Christa Nardi's Blog, page 36
March 16, 2020
Book Review: MOTORHOMES, MAPS & MURDER A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery #5 by Tonya Kappes
SynopsisWelcome to Normal, Kentucky, where nothing is . . . NORMAL!
Mae West, owner of Happy Trails Campground, never thought she would become an actress like her namesake. Calling herself an actress might be far stretch as she plays a minor role in the local Civil War reenactment BATTLE AT CAMP WILDCAT.
When the reenactment doesn't go as planned, not one but two of the town's folks aren't playing dead. . .they were MURDERED!
Come to find out there was a prison break and the serial killer is believed to be in Normal and someone has stolen a motorhome from Happy Trails Campground.
Are these connected?
Mae lets boyfriend and hunky detective, Hank Sharp, follow all the leads about the murders and on the trail of the serial killer because she's got bigger s'mores in the fire.
The motorhome owners have filed a lawsuit and suing her for the deed to Happy Trails Campground. Mae has embraced Normal and there's nothing or no one going to take her campground. She's determined to find the motorhome and return it to the owners before she hands over any deed to anyone.
Mae just might find out that tapping into her namesake just might come in handy when coming face to face with a serial killer.
Review
Mae West is doing her best to keep the campground in Normal thriving. Only the escape of a serial killer amidst a civil war reenactment and residents not too thrilled with Greaser having stayed there... Then a motorhome is stolen - a first to be sure. The map and wig add to the story.
The characters are what make this series and this story come alive. Mae is not always the most logical and there are some comic moments as well as good vibes with Hank. Mae does what she has to do and has to think quickly as only Mae West might. The story moves along at a steady pace with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. This can be read as a stand alone mystery. If you like cozy mysteries or others in this series, you won't be disappointed.
Added bonus: Motorhomes, Maps & Murder is available in audio!
AMAZON
March 10, 2020
Book Review New Release: EASTER HAIR HUNT : A Bad Hair Day Mystery by Nancy J. Cohen
SynopsisHare today, dead tomorrow… Can a stylish sleuth pull a rabbit out of her hat to solve an Easter murder in this to-dye-for cozy mystery?
When hairstylist Marla Vail attends an Easter egg hunt at historic Tremayne Manor, she’s only there to fix hair for a client, Bonnie “Blinky” Morris. But when she’s asked to comb the grounds for leftover goodies, Marla discovers more than just a few dyed eggs. The dead body in the bunny costume is definitely not having a good hare day. And Blinky seems to have disappeared down a rabbit hole.
When trying to solve a murder, everyone needs a friend who’s all ears. For Marla, that’s her husband, homicide detective Dalton Vail. They make an eggcellent team. Dalton isn’t the kind to leap to conclusions, but with his wife seven months pregnant, and knowing Marla finds crime-solving to be irresistible, he worries about her running off on another hare-raising adventure.
Marla’s peeps are hoping for a happy ending, but she may have found a basketful of trouble this time. Can she crack the case before Blinky becomes the next victim?
Recipes Included!
Review
Marla's task of collecting any missed Easter eggs or goodies goes south quickly when she finds a man in part of a bunny costume, dead. The costume he's wearing is the one her friend Blinky was wearing only a few minutes before. And the egg she finds nearby is none other than a Fabergé. She discovers that Tremayne Manor and Lacey Tremayne have a rare collection and security. Only no one knows where Blinky went or how the Fabergé egg ended up in the grass or what happened to the security tape.
Worried about her friend, not to mention her own curiosity, Marla gets very busy following clues and jumping to conclusions. Dalton and Tally and other friends keep her grounded and mindful of her pregnancy. Marla continuously points out that she won't be crime-stopping once the baby arrives. There are expected and unexpected twists and turns as the story unfolds.
This is the 16th in the Bad Hair Day Mysteries and Cohen has done it again with steady pace and characters who have depth and personality. She does not disappoint. I'm wondering if Marla really bow out of sleuthing after the baby is born.
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.
March 2, 2020
Blog Tour SPOTLIGHT: BLUEBERRY COBBLER BLACKMAIL (The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series) by Jodi Rath
Synopsis
Welcome to Leaven—oh wait—Santo Domingo, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUS turn!
Family bombshells, sibling rivalries, blackmail, and a trip that could be deadly...and the new year has only just begun! After a disastrous Thanksgiving, Jolie Tucker is beside herself and feeling the walls closing in around her. She feels like she needs to escape Leavensport before she loses her mind. She unexpectedly gets her wish when her best friend and co-owner of Cast Iron Creations, Ava Martinez, gets a terrifying email revealing that her papa, Thiago, is in danger in Santo Domingo. The girls are off on a dangerous adventure in new territory. Will they be able to save the day before danger finds them?
About Jodi Rath
Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her seven cats.Author Links
Webpage: https://www.jodirath.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/jodirath
FB Author Page: Author Jodi Rath
Twitter @jodirath
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jodi-rath
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jodirath/
Monthly Newsletter Link: http://eepurl.com/dIfXdb Get Short Story “Sweet Retreat” for free by subscribing to my monthly newsletter. Subscribe to my newsletter to receive free flash fiction, A Mystery a Month, serial scenes from series, and deleted scenes).
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo –
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February 27, 2020
Blog Tour Spotlight: BONBON VOYAGE An Adventure of Gladys Mystery by Katherine H. Brown
New Release: December 30, 2019
Synopsis
Gladys gets more than she bargains for when she climbs aboard her first cruise and witnesses a murder. Armed with wigs and wits alone, she determines to get to the bottom of things.
This cozy mystery is a spinoff from the Ooey Gooey Bakery Mystery series.
Purchase Link: Amazon
About Katherine H. BrownKatherine H. Brown is from the tiny community of New York, Texas. Booklover (some might say book addict) and weaver of words, Katherine desired to be a writer from childhood, embarked on her first publishing adventure in 2017, and in 2019 said audios to her cozy office job to leap into a career as an author full-time.
When not found between the pages of a book or tapping keys on her laptop, Katherine loves to watch baking shows with her stepdaughter or cuddle up with her husband Patrick. Katherine and family prepare to welcome a new baby girl into the family in March 2020.
Author Links
Facebook Author Page
Website
Goodreads
BookBub
Amazon Author Page
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February 25, 2020
New Release and Review STAYIN' ALIVE A Country Club Murder by Julie Mulhern
SynopsisSpringtime. Love is in the air. So is murder.
When Ellison Russell, reluctant finder of bodies, chairs a gala in conjunction with the museum’s Chinese funerary exhibit, she expects disaster. So, she’s not remotely surprised when a body turns up.
Ellison is willing to leave the investigation to the police till an attempt is made on her life.
Now she’s juggling evading a killer, her aunt’s overly-amorous beau, her dog’s new love interest, and Mother’s displeasure.
With bodies piling up, if Ellison’s not careful, staying alive might be impossible.
Review
Ellison is in charge of the gala for the museum, a high point among the country club set, and sure to not meet her mother's expectations. That's a given when she and Anarchy stumble on the body of Phyllis Goddard. Aunt Sis, Karma, and Grace help Ellison as she helps Anarchy. Aunt Sis adds to the sparks with her new beau and poor Max is pegged as the dog digging up the neighbors' flowers.
True to form, the characters, including Mr. Coffee, move the story along at a steady pace. Ellison is in the wrong place more than once with more than one condolence call. The tension is mixed with some humor and the ending isn't expected. Although this is the 10th in the Country Club Murders, 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.
AMAZON
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February 23, 2020
Blog Tour and Book Review: UNDER THE RADAR : A Zoe Chambers Mystery #9 by Annette Dashofy
Synopsis
Paramedic and deputy coroner Zoe Chambers responds to a shooting and discovers her longtime friend, Horace Pavelka, has gunned down a man who’d bullied him mercilessly for decades. Ruled self-defense, no charges are filed. When another of his tormentors turns up dead in Horace’s kitchen, Police Chief Pete Adams questions the man’s innocence in both cases…especially after Horace and his girlfriend go into hiding. While fighting to clear her friend, Zoe is handed the opportunity to finally learn what really happened to her long-lost sibling. What starts out as a quick road trip on a quest for answers leads her to an unfamiliar city in the middle of a November blizzard, where she finds way more trouble than she bargained for.
Pete’s own search for his missing fiancée and a missing murderer ultimately traps him in a web of deception. Face-to-face with one of the most cunning and deadly killers of his law enforcement career, Pete realizes too late that this confrontation may well be his last.
Review
This is a story that has multiple plot lines that naturally intersect. The initial murder is followed by a second involving Zoe's long time friend. While seeking to prove Horace's innocence, both Pete and Zoe find connections with their personal "cold cases." The two major characters - Pete and Zoe - are likable and have depth. Even Kimberly and Lauren. Their relationships and emotions come across as does the greater message of "Life's too short." The pace is steady with sufficient twists to maintain interest.
This is the 9th in the Zoe Chambers series. I haven't read the previous eight and the story can be read as a stand-alone. Dashofy provides sufficient back history without it becoming tedious to follow the story line. I suspect, however, that the relationships would be better appreciated if the books were read in order.
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.
Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N – Kobo
About the AuthorAnnette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural southwestern Pennsylvania. A former EMT and lifelong resident of the area about which she writes, Annette lives with her husband and one very spoiled cat on what was once her grandfather’s dairy farm. UNDER THE RADAR (February 2020) is the ninth in her series.
Author Links
Website– www.annettedashofy.com
Blog– http://annettedashofy.blogspot.com/
Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy
Twitter– @Annette_Dashofy
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February 17, 2020
It's RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY!
What we are bombarded with daily is the negative, the hateful, the tragic. February 17th is Random Act of Kindness Day. You might ask what that means. To me, the basic idea is to make it a point to be kind no matter what life is throwing at you, as often as you can. There are many ways that people do this - the only payback being that being kind feels good. Not sure what you could do? Here's a link to 100+ acts of kindness, some of which could take less than a minute of your time and cost you nothing. My immediate thoughts, given I will be working and running to catch a plane, then meeting friends...
Bring breakfast goodies to my stress-laden meetingCompliment at least one person in the meeting on what a good job they didTell someone to keep the change at the airportCompliment one of the airline staffHold the door for someoneBuy my friend a glass of winePost a review of a book I finished recentlyWhat about you? What random acts of kindness will you (or did you) engage in today?
I don't know about you, but I think it would be better place if everyone engaged in some random act of kindness every day, in some way. Start today!
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February 4, 2020
Blog Tour: Spotlight on BITTER ALPINE A Emma Lord Returns Mystery by Mary Daheim
Synopsis
New year, new murder . . . Emma Lord is on the case when death finds its way back to the wintry mountain town of Alpine.
After a relatively calm and cozy holiday season, neither Emma Lord, editor and publisher of The Alpine Advocate, nor her husband, Sheriff Milo Dodge, are surprised when their new year gets off to a rocky start. A woman’s body has been found in a squalid motel. Her driver’s license shows that Dawn Purvis was in her late thirties and lived in Weaverville, California—and the only connection between that town and Alpine is their gold-mining and logging origins. When they discover that Dawn’s room reservation was open-ended, Emma, Milo, and the ever-inquisitive Advocate receptionist, Alison Lindahl, are more than mildly curious. And never mind that the youthful Alison is a bit distracted by the new county extension agent’s virile good looks. She can still sleuth while she stalks her newest crush.
But that’s not all the news that’s unfit to print. There’s something strange about the older couple who have moved into the cabin down the road that was once owned by a murder victim. The elderly wife seems anti-social. There’s got to be a reason, which Emma, Milo, and Alison intend to find out—even if it puts them in deadly danger.
About Mary Daheim
Mary Daheim is the author of the Alpine mystery series. A Seattle native with a degree in communication from the University of Washington, she realized at an early age that getting a book published might elude her for years, so she began her writing career working on daily newspapers. The mother of three daughters, she lives in a century-old house in her hometown.
Author Website - https://www.marydaheimauthor.com/Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Koboa Rafflecopter giveaway
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
February 3 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW
February 3 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 4 – Diane Reviews Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 4 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT
February 5 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
February 6 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
February 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
February 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
February 8 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
February 9 – This Is My Truth Now – SPOTLIGHT
February 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 10 – Christy's Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
February 10 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT
February 11 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
February 11 – Gimme The Scoop Reviews - REVIEW
February 12 – The Book Decoder – SPOTLIGHT
February 12 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
February 13 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW
February 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 14 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – REVIEW
February 14 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Blog Tour RePosting: THE NUTCRACKER CONSPIRACY A Thorny Rose Mystery by Lauren Carr
"Steps up several levels into an exciting category all its own. It's thriller, cold case, mystery suspense, and police procedural, all rolled into one exciting novel. Set amidst the political drama that comes with Washington DC and the Pentagon, a current multiple murder becomes a search years in the past. With a young, hot lieutenant assigned to NCIS, and his beautiful new wife, you have all the makings of a bestseller. Nicely done, Ms. Carr!" - Review by Merry Citarella, Mystery Suspense Reviews
THE NUTCRACKER CONSPIRACYA Thorny Rose Mystery #4
New Release!
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 388 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: January 30, 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr's books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!
Book Description:
Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin. Even after numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital.Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist who’d disappeared months earlier.
“She was number twelve,” Dean says.“Twelve?” Murphy asks.“Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.”Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy: “13”
Review:
Dean Conway is not well-liked and barely tolerated at the social gathering with friends of Murphy Thornton, his wife, Jessica Farraday, Dean's wife, Amy, and long time friend, Kenneth among others. As Jessica observes Amy and her husband, she has to question why Amy stays in such a miserable relationship. He doesn't work, he doesn't respect her, and he's a bore. Nobody quite believes his story of a conspiracy surrounding an assassination attempt at the production of the Nutcracker years before. Only then his car is tampered with, he's getting threats, and he dies when a bomb is left on his front step right after texting Murphy "13" as he is now the 13th dead in the conspiracy.
With all their connections to various government agencies, Murphy keeps getting the same message. The shooter was taken down and the wife of the Vice President died as his gun fired. No conspiracy. When Amy is implicated as the person with the greatest motive and much circumstantial evidence, Jessica and Murphy try to sort out the deaths following the Nutcracker performance. There are many false starts and conflicting information, but as they become targets, it seems Dean may have been on to something.
True to form, Carr has spun quite the tale with great characters and enough action and tension to keep the reader guessing. It all makes sense in the end. This is the fourth in the Thorny Rose Mysteries and some of the characters have history in previous series. No worries. This can easily be read as a stand alone. Fans of Lauren Carr will like this book - I certainly did.
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.
Pre-Order Your Copy Today!
Scheduled release date is Jan 30, 2020!
Amazon.com
Add to Goodreads
MURDER BY PERFECTIONA Thorny Rose Mystery #3
"Murder by Perfection is a wonderful read and a perfect to escape from the challenges of a busy day. Danger, intrigue, humor, and love all take their turn in this tale which will keep you reading into the wee hours." Review by Marilyn R. Wilson, Olio by Marilyn
Book Description:Beware: Perfection has a dark side!
Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night. The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, andbusiness.
When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life todiscover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Check Out These Other Thorny Rose Mysteries:
"The plot was original, fresh and fast paced in spite of the "traditional elements" employed which can normally be found in any other thriller of this genre. The USP of this story would be its unpredictability. When you think you have it all guessed up, the plot would change its course keeping you hooked. There were a lot of suspense twists and turns that kept the momentum up. Needless to say, the writing was simply perfect. One thing that writer needs to be lauded for is the humor she inculcated in the book. Minus those humorous parts, the book would have been one serious read." - Reviewer: Book and Ink
Book Description:Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.
The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night
shift on the turnpike.
In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in
Crime join newlyweds Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to shift
through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the
Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning
killer?
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
Add to Goodreads
"Mysteries, murder, danger, and memories that threatens their lives keeps the action and suspense at a high level and even when the
answers are found, it left me wanting more." - Review by Sherry Fundin of Fundinmental
Book Description:
After ten months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in the darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike outat Murphy.
When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family while visiting family at the winery near-by, and suppressed the memory.
Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple? Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson
Cold Case, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!
Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include
mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.
A popular speaker, Lauren is also the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead
Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Connect with the author:
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Enter the Giveaway:a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 31, 2020
Book Review: CHOSEN FOR POWER Women in Power Book 1 by Kathleen Brooks
SynopsisSomebody is out to destroy Elle Simpson and everything in her life.
Elle has always depended on family to make her business run strong, but long work hours have left her without much of a private life. Just as Elle thinks she has met the potential man of her dreams, she also discovers an imposter determined to destroy her business and life. Can she trust this "Prince Charming" to help her defend everything she holds dear, or will she only leave herself vulnerable at the worst possible time?
Drake Charles’s work in the fast-growing mobile technology field made him a wealthy, powerful man. But he quickly sheds the fame and publicity for a more private life that earns him the label as a man of mystery. Drake adds to that mystery every year when he hosts a masquerade ball for charity. It’s also his best chance to find the one thing he really wants . . . true love.
Having met behind masks of anonymity, Elle and Drake enjoy a whirlwind night of romance that leaves them both wanting more. Elle's heart tells her to trust Drake, but years of fighting off business foes has taught her that anyone could be a potential threat. Will this new romance give them both a fairy tale ending, or spiral into a nightmare for the whole Simpson family?
Review
Elle has worked hard to salvage her father's business and expand it with each of her sisters now having a branch. She has fought a male dominated business world and shown that she can quickly and effectively turn it around before. No surprise, she's independent, strong, and not very trusting. Then she attends the masquerade ball and meets Drake. He's a recluse tired of people after him for the money he's made with technology. They click only their relationship becomes a media issue, then it appears someone is trying to destroy Elle and all she's built up.
As with Brooks' other series, the characters have depth and personality, experience a range of emotions and conflicts. The pace is steady and the way Elle "wins" the day is from strength and strategy. She demonstrates the ability to succeed with perseverance. She does this with help of her best friend, Mallory, her sisters, Bree and Allegra, and her mother.
This is the first in a series of four featuring the other three young women. I look forward to reading them all as these women take on their respective worlds.
Women in Power
Chosen for Power
Built for Power
Fashioned for Power
Destined for Power
