Archive for the ‘Cozy Mystery’ Category

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A Bride’s Guide To Marriage And Murder

A Countess Of Harleigh Mystery by

Dianne Freeman

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A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Victorian England
Kensington (June 28, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496731611
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496731616
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09HRC11G9

Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, returns in Dianne Freeman’s charming, lighthearted mystery series set in Victorian England, and finds her wedding day overshadowed by murder . . .

 

On the eve of her marriage to George Hazelton, Frances has a great deal more on her mind than flowers and seating arrangements. The Connors and the Bainbridges, two families of American robber barons, have taken up residence in London, and their bitter rivalry is spilling over into the highest social circles. At the request of her brother, Alonzo, who is quite taken with Miss Madeline Connor, Frances has invited the Connor family to her wedding. Meanwhile, Frances’s mother has invited Mr. Bainbridge, and Frances fears the wedding may end up being newspaper-worthy for all the wrong reasons.

 

On the day itself, Frances is relieved to note that Madeline’s father is not among the guests assembled at the church. The reason for his absence, however, turns out to be most unfortunate: Mr. Connor is found murdered in his home. More shocking still, Alonzo is caught at the scene, holding the murder weapon.

 

Powerful and ruthless, Connor appears to have amassed a wealth of enemies alongside his fortune. Frances and George agree to put their wedding trip on hold to try and clear Alonzo’s name. But there are secrets to sift through, not just in the Bainbridge and Connor families, but also in their own. And with a killer determined to evade discovery at any cost—even if it means taking another life—Frances’s first days as a newlywed will be perilous indeed . . .

 

About Dianne Freeman

Dianne Freeman is the acclaimed author of the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series. She is an Agatha Award and Lefty Award winner, as well as a finalist for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award from Mystery Writers of America. After thirty years of working in corporate accounting and finance, she now writes full-time. Born and raised in Michigan, she and her husband split their time between Michigan and Arizona. Visit her at www.DiFreeman.com.

Author Links: Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Purchase Links

AmazonB & N

A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder a book by Dianne Freeman (bookshop.org)

A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery #5) | IndieBound.org

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 7 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

July 7 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW

July 8 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

July 8 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – Just Another Teen Reading Books – REVIEW

July 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

July 11 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 11 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW  

July 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW

July 12 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

July 13 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 13 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW

July 13 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

July 14 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

July 14 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

July 14 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

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Killers Of A Feather

An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery

by T. C. LoTempio

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Killers of a Feather (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Beyond the Page (June 21, 2022)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 299 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09ZLV8ZS2

Shell McMillan and her feline friends must unravel a mystery where everyone’s a suspect and no one’s to blame . . .

 

With the grand re-opening of her Urban Tails Pet Shop just days away, Shell McMillan has her hands full planning entertainment for the festive event, including a fortune-telling parrot. But her jubilant mood is soon threatened by ominous rumors of the return of Johnny Draco, a former investment guru who swindled money from most of the residents of Fox Hollow and then vanished without a trace. And when the parrot predicts a dire future for Draco and his dead body is found just hours later, no one can say they’re surprised—but no one will say who did it.

 

With virtually everyone in town a suspect, the police turn their focus on a good friend of Shell’s who was seen arguing with the victim shortly before his death. Determined to clear her friend’s name, Shell begins investigating Draco’s past, his former employer, and everyone who lost money to him. And when the trail of clues suggests there may have been a completely different motive for the murder, Shell suddenly realizes she’s uncovered a secret someone would kill to keep hidden—and that if she’s not careful, the parrot may be predicting she has no future at all . . .

 

About T.C. LoTempio

T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net.

Purchase Links

Amazon  –   B&N  –  iBooks  –  Kobo –   Google Play  –  Smashwords 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 5 – The Mystery Section – GUEST POST

July 5 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 7 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

July 7 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 8 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 9 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 11 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT  

July 11 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

July 13 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 14 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

July 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

July 18 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

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Join us for this tour from July 5 to July 29, 2022!

Book Details:

Book Series:  The Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries
Category:  Adult fiction (18+ yrs)
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  April 23, 2020
Content Rating: This cozy mystery book series is rated G. Suitable for everyone.

“I love this cozy mystery! It is full of suspense, action-packed, fast pace with that small-town feeling. I love the characters, I have to admit, I fell in love with Elmo on the spot! I loved Nikki’s spunk and determination. She keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire book! And I usually try to pick up all if the clues and figure out whodunnit but this story kept taking twists and turns that I was surprised. This is just type of cozy mysteries I love to read.” – 5-Star review by Splashes of Joy

“An excellent blend of mystery and suspense with comic relief and romance…. Lauren has a great way of balancing this without taking away from the story. We have well-developed characters, that you can’t help but feel a connection to. I loved Nikki’s character but also her connections to her hometown, her family and her lost love.” – review by Working Mommy Journal

 

Book Series Description:

Folks in the small town of Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a
challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.

After years of chasing mysteries around the globe, Nikki Bryant returns home to Pine Grove to take over managing WKPG-TV and reconnects with her first love, Ryan Spaulding, the chief of the state police crime lab.

It doesn’t take long for Nikki and her family to realize that you can’t keep this ace reporter and her boxer dog Elmo behind a desk–especially
when a mystery is afoot.

Buy the Series:
Amazon.com

(more…)

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Killers Of A Feather

An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery

by T. C. LoTempio

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Killers of a Feather (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Beyond the Page (June 21, 2022)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 299 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09ZLV8ZS2

Shell McMillan and her feline friends must unravel a mystery where everyone’s a suspect and no one’s to blame . . .

 

With the grand re-opening of her Urban Tails Pet Shop just days away, Shell McMillan has her hands full planning entertainment for the festive event, including a fortune-telling parrot. But her jubilant mood is soon threatened by ominous rumors of the return of Johnny Draco, a former investment guru who swindled money from most of the residents of Fox Hollow and then vanished without a trace. And when the parrot predicts a dire future for Draco and his dead body is found just hours later, no one can say they’re surprised—but no one will say who did it.

 

With virtually everyone in town a suspect, the police turn their focus on a good friend of Shell’s who was seen arguing with the victim shortly before his death. Determined to clear her friend’s name, Shell begins investigating Draco’s past, his former employer, and everyone who lost money to him. And when the trail of clues suggests there may have been a completely different motive for the murder, Shell suddenly realizes she’s uncovered a secret someone would kill to keep hidden—and that if she’s not careful, the parrot may be predicting she has no future at all . . .

 

About T.C. LoTempio

T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net.

Purchase Links

Amazon  –   B&N  –  iBooks  –  Kobo –   Google Play  –  Smashwords 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 5 – The Mystery Section – GUEST POST

July 5 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 6 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 7 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

July 7 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 8 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

July 9 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 11 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT  

July 11 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

July 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

July 13 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 14 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

July 15 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 16 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 17 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

July 18 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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BeeMovie copy

Welcome to the book tour for cozy mystery, Bee Movie by Wendy W. Webb. Read on for more!

BeeMovieCover

Bee Movie (The Beluga Stein Mysteries Book 1)

Publication Date: March 30th, 2022

Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Suspense/ Paranormal

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Beluga Stein is here, with her signature loud muumuus, pastel cigarettes, and hit-or-miss psychic ability. She and her feline familiar, Planchette, are ready for their closeups. Or are they?

Beluga is called to investigate paranormal activity and other strange events on the set of a low budget horror movie. But after a mysterious fire, an actor dressed in a bee costume is found hoisted high in the air by a crane. Is the set haunted? Or are the supernatural stirrings and death the result of special effects?

From the dark screening room to the madcap SFX warehouse and scary set itself, Beluga and Planchette are there as reluctant cast members. But even a bit part in this film could be murder.

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Production Manager’s Notes

Shooting on set of Bee Mine delayed yet another day due to unforeseen circumstances of boom falling on antenna of actor playing part of giant bee. Actor sustained minor injury (covered by insurance), antenna sent to SFX department for surgical repair (not covered by insurance), boom operator yet to be found after his exit from soundstage, screaming, “It’s a ghost. It’s a ghost.”

Budget overrun in Craft Services department. Snack Head places blame on Beluga Stein.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

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Wendy Webb (aka Wendy W Webb) has published dark fantasy short stories and supernatural-humor murder mystery novels over many years. After a hiatus for far too long as a professor of emergency management and as a disaster responder, she welcomes the return to fiction writing. She adores her husband; two dogs, one of which turns on iTunes whenever Wendy leaves her office; dry red wine; theatre; and travel as long as she doesn’t see anymore ghosts.

Book Tour Organized By:

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Whiskers in Trouble

by Laura Ball

Genre: Cozy Mystery

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Olivia Swann has returned to her hometown after college and realized her dream of opening an animal hospital – the Whiskers and Tails Vet and Boarding Hospital. When she hires a friend at her college reunion to join as partner at the hospital, things take a dangerous turn as suspicions of stolen cats begin to emerge. More than just her business is threatened when her new partner begins to ask questions about the wealthiest and most well-known family in the county. Are cats really being stolen from their owners and sold to other owners for a high profit? Olivia has a mystery on her hands while she deals with her loveable parents and a smitten love interest she doesn’t quite know how to handle. With the help of her friends–her two cats, Fiona and Wilson, an old Beagle named Barnabus and his owner Tom Barnaby–Olivia must try to solve a mystery that hits a little too close to home.

Olivia is a reluctant heroine in this whodunnit as she is determined to find her friend’s killer no matter the cost. How will she juggle work, crime solving and an admirer all at one time? Find out in this fun and fast-paced mystery from Laura Ball.

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What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

 

I did a lot of research for Whiskers in Trouble actually.  I research cat breeds and which ones were most popular, most expensive, rare, etc. I also researched a lot about common illnesses to animals and how they’re treated by a veterinarian.  I also relied on my experience as a pet owner of a cat and most recently, a puppy.

 

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

 

I do read as much as I can because I enjoy it, and because I feel reading other authors helps my own writing. Seeing how other authors develop characters and work out plot points and twists and turns. It’s fun and exciting and educational actually.

 

My favorite genre is mystery because I love to immerse myself into a story and try to figure out where the story is going and revel in the characters–some I like and some I learn to hate based on the storyline. I love to be intrigued and put myself in the heroine or hero’s shoes and see if I can solve the mystery first.

 

Pen or type writer or computer?

 

I use both pen and paper and a computer.

 

Do you have any advice to offer for new authors?

 

Beginning is the hardest part.  Just take the first step and put something, anything, on the page.  Once you begin it gets easier.  Don’t give up when you get stuck, look at it from a different point of view or a different character’s point of view.  Try to work things out from all angles.  Sometimes things are revealed from a perspective you didn’t have before.

 

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

 

I like to outline with pen and paper, list the main points and scenes and main characters. Then I like to just dive right into writing using my outline as a guide. I find when typing on my computer that the story unfolds easier for me and the story ends up going to places I never intended but works out. My characters also develop the same way–by just diving in and seeing what ends up on the screen. I usually start with Chapter 1 and go from there following my outline but in writing book two of the Whiskers and Tails mysteries series, I’ve complete more in depth outlining for certain scenes and then worked outward from the scene and sort of filled in the blanks with secondary plots. Then once I’ve reached that part in the outline I edit a lot and smooth out any holes–hopefully.

 

Do you believe in writer’s block?

 

I do believe in writer’s block! I feel I once had it for 6 months when writing this book! I got to a certain point in the story and just could not figure out where to go from there. I had focused so much on one particular section of the book that I realized I hadn’t fully thought the rest of the book all the way through. I became stuck. I sat staring at this half-written story and wasn’t sure where to take the characters and the story. I couldn’t envision the ending or what I wanted to happen to the characters. It was a low point for me and my writing. I started to have doubts about being able to finish the book. I doubted my ability to write and depression set in. I had to step away from writing for a time.

 

But the book and the story and characters kept haunting me. I would find myself reviewing plot points and how a character reacted to a scene. I would catch myself thinking about certain twists or clues. Once I finally was able to see beyond the scope of the work I had already done, it became easier to focus on the continuation of the plot. I put myself in each character’s shoes and figured out what I wanted that character to do, to learn, to be, to experience.  It slowly became easier to move forward with this storyline or that character trait or whatever I was working on next.

 

I experienced writer’s block more than once but I learned to take a step back and give myself the time to analyze and think beyond the point of where I was stuck. Once I am able to allow myself that time and room to think, things become clear again, and I’m able to continue on.

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Laura Ball is an Ohio native who found her love for writing at a young age. She enjoys writing short stories and has had several poems published over the years in poetry anthologies. She has a mixed breed dog named Eddie who provides plenty of inspiration!

Website * Facebook * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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With A Spirit Of Vengeance

A Bay Island Psychic Mystery

by Lena Gregory

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With A Spirit of Vengeance (A Bay Island Psychic Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Bay Island (Just off Long Island, New York)

Beyond the Page Publishing
Number of Pages ~210


Psychic Cass Donovan must uncover the truth about long-buried secrets and recent murders to bring peace to a troubled spirit and bring justice to a flesh-and-blood killer . . .

 

When the spirit of Ophelia Wilson turned to clairvoyant Cass Donovan for help, Cass was able to prove Ophelia’s innocence in the century-old murders of her family members—and solve a contemporary murder in the process. But Ophelia’s spirit has returned, this time angrily demanding that Cass expose the identity of whoever did kill her family. And then eerily, two descendants from the Wilson family tree are murdered, suggesting that Ophelia has the power to meddle in modern-day events to satisfy her rage.

 

As Cass struggles to solve the two recent murders and unravel the sparse clues about murders from a hundred years ago, she and those around her begin to suffer Ophelia’s wrath—including an attempt on the life of one of Cass’s closest friends. Relying on all of her own psychic powers, Cass has to confront the spirit’s hunger for vengeance and track down a merciless killer before she becomes the next victim of both . . .

 

About Lena Gregory

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links: Newsletter / Website / Facebook / Facebook Page

TwitterGoodreads / Pinterest

 

Purchase Links – Amazon   Barnes and Noble   Kobo

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

June 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

June 29 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

June 30 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 30 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 3 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

July 4 – OFF

July 5 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

July 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 6 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 7 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

July 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

July 8 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

July 10 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

July 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

July 11 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT  

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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A Hint Of Mischief

A Fairy Garden Mystery

by Daryl Wood Gerber

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A Hint of Mischief (A Fairy Garden Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – California
Kensington Cozies(June 28, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496736044
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496736048
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09HRDQZH5

The proprietor of a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Courtney Kelly has an occasional side gig as a sleuth—with a sprinkling of magical assistance. . . .

 

Courtney has thrown a few fairy garden parties—for kids. But if a local socialite is willing to dip into her trust fund for an old sorority sister’s fortieth birthday bash, Courtney will be there with bells on. To make the job even more appealing, a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion, and there’s nothing like a celebrity cameo to raise a business’s profile.

 

Now Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day—which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer, as the police suspect? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder . . .

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling Fairy Garden Mysteries, Cookbook Nook Mysteries, and French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, fairy garden, and read. She has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line. And she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and hitch-hike around Ireland alone. You can learn more on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / BookBub / YouTube / Instagram

Pinterest / Goodreads / Goodreads Book / Amazon / Newsletter

 

Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKoboBookshopMurder by Book –  Mysterious Galaxy – 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 21 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 21 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – GUEST POST WITH RECIPE

June 21 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

June 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

June 23 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 24 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

June 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, GUEST POST WITH RECIPE

June 24 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW 

June 24 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

June 25 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

June 25 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

June 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

June 26 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 26 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW  

June 27 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

June 27 – I Read What You Write – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 27 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

June 28 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

June 28 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

June 28 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Death At Fair Havens

by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi

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Death at Fair Havens
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Massachusetts
Brain Mill Press (April 26, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 318 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 194855965X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1948559652
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09NCJDRCS

Wanda Duff is an unconventional New England clergywoman, addicted to chicken wings, high-octane ice cream, and saying yes to anyone in need of a prayer, even the folks her town might think don’t deserve one.

 

When parishioner Niels Pond dies unexpectedly at the Fair Havens assisted living facility, Wanda’s duty to minister to his family is beset by her suspicions about the circumstances of his abrupt passing. Wanda finds an unexpected co-detective in high school vice principal Prudence Rye, who fled town on graduation night a decade ago and returned only recently.

 

Rye puts her job on the line to investigate the mourning Ponds with the surprisingly edgy Wanda. As they expose difficult family truths and uncover a dangerous conspiracy operating out of Fair Havens, Rye and Wanda discover curiosity has an unanticipated cost.

 

Comfortably gossipy, with a fresh take on the characters and ethos cozy mystery fans will love, Maria Mankin and Maren C. Tirabassi’s Death at Fair Havens launches a series that celebrates intergenerational women’s friendship and the power of inclusion, curiosity, and love.

 

“Here’s small town life portrayed with humor and affection, peopled with quirky characters you’ll care about.”
—James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“How many creepy single men can there possibly be in a twenty-five-mile radius?”

Wanda addressed the spiked heel of the cute but cruel shoe whose partner she had kicked to the other side of the room. Partner. There was something she wasn’t going to find anytime soon. As her thick hair grayed and the wrinkles, of which she was quite fond, deepened, much of the charm seemed to be stripped from the men who queued up to take her to dinner.

Age aside, her magnetism for unbalanced singles in her area had increased exponentially with the addition of one word to her dating profile—clergy. Wanda guessed it was a major deterrent to many men who might reach out, to whom the words “Open and Affirming” meant little. Her church, with its oversized justice-seeking heart and passion for combating climate change—even if it might be one compostable roll of toilet paper at a time—was her first love. She couldn’t romantically connect with someone who didn’t get that the path she walked took her on Jericho walks to protest deportation and into prisons to give voice to the angry and forgotten.

“Divorced twice,” of course, made her more approachable but also, it seemed, less lovable. Several particularly unpleasant dates had the audacity to compare her to a used car—most likely sound under the hood, but suspect due to past experiences.

Not this one though. John had been earnest, aged, and eager to share about being “born again.” He’d shown up with photos of twenty grandchildren (or possibly twenty photos of one) and a long list of complaints about the neighbors he was supposed to love. Wanda wasn’t sure which of them had left more disappointed, though she suspected him, what with her foot lodged so well up his righteous…well…

Time for comfort food.

She looked longingly at a leftover container half full of diablo wings and soggy French fries, but at nearly eleven p.m. frozen yogurt would be less likely to invite heartburn as company. Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked or Cherry Garcia? Cherry Garcia, she decided. The container felt fuller.

Wanda took the pint to the bedside table to soften up. She shed her cute skirt and the black sweater that wore well for both bad dates and the office for soft flannel pajamas. Christian Century or the new N. K. Jemisin? The magazine followed her shoes into the corner, and only then did the Jack Russell raise a sleepy eyelid.

“Some watchdog you are, Wink.”

Wink didn’t lift his snout from his paws. He could smell the difference between his fifty-three-year-old Beta and a stealthy, fear-sweating burglar. He was only waiting till she finished throwing things-that-were- not-balls and was ready to climb into bed and warm it up. Only then would he deign to join her.

Wanda’s cell rang. That was bad news this time of night. Sick, dying, traffic accident, house fire, kid missing. “Hello?”

“Reverend Duff?”
Nice voice. “Yes?”
“This is—”
“Luke? Luke Fairchild.” “You’re good.”

“I compensate for crap hearing with careful hearing. Makes folks forget my designer hearing aids. And you’ve got that gorgeous tenor. Unforgettable.” Wanda would love Luke Fairchild to call her late at night and ask her to come over. All six feet of dark Italian good looks in a package that announced, “I work out,” and that smile…

“Well, thank you. Sadly, this isn’t a social call. I have a pickup at the Fair Havens memory loss unit, and I think the family could use some support. The Ponds are on your church rolls?”

Luke was the director of Fairchild Funeral Home, the most entrenched funeral service in the area. His great-grandfather, Francesco Fraticelli, had purchased the home, then reinvented himself as Francis Fairchild and expected his descendants to follow suit in accommodating themselves to fit New England styles and sensibilities of grief.

Luke was respectable by day (and by night when he was on call), but Wanda had stumbled onto his alter ego. Before she had decided online dating screened creeps better than bartenders, she’d tried the music scene for late-night company, driving far enough to avoid encountering parishioners. One night, she’d discovered Luca Fraticelli and his fabulous band. They kept each other’s secrets.

“Niels Pond? I was there Sunday doing my rotation for afternoon devotions, and I remember seeing him jogging around the keyhole drive, picking flowers, and tossing them in the little fountain. He was actually jogging!”

“It seems to have caught people here by surprise, too …

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About the Authors

After teaching and working in early education for a decade, Maria Mankin has published six books with Pilgrim Press and has contributed to several anthologies. She is also a co-author of Circ, a mystery set in Skegness England, published by Pigeon Park Press, and Pitching Our Tents: Poetry of Hospitality. She is a regular contributor to Living Psalms, a collection in which the Psalms are reinterpreted in poetry and art as a reflection of God’s work of justice and compassion. She is currently working on a book of poetry and the third novel in the Rev and Rye Cozy Mysteries.

After trouping the country in the 70s as assistant manager of theatrical tours for choreographer Agnes de Mille, The National Theatre of Great Britain, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Black Broadway production of ‘Guys and Dolls,’ Maren Tirabassi changed careers, to the surprise of everyone, to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and later Harvard Divinity School. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she served as a bi-vocational pastor to seven churches in Massachusetts and New Hampshire while developing her writing career. Maren is the author of twenty-two books, fiction, non-fiction and poetry, the majority published by The Pilgrim Press.

A former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, NH, and LAMDA Prize nominee for Transgendering Faith, Identity, Sexuality and Spirituality she currently facilitates programs for the NH Humanities Council with New Americans and people with cognitive difference and leads poetry and memoir workshops in prisons, recovery groups, churches and synagogues, hospice and survivor groups. She blogs at giftsinopenhands@wordpress.com.

With frequent writing collaborator, Maria Mankin, she is currently editing Death in the Woods, the sequel to Death at Fair Havens, as well as plotting the third novel.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Brian Mill Press – Powell’s – Amazon – Barnes and Noble – Indiebound – Indigo 

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GIVEAWAY

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 21 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

June 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy -AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 22 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST  

June 23 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

June 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

June 24 – Readeropolis – GUEST POST

June 25 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 26 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT  

June 26 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

June 27 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

June 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 28 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 29 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

June 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

June 30 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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The Overlook Murder

A Wintergreen Mystery

by Patrick Kelly

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Cozy Mystery/Police Procedural 
2nd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Chaparral Press LLC
• Number of Pages 320

It’s a short walk to the overlook but a long way down.

 

The rich entrepreneur Damian Susskind has recently survived a heart attack and quintuple bypass surgery. Suddenly aware of his own mortality, Damian summons his family and friends to Wintergreen to share the latest plans for his will. Unfortunately for Damian, one of those in attendance bears him malicious intent, and by the end of the day, Damian is dead.

 

Retired police detective Bill O’Shea is asked to help the short-staffed Wintergreen police department investigate an accidental death. Forensic evidence soon convinces Bill that this was no accident. There is plenty of motive to go around and more than a few suspects–the difficulty is tying a single killer to the crime. Will Bill and his friends solve the case, or will a Wintergreen murderer go free?

If you love beautiful mountain settings, a charming cast, and intriguing plot twists, you’re going to love the Wintergreen Mystery Series!

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Meeting the First Suspect

Cindy drove Bill down Laurel Springs Drive to a point where a uniformed officer directed traffic around a growing number of vehicles parked on the side of the road. Two Wintergreen police squad cars were already there, along with Evan Hale’s Land Rover, a Ford Escape, and Alex Sharp’s pickup. Cindy stopped her SUV briefly, and Bill hopped out. Interim Chief Alex Sharp had just arrived, and the two men met at the trailhead.

The Old Appalachian Trail branched from the road in a southwesterly direction. Speckles of sunlight broke through the forest canopy high above them. The air smelled lightly of decaying leaves from prior seasons. Lichen-patched boulders the size of cars and tiny houses lay on the mountainside, discarded carelessly by an ice age’s retreating glaciers.

Obviously anxious, Alex set a quick pace on the trail. He wore khakis and a light jacket, making Bill feel self-conscious in his catering outfit. The trail followed the contour of the mountain on a generally upward slope. The overlook was a little more than half a mile from the road, and they covered the distance in ten minutes. As they drew nearer, sunlight from the right brightened the forest.

Damian Susskind’s guests—Tanya Stafford, Lacey Akin, and Evan Hale—stood in a quiet cluster forty feet from the overlook with an officer named Rodríguez. Their faces were drawn. Lacey looked pale.

Alex waved Rodríguez over.

“What’s the story, José?” said Alex.

José pointed to where the trail continued south. “Officers Gentry and Hill went to search for a way to the bottom to see what can be done. EMS is on the way—should get here soon.” José consulted notes on his phone. “It’s not exactly clear what happened. The victim fell off the cliff—they all agree on that. But they were not together when he fell. The man—Hale—was standing back in the woods with Lacey Akin. Everyone agrees that Tanya Stafford and Susskind were out there on the rock.”

An offshoot from the main trail broke through the trees and met the solid rock at the mountain’s edge. The overlook itself was a ledge that ended abruptly in the open air. It stood alone now and peaceful, as if to proclaim its innocence—gravity deserved the blame. Wind blew up the mountainside and rustled the treetops.

“Here’s the real problem,” said José. “According to Lacey Akin, Tanya Stafford pushed Susskind off the cliff.”

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About Patrick Kelly

Pat Kelly was raised in Yorktown, Virginia, graduated from UVA, and left the state to pursue a corporate career. After settling in Texas, Pat married Susie, and together they raised two daughters in the awesome city of Austin. With the girls now grown and gone, Pat has pursued a lifelong love of writing stories.

Pat has written eight novels–books one and two in the Wintergreen Mystery Series, the Joe Robbins Series of five suspense thrillers, and one standalone novel of historical fiction (The Sheila Stories)

Pat is the winner of a Beverly Hills Book Award and a silver medalist for the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for adult fiction. He serves as Membership Chair of the Heart of Texas Chapter of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Webpage      Facebook    Twitter     Goodreads   Instagram

Purchase Links – AmazonKoboB&N

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

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June 16 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 16 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

June 17 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

June 17 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 18 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

June 18 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

June 19 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

June 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

June 20 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST

June 21 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

June 22 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 23 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 24 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.