Calamity Cafe by Gayle Leeson – Blog Tour and Giveaway (ENDED)

June 16, 2016August 1, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 5 Comments

The Calamity Cafe Aspiring chef and small-town Virginia native Amy Flowers is ready to open her own café offering old-fashioned Southern food. But her dream may go up in smoke when someone kills the competition…

Tired of waiting tables at Lou’s Joint, Amy Flowers doesn’t just quit—she offers to buy the place from her bully of a boss, so she can finally open the café of her dreams. Amy can’t wait to serve the kind of Southern, down-home treats and dishes that her grandmother always loved to the kooky cast of regulars at the restaurant. She knows her comfort food will be the talk of the sweet, small town of Winter Garden, Virginia.

At first Lou Lou refuses to sell, but when she seems ready to make a deal, she tells Amy to come see her. Showing up at the eatery ready to negotiate, Amy is shocked to find her former employer murdered. As the prime suspect, Amy will have to clear her name by serving up the real killer—and with Lou Lou’s stack of enemies, that’s a tall order.

Includes delicious Southern recipes!

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Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon – Blog Tour and giveaway (ENDED)

June 9, 2016August 1, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 8 Comments

Synopsis:

The kettle’s about to boil over . . .

The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there’s nothing cozy about murder . . .

Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi’s sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi’s name—without getting herself in hot water.

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Ten Reasons I love Agatha Christie

June 7, 2016June 6, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 35 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday they post a new Top Ten list prompt. This week’s prompt is… Ten Reasons you love “X”. My “X” is Agatha Christie because her name was the first thing that popped into my head when I read this prompt. (That could be because I just watched a documentary chronicling her life over the weekend!) She’s been one of my favorite authors for as long as I can remember, so I should be able to come up with 10 reasons why, and I will do my best to keep it spoiler free. 🙂

Don’t forget to leave me a link to your own post in the comments, or just tell me what you’re loving this week, books or otherwise!

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Éclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford – Review and Giveaway (ENDED)

June 6, 2016June 14, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 8 Comments

ECLAIR AND PRSENT DANGER The first book in the delicious new Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery series from national bestselling author Laura Bradford.

With her rent rising faster than her pie crust, bakery owner Winnie Johnson had hoped to be rescued by an inheritance from her wealthy friend and neighbor Gertrude Redenbacher. Instead all she inherits is the widow’s hostile hissing tabby, Lovey, and a vintage ambulance, restored by Gertrude’s late husband. As her dream crumbles, Winnie makes her final delivery—a peach pie to an elderly widower. But she finds Bart Wagner lying on his kitchen floor, smothered by a pillow.

To comfort her frightened and grieving neighbors, Winnie comes to the rescue with her baked goods—and an idea is born: dessert delivery via her ambulance and a new business called the Emergency Dessert Squad. When she’s not speeding to the scenes of dessert emergencies, Winnie is also racing to track down Bart’s killer—before she needs to call a real ambulance for the next victim…

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The Madness of Mercury by Connie di Marco – Blog Tour and Giveaway (ENDED)

May 27, 2016June 7, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 12 Comments

MADNESS MERCURY A Zodiac Mystery – #1

San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti’s life is turned upside down when she becomes the target of the city’s newest cult leader, Reverend Roy of the Prophet’s Tabernacle. Driven out of her apartment in the midst of a disastrous Mercury retrograde period, she takes shelter with a client who’s caring for two elderly aunts. One aunt appears stricken with dementia and the other has fallen under the spell of the Reverend Roy. To add to the confusion, a young man claiming to be a long lost nephew arrives. The longer he stays, the more dangerous things become. Is the young man truly a member of the family? Can astrology confirm that? Julia’s not sure, but one thing she does know is that Mercury wasn’t merely the messenger of the gods—he was a trickster and a liar as well.

This was a first for me – a cozy with an astrologer as the sleuth. While I myself am not into astrology, that didn’t make the story any less enjoyable. There were times when Julia was doing a reading for someone that I didn’t really understand what she was talking about, but they were brief, and she always explained in layman’s terms what it all meant for the individual right afterwards. So why did I choose to read this one if I’m not “into” astrology? The cat and the purple couch! I couldn’t resist that cover, and I’m glad I didn’t try. This mystery is well-written, the characters likable and realistic, and I ended up reading it in a single sitting!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway (ENDED)for a chance to win your own copy!

About the Author

Connie.Archer.2

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries from Midnight Ink. She was fascinated by astrology at an early age and this was the inspiration that gave birth to Julia Bonatti, San Francisco astrologer and her newspaper column Ask Zodia. Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the Soup Lover’s Mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. Connie lives in Los Angeles with her family and a constantly talking cat.

Author Links

Website: www.conniedimarco.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ConniediMarco
Twitter: @askzodia

Purchase The Madness of Mercury from Amazon | B&N

Tour Participants

May 20 – A Blue Million Books – Interview
May 20 – Book Babble – Review
May 21 – Laura’s Interests – Review
May 21 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review
May 22 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – Review
May 22 – Mystery Playground – Interview
May 23 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – Review
May 23 – fuonlyknew – Review
May 24 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review
May 24 – Musings and Ramblings – Guest Post
May 25 – Back Porchervations – Review
May 25 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – Review, Guest Post
May 26 – Bea’s Book Nook – Review
May 26 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – Review, Interview
May 27 – The Book’s the Thing – Review
May 27 – Thoughts in Progress – Review
May 28 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Guest Post
May 29 – deal sharing aunt – Review
May 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
May 31 – I Read What You Write – Review, Interview
June 1 – A Holland Reads – Review
June 1 – Ashleyz Wonderland – Review
June 2 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Guest Post
June 2 – Brooke Blogs – Spotlight

NOTE: I was provided with a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Final Tap by Amanda Flower – Blog Tour / Giveaway (ENDED)

May 12, 2016June 7, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 9 Comments

final tap large banner640

The Final Tap by Amanda Flower
Living History Museum Mystery #2
March on Barton Farm can only mean one thing: maple sugar season. To combat the winter slump, resilient director Kelsey Cambridge organizes a Maple Sugar Festival, complete with school visits, pancake breakfasts, and tree tapping classes. Kelsey hires curmudgeonly maple sugar expert Dr. Conrad Beeson to teach the classes, despite misgivings over his unpleasant demeanor. It’s a decision she ends up regretting when, before the first tree can be tapped for sap, Dr. Beeson turns up dead.

The maple sugar expert’s death threatens to shut down not only the Maple Sugar Festival, but also Barton Farm itself. Kelsey must solve Dr. Beeson’s murder to escape the increasingly sticky situation.

Well, I’ve found yet another cozy mystery series to add to my must-buy list! I really enjoyed the setting – a working historical farm – and learned everything I could want to know about maple syrup production. Not in a clinical way, but as interesting bits of information presented during the story.

Our heroine Kelsey has her hands full trying to run the farm, raise her kindergarten-age son, and solve a murder before the police can pin it on one of her young employees. There was an interesting cast of characters, and that homey, small-town feel that I love in a good cozy.

While previous events are mentioned, it’s not necessary to have read book 1 to know what’s going on. Since this is only book 2 in the series though, I’d recommend starting with book 1 and reading them both. That way you’ll be caught up and ready for book #3 whenever it might be available! 🙂

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway (ENDED) for a chance to win one of 2 print copies of The Final Tap.

About the Author

AMANDA FLOWER

Amanda Flower, a two-time Agatha Award-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as national bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.

Website: http://amandaflower.com/
Pen Name Website: http://isabellaalan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramandaflower
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aflowerwriter
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3412728.Amanda_Flower
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aflowerwriter/

Tour Participants – stop by to visit these other great blogs!

May 9 – Bubble Bath Books – REVIEW
May 10 – The Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW
May 11 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
May 12 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
May 13 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW
May 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
May 14 – Off
May 15 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
May 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 18 – Classy Cheapskate – REVIEW
May 19 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW
May 20 – Book Babble – REVIEW
May 21 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW, GUEST POST
May 22- LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
May 22- Island Confidential – INTERVIEW

NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Reading Up a Storm by Eva Gates – WAYRW

April 13, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 2 Comments

What Are You Reading Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by It’s A Reading Thing. To participate, open the book you are currently reading to page 34 (or 34% in your ebook) and answer these three questions.

The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Now for my answers this week…

1. Reading Up a Storm by Eva Gates (Read my recent interview with her here)
Reading Up a Storm (Lighthouse Library Mystery #3)
Lighthouse Library Mystery #3

2. “Forgot about the differences between common sense an a darn fool, sounds like,” Josie whispered to me. I kept my face impassive. That they could have been killed, and that the coast guard rescuing them were putting themselves in danger, seemed not to matter to Marlene.

3. Cheating a little – I already answered this question when I featured Booked for Trouble (book # 2) on WAYRW! My answer then – “Definitely – the Bodie Island Lighthouse sounds like a beautiful place to work (and live).” I still agree with that assessment.

Rest in Peach by Susan Furlong

April 8, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ Leave a comment

Rest in Peach (Georgia Peach Mystery #2) The annual Peach Cotillion, Cays Mill, Georgia’s biggest event, is fast approaching and Nola Mae Harper is just as excited as the rest of the town—even though she’s busy juggling both the cotillion dinner and the grand opening of her new shop, Peachy Keen. But she never expected that plans for the cotillion would end up in the pits because of the cutthroat competition between local debutantes.

When Vivien Crenshaw, insufferable church organist and despised mother of the town’s spoiled-rotten Peach Queen, is stabbed to death, the police turn to Nola’s friend Ginny as prime suspect. Apparently the two had fought over a one-of-a-kind cotillion gown. As Nola steps in to prove Ginny’s innocence she soon finds herself picking through a bushel of suspects, twice as many motives, and at the mercy of a killer all too keen on killing again.

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Georgia Peach Mysteries, Book #2
My Rating: **** (4 stars)

What a sweet treat! This was my first Georgia Peach mystery, and I really enjoyed it. The story and the setting just ooze southern charm. Nola Mae Harper is working hard to get her Peachy Keen shop ready to open on time when a murder occurs in town, and her best friend is the prime suspect. She knows the safe thing to do is to stay out of police business, but will the sheriff really look any farther with such a convenient suspect at hand? When it seems that she won’t, Nola and her group of friends get together to try save Ginny’s reputation, the Peach Cotillion, and a romantic relationship or two.

Nola, Hattie, and Ginny are an engaging group of friends with very individual, believable personalities, and there were enough suspects and clues in this mystery to keep me guessing right up to the end.

This is book #2 in the series. While I think it might have been nice to know a little more about Nola’s first case, since she refers to it occasionally during the story, you don’t need to have read book #1 to enjoy this one.

NOTE: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

What Are You Reading (and listening to) Wednesday

April 6, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 10 Comments

The Questions are:
1. What’s the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a complete sentence. (or two!)

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

I’m going to give you double the answers this week…one book I’m reading, and the 2nd is the audiobook I’m currently listening to while commuting.

I’m Reading:

1. Rest in Peach by Susan Furlong

2. Sorry, left my book at home today without getting my quote from page 34, so here’s something from another page….

“She just called her a backstabbing snob, that’s all. That’s not the same as threatening to stab someone”.

3. I think I would like to visit Georgia, especially during peach season, but the times I’ve visited it’s been a little too humid for me to want to live there.

I’m Listening to:

1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

2. Again, no quote form page 34….since it’s an audiobook, I’ll have to give you a random quote (or three). These do a decent job of illustrating the protagonist’s thought process.

Metaphors are lies.

I find people confusing.

And then I thought that I had to be like Sherlock Holmes and detach my mind at will to a remarkable degree so that I did not notice how much it was hurting inside my head.

3. This story takes place in what feels like a typical small town, but seeing it through Christopher’s eyes, I’m not sure I’d want to live there. I can’t even put my finger on the reason why, but the place makes me feel a little uneasy.

How about you? What are you reading (or listening to) this week?

A Clue in the Stew by Connie Archer – Blog Tour and Giveaway!(ENDED)

March 31, 2016May 5, 2016 ~ Erika K ~ 3 Comments

Available April 5th (or pre-order now) – the 5th book in the Soup Lover’s Mysteries series!

You can enter for a chance to win your own print copy in the Rafflecopter giveaway. (ENDED)

What a great cozy – even thought this book (#5) was the first I had read in this series, by chapter three the main characters all felt like old friends. The story is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the end, and the author’s smooth writing style kept the story flowing. If you’ve read any of the Soup Lover’s Mysteries, you should love this one. If not, now’s as good a time as any to start – you don’t need to have read the previous books to enjoy this story, and I did enjoy it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Connie Archer is the national bestselling author of the Soup Lover’s Mystery series from Penguin Random House (Berkley Prime Crime). A Spoonful of Murder, A Broth of Betrayal, A Roux of Revenge, Ladle to the Grave and A Clue in the Stew are all set in the imaginary village of Snowflake, Vermont. Connie was born and raised in New England and now lives on the other coast. You can visit her at www.ConnieArcherMysteries.com