Herbs and Homicide (The Faerie Apothecary Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Novelwright Mysteries (September 27, 2018)
Paperback: 217 pages

Synopsis

Looking for a unique paranormal cozy mystery series that’s lighthearted and fun?

Settle into the cozy countryside of Moss Hill, where house-elves rent rooms, sprites live in gardens, a leprechaun is the best tailor in town, and a half-elf/half human named Carissa Shea owns a pharmacy known as The Seelie Tree Apothecary shop. Life couldn’t be more idyllic for Cari, but healing humans and fae folk proves challenging at times, especially when secrets unfold in The Faerie Apothecary Mysteries.

About Book 1: Herbs and Homicide
In the small town of Moss Hill, customers of all kinds visit Carissa Shea’s Seelie Tree Apothecary Shop. That includes tall and short, young and old, human and faerie. Being half-elf/half-human herself, Carissa personally knows and cares for them all. So, when a grumpy brownie, a type of house faerie, named Miss Morgan dies in her shop, Carissa is devastated. As she learns more about her customer’s death, she realizes Miss Morgan might have been the only thing standing between the Seelie, faeries of light and goodness, and the Unseelie, faeries of darkness and evil. On top of it all, the Sidhe guard, protector of all fae residents, rule it a murder and name Carissa as a suspect! Now she must prove her innocence and find the real culprit before it’s too late – not just for her but for all of Moss Hill.

Review

If you enjoy magical creatures, solving a mystery, and being transported between two worlds, this might just be the book for you.

Many times when I start a book I haven’t read the synopsis or it has been some time.  Many times I think that is better because it opens up many new worlds, characters, and situations that aren’t biased ahead of time.  I say this since books that are somewhat fantasy in nature aren’t what I read but I do enjoy expanding my horizons and since this is a cozy it was bound to be enjoyable.

I was intrigued by the various magical creatures – from elves to leprechauns to sprites.  They all added depth to the mystery and I might have learned a little bit about them.  I think I liked the sprites the best since they were quite comical especially Hiya, Cynth, and Chaos.  I think they made me chuckle because they didn’t speak but you could sense their emotions from the descriptions.

The mystery itself was well written.  I was surprised to discover “whodoneit” and never suspected this character.  Because there are magical beings there are characters that are spelled (or cursed) and Cari was always able to determine something was wrong even if she couldn’t fix the situation herself.  I think Cari also felt a little lost because she is part human and her magical capabilities are less than others.  She is very determined to solve the mystery and my guess is because she is the prime suspect since Miss Morgan dies in her shop.

The only thing that I didn’t like was that the author would use both Cari and Carissa in the same paragraph and I’m not sure why.  It would make more sense to use one or the other when close together.  But this didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

We give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

Astoria Wright is the author of The Faerie Apothecary Mysteries, including the bestselling prequel novella Chaos in the Countryside. Intrigued by myths and inspired by cozy mystery writers before her, Astoria tries to combine two worlds with human and faerie neighbors trying to solve puzzling crimes on the fictional island of Moss Hill. She’s also a poet, which shows in the Moss Hill poetry anthology “written” by the characters in the series. Her goal is to bring Moss Hill to life in her stories, because who doesn’t wish we lived in a town with magical faeries as neighbors?

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs (Spells & Caramels)
Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Self Published (February 15, 2019)
Print Length: 298 pages

Synopsis

A bakehouse in the making. A dangerous ghost in the tower. Will their welcome to the neighborhood be short-lived?

Imogen wants nothing more than to complete her sweet dream. With her adoring fiancé Hank at her side, the witch and her friends dive into renovations for their new home and soon-to-be bakery. But all their efforts seem futile when they wake to find the house eerily ripped apart all over again…

As Imogen examines her humble abode’s shady history, she discovers evidence for a malevolent spirit living inside. But with less-than-welcoming neighbors keeping a close, suspicious watch, she wonders if it’s not the dead but the living who pose the biggest threat…

Will Imogen root out the culprit, or will her culinary future collapse under the weight of an unsolved murder?

Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs is the ninth book in the charming Spells & Caramels paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like lovable characters, chilling twists, and enchanting adventures, then you’ll love Erin Johnson’s marvelous tale.

Buy Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs to solve a magical whodunit today!

Review

This is such a fun series that I was thrilled to be able to read the newest installment.  Imogen is a refreshing character and a bit crazy too.  I love how she injects the human world into her situations and interactions with those from the magical realm.  I noticed in this book there seemed to be more movie references.which was amusing and had me trying to guess the movie from the clues and lines.  I don’t think I guessed many of them!

Imogen, Hank, and the gang have been given a home that is haunted but they don’t know that until they start working on the home to repair it and bring it up to snuff for their new bakery and school.  Imagine their surprise when the house seems to implode on itself and undoes all of their hard work.  This sets them off on their latest adventure to determine who is trying to keep them out of the house and why.  The answer might surprise you.

I enjoy how the author finds a love interest for most of the characters.  It is fun to watch these new romances develop.  There is humor in the story and Iggy has the worst (or best!) timing when making his comments.  Iggy certainly doesn’t know how to curb his tongue and almost gets the gang in trouble with his comments.  But it is all in a days work for Imogen, Hank, and the gang.  We do see a little bit more of Horace and I’m wondering if perhaps he will be around more for Imogen (since he is her brother) and knowing that the Kingdom he fought to bring down might welcome him now that things have changed.

Overall I really enjoy this series and I do suggest starting at the beginning to follow the personal relationships of the various characters.

We give it 5 paws up!

About the Author

A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh.

In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Past Due for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Crooked Lane Books (February 12, 2019)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

Has a curse fallen on the small town of Taylorsford, Virginia? After a young woman goes missing during a spring bonfire, library director Amy Webber must wade through the web of lies only to find a truth that she may not want to untangle.

Spring has sprung in quaint Taylorsford, Virginia, and the mayor has revived the town’s long-defunct May Day celebration to boost tourism. As part of the festivities, library director Amy Webber is helping to organize a research project and presentation by a local folklore expert. All seems well at first—but spring takes on a sudden chill when a university student inexplicably vanishes during a bonfire.

The local police cast a wide net to find the missing woman, but in a shocking turn of events, Amy’s swoon-worthy neighbor Richard Muir becomes a person of interest in the case. Not only is Richard the woman’s dance instructor, he also doesn’t have an alibi for the night the student vanished—or at least not one he’ll divulge, even to Amy.

When the missing student is finally discovered lost in the mountains, with no memory of recent events—and a dead body lying nearby—an already disturbing mystery takes on a sinister new hue. Blessed with her innate curiosity and a librarian’s gift for research, Amy may be the only one who can learn the truth in Past Due for Murder, Victoria Gilbert’s third charming Blue Ridge Library mystery.

About the Author

Raised in a historic small town in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian.

Victoria’s first cozy mystery series, the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, garnered her a three-book deal with Crooked Lane Books, which has since been expanded to five books. The first two books in the series have been optioned by Sony Pictures Television, and the first three were or will be produced in audiobook by Tantor Media.

Victoria also just inked a 2-book deal with Crooked Lane for a new cozy series, the Booklovers B & B series, set in historic Beaufort, NC.

A member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, Victoria is represented by Frances Black at Literary Counsel.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Instagram

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Running from Arrows (A Running Store Mystery)
Cozy Mystery/Romance/Humor
2nd in Series
Better Mousetrap Books (January 7, 2019)
Print Length: 192 pages

Synopsis

One of Lacy’s beaus has a bow. Unlike Cupid, his arrows kill. There’s more than romance in the air this Valentine’s Day!

Running from Arrows is the fun, twist-filled, romantic cozy mystery romp you’ve been waiting for!

Valentine’s Day is coming up and Lacy is single. If that’s not bad enough, she has a secret admirer. Is it the compassionate, haunted detective, the ruggedly handsome businessman, the suave maître de, the guy in her running group who likes to stare, or maybe someone who’s not on her radar? She’ll find out soon enough because he’s invited her to dinner. Now the question isn’t how long Lacy will remain single but how long she’ll remain alive.

During the Sweetheart Run through the town of Cedar Mill a fellow runner is murdered and a notorious burglar called the Black Cat is found dead with an arrow sticking out of him. Somehow these strange murders are connected to the ladies of Run For It – Lacy the divorcee, Stax the quirky bookseller, and Ruby the old-time mystery novelist. They’re back in a race against time to catch an invisible killer and exonerate an innocent man!

If you love a delicious mystery dripping with romance, humor, and chills – and a Valentine’s Day dinner no reader will ever forget – then buy Running from Arrows now and run it right to the top of your TBR pile!

You’ll want to tell all your friends about Running from Arrows, but whatever you do, DON’T TELL THE SECRET OF THE SECRET ADMIRER.

Running from Arrows is part two in a series but can be read as a stand-alone.

About the Author

T.C. Wescott was born in Missouri but has lived in Oklahoma most of his life. Like pretty much every author who has ever breathed, he is an avid reader. His favorites are classic mysteries from the Golden Age, as well as just before or just after that period (which is widely considered the period between the two World Wars). His first mystery novel, Running from Scissors, was published in July 2018 and will be the first of at least three books in the Running Store Mystery series.

The Christmas Village Mystery series will launch in November of the same year with the debut title Slay Bells. The formula for his books is simple – mixing the classic, traditional detective fiction standards with all the trappings of the modern cozy mystery.

Wescott is also (under another name) the author of two award-winning non-fiction books as well as a slew of essays and articles.

Goodreads * Website * Twitter * Facebook * BookBub

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine’s Day Anthology

Mystery.

Murder.

Lots and lots of chocolate.

Grab a cup of cocoa and get ready to spend Valentine’s Day with a heart-warming collection of ten Valentine’s themed Cozy Mysteries from some of the most popular authors in the genre. There are short stories, novellas and full-length books in the set, all of which are sure to grab you from the first page and take you on a thrill-filled ride through the sweetest holiday of the year.

Short Story: “Sweet Retreat” from The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series by Jodi Rath

Jolie Tucker wished she had gone on a one-time date while the going was good. Now she finds herself spending an entire weekend in adjoining rooms in a suite at Sweet Retreat’s Spa with none other than Detective Mick Meiser. Jolie had been trepidatious since she found out he had made the highest bid at the date auction fund-raiser for the village’s local pet adoption charity. But the possibility of romance disappears when they stumble upon a red silk glove in the parking lot…that has a severed hand inside! Instead, the unlikely duo must investigate who the hand belongs to…and where the rest of the body is.

Review

If you are looking for a quick read over lunch or while waiting at the doctor, this story will fit that description.  I was delighted to learn more about Joie and Mick and see what happened after Mick won Jolie at an auction for a date.  Obviously crime happened.  It was interesting to see how it all came together in a shorter time frame and fewer pages.  There are a few twists and turns that might surprise you as much as they surprised me!

I hope to read the rest of the stories in the book sometime soon.

We give this story 4 paws up.

Series Title: The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series

Book 1 Title: Pineapple Upside Down Murder

Synopsis

Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!

Introducing Jolie Tucker, an introverted yet passionate restaurant co-owner of Cast Iron Creations. When her grandma Opal becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Leavensport’s local chocolatier, Jolie goes on a search for answers—only to find out that her family’s secret recipes may not belong to the Tucker family at all. Jolie’s job, family, and livelihood are all on the line.

Release Date:  11/23/18

Check out my review here

Recipe

Cast Iron Creation Valentine’s Day Berry Cake

Use a mini cast iron when baking for one or two!

Recipe adapted from Toaster Oven Love

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar, divided
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup frozen berries (do not thaw)

Optional Toppings

• Ice cream, melted chocolate chips, whipped cream, yogurt

Instructions

1. Preheat toaster oven to 350 F and lightly oil a 3.5 inch cast iron skillet.
2. In a small bowl mix together the flour, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil until well combined, and no oil is sitting on the top. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
3. Pour batter into prepared skillet. Top with frozen berries and sprinkle remaining brown sugar over fruit.
4. Bake at 350 F for 17 to 22 (times may vary depending on your oven) minutes until the cake is lightly golden and the fruit is bubbly. Allow cake to cool 5 to 8 minutes and serve warm with your favorite toppings.

Enjoy!

About the Author

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

Website * Facebook * FB Author Page * Twitter * Goodreads * BookBub * Pinterest

Synopsis

What exactly happened to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose?

• In 1945, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Leader of the INA leaves Singapore to take a series of flights, and dies in Taiwan after his plane crashes near Formosa. Or so it seems.
• In 1947, Mr Mrs Singh, an illustrious army couple, both veterans of the Indian National Army, are last seen in Delhi, and then never again.
• In 1949, the plane carrying the first deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, mysteriously disappears for seven hours.
• In 2012, following the fall of WikiLeaks, a female hacker of the notorious X group is on the run as most wanted by everyone from Interpol to the KGB
• In 2015, the millionaire CEO of a Fortune 500 company suddenly resigns and vanishes from the public eye.

A set of seemingly unconnected disappearances emerge to be woven into a single fabric as the answer to one leads to another… In this riveting narrative, bestselling author Shreyas Bhave, takes the reader on a thrilling adventure to solve the greatest mystery the Indian nation has known.

Excerpt

Colonel Hardy looked at his wristwatch. It was almost time for the Court Marshall to begin. But then there were so many trials squeezed into one day that it was natural for his colleagues to be late for this one. He decided to start without them. “So, born in Lahore, eh?” he asked, eyes still on the files.

“Born and brought up there, Sir,” Major Singh replied. “I graduated from Government College, Lahore, and then sat for the Military Entrance Exam, passing which, I went to the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Doon.” Major Singh’s English was impeccable.

“Which year batch was it? “Hardy asked, impressed by the Punjabi’s resume. He himself was an alumnus of the same institute, though a few years junior to this man.

“1936.”

“Good.” Colonel Hardy gnawed his lower lip. So the Punjabi Major was his senior by almost half a decade.

“I was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on the Special List in early 1939,” Singh said, standing straight in the dock. “2nd Battalion. The Highlanders!”

“Secunderabad, right?”

“Indeed. A boring year until we were sent to the Far East to hold a garrison in a quaint little British port.”

Colonel Hardy read further. “Singapore, huh.”

“The war was soon to come.”

Hardy smiled as he went through the war records in the files. “I see one promotion after another. In less than six months, you were Acting Captain.”

“I served with distinction. Your army promotes on talent alone; I’ll give you that.” Singh bowed.

Colonel Hardy closed the files and looked up. “Japanese prisoner-of-war in Malaya, 1941 – what happened?”

“I was captured in Malaya.” Singh twisted his thick mustache. “I had taken my regiment on a midnight raid on the Japanese docking station on the island of Java.”

Trailer

About the Author

Shreyas is a 21 year old guy currently pursuing his B.Tech in Electrical Eng. from VNIT Nagpur. His love for history since his childhood prompted him to write his take on the story of Asoka who was one of the towering figures in the history of India, which has been taken up as ‘The Asoka Trilogy’ by Leadstart Publishing.

The first part of the trilogy called ‘The Prince of Patliputra’ has been published in January 2016 and garnered positive responses.

He is also presently working on several other manuscripts and completing the final year of his engineering Course.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Grand Slam Murders (A Bridge to Death Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (January 29, 2019)
Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

After four bridge players are poisoned, newspaper reporter Wendy Winchester sets out to catch a killer who’s not playing with a full deck . . .

When the four wealthy widows who make up the venerable Rosalie Bridge Club never get up from their card table, this quiet Mississippi town has its first quadruple homicide. Who put cyanide in their sugar bowl? An aspiring member and kibitzer with the exclusive club, Wendy takes a personal interest in finding justice for the ladies.

She also has a professional motivation. A frustrated society columnist for the Rosalie Citizen, she’s ready to deal herself a better hand as an investigative reporter. This could be her big break. Plus, she has a card or two up her sleeve: her sometimes boyfriend is a detective and her dad is the local chief of police.

Partnering up with the men in her life, Wendy starts shuffling through suspects and turning over secrets long held close to the chest by the ladies. But when a wild card tries to take her out of the game, Wendy decides it’s time to up the ante before she’s the next one to go down . . .

Guest Post

Hello, Mystery Readers!  My name is Wendy Lyons Winchester, and I am in the midst of a quadruple homicide investigation.  But I’m not a police detective—I’m a newspaper reporter in my hometown of Rosalie, Mississippi, an eccentric and multi-layered, historic Mississippi River port.  Three  years ago I returned to my hometown of Rosalie with a journalism degree from Mizzou and took the only newspaper position available to me at the time: writing the social column.  Which is another way of saying I do fluff pieces on weddings, baby showers and sip ‘n sees.  It is way past time for me to move on.  (If I have to describe another bouquet, I will hurl!)

Unfortunately, the four wealthy widows who comprised the exclusive Rosalie Bridge Club were all recently poisoned during one of their bridge luncheons.  Someone stirred cyanide-laced sugar into their coffees, and they were all DOA at the Rosalie General Hospital.  The town was shaken to its roots, and I was among the most traumatized.  The Gin Girls, as they had nicknamed themselves due to their fondness for the juniper berry brew, had recently admitted me to the club as a fledgling member, and I was slowly learning the fine points of the social game of bridge in my spare time.

Thinking on my feet, I went to my impossibly-sexist editor, Dalton Hemmings, and proposed that he allow me to do a series of features on the ladies and their families.  He approved the assignment, but what he doesn’t know is that I plan to do enough research to solve these crimes myself, and then Mr. Hemmings will have to consider giving me a promotion to full-time investigative reporter.  I also have an advantage in that my father, Bax, is chief of police, and my sometimes boyfriend, Ross, is a police detective.  I expect a leak or two from their official investigation to fall from their lips in my daily encounters with them.

I invite you to follow me as I question one suspect after another and eventually figure out the monstrous solution to these Grand Slam Murders when the Rosalie Police Department cannot.

About the Author

R. J. Lee follows in the mystery-writing footsteps of his father, R. Keene Lee, who wrote fighter pilot and detective stories for Fiction House, publishers of WINGS Magazine and other ‘pulp fiction’ periodicals in the late ’40’s and ’50’s. Lee was born and grew up in the Mississippi River port of Natchez but also spent thirty years living in the Crescent City of New Orleans. A graduate of the University of the South (Sewanee) where he studied creative writing under Sewanee Review editor, Andrew Lytle, Lee now resides in Oxford, Mississippi.

Facebook

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Murder, She Meowed (A Pawsitively Organic Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Kensington (January 29, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

Kristan “Stan” Connor loves concocting tasty organic treats for dogs and cats—and she also loves her fiancé, pub owner Jake McGee. But she’s not so enthusiastic about finding a dead body at her own bachelorette party . . .

Stan and Jake’s wedding will soon take place on the town green in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, followed by a reception at their beloved Irish pub filled with friends, family, and their four favorite canine companions. Stan just has to endure the traditional girls’ night out first. Male strippers jumping out of gigantic cakes aren’t her preferred entertainment. But the hired hottie never gets around to taking it all off . . . because someone takes him out first with one of Stan’s kitchen knives. A heartbroken Stan recognizes the victim as one of the delivery men from the local farm—who must have been moonlighting for some extra cash. Now the guest list has turned into a suspect list—and Stan’s making a vow to find the killer . . .

Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!

Guest Post

Today I am lucky to have Liz Mugavero here today sharing how she researches her books.

I get asked a lot how I do research for my books. The answer is, in lots of ways. I read, I Google, I talk to experts when I need to. I’ve even spent the day at a dairy farm for one of my books. But by far, my favorite research experiences have been involving law enforcement.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the Citizens’ Police Academy in my old town. I jumped at the chance to participate in the 11-week program because, well, you know me—I love this stuff. Crime, law enforcement, the whys of murder and mayhem, how it all fits together. I take every chance I get to do a deeper dive into how law enforcement works, the things cops  see and how it affects them.

Like the time I went to the fabulous Writer’s Police Academy. We did building searches, shot guns and dug up bodies from a shallow grave. Or the time when, as a journalist, I was asked to participate in a weekend-long SIG SAUER Academy program on handguns. Then there was the (now retired) chief of police whom I drafted as my consultant for another book. All of those experiences were invaluable.

Research like this has a huge impact on how I come up with ideas for a book and how I write about investigating a crime and other tactics. But it also helps me plot the book, develop characters, and ensure my setting fits with the story and the crime.

So I went into the program with the attitude of, Cool, I get to do more research, have more hands-on training, get to know some local police and hopefully get a contact on the force who’ll take my never-ending questions.

I have to admit, I was also curious about what I would find—both in town, and on the force. This town had a reputation. I’d lived there for about seven years before I took the course, and really only passed through on my way to work and home, or visit the food co-op, the gas station or a restaurant.

(Note – It’s kind of complicated, but I lived in the larger town and was not covered by the local police. Only the city district had its own force, and the rest of the town was covered by the state police.)

But it’s always good to get some understanding of your surroundings, right? So off I went, buoyed by the promise of SWAT teams and K9s and maybe, just maybe, getting to taser someone. I was like the nerdy kid looking forward to the first day of school.

I wasn’t disappointed. Sgt. Glode and Cpl. Miller, who ran the program, did a phenomenal job. This was the second iteration of the academy. There were about 30 of us—double the amount they expected, but they didn’t want to turn anyone away. The whole point, they said, was to educate the people of the town so they could take the message about what they do and how they do it back to the rest of the population.

Each week they focused on a different topic, and every officer on the force contributed. Some weeks had more than one topic, depending on subject matter. SWAT week, for instance, took the whole three hours. We got to see the weapons, sit in the MRAP (mine resistant, ambush protected military vehicle donated to the town), and even beat down a steel door with a battering ram.

During K9 week, we got to meet the three police dogs, all sworn officers, and watch them sniff out drugs their handlers had stashed for our benefit. During Use of Force week, we did drills—facing off with potential assailants and handling whatever situation arose. Some were able to talk their way out of it, others had to fight, still others had to taser. (Yes, I got to use the taser.) It was fun. It was also scary when you saw how fast things could go wrong.

Given the amount of news coverage lately about police use of force, this exercise was definitely timely. And so important, especially for people who have no experience with law enforcement and how they do their jobs. Experiencing it, even in a role-playing capacity, gives a whole new perspective. Now they can sort through the facts of a specific incident before passing judgment on either party for their actions. As another police officer so succinctly put it, “All lives matter.”

So what’d I learn, aside from the mechanics of tasering someone? Here’s a few:

You can’t judge a community by reputation alone. Every place has its problems. This place is lucky to have such a dedicated group of men and women protecting its citizens.

Riding a police bike through an obstacle course is really, really hard. You have to go wicked slow. For the record, I didn’t do it. I knew I would fall off the bike. Or take out most of the cones.

Cops get scared, too. I suppose I knew this already, but in a sure, everyone gets scared sort of way. These officers have to deal with serious, sometimes deadly situations. I give them major credit for hitting the streets every day. Give them some support and respect.

We all need to be part of the solution. Towns and cities won’t improve if everyone is fighting each other. Citizens who’ve taken courses like this can help simply by bringing the message to the rest of the public. Get everyone talking to each other and working together. It’s got to make a difference.

My grandfather was a policeman for nearly 30 years. He started out walking the beat and finally became a detective. He shared some stories with me, but not nearly enough before he died 18 years ago. Every time I get to do something like this, I feel like he’s finding a way to share more of his stories with me.

I’m thankful I got to be part of it. And I’m thankful to all the officers out there for their service.

P.S. The ride-along was fabulous, too!

About the Author

Liz Mugavero has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera–all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, “So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?” or, “That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?”

She went on to get a master’s in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, and presently, corporate communications. And she’s confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.

Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers’ masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.

Website * Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook;

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Murderous Marriage (A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (January 29, 2019)
Hardcover: 304 pages

Synopsis

Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, are preparing for a wedding, but it may not be the happy occasion everyone hopes for . . .

Since the Great War, some family fortunes have suffered, including those of the Renshaws. Despite being the granddaughter of an earl, Julia Renshaw is under pressure to marry for money—and has settled for Gilbert Townsend, a viscount and a wealthy industrialist. He is decades older than Julia, and it’s clear to her sister Phoebe—and to Eva, who has been like a surrogate mother to the girls—that this is not a love match. Nevertheless, the wedding takes place—and in a hurry.

At the reception aboard the groom’s yacht, there appears to be tension between Gil and several guests: his best man, a fellow veteran of the Boer War; his grouchy spinster sister; and his current heir, a nervous young cousin named Ernest. The bride is also less than pleased when she discovers that her honeymoon will be more crowded than expected—with Gil’s pretty secretary, among others, coming along.

That very night, Julia pounds on her sister’s door, brandishing a bandaged hand and reporting a hot-tempered outburst on her new husband’s part. Julia is feeling doubt and regret about her hasty decision, but returns to the boat. Then the next morning, before the yacht can depart the harbor, Gil’s body is found in the water below—and Phoebe and Eva must discover who pushed him over . . . before the Renshaws’ social standing is irreparably stained by Julia’s arrest for his murder . . .

About the Author

Alyssa Maxwell knew from an early age that she wanted to be a novelist. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles of all kinds drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband reside in Florida, where she loves to watch BBC productions, sip tea in the afternoons, and delve into the past.

Twitter * Facebook * Webpage * GoodReads * Mailing List

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Synopsis

DIY Diva Laurel McMillan learns that the high walls and guarded gates of Hawkeye Haven can’t protect her community. When Laurel takes her pampered, chocolate Labrador retriever, Bear, for an early morning walk, she finds her friend, security guard Bessie, bleeding and unconscious at her guardhouse post. If the attack on Bessie isn’t enough to set the resident’ nerves on edge, the murder of Victor Eberhart, the unpopular president of the powerful homeowners’ association, certainly does the trick. Despite teaching DIY classes and writing project instructions for her latest book, DIY for Dog Lovers, Laurel manages to squeeze in time for some DIY detective work. But as she gets closer to the truth, Victor’s killer would like nothing better than for the DIY Diva to take a dive.

Project instructions and dog treat recipes included.

About the Author

An instructor at five colleges over the years, Paula Darnell most often taught the dreaded first-year English composition classes, but she’s also been happy to teach some fun classes, such as fashion design, sewing, and jewelry making. Paula has a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Like Laurel, the main character in Death by Association, Paula enjoys all kinds of arts and crafts. Some of her memorable projects include making a hat and a cape to wear to Royal Ascot, sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters, exhibiting her textile and mixed-media artwork in juried art shows, and having one of her jewelry projects accepted for inclusion in Leather Jewelry, published by Lark Books. She sells some of her jewelry and hair accessories in her Etsy shop.

Paula’s interest in DIY craft projects and fashion led to her writing hundreds of articles for print and online national publications.

Living in a guard-gated community governed by a homeowners’ association gave Paula the idea for the setting of Death by Association. She finds that residing in an HOA community can be both a blessing and a curse. A Happy-New-Year greeting from her community association called on residents to “start the new year by reviewing your Rules and Regulations booklet,” something unlikely to top anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions.

Paula lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Gary and their 110-pound dog Rocky, whose favorite pastime is lurking in the kitchen, hoping for a handout.

Website * Etsy * Pinterest