Archive for the ‘Cozy Mystery’ Category

A Pawsitively Organic Mystery Series Review ~ A Biscuit, A Casket by Liz Mugavero

Posted: July 9, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, reviews
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A BISCUIT, A CASKET
 by Liz Mugavero

 

Mugavero does an excellent job of weaving the varied lives of a large cast of small-town characters together to create a coherent and thrilling mystery with a heart.
~Back Porchervations

 

A Biscuit, A Casket by Liz Mugavero

Cozy Mystery – 320 Pages

July 7 – July 16, 2014

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A Biscuit, a Casket
 Series: A Pawsitively Organic Mystery
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington (April 1, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0758284802 /ISBN-13: 978-0758284808

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MY REVIEW

I was so charmed by the quirky title and adorable cover art for this book I completely overlooked it’s being the second book in the Pawsitively Organic Mystery Series. Another fun title.

Even though I hadn’t read the first book, I had no trouble getting to know the characters and picking up on their history. It’s a fast, addictive read. I finished it in two sittings.

Stan (Kristan) hasn’t lived in Frog Ledge for very long and she’s become a bit of a corpse magnet. From what I gather happened in the first book, she seems to have a propensity for stumbling over dead bodies.

Her neighbors are part of a farmers co-op, growing organic crops. Each year they do a corn maze for Halloween. There a lots of scary monsters hidden throughout the maze. But no one was expecting to find a dead body, a real one. Somebody killed farmer Hal and left him in the maze.

Frog Ledge reminds me a bit of my home town. Stan’s business, making organic treats for dogs and cats, would fit right in. I got a kick out of the idea of her catering a doggie birthday party and could see her business doing well here. We have pet parades and all the animals wear costumes. It’s quite a fun day and growing every year.

The dogs are a big part of the story and I had several chuckles over their antics. Dogs will be dogs, even at a birthday party and their table manners are atrocious.

The town is filled with colorful characters, giving you plenty of suspects to choose from. And there’s a love interest. I was kind of hoping Stan and Jake would hook up. He seems like a nice guy, even though I didn’t get to know too much about him.

That’s why I’ll be reading the first book next. I want to be introduced to the stars of this series. Get to know them, find out what makes them tick. Yep, I’m a fan of character driven stories.

Even if you haven’t read the first book, you can still read this and easily fall into the series. It’s a fun mystery, perfect for a relaxing day by the pool or snuggling up in front of the fire on a cold winter night.

4 STARS

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Thanks so much to Liz for her delightful review copy for the tour and to Lori for organizing this fun event.

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Synopsis:

The small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, has wholeheartedly embraced Kristan “Stan” Connor’s new business – preparing quality organic treats for dogs and cats. On a healthy diet, the animals may live longer…but one local farmer won’t be so lucky. As Halloween approaches, Stan is asked to cater a doggie costume party hosted by the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Part of a local co-op, Happy Cow specializes in organic dairy products, and farmers Hal and Emmalee Hoffman have started opening up the farm for parties, offering a “haunted” corn maze as an added attraction. When Hal’s lifeless body is found in the maze, the police at first suspect his wife, but Stan soon learns the dairy farmer had plenty of enemies – from bitter family members to shady business associates. If Stan can’t extract a kernel of truth from the labyrinth of lies, she may be the next one to buy the farm…

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About This Author

Liz Mugavero has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera–all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, “So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?” or, “That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?”

She went on to get a master’s in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, and presently, corporate communications. And she’s confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.

Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers’ masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.

Author Links

Webpage ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

 

Tour Participants

July 7 – Back Porchervations – Review
July 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
July 9 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews – Review
July 10 – deal sharing aunt – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
July 11 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – Review, Interview
July 12 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review, Giveaway
July 13 – Books-n-Kisses – Review, Interview
July 14 – Bea’s Book Nook – Review
July 15 –Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post
July 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Thread End by Amanda Lee ~ My review of a fun cozy mystery and a giveaway

Posted: June 3, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, Humor, reviews, Romance
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Amanda Lee’s Embroidery Mystery Series is so fun. I’ve read one other book in the series and was excited to get a chance to read Thread End.

Please, enjoy the excerpt and my reviews.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaways! Yep, there’s two!

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Thread End

by Amanda Lee

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Thread End:
An Embroidery Mystery

Series: Embroidery Mystery (Book 7)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Signet (June 3, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0451467396 / ISBN-13: 978-0451467393
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MY REVIEW

I live in a small coastal town and we have a lot of small shops like The Seven Year Stitch. I enjoy wandering around, looking at all of the colorful items and usually walk out with things I didn’t plan on buying. It’s also fun to chat with the other folks and catch up on the latest news.

There’s a few things I look for in a cozy mystery. First, the cover art. It’s perfect for this series. I like how the author features  Marcy’s wolfhound, Angus, on the covers. I’m a huge dog lover and he adds a lot of humor and genuineness to the story.

The title is important also. It has to be catchy and fun. Thread End is perfect, as someone does meet their end.

There need to be colorful but flawed characters. Marcy is definitely flawed. She’s a magnet for dead bodies. Seems like, for such a small town, she ‘s always stumbling across a new victim.

There also has to be a theme, like the embroidery shop. I enjoy reading about the shop and how Marcy runs it and converses with her customers.

Next is the romance. Marcy and sexy Detective Ted Nash are getting serious and Marcy finally gets to meet his mother.

Finally, there’s the mystery. The author gives you a shady victim. He’s an art thief, and when the museum is robbed you’d think of him first. But that doesn’t work as Marcy finds him rolled up in one of the tapestries, dead, behind her shop.

There are plenty of suspects, with new characters and old. I had such fun sniffing out the clues. There are a lot of red herrings before you begin to get an idea who the culprit is.

What charmed me the most was the little details. Like Marcy waiting to put on her bright red lipstick until after she kisses Ted hello, or remembering to let her dog, Angus, in and out periodically throughout the book. These small things make the story come to life. They ground you in real life events.

The author also is very good at sprinkling in the back story of characters and past events without bogging down your reading. She casually mentions things in just the right places so you aren’t left wondering. That’s why I say you can read this series in any order. But I’d recommend starting at the beginning so you meet each new character as they are introduced and experience them as they grow.

If you like a good cozy mystery, I highly recommend Thread End and the rest of this series. They’ll tickle your funny bone, sharpen your sleuthing skills, and warm your insides with the enchanting romance.

4 STARS

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Synopsis

Marcy can’t wait to see the new exhibit at the Tallulah Falls museum on antique tapestries and textiles, including beautiful kilim rugs. But her enthusiasm quickly turns to terror when, the day after the exhibition opens, she discovers a dead body behind her store, the Seven-Year Stitch, wrapped up in a most unusual fashion.

The victim appears to be a visiting art professor in town for the exhibit. Did someone decide to teach the professor a lesson, then attempt to sweep the evidence under the rug? Along with her boyfriend, Detective Ted Nash, Marcy must unravel an intricate tapestry of deception to find a desperate killer.

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A Book Excerpt

I’d stayed up too late the night before; but even sleep deprived, I was chipper as Angus and I pulled into our usual parking spot outside the Seven-Year Stitch. I had seen Vera and Paul only briefly at the museum exhibit, so I supposed Vera would be in sometime today. I hoped she would anyway. It would be fun to relive the evening with her…going over the pieces we’d liked best. I wondered if she’d made the collector any offers. I grinned. Knowing Vera, she probably had.

I hopped out of the Jeep and snapped Angus’s leash onto his collar. He jumped out and sniffed the sidewalk while I unlocked the front door. As soon as we got inside, I took the leash off. Angus bounded over to the sit-and-stitch square where he’d left his favorite toy—a Kodiak bear Vera had brought him back from a trip she’d taken a few months ago.

I relocked the door. I still had about half an hour until the shop opened, and I liked to have the shop tidy and restocked when customers started coming in. The first order of business every Saturday morning was to take the trash out. The sanitation truck ran at noon every Saturday, so all the shops on our side of the street scrambled to get their garbage out to the receptacles before then.

Fortunately for me, the Seven-Year Stitch didn’t generate a lot of trash…especially when compared to MacKenzies’ Mochas. That shop produced more garbage in a day than the Stitch did in a week. In fact, Blake had to take their garbage out twice a day—double bagged so the food scraps wouldn’t attract bears.

I was thinking about bears, Blake, Sadie, and how Sadie had talked me into coming to Tallulah Falls and opening my shop—for which I would be forever grateful—when I stepped out the back door with my bag of trash. I tossed the bag into the bin, turned, and then gasped as I saw something lying against the wall.

For the world, the…thing…looked like the kilim Reggie had admired so much last night at the exhibit. But it couldn’t be…. Could it?

I crept closer. It was the rug—I recognized the colors and the unmistakable patterns. But what was it doing here?

I took another step toward the rolled up kilim and saw that it was badly stained. Had someone bought it, got something all over it, and left it here for the sanitation crew to dispose of? Surely not.

Maybe Vera had bought it, gotten it stained, and then left it here at the back of my store to see if I could clean it. No, that didn’t make any sense to me either, but I was really grasping at straws.

I took one more step closer and nudged the rug with my foot. I wasn’t about to touch such a valuable kilim until I found out why it was lying outside my shop.

When I pushed it, the rug rolled slightly. Then I spotted something…a hand! And the hand was attached to a body…that was attached to a face…a face that looked vaguely familiar.

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Gayle

About The Author

Amanda Lee, also writing as Gayle Trent, is a full-time writer living with her family in Southwest Virginia. She writes the embroidery mystery series as Amanda Lee and writes the cake decorating series and the Myrtle Crumb series as Gayle Trent.

 

 

 

 

Author Links

http://www.gayletrent.com/, http://www.gayletrent.com/blog/, http://www.killercharacters.com/, http://fatalfoodies.blogspot.com/, https://twitter.com/GayleTrent, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/426208.Gayle_Trent

AMAZON BOOK LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Thread-End-An-Embroidery-Mystery/dp/0451467396/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1395856444&sr=1-1

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

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Other books I’ve read in this series.

I won Thread on Arrival by Amanda Lee from a giveaway on Lori’s blog escape with dollycas.

I fell in love with the soft, pastel colors on the cover art. I love a cover that is, well, cozy.

Click on the cover for my review.

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I have two giveaways today!

You can enter both!

The first one is for a print copy of Thread End (Open Internationally)

To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and leave some comment love. Tell us somethin!!

Now for the second giveaway! It’s open Internationally!

$50 Amazon Gift Card

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

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Tour Participants

June 1 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review,
June 2 – Books-n-Kisses – Review, Interview, Giveaway
June 3 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews – Review, Giveaway
June 4 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Guest Post,
June 5 – Brooke Blogs – Review
June 6 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Interview,
June 7 – Michelle’s Romantic Tangle – Review, Guest Post
June 8 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Giveaway
June 9 – Back Porchervations – Review
June 10 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post,
June 11 – deal sharing aunt – Review, Interview, Giveaway
June 12 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Guest Post, Giveaway
June 13 – Community Bookstop – Review
June 14 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

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The Embroidery Series

The Quick and the Thread (An Embroidery Mystery, #1)  Stitch Me Deadly (An Embroidery Mystery, #2)  Thread Reckoning (An Embroidery Mystery, #3)  The Long Stitch Good Night (An Embroidery Mystery, #4)

Thread on Arrival (An Embroidery Mystery, #5)  15814877  18812364

Go here for more of Amanda Lee’s books.

And go here for Gayle Trent’s books.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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Murder Is Academic by Lesley A. Diehl ~ Cozy Mystery Tour and Review

Posted: May 20, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, Humor, reviews, Romance
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Every good cozy mystery needs an attention grabbing, fun, title and quirky cover art.

You get both of these with Murder Is Academic.

I have lots to tell you in my review, so please read on and enjoy.

Warning: You won’t be able to resist this book!

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Murder is Academic
by Lesley A. Diehl

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I enjoyed the book….Well written, will keep you guessing…
~rantin’ ravin and reading

Lesley keeps you hooked from the start. From the murder until finding out who did it, you are on the edge of your seat.
~Shelley’s Book Case

I love a good mystery and this was no exception. It was light and fun …
~The Book Junkie

Diehl writes with wit and an eye for detail and creates believable characters that I would want to hang out with.
~Bea’s Book Nook

 

Murder Is Academic
(Laura Murphy Mystery Series)

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File Size: 1626 KB
Print Length: 223 pages
Publisher: Lesley A. Diehl (March 29, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
 ASIN: B00JCV6XG8

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MY REVIEW

Murder Is Academic tickled my funny bone and had me using my brain pan.

Laura and Annie, two college professors, just landed their canoe. While waiting for their ride home, Laura wanders over to examine something she spotted while on the lake. It’s a shirt or something, in an ugly plaid color. She gives it a tug and finds something even uglier. There’s a body attached.

As they wait for their ride to arrive, a stranger approaches them, wanting to know what they’re doing at the construction site. Laura doesn’t know if his reason for being there is legit or maybe he’s the killer so she tries out some Judo on him.

This was the first time I laughed out loud while reading this book. I could just see Laura, twisting and yanking this guys arm around and not having much affect. Guy is tall, broad-shouldered, and immovable.

Once her friend Der, the police detective arrives, the victim is identified as the President of the college and the questions begin. The funniest one was from Guy. He wanted to know if Laura was being arrested for murder, and if not, would she have dinner with him.

 I have four characters I’m attached to. Laura’s friend Annie is funny and caring, someone I’d like to pal around with. Der, the cop, is Laura’s best buddy, and his sarcasm and charm are equally appealing. But there’s no hanky panky with these two. They’re just friends. Enter Guy, the sexy biker from Canada. He’s alpha male and has cast his lure at Laura. I was glad she took the bait. These two started out suspecting each other and I liked where they ended up. Now Laura, she felt so real, so alive. We shared many things in common, including sticking our heads in the icebox to relieve the hot flashes. She’s now a favorite character of mine. And there’s on e character that comes in a bit later in the story that I wanted to hug. You’ll know when you meet.

While Der is questioning suspects and chasing down leads, Laura does her own investigating. With no love lost between the President and the faculty, they’re all suspects. And as the list narrows, the killer gets more desperate. Now she is being threatened and Laura and Guy are bracing for the eye of the coming storm.

There are a few things I need in order to enjoy a mystery.

There has to be multiple suspects to sift through . I like following the trails, coming up on dead ends, and moving on to the next.

The characters have to be flawed and well-developed, especially the amateur sleuths. That’s what makes the book funny. Comic relief is a must.

The motive can’t be obvious or the killer will be easy to sort out.

And the ending has to make sense and not be rushed. I like the case wrapped up and explained without feeling like it all happened in the last pages.

In Murder is Academic the author gave me plenty of suspects, not too few and not too many, which made sniffing out the clues engaging.

The characters, especially Laura, Guy, Der, and Annie were captivating, loveable, and fun to hang with. They felt like old friends.

There was more than one motive. I felt like I was being given subtle clues right about from the beginning and my attention stayed sharp.

And now for the ending. I wanted more than one answer. As I was reading, I found I wanted to know more about Annie and her ill husband, More about Der besides what’s happening on the job, and definitely more about Laura and Guy. And, of course, I wanted to know who the killer was and why he did it. I got plenty of answers and came away happy.

Must not forget about the romance. The author having Laura and Guy hook up right from the beginning was exciting. I like when the romance is developed in the beginning and there’s no wishy-washy stuff. Then it’s just more fun to read how the romance grows, and the mystery still remains the main focus. Laura and Guy were icing on the cake.

I laughed out loud so many times while reading. I couldn’t wait to find out who did what and why. I was eager to read the next page and the next, and so on. That’s why I’d recommend this book to anyone. Friends, family, the stranger looking at me funny when I laughed out loud in the waiting room. Anyone who’d listen. I can not wait for more!

5 STARS

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Synopsis

Laura Murphy, psychology professor, thinks there’s nothing she likes better than coffee and donuts on a summer morning until she says yes to dinner with a Canadian biker and finds herself and her date suspects in the murder of her college’s president. Laura’s friend, the detective assigned the case, asks her to help him find out who on the small upstate New York college campus may be a killer. The murder appears to be wrapped up in some unsavory happenings on the lake where Laura lives. A fish kill and raw sewage seeping into the water along with the apparent drowning suicide of a faculty member complicate the hunt for the killer. And then things become personal. The killer makes a threatening phone call to Laura. With a tornado bearing down on the area and the killer intent upon silencing her, Laura’s sleuthing work may come too late to save her and her biker from a watery grave.

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LES DIEHL

About The Author

Like me, my protagonists choose to live their lives close to nature.
From the deep, green river valleys and tree-covered mountains of upstate New York to the palm-treed pastures of the Big Lake Country in Florida, these women have found their homes and their hearts in rural America.
These plucky snoops are joined by a transplant from Connecticut, Eve Appel, who moves to rural Florida to set up a consignment shop with her best friend and partner, Madeleine Boudreau.

All these amateur sleuths yearn for the simple, artless existence of hard work coupled with rustic pleasure.
That’s why they live away from big cities, but murder and violence have a way of stalking us, even our plucky heroines, who think they’ve avoided life’s perils.

Lesley A. Diehl author of cozy mysteries featuring sassy, country gals who enjoy snooping www.lesleyadiehl.com

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Tour Participants

May 15 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
May 16 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review,
May 17 – The Book Junkie – Review, Giveaway
May 19 – Bea’s Book Nook– Review,
May 20 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews – Review
May 21 – deal sharing aunt – Interview, Giveaway
May 22 – Victoria’s Pages of Romance – Guest Post
May 23 – Traci Andrighett’s blog – Review
May 26 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
May 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
May 28 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – Review
May 29 – Back Porchervations – Review, Interview
May 30 – Community Bookstop – Review
May 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew

Let Loose by Rae Davies ~ A Dusty Deals Mystery ~ Giveaway and my cozy review

Posted: May 1, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
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Let Loose
by Rae Davies

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Let Loose:
Dusty Deals Mystery Series: Book 4
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Lead Dog Books (March 3, 2014)
File Size: 826 KB
Print Length: 215 pages
 ASIN: B00IROM6BC

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MY REVIEW

I knew Lucy was in trouble the minute she locked onto the warm, toffee colored eyes of Martin. What’s a girl to do? She already had a great boyfriend in Peter, a police detective.

Martin came to her rescue when she tripped and rolled down the hill in the minus 30 degrees cold while trying to find her Malamute, Kiska.  Before she could stop herself, she volunteered for the Silver Trail dogsled race, which was being held in her town of Helena, Montana. I could see all kinds of delicious trouble brewing.

Lucy owns Dusty Deals, an antique store, with her self-proclaimed partner Phyllis and employee, Betty, who actually run it more than she does. These two were hilarious. Always volunteering her for this and that, angling to make her a who’s who in Helena.

At the fundraiser, Lucy arrives sporting her new do, blue hair courtesy of an episode involving a matchmaking biddy at the hair parlor. As the trail route is revealed, Frank, a member of the Skyers, a snowmobile club, objects, claiming part of the route is theirs and the planned route will have to be changed. Red, the trail organizer, manages to deflect Frank until after the presentation, where they are seen in heated debate. Seems like trouble has arrived in Helena.

The next morning, Lucy’s morning coffee is interrupted by the howls of the hounds from hell. Rushing to the window, she spies a team of sled dogs running loose. Being a dog lover, she lures the team into her jeep with some hotdogs and heads to their kennels to return them safe and sound.

When she arrives at the truck, all the kennel doors are open. This couldn’t be an accident. After she stumbles upon Red, she’s sure of it. The bullet hole in the back of his head indicates murder has come to her town.

The rash of snowmobile thefts and the dispute over the trail route might be connected and Lucy’s previous job at The Helena Daily News comes into play with her nose for ferreting out stories. Let’s just hope her snooping doesn’t put her in the killers crosshairs.

Romance, dogs, murder, and humor. What more could I ask for in a cozy mystery.

The romance is interesting. Enter Martin, the ruggedly handsome musher, and Peter, the absent boyfriend. Hmm…While the cat’s away…

The mysteries were fun to follow. I was curious whether the snowmobile thefts and the dispute over the trail route were connected. Was there a saboteur and a murderer working together? Was there just one culprit? What there was, was plenty of suspects and a heck of a good time sorting them out.

Lots of local color and flamboyant characters along with comic relief made this a truly fun cozy mystery. I already knew it would be when I spotted the adorable cover art. You can be sure I’ll be reading more of this series.

5 STARS

****

Synopsis

No good deed goes unpunished. The rule has kept Lucy Mathews out of trouble for most of her 29 years. That is until her part-time partner decides Lucy’s image needs a little polishing and shoves her in front of every do-good bandwagon she can find.

Luckily for Lucy, her dream charity runs right up to her doorstep in the form of a sexy Canadian musher who’s in town to help organize the local sled dog race.

Not so luckily for Lucy, sexy Canadians and detective boyfriends do not a happy mixture make.

One dead race organizer, a group of rambunctious octogenarians, and a team of sled dogs in need of a home later and Lucy is confident this punishment is more than anyone, much less one lone antique store owner, can handle.

Other books in the Dusty Deals Mystery Series…

Loose Screw
Cut Loose
 Loosey Goosey
Loose & Lethal: Dusty Deals Mystery Series Box Set: Books 1 -3

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Coming Soon….

Love on the Loose (A Dusty Deals Mystery Series novella)

*****

544752_332133136858752_1516498171_n About This Author

Rae Davies is the pen name of author Lori Devoti.

Lori Devoti worked for three different newspapers in two different states before deciding to stay home with her children and begin writing fiction. Lori has been a finalist for many awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award and is a member of Novelists Inc., a prestigious group for professional writers. She lives near Madison, Wisconsin with her husband and children as well as two dogs.

Like Lucy, Rae/Lori loves antiques, Montana and malamutes.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Purchase Links
AMAZON B&N Smashwords

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Tour Participants

April 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview
April 28 – Community Bookstop – Review
April 29 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway
April 30 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
May 1 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews – Review, Giveaway
May 3 – Darla King Series – Guest Post
May 5 – deal sharing aunt – Guest Post
May 6 – Back Porchervations – Review, Giveaway
May 7 – readalot blog – Review, Giveaway
May 8 – Traci Andrighetti’s blog – Interview
May 9 – Victoria’s Pages of Romance – Guest Post
May 12 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – Review
May 13 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Review, Giveaway
May 14 – Chloe Gets a Clue – Interview

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Tour giveaway

A choice between the three e-book bundle, Loose & Lethal,

or a print copy of Loose Screw

Winner’s Choice

To enter please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win and answer this question:

“Where is your favorite place to read?”

Giveaway ends May 8th.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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A Tale Of Two Biddies ~ Dickens and Murder on Put-in-Bay. My cozy mystery review

Posted: January 30, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, reviews
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A TALE OF TWO BIDDIES by Kylie Logan

TALE OD 2 BIDDIES

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A Tale of Two Biddies (League of Literary Ladies)

2nd in Series Cozy Mystery

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Berkley (February 4, 2014)

ISBN-13: 978-0425257760  E-BOOK ASIN: B00DYX9KJ2

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My Review

I felt echoes of Murder She Wrote when I started reading this book. I used to watch the show faithfully and I love it that our sleuths are aged like fine wine, sporting gray hairs and a few well earned wrinkles.

Bea and the women of The League of Literary Ladies helped to solve a murder on Put-in-Bay some months ago and were hoping to just talk books and enjoy the celebration of Bastille Day.

But more is cooking than just some rockin and rollin and a Dicken’s Impersonator contest.

One of the locals is murdered and it’s time for these ladies to stick their noses in other people’s business and get it solved before more end up dead.

You expect and get a lot of colorful characters on the island. They move at their own pace and have their own way of doing things.

I live in a small town filled with artists and authors and we get a lot of tourists to our lovely community. It felt familiar on Put-in-Bay.

Having this story take place on an island is a great idea. It makes for a lot of fun reading how these ladies know about the skeletons in some closets. There are no secrets in closed communities and a surprising number of good suspects.

Necessary ingredients for a good cozy mystery are, for me:

A fun title. Check

Colorful cover art that hints at the story inside. Check

Quirky characters. Check

Plenty of suspects and false leads. Check

And funny, determined amateur sleuths that don’t take themselves too seriously. Check

This book has all of these ingredients and a bonus. It’s book two in a series and I didn’t have to have read the first book to enjoy meeting these characters.

4 Stars

***

Synopsis

When it comes to solving mysteries, these ladies are in a league of their own…

Summer can be the best of times or the worst of times for the resort town of Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie. For Bea Cartwright, business is booming as guests storm her B and B for the Bastille Day celebration. In honor of the holiday, the League of Literary Ladies is reading the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities. It would be hard to make a more apropos selection—especially when they have their very own Defarge sisters, elderly twins Margaret and Alice, who run the local knitting shop.

On Bastille Day, the head-banging rock band Guillotine shows their chops for the tourists—but the celebration is soon cut short. With something needling the Defarge dowagers and secrets that lead to murder, solving this mystery will be a far, far better thing than the Literary Ladies have done before. They’ll just have to make sure to keep their heads while they try to stop a killer’s reign of terror…

****

Casey for MarconAbout Kylie Logan

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars.  When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond,” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America.  She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (“Mayhem at the Orient Express”) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries.  She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there!  She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story.  And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili.  Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Webpage: www.kylielogan.com  Also, www.caseydaniels.com

Purchase Links: AMAZON          Book World               B&N

Tour Participants

January 25 – Beth’s Book Reviews – Review – Giveaway

January 26 –Books-n-Kisses  – Review –  Giveaway

January 27- rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review – Guest Post – Giveaway

January 28 – My Recent Favorite books – Review – Giveaway

January 29 – Socrates’ Book Review Blog – Review- Guest Post – Giveaway

January 30 – fuonlyknew – Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews – Review

January 31 – books are life – vita libri – Review – Giveaway

February 1 – Community Bookstop – Review – Giveaway

February 2 – Reviews By Karen – Review – Guest Post – Giveaway

I have a winner to announce!

Posted: January 19, 2014 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Winners!
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This is my favorite part!

It’s time to announce the winners!

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For the  print copy giveaway of the cozy mystery Teacup Turbulence

by Linda O. Johnston

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My Review

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The winner is:

Michelle W.

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Congratulations!

Winner has been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

I do love reading them and hope you continue to visit fuonlyknew!

Thanks so much to the tour host and author for this wonderful book!

*****

I’d love to keep telling ya’ll about some really great books.

Subscribe by email and lets talk!

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

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

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Don’t Cry Over Killed Milk ~ A Dabbling Detective Review and Giveaway

Posted: January 15, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
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I immediately became engrossed in this story and couldn’t put my Kindle down. ~Socrates Cozy Cafe/ Socrates Book Reviews

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Don’t you just love the catchy title? I couldn’t resist this cozy mystery.

Get comfortable and enjoy my review.

And remember to enter the giveaway. You can win your own print copy!

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Don’t Cry Over Killed Milk: A Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective Mystery

Cozy Mystery

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Cozy Cat Press (August 28, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-1939816184 E-Book File Size: 697 KB  ASIN: B00EV45NAS

Synopsis

Jeremiah Milk lived a life filled with emotional extremes. Amniotic band syndrome—a congenital condition—left his fingers and toes malformed. Ridiculed as a child, he became an adolescent hermit. As an adult, Jeremiah’s wounds healed when he landed a position as a park ranger and married a woman who loved him despite his physical appearance. But fate ripped his life to shreds when his wife and infant son died on the same night in separate calamities. Shortly thereafter, the tides turned once more as an act of Jeremiah’s ostensible benevolence translates into a financial boon. The book on Jeremiah’s life closes without mercy when he’s found murdered at Tripping Falls State Park.

Damon Lassard—Hollydale’s loveable civic leader, amateur sleuth, and Jeremiah’s neighbor—springs into action. He’s obstructed by a prickly lieutenant, but wriggles information unknown to the police from a colorful bevy of suspects. Aided by his best friend Rebecca and his reluctant ally Detective Gerry Sloman, Damon engineers a deep dive into Jeremiah’s past to solve the crime. Along the way, Damon strengthens his relationship with the breathtaking Bethany Krims, cracks a local horticultural mystery, and tries in vain to tame his wickedly sarcastic mother.

~~~

My Review

There’s not one mystery to be solved in this book, there’s two.

Something is killing the crepe myrtles. People are treating their trees to get rid of bug infestations, but within a few days, the bugs re-infest the trees.

And someone killed Jeremiah Milk.

The author does a superb job of leading you through these two mysteries, keeping you following the clues, but not confusing you.  And I was just as eager to find out who was killing the crepe myrtles as I was about who killed Jeremiah Milk.

There are lots of clues, false trails, and some bumbling by Damon Lassard.

Damon kind of made me think of Columbo but not as shabbily dressed. He appeared amateurish, but had a keen mind and lots of curiosity.

This isn’t the first time he’s dabbled in a mystery and he’s got an enemy in Lieutenant Margaret Hobbes, but an inside source in Detective Gerry Sloman.

Damon helped Gerry solve a previous case but Hobbes wants him to keep out of police matters. These two bump into each now and then and Hobbes makes no bones about how she feels. I could just see her glaring, face all red, as she bellows at Damon. Good for a few laughs.

I was so engrossed in solving these mysteries, I never stopped reading until I had to. I had reached the end.

The writing is excellent, going from one mystery to the other with no awkwardness, flowing easily. You follow the bread crumbs from one false trail to the next, finally reaching each pot of gold.

You don”t need to have read the first Damon Lassard mystery to enjoy this one. The author does a quick recap a little ways into this one, giving you a bit of background without spilling the beans from the first mystery.

Once you’ve read Don’t Cry Over Killed Milk, you’ll want to read It Takes Two To Strangle .

I look forward to going back to the beginning.

4 Stars

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About The Author

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STEPHEN KAMINSKI is the author of the Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective series published by Cozy Cat Press. The first two cozy mysteries in the series are “It Takes Two to Strangle” (2012) and “Don’t Cry Over Killed Milk” (2013). Stephen is the winner of the 2012 Reader Views Literary Award for the Mid-Atlantic Region.  He’s a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School, has practiced law for over a decade, and currently serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel to a national non-profit organization. Stephen is a lifelong lover of all types of mysteries and lives with his wife and daughter in Arlington, Virginia.

Author Links:

Blog / Goodreads / Facebook

Purchase Links:

Amazon B&N

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I have one print copy to give away.

US Only. Sorry to my International friends.

To enter, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win, and answer this question:

“Have you ever done some sleuthing?”

Giveaway ends 1/25

~~~

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Tour Participants

January 13 –Socrates Book Reviews/ Socrates Cozy Café – Review, Giveaway

January 14 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview

January 15 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

January 16 – readalot blog – Review

January 17 – My Devotional Thoughts – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

January 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

January 20 – A Year of Jubilee Reviews – Review

January 21 – Shelley’s Book Case– Review, Interview

January 22 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Giveaway

January 23 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

January 24 – Omnimystery News – Guest Post

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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Rosemary and Crime ~ A Cozy Mystery Review and Giveaway

Posted: January 8, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews, Romance
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Rosemary and Crime by Gail Oust

All the elements of a Southern, Culinary, Cozy Mystery. ~Rantin’ Ravin’ and Reading

I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and kept me involved from the very beginning. ~Melina’s Book Blog

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Rosemary and Crime

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Cozy Mystery Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Minotaur Books (December 17, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-1250011046

E-Book  ASIN: B00DA7A0BO

Synopsis:

Piper Prescott, a transplanted Yankee living in the South, has got her sass back.  She might be down, but don’t count her out.  “Change of life?” she asks.  Bring it on.  Recently divorced, Piper decides to pursue a dream she’s secretly harbored:  owning her own business.  Spice It Up!, a spice shop in her adopted hometown, Brandywine Creek, Georgia.  But Piper’s grand opening goes awry when the local chef who’s agreed to do a cooking demo is found stabbed.  Not only did Piper find the body, she handled the murder weapon and doesn’t have a witness to her alibi, making the case look like a slam dunk to brand new police Chief Wyatt McBride.  Desperate to uncover the truth—and prove her innocence—Piper enlists the help of her outspoken BFF Reba Mae Johnson to help track down the real culprit.  The pair compile a lengthy list of suspects and work to eliminate them using their own creative brand of sleuthing techniques including stakeouts, breaking and entering, and one very unorthodox chocolate pie.  When Piper narrowly avoids being a victim of a hit-and-run, she knows she’s getting closer to the truth, but can she catch the killer and clear her name before she becomes the next victim?

~~~

My Review

Fresh out of a divorce, Piper decides to go into business for herself, opening a spice shop. When Mario, the chef who was supposed to do a cooking demonstration for her grand opening is murdered, Piper becomes the prime suspect.

She discovered the body. She handled the murder weapon. And she was seen arguing with the victim earlier.

The fun begins when Piper and her best friend Reba Mae, a delightfully colorful gal, decide to do their own sleuthing. They are caught doing a stake out by the hunky Chief of Police, Wyatt.

I’m all for character driven stories. These characters are all flawed, all trying to make their way. This leads to lots of hi-jinx and laughs.

Piper is down to earth but also vulnerable. CJ, her jerk of a husband, dumped her for a woman almost as young as her daughter. Starting over at middle age is never easy and she has to contend with a daughter who is acting out, her butinsky ex, and a sexy policeman, while trying to prove her innocence and get her new business off the ground.

The author sets the stage, introduces her characters, drops in the crime, and sets you off to read and discover the clues, while adding in a budding romance and some very believable life situations.

Trying to solve this mystery was vexing. Each time I thought I had my suspect, I was wrong and had to continue sorting out the clues.

When I reached the end it was just what I wanted.

Anyone looking for a new cozy mystery series with an easy flowing writing style, colorful characters, and a crime to solve, should give Rosemary and Crime a go..

4 Stars

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About This Author

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Gail Oust is often accused of flunking retirement. While working as a nurse/vascular technologist, she penned nine historical romances under the pseudonym of Elizabeth Turner. It wasn’t until she and her husband retired to South Carolina that inspiration struck for a mystery. Hearing the words “maybe it’s a dead body” while golfing fired her imagination for writing a cozy. Ever since then, she spends more time on a computer than at a golf course. Author of the Bunco Babe mysteries, she’s currently working on a new Spice Shop mystery series.

Author Links:  www.gailoust.com, Goodreads

Purchase Links: AMAZON      Book World     B&N

***

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Tour Participants

January 6 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Interview

January 7 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post

January 8 – fuonlyknew – Review

January 9 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Guest Post

January 10 – A Chick Who Reads – Review, Guest Post

January 11 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Review

January 12 – Books Are Life – Vita Libri – Review

January 13 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

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An autographed copy of Rosemary and Crime

An apron similar to ont the character wears in her spice shop.

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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Teacup Turbulence ~ A Cozy Mystery Review and Giveaway

Posted: January 2, 2014 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews
Tags: , ,
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Teacup Turbulence by Linda O. Johnston

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Teacup Turbulence (A Pet Rescue Mystery)

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5th in Series Cozy Mystery

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Berkley (January 7, 2014) ISBN-13: 978-0425259979

Purchase Links: Amazon     Book World      B&N

Synopsis

Los Angeles animal shelter manager Lauren Vancouver has a soft spot for animals in need—and a keen eye for crime. . .

Thanks to a savvy ad campaign featuring teacup pups sporting HotPets Bling—a new line of faux jewelry dog collars—small dog adoptions have skyrocketed across the city. So when Lauren discovers a shelter in the Midwest with more toy dogs than it can handle, she arranges a private plane to swoop in and fly the pups back to LA.

But Lauren didn’t count on rescue worker Teresa Kantrim coming along for the ride. Teresa has cared for the dogs since they were found and doesn’t trust anyone from La-La Land to take over the job. Her biting comments clearly haven’t earned Teresa any new friends, but when she turns up murdered, it’s time for Lauren to dig into Teresa’s past and find out who wanted her put down.

~~

My Review

I really enjoy cozy mysteries and am always on the lookout for a new author and series.

Teacup Turbulence is a spinoff from the Pet Sitter Series, which I plan to check out.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover art. I love dogs and the cuties on the cover caught my eye. Then the title just sounded so fun.

The title says it all. Lots and lots of teacup pups and turbulence.

While I didn’t particularly care for, Teresa, the murder victim, I did wonder if her frosty, rude behavior might be hiding something. It was as you’ll discover when you explore this mystery.

Lauren has her hands full with rescuing pups and also selling Bling. I never knew how big and competitive dog jewelry was.

Since the murder happened right under Lauren’s nose, she leaps in to solve it.

While I had an inkling early on what might be behind the murder, I still had to follow the clues and sniff out the false leads. There are many characters to fill the suspect list, some likeable, some I could take or leave.

The pups added an adorable factor to the story. And I loved how the author explains choosing the names for them. It added a lightness to the mystery and had me thinking up all kinds of names.

I wasn’t immediately hooked by the beginning, but was gradually pulled into the mystery and while I had a good idea of what was going on, I had no clue who the killer might be. That kept me turning the pages, searching for clues, and surprising me with the culprit in the end. I really didn’t see the murderer coming.

I’ll be reading more from this author and I’m sure I’ll be entertained.

4 Stars

~~

About Linda O. Johnston

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Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 35 romance and mystery novels, including Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne.

Linda’s Pet Rescue Mysteries, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, feature Lauren Vancouver, a determined pet rescuer who runs a no-kill shelter. In this cozy series, “no-kill” refers to pets, not people!

[Note that, at the time this is being submitted, I’ve had 33 books published but will have a Harlequin Romantic Suspense published in December, and my upcoming Pet Rescue Mystery TEACUP TURBULENCE will be a January 2014 release.]

Author Links: Website / Facebook

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I have one print copy to give away.

US Only. Sorry to my International friends.

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question,

“What do you like most about reading a mystery?”

Giveaway ends January 15th.

~

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Tour Participants

January 2 – StoreyBook Reviews  – Review

January 3 –>Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

January 4 – Books-n-Kisses – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

January 5 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review

January 6 – readalot blog – Review

January 7 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

January 8 – Brooke Blogs – Review

January 10 – Reviews By Karen – Guest Post, Giveaway

January 12- Cozy Up With Kathy – Review, Interview

January 13 – My Devotional Thoughts – Review, Guest Post January 14 – StephTheBookworm – Review

January 14 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – Review

January 15 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Giveaway January 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Guest Post

January 15 – Dru’s Book Musings – Guest Post

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

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Grab your Eggnog and let’s get cozy ~ Heartache Motel ~ Three interconnected mysteries

Posted: December 17, 2013 in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, giveaways, reviews, Short stories and collections
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Heartache Motel: Three Interconnected Mystery Novellas by Terri L. Austin, Larissa Reinhart, and LynDee Walker

…written with the backdrop of Graceland, complete with wacky Elvis impersonators, was fun and made for several hours of enjoyment. ~Socrates Book Review

Heartache Motel was an enjoyable read that introduced me to new characters that I thought were fun and entertaining. ~Book-n-Kisses

This is a book that will keep you hooked from the first novella to the last. ~Melina’s Book Blog

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Heartache Motel: Three Interconnected Mystery Novellas

Genre: Women Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Humorous Mystery, Short Stories

Number of Pages: 225

Published by:  Henery Press (December 10, 2013)

SYNOPSIS

Heartache Motel, Three Interconnected Mystery Novellas

Elvis has left the building, but he’s forever memorialized at the Heartache Motel. Filled with drag queens, Rock-a-Hula cocktails, and a vibrating velveteen bed, these three novellas tell the tales of three amateur sleuths who spend their holidays at the King’s beloved home.

DINERS KEEPERS, LOSERS WEEPERS by Terri L. Austin

A Rose Strickland Mystery Novella (follows DINER IMPOSSIBLE)

When Rose and the gang head to Graceland right before Christmas, they get all shook up: the motel is a seedy dump and an Elvis impersonator turns up dead. Rose discovers missing jewels tie into the death and her suspicious mind flips into overdrive, questioning her fellow guests, the staff, and even a cute impersonator who keeps popping up. Will Rose be able to find the murderer and get home by Christmas day? It’s now or never.

**

QUICK SKETCH by Larissa Reinhart

A Cherry Tucker Mystery Novella (prequel to PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY)

Sassy Southern artist Cherry Tucker and her poker-loving boyfriend, Todd, pop into Memphis to help Todd’s cousin who’s been hustled out of his savings, right before Christmas. Staying at the shady Heartache Motel, Cherry can’t tell a shill from a mark and fears everyone is playing them for chumps. Cherry and Todd quickly find themselves in a dangerous sting that could send them to the slammer or mark them as pigeons from cons looking for an even bigger score.

**

DATELINE MEMPHIS by LynDee Walker

A Headlines in High Heels Mystery Novella (follows BURIED LEADS)

Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke thinks she’s going home for Christmas. But a quick stop at Graceland proves news breaks in the strangest places. When the King’s home gets locked down with Nichelle inside, she chases this headline into the national spotlight—and the thief’s crosshairs. Christmas dreams of blue suede Manolos fade, and all Nichelle wants from Santa is to land the story before the thief cuts off her news feed for good.

**

My Review

I’m always ready for a new cozy mystery. I got three in Heartache Motel. It was a lot of fun to see where each of these authors would go with their story centered around a seedy motel, staffed with drag queens and booked up with Elvis impersonators.

The Heartache Motel is located a short distance from Graceland and it came as no surprise that each story would be overflowing with quirky, fun characters.

In Diners Weepers, Losers Keepers I met Rose Strickland.  When Ma, the 80-year-old proprietor of Ma’s Diner shuts down the diner for a few days to go to Graceland, Rose and her best friend Roxy, along with Ax and his stoner roommate Joe ride along to keep her out of trouble.

When their hotel rooms are given away they wind up at a seedy, out-of-the-way hotel and get right in the middle of a murder investigation. Someone’s put an Elvis impersonator on ice, literally.

I enjoyed getting to know Rose and her gang. I would love to see Roxy in person. Her outfits sound extreme. And Stoner Joe. You could stand him in front of something, come back later, and he’d still be there. You’d never have to worry about losing him, you’d just have to remember not to leave him behind.

This was a fun, sassy introduction to the Rose Strickland Murder Mystery series. How could I not have a blast snooping and following the clues with Rose and her Scooby Doo gang as they sift through the impersonators and staff of drag queens, sniffing out the culprit.

Now that I’ve met these characters, further reading is required. The series is calling my name.

Quick Sketch is another romp at the Heartache Motel.

Artist Cherry Tucker and her boyfriend Todd wind up at the motel when they answer his cousins call for help. He’s lost all his money gambling and thinks he’s been cheated.

They put Vegas on hold and cook up a scheme to catch the con artists and maybe get Byron’s money back.

It was really fun to see Man Margaret and the drag queen gals again. The motel is as seedy as ever, and the Suspicious Minds Bar is still serving up Rock -A – Hulas.

I was a little doubtful of Byron’s story at first. Did he get scammed or did he just get taken to the cleaners, losing all of his savings and his Christmas bonus?

What a delirious trip this was. Cherry takes no prisoners with her cutting edge wit and sarcasm. She’s having none of Todd’s shenanigans and puts all her cards on the table to call the scammers bluffs. But they might all end up in the pokey.

While I really enjoyed this story, I felt like I needed to read the series to understand Cherry and Todd and their relationship better.

I’ll have to pay a visit to Hula, Georgia and become better acquainted with the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series.

And that brings me to Dateline Memphis.

Nichelle is a hoot. She’s got brains, beauty, a smart mouth, and as long as she has her signature high heels, she’ s ready to go. And she never goes anywhere without her pooch-to-go, Darcy, her Pomeranian.

Nichelle is the next to stay at the Heartache Motel. She plans on getting a good nights sleep and then a quick hop over to Graceland to get a Christmas present for her mother.

She may not make it in time to open presents, as her visit ends up in a police lockdown. No one leaves until they catch whoever stole the bejeweled belt once worn by Elvis.

Being a crime reporter, Nichelle offers to help with the investigation. Her skills might come in handy, and who knows, she might get the biggest scoop of her career.

I could just picture Nichelle waltzing into the motel, pooch under one arm and designer luggage on the other. She’d meet her match with the drag queens. She stood six-three in her high heels and Man-Margaret stood a full head taller.  I wonder who’d have the best outfits?

After busting crime with Nichelle, I’m looking forward to getting to know her better while reading the Headlines in High Heels Mystery Series.

I raise my Rock-A-Hula in a toast to these authors. They did a splendid job of slipping their characters into  the central theme of The Heartache Motel, while keeping the returning personalities in character. Each story had some of the same characters and each writer kept with their individual voices.

I’m a fan of the female protagonist and met some strong, sassy women in this collection. I also met some very endearing drag queens and I really would like to see the Elvis impersonator wearing nothing but a speedo and cowboy boots. I had a good laugh at that one.

Three authors, three cozy mysteries, many captivating characters, and some fun capers to solve. A great idea.

4 Stars

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Purchase Link: Amazon

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tla-bio-00TERRI L. AUSTIN

As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Missouri. She loves to hear from readers!

WEB: www.terrilaustin.com

FOLLOW: www.twitter.com/terrilaustin

LIKE: www.facebook.com/terrilaustin

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closeupLARISSA REINHART

After seeing Paper Moon as a child, Larissa Reinhart fell in love with stories about confidence capers. QUICK SKETCH is the Cherry Tucker prequel to PORTRAIT in the mystery anthology THE HEARTACHE MOTEL. HIJACK IN ABSTRACT is the third in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series from Henery Press, following STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2) and PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1), a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist. She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit.

WEB:  larissareinhart.com

Follow: twitter.com/RisWrites

Like: facebook.com/RisWrites

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LynDee headshotLYNDEE WALKER

LynDee Walker grew up in the land of stifling heat and amazing food most people call Texas, and wanted to be Lois Lane from the time she could say the words “press conference.” An award-winning journalist, she traded cops and deadlines for burp cloths and onesies when her oldest child was born. Writing the Headlines in Heels mysteries gives her the best of both worlds. LynDee adores her family, her readers, and enchiladas. She often works out tricky plot points while walking off the enchiladas. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is working on her next novel. Find her at www.lyndeewalker.com.

WEB: www.lyndeewalker.com

FOLLOW: www.twitter.com/LynDeeWalker

LIKE: www.facebook.com/lyndeewalkerbooks

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Great Prizes!

eBooks, a B&N Gift Card, swag, and other goodies!

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Tour Participants

December 10 – A Chick Who Reads – Review

December 11 – Socrates’ Book Review Blog – Socrates’ Cozy Cafe – Review, Interview

December 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – Spotlight

December 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book– Spotlight

December 14 – Books-n-Kisses – Review

December 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

December 16 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review

December 17 – fuonlyknew – Review

December 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

December 19 – Mochas, Mysteries and More – Interview

December 20 – My Recent Favorite books – Review

December 21 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Interview

December 22 – Jane Reads – Review, Interview

December 23 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

December 23 – Queen of All She Reads – Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the present below.

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