I'm currently reading Cast for Murder by Jeanne Quigley. This book is the third in the Veronica Walsh Mystery series and will be released next month.
Gigi Swanson, founder and president of the Barton Community Theater, usually only asks former soap opera star Victoria Walsh for financial donations for her group, but now she's asked Victoria to play a prime role in their upcoming production of Blithe Spirit. Although retired from television and happy managing her store, Veronica is thrilled to be performing once again. But it's Veronica's other talent, the one for sleuthing, that's required after she finds Gigi shot dead behind the theatre. The show must go on and Veronica continues with rehearsals, not only in order to give a stellar performance, but to catch a killer.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
The Tell-Tale Tarte - Spotlight
On this cold January day in WNY I'd like to shine a spotlight on The Tell-Tale Tarte by Maya Corrigan. This book is the fourth in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series.
From the back cover:
It's a cold January in the Chesapeake Bay area, but Cool Down Cafe manager Val Deniston has plenty to sweat over-like catering a book club event, testing recipes for her Granddad's cookbook, and catching the author of a deadly tale of murder.
The last thing Val needs in her life is an unsolved murder, especially when the victim, an actor famed for impersonating Edgar Allan Poe, happens to be dressed exactly like her Granddad. To keep an eye on Granddad, whose latest job takes him to the home of Rick Usher, a local author inspired by Poe, Val gets herself hired as a cook in Rick's House of Usher. When she discovers the actor wasn't the only one doing an impersonation, separating the innocent from the murderous becomes a real-life horror story. But Val must decipher a killer's M.O. sooner rather than later. . . or she can forget about finding poetic justice.
Includes 6 delicious five-ingredient recipes!
From the back cover:
It's a cold January in the Chesapeake Bay area, but Cool Down Cafe manager Val Deniston has plenty to sweat over-like catering a book club event, testing recipes for her Granddad's cookbook, and catching the author of a deadly tale of murder.
The last thing Val needs in her life is an unsolved murder, especially when the victim, an actor famed for impersonating Edgar Allan Poe, happens to be dressed exactly like her Granddad. To keep an eye on Granddad, whose latest job takes him to the home of Rick Usher, a local author inspired by Poe, Val gets herself hired as a cook in Rick's House of Usher. When she discovers the actor wasn't the only one doing an impersonation, separating the innocent from the murderous becomes a real-life horror story. But Val must decipher a killer's M.O. sooner rather than later. . . or she can forget about finding poetic justice.
Includes 6 delicious five-ingredient recipes!
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Scone Cold Killer - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway
I'm pleased to welcome Lena Gregory back to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Lena writes, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. Scone Cold Killer is the first book in the series and was released this past Friday.
Kathy: You start a new series with Scone Cold Killer. Did you have a specific inspiration for it?
LG: When I was a kid, I worked at my grandfather’s deli in a small town on the east end of Long Island. I loved working there, getting to know everyone in the neighborhood, hearing all the good gossip as soon as it came out. That was the inspiration for the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries series. I wanted to recapture that hometown feel.
Kathy: Gia Morelli opens up an all day breakfast cafe. Why did you choose only breakfasts?
LG: I worked in a deli, and I worked grill at Friendly’s. And I always worked the breakfast shift, so it was the most comfortable for me. Plus, I love having breakfast for lunch and even dinner sometimes.
Kathy: I'm a fan of breakfast foods myself, from pancakes and bacon to biscuits and gravy. What's your favorite breakfast food.
LG: Yikes! It’s so hard to choose. I think my favorite is a western omelet on a roll with American cheese, bacon, and pepper.
Kathy: You change the setting in your new series. I know why Gia did it, but why did you move from New York to Florida.
LG: I lived in Florida for a couple of years when I was younger and my husband got a job offer down there, and I loved it. But it was very different from New York, and it definitely took some getting used to. I thought it would be fun to revisit the time I spent there and have Gia struggle with some of the same things.
Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between?
LG: When I started writing, I was without a doubt a panster. After writing my characters into a corner a few times, I started plotting a little more. I guess now I fall somewhere in the middle but more toward a plotter.
Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing?
LG: I absolutely love having facebook parties for my new releases! I enjoy getting to know my readers and other authors, and I really have a lot of fun. I think the thing I dislike most is selling myself. I don’t like pushing my books on people, and I’m not very good at it.
Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?
LG: Book three in my Bay Island Psychic Mysteries series, Clairvoyant and Present Danger, will be releasing on February 6, 2018. Murder Made to Order & Cold Brew Killing, All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries #2 and #3 are also scheduled for release in June and September.
*********************************************************************
Review
SCONE COLD KILLER by Lena Gregory
The First All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery
Gia Morelli wanted nothing more than to leave New York City and start a new life in Florida without the taint of scandal surrounding her. With the help of her good friend, Savannah, she opens her All-Day Breakfast Café with relative success, despite not having grits to serve and dealing with a lazy cook she needs to fire. Gia soon discovers that her past has followed her when she takes out the trash only to find the dead body of her ex-husband in her dumpster. Does someone want her to pay for her ex-husbands sins?
Friendship is one of the key themes in SCONE COLD KILLER. What does it mean to be a friend? What lengths will you go to to help a friend? Do I want to be friends with the people inhabiting this book? I have some issues with Gia Morelli. While she certainly is a well developed character, I found her fearfulness, admittedly warranted to some degree, and carelessness off putting. The secondary characters, however, are interesting, likable people with whom I want to hang around, especially Earl, Harley, and Savannah. There is backstory just oozing out of these characters and I can't wait to read more about them.
The first All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery is a promising start to a new series. There is an interesting mystery with lots of undercurrents, good food, a cute puppy, and a warm feeling of friendship.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, January 26, 2018
Survival of the Fritters - An Interview & Review
I'm so happy to welcome Ginger Bolton to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Ginger writes the Deputy Donut Mystery series. Survival of the Fritters is the first book in the series and will be released next week.
Kathy: Survival of the Fritters has the perfect base for a person who is going to be involved in mysteries and murder: a donut shop with plenty of police, and former police, presence. Was this a conscious decision?
GB: Yes, I thought it would be the perfect place for an amateur sleuth to pick up clues, gossip, and rumors.
Kathy: Even before she opened Deputy Donuts, everyone loved Emily Westhill's donuts. Are you a donut lover? My favorite is a Boston Creme, what's your favorite donut?
GB: I love donuts! Choosing is hard, but my favorites are probably plain raised (i.e. made with yeast) topped with a little granulated sugar.
Kathy: I've heard that publishers believe that US readers are less likely to buy a book set in Canada than in the US. I know that some Canadian authors do set their stories in the US, including you. Was it your decision to set the story in Wisconsin? If so, was it more to do with the plot, or marketing? As you know, I'm a US citizen who enjoys books set in Canada too. I actually live near the border of Southern Ontario.
GB: I set it in Wisconsin because when I wrote the proposal, I’d just returned from vacationing there. I visited so many beautiful waterfalls that I named my village Fallingbrook and put a waterfall outside it. And then I put forests all around the village. The northwoods are amazing. And just a little scary . . . They’re perfect for mysteries, no matter what country they’re in. As a reader, I like mysteries, wherever they’re set.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
GB: For me, it’s the characters—ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The characters in cozies feel real, and like friends.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
GB: I’ve written short stories and humorous personal essays that were published and suspense novels that weren’t. But at the moment, I write only cozies.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
GB: Deputy Donut Mysteries-- Coffee, donuts, cops, danger, and one curious cat.
As Janet Bolin, I wrote the Threadville Mysteries—Murder and mayhem in a village of crafty shops.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
GB: My favorite character is always the main character in whatever I’m writing at the moment. That person insists that I have to tell her (usually it’s a her) story. And finish it . . .
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
GB: Yes, and it’s such fun. A bakery in Clare, Michigan, was going out of business, so the local policemen bought it, renamed it Cops & Doughnuts, and kept it going. Now people come from all over the world to visit the bakery and adjoining diner, and I had to stop there last summer on my way to Wisconsin for another research trip, er, vacation. Now, those cops in Clare know how to make a doughnut! New franchises keep popping up, too. Yum! https://copsdoughnuts.com/
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
GB: I always liked to write, so publishing seemed like a logical step.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
GB: William Shakespeare
Georgette Heyer
Daphne du Maurier
Elizabeth Peters
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
GB: I’m rereading Georgette Heyer’s Regency Romances. I hadn’t looked at them for many years, and I’m enjoying the humor and the details.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
GB: In addition to writing and reading, I like sewing, knitting, and crocheting.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
B: Milk, eggs, flour, yeast. Donuts, anyone???
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
GB: The next Deputy Donut Mystery, Goodbye Cruller World, comes out August 28, 2018, and I’m working on the third one.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
B: I would have expected it to be writing, which I love, but it’s been a joy to meet so many people, either in person or online.
***********************************************************************
For more information check out the following links:
***********************************************************************
Everyone in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin loves Emily Westhill's donuts so after leaving her job as a police dispatcher she, along with her father-in-law, the former Chief of Police, opens Deputy Donuts, a donut and coffee shop. Concerned when a regular customer fails to appear, Emily joins her friends to check in on her. They find the elderly patron home, murdered. Who could have killed her? Did it have something to do with the death of her son five years earlier? And what about her old friend who just returned to town. She certainly has secrets. Emily must look to the past or else lose her own future!
Ginger Bolton has an ingenious idea for the setting of this new series. It is set in a donut shop, and not just any donut shop, but one owned by the former Chief of Police and a former police dispatcher, who also happens to be the widow of a police detective. What a way to gain police presence and loosen lips!
Multiple threads run through this first Deputy Donut Mystery, including a prior murder, old relationships, new friendships, and more, but they are skillfully woven to a satisfying conclusion.
I like the camaraderie of the characters. As a former police officer, I understand the ties that bind all manner of first responders, of which there are many in this book. The author understands and capitalizes on this.
With plenty of humor, an intelligent protagonist, a cute cat, and plenty of donuts, SURVIVAL OF THE FRITTERS is an engaging start to a new series.
Kathy: Survival of the Fritters has the perfect base for a person who is going to be involved in mysteries and murder: a donut shop with plenty of police, and former police, presence. Was this a conscious decision?
GB: Yes, I thought it would be the perfect place for an amateur sleuth to pick up clues, gossip, and rumors.
Kathy: Even before she opened Deputy Donuts, everyone loved Emily Westhill's donuts. Are you a donut lover? My favorite is a Boston Creme, what's your favorite donut?
GB: I love donuts! Choosing is hard, but my favorites are probably plain raised (i.e. made with yeast) topped with a little granulated sugar.
Kathy: I've heard that publishers believe that US readers are less likely to buy a book set in Canada than in the US. I know that some Canadian authors do set their stories in the US, including you. Was it your decision to set the story in Wisconsin? If so, was it more to do with the plot, or marketing? As you know, I'm a US citizen who enjoys books set in Canada too. I actually live near the border of Southern Ontario.
GB: I set it in Wisconsin because when I wrote the proposal, I’d just returned from vacationing there. I visited so many beautiful waterfalls that I named my village Fallingbrook and put a waterfall outside it. And then I put forests all around the village. The northwoods are amazing. And just a little scary . . . They’re perfect for mysteries, no matter what country they’re in. As a reader, I like mysteries, wherever they’re set.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
GB: For me, it’s the characters—ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The characters in cozies feel real, and like friends.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
GB: I’ve written short stories and humorous personal essays that were published and suspense novels that weren’t. But at the moment, I write only cozies.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
GB: Deputy Donut Mysteries-- Coffee, donuts, cops, danger, and one curious cat.
As Janet Bolin, I wrote the Threadville Mysteries—Murder and mayhem in a village of crafty shops.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
GB: My favorite character is always the main character in whatever I’m writing at the moment. That person insists that I have to tell her (usually it’s a her) story. And finish it . . .
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
GB: Yes, and it’s such fun. A bakery in Clare, Michigan, was going out of business, so the local policemen bought it, renamed it Cops & Doughnuts, and kept it going. Now people come from all over the world to visit the bakery and adjoining diner, and I had to stop there last summer on my way to Wisconsin for another research trip, er, vacation. Now, those cops in Clare know how to make a doughnut! New franchises keep popping up, too. Yum! https://copsdoughnuts.com/
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
GB: I always liked to write, so publishing seemed like a logical step.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
GB: William Shakespeare
Georgette Heyer
Daphne du Maurier
Elizabeth Peters
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
GB: I’m rereading Georgette Heyer’s Regency Romances. I hadn’t looked at them for many years, and I’m enjoying the humor and the details.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
GB: In addition to writing and reading, I like sewing, knitting, and crocheting.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
B: Milk, eggs, flour, yeast. Donuts, anyone???
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
GB: The next Deputy Donut Mystery, Goodbye Cruller World, comes out August 28, 2018, and I’m working on the third one.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
B: I would have expected it to be writing, which I love, but it’s been a joy to meet so many people, either in person or online.
***********************************************************************
For more information check out the following links:
***********************************************************************
Review
SURVIVAL OF THE FRITTERS by Ginger Bolton
The First Deputy Donut Mystery
Everyone in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin loves Emily Westhill's donuts so after leaving her job as a police dispatcher she, along with her father-in-law, the former Chief of Police, opens Deputy Donuts, a donut and coffee shop. Concerned when a regular customer fails to appear, Emily joins her friends to check in on her. They find the elderly patron home, murdered. Who could have killed her? Did it have something to do with the death of her son five years earlier? And what about her old friend who just returned to town. She certainly has secrets. Emily must look to the past or else lose her own future!
Ginger Bolton has an ingenious idea for the setting of this new series. It is set in a donut shop, and not just any donut shop, but one owned by the former Chief of Police and a former police dispatcher, who also happens to be the widow of a police detective. What a way to gain police presence and loosen lips!
Multiple threads run through this first Deputy Donut Mystery, including a prior murder, old relationships, new friendships, and more, but they are skillfully woven to a satisfying conclusion.
I like the camaraderie of the characters. As a former police officer, I understand the ties that bind all manner of first responders, of which there are many in this book. The author understands and capitalizes on this.
With plenty of humor, an intelligent protagonist, a cute cat, and plenty of donuts, SURVIVAL OF THE FRITTERS is an engaging start to a new series.
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Currently Reading...
I just finished reading The Vanished Bride of Northfield House by Phyllis M. Newman. This book is the first in a Gothic Mystery trilogy and will be released next week.
Anne Chatham, the orphaned daughter of a clergyman, has taken the job of typewriter at Northfield House in 1922. Working with Mr. Wellington on his book of agricultural history is enjoyable, but the undercurrents of the house are not. The grand house is dark and ominous, and while Mr. Wellington is pleasant, she also has to deal with the irreverent older son, Thomas, and the brooding younger son Owen, not to mention the haughty Mrs. Wellington...and the ghost. Anne has the ability to see spirits and the ghost of Northfield House is desperate to communicate. Is this spirit that of the bride who disappeared on her wedding night? As Anne draws closer to Owen, a family tragedy is explored, and danger increases. Should Anne fear the dead or are the living more dangerous?
Anne Chatham, the orphaned daughter of a clergyman, has taken the job of typewriter at Northfield House in 1922. Working with Mr. Wellington on his book of agricultural history is enjoyable, but the undercurrents of the house are not. The grand house is dark and ominous, and while Mr. Wellington is pleasant, she also has to deal with the irreverent older son, Thomas, and the brooding younger son Owen, not to mention the haughty Mrs. Wellington...and the ghost. Anne has the ability to see spirits and the ghost of Northfield House is desperate to communicate. Is this spirit that of the bride who disappeared on her wedding night? As Anne draws closer to Owen, a family tragedy is explored, and danger increases. Should Anne fear the dead or are the living more dangerous?
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Natural Thorn Killer - Book Blast
BOOK BLAST
About the Book
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Kensington (March 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496705136
Digital ASIN: B073NPHX8Z
Cut down among the flowers . . .
Britta Johnston might be a late bloomer, but after leaving her deadbeat husband and dead-end job, she’s finally pursuing her artistic passion at her aunt Elin’s floral boutique, Blooma, in Portland, Oregon. It’s on the banks of the Willamette, in a quaint district of cobblestone paths and cherry trees. The wine bar featuring Pacific Northwest vintages is a tasty bonus, offering another kind of bouquet to enjoy. But things aren’t as peaceful as they look.
For one thing, someone’s been leaving dead roses around—and a sleazy real estate developer who wants the waterfront property has put a big-money offer on the table. Then, after a contentious meeting of local business owners, he’s found on the floor of the shop, with Elin’s garden shears planted in his chest. And before the police decide to pin the crime on her beloved aunt, Britta will have to find out who arranged this murder . . .
About the Author
Kate Dyer-Seeley aka Ellie Alexander writes multiple mystery series, all with a Pacific Northwest touch. She lives in the PNW with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three. Author Links Facebook Twitter Instagram GoodReads
PRE-ORDER LINKS
Amazon B&N Hudson Booksellers IndieBound BAM
a Rafflecopter giveawaySunday, January 21, 2018
Aunty Lee's Delights - Spotlight
I'd like to shine a spotlight on a mystery by a wonderful author I was fortunate enough to meet at Bouchercon, Ovidia Yu. Aunty Lee's Delights is the first book in her Aunty Lee Mystery series.
From the back cover:
After losing her husband, Rosie Lee could have become one of Singapore's "tai tai, " an idle rich lady. Instead she is building a culinary empire from her first restaurant, Aunty Lee's Delights, where spicy Singaporean meals are graciously served to locals and tourists alike. But when a body is found in one of Singapore's tourist havens and one of her guests fails to show at a dinner party, Aunty Lee knows that the two events are likely connected.
The murder and disappearance throws together Aunty Lee's henpecked stepson, Mark, his social climbing wife, Selina, a gay couple whose love is still illegal in Singapore, and an elderly Australian tourist couple whose visit may mask a deeper purpose. Investigating the murder are Police Commissioner Raja and Senior Staff Sergeant Salim, who quickly discover that Aunty Lee's sharp nose for intrigue can sniff out clues that elude law enforcers.
Wise, witty, and charming, Aunty Lee's Delights is a spicy mystery about love, friendship, and food in Singapore, where money flows freely and people of many religions and ethnicities coexist peacefully, but where tensions lurk just below the surface, sometimes with deadly consequences.
From the back cover:
After losing her husband, Rosie Lee could have become one of Singapore's "tai tai, " an idle rich lady. Instead she is building a culinary empire from her first restaurant, Aunty Lee's Delights, where spicy Singaporean meals are graciously served to locals and tourists alike. But when a body is found in one of Singapore's tourist havens and one of her guests fails to show at a dinner party, Aunty Lee knows that the two events are likely connected.
The murder and disappearance throws together Aunty Lee's henpecked stepson, Mark, his social climbing wife, Selina, a gay couple whose love is still illegal in Singapore, and an elderly Australian tourist couple whose visit may mask a deeper purpose. Investigating the murder are Police Commissioner Raja and Senior Staff Sergeant Salim, who quickly discover that Aunty Lee's sharp nose for intrigue can sniff out clues that elude law enforcers.
Wise, witty, and charming, Aunty Lee's Delights is a spicy mystery about love, friendship, and food in Singapore, where money flows freely and people of many religions and ethnicities coexist peacefully, but where tensions lurk just below the surface, sometimes with deadly consequences.
Friday, January 19, 2018
Olmec Obituary - Review
Review
OLMEC OBITUARY by L.J.M. Owen
The First Dr. Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth Mystery
The sudden death of Dr. Elizabeth Pimms' father forces her to give up
her dream job, working on an archaeological dig with her boyfriend, and
return home to Australia to work as a librarian in order to support her
family. When a former classmate offers her a chance to join an
archeology team in town Elizabeth can't resist, even if she has to
volunteer her time on weekends while still performing her library
duties. As her research unfolds, Elizabeth finds serious flaws with the
original findings and the hypotheses surrounding the dig itself. Will
Elizabeth discover the true story behind the skeletons? And will she
come to terms with her family?
OLMEC OBITUARY is a fascinating start to a new series. This traditional mystery introduces readers to Dr. Elizabeth Pimms, an intelligent, capable, determined, yet ultimately flawed, woman. Elizabeth has a compelling backstory, hinted at and slowly revealed thought the book.
Two distinct stories comprise the first Dr. Pimms mystery. There is the
modern day mystery of Dr. Pimms set in Australia and the story of Ix
and her family in ancient Olmec, what is now central Mexico. The book weaves the modern day story of Dr. Pimms and her investigation with the ancient story of the people behind the remains that she is called upon
to investigate.
I admit to being a closet archeologist wannabe and am fascinated by the
details revealed here. Those less academically inclined however, may find
the minutia of true archaeological work and the historical details a bit
daunting. Those who love history and dream of going on archaeological digs, if only via armchair, will find the information compelling.
Ultimately, OLMEC OBITUARY is a book of sacrifices, exploring family loyalty and the ties that bind. It looks at how our beliefs can skew our vision and how the past can shape our present and our future.
I enjoyed this first Dr. Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth mystery, and appreciated not only the historical detail, but details about the various people living in Australia and how their cultures and traditions impact their life. I look forward to learning more as the series continues.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Currently Reading...
I'm currently reading Mayan Mendacity by L.J.M. Owen. This book is the second in the Dr. Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth Mystery series.
Dr. Pimms is back! Eagerly awaiting the return of her boyfriend, she gets a devastating surprise. Not one to dwell in her sorrows Elizabeth decides to work on the archaeological remains brought to her. This time she has a Mayan mystery to uncover.
Dr. Pimms is back! Eagerly awaiting the return of her boyfriend, she gets a devastating surprise. Not one to dwell in her sorrows Elizabeth decides to work on the archaeological remains brought to her. This time she has a Mayan mystery to uncover.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Deadly Fashion - Review
Review
DEADLY FASHION by Kate Parker
The Third Deadly Mystery
Olivia Denis is thrilled to meet her idol, Mimi Mareau while on assignment for the Daily Premier.
While interviewing the French fashion designer about the upcoming
opening of her London salon she finds a dead body in the basement.
Although they deny knowing the man, all four women of Maison Mareau seem
to know more than they are letting on. When the man turns out to be a
Jewish German communist working to get Jews out of Nazi Germany, Olivia
is called upon to discover who sold him out. While Olivia navigates the
worlds of fashion and politics, war looms ever closer. Will she discover
a French assassin behind the murder or is the killer closer to home?
Kate Parker writes with such verisimilitude as I read I feel I exist in that world. Characters colored by snobbery, racism, and fear provide a terrifying parallel to the world today. Yet there are people from all walks of life who work together to make the world a better place, in the pages of this book, in history, and in the present.
DEADLY FASHION is an impeccably plotted mystery filled with, not only historical details, but the atmosphere and attitude of the people on the precipice of World War II.
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Pre-Meditated Murder - Review & Giveaway
Review
PRE-MEDITATED MURDER by Tracy Weber
The Fifth Downward Dog Mystery
Kate Davidson, a former commitment-phobe, is finally ready to settle
down and is thrilled when she thinks that Michael's fancy special
evening out is a prelude to a marriage proposal. Unable to hide her
disappointment when he didn't propose Michael admits the truth; he
couldn't marry her as he was already married!!!! Michael says he only
married Gabriella so that she could get a green card, but she won't
grant him a divorce unless he pays her off-with money he doesn't have.
When Michael decides to meet Gabriella in person, he's accompanied not
only by Kate and Bella, but Renee, Sam, the twins, and the two puppies.
What could go wrong with this support group by his side? A lot. Now
Michael's suspected of Gabriella's murder, and although Kate was ready
to kill him herself, she'll do her utmost to prove his innocence.
PRE-MEDITATED
MURDER is a compelling read. Expectations of love are challenged and
explored in this multilayered mystery. Fundamental beliefs in people are
put to the test and certainties become doubts. Will love survive?
This fifth Downward Dog mystery tackles difficult subjects of domestic abuse, immigration, and more. However, the book isn't weighed down by these weighty subjects, not does it become a pulpit. Rather it engulfs these topics into Kate's world, and they play important roles in the mystery itself.
Bella's charm, humor from new mom Renee, and a cast of characters from Michael's past combine to make a murder mystery that will forever change Kate and her future.
This fifth Downward Dog mystery tackles difficult subjects of domestic abuse, immigration, and more. However, the book isn't weighed down by these weighty subjects, not does it become a pulpit. Rather it engulfs these topics into Kate's world, and they play important roles in the mystery itself.
Bella's charm, humor from new mom Renee, and a cast of characters from Michael's past combine to make a murder mystery that will forever change Kate and her future.
Friday, January 12, 2018
Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper - An Interview
I'm happy to welcome Amy Lillard to the blog today. Amy writes the Amish Mystery series. Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper is the first book in the series.
Kathy: Your new series is set inside an Amish community. Why do you think outsiders are so interested in the Amish? And why set your series amongst them?
AL: Our world moves so fast these days. I feel most people appreciate the slower pace of the Amish world. It’s somehow comforting to know that someone out there has not let the world take them over and push them to an impossible speed. Most of us would like to slow down a bit, but we simply don’t know how. The Amish show us it can be done.
Kathy: Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper deals with the murder of an Amish dog breeder. Breeding can be quite controversial. How did you decide upon this topic for your mystery?
AL: Unfortunately, it can be a touchy subject which did play a factor in my deciding to use it. I have many Amish friends and one is a dog breeder. I have been to his home and his barn is nicer than a lot of houses. The dogs live in there with the horses that he breeds as well. It’s the furthest thing from a puppy mill that you could imagine. I wanted to show this side. Yes, there are some Amish puppy mills, there are also plenty that aren’t. Just like in the “English” world.
Kathy: Amish women are known for their baking. Is Kathryn “Kappy” King a baker as well as a seamstress? Are you?
AL: Kappy is a little bit of an odd duck. She bakes because she likes the food she’s cooking. But since she lives alone, it’s not like she has to bake for a big family. Me? I love to bake and cook. But I’m on a diet ninety percent of the time so I don’t bake as much as my heart wants to.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
AL: I love the light-hearted suspense. There is too much drama and tragedy in the world. Cozies allow me to make an unfortunate situation and give it a lighter voice. I love the flippancy and silliness that can come with a cozy.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
AL: I do. I also write Amish romance and contemporary romances as well. And I’ve been known to pen a historical romance from time to time.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
AL: I would describe it as Amish Shirley and ex-Amish Laverne solving crimes in their fictional community of Blue Sky Pennsylvania, nestled in beautiful Kishacoquillas Valley. Though most would say it’s a light-hearted cozy mystery series where unlikely characters team up to solve crimes and keep their community safe.
Kappy is my first mystery series. I do have two other Amish series that are romances and a couple of mysteries that belong in a compilation series.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
AL: I love them all for very different reasons. But if I have to choose, then Edie. Edie doesn’t want to be a part of the Amish world, but she doesn’t fit in with the English. She wears garish clothes because she was never taught how to dress English. She’s a little bored being back in Blue Sky, but she has a big heart and knows that she has to remain there for her brother, Jimmy. Deep down I think she wants to return, but she doesn’t know how. Essentially she is trapped between both worlds, yet a part of neither.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
AL: The Valley itself was my inspiration. I went there last year and fell in love. The Valley is gorgeous, like a postcard. And interesting since there are three different types of Amish there—Renno, Nebraska, and Byler. Each drives a different color buggy! I can’t say I’ve ever been to an Amish community quite like the one in Kish Valley.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
AL: Wow! Good question. I don’t know. It was and always has been the end result of writing for me. Stories are great, but sharing them is the most fun of all.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
AL: Stephen King, JK Rowling, Harper Lee, and William Shakespeare. That should be interesting. LOL
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
AL: I am currently reading First Star I see Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman. I usually have two books going at once—one on my Kindle and one from Audible. If I’m reading paper another one gets tossed in the mix. I can only do this if I’m reading two (or three) very different stories so I don’t get them confused.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
AL: I do a lot of what my mother calls ‘piddling.’ LOL She’s a great piddler too. I like to craft, scrapbook, work in my house, refinish furniture, and whatever else strikes my fancy. When I’m not piddling, my family loves to watch movies together and we are big Kansas City Chiefs fans.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
AL: Minced garlic, stewed tomatoes, coffee, and self-rising flour
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
AL: Right now I’m working on book three in the Kappy King series. My Amish romance series set in my home state of Mississippi starts in February. (Yes, there are Amish in Mississippi). I have another book in that series to write, then who knows where I’ll go from there.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
AL: I’m one of those authors who believes that stories already exist and authors merely write them down. For me it’s fun to discover who these characters are and the stories they want me to share. It’s definitely an adventure, every day.
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Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper (An Amish Mystery) by Amy Lillard
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting - Pennsylvania
Zebra (December 26, 2017)
An Imprint of Kensington Books
Paperback: 352 pages
Content to be unmarried and plain-spoken, Kathryn “Kappy” King is an odd-woman-out in the Amish community of Blue Sky, Pennsylvania. But she’s skilled at making the special kapps local women need to cover their hair. And she might be the only one who can unearth the danger hiding in this peaceful valley . . .
When Kappy's neighbor, Ruth Peachey, turns up dead in her yard, everyone in Blue Sky believes it’s a tragic accident. Until the Englisch police find the gentle dog breeder was deliberately struck down—and arrest her mentally-challenged son, Jimmy, for the crime . . .
Jimmy’s sister, Edie, returns to Blue Sky clear his name, yet no one will speak to a shunned former Amish woman, much less give her information. Determined to help, Kappy starts digging for the truth among her seemingly-innocent neighbors. But suddenly a series of suspicious “accidents” threatens Edie and the Peachey farm—property Edie is determined to protect for her brother’s future.
Now, as danger looms large in the small community, Kappy must bait a trap for a killer snapping hard at her heels. And Edie must decide whether to make a home once more in the town she thought she’d left behind . . .
Amy Lillard is the award-winning author of more than twenty novels, including the Wells Landing series, The Quilting Circle 
novels, the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries
and the Kappy King Mysteries
. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives with her husband and son in Oklahoma. Please visit her online at www.AmyWritesRomance.com.
Author Links:
novels, the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries and the Kappy King Mysteries. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives with her husband and son in Oklahoma. Please visit her online at www.AmyWritesRomance.com.- amywritesromance.com
- Facebook: @AmyLillard918
- Twitter: @AmyWritesRomance
- Goodreads
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