Category: Cozy Mystery

Posted in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco by Richie Narvaez

Posted on by Debbie

Going Back in Time to 1979: Researching the Disco Era

by Richie Narvaez

 I never thought I would write a historical mystery or a YA mystery. But the process of writing Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco (Pinãta Books, 2020) involved a fair bit of time travel. And a lot of in-seat dancing. I decided to set this book in 1979 because I was going to write about a 14-year-old protagonist. And the last time I had been 14 was in 1979.

But that meant a little sentimental journeying. I got out the old high school yearbook and found pages and pages of character suggestions. For the book, I scrambled names and personalities, I made an old friend the school principal, I made an old rival look like an idiot. This is what writing is all about! This was great!

But the thing that helped me most get back to that long-ago era and get into the right mood was music.

For most of the ’70s, I listened to the likes of John Denver, Harry Chapin, Janis Ian, and a lot of American Standards — because that’s what Pop liked and Pop had command of the radio. But as my sister and brother got older, they would bring home these disco albums to play (on our wonky record player in our rickety entertainment unit). At first, I balked at John Revolta and his three-piece suit and the chipmunk sound of the Bee-Gees. Jeez louise!

But then there was this song called “Supernature” by Cerrone. With its bizarre lyrics (telling a story similar to a dozen Animals Gone Wild movies from the ’70s) and insistent beat, it was like a 10-minute B-grade horror movie you could dance to. This appealed to my nerdy, sci fi- and horror-loving pre-adolescent mind. Then there was “Devil’s Gun,” by C. J. & Company, which had a neon green demon/alien on the cover. Hello, you’ve got my attention.

So, I learned to like disco quite a bit. But, really, I was too young to love it the way my sister and brother did. I never learned to do the Hustle, never went to Studio 54. Musical genres like Modern Rock and Freestyle were more a part of my formative years.

As I sat down to plan the book, I realized I hadn’t thought about disco in a long time. There was quite a bit of social history to uncover. Disco may have been maligned for its sameness and mindlessness, but there were clearly undertones of homophobia and prejudice in the malice directed toward it.

As to the music itself, I dove right in — by listening to music the way you do nowadays. I went to YouTube. Now, I don’t usually listen to music when I scribble, but my neighbor upstairs had been proving particularly lead-footed, so on went the headphones.

First I focused on what was popular, and I found I still wasn’t crazy about the Bee Gees. But then I rediscovered Donna Summer! That plaintive, sultry voice is mesmerizing. From there I listened to MFSB, Tavares, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the Hues Corporation, France Joli, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and more. I even discovered I had a favorite disco song: “Native New Yorker,” by Odyssey, a melancholy slow-disco meditation on Big Apple dreaming.

There was so much to listen to. Every day, I’d go through playlists and find singers and bands I wanted to learn more about. You know the idea of a wikihole? It’s an Internet-age rabbit hole of discovery after discovery. I went down that path willfully, gleefully, rocking in my chair, if not rocking dancing shoes.

I think Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco came out all the better for it. I was able to get into the mood of the era. I was able to hear what my teen detective protagonist was hearing and imagine her reactions. And if I could do that, then I could take my readers’ hands and invite them on to the dance floor with me.

Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco
by Richie Narvaez

About Holly Hernandez and
the Death of Disco

Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco
Young Adult Cozy Mystery
Grade Level: 10 – 12
1st in Series
Publisher: Pinata Books (May 31, 2020)
Paperback: 248 pages
ISBN-10: 1558859020
ISBN-13: 978-1558859029
Digital Publisher: Arte Público Press (June 22, 2020)
Print Length: 255 pages
ASIN: B08BQRZLTC

Holly Hernandez, voted “Miss Bright of ’79” and valedictorian at her previous school, is excited to start fresh at Flatbush Technical High School, one of the most competitive public schools in New York City. She’ll be one of thousands; anonymous. But her dreams of a normal school life disappear when her mother, a homicide detective, has to investigate the murder of Mr. Friedman, the social studies teacher.

One of her classmates, Xander Herrera, quickly becomes the primary suspect. The tall, awkward boy is socially inept, but Holly doesn’t think he’s a murderer. She is intent on exonerating him—but he wants nothing to do with her. To Xander, Holly is the overly enthusiastic student who always sits in the front row and answers all the teachers’ questions—correctly. He hates perky people!

Eventually cleared of the crime, Xander is determined to find the killer before Holly. As they race to solve the case, their separate investigations lead to a slew of suspects, including another teacher seen arguing with Friedman and a mysterious person named Steve who met with him several times before his death. Could it have been a disgruntled student? Ultimately, a trophy for a disco-dancing contest leads the intrepid young detectives to the Mission Venus nightclub and a murderer intent on killing again!

About Richie Narvaez

Richie Narvaez is author of the award-winning collection Roachkiller and Other Stories and the gentrification thriller Hipster Death Rattle. His latest novel is the historical YA mystery Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco.

Author Links

Website – https://www.richienarvaez.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RichieNarvaezAuthor/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/richie_narvaez
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rnz1000/
GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4530759.Richie_Narvaez

Purchase Links – Amazon – Bookshop – IndieBound – B&N

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 15 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

October 15 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – MJB Reviewers -SPOTLIGHT

October 18 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

October 19 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 19 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 20 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

October 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Cozy Mystery, Interview, New Releases

Interview of Sarah E. Burr, Author of #Trending Topic: Murder, A Trending Topic Mystery

Posted on by Debbie

Welcome to Ruff Drafts, Sarah. I see you’re from New York City which is not far from my home on Long Island.

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.

In 2017, I began my writing journey with self-publishing. My first title was a novella called The Ducal Detective. Taking place in the fictional Realm of Virtues, my little novella about a Duchess solving the murder of her parents has since turned into an eleven-book saga that continues to grow. My latest self-published novel is Harrowed Heir, with a new Court of Mystery novel arriving this winter.

Trending Topic #Murder is my first traditionally published novel, which arrived on the scene September of 2020. It is first in the Trending Topic Mysteries, published by Camel Press.

Congratulations! We have a lot in common besides being New Yorkers, as I also write mysteries. I just published the fifth book, No Gravestone Unturned, in my Cobble Cove series.

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.

Trending Topic #Murder, first in the Trending Topic Mysteries, shines the spotlight on celebrity blogger and social media consultant Coco Cline after she discovers a dead body in her clients’ store. With her rep on the line, Coco is forced to untangle a web of deadly secrets in her small, beachside town.

Coco’s story takes into account how ingrained social media has become in our everyday lives and showcase really just how much information is out there at our fingertips. It goes to prove that anyone can be a couch detective if they put their mind to it!

Trending Topic #Murder made its debut September 8, 2020, and I am currently working on Book 2 in the series.

I will also be releasing the next Court of Mystery novel this winter.

Interesting choice of occupation for the character of your new novel.

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 main writing goal has always been to capture all the stories whirling around in my head and wrangle them into a manuscript. There are so many unfinished tales that have been marinating in my mind for years…my goal is to write as many of them down as I can. I also want to explore more genres outside of mystery/cozy mystery. My first major writing project that I ever completed was a fantasy series for young adults. I wrote most of it while in college, so it definitely needs some polishing, as I’ve learned so much about writing and communicating my thoughts since graduating. I would love to return to that series someday, clean it up, and publish it. I also have a few psychological thrillers in mind.

Achieving these goals is all about time management. I already write two series, so for any projects that pop up outside of those, I need to be mindful of time and my publication commitments. They come first. But where I’m blessed to be able to write full-time, I have the ability to carve out “project time” during my workday to pursue these other writing interests.

Sounds like we have the same goals. I like to explore other genres, as well, and have written short eBooks and stories in them, as well as non-fiction articles and will be publishing a non-fiction cat book soon. I’m also hoping to add a second cozy series. I agree time management is essential. It’s very important for me to organize my writing and promoting time because I also work full-time as a librarian.

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

I would love to bring more young women and men my age to the cozy mystery genre. Sometimes, I think cozies get overlooked by twenty and thirty-year olds, which is funny because most cozies feature a young heroine. By creating a more contemporary and modern main character in Coco Cline—someone who is attached to her phone and knows the power of social media and the web—I hope I have created a character that younger generations can identify with. I’ve loved cozies all my life, so I’m a little bias about how awesome the genre is, but I think a lot of people could benefit from reading about an everyday heroine who takes justice into her own hands. I think if we were all more like the heroines in our cozy mystery novels, the world would be a fairer, more just place.

That’s very true. While my main character is in her forties, I try to feature characters of various ages including teens, children, and seniors in different books of the series. The main character of my new cozy that I’ve been querying to agents is a young woman in her twenties.

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

Believe in your work. You know its value, so don’t give up because a few people thought differently. Querying can be one of the most demoralizing experiences in the world. You’ve put your heart and soul into your submission, only to have it rejected over and over again. I kept a spreadsheet of every rejection I received during this whole process. I pull it up every so often to remind myself that it only takes one person, one publisher to believe in your work as much as you do.

On a more practical note, proofread your submissions multiple times and even have a friends or family member proofread for you. A polished piece does wonders for the person on the other end of the line experiencing your work for the first time. And a catchy tagline for your book or series is always a winner!

Excellent advice. I think authors can identify with that.

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

I really struggled convincing the literary world that the cozy mystery genre was ready for a social media-savvy main character. I got a lot of rejections saying readers wouldn’t be able to understand or identify with Coco using her phone and computer to investigate her victim and suspects. I found this odd, considering my 83-year-old grandmother has a Bitmoji character. It felt like some publishers didn’t quite understand that the world had gone viral. Luckily, I found a publisher that believed in this book and believed that audiences would fall in love with Coco Cline and her squad.

Even before I started querying, I struggled with being ready, or believing my manuscript was done. Of course, it was far from done, but I eventually realized I had gone as far as I could go without help. Help from an agent, help from an editor. That was when I knew it was time to query. I needed someone else to help me take this book to the next level.

Thanks for sharing.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

As of right now, I am not involved with any writing groups. I am about as introverted as can be. A bit ironic, since I write about a main character who loves the spotlight. I tend to bounce my ideas off my beta readers.

You’re not alone in that. Many authors do the same.

 What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

Every writer is a reader, first and foremost. I love sitting out on my porch with a good book. I am also an avid video gamer, lover of Broadway musicals, and swimming. I am a big movie and TV buff, as well.

Nice variety of interests.

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

What I like most about being an author is connecting with readers. I absolutely love knowing my books connect with people and bring them joy. Hearing from readers how much they enjoyed one of my books has got to be one of the best feelings in the world.

What I like least about being an author and my toughest challenge are linked together. I’m really kinda awful with my newsletter. I try to write a newsletter quarterly, but I find it really tricky to share new details. I use social media so much to connect with readers and let them know the big news, that my newsletters always felt like a regurgitation of information. To overcome this hurdle, I’ve started using my newsletter to share exclusive content regarding my books, like short stories or character profiles. Since it is a more creative outlet, I find writing those types of newsletters more enjoyable than just listing my accomplishments or upcoming release information.

I have a similar issue with my newsletters, and I really like your idea for creating interest.

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

I love picturing myself as my heroine. It gives me the chance to live another life and have adventures I’ve not experienced. I love the warm, welcoming feeling of a cozy mystery setting. I moved around a few times growing up, so I never really had those deep bonds that cozy MC’s have with their hometowns or the places they live. I also love the idea of solving a mystery. For the longest time, I wanted to be a detective (my idol still is and will forever be Nancy Drew) so writing mysteries has become as good as solving mysteries to me.

I know the feeling. I also enjoy the writing process and becoming absorbed in my own story.

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

From Trending Topic #Murder:

I nodded, heading toward the front door, surprised by the lump forming in my throat. Not one to normally show an abundance of fragile emotion, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. As much as I wanted the horrible image of Stacy out of my head, pushing her away felt disrespectful. Adding to the fact I hardly knew her, even though I saw her every day for nearly a month, I was racked with guilt over the whole thing. If I hadn’t waited around before letting myself in, perhaps I would have thwarted her attacker, or at least taken him by surprise. Why was she alone at the store? Olivia and Peter were always there to supervise her work. How did the culprit get in and out of the store if all the doors were locked? As I slid into the driver’s seat, I realized I hadn’t yet asked myself the biggest question of them all. Who could possibly have killed her?

Great excerpt. Thank you.

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

I’m an open book! I love connecting with readers, so please feel free to reach out to me through whatever channel you enjoy best. I love posting content about my books, but also about my new dog, Eevee. She’s my first furbaby as an adult, so she is getting a lot of screen time!

Thanks so much for the interview, Sarah. I’ve shared your blog tour below. Best wishes on your new release and your forthcoming books.


Trending Topic #Murder (Trending Topic Mystery Series)
by Sarah E. Burr

About Trending Topic #Murder


Trending Topic #Murder (Trending Topic Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Camel Press (September 8, 2020)
Paperback: 218 pages
ISBN-10: 1603816305
ISBN-13: 978-1603816304
Digital ASIN: B08DH78VXM

Meet 28-year-old celebrity blogger Coco Cline, who has started her own social media consulting company in her hometown of Central Shores, Delaware. Her new clients, Peter and Olivia Chen, are ten days away from the grand opening of their specialty consignment shop when Coco finds their store clerk Stacy dead behind the register.

Worried that a cloud of suspicion will ruin their chances of a successful business launch, the Chens ask Coco to work alongside the inexperienced, small-town police force to speed up the investigation. Using her celebrity status and social media savviness, Coco realizes Stacy’s seemingly ordinary life was all an act. Following a trail of cryptic online posts and muddied gossip, Coco and her friends discover Stacy’s questionable relationships just might be the reason for her untimely demise.

About Sarah E. Burr

Sarah E. Burr grew up in the small town of Appleton, Maine and now lives outside New York City. Since she was seven, Sarah has wanted to be Nancy Drew, but she wasn’t stumbling across any mysteries in corporate America. Deciding it was time to follow her dreams, Sarah left her career in healthcare information technology three years ago and started writing mysteries of her own. The Trending Topic Mysteries is her first traditionally published series. Sarah also writes the Court of Mystery series.

Sarah attended Elmira College and graduated with degrees in Political Science and Philosophy & Religious Studies. She loves to weave these themes into her writing. When she’s not spinning up new stories, Ms. Burr is off seeing Broadway musicals, reading up a storm, video gaming, and enjoying walks around the city.

Author Links

Webpage: https://www.saraheburr.com

Blog: https://www.saraheburr.com/blog

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahEBurr

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54713602-trending-topic-murder

Purchase Links

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Target

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 7 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 7 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

October 8 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

October 8 – Thoughts in Progress – SPOTLIGHT

October 9 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW, (SPOTLIGHT)

October 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

October 10 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

October 11 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 12 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 13 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 14 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 14 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews– REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 15 – I Read What You Write – CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 16 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

October 16 – Celticlady’s Review – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

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Posted in Cozy Mystery, Freebies and Special Offers

Free Cozy Mystery Book October 11-15

Posted on by Debbie

Each week in October, a few Solstice Publishing authors are offering special sales on their books. This week, the 4th book of my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, Love on the Rocks, is free.

Purchase Link:  mybook.to/cc4

This is the book that introduces Kittykai, the calico who becomes Sneaky, the Siamese library cat’s, gal pal. It’s the last book before my new release of No Gravestone Unturned, Cobble Cove Mystery #5. Even though you can read all the books in the series as standalones, this is a nice chance to catch up on the characters. This book also won a Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association.

Posted in Cozy Mystery, New Releases

New Release and a Free Book

Posted on by Debbie

I’m excited to announce that the 5th book of my Cobble Cove cozy mystery series, No Gravestone Unturned, has been released. Featuring a murder in a cemetery on Halloween and a family secret that goes back generations, this is a perfect October read.

Purchase link: mybook.to/CobbleCove5

Blurb

It’s October in Cobble Cove, and Alicia is busy preparing for the library’s Halloween party when she learns that John’s aunt from Florida has died and that John’s cousins and their spouses are coming to town to bury their mother. The day after the funeral, the caretaker’s son is found dead by John’s grandfather’s gravestone, from a blow on the head. The only witness seems to be Sneaky the library cat, who, having left the library, turned up at Alicia’s door with blood and dirt on him.

As Alicia, Gilly, and Sheriff Ramsay investigate, it uncovers a generation of family secrets. Is one of the guests staying at the inn a killer? Will the humans solve the crime, and can Sneaky, Kittykai, and Salem, the inn’s guest cat, team up to help?

Free October 6 – 10

mybook.to/BulletBack

With Friends Like These…

When Susan Drummond accompanies her husband, Ray, to his cabin where he goes to get away from it all and write, her friends and father become concerned that she isn’t answering her cell phone. They all decide to check in on her and find no trace of her or Ray except a newly dug grave. 

Posted in Cozy Mystery, Reviews

Review of Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Posted on by Debbie

*

*****5 stars

This review appeared in the October 1, 2020 issue of Booklist..

As a big fan of Joanne Fluke’s cozy mystery series featuring cookie baker Hannah Swenson and her family in Lake Eden, Minnesota, I was thrilled to review her latest mystery, Christmas Cupcake Murder. Although part of the series, this book takes place before Hannah solves her first missing person’s case and before her mother, Delores, opens an antique store with her friend, Carrie Rhodes.

When Hannah finds an injured man on the floor of a vacant building that her mother is renting to house her antiques, she learns that he’s had a blow to the head that’s rendered him with memory loss. Determined to help the man, who seems to identify with the name “Joe” and is experienced with furniture repair and restoration, Hannah begins a search to find his family. When “Joe” befriends Freddie, the intellectually disabled man who helps at the hospital, he recalls that he has a brother with a similar condition. As Hannah follows further clues about “Joe,” she discovers that someone attempted to murder him. The mystery is finally solved by locating a recipe in a library book.

At the end of nearly every chapter of this fun story are delicious holiday recipes. There is also a handy index at the back. Don’t miss this charming cozy mystery that will also satisfy your sweet tooth.

Posted in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, New Releases

Spotlight, Blog Tour, and Giveaway for Cake Popped Off, A Cupcake Catering Mystery, by Kim Davis

Posted on by Debbie


Cake Popped Off (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
by Kim Davis

About Cake Popped Off


Cake Popped Off (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in the Series
Publisher: Cinnamon & Sugar Press (September 22, 2020)
Print Length: 295 pages
Digital ASIN: B08DZ7Z96H

Cupcake caterer Emory Martinez is hosting a Halloween bash alongside her octogenarian employer, Tillie. With guests dressed in elaborate costumes, the band is rocking, the cocktails are flowing, and tempers are flaring when the hired Bavarian Barmaid tries to hook a rich, hapless husband. Except one of her targets happens to be Emory’s brother-in-law, which bodes ill for his pregnant wife. When Emory tracks down the distraught barmaid, instead of finding the young woman in tears, she finds her dead. Can she explain to the new detective on the scene why the Bavarian Barmaid was murdered in Emory’s bathtub with Emory’s Poison Apple Cake Pops stuffed into her mouth?

With an angry pregnant sister to contend with, she promises to clear her brother-in-law’s name. As Emory starts asking questions and tracking down the identity of the costumed guests, she finds reasons to suspect her brother-in-law has been hiding a guilty secret. Her search leads her to a web of blackmail and betrayal amongst the posh setting of the local country club crowd. Can Emory sift through the lies she’s being told and find the killer? She’ll need to step up her investigation before another victim is sent to the great pumpkin patch in the sky.

Includes spooky Halloween recipes!

About Kim Davis

Kim Davis lives in Southern California with her husband. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters she can be found either writing stories or working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder or in the kitchen baking up yummy treats. She has published the suspense novel, A GAME OF DECEIT, and cozy mystery, SPRINKLES OF SUSPICION. She also has had several children’s articles published in Cricket, Nature Friend, Skipping Stones, and the Seed of Truth magazines. Kim Davis is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

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/dashboard
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimdavishb/

Purchase Link – Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 28 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT

September 28 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEWS

September 29 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

September 30 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 30 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

October 1 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

October 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

October 2 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

October 2 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

October 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

October 3 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW

October 3 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

October 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 4 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

October 5 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

October 5 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 6 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

October 7 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW

October 7 – eBook addicts – SPOTLIGHT

October 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

Posted in Cozy Mystery, Guest Post

Guest Post and Blog Tour for Pharaoh’s Forgery, A Karina Cardinal Mystery by Ellen Butler

Posted on by Debbie

Inspiration for a Vacation Mystery

Who likes to go on vacation? Raise your hand. Yeah, me too.

Raise your hand if you had a vacation canceled due to the pandemic. Yeah, me too. This year was supposed to be the year hubs and I were set to go to Ireland for our 20th Anniversary. Thanks to COVID, we will not be going on that adventure.

Once the pandemic took hold and travel came to a grinding halt, I was pleased that I had the forethought to place the fourth Karina Cardinal mystery, Pharaoh’s Forgery, in sunny Cancun, Mexico. Readers looking to take a vacation through books can head out to the beach with Karina. Granted her trip is a little less vacationy and a little more thriller, but she does get some fun in the sun.

As a quick aside—pharaohs come from Egypt, however over the past century their treasures have been scattered throughout the world ending up in museums and private collections. With that in mind, I decided to place Karina’s adventure at a pyramid a little closer to her home, El Castillo at Chichén Itzá. This provides the reader a look at one ancient civilization while blending in a story line with anther.

Before I sat down to write this mystery, I pulled out photo albums, journals, and letters to take a trip down memory lane.

The first time I visited Mexico was during high school when I participated in an exchange program organized by my Spanish teacher. It was the first year the program happened, and, along with four other students, we flew to the capital city of the Yucatán Peninsula called Mérida. We experienced the culture by staying with a Mexican family, visited Mexico’s historic ruins like Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, and took some classes at the local Universidad. One of my favorite memories was the day we spent on the beach. The girls were offered a ride by some opportunistic fellows who wanted to take us out on their speed boat. We were willing and started to swim out to their shiny yellow boat. However, our mother-hen Spanish teacher was having none of it. She shooed them off with her pointer finger and some sharp Spanish. We shrugged and took it in stride. In retrospect, we probably scared the daylights out of her, though we didn’t mean too. I can’t imagine being in charge of four naïve teenage girls in bikinis up for an escapade.

I have loads of wonderful memories of that trip, but one of the best things to come from the program was the lasting friendships. One of the hosts had a son about our age, and one night he held a party for us. I gained three new pen pals at that party, and eventually two of them came to visit me in Washington, D.C. But, once we went off to college the friendships petered off, the way things do. However, thanks to social media we reconnected about twenty years later. Less than a month after I joined Facebook, one of my pen pals located me, and now I’m back in touch with all three. We’ve talked about families, jobs, and major life upheaval. I’ve been back to Mexico half a dozen times since my first time. They’ve all been sunny, warm, and wonderful. However, nothing compares to the first time, where I was first introduced to the Mexican culture, and gained friendships that lasted over thirty years.

Pharaoh’s Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation
(Karina Cardinal Mystery)
by Ellen Butler

About Pharaoh’s Forgery


Pharaoh’s Forgery: Karina Goes on Vacation (Karina Cardinal Mystery)
Cozy Mystery / Women’s Adventure Fiction
4th in Series
Publisher: Power to the Pen (September 16, 2020)
Print Length: 212 pages
ASIN: B087HD8LF6

Margaritas, mayhem, and murder. Too bad her only defense is a cocktail umbrella.

After some of Karina Cardinal’s recent adventures—her lover Mike Finnegan would call them scrapes, jams, or pickles—she’s more than ready to blow this D.C. pop stand for a short girls’ trip to Mexico. Until Jillian’s roller skate wreck blows their plan out of the water. With Jilly injured and Mike working, her fellow lobbyist Rodrigo volunteers to share some sun, sand, and margaritas in Cancun. It’s tough to relax, though, knowing what’s in her suitcase. A package she promised to hand off to Mrs. Thundermuffin in Mexico.

Mrs. T’s evasive maneuvers around Karina’s questions wave more red flags than a bullfighter, leaving Karina no choice but to take a peek. Okay, so it’s not a kilo of something illegal. It’s an Egyptian death mask that turns out to be a magnet for crooks, conmen, kidnappers, and outright killers.

When the situation explodes into chaos, Karina and Rodrigo are lucky to have friends in the right place—at their backs. But they’re in one hell of a jam. And they could be going home in something tackier than a souvenir t-shirt—more like a body bag.

About Ellen Butler

Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series and award-winning historical suspense, The Brass Compass. Fans who enjoy the suspense of Melinda Leigh and the humor of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum will fall in love with Butler’s Karina Cardinal. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. The Brass Compass has won multiple awards for historical fiction and is compared to such bestselling novels as Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale. Butler is a member of Sister’s in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Office of Strategic Services Society. She is an admitted chocoholic and confesses to a penchant for shoe shopping. Ellen lives with her family in the suburbs of Washington, DC.

You can find Ellen at:

Website ~ www.EllenButler.net

Facebook ~ www.facebook.com/EllenButlerBooks

Twitter ~ @EButlerBooks

Instagram~@ebutlerbooks

Goodreads ~ www.goodreads.com/EllenButlerBooks

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 21 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW

September 23 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW

September 23 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 24 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW

September 24 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

September 25 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 26 – Ruff Drafts – GUEST POST

September 27 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Blog Tour, Cozy Mystery, New Releases

Spotlight and Giveaway for 15 Minutes of Flame, A Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery by Christin Brecher

Posted on by Debbie

15 Minutes of Flame (Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery)
by Christin Brecher

About 15 Minutes of Flame


15 Minutes of Flame (Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Kensington (August 25, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1496721438
ISBN-13: 978-1496721433
Digital ASIN: B082WR2LH6

As Stella Wright’s Nantucket candle store thrives, her knack for solving mysteries burns equally bright—especially when a Halloween haunted house uncovers evidence of a centuries-old murder . . .

When Stella’s friend inherits a creaky, abandoned home in Nantucket, she knows it’s the perfect setting for the town’s annual Halloween fundraiser. A deserted, boarded-up building on the property—once used as a candle-making shop—adds to the creepy ambiance. But as Stella explores the shack’s dilapidated walls, she discovers a terrible secret: the skeleton of a Quaker woman, wrapped in blood-soaked clothing and hidden deep within a stone hearth . . .

While police investigate, Stella wastes no time asking for help from friends with long ties to Nantucket’s intricate history. The key to the murder may lie within a scorching 18th century love triangle that pit two best friends against one another over a dubious man. But before the case is solved, another life will be claimed—leaving Stella to wonder who in Nantucket is friend, and who is foe . . .

About Christin Brecher

Christin Brecher was born and raised in NYC, where her family and many childhood friends still reside. As such, she feels she is as much of a small-town girl as any. The idea to write the Nantucket Candle Maker series sprang from her life-long connection to the small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Spending summers there as a child, Christin read from her family’s library of mystery novels, after which she began to imagine stories inspired by the island’s whaling heyday, its notoriously foggy nights, and during long bike rides to the beach. After many years in marketing for the publishing industry, followed by years raising her children, Murder’s No Votive Confidence is Christin’s debut novel. Visit her at www.christinbrecher.com.
Author Links
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound –

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

September 15 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

September 16 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

September 16 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 17 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST

September 17 – Reading Authors Network – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

September 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

September 18 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

September 19 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – GUEST POST

September 20 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 20 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

September 20 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

September 21 – eBook addicts – REVIEW

September 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

September 21 – Baroness’ Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

September 22 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW

September 22 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

September 23 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

September 23 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

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Posted in Cover Reveal, Cozy Mystery, Cozy Series

Cover Reveal for No Gravestone Unturned: Cobble Cove Book #5

Posted on by Debbie

Coming soon from Solstice Publishing, No Gravestone Unturned, the 5th Cozy Mystery in my Cobble Cove series.

Blurb:

It’s October in Cobble Cove, and Alicia is busy preparing for the library’s Halloween party when she learns that John’s aunt from Florida has died and that John’s cousins and their spouses are coming to town to bury their mother. The day after the funeral, the caretaker’s son is found dead by John’s grandfather’s gravestone, from a blow on the head. The only witness seems to be Sneaky the library cat, who, having left the library, turned up at Alicia’s door with blood and dirt on him.

As Alicia, Gilly, and Sheriff Ramsay investigate, a generation of family secrets is uncovered. Are one of the guests staying at the inn a killer? Will the humans solve the crime, and can Sneaky, Kittykai, and Salem, the inn’s guest cat, team up to help?

Have you read the 4 full-length books in the series and the three short eBooks? Find them and my other books here.

Posted in Cozy Mystery, New Releases

Spotlight for The Funeral Murder, A PIP Inc. Mystery by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Posted on by Debbie

The Funeral Murder A PIP Inc. Mystery
by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

About The Funeral Murder


The Funeral Murder A PIP Inc. Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Good Read Mysteries, An Imprint of Good Read Publishers
Number of Pages: 248
ISBN-10: 0997366761
ISBN-13: 978-0997366761
Digital – ASIN : B08H8JG1BX

In The Glass House, the first book in the PIP Inc. Mysteries series Pat Pirard, recently downsized Santa Cruz Law Librarian, needed to find a new job in a hurry. She printed business cards announcing she was Private Investigator Pat and crossed her fingers, hoping she could earn enough money working for attorneys as a PI to survive.

Pat’s first investigation went well, so she’s excited when she gets a call from an estate attorney who offers her a second job. The attorney tells Pat his client died at a funeral and he needs help sorting out who is entitled to inherit her estate.

Pat quickly discovers the dead woman’s past is as complicated as her estate. And when an autopsy indicates she had two deadly toxins in her body when she died, Pat’s new case becomes not only complicated, but dangerous.

About Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Nancy Lynn Jarvis left the real estate profession after she started having so much fun writing the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries series that she let her license lapse. She’s enjoyed writing about Regan and her husband, Tom, but decided it was time to do a new series.

PIP Inc. introduces protagonist downsized law librarian and not-quite-licensed Private Investigator Pat Pirard. “The Funeral Murder” is the second book in the series.

After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, Nancy worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager for Shakespeare/Santa Cruz at UCSC.

Currently, she’s enjoying being a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Santa Cruz Women of Mystery.

Author Links

Website https://www.nancylynnjarvis.com/

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

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash

Purchase Link – Amazon –

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

September 16 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT

September 17 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST

September 17 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

September 18 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

September 19 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

September 20 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 21 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

September 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

September 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

September 24 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

September 25 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 26 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT

September 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 28 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 29 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

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