Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! On this rainy All Hallow's Eve I thought I'd share some favorite spooky reads.

 

I don't read horror, but I do enjoy a spooky read once in a while. If you want something spine tingling good you need to read the Pluto Snitch Mystery series by Carolyn Haines. THE BOOK OF THE BELOVED is the first book in the series. While Carolyn does write cozy mysteries, this isn't one of them! I'd classify it as Southern Gothic. Speaking of Gothic, I just finished reading THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL by Jaime Jo Wright.You can check out my review Sunday!

If you're looking for a book set at Halloween you could try SHUDDER PULP by Vanessa Westermann, FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT by Ellen Byron, GHOST AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE by Carmen Radtke, ONE OF YOU by Lorie Lewis Ham, FATAL FUDGE SWIRL by Meri Allen or MINESTRONE MISCHIEF by Rosie Genova. You could also try TROUBLE BREWING by Heather Day Gilbert, DEATH RANG THE BELL by Carol Pouliot, MRS. MORRIS AND THE VAMPIRE by Traci Wilton, or MIDNIGHT SPELLS MURDER by Mary Angela.

If you enjoy reading about the Headless Horseman you're sure to appreciate THE LEGEND OF ACORN HOLLOW by Maureen Klovers.  

If you want to mix Halloween and Christmas try MRS. CLAUS AND THE HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE by Liz Ireland.

Of course any paranormal mystery would fit the bill, but especially one set at Halloween like the sixth Ghostly Fashionista Mystery, CORSETS AND CASUALTIES by Gayle Leeson. 

What about a whole series set in a town that is devoted to this holiday? CHAOS AT THE LAZY BONES BOOKSHOP by Emmeline Duncan is the first book in the Halloween Bookshop Mystery series.

There are so many wonderful books out there, books with ghosts, witches, and vampires, books set at Halloween, spooky books, funny books! No matter what kind of books you enjoy I hope you're able to curl up with a great one this Halloween!

Corsets and Casualties - A Review

 Review

CORSETS AND CASUALTIES by Gayle Leeson
The Sixth Ghostly Fashionista Mystery 

 

Amanda Tucker is having fun designing retro inspired clothes and costumes for the upcoming Halloween holiday. When Ford shows her an old bible he bought at an estate sale Amanda is surprised to see familiar names, relatives of her ghostly friend, Max. One name, however, isn't familiar to the flapper. It turns out there was an aunt she never knew about. When Max's nephew and Amanda's grandfather go to the auction house to see if they can find other family items they're met with a police barricade-the owner has been shot! Amanda will have to piece together old family secrets and modern day family angst in order to discover more about Max's relatives. Will she find answers or will her curiosity get her killed?

 

Relationships are the bedrock of the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery series. Whether it's the loving familial relationships between Amanda and Grandpa as well as Dwight, Zoe, and Max or the romantic relationship between Amanda and Jason, or even the friendship between everyone at the Shops on Main, the care they have for each other makes for a brighter world and a more fulfilling read. 

 

I truly love this series and find it heartwarming as well as funny. I'd like to hang out with these characters and I seriously want Amanda to design me an outfit! I know I'd be the elephant's eyebrows. The mystery, well, mysteries, were compelling and the subplots emotional. Red herrings lead readers to a variety of possible conclusions with various characters assisting with their suspicious behavior.

New family drama as well as old combine in CORSETS AND CASUALTIES, eventually bringing friends and family closer together in this charming mystery.

Christmas Cloches and Corpses - A Review

Review

CHRISTMAS CLOCHES AND CORPSES by Gayle Leeson
The Third Ghostly Fashionista Mystery 

Something fishy is going on at the Winter Garden Nursing Home. Within days residents have suddenly died and Dwight believes he may be next. Amanda Tucker wonders if her ghostly friend’s nephew is merely being paranoid, but a visit to the facility has her worried. Shifty administrators and nasty nurses too eager to sedate the residents give credence to Dwight’s belief that something’s not right. Will Amanda be able to help, even if the man’s daughter doesn’t want her involved?  

I really enjoyed this third visit with Amanda, Max, and the gang. I love the relationship between Amanda and her grandfather, as well as seeing how the love reaches out to Max, Zoe, and Dwight. Most of the characters here are great, including the precocious girl who comes to visit and even the dour Ms. Oakes.

I enjoyed the mystery and the sad reality that people in some nursing homes face. Despite that reality, the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery series is positive and uplifting. There's such a sense of community, from the shop owners of Shops on Main who come together to celebrate Christmas and help a young detective to Max's family and friends-all coming together to protect one of their own. There is one character, whoever, who really made me mad. I can't stand Maggie. While many people make excuses for her, I find her behavior intolerable. I wouldn't mind if she was the victim in a future story, although I suppose keeping her alive adds conflict to the stories.

Although I am far from being a fashionista, I love reading the details about the vintage clothing Amanda makes. Add the fun of a ghostly spitfire who also has a heart of gold and you have a heartwarming series that makes you smile and laugh out loud.

With the backdrop of Christmas CHRISTMAS CLOCHES AND CORPSES delivers a fun, yet touching mystery.

Currently Reading...

I’m currently reading Christmas Cloches and Corpses by Gayle Leeson. This book is the third in the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery series.

Something fishy is going on at the Winter Garden Nursing Home. Within days residents have suddenly died and Dwight believes he may be next. Amanda Tucker wonders if her ghostly friend’s nephew is merely being paranoid, but a visit to the facility has her worried. Shifty administrators and nasty nurses too eager to sedate the residents give credence to Dwight’s belief that something’s not right. Will Amanda be able to help, even if the man’s daughter doesn’t want her involved?

Deadly Traditions - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to allow MayBell Ferth to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find MayBell in the pages of "Killing the Carol" by Sam Cheever. This is just one of the stories found in DEADLY TRADITIONS: A COZY MYSTERY CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGY.

My name is MayBell Ferth, and the cute little ball of fluff and attitude sitting on my lap is Shakespeare… Shakes for short. Shakes is a Pomeranian, a.k.a. the Pomeranian Devil. He’s also my best friend and my accomplice in crime-fighting and other things.

I come from a family of cops. My dad, the Lieutenant, is a fearsome creature with a soft spot for Shakes that he tries to hide. My brother Argh is a detective. Argh got his nickname as a kid when he had to wear an eyepatch due to reoccurring eye infections. Argh and I have an older brother and sister who are also cops.

I’m pretty sure that the very first Ferth to step off a ship onto terra firma in the New World was a cop of some sort. The Ferths have worn the impetus for protecting and serving as a badge of honor through countless generations.

Until me.

I’m not a cop. And, I’ll bet you an entire box of caramel-filled chocolates that you’ve never heard of my job before.

I started out as a Community Theatre actor. I gave that gig up because I couldn’t take the diva drama. I know, irony. But in my current career I’m a Professional Mourner. Yep, that’s a real thing. I actually get paid to cry at funerals and play whatever role the client wishes me to play. Bereaved girlfriend, gloating college rival, conniving ex-partner. I’ve played them all.

I love my job, even though it’s gotten me into a few “situations” since I started. One time, I was targeted by a killer while playing a grieving girlfriend and nearly got myself gacked before my PI boyfriend and I managed to stop the murderer.

Another time, an old rival of mine was killed and I was blamed for her death. It took some tricky maneuvering casket-side to suss that one out.

But the situation I’m currently in isn’t due to my Professional Mourning job. I signed up for Caroling in the Square, an event my theatre group holds every year around the holidays to entertain and promote our productions. From my perspective, there was only one way that was going to end.

Badly. Very badly.

Full disclosure, my singing voice sounds like a cross between a preschool brass band and cats mating in an alley. I didn’t want to join the event, but I succumbed to pressure from the group. Although I was pretty sure my singing would be the thing that ruined everybody’s Christmas, I hadn’t counted on the corpse in the alley.

Carol Ling wasn’t just the unlucky owner of a terrible name. She’d apparently also done something to annoy a killer. She’d met a terrible end in a stinky, garbage-infused alleyway. Long story short, it would be up to me, my dog, and my PI boyfriend to find her killer.

Admittedly, my police detective brother, Argh, was on the case. But I won’t lie. I plan to stick my nose into his investigation. I just can’t seem to help myself.

I’ll take my licks from my bossy older brother. We’ll all need to work together to figure out who killed the woman named after a fun Christmas activity. With the help of a certain adorable Pom, potential assistance from my monosyllabic dread-headed neighbor who lives in a medically-approved cannabis cloud, and the invaluable expertise of my PI boyfriend, Eddie, I fully intend to catch a killer.

I might not be a cop like the rest of my family, but I’ve got more detective than diva coursing through my veins.

Detective DNA wins out every time.

***

USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 100+ books.

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Review

DEADLY TRADITIONS: A COZY MYSTERY CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGY

Christmas cookie contests, kidnapped Santas, gingerbread crises, and more await you in the stories of this new Christmas themed anthology. A professional mourner, retired opera singer, and wedding planner are just a few of the careers from which our protagonists hail and locations are just as varied including a retirement community in Minnesota and a yacht on the North Carolina coast.

I really enjoyed the stories, each of which is a quick read, easily finished before bed...or on a lunch break. I wasn't familiar with many of the authors, but I'll definitely be looking some up! Most of the stories seem to be inhabited by characters from full length books in mystery series. Being unfamiliar with the background wasn't confusing and I didn't have a problem being thrown into their world, though some authors made it easier than others. I'm sure readers who follow the series will appreciate these stories even more. 

 

DEADLY TRADITIONS: A COZY MYSTERY CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGY is filled with fun, quick reads to get you into the holiday spirit.

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 Deadly Traditions: A Cozy Mystery Christmas Anthology by Justine Maxwell, Gayle Leeson, Estelle Richards, Erin Scoggins, Sage So, Dianne Ascroft, Ellie Ballard, Melicity Pope, Mollie Cox Bryan, and Sam Cheever

About Deadly Traditions

Deadly Traditions: A Cozy Mystery Christmas Anthology
Cozy Mysteries
Grace Abraham Publishing (September 27, 2022)

Have yourself a DEADLY little Christmas.

Celebrate the holidays with mistletoe, mayhem, and murder. Join your favorite authors as they cozy up by the fire with twelve festive short mysteries that feature treasured holiday traditions. Serve up a slice of fatal fruitcake and deck the halls with danger, because the holiday season has never been so much fun.

This original collection is available for a limited time only, so grab your copy today.

Includes: A Pickle in a Pear Tree by Erin Scoggins Mistletoe and Murder by Dianne Ascroft O Deadly Night by Estelle Richards Larceny and Gingerbread Lattes by Justine Maxwell Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas by Gayle Leeson

About the Authors

About Gayle Leeson

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee. She is currently writing the Kinsey Falls chick-lit/women's fiction series, the Down South Cafe cozy mystery series, and the Ghostly Fashionista cozy mystery series. Her book KILLER WEDDING CAKE won the Bronze Medal in the 20th Anniversary IPPY Awards. Gayle lives in Southwest Virginia with her family and enjoys hearing from readers.

About Mollie Cox Bryan

Mollie Cox Bryan writes cozy mysteries with edge. She's the author of several bestselling mystery series, also writing under the pen name Maggie Blackburn. Her books have been selected as finalists for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award and as a Top 10 Beach Reads by Woman's World. She has also been short-listed for the Virginia Library People's Choice Award. She's also penned a historical fiction: MEMORY OF LIGHT: AN AFTERMATH OF GETTYSBURG. She's the mother of two nearly perfect daughters, each pursuing careers in music.

About Erin Scoggins

USA Today Bestselling Author Erin Scoggins is a long-time Southerner with a fondness for offbeat humor and fresh fried chicken. After fifteen years in marketing with a Fortune 500 company, she traded her MBA for fictional crime scenes and feisty small-town families. She writes fun, flirty mysteries that are celebrations of food, family, and the killer South.

Visit her at www.erinscoggins.com for book news and shenanigans.

About Estelle Richards

Estelle Richards lives in the beautiful American Southwest and writes cozy mysteries. Connect with Estelle at estellerichards.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/estellerichardswriter/.

About Justine Maxwell

Justine Maxwell writes cozy mysteries with brave heroines, strong family bonds, and a touch of romance. She has degrees in psychology from Northern Arizona University and Grand Canyon University. She hopes to one day become a reclusive author in a mountain cabin near Flagstaff, AZ. Until then, she'll be a busy mom of four small children and one (allegedly) hypoallergenic pup, writing in the midst of chaos.

About Wendy H. Jones

International Award Winning Author Wendy H. Jones lives in Scotland, and her police procedural series featuring DI Shona McKenzie are set.Wendy has led a varied and adventurous life. Her love for adventure led to her joining the Royal Navy to undertake nurse training. After six years in the Navy she joined the Army where she served as an Officer for a further 17 years. Killer's Countdown was her first novel and the first book in the Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Killer's Crew won the Books Go Social Book of the Year 2017. The seventh book in the series. Killer's Curse will be released early august 2020. The Dagger's Curse, the first book in The Fergus and Flora Mysteries, was a finalist in the Woman Alive Magazine Readers Choice Award Book of the Year. Turning to humorous crime the Cass Claymore Investigates series was born. She is also a highly successful marketer and is currently in the process of rereleasing her completely updated marketing book Marketing Matters. This will be part of the Writing Matters Series following the release of Motivation Matters. She is also the author of the Bertie the Buffalo picture book and associated soft toy and colouring book. Wendy is delighted to be one of the authors in two anthologies aimed at empowering women - The Power of Why, and Women Win Against All Odds. She is proud to be the President of the Scottish Association of Writers and is the host of The Writing and Marketing Show podcast, a writing and marketing coach. and CEO of Writing Matters online writing school, Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy.

Dianne Ascroft

Dianne Ascroft is a Canadian writer living in Britain. Since moving to Britain in 1990 she has lived in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Online she can be found at http://www.dianneascroft.com.

She writes cozy mystery, historical and contemporary fiction, often with an Irish connection. Her non-fiction articles and short stories have been printed in Canadian and Irish magazines and regional newspapers including the Toronto Star, Ireland's Own, Senior Times, Celtic Connection and Irish Connections Canada.

She was co-editor of The Fermanagh Miscellany, the Fermanagh Authors' Association's yearly anthology for several years and she also contributes material to other local history and writers' anthologies.

Dianne is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Sisters in Crime, Historical Novel Society, Writers Abroad, Fermanagh Authors' Association and Fermanagh Writers.

Dianne started life in a quiet residential neighbourhood in the buzzing city of Toronto and has progressively moved to smaller places through the years. She now lives on a small farm in Northern Ireland with her husband and an assortment of strong willed animals. If she ever decides to write her autobiography the working title will be 'Downsizing'.

Sam Cheever

USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Sam Cheever writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 80+ books.

NEWSLETTER: Join Sam's Monthly newsletter and get a FREE book! You can also keep up with her appearances, enjoy special content, and get previews of her upcoming work! https://www.samcheever.com/newsletter.html

TEXT NEWS ALERTS: Or if you'd rather not receive a monthly newsletter, you can sign up for text alerts and just receive a brief text when Sam's launching a new release or appearing somewhere fun. Just text SAMNEWS to 781-728-9542 to be added!

ONLINE HOT SPOTS: To find out more about Sam and her work, please pay her a visit: Her website: https://www.samcheever.com; Her blog: https://www.samcheever.com/blog; and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamCheeverAuthor. She looks forward to chatting with you!

Purchase Link - Amazon 

 

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Deadly Traditions: A Cozy Mystery Christmas Anthology by Justine Maxwell et al.

It may not even officially be autumn yet, but this anthology is getting me in the Christmas spirit. The book is filled with short mysteries by several authors who specialize in cozies. Set in a variety of locales, most seem to be inhabited by characters from full length books in mystery series. I've been able to acclimate quickly even though I'm unfamiliar with the characters, although some authors make it easier than others.

An Eyre of Mystery - A Review

 Review

AN EYRE OF MYSTERY by G. Leeson
The First Literati Novel

When Gia accepted a position as a library archivist in North Carolina, she never realized just how involved the work would be. Without warning she finds herself thrust into the novel Jane Eyre. In fact, she has taken over the role of Jane. Not everything is as it should be, however. Characters are behaving differently and Mr. Rochester is in jail for the murder of his wife! With a brief message from her supervisor, Gia learns that she must solve Bertha's murder in order to put the book to rights, otherwise Jane Eyre will be lost forever-and so will Gia. 

Have you ever dreamed of inhabiting the books you read? I have and in the Literati series Gia gets her chance, however unexpected. The author takes concept of going into classics of literature one step further. Dark forces want to rid the world of these classics, the books themselves are changing, and it's up to a select few to save them. What a wonderful and exciting idea and it's realized beautifully.

Although a tad confusing at first, like Gia, readers are thrust into a new world with no explanation, things soon get sorted and the mission is revealed. I enjoyed the mystery, seeing the changes to the original, and seeing how modern day Gia as Jane tries to fix things. 

One of the things I liked best was witnessing the unpleasant commonplace realities of the past. The past isn't idyllic, even in the pages of a novel. Bad smells permeate the air, be it the waste from horses on the street or a person's breath! While we often read to escape reality, the best books encapsulate reality even in fantasy.

Mystery, a dash of romance, and an otherworldly threat make AN EYRE OF MYSTERY a great start to a unique new series.

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 An Eyre of Mystery by G. Leeson

About An Eyre of Mystery

An Eyre of Mystery
Fantasy Portal/Mystery
Grace Abraham Publishing (July 12, 2022)
Print length: ‎ 177 pages

Classic literature is at risk of disappearing from the world…

When Gia accepts a job as a library archivist at a manor house in North Carolina, she has no idea what she’s in for. On day one, she finds herself outside her comfort zone when she accidentally travels through a magical portal to the world of Jane Eyre. She finds Edward Rochester imprisoned as he awaits his death sentence for killing his wife. But Gia has read the book, and she knows Edward is innocent of murder.

Soon, she realizes that there are sinister mystical forces working to rewrite the narrative, hoping to destroy the manuscript altogether. To restore order and reset the book to its original state, Gia must discover who actually killed Bertha Rochester and framed her husband for the crime.

But few of the people she meets are who they claim to be and they all have secrets...including Edward.

About G. Leeson

 

Gayle [G. Leeson, for this book] has taken a real leap of faith with An Eyre of Mystery and the world of Literatia. She decided to explore what would happen if a reader--or in this case, an archivist--actually got lost in a great book. But when she travels through the portal into the world Jane Eyre, she finds it to be a topsy-turvy mess. Edward Rochester is facing a death sentence, and Gia has been tasked with finding out who really killed his wife so that Edward can go free, the book will reset to its original form, and Gia may return home. If you'd like to get a sample of the book, please check out this extended sneak peek (first five chapters) at https://BookHip.com/SFPWRLD.  

Author Links: 

Gayle Leeson: https://www.gayleleeson.com/ 

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

FB Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2295294234027608  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GayleTrent  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gayletrentleeson/?hl=en

Currently Reading..

I just finished reading An Eyre of Mystery by G. Leeson.  This book is the first in the Literatia series and was released two weeks ago.

When Gia accepted a position as a library archivist in North Carolina, she never realized just how involved the work would be. Without warning she finds herself thrust into the novel Jane Eyre. In fact, she has taken over the role of Jane. Not everything is as it should be, however. Characters are behaving differently and Mr. Rochester is in jail for the murder of his wife. With a brief message from her supervisor, Gia learns that she must solve Bertha's murder in order to put the book to rights, otherwise Jane Eyre will be lost forever-and so will Gia.

An Eyre of Mystery - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on an upcoming release. An Eyre of Mystery by G. Leeson.

An Eyre of Mystery
Fantasy Portal/Mystery
Grace Abraham Publishing (July 12, 2022)
Print length‏: ‎ 177 pages

Classic literature is at risk of disappearing from the world…

When Gia accepts a job as a library archivist at a manor house in North Carolina, she has no idea what she’s in for. On day one, she finds herself outside her comfort zone when she accidentally travels through a magical portal to the world of Jane Eyre. She finds Edward Rochester imprisoned as he awaits his death sentence for killing his wife. But Gia has read the book, and she knows Edward is innocent of murder.

Soon, she realizes that there are sinister mystical forces working to rewrite the narrative, hoping to destroy the manuscript altogether. To restore order and reset the book to its original state, Gia must discover who actually killed Bertha Rochester and framed her husband for the crime.

But few of the people she meets are who they claim to be and they all have secrets...including Edward.

About G. Leeson

 

Gayle [G. Leeson, for this book] has taken a real leap of faith with An Eyre of Mystery and the world of Literatia. She decided to explore what would happen if a reader--or in this case, an archivist--actually got lost in a great book. But when she travels through the portal into the world Jane Eyre, she finds it to be a topsy-turvy mess. Edward Rochester is facing a death sentence, and Gia has been tasked with finding out who really killed his wife so that Edward can go free, the book will reset to its original form, and Gia may return home. If you'd like to get a sample of the book, please check out this extended sneak peek (first five chapters) at https://BookHip.com/SFPWRLD.  

Author Links: 

Gayle Leeson: https://www.gayleleeson.com/  

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

FB Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2295294234027608  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GayleTrent  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gayletrentleeson/?hl=en  

Purchase Links Amazon Books2Read

Truffles and Tragedy - A Review

 Review

TRUFFLES AND TRAGEDY by Gayle Leeson
The Sixth Down South Cafe Mystery 

 

Amy Flowers is proud of the success of her Down South Cafe. She supports her staff too, whether it's encouraging Scott in his baking endeavors or her cousin, Jackie, who is getting her business degree. Amy is even giving an online presentation for Jackie's class. Soon after she begins the professor seems to suddenly become ill and collapses during the live feed. When it's discovered the professor was poisoned, hot tempered Jackie jumps to the top of the suspect list due to a loud disagreement with the man. When evidence is found implicating Jackie, Amy knows someone must be setting her up. As her boyfriend begins a formal investigation Amy rallies the Down South Cafe staff and they start their own investigation. Who wanted, not only the professor dead, but Jackie to take the blame?

The sixth Down South Cafe Mystery combines family loyalty with a perplexing murder. Amy has to balance her desire to prove her cousin's innocence with her trust in her boyfriend, Ryan, a deputy investigating the murder. She does an admirable job too, being there and supporting Jackie as well as being there for Ryan, and doing a little sleuthing on her own...and with the help of her crew. It's a well thought out mystery with a multitude of red herrings that led me on a merry chase for a killer, and the correct motive.

I loved the whole subplot of Dilly's racoon. I was also introduced to two characters I'd be be happy to punch; or at least pull their hair, drag them through the mud, and break their high heels. Bless their hearts.

 

TRUFFLES AND TRAGEDY is a tasty mystery as comforting as the food served in the Down South Cafe. Savory with a bite, I relish the next installment.

Truffles and Tragedy - A Spotlight & Giveaway

I'm happy to shine a spotlight on a new release. Truffles and Tragedy by Gayle Leeson is the sixth book in the Down South Cafe Mystery and was released last week. I hope you'll come back to this blog Friday, when I'll share my review.

 Truffles and Tragedy: A Down South Cafe Mystery Book by Gayle Leeson

About Truffles and Tragedy

Truffles and Tragedy: A Down South Cafe Mystery
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Publisher: Grace Abraham Publishing (March 16, 2021)
Number of Pages: 295 (approximately)

Down South Cafe owner Amy Flowers learns her chocolate truffles might not be the only things her patrons find "out of this world."

When her cousin, Jackie, asks her to give a presentation to her online class, Amy thinks all she has to worry about is speaking before a group. But then the nitpicky professor collapses. He has been murdered, and hot-tempered Jackie is the prime suspect. Some online forums are even speculating that the professor was an extra-terrestrial, so Amy must sort out fact from fiction to get to the truth.

Certain the real killer is setting Jackie up, will Amy be able to outwit the killer and save her cousin?

About Gayle Leeson

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee and Gayle Trent. Going forward, Gayle intends to keep her writing under the Gayle Leeson name. She lives with her beautiful family in the hills of Southwest Virginia.

Author Links: 

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

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Gayle-Leeson/e/B01NBSTBDU/  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gayle-leeson 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/426208.Gayle_Trent  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GayleTrent  

Newsletter sign-up form: https://forms.aweber.com/form/14/1780369214.htm  

Purchase Link - Amazon   

 

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A Murderous Misconception - A Review

Review

A MURDEROUS MISCONCEPTION by Lorraine Bartlett & Gayle Leeson

The Seventh Victoria Square Mystery

A quick check of social media turns Katie Bronner's world into a nightmare. Erikka Wiley has been plaguing Katie for months, flirting openly with her boyfriend, Andy. Now she's posted a picture with a sonogram hinting that she's pregnant with his baby! After a public confrontation with the woman, Katie needs to clear her mind, but an early morning run only leads her to discover Erikka's murdered body. Nothing would make Detective Schuler happier than pinning the murder on Katie or Andy, so Katie knows she'll have to investigate herself. What will become of her relationship with Andy? And what about Roy? Will she be able to stay ahead of  Detective Schuler's investigation? Or will she be convicted of murder?

Deception, trust, and relationships are the basis for A MURDEROUS MISCONCEPTION. There is also a dash of "what can we do to make Katie's life miserable". I've disliked Andy for some time now and have hated his nickname for Katie. In this seventh Victoria Square Mystery, I found his calling her Sunshine not only cringe worthy, it also made me want to punch him. In fact, I found myself wanting to punch several characters in this book! There is a lot of bad behavior in these pages, by several of its inhabitants. At one point I actually gasped out loud and turned to my cat saying, "Oh no he didn't!" I certainly hope that Katie is ready to cut some of the chaff from her life and start fresh.

A few new characters serve to perk up the series. I really like the addition of Moonbeam and hope that Brad, though not brand new to Victoria Square, will play a larger role in future books. I also was impressed with Captain Spence and hope we get to see more of him as well.

Plenty of suspects, plenty of action, and lots of drama work to make A MURDEROUS MISCONCEPTION a page-turning mystery.

Apples and Alibis - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book on my TBR pile. Apples and Alibis by Gayle Leeson is the fourth book in the Down South Cafe Mystery series.

From the back cover:

That's the last time Amy agrees to do a favor for a stranger...

Down South Cafe owner, Amy Flowers is in over her head. Operating a cafe while hosting the first Farmers' Market in Winter Garden has her swimming in apples. And when an elderly woman calls the cafe, pleading for a delivery for her upcoming party, Amy relents, feeling compelled to help the desperate customer.

But when she arrives, the woman is slumped over her kitchen table, and Amy is catapulted into the middle of a small-town crime. Guilt-ridden for not arriving earlier to save the woman, she sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding her death. Now, between running the cafe and dealing with the chaos of the farmers' market, Amy is squeezing in a murder investigation, a run-in with her boyfriend's mom, and her own mother's quirky life decisions. Life can't get any worse...or can it? This cafe owner needs a break--in the case.

Recipes Included.

A Murderous Misconception - A Book Blast!

Book Blast! Book Blast! Book Blast! 

A Murderous Misconception (Victoria Square Mystery) by Lorraine Bartlett

About A Murderous Misconception

 

A Murderous Misconception (Victoria Square Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 7th in Series 

Publisher: Polaris Press (May 8, 2020) 

Katie Bonner loses her lunch—literally—when her social media account serves up a shocking announcement. Her boyfriend Andy’s assistant manager, Erikka, is pregnant, and apparently with his child. And when Erikka turns up dead, the Sheriff turns up the heat on Katie and Andy, certain that one of them is to blame. But Erikka wasn't pregnant after all. Was Erikka's misconception the only way she could conceive of stealing Andy from Katie?

When Katie finds planted evidence, it’s her friend and former detective, Ray, who insists on concealing it. Is it his growing affection for her that causes him to act against his training and code of ethics, or could he be responsible for Erikka’s death? Katie is afraid to find out.

About the Authors

 
Lorraine Bartlett

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett‘s pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent — whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett — that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com

 
Gayle Leeson

Gayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. Gayle has also written as Amanda Lee. She is currently writing the Kinsey Falls chick-lit/women’s fiction series, the Down South Cafe cozy mystery series, and the Ghostly Fashionista cozy mystery series. Her book KILLER WEDDING CAKE won the Bronze Medal in the 20th Anniversary IPPY Awards. Gayle lives in Southwest Virginia with her family and enjoys hearing from readers. Find her books on Amazon here.

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Perils and Lace - A Review

Review

PERILS AND LACE by Gayle Leeson

The Second Ghostly Fashionista Mystery

Always ready for a challenge, Amanda Tucker agrees to help design the costumes for the high school's production of Beauty and the Beast. While coming up with creative designs for ottomans and feather dusters, she can't help but hear the rumors about the director having an affair with another teacher and notice that the smart as a whip student stage manager is hiding something. When the director is poisoned, Amanda fears for the students and the well being of her friend Connie, who found the woman. While helping her ghostly friend Max get a social media presence, looking our for the young stage manager, and getting closer to her boyfriend, Amanda will keep her eyes and ears open and see if she can discover just who killed Sandra Kelly. 

I really love this series! Max is too much fun and I love how she's now on social media and able to interact with more people. As a theatre person, I'm always happy when books feature a theatrical production and I loved seeing Amanda's concepts come to life for the unusual costumes in Beauty and the Beast. I was thrilled to see Biscuits and Gravy back, running amok and making me laugh out loud!

Relationships are the foundation of the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery series, from Amanda's bond with her grandfather to her encounters with the other shopkeepers of Shops on Main, to her friendship with a ghost and the developing romance with Jason. It's these relationships that get readers invested in the characters lives and make the story even more meaningful.

PERILS AND LACE is a fun mystery that challenges your perceptions. Warmth, humor, and camaraderie infuse the pages making it a delightful read.

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Perils and Lace by Gayle Leeson. This book is the second in the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery series and was released earlier this month.

Always ready for a challenge, Amanda Tucker agrees to help design the costumes for the high school's production of Beauty and the Beast. While coming up with creative designs for ottomans and feather dusters, she can't help but hear the rumors about the director having an affair with another teacher and notice that the smart as a whip student stage manager is hiding something. When the director is poisoned, Amanda fears for the students and the well being of her friend Connie, who found the woman. While helping her ghostly friend Max get a social media presence, looking our for the young stage manager, and getting closer to her boyfriend, Amanda will keep her eyes and ears open and see if she can discover just who killed Sandra Kelly.

Perils and Lace - A Book Blast!

BOOK BLAST! BOOK BLAST! BOOK BLAST! 

 

Perils and Lace: A Ghostly Fashionista Mystery (Ghostly Fashionista Mystery Series) by Gayle Leeson

About Perils and Lace

 

Perils and Lace: A Ghostly Fashionista Mystery 

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series  

Publisher: Grace Abraham Publishing  

Number of Pages - 212 (approx.) 

A murderer outwitting a quirky flapper ghost? Seams unlikely!

Budding retro fashion designer and entrepreneur Amanda Tucker is thrilled about making costumes for Winter Garden High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast. But when the play’s director Sandra Kelly is poisoned, Amanda realizes there’s a murderer in their midst. She’s determined to keep herself and the students safe, so when her ghostly fashionista friend Max suggests they investigate, Amanda rolls up her sleeves and prepares to follow the deadly pattern…

About Gayle Leeson

Amanda Lee, she wrote the Embroidery Mystery series, and as Gayle Trent, she writes the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. Going forward, Gayle intends to keep her writing until the Gayle Leeson name. She has a series of women's fiction novellas set in a shopping mall that has been converted to include micro-apartments (the Kinsey Falls series) and is enjoying writing the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery Series, the Down South Cafe series, and co-writing the Victoria Square series with Lorraine Bartlett.

   
Author Links:
Websites: https://www.ghostlyfashionista.com/current-release and https://www.gayleleeson.com Newsletter sign-up form: https://forms.aweber.com/form/14/1780369214.htm  
Twitter: @GayleTrent  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GayleLeeson/  
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Gayle-Leeson/e/B01NBSTBDU/  
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gayle-leeson  
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/426208.Gayle_Trent  

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