Ice Cold Murder (Charlie Kingsley Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Love-Based Publishing (January 25, 2022)
Number of Pages ~250

 

Synopsis

 

When Charlie agrees to accompany her friend Claire to her late grandmother’s reading of the will, she assumes she is simply there for moral support.

She doesn’t expect things to get so … strange.

It’s odd enough that it takes place over a weekend, but that’s just the beginning …

They also need to stay in Claire’s grandma’s supposedly haunted house with Claire’s estranged family.

Things get even worse when a huge storm snows them in. No electricity, no phone, and no way out.

Throw a dead body into the mix, and there’s no question it’s now the world’s worst family gathering. Ever.

At least Charlie brought lots of tea, which she’s going to need as she races to solve this closed-circle mystery before her friend’s dysfunctional family get-together results in anyone else being murdered.

Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She’s back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Character Interview with Michele

 

Meet Charlie, the main character of Ice Cold Murder (interview conducted by author Michele Pariza Wacek).

 

Hi, I’m Michele, the author of Ice Cold Murder, Book 2 of The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries. Of all the characters I’ve written about, I can honestly say that Charlie is in a league of her own.

When she first came to me, she didn’t even have a name—she was simply the dead aunt who left Becca her house in her will in the beginning of It Began With a Lie (Book 1 of The Secrets of Redemption series).

Eventually, I gave her a name, Lottie, which wasn’t right (she definitely gave me an earful about it). And even though I don’t write paranormal books, she still ended up becoming a force to be reckoned with, appearing in Becca’s dreams to guide her and give her advice.

As I wrote the first three books in the series, Charlie informed me I needed to write her story, about how she first came to Redemption, Wisconsin. So, that became Books 4-5.

Once I published those, I assumed I was done with Charlie.

That was not the case.

A few months later, I got the idea for a Christmas murder mystery starring Charlie. The Murder Before Christmas was published on November 9, 2021, and it launched a whole new cozy mystery series called The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries. (Of course!).

To celebrate the launch of Book 2, I thought it was time to have a little public heart-to-heart with Charlie. So, without further ado, let’s jump in.

 

MPW: Thanks for doing this with me.

CK: Of course. You and I are in this together, after all.

 

MPW: That is true. So, when did you first realize I was … ‘underutilizing’ you? I guess that would be the best way to describe it …

CK: (Chuckles.) So, first off, I think ALL characters feel underutilized. But what it comes down to is the lengths the characters are willing to go to get noticed. For me, it was about persistence. You kept wanting to stray, and I had to keep reigning you back. Remember that fairy tale retelling project that went nowhere for ten months?

 

MPW: Um …

CK: You spent ten months writing the first book, and you barely got halfway through the first draft!

 

MPW: That isn’t one of my prouder ‘moments.’

CK: That’s an understatement. And you were just so stubborn. It took you getting an eye infection during the pandemic before you would slow down long enough to realize the project you should be working on was my story in The Secrets of Redemption series.

 

MPW: Okay, but give me some credit. I pivoted last summer to start on The Murder Before Christmas pretty quickly.

CK: Yes, you’re improving. Not perfect yet, but definitely getting better.

 

MPW: Speaking of The Murder Before Christmas, when did you realize the spin-off series was going to be a cozy?

CK: I always knew it was going to be a cozy. I’m not sure why it took you so long to get on board.

 

MPW: Well, for one, the original series was a psychological suspense.

CK: Yeah, but there are cozy elements in it. Especially in Book 2, This Is What Happened to Jessica. But they’re all mystery-driven—they take place in a small town with a repeating cast of characters, and they’re clean.

 

MPW: That’s true.

CK: So, with The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, it just made sense to step fully into the cozy world.

 

MPW: When you put it that way, it does make sense. So, there are now two books in the series: The Murder Before Christmas and Ice Cold Murder …

CK: Don’t forget about the prequel short story, A Grave Error.

 

MPW: Yes, that too. Do you have a favorite?

CK: Hmmm. I like them both, but for different reasons. I was excited we were finally writing a Christmas mystery … I know we both wanted to do that for a long time.

 

MPW: That’s true.

CK: But Ice Cold Murder was a lot of fun, as well. After all, what’s more intriguing than being trapped in a supposedly haunted house with a dead lawyer and a dysfunctional family in the middle of a snowstorm? At least when it comes to solving a mystery.

 

MPW: I can’t think of anything better.

CK: Although if you ask Claire, she might have a different answer.

 

MPW: Yeah, that’s why we’re not asking her. And that leads me to my last question—do you ever get upset with me for all the bad things that happen to you?

CK: That question assumes you’re the one coming up with the bad things.

 

MPW: Wait … what?

CK: I mean, has it occurred to you that our stories are our stories and you’re just the one writing them down? Honestly, you’re kind of like a glorified secretary.

 

MPW: Um …

CK: Now, that isn’t to say I don’t get upset with you. But it’s mostly when you get stubborn and start working on other projects and listening to other characters when you should be paying attention to me.

 

MPW: Okay then. Good to know.

 

 

About the Author

 

When Michele was 3 years old, she taught herself to read because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but she does spend much of her time writing stories now. Mystery stories to be exact, ranging from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn’t enough, she also hosts a virtual book club you can check out and join (for free!) at MPWNovels.com.

Michele holds a double major in English and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, she lives in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona with her husband Paul and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

Website * Facebook * LinkedIn * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Let’s play a game.

You have 24 hours to win. If you break my rules, she dies. If you call the police, she dies. If you tell your parents or anyone else, she dies.

Are you ready?

When Crystal Donavan gets a message on a mysterious app with a video of her little sister gagged and bound, she agrees to play the kidnapper’s game. At first, they make her complete bizarre tasks: steal a test and stuff it in a locker, bake brownies, make a prank call.

But then Crystal realizes each task is meant to hurt—and kill—her friends, one by one. But if she refuses to play, the kidnapper will kill her sister. Is someone trying to take her team out of the running for a gaming tournament? Or have they uncovered a secret from their past, and wants them to pay for what they did…

As Crystal makes the impossible choices between her friends and her sister, she must uncover the truth and find a way to outplay the kidnapper… before it’s too late.

Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

This book will be released on February 1, 2022. Pre-order it today!

 

 

Review

 

This YA psychological thriller might make you question what goes on in people’s minds! From the group of friends, to the “killer”, to the parents.

This is the first book by this author that I read and I was pulled into the story from the start as I watched this group of friends prepares for a gaming tournament yet a small twist in Crystal’s life changes her life forever. The story is primarily set in the present but there are some flashbacks to 5 years ago when a friend of Crystal’s goes missing. With those flashbacks, some of the twists might become apparent but not necessarily. This ragtag group of friends has mixed emotions when it comes to each other. Some get along great, and others have animosity towards each other. It makes you wonder why they hang around each other if they don’t like each other.

I have to wonder how I would react if I were in Crystal’s shoes and someone has kidnapped my sibling and says not to tell anyone. And then the tasks she has to perform seem innocuous at first but then become more and more dangerous, not necessarily to Crystal but her friends. Since the cast of characters is smaller, I wondered if it was someone we knew or not. I had some suspicions at first just because of timing, but I was wrong. I did determine who was behind it all but not until closer to the end. The twists kept me guessing until the very end.

And that ending? Did not expect that and makes me wonder, could there be another book that follows this one? Maybe, or we are just left to wonder how things play out for this group.

We give this a solid 4 paws up and if a psychological thriller is one of your go-to genres, then definitely check this one out.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Diana Urban is an author of dark, twisty thrillers, including All Your Twisted Secrets (HarperTeen) and These Deadly Games (Wednesday Books, 2022). When she’s not torturing fictional characters, she works in digital marketing for startups. She lives with her husband and cat in Boston and enjoys reading, playing video games, fawning over cute animals, and looking at the beach from a safe distance.

 

Website * Instagram * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

 

 

Synopsis

 

A riveting tale about a Black classical musician whose family heirloom violin is stolen on the eve of the most prestigious classical music competition in the world.

Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. Not his mother, who thinks he should get a real job, not the fact that he can’t afford a high-caliber violin, not the racism inherent in the classical music world. And when he makes the startling discovery that his great-grandfather’s fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his star begins to rise. Then with the international Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—fast approaching, his prized family heirloom is stolen. Ray is determined to get it back. But now his family and the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray’s great-grandfather are each claiming that the violin belongs to them. With the odds stacked against him and the pressure mounting, will Ray ever see his beloved violin again?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

This book releases on February 1, 2022. Pre-order today!

 

 

Review

 

I grew up playing musical instruments in the band, so when this book came around and involved a mystery and music? I was sold!

The mystery portion is who stole his violin, a Stradivarius that was given to him by his grandmother because it was the fiddle that her grandfather played when he was a slave in the 1800s. However, no one knew how valuable it would become until Ray has it cleaned up and the store owner has an inkling and suggests an appraisal. Ray becomes quite famous because of this violin and the violin becomes part of him, almost like another appendage. I can’t blame him for not letting it out of his sight considering the worth of the item! I did figure out who stole the violin, or at least suspected this character because nothing else reasoned out. I do have to say that Ray made some unwise decisions but I understood the passion he felt for finding his violin. It was one of these decisions that led to the recovery of the violin, but you’ll have to read the book to find out how and why.

While there is a mystery, this book is more of a retelling of the author’s life. Black classical musicians aren’t common and he fought a lot of racism honing his craft and showing the world that the music he could create was on par with any other musician out there. My heart broke for him, and any other person that is faced with discrimination and racism while improving their life. I thought the way that the character (and possibly the author) handled overt racism from those he met was right on target. I loved how he drew in those kids that were like him, possibly playing on a school instrument that may not be the best but was all that was available. Talent will outshine whatever means are available and it just takes the right person to recognize it.

Ray’s family disgusted me. They didn’t seem to care about him at all and his mother saw him as another paycheck, one to obtain the items she wanted versus what was best for Ray. I couldn’t believe she wanted him to drop out of high school, get his GED, and then find a job to give her money. Thankfully, he doesn’t go that route after being noticed by a professor from a college and helping him further his dreams of being a musician. His family also was out for just the money especially when they found out how valuable the violin was and declared that it was theirs and not Ray’s even though their mother, Ray’s grandmother, gave it to him in front of everyone. No one seemed to care about it when they thought it was just a fiddle. Just goes to show how money brings out the worst in everyone.

While I love classical music and played musical instruments, none were string instruments so some of the terminologies were lost on me, but I could imagine Ray playing his violin in front of audiences and the emotions that the music evoked in him and those listening. The descriptions of some of the pieces brought back fond memories and I will definitely think differently next time I am listening to classical music.

This book is more than a mystery, it is one man’s life and the achievements that were possible because he had passion. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * Spotify play list inspiration

 

 

 

 

Frozen in Motion (Callie Cassidy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Number of Pages ~275

 

Synopsis

 

A murder at the local hockey rink leaves photographer Callie Cassidy nursing a few injuries of her own, but that won’t stop her from trying to catch the killer—before someone else gets iced…

When hockey coach Renata Sanchez asks for Callie’s help exposing her ex-husband’s nefarious activities, Callie hesitates. After all, Renata’s brother, Detective Raul Sanchez, has been known to bristle at Callie’s interference. But with her own second-chance romance on rocky turf and her best friend’s engagement to a man Callie doesn’t entirely trust, she could use the distraction of an investigation.

Before she can even begin her research, a confrontation involving the ex, Renata, and Raul erupts right outside Sundance Studio. Then later in the day, the ex-husband literally drops dead and falls from the hockey arena catwalk—landing with a thud on top of Callie. Renata immediately takes the top spot on the suspect list, with Raul’s name not far behind. With time running out to save her friends, Callie enlists the help of her inquisitive cat and her loyal golden retriever to develop a picture of the true culprit.

 

 

Amazon

 

Book 1 – Suitable for Framing

Book 2 – Double Exposure

 

Read all 3 books for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

Chapter One

 

Tiny snowflakes fluttered onto the top rail of the wooden bridge that spanned Rock Creek. The water beneath gurgled and churned across the rocks, splashing past patches of ice that glistened near the banks. Combined with the gray clouds hanging low in the sky, the scene felt both serene and ominous. I cradled my camera in the crook of my arm as I considered how best to capture the mood.

Taking a step back, I framed the shot and snapped the shutter. Then I adjusted the lens an inch to the left and snapped again. When I studied the results on the camera’s LCD screen, I smiled with satisfaction.

A glance at my watch melted the smile away fast, though. I’d agreed to meet a friend at the Rocky Mountain High coffee shop at nine o’clock, and I had only one minute to make the five-minute walk through town. I tucked my camera in its bag, zipped it, and slung it over my shoulder.

“I hate being late,” I muttered. Still, I knew this morning’s impromptu photo shoot had been worth it. The overcast morning had generated such dramatic diffused lighting—how could any decent photographer resist?

I powerwalked across the Event Center staff parking lot, my boots crunching on the powdered gravel. Turning right, I strode down Evergreen Way. I peeked through the window of the Snow Plow Chow cafe but didn’t spot the handsome owner, my boyfriend Sam.

Boyfriend? The word screeched in my head like fingernails on a chalkboard. It might have been appropriate for the teenage versions of ourselves who’d walked hand-in-hand through the halls of Rock Creek Village High School a quarter of a century ago. But boyfriend and girlfriend sounded too…well, juvenile to describe the rebooted romance we’d been carefully navigating this past year. But since I couldn’t figure out how else to refer to our relationship, it would have to do.

As I passed the next shop, Yoga Delight, I noticed my friend Summer Simmons seated guru-style on a mat, leading a morning class. I waved, and she wagged a finger, silently scolding me for my recent absence from meditation class. I wrinkled my nose and touched my watch, indicating that I simply didn’t have time. She pursed her lips, and I scooted off, making an internal vow to recommit. After all, the classes always improved my attitude. Why did I perpetually find ways to avoid them? Tomorrow, I said to myself. Or maybe Monday…

A few steps later, I paused in front of my photo gallery. My photo gallery, I repeated to myself. I’d opened the place last year after resigning from my career as an investigative photojournalist, and I still reveled in the undiluted thrill of what I’d created. I traced the words etched on the door: Sundance Studio, Callahan Cassidy, Photographer.

I examined the window display, trying to assess it as a tourist would. In keeping with the village’s current Valentine’s Day motif, I’d selected a large canvas photo of two mule deer—a buck and a doe—nuzzling in a snowy meadow. A dozen red foil hearts framed the canvas, glittering as they swayed from silver strings affixed to the overhang. Cheesy, in my opinion, but everyone else in the world seemed enchanted by Valentine’s Day, so I’d felt an obligation to go along with the pack.

Next door, the bookstore with the clever moniker A Likely Story also embraced the V-Day concept, with its exhibit of romance novels and relationship self-help tomes. But instead of a warm, fuzzy response to the display, I wrestled with a spurt of unease. I attributed my negative reaction to the store’s owner, David Parisi, who’d recently become engaged to Tonya Stephens, my lifelong best friend. Everyone in town adored the charming Italian man, but I couldn’t let go of my vague, unexplainable misgivings. There was just something about him… I didn’t have time to fixate on David, though. Another peek at my watch showed me I was now officially late, so I scurried past the Fudge Factory without so much as a glance at the marshmallow-topped s’mores brownies.

Well, maybe one glance…

At six minutes past nine, I skidded to a halt in front of Rocky Mountain High and peered through the plate-glass window. My friend wasn’t among the smattering of customers—all tourists, I surmised from their designer sweaters and ski boots. I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn’t kept her waiting.

My cellphone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out to read a text from Sam: Morning, beautiful. Thinking of you. How is your day?

Smiling to myself, I moved to enter the coffee shop, but before I could grab the knob, the door slammed outward. A squatty, wide, Mack truck of a man in an expensive-looking navy blue parka plowed barreled out, striking my shoulder with enough force to jar the phone out of my hand.

Though the collision was clearly the stranger’s fault, I politely said, “Excuse me.” The man barely broke stride. “You’re lucky you didn’t make me spill this overpriced coffee,” he growled. “What is it with the people in this stupid town?”

I gaped. By the time a burning retort dropped onto my tongue, the man was already out of earshot, and I was left feeling angry and what was worse, weak.

I scooped up my phone and stomped into the shop, where the aromas of rich brewed coffee and sweet, yeasty pastries soothed my nerves. From behind the tile serving counter, Mrs. Finney, the shop’s proprietor, looked at me with concern.

“That boorish man practically trampled you, dear. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I said, shrugging out of my coat. “Who is that guy, anyway?”

“The bloody wanker wasn’t kind enough to offer his name,” she said in her British accent. Everyone in the village knew the dialect was fake, but at this point, it was so deeply entrenched in her persona we’d be befuddled if she dropped it. “I’ve never seen him before, and I’ll be just as pleased to never see him again.” She leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “If I were still with The Company, I’d consider ordering a covert op to teach that young man a lesson.”

I grinned. Mrs. Finney—a real live former CIA agent—had the stature of a curly-haired gray army tank trussed in a lavender pantsuit. I estimated her age to be late-sixties, but despite my well-honed skills as an interviewer, I’d been unable to get the eccentric woman to divulge specifics. Still, in the year we’d known each other, she’d served as protector, dispenser of wisdom, and above all, loyal friend.

I set my camera bag on the counter and settled onto a stool. “Well, no harm, no foul, I suppose. Maybe he’ll make it up to both of us by dropping wads of cash in our shops.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “One can hope—though he didn’t bother with a tip.” She inspected me and changed the subject. “Your cheeks are extra rosy, dear. Let’s get you warmed up.”

While she bustled around the silver coffee urns preparing my beverage, I stripped off my gloves. After a moment, she handed me a steaming paper cup of dark roast with a squirt of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon, just the way I liked it. “Wrap your hands around this.”

I laced my fingers around the paper cup and lifted it to my nose, inhaling the steamy fragrance. My hands and cheeks tingled. “Ah, that’s nice.”

“You haven’t read the new adage.” In addition to her accent, Mrs. Finney was known for her sage axioms. She’d even made them a theme of her coffee shop, revealing a fresh one on her cups every few weeks. I read the printed inscription. “Bears are treated with respect because they demand it.”

“Love it,” I said. “Perhaps the giant who just ran me over could use an interview with one of our Rocky Mountain bears.”

Mrs. Finney’s attention shifted to a customer, who gestured from one of the bistro tables. As she bustled across the room to tend to the woman, I pulled off my knit ski cap and glanced in the mirror hanging on the wall. I grimaced at the sight. My cheeks were indeed rosy and my green eyes bright, but everything else about me appeared rumpled. I tugged at my wrinkled sweater and ran fingers through my shoulder length dark hair, trying to fluff some life back into it. Useless. In a mountainside town like Rock Creek Village, hat hair loomed high on the list of winter hazards—right up there with chapped lips and flaky skin. The challenge had been real when I was a teenager, but now, at forty-four, it was fast becoming a losing battle.

Mrs. Finney returned and lifted the cover off a glass pastry dome. With a set of tongs, she selected a cream cheese bear claw, placed it on a stoneware plate, and slid it in front of me. I tore off a bite with my teeth and wallowed in the rich sweetness. “Delicious, as always,” I said, licking my fingers. “Thank you. You are a genuine artist.”

She beamed. “I appreciate that, dear. And may I say the same about you? Three customers complimented my new photo display already this morning.”

I followed her gaze to the arrangement of canvas photos on the wall: winter landscapes of snowy mountains, a herd of elk drinking from the partially frozen creek, pine trees dappled with rays of sunshine. Beneath the photos, a discreet sign touted: On loan from Sundance Studio, Callahan Cassidy, Photographer.

In a rare burst of sentimentality, I reached across the counter and grasped the woman’s hand. “Mrs. Finney, I may not tell you often enough how much I appreciate you. Your support, your friendship…I’m just so glad you’re here. You mean so much to me.”

Her face flushed a bit, and she wiped her hands on a towel. “I feel the same, dear. Now, enough mush. I noticed you scanning the room earlier. Are you waiting for someone?”

I nodded as I popped the last bite of bearclaw in my mouth. “Renata Sanchez asked me to meet her here at nine. Said she had an important topic to discuss. Very cryptic.”

“I didn’t realize the two of you were friends.”

“We’re not besties or anything. I don’t know her that well. She’s good friends with Jessica, though, so she’s joined our group get-togethers occasionally. And…” I leaned in conspiratorially. “No one’s informed me of this officially, but I suspect she and Ethan are seeing each other.”

Ethan MacGregor was Rock Creek Village High School’s business teacher, and also Sundance Studio’s part-time marketing guru. I hoped soon he’d be my full-time partner.

“She could certainly do worse.” Mrs. Finney took my plate and dropped the crumpled napkin onto it. “Her brother was here a short time ago. I must tell you, he seemed agitated.”

I rolled my eyes. “Shocker. When isn’t Detective Raul Sanchez agitated? That man expresses cheerfulness about as often as my pets decide to behave—once in a blue moon.”

Mrs. Finney chuckled. “Be that as it may, he’s turned out to be an excellent detective. I admit, at first I wasn’t certain about his aptitude, but I’ve been pleasantly—”

Just then, the coffee shop door banged open with such force it made me jump. A gust of wind swirled inside, along with a few errant snowflakes. In their wake, Renata burst across the threshold.

Her eyes traveled around the room, dark as storm clouds. When she spotted me, she marched over and plopped down on the stool next to mine. “I swear, if that man moves here for good, I’m going to kill him.”

 

 

About the Author

 

Lori Roberts Herbst is the author of the Callie Cassidy Mystery series. Her debut novel, Suitable for Framing, won first place in the Murder and Mayhem category at the 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and serves as secretary of the North Dallas chapter. She is also a member of the national Guppy chapter and Mystery Writers of America. A former educator, Lori spent much of her life writing, editing, and psychoanalyzing. Through thirty years of teaching journalism, advising newspaper and yearbook staffs, instructing budding photographers, and counseling teenagers, she still managed to hang on to a modicum of sanity. Then she retired and assumed her third career: author.

 

Website * Facebook * Goodreads * BookBub

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Private Investigator Steve Rockfish needs cash, like yesterday. The bad news is that yesterday, a global pandemic raged, and Maryland was headed toward a lockdown that would ultimately lead to cheating spouses no longer “working late,” and hence a lack of new clients.

Rockfish’s luck changes when a Hollywood producer reaches out, but the job is two states away and involves digging up information on a child trafficking ring from the 1940s. What he uncovers will be used to support the launch of a true-crime docuseries. He grabs a mask, hand sanitizer and heads for South Jersey.

On-site, Rockfish meets Jawnie McGee, the great granddaughter of a local policeman gone missing while investigating the original crimes. As the duo uncover more clues, they learn the same criminal alliance has reformed to use the pandemic as a conduit to defraud the Federal Government of that sweet, sweet, stimulus money.

It’s not long before the investigation turns up some key intel on a myriad of illicit activity over the last eighty years and Rockfish rockets toward a showdown with the mafia, local archdiocese, and dirty cops. COVID-19 isn’t the only threat to his health.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

This new mystery was a delightful blend of old world and new world detective skills with Rockfish and his potentially new protege, Jawnie. These two are as far apart as you can imagine when it comes to their thoughts and abilities except when it comes to wearing a darn mask because of COVID.

The mystery spans about a century when Rockfish is hired to investigate young women that went missing. There is a lot more to the story and it definitely ruffles some feathers once Rockfish lands in this small township and starts asking questions. The mafia plays a major role in what happens in this sleepy burg and they are not a fan of dredging up the past.

The dialogue is snarky and witty, the characters a bit crazy in their actions, but paired together it creates a fascinating read for any mystery buff. Jawnie has a lot to learn about who to talk to and what to say when it comes to investigations, but Rockfish is a great teacher and there are only a few “I told you so” moments.

This is set at the beginning of Covid-19 so there are a lot of references to the pandemic, wearing masks, hand sanitizer, and political jabs. I tended to skim over most of that because I really prefer to not have too much about the pandemic in my books since they are my form of escape, but it was rather comical to see many of the characters insist that others put on face masks and were rather insistent on it too. Of course, the face masks help during certain scenes when the bad guys don’t want to be identified.

I loved the ending and might have suspected some of it, but it sets it up for the next book due out in July 2022.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ken Harris retired from the FBI, after thirty-two years, as a cybersecurity executive. With over three decades writing intelligence products for senior Government officials, Ken provides unique perspectives on the conventional fast-paced crime thriller. While this is his first traditionally published novel, he previously self-published two novellas and two novels. He spends days with his wife Nicolita, and two Labradors, Shady and Chalupa Batman. Evenings are spent cheering on Philadelphia sports. Ken firmly believes Pink Floyd, Irish whiskey and a Montecristo cigar are the only muses necessary. He is a native of New Jersey and currently resides in Northern Virginia.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 

Our Lunar New Year by Yobe Qiu

Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Publisher: Yobe Qiu LLC

 

 

Synopsis

 

It’s almost Lunar New Year! Xiao Mi, Hang, Kwan, Malai, and Charu all celebrate the New Year in their own special way. Experience how each one of the Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indian children, and their families honor Lunar New Year, from dragon dances in China to firecrackers ​

 

 

Amazon * B&N * ByYQ

 

 

Review

 

We have all heard of the various New Year celebrations celebrated by those of Asian descent, but you may not have heard of all of them. This book is educational and spotlights the countries of
China, Korea, India, Vietnam, and Thailand. I had heard of the Chinese New Year and India’s Diwali, but not the other countries.

Each country has a section that shares the traditions and food that are celebrated at this time. It was fascinating to learn the different names of their celebrations, foods that they enjoyed and what they represented, activities that the family enjoyed in each country. The information is brief but since this is written for a child, it is enough information to intrigue a child to search out more information.

The illustrations are colorful for the most part but some are a little dull and not as bright as others. But they depict what the author is trying to convey about the different traditions.

This is a good introductory book and will spur some conversations and perhaps lead the parent and child to discover more about these holidays.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Yobe is an educator, entrepreneur, and mom who lives in NYC. As an educator, she focused on teaching families to embrace love, diversity, and different cultures. Through the years working in the classrooms and closely with other educators, she noticed the lack of multi-cultural resources that represented children of color. That is when Yobe decided to create multicultural children stories that feature Asian children, families, and cultures! Yobe loves spending time with her daughter, reading to children, and taking long walks during the day!

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

Enter to win OUR LUNAR NEW YEAR signed by the author (one winner/USA only) (ends Feb 14)

OUR LUNAR NEW YEAR Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

A magic mirror to an enchanted world… A mysterious ghost… A hilarious, perpetually annoyed witch… A brave, sassy cat… Two unexplained deaths and a mysterious community filled with secrets… Can Hayden and the people of Destiny Falls solve the mystery and return the community to its peaceful, enchanted existence?

Hayden’s adventures in Destiny Falls continue in book four of the Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series. Starting with a strange old woman at a cave and her father’s mysterious ferry journey, there are secrets to be unwound.

The enchantments in Destiny Falls are showing cracks, and Hayden suspects that it is tied directly to her family, which has a history that’s more complex than she realized. When two bodies are found floating in the bay it’s clear that the mysteries surrounding Gladstone and the ferry are more dangerous than people realize. And then . . . those spiders.

Luckily, Hayden and her sassy sidekick, Latifa have developed a group of family and friends in this enchanted place who are all ready and willing to help solve the mystery, and release Destiny Falls to resume its normal, amazing, enchanted existence.

Hayden’s many adventures in Destiny Falls will keep you guessing with each book in this intriguing series.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This has been a fun series to read and in each book, we learn more and more about Hayden’s family, their magical abilities, and watching familial relationships continue to build and blossom. I think what I have enjoyed about it so far is learning about Hayden’s family and Destiny Falls. Sure the mystery part is intriguing and trying to figure out the killer doesn’t always happen, but the story of how Destiny Falls came to exist, along with Gladstone, is intriguing. Gasper really adds flavor as the ghost that can’t answer questions but can tell you a story with a lot of clues peppered within the pages.

The cats crack me up and Lola, the newest one, seems to be finding her voice. I could just imagine how she would sound. And when Hayden takes them for a ride in the convertible? I just chuckled at their antics and wardrobe.

While we have known who the old woman in the cave was, or at least suspected, it was nice to see it confirmed and slowly more information about the past is revealed and there is a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that has me on pins and needles waiting to read the next book in this series.

I adore the budding relationship between Hayden and Han. It is nice to see them both finding someone that gets them and understands the magical aspect of Hayden’s life.

This is a series that all paranormal and magical fans will adore. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives near Seattle and is the mother of four and nana to one.

 

NoCrySolution​.com | Facebook | Pinterest

 

Instagram |  Website | Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

French Ghost (Paris Ghost Writer Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Paris
Wild Rose Press (January 10, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Ghost-writer Melody Layne is stranded in Paris when the over-sexed but unloved French movie star who hired her to produce his memoir accidentally drowns before the interviews begin. It’s a major financial relief when his enigmatic Spanish son re-hires her, but the seductive Carlos Ortega is strangely silent about his reasons for funding a feel-good bio about a father that he clearly despised. There’s enough amour in the air for Melody to ignore this apparent paradox… at least until she uncovers a hidden cache of death threats addressed to the actor. For the French police, the sexy, secretive Spaniard – and sole heir to the actor’s immense fortune – is suddenly a prime murder suspect. Can Melody’s research into the Ghosts of Carlos-Past be enough to save her lover from prison?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Excerpt

 

At the Cannes Film Festival:

 

“Tick tock, tick tock.” Taneesha tapped her watch. “Speeches next, then the movie, so the time for bathroom breaks is now or forever hold your pee.”

“I’m gonna snag us a bottle or two,” said Jason, moving toward the bar. “We’re gonna need it.”

“Isn’t that Ben Affleck over there?” asked Charlene. “He’s so much fun. Let’s sit with him.”

“Don’t laugh too loud at his jokes,” warned Taneesha as they started to shimmy their way through the crowd. “Remember that you’re playing the brave, bereaved bimbo tonight.”

Carlos and I looked at each other. “I think we’re supposed to follow them,” I said.

“I suppose we could do worse,” said Carlos gamely. “I quite liked Argo.”

But before we could make our move, a large wall of shimmering green sequins blocked our way.

“You stinking piece of Spanish shit,” intoned the sweet, husky voice that launched thirty top-ten singles on the French charts. “How does it feel to have ruined my life?”

 

 

About the Author

 

My first jobs after college (incredibly useful art history degree) were in the New York fashion industry (modeling, working for designers). When I gave up on my Greenwich Village walk-up (after realizing that I couldn’t bear to smoosh the cockroaches in my shower because they were a ‘family’), I cut out to Paris where I became Fashion Editor for the English language magazine PASSION.

I subsequently wrote and edited the gourmet destination guide LA BELLE FRANCE for fifteen years while freelancing for the NEW YORK TIMES Travel section, various in-flight magazines, and guide books (GAULT MILLAU, VIRGIN, ZAGAT). From 2011 – 2012, I wrote screenplays for the PBS travel series CUISINE CULTURE.

The cinema figures in FRENCH GHOST are loosely based on stars I’ve interviewed (and been groped by); the restaurateurs in Book 2 (FRENCH TOAST) are drawn from the lovely, often impractical, chefs I met through LA BELLE FRANCE.

I suspect that Book 3 will toss Melody Layne into the cut-throat Paris fashion scene. May the Gods of Ghosting have mercy on her soul…

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

Laughing Can Kill You: A Hazel Rose Book Group Mystery 
Edgy Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Olive Lane Press (December 6, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages

 

Synopsis

 

He who laughs last, laughs longest.

Unless he’s dead.

When romance author Hazel Rose is dropped by her publisher, she sees herself heading down a path strewn with has-been authors. While disappointed, Hazel won’t give up without a fight—she signs up for a mystery-writing class, thinking that crime fiction will jumpstart her career.

But what’s a mystery-writing class without a mystery? So when Randy Zimmerman, an obnoxious classmate given to laughing at others’ expense, is murdered, Hazel tackles the case. Solving a real-life murder will surely lend authenticity to her creative writing.

She recruits her book group pals to help with the investigation. Trouble is, there are more suspects than they bargained for—even Hazel herself, who endured Randy’s thumbs-way-down review of her writing, had a motive.

A second body drives the stakes higher, and Hazel doubles her efforts to find who’s behind the murders, unearthing secrets that a killer would go to any lengths to keep hidden.

Will Hazel succeed? Or will this be “The End” for her?

 

 

Amazon *  Universal Book Link * Barnes & Noble * Bookshop.org * Kobo

 

 

Guest Post

 

I love what Maggie is sharing with us today!  Our book club sometimes needs to shake things up and I’m going to suggest some of these ideas.

 

 

Want to Start a Theme Mystery Book Group? Here’s How

 

by Maggie King

 

 

I hated that book! Sound familiar? Someone in your book group hated the assigned book and doesn’t think it’s even worthy of discussion. There are thousands of book groups (clubs, if you will) in the United States alone and the majority read the same title each month before gathering to discuss it. But a group can fall into a rut and struggle to come up with choices that enthuse its members.

There’s another option: the theme book group.

In such a group, the members pick a theme, read a book of their choice based on the theme, and meet to talk about what they read. This format allows more flexibility of choice and all but eliminates the “I Hated That Book” syndrome that plagues many groups.

If your group favors in-depth book discussions, the theme approach may not be for you. However, you may consider trying it on occasion, like during the holiday season or the summer. Sometimes the theme itself will kick off a spirited dialogue. Whatever you decide, the main objective is to read and share your love of books.

In the Murder on Tour group featured in the first Hazel Rose Book Group mystery, Murder at the Book Group, the members read mysteries set in geographical locations. In the opening chapter, the group talks about the books they read with Florida settings. Titles include The Paperboy by Pete Dexter and The Deep Blue Good-By by John MacDonald.

In the second Hazel Rose mystery, Murder at the Moonshine Inn, the group travels back in time to the ancient world via Silver Pigs by Lindsay Davis and Germanicus Mosaic by Rosemary Rowe. Martin Lorin’s Genesis One: Abel is Missing sparks an animated back and forth on the age-old question: why did Cain kill Abel?

In Laughing Can Kill You, my recently-released Hazel Rose mystery, the book group is on hiatus. Two members are actually globetrotting, as opposed to vicariously traveling with the group. The other members are taking a mystery writing class. Once they reconvene, plans are to read mysteries set in countries the wandering pair visits.

Why did I choose a theme group for Murder at the Book Group? In 1993 I went to my first mystery book group in Santa Clarita, California. My instructions were to read a mystery set in New York City and I chose one from Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. That first night launched my love of mysteries and eventually lead me to writing my own. Themes included main characters with professions in journalism, business, law enforcement, and academia. We chose stories set in specific regions, small towns, large cities, you name it. We changed the theme, or themes, annually.

The members not only discussed the books they’d read for that month, but they recommended others as well. I left each meeting with a lengthy TBR list. I attended that group for three years until I relocated to Virginia. While I modeled the Murder on Tour group after the Santa Clarita one, it bears no resemblance—no one was murdered!

Ready to try a theme group? The ideas I’m presenting are for mysteries, but you can adapt the suggestions to your chosen genre. For mysteries, you can go super cozy to the darkest hard-boiled. You can pick a theme for a year, or however long you choose. Get creative!

 

• Read your way around the world with a different country or a different type of setting (city, beach, country, etc.). That’s what Hazel Rose’s Murder on Tour group does.
• Read books set in your state. Hazel Rose and her group spent one year reading the works of Virginia mystery authors and several met with them, either in person or via Zoom.
• Read historical mysteries set in a certain century or decade. Anne Perry sets her various series in the Victorian, World War I, and Interwar periods, giving you lots of choices.
• Pick titles from book award lists (Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, Macavity, etc.)
• Read all women writers or all men writers.
• Pick a different prolific author each month and have each member choose a title from their bibliography.
• Read mysteries with fictional characters as sleuths, such as Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen series.
• Read authors of the Golden Age: Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Dorothy L. Sayers, Josephine Tey, to name a few.
• Consider scientific occupations: Alan Bradley (aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce); Randy Wayne White (marine biologist Doc Ford).
• Choose from a list of African-American authors: Frankie Y. Bailey, Kellye Garrett, and V.M. Burns will get you started.
• Celebrate holidays around the year with books that take place during a particular holiday (this could be a tough one for certain holidays, but this is where your creativity kicks in)
• Read books about books: Kate Carlisle, Carolyn G. Hart, and Walter Mosley focus on this theme.

 

Selected resources for finding themes

Stop, You’re Killing Me! (http://www.stopyourekillingme.com): This online database includes indexes for locations, jobs, diversity, and historical periods

Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com): the social media cataloging site for readers has its own theme group. They also have a list of suggested themes. I love their idea of reading books with blue covers!

By a Woman’s Hand: A Guide to Mystery Fiction by Women by Jean Swanson and Dean James: this is a favorite resource of mine. It hasn’t been updated since its publication in 1996 but many of the authors listed are still writing.

Go the traditional route: ask your local librarian!

Ready to try a theme group? Let me know what you think of the format. Happy reading!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Maggie King is the author of the Hazel Rose Book Group mysteries. Her short stories appear in various anthologies, including the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, and Death by Cupcake.

She is a member of James River Writers, International Thriller Writers, Short Mystery Fiction Society, and is a founding member of Sisters in Crime Central Virginia, where she manages the chapter’s Instagram account.

Maggie graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Business Administration and has worked as a software developer and a retail sales manager. She has called New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California home. These days she lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and two indulged cats. When Maggie isn’t writing she enjoys reading, walking, cooking, traveling, movies, British TV shows, and the theatre.

 

Website/Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Instagram

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A loving homage to the era celebrated by the hit Netflix series Bridgerton—and the cocktails that shaped its high society

As a society doyenne and undercover libertine, Lady Thornwood knows what makes a drink perfect. In The Unofficial Bridgerton Book of Drinks: Lady Thornwood’s Guide to the Cocktails of Grosvenor Square, this respectable cocktail connoisseur presents a guide of over 75 cocktail recipes shaped by the Regency era in both refinement and ingredients—and served alongside a heaping dose of high society gossip, scandal, and speculation. Beginning with the gentlewoman’s advice on setting up a Regency bar, the best glassware, and garnishes, and an overview of the period’s most popular ingredients, the book is then divided into six subsequent recipe chapters drawn from high-society life during the London social season, from occasions such as “The Evening Soirée” to “Delicate Daytime Drinks” to even those rare, deliciously non-alcoholic drinks for “Polite Company.” Throughout these chapters, Lady Thornwood weighs in with stylish sidebars and entertaining advice on how to host gatherings that are the talk of the “ton.”

Amidst all of her sly cheek and drama, our hostess presents readers and cocktail aficionados with an intriguing true history. In Regency England, as Britain’s Empire expanded, cocktails were becoming social currency, a showcase for wealth, trade connections, and even modern marvels like ice. The Regency shaped British high society for a century and helped launch the cocktail revolution we still enjoy today. As Lady Thornwood says, “As the Regency unfolds, ships sail up the Thames from every corner of the globe freighting exotic spices, vibrant fruits, and marvelous elixirs. Let us toast this bounty and craft it to our purpose. Cocktails stiffen the spine, unlock the tongue, and add sheen to even the dullest drawing-room. Coupes up!”

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Abrams * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

This is the perfect book to help create beverages while you watch (or rewatch) Bridgerton (or any other regency show).

I love all of the details from setting up your bar, the different cocktails based on day or night, and even a slew of simple syrups to create in your own home. Don’t partake of alcoholic beverages? There is a section for you too and perhaps all of the simple syrups will have you thinking about what else could be made into a syrup and mixed with tonic water, club soda, or any other beverage.

This is more than just a beverage recipe book, there is also witty commentary from Lady Thornwood thrown into the mix. I chuckled reading some of her responses to letters to her and her thoughts on some of the drinks.

I thought I would share one of the drinks with you to try on your own at home. This one is called Garden Promenade

 

Garden Promenade

 

Ingredients:

Small handful of mint

1 oz Plymouth gin

1 oz dry vermouth

1 oz lime juice

3/4 oz simple syrup

Dash celery bitters

Ice-cold seltzer

 

Place the mint, gin, vermouth, lime, and simple syrup in the bottom of a highball glass and lightly muddle to gently bruise the mint. Fill the glass with crushed ice, anchoring the mint leaves to the bottom of the glass, then top with about 2 oz seltzer, or no more than about 3 oz if the drink doesn’t rise nearly to the rim. Dash with bitters and garnish with another fresh spring of mint and a wedge or wheel of lime.

 

If you don’t know how to make a Simple Syrup, you mix equal parts of sugar and boiling water until the sugar dissolves. It is easy to make a larger batch and store it in the refrigerator for several weeks (if it lasts that long!)