Cozy Up With Kathy

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Gossiping about Grimoires - A Review

Review

GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES by Mildred Abbott
The First Whispering Witch Mystery

Maeve Hawthorn has led a very sheltered life. Even writing a bestselling book series hasn't changed that. Accepting an all expense paid trip to New Orleans for a book signing is the most exciting thing she's ever done. The book signing turns into a disaster after which Maeve and her corgi, Mischief, are kidnapped. It turns out that magic is real and magical people of New Orleans are none too happy with her. While trying to prove that she didn't deliberately tell magical secrets to the world a powerful witch is killed. Both thrilled and terrified that magic is real Maeve must leave her comfort zone and try to solve the murder before she's silenced...or worse.

Secrets. allies, and familiars add to the excitement of magic in New Orleans. GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES is a wonderful introduction to a magical world while also being a love letter to the city of New Orleans. Maeve is a unique protagonist, naive and self-admittedly a bit weird, her only friend is her corgi. Seeing her stretch her wings while trying to make new friends is heartwarming. My favorite characters are the various familiars, especially Hurricane and Tabitha. I love the joy they each have and the ease in which they accept each other and play. Of course, the special relationship between Maeve and Mischief is wonderful to see.

I love the details about the city of New Orleans itself. Although it's been decades since I visited, the street names and various locations brought back wonderful memories. I felt as if I was back there, exploring the French Quarter along with Maeve and Mischief. New Orleans is a wonderful setting, especially for a magical series and I can't wait to return, if only via the next Whispering Witch Mystery.

Both a coming of age and buddy novel GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES is an exciting mystery combining puzzles to solve and a new world to explore.

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The Whispering Witch Mysteries by Mildred Abbott

About The Whispering Witch Mystery Series

Start the Whispering Witch series today—a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, trust is dangerous, and even a corgi might not make everything okay.

Gossiping About Grimoires (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 1st in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ March 1, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages

Maeve Hawthorn writes about witches for a living. They want her to stop.

When a book signing ends in her abduction, Maeve’s only priority is escaping with her corgi, Mischief, alive. That urgency deepens when she learns her captors are real witches, furious that Maeve has been exposing their secrets to the world.

Before Maeve can make sense of how her fiction has become reality, she’s caught in the middle of a murder that leaves her marked by magic she doesn’t understand. When a dying witch’s power floods into her, Maeve becomes the prime suspect in a crime she didn’t commit—and a target for every supernatural being certain she knows too much.

Turns out, magic isn’t a gift. It’s a liability. And clearing her name may cost Maeve far more than her safety.

With danger closing in and no clear allies other than Mischief, Maeve must navigate a hidden supernatural world that wants her silenced… or dead.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Gossiping About Grimoires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

(Includes the Shroom Boom recipe from Ayu Bakehouse, a beloved New Orleans bakery.)

Verifying About Vampires (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 2nd in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ April 30, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages

Maeve Hawthorn didn’t mean to get involved with vampires. They insisted. When a prominent member of New Orleans’ vampire community is accused of murder, Maeve is pulled into an investigation that could unravel the fragile balance between magical factions. Clearing their name isn’t just about justice — it may be the only way to prevent something far more dangerous. As Maeve follows a trail of secrets through candlelit courtyards and hidden supernatural circles, she discovers that truth in this world is layered, political, and rarely convenient. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars begins to feel like home. The witches who were once strangers are becoming allies. Maybe even family. But solving one mystery has a way of exposing others. And in a city built on power and old allegiances, someone is always watching. For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Verifying About Vampires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell. Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, loyalty is complicated, and even a corgi doesn't know all the answers. (Includes Butterscotch Pecan Scone recipe from Bywater Bakery, a favorite New Orleans bakery.)

Snitching About Spirits (Whispering Witch Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/Urban Paranormal 3rd in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Mostly French Quarter
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ June 30, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 400 pages

Maeve Hawthorn started chatting with ghosts. They made demands.

When a murder victim refuses to stay silent and buried secrets start coming to light, Maeve is pulled deeper into the hidden power struggles shaping New Orleans’ magical world. What started as a single investigation is unraveling something much older—and far more dangerous.

As Maeve follows the trail through enchanted courtyards, secret alliances, and the fragile peace between supernatural factions, she begins to realize the truth may not be what anyone wants revealed. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars is starting to feel less like survival… and more like family.

But some secrets were buried for a reason.

And when the past finally surfaces, it may threaten far more than one witch’s life.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Snitching About Spirits will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic carries a price, loyalties are tested, and even a corgi can't sniff out every secret.

(Includes a bewitching S’mores Cheesecake recipe from Deuxbelle, an award-winning New Orleans bakery.)

About Mildred Abbott

Mildred Abbott writes twisty cozy mysteries filled with humorous and complex characters. Whether brimming with magic or simply an above-average dose of curiosity, Mildred's amateur sleuths solve murders with the cutest sidekicks ever. Fifteen years as a special education teacher and a lifetime of loving rescue dogs results in creating adventures with a ton of heart and the need for lint rollers.

Author Links:

Newsletter sign up: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-mildred.html

Website: http://www.mildredabbott.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredAbbottAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17347095.Mildred_Abbott

Instagram: @mildredabbott TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mildredabbottauthor

Purchase Links - Amazon - Gossiping About Grimoires Verifying About Vampires Snitching About Spirits

Monday, May 25, 2026

Gossiping about Grimoires - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Mildred Abbott to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Mildred writes the Whispering Witch Mystery series. GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES is the first book in the series. Be sure to come back tomorrow when I'll share my review.

Kathy: In GOSSIPING ABOUT GRIMOIRES we meet Maeve Hawthorn and her corgi, Mischief. Do you have any pets? Have they influenced your portrayal of Mischief?

MA: I have had pets my entire life. I grew up in a little farm town in Missouri and had all sorts of animals, but dogs have always been vital to me. In my adult life, I've had four corgis: Dunkyn, Dolan, Alastair, and Winifred. Oh yes, the corgi connection is very real and dear to my heart. Right now, I have two little mutts who are the loves of my life, Winston, a little Chihuahua terrier rescue who was so naughty that he was returned to the pound so many times they couldn't tell us how old he was or where he came from, sums him up pretty perfectly. And Phineas, a slightly larger terrier, dachshund, and schnauzer mix we got from the pound when he was about four months old. Dogs are life!

Kathy: Maeve writes about witchcraft, infuriating real witches. Have you ever written about subjects that people object to, for whatever reason?

MA: What a great question! And yes, in this day and age, or maybe it's always the case, someone's always upset about something. That's the beauty of freedom, we can all have our own opinions. I get so many wonderful emails from readers about all the things they love in my books and how much they adore the characters. And every once in a while I'll have an email with a list of things a certain character has done that they don't approve of. And, like Maeve, while I don't have actual witches upset with me, as far as I know, but there are plenty of people who did not want me to write anything about magic or paranormal and to simply stick with magic-free contemporary cozies. But... I say love and enjoy it all!

Kathy: Setting plays such an important role in a mystery. Indeed, some cities are a character unto themselves. What made you choose New Orleans as the setting for the Whispering Witch Mystery series?

MA: My other cozy mystery series, the Cozy Corgi, is set in Estes Park, Colorado. I lived there for several years right out of high school and lived in Colorado for nearly one-quarter of a century (way to make myself sound old!). I love having real places as the main settings in books both to give a sense of realness and authenticity to the writing but also to be able to throw in places and things that people can actually go visit and see for themselves. I moved to New Orleans a little over six years ago, and trying to see New Orleans from Maeve’s point of view as I was planning the series helped me fall deeply in love with the city, especially the French Quarter, which is where 98% of the Whispering Witch series takes place. I even have bakeries and restaurants in New Orleans lending me recipes to include in each installment!

Kathy: I love paranormal mysteries. What do you think makes them so popular? What makes them enjoyable to write?

MA: I think we all love to read to escape and to have experiences that are both enjoyable and out of our grasp in real life. For me, that's definitely a big part of why I love reading fantasy and paranormal. It's just so lovely to enter these worlds of magic and wonder as often as we can. Sometimes terrible and terrifying, but so often beautiful and wondrous. Anything can happen. I love it as a reader, but as a writer, the only limits are the ones that my little created world insists on itself. And then... who doesn't love a good whodunit puzzle? Talk about the best of both worlds!

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

MA: I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, Agatha Christie, and several different mystery series when I was a kid. That slipped away for a while as an adult until I started reading Agatha Frost’s Peridale Cafe series and I fell in love all over again. Those books came during a pretty stressful, rough time in my life and they were just the perfect antidote to the realities of the real world. I had already been writing other genres and fell in love with Peridale Cafe so much that I reached out to Agatha Frost and asked if she minded if I'd switched genres to cozy mysteries because I was so enamored with her books. Agatha was lovely and welcomed me into the fold. I've not looked back since!

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

MA: In the past, yes. Although for the last many years I've written exclusively in cozy mystery only. I have books published under my own name, Brandon Witt, and then another pen name, Rosalind Abel. They definitely all have my voice and my view of the world, but all three are very, very different from each other.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

MA: At its heart, the Whispering Witch follows Maeve, who, like so many of us, longed for magic and the supernatural when she was a little girl. When she grew up, that's what she wrote about. Then... when real-life witches come calling, angry at her accidentally spilling their secrets, she ends up getting her heart’s desire, discovering this wondrous magical world and being able to be a part of it. As with most things in life, however, it's not quite as simple as that. She's going to have to decide if this is the world she wants, even with its complications and dangers, and then how to flourish and live the life she's always dreamed of. She and her corgi, Mischief!

Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

MA: Honestly, that's one of the things I did differently when I switched to the cozy mystery genre. While I loved all of my main characters in my other genres and under my other pen names, frequently one of the side characters would be the one I ended up loving the most and longing to spend more time with. I wanted to change that with my cozy mysteries and my paranormal cozy-adjacent series. I wanted the character I loved the most to be the star. And that's what I've done. I love watching Maeve in her earnest naivety navigate this new world, figure it out, and become stronger and more self-assured with every passing chapter. And of course, Mischief, writing a corgi with attitude? Come on. It doesn't get more fun than that!

Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

MA: New Orleans itself is very much the inspiration and woven in through the storyline and books in every single installment. Beyond that, my favorite shows, as cliché as it may be, at a very pivotal time in my life were Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, with a healthy addiction to the movie Practical Magic. I let myself sink into the things I loved about all of those every time I sit down to write.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

MA: I didn't learn to read until I was ten. As soon as I finally caught the bug, I never let go and my nose was always in a book. School was always extremely hard for me. During my sophomore year when I was fourteen, I had a writing class with Miss Hungerford. It was the first time in my entire life that homework in school was enjoyable. I loved that writing class. Miss Hungerford said she enjoyed my stories and it was the first time I was able to do okay at any school subject without a ton of tutoring or agony. From then on, I dreamed of writing books. And being a reader whose life has been so beautifully impacted by books, I wanted to give that to other people as well, wanted to invite people into my worlds and hope that they find beauty, comfort, humor, enjoyment, and escape within their pages.

Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

MA: Kelley Armstrong, Agatha Frost, Sarah Beth Durst, and Peter Beagle.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

MA: I'm a big audiobook fan, so I am re-listening to Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series for probably the fourth or fifth time. I'm finishing up book two of K.A. Linde's Oak and Holly Cycle series, and desperate to start reading Sarah Beth Durst’s The Faraway Inn.

Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

MA: I used to have a lot more hobbies, but being a self-published author and trying to make that a survivable income quite literally takes about every spare breath I have. In the meantime, I spend an exorbitant amount of time with my dogs and going on walks, and I absolutely love to cook. Cooking for my husband every night is one of my greatest joys. It's so relaxing and another creative outlet.

Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

MA: Oh Lord, this is telling. I should be ashamed to admit—but I might have spent my adult life split between Colorado and New Orleans, but you can't take the Midwest out of my heart. So... the first two: butter and mayonnaise (please don’t hate me). I'm a vegetarian, a new development over the past couple of years, so always a ton of vegetables. And then, they're not always in the fridge, but I could live on bread, cheese, and pasta and nothing else for the rest of my life and die very fat and happy.

Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

MA: Yes. The book four of the Whispering Witch series comes out this summer. And there are thirteen books planned in total for this series. The Cozy Corgi also is continuing, book forty is coming out this summer as well. I have other series brewing in the back of my head, of course, but I'll save those for a later date.

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

MA: Another cliché for you, but it's true. I've heard lots of writers say the best part of writing is having written. And that is the truth. I love, love, love planning, and I love, love, love holding the book in my hand. Everything else is a mix of fear, joy, terror, and ecstasy.

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The Whispering Witch Mysteries by Mildred Abbott

About The Whispering Witch Mystery Series

Start the Whispering Witch series today—a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, trust is dangerous, and even a corgi might not make everything okay.

Maeve Hawthorn writes about witches for a living. They want her to stop.

When a book signing ends in her abduction, Maeve’s only priority is escaping with her corgi, Mischief, alive. That urgency deepens when she learns her captors are real witches, furious that Maeve has been exposing their secrets to the world.

Before Maeve can make sense of how her fiction has become reality, she’s caught in the middle of a murder that leaves her marked by magic she doesn’t understand. When a dying witch’s power floods into her, Maeve becomes the prime suspect in a crime she didn’t commit—and a target for every supernatural being certain she knows too much.

Turns out, magic isn’t a gift. It’s a liability. And clearing her name may cost Maeve far more than her safety.

With danger closing in and no clear allies other than Mischief, Maeve must navigate a hidden supernatural world that wants her silenced… or dead.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Gossiping About Grimoires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

(Includes the Shroom Boom recipe from Ayu Bakehouse, a beloved New Orleans bakery.)

Maeve Hawthorn didn’t mean to get involved with vampires. They insisted. When a prominent member of New Orleans’ vampire community is accused of murder, Maeve is pulled into an investigation that could unravel the fragile balance between magical factions. Clearing their name isn’t just about justice — it may be the only way to prevent something far more dangerous. As Maeve follows a trail of secrets through candlelit courtyards and hidden supernatural circles, she discovers that truth in this world is layered, political, and rarely convenient. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars begins to feel like home. The witches who were once strangers are becoming allies. Maybe even family. But solving one mystery has a way of exposing others. And in a city built on power and old allegiances, someone is always watching. For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Verifying About Vampires will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell. Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic has consequences, loyalty is complicated, and even a corgi doesn't know all the answers. (Includes Butterscotch Pecan Scone recipe from Bywater Bakery, a favorite New Orleans bakery.)

Maeve Hawthorn started chatting with ghosts. They made demands.

When a murder victim refuses to stay silent and buried secrets start coming to light, Maeve is pulled deeper into the hidden power struggles shaping New Orleans’ magical world. What started as a single investigation is unraveling something much older—and far more dangerous.

As Maeve follows the trail through enchanted courtyards, secret alliances, and the fragile peace between supernatural factions, she begins to realize the truth may not be what anyone wants revealed. Meanwhile, living with her roommates and their familiars is starting to feel less like survival… and more like family.

But some secrets were buried for a reason.

And when the past finally surfaces, it may threaten far more than one witch’s life.

For readers who enjoy witchy mysteries with a little more at stake than a traditional cozy, Snitching About Spirits will appeal to fans of Danielle Garrett, Erin Johnson, and Juliet Blackwell.

Continue the Whispering Witch series — a paranormal mystery where magic carries a price, loyalties are tested, and even a corgi can't sniff out every secret.

(Includes a bewitching S’mores Cheesecake recipe from Deuxbelle, an award-winning New Orleans bakery.)

About Mildred Abbott

Author Links:

Newsletter sign up: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-mildred.html

Website: http://www.mildredabbott.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredAbbottAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17347095.Mildred_Abbott

Instagram: @mildredabbott TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mildredabbottauthor

Purchase Links - Amazon - Gossiping About Grimoires Verifying About Vampires Snitching About Spirits

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For a chance to win a Mildred Abbott e-book, comment on this post no later then 11:59pm Eastern Friday, May 29, 2026 telling us why you enjoy paranormal mysteries as well as the title of the Mildred Abbott book you'd choose. Please leave your e-mail as well, so I may contact you should you have the winning comment. Good Luck!

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Turning the Page on Murder - A Review

Review

TURNING THE PAGE ON MURDER by Vanessa Westermann
The Second Murder by the Book Mystery

Kate Rowan is concerned. Her great-aunt Roselyn is having more bad days than good, often wandering the orchard at night. Things get worse when a blog post revisits a tragedy from Roselyn's past and Kate has no doubt their neighbor and Roselyn's nemesis is behind it. Searching for her aunt Kate finds her in Penelope's house, standing over her body, blood on her hands. To make matters worse, security expert and former fling Gary Fenris arrives on the scene. She'll do anything to protect her aunt, including fudging the crime scene and working with Gary.

TURNING THE PAGE ON MURDER is a story of redemption, regret, and ruthless determination. While Kate may live in a fairy-tale castle and dreams of the perfect boyfriend, preferring book boyfriends over the real thing. she certainly doesn't need a man. While men want to protect her, she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself! And she does so masterfully. And that's one of the things I like best about her.

I love how Wilkie Collins' THE MOONSTONE plays a part in the second Murder by the Book Mystery. I also appreciate how seemingly disparate parts come together, surprising almost everyone involved.

Pulse pounding adventure, thrilling moments, and a bit of romance make TURNING THE PAGE ON MURDER a standout mystery.

Friday, May 22, 2026

The Last Fatal Hour - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Review

THE LAST FATAL HOUR
By Jan Matthews

Leona Gladney has secrets. She was a soldier in the Civil War and is currently an author trying to please a new husband and Brooklyn society. When her husband's business partner absconds with their money life gets more difficult. Dealing with her mercurial husband, Leona is also distraught when her good friend Daphne dies and she's accused of stealing her jewelry. Could Daphne's grandson be behind her death? What about those Spiritualists? Leona is determined to clear her name, but is someone just as determined to see her suffer?

Filled with interesting historical detail and unusual characters THE LAST FATAL HOUR captured and held my attention. An adventurous tomboy, Leona is almost too caring. Indeed, her willingness to help others nearly gets her killed. I love her relationship with her grandfather. Along with Mrs. McCarthy and Ruth he is one of my favorite characters. Rich characterizations, a household simmering with stress, and more than one mystery had me quickly turning the pages.

While it didn't exist as a term at the time, some civil war soldiers did suffer from what's now known as post traumatic stress disorder and we see this with Leona's nightmares and flashbacks. It's even more of a challenge as she is unable to share her story freely, not even to the man who's supposed to protect her, her husband. This is also a time when a man who wants to rid himself of a wife can easily have her committed to a "lunatic asylum". A dangerous time to be a woman, and an especially dangerous one for Leona.

A compelling historical mystery THE LAST FATAL HOUR will leave you shocked, angered, and ultimately satisfied.

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THE LAST FATAL HOUR

by Jan Matthews

May 4 - 29, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

For Leona Gladney, former woman soldier of the Union Army, life goes on despite the echoes of the battlefield in her heart. Now a suffragist and budding socialite in Brooklyn Heights, she yearns for a literary life and family. But her husband’s business partner embezzles their money and disappears.

The society matrons of Brooklyn Heights turn a gimlet eye on Leona after the suspicious death of a wealthy friend. Leona will do anything to find justice for her friend and clear her own name, but she finds only secrets, seances and murder.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Mystery
Published by: Coffee&ink Press
Publication Date: April 7, 2026
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9798232470982
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

The blot of ink stuck to her finger, tacky like drying blood. Leona scrubbed at it with her handkerchief as the clock chimed two hours after midnight. She capped the inkwell, and while the ink dried on her most recent entry, she organized the copies with ribbons. Blue for Daphne and red for Ruth. With shaking hands, she slipped the copies into stiff cardboard folios and tied them closed. Sighing, she set them on the desk in front of her.

The flames in the hearth beckoned. This wasn’t the first night she’d yearned for obliteration. It wouldn’t come if she gave in to the urge to throw her labor into the fire. Only paper and ink would vanish, leaving the memories behind.

Pen and ink or back to the laudanum.

A grim thought, the grimmest of all.

The words had clawed their way out tonight. She’d begun the memoir of her time as a Union soldier months ago with the hope her drowning spirits would revive once the words dropped to the page. Yet the foreboding crept through her and tightened around her throat as the little study filled with familiar shadows. This old terror had become a second skin, like the tattered and dirty uniform she’d once worn.

Over the monotonous chatter of the rain, the clock ticked away the seconds until her husband came home. Leona moved to the window, pushed aside the heavy velvet curtains, and looked out at night-shrouded Cranberry Street. A lamp glowed in a window across the street. Homesickness for Boston, for life before the war, for herself before the war, settled on her. The wind threw a heavy splash of rain against the window, and she jumped back, letting go of the curtain.

Pacing the study, her restless thoughts rushed on without fatigue. To keep the memories inside only fed the persistent mental return to the battlefield, and the outpouring of words somewhat tamed her tormented soul. She stopped and touched the folio. Work would save her: work, family, friendship, and love. Maybe she’d write a story about two clocks. A natural clock which kept good time and a mad clock that twisted time out of true.

The street door below opened and closed. At last Gil, home safe. She couldn’t even bring herself to scold him for being so late. Leona listened for his footsteps as she crossed the room to tuck the folios into her desk drawer and locked it. She closed the gaslight apertures in the study and turned up the flame on the wall sconces in the drafty hallway so he could find his way. In the bedroom, she shed her dressing gown, stepped out of her slippers, and kicked them under the bed. Gil made his clumsy climb up the stairs. When he stumbled into the room, she pulled the covers back. He fell into bed fully clothed beside her, mumbling and fretful, the sharp ripe scent of whiskey lacing his breath.

She laid her hand on his shoulder. Beneath the cloth of his shirt, his skin was cold and damp. “Rest now, go to sleep,” she whispered.

***

At first light, Leona had dressed in a blue and cream day gown and made her way downstairs for breakfast. The creeping dread of the night before had waned. She rubbed her gritty eyes and yawned again. Mrs. McCarthy poured coffee from the silver pot, the familiar, civilized table a welcome sight. The scent of bacon made her stomach growl.

“Are you well, m’um?”

Leona glanced into the broad face of their cook and housekeeper, a sturdy and mature woman with a comforting Irish burr. She wore her fading blonde hair in a crown around her head.

“I didn’t sleep much.” Leona yawned again behind her fingers.

Gil’s heavy tread on the stairs made them both jump, and Mrs. McCarthy squeaked.

“I’ll bring more breakfast in a jiffy.” She fled through the side door to the kitchen just as Gil ducked through the hall entrance.

Leona rose and smiled at her husband. He’d made a great effort to come down early after returning so late. She accepted his peck on the cheek, poured him coffee and set it between them, wifely mask in place. He glared with bloodshot eyes at the letter in his hand, and her stomach clenched.

“It’s not all bad news, Gil.” She’d read the contents of the letter before leaving it on his desk in his study, as Grandfather had addressed it to both.

He raised his hazel eyes to her. “You recall Henry has absconded with all our funds?” he asked in a sarcastic tone, squinting at the letter, then back at her.

She no longer knew what to say about Gil’s former business partner, Henry Caldwell-Jones. The police were still looking for him. It put the devil in Gil’s eyes to speak of it, so she tried to let it be, not wanting to distress him even more.

“Of course, I remember, Gil. I—”

“And now your grandfather won’t give me a second loan. I’ll have to go back to the bank and ask them again.”

“He only wants to speak with you face to face about our situation,” she said, in her grandfather’s defense. “He’ll help us, Gil. He did offer to speak at the lyceum on his return from Ohio, to help raise funds. It isn’t as if—” Or was it? “We won’t lose the house, will we?”

The muscles in his lean face twitched as Gil fought to hide his disappointment, and her heart broke a little more to witness it. “Your grandfather does not bring in the interest he once did.”

It was true Leona’s grandfather, poet, abolitionist, and Transcendentalist, didn’t bring in the money he used to at readings in New York and Brooklyn, but he didn’t suffer for it.

Gil raked his fingers through his thick, brown hair and opened his mouth. Mrs. McCarthy entered with his breakfast, apparently stopping what he meant to say next. He reached inside the pocket of his trousers and pulled out a small notebook and pencil. Laying them on the table, his frown deepened.

Once Mrs. McCarthy had bustled out again, Leona said, “I could write to Aunt Louisa.” Who was not truly an aunt, but a friend of her mother’s.

He opened the notebook and touched the tip of his tongue to the pencil. “We cannot afford to feed and house a man of Bronson Alcott’s caliber,” he replied with heaviness. He bent his head to the columns of numbers on the pages.

His confidence and spirits were usually high, and it hurt to see him laid so low. She did mean Louisa Alcott herself, not her father Bronson Alcott, as the speaker for the lyceum to draw a crowd. Her novel, Little Women, published two years before, had become hugely popular.

“I’ll sell the lyceum, that should help,” Gil murmured, eyes downcast.

Leona winced. It was where they’d met nearly a year before. At a loss again, she glanced down at her lapel watch—9 o’clock already. She stood and set cups and plates on the tray.

“Let Mrs. McCarthy do that.” His pencil went on calculating their precarious position.

“I don’t mind. I’m off to see Daphne this morning. I won’t be home until the late afternoon.” Taking a deep breath, she dared to ask, not expecting an answer. “How much do we owe?” She blew out her held breath, apprehension biting at her. “Why won’t you tell me how much Henry has stolen?”

“He’s made me a laughingstock.” His handsome lips formed a tight smile, but he didn’t look at her. “Don’t you worry, Leona, leave it to me. This will all be over by Christmas.”

***

On the street, she began to walk, then turned to observe the window where Gil labored, smoke curling from the chimney. The image stayed with her as she made her way to the newsstand around the corner and waited patiently for her turn to buy a paper. The sunny day, though cold, had driven people outdoors, well wrapped in fur-collared coats and wool scarves. Woodsmoke and the sharp tang of the river mingling with the scent of baking bread drifted on the breeze. She chewed on the frustration that he wouldn’t share their financial details with her. It made her more fearful not to know. Though she kept the memoir and chapter stories a secret from him, this was hardly the same.

Passing the newsstand, an article about the new bridge caught her eye so she bought the latest Brooklyn Eagle. The previous summer, the four of them, Henry, his wife Helen, herself, and Gil, had stood at the end of Noble Street to watch the construction of the giant caissons in the naval yard. Though approval of the bridge was a long-foregone conclusion, the article was typical of the Eagle’s awful anti-consolidation fear mongering. The article repeated the claim linking the boroughs would only bring the dregs of Manhattan’s Lower East Side into Brooklyn’s pure white Heights. The wrongness of such an attitude churned her stomach.

Leona folded the paper and tucked it under her arm with the folio, sighing. Who would save the poor of this world from the hatred of the rich? Her spirits drooped lower.

She breathed deep the November air on familiar, tree-lined Remsen Street, where she’d lived for two years before marrying Gil in August. The red door of the brownstone opened, welcoming her in. Timothy, the butler, took her hat and coat. Before he disappeared with them, his eyes met hers with a familiar blue twinkle.

“I’ll tell her you’re here,” he said.

“Thank you.” She inhaled the sweet smell of hothouse roses set in vases along the long hallway and waited for word of her arrival to reach Daphne and her nurse Audrey.

Audrey approached from the depths of the house. Her eyes, though hooded, were a pure delphinium blue, blonde hair pinned tight to her head. She wore a plain uniform of dark gray with long cuffed sleeves and a white apron.

“Mrs. Van Wyn is in the Lavender Room.” With a curt nod, she turned away.

When they first met, Leona and Audrey had often shared tea and conversation, but of late Leona felt nothing but a wall of smothered animosity between them. They hadn’t argued, as such, though she had an idea where the strained relations came from.

“Is she well?” Leona asked.

For a moment, she didn’t think Audrey would answer, but the woman turned toward her again. “She passed a quiet night. The laudanum helps.”

Leona frowned. Audrey flicked a dismissive hand and went on her way.

The introduction of laudanum in Daphne’s life began not long after Leona moved to Cranberry Street with Gil that summer. The spas and cures Daphne’s grandson Benedict and his wife arranged didn’t seem to help anymore. The family hired Audrey, who administered the laudanum, a common enough panacea. Laudanum’s presence always disturbed Leona, and she had protested to the family, but no one listened. Audrey had become cold after this discussion. Leona believed some of Daphne’s pain came from her daily battle with grief. Leona often feared her own grief and the overuse of laudanum, prescribed by a respected doctor in Boston, had killed the child from her previous marriage to Jack Davenport. Poor dead Jack.

***

Author Bio:

Jan Matthews is an American expat living in the sunshine in Portugal.

She is (finally) retired from HIM and writes historical mysteries from the Middle Ages to World War I. When not writing or drinking coffee and wine in nearby cafes, she knits and crochets for charity and reviews books on her blog.

Catch Up With Jan Matthews:

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Amazon Author Profile
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Instagram - @coffeeandink197
X - @coffeeandink2
BlueSky - @coffeeandink2.bsky.social

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Thursday, May 21, 2026

Masher of Ceremonies - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Valetta Nibley to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Valetta on the pages of the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series by Victoria Hamilton. Masher of Ceremonies is the thirteenth book in the series and was released Tuesday!

Valetta Nibley: Me and Jaymie
By Victoria Hamilton

My name is Valetta Nibley, and I’ve known Jaymie Leighton Müller as long as she’s been alive.

Let me back up a bit: Rebecca ‘Becca’ Leighton was my best friend when we were kids. We were the same age, went to the same schools, hung out together every day, even went on vacation together. We went camping in Canada together, and to Boblo Island, and into Detroit to the museums… everywhere. We did every school project together, fell in love with the same boys, hung out with the same group of friends, and even double-dated. We were constantly in each other’s houses, and when we weren’t, we were on the phone together. Back when a phone was attached to the wall with a long cord!

Then when Becca was about fifteen her mom had Jaymie! I was so excited, and once Jaymie was born, I fell absolutely in love with her. I mean, I was besotted. It was amazing having a friend with a baby sister to coo over and play with. Becca, though she did love Jaymie, left home early, while I hung around Queensville longer. Even when I went to college I still came back to my family home every weekend, pretty much, and I’d babysit for the Leightons.

So Jaymie always felt like my own baby sister. But as we all got older and she grew up, she went to Canada to university. When she came back home to Queensville and I came back from pharmacy school and my internship, she started to become more like an adult friend to me.

And that’s the way things have been for a long time now. Jaymie and I have become so close, but I’m happy that Becca, too, has come back to Queensville where she and her husband live a lot of the time and have opened an antique store, Queensville Fine Antiques.

Jaymie and I have moved on to a new phase, in a way; we’re opening a tearoom slash vintage store together, the Kitschy Kitchen. It’s a big step, going from friend to business partner.

But I’ve watched her over the years, how she has developed business ideas – she sold picnic lunches for a while, with vintage picnic baskets and food from the Queensville Inn, writes a food blog and a food column (Vintage Eats) for the local newspaper – always putting her everything into it. Most importantly, she was always able to adapt. If the idea worked, she ran with it, but if she found that something wasn’t working, she was able to pivot and either work out the bugs or let it go.

That’s an important talent, knowing when to let go. But it’s also important to know when to work through a crisis, and Jaymie has proven time and again that she is able to do that. I’m so proud of her. Lately, the age gap between us feels like it has closed. She’s my friend, now, not the kiddo I babysat all those years ago.

I know there will be challenges ahead, but I look forward to them. Have you ever or would you ever consider going into business with a friend? Many people say, don’t do it.

What do you think?

~::~

About Masher of Ceremonies:

A fundraiser for the local historical society nearly goes bust when someone fills the coffers with blackmail and murder . . .

The annual Tea With the Queen fundraiser always makes for a festive weekend in Queensville, drawing visitors from far and wide and giving local shops a welcome boost. This year, vintage kitchenware collector Jaymie Müller is running the event, and she’s got her hands full organizing old and new volunteers along with a surly catering crew. Then her master of ceremonies tells her he’s being blackmailed but can’t go to the police, and before Jaymie can sort that out she stumbles over a dead body at the tea.

Despite the demands of keeping the event up and running, Jaymie can’t help puzzling over the murder. There’s no concrete evidence linking the cretin behind the blackmail scheme to the dead body, so she begins questioning everyone connected to the blackmail, hoping to expose the killer. And just as she discovers a web of relationships that leads her to the culprit, she realizes that the Tea With the Queen may have been a royal pain, but outwitting a blackmailer and catching a killer may be the death of her . . .

About Victoria Hamilton:

Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym of nationally bestselling romance author Donna Lea Simpson. Victoria is the bestselling author of three mystery series, the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, and the Merry Muffin Mysteries. She also writes a Regency-set historical mystery series, starting with A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder. Visit her website at victoriahamiltonmysteries.com.

Social Details:

Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her newsletter for all the latest!)

On Substack (Sign up for newsletter there… always FREE!): Go to: https://substack.com/@victoriahamiltonmysteries and ‘Subscribe’ for the FREE Victoria Hamilton Mysteries newsletter!

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaHamiltonMysteryAuthor

On BlueSky: @mysteryvictoria.bsky.social

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysteryauthorvictoriahamilton/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/598635.Victoria_Hamilton

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Hamilton/e/B007T7LGAU

*********************************************************************

Masher of Ceremonies: A Vintage Kitchen Mystery by Victoria Hamilton

About Masher of Ceremonies

Cozy Mystery 13th in Series
Setting - Michigan
Publisher: ‎ Beyond the Page
Publication Date: ‎ May 19, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 254 pages

A fundraiser for the local historical society nearly goes bust when someone fills the coffers with blackmail and murder . . .

The annual Tea With the Queen fundraiser always makes for a festive weekend in Queensville, drawing visitors from far and wide and giving local shops a welcome boost. This year, vintage kitchenware collector Jaymie Müller is running the event, and she’s got her hands full organizing old and new volunteers along with a surly catering crew. Then her master of ceremonies tells her he’s being blackmailed but can’t go to the police, and before Jaymie can sort that out she stumbles over a dead body at the tea.

Despite the demands of keeping the event up and running, Jaymie can’t help puzzling over the murder. There’s no concrete evidence linking the cretin behind the blackmail scheme to the dead body, so she begins questioning everyone connected to the blackmail, hoping to expose the killer. And just as she discovers a web of relationships that leads her to the culprit, she realizes that the Tea With the Queen may have been a royal pain, but outwitting a blackmailer and catching a killer may be the death of her . . .
Includes a vintage recipe!

About Victoria Hamilton

Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym of nationally bestselling romance author Donna Lea Simpson. Victoria is the bestselling author of three mystery series, the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, and the Merry Muffin Mysteries. She also writes a Regency-set historical mystery series, starting with A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder. Visit her website at victoriahamiltonmysteries.com.

Social Details:

Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her newsletter for all the latest!)

On Substack (Sign up for newsletter… always FREE!): Go to: https://substack.com/@victoriahamiltonmysteries and ‘Subscribe’ for the FREE Victoria Hamilton Mysteries newsletter!

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaHamiltonMysteryAuthor

On BlueSky: @mysteryvictoria.bsky.social

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysteryauthorvictoriahamilton/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/598635.Victoria_Hamilton

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Hamilton/e/B007T7LGAU

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Paperback Books:

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