Christa Nardi's Blog, page 82
July 7, 2014
Book Review: PECKED TO DEATH (A Sadie Cooper Mystery #1) by Vanessa Gray Bartal
Synopsis
Nothing could compel Sadie Cooper back to her hometown, back to the father she can't get along with and the best friend she betrayed--nothing but death. When her beloved neighbor and mentor dies, Sadie returns home in disgrace after humiliating herself in front of the nation. She intends to stop at home, pay her respects, and start anew somewhere else. But then the will is read, and Abby has left something unusual for Sadie in her will--a request to solve her murder.
Luke Sawyer has finally put his life back on track; he's finally put his old best friend, Sadie Cooper, out of his mind. And then she comes in like a hurricane to rip his careful life apart again. She won't give up her ridiculous quest to solve a murder that doesn't exist, and she won't stay out of Luke's head. The fastest way to get her out of town is to help her figure out what happened to Abby, but the only way to do that is to get close to her again.
Together, Sadie and Luke must team up to figure out what's going on. They'll get closer than they ever wanted to be to each other, and closer to a killer than they know.
Review
A nice combination of romance and suspense, Sadie Cooper is determined that her mentor, Aunt Abby, was murdered. But that's not the way Luke Sawyer sees it. Her determination can get her in trouble and her failings are readily pointed out by her father. There's also the complicated relationship that she and Luke had and his determination not to have his heart broken again.
This is the first in this series with well-developed characters and plot. SLUMBERED TO DEATH is the second, followed by SALVAGED TO DEATH.
Vanessa Gray Bartal is also the author of the Lacy Steele Mysteries and I would recommend them as well.
AMAZON
Nothing could compel Sadie Cooper back to her hometown, back to the father she can't get along with and the best friend she betrayed--nothing but death. When her beloved neighbor and mentor dies, Sadie returns home in disgrace after humiliating herself in front of the nation. She intends to stop at home, pay her respects, and start anew somewhere else. But then the will is read, and Abby has left something unusual for Sadie in her will--a request to solve her murder.
Luke Sawyer has finally put his life back on track; he's finally put his old best friend, Sadie Cooper, out of his mind. And then she comes in like a hurricane to rip his careful life apart again. She won't give up her ridiculous quest to solve a murder that doesn't exist, and she won't stay out of Luke's head. The fastest way to get her out of town is to help her figure out what happened to Abby, but the only way to do that is to get close to her again.
Together, Sadie and Luke must team up to figure out what's going on. They'll get closer than they ever wanted to be to each other, and closer to a killer than they know.
Review
A nice combination of romance and suspense, Sadie Cooper is determined that her mentor, Aunt Abby, was murdered. But that's not the way Luke Sawyer sees it. Her determination can get her in trouble and her failings are readily pointed out by her father. There's also the complicated relationship that she and Luke had and his determination not to have his heart broken again. This is the first in this series with well-developed characters and plot. SLUMBERED TO DEATH is the second, followed by SALVAGED TO DEATH.
Vanessa Gray Bartal is also the author of the Lacy Steele Mysteries and I would recommend them as well.
AMAZON
July 5, 2014
Book Review: MURDER FOR GLACIER BLUE (HIGH SEAS MYSTERY SERIES #3) by Diane Rapp
SYNOPSIS (from Amazon)
Painted in 1907, “Glacier Blue” is an oil painting recently appraised at 2 million pounds. Reginald C. Pierpont, the artist who created the stunning masterpiece, studied with the Impressionists in Europe and bold visionaries in the Americas. The sole heir to a family fortune, Reggie used his vast holdings and leisure time to experiment with new techniques and daring ideas to create his art. Although the masterpiece failed to turn heads during his own time period, Reggie’s secret method triggers larcenous schemes among modern crooks.
Genuine Fakes, an auction company that sells “authorized copies” of famous paintings, arranges to hold six charity auctions of fakes during a voyage to Alaska. Million-dollar originals will be displayed next to the Genuine Fakes during each auction—six opportunities for international thieves to steal a valuable piece of art. The president of Constellation Cruise Lines, Emily Schultz suddenly needs her new crack security team to guard the paintings.
When one of the fakes gets stolen from the buyer’s cabin, a discrete search for the missing canvas begins. The stakes rise when a body is found next to the missing fake, and the investigation suddenly takes a deadly turn. The investigators learn more about "Glacier Blue" and realize it’s no ordinary work of art. The painting’s special secret already provoked one murder, and it gets easier to kill again.
Emily begs Kayla and Steven to work for a few days before their wedding on Glacier Bay. They expected a stress-free cruise up the Inside Passage of Alaska, filled with glaciers, wildlife, and stunning scenery, but an art heist and murder might interrupt their romantic plans. To ramp up stress levels, Steven’s ex-wife, Cynthia, shows up for the cruise on the arm of Steven’s school chum—and Kayla feels hate-at-first-sight.
The young couple must entertain future in-laws while trying to outsmart murderous outlaws. As the ship navigates through icy waters, truth lies hidden from plain view, like the treacherous underwater portions of dangerous icebergs. Greed, jealousy, and envy generate potent motives for murder.
REVIEW
Genuine Fakes has chosen this Alaskan cruise as the site for the auction of commissioned copies that have been intentionally made, side by side, with the original works of art worth millions. The fakes are also worth a lot and Emily has recruited her friends Kayla and Steven to provide security. This is also their wedding cruise so other friends, also in security, as well as Steven's father, a retired cop, are aboard. When one of the "fakes" goes missing and the artist who painted that fake is found dead, major concerns rise with regard to whether it is the fake that is missing or the original. Kayla and Steven split their time between wedding preparation and working with their friends to ensure the paintings are secure so that Emily doesn't suffer a major financial loss. To do that, they have to solve the murder.
The characters of Emily, Kayla, Steven, Natalie, Jason and others are likable and "real"; the character of Cynthia is equally as negative, Phillip weak. In all, Rapp provides characters with depth and humanity. The plot is well developed and there are some obvious and not so obvious potential suspects for the murder and theft. An added bonus is the description of the various stops and sights from Ketchikan to Sitka to the Glacier National Park. Quick paced, this is an enjoyable read.
This is the third in the High Seas Mystery Series, and it can be read as a stand alone. A word of warning though, reading it first will clue you to endings of the first two!
AMAZON
Painted in 1907, “Glacier Blue” is an oil painting recently appraised at 2 million pounds. Reginald C. Pierpont, the artist who created the stunning masterpiece, studied with the Impressionists in Europe and bold visionaries in the Americas. The sole heir to a family fortune, Reggie used his vast holdings and leisure time to experiment with new techniques and daring ideas to create his art. Although the masterpiece failed to turn heads during his own time period, Reggie’s secret method triggers larcenous schemes among modern crooks.
Genuine Fakes, an auction company that sells “authorized copies” of famous paintings, arranges to hold six charity auctions of fakes during a voyage to Alaska. Million-dollar originals will be displayed next to the Genuine Fakes during each auction—six opportunities for international thieves to steal a valuable piece of art. The president of Constellation Cruise Lines, Emily Schultz suddenly needs her new crack security team to guard the paintings.
When one of the fakes gets stolen from the buyer’s cabin, a discrete search for the missing canvas begins. The stakes rise when a body is found next to the missing fake, and the investigation suddenly takes a deadly turn. The investigators learn more about "Glacier Blue" and realize it’s no ordinary work of art. The painting’s special secret already provoked one murder, and it gets easier to kill again.
Emily begs Kayla and Steven to work for a few days before their wedding on Glacier Bay. They expected a stress-free cruise up the Inside Passage of Alaska, filled with glaciers, wildlife, and stunning scenery, but an art heist and murder might interrupt their romantic plans. To ramp up stress levels, Steven’s ex-wife, Cynthia, shows up for the cruise on the arm of Steven’s school chum—and Kayla feels hate-at-first-sight.
The young couple must entertain future in-laws while trying to outsmart murderous outlaws. As the ship navigates through icy waters, truth lies hidden from plain view, like the treacherous underwater portions of dangerous icebergs. Greed, jealousy, and envy generate potent motives for murder.
REVIEW
Genuine Fakes has chosen this Alaskan cruise as the site for the auction of commissioned copies that have been intentionally made, side by side, with the original works of art worth millions. The fakes are also worth a lot and Emily has recruited her friends Kayla and Steven to provide security. This is also their wedding cruise so other friends, also in security, as well as Steven's father, a retired cop, are aboard. When one of the "fakes" goes missing and the artist who painted that fake is found dead, major concerns rise with regard to whether it is the fake that is missing or the original. Kayla and Steven split their time between wedding preparation and working with their friends to ensure the paintings are secure so that Emily doesn't suffer a major financial loss. To do that, they have to solve the murder.The characters of Emily, Kayla, Steven, Natalie, Jason and others are likable and "real"; the character of Cynthia is equally as negative, Phillip weak. In all, Rapp provides characters with depth and humanity. The plot is well developed and there are some obvious and not so obvious potential suspects for the murder and theft. An added bonus is the description of the various stops and sights from Ketchikan to Sitka to the Glacier National Park. Quick paced, this is an enjoyable read.
This is the third in the High Seas Mystery Series, and it can be read as a stand alone. A word of warning though, reading it first will clue you to endings of the first two!
AMAZON
July 3, 2014
Book Review: THE TROUBLE WITH MURDER by Catherine Nelson
Synopsis
Zoe Grey is between jobs, between boyfriends, and between crises. Things seem to be looking up. Until all she's looking at is trouble.
Before she knows it, witnessing a brutal stabbing leads to a dead guy in her living room, and a target on her back. Then she lands herself smack in the middle of Detective Ellmann's homicide investigation, becoming the only suspect.
Now Zoe must stay ahead of those who want her dead and chase down her answers while working around Ellmann. As her determination to find justice for an innocent victim drives her on, she can feel the heat from the bullets flying in her direction. No stranger to trouble, Zoe just might find herself in over her head this time.
Review
It's hard to say who is the more likable character - Zoe or (Alex) Ellmann. Zoe has a history that flashes back when she is in danger or someone else is in danger. All it takes is watching a video of her response in a murder situation and it's obvious she can take care of herself and Detective Ellmann wants to know why. With the second homicide connected to her and her history, she has no choice but to figure out what's happening and why. Complicating all of this is hostility from co-workers at the Realty Office and her mother and brother, both of whom she feels responsible for. And then there's Ellmann's apparent ability to know just what she's going to do next.
This was a good read; I enjoyed it and immediately started (and finished) the sequel, THE TROUBLE WITH THEFT. As Zoe continues to explore her career choices and her relationships, I hope there will be a third one in this series.
AMAZON
Zoe Grey is between jobs, between boyfriends, and between crises. Things seem to be looking up. Until all she's looking at is trouble.
Before she knows it, witnessing a brutal stabbing leads to a dead guy in her living room, and a target on her back. Then she lands herself smack in the middle of Detective Ellmann's homicide investigation, becoming the only suspect.
Now Zoe must stay ahead of those who want her dead and chase down her answers while working around Ellmann. As her determination to find justice for an innocent victim drives her on, she can feel the heat from the bullets flying in her direction. No stranger to trouble, Zoe just might find herself in over her head this time.
Review
It's hard to say who is the more likable character - Zoe or (Alex) Ellmann. Zoe has a history that flashes back when she is in danger or someone else is in danger. All it takes is watching a video of her response in a murder situation and it's obvious she can take care of herself and Detective Ellmann wants to know why. With the second homicide connected to her and her history, she has no choice but to figure out what's happening and why. Complicating all of this is hostility from co-workers at the Realty Office and her mother and brother, both of whom she feels responsible for. And then there's Ellmann's apparent ability to know just what she's going to do next.
This was a good read; I enjoyed it and immediately started (and finished) the sequel, THE TROUBLE WITH THEFT. As Zoe continues to explore her career choices and her relationships, I hope there will be a third one in this series.
AMAZON
July 1, 2014
Release Blitz: ADJOURNMENT by Emersyn Vallis
When Sidney Chandler chooses to leave home she walks away from her life as she knows it… her family…Him…
She stepped back, allowing them all to heal… move on… live without her…
Now at the age of twenty nine and almost a decade behind her, she is a master of disguise. Long gone is the timid girl who lived blinded by the ideas of love.
Until fate decides to intervene and the one man she has struggled to evade at all costs is pushed back into her life. He knows the real girl behind the façade, only he can pull her out of her self-imposed exile… breathing life back into her cold, protected heart.
Fate will do what fate wants and Sidney’s choices are no longer her own… but were they ever really hers to begin with?
Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK
Turning around to go back inside my laughter stops. I don’t feel the crystal dish slip from my fingers. I just stand here… frozen.
There’s yelling and noise but it’s all muffled… like that night.
I close my eyes.
Breathe… Breathe…
My heartbeat pounding through me the muffled sounds become clear and I hear Morgan screaming at me.
“Jesus, Sidney! Do you want Mom to kill you?”
Blinking feverishly I look down to see she caught it just as it was about to smash. I can’t bring myself to worry about that right now. I look back up and watch as Simon, the boy I was so in love with just moments ago pulls away from a girl that up until this point was my best friend. A girl I thought I was going away to college with, a girl who knew how I felt about him.
This is not happening… at my party no less…
“Breathe… You’re in control…” Molly whispers, her hand connecting with my back startles me.
You know when you witness something and you know you should look away but you can’t because it’s one of those moments, those damn life changing moments that your brain makes sure to take notes on so that nothing is missed, no detail is overlooked, and nothing is ever forgotten. It’s one of those moments in life that you know instantly will repeat itself over and over in your head until it eventually causes you to change. It will break you and from those pieces in that moment will rebuild you. I thought that night was my moment, but I guess that was just a giant stepping-stone to this. Maybe I was wrong about fate… maybe it forgot about me.
My pulse continues to beat through my body in a deep throbbing rhythm, the darkness of a black out building up. He steps back from her, slightly turning his head in my direction and I know he knows I’m standing here, he just refuses to turn and look at me. I’m so dumb, I should have seen this coming. I mean did I really think I was so different from any of my predecessors? Women, real women, who have actually given themselves to him completely only to find out the next morning they’re just one in a crowd of many. Nothing special and forgotten about as soon as he received whatever it was he wanted from them.
I did… because he told me I was. We had a plan…
Emersyn Vallis is a first time author with Adjournment being the first book in the Fated Series. Currently residing on the east coast with her husband and three children she is typically mistaken for being quiet and reserved her friends often describe her as a spastic spider monkey and always the first to be there with her quick wit to pull you back up when you’re feeling down. After reading as a hobby for most of her life it wasn’t until she had discovered R. L. Mathewson’s ‘Neighbor from Hell Series’ and Tara Sivec’s ‘Playing with Fire Series’ that she came up with the idea to fuse comedy and suspense together and her passion for writing was born.
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June 30, 2014
Blog Tour: ON THE FLY by Catherine Gayle
Today, as part of the Light the Lamp Tour (#3 in the series), the focus is on the second in the series, ON THE FLY!
Synopsis:Injury after injury has put Brenden Campbell’s NHL career on hold for years. Now he’s playing for the Portland Storm and determined to make it stick. Few things in life drive him more than being told he can’t have something he wants, and what he wants most is to prove he belongs. Brenden also wants Rachel Shaw, the cute, little redhead who just got hired as the general manager’s new assistant. But then she went and made herself off-limits, telling him: “I don’t date.” Those three words pretty much guarantee that he’ll do everything he can to change her mind.
Rachel is changing things up on the fly for her family, moving them somewhere she can be the kind of mom her kids deserve. Allowing anyone else to be in their lives is out of the question, at least until her instincts get back on track. How else can she be sure who to steer the kids clear of? Right now she trusts no one, including herself, and especially not a man like Brenden Campbell. He’s way too handsome and a little bit cocky. Falling for a guy like him is a mistake she can’t afford to make twice.
Review:You don't have to like hockey to like the hockey players in this novel. Brenden Campbell (aka Soupy from his last name) is great to look at and for some reason attracted to this petite red head who just isn't his type at all. Is he for real? Or is it that he just has to win at all costs, including her heart? There are some touching scenes, some funny scenes, some sexy scenes - and wonderful story. Consistent with a hockey context, the language and content is *adult* but well done.
I was enjoying it so much I stayed up late to finish it. It is the second in the series, but it also can easily be read as a stand alone. That said, you will know how the first one ends, so I'd recommend you start with the first one so you get the whole story of Dana. Each of the books focuses on a single character, usually a hockey player; In LIGHT THE LAMP the focus is on Liam (see other blogs in this tour!). With the fourth in the series, DELAY OF GAME, to be released in August 2014, the focus shifts again.
About the Author:
Catherine Gayle is a bestselling author of Regency-set historical romance and contemporary hockey romance with a New Adult feel. She’s a transplanted Texan living in North Carolina with two extremely spoiled felines. In her spare time, she watches way too much hockey and reality TV, plans fun things to do for the Nephew Monster’s next visit, and performs experiments in the kitchen which are rarely toxic.
Website: http://www.catherinegayle.com
Blog: http://catherinegayleauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCatherineGayle
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Catherine_Gayle
Direct Buy Links for ON THE FLY:AMAZONBARNES AND NOBLEiBOOKSTOREKOBOALL ROMANCE EBOOKSSMASHWORDS
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Synopsis:Injury after injury has put Brenden Campbell’s NHL career on hold for years. Now he’s playing for the Portland Storm and determined to make it stick. Few things in life drive him more than being told he can’t have something he wants, and what he wants most is to prove he belongs. Brenden also wants Rachel Shaw, the cute, little redhead who just got hired as the general manager’s new assistant. But then she went and made herself off-limits, telling him: “I don’t date.” Those three words pretty much guarantee that he’ll do everything he can to change her mind.
Rachel is changing things up on the fly for her family, moving them somewhere she can be the kind of mom her kids deserve. Allowing anyone else to be in their lives is out of the question, at least until her instincts get back on track. How else can she be sure who to steer the kids clear of? Right now she trusts no one, including herself, and especially not a man like Brenden Campbell. He’s way too handsome and a little bit cocky. Falling for a guy like him is a mistake she can’t afford to make twice.
Review:You don't have to like hockey to like the hockey players in this novel. Brenden Campbell (aka Soupy from his last name) is great to look at and for some reason attracted to this petite red head who just isn't his type at all. Is he for real? Or is it that he just has to win at all costs, including her heart? There are some touching scenes, some funny scenes, some sexy scenes - and wonderful story. Consistent with a hockey context, the language and content is *adult* but well done.I was enjoying it so much I stayed up late to finish it. It is the second in the series, but it also can easily be read as a stand alone. That said, you will know how the first one ends, so I'd recommend you start with the first one so you get the whole story of Dana. Each of the books focuses on a single character, usually a hockey player; In LIGHT THE LAMP the focus is on Liam (see other blogs in this tour!). With the fourth in the series, DELAY OF GAME, to be released in August 2014, the focus shifts again.
About the Author:
Catherine Gayle is a bestselling author of Regency-set historical romance and contemporary hockey romance with a New Adult feel. She’s a transplanted Texan living in North Carolina with two extremely spoiled felines. In her spare time, she watches way too much hockey and reality TV, plans fun things to do for the Nephew Monster’s next visit, and performs experiments in the kitchen which are rarely toxic.
Website: http://www.catherinegayle.com
Blog: http://catherinegayleauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCatherineGayle
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Catherine_Gayle
Direct Buy Links for ON THE FLY:AMAZONBARNES AND NOBLEiBOOKSTOREKOBOALL ROMANCE EBOOKSSMASHWORDS
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 24, 2014
Great Escapes Blog Tour: THE BAFFLED BEATLEMANIAC CAPER by Sally Carpenter
Synopsis:
In the 1970s, teen idol Sandy Fairfax recorded 10 gold records and starred in the hit TV show Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth. Now he’s a 38-year-old recovering alcoholic with dead bodies getting in the way of his comeback! An easy gig as the guest celebrity at a Midwest Beatles fan convention turns deadly when a member of the tribute band is murdered. When the police finger Sandy as the prime suspect, the boy sleuth is back in action to interpret the “Beatle-ly” clues and find the killer.
Review: This is the first in a new series- the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Mystery Series. The closest Sandy Fairfax has been until now is the star in a TV Show as a sleuth. Now, as he tries to launch a comeback to his music career, he ends up trying to use what he learned as Buddy Brave. He doesn't have much choice - he is the major suspect in a murder at a Beatles tribute convention in small town Indiana. Sandy has many problems and is a major disappointment to Bunny McAllister, his greatest fan. If you are a Beatles fan and like light mystery, you will enjoy this who-dun-it. Curious about the second in the series SINISTER SITCOM CAPER? Check out the 2/17/2014 post! Looking forward to the third in the series.
About the Author:Sally Carpenter is native Hoosier now living in Moorpark, Calif. She has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school her plays “Star Collector” and “Common Ground” were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition. “Common Ground” also earned a college creative writing award and “Star Collector” was produced in New York City. Carpenter also has a master’s degree in theology and a black belt in tae kwon do. She’s worked as an actress, college writing instructor, theater critic, jail chaplain and tour guide/page for Paramount Pictures. She’s now employed at a community newspaper.
“The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper,” was a 2012 Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel. “The Sinister Sitcom Caper,” the second in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series, is published by Cozy Cat Press. The third book, “The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper,” is due in 2015. Her short story, “Dark Nights at the Deluxe Drive-in,” appears in the 2013 anthology “Last Exit to Murder.” “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” was published in the “Plan B: Vol. 2” e-book anthology. Her short story “The Pie-eyed Spy” appeared in the Nov. 23, 2013, issue of Kings River Life ezine. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles and “mom” to two black cats.
Webpage: http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54
GoodReads: (kindle version not on GR yet)
Email: scwriter@earthlink.net
Purchase Links
Amazon
B&N
June 17, 2014
Book Review: ALL FUDGED UP (A Candy-Coated Mystery with Recipes) by Nancy Coco
Synopsis
Welcome to the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop--where life is sweet, revenge is sweeter, and murder is here to to stay…
You Can't Fudge An Alibi
Allie McMurphy is up to her neck in renovations at the grand old hotel that's been in her family for generations. With its quaint Victorian charm--and world-famous fudge shop--the place is one of Mackinac Island's most beloved landmarks.
Sure, every family has a skeleton or two in the closet. But Allie didn't expect to find an actual corpse inside hers, especially one Joe Jessup, who had a long-running feud with her dear departed grandfather. Which makes Allie the number-one suspect.
Can she sniff out the culprit before another victim checks in?
Review
Allie returns to the historic hotel and fudge shop that had been run by her grandfather for years and has definitely seen better days. As she tries to spruce up the place, she finds the dead body of her grandfather's arch rival. As the one who found the body and the family feud, Allie is sure to be a suspect. With the inevitable conflict with the detective in charge of the case, Allie tries to figure out the murderer. The story continues with the many quirky individuals so often found in small communities and mystery stories. Her dog, Mal, is a character as well.
This is an easy read for the summer TBR pile with more in the series promised. A plus is the collection of various different fudges for those of you like me who realllly like fudge! (I suspect the secret ingredient of the McMurphy fudge is not revealed though!). The sequel, TO FUDGE OR NOT TO FUDGE, is scheduled for September 2014.
AMAZON
Welcome to the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop--where life is sweet, revenge is sweeter, and murder is here to to stay…
You Can't Fudge An Alibi
Allie McMurphy is up to her neck in renovations at the grand old hotel that's been in her family for generations. With its quaint Victorian charm--and world-famous fudge shop--the place is one of Mackinac Island's most beloved landmarks.
Sure, every family has a skeleton or two in the closet. But Allie didn't expect to find an actual corpse inside hers, especially one Joe Jessup, who had a long-running feud with her dear departed grandfather. Which makes Allie the number-one suspect.
Can she sniff out the culprit before another victim checks in?
Review
Allie returns to the historic hotel and fudge shop that had been run by her grandfather for years and has definitely seen better days. As she tries to spruce up the place, she finds the dead body of her grandfather's arch rival. As the one who found the body and the family feud, Allie is sure to be a suspect. With the inevitable conflict with the detective in charge of the case, Allie tries to figure out the murderer. The story continues with the many quirky individuals so often found in small communities and mystery stories. Her dog, Mal, is a character as well.
This is an easy read for the summer TBR pile with more in the series promised. A plus is the collection of various different fudges for those of you like me who realllly like fudge! (I suspect the secret ingredient of the McMurphy fudge is not revealed though!). The sequel, TO FUDGE OR NOT TO FUDGE, is scheduled for September 2014.
AMAZON
June 13, 2014
Upcoming Blog Tour for Murder at Cold Creek College!
It's scheduled! This is so exciting... Touring July 28-August 8 and I get to visit all the blogs! I hope you can join in!
In the meantime, I am working hard on finishing the first draft of Murder in the Arboretum, but some of my characters are just not behaving the way I want them to. So back to work...
In the meantime, I am working hard on finishing the first draft of Murder in the Arboretum, but some of my characters are just not behaving the way I want them to. So back to work...
June 11, 2014
Spotlight on New Release: COZY FOOD edited by Nancy Lynn Jarvis
Cover Reveal and Spotlight: COZY FOOD (edited by Nancy Lynn Jarvis)
What happens when 128 cozy mystery writers get together to do a cookbook? You get more than 220 recipes that are as varied and interesting as an amateur sleuth’s day job. Regional recipes come from every part of the United States and England — a couple find their way from Australia and Italy, too — and from diverse times. There are recipes from people looking to keep gluten out of their lives, eat vegetarian, or make a treat or two for their furry four-legged friends. And yes, there are recipes that appeal to the sweet tooth, lots of them, in fact. There’s no mystery about what happens when cozy writers get together. They bring the wit, inventiveness, and adventure found in their books right along with their recipes. The recipes are introduced by their authors and linked to the writer bios in the back of the book. You can look up your favorite cozy writer and see which recipes are their favorites; they'll tell you what the recipe means to them. Or you can enjoy a dish and then link to the recipe's author's biography and books. Either way you enjoy the cookbook, you're sure to find great new recipes to make and terrific new cozy authors to read. Contributing Authors: Sparkle Abbey, Ellery Adams, (aka J. B. Stanley, Jennifer Stanley) Judy Alter, Marian Allen, Ritter Ames, Donna Andrews, Traci Andrighetti, Amy Beth Arkawy, Mignon F. Ballard, Sandra Balzo, JoAnn Bassett, Cynthia Baxter, (aka Cynthia Blair) Jenna Bennett, (aka Jennie Bentley) Sally Berneathy, (aka Sally Carleen, Sally Steward, Sara Garrett) Maggie Bishop, Cindy Blackburn, Juliet Blackwell, Susan Furlong Bollinger, Sheila Webster Boneham, Laura Bradford, Frances Brody, Duffy Brown, Joyce Ann Brown, Mollie Bryan, B.B. Cantwell, Laurie Cass, (aka Laura Alden) Nancy J. Cohen, Shelley Costa, Judith Cutler, Rebecca (aka R.P.) Dahlke, Kathi Daley, Kathleen Delaney, Diana Dempsey, Pamela Frost Dennis, Lesley A. Diehl, Leighann Dobbs, Vicki Doudera, Pamela DuMond, Carola Dunn, Jean Erhardt, Chloe Evans, Monica Ferris, (aka Margaret Frazer, Mary Monica Pulver, Mary Kuhfeld) Judy Fitzwater, Chris Forman, Kaye George, Sally Goldenbaum, Barbara Graham, Sarah Graves, Carolyn Haines, (aka R.B. Chesterton) Vinnie Hansen, Traci Hilton, Sibel Hodge, Valerie Horowitz, Mary Ellen Hughes, Linda Joffe Hull, Ellen Elizabeth Hunter, Dawn Greenfield Ireland, Melanie Jackson, Holly Jacobs, Miranda James, (aka Dean James) Nancy Lynn Jarvis, Heather Justesen, Pamela Kelley, E.E. Kennedy, Mary Kennedy, Josi S. Kilpack, Kelly Klepfer, (aka Michelle Griep, Ellie Marks) Barbara Lee Cool, Marilyn Levinson, Liz Lipperman, Gail Lukasik, Elaine Macko, Sylvia Massara, Sonja Massie, (aka G.A. McKevett) Edith Maxwell, (aka Tace Baker) Lorena McCourtney, Marja McGraw, Eileen Haavik McIntire, Staci McLaughlin, Catriona McPherson, Camille Minichino, (aka Margaret Grace, Ada Madison) Marie Moore, Ruth Moose, Amy Myers, Tamar Myers, Christa Nardi, Radine Trees Nehring, Kerri Nelson, Clare O’Donohue, Diana Orgain, Joyce Oroz, Elaine L. Orr, Helen Osterman, Gail Oust, K.B. Owen, Sharon Pape, Nancy J. Parra, (aka Nancy J. Coco) Allison Cesario Paton, Joanne Pence, Maggie Pill, Ann Purser, Melissa Bourbon Ramirez, (aka Melissa Bourbon) Nanci Rathbun, Rosalee Richland, Becky Lyn Rickman, Karen Robbins, Carolyn J. Rose, Pamela Rose, Cindy Sample, June Shaw, Connie Shelton, Clea Simon, Joanna Campbell Slan, Karen Rose Smith, Lane Stone, Maria Grazia Swan, Denise Swanson, Marcia Talley, Nancy Jill Thames, Sharon Burch Toner, Elaine Viets, Lea Wait, Wendy Lyn Watson, (aka Annie Knox) Christine Wenger, Gayle Wigglesworth, Lois Winston, Joan H. Young, Suzanne YoungThis was great fun - thanks to Nancy Lynn Jarvis for pulling all these recipes together!!! AMAZON
What happens when 128 cozy mystery writers get together to do a cookbook? You get more than 220 recipes that are as varied and interesting as an amateur sleuth’s day job. Regional recipes come from every part of the United States and England — a couple find their way from Australia and Italy, too — and from diverse times. There are recipes from people looking to keep gluten out of their lives, eat vegetarian, or make a treat or two for their furry four-legged friends. And yes, there are recipes that appeal to the sweet tooth, lots of them, in fact. There’s no mystery about what happens when cozy writers get together. They bring the wit, inventiveness, and adventure found in their books right along with their recipes. The recipes are introduced by their authors and linked to the writer bios in the back of the book. You can look up your favorite cozy writer and see which recipes are their favorites; they'll tell you what the recipe means to them. Or you can enjoy a dish and then link to the recipe's author's biography and books. Either way you enjoy the cookbook, you're sure to find great new recipes to make and terrific new cozy authors to read. Contributing Authors: Sparkle Abbey, Ellery Adams, (aka J. B. Stanley, Jennifer Stanley) Judy Alter, Marian Allen, Ritter Ames, Donna Andrews, Traci Andrighetti, Amy Beth Arkawy, Mignon F. Ballard, Sandra Balzo, JoAnn Bassett, Cynthia Baxter, (aka Cynthia Blair) Jenna Bennett, (aka Jennie Bentley) Sally Berneathy, (aka Sally Carleen, Sally Steward, Sara Garrett) Maggie Bishop, Cindy Blackburn, Juliet Blackwell, Susan Furlong Bollinger, Sheila Webster Boneham, Laura Bradford, Frances Brody, Duffy Brown, Joyce Ann Brown, Mollie Bryan, B.B. Cantwell, Laurie Cass, (aka Laura Alden) Nancy J. Cohen, Shelley Costa, Judith Cutler, Rebecca (aka R.P.) Dahlke, Kathi Daley, Kathleen Delaney, Diana Dempsey, Pamela Frost Dennis, Lesley A. Diehl, Leighann Dobbs, Vicki Doudera, Pamela DuMond, Carola Dunn, Jean Erhardt, Chloe Evans, Monica Ferris, (aka Margaret Frazer, Mary Monica Pulver, Mary Kuhfeld) Judy Fitzwater, Chris Forman, Kaye George, Sally Goldenbaum, Barbara Graham, Sarah Graves, Carolyn Haines, (aka R.B. Chesterton) Vinnie Hansen, Traci Hilton, Sibel Hodge, Valerie Horowitz, Mary Ellen Hughes, Linda Joffe Hull, Ellen Elizabeth Hunter, Dawn Greenfield Ireland, Melanie Jackson, Holly Jacobs, Miranda James, (aka Dean James) Nancy Lynn Jarvis, Heather Justesen, Pamela Kelley, E.E. Kennedy, Mary Kennedy, Josi S. Kilpack, Kelly Klepfer, (aka Michelle Griep, Ellie Marks) Barbara Lee Cool, Marilyn Levinson, Liz Lipperman, Gail Lukasik, Elaine Macko, Sylvia Massara, Sonja Massie, (aka G.A. McKevett) Edith Maxwell, (aka Tace Baker) Lorena McCourtney, Marja McGraw, Eileen Haavik McIntire, Staci McLaughlin, Catriona McPherson, Camille Minichino, (aka Margaret Grace, Ada Madison) Marie Moore, Ruth Moose, Amy Myers, Tamar Myers, Christa Nardi, Radine Trees Nehring, Kerri Nelson, Clare O’Donohue, Diana Orgain, Joyce Oroz, Elaine L. Orr, Helen Osterman, Gail Oust, K.B. Owen, Sharon Pape, Nancy J. Parra, (aka Nancy J. Coco) Allison Cesario Paton, Joanne Pence, Maggie Pill, Ann Purser, Melissa Bourbon Ramirez, (aka Melissa Bourbon) Nanci Rathbun, Rosalee Richland, Becky Lyn Rickman, Karen Robbins, Carolyn J. Rose, Pamela Rose, Cindy Sample, June Shaw, Connie Shelton, Clea Simon, Joanna Campbell Slan, Karen Rose Smith, Lane Stone, Maria Grazia Swan, Denise Swanson, Marcia Talley, Nancy Jill Thames, Sharon Burch Toner, Elaine Viets, Lea Wait, Wendy Lyn Watson, (aka Annie Knox) Christine Wenger, Gayle Wigglesworth, Lois Winston, Joan H. Young, Suzanne YoungThis was great fun - thanks to Nancy Lynn Jarvis for pulling all these recipes together!!! AMAZON
June 6, 2014
Blog Tour: TO SLEEP...PER CHANCE TO DIE
Synopsis:
Tangled lives, tainted love, and a Shakespearean twist lead to deception, betrayal, and murder. In this sexy, psychological thriller, Eurasian beauty Mai Faca plots to marry Jake Warden, a successful oral surgeon forbidden to her because of family honor. In an unheard-of scheme, fellow surgeon, Bret Manley, falls victim to Mai's seduction as she and Jake play a cruel trick to be together. Jake acts with surgical precision to clear the path to Mai's happiness, threatening lives including his own. In a wake of turmoil and destruction, Bret's uncle and well-known criminal attorney Hubie Santos attempts to find out if a surgeon would use his knowledge to kill.
Review:
Definitely a story of betrayal on all fronts targeting Bret Manley, who sees and believes what he wants to - that Mai is in love with him and his best friend, Jake, is only acting in his best interests. It is a devious plot that Mai and Jake device, seemingly the perfect crime. The various pieces are planned and fall into place like an intricate puzzle with Bret left in despair. Even when Bret and his uncle Hubie Santos are certain that Jake and Mai are behind the murder of Bret's neighbor, there is no hard proof - it is just the most logical explanation. Well-developed plot and characters that are either likable or not. But Santos and his private investigator just wait on the inevitable - the single mistake or mis-step of the weakest link.
About the Author:Donald R. Grippo, DDS practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery in northeastern Connecticut for more than thirty years. On a daily basis, he encountered patient's fear of undergoing oral surgery and associated anesthesia. To help allay such fear he wrote A Guide to the Guy or Gal Who Takes Your Teeth Out, a series of short stories dealing with the treatment of typical oral surgical problems. His resume includes working as a dentist at the Tennessee State Prison outside of Nashville and as a guard at the Hartford State Jail on Syms Street in Hartford.
Website: www.dongrippo.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonaldGrippo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dongrippo
Where to buy the book:
Amazon
Barnes & Nobles
Book Depository
Indigo Chapters
Tangled lives, tainted love, and a Shakespearean twist lead to deception, betrayal, and murder. In this sexy, psychological thriller, Eurasian beauty Mai Faca plots to marry Jake Warden, a successful oral surgeon forbidden to her because of family honor. In an unheard-of scheme, fellow surgeon, Bret Manley, falls victim to Mai's seduction as she and Jake play a cruel trick to be together. Jake acts with surgical precision to clear the path to Mai's happiness, threatening lives including his own. In a wake of turmoil and destruction, Bret's uncle and well-known criminal attorney Hubie Santos attempts to find out if a surgeon would use his knowledge to kill.
Review:Definitely a story of betrayal on all fronts targeting Bret Manley, who sees and believes what he wants to - that Mai is in love with him and his best friend, Jake, is only acting in his best interests. It is a devious plot that Mai and Jake device, seemingly the perfect crime. The various pieces are planned and fall into place like an intricate puzzle with Bret left in despair. Even when Bret and his uncle Hubie Santos are certain that Jake and Mai are behind the murder of Bret's neighbor, there is no hard proof - it is just the most logical explanation. Well-developed plot and characters that are either likable or not. But Santos and his private investigator just wait on the inevitable - the single mistake or mis-step of the weakest link.
About the Author:Donald R. Grippo, DDS practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery in northeastern Connecticut for more than thirty years. On a daily basis, he encountered patient's fear of undergoing oral surgery and associated anesthesia. To help allay such fear he wrote A Guide to the Guy or Gal Who Takes Your Teeth Out, a series of short stories dealing with the treatment of typical oral surgical problems. His resume includes working as a dentist at the Tennessee State Prison outside of Nashville and as a guard at the Hartford State Jail on Syms Street in Hartford.Website: www.dongrippo.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonaldGrippo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dongrippo
Where to buy the book:
Amazon
Barnes & Nobles
Book Depository
Indigo Chapters
