Masked Intentions - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to share a page from the diary of Bobbi Brooks. You can find Bobbi on the pages of the Camera Club Mystery series. MASKED INTENTIONS is the second book in the series and was released

Dear Diary,

It’s been a couple of days, and I’m sorry I haven’t written. I just couldn’t. It’s impossible to wrap my mind around everything that’s happened.

As I write this, I’m sitting on my porch swing wrapped in my down comforter watching the sun rise over the mountains. It’s so beautiful and peaceful that I can almost imagine that everything is okay. That everything is normal.

But it’s not.

So yeah, I’m questioning my life choices—again. Maybe that’s not fair. It’s not like I ever really stopped questioning them. Maybe I shouldn’t have moved here. Who would have thought that tiny little Stonebridge, Vermont would be more dangerous than Boston?

I suppose I should start at the beginning.

Two nights ago, the Harvest Festival kicked off with the masquerade party on the village green. It started off so well! I mean, seriously, nothing can rival October in Vermont. Cool, crisp fall air and the mountains ablaze with autumn foliage. Even after the sun went down, the red, orange, and yellow paper lanterns in the event tent mimicked the autumn leaves so perfectly. I was so proud of Alicia and the festival committee for all they did. And oh, you wouldn’t have believed the costumes! I was dressed as Annie Leibovitz, hoping some of her brilliance might rub off on me!

The band was playing, everyone was dancing, and all of us in the camera club were busy snapping photos. And then…

The scream.

There’s no other way to put it. Alicia and I were standing in line for a hot apple cider when we heard it. We’d just been joking about how Emma and Connor were wearing coordinating costumes—as if they totally aren’t dating. But what do I know? I’m only her mom, and she’s made it clear that I’m to Stay. Out. Of. It. (picture me zipping my lips)

Anyway… Alicia and I sprinted out of the event tent, and… I’ll never be able to erase the image of Emma cradling poor Iris. We thought the young woman must have tripped and fallen into the fountain. If only.

When Emma came home for the festival this weekend, I’m sure she was expecting a break from her nursing duties. Instead, as soon as we helped her move Iris to dry ground, she got right to work performing CPR. I have to admit, I was so proud to see her in action. I only wish the outcome had been different.

Oh, and I should probably also mention something—only because I’m still a little shaken by it. But it’s really not important. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. Anyway… You must remember me mentioning a man last June. You know, the one I saw at The Crow—tall, piercing green eyes—the one who nearly made me fall off my barstool. Well, he moved to Stonebridge. Not that I care or anything. Not at all.

So yeah, I met him last night—in person. Let’s just say it was majorly awkward. That is, I was majorly awkward. And seriously, I’m completely bewildered. I don’t know what to do. It’s clear he and Nate have already become good friends. Huge yikes. The last thing I need in my life is a ridiculously handsome Irish guy who makes my heart race and turns me into a bumbling idiot.

But I’m way off topic.

Back to Iris. If you haven’t already guessed from my ramblings, she’s dead—murdered. It’s completely unthinkable. Now, with the dreaded Detective Cram poking that beaky nose of his around Harmony and her housemates, Harmony has asked me to help. I wanted to tell her, “no way.” I really, really did. Of all people, Harmony should know better. Besides, it’s not like I’m a detective or anything. But you know me. Like it or not, I can’t let her down.

There’s a murderer in Stonebridge, and everyone in the club is on board to help me investigate. The Stonebridge Keep It Snappy Shutter Club is on another case! Stay tuned. 

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Review

MASKED INTENTIONS by Kara Lacey
The Second Camera Club Mystery 

It's autumn in Vermont, the leaves are at their peak, the tourists are arriving en masse, and the Keep it Snappy Shutter Club, led by Bobbie Brooks, is ready to capture everything on film. Stonebridge’s annual harvest festival is off to a fun start with a masquerade party on the village green. But the good times quickly end when Iris is found unresponsive after apparently falling into the fountain. And then Mackenzie is rushed to the hospital! While Mackenzie is certain she made an error while foraging and ate poisonous mushrooms by mistake, Iris' fall was no accident, she was murdered. Now Bobbie and her camera club will search through their film for clues. Will Bobbie find a murderer or will the killer put an end to her first?

MASKED INTENTIONS is a study in relationships and choosing how the past shapes the present and future. Evolving relationships are at the heart of the story, indeed the mystery itself. 

I'm happy to be back in Stonebridge, Vermont, especially in autumn. There's a lot going on in the second Camera Club Mystery with an ambiguous murder, (who was the actual target?) a myriad of suspects, and a few subplots. I appreciate how every aspect was deftly handled with no one thing overshadowing another. I still like Bobbie, though I wish she's just face up to her reactions to a certain Irishman. I'm pleased to see that Emma has matured since the first book in the series.

MASKED INTENTIONS is a complex mystery that looks at relationships, desire, and murder with autumnal flair. Grab a cozy blanket and have your camera at the ready as you settle in for this delightful sophomore outing!

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 Masked Intentions: A Camera Club Mystery by Kara Lacey

About Masked Intentions

Masked Intentions: A Camera Club Mystery
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Vermont
Publisher: ‎ Level Best Books
Publication Date: ‎ January 27, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 270 pages Paperback

It’s autumn in Vermont, and the mountains are ablaze with color, just in time for Stonebridge’s annual harvest festival. The village is swarming with leaf-peeping tourists, and the celebration is off to a jubilant start as residents gather for their favorite kick-off event: a masquerade party on the village green. But the crisp fall air turns chilling when a party guest is found lifeless and another is whisked away in an ambulance, on the verge of death.

Photographer Bobbie Brooks vows to leave the investigation to the professionals until a tearful plea from a friend causes her to shift her focus from merriment to murder. The Stonebridge Keep it Snappy Shutter Club is on another case as Bobbie plunges into the world of herbal poisons and masked motives. The truth is concealed in the details captured through her lens. But as everything comes into focus, Bobbie finds herself in danger once again. Can she unmask the killer before the killer zooms in on her?

About Kara Lacey

Kara Lacey is the author of the Camera Club Mysteries. Along with her husband, she lives in a tiny village nestled in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont—the inspiration for her novels. Kara is a photography enthusiast who also enjoys hiking, skiing, and getting cozy with a good book. When she’s not at her laptop creating havoc for her characters, you can find her rambling through the forest with her husband and spirited Labrador retriever, camera in hand.

Kara is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime-New England.

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

The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Theo Sharp to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Theo on the pages of the Detection Club Mystery series by Kelly Oliver. THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE WEDDING AFFAIR is the fourth book in the series and was released last month.

A Philosopher's Guide to Murder in Scotland 
By Theo Sharp

There are many reasons to visit Scotland.

The scenery, for one. The Highlands possess a rugged grandeur that makes one feel simultaneously insignificant and strangely alive. There are mountains wrapped in mist, lochs dark enough to conceal ancient legends, and enough dramatic weather to inspire generations of poets.

Murder, however, is not generally listed among the chief attractions.

Yet that is precisely what Eliza Baker and I encountered in THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE WEDDING AFFAIR.

The adventure began with what should have been a happy occasion. A wedding. Granted, not just any wedding. The wedding in question involved our friend Agatha Christie and archaeologist Max Mallowan, whose courtship was already the subject of considerable interest among their friends.

The trouble with weddings, however, is that they tend to gather people together. And whenever people gather together, they bring with them all the usual complications: old grudges, family disputes, hidden ambitions, jealousy, greed, and occasionally murder. For myself, I take a philosophical approach to these matters, which annoys my friend Eliza to no end.

A philosopher and a detective view human nature from opposite directions. A philosopher begins with grand theories about humanity and attempts to explain individual behavior. A detective begins with individual behavior and discovers how little grand theories matter when someone is lying about where they were at half past nine. Eliza naturally favors the latter approach.

If you’ve met Eliza Baker, this won’t surprise you. She trusts evidence. Footprints. Fibers. Bloodstains. Witness statements. She’s remarkably unimpressed by speculation. I, on the other hand, enjoy speculation far more than is probably healthy. By some messy miracle, this creates a productive partnership.

When I begin discussing motive, morality, and the human condition, Eliza reminds me to examine the mud on a suspect's boots. When Eliza becomes buried beneath facts and details, I occasionally help identify the larger pattern. At least that is my version of events. Eliza might describe matters differently.

The Scottish case proved particularly memorable because it unfolded in one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. There is something deeply romantic about the Isle of Skye. The landscape seems untouched by time. Ancient hills rise above lonely glens. Stone churches stand watch over villages that have existed for centuries. And the coastline has a life of its own.

Such beauty, however, can be deceptive. Indeed, one lesson I’ve learned through repeated exposure to murder investigations is that beautiful places are often excellent locations for terrible crimes. People assume evil prefers dark alleys and foggy streets. In my experience, it is equally comfortable in country houses with spectacular views. Perhaps more so.

The murder at the center of this mystery forced us to confront a question that appears often in our investigations. How well do we truly know the people around us? Every suspect possessed secrets. Every witness withheld something. Even those acting from the best intentions found themselves entangled in deception.

As a philosopher, I find this endlessly fascinating. Human beings are astonishingly skilled at constructing stories about themselves. We explain our actions. We justify our decisions. We convince ourselves we are the heroes of our own narratives. Indeed, we live by stories.

Then a murder occurs and all those carefully crafted stories begin to crack. The truth emerges through the fractures. That process is what makes detective fiction so satisfying. A mystery begins with confusion. Facts appear disconnected. Motives seem contradictory. Nothing makes sense. Gradually, order emerges from chaos. The pieces align. The truth reveals itself. And justice is restored.

As someone who spends a great deal of time thinking about meaning, I find comfort in that structure. The real world rarely offers such tidy conclusions. Life leaves many questions unanswered. Murder mysteries, by contrast, insist that truth and justice matter and that persistence rewards with one if not both. That’s a most reassuring notion.

Of course, readers may wonder whether I enjoy these investigations. The answer is complicated. I enjoy solving puzzles. I enjoy traveling. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with Eliza. I do not, however, enjoy being threatened, chased, attacked, or nearly killed. Unfortunately, the latter activities seem to accompany the former with alarming regularity.

Still, I wouldn’t trade my adventures with beloved Eliza for anything.

The Scottish case remains one of my favorites because it contains everything I love about our adventures. A missing Lord, a baffling mystery, an unforgettable setting, a cast of suspicious characters, and enough twists to keep even the most observant reader guessing.

It also contains a wedding, which is generally preferable to a funeral. Though, given our track record, I suppose it’s something of a miracle we managed to attend one without discovering another body.

Then again, perhaps I shouldn’t tempt fate. After all, wherever Agatha Christie and Eliza Baker go, murder has an uncanny habit of following close behind. And wherever murder appears, I seem destined to follow.

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THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE WEDDING AFFAIR by Kelly Oliver

The Fourth Detection Club Mystery

 

Some proprieties are necessary - the reading of the banns in preparation of marriage, for example. There's no mandate on where the banns need to be read, however, so in order to avoid nosey reporters Agatha Christie decided to have her banns read for three weeks on the remote Isle of Skye. Braving turbulent seas Eliza Baker and Theo Sharp join Agatha and Dorothy Parker, along with Agatha's young daughter and secretary. What they didn't realize was that the wedding party was sharing the lodge with a hunting party led by the obnoxious Lord Blackwood. When he didn't return from the days hunt with his companions, none of his party seem concerned, least of all, his wife. But Eliza's brain is turning - nearly everyone in the hunting party had reason to want the man dead. In addition, the Reverend and people from the lodge are acting strangely. Did someone murder Lord Blackwood? With Theo by her side Eliza will sift through clues and motives, but is she ready to face the truth the island is so desperately trying to hide?

 

A mystery set on a desolate island with stormy weather? Yes, please! What a perfect location for a murder...if there is a murder. At least it's a perfect locale for a missing lord. In addition to having a great setting, I loved the added air of spooky mystery with the possibility of curses, spectral shadows, and the pronouncement of birds.

 

In this fourth outing of the  Detection Club Theo Sharp spends most of the time rhapsodizing, primarily over Eliza, but also about his upbringing, parents, and the Isle of Skye itself. Indeed, the book would be a lot shorter if he kept his philosophical ramblings to himself. While Theo is waxing poetic, it's Eliza who looks to the certainty of clues and motives, with the help of her beagle, Queenie. These opposites support each other in more ways than one.

 

THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE WEDDING AFFAIR has plenty of adventure and drama with midnight ramblings and Lord Blackwood's mysterious hunt for "the boy", and more than one disappearance. The book also highlights class differences, the entitlement of the rich, and family.

 

THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE WEDDING AFFAIR is an atmospheric historical mystery that brings shivers and shockwaves, and ultimately, a wedding.

 

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The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair (The Detection Club) by Kelly Oliver

About The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair

The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair (The Detection Club)
Historical Cozy Mystery 4th in Series
Setting- Scotland
Publisher: ‎ Boldwood Books Ltd
Publication Date: ‎ June 24, 2026
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 242 pages
Paperback Print Length: ‎ 296 pages
Digital Print Length: ‎ 290 pages

Scotland, 1930: Agatha Christie is getting married. She invites fellow members of the Detection Club to the windswept Isle of Skye for a quiet break while the banns are read. But tranquility proves elusive when the formidable Lord Blackwood, leader of a hunting party sharing their lodge, vanishes from the moors.

Sharp-eyed assistant to the Detection Club secretary, Eliza Baker, suspects foul play as the strange occurrences pile up: a mysterious grave in the churchyard, a missing rifle, and late-night excursions across the rugged island. There may be no body—yet—but someone at Dunmara Lodge is hiding a deadly secret.

As a storm cuts them off from the mainland, Eliza and her friend Theo must navigate lies, half-truths, and a treacherous landscape... but can they uncover the killer in the stalking grounds… or will the moors keep their secrets forever?

Head to the remote Isle of Skye in this delightful and gripping golden-age mystery series, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright and T. E. Kinsey.

About Kelly Oliver

 

Kelly Oliver is the Agatha award-winning and bestselling author of four mystery series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, The Fiona Figg Mysteries, and The Detection Club Mysteries. The Fiona Figg Mysteries have been on the most anticipated list of Mystery Magazine and won the Mystery and Mayhem Award and the Silver Falchion Award for Best Historical Mystery. And The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, Detection Club Mystery book one, is currently nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery. Kelly is Past President of Sisters in Crime National, current Education Coordinator for SinC Guppies, and a Distinguished Emerita Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. To learn more about Kelly and her books, go to www.kellyoliverbooks.com.  

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The Case of the Bullfighting Builder - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Cathy Carter Jefferson to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Cathy on the pages of the Buttercup Bend Mystery series by Debbie de Louise. The Case of the Bullfighting Builder is the sixth book in the series and was released earlier this year.

Hi, there. My name is Cathy Carter Jefferson. I’m thirty years old and live in the small town of Buttercup Bend in the Catskill mountains of New York. I’m a detective, but I didn’t start out that way. Ten years ago, I lost my parents in a tragic car crash in which I still carry a scar on my cheek. They were driving me home from college for the winter break. I woke up in the hospital with my grandmother and brother by my side. I have carried guilt about the accident all this time until I discovered recently that someone tampered with the breaks on my parents’ car.

But before I get to that, let me tell you more about myself. After my parents died, my brother and I moved in with my grandmother, Florence Wilson. Doug fell in love with the girl next door, Becky, and married her shortly afterwards. He and I opened a pet rescue center and animal cemetery. Having survived the crash that killed my parents, I found caring for animals a comfort.

A few years after I moved to Buttercup Bend, a woman named Maggie Broom who was known as a crazy cat lady because she kept numerous felines in her house and also cared for strays, was found murdered by the newspaper publisher for whom I take photos. I wouldn’t have gotten involved in this case because the sheriff was handling it. However, I soon learned that Ms. Broom had left my brother and I a sizeable share of her estate to use for our pet business. Because of this and prompting from my good friend, Nancy Myers, I decided to investigate Ms. Broom’s murder.

While that was my first case, I’ve had five others following it. I investigated the murder of my professor who had a parrot and was a member of a parrot club. I also went undercover to a llama farm with the local librarian to discover the cause of her friend’s mysterious death. After choosing one of my boyfriends as the man I wanted to marry, I traveled back to my old home on Long Island where I stayed with my great aunt while discovering that a wedding planner was killed on a whale watching cruise. Next, I even investigated the death of a receptionist at my honeymoon resort where my husband adopted her lizard.

My latest case involved the murder of the builder who was building a home for me and my husband in Buttercup Bend. It was during this case that I discovered the truth about my parents’ accident. I also was surprised to find that I was joining my sister-in-law and best friend in maternity. Knowing that I couldn’t enjoy my pregnancy without closure about my parents, I decided to investigate their murder along with that of my builder. Of course, I had help. Nancy insisted I was too close to my parents’ case so offered to take it on with our boss, Howard.

To investigate my builder’s murder, Nancy, her husband, the assistant deputy, and me and my husband attended a memorial for him at the ranch that his fiancée hosted. At the ranch, we also met Boris, a prize bull. My builder, Jose, had been a bullfighter in Spain before moving to Buttercup Bend and opening his construction business. He’d met his fiancée back in Spain when she was on vacation with her girlfriend.

While there were a few suspects in Jose’s murder, the sheriff was convinced his brother and fellow builder, Ferdinand, was guilty because the bullet that killed Jose was a match for a gun Ferdinand claimed was stolen from him. I believed Ferdinand and vowed to find the real killer.

During the memorial, another person is killed, and further evidence is found that points to Ferdinand’s guilt. When a young ranch hand reveals that he knows the killer but has been threatened by them, Nancy and I go back to the ranch to gather evidence to bring to the sheriff so that Ferdinand will be released from custody. We have no luck, and the ranch hand goes missing. Without a witness or any other proof, we’re stuck, but I can’t give up. Risking it all, I end up with a showdown with my builder’s killer after another showdown with the person who murdered my parents.

I’m relieved that both cases were solved and that I was able to enjoy my pregnancy and share the news with my husband and friends. But before I end this adventure, another murder occurs that may follow me into the next book.

If you haven’t read any of my books, please check them out. Although they can all be read as standalones, the characters evolve as the series continues. The first in the series, The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady is perma free in eBook form. The following books, The Case of the Parrot Loving Professor, The Case of the Llama Raising Librarian, The Case of the Whale Watching Wedding Planner, and The Case of the Reptile Rescuing Receptionist are available in eBook and print formats. There are also two volume collections of the first 3 books and the current 3 books. Buttercup Bend Mysteries Books 3-4 and Buttercup Bend Mysteries Books 4-6.

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 The Case of the Bullfighting Builder (Buttercup Bend Mysteries) by Debbie De Louise

About The Case of the Bullfighting Builder

The Case of the Bullfighting Builder (Buttercup Bend Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Setting - Buttercup Bend, New York (fictional town in the Catskills)
Publisher: ‎ Independently published
Publication Date: ‎ May 14, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 268 pages

When Cathy Jefferson’s builder is found dead at the construction site of her new home, she’s pulled into a murder investigation that will test her detective skills like never before.

While sorting through her grandmother’s attic, Cathy uncovers a secret about her parents, who died in a car crash years earlier. Now juggling two cases and determined to learn the truth about her parents’ death and catch her builder’s killer, Cathy teams up with her fellow detectives Nancy and Howard.

Their investigation leads them to a ranch where a prize bull is kept, and to Cathy’s estranged uncle and her college roommate. As secrets unravel and danger closes in from every direction, Cathy discovers that the biggest surprise of all may still be waiting for her.

Will Cathy catch her builder’s killer so that her new home can be finished, and will she receive closure about the death of her parents? Find out in THE CASE OF THE BULLFIGHTING BUILDER, the sixth book in the Buttercup Bend Mysteries series by Debbie De Louise.

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a retired reference librarian. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Cat Writers’ Association, and the South Carolina Writers Association. She’s written over twenty books including three cozy mystery series: the Cobble Cove Mysteries, Buttercup Bend Mysteries, and her new series, Soup the Supernatural Kitten Mysteries. She’s also written a paranormal romance, standalone mysteries, a time-travel novel, and a collection of cat poems. Her stories and poetry appear in more than a dozen anthologies. Originally from Long Island, she moved to South Carolina where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and three cats. Learn more about Debbie and her books by visiting her website at https://debbiedelouise.com.

Author Links: 

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Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ  

Purchase Links - Amazon Universal Link

Ghost Cat and the Haunted House - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to allow Blaze the cat to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Blaze on the pages of Ghost Cat and the Haunted House by Mollie Hunt. This book is the fourth in the Tenth Life Cozy Mystery series and will be released next week.

Excuse me. Can I say something?

I know you expected an essay from the heroes of Ghost Cat and the Haunted House. Camelia Collins possibly, or the ghost cat Soji herself. But they are busy infusing our author’s mind with stories yet to come. So you get me instead. Hello, I’m Blaze, Camelia’s companion cat.

I may not be a major character in the Tenth Life Cozy Paranormal Mystery Series, but I am important. As a real, flesh-and-blood cat (unlike tricksy Soji), I’ve been with Camelia for as long as I can remember. I am what Camelia calls a senior cat, so that’s a long time.

We lived in a city called Portland before Camelia decided to pick up and move to little Ocean Cove. She’d always dreamed of living on the Oregon Coast, and at the advancing age of seventy-something summers, I suppose she figured it was now or never. I was skeptical at first, hating change as much as the next cat, but I have come to appreciate the fresh air and quiet environment. Camelia loves it, and that counts more than anything, because she is my world. I need her, but she needs me too.

Soji the ghost cat has her moments— (Did I tell you Camelia’s little cottage is haunted? Well, no one told us either, so it was a surprise when the spirit of a cat from the early twentieth century turned up and started talking to us.) —but Soji is unreliable. I, on the other hand, am completely reliable, especially when it comes to mealtimes and naps.

In this newest book, I have an especially large role to play, though to be honest, it wasn’t really my idea. I kept disappearing to somewhere I couldn’t possibly be, like in a locked-room mystery. Only after several of those inexplicable excursions did Camelia discover the reason. It will astound you, I promise!

I also led Camelia to a place she needed to be just in time to prevent something bad from happening, hosted a feline houseguest she brought home unexpectedly, and sat on her lap when she was cold and scared.

I am quietly amazing.

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 Ghost Cat and the Haunted House (A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery) by Mollie Hunt

About Ghost Cat and the Haunted House

Ghost Cat and the Haunted House (A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Cat Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - Ocean Cove, a fictitious town on the Oregon Coast
Independently Published
Print Length: ‎ 277 pages
Publication Date: ‎ June 30, 2026

Ghost cat Soji draws Camelia into an age-old web of secrets when a body turns up in the long-abandoned house on the hill.

Decades ago, Ida Jacks died a tragic death in her old ancestral home. Since then, the place has stood empty, just another of Ocean Cove’s moldering landmarks. Now paranormal investigator Griffin Gage is about to change all that. But Gage’s plan is to contact dead Ida takes a tragic turn when, instead of a spirit, he finds a corpse.

Ghost cat Soji has been acting strange, trying to tell Camelia something, but what, the octogenarian cannot discern. Is it about Ida? The Jacks House? The murder? And why does her own cat Blaze keep disappearing to the guesthouse with no apparent means of transport?

Handsome Sheriff Jamie can’t figure it out, and neither can Camelia’s clairvoyant confidant Vera nor her very special friend Ellery. Camelia is on her own to uncover the killer, but can she solve the mysteries in time to save innocent lives, and maybe a ghost or two?

About Mollie Hunt

 

Long: Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series: the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries featuring a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Tenth Life Paranormal Mysteries involving a ghost cat. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy presents extraordinary cats saving the world. She also released a COVID memoir she calls, "an ode to the very real and healing presence of cats." Her cat health memoir, “Creating Comfort for Your Senior Cat: Stories, Poems, and Illustrations of Cats in Their Golden Years,” recently won a Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association.

Mollie’s cat writing has earned her various other honors, including CWA Muse Medallions and World’s Best Litter-ary Awards. She is the recipient of the prestigious Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award (CWA) and the Catalyst Council Connect to Care Award, celebrating a true story of the profound connection between a shelter cat and its adoptive pet parent. Her mystery, Cat’s Paw, was a CIBA Mystery & Mayhem Semi-finalist. Mollie is on the Board of Directors for Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA) as well as being the librarian for the Cat Writers’ Association. Additionally, she is a member of Sisters in Crime, Willamette Writers, and the Oregon Writers Colony. Mollie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like her cat lady character, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Short: Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy mystery series and a sci-fantasy tetralogy. She has also published a COVID memoir and a cat health chronicle, both of which won recognition from the Cat Writers’ Association.

Mollie is a member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA), Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Willamette Writers. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like the cat lady character in one of her cozies, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Author Links: 

You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: https://molliehuntcatwriter.com/  

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Purchase Link - Amazon

Recipe for Murder - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to let Mel O’Rourke take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Mel on the pages of the Pine Cove Mystery series by Marla A. White. RECIPE FOR MURDER is the second book in the series and was released last week.

It Sucks To Be Jessica Fletcher

Remember back in the 80s and 90s, when “Murder She Wrote” was on TV and the big joke was that people should stop inviting the main character, Jessica Fletcher, to parties because someone always dies? Let me tell you from experience, it sucks to be that person.

We’d barely re-opened the old B&B my family helped me purchase when a guy dies in my lobby. Thanks to some help from Jackson Thibodeaux, I was able to sneak it out before word got out and stash the body in his spare freezer, but still it wasn’t a great first week of business. Especially when another guest fell to their death shortly after, but neither one was my fault, I swear.

Not that long after, Poppy Phillips, my nemesis when I was on the force, comes asking for help when she’s been framed for murder. It kills me to admit it, but while Poppy is guilty of plenty of things she’s never even so much as carried a weapon, let alone kill someone. Of course, not long after that, another body turned up. I could hear the whispers starting even before a maniac blew up one of my cabins.

Thank God people are kind of morbid, and the news of all the murders seem to have actually driven business up. Go figure. I have to confess; I wasn’t much of a cozy mystery reader before moving up to this one-stop-light town. I mean, I was living the crime thing, the last thing I wanted to do was read about it. But lately my grandmother as well as my good friend, Doc Hart, have turned me onto the genre. It was fun reading at first, but by now I’m wondering how the heck do all these bakers, bookstore owners, chocolatiers, cheese store owners, and yes, inn keepers stay in business with book after book of murder and mayhem all around them? And don’t even get me started on the small towns in England where they have more murders than actual residents.

So, here’s my suggestion for all small business owners who also seem to be death magnets; get a boyfriend who is an actual cop. Not that I’ve been successful doing that. I’m not even sure I want Deputy Gregg Marks that embedded in my life. But it seems to me, if you have a cop hanging out around your business it will discourage the stabby-stabby killer types. Of course, that would put a cramp in my relationship with Jackson, my sweet and hot café owner neighbor.

The only other thing I can think of is a little advice from Bill Shakespeare and, “Get thee to a nunnery.” One of my aunts is a nun, she seems to like it? I don’t think it’s in the cards for me with my potty mouth, but at least it would get me out of the tension of this love triangle. And the only bodies dropping would likely be of natural causes. On the other hand, Sister Boniface saw so many murders, she set up her own forensics lab at the abbey. Ugh. I guess there’s no getting out from being a murder magnet.

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Bio: Mel O’Rourke used to be an LAPD uniformed patrol officer before her brilliant career came to a screeching halt thanks to pursuing cat burglar Poppy Phillips in a rooftop chase. One crushed ankle later, she started her “Second Act” (although she hates that term) as the part owner of a B&B in quirky Pine Cove, California. She’s not a writer but hopes to have one stay at The Brook one day. She only took a stab at this article when her cousin, the head of their social media, had another fire to put out. Literally.

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Review

RECIPE FOR MURDER by Marla A. White
The Second Pine Cove Mystery

Hurt that Jackson Thibodeaux has remained in New Orleans former LAPD officer turned innkeeper Mel O'Rourke is spending more time with Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks and is enjoying it, much to her annoyance. Jackson suddenly returns with a wild story that he found a fellow student murdered at their culinary school, the same woman his mother says he was dating. Police have ruled it a suicide, but Mel has her doubts, especially with someone taking shots at Jackson. But how can she look into the situation when she's over a thousand miles away and no longer a cop? How can she deal with both Gregg and Jackson back in her life? Not to mention plumbing issues! Mel will have to juggle it all along with her wacky family and the music festival coming to town. Finding a killer might be easier.

I absolutely love this series and this second installment is even better than the first. Though it certainly works well as a standalone mystery, you'll love it even more if you've read the first book. While I'm not fond of love triangles, and hope this one doesn't last too long, it works, and I have to giggle at Grandma's advice! 

RECIPE FOR MURDER's murder is quite different in that the murder occurs in a different state and isn't considered a murder by law enforcement on the scene. The mystery is not just cerebral as some one has followed Jackson from New Orleans to California and is intent on silencing him...and Mel! I love how Mel and Gregg are on the same wavelength. As a former police officer myself it's true that there are some things only fellow cops can truly understand. He can be a stick in the mud, and can be a bit too by the book at times, but we're starting to learn that there's a lot more to him than meets the eye. I can't wait to uncover more about his past. Mel has to walk a fine line between helping a friend, figuring out her feelings, and worrying about loved ones leaving.

A fine mystery that's laugh out loud funny while still providing all the feels RECIPE FOR MURDER is an entertaining read that's certain to leave you smiling.

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 Recipe for Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery) by Marla A. White

About Recipe for Murder

Recipe for Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Pine Cove, a fictional version of Idyllwild, 

a tiny town on top of a Southern California mountain
Publisher: ‎ Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: ‎ June 17, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 328 pages  

Mel O'Rourke traded her LAPD badge for the quiet life, running a bed-and-breakfast in tiny, quirky Pine Cove.

But when Jackson Thibodeaux, the charming café owner who broke her heart, stumbles back into town, her tranquil second act is toast. While attending a culinary academy in New Orleans, Jackson found the body of a classmate. The police rule it a suicide, but Mel’s instincts—and Jackson’s near miss with a bullet—scream murder. Between a cooking school full of shady suspects, a reformed cat burglar for a sidekick, and a complicated love triangle involving the deputy sheriff, Mel has her hands full.

Perfect for fans of the sweetness of Jenn McKinlay and the snark of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan.

About Marla A. White

Marla White kills people for a living—on paper, at least.

An award-winning mystery and suspense author with roots in Hollywood, Marla White made a striking debut with Cause for Elimination, earning recognition from Killer Nashville, the RONE Awards, Reader’s Favorite, and a second-place finish with the Orange County Romance Writers in Romantic Suspense.

Originally from Oklahoma, Marla carved her path through multiple states before landing in Los Angeles, where she built a career in television development and now teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension—including the fine art of script coverage and story analysis.

When she’s not plotting her next murder (fictional, we promise), she can be found in her garden, on a hiking trail, cheering for the LA Kings, or field-testing craft cocktails in the name of research. 

 

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