New Releases For The Week Of January 22, 2023–Part 2

In Olivia Matthews’s Against the Currant, the first Spice Isle Bakery Mystery, investigating a murder was never supposed to be on the menu…

Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, New York: Lyndsay Murray is opening Spice Isle Bakery with her family, and it’s everything she’s ever wanted. The West Indian bakery is her way to give back to the community she loves, stay connected to her Grenadian roots, and work side-by-side with her family. The only thing getting a rise out of Lyndsay is Claudio Fabrizi, a disgruntled fellow bakery owner who does not want any competition.

On opening day, he comes into the bakery threatening to shut them down. Fed up, Lyndsay takes him to task in front of what seems to be the whole neighborhood. So when Claudio turns up dead a day later—murdered—Lyndsay is unfortunately the prime suspect. To get the scent of suspicion off her and her bakery, Lyndsay has to prove she’s innocent—under the watchful eyes of her overprotective brother, anxious parents, and meddlesome extended family—what could go wrong? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

You don’t need to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in Maine, where the chilly March weather offers the perfect excuse to curl up with an Irish coffee…But in these St. Patty’s-themed novellas by fan-favorite cozy mystery authors Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross, someone may have spiked this year’s brew with murder!

IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIERPart-time reporter Lucy Stone is writing a piece for the Courier about four Irish step dancing students from Tinker’s Cove on the cusp of making it big. But the story becomes headline news for all the wrong reasons when one girl’s mother is found dead in her bathtub. Did a stage mom take rivalry too far, or is some other motive at play? DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLISAs owner of Bar Harbor’s hottest new restaurant, Hayley Powell offers to cater the after-party for popular comedian Jefferson O’Keefe, who’s playing his old hometown for St. Patrick’s Day. But it’s no laughing matter when Jefferson keels over after gulping down his post-show Irish coffee, leaving Hayley to figure out who decided this joker had gone too far . . . PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSSIt’s a snowy St. Patrick’s Day in Busman’s Harbor. But when the power goes out, what better way for Julia Snowden to spend the evening than sharing local ghost stories—and Irish coffees—with friends and family? By the time the lights come back, they might even have solved the coldest case in town . . . (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

Almost as soon as recent divorcee Amy Morrison begins her dream job as librarian aboard the world’s most expensive luxury cruise liner, she nearly sinks it. She’s tasked with hosting the debut of a painting celebrated but hidden for nearly sixty years. But the artist claims the painting isn’t hers. And then, the artist goes missing. With the help of a retired academic couple lecturing aboard the ship, a dashing IT manager, and a housekeeping staff with a love of literature, Amy tries to solve the art fraud and kidnapping while rediscovering the adventurous side of herself. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

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What’s a woman to do if she finds a skeleton in her own back yard?

Since she moved into her farmhouse, Paisley Sutton has wanted to convert the old summer kitchen house into an office for herself, and it’s finally time. But when her contractor begins opening up the walls to insulate, they find far more than they expected.

Will Paisley be able to solve this time-worn murder, or will someone stop her before she can? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Magic in this witch’s family has a name: Trouble.
Sidney Grace is trying to adjust to her new life in Crystal Beach, Florida which comes with a whole new set of challenges. Mainly, what is she going to do to support herself now and how long can she stay illegally parked at the beach? The handsome Officer Reece is tough on criminals and even tougher on witches. But these aren’t even her biggest troubles…

For starters, her mom, the Tupperware Queen, is headed down for a surprise visit…to look at buying her own property in Crystal Beach. After all, who else is going to protect Sidney from her magic-wielding grandmother? Cue the funeral march on Sydney’s phone. Now she must contend with a pushy realtor, her crazy new boss, a botched mini-golf tournament, and her talking cat, while secretly unlocking her own magic.

As she opens her mind to her psychic powers to help the residents at Shifting Sands, Sidney discovers a second chance for love, but her heart is pulling her in two different directions, and one direction could very well be deadly.

Read Claw of Attraction, book 2 in the Crystal Beach Mystery Series, for a bewitchingly fun paranormal cozy mystery with charming characters that will keep you spellbound! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

A 40-year-old Witch with a New Career…

A Gargoyle Sheriff Raising a Teenaged Daughter…

And an Enchanted Island Full of Secrets…

With only a month to go before the big day, Shayla is feeling unusually calm. The only thing left to line up is the photographer. So when her very pregnant cousin, Serena, offers to help her with that errand, Shayla immediately says yes. But when the two women discover a dead body at the popular photo studio on Enchanted Island–Charmed Images–it doesn’t take long before a list of suspects emerges–including forensic specialist Finn Faeton’s uncle. With the help of her fiance, Alex Stone, her sidekick, Needles, and a young prodigy in forensics from PADA, Shayla sets out to discover who would want the photographer dead. But when the killer sets his sights on Shayla and another family member, Shayla vows to turn the island upside down in order to capture her killer. Will she succeed? Or will her wedding pictures contain one less family member? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Julia Bird can’t wait to attend the annual village party at the local stately home, with its tea tents, cake stalls, and… dead body in the maze?

The annual village celebration at Berrywick House is underway, complete with over-decorated cake stalls, fiercely contested flower competitions, and even a maze for the disappointed losers to hide in. Julia Bird, now a well-known – even notorious – member of the community, with her trusty Labrador Jake, has thrown herself headlong into the festivities. But her reputation for adding drama to any event stands up yet again when she discovers a dead body in the maze…

It seems Ursula Benjamin, village know-it-all and prickly baking competition participant, has been strangled – and the killer has to be someone at the fete. As Julia grapples with finding yet another murder in Berrywick, she starts to wonder, could one of the competitive cake-bakers have taken the contest to deadly new heights? Or is there something darker in Ursula’s life that led to her untimely demise?

Embroiled once again in a murder enquiry, Julia isn’t about to leave the investigation to the police. Like it or not, she’s involved, and she’s going to help them solve the mystery. But when there’s another death, and it’s clear the murders aren’t isolated incidents, the stakes become even higher. Can Julia figure out the identity of the killer, and prevent any further dastardly deeds, before the wholesome spirit of the village is ruined forever?

If you like utterly gripping English mysteries, then you’ll love A Village Fete Murder. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands.

Readers are loving the Julia Bird mysteries:

There just aren’t enough stars for this one, so I can only give it FIVE!! I’m so looking forward to the next book in the series!!’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely LOVED this… Julia Bird was an amazing and lovable character… Once I started it, I couldn’t stop.’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this very English murder mystery, so reminiscent of Agatha Christie… I loved everything about this book.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fabulous… addictive… a witty and delightful crime novel full of delicious red herrings, rural mischief and bucolic charm that is impossible to put down.’ Bookish Jottings

Oh my, I loved Julia Bird… she is a delight! I can’t wait for the next one! Please don’t let it be long!MoongloTexas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Really entertaining… I simply couldn’t put the book down… Julia’s life in the countryside with her newly adopted dog Jake was too enjoyable… I cannot wait to read for Julia Bird’s next adventure!… Five stars!’ Tropical Girl Reads Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brilliant!… I really warmed to Julia and especially Jake, her errant puppy, and loved the village life.’ Broadbean’s Books⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this first book in a new cozy, English countryside series and hope it continues for a very long run.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I really enjoyed this… heartwarming always entertaining read.’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this book! I am always thrilled to find a new cozy mystery/series to get stuck into and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.’ A Wordy Woman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m pretty sure I want to be Julia Bird when I retire. Charming little cottage in a village in the Cotswolds in England? Check!… Insta-love with an adorable chocolate lab puppy? Check! Distinguished village Doctor who could be mistaken for Sean Connery?… I really enjoyed this brand-new cozy mystery.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A delightful mix of humour and mystery.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

When Naomi Front moves her teenage daughter, Ella, to the small town of Fayette, all she hopes for is a new start after an ugly divorce. But the mother-and-daughter duo have a rocky start on day one—finding the corpse of the local busybody in their storage shed.

Welcomed into their neighbors’ house when the police arrive, Naomi and Ella quickly learn that the victim on their property is not likely to be missed. Gossiping over Earl Grey and biscuits, Barbara and Ingrid spill the tea about Fayette’s notoriously nosy citizen—Yasmin LeFluer. She never knew how to mind her own business and was even quicker to make enemies. Among her ex-husband, her sibling, and her friends, it seems the list of suspects will run long.

Adjusting to a new home is hard enough. Faced with a murder victim having been shoved into her shed, though, Naomi struggles to get her footing. To make matters worse, Ella seems too intrigued, teaming up with Barbara and Ingrid, both to learn more about Fayette and how Yasmin wound up dead in their shed.

As the case drags on, more danger lurks in the shadows. It’s plenty to worry Naomi, and it’s fodder for her ex-husband to stir up more trouble about Ella’s custody.

With the help of their tea-loving neighbors, can Naomi and Ella find Yasmin’s killer? If they don’t, there’s no telling if their new take on life will be over before it truly begins. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Could an Innocent Small-Town Hide an Utterly Evil Mind?

Write And Wrong: A Sweets of Saltcaster Cozy Mystery

Some women are born with a talent and love for baking, but when someone like Sara, a talented baker with a naturally sharp instinct, is suspected of being involved in a murder case, that can unlock her hidden skills.

“On our way to my bakery, something catches my and Dylan’s attention. There are parked police cars with sirens wailing in front of Belle’s B & B.

I wonder what happened. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering what happened because Dylan parks the car by the side of the road and hops out. I don’t waste time going after him.

We come to a stop in front of the police cars. A few policemen are outside questioning some people. Lucky for me, I see Felicity standing close to one of the police cars.

“Felicity!” I yell her name from a distance, waving my hand so she can see me. Fortunately, she does, and she dashes toward me.

“Felicity, what happened here?” I ask.

“It’s Gerald. He’s dead.”

The police suspect Sara’s bakery to be a possible source of a food-related “murder weapon.” Again.

This ordeal will take all her intuition, experience, andcourage.

What followed is the kind of stuff you only see in murder mystery movies.

Will she be able to turn things back to normal?

Get your copy today and find out! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Cheerleading is supposed to be fun, not deadly.

When cheer mom Abby Winters and her daughter, Ashley, head out of town for a cheer competition the very worst happens shortly after check-in at their hotel.

With one dead body already, a hostile detective that does not like Abby and some very scary coaches, Abby is concerned the sport her daughter loves is going to be forever tainted by murder.

Can she catch the killer, without getting arrested herself, and save the competition? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

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