Written Off by E.J. Copperman – Review

Goodreads Summary:  Rachel Goldman writes mysteries in which Duffy Madison, consultant to the county prosecutor’s office, helps find missing persons. Rachel is busy finishing up her next book, when a man calls out of the blue asking for help in a missing persons case. The caller’s name? Duffy Madison.

Is this real or has she lost her mind? She doesn’t have much time to find out because a serial killer is on the loose, kidnapping and murdering mystery authors. And Rachel may just be the next target.

FTC Disclosure: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts:  This is the first book in the new Mysterious Detective Mysteries. I love it when I discover a new series. I hate it when I discover it just as it’s beginning and I have to wait for the next installment to be written and published. I loved this book and waiting for the next installment is going to be hard. It has a sort of Remington Steele/Murder She wrote feel to it. Duffy of course is Remington and Rachel is a young Jessica Fletcher. This was a very engaging read with all sorts of twists and turns to keep the reading guessing. I’m really looking forward to reading more about Duffy and Rachel.

If you are looking for an interesting new series with a different twist, I highly recommend this book.

E.J. Copperman is the author of several interesting mystery series. Check out his website here to learn more about them.

 

Books N Bloggers Swap

It’s been a while since I’ve done a swap. I’m really looking forward to this one. It’s one of my favorites. Not only do you find out about great books, but you meet some really nice fellow bloggers.  Today  is the last day to sign up, so go on open to Chaotic Goddess Swaps and sign up now.

This is how it works:

Send a book-package to your book-loving partner!

YOUR PACKAGE MUST INCLUDE

• 1 Book from your partner’s wishlist
• 1 Book you love and recommend they read
• 1 Other book of your choice
• Other book-related goodies

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

• Sign-Ups Start: Monday, August 15th
• Sign-Ups End: Monday, August 22nd
• Parnters Assigned by: Wednesday, August 24th
• Packages Ship on/by: Saturday, September 3rd
• Recap Linky Opens: Wednesday, September 7th

 

Great Escapes Tour: Silk Stalkings by Diane Vallere

Silk Stalkings (A Material Witness Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Berkley (August 2, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425270592
E-Book ASIN: B01839Q47C

Fabric shop owner Polyester Monroe can get tangled up in textiles, but it’s murder that really throws her for a loop in the latest mystery from the national bestselling author of Crushed Velvet.

The time has come for San Ladrón, California’s annual Miss Tangorli beauty pageant, and Poly has agreed to use Material Girl’s inventory of shimmery silks to create embellished gowns fit for a crown. But when millionaire Harvey Halliwell—the man who revived the city’s citrus trade with his imported tangorli tree—is found dead days before the pageant contestants are announced, something sour takes over the town.

To make matters worse, her friend, mechanic Charlie Brooks, is soon caught up in the crime, having been seen in the company of the case’s prime suspect. Now Poly’s on a mission to squeeze out the truth. But as she searches for a pattern, the killer seems intent on cutting up the evidence…

About The Author

I’m a former fashion buyer turned mystery writer, trading fashion accessories for accessories to murder. I was bit by the mystery bug as a kid reading Trixie Belden, Connie Blair, and The Three Investigators. Now I’m writing three series: the Style & Error Mysteries, the Mad for Mod Mysteries,  Material Witness Mysteries, and the new Costume Shop Cozy Mysteries!

The Material Witness mysteries feature Polyester Monroe, who inherits the fabric shop where she was born. Books include SUEDE TO REST  and CRUSHED VELVET . The third, SILK STALKINGS,  will be out in August 2016.

The Style & Error Series features former fashion buyer turned amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd. Books in that series include DESIGNER DIRTY LAUNDRY ; BUYER, BEWARE ; THE BRIM REAPER ; and SOME LIKE IT HAUTE . (A short story, “Just Kidding ,” tells the story of how Samantha first met shoe designer Nick Taylor). Book 5, GRAND THEFT RETRO, will be out in 2016.

The Madison Night Mysteries feature a modern day interior decorator who specializes in midcentury design (studying Doris Day movies to get the look right). Books are PILLOW STALK,THAT TOUCH OF INK , and WITH VICS YOU GET EGGROLL . A prequel novella, “Midnight Ice,” can be found in OTHER PEOPLE’S BAGGAGE .

The new Costume Shop Cozy Mysteries feature former magician’s assistant Margo Tamblyn who has come home to run her family’s costume chop. A Disguise to Die For was released February 2, 2016 and Masking for Trouble will be released October 4. 

Author Links

Webpage: http://www.dianevallere.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DianeVallereAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dianevallere

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4739022.Diane_Vallere

Purchase Links

Amazon – B&N – Google Play 

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

My thoughts: This is one of my favorite series. I liked Poly from the first few chapters in the first book: Suede to Rest. I really enjoyed the first two installments in this series and was looking forward to this new book. I believe I mentioned before that this series is one of my go to reads for an engaging read. Silk Stalkings enforces that feeling.  

The characters are well developed and make the story interesting even without the mystery. The budding romances between Poly and Vaughn and Charlie and Clark add a nice touch to the story without overpowering the mystery.  

As for the mystery, there were plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged until the end. Maybe I’m off my game (I generally figure out Who Dunnit before the end), but I was taken by surprise when the killer was revealed.  

It was nice to learn more about Charlie’s life before she moved to San Ladron and to see a more human side of Vic McMicheal.  Silk Stalkings can easily by read without having read the other two mysteries in the series, but once you read it, you will find that you want to read more about the characters and will want to read the entire series.  Don’t forget to visit the tour page for a chance to win a Kindle Fire preloaded with four of Diane’s books.  Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour.

Tour Participants

August 1 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW*

August 1 – Sleuth Cafe – REVIEW 

August 2 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW *

August 2 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – REVIEW

August 3 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – REVIEW*

August 3 – Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Jane Reads – REVIEW*

August 4 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW*  

August 5 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

August 6 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 7 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW*

August 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

August 8 – Carole’s Book Corner – SPOTLIGHT

August 9 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

August 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW*

August 10 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW*

August 10 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

August 11 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW *

August 12 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

 

 

Great Escapes Tour: Grilling the Subject by Daryl Wood Gerber – Recipe and Review

Grilling the Subject by Daryl Wood Gerber

GRILLING THE SUBJECT is another fabulous installment of this great series. A fun, fast, intriguing read.
~Lisa K’s Book Reviews

So many suspects. It seems like when Jenny clears someone from her list, something else pops up and they’re back on it. Not an easy one to solve, which keeps Jenny hopping and those pages turning.
~ FUONLYKNEW

GRILLING THE SUBJECT is a book about the past, choices and changes made and the impact on today. It’s also a book about loyalty, perseverance, and pushing through.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

The characters are really what makes this book (and this series) stand out for me. Ms. Gerber has a talent for creating believable characters who are easy to like…and believable characters who are easy to dislike (so you don’t mind finding them at the wrong end of a murder).
~Brooke Blogs

Grilling the Subject (A Cookbook Nook Mystery) 
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Berkley (August 2, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425279410
E-Book ASIN: B017SCQLSW

Things heat up for bookstore owner Jenna Hart in the latest Cookbook Nook mystery from the Agatha Award-winning author of Fudging the Books.

As the Wild West Extravaganza rides into Crystal Cove, California, Cookbook Nook store owner Jenna Hart is ready to indulge her appetite for grilled and barbecued treats and maybe even try the Texas skip. But when the body of one of her father’s neighbors is found the next morning smoldering in a bonfire, the rodeo revelry is extinguished.

Sylvia Gump had acquired plenty of enemies with her practice of illegally encroaching on her neighbors’ properties—including Jenna’s dad, who was off fishing by himself and has no alibi for the murder. Now it’s up to Cary Hart’s dutiful daughter to clear his name before the real killer turns up the heat and rakes someone else over the coals…

INCLUDES RECIPES

About This Author

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

Author Links

Visit Daryl or Avery atwww.darylwoodgerber.com.

“They” blog on www.mysteryloverskitchen.com as well as www.killercharacters.com

Daryl’s Blog – http://www.darylwoodgerber.com

Avery’s Blog – http://www.averyaames.com

Mystery Lover’s Kitchen – http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com

Killer Characters – http://killercharacters.com

Facebook:

Daryl http://www.facebook.com/darylwoodgerber

Avery http://www.facebook.com/averyaames

Twitter: @AveryAames @DarylWoodGerber

Goodreads: 

Daryl Wood Gerber https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4750535.Daryl_Wood_Gerber

Avery Aames https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3153786.Avery_Aames

 

Purchase Links

Amazon –  B &N 

It is my pleasure to welcome Daryl Wood Gerber to the blog today. She is sharing a delicious recipe with us.

Do you like using spices when you cook? I heard about Penzey’s spices from my fellow authors on Mystery Lovers Kitchen (where authors love to cook up crime and recipes)! It turns out it’s a local company for me, located in Santa Monica, but they have a great online presence. They send out promotional magazines that include delicious recipes.

I have fallen in love with two of their spices: Parisien Bonnes Herbes and Bouquet Garni. I use their chili and cinnamon. I also bought their garlic salt, which is great! By the way, funny story, but I purchased a “bag” of the Parisien herbs, and my adult son saw it in my pantry. He chuckled and said, “Mom, do you have a secret?” Yes, it looks like something you’d smoke! Not I, thank you very much. LOL

Try this recipe and after you finish your meal, open up a good book and settle in for the night. Hmm…maybe that would be the time to taste Penzey’s hot cocoa! It’s divine…even in the midst of summer!

PENZEYS SAVORY SWISS CHICKEN (CHICKEN SWISS)

(serves 2)

2 chicken breasts (with bones left in)

4-8 basil leaves

2-4 teaspoons Penzey’s Parisienne Bonnes Herbes

4 slices Swiss cheese

Kitchen twine (or kite string)

Rinse chicken breasts. Make a slit in each breast, lengthwise starting from the rib-side. Lay open.

Season with Penzey’s spices. (This is always about preference. There is no salt in the spice, so the chef needs to decide how much. I used 4 teaspoons.)

Layer basil and cheese in the center. (Again with the basil. This is a chef’s preference. I used 2 VERY large leaves in each breast. Do not skimp on the cheese. J)

Tie the chicken with twine (or kite string if that’s all you have). *If you’re going to barbecue, make sure you soak the string in water before applying.

For barbecue: heat the grill to medium high. Oil the grill. Set the chicken, bone-side down on the grill. Cook on each side for 5 minutes. Reduce the grill to medium-low and grill for another 30-40 minutes. Make sure the skin is crispy (to your liking).

For baked: Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Set chicken in a baking pan lined with foil. Close the foil tightly. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Open the foil and remove the TWINE from the chicken. Turn the oven to broil. Broil the chicken breasts for 10-12 minutes, until chicken skin is crispy (to your liking).

Serve hot.

Bio:

Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author DARYL WOOD GERBER ventures into the world of suspense with her gripping debut novel, GIRL ON THE RUN. Daryl also writes the bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she pens the bestselling Cheese Shop Mysteries. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote”. In addition, she has jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and hitchhiked around Ireland by herself. She absolutely adores Lake Tahoe, where GIRL ON THE RUN is set, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky. Visit Daryl at www.darylwoodgerber.com.

GIVEAWAY:

Today I’m giving away one copy of your choice of any of my published books. Leave a comment and tell me what spices you like to use for barbecue.

 

 

My thoughts:  This recipe sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it. Grilling the Subject is delicious read – perfect for an end of summer read (well, perfect any time for those who enjoy a good mystery.) I always enjoy visiting Crystal Cove and catching up with Jenna, Rhett, Bailey, Aunt Vera and the other residents.  In this 5th installment in the Cook Book Nook Mysteries, the mystery hits close to home as Jenna’s dad is a suspect in the death of a neighbor, Sylvia Gump. Sylvia is not well liked by many of the residents of Crystal Cove, so Jenna’s dad isn’t alone in the suspect pool. To complicate matters, an unlikely figure from Jenna’s past shows up to add an interesting twist to the story.  Grilling the Subject is an engaging mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the end. There are so many viable suspects it’s hard to keep them all straight. As always I enjoyed the cook book suggestions Daryl always includes in the stories. My Amazon Cook Book wish list almost always doubles when I read a Cook Book Nook Mystery. Grilling the Subject can be read as a stand alone, but I know you will enjoy the characters  and will want to go back and read the others in the series if you haven’t done so already.  Each of the books in the series has a festival theme that adds to the fun in the book and makes the reader want to visit Crystal Cove for real. This time it is a Wild West theme with lots of mouth watering recipes for you to try. As the story was ending, the town was getting ready for a book club themed week. Now that sounds interesting. Grilling the Subject is an all around good read. You don’t want to miss it.

Daryl is offering a chance to win one copy of your choice of any of her published books. Be sure to leave her a comment telling her what spices you like to use for a BBQ.

You have until midnight of August 3rd to enter. The winner will be chosen by random generator.

Be sure to check out the tour page for a chance for a great prize package and don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.

Tour Participants

July 27 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review, Interview, Recipe

July 28 – fuonlyknew – Review, Recipe

July 29 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Recipe

July 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Recipe

July 30 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Recipe

August 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review, Recipe

August 2 – A Holland Reads – Review, Recipe

August 3 – Back Porchervations – Review, Recipe

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Great Escapes Tour: Address to Die For by Mary Feliz

Address To Die For
by Mary Feliz

Right off the bat, I enjoyed the tempo of author Mary Feliz’s writing. No wasted words or dragging scenes. Just a fast paced story both well written, and thought out.
~Lisa K’s Book Reviews

The author did a great job with the characters and setting you can easily imagine you are a part of the story.
~Sleuth Cafe

Ms. Feliz’s writing style is engaging and made for a most enjoyable read.
~Back Porchervations

With fresh new characters and a strong story, you won’t be able to put this one down.
~Shelley’s Book Case

Be sure and get yourself comfortable as you read this hard to put down book.
~Texas Book-aholic

The plot was interesting and developed at an even pace, with a few unexpected twists leading up to the story’s resolution. All in all, a nice light read.
~Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes

I thought this book had some really interesting characters and it was different from other cozies I have read…
~Storeybook Reviews

Rich in detail and vivid descriptions, the story takes place in the small town of Orchard Valley, in the hills above Silicon Valley. This captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale has enough quirky characters, witty humor, drama, intriguing twists and turns, and conspiracy theories that will keep you guessing.
~Jersey Girl Book Reviews

I thought this was a well written book with a good plot. It kept me turning pages and guessing up until the end.
~Melina’s Book Blog

This was a great cozy mystery and fans of many other cozy series will find themselves enjoying this series as well.
~Community Bookstop

Address to Die For
(A Maggie McDonald Mystery)

New Series
Cozy Mystery
Lyrical Underground (July 19, 2016)
E-book – 320 pages
ASIN: B01B0KK5P8

For professional organizer Maggie McDonald, moving her family into a new home should be the perfect organizational challenge. But murder was definitely not on the to-do list . . .

Maggie McDonald has a penchant for order that isn’t confined to her clients’ closets, kitchens, and sock drawers. As she lays out her plan to transfer her family to the hundred-year-old house her husband, Max, has inherited in the hills above Silicon Valley, she has every expectation for their new life to fall neatly into place. But as the family bounces up the driveway of their new home, she’s shocked to discover the house’s dilapidated condition. When her husband finds the caretaker face-down in their new basement, it’s the detectives who end up moving in. What a mess! While the investigation unravels and the family camps out in a barn, a killer remains at large—exactly the sort of loose end Maggie can’t help but clean up . . .

About The Author

Mary Feliz has lived in five states and two countries but calls Silicon Valley home. Traveling to other areas of the United States, she’s frequently reminded that what seems normal in the high-tech heartland can seem decidedly odd to the rest of the country. A big fan of irony, serendipity, diversity, and quirky intelligence tempered with gentle humor, Mary strives to bring these elements into her writing, although her characters tend to take these elements to a whole new level. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and National Association of Professional Organizers. Mary is a Smith College graduate with a degree in Sociology. She lives in Northern California with her husband, near the homes of their two adult offspring. Visit Mary online at MaryFeliz.com, or follow her on Twitter @MaryFelizAuthor.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon –  B&N

FTC Disclosure:  I received a free NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts: This is the first book in a new series by Mary Feliz. It’s going to be a winner with readers.

There were many things I liked about this book: the setting, the beautiful old home, the organizational tips, the characters, the pets and of course Maggie herself. Maggie is a well rounded character and very likable. I would love to have her come organize my life.  

The mystery is very well written with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the end. I was surprised at the solution, but it did make sense. I won’t give any hints as I don’t want to spoil it for you.  It has been a busy reading summer for me and this makes the list of the top five books I’ve read this summer and the top two mysteries. I’m anxious to read about Maggie’s next adventure.

Be sure to visit the tour page for a chance to win an e-copy of the book. Don’t miss the other stops on the tour.

Tour Participants

 July 19 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW 

July 19 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

July 20 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

July 20 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &,Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

July 21 – Sleuth Cafe – REVIEW

July 22 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

July 23 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

July 23 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – REVIEW

July 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

July 25 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

July 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

July 26 – Tea and A Book – REVIEW

July 27 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW  

July 28 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

July 28 – Bookjunkie’s Book Blog – SPOTLIGHT

July 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 29 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW, GUEST POST

July 30 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

July 31 – Book Babble – REVIEW

August 1 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

August 1 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW

August 2 – The Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW

August 2 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

 

Great Escapes

Murder on the Mother Road
by Glenn Nilson

Murder on the Mother Road:
A Bobby Navarro Mystery
Male Sleuth Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Creekside Publishing (March 15, 2016)
Paperback: 318 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0997234916
ASIN: B01CQ4SUHM

Goodreads Summary:  Bobby Navarro rides his Harley into another adventure when he discovers the body of a young woman in the trunk of a parked car in Williams, Arizona, on old Route 66.

Who would leave a car, with a body in it, parked on the main street of town? And, who told the police Bobby had been the driver of the car, because they soon take him to the police station to conduct an “interview”.

Then, to make matters worse, Bobby realizes one of the police officers is a woman he had a crush on in high school. And, that’s just his first night in town. Next morning, Bobby has breakfast at a local diner, where everyone is talking about the murder and the arrest of one of the diner’s cooks. The staff don’t think the suspect is guilty of the crime, and one of the locals, Daryl King, lets slip to Bobby that he knows who the guilty party really is. Trouble is, Daryl won’t tell the police whatever it is he knows. In fact, Daryl has trouble talking with anyone. The fact that he made an exception in Bobby’s case, leads to Bobby agreeing to work with the police to find out if Daryl does know who the killer is. Bobby’s part in the investigation takes him to the Holiness Pentecostal Church of the Brethren, a church run by an ex-biker and two of his former gang members. There, he discovers a host of suspects, leaving Bobby to wonder whether he will have to “get religion” in order to help solve this Murder on the Mother Road.

FTC Disclosure:  I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts: 

This book is a bit of a departure for me. I read a wide variety of genres – a little bit of everything. I do love mysteries, but I tend to stick cozy mysteries such as those written by Ellery Adams or Avery Aames with a few police/detective proceedurals like The Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson or The Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton.  The Bobby Navaro Mysteries fall somewhere in between those. And to be honest, when I first started reading, I was a bit uneasy. But, all that was forgotten before I finished the first few pages. The next thing I knew  Gilson had sucked me into the story and I have now added another character I want to keep my eye on.

Maybe it was the Harley (my husband rides one), more likely it was simply Bobby Navaro. He is just a solid good character. Somehow I felt as though I had known him for years.  I immediately felt as though he were a character to be trusted. That combined with an engaging mystery had me hooked until the end. And now that I’ve read this book, I want to go back and read Murder on Route 66. I love it when I find a new series to enjoy and this has the added bonus of being one that expands my mystery genre reading.  Even better I have a long list of people I will be recommending this series too.

This tour just started yesterday. Be sure to check out the tour page for a chance to win a print or e-copy of Murder on Route 66.

Visit the other stops on the tour for a chance to learn more about the author and his character.

Tour Participants

July 14 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

July 15 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW

July 16 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

July 17 – My Funny View of Life – REVIEW

July 18 – Island Confidential – GUEST POST

July 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 20 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

July 21 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

July 22 – Lori’s Reading Corner – GUEST POST

July 23 – Back Porchervations – SPOTLIGHT

July 24 – deal sharing aunt – SPOTLIGHT

July 25 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

July 26 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW – BOOK 1

July 27 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW – BOOK 2 – INTERVIEW

 

 

Great Escapes Tour: Read to Death by Terrie Farley Moran

Read to Death
by Terrie Farley Moran

The novel is engaging and pulled me in right from the beginning.
~Sapphyria’s Book Reviews

This book was so good I did not want it to end.
~Laura’s Interests

The characters are fun and realistic, and the mystery keeps you turning pages, anxious to see how it all plays out.
~Book Babble

READ TO DEATH is a fun, lighthearted read that is character driven.
~Cinnamon Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder

I really enjoyed Read to Death by Terrie Farley Moran. There is a lot going on so you need to pay attention while you read ~ it took me to the end to figure out who the murderer was! Which is just how I like a cozy mystery to be.
~Kaisy Daisy’s Corner

This is a fast paced story that will have you turning pages and it kept me guessing till the very end..
~Melina’s Book Blog

The authors writing style is very light and flowing which makes your reading time just fly by.
~A. Holland Reads

A spunky heroine, a bookstore-cum-cafe, a host of interesting secondary characters, and Florida’s West Coast — this series is a lot of fun! Read to Death is the third book*, and Moran is on a roll.
~The Bookwyrm’s Hoard

Read to Death
(Read Em and Eat Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (July 5, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-0425270301
E-Book ASIN: B016JPTN5W

Synopsis

The national bestselling author of Caught Read-Handed revisits Fort Myers Beach, Florida, where the proprietors of a local bookstore café occasionally take a stab at solving murder…

At their seaside Read ‘Em and Eat bookstore café, Sassy Cabot and Bridgy Mayfield offer fresh scones, great books, and excellent detective work…

With their book club season wrapping up with The Florida Life of Thomas Edison, Sassy and Bridgy decide to take their group on a day trip to the beautiful Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Hiring driver Oscar Frieland, who’s known for his colorful stories and love of the café’s Robert Frost fruit tartlets, the bibliophiles set off for a day of sunshine and history.

After a lovely excursion, the club returns to the café for lunch and a book discussion, but the group falls silent after Oscar is found dead in his van. The sheriff’s deputies have some questions of their own for the group, and if the ladies don’t find some answers soon, the next book they read might be from a prison library.

About This Author

Short-listed twice for The Best American Mystery Stories, Terrie Farley Moran is delighted to introduce mystery fans to the Read ’Em and Eat café and bookstore, which debuted with Well Read, Then Dead. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her grandchildren.

Author Links:
Webpage – http://terriefarleymoran.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrie.moran.9

Blog:  www.womenofmystery.net

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23186092-terrie-moran

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/1terriemoran/

Purchase Links – Amazon            B&N

FTC Disclosure: I received a free NetGalley of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts: This is one of those series for which I’m always anxious for the next book. Terrie’s writing flows smoothly at a fast pace. The reader is engaged in the story right up to the end. This third installment in the series is no exception. One of the things I look for in a cozy mystery (besides the mystery) is whether or not I would want to visit the town and meet the people in the story. I would love to have a Read’em and Eat Cafe here in Colorado Springs. I love Sassy and Bridgy. They are closer than sisters and compliment each other in their approach to life and it’s mysteries.  Their various book club members had extra depth and humor to the story.   In this installment, I also enjoyed learning a about the Edison and Ford Winter estates.

If you are looking for an engaging mystery with truly likable characters then this is the series with you. You can easily read this book as a stand alone, but I do recommend reading the first two books in the series: Well Read, Then Dead and Caught Read Handed. 

Be sure to visit the tour page for a chance to win a print copy of this book.  Don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.

Tour Participants

July 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW*

July 5 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW*

July 6 – Book Babble – REVIEW

July 6 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – REVIEW

July 7 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW*

July 7 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW, GUEST POST*

July 8 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW*

July 8 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – REVIEW

July 9 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW

July 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, INTERVIEW*

July 11 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST*

July 11 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

July 12 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW*

July 13 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

July 14 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 14 – Curling Up by the Fire – REVIEW

July 15 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

July 16 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW*

July 17 – Classy Cheapskate – REVIEW

July 18 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW*

 

 

Great Escapes Tour: Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon – Review and Guest Post

FTC Disclosure: I received a free NetGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It is my pleasure to welcome the author of one of my favorite series to the blog today. 

It’s all about family.

Family. Can’t chose them, can’t kill them. Or at least you can’t in real life. In fiction, you can do a lot. Like pay back for the Chicken Heart story my brother told a terrified second grader (me) one night when he was babysitting. Don’t know Chicken Heart? Well, he’s coming to get you. He’s down the street (beat, beat), he’s outside the house (beat, beat), he’s coming up the stairs (beat, beat) … You get the idea.

The happy ending of this was just as my brother was doing his final scene and threw the shoe at my bedroom door, my parents came in and heard my blood-curdling scream.

Boy, did he get in trouble.

So when I started writing Tea Cups, I wanted to work with family dynamics. I knew there would be two sisters (Kathi and Ivy). One was beauty queen pretty, the other, more plain and a homebody. One sister had spread her wings and left their little Texas town for the sunshine and happy ever after’s of California. The other sister had been left behind to take care of their ailing father and clean up the mess Kathi left behind.

In addition to my brother, I have three sisters. Four when I count the woman my brother married, which I do. We all have gotten together too many times this last year for the illness and then, the loss of our mother. Four strong women who are so totally different from each other and from me, but yet, we’re all woven together because of our family ties.

Sometimes you chose family. Sometimes it choses you. I see Jill and the South Cove gang as a large family. Sometimes they fight and argue. Sometimes they hurt each other. But sometimes they get it right and realize what they are there for.

To love each other.

I hope you enjoy this recent trip to South Cove. I enjoyed writing it.

Lynn

Thanks Lynn! One of the things I like most about Jill and the rest of the South Cove residents, is that they do seem like one big family. You have created a wonderful dynamic among your characters. (Scroll down for my review of the book.)

Tea Cups and Carnage
by Lynn Cahoon

A solid, fast moving mystery, TEA CUPS AND CARNAGE is a fabulous tale of secrets, lies, murder, and more!
~Lisa K’s Book Reviews

This series just keeps getting stronger! I know when I settle in to a Tourist Trap mystery from Lynn Cahoon that it’s going to be like a visit with old friends in a town I always enjoy visiting…
~I Wish I Lived In a Library

The various sub-plots in this one made it hard to put down – I really needed to know what was going on, on all fronts!
~The Book’s the Thing

Multiple threads going on kept my sleuthing mind busy, and the character depth in Tea Cups and Carnage added new layers to our familiar friends (and introduced a couple of new faces to the mix).
~Reading is my SuperPower

Fast-paced, action packed story with plot twist that keep you captivated.
~Shelley’s Book Case

There are subplots and many relationships, with twists and turns…
~Christa Reads and Writes

If Tea Cups and Carnage were a guitar, the first part of the book would be an easy-going folk song, the kind families sing on car trips. The ending was a blistering guitar solo…very tense and thrilling and balanced the story perfectly.
~Back Porchervations

Lynn Cahoon has this great ability to write mystery that really pulls you in and won’t let you go.
~Community Bookstop

Tea Cups and Carnage (A Tourist Trap Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Lyrical Underground (June 7, 2016)
ASIN: B015BCRWQG

Synopsis:

The kettle’s about to boil over . . .

The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there’s nothing cozy about murder . . .

Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi’s sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi’s name—without getting herself in hot water.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho native. If you’d visit the town where she grew up, you’d understand why her mysteries and romance novels focus around the depth and experience of small town life. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and two fur babies.

Author Links

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5857424.Lynn_Cahoon

Twitter – https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon

Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor

Website – http://lynncahoon.com/

Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Cahoon/e/B0082PWOAO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

 

Purchase Links

Amazon             Nook

My thoughts: This is not the first time I’ve participated in a blog tour for The Tourist Trap Series. This series is one of my all time favorite reads. Each book I’ve read has been an engaging and entertaining read. The latest installment Tea Cups and Carnage is no exception. The mystery is well developed and  had me guessing up until the end.

In my opinion, one of the things that makes the story so great, is that even though there is a mystery to solve, there is still just every day activity going on. South Cove really does feel like a real town.  It’s like reading a letter  about your friends and family back home. The town and it’s residents could be real people.  Even if there wasn’t a mystery to solve, I would still want to read about Jill and the rest of the bank.

In this book, we get to see how Jill and Greg’s relationship continues to grow. We also learn more about some of the other characters, too. (Lille and Josh, but I won’t spoil anything.)  The Tourist Trap Mystery series is on my Auto-Read list. Tea Cups and Carnage is a solid good read.

If this is your first visit to South Cove (and seriously, I wish I could visit for real), then I highly recommend that you go back and start with the first book: Guide Book To Murder. However, you can easily read this book without having read the previous books. But trust me, once you read this one, you’ll want to go back and read the others. 

Be sure to visit the tour page for a chance to win an e-copy of this book.  You will also want to be sure to check out the other stops on the tour.

Tour Participants

June 7 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 7 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – REVIEW

June 8 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

June 9 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

June 9 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

June 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

June 10 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW or CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 11 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 12 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

June 13 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

June 13 –  Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

June 14 –  Community Bookstop –  REVIEW

June 15 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW, GUEST POST

June 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

June 17 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – REVIEW

June 18 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

June 18 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews –  SPOTLIGHT

June 19 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW

June 20 – Classy Cheapskate – REVIEW

June 20 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW

June 21 – Book Babble – REVIEW

June 21 –Booth Talks Books – CHARACTER GUEST POST, SPOTLIGHT

 

Wish by Barbara O’Connor – Review

Wish by Barbara O’Connor

Goodreads Summary:  Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.

FTC Disclosure:  I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts: I chose to read this book as a possible selection for my 4th & 5th Grade Book Club (Book Detectives) since it might be a Newbery contender.

Even though I predicted the ending early on, I really love the book.  I know that several of my young readers will enjoy the book, too.  It’s just an all around great read for kids. The characters are funny and of course the dog! I love that the title of the book, the heart of the book, is incorporated into the title.

Wish is a great for a read aloud and is also great for many discussions. I have already added it to my order list for the fall. I can’t wait to start recommending it to my students.

Wish will be released on August 30, 2016. Don’t miss it!

 

Great Escapes Tour: The Calamity Cafe by Gayle Leeson – Review

The Calamity Cafe
by Gayle Leeson

I absolutely loved The Calamity Cafe!!! This book was a well-written mystery, with charming characters and down home recipes that will make your mouth water.
~Moonlight Rendezvous

We are treated to a murder mystery and some romantic overtones… If you’re looking for a fun summer read, this would be a wonderful choice.
~Book Babble

A cleverly constructed plot, well-written characters, and a setting that feels like the town next door all blend together to form the perfect recipe for a new series!
~Reading is my SuperPower

The first book in a new cozy mystery series is full of colorful characters, delicious food, a solid mystery and a light touch of romance.
~Queen of All She Reads

The plot is engaging and fast paced, pulling the reader along on a wild tale of murder and suspense.
~Sapphyria’s Book Reviews

This book was great it had southern charm mixed in with old history and crime…
~Community Bookstop

This is a stellar start to the Down South Café Mystery series!
~Cinnamon and Sugar and A Little Bit of Murder

The Calamity Café: A Down South Café Mystery 
BRAND NEW SERIES
Cozy Mystery
Series: A Down South Café Mystery (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: NAL (June 7, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1101990780
ASIN: B015DLUS8E

First in a new cozy mystery series featuring Southern cooking that is to die for.

Aspiring chef and small-town Virginia native Amy Flowers is ready to open her own café offering old-fashioned Southern food. But her dream may go up in smoke when someone kills the competition…

Tired of waiting tables at Lou’s Joint, Amy Flowers doesn’t just quit—she offers to buy the place from her bully of a boss, so she can finally open the café of her dreams. Amy can’t wait to serve the kind of Southern, down-home treats and dishes that her grandmother always loved to the kooky cast of regulars at the restaurant. She knows her comfort food will be the talk of the sweet, small town of Winter Garden, Virginia.

At first Lou Lou refuses to sell, but when she seems ready to make a deal, she tells Amy to come see her.  Showing up at the eatery ready to negotiate, Amy is shocked to find her former employer murdered. As the prime suspect, Amy will have to clear her name by serving up the real killer—and with Lou Lou’s stack of enemies, that’s a tall order.

Includes delicious Southern recipes

 

 

 

About The Author –

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery series. I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series!

Authors Links:

Webpage – http://www.gayleleeson.com

Gayle Trent Webpage – http://www.gayletrent.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GayleTrentandAmandaLee/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/GayleTrent

GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/426208.Gayle_Trent

Purchase Links 

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Books-a-Million – Kobo 

My thoughts:

FTC Disclosure – I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is another brand new series. My summer reading has gotten off to a great start with The Calamity Cafe. Leeson’s Down South Cafe Mystery series promises to be an awesome new series. It has all the things that appeal to cozy readers: engaging mystery, wonderful characters (especially Amy), and delicious recipes.

The mystery which not only includes a current day murder, but is also tied in with a mystery surrounding the victim’s family history, is engaging and kept me guessing almost until the end.

I loved Amy from the start and not just because of her love for her deceased Nana – I’m a sucker for grandparent relationships – but because she’s such a no-nonsense well rounded character.  She knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to go for it. I also liked the way she treats those around her – even mean, cranky Lou Lou.

Leeson has created a wonderful supporting cast of characters as well. I think my favorite is Homer.  His hero a day has sparked some ideas of an activity for me to do with my elementary students in the fall.

Bottom line: The Calamity Cafe is an all round good read. Don’t miss out on this new series – I’ve already added it to my must read list.  Be sure to check out the tour page for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card and don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.

Tour Participants

June 7 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review

June 7 – The Self-Rescue Princess – Character Interview

June 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – Review, Giveaway

June 8 – Book Babble – Review

June 9 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Giveaway

June 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – Review

June 9 – Community Bookstop – Review, Giveaway

June 10 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – Review

June 10 – Books Direct – Guest Post, Giveaway

June 10 – Mystery Playground – Guest Post – Drinks and Reads

June 11 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review

June 12 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway

June 13 – A Holland Reads – Review, Character Guest Post, Giveaway

June 14 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my – Review

June 14 – Classy Cheapskate – Review

June 15 – Back Porchervations – Review

June 16 – The Book’s the Thing – Review

June 16 – Island Confidential – Interview

June 17 – Melina’s Book Blog –  Review

June 18 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

June 19 – I Read What You Write – Review, Interview

June 20 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Character Guest Post, Giveaway

June 20 – cherylbbookblog – Review

June 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

June 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review