Nov 272018
 

Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery
by Shelley Noble

 

About the Book

Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
New Series
Setting – New York
Forge Books (October 16, 2018)
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 0765398710
ISBN-13: 978-0765398710
Digital ASIN: B078X2BSDR

From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble, Ask Me No Questions is the first in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series featuring a widow turned sleuth in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City.

A modern woman in 1907, Lady Dunbridge is not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm.

From the decadence of high society balls to the underbelly of Belmont horse racing, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We met Lady Dunbridge after mourning her husband’s death for two years. She and her “maid” and butler journey to Manhattan in 1907 where her friend Bev Reynolds will introduce her to all her high society friends. Right after they get off the ship gunshots ring out, she hears Bev scream, and chaos ensues. Getting through the crowd they find Bev’s husband dead in the arms of a floradora girl crying that he killed himself. The evidence doesn’t support that claim and the police set their sights on Bev as their main suspect. Lady Dunbridge may have just arrived but she knows her friend is not a killer. While making her introduction at all the dinners and balls she vows to keep her eyes and ears open to prove her friend’s innocence. Of course, she will do a bit of snooping too.

Ms. Noble has created an impressive amateur sleuth in Lady Dunbridge and teamed her up with excellent assistants in her “maid” Lily, and butler Preswick. Lily has many talents and Preswick does all he can to keep the both of them safe. All three are strong characters. The supporting cast includes Bev Reynolds, her staff, her husband’s staff, and their friends. They are a very eclectic group. Bev’s husband Reggie ran with a horse racing set and he seems to have owed everyone money. Bev friends are the elite set and the spouses of the men her husband seems indebted too. The author has really fleshed out these characters by the end of the story.

Solving the mystery takes us all around New York to the dinners and parties and out to the Reynold’s stable at Holly Farm where their horses are kept and trained.  There is twist after twist after twist. I had my focus drawn to one character and then away and back again, yet the climax was surprising and exciting.

The author gives us so much detail throughout the whole story that every place came alive in my mind, The same with the people. Her words generated some wonderful imagery. She also kept true to the language of the time which I liked.

This series is off to an excellent start. The author has left doors open for future installments. I am excited to learn more about Lily and Lady Dunbridge and her life as she continues to live in New York.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

About the Author

SHELLEY NOBLE is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of women’s fiction. )BEACH COLORS, WHISPER BEACH, LIGHTHOUSE BEACH,)

As SHELLEY FREYDONT she writes cozy mysteries.(CELEBRATION BAY FESTIVAL MYSTERIES, THE SUDOKU MYSTERIES) and the Newport Gilded Age Mysteries beginning with A GILDED GRAVE an RT Reviewer’s Choice nominee for Best Historical Mystery of 2015 and Macavity Finalist.

ASK ME NO QUESTIONS is the first of a Manhattan Gilded Age series and written as Shelley Noble.

A former professional dancer and choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore and loves to discover new lighthouses and vintage carousels.

Author Links

Website – Shelley Noble

Website  – Shelley Freydont

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Purchase Links 

Amazon     B&N     Kobo     Google Play     IndieBound
Also by Shelley Noble

Written as Shelley Freydont


Find more books by Shelley Freydont Here.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops. 
November 26 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW  
November 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 27 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 28 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 29 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 29 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW*, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 1 – The Power of Words – REVIEW*
December 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW*, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 5 – Laura s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
December 6 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW
December 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW*

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nov 262018
 

Author Interview

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a cozy mystery author and have written The Pecan Bayou and Piney Woods Series. I love to write about little towns in Texas.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?
I used to be an English teacher, but for the last twenty years, I have enjoyed teaching preschoolers music on a part-time basis.

My dad was in the army, but after he retired our family moved to Colorado.

I love to play video games. Stardew Valley is my favorite.

What is the first book you remember reading?

The Bobbsey Twins

What are you reading now?

The Edge of Dreams by Rhys Bowen.

What made you decide to write?
I always wanted to write, but like many people, it was one of those things that I was going to do someday. I didn’t get serious about it until my forties and then I couldn’t read enough about writing. From there, I just enjoyed writing and have done it ever since. Pecan Bayou mystery came out in 2011 that was when I got serious about writing.

Do you have a special place to write?
I write mostly in my office. I have to have quiet when I write. How else will I hear all those voices in my head? I could never write successfully in a coffee shop. Writers are observers, and there are just too many interesting things and people to observe in a place like that.

Where do you get ideas for your books?
I collect news clippings from interesting stories I see. Oh Holy Fright was inspired by a mailman in Italy. That’s all I’ll tell you.

What books have an inspired you most?
I love the book Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg. She inspires me both as a person and as a writer. Every time I finish one of her books I say to my husband, when I grow up, I want to write like that. She beautifully portrays an idealistic view of small town living with a hilarious dose of humor. I know I should have named a mystery writer here but for me the small-town figures prominently in storytelling. My books are not police procedurals. They are normal people you would meet anywhere who are dealing with a crisis.

Is there anything about writing you find most challenging?
When I first started writing, I would get into that middle of the book slump. You have great ideas for the story in the first half and the ending, but in the middle, it’s hard to know how to connect the two pieces. I finally figured out I needed to develop my story more fully through outlining and planning.

What do you think makes a good story?
A story needs to have a mystery that is complex enough of a puzzle to be a challenge, but it also needs to have a heart. That heart comes from the town and the characters and the things they’re going through while the mystery unfolds.

Which of all your characters you think is most like you?
When I first started writing, I would have said, Betsy, the main character and a helpful hints columnist. My life was where she was and still is. Now that I’m older and my children are now adults, I identify with Aunt Maggie. Her son Danny is at home as I have my son Andrew. Danny goes to day habilitation during the day, and so does my son. In the beginning, Aunt Maggie was more, my mother and my aunt.

Why did you pick your particular genre?
Can I answer this with I’m no good at romance writing? It would be the truth. Seriously though, I have always enjoyed a good mystery, and a mystery can exist in anything from a western, to science fiction, to police procedural to what I write- cozies.

What makes your books different from all others out there in this genre?
I think my readers I have come to love my characters like family. Readers ask me if certain characters will have bigger roles in the next book. I also try to make sure there is an act of kindness in every book.

What’s next on the horizon for you?
I have another Piney Woods mystery, A Sneeze to Die For, coming out in January 2019 with Camel Press. This is the second book in my hotel series. A cat convention has come to the Tunie Hotel in Piney Woods, Texas and my main character, Nora, is allergic to cats.

About the Book


Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Self Published (October 31, 2018)
Number of Pages: 255
ASIN: B07JFNSC11

It’s Christmas in Pecan Bayou, Texas. Join Betsy (aka The Happy Hinter) for a good old small-town Christmas complete with Christmas carols, over the top light displays, delicious food, loving friends and…a Christmas Creeper. One of the residents of Pecan Bayou has a secret and you’d better lock the door because that isn’t Santa out there or even a stray elf. Enjoy spending Christmas with the town and family you’ve come to know in the Pecan Bayou Series.

Recipes and helpful hints included!

Praise for Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery)
by Teresa Trent

I enjoyed meeting Betsy, the “Happy Hinter” and her family and friends living in Pecan Bayou.
~Carla Loves To Read

If you want a funny and cute holiday-themed mystery, this is your book! Trust me, you will be as excited as I was to visit this book and series. It is light-hearted, fun and mysterious, just in time for Christmas!
~Bibliophile Reviews

The Pecan Bayou Series brings cozy mysteries in the kind of town where readers wish they could live. Teresa Trent has a gentle writing style to keep her fans turning the pages in delight and intrigue.
~Mallory Heart’s Cozies

About the Author

Teresa Trent writes humorous cozy mysteries that take place in the small towns of Texas. Her Pecan Bayou series features Betsy, the town’s helpful hints columnist who seems to spend a lot of time getting out blood stains.   Teresa’s Piney Woods Series with Camel Press takes place in an East Texas hotel and features Nora, a redhead with an eye for crime.

Teresa loves to feature other cozy authors and cozy giveaways on her blog.   Join over a thousand people who follow her at teresatrent.blog.

Click here to sign up for her mailing list to find out about new releases,
giveaways and visiting authors!

Author Links

TWITTER   BLOG   WEBSITE   GOODREADS    FACEBOOK

  • Purchase Link:  Amazon -THIS BOOK IS FREE TODAY!! Be sure to get your copy!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OH HOLY FRIGHT TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 23 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Varietats – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Carla Loves to Read – REVIEW
November 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 24 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 24 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT
November 24 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 24 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT  
November 25 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 25 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW  
November 26 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 26 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 27 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
November 27 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – Books Direct – GUEST POST

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Nov 262018
 

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!

Where are your books taking you this week?

I will be visiting Minnesota, Oregon, and Massachusetts this week! 

Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week.

Escapes Completed


Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery
by Shelley Noble
Release Date – October 16, 2018
Setting – New York
The Great Escapes Tour stops here tomorrow!


Slay in Character (A Cat Latimer Mystery)
by Lynn Cahoon
Release Date – November 27, 2018
Setting – Colorado
I will feature this book this week for Cozy Wednesday!


The Secret Poison Garden (Rita Calabrese)
by Maureen Klovers
Release Date – June 14, 2018
My Review will post on Thursday! 


Mischief in Moonstone (Misbehavin’ in Moonstone)
by Christine DeSmet
Release Date – March 14, 2017
Setting – Wisconsin
My Flashback Friday Read

Scheduled Escapes


Eggs on Ice (A Cackleberry Club Mystery)
by Laura Childs
Release Date – December 4, 2018
Setting – Midwest (Minnesota)
The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here December 4, 2018


Violet Tendencies (A Rose City Mystery)
by Kate Dyer-Seeley
Release Date – November 27, 2018
Setting – Oregon
I will feature this book for Cozy Wednesday next week!


How to Knit a Murder (Seaside Knitters Society)
by Sally Goldenbaum
Release Date – November 27, 2018
Setting – Massachusetts

Future Escapes

In addition to the books above, these books will be released tomorrow!


Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways!

Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below!
Happy Reading!!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Nov 252018
 

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The Sunday Salon used to be a meme but was getting so huge it became unmanageable, so it is now a Facebook group that has become an
informal week in review gathering place for bloggers.

It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
~ It’s a chance to share news~
A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!

Lazy Day!

Since our son Kris passed away Thanksgiving has become a very low key affair. I made myself a promise to stay off the computer all day and except for 1 quick Amazon order to replace a grandson’s broken Kindle, I did just that. I slept in, I watched the Macy’s parade, I read Slay in Character by Lynn Cahoon, I watched the movie Bad Moms that has been on my DVR for almost a year. Then we had a delightful dinner complete with Impossible Pumpkin Pie with Daughter #2, Son #2 and a couple of special guests.  After dinner I watched a few more recorded shows and when to bed early, at least early for me. Mr. Dollycas did the cooking and watched football all day. It was a relaxing day. Friday it was back to work at the computer with a little online shopping too. Kaden was dropped off later in the day for the weekend. He was going to help Papa get the Christmas tree up but Mr. Dollycas was taking it easy this weekend too. He still has a few hours to check that off his to-do list, but I’m not holding my breath.  🙂 Kaden found many other things to keep himself busy. 


Weekly Rewind – November 19 – 24, 2018
Monday – My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #47 2018

Tuesday – #Review / #Giveaway – Wreath Between the Lines (A Cookbook Nook Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber – Great Escapes Tour @DarylWoodGerber

Wednesday – Cozy Wednesday with Terry Ambrose – Author of The Killer Christmas Sweater Club (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery) – Great Escapes Book Tour #GuestPost / #Review / #Giveaway

Thursday – Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday – #Review / #Giveaway – Too Good a Girl: Remembering Olene Emberton and the Mystery of Her Death by Janis Thornton

And – #FlashbackFriday – Of Murder and Men (A Cat Latimer Mystery) by Lynn Cahoon #Review / #Giveaway – @KensingtonBooks

Saturday – #Spotlight / #Giveaway – Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by Elaine Faber – Great Escapes Book Tour

I hope you have a week full of doing what you love!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Nov 242018
 

Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger: (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
by Elaine Faber

A WWII tale of conflict and carnivals, turmoil and tigers.

About the Book


Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
WWII tale of conflict and carnivals, turmoil and tigers.
Cozy Mystery/Humorous/Historical
3rd in Series
Elk Grove Publications (July 25, 2018)
Print Length: 349 pages
Digital ASIN: B07FXDV1C6

While the ‘tiger of war’ rages across the Pacific during WWII, eccentric, elderly Agnes Odboddy, ‘fights the war from the home front’. Her patriotic duties are interrupted when she is accused of the Wilkey’s Market burglary.

A traveling carnival with a live tiger joins the parishioner’s harvest fair at The First Church of the Evening Star and Everlasting Light. Accused again when counterfeit bills are discovered at the carnival, and when the war bond money goes missing, Agnes sets out to restore her reputation and locate the money. Her attempts lead her into harm’s way when she discovers a friend’s betrayal and even more about carnival life than she bargained for.

Granddaughter Katherine’s turbulent love triangle with a doctor and an FBI agent rivals Agnes’s own on-again, off-again relationship with Godfrey.

In Faber’s latest novel, your favorite quirky character, Mrs. Odboddy, prevails against injustice and faces unexpected challenges . . . and then There Was a Tiger!

Praise for Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger: (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
by Elaine Faber A WWII tale of conflict and carnivals, turmoil and tigers.

The story does keep you on your toes, and you never see what is about to happen, and the setting is WWII, and even Mrs. Roosevelt is back. A don’t miss read that will make you want more once that last page is turned!
~Maureen’s Musings

Author Interview

Elaine Faber

 

  1. Tell us a little bit about yourself I think someone said, “I’m a little bit older than my teeth.” Others say, ‘when I look in the mirror, my mother looks back.’ For me, both are true. I’m a wife, mother, grandmother and at this printing, a new great-grandmother. Mostly I write short stories and novels. That’s pretty much what I do, therefore, who I am.
  1. What are three things most people dont know about you? I’m terrified of dentists though I force myself to go twice a year. I don’t like movies or books where ‘people’ abuse one another, either physically or emotionally. Having had a brief run-in with breast cancer, I volunteer at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop.
  1. What is the first book you remember reading? Probably a Dick and Jane book in the first grade.
  1. What are you reading now? Joanne Fluke – Carrot Cake Murder. I like cozy mysteries.
  1. What made you decide you want to write? I always wrote poems and short stories, even in grade school and high school. I still have some faded typewritten pages of short stories.
  1. Do you have a special place you like to write? Not really. I write at my office computer. I don’t have a laptop for other locations. I need complete silence to think and write.
  1. Where do the ideas for your books come from? I suppose they come from my muddled, convoluted brain. Sometimes, the characters in my books have a mind of their own. Sometimes I have no clue where I’ll end up as they lead me from pillar to post.
  1. What books have most inspired you? Paul Gallico’s Silent Meow inspired me to write a story where the cat ‘tells his own tale,’ as I’ve done with my three cozy cat mysteries, Black Cats Legacy, Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer, and Black Cat and the Accidental Angel. John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath inspires me to strive to describe scenes in a way to make the reader shiver with each experience. The Bible inspires me to be a better Christian.
  1. Is there anything about writing you find most challenging? It takes thousands of hours to write and complete a novel. It is most challenging to one’s self-esteem, wondering why more people won’t buy and enjoy our books. A writer writes not for the glory or even the money, but for the praise. One is encouraged, however, by the sales.
  1. What do you think makes a good story? An interesting plot, a character that convinces the reader enough that she is willing to ‘go with them’ on their journey. The reader must be satisfied by the ending. There must be a combination of humor, adventure, suspense, and a story is never a ‘good story,’ unless there is a cat.
  1. Which, of all your characters, do you think is the most like you? Odboddy is closest to my age, and perhaps has a bit of my snarky sense of humor, but Black Cat (from my cozy cat series) is close to my heart. I think there must be a bit of me in every character.
  1. Why did you pick your particular genre? I read cozy mystery, or mystery fiction. I suppose since I know that best, it would make sense to write in one’s favorite genre.
  1. What makes your books different from others out there in this genre? Many aspects would likely be similar to other books in this genre; a good plot, fun characters, humor. However, in Mrs. Odboddy’s adventures, I’ve involved Agnes with little known historical facts from WWII, as well as much detail about life as it was in a small town during the war years. Throw in a hysterical, older female protagonists and I think my stories stand out from other cozy mystery/adventures.
  1. Whats next on the horizon for you? I have completed a fourth cozy cat mystery, now in editing phase, probably TBP next year, and I’m currently working on a fourth Mrs. Odboddy adventure where she is involved with ‘saving the tiger’ you will meet in Odboddy- And Then There was a Tiger. The title refers not only to the carnival tiger, Shere Khan, but to the ‘Tiger of War’ that America faced during WWII.

About the Author
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Elaine Faber lives in Northern California with her husband and two feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, California Cat Writers, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. She enjoys speaking on author panels, sharing highlights of her novels. Her short stories have appeared in national magazines and multiple anthologies. She has published seven books. In addition to the Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries Elaine writes the Black Cat Mysteries.

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 19 – Here’s How It Happened – GUEST POST
November 19 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 20 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 20 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT, RECIPE
November 21 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 22 – Thanksgiving U.S. – Off
November 23 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW
November 23 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 24 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
November 26 – Books Direct – GUEST POST, EXCERPT
November 27 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 27 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 28 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 29 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST
November 30 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
December 1 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

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Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Nov 232018
 

On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
I am so upset that I got behind on this series but I this book catches me up the
new book Slay in Character that releases on November 27!


Of Murder and Men (A Cat Latimer Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Kensington (November 28, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 9781496704399
ISBN-13: 978-1496704399
Kindle ASIN: B06XFJCBTD

Love is in the air in Aspen Hills, and it’s making a terrible mess of Cat Latimer’s writers’ retreat—especially when blood stains the plot . . .

Ever since her business partner, Shauna, fell for a wealthy landowner in town, Cat has been working double time to keep her writers’ retreat running. And with the January session almost underway, that spells trouble. As if scheduling mishaps aren’t disastrous enough, Shauna skips out on kitchen duties one morning, forcing Cat to serve unsuspecting guests store-bought muffins . . .

But best laid plans really go awry when Shauna discovers her beau missing from their bed. When his body later turns up in the horse barn, they quickly find out the victim’s scandalous lifestyle left many dying for revenge. While balancing an eccentric group of aspiring writers and a suspect list for the record books, Cat soon finds herself on the heels of a killer—and authoring her most deadly conclusion yet . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Love can be all-consuming but death brings out the truth, at least that is the case for Shauna. She fell for a man, he asked her to marry him, and then he goes missing. Late getting back to cook breakfast for an early retreat arrival, Shauna tells her Cat that she woke up and Kevin was gone. She has notified the police (Uncle Pete) that he is missing and is waiting for news. When Uncle Pete arrives she knows the news is not good. Her fiancé was found dead on his property, in the horse barn. Worse, Shauna may be a suspect.

One murder is not enough, Cat is still desperately trying to find out who killed her ex-husband and why. When one of the retreat authors offers to help her sift the books and papers he left behind she can’t say no.

Cat is between books right now so she pours herself into solving both these mysteries all while hosting a writer’s retreat. Hands full yes, but she needs to do this for both she and Shauna, so they can start to really close the doors on their past.

I love our main cast of characters but Ms. Cahoon has introduced a new character that quickly became my favorite. Shirley is a retired police detective from Alaska. She is writing a police procedural and even plans on talking to Pete for some additional background. The woman is an early riser, writes like a speed demon and isn’t afraid of roaming through piles are papers like a dog searching for a bone. She also is sweet on Pete and he on her but both deny it, claiming their relationship is purely professional. I hope she makes many return visits to Aspen Hills.

I really enjoyed the way the mystery of ex-husband Michael death comes to a head in this installment, but I think Cat will always have lurking questions. The mystery of Kevin Shields death had many more suspects than I could have imagined. Twists, turns, secrets, and even a connection to Cat in a roundabout way had me speculating all kinds of scenarios, especially when the mob may be involved.

The one thing this author excels at is keeping her readers on their toes. She takes us on quite a ride with perfect amounts of intrigue, romance, and humor. Exciting, funny, and clever. Once you start reading, this book is hard to put down.

Next up, Slay in Character! I can’t wait!

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

You can read my review of A Story to Kill here and my review of Fatality by Firelight here.

About The Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho expat. She grew up living the small town life she now loves to write about. Currently, she’s living with her husband and two fur babies in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi River where her imagination tends to wander. Guidebook to Murder, Book 1 of the Tourist Trap series, won the 2015 Reader’s Crown award for Mystery Fiction. Visit her at www.lynncahoon.com.Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com

Also by Lynn Cahoon


I am giving my review paperback copy away.

The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.

Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.

You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

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Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries.

Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End December 7, 2018, at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

Click Here For Entry Form


*THIS BOOK WAS FROM MY PRIVATE COLLECTION. 

Nov 232018
 

Too Good a Girl: Remembering Olene Emberton and the Mystery of Her Death
True Crime/Memoir
Setting – Indiana
Life Sentences Publishing LLC (July 3, 2018)
Paperback: 206 pages
ISBN-10: 069215115X
ISBN-13: 978-0692151150

In the mid-sixties, the small, midwestern farm town of Tipton, Indiana, seemed like the safest, most serene place in the world. That changed October 16, 1965, when Olene Emberton, a quiet, 17-year-old Tipton High School senior disappeared after a Saturday night date. Two days later, her body was found alongside a remote country road, her clothes neatly folded and stacked beside her. Lacking any witnesses, clues, a confession, or even a cause of death, the case was never solved. More than 50 years later, with dogged determination, Olene’s classmate, Janis Thornton, explores the mystery. Presented as part true crime, part oral history, and part memoir, “Too Good a Girl” weaves together the strands of the tragedy that stunned a community and tore a family apart. The truth is there. It is only up to the reader to determine which truth is the right truth.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This story is personal for author Janis Thornton. For more than 50 years this case has gone unsolved and it has bothered her each and every day. She has researched and done interviews with as many people connected to the case as she could. She wanted to publish her book back in 2007 but she wasn’t going to print with Olean’s family approval. In 2016 she got approval from the family and worked hard to produce this book. She was Olean’s classmate, but now with adult eyes, she is able to look back at how Olean Emberton’s death rocked the small town of Tipton, Indiana. She clearly lays out her findings and the evidence but doesn’t go so far as to say she solved the case. She has a clear suspect, but she ends the book in a way that lets the reader decide for themselves if there is enough proof.

For residents of the small town of Tipton, this book will have great meaning. Ms. Thorton takes an eerie death and writes a compelling account in a very respectable way. I truly appreciated the perspective she brought to this case.

It is hard to say I enjoyed a story about such a heartwrenching death, Olean is not some fictional character in the mysteries I usually read. She was “Too Good Of Girl” to die this way and her story will stick with me for a long time. Well written and well researched, the author had a difficult task telling a story that needed to be told.

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I am giving away my review copy.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nov 222018
 

Another quiet Thanksgiving for us. There will definitely be turkey, sides, and pumpkin pie. Daughter #1 will be working and then she and her family will be with the other set of grandparents. Daughter #2 is working for part of the day. She and Son #2 will be here for dinner. The major thing is that I am spending today totally away from the computer. Reading, relaxing and a little parade watching may be all I do today and that is just fine with me.

I hope you are having a relaxing day too whether spending it with friends and family or just having a quiet day like me. Just be sure to leave room for pie, lots and lots of pie! 

Happy Thanksgiving
From The Caswell’s

Nov 212018
 

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! 

I am so happy to have Terry Ambrose stop by today as part of his Great Escapes Book Tour! 


Photos and Writing
by Terry Ambrose

If you’re “of a certain age,” you probably remember your family having friends over on a Saturday night to share photos of the most recent family vacation. In our house, I was the one who took hundreds of 35mm slides and then proudly showed off an endless array of shots from wherever we’d been. In the age of digital photography, we’ve moved those Saturday night get-togethers online. The nice thing about social media for a viewer is you only have to actually look at as many (or few) photos as you want.

Some photographers seem to have a knack for creating the wow factor. Whether their subject is as mind-boggling as the Milky Way or as basic as a slice of apple pie, I’m always amazed at how they get those wow-factor shots.

I love the blue hour — that point where the sky is still blue and the stars are just starting to come out. None in this photo, but not bad for a first attempt at a long exposure.

One of the things I love about photography is how it forces you to look differently at the world. Whether the photo is of food, people, or a sunset, composition is critical to ensuring that particular creation isn’t just another ho-hum series of bit and bytes.

When we visited San Clemente in January, we were lucky enough to catch the sunset.

I’ve spent three decades practicing the craft of writing, and during that time I let my photography skills lie dormant. Two years ago I decided to fix that, so I bought a new camera and began taking photos of many different things. Only recently did I realize my main interest was light, not necessarily any type of subject. It probably should have been more obvious to me that I was a light junkie, because I always seem to be on a quest to find new and different ways to paint the picture of light for readers.

What I’ve come to realize recently is that the common thread in my favorite photos is how the light plays in the scene. Describing this in words may not make tremendous sense, but perhaps a few examples will make it clear. I still consider myself a newbie at night and light photography, but I hope you enjoy these photos (and don’t fall asleep on the couch watching them!).

~Terry

Thank you, Terry, for visiting today!

The Killer Christmas Sweater Club (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery)
by Terry Ambrose

About the Book

The Killer Christmas Sweater Club (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – California
Publisher: Satori
Print Length: 342 pages
Digital ASIN: B07H27NCP4

All ten-year-old Alexandra Atwood wants for Christmas is to get her dad and the B&B’s cook Marquetta under the mistletoe. After all, how can they get married if they don’t kiss first?

When murder strikes in Seaside Cove, bed-and-breakfast owner Rick Atwood is asked to help find the killer. But this will not be an easy case to crack. Not only did the killer contaminate the crime scene, but there are suspects all over town. And they all received the same Christmas sweater from the victim.

Alex hears rumors about the murder and decides that since she’s on Christmas break, she has time for a little multitasking. She launches her own investigation even as she continues her efforts to get her dad and Marquetta together.

Just when Rick thinks he’s identified all the suspects, he discovers a new one—his estranged wife. With the days until Christmas ticking down, Rick feels pressured from all sides. He needs to solve the case. He needs to send his wife back to New York. But the one thing he doesn’t need is for his daughter to be one step ahead of him and the cops.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

First I must say, that cover is gorgeous!! Every cover in this series has been beautiful and inviting.

We arrive back at the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast right before Christmas. Rick and Marquetta discover boxes of decorations in the attic including a Christmas train, Captain Jack and her father had a lot of fun with. Ten-year-old Alex is focused on moving her dad’s relationship along. She enlists a little help to hang some mistletoe, now she just needs to get them under it at the same time.

Rick’s focus is on the latest murder. While at The Crooked Mast for an Ugly Sweater Contest, Deputy Cunningham arrives sans ugly sweater to ask for Rick’s help. Local lawyer, Thorne Waldorf has been murdered. He just happened to send out a bunch of ugly sweaters to certain people he has wronged. The sweaters included an apology of sorts but Rick thinks the killer is among those who received Thorne’s gifts. Word around the party shows people were not happy with the man for several reasons. Even Alex hears some interesting stories. The one thing Rick never expected was for Alex’s mother to be in town, involved with Thorne Waldorf, and on the suspect list.

Christmas is right around the corner so this case needs to be wrapped up as fast as possible. He knows Alex wants to help and maybe with guidance from Marquetta that is possible. He just hopes he figures out whodunit before she does.

These characters quickly found their way into my heart right away in book 1, A Treasure To Die For. It is a joy to visit them for the holidays. I am almost as invested in Rick and Marquetta’s relationship as Alex.  Alex is a phenomenal character, she is smart and thinks well are her feet for someone so young. Rick struggles to be sure he is giving her the best life he can and with Marquetta’s help, he truly is. Having her mother arrive back on the scene in this story could have gone many ways but the way it plays out shows just how good of job he is doing.

If you haven’t read previous books in this series, Marguetta gave Alex a journal as soon as she arrived at the B&B. The story goes back and forth between Rick’s point of view and Alex’s along with her journal. Seeing a 10-year-olds perspective to the crime and her theories is so much fun. Her efforts to bring the two most important people in her life together had me smiling ear to ear.

Mr. Ambrose delivers another extraordinary mystery. Multifaceted with plenty of suspects made this a hard one to solve. It was all twisted up until a key clue was solved and all the pieces fell into place. I was totally surprised when all was revealed.

The author sets a wonderful scene too. I can imagine the B&B in all its finery right down to the train village, the lights on the stairway, the wreath, the mistletoe, and all of the ugly sweaters too. A real treasure of a story to get you into the Christmas spirit.

I loved this story and I just can’t get enough of these characters. I can’t wait for my next visit!

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Check out my review of A Treasure To Die For here and Clues in the Sand here.

 

About the Author

Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who tracked down deadbeats for a living. He’s long since turned his talents to writing mysteries and thrillers. Several of his books have been award finalists and in 2014 his thriller, “Con Game,” won the San Diego Book Awards for Best Action-Thriller. He likes cool photography, funny mysteries, and finding the oddest things while walking on the beach.

Author Links:   Website   Facebook   Goodreads

Praise for The Killer Christmas Sweater Club (A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery)
by Terry Ambrose

Another 5 stars for Terry Ambrose and the Seaside Cove B&B Mystery Series. I am really enjoying this series and all the characters.
~My Reading Journeys

The Killer Christmas Sweater Club is a fun cozy mystery with a great Christmas theme.
~The Power of Words

The Killer Christmas Sweater Club is a charming story. There are engaging characters, a quaint setting and Christmas merriment . . . (it) can easily be read by a younger audience . . . (and it) has a heartwarming ending that will have you smiling.
~The Avid Reader

I am completely smitten with everything about this mystery book, and if Hallmark is looking for a cozy mystery to turn into their next best-selling series of films, look no further!
~My Devotional Thoughts

What an adorable Christmas cozy mystery . . .Great for cozy fans.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Purchase Link – Amazon




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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nov 202018
 

Wreath Between the Lines (A Cookbook Nook Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber

 

About the Book

Wreath Between the Lines (A Cookbook Nook Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – California
Beyond the Page (November 8, 2018)
Print Length: 221 pages
ASIN: B07GC4FJK4

The Agatha Award–winning author of Pressing the Issue returns to the Cookbook Nook, where Jenna Hart is busy decking the halls and ducking a killer . . .

The holidays are Jenna Hart’s favorite time of year, but just as she’s decorating the Cookbook Nook for all the festive events, her imperious older sister makes a surprise visit, anxious that her husband’s been more naughty than nice. To make matters worse, her father’s good friend Jake shows up on her doorstep with a frantic report that his friend has been murdered—trussed with Christmas lights and impaled with a tree star.

Worried that Jake was the intended victim, Jenna makes a list of suspects and checks it twice. Swapping her Santa’s hat for a sleuthing cap, she gets busy investigating Jake’s long-lost sister, his Grinch of a neighbor, and a stamp collector who covets Jake’s most treasured piece. When Jake himself is poisoned and nearly dies, Jenna knows she’ll have to do whatever it takes to corner the culprit before it’s lights out for Jake . . .

Includes tantalizing holiday recipes!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It’s almost Christmas in Crystal Cove and Jenna is excited about all the upcoming festivities until her father’s friend Jake arrives at her door with tragic news. He arrived home to find his friend Geoffrey tangled up in Christmas lights and stabbed with a tree star. He asks for Jenna’s help with the police, he is certain that his crotchety neighbor is the killer but Jenna is not so sure that is the case. She thinks the killer made a mistake and that Jake was the intended victim. When Jake is poisoned at a holiday event she knows she is right. Luckily he survives but before the killer has another chance she is determined to catch them as fast as she can so everyone in Crystal Cove can enjoy the Ho-Ho-Holidays.

Again the well-developed characters shine within this story. The drama between Jenna’s sister Whitney and her husband is having a big effect on their daughter and Jenna tries her best to lend her support and smooth ruffled feathers but her main focus is solving the murder. The supporting cast plays a huge part in enabling her to do both. The dialogue is crisp and relationships stand out. We are getting to the point where a cast of characters list at the beginning of the book may be necessary as the cast grows, especially for new readers to keep everyone straight.

The author serves up a wide variety of suspects. As Jenna investigates we get to know several in depth. The clues are spread out for us to see but as the title says it is “between the lines” where things start to become clear. I enjoyed how officer Cinnamon tried to keep Jenna out of the investigation but even while on vacation her father was able to convince Cimmamon that just wasn’t going to happen.

The merchants of Crystal Cove are all decked out for the holidays. A wreath contest finds a unique wreath on every door. The events, the lights, all the decorations put this reader in a very merry holiday mood.

One of the things I really like about this series is the book title name dropping, sometimes with great descriptions of the books. Real cookbooks with great recipes and colorful photos. Cozies fitting the theme of the story, this time Christmas. It is a good idea to have a place to jot down these titles so you can check them out later and add them to your wish list. There are also recipes in the book to tempt you, so again a place to write them down is helpful.

A wonderful holiday read! Make yourself comfortable, with a cup of hot chocolate or cider, sit back, put on your sleuthing cap, and enjoy this fun holiday trip to Crystal Cove.

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More Praise for Wreath Between the Lines (A Cookbook Nook Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber

I love Daryl Wood Gerber’s books and the Cookbook Nook series has become one of my favorites . . . The cover is beautiful, I really enjoy the cookbook shop setting, and Christmas themed cozies are always a hit with me.
~The Book’s the Thing

Wreath Between The Lines was a charming holiday mystery with a quirky cast of characters that will keep you coming back for more.
~Moonlight Rendezvous

Ms. Gerber weaves in a tight tale of estranged family, squabbling spouses, cranky neighbors, a cookie contest, and an A cappella competition to keep the reader engrossed and turning pages.
~Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder

I always like the way that the author makes you feel at home within the quaint little town of Crystal Cove with all the fun characters.
~A. Holland Reads

Wonderful characters populate this charming town and the creative shops . . . Family plays a strong role in this holiday-themed cozy.
~Laura’s Interests

This is my first chance to read this series and this one was delightful. All the holiday cheer in the midst of the mystery of who did in Jake’s friend is a fun and fast read.
~My Reading Journeys

Wreath Between the Lines combines charming characters, a cozy town, Christmas festivities, romance and murder into one jolly cozy mystery.
~The Avid Reader

All in all, an exceptionally well-done mystery and story.
~Valerie’s Musings

About the Author

DARYL WOOD GERBER writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mystery series featuring a cookbook store owner who is an avid reader and admitted foodie, set on the coast of California.  As AVERY AAMES, she pens the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling Cheese Shop Mystery series featuring a cheese shop owner amateur sleuth, set in the fictional town of Providence, Ohio. Daryl’s short stories have been nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and other awards. Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl has appeared in “Murder, She Wrote” and more.

Author Links

Visit Daryl or Avery at www.darylwoodgerber.com.

Daryl’s Blog – Avery’s Blog – Mystery Lover’s Kitchen – Killer Characters 

Facebook:   Daryl      Avery 

Twitter: @AveryAames @DarylWoodGerber

Goodreads:    Daryl Wood Gerber     Avery Aames

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) by Cleo CoyleOrder Your Copy Today!
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