Strangled by Silk--Barbara Jean Coast

Book Details:
Strangled by Silk (Poppy Cove Mysteries)
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Number of Pages: 275
Cozy Cat Press (January 30, 2013)

Synopsis
Darlings! Here’s the scoop on my latest mystery STRANGLED BY SILK. It’s all about Daphne and Margot––two independent young California women in 1957––own their own dress shop called Poppy Cove.

When one of their top clients––Constance Stearns-Montgomery––is strangled to death with her own silk scarf at the opening ceremonies for her new girls’ academy, Daphne and Margot are shocked. They can’t believe that such a horrid crime could take place in their sleepy little oceanside village of Santa Lucia. Worse, they’ve lost one of their best clients. The two women quickly become embroiled in solving the crime. After all, if anyone can track down the killer, it should be them. Margot’s long-time beau is the town’s top cop, and Daphne is a master at using her flirtatious wiles to extract information from unsuspecting men.

Of course, neither girl will let their snooping get in the way of more urgent tasks such as choosing new textiles and accessories for Poppy Cove or planning their fall fashion show or––most important––selecting the appropriate ensemble to wear for each and every occasion. But these two fashion detectives are on the case, and the murderer––and the poorly attired––had better watch out!

 

My Review:

 

I wasn't real sure about this book when I first started it, but it was a very pleasant surprise.  I really liked this book.  I am not much on fashion, but I enjoyed reading about the fashions of the 50's.  I also liked reading about a simpler time.  Margot and Daphne were great, they are young women in the 50's who have their own successful careers instead of relying on husbands to provide for them.  They are also, great detectives.  This is one of those cozies that left me guessing, literally till the end.  The killer ended up being someone I did not suspect at all.  Great job.  I look forward to more adventures of Margot and Daphne and their fashion shop, Poppy Cove. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Barbara Jean Coast

Barbara Jean Coast is the pen name of authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Barbara Jean, however, is a resident of Santa Lucia, California (eerily similar to Santa Barbara), where she enjoys long lunches, cocktail parties, fancy dinner dates with attractive and attentive gentlemen. Her interests include Alfred Hitchcock movies, reading Carolyn Keene, music by popular musicians, such Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, shopping for new dresses, attending society events and always looking fabulous in kitten heels. STRANGLED BY SILK is her first novel in the Poppy Cove Mystery Series.


Author Links
Blog:  http://welcometopoppycove.wordpress.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BarbaraJCoast
Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/bjcoast/
Facebook:  “Friend” Barbara Jean Coast & “Like” Poppy Cove Mysteries
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/BJCoast 
Purchase Links:
AMAZON   B&N   Book Wo

Melanie Dobson's The Courier of Caswell Hall

About the book: An unlikely spy discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution.

As the British and Continental armies wage war in 1781, the daughter of a wealthy Virginia plantation owner feels conflict raging in her own heart. Lydia Caswell comes from a family of staunch Loyalists, but she cares only about peace. Her friend Sarah Hammond, however, longs to join the fight. Both women's families have already been divided by a costly war that sets father against son and neighbor against neighbor; a war that makes it impossible to guess who can be trusted.

One snowy night Lydia discovers a wounded man on the riverbank near Caswell Hall, and her decision to save him will change her life. Nathan introduces her to a secret network of spies, couriers, disguises, and coded messages---a network that may be the Patriots' only hope for winning the war. When British officers take over Caswell Hall and wreak havoc on neighboring plantations, Lydia will have to choose between loyalty and freedom; between her family's protection and her own heart's desires.

As both armies gather near Williamsburg for a pivotal battle, both Lydia and Sarah must decide how high a price they are willing to pay to help the men they love.

Part of the American Tapestries™ series: Each standalone novel in this line sets a heart-stirring love story against the backdrop of an epic moment in American history. This is the fifth book in the series.

Purchase a copy: http://amzn.to/1aLxC9s

My Review:

This book was so well written, had so much historical accuracy, and was so interesting that I just flowed through it.  It was such and interesting read.  I wasn't that familiar with the Revolutionary War, but this book changed some of that.  It may be a work of fiction, but the research was so well done.  I actually felt like I was right there where all of this was happening.  It had a wonderful cast of characters.  The plot was great.  Just a great read all around.  If you are interested in the Revolutionary War then this is a book for you, even if you aren't a Revolutionary War buff, this is a great read that I highly recommend.  Great job Melanie!

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



About the author: Melanie Dobson is the author of twelve novels; her writing has received numerous accolades including two Carol Awards. Melanie worked in public relations for fifteen years before she began writing fiction full-time. Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides with her husband and two daughters in Oregon.

Connect with Melanie at: http://melaniedobson.com

Landing page: 

 http://litfusegroup.com/author/mdobson

 

Melanie Dobson's latest release, The Courier of Caswell Hall, is a riveting story you won't want to miss. The newest offering in the American Tapestries™ series, it follows an unlikely spy who discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution.



Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book!

Five winners will receive:

• The Courier of Caswell Hall by Melanie Dobson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th at the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won one of the books!

Rosie Genova--Murder and Marinara Review and Giveaway

 

 

Murder and Marinara:
An Italian Kitchen Mystery (Italian Kitchen Mysteries)
New Series
Publisher: Signet (October 1, 2013)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451415141
ASIN: B00BC255Y6

Synopsis
Hit whodunit writer Victoria Rienzi is getting back to her roots by working at her family’s Italian restaurant. But now in between plating pasta and pouring vino, she’ll have to find the secret ingredient in a murder….

When Victoria takes a break from penning her popular mystery series and moves back to the Jersey shore, she imagines sun, sand, and scents of fresh basil and simmering marinara sauce at the family restaurant, the Casa Lido. But her nonna’s recipes aren’t the only things getting stirred up in this Italian kitchen.

Their small town is up in arms over plans to film a new reality TV show, and when Victoria serves the show’s pushy producer his last meal, the Casa Lido staff finds itself embroiled in a murder investigation. Victoria wants to find the real killer, but there are as many suspects as tomatoes in her nonna’s garden. Now she’ll have to heat up her sleuthing skills quickly…before someone else gets a plateful of murder.

 

 

My Review:

 

This was an awesome cozy.  I really liked Victoria Rienzi/Vick Reed.  The setting of this story was great also.  Who doesn't love the beach and the boardwalk.  This book had a great cast of characters, a close-knit Italian family.  When a big time producer eats in the family restaurant, Casa Lido, and is later found outside dead, Victoria's grandmother wants her to find the killer.  So Victoria and her sister-in-law Sofia start and investigation.  They have several close calls, but  in the end, they figure it out.  My attention was held from the beginning till the end, this was a great story and a great start to a new series that I look forward to.  Great job Rosie.

 

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

 

 

About This Author:

A Jersey girl born and bred, Rosie Genova left her heart at the shore, which serves as the setting for much of her work. The atmosphere of the Jersey shore is present in the details, whether it’s the smell of the sea, the sound of a Springsteen song, or the taste of a frozen custard from the boardwalk. And no summer is complete unless she has sand in her shoes.

A bookworm from the time she could sound out words, Rosie spent many happy hours in her home town library where she hid behind the stacks reading the titles she was too young to check out. She earned two degrees in English from Rutgers University, where she discovered to her delight that reading Jane Austen was actually considered homework. Though she’s always considered herself a writer, she didn’t pen her first novel until ten years ago, and she hasn’t stopped since.

Her new series, the Italian Kitchen Mysteries, is informed by her deep appreciation for good food, her pride in her heritage, and her love of classic mysteries, from Nancy Drew to Miss Marple. An English teacher by day and novelist by night, Rosie also writes women’s fiction as Rosemary DiBattista. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband, two of her three sons, and an ill-behaved fox terrier.

Social Media:

www.rosiegenova.com    

www.facebook.com/RosieGenova

Goodreads link

Purchase Links:
Amazon            B&N                 Book World                 Powell’s Books                  Book Depository

 

 

Giveaway:

 

Rosie has generously offered a print copy of the book and one of these great spoons as a giveaway.  Please leave a comment about why you want to read this book and leave your email address (please respond to any emails from me, I have been getting a lot of winners not responding).  No email no entry, Open to US residents only.  I will pick a winner on the 8th.



Larissa Reinhart-Still Life in Brunswick Stew Interview and Review

 

 

 

 

 

Book Details:
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Humorous – 2nd in Series
Published by: Henery Press
Release Date: May 17, 2013
Number of Pages: 298

Synopsis

Cherry Tucker’s in a stew. Art commissions dried up after her nemesis became president of the County Arts Council. Desperate and broke, Cherry and her friend, Eloise, spend a sultry summer weekend hawking their art at the Sidewinder Annual Brunswick Stew Cook-Off. When a bad case of food poisoning breaks out and Eloise dies, the police brush off her death as accidental. However, Cherry suspects someone spiked the stew and killed her friend. As Cherry calls on cook-off competitors, bitter rivals, and crooked judges, her cop boyfriend get steamed while the killer prepares to cook Cherry’s goose.

My Review:

Wow!!  What a ride.  I read the first Cherry Tucker Mystery, Portrait of a Dead Guy, but this one was the best.  This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept it through the whole book.  Cherry was relentless in trying to find out what happened to her best friend, Eloise.  This shows true friendship.  She didn't even care if she made her cop boyfriend, Luke, mad in the process.  She also gets herself into some dangerous and humorous scraps at times.  I guess I can relate a lot to Cherry because I live in an area that is really similar to the where she lives, we are both country girls!  This cozy had everything that makes a great cozy; humor, food, intrigue, and it kept me guessing till the very end.  Very good job.  Can't wait to read the next in the Cherry Tucker series. 

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

   Larissa Reinhart loves small town characters, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (May 2013) is the second in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series. The first, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit. Visit her website, her Facebook page, or find her chatting with the Little Read Hens on Facebook.



Author Links
Website: larissareinhart.com
Blog: larissareinhart.blogspot.com
Facebook page: facebook.com/RisWrites
Goodreads author page: goodreads.com/author/show/5806614.Larissa_Reinhart
Twitter: twitter.com/RisWrites
Publisher: henerypress.com
https://www.facebook.com/LittleReadHens
Amazon: amazon.com/author/larissareinhart
Buy Links:
PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY:
Amazon Kindle     B&N Nook     Kobo
Amazon Paperback     B&N Paperback

Interview with Larissa Reinhart

 

 

 

1.      Where did you get the inspiration for the character, Cherry Tucker?

Hey Melina, thanks for having me on! I’m so glad to be here.

 

Cherry just popped in my head one day. She’s pretty loud, so it was hard to ignore her. I do have an artist friend (artist Palmarin Merges) who is vertically challenged and feisty, although it didn’t occur to me until after I had written the second book, STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW, that there was any similarities between the two. I had thought of Cherry Tucker as a kind of a grown Frankie Addams from Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers. Kind of ornery, idealistic, and with a vivid imagination.

 

 

2.      How long have you been writing?

 

I wrote a lot as a kid. Won some awards, had a column on my local paper, spent most of my childhood reading. I decided not to go into journalism (I was too introverted), but did take creative writing courses in college. At that time, writing was fun, not a professional pursuit. I dabbled a little on and off for the next twenty years, but didn’t seriously start writing again until four or five years ago when my family was living in Japan, I wasn’t working, and the children went to school full time for the first time. I started with an idea that had been bouncing around in my head for about a year, then challenged myself to see how much I could write. I finished the four hundred page story in about three months. Then I had to teach myself how to edit. That’s much harder than writing!

 

3.      What have been your inspirations to become a writer?

 

Love of reading and having stories or characters in my head that needed to be expressed.

 

4.      What genre of books, besides mysteries, do you like?

 

I’m more drawn to voice and characters than I am to genre. I read all kinds of fiction: thrillers, romance, horror, YA, literary fiction, science fiction, humor, and fantasy. (Does that cover it all?)  If I pick up an author and I like their voice, I’ll read everything they write that I can reasonably get my hands on. Then I move on to another writer. I’m kind of a hit & run reader.

 

 

5.      Do you write any other types of books?

 

The first full manuscript I wrote was a paranormal young adult. I’ll probably pull it out and look at it again one day. I have a lot of ideas for Young Adult or New Adult stories that I’d like to work on, especially because my daughters are going to be able to read them in a few years. I also have an adult romantic suspense about a half-gypsy psychic that’s languishing in my computer. I’ve been too busy to do anything with it. And while I write the Cherry Tucker mysteries, I’m also working on a paranormal detective agency series set in Japan. I’m focused on getting that one published now because I’d love to continue with that series. And then there’s the dozen or so other story ideas jotted down in various notebooks. I wish I had more time!

 

 

6.      What do you like to do in your spare time?

 

All my spare time is family time. I’ve got a ten and eight-year-old daughters and a husband who are supportive of my writing, but also like to have my focus, so I don’t have much time for anything else. We love travel and take little weekend jaunts when we can. We’re hoping to have enough money to travel back to Japan next summer.

 

7.      How many books do you have planned for the Cherry Tucker Series?

 

Number three, HIJACK IN ABSTRACT, comes out in November (there’s also a prequel novella to PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY in the anthology HEARTACHE MOTEL coming out in December). I’m working on number four now, DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE, and have the mystery for number five. I’ll write as many as readers want! I’ve threaded a mystery about her missing mother throughout the books and am slowing working Cherry toward resolving that missing piece in her life book by book. Cherry’s fun to write. Her antics amuse me and I hope also amuse my readers!

 

Thanks so much for having me on!

Kylie Logan--Chili Con Carnage Review and Guest Post

Book Details:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by Berkley Prime Crime
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Number of Pages: 296
BRAND NEW SERIES

Synopsis
Romance is supposed to be the spice of life. But Maxie Pierce is so done with bad relationships . . . well, almost. She just has to get rid of the latest loser, Roberto. Besides, she has more important things to worry about. Her dad, Texas Jack Pierce, king of the chili cook-off circuit, has been missing for nearly six weeks. In his place, she must team up with her irritating half sister, Sylvia,to promote the family business at the Taos Chili Showdown.

But when Maxie discovers Roberto’s body in a chef’s trailer–only hours after publicly breaking up with him–she suddenly finds she’s the one in the spotlight as the police pepper her with questions. Now this Chili Chick needs to kick up the search to catch the real killer and get back to finding her father.

 

 

My Review:

 

Another great cozy.  I love cozies because they don't have a lot of sexual content and there is some language, but nothing bad, they are how people really are.  This one was no exception.  I really enjoyed it.  A great start to a great series.  Maxie was determined to prove that her "half" sister was innocent, and her journey to that discovery was sometimes pretty funny.  She had a lot of people to suspect and she also had to fend off a jealous woman who wanted to tear her apart. This book was very well written, and kept my attention the whole way through.  I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was, and I wasn't disappointed at all.  Great job Kylie.  I look forward to more in this series.

 

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

 

About Kylie Logan
Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond,” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin Mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box Mysteries(newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (“Mayhem at the Orient Express “) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Links:
Webpage: www.kylielogan.com Also, www.caseydaniels.com

 

 

Guest Post by Kylie Logan

 

What’s Your Chili IQ?

Chili...whether you like it hot or mild, with beans or without, heavy on the grease or light on things like ground turkey and tofu, chili is everyone’s favorite cold-weather dish.

That goes double for Maxie Pierce, heroine of my new Chili Cook-Off mystery series. The first book, "Chili Con Carnage" hits store shelves on October 1 and follows Maxie’s adventures as she tries to solve the murder of a Chili Showdown roadie. There are plenty of plot twists and turns, plenty of craziness what with Maxie spending her days at the Showdown as the Chili Chick, dressed as a giant red chili pepper (complete with fishnet stockings and stilettoes) and enough suspects to keep the pot boiling! There’s plenty of information about chili, chili spices and cooking, too, and that got me to thinking . . .

How much do you know about chili? Take the quiz and find out! Answers are the end, but no cheating! See if you’re a Chili Chick!

　

1. Which city has three times as many chili parlors as McDonald’s restaurants?

A. Tulsa

B. Cincinnati

C. Taos

2. Which famous outlaw refused to rob a bank in McKinney, Texas, because his favorite chili parlor was there?

A. Jesse James

B. Al Capone

C. Billy the Kid

3. Where was the first chili cook-off held?

A. Houston, Texas

B. Phoenix, Arizona

C. Terlingua, Texas

4. What unit measures the heat of a chili pepper?

A. Scoville Unit

B. Thermal Unit

C. Capsaicin Unit

5. What’s the best way to cool off your mouth after you heat a too-spicy chili pepper?

A. A big glass of cold water

B. Eating a slice of bread

C. Drinking milk

　

Answers:

1. B. Cincinnati. Skyline Chili is famous there, and it’s served over spaghetti.

2. A. Jesse James, who once said, "any place that has a chili joint like this ought to be treated better."

3. C. Terlingua, Texas in 1967. Every year on the first of November, the Chili Appreciation Society International holds a cook-off there.

4. A. Scoville Heat Units measure the heat of chili peppers. To give you an idea, the Bhut jolokia (ghost pepper) contains 1 million SHU. A bell pepper has 0.

5. C. Mouth on fire? Drink a glass of milk. Dairy products help cool down the capsaicin, the ingredient that makes peppers hot.

 

 

 



Kathleen Bauer--Before the Dawn and Sweet September

About the books: When the world around you falls apart, could it be that God is giving you a second chance? This is just one of the questions on Charlotte Stevenson's mind as she brings her three grandchildren to live on the family farm in Guidepost Books' Home to Heather Creek series.


Before the Dawn begins just one week after the funeral of Charlotte's daughter, Denise. Denise's three children barely have time to process the death of their mother before they must move to the Heather Creek Farm they have never visited with grandparents they barely know. At age 16, Sam is fiercely protective of his younger siblings. Emily is 14 and desperately misses her friends. Young Christopher is only 8 and just wants to fit in. While Charlotte tries to help her grandchildren adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief and the enormous task of bringing her family together. Bob believes the fastest path to adjustment is a firm routine, with structure and chores, the same way they raised their own kids. However, that route led to Denise running away from home as a teenager and an estranged relationship with her family. Charlotte is worried about making the same mistakes she made with Denise. Is this her chance to make things right?

It is spring when the children arrive, and as Charlotte looks around the farm, she hopes the new life around them will signify hope and healing. The miracle of new life, along with God's healing touch, reminds all of them that it's always darkest just before the dawn.

My Review:

This is the first book in the Home to Heather Creek series.  Each book in the series is written by a different author, using the pen name Kathleen Bauer.  In the first book, Before the Dawn, Charlotte and Bob's estranged daughter, Denise, has been killed in an automobile accident.  She left custody of her three children, Sam, Emily, and Christopher to them.  They are not happy to leave San Diego and travel to rural Nebraska to a farm.  This book was written really well and showed the real struggle that the kids had to go through to adjust to their new surrounding.  It also showed Charlotte's real struggle as she had to adjust to having three children again and try to keep up at home.  Her husband, Bob, sometimes thinks that it isn't a good idea to keep the kids at the farm.  Then there is Charlotte and Bob's son, Pete, who still helps with the farm.  He and Bob don't always see eye to eye.  Denise's horse is still at the farm, and the kids, especially Emily, form a bond with the horse.  Will a near tragedy bring the family together or push them further apart?  If you are looking for a fast read that is real and gets to the heart, then this is the book for you.

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

Sweet September picks up at harvest time, as the children are settling into a new school year. While the harvest should be an exciting time, the children don't seem to be getting into the spirit. Emily is struggling with farm life, Christopher spends most of his time alone, and Sam is failing school. Trying to learn from what did and didn't work with her own kids, Charlotte is determined to get her grandchildren back on track.

As tenuous family bonds threaten to break apart, a mystery on the farm might be the one thing that can bond the family together. Charlotte sets out to uncover the truth, and as the kids unite to find answers, this cobbled-together family learns more about one another and the love that binds them together.

The lives of the Stevensons and their grandchildren unfold in this captivating story of the remarkable change that comes from the love of family, the kindness of others, sheer persistence and unshakable faith. As readers follow the Stevensons' inspiring stories, it's almost impossible not feel a part of this friendly, loving community, where God's grace can be seen in every circumstance.

Purchase the books here: http://ow.ly/oQGxr

My Review:

I also enjoyed this book, the next in the Home to Heather Creek Series.  Even though a different author wrote this book, it still went well with the first book.  It continues the story and struggle of Charlotte and her grandkids trying to adjust to life.  All three children are still struggling to adjust to farm life and life in a rural area.  The author portrayed that struggle very well.  I look forward to reading more about this charming family in upcoming releases in this series.

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

About the Author: Kathleen Bauer is the pen name for a team of writers who have come together to create the Home to Heather Creek series.

Landing page: 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/kbauer

 

Guideposts Books is thrilled to announce their brand new series, Home to Heather Creek, by Kathleen Bauer. The first two books, Before the Dawn and Sweet September, launch this month and Guideposts Books is celebrating with a Paperwhite Kindle Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A Paperwhite Kindle
• Before the Dawn and Sweet September by Kathleen Bauer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th HERE.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to their blog [enter your email in the blog sidebar] and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Fired Up--Mary Connealy

About the book: Rollicking Wild West Adventure and Romance from Bestselling Author Mary Connealy

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner---never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/oOqGx

My Review:

This is the second book in Mary's Trouble in Texas Series, but you really wouldn't have to read the first book in the series to really like and understand this one.  I really enjoyed this book.  It had a little romance, and a lot of action.  There was a little mystery to it also.  Mary's books are so easy to read.  They flow so well.  This is series is packed full of great characters and we get to meet a new character in this story, Jonas' sister, Tina, she seems like a firecracker and I am hoping the next book in the series is about her.  This book was about Glynna, who the regulators saved from her abusive husband.  It is kind of funny that Glynna decides to open a diner, and she can't cook at all!  She promised her children she wouldn't get married again without their blessing, and when there are sparks between her and Dare, her son is not happy.  Then Dare's life is threatened several times, it take the whole group to figure out who is after Dare.  If you like a fun, action packed, faith filled book, this is the book for you.

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

Meet Mary: Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Connect with Mary: http://maryconnealy.com/

 

Landing page: 

http://litfusegroup.com/author/mconnealy

 

Mary Connealy is back with the second book, Fired Up, in her Trouble in Texas series, and she's celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway and a LIVE author chat party on October 8th.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD
• Swept Away  and Fired Up by Mary Connealy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 8th. Winner will be announced at the "Fired Up" Live Webcast Event on October 8th. Connect with Mary for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Mary will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Fired Up and join Mary and friends on the evening of October 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!