Friday, January 10, 2020

Dear Abby - Return from Holiday Break

Dear Friends,

I'm back after a few weeks off for Christmas, New Year's, and my Momma's birthday.  I have enjoyed treats and attention and company -- and lots of snuggling with my Momma too.

I'll share a few pictures of my Christmas day.  I had a really fun time!

Wrapped packages are very interesting!


... but I love to unwrap them, too!


At night I spent time playing with my new toys. (This mostly means snuggling with them and carrying them around a bit, but that is fun too!)


It was a long and fun day! I was ready for bed before my Momma was.
 

I hope your holidays were happy and full of fun surprises and your favorite people and pets!

I look forward to chatting with you regularly in 2020.  Oh -- and Happy New Year!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Book Review and Giveaway - Cruel Candy (Cozy Corgi Mysteries #1) by Mildred Abbott



My Review
In Cruel Candy Fred (Winifred) Page moves to Estes Park, Colorado with her Corgi dog Watson after a divorce and a major career change. She wants to live close to her family and open a small town bookstore. The only problem? When she enters the store she has rented she finds that a neighboring merchant, a candy shop owner, has been killed there. Her stepfather is accused of the crime so she works to clear his name.

I wanted to read Cruel Candy because I enjoy cozy mysteries, like small town settings, love bookstores (I have a small online bookshop), and love Corgis!

This is the first book in the Cozy Corgi mystery series and it is a wonderful start for the series. The author did a great job of introducing Fred, her family, and the town of Estes Park.  Watson the Corgi is stubborn and delightful and completely realistically portrayed.

The mystery is well written, with several layers -- Fred's stepfather being accused, a second murder, a possible tie in to drugs.  There is also the intrigue of Fred's flirtation with the town's detective, Branson.

I enjoyed this mystery so much that I would happily continue on with the series if I wasn't already committed to several upcoming book reviews.  There are 16 (!) books in the series, so plenty of Cozy Corgi mysteries to read.

I highly recommend Cruel Candy for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who loves dogs and small town settings.  I look forward to continuing with the series soon.

About the Series


Cruel Candy (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Independently published (December 5, 2017)
Paperback: 280 pages
ISBN-10: 1973449293
ISBN-13: 978-1973449294
Digital ASIN: B077XMYWNQ
Estes Park, Colorado: picturesque mountains, charming shops, delightful bakeries, a cozy bookstore… and murder.

Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, move to Estes Park to hit the Reset button on life. Fred is about to open her dream bookshop, and the only challenges she anticipates are adjusting to small-town life, tourists, and living close to her loveable mother, Phyllis, and hippy stepfather, Barry.


When Fred steps into her soon-to-be-bookshop for the first time, she expects dust bunnies and spiders… not the dead body in the upstairs kitchen. The local police have an easy suspect—Barry.


Determined to prove quirky Barry innocent of murder, Fred puts on her detective hat, and with Watson by her side, she explores her new town and gets acquainted with her fellow shopkeepers. Could one of her friendly neighbors be the real culprit? And what would be the motive for killing the owner of the Sinful Bites candy store? The secrets Fred discover put her at odds with the local police sergeant and threaten her cozy future in Estes.

With snow falling outside, all Fred wants to do is curl up by the fire with a good book and Watson snuggled at her feet. But before she can begin her new life and put her plans for her bookshop into action, Fred and Watson have a mystery to solve…


(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable lemon bars.)

Traitorous Toys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Independently published (December 17, 2017)
Paperback: 276 pages
ISBN-10: 1973571080
ISBN-13: 978-1973571087
Digital ASIN: B078GCQC46
It’s Christmas in Estes Park, Colorado: cozy fires, twinkling lights, soft snowfall, and… murder.


The winter holidays in charming Estes Park lulls Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, into thoughts of spiced chai and gingerbread as they settle into their new home. Fred’s dream bookshop is becoming a reality, and with Christmas only days away, her only concerns are spending time with family, enforcing Watson’s diet, and finding the perfect gifts.


The toy store beckons Fred and her friend Katie, who dash in out of the cold, during a shopping spree to discover handmade toys, cuddly stuffed animals… and a dying man on the floor.


When Katie’s desperate attempts to save the man ends in her being taken in for his murder, Fred once again dons her detective hat. She puts aside her Christmas list and—with Watson sniffing around—begins a list of suspects. But as quickly as clues point to one person, new discoveries shift the spotlight to another.


With Katie’s freedom in the balance, Fred has little time to think about gifts or to enjoy the holiday lights and music. A killer is on the loose, one who became violent in a picture-perfect Christmas toy shop, and Fred and Watson can’t begin to predict what might happen next. . .


(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable gingerbread.)

Bickering Birds (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Independently published (January 25, 2018)
Paperback: 278 pages
ISBN-10: 1976950767
ISBN-13: 978-1976950766
Digital ASIN: B0798LMPHP
Rocky Mountain National Park has it all: rugged peaks, pine-scented forests, enchanting bird-watching locations, and… murder.


The Cozy Corgi bookshop finally opens, and Winifred Page and her headstrong corgi, Watson, are ready to welcome their first patrons. With her new best friend, Katie, creating heavenly pastries in the bakery on the top floor of the store, Fred’s dreams are all coming together in delicious and unexpected ways.


When Katie caters a meeting of the Feathered Friends Brigade and drags Fred along, they expect nothing more than loquacious chatter about birds as they endeavor to build a professional relationship with the owner of the wild bird shop. Fred and Katie are quickly roped into a moonlight snowshoeing hike in hopes of spotting a rare owl. While the endangered bird proves elusive… the murdered man in the snow is hard to miss.


Fred’s growing relationship with Sergeant Wexler hits a snag when he forbids her from donning her sleuth hat yet again. But Fred is a lot like her corgi—she doesn’t like being told what to do, even if it puts an end to a possible romance.
As Fred and Watson delve into the lives of the ornithological club members, the tangled birds’ nest of an investigation makes Fred wonder if she should have left this one to the police. But when feathers begin to fly, Fred has no choice but to flush out a killer…


(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable ham and cheese croissants.)

Savage Sourdough (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mysteries
4th in Series
Independently published (February 21, 2018)
Paperback: 294 pages
ISBN-10: 1980355282
ISBN-13: 978-1980355281
Digital ASIN: B079Y9H8MG
Opening the Cozy Corgi in Estes Park is a dream come true: small-town charm, fresh-baked bread, hours by the fire reading mysteries, and… murder.


For Winifred Page and her devoted corgi, Watson, the puzzle pieces of life are falling into place as they settle into their home in the Colorado mountains. Surrounded by family and friends, Fred begins to relax into the charm and beauty of being the owner of a bookshop and bakery.


The buzz of possible romance—though Fred wasn’t looking for a relationship—has quieted as one of her suitors is no longer a viable option while the other has moved into the friend zone. But all thoughts of romance, wanted or not, fly out the window when Fred finds a dead body in the Cozy Corgi bakery… again.


Things get stickier when Fred’s main suspect turns out to be a family member of one of the local police officers—the one who already despises Fred and her little dog. Determined not to let past grievances cloud her judgment, Fred tips her detective hat and pokes deeper into the murder investigation. But in a mystery that becomes smoke and mirrors, nothing is as it seems.

The revelations Fred unveils threaten not only her picture-perfect world but her very life….


(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable sourdough bread.)

Scornful Scones (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Independently published (April 27, 2018)
Paperback: 300 pages
ISBN-10: 1980944709
ISBN-13: 978-1980944706
Digital ASIN: B07CPL9MH7
With summer approaching, Estes Park is abuzz with flowers, baking, tourists, and… murder.


Tourist season is about to begin, and the lovely weather has Winifred Page and her corgi sidekick, Watson, leaving the comfort of the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery to reluctantly attend a celebration at the Black Bear Roaster coffee shop. But a chill of uncertainty settles over Fred when a choking death doesn’t seem so accidental—despite the dry, hazardous scones.
As Fred and Police Sergeant Branson Wexler rekindle a possible romance, Fred shares her suspicions. But is she seeing murder at every turn? Learning to trust her gut feelings, Fred risks the ire of the coffee shop owner to investigate not one, but two, deaths.

As suspects and motives abound, old resentments are uncovered, and Fred and Watson build new friendships even as they follow the crumbs to find clues to a killer.

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable scones.)

Chaotic Corgis (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Independently published (June 24, 2018)
Paperback: 310 pages
ISBN-10: 1983240605
ISBN-13: 978-1983240607
Digital ASIN: B07DXSB1MM
At the height of the summer season, Estes Park explodes with people, wildlife, fireworks, and… murder.

The Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery is buzzing with tourists, and Winifred Page and her quirky corgi, Watson, celebrate the Fourth of July picnicking with family and friends—of the human and four-legged variety. As summer blooms with romance for Fred and Sergeant Branson Wexler, murder lurks around the corner.

With a friend’s life in danger, Fred and Watson doggedly pursue the investigation, even as Fred finds herself once again at odds with the police department. But caring for two chaotic corgis while navigating emotions from the past in the midst of solving a mystery might be too much, and Fred hits a roadblock.

As relationships are tested and secrets exposed, Fred might lose more than one person she loves…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable dog treat bars, but are also human friendly.)

Quarrelsome Quartz (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Independently published (July 31, 2018)
Paperback: 338 pages
ISBN-10: 1718003374
ISBN-13: 978-1718003378
Digital ASIN: B07FZVN8N4
A New Age conference comes to Estes Park, Colorado, bringing a cacophony of tie-dye, crystals, and murder. . .

As summer draws to a close, the Spirit, Health, and Heart Conference arrives, just in time for Winifred’s sisters to open their store next to the Cozy Corgi Bookshop. To Fred’s surprise, Chakras turns out to be a beautiful addition to the delightful mountain town. The shop even has a room so pleasing in its crystal tranquility that Fred’s corgi, Watson, approves—and hardly anything impresses him.

But not everyone is charmed by the crystals, tarot readings, and messages of personal enlightenment. When a famous spiritualist is found dead, Chakras and the entire town is plunged into a conflict that touches the lives of those closest to Fred.
Although she is hesitant to become involved, it is simply not in the cards for Fred to sit out the investigation. As she and Watson embark on a journey that forces them to take a look into the darker shadows of Estes Park, Fred soon finds herself digging into the secrets of those she loves…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable quiches.)

Wicked Wildlife (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Independently published (October 11, 2018)
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1728671647
ISBN-13: 978-1728671642
Digital ASIN: B07GV4LX6L
Fall gives way to winter in the Colorado mountains, ushering in snow, pumpkin spice, the bugling of elk, and murder…

Estes Park bustles with tourists and locals for its Halloween celebration, and Winifred Page and her corgi sidekick, Watson, are enjoying their favorite pastries as they greet trick-or-treaters outside the Cozy Corgi Bookstore and Bakery. But a chilling afterhours break-in at the charming bookshop leaves Fred and Watson shaken, especially with its connection to a recent poaching incident in the national park. By daybreak, on a cool morning walk through town, Fred discovers the body of one of the poachers…

When Fred’s close friend, park ranger Leo Lopez, asks for her help in proving the innocence of a fellow ranger, Fred and Watson join the investigation. But with every uncovered clue hinting the police have the right person, Fred must uncover a mystery whose webs reach into the past and her experiences over the past year.

Even amid the beauty of the snow covering the mountains and the twinkling lights of the beginning holiday season, Fred and Watson won’t make it to Thanksgiving without facing dangers and revelations that will change their lives.

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable artisan garlic-infused bread.)

Malevolent Magic (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Independently published (November 15, 2018)
Paperback: 338 pages
ISBN-10: 1731191324
ISBN-13: 978-1731191328
Digital ASIN: B07HR2VX3X
Christmas week sparkles with holiday decorations, sweet potato pie, lively tourists, and murder…

Estes Park is a wonderland of twinkling lights and softly falling snow, and Winifred Page wants nothing more than to snuggle up in the mystery room with Watson at her feet—after all, Katie’s pastries are tempting pieces of heaven, especially beside a warm fire. But Christmas is fast approaching, and Fred is out on a cold morning visiting neighboring stores and planning a celebration at the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery.

Fred is welcoming the holiday spirit and appreciating the friendships, love, and support she’s found during her first year in her new hometown. But the night’s festivities become a scene for local drama, and by morning a trip to the magic shop to collect a present has Fred and Watson stumbling upon a murder scene. In an unexpected twist, Fred is asked to investigate, but the suspect list keeps growing, and every one of them would give Ebenezer Scrooge a run for his money.

With Fred still coming to grips with a recent betrayal, shifting through all the curmudgeons to crack the case may take more holiday magic than she and Watson possess.

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for delectable sweet potato pie.)

Killer Keys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
10th in Series
Independently published (January 24, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1794678808
ISBN-13: 978-1794678804
Digital ASIN: B07KDXRBWZ
A celebratory weekend at a historic inn brings a blizzard, delicious cornbread, a cozy fire, and a murder… or two…

Winifred Page and her sidekick corgi, Watson, join an assortment of family and friends to celebrate her uncles’ anniversary at Baldpate Inn, nestled above Estes Park, Colorado. A blizzard is approaching, but the prospect of being snowed in means more time in the lovely mountain retreat—complete with river rock fireplaces, log cabin rooms, and a collection of thousands of keys from around the world.

With the blizzard raging outside the rustic inn, the early arrival of a knitting group adds a touch of drama, but nothing can unravel the cozy party spirit. Even when the power goes out, the merrymaking continues by lantern light. But in the flickering shadows and twisting hallways, relationships transform, secrets are uncovered, and death comes calling.

A weekend of glittering celebration unlocks a storm of change for Fred and Watson…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for scrumptious cornbread.)

Perilous Pottery (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
11th in the Series
Independently published (March 5, 2019)
Paperback: 308 pages
ISBN-10: 1798779625
ISBN-13: 978-1798779620
Digital ASIN: B07N31J2LY
Estes Park is fired up by a new coffee shop and pottery studio bringing chocolate espresso pastries, fierce competitive spirits, and murder…

Winifred Page might feel apprehension as she steps into the Koffee Kiln—Carla Beaker’s new charming coffee shop and pottery studio—but her corgi sidekick, Watson, welcomes the idea of a new place for snacks. With Carla’s disdain for the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery, Fred fears the caffeine will come with a side of drama. What she finds is delicious chocolate espresso scones, decaf coffee… and a dead body.

As Fred and Watson fire up their investigative savvy, they face down one of Estes Park’s cold-hearted matriarchs. To solve a murder, Fred must confront her own insecurities as she navigates the tangled coils of obsessions, business deals, and betrayals.

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for a sinfully delicious chocolate espresso torte.)

Ghastly Gadgets (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
12th in Series
Independently published (May 10, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1097658295
ISBN-13: 978-1097658299
Digital ASIN: B07P9GPQ7M
As the summer tourist season begins, downtown Estes Park bustles with celebrations, inventions, pastries, and murder…

Winifred Page’s twin brothers-in-law are finally ready to open their invention shop right next to the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery. But the noise level is keeping customers away from the bookshop and driving Fred and her corgi sidekick, Watson, out of their minds.

Adding to her stress, family and friends are gearing up to celebrate Fred’s fortieth birthday—not that she’s overly concerned about her age…. Mere hours after entering her new decade of life, resentments reach an explosive level as downtown Estes Park is rocked by a fearsome calamity.

As the shop owners of Elkhorn Avenue come to grips with the crisis, Fred and Watson are pulled into the investigation. While she’s unsure there’s a murder to solve, Fred soon discovers a host of secrets and lies….

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for tasty cream puffs.)

Meddlesome Money (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
13th in Series
Independently published (August 5, 2019)
Paperback: 386 pages
ISBN-10: 1088449247
ISBN-13: 978-1088449240
Digital ASIN: B07RQMLNML
Summer in Estes Park is filled with tourists, wildlife, pastries, and scandal…

The Chipmunk Chronicles, the local newspaper, has a new gossip column—and gossip is great for the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery. Though infuriated by the way people are treated by the column’s author, Winifred Page can’t help wondering about the outrageous revelations. Fred’s grumpy corgi, Watson, however, is more concerned with an endless search for treats than the rumors flying around town.

When Gerald Jackson, a less than brilliant local lawyer, is featured in the column, people begin to suspect he’s working the town over in a quest for wealth rather than fighting for justice. As his status sinks, others are pulled under with him—people Fred loves.

For once, Fred and Watson are cajoled into investigation mode not for murder, but to help clear her friends’ names and their tarnished reputations. But while the greed and secret dealings in the dark she uncovers bring more questions than answers, murder finds a way to make an appearance after all…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for crispy, golden empanadas.)

Precarious Pasta (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
14th in Series
Independently published (October 22, 2019)
Paperback: 414 pages
ISBN-10: 1701847396
ISBN-13: 978-1701847392
Digital ASIN: B07ZG45BKR
Halloween creeps in, bringing costumes, carbs, and a corpse or two…

Estes Park is bustling with fall tourists as Winifred and Katie deck out the Cozy Corgi Bookstore and Bakery, while corgi mascot, Watson, helps in his own special way—snacking, napping, and being his adorable grumpy self.

When Fred and Leo’s date at the romantic restaurant, Pasta Thyme, leads to an invitation of a murder scene, instead of ghouls and goblins, Fred is haunted by ghosts from the past. Death might lurk around every corner as Fred investigates motives of infidelity, jealousy, and the dark shadow cast by a crime syndicate.

By the time Halloween night arrives, not everyone will get out alive…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for luscious tiramisu.)

Evil Elves (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
15th in Series
Independently published (December 17, 2019)
Paperback: 360 pages
ISBN-10: 1676477276
ISBN-13: 978-1676477273
Digital ASIN: B07ZM2182S
Christmas ushers in snowstorms, fruitcake, and a horde of Santa’s naughty elves…

No place is more perfect for the winter holidays than the charming mountain town of Estes Park. As the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery glistens with lights and garlands, Winifred Page allows the seasonal merriment to brush away all worry and fear. Watson, her grumpy corgi, is about as far from stressed as possible—after all, with the holiday baking, delectable crumbs are everywhere.

Estes Park’s new Christmas store is chosen to receive exclusive rights to sell a much-coveted collection of tiny elf figurines, but not everyone is thrilled, especially not the owner of the original Christmas shop. Bickering between local merchants is nothing new and doesn’t dampen the Christmas cheer or holiday glee. However, when nightly break-ins begin to occur, Santa himself is caught in the act, Fred and Watson are pulled away from the bookshop to investigate the holiday mayhem.

Unfortunately, while Santa keeps a list of nice and naughty children, he’s allowed his elves to have free rein, and there’s nothing nice about them…

(This culinary cozy mystery includes a recipe for honestly delicious fruitcake.)


About Mildred Abbot


Reading the Cozy Corgi series is pretty much all you need to know about Mildred. In real life, she’s obsessed with everything she writes about: Corgis, Books, Cozy Mountain Towns, and Baked Goods. She’s not obsessed with murder, however. At least not at her own hands (nor paid for… no contract killing here). But since childhood, starting with Nancy Drew, trying to figure out who-dun-it has played a formative role in her personality. Having Fred and Watson stroll into her mind was a touch of kismet.

Author Links –
Website – http://www.mildredabbott.com/
Mailing List – http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-mildred.html
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MildredAbbottAuthor/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/MAcozymystery

Purchase Links 
Cruel Candy (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Traitorous Toys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Bickering Birds (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Savage Sourdough (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Scornful Scones (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Chaotic Corgis (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Quarrelsome Quartz (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Wicked Wildlife (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Malevolent Magic (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Killer Keys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Perilous Pottery (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Ghastly Gadgets (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Meddlesome Money (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Precarious Pasta (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)
Evil Elves (Cozy Corgi Mysteries)


Giveaway
One lucky reader will  win a Kindle book in this series.  You can choose the book you want to read!  Enter at the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends midnight on 1/16/20.  Winner will be notified on 1/17 and needs to respond within 48 hours or another name will be drawn.  Good luck and happy reading!
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