Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Mystery in the Margins by L.L. Gray. This book is the first in the Havenwood Paranormal Cozy Mystery series.

It's been a long time since Harper Sullivan has been in Havenwood, Connecticut, but she's ready to settle down in the magical town. As the sole heir, Harper is looking forward to running Spellbooks, her great-grandmother's bookshop, even as she regrets not spending much time with Granny Bea before her death. But her excitement starts to fizzle when she learns that someone broke into the shop and stole several rare books. Her dreams take another hit when she learns that she is not the sole heir. Granny Bea has set a competition between Harper and her cousin to determine who will inherit Spellbooks. Harper has a lot of great ideas, but will her desire to be Spellbooks new owner be enough to beat out the cousin she never knew existed? Perhaps if she were to discover who stole Granny Bea's books she'd have a leg up in the competition. Gathering old and new friends together Harper is determined to find the books, inherit the bookshop, and make Havenwood her forever home.

Crime and Cat-astrophes - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome DeAnna Drake to Cozy Up With Kathy today. DeAnna writes the Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery series. CRIME AND CAT-ASROPHES is the fourth book in the series and will be released tomorrow!

 
Kathy: CRIME AND CAT-ASROPHES is the latest installment in the Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery series. Why did you choose to focus on cursed artifacts for your series?

DD: Hello! Thank you for inviting me to be here to help celebrate tomorrow’s (Feb. 12) release of CRIME AND CAT-ASROPHES! To answer your question, I’ve always been fascinated by history, particularly the myths and mysteries surrounding ancient artifacts. Objects have stories, and I love the idea that what might seem like an ordinary artifact could hold extraordinary secrets. That’s why I chose to focus on cursed artifacts in my Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery series.

Cozy mysteries thrive on small-town charm and intriguing puzzles, and what better way to add a touch of magic and danger than through relics with hidden powers? The idea that an antique shop could be the gateway to long-lost secrets and supernatural mischief was simply too tempting to resist.


Kathy: Rebecca is the Cuthbert Exotic Antiques manager. Do you have a fascination for antiques, cursed or not?

DD: Absolutely! I’ve always been drawn to antiques—not just for their beauty, but for the stories they carry. Every piece has a past, and I love imagining the hands that have held them, the homes they’ve lived in, and the secrets they might keep. Cursed or not, antiques have a way of sparking curiosity.

While I’ve yet to come across a cursed artifact (thankfully!), some objects just seem to feel different, don’t they? That sense of mystery fuels my writing, blending cozy charm with a little supernatural mischief. So, yes, I have a deep fascination with antiques—whether they’re simply old or hiding a secret of their own!


Kathy: I love cats, and currently share my home with five of them at the moment. What makes cats the purr-fect, er perfect, addition to mysteries? Is Aneksi based on any real cats you know?

DD: There’s something inherently mysterious about cats. They move silently, observe everything, and seem to know things before anyone else does, which makes them the ideal companions for a good mystery.

In my Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery series, Aneksi isn’t just a cat—she’s an active participant in the murder investigations, using her supernatural abilities to protect and aid Rebecca. She’s based on a gray tabby who lived with my family while I was growing up. Snickerfritz didn’t have Aneksi’s special abilities, but she left a lasting and loving impression on me. 

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

DD: My love for cozy mysteries grew out of my early obsession with Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys mysteries, not to mention Scooby-Doo cartoons, and later shows like Warehouse 13 and The Librarians. There was something magical about those stories—how ordinary people (or, in Scooby’s case, a talking Great Dane) could use their wits, curiosity, and a little teamwork to solve mysteries that baffled everyone else.

I loved the sense of adventure, the clever clues, and the way the mysteries always felt like puzzles just waiting to be solved. But more than that, I was drawn to the feeling those stories gave me—the mix of suspense, humor, and the thrill of catching the bad guy. They weren’t about gritty crime or hardened detectives; they were about smart, determined sleuths who trusted their instincts and never gave up and the friends and allies who helped them along the way.

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

DD: Cozy mystery is all I’m writing at the moment, but I have published books in other genres. As DeAnna Cameron, I wrote historical novels set in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, as well as a series of contemporary romances. As D.D. Croix, I wrote a young-adult historical fantasy series set in Queen Victoria’s court with a secret rooted in Celtic lore. I’ve enjoyed writing every book I’ve published, but the cozy mystery genre allows me to combine all the elements I love. Now I can’t imagine writing anything else!
 

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

DD: The Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery series follows antique shop manager Rebecca Cuthbert and her mischievous, talking cat, Aneksi, as they unravel murders tied to cursed artifacts in the charming town of Citrus Grove. With a blend of small-town intrigue, supernatural twists, and feline wit, each mystery leads Rebecca deeper into the secrets of both the relics she uncovers and her own mysterious past.

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

DD: Without a doubt, my favorite character in the Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery series is Aneksi. She’s not just a talking cat—she’s a fiercely loyal and delightfully mischievous force of nature. She brings humor, a bit of sass, and just the right amount of mystery to every scene she’s in, and let’s be honest—who wouldn’t want a talking feline sidekick of their own?

What I love most about Aneksi is that she’s more than just Rebecca’s companion; she’s a mystery in her own right. Her past is filled with secrets, and her knowledge of the cursed artifacts is only a hint of the amazing things she’s seen in her lifetime. Plus, her ability to transform into a tiger and use hypnosis definitely come in handy when they’re chasing the bad guys!


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

DD: My biggest inspiration for the Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery series is Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series and my desire to bring that kind of plucky, intelligent heroine into a modern setting.

I’ve always adored Amelia Peabody—her sharp wit, fearless attitude, and ability to march straight into danger with a parasol in one hand and her own fierce determination in the other. She’s a woman who refuses to be underestimated, who thrives on uncovering mysteries, and who balances intellect with an undeniable sense of adventure. That kind of heroine has always resonated with me, and I knew I wanted to bring that same spirit into my own stories—but with a contemporary twist.

Rebecca Cuthbert may not be excavating tombs in Egypt, but like Amelia, she’s curious, sharp, and never willing to back down from a puzzle—especially when it involves cursed artifacts. She navigates the small-town charm (and chaos) of Citrus Grove much like Amelia handled her archaeological digs: with a mix of keen observation, stubbornness, and a touch of humor.


Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

DD: The answer is the same with this book as it was for my very first book and every book in between. I publish my work because it’s a story I want to read—a story that blends all the things I love: mystery, history, humor, and heartfelt relationships—and I believe there must be others who are looking for the same things.

At its heart, every book I write is a story I’m telling myself, one that I haven’t found anywhere else and which I desperately want to read. I love cozies, but I wanted one tied to ancient mysteries, with an enigmatic talking cat and a heroine who isn’t a damsel in distress. So, I wrote it. Once the story was on the page, I thought, if I want to read this, maybe others would enjoy reading it too.

That’s why I publish. Not for trends or expectations, but because I believe there are readers out there who, like me, want a cozy mystery with a little extra adventure, as well as a few surprises.


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

DD: Only 4? That’s a challenge. I would invite Elizabeth Peters, Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle. Elizabeth Peters because she’s my biggest inspiration. Her Amelia Peabody series showed me how mystery, history, and humor could blend seamlessly, and I’d love to hear her thoughts on crafting strong heroines and weaving archaeology into storytelling. Edgar Allan Poe, the master of the macabre, because his eerie, atmospheric tales helped shape the mystery and horror genres. I’d want to ask him about his inspirations for THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE—often considered the first detective story—and hear his take on blending the supernatural with suspense. Agatha Christie, the queen of crime, because no one structured a mystery quite like her. I’d love to listen to her talk about red herrings, plotting twists, and how she kept readers guessing time and time again. Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, because his influence on the detective genre is undeniable. I’d ask him how he developed Holmes’ brilliant deductive reasoning and whether he ever imagined his character would become the most famous detective of all time.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

DD: I’m rereading AT BERTRAM'S HOTEL by Agatha Christie. It’s always been one of my favorites, and it’s been so much fun reading it again after so many years.

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

DD: I love making crafts and jewelry, though I haven’t had as much time for it lately. I used to sell wire-wrapped and beaded jewelry on Etsy and at local craft fairs, but these days, writing has pretty much taken over my life (not that I’m complaining!). Every now and then, I’ll put together charm bookmarks or other little trinkets inspired by my books and offer them in giveaways for my newsletter subscribers—because who doesn’t love a little bookish treasure?

I’m also a big fan of cooking, especially when it ties into my stories. I love trying my hand at the dishes and treats featured in my books, and if a recipe turns out well, I share it with readers. If it flops? Well, let’s just say I keep at it until it’s something worth sharing.


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

DD: Tea! At any given time, I have at least 20 varieties, and I love discovering new blends—just like Rebecca’s grandfather in my Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery books. Besides tea, I also keep a steady stock of popcorn, carrot sticks, and apple slices for snacking while I’m at the keyboard.


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

DD: I’m so glad you asked! After CRIME AND CAT-ASROPHES publishes tomorrow (Feb. 12), there will also be at least two more books in the series published later this year.
 

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

DD: What I enjoy most about being an author is being able to tell the stories I want to read. Writing allows me to create worlds I want to immerse myself in, where antiques hold secrets, small towns are filled with quirky characters, and solving a murder might just require a little supernatural intervention.

I also love the puzzle of crafting a good mystery—layering in clues, misdirects, and surprises that (hopefully) keep readers guessing. There’s something incredibly satisfying about weaving all the pieces together so that by the end, everything clicks into place.

But the absolute best part? Connecting with readers who love these kinds of stories as much as I do. There’s nothing better than hearing from someone who’s fallen in love with Rebecca, Aneksi, and the mysteries of Citrus Grove. Knowing that my books can bring people joy, escapism, and maybe even a few gasps of surprise—that’s what makes this journey so rewarding!

Don’t forget to enter my BIG FEBRUARY GIVEAWAY, featuring series-inspired treats and goodies to bring your reading experience to life. Enter here: https://DeAnnaDrake.com/giveaway.

AND DON’T MISS THIS: You can start the series for free!

The first book in the Purr-fect Relic series—PAWS, CLAWS, AND CURSES—is free Feb. 10-14, and the rest of the series is discounted, too! Click or copy/paste the link: https://www.amazon.com/Claws-Curses-Purr-fect-Relic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D2M32C3G

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 Crime and Cat-astrophes (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery) by DeAnna Drake

About Crime and Cat-astrophes

Crime and Cat-astrophes (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - California
Publisher: ‎ Tule Publishing (February 12, 2025)
Print length: ‎ 199 pages

Did the professor get what he deserved, or is murder on the prowl in small-town California? As a late-summer heat wave scorches the sleepy town of Citrus Grove, the suspicious death of a notoriously unpopular professor puts Rebecca and her talking cat, Aneksi, hot on the trail of another cursed artifact and a killer. Police Detective Nick Devon, her dashing new flame, is following the rulebook in his investigation, but the Cuthbert Exotic Antiques manager is trusting her instincts as she follows the clues. With her grandfather distracted by an unexpected visitor—who may not be what he seems—and Aneksi rekindling a bond with a long-lost sibling, Rebecca knows she’s on her own to search for the ancient scepter that may hold the key to the dead professor’s medical miracle…and the reason behind his demise. In this twisty tale of hidden motives, intensifying danger, and a dash of magic, Rebecca must rely on her wits—and, hopefully, Aneksi’s sharp claws—to solve the case before she becomes the cunning murderer’s next victim.

About DeAnna Drake

DeAnna Drake is an award-winning author who writes witty and whimsical cozy mysteries filled with magical animals and feisty heroines who are always striving to balance the scales of justice in an offbeat world.

When she’s not plotting new adventures for her characters, she drinks too much tea, binge-watches crime dramas, and escapes to Disneyland whenever she can.

She lives in Southern California with her family, which includes her two favorite people and one ridiculously pampered border collie.

Author Links: 

Website https://DeAnnaDrake.com 

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

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

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42478126.DeAnna_Drake  

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deanna-drake  

Purchase Link - Amazon  

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Seams Like the Pefect Crime - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to allow Anastasia Pollack to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Anastasia on the pages of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series by Lois Winston. Seams Like the Perfect Crime is the fourteenth book in the series and was released last week.

My name is Anastasia Pollack, reluctant amateur sleuth of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries by author Lois Winston. Sometimes my head spins when I think about the changes that have occurred in my life over the last two years. Not so long ago, I was living the American Dream with my husband, two great kids, a home in the suburbs, and a job I loved as crafts editor of a women’s magazine.

The one fly in the ointment was my cantankerous communist mother-in-law who was living with us while she recuperated from a hit-and-run, but Karl, my husband, had assured me her stay was temporary. He didn’t want her in our home any more than I did.

Then Karl dropped dead in Las Vegas, and life has never been the same. I felt like such a cliché—the clueless wife who knew nothing of her husband’s affair. Only Karl’s affair had been with Lady Luck, and his luck had run out. He left me, not only permanently stuck with his mother but also his loan shark, having gambled away everything—including money we didn’t have. The loan shark didn’t care, which I’ve since learned is SOP—standard operating procedure—for loan sharks. Being a Jersey girl, you’d think I would have known that.

You might also think all the above would be enough of a triple whammy for any clueless wife, right? Far from it. My author saw to that, starting with the day I returned to work after Karl’s funeral and discovered the dead body of our fashion editor glue gunned to my desk chair. Suddenly, I found myself with a second career as a reluctant amateur sleuth. It was either that or wind up railroaded for a murder I didn’t commit.

You know the old saying, if you want something done and done right, do it yourself? I’ve learned the hard way that “most likely suspect” and “actual killer” are often far from one and the same. However, too often law enforcement zeroes in on the former without digging further to find the latter. Since that first murder, there have been so many more dead bodies that I’ve lost count. I’ve also nearly lost my own life on several occasions.

However, life has improved significantly since Lois first introduced me in Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun. Much of that has to do with photojournalist (and possible spy), Zachary Barnes. We first met when I rented the apartment above our detached garage to him. No spoilers here, but let’s just say, in the ensuing books in the series our relationship has progressed well beyond the renter/landlady stage.

However, one thing hasn’t changed. The dead bodies keep coming. In Seams Like the Perfect Crime, the fourteenth book in the series, one occurs right across the street from us. Thanks to my author, I get sucked into the investigation, even though I never even met the guy. He’d only moved in three days earlier.

I’m still trying to figure out what Lois Winston has against me. I asked her once. She said it wasn’t personal and handed me some nonsense, about the need for goals, motivations, and conflict in fiction. When I suggested she’d given me plenty without the addition of more dead bodies, she rolled her eyes.

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 Seams Like the Perfect Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery) by Lois Winston

About Seams Like the Perfect Crime

Seams Like the Perfect Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 14th in the Series
Setting - New Jersey
Independently Published (February 4, 2025)
Print length: ‎ 285 pages

When staffing shortages continue to hamper the Union County homicide squad, Detective Sam Spader once again turns to his secret weapon, reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack. How can she and husband Zack Barnes refuse when the victim is their new neighbor?

Revolutionary War reenactor Barry Sumner had the odd habit of spending hours mowing a small patch of packed dirt and weeds until his mower ran out of gas. He’d then guzzle beer on his front porch until he passed out. That’s where Anastasia’s son Nick discovers his body three days after the victim and his family moved into the newly built mini-McMansion across the street.

After a melee breaks out at the viewing, Spader zeroes in on the widow as his prime suspect. However, Anastasia has her doubts. There are other possible suspects, including a woman who’d had an affair with the victim, his ex-wife, the man overseeing the widow’s trust fund, a drug dealer, and the reenactors who were blackmailing the widow and victim.

When another reenactor is murdered, Spader suspects they’re dealing with a serial killer, but Anastasia wonders if the killer is attempting to misdirect the investigation. As she narrows down the suspects, will she jeopardize her own life to learn the truth?

Craft projects included.

About Lois Winston

USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Lois Winston began her award-winning writing career with Talk Gertie to Me, a humorous fish-out-of-water novel about a small-town girl going off to the big city and the mother who had other ideas. That was followed by the romantic suspense Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception.

Then Lois’s writing segued unexpectedly into the world of humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, thanks to a conversation her agent had with an editor looking for craft-themed mysteries. In her day job, Lois was an award-winning craft and needlework designer, and although she’d never written a mystery—or had even thought about writing a mystery—her agent decided she was the perfect person to pen a series for this editor.

Thus, was born the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, which Kirkus Reviews dubbed “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” The series now includes fourteen novels and three novellas. Lois also writes the Empty Nest Mysteries and has written several standalone mystery novellas. Other publishing credits include romance, chick lit, and romantic suspense novels, a series of romance short stories, a children’s chapter book, and a nonfiction book on writing, inspired by her twelve years working as an associate at a literary agency.

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.loiswinston.com  

Newsletter sign-up: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/dc9t0bjl00  

Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com 

Booklover’s Bench: https://bookloversbench.com  

The Stiletto Gang: https://www.thestilettogang.com  

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston  

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston  

Purchase Links Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble Apple Books 

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A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

A TISKET A TASKET NOT ANOTHER CASKET by Heather Weidner
The Third Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery 

 

Things are booming in Mermaid Bay as three fireworks companies have arrived to compete for the lucrative contract to provide displays for the entire summer season. There's more than incendiary blasts in the air, there's a feud between the two family operations. Accusations of spying, sabotage, and actual fights flood the town. More excitement arrives in the form of a new blog. Mermaid Whispers is disseminating lots of gossip causing everyone to wonder the blogger's identity. That excitement pales when Jade Hicks finds what she thinks is trash in the lot next to her shop. The pile of clothes turns out to be one of the competitors. While her Sheriff boyfriend is officially investigating the murder Jade is preparing a new murder board in her home. After all, she's helped solve two other murders, what's one more?

 

Mermaid Bay is a quaint town to visit, no matter the season and I enjoyed visiting during the winter as the town begins to gear up for Christmas. Of course, it's always Christmas as 'Tis the Season, Jade's Christmas store. It's fun seeing the variety of ornaments, not just Christmas themed ones. After all, why not have a tree up all year, changing the ornaments to match the season! I appreciate the small town atmosphere and the good friendships that have blossomed. I loved seeing Neville and Chloe again, though of the two I am definitely Team Neville!

 

What a group of characters comprising the firework's competitors! It was amazing to see what the feuding families would do next. Talk about childish and unprofessional behavior! A TISKET A TASKET NOT ANOTHER CASKET provides a solid mystery, although thanks to some obvious clues I knew why the victim was killed well before Jade. Jade's sleuthing was fairly circumspect, although she and her shop were always in the midst of things.

 

Fireworks abound in A TISKET A TASKET NOT ANOTHER CASKET, both literally and figuratively, making this third Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery a fun and exciting read.

 

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 A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery by Heather Weidner

About A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket

A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (January 14, 2025)
Print length: ‎ 277 pages

Excitement is in the air as everyone in Mermaid Bay is preparing for the Christmas season. This year promises to be more dazzling than ever when the business council sponsors a competition for the town’s lucrative summer fireworks contract. The quaint little beach town is ready to be wowed with choreographed shows and drone action that light up the night sky.

Instead of goodwill and sparkles, two of the teams take the competition to new lows with corporate espionage, feuds, and sabotage, and Jade and her team at ‘Tis the Season are ground zero for all the explosive action. When one of the competitors turns up murdered near Jade’s shop, she has to solve the mystery before the holidays are ruined.

About Heather Weidner

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, and the Pearly Girls Mysteries.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime: National, Central Virginia, Chessie, Guppies, and Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers, and she blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Author Links:  

Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com  

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

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@heather_mystery_writer  

BlueSky: Heather Weidner (@heatherweidner.bsky.social) — Bluesky  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heather_weidner_author  

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner  

Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ  

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003  

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1 

 Purchase Link - Amazon 

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Currently Reading...

I just finished reading A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket by Heather Weidner. This book is the third in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery series and was released last month.

Things are booming in Mermaid Bay as three fireworks companies have arrived to compete for the lucrative contract to provide displays for the entire summer season. There's more than incendiary blasts in the air, there's a feud between the two family operations. Accusations of spying, sabotage, and actual fights flood the town. More excitement arrives in the form of a new blog. Mermaid Whispers is disseminating lots of gossip causing everyone to wonder the blogger's identity. That excitement pales when Jade Hicks finds what she thinks is trash in the lot next to her shop. The pile of clothes turns out to be one of the competitors. While her Sheriff boyfriend is officially investigating the murder Jade is preparing a new murder board in her home. After all, she's helped solve two other murders, what's one more?

Wheels & Dirty Deals - A Spotlight, Excerpt, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to share an excerpt from Wheels & Dirty Deals, the sixth book in the Harper and Moon Investigations series by Trixie Silvertale.

 An Excerpt:

“Grams! Just because you traveled all over Europe with Max, your second of five
husbands, doesn’t mean taking Erick to Europe is going to end in our divorce!”

“It wasn’t divorce that ended Max and me.” The ghost of my not-as-dearly-
departed-as-everyone-thinks grandmother drifts toward the ceiling of the plush apartment, which lies hidden away behind the secret bookcase leading to the bookshop I inherited. 

“I’m sorry for your loss, Grams.” An ache strangles my breath. I don’t even want to
imagine losing Erick . . . No. Nope.

Myrtle Isadora gazes down, her translucent eyes swirling with love and sorrow in
equal measure. “Max was undeniably himself. To the bitter end.” She sniffs sharply. “Who
knows? If I hadn’t lost my kidney in our tragic car accident, I might never have gotten
sober. Without my sobriety, I never would’ve had a chance to have a son. Without
Jacob . . .” Her ethereal voice drifts off.

You don’t have to be a psychic to pick up the unspoken thought. If my father had
never been born, I would never have been born. I’m not vain enough to think that the
world couldn’t survive without Mitzy Moon, but I know how full and wonderful my life has
been since discovering an unexpected family in almost-Canada.

“I wish you could’ve met my mother.” My gaze follows an osprey as it flies past the
window and reels out over the great lake tucked into the harbor behind Bell, Book &
Candle Bookshop. “Coraline Moon was everything I wanted to be when I grew up.”

Grams swooshes down from her high perch and wraps her glowing limbs around
me in a hum of loving energy. “Nonsense! You’re exactly who you’re meant to be.
Wonderful. Amazing. The very best granddaughter any grandmother could ever wish for.”
Ghost tears well in the corners of her eyes like storm surge against a dam, and I hop out
of the rolly chair in front of the computer as I slide from her ghostly embrace.

“No tears. You know I missed the chance to slip you an afterlife handkerchief.” We
share a wistful grin as we both recall the moment she almost faded away, and it took the
concerted effort of all those in the inner “ghost” circle to hold her on this side of the veil. 

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Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Harper and Moon Investigations) by Trixie Silvertale

About Wheels and Dirty Deals

Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Harper and Moon Investigations)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Setting - Pin Cherry Harbor - also known as "almost-Canada."
Publisher: ‎ Sittin' On A Goldmine Productions LLC (February 18, 2025) •
Number of Pages - 250

A cryptic murder. A complete lack of suspects. Can our psychic sleuth find a lead or is she spinning her wheels?

Mitzy Moon is brimming with excitement. Planning an anniversary surprise, she's working overtime to hide the details of a luxurious European vacation from her husband. But before she can book a single ticket, a shockingly suspicious murder lands in her lap.

With only a flimsy lead, Mitzy heads undercover into the local roller derby league. And though she rallies her entitled feline and meddling Ghost-ma to help hunt down clues, she fears if she can’t break out of the pack, this bout will turn deadly.

Can Mitzy find the killer, or will this be her final lap around the track?

Wheels and Dirty Deals is the sixth book in the hilarious paranormal cozy mystery series, Harper and Moon Investigations, a spinoff from the popular Mitzy Moon Mysteries. If you like snarky heroines, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of romance, then you’ll love Trixie Silvertale’s twisty mystery.

Buy Wheels and Dirty Deals to put the guilty in the penalty box today!

About Trixie Silvertale

 

USA TODAY Bestselling author Trixie Silvertale grew up reading an endless supply of Lilian Jackson Braun, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew novels. She loves the amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries and obsesses about all things paranormal. Those two passions unite in her Mitzy Moon Mysteries and Harper and Moon Investigations, and she's thrilled to write them and share them with you. 

Author Links: 

Trixie’s Website https://trixiesilvertale.com  

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Soft Serve Sleighing - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

SOFT SERVE SLEIGHING by Lena Gregory
The Fifth Coffee & Cream Café Mystery 

It's a blizzard! Danika Delaney and her friends are snug inside her shop ,the Coffee & Cream Café, as severe winter conditions have shut down all of Watchogue. The arrival of three young women in the midst of a snow storm shouldn't be cause for alarm, but trouble starts when Brynleigh Star, the YouTube influencer, tries to extort Dani in exchange for a good review, then leaves without paying for the multitude of food the trio consumed. Still seething Dani tries to embrace winter fun by giving in to her friend's desire to go sledding. But a wild ride down the town's only hill leads Dani right into Brynleigh's dead body. With the woman's entourage calling Dani a murderer and a brawl breaking out in her shop Dani and her friends once again find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation. Will they be able to put the killer on ice? 

There may be a blizzard outside, but SOFT SERVE SLEIGHING will warm your heart. I love this series so much and this fifth entry is a great addition. The friendship between Dani, Eli, and Gwen is a treasure. They would do anything for each other whether it be tracking down a killer or building a snowman! That level of devotion makes the horribleness of Brynleigh Star and her "friends" all the more upsetting.

The mystery was complex with lots of possibilities to explore. I appreciated how Dani tried to let Jake and the police investigate without becoming too involved, but how could she say no to Eli. And what trouble she get into being an armchair detective? Plenty. Serious danger impacts everything and there are plenty of heart pounding and heart stopping moments!

Love and laughter fill SOFT SERVE SLEIGHING with joy, creating a fun and memorable mystery. So grab a bowl of ice cream, no matter the weather, and settle in for a satisfying read!

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Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory

About Soft Serve Sleighing

Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 5th in Series
Setting – Long Island, NY
Publisher: ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (January 28, 2025)
Number of Pages - 226

From author Lena Gregory comes a delightfully delicious cozy mystery...

With most of Eastern Long Island closed down for a blizzard, Danika Delaney and her friends are holed up in her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, with ice cream and hot chocolate. However, their plans to wait out the storm in cozy company are interrupted when a popular YouTuber and her two companions show up at the door—they've been trapped by the storm, and Dani generously offers to serve them breakfast. But her generosity isn't rewarded in kind, as the reviewer then tries to extort money from Dani in exchange for a good review! When the storm finally clears, Dani is happy to have seen the last of them.

Or so she thought.

Dani and her friends decide to go sleigh riding the morning after the storm clears, but instead of a winter wonderland, they find the extorting YouTuber...dead! To make matters worse, Dani suddenly finds herself accused of the woman's murder. Intent on restoring her reputation, Dani sets out to prove she didn’t do it. This is one storm she's not sure she can weather...

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

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