COVEY JENCKS

by

Shelton L. Williams

Narrated by Kathy James

Genre: Mystery / Social Thriller

Publisher: Southern Owl Publications, LLC

Publication Date: February 10, 2018

Number of Pages: 229 pages

Audio Book Length: 6 hours, 38 minutes

Covey Jencks is a murder mystery with a social conscience. Set in West Texas with a cast of colorful and humorous characters, it follows a young lawyer from Washington, DC back to his hometown of Odessa, Texas. He wants and needs to solve a murder case from 1979 in 1993. The problem is that the Odessa Police Department has already found its man, and no one wants to re-visit the case of a black prostitute whose life was seemingly of no consequence to anyone. But Freddie Mae Johnson’s death matters to Covey, and eventually he discovers an old flame, JayJay Qualls, who also knew and loved Freddie. Together they undertake an investigation that uncovers not only the truth about Freddie but also the secrets of Odessa’s south side, Mexican gangs, a Boston mobster, and the fallacy of unexamined assumptions. Finding out who killed Freddie is one thing, but preventing their own demise is quite another!

 

Praise

Williams seamlessly braids a murder mystery with a love story and a drama about the pervasiveness of racism in the South… The author’s prose is buoyantly eccentric, both insightful and self-effacingly humorous. And the clues Covey and JayJay track down are meted out to readers with impressive judiciousness: The author never prematurely surrenders so much information that the conclusion is rendered foregone while the tale’s swift pace prevents it from becoming tedious. An engrossing crime drama that’s both entertaining and provocative. — Kirkus Indie

 

 

Covey Jencks is a delight from start to finish and if you aren’t familiar with West Texas (specifically the Odessa area) you might feel like you know the town to a degree. Whether you know the town or not, you are probably aware of the football team from Friday Night Lights. There are many references to their winning years and even Covey’s role on the team. There are also references to Texas oil – both the good and the bad.

This story has two different timelines – the 1970s when the murder occurred and the 1990s when Covey is back in town and feels like he needs to figure out who killed Freddie, a friend from his youth working at his father’s car wash and an intriguing woman in her own right. I enjoyed the back and forth between the times as the story unfolded and more details of the crime and the characters were doled out to the reader. I kept wondering how Freddie’s murder might have taken place and who was involved, and while you have a clue to the second, the “how” was a mystery until the details were revealed. I was actually surprised at the involvement of one character because he portrays himself differently earlier in the book and I think that throws Covey and JayJay off.

The characters are multi-dimensional and some might surprise you as the story progresses and their involvement in past and present events. The cast of characters leaves no race, gender, or affiliation out and we see everything from white, black, brown, straight, and gay. Each character meshed well with the story and take note that there are racial slurs in the book which are appropriate to the time and location. I had no problem reading these because I know that 40 years ago is not today. I especially enjoyed all the references to many things we take for granted – cell phones, internet (and not dial-up!), and the start of coffee shops (aka Starbucks). I also enjoyed the various town references especially when the characters headed to the “big city” of Dallas et al.

Besides the mystery portion, I found different situations within the story humorous. I enjoy a good chuckle now and then because any author that can find humor in a situation is one that I will want to read again. Life is too crazy to not have some laughter now and again.

I’m not sure if this is going to be a series or not, but I would enjoy reading more about Covey’s family life coming out in light of what we know about his dad from this book. We also had a little peek into JayJay’s life as a younger woman and it would be enlightening to learn more about her and how she came to be in Covey’s life. Either way, this is an enjoyable book and one you might want to pick up.

We give this 4 paws up

Shelton L. Williams (Shelly) is founder and president of the Osgood Center for International Studies in Washington, DC. He holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and he taught for nearly 40 years at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He has served in the US Government on 4 occasions and he has written books and articles on nuclear proliferation. In 2004 he began a new career of writing books on crime and society. Those books are Washed in the Blood, Summer of 66, and now Covey Jencks. All firmly prove that he is still a Texan at heart.

 

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My first part-time job, while I was in high school, was announcing at the local radio station, and I had fun being “on the air” and using my sarcastic sense of humor.  I worked in the radio business for more than twenty years. My favorite pastimes are teaching figure skating, getting lost in a great book, and watching movies.  I narrate and produce audio books in my home studio, and I truly enjoy bringing an author’s characters to life with an audio book. I currently reside in Minnesota with my slightly overweight cat and two childlike golden retrievers.

 

 

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

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11/27/18	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
11/27/18	Excerpt	Bibliotica
11/28/18	Audio Review	Hall Ways Blog
11/29/18	Guest Post	Max Knight
11/29/18	Playlist	That’s What She’s Reading
11/30/18	Audio Review	The Book Review
12/1/18	Author Interview	Texas Book Lover
12/1/18	Character Interview	The Clueless Gent
12/2/18	Review	Reading by Moonlight
12/2/18	Scrapbook Page	Book Fidelity
12/3/18	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
12/4/18	Audio Review	Missus Gonzo
12/5/18	Excerpt	The Page Unbound
12/6/18	Audio Review	Forgotten Winds
12/6/18	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda

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Eggs on Ice (A Cackleberry Club Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Berkley (December 4, 2018)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

Some say that casting crusty attorney Allen Sharpe as Scrooge in the Kindred Players production of “A Christmas Carol” is just playing to type. He’s not the most beloved man in town. In fact, you’d have a dickens of a time finding someone who liked him. Still it’s a shock when the Ghost of Christmas Past stabs him during the first rehearsal. Suzanne, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club café, Kindred’s favorite combination diner, craft store and bookshop, chases the murderer out of the building but loses him in the alley.

As the days pass the list of suspects grows longer. Is it the disgruntled partner? The former secretary whom Sharpe sexually harrassed? Or is it fellow owner of the Cackleberry Club, Toni’s almost ex-husband, Junior? The women of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he can add another victim to his Christmas list.

An interview with Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of Eggs on Ice

Today I am blessed to have Laura Childs here answering the tough questions!  She even shares a recipe with us, so make note of it because it sounds delicious.

Tell us a little bit about Eggs on Ice, your newest mystery.

As the Kindred Players hold their dress rehearsal for A Christmas Carol, a ghost wafts onstage and murders the star of the show. Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club, rushes after this spooky specter but loses him when he escapes into a snowstorm. Suzanne vows to solve this murder and ends up juggling multiple suspects, holiday tea parties, a second murder, and a devastating fire. True to character, she also maintains her good humor (yes, this book is funny!) and keeps her romance sizzling with the town doctor. In the tradition of all my previous cozy mysteries, I give my readers a solid culinary fix with lots of delicious details on breakfast egg entrees as well as menus for a couple of fancy holiday tea parties.

Laura, I know you always include recipes in your books. Which ones are in Eggs on Ice?

I put in some really fun, tasty recipes like Crabby Crab Cakes, Slow-Cooker Sweet-and-Sour Pork, Elvis French Toast, Pumpkin Breakfast Casserole, and Church Basement Funeral Bars.

Who does most of the cooking in your house? And with your busy writing schedule (three different mystery series), how do you find time to cook?

I do the cooking and there really isn’t any time. So I tend to do lots of baked chicken with vegetables as well as stews and chowders that can be tossed together early on and then simmered all day.

What are your favorite foods?

I love sushi. I could eat it morning, noon, and night. In fact, I did when my husband and I visited Japan for two weeks. Also, I adore all shellfish – oysters, lobster, crab, shrimp, etc. And I’m afraid I am a chocoholic.

You also write the Tea Shop Mysteries and New Orleans Scrapbooking Mysteries. Do you include cooking in those books as well?

Absolutely. The Tea Shop Mysteries are the perfect vehicle for tea party menus, scone recipes, and food events such as winery tastings, food trucks, and fancy parties. In fact, Theodosia, my protagonist, is always coming up with new tea blends, scone ideas, and savory lunches. The Scrapbooking Mysteries are set in New Orleans which is an incredibly foodie town. So we’re talking fried oysters, stuffed artichokes, etouffee, jambalaya, and beignets. And my characters are always popping in and out of restaurants such as Commander’s Palace, Antoines, and Brennan’s.

What book are you working on now?

I’m currently writing two books. Lavender Blue Murder is a Tea Shop Mystery with a 2020 release date and Cadmium Red Dead is a New Orleans Scrapbooking Mystery with a 2021 release date. (Yes, I tend to work waaay ahead of schedule.)

Do you have a favorite recipe to share with us?

I thought you’d never ask. Here’s the top secret recipe for Church Basement Bars, those chewy, crunchy dessert bars that everybody loves!

Church Basement Funeral Bars
a bonus recipe from Eggs on Ice

1/3 cup melted butter
1 ½ cups graham crackers, crushed
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup dates, cut up
1 cup candied cherries, cut up
1 cup candied pineapple, cut up
1 cup pecans
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In bowl, combine melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs. Pat crumb mixture into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Then press each ingredient, in a single layer, on top of the crumbs, starting with the coconut flakes. Then press on the dates, then cherries, then pineapple, then pecans. Cover the entire dessert with the sweetened condensed milk. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Yields 15 to 18 bars.

 

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

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Violet Tendencies (A Rose City Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

Who could object to a flower festival?

Britta Johnston and her aunt Elin are delighted that their Portland floral boutique is part of the city’s Rose Festival, which draws thousands to the Pacific Northwest for dragon boat races, fireworks, and other attractions—capped off by a big parade. They’re building a float that’s sure to rock the judge’s boat . . . until a gang of angry protestors shows up. The group, who call themselves Dark Fusion, are decidedly not into flower power, and they want to take down the system . . . including the upcoming extravaganza.

Then their leader is strangled with a garland of violets—and Britta finds the body. With tensions running high and so much at stake, there are plenty of suspects, from the Grand Marshal to a longtime volunteer to a former Rose Queen. But before Britta and Elin can stem the violence, the case is going to get even more explosive . . .

Guest Post

We are very excited to have author Kate Dyer-Seeley with us today sharing a bit about her newest book, Violet Tendencies.

Thanks so much for having me today! I’m thrilled to get to share the 2^nd book in the Rose City Mysteries, Violet Tendencies with you. The book is set during Portland, Oregon’s annual Rose Festival. Portland (where I grew up) is also known as the Rose City thanks to the fact that roses bloom prolifically in the spring and summertime. Portland has one of the longest growing seasons for rose in the country. Buds first start to appear in April and can last through October. Locals and visitors can experience Portland’s rose splendor at the International Rose Test Garden where there are over ten-thousand rose bushes and four-hundred unique styles. The best part, the garden is free!

The other way to experience Portland’s abundance of roses is to visit during Rose Festival. The annual event is a celebration of all things rosy. It begins in June as navy ships line the waterfront on the Willamette River and a city fair takes over the park. From a starlight run and fireworks to dragon boat races and the Rose Queen’s coronation there is something for everyone. The highlight of Rose Festival is always the Grand Floral Parade. I remember watching the parade as a kid and being dazzled by the elaborate floats that I didn’t realize at the time were entirely constructed of flowers.

In Violet Tendencies floral artist, turned amateur sleuth, Britta Johnston is over the moon to have been picked to design the signature float. However, her excitement quickly fades when she realizes that between hand-crafting strands of dainty violets, she’ll have to hunt down a killer on Portland’s festive streets.

I hope that in addition to a page-turning mystery, you’ll get a taste of life in the Pacific Northwest. If you have a chance to make a trek to Portland for Rose Festival, I highly recommend it. And, if not. Don’t worry. You’ll get a first-hand look at the blooming city through Britta’s eyes.

Happy reading!

~Kate

About the Author

Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing, featuring a young journalist, Meg Reed, who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme. Only Meg’s idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.

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A Midwinter’s Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

To bark or not to bark . . .

Professional pet sitter Daphne Templeton loves the holidays in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. And nothing gets her into the spirit more than the town’s annual Bark the Halls Ball. The whole community will be there to wag their tails, especially this year’s special guest—Celeste “CeeCee” French, founder of a national chain of pet care franchises, who’s returning home to announce plans for a bright new flagship store.

But not everyone’s celebrating CeeCee’s homecoming. Daphne’s friend Moxie Bloom, owner of Spa and Paw, a unique salon for people and their pets, has plenty to growl about. So when CeeCee is found face down under Sylvan Creek’s town Christmas tree, stabbed with a distinctive pair of professional-grade pet shears, suspicion lands squarely on Moxie. Despite Daphne’s promises to Detective Jonathan Black, she quickly reprises her role as amateur sleuth. Ably assisted by her basset hound sidekick, Socrates, she must hurry to prove her friend’s innocence before a killer barks again . . .

Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!

Guest Post

Readers often ask authors what they have in common with the characters they create. I don’t usually base my characters off my family, friends or myself. However, this time of year, I do share one trait with Moxie Bloom, the quirky, vintage-obsessed salon owner from my Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries — namely, a love of old movies.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen White Christmas and its less popular predecessor, Holiday Inn. And, of course, there’s Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Bishop’s Wife and the more modern classic, A Christmas Story.

But my favorite by far is 1945’s Christmas in Connecticut, about a Manhattan apartment dweller who writes a Martha-Stewart-like lifestyle column, and who is forced to pretend to live the perfect domestic life on a Connecticut farm when her charade is about to be exposed at the holidays.

If you haven’t seen this movie, starring Barbara Stanwyck, and you love coziness, run and watch it today, hot cocoa in hand.

From the barn dance to the sleigh ride, Christmas in Connecticut definitely inspired my newest book, A Midwinter’s Tail, which also features horse-drawn sleighs, ice skating, and a fancy ball in a quaint, rustic town — not to mention a few handsome war heroes, just like in the movie.

The story is different, but the warm and fuzzy setting is the same.

What story do you turn to, when you want to immerse yourself in the holiday spirit? I’d love to know. Maybe it will be my next favorite, too!

 

About the Author

Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.

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Synopsis

Fake relationship. Real feelings. Big problems. 

Brody O’Donnel doesn’t believe in happily-ever-afters—at least, not for himself. But he wants the best for his vivacious, beautiful friend Gwen Danes, and he’s tired of watching her pine for a clueless man. Figuring a little bit of jealousy will motivate the guy, Brody proposes a fake relationship. It’s an outrageous plan, but Gwen figures there’s no harm in it—until they share a passionate kiss she never saw coming.  

Suddenly, Gwen’s fighting a growing attraction to a man she knows she can’t have. After all, he’s just faking it…isn’t he? 

Excerpt

“How about the bar. How did you get into that?”

More relaxed, Brody made another one of those considering faces before answering. “I grew up wanting my own restaurant. The plans for the bar came later. My grandmother owned this swank place in Manhattan, and I thought there wasn’t anything better.”

“Your grandmother?” Could this guy get any better?

And the answer was a resounding yes, because then he was doing that thing where he reached back, pushing his big hands through the untamed curls of his hair, making his shirt stretch tight over his chest and arms. Nice. Brody slid the elastic off his wrist to bind the hair that liked to fall in his face. It wouldn’t stay that way for long. Within fifteen to thirty minutes, she’d bet all those wild red-brown curls would be back on the loose.

But for now he settled back against the cushions. “Yeah, the story goes that my grandfather opened the place before he met her. And one day she came in to the place with a date who’d done her wrong. Big mistake. She had a temper, and apparently wasn’t afraid to show it. So when she finished chewing this date out, Fiona was getting up to leave and my grandfather stopped her to offer her a job. He thought she could keep the kitchen running with that fiery Irish temper.”

Gwen was getting that warm swelly feeling in her chest as she leaned forward eager to hear more. “And then he fell in love with her and taught her to run the place?”

Brody coughed out a laugh. “Not quite. She told him what he could do with his offer and suggested if he had a better one, he had until she was out the door to give it to her. So he asked her to marry him instead.”

She was up on her knees, her chocolate set on the table behind the couch so she could clutch her hands over her heart. “That’s even better. No wonder you’re such a romantic!”

“Oh Gwendolyn. You give me those eyes and tell me I’m the romantic?” he asked with a shake of his head. “Hate to ruin it for you, but Fiona thought her husband had rocks in his head. Remember this is the woman who raised my mother. The happy ending to Fiona’s story was if her husband hadn’t died within a year of marrying her, she would have left him, new baby and all…but in the end she got the restaurant. And one summer I got to stay with her and she taught me to cook and—”

Gwen’s brows crumpled, that warm swelly feeling in her chest deflating in a rush. “Wait what? No.” She leaned forward poking him in the shoulder. “That’s the worst love story I ever heard!”

And now he was laughing for real, those deep green eyes flashing at her as he wedged himself further back into the couch cushions. “Love story? Sorry but that’s not really how the women in my family are. Hey!” he yelped, when she poked him again. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to poke the bear?”

Oh yeah, some bear. She’d heard people call him that before, because he was so big she guessed, but the only kind of bear this guy was, was a Teddy Bear. She poked again, and again because— “Yes, love story! You totally set me up.”

Poke. Poke.

“Gwen.”

She was pretty sure that was supposed to be some kind of warning, but no way could she take it seriously when the big guy was literally trying to wiggle away amid those deep rumbling laughs.

Poke.

Only then, lightning fast, the world spun and Gwen found herself laid out across Brody’s lap, held in place by the strong hand still wrapped around her wrist and the solid arm supporting her back. She blinked up into Brody’s too green, too deep, too soulful eyes, caught there and held. The laughter died between them and she swore, even as tight as he was holding her, the world shifted again…

 

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly grew up in the Chicago area and earned her degree in fine arts from Loyola University. She met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her. They live in rural Minnesota.

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Christmas Gift Guide Roundup

 

Mistletoe in Texas

Gift this to: Anyone who loves all things Texas or rodeo, and fans of second chance romance

Suggested gift pairing: A cute Texas cookie cutter, or a bag of Texas Pecan coffee for a warm and authentic treat. (Because a horse won’t fit under the tree!)

Cowboy Christmas Jubilee

Gift this to: The friend who loves Christmas more than any other holiday, and fans of small town cowboy romance

Suggested gift pairing: Anything Christmas related – bonus points if there are cowboy boots involved.

 

 

Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas

Gift this to: Anyone who has ever wanted to live on a Christmas tree farm (!) or cowboy readers who like a little suspense

Suggested gift pairing: A pine-scented candle, or a favorite piece from a local artist (in honor of our folk artist heroine)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowboy SEAL Christmas

Gift this to: The friend whose favorite holiday movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or anyone who thinks horses and heroes are a winning combination.

Suggested gift pairing: Cute notecards, a framed photo, or an invitation to a holiday celebration because Christmas is all about connecting with the people we love!

Billionaire Wolf for Christmas

Gift this to: The friend who has a long checklist for her perfect guy (billionaire, doctor, wolf shifter) or anyone who loves a trope mashup!

Suggested gift pairing: If you can’t find a half-naked billionaire to put a bow on, then how about an adorable book themed tote to throw a copy into.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Forever Home

Gift this to: Dog lovers, and fans of

Suggested gift pairing: A puppy! (just kidding) For the minimalist friend, give this along with making a donation to a local no-kill rescue shelter. For something that’s easier to wrap, pair this with a cozy pair of red mittens for a soft and sweet gift.

Don’t forget gifts for you! At the holidays we always spend so much time thinking about others that it’s easy to leave ourselves out. Treat yourself this Christmas and enter to win all 6 holiday books! Then cozy up with a blanket, a hot cup of whatever you like, and get lost in a wonderful romance.

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Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Self Published (October 31, 2018)
Number of Pages: 255

Synopsis

It’s Christmas in Pecan Bayou, Texas. Join Betsy (aka The Happy Hinter) for a good old small-town Christmas complete with Christmas carols, over the top light displays, delicious food, loving friends and…a Christmas Creeper. One of the residents of Pecan Bayou has a secret and you’d better lock the door because that isn’t Santa out there or even a stray elf. Enjoy spending Christmas with the town and family you’ve come to know in the Pecan Bayou Series.

Recipes and helpful hints included!

 

About the Author

Teresa Trent lives in Houston, Texas and is an award-winning mystery writer.  She writes the Pecan Bayou Mystery Series, is a regular contributor to the Happy Homicides Anthologies. Teresa is happy to add her Henry Park Mystery Series to her publishing credits with Color Me Dead, the first book in the series. Teresa has also won awards for her work in short stories where she loves to dabble in tales that are closer to the Twilight Zone than small town cozies. When Teresa isn’t writing, she is a full-time caregiver for her son and teaches preschoolers music part-time. Her favorite things include spending time with family and friends, waiting for brownies to come out of the oven, and of course, a good mystery.

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Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger (Mrs. Oboddy Mysteries)
WWII tale of conflict and carnivals, turmoil and tigers.
Cozy Mystery/Humorous/Historical
3rd in Series
Elk Grove Publications (July 25, 2018)
Print Length: 349 pages

Synopsis

While the ‘tiger of war’ rages across the Pacific during WWII, eccentric, elderly Agnes Odboddy, ‘fights the war from the home front’. Her patriotic duties are interrupted when she is accused of the Wilkey’s Market burglary.

A traveling carnival with a live tiger joins the parishioner’s harvest fair at The First Church of the Evening Star and Everlasting Light. Accused again when counterfeit bills are discovered at the carnival, and when the war bond money goes missing, Agnes sets out to restore her reputation and locate the money. Her attempts lead her into harm’s way when she discovers a friend’s betrayal and even more about carnival life than she bargained for.

Granddaughter Katherine’s turbulent love triangle with a doctor and an FBI agent rivals Agnes’s own on-again, off-again relationship with Godfrey.

In Faber’s latest novel, your favorite quirky character, Mrs. Odboddy, prevails against injustice and faces unexpected challenges . . . and then There Was a Tiger!

Guest Post

Today I welcome author Elaine Faber to StoreyBook Reviews.  I could never write a book but I find her tips below quite helpful should I try my hand.  Pretty sure I won’t but will share these tips with other writers I know.

Reviewing the Rules of Writing Good Dialogue
By Elaine Faber

Readers love to read a novel full of dialogue. Often they have no idea that, as writers, we have rules we must follow to keep the dialogue interesting. Every sentence in a novel must move the story forward. This keeps reader’s interest whether it is a fiction story, a devotional, or an article about keeping aphids off rose bushes.

Let’s pull back the curtain on an author as she creates her compelling story.

In dialogue, we don’t repeat the question or person’s name when giving an answer. Example:

George: “Lucy? Do you want to go to the movies with me?”

Lucy “Yes, George, I’d love to go to the movies with you.” (Sounds like the utterances of a robot.)

Readers may not even notice when a skilled writer gives an oblique reply.

George: “Do you want to go to the movies with me?”

Lucy: “It depends. What’s playing and when did you have in mind? I have a very busy social life, you know. (Aha! We’ve moved the goalpost on the story. Lucy may have another suitor.)

We don’t use conversation to impart information.

George: “So? You’ll go with me if you haven’t seen the movie yet?”

Lucy: I have a date with Tom next Saturday night. You know, Tom–my mother’s second cousin’s nephew by marriage? He’s a troubled guy, votes Democrat, but he has a charming personality.”

We don’t use meaningless chit-chat in dialogue. Every conversation should have a purpose, give a clue to something yet to come in the story, or suggest a potential conflict. Example:

George: “You’re going out with Tom? I thought he was in jail for murder.”

Lucy: “He’s out now. He was falsely accused. Now he’s receiving death threats against him or anyone associated with him.”

George: “Really, Lucy?” George raises his eyebrow. “Is it wise to date a guy like that?”

Don’t use conversation to impart lengthy bits of back story. Example:

George: “You should date me, not Tom. Don’t you realize that I was the one who saved your mother from a burning building that she set that night when she was despondent over her divorce, and then she learned that she was my father’s long-lost twin sister, separated at birth by their evil stepmother?”

Lucy: Gasp! “I’ve been away at college way too long. Good grief. Does that make us cousins?”

George: “Maybe kissing-cousins. So is it a date?”

Lucy: “As long as they haven’t arrested me yet for killing my college roommate, who recently died under questionable circumstances when she was smothered in her sleep.”

Review: Each sentence delivers new information. Give oblique answers to a question. Don’t use the person’s name in your response. Don’t use conversation to impart lengthy back story. Don’t repeat the question just asked. The goal is to keep the reader turning pages!

Wow! Writing a book isn’t easy as easy as you thought, right? I had to keep all these things in my head while writing a compelling event that hooks the reader on page one, an exciting middle, and a satisfying and thrilling conclusion. But, it was easy for Mrs. Odboddy to be the prime suspect in a burglary, involved with a counterfeiting ring, losing the war bond money, meeting a tiger and still win at the end. Mrs. Odboddy – And Then There was a Tiger will keep the reader turning pages and looking backward to the previous Mrs. O books, or forward to the next one. Join Mrs. Odboddy on this rollicking adventure as she tackles adversity in this hysterical romp at the Newbury Harvest Fair, even as she fights the war from the home front during WWII.

 

About the Author

Elaine Faber lives in Northern California with her husband and two feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, California Cat Writers, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. She enjoys speaking on author panels, sharing highlights of her novels. Her short stories have appeared in national magazines and multiple anthologies. She has published seven books. In addition to the Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries Elaine writes the Black Cat Mysteries.

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Synopsis

Love comes to the rescue.

Vet school drop-out Tess Grasso dreams of having her own pet therapy business, but she meets one disastrous obstacle after another. There’s no denying she has a way with animals, so in the meantime, she puts her skills to use at a local no-kill shelter. Between helping her furry companions and a budding relationship with fellow dog lover Mason Redding, Tess begins to find fresh confidence…

What Tess doesn’t know is that Mason is recovering from an accident, hoping to get back to his pro-baseball career. He’s afraid the truth will ruin everything—and he’s right. But in the midst of hurt and betrayal, a free-spirited stray Husky enters their lives and teaches them a few things about faith, love, and forgiveness.

Excerpt

Tess lifted her mug of tea and carried it into the kitchen and away from the wall of windows and the remarkable St. Louis night skyline. If this were her place, she’d get nothing done in the evenings as she cuddled against that couch, sipping tea, and gazing at the beautiful lights.

“I had no idea a veggie meat loaf could smell so amazing. I’m so hungry, I could eat… Wait, I don’t think you can say you could eat a bear when you’re vegetarian, can you?”

Mason laughed and said she could say whatever she wanted. He was slicing through a cucumber with a gleaming chef knife.

“After we eat, I’ll be good to get back out there and search again.”

“Me, too. I’ve been standing here thinking what it could be like if we succeed. I want the dog. No question. And I know he’ll have a better life. A much better life. But I can’t help but wonder if he’ll want to be here.”

Tess joined Mason at the opposite counter. “He will. I’m sure he will.” Her hand closed reflexively over his forearm in reassurance, and she had to refrain from jerking it away. Seeing his strength was one thing. Feeling it was another.

What would he do if she slid between him and the countertop and allowed her lips to land where they wanted?

She forced a stepped back. “Do you have honey?”

“Yeah. In the pantry.”

His pantry was relatively uncluttered, and she spotted the honey right away. A family-sized box of Cocoa Puffs on the top shelf made her smile.

“What?” He pulled open a drawer and handed her a spoon. “Are you grinning at my juvenile selection of pantry foods?”

“That’s a big box of Cocoa Puffs.”

“Aren’t they a kitchen-pantry requirement?”

“I certainly wished that growing up, but not in my house. At least not unless it was a special occasion. My parents both worked full-time when I was growing up, and I went over to my grandparents’ house every day before school. My grandma’s idea of a quick breakfast is a bread roll with butter and jam or day-old biscotti to dip in her coffee.”

“Somehow that doesn’t make you sound deprived, if that’s what you were aiming for.”

Tess laughed as she squeezed a bit of honey into her mug. “How can I help?”

“I’m almost done, thanks. I have a red on the counter and a white in the fridge, if you’re up for wine.”

“I’d like to try this,” she said, picking a Barolo, “if you like red.”

“Sure.” He pulled a corkscrew from one of the top drawers. “How about you open it while I finish up?”

Mason had a beautiful salad prepared, and a small pot of gravy was warming on the stove. When he opened the oven, she spotted a ceramic bowl of mashed potatoes, another of green beans, and the veggie meat loaf.

As Tess opened the wine, she thought of her grandma. Nonna had taught her never to belittle someone’s effort in the kitchen by equating their work to trouble. “Wow,” she said instead. “Everything looks great. I can’t wait to try it.”

“Thanks. My, uh, slow season is in winter. Cooking is a hobby I’ve wanted to take up for a while. Like I said, before tonight I’d only ever made three different main dishes.”

“You said that, but you didn’t tell me what they are, aside from meat loaf, that is.”

“Want to guess?” Mason grinned as he carried over the salad bowl to a dining table long enough to bring to mind Beauty and the Beast. Mason had set two places, one at an end, the other in the seat adjacent to it. Tess’s heart beat at the intimacy of it.

“Absolutely. Let’s see. You grew up on a farm in rural Iowa, and your family is not Italian, so I’m guessing one of them is not lasagna.”

“You would be correct.”

“Hmm, what’s farmy to cook? I’m trying to picture the Cracker Barrel menu in my head. And before you ask, I only got to eat there when I went to Florida with my cousin’s family on vacation. Okay, let’s see. Chicken and dumplings?”

Mason chuckled. “Nope, though that’s one of my mom’s go-to winter meals.”

“Country-fried steak?”

“If we were playing hangman, you’d have a head and body.”

“Chicken pot pie?”

“And there’s a leg, or is it the arm next?”

Tess clicked her tongue and slid into the open seat next to him. “Pot roast?”

“Well done.”

“Really?” Tess waggled her eyebrows. “Pot roast and meat loaf. Two very hearty meals. Impressive.”

“I bet you hang before you guess the third.”

Tess pierced a bit of salad and silently counted off the meals she’d guessed. “Barbecue ribs?”

“Add the second leg. I can barbecue as well as the next guy, but I wasn’t counting it. Slathering a rack of ribs with some sauce and enjoying a beer while it sizzles over the coals isn’t the same as preparing a meal from scratch.”

“True, I guess.” She pointed her fork his way. “Don’t tell me. I’m going to get this.” She was halfway through a bite of salad when she smacked her palm against the table and hurriedly swallowed. “OMG, I’ve got it. I’ve totally got it. I know your third meal, Mason…” Tess paused. “I know your third meal, but I don’t know your last name. How weird is that?”

Mason sat back in his chair and took a sip of wine, appraising her, his mouth pulled up in the crooked smile that she adored. “With that reaction, this is the all-or-nothing round. Get it right, you win. Get it wrong, that’s the arms, feet, hands, everything, and you’re hanged.”

“I’m okay with that, only what’re we playing for?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that. Something bigger than who does the dishes, that’s for sure.”

Tess agreed with him. “How about winner calls it?”

His gaze dropped to her mouth for two solid seconds before returning to her eyes. “Yes, definitely.”

Review

I really enjoy this series that centers around a pet shelter in St Louis.  This is the third book in the series and Tess was introduced in the second book, Sit, Stay, Love and I have to say I wanted to know more about her and her background so I was glad to see this was the next book in the series.  We also see many familiar characters such as Patrick, Megan, Kelsey, and Kurt.  I believe in the second book there was mention of Mason but I can’t remember for sure.

I find it interesting that Tess has no idea who Mason is and that he is a sports figure.  There are many clues but she does not pick up on any of them.  Her grandmother recognizes him instantly but for some reason decides to not say anything to Tess which is a good and a bad thing.  In the long run that doesn’t matter since Mason and Tess bond over their love of dogs and puppies that John Ronald leads them to in an abandoned warehouse.  John Ronald is a street dog that Mason has been feeding and knows will someday be his dog once he has built up the trust.

I enjoyed the times when the story is from John Ronald’s perspective.  It adds an interesting twist to the story and as a dog lover, I can only imagine what goes through any dogs mind.

This is a sweet romance that has its ups and downs for Tess and Mason, but it wouldn’t be realistic if there weren’t some issues and in this case, it is Mason not fessing up to who he is and what he does for a living.  I enjoyed the part where Tess reveals she is a vegetarian and Mason has to figure out what to cook and how to cook it for her.  Oh and his neighbor Georges adds an interesting twist to Mason’s life.

Enjoyable series and I can’t wait to read what comes next.  We give this 4 paws up.

About the Author

Debbie Burns resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Shelter is her first contemporary romance and has finaled in multiple contests. Her writing commendations include first place awards for short stories, flash fiction, and longer selections from the Missouri RWA and the Missouri Writers’ Guild.

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Synopsis

Written in the style of a classic British Mystery with a contemporary young American woman as the amateur sleuth. Entertaining. Keeps you guessing until the end.

From a small secluded village in Connecticut to the English Countryside, readers are taken on a roller coaster of events and quirky characters as amateur sleuth Emily Ryder tries to solve a murder that everyone thinks was an accident.

For tour guide Emily Ryder, the turning point came on that fateful early morning when her beloved mentor met an untimely death. It’s labeled as an accident and Trooper Dave Roberts is more interested in Emily than in any suspicions around Chris Cooper’s death. For Emily, if Chris hadn’t been the Village Planner and the only man standing in the way of the development of an apartment and entertainment complex in their quaint village of Lydfield, Connecticut, she might have believed it was an accident, but too many pieces didn’t fit.

As Emily heads across the pond for a scheduled tour of Lydfield’s sister village, Lydfield-in-the-Moor… she discovers that the murderer may be closer than she thought.

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Excerpt

Then it grew still, save for Oliver’s sniffing survey of the spoils left by the turkeys.

Brushing himself off in the soupy mist, a stocky figure with a thick neck, pasty face, sagging raincoat, and dark, baggy trousers yelled out to no one in particular, “Hey, what is this? Can’t a guy even walk around for Pete sake?” She could have told him the turkeys were foraging and he’d overreacted. But she didn’t want to get into any drawn- out discussion about the ways of the wild. All she was after was a clue to what the guy was up to, getting hold of Oliver,

and returning to her agenda.

The second he noticed her, the man changed his tone. “Oh, how you doing? This your dog, I take it?”

Through the drizzle, Emily spotted a glittering, gold GDC emblem under his lapel.

“No,” said Emily. “He’s Will Farrow’s retriever.”

“Will Farrow? Right, you mean the fix-it guy, staying at the B&B while he patches it up?”

Though he was trying hard to be friendly, his voice had a raspy, cynical edge, and Emily didn’t appreciate the way he was looking her up and down. Judging from his cropped

gray hair and the deep creases in his face, she assumed he was in his early fifties. She also took him to be a point man for the development company.  Otherwise,  why  would  he be scouring around on his own, seemingly taking note of everything, checking out the lay of the land?

Stepping back onto higher ground, apparently self- conscious that Emily was a good two or three inches taller, the man reached into an inside pocket and took out a few printouts. In turn, Emily unfastened the collar of her windbreaker and pulled the hood over her head. All the while, Oliver looped around, sat and nuzzled his blocky head against Emily’s thigh, and looped around again.

“Ah.” The point man jabbed his finger at the top of one of the pages. “I got you covered. You’re the B&B owner’s daughter, used to play college soccer, but now you’re some kinda tour guide. Carting a few locals around spots overseas. How am I doing?”

Emily shot him a wary glance, but he went on unfazed. “So good, so maybe you could be of some use, seeing how your ol’ lady is off on some kinda busman’s holiday. And her place is in need of lots of maintenance, right? But in this market and as far as the fall-foliage thing goes, what can I say about it all going down the drain?”

“How do you know all this?”

“I just do, all right? So, for openers, we got mom holing up somewheres in the boonies and not something to bank on.”

“So, for openers, what are you driving at?”

Pocketing the printouts, he said, “Are you kidding me? Nailing down a right-of-way, what else? For the construction

site, right where we’re standing. The name so far is Lydfield Woods. Get it? Lydfield, Connecticut—Lydfield Woods. Hey, as long as we’re at it, I would appreciate your take on this.” “My take is, you’re wasting your time. You’d better go

back to the drawing board.”

“Obstacles, right. Exactly what I’ve been saying. Which brings us back to how far this thing is gonna have to go.”

The exchange broke off as Oliver dashed away into the mist. Seconds later, he returned with a gnarled branch gripped in his teeth. The point man ignored him, but Oliver went straight up to him and pawed at his trousers. The point man flung the stick far back into the woods in the opposite direction. Oliver’s ears perked up as he dashed off again.

“Right,” he said. “Something I should know before I make my move?”

“Meaning?”

“Come on, will ya? Cut the tap dance. I’m talking Chris Cooper, head of planning, who’s gonna cast the deciding vote. I’m talking the old roofer guy and conservationist. I’m talking the number one issue. What’s he trying to pull? What’s he suddenly got up his sleeve?”

Emily pulled back. This was a veiled threat aimed not at the Planning Commission per se, but at her mentor. Her surrogate father since her real dad skipped out. In a word, he was after her best friend.

“I’m talking blowing the whistle, okay? Is that plain enough for you?”

Emily readjusted her hood and brushed her damp hair away from her eyes. “Go on.”

Just then,  Oliver  returned  with  a  new  stick.  Just  as quickly, the man yanked it out of Oliver’s mouth and pitched it out of sight. The fog hung a tad lower, cloaking everything in the near distance. Clueless, Oliver took off, this time heading south toward the far reaches of the meadow where the ground sloped down again, falling away to the Village Green.

The point man’s eyes hardened as more droplets ran down his face. “Look, I appreciate how you’re jerking me around and how you don’t back down even though we’re alone up here. So seeing you’re about to go futzing off to England and we’re both pressed for time, how about getting off it while I maybe do something for you?”

Oliver returned stick-less as the drizzle picked up.

Tired of this game, Emily said, “Okay, mister, let’s have it.”

Guest Review by Katy

I love a good mystery and this certainly fit the bill! This book pulled me in right from the start and didn’t let go all the way through. I even shoved some work aside so I could finish it today but it was worth it. The story is about a woman named Emily Ryder, a tour guide who witnesses her friend fall to his death off of a roof one rainy morning. Emily urges the police to investigate the death as a murder because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the fall but they don’t want to listen and want to close the case and label it an accident.

I really appreciated Emily as a character and her intelligence, intuitiveness and determination made me root for her throughout the novel. I loved that she trusted her instincts about the case and was willing to fight for what she believed in. The mystery was also very compelling. Unlike some mysteries I have read in the past, I really felt like the author put a lot of forethought into not only the motive and means of the killing but little clues that could be left along the way for the reader to potentially pick up on. I appreciate a mystery author that trusts the reader’s intelligence and ability to work things out on their own.

Not many books these days seem to leave me in a state of awe but this one has me not only wanting to re-read it again, but chomping a the bit for more by the same author! I’m very happy to see that this seems to be the beginning of a series. I’d highly recommend reading this book. If you love suspense, intrigue, great writing and a good mystery, then this is the book for you!

About the Author

Shelly Frome is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a professor of dramatic arts emeritus at the University of Connecticut, a former professional actor and, all told, has written over twenty-five plays in addition to his articles and novels.

A frequent contributor of articles on all facets of creative writing and acting, Shelly appears in numerous periodicals including Southern Writers Magazine where he is the film columnist. He is also a contributor to writers’ blogs and websites in the U.S. and the U.K.

His fiction includes Twilight of the Drifter, The Twinning Murders,and Lilac Moon. His Hollywood crime caper Tinseltown Riff was released in March 2013. His latest crime novel Murder Run was just released in August.

Among his works of non-fiction are the acclaimed The Actors Studio and texts on The Art and Craft of Screenwriting and writing for the stage. Shelly lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

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Giveaway

This giveaway is for one print copy or ebook copy of the book.  Print is available to the U.S. only but ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends on November 30, 2018 at midnight pacific time.  Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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