Ruff Drafts

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Essentials of Murder by Kim Davis

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Debbie

Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery
by Kim Davis

About Essentials of Murder

Essentials of Murder: An Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harbor Lane Books, LLC. (September 24, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 283 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DD3W1XPJ

After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern California hometown to start over as she opens her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. A tourist destination, Oak Creek Valley, seems the perfect place to put the past behind her, but it seems no one will let her forget. When she finds the man who threatened to drive her out of business murdered in her shop, Carissa becomes the primary suspect, especially when her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, most townspeople assume she’s guilty.

Refusing to run again, Carissa knows she must prove her innocence to save her shop and save her father’s career when the investigating detective turns his focus on her. With suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it’s up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it’s too late.

Includes essential oil and reflexology tips.

About Kim Davis

Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series, the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series, and the middle-grade fantasy adventure The Board Game Chronicles series. She has also written several children’s nature articles published in a variety of magazines.

Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder, or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats to share.

Author Links:
Website: http://kimdavisauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kim-Davis-Author-1532277473479031/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kookiesandbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20202599.Kim_Davis
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimdavishb/

Purchase Links:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Other Online Book Retailers

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 24 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

September 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – Guatemala Loves to Read – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 26 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

September 27 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 27 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW*

September 28 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 30 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

September 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

September 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

September 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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Blog Tour, recipes

Blog Tour and Recipe for Apple Dumpling Murder by Trixie Silvertale

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Debbie

Apple Dumpling Murder: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
(Christmas Catastrophe Mysteries)
by Trixie Silvertale

About Apple Dumpling Murder

Apple Dumpling Murder: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Christmas Catastrophe Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Where does your book take place?: Fictional town of Silver Shoals. A northern town steeped in winter. Snow, wind, gorgeous lake.
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions LLC (October 1, 2024)
Number of Pages: 222
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1KXWWR

Santa’s daughter is settling into her life as a baker, but could a fresh murder burn her biscuits?

Cindy Claus loves exploring the human world and baking amazing treats. So, she’s bubbling over when her aging landlord takes her under his wing and promises to leave her the bakery in his will. But before she can stir up a celebration, her patron collapses, dead, like a bad soufflé.

With suspicion instantly falling on the budding baker, Cindy must rely on her fragile new friendships and her father’s trusted arctic fox. She’ll have to butt heads with local law enforcement as she gathers crumbs, and one wrong move could crush her dreams…

Can Cindy find the proof she needs, or will this villain punch down her last hope?

Apple Dumpling Murder is the second book in the festive paranormal cozy series, Christmas Catastrophe Mysteries. If you like kind-hearted heroines, furry sidekicks, and a dash of mistletoe magic, then you’ll love Trixie Silvertale’s seasonal secrets.

Buy Apple Dumpling Murder to blind bake a killer today!
*Features recipes from Cindy’s bakery!

RECIPE

Holiday Apple Dumplings (Recipe from Apple Dumpling Murder by Trixie Silvertale)

Yield: 6 dumplings

Ingredients

For the dough: 3 cups (375 grams) unbleached flour 1 teaspoon (6 grams) salt ½ teaspoon (3 grams) ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon (3 grams) ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon (2 grams) ground clove 1 cup (216 grams) butter, chilled and cut into small pieces 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) of apple cider vinegar ½ cup (118 ml) iced water For the filling: 3 Tablespoons (54 grams) butter, cut into six ½-Tablespoon (9 grams) chunks 6 pitted prunes, diced small 6 dried apricots, diced small 2½ Tablespoons (30 grams) dried cranberries

Additional Ingredients: 6 medium-sized Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored (substitute your favorite) 1 egg, beaten to glaze the pastry-wrapped apples Instructions

Make the filling:

1. Dice prunes and apricots. Mix with cranberries. Set aside. 2. Butter cubes will be pushed into cored apples, on top of fruit filling. Make the dough: 1. Pulse flour, spices, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with pieces of butter still visible. About 25 pulses.

2. Combine vinegar and ½ cup iced water in a measuring cup. While pulsing, drizzle in vinegar mixture; pulse until dough comes together. Dough should be pliable, but not sticky. About 15 pulses.

3. Turn out dough and divide into 6 equal parts. Place each part on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll each part into approx. 8-inch square. Cover with another layer of plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 1 hour.

4. Peel and core the apples.

5. Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Line a large half-sheet baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

6. Remove dough squares from refrigerator. Place one prepared apple in the center of each dough square. Stuff each core with equal parts fruit filling and one ½-Tablespoon (9 grams) butter chunk.

7. Brush the edges of the dough square lightly with water. Bring the edges up around the apple and seal with additional water. Trim off excess.

8. *OPTION: Roll out trimmings and cut decorative leaves to decorate each dumpling.

9. Place each wrapped apple on parchment-covered baking tray. Glaze each apple with beaten egg. 10. Bake for 30–45 minutes, or until golden brown, and pierce easily with a sharp skewer. SERVE: Serve hot with fresh whipped cream or ice cream and a cinnamon stick.

Copyright © 2023 by Trixie Silvertale • All rights reserved. Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions, L.L.C. and Trixie Silvertale

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 all her mystery stories, 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 Links – Amazon US – Amazon UK – Amazon Canada – Amazon Australia

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 18 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

September 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 21 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

September 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE

September 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

September 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 27 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

September 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 30 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Halloween Parade Peril by Victoria Tait

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Debbie

Halloween Parade Peril:
A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth
(A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
by Victoria Tait

About Halloween Parade Peril

Halloween Parade Peril: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
10th in Series
Setting – Ireland
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kanga Press (September 13, 2024)
Number of Pages c. 240
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CM2MGBVY

A spooky spectacle turns deadly when a singer’s voice is silenced forever. Does an amateur sleuth have the ghost of a chance to unmask the killer before the jack-o’-lantern’s candle is snuffed out?
Emerging antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is excited about traveling to Ireland for a prestigious auction. Alongside her friend, Sergeant Keya Varma, Dotty revels in Dublin’s iconic sights and finds herself spellbound by haunting melodies at the Bram Stoker Festival. But a Halloween parade turns tragic when a musician’s last melody leads to his final breath.

With the police operating a skeleton crew, Keya expresses grave concerns while Dotty carves up excitement at the auction, bidding for a pumpkin full of Irish treasures. But when one of their friends ends up behind bars and another confesses to the crime, this duo of detectives realises the witching hour is near.

Can Dotty piece the eerie puzzle together and unveil the villain before the plot thickens like a witch’s potion?

Join Dotty and her friends in Dublin for the latest instalment of the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. If a cauldron of quirky characters, bewitching puzzles, and enchanting Irish folklore is what you crave, then Victoria Tait’s spellbinding narrative will keep you captivated until the final page.

Make no bones about it – read Halloween Parade Peril today!

About Victoria Tait

Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her life’s experiences of following her military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.

Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.

Author Links

Website: https://victoriatait.com/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait

Purchase Links Amazon Books2Read

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 13 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 18 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 18 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – RECIPE

September 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

September 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

September 21 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

September 22 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, recipes, Spotlight

Blog Tour and Recipe for Tallowed Ground by Valona Jones

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Debbie

Tallowed Ground: A Magic Candle Shop Mystery
by Valona Jones

About Tallowed Ground

Tallowed Ground: A Magic Candle Shop Mystery
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Georgia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Muddle House Publishing (September 10, 2024)
Digital Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D9HLPS2W

When a killer props his third and latest victim against the double tombstone of Tabby and Sage Winslow’s grandparents’ grave in Savannah, Georgia, the psychic twins are stunned. Even worse, the victim is the very man they filed a restraining order against a few months ago for trashing their book and candle shop. Coincidence…or a connection? Then a clue about the murders points to Tabby’s career as a candlemaker. Now, she is the number one suspect in the killing spree.

The twins investigate all three victims, finding little that might tie the cases together besides where the bodies were found—in or near Bonaventure Cemetery, a beautiful 100-acre historic graveyard with a storied past. Then Tabby’s Medical Examiner boyfriend is mysteriously pulled from the case, with his dream job in jeopardy. The situation reaches a flashpoint when new evidence points to Tabby. With her freedom and the family business in jeopardy, Tabby and Sage match their wits and psychic abilities against the wily killer.

That is, until Tabby’s spirited inquiry lands her in the worst kind of trouble. Can Tabby clear her name before the fiend snuffs her flame…for good?

Tabby Winslow of Tallowed Ground shares a recipe

My family knows I’m not the best cook. I get distracted and forget I’m cooking, and then we have to call out for pizza! I blame some of that on the mysteries I love to read. I absolutely become engrossed when reading.

My fiancé never complains about my cooking, but I know the difference between cooking to live and living to cook.

My aunt and twin both have that special knack for cooking, so for most of my life they cooked and I cleaned up. It was a bargain that worked great all around. Now we’re all living our own lives and I’ve had to up my cooking game. It’s getting better, but it still isn’t great.

When a birthday or holiday occasion arises, I use one of Auntie O’s tried-and-true recipes. This dessert is absolutely mouthwatering, and everyone raves about it. The cake is dense, moist, and spicy in the way of all the decadent apple desserts you’ve ever tasted. The caramel frosting is pure heaven–buttery sweetness that melts in your mouth. I’ve made it three times now, and every time is a hit.

Also, since this cake is so YUMMY, I hit upon an idea that has kept me from bursting out of my clothes. Instead of making this in a 13×9” pan and eating the whole thing, I split the batter between two 8×8 pans. That way I have one for immediate consumption. The other I either freeze for later or drop it off at a friend’s house.

One last note: Auntie O always made this is a metal pan for the 45 minutes of baking. I have glass pans and have learned the hard way that food cooks faster in glass. I recommend checking the cake at 30 or 35 minutes with a toothpick. Continue every five minutes until the toothpick comes out clean.

And the real last note: frost the cake in the pan. It isn’t the prettiest way to serve it, but the pieces are easier to get off the bottom with a metal spatula.

Auntie O’s Applesauce Cake

By Tabby Winslow, amateur sleuth and psychic of TALLOWED GROUND

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup butter

1 egg

½ cup raisins

½ c chopped walnuts

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cloves

2 tsp baking soda

2 cups applesauce

Cream butter and sugars together. Add egg and beat well. Sift dry ingredients together. Add to butter mixture alternately with the applesauce. Stir in raisins and walnuts. Bake in a greased 13” x 9” x 2” pan at 350 for 45 minutes. Frost when cool.

Caramel Frosting

½ cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup milk

1 ¾ cup of confectioner sugar

Melt butter in saucepan. Add brown sugar and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly until mixture boils. Then add milk (slowly) and keep stirring mixture until it boils again. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Frosting is runny but will harden as it cools. Be sure to apply the frosting while runny, otherwise it’s hard to do!

Refrigerate cake before eating for fullest flavor.

Enjoy!

About Valona Jones

Valona Jones, aka Maggie Toussaint, writes paranormal cozies set in coastal Georgia, Her latest release, TALLOWED GROUND, book 3 in the A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries, came out September 10, 2024. Under the name of Maggie Toussaint, she also publishes cozy mysteries and romantic suspense. Her pen name for a three-book science fiction ecothriller is Rigel Carson. In total, she has published more than 27 works of fiction and won multiple awards. She lives in coastal Georgia, where time and tide wait for no one. Visit her sites: https://valonajones.com and https://maggietoussaint.com

Author Links

Valona Jones Website https://valonajones.com

Maggie Toussaint Website https://maggietoussaint.com

Maggie Toussaint Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaggieToussaintAuthor

Valona Jones Facebook https://facebook.com/ValonaJonesAuthor

Maggie Toussaint BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maggie-toussaint

Valona Jones BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valona-jones

Maggie Toussaint Booklover’s Bench https://bookloversbench.com/maggie-toussaint/

Maggie Toussaint X https://www.x.com/MaggieToussaint

Purchase Links
Kindle Nook Kobo iBooks Amazon Kindle and Print Book

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 11 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 12 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 12 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

September 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 16 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

September 16 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE

September 17 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 18 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Binge Reading Books – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 19 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

September 19 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

September 20 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POSTS

September 20 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Ashes on the Wind by Brandy Purdy

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Debbie

Ashes on the Wind:
The Love Story Behind The Crime of the Century
by Brandy Purdy

About Ashes on the Wind

ashes on the wind great escapes book tour banner
Ashes on the Wind: The Love Story Behind The Crime of the Century
Genre: Historical Fiction, True-Crime Inspired
Setting – Chicago, Illinois 1920
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (April 15, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 573 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8322116318
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CYY43M3H

Nathan “Babe” Leopold was a socially awkward genius who used arrogance as a shield. He cultivated a philosophy of absolute selfishness cherry-picked from his reading of Nietzsche and indulged himself with vivid sexual fantasies about kings and slaves.

Richard “Dickie” Loeb was the brightest of the bright young things, a social butterfly as fragile as glass inside, hiding his insecurities behind a dazzling smile and a mouthful of lies. He found escape in thrilling tales and fantasies of crime.

They were two brilliant and privileged boys, each harboring secrets it would have been social suicide to reveal in their 1920s world.

When Babe met Dickie, it was like his favorite fantasy had stepped out of his dreams into real life.

When Dickie met Babe, he thought he had found the accomplice who would help make his criminal dreams come true.

Dickie was willing to give Babe what he wanted, if Babe would give him what he wanted. Quid pro quo. Until Dickie wanted something more, leaving Babe desperate and willing to do anything to hold onto his dream. Even if it led down a dark path to the Crime of the Century and infamy as the thrill killers Leopold and Loeb.

About Brandy Purdy

Brandy Purdy is the author of several historical novels including The Ripper’s Wife, The Secrets of Lizzie Borden, The Boleyn Wife, and The Tudor Throne.

Blog: http://bybrandypurdy.blogspot.com/

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 10 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 11 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Celticlady’s Reviews – REVIEW

September 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 17 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, Excerpt

Blog Tour and Excerpt for Undercover Babymoon by Karina Bartow

Posted on September 14, 2024September 14, 2024 by Debbie

Undercover Babymoon (Unde(a)Feated Detective)
by Karina Bartow

About Undercover Babymoon

Undercover Babymoon (Unde(a)Feated Detective)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Orlando FL/Caribbean Cruise
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Rose Press (September 11, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1509257616
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509257614
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D8L6GQ98

Most mothers-to-be spend their pregnancy leafing through baby names and shopping for nursery furniture. Minka Avery spends hers trying to hunt down a murderer on the open seas.

Minka’s promotion to Orlando PD’s homicide department has some bumps at first, including her growing baby bump. Just as she and her partner begin to hit their stride, Logan Baris’s suspicious death baffles them. The investigation leads the detectives to believe he had a hand in a shady operation, but the cruise ship worker’s troubles seem to voyage into the ocean blues with him.

After they meet up with some dead ends on land, Minka convinces her partner and his wife to join her and her husband to embark on a covert investigation on the ship. Will they be able to uncover whatever scheme is underway on the vessel? Or will the choppy waves of personal drama make it run ashore?

EXCERPT

“Of all the plans you’ve proposed, Minks, I swear…” Gus cried later that day.

“Like we told you, our resources are so limited. We need a look into the victim’s life—as we do in every case. Going undercover is the only way to get it,” Minka told him in her defense.

“And like I told you, this isn’t your job. Your job is to uncover everything you can about his life here and whether or not an element of it led to his death. Whatever transpired at sea is out of our hands.”

“As well as our jurisdiction,” Cael added.

Unwilling to give up on her idea, she inquired, “Suppose I, hypothetically, just wanted a vacation, and I just so happened to book a cruise on The Exquisite Marvel. During the voyage, what if I witnessed something that could be pertinent to a hypothetical investigation? Would you allow me to act on it, hypothetically speaking?”

“What you do in your hypothetical spare time is none of my business. However, you could only take legal action on American soil.”

“Then, Cael and I need the rest of the week off, starting Thursday.”

Cael’s eyes widened. “We do?”

About Karina Bartow

Karina Bartow grew up and still lives in Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her works include Husband in Hiding, Forgetting My Way Back to You, Brother of Interest, Wrong Line, Right Connection, and Accidental Allies. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!

Author Links

Website https://www.karinabartow.com/

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

Blog https://www.karinabartow.com/behind-the-pages-blog/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karina.bartow/

Twitter/X https://www.twitter.com/KarinaBartow

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15045283.Karina_Bartow

Purchase Links – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 11 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

September 11 – Binge Reading Books – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 12 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

September 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 13 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

September 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

September 14 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 16 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

September 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 20 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

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Blog Tour, Recipe, Spotlight

Spotlight and Recipe for French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Debbie

French Quarter Fright Night (Vintage Cookbook)
by Ellen Byron

About French Quarter Fright Night

FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT 3
French Quarter Fright Night (Vintage Cookbook)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – the Garden District of New Orleans
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House (September 3, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448312655
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448312658
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CTHQXNM5

The third in the fabulous cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron.

Welcome to the Bon Veeevil Festival of Fear! Prepare for the spookiest night of your life . . .

It’s Halloween in New Orleans, and the staff of Bon Vee Culinary House Museum is setting up a fantastic haunted house tour for their visitors. But when flashy movie star Blaine Taggart and his entourage move into the mansion next door, gift shop proprietor Ricki James-Diaz gets a fright of her own.

While Ricki is excited about the potential business the tours will bring to her vintage cookbook shop, she’s less thrilled by former friend Blaine’s arrival in town. Then Bon Vee’s prop tomb becomes a real tomb for Blaine’s nasty assistant, and suddenly everyone at Bon Vee is a murder suspect. There isn’t a ghost of a chance one of them committed the crime, but with NOPD busy tackling the mischief and mayhem generated by the spooky holiday, it falls on Ricki and her friends to catch the killer.

As the Big Easy gears up for the Big Scary, it seems everyone has skeletons in their closets. Can Ricki reveal the shadowy killer before someone else becomes part of the Halloween horror show?

RECIPE

Cookbook: Betty Crocker’s Party Book (1960 ed.)

My Vintage Cookbook Mystery series always includes recipes that I’ve adapted from my own persona collection of vintage cookbooks.

Under the auspices of General Mills, Betty Crocker’s library of cookbooks included a handy selection of spiral-bound hardcover themed cookbooks like this “Party Book.” These popcorn balls were a delicious Halloween treat in the 1960s and they’re a delicious treat now.

Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup light corn syrup

1 tsp. salt (not necessary if you use salted, already-popped popcorn)

¼ cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla extract

7 cups popped popcorn

Directions:

In a heavy saucepan, mix the sugar, water, light corn syrup, butter (and salt if you’re using it as an ingredient).

Cook the mixture to 250 degrees or until a few drops form a hard ball when dropped into cold water.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the teaspoon of vanilla.

Place the popcorn in a large bowl. Pour the liquid mixture over the popcorn in a thin stream, stirring constantly to mix well and coat the popcorn.

Butter your hands to lessen stickiness and shape the popcorn into balls. Chill to firm up.

Servings: approx. 12 balls.

About Ellen Byron

Ellen is a USA Today bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, and Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico). Her new series, The Golden Motel Mysteries, recently debuted. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. Visit her at Cozy Mysteries | Ellen Byron | Author

Author Links

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron

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

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 4 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

September 4 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

September 6 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 6 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

September 7 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 7 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 8 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW, RECIPE

September 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 10 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

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

September 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIIGHT

September 12 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 13 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

September 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

September 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

September 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 16 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

September 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

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Guest Post and Blog Tour for Buried on a Sundae by Lena Gregory

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Debbie

Buried on a Sundae (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory

About Buried on a Sundae

Buried on a Sundae (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Long Island, NY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (August 27, 2024)
Digital : Number of Pages 225
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1B4V2Y

From author Lena Gregory comes a delicious new mystery…

Things have been looking up for Danika Delany’s business—her uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island. But for her love life? Not so much. After a disastrous date with Detective Jake Barlow, Danika lets her best friends, Gwen and Eli, talk her into a night out at the hottest new nightclub in town. Only, while there, Dani finds her sort-of boyfriend secreted in the shadows on the beach behind the club with crime boss Patrick Johansen’s wife, Angelique! An upset Dani leaves without giving Jake a chance to explain, but when he doesn’t get in touch the next day, she takes a long walk along the beach to reevaluate her love life. That’s where she suddenly stumbles across Angelique’s body buried in the dunes near where she last saw her with Jake. Sure that Jake is innocent—of murder at least—Danika and her friends set out to prove Jake had nothing to do with her murder and stop a killer…before they strike again!

GUEST POST

Evolution of My Writing Process

By Lena Gregory

One of the first interview questions I ever answered as a writer was, “Are you a plotter or a panster?” To which I adamantly declared I was, and would always be, a panster. Well, like most things in life, you can never be too sure what’s going to change. My first novel came in at a whopping 100,000 words. When it was published, it had been ruthlessly—and sometimes tearfully—cut to 54,000.

When I first started writing, I would sit at my computer each night and write whatever came to mind. Usually, what came to mind led to a satisfying conclusion—often with only a few minor tweaks to the storyline. Then one day, I painted my hero into a corner I couldn’t find a way out of. I eventually did, but I was never quite satisfied with the outcome.

When I started my next book, I was careful to outline the progress of the story and the ending so I wouldn’t have the same problem. That worked out so well, I started plotting everything. I plotted the number of words in each chapter, whose head each scene would come from, how many words would be in each scene. I made sure each point-of-view character got an equal amount of time. Needless to say, too much of a good thing hindered the writing process, and I ended up with a major case of writer’s block.

Now I’ve found a nice balance between the two. I plot the major parts of the story. I don’t plot the ending. I never decide how a book is going to end or who the killer is until the entire story has been written and gone through several rounds of edits. Once the rest of the story is in good shape and ready to go out for submission, I write the ending. I love being surprised when I find out what happens.

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/X: 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

August 27 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

August 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

August 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 29 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 30 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 30 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 31 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

September 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

September 1 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 2 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

September 2 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

September 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 3 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 4 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

September 4 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

September 5 – MJB Reviewers -SPOTLIGHT

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

September 6 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEAST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

September 6 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

September 7 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

September 9 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Spotlight and Blog Tour for The Poseidon Project by E. William Podojil

Posted on September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 by Debbie

The Poseidon Project (The Herb Society Mysteries)
by E William Podojil

About The Poseidon Project

The Poseidon Project (The Herb Society Mysteries)
Mystery- Suspense – Adventure
1st in Series
Setting – Tucson, AZ and Dubai, UAE
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Rose Press (August 26, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1509256849
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509256846
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW1BKWS3

Molly Halloran and her friends have a secret past. Their bucolic retirement is suddenly upended when Molly’s husband is abducted and held for a steep ransom. Now she, her friends, her tech executive son, Lukas and his Air Force pilot boyfriend must race against the clock and travel halfway around the world to meet the kidnappers’ demands. But when they learn why her husband has been abducted, they realize how high the stakes truly are. Molly and her friends now must face their past in order to save the future. But not only their futures; the world’s.

About E William Podojil

E. William is an international business executive and novelist. He has traveled extensively and visited over sixty countries while based in Europe and the USA. Podojil works as an executive business advisor, strategist, and coach while also pursuing his love of storytelling and writing. His second novel, The Poseidon Project, will be published in 2024 by The Wild Rose Press and is the first in a series of adventure thrillers. Podojil writes personal, humorous stories of his life and travels with his husband and three sons in his blog at www.ewpodojil.com.

Author Links
Website/Blog Facebook Instagram X Threads

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 26 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

August 26 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 27 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 28 – Eskimo Prince Book Review – SPOTLIGHT

August 29 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

August 29 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

August 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

August 31 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 31 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

September 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 2 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

September 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

September 4 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

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Guest Post and Blog Tour for In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Debbie

In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery)
by Cynthia Kuhn

About In the Event of Murder

In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (August 20, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639100709
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639100705
Digital https://amzn.to/3xRh1X8

It’s the star-studded event of the season in Silvercrest, Colorado—but some of the guests might not make it to the last dance alive in the second charming installment of the Starlit Bookshop mysteries from Agatha Award-winning author Cynthia Kuhn.

Nestled on the banks of a breathtaking Rocky Mountain river and dotted with delightful boutiques and galleries, Silvercrest, Colorado, is a book lover’s paradise. Bookseller and literary event planner Emma Starrs is looking forward to attending the annual Silvercrest Library Gala, a glamorous evening with celebrities including the legendary Whitney Willton, currently on the hit crime show Chasers, and her niece, party-planner-to-the-stars Lyra Willton. Gala Week is full of exciting activities honoring both page and screen, and library board president Tabitha Baxter is basking in the glow of her successful launch—until Lyra is found dead.

With the gala only days away, the board asks Emma for help, despite Tabitha—her longstanding nemesis—bristling over the choice. Emma agrees, even though she is already in charge of a classic mystery panel at her family’s bookstore, Starlit Books, which turns out to have its own challenges. Meanwhile, Whitney, who is aware of Emma’s sleuthing skills, begs her to find the killer. The case grows more complex with the disappearance of several priceless objects, an attack on one of the attending celebrities, and other predicaments. Emma searches for clues while handling every unexpected twist and turn leading up to the extravagant affair. But when the guests step onto the red carpet, a killer still lurks in the shadows—and murder just might become the main event.

GUEST POST

Not Always The Way We Think

I have gone back and forth about this post.

This is a cozy, after all! Blue skies and butterflies.

But I keep feeling as though I need to share something a little different. So here goes.

All books are challenging to write, in the sense that they require effort and energy. But In the Event of Murder was more difficult. Not because of the content—I loved writing these characters and telling their stories!—but because of what was going on during the development of it.

I even had surgery the day after I turned this book in the first time. Can still remember how happy I was to have made it, to have hit the deadline.

And I thought once the surgery was over, I’d just get back into the swing of things. Write up a storm. Produce, produce, produce.

But I had no idea that it would take over a year to heal. And right when I could see the light at the end of the tunnel: surprise–I had to have another surgery!

This was bigger and took longer to heal (still happening, actually).

Point is: it took far too long to finish.

But I learned something. It may not look like we planned, but as long as we keep going, we’re going to get somewhere new.

It’s not unlike the amateur detectives of the cozy genre, when you think about it. They don’t zoom straight to a solution…they bob and weave, go up and down, and just keep pushing.

Slow and steady wins the race, as they say. Doing the best we can do is enough.

(Can anyone relate? Wishing you all the best with your projects too.)

————————–

Cynthia Kuhn writes the award-winning Starlit Bookshop Mysteries and Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries. Originally from upstate New York, she lives with her family—including one very sweet, very barky springer spaniel—in Colorado. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

About Cynthia Kuhn

Cynthia Kuhn writes the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries, which focus on a bookseller solving crimes in an artistic mountain community, and the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries, featuring a professor-turned-amateur-sleuth. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Diabolical, Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

Author Links

Website: https://cynthiakuhn.net

Blog: http://chicksonthecase.com

Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/cynthiakuhn

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

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 20 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

August 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

August 21 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

August 22 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

August 22 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST