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Monday, February 26, 2024

Sailing in Style by Dana Mentink My Review



 And I thought 

And now I need to read the 1st one. 

After reading Cy and Piper's story in Sailing in Style. 

First let me say I loved the book and I seriously want to read book 1. 

I was left really interested in all the characters.  

And in the end I was curious how the story was developed in book 1. 

Pelican Inn was the setting of book 1 and is where Cy's father and his new wife Bitty reside. 

Book 2 takes up shortly after the romance of Cy's sister Rosa who is introduced in Return To Pelican Bay.

Rosa's wedding reception is held on board a Paddle Boat which is picture on the cover. 

The story revolves around the renovation of the Ball Room after a flood which well . . .

The main character the dashing and handsome kind of beachy surfer type happened to be responsible for. 

All because he saw a vision (or so he thought/wished) of his ex Piper who happened to be performing on board the paddleboat.  

The plot was solid and fun with some history of the Paddle Boat.  Some mystery when someone on board has sticky fingers.  And btw there are several suspects which just might include Piper's Uncle. 

And then of course there is Cy and Piper's romance. 

The two have lots of hurtles to get passesd as they each deal with family drama they let drive them.  

And thier own pasts that just might keep them from having a Happily Ever After. 

As I turned the last pages I was sad to leave the story and this short series behind. 

I wonder if authors ever revisit thier characters years later. 

As readers we can only hope. 

I was lucky enough to win my copy in a Giveaway.   

I was not asked to write a review. 


What the book is about 

Danger: Heartbreak ahead! 

Piper Brindle has spent her entire adult life trying to live down the stigma of her family's checkered history. The one bright spot was Cy Franco, the talented California designer with the surfer-boy looks. She ended up only breaking his heart. Now an acting gig on the historic River King reunites her with the guy she pushed away. She knows she doesn't deserve him, but how can she pretend she's immune to Cy's charms? As her past explodes into her present, Piper knows they can never have a future together. But with their irresistible chemistry drawing them even closer than before, how will she be able to walk away a second time?

And about book 1 . . .  


Her design scheme didn't include him! 

Her design scheme didn't include him! 

Struggling interior designer Rosa Franco and her twin brother, Cy, are bent on transforming the timeworn Pelican Inn into the jewel of the California coast, even if it kills them. And it 
will kill Rosa if they fail. Their business, and her future, depend on winning the Great Escapes Magazine design contest that lured them back to the town where some of her best—and worst—memories were forged. Memories like those of Pike Matthews, the innkeeper's nephew, her high school heartthrob turned humiliator, now infiltrating himself into every aspect of the project. Is he purposely frustrating her efforts? Behind that killer smile is he carrying a grudge…or a torch?

Purchase links 

To purchase Book 1 Return to Pelican Inn click Here

To purchase Book 2 Sailing in Dtyle click Here

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Cozy New Releases

 




I Only Read Murder

 by Ian Ferguson & Will Ferguson 

Miranda Abbott, once known for the crime-solving, karate-chopping church pastor she played on network television, has hit hard times. She’s facing ruin when a mysterious postcard arrives, summoning her to Happy Rock, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. But when she gets there, nothing is what she expected. 

Available on Amazon

Click Here






Sangria and Secrets

 by Agatha 

As the warm sun of Savega kisses the tranquil Spanish shores, a holiday meant for peace and quiet beckons Julia and her family. The picturesque Spanish town, with its whispering olive groves and vibrant plazas, holds a trove of memories—some fond and others shrouded in the shadows of a traumatic past, but their troubles are in the past, aren’t they? 


Available on Amazon


Click Here


Double Scoop of Murder

 by Lena Gregory 

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. 

Available on Amazon

Click Here




Magic Box Murder 

by J.C. Kenney 

For a decade, the Magic Box game store in Marysburg, Indiana, has hosted a twenty-four-hour gaming marathon as a fund-raiser for a local charity. Shockwaves go through the town when the newest marathon champion is strangled less than an hour after the event’s conclusion. In the parking lot right behind the game. 

Available on Amazon

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Blessing of the Dogs

 by Neil S. Plakcy 

The theft of the vice-mayor’s dog unveils a widespread pattern of canine thefts. Could those poor pooches be on their way to a testing lab or a puppy mill? And how does that case play into the death of a Billy Joel tribute act? Could the caterer they’ve hired be responsible? 

Available on Amazon

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Ranch Dressing

 by Diane Vallere 

When fashionista Samantha Kidd’s father-in-law arranges a week on the dude ranch he’s aiming to buy, Samantha preps for blue skies and clean living. But all too soon she learns life on the ranch is anything but calm. When the owner is found dead inside one of the stables, all signs point to murder. 

Available on Amazon

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Flashes of Insight 

by Lynda Allen 

Mood swings and insomnia are one thing, hot flash-induced psychic visions are quite another. When Olivia Wilde realizes the visions she’s been experiencing in the midst of hot flashes are actually premonitions, she has to learn to understand and trust what she sees in order to help a friend, preserve a piece of history, and save a life. 

Available on Amazon

Click  Here



Dead in the Dark

 by Kat Bellemore 


Newly engaged Maddie Swallows has done the marriage thing before, and she’s terrified to do it again. Even with someone as perfect as Benji. In an attempt to help calm her nerves, Maddie’s mother arranges for Maddie, Benji, and the kids to go on a road trip to Carlsbad Caverns. But what begins as a wonderful adventure quickly takes a horrifying turn when, at the bottom of the caverns, the lights go out. When they turn back on, their tour guide is dead. 

Available on Amazon

Click Here

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Cozy New Releases

 




A Smoking Bun

by Ellie Alexander 


The mountains are calling in Ashland, Oregon, where pastry chef turned amateur sleuth, Jules Capshaw, is baking up a bevy of spiced curry buns and chai cookies for a moonlit snowshoe tour. Ramiro’s family is visiting from Spain and Jules can’t wait to take them up to her beloved Mount A with its charming and rustic lodge, backcountry trails, and star-filled skies that stretch for miles. Their winter wonderland adventure is nothing short of magical and the merry party opts to return to the slope the next day for the Downhill Dummy.

Available on Amazon 

Click Here



Double Grudge Donuts

 by Ginger Bolton 

When the Fallingbrook Arts Festival rolls into town weeks before she’s set to tie the knot, Emily expects talent and friendly competition at the week-long summer series to go together like coffee and double fudge. But the fun crumbles fast after a lively bagpiper takes first place on day one and turns heads for the wrong reasons—all before Emily and her tabby cat find him dead in a clear case of murder. Along with a distinctive weapon at the crime scene, several strategically placed items leave disturbing clues about the killer’s identity, including a broken piece of a Deputy Donut mug . . . 

Available on Amazon 


Click Here



Five Furry Familiars 

by Lynn Cahoon 

To keep her cooking school and catering business, Mia’s Morsels, afloat, Mia’s handed off oversight to her boyfriend Trent’s mother while she focuses on earning a steady paycheck. Too bad her mean-spirited boss at the lodge keeps the misery flowing as steadily as the money. At least her roommate, Christina, is still dedicated to Mia’s Morsels—though she’s also distracted, thanks to her clingy mother’s constant demands. And the distraction only grows when Christina’s old flame shows up in Magic Springs, Idaho, in his Escalade, claiming out of the blue to be her fiancé. 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here



Ill-Fated Fortune

 by Jennifer J. Chow

Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some handmade fortune cookies. 

Available on Amazon 

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A Catered Quilting Bee 

Quilts, quiet, and delicious food. That’s exactly what Bernie and Libby expect as they build the menu for the Longely Sip and Sew Quilting Circle’s first-ever exhibition hosted at the local library. The eclectic ladies of the group couldn’t appear more harmlessly wholesome if they tried, especially mild-mannered kindergarten teacher Cecilia Larson, who hired A Little of Taste of Heaven to cater the event. So it’s a complete shock when disturbing news drops about member Ellen Fisher, found hanging from a plant hook in her otherwise pristine sewing room. 



Revved Up 4 Murder

 by J.C. Eaton 

The seniors of Sun City West are celebrating again, this time over the news that Wayne from the pinochle club finally has a chance to restore his classic car. Phee goes along for the ride, but her thoughts are on her agency’s latest case—a priceless artifact that’s missing from the local museum. It’s an antique doll supposedly filled with treasure—but also carrying a curse for whoever possesses it. Then a dead body is found under Wayne’s car, along with signs of foul play, and Phee is coaxed into helping get him off the hook. 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here


Crime and Cherry Pits

 by Amanda Flower 


Shiloh Bellamy can hardly believe it—for the first time in her family farm’s seventy-year history, she has managed to score a highly-coveted booth at the Cherry Farm Market in Traverse City, Michigan. It’s a huge win in her master plan to bring the rundown farm back to life… and the fact that her coup has sent her next-door neighbor and organic farming competitor into fits of jealousy doesn’t hurt, either. But the festive atmosphere at the farm market takes a dark turn when a man entered in the famous cherry pit-spitting competition chokes and dies right in front of Shiloh, who is standing near the sidelines as a spectator. 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here





A High Tide Murder 

by Emily George

What a long, strange trip it’s been for Chloe. After her dream of becoming a Parisian pastry chef—and a wife—crashed and burned, she returned home to the seaside town of Azalea Bay, California and opened a cannabis café. Despite some residents’ misgivings about how such a business may affect the community’s reputation, Baked by Chloe has become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Nothing mellows out people like sweet edibles and frothy drinks with a dash of CBD.  

Available on Amazon

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Suspicious Breed

 by Jackie Layton 

With her wedding fast approaching and her plans to open a dog shelter underway, Andi Grace can barely find a free moment. Then she learns that her favorite local vet may have been roped into a crooked fundraising scheme meant to help animals, and worse still, her wedding photographer—a good friend who may have had firsthand knowledge of the scheme—is murdered. Determined to find justice for the victim and root out whoever is behind the scam, Andi Grace puts her nose to the ground to sniff out the clues.

Available on Amazon 

Click Here



The Last Word

by Gerri Lewis

Obituary writer Winter Snow is no stranger to grief, and writing obituaries for the citizens of Ridgefield, Connecticut, is her way of providing comfort to those who have been in her shoes. But funerals and eulogies are meant for the dead, so when the very much alive Leocadia Arlington requests her own obituary by the end of the week, Winter’s curiosity is piqued. Even more so when she finds Mrs. Arlington dead soon after. Officer Kip Michaels and his relentless partner Tom Bellini make it clear that Winter is under suspicion for the death.  

Available on Amazon

Click Here




Murder at an Irish Chipper 

by Carlene O’Connor 

Siobhán’s brother Eoin’s new family restaurant, The O’Sullivan Six, is so close to opening—but waiting on the necessary permits plus the heat of July in the village of Kilbane in County Cork is driving everyone a bit mad. Macdara Flannery comes to the rescue with a plan—take a holiday by the sea and stuff themselves with fish and chips to support the struggling business of the aptly named Mrs. Chiable on Amazon 

Click Here




Gone with the Witch 

by Angela M. Sanders

When human bones are discovered beneath an old outhouse covered in blackberry vines, no one knows who they once belonged to. But elderly Helen Garlington wants Sam the sheriff to test the remains, suspecting they may solve the mystery of her long-vanished husband. It’s not a match, and Helen takes it hard, drowning her disappointment in sherry at the tavern—where she sees a contestant on a game show who she swears is her missing spouse, Martin. To ease the woman’s mind, Josie contacts the show to track down the look-alike guest, who kindly agrees to travel to Wilfred—and is then found dead the next morning. 

Avaialable on Amazon 

Click Here




Mrs. Morris And The Mermaid 

by Traci Wilton 

Charlene and her handsome spectral friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, are thrilled that their Salem, Massachusetts, B&B is overflowing with mermaids in advance of the town’s newest attraction—a mermaid parade! Retired Hollywood actress Trinity Powers has even agreed to appear on the lead float to commemorate her breakout role as the eponymous mermaid in the blockbuster cult classic, Sirena. The parade also features Trinity’s rival, an up-and-coming ingénue, who stars in the film’s recent (and somewhat controversial) reboot. Though their rabid fan clubs seem ready to tear each other—and the festivities—apart, the vying actresses are keeping it cool, for now .

Available on Amazon

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Murder In Masquerade

 by Mary Winters 

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. 

Avaiable on Amazon

Click Here










Sunday, February 11, 2024

Cozy New Releases

 




DM Me For Murder

 by Sarah Burr 

Cordelia “Coco” Cline is over the moon when she learns mega-influencer LaTàge wants Center of Attention Consulting to handle her rebranding campaign. But things come crashing down when Coco arrives for a brainstorming meeting only to find LaTàge dead on the floor of her rented mansion. While the Central Shores police don’t suspect Coco of the disturbing crime, the Internet has other ideas. Coco is horrified to see the hashtag #CocoClineistheProblem trending everywhere on socials, with anonymous accounts accusing her of having a hand in LaTàge’s tragic death.

Available on Amazon

Click  Here


Fatal First Edition

 by Jenn McKinlay 

Briar Creek Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, are at a popular library conference in Chicago to hear book restoration specialist Brooklyn Wainwright give a keynote address. After the lecture, Lindsey looks under her seat and finds a tote bag containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, inscribed to Alfred Hitchcock. Brooklyn determines the novel is one of a kind and quite valuable, so Lindsey and Sully return the book to the conference director, not wanting to stir up any trouble.

Available on Amazon

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A Corpse in the Café

 by Jen Pitts 

Sammy eagerly lends a hand at her friend’s cafe for the latest artist showcase. Everyone is dying to meet the mysterious new artist in the French Quarter. The very person they yearned to meet becomes the victim no one expected.

Available on Amazon

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A Match Made in Murder

 by Barbara Howard 

In the heart of Clover City, love is a grand affair orchestrated by matchmaker extraordinaire, Fiona Murphy. But this Valentine’s Day, her twelve perfect weddings become a chilling mystery. As the Boat House restaurant transforms from a haven of romance to a crime scene, ‘A Match Made in Murder’ unveils a tale where love and betrayal intermingle, and uncovering the truth becomes the ultimate act


Available on Amazon

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The Cannoli Caper

 by Kirsten Weiss 

Paranormal Museum director Maddie is navigating the waters of post-breakup life in sunny Sicily. But there’s no time to wallow as she prepares to play bridesmaid for her famous sister’s castle wedding. But are the pre-wedding celebrations a veil for something sinister? Because Maddie is snatched from Sicily’s cobbled streets and thrust into a quirky caper of misadventures and murder

Available on Amazon

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Sprites and Scuttlebutt 

by Elizabeth Pantley 

In this journey, the book club travels to the Kingdom of Everglow, where the royal family is rocked to the core when a key staff member falls dead at a community event. In the turmoil that follows, any evidence of what happened is destroyed, so they must go by the recollection of witnesses who were too busy enjoying the celebration to offer any valuable testimony. The royal family is further distressed when they return to the castle to see signs of a break in that somehow defied their complex security system. They wake the next day to discover that one member of the royal family has fallen into a deep, deathlike sleep. 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here



Slain in the Sand 

by Angela K. Ryan 

Heather attempts to rediscover her identity, adjust to her new normal, and investigate a murder along the way. If you love quaint seaside towns, endearing characters, and mysteries with lots of twists and turns, this series is for you! 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here





Saturday, February 10, 2024

Sprinkles of Suspicion by Kim Davis My Review

 




About the book 

One glass of cheap California chardonnay cost Emory Gosser Martinez her husband, her job, and her best friend. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of her troubles. Distraught after discovering the betrayal by her husband and best friend, Tori, cupcake caterer Emory Martinez allows her temper to flare. Several people witness her very public altercation with her ex-friend. To make matters worse, Tori exacts her revenge by posting a fake photo of Emory in a compromising situation, which goes viral on social media. When Tori is found murdered, all signs point to Emory being the prime suspect. With the police investigation focused on gathering evidence to convict her, Emory must prove her innocence while whipping up batches of cupcakes and buttercream. Delving into the past of her murdered ex-friend, she finds other people had reasons to want Tori dead, including Emory’s own husband. Can she find the killer, or will the clues sprinkled around the investigation point the police back to her? Includes recipes! 


And I thought 

Hard to put down. 

I was pleased to get the chance to read book 1 in the series. 

Previously I was able to read a couple other titles when the author toured with Great Escapes Book Tours. 

To be able to go back and see how the characters developed was pleasing to this reader. 

Kim Davis started the series with a great plot. 

She did not waste anytime by putting Emory in the middle of a murder investigation because not only did she stumbled onto the victim but she ends up being the prime suspect because only hours earlier the two were in a 'cat fight' where all the eorld could see in the victims front yard. 

The drama goes on and Emory quickly realizes to save herself she needs to figure who and why she is being set up. 

With her world collapsing because of her husbands infidelity and repercussions as in being fired Emory ends up getting a new job and confidante and a sleuthing sidekick for future plots. 

I have to admit Kim Davis provides one of my favorites series.  The kind of series that warrants print copies for my permanent shelf. 

I received a gifted copy from the author. 


The series 

Visit my blog posts for reviews of other titles in the series. 

Click Here

Click Here book 3

Buy the book  

Available on Àmazon

Click Here


Friday, February 9, 2024

Sealed with Courage by Laura Scott My Review

 


About the book 

Risking their hearts and their lives while protecting the innocent…

Will they find the kidnapped boy in time?

Sign language teacher Aubrey Clark feels responsible when ten-year-old Lucas goes missing. She’s determined to find her deaf student and knows more than she should from reading the lips of the man involved in the boy’s disappearance. Now she’s in the killer’s crosshairs too. Aubrey has little choice but to accept Navy SEAL Mason Gray’s protection, grateful for his help in searching for Lucas.

Mason’s last op as a Navy SEAL had gone sideways, leaving him deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other. But he’s not going to let his handicap prevent him and his K9 scent tracker, Bravo, from rescuing a deaf child. Mason has never balked at putting his life on the line for his country or to ensure the safety of women and children. But risking his heart? That wasn’t supposed to be part of the plan . . .

And I thought

I could not put it down! 

It has been awhile since I have read a book so fast! 

The action began within the first few pages. The plot was consuming and pulls you in. 

The main characters both steal your heart. 

Aubrey is a sweet broken character.  Who needs a prince charming she just doesn't know it yet.  But her drive, determination and loyalty causes her to let her guard down and Mason 'in'  

Mason is strong protective and in hismind not open to love or romance but ...

I enjoyed the introduction to Mason's co workers and look forward to the chance read more books in the series.  

I loved the play on words in the title. 

I purchased a free copy on Amazon. 


The series 



Buy the book 

Available on Amazon

Click Here

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Snowstorm Sabotage by Kerry Johnson My Review

 



About the book 

Can she survive a blizzard…

and being framed?

Single mom Everly Raven didn't just discover the murder of her friend—she's being framed for it. Now she's on the run from hired killers at her family's ski resort, all while a deadly blizzard rages. Her only hope is her ex-husband, FBI agent Isaac Rhodes—the secret father of her child. But can they live long enough for him to meet their daughter—and clear Everly’s name?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

And I thought 

A page turner. 

I enjoyed the suspence. 

The main characters are thrown together in the first pages as they run for thier lives. 

She Everly (I love the name) isn't sure why she has been set-up.  Or whose after and why.  

He Isaac happens to be an FBI agent on a case. 

Did his case just happen to bring him back into Everly' life? 

As the story unfolds the questions are answered. 

And a new romance develops. 

Everly and Isaac have a past. 

I enjoyed every minute of the book. 

The  fast paced beginning.

The plot developing middle. 

And the ending. 

Many thanks to the author for offering a giveaway. 

I look forward to more chances to read titles by the author. 

Buy the book 

Available on Amazon

Click Here

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Cozy Mystery New Releases

 


A Killer Romance

 by Maggie Blackburn 

When Beach Reads bookshop hosts a Valentine’s Day event, “Romance by the Sea,” bookseller Summer Merriweather has no idea that the guest author is under investigation for her own husband’s murder. When that same author is found dead at the local bed and breakfast, nobody assumes it’s natural causes–there were plenty of people who wanted her dead. 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here




The Sleuthing Game

 by Kathi Daley 

Tess, Tony, and Tilly head to Lake Tahoe where they join Shaggy for a video game convention. The convention has been promoted as a place to get a first look at the video games that have recently been released or will be released on the near future. Of course, the hype created by this high-profile affair pretty much guarantees that all the big names in the industry will turn out, including Zak Zimmerman, who is scheduled to arrive via private jet with his wife Zoe, her dog Charlie, and Zak’s honorary daughter Alex.  

Available on Amazon 


Click Here



Murder, She Meowed 

by Ruth J. Hartman 

Children’s book author Christy Bailey is thrilled that her aunt Betty is finally marrying the man of her dreams! The small wedding is a family event, right down to Christy’s cats and subjects of her books, Milton and Pearl, who are dressed in wedding attire and pulled down the aisle in a wagon. After the reception, Christy and her boyfriend-hopeful, Micah, agree to help her friend and wedding caterer, Janie, clean up at her pastry shop. But when they arrive at the shop, they’re not greeted by Janie but Janie’s ex-husband—who’s dead on the floor, cold as a frozen muffin!   

Available on Amazon 

Click Here




A Pie to Die For 

by Gretchen Rue 


Este March runs the family-owned Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan. The pies at Lucky Pie aren’t just good, they’re magical, with a family recipe that grants certain customers their greatest hopes and dreams when they eat the pie. The remote island is closed to outsiders over the winter months, but on the last day of the season, the unpopular new produce vendor, Jeff, turns up dead on his boat, and Split Pine Island’s peace goes up in smoke.  

Available on Amazon 

Click Here


Fur Love or Money

 by Sofie Ryan 

Sarah Grayson is taking a break from her bustling secondhand shop in small-town Maine to spend time with a friend and her dog. But their purr-fect visit comes to an end when the dog leads them to a storm cellar on a nearby property, where they discover a dead body.  

Available on Amazon 

Click Here


Clocked Out 

by Anna St. John

Josie Posey and her posse of Mahjong Mavens are at it again, in this cozy mystery where the retired big city crime reporter turned small town crime solver uncovers another murder in picturesque English Village. When the clockmaker’s daughter returns home for a visit, reporter Josie Posey is assigned the task of interviewing the talented watch designer. That very afternoon the young woman falls from a ladder while inventorying antique clocks.  

Available on Amazon 

Click Here



Mayhem on the Mind

 by Kari Lee Townsend 

It’s spring and eating no meat during Lent is driving everyone a little crazy, most especially Kalli’s Aunt Tasoula, who has a ravenous appetite. The Greeks wear a red and white bracelet made out of a thread called Martis for the entire month to celebrate the beginning of spring and protect against diseases. Red symbolizes passion and life while white represents purity  

Available on Amazon 

Click Here