Blog Tour – Ruff Drafts

Guest Post and Spotlight for The Jammed Judges

Posted on April 8, 2024 by Debbie

The Jammed Judges: Doro Banyon Historical Mysteries
by D.S. Lang

About The Jammed Judges

The Jammed Judges: Doro Banyon Historical Mysteries
Historical Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Debra Sue Lang (April 2, 2024)
Number of Pages – Approx. 310
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CSXQQQ81

Journey back to the Roaring Twenties in small-town America and join Doro Banyon, college librarian and armchair detective, as she confronts another mystery.

Spring in the air, and Doro is looking forward to her hometown’s May Day celebration. When her friend Aggie wins the baking contest, their celebration is short-lived because the two local lawmen—judges for the competition—fall ill after consuming extra portions of Aggie’s jam roll. Rumors run rampant, especially when the town doctor pinpoints the cause as arsenic poisoning.

With the constabulary down for the count, the two friends must unravel the mystery. As they study possibilities, Doro and Aggie find plenty of dangling threads and likely suspects. Is someone trying to make Aggie look bad or get even with her? Or do area bootleggers want the police out of their way while a big load of illegal liquor is transported through the area? Doro resolves to crack the case before more trouble hits town.

About D.S. Lang

D.S. Lang is a former teacher, tutor, mentor, and program manager. As an only child, she often created stories to entertain herself when she didn’t have her nose in a book. She is still making up stories, but now she puts them in writing.

She writes historical mysteries set in small-town America during the Roaring Twenties. Her books feature women amateur sleuths dedicated to solving crimes, along with a team of colorful characters—often including a local lawman.

GUEST POST

My Doro Banyon Cozy Historical Mystery series is set in small-town Ohio during the Roaring Twenties. The second book, The Murdered Matron, features a community Christmas party as part of the story, since Doro is on the committee. The third book, The Jammed Judges involves a May Days celebration with several old-fashioned events. Doro is enthusiastic about all of them!

Fairs and festivals are still popular in cities and town, but many vintage practices have virtually disappeared. One is the May basket.

When I was little, I read a story with May baskets in it and fell in love with the idea, so I convinced my mom that we should make several and give them to our neighbors and my grandparents. In Northwest Ohio, flowers are not plentiful at the start of May, but we assembled enough to fill pretty baskets. My efforts did not lead to a resurgence of the practice, but it was a lot of fun. The neighbors and my grandparents were pleased, and I enjoyed seeing the baskets in their homes! They seemed to be surprised, and I hope they were. Gifts, whether surprises or not, are always enjoyable, and who doesn’t want to bring a smile to someone’s face?

If you want to give a basket (or more), you will need inexpensive baskets or you can make a cone to hold the flowers. (Instructions are at the end.) Flowers are a must, but it is fun to add candy or other small gifts. Ribbon and colored tissue paper add festive touches.

A key to giving a May basket is to remain anonymous, so the giver puts the gift on the recipient’s front porch or door with no signed card or note. This can be tricky, especially if your neighbor or friend has a dog or a security camera. Another idea is to get to work early and put baskets on the desks of your co-workers, if you are employed in an office setting. For teachers, hanging a cone of flowers on your colleagues’ classroom doors is an alternative. The same idea could be used in work settings with locker rooms.

As you can probably tell, I am interested in bringing the practice back! Since I believe in practicing what I preach, I plan to make small baskets for some neighbors. I live in an apartment-style condo community, so leaving the baskets without getting caught should be easy. (I hope!) With the crazy weather in my area, I will purchase silk flowers, candy, seed packets (for the gardeners in the group), and gift bags or baskets. Then, I’ll tuck a “Happy May Day” note inside and leave the gifts late on April 30 or early on May 1, which is May Day.

You may be thinking of other celebrations on May 1. Since 1889, the day has been marked as International Workers Day (often called Labor/Labour Day outside the United States). Also, if you or someone you know is an American attorney, you probably are aware the American Bar Association has deemed May 1 as Law Day. Many other events and organizations mark the day, as well. Check the internet for plenty of them!

Instructions for making a flower cone:

Materials needed:

Sturdy paper.

Narrow ribbon.

Single hole punch.

Clear adhesive tape.

Scissors.

Gifts for inside the cone.

Colored tissue paper. (optional)

1-Begin with a square piece of paper (12” by 12” is a good size).

For a fancy look, cut scallops along the paper edges on two adjacent sides.

Plain colored paper is fine, but you can get pretty papers at craft stores.

2-Roll the straight edges together and secure with clear tape.

3-Using a small hole punch, make holes around the top edge of the cone.

4-Run ribbon through the holes and make a bow with a loop. (The loop should be long

enough to go over a doorknob.)

5-If you are using tissue paper, carefully tuck inside the cone.

6-Add flowers, candy, or other trinkets.

7-Since your recipients may not know about old-fashioned May baskets, tuck a note inside!

Remember, part of the fun is to remain anonymous, so “Happy May Day” or “A May basket

for you!” should suffice.

I’d love to know if you make the baskets and how they are received. Contact me at: DSLang@DSLangBooks.com. Or follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064024056297). I will have photos on my page on May 1, and you are welcome to share pictures of your baskets.

Happy May Day!

Author Links

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21325652.D_S_Lang

Facebook https://facebook.com/p/Author-DS-Lang-100064024056297/

Website https://dslangbooks.com

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Apple – Kobo – Smashwords

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 4 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

April 5 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW

April 5 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

April 6 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

April 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 7 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

April 8 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 8 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 11 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 12 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

April 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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Blog Tour and Guest Post for The Snow Job: A Century Cottage Mystery by Dianne Ascroft

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Debbie

The Snow Job (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries)
by Dianne Ascroft

About The Snow Job

The Snow Job (Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Fenwater, a fictional small town in the province of Ontario in Canada during the early 1980s.
Independently Published (December 13, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 310 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8871249321
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CQ3DJL3F

A Scottish shindig, a pretty pin, a cold corpse. When a well-liked and respected townsman is murdered on a snowy street in Fenwater, it’s up to Lois Stone to sift through a multitude of motives to find the killer.

Middle-aged widow Lois is beginning to feel part of the Fenwater community, and as winter sets in, she is getting ready for the town’s biggest Scottish event, the annual Burns Night supper. But when one of the committee members dies in suspicious circumstances, Lois has more to worry about than the fate of this year’s celebration. She tried unsuccessfully to revive the man and her friend Marge worked with him. So, they want to find his killer even though Lois promised her partner Bruce that she would stay out of police matters. But, what’s the harm in asking a few questions? Such as does someone want to safeguard their inheritance or give their business a boost? Will finding the motive for the murder lead them to the killer or maybe more?

And so begins a fortnight of slippery sidewalks, angst about ancestors, capable firemen and cunning firebugs, unreliable records, swirling Scottish music and swinging tartan kilts, calico cats and smouldering spooks set against the backdrop of snow glistening under streetlamps on serene streets, the comfort of ritual in a cold churchyard, the swish of skate blades in crisp night air and the tang of mouthwatering meatloaf in rural Canada in 1984.

The Century Cottage Mystery series is mainly set in rural Ontario, Canada during the early 1980s.

A tale for fans of Cindy Bell, Leighann Dobbs, Dianne Harman and Kathi Daley.

GUEST POST

Meet My Main Characters

by Dianne Ascroft

When I started writing the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series, I wanted to create heartwarming stories set in a fictional small town in Canada. I’m not interested in writing larger-than-life blockbusters with huge casts of characters and lots of flashy settings. I like to zero in close to tell stories about a small place with characters that live relatively ordinary lives. My characters should touch readers’ hearts so they will want to root for them.

The Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries series revolves around a tight-knit bunch of friends. Lois Stone is at the centre of the group and she is definitely one of my favourite characters. A middle-aged widow, she has moved from the big city and is trying to adjust to life on her own in an historical “century cottage” with her two calico cats. She is quiet, dependable and trustworthy with firm standards. I wanted her to be believable: someone readers will like and relate to. Her struggle with grief after the death of her husband, and her determination not to retreat from life, despite her sadness and inherent shyness, are challenges that I think will resonate with many readers. Although she is quiet, she has a dry sense of humour, and her caring nature shines through her somewhat muted exterior. As she settles into her new life, her tranquility is often rocked by adventures and mysteries that she can’t ignore because her friend Marge won’t let her.

Marge Kirkwood is Lois’s closest friend and the complete opposite to Lois: outspoken, confident and extroverted. She’s the archivist at the local museum and she met Lois when they worked together at a Toronto library. They have been friends for years. The women now live a couple of blocks from each other, on the same street, in the fictional small town, Fenwater. Marge, a middle-aged divorcee, has returned to Fenwater, her home town, to keep an eye on her elderly mother, but she hasn’t settled down to a quiet life. She’s a dyed-blonde social butterfly and everyone in town knows and likes her. Marge supports Lois and makes sure that her friend doesn’t retreat from life now that she’s on her own. She provides Lois with a shoulder to cry on and is a rock to steady her in a crisis. She also ensures that Lois’s life is never dull though her friend often wonders whether this is a blessing or a curse. Marge can’t curb her curiosity and this frequently compels her to snoop into police investigations. When trouble finds the pair, it is usually due to something Marge has done.

Bruce Murray has known Marge since they were youngsters. The carpenter does furniture and house restoration work and has his own workshop beside his old farmhouse a short distance outside the town. In the first book in the series, A Timeless Celebration, Marge ropes him in on several occasions to use his carpentry skills to help Lois. After spending time with Bruce and getting to know him, Lois also forges a friendship with him. Although she is still dealing with her grief after the death of her husband, she finds Bruce’s softspoken manner and easy-going nature comfortable to be around. She comes to trust him and their friendship gradually grows into something more. Since Bruce isn’t one to say much, readers don’t always know what he’s thinking, but we do know that whatever he does, he always has Lois’s best interests at heart. The one subject that he is outspoken about is the women’s involvement in criminal investigations: he tries to discourage Lois from probing into them. He worries about the scrapes that the women get into because he couldn’t stand it if Lois got hurt. Nevertheless, Lois and Marge can count on him, and he has stepped in to help them catch criminals a time or two.

After this brief introduction to my main characters, I hope Lois, Marge and Bruce seem as real to you as they do to me. But, you might still wonder where they came from. In many ways, though not entirely, Lois Stone is like me. After years of doing detailed historical research for my previous historical fiction series, I decided that this cozy mystery series wouldn’t involve a huge amount of research. So, when I created Lois, I deliberately used some of my own traits, and likes and dislikes to bring her to life. That made it easy for me to make her believable, and since she has so much in common with me, we ‘hit it off’ and are great friends.

The rest of the characters in the series sort of popped out of my head to complement Lois and help me tell the stories. Some of their characteristics and quirks are inspired by real people but mostly they escaped from my imagination and are now running free to do whatever they please.

Marge was a fun character to create. Firstly, I wanted her to be the opposite of Lois in personality and looks to create some dramatic scenes and humorous moments in the stories as well as possible tensions between the two women. Marge is very loosely based on one of my mother’s good friends, who is one of the gutsiest women I’ve ever known. She’s not as brash as Marge, but she has a strong sense of fairness and justice, and she’s not afraid to enjoy life.

When I began to imagine the character who would be Lois’s romantic interest, I saw someone who was a mix of a middle-aged Robert Redford and Clint Eastwood. Bruce is tall and lean, with warm brown eyes and straight sandy hair. He has quiet self-assurance but is also friendly and approachable. To be Lois’s partner, he had to be competent, dependable and trustworthy. Bruce is a man of few words but we learn more about him in each novel.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting the main cast of Century Cottage Cozy mysteries. We hope you will join us in the books.

About Dianne Ascroft

Dianne Ascroft writes the Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries, set in rural Canada, and The Yankee Years historical sagas, set in WWII Northern Ireland. She has a passion for Ireland and Canada, past and present. An ex-pat Canadian, Dianne lives on a small farm with her husband and an assortment of strong-willed animals.

Her previous fiction works include An Unbidden Visitor (a tale inspired by Fermanagh’s famous Coonian ghost); Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves: A Collection of Short Stories (contemporary tales), and an historical novel, Hitler and Mars Bars, which explores Operation Shamrock, a little known Irish Red Cross humanitarian endeavor.

Author Links

Website: http://www.dianneascroft.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DianneAscroftwriter/

Twitter/X: @DianneAscroft

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/y1k5c3

Purchase Links: Books2Read Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 19 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 22 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 24 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 25 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 26 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

February 27 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

February 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 28 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

March 1 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

March 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Sprites and Scuttlebutt: A Magical Mystery Book Club by Elizabeth Pantley

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Debbie

Sprites and Scuttlebutt: Magical Mystery Book Club
by Elizabeth Pantley

About Sprites and Scuttlebutt

Sprites and Scuttlebutt: Magical Mystery Book Club
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Independently Published (February 15, 2024)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CJ5K611Z

Would you join a book club that gets absorbed right into their cozy mysteries? These people did, and now they are hooked on traveling into books to become the amateur sleuths!

In this journey, the book club travels to the Kingdom of Everglow, where the royal family is rocked to the core when a key staff member falls dead at a community event. In the turmoil that follows, any evidence of what happened is destroyed, so they must go by the recollection of witnesses who were too busy enjoying the celebration to offer any valuable testimony. The royal family is further distressed when they return to the castle to see signs of a break in that somehow defied their complex security system. They wake the next day to discover that one member of the royal family has fallen into a deep, deathlike sleep.

Can the Snapdragon Inn Book Club uncover the plot behind this attack on the royal family? Can they find the antidote to wake the princess from her supernatural slumber? Can they bring peace back to the worried royal family and the frightened community? Let’s hope they can, since they must solve the mystery and reach The End to get out of the book and back to their home in Colorado.

GUEST POST

Could YOU Really Write a Cozy Mystery Book?

By Elizabeth Pantley
Author of the Magical Mystery Book Club series

Have you ever said to yourself, I read so many cozy mysteries. I wish I could write one! The thought percolates and grows, until you really want to give it a try. But how do you even begin?

There are many articles and books about the technical approach to writing. How to make a plot outline, build characters, create a setting. This article isn’t about any of that. It’s about getting off the ground and beginning to make your dream come true when you’ve never done anything like this before.

Everyone is different, of course. But if you’ve never written a book before, here are some tips for getting started from scratch.

First, You Read

Pick two or three of your favorite books and read them again. But his time, read to learn. Pay attention to more than just the story and take lots of notes. How does the author keep your attention from page to page? How does each chapter end, and each new one begin? What sentences grab you, make you laugh, or cause you to gasp? How does the dialog flow when characters are speaking versus the narration portions of the story? How does the author describe each new character – it’s more than listing height and eye color! How does the author describe the settings? What ways make it interesting to learn about a new character or place?

Examine your Reading History

What kind of books fill your collection? Plan to write a book in the genre of those you read most. If you mainly read books about witches, don’t write a book about dragons! Write what you know, and what you enjoy reading. Your book will have more meaning and writing will be easier.

Don’t Fight a Blank White Screen

It’s unlikely you’ll pen a bestseller from the first word on a blank page. It can be overwhelming to begin from nothing. A better plan might be to come up with a basic person and place, then a rough plot line.

Who is the main character? Where does she live? Who are the people in her circle of family and friends? Once you figure that out, plan a murder! That can be the fun part. Who gets murdered, why and who did it? Once you have these basics you can approach your book in a way that feels right to you. Some people enjoy a complete chapter-by-chapter outline, others prefer to be a “pantser” – writing page-by-page by the seat of their pants and letting their creativity flow.

Be Flexible

You might start out believing you’re a free-flowing writer but get stalled every day without a clear path. If that happens, try writing out your plot chapter by chapter and see how that feels. Until you begin you won ‘t really know what’s best for you.

To be a Writer you Must Write!

Set a plan or schedule for yourself. It might be an hour a day, or even just four hours over the weekends. Build a plan that works within your real life. If your goal is too lofty it might scare you away.

Then don’t be afraid to add more hours if things are going well and you have the time. The more you write, the easier it will get!

Read and Learn

Once you get rolling that’s the time to read some articles and books about writing a mystery. There’s so much to learn, so don’t get bogged down by doing too much research. Writing is your top priority. You can always edit later to make your manuscript better!

If you’re thinking it could take you a year to write a book, you’re right! It might take a year. But a year from now you’ll either have your book written, or you’ll still be thinking about maybe, someday you might write one. So, go ahead. Get started. Good luck!

About Elizabeth Pantley

Elizabeth Pantley is the author of fourteen fun, magical cozy mystery books, as well as the international bestselling No-Cry Solution parenting series.

She simultaneously writes well-loved cozy mysteries: The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic book series and the Magical Mystery Book Club series.

Elizabeth lives in the Pacific Northwest, the gorgeous inspiration for the setting in many of her books.

Author Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24811.Elizabeth_Pantley
Website: https://www.nocrysolution.com/books/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinyFallsMysteryandMagic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinyfallsmystery/

Amazon Purchase Links: US CA UK AU
All the books in this series are now available as Audio Books!

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 19 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

February 19 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 22 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

February 24 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

February 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 25 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

February 25 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 26 – Review Thick And Thin – REVIEW

February 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 27 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 27 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW

February 28 – ebook Addicts – REVIEW

February 28 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

February 29 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

March 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

March 2 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

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GUEST POST

Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Spirit Woman Legends and Lies by Elaine Faber

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Debbie

Spirit Woman Legends and Lies
(Spirit Woman Mystery Adventures)
by Elaine Faber

About Spirit Woman Legends and Lies

Spirit Woman Legends and Lies (Spirit Woman Mystery Adventures)
Cozy Mystery / Adventure
2nd in Series
Setting – Sierra Mountain Foothills
Elk Grove Publications (December 9, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1940781310
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-4294245132
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CPWJH4FC

The legendary Native American Spirit Woman and her mountain lion companion, said to appear in times of trouble, are once again sighted near Lockleer Mountain. And there is trouble aplenty.

Twenty-four hours after Joe and his brother, Cyrus, quarrel over the ownership of a winning million dollar lottery ticket, Cyrus’s mutilated body is found in the mountains, ravaged by the local wildlife. Sheriff Peabody and Deputy Nate Darling are soon puzzled by stolen VA hospital drugs found in Cyrus’s bedroom. It seems likely the suspected homicide is either connected to the contested lottery ticket or the drugs.

Hearing of the crowds that inevitably follow such a disturbing event, Rosita Ramirez, a transient with two children, comes to Lockleer Mountain to sell homemade tamales. She is befriended by Nate’s fiancé, Lou Shoemaker, owner of the Pooper Scooper sewer disposal truck. Rosita parks her old motorhome at the First Baptist Church and Lou aids her in acquiring employment at the local diner.

Soon, malicious gossip erupts about Rosita and the pastor. The church deacons are divided between ignoring unproven gossip, versus concern the gossip will divide the congregation and affect the future of the church.

In addition to finding a killer, Sheriff Peabody and his deputies are now tasked with exposing the perpetrator of the gossip, or the pastor will be forced to leave. How can the Spirit Woman and her companions bring about a solution to the troubles that plague the rural community?

About Elaine Faber

Elaine Faber, an award-winning author, lives in Elk Grove, CA with her husband and feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (SIC),, Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA), and Elk Grove Writers Guild (EGWG). She has published ten cozy mystery novels, an anthology of cat stories, and multiple short stories in twenty-one independent anthologies.

Author Links: Website www.mindcandymysteries.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/elaine.faber/posts

Purchase Link – Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 14 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 15 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

February 15 – Brooke Blogs – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 16 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

February 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 18 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 19 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 22 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT

February 23 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

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Blog Tour

Blog Tour and Recipe for A Killer Romance: A Beach Reads Mystery by Maggie Blackburn

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Debbie

A Killer Romance (A Beach Reads Mystery)
by Maggie Blackburn

About A Killer Romance

A Killer Romance (A Beach Reads Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Crooked Lane Books (February 6, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639106359
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639106356
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C4J77BVN

Love and murder are in the air this Valentine’s day in Maggie Blackburn’s third Beach Reads mystery, perfect for fans of Eva Gates and Miranda James.

When Beach Reads bookshop hosts a Valentine’s Day event, “Romance by the Sea,” bookseller Summer Merriweather has no idea that the guest author is under investigation for her own husband’s murder. When that same author is found dead at the local bed and breakfast, nobody assumes it’s natural causes–there were plenty of people who wanted her dead.

As Summer searches for the truth about the author’s stranger-than-fiction life, Summer finds suspicious indications of shady behavior in the author’s belongings. But the casual sleuthing is quickly derailed when Summer’s friend Glads gets hauled in for the murder, and they launch a full-blown investigation to clear her name.

As Summer and company pick through the scant clues to solve the case, they may find more treachery and heartbreak than they bargained for.

RECIPE

Brigid’s Bakery Honey Cakes

1 egg, well beaten

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

Honey Coating

1/2 cup honey

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-cavity muffin tin. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat egg until frothy. Beat in sugar and butter and mix together on a moderately high speed until well blended, fluffy and pale yellow.

Add sour cream and vanilla, blend well.

Sift dry ingredients together; add to the sour cream mixture. Mix by hand and blend well.

Pour into greased muffin tins.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and spread honey topping over cakes and return to the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the topping is bubbling. Serve warm.

About Maggie Blackburn

Maggie Blackburn is the pen name for bestselling mystery author Mollie Cox Bryan, who writes cozy mysteries with edge. She’s the author of several bestselling mystery series Her books have been selected as finalists for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award and as a Top 10 Beach Reads by Woman’s World. She has also been short-listed for the Virginia Library People’s Choice Award. She’s also penned a historical mystery under the name of Mollie Ann Cox. She lives in Crozet, Va. and is the mother of two grown, nearly perfect daughters.

Author Links

Website http://www.molliecoxbryan.com

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

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

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

TikTok @molliebryan

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 6 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 8 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 8 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 9 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 9 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 11 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 12 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW

February 12 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 12 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 14 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

February 14 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 15 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

February 15 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

Spotlight and Blog Tour for Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran

Posted on January 30, 2024January 30, 2024 by Debbie

Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder
by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran

About Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder

Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder
Cozy Mystery
57th in Series
Setting – Maine
Berkley (January 23, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593640691
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593640692
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CHDQ2PFD

Jessica Fletcher learns that exercise can be murder in this new entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.

Former editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette, Evelyn Phillips is back in Cabot Cove. Evelyn tells Jessica and Seth that she got a couple of really weird notes from Bertha Mae Cormier so she’s come back to town to check on her old friend. She demands that Jessica come with her to see Bertha Mae, who is a bit dithery but no more so than Jessica remembers her being in recent years.

Jessica does become somewhat concerned when Bertha Mae starts to talk about her new neighbor, Martin Terranova. He is quite charming and very health conscious and he teaches yoga and meditation in his pool house. Maureen Metzger says that she and Bertha Mae became friends in Terranova’s class and mentions how solicitous he is to his older clients.

Jessica attends one of his classes and does notice that Terranova is flirtatious with several elderly clients, especially Bertha Mae. Evelyn is becoming convinced that Bertha Mae is being mesmerized by Terranova and that he is after Bertha Mae’s money. A short while late, Martin turns up dead in his weight room. What at first blush seems to be an accident, soon proves to be murder and Jessica must put her investigative skills to the test when Evelyn becomes the prime suspect.

About the Authors

Along with Jessica Fletcher, Terrie Farley Moran co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series including Murder, She Wrote: Killer on the Court. She is the author of the Read ‘Em and Eat cozy mystery series and also co-writes the Scrapbooking Mysteries with Laura Childs. Recipient of both the Agatha and the Derringer Awards, Moran has published numerous mystery short stories. The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is hanging out with any or all of her seven grandchildren.

Author Links – Webpage Facebook

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

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 29 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Ascroft,eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

January 31 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

February 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Diane’s Book Journal – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Books to the Ceiling – REVIEW, PODCAST

February 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

February 4 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

February 4 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 5 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 7 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – MJB Reviewer – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

February 10 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW

February 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

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Blog Tour, Excerpt, Interview

Interview, Excerpt, and Blog Tour for Murder at a Scottish Castle by Traci Hall

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Debbie

Murder at a Scottish Castle: A Scottish Cozy Mystery
(A Scottish Shire Mystery) by Traci Hall

About Murder at a Scottish Castle

Murder at a Scottish Castle: A Scottish Cozy Mystery (A Scottish Shire Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Nairn, Scotland
Kensington Cozies (January 23, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496744373
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496744371
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C3WTZYGT

USA Today bestselling author returns with the latest novel in a Scottish seaside cozy knitting mystery series featuring busy single mom Paislee Shaw, owner of a specialty sweater shop, knitting enthusiast, and reluctant sleuth who must untangle another murderous yarn!

With the summer days getting shorter in the seaside village of Nairn, the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle promises to be quite the end-of-season blowout. Paisley has snagged a special invitation from the Dowager Countess, who wants to showcase her cashmere goods in the castle gift shop, and she’s brought her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace.

There’s a fierce rivalry between Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and last year’s winner Jory Baxter, with Grant loudly vowing to show up the blowhard Baxter and claim clan bragging rights. But the reigning champion has barely put the reed to his lips when he turns red and collapses, soon to take his dying breath. DI Zeffer confirms foul play, suspecting the reed may have been poisoned.

With a murderer in their midst, the rest of Nairn won’t breathe easy until Paisley applies her sleuthing skills to make sure justice is served and the killer pays the piper . . .

About Traci Hall

From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone.

Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.

Author Interview

Five Fast Favorites:

Favorite genre of movie
Horror
Favorite food
Shrimp
Favorite genre of books
Historical fiction
Favorite color
Periwinkle

And last favorite….

Favorite hobby
Walking outside in nature

Excerpt from Murder at a Scottish Castle:

Paislee, Grandpa and Brody followed the last of the band members to a large open-air covered area perfect for outdoor parties. It could easily seat two hundred or more with wooden tables for eating, and higher serving tables with platters of food and kegs of drinks.

Brody flicked his fingers toward his mates, all clustered together at a table. “Can I eat with them, Mum?”

Paislee checked out the situation, seeing them supervised, loosely, by other parents. “Aye. Be good. I’ll keep Wallace for you.”

“Why cannae he come?”

“After you finish. Wallace has a special diet that can’t be ruined by fatty meat.” It was bad enough that the terrier was better than a broom when it came to catching crumbs beneath the table.

“The dog has a diet,” Grandpa scoffed. “Nothing wrong with sturdy animal bones. It’s guid for him.”

“They can splinter and catch in his throat,” Paislee cautioned.

Brody scowled, but then nodded and joined his mates. Wallace whined. Paislee patted the pup’s head. “I’ll make sure you get some lean pieces of venison.”

Wallace lay down on the stone slab of the dining area with a whine.

“Dinnae blame ye boy,” Grandpa said. He looked at Paislee. “You’re making the dog a sissy.”

“Keeping the dog healthy,” Paislee countered. She eyed the lines for food. “Why don’t you go first, Grandpa? I can wait here. Unless you want me tae get both our plates?”

“I’m no bairn you need tae coddle, lass.” Grandpa straightened his tam over his silver-gray hair. “Want me tae get you a plate? Mibbe something soft, like porridge?”

Oh! That’s what she got for just trying to be nice. Paislee exhaled. “No, thank you.”

Grandpa returned with a paper plate piled high with meat, not a single vegetable to be seen. He sat opposite her and smacked his lips, daring her to say a word.

She kept her mouth shut. “Can you watch Wallace?”

“Aye.” The dog lead was tied to the wooden bench and the pup watched her actions with a legitimate canine pout.

“Thanks.” Paislee joined the end of the queue, and it was as if there hadn’t been a dent in the massive platters of roasted beef or venison.

She chose several ribs and then a leaner selection with no bones for Wallace. Next, she added roasted potatoes, mushrooms, and corn. A fresh salad of tomato and herbs, and last, a bannock. She took two, knowing that Grandpa would enjoy a piece of the flat bread to sop up the juices from his carnivore feast.

On her way back to the table, she saw Brody and a group of kids all telling jokes as they ate. It made her happy to be part of this community, as he was too.

Upon her return, Paislee noted that a woman from Clan MacTavish had joined them and brought two mugs of whisky for Paislee and Grandpa.

“How sweet!” Paislee sat opposite Grandpa. Clan MacTavish took up the rest of the table. Most of the instruments had been put along the back partition wall made of lattice. Bagpipes had different kinds of cases, hard to soft, and same for the drums.

“My pleasure,” the lass next to Paislee said. “I’m Nettie. Thanks for sharing your table!” Her eyes were the exact hue of her sky-blue jacket, her hair a soft brown styled to her chin.

“Paislee. Nice tae meet you.” Paislee handed Grandpa a bannock. He accepted with a grin, already happy with the whisky and the company.

She bit into the tender meat feeling Wallace’s eyes on her as if he’d never had a meal in his life. She shredded the cooled leaner cuts and put them aside on an extra plate she’d grabbed for the purpose.

“Slowly! Taste it!” she said. Wallace waited until her hands were free and then dove in. It was gone in seconds, and he looked at her for more.

“He didnae savor a bite,” Grandpa laughed.

“He didn’t. I’m lucky tae have my fingers.” When she’d bought the adorable puppy to fill the hole left by Gran’s death, he’d stolen her heart with his dark eyes and soft wiry fur. She hadn’t cared about the terrier’s temperament. Like many human Scots, the Scottish terrier was fierce, loyal, willful, and loving. Dr. Kathleen McHenry, the veterinarian, had suggested a trainer when Wallace was at the pet clinic for eating socks the first week they’d had him.

Now, six years later, Wallace was much better behaved than many dogs and she credited that to Dr. McHenry. The lifespan for the breed was twelve to fifteen years, so long as he didn’t eat any more clothes. He had a special diet to keep from gaining weight which would hurt his short legs. Wallace was a loved member of her family.

“More whisky?” Nettie asked Grandpa and Paislee. “I’m going for a refill. I’m not driving, and the earl brews his own. Cannae get it anywhere else.”

“None for me,” Paislee said. She’d been so busy eating that she’d barely touched her drink. “Thanks though.”

“I’ll help you,” Grandpa said, getting up.

“You’re a dear,” Nettie said.

Her grandfather blushed.

Paislee hid her smile behind a bite of roasted mushroom. The herbs were grown in the wild as well as in the greenhouse. Maybe one day when she wasn’t so busy, she could put a few pots in the back garden for some container vegetables.

When Grandpa returned, Paislee went for just a few more of the roasted veg and another bannock, perusing the tables for Brody.

Ah, he was done eating and playing a game of catch with the other kids by the barn.

It was good that he was having fun and independent. It hurt a wee bit as she realized he was loosening his attachment to her. As it should be. Her heart ached. Trying to hold onto time was as impossible as catching rain in a sieve.

Paislee shifted with her plate. There was Lissia and Cinda, in conversation about how Patrick had excelled with the roasted meat. Cinda’s eyes sparkled as she watched Patrick. At the far end of the long table, Sorcha and Robert appeared to be having heated words.

Clan Cunningham members sat at their own table, the director often checking his phone. Clyde was no doubt waiting for word about Jory. Was he finally worried? She didn’t have a high opinion of the pipe major.

She checked her watch. It was seven in the evening. It had been three hours since Jory had collapsed to the grass.

Jerry and the other Campbell clan members were not as joyful as some of the others. Did they feel that they’d lost today by not forcing a forfeit?

Jerry saw her looking and waved, no usual smile for her as he dug into his food.

She was going to ask him what was wrong but then decided against it. A room of competitors wasn’t the place for a private conversation. She trusted that he would take care of Jory’s bagpipes, knowing the importance of the instrument, even if they were competitors.

Clyde’s phone rang and the director answered with a loud, “Hello?”

Clyde turned very pale. His next words were murmurs as he frowned and asked more questions. “Are ye okay?”

Clyde gulped and jumped up to the table, knees visible in his red and black kilt as he cleared his team’s plates with an angry foot. His longish hair in the front flopped over his eye.

“What’s wrong?” his bass drummer asked. The big man scowled at the meat on his shirt from Clyde, then brushed it off. “It better be guid.”

“Jory Baxter is dead.” Clyde pointed with fury toward Robert. “You have some explaining tae do.”

Traci wants to hear from you!

Traci@TraciHall.com

Author Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracie.hall.35/

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20716027.Traci_Hall

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/traci-hall

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

Website: https://www.tracihall.com/

Purchase Links

Amazon Barnes and Noble Apple Kobo

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 23 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 23 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 24 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST – WITH EXCERPT

January 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 26 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

January 26 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – CHARACTER GUEST POST – WITH EXCERPT

January 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 29 – FUONLYKNEW – CHARACTER GUEST POST WITH EXCERPT

January 29 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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Blog Tour, Interview

Author Interview of J.B. Michaels and Blog Tour for Murder on the Geneva Express

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Debbie

It’s my pleasure to interview James Michaels from Chicago. Welcome to Ruff Drafts, James. How long have you been published? What titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher? Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.

2015- The Tannenbaum Tailors series! The Chronicles of the Order series! The Mac and Millie Mystery series, “The Viking Throne”- standalone and some non-fiction books like “Plot Your Author Path” and “Why the F Do I Need Life Insurance.” Proudly, independently published under Harrison and James Publishing. After years and years of querying and rejection I decided to do it myself and have had much success! I was watching a Walt Disney documentary and Walt never asked for anyone’s permission to accomplish his dreams. So I took that route. Ha!

A man after my own Indie publishing heart. It sounds like you’ve certainly pursued your writing dreams. Tell us a little bit about your books — if you write a series, any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress. If you have an upcoming release, please specify the release date.

I write fast, fun, engaging books with lots of heart and wonderful characters. Maybe a bit of fantastical whimsy here and there. The Mac and Milly Mystery series is my most popular series because people love a good murder mystery but I truly believe they stay for the characters and setting! Geneva, IL is the backdrop for this series and it is such a great town!

Awesome. As a cozy mystery author myself, I know how important it is to have engaging characters and an interesting setting.

Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

My goals are to keep writing and writing and writing. Improving with each book and further developing rather honing my imagination to keep my readers entertained, engaged, and fulfilled! I love stories and am very passionate. Eventually, I would like to expand my books into other formats and mediums. Film and TV adaptations are certainly a goal of mine!

Great goals. Best of luck to you.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

Give me the avid reader who wants to be entertained! I want the thinker but also the child at heart. My books are smart but also very fun with a sense of humor and frankly youthful exuberance!

I’m sure that you have a wide audience.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

Hmm… this one is tough. Keep writing and writing and always improving. Don’t stop honing your craft ever. Always challenge yourself. My Mac and Millie series books are all unique. Yes there are common themes but they are different in structure and feel and this is purposeful. There are many ways to get published and you can enjoy success traditionally or independently. Sometimes both.

Whatever you do, don’t stop writing. And decide for yourself how you want to put your book out into the world. Find your audience and be generous with them too.

Excellent advice.

What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?

Oh my gosh! So many. I got so excited after my very first draft of my first book that I started querying and sending out so many letters and getting so many rejections! It was so wild. I should have relaxed a bit and regrouped. It was hard but then I realized I needed to get better so I joined a writing society, went to conferences, took classes, joined a critique group and improved myself all the while I kept writing!!

That will be inspiring to those starting on their writing journeys.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I was a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for years and the Chicago Writer’s Group. I had the same critique group for 8 years! We met once a month for 8 years. That was super helpful!

I’m sure you got a lot out of that.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

Ooooh I love the Chicago Bears and Cubs! I am a huge fan of cinema! I have two Podcasts! One about movies and my books called the MisterMichaels.com Podcast and then The Magic in the Midwest Podcast about Walt Disney World!

You sure keep busy.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

What I like the Most? Hmm, the finished product and engaging with my readers!

The Least: Sometimes, in the thick of it. You don’t know if your story is making any damn sense whatsoever. Not all the time but self-doubt and neurotic thinking tends to dominate. Sometimes though, you are so in the zone and so into what you are creating that all of that melts away and you are just living in your imagination! It’s one of the best feelings ever. Nothing like a great story to keep you happy and engaged!

I certainly relate to that.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

There is so much fun to be had when you are the one holding all the cards! Pulling the strings! Making things happen and not happen! Setting expectations, subverting expectations, and delivering twists galore all wrapped up in a clean, cozy, place that most people find idyllic and transportive.

Nicely said.

Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?

Mac O’Malley holed up in the newly renovated Atrium café. His heart beat much harder than normal, not only from moving fast down Third to The Tiny Wanderer,

but also from the fear of a situation he’d never found himself in before: the prime suspect in a murder and with the possible murder weapon in his hand. He

recounted the events in his head. He paced the floor without the use of his cane; he examined it with the flashlight from his phone. Were there any markers on

it to indicate he did strike the man in the head with the cane? There was a lot of blood. There had been a ton spewing from the side of the man’s head.

Mac remembered he’d nodded off on the train. He awoke to a man yelling for someone to wake up. He’d quickly sprung into action to help when the man who

screamed—but it turned out to be the vic’s brother. He’d accused Mac of killing his brother with a devastating blow to the side of his head, using the cane Mac

examined as the weapon. The cane was a replica of a prop in one of Mac’s favorite “lms, The Wolfman. As much as Mac trusted what he saw, and tried to will it

from his mind, the more prevalent the dark reality set. The handle of the cane resembled the head of the wolf and was covered in bloodstains. Mac had seen his

fair share of murder weapons. This cane, his cane, was used to murder a man on the Geneva Express? The pit in his stomach grew larger. Someone on the train

had grabbed his cane and then was powerful enough to use it to bludgeon a man in the head with one powerful blow and kill him. Or could something

else have happened? Maybe he hit his head earlier which caused some bleeding from his ear; maybe it got worse over time and he was too drunk to notice.

No. Someone in his party would have noticed. Mac shook his head and forced in a deep breath. The Atrium Café was dark and newly renovated. It was

refreshed to look like the original that had been ravaged by an awful storm a few months ago. It normally eased his mind but tonight it didn’t. He sat

on a wrought iron chair; he needed to gather his thoughts. He needed to just stroll back to the scene and talk to his brother, Vince, and explain exactly

what happened. Not many other plausible suspects had the luxury of having their brother on the force—and probably the responding detective on a fresh

crime scene. He could just go back and explain that he was afraid of getting beat down by a group of drunk bachelors and that he responded to a slumped man

who, upon examination, happened to be hemorrhaging blood from the side of his head.

Simple.

Mac stood in the dark Atrium Café. He activated his phone’s “ashlight once more to #nd his way out, but before leaving, he looked down at his cane once

more. The snarled snout and piercing eyes of the were‐ wolf stared back at him. A chill managed to raise the hair on the back of his neck and his arms.

“Snap out of it, Mac.” Mac drove the cane into the tile “floor and made his way forward to the Fulton Street exit.

He stopped.

He wasn’t sure if this was the right move. He needed some guidance. Sometimes, tough situations required consulting with his best partner, Millie.

“Sorry it’s so late, Millie, but I need to talk to someone about this.” He mumbled as he dialed her number.

The phone rang and rang.

“Mac. It’s 4:10 in the morning. What’s happening?

You okay?” Millie asked.

“Usually, I give a flippant answer: yes. But no. I am definitely not okay. In the next few hours—or sooner—I might be officially wanted for murder.”

Love it!

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?

My books are all page-turning romps designed to entertain, delight, keep you guessing, and hopefully positively impact you! Oh and make you think as well. Thinking is important!

People appreciate a thoughtful read.

Please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. and include some book cover graphics and author photos if possible.

facebook.com/mistermichaels

instagram.com/jbmichaelswritesbooks

instagram.com/jbmichaels11

jb@mistermichaels.com is my email address!

Thanks so much for the interview, and best wishes on your new release. I’m sharing your blog tour below.

Murder on the Geneva Express: A Mac and Millie Mystery
by JB Michaels

About Murder on the Geneva Express

Murder on the Geneva Express: A Mac and Millie Mystery
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Geneva Illinois
Independently Published (October 26, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 164 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8865567547
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CLW9X12L

Dead body found on Geneva Express!

In a perfect storm of misfortune, Mac O’Malley finds himself embroiled in a whodunnit that has everyone convinced HE has done it. Mac and Millie race against time, flee from authorities both municipal and magical, and attempt to clear Mac and his good reputation from absolute incarceration.

About J B Michaels

I have spent my life in the study of story from riveting novels to the slam-bang action-packed world of comics to the examination of film history, I have spent a lifetime learning and examining the elements that make a story incredible. This steadfast dedication has led me to write stories of my own.

I am married and with a son, I have a great love of family. I hope that you enjoy my bestselling books that mash genres from thrillers to science fiction to fantasy!

Author Links

Facebook www.facebook.com/mistermichaels

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21568640.JB_Michaels

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jbmichaels11/

Purchase Links – Amazon – Apple – Kobo – B&N

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 8 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW

January 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

January 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 11 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 12 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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

January 13 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 15 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 16 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 17 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

January 19 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 21 – Nadaness In Motion – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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Blog Tour, Excerpt

Blog Tour and Excerpt for A Crust To Die For by T.C. LoTempio

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Debbie

A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery)
by Toni LoTempio

This is a well-written cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more in the series! The author’s strong descriptive voice brings each setting to life so that the reader can clearly envision the action and the details.
~Cinnamon & Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder

A CRUST TO DIE FOR is a smart witty mystery full of friends and good food. Be sure to bring an appetite for pizza and sink your teeth into this delightful read.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

About A Crust To Die For

A Crust to Die For (A Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Georgia
Severn House (January 2, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448310032
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448310036
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CB8YDJFV

The Bon-Appetempting Pizza Bake-Off has the small town of Branson, Georgia buzzing. Not least its organizer, Southern Style’s food critic and blogger Tiffany Austin. But right before the finals one of the celebrity judges falls ill, and to Tiffany’s horror the magazine replaces him with none other than handsome TV star and restaurateur Bartholomew Driscoll.

Tiffany once gave his restaurant a poor review, and she’s convinced he’s only accepted the job to get revenge. She fully expects Driscoll will find a way to ruin the contest . . . but she definitely doesn’t expect to trip over his dead body backstage!

Soon, it’s clear Tiffany wasn’t the only person who had less than positive feelings towards the sharp-tongued Driscoll. She’s surrounded by suspects – but which of the motley crew of contestants, family members and scorned friends and colleagues had the guts to commit murder?

With the help of her BFF Hilary and annoyingly handsome detective Bartell, and with cat Lily and puppy Cooper as emotional support, Tiffany investigates, only to discover that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold . . .

EXCERPT

and Arleen hadn’t come back yet, so I turned in the direction of the break room. As I approached the kitchen, I paused. There were voices coming from that direction. Low, intense voices. Curious, I drew closer.

“You’re making a huge mistake,” rasped one angry voice. I couldn’t make it out, but it sounded distinctly feminine. More whispering, then another voice, quivering with rage: “How dare you threaten me!”

I took a step backward. That voice I recognized. Driscoll! But who was he talking to? Charlotte Horn? Or someone else? I debated moving closer when I heard a loud voice call out, “Tiffany? Where are you? Are you backstage?”

Immediately the voices in the kitchen silenced. I hurried swiftly back out to the stage area, trying to be as quiet as possible. As soon as I emerged, Hilary ran up to me. “Arleen’s not in the ladies’ room,” she announced. “I hope she didn’t take off. She does that sometimes when she gets upset.”

“I’m sure she didn’t,” I said reassuringly. My mind was going a million miles a minute. Had the feminine voice I heard arging with Driscoll been Arleen’s? I couldn’t say for certain, so I didn’t want to voice any concern to Hilary. “Maybe she just went outside for a breath of fresh air,” I suggested. “We still have time before the second half. Let’s go look.”

We hurried over to the Exit door and outside. We walked around the building and checked the parking lot. Arleen’s convertible was still in its place under the shady elm. There was no sign of her, or anyone else for that matter, anywhere in the area.

“I can’t understand it,” Hilary grumbled as we made our way back. “Where could she have gone off to?”

Dale came over to us, and Hilary pounced on him. “Have you seen my sister? She’s missing!”

Dale gave Hilary a puzzled look. “No she’s not. She’s onstage. See.”

Dale parted the curtain. Sure enough, Arleen was behind her station, tying her apron. I frowned as I looked at her. Something about her seemed different, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Hilary put her hand to her breast. “Thank God,” she murmured. “She looks pretty calm, too, all things considered.”

I glanced at the other two contestants. Kurt Howell appeared unruffled as he pulled his pizza dough out, but Colleen Collins was grasping the edge of her counter. She seemed a bit short of breath, and I sincerely hoped she wasn’t having a panic attack.

Dale’s voice cut into my thoughts. “Have either of you seen Driscoll?” he asked.

“Not recently,” I answered. “Why?”

Dale pulled a face. “Mr. Wonderful hasn’t turned in his scores from the first half, and we need them before the second half can start.” He tapped at his watch. “Plus, now we’re running late and the school needs the auditorium for voting at four, which means we’ve got to be out by three in order for them to set up.”

“Well, he did say he felt light-headed. He was going to find a quiet spot and sit down, so he’s probably somewhere backstage.”

Dale shot me a hopeful look. “I know he’s not your favorite person, but would you help me look for him?”

I opened my mouth to tell Dale that I thought I’d heard Driscoll back in the kitchen, but his cell buzzed. Dale whipped it out of his pocket, mumbled, “Really? Now?” He held the phone away and looked over at me. “Thanks Tiff,” he said. “I’ll join you as soon as I put out this fire.” Without waiting for me to answer he hurried off, phone back to his ear. I squared my shoulders. So, it was up to me to light a fire under Driscoll, huh? Swell. I hoped by now he’d concluded his conversation with his mysterious companion. If not and I interrupted I’d most likely get my head handed to me. I glanced out at the judge’s area again. It was empty. Apparently both Anastasia and Ferrante had finished with the judging and decided to take a break too. I sighed. I’d better check out the kitchen area before more people started disappearing.

I walked swiftly up the short flight of steps to the kitchen. This time when I approached, the door was closed. I hesitated, then raised my fist and rapped sharply. “Hello. Anyone in there?”

Silence.

I rapped again, louder this time. “Hello, Mr. Driscoll? Dale wanted me to tell you that we need your scores. You’re holding up the second half of the competition. Mr. Driscoll?”

Something made me glance down at the floor. Something was caught on the side of the door. I bent down and picked it up. It was a tiny sliver of fabric, a blue, white and purple print. It looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen it. I slid the fragment into my pocket and knocked on the door again.

Still no answer.

I twisted the knob. The door opened a few inches, then stopped, as if something were blocking it. I frowned, and pushed harder. “Anyone in here?” I called. I poked my nose in through the narrow opening, trying to peer around the edge of the door.

The first thing I saw was a black-pants clad leg, turned sideways beside the round table. I drew a quick breath, took a step back, then flung my full body weight against the door. The door creaked back another foot, enough for me to enter. I eased myself awkwardly into the room, and saw someone had taken the footstool and wedged it against the door. I pushed it aside and made my way towards the leg. My first thought was that Driscoll might have fainted. He’d complained earlier about feeling light-headed. As I drew nearer though, I saw that wasn’t the case. I put my hand to my mouth and bit down hard to keep from screaming.

Bartholomew Driscoll lay sprawled across the floor, a chef’s knife sticking awkwardly out of the base of his throat.

About T.C. LoTempio

T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora mystery series. Her cat, Rocco, provides the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat. She also writes the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery Series, as well as the Cat Rescue series. Her latest series is the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series from Severn House. Check out her and Rocco’s blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com, and visit her website, www.tclotempio.net, for more information.

Author Links

Webpage: http://www.tclotempio.net

Blog: http://www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5

Twitter/X: @RoccoBlogger

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Blog Tour, Spotlight

Blog Tour and Spotlight for Hope for the Holidays by Daryl Wood Gerber

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Debbie

Hope for the Holidays
by Daryl Wood Gerber

About Hope for the Holidays

Hope for the Holidays
Holiday Romance
Setting – Oregon
Independently Published – Chucklin Inc. (November 14, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8215261927
Digital : 979-8215400784

Hope Lyons’s husband ran through all their money and split Portland, Oregon, forcing Hope to sell her beloved Pie in the Sky bakery and move with her two children back to charming Hope Valley, her hometown. She has been working as a waitress and pinching pennies to get their lives back on track; however, when her children win KPRL’s Spirit of Christmas vacation contest, Hope worries about the extra expenses she will incur on such a trip and turns it down.

Steve Waldren, the handsome KPRL sports anchor, is now of an age where he can’t afford to have a gap on his resume. His confidence is already shaky, ever since his fiancée dumped him, claiming Steve would never reach his potential. When Steve’s boss dubs Steve to be Giveaway Santa, he’s forced to accept. Steve, as Santa, readily travels to Hope Valley to award the prize. But when Hope refuses it, he’s at a loss. His boss threatens to fire him if he doesn’t convince Hope to take it, and Steve does all he can to change her mind. But Hope can be stubborn, life can be a challenge, and Hope’s children can be unpredictable. Not to mention, the truth isn’t always what it seems.

Will Hope and Steve find their happily ever after? It might take a holiday miracle.

About Daryl Wood Gerber

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is delving into the world of romance for a passion project she simply had to write, HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS. In addition, Daryl writes the nationally bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries and the Fairy Garden Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she wrote the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams novels of suspense as well as stand-alone suspense.

She has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line. You can learn more about her books on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com

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