Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Author Spotlight- Julie Hyzy

Happy Tuesday! Another great author spotlighted today. Julie Hyzy.


Julie Hyzy's very first job had her flipping burgers and chopping onions at a neighborhood hot dog stand. She traded that experience for a job as a singing waitress at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour -- but gave that up when she started college (and because she couldn't carry a tune).

Over the years, she's acted in community theater productions, appeared in television commercials, and crashed a previously all-male fraternity to become one of the first female brothers in Loyola University's Chapter of Delta Sigma Pi. Julie had dreams of becoming a writer, but family, friends, and frat brothers convinced her otherwise. Having held positions as junior officer at a downtown bank, office manager at an architectural firm, and financial advisor at a prestigious wealth management company, she realizes that the business degree was probably a good choice -- but fiction is truly her passion. Now, with some well-earned life experience behind her, she's delighted to finally be able to make writing a priority in her life.

Julie is the author of the White House Chef Mystery Series and The Manor House Mystery Series. She is also a New York Times Best-selling author.

https://www.facebook.com/julie.hyzy?fref=ts

http://www.juliehyzy.com/

Monday, June 29, 2015

First In A Series- Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy

Happy Monday! It's time for another great first. Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy.

From the author of the successful White House Chef mysteries.

Everyone wants a piece of millionaire Bennett Marshfield, owner of Marshfield Manor, but now it's up to a new curator Grace Wheaton and handsome groundskeeper Jack Embers to protect dear old Marshfield. But to do this, they'll have to investigate a botched Ponzi scheme, some torrid Wheaton family secrets-and sour grapes out for revenge.

Publication Date: June 2010
Publisher: Berkley
Print Length: 323 pages











BIO
Julie Hyzy is the New York Times bestselling author of the White House Chef Mysteries and the Manor House Mysteries. She's won the Anthony, Barry, Derringer, and Lovey Awards for her novels and short stories. Her first Manor House Mystery, Grace Under Pressure, earned a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly.






Find Julie at her www.juliehyzy.com and on Facebook

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Weekly Wrap Up #77

Happy Sunday! I'm excited about the new changes to my blog. Here is what happened this week.

June 22nd- Guest Post and Giveaway- JA Lang
June 23rd- Book Release- Dressed to Kill by Lynn Cahoon
June 24th - Author Spotlight- Amy Reade
June 25th- First in a  Series - The Ginseng Conspiracy by Susan Bernhardt
June 26th- Blog Tour- Dressed to Kill by Lynne Cahoon
June 27th- Book Trivia- Amanda Cooper


Book's I've read
Hush Hush by Laura Lippmann

Coming this week:
June 29th-First In A Series- Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy
June 30th-Book Release Day
July 1st-Book Trivia hosted by Gail Oust
July 2nd- Guest Post- Gail Oust
July 3rd- What's New? Berried Secrets by Peg Cochran
July 4th-Shelley's Review

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Book Trivia hosted by Amanda Cooper

It's Trivia time and today's host is Amanda Cooper (a.k.a. Victoria Hamilton). The Questions are from Shadow of a Spout. Winner will receive a tote bag, pen and both of the books in this series : Leave answers and email .




Good Luck !

1 – What lakes are the Teapot Collector Mysteries set near?

2 – What is Sophie Taylor’s chosen career?

3 – What kind of cat is Pearl?

4 – What is Cissy Peterson to Sophie?

5 – What town is Tempest in a Teapot (Book 1 of the Teapot Collector series) set in?

6 – What does Rose Freemont of Auntie Rose’s Victorian Tea House collect?

7 – Who is Gilda Bachman’s employer?

For all the latest Victoria Hamilton and Amanda Cooper news, check out my website at:VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com. Subscribe to my newsletter for all the latest news about releases, contests, and reviews etc. Coming April 7th, Book 2 of the nationally bestselling Teapot Collector Mysteries, Shadow of a Spout!


Friday, June 26, 2015

Blog Tour- Lynn Cahoon

Happy Friday! I'm pleased to have Lynn Cahoon here today.

Dressed to Kill is the Newest Installment of the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. Find out what Jill is up to now.


Small Town Relationships.
Hi – I’m Lynn Cahoon, author of The Tourist Trap Mysteries, with the upcoming Dressed to Kill releasing this month. I’m happy to be here on Shelley’s Book Case today.

My books are set in sunny (most of the time) central coastal California in a little town called South Cove. And with each book, a different business comes to town or is highlighted during the story. Dressed to Kill’s new store idea came from the appearance of my main character’s new boyfriend’s ex-wife. (Say that ten times fast. . .) Sherry King arrived on the scene in person in If the Shoe Kills and instead of disappearing back into the fashion world where she loves to play, she stayed around.

And opened a business. Vintage Duds is one of those shops I’d love to have in my own life, consignment designer clothing at a price tag I can afford. Although I have to say what I wear out of my closet is closer to Old Navy than designer anything.

In my personal life, I’m very familiar with ex-spouses. I’ve even got one of my own. My step brother was married five times, twice to the same woman. So our family reunions are always interesting. New wives, new kids, new cars, and all the angst that comes from a less than stable atmosphere.

Mix in a small town where everyone knows and probably asks about your ex from time to time, and it’s enough to send the new girlfriend screaming into the night. Or have her pull up her big girl panties and just get over it.

I hope you’ll agree that’s where Jill will be by the end of the book. I didn’t paint Sherry totally evil because no one is totally black or white. (Although I have met a few people who hung on the edge.) Getting your past to stay in the little box you shoved it into when the divorce papers are signed is sometimes harder than separating the assets when you decide to call it quits. And when they open a business in your town, life takes on a new twist.

So there’s a taste of what Jill has to deal with in Dressed to Kill. Well, that and practicing for a charity dinner theater where she’s a twenties flapper with Greg as her Mob boyfriend, tommy-gun and all.

Who said small towns are boring? Not anyone who’s ever lived in one.

Are you from a small town? Do you have a favorite ex-story?

Lynn
Dressed to Kill
Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More in the tucked-away town of South Cove, California—is not particularly thrilled to be portraying a twenties flapper for the dinner theater murder mystery. Though it is for charity...Of course, everyone is expecting a “dead” body at the dress rehearsal. . .but this one isn’t acting! It turns out the main suspect is the late actor’s conniving girlfriend Sherry. . .who also happens to be the ex-wife of Jill’s main squeeze. Sherry is definitely a master manipulator. ..but is she a killer? Jill may discover the truth only when the curtain comes up on the final act. . .and by then, it may be far too late.

"Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true." --Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries
It is always fun to visit with Jill and Jackie, fresh coffee book and murder are a perfect way to start this book. I have been a fan of this series since the beginning, but this is my favorite one so far. The town is getting ready for their twenties dinner theater but when a dead body is found that isn't part of the act it makes this a real mystery to solve and Jill is on it to find out who the killer is and stop them before someone else is becomes the next victim.


BIO

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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/02887792156/?

Thursday, June 25, 2015

First in a Series-The GInseng Conspiracy by Susan Bernhardt

Happy Thursday! It's time for another great cozy first. The Ginseng Conspiracy by Susan Berndhardt.

Is Susan a new-to- you author? Have you read this book? Do you want to read it? One Lucky person will win a copy of this book from Susan. Leave a comment and email for a chance to win.




Book Description:

On her way to attend a Halloween Ball, Kay Driscoll, a newcomer to town, witnesses the murder of a local professor. When the official coroner's report rules the cause of death to be accidental and the community accepts the judgement, Kay decides to uncover the truth for herself. Through her personal investigations, Kay exposes a complex conspiracy, woven deep within the thriving local ginseng industry, that involves some of the more prominent figures and families of Sudbury Falls. 

With her new friends, the free-spirited herbalist Deirdre and the untamed modern woman Elizabeth, Kay discusses new clues over tea and pastries at Sweet Marissa's Patisserie, their crime-fighting headquarters. As Kay gets closer to the heart of the conspiracy, additional murders happen in quick succession. Before long, Kay learns that the villains are gunning for her, too. Phil, her musically talented but preoccupied husband, determined to keep her safe, withholds from her the one thing she needs most: the truth.



Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Author Spotlight- Amy Reade

Happy Wednesday to you! Today's author spotlight is Amy Reade. Amy is the author of Secrets of Halstead House and The Ghost of Peppernell Manor.



An image posted by the author.


Amy M. Reade grew up in Northern New York, just 30 miles from the St. Lawrence River. Her first novel, Secrets of Hallstead House, is set on the river among the Thousand Islands. Her second novel, The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, is set on an antebellum plantation outside Charleston, South Carolina. A former attorney, Amy found that writing was her true calling, and is currently working on her third and fourth novels, set in and Hawaii and Cape May, New Jersey, respectively. She loves cooking, reading, and travel. You can visit her website, http://www.amymreade.com, where, in addition to information about her books and appearances, you will find a contact form, suggested playlists to go along with her novels, and notes and recommendations on wines.

Her books are:

Product DetailsProduct Details

You can get them both here:



Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Book Release Day- Dressed to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

Happy Tuesday! Dressed to Kill by Lynn Cahoon is released today. Are you a fan of the series?  I have enjoyed this series from the start and you will too.Would you like to win a e-copy of this book? Leave a comment and email to be entered.




Book Description:

Jill Gardner, the owner of Coffee, Books, and More, has been suckered into playing a twenties flapper in murder/dinner theater. Though it is for charity... 

Of course everyone is expecting a "dead" body at the dress rehearsal...but this one isn't acting! It turns out the main suspect is the late actor's conniving girlfriend Sherry...who also happens to be the ex-wife of Jill's main squeeze. Sherry is definitely a master manipulator...but is she a killer? Jill may discover the truth only when the curtain comes up on the final act...and by then, it may be far too late.


First in Series- Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross

Happy Monday! This week's First in Series is Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross Released on August 22, 2000. Seri...