Category: Mystery

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Victoria Hamilton Bowled Over Blog Tour and Review Giveaway

I am happy for Books-n-Kisses to host Victoria Hamilton as part of the Cozy Mystery Book  Tour for her new novel Bowled Over. This is the second novel in A Vintage Kitchen Mystery and I am delighted to have Victoria Hamilton here with us today.

 

Interview with Victoria Hamilton

1 – Tell us about your new release.
Bowled Over is Book 2 in my Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. Jaymie Leighton, the main character, tries to solve a decades old feud between her and her best friend from high school. Things don’t quite turn out how she hoped, and something of hers turns out to be the weapon in another murder in Queensville, Michigan.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries?
You could say it was right in front of me the whole time! I was casting about for a hook for a cozy series, something to tie it all up together, and one thing I love is collecting vintage kitchen utensils and bowls, etc. It suddenly occurred to me, what is more cozy than the kitchen? And so Jaymie Leighton, vintage kitchenware and old cookbook collector, was born.

3. Is there one character in your series that has a similar personality to you or that you can relate to the most? Or are there characters that remind you of people in your real life?
Hmm… you know, I’ve heard it said that every character you create has a piece of you inside them. I think that’s true to some extent. Jaymie certainly is as compulsive about buying vintage as I am. But her sister, Becca, is kind of a know-it-all, and I have to severely curtail that characteristic in me! LOL. Her best friend Valetta is based on someone I knew a long time ago: kindly, spinsterish and fond of odd sweaters and clothes.

4. What are you working on next?
I’ve got a million things on the go! Book 3 of Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, entitled Freezer I’ll Shoot, comes out in November 5th, 2013, but before then I’m really excited for the first book of another cozy series, the Merry Muffin Mysteries. Book One is Bran New Death, out September 3rd 2013. Merry Wynter inherits a castle in Upstate New York and so begins her journey among the quirky residents of Autumn Vale, New York, as she tries to figure out why someone is digging deep holes all over her property… until she finds a body at the bottom of one of them!
I’m also excited about the book I’ve just finished, the first book in another new cozy series, The Teapot Collector Mysteries. Tempest in a Teapot will be out in 2014.

5. What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Believe in yourself and keep trying. I didn’t get the first book I wrote published. Nor the second. Nor the third. If you really want to get published, study the market and write for it. And no, I don’t mean become a hack; I mean find a way to inject your own unique style and personality into something that the market will find sellable. Also, perfect your writing. Good spelling, grammar and punctuation usage will make you appear more the professional, and agents and editors will take you more seriously.

6. Is there any kind of food/drink that you absolutely have to have while writing?
Oh, tea… definitely tea! I drink coffee in the morning, but there usually comes a time about mid-afternoon when I absolutely need… wait, I have to go turn the Keurig on. Okay, I’m back. I need a cup of tea. Sometimes a cookie with the tea will not go amiss!

7. I always like to do a fun question with authors so what is your favorite kind of pizza?
Oh sure, now you get to the really tough question! Kind of deluxe, I guess… I like pepperoni and ham and Italian sausage, but I like mushrooms, onions, green peppers and olives, too!

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here with us today.

Thank you so much for having me at Books ‘n Kisses! I’ve enjoyed it so much.

 

Meet the author:
Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym for author Donna Lea Simpson. As Victoria she writes the bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mystery series (Book 2 – Bowled Over – March 2013) and the upcoming Merry Muffin Mysteries, also from Berkley (Book 1 – Bran New Murder – September 3rd, 2013)  Victoria loves cooking and collecting vintage kitchen utensils, as well as reading and writing mysteries.

 

Check out her webpage for all the latest: http://www.victoriahamiltonmysteries.com and find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaHamilton

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer’s review of  Bowled Over

SERIES #: A Vintage Kitchen Mystery #2

CHARACTERS: Jaymie Leighton, Valetta Nibley

AUTHOR:  Victoria Hamilton

PUBLICATION DATE:  03/5/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Stirring up trouble…Vintage kitchenware and cookbook collector Jaymie Leighton has been estranged from her high school best friend Kathy Cooper since they were teenagers, but she never knew what turned Kathy against her.  After fireworks at a Fourth of July picnic, Jaymie discovers the body of her former friend in the park.  On the ground nearby is Jaymie’s own Depression-era glass bowl, broken in two.

With her fingerprints all over the bowl and a troubled history with the victim, Jaymie suddenly finds herself at the top of the list of suspects. Did the killer intend to frame her for the murder? If so, she is ready to mix it up, because solving crimes is vintage Jaymie Leighton…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I really enjoyed Victoria Hamilton’s first novel, A Deadly Grind, and was very excited to read her new book. Jaymie Leighton has finally settled back into her life after helping to solve a murder involving one of her precious antiques and is taking things slow with her new beau, Daniel Collins.  When a recent trip to the Queensville Emporium puts Jaymie face to face with her ex-best friend Kathy Cooper, tempers fly, leaving Jaymie wondering what happened to destroy their once strong childhood friendship. On the Fourth of July, Jaymie makes the decision to confront her former friend and mend their relationship but before she can do this, she discovers Kathy’s body in the park.  To make matters worse, Jaymie also finds her glass bowl broken by the dead body. I felt so bad for Jaymie when this happens because she wanted so badly to make amends and find out why her old friend hated her so much.  She had no clue what happened and now she would never have that opportunity to patch things up.

I loved this book so much more than Victoria’s first one because I got to learn more about Jaymie and her character is really starting to grow on me.  I love small town mysteries, especially ones that deal with cooking and antique collectibles so this was a very enjoyable book for me.  The secondary characters were delightful and definitely brought this book to life for me. The mystery was well written and had me guessing until the very end.  I can’t wait to read more from Victoria Hamilton and her charming Vintage Kitchen Mysteries because this is a series that can’t be missed.

 

*****

The Fantastic 4 Cozy Mystery Book Tour Giveaway

MAY-TOUR-GIVEAWAY

Thanks to our wonderful site sponsors and our Amazon Affiliate, we are offering some super fantastic prizes for our FANTASTIC FOUR AUTHORS that are on tour with us this week: Lucy Burdette (author of Topped Chef), Victoria Hamilton (author of Bowled Over), Billie Thomas (author of Murder on the First Day of Christmas) & Marie Moore (author of Game Drive).

There will be four prize packages:
Prize 1 (US/Canada only)
* a Kindle Touch
* a $15 Amazon.com giftcard
Prize 2 (International)
* a Kindle copy of Topped Chef and Bowled Over
* a $15 Book Depository giftcard
Prize 3 (International)
* a Kindle copy of Murder on the First Day of Christmas & Game Drive
* a $15 Amazon.com giftcard
Prize 4 (US/Canada)
* your choice of a cozy mystery paperbacks (up to $25 in value)

To enter:
1. Fill in the form here.
2. There is no requirement to follow any of the blogs participating, but we hope you will support these amazing blogs by following them. They do a great job, many of whom host for us every month.
3. Giveaway ends on May 15, 2013 at midnight and the winners will be contacted via email.

 

 

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Guest Blogger: Jim Bronyaur

Since I’ve been out promoting and talking about my new series, the Minivan Mom Mystery Series, I’ve been asked about being a man and writing mystery for women.
There was a saying I’ve heard dozens of times about how behind every great man is a greater woman.  Well, I’m the proof in that one, especially in this series.  Without my wife, this series would not have seen the light of day.  In fact, my wife is actually getting interview requests of her own.  I guess my job is to just write and hush up. 
When my wife was pregnant with our kids, I often read What to Expect When You’re Expecting.  It’s a great, big book of the worst case scenarios of what could happen when having a child.  In fact, by the time you’re done reading it, you’re terrified.
I’m going to write today about what to expect when you expecting the second book in the Minivan Mom Mystery Series.
In the first book, we introduced Eve Bailey and her family. 
Ben, her husband.
Delaney, her oldest daughter.
Cody, her only son.
Penny, her youngest daughter.
Then, of course, is the cast of characters from Eve’s enemy, Karen Corothers, to the gossip queen of Marysville, Charlotte Williams.
When I started writing this story, I told myself and my wife that when we got to the second book and there on, I refuse to rewrite the same story.
I wanted each one to be new, different, and fresh.
So, what to expect in the second book (which is titled A Mess to Die For) –
There will be murder.  This is a give in.  It’s a mystery book.  I need to kill someone.  The fun part in the second book is that it’s an interesting murder…
Eve will be involved.  Without Eve getting involved, there’s no story!  In the first book, Eve doesn’t believe what the police are saying.  In the second book, it’s Eve’s memory that keeps her involved.  She just can’t let it go.  She feels tied to the murder and her mind won’t let her rest.
There will be suspense.  In the first book, the suspense came directly to Eve, pulling her along within the story.  In the second book, the suspense is layered throughout the book in small sets.  The suspense hooks all the characters, and the readers.
Kids will be kids.  One of my favorite parts of writing this series is writing about the kids.  In the first book, Delaney prepared for her big soccer game while Penny learned to speak goldfish, and Cody learned that skipping school isn’t such a good idea.  In the second book, the kids are always there, keeping Eve on her toes.  Delaney has some troubles with her favorite soccer medal, Penny has a boy picking on her, and Cody just can’t stop fighting with his enemy, Max Corothers.
Messes all around!  The title was created from the story.  When writing the first book, we had the title from day one.  With the second, we were without title until a quarter way through the book when I realized all Eve is doing is cleaning up messes.  The messes could be a spilled glass of orange juice all the way to a murder.  It’s the true cycle of Eve Bailey and how strong she is as a stay-at-home and how big her heart can be… even though it gets a little dangerous sometimes.
The good news is that A Mess to Die For is slated for a Mother’s Day release.  The even better news is that the first book, If Errands Could Kill, is out now and is sitting exclusively on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback form. 
Thanks for stopping by and if you enjoy a fast paced mystery, then check out the Minivan Mom Mystery Series.
If Errands Could Kill
by Jim Bronyaur
Amazon 
Up at sunrise to enjoy the quiet of a sleeping household, Eve Bailey gets her coffee, prepares breakfast for her three children, and has a spare tie ready knowing that her husband, Ben, will definitely spill something on the one he is wearing. Their oldest daughter, Delaney, is one game away from moving onto the soccer championships, their son, Cody, skipped school yesterday, and innocent 7 year old Penny is trying to communicate with her goldfish. Eve’s days are that of a typical stay at home mom.

Her typical day changes drastically after she drives Cody to school as part of his punishment for skipping school. Cody’s creepy science teacher, Mr. Jackson, approaches Eve to let her know that her check for Cody’s field trip had bounced. Knowing it had to be an error, Eve heads to the bank to figure it out. While in line, she chats with her mother in law who works at the bank. Then she notices Janet, another bank employee and self-made town outcast, acting very strange at the back counter.

Eve’s concern grows when she is leaving the bank and sees Janet open the gas tank door and then drives away. Against her better judgment, Eve follows Janet. What happens next is something unheard of in quiet Marysville, Pennsylvania.
Janet is murdered in front of Eve’s eyes, and the police find drugs in her car.

Murder and drugs? It doesn’t make sense. Eve is now a witness and determined to disprove the “drug deal gone wrong” theory.

Can she convince the police that she knows who the killer is, save her family, and make it to Delaney’s big soccer game in time?