Saturday, March 16, 2024

Book Review: SPIRIT WOMAN LEGENDS AND LIES (Spirit Woman Mystery Adventures Book 2) by Elaine Faber

About the Book 

The legendary Native American Spirit Woman and her mountain lion companion, said to appear in times of trouble, are once again sighted near Lockleer Mountain. And there is trouble aplenty. 

Twenty-four hours after Joe and his brother, Cyrus, quarrel over the ownership of a winning million dollar lottery ticket, Cyrus’s mutilated body is found in the mountains, ravaged by the local wildlife. Sheriff Peabody and Deputy Nate Darling are soon puzzled by stolen VA hospital drugs found in Cyrus’s bedroom. It seems likely the suspected homicide is either connected to the contested lottery ticket or the drugs. 

Hearing of the crowds that inevitably follow such a disturbing event, Rosita Ramirez, a transient with two children, comes to Lockleer Mountain to sell homemade tamales. She is befriended by Nate’s fiancé, Lou Shoemaker, owner of the Pooper Scooper sewer disposal truck. Rosita parks her old motorhome at the First Baptist Church and Lou aids her in acquiring employment at the local diner. 

Soon, malicious gossip erupts about Rosita and the pastor. The church deacons are divided between ignoring unproven gossip, versus concern the gossip will divide the congregation and affect the future of the church. 

In addition to finding a killer, Sheriff Peabody and his deputies are now tasked with exposing the perpetrator of the gossip, or the pastor will be forced to leave. How can the Spirit Woman and her companions bring about a solution to the troubles that plague the rural community? 

Review 

The small town of Lockleer Mountain is home for Lou, the now owner of the sewer management service, her husband-to-be Deputy Nate Darling, and her good friend, Judy. The day-to-day is moving along. Joe Walling is released from prison and return home to his two young daughters and his brother, Cyrus, who has been taking care of him. Joe wins the lottery big, an owl is spotted, Cyrus is killed, the lion is sighted, and Nate sees a woman with green dress walking through the trees. No one wants to admit to being superstitious or spooked, but the owl and the spirit woman foretell trouble, with the woman and the lion pairing up to help the town return to its equilibrium. 

The story is well-plotted and the characters and their interactions provide a feel for this small town and the effect these happenings and others have on the community, with ripple effects on the congregation of the local church. The story moves along at a steady with pace with a trade off of solutions and new problems that keep you guessing. This is one mystery, where I couldn't figure out the person behind the murder until the very end. An interesting and engaging cozy mystery. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 


About the Author 

Elaine Faber's short stories are published in magazines and multiple anthologies. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime, IElk Grove Wrters Guild, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. 

Black Cat's Legacy, Elaine's debut fantasy cat-mystery novel, is the first in a series of four Cat Mysteries involving Thumper, who solves mysteries with the aid of his ancestors' memories. Black Cat narrates part of each story with his witty opinions of the inferior humans he lives with. 

Four Mrs. Odboddy mysteries are set in Northern CA during WWII, humorous historical fiction that are both informative and funny. Mrs. Odboddy - Hometown Patriot is the first in Elaine's WWII humorous mystery series. Mrs. Odboddy fights the war from the home front, seeing conspiracies and spies around every corner. When Mrs. Roosevelt comes to town to attend a funeral, Agnes's fears become a reality and she must prove she is, indeed a hometown patriot. 

The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain series highlights a legendary Native American spirit woman who aids a troubled town.

All books are reader friendly without explicit sex, extreme violence or profanity.  Elaine lives in Elk Grove, CA, with her husband. They currently share their home with two house cats.


Monday, March 4, 2024

Book Review: DOUBLE SCOOP OF MURDER (A Coffee & Cream Mystery) by Lena Gregrory


Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – New York
Gemma Halliday Publishing (February 27, 2024)
Number of Pages 226
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKV7QQB8
About the Book

From author Lena Gregory comes a hunt for more than just treasure… 

Danika Delany is loving running her uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island and putting her own modern spin on the treats they serve. Life is finally looking up for her! That is, until local billionaire Maxwell Crumbholtz dies and leaves his fortune in the form of a treasure hunt. Chaos descends on Watchogue, and Dani and the rest of the gang from the Coffee & Cream Café join the melee when they enter the contest, try to decipher the clues, and go in search of the treasure. 

But Dani digs up more than she expected when she discovers a dead body buried instead of a treasure! To make matters worse, a witness claims to have seen Dani at the scene of the murder. Now, instead of a four-billion-dollar payday, Dani is on the hunt for a killer. 

Book Review 

Crumbholtz fortune is up for grabs with the winner of the treasure hunt to get it all. Between the brothers who thought they'd be rich and the promise of a relationship with Jake who doesn't want Dani involved in any more murders, she wants nothing to do with the treasure hunt. Her sister,  and Eli have other ideas. Then as they follow clues, she's finds a dead body.

This was a fun cozy, with well-developed characters, and enough twists and turns to keep my interest. The story moves along and the community has enough "personalities" to make it interesting. As expected from Gregory, she has all the components of a cozy mystery all wrapped up nicely. Although this is the third in the series, it was easily read as a stand alone. Now, to go back and read the others.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N – Kobo

Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries
Murder a la Mode
Grounds for Murder
Douple Scoop of Murder

About the Author

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York. 

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime. 

Author Links 
Newsletter ~  Website  ~ Facebook   

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Sunday, February 25, 2024

New Release! THE ITCH OF SCANDAL (Izzie Di Sante Mysteries #4) by Christa Nardi


About the Book 

With a call from her uncle, Italian restaurant co-owner and investigative journalist Izzie Di Sante is drawn into the recent murder of an English professor at a nearby college. Izzie is intrigued by the cryptic quotes mailed to the victim and puzzling circumstances. The victim's home has been broken into twice, with no apparent motive or theft, and the grieving widow fears she will be next. Izzie is determined to unearth the missing links and identify the killer. 

As Izzie delves deeper into the investigation she uncovers a tapestry of secrets reminiscent of the holes in Chloe's crumpets. Seems she's not only running short on restaurant supplies but also missing critical ingredients in Lashley's murder. Izzie is determined to unearth the missing link and identify the killer.

New release priced at $0.99 through March 3rd! 


The Izzie Di Sante Mysteries


Rewakening the Itch (Prequel)
An Itch for Justice
The Itch of Murder
An Itch for Danger
The Itch of Scandal


About Christa Nardi

Christa Nardi is an avid reader with her love of mysteries beginning with Nancy Drew and other teen mysteries. She’s shifted to more contemporary mystery, crime, and cozy mysteries over time.  She has been a long time writer from short stories to mystery series. The second book in the Izzie Maroni Mysteries, The Itch of Murder, was a 2023 Reader's Favorite Sleuth Finalist.

Christa supports animal rescue and other efforts to help others. She is a member of Sisters in Crime. When not reading or writing, Christa enjoys travel and playing with her dogs and granddaughters.

You can connect and keep up with Christa via:


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Tuesday, February 6, 2024

DEATH AT FIRESIDE INN : 1920's Historical Mystery (Veroncia Vale Investigates) by Kitty Kildare


Death at the Fireside Inn: 1920s Historical Mystery (Veronica Vale Investigates)
 Historical British Cozy Mystery 
1st in Series 
Setting – 1920s London, England 
K.E. O’Connor Books (January 16, 2024) 
Number of Pages: 225 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

A fading star, a puzzling death, and a mystery that must be solved! 

Veronica Vale spent a turbulent few years serving her country during the Great War – doing more than her role in the exchange network suggested! Now back on British soil and adjusting to life as an obituary writer for her uncle’s newspaper, while caring for her ailing mother, Veronica has gotten used to a slower (and safer) pace of life. 

Excitement comes from fun parties, walks with Benji, her beloved rescue dog, and volunteering at the Dogs’ Home. 

When an old family friend, and former superstar of the theatre, Florence Sterling, is discovered dead in her dressing room at the Winter Garden Theatre in London, Veronica is curious to discover what happened to the sweet, funny, ruthlessly ambitious beauty. 

Much to the dismay of her sometimes nemesis Inspector Templeton, Veronica is tasked with writing Florence’s obituary. And what she learns will blow the roof off the theatre! That’s if she survives to tell the tale. *** 

If you love witty dialogue, historical glamour, intrigue, and a fast-paced cozy mystery set in 1920s England, then you’ll adore Kitty Kildare’s unputdownable whodunits. 

CHARACTER GUEST POST 

Good day to you! I’m Veronica Vale, and am adjusting to life following the Great War, doing more than my role as a telephone exchange operator suggests. But that’s a story for another time! 

1920s London is a fascinating place. Everyone is full of hope and joy, enterprise is everywhere, and there’s a buzz to this great city that has been missing for years. But there are still a few trials we all must endure. 

I’m a born and bred London girl who enjoys a simple life involving long walks with my rescue dog, Benji, and attending parties with my best friend, Ruby Smythe. But I somehow find myself embroiled in the most mysterious of cases. 

It’s partly due to my job as an obituary writer for my uncle’s newspaper, the London Times. I often find myself around the recently deceased, and sometimes, they didn’t go quietly into the good night. Some were given a bullet in the gut, a whack over the head, or shoved down a set of stone steps. 

And that won’t do! One thing I’m not afraid of is ensuring justice is done. Often to the frustration of the local police, and in particular, my sometimes nemesis, Inspector Jacob Templeton. He’s as handsome as he is stubborn, but I won’t let him stop me from ensuring wrongs are righted. 

My home in an up-and-coming part of London is rarely quiet. I live with my ailing mother, Edith Vale, and my voluntarily housebound younger brother, Matthew. I tried to convince them to move to somewhere smaller and more practical, but they won’t hear of it. And to be honest, I don’t want to leave the place, even though it costs a small fortune to heat. We use the extra rooms to take in foster animals. There are many abandoned or lost animals looking for homes following the Great War. People who lost everything or were bombed out were unable to look after their precious animals, so I stepped in. I’m happy to say it’s a passion of mine. 

Between my work at the newspaper, busy social life thanks to Ruby, keeping an eye on my eccentric family, my volunteer work at the dogs’ home, and my sleuthing activities, I rarely have a moment’s peace. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

If you wish to step back in time and enjoy the delights of postwar London, explore the surprises and mysteries hiding behind some of the grandest front doors, and help me ensure the police know what they’re doing, then you’d be most welcome to join me in my latest adventure. 

Now, I must fly. I’m treating Ruby to an afternoon tea at the Ritz!

Yours truly, Veronica Vale

Purchase Links 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Immerse yourself into Kitty Kildare‘s cleverly woven historical British mysteries. Follow the mystery in the Veronica Vale Investigates series and enjoy the dazzle and delights of 1920s England. Kitty is a not-so-secret pen name of established cozy mystery author K.E. O’Connor, who decided she wanted to time travel rather than cast spells! Enjoy the twists and turns. 

Author Links 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS 
February 7 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT February 7 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER    INTERVIEW 
February 7 – Christa Reads and Writes – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
February 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW February 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST 
February 9 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT 
February 9 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW 
February 9 – Novels Alive – REVIEW 
February 10 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
February 11 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT February 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
February 12 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
February 12 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT February 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST February 13 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW February 13 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

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Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Book Review: Forgeries and Fatalities (Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries Book 3) by Jennifer S. Alderson

 

About the Book

Carmen De Luca, an intrepid art sleuth with a passion for recovering lost masterpieces, is thrilled to be in Luxembourg chasing down another lead. Yet her keen eye for detail is put to the test when she gets wind of a devious plan to transport stolen masterpieces through Europe's free ports. 

When the trail leads to Italy, Carmen discovers that smuggling is just the tip of the brush, and someone is determined to silence anyone who gets too close to the truth. 

Will Carmen outsmart the cunning criminals and expose the murderer before she’s painted out of the picture—permanently? Find out in Forgeries and Fatalities, book three of the Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries! 

Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries
Collecting Can Be Murder 
A Statue To Die For 
Forgeries and Fatalities 
A Killer Inheritance 
Review 

Carmen's latest assignment has an interesting twist. She's attending an art auction - by invitation only - to see if the auction is a front for an art smuggling operation. The host/artist doesn't hide the fact that he recreates other artist's works. He signs them with his name. 

Carmen hits a few roadblocks right away. Her usual partner, Lady Sophie, and the one who gets the invitation is still laid up. Carmen's best friend Rhonda fit in fine on a previous job, but Rhonda's exuberant personality almost results in them both being kicked out. Lady Sophie, jealous of Rhonda, shows up as well, in a wheel chair. She wants Rhonda gone. Not able to keep either Lady Sophie or Rhonda under control, Carmen's on her own to find the connection - if there is one - to auctioning off his copies and art smuggling.

I've read and enjoyed the first two in the series, and this one did not disappoint. Although part of a series, each book is a different adventure in art history, art theft, and art smuggling. The personalities of Carmen, Lady Sophie, and Rhonda add to the tension, along with the errant interpol hottie. Readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy this book - actually the whole series. Book 4 is available on pre-order. I can't wait.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 


About the Author (From Amazon)

Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, grew up in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she lived in Darwin, Australia, before finally settling in the Netherlands. 

Jennifer’s love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning Zelda Richardson Mystery series, her Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and her Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels. 

When not writing, she can be found perusing a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.




Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Book Review: THE FAMILY MAN - A Rosedale Investigations Mystery by Lynn Farrell


The Family Man (Rosedale Investigations) 
Cozy Mystery 
4th in Series 
Setting – Tennessee 
Camel Press (January 9, 2024) 

About the Book

A woman approaches Rosedale Investigations to report her husband missing. Then another woman arrives to report her husband is missing. When the team sees the photographs of James Browning, they realize it’s the same guy; they have a bigamist on their hands. Detective Wayne Nichols locates Browning’s car at the local airport and learns the man’s been subpoenaed to provide evidence in the trial of a decade-old murder of a police officer-a shooting Browning witnessed. 

A second client, Hilary Broadchurch-Miller believes her brother, Grant, is being blackmailed by Aimee, his yoga instructor. He had earlier pledged to cover the cost of sending Hilary’s sons to college and she’s afraid he might renege on that promise. When Billy Jo interviews Aimee, she denies having an affair and is shocked when accused of blackmail. However, when Billy Jo checks the Venmo app, she discovers Grant has been giving Aimee money for two months. Something is definitely going on.

This one is a page-turner with two wives who don’t know about each other, a man who may or may not have a daughter, and a final 4th of July party where all the strands of the tale come together. 

Review 

The Rosedale Investigations is quite busy with multiple changes coming for those who follow the series. The focus, however, is on the two wives - one with a little boy, and one with a teen-aged daughter. After witnessing a crime, James Browning left his common law wife and daughter and moved. At the funeral of a cousin, he met the widow and her toddler son and they got married. Now, both families live in the same town and he's disappeared. Billy-Jo, Dori, and Wayne chase multiple leads to find him.

At the same time, Billy-Jo, still hoping to become partner, pursues the potential blackmail scheme or surprise daughter of Grant. Along with trying to establish possible paternity, Billy-Jo still has questions about how long it took PD to find her when he'd promised to take care of her. That's a third mystery that is revealed. 

The Family Man is an easy read with interesting mysteries, a diverse smattering of characters, and a plot that includes the members of Rosedale Investigations as well as their clients. The pace is steady and it can be read as a stand-alone - this is my first in the series - although The Family Man is the fourth. Still, I think it's always best to start at the beginning. If you like a cozy mystery with heartfelt moments, you'll enjoy this book.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

About the Author 

Lyn Farrell is the pen name of Lynda Farquhar the author of the Mae December Mystery series as well as the Rosedale Investigations series. 

She is a former Michigan State University professor in the College of Human Medicine, a mother, and a grandmother. 

She loves playing with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and is always on the lookout for her family artist grandfather’s (Eugene Iverd) paintings. He was a Saturday Evening Post cover artist. 


Author Links 

 Purchase Link 




Wednesday, January 3, 2024

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year, hopefully with more peace, kindness, and tolerance.

As I reflect on 2023, I try to focus on the positive. For the most part, family and friends are in good health. Along with friends, my husband and I cruised to and through the first lock of the Panama Canal and later cruised Greece, Italy, and Malta. My husband and I visited family and friends in Virginia after not seeing them in 10 years. I met up with colleagues I hadn't seen in a while at conferences in Texas, and traveled to San Diego for Bouchercon. Most recently, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Nashville.

One thing, my husband and I have learned, with the passing of friends our age or younger, is that we don't want to procrastinate. I'm not a resolution maker, but we are working on our "bucket list" and planning more trips with family and friends in 2024. That includes Europe and Scandinavia, as well trips to the northeast and southeast to see friends and family.  A return trip to Nashville, both for Killer Nashville and Bouchercon, is penciled in as well.

Of course, I hope to read more, post more book reviews, write more books, and interact with readers and other authors all year long. Stay tuned!