Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe

 

A Honey Creek Novel

 

by

 

Jodi Thomas

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Zebra

Publication Date: May 26, 2020

Number of Pages: 336 pages

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From Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Mornings on Main and Indigo Lake, comes this heartwarming new novel set in Honey Creek, Texas—a small town where family bonds and legends run deep, and friendship and love are always close at hand . . .

Piper Jane Mackenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, won’t let a major scandal rip her quirky hometown apart or jeopardize her dream of one day running for higher office. So she’s willing to welcome undercover detective Colby McBride, hired to help solve the mystery behind her wannabe fiancé’s disappearance. Colby’s cover? That he is an old boyfriend now begging Piper for a second chance—always when there are plenty of townsfolk around to witness his shenanigans.

Piper hardly knows whether to laugh or cry, especially when she finds herself drawn to the handsome rascal. He’s not the only newcomer she has to deal with. There’s a new interim preacher in town, Sam Cassidy. Drifting from one assignment to another since his one love died, Sam isn’t sure he’s the right fit for Honey Creek. But as Piper knows, this is a place chock-full of surprises. And if she can keep her town—and her heart—from going completely off the rails, there may be a sweet, unexpected future in store . . .

 

 

 

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I am never disappointed when I read one of Jodi’s books.  They take me on a journey through a small Texas town where the pace is usually a little slower and the folks are friendly.  But don’t be fooled, they have their issues too, but in true Texas form, they work through those issues together.

This book felt a little different than Jodi’s other books.  I think it is because I felt like there was a little bit of a mystery to solve that paired nicely with the romance.  Piper, or PJ as a certain State Trooper was wont to call her, is stuck in the middle of a media storm due to the disappearance of Boone Buchanan, a friend who claimed they were engaged.  As the mayor of a small town, this doesn’t bode well for her since many wonder if she had something to do with the events surrounding his disappearance.  Enter Colby McBride, the sexy State Trooper doing a favor for a friend, also known as Piper’s brother.  Colby has a way about him that puts the citizens of Honey Creek at ease and he even charms Piper’s family, especially the women, to get them on his side.  It takes a bit longer with Piper.

This assignment had more layers than the Palo Duro Canyon.

While the story’s primary focus is Piper and Colby, there are several other storylines occurring that bring humor and more romance to the book.  Sam arrives to fill a spot at the local church and wonders if being a preacher is his calling.  Stella and Anna work at the church in different roles and have their own issues to deal with with the help of Sam.  Sometimes you just need a fresh pair of eyes on the situation.

I think the most endearing character was Pecos.  He is a graduating senior at the local school and his home life hasn’t been that great.  His parents just consider him a worker and not their child which is a shame because Pecos has dreams that he should follow.  His life turns upside down when he meets up with a classmate, Kerrie, and they form a friendship.  There are some surprises in store for Pecos, but he rolls with the punches with the help of Mr. Winston, a lonely older citizen of the town.  I actually think that Pecos and Mr. Winston save each other in the end and it is definitely a heartfelt moment (or two) as situations unfolded for these two.

I enjoyed the descriptive text about the town and especially the preacher’s new quarters.  I’m not sure who decorated the cottage but it is not what a single bachelor would want to see when they wake up each day.  You’ll have to read the book to discover how it was decorated, I think you will get a chuckle out of it much as I did.

I loved this book and did not want the story to end.  There were so many unanswered questions, ok maybe not that many but a few.  The upside is that this is going to be a series and I hope that all of these characters make guest appearances in future books.

We give this book 5 paws up and can’t wait for book two, which I was lucky enough to read the first couple of chapters at the end of this book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.

 

In July 2006, Jodi was the eleventh writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITAs to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.

 

Thomas was honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and served sixteen years as the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.

 

When not working on a novel, or inspiring students to pursue writing careers, Thomas enjoys traveling with her family, renovating an historic home, and “checking up” on two grown sons and four grandchildren.

 

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

ONE WINNER: One signed copy of Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café

 

MAY 12-21, 2020

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page for direct links to the other blog stops on this tour,

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5/12/20	Notable Quotable	Texas Book Lover
5/12/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
5/13/20	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
5/14/20	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
5/15/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks
5/16/20	Author Interview	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
5/17/20	Scrapbook Page	That’s What She’s Reading
5/18/20	Review	Jennifer Silverwood
5/19/20	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
5/20/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
5/21/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews

 

 

 

 

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Killing Time (A Dodie O’Dell Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Publisher: Lyrical Press (June 2, 2020)
Number of Pages: 215

Synopsis

 

With Halloween just around the corner, Dodie O’Dell is making preparations to transform the Windjammer Restaurant on the Jersey Shore into a haunted house, while the Etonville Little Theatre is staging Dracula. But casting the titular Transylvanian is proving challenging. The amateur actors in the company are not shy about chewing the scenery, but who among them can convincingly sink their fangs into a victim’s neck? When a mysterious newcomer with a transfixing Eastern European accent lands the part, rumors that he might be an actual vampire start to take flight—not unlike the bat who’s recently been spotted in the town park.

 

But everyone’s blood really runs cold when a stranger is found in the cemetery with a real stake in his heart. Dodie decides to put her Halloween theme menu on the back burner and stick her neck out to bring the killer into the light of day. She’d better keep her wits about her, though—or Dodie may be the next one to go down for the Count . . .

 

 

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Guest Post

 

Today we welcome Lola from the Dodie O’Dell mysteries and she gives us a look into her character and the series.  Take it away Lola!

 

I’m beside myself! As artistic director of the Etonville Little Theatre I am responsible for making sure the production gets on its feet. At least that’s what I thought my job was, but now I find myself holding Walter’s hand, because he’s always about five minutes away from a panic attack, keeping Penny in control and muzzling her whistle, if possible, and calming the members of the theatre whenever a crisis hits a production… “Lola, take a breath and pump the brakes,” Dodie, my BFF and the manager of the Windjammer restaurant, would say right about now.

I’ll start over… ever since Walter, the founder of the Etonville Little Theatre, was caught doing some creative bookkeeping with the theatre’s box office, the board appointed me acting artistic director to replace Walter. I was perfectly happy as the theatre’s diva, starring in nearly every production. I loved it…the bright lights, the applause, the ecstatic reviews in the Etonville Standard…well, mostly ecstatic. But now I’m wearing two hats: artistic director and occasional performer.

Except for Walter’s moods,  anxiety, and decision to direct/perform/or write every show, and production manager Penny’s claim that the only way to corral actors is by blasting her ridiculously loud whistle, things have been running smoothly. As smoothly as possible given that the ELT is usually on the brink of a disaster.

But I had such hope for a calm, stress-free fall production. I campaigned for a small comedy, something simple, fun… that I could star in. Walter wouldn’t hear of it. He said we needed to make a “big splash,” impress the New Jersey community theatre association with a “spectacle.” I just hoped the ELT wouldn’t make a spectacle of itself. Since the show was scheduled to open late October, Walter insisted on Dracula. The ELT members went gaga, the town applauded Walter’s choice, and we were off to the races. I started twisting my blond hair…a nervous tic that Dodie says is a sure sign “I am beside myself.” See what I mean?

Casting wasn’t too much of a problem, except for the lead. Where were we going to find a leading man to play the vampire? Now I was really twirling lengths of hair. Then I caught wind of a new couple in town. They’d rented the old Hanratty house on the edge of Etonville, which definitely looked haunted. They seemed so normal…he was tall, dark and handsome, with a vaguely foreign accent and a widow’s peak. She was serene, pleasant, and read palms. I couldn’t believe our luck, at first. He agreed to play Dracula and the part fit like a glove.

But then strange things started to happen. Props went missing, light cues were erased, and according to Mrs. Parker, who I must admit is a little daffy, a bat was seen flying around the Etonville park. And no one could remember seeing our Dracula in town during the day. Only at night. The thought made me shiver. Dodie would tell me I was letting my imagination run wild… Suddenly, Etonville had contracted vampire fever and the Banger sisters were wearing garlic necklaces. Now, with the opening and Halloween approaching, I’m nervous. Walter is so preoccupied with both directing and playing the lead—I warned him that wearing two hats was one hat too many—that he can’t be bothered with my fears. What if our leading man really is a …? No I can’t say it. It’s unthinkable…

I need to slip next door see to Dodie before dress rehearsal tonight. I know she’ll calm me down. Her logical explanation for everything is a dose of tranquility. That and a glass of chardonnay. Is it too early for happy hour?

 

Excerpt

 

“It sure looks haunted,” Edna murmured to no one in particular, to the cast of Dracula in general. They were grouped around her on the sidewalk that ran past the old Hanratty place that Carlos and Bella had rented. I’d never been inside though once I’d driven by it when I first moved to Etonville on my way out of town. The house stood on half an acre of scruffy lawn with patches of dried dirt, surrounded by a few straggly trees—minus leaves at this time of the year—and no neighbors. The nearest houses were on a side street some distance away. The three-story building looked as if it might collapse at any moment, its outer walls covered with weathered, gray shakes, the steps to the front door supported by concrete building blocks. There was no handrail. Light leaked out of windows on the first floor. Curtains covering small, circular panes on the third story—an attic room?—quivered. Was someone up there watching us? I shivered. A turret rose upward from the right side of the structure, giving the house a smidge of outdated dignity. A drain pipe dangled loosely from the gutter.

“Let’s go.” Penny corralled actors and nudged everyone forward to the front door. There were six company members, Renfield saying he’d be along later, plus Penny, Lola, Pauli, and me. Strength in numbers.

We crept across the porch cautiously, aware of the creaking beneath us as the flooring shifted with each individual’s footsteps. Penny put out a hand to knock on the door. Before she could hit knuckles to wood, it flew open. “Welcome everyone!” Bella stood in the doorway, a silhouette backlit by muted foyer lighting.

Behind her Carlos stood silently, observing the group huddled in his entryway, like deer caught in headlights.

Lola took the lead, moving graciously into the house. “Thank you. So nice of you to invite us to your home.”

I’m not sure what the members of the Etonville Little Theatre were expecting. Given the exterior and location of the Hanratty homestead, I anticipated something out of a late-night classic horror film.

 

 

About the Author

 

Suzanne Trauth is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and a former university theatre professor. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Dramatists Guild. When she is not writing, Suzanne coaches actors and serves as a celebrant performing wedding ceremonies. She lives in Woodland Park, New Jersey.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

Susan Johansen is efficient, ambitious and cool-headed in a crisis, which is exactly why her boss, Charles Dunlap, needs her. As the successful owner of one of the richest old money industrialist conglomerates in the world, he is under pressure of a different kind when his daughter Alicia becomes involved with internet entrepreneur Miles Middleton.

With an ego as big as his bank balance, Miles has a reputation for a string of affairs and Charles doesn’t want his daughter anywhere near him. And so he enlists Susan, as a Trojan Horse, burying her deep within Miles’ business interests in the hope that she can sabotage his relationship with Alicia.

It isn’t long before the plan seems to be working and Miles is missing lunches, dinners and other dates with Alicia in favour of making money and sealing deals. But it’s when he takes Susan away on a business trip and tries to seduce her that she sees him for what he really is. But now that she is close to her goal, Susan suddenly has a crisis of confidence? Is she really still working for Charles or is she now pursuing her own agenda with Miles?

As he continues to get under her skin with his continuous attempts at seduction, Susan finds that she is more conflicted than ever. And the closer she gets to completing the assignment, the greater the chances are that Miles will discover her secret.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Alexandra “Lex” Granger is a private security consultant who has to go undercover to protect billionaire businessman Michael Thornton, pretending to be an escort. Michael does not think he needs a bodyguard, despite the death threats he has received from protesters against his takeover of a Danish company, but he does need protection against the predatory wife of the Danish ambassador. Lex knows that this assignment is dangerous, made more so because her client does not even know that he is being protected.

She doesn’t know that he thinks she is a con-artist a gold-digger who takes rich men for everything that she can get. As sparks fly, and the attraction between the two go stronger, they face a deadly danger from an unknown assailant. Lex and Mike embark on a turbulent affair in the beautiful city of Copenhagen, with Mike realising that there is much more to the sexy seductress, her bewildering vulnerability evoking unfettered passion and feelings that he has never experienced before. Lex realises that she has committed the ultimate folly, that of falling in love with a man who despises her. Will she overcome the dangers to Michael to her breaking heart?

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A bitter beginning that led to the sweetest ending…

The last thing small town mayor, Katherine James, wants is a call that her brother is behind bars. Not a good look. When she goes to see him, however, he swears that he’s innocent and is being framed by the brother of the woman he loves.

Set on doing whatever it takes to get her brother out of this horrific predicament without employing her powers as mayor, Katherine finds herself agreeing to a bizarre deal with the cunning and wickedly handsome Tate Reilly: Be his live-in social secretary for one month in exchange for dropping the charges against her brother.

Sounds easy enough, right?

But when a quiet, unassuming beauty falls under the command of an arrogant, hot-as-sin jerk, things are bound to get interesting. It’s not long before the searing attraction between the two threatens to consume them both.

Weeks later, when the tables turn and Tate finds himself on the other end of the stick this time around, Katherine throws him the same deal that he’d thrown her.
During their last deal, things had gotten far too hot and heavy to contain.

This time, their blazing passion just might burn the house down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Dawn Andersen and her parents are horrified when her carefree Aunt Amy is found stabbed to death on the beach, the second woman to be murdered in the small oceanside town of Manatee Beach. The police have arrested a homeless man for the murders, but is he the real killer? Dawn, 25, makes the biggest decision of her life when she decides to leave her routine existence in Ohio to move into her aunt’s cottage a block from the ocean in South Florida. From the first night that Dawn arrives in Florida, the feeling of uneasiness never leaves her. There’s the strange man next door who always seems to be watching her. Married neighbors who were infatuated with her beautiful aunt. The nosy, the too friendly mailman. A hooded figure who’s been lurking outside her house at night. As Dawn learns more about her aunt’s life in Florida, she becomes convinced that the murderer is closer than she ever imagined, that her aunt’s killer is actually somebody in the neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This mystery/suspense novel will have you looking at your neighbors and wondering if they are who you think they are, or if there is something evil lurking beneath the face they present.

Dawn is a character that many will relate to her desire to adventure out on her own and out from under the watchful eyes of her parents.  While her parents only have her best interests at heart, sometimes they (and many parents) don’t know when to step back and let their children take a chance.  Now there is more to that story between Dawn and her parents and a secret is revealed near the end, but it is one the reader will probably figure out before the announcement but the details will be unknown until the reveal.

Throughout the book, I felt like I was in Manatee Bay from the descriptions of the town, the beach, and even the neighborhood.  The characters had a depth to them, even the minor characters like the mail carrier and the homeless men.  I am always glad when an author does a story justice by drawing in the reader and making them feel like they are living with the characters.

The mystery is who killed Amy and another young woman in this sleepy town in Florida? The author does a wonderful job of weaving in possible motives and peppers possibilities and red herrings throughout the novel.  There are several suspects but the actual killer surprised me in the end.  Once I thought about it, I saw the motivation of this character but this character never crossed my mind to suspect.

This novel also reminds us that everyone is different and we should give people the benefit of the doubt before casting aspersions on their character.  In this novel, it is one of the neighbors, Jerome, that had a head injury as a child and is not like everyone else.  It is a shame that so many assume he is bad or evil because he is different when that couldn’t be further from the truth.  I admired the way some of the neighbors stood up for him and gave him a chance.

Overall I enjoyed this book and plan to look into her other works.  We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

Excerpt

 

It was midnight by the time Dawn circled the cul-de-sac on Coral Court to the last house. Amy’s little cottage didn’t have a garage, or even a carport, so Dawn pulled into the short driveway and turned off the engine. She sat in the driver’s seat for several moments, wringing her hands and trying to calm herself. Seeing that headline had totally unsettled her. The article didn’t say much, just that the murder was similar to the other two. The victim had been bludgeoned and stabbed to death on the beach. The police didn’t come out and say it was the same murderer—since the homeless man they thought did it was locked up in their jail. They just said they were continuing their investigation, words she and her parents had heard more times than they could count.

But Dawn knew. Amy’s murderer, and the killer of those two other women, was still out there somewhere. Somewhere not too far away. Who knew where he was right now? She was only one block from the beach. And here she was, alone after dark, just like her aunt and those other women had been.

The neighborhood was completely dark except for a couple of dim porch lights.

“Not even a street light,” Dawn thought nervously.

Not only was there a murderer on the loose, one who killed women at night in the dark, but her mother’s fear of a neighbor thinking she was breaking in popped into her mind. What if one of them shot first and asked questions later? She’d heard of that happening before. Florida had a Stand Your Ground law. Did that count for a neighbor’s house? She wasn’t sure. She tried to calm herself. You’re not moving to the Wild, Wild West, for God’s sake. This is Florida, beautiful Florida. Just relax. Everything will be fine.

She wasn’t exactly sure what she should do. It finally came to her that the best thing would be to leave the inside car lights on with all the doors open so if anyone saw her, they would realize she was unpacking the car. She timidly stepped out of the Honda, and immediately perked up as the cool sea air hit her face. A steady breeze rustled the palm fronds of the trees on the block, and she could hear the repetitive breaking of waves on the beach in the distance.

Clicking on the flashlight, Dawn hurried up the walkway as fast as she could, stepped onto the porch, and started looking for her keys. She thought she’d put the key chain in her pocket, but it wasn’t there. Where was it? Oh God, was it still in the ignition?

She stumbled over the bottom porch step as she rushed back to the car, keeping the beam on the flat stones of the walkway. At the car, she snatched the keys out of the ignition and turned to start back to the house when she heard a deep howl that sounded like a wolf or a coyote. A shiver went down her spine. Her imagination was starting to get the best of her. She realized it was just a dog, but from the sounds of it, a very big dog.

It howled again, louder this time, and she cringed.

She couldn’t tell where the howl was coming from—she just hoped the dog was penned up and not roaming around free. Moving as quickly as she could up the walkway, she froze when she saw the silhouette of a man standing in the middle of the road. A tall man. A huge, hulking man. “What if he’s the killer,” she thought in a panic. Her pulse sped up, and she tried to move toward the house. But her feet felt frozen to the walkway.

The man had something on his head that was shining out a beam of light, like a coal miner’s hat. She couldn’t see his face or his features, just his enormous size. He looked like he was seven feet tall. The dog stood at his side. She could see its yellow eyes shining in the dark. It was built like a pit bull or a Rottweiler, and it was growling now.

 

 

About the Author

 

Judy Moore is the author of the popular thriller, “The Mother-in-Law,” as well as three mystery novels: “Somebody in the Neighborhood,” “Murder in Vail,” and “Murder at the Country Club.” She has also written numerous novellas, including the Christmas anthology “Christmas Interrupted,” which contains three novellas: “Airport Christmas,” “The Holiday House Sitter,” and “The Hitchhiker on Christmas Eve.” She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida and worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine feature writer, and publications editor for several years. A former tennis pro, Ms. Moore’s writing background also includes sports writing, and athletes from various sports are sprinkled throughout some of her novels. A lifelong resident of Florida, she currently resides in Vero Beach.

 

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Secrets of the Treasure King (Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Satori (April 29, 2020)
Print Length: 261 pages
Digital ASIN: B085DC4ZVS

 

Synopsis

 

 

The Seaside Cove rumor mill is buzzing about the captain of The Treasure King. He claims to know the location of the San Manuel, a four-hundred-year-old sunken Spanish galleon with a cargo worth millions. And now, he’s dead, the victim of a speargun attack.

When the police ask B&B owner Rick Atwood to consult in the investigation, he has mixed feelings. Consulting for the police is not the problem. He’s done it before. The problem is his eleven-year-old daughter, Alex.

Alex is fearless, precocious, and fueled by a strong sense of girl power. She’s also convinced the cops will never find the killer without her help, so she launches her own investigation—and quickly becomes a candidate for Seaside Cove’s youngest felon.

Now, unless Rick can solve the case with the clues Alex found illegally, his daughter might face charges of breaking-and-entering, the treasure of the San Manuel will be lost to pirates, and a killer could get away with murder.

 

 

Guest Post

 

Four hundred years ago…

 

Imagine yourself crammed aboard a small sailing ship with a hundred and fifty others. Your fellow passengers include soldiers, traders, families—and farm animals. That’s right, 400 years ago you might have shared your sleeping accommodations with a horse, a lamb, a cow, or maybe the rats, fleas, and cockroaches. It was an ideal environment for diseases like yellow fever.

The rewards, however, made the risks worthwhile. Everyone was there for a chance to make their fortune by trading, stealing, or other means. Although no 400-year-old sailing ships have survived, there is one replica in existence, the Andalucia.

 

Replicas, all that remain

 

In San Diego, we don’t have a galleon, but we do have a replica of the 18^th Century Royal Navy frigate Rose. The H.M.S. Surprise was built in the 1970s, then painstakingly refurbished for the film Master and Commander. The photos of the Surprise may give some inkling of what life was like for those aboard an old sailing vessel. For months at a time, a sail-powered ship would ply the seas, hoping for favorable winds and ports of call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding the San Manuel

 

In the first four Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast mysteries, everyone wants to find the San Manuel, a fictional Spanish galleon. According to the legends about the San Manuel, its luck ran out and the ship became of victim of the sea.

There are two reasons I found the search for a 400-year-old sunken treasure ship so fascinating. First, there’s the allure of finding riches from so long ago. A ship traveling to the Americas from the Far East would have been carrying china, ivory, and ancient artwork. The second reason is that treasure hunting hasn’t changed much in 400 years. When I began my research, I spoke to a man who had spent his life researching Sir Francis Drake and those that try to find lost treasure. He warned me that even today’s treasure hunters are an “unsavory bunch.”

Treasure hunting was a cutthroat business in Drake’s time. These days, the technology has changed, but not much else. Treasure hunters around the world—from individuals to multinational companies—compete to make their fortunes, and many of them will stop at nothing to get what they want.

 

Secrets of the Treasure King

 

Come join me in Seaside Cove. It’s the little town where murder meets the sea. And where secrets just might get you killed. A lost treasure ship. A web of lies. A murdered ship captain. Can a father-daughter duo unravel this mystery before a killer escapes with a secret worth millions?

 

 

About the Author

 

Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who only stole cars when it was legal. He’s long since turned his talents to writing mysteries and thrillers. Several of his books have been award finalists and in 2014 his thriller, “Con Game,” won the San Diego Book Awards for Best Action-Thriller. He’s currently working on the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series.

 

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Giveaway

 

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A Deadly Inside Scoop (An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Berkley (May 12, 2020)
Paperback: 384 pages

 

Synopsis

 

This book kicks off a charming cozy mystery series set in an ice cream shop—with a fabulous cast of quirky characters.

 

Recent MBA grad Bronwyn Crewse has just taken over her family’s ice cream shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and she’s going back to basics. Win is renovating Crewse Creamery to restore its former glory, and filling the menu with delicious, homemade ice cream flavors—many from her grandmother’s original recipes. But unexpected construction delays mean she misses the summer season, and the shop has a literal cold opening: the day she opens her doors an early first snow descends on the village and keeps the customers away.

To make matters worse, that evening, Win finds a body in the snow, and it turns out the dead man was a grifter with an old feud with the Crewse family. Soon, Win’s father is implicated in his death. It’s not easy to juggle a new-to-her business while solving a crime, but Win is determined to do it. With the help of her quirky best friends and her tight-knit family, she’ll catch the ice cold killer before she has a meltdown…

 

 

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Review

 

How can a new cozy series that features ice cream be bad?  It can’t!  In fact, it is downright delicious and the recipes at the end will have you pulling out an ice cream maker to make some for your own home.

Bronwyn Crewse, AKA Win, is our protagonist and amateur sleuth.  She has recently returned to Chagrin Falls from NY and is reopening her grandparent’s ice cream shop.  This shop has a history in that town and many have fond memories of her grandparents and the ice cream.  The relationship with PopPop is heartwarming since he has been waiting for Win to come back and run the shop.  Win’s parents are a bit overprotective of her since she is a girl and the baby of the family.  It isn’t too surprising to see that trait from her parents or even her older brothers – and there are three of those!

Win is not on her own, she has two close friends – Maisie and Riva.  Riva is a no-nonsense type of gal and you better watch out if you get on her bad side.  Maisie is something of a free spirit and I’m not really sure what to make of her character and I think she is something of a loose cannon.  She tended to jump in feet first without thinking things through and could potentially put them in harms way.  I think this line from the book sums up Maisie quite well and is the thoughts of one of Win’s brother, James:

 

“He thought Maisie was a bundle of fireworks hovering over an open flame. He said no one would ever know when her fuse would catch fire or what direction she’d take off in. She was festive, he said, but potentially dangerous.”

 

The mystery is well thought out and while there are several characters to suspect of being the killer, the true killer might come as a surprise.  I know I didn’t suspect this person but thought there was something strange about their actions.  Now we know why!

I enjoyed the nod to the original Pink Panther movie with characters using some of their names like Peter Sellers and David Nivens.

There is a potential budding romance with a former police officer turned law professor who goes by the nickname O.  He has his eye on Win and I think she might have some interest in him too despite her protests.  I am anxious to see how this might play out.  I also wonder about the police detective and if he might be interested in Win or if he was just working with her to get information?  Only time will tell.

The only thing I thought was really odd was that Win called her parents mommy and daddy.  Most people I know shorten it to mom and dad especially as they get older.

This is an enjoyable start to a new series and I suggest giving it a whirl.  I am tempted to try the recipes at the end of the book as they all sound delicious!  I just need an ice cream maker.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Wall Street JournalBestselling Author Abby Collette loves a good mystery. Born and raised in Cleveland, it’s even a mystery to her why she has yet to move to a warmer place. Author of the two Southern cozy mystery series Logan Dickerson Mysteries featuring a second-generation archaeologist and a nonagenarian who is always digging up trouble, and the Romaine Wilder Mysteries, set in East Texas, it pairs a medical examiner and her feisty auntie who owns a funeral home and is always ready to solve a whodunnit. Abby spends her time writing, facilitating writing workshops at local libraries, and spending time with her grandchildren, each of which is her favorite.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Synopsis

 

A standalone novel in the Mayfield Family series with an unusual premise and an uplifting ending.

Lady Sabrina endured an abusive marriage, a miscarriage, and early widowhood to emerge as a smart, successful, confident woman who found a way to make her mark in a man’s world. She has friends and purpose, but cannot hide from the emptiness she feels when the parties are over and the friends have gone home to families she will never have.

Harry Stillman may be charming and handsome, but he’s a gambler and a rake who has made a mockery of his privileges. He turns to the mysterious Lord Damion for financial relief from his debts, but still ends up beaten nearly senseless by thugs and left in an alley.

When Lady Sabrina comes upon Harry after the attack, she remembers the kindness Harry once showed to her six years ago and brings him to her estate to heal. Though their relationship begins on rocky footing, it soon mellows into friendship, then trust. But Lady Sabrina needs to keep Harry at a distance, even if he is becoming the kind of man worthy of her heart. After all, she is keeping a secret that, if exposed, could destroy everything she’s so carefully built.

 

 

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Praise

 

“Uplifting…Kilpack flips the typical Regency romance script, with the heroine rescuing the hero. Kilpack’s strong, upright heroine who finds a way to claim her power in Regency society sets this love story apart. This magnetic tale will appeal to fans of emotional romance.”— Publisher’s Weekly

“Kilpack takes traditional regency roles and challenges them. She shows how one person can make an impact in the world. I found the story and premise unique.”— Heather Gardner, Fire and Ice

“This is a story of redemption above all else…the ending was perfect.”— Lucinda Whitney, author of Rescuing the Prince

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

“I am ruined,” Harry said softly. “I’ve nothing left, and no income for at least another month. It would not be near enough even if I were to receive it tomorrow.”

Ward looked irritated rather than sympathetic. Someone shouted from a street over, reminding Harry that they were not in a genteel part of the city. But he had nothing for thieves to steal, and he looked and smelled like an urchin, save for his coat, which he held over his injured arm and away from his soiled clothes.

“I told you to leave,” Ward said tightly as he pointed toward the door of the gaming hell behind them. “I did everything I could to get you away from the tables in time.” Harry raked his hand through his hair, belatedly remembering the filth on his fingers. Would his landlord allow him a bath even though he was behind on his rent?

“I am ruined, Ward,” Harry said again. Did his friend understand what that meant? Did he know how low Harry truly was? “I’ve nothing to sustain me until the parcel is sold, which could take weeks.”

Suddenly Ward was striding toward him, anger adding power to each step. Harry shrank back as though Ward were going to strike him.

“What do you want me to say, Stillman?” Ward snapped, leaning toward him. “Do you want me to pat you on the head and tell you all will be well? Shall I convince you that one more night will change your circumstances?” He shook his head and pulled himself up to his full height, a few inches taller than Harry. “I am near my limit with this . . . dissipation. There is no fun in it anymore, and each night is a bigger disaster than the night before.”

“What can I do?” Harry pleaded. “I’ve no money to pay my expenses, and I can’t get credit with even a blacksmith anymore. I do not have the ten percent necessary to keep Malcom at bay for another week.” He swallowed against the dryness in this throat. He had mere hours to come up with two hundred and seventy pounds. “Help me, Ward. I cannot think straight enough to come up with a solution. Malcolm knows where I lodge. He’ll come for me, and I have nothing to offer him.” He’d once been so good at clever answers to the scrapes he found himself in. Now it was just that beating drum.

Lost it all. Lost it all. Lost it all.

Ward took a breath, forcing calm as though he were the parent and Harry the disobedient child. “My parents have returned to Sussex, leaving the London house empty. We could stay there for a time. I don’t know where you’ll get funds, though.”

“Can I . . . Can I borrow enough from you to hold off Malcom for one more week?”

Ward’s eyebrows came together, and his jaw clenched.

“You shall be the first person I pay back when I sell the parcel,”

Harry said desperately. “And if I could borrow an extra fifty, I could triple it by the end of next week.”

Ward’s face went dark, and he turned to leave again.

“Ward, hear me out,” Harry said, hurrying to catch up. It was the only solution, and Harry could make good on the loan. Not at this club, of course, but there were others he had not been barred from where he could win back all that he owed and more. Tonight was the perfect example of how lucky Harry could be. If he’d just left when he was ahead, or if Ward had not interrupted his luck routines, then things would have turned out very differently. I need to get out of London, he told himself, a whiff of his former decision passing through his thoughts. But he couldn’t.

Not now. Only in London he could win enough money to pay off his debts. Ward turned to Harry, his nostrils flared, but then his eyes focused on something past Harry’s shoulder, and his expression went slack. Harry belatedly heard footsteps on the cobbles and turned to see three men coming toward them from the shadowy end of the alley. His first thought was that they were the protectors from the club, but as they drew closer, he realized the man in the middle was familiar. Harry noted the scar that ran from beneath the man’s left eye to his jawline. Pocked skin and eyes as black as night confirmed the man’s identity. “M-malcom,” Harry said under his breath, every part of his body going cold.

 

Excerpt taken from Chapter Three, pages 26-28 with permission

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Josi S. Kilpack is the bestselling author of several Proper Romance and Proper Romance Historical series and a Cozy Culinary Mystery series. Her books, A Heart Revealed and Lord Fenton’s Folly; were Publishers Weekly Best Romance Books of the Year. She and her husband, Lee, are the parents of four children.

 

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Synopsis

 

Three women, from coast to coast and in between, open their mailboxes to the same intriguing invitation. Although leading entirely different lives, each has found herself at a similar, jarring crossroads. Right when these women thought they’d be comfortably settling into middle age, their carefully curated futures have turned out to be dead ends.

The sender of the invitation is Willa Silvester, who is reeling from the untimely death of her beloved husband and the reality that she must say goodbye to the small mountain town they founded together. Yet as Willa mourns her losses, an impossible question keeps staring her in the face: So now what?

Struggling to find the answer alone, fiercely independent Willa eventually calls a childhood friend who happens to be in her own world of hurt–and that’s where the idea sparks. They decide to host a weeklong interlude from life, and invite two other friends facing their own quandaries. Soon the four women converge at Willa’s Montana homestead, a place where they can learn from nature and one another as they contemplate their second acts together in the rugged wilderness of big sky country.

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

This story follows 4 women, friends by association in some respects, that spend some time in Montana trying to figure out their next path in life – or their So What Next. These are all women in their 40s and maybe early 50s and I can understand how they might be trying to figure out their path in life. There has been the death of a spouse, divorce, grown children, affairs, and much more that has affected these women’s lives and they have to decide where they want to go next. These few days together also forced them to be honest with themselves and those around them. I can’t believe how much Willa wouldn’t tell the people in town about what was going on when it wasn’t her fault. She would rather be a martyr and sell her town vs talk to the people.

While I am the age range of these women, I’m not sure I could totally relate. My life has taken twists and turns over the last 6 years, but nothing like what these women have experienced. However, their camaraderie is admirable and while they may not get along or push and pull at each other, it is all a part of the process.

The ending was just right and a few surprises but not too many.

The descriptions of Montana were amazing and I could picture Bison Butte and other locations in my mind. It is definitely a place I would like to visit one day.

My only complaint is that there was no good place to stop. Each chapter is about 25% of the book. While I know it reflected each day, a way to stop without stopping in the middle of the chapter would be appreciated. There are also quite a few f* bombs and while it might be appropriate at times, I thought some could have been cut out and not affected the story in any way.

Overall we give 3 – 3 1/2 paws.