Christa Nardi's Blog, page 44

Blog Tour and Book Review: KILL A LOT : An Ivy Meadows Mystery by Cindy Brown

About the Book
A jouster, a playwright, and a detective walk into a faire…but it’s no joke when one ends up dead. Actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows is thrilled when she learns that the famous playwright behind Hello Dolly Madison is in Arizona. Not so much when she realizes he’s a suspect in the murder of a Renaissance faire jouster.

As is her friend Riley. And about a thousand other people, all disguised in Renaissance costume during the fatal jousting match.

When Ivy is hired to investigate the killing, she goes undercover as a Cockney belly dancer at the faire and finagles her way into the playwright’s Kennedy-inspired version of Camelot—as Marilyn Monroe, no less.

Then, in the midst of her toughest case ever, Ivy has to solve another dilemma: Will she follow her lifelong dream of being an actor or settle down with the love of her life?

The murder investigation, the play, and real life come together in a twist that begs the question: Is there a happily-ever-after for anyone?

Review
Ivy Meadows, part time PI and would be actress is in her element and out of her element at the same time. A renaissance festival is a world all its own and a jouster has been killed, an acquaintance - Riley - accused of the murder. Then there is the illusive and quite famous Thomas Roberts accepts her bid to play Marilyn in his newest play. The hitch?  Matt has just suggested they take the next step and live together. Love or acting career? And what about Uncle Bob?

If you've ever been to a Renaissance Festival, you will be able to relate to the sights and sounds Ivy is exposed to and, as she goes undercover as a mime belly dancer, the fine distinction between bawdy and crude at the Ren. This is a fun mystery, in a unique setting, with interesting characters. To add to the mystery, it appears that Angus, the deceased, is not particularly a popular fellow - in fact, nobody seems to miss him or mourn his passing in the least. 
I've been to a Ren fest and had to chuckle at Ivy's descriptions - right on. The pace is steady and the personal tension adds to the story rather than detracts. If you like a cozy mystery, this is a good one.

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} 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.
Books in the Ivy Meadows Humorous Mystery Series:

MACDEATH (#1)

THE SOUND OF MURDER (#2)

OLIVER TWISTED (#3)

IVY GET YOUR GUN (#4)

The Phantom of Oz (#5)

KILLALOT (#6)
About the Author
Cindy Brown has been a theater geek (musician, actor, director, producer, and playwright) since her first professional gig at age 14. Now a full-time writer, she’s lucky enough to have garnered several awards (including 3rd place in the 2013 international Words With Jam First Page Competition, judged by Sue Grafton!) and is an alumnus of the Squaw Valley Writers Workshop. Though Cindy and her husband now live in Portland, Oregon, she made her home in Phoenix, Arizona, for more than 25 years and knows all the good places to hide dead bodies in both cities.
Author Links

Website & Blog: www.cindybrownwriter.com

Twitter handle: @friendlybrown

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cindy-Brown-author/288210721356802?ref=hl

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 14 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

November 14 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW

November 15 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

November 16 – The Editing Pen – REVIEW

November 16 – StoreyBook Reviews - CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 17 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

November 19 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT, Renaissance Recipe

November 20 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 20 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf- SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

November 21 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW

Blog Tour & Review: UNCLE AND ANTS A Silicon Valley Mystery by Marc Jedel

Synopsis

Mysterious attacks. Mischievous nieces. Can a clueless uncle catch a tech-savvy killer … and be home before bedtime?

When a freak accident hospitalizes Marty Golden’s sister and condemns him to babysitter duty, he thinks it’s just another case of hardwired bad luck in Silicon Valley. Until a suspicious murder suggests the mishap was no mere coincidence. Something must be done.

Too bad this quirky, fashion-backward uncle isn’t exactly hero material.

Convinced his sister is in mortal danger, this amateur sleuth follows clues to an oddball array of suspects. Armed with nothing but an eye for detail and powers of self-delusion, Marty tangles with gangsters, a cantankerous school secretary, and a perplexing woman he can’t help but fall for. Glitches in his investigation seem like a piece of cake compared to dinner-prep and bedtime stories with his two precocious, pre-teen nieces.

Can Marty catch the culprit, save his sister, and get his life back in order before he gets unplugged?

Uncle and Ants is the first novel in a refreshingly modern mystery series set in Silicon Valley. If you like clever humor, sassy side characters, and average Joes facing extraordinary circumstances, then you’ll love this twisty mystery.

Buy Uncle and Ants to login to a fresh, funny mystery today!

Review

In this first in series, the main character, Marty,bumbles a bit with real problems and family challenges. On the plus side, he is able to use humor, sometimes silly, to get him through. And sometimes, he gets through by sheer luck.  He never planned on being an amateur sleuth, but he's determine to to find out who killed his sister.
With Uncle and Ants, Jedel manages to intertwine humor with the sometimes obtuse techie environ of the Silicon valley. Marty isn't the typical hero and the villain isn't the obvious perp. With humor and bumbling, the story has unique twists and a steady pace. If you're looking for something different in a cozy mystery, you'll want to keep your eye on this new series.
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
In my family, I was born first — a fact my sister never lets me forget, no matter what milestone age she hits. For most of my life, I've been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister's brother for her entire life, I'm highly qualified to tell the tale of the evolving, quirky sibling relationship in Uncle and Ants: A Silicon Valley Mystery .
My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high-tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails, and ads.My family and friends would tell you that Marty's character isn't much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I proudly resemble that remark.
Author Links - Website - http://www.marcjedel.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MarcJedel.Author

Purchase Link
Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 5 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

November 6 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST

November 6 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 10 – My Reading Journeys - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 10 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

November 11 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

November 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 16 – Jane Reads - REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 17 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

Blog Tour & Review: PAST CRIMES by Lauren Carr

Synopsis

It’s a bittersweet reunion for Mac Faraday when members of his former homicide squad arrive at the Spencer Inn. While it is sweet to attend the wedding of a late colleague’s daughter, it is a bitter reminder that the mother of the bride had been the victim of a double homicide.

The brutal slaying weighing heavy on his mind, Mac is anxious to explore every avenue for a break in the cold case—even a suggestion from disgraced former detective Louis Gannon that one of their former friends is the killer.

When the investigator is brutally slain, Mac Faraday rips open the cold case with a ruthless determination to reveal which of his friends is a cold-blooded murderer.




Review
The little girl he made a promise to so many years ago is getting married and Mac hopes to finally fulfill his promise.  His half brother David is dealing with another crisis, and trying to support Mac at the same time. There are lots of suspects, all of them with means, and many with motive. The problem facing Mac is that the body count rises, and along with that the tension and need to identify the killer or killers before more people are killed.
The pace is quick and the tension is palpable. There's the usual crew, headed by Mac, Archie, David, and Gnarly, along with all the guests for the wedding. Although this is part of a series, there is enough information for both the returning characters and the new characters to guess at who the killer is, but be prepared to be wrong. This is a great series and Carr continues to weave a great tale with unique characters. 
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
Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.
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.

​Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

​Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
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Blog Tour and Review: A DIFFERENT KIND OF REUNION (A Gilda Greco Mystery) by Joanne Guidoccio

About the Book
While not usually a big deal, one overlooked email would haunt teacher Gilda Greco. Had she read it, former student Sarah McHenry might still be alive.

Suspecting foul play, Constable Leo Mulligan plays on Gilda’s guilt and persuades her to participate in a séance facilitated by one of Canada’s best-known psychics. Six former students also agree to participate. At first cooperative and willing, their camaraderie is short-lived as old grudges and rivalries emerge. The séance is a bust.

Determined to solve Sarah’s murder, Gilda launches her own investigation and uncovers shocking revelations that could put several lives—including her own—in danger. Can Gilda and the psychic solve this case before the killer strikes again?

Review
This was a fun read as Gilda returns to the small town where she spent 7 months teaching and impacted on the lives of at least a small group of them. Several years later, she is contacted by Sarah, who is then found dead. The flirty Constable believes she died at the hand of one of the others in that group. He asks Gilda to come and has Cassandra, one of the other students Gilda taught, to help using her psychic powers.

This was well-written and had a quick pace. The discussion of alpha and beta men (and women) was interesting as was the reflection on how individuals change from 8th grade to adulthood. The killer was not obvious, though the conclusion made sense. I enjoy reading this series and Gilda and each can be read as a stand alone mystery. If you enjoy a cozy mystery, with only a slight paranormal bent, you'll enjoy this one. 
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
In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and decided to launch a second career that would tap into her creative side and utilize her well-honed organizational skills. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews have been published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Where to find Joanne...

Website: http://joanneguidoccio.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jguidoccio/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio

Buy links:

Amazon (Canada)  Amazon (United States)     Kobo     Indigo     Barnes & Noble      iTunes     The Wild Rose Press

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 30 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

October 29 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 1 - Mallory Heart's Cozies - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 1 - My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 - Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 2 - Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW

November 2 – Rosepoint Publishing – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

November 3 – Varietats – REVIEW  

November 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Island Confidential – GUEST POST

November 5 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

November 6 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST

November 7 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 8 – Laura's Interests – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 9 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 10 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 11 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW


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BlogTour THREAD HERRINGS : A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery #7 by Lea Wait

Synopsis

Angie’s first auction may turn out to be her last—when she bids on a coat of arms that someone would literally kill to possess . . .

Tagging along to an estate sale with her fellow Needlepointer, antiques shop owner Sarah Byrne, Angie Curtis impulsively bids on a tattered embroidery of a coat of arms. When she gets her prize back home to Haven Harbor, she discovers a document from 1757 behind the framed needlework—a claim for a child from a foundling hospital. Intrigued, Angie is determined to find the common thread between the child and the coat of arms.
Accepting her reporter friend Clem Walker’s invitation to talk about her find on the local TV news, Angie makes an appeal to anyone who might have information. Instead, both women receive death threats. When Clem is found shot to death in a parking lot, Angie fears her own life may be in jeopardy. She has to unravel this historical mystery—or she may be the next one going, going . . . gone . . .
Review

Angie's first experience at an auction has led her down an interesting path. The burning question remains why the issue with something dating back to 1757. Her friends and grandmother and Tom all become involved. Mainely Needlepoint in Haven Harbor is now the focus of someone who has already killed once. Angie is afraid, not only for herself, but for her friends and family. 

The story is well-paced and the relationships for Angie highlighted, sometimes with a sense of despair. The tension Angie feels and her fears come through, as well as Patrick's hope to protect her. There's a bit of history woven in, romance for Angie and Patrick, as well as for Sara, and the mystery to be solved. This is the seventh in the series, but my first. It can easily be read as a stand-alone. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you'll enjoy this one, and likely the whole series.

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.



Read an excerpt:
Other prospective bidders were standing near me, waiting for me to move on. A middle-aged woman with short brown hair highlighted with blond took my place next to the coat of arms.

“What about the samplers?” she said to the bearded man with her.

He shook his head. “Just old stuff. Where would you hang them? I’d rather we used our share of the money to buy some good mahogany furniture, or maybe a gold-framed mirror.”

“Josie’s going to want the dining room table and chairs,” she answered. “She’s always wanted them. We don’t want to try to outbid her on those. What about Grandmother’s wedding ring china?”

“I don’t care about china. You can’t put that old stuff in the dishwasher anyway. What about the clock?” He pointed at a grandfather’s clock nearby.

“It never kept the right time. Drove me crazy.”

They moved on.

I didn’t know who they were, but they must be connected to one of the families who’d owned these furnishings. If they, or Josie, whoever she was, had wanted them, why were they being auctioned off?

A small mystery, but not one that concerned me.

I walked past several water-colored seascapes, a large oil portrait of a ringleted little girl in a blue dress holding a doll by its arm, and several framed World War I posters.

Three men were looking through a box of pictures—prints?—in a corner.

Who’d owned all these things? The parents or grandparents of that woman I’d heard talking about “Grandmother’s china”?

Once, each of these things now lined up to be sold had been chosen, had taken its place in a household, valued, and thought of with sentiment. Now, sadly, they were filling spaces in a large auction-house showroom, destined for antique shops, and, I hoped, for other homes where they’d be valued.

I almost laughed at myself for being so sentimental.

These were things, not people.
Excerpt from THREAD HERRINGS by Lea Wait. Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.
Purchase Links  Amazon – B&N – Kobo

About the Author

Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine. A fourth-generation antique dealer and the author of the Agatha-nominated Antique Print Mystery series, she loves all things antiques and Maine. She also writes historical novels for young people set in (where else?) nineteenth-century Maine. Visit her at leawait.com.
Follow Lea on Facebook and GoodReads

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 1 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

November 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy -SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 2 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW

November 3 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

November 3 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW

November 3 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, EXCERPT

November 5 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 5 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 6 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

November 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 7 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

November 8 – My Reading Journey – REVIEW, EXCERPT

November 8 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 9 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

November 10 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 10 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

November 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

November 12 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW

November 13 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

November 14 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW 

Blog Tour for THE SECLUDED VILLAGE MURDERS by Shelly Frome : Guest Post and Guest Review

It's my pleasure to welcome Shelly Frome, author of the SECLUDED VILLAGE MURDERS as my guest today:

Guest Post: The catalyst by Shelly Frome

A noted creative writing guru from the Heartland had a favorite guideline: “If some unfinished business haunts you and won’t let go, transcribe it into a fictional question, people it with characters who are bound to clash, and keep going until the smoke clears.” 
In this particular case, for my cozy mystery “The Secluded Village Murders” instead of the same old, same old British village mystery hermetically sealed by the stereotypical eccentric characters and the village snoop or inspector, I was intrigued by opening it all up, crossing both sides of the pond, and employing a spunky fit- and- trim American gal with something personal to resolve. Of course, none of this would have taken place if I’d never gone on a private tour of “Hidden England” with my intrepid late wife, and I wasn’t intimately familiar with two quaint sister villages on our transatlantic travels. 
Moreover, I was upset over the prospect of watching the pristine high meadow—a huge tract of New England land by our property that had remained unspoiled for centuries—ravaged by rapacious developers. In short, compared with my other creative efforts, here was a project that touched me directly and an outcome I was powerless to effect. My only recourse was to send Emily Ryder out there, a purely fictional character, and up the ante in order to possibly gain any meaningful resolution and bring a host of readers into the equation taking the quest far and above my own little concerns. 
Thank you, Shelly for your thoughts and for THE SECLUDED VILLAGE MURDERS. As someone from New England, the catalyst to your story interests me. Unfortunately, I haven't read THE SECLUDED VILLAGE MURDERS.  Laura Lee is my guest reviewer today.
The Secluded Village Murders by Shelly Frome, Guest review by Laura Lee 
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, ‘The Secluded Village Murders’ by Shelly Frome is a great one. Emily Rider sees her friend/mentor, Chris fall off of a roof and die. The police deem it an accident but Emily thinks it is murder. Emily is determined to prove it was murder. Chris was actively working to block the building of a new complex so the development company becomes a suspect on Emily’s list. ‘The Secluded Village Murders’ reads a lot like a British sleuth Novel, filled with British humor. The plot was well thought out and there were lots of twists that keep the reader guessing. The characters were quite quirky which I always love. The back drop of the small community in Connecticut and the English countryside were well written. The story did jump around quite a bit which made it hard to follow at times but for the reader patient enough to hang in, there are a lot of payoffs. This is the first book I have read by Shelly Frome but it certainly won’t be the last. I also hope this won’t be the last we hear from the character Emily Rider! She is a fun, intelligent amateur sleuth! I give ‘The Secluded Village Murders’ 4 out of 5 stars.
Synopsis (from Amazon)
Written in the style of a classic Brtish Mystery with a contemporary young American woman as the amateur sleuth. Entertaining. Keeps you guessing until the end.

From a small secluded village in Connecticut to the English Countryside, readers are taken on a roller coaster of events and quirky characters as amateur sleuth Emily Ryder tries to solve a murder that everyone thinks was an accident.

For tour guide Emily Ryder, the turning point came on that fateful early morning when her beloved mentor met an untimely death. It's labeled as an accident and Trooper Dave Roberts is more interested in Emily than in any suspicions around Chris Cooper's death. For Emily, if Chris hadn't been the Village Planner and the only man standing in the way of the development of an apartment and entertainment complex in their quaint village of Lydfield, Connecticut, she might have believed it was an accident, but too many pieces didn't fit.

As Emily heads across the pond for a scheduled tour of Lydfield's sister village, Lydfield-in-the-Moor . . . she discovers that the murderer may be closer than she thought.
AMAZON

Review and Giveaway: KILLED ON BLUEBERRY HILL : A Berry Basket Mystery #3 by Sharon Farrow

Synopsis

It’s peak tourist season in Oriole Point, Michigan—the blueberry buckle of the fruit belt. Nothing draws the crowds quite like their annual carnival. And nothing turns it sour faster than murder . . .

The Blueberry Blow Out festival has begun and it’s time for Marlee Jacob, owner of The Berry Basket, to shine. Unfortunately it’s also bringing out the worst in her fiancé Ryan Zeller. Ryan’s rivalry with Porter Gale, owner of Blueberry Hill Farm, spills over into a very public and very ugly fight. And after they compete in the pie-eating contest and a raucous tug of war, their orchard blood feud takes a deadly turn . . .

The death of the king of Blueberry Hill is a shock but not too surprising—he was a diabetic whose last pig out meal was deliciously fatal. But when authorities discover that someone tampered with Porter’s insulin, a tragic accident is looking like murder—and Ryan is the key ingredient. Now Marlee’s investigation to clear his name is taking her deep into the Gale family secrets, and she’s being shadowed every step of the way by a killer whose sweet revenge is just beginning . . . 

Includes Berry Recipes!
Review
Marlee is making the most of the Blueberry Blow Out to bring in business to The Berry Basket.  Between her two young helpers, the shy baker, and herself the store and the booth at the festival are going strong. What should be a great and fun time is marred by the competition between the Zellers and Gales, with both families determined to win every competition. Engaged to Ryan Zeller, Marlee is volunteered for the women's blueberry pie eating contest. Only it seems, Ryan wants to make a lot of decisions for Marlee and that's an added layer of conflict. Add to that the ugly fight between Ryan and Porter, a less than heartfelt apology, and then Porter is dead. 
Many of the towns people talk about the hostility and the tug of war incident, only Ryan has conveniently left to go fishing with his buddy. In between finishing out the festival, Marlee is busy trying to prove that Ryan didn't kill Porter. The more she tries to understand, the more secrets she uncovers and the more comfortable she is about the whole situation. Unfortunately, uncovering secrets is not always good for one's health, Marlee's or Ryan's included.
The story is well-paced and the ending isn't obvious, though believable. I liked Marlee and the Berry Basket crew. The story has a small town feel with feuding families, yet not immune to more big city problems. Although this is the third in the series, it's the first I've read. It can be easily read as a stand alone.  If you enjoy a cozy mystery, you'll enjoy Killed on Blueberry Hill. 
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.

Buy Links
Dying for Strawberries (A Berry Basket Mystery #1)
Blackberry Burial (A Berry Basket Mystery #2)
Killed on Blueberry Hill (A Berry Basket Mystery #3)

About the Author

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Sharon began submitting articles and short stories to magazines when she was just fourteen years old. Her award winning first novel was released in 1998. Published in mystery, fantasy, and romance, Sharon has written under various pen names. As Sharon Farrow, she writes the Berry Basket cozy mystery series, which was inspired by the beautiful village she lives in along Lake Michigan. With her college best friend and fellow writer, Sharon is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the two time Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.

Blog Tour and Review: BACK STABBERS : A Country Club Mystery by Julie Mulhern

Synopsis:
All Ellison Russell wanted was an update on her stock portfolio. Instead, she found her broker dead.

With an unexpected out-of-town guest at her house, Ellison is too busy for a murder investigation. Only this time, Detective Anarchy Jones wants her help, and she can’t deny the handsome detective. Can Mr. Coffee supply her with enough caffeine to keep her brain sharp and everyone else happy?

Juggling bodies (one, two, three, four), two-faced friends, her social calendar, and a cat (yes, a cat) is taxing but Mother might be the biggest challenge of all.

With a killer drawing closer, can Ellison put together the pieces or will she be the one getting stabbed in the back?


Review:
Ellison not only finds one body, not two, but three, and Detective Peters is none too happy with her. For that matter neither is Detective Anarchy Jones, her father, or her mother who obviously thinks Ellison must plan to find these bodies or be the one to call the police at least. Only, while she deals with the family scandal of her father's other daughter, Karma, Ellison discovers lots of things have been going on in the brokerage house - possibly the motive for all the murders. 
As with the others in this series, Back Stabbers is well-written, well-paced, and includes an occasional touch of humor. 'Mother' rises to the occasion but only after chastising Ellison as usual. My favorite character, after Ellison of course, is Anarchy Jones. The family dynamic and the tension in relationships adds to the mystery. Although part of a series, this can be read as a stand alone. If you like smart, stubborn, and sassy women sleuths, though, you'd be better off starting at the beginning of the series. 
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:
Julie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders. She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean–and she’s got an active imagination. Truth is–she’s an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.

Author Links

Website – www.juliemulhernauthor.com

FB – https://www.facebook.com/juliekmulhern/?ref=hl

Twitter – https://twitter.com/JulieKMulhern

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8573907.Julie_Mulhern

Purchase Links

Amazon B&N Kobo BookBub

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 22 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

October 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

October 24 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 25 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

October 25 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

October 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 27 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST

October 28 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

October 29 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

October 30 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

October 30 – Girl with Book Lungs – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 31 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

November 1 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

November 1 – Books Direct – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 2 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

November 3 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 4 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW


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Blog Tour Spotlight: DROP DEAD ORNAMENTS : An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery by Lois Winston

Synopsis:
Anastasia Pollack’s son Alex is dating Sophie Lambert, the new kid in town. For their community service project, the high school seniors have chosen to raise money for the county food bank. Anastasia taps her craft industry contacts to donate materials for the students to make Christmas ornaments they’ll sell at the town’s annual Holiday Crafts Fair.
At the fair Anastasia meets Sophie’s father, Shane Lambert, who strikes her as a man with secrets. She also notices a woman eavesdropping on their conversation. Later that evening when the woman turns up dead, Sophie’s father is arrested for her murder.

Alex and Sophie beg Anastasia to find the real killer, but Anastasia has had her fill of dead bodies. She’s also not convinced of Shane’s innocence. Besides, she’s promised younger son Nick she’ll stop risking her life. But how can she say no to Alex?


About the Author

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.

Author Links

Website: www.loiswinston.com

Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth

Twitter at https://twitter.com/Anasleuth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston

Newsletter sign-up: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5

Purchase Links

Amazon
DROP DEAD ORNAMENTS TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 22 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

October 22 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 22 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

October 23 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 23 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

October 26 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

October 26 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 27 – T’s Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 27 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 28 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

October 29 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

October 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 30 – Jane Reads – REVIEW, GUEST POST

October 30 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 31 – StoreyBook Reviews – CRAFT POST

November 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 1 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

November 1 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 2 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 2 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

November 2 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 3 – My Reading Journeys – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 3 – The Self-Rescue Princess – REVIEW

November 3 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW

November 4 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 4 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW


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Blog Tour & Review: MURDER AT ARCHLY MANOR Book 1 in the High Society Lady Detective Series by Sara Rosett

About the Book

A high-society murder. A spirited lady detective. Can she out-class the killer before an innocent person takes the fall?

London, 1923. Olive Belgrave needs a job. Despite her aristocratic upbringing, she’s penniless. Determined to support herself, she jumps at an unconventional job—looking into the background of her cousin’s fiancé, Alfred. He burst into the upper crust world of London’s high society, but his answers to questions about his past are decidedly vague. 

Before Olive can gather more than the basics, a murder occurs at a posh party. Suddenly, every Bright Young Person in attendance is a suspect, and Olive must race to find the culprit because a sly murderer is determined to make sure Olive’s first case is her last. 

Murder at Archly Manor is the first in the High Society Lady Detective series of charming historical cozy mysteries. If you like witty banter, glamorous settings, and delightful plot twists, you’ll love USA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett’s series for Anglophiles and mystery lovers alike. Travel back to the Golden Age of detective fiction with Murder at Archly Manor.

ReviewWith the concerns about Alfred's true motives in marrying Violet, Olive, in need of a new profession, is quick to volunteer to check out Alfred and her Aunt agrees to pay. She has already started to collect clues, when Alfred is murdered. Her cousin Violet is the suspect and Olive's determined to help her. Violet's sister, Gwen is a sometimes reluctant helper and not a fan of Alfred from the beginning. The men who know Alfred best, from host Sebastian to Tug and Monty have interesting personalities and the story behind Alfred's friendship in Sebastian adds to the twists in the story. Lady Pamela, Thea and Muriel round out the characters.

The mystery is well-paced and Olive is a likable main character for what looks like a new series. The characters and the setting are well described to provide the feel and ambiance of 1923 London. If you enjoy British cozy mystery - or cozy mystery at all, you'll enjoy Murder at Archly Manor.

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 AuthorUSA Today bestselling author Sara Rosett writes light-hearted escapes for readers who enjoy puzzling mysteries, interesting settings, and quirky characters.

She is the author of the Murder on Location series, the Ellie Avery series, the On the Run series, and the High Society Lady Detective series. Sara also teaches an online course, How to Outline A Cozy Mystery.

Publishers Weekly called Sara's books, “satisfying,” “well-executed,” and “sparkling.” Sara loves to get new stamps in her passport and considers dark chocolate a daily requirement. Find out more at SaraRosett.com.
Author Links:

▪      Website: https://www.SaraRosett.com

▪      Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SaraRosett

▪      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sararosett/

▪      Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSaraRosett

▪      Twitter: @SaraRosett http://www.twitter.com/sararosett

 ▪     Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/srosett/

▪      Litsy profile name: SaraRosett (no inks available at this time:                http://litsy.com/)

▪      GoodReads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/256977.Sara_Rosett

▪      LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/profile/SaraRosett

▪      Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Rosett/e/B001IXRPSS

▪      Bookbub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-rosett

▪      Newsletter sign-up: https://www.SaraRosett.com/signup

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble 

iBooks

Kobo

Google Play

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 11 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

October 11 – My Reading Journeys – SPOTLIGHT  

October 12 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

October 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

October 13 – T's Stuff – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 13 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – REVIEW

October 14 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 14 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

October 15 – Bibliophile Reviews - REVIEW

October 15 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 16 – Handcrafted Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

October 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

October 18 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

October 18 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 19 – Island Confidential - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 19 – Fantastic feathers – SPOTLIGHT

October 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

October 21 - A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 21 - Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 22 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Jane Reads – REVIEW

October 23 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – Carole's Book Corner – REVIEW

October 24 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW
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