Bitter Alpine: An Emma Lord Mystery (Emma Lord Returns)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Alibi (February 4, 2020)
~Print Length: 235 pages

Synopsis

New year, new murder . . . Emma Lord is on the case when death finds its way back to the wintry mountain town of Alpine.

After a relatively calm and cozy holiday season, neither Emma Lord, editor and publisher of The Alpine Advocate, nor her husband, Sheriff Milo Dodge, are surprised when their new year gets off to a rocky start. A woman’s body has been found in a squalid motel. Her driver’s license shows that Dawn Purvis was in her late thirties and lived in Weaverville, California—and the only connection between that town and Alpine is their gold-mining and logging origins. When they discover that Dawn’s room reservation was open-ended, Emma, Milo, and the ever-inquisitive Advocate receptionist, Alison Lindahl, are more than mildly curious. And never mind that the youthful Alison is a bit distracted by the new county extension agent’s virile good looks. She can still sleuth while she stalks her newest crush.

But that’s not all the news that’s unfit to print. There’s something strange about the older couple who have moved into the cabin down the road that was once owned by a murder victim. The elderly wife seems anti-social. There’s got to be a reason, which Emma, Milo, and Alison intend to find out—even if it puts them in deadly danger.’

Amazon  –   B&N   –   Kobo

About the Author

Website * Twitter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Crafter Quilts a Crime: A Handcrafted Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (February 11, 2020)

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Betty Hechtman and Maggie Sefton, Holly Quinn’s third Handcrafted mystery aspires to wrap you in its warmth.

Community Craft proprietor Sammy Kane must piece together a patchwork of clues when a “live” mannequin ends up stone-cold dead.

Snowcapped pines and glittery dusted sidewalks adorn tranquil Heartsford, Wisconsin, while residents cuddle beneath heirloom quilts in front of cozy wood fires. But come the next day, the below-zero temperatures won’t keep the locals away from Heartsford’s annual Fire & Ice event. To boost customer traffic at Community Craft’s one-night-only sale, Samantha “Sammy” Kane persuades a few of the craftspeople who sell their wares at the store to participate in a live mannequin window display contest.

Local quilter Wanda Wadsworth emerges as a favorite to win the contest, as she manages to not move a muscle for an unusual amount of time. Onlookers outside the window try everything to get her to crack–tapping on the glass and making funny faces–but nothing disrupts Wanda’s stillness. When the eagle-eyed spectators realize Wanda isn’t breathing, a blanket of grief and fear descends upon the wintry town.

Detective Liam Nash can’t seem to piece the clues together. Fortunately, Sammy’s cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie, are on hand to reconvene their detective team, S.H.E. They set out to solve Wanda’s untimely death before the case grows as icy as a sub-zero Wisconsin winter. But they are all too aware that the killer is too close for comfort.

Amazon – B&N – BAM

IndieBound – Powell’s Books – Kobo

About the Author

Holly Quinn is both an avid reader and crafter. Holly sells her artistic creations locally and dreamed of one day opening a gift shop to sell local artist’s handiwork. Instead, she began writing about it and thus her journey of the Handcrafted Mystery series was born.

Website * Facebook * Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Statue of Limitations (A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (January 28, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Synopsis

In this delightful new series by the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mysteries, Athena Spencer comes back home to work with her crazy big Greek family at their garden center. But she never expected a return to her roots would mean protecting her family from murder . . .

After her divorce, Athena has returned to coastal Michigan to work in her family’s garden center and raise her son, while also caring for a mischievous wild raccoon and fending off her family’s annoying talent for nagging. Working alone at the garden center one night, Athena is startled by a handsome stranger who claims to be the rightful owner of a valuable statue her grandfather purchased at a recent estate sale.

But she has even bigger problems on her plate. The powerful Talbot family from whom her pappoús bought the statue is threatening to raze the shops on Greene Street’s “Little Greece” to make way for a condo. The recent death of the family’s patriarch already seemed suspicious, but now it’s clear that a murderer is in their midst. Athena will have to live up to her warrior goddess namesake to protect her family from a killer and save their community from ruin . . .

Kensington – Amazon – B&N   – Kobo

Review

If you thought you had a loud boisterous family. you need to meet Althena and her Greek family.  It is reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding – so if you have seen that movie you will understand.  The nosy sisters, the overbearing mother, and the love that can be found despite everything.

Althena is divorced with a son and living back in her hometown with her family and working at the family garden center.  She is the secret author of a blog that features her family but they don’t know it even though they read it every day.  One day they are going to realize it is about them!  Althena is dating Kevin.  Kevin is not going to win any awards with Althena but she can’t figure out how to extract herself from him without hurting him or having her mother start back down the matchmaking path.  Everything is going along swimmingly until Case Donneley appears inquiring about a statue in their garden center.  He claims it was stolen from his grandfather’s museum.  Is he going to try and take it back?  Will he be able to find the provenance to prove his claims?

This is a fun new series that had me giggling and trying to figure out the mystery.  I had my suspicions in regards to the killer but couldn’t decipher how they were involved until near the end as nuggets of clues were dropped into the story.  I felt for Althena dating someone like Kevin that she obviously doesn’t like but doing it to keep the peace in the family.  Case could be an interesting new twist because I think there is some chemistry between the two and will be interested to see how a relationship plays out for them.

We think this is a great start to a new series and can’t wait to see what is in store next for Althena and Case.  We give it 5 paws up.

Credit: Edda Taylor Photographie

About the Author

Kate Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series. After publishing numerous historical romances, Kate penned the long-running mystery series, three books of which were made into Hallmark movies starring Brooke Shields. An Indiana native, Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master’s degree in education. When not growing roots at her computer, Kate loves to garden. Other passions include yoga, reading, spending time with family and friends, sampling great wines and fine dark chocolate, and enjoying every moment of life. Kate lives in Northwest Indiana and Key West, Florida.

Website * Facebook

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Field Guide to Homicide (A Cat Latimer Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (January 28, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages

Synopsis

Cat Latimer and her writer’s retreat group go on a hiking trip—but a murderer has been lurking off the beaten path . . .

Cat’s sweetheart, Seth, is going all out on an outing into the local mountains—for the benefit of the writing group Cat’s hosting at her Colorado B&B. But when they try to identify some plant and animal life, they find death instead. The body belongs to a man with a gold claim a few miles away. Instead of striking it rich, he’s been struck down.

To his surprise, Seth recognizes the victim from his military days—and up to now believed he’d already died during his last tour of duty. Now Cat has to solve this mystery before the killer takes a hike..”

 Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play

Review

It’s time for another journey back to Colorado and Cat’s writer’s retreat.  This retreat is different than others since there are two couples plus the college student from the local college.  It is an interesting bunch and while they are featured in the book, I don’t think that they were the main focus.  The main characters were tied to Seth’s past in the military and those that were in town for a reunion of sorts.  I’m not sure we learned much about Seth’s military buddies but that didn’t stop me from thinking something was off about the deceased and those he served with all those years ago.  I feel like there is so much more that Seth hasn’t revealed yet about his time in the military and I wonder if more will be revealed in future books.

We discover a little bit more about Cat’s deceased husband, Michael.  The author has a way of keeping me engaged in this series because I want to know what he was involved with and how it will affect Cat.  Especially since the dead body from Seth’s unit has notes about Michael and others in his cabin.  What is the secret?  When will we learn more?

The mystery and the interactions between the various characters (Cat, Seth, Shauna, Uncle Pete, and Shirley) kept me engaged and made it hard for me to put the book down.  I had my suspicions about the killer but there was more to the story than I ever expected.  Shauna has some family issues that she hides from Cat for most of the book, but I’m glad she trusts their friendship and opens up about what is happening with her family.

Overall we give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Lynn Cahoon is the award-winning author of several New York Times and USA Today bestselling cozy mystery series. The Tourist Trap series is set in central coastal California with six-holiday novellas releasing in 2018–2019. She also pens the Cat Latimer series available in mass market paperback. Her newest series, the Farm to Fork mystery series, debuted in 2018. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies.

She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Survival Can Be Deadly: A Discount Detective Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Walrus Publishing (September 10, 2019)
An imprint of Amphorae Publishing Group
Paperback: 308 pages

Synopsis

When single mom and recent widow Cameron Chandler takes a much-needed job at Penny-wise Investigations, a detective agency conveniently located in a suburban shopping mall, she grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Her first case is to locate a runaway girl, something her predecessor had been pursuing before he disappeared. Following in his footsteps, the trail leads to a survivalist camp on a remote island in northern Puget Sound. Armed with only a Swiss Army Knife and her quirky on-the-job training as a suburban sleuth, Cameron uncovers more than she bargained for. She soon finds herself in a fight for her own survival in this lighthearted mystery set in Seattle and the San Juan Islands to the north.

 

Review

Take one widowed mother and a discount detective service located in a mall and you have this series that is bound to charm the reader.

There was so much to like about this series so I will start with some of my favorite characters. Cameron is a widow with a PhD yet no job to go with it trying to manage two children and a busybody mother who thinks that Cameron just needs to find a new husband. All Cameron knows is that she needs to find a job. You have P.W., the head of the discount detective business that is a bit of a mystery herself. Many of the people working for her have tried to unearth who she really is but to no avail. Yuri is Cameron’s main teacher at the PI agency, showing her the ropes and assisting with her first case. Yuri is a crazy driver and I was very glad that I wasn’t physically in a car with him. Will is like Q in the Bond movies – all sorts of gadgets that might help out on any case. He can be something of a trickster.

I have to credit Cameron for taking on a career field that requires observation and deductive reasoning. Sure I’ve read mysteries for years but that doesn’t mean I should be a PI. I chucked on her first day on the job and her choice to wear heels. Everyone forewarns her that P.W. isn’t going to like the shoe choice. Thankfully it is only her first day so she won’t have to chase after suspects quite yet.

Cameron’s first case is a missing person’s case but it evolves into so much more including some radical Survivalists on one of the San Juan Islands in Washington. This is where the action really heats up and some interesting twists and turns occur. I was spellbound throughout the book and stayed up a little too late the first night because I had to know what happened next.

If you like witty, quirky, and a little crazy then this might be a mystery you will want to read.

We give this 5 paws up.

About the Author

In a world filled with uncertainty and too little chocolate, Charlotte Stuart, PhD, has taught college courses in communication, gone commercial fishing in Alaska, and survived being the VP of HR and Training for a large credit union. Her current passion is for writing lighthearted mysteries with a pinch of adventure and a dollop of humor. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys watching herons, eagles, seals and other sea life from her Vashon Island home office.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hems & Homicide (Apron Shop Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (December 31, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages

Synopsis

Welcome to the first in the Apron Shop mystery series by Elizabeth Penney, set in the quaint village of Blueberry Cove, Maine where an expert seamstress turned amateur sleuth is getting measured for murder. . .

Iris Buckley is sew ready for a change. After the death of her beloved grandfather, Iris decides to stay in her Maine hometown to help out her widowed grandmother, Anne—and bring her online hand-made apron designs to real-time retail life. Her and Anne’s shop, Ruffles & Bows, is set to include all the latest and vintage linen fashions, a studio for sewing groups and classes, and a friendly orange cat. The only thing that they were not planning to have on the property? A skeleton in the basement

Anne recognizes the remains of an old friend, and when a second body shows up in the apron shop—this time their corrupt landlord, whom Anne had been feuding with for decades—she becomes a prime suspect. Now, it’s up to Iris to help clear her name. Enlisting the help of her old high-school crush Ian Stewart who, like certain fabrics, has only gotten better-looking with age and her plucky BFF Madison Morris, Iris must piece together an investigation to find out who the real killer is. . .and find a way to keep her brand-new business from being scrapped in the process.

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

Review

This is a lovely start to a new series set in Maine.  The characters are relatable, the location is picturesque, and the killer is elusive.

I always enjoy a good cozy and especially enjoy discovering new series that could be one to follow and I think this is one of those series.  We are introduced to Iris and Anne, a close-knit pair that are opening their own apron shop.  Now before you start questioning the goods they are selling, Iris has an online presence and there will be more than just aprons in their storefront, which is a good thing because I’m not sure just aprons would pay the rent!  Iris has a trio of girlfriends that ground her and the mix of personalities makes for a well rounded group of women.  They know how to balance each other so that no one friend dominates or craters the friendship.

The mystery itself is intriguing because it involves a 40 year old murder and most of the potential killers still live in this small town.  That is good for the police since they aren’t having to traipse across the county or country to find the suspects.  Unfortunately, the police are looking at Anne strongly, but not for good reason.  Iris is like most protagonists and finds herself smack dab in the middle of the investigation and takes it upon herself to find the killer, primarily so her grandmother doesn’t go to jail.

There were a few odd things that stuck out to me.  Iris receives threatening texts and emails way too soon in the story.  She really hasn’t started investigating yet someone is telling her to stay out of it already?  Iris appears to be very high strung and while I understand that she is looking out for her grandmother, I thought she could take it down a notch or two with her anxiousness….if that makes any sense!

But overall we enjoyed this book and are intrigued as to what will happen in the next book.  There is a teaser at the end of this book but I haven’t read it yet, I think I’ll wait and be surprised.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Elizabeth Penney is an author, entrepreneur, and local food advocate living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In addition to writing full-time, she operates a small farm. Elements that often appear in her novels include vintage summer cottages, past/present mysteries, and the arts. She is represented by the fabulous Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Elizabeth’s writing credits include over twenty mysteries, short stories, and hundreds of business articles. A former consultant and nonprofit executive, she holds a BS and an MBA. She’s also written screenplays with her musician husband.

She loves walking in the woods, kayaking on quiet ponds, trying new recipes, and feeding family and friends.

Website * Twitter * Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dead in Dublin (The Dublin Driver Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (December 31, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty, murder occurs at the feet of sweet Molly Malone . . .

Ferrying tourists around Dublin for the Leprechaun Limo Service makes quite a change after years in the military. Still, Megan Malone is enjoying her life in Ireland. She likes the scenery, the easy pace, the quirky, quick-witted locals. Everything—except having one of her clients drop dead at the statue of fabled fishmonger, Molly Malone.

Most restaurant critics notch up their share of enemies. Elizabeth Darr, however, was a well-loved international star. She and her husband, Simon, had just had dinner when Elizabeth collapsed, and spoiled seafood is the first suspect. The restaurant’s owner, worried her business is doomed, begs Megan to look into it. Between her irate boss and a handsome Garda who’s both amused and annoyed by her persistence, Megan has her hands full even before she’s cajoled into taking care of two adorable Jack Russell puppies (which she is almost definitely not keeping). But if cockles and mussels aren’t to blame, can Megan find the real culprit . . .before another fishy death occurs?

 Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Kensington

Guest Post

Today, Megan from the series joins us and shares some insights into her life and whatnot!  Quite an amusing tale.

Hi, I’m Megan Malone and I Do Not Blog, or tweet, or…whatever Facebook posting is called…so you’ll have to let me know if I’m doing this wrong. Or better yet, you can let me know I’m doing it right!

Anyway, Megan Malone, an American living in Ireland. I moved here thanks to my dual citizenship after retiring from military service in the States, and I’ve been driving for Leprechaun Limos—a car-hire service—for a couple of years now. I swear I didn’t used to drive myself into trouble and back out again. Not, technically, that I’ve driven myself into trouble—it’s not like I’m running people over with the car—but you get what I mean. I hope.

At any rate, there haven’t been any murders lately, so I’m currently skating by on the good graces of my boss, Orla Keegan, she of the wicked tongue and yet also somehow she of the gilded charm—you should see how she plays up the Irish when it’s tourists she’s talking to. (It’s pronounced “OR-la”.) She thinks I’m a danger to myself and, more importantly, to the business’s good name, although I haven’t noticed any drop-off in the early morning clientele. That’s usually my window to work in: I like sunrises and long walks on the bea—wait, this isn’t that kind of blog, is it…

No murders lately has been easier on my friend(?) Detective Bourke, too. (It’s pronounced “Burk”.) I’d have never met Paul if poor Elizabeth Darr hadn’t died, so in a way I wish I hadn’t met him, but that said, I’m glad I know him, even if I make his life difficult. I tell you, employers and police detectives start getting really weird if you happen upon a body or two in the course of business.

Fortunately, I’ve got some steadfast friends who have my back when perfectly normal things like finding bodies start happening. Niamh, who is vastly more fabulous than I am, knows everybody and everything in Dublin, and is the best source of gossip around. (It’s pronounced “Neev”.) Fionnuala feeds me when I’m desperate, and even when I’m not. Of course, the puppies are her fault, but…well, I won’t hold that against her. (It’s pronounced “FinnOOla”.) And my friend Brian, who I swear takes care of the puppies at least as much as I do…well, he takes care of the puppies at least as much as I do. (It’s pronounced “BRY-an”. ;))

I tell you, though, the thing I was looking forward to most about my Irish life was the chance to live in another country, to go around seeing things I’d never see without the clients who need a driver, and hanging out with my friends. Basically the stereotypical Quiet Life. And of course, that worked for a couple of years, but I don’t know how somebody looking for the Quiet Life ended up involved in a murder investigation.

On the other hand, it’s certainly made phone calls back to the States more fun. For some value of the word ‘fun’, anyway. My mom worries about me even though I’m forty years old, and if this keeps up, my best friend Rafe and his wife Sarah are going to start preparing popcorn for when I call to say hi and tell them about my crazy life.

And of course, if it was just once, that would be one thing. It’s the ongoing investigations that are getting me looked at askance, but you’re going to have to wait to hear those details…!

In the meantime, welcome to the life and times of the Dublin Driver mysteries. Long may they live!

About the Author

Catie Murphy, who has written numerous award-winning fantasy and Sci-fi books under the pseudonym C. E. Murphy, began writing around age six, when she submitted three poems to a school publication. The teacher producing the magazine selected (inevitably) the one she thought was by far the worst, but also told her—a six-year-old kid—to keep writing, which she has. She has also held the usual grab-bag of jobs often seen in an authorial biography, including public library volunteer (at ages 9 and 10; it’s clear she was doomed to a career involving books), archival assistant, cannery worker, and web designer. Writing books is better. She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.

Website

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bound for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (January 7, 2020)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

Blue Ridge library director Amy Webber learns it wasn’t all peace and love among the “flower children” when a corpse is unearthed on the grounds of a 1960s commune.

Taylorsford Public Library director Amy Webber’s friend “Sunny” Fields is running for mayor. But nothing puts a damper on a campaign like an actual skeleton in a candidate’s closet. Sunny’s grandparents ran a commune back in the 1960s on their organic farm. But these former hippies face criminal charges when human remains are found in their fields–and a forensic examination reveals that the death was neither natural nor accidental.

With Sunny’s mayoral hopes fading, Amy sets her wedding plans aside, says “not yet” to the dress, and uses her research skills to clear her best friend’s family. Any of the now-elderly commune members could have been the culprit. As former hippies perish one by one, Amy and her friends Richard, Aunt Lydia, and Hugh Chen pursue every lead. But if Amy can’t find whoever killed these “flower children,” someone may soon be placing flowers on her grave.

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Indie Bound

Excerpt

My foot, resting next to the macramé purse, vibrated from the loud music blaring from Sunny’s cell phone. “You want to get that? I realize the rule is no phones at the desk but since there’s no one here right now…”

Kurt coughed.

“No one who will care, I mean.” I cast him a smile before grabbing Sunny’s purse and handing it to her. “Go on—I know that ring.”

“Yeah, it’s the grands. Again.” Sunny pulled a comical face as she fished her phone out of the pouch. “They aren’t usually this needy, but ever since the county started that dredging work on the creek, they’ve been calling nonstop. They’re so worried about damage to the trees and shrubs along the stream bed.”

“Of course.” I’d heard plenty about this from Carol and P.J., who were irate over the heavy equipment that had recently descended upon their quiet organic farm. The fact that the county had a right-of-way to the creek, which was part of a larger watershed, did nothing to appease their anger.

“Government barreling in and taking over, like usual,” P.J. had told me, his thin lips quivering with repressed rage. “Didn’t even inform us ahead of time. Just showed up one day and proceeded to rip up my fields with their equipment. Well, they’d better not destroy our trees along the creek, that’s all I’ve got to say.”

I shook my head. “Can’t say I blame them.” I directed my words to Kurt as Sunny listened intently to her phone. “The county’s been tearing up the stream banks all along its route.”

Kurt’s expression betrayed no emotion, but his jaw tightened. That was odd. The art dealer rarely appeared tense, even in the direst of circumstances, yet the mention of dredging a creek seemed to have distressed him. It piqued my curiosity.

Or maybe I was imagining things. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “They say it benefits the environment because it allows for better run-off from nearby rivers and ponds. But I don’t know. It seems rather destructive to me.”

When Kurt replied, his voice was as calm and charming as ever. “I knew that the dredging work was ongoing but didn’t realize it involved that farm.”

“Yeah, unfortunately.” I glanced at Sunny and noticed that all the color had fled her face. “Anything wrong?”

Sunny’s fingers clutched her cell phone so tightly I worried she might crack the plastic case. “Yes. Not with the grands, thank goodness, but dredging crews found something on the farm.”

“Buried treasure?” I asked, with a quick glance at Kurt.

“No, not anything like that.” Sunny’s voice shook. “According to the grands, an operator swung his Bobcat bucket the wrong way and dug deep into the bank, up and away from the stream. And that’s when they found it.”

“Found what?” I asked, my gaze flitting from Sunny’s trembling lips to the carved-in-stone stillness of Kurt’s face and back again.

“Bones,” Sunny said. “Human bones.” She stared at me, her eyes as glazed as glass. “An entire skeleton.”

About the Author

Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. Victoria has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers and lives in North Carolina. This is her fourth Blue Ridge Library mystery.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Instagram * YouTube

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Mysterious Mix Up (An Allie Cobb Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Lyrical Press (January 7, 2020)
Paperback: 190 pages

Synopsis

Murder hits the stacks when literary agent Allie Cobb investigates a fatality in the local library . . .

Allie Cobb returns home from a book conference armed with hugs for her cat and her boyfriend, and dreams of a long, hot bath. She’s also getting ready to take the plunge by hiring an intern for her expanding literary agency. But it’s one for the books when Allie finds the town’s librarian—and her longtime role model—seconds away from death on the library floor.

Who would want to poison Vicky Napier—one of Rushing Creek’s most beloved citizens—on the eve of her retirement? But it seems there were toxic people in her life, like the handyman with an obsessive crush, and a wood carver with a hair-trigger temper. The list of suspects includes Allie’s boyfriend, Brent, who’s in the running to take over as town librarian. Avenging her friend’s murder could be a trap as she goes up against a killer determined to write Allie’s epitaph . . .

Amazon   – B&N  – Kobo

Guest Post

New Year, New Decade, New Hopes

Hi, friends and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. As I write this, I’m still trying to get my head around the fact that we’ve entered a new decade.

As I look back on the previous ten years, I’m blown away with the changes we’ve all seen and experienced. The growth of social media. The ubiquity of smartphones. The meteoric rise of ebooks. The interconnectedness that technology has brought about sure has made the world a smaller place, hasn’t it?

If you’re like me, you’ve gone through a lot of personal changes, too. Some were good, like both of my kids graduating from high school. Some were not so good, like the development of my oldest kiddo’s chronic health problems.

The past decade was also when I became a writer. In August 2011, I began writing my first novel. Since then, I’ve written almost a million words and published ten books and one short story.

Not too shabby, I like to think.

I consider my first decade as an author a smashing success. But that begs an important question.

What next?

For starters, I have three more books in The Allie Cobb Mysteries I’m contracted to write. I hope more readers get a chance to spend time with Allie and the Rushing Creek gang. I have a bunch more story ideas in my head, so hopefully, I’ll be able to report in a decade from now that I’ve published another ten books. Or maybe even more!

I have other hopes, too. Ones that, in the grand scheme of things, are much more important than my writing career. I hope Shea gets their health issues under control for good, finds a career that is as enjoyable as it is fulfilling. I hope Aidan graduates from college and gets a job in his major. I hope ten years from now, Nancy and I will be celebrating forty years since our first date.

Anything more than that and I run the risk of sounding greedy.

As we embark on a new decade, I’m filled with hope. I hope we’re all happy and healthy. I hope we’re all safe, that maybe the challenges our world faces won’t seem so tough to solve. I hope that, in January 2030, we’ll all be able to look back on the 2020s and say that was a pretty good decade.

For all of us.

How about you, Reader Friend? Do you have any hopes, goals, or dreams for the next decade? Tell me about them. Maybe we can compare notes.

About the Author

J.C. Kenney grew up in a household filled with books by legends Agatha Christie and Lilian Jackson Braun, among many others, so it was no surprise when he found himself writing mystery stories. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two sons, and a cat who is the inspiration for Ursula in the Allie Cobb Mysteries.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Instagram

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Silenced in Sequins (A Resale Boutique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Lyrical Press (January 7, 2020)
Print Length 256 Pages

Synopsis

Former Manhattan fashion buyer Kelly Quinn is turning her grandmother’s outdated consignment shop into her quaint hometown’s hot spot for upscale style—until her second-hand couture makes the scene of an ice-cold crime . . .

With her bottom line looking a little threadbare, Kelly is going all out to promote the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique. She’s counting on Black Friday to recover her start-up expenses—including a website and an advertising blitz. But the publicity is overkill when two warring divas, and one sparkly evening dress, thrust Kelly and her fledgling business into a scandal she can’t afford.

The gorgeous garment came to Kelly from the walk-in closets of Wendy Johnson, one of reality TV’s Long Island Ladies. When Wendy’s former co-star, Diana Delacourte, graces a Christmas gala in the dress that was once her rival’s, a very public catfight ensues. But is Wendy to blame when sequin-clad Diana turns up dead? Dodging the show’s ever-present cameras—and a detective’s stern warnings—Kelly hunts for a killer before the powerful celebrity-suspect makes good on her threats and rips her to shreds . . .

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Google Play

Review

This is the second in this series and had a lot to live up to in my mind because I really enjoyed the first book.  This book does not disappoint, from the holiday party to the reality show divas to high fashion couture to Kelly trying to solve the case of who killed Diana Delacourte (but not without some danger to herself).

Kelly has a lot of baggage to overcome but she has managed to find some peace turning her grandmother’s thrift store into more of a boutique that grabs the attention of those looking for nice outfits at a lower price.  Good thing Kelly’s background in fashion helps her know what is fashionable and what should be shelved elsewhere.  She has rekindled a friendship with Ariel, who is someone I would like to see featured a bit more as this series moves along.  I think she can bring a dimension to the series.  There is a potential love interest with Mark Wolman, who is a local attorney.  Unfortunately, his sister is a police detective and does not like Kelly one bit.  There are many other characters that I would like to see expanded upon.

The twist of the reality tv show and its divas was interesting for me to read about.  I do not watch reality shows and wonder how much of this is real life and how much is a show.  And why would anyone want to be on a show like that?  Oh yeah, the 15 minutes of fame and notoriety, maybe even the money?

The mystery itself kept me guessing until the end.  Looking back there were maybe one or two clues to point you to the killer, so keep your eyes peeled for those clues!  Kelly manages to find herself in the thick of things until the bitter end and is lucky that she didn’t end up dead herself…but not for lack of trying on the killer’s part.

Overall I am enjoying this series so far and look forward to the next installment.  We give this 5 paws up.

About the Author

Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association and Romance Writers of America.

Website – Facebook – Goodreads 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway