Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O’Connor

Book Synopsis

A little slice of Heaven on the Emerald Isle…

In the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, Natalie’s Bistro has always been a warm and welcoming spot to visit with neighbors, enjoy some brown bread and tea, and get the local gossip. Nowadays twenty-two-year-old Siobhán O’Sullivan runs the family bistro named for her mother, along with her five siblings, after the death of their parents in a car crash almost a year ago.

It’s been a rough year for the O’Sullivans, but it’s about to get rougher. One morning, as they’re opening the bistro, they discover a man seated at a table, dressed in a suit as if for his own funeral, a pair of hot pink barber scissors protruding from his chest.

With the local garda suspecting the O’Sullivans, and their business in danger of being shunned–murder tends to spoil the appetite–it’s up to feisty redheaded Siobhán to solve the crime and save her beloved brood.

About This Author

Carlene O’Connor comes from a long line of Irish storytellers, or professional liars as she prefers to call herself. Her great grandmother emigrated from Ireland to America during The Troubles, and the stories have been flowing ever since. She has dual citizenship and divides her time between New York and the Emerald Isle. Of all the places across the pond she’s wandered, she fell most in love with a walled town in County Limerick and was inspired by the town to create Kilbane, County Cork.

Author Links
Webpage – http://www.carleneoconnor.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CarleneOConnormysteries/timeline
Blog – http://www.carleneoconnor.com/#!blog/j8xsa

Purchase Links
Amazon         B&N     GoodReads     IndieBound

Giveaway
(5) Print Copy of Murder in an Irish Village (ends 3/14).
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

First Great Yard Sale Day of the Year!

I couldn't resist popping in to share a few photos -- first great yard sale (and estate sale) day of the year!  I love treasure hunting for my shop (Birdhouse Books) ... there is always the great thrill of fun finds!

Vintage dachshund salt and pepper shakers and the cutest little pewter dachshund.  These are mine (not for sale!) and already in a place of honor in my study.  I purchased these from the nicest man who also is a dachshund person.  My friend and I had our phones out sharing dachshund pictures back and forth with him.

Vintage Christmas magazines - love the ads and recipes in these. 

 A new Silvestri Christmas tray (star shaped Santa Claus).

Vintage This is Atlanta book with a glimpse of the city in the 1970's ... and an old brochure that included an advertisement for Davison's department store at Lenox Square.

 A cute Burma Shave sign book, vintage Christmas decals, vintage holiday drinks cookbook.

A stack of "Patio Daddio" style Mid Century BBQ books.

Vintage Betty Crocker Cookbook with "pie cover."

Vintage Christmas cards!  This is a basket full -- many are unused.  They are gorgeous.

 Boxes of unused vintage Christmas cards.

Not a purchase, but gorgeous -- an old Hudson Hornet car.  My yard sale friend is antique car obsessed, and he snapped this pic.

Are yard sales out in your area yet?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Dear Abby - Meet Lulu Belle (A Rescue Spotlight)

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by today!  It has been a warm and spring like week here.  I love that, because it means lots of walks and time outside.

Today I would like to introduce you to my friend Lulu Belle.   She is a beautiful 6 year old longhair dachshund.  I love Lulu Belle's coloring.  As she wrote:  "As you can see, I am very unusual for a dachshund, being white with black, gray and brown spots all over."

Abby:  What is your background and how did you end up in rescue? 

Lulu Belle:  I was born on a ranch in southern Arizona, that was really a puppy mill, and I lived outdoors in a run there with other dachshunds. Later I had a litter of puppies of my own when I was 1 year old. We weren't stacked in cages like in some of the really bad puppy mills, or mistreated, but still we had almost no human contact. I slept in my own kennel with just crumpled newspapers to lie on. 

Abby:  How were your first days at your new home? 

Lulu Belle:  Very scary. The first day in my new home was the first time I was ever in a house, except for the day when I had my puppies. At first I refused to eat anywhere except in my kennel, and I didn't understand that I was being offered treats like hamburger and roast beef bits. But I learned fast by watching my mom and dad's other 2 dachshunds, Sadie and Rave. And after one accident in my first week, I have never, ever had an accident inside our home. My mom says I am the best behaved dachshund she has ever had.

Abby:  What are a few of your favorite things? 

Lulu Belle:  I love my toyfriends. I have lots of them -- Freddie Frog, Charlie Chameleon, Danny Dragon, Roadkill, and others. But I have to guard them because my pesty little brother Harley loves to grab them and tear them apart. And I love going for walks with my dad. In fact, a few months ago I met my father, Stretch, who got rescued from the same place that I did and now lives close to us. 

Abby:  Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet? 

Lulu Belle:  Be very, very patient. It took me a long time to get used to my dad, as I was very scared of men when I first arrived here. I still don't like it if we go on a walk and meet a man with a rake or hoe in his hand, but then I am okay when they put the scary things down. And at home, my dad knows it is okay to carry a cup of coffee or a small book around, but anything bigger, and he has to show it to me first so that I can approve it and not be scared. 

Abby:  Is there a rescue group you want to send a shout out to? 

Lulu Belle:  My rescue group was Belle Area Rescue Kennels (BARK) and little brother Harley came from Oregon Dachshund Rescue. We think a lot of both of them.

Thank you, Lulu Belle, for stopping by for the interview.  I loved reading more about your background.  I think it is wonderful that you met your father Stretch!

I am friends with Lulu Belle online from a special dachshund group.  She has a wonderful rescue story, and I hope you enjoyed meeting her too.

If you have a rescued dog or cat that would like to be featured here, please let me know.  Thank you for visiting today!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Blog News

Hi all!

Just a note to let you know that I am cutting back on posts for a few weeks.  I've been unusually busy here and just need a bit of a break.

I will continue to post scheduled book reviews and spotlights during this time ... and Abby has made it clear that she wants to continue blogging on Fridays.

Just sending a head's up!  Hope you are having a great week.   

Trish

Wordless Wednesday - Vintage St. Patrick's Day Postcard

Found at Birdhouse Books