Christa Nardi's Blog, page 28

Book Review: CATCH A FALLING STAR Eden Mysteries Book 1 by Laurel Heidtman

Synopsis
Missing treasure, criminals, cops, co-worker hostility, and the surprise appearance of an ex-lover — definitely not what mystery novelist Kate Rawlings expects when she accepts a summer teaching position at her alma mater in the peaceful college town of Eden, Kentucky. 
Michael Mabry was Kate’s lover in college, but did she ever really know him? Thirty years later, he’s on the run from his partners in a Chicago museum heist in which a valuable ancient Indian artifact called the Shooting Star was stolen and two people killed. Michael escaped with the Star and his life, but he needs money to get out of the country. After so long, Eden should be the last place anyone would think to look for him, but his partners and an insurance investigator with his own agenda are hot on his trail. Kate finds herself suspected of involvement in the heist, but when a murder occurs in Eden, she also finds herself suspected of murder.
Review
A mystery novelist, still involved with her college sweetheart, Kate can acknowledge Michael is not marriage material. Still, she doesn't grasp the extent to which he has engaged in illegal activities for the past thirty years. And she never questioned his disappearances and reappearances. Add in the professor, the insurance investigator, the police chief, and Kate's best friend who is head of college security. The last pieces are the others who Michael wronged so many years ago and the people he crossed when he disappeared after the botched heist of the star.
The pace is good and though it is apparent that Michael is the con and Kate the victim, the addition of the mob and other personalities add the suspense and round out the story line. This was a well-written mystery, with twists and turns. As the first in the series, Kate is positioned to be involved in additional mysteries, and perhaps, a romance.

AMAZON

Blog Tour and Book Review: A BROKEN SPINE A Beloved Bookroom Mystery by Dorothy St. James

Synopsis:
The first in an exciting new series featuring Trudell Becket, a spunky librarian who will stop at nothing to save her beloved books and catch a killer!
Trudell Becket, book-loving librarian, finds herself in a bind when the library where she works is turned into a state-of-the-art bookless library. In a rare move of rebellion, Trudell rescues hundreds of her library's beloved books slated for the recycle center. She sets up a secret book room in the library's basement and opens it to anyone who shares her love of the printed book.

When the town councilman, who was the vocal proponent of the library's transformation into a "futuristic technological center," is crushed under an overturned shelf of DVDs, Trudell becomes the police's prime suspect for his murder. She was the only person in the library at the time of his death, or so the police believe. But that's not true. For the past month, Trudell had been letting a few dozen residents into the building through the basement entrance so they could read and check out the printed books.

But if she tells the police about the backdoor patrons who were in the library at the time of the murder, she'd have to explain about the secret book room and risk losing the books. In order to protect herself from being arrested for a murder she didn't commit, Trudell--with the help of a group of dedicated readers--decides to investigate. She quickly discovers you can't always judge a book by its cover.
Review
Without a doubt, the characters drive this story. Tru is a single, introverted, librarian who is passionate about the printed page and the classics. She's also a rule follower, who when pushed breaks a few.  Although insecure, Tru won't let go of the secret bookroom with print books and classics, speaks her mind, often to her own detriment. She also adopts a cat, Raven, and keeps bringing him or her to work.
The supporting characters each have a story from her best friend, Tori, and Flossie to Charlie, Tori's latest love interest, and Jace, the jock-now-cop, who broke Tru's heart in high school and returns to Cypress after some issues in New York. At times, it's hard to figure out who are the good guys and who Tru should be careful around. When it all comes together, it makes sense and I, at least, hadn't figured it out before Tru. 
The story has a steady pace once the foundation is set. If you like cozy mysteries in a small town and love books as much as Tru, you'll enjoy this one, especially the "hero" of the day at the end.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
About the Author

Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, a crazy dog, and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn't as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader's Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: "amazing", "perfect", "filled with emotion", and "lined with danger."

Author Links Website: http://www.dorothystjames.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/dorothywrites Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothy.stjames Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/dorothy-st-james 
Purchase Links Amazon - IndieBound - Bookshop - B&N 
a Rafflecopter giveaway 
TOUR PARTICIPANTS January 19 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW January 19 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT January 19 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 19 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW January 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT January 20 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 20 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW January 20 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, GUEST POST January 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW January 20 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW January 21 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT January 21 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 21 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW January 21 – MJB Reviewers - SPOTLIGHT January 22 – Books to the Ceiling - AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 22 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 22 – Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, GUEST POST January 22 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy - REVIEW January 22 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT January 23 – Baroness' Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW January 23 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW January 23 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT January 23 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT January 23 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 24 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic - GUEST POST January 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST January 24 – Brianne's Book Reviews – REVIEW January 24 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT January 24 – StoreyBook Reviews - REVIEW January 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT January 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW January 25 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST January 25 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT January 25 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW January 25 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT  

Blog Tour: Spotlight THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL by Kat Martin

 Book Details:

Book Title:  The Ultimate Betrayal (a Maximum Security Novel) by Kat Martin
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  464 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller
Publisher:  HQN
Release date:   December 29, 2020
Tour dates: Jan 6 to Jan 26, 2021
Content Rating:  R. The "F" word is used 12 times in the book. There are some explicit consensual sex scenes. "With plenty of suspense, The Ultimate Betrayal is exactly the kind of escape you've been craving." - BOOKTRIB

Book Description:

When her father is accused of espionage and treason, journalist Jessie Kegan has no doubt the man she looked up to her entire life is innocent. Worse yet, before Colonel Kegan can stand trial, he’s found dead of a heart attack…but Jessie knows it was murder. Forcing aside her grief, she’s determined to use her investigative resources to clear her father’s name. But going after the truth means Jessie soon finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who wants that truth to stay buried with her father. Protecting Jessie Kegan is a job bodyguard Brandon Garrett can’t refuse. Jessie isn’t just a client at Maximum Security—she’s the sister of his best friend, Danny, who was killed in Afghanistan. With dangerous enemies gunning for Jessie from every angle, keeping her safe will mean keeping her close, and Bran finds their mutual attraction growing, though being Danny’s sister puts Jessie out of bounds. With their backs against the wall, Jessie and Bran will have to risk everything to expose her father’s killer—before his legacy dies with his daughter.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Indiebound
kobo ~ Google ~ Apple
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Bestselling author Kat Martin, a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, currently resides in Missoula, Montana with Western-author husband, L. J. Martin. More than seventeen million copies of Kat’s books are in print, and she has been published in twenty foreign countries. Fifteen of her recent novels have taken top-ten spots on the New York Times Bestseller List, and her novel, BEYOND REASON, was recently optioned for a feature film. Kat’s latest novel, THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL, a Romantic Thriller, was released in paperback December 29th.
Connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads 
Interview with Kat Martin:What do you love about the setting of your book THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL? I love Colorado. Beautiful mountains and extreme climates provide plenty of interesting scenery and challenges. 
I was impressed by the amount of technical data in THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL. What kind of research was required for this book? I spend a lot of time researching my books, though I always hope the information just blends in. Because this story was set around a military base, it took an exceptional amount of work. I mean, what the heck do I know about an army base? A lot more now than I did then! I was grateful for the input of an author friend of mine, a former Green Beret, Colonel Thom Nicholson, who helped me get the terms right and watched for any errors that I might have made. 
Who was the hardest character to write? Who was the easiest? The hardest character is always the bad guys. Brandon was the easiest because he was in two earlier books, which meant I knew him well. 
How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing for over 30 years. 
What’s one thing you wish you knew more about? The stars and planets. Fascinating.  
Would you rather always be an hour early or be constantly twenty minutes late? I’m always early. 
What is one of the funniest things that has happened to you? Getting the back of my skirt stuck inside my stockings. Luckily we don’t wear them anymore. 
What’re the most frustrating things about being an author? Being unable to control your cover, pub dates, and phases of marketing. 
Why did you choose to write in the romantic suspense genre? I love action adventure movies and I love romance. The combination fits me perfectly. 
How can readers reach you? You can find me on Facebook and Instagram at Kat Martin Author or contact me through my webpage www.katmartin.com. I always answer if I get an email. 
Tour Schedule:
Jan 6 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 6 - BookishKelly2020 – book spotlight
Jan 8 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 11 – Books Lattes & Tiaras – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 12 – Sadie's Spotlight – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 13 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 13 - Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 14 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 15 – Christa Reads and Writes – books spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 15 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 19 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 20 –The Obsessed Reader - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 21 – Jazzy Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 25 – 100 Pages A Day – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 26 – I'm All About Books – book spotlight / giveaway

  Enter the Giveaway:

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Blog Tour and Book Review: WEDDING BEAR BLUES A Teddy Bear Mystery #4 by Meg Macy

 

ABOUT WEDDING BEAR BLUES

When a heartless killer ruins a Valentine's Day wedding, teddy bear shop manager Sasha Silverman vows to solve the crime . . .

 At the Silver Bear Shop and Factory, Sasha will be selling plenty of bride and groom teddy bears come springtime. But this Valentine's Day weekend, she'd take any of those silent, stuffed couples over the real thing. Sasha and her sister Maddie are bridesmaids at Cissy Davidson’s upcoming wedding in Silver Hollow. Cissy is fuming over the worst choice of best man—the jerk who broke her sister Debbie's heart—and the groom-to-be won't budge in his decision. At the rehearsal dinner you could cut the tension with a wedding cake knife. 

That is, until best man Dylan is found dead, impaled with an ice pick. Although jilted Debbie is the most likely suspect—the blood on her dress doesn't help her case—the bride begs Sasha to prove her sister's innocence. If anyone's going to walk down the aisle, Sasha will first need to find the cold-hearted killer who iced Dylan . . . 
Review
Sasha and Maddie work hard in the family bear factory, with special bears, all made behind the showroom. It's the weekend of Valentine's Day and the Valentine's bears are a hit. With Cissy's wedding coming up, they're thinking of wedding bears as the next specialty bear. Sasha isn't sure why she agreed to be in the wedding party. Maddie is the one friends with Cissy, not her, and Cissy is the bridezilla of weddings. Honestly, I expected her to be the victim.
The wedding connects many of the characters, with all the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Adding to the tension, Cissy's sister, the maid of honor, has history with the best man, Dylan. In fact, not too many, other than the groom, Gus, seem to like Dylan. That makes it tricky, when he's murdered. Although not part of the wedding party, Sasha's ex also makes an appearance with his new bride-to-be. 
The characters are well-developed and there are some surprises along the way, including a second murder. There's also a fundraiser to benefit research for brain cancer in children and teddy bears being used for child pornography - the ones made by a competitor. 
All in all, this was an engaging read with interesting subplots and an interesting cast of characters. If you like cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this one. Although the fourth in the series, it's the first one I've read. It can be easily read as a stand alone. FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.About Meg Macy

Award-winning mystery author Meg Macy lives in Southeast Michigan, close enough to Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Dexter -- the setting of her "Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear" cozy mysteries for Kensington. She is also one-half of the writing team of D.E. Ireland for the Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins mysteries; two books, Wouldn't It Be Deadly and Get Me to the Grave On Time were Agatha Award finalists for Best Historical. Meg's first published book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Best First Novel Spur Award from Western Writers of America. Meg loves reading historical and cozy mysteries, gardening, crafts, and watercolor painting.

Author Links Facebook Twitter Instagram Website Pinterest Subscribe to my newsletter! 
Purchase Links  AMAZON B&N KOBO Google Play 
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
January 4 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT January 4 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT January 5 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW January 5 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 6 – Christy's Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHTJanuary 6 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews –                       SPOTLIGHTJanuary 7 - Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHTJanuary 7 - I Read What You Write – REVIEW January 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW January 8 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW January 9 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 9 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW January 10 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT   January 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST January 11 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 12 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT January 12 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW January 13 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW January 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW January 14 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT January 14 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - SPOTLIGHT   January 15 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT January 15 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT January 16 – Diane Reviews Books – GUEST POST January 17 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 
  

Book Review: SHOOT THE BREEZE Detective Kate Rosetti Mystery Book 1 by Gina LaManna

Synopsis
Welcome to St. Paul, Minnesota—home to strong coffee, deadly winters, and Detective Kate Rosetti—a rising star in the local homicide department. When a young woman turns up dead along the Mississippi River in her latest assignment, Detective Rosetti quickly realizes it’s the work of a notorious cross-country serial killer. 
To complicate matters, Kate’s troublemaking sister turns up out of the blue in need of a place to live. A strikingly handsome FBI agent appears at the crime scene, convinced this case belongs to him. And a certain British billionaire is a little too interested in the murder… and in Kate. 
As she begins to close in on the killer, the investigation takes a turn for the personal. It’s one riddle after the next, and if Kate can’t sort out the murderer’s identity before his next kill, she’ll be up next on the autopsy table.
Review
This was a quick, fun read with some interesting characters, from Kate and her sister, Jane, to the handsome FBI agent, Russo, and Gem, the billionaire. Then there are all the "characters" in the night clubs Kate ventures into trying to find the killer. The pace is steady, there's humor and tension. Kate's job might have been easier if she had some social sense. The end includes a Christmas party with Kate not accepting the advances of either man pursuing her.  
This is the first in the series of four books, and my first Kate Rosetti mystery. I'm not sure Kate is willing to let down her defenses and let Russo or Gem in, but I'm pulling for Russo. Warning: Some readers might find some of the night club activities offensive. 
AMAZON

Blog Tour Showcase- THE THINGS THAT LAST FOREVER : A Vic Lenoski Mystery by Peter W. J. Hayes

Synopsis  After a house fire hospitalizes his partner and forces him onto medical leave, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detective Vic Lenoski starts a desperate search for the woman who set the blaze. She is the one person who knows what happened to his missing teenage daughter, but as a fugitive, she’s disappeared so thoroughly no one can find her. Risking his job and the wrath of the district attorney, Vic resorts to bargaining with criminal suspects for new leads, many of which point to North Dakota. He flies there, only to discover he is far from everything he knows, and his long-cherished definitions of good and bad are fading as quickly as his leads. His only chance is one last audacious roll of the dice. 
Can he stay alive long enough to discover the whereabouts of his daughter and rebuild his life? Or is everything from his past lost forever? 
 "The mystery plot itself is riveting...a captivating and emotionally intelligent crime drama." Kirkus Reviews  
Book Details:  Genre: Mystery: Police Procedural Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: August 1, 2020 Number of Pages: 294 ISBN: 978-1-947915-56-5 Series: A Vic Lenoski Mystery; Pittsburgh Trilogy #3 (Each is a Stand Alone Mystery) 
Purchase Links: Amazon  Barnes & NobleGoodreads 
Author Bio: 
Peter W. J. Hayes worked as a journalist, advertising copywriter and marketing executive before turning to mystery and crime writing. He is the author of the Silver Falchion-nominated Pittsburgh trilogy, a police procedural series, and is a Derringer-nominated author of more than a dozen short stories. His work has appeared in Black Cat Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, Pulp Modern and various anthologies, including two Malice Domestic collections and The Best New England Crime Stories. He is also a past nominee for the Crime Writers Association (CWA) Debut Dagger Award. 
Peter can be found at: 
www.peterwjhayes.com Goodreads BookBub Instagram  Twitter Facebook  
GIVEAWAY:  This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Peter W.J. Hayes. There will be 4 winners for this giveaway. Two (2) winners will each receive one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card and two (2) winners will each receive one (1) physical copy of The Things That Last Forever by Peter W.J. Hayes (US Only). The giveaway begins on January 1, 2021 and runs through March 2, 2021. Void where prohibited. 
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TOUR SCHEDULE: 01/03 Review - Book Reviews From an Avid Reader 01/04 Guest post - Novels Alive 01/04 Showcase - Christa Reads and Writes01/05 Interview - Author Elena Taylors Blog 01/06 Review - Avonna Loves Genres  01/07 Interview - BooksChatter 01/08 Review - Nesies Place 01/10 Review - Jane Pettit Reviews  01/11 Interview - A Blue Million Books  01/12 Review - sunny island breezes  01/15 Review - @ ebeeari 01/18 Showcase - Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books! 01/21 Guest post - The Book Divas Reads 01/22 Showcase - nanasbookreviews 01/24 Showcase - EienCafe  01/27 Interview/showcase - CMash Reads 02/02 Review - The Review Crew 02/03 Guest post - Nesies Place  02/04 Review - Allie_reads95 02/05 Review - Margaret Yelton 02/08 Interview - Podcast 02/08 Review - Just Reviews 02/10 Review/showcase - Our Town Book Reviews  02/12 Review - Quiet Fury Books 02/16 Showcase - Reading A Page Turner 

FAREWELL 2020 AND WELCOME 2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR! The year 2020 will go down in history for many reasons. I, for one, am optimistic that 2021 will bring an end to the pandemic, at least relieving one of the factors that has contributed to a rough last 9 months.  Aside from the pandemic and the economic and political aftermath, we've dealt with fires, extreme weather conditions, and violence. Also, in August 2020, I retired from my full-time job (though with lots to catch up on and working remotely to do that, it doesn't seem that way. Yet). For all these reasons, I've decided to look ahead, instead of back. 

My goals (not resolutions) for 2021:

Be kind. Do something nice for someone, pay it forward, make someone else smile.Be productive. Keep writing and reading and remembering to leave reviews for books I read. No set words/day. Keep moving forward. Think positive. I'm a sucker for a happy ending.Stay in touch with people I care about. It is too easy, with everything remote these days, to become isolated. Safe, not satisfying. Work on the travel bucket list (once safe to travel again) - this was a big part of the retirement plan, and has now been postponed until probably June or July, with Bouchercon in August in New Orleans. It's important to have something to look forward to.Strive to be healthy. COVID-19 has made it too easy to eat and sleep. Need to engage in a more healthy lifestyle.Continue to engage with readers and other writers in a variety of ways - maybe even figure out instagram on a mac?Most of all, as we move into a new year, wishing all peace, good health, and good will toward others, despite differences.

Book Review: THE MOST MAJESTIC CRIME OF THE YEAR - MISSING MASTERPIECE: A Massanutten Tale (The Artzy Chicks Book 5) by Judith Lucci

Synopsis
The gun-toting Artzy Chicks, Lily and LauraLea are off on another adventure. This time, they’ll leave Massanutten Mountain behind to venture off to uncharted waters. Uncharted for them anyway. Flying to London was the easy part. Their newest creation, The Majestic Norway, had been selected for auction aboard a prestigious cruise ship bound for Norway. They’d planned to sit back, relax, and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. Maybe even check off one of their bucket-list items and view the spectacular northern lights. As usual, things didn’t go as expected. Amid suspicious Vikings, irate security guards, and a terrified cruise staff, LauraLea is missing her gun within hours of departure. What have they gotten themselves into this time?
Review
Lily and LauraLea have landed a great venue to show off their creation of Majestic Norway, a three piece panorama of the Aurora Borealis against the magnificent landscape and mountains of Norway. It is a mixed media creation with layers of different forms from jewels to metals on top of paint. It's to be auctioned off on the cruise with part of the funds donated to help animals in Australia. A visitor to their (LauraLea's) gallery in Massanutten Mountain takes a picture and they're featured in an art magazine. All of this is a dream come true, until it isn't.
Initial concern over whether the three pieces will make it to the cruise ship is replaced with consternation when the original is stolen off the ship and not-so-good replica is put in its place. In between arguing with ship security, Norway police, and Lily's well-placed phone calls to her FBI friend, Roger, the ladies get to see and enjoy parts of the Norway cruise. Then all the other mixed media works are stolen from the gallery at home.
Both ladies have strong personalities, and though they are gun-toting in their home town, they are gun-less, but not gut-less in Norway. There is drama, humor, and the mystery on two continents, with expected twists and surprises. As they try to enjoy the cruise, the reader gets a taste of Norway and some of the sights, like the Viking, make sense as the story comes together.  
This is the fifth in the Artzy Chicks series, but my first. It can easily be read as a standalone. If you enjoy cozy mystery, and yearn to travel without leaving your house, you will enjoy Lily and LauraLea's adventure. 
AMAZON

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY KWANZAA Seasonal Reads

From my home to yours, may your  holiday season be healthy and happy, regardless of what you celebrate or observe. Many people are not traveling or celebrating in the same way they did last year. Many have an empty seat at the table. Regardless of the reason for the gathering, we're all in similar situations. As a reader, I "escaped" the pandemic and the confines through books. What about you?

Here are some of the seasonal books I've spotted this year that caught my fancy. Most are Christmas cozies. Feel free to leave your favorites in the comments! (I'll add them to my TBR list for next year!)

Book Review: THE WORST NOEL : Juniper Junction Holiday Mysteries #1 by Amy M Reade

 Synopsis

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace, love, and joy, but for Lilly Carlsen, this Christmas is murder. As a single mom, small business owner, and president of the local Chamber of Commerce, the last thing she needs is to find a dead body on the floor of her jewelry shop on the busiest shopping day of the year. And as if that isn't enough, Lilly has to deal with a deadbeat ex-husband, a mother with declining mental health, and two teenagers. But when a second body turns up, Lilly finds herself squarely in the crosshairs of suspicion. Can she figure out who killed the victims before she becomes one herself? And will her family's Christmas be merry...or scary?
Review
Jewelry designer and creator, Lilly Carlsen, is all set to open for Black Friday sales when she discovers her back door open, the jewelry vault open, and a dead body in her showroom, strangled with Lilly's strand of pearls. And the victim, Eden, and Lilly had recently argued. It's a good thing her brother, David, is on the police force, though she doesn't always listen to him. Or her best friend, Noley. Then the another retailer she disagreed with is killed as well. She's the obvious suspect for both. Thankfully, there is a lack of hard evidence as well as other suspects. 
Along with the two murders, there's the budding romance of her daughter, Lauren, the unwelcome return of her ex, Beau, who deserted fifteen years before, the increasing dementia of her mother, and the sudden attention of the Asian gem digger and his family, visiting the Colorado Rockies for their extended vacation. There's a touch of humor, family conflict, and twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. 
I liked Lilly, even if she sometimes needed to not be so honest, as well as Noley and the rest of the family, and Hassan. The pace is steady and it comes together naturally at the end, with a surprise or two. An enjoyable read for the holiday season.
AMAZON