Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Sunday, March 1, 2020

BOOK TOUR

I'm so excited to be a stop on the book tour for

ON THE LAMB

Book 4 in the Kebab Kitchen Mysteries

by Tina Kashian

Lucy Berberian is busy preparing her family’s Mediterranean restaurant for Easter on the Jersey Shore—but a batch of sweets is to die for . . .
Bikers are thundering into the seaside town of Ocean Crest for the annual Bikers on the Beach gathering that raises funds for injured veterans. It’s a big boost for the Kebab Kitchen, as well as for local businesses like Melanie Haven’s candy shop. But Melanie is about to find herself in a sticky situation.

When Melanie and Lucy attend a beach bonfire, a local landlord is found dead after apparently choking on a piece of salt water taffy. Melanie, who was known to have a contentious relationship with the victim, is quickly skewered as the prime suspect. But Lucy is determined to prove her friend’s innocence before the real killer coasts free . . .

Recipes included!

LKBR: Thank you for joining us today, Tina!

TK: Thank you for hosting me today, Lisa. I’m happy to be here!

LKBR: Please tell us a bit about ON THE LAMB.

TK: “On the Lamb” is the fourth book in my Kebab Kitchen cozy mystery series, but it can be read as a standalone read.

Lucy Berberian left a Philadelphia law firm to manage her family’s Mediterranean restaurant, Kebab Kitchen, at the Jersey shore. Spring is in the air and the beach town is gearing up for tourist season, town-wide Easter egg hunts, and Bikers on the Beach—a motorcycle gathering that raises money for injured veterans.

One of the best parts about moving back home is connecting with her friends, Katie, and boardwalk candy store owner Melanie. As for her love life, Lucy’s head chef—who happened to break her heart after college—is her “new” beau. She wasn’t sure about giving him a second chance, especially since they work together every day, but a wacky boardwalk tarot card reader saw something in her cards. Things are looking up for Lucy, and she plans on hosting a Mediterranean Easter dinner, complete with lamb kebabs, for her family and friends.

When the motorcycle-riding owner of a bicycle rental shop next door to the restaurant invites Lucy and her girlfriends to a beach bonfire for a night of fun, the ladies are eager to attend. The sound of the surf, the ocean breeze, and the blazing bonfire all make for a unique experience. But then a disliked landlord is found dead on the beach after choking on a piece of Melanie’s famous salt water taffy. Melanie, who was known to have a bad relationship with the victim, finds herself in a sticky mess of trouble as the prime suspect. Can Lucy find the killer before this popular confection disappears from the boardwalk forever and the real killer coasts free?

LKBR: What are you plans for this series?

TK: Lucy’s definitely up to more trouble in the future. The Jersey shore can be a treacherous place and Lucy, along with her best friend, Katie Watson, continue to investigate crime.

LKBR: Are you working on any new projects?

TK: The next book in my Kebab Kitchen series will be in time for Christmas. Snow on the beach is a sight to see! I’m working on “Mistletoe, Moussaka and Murder” now. In case you’re wondering, moussaka is an eggplant, meat and cheese layered dish and is delicious. Moussaka is also to the Greeks what lasagna is to the Italians. More Mediterranean recipes to come in future books!

LKBR: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

TK: I’ve been a writer since I was a kid. I wrote my first novel on our family computer when I was sixteen years old. It’s not very good and will never see the light of day, but I was bitten by the writing bug as a teen.

LKBR: Was getting your first book published everything you thought it would be? The feelings? The process?

TK: It was an exciting day! All my hard work had finally paid off. Then it was overwhelming. We all have self-doubts and I was struck by imposter syndrome. Would people see that I didn’t belong in the published community? How could I write another book? Market it? It was overwhelming. But then I took a deep breath, sat down at my computer, and let my imagination flow. I quickly discovered my love and enjoyment of writing.

LKBR: How did you handle it when changes were made to your first manuscript? I don’t have a thick skin, so I know how I would have felt.

TK: I’m okay with changes and actually enjoy the editing process. I’m an attorney and I’m used to partners taking a red pen to an associate’s work. I want to publish my best work and a good editor is worth his or her weight in gold.

LKBR: What is your favorite part of being a writer?

TK: The creative process. I come up with story ideas while I’m swimming laps, in the shower or at my daughter’s soccer practices or piano lessons. Sometimes in dreams, too. I love plotting a mystery and sitting down and drafting the first few chapters.

LKBR: Have you ever read a book that has stayed with you long after reading it?

TK: Yes, so many! I remember reading “And Then There were None,” by Agatha Christie in school. I thought this was a great read. All the adults die! And then I tried to figure out who did it. That book stayed with me for years and I read it again a couple times. My daughter just read it in middle school, and I read it again when she brought the book home. She liked it, too!

LKBR: Why are reviews, good or bad, so important to authors?

TK: Reviews help authors! Other readers look at the number of reviews before purchasing a book. I can’t stress how helpful reviews are. It doesn’t matter if they are long or short. I appreciate the time it takes for readers to write reviews. It also helps authors with their publishers when it comes time to sell another book. Even if the publisher does not want more books from the author, it helps the author sell different stories to other publishers. Please continue to write them!

LKBR: On what sites do you recommend readers leave their reviews?

TK: Any site is helpful. I think Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble are great places to start. Again, thank you readers and reviewers!

LKBR: If you could spend one hour with a reader, what would you want to talk about?

TK: I’d love to learn more about them. What they read, who their favorite authors are, if they have children. Where they work and what they like to do in their free time.

LKBR: Thank you so much, Tina for letting us get to know you better!

TK: Thank you again, Lisa!

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!!!GIVEAWAY!!!

3 lucky readers will each win a print copy of

ON THE LAMB

Enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post. (USA Only please)

Winner will be chosen after March 7 at the end of the tour.

This giveaway is through Great Escape Book Tours, not Lisa Ks Book Reviews.

I have never tasted Mediterranean food. Never even thought to try it. However, every time I read another installment in the Kebab Mysteries, my stomach growls, and I want to find the nearest Mediterranean restaurant.

With, ON THE LAMB, author Tina Kashian has somehow managed to improve on a series that needed no improvement. With each book in this series slightly edging out the prior one as my favorite, there is nothing “slightly” with ON THE LAMB. It blows the first three out of the ouzo!

While, ON THE LAMB not only showcases the characters readers have come to love, we’re also introduced to a new one (actually two, because I can’t see one without the other) that I hope we see more of in future installments.

Well plotted with many twists and turns, this strong, superbly written mystery gave me the run around as I tried in vain to help protagonist, Lucy Berberian, solve the case and clear her friend. Let’s put it this way. If it was me instead of Lucy trying to solve this, friend Melanie would be sitting on death row.

ON THE LAMB is the 5 star mystery you’ve been waiting to seek your teeth into. Oh, and there are recipes! Opa!!!

About Tina Kashian

Tina Kashian is a bestselling author, an attorney, and a mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina’s books have been Barnes & Noble top picks, and the first book in her Kebab Kitchen Mediterranean mystery series, Hummus and Homicide, spent six weeks on the B&N bestseller list. Please visit her website at www.tinakashian.com to join her newsletter, receive delicious recipes, enter contests, and more!

Author Links

Website: tinakashian.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TinaKashian1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinakashian/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16902011.Tina_Kashian

Purchase Links

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – Google Books - iBooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
February 25 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT
February 25 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
February 26 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW
February 26 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
February 26 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 27 – This Is My Truth Now – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 27 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 28 – The Book Diva's Reads – GUEST POST
February 28 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
February 29 - Laura`s Interests – REVIEW
February 29 - Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 1 – Gimme The Scoop Reviews – REVIEW
March 1 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
March 2 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 2 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
March 3 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
March 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - REVIEW, GUEST POST
March 4 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
March 5 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 5 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT
March 6 – StoreyBook Reviews - REVIEW
March 6 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
March 7 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
March 7 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW