Blog Tour and giveaway - The Calamity Cafe by Gayle Leeson

I am delighted to be part of Gayle Leeson's ( A.K.A. Gayle Trent) blog tour. She has a brand new series out called The Calamity Cafe (A Down South Cafe Mystery) that you will not want to miss.

Series: A Down South Café Mystery (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: NAL (June 7, 2016)
Language: English


First in a new cozy mystery series featuring Southern cooking that is to die for.

Aspiring chef and small-town Virginia native Amy Flowers is ready to open her own café offering old-fashioned Southern food. But her dream may go up in smoke when someone kills the competition…

Tired of waiting tables at Lou’s Joint, Amy Flowers doesn’t just quit—she offers to buy the place from her bully of a boss, so she can finally open the café of her dreams. Amy can’t wait to serve the kind of Southern, down-home treats and dishes that her grandmother always loved to the kooky cast of regulars at the restaurant. She knows her comfort food will be the talk of the sweet, small town of Winter Garden, Virginia.

At first Lou Lou refuses to sell, but when she seems ready to make a deal, she tells Amy to come see her. Showing up at the eatery ready to negotiate, Amy is shocked to find her former employer murdered. As the prime suspect, Amy will have to clear her name by serving up the real killer—and with Lou Lou’s stack of enemies, that’s a tall order.

Includes delicious Southern recipes

Filled with southern charm and mouth-watering food you, you will be hooked from the start. A delightful cast of characters and a murder that will have you guessing until the end. The story line is so well written you will be deeply involved in the book. Delectable and enjoyable.

About The Author –

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery series. I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series!

Authors Links:
Webpage – http://www.gayleleeson.com
Gayle Trent Webpage – http://www.gayletrent.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GayleTrentandAmandaLee/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/GayleTrent
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/426208.Gayle_Trent


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Blog Tour and Giveaway- Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon

I am excited to be part of Lynn Cahoon's blog tour. Her newest book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series Tea Cups and Carnage was released on June 7th.

Tea Cups and Carnage (A Tourist Trap Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Lyrical Underground (June 7, 2016)



Synopsis:

The kettle’s about to boil over . . .

The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there’s nothing cozy about murder . . .

Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi’s sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi’s name—without getting herself in hot water.

This is book seven in the series and I have been a fan from the start. Fast-paced, action packed story with plot twist that keep you captivated. You will be pulled in from the first page and wanting more at the end. I enjoyed this one and look forward to what will happen next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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.

Author Links

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5857424.Lynn_Cahoon
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LynnCahoon
Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/LynnCahoonAuthor
Website – http://lynncahoon.com/
Amazon Author Page – http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Cahoon/e/B0082PWOAO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1



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Eclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford

I am excited for the upcoming release of Laura Bradford's new series. Eclair and Present Danger (An Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery). Releasing on June 7th, you will not want to miss this one.

Series: An Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (June 7, 2016)
Language: English





The first book in the delicious new Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series from national bestselling author Laura Bradford.


With her rent rising faster than her pie crust, bakery owner Winnie Johnson had hoped to be rescued by an inheritance from her wealthy friend and neighbor Gertrude Redenbacher. Instead all she inherits is the widow’s hostile hissing tabby, Lovey, and a vintage ambulance, restored by Gertrude’s late husband. As her dream crumbles, Winnie makes her final delivery—a peach pie to an elderly widower. But she finds Bart Wagner lying on his kitchen floor, smothered by a pillow.

To comfort her frightened and grieving neighbors, Winnie comes to the rescue with her baked goods—and an idea is born: dessert delivery via her ambulance and a new business called the Emergency Dessert Squad. When she’s not speeding to the scenes of dessert emergencies, Winnie is also racing to track down Bart’s killer—before she needs to call a real ambulance for the next victim...

About the Author

As a child, Laura Bradford fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil. From that moment forward, she never wanted to do or be anything else. Today, Laura is the author of Éclair and Present Danger, the debut novel in the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, and the national bestselling Amish Mysteries, including Churn for the Worse and Suspendered Sentence.


http://www.laurabradford.com/

Last Light by Cj Lyons

Welcome to another exciting tour with Novel Publicity. Today we're pleased to share an interview with our featured author, CJ Lyons!

In a world of constantly changing markets, readership and trends, we’d like to talk to you a bit more today on how you cope with constant change as an author. Social media can be hard to manage for some people, do you have any useful tips for how to use social media as an author?

CJ: If it energizes you and makes you more creative, helps you get more words on the page, then have a blast! If you see it as a burden that sucks the creativity from your day (that’s me, lol!) then don’t worry about it. It’s just one more tool and there are many ways to reach readers.

How much time to you devote to social media for your books each day (or week)?

CJ: I’m lucky if I remember to post something during any given week, so almost nothing. If I am there spending time on social media it’s not because it’s scheduled but rather because my readers are engaging me. Conversations are much easier for me than remembering to come up with a clever meme and posting it.

Many authors use platforms such as Facebook to escape when they suffer writer's’ block. Do you ever do this, and have you found any creative ways to use social media to inspire your writing?

CJ: Nope…I never go to FB except to post or answer reader’s comments/messages. I’m a hermit by nature and I’ve learned to embrace the fact that I’m simply not “social” in the social media sense. Plus, any time/words spent on social media are less times/words spent on getting the story told—which is what my readers keep telling me is what they want, more books.

Your www.cjlyons.net offers lots of extras including your books, research links and tips for writers. Can you tell us a bit about building your site? Who helped you, and how much work is it to keep up to date?

CJ: I built it myself—after several disastrous encounters with web designers who’d flake out on me right when I needed them most. But remember, former ER doc here, so I’m a total control freak. I’ve had the site since 2004 so it’s grown over time. Now it’s so large that my biggest challenge is pruning the clutter, something I’m slowly tackling. I don’t blog, so it really doesn’t take a lot of time to keep up other than listing new titles.

Now that we’ve talked about your website, we’d like to know if you read blogs, or have other favorite websites, and if you do, what’s your favorite right now?

CJ: I run my life from my email inbox so I only follow blogs/newsfeeds that have an email subscription option (you wouldn’t believe how many don’t!) I follow my friend, Joanna Penn’s writing blog, TheCreativePenn.com because she’s brilliant and so energetic—I recommend her site to any aspiring author. Other than that the main blogs I follow are sites like the FBI, Officer.com, The Browser, the New York Times and Washington Post, Big Think, the Crime Report, and LifeHacker—places where quirky stories come my way and inspire my writing.

You have links to facebook and twitter social media links on your website. Is there a specific channel you’re more likely to be active on, and if so why?

CJ: My twitter followers are mainly fellow writers and I’ve pretty much given up on it—it’s overwhelming for someone who doesn’t go online very much. I have a FB page (https://www.facebook.com/cj.lyons) and enjoy interacting with readers there, but I don’t post much except fun quotes I stumble across (I collect quotes), the occasional news on my books, and deals on good books that come across my inbox. Sometimes I’ll do events there with fellow thriller authors like Toni McGee Causey or Debra Webb—authors I know my readers will enjoy hearing from. But it’s all very low key.

Newsletters are one of many ways authors like to keep in touch with their readership. Can you tell us what subscribers can expect when they sign up for your newsletter, and how often they might hear from you?

CJ: I try to do at least one Thrillers with Heart newsletter a month (it always amazes me when readers write and ask for more!) and I keep it short and sweet—usually a featured deal on a book, or an exclusive read for my fans, occasionally a special guest feature with a fellow thriller author my fans know and love. When you sign up for my Thrillers with Heart mailing list, you’ll receive a free copy of Snake Skin, the first Lucy Guardino FBI Thriller with your welcome email. I also send other free reads when inspiration hits me and I can get organized enough to upload the files.

Where do you go for social media and marketing advice? Know any great books or tips other authors might find useful?

CJ: As I mentioned above, Joanna Penn is the shining star here. Also the guys at the Self Publishing Podcast are awesome. There’s so much advice out there, it’s really hard not to find the answer to any questions you have. Years ago that wasn’t the case, so I began my own writing blog, NoRulesJustWrite.com in order to give something back. It’s still there with all the resources available but I’ve stopped adding new material as my mission of showing people their publishing options was accomplished.

One last chance...If you were doing it all over again, would you change anything about how you published, got cover art made, or got the word out about your books?

CJ: When I first self-published back in 2009 no one really knew what it was all about. I started because my NYC publisher insisted on releasing only one book a year and my readers were deluging me with emails asking for more. I even offered to give my publisher free short stories to release between books to keep the readers happy but they refused. So when I heard about Kindle and self-publishing I realized I had the answer—I could publish manuscripts that for a variety of reasons had been accepted by NYC publishers, professionally copyedited, etc, but never made it to actual publication. That way my readers would be happy and remember my name in between my print books. There were few freelance graphic designers doing cover art in those days and that’s my one regret. I found one within six months of publishing once I realized that my e-books were really taking off, but I wish I’d had one from the beginning. Also, even though my earlier books had been through NYC publisher’s copy-editors, I realized early on that copy-editing wasn’t the same as proofreading and I quickly hired freelance proofreaders and revised those manuscripts. Now, I often have the cover art before I even start a book (my designer does them in batches to keep the series branded) and I hire the same developmental editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders that my NYC publishers use! I love it when readers can’t tell the difference between my self-published titles and my NYC published ones.

Thanks for joining us today Cj!

About the Books

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CJ Lyons. For fans of Lisa Gardner, Tami Hoag, and Jeffery Deaver: "Everything a great thriller should be--action packed, authentic, and intense." ~#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child After leaving the FBI, life should be easy, right? Wrong--not if you're Lucy Guardino. Lucy has always seen herself as a normal Pittsburgh soccer mom who happened to have a job chasing the worst of the worst. But after a violent predator targets her family and she's injured, Lucy sacrifices her career with the FBI in order to keep her family safe. What is she now that she's no longer a FBI Special Agent? she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims.Lucy fears she's traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs. What is she now that she's no longer a FBI Special Agent?

she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims.Lucy fears she's traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs. Her fears appear justified when she's partnered with TK O'Connor, a former Marine MP struggling with her transition to life back home, and sent to rural Texas to investigate a case that's more than cold, it's already been closed with the killers behind bars for the past twenty-nine years. But...who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband?

Why was an entire family targeted for anihilation? What price will Lucy pay when she fights to expose a truth people will kill to keep buried? LAST LIGHT is the seventh Lucy Guardino novel, but they can be read out of order. If you enjoy captivating suspense, intelligent storytelling,strong and vulnerable characters, and a freight-train pace, then you'll love this adrenaline rush of a heart-pounding thriller. Join the millions of readers who've fallen for CJ's Thrillers with Heart and grab your copy of LAST LIGHT today!

My Review;

This fast-paced action filled drama will keep you mesmerized by the story. The cast of Characters are strong and intense. A gripping non- stop read you won't want to put down. Cj Lyons is a Brilliant story teller and this book shows that. I loved the ride with each page and look forward to reading the next one.

 



Pediatric ER doctor turned New York Times bestselling thriller writer CJ Lyons has been a storyteller all her life—something that landed her in many time-outs as a kid. She writes her Thrillers with Heart for the same reason that she became a doctor: because she believes we all have the power to change our world. In the ER she witnessed many acts of courage by her patients and their families, learning that heroes truly are born every day. When not writing, she can be found walking the beaches near her Lowcountry home, listening to the voices in her head and plotting new and devious ways to create mayhem for her characters. To learn more about her Thrillers with Heart go to www.CJLyons.net Connect with CJ on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Blog Tour- Silence of the Lamps by Karen Rose Smith

I'm excited to be part of Karen Rose Smith's blog tour. Silence of the Lamps is released today. This is the fifth book in the series.

Silence of the Lamps (A Caprice De Luca Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Kensington (April 26, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages



Synopsis

Caprice’s house staging is disrupted by Drew Pierson, a caterer who opened Portable Edibles, a business in direct competition with her sister Nikki’s Catered Capers. Nikki turned down Drew as a possible partner and he seems determined to undermine and bury her. However his successful launch of a deal for his blackberry barbecue sauce must have stirred up his enemies. When Nikki visits the house where Drew lives with his grandmother to resolve differences, she and Caprice find him dead–murdered with the base of a valuable Tiffany lamp.

Caprice discovers clues about Drew’s sly business dealings–from stealing recipes from another chef, to friends who hold grudges, to a sister who will now inherit half of her grandmother’s estate since Drew is dead. In the midst of her own romantic relationship upheaval, helping her uncle set up his pet sitting-business, assisting a friend care for a pregnant stray cat, Caprice follows the suspect trail, inadvertently putting herself in danger once more.

STAGED TO DEATH, Book 1
DEADLY DECOR, Book 2
GILT BY ASSOCIATION, Book 3 February 2015
DRAPE EXPECTATIONS, Book 4 August 2015
SILENCE OF THE LAMPS, Book 5 May 2016
SHADES OF WRATH, Book 6 December 2016

This has been a fun series from the start. It's packed with fun, humor and murder that you won't be able to stop reading.

About The Author –

Award winning and best-selling author, Karen Rose Smith’s plots are all about emotion. She began writing in her early teens when she listened to music and created stories to accompany the songs. An only child, she spent a lot of time in her imagination and with books–Nancy Drew, Zane Gray, The Black Stallion and Anne of Green Gables. She dreamed of brothers and sisters and a big family like her mother and father came from. This is the root of her plotlines that include small communities and family relationships as part of everyday living. Residing in Pennsylvania with her husband and four rescued cats, she welcomes interaction with readers on social media.


Author Links:

Webpage: http://karenrosesmithmysteries.com/
Blog: http://karenrosesmith.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenRoseSmithBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenrosesmith
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21863.Karen_Rose_Smith
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karosm/



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Blog Tour- Death by Trombone by Rebecca M. Douglas

Death by Trombone (Pismawallops PTA Mysteries) by Rebecca M. Douglas. This is book two in the series. Released on December 27th,2015, you will want to add this to your reading list. The first book in the series, Death By Ice Cream is dropping the ebook to 99 cents for the tour and at least a week after.

Series: Pismawallops PTA Mysteries
Paperback: 284 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (December 27, 2015)
Language: English



Synopsis

JJ MacGregor’s very bad day has just gotten a lot worse.

JJ thought starting the day without coffee was a disaster, but now there’s a dead musician behind the Pismawallops High School gym. His trombone is missing, and something about the scene is off key. JJ and Police Chief Ron Karlson are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, but will they be able to work harmoniously or will discord ruin the investigation? With the music teacher as the prime suspect, JJ could be left to conduct the band, and then Graduation might truly end in a death by trombone, or at least the murder of Pomp and Circumstance!

This is the first I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it.The characters are very likable and so well developed, the story pulls you in and keeps you wanting more. I look forward to the next adventure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Douglass was raised on an Island in Puget Sound only a little bigger than Pismawallops. She now lives and writes in the San Francisco Bay Area, and can be found on-line at www.ninjalibrarian.com and on Facebook as The Ninja Librarian. Her books include the tall tales for all ages, The Ninja Librarian and Return to Skunk Corners, middle-grade fantasy Halitor the Hero, and the first Pismawallops PTA mystery, Death By Ice Cream. Rebecca likes to spend her time outdoors, when not writing or working to make the schools the best they can be. She spends her free time bicycling and running, and her vacations hiking, camping and backpacking.


Author Links

Blog: http://ninjalibrarian.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rebecca-M-Douglass/e/B0078SLT2A/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1337267938&sr=8-2

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/NinjaLibrarian

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ninja-Librarian/305808032816136


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Shelley's Review? Sweet Pepper Hero by J.J.Cook

Shelley's Review? Sweet Pepper Hero( A Sweet Pepper Brigade Mystery Series) by J.J. Cook.

Series: A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade (Book 4)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (January 5, 2016)
Language: English



Old rivalries heat up in the fourth Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade mystery from the national bestselling author of In Hot Water.


Fire chief Stella Griffin has been put in charge of judging the annual recipe contest, but Eric—her resident ghost and true culinary genius—has vanished. Before she can track down his latest haunt, she’s called in to investigate a local moonshine distillery that was set ablaze, making her realize there’s more than pies and cakes cooking in Sweet Pepper.


As rumors of a revived whiskey war ignite, Stella turns to the town’s elders to help her find answers. The past might have some clues as to what has sparked the present fires. But when following a lead lands her in buried rubble, Stella realizes she must extinguish this case fast or she might be going down in flames.

Some mysteries are so good that when they are released you drop everything to read them. For me this is one of those mysteries.I love visiting with Chief Stella and the fire house in Tennessee. It is always a welcoming place and the characters are friendly and make this story one you will want to be involved in.

With the recipe judging contest going on and not knowing where Eric went off to and trying to make peace Stella has a lot on her plate. When the moonshine distillery explodes from arson she puts things on hold to find out what happened and resume normal business.

The characters are so well developed and the story is strong and captivating.

About the Author


J. J. Cook is a pseudonym for a married couple who writes mysteries, mostly set in the South, with a touch of paranormal and romance. Together, they are the author of the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mysteries, including In Hot Water, Playing with Fire, and That Old Flame of Mine, and the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mysteries, including Fat Tuesday Fricassee and Fry Another Day.

Shelley's Review- Art in The Blood by Bonnie Macbird

This week I am reviewing Art in the Blood( A Sherlock Holmes Adventure) by Bonnie MacbirdReleased on October 6th, 2015.

Series: Sherlock Holmes Adventures
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Collins Crime Club (October 6, 2015)
Language: English


London. A snowy December, 1888. Sherlock Holmes, 34, is languishing and back on cocaine after a disastrous Ripper investigation. Watson can neither comfort nor rouse his friend – until a strangely encoded letter arrives from Paris.

Mlle La Victoire, a beautiful French cabaret star writes that her illegitimate son by an English lord has disappeared, and she has been attacked in the streets of Montmartre.

Racing to Paris with Watson at his side, Holmes discovers the missing child is only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger problem. The most valuable statue since the Winged Victory has been violently stolen in Marseilles, and several children from a silk mill in Lancashire have been found murdered. The clues in all three cases point to a single, untouchable man.

Will Holmes recover in time to find the missing boy and stop a rising tide of murders? To do so he must stay one step ahead of a dangerous French rival and the threatening interference of his own brother, Mycroft.

This latest adventure, in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, sends the iconic duo from London to Paris and the icy wilds of Lancashire in a case which tests Watson's friendship and the fragility and gifts of Sherlock Holmes' own artistic nature to the limits.

For those who love the adventures of Sherlock Holmes this book is a must read for you. Sherlock and Watson take you on a wild ride to Paris upon receiving a letter for there immediate help. Is it a story about a missing child or is there more to it? You won't be able to stop reading this once you start. Captivating and intense this fast-paced action will keep you guessing until the end. Get Sherlocked today with Art in the Blood.

About the Author

Bonnie MacBird was born and raised in San Francisco and fell in love with Sherlock Holmes by reading the canon at age ten. She attended Stanford University, earning a BA in Music and an MA in Film. Her long Hollywood career includes feature film development exec at Universal, the original screenplay for the movie TRON, three Emmy Awards for documentary writing and producing, numerous produced plays and musicals, and theatre credits as an actor and director. In addition to her work in entertainment, Bonnie teaches a popular screenwriting class at UCLA Extension, as well as being an accomplished water-colourist. She is a regular speaker on writing, creativity, and Sherlock Holmes. She lives in Los Angeles, with frequent trips to London.

Shelley's Review

My review this week is Foreign Eclairs( A White House Chef Mystery) By Julie Hyzy releasing on January 5th this is the 9th and final book in this series.

Series: A White House Chef Mystery (Book 9)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (January 5, 2016)
Language: English



White House executive chef Ollie Paras has served plenty of meals to foreign dignitaries from around the world. But someone is ready to serve her an ice-cold dish of revenge...

Things are about to really heat up for Ollie. News of a bombing and attempted breakout at a federal prison reveals that the brother of a terrorist she helped defeat is back with a vengeance. And after she gets mugged on her way home from work, the Secret Service won’t leave her side, fearing she is now a target.

When a White House staff member is murdered, officials rush to action over a possible security breach. It may be time for Ollie to trade in her apron for a bullet-proof vest as she becomes part of a bold strategy to make sure this terrorist gets his just desserts...

I love this series and by far this final book is my favorite. Filled with action and suspense this fast-paced read will have you on the edge of your seat. From the very beginning until the last page you are pulled in to the story and at times holding your breath to find out what will happen next. It is bitter sweet to say goodbye to Ollie and the series but I look forward to seeing what Julie has in store for us next. Thank you for a fantastic series and many great hours of reading.

New York Times bestselling author Julie Hyzy writes the White House Chef Mysteries, including All the President’s Menus, and the Manor House Mysteries, including Grace Cries Uncle. She has won both the Anthony and the Barry awards for her mystery fiction.

Shelley's Review- Murder Fir Christmas by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Today's review is Murder Fir Christmas by Joyce and Jim Lavene. A Perfect read for this time of year.

Down the mountain from Sweet Pepper, Tennessee is Christmas Tree Valley, a place filled with hundreds of Christmas tree farms where generations of growers have made people’s lives brighter. Yet even here in this quiet, postcard-perfect corner of the world, darkness and murder can still stalk the night.

Federal Wildlife Agent Bonnie Tuttle has always had a special gift with wild animals. It was one of the reasons she decided to train with the wildlife agency. She’s spent the last ten years in Alabama working, but her mother needs her home and she’s back despite all the bad parts of her life she hoped to leave behind. Her first day home begins with a fire on the island in Sweet Pepper Lake and the death of Harvey Shelton, the wildlife agent she’s supposed to replace.

Bonnie manages to rescue dozens of animals from the fire – including a wolf pup that was shot with the same bullet that killed Harvey. Now she’s hot on the trail of Harvey’s killer and trying to reintegrate the wolf back into the wild even though he seems to want to stay with her. Yet old memories persist in the small community where she grew up, and the killer now seems to believe that she has what he killed Harvey for. All she has to do is figure out what that is before it’s too late. Christmas Recipes included!

Murder Fir Christmas is a new series. Its a cross over of The Sweet Pepper series the Lavene's write. Bonnie has a lot going on with a fire and rescuing animals the last thing she needs is a murder. So when she realizes there is a double murder she really has to get down to it and find out what is going on, and catch a killer all in time for Christmas. . Filled with excitement, mystery and fun you will be swept away to Sweet Pepper Lake.

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.

Shelley's Review- A Murder in Mohair by Anne Canadeo

My review today is A Murder in Mohair( A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series) by Anne Canadeo.

Series: A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery (Book 8)
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books (December 1, 2015)
Language: English


In Anne Canadeo's cozy eighth Black Sheep Knitting Mystery, a cold-hearted murder in Plum Harbor leads the knitters to investigate a new psychic who may be far more dangerous than she seems…

When Jimmy Hubbard, the manager of the local cinema, is murdered in a robbery gone wrong, the residents of Plum Harbor are mystified. Everyone liked Jimmy, and the struggling theater seems an unlikely target for burglars.

The Black Sheep Knitters are surprised and saddened by the crime, but are more suspicious of psychic-medium Isabel Waters, who has recently set up shop in town. Isabel has hoodwinked one of their friends into shelling out big money every week to keep the memory of a lost loved one alive. Determined to reveal Isabel as a fraud, the knitters are pulled in the web of Isabel’s world and find themselves in a tangle of secrets and lies. They must solve two murders before the truth about all of Isabel’s clients—past and present—are revealed.

As in her previous books A Dark and Stormy Knit, The Silence of the Llamas, and Knit, Purl, Die—which Publishers Weekly praised for its “fast-paced plot that will keep even non-knitters turning the pages”—Canadeo brings her trademark style to this entertaining mystery that will psych you out and leave you wanting more.

You will be hooked on book eight in this action packed mystery. The Black Sheep knitters are at it again in Plum Harbor and more than just yarn is being unraveled. Filled with witty banter and a murder that keep you in knots trying to find out who did it and why. This is by far the best one in this series and I look forward to see what will happen next.

About the Author

Anne Canadeo lives and knits in Northport, New York, with her husband, daughter, and canine office assistant. She is the author of the Black Sheep Knitting mystery series, and writing as Katherine Spencer, she has also authored the popular Cape Light and Angel Island series.

Shelley's Review/ Blog Tour- Haunt Couture and Ghost Galore by Rose Pressey

Happy Saturday! I am excited to be on this blog tour. Haunt Couture and Ghost Galore by Rose Pressey was a fun book to read. Released on October 27, just in time for Halloween.

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)



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…

Don’t miss Cookie Chanel’s Fashion Tips

This whodunit is fashionably charming, witty and fun. You will be captivated from the beginning and the fashion show will be the event of the season. Fashion , ghost and murder what more could you ask for.

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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Shelley's Reviews

Today I am reviewing Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber. What a great way to start the Holiday season off with Dashing Through the Snow. Leave a comment and email for a chance to win a copy of this book. Winner will be chosen on November 24th.

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (October 6, 2015)
Language: English


NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Savor the magic of the season with Debbie Macomber’s newest Christmas novel, filled with warmth, humor, the promise of love, and a dash of unexpected adventure.

Ashley Davison, a graduate student in California, desperately wants to spend the holidays with her family in Seattle. Dashiell Sutherland, a former army intelligence officer, has a job interview in Seattle and must arrive by December 23. Though frantic to book a last-minute flight out of San Francisco, both are out of luck: Every flight is full, and there’s only one rental car available. Ashley and Dash reluctantly decide to share the car, but neither anticipates the wild ride ahead.

At first they drive in silence, but forced into close quarters Ashley and Dash can’t help but open up. Not only do they find they have a lot in common, but there’s even a spark of romance in the air. Their feelings catch them off guard—never before has either been so excited about a first meeting. But the two are in for more twists and turns along the way as they rescue a lost puppy, run into petty thieves, and even get caught up in a case of mistaken identity. Though Ashley and Dash may never reach Seattle in time for Christmas, the season is still full of surprises—and their greatest wishes may yet come true.

Praise for Dashing Through the Snow

“This Christmas romance from [Debbie] Macomber is both sweet and sincere.”—Library Journal

“Quirky heroine Ashley brings the laughs and is the driving force behind this hilarious read, while Dash brings a sense of groundedness with his stable military persona. There’s just the right amount of holiday cheer to remind you it’s Christmas. Ashley and Dash are a realistic example of how opposites attract. This road-trip romance is full of high jinks and the kooky characters Macomber does so well.”—RT Book Reviews

Looking for a book to get you into the Holiday mood. Dashing Through the Snow is a fun-filled read with a touch of action and romance that will sweep you off your feet. Meet Ashley and Dash as they are both trying to get to Seattle and tackle the obstacles that come there way. An fast-paced read that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Blog Tour- A Dickens of a Murder by Joyce and Jim Lavene

I love when Joyce and Jim Lavene visit my blog and that is why this is a hard post for me to do. For those of you who do not know Joyce Lavene passed away on October 20th. She was an amazing author and great friend and I truly do miss her. Their new book in a brand new series A Dickens of a Murder (Canterville Book Shop Mystery series) was released on October 26th,just in time for getting into the spirit of Christmas.

Series: The Canterville Book Shop Mysteries
Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (October 26, 2015)
Language: English


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.

I was so captivated by this book. Lisa Wellman and Simon Canterville are strong characters that really pull you in to the story. Lisa is a writer and joins with Simon to open a book shop in the quaint little town of Portsmouth VA. Joyce and Jim paint a vivid picture of this town and you will feel like you are there. So when a body is found on the roof Lisa has to find out what happened before the killer finds the next victim. You won't be able to stop reading this book once you start.
From the beginning you could feel the sense of Christmas and the joy it brings. I enjoyed this book, it was hard for me to read it because it made me think of Joyce but in Honor of her I dived right in and am very glad I did.

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.


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


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The Humbug Murders by L.J. Oliver

I just started reading The Humbug Murders ( An Ebenezer Scrooge Mystery) by L.J. Oliver and I must say it is such a great read. The characters are so developed and they keep the story flowing. You are drawn in from the start. Is this one on your list?

Series: Ebenezer Scrooge Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (October 27, 2015)
Language: English


Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol investigates a shocking murder—before he becomes the next victim—in this playful mystery in a new series from a New York Times bestselling author.

Scrooge considers himself a rational man with a keen sense of deductive reasoning developed from years of business dealings. But that changes one night when he’s visited by the ghost of his former boss and friend, Fezziwig, who mysteriously warns him that three more will die, and ultimately Ebenezer himself—if he doesn’t get to the bottom of a vast conspiracy.

When he wakes the next day, Scrooge discovers that not only is Fezziwig dead, but he’s under arrest as all evidence points toward himself: Scrooge’s calling card was found in the cold, dead hand of Fezziwig’s body, and someone scribbled “HUMBUG” in blood on the floor nearby.

Now, Scrooge must race against the pocket watch to clear his name, protect his interests, and find out who killed his last true friend—before the “Humbug Killer” strikes again. Joining Scrooge in his adventures is a spunky sidekick named Adelaide, who matches his wits at every turn, plus the Artful Dodger, Fagin, Belle, Pickwick, and even Charles Dickens himself as a reporter dealing in the lurid details of London’s alleyway crimes.

Full of action and wry humor, The Humbug Murders is a fun take on a classic character—Scrooge as you’ve never seen him before.

Shelley's Review- Silence of the Llamas by Anne Canadeo

Silence of the Llamas (A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery) by Anne Canadeo was released on January 22, 2013.

Series: A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery (Book 5)
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books (January 22, 2013)
Language: English



Llama Drama!


Ellie and Ben Krueger arrived in Plum Harbor eager to live out their dream—tending a herd of gentle, friendly llamas for fun and profit, on a farm just beyond the village. Their grand opening fiber festival kicks off on a bright note but abruptly ends in malicious mayhem. Knitting shop owner Maggie Messina and her friends soon learn that this is not the first time a vicious visitor has called.


The Kruegers suspect that Justin Ridley, their eccentric neighbor, is the troublemaker. A misfit and loner, he’s known to roam the woods all night, though no one knows for sure what he’s hunting. Then there’s Angelica Rossi—the lovely owner of a rival fiber farm—who’s been as busy as a spider, spinning spiteful lies about the Kruegers’ yarns. Or, are the naïve newcomers merely caught in the tangle of Plum Harbor politics, and an intense land protection debate?


Suddenly, vandalism turns to murder—and the Kruegers’ dream descends into a nightmare. The Black Sheep knitters must pull the threads together and uncover this crafty menace . . . before more lives—and more llamas— are lost.

I have been a fan of this series from the first book. Being an avid knitter I was instantly drawn to it and the people of Plum Harbor. You feel like home and become so caught up in the story. It is a fast- paced page turner that will keep you on your toes trying to solve the case before it is too late. I love a good mystery and if you add knitting to the plot it makes it even better. This is a great book. You will be hooked from the start.

Anne Canadeo lives and knits in Northport, New York, with her husband, daughter, and canine office assistant. She is the author of the Black Sheep Knitting mystery series, and writing as Katherine Spencer, she has also authored the popular Cape Light and Angel Island series. -

See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Anne-Canadeo/48221045#sthash.PwDVKFhH.dpuf

Giveaway: Want to win this book? Leave a comment and email by October 23rd and one lucky reader will be chosen,

Shelley's Reviews

Happy Saturday! Today's review is Lord of the Wings( A Meg Langslow Mystery) by Donna Andrews Released on August 4,2015. Add this to your Halloween reading. You won't be disappointed.

Series: Meg Langslow Mysteries (Book 19)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (August 4, 2015)
Language: English


A new side-splitting Meg Langslow mystery from award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Good, The Bad, and The Emus.

The brilliantly funny Donna Andrews delivers another winner in the acclaimed avian-themed series that mystery readers have come to love. The eighteenth book in her New York Times best-selling series continues to surprise and delight in this next knee-slapping adventure featuring Meg Langslow and all the eccentric characters that make up her world.

It's another holiday and Mayor Randall Shiffley has turned Caerphilly, Virginia into Spooky City, USA. The residents are covering every window with cobwebs and roaming the streets in costume to entertain the tourists, and Meg's grandfather is opening a new "Creatures of the Night" exhibit in the zoo. When a real body at the zoo and a suspicious fire at the Haunted House threaten to mar the town's creepy fun, it's up to Meg Langslow to save Halloween.

Like Meg Langslow, the blacksmith heroine of her series, Donna Andrews was born and raised in Yorktown, Virginia. She introduced Meg to readers in her Malice Domestic Contest-winning first mystery, Murder with Peacocks, and readers are still laughing. This novel swept up the Agatha, Anthony, Barry, and a Romantic Times award for best first novel, and a Lefty for funniest mystery.

With Lord of the Wings, readers can look forward to another zany Meg Langslow mystery--this one filled with Halloween spirit and suspense.

Donna Andrews gets you into the Halloween Spirit with this laugh out loud funny and witty read. Meg gets herself into yet another chaotic situation. A Dead body and a fire will keep her on the move trying to find out who the killer is before the festivities begin and the killer strikes again. This hair raising page turner will have you looking around every corner. You will be laughing into the night as each page keeps you so involved in the story. This was a great read and makes for a night of fantastic reading.

About the Author


DONNA ANDREWS is a winner of the Agatha, Anthony, and Barry Awards, a Romantic Times Award for best first novel, and three Lefty and two Toby Bromberg awards for funniest mystery. She is a member of MWA, Sisters in Crime, and the Private Investigators and Security Association. Andrews lives in Reston, Virginia.

Shelley's Reviews

Come Hell or Highball by Maia Chance Maia Chance has a great new book out and you don't want to miss it.

Series: Discreet Retrieval Agency Mysteries (Book 1)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (September 15, 2015)
Language: English



31-year-old society matron Lola Woodby has survived her loveless marriage with an unholy mixture of highballs, detective novels, and chocolate layer cake, until, her husband dies suddenly, leaving her his fortune...or so Lola thought. As it turns out, all she inherits from Alfie is a big pile of debt. Pretty soon, Lola and her stalwart Swedish cook, Berta, are reduced to hiding out in the secret love nest Alfie kept in New York City. But when rent comes due, Lola and Berta have no choice but to accept an offer made by one of Alfie's girls-on-the-side: in exchange for a handsome sum of money, the girl wants Lola to retrieve a mysterious reel of film for her. It sounds like an easy enough way to earn the rent money. But Lola and Berta realize they're in way over their heads when, before they can retrieve it, the man currently in possession of the film reel is murdered, and the reel disappears. On a quest to retrieve the reel and solve the murder before the killer comes after them next, Lola and Berta find themselves navigating one wacky situation after another in high style and low company.


Charming, witty, often laugh-out-loud funny, Maia Chance's Come Hell or Highball introduces a sparkling new voice in crime fiction.

Come Hell or Highball by Maia Chance.

Miss Fisher Fans and fans of the era will want to read this book by Maia Chance. Come Hell or Highball featuring newly widowed Lola Woodby with have you honing your sleuthing skills to try and find out who killed her husband Alfie.

Upon his death and the reading of the Will, Lola Woodbury, the wife finds out that the only thing her husband left her was a huge debt. She is forced out of her home with her cook Berta. With no money and home the only place they can retreat to Alfie’s apartment in New York City. But it was better than nothing and right now that was all they had, Nothing.

Determined to find out who killed her husband and desperate to get some money, she decides to take a job that might get her into more trouble than it is worth. She has to steal a reel of film. Sounds easy enough. When she finds out that the one man who is in possession of the film has been murdered and the film is missing, things go from bad to worse when they realize that time is running out and they are in to deep.

Find out what happens in the first book of the Discreet Retrieval Agency debuts. A charming and witty whodunit will keep you wanting more.

I loved this book and am eagerly waiting to see what will be next for Lola and Berta.

About the Author

MAIA CHANCE was a finalist for the 2004 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Washington. She is writing her dissertation on nineteenth-century American literature. She is also the author of the Fairy Tale Fatal mystery series.

Shelley's Reviews

Happy Saturday! I recently went to Washington D.C. and visited Idle Time Books. It's a cute independent book store filled with lovely treasures used, rare and out of print books fill the shelves of this shop. This is one of my favorite book stores.If you get the chance add it to your list to visit, you won't be disappointed.

One of my many finds there was this book called Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman.

Series: Mommy-Track Mysteries
Hardcover: 215 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
Language: English

Ayelet Waldman's delightful new mystery series introduces readers to Juliet Applebaum, a public defender turned stay-at-home mom. Juliet shares parenting duties with her screenwriter husband, but she's bored with playdates and trips to the park. That is, until she finds a way to spice up motherhood--with murder...

Getting accepted at Hollywood's hottest preschool is every bit as cutthroat as getting cast in a Hollywood film. Even Juliet's own two-year-old, Ruby, got butted out of the Billy-goat room. But when the school's principal is killed in a hit-and-run accident, Juliet wonders if someone is taking the competition too seriously. And even though she's eight months pregnant, with a toddler by her side, Juliet Applebaum decides to get off the mommy track--to track down a would-be killer.

Here is my review:

Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman

I have always been a fan of Independent bookstores and when I found this book on the shelf, it caught my attention from the start. I had not heard of the author before but after reading the first page I knew it was going to be a hoot. And I will tell you, it did not disappoint.

This is a great debut to what I think will be a fun-filled series. Juliet Applebaum and her little girl Ruby are the star of this book. Juliet is pregnant again, she is full time mom and amatuer slueth on the side when murder calls. She has all the knowledge of the law as she was a public defender before pregnancies. So when things go awry and a murder takes place she is determined to find out who the killer before they find out she is sleuthing and come after her.

The twist and turns will keep you on your seat in eagerness to see what will happen next. You won’t want to put it down. Ruby is witty and sassy and Juliet is wiry and fun. You will be laughing out loud with every page.

A witty and humorous read that will have you up late in the night reading.

Shelley's Reviews

The Outsmarting of Criminals by Steven Rigolosi. Released on March 31, 2014.

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Ransom Note Press (March 31, 2014)
Language: English




After being mugged in New York City, Miss Felicity Prim decides to leave the big city and purchase a home in the country, where she will be safe from the dangerous criminals who call New York home. A devoted reader of crime fiction, Miss Prim believes that her reading experiences have given her the skills required to become an amateur sleuth in her new home of Greenfield, Connecticut. She gets her chance to prove her mettle when she finds a corpse in her basement. As Miss Prim searches for the victim's identity and killer, she finds her father's old journals, which create a crisis in her family. Meanwhile, Miss Prim's young friend, Dolly, has become involved in a dangerous situation and needs Miss Prim's help. Can Miss Prim, with her insights into human behavior and her steadfast refusal to rely on forensics and databases (which she considers the crutches of lazy investigators), save the day and bring everything to a happy resolution? Of course she can.