Book Review and Giveaway - Scone Cold Killer (All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery) by Lena Gregory

Book Synopsis
For Florida diner owner Gia Morelli, there’s no such thing as too much breakfast—unless it kills you . . .
 
When Gia Morelli’s marriage falls apart, she knows it’s time to get out of New York. Her husband was a scam artist who swindled half the millionaires in town, and she doesn’t want to be there when they decide to take revenge. On the spur of the moment, she follows her best friend to a small town in Central Florida, where she braves snakes, bears, and giant spiders to open a cheery little diner called the All-Day Breakfast Café. Owning a restaurant has been her lifelong dream, but it turns into a nightmare the morning she opens her dumpster and finds her ex-husband crammed inside. As the suspect du jour, Gia will have to scramble fast to prove her innocence before a killer orders another cup of murder . . .

My Review
Scone Cold Killer is a cozy mystery about Gia Morelli, who moves to a small town in Florida to escape her past in New York City.  While she is setting up a new restaurant, the All Day Breakfast Cafe, she discovers her ex-husband dead in the dumpster just out back.  With the help of her best friend, Savannah, and Savannah's hunky detective cousin, Hunt, she sets out to find the killer and solve the mystery.

This is such a fun, fast paced mystery.  It is lively and a quick, energetic read.  

I really liked the character of Gia and enjoyed her acclimation to a new life in Florida.  Savannah was a great friend and sidekick.  There is even a hint of a possible future romance with Hunt.

The book is wonderfully atmospheric.  I loved the small town setting.  I know and like the area where this is set (near Ocala, Florida) and that made the read even more enjoyable.

The food descriptions were great and often made me hungry!  I love grits (often discussed in this novel), although I prefer them the traditional deep south style (just butter - never sugar).

The mystery is interesting, with several likely suspects, and it kept me guessing right up until the denouement.  

I already have the next book in this series on my Wish List.  Scone Cold Killer is a terrific start to a new cozy series.  I recommend it to other mystery fans!

Author Bio
Lena Gregory lives in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island with her husband and three children.

When she was growing up, she spent many lazy afternoons on the beach, in the yard, anywhere she could find to curl up with a good book. She loves reading as much now as she did then, but she now enjoys the added pleasure of creating her own stories.

Author Links:
Website:  http://www.lenagregory.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/

Purchase Links

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Kensington
• Kobo

Giveaway
(3) Kindle Copy - Scone Cold Killer by Lena Gregory.  Giveway ends 2/5.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tours and Netgalley. 

 

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Where Do I Go? by Beverly Magid

Book Synopsis
Publication Date: October 9, 2017
BeWrite Press
Paperback & eBook; 138 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Historical/Jewish



READ THE FIRST CHAPTER.

It’s 1908 and Leah and her boys have immigrated to New York’s Lower East Side to live with her brothers after surviving a pogrom in their Russian village. She is determined to find a home in America but the conditions are harsher than she expected. The garment sweat shops are brutal to work in and it’s essential that her son Benny works after school to help with expenses. Unbeknownst to her he runs errands for the local bookie/gangster. Life isn’t what Leah hoped for, but she’s a fighter and not willing to accept the awful conditions at Wollowitz’s Factory. She’s on a journey to find her own voice, to find a place for herself and her sons, to find a little beauty and romance in her life.

Available in Paperback and eBook on Amazon

 

Author Bio
Beverly Magid, before writing her novel, was a journalist and an entertainment and celebrity PR executive, who interviewed many luminaries, including John Lennon, Jim Croce and the Monty Python gang, and as a publicist represented clients in music, tv and film, ranging from Whoopi Goldberg, John Denver and Dolly Parton to Tom Skerritt, Martin Landau, Kathy Ireland and Jacqueline Bisset.

Beverly is a longtime west coast resident who still considers herself a New Yorker. Among the social issues she’s passionate about is literacy and she worked with KorehLA to mentor elementary children in reading. Also she has been an advocate for Jewish World Watch, an organization dedicated to working against genocide and to aid the victims of war atrocities. On a lighter side, she is also a volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo, monitoring animal behavior for their Research Department.

She is a news and political junkie who supports environmental, animal and human rights issues. She believes most passionately that “We must remain vigilant to the those who would erode the rights of people around the world and work to defeat them.”

For more information, please visit Beverly Magid’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Giveaway

During the Book Blast we will be giving away a signed copy of WHERE DO I GO! 

To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. 

Giveaway Rules 
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 2nd. You must be 18 or older to enter. 
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US only. 
– Only one entry per household.
 – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. 
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.  

Where Do I Go Blog Tou
r

Dear Abby - Favorite Dog Movies: The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Dear Friends,

Today I am happy to introduce a new blog series about favorite dog movies.  I asked readers for their favorite dog movies, and I will be blogging about movies that my friends mentioned here and on Facebook.

The Adventures of Milo and Otis is a movie that was mentioned several times.  I have not ever seen this movie, but I enjoyed reading about it and learning more.  This movie was about the special friendship of a kitten named Milo and a pug dog named Otis.  They are great friends, but they are separated, and go on a journey to find their way back together. 

This movie was in production in Japan for four years, and the original Japanese title translated to A Kitten's Story.  The original movie was released in 1986, but Columbia Pictures re-edited the movie and shortened it, adding narration by actor Dudley Moore.  It was a great success, both in Japan and in the United States.

Here is the original trailer from this movie:



The trailer was fun!  I really like pug dogs and love stories about friendships between cats and dogs.

Have you seen The Adventures of Milo and Otis?   Do you have other favorite dog movies you would like to see featured here in the future?   I would love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Thanks for visiting, and have a great day!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Book Review and Giveaway - The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma

Book Synopsis
Travel back in time to 1943 and meet Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian and concert violinist whose career is ended because of Nazi occupation in Prague. Don't miss the new historical novel, The Melody of the Soul, by Liz Tolsma. Though musical instruments have been declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to play the violin. But Officer Horst Engel, quartered in Anna's flat and dissatisfied with German ideology, enjoys her soothing music. When Anna and her grandmother face deportation, Horst risks everything to protect them.

My Review
The Melody of the Soul tells the story of Anna Zadok.  She is a Jewish Christian living in Prague in 1943.  After her parents and siblings are deported to a concentration camp, Anna lives with her grandmother.  Her one comfort is playing the violin.  Her beautiful playing catches the notice of a young officer, Horst, who lives in their building.  When Anna and her grandmother are threatened with deportation, Horst decides to do everything in his power to save them.

This is such a moving book.  Anna's story was heartbreaking, and the random horrors of the Nazi regime were so sad and frightening.  Anna is seen as a sensitive and talented person and she is a very sympathetic protagonist.

Horst is an interesting character.  He has been pushed into working with the Nazis, but he finds a strong moral conflict because of his faith and wants to work against the party to save Anna and other Jews at risk.

The Melody of the Soul is a well researched book with vivid historical details.  Some of the descriptions, especially of life in a concentration camp, are difficult to read.  However, I continued because I found inspiration in the strength of Anna and Horst's faith and I really wanted to see what would happen with their story.

This is the first in a new series called the Melody of Hope.  I recommend The Melody of the Soul for readers of historical fiction, and especially to anyone interested in World War II history.

Giveaway
Join Liz Tolsma and other bookworms for a Facebook Live event on February 6, plus enter to win Liz's prize pack giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of The Melody of the Soul
• A garnet bracelet
• A box of Czech Republic chocolate

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 6. The winner will be announced at Liz's Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Liz and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse.

Book Spotlight - The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg

The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg

Publication Date: January 30, 2018

Lake Union Publishing

eBook & Paperback; 348 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

San Francisco, 1915. As America teeters on the brink of world war, Charmian and her husband, famed novelist Jack London, wrestle with genius and desire, politics and marital competitiveness. Charmian longs to be viewed as an equal partner who put her own career on hold to support her husband, but Jack doesn’t see it that way…until Charmian is pulled from the audience during a magic show by escape artist Harry Houdini, a man enmeshed in his own complicated marriage. Suddenly, charmed by the attention Houdini pays her and entranced by his sexual magnetism, Charmian’s eyes open to a world of possibilities that could be her escape. 

As Charmian grapples with her urge to explore the forbidden, Jack’s increasingly reckless behavior threatens her dedication. Now torn between two of history’s most mysterious and charismatic figures, she must find the courage to forge her own path, even as she fears the loss of everything she holds dear. 

Available for Pre-Order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound

 

Praise for The Secret Life of Mrs. London

“The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a heart-wrenching portrait of a marriage between two people who utterly depend on one another, but ultimately aren’t enough for each other. With skillful precision of language, Rosenberg weaves a narrative that defines the complexities of love, passion, and art. This is a perceptive, deeply moving novel by a great new talent about a couple who has gone unnoticed in historical fiction until now. Anyone who has ever loved another person will want to read this book.” —Victoria Kelly, author of Mrs. Houdini: A Novel 

“One of Houdini’s best kept secrets was his affair with Charmian London in 1918. Now Rebecca Rosenberg tells the story using an elegant blend of fact and fiction, creating a Houdini book like no other. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is a true peek behind the curtain and a page-turner.” —John Cox, Wild about Harry
 

About the Author

A California native, Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where Jack London wrote from his Beauty Ranch. Rebecca is a long-time student of Jack London’s works and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian London. The Secret Life of Mrs. London is her debut novel. 

Rebecca and her husband, Gary, own the largest lavender product company in America, selling to 4000 resorts, spas and gift stores. The Rosenbergs believe in giving back to the Sonoma Community, supporting many causes through financial donations and board positions, including Worth Our Weight, an educational culinary program for at-risk children, YWCA shelter for abused women, Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center to provide performances for children, Sonoma Food Bank, Sonoma Boys and Girls Club, and the Valley of the Moon Children's Home. 

For more information, please visit Rebecca's website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook and Goodreads. Visit the Facebook page for The Secret Life of Mrs. London.