Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past by Traci Wilton. This book is the third in the Salem B&B Mystery series.

It's Christmastime in Salem and B&B owner Charlene Morris is trying to keep spirits bright, a difficult task when her mother is in town. Attending a charity auction at a local restaurant should be a festive occasion, but when the lucky lottery winning owner hands out checks to certain guests, not everyone is happy. Charlene hears him call out two names before he rushes out into the street and is promptly struck down in a hit and run. The driver must have known he hit someone, yet didn't stop. Could the accident actually be murder? As Charlene provides her guests with a wonderful holiday visit she'll also deal with her critical mother, a dashing ghost, and a handsome detective who'd rather she not get involved in another suspicious death. She'll also find time to see which of the many people who had a beef with the not so lucky restaurateur could have actually killed him.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings - A Review

 Review

MRS. CLAUS AND THE SANTALAND SLAYINGS by Liz Ireland
The First Mrs. Claus Mystery

Married life is always an adjustment, but April has an even bigger lifestyle change than most new brides when she marries Nick. Leaving her inn in Oregon she moves to the North Pole upon becoming Mrs. Claus. Things aren't so holly jolly as she learns to deal with her mother in law and everything that's expected of her as the wife of the current Santa. The death of an unpleasant elf leaves April concerned. While no one liked Giblet Hollyberry, it was her husband who had a run in with the elf. Add to the fact that he left their bedroom in the middle of the night and seems to be avoiding her, Alice realizes just how little she truly knows her new husband. Surely, Nick had nothing to do with Giblet's death...but who did?

MRS. CLAUS AND THE SANTALAND SLAYINGS introduces readers to a very different version of Santa Claus and his village. The temperature may be frigid, but the North Pole is a hotbed of resentment, bullying, and drama. This is not a happy sylvan environment with yuletide spirit. It's a place where reindeer are bullies, the Claus family is dysfunctional, and the majority of residents believe the current Santa is a murderer! Thrust in the midst is April, who fits in as well as her name. While she was a competent and efficient innkeeper in Oregon, in the North Pole she's ill able to keep up and many of her projects have disastrous results.

I really enjoyed this darker look at a place that's generally too sugar coated. I appreciate April's doubts and her determination to prove them wrong. I admit, I'm not a huge fan of the current Santa, but he is several steps up from the one in the Rankin/Bass production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, although he does tell April basically to stay home. Probably my favorite character is Quasar. I feel so bad for this misfit who tries so hard.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE SANTALAND SLAYINGS is a darkly comic tale that combines a deftly plotted mystery with a new version of Santa's village. If you're suffering from too much sugary sweetness this holiday season, this book could be the cure!

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Currently Reading...

I just started reading Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland. This book is the first in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series.

Married life is always an adjustment, but April has an even bigger lifestyle change than most new brides when she marries Nick. Leaving her inn in Oregon she moves to the North Pole upon becoming Mrs. Claus. Things aren't so holly jolly as she learns to deal with her mother in law and everything that's expected of her as the wife of the current Santa. The death of an unpleasant elf leaves April concerned. While no one liked Giblet Hollyberry, it was her husband who had a run in with the elf. Add to the fact that he left their bedroom in the middle of the night and seems to be avoiding her, Alice realizes just how little she truly knows her new husband. Surely, Nick had nothing to do with Giblet's death...but who did?

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

A Fashionable Fate Review

 Review

A FASHIONABLE FATE by Ileana Munoz Renfroe
The First Rosa the Cuban Psychic Mystery 

Rosa de los Reyes is preparing for THE event on Colten Island, her fashion show featuring her latest designs. Everyone will be there, from island residents to guests ferrying over from Miami. Rosa is even prepared to deal with the diva model, Cynthia. When Rosa goes to pick her up from rehearsal she sees Cynthia's ghost in front of her cottage. With her spirit guide, Raul, dealing with the newly departed, Rosa knows she will have to help the Sheriff solve the murder. Her abuela has been getting troubling messages from her Tarot cards, so Rosa knows she can't be too careful. Will she be able to solve the murder or will it be curtains for her?

Although A FASHIONABLE FATE is the first book in the series, I often felt that I was coming into the story late as Rosa mentioned other cases she and her friends had solved. It was easy enough to become acquainted with the characters, however. I really liked Nana, Rosa's grandmother. She's intelligent, caring, fun, and is a great Tarot reader and psychic. I also really enjoyed Rosa's flighty mother who tends to either cook or faint when stressed. Unfortunately, I found most of the other characters underdeveloped and two dimensional. Rosa is a fashion designer who also happens to be a psychic who feels the Sheriff, though nice, is incapable of doing his job without her help. Although I know a lot about her, including the decision about her future plans, her emotions were never really explored, and everything seemed superficial.

I like the fact that the book features a Cuban American protagonist. I enjoyed the ethnic touches, learning some customs and hearing about the delicious food. I was happy to discover recipes in the book as well. 

While the first Rosa the Cuban Psychic Mystery has a great premise, the writing is stilted with awkward dialogue, changes in tense, and at one point there was even a change in point of view from third person to first person. This debut novel had great possibilities but suffered from poor editing. A strong copy editor could have caught these issues and may have corralled the meandering storylines to help create a cohesive mystery.

A FASHIONABLE FATE brings together fashion and the paranormal in a uniquely flavored mystery. This debut mystery shows promise with a unique set of characters in an island setting.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

The Christmas Rush

 'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house the reviewer was frantically getting ready. The tree is up and lit, but the stockings aren't hung by the chimney, with or without care. The presents have been shipped, but most haven't arrived. I fear they are traveling by camel. Perhaps they'll arrive by Epiphany. I'm reading and reading, but so many books...I'm writing reviews and interview questions, but can never catch up.

I hope you'll be patient as I finish reading and writing and providing you with new books to explore and enjoy. In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying the holiday season and enjoying plenty of cozy mysteries.

Friday, December 18, 2020

A Claw & Disorder Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Eileen Watkins to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Eileen writes the Cat Groomer Mystery series. CLAW & DISORDER is the fifth book in the series and will be released January 26, 2020.

Kathy: In CLAW AND DISORDER cat groomer Cassie McGlone deals with two very different people, a wealthy perfectionist and a hoarder with financial difficulties. If you were in Cassie's shoes, which one would you prefer to deal with?

EW: Probably the hoarder, because he’s a nicer person! I felt a lot of empathy for Chester. I knew a couple in my old neighborhood who had a similar problem. The woman was a professional crafter, but her health was failing, and her house and yard were filled with crafting materials she never got around to using. And when I myself moved, three years ago, I became aware of how easy it is to become attached to mementos from your past, even when you really have no room to keep them.

Kathy: Gillian Foster is orchestrating the restoration of her family's nineteenth-century home and needs to board her cat. Have you ever had to deal with remodeling your home?

EW: Not on the same scale as Gillian, but I lived in a 1922 home for 18 years. I brought certain things up to date during that time, but before I sold it a lot still had to be fixed. As a vintage buff, I’d been able to put up with the house as it was, but I knew most buyers would not want to! Also, I sometimes did renovation stories as part of my newspaper job, and I still watch a lot of HGTV. 

 

Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story?

EW: Yes, I started with the perfectionist, who is based on someone I dealt with years ago, on my newspaper job. My description of Gillian’s super-authentic Early American house, and of her personality, sticks very closely to that reality. (I’ve changed her name, location, and other details.) I could tell the woman’s interior designer was terrified of her! After I’d done the interview, she even emailed my boss and tried to tell him how the story should be written. I filed her away in my memory bank, determined to use as a character someday. I do hope she doesn’t follow your blog! 😊


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Cassie?

EW: In my 2022 book, tentatively titled NIGHT OF THE WOLF-CAT, Cassie gets into possibly her most dangerous jam so far. She’s even been held at gunpoint a couple of times, but in Book #6 she becomes, shall we say, her own worst enemy. I’m having a lot of fun with this one because it’s got a symbolic wolf theme running throughout, starting with a purebred but scary-looking Maine Coon cat that comes to board with Cassie.


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps--plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pantsers, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or do you fall somewhere in between?

EW: By nature, I fall somewhere in between. When I was writing for a smaller publisher, with no deadline, I would write a few chapters to get into the story, then outline a little ahead, and so on. These days I need to submit a fairly detailed outline to my publisher early in the game, so I try to conceptualize as much as possible ahead of time. I still keep it a bit loose, because setting things in stone too early can be bad for the story—I might get a new idea, halfway through, that will make things much more exciting! But if that happens, I let my editor know ASAP, because it can affect the back-cover and promotional copy.


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?

EW: Bad luck for me, especially these days, but I dislike marketing through social media. I don’t Tweet (“don’t ask me…”) or create clever Instagram ads or do giveaways and contests. I am grateful to the folks who do those things, and will join in when I’m invited, but technology and I have a love/hate relationship. I prefer going to writers’ conferences, cat- and book-related conventions, and library events, where I can talk to people in person. It’s ironic, because I’m a definite introvert, but I get enthusiastic about my books and I think that helps sell them. I’ve even done well at street fairs and gift-and-craft shows, where people don’t expect to see an author selling her own books.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books?

EW: The Wolf-Cat mystery is next on the horizon. Though it will come out in late January of 2022, it’s set at Halloween, my favorite holiday. I had a great time “decorating” the fictional town of Chadwick, NJ, for the season, and describing the entries in a pet costume contest. For Cassie, crime hits close to home this time, when the veterinary clinic is robbed of its anesthetic drugs. Her veterinarian boyfriend Mark and his whole staff fall under suspicion, and she gets involved by trying to clear them. Then the thief is found murdered, hinting at an even more dangerous boss behind the operation. We finally meet Avery Lathrop, the mystery man behind the town’s “revival” movie theater, and Cassie encounters a handsome newcomer who, for the first time, really tests her devotion to Mark. I’m just wrapping up that one now!

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Review


CLAW & DISORDER by Eileen Watkins
The Fifth Cat Groomer Mystery

It's nice when people think so highly of your services that they recommend you to others. But for cat groomer Cassie McGlone two recent recommendations land her right in the litter box! Cassie's first referral leads her to wealthy Gillian Foster who needs to board her purebred Himalayan. Dealing with this exacting woman is kitten play when compared to the second referral. Cassie is asked to help an elderly couple in a ramshackle home who are hoarders. With the husband, Chester, seeming to be suffering from dementia and his wife having multiple medical issues they are unable to properly care for the multiple cats living with them. Hoping to convince them to relinquish at least some of the cats, Cassie is saddened to hear that the wife suddenly died. While the police suspect that she may have been smothered by her husband or the cats, Cassie is doubtful. Will she be able to prove the innocence of both Chester and the cats?

Cassie McGlone navigates two disparate worlds in the fifth Cat Groomer mystery. From a wealthy, dysfunctional family to a loving couple struggling with hoarding and other health issues Cassie finds herself as a confidant as people involved keep her abreast of what's happening. While her boyfriend cautions her not to get too involved, Cassie's friendliness as well as her curiosity keeps her in the middle of everything!

While the two storylines didn't intersect, their themes were similar and I appreciated how Cassie dealt with two very different sets of people. I appreciate how the hoarding issue was handled, with care and compassion as opposed to exploitation and derision. I got a not so pleasant vibe from Mark in CLAW & DISORDER. I love his new hobby as well as his reaction to the sultry songstress of the group, but perhaps its his warnings to Cassie that gave me a wonky vibe. While he's not wrong, something is off. Meanwhile I love Sarah even more.

CLAW & DISORDER is a mystery of perceptions. Interesting characters, both human and feline, who really care, but don't take any guff either, live in these pages and I love spending time with them.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Claw & Disorder by Eileen Watkins. This book is the fifth book in the Cat Groomer Mystery series and will be released January 26, 2021.

It's nice when people think so highly of your services that they recommend you to others. But for cat groomer Cassie McGlone two recent recommendations land her right in the litter box! Cassie's first referral leads her to wealthy Gillian Foster who needs to board her purebred Himalayan. Dealing with this exacting woman is kitten play when compared to the second referral. Cassie is asked to help an elderly couple in a ramshackle home who are hoarders. With the husband, Chester, seeming to be suffering from dementia and his wife having multiple medical issues they are unable to properly care for the multiple cats living with them. Hoping to convince them to relinquish at least some of the cats, Cassie is saddened to hear that the wife suddenly died. While the police suspect that she may have been smothered by her husband or the cats, Cassie is doubtful. Will she be able to prove the innocence of both Chester and the cats?

 


 

 


Tuesday, December 15, 2020

A Peppermint Cream Die Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Carol E. Ayer to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Carol writes the HSP Highly Sensitive Person Mystery series. Peppermint Cream Die is the first book in the series.
 

Kathy: In Peppermint Cream Die we meet Kayla Jeffries who is a home bakery owner. Do you like to bake?

CEA: I do like to bake but I’m not especially good at it! What I end up with rarely matches the picture in my head (kind of like writing!)

Kathy: Kayla is creating orders for the holidays. What are some of your favorite dishes to make during this season?

CEA: I’ve always loved making sugar cookies for the holidays. This year, I’m going to attempt a chocolate peppermint Bundt cake.
 

Kathy: Kayla is a Highly Sensitive Person. What exactly is a HSP?

CEA: HSPs make up about 20 percent of the population (I am an HSP myself). We deeply process sensory stimuli and easily become overstimulated. We are adversely impacted by things like loud noises, scratchy fabrics, and florescent lighting. We quickly get stressed by too much going on, criticism, and performing in front of others. On the plus side, HSPs tend to be creative, conscientious, and compassionate, and we have strong positive reactions to art, music, and nature. Most HSPs are introverted but a certain percentage are extroverts.

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

CEA: I’ve always loved mysteries. Like many mystery writers, I devoured the Nancy Drew books when I was younger and, later, Agatha Christie’s work. Sometimes I find mysteries too violent (HSPs have a hard time with violence) and I love that the murders in cozies take place off stage. Plus, there is usually a huge emphasis on food, and the relationships between the (often quirky) characters are paramount (there’s almost always a love story, besides). And pets! Usually the characters have the most adorable pets.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

CEA: Years ago, I wrote a romance novella that was published by the now-defunct Wild Child Publishing. I’ve also written a lot of short romances, a number of which were published by Woman’s World magazine. I’m currently working on a psychological thriller.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

CEA: Peppermint Cream Die is the first book in The HSP Mysteries; next will be Stabbed in the Tart and Sourdough Dead. In all the books, Kayla will have to fight her natural tendency to avoid stress as she helps solve the murders that keep popping up!


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

CEA: I think my favorite characters are the cats, Sugar and Flour. They are partly based on the cats I have had the pleasure of sharing my life with, and they are so much fun to write. 

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

CEA: I’m constantly looking to educate myself about being an HSP, so I’ve read numerous books and blog posts about the trait. At some point, it occurred to me that an HSP might make a good amateur sleuth. Yes, there is the problem with stress and overstimulation, but HSPs notice a lot and usually are good at reading other people’s emotions.
 

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

CEA: My last book didn’t sell well enough for the publisher to continue the series. I thought at the time that I would switch over to writing thrillers but then I got the idea for an HSP amateur sleuth. I suggested the idea to my agent and we went from there. 

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

CEA: What a good but difficult question. I’m going to choose Agatha Christie, Charlotte Bronte, Gilly Macmillan, and Elizabeth Gilbert.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

CEA: I’m reading Invisible Girl, a thriller by Lisa Jewell.

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

CEA: Reading is my favorite hobby and always has been. I used to knit but haven’t done it in a while. I enjoy watching TV and movies and cuddling up with my cat, Rainn. I’m a true introvert!
 

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

CEA: Coffee, cat food (ha, ha!), salad fixings, baking supplies

 

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

CEA: I’ve written Stabbed in the Tart and am currently writing Sourdough Dead. I’m not sure if I will write more in this series or not. As for a new cozy series, I would need to think of a good hook. If I come up with one, I probably will go for it.


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

CEA: I think my favorite thing is that it’s been my dream since I was 4. I am truly living my dream! 

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

 Peppermint Cream Die (A HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) Mystery) by Carol E Ayer

About Peppermint Cream Die

Peppermint Cream Die (A HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Camel Press (October 13, 2020)
Paperback: 190 pages

Kayla Jeffries, home bakery owner and HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), has arranged her life just so to avoid stressful overstimulation. The California oceanside community in which she lives proves the perfect venue for the quiet and peaceful existence she desires. She happily spends her time baking, walking along the beach, and spending time with her close friends.

But when Kayla discovers her elderly friend Trudy Dillingham has been strangled, she vows to do anything she must to help bring the killer to justice, including overcoming the stress and sensory overload involved in playing amateur detective. Using her HSP talents of attention to detail and ability to read other people's emotions, Kayla eventually cracks the case, all the while juggling two cats and a dog, non-stop orders for the Christmas holidays, and a budding relationship with handsome restaurateur Jason Banks.

 

About Carol E. Ayer



Carol Ayer, a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), lives halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento with her cat, Rainn. When she’s not writing, she’s reading mysteries and thrillers or watching movies and cooking shows. As a native Californian, she visits the ocean as often as possible.

Author Links

Webpage: https://carolayer.com/  

Blog: https://ayerlines.com/  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carol_e_ayer  

Purchase Links: Amazon - B&N - Kobo  

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Sunday, December 13, 2020

Grounds for Murder - An Interview and Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Tara Lush to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Tara writes the Coffee Lovers Mystery series. Grounds for Murder is the first book in the series and was released last week.
 

Kathy: Grounds for Murder centers around the Sunshine State Barista Championship. Some of these baristas have mad skills. I admit it. I don't like the taste of coffee. Are you a fan of the brew? How do you take yours?

TL: I am a huge coffee addict, and love coffee of all kinds. Generally I like black espresso, no cream, no sugar — or a new drink at my local cafĂ©. It’s called maple bourbon latte. It has no alcohol and is incredibly delicious!

Kathy: Lana Lewis has a hippie dad and a Shih Tzu named Stanley. Of the two, who makes Lana's life more challenging?

TL: Oh, definitely her father! Lana wanted to return home to Devil’s Beach after her layoff in Miami in part to keep an eye on her father.

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

TL: I love the puzzle of plotting the mystery — it’s like the biggest brain teaser ever! Part of the fun is figuring out the murder, the suspects, the killer — and the alibis! I also adore the happy ever after of cozy mysteries, much like in romance.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

TL: I do write romance under my real name! Those are way spicier than my cozies, though!

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

TL: The Coffee Lover’s Mystery series is about Lana Lewis, a laid off journalist who returns to her island hometown in Florida to take over the family’s coffee shop. She’s trying to figure out what’s next in life when she keeps encountering murders.

The Coffee Lover’s series is my first!

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

TL: My favorite character is Peter Lewis, Lana’s dad — because he’s loosely inspired by my own father.

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

TL: I knew I wanted something set in Florida, in a quirky beach community. I live in Florida near the Gulf and know that people in those places are a bit eccentric. I wanted to capture that Weird Florida vibe.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

TL: I’m a journalist in my day job so I’m used to putting my work out there. But fiction is different and a bit scarier! Ultimately I figured that if I was writing, I might as well put it out into the world for others to read.

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

TL: Ooh! Probably Agatha Christie, Nora Roberts, Sylvia Plath and Camille Paglia


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

TL: A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

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

TL: I love doing yoga! That’s probably my main interest outside of writing. That and cooking — I love cooking involved dinners.

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

TL: Kombucha, nutritional yeast, Himalayan sea salt and avocadoes

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

TL: I recently finished the second in the Coffee Lover’s series and will begin work on a third in January 2021. I’m hopeful this will be a long running series.

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

TL: I love hearing from readers and getting feedback about my book — good or bad. I love reader interaction in general. 

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

 Grounds for Murder (A Coffee Lover's Mystery) by Tara Lush

About Grounds for Murder

Grounds for Murder (A Coffee Lover's Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (December 8, 2020)
Hardcover: 320 pages

When Lana Lewis' best -- and most difficult -- employee abruptly quits and goes to work for the competition just days before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café's chances of winning the contest are creamed. In front of a gossipy crowd in the small Florida town of Devil's Beach, Lana's normally calm demeanor heats to a boil when she runs into the arrogant java slinger. Of course, Fabrizio "Fab" Bellucci has a slick explanation for jumping ship. But when he's found dead the next morning under a palm tree in the alley behind Lana's café, she becomes the prime suspect.

Even the island's handsome police chief isn't quite certain of her innocence. But Lana isn't the only one in town who was angry with Fabrizio. Jilted lovers, a shrimp boat captain, and a surfer with ties to the mob are all suspects as trouble brews on the beach

With her stoned, hippie dad, a Shih Tzu named Stanley, and a new, curious barista sporting a punk rock aesthetic at her side, Lana's prepared to turn up the heat to catch the real killer.

After all, she is a former award-winning reporter. As scandal hangs over her beachside café, can Lana clear her name and win the championship -- or will she come to a bitter end?

About Tara Lush

Tara Lush is a Rita Award finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and a George C. Polk Award-winning journalist. For the past decade, she's been a reporter with the Associated Press, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations. A fan of vintage pulp-fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, and 1980s fashion, she lives with her husband and two dogs on the Gulf coast.

Author Links: 

WEB: www.taralush.com  

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LushBooks  

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20274256.Tara_Lush 

 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lush_books/  

Purchase Links AMAZON - KOBO - BARNES AND NOBLE - ITUNES - INDIEBOUND 

 

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