Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Lisa Ks Book Reviews blog is proud to bring to you

THE COZY TIMES

This is a weekly online publication focused on connecting cozy mystery readers to favorite cozy characters by way of their town's newspapers.

The Cozy Times will be available Wednesdays right here on Lisa Ks blog.

There will also be weekend editions, and special editions from time to time. So keep watch.

Today The Cozy Times is featuring the

Dixie Weekly Ledger

According to the Ledger, there's been murder in Dixie! On the bright side of the news, Halloween sounds like it's going to be a blast!

Check it out!

Dixie Bank Exec Found Dead

Morgan Robison, 30, a vice-president at Dixie Savings and Loan, died last Friday evening. Her body was discovered on the grounds of St. Julian’s Retreat Center by members of the Professional Women’s Alliance of Dixie (PWAD), who were holding their annual retreat there.

The cause of Robison’s death is unknown at this time. Sheriff Eulyse “Dave” Davidson said he is waiting for an official ruling from the medical examiner, but is treating the case as a suspicious death, pending an autopsy.

Celebrity Lucinda Grable, host of the P.S. Ghost Encounters television show and Morgan Robison’s childhood friend and college roommate, was the special guest at the PWAD retreat. She and her crew had just finished leading retreat attendees on a ghost-hunting expedition in a small, nineteenth-century family cemetery on the grounds when the body was discovered.

Robison, daughter of Randall and Rose Robison of Dixie, was a lifelong resident, graduate of Dixie High School and an Ole Miss alumni. Robison was president of the businesswomen’s group. She was heavily involved with local civic and charitable organizations.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

**Morgan was well-known for running around with other women’s husbands and boyfriends, and any number of jealous wives or spurned lovers would have had motive to kill her.

**That last paragraph wasn’t actually included the newspaper story, but it was an unwritten truth that was running through most readers’ minds when they heard of Morgan’s sudden demise.

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Halloween is a Moveable Feast

The Dixie Town Council voted on Tuesday night to move trick-or-treating in Dixie this year from Saturday, Oct. 31 to Friday, Oct. 30.

Many local residents had lobbied the mayor for the change due to the multi-venue charity fundraising events scheduled on Oct. 31, including a children’s festival that would compete with trick-or-treating. Several parents and business owners turned out for the council meeting to voice the support for the change of dates.

“A number of citizens called city hall to express their support for changing trick-or-treating to October 30. Since the activities on Oct. 31 will be raising funds for Residential Rehab, a charity that provides repairs and renovations to the homes of the elderly and disabled in our community, the council fully supported the change of date. We want our children to safely enjoy trick-or-treating, but we don’t want competing activities which might reduce participation in the fundraisers for this worthy charity that helps so many folks in our town,” said Mayor Virgil Haynes.

Fundraising activities on Oct. 31 include a bonfire and haunted hayride for teens, a children’s festival and a murder mystery dinner and dance at the country club.

The planning committee for the RR fundraising events on Halloween is chaired by Liv McKay, owner and operator of Liv 4 Fun Party Planning.

“Our committee and legion of volunteers have put together an evening of events that will truly offer something for everyone,” McKay said. “There will be fun and games and candy for the little ones, thrilling frights for the youth and a murder mystery, costume contest and dance for the grown-ups. We hope to have a lot of fun and raise a lot of money for Residential Rehab.”

*PHOTO: Local kids trick-or-treating on Dixie’s Town Square last year. The town council has moved trick-or-treating to Oct. 30 this year to avoid conflicts with fundraiser.

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Dixie sounds like a great place to visit!

Well, you know, if you stay out of the cemeteries.

Want to learn more about Dixie?

Check out the

Liv and Di in Dixie Mysteries

by author

Vickie Fee

BOOK TWO

“Down home and delightful.” —Carolyn Hart

Between a riverboat gambler-theme engagement party and a murder mystery dinner for charity, Dixie, Tennessee, party planner Liv McKay is far too frenzied to feel festive. Add to the mix her duties at the annual businesswomen’s retreat and the antics of a celebrity ghost-hunting diva, and Liv’s schedule is turning out to be the scariest thing about this Halloween—especially when the ladies stumble across a dead body in a cemetery…

Morgan Robison was a party girl with a penchant for married men and stirring up a cauldron of drama. Any number of scorned wives or frightened philanderers could be behind her death. As Liv and her best friend, Di, set out to dig up the truth, they’ll face the unexpected and find their efforts hampered by a killer with one seriously haunting vendetta…

“Refreshing as a tall glass of sweet tea, Vickie Fee has crafted a series that celebrates the deadly traditions of Southern hospitality.” —Cheryl Hollon, author of Cracked to Death

Available September 27!

Pre-order today!

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BOOK ONE

In the quirky, close-knit town of Dixie, Tennessee, party planner Liv McKay has a knack for throwing Southern-style soirées, from diamonds-and-denim to black tie affairs, and her best friend Di Souther mixes a mean daiquiri. While planning a Moonshine and Magnolias bash for high maintenance clients, Liv inconveniently discovers a corpse in the freezer and turns her attention from fabulous fêtes to finding a murderer. Together, Liv and Di follow a trail of sinister secrets in their sweet little town that leads them from drug smugglers to a Civil War battlefield, and just when they think they’re whistling Dixie, Liv and Di will find themselves squarely in the crosshairs of the least likely killer of all…

Available Now!

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BOOK THREE

Party planner Liv McKay has outdone herself this time. She’s put together an unforgettable Fourth of July celebration for the town of Dixie, Tennessee—including breathtaking fireworks and an exciting Miss Dixie Beauty Pageant. Maybe a little too exciting.

As the party is winding down, Liv’s sense of triumph fizzles when the body of town councilman Bubba Rowland is discovered on the festival grounds. And now the prime suspect in his murder is Liv’s mother’s fiancé, Earl, who had a flare-up recently with Bubba. To clear Earl’s name, Liv and her best friend Di burst into action to smoke out the real killer before another life is extinguished . . .
“A small Southern town with charm as well as bodies provides a terrific backdrop for two appealing sleuths. Down home and delightful.” —Carolyn Hart

Available May 30, 2017!

Pre-order today!

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About Vickie

Vickie Fee, author of the Liv and Di in Dixie mystery series, grew up in the South on a steady diet of Nancy Drew, daydreams and sweet iced tea. She has a journalism degree and spent many years as a reporter, covering small Southern towns populated with colorful characters, much like those in the fictional town of Dixie. Her second book, It’s Your Party, Die If you Want To, comes out Sept. 27, 2016. The third book in the series, One Fete in the Grave, will be released May 30, 2017.

www.vickiefee.com

www.facebook.com/VickieFeeAuthor

MY REVIEW

A delightful second installment to this wonderful series!

Author Vickie Fee had me laughing out loud only a few pages into, IT’S YOUR PARTY, DIE IF YOU WANT TO. She must have an outstanding sense of humor in real life, because it certainly shines through in her characters!

This second book in the Liv and Di in Dixie Mystery series has everything book one had and oh so much more! This fantastic story flowed at a great pace. Author Fee added just the right amounts of humor and intrigue at the most perfect plot points.

The mystery element of the story was cleverly written, keeping my mind busy trying to piece together clues even as new twists were introduced. When I finally read whodunit, I couldn’t believe it! I was so sure I had it figured out, only to find Ms. Fee had way outwitted me.

If you were a fan of book one, DEATH CRASHES THE PARTY, you’re going to love, IT’S YOUR PARTY, DIE IF YOU WANT TO. If you haven’t read the first book, well, read it! You’ll love it too!

Make sure to check out the back of the book for tips on hosting a murder mystery dinner!

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