Monday, November 28, 2016

First in Series- Meow if it's Murder by T.C.LoTempio

Happy Monday! It's time for First in Series and this week's is- Meow if it's Murder by T.C.LoTempio released on December 2,2014. Don't miss this series, with book three coming out next month you still have time to get caught up with Nick and Nora.








Series: A Nick and Nora Mystery (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley; First Berkley Prime Crime Edition edition (December 2, 2014)
Language: English




First in a new series!

Nora Charles doesn’t believe in fate, even if she is a crime reporter who shares a name with a character from The Thin Man. In fact, she’s moving back to Cruz, California, to have a quieter life. But after finding an online magazine eager for material, and a stray cat named Nick with a talent for detection, Nora’s not just reporting crimes again. She’s uncovering them…

Back in her hometown, Nora reconnects with old friends and makes some new ones, like Nick, the charming feline who seems determined to be her cat. But not everything about Cruz is friendly. Writing for a local online magazine, Nora investigates the curious death of socialite Lola Grainger. Though it was deemed an accident, Nora suspects foul play. And it seems that her cat does too.

Apparently, Nick used to belong to a P.I. who disappeared while investigating Lola Grainger’s death. The coincidence is spooky, but not as spooky as the clues Nick spells out for her with Scrabble letters—clues that lead her down an increasingly dangerous path. Whether fate put her on this case or not, solving it will take all of Nora’s wits, and maybe a few of Nick’s nine lives.



About the Author:





Born in New York City, T. C. LoTempio has been a staff reporter at the young adult magazine Susabella Passengers and Friends for more than a decade. When she isn’t reporting or writing novels, she and her cat Rocco fundraise for Nathan Fillion’s charity, Kids Need to Read.


You can find out more about T.C.LoTempio by visiting her website.

http://tclotempio.com/

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Blog Tour - A Killer Location by Sarah T. Hobart

Happy Wednesday! I am happy to be part of this blog tour. A Killer Location (A Home Sweet Home Mystery) was released on November 22nd.








File Size: 2262 KB
Print Length: 216 pages
Publisher: Alibi (November 22, 2016)
Publication Date: November 22, 2016
Sold by: Random House LLC





Synopsis
As this captivating cozy mystery series featuring real estate agent Sam Turner continues, a dream home turns into a crime scene when murder intrudes on an open house.

Thanks to a few sales and a self-help book on becoming a super-agent, Sam Turner is well on her way to becoming real estate royalty in Arlinda, her eccentric hometown on the Northern California coast. And after settling into her new house with her teenage son, she’s finally a homeowner, too. Sure, things aren’t perfect—for example, her sister still doesn’t know that Sam is dating her ex, police chief Bernie Aguilar—but perfect is boring. And Sam’s life is never boring.

When Sam’s boss, Everett Sweet, assigns her an open house in Arlinda’s most exclusive neighborhood, she brushes up on her super-agent tips, hoping to wow potential buyers. But there’s nothing in the manual about stumbling upon the owner’s dead body halfway through the tour. When suspicion falls on her boss, Sam and her co-workers are suddenly out of work, their real estate licenses suspended. Now, with her job on the line and a mortgage to pay, Sam will need every trick in the book to clear Everett’s name.








About The Author –

Sarah Hobart is a real estate agent and former newspaper reporter in Northern California, where she lives with her husband and two children in a majestic fixer-upper overlooking State Highway 101.


Monday, November 21, 2016

Blog Tour- Maggie Dove's Detective Agency by Susan Breen

It is always fun to start the week off with a wonderful book. Maggie Dove's Detective Agency by Susan Breen is book two in the series. Released on November 8th you won't want to miss this one.








File Size: 1320 KB
Print Length: 235 pages
Publisher: Alibi (November 8, 2016)
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Sold by: Random House LLC
Language: English




Synopsis

As Susan Breen’s compelling cozy mystery series continues, Maggie Dove’s budding detective agency has given her a new lease on life. Only one thing stands in the way of success: her clients—or lack of them.

After catching the killer who shook her small Hudson River town, former Sunday School teacher Maggie Dove stumbled onto an exciting new career and found a way to take her mind off her own tragic past. Now, despite her best efforts to promote the agency, Maggie can’t seem to land any new cases—until Racine Stern, one of the village’s wealthiest residents, offers her a thousand dollars to convince her “evil” sister, Domino, to stay out of town.

While Maggie’s business partner thinks she’s crazy for turning down a potential client, she doesn’t want her agency to get a reputation for accommodating bizarre requests. However, Maggie is soon caught up in the family drama anyway. Racine may fear for her life—and her inheritance—but it’s Domino who takes the fall when she plunges to her death from a tower at Stern Manor. Was it an accident or something more sinister? Maggie’s investigation will test her faith—and her ability to survive.



This is the second in the series and I enjoyed this one. The characters have grown and are fun and bring you into the story where you are held until the end. From the beginning you won't want to put this book down. Maggie and her friends are on the case to solving a case that hits close to home for her. Find out what will happen in the lasted book.



Guest Post:

When my sons were in school, I worked as a volunteer at the school snack shop, which was known as Tuck. Essentially, for ten years, I spent every other Friday afternoon selling candy to kids. At a time when a lot of my friends were involved in soaring and impressive careers, such as being hedge fund managers or surgeons, I would sometimes feel a little silly when people asked me what I did. “Oh,” I would say, “I’m sorting candy alphabetically!”

However, I had a lot of fun working at Tuck, and I learned a lot of things that I’ve since put to good use. (There are two scenes in Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency that take place in a candy store and I can guarantee you, they’re authentic.) So what have I learned?

People do not tend to change the candy they order. If you are a Peanut M&M person (as am I) you are not likely to suddenly order Dots. (The dividing line seems to be chocolate versus gummy.)

A certain percentage of kids steal candy, and they are not the poor kids, necessarily. For some it seems to be a game. Can we cheat the nice candy lady? For others, it’s an act of aggression. (This is the sort of character analysis that comes in useful when writing murder mysteries.

Some kids make eye contact and thank you. Other kids throw their money at you. I prefer the former. All kids mumble, but you can usually figure out what they want by following the direction of their gaze. No one eats Raisinets.

In spite of the fact that every single candy bar costs 50 cents, and that all the money goes to charity, there will always be some kids who will want to haggle. This one looks damaged. Can I get for a quarter? No.

Kids say the darnedest things when they’re relaxed and eating candy, and if you want to know what your sons are up to, there are few better ways to find out than to sit down with them and share some M&Ms. Also, there’s nothing nicer than seeing a kid who’s having a bad day and being able to say, “Would you like a free candy bar?” Smile guaranteed!

How about you? Do you have a favorite candy bar?



About the Author:





Susan Breen is the author of The Fiction Class, her debut novel that won the Washington Irving Book Award. Her stories and articles have appeared in many magazines, among them The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Compose, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. She teaches at Gotham Writers in Manhattan; is on the faculty of the New York Pitch Conference, South Carolina Writers Workshop, and the Women’s National Book Association; and is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters-in-Crime. Breen lives in a small village on the Hudson River with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. Her three children are flourishing elsewhere.

Webpage – http://www.susanjbreen.com/about.htm


Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Thanksgiving Trivia hosted by Linda Reilly

It is almost Thanksgiving here in the US. Today's lovely host is Linda Reilly. I am so excited to have her visiting today. So grab your fall favorite drink and lets play.









Hello, I’m Linda Reilly, author of the Deep Fried cozy mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. I’d like to give a huge thank you to the wonderful Shelley Giusti for inviting me to be a guest host today!

It’s that time of year again, so let’s have some fun with Thanksgiving trivia. I’m going to pose four multiple choice questions about Thanksgiving. Any commenter answering all four questions correctly will be entered in a giveaway for a signed copy (or e-copy, winner’s choice) of Fillet of Murder, the first in the Deep Fried series. Resist the urge to Google when you answer the questions! Now let’s talk turkey . . .

1. A famous historic figure wanted the turkey to be the national bird, claiming it was a true original native of America. Alas, his choice was ignored, and the bald eagle was deemed our national bird. Who was that historic figure?

a.Arthur Fonzarelli
b. John Adams
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. Francis Scott Key


2. Thanksgiving became an annual November tradition, to be celebrated every year on the last Thursday of November, by original declaration of which president:

a. James Monroe
b. Abraham Lincoln
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. Martin Van Buren


3. A baby turkey is known as a:

a. Chicklet
b. Poult
c. Turkeyette
d.Mini-me turkey


4. The first store-sponsored Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in which city, sponsored by which department store:

a. New York City, by Macy’s
b. Boston, by R.H. Stearns
c. Richmond, by Toys & Kids
d. Philadelphia, by Gimbel’s



About the Author





Short bio:

Armed with a degree in Criminal Justice, Linda Reilly once contemplated a career in law enforcement. But life took a twist, and instead she found her niche in real estate closings and title examinations, where the dusty tomes in the Registry of Deeds enticed her into solving mysteries of a different sort. These days Linda loves solving mysteries of the cozy type. When she's not pounding away at her keyboard, she can usually be found prowling the shelves of a local bookstore or library, hunting for a new adventure. You can visit Linda at www.lindasreilly.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Lindasreillyauthor


Linda Reilly
Deep Fried mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime, 2016)
Blue Cat mysteries (Kensington Publishing, 2017)
www.lindasreilly.com
http://www.facebook.com/Lindasreillyauthor



Blog Tour and Giveaway- Cat Got your Diamonds by Julie Chase

I am thrilled to be part of Julie Chases Blog Tour Cat Got Your Diamonds. Released on November 8th , this fun new series will have you hooked.









Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (November 15, 2016)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1629538426
E-Book ASIN: B01H082DOU




Synopsis

Grandeur and opulence are everything in the famed New Orleans Garden District where pets are family and no bling is too big. Opening Furry Godmother, pet boutique and organic treat bakery, is Lacy Marie Crocker’s dream come true–until the glitter gun used to make her Shih Tzu tutus becomes a murder weapon. And Lacy becomes public enemy #1.

Now Detective Jack Oliver is hounding Lacy, and her Furry Godmother investor wants out before his name is tarnished by association. To make matters worse, a string of jewel heists with suspicious ties to the murder case has New Orleans residents on edge. To save her dream, Lacy must take a stand, put her keen eyes to work, and unravel what really happened at her shop that night. But can Lacy sniff out the killer cat burglar in time to get her tail-raising designs on the catwalk?




This first in series will have you engaged in the story from the start. The characters bring the charm and wit that will leaving you wanting more.I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.



About the Author:





Julie Chase is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Julie Anne Lindsey.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieChaseAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliechasebooks
Website: http://juliechasebooks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14957369.Julie_Chase?from_search=true



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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

A Whole Latte Murder by Caroline Fardig

Happy Wednesday! I am thrilled to be part of this blog tour. A Whole Latte Murder ( Java Jive Mystery)by Caroline Fardig was released on November 8th.









File Size: 2953 KB
Print Length: 347 pages
Publisher: Alibi (November 8, 2016)
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Sold by: Random House LLC
Language: English





Coffeehouse manager and reluctant sleuth Juliet Langley returns in a gripping novel from the bestselling author of Death Before Decaf and Mug Shot. Just as things are perking up in Nashville, a serial killer sends tensions foaming over.

Juliet’s personal and professional lives have recently received an extra jolt of energy. Her romance with the hunky detective Ryder Hamilton continues to simmer, and business at Java Jive has never been better. But her good mood quickly turns as stale as day-old espresso when she finds out that Ryder has been promoted to his precinct’s homicide division. With him risking his life to catch the worst kind of criminals, Juliet’s growing sense of unease ignites when a local college student goes missing.

Suddenly every Nashville resident is on high alert, especially Juliet’s neighbor Chelsea. Juliet does her best to calm the girl’s nerves, but her worst fears are confirmed when she finds Chelsea dead. Even though she tries her best to stay out of it, Juliet’s involvement puts a strain on Ryder’s first homicide case. The situation soon becomes even more personal for Juliet and her best friend Pete Bennett when one of their employees disappears during her shift. As a killer lurks in the shadows, Juliet, Pete, and Ryder seek out a double shot of justice.


This is the first book I have read in this series and I enjoyed the story and the characters were a lot of fun. Coffeehouse and murder, with twist and turns along the way that will have you guessing to the end.



About the author:




Caroline Fardig is the author of Death Before Decaf and the Lizzie Hart series. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.

Author Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caroline-Fardig/496944767049778
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinefardig
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7009795.Caroline_Fardig
Website: http://www.carolinefardig.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carolinefardig/
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Caroline-Fardig/e/B00C1866NE



Thursday, November 3, 2016

Blog Tour and Giveaway- Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory

I am excited to be part of this blog tour. Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory is a fun new series with a fresh cast of characters and a page turner story.








Death at First Sight (A Bay Island Psychic Mystery)
NEW SERIES
Berkley (November 1, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425282748
E-Book ASIN: B01BK0SQBS




Synopsis

FIRST IN A VISIONARY NEW MYSTERY SERIES.

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that something’s not right on Bay Island…

Since she left her psychiatric practice in New York City to open up a psychic shop in her hometown on Bay Island, Cass Donovan has given her fair share of readings to conflicted customers. But what she sees in Ellie Callahan’s future doesn’t bode well.

When Ellie’s mother, Marge, publicly confronts Cass about the reading, the embarrassment makes her want to curl up and die. And when she later stumbles across Marge’s body—and is a suspect in her murder—Cass is suddenly the star of Bay Island’s rumor mill.

Cass is determined to prove her innocence and save Ellie from meeting the fate in her unfortunate vision. But even with the help of her friends Bee and Stephanie, Cass will have to channel some serious sleuthing instincts to find the real killer…





Mystical Musings
By
Cass Donovan

I’m Cass Donovan, and I own Mystical Musings, a psychic shop on Bay Island, a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York. Though Bay Island is booming during the summer months, when tourists flock to the island beaches, climb to the tops of the lighthouses, and meander through the shops along the boardwalk, business tends to slow down come fall and doesn’t start to pick up again until spring. During the winter, the island is downright deserted, except for the locals. That being the case, I can’t only cater to the tourists.

Most of my business involves doing readings, both individual and group. My group readings have become so popular, among locals and tourists, I’ve decided to finish a room upstairs to allow room for more tables. But not everyone on Bay Island is receptive to interacting with the dearly departed, so I also stock a large inventory of crystals, essential oils, and even some small souvenirs.

My best-selling souvenirs, though, are the ones I make myself, and they cost almost nothing to make. They are easy enough that anyone can make them, and yet, sometimes I can’t keep up with the demand. I don’t often reveal my secrets—it certainly wouldn’t help my business for people to realize they could easily create beautiful centerpieces on their own—but I’ll make an exception today.

Mystical Musings sits on one end of the boardwalk. The front of the shop faces the boardwalk, while the back faces the beach, offering a gorgeous view of the bay and the lighthouse from the wide, wrap-around porch. My house is a fairly short walk down the beach from the shop, which is perfect.

I often grab a bucket and walk along the beach from home to the shop. I collect anything I find that catches my interest; beach glass, seashells, small rocks, twigs, beach grass, driftwood, even a length of old fishing net. Once in a while, I make a trip over to Long Island and hit up the antique shops, or even the dollar stores, and pick up glass containers, mason jars, and small candles.

Then I sift through whatever interesting things I found on the beach and sort them into jars. Some jars get candles in the center—of course, I’m careful not to put anything flammable in those. Others get beach grass or twigs sticking out the top. If the jars have no fun decorations on them, I often tie a ribbon or a leather cord around them. I sometimes arrange a small bit of fishing net on the table beneath the jars, set out a few strategically placed pieces of driftwood, and that’s it. You have a beautiful centerpiece at very little cost that takes minutes to make.

I often place them on the tables during my group readings and almost always sell out afterward. If you decide to give it a try, be sure to post pictures. I’d love to see what you come up with!





About the Author:



Lena lives in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island with her husband and three children.

When she was growing up, she spent many lazy afternoons on the beach, in the yard, anywhere she could find to curl up with a good book. She loves reading as much now as she did then, but she now enjoys the added pleasure of creating her own stories.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/?etslf=2219&eq=lena%20gregory


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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...