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Friday, April 29, 2016

NEW MEEDLING WITH MURDER large banner V640Meddling With Murder
by Ellie Campbell

The pacing and tempo of Meddling with Murder simmered along happily until towards the end, where the tension mounted steadily and with great excitement.
~Back Porchervations
This laugh out loud, fast-paced story will keep you up reading past your bedtime.
~Shelley’s Book Case
It’s a fast-paced mystery, full of humor with really amazing and funny characters.
~LibriAmoriMiei
This isn’t a typical cozy story. The story line is quite original.
~I Read What You Write!
Genre – Cozy Mystery
Date of Release 9th April 2016
Number of Pages 300
Not up on Amazon yet.

Synopsis

Crouch End Confidential, the agency started by housewife and mother, Cathy O’Farrell, with ex-cleaner, Pimple is failing badly. Hardly surprising when Cathy’s too soft-hearted to charge their only clients, little old ladies seeking lost pets and a school kid searching for his stolen bike.
A new case involving a teenager in possession of an unexplained Glock pistol promises to change all that. Quickly Cathy’s deep in waters over her head, forced with hilarious results to pose as a mathematics tutor, a subject of which she’s truly clueless. There’s also the tricky situation of best friend and new mother Rosa hiring her to investigate her fiancĂ©, Alec, plus the mysterious sabotage of Cathy’s friends’ cycle shop and a gang of yobbos dealing drugs at her children’s primary school.
Worst of all, an ill-fated trip to rural Norfolk has Cathy’s husband, Declan, intent on buying a post office and transplanting the family to safer climes, threatening to tear Cathy permanently from her beloved North London home.
Pretty soon Cathy’s risking her friendships, her marriage and even her life untangling all these messes. But that’s what you get for meddling in murder…
 Ellie Campbell Author 500
 About The Author –
Ellie Campbell is a pseudonym for sister writing team, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell.   Running wild as tomboys in Scotland, playing imagination games, they couldn’t dream that one day they’d co-author novels despite an ocean between them. From boring clerical jobs in London to a varied life of backpacking and adventure travel, both started almost accidentally as short story writers, Lorraine when working in publishing, Pam as a fun hobby while an at-home mother of three.
By the time each had 70 short stories published internationally, Pam was settled in Surrey, England, and Lorraine had finally taken root in Boulder, Colorado. Long telephone chats about life and fiction led to their current collaboration.  They have produced five acclaimed novels – How To Survive Your Sisters, When Good Friends Go Bad, Looking For La La, To Catch A Creeper and Million Dollar Question.  They write contemporary women’s fiction laced with humour, romance, and mystery.
When not hunched over computers, Lorraine, a certified ROTH ‘horse whisperer’, can usually be found messing about with her four rescue horses and Pam on a fund raising bike ride, madly cycling over mountains to Paris, Barcelona or Gibraltar on the back of her husband’s bone-shaking tandem.
Author Links:
 Purchase Link:
Review.jpg

If you are looking for a fun, fast paced laugh out loud cozy mystery, you are in for a treat with this book. The author is great at writing characters that are fun, determined and full of life. I instantly fell in love with Cathy O' Farrell . She has struggled to make her business successful. At one time it was called " Helping People Who Would Otherwise Commit Suicide." I don't think I would be to anxious to go to a business like that.  Can you imagine going there? I laughed so hard and realized how brilliant the author is at her creativity.

Cathy O' Farrell has teamed up once again with Pimple. She has changed her business to "Crouch End Confidential Agency." They have such exciting customers. Yes Cathy is climbing up a tree to rescue a cat and the excitement is just beginning.  The story weaves through many cases that are death defying. We have the stolen bike case, and then we move into hard core cases.  The case about drug dealing was written with grace and very detailed. I enjoy how the author gives us so many cases to focus on. I wonder who is trying to destroy her friends business? Will Cathy  be able to keep up with everything? I have to mention WOW. It stands for Wednesday Once Weeklies. You have to read the book to find out about this fun time.

Overall the book is well written, was lots of fun to read and one you will not be able to put down. Make sure you read this book and enjoy every word that gives you a fun read. I highly recommend this exciting book that is an excellent addition to cozy mysteries.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour for an honest review.

Tour Participants
April 18 – deal sharing aunt – INTERVIEW
April 19 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY
April 20 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
April 21 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
April 22 – Omnimystery News – INTERVIEW
April 23 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
April 24 – Author Annette Drake’s blog – INTERVIEW
April 25 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY
April 26 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY
April 27 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW, INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY
April 28 – Lori’s Reading Corner – GUEST POST
April 28 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
April 29 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
April 30 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
May 1 – The Girl with Book Lungs – SPOTLIGHT
May 1 – Queen of All She Reads – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY
May 2 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW, GIVEAWAY

Thursday, April 28, 2016

silence of the lamps large banner updated 640Silence of the Lamps
by Karen Rose Smith

SILENCE OF THE LAMPS
Silence of the Lamps (A Caprice De Luca Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Kensington (April 26, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1617737725
E-Book ASIN: B0138NHG52
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Synopsis

Caprice’s house staging is disrupted by Drew Pierson, a caterer who opened Portable Edibles, a business in direct competition with her sister Nikki’s Catered Capers. Nikki turned down Drew as a possible partner and he seems determined to undermine and bury her. However his successful launch of a deal for his blackberry barbecue sauce must have stirred up his enemies. When Nikki visits the house where Drew lives with his grandmother to resolve differences, she and Caprice find him dead–murdered with the base of a valuable Tiffany lamp.
Caprice discovers clues about Drew’s sly business dealings–from stealing recipes from another chef, to friends who hold grudges, to a sister who will now inherit half of her grandmother’s estate since Drew is dead. In the midst of her own romantic relationship upheaval, helping her uncle set up his pet sitting-business, assisting a friend care for a pregnant stray cat, Caprice follows the suspect trail, inadvertently putting herself in danger once more.
STAGED TO DEATH, Book 1
DEADLY DECOR, Book 2
GILT BY ASSOCIATION, Book 3 February 2015
DRAPE EXPECTATIONS, Book 4 August 2015
SILENCE OF THE LAMPS, Book 5 May 2016

SHADES OF WRATH, Book 6 December 2016

Karen

About The Author –

Award winning and best-selling author, Karen Rose Smith’s plots are all about emotion. She began writing in her early teens when she listened to music and created stories to accompany the songs. An only child, she spent a lot of time in her imagination and with books–Nancy Drew, Zane Gray, The Black Stallion and Anne of Green Gables. She dreamed of brothers and sisters and a big family like her mother and father came from. This is the root of her plotlines that include small communities and family relationships as part of everyday living. Residing in Pennsylvania with her husband and four rescued cats, she welcomes interaction with readers on social media.
Author Links:
Webpage:  http://karenrosesmithmysteries.com/
 Purchase Links:
Amazon – B&N 

Review.jpg

Every time I have the pleasure of reading this authors books, I fall in love with her writing a little more. She writes  so graceful, funny has such  wonderful characters. Caprice De Luca is an interior designer and her sister, Nikki,  helps caterer the food to help set the stage for the homes. I can just see the lovely furniture surrounded by yummy foods  waiting for guests to partake in.

Things take a sudden turn when Nikki's rival , Drew outbids her on a wedding reception . He is not the nicest man around and seems to get under Nikki's skin. Guess when you break up, the other person doesn't seen to take rejection well. Drew just won't stop at taking jobs from Nikki, because now he is is at an expo claiming a recipe as his own. Nikki is furious and can't believe he could stoop that low. Her recipe being displayed as Drew's is going to far,  she thinks.

When the women  decide to confront Drew about the recipe, they instead discover his lifeless body. And who gets blamed for the murder? Well I think we can guess who everyone thinks it is. The story is funny, and the women seem to really get in a lot of messes, but they must prove who really killed Drew. Will they prove their innocence ? Will they continue to keep their businesses or will the scandal destroy their livelihood? It's a race to see who the killer is and these extraordinary women are in the fight for their life. The author writes such a great story with twists and turns, I could not put the book down. The description of the town was so quaint , I think I would love to live there. To say I'm a huge fan of Ms. Smith is an understatement. Her books are always well written with charm and characters that you can't help but like.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tours for an honest review.




Tour Participants
April 25 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW
April 25 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
April 26 – Classy Cheapskate – REVIEW
April 26 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW
April 27 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
April 28 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
April 28 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW
April 29 – A Date with a Book – REVIEW
April 29 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
April 30 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
May 1 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
May 1 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW
May 2 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW
May 2 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

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Sunday, April 24, 2016


THE CONFESSIONS OF X by SUZANNE M. WOLFE

To read a book filled with rich history is such a treat. The story is breathtaking and very in depth. It revolves around a concubine of Augustine of Hippo. It's funny that we don't know much about her but with the wonderful writing of the author, her story is being told for all to read. It's nice when an author does research on a subject and it is transformed into a story that sweeps across the pages. The details are superb and the depth this woman had on Augustine was very touching.

Many know that St. Augustine was a Catholic philosopher but what did this young woman do to his life? Did she help make decisions or influence him in any way? The symbolism is a  interesting as St. Augustine must decide what they mean. Is a baby significant enough to experience unconditional love? The transformation that X portrays in the story is both pure beauty and a journey that captures a love so touching that you can't help but feel the emotions. I found myself glued to the pages as I read of a little known person who had so much impact on a well known figure in history. What is the plan that God had for St. Augustine? Will he accept it or struggle through great loss and pain? This is truly an exceptional story of love, loss, pain and the call of God on a person's life. I enjoyed every intricate detail of a love story that captures you in an era that was hard for some. The decisions that X makes are heartbreaking but shows how love can be both rewarding and painful at times.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.THE CO

MERMAID MOON by COLLEEN COBLE

It is always nice to read the second book in a series. You already know some of the characters, so it feels like catching up with old friends. The author does a great job of reacquainting readers with characters and introducing new ones with ease. Her writing style is smooth and deliberate which keeps you on your toes. I love a great mystery and this  is one of the best.

Mallory is trying to reclaim her life after the loss of her husband. It is hard to move on, but she is doing her best. When she gets a phone call from her dad, she is perplexed. She senses something is not right and returns to Mermaid Point after fifteen years.  When her dad dies, she must come to terms with the past . She runs into Kevin
who  at one point she thought would be her future. Old hurts and memories surface and she must face them head on. Why does Mallory suddenly get death threats on her and her daughter's life? Is there more to her father's death than she has been told?

Mermaid Moon is a very suspenseful book with secrets that could tear a town apart. The web of lies and deceit are so intricately woven, you are on the edge of your seat. It must feel eerie to come back home, only to discover you don't know who to trust. The author has brilliantly given us a rich story filled with mysterious characters and weaves the lives of many together to a story you won't forget. It seems like nothing is as it should be in this quaint little town and Mallory is determined to get answers. We all make mistakes, but will Mallory be able to recover from hers?

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild for an honest review.