Book Review and Giveaway - Mistletoe, Mutts, and Murder (Samantha Davies Mysteries) by S.A. Kazlo

My Review

Samantha Davies is planning a wonderful Christmas with her boyfriend, Hank, and her dachshund Porkchop in her hometown in New York.  Her parents visit from Florida, an over-the-top neighbor dressed as Santa turns up dead, and her father and his best friend are under suspicion.  Sam works to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries and dachshunds!  I am currently owned by a lovable (and mischievous!) corgi, but I had dachshunds for many years and they have a special place in my heart.

This is such a fun, fast moving mystery.  There is a great deal of warmth and some humor too.  The author does a great job at capturing small town life during the holidays.  I have not read the other books in the series, but enjoyed Mistletoe, Mutts, and Murder as a standalone read.  I would like to read the other books now too!

Sam is a good amateur detective and I enjoyed seeing her deductive process.  I liked Hank, her parents, and of course all scenes with Porkchop the dachshund!

I recommend Mistletoe, Mutts, and Murder for other fans of cozy mysteries, holiday reads - and of course for fellow dachshund lovers.

Book Synopsis

Christmas is coming and children’s book author, Samantha Davies, and her lovable dachshund, Porkchop, are caught up in the holiday festivities in beautiful upstate New York. Sam’s parents, Chuck and Barbara, who have been enjoying their retired life in sunny Florida, have flown into Wings Falls to spend the holidays with Sam and meet her new boyfriend, Detective Hank Johnson. Sam is also busy hosting this year’s Christmas party for the Loopy Ladies, Sam’s rug hooking group.

The Loopy Ladies know how to party and are enjoying an evening eating, drinking, and making merry… until Santa crashes the party. Unfortunately, this Santa is Sam’s next-door neighbor who her parents have had a long-running feud with. When not playing the local mall’s not-so-jolly old St. Nick, Leo Sayers is a newspaper reporter, and he announces to the group that he’s written a damning article accusing Sam’s dad and his close friend, Herb Feinstein, of some very shady dealings in their past. To preserve peace on earth—and among the Loopy Ladies—Chuck and Herb escort Leo from the party.

Only, not long after being sent on his way, Santa is found dead—lying in the snow, run over by a plastic reindeer, with a string of Christmas lights around his neck! Are Sam’s father and Herb now on the naughty list? If Sam can’t prove them innocent of murdering Santa, she’s afraid their stockings will contain handcuffs and a one-way ticket to prison this year!

Author Bio

Syrl, a retired teacher, lives in upstate New York with her husband and two lively dachshunds. She writes the Samantha Davies Mystery series, featuring Samantha Davies and her loveable dachshund, Porkchop. When not writing she is busy hooking, rug hooking that is, and enjoying her family. Her newest book, number six in the series is, Mistletoe, Mutts and Murder. 

Author Links

Website – https://www.sakazlo.com/

Blog – https://www.sakazlo.com/blog

Twitter-@sakazlo

Instagram- sakazlo

Facebook- sakazlo

Linkedin- sakazlo

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

Giveaway

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Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: Dachshund and Woman Share Watermelon

Vintage children's book illustration by Roy McKie

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a happy 4th of July!   We had 5 days in a row of fireworks here, which is 5 days too many, if you ask me.

I have a fun video to share with you today.  It features a little dachshund sharing some very delicious looking watermelon with her person.


Doesn't that look like fun?  I have had a little bite of watermelon before and I liked it.  My Momma learned that it is safe in small amounts for dogs, with no seeds and with no rind.  Here is a nice article about fruits and vegetables that dogs can - and can't - eat.  It is from the AKC.    I am very fond of bananas, carrots, and green beans.  I get "no salt" green beans on top of my kibble every day.  

If you have a dog, what type of fruits or vegetables does he or she like?   I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Hoping you have a great weekend ahead!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Pet Related Collections: Angela's Dachshund Collection

Dear friends,

I hope you are having a good week.  We had a lot of rain yesterday.  This meant that Momma had to put on a raincoat and rain boots and carry me outside so I could potty VERY QUICKLY and then be carried back into the house.  I do not like rain!  I am hoping we will have sunny days for a while now.

One of my good friends has stopped by today.  Angela has a wonderful pet family, including my pal Gizmo. (He is a dachshund - Jack Russell mix dog, just like me.)   Angela runs the Doxieposse on Facebook and Twitter.  She has visited before, to introduce my buddy Gizmo and his family, to remember Gizmo's mother, Princess Poo, and also to mourn the loss of Gizmo's brother Teddy.

Abby:  Angela, thank you so much for visiting!  I love the dachshund treasures you brought to show my friends.  Please tell us about them.

Angela:  This is my little collection. I have several other stuffed dachshunds, but they are in storage at the moment. Gym members where I work started giving me doxie related items and the collection has grown through the years. 

First picture, I have my 3 doxie tops. A friend gave me the "my wiener does tricks" shirt. The other 2 I ordered from Etsy. 

The second picture includes some of my doxie collection. It's my 2 Buddy's from the movie The Secret Life of Pets. A doxie floor decoration, a doxie bookend and a doxie salt shaker my parents gave me just last weekend. 

The third picture are my doxie ornaments. I've collected them through the years. If I find one, I buy it. I think I may be missing one, but these are some of them.

3 more doxie stuffies. A doxie bag, doxie socks and a doxie bag. They are all lying on a doxie blanket my friend got me for Christmas. 

Abby:  Thank you so much, Angela!  I really love your collection.  All your treasures are so neat, and I especially love the dachshund blanket and festive Christmas doxies!  I can't resist posting a photo of your special boy Gizmo while you are here.   Thank you again for your visit!

Gizmo

Friends, if you would like to leave a message for Angela, you can do so in the comments, below.  If you would like to share a pet related collection, please let me know that too (including your email).

Thank you for visiting today!  Have a good weekend.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

 

Dear Abby - Rainy Day Dachshunds

Dear Friends,

I am taking a break in my Pet Related Collections series to talk to you about rain.

I don't mind a little light rain in Spring or Summer, when it is nice and warm and just drizzling.  More than that  and I am not a fan.  We get rain on and off here during Spring and Summer, and I was looking for dog images to show my Momma that old fashioned dogs didn't care for rain either.

Instead, I found these vintage dachshund images showing rainy day doxies.  I thought you might enjoy seeing them too.

This is a vintage Calling All Girls magazine cover featuring a girl and her dachshund, inside (as they should be) watching the rain.  It is dated April 1959.

This dachshund helps a teenage girl wait in the rain.  They are both covered with newspapers.  I hope it is keeping them dry!  This Calling All Girls magazine cover is from April 1958.

Vintage illustration of a dachshund walking in the rain with a little girl.  The girl is carrying a pitcher.

Vintage postcard of a little girl cuddled up with her dachshund under a big green umbrella.

Vintage illustration of two dachshunds under an umbrella -- with a white cat playing peek-a-boo.

Vintage illustration of two dachshunds under an umbrella in the rain.

Vintage black and white postcard of a dachshund and a little girl under an umbrella.  It is a cute picture but she needs to hold the umbrella up so they both will stay dry!

This vintage postcard is from the same series -- a dachshund and a little girl walking under an umbrella.

This children's book illustration reads NOVEMBER and it depicts a dachshund walking with a little girl who wears a red coat.

In this picture, the dachshund wears a red coat and walks with a little girl in the rain.  This vintage illustration is by Maria Pia Franzoni Tomba.  She did many sweet illustrations of children, usually signed "Mariapia."

I hope you enjoyed this little rainy day excursion with me!  This is the way I enjoy rain best --  cozy and warm inside, just looking at pictures of rain.

I would like to continue with my series of Pet Theme Collections next week.  If you want to join with sharing some photos of any pet theme (or animal theme) collection, I would love to hear from you.  Please just let me know in the comments, below!  

Wishing you a wonderful weekend - lots of sunshine and no rain!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Pet Related Collections: Rebecca's Dachshund Collection

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a wonderful week!  I'm excited to begin a series of posts about pet related collections today.  

Rebecca has stopped by to share her dogs and pictures of her dachshund collection here.

Abby:  Rebecca, I'm so glad you visited today!  Could you please tell my readers about your dogs?

Rebecca:  I have a dachshund named Freckles, now 11 years old, and a rescue (half dachshund and half Labrador Retriever) named Nadia, now 4 years old.

Freckles

Nadia

This is how I started. I never thought I'd like or get a dachshund but I wanted a short haired dog. So 11 years ago my husband brought Freckles to my work.  That's a baby picture of her.

Freckles as a puppy

Three and a half years ago we rescued a dog Nadia, now 4 years old.  She is a dachshund and Labrador mix.

Abby:  I loved hearing about Freckles and Nadia!  They are both so cute.  That baby picture of Freckles is adorable.  What do you collect?

Rebecca:  My collection started (see figurines on top shelf) maybe 3 or 4 years ago.  I started getting a catalogue from the Bradford Collection and that's how my collection started. I found the figurines on the bottom shelf about 4 or 5 months ago. 

The top shelf has figurines from the Bradford Collection and the figurines on the bottom shelf are from online.

Abby:  Thanks, Rebecca, for visiting!  I really enjoyed hearing about Freckles and Nadia, and seeing all your wonderful dachshund collectibles.

Friends, if you would like to leave a question for Rebecca, you can do so in the comments below.  If you would like to feature YOUR collection, please let me know that too (with your email).

Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Vintage Easter Cards with Dogs

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good week!  It is beautiful Spring weather here and I am looking forward to Easter weekend.  I thought you might enjoy sharing some vintage Easter cards today.  They all include dogs!

A little dachshund helps a girl with the ribbon on a giant Easter egg on this vintage postcard.

A little yellow chick sits on an Easter egg and watches a dachshund on this vintage postcard.

A dachshund and a Jack Russell Terrier chase a bunny rabbit up a giant egg. (Vintage postcard)

Two cute dachshunds find some flowers.  (Vintage postard)

This is a RPPC (real photo postcard) featuring a little girl with a dog and an Easter basket.

Vintage postcard -- a dog surprises a chick!

Vintage postcard -- a dog is surprised by a chick who has just hatched.

Vintage Easter postcard - did this dog hatch from the giant Easter egg?

On this vintage postcard a dog climbs on top of two big Easter eggs.

A bulldog makes friends with a chick on this vintage postcard.

This vintage Easter card is for "daughter and her husband."  A cocker spaniel lounges in a big straw hat.

A Scottish Terrier pulls an Easter egg carriage on this vintage card.

A hound dog has a gift for the Easter Parade on this Mid-Century vintage card.

This is one of my favorites!  A sweet puppy sits outside of a cute storybook cottage on this vintage Easter card.

I hope you enjoyed these vintage Easter cards, and I wish you a wonderful holiday weekend!

Next week I will begin my new series about pet collectibles.  If you collect any pet themed items, I would love to include your pictures at the blog!  Just let me know (with your email) in the comments.  Thanks!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Thelma Lou, Lucy, and Barney Fife

Dear Friends,

I have an extra special Remembering Special Pets feature today.  My Momma is visiting to share memories of special Dachshunds in our family. 

Abby:  Momma, thanks for visiting on my blogging day!   Would you please tell my readers about the family pets you want to remember?

Thelma Lou and Barney Fife

Trish:  I am here to share memories of Thelma Lou, a miniature longhair black and tan dachshund (1991 - 1999);  Lucy Ricardo, a red small standard dachshund (1999 - 2010);  and your special friend Barney Fife, a red standard dachshund (1997 - 2014).

Thelma Lou

Abby:  What are some happy memories of Thelma Lou, Lucy, and Barney Fife?   I loved Barney Fife, and have heard lots of nice things about Thelma Lou and Lucy, who were here before I was born.

Lucy Ricardo and Barney Fife

Trish:  Thelma Lou was a sweet girl, but also very sassy.  She would be walking outdoors and then decide she had walked enough, and would just stop until she was picked up!  Lucy was another sweet and sassy girl.  She had very soft fur, like velvet, and a musical voice.  When she was excited it sounded like she was singing scales.   Barney, as you know, was the sweetest, cuddliest dog in the world.  Barney had three sisters in his lifetime: Thelma Lou, Lucy, and you.  He loved you all!

Lucy Ricardo and one her many pink toys!

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes?

A young Barney Fife

Trish:   I have lots of great stories!  Thelma Lou loved food.  She stole my dinner a couple of times.  Once I had a veggie sub sandwich and I went into the other room for some iced tea.  When I got back, the bread was there but the cheese and lettuce were missing ... except for one little bit of lettuce at the corner of her mouth.

Lucy was a princess.  She loved attention, loved pink toys, sweaters, dressing up ... and when I got out the camera, she was always ready to pose.  I have lots and lots of pictures of her for that reason!

Barney Fife was the sweetest boy in the world, but he was also stubborn.  When he didn't want to do something he would make a noise that sounded just like, "uh-uh, uh-uh."   Barney loved toys!  He never tired of playing ball and playing with plush squeaky toys.  He also loved meeting other little dogs, and when we went to dachshund picnics, he would position himself near the entrance so he could greet every other dachshund that he saw.

Barney Fife

Abby:  I really enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else you would like to share?

Trish:  I am so blessed that I had these special pups in my life.  Thelma Lou and Lucy Ricardo were both puppy mill rescues, and because of them I developed a passion for rescue and strong feelings about puppy mills.  They both had health issues and shortened lifespans as a result of their puppy mill breeding.  Barney Fife was truly the perfect dog.  He was devoted to his sisters and to me.  Abby, he really loved you, and was so happy when you came to be a very special member of our family.

Barney Fife and Abby, just days after their first meeting.

Abby:  That makes me so happy and a little sad at all once!  Thank you for sharing their memories here today.

Friends, if you would like to leave a message, I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Thank you so much for visiting today!

Love,
Abby