Pleats and Poison - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Lucinda Race to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Lucinda writes the Dress Designer Cozy Mystery series. PLEATS AND POISON is the third book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: In PLEATS AND POISON Claudia Grant is hosting Thanksgiving dinner for seven guests—and one ghost, making her famous mac and cheese. Mac and cheese was never part of my Thanksgiving Day dinners. Was it on your Turkey Day menu? What's your Thanksgiving specialty?

LR: It wasn’t a part of mine either, but my son-in-law said it was on his table every year, so I thought it’d be fun to incorporate that into this story. Also I plan on making macaroni and cheese next Thanksgiving. I love traditions. 

Kathy: Claudia is a fashion-savvy psychic. Do you believe in psychics and mediums? Have you met any? 

LR: I have talked with a medium. She seemed to know a lot about me and my future, most of which came true. But I guess Claudia is more of a ghost whisperer and less psychic in that sense. 

Kathy: I am decidedly not fashion savvy? Are you? Do you follow fashion trends or even sew yourself? 

LR: I have sewn a lot in my life, from tailored jackets to Halloween costumes and Christmas stockings. As far as fashion is concerned, I don’t follow the trends, but I love classic looks and comfortable clothes. Give me a great pair of jeans, a soft blouse and blazer and comfortable cowboy boots and I’m happy. 

Kathy: Claudia has a best friend and a ghostly sidekick. Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever had a ghostly encounter? 

LR: I do believe in ghosts and angels. When I purchased my current home, my daughter was home alone and swore she heard heels clicking on the living room floor. It popped out of my mouth that it was George making sure she was doing her homework, and it stuck. 

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

LR: I’ve devoured mystery books since I could read. I’ve loved Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and of course Agatha Christie books are a perennial favorite. I never thought I could write one. I don’t plot books, I’m what’s called a pantser and I thought to write a great cozy I’d have to change how I write. But I gave it a try and found a method that works for me. It’s a blast! 

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

LR: I write small town contemporary romance and I have three connected series. 


Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

LR: The McKenna Family Romance Series” Strong Women and the Strong Men who love them. 

The Price Family Romance Series: Family, wine and second chances—the perfect vintage for happily ever afters.

The Cowboys of River Junction: Welcome to the small-town cowboy romance series where fans call these sweet romances: "stories chock-full of emotion.".

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

LR: Having a favorite character is like asking if I have a favorite kid. I love them all, but each main female characters in my books have snippets of my daughters. 

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

LR: Life inspires me. My favorite pastime is to sit and observe the smallest action or detail while people and daily activities swirl around me. It’s from those experiences that my stories are crafted. 

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

LR: I love a challenge, and my husband asked, Why not? So I did and now 45+ books later, here I am. 

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

LR: Agatha Christie: Mystery

Nora Roberts: Romance and Suspense

Jane Austen: Romance/ Literary Realism

Dan Brown: Suspense 

Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

LR: The Vampire Knitting Club Mystery Series and a book on golf.

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

LR: I adore gardening, flowers and veggies. I love to read and my TBR list is HUGE and I love cooking and baking for family and friends. Oh and I just took up golf again after 2- years away from the links.

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

LR: Light cream, Coke, Salsa, and chocolate in the meat keeper. J
 

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

LR: For the Craft and Ghost Cozy Mysteries series, there will be more books, if I had to say now, at least 9 more. I also have a non-paranormal series I’m writing and another spin- off to the Bookstore Cozy Mystery Series, the Witches of Robins Pointe. 

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

LR: Meeting and talking with readers who may have enjoyed my books or who are interested in trying one for the first time. I love talking books with others, it makes me very happy.

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 Pleats & Poison: A Craft and Ghost Cozy Mystery (A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery Series) by Lucinda Race

About Pleats & Poison

Pleats & Poison: A Craft and Ghost Cozy Mystery (A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Coastal Town of Drakes Bay
Publisher: ‎ MC Two Press
Publication Date: ‎ August 6, 2025
Digital Print length: ‎ 222 pages

Enjoy this humorous, small-town, psychic, cozy mystery by best-selling and award-winning Lucinda Race. A fashion-savvy psychic, one haunted Thanksgiving, and a pleated skirt that’s dressed to kill. Hosting Thanksgiving dinner for seven guests—and one ghost—is all in a day’s work for Claudia Grant. Between whipping up her famous mac and cheese and debuting her boutique’s latest fall fashion, Claudia’s ready to impress her visiting mom and stylish grandmother. Her cozy coastal town of Drakes Bay is the perfect backdrop for family, food, and fresh starts—especially when Gram falls in love with a pleated skirt and sweater ensemble from Claudia’s shop. But when a spilled glass of orange juice leads to a shocking discovery—a guest at the neighboring Whistlers Inn is found dead, and the very same pleated skirt wrapped around her neck—Claudia's holiday cheer unravels fast. Now, with her best friend Beth and a ghostly sidekick in tow, Claudia must piece together a tangled mystery before the killer skips town... and before the secrets hidden in the folds come back to haunt them all. She’d rather be sewing hemlines than following clues—but if Claudia can’t stitch together the truth in time, someone else might be the next to check out… permanently. Pleats & Poison is the third book in the A Dress Designer Cozy Mystery series from award-winning author Lucinda Race. Cozy up, settle in, and prepare to be haunted… in the best possible way!

About Lucinda Race

Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of fiction who fell in love with cozy mysteries and romance novels as a young girl. While her childhood friends dreamed of becoming doctors and engineers, Lucinda was already dreaming of crafting captivating novels filled with heart, hope, and happily ever afters.

Though her writing journey began with nonfiction, her passion for storytelling never wavered. She returned to her true calling—creating the beloved McKenna Family Romance series and the Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore Series—writing the kinds of stories she loves to read. Whether she’s weaving a heartwarming romance or a cozy mystery, her fingers practically fly across the keyboard.

Lucinda lives in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts with her little dog— a shih tzu mix rescue—who is always by her side. When she’s not immersed in writing mystery, suspense, or romance, she’s curled up with a book, devouring everything she can get her hands on.

Social Media Links: https://twitter.com/LucindaRace  

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Bookbub Lucinda Race https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucinda-race  

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lucinda-Race/e/B00Q0MMNUM 

Lucinda’s Heart Racers Reader Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/118597305361578  

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucinda-race-947099140/  

Purchase Links Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble Smashwords Google Play Goodreads BookBub

In the Blink of a Pie - A Review

 Review

IN THE BLINK OF A PIE by Catherine Bruns
The Third Maple Syrup Mystery

To prepare for the holiday season manager Leila Khoury decides to try something new to bring more business to her family's maple syrup farm. The inaugural pie baking competition at Sappy Endings turns tragic, however when the curmudgeonly Margaret Middleton dies after helping herself to a piece of pie. But was Margaret the intended victim? She wasn't even supposed to eat the pie. Leila was. As business rapidly declines, Leila decides she can't wait for the police to solve the murder and, with her good friend Heather, starts nosing around. Unfortunately, it soon becomes evident that the killer isn't through and it's more than Sappy Endings' bottom line that's in trouble.

Despite the danger the third Maple Syrup Mystery gives plenty of warm fuzzies. Leila and Noah have a wonderful relationship that's growing stronger every day. The pair compliment each other so well. I also love how Leila and Selma are repairing their relationship, growing closer, despite Jenna's infiltration. Of course Heather is the best bestie and I love Toast most of all. It's this love, familial, romantic, and friendly, that makes you care about Sappy Endings and the people who make it special.

Even though I knew who the killer was halfway though the novel, as well as the motive, it didn't dim my enjoyment in the least. I watched as Leila followed red herring after red herring and wondered when she would finally realize the truth. I also figured out Emma's issue well before Leila or even Noah...and I don't even like kids! As annoying as I found Emma's behavior, I have to commend her actions at the end of the book.

With ratcheting drama IN THE BLINK OF A PIE captures the warmth of family and the delight of good food even as an unknown person threatens everything!

Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas - A Review & Giveaway

Review

MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS
By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran
The Fifty-Ninth Murder, She Wrote Mystery

Cabot Cove, Maine is gearing up for the holidays, but this year, instead of the usual events, they're going all out. As Cabot Cove tries to be named the state's best holiday destination Jessica Fletcher finds herself on more than one committee! But holiday planning is interrupted when real estate agent Eve Simpson tries to sell the old Jarvis place to Boston tycoon John Bragdon and his wife, Rose Marie. Not only do the rich couple arrive in town, but so does long lost Kenny Jarvis. It's not long after Kenny threatens Rose Marie, saying she'll never live in his house that death comes to Cabot Cove. Was it natural causes, an accident, or murder? Jessica will have to add solve a mysterious death to her holiday to do list.

It's always a treat to visit Cabot Cove, a charming town with fun characters we know and love and murder! The majority of MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS concentrates on providing a holiday atmosphere. From the Thanksgiving preparations and meal to the organization of multiple holiday events there was a hint of mystery with the long lost Kenny and sale of his childhood home, but no dead bodies until halfway through the book. That didn't bother me, however, as I enjoyed hanging around town with Jessica and getting into the holiday spirit.

There were a few mysteries going on in this fifty-ninth Murder, She Wrote Mystery. Where is Kenny and what is he planning to do? Are the judges for the Christmas contest coming to town? Just what's going on with this power couple and their entourage? The murder itself was curious; was it even a murder? It was. And a unique one at that. I love how Jessica goes about solving the case, quietly and unobtrusively, all the while preparing for the holidays.

If you're looking for a charming holiday themed mystery MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS might just be your perfect cup of tea.

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 Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran

About Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas

Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas
Cozy Mystery 59th in Series
Setting - Maine
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (October 8, 2024)
Hardcover: ‎ 272 pages

It’s Christmastime in Cabot Cove, but there’s more homicide than ho-ho-ho in the newest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series. Christmas is not an easy time to sell a house, but in Boston tycoon John Bragdon, Cabot Cove Realtor Eve Simpson has found a buyer for the old Jarvis homestead. Unfortunately, Eve gets a lump of coal in her stocking in the form of Kenny Jarvis, who has been missing for years and presumed dead but has now come back to stop his sister from selling their childhood home. Eve presses on, organizing a welcome dinner for Bragdon and his wife, Marlene, to meet the leading citizens of the town, including Jessica Fletcher. Dinner is interrupted by an uninvited guest—not Santa but Kenny, who threateningly promises Marlene she will never live in his house. When Marlene is found dead a few days later, Kenny is the natural suspect. But Jessica isn′t so sure he′s on the naughty list . . .

About the Authors

Along with Jessica Fletcher, Terrie Farley Moran co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series including Murder, She Wrote: Killer on the Court. She is the author of the Read ‘Em and Eat cozy mystery series and also co-writes the Scrapbooking Mysteries with Laura Childs. Recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer Awards, Moran has published numerous mystery short stories. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is hanging out with any or all of her seven grandchildren.

Author Links – Webpage Facebook  

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

 

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Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Murder, She Wrote: A Killer Christmas by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. This is the fifty-ninth book in the Murder, She Wrote Mystery series and was released yesterday!

Cabot Cove, Maine is gearing up for the holidays, but this year, instead of the usual events, they're going all out. As Cabot Cove gears up to be named the states best holiday destination Jessica Fletcher finds herself on more than one committee! But holiday planning is interrupted when real estate agent Eve Simpson tries to sell the old Jarvis place to Boston tycoon John Bragdon and his wife, Rose Marie. Not only do the rich couple arrive in town, but so does long lost Kenny Jarvis. It's not long after Kenny threatens Rose Marie, saying she'll never live in his house that death comes to Cabot Cove. Was it natural causes, an accident, or murder? Jessica will have to add solve a mysterious death to her holiday to do list.

Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys - A Review

 Review

MRS. CLAUS AND THE TROUBLE WITH TURKEYS by Liz Ireland
The Fourth Mrs. Claus Mystery 

 

While Christmas is the holiday around which Santaland revolves, April Claus is slowly trying to introduce other holidays. What better than Thanksgiving, a day to be grateful, as well as indulge in turkey, stuffing, and a variety of desserts. Elves adore a celebration and have taken the idea and run with it. Instead of one day of thanks, a whole week of festivities is planned. April has even ordered a live turkey, that the family will feast on. But April has more to worry about than learning to march while drumming. Gobbles has been stolen, a Claus cousin has been murdered, and April is a suspect! Will she be able to find the missing turkey and solve a murder before Thanksgiving Day?

 

Once again Liz Ireland has given us a rollicking good time in the frozen North. A bird-napping, a murder, and a wild elf on the loose make Santaland's first Thanksgiving memorable. I love how April is sharing the customs from down South by bringing other holidays to Santaland. I especially love how the elves embrace these celebrations. A parade replete with marching band, twirlers, along with a special surprise, Thanksgiving songs (well, song), and plenty of food to feast on make a celebration more grand than those in the USA! Of course, no holiday with April runs smoothly. I'm still agog at her culinary contribution to Amory's table...that makes her a murder suspect. I am delighted by the police float and enjoy the misfit reindeer getting a chance to shine. Multiple mysteries, the missing Gobbles, the murdered cousin, and the weird best friend behavior, kept me enthralled.

Funny and heartfelt MRS. CLAUS AND THE TROUBLE WITH TURKEYS is an entertaining holiday read, even if it makes you reconsider eating turkey on Thanksgiving.

 

Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys - A Spotlight

It's Thanksgiving week so I thought I'd shine a spotlight Mrs. Claus and the Trouble with Turkeys by Liz Ireland. This book is the fourth book in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series. I had hoped to have read it by now...hopefully I'll be able to read and review before Christmas. In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek.

 Blurb:

At Castle Kringle, the elves are excitedly arranging their first ever Thanksgiving day feast. April’s husband, Nick—the real Santa—has some misgivings, since it’s tough to get ready for Christmas when everyone is obsessed with helium balloons and pie recipes. Chaos erupts when Gobbles, the live turkey imported for the castle feast, is bird-napped. That crime is quickly overshadowed at a pre-Thanksgiving potluck when Nick’s cousin, Elspeth, face-plants into her mashed potatoes—dead.
 
Someone poisoned Elspeth, and April believes Constable Crinkle is hauling the wrong suspect off to jail. An ominous message, written in what seems to be blood and urging April to stop investigating, only convinces her more. But who’s really to blame? Where is Gobbles the turkey? And can April solve a double helping of mystery in time for everyone to sit down to a non-deadly dinner together?

Overdue or Die - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

OVERDUE OR DIE by Allison Brook
The Seventh Haunted Library Mystery

After a trying renovation, the new addition to the library is finally opening. In addition to providing much needed programming space, the library is also kicking off an art exhibit with paintings on loan from the debonair Victor Zalinka. With the grand opening overshadowed by a woman claiming the building actually belonged to her and worry that one of her employees is about to be poached by a local art gallery librarian Carrie Singleton barely has time to plan her wedding to Dylan. But when Dylan spots a forgery among Victor's paintings and gallery owner Martha Mallory winds up dead, murder becomes Carrie's main concern.

Art forgery, affairs, and one rotten family dominate the seventh Haunted Bookshop Mystery. I love how Dylan's expertise marries with Carrie's as they work to solve the mystery together...along with the Sheriff, of course. I also really like how Carrie has grown since her arrival in Clover Ridge. And honestly, I'd be as possessive as she is about the new library wing. 

There were plenty of people to distrust and dislike in OVERDUE OR DIE, with a crime boss even making an appearance-and he was a character I liked! The plot skillfully weaved around art fraud, murder, and wedding preparations with some characters proving to have more depth than I'd originally thought. The ghostly Evelyn didn't make much of an appearance in this entry, but never having cared for her, I didn't miss her, although the haunted library wasn't very haunted.

With overlapping crimes OVERDUE OR DIE is an engaging and entertaining mystery that will keep you on your toes!

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Overdue or Die (A Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook

About Overdue or Die

Overdue or Die (A Haunted Library Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 7th in Series
Setting - Connecticut
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)
Hardcover: ‎ 304 pages

Carrie Singleton has a wedding to plan, a killer to catch, and a conspiracy to uncover in this charming seventh novel of Agatha Award-nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.

Carrie Singleton has more than her fair share on her plate: her job at the Clover Ridge Library, preparing for her wedding to Dylan Avery, and hoping that the local art gallery doesn’t steal away one of her part-time employees. Her fiancé Dylan accompanies her to the beautiful home of Victor Zalinka—art collector and successful businessman—to select paintings for an art show at the library. While Carrie muses that Victor's home would be the perfect wedding venue, Dylan spots a forgery among the paintings in Victor's collection. Then Martha Mallory is found murdered in her art gallery. With the assistance of Evelyn, the library ghost; the resident cat, Smoky Joe; and the office manager of Dylan’s private investigation company, Carrie comes up with a suspect list long enough to rival the size of an encyclopedia. During her investigation, Carrie stumbles across a terrible truth: Martha’s murder was part of something far bigger and more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. And it all leads back to the art gallery. How far will Carrie go to find the killer and uncover the truth? If the killer finds her first—will Carrie finally be taken out of circulation?

About Allison Brook

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook, she writes the Haunted Library series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Her juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Children's Choice and has recently come out in a new edition. And Don't Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards.

Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids.

Author Links: 

Website and Sign Up for My Newsletter: http://www.marilynlevinson.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson; https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook  

My Amazon Page: http://amzn.to/K6Md1O 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson  

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/  

Purchase Links : Amazon B&N Bookshop.org Kobo Penguin Random House (has links to many sellers) 

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Hot Pot Murder - A Review

 Review

HOT POT MURDER by Jennifer J. Chow
The Second L. A. Night Market Mystery 

Yale Yee was looking forward to a nice Thanksgiving dinner with her father and cousin, but her plans got derailed by the Asian American Restaurant Owners Association. Instead of a quiet turkey dinner with family, everyone's going to Ho's for Hot Pot to brainstorm with members of the association. Before the group even begins to eat, AAROA president Jeffery Vue suffers an immense shock. Detective Strauss believes it's murder and considers Mrs. Ho a good suspect. Confident after recently solving a murder at the Night Market and believing Auntie Ai innocent, Yale and her cousin, Celine, decide to track down the real killer.  

In the second L. A. Night Market Mystery the characters immediately drew me in. I love the dynamics between the older generation and the younger. When another table had to be added to accommodate everyone at the Thanksgiving event I had to laugh as the younger people were relegated to a kids' table. It was fascinating to discover more about Celine's relationship with her parents as well as uncovering more about Yale's grief and fears after the loss of her mother.

The mystery itself was intriguing and I enjoyed how Yale and Celine investigated, playing on each other's strengths and having each other's backs. Suspicious behaviors, police dealings, and association politics make for a fun and intriguing read.

HOT POT MURDER highlights family and relationships while providing a tasty mystery filled with good food.

Cold Drip - A Review

 Review

COLD DRIP by Heather Day Gilbert
The Sixth Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery 

It's Thanksgiving week and Macy Hatfield is excited as her boyfriend, Titan, is coming into town for the whole week. Touring the area, the couple go on a self guided tour of the nearby caverns. When the lights suddenly go out a scream pierces the darkness. Apparently one of the socialites fell down a chasm while taking a selfie. When the woman's body isn't found, despite search and rescue efforts, Macy starts looking into the rich woman's social circle. Will Macy be able to enjoy the holiday and time with her family and friends? Or will her search for the truth put her life in jeopardy? 

Snobbishness, cliques, and the rich generally aren't in Macy Hatfield's wheelhouse, but in the sixth Barks and Beans mystery she gets pulled into that set. I enjoyed seeing Macy navigate this world, while also spending time with Titan as well as the wonderful shelter dogs who visit the cafe. There were plenty of suspects to dislike and I enjoyed the surprising twists and turns the investigation took.

COLD DRIP is a well plotted mystery filled with wonderful characters in a charming setting with the added bonus of promoting the adoption of shelter dogs.

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading Cold Drip by Heather Day Gilbert. This book is the sixth in the Barks and Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery series.

It's Thanksgiving week and Macy Hatfield is excited as her boyfriend, Titan, is coming into town for the whole week. Touring the area, the couple go on a self guided tour of the nearby caverns. When the lights suddenly go out a scream pierces the darkness. Apparently one of the socialites fell down a chasm while taking a selfie. When the woman's body isn't found, despite search and rescue efforts, Macy starts looking into the rich woman's social circle. Will Macy be able to enjoy the holiday and time with her family and friends? Or will her search for the truth put her life in jeopardy?

Trapping, Turkeys, & Thanksgiving - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a Thanksgiving themed mystery released just last week. Trapping, Turkeys, & Thanksgiving by Tonya Kappes is the twenty-eighth book in the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series.

Blurb:

Mae West is bound and determined to stay in shape for her wedding day and with all the delicious southern dessert Mary Elizabeth is serving for Thanksgiving Mae has joined the local running group to race in Thanksgiving’s annual Turkey Trot.

She never figured murder would be on the menu and a couple of people she loves have a perfect motive.

The list of suspects isn’t exactly brief especially when one of the governor’s recently pardoned prisoner is at the top of the list. Mae has a pretty full plate between trying to plan a wedding that will satisfy everyone, keeping Dottie in line as well as trying to get a long with her future mother in law.

So what’s a little investigation to keep her mind off things? If Mae’s not careful, she may find herself served up as a last-minute course with all the trimmings.

 

The Angels' Share - A Spotlight

There are times I get behind in mystery series, even favorite series I really enjoy. Such is the case with the Wine Country Mystery series by Ellen Crosby. So today I'd like to shine a spotlight on its most recent release, The Angels' Share.

THE ANGELS' SHARE by Ellen Crosby
The Tenth Wine Country Mystery

 

Blurb:

 

When Lucie Montgomery attends a Thanksgiving weekend party for friends and neighbors at Hawthorne Castle, an honest-to-goodness castle owned by the Avery family, the last great newspaper dynasty in America and owner of the Washington Tribune, she doesn’t expect the festive occasion to end in death.

During the party, Prescott Avery, the 95-year old family patriarch, invites Lucie to his fabulous wine cellar where he offers to pay any price for a cache of 200-year-old Madeira that her great-great-uncle, a Prohibition bootlegger, discovered hidden in the US Capitol in the 1920s. Lucie knows nothing about the valuable wine, believing her late father, a notorious gambler and spendthrift, probably sold or drank it. By the end of the party Lucie and her fiancé, winemaker Quinn Santori, discover Prescott’s body lying in his wine cellar. Is one of the guests a murderer?

As Lucie searches for the lost Madeira, which she believes links Prescott’s death to a cryptic letter her father owned, she learns about Prescott’s affiliation with the Freemasons. More investigating hints at a mysterious vault supposedly containing documents hidden by the Founding Fathers and a possible tie to William Shakespeare. If Lucie finds the long-lost documents, the explosive revelations could change history. But will she uncover a three hundred-year-old secret before a determined killer finds her?

 

 

Reflections on a Small-Town Life - A Turkey Basted to Death Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm happy to welcome Jolie Tucker to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Jolie on the pages of the Cast Iron Skillet Mystery series by Jodie Rath. Turkey Basted to Death is a novella, making it the second and a half book in the series. It was released on November 15, 2019.

Reflections on s Small-Town Life

Hi all, I’m Jolie Tucker, and I live in Leavensport, Ohio—born and raised here. I’ve grown up with a crew of interesting friends that still live here too. My best friend, Ava Martinez, and I co-own a restaurant called Cast Iron Creations. She runs the front of the house, and I stay in the kitchen and cook and test out new recipes. Most of the recipes come from my Grandma Opal, and they were passed down from generations in our family.

I’m finding the longer I live, the more things from my past I need to deal with. A few years back, I would not have felt this way. Last year, a new detective came to work in the village—he’s ten years older than me—and, well, yeah, a lot of things have changed in my life since then. I’ve always struggled to trust people in general, but especially men. When Mick Meiser showed up, that all changed . . . until he lied about a huge situation in his life.

Recently, I started some therapy sessions to get to the core of my trust issues. These sessions have helped me remember some things from my past while helping me understand who I am and why I’m the way I am. I’m finding that I’m more involved in the politics of our village life lately, too. Urban sprawl has been an issue that popped up recently—and I will soon learn more about gentrification as well.

I’ve always felt that even though I come from a small town, the villagers and myself are all open-minded and tolerant people. With time, I’m learning that I need to broaden my horizons in understanding how society works and find better ways to communicate effectively when issues arise.

This Thanksgiving is going to be a wild ride! Ava’s family is back from Santo Domingo, and the entire village is gathering at the community center to celebrate the holiday together. Ava and I are in charge of most of the catering for a holiday. I’ve been warned that things will not go as planned, and I have a horrible feeling in my stomach. The last year has brought more crime to our little village, and I’m hoping I don’t find myself smack in the middle of another murder investigation!

Welcome to Leavensport, OH, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUS turn!

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Turkey Basted to Death (The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series) by Jodi Rath

About Turkey Basted to Death

 

Turkey Basted to Death (The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series)  

Cozy Mystery 2.5 in the Series - A Holiday Book 

MYS ED LLC (November 15, 2019) Number of Pages 133 pages

Thanksgiving is here, and Jolie Tucker has had quite the year! She is ready to sit back and relax with family and friends. But this is Leavensport, OH—so get ready for intense therapy sessions, dysfunctional family holiday gatherings, uninvited guests, and an inner-city teen advocate found DEAD—stabbed in the ear with the turkey baster!

Welcome to Leavensport, OH, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUS turn!

About the Author

Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her seven cats.

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Too Much Christmas? Is that even possible? - A Silent Night, Deadly Night Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm happy to allow Vicki Delany to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. Vicki writes the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Silent Night, Deadly Night is the fourth book in the series and was released last Tuesday.

Too Much Christmas? Is that even possible?

By Vicki Delany

July 2019

I love Christmas. Almost everyone loves Christmas.

Although most of us would agree that Christmas can come too soon. We complain (I certainly do) about decorations in the stores and seasonal ads on TV before summer’s even over, never mind Halloween arrived.

But still, a lot of us do our shopping ahead of time. I know people who buy decorations for next year the week after this year’s Christmas, and who start shopping around the time they put away the New Years’ Decorations. Certainly, it’s a wise woman (or man) who starts her baking in plenty of time. A traditional Christmas cake or old-fashioned English pudding, full of rum or brandy, or sometimes both, needs to be started months ahead to be perfect for the big day.

And it’s precisely to help out those early birds that the town of Rudolph, New York celebrates Christmas all year round.

Don’t rush to your atlases or Google maps looking for Rudolph because I made it up. It’s the town at the center of my series, the Year Round Christmas mysteries from Berkley.

Rudolph wants to be known as America’s Christmas Town and everything in Rudolph is about celebrating the holidays. All year round. They have a Santa Claus parade twice a year. The usual one the first Saturday in December, and then another for Christmas in July.

In Rudolph everyone gets into the spirit of the thing. Victoria’s Bake Shoppe is famous for its gingerbread. There’s Candy Cane Sweets, the North Pole Ice Cream Parlour, The Elves Lunchbox, Cranberries Coffee Bar, Touch of Holly Restaurant, The Yuletide Inn, the Carolers Motel. (Looking at this list it seems as though the residents and visitors to Rudolph like to eat a lot.)

The series protagonist is Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. Merry’s dad, Noel, is Santa Claus. Yes, Merry knows that he isn’t really Santa, but she does sometimes wonder. He has a way of knowing exactly what someone wants before even they do.

Merry loves Christmas, but it is a heck of a lot of work. She would never tell the residents of Rudolph, but she actually prefers Thanksgiving g to Christmas. As she explains:

I love Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday. Don’t tell anyone in Rudolph, but I love Thanksgiving even more than Christmas. My mom and dad always make turkey with all the fixings – walnut and sage stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, a squash casserole, two types of pie. It’s my chance to take one last long deep breath before plunging head first into the madness of the holiday season.

I love Christmas too - my dad is Santa Claus after all - but now that I own the store, when Christmas Day itself arrives I’m totally exhausted. That’s a day to sit back, feet up, mug of hot chocolate in hand, open a few gifts at my parents’ house, and then have a hearty brunch and go to bed early before opening the shop the next morning for the after-Christmas sales.

                                                                                                                 

Silent Night, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany

Whether Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or even Christmas in July is your favourite holiday, there’s someplace for you in Rudolph, America’s Year Round Christmas destination.

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Silent Night, Deadly Night (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery) by Vicki Delany

 

About the Book

Silent Night, Deadly Night (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery)  

Cozy Mystery 4th in Series  

Berkley (August 27, 2019)  

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages 

Residents of Rudolph keep the spirit of Christmas alive year-round—but their joy is threatened when a group of grinches visits the town, in the charming fourth installment of the Year-Round Christmas series.

It's the week before Thanksgiving, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures, is preparing for a weekend reunion of her mother's college friends. But when the group of women comes into Merry's shop, Merry is met with frosty attitudes and cold hearts.

The women argue amongst themselves constantly, and the bickering only intensifies after one of the friends is poisoned. With her father's role as Santa in danger due to his proximity to the crime, Merry will need to use all of her investigative gifts to wrap this mystery up and save Santa and her favorite holiday.

About the Author

 

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea By The Sea mysteries, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year Round Christmas mysteries and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series.

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Instagram: vickidelany  

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