Archive for the ‘Cozy Mystery’ Category

TheDevilsHook banner

Lots to share today!

Looking for a thrilling romantic suspense? Check out The Devil’s Hook.

Enjoy my interview with the author.

Catch a glimpse inside the book.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

TheDevilsHook book cover

Genre: Cozy Mystery

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Synopsis

Jairus Twombly’s familial intuition is faltering and his new personal assistant seems to be trying to replace his wife, Amy.

On the Twombly College campus, someone is breaking into the dorm rooms of female students leaving things instead of taking things: red colored objects including a red golf ball, a red ribbon and a tiny red stuffed dog.

When a recipient of some of the red objects goes missing and is returned after being told, “You’re not her”, and the personal assistant turns up dead with Amy Twombly’s elegant Bloodwood crochet hook in her eye, things heat up for Emory Crawford and her chemist and forensic scientist husband, Dr. Jebbin Crawford.

Emory, along with the Twombly’s Nancy Drew-like daughter, Madison, once more turns to her amateur detective skills and intuition to solve the mysteries.

Enjoy this fun excerpt

“Get it out! Get it out! Get it out!”

Amy was screaming the words over and over, hands held to either side of her face like Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream.”

There was a body on the floor at the far end of the table on my side. I heard doors sliding. I swung my head to look at the doors into the main hall.

“What on earth is . . .”

“Iga,” I yelled to be heard above Amy’s hysterics. “Get Amy and Madison out of here, now!”

I heard her rounding up the two Twomblys and taking them somewhere else. My attention was on the body on the floor.

A couple of steps closer and I could see what Amy was screaming about. There lay the display pedestal surrounded by mangled flowers and a porcelain vase in shards, some of which were resting in the blood on the floor as it bled into the water the flowers had been in. Despite knowing there had been an argument in here a short while before, despite the overturned furniture and broken vase that could have been knocked over for a very different reason than the one Amy gave us, even though Amy’s bloodwood crochet hook was protruding from Resie’s left eye, I knew with every shiver running through my soul that Amy hadn’t done this. And, since Resie wasn’t writhing in agony, I also knew she was dead.

~~~~~

My interview with Author Pearl R. Meaker

  • What genre would you describe The Devil’s Hook as and who is your target audience?

The Devil’s Hook is a cozy mystery, like Agatha Christie’s mysteries. So if you like Christie, Carolyn Hart, Miranda James and other authors like them, you will like The Devil’s Hook.

Everyone who likes cozy mysteries. Hahaha! More specifically, women, usually 30 yrs. old to 60 or so – although I’ve been reading cozies since I was nine years old and still do and I’m 61. People who do some crafts would like The Devil’s Hook as well.

  • Will this be a series or is it a stand alone?

Actually, The Devil’s Hook is the second book in the Emory Crawford Mysteries Series. The first book, The Devil’s Music, was released spring of 2015 and the third book is slated for release fall of 2016.

  • Who would be your choice of actors if your book were made into a movie?

Emory Crawford = Tiffany Thiessen

8559520 Actresses Miranda Cosgrove, Tiffani Thiessen and Dolly Parton visit the "Today" show on January 12, 2012 in New York City, NY. FameFlynet, Inc. - Santa Monica, CA, USA - +1 (818) 307-4813

Dr. Jebbin Crawford = A mix between Jake Johnson & David Krumholtz (Jake’s height and David’s face 😉 )

DH_Jebbin1  DH_Jebbin2

AnnaMay Langstock = Emma Thompson

DH_EmmaT

Dr. Nibodh Chatterjee (Chatty) = Kunal Nayyar

G

Aine McAllister = Siobhan Fallon Hogan

DH_Aine McAllister

  • Did you always want to be a writer?

No. I initially wanted to be an artist/art teacher. When that didn’t work I took a year-long dental assisting course and became a dental assistant. When that didn’t work out I became a “whatever job I could get.” When that didn’t work out I got married and became a wife/mom/homemaker.

That worked out.

I didn’t start writing until I was 49 years old in 2003.

That worked out too.

  • Are you working on anything new?

Yes!  Thank you for asking.

Due for release in the fall of 2016, the third Emory Crawford Mystery has the working title The Devil’s Flood.

The past and present of the town of Twombly and surrounding Golden County meet in two flood years bound together by mystery and murder. Add to that – moonshine. The old illegal liquor business is alive and well in the area, and it’s getting into the hands of underage citizens. Will Emory and Madison, with help from Jebbin, AnnaMay and others, be able to deal with the dirt and mire and solve the cases?

Five fun shorts:

  • Your favorite holiday?

Christmas

  • As a youngster, were you a Barbie girl or a tomboy?

I was a both. I happily played with my Barbies in the winter and on rainy days. When I was outside I wanted to climb trees with my pastor’s son (they had a great climbing tree in their back yard) or catch grasshoppers in empty lots with a girl friend of mine, and then we would trade them to little boys who were on their way to trade in pop/soda bottles at the candy store. Then we’d go to the candy store.

  • Ever been on a blind date?

Honestly, I don’t remember if I ever did or not. If I did, it must not have been all that bad or all that great, or you’d think I’d remember it.

  • Going on vacation: campfire or hotel?

Both. I’d like a nice comfy cozy travel trailer with a campfire a few yards away from it.

  • Name a phobia.

Hmm . . .

You mean one I have? Mild arachnophobia.

Just name any old phobia? How about Mythophobia- Fear of myths or stories. – Good thing I don’t have that one!

Or name, as in give a name to, a phobia?

Footinmouthaphobia – I have this one since I have a tendency to do this.

LOL! Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Pearl!

~~~~~

About Pearl R. Meaker

TheDevilsHook author pic

Pearl R. Meaker is an upper-middle-aged, short, pudgy homemaker, mother, and grandmother who in 2002 became a writer. Initially writing fanfiction she soon tried original fiction at the encouragement of her regular readers. She has been a life-long lover of mystery stories and

automatically went to that genre for her first book, The Devil’s Music. She and her husband of nearly 40 years live in central Illinois. They both love bluegrass music, playing fiddle and banjo and singing. Pearl also does many crafts – when she’s not reading or writing – knitting, crochet, origami, needlepoint, and cross-stitch among them. She also enjoys birding and photography and is a former fencer.

Visit Pearl here:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Buy The Devil’s Hook:

Amazon / B&N / Chapters-Indigo

Buy The Devil’s Music:

Amazon / B&N / Chapters-Indigo / Books-a-Million

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.

The more you comment, the more chances to win!

Goddess Fish Promotions

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

BreadOfTheDead_Banner

Welcome to my tour stop for Bread of the Dead, the first book in the Santa Fe Cafe series by Ann Myers. This is a cozy mystery and the tour runs September 28-October 23 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

Bread of the DeadBread of the Dead (Santa Fe Cafe Mystery #1)
Release Date: September 29, 2015 by William Morrow
368 pages

About the Book:

The Day of the Dead is approaching in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and cook Rita Lafitte is busy decorating sugar skulls, taste-testing pan de muerto (bread of the dead), and refashioning her post-divorce life. She loves her job at Tres Amigas Cafe and feels like she’s found a good home for herself and her teenage daughter…until her kindly landlord is found dead next door, seemingly from suicide.Although Rita discovers evidence of murder, the police aren’t convinced, especially one of the lead detectives who’s also Rita’s ex-husband. To uncover the truth behind her friend’s death, Rita teams up with her octogenarian boss Flori, the town’s most celebrated snoop. Soon, their investigation encompasses other crimes, including break-ins and the murder of their number-one suspect. Rita won’t feel safe until the killer is caught. But when she unearths a long-buried secret, will she become the next victim?

————–
Here’s an excerpt for you.
.

My eyes kept returning to the bride and groom. Bony elbows linked, they raised champagne flutes, gazing at each other starry-eyed.

“This whole holiday is kind of sad,” I muttered, my gaze fixed on the skeletal couple. If they’d found true love, they discovered it too late. A familiar anxiety prickled through my chest. Nearly three months ago, my best friend Cass and I raised margarita glasses to celebrate my divorce from Manny Martin, Santa Fe’s busiest philandering cop. I was the one to ask for the divorce, and I’m certain I did the right thing. Since then, however, I haven’t worked out a new me to celebrate. I am once again Rita Lafitte. I am once again single. I am also forty-one, living on a café cook’s income, and sharing a 700-square-foot cottage with a teenage daughter wrestling with her own emotions. It’s not exactly the inspiring stuff of women’s magazines.

Flori smiled up at me. “People will know you’re not a local if you talk like that, cariño. Dia de los Muertos is a holiday for the dead, but it’s made for the living. It’s a time of joy, a reminder that death comes to us all and we must enjoy our time in this world.” She gave my arm a squeeze. “And I would be enjoying too, if Gloria wasn’t such a sneaky cheat.”

My eighty-year-old friend had re-launched her rant: her nemesis, Gloria Hendrix, and her alleged cheating at Santa Fe’s Day of the Dead baking contest.

I tried to assure her, but I knew I might be fibbing. “You’ll win this year,” I said, shifting my box of skulls to the opposite hip. “Your pan de muerto is the best.”

That part was true. Flori’s pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, is utterly delicious, and I should know. I’ve eaten loads of it over the last several weeks, readily ditching dieting aspirations for the sake of taste testing. Imagine a French brioche, soft and golden with sinful amounts of butter and eggs. Then imagine that same pillowy bread scented with orange zest and anise seeds and shaped in the form of a toothy skull. That’s Flori’s pan de muerto. Our customers at Tres Amigas Café beg for it, and Flori has taken home blue ribbons in baking contests from Taos to Albuquerque.

The last two years, however, Flori has lost to Gloria Hendrix. That’s where my fib came in. I feared that Flori might be defeated again, and I didn’t like it any more than she did. I wasn’t upset because Gloria was a relative newcomer like me. I didn’t mind that she was from Texas, a state that native New Mexicans like Flori love to loathe. I didn’t even care that she was a flashy socialite who threw around her money and influence. What bugged me was Gloria’s boasting, her bragging about a bread which—if the rumors were true—she didn’t make herself. Word in my culinary circles was that Gloria’s housekeeper, Armida, baked the victorious loaves. So far, I hadn’t sifted out the truth. However, Armida flees across the street whenever she sees me or Flori coming. This, in my mind, is evidence enough of Armida’s co-conspirator guilt.

Flori wasn’t fooled by my words. “I might not win, Rita, and I wouldn’t mind being beaten by Armida if she entered in her own name. She’s comes from a cooking family. Her mother did a fry bread that could make grown Navajos weep.”

She picked up her bag and took off down the street. I had to jog to avoid being bested by a petite octogenarian with bad knees. Flori, however, wasn’t carrying around a dozen extra heads at 7000 feet above sea level.

“It’s the principle,” I agreed, siphoning air through my teeth to hide my panting. “Gloria shouldn’t be bragging about something she hasn’t done.”

“Exactly.” Flori’s mica eyes had a dangerous sparkle. She slowed and looked furtively over her shoulder, as if checking for Gloria and her spies. “I have a plan,” she whispered. “A way for us to catch Gloria and Armida in the act.”

.

About the Author:

Ann Myers, her husband, and extra-large housecat live in Colorado but, like Rita, feel most at home in Santa Fe.

 

GIVEAWAY:
Three (3) copies of Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers (US)
Ends Oct. 28
Prizing is provided by the publisher, hosts are not responsible.
.
Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the dancing skeleton below!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

 

scrapbook of the dead large banner640

Scrapbook of the Dead
by Mollie Cox Bryan

This series just keeps getting better and better with every book, and SCRAPBOOK OF THE DEAD is the cream of the *crop.
~Lisa K’s Book Reviews

The Cumberland Creek Mysteries are one of my favorite cozy series. Scrapbook of the Dead by Mollie Cox Bryan is her best book yet!
~Jane Reads

…one of those books I read in one sitting–I just couldn’t put it down!
~Book Babble

Scrapbook of the Dead
(A Cumberland Creek Mystery)
(Book 5)

Cozy Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0758293589
ASIN: B00RRT30J0

goodreads-badge-add-plus

My Review

I was looking for a fun Halloween cozy and found this book. It couldn’t have worked out better. It appears I’ve bumped into these characters before. It was on a cruise ship, and yes, there was a murder for these good people to solve.

Now, we’re back on dry land in Cumberland Creek and there’s been yet another murder. There’s a human popsicle in the walk-in freezer at Pamela’s  Pie Palace. And not long after, the murder victim’s sister is found next to the creek, dead of an apparent drowning. And both victims had a page from a scrapbook clutched in their hands. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

I had such fun sleuthing with this gang again. The characters ages ranged from young to senior and they kept me laughing and flipping pages to find out who the surprise villain was.

Yep, I was kept guessing as to who the bad guy was.

I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall when these scrapbook fiends gathered together, pasting and cutting. The gossip flies and the clues emerge.

It’s the countdown to All Hallows Eve and everyone is looking at each other with suspicion. Spooky times in Cumberland Creek.

I hope you give this book and series a read. I sure had fun and plan to continue reading more about these crafty characters.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Halloween means spooky scrapbooks for the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop, but what’s been happening around town is truly frightening. First a dead woman is found in the freezer at Pamela’s Pie Palace, and the next day a second woman is found murdered by the river. Reporter Annie Chamovitz learns the victims were sisters and is certain their deaths are linked. Most bizarre of all, both women were found clutching scrapbook pages.

As their Saturday night crop quickly becomes an opportunity to puzzle out the murders, the ladies begin to wonder if Pamela is hiding more than her secret recipes for delicious pies–or if the crimes are related to the startling discovery that there are gangs in Cumberland Creek. As All Hallows Eve approaches, the crafty croppers must cut and paste the clues to unmask a deadly killer.

Includes tips and a glossary of terms for the modern scrapbooker!

Click HERE to read my review of, another Cumberland Creek Mystery. A perfect read for Christmas!

~~~~~

MOLLIEAbout The Author 

In addition to the Cumberland Creek mystery series, Mollie Cox Bryan wrote the regional bestseller Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book of Southern Pies and Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant Cookbook: A Lifetime of Recipes from the Shenandoah Valley . An award-winning journalist and poet, she currently blogs, cooks, and scrapbooks in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Scrapbook of Secrets was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

Author Links Website / Goodreads

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N
Shop Indie Bookstores

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~

 Follow the tour for more fun posts!

October 1 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

October 2 – Jane Reads – Review, Guest Post

October 3 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review

October 4 – Book Babble – Review

October 5 – Queen of All She Reads – Review

October 6 – A Fold in the spine – Review

October 7 – Brooke Blogs – Spotlight

October 8 – fuonlyknew – Review

October 9 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Interview

October 10 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review

October 10 – readalot – Review

October 11 – shelley’s book case – Review, Guest Post

October 12 – Back Porchervations – Review

October 13 – Laura’s Interests – Review

October 13 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review

October 14 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – Review

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

floral depravity large banner640

Floral Depravity
(A Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Berkley (October 6, 2015)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425264997
E-Book ASIN: B00SI027LY

goodreads-badge-add-plus

My Review

Business is blooming, I mean booming at the Rose In Bloom Flower Shop and it just got busier. Co-owner, Audrey, is tasked with putting together the wedding bouquet for Ramble, Virginia’s elite couple. They want a themed wedding. A Middle Age wedding. It’s going to be a huge event, with everyone required to dress in authentic attire.

I’d like to say the wedding went off without a hitch, but sadly, I can’t. There’s this nasty scene when the doves are released and a hawk swoops in. Then, the groom’s father collapses and is pronounced dead at the hospital. Some say stroke, but it turns out to be death by poisoning.

There are too many suspects to name so the sheriff impulsively deputizes Audrey, enlisting her aid.

It’s a prickly time for Audrey. She just bought her late grandmother’s old cottage and the roof is literally falling in. She’s juggling two beaus, one long distance, who turns up at the wedding, and one local guy who’s working at the encampment. And now she’s donning her sleuthing hat, dodging road apples and blood thirsty mosquitos.

I learned some new trivia in this cozy. Did you know, in the Middle Ages, they used men’s urine to get the yellow dye for their clothing? “Shudders!” Makes you glad you live in this century, doesn’t it?

Ever wonder where the title sheriff came from. In the Middle ages each shire would have a reeve. Shire-reeve became sheriff.

It was fun getting to know Audrey and all of the characters in the small town of Ramble, Virginia.

When Audrey bought her grandmother’s neglected cottage, despite her friends many warnings, I just knew there would be some funny misadventures once she moved in.

It was also fun to learn the meaning behind the different flowers. It’s not just the type of flower, but the color that has different meanings. I now know I bought innapropriate flowers for some occasions. Good thing no one knew.

Learning about life in the Middle Ages was fascinating but I was convinced quickly that I wouldn’t want to live in those times. Too hard.

There are lots of colorful characters, even the ones not involved in the wedding. A love triangle but not really a love triangle. And a surprise villain. I didn’t have a clue who was behind the murder or why.

A sweet romance, lots of chuckles and surprises, and a tangled mystery. One I recommend to cozy fans.

4 Stars

Synopsis

In the latest Bridal Bouquet Shop mystery, florist Audrey Bloom creates an arrangement for a one-of-a-kind wedding, but ends up pruning a one-of-a-kind criminal…

As the co-owner of the Rose in Bloom Flower Shop, Audrey knows how to put together unique wedding bouquets, but this one takes the cake. The daughter of a local historian is getting married in a medieval-themed, hand-fasting ceremony, and Audrey is responsible for providing period-accurate blooms.

But making sure she gets her roses right turns out to be the least of Audrey’s problems. Shortly after the vows are exchanged, the father of the groom suddenly drops dead. When Audrey discovers the man’s death stems from monkshood poisoning, it’s a clear-cut case of murder. Now, faced with a suspect list that rivals the guest list, Audrey needs to root out the toxic killer…

Author Beverly Allen

Barbara Early1

 Beverly Allen writes cozy mysteries with a healthy dose of comedy and sometimes a splash of romance. When not reading or writing, she enjoys cooking, crafts, home-improvement projects, and spending time with her family and four naughty, but adorable cats. She grew up and still lives, in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY.

Author Links:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links
Amazon     B&N      Penguin/Random House

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have 1 PRINT Copy to give away – U.S. ONLY  

Entry is easy. Just leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and leave a comment.

You can ask the author a question. Tell us something you like about the book or cover. Let’s talk!

~~~~~

Follow the tour for more fun posts!

October 6 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

October 7 – Lisa Ks Book Review – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

October 8 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Interview, Giveaway

October 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review, Giveaway

October 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

October 10 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Giveaway

October 11 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

night and day large banner640

Night and Day
by Ann Summerville

I really liked this storyline and the characters are great.
~3 Partners in Shopping; Nana, Mommy, &; Sissy too!

With a series of twists and turns, author Ann Summerville quickly draws readers into her thrilling cozy murder mystery, NIGHT AND DAY.
~Thoughts in Progress

Page after page I became more involved with this and couldn’t wait to discover who the killer was, even though I didn’t want the book to end. And wow, when the reveal did come, I was completely blindsided! Well done Ms. Summerville.
~Lisa K’s Book Reviews

Night and Day:
A Cozy Mystery
(Pecan Valley Mysteries)
(Volume 3)

Paperback: 172 pages
Published: (May 27, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1508723967

25674337

goodreads-badge-add-plus

My Review

At first I didn’t get the authors choice of book cover art. Then I started reading the book. Aha! Quilting. Hence the title and the cover. I’m sure all of you quilters caught it right away. How clever.

I often learn some fun trivia when reading cozies. Do you know why a cowboy tips his hat with his finger? It’s to show he means no harm. With his gun hand busy, he can’t shoot ya.

Now, this wouldn’t be a cozy mystery without a little murder. That’s where Bea comes in.

A bit on the other side of 60, Bea hasn’t slowed down a bit. Especially when someone she knows is murdered and she might have been able to save her.

She’s got a few solved cases under her belt, much to the chagrin of Detective Hawkins. Her success rate seems to have cooled any chance of a relationship between them.

That’s okay. There’s another man that makes her heart go pitter patter. Except there’s a bit of a sticky widget to get around, as they have some awkward connections between them.

Even though Bea is a bit older than me, I had a connection with her. I’m no spring chicken myself and have often wondered if I really wanted a significant other in my life. Someone I’d have to care about, worry about, have under my feet. Like Bea, I enjoy watching the shows I want, when I want. If I choose to let the housework slip a bit, there’s no one to complain. I can do whatever I want in my home and no one is underfoot.

But then, like Bea, I worry about my twilight years. Do I want to be alone, with no one to care about or for me? Perhaps there’s someone out there who will help her make up her mind.

Aside from murder and romance, Bea also has to contend with a shady realtor and a surprise from her past. Someone is back in town. Someone she tickled the daisies with many, many years ago. He’s stirring the pot and about to make a mess of all of her hard work.

Something is off in Pecan Valley and Bea ends up right in the thick of things. She might have made herself a target in more ways than one.

For being an older woman, Bea sure kept her wits about her, and her intuition was spot on. It was such a joy to get to know her. And there were plenty of mysteries to go around. The author had me turning the pages, dropping hints, and keeping me wondering. One of those books that keeps you reading without pause, right up to the end.

4 Stars

Synopsis

Not all is what it seems in Pecan Valley and Bea can’t quite put her finger on what is wrong. She’s hoping Marge won’t become a permanent house guest and encourages her to look for a new home, but while they are scouting the neighborhood they end up looking for more than a house for Marge. What Bea wants to uncover is the unsavory dealings of a ruthless realtor and a murderer that might put Bea on the list of victims.

Ann

About The Author –

Ann Summerville moved from her native England to California before arriving in the Lone Star State. Her publications can be found in Lutheran Digest, Long Story Short, The Shine Journal, Doorknobs & Bodypaint, Associated Content, Trinity Writers’ Workshop newsletters and also their collection of Christmas stories.  Ann is currently working on the fifth book in the Lowenna series set in Cornwall.

.

 

  • Author Links:

www.cozyintexas.blogspot.com

www.annsummerville.com

Purchase Link
Amazon

~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

I have two giveaways to share with you today.

The first giveaway is a Smashwords Coupon for an eBook copy of the first book in the series, Grandmother’s Flower Garden.

Just leave an email address so I can contact you if you win and leave a comment.

What do you think about the book? Ask the author a question. Anything!

Giveaway ends October 5th.

~~~~~

The second giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Visit the tour participants below for more fun posts and chances to win!

September 19 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review

September 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – Guest Post

September 21 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,  &, Sissy, Too ! – Review

September 22 – Nadaness In Motion – Guest Post

September 23 – Thoughts in Progress – Review, Guest Post

September 24 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Interview

September 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Spotlight

September 26 – deal sharing aunt – Review, Interview

September 27 – Frankie Bow – Guest Post, Spotlight

September 28 – Omnimystery News – Interview

September 29 – fuonlyknew – Review

September 30 – Book Splurge – Review

October 1 – Lori’s Reading Corner – Guest Post

October 2 – View from the Birdhouse – Review

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

be my banshee large banner640

Be My Banshee

by Joyce and Jim Lavene

I loved, loved this book, the story, the characters. I couldn’t out it down once I started reading. This is a great start to a new series.
~Tea and A Book

I think this is going to be an interesting series! It is more on the fantasy side with witches, werewolves, shape shifters and the like.
~Storeybook Reviews

The best way to describe this book is paranormal meets cozy mystery. You get the best of both worlds with this one.
~Socrates’ Book Reviews…

I love this book. The cast of characters are incredible and the story line so well written you will be instantly caught up in what is going on and you won’t be able to take your eyes of the pages.
~Shelley’s Book Case​

Be My Banshee
(Purple Door Detective Agency Book 1)

25903264

Paranormal Cozy Mystery
File Size: 367 KB
Print Length: 196 pages
Publisher: J. Lavene (September 1, 2015)
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
ASIN: B010VZO1QM

goodreads-badge-add-plus

My Review

A new cozy series by two of my favorite authors. I had to read this book. And I love the title for the series, Purple Door Detective Agency. I have a page on Pinterest that’s all about doors and have many pictures of purple ones.

I also was excited this was a paranormal cozy. I like the themes of cozies. Pets, sewing, books, and food. And now Paranormal!

I’m entering the door now.

One thing I know I’ll get when I read a cozy by Jim and Joyce Lavene is colorful characters. Not only are they colorful, they aren’t all humans.

Meet Sunshine Merryweather. A private investigator. She handles all of the paranormal cases while trying to keep it from the public eye.

The authors description of Sunshine reminded me of Penelope (baby girl) from Criminal Minds. She never leaves the house without make-up on, hair perfectly poofed, and some kind of spangled outfit. Her favorite color is purple, hence the agencies name, and she wears it, works in it, and lives with purple.

Sunshine is young for a witch, only 75 years old. She’s got some serious powers though. While a good, witch, you don’t want to get on her bad side. Watch her hair. When you’ve annoyed her, her golden locks start to look more like a strawberry blond. You never want it to go red.

Once through the purple door, you’re greeted by Jane, the receptionist. The agency is looking for a new associate, and the waiting room is filled with werewolves, hags, vampires, and other scary characters. I didn’t blame Jane for hiding in the closet. Especially after I learned more about her.

Jane is the victim of a spell gone wrong. One cast by none other than Sunshine. She’s still trying to fix it. Jane is a mouse, literally. She can shift to human form. I had such fun with her. She is timid like a mouse, always hungry like one, and likes to nibble on things.

Some scenes that had me laughing:

Sunshine talking to Jane:

“Stay out of the cereal.”

“Take messages and try not to nibble on them.”

A new client walks through the purple door.

Meet Aine, a beane sidhe, or banshee. She needs help and her scream insures she gets it. Aine is looking for the last surviving member of the O’Neill line. She must find him, be there to warn him of his impending death, and lead him to the other side. Woken from a two hundred year sleep, she finds a whole new world. The technology bewilders her but she quickly starts catching on.  She’s not there for the job opening, but she gets the job.

There’s a job opening because Sunshine’s lover, a werewolf, was torn to pieces several days ago. She not only needs to fill the vacancy. She needs help tracking down his killer. She wants vengeance, in blood.

There’s one door at the agency that stays closed. It’s the office of Mr. Bad. That’s what Sunshine calls him. He just showed up one day. Her associate, John, says he’s staying and don’t ask questions. Just who and what is Mr. Bad? And why is he there? She’s never seen his face as he keeps his office blacked out. Very mysterious.

And I don’t want to forget Detective Sean O’Neill. He has no clue about his ancestral bloodline or the beane sidhe. Things get interesting when he meets Aine and Sunshine. They keep bumping into each other as bodies continue to pile up. First, he views them as suspects, then as crazy ladies. A visitation from Aine in his bedroom only makes things crazier.

What do a witch, a banshee, a mouse, and a detective have in common? They’re all smack dab in the middle of a paranormal investigation and they’re foe is not of this world.

The opening of this story was such fun. I snuggled in with a cuppa tea and some snacks, knowing I wouldn’t be able to stop until I finished this book.

And once again, these authors kept me hostage as their characters came to life on the pages. Their writing is fast and fun, seems almost effortless how easily it flows. They are prolific writers and have numerous books and series. It may take years, but I’ll read every single one.

5 Stars

Synopsis

The Purple Door Detective Agency is hiring.

Those without magic need not apply.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Apply at the agency. No phone calls or psychic links.

Sunshine Merryweather is a young witch with a passion for colorful clothes and good food. She is the owner/operator of the Purple Door Detective Agency. Her partner, John, was brutally murdered three days ago, and she won’t stop until she finds his killer.

Aine is only interested in one thing when she walks into the building with the purple door–locating the last man alive in the branch of the O’Neill family she haunts as a beane sidhe. She has been asleep for 200 years in a ruined Irish castle and realizes that the world has moved on without her. She needs to find the O’Neill heir and encourage him to start a family or she will pass from existence when he dies.

Sunshine sees a potential partner when she looks at the powerful beane sidhe – they could be the next Dynamic Duo! But Aine isn’t interested in Sunshine’s schemes – until the witch agrees to help her locate O’Neill. Even then, it will be a short-term association at best from Aine’s point of view. She has no need of witchcraft.

Neither woman is aware of the danger they face as an ancient assassin stalks the old port city of Norfolk, Virginia. It will take more than simple witchcraft or beane sidhe magic to stop the killer. They will have to work together and combine their talents.

But can Sunshine and Aine put aside their differences to stop the murders without tearing each other apart?

Authors Joyce and Jim Lavene

I just love this picture of Joyce and Jim

.Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.

 

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Amazon / Twitter

Purchase Link
Amazon

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~

Follow the tour for more fun posts.

September 8 – Tea and A Book – Review

September 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

September 10 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – Review

September 10 – Babs Book Bistro – Spotlight

September 11 – A Blue Million Books – Interview

September 12- Shelley’s Book Case – Review

September 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

September 14 – Mythical Books – Guest Post

September 15 – Bubble Bath Books – Review

September 16 – Girl Lost In a Book – Review

September 17 – Brooke Blogs – Review

September 17 – View from the Birdhouse – Spotlight

September 18 – fuonlyknew – Review

September 19 – Laura’s Interests – Review

September 20 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review

September 21 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,  &, Sissy, Too !  – Guest Post

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Partners In Crime Tours

Unleashed

A Kate Turner, DVM, Mystery

by Eileen Brady

24789385

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published by: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: August 4th 2015
Number of Pages: 272
Series: Kate Turner, DVM #2
ISBN: 9781464203947
Purchase Links:

Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Goodreads

My Review

What’s not to love. A fun cozy mystery, colorful characters, sweet cover art, and the book is full of critters. I knew I had to read Unleashed.

I had a good time and met some fun characters. Dr. Kate Turner came across as professional and spunky. I could feel the authors experience in her and loved the interaction between Kate and her patients.

There were some interesting cases with her patients. The one with the potbellied pig was so funny. It’s always wonderful to read how other people are with their precious furry family members. We all hold them so dear.

The case was a pickle too. Not easily solved and fun was had ‘sniffing’ out clues and following wrong ‘leads.’ Excuse the puns:)

Oak Falls reminds me a lot of my hometown. It’s small, most of us know each other, by sight if not by name. There’s a huge animal coalition and artist colony too. And many of our veterinarians make house calls. I felt quite at home in this town too.

As for romance. I think there’s something about to happen between Kate and Luke, the sexy police officer. They’re good friends but me thinks they are both denying a sexual attraction. Could get interesting.

Love animals, mysteries that lead you down winding roads, and lots of humor? You’ll enjoy Unleashed and I urge you to give it a read.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Dr. Kate Turner is happy with her new life in Oak Falls, upstate New York. Working as a relief veterinarian at a small house-call practice, she truly enjoys helping her patients.

All that changes when client Claire Birnham is found dead, an apparent suicide. A talented artist, Claire had everything to live for: new job, Manhattan apartment, her Cairn terrier Toto. As feisty as the Wizard of Oz Toto, he and Claire were devoted. Kate can’t imagine Claire simply abandoning her pet. Was her death murder?

Questions end in the police arresting young kennel helper Eugene. The fragile friendship between Kate and police officer Luke Gianetti frays as she ignores his advice and keeps asking questions. House calls provide gossip and clues, some helpful, some not so much, as she treats her animal patients. Did Claire’s recent insurance windfall prove too tempting for her hard working and hard drinking mother? What does trouble in the art gallery where Claire worked signal? How huge a grudge did heavy metal rocker A.J. hold against high-school sweetheart Claire after she dumped him? Was Claire a threat to AJ’s rich new girl?

Dr. Kate mixes real medicine with murder as she risks her life over Claire’s death, aided by insights from a former fire investigator, aka her Gramps. Unleashed is as irresistible as Muzzled.

~~~

Author Eileen Brady

Eileen Brady

Eileen Brady is a veterinarian living in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is a wife and mother of two daughters and often has to chase her six cats and two dogs away from her laptop keyboard. The Kate Turner, DVM Mysteries is her first series.

Website / Facebook / Goodreads

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Eileen Brady & Poisoned Pen Press. There will be one US winner of 1 Box of Poisoned Pen Press books including Unleashed by Eileen Brady. The giveaway begins on September 1st, 2015 and runs through September 31st, 2015. For US residents only.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~~~

My Teaser for this week is from

Floral Depravity

  A Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery

by Beverly Allen

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Teaser from page 68 in the Paperback.

A click of claws on the floor announced Chester’s arrival. When I glanced down at him, he meowed at me. I’ve never been good at cat-speak, but he was either demanding more food or protesting the new kitten’s prime real estate.

“You jealous bud?”  I scruffed his neck and he hopped up on my lap. I was feeling the love, but then Chester’s real motive appeared. He took a swat at the kitten’s swinging tail. 

The kitten hissed then launched off my shoulders, digging her rear claws deep into my skin. She landed on the counter, then zoomed into the living room.

Chester launched next (also digging his claws deep into my thighs).

Talk about cat scratch fever!

Sorry this was a long teaser. I just know all of you cat owners could relate to this scene. LOL

I love the seasonal theme and the black cat on the cover. Perfect for the fast approaching fall and Halloween. I wish you could see my copy. The cover is much more vivid than this one, with bright oranges and yellows.

This fits in two of my book challenges.

~~~~

Read on if you want to know more.

Synopsis

In the latest Bridal Bouquet Shop mystery, florist Audrey Bloom creates an arrangement for a one-of-a-kind wedding, but ends up pruning a one-of-a-kind criminal…

As the co-owner of the Rose in Bloom Flower Shop, Audrey knows how to put together unique wedding bouquets, but this one takes the cake. The daughter of a local historian is getting married in a medieval-themed, hand-fasting ceremony, and Audrey is responsible for providing period-accurate blooms.

But making sure she gets her roses right turns out to be the least of Audrey’s problems. Shortly after the vows are exchanged, the father of the groom suddenly drops dead. When Audrey discovers the man’s death stems from monkshood poisoning, it’s a clear-cut case of murder. Now, faced with a suspect list that rivals the guest list, Audrey needs to root out the toxic killer…

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

threads of evidence large banner640

Threads of Evidence
by Lea Wait

This book was an attention getting, fast moving story that led to a reveal like none I have read.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews

I love the blend of past and present in this series; it gives the town and the people a depth …
~The Bookwyrm’s Hoard

Ms. Wait is an accomplished storyteller. She has a wonderful talent for weaving friendship, mystery, and romance into her books, creating characters and situations which are realistic and enjoyable.
~Book Babble

Threads of Evidence
(A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)

18938930
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (August 25, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1617730061

goodreads-badge-add-plus

~~~~~

My Review

There are several things I look for in a cozy. Let me break these down for you.

The cover. It must be colorful and fun and have something to do with the story. The cover for Threads Of Evidence is all of those things. It’s fun, colorful and a bit spooky. Showing the antiques, the needle point, and the candle gives it a haunted atmosphere.

The title. The title is quirky and leads right into the theme of this one.

The mystery. This has more than one. I had fun reading how they connected and didn’t have clue until near the end. Then, I was wrong. You have a cold case, the accidental death or murder of a young girl in the 70s. And the attempted murder of a new resident in the town of Haven Harbor, Maine.

The town. I like small towns. Haven Harbor, Maine is just that. The author painted a pretty picture with her words and I felt comfortable there, despite the dark deeds occurring.

The characters and their names.

I’ll talk about names first. I like it when names are used that are popular in the area the story takes place. Some are quite unusual and fun to try to pronounce in my head. You get plenty in this cast.

About those characters themselves. I’m huge on character driven stories and like to have several to love and loathe. There are so many in this book, I can’t possibly pick a favorite.

Angie’s return home is anything but uneventful. She lands a job appraising the contents of Aurora, a long abandoned and fallen to ruin mansion. Doesn’t every town have one of these? She’s quickly drawn into the cold case of a young girl’s possible murder. Her previous job working for a private investigator help her in this case. She’s good at sniffing out clues and handling the local police. Let’s just hope her curiosity, like a cat’s, doesn’t require she needs nine lives.

There’s the famous actress, Skye West, who along with her handsome son, Patrick,(possible love interest for Angie?) purchased the aging mansion and are fixing it up. I believe there is more to the purchase than that. Perhaps another mystery to explore?

I could go on, but then I’d be telling you half of the story.

I read this one fairly quickly. The writing flowed easily, the characters were engaging and distinct, and the mysteries had me hooked. I needed to solve them for myself.

I was also fascinated with the old mansion. I used to spend summers with my best friend at her father’s place. He had this small cabin in the middle of nowhere. We’d find these overgrown roads and drive down them to see where they went. We found many old houses in various states of decay. Being careful, we explored them. I found a lot of interesting stuff, and often wondered about the previous owners. Why did they abandon the house and leave their stuff behind? Did something tragic happen? I often thought I felt a presence lingering. Pretty sure it was my over active imagination.

What fun it must have been for these characters to go through that old mansion. Discovering it’s past, uncovering it’s secrets.

A fun cozy, with all the material to make me happy.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

It’s hard to imagine anything bad ever happening in picturesque Haven Harbor, Maine–until a famous face rolls into town and unthreads some very dark secrets. . .

Angie Curtis and the Mainely Needlepointers are all too familiar with the Gardener estate. The crumbling Victorian mansion, known as “Aurora,” has been sitting vacant for nearly twenty-five years–and some say it’s haunted by the ghost of Jasmine Gardener, the teenage girl who died there in 1970 under mysterious circumstances…

Harbor Haven is abuzz with excitement when Hollywood actress Skye West decides to buy Aurora and sell off its furnishings. And Angie is intrigued when Skye asks her to appraise the estate’s sizable collection of needlepoint pictures. But the more she examines the pieces, the more they seem to point toward Jasmine’s murder–and the murderer–and it’s up to her to stitch the clues together. . .

lea1

About This Author

Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine. A fourth generation antique dealer, and author of the Agatha-nominated Shadows Antique Print mystery series, she loves all things antiques and Maine, and she’s learning to do needlepoint. She also writes historical novels for young people set in (where else?) nineteenth-century Maine. Lea adopted her four daughters when she was single; she’s now the grandmother of eight, and married to artist Bob Thomas.

http://www.leawait.com/

 

Purchase Links: Amazon        B&N             Shop Indie Bookstores

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Montmartre Mysteries banner

Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen

on Tour

September 3-22

with

Montmartre Mysteries

25799211

Cozy Mystery

Release date: September 3, 2015
at Le French Book

146 pages

ISBN: 978-1939474476

Website | Goodreads

Synopsis

Wine expert Benjamin Cooker travels to the French capital, where his is called to help care for some vineyards in Montmartre, a neighborhood full of memories for him. He stops in on an old friend. Arthur Solacroup left the Foreign Legion to open a wine shop good enough to be in the Cooker Guide. But an attempted murder brings the past back into the present. But which past? The winemaker detective and his assistant Virgile want to know more, and their investigation leads them from the sands of Djibouti to the vineyards of Côte du Rhône.

About The Authors

 

Alaux-Balen

Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen,
wine lover and music lover respectively,
came up with the idea for the Winemaker Detective series
while sharing a meal,
with a bottle of Château Gaudou 1996,
a red wine from Cahors
with smooth tannins and a balanced nose.

About The Translator
Translator Sally Pane studied French at State University of New York Oswego and the Sorbonne before receiving her Masters Degree in French Literature from the University of Colorado. She has translated several titles in this series.

***

Follow Le French Book on Twitter | on Facebook
Sign up to receive their latest news and deals.

You can enter the global giveaway here
or on any other book blogs participating in this tour.
Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook,
they are listed in the entry form below
.

GIVEAWAY

Visit each blogger on the tour:
tweeting about the giveaway everyday
of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time!
[just follow the directions on the entry-form]

Global giveaway open internationally:
5 participants will each win a copy of this book.
Print/digital format for US residents
Digital for all other residents

***

Click on the Banner to read other reviews and excerpts!

Montmartre Mysteries banner

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg