Fatal Flip: A Home Renovator Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (October 27, 2017)
Paperback: 220 pages

Synopsis

Flipping houses can be fatal! When Katelyn finds a dead body in her first home renovation project, she seriously doubts her decision to “follow her bliss.” After getting fired from her steady job, her plan to flip houses takes a hit when she becomes a suspect. After all, possession is nine points of the law, isn’t it? Especially, when it’s a dead body.

To keep herself in pizza, peanut butter, good coffee, and her stray cat, Boots, in kitty chow she takes survival jobs as a wine sample hostess and market researcher. Meanwhile, Sheriff Don is kind of hunky, and her ex-husband, Eddy (it’s complicated) is back in her life sleeping on her sofa. How’s a girl supposed to solve dead body mysteries, make a living, and find love?

Review

This is a good start to a new cozy series and has all the basic elements: non-professional sleuth, set in a smaller town, the main character is a primary suspect (at least in the first installment), and there is a spunky sidekick.

I liked that the story is set around a home renovator/flipper. Granted her first house doesn’t start out with a bang like she had hoped, but that doesn’t stop Katelyn from giving 100% in doing her job and finding out how a dead body ended up in the home she purchased. Her friend, Myra, helps her uncover the clues to multiple crimes that Katelyn finds herself in the middle.

This series has some potential but I found that the story didn’t flow as easily as I would have hoped. It seems like there was a lot of action towards finding out how the body came to be in her house but then all of a sudden there was another mystery/death to solve and they did not appear to be related. It felt a little disjointed. Everything comes together in the end and it is tied up nicely. There are a few red herrings thrown into the mix and it actually took me down a path of believing the killer might be someone that it wasn’t. There are not a lot of characters so you might be able to figure out the who and why fairly easily.

There are a few laugh out loud moments when it comes to Katelyn working a few part-time jobs and the situations she finds herself in at those times. Plus she has an ex-husband she apparently can’t say no to very often.

I think this series will improve as the characters develop in future books and we learn more about Katelyn, Myra, and even Ed (the ex). And maybe even a potential romance between Katelyn and the Sheriff.

We give this 3 paws up.

About the Author

M.E. Bakos has published several short stories in national women’s magazines. Her love of mysteries has led to writing cozies. Her first mystery short story, “Carpe Diem or Murder at the Carp Fest” appeared in the Festival of Crime, a SINC Anthology. Her second, “Perfect Storm . . . Perfect Murder” will be in Dark Side of the Loon, May 2018 also a SINC Anthology.

Her first cozy, FATAL FLIP, A Home Renovator Mystery has several home improvement tips for the reader.

Mary is a member of Twin Cities Sisters in Crime, the SINC Guppies Group, and an alumna of the University of Minnesota. She is a lifelong resident of Minnesota and resides in Minneapolis with her husband, Joe Sebesta, and their spoiled Morkie.

Website

 

check out the other blogs on this tour, some have giveaways!

September 12 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW

September 12 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

September 12 – Babs Book Bistro – HOME IMPROVEMENT TIP POST, GIVEAWAY

September 12 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

September 13 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

September 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST

September 13 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

September 14 – Book Babble – REVIEW

September 14 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 14 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

September 15 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

September 15 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, EXCERPT POST

September 16 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW

September 16 – Ruff Drafts – HOME IMPROVEMENT TIP POST

September 16 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

September 16 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

Out and In

a mystery-thriller

Marie Donovan Mysteries, #1

by

Pat Dunlap Evans

  Genre: Fiction / Romantic Suspense

Publisher: A.M. Chai Literary

Date of Publication: April 27, 2016

Number of Pages: 316

Scroll down for Giveaway!

Stunning beauty and amateur cellist Marie Donovan finds herself in deep trouble after her pro-quarterback husband dives off a Dallas high rise—many say in shame after his shady investments go sour. Just months later, the grieving Marie faces capital murder charges for the death of a lecherous opera maestro. When hard evidence points squarely at her, only her best friend and defense lawyer believe her.

Marie is no stranger to struggle. During her six years as an NFL Football wife, she fends off groupies eager to take her man, all the while feeling lost in her husband’s macho culture. Studying the cello becomes Marie’s solace until her hard-drinking husband retires after an injury. Returning to Dallas, he plays with high society’s money in an investment scheme until winning at all costs leaves Marie and her twin sons on the hook for millions.

Scorned by society friends, charged with murder, Marie pins her hopes on hunky defense lawyer Ryan Ingles, one of Cole’s college football pals. After Ryan’s legal team discovers some of the maestro’s dark secrets, Marie and Ryan’s investigative troupe travel to exotic islands in search of clues Cole left behind. As the tropics weave a romantic spell, a corrupt offshore banker dashes Marie’s hopes. She wonders if she’ll ever be free of blame…and able to claim her own place in this world.

 

 

The ebook will be free September 22 – 24th on Amazon

Praise

“Out and In is the perfect mystery-thriller for the beach, a long flight, or to savor before bed…an exciting but heartfelt story about a beautiful woman who struggles to prove her innocence … As for the ending, I am still stunned.” — Lara Reznik, Amazon best-selling author of The Girl from Long Guyland and Bagels and Salsa.

“Could not put it down, once I started reading. Definitely a must-read. Look forward to reading more books from Pat Dunlap Evans. ” — five-star Amazon review by reader “Mimi”

“Awesome…flowed nicely … definitely kept you on your toes to who actually committed the murder. The lead character was a perfect blend of hard and soft. A great read.” — five-star Amazon review by reader “Tiffany”

 

 

Pat Dunlap Evans was born in Michigan but “got to Texas as soon as I could,” she says. Her family lived in San Antonio and later Dallas, where she attended South Oak Cliff High School and Southern Methodist University. Pat eventually completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at University of Missouri, Kansas City, with emphasis on creative writing. She also taught freshman writing courses as a part-time lecturer.

After a divorce, Pat stressed her way as a single mom through twenty-five years of high-stress advertising and marketing roles before retiring to write fiction and screenplays. She lives in the Lake Travis area with her second husband Dr. Bill Evans and enjoys travel, golf, volunteer work, sailing, and the chaos of the couple’s combined five adult children, five grandchildren, and two cockalier dogs.

Pat has published two novels, To Leave a Memory and Out and In, with a third novel Those Who Try due out soon.

 

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  September 12-21, 2018

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

9/12/18	Author Video	StoreyBook Reviews
9/13/18	Review	The Clueless Gent
9/14/18	Guest Post	Forgotten Winds
9/15/18	Deleted Scene	Chapter Break Book Blog
9/16/18	Review	Hall Ways Blog
9/17/18	Author Interview	Books and Broomsticks
9/18/18	Notable Quotable	Book Fidelity
9/19/18	Review	Reading by Moonlight
9/20/18	Top Ten List	All the Ups and Downs
9/21/18	Review	Missus Gonzo

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A Crafter Knits a Clue: A Handcrafted Mystery
NEW COZY MYSTERY SERIES
SET IN WISCONSIN
Crooked Lane Books (October 9, 2018)
Hardcover

Synopsis

For fans of Betty Hechtman and Maggie Sefton, the latest craft frenzy is Holly Quinn’s Handcrafted series debut.

Sammy Kane just moved back to her hometown to run a craft store. But when the owner of a nearby yarn shop is murdered, Sammy will needle little help finding the killer.

When a heartbroken Samantha “Sammy” Kane returns to her hometown of Heartsford, WI, for her best friend Kate’s funeral, she learns that Kate’s much-loved craft store is in danger of perishing with its owner. Confounding all her expectations of the life she would live, Sammy moves back home with her golden retriever and takes over Community Craft. A few doors down Main Street, fellow new arrival Ingrid Wilson has just opened the Yarn Barn, a real “purl” of a shop. But when Sammy strolls over to see if Ingrid could use a little help, she finds Ingrid’s dead body—with a green aluminum knitting needle lodged in her throat.

Detective Liam Nash is thrown for a loop as every single citizen of Heartsford seems to have a theory about Ingrid’s murder. And nearly everyone in town seems to be a suspect. But the last time Sammy did any sleuthing was as a little moppet. And this is not fun and games. Sammy is eager to help the handsome Liam—who seems to be endlessly inventive in finding reasons to talk with her—and when Liam arrests affable woodworker Miles Danbury, Sammy puts everything on the line to help clear Miles.

As the case comes dangerously close to unraveling, Sammy must stitch the clues together. But the killer has other plans—and if Sammy’s not careful, she may wind up in a perilous knot in A Crafter Knits a Clue, the first warm and woolly yarn of Holly Quinn’s new Handcrafted mysteries.

YOU CAN PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!!

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About the Author

Holly Quinn is both an avid reader and crafter. Holly sells her artistic creations locally and dreamed of one day opening a gift shop to sell local artist’s handiwork. Instead, she began writing about it and thus her journey of the Handcrafted Mystery series was born.

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The Gold Pawn (An Art Deco Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (September 25, 2018)
Paperback: 336 pages

Synopsis

November 1936. Mayor La Guardia’s political future buckles under a missing persons case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . .

Finally summoning the courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains—and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . . .

Meanwhile, fears climb in Manhattan after the disappearance of a respected banker and family friend threatens the crippled financial industry and the pristine reputation of Lane’s virtuous boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia. Fio’s fight to restore order leads him into more trouble as he meets a familiar foe intent on ending his mayoral term—and his life . . .

Guided by overseas telegrams from the man she loves and painful memories, only Lane can silence old ghosts and derail present-day schemes. But when the investigation awakens a darker side of her own nature, will she and New York City’s most prominent movers and shakers still forge ahead into a prosperous new age . . . or is history doomed to repeat itself?

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Kensington and the author have special thank you gift to anyone who pre-orders THE GOLD PAWN and registers here

It’s a limited edition gold author card, swag, and a Silver Gun bracelet 

Guest Post

The Role of Music in Writing

By L. A. Chandlar

I get asked a lot about music while writing: if I enjoy it or is it distracting? Do I write certain scenes to certain songs?

First of all, I love music! And music was a big part of the everyday life of the Art Deco era. So you’ll see music popping up all over the place, whether listening on their Victrola, the family radio nights, or at the dance halls and jazz clubs.

For me personally, when I’m writing and I need to concentrate, blocking out the world and its intrusions, I turn it up. I almost always write with music on in the background. Often it’s period pieces to get me in the mood to write in the vintage style with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong, and Blossom Dearie. If I want to get jazzy, I listen to Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young… My two sons will often find themselves dancing with me as I make dinner, too.

My favorite thing is when I write a scene to a specific song. It’s a mood I’m looking for. When Lane and Finn have a dance, I really did listen to Dean Martin’s Mambo Italiano. That entire Little Italy scene which is a theme in my books is inspired from that song. When they have more steamy moments, it’s usually written with Nora Jones, specifically Come Away with Me, Sunrise, and Don’t Miss You at All.

And then there’s when I need energy. I listen to everything from Lady Gaga to Eminem. The final scene –the epilogue–  that is my post-credit scene like in the movies and always has a twist and a foreshadowing of the next book, is my FAVORITE. Of course, it’s my favorite in the movies, too. I’m a die-hard. I wait until the bitter end for that scene! The end in THE GOLD PAWN was written to Lady Gaga’s Poker Face. And the end and a couple of chase scenes in book 3, THE PEARL DAGGER, was written to Eminem’s Lose Yourself. They have nothing to do with my era, but there was just something about the mood and the energy that they radiated for those scenes that was perfect.

When I got to the Christmas time of the year in THE GOLD PAWN, I listened incessantly to the album Christmas with the Ratpack with Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. I also love Harry Connick, Jr. and What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve as well as Michael Bublé’s entire Christmas album.

To have some fun, go back and read those chapters with those songs! It’s a blast. Then find me on social media and let’s talk music!

About the Author

L. A. Chandlar is the author of the Art Deco Mystery Series with Kensington Publishing featuring Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and a fresh take on the innovation and liveliness of 1930s New York City. Her debut novel, The Silver Gun released August 29, 2017, and the sequel, The Gold Pawn, will release September 25th, 2018. Laurie has been living and writing in New York City for 16 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences for over 20 years including a women’s group with the United Nations. Her talks range from NYC history, the psychology of creativity, and the history of holiday traditions. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, writes and fund-raises for a global nonprofit is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band.

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Giveaway

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K Street Killing (Washington Whodunit)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Camel Press (July 15, 2018)
Paperback: 242 pages

Synopsis

It’s the height of campaign season, and instead of relishing newlywed bliss with her husband Doug Hollingsworth, Capitol Hill staffer Kit Marshall is busy with a tough reelection fight for her boss, member of Congress Maeve Dixon. Before Maeve and her staff–Kit included–leave Washington, D.C. to campaign full time in North Carolina, they have one last fundraising engagement.

On the iconic rooftop of a restaurant overlooking the Capitol and the Washington monument, Kit and her best pal Meg do their best to woo wealthy lobbyists for sizable campaign donations. Everyone’s enjoying the evening soiree until a powerful K Street tycoon mysteriously tumbles off the rooftop. Even with claims the fall must be suicide, Detective Maggie Glass and Kit aren’t so easily convinced foul play isn’t at work. While balancing Doug’s mid-life career crisis, Kit must spring into action to discover who killed the notorious Van Parker before Dixon’s candidacy sputters, even if it means investigating Meg’s handsome new beau, the victim’s conniving widow, and a bicycle advocate hell-bent on settling a long-standing grudge. When threatening note is left on Kit’s car, warning her to back off the investigation, she knows she’s closing in on the true story of what happened.

About the Author

Colleen J. Shogan has been reading mysteries since the age of six. She conceived of the plot of her first mystery one morning while taking a walk in her suburban Washington, D.C. neighborhood. A political scientist, she previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as the Deputy Director of the Congressional Research Service. She is currently a senior executive at the Library of Congress who works on great initiatives such as the National Book Festival. Colleen lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Rob and their beagle mutt Conan. She is the recipient of the Next Generation Indie Prize for Best Mystery.

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Giveaway

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Book title: Finders, Not Keepers

Book Series: Book #1 of The Not So Reluctant Detective Series, can be read as a standalone

Genre: Mystery, Romance, Humor

Published: August 20, 2018

Synopsis

What do you do with a diamond no one wants? You can’t keep it. Or can you?

While cleaning her ex-husband’s effects out of the attic, Terri finds an exquisite diamond pendant necklace. She’s determined to return the necklace to its proper owner, but the owner was brutally killed, a murder which remains unsolved, and her heirs want nothing to do with the diamond. Terri embarks upon a journey researching charities to which she can donate the diamond. When her research becomes dangerous, Terri contemplates solving the murder herself. Her best friend, Melanie, jumps feet first into investigating the murder, but her neighbor, Ryder, doesn’t want Terri exposed to any danger. Ryder, to Terri’s surprise, also wants to be more than neighbors with Terri. Luckily, he’s prepared to take any measure necessary to keep her safe because someone is determined to stop her inquiries.

Join Terri on her quest to find a home for the diamond, which may result in the unveiling of a murderer – if she survives long enough.

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Review

If I had been in Terri’s position and found a diamond necklace, I’m not so sure I would be willing to give it up or search for the owner.  Especially if I found it in my attic!

I am hoping that this is going to be a new series because the interaction between Terri, Ryder, and Melanie is engaging and comical at times.  Terri is in her early 40’s and Ryder is in his 30’s somewhere, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting Terri or from acting like a “caveman” wanting her to stay out of harm’s way.  I understood Terri’s frustrations about being told to not do one thing or another.  She is a grown woman after all!  But learning more about Ryder’s background (the important nugget comes near the end of the book) created a better understanding of his viewpoint.  Melanie is a bit of a wild child and doesn’t think about the consequences of her actions.  But she is a good offset for Terri who is very much a “follow the rules” kind of gal.

The mystery itself was well written and none of the clues were obvious in assisting me in solving the crime of who killed Jessica.  I liked how the victim was woven into Terri’s life in multiple ways and I even felt sympathy for the Collins’ family because of the way their children acted about what Jessica left behind.  You see it too often, someone dies and all people see is dollar signs and greed is rampant.

I can see future books with Terri, Ryder, and Melanie so I hope that there are more to come!

We give it 4 paws up.

Excerpt

“How are we going to solve the murder if we don’t even know where it happened?”

“We are not solving the murder! How many times do I have to explain myself? I’m only trying to honor Jessica’s last wishes by finding somewhere to donate the necklace in her memory.”

“We are totally solving this murder.”

“Did you not read the part where she was shot to death! And the police have no fricking idea what happened?”

Melanie shrugged as if she knew people who were shot to death all the time. “We’ll be fine.”

“We? We are not doing anything. I’m the one who is doing this. We are not doing anything.”

“Fine. Fine. So, Ms. Patterson, what are you going to do next, hmm?” She raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms over her chest, and leaned back in her chair.

“I’m not sure.” Terri tapped her fingers on the table. There was a long pause before she suddenly sat up straight. “Where did the obit say donations were to be sent?”

Melanie pulled the obit up on her tablet. “Westside Soup Kitchen.”

“That’s it!” She snapped her fingers. “I’ve volunteered at that soup kitchen several times. I’ll just go check it out. See if they are a good candidate for receiving the necklace.”

“You volunteered at the same soup kitchen as Jessica? Maybe you met her and don’t remember?”

“No.” Terri shook her head. “I saw a picture of her at the Collins’ house. There’s no way I would have forgotten meeting her.”

“Maybe some of the other volunteers or even the homeless people will remember Jessica. You could ask them about her.”

“Stop trying to solve the murder!”

Melanie readily agreed she wouldn’t get involved in investigating the murder, but Terri knew better than to believe her.

About the Author

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

Finders, Not Keepers is my thirteenth novel.

 

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Deadly Dram: A Whisky Business Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Alibi (September 4, 2018)
Print Length 300 pages

Synopsis

Distillery owner Abigail Logan discovers that high spirits are no match for a cold-blooded killer as the Whisky Business Mystery series puts a fatal twist on stiff competition.

It’s been a year since globe-trotting photojournalist Abi Logan inherited Abbey Glen, a whisky distillery in the heart of the Scottish countryside. To her surprise, the village of Balfour already feels like home, and her new business partner, Grant MacEwan, continues to be too charming to resist. But Abi has a history of relationship disasters, so she struggles to avoid an ill-fated romance with Grant. Steering clear is hard enough on a day-to-day basis, but when the two head off to a whisky industry competition together, Abi panics. Five-star resort, four glorious days of nonstop whisky tasting, and a fatally attractive Scotsman—what could possibly go wrong?

The night before the award presentations, with foreign and domestic whisky makers at one anothers’ throats, two judges are found dead under mysterious circumstances. What started with three dream-come-true nominations for Abby Glen’s whisky soon turns into a nightmare for Abi. With a killer on the loose, she must call on her investigative skills to stop another murder—before she gets taken out of the running herself.

Guest Post

The classic advice given to any aspiring writers is to “write what you know,” so many people ask me why my protagonist is a journalist and not a lawyer. After all, I spent a large part of my professional life as a lawyer. Honestly, unless you are John Grisham, being a lawyer is just not that riveting and I wanted my protagonist to be interesting. A woman of substance and a woman who already had the tools she needed to be a successful amateur sleuth, as well as a business woman/distillery owner.

As a photojournalist, Abi Logan has a strong instinct about people and a compulsive attention to detail that serve her well as she investigates. Abi also needed to have had some experience in a male dominated profession before coming to Scotland. Being a former war correspondent she’d experienced that, along with a lot of pain and death and it left her a bit world-weary. Ready for a new challenge and a change of lifestyle. That resonated with me as I switched careers mid-stream and I hope it resonates with many of my readers as well.

Fraught relations between men and woman in the workplace have become such a hot topic lately. The death threats Abi gets in book one of the Whisky Business series go to the extreme, but many of my readers have seen discrimination, suspicion, and mistrust at work, especially if they work in a traditionally male arena. I experienced this as a lawyer, and Abi certainly would have seen it as a war correspondent, and now she’s experiencing it again as she finds her way in the whisky business.

The whisky fraternity, or the Barley Boys as Abi calls them, don’t always welcome her with open arms. The majority of owners and distillers in the whisky business both in Scotland and in other parts of the world are men. Women are slowly making their way into the profession, but they are still a comparative rarity. In these stories, Abi is one of the first, but she is lucky to have a few enlightened souls around her that are willing to recognize the historic contributions of women and to recount their stories. Abi finds strength in the stories they share about the women that came before her.

Back in the 1800’s when small-scale whisky distillation was still illegal, many women tended the stills while their husbands worked the land. Helen Cummings famously disguised the family distillery as a bakery and would serve the revenuers tea and cakes in her kitchen while secretly raising a red flag on the top of the farmhouse to let other distillers in the area know that the authorities were around. Helen and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth shepherded their distillery, now known as Cardhu, from its early illicit operations through several legal expansions and eventually crafted a very lucrative deal to sell the business to Johnnie Walker.

In the early 1930’s Bessie Williamson rose from secretary, to distillery manager, to owner of Laphroaig distillery, earning the title Mother of Laphroaig along the way. By the second World War the supplies of barley used to make whisky were desperately needed to feed the Scottish people and whisky production was put on hold by the government for nearly two years, but the women on the home front still managed to find enough barley going spare to produce a stock of whisky to tide the locals through the dark, dry days.

Today, more and more women like Abi Logan are making their way into the whisky business both in Scotland and abroad. As a woman and a whisky lover I’m having a great time watching them find their wings. Look for profiles of these special ladies on my social media sites. The times are changing and it’s great to be a part of them.

About the Author

Melinda Mullet was born in Dallas and attended school in Texas, Washington D.C., England, and Austria. She spent many years as a practicing attorney before pursuing a career as a writer. Author of the Whisky Business Mystery series, Mullet is a passionate supporter of childhood literacy. She works with numerous domestic and international charities striving to promote functional literacy for all children. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.

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Flower Power Fatality (The Psychedelic Spy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Cat Press (April 22, 2018)
Paperback: 234 pages

Synopsis

The Cold War gets cozy in this retro-cozy spy caper set in 1967, a year of music, miniskirts—and murder! Actress Noelle McNabb works at the Country Christmas Family Fun Park in Yuletide, Indiana, but she longs for the bright lights of Hollywood.

Real-life drama comes her way when a stranger with a fatal gunshot wound stumbles across her doorstep. When she attempts to finds the man’s murderer, Noelle encounters a super-secret spy agency, SIAMESE (Special Intelligence Apparatus for Midwest Enemy Surveillance and Espionage). SIAMESE recruits Noelle on a quest to find missing microdots under the guidance of a street-wise agent, Destiny King. As Noelle goes undercover in a cheesy nightclub and faces the enemy in late-night chases, she uncovers family secrets and finds her moral values put to the test. Along with her pet cat, Ceebee, and the kooky residents of Yuletide, Noelle discovers it takes a village to catch a killer.

Guest Post

Me and My Cats

By Sally Carpenter

 

When I wrote my first mystery series, I didn’t give my hero a pet. For one thing, at the time I didn’t know what a “cozy” was, let alone the “rule” that a cozy protagonist should have a pet.

Besides, a pet really didn’t fit with the series. The first book takes place away from the hero’s hometown. Also, he travels a lot in his work—he’s an entertainer—so a pet would end up at a kennel most of the time.

For my second cozy series, the Psychedelic Spy mysteries, I gave my heroine a fat, black cat modeled after my own felines. I don’t know why, but I’ve always had black cats (actually the first one was gray, but close enough). The cats seemed to pick me, not visa versa.

My childhood pet came from a litter of the neighbor’s barn cat. Mom said I could have a cat only if it stayed outside. We lived in the country, so this was no problem. Next door was a huge pasture where cows grazed, so Pretty Kitty had aces of land to roam in.

He was a fantastic mouser and in the summer brought us “presents” of mice, moles and squirrels nearly every day—but never birds.

I was cat free most of my adult life. I moved frequently, traveled, was busy, and lived in “no pets” apartments. I had no room in my life a pet.

Then about sixteen years ago I met Gordo, a black cat with 23 pounds of love. “Gordo” means “fat” in Spanish. That wasn’t a nice name, so I renamed him Snuggles. We ended up in a place where he could be an indoor-outdoor cat and, despite his size, he moved quickly and was a good hunter.

Alas, he had health issues. One day I was sitting in the waiting room of the veterinarian’s office while Snuggles was being treated, and another black cat poked his head over the counter. The cat jumped to the floor and onto my lap. Later when I was standing at the counter and talking with the technician, the cat got on the counter and rubbed on me.

This was Felix. A family had found him on the street as an injured stray. They had brought him to the vet for treatment. They were going to adopt him, but Felix didn’t like their other cats. I was the only person Felix seemed to like (cat had good taste). So after Snuggles made his final trip to the vet, I took Felix home.

Also when Snuggles was gone, one of the “property cats” showed up at my door. Years ago, the former landlord brought in cats to catch the mice. As cats do, they multiplied until some of the residents had the animals fixed. One of the cats, a tuxedo named Boots, knew Snugs was gone and wanted to be my pet.

Eventually I ended up being the one to feed all the property cats and yes, they were black. I got attached to a couple of them. I called one Outdoor Kitty because she refused to come in the house, no matter how much I coaxed her.

Gabby, another tuxedo, was very affectionate and loved to jump in my lap whenever I sat down.

At first Felix didn’t like the other cats and he swatted them with a paw when they came near. Eventually he, Boots and Gabby bonded. They cuddled together in cool weather and sprawled out together in the yard.

Over the years the cats died off and only Boots is left, and she’s old and not so active. I miss the welcoming committee that ran out to greet me when I came home from work. But caring for so many cats was expensive and challenging.

When Boots is gone, will I be cat free again? Or will a black stray find its way to my door?

 

About the Author

Sally Carpenter has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school her plays “Star Collector” and “Common Ground” were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition. “Common Ground” also earned a college creative writing award and “Star Collector” was produced in New York City.

Carpenter also has a master’s degree in theology and a black belt in tae kwon do.

She’s worked as an actress, college writing instructor, theater critic, jail chaplain and tour guide/page for Paramount Pictures. She’s now employed at a community newspaper.

The Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series is comprised of: “The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper” (2012 Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel), “The Sinister Sitcom Caper,” “The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper” and “The Quirky Quiz Show Caper.”

She has short stories in two anthologies: “Dark Nights at the Deluxe Drive-in” in “Last Exit to Murder” and “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” in “Plan B: Omnibus.”

Carpenter penned chapter three of the Cozy Cat Press group mystery “Chasing the Codex.”

To atone for her sins of killing fictional people, she also writes the monthly Roots of Faith column for the Acorn Newspapers.

She’s a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles chapter.

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Stabbed in the Baklava (A Kebab Kitchen Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (August 28, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Synopsis

Lucy Berberian has taken over her family’s Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore after an unsatisfying stint at a Philadelphia law firm. It’s great to be back in her old beach town, even if she’s turning into a seasoned sleuth . . .

Catering a high-society wedding should bring in some big income for Kebab Kitchen—and raise its profile too. But it’s not exactly good publicity when the best man winds up skewered like a shish kebab. Worse yet, Lucy’s ex, Azad—who’s the restaurant’s new head chef—is the prime suspect. But she doesn’t give a fig what the cops think. He may have killer looks, but he’s no murderer. She just needs to prove his innocence, before he has to go on the lamb . . .

Recipes included!

Review

I fully enjoyed the first book in the series and this one was just as enjoyable. I love the setting – a Mediterranean restaurant because the hummus and other dishes all leave my mouth watering. Thank goodness there are recipes at the end that I can try to satisfy my cravings.

The victim in this book is a despicable banker that has some issues. It isn’t too much of a surprise when he ends up dead, however, it takes a few tense scenes at a wedding reception to decipher who the victim might be in this book. The killer may, or may not, be obvious as you read the book. I suspected this character but didn’t know for sure until it was all revealed at the end. The author does a great job of throwing red herrings in your path to discovering the truth. And of course, Lucy and Katie are in the middle of things trying to clear Azad’s name. Lucy can’t lose her head chef after all!

I’m waiting for the book when Detective Clemmons drops his dislike for Lucy and her family. There is a peace offering at the end of this book that just might lead to less hostility on his part, but only time will tell.

I was surprised that Michael (Harley owner next door to the restaurant) didn’t make an appearance until halfway through the book and very little after that. I’m not sure if there is supposed to be a love triangle happening between Lucy, Azad, and Michael, but if there is this book didn’t bring much tension to the triangle. Perhaps he is just meant to be a friend?

Overall the book does what it should – keep you guessing from start to finish while uncovering clues and trying to keep Lucy out of too much trouble.

We give it 4 paws up

About the Author

Tina Kashian spent her childhood summers at the New Jersey shore, building sand castles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business where her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. She worked almost every job—rolling silverware and wiping down tables as a tween, to hosting and waitressing as a teenager.

After college, Tina worked as a NJ Deputy Attorney General, a patent attorney, and a mechanical engineer. Her law cases inspired an inquiring mind of crime, and since then, Tina has been hooked on mysteries. The Kebab Kitchen Cozy Mystery series launches with Hummus and Homicide, followed by Stabbed in the Baklava and One Feta in the Grave by Kensington Books. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two young daughters. Please visit her website and join her Newsletter to enter free contests to win books, get delicious recipes, and to learn when her books will be released.

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Sipped (The Penningtons Investigate)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Asdee Press (June 11, 2018)
Paperback: 312 pages

Synopsis

After a rough semester, Professor Lyssa Pennington just wants to post her grades and join her husband, Kyle, in Cornwall for Christmas. First, though, she’s expected to host an elegant dinner for Emile Duval, the soon-to-be Chair of Languages at Tompkins College.

Too bad no one told Lyssa murder is on the menu. And, by the way, Emile Duval is an imposter.

Who is he really? And who wanted him dead? Without those answers, the Penningtons can kiss Christmas in Cornwall goodbye.

About the Author

C. T. Collier was born to solve logic puzzles, wear tweed, and drink Earl Grey tea. Her professional experience in cutthroat high tech and backstabbing higher education gave her endless opportunity to study intrigue. Add to that her longtime love of mysteries, and it’s no wonder she writes academic mysteries that draw inspiration from traditional whodunits. Her setting is entirely fictional: Tompkins College is no college and any college, and Tompkins Falls is a blend of several Finger Lakes towns, including her hometown, Seneca Falls, NY (AKA Bedford Falls from It’s a Wonderful Life).

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