interesting history. Making her a descendent of Butch Cassidy gave her a unique background and also allowed her, and all the Cassidy women, to have charms. The magical element is very light… just enough to add a little twist of fun to the stories!

3. What was the most interesting thing that you had to research as a writer?

With the Lola Cruz mystery series, I researched nudist resorts. There was one about ten miles from our house which I actually went to. I interviewed people who worked there, and people who were members. To say it was interesting is an understatement! I haven’t done anything quite as bold or crazy since them. I don’t foresee any nudist resort mysteries in Harlow Cassidy’s future.

4. Which authors do you feel have influenced you to become a writer?

I would have to say Agatha Christie. During high school I read all of her mysteries and loved every one of them. I remember going to the library with my mom so she could check out Curtain, Hercule Poirot’s last case. So while she’s not a writer, my mom also greatly influenced me.

I also love magical realism, so Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen are two contemporary authors I like. Practical Magic is one of my favorite books.

5. What are you working on now?

I just finished the 6th Magical Dressmaking book, A Seamless Murder. It’ll be released in January 2015. I’m in the process of the fourth Lola Cruz mystery and a proposal for a new series. Details to come!

6. Favorite TV guilty pleasure? Downton Abbey, True Detective, and House of Cards. LOVE them all!

7. Favorite Food? Warm chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven, baba ganoush (crazy love!), and spanakopita (spinach and feta strudel made in fila dough) – not all in the same meal, of course. 😉

About the Author:

Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.

She is the Marketing Director with Entangled Publishing, is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur and Entangled Publishing, and A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL. She also has written two romantic suspense novels, a light paranormal romance, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox, a practical marketing guide for authors.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Harlow Jane Cassidy is swamped with homecoming couture requests. If only she didn’t have to help solve a murder, she might get the gowns off the dress forms….

Harlow is doing everything she can to expand her dressmaking business, Buttons & Bows—without letting clients know about her secret charm. When she has a chance to create homecoming dresses with a local charity and handmade mums for several high school girls—including Gracie, whose father, Will, has mended Harlow’s heart—she is ready to use her magical talents for a great cause.

But when Gracie’s date for the dance is accused of murder, Harlow knows things won’t be back on course until she helps Gracie clear the football player’s name. If Harlow can’t patch up this mess before the big game, her business and her love life might be permanently benched.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of A Killing Notion

Review (4.25 Stars): I love books that deal with magic and this series is definitely a winner. In A Killing Notion, Harlow is enjoying the success of her business and is in the middle of creating homecoming dresses for the local high school girls. When the boyfriend of one of the girls is accused of murdering his father, Harlow decides to use her investigating skills once again to help clear his name.

I’ve always liked Harlow and I was glad to see that her relationship with Will was still going strong in this book. I love spending time with these characters and enjoy the shenanigans of Harlow’s ghostly grandmother, Loretta Mae, who always makes an appearance when least expected. This clever mystery had me guessing until the very end and I have to say this series keeps getting better and better. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series, A Seamless Murder, which will be out early next year.

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April 1, 2014March 31, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Roux of Revenge by Connie Archer

I’m delighted to have Connie Archer here today to discuss her new book, A Roux of Revenge. This is one of my favorite mystery series right now and I absolutely adore her main character, Lucky and her restaurant, By the Spoonful Soup Shop. Take it away, Connie.

When a band of travelers arrives in the village of Snowflake, Vermont and a dead stranger is found by the side of the road, the past returns with a vengeance. Long kept secrets will be revealed, lost loves will be found and the lives of many in the village will be irrevocably altered.

Special thanks to Books-n-Kisses for hosting this stop on my blog tour for A Roux of Revenge, the third book in the soup lover’s mystery series.

How did this book come to be? Well, it’s a cozy culinary mystery–there’s a dead body, an old crime and a young girl in danger, but apart from all that, this story somehow took on a life of its own, and before I realized it, I was also writing a love story–a story about love gone wrong, lost love and love found again after many years.

Sometimes we know exactly what sparks a particular story and sometimes it’s lost in the recesses of memory. It was just such a random event that gave me the kernel of an idea for A Roux of Revenge. A brief headline on a web page read: “Eleven Romanian Gypsies Captured by Canadian Border Patrol.” My ears went up. I just had to read this article. And it turned out to be true! It wasn’t an exaggeration and it made me wonder.

Why couldn’t a group of travelers from the north arrive in the village of Snowflake, Vermont? Perhaps they come from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Perhaps they speak a form of Gaelic–Scottish Gaelic. Perhaps they have been traveling for generations and could be connected to someone in the village of Snowflake, Vermont. That’s how my invented clan of Scottish Gaelic-speaking travelers came to life.

But then I started wondering about all traveling people — are there gypsies or travelers in the U.S. today, still living a nomadic lifestyle? How do they live? Under the radar? How do they deal with the simple things of life, like a birth certificate or a driver’s license. I did a bit of research and learned a lot.

The word “gypsy” is a perversion of the word “Egyptian,” but the people called “gypsies” weren’t from Egypt. They migrated out of northern India over a thousand years ago, moving through western Asia and Europe, and eventually traveling to the British Isles and the Americas. They are know by many names in many countries – they have become the Irish Travelers (although this group claims a different lineage), the English Romnichels, the Ludar, the Hungarian Slovaks, and the Tinkers of Scotland, to name just a few. They have been persecuted, vilified and subjected to forced emigration throughout the centuries.

Today, in the United States alone, there are estimated to be more than a million Romani people who come from far flung places around the globe. Although traveler culture honors family and ancestors and a commitment to a nomadic lifestyle, many descendants of travelers have very little information about their roots.

There are, however, dedicated people who want to help. If you believe you’re descended from a traveler culture, read on and explore the following websites where you might learn more about your origins and your ancestors.

The Gypsy Lore Society

http://www.gypsyloresociety.org/additional-resources/gypsy-and-traveler-culture-in-america

Roma of the Americas

http://sciway3.net/clark/freemoors/roma.html

Irish Travelers

http://sciway3.net/clark/freemoors/travellers.html

My clan of Scottish Gaelic-speaking travelers knows exactly where they come from and the place they’ll return to every year. It may be a long time before they’re in Snowflake, Vermont again, but I know you’ll enjoy reading about them all in A Roux of Revenge.

About the Author:

Connie Archer is the national bestselling author of A Spoonful of Murder and A Broth of Betrayal, the soup lover’s mystery series set in Vermont, from Berkley Prime Crime. The third book in the series, A Roux of Revenge, will be released on April 1, 2014. Connie was born and raised in New England. She now lives on the other coast.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

STIRRING UP TROUBLE

Snowflake, Vermont, is known for its skiing in winter—and its soup all year round, thanks to Lucky Jamieson’s By the Spoonful. Autumn brings golden leaves, pumpkin rice soup, the annual Harvest Festival…and murder.

Lucky’s soup shop is busier than usual this October, with groups of itinerant travelers in town to work the Harvest Festival. One newcomer seems to take a particular interest in Lucky’s young waitress, Janie, spying on her from across the street. Is the stranger stalking Janie?

After an unidentified man is found murdered in a van by the side of the road, simmering suspicions about the travelers are brought to a boil. But when Janie is put in harm’s way, Lucky must join forces with the travelers to turn up the heat on a killer…

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of A Roux of Revenge

Review (4.5 Stars): This is one of my favorite mystery series right now because I absolutely love the residents of Snowflake and Lucky’s restaurant, By the Spoonful. In this book, the town of Snowflake is preparing for the annual Harvest Festival which will bring a much needed influx of tourists into this little town. Before things get under way, a man is found murdered in his van and believed to be a part of robbery that had taken place many years ago. While the police look for clues, Lucky is having problems of her own with her boyfriend, Elias. A flame from Elias’ past has come back and Lucky is afraid that her budding romance may soon be over. Long hidden secrets finally come to light in this wonderful mystery and not everyone is ready to hear the truth.

This is the third book in the Soup Lover’s Mystery series and I look forward to each installment of this series. I’ve always liked Lucky and I’m so glad to see that everything is going well for her in the beginning of this book. Her business is successful and her relationship with Elias seems to be getting stronger until an old love from Elias’ life comes back to town. She goes through a lot of emotions during the course of this book which really adds to her character. The thing that makes this series so great besides having a fabulous restaurant which I wish I could visit, is the characters. Each of them add so much to the story and Ms. Archer does a great job creating them and writing such entertaining mysteries. I can’t say enough wonderful things about these books and I’m looking forward to the next installment in this charming series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of A Roux of Revenge. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by April 7th, please leave a comment or question for Connie:

February 28, 2014February 28, 2014

Book Spotlight & Review: Inherit The Word by Daryl Wood Gerber

“When tempers get too hot to handle, someone’s bound to get grilled.”

Jenna Hart moved back to Crystal Cove, California, with the intention to relax and help her aunt, Vera, run the local culinary bookshop and café. But it’s hard to follow a simple recipe for relaxation when murder gets thrown in the mix. The Cookbook Nook is set to host the town’s upcoming Grill Fest, a tasty tradition, which pits local amateur chefs against one another. The expression “too many cooks” proves all too true when the eight-time champ is found murdered in the alley behind the café. Jenna has to douse the flames before the wrong person gets burned.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Daryl Wood Gerber is the author of A Cookbook Nook Mystery series, featuring an avid reader, admitted foodie, and owner of a cookbook store in picturesque coastal California. The series will debut in 2013. In addition, under the pen name Avery Aames, Daryl writes the Agatha Award winning, nationally bestselling A Cheese Shop Mystery series, the 5th book
DAYS OF WINE AND ROQUEFORT coming in February 2014.

Prior to her career as a novelist, Daryl wrote screenplays and created the format for the popular TV sitcom Out of this World. A fun tidbit for mystery buffs, Daryl was also an actress and co-starred on “Murder, She Wrote“, as well as other TV shows. Daryl is originally from the Bay Area and graduated from Stanford University. She loves to cook, read, golf, swim, and garden. She also likes adventure and has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. She has been happily married for over twenty-five years, and Daryl and her husband have a grown son who has flown the coop.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Inherit The Word

Review (4.5 Stars): This is the second book in this delightful mystery series and I loved this better than the first one. Jenna has finally been settling in to Crystal Cove and running her culinary book store with her eccentric aunt Vera, which has been a great success. Now, they have the opportunity to host this year’s Grill Fest which usually has tempers flying among the contestants vying for the prestigious title. When Natalie Mumford, eight-time Grill Fest champ, is found dead behind The Cookbook Nook, Jenna’s dear friend and surrogate mom is the prime suspect. Jenna decides to investigate to help save her friend and try to find out who wanted to win this contest at all costs.

Inherit The Word was an enjoyable addition to this great series and after reading this, I have to say I’m a big fan. In the beginning of the series, I had a hard time connecting with Jenna but now I’ve loved how she is finally settling in to Crystal Cove and learning to live again after the death of her husband, David. She has a successful business and is entertaining the possibility of a romance with fellow business owner, Rhett Jackson. So much has changed for her and it was fun to watch everything unfold for her in this story.

The mystery was quick-paced and well-written while the zany cast of characters in Jenna’s life make this story fun. I had a hard time figuring out the killer because there was so many great suspects and plot twists that kept me guessing. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and spending more time with Jenna in Crystal Cove.

February 6, 2014February 5, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Death of an Irish Diva by Mollie Cox Bryan

Spring is in the air, but the ladies of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop hardly have time to stop and smell the roses. Not when famed Irish dancer Emily McGlashen is found murdered in her studio just after the St. Patrick’s Day parade–and one of the Crop’s own members is the prime suspect. Vera’s dance studio may have suffered when Emily waltzed into town, but the croppers know she’s not a vengeful murderer. Lucky for her, co-scrapbooker Annie is a freelance reporter eager to vindicate her friend. What she discovers is a puzzling labyrinth of secrets that only add question marks to Emily’s murder. Just when it seems they’ve run out of clues, an antique scrapbook turns up and points the croppers in the right direction–and brings them face to face with a killer more twisted than a Celtic knot. .

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Mollie Cox Bryan writes the Cumberland Creek Mysteries, published by Kensington. The first book, Scrapbook of Secrets, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2012; the next one Scrapped, was published in January 2013. Death of an Irish Diva is the third in the series. Plans for the series include two more novels and two novellas—the first one Scrappy Summer will be available in summer 2014. She writes, gardens, runs, and scrapbooks in Waynesboro, Va. with her husband and two daughters.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Death of an Irish Diva

Review (4 Stars): This is the third book in The Cumberland Creek series and I would definitely suggest reading them in order just so you can be familiar with these lovely characters. In this book, Irish dancer, Emily McGlashen, is found dead in her dance studio and the prime suspect is Annie’s good friend, Vera. As Annie investigates Emily’s murder, she finds that things aren’t adding up and Emily wasn’t who everyone thought she was. Now, Annie needs to find the killer before tragedy strikes again.

Ms. Cox Bryan has created such a great cast of characters with this series and I enjoyed learning more about scrapbooking. The mystery was well-written and kept me on my toes until the very end. I also loved Annie and Vera and I can’t wait to read more about them in future installments of this delightful series.

January 26, 2014January 25, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Tale of Two Biddies by Kylie Logan

When it comes to solving mysteries, these ladies are in a league of their own…

Summer can be the best of times or the worst of times for the resort town of Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie. For Bea Cartwright, business is booming as guests storm her B and B for the Bastille Day celebration. In honor of the holiday, the League of Literary Ladies is reading the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities. It would be hard to make a more apropos selection—especially when they have their very own Defarge sisters, elderly twins Margaret and Alice, who run the local knitting shop.

On Bastille Day, the head-banging rock band Guillotine shows their chops for the tourists—but the celebration is soon cut short. With something needling the Defarge dowagers and secrets that lead to murder, solving this mystery will be a far, far better thing than the Literary Ladies have done before. They’ll just have to make sure to keep their heads while they try to stop a killer’s reign of terror…

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond,” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (“Mayhem at the Orient Express”) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Webpage: www.kylielogan.com Also, www.caseydaniels.com

Jennifer’s Review of A Tale of Two Biddies

Review (4.5 Stars): When I first read Ms. Logan’s Mayhem at the Orient Express, I got sucked into the story and absolutely loved the characters of this series. A Tale of Two Biddies is the second book in this series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. Bea Cartwright and the League of Literary Ladies are in the middle of reading A Tale of Two Cities during the Bastille Day celebration when they become embroiled in yet another murder mystery. This time, it’s the murder of the town’s unpopular handyman and there is no short supply of potential suspects. The ladies have to hurry to solve this one before someone else falls victim to this killer.

This is such a great series with delightful characters, snappy dialogue and a well-written mystery that will keep you reading late until the night. I am so glad that I found this series and I will definitely be a fan for many years to come. I have enjoyed everything that Ms. Logan has written but this has to be my favorite of her series so far. Can’t wait to read her next book in the series because The League of Literary Ladies is a sheer delight to read.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of A Tale of Two Biddies. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by January 31st, please leave a meaningful comment for Kylie:

January 22, 2014January 21, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Passage of Crime by R. Michael Phillips

London’s East End, once known for poor boroughs and a derelict rail yard, is enjoying an optimistic resurgence. It’s becoming an affordable option for middle class residents looking to have their pounds go further. Despite this sweeping out of old rubbish, a cautious step is still advised when passing by a few remaining dark alleys. If only Mary Walsh had listened.

Prophet Brown, a disfigured, pathetic little man, called Detective Inspector Flannel after stumbling upon the body of a young woman in one such alley. Flannel quickly realizes she is not the random victim she appears. Add to that, the crime scene is hauntingly reminiscent of an old unsolved case; a case that almost ended an otherwise brilliant career eight years ago.

For the moment, Prophet Brown is the only solid link between the two cases. He has been in the employ of a charismatic and well-connected Member of Parliament for 17 years–the very man Flannel unsuccessfully accused of the murders in the previous case.

Flannel finds himself navigating a very treacherous course. His superiors have warned him for the last time to tread cautiously around the MP, and the rising tide of the past threatens to pull him under. Reluctantly, Inspector Flannel turns to a most unlikely ally, a reformed pickpocket named Ernie Bisquets. Together they disentangle a mesh of old lies and current clues attempting to bring a ruthless murderer to justice–ignoring the dangerous notion of murder being a carefully disguised trait passed from one generation to the next.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Michael is a classically trained artist who has been painting for over 25 years. By combining his creative talents with a passion for London he conceived the fictional world of the East London Adventurers Club, home to The Ernie Bisquets Mystery Series. Three books in the series are complete and there are plans for at least five additional books following the adventurers of London’s most remarkable pickpocket. Michael is a proud member of the Crime Writer’s Association and Mystery Writers Of America.

Website

Jennifer’s Review of Passage of Crime

Review (4 stars): I’ll admit I had a hard time getting into this book because I haven’t read the first two books in the series. Once I got acquainted with the characters, I got involved in the mystery and enjoyed this well-written novel. In this story, Inspector Flannel is investigating murders that are reminiscent of Jack the Ripper and brings him face-to-face with someone from his past that almost destroyed his career. Before he knows it, Inspector Flannel teams up with reformed pickpocket Ernie Bisquets to piece together the clues to find the murderer. I liked how there were so many different layers to this mystery and you couldn’t believe everything that you saw. I was never quite sure who to trust and I liked that because I usually can figure out who did it before the main character does. Very interesting series and I look forward to going back and reading the first two to learn more about these characters.

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January 20, 2014January 19, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Trapped By Revenge by Colleen Helme

With summer over Shelby is looking forward to having some time to herself while the kids are back in school. A phone call from Uncle Joey ruins her plans, but she manages to take it in stride. After lunch with her friend, she promises to meet with the private investigator who was spying on Uncle Joey, but this simple task turns into a disaster. Not only does she find the P.I. dead, but a slip of paper with her name on it under his lifeless hand implicates her for his murder. Desperate to prove her innocence and find the person who killed him, Shelby begins a frantic search. She enlists the aid of the local mob boss, Uncle Joey, his hit-man, Ramos, and her police detective friend, Dimples, but soon finds that nothing can save her from becoming entangled in a sinister plot. With her life on the line and no way out, she finds herself trapped by revenge, and realizes it will take all her skills to escape. Now she must choose where her loyalties lie, and hope she doesn’t trade something bad, for something even worse.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

A long career as a wife and mother while juggling several part-time jobs gave Colleen the ambition to dream of being a published author, where she could put her imagination to good use. Now instead of making up stories to tell her children, she writes books they love to read. Hopefully you will too. She is the author of three romantic fantasy novels, Songbird, Flame of Destiny and The Relic. Her Shelby Nichols Adventures include Carrots, Fast Money, Lie or Die, Secrets That Kill, and Trapped by Revenge with more to come.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Trapped By Revenge

Review (4 Stars): I haven’t read the first few books in this series so it took me a little while to get acquainted with the characters but once I did, the story just flew by. I enjoyed Shelby’s character, who keeps finding herself involved in mysteries because she has the ability to read minds after she suffered a head injury a few years back. In Trapped By Revenge, Shelby runs another “errand” for mob boss Uncle Joey and discovers the body of a private investigator that she was supposed to listen to his thoughts for Uncle Joey. Shelby must help solve the case before she becomes the prime suspect in this murder.

The humor in this book made this mystery very entertaining and fun to read. I loved the secondary characters which added to this mystery and made this an enjoyable read. I’m going to go back and read the series from the beginning to get properly introduced to these characters and I can’t wait to read more of Shelby’s misadventures.

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January 15, 2014January 14, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Playing with Fire by J.J. Cook

Welcome to Sweet Pepper, Tennessee. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s home to the hottest and sweetest peppers in the world—as well as at least one ghost and a hotbed of secrets…

GETTING WARMER

Fire Chief Stella Griffin is working to solve the mysterious death of her predecessor, Eric Gamlyn—who also haunts her cabin. Yet the more she learns, the more burning questions she must answer. Just as Stella thinks she has a lead from Deputy Chum, someone snuffs her hopes—and the lawman.

Adding fuel to the fire, Stella’s parents soon arrive—with her ex-boyfriend—hoping to persuade her to return to Chicago. Now Stella is torn between the life she left behind and uncovering what happened to her ghostly friend. But she’d better think fast or more than her investigation could go up in flames…

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About the Author:

J.J. Cook’s first mystery, That Old Flame of Mine, became an instant bestseller in 2013. Playing with Fire is the second book in that series. They write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as Joyce and Jim Lavene, 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.

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Jennifer’s Review of Playing with Fire

Review (4.5 Stars): One of the things that I love about Stella is her sheer determination and drive to be the best fire chief that she can be for Sweet Pepper. She only planned to stay there a few months to help get the volunteer fire brigade set up, but circumstances have kept her longer than originally planned. She is just an awesome character that rides a Harley, lives in a haunted cabin and is not afraid of anything or anyone.

In Playing with Fire, Stella has been thinking about going home but more evidence has surfaced regarding the death of Fire Chief, Eric Gamlyn. Eric is currently haunting Stella’s cabin and she is the only one that can communicate with him. When Deputy Chum gives her key information about the night Eric died and is soon murdered himself, Stella is compelled to help discover the truth. Only now, her family has arrived in Sweet Pepper to encourage her to come home and leave Sweet Pepper for good.

Playing with Fire is the second book in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mystery series and this series keep getting better and better. J.J. Cook has created a delightful series that I have to say is one of my favorites. This book ends on a cliffhanger which caught me off-guard but I can’t wait for the next book to spend more time with Stella and the crew of Sweet Pepper.

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January 7, 2014January 6, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks

Welcome to San Fernando Valley, California, where Martha Rose and her coterie of quilters are enjoying life on the good side of retirement—until murder pulls a stitch out of their plans…

Martha and her besties Lucy and Birdie are set to expand their Quilty Tuesdays by inviting newcomer Claire Terry into their group. Though at forty Claire’s a tad younger than their average age, her crafty reputation could perk up their patchwork proceedings, especially as they prepare for the fancy quilt show coming to town. But when they arrive at Claire’s home and find her dead inside the front door, and her exquisite, prize-winning quilts soon missing, Martha is not one to leave a mystery unraveled. Especially if she wants to stop a killer from establishing a deadly pattern…

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About the Author:

Born and raised in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, Mary Marks earned a B.A. in Anthropology from UCLA and an M.A. in Public Administration from the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. In 2004 she enrolled in the UCLA Extension Writers Program. Her first novel, Forget Me Knot, was a finalist in a national writing competition in 2011.

Website:http://marymarksmysteries.com/

Jennifer’s Review of Forget Me Knot

Review (4 Stars): Very sweet mystery debut about three women who stumble into a mystery when they decide to add a fourth person into their quilting club. Martha Rose and her friends find the body of Claire Terry at her home when they approach her to join their Quilty Tuesdays. Claire was known as a talented quilter and the ladies are surprised that anyone would want to hurt her. But when her prized quilts are stolen at Quilt Guild’s annual show, the ladies have to get involved to find the thief and possibly Claire’s murderer.

I really liked this book because it was light-hearted and fun. Martha and the gang were a great cast of characters and I enjoyed learning more about quilting. Delightful debut and looking forward to reading more from Ms. Marks.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away two copies of Forget Me Knot. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by Jan 12th, please leave a meaningful comment for Mary:

January 4, 2014January 4, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston

I’m so glad to have Linda here with us today to talk about her new book, Teacup Turbulence. I adore this series and rescued animals have a special place in my heart because of my little Maddie. She was found on the side of the road with her babies and brought to an animal shelter where she wasn’t adopted for two months. We luckily found her at our local humane society the day she was transferred and it was love at first sight. She is a wonderful kitty and I’m thankful that we have this lovely lady in our lives. Take it away, Linda.

Hi, I’m Linda O. Johnston, and I’m delighted to be blogging at Books-n-Kisses. I’m here thanks to a really delightful book tour. It was set up for me by Great Escapes Book Tours to help me promote my latest Pet Rescue Mystery, TEACUP TURBULENCE, a January release from Berkley Prime Crime.

My pet rescue mysteries involve both dogs and cats–but I focus on saving dogs. Why? Because I love them! So, I’m sending more kisses in their direction as I blog here.

My own dogs definitely rank high among my writing inspirations. I have two–or, rather, they have me. My Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Lexie and Mystie have trained me better than I’ve trained them.

Zoey is the main dog in the Pet Rescue Mysteries. She is–what else?–a rescue dog adopted by protagonist Lauren Vancouver, the chief administer of HotRescues, a wonderful, fictional no-kill pet shelter in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.

Of course when I talk about “no-kill” I’m referring to pets, not people. The Pet Rescue Mysteries are cozy mysteries, so someone is murdered in each of them. The animals all come out of the stories fine, even if some of them get into danger now and then.

So, kisses to the dogs, both those in my stories and my own. And kisses to Lauren for saving animals. She does have a love interest, by the way–Matt Kingston, a captain with Los Angeles Animal Services. Kisses, as well, to Matt. And to Dante DeFrancisco, the wealthy benefactor of HotRescues in my stories, since he makes sure HotRescues has enough funds to take care of all the animals it saves. Yes, it’s fiction, since most real shelters are always in need of funds. But it’s one less worry for Lauren as she takes care of animals and solves mysteries.

What’s the underlying theme of TEACUP TURBULENCE? It centers on a very special bunch of people who pick up homeless animals from areas where their sort isn’t being adopted particularly quickly, and move them to locations where people will welcome them with open arms…and homes. I fortunately did not make this up. A bunch of real organizations actually do this, using both private planes and cars. Private planes are the vehicles of choice in TEACUP TURBULENCE. And of course, since it’s a cozy mystery, there’s a murder involved that Lauren Vancouver has to solve. My kisses to the characters in TEACUP TURBULENCE, as well as to those genuine people who do such generous work to save homeless pets.

Let me add my kisses to Books-n-Kisses for hosting me here. I’d love to see your comments on this blog and my Pet Rescue Mysteries–and I’ll blow you a kiss if you comment!

About the Author:

Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 35 romance and mystery novels, including Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.

Linda’s Pet Rescue Mysteries, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, feature Lauren Vancouver, a determined pet rescuer who runs a no-kill shelter. In this cozy series, “no-kill” refers to pets, not people! And watch for Linda’s Superstition Mysteries from Midnight Ink.

Website/Facebook

Los Angeles animal shelter manager Lauren Vancouver has a soft spot for animals in need—and a keen eye for crime. . .

Thanks to a savvy ad campaign featuring teacup pups sporting HotPets Bling—a new line of faux jewelry dog collars—small dog adoptions have skyrocketed across the city. So when Lauren discovers a shelter in the Midwest with more toy dogs than it can handle, she arranges a private plane to swoop in and fly the pups back to LA.

But Lauren didn’t count on rescue worker Teresa Kantrim coming along for the ride. Teresa has cared for the dogs since they were found and doesn’t trust anyone from La-La Land to take over the job. Her biting comments clearly haven’t earned Teresa any new friends, but when she turns up murdered, it’s time for Lauren to dig into Teresa’s past and find out who wanted her put down.

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Jennifer’s Review of Teacup Turbulence

Review (5 Stars): I have loved this series from the very beginning and Teacup Turbulence is the best in the series for me. Lauren Vancouver, the administer of HotRescues, learns that a shelter in Missouri has more small dogs than they can handle at a time where L.A. residents are clamoring for these dogs as a result of a new dog collar ad campaign. After Lauren arranges for these adorable dogs to be flown to HotRescues, she learns that a rescue worker has joined the pups and will be monitoring their treatment in L.A. Teresa isn’t a very nice woman and seems to get in arguments with everyone that she comes into contact with, which leads to Lauren finding another dead body at the shelter. It’s up to Lauren to find out who is to blame for Teresa’s death and everyone seems to have a reason for wanting this snarky woman dead.

Every time that I read one of Ms. Johnston’s books, I feel like I’m visiting an old friend. I love her Pet Rescue series and I am always entertained by whatever situations Lauren seems to find herself in to investigate a new murder and protect these adorable animals. I enjoyed catching up with these characters and I loved that I couldn’t figure out the mystery before Lauren did. Teacup Turbulence is a wonderful addition to a great series and I can’t wait to read the next Pet Rescue mystery.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Teacup Turbulence. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by Jan 10th, please leave a meaningful comment for Linda:

January 3, 2014December 30, 2013

Blog Tour & Spotlight: Murder Strikes A Pose by Tracy Weber

Today I have Tracy Weber here today to discuss her debut book, Murder Strikes a Pose.

What’s That Pose on the Cover?

I can’t take any credit for it, but I’ve fallen in love with the cover of Murder Strikes a Pose, my first cozy mystery. The Seattle landmarks highlight the lovely city the story is set in. The bright colors hint at the humor and lightness I’ve tried to pepper throughout the novel, in spite of its sometimes serious themes. The cartoon characters’ expressions capture the love Kate (my protagonist) and Bella (her dog) feel for each other. Even better, the yoga pose on the cover is part of the series’ name: The Downward Dog Mysteries.

You don’t have to practice yoga to enjoy my books, but in case any of your readers are tempted to give it a try. I thought I’d share some information about this popular yoga pose.

Downward Facing Dog is a favorite pose of yoga students everywhere. Even Bella likes it, much better than she likes its evil counterpart, Cat Pose! Downward Dog strengthens the shoulders while stretching the backs of the legs, but those are only its secondary effects. In Viniyoga (the style of yoga Kate teaches) Downward Dog is categorized as an extension pose, meaning that its primary intention is to lengthen the spine. That amazing stretch Kate feels in her calves and hamstrings is just a side benefit.

My book cover’s static depiction of Downward Dog is only part of the posture. In Viniyoga, moving in and out of the pose is as important as staying in it. Movement contracts the muscles that will eventually be stretched, making them more like warm plastic and less like rubber bands. Wester physiologists call this action Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, or PNF. (Though somehow I doubt that’s what the ancient yogis called it.)

Instructions for Down-Dogging it the Murder Strikes a Pose Way

1. Come to your hands and knees, with your knees about four inches apart. Place your hips directly above your knees and your hands slightly in front of and wider than your shoulders.

2. On inhale, lengthen your spine and tuck your toes.

3. On exhale, press down through your hands and feet, lifting your hips to the sky. Keep your knees bent and your chin slightly tucked. Focus on feeling length between the crown of your head and your tailbone.

4. On the following inhale, lower your knees to the mat again. Bring your hips directly above your knees and lengthen your spine.

5. Move in and out of this position eight times, wrapping each movement in each breath.

6. After the eighth repetition, remain in Downward Dog for several breaths and enjoy the stretch!

Hints:

Keep your chin slightly tucked and your low back extended.
Don’t worry about how you look! Feel free to soften your knees. Focus on lengthening your body from your head to your tailbone.
To minimize wrist strain, spread your fingers and press your weight equally out through your fingertips.
Avoid pressing your chest too closely to your thighs. This can hyperextend your shoulders, which adds significant strain to your shoulder joints.

Happy down dogging, everyone! Please check out Murder Strikes a Pose, and let me know what you think of the cover. Even more importantly, let me know how you like the story inside of it! I hope you love reading it as much as I’ve loved writing it.

Namaste

Tracy Weber

About the Author:

Tracy Weber is a certified yoga teacher and the founder of Whole Life Yoga, an award-winning yoga studio in Seattle, where she currently lives with her husband and German Shepherd. Weber is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and Sisters in Crime. She loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible. Murder Strikes a Pose is Weber’s debut.

Website / Twitter/ Facebook

Yoga instructor Kate Davidson tries to live up to yoga’s Zen-like expectations, but it’s not easy while struggling to keep her small business afloat or dodging her best friend’s matchmaking efforts.

When George, a homeless alcoholic, and his loud, horse-sized German shepherd, Bella, start hawking newspapers outside her studio, Kate attempts to convince them to leave. Instead, the three strike up an unlikely friendship.

Then Kate finds George’s dead body. The police dismiss it as a drug-related street crime, but Kate knows he was no drug dealer. Now she must solve George’s murder and find someone willing to adopt his intimidating companion before Bella is sent to the big dog park in the sky. With the murderer on her trail, Kate has to work fast or her next Corpse Pose may be for real.

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