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Saturday, November 21, 2015

Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore by Rose Pressey



 

Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore
(A Haunted Vintage Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (October 27, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1617732539
ASIN: B00TE7O8GM
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This looks like a job for the fashion police!

A hot-ticket charity fashion show is the perfect chance for Cookie Chanel, proud owner of It’s Vintage Y’All, to show off her stylistic savvy for a good cause. But when a famous fashionista is fatally flattened, and the ghost of a former private investigator asks for Cookie’s help, she has to scurry to sew up a solution. With clever clues from Wind Song, her psychic cat, and sassy suggestions from Charlotte, her ghost-in-residence, Cookie must unravel the sinister stitches of a deadly design–before she becomes the next fashion victim…
 
What I Thought: 
 
Who doesn't love a good ghost story and a ghost  who solves murders is even better.  This was my first visit to Sugar Creek, GA and the Vintage Y'ALL was a very store.  This well written and entertaining story.  I really liked Cookie and her ghostly best friend Charlotte.  Cookie helps out a friend who gets murdered, so Cookie and Charlotte are on the case.  This was such a good, page-turning read.  I look forward to more in this series.
 
I received a complimentary copy for my honest review.
 
 

About The Author

Rose Pressey is a USA Today bestselling author. Her books Forever Charmed, Rock ‘n’ Roll is Undead, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells, How to Date a Werewolf, and Me and My Ghoulfriends have won her a wide following. Rose lives near Louisville, Kentucky.
 
Author Links

https://www.facebook.com/authorrosepressey
itsvintageyall.blogspot.com




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Friday, November 13, 2015

A Dickens of a Murder by Jim and Joyce Lavene





A Dickens of a Murder
(Canterville Book Shop Mystery 1)

Cozy Mystery
Print Length: 208 pages
Publisher: J. Lavene (November 3, 2015)
ASIN: B015269QSI
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Synopsis:

Christmas at Canterville!
Lisa Wellman and Simon Canterville are surprised to find a dead man on their roof in the midst of rushing to open the Canterville Book Shop in time for the holidays. And not just any dead man – Ebenezer Hart – the man who opposed the book shop opening in Olde Town, Portsmouth, Virginia.
What might be more surprising is when Daniel Fairhaven – Lisa’s ex – turns up at the door of the three-story Victorian house to head the police investigation. She hasn’t seen him in years but the sparks start to fly as soon as they are in the same room together.
Simon and Lisa are obviously the best suspects for the murder. Each of them had something to gain by Hart’s death. Then an attempt on Simon’s life throws that theory into a tailspin.
But the biggest surprise yet comes when the ghost of Charles Dickens turns up to help Lisa with the murder investigation – and writing the mystery novel she has been working on for years.
Without a doubt, Daniel and Dickens in Lisa’s life means trouble. And there’s still the matter of trying to get the book shop open with a killer on their heels.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOYCE LAVENE WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON OCTOBER 20, 2015.

What I Thought:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have all of Jim and Joyce's books.  It will be sad that Joyce is no longer with us, but I know that Jim, with the help of their daughter, will keep this legacy going.  This book captivated me from the beginning.  I am like the main character Lisa, and I love books and have often dreamt of having my own book store.  Lisa's dream has become reality through the help of her friend Simon Canterville.  But when a body is found on the roof of Simon's home, which is about to become Canterville Bookshop, Simon is accused of the murder and Lisa's dream may come crashing down.  Lisa has to use her skills as a mystery writer to try to find the real culprit.  Filled with quirky characters, like Lisa's ex-husband who is the homicide detective and Simon's son, who seems only interested in obtaining Simon's possessions, this book had me turning the pages.

I will truly miss Joyce Lavene as I got to know her through social media, but I look forward to more from Jim.

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.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene 
http://amazon.com/author/jlavene 
https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene

Purchase Link

Amazon

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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day






Flipped For Murder
(Country Store Mysteries)

New Cozy Series
• Series: Country Store Mysteries
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (October 27, 2015)
• ISBN-13: 978-161773925
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Synopsis:

In this freshly baked series, author Maddie Day lifts the lid on a small town in southern Indiana, where a newcomer is cooking up a new start–until a murderer muddles the recipe…
Nursing a broken heart, Robbie Jordan is trading in her life on the West Coast for the rolling hills of southern Indiana. After paying a visit to her Aunt Adele, she fell in love with the tiny town of South Lick. And when she spots a For Sale sign on a rundown country store, she decides to snap it up and put her skills as a cook and a carpenter to use. Everyone in town shows up for the grand re-opening of Pans ‘n Pancakes, but when the mayor’s disagreeable assistant is found dead, Robbie realizes that not all press is good press. With all eyes on her, she’ll have to summon her puzzle-solving skills to clear her name, unscramble the town’s darkest secrets, and track down a cold-blooded killer–before she’s the next to die…

What I Thought:

This was a very entertaining books.  I loved how Maddie wrote the dialogue of the some of the characters in the dialect that they actually speak in.  That made the characters seem more real to me.  This was a great cozy because it left me guessing the whole way through.  I also enjoyed the quirky characters that inhabit the town of South Lick.  They all had a good motive for the murder.  I liked the main character, Robbie, and I can't wait to find out if she gets to have a relationship with her father.  I will definitely be visiting the town of South Lick again. 

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


About The Author –

MADDIE DAY (aka: Edith Maxwell) is a former farmer of a certified organic farm, holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Her short stories have appeared in the anthologies Stone Cold, Fish Nets, Burning Bridges, Thin Ice, Riptide, and The Larcom Review. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts, where she’s currently working on her next Maddie Day mystery when she isn’t out gardening.


Author Links:
http://edithmaxwell.com/country-story-mysteries/
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24612181-flipped-for-murder
Purchase Links
Amazon     B&N       IndieBound
 

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The Stitching Hour by Amanda Lee







The Stitching Hour:
An Embroidery Mystery

Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Publisher: NAL (November 3, 2015)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451473844
E-Book ASIN: B00S75OKKQ
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Synopsis:
In the latest mystery from the bestselling author of Wicked Stitch, the future of Marcy Singer’s embroidery shop is dangling by a thread…
Marcy’s shop, the Seven-Year Stitch, is one year old this October so it’s time to party in little Tallulah Falls, Oregon. Aside from the Halloween decorations and festive stitching kits and patterns, Marcy’s got all sorts of celebratory swag, including Seven-Year Stitch key rings and goodie bags.
Unfortunately, her new neighbors might spoil the revelry. An eccentric couple has opened a haunted house next door, and all that screaming will certainly scare off customers. But there’s even more to be frightened of after a local waitress is found dead on the sidewalk with mysterious markings on her neck—and one of Marcy’s key rings beneath her. With no time to hem and haw, Marcy must act fast if she hopes to restore the peace to Tallulah Falls…

Since I just received the book, my review will be posted at a later time.

About This Author
Your Biography Information for your tour page and for use by the bloggers – Gayle Trent (and pseudonym Amanda Lee) writes the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating series and the Embroidery Mystery series. The cake decorating series features a heroine who is starting her life over in Southwest Virginia after a nasty divorce. The Embroidery Mystery series features a heroine who recently moved to the Oregon coast to open an embroidery specialty shop.
Author Links
https://www.facebook.com/GayleTrentandAmandaLee
https://twitter.com/GayleTrent

Purchase Links:
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/317630/the-stitching-hour-by-amanda-lee/
http://www.amazon.com/Stitching-Hour-Embroidery-Mystery/dp/0451473841/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440711481&sr=8-1&keywords=the+stitching+hour
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Stitching-Hour/Amanda-Lee/9780451473844?id=6137443964794
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-stitching-hour-amanda-lee/1121654387?ean=9780451473844 

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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Olive and Let Die by Susannah Hardy--Guest Post and Giveaway



Olive and Let Die
(A Greek to Me Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (November 3, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0425271667
ASIN: B00SI027QY
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Synopsis

The second Greek to Me Mystery from the author of Feta Attraction…
As manager of the Bonaparte House, a historic landmark and Greek restaurant in upstate New York, Georgie Nikolopatos knows her local legends—and her traditional Greek recipes are to die for.
Between her soon-to-be ex-husband Spiro coming out of the closet and her budding romance with Captain Jack Conway, Georgie’s life is beginning to feel like a soap opera. And that’s before a surprise visit from her estranged mother Shirley, better known as soap star Melanie Ashley. But the dramatic family reunion takes a chilling turn when another long-lost relative turns up dead.
Just outside Spiro’s new restaurant, Georgie and Melanie find the body of Doreen Webber—a cousin Georgie never knew she had. With Spiro’s partner Inky on the list of suspects, Georgie begins to wonder what else her mother may be hiding. Is the dead-broke diva capable of murder? She’d better find out before someone adds a new twist to the family plot.
Includes delicious Greek recipes!

Since I just received this a day before the review was due, I will post a review at a later time.  Meanwhile enjoy the guest post.


About This Author

Susannah Hardy thinks she has the best job in the world: making up stories and inventing recipes to go along with them. A native of northern New York, where she attended St. Lawrence University, Susannah now lives in Connecticut with her husband, teenaged son, and Elvira the Wonder Cat.
Author Links
www.susannahhardy.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susannah-Hardy/111056935644467
@susannahhardy1
Purchase Links 
Amazon B&N

GIVEAWAY:  THE AUTHOR IS GIVING AWAY ONE PRINT COPY US ONLY.  LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL. NO EMAIL NO ENTRY.


Thanks for having me today, Melina!

I’m so excited for the release of the second book in the Greek to Me Mysteries, OLIVE AND LET DIE.
One thing people often ask me is whether I’m Greek. The answer is no. But I did work in a Greek restaurant, and I did spend several weeks traveling around Greece years ago. I haven’t been back, but I hope to go again someday in the not too distant future.
The Greeks have provided us with stunning artwork and architecture, profound philosophy, timeless stories, plays and poems, and even the foundation for our own government. The country itself is beautiful, from the stark mountains in the north to the lush islands in the south. The people are kind, generous, and beautiful—I have two words for anyone who doubts me on that last adjective: John Stamos.
And then, there’s the food.
Oh, that Greek food is just, well, to die for! In the figurative sense, only, of course. In fact, the Greek (Mediterranean) diet is quite heart healthy, full of olives and olive oil, lean meats and fish, beans, and plenty of vegetables. But of course there’s room for richer foods like feta, pastitsio, moussaka, and even some buttery baklava. Is your mouth watering? Mine is!
So how is a non-Greek writing mysteries set in a Greek restaurant? It was clear that I could not write my heroine as a Greek woman. Georgie wouldn’t have rung true nor behaved authentically, because I, the author, simply didn’t have that experience and I knew I couldn’t do her justice. So I chose to have her marry into a Greek family instead. Sometimes she’s a bit of an outsider, an observer, both pretty good attributes for an amateur sleuth! And even though she doesn’t always understand her family, she loves them. Even Spiro, her soon-to-be-ex-husband.
And it’s love, and food, that keeps the Nikolopatos family together, even if the relationships change. Which is why I include recipes, both Greek and non-Greek, in my books and on my website.
I hope love, and food, hold your family and friends together, now in this season of Thanksgiving, and throughout the year.
Is there a special recipe that says family to you?
 


 

Friday, October 23, 2015

Bread of the Dead



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Welcome to my tour stop for Bread of the Dead, the first book in the Santa Fe Cafe series by Ann Myers. This is a cozy mystery and the tour runs September 28-October 23 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.



Bread of the DeadBread of the Dead (Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #1)

Release Date: September 29, 2015 by William Morrow

368 pages





 About the Book:

The Day of the Dead is approaching in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and cook Rita Lafitte is busy decorating sugar skulls, taste-testing pan de muerto (bread of the dead), and refashioning her post-divorce life. She loves her job at Tres Amigas Cafe and feels like she’s found a good home for herself and her teenage daughter…until her kindly landlord is found dead next door, seemingly from suicide.Although Rita discovers evidence of murder, the police aren’t convinced, especially one of the lead detectives who’s also Rita’s ex-husband. To uncover the truth behind her friend’s death, Rita teams up with her octogenarian boss Flori, the town’s most celebrated snoop. Soon, their investigation encompasses other crimes, including break-ins and the murder of their number-one suspect. Rita won’t feel safe until the killer is caught. But when she unearths a long-buried secret, will she become the next victim?

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What I Thought:
 
This was my first time reading a book by Ann Myers.  I must say her writing style is great and the story flowed really well.  This was a great cozy because it left me guessing, even though Ann left subtle clues all the way through the book.  I also liked learning about the Day of the Dead which I had never heard of before.  I look forward to more by this author.
 
I received a complimentary copy for my honest review.


 
About the Author:

Ann Myers, her husband, and extra-large housecat live in Colorado but, like Rita, feel most at home in Santa Fe.





GIVEAWAY:
Three (3) copies of Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers (US)
Ends Oct. 28

Prizing is provided by the publisher, hosts are not responsible.
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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Pane and Suffering

 
 
 
 
New Series
Cozy Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1617737602
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Synopsis:
To solve her father’s murder and save the family-owned glass shop, Savannah Webb must shatter a killer’s carefully constructed façade. . .
After Savannah’s father dies unexpectedly of a heart attack, she drops everything to return home to St. Petersburg, Florida, to settle his affairs–including the fate of the beloved, family-owned glass shop. Savannah intends to hand over ownership to her father’s trusted assistant and fellow glass expert, Hugh Trevor, but soon discovers the master craftsman also dead of an apparent heart attack.
As if the coincidence of the two deaths wasn’t suspicious enough, Savannah discovers a note her father left for her in his shop, warning her that she is in danger. With the local police unconvinced, it’s up to Savannah to piece together the encoded clues left behind by her father. And when her father’s apprentice is accused of the murders, Savannah is more desperate than ever to crack the case before the killer seizes a window of opportunity to cut her out of the picture. . .
 
What I Thought:
 
This is the first book in a new series that I think has a lot of potential.  I like the setting of a shop that specializes in stained glass and also offers classes on how to make stained glass ornaments.  I thought this book had a great mystery and kept me guessing.  There were also many quirky characters that kept it really interesting.  I was guessing up until the very end.  I also liked that Savannah's father was a cryptographer and he left clues and ciphers about the murders for her to find.  I look forward to the next in this series.
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks. Visit her online at http://cherylhollon.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @CherylHollon.
Purchase Links:
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