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

Synopsis

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

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

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

 

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

Review

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

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

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

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

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

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

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

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

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

Website * Twitter * Goodreads

 

 

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Synopsis

If Goldilocks had known about the six simple machines (these are taught in every basic earth science class) she would have had a much better time at the Three Bears’ house. In this version, Goldilocks does know how to use these simple machines and she leaves the Three Bears’ house better than she found it.

 

 

 

Review

The first thing I noticed about this book was the title on the cover. There are parts of six simple machines that make up several of the vowels which tie the subject of the story to the graphics.

This is a retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears but with a scientific approach.  Goldilocks doesn’t just eat the porridge, she fixes things around their house and makes things better.  As she says in the book, she likes to leave things better than she found them and that is what she does with the kitchen table, baby bear’s chair, and the flagpole.  It is a great way to introduce science in an understandable way to children.

The only thing I didn’t like was the graphics.  I felt they were too amateurish especially compared to her other books.

Overall we give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

Lois Wickstrom earned her BA in biology with Chemistry and English minors. She is the creator of the Imagenie videos on YouTube and “Starting With Safety” available from the American Chemical Society. She also co-authored the Nessie’s Grotto Books with Jean Lorrah, and the Orange Forest Rabbit books with Lucrecia Darling.

Website * Twitter * YouTube * Facebook

 

SPENT IDENTITY

Annalisse Series, Book 2

by

Marlene M. Bell

 

Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Light Romance

Publisher: Ewephoric Publishing

Date of Publication: December 11, 2019

Number of Pages: 378

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

A body, a disappearance, just another hot summer in upstate New York.

 

It’s July when antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury reaches her family’s small-town farm to consult with the trusted aunt who raised her. She learns that her beloved homestead—the one she expects to inherit—is for sale. While Annalisse reels at the betrayal and her shattered dreams, the Walker Farm ranch manager discovers a corpse in the barn. Officials close the suspected murder scene, and Annalisse seeks refuge with her aunt at Alec Zavos’s rural estate in New York’s Catskill Mountains.

 

Then Aunt Kate vanishes.

 

Annalisse solicits the help of Greek tycoon, Alec Zavos, even though their rocky romance has dissolved into routine separation. What began as hope on Crete nine months ago has eaten away at Annalisse’s hope for a future with him.

 

In Spent Identity, Annalisse and Alec come together for the second time and find themselves in the center of not one mystery, but several. Where is Kate, and why sell her farm now? Is the dead man a coincidence or a clue to the aunt’s disappearance? John Doe’s identity may hold needed answers to solve the puzzle before Kate’s unstable health issues make her rescue impossible. The clock ticks, and a vengeful murderer is in charge…

 

 

Amazon  ┃  Barnes & Noble

Smashwords  ┃  Draft2Digital

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure where to start with my review other than to hold on to your seat because it is going to be a fast and furious ride!

This is the second book in the series and while it could be read on its own, it might be best to pick up the first book to get a feel for the characters and the background.  The book provides plenty of details to lay a foundation for what occurred in case you choose not to read Stolen Obsession, so it isn’t an absolute must.

The story picks up with Annalisse and Alec and their relationship.  Let’s just say things are a little rocky, not because they don’t care for each other, but that life is getting in the way and someone might need to make some changes to his work life.  I can’t imagine what it is like to be part of the elite class and the security measures that need to be in place to keep people safe.  But sometimes it isn’t the unknown that causes a problem, it can be someone in your own family as Annalisse discovers.

Annalisse and Alec’s characters are still developing.  I’m not sure if I could be friends with Annalisse because she has a tendency to let things slip out that shouldn’t be said out loud, at least not to those that are in the room.  She even admits to having a big mouth, so at least that is progress.  Plus, bad luck seems to follow her and I’m not sure I want to be around her in case it rubbed off on me!  Alec was left to fill some big shoes but it is getting away from his passion as a veterinarian.  Unfortunately, it has blinded him to reality and he is close to losing what he holds most dear to him.

Now for the wild ride – Annalisse’s Aunt Kate goes missing, there is a car wreck, Kate’s son is selling the farm from under Kate, there is a kidnapping, someone unexpected appears from nowhere, and so much more.  And all of this happens within a week.  It is non-stop action and kept me turning the page until well past my bedtime.  I think that if all of this was happening to me I would need a vacation away from everyone to decompress.

The mystery kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat.  There were so many possibilities for who was involved and why that I never guessed correctly until all was revealed.  Some of it was very surprising, but some I guessed earlier in the book but not fully.  Not everything is wrapped up in a nice bow at the end, there is still a cliffhanger or two and hopefully, those will be addressed in the next book.

This series is not one to miss and I can’t wait until the next book comes out to see what happens next for Annalisse and Alec.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Marlene M. Bell is an acclaimed artist and photographer as well as a writer. Her sheep landscapes grace the covers of publications such as, Sheep!, The Shepherd, Ranch & Rural Living, and Sheep Industry News. Ewephoric, her mail order venture, began in 1985 out of a desire for realistic sheep stationery. A color catalog of non-fiction books and sheep-related gifts may be requested on her website, Texas Sheep.

 

Marlene and her husband, Gregg reside on a wooded ranch in beautiful East Texas with their dreadfully spoiled horned Dorset sheep, a large and lovable Maremma guard dog named Tia, and Hollywood, Leo, and Squeaks, the cats who believe they rule the household — and do.

 

 ║ Website║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║

 

║ LinkedIn ║ Goodreads ║

 

║ Amazon Author Page ║

 

║ BookBub  ║ Blog ║

 

 

————————————-

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

$350 PRIZE PACK / ONE WINNER

 

Autographed copy of Spent Identity & companion notebook, Mary Poppins-style bag (18×13” tapestry carpet bag with leather trim, handmade in Israel), $100 Amazon gift card, and 18” freshwater pearl necklace. 

JANUARY 7-17, 2019

(US ONLY)

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Check out the other reviews from these bloggers

 

1/7/20	Review	Book Fidelity
1/7/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
1/8/20	Review	The Clueless Gent
1/8/20	Review	Tangled in Text
1/9/20	Review	Hall Ways Blog
1/10/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
1/10/20	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
1/11/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
1/12/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
1/13/20	Review	#Bookish
1/13/20	Review	The Page Unbound
1/14/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
1/15/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
1/16/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
1/16/20	Review	Missus Gonzo

 

 

Blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

Cruel Candy (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Independently published (December 5, 2017)
Paperback: 280 pages

Synopsis

Estes Park, Colorado: picturesque mountains, charming shops, delightful bakeries, a cozy bookstore… and murder.

Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, move to Estes Park to hit the Reset button on life. Fred is about to open her dream bookshop, and the only challenges she anticipates are adjusting to small-town life, tourists, and living close to her loveable mother, Phyllis, and hippy stepfather, Barry.

When Fred steps into her soon-to-be-bookshop for the first time, she expects dust bunnies and spiders… not the dead body in the upstairs kitchen. The local police have an easy suspect—Barry.
Determined to prove quirky Barry innocent of murder, Fred puts on her detective hat, and with Watson by her side, she explores her new town and gets acquainted with her fellow shopkeepers. Could one of her friendly neighbors be the real culprit? And what would be the motive for killing the owner of the Sinful Bites candy store? The secrets Fred discover put her at odds with the local police sergeant and threaten her cozy future in Estes.

With snow falling outside, all Fred wants to do is curl up by the fire with a good book and Watson snuggled at her feet. But before she can begin her new life and put her plans for her bookshop into action, Fred and Watson have a mystery to solve…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable lemon bars.)

 

 

 

Full Series

Cruel Candy (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Traitorous Toys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Bickering Birds (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Savage Sourdough (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Scornful Scones (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Chaotic Corgis (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Quarrelsome Quartz (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Wicked Wildlife (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Malevolent Magic (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Killer Keys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Perilous Pottery (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Ghastly Gadgets (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Meddlesome Money (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Precarious Pasta (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

Evil Elves (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)

 

Review

Colorado is where it is happening with new beginnings, Edibles, and murder.

This is the first in this series and it won’t be the last that I read.  This book was chock full of interesting characters, curious scenarios, dogs, and a mystery.  Fred (Winifred) is moving back to Estes Park after a divorce (6 years ago so not recent) and a falling out with her business partner in a publishing house.  Her first day in town she manages to make an enemy from the sweets shop next door all because of who she is related to and who also happens to own the building.  Fred is off to a shaky start but thankfully not everyone feels the same way about her moving to town and planning to open a bookstore in what was a taxidermy shop.  When Opal, owner of the sweets shop, ends up dead in Fred’s new shop and her stepfather Barry is suspected, all bets are off and Fred is on the case.

This book was engaging and the gears in my brain were turning trying to uncover who was the killer.  While I suspected the one character it wasn’t very strong and until facts were revealed at the end did I truly understand the motivation of the killer.  Because Fred’s father was a police detective, I believe she felt that she had to jump in and help solve the case.  Sure her stepfather was being held as a suspect which seemed pretty unlikely considering Barry is a hippie and it was highly unlikely that he would kill anyone, much less Opal.  The first police officer to question Fred is an Officer Green and it is very evident that she has it in for Fred without giving her the benefit of the doubt.  Thankfully there is a detective, Branson Wexler that is a bit more open-minded.  Could it be because he also finds Fred attractive and might want to date her?  As the killer is being revealed you have to wonder why Fred would find herself with the killer especially if she suspected this character?

I love dogs, so the addition of Watson, Fred’s Corgi, made for a well rounded book.  The conversations between Fred and Watson, well really just Fred talking to Watson since he cannot reply, were amusing and her devotion to her dog was admirable.  Watson could be persnickety in who he appeared to like and it didn’t always make sense, but that is a dog for you.

There are many minor characters that I imagine will play bigger roles as this series continues and I look forward to learning more about them in future books.  And the book ends with a delicious lemon bar recipe, so make sure to take notes.

Overall we enjoyed this book and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Reading the Cozy Corgi series is pretty much all you need to know about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed with everything she writes about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. She’s not obsessed with murder, however. At least not at her own hands (nor paid for… no contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in her personality. Having Fred and Watson stroll into her mind was a touch of kismet.

Website * Mailing List * Facebook * Twitter

Giveaway

The author is graciously giving 1 winner a copy of any of the ebooks in her series.  Please see the list above or start with Cruel Candy which is the first in the series.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Visit these other blogs for more chances to win a book!

January 6 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

January 6 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

January 7 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 7 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

January 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

January 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 10 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

January 11 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW

January 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – My Journey Back-The Journey Back – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 13 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

January 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

January 14 – FUONLYKNEW  REVIEW

January 15 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

January 16 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – FUONLYKNEW  REVIEW

January 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – ebook addicts – REVIEW

January 17 – FUONLYKNEW  REVIEW

January 18 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

January 19 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEWS

 

 

 

Lean on Me

by Pat Simmons

Publication Date: 1/7/2020

 

Synopsis

 

First in an emotional, poignant romantic women’s fiction series from acclaimed inspirational romance author Pat Simmons.

No one should have to go it alone…

Tabitha Knicely is overwhelmed with sorrow and exhaustion caring for her beloved great-aunt, whose dementia is getting worse. When her neighbor Marcus Whittington accuses Tabitha of elder neglect, he doesn’t realize how his threats to have Aunt Tweet taken away add to Tabitha’s pain.

Then Marcus gets to know the exuberant elderly lady and sees up close how hard Tabitha is fighting to keep everything together. Tabitha finds herself leaning on Marcus more and more. And he’s becoming more than happy to share her burdens…

 

Amazon * B&N * Apple * Kobo * IndieBound * BAM

 

Excerpt

Tabitha needed to refocus as she smiled lovingly at her aunt. Beginning today, Aunt Tweet would stay at an upscale adult day care while Tabitha began her first day at a new job.

After getting the milk carton out of the refrigerator, Tabitha walked back to the table and poured some into Aunt Tweet’s bowl. Chalking it up to another sad oddity of dementia, she was determined to keep happy memories in the forefront of her mind as she kissed her aunt’s cheek.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Aunt Tweet giggled, adjusting Tabitha’s red, floppy hat on her head. Since her arrival, her aunt had fallen in love with that hat and wore it practically every day, regardless of her ensemble. “I took a little walk around God’s green earth.”

“What?” Tabitha didn’t like the idea of her aunt out of her sight. “Without me?” It was easy for anyone to succumb to the tranquility and abundance of green space in Pasadena Hills, which rivaled the nearby Norwood Hills Country Club. But in the midst of that apparent peace, they were still on the outskirts of a neighborhood not nearly so safe. It definitely wasn’t safe for Aunt Tweet to wander. Tabitha shivered at the thought of worse-case scenarios.

“You were asleep.”

“That’s okay.” She hugged her aunt. “Next time, wake me and I’ll go with you.” She yawned, recalling her previous night’s lack of sleep. Her aunt had wanted to reminisce about her years as an airline stewardess, and Tabitha had indulged her before all of Aunt Tweet’s memories would slip away. Researchers had yet to find a cure, so Tabitha hoped God would reveal a cure to eradicate or reverse this terrible disease before it was too late for her aunt.

All of a sudden, Aunt Tweet dropped her spoon, spilling milk onto the table. “I left my scarf…I left my scarf!” Panic-stricken, she trembled and scooted her chair back.

Startled, Tabitha’s heart pounded, so she patted her chest to aid her breathing to return to normal. “It’s all right. I’ll get it from upstairs,” she said, reassuring her aunt that it was okay to forget things sometimes.

While staying with Kym, Aunt Tweet had worked herself into hysterics over the vintage scarf she had gotten as an engagement gift. Her aunt boasted she’d gotten rid of the husband but held onto the expensive shawl. There hadn’t been any peace in Kym’s house until she’d found it behind a pillow on the sofa.

“No!” Aunt Tweet shrieked, shaking her head. “On that porch. We’d better hurry.”

Confused, Tabitha tried to calm her down to figure out what was going on. “On my porch?” When her aunt shook her head, Tabitha asked, “Whose porch?”

“I don’t know.”

Dread seemed to pour over Tabitha like a downpour. “Okay, okay.” Of all the days for a distraction, this was not a good one. This was her first day on a new job. As a pharmaceutical sales rep, Tabitha could recite medical terms, facts, definitions, and clinical studies’ results in her sleep. She’d entered college as a biology major and graduated with a bachelor’s in business. The pharmaceutical industry gave her the benefit of both worlds. Plus, she thrived on studying the physiological, anatomical, pharmacological, and scientific properties of medicine, so she could communicate the benefits of the company’s products.

But family was family, so taking her duty as a caregiver seriously, Tabitha had resigned from her job of six years as a senior pharmaceutical sales rep to ease the stress of the demanding position. Not wanting to leave the field completely, she took a pay cut to work in a smaller territory with a competitor who demanded little to no overnight travel. The sacrifice was worth it. Plus, her aunt’s trust fund designated the money for her own care.

Tabitha rubbed her forehead. “Let me put something on, then we’ll go find it.” Tabitha raced upstairs, hurried into her clothes, then grabbed her briefcase. Minutes later, she almost slipped while rushing down the stairs in her heels.

She reentered the kitchen, and Aunt Tweet wasn’t in sight. Tabitha checked the adjacent family room, then peeped outside toward the patio. Her aunt was behind the wheel of Tabitha’s rental car. Not good. She hadn’t purchased a car in years. A perk for being a sales rep, after she completed her two-week training, which started today, would be a company-issued vehicle.

After locking up the house, she had to convince Aunt Tweet, who had worked herself into a frenzy, that she couldn’t drive. Tabitha had to coax her own self to have patience while following her aunt’s conflicting directions, thinking, I can’t be late for my first day on the job.

“That’s the place!” Aunt Tweet yelled as Tabitha jammed on her brakes in front of a stately, story-and-a-half, older brick house she had never noticed before. The massive front door was centered under an archway. Twin french doors with mock balconies were on both sides of the entrance.

“I don’t see anything.” She craned her neck, admiring the impressive work of building art.

Aunt Tweet snapped, “I told you that’s the porch.”

“Okay.” There is no reason for your sharp tone, Tabitha thought but dared not voice. This house wasn’t that close to hers at all. Despite some mental deterioration, there was nothing wrong with her aunt’s physical stamina. She had obviously cut through the common ground area among the houses to get here.

After parking her car, Tabitha got out and surveyed her surroundings to make sure she wasn’t being watched. “This is crazy, sneaking up to somebody’s house,” she muttered to herself. Since the coast was clear, she hurried toward the red scarf that was snagged on a flower in a pot and flapping in the wind. She was within her reach when the door opened. Tabitha jumped back, then steadied herself in her heels.

An imposing man filled the doorway. Under different circumstances, he would be breathtakingly handsome. That was not the case now. Judging from his snarl and piercing eyes, Tabitha felt as if she had walked into the lion’s den.

***

Excerpted from Lean on Me by Pat Simmons. © 2020 by Pat Simmons. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Review

Being a caregiver for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s is not an easy task.  I watched my mother care for my father and I know it took a lot of out her.  But much like Tabitha, Kym, and Rachel, they all cared for the person with dementia and wanted to do what they could to make that person’s life the best it could be under the circumstances.

This story has so many facets that it appeals to many on so many levels.  There is caring for someone that is ill, finding love, rediscovering faith, some conflict, and a happily ever after ending.

Tabitha and Marcus don’t start off on the right foot and he is very lucky that Tabitha didn’t hold it against him.  It was obvious that he was jumping to conclusions and assumptions regarding Aunt Tweet and Tabitha, but something was blinding him to the truth.  I was glad they worked out their differences and discovered that they belonged together.  Marcus is a true gentleman and treated Tabitha right.

Tabitha has a tough time managing Aunt Tweet and her job.  I wanted to shake her and tell her to ask for help, more than the Adult Day Care that Aunt Tweet went to while she was at work.  Tabitha seemed to think she was giving up by asking for help but considering how Aunt Tweet declined no one would have expected her to do it all on her own.  There is some tension between Tabitha, Kym, and Rachel when they are discussing their aunt’s care.  It is hard to know what someone is going through until you spend some time in their shoes.  There was a part of the book that I was angry at Kym and Rachel for their comments towards Tabitha.

I enjoyed watching the romance unfold between Tabitha and Marcus.  I also cheered as Marcus grew as a man and not everything was as black and white as he thought it should be in his mind.  I’m not fond of Marcus’ brother, he is selfish and only looking out for himself.

There is one line in this book that really stood out:

“When it comes to forgiving others, we have to remember their walk, hardships, and mistakes in life may be different from our own.  They may do things you never would, but Jesus says to forgive them.”

Overall this was a quick and fun read and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

Pat Simmons is an author of more than thirty-five titles and a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She has worked in various positions in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. For fourteen years, she oversaw the media publicity for the RT Booklovers Convention. She lives with her husband in Florissant, Missouri.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * Pinterest

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

AIN’T NOBODY NOBODY

by

HEATHER HARPER ELLETT

 

  Genre: Murder Mystery / Southern Noir / Dark Humor

Publisher: Polis Books

Date of Publication: September 24, 2019

Number of Pages: 336

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

Named a Best Debut of Fall/Winter 2019 by Library Journal, Ain’t Nobody Nobody is the story of a disgraced East Texas sheriff, his dead best friend’s surly teenage daughter, and a naive ranch hand who find unlikely redemption in a murdered hog hunter on a fence.

Part Breaking Bad and part Faulkner, this tragi-comic mystery is perfect for readers who enjoy dark humor (think Fargo) and like their crime fiction with a literary flare.

A Best Mystery of 2019 by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s 1996 in a dysfunctional small East Texas town. It is a time before cell phones and computers and when rifles were commonplace in pickup trucks. It is a time when people knew their neighbors and would help each other out should the need arise. But when a dead body is found, it changes beliefs and perceptions until the truth isn’t decipherable anymore.

While this book is fiction, there is a mystery peppered throughout the pages that had me questioning my thoughts about various characters as the story meandered down dark paths revealing truths that cast them in a light one may not expect. The author provides for a twist or two which erases all that you thought you knew to be true about the story you have read and the characters you have come to understand.

This story is also about losing family and friends, finding love, uncovering the truth, and learning to continue with life despite the curveballs thrown your way. There are dogs and hogs…the dogs are wanted, the hogs are not. And in true Texas fashion, an obsession with Dr. Pepper because no other beverage will do for some.

If you are looking for a fast-paced book, this is not the book to read. The book slowly reveals the truth, much like petals unfolding while a rose blooms. I took my time reading this book so I could embrace the characters, the town, and how I felt about each character. It is somewhat dark and deals with death, deception, drugs, and despair. But there is some hope at the end and multiple possibilities when it comes to how the story ends.

Some of my favorite lines:

“Mayhill approached life like hand-to-hand combat.”

“Lying required an intellect that Bradley simply did not possess.”

“Even at the road’s worst, when it took a nail-biting, gut-jiggling forty-five minutes to drive only two or three miles, it never occurred to anyone to get out of their trucks and walk, any more than it would occur to a bird to take the bus to Cancun for winter.”

“The air conditioner was so high that Pat Sajak shut his eyes and his short hair managed to somehow to blowback dreamily in the stream of air.”

“Bradley was nobody to everybody. That was the beauty of Bradley, if there was a beauty to him.”

“The dog flopped down next to Pat Sajak on the porch, with Boo and Atticus on the other side, and Mayhill realized then her name was Vanna because dog names are revealed; they are not chosen.”

“All of the juices of Birdie’s rebellion dried up right then, and she ran through the thicket and back to the house, the limbs tearing at her jeans like claws.”

“it’s a slippery slope, letting go of your ethics.”

“He couldn’t breathe and his chest tightened in the confusion of it all – a baking soda and vinegar mix of shame and redemption that threatened to erupt in him.”

“Revenge was for scorned ex-wives and small-town football teams. This was of greater consequence. This was karma.”

“An entire CBS mini-series of scenarios played out in his head, assassination attempts from the simplest (sniper drive-by) to the most complex (Rube Goldberg machines, infinite knives) and Mayhill twitched as he thought about it.”

 

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born and raised in East Texas, Heather Harper Ellett is a graduate of SMU and a therapist in private practice. She lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

 

 

  Website  ◆  Twitter

Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

————————————— 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 THREE SIGNED HARDCOVER COPIES

  January 2-12, 2020

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

1/2/20	Review	Hall Ways Blog
1/2/20	Review	Max Knight
1/3/20	Review	KayBee’s Book Shelf
1/3/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
1/4/20	Review	The Librarian Talks
1/5/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
1/6/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
1/6/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
1/7/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
1/8/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
1/9/20	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
1/9/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
1/10/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
1/11/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
1/11/20	Review	Book Fidelity

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

Synopsis

My dreams constantly haunt me, whether I’m asleep or awake.

Six months ago, my life veered off course when my fiancée disappeared with no explanation.

The partying lifestyle I’d adopted to cope, ended in an accident that left my body as broken as my heart. To make matters worse, I’ve managed to run off countless physical therapists in charge of the in-home rehabilitation I need to get me back on my feet.

My last chance at staying in my own house is gift-wrapped in wavy, auburn hair and startling gray eyes.

The woman that shattered my heart.

Kelsey is the only one left to help heal my body. And her unexpected arrival brings with it the opportunity to ask the countless questions I thought I’d carry forever.

But her answers only create a new mountain to overcome, one I never imagined.

Now, more than ever, I need to prove to Kelsey that despite everything, we are meant to be a family.

 

Review

The Carlisle men are some pretty special guys, once they realize the error or their ways.

This story focuses on Connor but I was excited to see tidbits of Tanner & Izzy and Wyatt & Georgia from the first two books in this series.  While you don’t have to read those books to enjoy this one, some of the past that is mentioned will make a little more sense if you have read the first two books.

Connor and Kelsey have been together for a very long time after meeting at college.  They endure a lot together and despite their differences manage to have a successful relationship…that is until Kelsey walks about the door with no explanation.  It takes an accident to bring them back together.  It isn’t an easy road back and it takes a lot of give and take on both Connor and Kelsey’s part.

I do have to say I was very disappointed with Kelsey and the reason why she left.  Why did she not talk to Connor about what was going on in her life?  Did she really think he was going to leave her over something that wasn’t her fault?

I do understand the frustration on Kelsey’s part (not why she left) with Connor’s behavior and not cleaning up after himself, but Kelsey is a little OCD and needs to relax.  My husband is like Kelsey and I’m like Connor so I get that dynamic and how hard it can be on both sides.  Of course, if you ask my husband we live in a hoarder’s house which is the furthest thing from the truth!

I enjoyed the past and present chapters because it gives the reader a history about Connor and Kelsey and their relationship.  I learned so much of their life in the past and how it affected their life in the present.

If you are in the mood for something light but still has some twists and turns and a happy ending, then this book might be the one you want to pick up next.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Books, coffee, and chocolate make up both the heart and body mass that is better known as Amelia Foster. She has been a lifelong lover of the written word, both as a reader and an author, and completed her first manuscript at the ripe old age of five complete with illustrations. Sadly, her art was a medium that never improved over time although thankfully her writing has.

From sweet to salacious the only requirement Amelia has in books she reads – and definitely in the ones she crafts – is an excessively satisfying happily ever after… and then a little bit more.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest

Title: Regretting You

Author: Colleen Hoover

Release Date: December 10, 2019

Publisher: Montlake

Synopsis

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

 

Q&A with Author Colleen Hoover

You are ‘label-less’ in the fact that you write in several genres. Readers never know what to expect next. If someone asks, how do you label yourself?

When I self-published my first novel I had no idea what genre to put it in. I thought I had written a drama but it turns to that I had written a romance. I’ve learned a lot since then, but I still don’t put a lot of weight in genre when I write. When your best friend is begging you to read a book, it’s not going to matter what genre it is when someone you trust is passionate about the story.

To keep all of your stories and characters straight, you must be very organized.

I’m the most disorganized person you will ever meet! I have no schedule. I can’t wake up before nine in the morning. I probably don’t go to bed until like three in the morning. I usually work about 16 hours a day.

What happens if you get blocked when you are writing?

If I get stuck writing, I go for a drive and play music. Music really helps me plot. I love The Avett Brothers, X Ambassadors, Airborne Toxic Event…I could go on and on.

What can you tell readers about your latest release Regretting You?

I would spoil it if I told you about it! Most of my books are like that. I can’t say what they are about or it spoils it. But I can say that Regretting You is told from a dual point-of-view centered on the inner lives of both a teen and adult protagonist.

Sounds like lots of different types of readers will be interested!

Absolutely. I wanted to write a book that bridged the gap between young adult and contemporary romance so that mothers can read with their daughters. I think it’s exciting to see people sharing reading experiences.

***

Excerpt

Despite knowing I just pissed my mother off by being half an hour late for curfew, I still can’t stop smiling. That kiss with Miller was worth it. I bring my fingers to my lips.

I’ve never been kissed like that. The guys I’ve kissed in the past all seemed like they were in a hurry, wanting to shove their tongue in my mouth before I changed my mind.

Miller was the opposite. He was so patient, yet in a chaotic way. It was like he’d thought about kissing me so often that he wanted to savor every second of it.

I don’t know that I’ll ever not smile when I think about that kiss. It kind of makes me nervous for school tomorrow. I’m not sure where that kiss leaves us, but it felt like it was a statement. I just don’t know what exactly that statement was.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I roll over and pull it out, then fall onto my back again. It’s a text from Miller.

Miller: I don’t know about you, but sometimes when something significant happens, I get home and think of all the things I wish had gone differently. All the things I wish I would have said.

Me: Is that happening now?

Miller: Yes. I don’t feel like I was entirely forthcoming with you.

I roll onto my stomach, hoping to ease the nausea that just passed through me. It was going so well…

Me: What weren’t you honest about?

Miller: I was honest. Just not entirely forthcoming, if there’s a difference. I left a lot out of our conversation that I want you to know.

Me: Like what?

Miller: Like why I’ve liked you for as long as I have.

I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. I’m staring at my phone with so much intensity that I almost throw it when it rings unexpectedly. It’s Miller’s phone number. I hesitate before answering it, because I rarely ever talk on the phone. I much prefer texting. But he knows I have my phone in my hand, so I can’t very well send it to voice mail. I swipe my finger across the screen and then roll off the bed and head to my bathroom for more privacy. I sit on the edge of the tub.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” he says.

“Sorry. It’s too much to text.”

“You’re kind of freaking me out with all the innuendos.”

“Oh. No, it’s all good. Don’t be nervous. I just should have said this to you in person.” Miller inhales a deep breath, and then on the exhale, he starts talking. “When I was fifteen, I watched you in a school play. You had the lead role, and at one point, you performed a monologue that went on for like two whole minutes. You were so convincing and you looked so heartbroken I was ready to walk onto the stage and hug you. When the play was finally over and the actors came back out onto the stage, you were smiling and laughing, and there wasn’t a trace of that character left in you. I was in awe, Clara. You have this charisma about you that I don’t think you’re aware of, but it’s captivating. I was a scrawny kid as a sophomore, and even though I’m a year older than you, I hadn’t quite filled out yet, and I had acne and felt inferior to you, so I never worked up the courage to approach you. Another year went by, and I continued to admire you from afar. Like that time you ran for school treasurer and tripped walking off the stage, but you jumped up and did this weird little kick and threw your arms up in the air and made the entire audience laugh. Or that time Mark Avery popped your bra strap in the hallway, and you were so sick of him doing it that you followed him to his classroom, reached inside your hoodie, and took off your bra and then threw it at him. I remember you yelling something like, ‘If you want to touch a bra so damn bad, just keep it, you perv!’ Then you stormed out. It was epic. Everything you do is epic, Clara. Which is why I never had the courage to approach you, because an epic girl needs an equally epic guy, and I guess I’ve just never felt epic enough for you. I’ve said epic so many times in the last fifteen seconds—I’m so sorry.”

He’s out of breath when he finally stops talking.

I’m smiling so hard my cheeks ache. I had no idea he felt this way. No idea.

I wait a few seconds to make sure he’s done; then I finally respond. I’m pretty sure he can hear from my voice alone that I’m smiling. “First of all, it’s hard to believe you were ever insecure. And second, I think you’re pretty epic, too, Miller. Always have. Even when you were scrawny and had acne.”

He laughs a little. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I can hear him sigh. “Glad I got that off my chest, then. See you at school tomorrow?”

“Good night.”

We end the call, and I don’t know how long I sit and stare at my phone.

 

 

Review

Things happen in families and this story covers everything from love, grief, deception, anger, and forgiveness.  It is the story of a mother and daughter and a tragic event that happens to them and the fallout from that event.  It showcases human emotion, real feelings, and real world situations.

This is a book that opens this reader’s eyes to what it might be like to live through tragedy and how trying to protect a child just might backfire if there is miscommunication or even assumptions on either party’s part.  Morgan wants to protect her sixteen year old daughter from some harsh realities but goes about it all wrong.  Clara is growing up fast and suddenly her crush is crushing back on her.  She has a lot to learn and Miller is there to help her through the rough patches.

I enjoyed the back and forth points of view from Morgan to Clara.  The different perspectives about the same situation reflect the maturity of Morgan and the immaturity of Clara – which is to be expected.  Understanding Morgan’s reason for holding back some truths about her husband Chris and the reaction from Clara is what one might expect but it, in the end, it brings them close together.

This book felt like it could have happened in someone’s life that I know.  The situations were real and the characters were flawed and everything came together beautifully in the end.  The dialogue between characters was heartfelt and real and I felt like a fly on the wall during the various scenes.  I have some favorite lines I want to share:

 

The day I found out I was pregnant, I stopped living life for myself.  I think it’s time I figure out who I was meant to become before I started living my life for everyone else.

“I’m worried we got it wrong.”

Attraction isn’t something that only happens once, with one person.  It’s part of what drives humans.  Our attraction to each other, to art, to food, to entertainment.  Attraction is fun. So when you decide to commit to someone, you aren’t saying, ‘I promise I’ll never be attracted to anyone else.’ You’re saying, ‘I promise to commit to you, despite my potential future attraction to other people.’

 

This book will tug on your heartstrings and make you laugh.  We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including the bestselling women’s fiction novel It Ends with Us and the bestselling psychological thriller Verity. She has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance three years in a row—for Confess (2015), It Ends with Us (2016), and Without Merit (2017). Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Hoover and her family founded the Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service that offers signed novels donated by authors. All profits go to various charities each month to help those in need. Hoover lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

A colorful celebration of Oaxacan cuisine from the landmark Oaxacan restaurant in Los Angeles 

Oaxaca is the culinary heart of Mexico, and since opening its doors in 1994, Guelaguetza has been the center of life for the Oaxacan community in Los Angeles. Founded by the Lopez family, Guelaguetza has been offering traditional Oaxacan food for 25 years. The first true introduction to Oaxacan cuisine by a native family, each dish articulates their story, from Oaxaca to the streets of Los Angeles and beyond. Showcasing the “soul food” of Mexico, Oaxaca offers 140 authentic, yet accessible recipes using some of the purest pre-Hispanic and indigenous ingredients available. From their signature pink horchata to the formula for the Lopez’s award-winning mole negro, Oaxaca demystifies this essential cuisine.

 

 

My Thoughts

Living in Texas, we have many Mexican restaurants and many of us (ok ME!) could live on chips, salsa, guacamole, and tacos.  You will hear that there are many types of Mexican food and this is very true and I have seen a variety here in town and across the country.  If you want to learn more about the history of Mexican food, I found this website that shares more details of the history and the influence of many cultures on the dishes, the cooking sources, and even little known facts regarding tamales, tomatillos, and chilis.

When I opened this cookbook I was greeted with colorful photographs of food and the family that created Guelaguetza.  There is also an in depth history of how the restaurant came into existence and the challenges the family faced over the years during expansion to additional locations.  This history is just as engaging as the recipes.

As I continued through the book, the author shares techniques and information about various ingredients.  I know I mentioned the photographs but I cannot put into words how amazing these photos are to gaze upon.  The richness and the sense of family and food are unimaginable.  You will just have to pick up a copy of this book for yourself to understand what I am talking about.

Each chapter focuses on a specific area of Oaxaca food – from staples to beverages, to main courses, to salsas, and even to desserts.  Each recipe starts with a history of the dish and there is a rich photograph that represents the finished dish.  There is even a step by step illustration that shows how to make tamales.

I like to try a recipe from each cookbook I receive from Abrams as part of their Dinner Party.  I lamented over what recipe would be the winner and since I had a dinner party coming up a dessert might work nicely especially since the food theme was Mexican!  What caught my eye was the Chocoflan recipe.  It seems easy enough and wouldn’t be too sweet.  The ingredients came together easily enough but where I ran into problems was with the cooking time.  The recipe said to cook for 35 minutes in a water bath at 300°.  However, when I opened the oven it was nowhere cooked.  I think I ended up cooking this for about an hour.  Plus my flan layer wasn’t thick enough so the cake batter mixed in with the flan batter.  Now, somehow it all still worked out and while the flan had some chocolate throughout, the cake layer actually rose to the top.  I couldn’t believe it!  I was concerned that cooking it for that length of time would affect the consistency and flavor, but it didn’t.  Now my caramel layer didn’t work but I think that comes with practice and it is easy enough to make more and just drizzle over the top.

 

 

Overall this is a fascinating cookbook and I will be trying some other recipes in the very near future.

 

 

 

WHY STUFF MATTERS

by

JEN WALDO

 

  Sub-genre: Literary Fiction / Humor

Publisher: Arcadia Books

Date of Publication: June 4, 2019 (US)

Number of Pages: 212

 

 

 

When Jessica, a grieving widow, inherits an antique mall from her mother she also inherits the stallholders, an elderly, amoral, acquisitive, and paranoid collection.

 

When one of the vendors, a wily ex-con named Roxy, shoots her ex-husband, she calls on Jessica to help bury the body and soon Jessica is embroiled in cover-ups, lies, and misdirection. Into this mix comes Lizzie, Jessica’s late husband’s twelve-year-old daughter by his first marriage, who’s been dumped on Jessica’s doorstep by the child’s self-absorbed mother and it soon becomes apparent that Lizzie is as obsessed with material possessions as Jessica’s elderly tenants.

 

Why Stuff Matters is a compelling ode to possession, why people like things and the curious lengths they will go to keep them. Returning to her fictional Caprock, Waldo turns her wry wit on the lives of those afraid to let go.

 

 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

 

 

 

 

What happens when you take a small Texas town, a precocious twelve-year-old, a bunch of cranky senior citizens, and multiple deaths?  You get this book!

I enjoyed my visit to Caprock and found myself chuckling throughout especially at the senior citizens that ran booths within an antique mall with overpriced merchandise.  Jessica manages the storefront and all of the vendors, which can be a challenge most days.  Who’s kidding…it is every day that they are a challenge!  On top of that, her deceased husband’s first wife drops her daughter at Jessica’s and just expects her to take care of Lizzie.  Let’s just say Nicole is quite flighty.  There are times during the book that I thought Lizzie stole the scene with her antics, teenage drama, and just wanting to be included.

The antique mall was a family with all the good and bad that accompanies being a part of a family.  They bickered but had each other’s back when the situation called for support.  I’m not sure which of the seniors caught my eye but I have to say that Roxy was a pistol and knew how to play the “old lady” card with the detective.  Jessica is a mother hen to these seniors, settling their squabbles and sorting out their lives once they die.  I applaud her efforts to get them to leave a will or at least what they want to happen to their belongings in their booths should the unspeakable happen.  But the vendors are like most humans and do not want to address the elephant in the room.

This book has a little bit of everything and could be set in any smaller town, maybe even your own.  There is mystery, deception, romance, and friendship that will test all boundaries.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Jen Waldo lived in seven countries over a thirty-year period and has now settled, along with her husband, in Marble Falls, Texas. She first started writing over twenty years ago when, while living in Cairo, she had difficulty locating reading material and realized she’d have to make her own fun. She has since earned an MFA and written a number of novels. Her work has been published in The European and was shortlisted in a competition by Traveler magazine. Old Buildings in North Texas and Why Stuff Matters have been published in the UK by Arcadia Books. Jen’s fiction is set in Northwest Texas and she’s grateful to her hometown of Amarillo for providing colorful characters and a background of relentless whistling wind.

 

 

◆  Website  ◆  Twitter  ◆

◆  Amazon Author Page  ◆

◆  Goodreads Author Page  ◆

 

 

Check out the other blogs on this tour

12/3/19	Guest Post	Librariel Book Adventures
12/3/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
12/4/19	Review	Momma on the Rocks
12/5/19	Author Interview	Chapter Break Book Blog
12/5/19	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
12/6/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
12/6/19	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
12/7/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
12/8/19	Guest Post	Sybrina’s Book Blog
12/9/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
12/9/19	Author Interview	That’s What She’s Reading
12/10/19	Guest Post	The Book Review
12/11/19	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
12/11/19	Guest Post	Book Fidelity
12/12/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
12/12/19	Review	Max Knight

 

 

blog tour services provided by