Fifty Shades of Greyhound by Sparkle Abbey, Review and Guest Post

 

 

 

Fifty Shades of Greyhound by Sparkle Abbey
Cozy Mystery
205 PagesSynopsis

It was a killer party.

Caro Lamont, Laguna Beach’s favorite pet therapist is thrilled to support the elite fundraising gala for Greys Matter, a SoCal greyhound rescue group. All the guests in the couture-attired crowd are clad in varying shades of grey, the champagne and donations are flowing, and there are fifty gorgeous greyhounds in attendance. But before the evening ends a stranger in their midst is dead.

Caro sets out to help the rescue group find out the identity of the mystery guest, but soon finds herself in the doghouse with homicide detective, Judd Malone. And federal agent, John Milner. When there’s a second death, Caro is convinced she’s on the track of someone who wants a secret to stay buried, but it’s a race to see whether Caro can uncover the truth before the killer decides she’s next up.

Full of adorable pampered pets, the story re-visits lovely Laguna Beach, and some of the colorful characters readers have come to love in previous titles: Desperate Housedogs, Get Fluffy, Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, and Yip/Tuck.



My Review:

I enjoyed reading this whodunit.  I liked the characters in the book but I felt that I was kind of lost since this is the first Sparkle Abbey, Pampered Pets Mystery that I have read.  I felt, after starting this book, that I should have read the others in the series.  There was some background information but not enough.  It was still a great book that kept my attention.  It has some laugh-out-loud moments in it too.  If you love animals and are looking for a great cozy that will keep your attention, then this is the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

About The Author

Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of mystery authors Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter. They write the popular pet mystery series which features whodunits set in the wacky world of pampered pets, precious pedigrees, and secrets. The first book in the series Desperate Housedogs, an Amazon mystery series bestseller and Barnes & Noble Nook #1 national bestseller, was followed by Get Fluffy, Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, and Yip/Tuck.  Fifty Shades of Greyhound is the latest installment.

Author Links

www.SparkleAbbey.com
http://www.sparkleabbey.com/category/blog/
www.facebook.com/sparkleabbey
https://twitter.com/sparkleabbey
https://www.goodreads.com/sparkleabbey
http://www.pinterest.com/sparkleabbey/
Purchase Links
Amazon

Guest Post:

 

So happy to be stopping by Melina’s Blog today and to have a chance to tell you a little bit about us and about our books.

As you’ve probably already noted, there are two of us. We co-write the series but we collaborate a little bit differently than most co-authors. We take turns writing the books.

We came up with the idea of this mystery series together and so it seemed a natural way to do things. We only found out later that what we do is unique. The odd-numbered books star Caro, a psychologist turned pet therapist, and are written by Mary Lee. The even-numbered books star Mel, a pet boutique owner, and are written by Anita. We share the series’ Laguna Beach setting and some quirky secondary characters. Also, the two main characters, who are cousins, have cameos in one another’s books. We work closely together on the outline for the series and the individual books and we frequently work across the table from one another either at ML’s dining room table or at Starbucks. But each of us writes a full book.

We had the idea to work together because we had belonged to the same writers’ group for several years and had been writing and submitting fiction separately. We’d both received very “good” rejections from publishers and agents and then had a conversation with a NY agent at a RWA conference. Her advice on high-concept hooks was brilliant and we brainstormed some ideas. Because the idea of setting a mystery in the world of people and their pets was something we came up with together, we decided to team up on the series.

 

We write books with animals because we are both animal lovers and can’t imagine our own lives without our rescue pets. Even though these are murder mysteries, no harm ever comes to in the books. We describe the books as, “No pets are harmed. People are dead.”

Fifty Shades of Greyhound is the fifth book in the series. It follows: Desperate Housedogs, Get Fluffy, Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, and Yip/Tuck.

Again, a big thanks to Melina for inviting us to stop by!

We love to connect with readers and can be found online at the following spots:

Website: www.sparkleabbey.com 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sparklesbbey 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleabbey 

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/sparkleabbey 

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sparkleabbey 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sparkleabbey 

 

And monthly on the following blogs: 

Paws to Read: http://www.sparkleabbey.com/category/blog/ 

Killer Characters: http://www.killercharacters.com/ 

The Stiletto Gang: http://thestilettogang.blogspot.com/ 

 

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Thankful by Shelley Shepard Gray

About the book: 

Thankful, Book Two in the Return to Sugarcreek series

New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.

Christina Kempf has always known that God chose Aden Reese to be her husband. As children, he was there to save her when she fell through the ice, and he's been by her side ever since. After his parents died in a car accident ten years ago, the Kempfs raised Aden as one of their own, and everyone sees Aden and Christina as brother and sister. But Christina has never given up hope that Aden will one day ask her to be his wife.

Aden always planned to court Christina. But losing his mother and father changed everything---except his love for her. Her parents generously welcomed him into their home and treated him like a son. He can't betray their kindness by admitting his feelings for the girl who is like a sister . . . yet so much more.
Pressured by her parents to court, Christina begins to accept the attentions of Sugarcreek's young men, and now, Aden must make a choice. Will he stand by and watch the love of his life slip away? Or will he risk losing the love and trust of the family he holds dear to tell Christina how he truly feels?

Thankful includes a P.S. section with additional insights from the author, background material, suggestions for further reading, and more.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/wAcFF 

 

My Review:

 

Shelley has penned another novel filled with great characters in a great setting.  She really knows how to get to the heart of her characters.  I really enjoy reading Shelley's novels because they flow so well and really fast reads.  I like how there is a continuing story in each book in the series.  If you are looking for a heartwarming, charming, fast read, then this is the book for you.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

About the author: Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Connect with Shelley: website, Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Thankful, New York Times bestselling author, Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.



Enter to win the first two books in Shelley's Return to Sugarcreek series, Hopeful & Thankful.
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Finding Home by Tammy L Grace

 

Shattered by her husband's infidelities after twenty-five years of marriage, Sam Collins is plagued by constant fear and loneliness, reliving the tragic death of her parents and the betrayal by the man she loved.  She leaves Seattle seeking relief from the relentless darkness that has swallowed her.  With only her dog for companionship, she sets out to live in her vacation home on San Juan Island.

In her search for a carpenter, she meets the handsome and very available, Jeff Cooper.  Sam's not looking for romance, but can't deny the attraction to the retired firefighter, turned handyman.  While working together and eating her pies, Jeff finds himself falling for her.

The past she wrestles to let go of comes hurtling back when she least expects it.  In an effort to help a struggling young man, she is forced to confront the anguish she is desperate to escape.  While torn between love and friendship, she must face her fears and choose between the life she's known and a chance for a family and home she's been longing for all her life.

 

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this story about a woman who is trying to find where she belongs.  I think Friday Harbor would be a great place to visit.  This was a well written book, and the characters had really good morals too, which is a huge plus with me.  It also kept my attention throughout.  If you are looking for a charming book, full of great characters, set in a great location, then this is the book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

Author Bio:

Born and raised in Nevada, Tammy L. Grace loved reading at a young age. With the help of her middle school teacher, she discovered the joy of writing. After spending a career in local and state government service, she retired and finally has the time to dedicate to writing. 

When Tammy isn't working on ideas for a novel, she's spending time with family and friends or supporting her addiction to books and chocolate. She and her husband have one grown son and a spoiled golden retriever.

Connect with Tammy!

 

Website:  http://www.tammylgrace.com/

 

Blog: http://www.tammylgrace.com/blog.html

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammylgrace.books

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7799289.Tammy_L_Grace

 

Twitter: @TammyLGrace

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/tammylgrace

 

Buy the Book!

 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hfyOU9

Murder is Academic by Lesley Diehl--Review and Guest Post

Murder Is Academic
(Laura Murphy Mystery Series)
File Size: 1626 KB
Print Length: 223 pages
Publisher: Lesley A. Diehl (March 29, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
ASIN: B00JCV6XG8

Synopsis

Laura Murphy, psychology professor, thinks there’s nothing she likes better than coffee and donuts on a summer morning until she says yes to dinner with a Canadian biker and finds herself and her date suspects in the murder of her college’s president. Laura’s friend, the detective assigned the case, asks her to help him find out who on the small upstate New York college campus may be a killer.  The murder appears to be wrapped up in some unsavory happenings on the lake where Laura lives.  A fish kill and raw sewage seeping into the water along with the apparent drowning suicide of a faculty member complicate the hunt for the killer.  And then things become personal.  The killer makes a threatening phone call to Laura. With a tornado bearing down on the area and the killer intent upon silencing her, Laura’s sleuthing work may come too late to save her and her biker from a watery grave.

My Review:

This was an okay book, it wasn’t the best I have read in a while. It didn’t get exciting till the end. I sometimes didn’t like the character of Laura as I thought she didn’t think things through very well sometimes. I was also a little confused about who was who in this story. I really don’t like giving bad reviews, and there were some good parts of the book. I liked how Laura was determined to find out who the killer was. The ending gets pretty exciting and nail biting, Lesley did very well with that.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

About The Author

Like me, my protagonists choose to live their lives close to nature.
From the deep, green river valleys and tree-covered mountains of upstate New York to the palm-treed pastures of the Big Lake Country in Florida, these women have found their homes and their hearts in rural America.
These plucky snoops are joined by a transplant from Connecticut, Eve Appel, who moves to rural Florida to set up a consignment shop with her best friend and partner, Madeleine Boudreau.

All these amateur sleuths yearn for the simple, artless existence of hard work coupled with rustic pleasure.
That’s why they live away from big cities, but murder and violence have a way of stalking us, even our plucky heroines, who think they’ve avoided life’s perils.

Lesley A. Diehl author of cozy mysteries featuring sassy, country gals who enjoy snooping www.lesleyadiehl.com

Guest Post

Murder is Academic: Laura and her Pals

In most of my cozy mysteries, I pair my protagonist with a gal pal. I do this because I prefer writing in first person point of view (POV) where everything the reader experiences is through the eyes of the protagonist. I try to create a character the reader will like and root for, feel close to and find flawed enough to see as a real person. The value of a gal pal is to develop another likeable character who can provide the reader with another point of view on the protagonist’s behavior, feelings and attitudes. Sometimes a gal pal sees the world in exactly the same way the protagonist does. In other cases, she gives the reader a very different take on what is happening from that the protagonist provides.

Laura Murphy has her friend and colleague, Annie, a talented artist trying for the promotion Laura has already won. While individuals familiar with the system of tenure and promotion within academe may already understand the rules of advancement within the system, many readers don’t have such a frame of reference. Since the murder in the book is very much about the political issues within higher education, having Annie suffer some of the anxiety about an upcoming promotion and sabbatical provides the reader more intimate insight into what is happening then simply having Laura comment on it. I want the reader to be able to feel the anxiety Annie experiences and understand how conflict-ridden relationships within a college and university can be. Could this system support murder? It sure could.

It’s Laura’s understanding of how the university works that encourages the detective assigned to the case, Derrick Pasquis, to ask Laura for help in solving the murder. Derrick or Der as Laura calls him becomes yet another "pal" to provide the reader with yet an additional take on what is happening around Laura. He sees the world from the viewpoint of an outsider. Not only does he represent the authority of the police, an outside agency viewed with suspicion by the campus, but I’ve also heightened his outsider status by making him a Caribbean man of mixed race. Now the reader sees yet another view of the campus and of the suspects, through the eyes of a man, a police officer and an outsider. Of course, because this is first person point of view, all of this we learn through Laura so it is not truly veridical information, but a pal’s comments and behavior come from the person him or herself.

Lethal Lily by Jim and Joyce Lavene

Lethal Lily
(A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
300 pages

Synopsis
Part-time garden shop owner/part-time forensic botanist, Peggy Lee is trying to discover if the death of Ann Fletcher 20 years ago was an accident – or foul play. In return, she hopes to receive more information about her first husband’s death. She knows John Lee was murdered, but questions have arisen as to why he was killed. She is working with a private detective who stumbles across his own feet, but her Internet friend, Nightflyer, says that Harry Fletcher has the answers. When Harry is murdered by convallatoxin, from the lily of the valley plant, Peggy begins to understand her role in everything. Now she has to stay alive long enough to prove her theories – and keep her son, Paul out of trouble too!

My Review:

This is my second visit with Peggy Lee and her Garden Mysteries and it was an edge of your seat, suspense filled journey.  This book kept me turning the pages and kept my attention throughout.  I really enjoyed the information about different plants and flowers that Jim and Joyce included in this story.  Peggy gets herself into some dangerous situations, but that doesn't stop her.  If you like plants, flowers, gardening, and edge of your seat thrills, this is the book for you.  Great job, Jim and Joyce.  I look forward to more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. 

About The Authors
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.
Author Links
www.joyceandjimlavene.com 
www.peggyleegardenmysteries.com
www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene 
http://amazon.com/author/jlavene 
https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene
Amazon
A Book Excerpt
It was after midnight. Peggy Lee had been waiting in the dark parking lot of the Tri-State Mini Storage for more than an hour.
Since she was trying to keep a low profile, she hadn’t looked at her phone or listened to music. There was still a light in the mini storage office. She knew someone was working.
A sign flapped in the warm breeze that had blown up from a tropical storm churning at the Atlantic coast. She glanced at her watch again for the third time in as many minutes.
Where was Harry?
Peggy had only met Harry Fletcher a few days ago. They’d both received emails from her online friend, Nightflyer, suggesting they should work together.
A friend of mine is investigating an old murder in Charlotte, and might call on you for help. I sent him to you because he knows part of the puzzle surrounding John’s death. I’ll speak with you when I can. ~ Nightflyer
The note had caught her attention—and held it. It had only been a few months since she’d learned that her former husband, John Lee, may have been deliberately murdered. She still wasn’t sure it was true, but she decided it couldn’t hurt to check into it.
John had been a Charlotte, North Carolina police detective when he’d been killed more than a decade ago. He’d been called out on a domestic abuse situation that he shouldn’t even have responded to. But it was on his way home, and he’d gone willingly because he was needed.
The call went bad when the man, who’d been shooting at his wife’s boyfriend, decided to shoot at the police. He’d escaped in the gunfight that had ensued, but John had been killed. The shooter was never found. John’s partner had been at Peggy’s door a few minutes later with the news.
Peggy pushed the thoughts of that night out of her head. It was a long time ago, but it still haunted her. She couldn’t let herself get trapped in the past if she wanted to know what really happened to John.
Her phone rang—startling her. She almost dropped it. “Yes?”
“I found the storage unit,” Harry Fletcher whispered. “I forgot the bolt cutters on the floor of the car. Can you bring them? I’m at Unit 34.”
She agreed to do it, and sighed. The man was terminally careless. Just in the short time she’d known him, he was always dropping something, or forgetting something. She wondered how he’d managed to stay alive while he was working as a private detective.
Harry said he’d been working as an informant for the FBI when John was killed. They’d talked about it over tea in a sunlit atrium high above downtown Charlotte, with exotic lilies perfuming the air, and fleet-footed waiters continually checking their cups.
She hadn’t wanted to bring him to her house—it was better if she was the only one who knew about it. If her son, Paul, knew she was involved in anything like this, he’d be furious. Worse, it could ruin his life. His peace had been hard won after John’s death. He’d struggled with the knowledge that no one had been arrested in the case, eventually becoming a police officer himself.
Paul had always said there was something wrong about John’s shooting. It looked as though he might be right.

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Murder at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison--Review, Interview, and Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Murder at Honeychurch Hall: A Mystery
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books (May 13, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1250007798
ISBN-13: 978-1250007797
E-Book ASIN: B00H6EOJNW

Synopsis of Honeychurch Hall
By Hannah Dennison

Set against the backdrop of Agatha Christie’s beloved Devon, TV celebrity Kat Stanford discovers that her newly widowed mother Iris has recklessly bought a dilapidated carriage house on a country estate known as Honeychurch Hall. Although times have changed at the manor house, a line still exists between those upstairs, and those down. Iris’s arrival is greeted with suspicion—but that’s not all. Iris harbors an even bigger secret that not even her daughter knows: Iris writes under the pseudonym, Krystalle Storm, and is a best-selling author of racy bodice-rippers.

Throw in a feisty, octogenarian countess, a precocious seven year old who is obsessed with the famous fighter pilot called Biggles, a treasure trove of antiques; as well as the paparazzi, always hungry for celebrity news. Add the occasional haunting from the resident family of ghosts, and there is more than one motive for murder. Yet at its core, the story explores the relationship between a mother and daughter facing new and uncertain beginnings and makes a good case for the notion that those nearest and dearest to us are often the most duplicitous of all.

 

 

 

My Review:

 

I really enjoyed reading this cozy mystery.  I would love to visit England, and this cozy let me do that because it had such great descriptions of the English countryside.  I enjoyed reading about Kat and her somewhat eccentric mother, Iris, who has a couple secrets that she is hiding.  It seems Kat has a lot of different mysteries to figure out in this page turner.  I was kept thoroughly entertained throughout this book, not only by the mystery but by the many quirky characters that inhabit Honeychurch Hall and the town of Little Dipperton in the Devon countryside.  I hope to visit this charming hamlet again soon, great job Hannah. 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

About The Author

Born in England, Hannah relocated to Los Angeles with her daughter and two cats to pursue a career in screenwriting. Along the road to publication she has been an obituary reporter, antique dealer, private jet flight attendant and Hollywood story analyst. Hannah is the author of the Vicky Hill Mysteries (Constable UK) and the first, in her new series, “Murder at Honeychurch Hall” (Minotaur). Now living in Portland, Oregon Hannah continues to teach mystery writing at UCLA, has served on numerous judging committees for the Mystery Writers of America and still works part-time for a west coast advertising agency. She is married to an advertising executive and enjoys hiking, horseback riding, skiing and seriously good chocolate. http://www.hannahdennison.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VickyHillMysteries?ref=hl
Twitter https://twitter.com/HannahLDennison
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1165068.Hannah_Dennison
 Purchase Links
AMAZON      B&N

 

 

Interview:

 

How long have you been writing?

You could say I started telling stories the moment I learned to talk and chat to my imaginary friends. My mother would say that I was prone to “telling little white lies” but to be honest, I found the truth rather boring and much preferred my embellished versions.   

Professionally, I started out as a newspaper reporter for a weekly newspaper in Devon in the days of the old Remington typewriter. Unfortunately, all I wrote was the obituary column but later on, that experience became the basis for my first series, The Vicky Hill Mysteries. It was only when I moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to become a screenwriter that I got serious about my writing.

 

Where did you get the idea for Murder at Honeychurch Hall?

I first got the idea after my newly widowed mother suddenly decided to buy a wing of a huge country house on an estate that had been converted into apartments. At age 76 not only was this really impractical, the house in question was miles from anywhere. After over fifty years of old-school marriage (meaning my father ruled the roost), Mum was excited about doing exactly what she wanted for the first time in her life. My mother is now 84 and—thankfully—still in good health and able to drive. She’s still very happy there. I thought her second lease of life—especially how this impacted her relationship with everyone—would make an interesting backdrop. I hasten to add that although Iris Stanford in the book secretly writes romance as Krystalle Storm, my mother does not!

     

How many books are going to be in this series?

Hopefully … at least four. I have just turned in the second book that will be published in May 2015, and I have been contracted to write two more. I’m excited because one of the characters is a little boy called Harry who is the heir to the Honeychurch title. I’m curious to see how he’ll turn out as the series progresses. Please note that I write as if Harry will tell me how he plans on turning out! I often find my characters take on a life of their own.

 

Out of all the jobs you’ve had, what was your favorite?

I worked as a flight attendant for a private jet company based at Heathrow. It was one of the most exciting times of my life. I travelled all over the world and met the most fascinating people from African dictators, Formula One racing car drivers and Hollywood celebrities. It eventually took a toll on my private life however because I lived by a pager (no mobile phones back then) and would often have just two hours to get to the airport not even knowing which country I was flying to or for how long.

 

Who are your favorite authors?

      I have so many! Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart, Diana Gabaldon, Kate Carlisle, Carolyn

      Hart, Dick Francis … there are so many wonderful writers out there.

 

What are your hobbies?

I love hiking in nature, horseback riding and skiing. I enjoy collecting antiques—just like my heroine Kat Stanford who deals in them. I’m passionate about old houses and one day, I fantasize about buying my own dilapidated house and restoring it.

 

Where is your favorite place to vacation?

      I’m so predictable. It’s a place where it rains more than it does here in Portland, Oregon.

Ever since I was five years old my family have vacationed on the North Cornish coast in a tiny hamlet called Trebarwith Strand. We still go there every year. I’ve often wondered what it is about that place and I think it’s because it never changes. It’s the only thing in my life that has remained constant.

 

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I would return to Africa in a heartbeat. I worked for the Africa division of the Coca-Cola Company during my flying days. Africa got under my skin and I long to go back there.

 

I see you like chocolate, milk or dark?

I’m VERY picky about my chocolate! I prefer Green & Black’s Organic 85% but to be honest, I’ll eat any kind when I’m desperate.

 

Thank you so much for inviting me today. I’ve loved answering your questions and I’m happy to be able to give away a copy of “Murder at Honeychurch Hall.”

 

Giveaway:

 

One print copy is going to be given away, just leave a comment about why you want to read this book, and don't forget to leave your email so you can be contacted.  I will pick a winner on Monday, May 19, 2014.  Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death Runs Adrift by Karen MacInerney--Review and Giveaway

 

 

Death Runs Adrift (The Gray Whale Inn Mysteries)
Series: The Gray Whale Inn Mysteries (Book 6)
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK (May 8, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0738734608
ISBN-13: 978-0738734606

Synopsis:

With her own wedding fast approaching and her mother-in-law dating an unexpected beau, the last thing Natalie Barnes needs is to find a young man shot dead in a dinghy. A note she finds with the body suggests the dearly departed had a secret rendezvous planned with somebody on the island. But when suspicion is cast on a fisherman Natalie believes to be innocent, she begins to wonder if the murder was the result of a lover’s quarrel . . . or a lobsterman’s disagreement gone horribly wrong.

 

My Review:

 

I really enjoyed visiting the Gray Whale Inn!  I think I would really like to vacation here, but hopefully if I did, Natalie wouldn't be investigating a murder and wouldn't have quite so much excitement going on.  Not only is she trying to figure out who killed young Derek, she is also helping two of her guests figure out what happened to the minster whose remains were found on Cranberry Island.  Natalie gets herself into some dangerous scraps trying to figure all of this out, and she is trying to plan her wedding, and she also encounters some snags there as well. 

 

This was a cozy filled with great characters with that small community feel that I so enjoy reading about.  It is also filled with great cooking, as Natalie always likes to bake when she is stressed out.  This was my first visit to the Gray Whale Inn, but I am sure it won't be my last.  Great job Karen.  I recommend you run out and get a copy of this delightful, edge of your seat cozy!

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About This Author

Critically acclaimed author Karen MacInerney also teaches writers’ workshops and drives a mean carpool. Her book Murder on the Rocks was selected as an Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. When she’s not writing or chauffeuring children, she loves to read, drink coffee, attempt unusual recipes, and hit the local hike-and-bike trail. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children, and escapes to Maine as often as possible.’

 Purchase Links
AMAZON          B&N

Giveaway:

The author is giving away One (1) print copy of this book, US only.  To enter leave a comment telling me why you would like to visit Cranberry Island and the Gray Whale Inn, and don't forget your email, no email no entry.  I will randomly chose a winner on May 23.



Yesterday Mourning by Renita Bryant--Review and Giveaway

Fiction

Date Published: May 2013

Yvette is a forty-one year old woman struggling to cope with losing both parents during her twenties—one to terminal disease and the other to life’s complications. Over the years, she learned to repress the pain of watching her mother die and the resentment of having her father casually walk out of her life. Now as she packs her bags to return to her Georgia hometown and the house where final goodbyes were never spoken, a growing sense of uneasiness intensifies.

 

Vera is the kind-hearted stepsister Yvette never imagined nor wanted. She was an innocent teenager in search of answers when Yvette’s father, the Pastor, entered her life. Although broken from the loss of his beloved wife and daughters, he gave Vera the love and affection she so desperately needed. However, a childhood secret threatens to compromise everything Vera holds dear.

 

When the Pastor’s health takes a turn for the worse, both daughters must decide if they have the strength and courage to no longer be confined to burdens of the past. Will Yvette overcome feelings of abandonment and forgive her father before it’s too late? Does Vera’s childhood secret hold the key to mending this family’s broken relationship?

 

Yesterday Mourning is a heartfelt and poignant novella about two women learning invaluable lessons of forgiveness, love, loss and ultimately—peace. It is an impressive debut from an author with an authentic voice and a love for storytelling.

 

My Review:

 

A very well written story of three women who each have their own struggles.  This story flowed really well.  I liked the wonderful message that it brought and it was so well written, I fell I know the characters and their struggles personally.  If you are looking for a poignant story of family, grief, hurt, and forgiveness, then this is the story for you.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

 

 

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Murder in Merino--Sally Goldenbaum--Review and Giveaway

 

 

Murder in Merino: A Seaside Knitters Mystery
Series: SEASIDE KNITTERS MYSTERY (Book 8)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: NAL Hardcover (May 6, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0451415363
E-Book ASIN: B00FFFN7UK

Synopsis
It’s autumn in Sea Harbor and as the tourists leave a mysterious guest arrives. When she’s implicated in a crime the Seaside Knitters must quickly table their knitting project and search out a motif for murder.

Fall is usually a relaxing time in Sea Harbor, but it’s turning out to be a busy season for Izzy Chambers Perry. Not only is she helping the Seaside Knitters make a magnificent throw to celebrate the fortieth wedding anniversary of her aunt and uncle, she and her husband are finally selling the cottage she lived in before they married and had a darling baby girl. To Izzy’s surprise, newcomer Julia Ainsley seems determined to buy the home—although she’s never set foot inside.

But on the day of the open house, things take a tragic turn. A body is uncovered in the cottage’s backyard. When the police find Julia’s name and phone number in the victim’s pocket, this slender thread of evidence makes her a person of interest. Soon the spotlight of suspicion widens to include old friends and town leaders, as a tragic happening, long buried in the sleepy seaside town, is slowly brought to the surface.

Before the Endicotts’ joyful anniversary celebration can be realized, the Seaside Knitters must work to unravel the real reason Julia Ainsley has come to their town and the tangled and tragic ties from the past that bind friends and townsfolk together.

 

 

My Review:

 

This was my first visit to Sea Harbor, but it won't be my last.  I fell in love with this charming seaside town.  I also really liked the characters and their close relationships in this series.  These are a group of people that really care about each other and want what's best for everyone.  This town would be a wonderful town to visit.  I really loved the mystery in this book also, there is not just one mystery, but a couple of different mysteries that the group of friends has to uncover.  Sally is also a great writer and that helped this book along.  I can't wait to visit the charming hamlet of  Sea Harbor again, even though I don't knit, I enjoyed that aspect of this book also.  There really wasn't anything about this book that I didn't like.  If you are looking for a an entertaining mystery that will keep you guessing and a book that has a great friendship/relationship aspect, then this is a book you will definitely enjoy.  I look forward to reading more about Sea Harbor and it's wonderful inhabitants.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

 

 

 

About The Author
Sally Goldenbaum is a sometime philosophy teacher, a knitter, and an editor, and the author of more than thirty novels. Sally became more serious about knitting with the birth of her first grandchild and the creation of the Seaside Knitters mystery series. Her fictional knitting friends are teaching her the intricacies of women’s friendship, the mysteries of small-town living, and the very best way to pick up dropped stitches on a lacy knit shawl.  [Additional bio information available on my website: www.sallygoldenbaum.com
Author Links
https://www.facebook.com/authorsallygoldenbaum?ref=hl
twitter.com/sallygoldenbaum
www.sallygoldenbaum.com
Purchase Links 
AMAZON        B&N


GIVEAWAY:

Sally has graciously agreed to giveaway one hardback copy of this book at each stop.  If you want to be entered in this contest, please follow this blog, also leave a comment about why you would like to read this book.  I will choose a winner by May 22.  Goodluck and P.S. leave your email so I can notify you if you win, no email, no entry.  Also let me know that you followed this blog.