Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Death at the Fireside Inn by Kitty Kildare. This book is the first in the Veronica Vale Investigates Mystery series and was released January 16, 2024.

If there's a dog living rough in London Veronica Vale will move heaven and earth to save the pup, working with the police as well as her friends and family. When an actress unexpectedly dies, Veronica is called to pick up her pampered pug. After learning that there's a second pug who was with the woman at the theatre when she died, Veronica heads to the crime scene to pick up that dog as well. When she discovers a family connection to the deceased she decides to do more than write the obituary her job at the London Times entails. Veronica intends to find out just who killed the star.


Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Murder at the Breakers - An Interview with Alyssa Maxwell

I'm pleased to welcome Alyssa Maxwell to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Alyssa writes the Gilded Newport Mystery series. MURDER AT THE BREAKERS, the first book the series, has just been adapted into a Hallmark movie that will be premiering this Friday!


Kathy: Before you started writing the Gilded Newport Mystery series, were you interested in the Gilded Age?

AM: Yes! But not exclusively. I’m a history fan and interested in lots of different time periods. But writing this series has deepened my understanding and appreciation of the period and the people who lived during it. I’ve learned about the huge strides in technology, in business and industry, and even in social norms, which were gradually becoming less restrictive. But the most significant thing I learned, which helped me in presenting historical figures as characters in the series, was how much like the rest of us people like the Vanderbilts and Astors were. Yes, they had unimaginable resources at their disposal, but they still experienced many of the same issues as the rest of us, such as poor health, family divisions and estrangement, divorce, rebellious children, addiction, etc. Their wealth didn’t make them invulnerable, and this made them much more human to me, rather than historical icons. Emma is fond of her Vanderbilt relatives. So am I.


Kathy: I’m intrigued by so many different aspects of this era of American history, the huge discrepancies between the have and have nots, those amazing parties, and more. What's your favorite bit about this time in history, or the part that interests you the most?

AM: Again, it’s the people. Each story takes place in a different mansion, but it’s the families who owned them that help shape each plot. For instance, in the book I’ve just completed, MURDER AT VINLAND, the house was owned by Hamilton and Florence Twombly (a Vanderbilt). In my research Florence struck me as a very strong woman with set opinions on the proper way to do things. This led me to focus on her, rather than her husband, as the owner of Vinland, and from there, I built a story almost entirely around women, as both victims and suspects. As I’ve discovered, the Gilded Age fostered some remarkable personalities.


Kathy: When first writing MURDER AT THE BREAKERS, did you see it as a film? Did you think of certain actors in the various roles?

AM: Other than all authors hoping one of their books might someday be made into a movie, no, I never envisioned this specifically.


Kathy: Who had the idea of actually turning your series into a Hallmark Mystery Movie?

AM: This is a story of luck! One of the executive producers on the project happened to tour The Breakers right before the pandemic and spotted MURDER AT THE BREAKERS in the gift shop. He had been hoping for a while to find a good Newport project, so he bought the book, read it, and soon after approached my agent.


Kathy: How much of a role did you play in its inception and production? Did you get to work on the screenplay at all? Did the screenwriter, or anyone involved in the film ask you for details or your own thoughts?

AM: I’ve been asked this a lot! And the answer is no, I wasn’t consulted at all. Once an author sells the film rights to a production company, she no longer has any control over what happens. Some authors like J.K. Rowling or Stephen King might be consulted, but that’s actually rare. I like to say my creative input was in writing the book.


Kathy: The movie version is always different than the book, in some cases more than others. How close is the Hallmark Mysteries and Movies version to your original story?

AM: Although they had to pare it down to fit into a 90-minute time slot, I feel they’ve done a good job with the main story, changing a few things but basically sticking to the plot I wrote.


Kathy: What's the scariest thing about having your book turned into a film?

AM: Having no control over the finished product!


Kathy: What's the best thing about having your book turned into a film?

AM: The best thing—so wonderful it’s almost surreal—is seeing my characters brought to life and hearing words I wrote spoken by those characters. It’s both thrilling and a bit humbling to think this is happening because of my efforts as an author (working away at home in scrubby clothes, drinking coffee and munching on pretzels or whatever to keep myself going) and that SO many people (producers, actors, writers, cameramen, lighting techs, costumers, etc.) have come together to produce this movie. It’s also exciting to know that this is Hallmark’s first period-set mystery.


Kathy: Are there plans for other books in your series to be adapted to film?

AM: That’s getting a bit ahead of things. We’ll have to see how the first one does, but I’ll say they certainly set it up to be a series of movies.


Kathy: Will you share any upcoming books?

AM: At the moment I just finished up copyedits and a readthrough of MURDER AT VINLAND, the 12th book in the Gilded Newport Mysteries, to be released on August 20th; and I’m in the middle of writing TWO WEDDINGS AND A MURDER, the 9th book in my Lady & Lady’s Maid Mysteries, which should come out early in 2025.

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

Blurb:

Newport, Rhode Island, August 1895: She may be a less well-heeled relation, but as second cousin to millionaire patriarch Cornelius Vanderbilt, twenty-one-year-old Emma Cross is on the guest list for a grand ball at the Breakers, the Vanderbilts’ summer home. She also has a job to do—report on the event for the society page of the Newport Observer.
 
But Emma observes much more than glitz and gaiety when she witnesses a murder. The victim is Cornelius Vanderbilt’s financial secretary, who plunges off a balcony faster than falling stock prices. Emma’s black sheep brother Brady is found in Cornelius’s bedroom passed out next to a bottle of bourbon and stolen plans for a new railroad line. Brady has barely come to before the police have arrested him for the murder. But Emma is sure someone is trying to railroad her brother and resolves to find the real killer at any cost . . . 

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Jade Hicks to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Jade on the pages of the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery series by Heather Weidner. TWINKLE TWINKLE AU REVOIR is the second book in the series and was released January 16, 2024.

Hi, y’all. I’m Jade Hicks, and I own ‘Tis the Season, a Christmas store in the beach town of Mermaid Bay, Virginia.  My grandmother opened the store about thirty years ago in a converted beach cottage. Each themed room has decorations, and at last count, there are over 300 trees in the store. My spunky French bulldog Chloe comes to work with me every day. She thinks she’s head of security, but Neville the Devil Cat, the store’s chief mouser, has other ideas.

Life is great. My business is booming, and I now have a permanent Plus 1, Sheriff Nick Driscoll. We’ve been friends since middle school, but we lost touch during the college years. I’m glad we both found our way back to Mermaid Bay and to each other.

And if that’s not enough going on, guess what happened to our quiet little beach! Love is in the air when Hollywood arrives in Mermaid Bay, and the town may never be the same. Fans will do almost anything to get a glimpse of the actors or a chance to be an extra in the Love Channel’s “My Coastal Valentine.” Crowds flock to our cozy beach town from all over and business is booming. All is going well until the body of a testy reporter is found in one of the actor’s rooms. And if murder isn’t bad enough, someone tries to kill the show’s star, hunky Raphael Allard.

Mermaid Bay feels cursed, as the Love Channel threatens to pull out of the project. Along with my team, Lorelei, Peppermint Patti, Bernie, Chloe, and Neville the Devil Cat, I have to solve the crimes before it ruins the town’s reputation and breaks the hearts of fans across the country.

Neville

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

Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir is the second book in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries cozy series. Jade and the gang will also appear in A Tisket A Tasket, Not Another Casket (2025). And I’m so excited to announce that my awesome publisher, Level Best Books, has extended the series for three more mysteries.

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

Review


TWINKLE TWINKLE AU REVOIR by Heather Weidner
The Second Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery

Love is in the air. The Love Channel has arrived in Mermaid Bay to film their latest romance. However, there's more drama than hearts and flowers. The lead actors are sniping at each other, the production team is demanding, and they all are driving Ruby batty at her inn. Jade Hicks has a front row seat at her 'Tis the Season Christmas Shoppe, especially as the crew has set up shop in her lot next door. Things go from bad to worse when a reporter is murdered, someone is poisoned, and someone else disappears. Between filling orders from her shop and calming Ruby, Jade tries to figure out just what is going on with My Coastal Valentine
 
The Love Channel isn't so loving and being a movie star isn't all it's cracked up to be, as Jade soon discovers in the second Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery. It may be hearts and flowers on the outside, but the inside is demanding, demoralizing, and vindictive! I found the mystery intriguing as the various crimes were so different. They had be be connected, but how? And why?
 
While I found some of the characters grating, Ruby was particularly annoying constantly calling Jade, I  like the relationship between Jade and Nick. Despite his foibles I really liked leading man Raphael Allard and found the hair and makeup people fun. Of course, when it comes to the townies, Amy remains my favorite along with Todd whose new marketing vehicle still makes me smile.
 
TWINKLE TWINKLE AU REVOIR is a lighthearted breezy mystery that combines Christmas decor and Valentine's Day dreams showing that there's no business quite like show business. 
 
**************************************************************************

 Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery by Heather Weidner

About Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir

Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Virginia
Level Best Books (January 16, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 252 pages
Love is in the air when Hollywood arrives in Mermaid Bay, and the town may never be the same. Fans will do almost anything to get a glimpse of the actors or a chance to be an extra in the Love Channel’s “My Coastal Valentine.” Crowds flock to the cozy beach town from all over and business is booming for Christmas shop owner, Jade Hicks until the body of a testy reporter is found in one of the actors rooms. And if murder isn’t bad enough, someone tries to kill the show’s star, hunky Raphael Allard. The cozy little beach town feels cursed, as the Love Channel threatens to pull out of the project. Jade and the gang, Lorelei, Peppermint Patti, Bernie, Chloe, and Neville the Devil Cat, have to solve the crimes before it ruins the town’s reputation and breaks the hearts of fans across the country.

About Heather Weidner

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime (Central Virginia, Chessie, Grand Canyon Writers, and Guppies), International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Author Links: 

Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com  

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1  

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner  

Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ  

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/ 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heather_weidner_author  

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/heatherweidner  

Purchase Link - Amazon 

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Friday, January 26, 2024

Murder by Lamplight - A Review

 Review

MURDER BY LAMPLIGHT by Patrice McDonough
The First Dr. Julia Lewis Mystery
 
Though the cholera epidemic has slowed, the East End of London in 1866 remains a miasma of poverty, filth, and murder. When a body is found in a sewer Dr. Julia Lewis is called to the scene. Inspector Tennant would rather wash his hands of her, despite her thorough and professional report, but when another body is discovered with decided similarities, he has no choice but to call for her again. A serial killer is at work and is toying with the inspector. Will the unlikely duo of a posh detective and a female doctor be able to stop the killer or will the taunting continue...with one of them becoming a victim? 

I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping historical mystery. Detailed descriptions transported me to the gritty reality that was London's East End in 1866, thankful I was only imaging the horrific smells. Dr. Julia Lewis is a unique woman with modern day thinking and beliefs, yet she's not anachronistic. I admire her strength, but I love that we also see some weaknesses. What I most appreciate about her is her ability to banter with everyone, no matter their class. I enjoy the camaraderie between Inspector Tennant and his crew and their methodical pursuit of the killer.

The mystery is a suspense filled maze; a pursuit of a killer, but also the pursuit by the killer. Readers are given all of the clues, yet it is still shocking when the killer is unmasked. The first Dr. Julia Lewis Mystery depicts heinous crimes and grisly descriptions. It's a story of retribution, but also one of fortitude, hope, and growth.
 
Shocking murders in an atmospheric setting make MURDER BY LAMPLIGHT a historical mystery that will have you transfixed.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Murder by Lamplight by Patrice McDonough. It appears to be a standalone mystery, though I'm hoping it's the first in a series.

Though the cholera epidemic has slowed, the East End of London in 1866 remains a miasma of poverty, filth, and murder. When a body is found in a sewer Dr. Julia Lewis is called to the scene. Inspector Tennant would rather wash his hands of her, despite her thorough and professional report, but when another body is discovered with decided similarities, he has no choice but to call for her again. A serial killer is at work and is toying with the inspector. Will the unlikely duo of a posh detective and a female doctor be able to stop the killer or will the taunting continue...with one of them becoming a victim?

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Sins of the Sarcophagus - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book on my TBR pile. Sadly, I am way behind in this series. Sins of the Sarcophagus by Kirsten Weiss is the ninth book in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series. I absolutely love this cover!

Blurb: 

Maddie Kosloski is about to unveil her new, expanded museum. But when the corpse of a local building inspector is discovered inside her prized Egyptian sarcophagus, Maddie's plans are thrown into disarray.

A modern mummy isn’t all she’s got on her hands. Running a non-profit paranormal museum is no get-rich-quick pyramid scheme. Maddie has stakeholders, more employees, and now donors to placate. Can she balance their demands
and an off-the-books murder investigation?

Maddie must race against the clock to unearth a criminal more cunning than the Sphynx. But will the cost of unveiling this killer be more than she’s willing to pay?

Sunday, January 21, 2024

The Sign of Four Spirits - Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release in a series in which I am woefully far behind. The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany is the ninth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series.

Blurb:

When a psychic fair arrives in West London, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, wants nothing to do with it. But somehow, at the urging of Donald Morris, an enthusiastic Sherlockian, she finds herself talked into attending a séance, along with baker and best friend Jayne Wilson, store assistant, Ashleigh, and former pop star Bunny Leigh.

But to her surprise, Gemma finds herself banned from the séance and shown the door. Curious, she listens in from outside the room. The medium informs a disappointed Donald that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be able to make it tonight. Then, Gemma hears a voice cut off, a cry for help, a scream. Gemma bursts into the library to see that someone has collapsed on the table--dead. The windows are all locked, and Gemma was guarding the only door. Someone in this room is a murderer. But who?

The game is once again afoot for Gemma Doyle, as she hunts a killer. But, this time, is the killer of flesh and blood or had the medium summoned doom from beyond the veil?

Friday, January 19, 2024

Deadly to the Core - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Joyce Tremel to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Joyce writes the Cider House Mystery series. DEADLY TO THE CORE is the first book in the series and was released this week.

Kathy: In DEADLY TO THE CORE we meet Kate Mulligan. After being in a terrible accident that killed her husband, Kate has a lengthy recovery, both physically and emotionally. Why was it important to add these factors to her story?

JT: Good question! Honestly, I’m not sure. I wanted Kate to be starting over but didn’t want to do the usual divorced or lost job route. As I thought about who I wanted Kate to be, it sorted itself out.


Kathy: Kate has inherited her great uncle's orchard and is planning, not only on keeping the orchard going, but starting a cidery. I love cider and have been fortunate to visit a few local cideries. Are you a cider fan?

JT: I love cider so much I make my own! I started fermenting cider in my kitchen just before the pandemic hit and everything shut down. It really came in handy. I’ve made 31 batches varying between one and four gallons at a time. I experiment with adding different fruits to the secondary fermentation. My favorite is pineapple. I’ve take a break but I’m due to start another batch soon.


Kathy: What made you decide on a cidery for your mystery series?

JT: Tax deductible visits to cideries? Seriously, it made sense. I was making cider at the time, and my previous cozy series featured brewing beer, so why not?


Kathy: Kate has no worries about turning the property's old barn into her cidery, after all, she's no stranger to carpentry, having done a renovation of her first home with her husband. Are you as adept with a nail gun?

JT: My husband is the nail gun person, but I have used it on occasion. We finished the interior (actually we’re still working on it twelve years later, lol) of our log home. He installed all the tongue and groove and I sealed it all. He’s in the process of making the trim for all the rooms now.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JT: I love mysteries in all forms but writing cozies comes naturally to me.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JT: I stick to mysteries. I also write historical mysteries set during WWII.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

JT: So far, I’m only contracted for the first book in this series. I’d love to write more about Kate and her cidery. My previous series was the Brewing Trouble mysteries featuring Pittsburgh brewmaster Max O’Hara. My historical series written as Joyce St. Anthony is the Homefront News Mysteries. It features Irene Ingram, who becomes editor and chief of her father’s newspaper when he becomes a war correspondent during WWII.
 

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

JT: I love all my characters!


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

JT: Not really.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JT: I like sharing my stories with other people.


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

JT: I always have trouble with this question. It’s so hard to pick four! How about Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and Mary Stewart to start with. Reading all their books as a teen is probably why I became a writer. One of these days I’m going to write something with a governess, lol.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JT: Right now I’m reading NOTHING. EVERYTHING by Pittsburgh author Virginia Montanez. It’s women’s fiction which is a little different than what I usually read. It’s really good.


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

JT: I don’t really have any hobbies. During the day, I’m usually writing, cleaning, or doing laundry. Most evenings I hang out with my husband. Sometimes we’ll go out to eat or to the local brewery with friends.


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

JT: Beer, cheese, nuts, chocolate.


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

JT: I want to write more books in both the cider series and the historical series, but that depends on the publisher.


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

JT: Probably meeting readers and hearing how much they liked what I wrote. 

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

Review


DEADLY TO THE CORE by Joyce Tremel
The First Cider House Mystery

Kate Mulligan is ready for a new start and inheriting her great uncle's farm gives her the perfect opportunity. Grieving the death of her husband and recovering from the physical trauma she suffered in the accident that killed him, Kate has thrown herself into opening a cidery. Fortunately, she has Carl, her uncle's farm manager to help. In fact, most of the town's folk want to help, remembering Kate from her childhood visits and loving her late grandmother and great uncle. Finding Carl's murdered body leads Kate to question almost everything. Will she succeed in opening her cidery? Or will a killer drive her out?

DEADLY TO THE CORE is one of the best new series openers that I've read. I loved just about everything about it. Kate is a great protagonist. She's strong and capable while still grieving. She approaches life with eyes wide open, she's wary and not overly trusting. She makes one major miscalculation at the end of the book, but for the most part she's quite savvy and knows her mind. Marguerite is a fantastic best friend and I love the progression of Daniel from too friendly neighbor whom she doesn't quite trust to... well you'll get no spoilers from me.

The first Cider House Mystery is a book about loss. The majority, if not all, of the characters are dealing with some sort of loss and how they deal with it shapes not only them, but the mystery itself. It's a more mature mystery whose characters have been through a lot. That being said, it's an uplifting story showcasing dedication, hard work, and community. Along with good food and drink...and recipes!

Fantastic characterizations and a well plotted mystery make DEADLY TO THE CORE a stunning debut in what I hope will be a long running series. 

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

Deadly to the Core (A Cider House Mystery) by Joyce Tremel

About Deadly to the Core

Deadly to the Core (A Cider House Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Pennsylvania
Crooked Lane Books (January 16, 2024)
Hardcover: ‎ 250 pages

Perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Julie Anne Lindsey, when Kate Mulligan inherits her great uncle’s fruit orchard, she quickly realizes that apples aren’t the only thing that can have rotten cores.

After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do with it: open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of this murder.

She had been in correspondence with Carl, who had agreed with her brilliant idea of opening a cider house. But not everyone is so quick to buy what she was selling—Uncle Stan’s lawyer, Robert Larabee, paints a less rosy financial outlook of the orchard’s past, present, and future.

Kate discovers that Carl had large, unexplained deposits to his bank account and it becomes clear that either he was blackmailing someone, or someone was paying him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Kate and her neighbors receive offers to buy their property from a mysterious buyer. And there’s more than meets the eye with the neighboring orchard owner, Daniel Martinez, although Kate can’t quite put her finger on if it’s sweet or sour.

Will she be able to pick out the bad apple among the bunch before it’s too late?

About Joyce Tremel

Joyce Tremel was a police secretary for ten years and more than once envisioned the demise of certain co-workers, but settled on writing as a way to keep herself out of jail. In addition to the Cider House Mysteries, she wrote the Brewing Trouble Mysteries. As Joyce St. Anthony, she writes the Homefront News historical mysteries. She lives in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania with her husband and two cats named Hops and Lager.

Author Links: 

Website www.joycetremel.com  

Facebook www.facebook.com/JoyceTremel  

X/Twitter www.twitter.com/JoyceTremel  

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13746162.Joyce_Tremel  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - PenguinRandomHouse 

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Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Twinkle, Twinkle, Au Revoir by Heather Weidner. This book is the second in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery series and was released yesterday.

Love is in the air. The Love Channel has arrived in Mermaid Bay to film their latest romance. However, there's more drama than hearts and flowers. The lead actors are sniping at each other, the production team is demanding, and they all are driving Ruby batty at her inn. Jade Hicks has a front row seat at her 'Tis the Season Christmas Shoppe, especially as the crew has set up shop in her lot next door. Things go from bad to worse when a reporter is murdered, someone is poisoned, and someone else disappears. Between filling orders from her shop and calming Ruby, Jade tries to figure out just what is going on with My Coastal Valentine.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

The Secret of the Lady's Maid - Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book on my TBR pile. The Secret of the Lady's Maid by Darcie Wilde is the second book in A Useful Woman Mystery series. 

Blurb:

Rosalind Thorne’s quick wits and discretion have proved invaluable to London’s haut ton. Success has at last brought her financial stability and a new home, which she shares with her best friend, Alice Littlefield. But now trouble has infiltrated Rosalind’s sanctuary, and the reputations in danger include her own.

Alice has formed a tender attachment to Amelia, the maid in their employ, and her affection is returned. But before meeting Alice, Amelia was involved with Cate Levitton, daughter of a well-respected family. The scandalous liaison caused the Levittons to banish Cate to the house of her widowed cousin. Amelia has no expectation of seeing Cate again—until she stumbles upon her in the marketplace, looking deathly ill.

The women bring Cate to their home with the help of Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, who deduces that Cate’s sickness may in fact be arsenic poisoning. But who had motive, or means? As Rosalind and Adam work side by side, their suspicions grow—as does the bond between them. Rosalind knows that both her blossoming relationship with Adam and her increasing independence would be frowned upon by society. Poison, politics, jealousy and jewel thieves combine in Rosalind’s most complex case yet. But to solve this dangerous puzzle, Rosalind must also decide where her heart and her future lie . . .

Sunday, January 14, 2024

A Bean to Die For - A Guest Post, Excerpt, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to allow Stanley Lewis to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Stanley on the pages of a Coffee Lover's Mystery series by Tara Lush. A BEAN TO DIE FOR is the fourth book in the series and was released last week.

Let me tell you about the time my mom paid good money to make me look like a poodle.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with poodles, of course. I have a friend who is a poodle. She’s a mini poodle and lives down the street. Sometimes she growls at me, but I know that she’s just being playful. Her name is Goldie.

Mom doesn’t think so, though, and never lets me get too close to Goldie.

But… wait. Where are my manners? I’ve told you about Mom and Goldie and poodles and not myself.

My name is Stanley Lewis, and I’m a Shih Tzu. I live on the island of Devil’s Beach, which I’m told is a beautiful, tropical paradise. I don’t know what any of that means, exactly, but I do know that where I live is warm all the time, and Mom sometimes lets me on the beach.

That’s pretty fun, because I like to dig holes in the sand. Mom’s not so sure about that.

If you’ve been in Devil’s Beach for a while you might know my mom. Her name is Lana Lewis, and she’s the co-owner of Perkatory, a really popular coffee shop here on the island. She runs it with her father, Peter, who I know as Grandpa. He likes to joke that I’m in his “granddog.”

All I know is that I have a dog bed and special dog treats at both Mom’s house and at Grandpa’s house. Oh, and I have a dog bed in two other places, too: on a boat owned by Erica, Mom’s best friend. There’s a fourth dog bed in a big building by the beach. Mom takes me there sometimes so we can hang out with my favorite human (other than Mom). His name is Noah, and I like him a lot.

Mom thinks I like Noah more than her, which isn’t true. It’s just that Noah gives me secret turkey meatballs when Mom’s not looking. Noah is Mom’s boyfriend, whatever that means. I wish they’d spend more time together because Mom is so happy whenever he’s around.

Anyway. I have a difficult time staying on track when I tell a story! That’s probably because I’m still a puppy. That’s what Mom says. She says I’m going to be a puppy forever, though.

Recently Mom thought I needed a bath and a haircut. I’m not a fan of water and I didn’t know what I was in for when she brought me to the hair cut place. A nice man put me in soapy water then rinsed me off — then shaved half my fur off! He cut my hair in a really weird way and when Mom picked me up she muttered the word “toupee.” I wasn’t sure what that meant.

I thought I looked handsome as ever. Mom did, too. But for some reason people kept mistaking me as a poodle, and Mom got all huffy. Mom can be like that sometimes.

Something weird happened at the groomer, though. Mom talked for a long time to the men who worked there about a man who was found dead in the community garden. Mom seems to think that the man was murdered. I’m not entirely sure what that means but I know it’s bad.

Mom and I are now running all over the island while she talks to a bunch of people about the dead man. I don’t know why she does this — she’s got enough to do with the café. She also is stressing about meeting Noah’s Mom. That’s why she wanted me to have a new haircut. She claimed I smelled “like clams” and that I couldn’t meet Noah’s Mom like that.

I don’t know what it all means. I’m just a baby dog. But I know Mom’s onto something with this dead man. She’s solved three other crimes. Maybe you should read about it in A BEAN TO DIE FOR, the book about Mom’s case. It comes out January 9. Here’s a little excerpt:

“Were you the one who groomed Stanley?” I asked quickly, hoping Kevin wouldn’t bring up Gisela. He’d been friends with her when she disappeared.

“Nice to meet you, and yes, I shampooed him,” Beau said, wiping his hand on his apron and then extending his arm for a shake. “Sorry, I’ve been up to my elbows in doggie bubble bath today.”

“No worries.” I waved him off.
“Lana’s a reporter,” Kevin said.
“Former reporter,” I countered.
“Whatever. She’s the one who found Jack dead in the garden.” Kevin’s mocha-colored eyes grew wide. “No way.”

“Way. I was wondering if you knew him.”

Beau snorted. “I knew him quite well. Worked for him for five years, walking his dog.”

My reporter antennae perked up and I leaned my elbow on the half-door like I was bellying up to a bar. “Oh, really?”

“Yep.” He shook his head, and I could’ve sworn tears came to his eyes. “I miss Bella Pugosi something fierce.”

“That’s quite a name. Was that his dog?” I probed gently.
Beau nodded. “A puggle. A doll of a doggo.”
“Did you like working for him? How’d you meet him?”
“He found me on one of those pet-sitting apps, back when I was

starting my walking and grooming business here on the island. I adored Bella immediately, and since Jack was getting up there in age, he asked me to walk her six days a week.”

“Hmm,” I said, hoping Beau would continue talking.

“Jack was a bit finicky about Bella. Didn’t want me to take him to the dog beach, didn’t like the dog park at all. I didn’t mind, though. Bella seemed to enjoy half-hour walks around the neighborhood. But what Jack did later really torqued me off.”

“What happened?”

“One day, about six months ago, on a Tuesday, that’s when it all went down. It was my day off and I went for a hike by myself. Usu- ally, I never walk without a dog or Kevin, but that day I needed some quiet time, you know?”

I nodded enthusiastically. My quiet time generally revolved around my sofa, a cup of coffee, and a book, but to each their own.

“As I was walking, I was deep in the Swamp. You know, the one with the trails and the monkeys in the middle of the island?”

I nodded. I was well familiar with the Swamp because Dad was a monkey activist, trying to keep the primates on-island and contained to that park.

“Well, I saw Jack there on the trail. Not on the boardwalk, but the muddier part, well in the Swamp.”

“What was wrong with that?”
Beau’s eyes flashed angrily. “He was with Bella. Unleashed.” His last word hung in the air, and I reared back, stunned. No one takes their dogs unleashed into the Swamp.

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

 A Bean to Die For (A Coffee Lover's Mystery) by Tara Lush

About A Bean to Die For

A Bean to Die For (A Coffee Lover's Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books (January 9, 2024)
Hardcover: ‎ 288 pages

Perfect for fans of Cleo Coyle and Lucy Burdette, reporter-turned-barista Lana Lewis is back on the case when a body is dug up in the community garden.

Lana Lewis is brewing up new concoctions at Perkatory, a popular café in Devil’s Beach, when she decides she wants to try her hand at growing her own coffee. She secures a gardening plot in the community garden, thanks to her father and the garden’s owner, Darla. Darla’s list of rules is long, but that doesn’t stop someone from leaving Jack Daggett’s body amongst the gardening plots.

Jack, an environmental activist, had been banned from the garden previously, because of his many fights with Darla about organic produce. Lana promises her boyfriend, police chief Noah, that she’s going to stay out of this case, having been too involved in previous cases. But when she learns that Jack died from an accidental overdose, and Darla is the top suspect because of her shady past, Lana can't help but poke around in an attempt to clear Darla's name.

As Lana dives deeper into the case, she learns that Jack had more enemies than she realized. When Darla turns up dead, Lana has to turn up the heat on her investigation. With Lana on the case, it won’t be long before someone spills the beans to crack this case wide open. But will she able to find the killer before they strike again?

About Tara Lush

Tara Lush is a Florida-based author and journalist. She's an RWA Rita finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and the winner of the George C. Polk Award for environmental journalism.

She was a reporter with The Associated Press in Florida, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations under the name Tamara Lush.

Tara is a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and newspapers. She lives on the Gulf Coast with her husband and two dogs.

Her debut mystery series is published by Crooked Lane Books.  

Author Links: 

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

WEBSITE: https://taralush.com  

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the.book.lush/  

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

Purchase Links - Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Kobo - Bookshop.org  

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Friday, January 12, 2024

Shade Grown - A Review & Giveaway

 Review


SHADE GROWN by Heather Day Gilbert
The Eighth Barks and Beans Cafe Mystery

Macy Hatfield and her brother, Bo are enjoying a leisurely morning in their hometown of Lewisburg, West Virginia by going on a home and garden tour. When a visitor's dog starts barking incessantly and heads towards the memorial garden on the property Macy moves to intercept him, only to discover the reason behind barking. There's a dead body in the hostas, none other than the movie star who just moved to town. Although he's been shot, a local drug dealer has resurfaced, leading to more questions. There's an elusive woman who sends Macy lethal glares, an unpleasant contractor, and a shifty agent. As she becomes friends with the victim's sister Macy's also on the wrong end of some threatening encounters. Could she be making a killer nervous?  

A close knit protective family, great friends, and lovable dogs, along with yummy food and coffee, are great ingredients for a story and in SHADE GROWN they combine for a superb mystery. And I don't even like coffee! Despite the danger, reading a Barks and Beans Cafe Mystery makes you feel as if your enveloped in a hug. There's such a sense of community and good will...even with drug dealers, a drug overlord making trouble, and various murderers hanging around!

I really enjoyed the mystery, lots of red herrings are skillfully woven through the story leading readers in varied directions never really knowing the motives and people involved. I was a bit disappointed in Macy though. Once the ultimate clue was given she purposefully ignored it! She's so smart, but was really stupid in this instance. She was however, cagey enough about getting herself out of a very dangerous situation...with a little help.

SHADE GROWN is a compelling mystery with a slow burn. So grab a hot beverage and settle in for a delightful visit to the Barks & Beans Cafe!

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 Shade Grown (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert

About Shade Grown

Shade Grown (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 8th in Series
Setting - West Virginia
WoodHaven Press (December 11, 2023)
Paperback: ‎ 190 pages

BOOK EIGHT in the Award-winning BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java...and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
During Lewisburg's popular summer home and garden tour, Macy and her brother Bo discover new aspects of their hometown's history. One of the last homes they visit features a lush commemorative shade garden marking where a Civil War soldier's bones were buried. As Macy pauses to admire a bed of blue hostas, she glimpses a shadowy shape lying beneath the dinner-plate leaves. It turns out to be the body of famed movie star Cody Franklin, who'd purchased the garden house as a quiet country retreat. Back at the cafe, Macy speaks with Cody's distraught sister, who lets slip that she's afraid her brother's killer will target her next. Macy's heart goes out to the bereaved sibling, and she agrees to speak with Cody's local acquaintances in hopes she'll uncover some helpful backstory. But someone powerful is lurking behind the scenes, and Macy has to zoom in on the killer before everything fades to black. Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown...with plenty of dogs along for the ride!
The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes. The Barks & Beans Cafe series in order: Book 1: No Filter Book 2: Iced Over Book 3: Fair Trade Book 4: Spilled Milk Book 5: Trouble Brewing Book 6: Cold Drip Book 7: Roast Date Book 8: Shade Grown Standalone Novella: House Blend

About Heather Day Gilbert

HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren't afraid to protect those they love. Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.

Author Links: 

Author Website: http://www.heatherdaygilbert.com  

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/heatherdaygilbert  

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/heatherdgilbert  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/heatherdaygilbert/  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7232683.Heather_Day_Gilbert 

 Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-day-gilbert  

Purchase Link - Amazon  

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Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert. This is the eighth book in the Barks and Beans Cafe Mystery series and was released last month.

Macy Hatfield and her brother, Bo are enjoying a leisurely morning in their hometown of Lewisburg, West Virginia by going on a home and garden tour. When a visitor's dog starts barking incessantly and heads towards the memorial garden on the property Macy moves to intercept him, only to discover the reason behind barking. There's a dead body in the hostas, none other than the movie star who just moved to town. Although he's been shot, a local drug dealer has resurfaced, leading to more questions. There's an elusive woman who sends Macy lethal glares, an unpleasant contractor, and a shifty agent. As she becomes friends with the victim's sister Macy's also on the wrong end of some threatening encounters. Could she be making a killer nervous?

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

A Crust to Die For - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Hilary Hanson to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Hilary on the pages of the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery series by T. C. LoTempio. A CRUST TO DIE FOR is the second book in the series and was released last week.

A chat with....Hilary Hanson!

Hello there! My name is Hilary Hanson, and I’m Tiffany Austin’s BFF, sidekick, partner in crime!

Tiff and I have been friends ever since grammar school, when she first treated me to some of her homemade chocolate chip cookies! Man, that girl could cook even at age 7!  It provided the basis for our lasting friendship.  She cooks and I eat!  How more perfect can you get?

I was thrilled when Tiff moved back to Branson (sorry to hear about her romantic troubles, but his loss was my gain).  I  like to think I was instrumental in her getting the food blogger job at Southern Style! Of course, the fact that our editor went to grammar school with us and always had a soft spot for Tiff didn’t hurt?

In Tiff’s latest adventure, A CRUST TO DIE FOR, she helps my sister Arleen out of a pretty big jam. A food critic is killed during a pizza bakeoff and my sister is high if not number one on the suspect list!  Naturally, I’m there to help! 

Does Tiff clear my sister? Well, you’ll just have to read A CRUST TO DIE FOR to find out!  Here’s hoping for many more adventures for Tiff and myself!

Love, Hilary

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Review

A CRUST TO DIE FOR by T. C. LoTempio
The Second Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery
 
Thrilled that Southern Style Magazine is using her pizza contest idea, Tiffany Austin is less than pleased when they are forced to use Bartholomew Driscoll as a replacement judge. Making enemies wherever he goes, the egotistical misogynistic food critic turned restaurateur has never forgotten the poor review Tiffany once gave his restaurant. Upon arrival, Driscoll is his usual surly self and is seen getting into arguments with a variety of people. When he's found dead and her best friend's sister becomes a prime suspect Tiffany promises to do all she can to find the murderer. Will she succeed, or will she once again find herself a target? 

I really like Tiffany and her subtle and not so subtle methods of investigation. She's caring, but sees things with eyes wide open. She's someone with whom you can easily relate. I enjoy her relationship with her friends and I look forward to seeing where her relationship with Bartell goes. 
 
I really enjoy when a louse gets murdered, as is the case here. There are always a lot of suspects, all with good motives. While I picked up on some things, there were enough surprises to keep me engaged, sometimes even catching me off guard.

A CRUST TO DIE FOR is a smart witty mystery full of friends and good food. Be sure to bring an appetite for pizza and sink your teeth into this delightful read.

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 A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery) by Toni LoTempio

About A Crust To Die For 

A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Georgia
Severn House (January 2, 2024)
Hardcover: ‎ 240 pages

The Bon-Appetempting Pizza Bake-Off has the small town of Branson, Georgia buzzing. Not least its organizer, Southern Style's food critic and blogger Tiffany Austin. But right before the finals one of the celebrity judges falls ill, and to Tiffany's horror the magazine replaces him with none other than handsome TV star and restaurateur Bartholomew Driscoll.

Tiffany once gave his restaurant a poor review, and she's convinced he's only accepted the job to get revenge. She fully expects Driscoll will find a way to ruin the contest . . . but she definitely doesn't expect to trip over his dead body backstage!

Soon, it's clear Tiffany wasn't the only person who had less than positive feelings towards the sharp-tongued Driscoll. She's surrounded by suspects - but which of the motley crew of contestants, family members and scorned friends and colleagues had the guts to commit murder?

With the help of her BFF Hilary and annoyingly handsome detective Bartell, and with cat Lily and puppy Cooper as emotional support, Tiffany investigates, only to discover that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold . . .

About T.C. LoTempio

T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora mystery series. Her cat, Rocco, provides the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat. She also writes the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery Series, as well as the Cat Rescue series. Her latest series is the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series from Severn House. Check out her and Rocco's blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com, and visit her website, www.tclotempio.net, for more information.

Author Links: 

Webpage: http://www.tclotempio.net  

Blog: http://www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5  

Twitter/X: @RoccoBlogger  

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1195684.T_C_LoTempio?from_search=true&from_srp=true  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N  

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