Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Jann Franklin to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jann writes the Three Dog Mystery series. BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS Ro Bergeron inherits her childhood home and decides to open a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine friends. I tell my mom I'm going to keep my childhood home and turn it into the Kathy Museum. What is the status of your childhood home? Would you keep it if you could?

JF: My parents sold my childhood home when they moved to be closer to me I visited it recently, in Russellville AR with my husband. He turned to me and said “I had no idea you grew up rich.” I said, “Neither did I.” My parents couldn’t afford to live in that house now, if they bought it. But it’s nice to see that my childhood home went wayyyy up in value and didn’t turn into a bad neighborhood


Kathy: Ro can’t boil an egg or keep a plant alive, yet she intends to open a B&B. Have you ever tried something despite being totally unqualified? 

 

JF: HA! Yes…motherhood. But my boys turned out well, despite my total lack of skills and training.


Kathy: I love the fact that the B&B will welcome canine friends too. At the moment I just share my home with my cats who would not want to travel. Do you have any pets? Do they travel with you? 

 

JF: The dogs in my book are literally my dogs! Sadie travels with us. If you read the passages in the story about Rebel and Ruger , you’d know why we don’t take the Labs


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

 

JF: I LOVE Murder She Wrote, Psych, Monk. And the older series Hart to Hart, McMillan and Wife, Rockford Files. They’re all about the puzzle-not the forensics. And no violence or graphic content. It’s what I love and it’s what I write

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

 

JF: I always said I can’t write romance. But…I just finished a short story telling my in-laws’ love story. It will be included in a short story collection with other authors this December, called “Love For Keeps.” I am also working on another completely fictional short love story. So…maybe I will be led to write some romance books at some point.

I also have a trilogy in the small town genre-a woman is dragged from the big city to a small town by her husband-it’s Jen’s fish out of water story of how she finds her place. It’s the Small Town Girl series (TRADING BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR LIGHTNING BUGS, SHINING STARS AND MASON JARS, CHEESE GRITS AND HISSY FITS).


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

 

JF: This is my first in series. Ro has been sheltered - never encouraged to spread her wings and fly. The ones who raised her have passed on, and she’s decided to venture out into the world, by opening her bed and breakfast. Her great aunts drag her into a murder case, fancying themselves as Jessica Fletcher, but Ro finds she enjoys it. The 2nd will be out in September -INNKEEPERS AND IMPOSTERS.


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

 

JF: Yes-twins. I love writing the 70 year old twins, Min and Win. They don’t care what people think and are self appointed matriarchs of the small town of Belle Bayou. That seems wonderful to me-just doing whatever you want and saying what you think. They come across mean sometimes but their hearts are on the right place.


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

JF: Several! Our 300 person town has a bed and breakfast and I’m friends with the innkeeper. I’ve heard stories! I thought constant flow of new people would add to a traditional cozy mystery.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

 

JF: My husband said my writing is good and I should publish a book. He had no idea of the monster he was creating!


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

JF: Ooh! Jane Austen and Agatha Christie for sure!! Agatha is the OG of cozy mysteries And then Harlem Coben and Lee Childs-they are author royalty to me. And Tosca Lee because she’s so nice - I’ve met her before and she’s wonderful. She’d probably stay after and help me do the dishes


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JF: Jonathan Kellerman’s CRIME SCENE. Our library had books on sale for a quarter and I’m a sucker for a good deal.


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

 

JF: Uh, well , my hobbies are my loved ones. I spend any free time with my husband, 2 sons and DILs, dogs, chickens, friends. Our small town always has something fun going on and we try to be there.


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

 

JF: Eggs-thank you chickens! Nonfat yogurt, popcorn and Bluebell vanilla ice cream. Most meals are a freefall, Sunday evenings are always popcorn and ice cream.


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

 

JF: Oh my gosh YES! I have a new series coming out this year, Letters to Santa. The first book, THE CASE OF THE MISSING SISTER, will be out in July. Then another book every year around Thanksgiving. I plan to continue both of my series Small Town Girl Mysteries (Book 6 in June) and Three Dog Mysteries (Book 2 in September) I want to write another series about a couple with a food truck who solves mysteries as they travel to festivals, the Grab n’ Go Mysteries. Just got to find the time….


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

 

JF: My readers - they are so lovely! I pose a question to my newsletter subscribers and they email the most wonderful stories-and receive a free book for their time. I also love interacting on social media.

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

Review

BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS by Jann Franklin
The First Three Dog Mystery 

Rose Louise Bergeron is different. Some might call her weird. Having been raised by her grandparents after her parents ran off she prefers classic movies and real books to pop culture and e-readers. An old soul she's content to remain in the small town of Belle Bayou, Louisiana. Now that her grandparents have both died, Ro decided to turn the family home into a B&B, one that welcomes dogs as well as people. Never mind that she doesn't know how to cook. Or that she knows nothing about dogs. She's booked her first guests and she's ready to learn! While she's preparing to become a business woman the talk around town is the suspicious death of Mr. Tippin, Ro's high school algebra teacher. Was it murder? Ro's great aunts are determined to find out, roping Ro into their investigation. It can't be that hard to learn how to cook, corral a posse of dogs, host paying guests, and solve a murder. Can it?

Admittedly, I wasn't too sure about Rose Louise at first. Her naivete was a bit much. But as I continued reading she really grew on me, as naive and silly as she was, she truly cared and wanted to improve and make it on her own. She had just never been given the tools to do so. Aunties Min and Win are an absolute hoot and I love how they can be genteel southern ladies and yet are true crime mavens to boot! Poor cousin Marshall, a rare voice of reason. And what a couple Ro's first guests are. I loved how they fit right in! And I absolutely love Sadie and the coyotes! I hope we get to meet Cousin Rooster in future books. While some of the premises are indeed silly, they lightened my heart and made me laugh! I'm still giggling about the reason for the change in church service times.

While the murder was mentioned early on at first Ro wasn't involved in investigating at all. Heaven knows she had enough on her plate. However, with pushes from her great aunts, also known as the Bossies, and her guests Mr. and Mrs. Macintosh, Ro becomes a reluctant sleuth. Although soon, she's not that reluctant! I love how they all worked together as a team, harebrained schemes and all!

Quirky characters and laugh out loud moments make BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS a delightfully funny romp through small town Louisiana.

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

 Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries) by Jann Franklin

About Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers

Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Louisiana
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published (February 20, 2025)
Language: ‎ English Paperback: ‎ 238 pages

Ro Bergeron’s grandparents raised her to be, well, helpless. She can’t boil an egg or keep a plant alive. When Ro inherits her childhood home, she decides to open a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine friends. Running a business catering to people is a big undertaking for thirty-two year old Ro—let alone pets too—yet with faith she is confident she can handle it. She even has her first guests booked for the coming weekend!

But when her meddlesome great aunts find the opportunity to solve a local murder too irresistible, Ro's new life as a business owner is turned upside-down! As Min and Win Rascoe indulge their sleuthing skills, a reluctant Ro and her enthusiastic house guests are drawn into the mystery.

Will the Rascoe sisters and their unconventional team solve the murder before Ro’s high school crush Detective Jason Charbonnet? Can Ro master the skills of cooking and hosting? Will life for Ro in the tiny town of Belle Bayou ever be the same?

This book is the first of the Three Dog Mystery Series.

About Jann Franklin

Jann Franklin is a faith-based cozy mystery writer living in northwest Louisiana with slightly less than three hundred other people. Many of her stories are based on the tales she hears from residents.

She and her husband John enjoy Sundays at church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in their backyard. Their kids come to visit, when they aren’t too busy living their big-city lives. Visit her at www.jannfranklin.com

Author Links: 

Webpage: https://jannfranklin.com  

Blog: https://jannfranklin.com/blog  

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

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

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22583014.Jann_Franklin  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jann-franklin  

Purchase Link - Amazon 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers by Jann Franklin. This is the first book in the Three Dog Mystery series and was released earlier this year.

Rose Louise Bergeron is different. Some might call her weird. Having been raised by her grandparents after her parents ran off she prefers classic movies and real books to pop culture and e-readers. An old soul she's content to remain in the small town of Belle Bayou, Louisiana. Now that her grandparents have both died, Ro decided to turn the family home into a B&B, one that welcomes dogs as well as people. Never mind that she doesn't know how to cook. Or that she knows nothing about dogs. She's booked her first guests and she's ready to learn! While she's preparing to become a business woman the talk around town is the suspicious death of Mr. Tippin, Ro's high school algebra teacher. Was it murder? Ro's great aunts are determined to find out, roping Ro into their investigation. It can't be that hard to learn how to cook, corral a posse of dogs, host paying guests, and solve a murder. Can it?

Haunting and Homicide - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book being released today. Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke is the first book in the Ghost Tour Mystery series.

Blurb:

Tallulah “Lou” Thatcher has a gift: she can see dead people. But in New Orleans, Louisiana, this is not a drawback. On the contrary, her ability to see ghosts helps her host viral ghost tours through the historic Garden District. When rival tour guide Adam Brandt–who accused her of faking her encounters to undercut his business–is found murdered, Lou is the only one who can see him . . . his ghost, that is.

It’s no secret Adam and Lou were feuding and with the absence of a suspect, she’s the only one with a clear motive. After detective Dylan Finch, Lou’s longtime crush, reveals the murder weapon was a ceremonial dagger from Lou’s shop, she’s officially declared the prime suspect. Determined to prove her innocence, Lou starts investigating right away.

Weaving her way through Adam’s business partnerships, friendships, and kinships, Lou must uncover who wished to see him dead before the killer tries to silence her forever.

French Quarter Fright Night - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome  Ricki James-Diaz to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Ricki on the pages of the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series. FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT is the third book in the series and was released earlier this month.

Hi, Ricki James-Diaz here, proprietor of Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop in Bon Vee Culinary Museum, the largest mansion in New Orleans’ Garden District. I recently left Los Angeles and moved to NOLA, the city where I was born and lived until I was eight years old. I’ve given my life a jumpstart by fulfilling my dream of creating a store for people who share my fascination with cookbooks and kitchenware from past decades.

Why do I need to jumpstart my life, you ask? Well, I made some questionable choices in Los Angeles, like impulsively marrying a struggling, self-involved actor. With his career – and as it turned out, our relationship - going nowhere, Chris started filming dumb stunts and posting them on the internet. He took the name Chris-azy!, and suddenly became an internet star. Sadly, while doing the Marshmallow Challenge where the goal was to see how many marshmallows he could stuff in his mouth, he choked on one and passed away. We were separated but not divorced, which has led to my current status as a twenty-eight-year-old “young widow,” a term I’ve come to hate, along with the sort of patronizing tone people in people’s voices when they use it.

But my goal is to keep moving forward and I’m doing exactly that here in New Orleans. I’m co-parenting two adopted doggies with Virgil Morel, the extremely handsome former chef and current judge on America’s Next Top Southern Chef, who lives across the street from me and I happen to be dating; a couple of murders that involved Bon Vee haven’t stunted my shop’s success, thank goodness; and it’s Halloween in New Orleans! I haven’t celebrated here since I was a kid. I had the idea of turning Bon Vee into a haunted house at night, which the whole staff is incredibly excited about. The only problem is our nasty new neighbor next door, Miranda Fine. She’s the assistant to some actor who bought the house on a whim, it seems.

Oh no… oh no!

I just found out exactly who that actor is: Blaine Taggart, my late husband’s best friend and the man I consider responsible for Chris’s death. He’s the one who talked Chris into doing the stupid internet stunt that killed him. I thought Blaine was out of my life forever, and now he’s our neighbor? My life just got much more complicated.

But not as complicated as life for everyone here at Bon Vee is about to get.

We just discovered that the dummy in the prop tomb on our Haunted House tour isn’t a dummy. It’s the body of Miranda Fine. And it looks like her death was no accident. She was murdered.. And even though New Orleans proudly bills itself as “The most haunted city in America,” I’m guessing the killer wasn’t a ghost.

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

Review

FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT by Ellen Byron
The Third Vintage Cookbook Mystery

New Orleans loves a holiday and it’s going all out for Halloween. With a multitude of activities all over town Ricki James-Diaz and her co-workers decide to get in on the action by transforming the Bon Vee  Culinary House Museum into a haunted house with tableaus inside the mansion and an old shed turned into a crypt outside. During the dress rehearsal the staff are shocked to find a real dead body inside the crypt. The victim happens to be the insufferable assistant of their new next door neighbor, the same woman making their lives a misery. With the New Orleans Police Department beyond busy with all of the Halloween happenings and since pretty much everyone at Bon Vee is a suspect it only makes sense they work together once again to solve yet another murder at their property.

Ricki's LA past comes back to haunt her in the third Vintage Cookbook Mystery. While preparing for her first Halloween in New Orleans since childhood she has to deal with neighbors causing problems and ultimately comes face to face with a person from her past she'd rather exorcise from her life. Add murder to the mix as well as hints to her own family mystery and it's another challenging time for Ricki James-Diaz.

I love Halloween and I really enjoyed seeing how the people of New Orleans and the characters of the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series celebrate. The matching costumes of Benny and Jenny, detailed descriptions of decorations, and the camaraderie of friends celebrating make me want to spend Halloween with them in the Big Easy.

I really enjoyed not only the mystery, but how Ricki and her co-workers investigate; working together, albeit with different methods. I appreciate how Ricki deals with disappointment in regards to her investigatory work and her relationships. I also liked learning more about Nina and seeing how she keeps Ricki on her toes. And, of course, I love the addition of Red.

Combining the celebratory atmosphere of New Orleans with a well plotted mystery FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT is the perfect mystery read to get you into the Halloween spirit!

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

 French Quarter Fright Night (Vintage Cookbook) by Ellen Byron

About French Quarter Fright Night

French Quarter Fright Night (Vintage Cookbook)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - the Garden District of New Orleans
Publisher: ‎ Severn House (September 3, 2024)
Hardcover: ‎ 256 pages

The third in the fabulous cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron.

Welcome to the Bon Veeevil Festival of Fear! Prepare for the spookiest night of your life . . .

It's Halloween in New Orleans, and the staff of Bon Vee Culinary House Museum is setting up a fantastic haunted house tour for their visitors. But when flashy movie star Blaine Taggart and his entourage move into the mansion next door, gift shop proprietor Ricki James-Diaz gets a fright of her own.

While Ricki is excited about the potential business the tours will bring to her vintage cookbook shop, she's less thrilled by former friend Blaine's arrival in town. Then Bon Vee's prop tomb becomes a real tomb for Blaine's nasty assistant, and suddenly everyone at Bon Vee is a murder suspect. There isn't a ghost of a chance one of them committed the crime, but with NOPD busy tackling the mischief and mayhem generated by the spooky holiday, it falls on Ricki and her friends to catch the killer.

As the Big Easy gears up for the Big Scary, it seems everyone has skeletons in their closets. Can Ricki reveal the shadowy killer before someone else becomes part of the Halloween horror show?

About Ellen Byron

 

Ellen is a USA Today bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, and Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico). Her new series, The Golden Motel Mysteries, recently debuted. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. Visit her at Cozy Mysteries | Ellen Byron | Author  

Author Links:

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/  

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron  

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

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I am currently reading French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron. This book is the third book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series and was released last week.

New Orleans loves a holiday and it’s going all out for Halloween. With a multitude of activities all over town Ricki James-Diaz and her co-workers decide to get in on the action by transforming the Bon Vee  Culinary House Museum into a haunted house with tableaus inside the mansion and an old shed turned into a crypt outside. During the dress rehearsal the staff are shocked to find a real dead body inside the crypt. The victim happens to be the insufferable assistant of their new next door neighbor, the same woman making their lives a misery. With the New Orleans Police Department beyond busy with all of the Halloween happenings and since pretty much everyone at Bon Vee is a suspect it only makes sense they work together once again to solve yet another murder at their property.

Muffalettas and Murder - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Jann Franklin to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Jann writes the Small Town Girl Mystery series. MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER is the first book in the series.

Kathy: In MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER we meet Evangeline Delafose who agrees to help her brother solve a murder. What's the most unusual thing a relative has asked you for help with?

JF: To bury a dead body. No, just kidding! My cousin asked me to make 8 pounds of potato salad once for a family reunion. I think I'd rather have helped bury a dead body.


Kathy: The Small Town Girl Mystery series takes place in a small town in Louisiana. What makes this such a great setting?

JF: No one knows much about Louisiana, and so it's misunderstood. Most people think it's full of alligators and all we eat is crawfish and gumbo. My hope is that people will learn a little more about the Pelican State.


Kathy: I was lucky enough to have a muffaletta from Central Grocery in New Orleans when I visited in the 1980s. What are some of your favorite Louisiana dishes?

JF: Shrimp and grits are my hands down absolute favorite! Everywhere I go, if a restaurant has that dish on its menu, then I must try it.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

JF: Honestly, I don't like romance. How healthy is a relationship if the people can't stand each other at the beginning? And they are predictable. Dead bodies? Yes, please!


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

JF: I have a 5 book thriller series in my head, but honestly I'm having so much fun writing cozies that I can't find time to put thoughts to paper.

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

JF: Small Town Girl Mysteries-I have had a blast writing about Ev Delafose and her exasperating PI, Shorty Cormier. Ev is a lot like me-quiet, logical, prefers book to people. She's coming into her own as she gains confidence in her sleuthing skills. And she finds time for a little romance, because her children are grown and her husband has passed away. She's learning to embrace her small town and even defends it against people who just don't understand the charm of a tiny community.


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

JF: Shorty Cormier is probably my favorite, because he's so fun to write! I don't think we'd ever be best friends in real life, but I could always count on him for a battery jump or a ride to the grocery store. He's got a good heart, but is a bit rough around the edges. He struggled in high school because of his inability to sit still, and went into the Army. He lost his lower right leg in the Gulf War and spends his time on the family farm. He earned his PI license for fun and is thrilled to assist Ev with her mysteries. Of course, he thinks he knows more than she does, since he's the PI. But he's also protective of her and would defend her with his life. As we say in the South, he's good people.

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

JF: I love what makes a small town thrive, from the helping hands to busy bodies. Everyone knows everyone, and everything about them. Those characteristics make for great stories.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

JF: My wonderful husband encouraged me to begin a weekly newspaper column with our small town paper, then supported me as I began my first book. He's always challenged me to go farther and do more.

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

JF: Oscar Wilde sounds like the life of the party, and of course Jane Austen. She was a pioneer of females writing books. Mark Twain would tell the best stories! Maybe Edgar Allen Poe, but he might bring the party down...so probably Agatha Christie. Yes, I love the classics :)

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

JF: I tend to read my friends' writings, because I love supporting fellow indie authors. Currently I'm reading Savanna Loy's "The S.K. Series: Case #1 Jedidiah Walker."


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

JF: My husband and I just started a food truck called Tin Roof Chef. Is that a hobby? It certainly takes up a lot of time! We also own a camper and love traveling to RV parks state campgrounds in our quest to see the country.


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

JF: Eggs, rice (it's Louisiana so that's a given), maple syrup, and Aha brand sparkling water-my favorite!


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

JF: Small Town Girl Mysteries-My fifth book, "Sweet Tea and Suspects" comes out July 11.

3 Dog Mysteries-I'm working on my first in series, "Beds, Breakfasts, and Beta Blockers", due out this fall. Ro also lives in a small town, and she and Ev are first cousins. But that's were the similarities end. Ro is early thirties, never married, and a bit spoiled. She's not mean or bratty, but she doesn't know how to boil an egg or keep a plant alive. And yet, she's decided to take the farmhouse she's inherited and turn it into a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine besties. Of course Ro doesn't own a dog, so she decides she needs one (or more) because of her new venture. And of course there's a murder in her small village of Belle Bayou, so she'll need to stick her nose in the middle of that as well.

 

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

JF: Talking to my fellow authors and my readers! They're all so kind and excited to read. It reminds me that there are still lovely people in the world.

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

Review 

 

 

MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER by Jann Franklin

The First Small Town Girls Mystery

With her children grown and on their own, widow Evangeline Delafose has moved back home to the small town of Graisseville, Louisiana. Ever since her husband died in the line of duty, Ev has been at a loss. She no longer has it in her to write her popular mysteries as the protagonist was based on her husband. She's stopped being interested in food and stopped being interested in life. Concerned about her, her brother Nate has an idea. In order to jump start a spark in her he gives Ev the case file of an old murder investigation that has him stumped. Partnering up with an old friend, Ev isn't just reading through the files, she's interviewing suspects. Ev gets a new lease on life...but could she be putting that life in jeopardy?

 

I had fun on my first visit to Graisseville. Evangeline has some growing to do and in MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER she makes a great start. She's a grown woman with adult children, but is still a bit naive. She acts much younger than a 50 year old widow. I also question some things. Ev has a PhD, teaches English, and writes crime fiction, but doesn't know the meaning of the word "saunter"? Still I do like her...and her teal pen. Shorty is a hoot and the two make a fun pair of investigators.

Like most cold cases, the mystery here was complex. Lots of interesting characters...most acting a bit hinky. There were lots of twists and turns and more than one surprise. I enjoyed following Ev's thought process and her reasoning with herself.

The Small Town Girls Mystery series is a faith based series, Baptist to be specific. Therefore there was a good bit of praying and calling on Jesus. Although it was a bit much for me, it didn't interfere with the storytelling and though was a mite preachy, it wasn't proselytizing.

MUFFALETTAS AND MURDER is a book about starting over and finding purpose. An engaging book filled with Louisiana charm, laugh out loud moments, and the constant of good friends and family make an enjoyable start to a series.

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

 Muffalettas and Murder: Small Town Girl Mysteries by Jann Franklin

About Muffalettas and Murder

Muffalettas and Murder: Small Town Girl Mysteries
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Louisiana
Publisher: ‎ Rougarou Press (January 30, 2023)
Paperback: ‎ 238 pages

Evangeline Delafose is finding Graisseville, Louisiana just as she remembered—boring and uneventful. Until her brother Nate asks her to help solve a murder. Follow Ev as she navigates clues, dead bodies, and quirky small-town residents to solve a mystery. And of course, show her little brother that she's still got it. If you like cozy mysteries with twists and turns, deep South settings, and a hint of romance, you’ll love this series! Let’s not forget quirky yet charming characters who remind you of family—sometimes you want to hug them, and sometimes you want to disown them. Enjoy small town Graisseville with Ev as she solves crime with help from her family and friends. This is a clean faith based read with no profanity, sex, or graphic violence. This book is the first of the Small-Town Girl Mystery Series.

About Jann Franklin

Jann Franklin is a faith-based cozy mystery writer living in Grand Cane, Louisiana with slightly less than three hundred other people. Many of her stories are based on the tales she hears from residents.

She and her husband John enjoy Sundays at Grand Cane Baptist Church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in their backyard. Their kids come to visit, when they aren’t too busy living their big-city lives. Visit her at www.jannfranklin.com

Author Links: 

Webpage: https://jannfranklin.com  

Blog: https://jannfranklin.com/blog  

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

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

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22583014.Jann_Franklin  

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

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Muffalettas and Murder by Jann Franklin. This book is the first in the Small Town Girl Mystery series.

With her children grown and on their own, widow Evangeline Delafose has moved back home to the small town of Graisseville, Louisiana. Ever since her husband died in the line of duty, Ev has been at a loss. She no longer has it in her to write her popular mysteries as the protagonist was based on her husband. She's stopped being interested in food and stopped being interested in life. Concerned about her, her brother Nate has an idea. In order to jump start a spark in her he gives Ev the case file of an old murder investigation that has him stumped. Partnering up with an old friend, Ev isn't just reading through the files, she's interviewing suspects. Ev gets a new lease on life...but could she be putting that life in jeopardy?

The Portraints of Pemberly - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

Karoline Bingley has decided to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. When not commandeering other people's blogs, you can find Karoline on the pages of the Austen University Mystery series. THE PORTRAITS OF PEMBERLY is the second book in the series and was released this week!

To: lbennet@au.edu

From: kbingley@au.edu

Subject: Free Darcy!

Lizzy - since we’ve agreed to team up to clear Darcy’s name, I thought you might start by posting something in that little school paper of yours. I know no one actually reads it most of the time, but maybe if I post it on my socials, too, it might stand a chance of being seen.

I’ve taken the liberty of putting together the article since, let’s face it, your newspaper is usually a snoozefest.

***

Stop the presses! (That’s what you people say, right?) It has come to our attention that there has been an EGREGIOUS error that must be corrected immediately. Fo-Hian Darcy has been accused of assaulting George Wickham and will lose his place at Austen University if we don’t rally the troops!

Darcy obviously didn’t do it. OBVIOUSLY. First of all, Darcy’s super rich. You think he would assault someone on his own? With that kind of money? He would definitely hire someone to do it, not do it himself. And did anyone see a paid thug running away from the scene of the crime? No. Therefore, it wasn’t him!

Second of all, Darcy might not like Wickham, but Wickham is so far below him on the social ladder that it doesn’t make sense for him to actually DO something about it. It would be like if a thoroughbred horse decided it didn’t like a fly that kept buzzing around it. Well, duh, but the horse isn’t going to beat the fly up, strip it naked, and tie it up on campus. That’s SO much effort just to get rid of a little fly.

Third of all, I’m sorry, I just can’t imagine it. Darcy’s, like, cultured. He reads the news and watches documentaries, FOR FUN. That is not the kind of man who goes around tying up people naked.

I rest my case, your honor. Now it’s time for the people to demand justice! We will not rest until Darcy’s free! (Metaphorically. He’s not, like, in jail or anything.)

For more details on this fascinating unraveling case, follow me on TikTok- @KweenKaroline  

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

Review

THE PORTRAITS OF PEMBERLY by Elizabeth Gilliland

The Second Austen University Mystery

 

It may have been poetic justice that George Wickham was found tied up, spread eagle, and completely naked on the campus square, but his comeuppance comes at a cost. Lizzy Bennett is threatened with expulsion if she doesn't find out who assaulted Wickham and then Darcy confesses to the crime. Believing him to be innocent, Lizzie and members of the Austen Murder Club will try to uncover the real culprit before Darcy's untimely exit from Austen University.

The second Austen University Mystery once again transports and updates the characters of Jane Austen's novels placing them in a modern Louisiana University. You don't need to be familiar with these characters in order to enjoy the current mystery, but the more you know about them, the greater appreciation you'll have. After a congenial meeting between Lizzie and a sexy TA, he revealed his name, which may have led me to gasp in horror.

 

I really enjoyed this re-imagination of these famous characters. The mystery was intriguing, as well as everyone's actions and reactions to things going on. I liked how the unlikable Karoline Bingley became almost a good guy while other baddies remain just as despicable. 

The one thing I didn't care for was the timeline. The story started after "the incident", then it went to a time before the incident. Time seemed to go back and forth and although chapters were labeled it caused for some confusion.

With great character dynamics, foes learning to work together, and the realization that first impressions are not always correct, THE PORTRAITS OF PEMBERLY is a fun read for everyone, not just Jane Austen fans.

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

The Portraits of Pemberley (Austen University Mysteries) by Elizabeth Gilliland

About The Portraits of Pemberley

The Portraits of Pemberley (Austen University Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Louisiana
Bayou Wolf Press (July 5, 2023)
Number of Pages - 285

After George Wickham is found tied up, naked, on the Austen University Campus Square, President de Bourgh gives student journalist Lizzy Bennet an ultimatum: Find out who committed the crime, or be expelled from the school. Lizzy must team up with some old friends (like the Austen Murder Club) and some new (like...Karoline Bingley?) to get to the bottom of the truth.

Complicating matters is the fact that the prime suspect is Fo-Hian Darcy. Darcy and Lizzy have a messy history, but even so, Lizzy just can't accept that Darcy committed the crime. An anonymous whistleblower tips off Lizzy about a secret website called the Portraits of Pemberley that may help her get to the bottom of the mystery--but discovering the truth about who's involved may very well challenge everything that Lizzy believes.

The Portraits of Pemberley is Book 2 of the Austen University Mysteries series but can be read as a standalone novel. It combines plot points of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with Sense and Sensibility (and characters from all of Austen's novels) in a modern-university setting, with mysteries.

About Elizabeth Gilliland

Elizabeth Gilliland is a writer, Dr., wife, mom, and lifelong Jane Austen fan. She is a playwright (whose plays have appeared off-off Broadway), a screenwriter (with a master's in screenwriting and production), an academic (with a PhD and a dissertation on Jane Austen adaptations), and now a published author! When she isn't writing or grading papers, she is most likely reading a good book, binge watching the latest hit, working on a puzzle, or hanging with her cute kid.

Author Links: 

Blog - https://medium.com/@lissag7  

Twitter: @egilliland7 – https://twitter.com/egilliland7  

Publisher Website: www.bayouwolfpress.com  

Purchase Link - Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Murder at the Pontchartrain - An Interview

I'm pleased to welcome Kathleen Kaska to Cozy Up With Kathy. Kathleen writes the Sydney Lockhart Mystery series. Murder at the Pontchartrain is the sixth book in the series and was released last week.

Kathy: The Sydney Lockhart Mystery series is set in the 1950s. Why choose this timeframe?

KK: I was born in the 1950s. I love the decade’s fashion, music, and movies. It was an exciting time for women. WWII had ended, and more women were claiming their independence and entering the workforce. I wanted my protagonist to be a young woman ahead of her time, struggling to make it in a man’s world.

Kathy: In Murder at the Pontchartrain, Sydney, and her boyfriend/partner have come to the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans to get married. New Orleans has a truly unique ambiance with voodoo and hauntings being the norm. How have these things influenced your book?

KK: A book set in New Orleans calls for elements of voodoo, which I included in the story. My Sydney Lockhart series is a lighthearted and humorous cozy. In Murder at the Pontchartrain, which comes out on June 28, one of the victims visits the House of Voodoo in the French Quarter because she believes her hateful deceased husband is abusing her from his grave. As a result, Sydney’s investigation begins with a visit to the current voodoo queen, the historic St. Louis Cemetery, and eventually to the nearby swamps where she came close to being lost forever.

Kathy: Sydney relies on Rip Thigbee, a ghost detective. Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a ghostly encounter?

KK: Tough questions. There is so much we don’t know, and more we can’t understand. I like to think that the human mind has not yet evolved to understand the strange phenomena that occasionally occur. I’ve never had a ghostly encounter, but I have experienced odd happenings that I couldn’t explain. One time I just started reading A Son of a Circus by John Irving. The novel begins with a family of circus dwarfs. I was on page two when I heard a racket coming from a vacant lot next door. I went to investigate and found a family of dwarfs in an old station wagon, listening to rock music. My husband, still to this day, thinks I imbibed too much wine.

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

KK: I love reading cozies. They are void of explicit violence and sex, and most are humorous. I read other mystery genres, but reading and writing cozies help me relax and put me in a good mood. Who doesn't like to laugh? Some of my favorite cozy authors are Carl Hiaasen, Spenser Quinn, Elizabeth Peters, Ben Rehder, and Janet Evanovich. Several readers have told me that my Sydney Lockhart series reminds them of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Sydney has also been compared to the delightful Mrs. Maisel character from the Amazon Prime series.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

KK: I just completed a hardboiled detective story set in Manhattan in the 1940s. Since I love reading Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Mickey Spillane, I wanted to try writing a gritty detective story. I had great fun delving into New York City of long ago. My protagonist is a down-and-out ex-cop who lands a high-profile case. It’s his one big chance to pull himself out of the Hell’s Kitchen gutter he calls home. I lived in Manhattan in the 80s when Hell’s Kitchen was a rough, dangerous neighborhood. I think that’s when the seed for this mystery began to germinate.

I also wrote three mystery trivia books on Agatha Christie, Alfred Hitchcock, and Sherlock Holmes. The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book is in its third printing.


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

KK: Allow me to use a fellow author’s flattering review of the Sydney Lockhart series. “What is it like reading a Sydney Lockhart mystery? Picture, if you will, Carl Hiaasen writing a classic film noir featuring the zany, red-haired reporter Sydney Lockhart who somehow gets herself into more tight situations than Lucille Ball did in a whole season of I Love Lucy.”

My Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Series is a suspense mystery. Each book centers around an animal-right issue in which my protagonist, Kate Caraway, finds herself caught in the middle of doing what’s right and what's ethical, which are not always the same. She’s not a vigilante, but she's relentless when it comes to righting a wrong.


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

KK: In my Sydney series? It’s hard not to love all the characters, even the bad guys. In Murder at the Driskill, the fourth in the series, Lydia LaBeau showed up, and I instantly fell in love with this girl. She was a big hit with many of my readers, too, so she’s going to stick around. Lydia is twelve years old and possesses the wisdom of a seventy-year-old. She runs her neer-do-well’s father’s live theater in downtown Austin. Having a prop and costume room at her disposal, Lydia often dresses in whatever reflects the case Sydney is trying to solve. In Murder at the Pontchartrain, her chosen costume was that of a voodoo queen.


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

KK: Since I love reading humorous mysteries, I wanted to try writing one. Sydney showed up in my imagination and began to tell her story. I just had to listen and write it down. Thankfully, Sydney has not stopped talking.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

KK: I love writing. It’s an excellent way to connect with people; to do that, I needed to publish my work.

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

KK: I used to work in marketing at a publishing company. Brainstorming ideas with my colleagues was a blast, and those sessions enhanced my creativity. So, at this special dinner party, I would invite Agatha Christie, Martha Grimes, Raymond Chandler, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

KK: I’m rereading Martha Grimes’ Richard Jury series to get in the right frame of mind because I’m working on a British crime mystery. Grimes is a fabulous writer and a true inspiration. She’s a master of metaphors. Looking through her books on my bookshelf, you will find that many of the sentences are highlighted because they deserve to be reread.


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

KK: I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time birding. I also enjoy running, and I do two or three marathons a year. I have the most fun attending baseball games with my husband and hanging out with my three fabulous sisters.


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

KK: You will always find a bottle of gin in my freezer, and olives, leafy lettuce, blueberries, bananas, lemons, and almond milk in the fridge. I always stock sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, oatmeal, and olive oil in the pantry. As you might guess, my husband and I dine out a lot.


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

KK: I have three hotels on my list for the next three Sydney Lockhart mysteries. And I have a list of hotels suggested to me by my readers. I just hope I get to all of them.

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

Creating something out of my imagination. Writing is an art that doesn’t require going to the store for supplies. I also get to meet other authors and readers.

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

 Murder at the Pontchartrain by Kathleen Kaska

About Murder at the Pontchartrain

Murder at the Pontchartrain
Cozy Mystery (Humorous) 6th in Series
Setting - New Orleans, Louisiana
Anamcara Press LLC (June 15, 2023)
Paperback: ‎ 280 pages

“My name is Sydney Lockhart. I solve murders, most of which I’m the primary suspect.

My boyfriend/partner, Ralph Dixon, and I came to the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans to get married. Instead, Dixon’s in jail for a double murder. I’m in a swamp, spying on the KKK. Helping me untangle this mess is my bubble-headed cousin Ruth who’s undercover as a chef at the Pontchartrain. My twelve-year-old charge, Lydia LaBeau, dressed as a voodoo queen, is looking for clues at Pat O’Brien’s in the French Quarter. Rip Thigbee, a ghost detective, is my only hope.

I’m not making any of this up. This is my life and this is what I deal with, like it or not. So, mix yourself a Hurricane and join me in the Big Easy for another historic hotel murder case.”

About Kathleen Kaska

Kathleen Kaska is the author of the awarding-winning mystery series: the Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series. Her first two Lockhart mysteries, Murder at the Arlington and Murder at the Luther, were selected as bonus books for the Pulpwood Queen Book Group, the country’s largest book group. She also writes mystery trivia. The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book was published by Rowman & Littlefield. Her Holmes short story, “The Adventure at Old Basingstoke,” appears in Sherlock Holmes of Baking Street, a Belanger Books anthology. She is the founder of The Dogs in the Nighttime, the Sherlock Holmes Society of Anacortes, Washington, a scion of The Baker Street Irregulars. Watch for Murder at the Pontchartrain: the 6^th Sydney Lockhart Mystery in June 2023.

Author Links:

Website http://www.kathleenkaska.com  

Twitter https://twitter.com/KKaskaAuthor  

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kathleenkaska  

Instgram https://www.instagram.com/kathleenkaska/  

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=Kathleen%20Kaska  

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/www.kathleenkaska.com  

Purchase Links - Anamcara Press - Amazon