First Degree Mudder
by Kate Dyer-Seeley

First Degree Mudder (A Pacific Northwest Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (November 29, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1496705099
E-Book ASIN: B01CMGS41G

Synopsis

When a mud marathon champion bites the dust, Meg Reed has to go the distance to make sure a killer comes clean . . .

Back home in Portland, Oregon, Meg is ready to take her career as an outdoor writer for Extreme magazine to the next level. Lesser journalists sling mud—Meg plans to run through it. To train hard for Mud, Sweat & Beers, an extreme 5K mud run, she’s signed on with the Mind Over Mudder team, run by ten-time mud marathon champ—and former drill sergeant—Billy the Tank. But when Meg finds her tenacious trainer dead in the locker room, she has a sinking feeling someone may have been pushed too far. Digging through the hidden secrets at Mind Over Mudder is a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. Meg will have to tread carefully, though—or she may soon be running for her life . . .

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About The Author

Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing, featuring a young journalist, Meg Reed, who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme. Only Meg’s idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.

Author Links

Web: http://www.katedyerseeley.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/katedyerseeley

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/katedyerseeleyauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katedyerseeley/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5370469.Kate_E_Dyer_Seeley

Purchase Links

Amazon  B&N  Target   IndieBound

I really liked the concept of this book. A journalist named Meg works for an online sports magazine. She is looking for a great story to help the magazine get better ratings. We find Meg joining a training race that lasts for three weeks. When she meets her trainer , she knew she was in for trouble. Billy is serious about getting people into shape. I found it very funny when Meg realizes she is going to have to participate in the training. I think she had this great idea that she could go and follow people around as they sweat and practically kill themselves doing the exercises. After all, she is there to get a story , not get in shape. The first time I heard Billy say"Drop and give me ten", I would have been out of there so fast I might have tripped over my shoes. 

There are several great characters in the story that I really enjoyed. Tim is there to lose weight or so he says. He is really there because his wife made him go to get healthy. He sure is not having fun and Billy seems to be tougher on him then anybody. When someone is found dead , suspects start turning up everywhere . I did like the intrigue in the book, and wait till you find out who the killer is. There are a few surprises in the story that keep the action going. Will the killer be found before someone else dies? Get ready for a fun read as you jump into this fun cozy mystery. At the end of the book the author has added some wonderful facts about Portland, Oregon which is very interesting to read. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour . The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it. 

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Tour Participants

November 28 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW

November 28 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – Queen of All She Reads – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 29 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW

November 30 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW

December 1 – Bibliophile Reviews –  REVIEW

December 1 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

December 2 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

December 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST

December 3 – Island Confidential – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 4 – Community Bookstop – INTERVIEW

December 4 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW

December 5 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

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KEEP THE FAITH, ELLEN MCGUIRE

As I write this review I am trying to keep my tears from flowing. This was such a timely book for me to read. It reached into my heart and helped old wounds heal . The author has done an amazing job of telling a story with such realism and compassion. The holidays are always very hard for me but this book really helped me see a little clearer . People struggle everyday from being a single parent, abusive and emotional abuse, homelessness , to just being lonely. After reading this touching book, I am thankful that the author wrote from her heart and left me with a message I won't forget.

Ellen is a single parent raising two children on her own. She struggles everyday trying to feed them and making sure they have a place to live. I really liked the children and loved how they were always reassuring their mom that things would get better. Ellen is hoping this year she can buy a few small things for her children to celebrate Christmas. She is devastated when she loses her job. All her hopes are gone and I could feel her despair. I liked thatcher author talked about  Ellen going to a food pantry to get much needed items. It reminded me of how sometimes we have to remove our pride  and let  others help us.

The characters are beautifully written with unexpected people who come  into Ellen's life. Throughout the book I kept reading "keep the faith." That is so hard to do when you feel like giving up. The book is a great lesson on believing ,  compassion and most of all faith.  I loved every word, every character and every emotion this book portrays. I could certainly relate to Ellen , but there are a few other characters that certainly bring hope and love to the story.  Thank you for writing a story that touched my heart and gave me a reason to have faith.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

1 Vote

Cat Got Your Diamonds
by Julie Chase

I keep starting and stopping as I write this review. I’m trying to figure out how to adequately express just how much I enjoyed Cat Got Your Diamonds. I’m tempted to gush and run on and on about it, but I also want my words to come across as sincere because this Kitty Couture mystery is outstanding.
~The Girl with Book Lungs

Wow. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The cover on this book is absolutely beautiful and I knew I just had to read it. I am also a animal lover so any good cozy with animals is a my kind of story.
~Books, Dreams, Life

This first in series will have you engaged in the story from the start. The characters bring the charm and wit that will leaving you wanting more.I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
~Shelley’s Book Case 

I think I found a new favorite author! This was a really enjoyable book and fast paced.
~Kaisy Daisy’s Corner

With a great sense of humor and an interesting supporting cast, animal lovers, cozy lovers, and just about anyone else should love this book.
~The Book’s the Thing

…you never can tell you which books will draw you in. I would have never guessed that a cozy mystery series about a Kitty Couture shop would be so enjoyable, but Julie made a fan out of me. I’ll be anxiously awaiting next April and more adventures from Lacy!
~Grace. Gratitude. Life. 

The writing of this story is superb and the setting and characters are so believable.
~Melina’s Book Blog

Cat Got Your Diamonds is an entertaining, well-written cozy mystery that’s full of southern charm.
~The Power of Words . . .

This novel is a great example of what I look for in a cozy mystery – a great case that keeps me guessing, a dash of romance, and splashes of humor. Both Lacy and Jack are well-developed and very likable characters with fantastic chemistry between them…
~Reading is my SuperPower

Chase created an interesting cast of characters and a delightful setting with the pet boutique. She also made good use of the New Orleans setting, showing us a New Orleans beyond the touristy stuff and the stereotypes.
~Bea’s Book Nook

Cat Got Your Diamonds is a captivating and fast-paced cozy whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the killer cat burglar.
~Jersey Girl Book Reviews

I’ve been looking forward to this book since I first saw it listed on Amazon. A new cat cozy taking place at a couture pet shop in New Orleans…how fast can I get there???
~Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries & Meows

This was a really good start to a new cozy mystery series and I enjoyed it a lot.
~Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my!

The path to solving the murder was paved with several potential candidates that had means and motive. There is also a twist to the story that I never saw coming. Bravo, Julie Chase, bravo!!
~Sapphyria’s Book Reviews

What’s not to love about this story? You get the fabulous setting of New Orleans, with all its culture and history, plus a main character who runs a pet boutique and bakery. Then you get a murder mystery on top of that.
~Book Babble

This book was fun, dangerous and the surprising ending has a real twist.
~Laura’s Interests

Cat Got Your Diamonds was the purrfect mystery that was filled with humor, charming characters and a delightful storyline…
~Moonlight Rendezvous

Cat Got Your Diamonds: A Kitty Couture Mystery

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (November 15, 2016)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1629538426
E-Book ASIN: B01H082DOU

Synopsis

Grandeur and opulence are everything in the famed New Orleans Garden District where pets are family and no bling is too big. Opening Furry Godmother, pet boutique and organic treat bakery, is Lacy Marie Crocker’s dream come true–until the glitter gun used to make her Shih Tzu tutus becomes a murder weapon. And Lacy becomes public enemy #1.

Now Detective Jack Oliver is hounding Lacy, and her Furry Godmother investor wants out before his name is tarnished by association. To make matters worse, a string of jewel heists with suspicious ties to the murder case has New Orleans residents on edge. To save her dream, Lacy must take a stand, put her keen eyes to work, and unravel what really happened at her shop that night. But can Lacy sniff out the killer cat burglar in time to get her tail-raising designs on the catwalk?

Early Praise:

“In all that New Orleans heat and glitter, there’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A fun read.”

—Rita Mae Brown, New York Times bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie mystery series

“Everyone needs a Furry Godmother! A delightful new series steeped in the flavor of New Orleans and its old families. Julie Chase’s clever characters are guaranteed to make you smile.”

—Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Paws & Claws mysteries

“A stunning debut… Julie Chase’s new series is a cross between Laura Childs’ Scrapbooking series and Ali Brandon’s Black Cat Bookshop. A fantastic start to what looks like a promising cozy series. Even if you are not a cat/dog lover, you will love this one!”

—T. C. LoTempio, author of the national bestselling Nick and Nora mystery series.

About The Author

Julie Chase is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Julie Anne Lindsey.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieChaseAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliechasebooks

Website: http://juliechasebooks.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14957369.Julie_Chase?from_search=true

Purchase Links:

Amazon     BAM!       IndieBound

I really liked  setting for this story and the author does a good job of describing the town. I instantly fell in love with the characters and couldn't put the book down. The mystery is really good and I must say I was a bit surprised at who the killer was. The story is funny at times and really moves along at a nice pace.

Lacy has come home and opened her dream shop called Furry Godmother. I loved the name of her boutique and it added charm to the story. She is really good at making decadent treats for animals.  I think her fame to glory has to be her beautiful clothes she designs and makes for the furry critters. She has some snotty customers that demand perfection for their precious pets. Lacy really does some exceptional costumes for animals . I loved how Lacy worked hard and didn't want to depend  on her parents for any help.  Everything is going well for the boutique until one evening an intruder disrupts Lacy's life. Who has come into her store unannounced? Why does Lacy feel threatened ?

Jack is a very strong and handsome detective. He gets the call to investigate a body at the Furry Godmother. From the first introduction, Lacy and Jack have a  dislike for each other. I thought the author really did an amazing job of putting these two characters together. Lacy sure does have her defenses up when it comes to Jack. Why does he think Lacy has something to do with the murder? There are many laughs as these two cross paths. It is like a love hate relationship.

The story has several other characters that make the story interesting. It does have several sub plots going that I found to be intriguing. Overall a very written story and yes a surprise ending. The twists and turns in the story kept me on my toes. I am looking forward to more in this charming series which I found to be very fun to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

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Tour Participants

November 15 – The Girl with Book Lungs – REVIEW

November 15 – Books,Dreams,Life – REVIEW

November 15 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 16 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – REVIEW

November 16 – Sleuth Cafe – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

November 17 – Grace. Gratitude. Life. by Marie McNary – REVIEW

November 18 – Melina’s Book Blog –  REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 18 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – The Power of Words – REVIEW 

November 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

November 19 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Island Confidential  – INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – Michelle’s Romantic Tangle – GUEST POST

November 20 – Readeropolis –  SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW

November 21 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 21 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

November 22 – Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my! – REVIEW

November 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 22 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

November 23 – Book Babble – REVIEW

November 23 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

November 23 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW

November 24 – THANKSGIVING

November 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

November 25 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

November 26 – Community Bookstop –  REVIEW

November 27 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, GUEST POST

November 27 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

November 28 – Classy Cheapskate – REVIEW

November 28 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

November 28 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

November 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, INTERVIEW 

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ON THE ROPES by HALLEE BRIDGEMAN

What a pager turner this book is. It completely took me off guard and I loved how the suspense kept building to an action packed ending. Ruth seems to have a nice life. She is a surgical resident and loves her job. She likes taking care of people and the staff at the hospital find her to be very compassionate around patients. Her safe world is shattered one evening when she witnesses a horrible crime. Now she must do everything possible to keep her whereabouts secret. Would you give up your safety to testify against someone?

Victor is Ruth's boyfriend and a professional boxer. He has eyes only for Ruth and tries to keep her away from his father's business. Victor's dad is a well known Mafia boss and will do anything to protect his empire. I did enjoy how the author used a violent crime to show how a person can find redemption. Victor knows that Ruth is in danger and wants to protect her. Can Ruth trust Victor? There is a bit of violence in the book, but the author did a great job of describing it to help readers understand the danger Ruth and Victor were in. The story is fast paced and I loved how the author touched on redemption. Will Victor believe he can be forgiven? There are several moments in the book where I gasped at the intrigue. I kept thinking as I read the story about the scripture,"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Get ready for a story that has intrigue, trust and forgiveness with a powerful ending.


I received a copy of this book from Bookfun.org and this is my honest opinion.

A KILLER LOCATION
By Sarah T. Hobart

A Killer Location:
A Home Sweet Home Mystery 
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Alibi (November 22, 2016)
ASIN: B01AQNZQB8

Synopsis

As this captivating cozy mystery series featuring real estate agent Sam Turner continues, a dream home turns into a crime scene when murder intrudes on an open house.

Thanks to a few sales and a self-help book on becoming a super-agent, Sam Turner is well on her way to becoming real estate royalty in Arlinda, her eccentric hometown on the Northern California coast. And after settling into her new house with her teenage son, she’s finally a homeowner, too. Sure, things aren’t perfect—for example, her sister still doesn’t know that Sam is dating her ex, police chief Bernie Aguilar—but perfect is boring. And Sam’s life is never boring.

When Sam’s boss, Everett Sweet, assigns her an open house in Arlinda’s most exclusive neighborhood, she brushes up on her super-agent tips, hoping to wow potential buyers. But there’s nothing in the manual about stumbling upon the owner’s dead body halfway through the tour. When suspicion falls on her boss, Sam and her co-workers are suddenly out of work, their real estate licenses suspended. Now, with her job on the line and a mortgage to pay, Sam will need every trick in the book to clear Everett’s name.

About The Author –

Sarah Hobart is a real estate agent and former newspaper reporter in Northern California, where she lives with her husband and two children in a majestic fixer-upper overlooking State Highway 101.

Purchase Links:

Amazon      B&N 

I really enjoyed this funny cozy mystery. The characters are well developed and boy do they give readers lots to laugh about. It's not everyday that a real estate agent shows a house and ends up with more than she bargained for. Let me introduce you to the star of the book. Sam Turner is very sweet and wants to impress her boss. She believes she can be the next top seller of homes and is given a chance to do an open house on her own.

I loved how the author gave great details about showing homes and allowing Sam to really shine throughout the story. Ok it's her big day. Hair in place. Check. Keys to the house. Check. House ready to show. Check. Potential buyers arriving check and check. This is where the fun really begins. I have gone to a couple of open houses just to see what it looks like inside.  I wanted to see the decor and dream of owning the perfect house. Perhaps these potential buyers will find their dream home. Sam is ready for her flood of customers so let the bidding begin.

There seems to be an assortment of people parading through the house but is anyone really there to buy ? Perhaps the couple who accidental borrowed some  of the  paintings, vases etc will come back . I'm sure they just wanted to look at the beautiful things to help them decide if they wanted to buy the house. Or perhaps the lovely person who brings their flea infested, muddy paws dog into the home wanted to see how dirty a carpet could get. The list of characters goes on and each with their own quirky agendas for being  at the open house.

One of the best parts of the book is when Sam decides that the house needed an aroma of baked cookies. So off she goes to the kitchen to bake cookies and suddenly everything stops. What did Sam find in the cookie mix? Will it lead to a possible crime? Will  the discovery of a dead body in the backyard put a halt to the open house?

The story moves at a great pace and has enough mystery to keep readers glued to the pages. It is always fun to try to guess who the killer is in cozy mysteries but this one was a hard one. I loved how the author had you so sure you had figured out the killer then boom, another suspect hits you in the face. Make sure and grab your copy of this fun mystery.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

Tour Participants

November 21 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW

November 22 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

November 22 – Readsalot – SPOTLIGHT

November 23 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

November 23 – Books,Dreams,Life – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – THANKSGIVING U.S.

November 25 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

November 25 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST

November 26 – Booklady’s Booknotes – REVIEW

November 26 – LibriAmoriMiei

November 27 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

November 28 – MysteriesEtc – REVIEW

November 28 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

November 29 – Readeropolis – INTERVIEW

November 30 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – REVIEW

December 1 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

December 2 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

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