Cozy Mystery Blog Tour: Author Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: A Wee Murder in My Shop (ScotShop #1) by Fran Stewart

FIRST IN A NEW SERIES!

Hamelin, Vermont, isn’t the most likely place for bagpipes and tartan, but at Peggy Winn’s ScotShop, business is booming…

While on a transatlantic hunt for some authentic wares to sell at her shop, Peggy is looking to forget her troubles by digging through the hidden treasures of the Scottish Highlands. With so many enchanting items on sale, Peggy can’t resist buying a beautiful old tartan shawl. But once she wraps it around her shoulders, she discovers that her purchase comes with a hidden fee: the specter of a fourteenth-century Scotsman.

Unsure if her Highland fling was real or a product of an overactive imagination, Peggy returns home to Vermont—only to find the dead body of her ex-boyfriend on the floor of her shop. When the police chief arrests Peggy’s cousin based on some incriminating evidence, Peggy decides to ask her haunting Scottish companion to help figure out who really committed the crime—before anyone else gets kilt. 

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Cozy Mystery Blog Tour: Author Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Arsenic and Old Books (Cat in the Stacks #6) by Miranda James

In Athena, Mississippi, librarian Charlie Harris is known for his good nature—and for his Maine coon cat Diesel that he walks on a leash. Charlie returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but taking the plunge into a recent acquisition will have him in over his head…

Lucinda Beckwith Long, the mayor of Athena, has donated a set of Civil War-era diaries to the archives of Athena College. The books were recently discovered among the personal effects of an ancestor of Mrs. Long’s husband. The mayor would like Charlie to preserve and to substantiate them as a part of the Long family legacy—something that could benefit her son, Beck, as he prepares to campaign for the state senate.

Beck’s biggest rival is Jasper Singletary. His Southern roots are as deep as Beck’s, and their families have been bitter enemies since the Civil War. Jasper claims the Long clan has a history of underhanded behavior at the expense of the Singletarys. He’d like to get a look at the diaries in an attempt to expose the Long family’s past sins. Meanwhile, a history professor at the college is also determined to get her hands on the books in a last-ditch bid for tenure. But their interest suddenly turns deadly…

Now Charlie is left with a catalog of questions. The diaries seem worth killing for, and one thing is certain: Charlie will need to be careful, because the more he reads, the closer he could be coming to his final chapter. 

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It’s a Family Thing

By Miranda James

Each of the “Cat in the Stacks” novels has centered on the family in some way. The core of the books is Charlie and his family, beginning with Diesel the Maine Coon cat in the first book, and then including his son Sean, daughter Laura, and others in subsequent books. The mystery plots in each of the books also center on family in some way.

In the latest book in the series, Arsenic and Old Books, the mayor of Athena, Lucinda Beckwith Long, presents Charlie with a set of Civil War-era diaries, a donation from the Long family to the college archive. The author of the diaries was Rachel Afton Long, and the mayor tells Charlie that the contents could help decide an upcoming election. Her son “Beck” Long is contending for a state senate seat against Jasper Singletary. The Longs and the Singletarys have a long history of distrust and discord between them. The Longs have been wealthy, one of the leading families of Athena for generations, while the Singletary clan consisted of poor subsistence farmers who claim their misfortunes were caused by the Longs.

Charlie naturally wonders how diaries written a century-and-a-half ago can impact the present. He is also astonished when two different women demand immediate access to them. A history professor desperate for tenure and a reporter whose reasons are murky both try their best to get their hands on the diaries. The situation is complicated by murder, and Charlie once again finds himself in the middle of the investigation.

As a student of history myself, and one whose family roots go back to 1831 in Mississippi, I wanted to write a story in which the distant past did affect the present. The Civil War era seemed a good place to start, and I thought incorporating the diaries of an antebellum woman a good way to open that window into the past. The result of all this is Arsenic and Old Books.

What I Liked: 

*The Essence of Family

I'm mentioning this not only because it's true, but because the author also touches on it in her guest post.  This series does a tremendous job of incorporating Charlie and his family.  It's always so nice to read a series that has a group of characters that they expand on with each new book written.  If kind of feels like you're watching them grow up and mature.  Such a cool experience :)  

*Diesel

What a really cool cat :)  

*The History Lesson

One of the things that cozy authors do very well, is bring a hobby or certain subject matter in to help "theme" the books they're writing.  In this particular book, the author brings in history.  Civil War-era history at that.  It's always so fascinating to see authors do their homework when it comes to the information they put in to their writing.  And it always pays off in the depth of their storytelling ability :)  Bravo!  

Overall: 

Another great addition to this series.  The mystery was superb, the character awesome, and the writing style flawless.  I truly enjoy spending time in this world created my Miranda James and can't wait to visit again in the future.  

Rating: 4 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own.  

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Cozy Blog Tour: Review, Author Guest Post & Giveaway: Town in a Sweet Pickle (Candy Holliday #6) by B.B. Haywood

In the quiet coastal community of Cape Willington, Maine, Candy Holliday is a local farmer who dutifully tends to her blueberry fields—and steps in to solve the occasional murder . . .

When Candy organizes a cooking event for her local newspaper, the town’s most prominent citizens turn out to witness the popular cookbook author Julia von Fleming serve as a guest judge. But when Julia comes close to consuming a poisoned pickle, she begins to suspect someone in Cape Willington is trying to kill her—and Candy is completely jarred to be among the suspects.

But the first taste was just a sample, and soon more jars of poisoned pickles begin to pop up around town. In the face of a pickled poisoning spree, Candy will have to track down the culprit to make sure her own name stays well-preserved. Along the way, she’ll pull the lid off a briny barrel of blackmail, thievery, and revenge that’s been souring their seaside hometown for years…

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!

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Poisoning by Pickles

or

Cleopatra’s Demise

by Cleopatra Sylvetina Evangeline Curiosity Longfellow (2008-2015)

as translated by B.B. Haywood

Translator’s Note: The latest Candy Holliday Murder Mystery, “Town in a Sweet Pickle,” recounts the unfortunate demise of a certain beloved goat named Cleopatra Longfellow. Below, we present the final moments of Cleopatra’s life, as told from her unique perspective.

I was happily chewing on the fallen crabapples in the front yard of our house on Gleason Street in Cape Willington, Maine, when a car sped towards me down the driveway. My goat instincts screamed, “Block this mad driver from trespassing in my yard!” I am rather territorial, after all, just like my owner, who wasn’t around at the moment to protect our place. So I ran over and stood my ground to block the driveway. The woman behind the wheel hit the brakes and beeped on the car horn until I couldn’t bear the loud sound. Clearly my hearing is more delicate than hers, so I moved off to the side, out of the way.

I recognized this woman when she leaped out of her car like a goat. I think my owner, Sally Ann Longfellow, calls her Wanda Boyle. She is a boisterous human for certain. I watched her run up the side steps of the house and bang on the door. “Sally Ann isn’t home,” I yelled, but Wanda didn’t seem to understand me. She then looked down at a jar Sally Ann had left out on the porch for reasons unknown to me. I heard Wanda mumble something like, “That doesn’ look right.” “Hey Wanda!” I bleated. “That’s shiny and looks edible! I’m sure it was meant for me.” But again, she didn’t understand me. Silly woman.

I watched Wanda walk down off the porch and around to the side of the steps so she could get a better look at the jar from ground level, since she didn’t want to bend over too far in her rather tight pants. She looked annoyed, impatient, and a bit confused by it. Her eyes closed, then popped wide open like she’d seen a ghost. I wanted to see the ghost too! I ran over and gave Wanda a butt in the backside, knocking her to the ground. That got her out of the way, so I could climb the steps myself and knock over the jar with my nose, sending it flying in the air until it crashed on the walkway and broke open. Ah yes! It was filled with deliciousness! Pickles, I think they were called. Wonderful pickles. They tasted a little funny but I didn’t care. I’ll eat anything. I had several, although that annoying lady Wanda got her big hands on one of them.

The commotion brought my sister Guinevere nosing her way over.  I let her know this is my prize, my ghost to eat. I quickly gobbled as many of the green spears as I could. That’s when the burning and dizziness started. My belly rumbled. I felt very strange. Before I knew what was happening, my legs collapsed underneath me. The sight of Wanda’s horrified expression was the last thing I remember.

I didn’t know at the time that I was the first of two murders to take place in Cape Willington that day. But I do believe I had the better funeral!

Sally Ann Longfellow’s Obituary for Cleopatra Longfellow

Published in the Cape Crier, the local newspaper for Cape Willington, Maine

A Remembrance of Cleopatra

by Sally Ann Longfellow

Curiosity killed Cleopatra the goat.

Why oh why did you have to be so greedy and eat the pickles?

You were my friend, my child, my companion, and sister to Guinevere.

I will miss you walking by my side,

Miss your ever-present annoying nosing in on everything,

Miss your ever-present love.

My beautiful Cleopatra, rest in peace.

NOTE: Town in a Sweet Pickle will be published on Feb. 3, 2015, by Berkeley Prime Crime, and available in both print and as a digital book. Other titles in the New York Times bestselling series include Town in a Strawberry Swirl, Town in a Pumpkin Bash, and Town in a Blueberry Jam. Large print editions of all the books and an audiobook of Town in a Blueberry Jam are also available. For more information on the series, visit www.hollidaysblueberryacres.com.

END

Check out instagram.com/capewillington

B. B. Haywood is a pseudonym of writing team Beth Feeman and Robert Feeman. They conceived the idea for the Candy Holliday mysteries while driving around the Maine countryside, stopping at different small towns throughout the state.

What I Liked: 

*The Setting - There is nothing like a small cozy town set on/near the coast.  It's like a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered and explored. It makes it feel like somewhere I can't wait to be!  

*The Food - Enough said. Any of the cozies with food has me sold.  And this one using pickles... yes! Who doesn't love pickles?! :) 

*The Pacing - I love a story that keeps up a steady pace. Town in a Sweet Pickle has a wonderful pace.  The story moves along beautifully and kept me thoroughly engaged.  

*The Characters - Candy is a great cozy heroine with a lot of tenacity. The friends and family she surrounds herself with add depth, wit and charm.  

What I Didn't Like:  

*The Heroine's Impulsivity - While I very much enjoy Candy and her tenacity, she has a tendency of getting herself caught in precarious situations because she acts impulsively and doesn't really think things through.  While this can help her at times, it becomes tiring to think that someone that comes across as being so smart would make such silly decisions.  

Overall: 

I really liked Town in a Sweet Pickle. The author does a tremendous job of keeping the cozy feel of the story, and yet brings a light thrill to the storyline.  Being the sixth book in this series, it sure does show a lot of promise for the future books yet to come.  I'll be eagerly awaiting those!  

Rating: 4 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own. 

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Cozy Mystery Blog Tour: Author Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Scorched Eggs (Cackleberry Club #6) by Laura Childs

In Laura Childs’s New York Times bestselling mystery series, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni—co-owners of the Cackleberry Club Café—are equally good at serving up breakfast and serving up justice. This time they turn up the heat on a deadly firebug…

As Suzanne is getting her hair colored at Root 66, she’s stunned to witness the County Services office next door suddenly go up in flames. Concerned neighbors throng the streets, and the fire department does their best. Unfortunately, their best isn’t enough to save longtime civil service worker—and friend to the Cackleberry Club—Hannah Venable.

Soon enough, it’s discovered that an accelerant was used to fan the flames. Someone set the fire on purpose—was Hannah the intended victim? Suzanne, Petra, and Toni vow to smoke out the culprit.

Unfortunately, the list of suspects is as varied as the Cackleberry Club’s menu. When Suzanne finds a possible connection between the fire and the nearby Prairie Star Casino, she comes to realize that the arsonist wanted something very big and bad kept secret. And if the ladies aren’t careful, they may be the ones gambling with their lives.

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Writing for the Reader

A guest blog from Laura Childs, author of the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries and Scrapbooking Mysteries. 

That old adage, "Write what you know," is something I've long since kicked to the curb.  

Why? Because I write for you, dear reader.  I write to entertain you, to make you chuckle, and to hopefully touch your heart.  I write mysteries that are (I hope) catchy, clever, and relevant.  I try to imbue each and every one of my novels with plot points that spark your interest - tea, crafts, cats and dogs, recipes, smart businesswomen, problem solving, friendship and romance.  And because I know you lead a busy, hectic, over-scheduled life, I try to give the plot a breakneck pace so you can read quickly.  But... I deliver my books in easily digested chapters to you can lose yourself whenever you find some time.  

And because the world is scary enough, my murder mysteries are exempt from the violence that's so often carried in our 24-hour media feed.  I truly believe that most women have tired of thriller-killer-slasher books.  They simply don't want that type of book on their nighttime reading table.  

Women today need respite.  They want a story where the female characters are smart, savvy, and caring.  And they certainly don't want foul language, gratuitous sex, or a "preachy" message. 

That's why I write the way I do.  And that's why I think you'll get a kick out of Scorched Eggs, my newest Cackleberry Club Mystery.  First of all, you've got three ladies, Suzanne, Toni and Petra, all a hair over forty, who run the Cackleberry Club.  They charm the locals with eggs in the morning and tea in the afternoon.  But in this installment, a raging fire in their small Midwestern town puts them on high alert.  A dear friend has been killed and signs point to arson.  Could it be a vengeful husband, ex-fireman, or expert in explosives?  The ladies try to track down the killer and still keep all their plates in the air (horse show, vintage wedding, county fair, tea parties, and a dinner theatre).  Of course, all this is told in very sassy dialogue with lots of action and romance thrown in for good measure.  And it wouldn't be a Cackleberry Club Mystery if I didn't include recipes for Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Cheese Popovers, Scorched Eggs, and lots more.  

Yes, I wrote it just for you, concocted what I think is a banquet of crazy, and then tossed in some major romance for good luck.  If you're looking for a book to cozy up with, to fall through the rabbit's hole with, this just might be it!  

Take care!

Laura Childs

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, Tea Shop Mysteries and Scrapbook Mysteries, and a recent recipient of the Romantic Times Book Review's Award for Best Amateur Sleuth.  In her previous life, she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays.  She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, and has two Chines Shar-Pei dogs.  

Author Website

As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of Laura Childs.  Her books are always so well written, and Scorched Eggs was no different!  This series is a wonderful read for any fan of the cozy genre, and I always recommend it to whomever I can.  Suzanne is a wonderful heroine, and her supporting cast of characters are superb!  They really know how to make a story come together seamlessly.  

This particular addition to the series is very clever.  It's funny (as always), and has a mystery that's literally to die for :)  The pacing is perfect and the author's attention to detail never ceases to amaze.  She's tremendously gifted and knows exactly how to tell a great mystery!  

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, and can't wait to visit the Cackleberry Club clan yet again! :) 

Rating: 4 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own. 

Thanks to the awesome ladies at Penguin, I have 1 copy of Scorched Eggs by Laura Childs to give away to one of my lucky readers!  Just enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win, and be sure to keep checking back for more awesome giveaways! 

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Paranormal Romance Review: Shadows of the Past by Carmen Stefanescu

When Anne and Neil leave on a one-week holiday hoping to reconcile after a two-year separation, little do they know that destiny has other plans for them. Their discovery of human bones and a bejeweled cross in the hollow of a tree open the door to the supernatural realm and the anguished life of Genevieve, a nun from medieval England.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve her eternal rest?

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.

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Carmen was born in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula.

She graduated the Bucharest University, the Germanic Languages Faculty.Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of communist oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books.

Author Website | Twitter 

I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the originality of the story and the plot twists and turns.  I loved the parallel storytelling and the paranormal aspect of the book.  I liked the beautifully painted world and the intricate detail the author goes in to to create the characters and their surroundings.  The mystery was very well written with a huge bombshell of an ending (which was awesome!).  But not everything was great.  

The development of the characters and the pacing of the story left something to be desired for me.   I wanted to love Anne and Genevieve, and at first, their characters had tremendous promise.  But no matter how far into the story I read, I couldn't find myself emotionally connected to these characters.  The introduction of them - perfect.  Their growth - just not enough.  I wanted to watch them develop so much more, and felt like the story would have benefited from it.  And their lack of growth, stunted the pacing as well.  

That being said, however, it didn't stop me from liking the book.  There were so many elements that went in to this book, and so many of them made it easy for me to move beyond the character development and get lost in the world the author created.  She is a very talented author, and I would love to read more from her in the future.  

Rating: 4 stars 

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own.   

Cozy Mystery Blog Tour: Author Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Dead for a Spell (Bram Stoker #2) by Raymond Buckland

Bram Stoker, business manager for London’s Lyceum Theatre, is never surprised to find the supernatural waiting in the wings—especially when a chilling murder appears to have origins in the occult…

March 1881. The Lyceum is abuzz with the news that American actor Edwin Booth is going to be sharing the stage with their own Shakespearean star, Henry Irving. But stage manager Harry Rivers has other matters preoccupying him. One of the regular actresses has disappeared, and after a disturbing tarot card reading, Harry’s boss, Bram Stoker, is convinced that something wicked is coming their way.

When the poor girl’s body is found, Stoker’s suspicions prove to be founded—the murder scene is riddled with strange clues that Stoker recognizes as the trappings of an occult ritual. Someone is conjuring up a pernicious plot against cast and crew of the Lyceum, and if Harry doesn’t track down the slaying sorcerer quickly, it could spell disaster for those he holds dearest.

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For me, writing Victorian mysteries is pure joy!  First of all, I love the Victorian age.  There was so much going on then: so many new discoveries.  Transportation was fascinating, going from the horse-drawn age into the age of the horseless carriage.  Gaslight was slowly giving way to electricity.  Fashions had great variety, both women's and men's.  Manners - now so many lost - were de rigor.  The class system was alive and well, for good or evil, yet there were endless opportunities for anyone with ambition.  Without question there were many dark sides to nineteenth century life, yet for the writer this can only be considered a plus.  One can certainly focus where one wishes and the very knowledge of aspects of the darker side of Victorian life play well into the potential plots and stories of the mystery writer.  

My protagonists are Bram Stoker and his assistant Harry Rivers.  Stoker is very much the fount of knowledge while Harry is the ever-willing partner/associate.  The relationship falls somewhere between Holmes-and-Watson and Wolfe-and-Goodwin.  Stoker, coming from Ireland, has a vast store of occult knowledge - together with a belief in leprechauns, ghosts, magic, and the sixth sense - and finds it to be in demand in the world of the London theatre, where superstitions abound.  I tend to think of him in the present tense, since he is so alive to me, but in fact he really did have such knowledge.  Along with his good friend Oscar Wilde, Stoker attended Trinity College, the top college in Ireland where he excelled in both academics and sports.  He was invited to London by the great Shakespearean actor Henry Irving, to become business manager of Irving's Lyceum Theatre.  

I had to research the mechanics of the Victorian theatre.  Happily I do have a theatrical background but I must admit that I was unfamiliar with gas lighting and the almost primitive methods of stage make-up and similar.  Research is a major part of such a novel yet, for myself and majority of authors, research is as much enjoyment as is the actual writing.  In fact, let's face it, the whole business of writing is a joy!  

Henry Irving's leading lady was Miss Ellen Terry and, at the time of this particular book, the American actor Edwin Booth was visiting and playing opposite Irving.  I incorporate these and other actual historical personalities into my stories to lend them authority.  The books are set not only in the world of the theatre but also in the Victorian political world, with Irving's friends, such as the prime minister William Gladstone, playing parts.  

Hansom cabs, top hats, crinolines, crossing-sweepers, street musicians... all give bulk to stories of kidnapping and murder.  As a writer, I have a fertile imagination to the point where, as I write, I can see my stories unfolding as though watching a movie.  This holds my attention and pulls me into the story, making it come alive.  I especially love building characters and developing dialogue.  I have always spent long hours "people watching" at airports, railroad and bus stations, making mental notes of mannerisms and speech patters.  To now be able to translate much of this onto the printed page is pure pleasure for me.  

In "Dead For a Spell" Stoker has to find one of the Lyceum's young actresses who has disappeared.  Indications are that she has been kidnapped and may have come to harm.  In fact this starts a long trail, carefully traced by Stoker and Harry Rivers, leading into a web of intrigue resulting in not just one but several murders.  There are suspects aplenty, including a rival Shakespearean actor who feels himself to be superior to the great Henry Irving.  Although Harry does a lot of the legwork, Stoker is not averse to calling up a hansom cab and setting off in hot pursuit of a suspect.  Harry frequently as a hard time keeping up with his boss.  

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As a reader of cozies, I was a little surprised that this one would be considered a part of that genre.  It's not that it didn't have many of the elements that make it a cozy, it just felt different.  The subject matter, for one, isn't typical of any cozies I've read before, which makes it unique.  However, the detail that the author has put in to the occult, made it feel far more like a paranormal suspense.  

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the story - I really did.  The Stoker/Rivers pairing was eerily similar to that of a Holmes/Watson one, which brought life to the mystery itself, and kept it engaging and fun.  I thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry that these two had.  I loved the setting of the story even more than that!  

Set in the Victorian era, the scenery unfolded like something you'd see in the cinema.  It was a perfect setting for such a dark subject matter.  It really added to the validity of the story.  

This was my first book by Mr. Buckland, and while I wish I'd read the first book in the series, my having not read it in no way kept me from reading and understanding this one.  I will, however, be reading the first one now!  It was a great book with a lot of potential for future additions, and I look forward to more adventures from Stoker and Rivers.  

Rating: 4 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own. 

Thanks to the awesome ladies at Penguin, I have 1 paperback copy of Dead for a Spell by Raymond Buckland to give away to one of my lucky readers!  Just enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win, and be sure to keep checking back for more awesome giveaways!

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Cozy Mystery Blog Tour: Author Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Murder, She Wrote: Death of a Blue Blood (Murder She Wrote #42) by Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain

In the newest mystery in the USA Today bestselling series, Jessica Fletcher is invited to ring in the New Year with British aristocracy. Too bad someone’s about to end the life of the party....

Jessica Fletcher and her friend Scotland Yard detective inspector George Sutherland are invited to attend a New Year’s Eve Ball at Castorbrook Castle, thanks to her British publisher. Shortly after arriving in the idyllic English countryside, Jessica discovers the body of a lady’s maid in the garden.

While their host, Lord Norrance, his snobbish third wife, other members of the household, and party guests squabble over the tragic death in tight-lipped, perfectly mannered, thoroughly British style, family relations are strained as old wounds are reopened and cutting remarks are freely handed out. And that’s only during teatime!

As midnight beckons at the ball the next night, the earl offers a toast, complete with fireworks. But the merriment crashes to a halt when he falls ill and dies, apparently poisoned—and the number of suspects with a grudge against the lord of the manor sprouts like English ivy.

Now it’s up to Jessica and George to find the killer—or killers—before another corpse welcomes in the New Year.

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If you like to travel but don't have the time or the wherewithal, come along with our favorite sleuth as she solves the next crime in the "Murder, She Wrote" series of mystery novels.  Publisher's Weekly has called Jessica Fletcher "today's Miss Marple," high praise indeed.  

In her latest exploit, Death of a Blue Blood, Jessica Fletcher discovers the body of a former nanny in the secret garden of Castorbrook Castle.  Nestled in the rolling hills of England's charming Cotswolds, Castorbrook is home to the Earl and Countess of Norrance who have extended an invitation to the Maine mystery writer and her good friend Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland to be guests at a gala New Year's Eve ball.  The much-anticipated and exclusive event is expected to be a glittering evening, at which 145 of the British peer's nearest and dearest will raise their glasses of champagne, dine on a gourmet dinner prepared by a celebrated French chef, dance to the strains of a famed society band, and be treated to a spectacular display of fireworks to usher in the New Year in grand fashion.  

Needless to say, everything doesn't come off quite as planned. 

Readers will join Jessica and George as they wander the dark corridors of the 300-year old castle, have tea in the elegant gallery, and visit the nearby village and its quaint pub, all in pursuit of a cunning killer.  Will he or she be found within the aristocratic family?  Be among the elite attending the ball?  Or perhaps have come from the overstressed, underpaid staff?  

2014 marks the 25th Anniversary of "Murder, She Wrote" in print, based on the popular television show which ran for 12 years.  Brought so beautifully to life on TV by the brilliant actress Dame Angela Lansbury, whose face appears on the cover of each of the books, there are 42 original stories (the 43rd already at the publisher) starring our intrepid modern-day amateur detective.  Other exciting locations in the series include San Francisco, New Orleans, London, the Florida Keys, Provence in southern France, colonial Mexico, Italy, a Caribbean island, British Columbia, a cruise ship making a trans-Atlantic voyage and many more.  And of course, Jessica Fletcher's beloved Cabot Cove.  Fans tell us reading the books is like being back on Sunday night, watching "Murder, She Wrote" on CBS with the whole family.  We can't think of a better compliment, and we hope you'll agree.  

Donald Bain
Renee Paley-Bain

Jessica Fletcher (born Jessica Beatrice MacGill, and writes under the initialed J.B. Fletcher) is a fictional character from the US television series Murder, She Wrote.

In keeping with the spirit of the TV show, a series of official original novels have been written by American ghostwriter Donald Bain and published by the New American Library. The author credit for the novels is shared with the fictitious "Jessica Fletcher". When the first novel in the series, Gin and Daggers, was published in 1989 it included several inaccuracies to the TV series including Jessica driving a car which she could not do as she never learned to drive. Due to fans pointing out the errors, the novel was republished in 2000 with most of the inaccuracies corrected.

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As always, this series is entertaining and fun.  Death of a Blue Blood takes you on a journey through the lives of the British aristocracy as they celebrate the New Year.  Of course, the uptight, very private British make it extremely difficult for Jessica and George to investigate when the death of one of the British's own happens unexpectedly!  Together, they must search the clues to try and solve the mystery before someone else becomes a victim.  

Ah... Jessica Fletcher is at it again.  Always the thorough sleuth, it's a treat to watch her investigate the murder of a seemingly innocent person.  She's detail oriented, sharp witted and smart.  And it's a delight to watch her work with George as her right hand man.  I've always been a fan of this series, as it truly does showcase the kinds of mysteries that were written by some of the greats.  

And while this wasn't my favorite Jessica Fletcher novel, it was a quick read, very entertaining, and I enjoyed another adventure with two of my favorite sleuths.  

Rating:  4 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own. 

Thanks to the awesome ladies at Penguin, I have 1 paperback copy of Murder, She Wrote: Death of a Blue Blood by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain to give away to one of my lucky readers!  Just enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win, and be sure to keep checking back for more awesome giveaways!

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Romance Review: Stranded with a Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club #1) by Jessica Clare

The Billionaire Boys Club is a secret society of six men who have vowed success – at any cost. Not all of them are old money, but all of them are incredibly wealthy. They’re just not always as successful when it comes to love…

Billionaire Logan Hawkings needs a vacation.
He’s had a rough time after the death of his father and the betrayal of his fiancée. But with a visit to a recent business acquisition—a private island resort in the Bahamas—he has a chance to mend his broken heart.
When a hurricane blows in, a misplaced passport and a stalled elevator bring Logan together with an unusual woman named Bronte. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met—down to earth, incredibly sensual, and even quotes Plato.
She also has no clue that he’s rich…

Bronte Dawson, a waitress from the Midwest, is stranded with the hotel’s domineering yet sexy manager Logan. What’s the harm in a little fling when it’s just the two of them, alone in paradise? But after several steamy island nights in Logan’s arms, Bronte’s ready to give her heart—and her body—to the man in charge.

But she soon discovers there’s more to Logan than he’s told her…a billion times more. Now, Bronte’s caught in a whirlwind affair with one of the world’s most powerful men. But can their love endure their differences or will it all just blow over?

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Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.

She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.

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As a lover of contemporary romance, I was excited about Jessica Clare's Stranded with a Billionaire.  I was intrigued to see if she could take a fairly over-worked idea and make it original.  And while it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I did enjoy following Bronte and Logan on their romantic escapade.  

Being stranded at a resort, tucked away on a private island, in the middle of a hurricane, with a hunky billionaire doesn't sound half bad.  And for Bronte, it meant a happily ever after she never saw coming.  The chemistry between her and Logan was immediate and intense.  They fit together perfectly, and their connection was made all the more evident when their wooing romance turned intimate - and boy was it steamy!  

While their romance was beautiful and sweet, unfortunately for me, it was a little too predictable.  I loved the idea of being stranded somewhere with a man that you know nothing about and having a connection, but there were elements of the "billionaire story" that were all too familiar and made me feel like I'd visited certain scenarios plenty of times before.  Were there some things original?  Absolutely.  And those things were great!  Sadly, for a lot of us, the billionaire just feels a lot less... appealing.  

That being said, however, I really did enjoy this story.  Jessica Clare is a fantastic writer who draws you in and keeps you entertained from start to finish.  And with this being the first book in a new series, I have a feeling that we'll be in for a real treat with the future books in this series.  I know I'll be reading!  

Rating:  4 stars 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own.