Reading, Writing, and Murder (Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Wyatt, Arizona (fictitious setting)
Independently Published (September 19, 2023)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages

At the writers’ conference, murder tops the program.

Aspiring mystery author Emma Banefield and travel writer Nicole Earp are excited to attend a writers’ conference during their latest sisters’ getaway. Nic’s birthday should be all about relaxation, writing, and a chocolate martini to toast another trip around the sun, but the climate at the gathering rumbles like a sudden desert thunderstorm.

When sparks fly between the keynote speaker and her timid assistant over a handsome mystery author, the subtitle on this anticipated tranquil weekend spells drama. If a heated love triangle, bruised egos, and betrayal aren’t enough to upset the atmosphere, the conference banquet erupts into a drunken brawl and sends the place spinning. After a body is discovered, Nic and Em do what they do best—snoop—and become embroiled in a mystery that jumps off the pages of a true-crime bestseller.

With more than enough suspects and little time, the amateur sleuths have their hands full finding the killer. But can the competitive Chocolate Martini Sisters solve the crime before the prickly chief detective does, or will a murderer outwit them all?

Amazon * Amazon UK * Amazon Canada

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

Character Guest Post

My name is Nicole Earp, but everyone calls me Nic. Twice a year, my sister, Emma and I spend a relaxing weekend at the storied Dulce Inn in Wyatt, Arizona celebrating our birthdays. We always treat ourselves to at least one chocolate martini in the Azul Saloon inside the inn. We’ve gotten to know most of the staff, and they nicknamed us The Chocolate Martini Sisters. Em’s birthday is in the fall, and I’m a spring lady. Reading, Writing, and Murder is the story of one such weekend when we celebrate my birthday. It’s more than a birthday this year—mayhem dwells while murder lurks giving us plenty of opportunities to use our knowledge of all things mystery to solve the crime.

I share the pages of the mysteries as the main character with my sister Em. Brenda, one of the authors of our series, came up with the idea while having a chocolate martini with her sister. They buy each other the delicious drink twice a year on their birthdays in a historical inn and saloon in a western town called Prescott, Arizona. When they jokingly called themselves The Chocolate Martini Sisters, it gave Brenda an idea for a cozy mystery series. She contacted her friend Joyce Proell, and they collaborated bringing Em and me to life.

I tend to jump to conclusions, but my intuitiveness hasn’t been wrong too many times. Em is the analytical sister so we complement each other. I have a scar on my forehead that tingles when I’m nervous, which can happen when I sense something amiss with our sleuthing. I enjoy reading mysteries in bed and often lose track of time. Em says I have a hat obsession. I’ll admit, I do own quite a few. I enjoy wearing arty clothes, soft and feminine. If I don’t have on a hat, my dark blonde hair—and yes there are streaks of silver—is probably twisted into a messy knot.

I’ve been married twice. My first husband, Ethan is the father of my daughter, Chloe. The marriage ended badly, thanks to him. He had trouble with his zipper. I get hot under the collar whenever we run into each other. Gah, yeah, I might still have some feelings for him. Luckily, I rarely see him. My second husband, Rodney Earp is a lawyer and a colorful, flamboyant lawyer. He claims to be a distant relative to the infamous Earp brothers. Our marriage lasted a year. We make better friends than mates. In Reading, Writing, and Murder, I call on Rodney to help the murder suspect.

That’s a little about me. I hope you’ll journey to Wyatt, step into the Dulce Inn, and get lost in an entertaining murder mystery with The Chocolate Martini Sisters.

About the Authors

Joyce Proell is the award-winning author of Amaryllis, Eliza and the Cady Delafield mysteries: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth. Along with her husband and little dog, Nellie, she lives in Minnesota in her very own little house on the prairie. She loves to hear from readers.

Website * Facebook * Amazon * Goodreads

Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won’t discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * She Blogs & Guests

Amazon * Goodreads * BookBub * Instagram

Sign up for her newsletter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway