A Statue of Limitations Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Kate Collins to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Kate writes the Goddess of Green St. Mystery series. STATUE OF LIMITATIONS is the first book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: You start a new series with STATUE OF LIMITATIONS. What made you move from a flower shop to a garden center?

KC: I love flowers and gardening and have learned a lot about them, so it seemed a natural fit.


Kathy: In this series opener Athena returns home to her big Greek family. Do you have a big family? Do you celebrate your heritage?

KC: The characters are based on my husband’s big crazy Greek family who always made me laugh – or shake my head in dismay. I’m just a run-of-the mill English/Irish woman with a “normal” family.


Kathy: I love the fact that there is a "mischievous wild raccoon" in the story. I love raccoons. Do you have personal raccoon experience?

KC: No raccoon experience other than what I’ve read about them – or chased them away from my bird feeders.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

KC: The very first thing were the Nancy Drew mysteries, followed by Agatha Christie. Since my voice is oftentimes humorous, I wanted to write in a genre that allowed that. I don’t like gory description, especially before bed, so cozies are perfect. Intriguing, fast-paced, and humorous at times.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

KC: I published seven historical romances before turning to mystery. The links to those books are on my website: katecollinsbooks.com


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

KC: The Goddess of Greene St. Mysteries is about Athena, one sister in a family of four funny Greek sisters, all of whom are named after Greek goddesses, who gets a taste of solving a murder mystery in the first book and is hooked. Because she not only solved the murder case but also saved the section of her tourist town known as Little Greece, she was dubbed by the newspaper The Goddess of Greene St.

The Flower Shop Mysteries is about one intrepid florist, a law school flunk out, who was dumped by her fiancé and kicked out of law school before finding her way to Bloomers Flower Shop, where she became a florist. She and hunky bar owner Marco Salvare not only catch murderers, they also become romantically involved. Twenty-one books in all.


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

KC: For The Goddess of Greene St. Mysteries, it was my husband’s big, crazy Greek family.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

KC: I wanted to share my stories with readers.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

KC: VIEW ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS


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

KC: I love yoga, reading in many genres, tole painting, and interior decorating.


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

KC: Coffee creamer, a quart container full of fruit smoothie, extra sharp cheddar cheese, hummus.


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

KC: I’m working on the third book in the Goddess of Greene St. Mysteries right now and I hope to continue the series.


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

KC: It’s a toss-up between having an occupation that allows me to use my active imagination and being able to set my own hours.

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Review

STATUE OF LIMITATIONS by Kate Collins

The First Goddess of Greene St. Mystery

When Athena Spencer hears a noise in the garden shop after hours she things it's the mischievous raccoon who has been hanging around. Instead she finds a handsome stranger who claims the statue her grandfather bought actually belongs to him. If that wasn't enough a greedy businessman wants to tear down Little Greece to put up condominiums. Taking a chance, Athena joins forces with the stranger, now a fugitive, to stop the town tyrant and find justice.

You have to take a leap of faith in the first Goddess of Greene St. Mystery. Athena goes well out of her way to help Case...someone that is trying to take her grandfathers statue as well as being wanted as a murder suspect. That's somewhat implausible. But once you accept that Athena is acting rationally, or at least in the best interest of her family and community, everything falls into place. And a delightful place it is!

I loved just about everything in STATUE OF LIMITATIONS. A fantastic group of characters liven up the pages. Athena's eccentric family is charming and fun from her ditsy sister Delphi who "sees" things, to her meddling mother, even her son who knows more Greek than she does. Then there are the despicable characters-the Talbot family and their minions and the traitors among the Greek community. There's a bit of romance and a darn good mystery!

I love the Greek details woven into the story, particularly the language. I think Athena's blog is hysterical, more so because of her mother and sisters comments about it. I appreciate how Athena picks up on things that are incorrect, but necessary for the plot, like why there wasn't an autopsy on Talbot Senior, and weaves it into the story.

Athena wanted some space from all things Greek, but finds herself embracing her culture and her family as she fights for justice and Little Greece. STATUE OF LIMITATIONS is a delightful mystery that left me with a smile on my face.

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Statue of Limitations (A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery) by Kate Collins

About Statue of Limitations

Statue of Limitations (A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series  

Publisher: Kensington (January 28, 2020)  

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages 

In this delightful new series by the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mysteries, Athena Spencer comes back home to work with her crazy big Greek family at their garden center. But she never expected a return to her roots would mean protecting her family from murder . . . After her divorce, Athena has returned to coastal Michigan to work in her family’s garden center and raise her son, while also caring for a mischievous wild raccoon and fending off her family’s annoying talent for nagging. Working alone at the garden center one night, Athena is startled by a handsome stranger who claims to be the rightful owner of a valuable statue her grandfather purchased at a recent estate sale. But she has even bigger problems on her plate. The powerful Talbot family from whom her pappoús bought the statue is threatening to raze the shops on Greene Street’s “Little Greece” to make way for a condo. The recent death of the family’s patriarch already seemed suspicious, but now it’s clear that a murderer is in their midst. Athena will have to live up to her warrior goddess namesake to protect her family from a killer and save their community from ruin . . .

About Kate Collins

Kate Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series. After publishing numerous historical romances, Kate penned the long-running mystery series, three books of which were made into Hallmark movies starring Brooke Shields. An Indiana native, Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master's degree in education. When not growing roots at her computer, Kate loves to garden. Other passions include yoga, reading, spending time with family and friends, sampling great wines and fine dark chocolate, and enjoying every moment of life. Kate lives in Northwest Indiana and Key West, Florida. Visit her online at KateCollinsBooks.com.

Author Links:
Website http://www.katecollinsbooks.com/
 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Collins/49648459004

Purchase Links - Kensington - Amazon - B&N - Kobo

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