Review of The Cat Of Christmas Future

The Cat Of Christmas Future

Whales and Tails, Book #14

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

 

 

Synopsis:

As with The Cat of Christmas Past and The Cat of Christmas Present, while this holiday cozy features a mystery, it does not feature a murder.

It is Christmas on Madrona Island and the spirit of Christmas is out in full force. A cat who looks a lot like a cat from Cait’s past comes to visit just as Cait and Cody are getting ready for a full lineup of holiday events. When Cait learns of the cat’s true purpose for coming into her life she realizes she will need to set some of her usual routines aside in order to prevent a tragedy from occurring in the future.

Meanwhile the entire Hart Family is gathering at Maggie’s as a series of personal events causes each of member of the family to seek temporary refuge in the large house.  (Goodreads)

 

 

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  Anytime I get to spend more time with Cait, Cody, and Cait’s family and friends is a good time.  They all make an appearance and as usual, this author’s books have a lot of family caring and compassion. And that compassion even extends to virtual strangers.  If you want a feel good read, this is the book for you.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing, her character development and the small town community that she creates.  I found it very refreshing that there was no dead body to find.  There was a mystery and problems to solve but no one was murdered.  And the appearance of another mystical cat gave just enough magical elements to the book.  

I would recommend this book, this series and this author to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy.  I think if you looked up the meaning of the word cozy in the dictionary, this author’s picture would be there!

New Releases For The Week Of November 26th, 2017–Part 4

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of November 26th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very very many of them.  Today is the fourth and final day of my list for this week.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading!

 

 

 

The small town of North Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan is about to have a new mystery bookstore. But before the first customer can browse its shelves, the store’s owner is suspected of her own murder plot . . . 
 
Samantha Washington has dreamed of owning her own mystery bookstore for as long as she can remember. And as she prepares for the store’s grand opening, she’s also realizing another dream—penning a cozy mystery set in England between the wars. While Samantha hires employees and fills the shelves with the latest mysteries, quick-witted Lady Penelope Marsh, long-overshadowed by her beautiful sister Daphne, refuses to lose the besotted Victor Carlston to her sibling’s charms. When one of Daphne’s suitors is murdered in a maze, Penelope steps in to solve the labyrinthine puzzle and win Victor.

But as Samantha indulges her imagination, the unimaginable happens in real life. A shady realtor turns up dead in her backyard, and the police suspect her—after all, the owner of a mystery bookstore might know a thing or two about murder. Aided by her feisty grandmother and an enthusiastic ensemble of colorful retirees, Samantha is determined to close the case before she opens her store. But will she live to conclude her own story when the killer has a revised ending in mind for her?

“You’ll love this delightful debut mystery with its charming and wacky cast of characters and a mystery within a mystery just to keep things interesting.”
—Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder in Morningside Heights
 
“A charming read—with murder, romance and lots of mouthwatering desserts.”
—Laura Levine, author of Death of a Bachelorette  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

She’s handling a bridezilla—and hunting a killer . . .

Moving from Minnesota to Arizona was a big change for Sophie “Phee” Kimball. She’s much closer to her mother’s retirement community now—which can drive her a little crazy, but at least her mom, Harriet, has her book club and her chiweenie dog, Streetman, to keep her company. And now there’s even more activity, with Aunt Ina’s upcoming wedding. The seventy-four-year-old bride has roped Phee into working on the tent, the pastries, and even her headpiece in preparation for the ceremony. But it’s Harriet who really gets demanding when a dead body turns up yards from her front door.

Aunt Ina’s fiancé is acquainted with the victim—a local millionaire restaurateur murdered at the golf course. Working for a private investigator, Phee is drawn into the case—not just professionally but personally, since Harriet is in a panic about her safety. With a killer on the loose, Phee vows to figure out the plot—that is, if her side job as a wedding planner doesn’t kill her first . . .

Praise for J.C. Eaton

“Sophie ‘Phee’ Kimball has a lot on her plate in this captivating whodunit, but this feisty, take-charge heroine is definitely up for the challenge. Fun characters, a touch of humor, and a great mystery, the perfect combination for a cozy.”  (Amazon)
—Lena Gregory, author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet reclusive mystery writer, Johanna Hughes, and Rockland Gable Hughes, aka Rocky, JoJo’s trusty English Mastiff, loyal companion, and roommate. On a walk, just a little more than a week before Christmas, Rocky and Johanna are lured into an antique shop by an enchanting grey cat. Inside, they stumble upon a mystic snow globe hidden amongst all the antiques. Johanna is mesmerized by the gorgeous wedding gown inside the globe and the beautiful girl, sitting at her sewing desk. Little does she know the mystic snow globe will get her tangled up in a world of mystery she never could have imagined. With very few clues to go on, Johanna and Rocky are forced out of the comfort of their Manhattan apartment and into a real-life mystery, unlike the fictional kind Johanna is accustomed to.

Will Johanna get more than she bargained for when her Christmas wish comes true? Or will this Christmas miracle be everything she ever needed and more?

Grab your hot cocoa, light the fire, and find out the answer in Snow Cold Case – a holiday-themed romantic, cozy mystery.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

The first 3 books of Shojai’s dark, female-driven domestic thriller series featuring pet-centric plots.

LOST AND FOUND, BOOK 1:
A young woman races a Texas blizzard to save her autistic nephew from a deadly secret others will kill to protect–and the service dog she’s trained finds his true purpose, when he disobeys.

Animal behaviorist September Day has lost everything–husband murdered, career in ruins, confidence shot–and returns home with her trained Maine Coon cat Macy to Texas to recover. She’s forced out of hibernation when her nephew Steven and his autism service dog Shadow disappear in a freak blizzard.

HIDE AND SEEK, BOOK 2:
A mysterious contagion will shatter countless lives unless a service dog and his trainer find a missing cat . . . in 24 hours.

A STALKER hides in plain sight.
A VICTIM faces her worst fear.
AND A DOG seeks the missing–and finds hope.

HIDE AND SEEK continues the story begun in LOST AND FOUND. September must solve an epidemic of Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, evade a relentless sadist from her past, and protect her chosen family from the killer. September has only 24 hours to uncover the truth about Macy’s mysterious illness or pay the deadly consequences. When September learns to trust again, and a good-dog takes a chance on love, together they find hope in the midst of despair–and discover what family really means.

SHOW AND TELL, BOOK 3:
An animal behaviorist and her service dog race a deadly storm to expose a treacherous secret others will kill to protect.

A BLACKMAILER returns to sell a deadly cure.
A MOTHER’S DENIAL dooms millions of children.
AND A DOG shows true loyalty…when he runs away.

With her stalker finally caught, animal behaviorist September Day’s PTSD has abated and she’s begun to trust again. She dares to hope Detective Jeff Combs might become more than a friend, until his investigation into a dogfighting ring leaves her reeling.When a desperate mom demands help, and Combs’s son disappears with his dog, September and Shadow must find the children before a devastating storm hits. But the children have a secret plan of their own. Only when September shows true courage, and a good-dog tells the truth, can they find their way home again.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas dinner turns deadly when the millionaire host is shot dead.
Meera and family find themselves stranded at a secluded country house. One of the people present is a cold blooded killer. Is it the feuding heir, the prodigal son, the shady psychic or the ancient butler? Meera joins forces with cop Stan Miller to trap the perpetrator and solve the murder.
Christmas with the Franks is the fifth book in the popular Meera Patel Cozy Mystery series. Mystery fans are in for an old fashioned classic cozy or closed circle mystery. There’s Christmas cheer thrown in and recipes so series fans don’t feel left out. If you like a fast page turner with plenty of clues and red herrings, you will enjoy Christmas with the Franks.
Start reading today and find the killer before Meera does.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sirens ring. Are you listening? Near Candy Cane Lane. A Body is glistening. A murderous sight. Trubble’s investigating tonight. Walking through this winter wonderland.

It’s the week before Christmas and Investigative Journalist Penelope Trubble has reluctantly agreed to investigate the death of a woman at the Sleighs & Slopes Adventure Resort in the hopes of exonerating her husband–who just happens to be Penny’s ex. But with so many suspicious characters lurking in the trees, Penelope risks being strangled by clues, Christmas lights, conjecture, and catastrophe. It doesn’t help that Penny’s still a little frosty with the man accused of icing his bride, and she must prove he’s no cold-blooded killer. At least there’s candy-cane cocoa, a roaring fire, and the Laurentian Mountains to savor–not to mention the hunky detective dashing through the snow after her.

Helping an ex is a slippery slope, and things are going downhill fast for Penelope Trubble.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

What’s the harm in letting your sister start a new business from your pub? Quite a lot, as Fiona McCabe finds out when she allows her sister to set up shop in the snug at McCabe’s. Kate, as it turns out, needs money fast. She’s set herself up as a wedding planner… and she intends to use the pub as a venue.

And as if four weddings in a fortnight wasn’t stressful enough, a very important member of one of the wedding parties soon turns up dead. Worse still, nobody saw anything remotely suspicious, even though the room was packed with guests and staff, including Fiona herself.

Will Fiona get her sleuth cap on again this time, or is it time to hightail it back to the city away from her crazy family and her nemesis Sergeant Brennan?

Four Weddings and a Murder is the third novel in the Fiona McCabe cozy mystery series. All of the books are standalone mysteries.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Imajin Qwickies® Mystery/Crime Novella

Andi’s step-mother is a real piece of work! But is Ruby a murderer?

Andi Anna Jones, so-so travel agent/amateur sleuth, puts aside her resentment of her father’s widow and books a 60th birthday cruise to Cancun for Ruby and three friends. Never does Andi imagine the cruise will lead to the murder of a has-been lounge singer–or that Ruby will be the main suspect.

Flirting with more than danger after arriving in Mexico, Andi connects with the charming local sheriff, Manuel Rodriquez. After an embarrassing night involving the sheriff, too many margaritas, and a Mariachi band, a chance to check out an eyewitness to the murder leads her to Las Vegas.

In Vegas, a mysterious meeting in the Bodies Exhibition, a body preserving in the prep-room, and an evasive owner of a dance studio, give Andi clues to help Ruby. But when Andi is mercilessly drugged and locked in a storage room, she realizes dear old step-mom isn’t the only one in jeopardy.

Editorial Reviews:

“Cunningham delivers a fun and entertaining romp through a mystery populated with quirky, unforgettable characters! When her ex-stepmother, a woman with a flair for the dramatic, is arrested in Mexico Andi Anna Jones rides to the rescue on a wave of guilt and misgivings. Somewhere on the twisting trail between facts, theories, and unexpected connections Andi searches for an elusive culprit determined to get away with murder. If Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum were a travel agent, she’d fit right in working this case alongside Andi, a wanna-be detective readers are sure to love.” –Regan Black, USA Today bestselling author of the Escape Club Heroes

“Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder…WOW. Snappy dialog, quirky characters, opens with a curious bang and yanked me through the pages. A fun, fantastic read.” –Jean Rabe USA Today Bestselling author

“Grab a margarita and hold on tight; you’re in for a wild ride. Mary Cunningham’s wacky characters will have you snorting your drink and wishing you could be protagonist Andi Anna Jones’s best friend…or at least a fly on the wall!” –Karen MacInerney, Agatha Award nominee and author of the Dewberry Farms Mysteries

“A quick-witted heroine and a gorgeous male protagonist meet over murder in Mary Cunningham’s new book Andi Anna Jones: Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder. Andi Anna Jones is a handy person to call when you find yourself charged with murder in Mexico. Just don’t phone her too early in the morning, okay? As refreshing as a margarita and a lot less calories, Andi Anna Jones: Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder is an intoxicating mix of laughter, kooky characters, and a yummy setting.” –Joanna Campbell Slan, national bestselling/award-winning author of the Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series

“Margaritas, Mayhem & Murder is a madcap comedy mystery, rich with colorful characters and snappy one-liners. A heroine named Andi Anna Jones is destined for exotic misadventure…Author Mary Cunningham provides a funny cast and enough twists to keep things interesting. Margaritas, Mayhem, and Murder makes a companionable read on a vacation or a lazy weekend. You may even be inspired to order a margarita while you’re reading, extra salt on the rim!” –Dana Taylor, award-winning author of Ain’t Love Grand  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of November 26th, 2017–Part 3

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of November 26th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very very many of them.  Today is the third day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading!

 

 

 

The old Chadwick mansion on the edge of Moosetookalook, Maine, has been shrouded in mystery for generations—until Scottish Emporium owner Liss MacCrimmon uncovers a forgotten family secret. But she never imagined that a little curiosity would lead her into such deadly territory . . .
 
While perusing auction items from the Chadwick estate, Liss purchases a painting of a bagpiper to add to her collection. Her interest shifts from art to sleuthing upon a strange discovery—what appears to be a treasure map tucked behind the canvas. She’s even more intrigued when she links the scroll to an early Chadwick who smuggled goods across the Canadian border.

So during a business trip to Canada, Liss arranges a meeting with an archivist in hopes of pinning down the truth about the map and the Chadwick bloodline. Before her quest moves forward, however, she finds the archivist’s murdered body at a local genealogical society. One thing is certain—Liss isn’t alone on this treasure hunt . . .

Liss returns to Moosetookalook, terrified that the killer may have followed her home. With her life in real peril and the map at risk of being stolen, she launches into full-scale investigation mode. But as she deciphers clues and inches toward the dangerous culprit, Liss quickly realizes she’s only a step away from ending up like the Chadwick clan—permanently wiped out.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

 

 

Lee’s Uncle ‘Tío’ is smitten with a visiting chef at a Silicon Valley culinary arts institute. When the lady is arrested for two murders, a fellow chef and the dishwasher, Lee Alvarez, lead investigator for Discretionary Inquiries, Inc., the family owned detective agency, agrees to help find the real killer. But undercover work at the institute proves to be more difficult than whipping up a chocolate soufflé. The killer tries to get Lee out of the way and permanently. But just who is it? The lady chef? One of her two sons? Or one of the other inmates from a cooking school with secrets as plentiful as sauces? Can Lee find the real killer before her own goose is cooked? And if it turns out to be the ambitious southern belle chef, will Tío ever forgive Lee for sending his new lady love to jail?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

March 4, 1861: On the day of Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration, the air is charged with hope and apprehension. The last thing anyone wants is any sort of hitch in the proceedings—let alone murder! Fortunately the president has young Adam Quinn by his side . . .

At the inaugural ball, Lincoln’s trusted entourage is on their guard. Allan Pinkerton, head of the president’s security team, is wary of potential assassins. And Lincoln’s oldest friend, Joshua Speed, is by his side, along with Speed’s nephew, Adam Quinn—called back from the Kansas frontier to serve as the president’s assistant and jack-of-all-trades.

Despite the tight security, trouble comes nonetheless. A man is found stabbed to death in a nearby room, only yards from the president. Not wishing to cause alarm, Lincoln dispatches young Quinn—instead of the high-profile Pinkerton—to discreetly investigate.

Could the proximity of the murder possibly be a coincidence? Or is the crime directly related to Lincoln himself—possibly a political act? Quinn’s observation skills as a frontier scout are invaluable as he examines the victim and begins a complex investigation. Though he is new to Washington, DC, he must navigate through high society, political personages, and a city preparing for war in order to solve the crime. He finds unexpected allies in a determined female journalist named Sophie Gates, and Dr. Hilton, a free man of color

Quinn—with assistance from Sophie and Dr. Hilton—must make haste to solve the murder if he is to protect the president he’s pledged to serve. With the shadow of war looming on the horizon, there’s no margin for error, as no less than the fate of the nation is at stake . . .

PRAISE FOR THE PREVIOUS WORKS OF C. M. GLEASON:

“Exhilarating . . . Sure to please.” —The New York Times Sunday Book Review

“Wonderfully witty . . . deliciously dark and delightfully entertaining.” —The Chicago Tribune

“Sophisticated, sexy, surprising . . . This book grabs you and holds you tight till the very last page!” —#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward

“Gleason’s novel is a well-oiled machine . . . the authentic historical framework . . . the compelling personalities.” —School Library Journal

“Witty, intriguing, and addictive.” —Publishers Weekly

“Phenomenal storytelling.” —Romantic Times  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for a craft cozy so memorable you’ll stay up late scrapping about it? Well, welcome to the town of Eden.

Faith Hunter, who is supposed to be planning her wedding, instead finds herself distracted by the town scrapbook she was commissioned to create. Eden’s oldest mystery, the founding family’s exodus nearly a hundred years ago, remains unsolved.

A search through the family’s abandoned mansion leads to the uncovering of bones on that very property. And then ex-boyfriend Steve Davis announces a surprise heir has staked a claim.

How can Faith not be distracted? Now she’s determined to dig up the truth left behind.

Because scrappers are multi-taskers extraordinaire, Faith can’t say no when family friend Wyatt Buford asks her to look into his deadbeat father’s disappearing act and his connection to the murder.

Her quest for answers unearths secrets past and present that some would prefer stay buried at any cost. Faith’s resolve to present the facts and nothing but about Eden’s history could lead to her own future being cut short.

See what I mean about memorable? Delve in to Eden and you’ll find a cozy you won’t soon forget.

– – – – – – – – – – – – –

ALTERED TO DEATH by Christina Freeburn | A Henery Press Mystery  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Hanmer Springs. Small town. Big secrets.

With a divorce pending and her career hanging in the balance, Holly Waterston returns to her hometown of Hanmer Springs to lick her wounds. According to her accountant, she also needs to sell the cupcake bakery owned and operated by her family for three generations. The bakery is the only place Holly’s younger sister Crystal has ever worked.

But when their mortgage holder suffers anaphylactic shock after eating a cupcake, Crystal is chief suspect for the attempted murder. Despite being labeled allergy-free, the cake was chock full of peanuts.

Holly must dig in her heels and don an apron if she’s to clear her sister’s name, uncover the real culprit, and find out why their booming business is hemorrhaging money. If she can’t, then Holly might lose Crystal to prison and lose the one place she can truly call home.

This Sweet Baked Mystery is certified allergy-free of the following ingredients:
No Swearing
No Gore
No Graphic Scenes
and absolutely No Cliffhangers!

Warning: May contain traces of danger and good humor.

Scroll up to solve the conspiracy today!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

When fourteen-year-old Derek Taylor and his sister Penny are dragged out into the wilderness by their environmentalist parents, they soon discover that the ‘simple life’ is really not so simple. And the idea that there would be less crime is negated when Derek and another boy trip an alarm at a marijuana grow-op and, in running away, fall into an empty grave.

Derek is catapulted into the investigation of the murder of an undercover cop, which threatens to put his life, and that of his sister, in danger. And that is not the only crime being played out in the lonely mountain valley.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

Rosemary Baldwin is over it! All of it! Her dead-end job, her crappy apartment, her life without meaning. In a moment of sheer madness, she walks out of her job only to discover the opportunity for something different.

She leaves behind her mundane life for the Oregon Coast and opens the 2nd Chance Diner. With her new life, she’ll do what it takes to succeed which is why she has to investigate the murder that occurs in her diner. Will she be able to discover the murderer before her second chance is destroyed? And just what will the price of that investigation be?

Book 1 in the 2nd Chance Diner Mystery series! For fans of Carolyn Dean, Angela Blackmoore, and Agatha Frost. A light, cozy mystery with a snarky sidekick, a handsome detective, and fun friendships. No swearing, graphic scenes, or cliffhangers.

The 2nd Chance Diner Cozy Mysteries
Book 1: Spaghetti, Meatballs, & Murder
Book 2: Cookies & Catastrophe
Book 3: Poison & Pie (Coming in December)
Book 4: Double Mocha Murder (Coming January 2018)  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

Love is in the air in Aspen Hills, and it’s making a terrible mess of Cat Latimer’s writers’ retreat—especially when blood stains the plot . . .

Ever since her business partner, Shauna, fell for a wealthy landowner in town, Cat has been working double time to keep her writers’ retreat running. And with the January session almost underway, that spells trouble. As if scheduling mishaps aren’t disastrous enough, Shauna skips out on kitchen duties one morning, forcing Cat to serve unsuspecting guests store-bought muffins . . .

But best laid plans really go awry when Shauna discovers her beau missing from their bed. When his body later turns up in the horse barn, they quickly find out the victim’s scandalous lifestyle left many dying for revenge. While balancing an eccentric group of aspiring writers and a suspect list for the record books, Cat soon finds herself on the heels of a killer—and authoring her most deadly conclusion yet . . .

Praise for Lynn Cahoon

“Better get your flashlight handy, A Story to Kill will keep you reading all night.” —Laura Bradford, author of the Amish Mysteries

“Lynn Cahoon has created an absorbing, good fun mystery in Mission to Murder.” —Fresh Fiction  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of November 26th, 2017–Part 2

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of November 26th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very very many of them.  Today is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading!

 

In the English village of Kurland St. Mary, few things are worse than having one’s reputation besmirched. A struggling marriage is one. Murder is another . . .

Three years have passed since Major Sir Robert Kurland and Lucy Harrington, the rector’s daughter, became husband and wife. Having established a measure of contentment among the gentry of Kurland St. Mary, the couple lately have found an unsettling distance grown between them. But when the small-village peace is disrupted by the arrival of an anonymous letter accusing Lucy of witchcraft, her as yet unfulfilled desire to be a mother becomes the least of her worries, especially after she learns she is not the only one to have received such a malicious letter.

Speculation in the village only escalates when the local schoolteacher, Miss Broomfield, is discovered murdered at her classroom desk. Was the unlikeable teacher the letter writer, and if so, who killed her and why? Despite her husband’s objections, Lucy offers to help out at the school until a replacement can be found, hoping the schoolchildren might inadvertently reveal a clue, but by doing so she may be putting her own life at risk . . .

Lucy offers to teach in the school until a replacement can be found, hoping the schoolchildren might inadvertently reveal a clue, but by doing so she may be putting her own life at risk . . .  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

 

“There’s something mesmerizing about Hiebert’s storytelling voice.” —The New York Times Book Review

From the author of the acclaimed Dream with Little Angels comes a haunting novel of a long-ago tragedy that echoes through small-town Alabama as one woman tries to track down a serial killer . . .

Detective Leah Teal knows most of the secrets in her hometown of Alvin, but there are always surprises. Like the day she agrees to take her daughter to see a psychic for a reading. The psychic hones in on Leah instead, hinting at a string of gruesome killings—and insisting that she intervene to prevent more. Of course, when you go looking for trouble, you never know how much you’ll find.

Sure enough, the psychic’s scant clues lead Leah to a grisly cold case from six years ago. A young woman was found shot to death, her eyelids sewn shut. As Leah digs deeper, a second unsolved case surfaces with the same pattern. While her shrewd young son, Abe, observes from the sidelines, Leah races to stop another horrific murder—unaware of just how deep the roots of evil can go . . .

“Engaging. . . . Readers will keep guessing whodunit to the end.” —Publishers Weekly  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

Mercedes Moran is one of the stars of the self-publishing world, a romance author who’s made millions by selling 99 cent romance novels through all of the ebook platforms. Her fan base is enormous – but Mercedes is a horrible person, and she’s made plenty of enemies, too.
The Association of Self-Publishing is holding its annual conference on UCLA’s campus, and Mercedes is the keynote speaker. When Jamie Brodie and Kristen Beach attend the keynote at the encouragement of their supervisors, they get an earful from other conference-goers about Mercedes. But it’s nothing to do with them.
Until Mercedes turns up dead in the back of the exhibit hall.
Kevin Brodie and Jon Eckhoff are on the case, and they enlist Jamie’s and Kristen’s help with navigating the world of self-published authors. But the case takes a turn for the weird when Kevin and Jon are joined by a lieutenant from Internal Affairs, who claims to be brushing up on his investigative skills – and who only speaks in clichés.
Who killed Mercedes? Why is a desk jockey from Internal Affairs dogging Kevin and Jon’s every step? And why do so many covers of male-male romance novels feature headless torsos??  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

When a video of Agnes and Eleanor solving a mystery is leaked online … director, Roman Douglas, hopes to profit from their success and make a movie about them showcasing Tawas as the next Cabot Cove.

Production trucks are soon rolling into town and setting up at the Tawas Point for the opening scene, but before the director has a chance to call out action, a woman is found dead on the set.

Actresses Hannah Paris and Eileen Foster didn’t come to Tawas to be embroiled in a real mystery and they’re certainly not welcome to butt in as Agnes Barton and Eleanor Mason embark on their greatest adventure to date — proving to those Hollywood big shots they deserve to be acting in their own movie!

But will Agnes and Eleanor be able to solve this mystery before the cast and crew is killed off one by one?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

This special Starling and Swift Christmas edition is on pre-order special for .99 for a short time only! 

Kitty Swift and her psychic service dog, Chica, are off to spend Christmas with Leander at his family’s beautiful historic Bed and Breakfast in the Florida Keys. She’s prepared for disapproving parents and interfering siblings, but as usual nothing goes according to plan and Kitty is shocked to discover thatsabotage is on the menu.
When threatening messages are found scrawled around the stunning beachside property, Starling and Swift vow to uncover who is trying to scare away the wealthy clientele. Within hours of taking the case, the culprits turn their destructive wrath on the crime-fighting trio with shocking vengeance.
If they don’t solve the mystery soon, Solitude Bay might go from being Kitty’s new favorite place… to her final resting spot! 

A cozy mystery of about 140 pages with recipes!

Murder at the Mayan Temple, Book One
Death on the Wind, Book Two (September 2017)
Danger at the Dive Shop, Book Three (October 2017)
Chaos in Cuba, Book Four (November 2017)
Sabotage on Solitude Bay, Book Five (November 2017)
A Scandal in Spain, Book Six (January 2018)
Nightmare Under the Northern Lights, Book Seven (March 2018)
Terror at the Turtle Sanctuary, Book Eight (April 2018)
Death in Dubrovnik, Book Nine (May 2018)
Ruin on the Rhine, Book Ten (June 2018)  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

As the newest member of the Rose Avenue Wine Club, Halsey wants to expand her palate—not solve murders. But when a neighbor is found dead, it’s up to her to pair the culprit with a deadly crime . . .

Leaving behind a failed marriage, New Yorker Annie “Halsey” Hall is ready to begin the next phase of her life in coastal Southern California. From the moment she arrives at her new digs on cozy Rose Avenue, she looks forward to joining the neighborhood ladies for their weekly Wine Club gathering. With only a rambunctious yellow lab puppy to keep her company, Halsey could really use a confidant—and a glass or two of her favorite white wine . . .

Unfortunately, she finds nothing but red at the Wine Club meeting—and judging by the dead woman lying face down in the backyard, it’s not spilled merlot. Halsey accidentally stumbled into the wrong address at the wrong time, and with suspicions about her past on the rise, she must prove that she isn’t a killer. Enlisting the eclectic talents of the Wine Club ladies, Halsey searches for the true criminal at large. But separating friends from foes isn’t easy on Rose Avenue, and as she racks up a suspect list, Halsey can’t shake the feeling that someone in her inner circle has a taste for murder . . .  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

With gang violence escaling in Göteborg, Sweden, the Organized Crimes Unit pairs with the Violent Crimes Unit to help defuse the situation. But could there be a mole on the force?

In this final installment of the internationally bestselling Irene Huss investigations, the gang warfare that has been brewing in Göteborg is about to explode. A member of a notorious biker gang has been set on fire—alive. Even in a culture where ritual killings are common, this brutal assault attracts the attention of both Irene’s unit and the Organized Crimes Unit. Anticipating a counterattack, the two units team up to patrol the lavish party of a rival gang, but that doesn’t stop another murder from occurring just outside the event hall.

And that’s not the only thing going up in flames. Someone has planted a bomb under Irene’s husband’s car. Fearing for her family’s safety, Irene sends her husband and daughters into hiding and takes up residence at a colleague’s apartment. Still, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being stalked. Somehow, the gangs are always one step ahead of the police. Someone is leaking information. But who? Irene’s life depends on discovering the answer.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

Santa’s summer vacation plans turn deadly in this festive mystery from the author of Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen and We Wish You a Murderous Christmas.

The town of Rudolph, New York, has the Christmas spirit all year long—but when homicide heats up a summer holiday, it’s up to shop owner Merry Wilkinson to wrap up the case.

In Rudolph, Christmas in July heralds Santa’s arrival by boat to begin his summer vacation at the lake, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is looking forward to a busy weekend. But she’s caught off guard when her ex-fiancé, Max Folger, unexpectedly arrives with a team from a lifestyle magazine wanting to do a feature on the July festivities.

It’s clear that Max’s visit has less to do with business and more to do with winning back Merry’s heart. Merry has too much on her plate to deal with an old flame, but when Max is found strangled to death in Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, she must find out who wanted him dead—and stop a killer from ruining the summer holiday cheer.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of November 26th, 2017–Part 1

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of November 26th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very very many of them.  Today is the first day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading

 

 

When a famous glass artist is murdered at his own exhibit, deadly secrets are put on display, and it’s up to glass shop owner Savannah Webb to see through a killer’s cover.

Celebrated glass artist Dennis Lansing is returning to St. Petersburg, Florida, for an exhibit at the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum. His unique style of embedding document images in his art is at the vanguard of contemporary glasswork. But as Savannah’s first boyfriend and a former apprentice to her father, Dennis’s return home has her reflecting on the past—a trip down memory lane that takes a dark turn when Dennis is found murdered at the museum with an old reference letter from her father in his pocket. A search through her father’s records sheds new light on Dennis’s history, but it seems his present life wasn’t so transparent either. Now, with a gallery of suspects to consider, it’s up to Savannah to figure out who fits the mold of a murderer.

“Will keep you guessing to the end!” —Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author

“A kaleidoscope of perfection, with a feisty heroine, exquisite plot and master storytelling.” —Liz Mugavero, author of the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

“Here be the beginnings of a superb series.”
—Ken Bruen, author of the Jack Taylor series

Duck Darley should have been a winner. Once a competitive swimmer destined for Olympic gold, he drank away his gilded youth and followed his fraudster father’s footsteps into prison. Barely scraping by as an unlicensed private investigator, Duck now chases down cheating spouses for the same Manhattan elite who once viewed him as equal, and drowns bitter memories with whatever fills his glass.

Duck’s lost glory days resurface when he’s tasked with finding the teenaged sister of a former teammate turned Olympic champion. Privileged Madeline McKay vanished over Labor Day weekend, leaving behind a too-perfect West Village apartment and a promising athletic career of her own. Duck thinks he’s hunting for a self-destructive runaway—until Madeline’s film student ex is savagely murdered, and the media spins her as the psycho who killed him.

As Duck searches for Madeline, he’s plunged back into the dark underbelly of Olympic swimming—a world rife with wild lies and terrible violence. And he soon learns that no matter how hard he tries to escape his past, demons still lurk beneath every surface . . . (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Los Angeles transplant, Sister Louise “Lou” LaSalle feels right at home in Briar Coast, New York. After all, her beloved nephew, Chris, works at the college founded by her congregation. But while Sister Lou has always played by the rules, she’s about to have her faith in herself tested—by murder . . .
 
Sister Lou expects some pushback when she invites her friend, Maurice Jordan, to be the guest speaker for the St. Hermione of Ephesus Feast Day presentation. The theology professor is known far and wide for his controversial views. What she’s not prepared for is finding him dead in his hotel room, bashed over the head.

When the local deputies focus on the members of her congregation as suspects, Sister Lou takes matters into her own hands. Against Chris’s wishes, she teams up with a cynical local reporter to delve into Maurice’s life. The unlikely partners in crime-fighting uncover a litany of both devotees and detractors. And though it might take a miracle to find the killer, Sister Lou vows to carry on until justice prevails . . . (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

From USA Today bestselling authors Traci Andrighetti and Elizabeth Ashby comes a holiday treat of the deadly variety…

It’s Christmas in Danger Cove, and all Cassidi Conti wants is clients. A rival salon owner has come to town and stolen The Clip and Sip’s business. Her holiday hopes go south, however, after someone sexes up the sleigh display at her open house, and an incident from the past makes the paper. Luckily, her tough talkin’ Texan aunt rides to her rescue, and she’s madder ‘n The Grinch in a gift shop. But when a nail client drops dead at her rival’s salon, and the killer sends unseasonal greetings to The Clip and Sip, Cassidi wonders whether an entire Texas cavalry could save her from the impending disaster. She has to act fast to figure out who the manicure murderer is, or her Noël could be nixed—forever.

The Danger Cove books:
Secret of the Painted Lady (a Danger Cove Renovation Mystery)
Murder and Mai Tais (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
Death by Scones (a Danger Cove Bakery Mystery)
Four-Patch of Trouble (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai (a Danger Cove Hair Salon Mystery)
Killer Closet Case (a Danger Cove B&B Mystery)
Tree of Life and Death (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
A Killing in the Market (a Danger Cove Farmers’ Market short story in the “Killer Beach Reads” collection)
Killer Colada (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
Passion, Poison & Puppy Dogs (a Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mystery)
A Novel Death (a Danger Cove Bookshop Mystery)
Robbing Peter to Kill Paul (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
Sinister Snickerdoodles (a Danger Cove Bakery Mystery)
Hurricanes and Heroes (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
A Death in the Flower Garden (a Danger Cove Famers’ Market Mystery)
Divas, Diamonds & Death (a Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mystery)
A Slaying in the Orchard (a Danger Cove Famers’ Market Mystery)
A Secret in the Pumpkin Patch (a Danger Cove Famers’ Market Mystery)
Deadly Dirty Martinis (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
A Poison Manicure & Peach Liqueur (a Danger Cove Hair Salon Mystery)

About Danger Cove:
Danger Cove is a sleepy little town in the Pacific Northwest and home to renowned mystery novelist, Elizabeth Ashby. While Elizabeth swears the stories she writes are fiction, you can find the inspiration for her murderous tales all over Danger Cove…from the intriguing cast of local characters to the places to eat, play, and explore in Danger Cove. Don’t let our name fool you—we’re the friendliest (even if deadliest) town in the Pacific Northwest!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psychic investigator Larue Donavan is usually dedicated to helping lost spirits find peace. But this time she’s tasked with helping a lost woman find her Christmas spirit.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the fifth book in the popular page-turning Cozy Mystery series – The Happy Tails Dog Walking Mysteries series!

Pups, Pastries and Piecing together clues!

Olivia Rickard has turned over a new leaf. She’s done with outside investigations. Olivia has decided that to be a better girlfriend, she’s going to turn a blind eye to the mysteries in town. Besides, her sister Janelle is acting fishy enough lately. For Olivia, that mystery is more important to solve than finding out where Andrew’s missing report is. However, Andrew isn’t letting this particular bone go. He’s worried about his coworker, and scared that something might be very, very wrong.

Olivia tries to track down Hattie and her missing data so Andrew can present the report to his fullest potential. But when Olivia finds more than one suspect sneaking around Hattie’s house, her gut begins to ping and Olivia’s sheepdog, Goodwin agrees. Sure enough, Hattie Dominick is nowhere to be found, and there’s ice cream melting on her porch.

Now time is ticking away faster than the Rocky Road. The Police Chief’s hands are tied and it seems like Olivia is the only person searching for this lost soul. Olivia will need to accept that she’s born for this sleuthing thing, because giving up on the hunt could mean giving up on ever finding Hattie.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

What starts out for Izzy Brooke as an enjoyable trip to the very popular tourist destination Cape May NJ, Izzy and her childhood friend Dee make a grim discovery. This revelation destines to change Izzy’s life forever. She and Dee quickly become sleuths attempting to solve the ‘Double Initial Murders’ from their childhood. Izzy sacrifices more than she can cope with and Dee avenges her best friend by acting on clues. Ethel the Pug gets involved in this adventurous caper that will have you chuckling as well as crying in this two-part Novella. The second part of the story is set in Long Neck Delaware. It is a section of numerous waterfront communities, located on the Indian River Bay that is filled to the brim with manufactured homes.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On an expedition into Oregon’s Lava River Cave, outdoor journalist Meg Reed stumbles across a body buried way more than six feet under . . .
 
A debate is raging over the use of public lands, and to cover the story for Northwest Extrememagazine, Meg joins a congressman and several others on a subterranean adventure—despite her intense claustrophobia. The thoughts of cave-ins and cougars are unnerving, but at least it’s a distraction from her other anxieties, like her best friend’s departure for Italy, her boss’s plan to sell the company, and the ongoing questions about her father’s suspicious death. But in the chilly darkness of the volcanic rock, she discovers a Forest Service employee, stabbed with a trowel. Now Meg will need to do some in-depth investigating or the truth may never come to the surface . . .

PRAISE FOR SCENE OF THE CLIMB

“A splendid overview of the greater Portland and Columbia River Gorge region, perfect for travel buffs. Her protagonist shows promise with her determined attitude and moxie.” —Library Journal

“A fun, terrific adventure.”—Suspense Magazine

INCLUDES ADVENTURE GUIDES!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

Christmas And Holiday Themed Books

 

Today on my blog I have a list of some Christmas and Holiday themed books for your reading pleasure.  Check them out and hope you find some to enjoy.  Happy reading.

 

 

Christmas is just around the corner and Kori is busier than ever. She has the town cookie exchange, Secret Santa at The Early Bird Café and plenty of time spent with family. So when she finds a dead body in the parking lot of the café, her work load just about doubles as she hunts down the killer. By Christmas Eve, Kori has plenty of questions but not enough answers. Boyfriend, Lieutenant Zach Gulch, tries to warn her away from the investigation but all of his pleas fall on deaf ears. Even a warning from the killer can’t keep Kori off the trail as she thinks she’s getting closer. But a single wrong turn could spell disaster for Kori. Will she be able to find the right lead before she’s added to the body count? INCLUDED: In The Kitchen with Ginny Gold—A Special Gift For You! **Gingerdead Man is approx. 32K words and is volume 6 in The Early Bird Café Cozy Mystery Series. Ginny Gold books can be read and enjoyed in any order.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

Caterer and cook Lilah Drake is up to her elbows in deadly trouble in the latest mystery from the author of The Big Chili…
 
The Christmas holidays are one of Lilah’s favorite times of the year, filled with friends, family, and, of course, tons of food orders for her covered dish clients. But Lilah’s Yuletide cheer ends when she sees a most Grinch-like crime: the murder of a Santa in a school parking lot.

It turns out the deceased Kris Kringle was a complicated tangle of naughty and nice, with a long list of people who might have wanted him dead. And whoever did the deed wants to make sure that Lilah keeps quiet. Now, Lilah will have to team up with her former fling, Detective Jay Parker, to unwrap the mysteries of a deadly Christmas killer and stay alive long enough to ring in the New Year…

From the Paperback edition.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

Delphi, South Dakota is a dusty little prairie town, the kind people drive through on their way to bigger cities. But as Tory Bauer, middle-aged, widowed, overweight, cranky waitress might say, “Everything that happens in big towns, happens here too. We just don’t look as good naked.”

In Cold Front, the fifth of six mysteries featuring the crew at the Delphi Café, a New Year’s Eve blizzard turns deadly when a snowy trip into the countryside turns up a frozen body. With her personal life in turmoil, Tory finds herself snowbound and, once again, smack in the middle of an investigation.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Event planner Liv Montgomery is full of yuletide cheer—but it’s hard to remain festive when someone’s out to slay Santa in the second Celebration Bay mystery. 

It’s Liv Montgomery’s first Christmas out of Manhattan and in Celebration Bay. They’ve got a tree to rival Rockefeller Center’s, but this year’s holidays are turning out to be a disaster. As the small town’s event planner, Liv wants everything to be perfect. Unfortunately, the local Christmas shop has been replaced by the gaudy Trim a Tree—complete with tacky ornaments and a new replacement Santa who isn’t spreading any cheer.

At the town’s annual Celebration of Lights, Trim a Tree is the only shop left unlit. Liv, furious, goes to investigate, and discovers something even less festive—the store’s new Santa has been murdered. Small-town gossip begins to stir, and Liv must clear the name of the previous town Santa just in the nick of time before the real killer ruins Christmas.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

Trouble is brewing in Temple Rita. First, the choir’s upcoming excursion to Banff and Lake Louise is in serious jeopardy when sagging latke sales don’t raise enough money for the scenic train trip. Resident busybody Essie Sue thinks that hiring Bitsy, an aging peroxide-blond tart of a party planner, can help solve their problems. Ruby, our widowed heroine, disagrees, and all Bitsy manages to do is spend more money the temple doesn’t have on a pathetic Chanukah concert.
To make matters worse, Temple Rita’s star soprano, Serena Salit, collapses right before her number. She’s rushed to the hospital but later dies of heart failure. Ruby steps in quickly to support Serena’s good friend Rose, a move that gets her right where she wants to be – in the path of the gossip – when Rose discovers some disturbing entries in Serena’s electronic diary. In a file titled “Spiritual,” Rose discovers secrets her friend never told her: that she was having an affair with the smarmy choir leader Andre and was involved in a neo-Kabbalistic cult. But what led her to write in her last entry, “They’re frightening me”? And did “they” kill her?
Despite everything, Essie Sue insists the choir take their trip “in Serena’s honor,” and the whole Temple Rita group, minus the traumatized Rose, complies. While aboard the train, Ruby’s suspicions of murder are confirmed by a call from her policeman boyfriend – he tells her that poison, not heart failure, caused Serena’s death.
Ruby considers everyone in the Temple Rita Choir a suspect – from the tenor Andre to Serena’s ex, the baritone – but not even she could imagine that her trip through the Rockies would end with a body thrown from the train and a ride on the ski lift from hell.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Hardcover

 

 

 

 

Who better than food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell to book a caterer for the Island Times holiday party? But Hayley’s quest for a cook turns into the pursuit of a killer who caters to no one. . .

Office Christmas parties can sometimes mean career suicide–but they rarely lead to murder. Hayley thought Garth Rawlings would be the perfect caterer for this year’s bash, but when the gourmet sees her budget, he goes galloping.

Unfortunately his run is short-lived. Garth is found dead on the floor of his kitchen, with his delectable creations burning in the oven. Faced with a spread of suspects, Hayley is determined to discover who would want to take out the Christmas caterer, because–no matter what the season–justice must be served. . .

Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!

Praise for Death of a Coupon Clipper

“Hayley is a likable heroine that readers will cheer for as she manages to save the day and pay her bills.” —Parkersburg News and Sentinel  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

Hillside Manor’s neighbors all adored proprietor Judith McMonigle Flynn’s festive suggestion to deck the halls and houses in their cul-de-sac with eye-catching Christmas finery — except Enid Goodrich.The grumpy old humbug refused to cooperate.Then someone cooked her Christmas goose — silencing Enid’s objections with a handy hatchet. Though Judith’s already got a lot under her tree — what with holidy business booming and the anticipated unwanted arrival of hubby Joe’s soused ex-spouse — she’s not about to let murder mess up what’s left of her seasonal spirit. With the help of irrepressible cousin Renie, Judith’s determined to wrap up this case for Christmas — and expose the Scrooge-slayer who felt strongly that the only Goodrich is a Deadrich.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

In this mystery in Kate Kingsbury’s charming series, the kitchen staff of the Pennyfoot Hotel is toiling away to prepare their guests the finest Christmas meal. And the plum pudding may very well be to die for…

When the Pennyfoot’s housekeeper is suddenly called away, Cecily Sinclair Baxter needs a quick replacement. On short notice, the agency sends Beatrice Tucker, who proves more of a curse than a Christmas miracle. She even fights with the Pennyfoot’s latest VIP guest, the famous actor Archibald Armitage.

When Armitage drops dead after Beatrice serves him some plum pudding, everyone assumes the huffy housekeeper is the culprit. But as Cecily investigates, the list of suspects grows, and solving this case may not be as easy as pie…or pudding.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

 

Super organizer Ellie Avery could really use some Christmas cheer when Gabrielle Matheson, a grinchy professional rival, sets up shop in the same small Georgia town. But before the halls are even halfway decked with holly, someone uses Ellie’s terrifically tasteless white elephant swap gift as. . .a murder weapon!

Ellie’s now a suspect. Besides playing Mrs. Santa for her Air Force pilot husband and their two kids, shielding her eyes from the garishly over-decorated house down the street, and helping a client who’s a hardcore hoarder, Ellie also has to solve this ho-ho-homicide. . .and find a killer who wishes her a very deadly Christmas.

Don’t miss Ellie Avery’s great tips for a relaxed and stress-free holiday season!

“Sara Rosett’s Ellie Avery series is a winner. Rosett always delivers a terrific mystery with believable characters and lots of heart. The insider look at the life of a military spouse makes this series a fascinating read. I look forward to each new book.” –Denise Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River and Devereaux’s Dime mystery series.

“Sara Rosett once again presents readers with intriguing characters, a strong setting, more than a dash of humor and a suspenseful plot that ably keeps us guessing until the end. No mean achievement! Yet, what places her sleuth, Air Force wife Ellie Avery, at the top of my list are the poignant descriptions of what military families face every day, bringing an essential reminder of their sacrifices to us all, especially at this time of year.” –Katherine Hall Page, Agatha Award-winning author of The Body in the Boudoir

Praise for Sara Rosett’s Ellie Avery Mysteries

“Some cozies just hit on all cylinders, and Rosett’s Ellie Avery titles are among the best.” —Library Journal

“Charm, Southern sass, and suspense abound. . .delightful.” —Fresh Fiction

“Intriguing characters, a dash of humor, and a suspenseful plot that keeps us guessing until the end.” –Katherine Hall Page  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon Peters is one tough cookie.
Every year at Christmas River’s annual Gingerbread Junction Competition, pie baker extraordinaire Cinnamon aims to win, taking down any competitor who gets in her way. But when she finds a dead body in the woods behind her pie shop just days before the big competition, Cinnamon realizes that there’s much more to worry about than cookies, frosting, and gumdrops.
Someone’s out to bring Cinnamon down. And they’re playing dirty.
Only Cinnamon and a mysterious stranger who walks into her life one snowy evening can figure out the mystery.
But can they solve it before Cinnamon’s chances of gingerbread competition glory crumble?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

It’s Christmas in Albuquerque; Charlie and her family are ready for a quiet holiday at home. But right away, her hopes for that scenario fade when Charlie’s brother and PI business partner, Ron, brings in two new cases, one of which made national headlines.

Five years earlier, in a tide of media attention and despite public sentiment against her, Tali Donovan was acquitted of killing her two children and then she disappeared from the radar. Now, at the anniversary of the children’s disappearance, their father wants to find his kids. Charlie realizes that the distraught man will not find peace until he knows what really happened. RJP Investigations digs up more than past history as Charlie and Ron work to find the answers.

Praise for Connie Shelton’s Charlie Parker cozy mystery series:

“Charlie is just what readers want in an amateur sleuth.” –Booklist

“Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes.” —Midwest Book Review

“Shelton again has done a superb job of bringing New Mexico to life.” —Albuquerque Journal

* * *
Connie Shelton is the USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen mysteries in two series. The first is the Charlie Parker series featuring Charlotte “Charlie” Parker as an accountant who reluctantly tends to get involved in cases that come into the private investigation firm she owns with her brother, Ron. Connie’s second series features Samantha Sweet, a Taos baker with a magical touch, who also breaks into houses for a living.

In addition to her full-time writing career, Connie has taught writing, is the creator of the Novel In A Weekend writing course, and was a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul. She and her husband reside in northern New Mexico with their two dogs. Visit her website at connieshelton.com and get her free mystery newsletter.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone has gathered at Jillian’s house in Clover Hills to celebrate Christmas, but Jillian’s plans for a lovely Christmas Eve are rudely interrupted by a power failure. And a homicide. Not only does Aunt Jillian find herself with a house full of company to entertain in the dark, but she also receives a call from Detective Walter Montoya, who finds himself in the dark, trying to solve the bizarre murder of a worker found dead in a maintenance shed at the power station. With Teddy at her side, Jillian is determined to solve the mystery. A classic who-dunnit!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edna Davies’ Christmas preparations have been delayed by her having to tend to a husband immobilized with a fractured kneecap. Suddenly, the holiday is less than a week away and she doesn’t even have a tree. Adding to her worries, a winter snowstorm threatens to strand her two youngest children in Colorado. When a new acquaintance is murdered and Mary Osbourne disappears, Edna’s days are further complicated. Juggling family problems with the search for her friend, Edna meets a killer and may miss Christmas.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ho Ho Homicide

The Christmas rush is on as Brandy Borne and her quaintly quirky mother, Vivian, sniff out plum collectibles for resale, only to find the owner of a Santa’s workshop worth of treasures has received some deadly tidings. It’s beginning to look a lot like murder. . .but who wanted the deceased closed for the holidays—permanently? Maybe a rival antiques dealer, a Grinch who collects Christmas? Or the victim’s suspiciously frosty stepchildren? Brandy and Vivian check their list of who’s been naughty or nice, but it may take a Christmas miracle—and some help from Sushi, their elfin shih tzu—to tie a bow around the season’s most wanted killer!

DON’T MISS BRANDY BORNE’S TIPS ON ANTIQUES!

Praise for Barbara Allan and the Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mystery Series. . .

“A humorous cozy that teems with quirky characters.” —Booklist

“Brandy and her eccentric mother make a hilarious team of snoops.” —Joan Hess

“Top pick! Thrills, laugh-out-loud moments and amazingly real relationships.” —Romantic Times Book Reviews

“You’ll laugh out loud.” —Mystery Scene  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review of Whiskey Kills

 

Whiskey Kills

A Top Shelf Mystery, Book #2

Lolli Powell

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Big cities are known to be dangerous, but former New Yorker and bar owner Ricki Fontaine is finding the small town of Waterton, Ohio, is proving to be the murder capital of the world—well, at least her world.

The new Top Shelf is open for business, but business as usual for Ricki and the Shelf translates to another dead guy. Ricki’s friend, Ruby Fogarty, is charged with murdering her boyfriend by clubbing him to death with a bottle of whiskey. The police consider the case closed, but Ricki is convinced Ruby is innocent and sets out to find the real murderer. Although Waterton police detective Gabriel Russell is crazy about Ricki, he isn’t too crazy about her trying to do his job.

The killer’s not too happy about it either. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really like Ricki, she is very down to earth and a no-nonsense kind of woman. I found myself laughing through much of the book because of her sarcastic sense of humor and her wit. She can hold her own with her detective boyfriend, Gabe, and I enjoyed their bickering and banter. I really liked the way that Ricki is a supportive friend and she is willing to do whatever it takes to help her friend in need.

The mystery was well plotted and intriguing. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that even the most experienced armchair detective would have a hard time figuring out the culprit.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in creating suspense and tension with the written word. She is also very talented in creating a setting that is warm and cozy. It was a place that I would like to visit, especially because it is in my home state.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. If you like great characters, lots of humor and a mystery that will keep you guessing, this is the book for you. I am already looking forward to reading the next book. I hope the author writes fast.

 

Review of Murder on the Sugarland Express

 

Murder On The Sugarland Express

Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, Book #6

Angie Fox

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Verity Long is overdue for a little R&R (rest and romance) with her boyfriend Ellis, and a vintage train trip through the Tennessee mountains seems like just the ticket. The Sugarland Express carries history and nostalgia in every compartment, and Verity is determined to enjoy it—without ghostly interference. But the ghosts have other plans…

On a dark, desolate night nearly a century ago, the train was stranded in the mountains and a young woman was found stabbed to death in her locked compartment. The murder was never solved, and a ghostly Belgian detective is still pursuing the case from the grave.

To Verity’s dismay, all of the ghostly suspects are back. And when history repeats itself and a new murder mirrors the old, it’s up to Verity and her friends to discover which of the passengers—dead or alive—could be behind the murders before the killer strikes again. (Goodreads)

 

 

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  Verity is a strong, knowledgeable and committed woman.  She also has a resident ghost, Frankie, that she has to deal with all the time.  He tries her patience on a daily basis.  When her and her boyfriend, Ellis, decide to go one a maiden trip of the newly opened Sugarland Express, they plan on having a relaxing, enjoyable getaway.  But when unexpected guests shows up on the train, and  dead bodies begin piling up, their relaxing getaway gets derailed.  

I enjoyed getting to see other sides of Virginia, Verity’s almost mother-in-law and her ex-fiance, Beau. They seemed to make some headway to becoming nicer people and being a little kinder to Verity, but we will see if it lasts. I am sad that Lucy, Verity’s per skunk, was not in the book more.  I love reading about her.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and  through much of the book I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place.  There are two mysteries to solve, the present day murder and the the ghostly murder from years past.  I enjoyed having both mysteries to try to figure out and I was not sure who the culprits were until it was revealed at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted ghostly cozy.  I have read the whole series and it is a great one.  Do yourself a favor and check this book, and series, out.

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book and chose voluntarily to leave this honest review.

 

Review Of Merry And Bright

 

Merry And Bright

Debbie Macomber

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Christmas is the season of the heart, and #1 New York Timesbestselling author Debbie Macomber is here to warm yours with a delightful holiday novel of first impressions and second chances.

Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her–minus her photo–and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.

Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects–or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  I really liked Merry, she was a sweet, caring, loving person.  She loves her family fiercely and she is happy with her life. But after she spends time with Jay/Jayson, she realizes that she is missing having someone special in her life.  I really enjoyed the time spent with her brother, Patrick, he was an amazing character.  Jayson was a good guy who has not had a lot of love in his past, and he began to loosen up and enjoy life more after meeting Mary/Merry.  I enjoyed meeting and getting to know all of the characters and spending time with them.

I have read a lot of this author’s books and I have loved them all.  This book was no exception.  All of her books are feel-good reads that are clean, with no swearing or anything explicit in them.  This author shows that you can write a heartwarming romance without any vulgarities in it.  I thought that the title of the book was very clever.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted women’s contemporary romance.   It is a quick easy read and once I started it reading it I did not want to put it down.  If you are looking for a great holiday read that makes you feel happy, grab this book.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of November 19th, 2017–Part 3

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of November 19th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 3 days because there are so very many of them.  Today is the third and final day of my list for this week.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading. Enjoy and happy reading

 

 

 

Verity Long is overdue for a little R&R (rest and romance) with her boyfriend Ellis, and a vintage train trip through the Tennessee mountains seems like just the ticket. The Sugarland Express carries history and nostalgia in every compartment, and Verity is determined to enjoy it—without ghostly interference. But the ghosts have other plans…

On a dark, desolate night nearly a century ago, the train was stranded in the mountains and a young woman was found stabbed to death in her locked compartment. The murder was never solved, and a ghostly Belgian detective is still pursuing the case from the grave.

To Verity’s dismay, all of the ghostly suspects are back. And when history repeats itself and a new murder mirrors the old, it’s up to Verity and her friends to discover which of the passengers—dead or alive—could be behind the murders before the killer strikes again. (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carter Rossi moves to Cape Charles, Virginia, for the same reasons as many of the town’s residents—to find solitude and reboot his life. Carter quickly discovers an eclectic mix of new arrivals and historic families. Despite political and cultural differences, the groups coexist in harmony. Carter meets the mysterious and beautiful Rose Portman, a parapsychologist  who is attempting to find out why Cape Charles is a hotbed for paranormal activity. Could it be the asteroid strike? She is on a quest to discover whether one of the town’s resident apparitions is her long-lost great aunt, who died mysteriously around 1920. Rose and Carter’s journey is sometimes hilarious, sensual, and spiritually insightful, bending the edges of imagination and reality.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second in Con Lehane’s 42nd Street Library mystery series, Murder in the Manuscript Room is a smart, compelling mystery in which the characters themselves are at least as interesting as the striking sleuthing.

“Not to be missed.” —Megan Abbott

“A story utterly relevant to the real-life horror story unfolding in America’s immigration politics.”—Sara Paretsky

When a murder desecrates the somber, book-lined halls of New York City’s iconic 42nd Street Library, Raymond Ambler, the library’s curator of crime fiction, has a personal interest in solving the crime. His quest to solve the murder is complicated by personal entanglements involving his friend—or perhaps more-than-friend—Adele Morgan. Not only does Adele’s relationship with the young woman staffer who was murdered get in the way of Ambler’s investigation, more disturbing for him is Adele’s growing interest in a darkly handsome Islamic scholar.

Soon the Intelligence Division of the New York Police Department takes over the case from NYPD homicide detective Mike Cosgrove, Ambler’s friend and sometimes partner-in-crime solving. Ambler suspects that the murder of the young woman, who’d been working at the library under an assumed name and the curious intervention of NYPD’s intelligence division are connected. The trail of intrigue leads to a seemingly unrelated murder in an upstate prison and a long ago murder of a trade union reformer.

No one else sees the connections Ambler is sure are there—not an unusual state of affairs for Ambler. But with the city’s law enforcement establishment determined to stop his investigation, the inquisitive and intrepid librarian faces challenges that may put his very life at risk.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trouble, the Sherlock of black cat detective, finds himself in Turnout, MS on Christmas Eve. Teddy Adamson, that heart breaker, has just walked back into Billie Dean Bailey’s life. But more dire happenings are going on under the mistletoe. Who ends up dead and why? Was it the maraschino cherries in the Tizzington sisters’ fruit compote? Or was it something more sinister? Find out in this short story of Trouble’s latest escapade in the Familiar Legacy Mystery Series.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s an elf to do?

Ladies, ready for another giggle-snort filled mystery?

Darn that Nicky Stromboli! He’s the reason BJ has to get a job moonlighting as a winter elf. She swears that the glitter-tights that come with her costume were designed by the devil himself as a torture device.

Lucky for BJ, she’s crowned the new Queen Wintergreen. Whoop! More money and no tights. But wearing a wedding dress infected with death-cooties might be more than she signed up for.

Join BJ, Kay, and Twinkles at Jamesburg’s very own Winter Wonderland, where anything can happen, even murder.

Quinn and Glasneck, high on the beer fumes from a signing party at a local brewery, decided to take a step away from their usual writing styles to put together a new mystery (for anyone who wants a laugh) in the style of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels – that is if Stephanie had a younger southern cousin, who ran a bar, and had a thing for police uniforms.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In witch Jane returns home, only to discover chaos. That is, the haunted house populated by real vampires, ghosts, and skeletons is exactly how she left it.

Jane Garbo has tried to live a normal life, but given that she’s a witch, that just isn’t possible. Her family runs a world-famous haunted house in an old mansion in Maine, and when Jane runs out of options she moves back home. What her family has neglected to tell her is that there are serious problems at the mansion, and no one knows what’s at the root of the trouble. If Jane can’t solve the mystery, more lives could be lost. Including her own.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time, three novels in the award-winning Folly Beach Mystery series by best-selling author Bill Noel are presented in one box set. Enjoy:

BONEYARD BEACH

Chris Landrum’s peaceful retirement on Folly Beach, South Carolina, is thrown into disarray when he learns that one of his friends is arrested for murdering a college student, and in the same week another close friend is the prime suspect in the murder of a man who had been blackmailing him. Chris and his cadre of quirky friends have to do what the police have been unable to do to bring the killers to justice.

SILENT NIGHT

A restful holiday season is all but forgotten as Chris gets involved as the theft of a priceless figurine from a church’s nativity scene threatens to suck the spirit of Christmas out of Folly Beach. Chris is joined by his posse of pals to return the figurine to its rightful place in the heart of his Folly Beach community.

DEAD CENTER

Little can ruin a peaceful morning walk more than stumbling on the body of a killer for hire. Chris’s friends are convinced they know who the hit man was sent to kill and ask him to stick his nose in business that should be left to the police. Once again, Chris is in the crosshairs of a murderer.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Holiday Season is upon Wyoming, Ohio and shoppers are filling the small towns streets. Half Day Coffee Shop owner, Penny Preston, thought her crime solving days were behind her, until one of her favorite customers winds up in a fatal car crash in front of her shop. With no one believing that it could be foul play, Penny must uncover the secrets of the local painter’s life in order to bring him and his family justice. With things just getting interesting between her and Detective Hanson, Penny is trying her best to stay out of police matters, that is until another body is discovered. She can’t ignore her instincts any longer, but will she be able to solve who is behind these killings before she herself becomes the next target?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As with The Cat of Christmas Past and The Cat of Christmas future, while this holiday cozy features a mystery, it does not feature a murder.

It is Christmas on Madrona Island and the spirit of Christmas is out in full force. A cat who looks a lot like a cat from Cait’s past comes to visit just as Cait and Cody are getting ready for a full lineup of holiday events. When Cait learns of the cat’s true purpose for coming into her life she realizes she will need to set some of her usual routines aside in order to prevent a tragedy from occurring in the future.

Meanwhile the entire Hart Family is gathering at Maggie’s as a series of personal events causes each of member of the family to seek temporary refuge in the large house.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback