New Releases For The Week Of April 29th, 2018–Part 2

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of April 29th, 2018.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very many of them this week. Today is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

Ashleigh didn’t decide to get a dog. It was a rash act at a weak moment. Now she has a dog that weighs more than she does, barely fits in her car, and his kibble is eating up her food budget. If that’s not enough trouble, he also has a habit of finding dead bodies.

As Ashleigh realizes she may had to adjust to life with a trained cadaver dog, she learns it would be even harder to adjust to life without him.

This is the first in the K9 and Cadavers series featuring Bart the Cadaver dog and Ashleigh the pooper-scooper sleuth who follows and cleans up after him..  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A flash of lightning is the warning of an approaching storm. But, for Mackenzie Aldkin, the lightning can signal something far more sinister.

With her newfound abilities to hear voices after a lightning strike, Mac is once again drawn into the planning of another murder. Or, so she thinks.

Set against the backdrop of a mystery theater production she is helping to put on, Mackenzie is finding it difficult to sort out what is real, and what is pretend.

With the help of her family and friends, along with her new kitten, Shaylee – who seems to have mystical powers of her own – it becomes a race against time for Mac to understand what the voices are telling her.

Can Mac trust what she hears long enough to prevent a murder? Or, are the voices possibly leading to her own ominous end?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for a new cozy mystery author to love? Dive in to this collection of excerpts from the Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press SPRING 2018 season (May-July). The Cozy Case Files collection includes:

Dressed for Death in Burgundy by Susan Shea
Down the Aisle with Murder by Auraleee Wallace
A Howl of Wolves by Judith Flanders
Toucan Keep a Secret by Donna Andrews
Charmed Bones by Carolyn Haines
Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly
Till Death Do Us Tart by Ellie Alexander
The Corpse at the Crystal Palace by Carola Dunn  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Pippa Parker, organising the Much Gadding summer fete at Higginbotham Hall should be a piece of cake. However, when things start going wrong, a missing celebrity is the tip of the iceberg.

Two seemingly unrelated incidents later, the fete is front page news – but for all the wrong reasons. And the only connection Pippa can find is that she’ll get the blame.

Pippa needs to discover the truth to clear her name, and have any chance of working in PR again. But has she made too many enemies this time?

A Fete Worse Than Death is the third book in the Pippa Parker cozy mystery series, set in and around the English village of Much Gadding.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Fischetto comes a boxed set of humorously haunting mysteries! This boxed set includes the first three full-length novels in the Gianna Mancini Mysteries series, including:

Lipstick, Lies & Dead Guys (book #1)
Gianna Mancini has chatted with ghosts most of her life. It’s never affected her much. Until now. The latest ghost in Gianna’s world is a woman she despises and to get her of her apartment, Gianna chooses to help her move on. But she doesn’t expect to come across poisonous jam, a vengeful cop, or a group of friendly clowns…and a whole lot of trouble.

Miniskirts, Mai Tais & Dead Guys (book #2)
Gianna has problems…she sees dead people. And when a explosion happens not far from her home, Gianna discovers the ghost of Thomas Sterling, son of the an automotive empire. He refuses to move on to the afterlife until Gianna tells his fiancée, Serena, that he loves her. Not one to let the dead linger, Gianna locates the woman and passes on the message…but nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Cupcakes, Butterflies & Dead Guys (book #3)
When Gianna Mancini, reluctant ghost whisperer and plus-sized shoeista, attends a bridal shower for a family friend, she doesn’t expect to see her favorite movie star, Raina Stone in attendance. Too bad Gianna’s gift of communicating with the dead doesn’t give her the ability to predict the future. If it did, she’d have known she was about to stumble on Raina’s dead body.

Gianna Mancini Mysteries:
Lipstick, Lies & Dead Guys (book #1)
Miniskirts, Mai Tais & Dead Guys (book #2)
Christmas, Spies & Dead Guys (holiday short story)
Cupcakes, Butterflies & Dead Guys (book #3)

What critics are saying about the Gianna Mancini Mysteries:

“Quirky but oh so fun cozy mystery. If you like your cozy mysteries on the humorous side, then look no further!”
—Fresh Fiction

“Jennifer Fishetto serves up a delicious cozy mystery with this fun ghost story. If you are a fan of the genre this is a fun read that will leave you with a smile.”
—Night Owl Reviews  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wicked Witches of the Midwest are back for three action-packed adventures.
As usual, trouble is on the menu and family hijinks are around every corner.
This omnibus includes three full novels, including Murder Most Witchy, A Witch Before Dying and A Breath of Witchy Air.
Sit back, enjoy the ride, and be careful not to land on Aunt Tillie’s list.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween is right around the corner and Harper Harlow should be at her happiest. She’s officially moving in with her boyfriend Jared Monroe, after all, and into a house that’s right across the street so she won’t be separated from her best friend.
All should be well – and it is – until one of Harper’s customers stumbles across a dead body in the cemetery during a tour one night.
The woman, a local who worked at the bank, was last seen at a rather infamous party and her movements before and after that are murky. She has ties to a lot of people, and not all of them are upstanding citizens.
Even though she’s tired due to the busy season, Harper is determined to get answers. Jared would prefer her taking a break from her investigative activities but turning her back on a soul in need isn’t in Harper’s nature. She’s determined to find the truth and Jared promises to keep her safe while she does it.
Whisper Cove is hopping place right now and suspects are around every corner. Harper will have to dig deep if she wants answers … and constantly look over her shoulder to make sure death hasn’t picked out another customer.
When the truth comes out, Harper will learn a hard lesson about life and death. Not everything is as it appears, you see, and sometimes a sad truth is worse than a convenient lie.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Audiobook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jared, Harper and Zander are back in three exciting new mysteries.
The ghosts are always lurking around the corner and the hijinks are constantly flying fast and furious.
This omnibus includes three full novels: Ghostly Asylum, Ghostly Tricks and Ghostly Distress.
Come for the friendship and love and stay for the laughter. Oh, and the trouble and danger are always exciting, too.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praise for Magick & Mayhem, the first Abracadabra mystery

“Pape has a sure handed balance of humor and action.” -Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author

“Spellbinding, with magical prose, a wizardly plot, and a charming sleuth.” -Janet Bolin, Agatha-nominated author of the national bestselling Threadville Mysteries

“Magic, Merlin, and murder are a great mix for this fun debut cozy.” -Lynn Cahoon, New York Times and I>USA Today bestselling author

The answer to whodunit may lie beyond the veil . . .

November in upstate New York can be chilly, but Kailyn Wilde’s shop, Abracadabra, is a cozy respite where you can find lotions, potions, and plenty of warm, feline company. But what customers don’t know is that the proprietor has some unusual powers-and unusual friends, including the renowned magician Merlin, who’s been transported into the modern world. All of which comes in handy when there’s a murder to be solved . . .

Investigative journalist Ryan Cutler has perished in a car accident in New Camel, and his friend, Travis, suspects foul play-especially when the reporter’s notes reveal a mysterious list of dead men’s names. Kailyn wants to help, but she’s also got her hands full with the curmudgeonly Merlin, who’s not exactly maintaining a low profile. Between keeping the wizard under wraps and mixing up cold remedies that work like magic, she’ll have to tap into her many talents to figure out a killer’s fatal formula . . .

“A charming, must-read mystery with enchanting characters. A fun and entertaining page turner.”-Rose Pressey, USA Today bestselling author  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Paperback

 

 

 

The Winner Is….

 

The winners of Barbara’s book are Marianne Sciucco, Robin Leslie Coxon and Linda Herold.  If possible, after you read the book, leave a review, I’m sure Barbara would appreciate it.  Congratulations and thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented.

New Releases For The Week Of April 29th, 2018–Part 1

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of April 29th, 2018.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very many of them this week. Today is the first day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

When a murder hits close to home, Frank finds himself in an unusual position–the prime suspect in the latest installment of the national bestselling Gaslight Mystery series…

Sarah and Frank Malloy are enjoying married life and looking to make their family official by adopting Catherine, the child whom Sarah rescued and has been raising as her daughter. The process seems fairly straightforward, but at the last minute, the newlyweds discover that Parnell Vaughn, Catherine’s legal father, has a claim on the child, and his grasping fiancée is demanding a financial settlement to relinquish parental rights. Even though exchanging money for a child is illegal, Frank and Sarah’s love for Catherine drives them to comply.

When Frank returns with the money and finds Vaughn beaten to death, all evidence points to Frank as the culprit. A not-quite-famous actor with modest means, Vaughn seems an unlikely candidate for murder, particularly such a violent crime of passion. But Frank soon uncovers real-life intrigue as dramatic as any that appears on stage.

Sarah and Frank enlist those closest to them to help hunt for Vaughn’s killer as Frank’s own life–and the future of their family–hang in the balance.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While taking the yearly “otter count” at a marsh near Gunn Landing Harbor, California, zookeeper Theodora Bentley sees Maureen, her favorite otter, swimming around clutching someone’s expensive smartphone. When Teddy rescues the device, she discovers a photograph of a murder-in-progress. A hasty search soon turns up the still-warm body of Stuart Booth, PhD, a local Marine Biology instructor.

Booth was a notorious sexual harasser of young female students, so the list of suspects is long enough to make Teddy wonder if the crime will ever be solved. But when her friend, Lila, one of Booth’s original accusers, is arrested and charged with his murder, Teddy begins to investigate. This creates considerable tension with Teddy’s fiancé, Sheriff Joe Rejas. He believes the ever-inquisitive zookeeper might be putting her own life at risk, and so orders her to butt out.

Concerned for her accused friend, Teddy ignores Joe’s ultimatum. She questions not only members of Gunn Landing’s moneyed social elite, but also the other side of the financial spectrum – the financially strapped young women willing to do almost anything to pay for their college tuition. Alarmed by Teddy’s meddling, Booth’s killer fights back – first with a death threat, then via gunshot.

In this fifth Gunn Zoo Mystery, Teddy is torn between living a peaceful life on her Monterey Bay houseboat with her three-legged dog DJ Bonz, or moving inland to marry Joe, who comes with kids and a mother who has her own mysterious agenda. The choice is scary for Teddy – who has barely been managing her own many-times-married mother, and her imperious employer, Aster Edwina Gunn, overlord of the famed Gunn Zoo. Teddy’s life is further complicated by a wayward snow monkey named Kabuki, taunter of teenage boys. The zookeeper’s dedication to her charges – including the anteater, the koala, the llama, and Magnus, the polar bear cub from Iceland (met in Teddy’s last adventure, The Puffin of Death), never falters in a cleverly plotted series rich in characters and in animal lore.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love is deadly

Adrian Carthallow, a dramatic and talented artist, is no stranger to controversy. But this time it’s not his paintings that have provoked a blaze of publicity — it’s the fact that his career has been suddenly terminated by a bullet to the head. Not only that, but his wife has confessed to firing the fatal shot.

Inspector Penross of the town constabulary is less than convinced by Helen Carthallow’s story, but has no other explanation for the incident that occurred when the couple were alone in their clifftop house. Luckily for the Inspector, amateur criminologist Mordecai Tremaine has an uncanny habit of being in the near neighborhood whenever sudden death makes its appearance. As he mounts his investigation, Tremaine is quick to realize that however perfect a couple the Carthallows may have seemed, beneath the surface of their perfect life lay something much more sinister…

This Golden Age mystery is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even the best laid plans of egg-laying chickens can go awry…

All Pepper Dunn wants is a quiet life in the witchy town of Magnolia Cove, Alabama. But when the Cotton and Cobwebs Festival arrives, her dream goes up in smoke. This year, grandmother Betty is determined to win the award for best magical creature against Melbalean Mayes, the contest matron. To win, Betty needs Pepper’s help.

But when Melbalean winds up dead and Betty is accused of the murder, Pepper is thrust into one role she never expected—she must complete a list of chores that keeps her town running.

Pepper has her hands full—she must ensure the safety of her town, try to clear Betty’s name, and make sure no one else winds up a victim of the Magnolia Cove murderer. Can she do it? Or will she become the next victim?

Find out now!

Other books by Amy Boyles:

Bless Your Witch Series:

SCARED WITCHLESS: http://amzn.to/2tL9ySM
KISS MY WITCH: http://amzn.to/2tqskj6
QUEEN WITCH: http://amzn.to/2tLcxeb
QUIT YOUR WITCHIN’: http://amzn.to/2so2a1L
FOR WITCH’S SAKE: http://amzn.to/2tqDww2
DON’T GIVE A WITCH: http://amzn.to/2v1UPH1
WITCH MY GRITS: http://amzn.to/2nMPUW2
FRIED GREEN WITCH: http://amzn.to/2BiQ132

THE WITCH’S HANDBOOK TO HUNTING VAMPIRES: http://amzn.to/2xVpMy6
THE WITCH’S HANDBOOK TO CATCHING WEREWOLVES: http://amzn.to/2xHb7DO
THE WITCH’S HANDBOOK TO TRAPPING DEMONS: http://amzn.to/2zszKUS  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s supposed to be the happiest time in 64-year-old Beatrice Young’s life—she’s finally planning a wedding to marry the man of her dreams. But when a shocking surprise shows up at her bridal shower, she knows a heinous villain is determined to ruin everything.

As the amateur sleuth scrambles to send out invitations, choose the perfect dress, and design the menu, her enemy is one step behind, spoiling every single moment in the most fiendish ways possible. Thankfully, Beatrice’s best friend the sheriff is hot on the case as well as maid of honor-zilla Zoe, who won’t let ANYTHING stand in the way of the bride’s happiness.

In the end, the stalker’s fatal weakness might be the perfect opportunity for Beatrice’s four crime-fighting cats to save the day and turn a nuptial nightmare into wedding bliss.

This is the fourteenth book in the Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery series. It can be read as a standalone but is extra delightful when enjoyed in sequence. This novella is a clean mystery with no graphic violence, sex, or swearing.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Yost provides an entertaining combination of mystery and romance with a dose of Finnish tradition.” ~Kirkus Review

When an Upper Michigan Finnish-American Community is Shocked by Murder, Local Knitter Hatti Lehtinen Searches for Answers in A PATTERN FOR MURDER, the First Installment in the BAIT & STITCH COZY MYSTERY SERIES by Ann Yost

—Red Jacket, Michigan, On the Keweenaw Peninsula—

There’s never been a serious crime in the Keweenaw Peninsula—that anyone can remember. That is until Larry the Basset and Lydia the Poodle discover a fresh body below the lighthouse. The victim, a wealthy landowner recently returned from California, has been at odds with the community over a lighthouse slated to become a retirement home for local seniors.

When Sheriff Horace A. Clump has no intention of giving up his Sunday brunch of pannukakku to pursue an investigation, Hatti Lehtinen, manager of The Bait and Stitch—a combination bait and knitting shop—is determined to find the killer herself. After all, she’s an Agatha Christie fan and besides, she’s desperate to protect her friends and relatives from false accusations. But as more bodies turn up and lies are uncovered, it becomes clear that not everybody in Hatti’s circle is innocent, after all.

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy the smells and flavors of the Finnish community and the Keweenaw Peninsula by trying the recipe for pannukakku included at the end of the book!

Publisher’s Note: The Bait and Stitch Cozy Mystery Series will be enjoyed by readers who appreciate clean, wholesome and humorous mysteries in ethnic settings. Readers who enjoy knitting mysteries as well as fans of Joanne Fluke, CeeCee James, Mildred Abbott and the Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries will not want to miss this captivating series by Ann Yost.

The BAIT & STITCH SERIES:
A Pattern for Murder
A Double-Pointed Murder
A Fair Isle Murder  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Fletcher investigates a friend’s murder and a dangerous dating service in the latest entry in this USA Today bestselling series…

Jessica Fletcher takes up the case of her good friend Barbara “Babs” Wirth after Babs’ husband Hal suffers a fatal heart attack that Jessica has reason to believe was actually murder. At the heart of her suspicions lies a sinister dating site Hal had used while he and Babs were having marital issues, a site that may be complicit in somehow swindling him out of millions.

Jessica’s investigation reveals that Hal was far from the only victim and when his former business partner is also killed, a deadly pattern emerges. Jessica teams up with a brilliant young computer hacker to follow the trail but as she gets closer to the truth, two near misses force her to realize that she may very well be the next victim.

The stakes have never been this high as Jessica finds herself being stalked by the killer she is trying to catch. She must now set the perfect trap to avoid her very own date with murder.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hold your loved ones close, islanders…

Life for Lily Locke has not been normal ever since she learned of her witchy heritage, but now more than ever, her world is spiraling out of control.

When a series of strange events begins to tear her beloved island apart, it’s up to the famed Mixologist to seek out the most powerful wizard in the world and spare him from death.

However, as Lily begins the hunt for the Master of Magic, she encounters a prophecy that could destroy everyone she’s come to know and love.

…there is darkness on the horizon.

****************************************************************************************************************************
Amuletto Kiss is the fifth book in The Magic & Mixology Mystery Series. Though it can be read as a standalone, it’s best read in series order. This novel is a full-length, humorous cozy mystery featuring a splash of magic, a handful of witches, and a dash of romance. It’s rated PG-13 due to mild language and some romance.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Running an independent bookstore in small-town Hazel Rock, Texas, doesn’t sound like a high-risk pursuit. But when a fundraiser reveals a story with a truly killer ending, Charli Rae Warren will need to scramble to sort out the deadly plot…
 
Sponsoring the literacy drive to benefit the foster care system should be a feel-good endeavor, but one of Charli’s helpers is definitely on another page. Charli’s dad is distracted and keeping something secret, which Charli suspects is a harmless flirtation with an attractive county clerk who offered to lend them a hand. It’s nothing to worry about—until the same clerk winds up dead…

When nosy locals begin pointing fingers, Charli finds herself entangled in a race to uncover the killer’s identity—and to get to the bottom of a shattering family secret that could rewrite her history in alarming ways. Suddenly Charli is facing her worst fears and her childhood nemesis in order to unmask a murderer—before he silences her for good…  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours–Cake & Punishment

 

 

I’m so excited to be a stop on the blog tour for author Maymee Bell and her new book Cake & Punishment.  This is the first book in her new Southern Baker Mystery series.

 

Cake and Punishment: A Southern Cake Baker Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Kentucky
Crooked Lane Books (May 8, 2018)
Hardcover 257 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683315711
Digital ASIN: B075QJM2W8

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon  B&N   Kobo 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

In the first of a delectable new Southern-set baking cozy series, Sophia Cummings, pastry chef extraordinaire, must craft the perfect cake for an old friend’s wedding while sifting through the suspects in a murder.

Bucolic Rumford, Kentucky has glowing fields of bluegrass, a fine selection of bourbons, and now a professional pastry chef. Broken-hearted Sophia Cummings has come home from New York City. She’s not there a minute before she’s charmed into making her high school friend Charlotte’s wedding cake. The kitchen at the Rumford Country Club seems perfect until Chef Emile’s body is discovered, sprawled near the stove, a cast iron skillet on the floor close by.

With one look at the shiny, new frying pan, Sophia knows it’s not Emile’s. She offers her knowledge to Sheriff Carter and her talents to Evelyn, the manager, who needs an interim chef. The mood in the country club is grim: Emile’s peppery personality had burned members and staff alike. Sophia wonders which one of them burned him?

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and JoAnna Carl, Cake and Punishment―with authentic Southern recipes!―will satisfy your sweet tooth. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

When reading anything written by this author, there are a few things you can be certain of: exceptional characters, a homey setting, humor and a great mystery. And of course all of those things are found in this book.

Sophia is a hardworking, honest, funny woman.  She is a great pastry chef and when she makes creations that others enjoy, that makes her very happy.  She has returned home from Manhattan after she caught her boyfriend cheating on her to try and heal her heart and head.  She is not planning on staying, only visiting. But somehow she finds herself agreeing to making the wedding cake for one of her highschool friends. Then she finds herself agreeing to help out her old boss by being the chef for the country club until they can find a replacement.  The regular chef has been murdered. As if that is not enough on her plate, she decides that she has to figure out who the murderer is.

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I enjoyed getting to know Sophia and her family and friends.  Her mother is a real piece of work, bossy and meddling, but she sure does love Sophia. Sophia enjoys spending time with some of her friends from highschool, and the longer she visits, the more she realizes that she misses her hometown.  

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  Although there is a lot of action in this book, it is as much character and dialogue driven as it is action driven.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and she knows how to create the perfect Southern small town, with the traditions and the nosiness and the helpfulness of neighbors.  

The mystery was well plotted and well paced.  There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and that made this mystery difficult to solve.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I think this author has another great series to add to her name.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

 

 

Maymee Bell is the pen name of USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes. She lives in Kentucky with her family and her two schnauzers. She likes strong coffee, slow-country days, and fresh-baked cookies – but she like telling stores best of all. This is her first SOUTHERN BAKER MYSTERY.

Visit Tonya:
Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes,
https://www.facebook.com/authortonyakappes

Kappes Krew Street Team
https://www.facebook.com/groups/208579765929709/

Website
tonyakappes.com

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4423580.Tonya_Kappes

Twitter 
https://twitter.com/tonyakappes11

Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/tonyakappes/

 

 

 

 

When did you know that you wanted to be an author?  What things, if any, influenced that decision?

I’ve always been able to tell a good story, so after a few people encouraged me to try my hand at writing, I did it and haven’t looked back.

 

With so many cozies being written today, what makes your books stand out from the crowd?

My cozies are set in a southern town that makes the environment as much as a character as the actual characters. I think with the southern hospitality and humor that goes along with it, it’s a refreshing change.

 

 

Do you work from an outline or plot or do you just see where the characters take you?

I always know who the victim, killer, and motive. From there, I simply just write and let the characters take the lead.

 

Do you read your reviews?  Do you respond to them, good or bad?  Do you do anything special to get those reviews?

I don’t read them. I have so many deadlines that I can’t spend my day looking at reviews. I appreciate all reviews good or bad and think they do have a place in the world, but I can’t please everyone and I know that so there’s no sense in trying to figure out who I can’t please.

 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Break the rules.

 

 

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in someone buying your book(s)?   Who designs your book covers?

Of course I do. I think it helps the reader pick it up for eye catching purposes and up to the blurb to really capture them. The publisher asks for input and with what I tell them, they come up with the design.

 

Please give us an insight into your main characters.  What do you think makes them special?

Sophia is heart broken and a very successful pastry chef who has lived the past ten years in New York City. She comes home to her small southern and gossipy town to get away for a while. Nothing special there, but the interaction with her southern mama and reconnection with friends, throw in a murder and it’s a southern showdown.

 

What have you learned about yourselves since becoming an author?

I can do it and I’m disciplined. It’s hard to sit down and write a book. Even harder to let the world read it. I’m pretty thick skinned at this point.

 

Do you write full-time or part-time?

Full time

 

What do your plans for future projects include?

I have a few other publishing contracts to finish up. Plus I’m a very successful cozy mystery indie published author with six other series, so I’ve got to keep those going. Lots of balls in the air.

 

What do you think the hardest part of writing is?  What is the easiest?

The hardest is actually sitting down to type out what I see in my head. The easiest is promotion.

 

What type of books do you like to read?  Who are some of your favorite authors?

I only ready cozies and too many to name to even have a favorite.

 

What is the one thing you would like your readers to know about you?

That I’m always blown away that they turn to one of my books to escape from reality. It’s the highest compliment.

 

Do you have anything specific you would like to say to your readers?

I love them!

 

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Be sure to stalk me everywhere! I do a lot of fun stuff and giveaways all week long!

Check out my links and follow me everywhere:

Tuesday Coffee with Tonya and Weekly Giveaway: http://www.tonyakappes.com/blog

Friend Friday – publishes each Friday where I give away a friend’s cozy mystery book: https://www.facebook.com/authortonyakappes/?ref=settings

Webpage – http://www.tonyakappes.com

Facebook at Tonya Kappes Books – https://www.facebook.com/authortonyakappes/?ref=settings

PRIVATE Cozy Krew Group Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/569578823146850/

E-mail – tonyak11.tk@gmail.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/tonyakappes11/media

Amazon Author Page –https://www.amazon.com/Tonya-Kappes/e/B0048NYQLE

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tonya-kappes

 

 

There is a Rafflecopter Giveaway for this tour.  Please follow this link to enter the giveaway.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/55df6ee651/

 

 

Tour Participants

April 25 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

April 26 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

April 26 – Bibliophile Reviews –  REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

April 27 – The Book Diva’s Reads –  CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

April 27 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

April 28 – Ms. Cat’s Honest World – REVIEW

April 28 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

April 29 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

April 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

April 30 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

May 1 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

May 1 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY

May 2 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

May 2 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

May 3 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

May 3 – Valerie’s Musings – GUEST POST

May 4 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

May 4 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

May 5 – Varietats – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

May 6 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

May 7 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

May 7 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

May 8 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 8 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – RECIPE POST, GIVEAWAY

May 9 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

May 10 – That’s What She’s Reading – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

May 10 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW

May 11 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, RECIPE POST, GIVEAWAY

May 11 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

 

Spotlight–Barbara Silkstone

Today I am happy to be doing a Spotlight for Barbara Silkstone and her new release The Giggling Corpse.   I have an interview with Barbara and some information about the first book in her series, and a Giveaway, thanks to Barbara.  Hope you enjoy getting to know Barbara and good luck with the Giveaway.

 

The Giggling Corpse ~ Book 1

Florence Nightingale Comedy Mystery Series

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C7K128V/

 

A trailblazing figure in nursing, Florence Nightingale faces a series of bizarre mysteries for which she must use her nimble deductive powers while aided by her little pocket owl, Athena, and her sweet but snarky sidekick, Poppy Throckmorten.

In this first book in the series, the ladies journey to Greece on a mission for young Queen Victoria, the successful completion of which will fund the Nightingale School for Lady Nurses—the first of its kind in England.

Armed only with her quick wit and a rock-hard India rubber ball, Poppy is determined to assist Florence in securing the donation promised by a wealthy Greek philanthropist. But before they can return to England, the gift is stolen and one member of their British contingent is dead—was it murder?

Can Florence and Poppy find a possible killer and recover the endowment before they must answer to the Queen? And what’s with the giggling corpse?

Join me as I start my latest series of tongue-in-cheek, fast-paced mysteries that see Poppy Throckmorten chronicle the adventures of the brilliant but eccentric sleuth, Miss Florence Nightingale.

With love & laughter

Barbara Silkstone

 

A Brief Chat With Barbara Silkstone

Barbara Silkstone is the author of over forty novels and novellas, including the best selling Mister Darcy series of comedic mysteries ~ 9 Book series. She is also the creator of the Wendy Darlin Comedy Mysteries – 5 Adventures featuring real estate broker turned tomb raider, Wendy Darlin and world-renowned archaeologist, Dr. Roger Jolley.

Check out Silkstone’s Amazon Author page

 http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Silkstone/e/B0047L8A8W

Or visit her at:

https://secondactcafe.com

https://www.facebook.com/barbara.silkstone

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Silkstone-Author/156097004489447

 

 

 

 

Can you tell us a bit about your background as a writer?

I have always wanted to be a writer but life kept getting in the way. I began crafting tales in kindergarten, mostly adventures I imagined I had with Bambi and Thumper. My stories so enchanted one of my classmates that by the spring of that year we were officially engaged. At his insistence Johnny’s mother took him shopping to buy me a ring. It was a lovely band from the five and dime. I wore it for a day or two until it disappeared. Certain my mother confiscated it—the missing engagement ring became one of my only unsolved whodunits.

Over the years, I was fortunate to take part in writers’ workshops with PD James, Robert B. Parker, James Michener, and Stephen King. It was ages before I could leave my day job to take up my first love—writing. I have traveled extensively, usually alone. Solo travel allows one to observe people and take notes. I believe that is how my latest heroine, Poppy Throckmorten, came to be. She is assistant and friend to Florence Nightingale, playing Dr. Watson to Florence’s Sherlock Holmes.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

I enjoy doing playful things with language, blending two distinct words to create a new word.  If I’m laughing out loud when I’m writing, then I know I’ve hit the mark.

If you could meet any book character, who would it be, and what would you do with them?

There is a little known book called Ghost by Marsha Parker (1982). Toward the end of the story, the American heroine is working in a small country inn in France. She has separated from her husband because she cannot fully enjoy their marriage as she senses someone else lingering in her memories. One starry night her 15th century love appears to her. He escorts her into a field of lavender where he has prepared a sheepskin blanket on the ground. They lie down and look up at the skies, temporarily reunited in their love. Then he disappears, never to return. I would like to change places with her for that one evening.

What advice would you give to someone starting in a literary field?

Keep a journal. Go to restaurants and dine alone. You can pick up some great dialogue that way. And remember whatever is happening to you, good or bad, is material for a book.

 

Giveaway! The Giggling Corpse – Book 1 in Florence Nightingale Comedy Mystery series. Three random winners will receive their choice of a signed paperback (US only) or ebook. Please comment to enter the drawing. ☺

Please leave a comment on this blog and be sure to include your EMAIL address so I can get in touch with you if you’re the lucky winner.

 

I would like to thank Barbara for agreeing to allow us to get to know her a little better and for the Giveaway.

Review of What To Expect When Your Demon Slayer Is Expecting

What To Expect When Your Demon Slayer Is Expecting

Demon Slayer, Book #8

Angie Fox

5 Stars

Synopsis:

They say you can’t go home again, but demon slayer Lizzie Brown sure is going to try. However, when she rolls into town with her friends in tow, Lizzie finds her mom in the clutches of a demonic entity they accidentally left behind all those years ago. Now, it’s up to Lizzie, her talking dog, and the Red Skull biker witches to make things right.

With one tiny complication…

Lizzie is pregnant with Dimitri Kallinikos’ baby, and the shapeshifting griffin is hell bent on keeping her safe—at the risk of life, limb, and Lizzie’s sanity. Lizzie must fight for her child and her family, while battling dark spirits, demons, and morning sickness. And when a rival witch offers her unorthodox help, it opens up a whole new world of trouble. (Goodreads)

 

 

Review:  

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  I really enjoyed reading about the relationships between Lizzie and her grandma and the biker witch gang.  Their antics provided me with many smiles and some laugh-out-loud moments. They are all crazy, zany, loyal and loving.  You cannot ask for more than that. The relationship between Lizzie and her husband, Dimitri, is what a husband and wife relationship should be: loving, caring and trusting.  And Pirate, the talking dog, was a great addition to the story. I always thought that it would be great to be able to know what my dogs were thinking, but maybe it would not be that exciting because as Lizzie said “ …mostly thought about bacon and beef jerky…”.  And that is probably about right. And Pirate has a pet dragon, Flappy. How fun is that.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and creating suspense with the written word.  This book was action-packed and full of tension. I found myself swiping well into the night to find out what was going to happen next.  The mystery was well plotted and full of twists and turns.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted paranormal cozy.  I have read all of the books in this author’s other series, now I will have to get busy catching up on this series.   

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of April 22nd, 2018–Part 3

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of April 22nd, 2018.  I am going to divide the list into 3 days because there are so many of them this week. 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.

 

 

Welcome to Storyton Hall, Virginia, where book lovers travel from near and far to enjoy the singular comforts of the Agatha Christie Tea Room, where they can discuss the merits of their favorite authors no matter how deadly the topic . . . 

With her twins, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, back in school, Jane Steward can finally focus on her work again—managing Storyton Hall, and breaking ground on the resort’s latest attraction: a luxurious, relaxing spa named in honor of Walt Whitman. But when the earth is dug up to start laying the spa’s foundation, something else comes to the surface—a collection of unusual bones and the ragged remnants of a very old book. The attendees of the Rare Book Conference are eager to assist Jane with this unexpected historical mystery—until a visitor meets an untimely end in the Henry James Library. As the questions—and suspects—start stacking up, Jane will have to uncover a killer before more unhappy endings ensue . . .

“Combines clever clues, a smart and courageous heroine and an interesting setting in a whodunit that will inspire readers to make further visits to Storyton Hall.”
—Richmond Times-Dispatch on Murder in the Paperback Parlor  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Beatrice takes on a new case, she must solve it before anyone else rests in pieces.

Beatrice and her new husband, Wyatt, have started their life together. Their first big event as man and wife is another wedding: that of Beatrice’s daughter. It’s a happy occasion and a beautiful ceremony–aside from the appearance of the odd and uninvited Ophelia. Ophelia argues with another guest, who is later discovered dead.

Beatrice must piece together the truth before the killer strikes again.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the author of the bestselling Hunters Ridge series comes this stand-alone twisty rural suspense, this time set against the dark backdrop of Tasmanian mountains.

The highly anticipated new thriller from the author of the Hunters Ridge trilogy…

Indiana O’Meara is no stranger to the forces of evil. Her own past is full of violence. Now a policewoman, Indy is always fighting to redeem herself and defeat the dark. So when girls begin to go missing at a remote cattle station in Tasmania, she is quick to agree to go undercover to investigate chief suspect Logan Atherton, the owner of Calico Mountain Lodge, even though last time she went undercover it came to a bloody end.

But her early encounter with Logan reveals a man full of contradictions. His deep empathy for horses and those he cares for is obvious but he is also taciturn to the point of rudeness, and there is a strange atmosphere at the lodge. It doesn’t add up.

As Indy begins to dig deeper into the secrets at the lodge, she finds herself embroiled in a murderous web more complex and terrifying than she could ever have imagined…one that is linked to her own past.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell will be cooking alongside top chefs at a cookbook author’s party. But a killer plans to ruin her appetite . . . 

When Hayley’s idol, cookbook author and TV personality Penelope Janice, invites her to participate in a Fourth of July celebrity cook-off at her seaside estate in Seal Harbor, Maine, Hayley couldn’t be more flattered. She just hopes she can measure up. With a who’s who of famous chefs whipping up their signature dishes, this holiday weekend has all the ingredients for a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience.

Instead, Hayley gets food poisoning her first night and thinks she overhears two people cooking up a murder plot. The next morning, a body is found at the bottom of a cliff. Tragic accident or foul play? To solve a real cliffhanger, Hayley will need to uncover some simmering secrets—before a killer boils over again . . .

Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!
 
Praise for Death of a Pumpkin Carver

“Well-written . . . the story will keep any reader’s attention. After reading just one and meeting these hysterical characters there is no doubt that you’ll go back.”
—Suspense Magazine  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The acclaimed author of Gone Without a Trace delivers another twisting novel of psychological suspense in which a woman is backed against a wall–with nothing left to lose…

The morning after real estate agent Gemma Brogan has dinner with a prospective client, she’s furious at herself for drinking so much. But there will be more to regret than a nasty hangover.

She starts receiving mementos from that night: A photo of a hallway kiss. A video of her complaining about her husband. And worse…much worse. The problem is she doesn’t remember any of it.

As the blackmailing and menace ramp up, Gemma fears for her already shaky marriage. The paranoia, the feeling that her life is spiraling out of control, will take her back to another night–years ago–that changed everything. And Gemma will realize just how far the shadows from her past can reach…  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Malice Domestic anthology series returns with a new take on mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition — 30 original tales set around the world! Included are:
The Barrister’s Clerk, by Michael Robertson

The Belle Hope, by Peter DiChellis

Arroyo, by Michael Bracken

Muskeg Man, by Keenan Powell

The End of the World, by Susan Breen

To Protect the Guilty, by Kerry Hammond

Dying in Dokesville, by Alan Orloff

The House in Glamaig’s Shadow, by William Burton McCormick

Summer Smugglers, by Triss Stein

The Jamaican Ice Mystery, by John Gregory Betancourt

Death at the Congressional Cemetery, by Verena Rose

Cabin in the Woods, by Sylvia Maultash Warsh

Mad About You, by G. M. Malliet

What Goes Around, by Kathryn Johnson

Summer Job, by Judith Green

Death in a Strange and Beautiful Place, by Leslie Wheeler

We Shall Fight Them, by Carla Coupe

Marigold in the Lake, by Susan Thibadeau

Murder on the Northern Lights Express, by Susan Daly

Czech Mate, by Kristin Kisska

Keep Calm and Love Moai, by Eleanor Cawood Jones

Isaac’s Daughters, by Anita Page

A Divination of Death, by Edith Maxwell

Payback With Interest, by Cheryl Marceau

Island Time, by Laura Oles

If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Murder, by Josh Pachter

The Breaker Boy, by Harriette Sackler

Death on the Beach, by Shawn Reilly Simmons

Ridgeline, by Peter W. J. Hayes

Ho’oponopono, by Robin Templeton
Also features a new Foreword, by Nancy Pickard  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Becky Olson has a lot on her plate. Teaching a painting class in the evening after a whole day at managing her antique shop. She has friends, an over bearing mother, and something in town is always happening. Especially murder. And every time there is one, Becky is one of the first people called to solver the murder.

Becky might not be on the Sheriff’s department’s payroll, but she is good at solving the crimes of Rose Hollow. When Riley is found dead, a busy girl who was holding down three jobs to help support her family, Becky is pulled into a puzzle of lies and love. One couple’s secret love affair might have been enough to get Riley in trouble, and perhaps even murdered. The more Becky learns about the real Riley, the more she realizes she herself could be in trouble.  (amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She longs to be free from her past. He refuses to let go of his.

Jonathan Tanner, owner of the Meryton Inn, stands on his own. Proud of the life he has carved out, he scorns those of the upper class and keeps those who wish to befriend him at a distance. And then Fitzwilliam Darcy came along like the pesky little brother Tanner never wanted.

When Tanner finally accepts the Darcys’ invitation to visit them in London, he’s forced to answer to Mrs. Annesley — the fine lady he’s tried to forget over the past year. But Tanner’s defensive walls are no match for the gentle beauty.

Arabella Annesley chose to follow her heart … and she’s paid the price for it. Disowned by her family, widowed, and without a protector, she refused to sell her dignity to keep a roof over her head. Finding refuge and friendship with the Darcys, she feels safe … until Mr. Tanner shows up at Darcy House.

When a stranger calls and is murdered in Mr. Darcy’s front parlor, suspicions Arabella thought were long-buried resurface to threaten her and everyone she holds dear, forcing her to choose between the privilege she was born into and a heart she doesn’t trust.

Can Tanner let go of his resentful past to grasp onto a hopeful future with Arabella? Or will her history, riddled with secrets and disguise, deprive them of a happily-ever-after?

The Immovable Mr. Tanner is the fourth novel in Jennifer Joy’s A Meryton Mystery romance series set in England’s captivating Regency era — when a gentleman’s manners were regarded as highly as a lady’s reputation and a happy marriage was the ultimate prize (although a fortune was never frowned upon).

If you like falling in love with Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth as they fall for each other, then you’ll love this sweet romance-mystery variation of Jane Austen’s timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice.

Read The Immovable Mr. Tanner to satisfy your craving for a fast-paced mystery interwoven with a heartwarming, wholesome romance today!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:   Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex, a popular lifeguard at a local YMCA, is attacked by a masked female swimmer one night. Azalea, a senior member of the Y, volunteers to help Detective Ma solve the crime. Three women whom Alex has had close relationships with, become suspects in the case. Violet, a nurse Alex is seeing, has an unpleasant exchange with Alex right before the incident. Yuki is a housewife who had an ambiguous relationship with him in the past, and Natalie, Alex’s ex-girlfriend, still holds a grudge against him. All of them seem to have the motivation to commit the crime, but who did it?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring lassos small-town Serenity, as Brandy Borne’s crime-bustin’ mama Vivian hatches a harebrained scheme to run for county sheriff—ropin’ in her daughter to join the rodeo as campaign manager. As the two-woman posse tracks down voters at a local assisted-living home, Brandy’s attempts at corralling Mother’s impractical whims make her feel like a tinhorn on a bucking bronco. But sure as shootin’, unhappy trails lie ahead. . . .

Shortly after the Borne gals receive a valuable signed photo of an old-timey cowboy actor from the elderly aunt of Vivian’s political opponent, a massive explosion sends Brandy to the ER and auntie to the grave.

With a string of unexplained deaths turning Sunny Meadow into Boot Hill, the ditzy duo—aided by their clever shih tzu Sushi—must lay down the law on a deadly outlaw . . . before someone’s elected the next victim, with the Bornes headin’ toward their last round-up!

Don’t miss Brandy Borne’s tips on white elephant sales!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of April 22nd, 2018–Part 2

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of April 22nd, 2018.  I am going to divide the list into 3 days because there are so many of them this week. Today is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

 

High school teacher Emma Lovett is finally recovering from her first year of teaching when she discovers another dead body. As if that wasn’t bad enough, this time, someone has killed a student, Kisten Hollis.

Emma and her best friend, Leslie, are desperate to solve this murder. But suspects abound. The perpetrator could be a teacher, an administrator, a member of Kisten’s zealous church community, or even another student.

Emma must juggle her teaching responsibilities, her new romance with handsome Hunter Wells, and interest from a hunky second suitor, all while searching for evidence to bring a killer to justice before someone else dies.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All work and no play…
Life is now very different for Jill Gooder, P.I. and witch extraordinaire. But some things never change – Winky for example.
…leaves no time for custard creams.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever-crafty Josie must confront suspicious antiques dealers and her own friend’s killer in Antique Blues, the twelfth mystery in Jane K. Cleland’s beloved Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series set in New Hampshire.

When amateur sleuth and antiques expert Josie Prescott is called in to appraise a Japanese woodblock print and vintage guitar for her friend Mo, she’s thrilled—until Mo is murdered.

It doesn’t take her long to pinpoint one suspect: Mo’s sister’s manipulative boyfriend, who sold her the print—and has now, conveniently, disappeared. Josie’s antiques know-how and detective skills soon lead her down an increasingly perplexing trail, scattered with gamblers, extramarital affairs, and under-the-table purchases.

Readers will relish a return to Rocky Point with Josie as she works together with her friends—the ambitious young reporter Wes Smith, and Rocky Point’s savvy police chief, Ellis Hunter—to sift through the conflicting stories around them and find Mo’s killer.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murder and merlot! The ladies of the Rose Avenue Wine Club are back to track down another killer . . .

When New York transplant Annie “Halsey” Hall starts digging for her tiny SoCal dream vineyard off Rose Avenue, the last thing she expects to unearth is an elderly woman. Between decanting chardonnays and rosés, Halsey and the women of the Wine Club pour over the list of suspects. Could the old woman have bottlenecked her great grandson’s latest scheme? Was it a case of super sour grapes with the local historical society? Or did a devious developer close a killer deal?

With the help of the Wine Club and her enthusiastic yellow lab, Bardot, Halsey must untangle the twisted tendrils of the mystery to clear her name and end a murderer’s reign of terroir . . .  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From USA Today bestselling author, Leslie Langtry comes another hilarious Merry Wrath Mystery…

For ex-CIA Agent turned Girl Scout troop leader, Merry Wrath, planning a wedding is infinitely more terrifying than the time she was a mole in Carlos the Armadillo’s drug cartel. To make matters worse, while plagued by insomnia (brought on by diabolical details that include bizarre things like “boutonnieres”) Merry and her cat, Philby, witness a midnight murder next door.

Or do they? With her record of sleeplessness, everyone from her fiancé, Rex, to her Girl Scout troop are questioning her sanity. And when strange incidents of arson start popping up all over Who’s There, Iowa and a mysterious woman vanishes, Merry begins to believe her neighbors are foreign spies.

Throw in meeting her fiancé’s odd twin sisters, late night visits with Mr. Fancy Pants—the King Vulture at the zoo—and a scary sleep study, and Merry wonders if she’s in danger of losing her mind…or her life.

Merry Wrath Mysteries:
Merit Badge Murder – book #1
Mint Cookie Murder – book #2
Scout Camp Mystery – short story in the “Killer Beach Reads” collection
Marshmallow S’More Murder – book #3
Movie Night Murder – book #4
Mud Run Murder – book #5
Fishing Badge Murder – short story in the “Pushing Up Daisies” collection
Motto for Murder – book #6

What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry’s books:

“I laughed so hard I cried on multiple occasions while reading MARSHMALLOW S’MORE MURDER! Girl Scouts, the CIA, and the Yakuza… what could possibly go wrong?”
~ Fresh Fiction

“Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, ‘Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…”
~ RT BOOKreviews

“Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense.”
~ Chicago Tribune

“Langtry gets the fun started from page one with a myriad of clever details.”
~ Publisher’s Weekly  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life in Ravenwood Cove is sweet…until the most hated man in the area’s history moves back to town. Buster Radcliffe’s fortune was made by selling jams and jellies nationwide, but will that be enough to protect him from enemies or just make him a target for murder?

Amanda already has enough on her plate without having to deal with the uproar around Radcliffe’s return. A new house under construction, a thriving bed-and-breakfast that suddenly has disaster after disaster, a handsome husband who’s gone on business a lot of the time, and an estranged father that shows up on her doorstep. When her life suddenly gets tangled up in Radcliffe’s plots, Amanda has to dig up town secrets that could make her a target as well.

This is a clean cozy mystery, rating PG because hey, someone does die in the story.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something’s stalking the streets of London’s West End. People are dying, and all signs point to a killer of unfathomable strength and brutality. Sherlock Holmes and Watson return in their strangest case yet!

On the night of the full moon, Doctor John Watson is called upon to save a colleague who’s been brutally attacked by what appears to have been a pack of wild dogs. But Watson is too late. His friend succumbs to his wounds, with his dying words implicating a “wolf man.”

Confused, Watson and his good friend, the intrepid Sherlock Holmes, take on this very strange case of murder to track down a bold and vicious killer whose appetite for flesh is straight out of folklore and mythology.

The clock is ticking and Watson and Holmes must stop this heinous creature before any more victims fall prey to its voracious hunger for human flesh. However, the killer’s wiles and weaponry are far more dangerous than its jaws and claws. Indeed, it is a clever enemy who can hide from the likes of these two persistent sleuths. The game is afoot!

Will Holmes and Watson deduce a way to stop this flesh-hungry beast from attacking again on the next full moon? Or will they fall victim to…

…the werewolf of West End?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nova Bell is settling into her new life as a bakery owner in a small town. Her attempts at baking lead a lot to be desired. She thought hiring a new baker would be easy until one of the bakers turns up dead!
Now, Nova has to solve the murder and find a replacement. With sinister men on the loose, and a secret baking community of organized crime, will Nova ever get her hands on any sweet honey buns?
Find out in the second Witchy Bakery Book!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery bookstore owner Samantha Washington is about to find out it’s not so easy to play Monday morning quarterback when it comes to murder. . . 
 
To the town of North Harbor, Michigan, MISU quarterback Dawson Alexander is a local hero. To Samantha Washington, owner of the Market Street Mysteries Bookstore, Dawson is more than a tenant—he’s like an adopted son. But to the police, he is their prime suspect after his ex-girlfriend is found murdered. It’s more than enough real-life drama for Sam to tackle, but her role as a mystery writer also calls. Returning to the English countryside between the wars, she finds Lady Daphne Marsh in quite the quandary. Someone has tried to murder the scandalous American divorcée Wallis Simpson, for whom Edward VIII so recently abdicated his throne. It seems finding a suspect is no small challenge when most of England has a motive . . .

While Sam’s lawyer sister Jenna rushes in to build Dawson’s defense, Sam and her lively grandmother, Nana Jo, huddle up to solve the mystery and blow the whistle on the real killer. With the tenacious members of the Sleuthing Senior Book Club eager to come off the sidelines, Sam and her team just might stop a killer from completing another deadly play . . .

Praise for V.M. Burns and The Plot Is Murder

“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  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh from solving her late husband’s murder, Gina Beaufort Kelley is dealing with her first case as a licensed PI: stalking Steven Morton, the husband of Gina’s divorce attorney, Diana Morton.

University professor Steven is spending significant time with a beautiful, blond Russian young enough to be his daughter, which sets all of Gina’s antennae quivering. But what’s supposed to be a simple case of philandering soon turns sinister when the nosy neighbor of the young Russian girl is murdered, and Steven and the young woman are nowhere to be found.
Add in a ransom note for Steven’s return, a bloody attack on Gina’s associate Zachary when he asks questions about the Russian girl, and the newest addition to the firm – a Boston Terrier that used to belong to the murder victim, but that has now attached itself to Gina – and the newly licensed PI has her hands full.
Can Gina find Steven, avenge Zachary, and discover a killer before it’s case closed… for good?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you love small towns, endearing relationships, food, animals, and a touch of murder, you will love this new mystery series by Kathi Daley, author of the popular Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery Series.

It’s Mother’s Day in White Eagle Montana and spring has come to the small foothills community. It’s the season for puppies and kittens to be born and rehomed, families to gather for an outdoor picnic and a baseball game, friends to fall in love, and a shocking mystery to filter to the surface after so many years.

Join Tess and Tilly as they sleuth out the truth while delivering the daily mail.   (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours– Cover Reveal–The Gold Pawn

I’m so excited to be a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the Cover Reveal for The Gold Pawn by L. A. Chandlar.  It is the second book in her Art Deco Mystery series.

 

 

 

 

 

November 1936. Mayor La Guardia’s political future buckles under a missing person case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . 

Finally summoning the courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains—and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . 

Meanwhile, fears climb in Manhattan after the disappearance of a respected banker and family friend threatens the crippled financial industry and the pristine reputation of Lane’s virtuous boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia. Fio’s fight to restore order leads him into more trouble as he meets a familiar foe intent on ending his mayoral term—and his life . 

Guided by overseas telegrams from the man she loves and painful memories, only Lane can silence old ghosts and derail present-day schemes. But when the investigation awakens a darker side of her own nature, will she and New York City’s most prominent movers and shakers still forge ahead into a prosperous new age . . . or is history doomed to repeat itself?

 

Coming September 25 from Kensington Books!  Pre-order your copy today! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L.A. CHANDLAR is an author and motivational speaker. The Silver Gun, book one of her Art Deco Mystery series is available through Kensington Publishing.

Her Fight To Keep Creativity Alive series focuses on creativity and how it helps us work, play and live more fully. Her novel, The Christmas Journalist, weaves together human interest stories of Christmas traditions into a modern tale. L.A. lives in New York City with her family.

Laurie has been living and writing in New York City for 16 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences for over 20 years including a women’s group with the United Nations. Her talks range from NYC history, the psychology of creativity, and the history of holiday traditions. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, writes and fund-raises for a global nonprofit is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band.

 

New Releases For The Week Of April 22nd, 2018–Part 1

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of April 22nd, 2018.  I am going to divide the list into 3 days because there are so many of them this week. Today is the first day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

As one of nine siblings raised in the Deep South, plus-sized P.I. Savannah Reid has experienced her share of family drama. But shotgun weddings and snooty in-laws don’t worry her nearly as much as a search for a missing mother and child—especially when it leads to murder . . .

Savannah and her husband have settled back in San Carmelita, California, and life is slowly returning to normal—if “normal” means babysitting newlyweds Tammy and Waycross’s incredibly fussy infant daughter. But soothing a squalling baby is kid’s stuff compared to the Midnight Magnolia Detective Agency’s latest case. Handsome up-and-coming actor Ethan Malloy has enlisted the help of Savannah and Co. in a desperate attempt to track down his missing wife and toddler, not long before the beloved family nanny gets murdered.

With the police involved and paparazzi swarming at every turn, the discreet search becomes a sensationalized homicide investigation, leaving Savannah rushing to apprehend the killer and save the missing child. Famous heartthrobs can attract the wrong kind of attention, and some snooping into the complicated private lives of Ethan and his wife tells Savannah that she’s in for a deadly chase. As Savannah dismantles bombshell after bombshell while balancing delicate family matters of her own, she soon finds herself closing in on a terrifying culprit—one who’s willing to do anything for a moment in the spotlight   (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marmalade Murders is the ninth book in Elizabeth J. Duncan’s award-winning mystery series, celebrated for its small-town charm and picturesque Welsh setting and starring amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan.

The competition is friendly and just a little fierce at the annual Llanelen agricultural show as town and country folk gather for the outdoor judging of farm animals and indoor judging of cakes, pies, pastries, chutneys, jams and jellies, along with vegetables, fruit and flowers. But this year, there’s a new show category: murder.

Local artist, Spa owner, and amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan agrees to help with the intake of the domestic arts entries and to judge the children’s pet competition on show day. When the president of the Welsh Women’s Guild isn’t on hand to see her granddaughter and pet pug win a prize, the family becomes concerned. When a carrot cake entered in the competition goes missing, something is clearly amiss.

A black Labrador Retriever belonging to the agricultural show’s president discovers the body of the missing woman under the baked goods table. A newcomer to town, a transgender woman, is suspected, but amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan believes her to be innocent. She sets out to find the real killer, but when a second body is discovered days later, the case is thrown into confusion, and Penny knows it’s up to her to figure out what happened—and why.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Hardcover

 

 

 

 

 

 

While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.

Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.

Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Break in at Ragged Rest… A Dead Man at the Door… Another Mystery to Solve…

After returning home from her chaotic weekend away, Miranda Wylder discovers that her home has been burgled. But, the intruder did not steal any of her possessions…

The only thing that was taken were a few pages from an old police report concerning her Aunt Connie’s disappearance.

Clearly, Miranda isn’t the only one interested in what became of her aunt.

But who else could be?

Someone involved in Connie’s disappearance, perhaps?

And as if that isn’t enough…

A strange man turns up on Miranda’s doorstep claiming he has something he wants to confess to her but then drops down dead before he can.

Was he the person who broke into Ragged Rest? Had he known something about Connie’s disappearance?

What could it possibly all mean?

Miranda and Jack must untangle all of the threads in this mystery to find the answer and maybe in the process they will discover what happened to Aunt Connie.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a short-lived marriage, Sherry Frazzelle is living single life to the fullest in her little Connecticut town, accompanied by her Jack Russell terrier, Chutney. Her new passion is competitive cooking—but it turns out that murder is the surprise ingredient . . .

With contestants from Maine to California and a ten-thousand-dollar prize at stake, Sherry’s latest competition, hosted by the CEO of an organic food company, is sure to be heated. But she’s more than ready to step up to the stove. After all, she did win the award for Most Creative Cupcake back in high-school.Today, she’s hoping her flavorful pork tenderloin will sway the judges. Instead, it seems someone’s decided to slay one of the judges . . .

After Chef Birns falls face first into the Seafood Flatbread Pizza, Sherry’s dish is deemed suspicious. Now she’ll have to stir through a stew of rule-breaking, corruption, and gossip to get herself off the chopping block, and find out who turned this food fight fatal . . .

Includes Recipes from Sherry’s Kitchen!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SECRET LOVES OF SENIOR SLEUTHS–AND A MOST UNTIMELY MURDER…

Skeletons clatter merrily out of closets, in the third witty murder mystery of the delightfully cozy Hubbert and Lil mystery series—not the least of which is the disclosure of 84-year-old Lil’s twenty-year secret love affair.

In this one, everybody’s favorite elderly amateur sleuth and her doting nephew—an unlikely but veritable dynamic duo—take on New York City’s fashionistas and, quite unfortunately, the mob. 

At the tender age of 84, Aunt Lil has no shortage of gentlemen callers. So it’s not exactly a surprise when she interrupts her favorite nephew and sleuthing partner-in-crime T.S. (at yet another failed attempt at making Crème Brulee) to beg for help. This time she needs a hand tidying up her Flushing apartment—which was once likened to Times Square just moments after midnight on New Year’s Eve—in anticipation of a male visitor.

What is surprising is the fact that T.S. has never heard of the guy—a man named Max Rosenbloom, fabled multimillionaire owner of Max Rose Fashions. And it’s a downright shock that Max and Lil been secretly seeing each other—for over twenty years.

But when Max is an hour late, Aunt Lil falls into an uncharacteristic daze. And after she asks T.S. to “leave her alone”—a phrase thus far absent from her vocabulary, a radio bulletin breaks the news of the quarter-century: Max has been killed in a car bomb explosion in Manhattan.

Lil is overtaken with a private grief—which worries T.S., because, quite frankly, she’s never been private about much of anything—until she snaps out of it with the realization that her planned meeting with Max and his untimely death must be connected.Convinced the love of her life has been murdered in cold blood, she resolves to solve the puzzling crime—with trusty T.S. by her side.

Together, Aunt Lil and T.S. investigate the sophisticated trappings of the world of Manhattan fashion—including the lethal underbelly of the mob-controlled rag trade, white collar corporate embezzlement, and family secrets so chilling they leave even Aunt Lil speechless.

Because Max was filthy rich and in proverbial bed with the mob, there’s no end to the list of suspects. But the list becomes one less when Max’s own favorite nephew turns up dead. Could it be murder has become fashionable in the garment district?

A delectable treat for cozy fans, especially if you love Miss Marple, Miss Silver, Miss Seeton, Mrs. Pollifax, Jessica Fletcher, Agatha Raisin, Henrie O, and Hercule Poirot.   (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asked to help an old lady get her family home back from greedy developers, Crawford reluctantly agrees. Mrs. McGillicuddy is thrilled. “I can’t tell you how excited I was when Frank told me I’d get to meet a real detective. I just love murder mysteries.” When Ms. Mac convinces Crawford to pretend to solve a mystery, he finds himself caught up in the most perplexing case of his career.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone is selling Shaleville’s library books on eBay!
Duane and Bugle Boy help Miss Mabel Marble track down the book crook!
Another Cozy Crime bestseller from the pen of Deforest Day

Duane Munch, a small-town cop (Number Two on a three-man force, and one is a woman) and his partner Bugle Boy are manning the town’s Revenue Enhancement Location (a speed trap) when they are called to track a missing Alzheimer’s patient. Good thing Duane’s partner is a bloodhound.

The Book Crook is a cozy mystery, and a satire of small town America filled with dog humor and human romance.

When retired professor Miss Mabel Marble returned to Shaleville to care for her aged father she never thought she would embark on a new career as an amateur detective.

She had just spent twenty years teaching college students the literary works of women writers, from Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austen to Agatha Christie. She had written several articles for the Journal of Library Science on the famous writer’s most famous character, Miss Jane Marple. Now she had to play the part. Short and stout, gray and opinionated, she was ready for the role.

Miss Marge Defarge , the town’s police radio dispatcher and resident busybody, has appointed herself Head Librarian at the old Earl M. Swarthout school library. When Miss Marble arrives in town after a forty-year absence, the two titans clash, and sparks fly. Feathers are ruffled, apple carts are upset, and fur flies as they battle to control the collection of tattered old books. Soon the rest of the town’s eccentric characters are thrown into the fray, and it is left to Duane and his partner to solve the Mystery of the Missing Little Women.

The mayor, Sonny Cloudy, retired from managing the Newark Sewer Authority, wields the gavel at the Town Council meetings, and futilely attempts to control the other members, including Pastor Alex Dumas, attorney Sherman Menhaden, and Miss Millicent Swarthout. The latter is the granddaughter of the town’s founder, a coal baron, builder of The Mansion, and the Scene of the Crime. Did the Butler do it with the Candlestick in the Library? Or is it a false trail, designed to distract the amateur sleuths? Only Bugle Boy’s educated nose knows in this entertaining book-filled mystery.

Deforest Day graduated from Yale University longer ago than he wishes to contemplate. After a lengthy career as vagabond journeyman and agent provocateur he retired to the safer craft of Novelist. He lives in an old gristmill with a young wife. He can be found mucking about the pond at Deforestday.com.  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone in Lost Haven is a cold-blooded killer.

The artsy little town on the coast of Lake Michigan has always been home to Jenna Hooper, owner of The Welcome Shoppe and the unofficial (to everyone but her) town historian. The only excitement she needs is coffee that is a bit too hot while she’s lost in one of her beloved books, but local millionaire Harrison Kavanaugh is dead-set on tearing down the Main Street shops and building a hideous resort that will destroy Lost Haven’s quaint, quiet appeal.

Jenna and her fellow shop-owners are desperate to stop the resort and save their livelihoods, but when one of them turns up dead, they quickly become more concerned about their actual lives. Everyone is a suspect–including Jenna–and it’s up to her to find the killer and save her friends from being framed, killed, or possibly the worst fate of all: finding a real job.

The Last Resort in Lost Haven is the first book in the Lost Haven cozy mystery series. If you love plot twists, wisecracking characters, and a town with endless mysteries in its history, start reading now!  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback

 

 

 

 

 

 

Val’s new pies are foolproof—but not bulletproof.
 
Old West ghost towns are as American as apple pie. So what better place to sponsor a pie-eating contest than the Bar X, a fake ghost town available for exclusive private events on the edge of Silicon Valley. Valentine Harris is providing the pies, hoping to boost business for her struggling Pie Town shop and become a regular supplier for the Bar X.

But no sooner does she arrive in town than a stray bullet explodes the cherry pie in her hands. And the delicious dessert is not the only victim. Val finds the Bar X bartender shot dead in an alley. Egged on by her flaky friend and pie crust specialist, Charlene, Val aims to draw out the shooter. But solving a real murder in a fake ghost town won’t be easy as pie. And if Val doesn’t watch her back, her pies won’t be the only thing filled full of lead . . .  (Amazon)

Editions Available:  Kindle, Paperback