Babs Hightower's Blog, page 22
November 30, 2018
Violet Tendencies (A Rose City Mystery) by Kate Dyer-Seeley
Violet Tendencies (A Rose City Mystery)
by Kate Dyer-Seeley
About the Book
Violet Tendencies (A Rose City Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Kensington (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1496705157
ISBN-13: 978-1496705150
Digital ASIN: B07B73XJJG
Who could object to a flower festival?
Britta Johnston and her aunt Elin are delighted that their Portland floral boutique is part of the city’s Rose Festival, which draws thousands to the Pacific Northwest for dragon boat races, fireworks, and other attractions—capped off by a big parade. They’re building a float that’s sure to rock the judge’s boat . . . until a gang of angry protestors shows up. The group, who call themselves Dark Fusion, are decidedly not into flower power, and they want to take down the system . . . including the upcoming extravaganza.
Then their leader is strangled with a garland of violets—and Britta finds the body. With tensions running high and so much at stake, there are plenty of suspects, from the Grand Marshal to a longtime volunteer to a former Rose Queen. But before Britta and Elin can stem the violence, the case is going to get even more explosive . . .
Giveaway
About the Author
Kate Dyer-Seeley aka Ellie Alexander writes multiple mystery series, all with a Pacific Northwest touch. She lives in the PNW with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.
Author Links
Facebook Twitter Instagram GoodReads
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
November 27 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
November 28 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
November 28 – The Montana Bookaholic – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 29 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW
November 29 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
November 30 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 1 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
December 2 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT, FLOWER TIP SHEET
December 3 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
December 3 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
December 4 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST
December 5 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 6 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
December 6 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
The post Violet Tendencies (A Rose City Mystery) by Kate Dyer-Seeley appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
November 29, 2018
A Midwinter’s Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery) by Bethany Blake
A Midwinter’s Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery)
by Bethany Blake
About the Book
A Midwinter’s Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (November 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1496717333
ISBN-13: 978-1496717337
Digital ASIN: B07B7C8XQY
To bark or not to bark . . .
Professional pet sitter Daphne Templeton loves the holidays in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. And nothing gets her into the spirit more than the town’s annual Bark the Halls Ball. The whole community will be there to wag their tails, especially this year’s special guest—Celeste “CeeCee” French, founder of a national chain of pet care franchises, who’s returning home to announce plans for a bright new flagship store.
But not everyone’s celebrating CeeCee’s homecoming. Daphne’s friend Moxie Bloom, owner of Spa and Paw, a unique salon for people and their pets, has plenty to growl about. So when CeeCee is found face down under Sylvan Creek’s town Christmas tree, stabbed with a distinctive pair of professional-grade pet shears, suspicion lands squarely on Moxie. Despite Daphne’s promises to Detective Jonathan Black, she quickly reprises her role as amateur sleuth. Ably assisted by her basset hound sidekick, Socrates, she must hurry to prove her friend’s innocence before a killer barks again . . .
Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!
Recipe
My new book, A Midwinter’s Tail, is chock full of scenes featuring mouthwatering holiday foods for people. But the many pets in my novels also get their share of treats, and the recipes are included in the book. Here’s one of the cat treats, which pet sitter and amateur sleuth Daphne Templeton makes for her surly Persian, Tinkleston – who was inspired by my ornery, ebony feline Potpie. I hope the cat in your life enjoys these, too!
Cranberry-Chicken Stocking Stuffer Cat Treats
1 chicken breast, about five ounces
1 cup rolled oats
3 Tbsps dried cranberries (Be sure to buy UNSWEETENED.)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp dried catnip
1 large egg
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Boil the chicken until cooked through. Cool and chop into small pieces.
Place the oats in a food processor and grind them up into a flour. Add the dried cranberries and grind again. Add the remaining ingredients—including the chicken—and pulse until well combined. Scrape the mixture into a bowl. If you don’t think the mixture will hold together, add a little more olive oil.
Use a ¼ teaspoon measuring spoon to portion out the treats. Roll them into little balls and press them flat. Cook the snacks for about 15 minutes, until they turn light golden brown. Allow them to cool before serving. Kitty tongues might be rough, but they burn, too!
My cat, Potpie, lounging on her favorite blanket. You can see that she’s a bit devilish!
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Giveaway- 2
Prize 1 print copy of A Midwinter’s Tail – U.S. Only. To enter this giveaway just leave a comment on this post or follow me some way. Be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you win.
About the Author
Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.
Author Links
Webpage BookBub Twitter Facebook
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound BookBub
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 26 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
November 26 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 27 – Here’s How It Happened – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 27 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
November 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST
November 28 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 28 – The Power of Words – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
November 29 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 29 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
November 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
November 30 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE, GIVEAWAY
November 30 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY
December 1 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW
December 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 2 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
December 2 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE
December 3 – Carla Loves to Read – REVIEW
December 3 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 4 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW
December 4 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
December 4 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 5 – Melina’ Book Blog – REVIEW
December 5 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 5 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
The post A Midwinter’s Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery) by Bethany Blake appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
November issue of Babs BookMark is now live
In this issue we have Raven Moon on the cover and interview. We have various authors in romance, paranormal, thrillers and mystery.
https://babsbookbistro.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Novembers-Issue-Babs-BookMark.mp4
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November 28, 2018
The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn
The Body in the Attic
by Judi Lynn
About the Book
The Body in the Attic
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Lyrical Underground (November 27, 2018)
Paperback: 218 pages
ISBN-10: 1516108396
ISBN-13: 978-1516108398
Digital Print Length: 280 pages
ASIN: B07B741L6N
Welcome to River Bluffs, Indiana, a cozy small town populated with charming homes, close-knit families, and the occasional deadly secret . . .
House-flipper Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod have found their latest project. The property, formerly owned by the late Cal Juniper, is filled with debris that must be cleared before the real renovation begins. But a trip to the attic reveals something more disturbing than forgotten garbage—a skeleton wearing a locket and rings that Jazzi recognizes . . .
Tests confirm that the bones belong to Jazzi’s aunt Lynda, who everyone assumed moved to New York years ago after breaking up with Cal. Soon enough, the whole family is involved, sifting through memories and rumors as they try to piece together what really happened to Lynda—and the baby she gave up for adoption. In between investigating and remodeling, Jazzi is falling for the old house’s charms—and for her gorgeous contractor, Ansel. But with surprises lurking in every nook and cranny, a killer might be waiting to demolish her dreams for good . . .
About the Author
Judi Lynn received a Master’s Degree from Indiana University as an elementary school teacher after attending the IPFW campus. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades for six years before having her two daughters. She loves gardening, cooking and trying new recipes.
Readers can visit her website at www.judithpostswritingmusings.com and her blog writingmusings.com.
Purchase Links
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 26 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 26 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
November 27 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 27 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
November 27 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
November 28 – My Devotional Thoughts – REVIEW
November 28 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
November 29 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – Varietats – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 30 – Here’s How It Happened – REVIEW
December 1 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST*
December 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 3 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST
December 3 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
December 4 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 5 – The Avid Reader REVIEW
December 5 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
The post The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
12 Days of Clean Romance $100 Kick off Giveaway
12 Days of Clean Romance
December 2018
During the month of December, we will be featuring 12 Authors who write clean romance!
There will be $400 worth of Giveaways plus great deals on books!
You are invited to come join the fun, learn about these great authors & find your next favorite book!
There will be FREE ebooks, awesome sales & great giveaways!
Check out this great list of featured authors who are sponsoring this event!
To start things off we have a $100 Giveaway!
Giveaway Details
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/1/19
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
The post 12 Days of Clean Romance $100 Kick off Giveaway appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
November 27, 2018
Wood Wick Soy Candle
Wood Wick Soy Candle
I had the pleasure of getting this candle and trying it out. The Scent is Kiwi Melon is the smell is wonderful. Too bad smellovision has not been invented yet. But the scent is not that strong to cause irritation or bother people who are sensitive. The jar is a 13 oz so it last a long time and the best parts of the candle it is pure soy, dye-free, paraffin- free, phthalate-free. Since there are no chemicals you don’t have to worry about headaches or even cancer for that matter.
The jar is nice with the sticker and looks great no matter what your decorating preference is. They have 23 different scents available. Below list gives you an idea of the scents.
We all love the crackle and flicker of wood wicks but they are a pain to light. Wood absorbs moisture making relighting a wood wick problematic, you end up wax pouring, wick trimming, and frustrated.
This is a family owned business and on the east coast. What better people to get items from.
You can find more information about the Free Reign Farm .. ( https://www.freereignfarm.com/product... )
The post Wood Wick Soy Candle appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
November 26, 2018
Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery by Shelley Noble
Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery
by Shelley Noble
About the Book
Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
New Series
Forge Books (October 16, 2018)
Hardcover: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 0765398710
ISBN-13: 978-0765398710
Digital ASIN: B078X2BSDR
From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble, Ask Me No Questions is the first in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series featuring a widow turned sleuth in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City.
A modern woman in 1907, Lady Dunbridge is not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm.
From the decadence of high society balls to the underbelly of Belmont horse racing, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.
Giveaway
About the Author
SHELLEY NOBLE is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of women’s fiction. )BEACH COLORS, WHISPER BEACH, LIGHTHOUSE BEACH,)
As SHELLEY FREYDONT she writes cozy mysteries.(CELEBRATION BAY FESTIVAL MYSTERIES, THE SUDOKU MYSTERIES) and the Newport Gilded Age Mysteries beginning with A GILDED GRAVE an RT Reviewer’s Choice nominee for Best Historical Mystery of 2015 and Macavity Finalist.
ASK ME NO QUESTIONS is the first of a Manhattan Gilded Age series and written as Shelley Noble.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, Shelley lives at the Jersey shore and loves to discover new lighthouses and vintage carousels.
Author Links
Website https://www.shelleynoble.com
Website https://www.shelleyfreydont.com
FB https://www.facebook.com/ShelleyNobleAuthor
Twitter https://twitter.com/ShelleyNoble3
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shelleynobleauthor/
Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo Google Play IndieBound
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 26 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
November 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 27 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 28 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 29 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW*, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 1 – The Power of Words – REVIEW*
December 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW*, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 5 – Laura s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 6 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW
December 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW*
The post Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery by Shelley Noble appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
Paperless Post product review
I would like to introduce you to Paperless Post. They are a NYC-based tech company. You can design cards, invitations, flyers and more. For any occasion and send them from Paperless Post. I will walk you through the process. I am going to do a holiday card.
You can do cards or flyers as you can see below. I am going to choose a card.
This is the card I have chosen. You will notice you have several things you can choose from on the sidebar. There are endless possibilities. You do have to have what they call coins to make things. This card is 2 coins. For pricing you can go here BUT they do have free cards and flyers you can use.
As you can see there are tongs of options to choose from. I had the most fun here making the cards.
This is a great service that you need to try out. I love it. Easy to send invitations and not worry about hand writing them out. They do have RSVP’s as well. They have it all.
You can find them here and follow them as well.
The post Paperless Post product review appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
November 22, 2018
Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery) by Teresa Trent
Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery)
by Teresa Trent
About the Book
Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Self Published (October 31, 2018)
Number of Pages: 251
Amazon and GoodReads Links Coming Soon!
It’s Christmas in Pecan Bayou, Texas. Join Betsy (aka The Happy Hinter) for a good old small-town Christmas complete with Christmas carols, over the top light displays, delicious food, loving friends and…a Christmas Creeper. One of the residents of Pecan Bayou has a secret and you’d better lock the door because that isn’t Santa out there or even a stray elf. Enjoy spending Christmas with the town and family you’ve come to know in the Pecan Bayou Series
.
Recipes and helpful hints included!
Giveaway
About the Author
Teresa Trent writes humorous cozy mysteries that take place in the small towns of Texas. Her Pecan Bayou series features Betsy, the town’s helpful hints columnist who seems to spend a lot of time getting out blood stains. Teresa’s Piney Woods Series with Camel Press takes place in an East Texas hotel and features Nora, a redhead with an eye for crime.
Teresa loves to feature other cozy authors and cozy giveaways on her blog. Join over a thousand people who follow her at teresatrent.blog.
Author Links
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ttrent_cozymys
BLOG: https://teresatrent.blog/
WEBSITE: http://teresatrent.com
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5219581.Teresa_Trent
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/teresatrentmysterywriter
Purchase Links: Coming Soon
OH HOLY FRIGHT TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 23 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Varietats – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Books Direct – GUEST POST
November 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 – Carla Loves to Read – REVIEW
November 24 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 24 – MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 24 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT
November 24 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 24 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 25 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
November 26 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 26 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 27 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
November 27 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 27 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
The post Oh Holy Fright (Pecan Bayou Mystery) by Teresa Trent appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
November 19, 2018
Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by Elaine Faber
Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger: (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
by Elaine Faber
A WWII tale of conflict and carnivals, turmoil and tigers.
About the Book
Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
WWII tale of conflict and carnivals, turmoil and tigers.
Cozy Mystery/Humorous/Historical
3rd in Series
Elk Grove Publications (July 25, 2018)
Print Length: 349 pages
Digital ASIN: B07FXDV1C6
While the ‘tiger of war’ rages across the Pacific during WWII, eccentric, elderly Agnes Odboddy, ‘fights the war from the home front’. Her patriotic duties are interrupted when she is accused of the Wilkey’s Market burglary.
A traveling carnival with a live tiger joins the parishioner’s harvest fair at The First Church of the Evening Star and Everlasting Light. Accused again when counterfeit bills are discovered at the carnival, and when the war bond money goes missing, Agnes sets out to restore her reputation and locate the money. Her attempts lead her into harm’s way when she discovers a friend’s betrayal and even more about carnival life than she bargained for.
Granddaughter Katherine’s turbulent love triangle with a doctor and an FBI agent rivals Agnes’s own on-again, off-again relationship with Godfrey.
In Faber’s latest novel, your favorite quirky character, Mrs. Odboddy, prevails against injustice and faces unexpected challenges . . . and then There Was a Tiger!
Recipe
OXTAIL STEW
Dredge three large oxtails in flour and brown with an onion in butter or shortening. Add two cups of beef broth, two cups of water, and two cups of diced tomatoes into a large kettle. Add a bay leaf, a teaspoon of salt and a dash of pepper. Add the browned meat into the kettle.
Turn the flames down to simmer. Cook for three hours. During the last hour, combine half a cup of carrots, half a cup of chopped celery, a tablespoon of parsley and six potatoes. Thicken the gravy before serving.
Excerpt
Mrs. Odboddy – And Then There Was a Tiger
A true account as it occurred in the fall of 1943. Only the facts were made up…
Chapter One
“That’ll give them something to pray about.” Agnes
“What in tarnation is all that mess on the front porch?” A tattered shoebox leaned against the newel post beside the front step. Clumps of string lay amidst more shredded paper on the porch.
Agnes switched off the motor of her 1930 Model A Ford. She pulled on the hand brake, jammed her silver chopsticks firmly into the bun on the back of her hennaed hair, and stepped out of the car.
Shreds of brown paper skittered across the lawn. Her frown deepened as she picked up pieces of cardboard and string.
Agnes Agatha Odboddy, in big bold letters, was scribbled across the middle of the brown wrapping paper. She flipped the shoebox over. An offensive odor wafted up from inside. “What the devil…”
Agnes glanced toward the porch and noticed the front door standing ajar. “Jumping Jehoshaphat.” Her granddaughter, Katherine, must have forgotten to lock it when she took their ward, Maddie, to school this morning.
She pushed open the front door, and peeked inside. “Good gravy!” Pillows–askew on the sofa. Magazines–scattered across the rug. Remnants of her grandmother’s vase speckled the hearth.
“Oh, my stars. We’ve been burgled.” Agnes rushed through the living room and into the kitchen. Breakfast coffee puddled in the middle of the table. A cup lay shattered in the sink. A kitchen chair lay sideways on the linoleum floor.
A scuffling sound came from the back bedroom. Agnes spun around. Was someone in there, ransacking her jewelry box? Should she run back out the front door? Agnes Odboddy, self-appointed scourge of the underworld–run for cover? Not on your tintype!
She grabbed a rolling pin from the drawer, the weapon of choice for a woman of a certain age, planning to sneak up on the thief, crack his head, and bring him to his cowardly knees.
Before she had taken three steps, a rat barreled out of her bedroom and down the hall. Agnes jumped back. “Yikes!”
The spindly-tailed rodent raced into the living room and scrambled up the flowered drapes to the top of the curtain rod. Ling-Ling, a feline nemesis in camo-gray, followed.
Merciful Heavens. A measly rodent? Agnes sent the rolling pin flying. It hit the wall, barely missing the front window, and clattered to the floor.
Rrowww! Ling-Ling clawed her way up the curtain, knocking a table lamp to the floor. Thud! The fringed shade spun off the lamp and rolled toward the front door. Down came the rod with a crash, as the rat dropped to the floor and raced out the front door with the Ling-Ling, the Siamese avenger three leaps behind.
Agnes shook her finger. “Ling-Ling. Bad girl. No! No…” What was she saying? “Go get her, girl.”
Agnes stepped onto the porch and put her hand to her eyes in time to see the pair racing up the street, headed toward The First Church of the Evening Star and Everlasting Light. She checked her watch. Yep, folks should just about be arriving for the afternoon prayer meeting. That’ll give them something to pray about. She stepped back into the house to assess the damage.
Never in her seventy-plus years had she seen such destruction. What unknown scoundrel hated her enough to leave a rat-filled shoebox addressed to her on the porch?
Agnes pondered the situation. Ling-Ling must come upon the shoebox and smelled the rodent through the wrapping paper. She could almost see her determined Siamese killing-machine scratching and kicking the box until she had shredded a hole big enough for the rat to escape, dash through the open door, and into the house. The image sent shivers up Agnes’s spine.
Ling-Ling would have followed with murder in her crossed blue eyes and the chase ensued. Not even an air raid from the Flying Tigers could have left her living room and kitchen in such a mess. No telling how the rest of the house would have suffered if Agnes hadn’t returned just at that moment.
What if Ling-Ling hadn’t found the box and taken matters into her own paws? Why, she might have cut the string herself, opened the box, and the rat would have leaped into her face. Maybe that was exactly the sender’s intention.
Giveaway
About the Author
Elaine Faber lives in Northern California with her husband and two feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, California Cat Writers, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. She volunteers with the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. She enjoys speaking on author panels, sharing highlights of her novels. Her short stories have appeared in national magazines and multiple anthologies. She has published seven books. In addition to the Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries
Elaine writes the Black Cat Mysteries
.
Webpage/blog: www.mindcandymysteries.com
Facebook, http://tinyurl.com/zm2j4n5
Purchase Link – Amazon
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 19 – Here’s How It Happened – GUEST POST
November 19 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 20 – Mythical Books – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 20 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT, RECIPE
November 21 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 22 – Thanksgiving U.S. – Off
November 23 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW
November 23 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 24 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
November 26 – Books Direct – GUEST POST, EXCERPT
November 27 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 27 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 28 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 29 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST
November 30 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – REVIEW
December 1 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
December 1 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
The post Mrs. Odboddy: And Then There Was a Tiger (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by Elaine Faber appeared first on Babs Book Bistro.
