Author: Debbie

I'm a retired librarian and the award-winning author of the Cobble Cove and Buttercup Bend cozy mystery series and other novels, short stories, poems, articles, and a novella. My books include CLOUDY RAINBOW, REASON TO DIE, SEA SCOPE, MEMORY MAKERS, TIME'S RELATIVE, MEOWS AND PURRS, and MEMORIES AND MEOWS. My Cobble Cove cozy mystery series published by Solstice Publishing consist of 6 books: A STONE'S THROW, BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, WRITTEN IN STONE, LOVE ON THE ROCKS, NO GRAVESTONE UNTURNED, and SNEAKY'S SUPERNATURAL MYSTERY AND OTHER COBBLE COVE STORIES. My new Buttercup Bend series published by Next Chapter Publishing includes THE CASE OF THE CAT CRAZY LADY, THE CASE OF THE PARROT LOVING PROFESSOR, THE CASE OF THE LLAMA RAISING LIBRARIAN, and THE CASE OF THE WHALE WATCHING WEDDING PLANNER. I've also written a romantic comedy novella, WHEN JACK TRUMPS ACE, and short stories of various genres published as eBooks and in anthologies published by the Red Penguin Collection. My poetry appears in the Nassau County Voices in Verse and the Bard's Annual. My latest book is A MIXED BAG OF CAT TAILS, a multi-genre collection of ten stories featuring cats. I'm a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Cat Writers' Association. I live on Long Island with my husband, daughter, and 2 cats.

Blog Tour, Excerpt, Spotlight

Spotlight, Excerpt, and Blog Tour for Wheels & Dirty Deals by Trixie Silvertale

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Debbie

Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
(Harper and Moon Investigations)
by Trixie Silvertale

About Wheels and Dirty Deals

Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Harper and Moon Investigations)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Pin Cherry Harbor – also known as “almost-Canada.”
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions LLC (February 18, 2025)
• Number of Pages – 250
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLVJGZ4J

A cryptic murder. A complete lack of suspects. Can our psychic sleuth find a lead or is she spinning her wheels?

Mitzy Moon is brimming with excitement. Planning an anniversary surprise, she’s working overtime to hide the details of a luxurious European vacation from her husband. But before she can book a single ticket, a shockingly suspicious murder lands in her lap.

With only a flimsy lead, Mitzy heads undercover into the local roller derby league. And though she rallies her entitled feline and meddling Ghost-ma to help hunt down clues, she fears if she can’t break out of the pack, this bout will turn deadly.

Can Mitzy find the killer, or will this be her final lap around the track?

Wheels and Dirty Deals is the sixth book in the hilarious paranormal cozy mystery series, Harper and Moon Investigations, a spinoff from the popular Mitzy Moon Mysteries. If you like snarky heroines, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of romance, then you’ll love Trixie Silvertale’s twisty mystery.

Buy Wheels and Dirty Deals to put the guilty in the penalty box today!

EXCERPT

A mournful sigh escapes my lips. “My mother was amazing, though.”

“I have no doubt.” Ghost-ma claps her hands as though I’ve given the best Oscar acceptance speech of the night. “She raised you!”

“She barely had a chance to raise me. I was so little when I lost her. And then almost seven years in foster care! It’s a wonder I didn’t end up on the wrong side of the law.”

As though the mere suggestion of law enforcement can summon him, the secret bookcase door slides open, and in saunters the tall drink of water that is my smart, sexy, somewhat dreamy husband, Erick Harper.

Grams squeals. “The vacation!” She flies toward the computer, too frantic to summon enough corporeal form to click the mouse.

Thankfully, Erick can’t hear Isadora, and my fiendish feline is a step ahead.

Pyewacket leaps from the floor to the desktop in a single blur of tan, furry excellence. His powerful paw smashes the mouse as though it were a living creature, and, after completing his amazing act, the wise caracal flops down on the keyboard, obscuring most of the screen with his broad head and black-tufted ears.

Erick gazes from Pyewacket to me and chews the inside of his cheek, as his luscious blue eyes survey the situation with seasoned expertise. “If I was still sheriff of Birch County, I would definitely suspect a cybercrime underway.”

Eager to change the subject, I rush toward him, tripping over my own foot and falling into his arms like one of those damsels in a bodice-ripper novel.

He chuckles, and his voice drops an octave. “You don’t have to ask me twice, Mrs. Moon.”

Despite my status as a married woman, my cheeks flush with heat. “Knock it off, Harper. I tripped, as per usual, and you happened to be the beneficiary. There was no salacious plot.”

Of course, the minute I deny a salacious plot — Oh, the human mind is a powerful visualizer!

His arms slip tighter around my waist, and his soft, pouty lips curve into a mischievous grin as he leans in.

Ghost-ma’s chuckle ruins the moment, and I wriggle away in a fluster of embarrassment. “As you might’ve guessed, we’re not alone.”

About Trixie Silvertale

USA TODAY Bestselling author Trixie Silvertale grew up reading an endless supply of Lilian Jackson Braun, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew novels. She loves the amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries and obsesses about all things paranormal. Those two passions unite in her Mitzy Moon Mysteries and Harper and Moon Investigations, and she’s thrilled to write them and share them with you.

Author Links

Trixie’s Website https://trixiesilvertale.com

Trixie’s Patreon https://patreon.com/TrixieSilvertaleCozyMysteryBooks

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/trixiesilvertale

BookBub Author https://www.bookbub.com/authors/trixie-silvertale

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/trixiesilvertale/

Facebook Author https://www.facebook.com/TrixieSilvertale/

Purchase Link – Amazon –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 12 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 13 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

February 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Mystery in the Margins by L.L Gray

Posted on February 11, 2025February 14, 2025 by Debbie

The Mystery in the Margins: A Cozy Mystery (Havenwood Paranormal Cozy Mysteries)
by L.L. Gray

About The Mystery in the Margins

The Mystery in the Margins: A Cozy Mystery (Havenwood Paranormal Cozy Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Heroic Rose Publishing (August 25, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 195887339X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1958873397
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1958873217
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1958873212
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CR81NTNC

A quaint bookshop, a sprinkle of magic, and a dash of mystery.

Harper Sullivan yearns for a place to call home, preferably with a delightful bakery nearby. When news arrives that she’s inherited her great-grandmother’s bookshop in the charming town of Havenwood, Harper eagerly seizes the chance. Unbeknownst to her, the quaint bookshop carries more than just shelves of stories—it harbors inherited mysteries and a touch of magical mayhem.

But instead of the cozy haven she envisioned, Harper finds herself entangled in inheritance drama, a surprising cousin rivalry, and a daring book thief on the loose. Can she use her wits and witchy powers to untangle the mystery and safeguard her dreams from unraveling before they even begin?

Crack the case today! Grab your copy and solve the mystery!

GUEST POST

When I started writing The Mystery in the Margins, I didn’t set out to create a world where a rabbit argues with a Maine Coon over chair rights or where the biggest mystery might be how someone makes a baked Brie so good it could bring a tear to your eye.

Wait—scratch that.

That’s exactly the world I set out to create.

Havenwood is a magical town built for magical mundanes—not the kind who gallivant off to steal gold from dragons or save kingdoms, but the kind who have just a sprinkle of magic to make life more interesting. Like being able to bake the perfect cheese puff. Or charm your plants into blooming year-round. Or, in one memorable case, make the world’s most amazing Camembert but fail spectacularly at every other cheese.

At first glance, Havenwood might seem like any other quaint small town, but it has a way of surprising you—just like it surprises Harper Sullivan when she moves there to take over her late Granny Bea’s bookshop, Sullivan’s Spellbooks. On paper, it’s everything Harper’s ever wanted: a cozy shop full of stories, a bakery nearby, and the chance to build a life of her own.

Reality, however, has other plans.

Instead of the peaceful haven she imagined, Harper is greeted by police tape, a rival bookstore trying to swipe her customers (and her patience), and a daring book thief targeting the town’s rarest treasures. As if that weren’t enough, her obnoxious cousin Thaddeus shows up, seemingly intent on complicating her inheritance. Harper’s idyllic plans unravel faster than a poorly tied shoelace, and as the mysteries pile up, so do her doubts. Is she cut out to follow in Granny Bea’s footsteps? Is Havenwood the magical refuge she dreamed of, or will it prove too much for her to handle?

But Havenwood has a way of making chaos feel almost… charming.

Take Honey DeLuca, for instance. The town’s resident baking phenom can whip up pastries so delicious they should come with a warning label. Her brownies? Practically a spiritual experience. Her fruitcake? Well, let’s just say even magic has its limits. Then there’s Sheriff Jackson, Havenwood’s no-nonsense werewolf lawman, who somehow keeps the town’s quirks in check while rocking a mustache that could star in its own western. And, of course, there’s Luna, Granny Bea’s snarky rabbit familiar, who alternates between clever sidekick and walking chaos generator, depending on the day.

Havenwood isn’t about epic battles or chosen ones. It’s about the quiet, everyday magic that sneaks into your life: the smell of freshly baked cookies floating down Enchanted Lane, the way autumn leaves seem to dance as if they’re in on some secret, and the comforting hum of community that ties it all together. It’s about the unexpected moments that remind you how extraordinary life can be, even when it’s messy.

But even in a town like Havenwood, mysteries lurk in unexpected places.

What happened to the rare books in Granny Bea’s collection? Why are they so valuable, and why would someone go to such lengths to steal them? Who is the man in the trench coat Harper keeps spotting around town, always seeming to appear when she least expects it? And most importantly, what’s the secret ingredient in Pixie Pastries’ signature chocolate chip cookies? (Seriously, someone has to find out.)

As Harper tries to piece together the clues, she quickly learns that being a bookshop owner in Havenwood is no ordinary job. For one, she’s constantly balancing her responsibilities with the magical quirks of her customers and her own family drama. Thaddeus, her opportunistic cousin, has made it clear he doesn’t think Harper deserves the inheritance. Add in the Puddletons, the odious couple running the rival bookstore The Dusty Tome, and Harper’s to-do list starts looking more like a recipe for disaster.

Still, it’s not all stress and sleuthing for Harper. One of the things she loves most about Havenwood is its sense of community. Whether it’s a kind word from Bella, her best friend, or a perfectly brewed cup of tea from Aunty Agatha, there’s always someone ready to remind Harper that she doesn’t have to face life’s challenges alone. Even when the challenges involve overly ambitious rabbits and a Maine Coon with a dramatic streak.

When I created Havenwood, I wanted to show that magic doesn’t have to be about saving the world to matter. It can be in the quiet moments: a perfectly timed recommendation from a friend, a cup of tea that feels like a hug in a mug, or the shared laughter over something as ridiculous as a ninja rabbit arguing chair etiquette with a very stubborn cat.

The Mystery in the Margins is my love letter to small-town magic, to the people who remind us that even the ordinary can be extraordinary, and to the unexpected moments that make us pause and smile. It’s about solving mysteries, yes, but it’s also about finding the magic in yourself and the people around you.

So, if you’re dreaming of a cozy town where magic isn’t just in the air but in the hearts of its people, Havenwood is waiting for you. Just don’t forget to check your seat—because if Luna catches you in hers, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do.

About L.L. Gray

L.L. Gray writes warm, witty, and whimsical cozy mysteries filled with magic, mystery, and a dash of humor. Her books transport readers to charming worlds where lovable characters navigate twists and turns with a touch of magic. A lifelong lover of fantasy and myths, L.L. Gray blends humor and heart, crafting stories that feel like coming home. When she’s not writing, she’s often battling gnomes and other magical mischief-makers with her kids or connecting with readers online.

Author Links

Website: https://llgray.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/llgrayauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/llgrayauthor/?hl=en
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22508523.L_L_Gray
Other: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/l-l-gray

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 4 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

February 10 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

February 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

February 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 15 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW- AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Seams Like the Perfect Murder by Lois Winston

Posted on February 8, 2025February 8, 2025 by Debbie

Seams Like the Perfect Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
by Lois Winston

About Seams Like the Perfect Crime

Seams Like the Perfect Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
14th in the Series
Setting – New Jersey
Independently Published (February 4, 2025)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 285 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DNRBGVSQ

When staffing shortages continue to hamper the Union County homicide squad, Detective Sam Spader once again turns to his secret weapon, reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack. How can she and husband Zack Barnes refuse when the victim is their new neighbor?

Revolutionary War reenactor Barry Sumner had the odd habit of spending hours mowing a small patch of packed dirt and weeds until his mower ran out of gas. He’d then guzzle beer on his front porch until he passed out. That’s where Anastasia’s son Nick discovers his body three days after the victim and his family moved into the newly built mini-McMansion across the street.

After a melee breaks out at the viewing, Spader zeroes in on the widow as his prime suspect. However, Anastasia has her doubts. There are other possible suspects, including a woman who’d had an affair with the victim, his ex-wife, the man overseeing the widow’s trust fund, a drug dealer, and the reenactors who were blackmailing the widow and victim.

When another reenactor is murdered, Spader suspects they’re dealing with a serial killer, but Anastasia wonders if the killer is attempting to misdirect the investigation. As she narrows down the suspects, will she jeopardize her own life to learn the truth?

Craft projects included.

About Lois Winston

USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Lois Winston began her award-winning writing career with Talk Gertie to Me, a humorous fish-out-of-water novel about a small-town girl going off to the big city and the mother who had other ideas. That was followed by the romantic suspense Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception.

Then Lois’s writing segued unexpectedly into the world of humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, thanks to a conversation her agent had with an editor looking for craft-themed mysteries. In her day job, Lois was an award-winning craft and needlework designer, and although she’d never written a mystery—or had even thought about writing a mystery—her agent decided she was the perfect person to pen a series for this editor.

Thus, was born the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, which Kirkus Reviews dubbed “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” The series now includes fourteen novels and three novellas. Lois also writes the Empty Nest Mysteries and has written several standalone mystery novellas. Other publishing credits include romance, chick lit, and romantic suspense novels, a series of romance short stories, a children’s chapter book, and a nonfiction book on writing, inspired by her twelve years working as an associate at a literary agency.

Author Links

Website: http://www.loiswinston.com

Newsletter sign-up: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/dc9t0bjl00

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

Booklover’s Bench: https://bookloversbench.com

The Stiletto Gang: https://www.thestilettogang.com

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston

Purchase Links
Amazon Kobo Barnes & Noble Apple Books

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

February 6 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CRAFT POST

February 7 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – RECIPE POST

February 8 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 13 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 14 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 15 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, recipes

Blog Tour and Recipe Guest Post for A Tisket a Tasket

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Debbie

A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
by Heather Weidner

About A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket

A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (January 14, 2025)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 277 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DRZ7N3XW

Excitement is in the air as everyone in Mermaid Bay is preparing for the Christmas season. This year promises to be more dazzling than ever when the business council sponsors a competition for the town’s lucrative summer fireworks contract. The quaint little beach town is ready to be wowed with choreographed shows and drone action that light up the night sky.

Instead of goodwill and sparkles, two of the teams take the competition to new lows with corporate espionage, feuds, and sabotage, and Jade and her team at ‘Tis the Season are ground zero for all the explosive action. When one of the competitors turns up murdered near Jade’s shop, she has to solve the mystery before the holidays are ruined.

Patti’s Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup of unsalted, softened butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

½ teaspoon salt

cup of powdered sugar

1 ¾ cups of flour

½ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes

½ cup white chocolate chips

½ cup of additional powdered sugar for the topping

Parchment paper

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium until it’s creamy. Add the vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt. Mix in the 2/3 cup of powdered sugar on low. Gradually add the flour. Mixed in the crushed peppermint candy and the white chocolate chips. Chill the dough mixture in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll the chilled dough into small balls about an inch wide. Place about two inches apart on the baking sheets. Chill on the baking sheets for 30 minutes.

Bake the cookies for 14 minutes until lightly golden. (You may want to rotate the pans at the halfway point.)

Cool the cookies for 10 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to wire baking racks.

Once the cookies are completely cooled, dust with the remaining powdered sugar.

About Heather Weidner

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, and the Pearly Girls Mysteries.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime: National, Central Virginia, Chessie, Guppies, and Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers, and she blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Author Links

Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com

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

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@heather_mystery_writer

BlueSky: Heather Weidner (@heatherweidner.bsky.social) — Bluesky

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heather_weidner_author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner

Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 29 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 31 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLGHT

February 2 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 3 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 6 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE POST

February 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

February 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 11 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, Guest Post

Blog Tour and Guest Post for Soft Serve Sleighing by Lena Gregory

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Debbie

Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory

About Soft Serve Sleighing

Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Long Island, NY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (January 28, 2025)
Number of Pages – 226
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLHPWDNT

From author Lena Gregory comes a delightfully delicious cozy mystery…

With most of Eastern Long Island closed down for a blizzard, Danika Delaney and her friends are holed up in her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, with ice cream and hot chocolate. However, their plans to wait out the storm in cozy company are interrupted when a popular YouTuber and her two companions show up at the door—they’ve been trapped by the storm, and Dani generously offers to serve them breakfast. But her generosity isn’t rewarded in kind, as the reviewer then tries to extort money from Dani in exchange for a good review! When the storm finally clears, Dani is happy to have seen the last of them.

Or so she thought.

Dani and her friends decide to go sleigh riding the morning after the storm clears, but instead of a winter wonderland, they find the extorting YouTuber…dead! To make matters worse, Dani suddenly finds herself accused of the woman’s murder. Intent on restoring her reputation, Dani sets out to prove she didn’t do it. This is one storm she’s not sure she can weather…

GUEST POST

Hi all! My name is Lena Gregory, and I’m excited to share a little bit about Soft Serve Sleighing the fifth novel in my Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series with you.

S is for Snow Day. Which Dani and her friends are all set to enjoy before a popular YouTuber shows up and blows up their plans.

O is for Outrage! Dani and her friends are outraged when the woman attempts to extort money from her in exchange for a good review.

F is for Fat Chance. Dani’s polite response to the offer.

T is for Tension. Dani spends all day worried that the YouTuber will give her a terrible review and ruin the reputation she’s just started to achieve.

S is for Storm. Unfortunately, this is one storm Dani might not be able to weather.

E is for Escape. With the fear of a damaging review hanging over her, Dani and her friends decide to escape for the day and go sledding.

R is for Rumors. The Watchogue gossip mill is working overtime to keep up with rumors of extortion and murder.

V is for Vengeance. Could vengeance possibly be the motive behind Brynleigh’s murder? And if so, was it a local resident that did the deed?

E is for Ethel. Or in Danika’s case, her best friend and partner in crime, Gwen Rothberg. (The Ethel to her Lucy, according to Detective Dreamy)

S is for Sledding. Which should have been fun, if not for a not to gentle landing amid a pricker bush that contained more than just thorns.

L is for Love. An unexpected declaration.

E is for Eli. A.K.A. Elijah Sinclair, Danika’s barista at the Coffee & Cream Café, who is a hero in his own adorable way.

I is for Infidelity. An age-old motive for murder.

G is for Gunshot. When a gunshot rings out, one of the Coffee & Cream Café gang goes down.

H is for Homicide. Which Danika Delaney insists she didn’t commit, despite what the evidence might indicate.

I is for Interference. Danika, once again, interferes in her sort-of boyfriend, Detective Jake Barlow’s, murder investigation.

N is for Nerves. Dani’s nerves almost get the better of her when she winds up in a dangerous predicament.

G is for Goal. Will Dani achiever her goal of exonerating herself and finding a killer?

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Newsletter: http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N Kobo

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 28 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

January 28 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

January 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

January 31 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

January 31 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 1 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

February 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 3 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 4 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 4 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 6 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW

February 6 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 7 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

February 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 10 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 10 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight, Blog Tour, and Excerpt for A Perilous Premiere by Gail Meath

Posted on January 14, 2025January 26, 2025 by Debbie

A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries)
by Gail Meath

About A Perilous Premiere

A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries)
Historical Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cranberry Pond Publishing (November 15, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 182 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8227660671
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CZS3J93M

Solving their own murders is the least of their problems…and the beginning of Stone & Steele, a reluctant yet surprisingly skilled investigative team.

The Golden Age of Hollywood, 1938. Vivian Steele moved to California to start a new life. She opened a fashion boutique in Beverly Hills, befriended Carole Lombard, the actress, and married a successful banker. But when her husband is murdered, Vivian discovers she isn’t the only one hiding a few secrets.

An anonymous phone call lures Vivian to a plush hotel room where she stumbles upon the dead body of a beautiful young actress – her husband’s mistress. To add fuel to the fire, she’s not alone.

Preston Stone, her adversary and Hollywood’s notorious playboy, is standing beside her. Suspiciously, they part ways only to find themselves alone again at a movie premiere two days later, and the message becomes brutally clear. They’re both the next targets of a cold-blooded killer.

Together, Vivian and Preston are thrown into a deadly race to find a missing collection of valuable coins and stop a vicious killer before they become the next murder victims. But first, they need to stop pointing their fingers at each other.

A Perilous Premiere is the first book in this exciting new 1930s Stone & Steele mystery series starring a great cast of characters ranging from the rich and famous to Bella, a Boston Terrier, her new friend, Boris, a Saint Bernard, and a few other endearing folks. (A pretty clean read)

About Gail Meath

Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, the fun series about of a wise-cracking PI, his sweet German Shepherd partner, Ace, and his Broadway singing heartthrob, Laura, as they solve crazy crimes during the Roaring Twenties. She’s currently working on the first book in her exciting new 1930s mystery series, Stone & Steele Mysteries, takes place during the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. As always, she blends the most loveable characters with a good, solid mystery.

Gail also has a growing list of other award-winning historical romances, mysteries, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and their sweet, little Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.

Excerpt

Preston made his way back inside to his study on the second floor. He closed the door behind him and stood over his desk, staring at the papers and photographs spread across the top of it.

He couldn’t be sure that Vivian’s actions were unrelated to the Willoughby assignment, but it seemed unlikely. She was more focused on her husband’s death, which is why she went to Bunker Hill to watch the police capture his killer. And yesterday, she only went to the hotel after she received the phone call from Miss Trimble requesting to meet with her.

When he and Vivian entered the hotel room, he was surprised as hell to see Tilly lying dead on the floor, but Vivian was even more surprised to see the photograph on the coffee table. The minute she swiped it, he had a pretty good idea about what was going on.

He was also convinced that Vivian had absolutely nothing to do with Tilly’s murder. Otherwise, she would have taken the other two pictures that were in plain sight and searched the rest of the apartment to remove all the evidence, like the shoebox full of love notes and photos of Tilly and Vivian’s husband that he found underneath the bed.

Preston shuffled through the photographs he’d dumped onto his desk, some of which even made him blush. He picked up the one with Tilly and George Ramsey posing together on the Venice Beach Boardwalk and studied it. Then, he re-read the last note, or rather love letter, George had written to Tilly, which was dated the day he died.

Apparently, George and Tilly were planning to run away together that weekend.

Preston knew if the police had found the shoebox, they would immediately put Vivian at the top of their list of suspects in Tilly’s murder. She might also be accused of hiring Elliott Kimball to kill her husband if someone on the police force had seen her at Bunker Hill watching the whole thing go down.

So, after he shooed her out of the hotel room, he packed up the other photographs, the shoebox, and the illegal wiretap that he had Freddie connect to Tilly’s phone for an entirely different purpose and took everything with him. Then, just before he left the room, he discovered the bullet shell casing on the floor and deduced Tilly was shot with a thirty-eight-caliber Beretta handgun.

Now, along with everything else, he was curious to know why Tilly had a sudden urge to meet with her former lover’s wife minutes before someone killed her.

The telephone on his desk rang, and Preston quickly picked it up. “Hello? What have you got, Barney? Nothing! Did you check the East Coast? Her sister, Patricia, moved there sometime last year. Are you sure you spelled their name correctly? There’s an ‘e’ at the end of Steele.” Preston got up from his chair and started pacing back and forth behind his desk while listening to Barney squawk. “Okay, okay, I understand. I didn’t mean to yell at you. Just keep looking and call me as soon as you find something.”

He hung up and sat back down in his chair. Well, that just complicated things. It seems Vivian and her sister didn’t exist before they arrived in Los Angeles six years ago.

Author Links

Website: https://www.gailmeath.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/gailmeathauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gailmeathauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220631482-a-perilous-premiere

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-perilous-premiere-by-gail-meath

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 8 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 10 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

January 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 12 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

January 13 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

January 14 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

January 16 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

January 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

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

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

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