If you like cats and cozy mysteries, you’ll enjoy this book, the 17th entry in prolific cat author, Patricia Fry’s Calico Cat Mystery series. Fry is also the award-winning author of the Klepto Cat mystery series. I’ve read books from both, and they are purr-fect reads. This one takes place during the holidays and a mystery involving cats and a gardening center. There are also children involved, and a sad situation that main character Parker and her wise cat, Olivia, help to fix. Olivia, the star of this series, is based on Fry’s own calico, Olivia. The covers are as pawsome as the stories. Don’t miss this for some cat style holiday magic: https://www.amazon.com/Olivias-Christmas-Miracle-Calico-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CN4DPKCY/
Month: December 2023
Review for A Wish for Christmas by Courtney Cole
I loved this book. It was a sweet holiday romance with a twist. When a high-stressed, work-driven couple, Nora and Jack, look for their missing dog, Elliott, they stumble upon a strange old man in New York City who gives them a snow globe. Nora makes a wish that her life could be different. The chapters then alternate between a woman (Noel) and a man (Jonah). Noel is an editor who has been approached by a man (Pad) who is writing a romance. Jonah is a workaholic in New York who has been avoiding visiting his father in a small Wyoming town where he grew up because he hasn’t gotten over the tragic death of his mother on Christmas Eve. As it turns out, Jonah’s father hates Christmas for the same reason and, as mayor of the town, has forbidden any holiday celebrations. Noel’s father, on the other hand, wants to bring Christmas back to Winter Falls. The two men engage in a PR battle. A series of events throw Noel and Jonah together including the author’s dog, Elliott, who he asks Noel to keep while he works on his book. Without giving away the twists in the story, which I believe are obvious, the ending is happy for Noel, Jonah, Elliott, and Winter Village.
One Year Ago: Debbie’s Retirement News
I can’t believe that it’s been a year since I retired last December. I’ve been posting some updates in my author newsletter about what I’ve been doing each month. I also wrote a monthly blog post, but I stopped after six months. Here is an update for the fall and winter. This will be the end of my posts on this topic, but if you’d like to subscribe to Ruff Drafts, my author newsletter, I’ll continue my updates there.
JULY: Sea Glass Festival at Cold Spring Harbor; Raynham Hall AR tour, Oyster Bay; Wedding anniversary, Harry and Hermione’s 5th birthdays.

AUGUST: Farm visits; Huntington Lighthouse Tour; Catpurrccinos Cat Cafe.

SEPTEMBER: Whale watching tour, Freeport; Old Bethpage Village Fair; Otto the Ghost at Hicks Fall Festival, Westbury; Old Westbury Gardens’ 1st. Asian Festival.
October: White Post Farms, Melville; Milleridge Inn Halloween Village and Octoberfest; Hicksville Library’s Fall Fair; Norman J. Levy Preserve, Seaford; Halloween House, Broadway Commons, Hicksville; Old Westbury Gardens scarecrow contest and dog days.

NOVEMBER: Garden City Hotel afternoon tea; New York City; Clark Gardens; Tree Lighting at the Milleridge Village; Reptile Festival; Holiday Concert at the Tilles Center.
DECEMBER: Nutcracker Tea, Rockville Centre; Hicksville Library concerts; Our Lady of Mercy Academy’s tea with AdrianaTrigiani; Old Westbury Garden’s Gilded Age Cookbook Talk; Raynham Hall’s Candlelight Tour; Millneck Manor’s Miracle at the Manor event.
2024 will start a new set of adventures for our family as we make our move South. I wish you and your family a wonderful new year, too.
Review of The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson
***3 Stars
This wasn’t your typical Christmas romance or holiday story. It was more of a dark ghost story that took place at Christmas time. The majority of this novella is told through diary entries read by an unreliable narrator. A young woman is invited by a new friend, Emma, to spend Christmas at her family’s manor in the English countryside. During her visit, she learns of a murder that took place in the area and which her friend’s brother, a man she’s become attracted to, was suspected of committing. The diary mentions the girl seeing a man wearing a mask in the woods by the house. Then Emma also sees this man. The diary ends when Emma asks her friend to go out to meet her brother and a friend at a local pub.
After the diary entries are finished, readers learn of the main twist in the story. I felt the ending could be interpreted in different ways. It was an interesting story but, unfortunately, not one I think would appeal to many readers for the holidays.
Holiday Sale and Happy Holiday Wishes
Just in time for the holidays, four of my mysteries are on sale for 99 cents on Apple Books. Buttercup Bend Mysteries Books 1-3: https://apple.co/41tC5xb; Sea Scope apple.co/4438f3h; Time’s Relative: apple.co/44o8CVE; and Memory Makers bit.ly/3IK9rQi.
I hope you take advantage of this deal for yourself or someone on your holiday gift list.
Blog Tour and Spotlight for Hope for the Holidays by Daryl Wood Gerber

Hope for the Holidays
by Daryl Wood Gerber
About Hope for the Holidays
Hope for the Holidays
Holiday Romance
Setting – Oregon
Independently Published – Chucklin Inc. (November 14, 2023)
Paperback : 304 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8215261927
Digital : 979-8215400784
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Hope Lyons’s husband ran through all their money and split Portland, Oregon, forcing Hope to sell her beloved Pie in the Sky bakery and move with her two children back to charming Hope Valley, her hometown. She has been working as a waitress and pinching pennies to get their lives back on track; however, when her children win KPRL’s Spirit of Christmas vacation contest, Hope worries about the extra expenses she will incur on such a trip and turns it down.
Steve Waldren, the handsome KPRL sports anchor, is now of an age where he can’t afford to have a gap on his resume. His confidence is already shaky, ever since his fiancée dumped him, claiming Steve would never reach his potential. When Steve’s boss dubs Steve to be Giveaway Santa, he’s forced to accept. Steve, as Santa, readily travels to Hope Valley to award the prize. But when Hope refuses it, he’s at a loss. His boss threatens to fire him if he doesn’t convince Hope to take it, and Steve does all he can to change her mind. But Hope can be stubborn, life can be a challenge, and Hope’s children can be unpredictable. Not to mention, the truth isn’t always what it seems.
Will Hope and Steve find their happily ever after? It might take a holiday miracle.
About Daryl Wood Gerber

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is delving into the world of romance for a passion project she simply had to write, HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS. In addition, Daryl writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries and the Fairy Garden Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she wrote the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams novels of suspense as well as stand-alone suspense.
She has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line. You can learn more about her books on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com
Author Links
WEBSITE: https://darylwoodgerber.com
FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/darylwoodgerber
BOOKBUB: https://bookbub.com/authors/daryl-wood-gerber
YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/woodgerb1
INSTAGRAM: https//instagram.com/darylwoodgerber
GOODREADS: https://goodreads.com/darylwoodgerber
AMAZON: https://bit.ly/Daryl_Wood_Gerber_page
NEWSLETTER: https://darylwoodgerber.com/contact-media/
Purchase Links – Universal – Amazon – B&N
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 4 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 4 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
December 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT
December 7 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
December 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Carla Loves to Read – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
December 12 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
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Blog Tour and Spotlight for Murderous Means: A Southern California Mystery by Lida Sideris

Murderous Means: A Southern California Mystery
by Lida Sideris
About Murderous Means

Murderous Means: A Southern California Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in the Series
Setting – California
Level Best Books (December 5, 2023)
Print length : 315 pages
Digital ASIN : B0CKYGV5YH
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Corrie Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in town, but when it comes to catching a killer, let’s just say, she’s got enough skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed suspects to their knees.
When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep, the family is convinced her death was anything but peaceful. They hire Corrie to prove it, but the only evidence they have to go on is a psychic’s half-baked vision that it was murder. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on proving the psychic is a fraud. After all, everyone knows psychics are crack-pots, don’t they?
But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something deadly. The deeper Corrie digs, the more bizarre clues are revealed, and a possible witness is found dead. As tempers rise, it’s up to Corrie to catch a killer… who’s about to strike again.
About Lida Sideris

Lida Sideris is the author of the Southern California Mysteries. After graduating law school, Lida managed to snag a newbie lawyer’s dream job: working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio…kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke… except without the homicides. Lida is a recipient of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award and a 2x Killer Nashville, Silver Falchion Award finalist. Lida lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs, and a flock of uppity chickens. To learn more, please visit www.LidaSideris.com
Author Links
Website https://www.lidasideris.com/
Blog https://www.lidasideris.com/blog/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lidasideris
Twitter/X: @lidasideris
Instagram: @lida_sideris
Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lida-sideris
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14227684.Lida_Sideris
Purchase Links – Amazon – Bookshop.org B&N – Links Coming Soon
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
December 4 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – Maureen’s Musing – SPOTLIGHT
December 5 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
December 7 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE
December 8 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
December 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 10 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
December 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 13 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
December 13 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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Guest Post and Blog Tour for Christmas in the Crosshairs by Deena Alexander

Christmas in the Crosshairs (Love Inspired Suspense)
by Deena Alexander
About Christmas in the Crosshairs

Christmas in the Crosshairs (Love Inspired Suspense)
Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Setting – Seaport, Long Island, New York
Love Inspired Suspense (November 28, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 1335597794
ISBN-13 : 978-1335597793
Digital ASIN : B0BTJ3BSJW
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A baby in need of protection—
and a hitman in pursuit.
After evading an attack, defense attorney Adam Spencer is on the run from a dangerous hitman. The killer’s wife is Adam’s only hope at apprehending the criminal—until she lands in the hospital. Now he must depend on her twin sister, Jaelyn Reed, to find the answers they need…all while protecting the baby niece Jaelyn didn’t know she had. But with threats at every turn, trust may be the deadliest trap…
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
GUEST POST
Canine Search and Rescue
Anyone who knows me knows I love big dogs. All animals, really, but I have a soft spot for big dogs. They are loving, loyal, and amazing companions. I’ve had at least one, sometimes as many as four dogs, ever since I was a teenager. One of the most amazing dogs I’ve ever had was my Bernese Mountain Dog/ Golden Retriever mix, Koda. I still miss her every day.
When I decided to write a story about a canine search and rescue team, she was the first dog that came to mind. Although he only makes a cameo appearance in Christmas in the Crosshairs, Shadow—a Bernese Mountain Dog who, with his handler, works for Seaport Fire & Rescue—is one of the main characters in my story Kidnapped in the Woods.
It wasn’t until I really dug into researching search and rescue dogs that I realized how many lives depend on them, or how many different kinds there are. There are dogs who track missing persons, dogs who search for those who are deceased, and even dogs who go into collapsed buildings to search for survivors, just to name a few. I find it amazing how loyal and dedicated these dogs are. So much so, that they can even become depressed when they don’t succeed. After so much research, I’ve come to appreciate them and their importance in our lives even more.
And talk about loyalty. Right now, I have an Akita, Fluffy, and she is incredible, one of the most loving, affectionate, and loyal dogs I’ve ever had. While researching the breed, I came across the story of Hachiko, a Japanese Akita who was probably the most loyal dog who ever lived. He used to wait at the train station every day for his owner to return from work. One day, his owner passed away while at work. And still, every single day for nine more years, Hachikō made the trip to the train station to wait for him to appear.
About Deena Alexander

Deena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, a son-in-law, and four dogs. Now she enjoys long walks in nature all year long, despite the occasional alligator or snake she sometimes encounters. Deena’s love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night, and she now works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor.
Author Links
- Webpage: http://deenaalexander.com/index.html
- Blog: http://deenaalexander.com/blog.html
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeenaAlexanderAuthor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeenaAlexanderA
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20382104.Deena_Alexander
- BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/deena-alexander
- Newsletter: https://gmail.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d7e6e9ecdc0888d7324788ffc&id=42d52965df
- Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Deena-Alexander/author/B08C1VKZFZ
Purchase Links – Amazon B&N Kobo Harlequin Apple Google Play
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 28 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW
November 28 – Just Another Teen Reading Books – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
November 29 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
November 29 – Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – REVIEW
November 30 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
November 30 – Diane’s Book Journal – SPOTLIGHT
December 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
December 2 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
December 3 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
December 5 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
December 6 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
December 6 – Sapphyria’s Books – REVIEW
December 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
December 7 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
December 8 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 8 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
December 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
December 11 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
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Review of The The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
I read this for my library’s book club, but I’d already seen the movie it was based on. The storyline followed the movie closely. I only noticed a minor deviation in a scene that didn’t appear in the book.
Hannah, a woodworker, was married to Owen, a tech guy, for two years. They lived on a houseboat in Sausilito, California with Owen’s daughter, Bailey, from his first marriage to a woman he said died in a car accident when Bailey was four years old. When Owen disappears suddenly and a high school student brings Hannah a note from him saying “Protect Her,” Hannah sets out to find out what is going on and what the note means.
Learning that Owen’s partner in his company has been arrested and the firm is all over the news, she fears that Owen was involved in something illegal. But trusting her heart and love for Owen, she follows leads to Austin, Texas with Bailey after a man from the Sheriff’s Department there visits her.
As the truth about Owen and Bailey’s past and family emerge, Hannah is faced with a tough decision, one that will change her life forever.
I recommend this book for those who enjoy thrillers and mysteries with twists and books turned into movies.







