tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92035764531264949282024-03-17T23:03:51.156-04:00View from the BirdhouseA southern girl chatting about books, ephemera, life, love, dogs and all things vintage!Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.comBlogger1661125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-784603728388439692024-03-15T05:00:00.004-04:002024-03-15T05:00:00.132-04:00Book Review and Giveaway - Murder in the Tea Leaves (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNK_27ph860ea2U9Hl00ZDPkih6IdG3livE0c8QY86jawdbTG-g3fCzvqygJKP07ftwyffxeN3AiOQihIbPVEJdP8hqJSLpyqQT6tKw87vGwIF5gdbHSuxmgMl4756nJwRDHlBS_3Py9KMev_57w1UTJ-mlUpwitYH2Rh81qXDwObG59WkH51sMCCNmmV/s640/MURDER%20IN%20THE%20TEA%20LEAVES%20COVER%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="407" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNK_27ph860ea2U9Hl00ZDPkih6IdG3livE0c8QY86jawdbTG-g3fCzvqygJKP07ftwyffxeN3AiOQihIbPVEJdP8hqJSLpyqQT6tKw87vGwIF5gdbHSuxmgMl4756nJwRDHlBS_3Py9KMev_57w1UTJ-mlUpwitYH2Rh81qXDwObG59WkH51sMCCNmmV/w255-h400/MURDER%20IN%20THE%20TEA%20LEAVES%20COVER%202.jpg" width="255" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>My Review</b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Theodosia Browning owns a charming little tea shop in Charleston. When she works on a local movie set, she witnesses a frightening murder as the film's director is electrocuted. One of her friends is a suspect, and Theodosia steps in to solve the crime - despite all the danger this entails.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Murder in the Tea Leaves</i> because I have enjoyed the books I've read in the Tea Shop Mystery series. I love the Charleston setting and the tea details.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was one of my favorite mysteries in this series. The murder happened early on and the pace of the mystery was brisk. There were several plausible suspects, and I enjoyed Theodosia's sleuthing. She is a fun amateur detective. I also enjoy her relationship with her boyfriend Riley, her friends, and her lovable dog Earl Grey.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As always, I loved the tea shop details, like the Poetry Tea and the Breakfast at Tiffany's Tea. The foodie descriptions in this series are sublime!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I recommend <i>Murder in the Tea Leaves</i> (and this entire series) for cozy mystery fans, and especially for anyone with an interest in tea or foodie mysteries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><blockquote>
</blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
When Theodosia Browning reads the tea
leaves on the set of the movie, Dark Fortunes, things go from spooky to
worse. Lights are dimmed, the camera rolls, and red hot sparks fly as
the film’s director is murdered in a tricky electrical accident. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Or was it an accident? Though the cast
and crew are stunned beyond belief, nobody admits to seeing a thing. And
when Theodosia’s friend, Delaine, becomes the prime suspect, Theodosia
begins her own shadow investigation. But who among this Hollywood cast
and crew had murder on their mind? The screenwriter is a self-centered
pot head, the leading actress is trying to wiggle out of her contract,
the brand new director seems indifferent, and nobody trusts the
slippery-when-dry Hollywood agent. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Between hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Tea, a Poetry Tea, and trying to launch her own chocolate line,
Theodosia doggedly hunts down clues and explores the seemingly haunted
Brittlebank Manor where the murder took place. And just when she’s ready
to pounce, a Charleston Film Board member is also murdered, throwing
everything into total disarray. But this clever killer will go to any
lengths to hide his misdeeds as Theodosia soon finds out when she and
her tea sommelier, Drayton, get caught up in a dangerous stakeout. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span><span>INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!</span></span>
</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxR0ZjYotLBKdlttl2JiRLHwhXbhRkDadlF0rr31op_zjwGqRrvMoLRnK0q5hLiwKaKNNsT3WYuZquGI8o-iSOfZgrIcKNzVCQn3FVlym29-2ydQoYcDNrkzm9oRUvfKy9Up5brIWtsXqzsrsHUa0sPc6RZg4bsoS0Rs28iR-BXNHGGp39srRwn-53zKL/s447/20140226__140302sl-Gerry_schmitt2_300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxR0ZjYotLBKdlttl2JiRLHwhXbhRkDadlF0rr31op_zjwGqRrvMoLRnK0q5hLiwKaKNNsT3WYuZquGI8o-iSOfZgrIcKNzVCQn3FVlym29-2ydQoYcDNrkzm9oRUvfKy9Up5brIWtsXqzsrsHUa0sPc6RZg4bsoS0Rs28iR-BXNHGGp39srRwn-53zKL/s320/20140226__140302sl-Gerry_schmitt2_300.jpg" width="215" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425179451" data-amzn-link-id="26515d44645e89a96fa6aef1716fd04a" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Tea Shop Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Darjeeling-Tea-Shop-Mystery/dp/0425179451/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=26515d44645e89a96fa6aef1716fd04a&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4856589" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tea Shop Mysteries</a><img alt="" border="0" class="jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-lazy-loaded="1" id="amznPsBmPixel_4856589" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=26515d44645e89a96fa6aef1716fd04a&_cb=1471729767131" width="0" />, <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425252590" data-amzn-link-id="17c7fce55f60d5079ff362cce5d5d392" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Scrapbook Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Gilt-Scrapbooking-Mystery-Laura-Childs/dp/0425252590/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=17c7fce55f60d5079ff362cce5d5d392&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_935163" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scrapbook Mysteries</a><img alt="" border="0" class="jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-lazy-loaded="1" id="amznPsBmPixel_935163" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=17c7fce55f60d5079ff362cce5d5d392&_cb=1471729779427" width="0" />, and <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425269086" data-amzn-link-id="4045b937dda93095d128a4853d35d564" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Cackleberry Club Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Eggs-Casket-Cackleberry-Club-Mystery/dp/0425269086/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=4045b937dda93095d128a4853d35d564&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_7489618" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cackleberry Club Mysteries</a><img alt="" border="0" class="jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-lazy-loaded="1" id="amznPsBmPixel_7489618" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=4045b937dda93095d128a4853d35d564&_cb=1471729792028" width="0" />.
In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing
firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of
Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising
for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="B01KGZVXTK" data-amzn-link-id="e6618dd12dd2737f2df3474ff940d6a3" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Tea Shop Mysteries " href="http://www.amazon.com/Pekoe-Most-Poison-Shop-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01KGZVXTK/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=e6618dd12dd2737f2df3474ff940d6a3&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_6732682" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tea Shop Mysteries </a><span><img alt="" border="0" class="jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-lazy-loaded="1" id="amznPsBmPixel_6732682" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=e6618dd12dd2737f2df3474ff940d6a3&_cb=1471729812160" width="0" />–
set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia
Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy
entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an
intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or
inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly
atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="B01AHKY37I" data-amzn-link-id="f347cf81858fd7096ba25d09384c64f0" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Scrapbooking Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Crepe-Factor-Scrapbooking-Mystery-Childs-ebook/dp/B01AHKY37I/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=f347cf81858fd7096ba25d09384c64f0&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_918486" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Scrapbooking Mysteries</a><span><img alt="" border="0" class="jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-lazy-loaded="1" id="amznPsBmPixel_918486" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=f347cf81858fd7096ba25d09384c64f0&_cb=1471729828226" width="0" />
– a slightly edgier series that takes place in New Orleans. The main
character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French
Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who
owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries,
jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known
here!
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425281701" data-amzn-link-id="cb6797f651d64970a563fca0dbbded81" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Cackleberry Club Mysteries" href="http://www.amazon.com/Drop-Dead-Cackleberry-Club-Mystery/dp/0425281701/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=cb6797f651d64970a563fca0dbbded81&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4911397" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Cackleberry Club Mysteries</a><span><img alt="" border="0" class="jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" data-lazy-loaded="1" id="amznPsBmPixel_4911397" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=cb6797f651d64970a563fca0dbbded81&_cb=1471729856464" width="0" /> –
set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur
station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus
women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty
here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business
is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers
recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Laura’s Links: <a href="http://www.laurachilds.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Website</a> – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3HFr5E0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-the-tea-leaves-laura-childs/1143296479?ean=9780593200988" rel="noopener" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-in-the-tea-leaves-3" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9780593200988" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> – <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/653836/murder-in-the-tea-leaves-by-laura-childs/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">PenguinRandomHouse</a> – <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921630" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921630/" id="rcwidget_6nymjroh" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vmOkfouyPfeC1NsXRupq3xaxs_B5IbreD09-QMFSBJIN-1fdEPZnzKZVU1kc7TcN72wbFK_3vsggw04GrbaEsjOfkm-4tlbXmX4omEH35kZhf2xkpOBaeWnif0JmDZdUSKQzRTVhZFrcXoGPh08ZUmUmcs06uHK1DEH9Y47lERavMLe9HD2CW8CbAOZU/s820/MURDER%20IN%20THE%20TEA%20LEAVES%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vmOkfouyPfeC1NsXRupq3xaxs_B5IbreD09-QMFSBJIN-1fdEPZnzKZVU1kc7TcN72wbFK_3vsggw04GrbaEsjOfkm-4tlbXmX4omEH35kZhf2xkpOBaeWnif0JmDZdUSKQzRTVhZFrcXoGPh08ZUmUmcs06uHK1DEH9Y47lERavMLe9HD2CW8CbAOZU/w400-h191/MURDER%20IN%20THE%20TEA%20LEAVES%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> </span>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br /><p></p></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-46362550417279821662024-03-14T18:01:00.000-04:002024-03-14T18:01:05.882-04:00Book Review - You Stole My Name Too: A Curious Case of Animals and Plants with Shared Names by Dennis McGregor<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg843sJWmZnlh5n4b6hREk0H_Q2cPSmG1vJWpuimSr25eZJ0n0Mzs8lRWqLbBk-VT4Z9u2f7aD4GU-AIDhBiwttnfGpD4TUzJE9tazUvya8limZghNjL5RbmLbxELwpkFK2sjFVZGELo_wt39CCEyUaJAAjIlR4aFLJD9amWR4byjKgw1yKQQiwZ3eUBB2O/s775/b019df31e4e4506d162f8b5f4cc44f48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="775" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg843sJWmZnlh5n4b6hREk0H_Q2cPSmG1vJWpuimSr25eZJ0n0Mzs8lRWqLbBk-VT4Z9u2f7aD4GU-AIDhBiwttnfGpD4TUzJE9tazUvya8limZghNjL5RbmLbxELwpkFK2sjFVZGELo_wt39CCEyUaJAAjIlR4aFLJD9amWR4byjKgw1yKQQiwZ3eUBB2O/w400-h259/b019df31e4e4506d162f8b5f4cc44f48.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>My Review</b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>You Stole My Name Too</i> is a beautiful picture book for children about plants and animals that share a name. The book is told in short, child-friendly rhymes, like the story of CatNip:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">"Your minty magic, sweet and herby</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">sends me on a tail-chase derby!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Then I curl up in your lap</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">and dream a little nippy nap."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Flora/fauna combinations include: Crab-Apple, Ostrich Fern, Elephant Garlic, ChickPea, DogWood, and more.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is a big (9.5" x 14.5") book with full page illustrations that are sure to delight children. I think it would be ideal as a read aloud at bedtime or in a story circle. I love read aloud books that incorporate both rhyme and engaging illustrations.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I highly recommend <i>You Stole My Name Too</i> for preschool children, who are sure to be delighted by this book!<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Book Synopsis</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Formatted" style="font-family: arial;">The second addition to Dennis McGregor's fun
picture book series features vibrant, hand-painted illustrations and
curious questions like "why does the crab apple share its name with the
crab?"<br /><br />You Stole My Name Too features another amazing collection
of illustrations that takes you and your child on a colorful journey
through nature's most fascinating plants and animals and their
namesakes.<br /><br />The fun pairs of flora and fauna that are featured in this sequel <br />• Chick and Chickpea<br />• Cat and Catnip<br />• Dog and Dogwood<br />• Hedgehog and Hedgehog Cactus<br />• And many more!<br /><br />A
beautiful "children's coffee-table-art book" for all ages, You Stole My
Name Too is a clever, creative follow-up to You Stole My Name , a
perfect book series for parents and children to read and enjoy together.</span></span></p></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-33337519740994922872024-03-08T05:00:00.001-05:002024-03-08T05:00:00.127-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Double Scoop of Murder (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWKLTqNlo7QKrFcYUkxbxqtMQA9ViR83XTnHyatJxcEmnHeNulUIhiC8FawWF1iEj35POFJYo39hVFDcvSFPAIXLwTXAFJ4V7NPYEbLLM4AV6Hfh4xFnnCuxRSZYL4WPqueziJ_btjuR188ZZ8nwzHg5im60vz8KbXC0r7JVpC65a6gew8DlnN58YN9mS/s3000/Double%20Scoop%20Final%20Master.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWKLTqNlo7QKrFcYUkxbxqtMQA9ViR83XTnHyatJxcEmnHeNulUIhiC8FawWF1iEj35POFJYo39hVFDcvSFPAIXLwTXAFJ4V7NPYEbLLM4AV6Hfh4xFnnCuxRSZYL4WPqueziJ_btjuR188ZZ8nwzHg5im60vz8KbXC0r7JVpC65a6gew8DlnN58YN9mS/w266-h400/Double%20Scoop%20Final%20Master.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b>My Review</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Dani Delany is enjoying running her family malt shop cafe on Long Island when she encounters a mystery. A local billionaire passes away and leaves a four billion dollar treasure hunt for the community to solve. Dani gets talked into joining a treasure hunting team with her friends/family but they uncover a murder ... which leads her to investigate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Double Scoop of Murder</i> because I really enjoyed the last book in the Coffee & Cream Cafe mystery series, and want to continue reading the books in this series. I like the malt shop setting and the characters.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Dani is a fun detective. She's an amateur, but she has great instincts for sleuthing, and she's smart and brave. I like her friends and family as well (we see more of them in this mystery), and her love triangle with her high school sweetheart and the handsome detective in town.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The mystery aspects of this book were very well done, starting with a slower pace, but then picking up with several good suspects. I enjoyed watching Dani solve the case! The treasure hunt was a fun mystery device.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I recommend <i>Double Scoop of Murder</i>, and this series, for cozy mystery fans. You are in for a treat with the malt shop setting, the fun cast of characters, and a great amateur detective.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">From author Lena Gregory comes a hunt for more than just treasure…</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Danika Delany is loving running her uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island and putting her own modern spin on the treats they serve. Life is finally looking up for her! That is, until local billionaire Maxwell Crumbholtz dies and leaves his fortune in the form of a treasure hunt. Chaos descends on Watchogue, and Dani and the rest of the gang from the Coffee & Cream Café join the melee when they enter the contest, try to decipher the clues, and go in search of the treasure. But Dani digs up more than she expected when she discovers a dead body buried instead of a treasure! To make matters worse, a witness claims to have seen Dani at the scene of the murder. Now, instead of a four-billion-dollar payday, Dani is on the hunt for a killer.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lena Gregory</span> is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.</span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></p><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; list-style-position: inside; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Newsletter:</span> <a href="http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1</a>.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Website:</span> <a href="http://www.lenagregory.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://www.lenagregory.com/</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook:</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook Page:</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Twitter/X:</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Goodreads:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pinterest:</span> <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; outline: 0px; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/</a></span></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3Oh8Fgo" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-scoop-of-murder-lena-gregory/1144200494?ean=2940166118370" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/double-scoop-of-murder" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Kobo</a> </span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921628" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921628/" id="rcwidget_vleqxkv2" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLKxvtHpptBCxbvX0DmlA93RohSUSFS1uatwZ5qd5L_Iz4XNy3LT6MAcH4tgywNQkJDdOXcehAoYYo3lgT7g7ECz9EG9fmdAISzUILjUugztnWY25AquifMTDnoi1jTcFIx4uaDBy_9uaUQh0taNO8DhEa6CC5oPlVq1UxahhG-fzyb22vxU1oHojK4y0/s820/DOUBLE%20SCOOP%20OF%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLKxvtHpptBCxbvX0DmlA93RohSUSFS1uatwZ5qd5L_Iz4XNy3LT6MAcH4tgywNQkJDdOXcehAoYYo3lgT7g7ECz9EG9fmdAISzUILjUugztnWY25AquifMTDnoi1jTcFIx4uaDBy_9uaUQh0taNO8DhEa6CC5oPlVq1UxahhG-fzyb22vxU1oHojK4y0/w400-h191/DOUBLE%20SCOOP%20OF%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-20175191052062853562024-03-01T05:00:00.001-05:002024-03-01T05:08:38.276-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters Mystery) by Mary Winters<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWSkyUssdZHK1eR1nFMRfLbI2HbXO7IgbJOFJI3PpQFCtQi2LsWFMvuPtBbdjDUrQaAvhZbVVkknDMB6_Ywxk2x0hS7-dPaz97PF0cYy2BznC52CwUdPKdTVMDCvq2g9DPj3fo-XOM3lv2LxZ-xx-qp1H5P66H7cXFChjMte3oSmME1ee4_ypUIUf0tvY/s2400/MurderinMasquerade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1556" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWSkyUssdZHK1eR1nFMRfLbI2HbXO7IgbJOFJI3PpQFCtQi2LsWFMvuPtBbdjDUrQaAvhZbVVkknDMB6_Ywxk2x0hS7-dPaz97PF0cYy2BznC52CwUdPKdTVMDCvq2g9DPj3fo-XOM3lv2LxZ-xx-qp1H5P66H7cXFChjMte3oSmME1ee4_ypUIUf0tvY/w259-h400/MurderinMasquerade.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />My Review</b></span><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Murder in Masquerade</i> is a historical mystery about Amelia Amesbury, a young Victorian widow who has a secret sideline as an agony aunt with a newspaper column. Amelia works to help her friend (and possible romantic interest) Simon Bainbridge. Simon's younger sister has developed an interest in a suitor that the family doesn't approve of. After that suitor is killed, the mystery deepens, and Amelia decides to investigate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read this mystery because I enjoyed the first book in this series so much. I love the Victorian setting and really like Amelia as an amateur detective.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This book started a little slower for me but it soon picked up momentum and I eagerly read on, looking for a resolution to the mystery, but also enjoying Amelia and Simon's budding relationship. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The author does a wonderful job in this series with setting the scene and creating a cast of interesting, well developed characters.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I recommend Murder in Masquerade for fans of historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, the Victorian era, and British manor house settings.</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Extra, extra, read all about it! Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury finds herself playing the role of sleuth when a night at the theatre turns deadly.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Victorian Countess Amelia Amesbury’s secret hobby, writing an advice column for a London penny paper, has gotten her into hot water before. After all, Amelia will do whatever it takes to help a reader in need. But now, handsome marquis Simon Bainbridge desperately requires her assistance. His beloved younger sister, Marielle, has written Amelia’s Lady Agony column seeking advice on her plans to elope with a man her family does not approve of. Determined to save his sister from a scoundrel and the family from scandal, Simon asks Amelia to dissuade Marielle from the ill-advised gambit.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But when the scoundrel makes an untimely exit after a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Amelia realizes there’s much more at stake than saving a young woman’s reputation from ruin. It’s going to take more than her letter-writing skills to help the dashing marquis, mend the familial bond, and find the murderer. Luckily, solving problems is her specialty!</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlbvHnCXTFqKioRtmrsc12oTgD-ZqLHJt940LuUbZ4wHFbcVE_-8BfGX2jh8WhrIiMzG0XN9HRDT0FmVMDkSz7JLMgd-9q3SPDzHEJjWWcxpV85M8q1Qk6lsOz2mvOEo8DSM3bzg7HZzPHhixON5fqiLlS0Rtsp7MBrwNjbZhYKqFt_IZnDE8TPE-Ckjn/s6049/Mary%20Winters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6049" data-original-width="4033" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlbvHnCXTFqKioRtmrsc12oTgD-ZqLHJt940LuUbZ4wHFbcVE_-8BfGX2jh8WhrIiMzG0XN9HRDT0FmVMDkSz7JLMgd-9q3SPDzHEJjWWcxpV85M8q1Qk6lsOz2mvOEo8DSM3bzg7HZzPHhixON5fqiLlS0Rtsp7MBrwNjbZhYKqFt_IZnDE8TPE-Ckjn/s320/Mary%20Winters.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mary Winters</span> is the author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series. She also writes cozy mysteries under the name Mary Angela. A longtime reader and fan of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London. Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery—and another trip! Find out more about Mary and her writing, reading, and teaching at <a href="http://www.marywintersauthor.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">marywintersauthor.com</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author Links</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Website</span> <a href="http://www.marywintersauthor.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://www.Marywintersauthor.com</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Blog</span> <a href="http://www.marywintersauthor.com/blog" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://www.Marywintersauthor.com/blog</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook</span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/marywintersauthor" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://www.Facebook.com/marywintersauthor</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Instagram</span> <a href="http://www.instagram.com/marywintersauthor" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://www.Instagram.com/marywintersauthor</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">GoodReads</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157979415-murder-in-masquerade" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157979415-murder-in-masquerade</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3vKPDJ3" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8373827-11819508?sid=PRHEFFDF5A7F1&url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/?ean=9780593548783" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-8373827-10747236?SID=PRHEFFDF5A7F1--9780593548783&url=http://www.booksamillion.com/p/9780593548783" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">BAM</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9780593548783" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> – <a href="http://www.powells.com/book/-9780593548783?utm_source=randomhouse&utm_campaign=randomhouse&utm_content=PRHEFFDF5A7F1--9780593548783" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Powell’s Books</a> – <a href="http://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/book/9780593548783?utm_source=prh&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_term=301&utm_content=PRHEFFDF5A7F1--9780593548783&utm_campaign=9780593548783" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Hudson Booksellers</a></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921626" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921626/" id="rcwidget_m5l5dylv" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy-s2-lo9sC9Oz6fhGU3cRKEYEYcrR29_yQFR8pZzRVuXrVsUpMYEc0CjWWIneeb55aW4bHli1T4_WviGBQKL5BPTkeh35w6n7QD7df8lJ0CdZZKCcjufI1UfqI4WQWQOuSHymiMDs_D-mo3v-nHcH2dhiDZd7aIs1dSexkDmOTFM_6omf41cOHnEIASh/s820/MURDER%20IN%20MASQUERADE%20BANNER%20820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAy-s2-lo9sC9Oz6fhGU3cRKEYEYcrR29_yQFR8pZzRVuXrVsUpMYEc0CjWWIneeb55aW4bHli1T4_WviGBQKL5BPTkeh35w6n7QD7df8lJ0CdZZKCcjufI1UfqI4WQWQOuSHymiMDs_D-mo3v-nHcH2dhiDZd7aIs1dSexkDmOTFM_6omf41cOHnEIASh/w400-h191/MURDER%20IN%20MASQUERADE%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-82350911810826036182024-02-29T18:27:00.000-05:002024-02-29T18:27:16.661-05:00Book Review - Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp5tqVG970BVE-fC0p9tM-iSVEedVkHe5nZPWGuHcG3On4kcPaKx74nM8e1DXlUfeAxbgszOo8106VM6VZiz3C5eh2HEaUbseAiInmpO_CHm4WA39jXZFhfIlIUXf0EBy7y7hMio8xu9Gx49uOGz6bKAQVJSpMBxHXFni5XJYcMFqEILA_8q24xgelr0W/s2000/9780800741853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp5tqVG970BVE-fC0p9tM-iSVEedVkHe5nZPWGuHcG3On4kcPaKx74nM8e1DXlUfeAxbgszOo8106VM6VZiz3C5eh2HEaUbseAiInmpO_CHm4WA39jXZFhfIlIUXf0EBy7y7hMio8xu9Gx49uOGz6bKAQVJSpMBxHXFni5XJYcMFqEILA_8q24xgelr0W/w259-h400/9780800741853.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />My Review</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Embers in the London Sky</i> is a historical novel set during World War II. Aleida Martens lives in the Netherlands with her three year old son Theo and her controlling husband Sebastian. Sebastian gives Theo to a British couple who whisk him away to safety before Sebastian is killed on the roadside. Aleida travels to England, where her aunt and uncle live, and works tirelessly to find Theo. She is helped by an intrepid BBC reporter, Hugh Collingwood. They get closer as they participate in the war effort in England and search together for Theo. They also work to solve the mystery of some seemingly unrelated murders in their circle of friends.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Embers in the London Sky</i> because I love Sarah Sundin's books. She is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and I have recommended her novels many times to friends. I love fiction set during World War II, so the time period was of interest to me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I really liked the complexity of this novel. There is the story of Aleida's search for her son, Hugh and his struggles with asthma, their war work in England, and the mysteries they work to solve. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Aleida and Hugh are both wonderful protagonists - both with very human struggles (his asthma and what appeared to be her OCD) but both strengthened by their personal faith and their desire to do the right thing and make a difference. I loved their connection, initially based on friendship and a slowly developing romance. And of course I wanted Aleida to find Theo and be reunited with him.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There were several surprising twists in this novel. It was more of a mystery than Sarah Sundin's other books, but I enjoyed it very much. I recommend <i>Embers in the London Sky</i> to fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in a 1940's setting.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">London, 1940<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida van der Zee Martens escapes to London to wait out the occupation. Separated from her three-year-old son, Theo, in the process, the young widow desperately searches for her little boy even as she works for an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">When German bombs set London ablaze, BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood reports on the Blitz, eager to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">The deaths hit close to home for Hugh, and Aleida needs his help to locate her missing son. As they work together, they grow closer and closer, both to each other and the answers they seek. But time is running short--and the worst is yet to come.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wv_uqEux4rbiYgAOl0ZjiIxM7iPtz4F8unHcMsab9W5t013SNQD1D6ZXlcW4VaTUaaTbH_NZ7jF4OGmYtiFcnqRrnUSK6CY5Ie0eXrHd_rxVYg9tWizAouB3w4oQOYxMCtzGkQ5zqvqhiEiQtXTQ0_PFy5b5DgnU8GTN3-Z7Qlf04WML9R6b4DrzySlj/s1800/14970.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wv_uqEux4rbiYgAOl0ZjiIxM7iPtz4F8unHcMsab9W5t013SNQD1D6ZXlcW4VaTUaaTbH_NZ7jF4OGmYtiFcnqRrnUSK6CY5Ie0eXrHd_rxVYg9tWizAouB3w4oQOYxMCtzGkQ5zqvqhiEiQtXTQ0_PFy5b5DgnU8GTN3-Z7Qlf04WML9R6b4DrzySlj/s320/14970.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Sarah Sundin</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> is the bestselling author of </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">When Twilight Breaks</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Until Leaves Fall in Paris</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">The Sound of Light</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">,</span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">and the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Booklist</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Library Journal</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">, and </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Publishers Weekly</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">, and have appeared on </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Booklist</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">'s "101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years." Sarah lives in California. Visit <a href="http://SarahSundin.com">SarahSundin.com</a> for more information.</span></span></div><div><br /></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-31740719380428773342024-02-23T05:00:00.003-05:002024-02-26T17:42:18.463-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Murder Under A Honey Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Historical Cozy Mystery by Abigail Keam<span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6WO8A7IcAz8CAChpduiCkESwfh9qsRZgLaD9W5u56NcRpETtcl_3dIJQwTfxYfRNdhj6KJ46FlekES769xTN7ZF7vjHnSZqEE9F6If9Gs90Qbki5zyWQmvJQX5A9uflBVAjXA6rhHErbeQKiqiEqv-rNAZd7KebhCoTwB8S42mQgGUFQimyAUsAWL2hU/s700/Honeymoon%20medium.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6WO8A7IcAz8CAChpduiCkESwfh9qsRZgLaD9W5u56NcRpETtcl_3dIJQwTfxYfRNdhj6KJ46FlekES769xTN7ZF7vjHnSZqEE9F6If9Gs90Qbki5zyWQmvJQX5A9uflBVAjXA6rhHErbeQKiqiEqv-rNAZd7KebhCoTwB8S42mQgGUFQimyAUsAWL2hU/w260-h400/Honeymoon%20medium.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My Review</span></b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Murder Under a Honey Moon</i> is a historical mystery about Mona Moon and Robert Farley, who are traveling on a 1930's ocean liner for their honeymoon. After Mona's jewelry is stolen and the main suspect is murdered, they decide to investigate the case.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Murder Under a Honey Moon</i> because I enjoy both historical mysteries and cozy mysteries, and this book falls into both genres. The 1930's setting (unusual for me with historical reads) and long ago ocean liner travel was appealing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This book is part of the Mona Moon series. I have not read the other books (yet!) but had no problem enjoying this mystery as a standalone read.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I thoroughly enjoyed this smart, well written mystery. The 1930's historical details were interesting. I especially liked the ocean travel and the inclusion of characters like Noel Coward, Martha Gellhorn, and Unity Mitford, one of the Mitford sisters. The snappy dialogue in the book was delightful!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The mystery plot was well done and kept me guessing. I enjoyed Mona and Robert as amateur sleuths.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I am glad to learn about this mystery series, as I enjoyed <i>Murder Under a Honey Moon</i> and look forward to reading further with the series. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, and 1930's settings.<br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mona Moon and her new husband, Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth, are on their honeymoon at last. They have just boarded the RMS Majesty ocean liner. The couple are looking forward to visiting Robert’s ancestral English home, Brynelleth, and then off to Paris before winding up on the Italian Riviera. After a romantic evening of dancing until the wee hours of the night, Mona and Robert discover their suite has been ransacked and Mona’s jewelry, supposedly secured in their stateroom, has been stolen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Mona is horrified, as some of the jewelry belongs to the Brynelleth Estate and were cherished pieces of Robert’s mother. The ship’s crew searches the ocean liner, and a gold brooch turns up in a bartender’s cabin. It is the same bartender who served Mona earlier in the evening. The only problem is the bartender has been murdered and the rest of the jewelry is still missing.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaF5riWky-AJrPQRVL1R5iSqGv8sGJFsG4Mq3lFee9RkDKg1D62dgAlL7kltdvEaO0nTu2PoOAeKcHDB2qj950vUqU2gXGdxAxijKsBrhkU860NMnWZTAaf4mMPxxQajaPS1KFEE3NK3MwcadBDBTQxKfdN-4l28ngzAVnfIMgJ-hgPrgX4aFZ5PQxKgD/s975/abigail%20postcard%20back%20(2019_04_15%2023_30_14%20UTC).jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaF5riWky-AJrPQRVL1R5iSqGv8sGJFsG4Mq3lFee9RkDKg1D62dgAlL7kltdvEaO0nTu2PoOAeKcHDB2qj950vUqU2gXGdxAxijKsBrhkU860NMnWZTAaf4mMPxxQajaPS1KFEE3NK3MwcadBDBTQxKfdN-4l28ngzAVnfIMgJ-hgPrgX4aFZ5PQxKgD/s320/abigail%20postcard%20back%20(2019_04_15%2023_30_14%20UTC).jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Award-winning author <span>Abigail Keam</span> writes the Mona Moon Mystery Series—a rags-to-riches 1930s mystery series, which includes real people and events into the story line. “I am a student of history and love to insert historical information into my mysteries. There is an addendum at the end of the mystery to give more information. My goal is to entertain my readers, but if they learn a little something along the way—well, then we are both happy.”</span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span><br /></span></div>Miss Abigail currently lives on the Palisades bordering the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">THE MONA MOON MYSTERY SERIES</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">1930s Historical Mysteries</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Blue Moon I</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Blood Moon II</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Bad Moon III</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Silver Moon IV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Wolf Moon V</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Black Moon VI</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Full Moon VII</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A New Moon VIII</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A English Moon IX</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A British Moon X</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Bridal Moon XI</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Murder Under A Honeymoon XII</span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>Official Site </span> <a href="http://www.abigailkeam.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://www.abigailkeam.com/ </a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>Facebook</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/author.abigailkeam/">https://www.facebook.com/author.abigailkeam/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>Instagram</span> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fabigailkeamauthor%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR11yDYaX0GblgIYerGLrbsStw3pkssZ6-xfrsZ-_df2lbLDJOX5HHJW-m4&h=AT3iX31h5RtTHXYSvhKr6a50uBUslXTn2depZnGY5u76vpW-jun7O61hfNGrUaEZSi5GWQNcdOwMoCG6OHhxGfYwe3HroG-LPSR_5mN-r3tOjKsq6TH0_YwKyxMip0C4UR30&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5b0%5d=AT1CMmA6A2ainkr5fx-qJ-SgOl43Y7v6hAuxm61UYijFVUXNTCxUQaLpIDikRYFJ7-9H1bJvwtIqTySDgzS7od5P3dM92mr58KHFW0mFJ6y6w1X6dMUaDOVvVCa9aSmgfiV3qyW2-ZYeITXJ_djR_roH4qtfORMj7msn74kw0Rh7zv-1GmGJ4EGiLA98en-BKGAvLZkjbm-_uTj2rNr8aabzZM97tKM">https://www.instagram.com/abigailkeamauthor/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>Pinterest </span> <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/abigailkeam/">https://www.pinterest.com/abigailkeam/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>Amazon</span> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Abigail-Keam/e/B0045PEGUQ">https://www.amazon.com/Abigail-Keam/e/B0045PEGUQ</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>TikTok </span> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailkeam">https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailkeam</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/48FQ4CO" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-under-a-honey-moon-abigail-keam/1143265051" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> – </span><span><a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/murder-under-a-honey-moon/id6446805981" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Apple</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-under-a-honey-moon" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921623/" rel="nofollow"><span>a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
</span></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf35cWpRooe_nsYk0FbzIhqLjxdSQ8U3SINCN3sn-t7yb0eWeAYaAU4VEVFMYmHzRmlkLZCNWJtasvUoyZqRZEfm7LARVU6c9HObVmsGeT4xXplRQQYkBRK1HcvQ9sLTp4Zvk330teQrITYFdnFizgvZYspDswRi84zaGBZSGZlcKfUwFguBcmePvDYt4/s820/MURDER%20UNDER%20A%20HONEY%20MOON%20BANNER%20820.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyf35cWpRooe_nsYk0FbzIhqLjxdSQ8U3SINCN3sn-t7yb0eWeAYaAU4VEVFMYmHzRmlkLZCNWJtasvUoyZqRZEfm7LARVU6c9HObVmsGeT4xXplRQQYkBRK1HcvQ9sLTp4Zvk330teQrITYFdnFizgvZYspDswRi84zaGBZSGZlcKfUwFguBcmePvDYt4/w400-h191/MURDER%20UNDER%20A%20HONEY%20MOON%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><br /></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-12636572110574028602024-02-16T05:00:00.001-05:002024-02-16T05:00:00.131-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Once Upon a Murder (A Lady Librarian Mystery) by Samantha Larsen<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLuBIuxs2YfB3I1xid4fn5afe7gXE_aSj2F_FdtLHbsPiIix8gceJP4xrdeJPSbbjoqovaJMA1uJ8IfiXUwayMpU61cyHqiNe9Kn_dmPdGG-r5KYzYQbAOfyQlXLgCajgHQ5tYoviR5CllzOQZExl4WvTEEjGemeiYXvm2wPiRBF6S9xyTe9Hm_A9lPxZ/s1500/71eFrbh59GL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="991" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLuBIuxs2YfB3I1xid4fn5afe7gXE_aSj2F_FdtLHbsPiIix8gceJP4xrdeJPSbbjoqovaJMA1uJ8IfiXUwayMpU61cyHqiNe9Kn_dmPdGG-r5KYzYQbAOfyQlXLgCajgHQ5tYoviR5CllzOQZExl4WvTEEjGemeiYXvm2wPiRBF6S9xyTe9Hm_A9lPxZ/w264-h400/71eFrbh59GL._SL1500_.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><b>My Review</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>Once Upon a Murder</i> is a historical mystery set in 1784 England. Tiffany Woodall is a librarian at an English manor house. When a man who used to work at the estate is found dead outside her cottage, her romantic interest, who owns the village bookstore, is accused of murder. She works as an amateur detective to prove his innocence.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read this mystery because I was intrigued by the idea of a librarian in 1780's England. I love historical mysteries and cozy mysteries, and this book falls in both of those categories.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is the second book in the Lady Librarian Mystery series, but it read fine as a standalone. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I absolutely loved this book! I read it over a couple of days because I wanted to read it in all my spare time. Tiffany is a character to cheer for. She is brave, bright, and loyal to her friends and the man she loves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I especially liked the romantic relationship between Tiffany and Samir. There were obstacles, but they were so well suited. They are a literary couple to cheer for.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As someone who collects and sells vintage children's books, I loved the details about vintage children's books in this mystery. The author did her research, and the details will delight other book lovers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The book blurb compares <i>Once Upon a Murder</i> to <i>Bridgerton</i>, and I found that comparison apt. I am a big fan of <i>Bridgerton</i>, and loved the diversity and smartly written dialogue in this novel as well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I enthusiastically recommend <i>Once Upon a Murder</i> for fans of historical mysteries or cozy mysteries (and especially for readers who enjoy both). I look forward to future mysteries in this series!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Miss Tiffany Woodall must sleuth the slaying of a footman to clear her beloved’s name in the second Lady Librarian mystery, in the vein of Deanna Raybourn and perfect for fans of <i>Bridgerton</i>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">1784 England. Officially hired as the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort, Miss Tiffany Woodall is through with masquerades and murders for good. That is, until she stumbles upon the frozen dead body of former footman Mr. Bernard Coram. The speed with which her peaceful new life is upended is one for the record books: the justice of the peace immediately declares her the primary suspect in the murder.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As Tiffany hunts for the truth to clear her name, she learns that Bernard got into a fight over a woman at the local pub the night of his death–but he was also overheard blackmailing Samir. The justice of the peace arrests Samir, and Tiffany realizes that her life may have more in common with a tragic play than a light-hearted romance.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">With her love locked up in jail and her own reputation on the line, Tiffany must attempt to solve the murder before the book closes on her or Samir’s life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUlx82OMYSJ5OfQooCntjwD4zMrZtl0j-X7xWe25NX10ce_yttAgXD1t0trmPGf91-CaShTZLzbqhLb86zpDgZ9giIw379iJRxN_0seJWDYMXLtPszYjSB4Oh6izrUFdN2G6Eg1ukFawOEkFEH_CvX9KqiB-vduZsM22Zw-5kK410DHj0YvEgu24bbkCA/s3525/samantha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3525" data-original-width="2603" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUlx82OMYSJ5OfQooCntjwD4zMrZtl0j-X7xWe25NX10ce_yttAgXD1t0trmPGf91-CaShTZLzbqhLb86zpDgZ9giIw379iJRxN_0seJWDYMXLtPszYjSB4Oh6izrUFdN2G6Eg1ukFawOEkFEH_CvX9KqiB-vduZsM22Zw-5kK410DHj0YvEgu24bbkCA/s320/samantha.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br />Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: black;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Samantha Larsen</span></span> met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her four kids. She has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of North Texas, and the University of Reading (UK). She also writes historical romances under Samantha Hastings. Learn more at <a href="http://www.samanthahastings.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">www.SamanthaHastings.com</a></span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Website</span> <a href="http://www.samanthahastings.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">www.SamanthaHastings.com</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Instagram</span> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samanthahastingsauthor/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.instagram.com/samanthahastingsauthor/</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaHastingsAuthor" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaHastingsAuthor</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Twitter/X</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/HastingSamantha" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://twitter.com/HastingSamantha</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Purchase Links</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3RmCiPz" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-murder-samantha-larsen/1143455934?ean=9781639106219" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Once-Upon-Murder/Samantha-Larsen/9781639106219?id=9012047559266" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Books A Million</a> – <a href="https://www.powells.com/book/once-upon-a-murder-9781639106219" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Powells Books</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9781639106219" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> – <a href="https://www.target.com/p/once-upon-a-murder-a-lady-librarian-mystery-by-samantha-larsen-hardcover/-/A-89186639" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Target</a> – <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/A-Lady-Librarian-Mystery-Once-Upon-a-Murder-Hardcover-9781639106219/3924586592" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Walmart</a> </span></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></div><div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921621" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921621/" id="rcwidget_kuhxrx1r" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIoU6GSjiy5FH25fJUQha4X1ZnCEy-pYSddCm7tqb1vpA9X4T59ekT-TG3JJ0xAZ1vzSLjvbOu6fjdNorsj7tHCPN4ywZKnwGyCJhghTS_ps1NSnlB_4jAhEY2iwU7oaTIxu5l_rWbVYeD0jfEPkrHnkXOHwOFTRiOyQNA26b5L6YnIboA2B3-pxTEWU4/s820/ONCE%20UPON%20A%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="820" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIoU6GSjiy5FH25fJUQha4X1ZnCEy-pYSddCm7tqb1vpA9X4T59ekT-TG3JJ0xAZ1vzSLjvbOu6fjdNorsj7tHCPN4ywZKnwGyCJhghTS_ps1NSnlB_4jAhEY2iwU7oaTIxu5l_rWbVYeD0jfEPkrHnkXOHwOFTRiOyQNA26b5L6YnIboA2B3-pxTEWU4/w400-h193/ONCE%20UPON%20A%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-32433013657329296792024-02-09T05:00:00.001-05:002024-02-09T05:00:00.145-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSocbAVsAD5vXJOMCjVH6U5pLLgQOCmyLGNzTFpGnA5rTQsvVMjpGFl6DK2N_gpvnNwa03BISIRwY7LtFgBpmjBUOpHIQnePdqnXO_4H-zS5RManyEUZLebEsxE7rLcj0jizrNLP42l7ZRirwCOYthz-DB2JFUuNL2Pm-DJ8uzy0dsBblBCbAe3_DU3IJH/s1500/FIT%20FOR%20MURDER%20COVER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSocbAVsAD5vXJOMCjVH6U5pLLgQOCmyLGNzTFpGnA5rTQsvVMjpGFl6DK2N_gpvnNwa03BISIRwY7LtFgBpmjBUOpHIQnePdqnXO_4H-zS5RManyEUZLebEsxE7rLcj0jizrNLP42l7ZRirwCOYthz-DB2JFUuNL2Pm-DJ8uzy0dsBblBCbAe3_DU3IJH/w266-h400/FIT%20FOR%20MURDER%20COVER.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b>My Review</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jessica Fletcher steps in to solve a mystery when an older lady in Cabot Cove is enamored of a much younger fitness instructor who is mysteriously killed. When a kindly man in the neighborhood is suspected, Jessica works to find the truth and clear her neighbor's name.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Murder, She Wrote: Fit For Murder</i> because I absolutely love this series of mysteries. (And of course I loved the TV series <i>Murder, She Wrote</i> as well.) The books are always such cozy reads. I enjoy Jessica's detection skills, her details about writing mysteries, and Cabot Cove and Jessica's familiar friends.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was a well written, well paced mystery. There were several strong leads for Jessica to follow, including traveling to a neighboring town to do some detecting. She even takes a chance exploring the crime scene on her own.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There was a great deal of detail about Jessica's writing process in this book, and that was particularly interesting to read. I loved little details like her membership in Sisters in Crime.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was a great addition to the <i>Murder, She Wrote</i> series, and I enthusiastically recommend it to other fans of cozy mysteries. (I recommend the entire series!)<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jessica Fletcher learns that exercise can be murder in this new entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">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.</span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">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.</span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">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.</span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmGK0LxYBkibbYsM1Db9nCWqIBEIBfRQn5IGXhQtxuLVqSmslZOvGjjb0Rh6tgYD2_o25NExvJc7BsjSqx4IE6WjUyYQ0Ls-E8vWiFcMP8M9se5S57C7ZUyZsMSjH416KzX1C2L_q3T8sSdnpf9PPO0aPQ4uV9SuCfYwCIqA-AQX-lujcVOPJvjAUhMKu/s1200/Jessica-Fletcher-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmGK0LxYBkibbYsM1Db9nCWqIBEIBfRQn5IGXhQtxuLVqSmslZOvGjjb0Rh6tgYD2_o25NExvJc7BsjSqx4IE6WjUyYQ0Ls-E8vWiFcMP8M9se5S57C7ZUyZsMSjH416KzX1C2L_q3T8sSdnpf9PPO0aPQ4uV9SuCfYwCIqA-AQX-lujcVOPJvjAUhMKu/s320/Jessica-Fletcher-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTTkzgECikQ6RgBuOeUx1uBc6XEvpND3mNWgzMufiyY9z_olG9O_s7IWr3ChcrauEvYNro3wxTsaS5hApd_ZrKH3sUQCikTFgeBQDthvDNClULLSiuExDGtH0oAI2Tamp1CBOAMwrZo8d_TrMsEXGd2i_N_Ru_8aXOcaJSpTVFOGeJIZ3lbZfwl8jGENs/s4288/P4090046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="4288" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTTkzgECikQ6RgBuOeUx1uBc6XEvpND3mNWgzMufiyY9z_olG9O_s7IWr3ChcrauEvYNro3wxTsaS5hApd_ZrKH3sUQCikTFgeBQDthvDNClULLSiuExDGtH0oAI2Tamp1CBOAMwrZo8d_TrMsEXGd2i_N_Ru_8aXOcaJSpTVFOGeJIZ3lbZfwl8jGENs/s320/P4090046.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Along with <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Jessica Fletcher</span>, <span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Terrie Farley Moran</span> co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series including <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Murder, She Wrote: Killer on the Court</em>. 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.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links – <a href="https://terriefarleymoran.com/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Webpage</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/terriefarleymoran/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Facebook </a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3GIWWDd" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-she-wrote-jessica-fletcher/1144035791?ean=9780593640692" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-she-wrote-fit-for-murder" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9780593640692" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> – <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/736725/murder-she-wrote-fit-for-murder-by-jessica-fletcher-and-terrie-farley-moran/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">PenguinRandomHouse</a> – </span></span></p></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Giveaway</span></b></div><div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921611" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921611/" id="rcwidget_jdzto65g" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5SMcc4gwyw-FxkyDjEp0A3A0_0ArQMWNqatiwDpkZph1g-j4EsMe78A_XP0iBUtx0YUxpgZzJuyKRT5MTL8WmKoGCrzBZ3CguIQGqlrfKMrQwevxFDBhGt8flIBkaD8tim5ckWp99kbwFwtE7Zvk1t83bmBUNTNE3q8FyxxGNhnIzjtnlv123AHkOpuc/s820/FIT%20FOR%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5SMcc4gwyw-FxkyDjEp0A3A0_0ArQMWNqatiwDpkZph1g-j4EsMe78A_XP0iBUtx0YUxpgZzJuyKRT5MTL8WmKoGCrzBZ3CguIQGqlrfKMrQwevxFDBhGt8flIBkaD8tim5ckWp99kbwFwtE7Zvk1t83bmBUNTNE3q8FyxxGNhnIzjtnlv123AHkOpuc/w400-h191/FIT%20FOR%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-16517660927008114922024-02-08T18:00:00.000-05:002024-02-08T18:00:18.427-05:00Book Review - The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8cdg3-1e6xwce_deLneILYnQ9vyfw9VNHJT-fz5bBcdCQ4JMGLOmXZbD6ddUVHNnLxZftpVxdajKF-HUACkKXZcqRhNfzDnBACu5ZFsRSaA8fS4i1htD80Kly2JNvaQ29117q4RccPscBsUsYZo9ZMSCxPu65o3uL9VuUihyYWF8t3d42GY2-ffgyFOA/s2000/9780800742997%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8cdg3-1e6xwce_deLneILYnQ9vyfw9VNHJT-fz5bBcdCQ4JMGLOmXZbD6ddUVHNnLxZftpVxdajKF-HUACkKXZcqRhNfzDnBACu5ZFsRSaA8fS4i1htD80Kly2JNvaQ29117q4RccPscBsUsYZo9ZMSCxPu65o3uL9VuUihyYWF8t3d42GY2-ffgyFOA/w259-h400/9780800742997%20(1).jpg" width="259" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nikki Werner is still reeling from her parents' divorce when she discovers, via social media, that her father has unexpectedly remarried. She is also wondering whether her boyfriend Isaac is the right man for her. Since she is a teacher between school years, she goes to visit her Uncle Wes on his farm. There she discovers her grandmother's old recipes and she begins to slowly learn about her family history ... and the truths her grandmother's memory teaches through her recipes and wisdom.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read this book because I was interested in the mention of recipes and family food history. The family's German heritage was also of interest to me.</span></div><div><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>The Divine Proverb of Streusel</i> is a lovely read. Nikki deals with some hard issues and learns about the power of grace and forgiveness. Her wonderful grandmother, even in memory and old recipes and writing from the past, imparts strength and wisdom.</span></div><div><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This novel is very well written. I cared about Sara and her family in general - especially Uncle Wes and Aunt Emma. There is a strong faith message through the book. I recommend this novel for fans of Christian fiction, women's fiction, and uplifting storytelling.<br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Book Synopsis</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Shaken by her parents' divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle's farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She'll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is the past--one she barely knows.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Among her late grandmother's belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town's history, her ancestors, and her estranged father.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured--with the help of their cooking prowess and a healthy dollop of faith.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi_9pb99rmRiy5m62p3o82Xivd4UfaBdil8V7I25xIqdmNsR5WiW0zoKpZRALhtUEwyO1xvjXlBqYcABSKkGgLmEm3Hkd60I9XwMgq588SrwrJHz3GEleKVgEQmA2aGsYFAwY2MoCfQaNLTWYgMii0iNKDVcfpU9qw8eZCtWrET36xLLvxNjh_c0UJIiy/s1642/17648-50%25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="1642" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi_9pb99rmRiy5m62p3o82Xivd4UfaBdil8V7I25xIqdmNsR5WiW0zoKpZRALhtUEwyO1xvjXlBqYcABSKkGgLmEm3Hkd60I9XwMgq588SrwrJHz3GEleKVgEQmA2aGsYFAwY2MoCfQaNLTWYgMii0iNKDVcfpU9qw8eZCtWrET36xLLvxNjh_c0UJIiy/w400-h393/17648-50%25.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Author Bio</span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Sara Brunsvold</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> is the author of </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">. She</span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find his fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara's recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family in Kansas City, Missouri, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library. Learn more at <a href="http://www.SaraBrunsvold.com">www.SaraBrunsvold.com</a>.</span></span></p><p><span face=""Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-37801602651150287062024-01-26T05:00:00.001-05:002024-01-26T05:00:00.236-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Deadly to the Core (A Cider House Mystery) by Joyce Tremel<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAPzDx84QBdmgT5l2T0p26-bfDB9lUtdcJlAeRnusEAhpI8hvZynQVTNdJ9ADSxnGfvrXgeQpC-vO6p3Wkl-y-g7WgAD5FDTl4Zo-jGWjXoz0WkcnOIhT3KEZ7R84vrVqpPrE365U0EooFeaOXCNddmGLd0oNCBrqMUjB3z8bdxfpNnq6AjhBkHP7RxQU/s2475/Deadly%20to%20the%20Core%20RGB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAPzDx84QBdmgT5l2T0p26-bfDB9lUtdcJlAeRnusEAhpI8hvZynQVTNdJ9ADSxnGfvrXgeQpC-vO6p3Wkl-y-g7WgAD5FDTl4Zo-jGWjXoz0WkcnOIhT3KEZ7R84vrVqpPrE365U0EooFeaOXCNddmGLd0oNCBrqMUjB3z8bdxfpNnq6AjhBkHP7RxQU/w266-h400/Deadly%20to%20the%20Core%20RGB.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b>My Review</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Kate Mulligan has recently lost her husband in an accident that also injured her. When she unexpectedly inherits her family homeplace from her uncle, she moves to a small town near Gettysburg to open a fruit orchard and cidery. The move changes her life - she reconnects with her childhood friend, becomes friends with a man who she could become interested in later, and, after there is a murder at her orchard, she becomes involved in solving the mystery.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries. I was intrigued by the fruit orchard setting, and the cidery (since that is something I knew nothing about).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is the first book in a new series and I have to say it is my favorite start to a cozy series in a long time! Kate is a likable, smart, independent protagonist. She has been through a lot but she approaches life with optimism and a resilient attitude. I also liked her friends, her potential love interest, and the little town itself, which was charming, with all the little shops and businesses.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The cidery business was fascinating! The author included details through the book that let the reader learn more about the world of cider production.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This mystery has a strong link to the past and to town history, and I loved that aspect of the book as well. I especially enjoyed when Kate was uncovering local history as part of her sleuthing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There is even a lovable pet, a sweet cat named Blossom who adopts Kate when they both need companionship.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I enthusiastically recommend <i>Deadly to the Core</i> for fans of cozy mysteries. I know you will enjoy this book as much as I did!<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Julie Anne Lindsey, when Kate Mulligan inherits her great uncle’s fruit orchard, she quickly realizes that apples aren’t the only thing that can have rotten cores.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do with it: open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of this murder.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">She had been in correspondence with Carl, who had agreed with her brilliant idea of opening a cider house. But not everyone is so quick to buy what she was selling—Uncle Stan’s lawyer, Robert Larabee, paints a less rosy financial outlook of the orchard’s past, present, and future.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Kate discovers that Carl had large, unexplained deposits to his bank account and it becomes clear that either he was blackmailing someone, or someone was paying him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Kate and her neighbors receive offers to buy their property from a mysterious buyer. And there’s more than meets the eye with the neighboring orchard owner, Daniel Martinez, although Kate can’t quite put her finger on if it’s sweet or sour.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Will she be able to pick out the bad apple among the bunch before it’s too late?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R2dtvDg0q7WEzeLIWr79w6vCGawfbkXHPGYTICbRBRK5vHDO_VHNOiRYbbfrmZUwmrYOg8mbxesdK8mhb1RfnpQZQDms1hvenILFddYAhqmEyHdpTxrxJL4fW6ZmUhw83eRjBwu1hMTgiig3RRARn98fBMU9_AM2oGyd2bnTEmFZ_fEJO4t9HJTJlJtr/s3414/TremelJoyce.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3414" data-original-width="3414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R2dtvDg0q7WEzeLIWr79w6vCGawfbkXHPGYTICbRBRK5vHDO_VHNOiRYbbfrmZUwmrYOg8mbxesdK8mhb1RfnpQZQDms1hvenILFddYAhqmEyHdpTxrxJL4fW6ZmUhw83eRjBwu1hMTgiig3RRARn98fBMU9_AM2oGyd2bnTEmFZ_fEJO4t9HJTJlJtr/s320/TremelJoyce.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Joyce Tremel</span> was a police secretary for ten years and more than once envisioned the demise of certain co-workers, but settled on writing as a way to keep herself out of jail. In addition to the Cider House Mysteries, she wrote the Brewing Trouble Mysteries. As Joyce St. Anthony, she writes the Homefront News historical mysteries. She lives in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania with her husband and two cats named Hops and Lager.</span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Website</span> <a href="http://www.joycetremel.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">www.joycetremel.com</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook</span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/JoyceTremel" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">www.facebook.com/JoyceTremel</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">X/Twitter </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/JoyceTremel" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">www.twitter.com/JoyceTremel</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">GoodReads</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13746162.Joyce_Tremel" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13746162.Joyce_Tremel</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3RmbQoX" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-to-the-core-joyce-tremel/1143364163?ean=9781639105434" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/deadly-to-the-core" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9781639105434" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> – <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729847/deadly-to-the-core-by-joyce-tremel/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">PenguinRandomHouse</a></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921606" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921606/" id="rcwidget_wlwv7cot" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF1WXCzsgNraENQ9UgRlcGqsfbqEqIS8tWupPWwWhqM41wobR65piGVSA16K3uWeN23jqAKQs8hgPCUqxLoDRDyn21Qbe454f66qk9NbBc9vER22hwwgOqBVcXRoyvyYwOvSXgiyA251TS7wMapVFl3JEz6w9ltg59WyzvZkigF2eNPHNbywXw5fnUtKa/s820/DEADLY%20TO%20THE%20CORE%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF1WXCzsgNraENQ9UgRlcGqsfbqEqIS8tWupPWwWhqM41wobR65piGVSA16K3uWeN23jqAKQs8hgPCUqxLoDRDyn21Qbe454f66qk9NbBc9vER22hwwgOqBVcXRoyvyYwOvSXgiyA251TS7wMapVFl3JEz6w9ltg59WyzvZkigF2eNPHNbywXw5fnUtKa/w400-h191/DEADLY%20TO%20THE%20CORE%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-79246971068741457852024-01-19T05:00:00.001-05:002024-01-19T05:00:00.133-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - A Bean to Die For (A Coffee Lover’s Mystery) by Tara Lush<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYGsbxC9WGYH40hlqdXWTuizqZwv0Y5dR3-9x9NRrlkR7cs0QAHnaClyixumj-hxmQm4M-2JZ5PGjJFdDiOhkHbTaoYj3fEpvkMgfpR7FoBAyusuYDgi5Un_rKnb0zidoqyfU_lx-LKGMDk3PIU6_o3spJQzxg6z2GVsV0s9Uw2yIbAZ9UDRYTnT_ZKiK/s1500/A%20BEAN%20TO%20DIE%20FOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYGsbxC9WGYH40hlqdXWTuizqZwv0Y5dR3-9x9NRrlkR7cs0QAHnaClyixumj-hxmQm4M-2JZ5PGjJFdDiOhkHbTaoYj3fEpvkMgfpR7FoBAyusuYDgi5Un_rKnb0zidoqyfU_lx-LKGMDk3PIU6_o3spJQzxg6z2GVsV0s9Uw2yIbAZ9UDRYTnT_ZKiK/w266-h400/A%20BEAN%20TO%20DIE%20FOR.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lana Lewis is the co-owner of a coffeehouse named Perkatory in Devil's Beach, Florida. When a body is found in the community garden and an acquaintance is accused of murder, she decides to work to solve the mystery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read this mystery because I love cozy mysteries and the coffeehouse setting was appealing. This is the fourth book in the series A Coffee Lover's Mystery. I have not read the earlier books but had no problem jumping in and enjoying <i>A Bean to Die For</i> as a standalone mystery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was a fun, fast moving read! Lana is an amateur detective to like and pull for. I enjoyed her relationships with her family, barista Erica, boyfriend Noah, and adorable Shih Tzu Stanley.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The mystery was well paced, with several solid suspects. It was interesting investigating the case with Lana as she followed different clues.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I look forward to reading more books in this series. I recommend <i>A Bean to Die For</i> to other fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys a coffeehouse setting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Perfect for fans of Cleo Coyle and Lucy Burdette, reporter-turned-barista </span><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lana Lewis is back on the case when a body is dug up in the community garden.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lana Lewis is brewing up new concoctions at Perkatory, a popular café in Devil’s Beach, when she decides she wants to try her hand at growing her own coffee. She secures a gardening plot in the community garden, thanks to her father and the garden’s owner, Darla. Darla’s list of rules is long, but that doesn’t stop someone from leaving Jack Daggett’s body amongst the gardening plots.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jack, an environmental activist, had been banned from the garden previously, because of his many fights with Darla about organic produce. Lana promises her boyfriend, police chief Noah, that she’s going to stay out of this case, having been too involved in previous cases. But when she learns that Jack died from an accidental overdose, and Darla is the top suspect because of her shady past, Lana can’t help but poke around in an attempt to clear Darla’s name.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As Lana dives deeper into the case, she learns that Jack had more enemies than she realized. When Darla turns up dead, Lana has to turn up the heat on her investigation. With Lana on the case, it won’t be long before someone spills the beans to crack this case wide open. But will she able to find the killer before they strike again?</span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Gsn3K-mHIehSQwWVpLqBMQEWzwRN-pRx9hzf1pSJCfdpXPEMQlY-egSpNHBPbN9N_9nUFyD87B3kEnNaGoWbxrMTiLwd8xBcOrOFx2chWiqgF8dygauDSE1OM8nKnfm6rpPCnqdKeTBINvYGRyK0GYN5IgmWFNAQm1jfoxhjdpWKm99SbjiuWFj1h6wc/s928/tara%20lush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="928" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Gsn3K-mHIehSQwWVpLqBMQEWzwRN-pRx9hzf1pSJCfdpXPEMQlY-egSpNHBPbN9N_9nUFyD87B3kEnNaGoWbxrMTiLwd8xBcOrOFx2chWiqgF8dygauDSE1OM8nKnfm6rpPCnqdKeTBINvYGRyK0GYN5IgmWFNAQm1jfoxhjdpWKm99SbjiuWFj1h6wc/s320/tara%20lush.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Author Bio</b></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tara Lush</span> is a Florida-based author and journalist. She’s an RWA Rita finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and the winner of the George C. Polk Award for environmental journalism.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">She was a reporter with The Associated Press in Florida, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations under the name Tamara Lush.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Tara is a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, street art, coconut anything, strong coffee and newspapers. She lives on the Gulf Coast with her husband and two dogs.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Her debut mystery series is published by Crooked Lane Books.</span></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">FACEBOOK:</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tamlush" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/tamlush</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">WEBSITE:</span> <a href="https://taralush.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://taralush.com</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">INSTAGRAM:</span> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the.book.lush/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.instagram.com/the.book.lush/</a><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">GOODREADS:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/20274256.Tara_Lush" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/20274256.Tara_Lush</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/410p1iB" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-bean-to-die-for-tara-lush/1143331974?ean=9781639105458" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-bean-to-die-for" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9781639105458" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></p><p> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921603" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921603/" id="rcwidget_bkgbk3fo" rel="nofollow"><span>a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUELQuf57H4jrU37tuPT-gmtgceVSxMlzgtiYFcd401amZhBgBCxPIHx4ESiyj-Axf_N7OLcNy8E7g7cB3jbafn697WY39FmnKdb_NwivQoMfKJJDCfo118uAf1u1y5Zv_nDrBkU8LsBUU4TVJG-x-e7qSp44bGNsqTmDw9MoKw2RM6BUCre1IJr5vK22Z/s820/A%20BEAN%20TO%20DIE%20FOR%20BANNER%20820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="820" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUELQuf57H4jrU37tuPT-gmtgceVSxMlzgtiYFcd401amZhBgBCxPIHx4ESiyj-Axf_N7OLcNy8E7g7cB3jbafn697WY39FmnKdb_NwivQoMfKJJDCfo118uAf1u1y5Zv_nDrBkU8LsBUU4TVJG-x-e7qSp44bGNsqTmDw9MoKw2RM6BUCre1IJr5vK22Z/w400-h193/A%20BEAN%20TO%20DIE%20FOR%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-43247159317382496792023-12-15T06:00:00.003-05:002023-12-15T06:00:00.129-05:00Holiday Blogging Break<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8ocOkfDNcBDBGX34XB1qaIAPGwzaNRZqci1rC1qPRE0sv1eAaRalPP3P2e5icITJPd2jgNnQXbjAXWNesdH47CtmdXkq3CxiC79d9mM7hL0IbOZpAkihBKvo4Ou5dUDRYqG8edkM4nRRWrhpcqnCaJPHaNhUCUNyLXDaVfcn7q8E3LUlwBiekscs7aLr/s762/Christmas-Corgi-helps-children-decorate-tree.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="585" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8ocOkfDNcBDBGX34XB1qaIAPGwzaNRZqci1rC1qPRE0sv1eAaRalPP3P2e5icITJPd2jgNnQXbjAXWNesdH47CtmdXkq3CxiC79d9mM7hL0IbOZpAkihBKvo4Ou5dUDRYqG8edkM4nRRWrhpcqnCaJPHaNhUCUNyLXDaVfcn7q8E3LUlwBiekscs7aLr/w308-h400/Christmas-Corgi-helps-children-decorate-tree.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tasha Tudor illustration<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hi friends!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I will be taking a blogging break until mid-January. I wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a Happy New Year!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Trish</span></p>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-77064372013621484842023-12-15T05:00:00.006-05:002023-12-15T05:00:00.133-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - A Christmas Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery by Stacy Wilder<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lruyXuVpfjMAwbdSlWZnnPoKxgzeTxJb48ArvfMwMtIwifkZBeueTfK_nN4dw0lBeOhUdnxcqPriiyKE_C2DKssvG4kcuqbN3CNcRCbVRsDpeuS23a4jZFQHdpMzZdflER9T9LgiDVeZvRSIhJi4W6jATcldKUWcWNuZsn7NTZC-wIG5e-v0ZpqGPBk3/s797/A%20CHRISTMAS%20CONUNDRUM%20COVER%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="797" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lruyXuVpfjMAwbdSlWZnnPoKxgzeTxJb48ArvfMwMtIwifkZBeueTfK_nN4dw0lBeOhUdnxcqPriiyKE_C2DKssvG4kcuqbN3CNcRCbVRsDpeuS23a4jZFQHdpMzZdflER9T9LgiDVeZvRSIhJi4W6jATcldKUWcWNuZsn7NTZC-wIG5e-v0ZpqGPBk3/w400-h301/A%20CHRISTMAS%20CONUNDRUM%20COVER%203.png" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />My Review</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Liz Adams is preparing for Christmas in Charleston with her husband Brad when she becomes involved in solving a mystery. Her friend Lou, an event planner, is having an issue with missing Christmas decorations - first in one area and then all over town! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>A Christmas Conundrum</i> because I love cozy mysteries and like Christmas settings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This was a fun short read (novella length). The mystery is very light - missing decorations, not murder or an act of violence. The Charleston setting is charming. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This book is part of a series but it worked fine as a standalone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I liked Liz, her family, and her friend Lou. She also has a lovable lab dog named Duke. Liz is a professional private investigator, with a specially equipped van and a white board at home where she sorts out mysteries. I found her process of detection fascinating.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Fans of cozy mysteries who are looking for a short holiday read will enjoy <i>A Christmas Conundrum</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Nancy Drew meets How the Grinch Stole Christmas in this delightful cozy mystery set in Charleston, SC.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Who’s stealing the holiday decorations? They’re disappearing like Christmas cookies from PeggyLou Designs, and Lou’s newly launched event planning service is in trouble. He implores his neighbor and friend, Private Investigator Liz Adams, to bring the thief to justice.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The clock is ticking. It’s only ten days until the mayor’s big holiday celebration. The party that will make or break Lou’s business.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Liz’s mom, Babs, steps in to help, and the investigation becomes complicated. Suddenly the holidays are not all mistletoe and merriment when Bab’s life is threatened. Will Liz and her lie-detecting Labrador retriever, Duke, discover the perpetrator before it’s too late?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Experience Charleston in the city’s full Christmas glory in this fun fast-paced holiday story.</span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLVpu62M7DmVr63V4XxBh4_RWiiC0D6EDH4oCQVgVhsiuyM2Cn6prcKXOqfsiIkwuyV9TrDjaaG9tsoLxRHXSP1Uj4IBkaiA7yfrBYYy9Dag9P25JueTSA6HyowuypTwmLe8VSP5jh1NdxmaUPMwB224gCEfS-QP6TyHaD_VQ3HXlGRUH_0DGIc_FEj-s/s300/IMG_2298-Edit-240x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="240" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLVpu62M7DmVr63V4XxBh4_RWiiC0D6EDH4oCQVgVhsiuyM2Cn6prcKXOqfsiIkwuyV9TrDjaaG9tsoLxRHXSP1Uj4IBkaiA7yfrBYYy9Dag9P25JueTSA6HyowuypTwmLe8VSP5jh1NdxmaUPMwB224gCEfS-QP6TyHaD_VQ3HXlGRUH_0DGIc_FEj-s/s1600/IMG_2298-Edit-240x300.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Stacy Wilder</span> has traveled to six out of seven continents Books have shaped her life and her travels. Her love of mysteries began with Nancy Drew.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><i>A Christmas Conundrum</i></span> is the third book in the riveting Liz Adams Mystery series. In addition to mysteries, Stacy writes children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. She and her husband live in Houston, Texas, with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Website</span> <a href="http://www.storystacy.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">www.storystacy.com</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wilderstacy" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/wilderstacy</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Instagram</span> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/authorstacywilder/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.instagram.com/authorstacywilder/</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">YouTube</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/VR7kKOxAsjU?si=_jaX1EuELeFKEMqQ" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://youtu.be/VR7kKOxAsjU?si=_jaX1EuELeFKEMqQ</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">BookBub</span> <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/stacy-wilder" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/stacy-wilder</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Purchase Links –</span> <a href="https://amzn.to/3Qy3VTU" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon E-book</a> – <a href="https://amzn.to/3SrpfgC" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon Paperback</a> – <a href="https://amzn.to/47lJtMX" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon Hardback</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144233148" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-christmas-conundrum-stacy-wilder/20708546?ean=9798985426670" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">Bookshop.org</a> –</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></p><p> <a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921600" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921600/" id="rcwidget_30is1o9g" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG_VnzT2XqY5V8cth6eClb9uVQC0qK9RICHpKIQNw0q2DVXMopk16RObqLj5oPzCv6hL_GxGl8ccDIUWis6GCsLHSeXj0sSa3yMX9GFckjJEfOpAynpHelysQuoQsqv24XiZyo9PU2-JKbn0_8ogxMOu4KdiJWWUW3eNAOvobwilFUSB2LjSQFqIPlPk-/s820/CHRISTMAS%20CONUNDRUM%20BANNER%20820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG_VnzT2XqY5V8cth6eClb9uVQC0qK9RICHpKIQNw0q2DVXMopk16RObqLj5oPzCv6hL_GxGl8ccDIUWis6GCsLHSeXj0sSa3yMX9GFckjJEfOpAynpHelysQuoQsqv24XiZyo9PU2-JKbn0_8ogxMOu4KdiJWWUW3eNAOvobwilFUSB2LjSQFqIPlPk-/w400-h191/CHRISTMAS%20CONUNDRUM%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-72392493682359772152023-12-05T17:41:00.003-05:002023-12-05T17:41:44.356-05:00Book Review - The Warsaw Sisters: A Novel of WWII Poland by Amanda Barratt<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bV70U3jY_e3HmDk3JYj792FONHV95PtsTB3UtVH_yqHotuYFJwMS7aFonuRzk27tCYupJKcW0JnMvwGO5B7Q0IMUG_S4b00rbstVpiY6GaL7prTbe_Dppm5ORtpJFoCR31NI6t6l3Jp8_tnURCJgFc53kNWxW08fuzBXV68i2y7OD5YfCimr25uikmtz/s2000/9780800741716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bV70U3jY_e3HmDk3JYj792FONHV95PtsTB3UtVH_yqHotuYFJwMS7aFonuRzk27tCYupJKcW0JnMvwGO5B7Q0IMUG_S4b00rbstVpiY6GaL7prTbe_Dppm5ORtpJFoCR31NI6t6l3Jp8_tnURCJgFc53kNWxW08fuzBXV68i2y7OD5YfCimr25uikmtz/w259-h400/9780800741716.jpg" width="259" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />My Review</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>The Warsaw Sisters</i> is a historical novel set during World War II. Twin sisters <span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska see their father off to war, and then endure the bombing of their beloved city. Antonina's love Marek is sent to the Warsaw ghetto because he is Jewish. Both women get involved in the Resistance movement as a way of fighting back.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>The Warsaw Sisters</i> because I love historical fiction, and am especially interested in the World War II time period. I had never read a book set in Poland during the war, so this was particularly interesting to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is a sprawling novel that spans the time period of 1939 - 1945. The author delves into historical detail to depict the war in Poland. This was a time of great brutality and cruelty (especially toward the Jewish people) and some of the descriptions are hard to read.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The author does a great job at delineating the two very different personalities of Antonina and Helena, and we see both their perspectives. Descriptions of Antonina's work to save Jewish children was especially compelling.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The historical detail and descriptions in the book are vivid and the author's writing style is fluid.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Fans of historical fiction who want to read about the years of World War II in Poland will find <i>The Warsaw Sisters</i> of interest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">A richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and resilience<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">When Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls, along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina knows she cannot stand by and soon becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Meanwhile, Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear them apart--and the cost of resistance may prove greater than either ever imagined.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_5-xSneA56-XR9sg7lnxySPlGKR7_pjLL_gPTrmMvNaZkGYFTKVgeapx4633LSw5gh4fIXZO9l6p5crE_m5x2JMSu3czq1XQoIh1rKcYgp_C6jQOSecsvwzzEJEzKP9DzPnPlSBaLkPi67S1taAdry35vedZUhfEsDS0odV6QEf3n9RRdZ4cU_4vyhzy/s1200/17790-20%25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_5-xSneA56-XR9sg7lnxySPlGKR7_pjLL_gPTrmMvNaZkGYFTKVgeapx4633LSw5gh4fIXZO9l6p5crE_m5x2JMSu3czq1XQoIh1rKcYgp_C6jQOSecsvwzzEJEzKP9DzPnPlSBaLkPi67S1taAdry35vedZUhfEsDS0odV6QEf3n9RRdZ4cU_4vyhzy/s320/17790-20%25.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Author Bio</span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Amanda Barratt</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;"> is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels and novellas, including </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">The White Rose Resists </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">(a 2021 Christy Award winner) and </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121;">Within These Walls of Sorrow</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121;">. She is passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history through a fictional narrative. Amanda lives in Michigan. Learn more at <a href="http://AmandaBarratt.net">AmandaBarratt.net</a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-73808425731302619122023-12-01T05:00:00.001-05:002023-12-01T05:00:00.132-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Grounds for Murder (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries) by Lena Gregory<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEmmOoFVG2w7fjfnd-Em9SDEpMHFZ4HRvKuJ-Np2rba7V9aWJBTmcfLDI6KUE09AaVkQGNVY_BcuXFPu1HWlS2pbCIQYSUfP3YrbKcgXK2W8eCGjYKfpSt3m1Hh7A588gI4N5yVyQpyAgnIJjhZUAROfPRbjS_D5-lwrU7lmELRaBmHKV_SzD-mi6t1Bj/s3000/Grounds%20for%20Murder%20Final%20Master.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEmmOoFVG2w7fjfnd-Em9SDEpMHFZ4HRvKuJ-Np2rba7V9aWJBTmcfLDI6KUE09AaVkQGNVY_BcuXFPu1HWlS2pbCIQYSUfP3YrbKcgXK2W8eCGjYKfpSt3m1Hh7A588gI4N5yVyQpyAgnIJjhZUAROfPRbjS_D5-lwrU7lmELRaBmHKV_SzD-mi6t1Bj/w266-h400/Grounds%20for%20Murder%20Final%20Master.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b>My Review</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Danika Delaney is settling in at the little coffee house on Long Island that was a malt shop in her family years ago. On opening night she has an author reading, and the next day the author turns up dead! Danika works to solve the mystery.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read this mystery because I have enjoyed other cozy mysteries by Lena Gregory. This is the second book in a new series, but I was able to jump right in and enjoy it as a standalone read.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I enjoyed <i>Grounds for Murder</i>. Danika is a fun protagonist. She's smart and has good amateur detective instincts. The mystery was intriguing with several viable suspects. I particularly enjoyed the setting of the Coffee and Cream Cafe and the little food descriptions included in the book. I also liked Danika's friends and family, and her potential romantic interest.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I'm so happy to have discovered this new mystery series. I recommend <i>Grounds for Murder</i> for other fans of cozy mysteries. It was a fun read!</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">From author Lena Gregory comes a tasty new mystery with a killer twist…</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Danika Delaney is thrilled to have taken over her uncle Jimmie’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island and is working hard to make it her own. In an effort to increase business, Danika invites a mystery writer to the Coffee & Cream Café for a discussion and book signing. Things seem to be going well, until a guest shows up and confronts the author, accusing him of plagiarizing his work. Embarrassed by the incident, Danika goes to the inn where the writer is staying the following morning, hoping to apologize and offer him another chance to return. What she finds instead is his dead body—beside a cup of poisoned coffee! Now it’s up to Danika to find out who wanted to silence the author… before the killer decides to write Danika a not-so-happy ending!</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bVPoGgq_qUWFGr6QV4wlaMP9nCBohOOnAIiBq3U5lJhomUYEUgDKVBS4AP-bIrWkHvbfpbqoymrAtd9VJj1yB8k8YG7G5QJZfLBDj91WhUxzB9al37s85YfFC1JHAgTuKmAB6Mh4SREXaRUublpA3HZmjlJjZ_1DxY-HcuF6MubLxjK6-fmPtzyj5wiB/s640/Lena%20Gregory.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bVPoGgq_qUWFGr6QV4wlaMP9nCBohOOnAIiBq3U5lJhomUYEUgDKVBS4AP-bIrWkHvbfpbqoymrAtd9VJj1yB8k8YG7G5QJZfLBDj91WhUxzB9al37s85YfFC1JHAgTuKmAB6Mh4SREXaRUublpA3HZmjlJjZ_1DxY-HcuF6MubLxjK6-fmPtzyj5wiB/s320/Lena%20Gregory.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Author Bio</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></span></div><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #404040; list-style-position: inside; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Newsletter:</span> <a href="http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1</a>.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Website:</span> <a href="http://www.lenagregory.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">http://www.lenagregory.com/</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook:</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook Page:</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Twitter:</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Goodreads:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true</a></span></li><li style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-top: 0.2em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pinterest:</span> <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/</a></span></li></ul><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Purchase Links</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/45e949a" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grounds-for-murder-lena-gregory/1143820537?ean=2940166086112" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/grounds-for-murder-8" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Kobo</a> </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921585" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921585/" id="rcwidget_cu2ch0jx" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1dXCFC5Dh0oCqwG0IPDqmX87G3d4d-idGKn-nmcz2dMya2RQ-OY0W_AWMhn3iy1O5GhfLvqxPReWhtLenDeRd1xOJ8XJaEiK1hxF8GCNmL6KrxPIvk9Iu2JzcpKQgWRK6sn6_QD6CMiw_eqhklqxLvbhPjVAzQ2T7lQMFA24Q6l1qEXNfWWvokwNH03U/s820/GROUNDS%20FOR%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1dXCFC5Dh0oCqwG0IPDqmX87G3d4d-idGKn-nmcz2dMya2RQ-OY0W_AWMhn3iy1O5GhfLvqxPReWhtLenDeRd1xOJ8XJaEiK1hxF8GCNmL6KrxPIvk9Iu2JzcpKQgWRK6sn6_QD6CMiw_eqhklqxLvbhPjVAzQ2T7lQMFA24Q6l1qEXNfWWvokwNH03U/w400-h191/GROUNDS%20FOR%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br />
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><div><br /></div></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-16312790687874421762023-11-10T05:00:00.001-05:002023-11-10T05:00:00.141-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Under the Cocoon Moon: An Olivia Penn Mystery by Kathleen Bailey<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtsa9AM0Ivq8Kzpmpjw1AwGNHApyEiQjMVxMM2ePvNH8GmM73hG_dHTwNsRFZr6-Vfd_0iNEZuM1zLlB_iw2-nM5XBOdrNAODqvazaoIkOPhVTApKDthNmGQFS-2xxRBIFoGGHe0T1HIF34OJkXbmFvAKfHlRmVmHBXayvXUjXD-q_ogUbXjaffpKLlQ1/s2400/Under%20the%20Cocoon%20Moon%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtsa9AM0Ivq8Kzpmpjw1AwGNHApyEiQjMVxMM2ePvNH8GmM73hG_dHTwNsRFZr6-Vfd_0iNEZuM1zLlB_iw2-nM5XBOdrNAODqvazaoIkOPhVTApKDthNmGQFS-2xxRBIFoGGHe0T1HIF34OJkXbmFvAKfHlRmVmHBXayvXUjXD-q_ogUbXjaffpKLlQ1/w266-h400/Under%20the%20Cocoon%20Moon%20Cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Olivia Penn is enjoying her return to the small town of Apple Station, Virginia. Olivia is working as a writer, living with her father, and she has a new romantic interest. When a stranger accuses her new boyfriend's parents of a crime, she becomes involved in solving the mystery. Things escalate when there is a murder as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Under the Cocoon Moon</i> because the description sounded appealing. I love small town mysteries and liked the holiday setting. I have not read the two earlier books in this series, but found this mystery worked fine as a standalone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I enjoyed this cozy mystery and want to read the earlier books now as well! Olivia Penn is a likable protagonist. Her writing work is interesting and I also liked liked her father and friend Sam, who help her detecting. There is even a cute beagle named Buddy! (I am a great fan of mysteries that include pets.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The mystery aspect of the book was interesting and briskly paced. There were enough little twists to keep me up late reading!<br /><br />I recommend <i>Under the Cocoon Moon</i> for other fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys small town settings and holiday themes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A dead body in the woods … A rare sapphire is missing … The connection changes her life forever.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Olivia Penn is looking forward to spending time with her friends and family over the holidays in her hometown of Apple Station, Virginia. The Christmas season’s spirit has sparked a new romance, and all is looking merry and bright, until she is mistaken for a dead woman.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">When a stranger makes a wild accusation involving the parents of the man she’s falling for, Olivia faces a no-win situation. As evidence mounts supporting the claim, a mysterious murder occurs near his father’s cabin that attracts the attention of the FBI. Wedged between mother and son, Olivia investigates to clear his family’s name while matching wits with a legendary thief.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">With the clock ticking, Olivia must set a trap using herself as the bait or the killer may disappear without a trace. Her new love hangs in the balance, and her life is on the line. Justice will hinge on sixty minutes and a phone call.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Will the call be answered? Or will the thief recover the sapphire and silence her forever?</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If you like Clue, Nancy Drew, and small town, cozy mysteries with heart and humor, a charming cast of characters, and a twisty plot, you’ll love Under the Cocoon Moon, the third book in The Olivia Penn Mystery Series.</span></span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjeaxQQn4-tlHzC9uDbf8fgQa2wmx10Tdl3R8LGE9ovgsURgNOYXKnnSbecsdk8jrQyoCOGHHZD9FHIjRJcrAv1RJ2klskXYotiSoQFV-Wbb4M3rbcoM0o493ebeUqQvcvS4jV_W9Urmen4EnrUd-wGrmxYVImw9ycV643Zs24ulqhALB63LBsAYJSs0-/s514/KBailey%20resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjeaxQQn4-tlHzC9uDbf8fgQa2wmx10Tdl3R8LGE9ovgsURgNOYXKnnSbecsdk8jrQyoCOGHHZD9FHIjRJcrAv1RJ2klskXYotiSoQFV-Wbb4M3rbcoM0o493ebeUqQvcvS4jV_W9Urmen4EnrUd-wGrmxYVImw9ycV643Zs24ulqhALB63LBsAYJSs0-/s320/KBailey%20resized.jpg" width="266" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Kathleen Bailey</span> is the award-winning author of <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">The</em><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"> Olivia Penn Mystery Series</em>. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. Kathleen has degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She previously worked as a pediatric physical therapist for over twenty years with children who have special needs. She now spends her days plotting and sleuthing in Virginia where she lives with her husband and adorable feline fur baby. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the James River Writers. Visit online at <a href="https://kathleenbaileyauthor.com/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">kathleenbaileyauthor.com</a>.</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author Links</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Webpage:</span> <a href="https://kathleenbaileyauthor.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://kathleenbaileyauthor.com/</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Amazon Author Page:</span> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/kathleenbailey" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.amazon.com/author/kathleenbailey</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bookbub:</span> <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathleen-bailey" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathleen-bailey</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/45eqP8s" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://books2read.com/underthecocoonmoon" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">All Retailers</a> – </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b><br /><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921573" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921573/" id="rcwidget_1bqabkc3" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkclHPxsRLNs9818Oed5xVTQRKOmiY0tLLcnMwuFEr9HHxwDIu9cnY9u7bvTev7hj9JJjOROYtUVAh3GJCbcqQNaf-w8CYCcMhK-EKSBqhKJS7sqjpl3_AaPsU0BDeFGZYaU3_rLVAXa6e3Ko6-1PDJEkpaas06rYossVkq1TsLILIeCndImAhDeM_YnvT/s820/UNDER%20THE%20COCOON%20MOON%20BANNER%20820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkclHPxsRLNs9818Oed5xVTQRKOmiY0tLLcnMwuFEr9HHxwDIu9cnY9u7bvTev7hj9JJjOROYtUVAh3GJCbcqQNaf-w8CYCcMhK-EKSBqhKJS7sqjpl3_AaPsU0BDeFGZYaU3_rLVAXa6e3Ko6-1PDJEkpaas06rYossVkq1TsLILIeCndImAhDeM_YnvT/w400-h191/UNDER%20THE%20COCOON%20MOON%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-19387288604380285262023-11-03T05:00:00.003-04:002023-11-03T05:00:00.140-04:00Book Review and Giveaway - Bulletproof Barista (A Coffeehouse Mystery) by Cleo Coyle<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaij7RZlmtLh6ppKiIBeb6H6RC2bwLPJkTz5ySTlgq8Zdj4OfJlMsWN0jNG63wwpjmxn0PhD9hIIMmy3id2Jn7FQp4T86NjCfCbgb-jWXc0pmghlGCk6ZgHa0_yp9-NTT0YSULGkhNSMHF9CfH1lHfCrfKpL-n9JZ29a3qvNb0MKZuAUN2HTLNc-xWS8iW/s2775/Bulletproof-Barista-Cover-CleoCoyle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1838" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaij7RZlmtLh6ppKiIBeb6H6RC2bwLPJkTz5ySTlgq8Zdj4OfJlMsWN0jNG63wwpjmxn0PhD9hIIMmy3id2Jn7FQp4T86NjCfCbgb-jWXc0pmghlGCk6ZgHa0_yp9-NTT0YSULGkhNSMHF9CfH1lHfCrfKpL-n9JZ29a3qvNb0MKZuAUN2HTLNc-xWS8iW/w265-h400/Bulletproof-Barista-Cover-CleoCoyle.jpg" width="265" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Clare Cosi, who runs the Village Blend coffeehouse in New York City, is excited when <i>Only Murders in Gotham</i>, a popular streaming series, is going to be filming some locations in her coffeehouse. That is - until there are some scary things that happen on the set, and she decides to investigate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Bulletproof Barista</i> because I always enjoy Cleo Coyle's mysteries. I have read some, but not all, of the Coffeehouse Mystery series, and had no problem enjoying this book as a standalone read.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I think this is my favorite Cleo Coyle book yet! I am a big fan of <i>Only Murders in the Building</i>, and enjoyed the similarities between that show and <i>Only Murders in Gotham</i> - and the characters who reminded me a lot of Steve Martin and Selena Gomez too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I loved the coffee and foodie descriptions and the day-to-day working of the coffeehouse. I also enjoyed the details of the TV set.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The mystery is fast paced with lots of surprises. Clare is a smart detective, whether working on her own or consulting with her fiancé, who is a detective.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I recommend <i>Bulletproof Barista</i> - and this series - for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries, NYC settings, foodie books, or fiction about TV production. It was a really fun read!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">When a film crew’s location shoot delivers an </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">actual</span></em><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> shooting, Clare Cosi finds herself at the scene of a </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">true</span></em><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> crime in this showstopping entry in the beloved Coffeehouse Mysteries from </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">New York Times</span></em><span style="box-sizing: inherit;"> bestselling author Cleo Coyle.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Only Murders in Gotham</em>, the smash-hit streaming program, is famous for filming in authentic New York locations and using real New Yorkers as extras. For its second season, they’ve chosen to spotlight the century-old Village Blend and its quirky crew of baristas. Shop manager and master roaster Clare Cosi is beyond thrilled, especially when her superb bulletproof coffee lands her a craft services contract for the production.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the landmark shop, reveals an old kinship with the star of the show, comedian Jerry Sullivan. Now a Hollywood legend, Jerry frequented the Blend during his early years performing in Greenwich Village comedy clubs. But the past may hold more than nostalgia for Jerry. Suspicious accidents begin plaguing his shoot. Then a real bullet is fired from a stage gun, and Clare becomes convinced something sinister is afoot.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While Jerry’s production moves to exciting new locations, Clare keeps the coffee flowing—and her investigation going—even as a murderer lurks in the wings. But can she root out the rotten player in this Big Apple production before the lights go out on her?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Includes a stellar menu of surefire recipes!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYRAH7UZYtMPnVCWe08IboxlNJWrmttbDRVPswaVs_QyR0rAresFE2C1lke0Z7P4gq3ONWlynHoJgH4f9Hk17jioZ1A2ZHWqpF6TQXdBxqjsr_XoL3hnKq8imXKqxNNhfEizNo7n_YXfhFfK2r8G3YL5vt9973gi5MA3ReRAd3NK7KT9hj7iR4ORSYViD/s1139/Cleo-Coyle-for-Publication-Bloggers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1139" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYRAH7UZYtMPnVCWe08IboxlNJWrmttbDRVPswaVs_QyR0rAresFE2C1lke0Z7P4gq3ONWlynHoJgH4f9Hk17jioZ1A2ZHWqpF6TQXdBxqjsr_XoL3hnKq8imXKqxNNhfEizNo7n_YXfhFfK2r8G3YL5vt9973gi5MA3ReRAd3NK7KT9hj7iR4ORSYViD/s320/Cleo-Coyle-for-Publication-Bloggers.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">CLEO COYLE </span>is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">New York Times</em>-bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries and Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, both celebrating 20 years in print. With more than one million books sold, their work has been honored with starred reviews and multiple best-of-year list selections by reviewers. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together. Connect with Cleo at <a href="https://www.coffeehousemystery.com/" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">CoffeehouseMystery.com</a></span><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Author Links</span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Webpage:</span> <a href="https://www.coffeehousemystery.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.coffeehousemystery.com/</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Free Newsletter:</span> <a href="https://mailchi.mp/cleocoylerecipes/newsletter" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://mailchi.mp/cleocoylerecipes/newsletter</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook:</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CleoCoyle/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/CleoCoyle/</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Twitter:</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/CleoCoyle" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://twitter.com/CleoCoyle</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">BookBub:</span> <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cleo-coyle" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cleo-coyle</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Goodreads:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51488.Cleo_Coyle" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51488.Cleo_Coyle</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Instagram:</span> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cleocoyle_author/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.instagram.com/cleocoyle_author/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmNKvotaFbOaYBweaMzXiqoIyl_Uh2YXs7QF8w-lZiwYqOVJRE0L-qPhMrHLwcRaPC5vcl7h1KI7dfrx4SrtPBWBLsoCBCrqKvLpXFqvrr8fYaSM_ebxukqhECu2erpyRPeDaId0G8enc1USIZPUtFFPWavliIMm2aYcblQrbH5fatPT2kZZDWz_kG-zb/s1200/Cleo-Coyle-Prize-CoffeehouseMysteries.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1200" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmNKvotaFbOaYBweaMzXiqoIyl_Uh2YXs7QF8w-lZiwYqOVJRE0L-qPhMrHLwcRaPC5vcl7h1KI7dfrx4SrtPBWBLsoCBCrqKvLpXFqvrr8fYaSM_ebxukqhECu2erpyRPeDaId0G8enc1USIZPUtFFPWavliIMm2aYcblQrbH5fatPT2kZZDWz_kG-zb/w400-h321/Cleo-Coyle-Prize-CoffeehouseMysteries.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />Giveaway</b></span><p></p><p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921570" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921570/" id="rcwidget_oqixarfi" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyOp_MXfNj3UI4lbtTIq_cP7yCSfHivomf9EeOpFSUaXjF-7NFRZ3Cr8zaaBEgSWVCQiFKALO4l-c9mNbRKeNxp03oNJ0u-2e57b2JyBsCG5RFqLibr947FEwPKPYEH_k9H2Wxr-qRGCg1FMSxN36HXpFXwVAQ826GFiTS_VHz1vPXonv51hsf0ZeWqfr/s820/BULLETPROOF%20BARISTA%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="820" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyOp_MXfNj3UI4lbtTIq_cP7yCSfHivomf9EeOpFSUaXjF-7NFRZ3Cr8zaaBEgSWVCQiFKALO4l-c9mNbRKeNxp03oNJ0u-2e57b2JyBsCG5RFqLibr947FEwPKPYEH_k9H2Wxr-qRGCg1FMSxN36HXpFXwVAQ826GFiTS_VHz1vPXonv51hsf0ZeWqfr/w400-h193/BULLETPROOF%20BARISTA%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-36311958097764084872023-10-27T05:00:00.002-04:002023-11-09T17:53:58.286-05:00Book Review and Giveaway - Holly, Baubles and Murder: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8QySxvMpTXGHwciN8ghtetaKbj84kwS-l8e1kIQp2SFMEuBoSTy9nHKFfhoeb9gZEb7HBrEGsUBCg-3eCST9zv0E3MlLiGE2VqtEDdSXReN4cjrGfKRpYfVk38PpAuBgogh_5lo5UieTNJqIFq-nnLjmVRJze8_xwUbvB_juFzOkwNi9arAOfrD5FoNb/s1800/cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8QySxvMpTXGHwciN8ghtetaKbj84kwS-l8e1kIQp2SFMEuBoSTy9nHKFfhoeb9gZEb7HBrEGsUBCg-3eCST9zv0E3MlLiGE2VqtEDdSXReN4cjrGfKRpYfVk38PpAuBgogh_5lo5UieTNJqIFq-nnLjmVRJze8_xwUbvB_juFzOkwNi9arAOfrD5FoNb/w266-h400/cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Dotty Sayers travels to Yorkshire to arrange a Christmas display in an old estate house there. As she works, she gets to know the family, and enjoys her time ... until one of the tour guides turns up dead. She works to solve the mystery.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Holly, Baubles, and Murder</i> because I read a short story by the author in an anthology this year and greatly enjoyed it. I have been wanting to read one of her mystery novels since.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I absolutely loved this book and, although it worked fine as a standalone, I really want to read the rest of this series now. I loved the estate setting, which reminded me of a modern day <i>Downton Abbey</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I also loved the pets in this mystery. Dotty has a cat named Earl Grey and the Dowager has a dachshund named Reggie (Sir Reginald). There are other cats and dogs in the family as well.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The details in this book were lovely, including the English food and the Christmas decorations, based on <i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</i> (and featuring a wardrobe door and a forest of trees in the house).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The mystery aspect of the story was interesting and well paced. I liked following along as Dotty worked to find a solution.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I enjoyed this mystery so much, and recommend <i>Holly, Baubles and Murder</i> for other cozy mystery fans as well!</span></div><div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Book Synopsis</b>
<b><span class="a-text-bold"> </span></b></span></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A
joyful Christmas festival turns deadly when a corpse ends up as the
chilling centerpiece. Can an amateur sleuth unwrap the tinsel-tangled
mystery before the merry cheer melts away?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
Talented antique enthusiast, Dotty
Sayers, is thrilled to be organising a Christmas display at a Yorkshire
country house. She enjoys decking the halls, but the season is far from
jolly when the chief guide is found dead, her body as cold as ice. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When cops dismiss the death, Dotty turns
to her prickly American colleague, only to learn he has his own secrets
to solve. But when he disappears, this amateur detective fears the
festive charades have become far deadlier. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Can Dotty string together the clues and bring to light the killer?
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKcY97xJkAT4a7-bOUoMKNfWWCv05FWrhlGBtW1vYS6ZJYlotPhBcyGO23u8mSs9VeRmcjSkX1N_iZPgFcfi_kKy1iscaooimBsy7tLfrMBYMasPSmsqgAx4-OtSyREC3FWoVf6HabHipQSW11aKnzM74bdKLe13DzZ5HGVWZQX4zd4TOOrjsX4ktoiWF/s1080/victoria%20tait.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKcY97xJkAT4a7-bOUoMKNfWWCv05FWrhlGBtW1vYS6ZJYlotPhBcyGO23u8mSs9VeRmcjSkX1N_iZPgFcfi_kKy1iscaooimBsy7tLfrMBYMasPSmsqgAx4-OtSyREC3FWoVf6HabHipQSW11aKnzM74bdKLe13DzZ5HGVWZQX4zd4TOOrjsX4ktoiWF/s320/victoria%20tait.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Victoria Tait was born
and raised in Yorkshire, England. After following her military husband
around the world, she drew on her life’s experiences, and a love of
Agatha Christie, Father Brown, and Murder She Wrote, to write
British-based cozy mysteries. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Her determined female sleuths are joined
by colourful and quirky teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid
and realistic. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be
irresistibly drawn into a world where you’ll experience surprises,
humour, and sometimes, a tug on your heartstrings. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you like tea, mysteries, and books?
Then why not join Victoria’s TeaCozy Club for regular news and updates,
and download the free prequel to the Dotty Sayers Antique Mysteries
series as a gift by visiting <a href="https://victoriatait.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">VictoriaTait.com</a> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Who doesn’t like tea, cake, and a slice of murder?
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> </b>Author Links<br />
Website: <a href="https://victoriatait.com/">https://victoriatait.com/</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bookbub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/_saved/">https://www.pinterest.co.uk/VictoriaTaitAuthor/_saved/</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Purchase Links <a href="https://books2read.com/HollyBaublesMurder" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Book2Read</a> <a href="https://amzn.to/45UTfVC" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Giveaway</span></p><p><a href="https://kingsumo.com/g/j5htq4/cozy-christmas-baubles-giveaway"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">https://kingsumo.com/g/j5htq4/cozy-christmas-baubles-giveaway</span></a>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7BWJ37NAB7yu8JoMD4_HErgiKd1uQachBXOZFbvCgc0iIl3PZQrXE5DUOjh5z6Ce-Bgko8cp99BD_PiRiJ53j8tf6EiX0ZEWoML56TyjRbysfBQIxzWg81tAguqnTeBauLxYGN5_lR-Wj0ire3aCw2irpCrM_dmL4Wku-7-ZwcFH6SIH1eCT1rb9x97G/s820/HOLLY%20BAUBLES%20AND%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7BWJ37NAB7yu8JoMD4_HErgiKd1uQachBXOZFbvCgc0iIl3PZQrXE5DUOjh5z6Ce-Bgko8cp99BD_PiRiJ53j8tf6EiX0ZEWoML56TyjRbysfBQIxzWg81tAguqnTeBauLxYGN5_lR-Wj0ire3aCw2irpCrM_dmL4Wku-7-ZwcFH6SIH1eCT1rb9x97G/w400-h191/HOLLY%20BAUBLES%20AND%20MURDER%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div data-url="https://kingsumo.com/g/j5htq4/cozy-christmas-baubles-giveaway" id="kingsumo-embed"></div>
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Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-42280588242299715752023-10-20T05:00:00.001-04:002023-10-20T05:00:00.132-04:00Book Review and Giveaway - Murder by the Seashore (A California Bookshop Mystery) by Samara Yew<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuCYCaywFHJWWQD9L0p8InPP0QWiVpRIL748ryMytHLOT8BGpf7cA6AmlEcuQs7gYOKUmO0mau04aqaezblxDaTvwwlhX4w5dv6yVpIHOqxjSJco5gwyF-NaNyRTtIUfUCO_mrjb0cv4NJrWgC_3bt9tymEICvBq7xSh9jnWYJhPx_-WjGAS8btDs2yEb/s2475/Murder%20by%20the%20Seashore%20final%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuCYCaywFHJWWQD9L0p8InPP0QWiVpRIL748ryMytHLOT8BGpf7cA6AmlEcuQs7gYOKUmO0mau04aqaezblxDaTvwwlhX4w5dv6yVpIHOqxjSJco5gwyF-NaNyRTtIUfUCO_mrjb0cv4NJrWgC_3bt9tymEICvBq7xSh9jnWYJhPx_-WjGAS8btDs2yEb/w266-h400/Murder%20by%20the%20Seashore%20final%20cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />My Review</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Scarlett Gardner is happy in her life as a bookstore owner in a small beach community in Southern California ... that is, until she goes for an early morning walk and finds a body under the pier. The murdered woman turns out to be someone who was bequeathing a great deal of money to Scarlett ... making her the chief suspect.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Murder by the Seashore</i> because I love cozy mysteries. I especially enjoy bookstore settings, and the beach locale was an added bonus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is a terrific start to a new series. I really liked Scarlett as a bookstore owner - and also an amateur detective. I enjoyed following her sleuthing on this case. The author does a great job at introducing the new characters, the bookstore, and the feel of this beach community.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I recommend <i>Murder by the Seashore</i> for fans of cozy fiction, and especially for anyone who enjoys bookstore or beach settings. I look forward to reading more in this new series.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Southern California is where dreams come true—or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she moved there and opened the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business afloat. That’s not the only thing she has to worry about—she discovers something underneath the pier by her bookshop that she didn’t outline for her life’s story: the dead body of a book-buying customer.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After Scarlett gives a statement to the police, she thinks her life can go back to business as usual. But when a lawyer, representing someone named Lorelai Knight, tells Scarlett that she now stands to inherit a small fortune, she’s left with more questions than answers. Before she can make sense of any of it, the police bring her in for questioning; the body she found was Lorelai Knight. And the evidence they have against Scarlett doesn’t look good. Business is booming as Scarlett returns to Palm Trees and Page Turners, but for all the wrong reasons – curious tourists don’t want books, they want a glimpse of the Bookshop Killer.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Who could really be behind all of this? And why frame Scarlett? To clear her name, she’s going to have get creative—and hope she can remain one page ahead of the killer.</span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNR_D62Hva3M8AndNSzT5efVcXAUAYZeK2EXucC6b_FqpMv2TcEFBbDB8XHO06k2XT3biyTK6vc5nCXpuR49AufLv76FYaLDeHfwk5duHCQJd8HrnNi-9Lg2hW0tMtdzDSPS_X2GhpmZMEeS3y7CU_ek1JDNZSigJfeADiIpc3D3_t9dk-aZQiVAouz3n/s1824/Author%20photo%20Samara%20Yew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNR_D62Hva3M8AndNSzT5efVcXAUAYZeK2EXucC6b_FqpMv2TcEFBbDB8XHO06k2XT3biyTK6vc5nCXpuR49AufLv76FYaLDeHfwk5duHCQJd8HrnNi-9Lg2hW0tMtdzDSPS_X2GhpmZMEeS3y7CU_ek1JDNZSigJfeADiIpc3D3_t9dk-aZQiVAouz3n/s320/Author%20photo%20Samara%20Yew.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Samara Yew</span> is a cozy mystery author who writes about adorable bookshops and dead bodies. A full-time mom, full-time dog servant, and part-time writer, Samara lives in British Columbia, Canada, where she can often be found watching Psych reruns. Samara loves to travel, especially visiting her husband’s home country of Singapore or donning Mickey ears in Disneyland. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Author Links</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Website</span> <a href="https://samarayew.com/" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://samarayew.com</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Facebook</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/samara.yew.books" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.facebook.com/samara.yew.books</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Twitter (X)</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/samarayewauthor" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://twitter.com/samarayewauthor</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Instagram</span> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samara.yew.author" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.instagram.com/samara.yew.author</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit;">GoodReads</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24259604.Samara_Yew" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24259604.Samara_Yew</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3ssTU1S" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/729839/murder-by-the-seashore-by-samara-yew/9781639104932" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">PenguinRandomHouse</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-by-the-seashore-samara-yew/1142954177?ean=9781639104932" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/murder-by-the-seashore/9781639104932-item.html" rel="noopener" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e73be; transition: color 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Chapters Indigo</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></p><p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921558" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921558/" id="rcwidget_b4k3f5jn" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</span></a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJZGivrXfsnVCpkdhcgYKWUlPfBNjFGRUMYt2FaZdmflbHH6yOTHg2dzBguMpSme2Y6kRFggzr-gWoo9K74maW5khTT-0eMAaoOhoF6bfQzRe2g2Tpf6pdlykJh5hyphenhyphenRbrG0vrVkS_pxOFjIbed2Y1WL4CxkMZgBaFaGIxVUSl8Zl_Lc9ILZgj2u_E5wQT/s820/MURDER%20BY%20THE%20SEASHORE%20BANNER%20820.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="820" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJZGivrXfsnVCpkdhcgYKWUlPfBNjFGRUMYt2FaZdmflbHH6yOTHg2dzBguMpSme2Y6kRFggzr-gWoo9K74maW5khTT-0eMAaoOhoF6bfQzRe2g2Tpf6pdlykJh5hyphenhyphenRbrG0vrVkS_pxOFjIbed2Y1WL4CxkMZgBaFaGIxVUSl8Zl_Lc9ILZgj2u_E5wQT/w400-h190/MURDER%20BY%20THE%20SEASHORE%20BANNER%20820.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-79558853807882749862023-10-19T17:48:00.000-04:002023-10-19T17:48:22.642-04:00Book Review - On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9qvPFdTbrGIHhuxZ0cAH2uHB9cCO8DqrwFCGAWjt5CljNwCtBD6NCKSTZo17lxKFQ1MYXxAE3tANVzCcV-jgMujm7PdBFWDXN5XGWhVChX6azKnCKKqQlTrmGh0ZVRZbgraruviytVbJ2GP71SlgIc_sKkvda8A49_E6UjLh-Kl5rmJ6CJSG4jXcvYtS/s2000/9780800744977.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9qvPFdTbrGIHhuxZ0cAH2uHB9cCO8DqrwFCGAWjt5CljNwCtBD6NCKSTZo17lxKFQ1MYXxAE3tANVzCcV-jgMujm7PdBFWDXN5XGWhVChX6azKnCKKqQlTrmGh0ZVRZbgraruviytVbJ2GP71SlgIc_sKkvda8A49_E6UjLh-Kl5rmJ6CJSG4jXcvYtS/w259-h400/9780800744977.jpg" width="259" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Cora Matthews returns to Moonberry Lake when her mother passes away suddenly. She discovers she has inherited her grandparents' lodge, a place she loved as a child but hasn't visited in many years. The lodge is in great disrepair, and as she sets about restoring it, she discovers a new community in this quirky little Minnesota town.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>On Moonberry Lake</i> because the story resonated with me. My mother also recently passed and I am working on a beloved old house restoration. I enjoy small town fiction and found the lakeside lodge setting appealing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This book was a delight from start to finish. I love small towns that become almost a character themselves - like Mayberry or Lake Wobegon or Stars Hollow. There is a rich variety of quirky but lovable neighbors that Cora becomes acquainted with, and I loved meeting every one of them too. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The story of the lodge restoration held great interest for me, but I also enjoyed reading how Cora restored her soul and sense of place as she settled into this little community. There are a couple of twists and turns and even a sweet love story.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span>There is also great humor, as seen in the "Sightings and Satire" column of the local newspaper, with tidbits like:<br /><br />"</span>It’s that time of year again for the fire department to check and flush the fire hydrants. As torrents of water are released, residents are encouraged to use the water wisely by participating in public bathing. Come wash your dogs, cars, and children. Note that nudity is prohibited. Although all creation is to be celebrated, some is better left covered" (eBook location 5202).</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It appears that <i>On Moonberry Lake</i> is going to be the first in a series, and I hope it is a long series - as I intend to read every book. I cannot recommend this charming and uplifting novel highly enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Cora Matthews's life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected
death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return
to normal. Whatever "normal" is. <br /><br />It certainly isn't what she
finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family's dilapidated
lakefront lodge as an inheritance--with a surprising condition
attached--Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors
who all have something to say <i>and </i>something to teach her. <br /><br />As
Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is
willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the
craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdFr5Ain9B7AH32yg6AE-gk_mf2EcEAqE-xgANd7VWgeLZLq0d5jbz7CyzCBp-WqIeaO85Xhk5r0TgxidaIchrfTjxgR7y3NLWQ6UuxNZch5QeDXkaKXoLXOB4XxhuGQQvLkkaVNksSnv2hlmUSntLdpc601T8Un4QCJKMhxLie_GOqTdBEFyPF1fQ2fV/s1292/18012-40%25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1292" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdFr5Ain9B7AH32yg6AE-gk_mf2EcEAqE-xgANd7VWgeLZLq0d5jbz7CyzCBp-WqIeaO85Xhk5r0TgxidaIchrfTjxgR7y3NLWQ6UuxNZch5QeDXkaKXoLXOB4XxhuGQQvLkkaVNksSnv2hlmUSntLdpc601T8Un4QCJKMhxLie_GOqTdBEFyPF1fQ2fV/s320/18012-40%25.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Author Bio</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Holly Varni is a native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian
descent, who was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor
made a career depicting. Between the lutefisk, grumpy grandparents, and
crazy neighbors who mowed their lawn wearing pajamas, the seed to
becoming a storyteller was planted. Though she, her husband, and their
three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved
Midwest roots continue to haunt everything she writes. She hosts the <i>Moments from Moonberry Lake </i>podcast where she shares more stories of her beloved characters. Learn more at www.hollyvarni.com.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-23862992351033507732023-10-13T05:00:00.001-04:002023-10-13T05:00:00.141-04:00Book Review and Giveaway - Overdue or Die (A Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNQkmqoINDaW_co0-x1b7AD2nGoFWAIEhr5x9n74CnJK_mo3DT3m3aFFNeCdCUo8cusG2wmk0lyQdueFTMqYRxsKkNRCgGRpqs_tYaq8_E1M2zC_LaifdBslRz9-EAjLYAbmqAkF6rA59RQBJ1H6jxYOEtLYE8ABMkqlr4U9SutSdaaPVpTwWh2EOHScr/s450/OVERDUE%20OF%20DIE%20COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNQkmqoINDaW_co0-x1b7AD2nGoFWAIEhr5x9n74CnJK_mo3DT3m3aFFNeCdCUo8cusG2wmk0lyQdueFTMqYRxsKkNRCgGRpqs_tYaq8_E1M2zC_LaifdBslRz9-EAjLYAbmqAkF6rA59RQBJ1H6jxYOEtLYE8ABMkqlr4U9SutSdaaPVpTwWh2EOHScr/w263-h400/OVERDUE%20OF%20DIE%20COVER.jpg" width="263" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carrie Singleton is working at the small town library she loves in Clover Ridge, Connecticut, planning her wedding to Dylan Avery, and helping her uncle recover from a heart attack. Then she suddenly becomes involved in two cases - counterfeit art, and a murder at the local art gallery. She works to solve them with the help of her ghostly friend, Evelyn.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanted to read <i>Overdue or Die</i> because I love the Haunted Library mystery series. I have enjoyed the other books in this series and always await the next in the series!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This was a wonderful read. Carrie is always a smart, intuitive detective, and I love the way Evelyn helps her with clues in the cases. The mystery is well paced with several plausible suspects. It was fun detecting along with Carrie.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also enjoy Carrie's relationships with Dylan, her aunt and uncle, her friends - and her kitty Smokey Joe! I always especially enjoy cozy mysteries with lovable cats or dogs.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I recommend <i>Overdue or Die</i> - and the whole Haunted Library series - to fans of cozy mysteries, and especially to anyone who enjoys a library setting or small town atmosphere.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Book Synopsis</b>
<b><span class="a-text-bold"> </span></b></span></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Carrie
Singleton has a wedding to plan, a killer to catch, and a conspiracy to
uncover in this charming seventh novel of Agatha Award-nominee Allison
Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carrie Singleton has more than her fair share on her plate: her job
at the Clover Ridge Library, preparing for her wedding to Dylan Avery,
and hoping that the local art gallery doesn’t steal away one of her
part-time employees. Her fiancé Dylan accompanies her to the beautiful
home of Victor Zalinka—art collector and successful businessman—to
select paintings for an art show at the library. While Carrie muses that
Victor’s home would be the perfect wedding venue, Dylan spots a forgery
among the paintings in Victor’s collection.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then Martha Mallory is found murdered in her art gallery. With the
assistance of Evelyn, the library ghost; the resident cat, Smoky Joe;
and the office manager of Dylan’s private investigation company, Carrie
comes up with a suspect list long enough to rival the size of an
encyclopedia. During her investigation, Carrie stumbles across a
terrible truth: Martha’s murder was part of something far bigger and
more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. And it all leads back
to the art gallery.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How far will Carrie go to find the killer and uncover the truth? If
the killer finds her first—will Carrie finally be taken out of
circulation?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDZIULf18lmvKOwKgR78LirFD86OCc1-UPPO7PRZiy1aPWMHV2rAXCxF1dEJgWkYUo4fAWzS4bBSbUbq8j1j-aHRGNVPR_x25qPIY8PBwmvZ8zzA7QPs5b1IVcTG3HR9P6n3TCRD3WoWZCZQaqxPVKwBl8zJlfQbL4BGIbsqTVSm8LG8JGmpcoStLsR0A/s640/Marilyn--Jan2819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDZIULf18lmvKOwKgR78LirFD86OCc1-UPPO7PRZiy1aPWMHV2rAXCxF1dEJgWkYUo4fAWzS4bBSbUbq8j1j-aHRGNVPR_x25qPIY8PBwmvZ8zzA7QPs5b1IVcTG3HR9P6n3TCRD3WoWZCZQaqxPVKwBl8zJlfQbL4BGIbsqTVSm8LG8JGmpcoStLsR0A/s320/Marilyn--Jan2819.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook<b>,</b> she writes the Haunted Library series<i>. Death Overdue</i>,
the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary
Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book
Club series and the Twin Lakes series.
</span></span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Her juvenile novel, <i>Rufus and Magic Run Amok, </i>was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice and has recently come out in a new edition. <i>And Don’t Bring Jeremy</i> was a nominee for six state awards.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many
of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword
puzzles and Sudoku, and chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Author Links<br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Website and Sign Up for My Newsletter: <a href="http://www.marilynlevinson.com">http://www.marilynlevinson.com</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Facetime: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10">https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson</a>; <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My Amazon Page: <a href="http://amzn.to/K6Md1O">http://amzn.to/K6Md1O</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson">https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pinterest: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/">http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/</a></span></span></p>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Purchase Links :<br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://amzn.to/45z4xOW" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/overdue-or-die-allison-brook/1142956044?ean=9781639104833" rel="noopener" target="_blank">B&N</a> <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9781639104833" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/overdue-or-die" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2199723/allison-brook/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Penguin Random House</a> (has links to many sellers</span></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Giveaway </b><br /><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921557" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921557/" id="rcwidget_63vjncra" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikobGvqzrhxdp84_92SnThndoKZDCHqSjvk3kDM5_D7Uw1QJWXIy_ca_a6QlvciVS5JZ-2VYDuDjgsmAEk0L9nEr_uuML4qQuoTKXAPFiMI6CdmGEMhyFygjTpgwkNCX304Rh6dOiIeU0R6-_rwxA4ZMVBPvCG3WdX1szSm0PCrNj5PLaDwevi0CgzNhyphenhyphenr/s820/OVERDUE%20OR%20DIE%20BANNER%20820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikobGvqzrhxdp84_92SnThndoKZDCHqSjvk3kDM5_D7Uw1QJWXIy_ca_a6QlvciVS5JZ-2VYDuDjgsmAEk0L9nEr_uuML4qQuoTKXAPFiMI6CdmGEMhyFygjTpgwkNCX304Rh6dOiIeU0R6-_rwxA4ZMVBPvCG3WdX1szSm0PCrNj5PLaDwevi0CgzNhyphenhyphenr/w400-h191/OVERDUE%20OR%20DIE%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> </span></span>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br /><p></p>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-61946113561375452412023-10-06T05:00:00.001-04:002023-10-06T05:00:00.140-04:00Book Review and Giveaway - The Socialite’s Guide to Death and Dating (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery) by S. K. Golden<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEf1rXnNuuIEHKJX7i6ZqEPlhbLWW9u8RC_j2AmmEQWZsT6ydLlMFVKnKueEUXq72UE3y2s8zFcyPjGqbmOPMk08vyX7xAz3jv_4bIUhz4WCqKMA_4RKiRD8rUPKZq7CU_uAUVLljnu9RFB4T_a9ctSJDygozVhCSjhtYtItKnNu7_3LQ5qgXiE4G0tch/s1619/SocialitesDeath&Dating%20(1)%20copy.jpeg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEf1rXnNuuIEHKJX7i6ZqEPlhbLWW9u8RC_j2AmmEQWZsT6ydLlMFVKnKueEUXq72UE3y2s8zFcyPjGqbmOPMk08vyX7xAz3jv_4bIUhz4WCqKMA_4RKiRD8rUPKZq7CU_uAUVLljnu9RFB4T_a9ctSJDygozVhCSjhtYtItKnNu7_3LQ5qgXiE4G0tch/w266-h400/SocialitesDeath&Dating%20(1)%20copy.jpeg" width="266" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1958 Manhattan, Evelyn Murphy is hosting a big fundraiser party at her family's Pinnacle Hotel. When a wealthy guest is found dead in the parking garage, Evelyn decides to find the killer. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanted to read this book because I love historical mysteries. I was also intrigued by the New York City setting and the time period. I rarely see mysteries set in the 1950's or 1960's, so that was a big draw.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Evelyn is a very interesting character. She's a spoiled heiress with a sassy personality - and she is an agoraphobic. She's working to conquer this, but it certainly presents challenges to her with her sleuthing. Evelyn is in a romantic relationship with Mac Cooper, but there are complications when her father insists she break the relationship off - and later Mac ends up in jail.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I enjoyed this read very much. The tone was fresh and unique, and the period setting was a delight. I have not read the first book in the series, but this worked fine as a standalone. I recommend <i>The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating</i> for fans of historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, and Mid-Century New York City settings. You will enjoy this book! <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></span></p><p>
<span class="a-text-bold" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Perfect for
fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver, the second Pinnacle Hotel mystery
finds another murder that strikes too close to home, and hotel heiress
Evelyn Murphy knows she’s the only one who can save the hotel before
it’s lights out.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="a-text-bold"> </span></span></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">New York, 1958. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Even
though Evelyn Murphy has made progress conquering her agoraphobia by
leaving the Pinnacle, she still feels most comfortable in her father’s
hotel. With Malcolm Cooper, her new boyfriend and fellow employee at the
hotel, Evelyn feels prepared for whatever happens next. In this case,
it’s throwing a big fundraiser with the who’s who of New York City. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The night is a success, and Evelyn
finally takes up Malcolm’s offer to finally visit his apartment in
Yonkers. As the party ends, they sneak away to the garage to get
Evelyn’s car. But Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, and she
discovers the dead body of a guest, Judge Baker, in a car—with a needle
in his arm. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Detective Hodgson and his new partner,
Detective McJimsey, arrive on the scene, but before they can begin to
question Evelyn, they are startled by another mysterious discovery:
there’s a woman in the trunk of the car, and she screams as soon as she
sees Evelyn’s face. Tangled up in the police investigation, Evelyn’s got
another problem, too—her father insists she break off her relationship
with Mac. The next day, her father is found attacked just like the
judge, only this time the detectives find a dead woman nearby. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With Mac accused of the attacks and in
police custody, Evelyn will have to find the killer on her own before
she’s checked out of the hotel—this time, for good.
</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrc5IavKRNfvPtGMasbG6iKipPF1Aqo804fcD4-fg5J9SpWZe898mW5AyDroLpHDyMoHEikxLkHCrNOH47mdw_Y_-WSlKM5TMdwTpgYpDT9eXdDBvAoPZrY4QVYS_6VmSu48PVkvA1aZubmWQ-WgH7iKhIe1XdK7gET-1Fa56MGW5SDfkIdjPZ6-Uu-m-/s746/SarahGolden%20AuthorHeadshot1.jpg" style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="549" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrc5IavKRNfvPtGMasbG6iKipPF1Aqo804fcD4-fg5J9SpWZe898mW5AyDroLpHDyMoHEikxLkHCrNOH47mdw_Y_-WSlKM5TMdwTpgYpDT9eXdDBvAoPZrY4QVYS_6VmSu48PVkvA1aZubmWQ-WgH7iKhIe1XdK7gET-1Fa56MGW5SDfkIdjPZ6-Uu-m-/s320/SarahGolden%20AuthorHeadshot1.jpg" width="235" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Author Bio</b></span><b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">S. K. Golden is the
author of the Pinnacle Hotel cozy mystery series. Born and raised in the
Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still
live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls —
including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. Sarah
graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human
Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately
zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an
executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be
doing none of those things now. Follow her across all platforms
@skgoldenwrites.
</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Author Links<br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Website <a href="https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/">https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SKGoldenWrites/">https://www.facebook.com/SKGoldenWrites/</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Twitter (X) <a href="https://twitter.com/skgoldenwrites">https://twitter.com/skgoldenwrites</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/skgoldenwrites/">https://www.instagram.com/skgoldenwrites/</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">GoodReads <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22010011.S_K_Golden">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22010011.S_K_Golden</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3KGBhOh" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-socialites-guide-to-death-and-dating-s-k-golden/1142929014?ean=9781639104857" rel="noopener" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-socialite-s-guide-to-death-and-dating" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9781639104857" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a><b> <br /></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Giveaway</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921555" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921555/" id="rcwidget_inj0hpg4" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: arial;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRi_nmrfAJ_61T3McBL9eWuYsu3qRa6KQI1pXjxFR7fvTlps607F3Krcd-Ay0rbmpbPnXnEB3RZwGyH3X2TdNRbcSIAnQEFVkuFnU9mjUKJu5ofwmQYdNCJsX71i-jMZjrUMRP5T9irGA8YkHzuB-ORO5M2YTN3-RTZO2lKF5YrhOtqvaokqp86q7Q5NH/s820/SOCIALITES%20GUIDE%20TO%20DEATH%20AND%20DATING%20BANNER%20820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="820" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRi_nmrfAJ_61T3McBL9eWuYsu3qRa6KQI1pXjxFR7fvTlps607F3Krcd-Ay0rbmpbPnXnEB3RZwGyH3X2TdNRbcSIAnQEFVkuFnU9mjUKJu5ofwmQYdNCJsX71i-jMZjrUMRP5T9irGA8YkHzuB-ORO5M2YTN3-RTZO2lKF5YrhOtqvaokqp86q7Q5NH/w400-h191/SOCIALITES%20GUIDE%20TO%20DEATH%20AND%20DATING%20BANNER%20820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><p></p><p><br /></p>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-19398748718336256332023-10-05T20:34:00.001-04:002023-10-06T18:41:18.226-04:00Book Review - Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhG6iObALBgODqtM1a8Owq5i3jO85mplcB3M6EPsj9US45-xAR7GuZHF_TM50cTLEp_1f6M05zUjcUWft8aTSV1XR2O_Tv9IKks6zJhGTIQNVQaqqGeTViImEos3ruLx1cK_maNI1C9d56gObmjc-8vSYJtR3Mc4xhrU5mvKjzpWdEK7cKDX7rcT8gzu5/s727/Capture.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhG6iObALBgODqtM1a8Owq5i3jO85mplcB3M6EPsj9US45-xAR7GuZHF_TM50cTLEp_1f6M05zUjcUWft8aTSV1XR2O_Tv9IKks6zJhGTIQNVQaqqGeTViImEos3ruLx1cK_maNI1C9d56gObmjc-8vSYJtR3Mc4xhrU5mvKjzpWdEK7cKDX7rcT8gzu5/w261-h400/Capture.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>My Review</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kerry Tolliver travels from her family's Christmas tree farm in North Carolina to New York, along with her brother Murphy and his dog Queenie - all to sell trees in a holiday tree lot. Kerry, Murphy, and Queenie stay in a vintage camper they have nicknamed Spammy. Murphy, who does this each year, knows many people in the tree lot neighborhood. Kerry gets to know them too, and is especially drawn to single dad Patrick and his son Austin. She also meets an older man with a mysterious past, an artist, and when he goes missing, the search for him changes lives.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanted to read <i>Bright Lights, Big Christmas</i> because I love Mary Kay Andrews' books. Mentions of Christmas in New York City, a vintage travel trailer, and a dog all sweetened the read!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a delightful holiday read, with a heartwarming community in the big city, a sweet love story, and a light mystery as well. There is even a brief mention of characters from Mary Kay Andrews' <i>The Santa Suit.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I really enjoyed this read, and recommend <i>Bright Lights, Big Christmas</i> for fans of women's fiction, Christmas in New York, and heartwarming holiday stories. Five enthusiastic stars for this novel!<i> <br /></i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></span></p><p><span class="Formatted" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry
Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of
North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older
brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a
corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and
experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve
out a new corner for herself.<br /><br />In the weeks leading into
Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who
live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will
need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York
knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,<br /><br />And
complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable,
dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s
chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance
really have?<br /><br />Filled with family ties, both rekindled and new, and sparkling with Christmas magic, <i>Bright Lights, Big Christmas</i> delivers everything Mary Kay Andrews fans adore, all tied up in a hilarious, romantic gem of a novel.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Author Bio</b></span></span></p><p><span class="Formatted" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times
bestselling author of 30 novels (including The Homewreckers, The Santa
Suit, The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The
Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss;
Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas;
Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and
one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.<br /><br />A native of St.
Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University
of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers
including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her
career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.<br /><br />Her first
novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She
went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name,
Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay
Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit
became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New
York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her
novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian,
Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.<br /><br />She and her family divide
their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new
recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both
named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to
rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her
grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure
hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.</span></p>Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-13756205928427216332023-09-29T05:00:00.004-04:002023-09-29T13:47:48.175-04:00Book Review and Giveaway - Reading, Writing, and Murder (Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery) by Brenda Whiteside and Joyce Proell<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4Vh5r1hLkrE-eeRW8XOwNi9Wxieb72qRyquY6JbpgIxURY77JSFJWrPA2wn5QWesoxNeRlhXoKKiuvrNNdptid_8VjPhRxBCl5uKSvjDwoK2a18CJZ2Wa-7QeMsn6PK71z_UIaDP5wZw6lh3AS1WoUsCk8t-eIxm7nL17UxQREeQgVhuCewfkcYIT2N2/s2550/Reading,%20Writing,%20and%20Murder-01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4Vh5r1hLkrE-eeRW8XOwNi9Wxieb72qRyquY6JbpgIxURY77JSFJWrPA2wn5QWesoxNeRlhXoKKiuvrNNdptid_8VjPhRxBCl5uKSvjDwoK2a18CJZ2Wa-7QeMsn6PK71z_UIaDP5wZw6lh3AS1WoUsCk8t-eIxm7nL17UxQREeQgVhuCewfkcYIT2N2/w250-h400/Reading,%20Writing,%20and%20Murder-01.jpg" width="250" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Emma and Nicole are excited to have a fun getaway for a writers' conference. The conference is full of colorful characters and drama leading up to a murder. The sisters work together as amateur sleuths to solve the mystery.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to read <i>Reading, Writing, and Murder</i> because I was intrigued by the writers conference setting. I have attended several writers conferences - although certainly none as action packed as the one in this book!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is my first read in the Chocolate Martini Sisters mystery series but I had no problem jumping in and enjoying this novel as a standalone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I really like Nicole and Emma as sleuths. I also enjoyed the array of characters they met at the conference, which made their detecting process fun to read about.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I recommend <i>Reading, Writing and Murder</i> for other cozy mystery readers. It's a fun, lively, well paced mystery - perfect for a weekend read.<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At the writers’ conference, murder tops the program.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Aspiring mystery author Emma Banefield and travel writer Nicole Earp
are excited to attend a writers’ conference during their latest sisters’
getaway. Nic’s birthday should be all about relaxation, writing, and a
chocolate martini to toast another trip around the sun, but the climate
at the gathering rumbles like a sudden desert thunderstorm.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When sparks fly between the keynote speaker and her timid assistant
over a handsome mystery author, the subtitle on this anticipated
tranquil weekend spells drama. If a heated love triangle, bruised egos,
and betrayal aren’t enough to upset the atmosphere, the conference
banquet erupts into a drunken brawl and sends the place spinning. After a
body is discovered, Nic and Em do what they do best—snoop—and become
embroiled in a mystery that jumps off the pages of a true-crime
bestseller.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With more than enough suspects and little time, the amateur sleuths
have their hands full finding the killer. But can the competitive
Chocolate Martini Sisters solve the crime before the prickly chief
detective does, or will a murderer outwit them all? <br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Author Bios</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIzPjD5abrtHW7QrienmOptLj0xaEyO2R0wLsPdHoH_ZACovkdAmNVT3eyHrw5KMk6baKFakrLYxWtZr2RrzxgJWP3AEAyLmrR-uf2l8Pu2Yb7xrs2yOBc8pD341ceCw9yV0FGu0X45leTEE9f-MQ7DzUQfkrCIK8hFXXici937Ud5LgtdYk_k131nnoo/s1500/Joyce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIzPjD5abrtHW7QrienmOptLj0xaEyO2R0wLsPdHoH_ZACovkdAmNVT3eyHrw5KMk6baKFakrLYxWtZr2RrzxgJWP3AEAyLmrR-uf2l8Pu2Yb7xrs2yOBc8pD341ceCw9yV0FGu0X45leTEE9f-MQ7DzUQfkrCIK8hFXXici937Ud5LgtdYk_k131nnoo/s320/Joyce.jpg" width="256" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Joyce Proell is the award-winning author of <i>Amaryllis</i>, <i>Eliza</i> and the Cady Delafield mysteries: <i>A Deadly Truth</i>, <i>A Burning Truth</i> and <i>A Wicked Truth. </i>Along
with her husband and little dog, Nellie, she lives in Minnesota in her
very own little house on the prairie. She loves to hear from readers.
</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://joyceproell.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Website </a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JoyceProellAuthor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Joyce-Proell/author/B009K432O8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6545483.Joyce_Proell" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads Author Page</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcKSkVGcn29v5vDkHL4kvAOA5ClTpvIVvOE4ODIwDRceDUKcukoSBBe7DG4TEaY9kGHEJeCJ3cr1mfY-qw0B5LRlWUi3AkydituAbW27oE8tj59de7VqTRoqOdkk4s0DRY2GWST0fH3WLq_z_PCvANyGbChQPoq-b4XDiz8HE8gsWrRNb2alWU7vNRnKj/s2164/BRENDA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="1937" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcKSkVGcn29v5vDkHL4kvAOA5ClTpvIVvOE4ODIwDRceDUKcukoSBBe7DG4TEaY9kGHEJeCJ3cr1mfY-qw0B5LRlWUi3AkydituAbW27oE8tj59de7VqTRoqOdkk4s0DRY2GWST0fH3WLq_z_PCvANyGbChQPoq-b4XDiz8HE8gsWrRNb2alWU7vNRnKj/s320/BRENDA.jpg" width="286" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of
romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states
and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central
Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won’t discount the
possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog
named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.brendawhiteside.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Visit Brenda’s Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/brendawhitesid2" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Blog</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Goodreads Author Page</a> <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-whiteside" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brendawhitesideauthor/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Instagram</a> </span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Join her Newsletter Group <a href="https://us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4804e039587723cfe02e83f2c&id=5e4b22a4ac" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here.</a> </span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Purchase Links<br /></span></span>
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Birdhouse Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075857846666114496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203576453126494928.post-68646804935698031322023-09-22T05:00:00.001-04:002023-09-22T05:00:00.144-04:00Book Review and Giveaway - Murder at the Elms (A Gilded Newport Mystery) by Alyssa Maxwell<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceKkLq29VExb6KeOs_nA8j7cAl593M7tOJJi_uIzeZbzGTyNLvpX4RS84nNHsIcLvqkc09_3ReIZJNEcV5ADsFeInuo49QYM7FF2ICUKbOgb2bGtpqeN2824mFl7kT35F15GeaxiGUEbhDwIRAqQcNvfl14sRRIaUJ4IqmHgxizestY89wg8inhl2X_3B/s1501/MURDER%20AT%20THE%20ELMS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceKkLq29VExb6KeOs_nA8j7cAl593M7tOJJi_uIzeZbzGTyNLvpX4RS84nNHsIcLvqkc09_3ReIZJNEcV5ADsFeInuo49QYM7FF2ICUKbOgb2bGtpqeN2824mFl7kT35F15GeaxiGUEbhDwIRAqQcNvfl14sRRIaUJ4IqmHgxizestY89wg8inhl2X_3B/w266-h400/MURDER%20AT%20THE%20ELMS.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>My Review</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">During the Gilded Age, Emma Cross and her husband Derrick are part of the social set in Newport, Rhode Island and also own the local newspaper. They become involved in detecting when a young maid from a neighboring estate is discovered dead in a coal mine at the same time a very valuable necklace is discovered missing.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanted to read this mystery because I have enjoyed several of the books in Alyssa Maxwell's A Lady and Lady's Maid series. I have not (yet!) read the other books in the Gilded Newport series, but <i>Murder at the Elms</i> works well as a stand alone.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I love historical fiction and cozy mysteries, and this book is a perfect blend of both. The Gilded Age setting is perfection! There are so many great period details and descriptions that make this earlier time come alive.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I really like Emma as an amateur detective. She's smart and independent. Her relationship with Derrick, which is more modern than many marriages of this time, was also interesting.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The mystery aspect of <i>Murder at the Elms</i> was well done, with a brisk pace and a storyline that unfolds as Emma sleuths.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I recommend <i>Murder at the Elms</i> for fans of historical fiction, historical mysteries, cozy mysteries - and for anyone who is interested in the Gilded Age. I want to go back and read the rest of this series! <br /></span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Book Synopsis</b></span></span></p><span class="a-text-bold" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As the
nineteenth century comes to a close, the illustrious Vanderbilt family
dominates Newport, Rhode Island, high society. But when murder arrives,
reporter Emma Cross learns that sometimes the actions of the cream of
society can curdle one’s blood in the latest installment of this
bestselling cozy historical mystery series . . .</span>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">1901: Back from their honeymoon in Italy, Emma and Derrick are
adapting to married life as they return to their duties at their jointly
owned newspaper, the Newport <span class="a-text-italic">Messenger</span>.
The Elms, coal baron Edward Berwind’s newly completed Bellevue Avenue
estate, is newsworthy for two reasons: A modern mansion for the new
century, it is one of the first homes in America to be wired for
electricity with no backup power system, generated by coal from
Berwind’s own mines. And their servants—with a single exception—have all
gone on strike to protest their working conditions. Summarily
dismissing and replacing his staff with cool and callous efficiency,
Berwind throws a grand party to showcase the marvels of his new
“cottage.”</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emma and Derrick are invited to the fete, which culminates not only
in a fabulous musicale but an unforeseen tragedy—a chambermaid is found
dead in the coal tunnel. In short order, it is also discovered that a
guest’s diamond necklace is missing and a laborer has disappeared.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Detective Jesse Whyte entreats Emma and Derrick to help with the
investigation and determine whether the murdered maid and stolen
necklace are connected. As the dark deeds cast a shadow over the blazing
mansion, it’s up to Emma to shine a light on the culprit . . .</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-P29CaeF0q0TkHHswx7Y6pJeWIvpenir9K6uumxXcAfWgG3Ic-BSnCqrOQZRawHWSiCbFdjy20nAxFTidPwkUI-e-Yu9VwXSmLjYm1oypWEZjtWccpHyNv0kqNka6DS-z8Xuy1Xj7AT_i6vaOnEGM5-Z54u5KV9XtYxjnN6PttevRsjH8v1GJGw_7XfU/s317/ALYSSA%20MAXWELL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="236" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-P29CaeF0q0TkHHswx7Y6pJeWIvpenir9K6uumxXcAfWgG3Ic-BSnCqrOQZRawHWSiCbFdjy20nAxFTidPwkUI-e-Yu9VwXSmLjYm1oypWEZjtWccpHyNv0kqNka6DS-z8Xuy1Xj7AT_i6vaOnEGM5-Z54u5KV9XtYxjnN6PttevRsjH8v1GJGw_7XfU/s1600/ALYSSA%20MAXWELL.jpg" width="236" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br />Author Bio</b></span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Alyssa Maxwell is the
author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Lady and Lady’s Maid
Mysteries. She has worked in publishing as a reference book editor,
ghost writer, and fiction editor, but knew from an early age that she
wanted to be a fiction author. Growing up in New England and traveling
to Great Britain and Ireland fueled a passion for history, while a love
of puzzles drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband have make
their home in South Florida. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of
America and the South Florida Fiction Writers.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Author Links </span></span>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Website <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://www.alyssamaxwell.com/">www.alyssamaxwell.com</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Facebook <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaMaxwellauthor/">https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaMaxwellauthor/</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Facebook Sleuths In Crime <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.facebook.com/SleuthsInTime">https://www.facebook.com/SleuthsInTime</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Twitter <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://twitter.com/Alyssa__Maxwell">https://twitter.com/Alyssa__Maxwell</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instagram <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.instagram.com/alyssamaxwellauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/alyssamaxwellauthor/</a><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">GoodReads <a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163135.Alyssa_Maxwell">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163135.Alyssa_Maxwell</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Purchase Links – <a href="https://amzn.to/3qjZD9D" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> – <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-elms-alyssa-maxwell/1142736591?ean=9781496736192" rel="noopener" target="_blank">B&N</a> – <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/murder-at-the-elms" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kobo</a> – <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/91071/9781496736192" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Giveaway</b><br /><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="028877921547" data-template="56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/028877921547/" id="rcwidget_nwh6omg8" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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