Jennifer’s Review – Page 15

October 2, 2014October 1, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Lost Under A Ladder by Linda O. Johnston

Is it luck or is it . . . Destiny?

Are superstitions real? Rory Chasen doesn’t think so–until her beloved fiance walks under a ladder and is killed by a car five minutes later. Needing closure, Rory takes her dog Pluckie to a town called Destiny, where superstitions are a way of life.

Rory’s visit to Destiny takes an unexpected turn when Pluckie saves the life of Martha, the owner of the Lucky Dog Boutique. To show her gratitude, Martha offers Rory a job at the pet store. But when Martha becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the local bookshop owner, Rory refuses to believe that she would do it. Rory is convinced the real killer still roams Destiny’s streets, and she must uncover the truth before Martha is hauled off to jail.

Amazon/B&N

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 37 romance and mystery novels, including the Pet Rescue Mystery Series, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, plus Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.

Her latest cozy mystery series, the Superstition Mysteries from Midnight Ink, kicks off in October 2014 with LOST UNDER A LADDER. Linda believes that reading the Superstition Mysteries will bring good luck!

Website/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Lost Under A Ladder

Review (4 Stars): This was a very cute mystery and I loved the idea of a town where superstitions are commonplace and a staple among the community. Rory Chasen has come to the town of Destiny to find closure in the death of her fiance, who happened to be killed after walking under a ladder. When she first arrives in Destiny, she meets Martha, the owner of Lucky Dog Boutique, after Pluckie helps save her life and finds that she may be staying in town longer than expected. Soon Martha is suspected in the murder of a local bookstore owner and it is up to Rory to try to find the real killer before it is too late.

I really enjoyed this mystery and I liked getting to know Rory and her dog, Pluckie. The premise of a town that focuses on superstitions was very interesting and I found myself trying to remember if I had heard certain superstitions before. The mystery was well-written and engaging and I’m looking forward to spending more time with the residents of Destiny in future books. I love Ms. Johnston’s books and Lost Under A Ladder is a great start to what will be a very charming series.

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October 1, 2014September 28, 2014

Jennifer reviews The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

TITLE: The Hook Up
SERIES: Game On #1
CHARACTERS: Anna Jones and Drew Baylor
AUTHOR: Kristen Callihan
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/07/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love.

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she’s shut him down. Completely.

That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It’s a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts Anna Jones wasn’t looking for romance when star football player, Drew Baylor, sat down next to her in class. The good-looking charismatic young man was used to charming the ladies but met his match when he looked into Anna’s eyes for the first time. She thought he was arrogant, argumentative and the last thing that Anna needed in her life for her senior year of college. But neither of them could deny the sexual attraction and before long both of them find themselves at risk of losing their hearts to one another.

I loved Anna and Drew together as a couple. Anna was an interesting character for me because even though she was in a physical relationship with Drew, she couldn’t bring herself to get emotionally attached to him. She was afraid to give everything of herself to him because she was afraid that he would break her heart and that would end of up devastating her. She tried to keep the relationship as a simple hook-up by having no kissing, no staying the night and having them pretend that they were strangers whenever they were in public together. It worked for a little while but Anna soon found out that Drew wasn’t like his reputation and he was already starting to fall hard for Anna.
I loved Drew. He was not your typical football player and worked so hard for everything that he had. He had good grades and wanted to be seen as more than a quarterback and was upset when teachers tried to give him grades that he didn’t deserve because of football. I was impressed with him because he knew that football wouldn’t last forever and took hard courses so he would have something to fall back on in life. When he met Anna, she changed his life and he was completely in the relationship with her, heart and all, while Anna was still trying to figure out what Drew really meant to her.
These two characters needed each other and they had a relationship that some people search for their entire lives and never find. Drew was that one person in Anna’s life that could make her a better person and that saw her for who she really was, flaws and all. He loved her from the beginning and couldn’t imagine his life without her. The Hook Up shows that the road to love isn’t always perfect but if you take a chance, it will be worth the risk. Ms. Callihan is one of my favorite writers and I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

September 30, 2014September 29, 2014

Book Spotlight & Review: Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth

French novelist Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from the court of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. At the convent, she is comforted by an old nun, Sœur Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, a hundred years earlier, is sold by her parents for a handful of bitter greens…

After Margherita’s father steals parsley from the walled garden of the courtesan Selena Leonelli, he is threatened with having both hands cut off, unless he and his wife relinquish their precious little girl. Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1512 and still inspiring him at the time of his death. She is at the center of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition.

Locked away in a tower, Margherita sings in the hope that someone will hear her. One day, a young man does.

Award-winning author Kate Forsyth braids together the stories of Margherita, Selena, and Charlotte-Rose, the woman who penned Rapunzel as we now know it, to create what is a sumptuous historical novel, an enchanting fairy tale retelling, and a loving tribute to the imagination of one remarkable woman.

Amazon/B&N

EXCERPT

A Heart of Gall
Château de Cazeneuve, Gascony, France – June 1666
I had always been a great talker and teller of tales.

‘You should put a lock on that tongue of yours. It’s long enough and sharp enough to slit your own throat,’ our guardian warned me, the night before I left home to go to the royal court at Versailles. He sat at the head of the long wooden table in the chateau’s arched dining room, lifting his lip in distaste as the servants brought us our usual peasant fare of sausage and white-bean cassoulet. He had not accustomed himself to our simple Gascon ways, not even after six years.

I just laughed. ‘Don’t you know a woman’s tongue is her sword? You wouldn’t want me to let my only weapon rust, would you?’

‘No chance of that.’ The Marquis de Maulévrier was a humourless man, with a face like a goat and yellowish eyes that followed my sister and me as we went about our business. He thought our mother had spoilt us, and had set himself to remedy our faults. I loathed him. No, loathe is far too soft a word. I detested him.

My sister, Marie, said, ‘Please, my lord, you mustn’t mind her. You know we’re famous here in Gascony for our troubadours and minstrels. We Gascons love to sing songs and tell stories. She means no harm by it.’

‘I love to tell a gasconade,’ I sang. ‘A braggadocio, a fanfaronade . . .’

Marie sent me a look. ‘You know that Charlotte-Rose will need honey on her tongue if she’s to make her way in this world.’

‘Sangdieu, but it’s true. Her face won’t make her fortune.’

‘That’s unfair, my lord. Charlotte-Rose has the sweetest face . . .’

‘She might be passable if only she’d pluck out that sting in her tail,’ the Marquis de Maulévrier began. Seeing that I had screwed up my face like a gargoyle, waggling my tongue at him, he rapped his spoon on the pitted tabletop. ‘You’d best sweeten your temperament, mademoiselle, else you’ll find yourself with a heart of gall.’

I should have listened to him.

About the Author:

KATE FORSYTH is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than twenty books, ranging from picture books to poetry to novels for both children and adults, including The Heart of Stars, The Forbidden Land, The Pool of Two Moons, and The Witches of Eileanan. She is the only author to win five Aurealis Awards in a single year and was recently voted one of Australia’s Favourite 25 Novelists. Her books have been published in 17 countries. She recently earned a doctorate in fairytale retellings at the University of Technology in Sydney. She lives in Sydney, Australia.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Bitter Greens

Review (4 Stars): One of the things that I loved about Bitter Greens was that it immediately sweeps you away with its richly descriptive story and I felt as though I was experiencing the same things as the main character, Charlotte-Rose de la Force. We find in the beginning of this story that Charlotte-Rose has been banished to a convent by the King Louis XIV for her scandalous behavior and must remain there until she agrees to take her vows or the King calls her back to his court. While there, Charlotte-Rose reflects back on her life and is comforted by Sœur Seraphina, who tells Charlotte-Rose an amazing story about another young woman whose situation rivals her own. Bitter Greens is a haunting story that involves a very different and darker take on the beloved tale of Rapunzel through the eyes of three very intriguing women. I love historical fiction and I was impressed by Ms. Forsyth’s tale of three courageous women that are bound by society and situations that are completely out of their control. I enjoyed getting to know each of these characters and their journey captivated me until the very last page.

September 29, 2014September 28, 2014

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Once Perfect by Cecy Robson

Evelyn Preston’s future once looked perfect—until her wealthy father was caught in an embezzlement scandal and took his own life. Alone and struggling to pay her college tuition and bills, Evelyn finds a job as a waitress at the ultra-hip nightclub Excess, where she used to have more in common with the privileged private-school clientele than her fellow staff members. But something attracts her to the sexy six-foot-four bouncer and underground MMA fighter Mateo Tres Santos. Although they’ve led different lives, their troubled pasts bonds them in both survival and love.

Mateo is ex-army who wound up in prison for assaulting the man who harmed his sister. Now he’s feeling the same protective impulse for this petite blond waitress. When Evelyn experiences a panic attack at the club, Mateo comes to her rescue. And when Mateo is wounded shielding her from a brawl, Evelyn returns the favor and comes to his aid.

As their attraction intensifies, Mateo is determined to find out what nightmares are lurking in Evelyn’s past—even if that means tackling his own to save her.

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

Cecy (pronounced SESSY) Robson is the New Adult Romance author of Once Perfect, Once Loved and Once Pure and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls Urban Fantasy Romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, her list of talents includes jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great Northwest, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Once Perfect

Review (4.25 Stars): Mateo is one of the sexiest heroes that I have seen in a while. Not only is he a MMA fighter (which to me is very hot) but such a strong caring guy to the women in his life. He is definitely an alpha male but has learned to be the support system that Evie needed through this difficult time. He was attracted to her from the very beginning, when she first started working at Excess and never even knew that Mateo had worked there as a bouncer. He did everything he could to protect her and introduced her to a world that she never even knew existed.

Evie was a very sweet character that was struggling her way through nursing school after the loss of her father to a family scandal. She worked as a waitress at Excess on the weekends and was always aware of the strong silent Mateo, whose eyes seemed to follow her wherever she went. Mateo was able to help Evie through a panic attack one night and as a result, they develop feelings for one another that can’t be denied. During the course of their relationship, Evie discovers that she has been suppressing the events of the night of her father’s death and when those secrets finally come to light, Mateo is there to support Evie when her once perfect world starts to fall apart.

Once Perfect is a great romance with a very difficult subject matter that Ms. Robson handles with the utmost compassion and grace. Evie needed Mateo in her life to help her face her past and help her heal from her emotional and physical trauma. Mateo was also dealing with a difficult situation himself in his own family and I was impressed that these characters were able to hold things together with everything they were facing. Love conquers all and I couldn’t imagine two people more perfect for each other to build a real loving relationship that they deserved to experience. I love everything that Ms. Robson writes and Once Perfect is a emotional story about two troubled hearts that are able to heal with love that I know will stick with me for quite a while.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a Once Perfect/Weird Girls Swag Pack. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by October 5th, answer me this question (w/email address) in the comments:

What is your favorite type of male hero? (Firefighter, Cop, Military, etc)

September 23, 2014September 27, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Stirring The Plot by Daryl Wood Gerber

Today I have the lovely Daryl Wood Gerber here on Books-n-Kisses to share a yummy recipe for her new book, Stirring The Plot. It sounds so delicious and I can’t wait to try it out myself. 🙂 Take it away, Daryl.

I write the Cookbook Nook and Cheese Shop mysteries. In both, I include recipes. Who knew when I started writing mysteries that I’d also have to cook? Luckily, I like to cook. And eat.

In the Cookbook Nook series, my protagonist Jenna isn’t much of a cook. But she, like me, loves to eat. Throughout the series, she is learning to cook. In FINAL SENTENCE, she starts out with five-ingredient recipes. If she can dump all the ingredients into one bowl, all the better. By the third in the series, STIRRING THE PLOT, the book that’s coming out September 30, Jenna is up to ten ingredients and more complicated steps. She even makes candy!

Anyway, for Jenna, and for my fans, I like to come up with easy recipes. Now, this one doesn’t look easy because of all the ingredients and steps, and it might give Jenna the heebie-jeebies, but it is pretty easy. It’s your basic “cook all the stuff” and “assemble.” In honor of my Cheese Shop mysteries, this contains, you guessed it, cheese.

It also includes kale, what many pundits are calling the “good for you” or “super” food. Now, I am not big on eating kale “raw.” It’s a little hard to chew. Truly. Hard. Crunchy. And not in the fun way like a potato chip. But when cooked in a lasagna, it’s delish. You could probably substitute spinach if you’re not a kale fan. But try it. I think you’ll like it.

Enjoy!

KALE CHICKEN LASAGNA
(serves 6-8)

FOR THE SAUCE
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1 small sweet onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup chardonnay (white wine)
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
3 bay leaves
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper

FOR THE LASAGNA
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound lasagna noodles
(*real; not no-boil) (gluten-free okay)
Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
2 cups kale, stems removed
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
30 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup MORE chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon ground pepper
4 cups grated Mozzarella cheese (about 1 lb)
2 cups grated Asiago cheese

Directions:

To make the sauce:
Heat the olive oil in a large (and I mean large) skillet over medium heat; add the chicken and cook until browned. Turn every minute, for 5 minutes.

Add the chopped onion, chopped garlic, and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, until the onions soften, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the wine evaporates, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3 cups water, crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, and parsley. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 50 minutes. Using a spoon, break up the chicken. Cook another 20 minutes, until thickened. Remove the bay leaves.

Meanwhile:

Prepare the lasagna according to the package. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook (about half what the label directs). Drain the noodles and drizzle with olive oil; set aside.

Meanwhile:

Place the kale in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add ½ cup water and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until tender, about 3 minutes on high. Drain and rinse under cold water. Press out all the excess water. Stir in the eggs, ricotta, ¼ cup of the Parmesan cheese, and the extra chopped parsley. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 4-5 grinds of the pepper.

In a separate bowl, toss the Mozzarella, Asiago, and the remaining Parmesan.

Turn on oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Top with 1/3 of the noodles. Overlap, layering long ones first and then short ones crosswise. Cover with half of the kale-ricotta mixture. Then 2 more cups sauce. Cover with half of the Mozzarella cheese mixture.
Repeat the layers (noodles, kale-ricotta mixture, sauce, cheese).

Set on a baking sheet. (This will bubble over.)

Loosely cover with foil (you don’t want the foil to stick to the cheese). Bake 40 minutes, then uncover and bake another 25 minutes. You might want to raise heat to 400 degrees F.

Let stand 30 minutes before serving.

Great reheated the next day. One hour at 300 degrees F.

About the Author:

DARYL WOOD GERBER writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mystery series featuring a cookbook store owner who is an avid reader and admitted foodie, set on the coast of California. As AVERY AAMES, she pens the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling Cheese Shop Mystery series featuring a cheese shop owner amateur sleuth, set in the fictional town of Providence, Ohio. Daryl’s short stories have been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and other awards. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl has appeared in “Murder, She Wrote” and more.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Halloween in Crystal Cove, California, is a big deal, involving a spooky soiree where the Winsome Witches, a fund-raising group, gather to open up their purse strings and trade superstitions. But party magicians, fortune-tellers, and herbalists are only the beginning of this recipe for disaster…

Jenna Hart has packed The Cookbook Nook chock-full of everything from ghostly texts to witchy potions in anticipation of the annual fund-raiser luncheon. But there’s one unexpected addition to the menu: murder.

When the Head Priestess of the Winsome Witches is found dead under mysterious circumstances, there’s no logical answer and plenty of blame to go around. With her aunt, Vera, unable to call on her ability to foresee the future, Jenna will have to use more than just sleight of hand and a few magic tricks to conjure up the truth…

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Stirring The Plot

Review (4 Stars): Stirring The Plot is the third title in the deliciously charming Cookbook Nook mystery series and I love spending time with the entertaining residents of Crystal Cove. Halloween is quickly approaching and Jenna is gearing to participate in the festivities put on by the Winsome Witches, a group of ladies who turn the spooky holidays into a fundraising event each year. Pearl Thornton, a therapist and the high priestess of the Winsome Witches, turns up dead in her home and Jenna’s aunt becomes the number one suspect in the murder. Jenna can’t believe that her Aunt Vera is involved but Vera starts acting strangely and it is up to Jenna to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Stirring The Plot is a fun, charming holiday mystery that will keep you guessing. With the well-written plot twists, cookbook recommendations and descriptions of delicious food, this series will be a winner for all mystery lovers. For me, I love Jenna and the quirky characters of Crystal Cove and look forward to spending more time with them with each new release of the series. I enjoyed the Halloween ideas sprinkled throughout this story and learning which cookbooks Jenna favored this holiday season for her store. I will definitely be picking up a few of the cookbooks that were mentioned in Stirring The Plot because everything described made me hungry while reading this book. I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Gerber and see what happens next to Jenna and the residents of Crystal Cove.

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September 22, 2014September 21, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Seductive Melody by Crista McHugh

She has the scoop of a lifetime, but only if she betrays his trust…

Ethan Kelly lost his best friend and bandmate to an overdose, but staying clean is proving harder than he thought it would be. His only safety net during his first weeks of sobriety is fellow recovering addict, Becca. As she guides him through the darkness, he begins to trust her not only with his secrets, but also his heart.

After years of trying to be the daughter her socialite parents wanted her to be (and failing miserably), Rebecca Shore finally has her life on track. Sure, she’s just an assistant at Moderne magazine when she’d rather be pursuing more serious journalism, but it’s a foot in the door. She’s just waiting for the scoop of a lifetime that will take her to the next level. But when she’s asked to help the reclusive and enigmatic rock star, her heart is torn between the career she’s always wanted and the man who bares his soul to her.

Amazon/B&N

*EXCERPT*

Rebecca took his hand to lead him to a table, but the gentle touch managed to kick the air from his lungs. He’d lived so long in a world where most women begged permission to touch him that her complete indifference to his celebrity status shocked him. But then, maybe that was a good thing. If she didn’t know who he was, he might be able to let his guard down long enough to enjoy coffee with her.

He glanced around the room, but no one was staring at them or whispering to their friends while pointing at him. No flash of a paparazzo’s camera. No cringe-worthy fear that sharing dessert with Rebecca would be tomorrow’s headline on TMZ.

For the first time in years, he felt almost normal.

He placed his helmet in an empty chair and sat down across from her. As much as he wanted to relax, he couldn’t quite let his guard down. “Come here often?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Just slightly.”

She laughed at his dry reply. “You’re really missing out on Gitta’s Sacher-torte. It was her grandmother’s recipe.”

“I haven’t been very hungry lately.”

She nodded, empathy flittering across her features. “Yeah, once you’ve had your guts turned inside out for a week, it takes a while for the appetite to come back.”

He leaned forward, elbows on the table, and lowered his voice. “I still have a hard time believing someone like you understands what I’m going through.”

“Why?”

Her quick reply caught him off guard. He backed away and gestured to her appearance. “Because…”

“Because I don’t look the part?”

Before he could answer, Gitta interrupted them by setting a plate of chocolate cake and two mugs on the table. Steam rose from his mug of black coffee, but a mound of cinnamon-sprinkled whipped cream covered her beverage. “What is that?”

She stirred some of the cream into her drink and licked the spoon. “Cinnamon hazelnut hot chocolate.”

“Someone’s going to have a sugar rush tonight.”

She flashed him a wicked grin before drinking a gulp of her hot chocolate. When she lowered her mug, a dot of whipped cream lay perched on the end of her nose.

Ethan tried to smother the laugh that rose from his throat, but it was no use. Instead, he let it out and reached for a napkin. “You have a little something on your nose.”

“Oh?” But instead of acting mortified and reaching for a mirror like he expected her to do, she laughed with him and wiped her nose with a napkin.

“Got it?”

He nodded, once again surprised by her. Here was a refined young woman who wasn’t the least bit concerned with her appearance. Very different from the high-society girls he’d gone to high school with or the models and actresses he’d met through the years.

About the Author:

Crista McHugh is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING author of fantasy and romance with heroines who are smart, sexy, and anything but ordinary. She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of A Seductive Melody

Review (4.25 Stars): This is the second book that I’ve read in the Kelly Brothers series and for me, this series keeps getting better and better. Ethan Kelly is struggling to stay sober after the death of his best friend and bandmate from an overdose. For Ethan, drugs have always been his muse and the reason for his musical talent in his band, Ravinia’s Rejects. Hoping to battle his demons and stay clean, Ethan joins Narcotics Anonymous and meets Becca, who agrees to become his sponsor on his road to recovery. Becca understands the temptation that Ethan is facing especially while trying to stay out of the public eye and the tabloids. She has faced that same road as Ethan, except her escapades were well documented by the paparazzi because she is the heiress of a prestigious hotel empire. Together, they can finally find the love that they have been missing in their lives and heal the emotional wounds that led them down the road to addiction in the first place.

A Seductive Melody was a great story for me about two people that found love while trying to deal with the emotional trials of recovering from addiction. Ethan was in a very fragile place and was walking a fine line of falling back into his old habits before he met Becca. In the beginning, he gave the drugs credit for his talent because he felt he created the best music while he was high, when in actuality, he always had that talent within him, he just need a different muse. Becca was the life support that he needed to stay clean, and he was the one person who understood what she dealt with by trying to be a normal person when people think they know you from that they have seen in the tabloids. I loved that he cared and supported her and helped her deal with her family issues, which was one of the main reasons she turned to drugs in the first place. Her family was the one thing that Becca had been avoiding and once she was able to deal with that and prove to people that she was a different person, she was able to create the life for herself that she desperately wanted. A Seductive Melody was a great addition to the series and I’m a big fan of Ms. McHugh’s writing, so I am looking forward to the next story that will be released.

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September 12, 2014August 31, 2014

Jennifer reviews Ante Up by Amanda Carlson

TITLE: Ante Up
SERIES #: Sin City Collectors #3
CHARACTERS: Sofia Cabrera, Diesel Jones
AUTHOR: Amanda Carlson
PUBLICATION DATE: 8/18/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Welcome to Vegas. Home of the Sin City Collectors. The job description is easy: Bring the offending supernatural in to the Boss and don’t ask any questions.

Diesel Jones is a shifter with moon issues. Not the best combination to have. His dream of becoming a Sin City Collector had always lingered in the shadows because of his inability to control himself under a full moon. When Louie Fiore decides to test his merit, and gives him a job for the agency, Diesel jumps at the chance. But when he finds out he has to come up against an incubus, painful issues from the past resurface, and instead of bringing the sex demon in, he only has one thing on his mind–kill.

Sofia Cabrera is the new witch in town, and she’s more than anyone bargained for. She finds herself drawn to Diesel, the sexy shifter, the first moment she lays eyes on him. When she becomes the target of an organization of incubi, who take what they want without asking, Diesel comes to her aid unexpectedly. They end up fighting the threat together, and in the process, Sofia discovers she–and she alone–can tame his rages.

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Diesel Jones has always wanted to work for Sin City Collectors and gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is given his first assignment. Find a certain sex demon and bring him in for collection before he finds his intended victim. Sofia Cabrera is a new witch in Las Vegas and has slowly been settling in to her new surroundings. Sofia has seen Diesel whenever she visits her favorite bar, Hellhounds, and can’t help but be attracted to the sexy shifter. Diesel has his eyes set on Sofia as well, but when he learns that the intended victim of his collection assignment is Sofia, all bets are off when he races against time to save his sexy witch.

I loved Diesel and Sofia together in this novella. They have both been attracted to one another for some time but were afraid to pursue it because each of them believed that their feelings were one-sided. When Diesel found out that Sofia was the one being targeted by the incubus, I loved how protective he became of her and would put his own life on the line to protect the woman that he loved.
Sofia was a great character for me because she had a tough as nails personality that just made me instantly like her. She was also an immensely talented witch with a special gift that was perfect for helping tame Diesel’s animal side when he had trouble controlling his shifts with each full moon. They were a great couple together and I hope to read more about them in the future.
Ante Up is a fun and exciting thrill ride that will have readers saying that they are all in for this new paranormal series. Can’t wait to read what is next for these great characters and whatever adventures may lie up ahead for these collectors of Sin City.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

September 10, 2014September 9, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Deep in Death by Colleen Helme

Running “errands” for her mob-boss employer, Joey “The Knife” Manetto, often ends with Shelby in trouble, making her cautious about continuing her association with him. Instead, she focuses on a new client who hires Shelby to find her missing mother. What seems like a routine case turns into something more sinister and deadly than she ever imagined.

In the meantime, Uncle Joey has summoned Shelby to his office, where she runs into her former nemesis. Shelby inadvertently hears something that makes her fear for the lives of Uncle Joey and his hit-man, Ramos. This time, Uncle Joey is not sure he wants to involve Shelby in something he knows could get her killed. Keeping Shelby’s involvement to a minimum has disastrous results, sending Shelby on a dangerous path. As her investigation unfolds, Shelby finds death at every turn, and soon realizes she is in over her head. Can she escape from danger in time? Or will she find herself deep in death?

Amazon/B&N

About the Author:

As the author of the Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, Colleen is often asked if Shelby Nichols is her alter-ego. “Definitely,” she says. “Shelby is the epitome of everything I wish I dared to be.” Known for her laugh since she was a kid, Colleen has always tried to find the humor in every situation and continues to enjoy writing about Shelby’s adventures. “I love getting Shelby into trouble…I just don’t always know how to get her out of it!” Colleen lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family. Besides writing, she loves a good book, biking, hiking, and playing board and card games with family and friends. She loves to connect with readers and admits that fans of the series keep her writing.

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Deep in Death

Review (4.5 Stars): In Deep in Death, Shelby is recovering from a gunshot wound from her previous adventures while working for mob boss, “Uncle Joey” and hoping that things will finally settle down. To distance herself from Uncle Joey, she takes on a new assignment helping a young woman find out what happened to her mother who disappeared several years earlier. Shelby soon learns that things aren’t what they seem and she needs to solve this mystery fast before she finds herself in yet another dangerous situation.

First of all, the cover is absolutely beautiful and I love almost all of the covers in this series. Deep in Death is one of those books that you can start reading and it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read the rest of the series. You are able to follow along with the action without missing a beat and I really like that about this author. I was immediately involved with Shelby and her investigation of Tiffany’s missing mother in this story, which turned out to be more than just a missing persons case. The clues started to lead to something more sinister and Shelby just happens to look like Tiffany’s missing mother and has to race against time before she finds herself as the next victim. Deep in Death is full of creative plot twists, fascinating characters and enough action that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series but I want to start this series from the very beginning so I can really get to know these engaging characters.

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September 10, 2014September 9, 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Wedding Soup Murder by Rosie Genova

WEDDING SOUP MURDER

by Rosie Genova

When I conceived of the idea for a mystery series set in an Italian restaurant, it felt entirely natural to place that restaurant at the Jersey shore, in the fictional town of Oceanside Park. There’s a long tradition of Italian cuisine in New Jersey, from boardwalk stands to upscale restaurants. The setting of the books, the Casa Lido restaurant (which literally means “beach house”) is a family-owned establishment presided over by the tight-knit Rienzi family: Nonna, the matriarch and iron-handed manager; her son Frank, the easygoing host; his wife Nicolina, who keeps the accounts, and their daughter Victoria, my main character. It’s the kind of place that serves rustic, seasonal food in a wood-paneled dining room with red and white checked tablecloths—the kind of place that people go back to, season after season.

In fact, most shore restaurants rely on strong summer business to keep them going throughout the year. In the first Italian Kitchen Mystery, Murder and Marinara, the Casa Lido’s livelihood is threatened when Victoria discovers the corpse of an unpopular television producer in her grandmother’s tomato garden. Since the dead man ate his last meal there, the restaurant suddenly loses its customers, inspiring Vic to use her sleuthing skills to solve the murder in time for the start of the summer season. The book also contains recipes of dishes served in the restaurant, including the marinara sauce in the title. (If you make it once, you’ll never open a jar again!)

In The Wedding Soup Murder, Vic is called upon to help cater the soup course at a wedding reception being held at the upscale Belmont Country Club. Her first job, assigned by her ornery Nonna, is to make a thousand tiny meatballs for the soup! At the reception, she and her ex-boyfriend Tim, now the sous chef at Casa Lido, have to prepare the soup on site at the Belmont. While there, they run afoul of a testy pastry chef, a spoiled bride, and the club’s president, Elizabeth Merriman. When Elizabeth’s body shows up on the beach the next day and a family friend comes under suspicion, Vic reluctantly takes on the case. The soup in the title is made with a meatball recipe that was passed down to me by my mom and grandmother, and if I do say so myself, they are very tasty.

I hope that the Italian Kitchen Mysteries portray the Jersey shore that I love—a place with a long and proud history, beautiful beaches, miles of boardwalk fun, and of course, good Italian food!

About the Author:

A Jersey girl born and bred, national bestselling author Rosie Genova left her heart at the shore, which serves as the setting for much of her work. The atmosphere of the Jersey shore is present in the details, whether it’s the smell of the sea, the sound of a Springsteen song, or the taste of Kohr’s custard from the boardwalk. And no summer is complete unless she has sand in her shoes.

A bookworm from the time she could sound out words, Rosie spent many happy hours in her home town library where she hid behind the stacks reading the titles she was too young to check out. She earned two degrees in English from Rutgers University, where she discovered to her delight that reading Jane Austen was actually considered homework. Though she’s always considered herself a writer, she didn’t pen her first novel until ten years ago, and she hasn’t stopped since.

Her series, the Italian Kitchen Mysteries, is informed by her deep appreciation for good food, her pride in her heritage, and her love of classic mysteries, from Nancy Drew to Miss Marple. Her debut novel, Murder and Marinara, was named a Best Cozy of 2013 by Suspense Magazine and was a finalist for a 2014 Daphne Du Maurier Award. An English teacher by day and novelist by night, Rosie also writes women’s fiction as Rosemary DiBattista. She still lives in her home state with her husband and her youngest son.

Website/Facebook

As she researches her family history, however, she is distracted by her attraction to two men, old flame and chef Tim Trouvare, and woodworker Cal Lockhart. And life gets more complicated when her grandmother puts her in charge of catering a wedding reception with a menu featuring the Casa Lido’s famous Italian Wedding Soup.

Held at the exclusive Belmont Country Club, a historic site that overlooks the ocean, the reception is presided over by the wealthy and snobbish Elizabeth Merriman, the events manager and Nonna’s long-time nemesis. At the reception, a harried Vic has to deal with a demanding bridezilla and her wealthy daddy, as well a number of clashes in the kitchen—between the staff and servers, between two egocentric head chefs, and between Elizabeth Merriman and everyone.

The wedding reception is ultimately a success, but by the time the happy couple and their guests depart, Elizabeth is missing. When her body is found on the beach the next morning, it appears that Elizabeth slipped from the top of the high seawall, but Vic isn’t convinced. Did Elizabeth Merriman finally push someone too far? And did that someone push her right back over the railing and onto the sand below?

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of The Wedding Soup Murder

Review (4.75 Stars): I love, love, love this series! Culinary mysteries are my absolute favorite and this book has everything. Great writing, fun cast of characters and wonderful descriptions of food that will make you hungry for more. The Wedding Soup Murder has Vic and her family’s restaurant helping to cater a prestigious wedding at the exclusive Belmont Country Club. Vic and Tim are “chosen” by Nonna to prepare and serve Nonna’s famous wedding soup to the guests as a special favor to the bride’s family. While working the event at the Belmont, Vic meets Elizabeth Merriman, who just happens to be the events manager and makes it known that she is not a big fan of the Caso Lido. Everything goes off without a hitch, but Elizabeth is found dead on the beach the very next morning. What Vic soon discovers is that Elizabeth had a long list of enemies that would love to see her dead, but who would be capable of actually pushing her over the railing? Vic is involved in yet another murder mystery and needs to find the killer before they decide to add another victim to their list.

I absolutely love this series and I have fallen in love with Vic and her big Italian family. Each of these characters are very entertaining and I look forward with each book to spending time with these lovely people. The Wedding Soup Murder was a fun, fast-paced mystery and I loved every minute of it. Makes me want to head to Caso Lido, have a glass wine and spend an evening chatting with Vic and her family. This is the second book in the Italian Kitchen mystery series and each book keeps getting better and better. I recommend reading Murder in Marinara first because it will give you some background on these characters and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of The Wedding Soup Murder. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 17th, answer me this question in the comments:

Do you like culinary mysteries? What is your favorite series?

September 9, 2014September 8, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: The Wolfe Widow by Victoria Abbott

Falling in love again …

by Victoria Abbott

No sooner has Jordan Bingham recovered from Lord Peter Wimsey when she’s falling in love again, this time with Archie Goodwin. I guess she’d better take a number because she’s not the only one. Archie’s been collecting hearts since he first made an appearance back in 1934 as Nero Wolfe’s witty, urbane and tough-as-nails assistant, in the books by the great Rex Stout. For a man whose beverage of choice is milk and whose suits seem to be tailor made, he’s awfully good in a fight. We don’t think he ever starts them, but we are prejudiced on that topic.

Is Archie Goodwin the sexiest man ever? It depends on who you ask. Ask us and we have to say yes, at least in the category of fictional characters. Ask Jordan and she’ll say, ‘Absolutely.”

Archie may have been dashing around Manhattan back in the thirties, forties and fifties, but he’s still dashing today, forever in his thirties and forever a favorite of the ladies, including more than a few who turned out to be guilty of murder.

This time, Jordan Bingham has it bad. Maybe she likes the sizzling hint of danger that Archie presents. Plus we all know that Nero Wolfe’s right hand man never really settled down. Is that part of the irresistible lure of Archie? Or is it the old appeal of the totally unavailable love interest? You can’t get more unavailable than a character who hasn’t appeared in a new book for many years.

Never mind all that. Jordan – the first person in her large Irish family to go straight – appreciates that Archie is clever and streetwise and he knows when to bend the rules. He turns out to be not just a man to dream about, but a good guide to getting out of tough situations. In fact, Archie seems born for tough situations. He never backs away. Neither does Jordan, so that’s no big surprise. He is witty and wisecracking in life-threatening scrapes, something that Jordan can admire and even emulate.

Sure, she has Officer Tyler Dekker, the young police officer who is obviously in love with her, but how can he measure up to this perfect hero? Anyway, Tyler is out of town, supposedly on ‘training’ and Jordan’s close friends are all unavailable for no apparent reason. What’s that about?

She has to deal with being fired and saving her employer’s life (and book collection), apparently alone. Luckily, she can take inspiration from Archie, a guy who never lets you down when your life’s on the line.

Even when she’s trying some daring “middle of the night” escapades, she can draw inspiration from her new hero and maybe make it alive to the next day. Fingers crossed.

How about you? Have you ever fallen hard for a fictional character? How did that work out for you? Let’s hear it.

About the Author:

Victoria and Mary Jane Maffini are Victoria Abbott

Mary Jane Maffini thinks she’s the luckiest woman in the world. After all, she gets to work at home in her cozy office — or at her roomy dining room table or on her deck in summer — writing what she has always loved to read: mysteries. And she gets to write in her pyjamas if she wants, with her miniature dachshunds, Daisy and Lily, snuggled up. She can take her breaks with her husband and the pooches in the dog park and it’s no one’s business but her own. What’s not to love? Plus anyone who has ever made her mad has ended up in a book. No wonder she’s usually in a good mood.

MJ discovered mysteries as a child and read her way through the classics. Later in libraries, she found that people would pay her to select mysteries. They could have saved a bundle if only they’d realized who they were dealing with. She also learned how wonderful and varied crime fiction can be. Following a career as a librarian (not nearly as quiet as it sounds!), she continued her mystery infatuation by becoming co-owner of her favourite bookstore: Prime Crime Mystery Books, with her business partner, Linda Wiken .

Once again, people died. But only in her manuscripts. Since those wonderful reading days, MJ has written thirteen books in three mystery series and more than two dozen short stories. Her latest Charlotte Adams book The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder won the 2012 RT Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. She’s picked up several awards for her short fiction, including three Arthur Ellis awards and an Agatha. She’s also been nominated for an Anthony, a Barry, and several other Ellis awards. She also holds the Crime Writers of Canada Murdoch award.

Victoria Maffini comes by her murderous tendencies honestly, not to mention her writing skills. This is her first collaboration and first novel. She dove head first into the eerie world of Mysteries when she worked at Prime Crime Books for five creepy good years. Vic the Chic is long gone now, but her many glorious years of gorging on New Releases and used paperbacks sure come in handy when writing a Book Collector Mystery series.

When Victoria’s fingers are not on the keyboard they are pointing her Nikon at brides, babies and bad dogs, turning the images into cards, art and memories. Speaking of art…being creative is deep in Victoria’s soul, she never comes back from her long Lanark Highland walks without a stunning shot or a scene that will need to be painted or a pinecone that must be glittered and glued to something. The crafting is strong with this one.

Victoria lives in Carleton Place, Ontario with her Dachshund companions who have not stopped bossing her around for over a decade now, please send help.

Website/Facebook

As Thanksgiving approaches, Jordan Bingham is grateful for her job researching rare books for Vera Van Alst, the infamous curmudgeon of Harrison Falls, New York. But when an uninvited guest makes an appearance, much more than dinner is disrupted—and Jordan is thankful just to be alive…

Vera Van Alst doesn’t normally receive visitors without appointment, but she agrees to see the imperious Muriel Delgado upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, Jordan is told that her position is being terminated. Evicted from the Van Alst House, Jordan is determined to find out what hold Muriel has over her erstwhile employer.

It seems Muriel has designs on Vera’s money and property—not to mention a particular interest in her collection of Nero Wolfe first editions. When Jordan discovers a deadly connection between Muriel and the Van Alst family, it’s up to her to put the house in order and stop a killer from going back to press.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of The Wolfe Widow

Review (4.5 Stars): This is a great series for me and it keeps getting better with each new mystery that is released. Jordan is a character that you will instantly like and the entertaining characters that are in her life will make you want to keep coming back for more. In The Wolfe Widow, Jordan meets Muriel Delgado late one night at the Van Alst home and before she knows it, she is fired from her job and sent back to live with her eccentric uncles. While Jordan is back home, she tries to learn as much as she can about this mysterious stranger and why she had decided to come live with Vera. Learning the truth about Muriel puts Jordan’s life in jeopardy and she needs to find the answers quickly before she becomes another victim.

This is the third book in the Book Collector Mystery series and I love spending time with these characters. Each book focuses on a classic mystery writer and I enjoy learning the different aspects of Jordan’s job as a book collector. Each mystery is extremely fascinating and The Wolfe Widow is a great addition to the already delightful mystery series. This mystery was well-written and entertaining and readers will definitely want to add this mystery to their own collection. Can’t wait to see what is in store for these characters in the next book from this great mother/daughter writing team.

September 9, 2014August 31, 2014

Jennifer reviews With This Ring by Celeste Bradley

TITLE: With This Ring
SERIES #: The Wicked Worthingtons #3
CHARACTERS: Elektra Worthington and Lord Aaron Arbogast
AUTHOR: Celeste Bradley
PUBLICATION DATE: 7/1/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Elektra Worthington is the lovely middle daughter of the eccentric, impoverished Worthington family. Her beauty means nothing to her except as her currency to return the Worthington name to its former glory of status, riches, and dominance in the ballrooms of Regency England. To this end, she will stop at nothing—even if she must kidnap a rich lord in the process. If this lucky gentleman is just returning from a long absence and knows nothing of the Worthington reputation, well, a girl shouldn’t look a gift lord in the mouth…right?

THE PRICE OF PASSION
Lord Aaron Arbogast, returning to England after a decade-old scandal—of which he was not truly guilty, but instead took the blame out of loyalty to a good friend—is the last of his line. He will someday become the Earl of Arbodean and inherit the estate…if, that is, he can prove to his ailing grandfather that he is a reformed man. Falling for a woman like Miss Worthington could cost him everything. But his desire for her? Priceless…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is a new author to me and I thought that this was an enjoyable easy read. Elektra is trying to save her family from ruins and the only way that she can do that is to marry a wealthy man. By sheer chance, she finds herself staying at the same inn as Lord Aaron Arbogast and comes up with a plan to kidnap him and convince him that she is the right woman for him. What she finds instead, is that she kidnapped his man servant by mistake and the hilarity ensues from there as she tries to remedy this error.
Lord Aaron Arbogast is in town to see his ailing grandfather and to show him that he has changed his ways. He was involved in a scandal that has plagued him most of his life and wants nothing more than to put all that behind him. When his good friend and servant becomes ill, he exchanges identities with him so he can receive proper care from the employees of the inn. What he never expected, was that a beautiful young woman would kidnap him in hopes of helping save her family. He has to now keep up the charade that he isn’t Lord Arbogast or runs the risk of losing everything.
Elektra was such a fun character because she was this free spirit who took on the responsibility of helping her family. She had this huge burden on her shoulders and felt that the only way to save them all was to marry someone wealthy. She made sure that everything in her life was taken care even if it meant that she went without. Aaron needed someone like Ellie is his life because she wasn’t afraid of what people might say about them. She lived with the constant gossip about the Worthingtons and people gossiping about Aaron didn’t bother her in the slightest. She showed him what it was like to be a part of a loving and caring family and that was exactly what he needed in his life. Great story and I’m looking forward to reading more about this zany cast of characters in other books of the Worthington series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

September 4, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Fat Cat At Large by Janet Cantrell

Where Did Quincy Come From?

By Janet Cantrell

Other than the animal rescue shelter in Chicago where Chase Oliver picked him up, you mean? I was lucky enough to be the caretaker and servant to two rescued feral cats not long ago. One of them was Quincy’s prototype. They came to me pre-named by the woman who was fostering them, and the names were perfect.

The slim, handsome fellow, a Russian Blue with thick, dense fur, did have a name change before we got him. He was first named Lady Jane Grey (look for this name in the second Fat Cat book, FAT CAT SPREADS OUT). However, by the time it became evident that he needed a new name, he answered to Jane. His name was changed to James because he would answer to that one, too. I sometimes called him Sir James because of his regal composure.

His litter mate was named Agamemnon and that name stuck. He was a mighty little warrior, just like the ancient Greek, and he was so smart it was almost creepy. Agamemnon had to be my model for Quincy. It was a natural fit.

That guy was hard to entertain. If you dragged a feather toy, he leapt a couple of times, then followed the string with his eyes up to the stick, then to my hand. “Ho hum,” I could hear him thinking as he quit playing and washed his face. “This is just her. Not a bird at all. No wonder it doesn’t smell right.”

He was quite young back in the days when Elf Bowling was popular. The first time he heard me finish the game and make Santa pop up saying “Ho ho ho,” he was instantly in my lap, staring at the bobbing Santa and swiping at it with his paw. The next time I played, he was in my lap to begin with, intensely interested in the whole thing. How could I not let him play? The player bowled the ball at the taunting elves by hitting the space bar. If you hit it at the right time, you got a strike. I would hold Agamemnon’s paw over the space bar and “help” him by pushing it down the best I could to get him strikes and spares. He would, no lie, play an entire ten frame game waiting for the Santa finish.

More than once, when I would be in the bedroom with the door closed, he would jump onto the cedar chest beside the door and try to open it. He would curve his paw over the doorknob and attempt to turn it. He knew exactly how to open the door! Physically, he couldn’t do it, but he sure knew how.

That first scene in FAT CAT AT LARGE where Quincy unzips his soft-sided carrier from the inside? Yep, Agamemnon is where that came from. He was hard to crate to begin with, but when I finally got both of them crated and was gathering my purse and phone and car keys to take them to the vet for shots, it was dismaying to find Agamemnon’s crate empty and gaping open.

Also, like Quincy, Agamemnon stayed on the pudgy side. He loved to eat. His brother, James, was always slim and trim, but Agamemnon, a sleek all-black beauty with shiny fur (James’s looked like matte next to his glossy finish), was hard to take and keep the pounds off. He never got too heavy to leap to the top of any piece of furniture in the house, though.

He also loved to attack the paper as it came out of the printer. Quincy hasn’t done that yet, but, come to think of it, he should.

It’s been fun to resurrect my memories of the smartest cat I ever knew and let him live again through Quincy. I love being a writer!

About the Author:

Janet Cantrell is a pen name for Kaye George, Agatha nominated novelist and short story writer. She belongs to Sisters in Crime, Guppies, and Austin Mystery Writers. Her cozy Fat Cat mystery series debuts in September of 2014 with FAT CAT AT LARGE, featuring Quincy, a pudgy, adorable cat who is an accomplished escape artist. Especially when he’s on a diet and hungry. Leave it to Quincy to lead his human, Chase, co-owner of a Minneapolis dessert bar shop, into trouble. Janet lives in Knoxville TN with her husband. Her recently departed feline, Agamemnon, is a source for some of Quincy’s antics. Visit http://janetcantrell.com/ for more details.

When she’s not dreaming up irresistible dessert bars for her Minneapolis treatery, Bar None, Charity “Chase” Oliver is running after her cat, Quincy—a tubby tabby with a gift for sniffing out edibles. But what happens when this cat burglar leads Chase to the scene of a real crime?

The jig is up for Chase’s adorable plus-size cat, Quincy. His new vet says “diet”—that means no more cherry cheesecake bars. From now on he gets low-calorie kibble only. But one taste of the stuff is all it takes to drive him in search of better things. Quincy’s escape is the last thing Chase needs after the nasty run-in she has with underhanded business rival Gabe Naughtly.

Chase tracks Quincy down in a neighbor’s kitchen, where he’s devouring a meatloaf, unaware of the much more serious crime he’s stumbled upon. Gabe’s corpse is lying on the kitchen floor, and when Chase is discovered at the murder scene, she becomes suspect number one. Now, with a little help from her friends—both human and feline—she’ll have to catch the real killer or wind up behind bars that aren’t so sweet.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Fat Cat At Large

Review (4.25 Stars): Fat Cat At Large is the first book in a brand new mystery series about dessert bar owner Chase Oliver and her lovable plus-size cat, Quincy. Chase is always chasing after her cat and had to put him on a diet after learning that his weight may cause him health problems. During one of Quincy’s escape episodes, she stumbles upon the body of a business rival and the evidence that is found points to Chase as being the killer. To clear her name, she must investigate clues with the help of her friends before her business dreams disappear and she ends up behind bars.

I liked Chase from the very beginning and couldn’t help but fall in love with Quincy and his sneaky ways to get his favorite treats. I love culinary mysteries and this book had me wanting to visit Chase’s shop with all of the descriptions of the delicious bars that Chase had created. The writing was very fast-paced and I liked learning about all the people in Chase’s life. There was a couple secondary stories involving Chase’s coworkers that kept my attention and had me wondering how this all would tie in with the murder mystery. Fat Cat At Large is a charming and delicious mystery that will delight readers and I’m looking forward to reading more about Chase and Quincy in the next book.