When Sleuthing Spells Trouble (Nick and Nora Mystery)
by T. C. LoTempio
When Sleuthing Spells Trouble (Nick and Nora Mystery) Cozy Mystery 8th in Series Setting – California Publisher : Beyond the Page Publishing Publication date : November 18, 2025 Paperback Print length : 212 pages ISBN-10 : 1966322399 ISBN-13 : 978-1966322399 Digital Print length : 281 pages ISBN-13 : 978-1966322382 ASIN : B0FX5HHY92
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When a woman pleads amnesia in the death of her husband, Nick and Nora can forget about playing it safe as they track down the killer . . .
Six years ago, Mariah Blackthorne was found lying on the floor of her home, unconscious, holding the murder weapon that had killed her husband. Swearing she had no memory of the tragic event but insisting she was innocent, she nonetheless agreed to a plea deal and went to prison for the crime. Now, out on parole and desperate to know the truth, she enlists the help of local sleuth Nora Charles to find out what really happened that day—even if it means discovering she was the guilty party after all.
Intrigued by the case and convinced of the woman’s innocence, Nora agrees to investigate. With her trusty sidekick warning her that they were headed for trouble, she unearths no shortage of suspects from the dead man’s past. But as she follows every incriminating clue linking the victim to his fellow doctors and even a long string of mistresses, vicious threats begin piling up telling Nora to back off. Facing down a killer who will kill again to conceal their guilt, she and Nick may end up solving a case they won’t live to remember . . .
Includes mouthwatering recipes!
Here’s one for you:
From Nora’s Kitchen
John Travolta’s Steak Sandwich
hoagie rolls
extra-virgin olive oil
½ pound rib eye, thinly sliced
salt and pepper
coleslaw
olives or pickles (if desired)
Split hoagie roll, drizzle with olive oil and put on griddle or grill.
Season steak with salt and pepper and cook in pan in olive oil until juicy and tender.
Remove from pan, drain and place on roll.
Add coleslaw on top, add olives or pickles if desired.
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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. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series! 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
Thanks for Muffin: A Merry Muffin Mystery by Victoria Hamilton
Thanks for Muffin: A Merry Muffin Mystery Contemporary Cozy Mystery 8th in Series Setting – Wynter Castle, Western New York State Publisher : Beyond the Page Publication date : October 14, 2025 Number of Pages: 211 Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1966322240
ISBN-13 : 978-1966322245
Digital
ISBN-13 : 978-1966322238
ASIN : B0FMY9PQ2D
When Merry Wynter’s festive gala takes a fatal turn, she’ll have to grill her guests to catch a killer . . .
After years of planning and hard work, Merry Wynter was finally ready to host the grand opening gala of the Wynter Woods Center for the Performing Arts. With musicians, entertainers, members of the media and even influencers on the guest list, the event went off without a hitch—until a particularly nasty journalist posted a criticism of the gala and everything Merry was trying to accomplish. Still reeling from the review days later, Merry wasn’t sure what to feel when she discovered the reporter’s dead body on the grounds of Wynter Castle.
With many of her guests staying on at the castle for the weekend, Merry realizes they’ve got a murderer in their midst. Going from celebrating to sleuthing, she discreetly questions each of them, trying to weed out the culprit. She quickly learns that the victim had heated arguments with several of the people at the gala, and it turns out those people were all connected by a tragedy in the past. Certain the killer is among them, Merry will have to unearth the final clue that nails the killer—before the killer decides she’s getting too close .
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I Say Bru-shetta, You Say Bru-sketta!
By: Victoria Hamilton
I love growing herbs. I have, in the garden: sage, thyme, lemon thyme, lemon balm, summer savory, oregano, chives and others. Lately I have moved to growing annual herbs in a pot. I have marjoram, rosemary (a tender perennial that doesn’t fare well this far north) and a couple of types of basil.
However… the basil really takes over potted herbs! What to do with all that luscious basil? Bruschetta is something many enjoy only in the restaurant as an appetizer, but I often make it, topped with cheese, for lunch, or a meal side dish.
Now, as to the title… well, I started seeing it long ago on menus and so pronounced it my own way, as bru-shetta, only to learn it should be pronounced bru-sketta. But it’s hard to break old habits, right? Ask me, the gal who still pronounces ‘mandarin’ with the emphasis on the middle syllable, man-DAR-in, because that’s how I thought it sounded.
Enjoy my bruschetta, delicious any way you say it!
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Ingredients
Two or three tomatoes
Generous handful of fresh basil, whatever kind you have.
¼ cup finely diced sweet or red onion
2 – 3 garlic cloves
2 – 3 tablespoons olive oil
Garlic butter
2 – 3 panini rolls (or whatever kind of roll or bun you like)
1 cup grated cheese – I used extra old cheddar, but use whatever you like! Mozzarella or Monterey Jack would be perfect!
*Some people use balsamic vinegar; I’m not a fan, but go ahead if you like it, a tablespoon or so!
Freshly grated sea salt and pepper.
Directions
Do this part a few hours before you plan to make the bruschetta:
1 – Chop tomato to a medium dice, discarding seeds and excess liquid. Throw in a bowl, and add: chopped or chiffonade of basil, finely chopped onion, chopped or grated garlic.
2 – Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar (if you’re using it) the fresh ground sea salt and black pepper to taste – not too much – and mix it all up.
3 – Set aside in a jar or covered bowl so the flavors marry. You can hold a ceremony if you like, but don’t expect the garlic to obey. It’s more strong-willed than that.
Just before meal:
4 – Split your rolls. (Don’t get confused and roll your splits). You can spread a good commercial garlic butter on the split rolls, or just brush olive oil and rub a garlic clove over it.
5 – Broil until the top is crusty but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
6 – Take buns out of oven (you should never leave a bun in the oven too long!) and pile the bruschetta mix on – I use a slotted spoon so the mixture drains and I don’t soak the buns with too much of the liquid – top with grated cheese, and broil again until bubbly and melted, or even until the cheese is browned a little on top.
This is a versatile dish, as you can tell by my ingredients list, and easy to stretch. It can be an appetizer, but I call it lunch!
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About Victoria Hamilton
Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym of nationally bestselling romance author Donna Lea Simpson. Victoria is the bestselling author of three mystery series: the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, and the Merry Muffin Mysteries. She also wrote a Regency-set historical mystery series, starting with A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder.
A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery by Carmela Dutra
A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – California Publisher : Crooked Lane Books Publication date : September 9, 2025 Print length : 336 pages Hardcover ISBN-13 : 979-8892423175 Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8892423182 Digital ISBN-13 : 979-8892423199
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A food truck run by twins serves up a clucking good murder in this cozy debut mystery, perfect for fans of Lucy Burdette and Joanne Fluke.
When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show and ruffle a few feathers for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead.
With the elimination competition becoming far too literal, Beth and Seth will need all the help they can get to get out of the frying pan without landing in the fire. With their loyal assistant–and Beth’s best friend–Rylie by their side, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case before either one of them is put on the chopping block.
This humorous series debut with a mouthwatering mystery will charm readers and keep them guessing right until the not-so-bitter end.
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Beth’s Mac-and-Cheese Poppers: Bite-Sized Comfort with a Kick
Everyone thinks running a food truck is glamorous. Spoiler: it’s mostly grease, paper napkin math, and praying the fryer doesn’t die in the middle of a lunch rush. But every now and then, I get to whip up something that makes the chaos worth it.
Enter: Mac-and-Cheese Poppers.
They’re gooey. They’re golden. They’re portable. Basically, they’re everything Seth claims he doesn’t need until he eats six in one sitting. These little guys have been my secret weapon on Food Truck Showdown—perfect for impressing judges who like their food creative but secretly just want comfort carbs.
The best part? You can make them at home, no truck required. (And unlike me, you won’t have a camera crew hovering while you drop breadcrumbs all over the floor.)
Mac-and-Cheese Poppers
Makes 30–36 bites (depending on how much you “taste-test” before baking)
Ingredients:
Special equipment: 2–3 mini-muffin pans, mini-muffin liners
Nonstick cooking spray
Kosher salt
½ pound elbow macaroni
½ cup heavy cream
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
½ tsp sweet paprika
1 small clove garlic, finely grated
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese (about 6 oz)
2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Hot sauce, ranch, or marinara for serving (optional, but highly encouraged)
Instructions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line mini-muffin pans with liners and coat generously with cooking spray.
Step 2
Cook macaroni in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain again.
Step 3
In a large bowl, beat together heavy cream, cream cheese, eggs, mustard, paprika, and garlic until mostly smooth. Stir in macaroni and cheddar until combined.
Step 4
Spoon heaping tablespoons of mac-and-cheese mixture into muffin liners. In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with melted butter until it looks like wet sand. Sprinkle over each popper.
Step 5
Bake 25–30 minutes, until golden brown and set. Cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or at room temperature, with your dip of choice.
These poppers have a 100% success rate in two very important areas:
Disappearing from the plate in under five minutes.
Keeping Seth too busy chewing to criticize my driving.
Snack wisely because these poppers are dangerously delicious and have been known to cause temporary food envy. But take it from me, if you can make these perfectly golden bites, you can survive anything. Long days on a competitive food truck show that somehow involves fried chicken, flour chaos, and the occasional murder.
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About Carmela Dutra
Hailing from the Bay Area of California, Carmela Dutra cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh.
After years of working on her award-winning indie children’s picture books, she transitioned into crafting cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor and heart.
When she’s not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sketching, sipping copious amounts of coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She shares her life with her best friend and husband, raising two dinosaur-obsessed sons. A lover of alternative rock, Carmela often writes to its rhythm and finds comfort in rewatching The Big Bang Theory and M*A*S*H.
A Camping Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery by Stacy Wilde
A Camping Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery Cozy Mystery 5th in Series Setting – Poinsett Park, SC Publisher : Wild Hawk Press (April 28, 2025) Number of Pages : 137 Pages Hardcover ISBN-13 : 979-8990783133 Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8990783126 Digital ASIN : B0F6MCFQFT Audio ASIN B0F7GMFQ58
. A heart-pounding cozy mystery filled with twists, turns, and canine charm. Perfect for fans of page-turning whodunits and outdoor adventures!
Private Investigator Liz Adams isn’t thrilled when her husband, Brad, suggests a camping getaway to South Carolina’s picturesque Poinsett Park. The mention of camping brings back a haunting memory of a childhood Girl Scout trip that went terribly wrong. But for Brad, the park is a refuge—a chance to relive happy moments from his past.
The long weekend escape takes a dark turn when Brad discovers a woman’s lifeless body in the park’s peaceful lake. The victim, the landlady of a strip center in the neighboring town of Sumter, was notorious for making enemies among her tenants. With no shortage of motives but no clear suspects, Liz and her truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, embark on a quest to identify the culprit.
As Liz races to uncover the truth and put the killer in jail, the couple experiences one camping disaster after another. Will justice be served? Or will an unexpected twist of karma change everything?
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Maria’s Asian Chicken Salad
Serves 4-6
Ingredients for the salad:
1 package coleslaw
1 cup salted sunflower seeds
1 cup toasted slivered almonds
2 green onions, chopped
2 packages Oriental ramen noodles (reserve the seasoning mix for the dressing)
1 cup shredded chicken (Maria uses precooked rotisserie chicken)
1 eleven ounce can of mandarin oranges (drained)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the slivered almonds on a cookie sheet and roast for 5-8 minutes or until slightly brown. Add the above ingredients and the almonds to a salad bowl.
Ingredients for the dressing:
½ cup sugar
½ cup olive oil
1/3 cup white vinegar
2 packages Oriental seasoning mix
Whisk the above ingredients together and pour over the salad. Toss and serve. Enjoy!
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About Stacy Wilder
Stacy Wilder writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets.
Beyond writing, Stacy is deeply devoted to her faith, family, and her beloved Labradors. She is also enthusiastic about the causes she supports, the beauty of art, the serenity of the beach, the adventure of travel, and the joy of reading.
She and her husband live in Houston, TX, with a totally spoiled Labrador named Eve.
Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery) by Michelle L. Clifton
Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery) Cozy Mystery 2nd in the Series Setting – On Board a cruise ship and Cartagena, Colombia Publisher : Salty Inspirations (April 8, 2025) Hardcover : 277 pages ISBN-13 : 979-8990881730 Publisher : Salty Inspirations (April 8, 2025) Language : English Paperback : 277 pages ISBN-13 : 979-8990881747 Digital ASIN : B0F3Z14WPJ
. Trapped in a sinister plot with a vengeful drug cartel is a killer vacation.
Taryn wanted sun, cocktails, and relaxation. Instead, she and Alex found themselves tangled in yet another deadly puzzle.
After months of chaos and a near-death experience, Taryn and Alex are desperate for a break. A romantic cruise seems like the perfect escape. Adventurous excursions, tropical drinks, and uninterrupted passion. But their dream vacation takes a dark turn when a danger from the past resurfaces, and bodies start piling up.
Trapped in the middle of a sinister plot, Taryn must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again. With a vengeful drug cartel lurking in the shadows, the stakes are higher than ever. Will Taryn’s sharp instincts be enough to outmaneuver the enemy, or will their dream getaway become a deadly nightmare?
Fans of Janet Evanovich and rom-cozy mysteries will love this fast-paced escape filled with murder, romance, and laugh-out-loud moments.
Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses is the second book in the Taryn O’Kelly Mystery series—but it can be read as a standalone. Perfect for readers who love strong female sleuths, tropical twists, and a splash of snark.
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Solve a Mystery and Sip a Spicy Bloody Mary!
When you board a cruise ship, you expect a few things: good food, warm sun, fruity drinks, and maybe a little harmless adventure. You don’t usually expect murder. But that’s exactly what Taryn O’Kelly faces in Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses. My latest mystery features amateur sleuthing, unexpected twists, and just enough danger to keep you guessing until the very last chapter.
While Taryn navigates suspicious deaths, secret agendas, and a few heart-pounding surprises, she also manages to enjoy one of cruising’s greatest traditions: the cocktail hour. And let me tell you, no drink captures the spirit of danger and vacation shenanigans quite like a Spicy Bloody Mary.
In fact, here’s a little sneak peek from Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses that shows just how important the right cocktail can be. Even when you’re investigating a murder:
“The guest service guy gave me a different number than the one he shared with Sara,” I said, sipping my Spicy Bloody Mary.“These Bloody Marys are good,” I gushed. “I need this recipe!”
“It’s spicy V8 and Sriracha vodka that makes these so good,” Robert pointed out, taking a sip of his.
“How do you know?” I questioned.
“One, I have very refined taste buds, and two, I asked the first morning I was here,” he grinned.
I started to punch him but controlled myself. He was a turd. Instead, I smiled, because turd or not, he was funny and sometimes cute.
Inspired by that scene (and a few personal adventures), I’m sharing a cocktail recipe that’s become a family tradition for me during our annual trips to Lake Powell. Every year, my husband’s family and I gather on the lake, and the Spicy Bloody Mary is the drink that gets things started. It’s become a ritual a little spicy, a little savory, and the perfect way to toast to a new adventure.
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Spicy Bloody Mary Recipe
Serves: 1
This Bloody Mary isn’t your standard Sunday brunch fare. It’s bold, spicy, and just a little bit mysterious. Perfect for chasing clues or relaxing with a good book.
Ingredients:
2 oz Sriracha vodka
4 oz Clamato juice or Spicy V8
1/2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 dashes hot sauce (like Tabasco)
Pinch of lemon pepper
Pinch of garlic salt
Pinch of regular salt
Pinch of black pepper
Pinch of celery salt
Ice cubes
Garnishes:
Lime wedge
Green olives
Instructions:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add the Sriracha vodka, Clamato juice, fresh lime juice, fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon pepper, garlic salt, regular salt, black pepper, and celery salt.
Shake gently to mix all the flavors without over-diluting.
Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice.
Garnish with a lime wedge and green olives.
Trust me, after one sip, you’ll understand why Taryn couldn’t resist asking for the recipe. Even while untangling lies, secrets, and danger.
Why the Spicy Bloody Mary?
Choosing the Spicy Bloody Mary for Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses wasn’t random. This drink has a history. It’s classic yet endlessly customizable, much like the mysteries I love writing. It’s spicy, savory, and carries just a hint of danger. Will it be too hot to handle? Will you need another round to settle your nerves after a shocking twist?
Plus, Bloody Marys are practically a cruise tradition. There’s something about salty sea air, deck chairs, and a tall glass of spicy goodness that sets the stage for fun… or maybe a little bit of trouble. Taryn certainly finds a little of both.
A Toast to Adventure (and Murder)
So next time you’re looking for your next read and your next cocktail, consider this a sign. Mix up a Spicy Bloody Mary, curl up somewhere comfortable (preferably with a view of the water, but a backyard chair works just as well), and dive into the high-seas mystery of Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses. Because let’s be honest, everything’s better with a good drink, a juicy murder, and just a little bit of sass.
Cheers to adventures that don’t always go as planned, cocktails that might be a little too delicious and mysteries that keep you guessing long past the last sip!
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Enjoy this peek inside:
‛The other guests were fleeing the scene with their drinks still in their hands. At $10 a drink, you can’t waste those babies.’
‛That man needed coffee or something. Good grief, I barely touched him. He should not have been standing so close to my door. What right did he have to stare me down? Beginning to feel annoyed with the encounter, I took a moment to breathe and tell myself this was not worth my energy. He can not control my feelings or my day.’
‛I had never been so happy to see them standing together. My heart leaped; no one had been snatched or killed. Yay! What has my life come to?’
‛The ECS team did not want to panic the other passengers. Probably to keep the appearance that cruising is safe and people don’t die.’
“Who said anything about wasting it? If I am going to die, I am not going down without my drink. I’ll finish it. To justice!” She gulped the Aguardiente and coughed again. “It burns,” she wheezed.
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About Michelle L. Clifton
Michelle L. Clifton is the author of the Taryn O’Kelly series, which mixes laugh-out-loud humor, steamy romance, and gripping mysteries. Her books are perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, offering a modern twist on cozy mysteries with amateur sleuth Taryn O’Kelly at the helm.
Michelle was raised in Southwest Colorado in the great valleys of the Rocky Mountains. There she married the love of her life and raised two beautiful kids, a cat, two dogs, and chickens! She has worked in the dental field, dance and theater industry, athletics, and event coordinating. She created Salty Inspirations to pursue her passion for writing.
However, her favorite job is being MOM. Her family made a major move to Cape Coral, Florida, just in time for Hurricane Ian. When not crafting tales of intrigue, Michelle can be found spending time with her family hiking and camping in Colorado and boating and beaching in Florida. Oh! And writing of course!
Muffalettas and Murder: Small Town Girl Mysteries by Jann Franklin
Muffalettas and Murder: Small Town Girl Mysteries Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – Louisiana Publisher : Rougarou Press (January 30, 2023) Paperback : 238 pages ISBN-13 : 979-8987739402 Digital ASIN : B0BPQYJQ3T
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Evangeline Delafose is finding Graisseville, Louisiana just as she remembered—boring and uneventful. Until her brother Nate asks her to help solve a murder.
Follow Ev as she navigates clues, dead bodies, and quirky small-town residents to solve a mystery. And of course, show her little brother that she’s still got it.
If you like cozy mysteries with twists and turns, deep South settings, and a hint of romance, you’ll love this series! Let’s not forget quirky yet charming characters who remind you of family—sometimes you want to hug them, and sometimes you want to disown them. Enjoy small town Graisseville with Ev as she solves crime with help from her family and friends. This is a clean faith based read with no profanity, sex, or graphic violence.
This book is the first of the Small-Town Girl Mystery Series.
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In my first in series, “Muffalettas and Murder”, Evangeline Delafose can’t pay her private investigator. They are childhood friends, and she knows how much he adores her mother’s muffalettas. She pitches the idea of paying him with the tasty Louisiana tradition instead of cash, and he eagerly accepts.
The muffaletta (also spelled muffuletta) traces its roots back to early 1900 New Orleans. Salvatore Lupo set up his shop, Central Grocery along with a flood of other immigrants with the same idea—to peddle delicious food from their home country. Salvatore noticed his customers purchasing the ingredients separately, and came up with the brilliant idea to slice a loaf in half and put them all together as a sandwich.
The soft round bread was called muffuletto, so Salvadore borrowed the name for his sandwich. Eventually, the name morphed into muffaletta or muffuletta, and the sandwiches became part of New Orleans culture.
You can make your own muffalettas, completely by scratch or with a few cheats 😊 :
Cut loaves of bread in half horizontally, hollow out some of the excess bread to make room
Spread each piece of bread with equal amounts of olive spread
Layer bottom half of each loaf with salami, ham, mozzarella, provolone
Replace top half on each loaf and cut sandwiches into quarters
Serve immediately, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for a few hours to all flavors to mingle and olive spread to soak into the bread
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About Jann Franklin
Jann Franklin is a faith-based cozy mystery writer living in Grand Cane, Louisiana with slightly less than three hundred other people. Many of her stories are based on the tales she hears from residents.
She and her husband John enjoy Sundays at Grand Cane Baptist Church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in their backyard. Their kids come to visit, when they aren’t too busy living their big-city lives. Visit her at www.jannfranklin.com
A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery) by Jill Piscitello
A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting – Hampton Beach, NH Wild Rose Press (June 26, 2023) Paperback : 250 pages ISBN-10 : 1509249176 ISBN-13 : 978-1509249176 Kindle ASIN : B0C2ZH3XL2
On the heels of a public, broken engagement, Maeve Cleary returns to her childhood home in Hampton Beach, NH. When a dead body turns up behind her mother’s music school, three old friends land on the suspect list. Licking her wounds soon takes a back seat to outrunning the paparazzi who spin into a frenzy, casting her in a cloud of suspicion. Maeve juggles her high school sweetheart, a cousin with a touch of clairvoyance, a no-nonsense detective, and an apologetic, two-timing ex-fiancé. Will the negative publicity impact business at the Music Box— the very place she’d hoped to make a fresh start?
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Check out this yummy recipe:
BBQ Country Style Spareribs
Jill Piscitello
Ingredients:
2-3 Pounds Country Style Pork Ribs
1 Cup Chopped Onion (sliced not diced)
1 Cup of Ketchup
1 Cup Water
2 Tsp Salt
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
¼ Cup White Vinegar
¼ Cup Brown Sugar
2 Tsp Dry Mustard
1 Tsp Paprika
Directions:
Mix all ingredients (other than ribs) in a bowl, and set aside
Brown ribs in a pan on top of stove
Place ribs in 13″x 9″ casserole dish, fatty side up
Pour prepared sauce over ribs
Cover with foil
Bake at 350ᵒ for 90 minutes
Remove cover, and cook 30 minutes
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About Jill Piscitello
Jill Piscitello is a teacher, author, and an avid fan of multiple literary genres. Although she divides her reading hours among several books at a time, a lighthearted story offering an escape from the real world can always be found on her nightstand.
A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.
You love your cat, right? So it’s not surprising to share the culinary joys of the Christmas season with your faithful feline. How? What about a home-cooked Christmas dinner for your little
darling? It’s not something I do every year, but I’ve cooked a few times for my
cat Avalon, and he loved it.
Steamed Salmon with Catnip Sauce on a Bed of Heavenly Rice
Ingredients:
For the rice:
1/3 cup white rice
3 black pitted olives
1 egg
3 tablespoons cat milk
1 tablespoon grated cheese
1/2 teaspoon of olive oil
For the fish:
70 grams of fish (preferably salmon or tuna)
1 teaspoon full-fat yogurt
Catnip (preferably fresh, but dried catnip is also fine)
Preparation:
Cook the rice as directed on the package
Whisk the whites and yolks of the eggs together until smooth
Add the grated cheese
Heat the olive oil in a pan
Add the eggs and cheese
Add the rice
Stir well until the eggs are cooked
Let it cool for a while, so your cat won’t burn its palate
Mix in some cat milk right before serving
Decorate with small pieces of black olives.
Steam the fish
Let it cool for a while
Drizzle the yogurt over the fish
Sprinkle with catnip
Serve along with the heavenly rice
Of course, you can always improvise with this dish. However, avoid using onions, leeks, and garlic since these are toxic to cats. Tomatoes should be avoided as well because they can
cause tummy aches.
Tuna Tea
Drain the liquid from a can of tuna (preferably choose one without added oil and salt – the health of your cat comes first)
Dilute with mineral water
Serve in a regular drinking bowl
In order to make it playful, you can add one or two ice cubes to the Tuna Tea. Fun guaranteed!
Let me know in the comments if you will be making these Christmas recipes for your cat this year.
Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story
by Vanessa Morgan
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Genre: Memoir / Cats
Date of Publication: June 4, 2015
ISBN:1511863633
ASIN: B00XC1NE4I
Number of pages:134 pages
Word Count: 31.468 words
Cover Artist: Gilles Vranckx
Tagline: Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.
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MY REVIEW
The day Avalon crossed paths with Vanessa, her life as she new it ended. Was it fate?
I think it was. Avalon was a handsome cat, a Turkish Van, the breed Vanessa had been looking for. She new they were a possessive breed, but nothing prepared her for this cat.
He tortured the other cats in her household, threw up on her guinea pig, and flew into tantrums, tearing her house apart if she looked at another creature, especially another cat.
But there was another side to Avalon. Adoration. He adored Vanessa. He was hers. And as Vanessa’s life changed, she was his.
This story is about Vanessa as much as it’s about Avalon. She tells much about herself, her past, her thoughts, as the years pass.
Sharing her vulnerabilities, sacrificing opportunities, through good times and bad, Vanessa gave her all to Avalon.
Most pet owners soon learn they aren’t owners. Their pet is not a pet, it’s a member of the family. And sometimes they rule the roost.
The extremes Avalon went to astounded me. Puking on the guinea pig, terrorizing the other cats, letting his displeasure be known with escalating howls, even kicking her boyfriend out, he was to be commended for his unswerving spirit.
The things Vanessa gives up for Avalon may seem like a bit much, but haven’t we all done things for our furry friends that may seem ridiculous to others? I know I have.
Vanessa feels like their paths crossed for a reason. Her and Avalon were meant to be together. And I believe her. Never have I heard of such a bond as they shared.
This story made me cry. But I smiled through the tears and when I finished it, I hugged my dog and my cat, gave them some special treats, and when we snuggled together at bedtime, I felt whole.
5 Stars
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Synopsis:
From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.
With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house.
Avalon was so incorrigible that even the landlord ordered to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon’s demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.
Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.
Filming of The Strangers Outside took place in August and
September 2010. Avalon joined the set for two days. The location: a vacation
cabin in the woods of Sint-Katelijne-Waver, a place where shadows came alive
and danced with the rare patches of light. The perfect site for a horror movie.
Outside the vacation cabin, the film crew prepared for
action. Camera tripods and lights were set up. An actor in monk clothes smoked
his last cigarette before the shoot.
Two large tables with food and drinks sat in the shade, each
bottle of water labeled with the name of an actor or crew member. Avalon had a
bottle all for himself.
Avalon was remarkably at ease on set. He examined the
vacation cabin for about half an hour, sniffing his way through the dusty
corners, before settling into a deep sleep on the couch.
While everyone fawned over Avalon and fed him snacks from the
buffet table, the director gave us a quick rundown of the scene to come. “The
camera focuses on Avalon lying on the coffee table. In the background, through
the windows, we see actors Pierre Lekeux and Iulia Nastase arriving home.
Avalon follows their movements with his head as they move from one side of the
house to the other. When the front door opens, Avalon jumps off the table to
greet them.”
“Avalon won’t do that,” I said. “Just like children, cats are
uncontrollable. It’s a great idea for a scene, but I’m afraid you’ll have to
come up with something less demanding.”
Apparently, I didn’t know my cat very well, because Avalon
did exactly what was expected of him.
The scene was shot several times in a row and Avalon never
missed a beat.
In another scene, while eating his Schesir dinner, Avalon suddenly had to look up in panic. The fear in his eyes looked genuine. He was perfect.
Sitting at the dining table, actor Pierre Lekeux watched Avalon
with incomprehensibility and admiration, shaking his head in denial. “I need at
least twenty minutes to prepare a scene, to enter a certain state of mind. But
this cat nails it in a matter of seconds. Avalon’s the best actor on set. He’s
even better than me.”
Pierre was right. Avalon had this air–he carried himself in
a certain way, very much aware of his charisma. He was a natural performer. A
miniature star.
About Author Vanessa Morgan:
Vanessa Morgan is the editor of the movie reference guides When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampire Movies, and Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children. She also has had one cat book (Avalon) and four supernatural thrillers (Drowned Sorrow, The Strangers Outside, A Good Man, and Clowders) published. Three of her stories have been turned into movies. She has written for myriad Belgian magazines and newspapers and introduces movie screenings at several European film festivals. She is also a programmer for the Offscreen Film Festival in Belgium. When she’s not working on her latest book, you can find her reading, watching movies, eating out, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats.
Bread Over Troubled Water (A Bread Shop Mystery) Cozy Mystery 8th in Series Setting – California Kensington Cozies (November 29, 2022) Mass Market Paperback : 304 pages ISBN-10 : 1496733568 ISBN-13 : 978-1496733566 Digital ASIN : B09TX2QMZY
Rising cozy mystery author Winnie Archer cooks up her latest installment in her delightful and delicious Bread Shop Mystery series.
Photographer Ivy Culpepper is soon to make a home with her husband-to-be in the California beach town of Santa Sofia—but the Yeast of Eden bakery remains her second home. It’s not just a place to work, but a community. And now one member of the community has been murdered . . .
A regular who used Yeast of Eden as a workspace, Josh Prentiss always turned heads with his startlingly good looks and thousand-watt smile. But Ivy can’t help noticing one morning that he seems distracted and off his game. Later, during a visit to the park where she and Miguel plan to hold their engagement party—with plenty of baked goods on the menu—her rescue pug, Agatha, sniffs out Josh lying in a bed of poppies…scone cold dead.
There’s no reason for Ivy to get involved. She’s busy enough holding down the fort as the shop’s owner, Olaya, cares for her recently orphaned niece, not to mention the stress when a new employee is fired and storms out in a rage. Then a band of rabble-rousers starts picketing the bakery, claiming that Olaya’s sourdough roll is what killed Josh—and Ivy hears some salacious gossip about her beloved boss. She doesn’t think there’s a grain of truth to the seedy rumors—but to prove it, she’ll have to start sleuthing . . .
~~~~~
Check out this yummy Recipe:
Blueberry Cornmeal Cake
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
Zest from 2 lemons
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or cup gluten free flour
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter or grease an 8-inch springform pan. You can also cut a parchment round to fit the bottom of the pan.
Stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream sugar and butter using stand mixer or hand held mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lemon zest.
Add dry ingredients to butter mixture, alternating with buttermilk End with flour mixture.
Pour batter into prepared cake pan. Sprinkle fresh blueberries on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40-50 minutes. The cake should starts to pull away from the sides of the pan and springs back when lightly pressed in the center with a fingertip.
Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove cake from springform pan; serve warm or at room temperature.
~~~~~
About Winnie Archer
Winnie Archer is the nationally bestselling author of the Bread Shop Mystery series, as well as the Lola Cruz Mysteries and the Magical Dressmaking Mystery series written as Melissa Bourbon. A former middle school English teacher, lives in North Carolina with her educator husband, Carlos, and the youngest of their five children. Visit Winnie Archer online at www.MelissaBourbon.com!
Green witch Pax Thatcher leads a busy life. Between working two jobs, applying to grad school, and helping out at the old herb shop that belongs to her friend and mentor, Miss Millie, Pax doesn’t have much time for practicing spells. She’s lucky she can keep her enormous plant collection alive.
Fortunately, she can talk to her plants, and they talk back.
But when Pax arrives for a visit to her seaside hometown of Honesty Harbor, Maine, and discovers Miss Millie is missing, she drops everything to find her. When she does, it’s just in time to hear Miss Millie’s dying words:
Poison. Find them.
Unable to believe anyone would want to murder the kind old woman, Pax vows to fulfill Miss Millie’s last request. But how can a boring little witch who doesn’t even own a cauldron solve a murder? Ask the only witness—a potted plant—what happened.
But the more she listens to her leafy allies, the more questions she has. And when others begin to view her as the prime suspect, Pax must hurry to weed out the killer before someone else gets whacked.
~~~~~
Recipe
In The Chamomile Conspiracy, teashop and restaurant owner Daniel says his new chef is from Menorca and as a result there’s a new soup on the menu, Caldereta de Langosta!
It is a lobster stew that takes advantage of Honesty Harbor’s proximity to good lobster grounds and ingredients that bring to mind the Mediterranean. A perfect summer dish, especially if you’re fortunate enough to live on the coast where the lobsters roam!
It’s a bit labor-intensive, and considering it contains both lobsters and saffron it might put a dent in your wallet, but if you want something super savory and so different than your traditional soups like clam chowder, you should give Caldereta de Langosta a try! Especially for a special occasion!
Here’s the rest of what you need:
Two 2 pound live lobsters (female if possible!)
1/2 cup of extra-virgin olive oil (get the good stuff)
1 large Spanish onion, diced a quarter-inch
2 plum tomatoes, chopped coarse
4 thinly-sliced garlic cloves
Sea salt and ground black pepper
1 Bay leaf
2 large sliced green peppers
1 liter stock from the lobsters
Topping
3 thinly sliced garlic cloves (no vampires are gonna get you after you eat this)
1 large bunch of parsley, leaves removed, finely-chopped
4 threads of saffron
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup brandy
10 toasted almonds
(Optional) Roe from the lobsters if they have it
For this dish, the lobster should be prepared while alive. However, not everyone can do that, so it is perfectly acceptable to have the lobster prepared at the counter. The heads should be removed from the tail, along with the legs. Throw out the insides but reserve the roe. Pop that in the fridge until you need it. Cut the tails crosswise in four pieces. Cut the head in half. Crack open the legs and reserve the claws. Keep lobster on ice and be ready to cook it immediately.
(If you do this at home, put the lobsters in ice water for an hour. This numbs them and they feel nothing when you prepare them.)
Heat the oil in a casserole dish on high and sauté the tomatoes, onions, garlic, a little parsley, and peppers, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for another 20 minutes, continuing to stir frequently.
Put the sauce through a food mill and add it back into the dish, on very low heat. Don’t let it burn!
Now, the lobsters. Boil the head and legs over high in salted water enough to cover them. Set heat down to medium and simmer for half an hour. Drain and reserve the stock.
Add the tail pieces and claws to the sauce. Mix the sauce and the lobster well, add the stock, bay leaf, and salt, raise heat to medium and bring to a boil. Cover and let cook for 20 minutes.
Crush the lobster roe, parsley, almonds, garlic, and saffron (you can add a little olive oil if you like) and mix until you have a paste. You’ll need a mortar and pestle for this part! Then add the brandy and lemon juice, mix. Add paste to the lobster and sauce, stir lightly, and simmer for five minutes.
Be sure to fish out that bay leaf! (I always forget.)
You should serve this immediately, and it’s best with a baguette to dunk in the sauce, or you can serve over a hunk of toast in a bowl. Be sure to have somewhere for the shells!
Enjoy!
~~~~~
About Louise Marvin
Louise Marvin’s mother wrote Star Trek fanfiction in the 1980s, so it was only natural that Louise follows in her footsteps. FanFiction played a big part in Louise’s development and coincidence as a writer, inspiring her to try her hand at original fiction. THE CHAMOMILE CONSPIRACY is her first book. Louise lives in New England with an elderly cat and an extensive LEGO Star Wars collection and works at a medical cannabis facility.
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