Friday, September 30, 2016


It's
Cozy Food Friday!

That means it's time to share a recipe from 
another great cozy mystery!

Today I'm featuring a recipe from
SOME ENCHANTED MURDER
by
Linda S. Reilly
An Apple Mariani Mystery


In the small town of Hazleton, New Hampshire, a killer walks free . . .
Paralegal/title searcher Apple Mariani is accustomed to solving mysteries—mysteries such as missing heirs, lingering liens, and gaps in a chain of title. But when appraiser Lou Marshall is stabbed with an antique dagger at an estate sale, Apple finds herself plunged into the heart of a murder. For starters, she learns that the victim had entrusted her with a decades-old valentine only minutes before he was killed. Then things take a nasty turn when Apple’s Aunt Tressa—the victim’s new squeeze—is pegged as a prime suspect, and their elderly friend Lillian goes suddenly missing. Was Lillian kidnapped, or worse, because she witnessed the murder? And why had Lou been so anxious to get that faded old valentine, with its sugary poem, into Apple’s custody?
Despite the local police chief’s annoying lack of concern, Apple is sure Lillian is in trouble when a cryptic call from Lillian’s cell phone awakens her late at night. Still haunted by childhood memories of her own mother vanishing, Apple knows she has to find her friend before it’s too late. From the shelves of a local antique shop to the culinary horrors of the grungiest diner in New Hampshire, Apple and Tressa collect a series of clues that lead them in maddening circles... all the way to a frustrating dead end. But time is running out, because a desperate killer, whose patience is wearing thin, still has a deadly agenda...
From Kirkus Reviews: Reilly’s debut uses her expertise in title searches to create a pleasing mystery with some interesting twists.
From Library Journal: This series debut will be sure to attract cozy fans.
From MyShelf.com: This was a fun fast read. I had the pages turning so fast that I was almost afraid of setting the book on fire. I loved the characters and can’t wait to see them again very soon. This was a fun read and I think you will enjoy reading it too.

My review of this wonderful mystery 
will be posted on the blog soon.


About Linda


Raised in a sleepy town in the Berkshires, Linda Reilly has spent the bulk of her career in the field of real estate closings and title examination. It wasn’t until 1995 that her first short mystery, Out of Luck, was accepted for publication by Woman’s World Magazine. Since then she’s had over forty short stories published, including a sprinkling of romances. In 2013 Five Star Publishing released her first full-length mystery, Some Enchanted Murder. Her first mystery in the Deep Fried series, a cozy featuring fry cook Talia Marby, was released by Berkley Prime Crime in May 2015.
Linda lives in New Hampshire with her husband, who affectionately calls her “Nose-in-a-book.”
On to the recipe!
TRESSA'S KOOKY MACARONI

You won't find this yummy Kooky Macaroni in SOME ENCHANTED MURDER, However, it was inspired by the book and created by author Linda S. Reilly.
You can also find the recipe at Linda's Web Page.


Tressa Krichner might not be a top chef, but she has her moments of culinary inspiration. One evening years ago, when her young niece Apple was mourning the puzzling disappearance of her mom, Tressa jumbled together a selection of Apple’s favorite foods and baked it in the oven. The result was Kooky Macaroni. Though Apple is grown now and working as a paralegal, this simple and delicious meal remains her comfort food of choice.

Combine the following ingredients: (So easy!)
2 cups spicy tomato sauce (Tressa likes Barilla Spicy Marinara sauce)
One-half pound cooked, crumbled burger
3 cups cooked macaroni (mini-shells work well)
Sprinkle of garlic powder
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
¼ cup chopped black olives (optional)


Directions: (So easy again!)
Place the mixture in a casserole dish coated with non-stick spray. 
Bake for about 20 minutes at 350°, covering with foil to avoid burning the top. 
Serves 4 to 6.


Thank you Linda Reilly for sharing photos of your own dinner of 
Tressa's Kooky Macaroni!

It's be rainy here in Delaware 
for the past couple of days, so I know what comfy cozy meal I'm making tonight!

Can't you just smell it looking at the photos? 
Yum!


Please keep reading and check out my 
installments of 
Book Beginnings on Fridays
and
The Friday 56
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Book Beginnings and Friday 56
 for this week are also from
SOME ENCHANTED MURDER



Book Beginnings on Fridays is a meme hosted by Rose City Reader
Share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading

My Book Beginnings...

From the journal of Frederic Dwardene, Thursday, November 9, 1950:
I have never written in a journal before, but today I was compelled to buy one. Where else can I express the giddiness I am feeling right now? In whom could I confide the emotions that some might find improper for a man my age? It began early this afternoon at the bank, when the most beautiful woman I have ever seen walked up to the teller's cage . . .

The Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda's Voice
Rules: *Grab a book, any book. *Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's okay.) *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you. *Post it.

My Friday 56...

But kooky macaroni was an easy, delectable concoction Aunt Tressa invented when I was a kid. 
"Right about now, a plate of kooky macaroni would really hit the spot."

Easy As 123...(Trying something new. 
Along with Book Beginnings and Friday 56,
 I have added my Easy As 123. So, here are a few 
lines from page 123.)

My imagination began spiraling out of control. Wasn't a van the perfect vehicle for snatching a woman from her home and driving her to God-knows-where? Didn't the serial killers on those creepy crime shows always drive vans?


You are going to LOVE this book!


As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by 
clicking on the link in the 
upper right hand corner of this page.

Thursday, September 29, 2016


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 Cozy Times! :-)


It has come to the attention of The Cozy Times that there is gang activity is the world of mystery.

Check it out!


The Happy Homicides Gang Strikes Again!

After spreading murder and mirth three times previously, the Happy Homicides gang has regrouped and reorganized to put their mystery muscle behind a new caper: Happy Homicides 4: Fall into Crime. The twelve culprits include Joanna Campbell Slan, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Carole W. Price, Lesley A. Diehl, Nancy Jill Thames, Teresa Trent, Maggie Toussaint, Anna Celeste Burke, Randy Rawls, Nancy J. Cohen, Terry Ambrose, and Deborah Sharp.
The perpetrators have been involved in sniper attacks, grand theft, murder, shipwrecks, theft of priceless antiquities, and hauntings. Scenes of the crime include historic sites on the east coast of Florida, amusement parks in California, museums in Hawaii, and a hunting preserve in Georgia, to name a few.
Because these crimes are baffling, a special TWO-fer reward has been offered. When you buy Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crime, you get Happy Homicides 4: Fall into Crime absolutely free – for a limited time (from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4). In addition to this offer, you’ll be able to email and get two free bonus files full of recipes and craft ideas.
Police Chief Deputy Dog has gone on record saying, “I hope they never catch up to these plotting perps, because readers are flooding Amazon with 5-star reviews for the series. It’s a felony.”
Click TWO-Fer for this great deal. But hurry, it’s only good from Monday, Sept. 29 through Tuesday, October 4!
There you have it. 
If you have any information about the 
Happy Homicides Gang and their books, please, spread it all over social media so others can know of them as well!


Buy Happy Homicides 4: Fall Into Crime and get Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crime absolutely free!

Find your new favorite author - or enjoy a new story by an old fave - with this huge collection (nearly 700 pages, two full books) of clean mysteries. Cuddle up with intrepid sleuths, stunning locations, and puzzling crimes.

˃˃˃ Includes 2 email addresses for 2 illustrated bonus files with recipes and craft ideas that go along with the two anthologies!

˃˃˃ 15 Fabulous Authors

Including Joanna Campbell Slan, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Margaret Lucke, Nancy Jill Thames, Teresa Trent, Maggie Toussaint, C. A. Verstraete, Randy Rawls, Terry Ambrose, Jeffrey Marks, Deborah Sharp, Anna Celeste Burke, Carole W. Price, Lesley A. Diehl, and Nancy J. Cohen.

˃˃˃ 25 mysteries in all!

Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crimes 
authors and stories: Joanna Campbell Slan’s Cara Mia and the Empty Nest; Linda Gordon Hengerer’s Dying for Graduation Tea: A Beach Tea Novella; Margaret Lucke’s A Fair Day for Murder; Nancy Jill Thames’ A Birthday Bash; Teresa Trent’s The Dog Days of Murder; Maggie Toussaint’s Turtle Tribbles; C.A. Verstrate’s Surf’s Up; Randy Rawls’ A Simple Case of Stalking; Terry Ambrose’s Murder on Front Street; Jeffrey Marks’ Short Order Dead; Deborah Sharp’s Bubba Trouble: A Mace and Mama Short Mystery; Joanna Campbell Slan’s Kiki Lowenstein and the Shark Bait.
Happy Homicides 4: Fall Into Crime 
authors and stories: Joanna Campbell Slan’s Vendetta: A Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery; Linda Gordon Hengerer’s Dying for School Tea: A Beach Tea Shop Novella; Carole W. Price’s The Glass Birdhouse; Lesley A. Diehl’s Bobbing for Murder; Nancy Jill Thames’Raven House ; Teresa Trent’s Falling for Murder; Maggie Toussaint’s Dead Men Tell Tales ; Anna Celeste Burke’s All Hallow’s Eve Heist ; Randy Rawls’ Accident, Suicide, or Murder Nancy J. Cohen’sHaunted Hair Nights ; Terry Ambrose’s Spirit in the Rock ; Deborah Sharp’s Haunting in Himmarshee. Bonus Story: Joanna Campbell Slan’s Kiki Lowenstein and the Doodoo.
And be on the lookout for the first three books from this gang of mystery doers. 

BOOK ONE

A huge collection of heartwarming, brain-puzzling, and character-driven traditional mysteries that'll keep you entertained for hours. (At 213,000 words, this is 627 pages of reading material!) Plus, you can email to get a FREE Bonus File with recipes and holiday craft ideas. Celebrate the holidays with stories by these thirteen bestselling and award-winning authors: Joanna Campbell Slan, Neil Plakcy, Lois Winston, Annie Adams, Jenna Bennett, Nancy Jill Thames, Sara Rosett, Camille Minichino, Nancy Warren, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Joyce and Jim Lavene, and Teresa Trent.

BOOK TWO

The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift! Only $2.99. Book 2 in the bestselling Happy Homicides Anthology Series. Available for a limited time at this low price. Thirteen mysteries (600-plus pages) by thirteen bestselling and award-winning authors. With free bonus file of recipes and craft ideas. These clean mysteries detail crimes of the heart. Authors--Joanna Campbell Slan, Teresa Trent, Neil Plakcy, Elaine Viets, Annie Adams, Camille Minichino, Nancy Jill Thames, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Kathi Daley, Carolyn Haines, Anna Celeste Burke, Randy Rawls, and Maggie Touissant.

BOOK THREE 
(Only)

Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crimes authors and stories: Joanna Campbell Slan’s Cara Mia and the Empty Nest; Linda Gordon Hengerer’s Dying for Graduation Tea: A Beach Tea Novella; Margaret Lucke’s A Fair Day for Murder; Nancy Jill Thames’ A Birthday Bash; Teresa Trent’s The Dog Days of Murder; Maggie Toussaint’s Turtle Tribbles; C.A. Verstrate’s Surf’s Up; Randy Rawls’ A Simple Case of Stalking; Terry Ambrose’s Murder on Front Street; Jeffrey Marks’ Short Order Dead; Deborah Sharp’s Bubba Trouble: A Mace and Mama Short Mystery; Joanna Campbell Slan’s Kiki Lowenstein and the Shark Bait.

Make sure to check out the great individual books and series by all of the talented authors from the four HAPPY HOMICIDES books! 


As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by 
clicking on the link in the 
upper right hand corner of this page.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016


THE HAMMETT HEX by Victoria Abbott
BEHIND CHOCOLATE BARS by Kathy Aarons

THE HAMMETT HEX
Book 5 in the Book Collectors Mysteries
by Victoria Abbott


The national bestselling author of The Marsh Madness takes rare book collector Jordan Bingham on a trip to San Francisco—home to Dashiell Hammett’s hard-boiled heroes—where nothing is as it seems.
 
On a getaway to the City by the Bay, book collector Jordan Bingham becomes entangled in a mystery with more twists than Lombard Street...
 
Jordan has been able to swing a romantic trip to San Francisco with Officer Tyler “Smiley” Dekker on one condition—she must return with a rare copy of Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest for her irascible employer, Vera Van Alst. For his own part, Smiley is full of surprises. He’s a Dashiell devotee himself—excited to be in the city of Hammett’s hard-boiled heroes like Sam Spade and the Continental Op—and also announces he plans to visit his previously unmentioned estranged grandmother, who lives in an old Victorian in Pacific Heights.
 
But the trip goes downhill fast when Jordan is pushed from a cable car and barely escapes death. And when a dark sedan tries to run the couple down, it’s clear someone’s after them—but who? Just like in Hammett’s world, nothing is quite what is seems...


INCLUDES RECIPES

MY REVIEW


No one can write a mystery quite like Victoria Abbott!

Calling all traditional cozy fans! If you like your mysteries with a pinch of Christie, a drizzle of Stout, and a dash of Hammett, look no further than the Book Collector Mysteries. Author Victoria Abbott aka mother and daughter writing team, Victoria and Mary Jane Maffini, are powerful writers who outdo themselves with every new book.

THE HAMMETT HEX, the fifth installment of this excellent series, was a wonderful combination of mystery, mayhem, and eccentric characters. With a brilliant plot that kept me guessing, and grew more exciting with every chapter, I found it hard to sit this book down for long.

Fans of this series are indeed in for a great read. You’re going to love THE HAMMETT HEX!

Make sure to check out the back of your copy for some tasty recipes! 

~*~*~*~

BEHIND CHOCOLATE BARS
Book 2 in the Chocolate Covered Mysteries
by Kathy Aarons


DOUBLE, DOUBLE-BOIL, AND TROUBLE…
 
Best friends and business partners Michelle and Erica have a monstrous to-do list as they prepare for the annual West Riverdale Halloween Festival. Their shop, Chocolates and Chapters, will have a booth at the event, where Michelle will serve spooky delights while Erica displays an assortment of spine-chilling books. Thank goodness the teenagers from Erica’s comic-book club are chipping in to help. But one of their volunteers winds up in trouble after a woman’s body is found in an abandoned house—with the teen’s superhero key ring close by.
 
The teen swears he didn’t do it, but he’s obviously hiding something—leaving Michelle and Erica with a witch’s cauldron of questions. Soon they discover that the dead woman was tricking a whole bunch of people out of more than just treats. Now these two friends must go door-to-door if they hope to unmask a killer…


Includes Scrumptious Chocolate-Making Recipes!

MY REVIEW


Another delectable treat from author Kathy Aarons!


Halloween is the theme of this mystery. Series leads, Michelle and Erica are taking part in the Halloween Festival where they will have a booth offering chocolate creations and scary books from their shop, Chocolate and Chapters. Seriously, is that not the name of a store where you could spend all your time? Brilliant!

Of course, you won’t read many cozies without a body and investigation, and BEHIND CHOCOLATE BARS doesn’t disappoint! With writing as smooth as expensive milk chocolate, author Aarons tempered this tale of intrigue and mayhem, until it became the recipe for a perfect cozy mystery.

Between the covers of BEHIND CHOCOLATE BARS is a tasty center of Halloween, murder, and chocolate that you’re going to devour!

Make sure to check out the back of the book for yummy chocolate recipes!


Both of these great titles are available 
for pre-order now, 
and release on 
October 4!


As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by 
clicking on the link in the 
upper right hand corner of this page.