Southern Harm
About Southern Harm
Digital ASIN: B07KDVCCZH
A little Southern charm never killed anybody—until now—in an enchanting cozy mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of Southern Discomfort and the Java Jive novels.
What I Thought:
This is the second in Southern B & B Mystery Series. In this installment, Quinn and her boyfriend Tucker are digging a fire pit in Tucker's Aunt Lela's backyard when they discover human remains. The remains turn out the be those of former Homecoming Queen, Esther Sinclair, who disappeared 33 years ago. After Lela's relationship with Esther all those years ago is uncovered, she becomes the main suspect and is arrested. That means Quinn and her sister Delilah, along with Tucker, have to step in to figure our what really happened to Esther. This was a well written cozy that grabbed my attention from the start and kept it throughout the entire story. I enjoyed the setting of the story, Savannah, Ga, and that the story was set during the Christmas season. The author is a very talented storyteller, and there were many twists and turns that kept me guessing till the very end. I really enjoy this series, and I look forward to the next installment in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
CAROLINE FARDIG is the USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the Java Jive Mysteries series and the Lizzie Hart Mysteries series. Fardig's BAD MEDICINE was named one of the "Best Books of 2015" by Suspense Magazine. She worked as a schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom before she realized that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Born and raised in a small town in Indiana, Fardig still lives in that same town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.
Website: www.carolinefardig.com
Blog: http://www.carolinefardig.com/blog/Twitter: @carolinefardig
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carolinefardigbooks
Don't miss Caroline Fardig's thrilling Java Jive mysteries, which can be read together or separately:
DEATH BEFORE DECAF | MUG SHOT | A WHOLE LATTE MURDER
Posted by MelinaMason at 12:00 AM
Death by Library
Death By Library (Pismawallops PTA Mysteries)
by Rebecca M. Douglass
About Death by Library
Independently Published (December 6, 2019
Number of Pages — ~280
ASIN: B07XFBJW3B
The library can save your life… can it kill you, too?
JJ has a new job at the library, which ought to make her happy. But with all those books to shelve, the PTA to run, and a 16-year-old son to raise, there's never enough time to spend with her sweetheart, police chief Ron Karlson. That's especially true with Thanksgiving on the horizon and her mother coming to visit, not to mention the PTA's Holiday Bazaar looming ahead.
When things turn deadly in the library stacks, JJ needs some answers fast, before she loses her job—or her life. She's determined to learn everything about the victim, and for once the library doesn't hold all the answers. JJ and Kitty may have to face the ultimate peril: a visit to Mrs. Halsey, the oldest—and crankiest—person on the island.
This is the fourth installment in the Pismawallops PTA Mystery series and is set on the Pismawallop island in Puget sound. JJ has just started a new job as a librarian and she is trying to raise her 16 year-old son as a single mother. She is also on the PTA and they are trying to get a much needed new swimming pool and one of the members wants a new football field. Also the PTA Holiday Bazaar is looming so this leaves little time for JJ to pursue her romance with Ron Karlson, the police chief. When the body of a a member of the PTA, who opposes the swimming pool is found in the rubble of an earthquake, suspicions arise. Ron warns JJ not to get involved, but she does not listen. This book was a fast read that kept my attention throughout. Even though I have not read the other books in the series, I was not lost. There were a lot of twists in this book and I was not sure who the killer was till the very end. I enjoyed the setting of this story and I enjoyed that it was set close to Thanksgiving. Even though I have not read others in this series, I am going to go back and read them as I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
About Rebecca M. Douglass
After a lifetime of reading, and a decade or more of slinging books at the library and herding cats with the PTA, Rebecca began to turn her experiences into books of her own, publishing her first in 2012. That failed to quiet the voices in her head, but seemed to entertain a number of readers, so she wrote some more, which generated still more voices. Despite the unlimited distractions provided by raising sons to the point of leaving home (and preparing to move without forwarding address if necessary to retain that empty nest), not to mention the mountains that keep calling (very hard to resist the urging of something the size of the Sierra Nevada), she has managed to pen a total of 9 books so far.
For those who enjoy murder and mayhem with a sense of humor, Rebecca's Pismawallops PTA mysteries (Death By Ice Cream and Death By Trombone, Death By Adverb, and Death By Library) provide insights into what PTA moms are really like. If you prefer tall tales and even less of a grip on reality, visit Skunk Corners in The Ninja Librarian and the sequels Return to Skunk Corners and The Problem of Peggy. For those who've always thought that fantasy was a bit too high-minded, a stumble through rescues and escapes with Halitor the Hero, possibly the most hapless hero to ever run in fear from any and all fair maidens, should set you straight.
Why does Rebecca write so many different kinds of books (there's even an alphabet picture book in the mix!)? We could argue that it's because she has a rich lifetime of experience that requires expression in—squirrel!
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
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5755891.Rebecca_M_Douglass
Twitter: @Douglass_RM
Blog: https://www.ninjalibrarian.com
Purchase Link - Amazon- Apple Books - Smashwords:- Kobo - B&N
Apple Cider Slaying
Apple Cider Slaying (A Cider Shop Mystery)
by Julie Anne Lindsey
About Apple Cider Slaying
Kensington (October 29, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Digital ASIN: B07NCQPSVW
Apples are at the core of the family business run by Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe. But this year's crop is unseasonably ripe with murder . . .
ONE ROTTEN APPLE
Blossom Valley, West Virginia, is home to Smythe Orchards, Winnie and her Granny's beloved twenty-five-acre farm and family business. But any way you slice it, it's struggling. That's why they're trying to drum up business with the "First Annual Christmas at the Orchard," a good old-fashioned holiday festival with enough delicious draw to satisfy apple-picking locals and cider-loving tourists alike—until the whole endeavor takes a sour turn when the body of Nadine Cooper, Granny's long-time, grudge-holding nemesis, is found lodged in the apple press. Now, with Granny the number one suspect, Winnie is hard-pressed to prove her innocence before the real killer delivers another murder . .
Includes Recipes!
I was really excited to read this series, as it is set in my home state of West Virginia, and I was not disappointed. While I was a little confused about the location of the story, northern West Virginia, and mention of the New River, which is in southern West Virginia, that really did not detract from the incredible story and I will chalk it up to it being a fictional tale and giving the author creative license. I really did enjoy this story and once I started it, I could hardly put it down. It was very enthralling and kept me turning the pages. Once the mystery was introduced, I was at a loss as to who the killer could be and what the actual motive for the murder really was. I thought the author did a great job with describing the relationships in the book, and I can honestly say, this is how most folks in WV are, very helpful and ready to step up to lend a neighbor a hand. Like I said, I did not know who the killer could be, nor the motive and I was totally floored by the reveal. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in this series.
About Julie Anne Lindsey
Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. When she's not creating new worlds and organizing the epic adventures of fictional characters, Julie can be found carpooling her three kids around Northeastern Ohio and plotting with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.
Visit her online at www.JulieAnneLindsey.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JulieAnneLindseyAuthor/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/JulieALindsey
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/juliealindsey/
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - GooglePlay - Indie Bound
Five Things About Being A Writer
That I'm Most Thankful For
Believe it or not, being a full time writer isn't an easy job. It requires a lot of time management skills, juggling multiple characters, worlds, manuscripts and publishers. Add to that the chaos of family, friends, housework and attempting to succeed in an industry that never sleeps, and a writer's life can get a little bananas. I've honest to goodness left the house wearing two different shoes, driven off with my coffee on the roof of my car and fed my children cereal for dinner more nights than I will ever admit. But the thing is that I wouldn't trade my cuckoo life for anything. And while it might look like I'm a crazy cat lady, more often than not, I am, in fact, living my dream.
I could tell more tales of the absent-minded things I've done while lost in a story, but I think it will be more fun to share my top five favorite things about being a cozy mystery author.
5. The Research –I've taken some pretty amazing adventures in the name of research. Normally, I gather information from my desk, but sometimes I get to go out into the big wide world and learn. I've been everywhere from Honolulu and New Orleans to Nashville and New York City all in the name of research. I've toured historic theaters, abandoned malls, watched rescue dogs train and taken a LOT of ghost walks. I've even met federal agents and the local coroner, but inevitably I recall I'm a painful introvert and head home.
4. Staying Home – I get to work from home! And it's fantastic. I never have to leave the nest I've feathered perfectly just for me. I don't have to call-off when I'm sick or tired. I can begin and end my shift whenever I want. And there is No dress code!
3. Wearing PJs – I can wear pajamas to the office! And I do! Everyday! In fact, I frequently change from my sleep-pajamas to my work-pajamas when it's time to start my day. Why, yes, there is a difference. My sleep pajamas look like they were hit with a dump truck forty-years-ago and I found them on the road afterward, but my work pajamas are relatively clean and new, just in case I have to answer the door for take-out or a package delivery.
2. Reading is Encouraged! – That's right. Read that one again. Reading is Encouraged at my office! How many people get to read at work? Cause I do! In fact, I'm SUPPOSED to! The more the better! Why? Because reading helps me hone my craft, it gives me new ideas and keeps my brain sharp. Plus, reading is my favorite thing EVER. And as a writer, I get to read anytime I want and as much as possible. Added bonus: I can write off any books purchased as enrichment on my taxes!
1. My readers - I saved the best for last, and I'm looking at you. My readers are now and will always be my favorite part of being a cozy mystery author. The cozy community is like no other. Y'all are warm and welcoming. Kind and encouraging. And you make me want to write a better book every time. Just to keep you smiling, guessing and reading!
And that's it! These are the top five reasons I adore spending my days plotting fictional schemes. It's exactly the life I've always wanted, and on behalf of all the other writers out there in the world, I'd like to extend a huge thanks to You, dear reader, for making our dreams possible
Julie Anne Lindsey is an award-winning and national bestselling author of mystery and romantic suspense. She's published more than twenty-five novels since her debut in 2013 and currently writes series as herself, as well as under multiple pen names, for Harlequin, Kensington, Sourcebooks and Crooked Lane Books. When she's not writing the stories that keep her up at night, Julie stays busy in Ohio with her extremely patient husband and three amazing kids. Today she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Learn more about Julie and her books at
Better Watch Out
Better Watch Out (A Merry & Bright Handcrafted Mystery)
by Christina Freeburn
About Better Watch Out
Henery Press (October 15, 2019)
Digital ASIN: B07VQST5YT
Making a list. Merry's life is Christmas chaos. Her divorce is still in question. She's behind on crafting orders. Ebenezer is an escape artist. And with one day left, she hasn't completed the line-up for the annual Christmas parade, thanks to one grinch. Once Merry knows the Christmas secret, she realizes Santa isn't what's coming to town.
Checking it twice. Santa's naughty list, courtesy of Jenna Wilcox, will roll down Main Street with names of residents who deserve a lump of coal in their stocking. Saving the parade won't be easy, but Merry is up to task. Or so she thinks until she discovers Jenna's body stashed in Santa's sack.
Going to find out. As facts are unwrapped, Merry finds the line blurred between who's naughty and nice. As threats are aimed at her and those she loves, Merry dashes for the truth before the murderer puts her on the naughty list and crosses her off for good.
This is the second installment in the Merry and Bright Handcrafted Mystery Series, and I enjoyed this one as much as I did the first. In this one, Merry is in charge of Season's Greetings Christmas Parade and when Jenna Wilcox is found dead after she has threatened to reveal a naughty list on her float, Merry has her hands full trying to find the killer. I found this book well written and I enjoyed the the plot which made for a quick read. I am glad that I had read the first in the series, or I may have been lost in this one. I enjoy Christmas cozies and Ms. Freeburn did a good job with describing the details of the towns Christmas celebration. I of course, love Ebenezzer as I have a guinea pig of my own, and I loved reading about his antics. There were many twists and turns in this on to keep me guessing and turning the page. It was also enjoyed because in takes place in my home state of West Virginia and the author is actually from my husband's hometown in West Virginia. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
About Christina Freeburn
Christina Freeburn has always loved books. There was nothing better than picking up a story and being transported to another place. The love of reading evolved into the love of writing and she's been writing since her teenage years. Her first novel was a 2003 Library of Virginia Literary Award nominee. Her mysteries series, Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery and Merry & Bright Handcrafted Mysteries, are a mix of crafty and crime and feature heroines whose crafting time is interrupted by crime solving.
Christina served in the US Army and has also worked as a paralegal, librarian, church secretary, and golf shop pro. She lives in West Virginia with her husband, dog, and a rarely seen cat except by those who are afraid and allergic to felines.
Webpage: www.christinafreeburn.com
Blog: www.theselfrescueprincess.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaFreeburnCraftyandCrimeAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinaFreeb1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChristinaFreeburn
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo
Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder
(A Teddy Bear Mystery)
by Meg Macy
Cozy Mystery3rd in Series
Setting – Michigan
Kensington (September 24, 2019)
Digital ASIN: B07MRC5KZG
This holiday season, teddy bear shop manager Sasha Silverman must solve the slaying of Santa Bear . . .
Sasha and her sister Maddie are thrilled that the Silver Bear Shop and Factory has won the Teddy Bear Keepsake Contest, which means they get to produce a holiday specialty toy, a wizard bear named "Beary Potter." Promising to be just as magical is Silver Hollow's annual tree-lighting ceremony and village parade. Only one hitch: the parade's mascot, Santa Bear—played by Mayor Cal Bloom—is missing.
After a frantic search among the floats, Bloom is found dead. When the outfit is removed, it's clear the mayor's been electrocuted. Who zapped hizzoner and then stuffed him into his Santa Bear suit? While the police investigate the grisly crime, Sasha attempts to track down the murderer herself, with some help from the Guilty Pleasures Gossip Club. Can they wrap up this case in time for Christmas—or will Sasha meet her own shocking end?
This is the third installment in the Teddy Bear Mystery series. The holiday season has descended on Silver Hollow and the sisters of the Silver Bear Shop and Factory are excited because they have won a contest to produce a specialty toy, a wizard bear named "Beary Potter". The only thing that can dull the sisters excitement is that the mascot for the village tree-lighting and parade has gone missing. Santa Bear is always played by Mayor Cal, and unfortunately, Mayor Cal has been found electrocuted and stuffed into his costume. Of course, after some persuasion from her mother, Sasha is on the case to find out who the killer is. I really enjoyed this installment as I love teddy bears and love to read cozies set during the holiday season. I loved the authors descriptions of all the holiday events in the town, it made me want to really be there. The mystery in this story was great because it kept me guessing and there were a lot of twists and turns, so I was not sure who the killer was till the reveal. I love this authors writing style because it makes the story flow well. I look forward to more in this series.
About Meg Macy
Meg Macy is an award-winning author and artist, and lives in Southeastern Michigan, the setting of her Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear cozy mysteries for Kensington. Her first published book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Spur Award for Best First Novel from Western Writers of America. Meg is also one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland, authors of the Eliza and Henry Higgins Mystery series—of which two titles have been Agatha Award finalists. Meg love gardening, watercolor painting, and reading books of various genres.
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Mulberry Mischief
(A Berry Basket Mystery)
by Sharon Farrow
Mulberry Mischief (A Berry Basket Mystery)
Kensington (August 27, 2019)
Kindle ASIN: B07L2FVR11
Autumn has arrived on the shores of Lake Michigan, but Marlee Jacob, proprietor of The Berry Basket, is feeling a chill for other reasons …
With the Harvest Health Fair in full swing, Marlee makes sure to stock up on elderberry products for cold and flu season. But this year there's also a run on mulberry when an eccentric customer wants to use the dried berries to ward off evil forces. True, it's almost Halloween, but something else earns the Lake Lady has a deadly past that is connected to the famous Sable family who are in town for the health fair. A bunch of clues start to come together—and figuring out what's going on puts Marlee in a real jam …
Includes Berry Recipes!
This is the fourth Berry Basket Mystery, and with this being one of my favorite series, this installment did not disappoint me. It is Halloween in Oriole Point and Piper, the Mayor's wife is gearing up with a Harvest Health Fair in which she invites health gurus from all over to attend. The Sable family is invited. The mysterious Lake Lady asks Marlee to order her several pounds of mulberries to spread around her home to ward off evil. Everyone, including Piper, tells Marlee to stay away from the Lake Lady, but Marlee feels she has something to reveal and when she disappears and a the dead body of ghost writer turns up on her property, Marlee knows she has to help her. I enjoyed this one as it is set during Halloween. The plot was well thought out and well written. I liked how elements from the past were introduced into the present, which made the story flow well and tied in all in together. I like how the author intertwines medicinal and other properties of berries into the stories. There were many suspects in this story that will keep the reader guessing until the exciting conclusion in this one. I look forward to reading more in this wonderful series.
About Sharon Farrow
Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award-winning author Sharon Pisacreta. A freelance writer since her twenties, she has been published in mystery, fantasy, and romance. Sharon currently writes The Berry Basket cozy mystery series for Kensington. The series debuted in 2016 and is set along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline where she now lives. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.
Author Links -
WEB PAGE http://sharonfarrowauthor.com/
FACEBOOK @SharonFarrowAuthor
TWITTER @SharonFarrowBB
BOOKBUB @SharonFarrow
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBoundseems to be spooking Leticia the Lake Lady, Oriole Point's oddest resident. She believes someone plans to kill her—and the ghost. Only mulberries can protect them. Marlee doesn't take her fears seriously until a man named Felix Bonaventure arrives in the village, asking questions about a mysterious woman.
The next day, Marlee finds Bonaventure dead on Leticia's property—shot through the heart with an arrow made of mulberry wood. And Leticia has disappeared. Marlee soon a Rafflecopter giveaway
Silent Night, Deadly Night Guest Post
(A Year-Round Christmas Mystery)
by Vicki Delany
Berkley (August 27, 2019)
Residents of Rudolph keep the spirit of Christmas alive year-round—but their joy is threatened when a group of grinches visits the town, in the charming fourth installment of the Year-Round Christmas series.
It's the week before Thanksgiving, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures, is preparing for a weekend reunion of her mother's college friends. But when the group of women comes into Merry's shop, Merry is met with frosty attitudes and cold hearts.
The women argue amongst themselves constantly, and the bickering only intensifies after one of the friends is poisoned. With her father's role as Santa in danger due to his proximity to the crime, Merry will need to use all of her investigative gifts to wrap this mystery up and save Santa and her favorite holiday.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada's most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea By The Sea mysteries, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year Round Christmas mysteries and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series.
Website – www.vickidelany.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor;
Twitter: @vickidelany and@evagatesauthor
Instagram: vickidelany
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound
My Favorite Holiday
By Merry Wilkinson from the Year Round Christmas Mysteries by Vicki Delany
I have to confess that Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday.
Why is that a confession, you ask? Plenty of people love Thanksgiving. What's not to love – turkey, pumpkin pie, autumn woods, warm sweaters, roaring fires. Family, friends, food!
It's just that I live in Rudolph, New York, America's Year Round Christmas destination. In Rudolph everything is all Christmas, all the time. And we love it that way! Really, we do.
But, as the owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures located on Jingle Bell Lane, Christmas for me means work. The frantic shopping season of November/December, getting my float ready for the semi-annual Santa Claus parade (yes, we have one in July also), the influx of tourists. My best friend Vicky is so busy at her bakery and café, Victoria's Bake Shoppe, that I hardly see her, and my boyfriend Alan Anderson is a toy maker. You can imagine what he's doing all season!
Then the post-holiday sales and trying to remember to have fun to celebrate the New Year. So by the time January rolls around I'm bushed.
Thanksgiving is my one last chance to relax before the influx of the season. My mom and dad always put on a turkey dinner with all the trimmings for whichever of my siblings happen to be able to come that year, and invite any stray friends they can find. Mom was an internationally-known opera-singer in her youth and she collected a lot of nice things in her travels. It all comes out for Thanksgiving. I love it! Let me explain:
I love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. Don't tell anyone in Rudolph, but I love Thanksgiving even more than Christmas. My mom and dad always make turkey with all the fixings – walnut and sage stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, a squash casserole, two types of pie. It's my chance to take one last long deep breath before plunging head first into the madness of the holiday season.
I love Christmas too - my dad is Santa Claus after all - but now that I own the store, when Christmas Day itself arrives I'm totally exhausted. That's a day to sit back, feet up, mug of hot chocolate in hand, open a few gifts at my parents' house, and then have a hearty brunch and go to bed early before opening the shop the next morning for the after-Christmas sales.
` Silent Night Deadly Night by Vicki Delany
This year, my mom's invited a group of her college friends for a reunion the weekend before Thanksgiving. They seem a rather miserable bunch and they don't get on very well, but I'm sure it will all go well and they'll have gone home in time for us to celebrate the holiday in true Wilkinson style.
Find out if Merry gets the Thanksgiving she wants in SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT, coming August 27 from Berkley.