Texas Book-aholic: 2017-02-26

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Facials Can Be Fatal
by Nancy J. Cohen

Plan to spend all weekend at the day spa! With all the twists and turns between these covers you will need to plan a relaxation day to recover. The book starts with a scream and the action never slows…
~Laura’s Interests

This book is great for cozy lovers of all sorts.
~Community Bookstop

Facials Can Be Fatal (A Bad Hair Day Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
13th in Series
Five Star Publishing (February 22, 2017)
Hardcover: 286 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1432832827

Synopsis

During the frenzy of the December holidays, the last thing salon owner Marla Vail needs is a dead body slathered in a green facial mask at her new day spa. The victim, Valerie Weston, was a major donor for Friends of Old Florida, a historic building preservation society. Marla’s stylists are scheduled to work backstage at their upcoming gala fashion show, but Val’s demise might put a crimp in their plans. Hoping to salvage her reputation, Marla determines to track down the suspects. As she learns more about Val, she realizes the benefactress might have stumbled onto secrets others would kill to keep. She’d better prepare for a body count that has nothing to do with hot stone massages and everything to do with murder.

About The Author

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have made the IMBA bestseller list and been selected by Suspense Magazineas best cozy mystery. Nancy has also written the instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery. Her imaginative romances, including the Drift Lords series, have proven popular with fans as well. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences, and community events, Nancy is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who’s Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets. When not busy writing, she enjoys fine dining, cruising, visiting Disney World, and shopping.

Author Links:

Website: http://nancyjcohen.com

Blog: http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nancyjcohen

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91508.Nancy_J_Cohen

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/njcohen/

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyjcohen

Booklover’s Bench: http://bookloversbench.com

Newsletter Sign-Up: http://nancyjcohen.com/newsletter/

Purchase Links:

Amazon HC Amazon Digital

Barnes and Noble

I really enjoyed the setting of this cozy mystery. What better place for chaos and murder to happen while at a spa. I loved the description of the spa and salon . The author made you feel like you were there with the other customers. You could hear the scissors snipping away and smell the scents of the facials as they were placed smoothly on faces. I have been to a spa before and loved how relaxed you feel.

Marla is a smart business woman. She owns a salon and now has expanded and opened a day spa next door. Things are going well until a scream shatters the tranquil atmosphere. As Marla rushes next door she finds out why there was a loud scream. A customer lays dead in one of the rooms. As the investigation begins they find out that Val Weston died from latex poisoning. The spa keeps very detailed files on each client. Everyone was aware of Val's allergy to latex. Who put the latex drops in the facial? Should other customers be worried about their safety?

I really liked Marla's husband. He is very smart, patient and has his hands full with the investigation. There seems to be a theme in most cozy mysteries where the main character in the story gets involved in the investigation. I always find them to be funny, intuitive and determined. Marla is that and much more. Along with her husband they will find themselves with many suspects to clear and a mystery that keeps readers guessing. Will Marla heed her husband's warning and try to stay save? Who is after her and what information did she stumble on? The story is full of great action and a cast of characters that really make the story intriguing.

What ties did Val have with the upcoming gala? Was she hiding something that could have caused someone to murder her? When more bodies start piling up, the investigation really heats up. I loved the fast pace of the story and how the author throws curve balls just as you think you have solved the mystery. Marla and Dalton are a great couple and I love the interaction between the two. I never could figure out who the killer was, but I loved the ending. I was quite surprised when the killer was revealed .

I received a copy of the book from Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion

.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

March 1 – Laura’s interests – REVIEW, EXCERPT

March 1 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW

March 2 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

March 2 – Books, Dreams, Life – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 3 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST, EXCERPT

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

March 4 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

March 4 – Readeropolis – REVIEW

March 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST

March 6 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – INTERVIEW

March 7 – A Holland Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

March 8 – The Mysterious Ink Spot – GUEST POST

March 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 9 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

March 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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Thursday, March 2, 2017

A Ghostly Mortality
by Tonya Kappes

I appreciate watching the characters grow and their relationships develop.
~Laura’s Interests

I LOVE this series, and this book only serves to illustrate why…I couldn’t stop reading.
~Book Babble

A Ghostly Mortality: A Ghostly Southern Mystery
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Witness (February 28, 2017)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0062466976
E-Book ASIN: B01GONIFFI

Synopsis

That ghost sure looks . . . familiar

Only a handful of people know that Emma Lee Raines, proprietor of a small-town Kentucky funeral home, is a “Betweener.” She helps ghosts stuck between here and the ever-after—murdered ghosts. Once Emma Lee gets them justice they can cross over to the great beyond.

But Emma Lee’s own sister refuses to believe in her special ability. In fact, the Raines sisters have barely gotten along since Charlotte Rae left the family business for the competition. After a doozy of an argument, Emma Lee is relieved to see Charlotte Rae back home to make nice. Until she realizes her usually snorting, sarcastic, family-ditching sister is a . . . ghost.

Charlotte Rae has no earthly idea who murdered her or why. With her heart in tatters, Emma Lee relies more than ever on her sexy beau, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross…because this time, catching a killer means the Raines sisters will have to make peace with each other first.

About the Author

For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been self-publishing her numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plotlines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans. Be sure to check out Tonya’s website for upcoming events and news and to sign up for her newsletter! Tonyakappes.com

Also by Tonya Kappes

Kenni Lowry Mystery Series

Fixin’ To Die

Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series

SPLITSVILLE.COM

COLOR ME LOVE (novella)

COLOR ME A CRIME

Magical Cures Mystery Series

A CHARMING CRIME

A CHARMING CURE

A CHARMING POTION (novella)

A CHARMING CHRISTMAS (novella)

A CHARMING FATALITY

A CHARMING DEATH

A CHARMING GHOST

A CHARMING VOODOO

Grandberry Falls Series

THE LADYBUG JINX

HAPPY NEW LIFE

A SUPERSTITIOUS CHRISTMAS (novella)

NEVER TELL YOUR DREAMS

A Laurel London Mystery Series

CHECKERED CRIME

CHECKERED PAST

CHECKERED THIEF

A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series

A BREAD OF DOUBT SHORT STORY

STRUNG OUT TO DIE

CRIMPED TO DEATH

Bluegrass Romance Series

Women’s Fiction

Young Adult

A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series

A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING

Enjoy a free ebook from Tonya when you sign up for her newsletter by clicking here.

Visit Tonya:

Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes

Kappes Krew Street Team

Webpage

E-mail

Recipe Submission Email

Goodreads

Twitter

EXCERPT:

A GHOSTLY MORTALITY EXCERPT

Chapter 1

“Lawdy bee.” Granny scooted to the edge of the chair and lifted her arms in the air like she was worshiping in the Sunday morning service at Sleepy Hollow Baptist and the spirit just got put in her.

I sucked in a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever was going to come out of Zula Fae Raines Payne’s mouth, my granny. She was a ball of southern spitfire in her five-foot-four-inch frame topped off with bright red hair that I wasn’t sure was real or out of a L’Oréal bottle she’d gotten down at the Buy and Fly.

“Please, please, please,” she begged. “Let me die before anything happens to Emma Lee.” Her body slid down the fancy, high-back mahogany leather chair as she fell to her knees with her hands clasped together, bringing them back up in the air as she pleaded to the Big Guy in the sky. “I’m begging you.”

“Are you nuts?” My voice faded to a hushed stillness. I glanced back at the closed door of my sister’s new office, in fear she was going to walk in and see Granny acting up.

I sat in the other fancy, high-back mahogany leather chair next to Granny’s and grabbed her by the loose skin of her underarm. “Get back up on this chair before Charlotte Rae gets back in here and sees you acting like a fool.”

“What?” Granny quirked her eyebrows questioningly as if her behavior was normal.

My head dropped along with my jaw in the “are you kidding me” look.

“Well, I ain’t lying!” She spat, “I do hope and pray you are the granddaughter that will be doing my funeral, unless you get a flare up of the ‘Funeral Trauma.’” She sucked in a deep breath and got up off her knees. She ran her bony fingers down the front of her cream sweater to smooth out any wrinkles so she’d be presentable like a good southern woman, forgetting she was just on her knees begging for mercy.

“Flare up?” I sighed with exasperation. “It’s not like arthritis.”

The “Funeral Trauma.”

It was true. I was diagnosed with the “Funeral Trauma” after a decorative plastic Santa fell off the roof of Artie’s Meat and Deli, knocking me flat out cold and now I could see dead people.

I had told Doc Clyde I was having some sort of hallucinations and seeing dead people, but he insisted I had been in the funeral business a little too long and seeing corpses all of my life had brought on the trauma.

Truthfully, the Santa had given me a gift. Not a gift you’d expect Santa to give you, but it was the gift of seeing clients of Eternal Slumber, my family’s funeral home business where I was the undertaker. Some family business.

Anyway, a psychic told me I was now a Betweener. I helped people who were stuck between here and the ever after. The Great Beyond. The Big Guy in the sky. One catch . . . the dead people I saw were murdered and they needed me to help them solve their murder before they could cross over.

“I’m fine,” I huffed and took the pamphlet off of Charlotte Rae’s desk, keeping my gift to myself. The only people who knew were me, the psychic and Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, my hot, hunky and sexy boyfriend. He was as handy as a pocket on a shirt when it came time for me to find a killer when a ghost was following me around. “We are here to get her to sign my papers and talk about this sideboard issue once and for all.”

Granny stared at me. My head slid forward like a turtle and I popped my eyes open.

“I’m fine,” I said through closed teeth.

“You are not fine.” Granny rolled her eyes so big, I swear she probably hurt herself. “People are still going around talking about how you talk to yourself.” She shook her finger at me. “If you don’t watch it, you are going to be committed. Surrounded by padded walls. Then—” She jabbed her finger on my arm. I swatted her away with the pamphlet. “Charlotte Rae will have full control over my dead body and I don’t want someone celebrating a wedding while I lay corpse in the next room. Lawdy bee,” Granny griped.

I opened the pamphlet and tried to ignore Granny as best I could.

“Do you hear me, Emma Lee?” Granny asked. I could feel her beady eyes boring into me. “Don’t you be disrespecting your elders. I asked you a question,” she warned when I didn’t immediately answer her question.

“Granny.” I placed the brochure in my lap and reminded myself to remain calm. Something I did often when it came to my granny. “I hear you. Don’t you worry about a thing. By the time you get ready to die, they will have you in the nuthouse alongside me,” I joked, knowing it would get her goat.

The door flung open and the click of Charlotte Rae’s high-dollar heels tapped the hardwood floor as she sashayed her way back into her office. The soft linen green suit complemented Charlotte’s sparkly green eyes and the chocolate scarf that was neatly tied around her neck. It was the perfect shade of brown to go with her long red hair and pale skin.

“I’m so sorry about that.” She stopped next to our chairs and looked between me and Granny. She shook the long, loose curls over her shoulders. “What? What is wrong, now?”

“Granny is all worried I’m going to get sent away to the nuthouse and you are going to lay her out here.” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. Or did my subconscious take over my mouth? It was always a competition between me and Charlotte, only it was one-sided. Mine.

It's another big hit for this very talented author as A Ghostly Mortality brings us laughs, heartwarming moments and a mystery that is sure to intrigue you. I love the authors quirky southern sayings throughout the book. It is fun to read a book that has great characters that come to life. The story is a look at the mortuary business and the shenanigans that take place there.

Emma is a great character that has her hands full keeping up with her grandmother and sassy sister. It seems that the two sisters are in a bit of a disagreement since they work for different mortuaries. Why would Charlotte go work for the other company when her family owns their own funeral business? It certainly doesn't set well with Emma . I loved the bickering between the two sisters. The sibling rivalry was well written and I loved how others seem to pick sides at times.

Charlotte is so sure she made the right decision when she took the new job that she loves to try to take business away from Emma. There are some very loud arguments that cause hurt feelings between the two and Emma seems to have had enough of her sister . That all changes when Emma sees her sister and realizes that she is a ghost. Did I mention that Emma helps people cross over? Emma is shocked to realize her sister is dead . I would not want to be able to talk to ghosts or see them. Poor Emma must be beside herself now that her own sister needs her help. Not only is Charlotte dead but someone murdered her .

I loved the back and forth talking between the sisters when it looked like Emma was talking to herself. I must mention the grandmother because she was one mad woman when she found out about Charlotte. She does go a bit crazy wanting answers to her granddaughter 's death. The author does a brilliant job showing how a grandmother is willing to give up anything to catch the killer .

I had my list of suspects in my head but I did not guess who the killer was. In fact I was quite surprised who it was and more importantly why Charlotte was killed. The creativity of the author really shines in this book as the mystery takes a turn I never saw coming. You don't want to miss this outstanding book written by an author who always delivers a story that is intriguing , full of laughs and characters that are unforgettable.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escape Book Tours. The review is my own opinion.

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away a free audio book on each blog spot. Please leave comment to be entered. The author will choose from previous released books.

Tour Participants

February 27 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW, EXCERPT

February 27 – Books, Dreams, Life – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

February 28 – Queen of All She Reads – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

February 28 – Book Babble – REVIEW

March 1 – Readsalot – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 2 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

March 3 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW, EXCERPT

March 3 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

March 4 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

March 5 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 6 – deal sharing aunt – INTERVIEW

March 7 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

March 8 – fuonlyknew – REVIEW

March 9 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

March 10 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

March 11 – T’s Stuff – REVIEW, EXCERPT

March 12 – Curling Up by the Fire – REVIEW

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Home to Paradise, the final book in author Barbara Cameron's The Coming Home series, is not to be missed! Rose Anna Zook always thought she and John, one of Stoltzfus brothers, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John, enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world, has other ideas. Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?




Join Barbara on Thursday, March 9, for a live author chat party on her Facebook page with fun prizes to be won! Click the graphic below for more details and to RSVP. Hope to see you there-bring a friend or two who loves Amish fiction!

Book info

Highly anticipated final book in The Coming Home Series from best-selling Amish author Barbara Cameron.

Rose Anna Zook has watched her two older sisters marry two Stoltzfus men and has always thought she and John, the third Stoltzfus brother, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John has other ideas. He's enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world a little too much and isn't interested in returning to the Amish community-especially to marry.

Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

Barbara Cameron has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple joys of the Amish. She is the best-selling author of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Her books have been nominated for Carol Awards and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award from RWA's Faith, Hope, and Love chapter. Barbara resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

We come to the end of a great series that has enchanted us and given us a glimpse into the Zook and Stoltzfus families. I have loved getting to know them and am sad to see it end. The author has done a great job of describing Amish life and making readers feel like they are watching the story unfold before them. I love how the story flows and the delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book.

Rose Ann is the youngest and unmarried daughter in the Zook home. She has longed for John for so long and still has hopes they will marry someday. She is a good cook but I think at times she focuses too much on getting married and not being content with where God has her. Will she learn to be patient and stop being manipulative?

John has turned away from his abusive father and now living on his own. He has chosen to live the way of the English and that has put a strain on relationships. I like his determination to make his life better and loved reading about the uncertainty he has about the Amish life. Will he return to his roots or stay in the English world? The author does a great job of showing the inner struggles John has and I loved how he learned lessons along the way.

What I am most impressed with is the mention of PTSD and domestic abuse in the book. I think the author did an amazing job of talking about both subjects in a gentle way. I loved how there were people willing to help those with PTSD and making them feel welcome . Domestic abuse happens everyday and I found it interesting when the author put in the story that abuse doesn't just happen in the English world.

Overall the book has a lot to offer and really does a great job of talking about characters who learn to forgive, repair relationships and follow God's plan for their lives.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. The review is my own opinion.

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/bcameron

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