A Purrfect Date - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a light on a recent release that's on my TBR pile. A Purrfect Date by Alex Erickson is the second book in the Cat Yoga Mystery series and was released last week.

 Blurb:

Up-and-comer Ashley Branson usually aims to keep both feet placed firmly on the ground—unless she’s instructing a class at her trendy cat yoga studio. But she soon finds herself caught in a downward spiral when a stretch beyond her comfort zone leads to murder . . .

Ashley Branson is sure of one thing after experiencing a disastrous blind date—she would much rather enjoy the single life and hang out with playful felines at her studio, A Purrfect Pose, than ever compromise her inner peace like that again. When the mysterious guy makes a late arrival then has the nerve to dine and dash, it’s embarrassing. But when he winds up dead in his apartment that same night? Ash suddenly finds herself thrust into a twisted murder investigation and questioning if she might be shaping up to be the suspect . . . or the next victim.

Ash races to claw through a web of lies, hidden identities, and love lives even more complicated than her own to uncover the truth. Adding to the chaos, she believes her shifty neighbor—covered in unexplained injuries and rumored to harbor a crush on her—could be connected to the crime. Now, with more leads than she needs, Ash must take a deep breath, pull on her big-girl leggings, and move faster than the cunning killer who wants to put her in corpse pose for good . . .

An Escape Goat - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

 

AN ESCAPE GOAT by Janna Rollins
The First Zen Goat Mystery

Callie Haybeck has started a new adventure. Moving in with her long lost aunt and uncle she’s giving yoga retreats on their farm. The main draw to her sessions are the adorable baby goats featured in her goat yoga classes. After all, who can be unhappy with cute baby goats cavorting around and even on top of them. Her excitement at leading her first group fizzles however, when she discovers two of the women are nothing more than rich mean girls. Looking down on Callie and the farm with snide cutting remarks the retreat is not off to an auspicious start. Callie’s hopes for a better second day are dashed when she finds the body of one of the women in the barn. With a murder victim on her first retreat Callie’s going to need more than baby goats to find inner peace. 

Mean girls get their comeuppance in the first Zen Goat Mystery, but murder may put Callie Haybeck out of business before she truly begins! Callie is an interesting protagonist. Klutzy, earnest, and kind, she's also flighty and immature, but I sense this series will have her growing before our eyes. Her wonderful great aunt and uncle are slowly starting to ground her. As you can tell I love Aunt Ellen and Uncle Will. These salt of the earth octogenarians are feisty and fun. I like how her relationship with her new found cousin is growing and I am seriously disliking both of their fathers! 

I enjoyed the mystery, even though I knew who the murderer was early on. I still enjoyed learning about the other characters and their very solid motives. I really enjoyed the ultimate confrontation between Callie and the killer, assisted by two of my favorite characters. I also enjoyed the secondary plot, that of Callie finding her lost relatives and what happened to cause the family to split.

AN ESCAPE GOAT is a fun start to a new series that had me wishing I could sample Aunt Ellen's delicious cooking then practice yoga with adorable goats in a charming country setting.

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An Escape Goat: A Zen Goat Mystery by Janna Rollins

About An Escape Goat 

An Escape Goat: A Zen Goat Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - New Hampshire
Publisher: ‎ Level Best Books (March 12, 2024)
Print length: ‎ 265 pages

After finding long-lost family through a DNA test, Callie heads to Bobwhite Hollow, New Hampshire, to meet a great-uncle she never knew existed. Charmed by the village and more than half in love with her new family, she decides to stay and open a goat yoga studio and retreat space.

When retreat guest Angilene Claudson turns up dead with a wine glass shattered at her side and Callie’s favorite goat lapping up the spill, the death is written off as an accidental overdose. But when the goat gets sick, Callie’s gut tells her it wasn’t an accident at all. With her new business on the line and a possible murderer staying in the guesthouse, Callie sets to work to uncover the truth and keep her family safe.

About Janna Rollins

When Janna Rollins isn't writing, she likes to thumb through New England-based magazines and drool over the pictures. She has a love for red barns, goats, and genealogy. Janna can be found showing her socially awkward side on Facebook or sharing pictures of her tiny one-acre farm on Instagram. She is a member of Sister In Crime, and also writes the Hometown Hardware Mystery series as Paula Charles. Janna lives in Southwestern Washington with her husband and a whole menagerie of furry and feathered critters.

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.paulacharles.com  

FB: Rainy Day Mysteries - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556817479811  

IG: rainy_day_mysteries - https://www.instagram.com/rainy_day_mysteries  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209244230-an-escape-goat  

Purchase Links Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - Powell's Books -

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Bad Pick - A Review & Giveaway

Review

BAD PICK by Linda Lovely

The Third Brie Hooker Mystery

Looking to add more interest, and money, to Udderly Kidding Dairy, Brie Hooker decides to hold goat yoga on the property. Not everyone is smitten with cute kids, and members of the Temple of True Believers descend on the dairy vowing to put an end to the devil worship. It's one of their own that's found dead, however, in most unusual circumstances. Was it a tragic accident? When the daughter of the prime zealot is also found dead, after eating a meal prepared by Brie, the church declares holy war accusing Brie of murder! Will Brie and her devoted family and friends be able to withstand food poisoning, religious extremists, and dirty politicians? Or will Brie lose her B&B before it even opens? Worse, will she find herself the victim of yet another "accidental" death? 

Holy Havarti! Brie Harper is back with her unique curses, two beaus, cute goats, and murder and I'm happy to read another of her adventures. Wealthy men doing what they want and stopping anyone who tries to stop them, or hold them accountable for their actions, is a sad reality today and Linda Lovely tackles the subject in this mystery. I love the idea of goat yoga and thought that was a brilliant addition to Udderly farm, and amazingly, a motive for murder. I find Utopian societies and cults fascinating and some mind boggling. How anyone can associate yoga with Satanism and baby goats with devil worship is beyond me. The fictional Temple of True Believers found in this book believe just that and while there is some humor in the pages, sadly these beliefs aren't as funny when held by people in the real world.

While I enjoyed the climatic scenes at the end of the book, I left feeling as if this mystery wasn't over. The answers were too pat and I don't believe a certain character. Brie shares my suspicion and I wonder if we'll hear more about the people in a future book. Otherwise, I think someone just got away with murder. I appreciated the other conclusion, that of the romantic triangle. While I like both Andy and Paint, I'm pleased Linda Lovely didn't allow the triangle to go on too long and had Brie choose. I just hope the title doesn't reference this choice!

BAD PICK is a character driven mystery with plenty of humor that also deals with topics that are quite relevant and timely most notably the ability of wealthy young men to abuse women with no repercussions. I had fun reading this book and look forward to Brie's next adventure.

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BAD PICK

by Linda Lovely

on Tour April 1-May 31, 2019

Synopsis:

Vegan Brie Hooker lives and works with her feisty Aunt Eva at Udderly Kidding Dairy, a hop, skip, and jump away from South Carolina’s Clemson University. Brie’s fun farm outreach attempt backfires when religious extremists decide goat yoga is a form of devil worship. Believing one of the zealots might be persuaded to see reason, Brie’s free-wheeling friend Mollye convinces her they should call on the young woman. Big mistake.

Picketers at Udderly’s gates soon become the least of Brie’s troubles. Not only is she accused of murder, she worries the death might actually be her fault. Danger mounts when an old family friend’s visit ensnares Brie in a high-stakes feud between a U.S. Supreme Court nominee and the woman determined to expose his secrets. In her personal life, Brie’s still torn between the town’s two most eligible bachelors. While she’s edging toward a decision, she must first survive a cunning killer adept at crafting murders that look like tragic accidents. Will Brie be another “accident” victim? Pay a visit to Udderly Kidding Dairy and find out!

Praise for Bad Pick

"There's such a lot to enjoy in Linda Lovely's third Brie Hooker mystery Bad Pick. Of course, I came for the goat yoga and the religious extremists (I'm only human), but I stayed for the love triangle, the female friendships, the family members rubbing along so realistically, the sidelights on vegan cooking and the rich depiction of small-town life. And what kept me flicking the pages fast enough to cause a draft? The twisty, knotty, killer plot underneath all that charm. Bad Pick is a good un!"—Catriona McPherson, Multi-Award-Winning Author of the Last Ditch Mysteries.

“Wow! In Bad Pick, Lovely wrote an amazing novel only to see one part of the plot come to life in headlines all over the country. A fringe religious cult, a Supreme Court nominee, and goat yoga combine together in a tale that fans of mysteries won’t want to miss. –Sherry Harris, Agatha Award Nominee and Author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mysteries.

“The Brie Hooker mysteries from author Linda Lovely continue to entertain, this time with extremists who really don't like the farm's new goat yoga offering. You'll find yourself muttering, "What the feta?" as you follow the action around not one but two murders from the edge of your seat. Fix yourself a chevre sandwich and sit down to enjoy a delightful - and suspense-filled - read.”—Edith Maxwell, Author of the Local Foods Mysteries and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries.

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Henery Press
Publication Date: April 16, 2019
Number of Pages: 270
ISBN: 9781635114744
Series: Brie Hooker Mystery Series
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

ONE

“How many people did you con into trying this goat yoga?” Aunt Eva asked as she slapped two strips of cold bacon in a skillet.
“No conning needed,” I answered. “Everyone’s looking forward to the class.”
“You sure goat yoga’s a good idea?”
I laughed. “I’m sure. People love it. Admittedly, a sense of humor’s required, but it’s caught on all across the country. Why don’t you join the fun? Class starts at three. We don’t have many Sunday customers this time of year. We’ll probably have the farm to ourselves by then. You up for some downward-facing dog?”
“No.” Eva harrumphed. “Don’t go insulting our noble dogs. Bad enough you’ll expose our baby goats to human pretzels. It’s bound to confuse the poor kids. Won’t know which human end is supposed to be up. They’ll think all us two-legged beings are bonkers. So who’s coming?”
“Jayla, our yoga instructor, wanted to limit the trial class to four students so it’s just Mollye, Fara, Mimi, and me.”
I pulled out a bag of frozen blueberries I’d picked at the Happy Berry Farm last summer. While Udderly Kidding Dairy, my home for the past seven months, boasted dozens of blueberry bushes, our four-hundred goats called first dibs on the fruit.
“Oh, and Paint’s shooting video to promote the class,” I added.
Aunt Eva chuckled as she flipped her sizzling bacon strips. “Not a hardship for Paint, videoing young ladies in nothing but skivvies and tutus.”
I glanced heavenward. “We don’t wear tutus. Our workout clothes show less skin than you do on the Fourth of July.”
Eva cocked an eyebrow. “Could be you’re helping Paint select babes for the weeks he’s not your designated beau.”
I opened the cupboard and grabbed a microwave packet of steel-cut oatmeal. “Paint sees a variety of ladies when we’re not dating, and he knows everyone in this class. No behind-the-camera scouting required.”
“Maybe, but as far as I know, he hasn’t seen any of them with their ankles up around their ears.”
“And he won’t today.”
“If you say so, but I swear my old bones creak just looking at some of those yoga contortions.”
Eva cracked two eggs in the hot bacon grease, while I used our microwave—a new kitchen addition—to thaw my frozen berries and heat the oats. My usual February morning fare. At Udderly, we didn’t chow down until the morning chores were done. That meant I was starved and in dire need of a caffeine injection.
Eva glanced over. “So how’s that boyfriend-for-a-week plan working? Who’s ahead in the Brie Hooker heart throb race? Any close calls on the clothing discard clause?”
I smiled. “Paint and Andy try to outdo each other in dreaming up ways to initiate a striptease. Despite their enterprising efforts, the nude- default clause remains unchallenged.”
Last November, I’d agreed to this bizarre boyfriend pact with Andy Green, our veterinarian, and David “Paint” Paynter, an entrepreneurial moonshiner. Though strongly attracted to both thirty-four-year-old hunks, I’d sworn I’d date neither. Didn’t want to lose them as friends or come between them. They’d been best buds for thirty years, practically since they left diapers.
The boys came up with an alternative. I’d date Paint one week, Andy the next, until either I selected a fulltime beau, one of them opted out, or a ridiculous nudity clause kicked in. If I disrobed on any date, the magician who assisted in making my clothes disappear would win by default. Both men swore the arrangement would not affect their friendship.
Me? I felt like I’d been locked in a chastity belt. Foreplay’s a lot less fun when there’s no after.
“You know it can’t last, don’t you?” Aunt Eva asked, giving voice to my own misgivings.
“Yep, I do. But like today’s sunny warmth—way too early for mid- February—I’ll enjoy it while I can.”

TWO

Jayla Johnson, our tall, willowy teacher waved as she walked toward me. Had to admit Paint would get an eyeful watching her stretch every which way. He was male, and Jayla was a stunner. As a shorty—I’m five four—I’d always envied long-legged ladies like Jayla. Somehow those extra inches made them look cool and sophisticated.
Luckily, Jayla wasn’t in the running to join Paint’s off-week harem. She was happily married to one of Clemson University’s football coaches and had a darling three-year-old son.
“Do we have a plan B?” Jayla glanced up at the Carolina blue sky. “It’s really warm for February, but the ground’s too muddy to put our mats down in a pasture. After five minutes, we’d look like we’d been mud wrestling.”
“Agreed. It’d be a shame to get that outfit muddy.” Jayla looked like an Oreo cookie, her ebony skin a sharp contrast to her snowy outfit. “I did warn you baby goats aren’t potty-trained, didn’t I? Accidents can happen.” “Not to worry.” Jayla smiled. “My laundry room has one whole shelf devoted to stain removers for husband-son accidents. So where are we setting up?”
“The horse barn. Plenty of room and it will be easier to keep Curly, Moe, and Larry contained.”
“Who?”
“Curly, Moe, and Larry are the baby goats—five-day-old triplets. We named the kids after The Three Stooges. Full of energetic hijinks. They’re also super cuddly.”
We turned as Mollye Camp’s psychedelic van crunched down the gravel drive. Her van’s midnight blue paint job served as a backdrop for a galaxy of glittering stars, a super-sized harvest moon, and a broom-riding witch. Moll, my best friend since childhood, was a gifted potter who sold her creations along with an eclectic hodgepodge of homeopathic remedies, herbs, and astrological doodads in her Starry Skies shop.
Moll jangled as she hopped down from her ride. She adored jewelry and had more piercings than a rapper. A vibrant purple streak adorned her white-blonde hair. She chose a new neon hue every month.
Mollye hustled over. “Who we waiting for?”
“Mimi and Fara,” I answered. “We’re keeping the group small for the test run. Paint’s shooting video.”
Mollye checked the amount of cleavage revealed by her scoop-necked purple top and inspected the seams of her orange leggings as they meandered south of her shorts. “Glad I didn’t wear anything too revealing. Don’t want folks thinking I’d participate in some racy video.”
Mimi and Fara’s arrival cut short Jayla’s and my eye rolls. Racy might not be Mollye’s middle name, but outrageous could be. I loved Mollye and her adventurous spirit though it sometimes landed me in hot water. Okay, in one case, freezing water.
With rolled mats tucked under their arms, the class newcomers looked like an odd couple. Mimi, who’d emigrated from Vietnam at age two, stood four feet nine on tiptoe, while Fara, a busty blonde with long braids, topped out at five ten. Mimi was a pharmacist; Fara grew up in her family’s funeral parlor and was now the town’s youngest funeral director.
Hard for this class to be more diverse. Paint would enjoy himself. “Hey, Fara, you boxing anyone up today?” Mollye joked.
“Maybe you after class,” the funeral director quipped. “You want the deluxe mahogany coffin or a pine box? I’m thinking you and Brie have used up eight of your nine lives. Better not exert yourselves today.”
Jayla clapped her hands. “Now children. Snarky is not the proper frame of mind for yoga. Think serenity. We want to clear our minds, be one with nature.”
I chuckled at the good-natured kidding. “Follow me to our classroom. We have the horse barn to ourselves. The smell alone will remind you we’re one with nature. I evicted Rita and Hank. They’re grazing in the pasture. Figured Lilly’s mule and Eva’s horse were more inclined to nicker than meditate.”
“Where are the goats in this goat yoga?” Fara asked.
“Eva will bring Curly, Moe, and Larry in after we start. We need to leave the barn door open for the light. Jim, our Border collie, will keep the little goat Houdinis from escaping.”
The triplets’ antics drove Jim nuts. Yesterday Moe pranced on top of a picnic table for five minutes taunting the poor herd dog. Jim ran circles around the table, barking in protest, unable to figure out how to nudge Moe back to her pen. After we placed our mats, Jayla led us through a series of simple warm-up stretches and breathing exercises. I’d been an avid runner and swimmer for years, but yoga was a new pursuit. I was pleasantly surprised to find its emphasis on breathing and mindfulness and its practiced movements helped me shed stress and fall asleep faster.
Believe me, falling asleep quickly is a prized skill for anyone required to rise before the sun. At Udderly, one of my jobs appeared to be waking the roosters.
Jayla announced the cat pose. I knelt on my mat and set my arms to provide four-point support. Then I arched my back like cats do when threatened. I lowered my head, giving my neck muscles a pleasant stretch.
“Looking good, ladies.” With my head down I heard the man’s voice before I saw him.
“Don’t mind me,” the newcomer continued. “I’m gonna wander around and take photos.”
The sexy baritone belonged to Paint. It should be outlawed.
“Have fun, kids—human and goat.” Eva laughed as she let the baby goats loose in the barn. Moe immediately darted under my arched back, executed a one-eighty, and raced back again as if she were playing a game of London Bridge.
My concentration faltered as Curly discovered she had easy access to one of my earlobes and began to nibble with her lips. It tickled.
Fara broke out laughing as Larry scrambled up her arched back and danced a little jig on his newly discovered perch.
“I’ve got a miniature geisha doing a four-footed massage.” Fara giggled. “Actually feels kind of good, though very strange.”
“No talking,” Jayla admonished. “Concentrate on your breathing, your muscles. Be one with nature.”
Paint hooted. “Nature’s winning.”
Paint obviously felt he was exempt from Jayla’s no-talking reprimand. The instructor began laughing, too. Moe had curled her body around Jayla’s legs as she attempted to hold the Big Toe pose.
We were all bent in half, butts in the air, when a loud voice brayed, “Oh dear God, save us. They are bowing to the devil, mocking the Lord Jesus by thrusting their bottoms at heaven above.”

THREE

What the feta?
I snapped around to see who was calling us devil worshippers. Was this a joke?
Flipping out of downward dog, I body slammed the mat. A second after hitting the plastic, a furry comedian bounced against my side. Curly shook her head as she attempted an impressive four-legged hop. She’d taken my tumble to the ground as an invitation to play. The little goat butted my side again.
“Lord Jesus, help us keep these devil worshippers from claiming more souls!” the stranger bellowed.
I was flabbergasted. No other word for it. Then my shock morphed into anger. Who did this woman think she was, calling us devil worshippers? Who invited her to our private workout? How did she even find out about it?
The plump leader held a super-sized wooden cross before her as if she were fending off a clutch of vampires. I figured her for mid-fifties. Gray streaks wound through her mousy brown hair. Light glinting off oversized spectacles lent her the look of an alien with round yellow bug eyes.
Two cross-carrying acolytes hovered about a foot behind her.
Were these people serious? I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. My heartbeat raced. Angry? You betcha.
I almost yelled one of my old-time favorite curses. Years back, I cleaned up my salty language for dear old Mom. As a vegan, processed- meat-and-cheese exclamations had become my exclamatory substitutes. But Cruddy corndogs! didn’t quite express my outrage.
Mollye, closest to the barn door, marched toward the scowling leader. “Susan, what in blazes do you think you’re doing?” she growled. “I got a restraining order to keep you and your looney-tune zealots off my property. Now you’re following me?”
“I didn’t know you’d be here,” the intruder raged, “though I’m not surprised. Goat yoga! What blasphemy. At church this morning, one of our faithful told me you were planning this abomination. I prayed on it, and decided we had to stop the spread of this evil in Ardon County.”
She waved her cross at us. “In the name of the Father and the Son we demand—”
“You need to leave,” Paint spoke through gritted teeth. “The only evil here is you.”
Susan closed her eyes and rocked back and forth on her heels. “You are Satan’s handmaidens duping people into believing Baphomet goat worship is fun.”
Susan’s diatribe was accompanied by a murmur of “Amen, Sister, Amen” from her backups. The sidekicks still wore church-go-to-meeting dresses, nylons, and heels. They kept sneaking peeks at the ground. Worried their high heels might sink in goat doo-doo during their barnyard sortie?
One of the acolytes looked to be Susan’s age; the other much younger, about my age.
“Knights Templar worshipped Baphomet as a deity.” Susan’s tone changed. Her words flowed in a singsong chant. “These monsters with their snake eyes are his descendants.”
“Are you nuts?” Jayla broke in. “How can you think these adorable babies are evil?”
Susan’s rant hadn’t cowed my friends.
The harpy wasn’t deterred. “Open your eyes. The Satanic goat is a source of evil.” Her yellow bug eyes flashed at each of us in turn. “You worship the Devil. We won’t allow your sickness to infect the pious people of Ardon County.”
Aunt Eva appeared in the barn door carrying two pails of goat milk. “You’re trespassing and you’re scaring the baby goats.”
My aunt’s face flamed red.
“We’ll leave,” Susan said. “But this isn’t over. We will fight to the death for the soul of Ardon County. Goat yoga will not corrupt our world.”
Curly made a break for it. The tiny kid ran pell-mell toward the barn door, which happened to be a few feet beyond where the intruding trio stood. Susan screeched. Did she really believe the Devil inhabited the itty- bitty creature?
The woman raised her leg to kick Curly.
Eva flung both buckets of goat milk, drenching Susan. The white liquid plastered her beehive hairdo to her scalp and her puffy blouse to her chest.
Oh my, was she really wearing a flaming red teddy under her prim white cotton?
A laugh bubbled up. I laughed so hard I doubled over.
Susan shrieked like a storm-warning siren and ran. Though only a few drops of goat’s milk spattered her companions, they caterwauled like they’d been doused with acid as they scurried after their leader.
The entire Udderly Kidding Dairy crew exploded in laughter.
Eva halted her hee-haws long enough to imitate a cackling witch. “You’ve been baptized with the milk of Baaa-Phooey. Your souls belong to us!”
Susan spun when she reached a shiny Chevy van. “You’ll pay for this!” she yelled. “Laugh all you want. You’ll see Hell sooner than you thought.”
I quit laughing as abruptly as I’d started. It was Susan’s tone not her words that gave me the heebie-jeebies. We’d embarrassed the woman. Humiliated her. Perhaps she’d started this protest as some form of ecclesiastical theater, art for show, a way to rally the troops.
Now it was personal. Susan had been scorned.
***
Excerpt from Bad Pick by Linda Lovely. Copyright © 2019 by Linda Lovely. Reproduced with permission from Linda Lovely. All rights reserved.

Author Bio:

Hundreds of mystery writers have met Linda Lovely at check-in for the annual Writers’ Police Academy, which she helps organize. Lovely finds writing pure fiction isn’t a huge stretch given the years she’s spent penning PR and ad copy. She writes a blend of mystery and humor, chuckling as she plots to “disappear” the types of characters who most annoy her. Quite satisfying plus there’s no need to pester relatives for bail. Her new Brie Hooker Mystery series offers good-natured salutes to both her vegan family doctor and her cheese-addicted kin. Bad Pick is her eighth published mystery novel. She served as president of her local Sisters in Crime chapter for five years and belongs to International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America.

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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Linda Lovely. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on April 1, 2019 and runs through June 2, 2019. Void where prohibited.

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Murder Likes it Hot - A Review

Review

MURDER LIKES IT HOT by Tracy Weber

The Sixth Downward Dog Mystery

Kate Davidson should be on top of the world. She's been married for a year to a wonderful man, she has a remarkable best friend, who has made it big as an entrepreneur, an incredible German Shepherd, and a Yoga studio that is doing well. But Kate is not happy. For one thing a competing yoga studio has opened a new branch right across the street from Serenity Yoga. More troubling for Kate is her infertility. She's consequently been distancing herself from her best friend, unable to see the happy mothers shopping at Infant Gratification or her own godchildren. Taking her mind off her own problems, Kate is encouraged to offer Yoga classes at a center for homeless youth. Will she find peace at Teen Path HOME, or will she find murder? 

Author Tracy Weber tackles some intense topics in her sixth Downward Dog Mystery, notably infertility and teen homelessness. Personally, I cannot comprehend women who believe they are something less if they don't have children and it boggles my mind that people are willing to go into debt in order to have a baby. Therefore, a good portion of me was shaking my head at Kate for the first portion on this book. Fortunately, as Kate got involved in another murder, my interest was again piqued and I loved getting swept away by the mystery.

Deepening characterization added dimension, but I wish that Bella would have played a bigger role. She took a decidedly back seat to all of the drama in this book. However, I was thrilled with the addition of Ed and Lonnie. I have been a rat mom for years and am delighted to see them not only added to a mystery, but portrayed in a positive light.

MURDER LIKES IT HOT is able to incorporate troubling societal issues into a compelling mystery.

Currently Reading...

I just started reading Murder Likes it Hot by Tracy Weber. This book is the sixth in the Downward Dog Mystery series and will be released January 8th.

Kate Davidson should be on top of the world. She's been married for a year to a wonderful man, she has a remarkable best friend, who has made it big as an entrepreneur, an incredible German Shepherd, and a Yoga studio that is doing well. But Kate is not happy. For one thing a competing yoga studio has opened a new branch right across the street from Serenity Yoga. More troubling for Kate is her infertility. She's consequently been distancing herself from her best friend, unable to see the happy mothers shopping at Infant Gratification or her own godchildren. Taking her mind off her own problems, Kate is encouraged to offer Yoga classes at a center for homeless youth. Will she find peace at Teen Path HOME, or will she find murder?

Pre-Meditated Murder - Review & Giveaway

Review

PRE-MEDITATED MURDER by Tracy Weber

The Fifth Downward Dog Mystery

Kate Davidson, a former commitment-phobe, is finally ready to settle down and is thrilled when she thinks that Michael's fancy special evening out is a prelude to a marriage proposal. Unable to hide her disappointment when he didn't propose Michael admits the truth; he couldn't marry her as he was already married!!!! Michael says he only married Gabriella so that she could get a green card, but she won't grant him a divorce unless he pays her off-with money he doesn't have. When Michael decides to meet Gabriella in person, he's accompanied not only by Kate and Bella, but Renee, Sam, the twins, and the two puppies. What could go wrong with this support group by his side? A lot. Now Michael's suspected of Gabriella's murder, and although Kate was ready to kill him herself, she'll do her utmost to prove his innocence. 

PRE-MEDITATED MURDER is a compelling read. Expectations of love are challenged and explored in this multilayered mystery. Fundamental beliefs in people are put to the test and certainties become doubts. Will love survive?

This fifth Downward Dog mystery tackles difficult subjects of domestic abuse, immigration, and more. However, the book isn't weighed down by these weighty subjects, not does it become a pulpit. Rather it engulfs these topics into Kate's world, and they play important roles in the mystery itself.

Bella's charm, humor from new mom Renee, and a cast of characters from Michael's past combine to make a murder mystery that will forever change Kate and her future.

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Pre-Meditated Murder - Review

Review

PRE-MEDITATED MURDER by Tracy Weber

The Fifth Downward Dog Mystery

Kate Davidson, a former commitment-phobe, is finally ready to settle down and is thrilled when she thinks that Michael's fancy special evening out is a prelude to a marriage proposal. Unable to hide her disappointment when he didn't propose Michael admits the truth; he couldn't marry her as he was already married!!!! Michael says he only married Gabriella so that she could get a green card, but she won't grant him a divorce unless he pays her off-with money he doesn't have. When Michael decides to meet Gabriella in person, he's accompanied not only by Kate and Bella, but Renee, Sam, the twins, and the two puppies. What could go wrong with this support group by his side? A lot. Now Michael's suspected of Gabriella's murder, and although Kate was ready to kill him herself, she'll do her utmost to prove his innocence. 

PRE-MEDITATED MURDER is a compelling read. Expectations of love are challenged and explored in this multilayered mystery. Fundamental beliefs in people are put to the test and certainties become doubts. Will love survive?

This fifth Downward Dog mystery tackles difficult subjects of domestic abuse, immigration, and more. However, the book isn't weighed down by these weighty subjects, not does it become a pulpit. Rather it engulfs these topics into Kate's world, and they play important roles in the mystery itself.

Bella's charm, humor from new mom Renee, and a cast of characters from Michael's past combine to make a murder mystery that will forever change Kate and her future.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Pre-Meditated Murder by Tracy Weber. This book is the fifth in the Downward Dog Mystery series and will be released January 8th.

Kate Davidson, a former committment-phobe, is finally ready to settle down and is thrilled when she thinks that Michael's fancy special evening out is a prelude to a marriage proposal. Unable to hide her disappointment when he didn't propose Michael admits the truth; he couldn't marry her as he was already married!!!! Michael says he only married Gabriella so that she could get a green card, but she won't grant him a divorce unless he pays her off-with money he doesn't have. When Michael decides to meet Gabriella in person, he's accompanied not only by Kate and Bella, but Renee, Sam, the twins, and the two puppies. What could go wrong with this support group by his side? A lot. Now Michael's suspected of Gabriella's murder, and although Kate was ready to kill him herself, she'll do her utmost to prove his innocence.

Review - A Fatal Twist

Review

A FATAL TWIST by Tracy Weber

The Fourth Downward Dog Mystery

While training to be a doula, Kate witnesses an ugly scene involving a cheating doctor, his mistress, and a nurse. The ugly scene replays when Kate accompanies Rene and Sam to the opening of a new birthing center, where Rene will be giving birth. This time, however, the nurse in question isn't a co-worker, but his wife! Afterward, Kate nearly collides with said wife, who is also her yoga student, running from the employee break room. As Kate enters in an attempt to clean up after a culinary dispute between her friends, she discovers the murdered body of the philandering doctor.

Murder isn't the only mayhem in Kate's life, however. Michael has brought two rescued puppies into their household. Cute as anything, but just as rambunctious and destructive, the two are bent on wreaking havoc. Will Kate survive being involved in yet another murder as Michael attempts to be a puppy foster father?

Tracy Weber has once again delivered a smart, funny mystery with some down to earth realism. Animals are wonderful companions, but in reality, everything is not sunshine and roses. Issues evolve and hard, unhappy decisions must be faced. Tracy Weber does not shy away from these harsh realities while she also shines a light on the horror of backyard breeders.

I find the development of the characters fascinating, especially Tiffany and her relationship with Kate. While I would have happily called the police and had Tiffany hauled to jail in KARMA'S A KILLER, it seems Kate's actions may have been more appropriate. All of the characters are growing and I enjoy seeing the happy progression.

The mystery itself is complex with a dastardly victim and lots of suspects with plenty of motives. In addition to the murder, there is a second crime, which at first seems a totally separate issue, but eventually has readers wondering if they may be connected after all. The mystery, the characters, the humor, and the important dog and rescue knowledge imparted combine to make A FATAL TWIST a mystery not to be missed.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Fatal Twist by Tracy Weber. This book is the fourth book in the Downward Dog Mystery series and was released Sunday!

While training to be a doula, Kate witnesses an ugly scene involving a cheating doctor, his mistress, and a nurse. The ugly scene replays when Kate accompanies Rene and Sam to the opening of a new birthing center, where Rene will be giving birth. This time, however, the nurse in question isn't a co-worker, but his wife! Afterward, Kate nearly collides with the wife, who is also her yoga student, running from the employee break room. As Kate enters in an attempt to clean up after a culinary dispute between her friends, she discovers the murdered body of the philandering doctor.

Murder isn't the only mayhem in Kate's life, however. Michael has brought two rescued puppies into their household. Cute as anything, but just as rambunctious and destructive, the two are bent on wreaking havoc. Will Kate survive being involved in yet another murder as Michael attempts to be a puppy foster father?

Doga Can Be Murder - Guest Post with Review and Giveaway

Doga Can Be Murder

By Tracy Weber

The first time a dog trainer/friend asked me to teach Doga (yoga for dogs) at her dog training facility, I thought she was joking. When I found out that Doga was real, I wanted to hide until she forgot I was a yoga teacher. Teaching my breath-centered style of yoga to dogs would have made me the laughingstock of the Seattle yoga community. Expecting Fluffy and Fido to inhale while lifting their paws seemed, well, ridiculous.

But as I did more research, I realized that Doga was simply a misnomer for what I would call Yoga for Humans with Their Dogs. In Doga, humans practice yoga in the presence of their dogs. Sometimes they use them as props; sometimes they throw in a few human-assisted dog stretches for good measure. That’s a completely different animal (pardon the pun) than the mind-body connection I know as yoga.

Please don’t misunderstand me. By “different,” I don’t mean “not useful.” The practice of Doga actually has many benefits. Yoga practice in the presence of dogs is calming to both man and beast. Dogs are sensitive creatures—highly attuned to human energy. Anything that makes humans more peaceful also brings calm to their canine companions.

And humans who give their dogs massage, range-of-motion exercises, and assisted stretches provide Bowser relief from sore muscles, back pain, arthritis, and hip dysplasia. The exercises can even slow down diseases that cause neurological decline.

So although I have yet to teach my first Doga class (and I still wish the practice were called something less similar to yoga), I had to include it in my third mystery, Karma’s a Killer. Of course, my yoga teacher/sleuth, Kate Davidson, doesn’t exactly have good luck. A rabbit shows up in her first-ever, overly crowded Doga class. If you want to learn more about the ensuing chaos, you’ll have to read the book. ;-)

In the meantime, for all of you dog lovers out there who want to give Doga a try, here are a few books and videos to help get you started.

· http://www.animalplanet.com/video-topics/pet-care/dog-training-videos/dog-yoga/

· http://www.amazon.com/Barking-Buddha-Simple-Soul-Stretches/dp/1594851417/

· http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615976174/

My eleven-year-old German shepherd, Tasha, has yet to do her first Downward Dog. But she does get professional massages, doggie physical therapy, and acupuncture. Who knows? Maybe Doga will also be in our future.

I hope you read and enjoy Karma’s a Killer, the third of my Downward Dog Mystery series. Doga is a small part of the book’s plot, but the book offers fun, mystery, and intrigue aplenty. If you join Kate and her German shepherd Bella on their newest adventure, please let me know what you think!

About Karma’s a Killer:

Yoga instructor Kate Davidson is about to discover that when it comes to murder, there’s no place like om. When she agrees to teach doga—yoga for dogs—at a fundraiser for Dogma, a local animal rescue, Kate believes the only real damage will be to her reputation. But when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning, a few downward-facing dogs will be the least of Kate’s problems…

The police arrest Dharma, a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother, and charge her with murder. To prove Dharma’s innocence, Kate, her boyfriend Michael, and her German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them.

And if solving a murder weren't complicated enough, Kate will also have to decide whether or not to reconcile with the estranged mother who abandoned her over thirty years ago. Not to mention having to contend with an almost-bankrupt animal rescue, a cantankerous crow, an unwanted pigeon houseguest, and a rabbit in a doga class. What could possibly go wrong?

Tracy Weber is the author of the award-winning Downward Dog Mysteries series. The first book in the series, Murder Strikes a Pose, won the Maxwell Award for Fiction and was nominated for the Agatha award for Best First Novel.

Tracy and her husband Marc live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd, Tasha. When she’s not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house.

Karma’s a Killer is her third novel. For more information on Tracy and the Downward Dog Mysteries, visit her author website: http://TracyWeberAuthor.com/

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Review

 Karma’s a Killer by Tracy Weber
The Third Downward Dog Mystery

Kate Davidson, yoga teacher with a temper, is back and in for a challenge as she is coerced into teaching a doga class as part of a fundraiser for a local pet rescue. Yes doga...yoga for dogs. A class open to any and all people and their trained, or not so trained dogs...who don't know each other. What could go wrong? Activists add fuel to the fire and create more dangerous chaos, not to mention an unexpected person from Kate's past, back from the dead. There's a lot more going on than meets the eye and secrets abound.

Tracy Weber has once again given us a very funny book which still manages to discuss very serious issues and bring controversial subjects to the attention of her readers. We witness the actions of some people, including professed animal lovers, who due to their ignorance, do more harm than good; people blinded by self importance and their own beliefs, however misguided. Yet their bad behavior is not pointed out in a demeaning critical manner. Instead, Weber uses humor so readers can laugh...then think and hopefully learn.

There are very personal issues Kate which has to deal with as well. The reappearance of the mother who abandoned her leads to difficulties with her boyfriend as Kate puts up a wall and remains secretive. Readers learn about a childhood partially forgotten, as well as the reason for Kate's loathing, near phobia, of men with beards.

Karma’s a Killer looks at animal rescue organizations, showing some good and bad aspects along with some sad truths regarding bureaucracy and wildlife rehabilitation. We are also introduced to two characters who hopefully will reappear in future mysteries, Mr. Feathers and Blackie. Mr. Feathers is a great addition to the yoga studio while I can see Blackie helping solve future murders!

I truly appreciate Tracy Weber's ability to tackle sensitive subjects with fun and humor. She's able to to raise awareness of important issues without using a sledgehammer. Instead, she melds the issues into the murder mystery storyline adding strength and veritas. By doing so readers get complex characters who continue to develop even as they amuse. Not only that, we get dogs and yoga!


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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Karma's a Killer by Tracy Weber. This book is the third in her Downward Dog Mystery series and will be released January 8th.

Kate Davidson, yoga teacher with a temper, is back and in for a challenge as she is coerced into teaching a dogma class as part of a fundraiser for a local pet rescue. Yes dogma...yoga for dogs. A class open to any and all people and their trained, or not so trained dogs...who don't know each other. What could go wrong? Activists add fuel to the fire and create more dangerous chaos, not to mention an unexpected person from Kate's past, back from the dead. There's a lot more doing on than meets the eye and secrets abound. Hopefully Bella will help keep Kate on track as things are bound to get worse, before they get better!

A Killer Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Tracy Weber to the blog today. Tracy combines a love of yoga and dogs in her Downward Dog Mystery series. A Killer Retreat, the second book in the series, was just released last week.

Kathy: I recently started taking yoga classes. I enjoy some poses (the waterfall, the corpse-obviously-, and a modified cobra are my favorites) and some I do NOT like-you can take your happy baby and that darn boat can go back to sea! What are some of your favorite and no so favorite yoga poses?

TW: Good for you for taking yoga! I don’t like the ultra bendy poses, mainly because I can’t do them. Like you, I enjoy Corpse Pose and hate Happy Baby Pose. (I call it Tortured, Screaming Baby Pose.) I like the animal poses. Up Dog, Down Dog, Eagle and Cat Pose. I guess I’m an animal lover, even in yoga.


Kathy: Bella has a unique medical condition. How did you learn about such a disease?

TW: Bella suffers from Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) as does my own German shepherd, Tasha. Like Bella, Tasha was diagnosed at about age two after she lost twenty-five pounds in a month. Luckily, we were able to get her EPI stable within six months, and as long as she gets prescription medication with every meal, she does great. Her vet has even nicknamed her Fatty.


Kathy: I have heard about reactive dogs before reading your Downward Dog Mystery series. It's so important to get the word out to the general public about this issue. Aside from writing mysteries featuring a sidekick with the disease, what are some good ways to educate well meaning, but clueless, people about these dogs?

TW: People misunderstand and misread reactive dogs all the time, which results in thousands of dogs ending up needlessly euthanized or homeless. I find that tragic, because most of them make awesome family pets if their emotional needs are respected.

There is a wonderful project called The Yellow Dog Project that is trying to help spread the word about these intelligent and sensitive dogs. People who own a reactive dog can use a yellow leash or a yellow ribbon around its collar to designate that it should not be approached. I’ve also seen people put sweaters or jackets on their dogs with the words “Give Me Space.” Hopefully through positive dog trainers, better educated owners, and books like my Downward Dog Mystery Series, people will become more aware.


Kathy: In A Killer Retreat Kate leaves her yoga classroom and travels to a new retreat center to provide yoga classes for a wedding party. Have you ever done something similar?

TW: I have led several yoga retreats in the Pacific Northwest, but none for a wedding party. Retreats are a lot of fun, but wow are they ever a lot of work. These days I’m more interested in taking retreats than leading them. But who knows, maybe I’ll need a great excuse to go to Africa, Maui, or South America someday soon. Wanna come?


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

TW: I’ve read cozies for as long as I can remember, so I honestly don’t know what first lead me to them. However I’ve always liked Perry Mason, which has a similar feel. Cozies are a style of fun, escapism literature, in which you know that good ultimately prevails. The bad guy (or woman!) always gets caught, and you get to know and connect with the hero. These days, we don’t have enough happy endings in our world; heroes are even rarer. Cozies provide them for me.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

TW: Not yet. I’m primarily a mystery fan, so that’s the genre I’m most interested in exploring in my writing. I am considering writing some darker mysteries, though. Stay tuned.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

TW: The Downward Dog Mystery Series is a lighthearted, happily-ever-after human-animal love story. Murder takes center stage in my work, but the real emotion of the series lives in yoga teacher Kate, her German shepherd Bella, their relationship, and how Kate grows as a human being. Yoga, dogs and murder. What could be more fun?


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

TW: Bella, of course! Bella is based on the love of my life, my German Shepherd Tasha. How could she not be my favorite?


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

TW: I’ve was inspired to write my first book by Susan Conant’s Dog Lover’s Mystery Series. She “gets” crazy dog people like me, and her work showed me that there is an audience for lighthearted mysteries.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

TW: I’ve always known I wanted to publish my work, even before I’d written the first sentence. My goal is to share my stories with people, and a publisher can help me do that in a much broader way that I could do on my own. Besides, my yoga students were sick of listening to all of my Tasha-dog stories, so I had to expand my audience!


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

TW:· Susan Conant, because she started it all

· Stephen King, because I idolize him and his writing

· Mary Daheim, because she’s a kick and a total hoot to hang out with

· Dr. Seuss, because everybody loves him


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

TW: The Deep End, which is a wonderful debut mystery by Julie Mulhern. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.


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

TW: I feel so dull! Between writing, running my yoga business, and taking care of my special needs dog, I don’t have much time for hobbies. Maybe I’ll have to take up spelunking.


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

TW: · Diet Mountain Dew

· Talking Rain bottled water

· Frozen pizza rolls

· A bottle of bubbly

Not all that impressive for a yoga teacher, is it?


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

TW: Definitely. The third book in the Downward Dog Mysteries, tentatively titled Karma can be Killer, has already been turned into my publisher, and I plan to start working on the fourth book soon. I also have an idea for a cozy series that would take place on Maui. Hopefully there will be more to share about that soon!


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

TW: Connecting with my readers. I feel like I’m building a whole new community of friends. My readers are a wonderful group of people, and I truly enjoy hearing from them.


Kathy: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

TW: Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you. I appreciate the opportunity to be here on Cozy up with Kathy. I hope that you and others will connect with me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tracywe) , via my author website http://TracyWeberAuthor.com/, or by e-mail at Tracy@WholeLifeYoga.com.

I truly love hearing from readers!

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Tracy Weber is the author of the award-winning Downward Dog Mysteries series featuring yoga teacher Kate and her feisty German shepherd, Bella. Tracy loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible. The second book in her series, A Killer Retreat, is available January 8, 2015, by Midnight Ink.

Tracy and her husband live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd Tasha. When she’s not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house.

Visit her at TracyWeberAuthor.com

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Review

A Killer Retreat by Tracy Weber
The Second Downward Dog Mystery

Take a yoga instructor with a hot temper and a hundred pound German Shepherd, who happens to be a reactive dog, and you'll find trouble can't be far away.

Kate Davidson has agreed to leave her yoga studio in the hands of her employees and venture to Elysian Springs resort to teach yoga to a group of wedding guests. Accompanied by her boyfriend, Michael, and her dog, Bella, the trip is fraught with anxiety from the start. A monstrous woman whose crassness, bad attitude, and ignorance about her own dog wreaks havoc on the island, brings out the worst in Kate, who publicly threatens her...twice. Now Kate has found said monstrous woman...dead!

For a yoga teacher who promotes stress relief and tranquility Kate Davidson gets annoyed and frustrated almost as quickly as I do! Kate has a temper that can go from 0 to 60 especially faced with people who are ignorant about animals and responsible pet guardianship (another thing we have in common). 

This second book in the Downward Dog Mystery series gives us another well thought out mystery. A despicable victim provides plenty of suspects, including Kate, all of whom have very good reason to want this woman dead. In addition to crafting an excellent mystery, Tracy Weber sheds light on important canine issues, raising awareness about reactive dogs as well as the EPI disease.

A Killer Retreat, is the best sort of book. It's one that raises awareness of important societal issues, explores the difficulties relationships present, makes us worry about the people and other animals who inhabit its pages, and, while doing all of that, still makes us laugh! If you have even a passing interest in yoga and/or dogs this book is a must read...and, even if you don't, you'll still find this book a compelling read!


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