December 2024 – Ruff Drafts

Spotlight and Blog Tour for A Coastal Corpse Washed Up With the Tide by Rebecca M. Douglass

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Debbie

A Coastal Corpse and Washed Up With the Tide
(Seffi Wardwell Mysteries)
by Rebecca Douglass

About A Coastal Corpse

A Coastal Corpse (Seffi Wardwell Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published (August 31, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8854581851
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CGN9Z7ZD

Just what the doctor ordered: fresh salt air, a garden to tend… and a fresh corpse behind the dahlias?

Retired science teacher Seffi Wardwell has moved to coastal Maine looking for peace, fresh air, and an accepting community. So far, she’s enjoying the sea air.

When a corpse turns up in Seffi’s flower garden, she can’t help asking questions about the victim and his death. Police officer Miah Cox doesn’t want her assistance, but Seffi’s curiosity is what made her a scientist.

The more she learns about the dead man’s background, the more she wants to know. Estranged from his wealthy family, and a village pariah for something that happened years before, the dead man had plenty of enemies. At least one wanted to make him disappear forever, and they’re all eager to see this case wrapped up and forget about him.

The way Seffi sees it, somebody has to care about him, and as a fellow outsider, she’s it. But all of her poking around is stirring up trouble in the village. It’s up to Seffi and Miah to figure out whodunit before they strike again, and before the locals decide the handiest scapegoat is Seffi herself.

Washed Up With the Tide (Seffi Wardwell Mysteries)
by Rebecca Douglass
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published (November 18, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJPTJ7PM

Beautiful weather, bountiful baked goods, and… bodies on the beach?

Seffi’s pleasure in her long walks among the fall colors is more than a little marred when she encounters cantankerous fisherman Bob Hughes washed up on the shore—sodden, entangled in a net, and very definitely dead. Did the man drink too much and fall overboard in an unfortunate accident? Or was his death something more sinister? With an estranged wife, enemies in the fishing fleet, and ticked-off deckhands, there are plenty of people around Smelt Point who aren’t sorry he’s dead. But did any of them actually kill him? The scuttlebutt at the bakery raises more questions than it answers, and to top it off the fishermen gathering there have eaten Seffi’s favorite treats.

Once again Seffi needs all her reasoning and gossip-gathering talents to help village policeman Miah Cox get to the bottom of the mystery. But will Miah’s own secret tear the village apart?

About Rebecca M. Douglass

Rebecca M. Douglass has lived and worked around the American West for more years than she’ll admit, while raising two children to adulthood and dreaming up interesting ways to bump people off. Thanks to good friends in Maine, she has also spent time on the other side of the country and has fallen in love with that coast. Since retiring from work at the library, the author of the Ninja Librarian series for younger readers and the Pismawallops PTA mystery series now lives in Seattle, where she is writing the Seffi Wardwell mysteries. She has also had short stories published in a variety of magazines and anthologies. When she isn’t writing, Ms. Douglass likes to go hiking and backpacking or to travel to discover new places or revisit old favorites, including the Grand Canyon and of course Maine, where so many of the best cozy mysteries are found.

Author Links

Website https://www.rebecca-douglass.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaDouglassNinjaLibrarian

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5755891.Rebecca_M_Douglass

Purchase Links
A Coastal Corpse:
Books2Read Universal Buy Link
Amazon Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGN9Z7ZD
Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH23RZ5H
Amazon Large Type: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH22JJX3

Washed Up With the Tide:
Universal Buy Link Amazon Kindle

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 11 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 12 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW (BOTH)

December 13 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 14 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 14 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 16 – Novels Alive – REVIEW (1)

December 17 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 17 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

December 18 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW (BOTH)

December 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW (BOTH)

December 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

December 20 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, Recipe, Spotlight

Spotlight, Recipe, and Blog Tour for Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Debbie

Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate:
A WWII Tale of Political Shenanigans and Snookery
(Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
by Elaine Faber

About Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate

Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate: A WWII Tale of Political Shenanigans and Snookery (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
Historical Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elk Grove Publications (October 6, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1940781337
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1940781334
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJN676F3

As the war continues to rage in Europe, Election Day approaches in Newbury. Among other inequities, the Newbury City Council makes it difficult for local women to obtain business licenses even for home-bases businesses. Mrs. Odboddy decides to run for the vacant city council seat, but she has no idea what political obstacles she will face. The trouble starts, first with disasters in her home, to violence and racism against her friends, and then theft charges are filed against her!

To make matters worse, her granddaughter’s old boyfriend has returned to town declaring his unwanted, undying love. His heroic responses to multiple adverse events affecting the family make it difficult for Katherine to send him packing.

Agnes suspects her political opponent is behind all the trouble, including the state’s attempts to remove their beloved ward, Mattie. It seems that Agnes is up against a conniving opponent who will stop at nothing to prevent her winning the election. How can she prevail against such sinister deeds? Is winning an election worth it when her family is at risk?

Join Agnes as she faces overwhelming odds in her efforts to bring much needed change to Newbury.

RECIPE

Mrs. Yeager’s Rhubarb/Apple Pie

An excerpt from Mrs. Odboddy and Then There was a Tiger

“Let’s start at the top of the recipe for Rhubarb-Apple pie. Cream two tablespoons butter with one-half cup brown sugar and one-half cup white sugar.” Agnes measured the sugars and dumped them into her large amber-colored glass mixing bowl.

Godfrey picked up the card. “Here, I’ll read and you measure. Work in two level tablespoons flour with a pinch of salt.” He glanced up at Agnes. “How much is a pinch of salt?”

“Oh, you know. Just a pinch…” Agnes brought her flour canister to the table and popped off the lid. “Oh, my stars!”. Her hand flew to her mouth.

“What’s wrong? Are there ants in the canister?”

“Oh…um… it’s nothing.” She lifted the lid again and tipped the canister toward Godfrey.

Godfrey’s eyes flew open as Agnes’s WWI service pistol clanked onto the table.

“I forgot I put this here for safe-keeping. I’ll just use the flour in the cupboard.”

“Why…Why on earth did you…? Never mind. Nothing you do surprises me anymore. I’m sure your explanation will make no sense whatsoever.”

Agnes set the flour sack from the cupboard on the table. “Of course there’s a good explanation. I brought the gun into the kitchen in case I needed it in a hurry. I didn’t dare leave a loaded gun anywhere Maddie might get hold of it.”

Agnes measured two tablespoons of flour and added it to her bowl. “She’d never look in the flour canister.” She chuckled. “Shall we get on with the pie? What’s next?”

“It says; mix the flour and sugar mixture with one pound of rhubarb cut into pieces, and three apples cut into very small pieces.”

Agnes mixed the ingredients and then dusted the counter with flour. She opened her Better Homes and Gardens cookbook to the Pastry and Pies section. “Here’s the one I need for a double pie crust.

“Two cups flour.” She shoved the cookbook across the table, “Here, Godfrey, you read it.” She measured the flour and dumped it into the bowl.

Godfrey straightened his glasses and read, “Add one teaspoon salt. Cut in two-thirds cup shortening until the mixture resembles small peas. Add five to seven tablespoons of cold water, one tablespoon at a time. How can shortening and flour resemble peas?”

“It means you squish the flour and salt into the shortening until the chunks are the size of peas. Watch.” She ran the fork through the ingredients repeatedly, squishing and tossing the mixture until the chunks squished into little chunks, then added a few tablespoons of water until it began to resemble dough. “That’s about right. See?”

“Okay. Form dough into two balls for double crust. Flatten one at a time on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough from center of ball to the edge, making a round disc approximately three-eighths- inch think. Place in pie pan.

“I’ve got that part. I’ve done it a zillion times.” Agnes rolled out the dough, flipped it over the pie pan, and trimmed the crust to fit the pan. She dusted the crust with a sprinkling of flour.

Godfrey picked up the recipe card and began to read. “Add the rhubarb and apples mixture to the pie pan and add a top crust. Cut slits in the top to let out the steam, sprinkle sugar on top. Bake in hot oven, 425º for fifteen minutes and then reduce heat to 325º and bake for thirty minutes longer. “Shucks! Will it take that long?”

“Goof-ball.” Agnes filled the pie shell with the fruit mixture and attached the second crust to the top. She wet the edge of the bottom pie shell and pinched the two crusts together. After trimming the excess crust, she pressed ridges all around the edge of the pie with her thumbs.

“It looks delicious already,” Godfrey said. “We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

Agnes squeezed his arm. “We sure do. Will you pop the pie into the oven? I should return my pistol back to the top of my closet.”

About Elaine Faber

Elaine is a member of Sisters in Crime (SIC), Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA), and Elk Grove Writers Guild (EGWG). She has published eleven cozy mystery novels, a humorous historical fiction series, a cozy cat mystery series, an anthology of short cat stories, a paranormal mystery, and multiple short stories published in twenty-one independent anthologies.

Three of Elaine’s “Mrs. Odboddy” fiction novels have won NCPA book awards. Her cat novels have received Cat Writers Association Excellence in Writing Certificates, and she has won numerous awards for her short stories through various venues and contests.

Elaine volunteers at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Elk Grove, CA. She lives with her husband, and Truffie, who contributes inspiration for many of her cat-related stories and novels.

Author Links: Website www.mindcandymysteries.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001875864349

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 9 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW

December 10 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 11 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 12 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 12 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

December 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 15 – Connie’s History Classroom – REVIEW

December 16 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 18 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE

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Books, Reviews

Review of the Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Debbie

*****5 stars

*Note: I read this book on NetGalley. It will be published on February 25, 2025 but is available for pre-order at https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Passenger-Novel-Frances-Quinn-ebook/dp/B0D57VB3R8

Elinor Coombes has a problem. She married a rich man she was chosen for because of her father’s money. Believing he loved her, she was happy at first. Then she learned he was in love with someone else, a woman pretending to be her friend. The worst part was they had a son who would inherit the family fortune and title. Because of this, she was hardly allowed to spend any time with him and was informed that he would be sent away to boarding school at the age of seven.

As Elinor rebels against her husband and the life that no longer brings her joy, she is treated by her father to a voyage on the new ship, the Titanic. She convinces her husband to take their son along and leave his nanny behind. On the ship, she meets a woman who has experience with children and offers to help her with her boy. The woman is headed for New York and a family she hasn’t seen in many years. As Elinor befriends her, she learns more about the people that the woman plans to meet and how she intends to start a new life.

When the ship sinks, Elinor and her son escape, but the rest of her family and the woman who was with them perish.

Dreading returning to the life she had and the constraints that would be put upon her son, Elinor decides to take the identity of the other woman. The rest of the book relates Elinor’s experience trying to fit into a lower-class existence, her struggles pretending to be part of another family, and how she deals with protecting her and her son from discovery.

For fans of fictional tales about the Titanic, this book would be a perfect read. It would also appeal to other historical fiction readers.

Uncategorized

Guest Post and Blog Tour for I Thee Dead by Christine Lawrence

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Debbie

I Thee Dead: The Wedded Bliss Series
by Christine Lawrence

About I Thee Dead

I Thee Dead: The Wedded Bliss Series
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Moonie Press (August 22, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DCT9K46K

Murder, false arrests, her business on the brink…

But if anyone’s ready for the unexpected, it’s a wedding planner.

After being dumped by her fiancé, let go from her job and dealing with the passing of her beloved aunt, Leah has picked up the pieces and returned to Ashford, Ohio to take over her family’s wedding planning business. Quickly she learns the business is not doing well and could close in a few months. She jumps in with both feet and focuses on an upcoming wedding for a local wealthy socialite which could be their saving grace.

Everything seems to be falling into place until the night of the rehearsal dinner, when someone ends up dead and Leah’s best friend is the number one suspect. With the help of her friends, a handsome local detective, and a sexy private investigator, will Leah be able to catch the killer and clear her best friend’s name before they strike again or will there be an unhappily ever after?

Author Guest Post

How to plan a wedding on a budget

Your special moment is one of the most important events in your life. But not everyone has unlimited funds to spend. This doesn’t mean you can’t have an amazing time. You just need to become a little creative.

In The Wedded Bliss Mysteries, my cozy mystery series, the main character Leah Jordan, owns and runs a wedding planning/event business. Included in the back of each book are wedding planning tips. One of their offerings is packages focused on Brides on a Budget. I was preparing for my wedding when I wrote the first book in the series.

We were on a tight budget, and it was our second wedding. So, we had to find ways to incorporate our theme, while still staying within our means. Here are some tips and ideas for planning a budget-friendly marriage ceremony.

You want to be realistic about what you can afford. Budgets can be as simple or as detailed as you need. It can also vary from couple to couple. You can make notes, put together a spreadsheet, or create a diagram with pictures or even a color-coded chart.

You can also adjust the amounts or percentages allotted higher or lower for the different areas. The largest percentage of your budget will be the venue at 35-50%. The second highest allotment will be for catering or food. If you choose a venue where the catering or food is included, then you can adjust accordingly. The remainder of your budget then will be broken down into the rest of the categories such as entertainment, flowers, décor and wedding attire.

Once you have determined your budget, you want to decide on a date. Wedding season usually runs from May through October and prices are higher. Saturdays are the most popular day and there are only so many a month. Think about a Friday or Sunday wedding instead. Prices are going to be less expensive, and availability is going to be higher.

Next, you want to choose the location for your wedding. Many communities have local parks and buildings you can rent for rates reasonably lower than some more expensive venues. Check with local churches and other community rooms in your area.

One of the best ways to save money and cut costs is to look at the people in your life. Do you know someone who is a photographer? Does dear Aunt Ellie cook like a professional chef? Does your best friend have a green thumb? Look at those people in your life and see if there is anything they can do that could contribute to your special day.

We decided to involve friends and family, and it was wonderful. One of my cherished friends became ordained to marry my other best friend and her husband before our wedding. Having someone get ordained and registered with your state is usually not very expensive.

We asked a close friend to be the day coordinator. The individual oversees things, ensuring vendors know where to set up, people get to the right place, and things go smoothly while you and your significant other are busy and focused elsewhere.

One of my husband’s good friends ran a small cake-making business, so we went and had a cake tasting and hired her to make the cake for our wedding. It was such a fun time, and the cake samples were delicious.

A great way to save money is to determine what you can DIY. You don’t have to be crafty to find inexpensive ways to create décor. Our wedding theme was the beach. We were married up on Lake Erie in my husband’s hometown.

Dollar stores have a plethora of items that can be used or repurposed for your special day, including tableware, glasses, tablecloths, utensils, and more. For the centerpieces, we purchased vases, small mirrors, sand, and shells. Pour a little sand in the bottom, add in some seashells, fill with water, and add a floating candle. You’ll have simple but elegant décor for your table.

We also printed our save-the-dates and wedding invitations at Walgreens. They have a wide variety of designs and styles to choose from. They often offer coupons that give you a substantial discount, and they come with their own envelopes.

Another money-saving choice we made was to use silk or artificial flowers. Many craft stores carry a wide selection. Once you decide on your color scheme, you can watch for sale ads and pick up materials to create your bouquets, boutonnieres, and other floral décor needs.

Playing on the beach concept, we also decided to incorporate a bit of pirates into our day. We found a plain wood chest and painted it. We added fake gold coins, beaded necklaces, and faux jewels. It became our card box.

The internet has different websites and videos that offer ideas for your celebration. Ask friends and family for help or to use their services. You can still have a beautiful day, even on a budget. Happy Planning!

About Christine Lawrence

Christine Lawrence resides in a small town in Northwest Ohio with her husband, stepdaughter, son and four spoiled dogs. An avid reader since childhood, she decided to mesh her two favorite genres, romance and mystery. Working hard to complete the next book in The Wedded Bliss mystery series, she spends her free time participating in local writing groups, traveling and spending time with her family.

Christine has a bachelor’s degree in forensic science with a specialization in Crime Scene Investigation and a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Her background as a private investigator and obsession with all things crime related gives her endless fodder for her small-town cozy mysteries.

Author Links

FB: (1) Facebook

Instagram: Christine Lawrence (@writerchristinelawrence) • Instagram photos and videos

Tik Tok: Christine Lawrence Author (@christinelawrenceauthor) | TikTok

Linktree: writerchristinelawrence | Facebook | Linktree

Purchase Links

Amazon Barnes and Noble Gramercy Books

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 4 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 5 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 7 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

December 7 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

December 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 9 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 9 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

December 10 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER GUEST POST

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Uncategorized

Review of Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Debbie

***** 5 stars

When a couple having issues with their marriage win a weekend at a secluded Scottish chapel, they hope it will help them mend the rift between them. Little do they know, someone has other plans for them. I really enjoyed the all the twists in this psychological mystery. It reminded me of Gone Girl which I also enjoyed. I recommend it for readers who like these types of stories.

Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Mystery in Marseille by Nupir Tustin

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Debbie

Mystery in Marseille: A Bite-Sized Art Heist Mystery
(Sophie’s Adventures)
by Nupur Tustin

About Mystery in Marseille

Mystery in Marseille: A Bite-Sized Art Heist Mystery (Sophie’s Adventures)
Travel Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Marseille, France
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Foiled Plots Press (October 18, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 168 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJK8MLSY

A holiday in France; an art thief on the run! Art sleuth Sophie must stay a step ahead of a brash criminal . . .

A rare Matisse in Marseille provides a convenient cover for undercover art sleuth Sophie Poisson’s covert romantic plans in the city.

But when the painting is unexpectedly stolen, Sophie finds herself chasing an art thief instead of romance.

With a wily thief one step ahead of her and her undercover partner, Uncle Arthur, out of town, can Sophie devise a strategy to recover the Matisse before it sails out of Marseille, never to be seen again?

About Nupur Tustin

A former journalist with a Ph.D. in Communication, Nupur Tustin orchestrates murder in the historical Joseph Haydn Mystery series and paints intrigue in her contemporary Celine Skye Psychic Mystery series, based on the true story of the unsolved Gardner Museum theft. Travel, disguises, and stolen art form the basis of undercover art sleuth Sophie’s adventures in the Sophie’s Adventure series.