Thursday, April 27, 2023

More of my favorite series!

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CANDY HOLLIDAY MYSTERIES

by

B.B. Haywood


In the seaside village of Cape Willington, Maine, Candy Holliday has an idyllic life tending to the Blueberry Acres farm she runs with her father. But, when an aging playboy and the newly crowned Blueberry Queen are killed, Candy investigates to clear the name of a local handyman. And as she sorts through the town's juicy secrets, things start to get sticky indeed...





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READ 'EM AND EAT MYSTERIES

by

Terrie Farley Moran


Nestled in the barrier islands of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers Beach is home to Mary “Sassy” Cabot and Bridget Mayfield—owners of the bookstore café, Read ’Em and Eat. But when they’re not dishing about books or serving up scones, Sassy and Bridgy are keeping tabs on hard-boiled murder.
 
Read ’Em and Eat is known for its delicious breakfast and lunch treats, along with quite a colorful clientele. If it’s not Rowena Gustavson loudly debating the merits of the current book club selection, it’s Miss Augusta Maddox lecturing tourists on rumors of sunken treasure among the islands. It’s no wonder Sassy’s favorite is Delia Batson, a regular at the Emily Dickinson table. Augusta’s cousin and best friend Delia is painfully shy—which makes the news of her murder all the more shocking.
 
No one is more distraught than Augusta, and Sassy wants to help any way she can. But Augusta doesn’t have time for sympathy. She wants Delia’s killer found—and she’s not taking no for an answer. Now Sassy is on the case, and she’d better act fast before there’s any more trouble in paradise.
 
Includes a buttermilk pie recipe!


These are all older series, but among some of the first I read.
They don't even scratch the surface of many of the great series I love.

Make sure you check out these wonderful series!


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

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Wednesday, April 26, 2023


 Karen here with my weekly Wednesday post, and I have written exactly nothing since my post last week. Finding time to write is really making time to write and well between work and Girl Guide Camp (you guys call it Girl Scouts in the USA) this past weekend I have not written anything towards my goal of getting back in to writing. But I think we can safely call it the R&D phase (research and development).



Thinking about things constantly it is as if I have 100 screens going at one time in my head and so many priorities trying to get in the in box and the inbox is already full, while the put box is very much empty, but if you want something done you ask a busy person without boundaries and there you will find me.

It is not all bad, actually I had a great time at camp, 200 girls from ages 5-20 plus leaders and the theme was Witches and Wizards so really not a stretch for me. But it didn't leave me with writing time, it did leave me with ideas however.

Very little sleep, but lots of fresh air (cabin sleeping for me grateful) and the rain held off, for most of the days events. I got some fun ideas for a series idea or a one off book, just as usual stuck on the mystery plot, I am not great at killing off characters, I find that part really difficult to do, so I have to find a mystery that doesn't and isn't all about murder.
Cozy and fun but that is gripping enough for a twist that is not discovered to the end and that takes talent!


Inspired by Lorraine Bartlett's mini mystery, Panty Raid, I may actually have a solid lead on structure.
This mini mystery is available on Kindle and was a great read, with great twists. It is under $1 at the moment to read and is as cozy and funny as can be.


Not a lot to write this week but I absolutely managed enough for mischief! I hope to be back to share more of my writing, thoughts and ideas with you all again soon.



Tuesday, April 25, 2023



Over the years, I've done a lot of different features on the blog. Some were hits and some were misses.
One of the biggest hits was
The Cozy Times


Here are some examples of papers under 
the parent company of Lisa Ks Book Reviews Publications

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Police Seek Answers in Local Farmer’s Death
By Laura Bradford
Staff reporter
The death of a local farmer is being looked at more closely by the Heavenly Police Department in the wake of a recent rash of burglaries throughout the close-knit Amish community.

Earlier this week, the body of Wayne Stutzman, 41, was found in his barn by a family member. Sources tell Heavenly Times the death was not reported as suspicious. However, once money was discovered missing from the home, the possibility of foul play in Stutzman’s death grew.

As of press time, a phone call to Detective Jakob Fisher at the Heavenly Police Department seeking more information had gone unanswered. However, the detective’s car has been seen outside the Stutzman home several times since the incident, prompting concern among residents.


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Calling All Dessert Enthusiasts
By Laura Bradford
Staff Reporter

Just when you think the smells coming out of Lighted Way’s own Shoo Fly Bake Shoppe can’t get any better, think again.

Ruth Miller, proprietor of the popular eatery, has added a Bavarian Crème Fry Pie to her daily menu that is earning rave reviews from locals and tourists, alike.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think our town got its name because of Ruth. Everything she bakes smells and tastes heavenly,” said Molly Riker, 52, of Heavenly.

Shoo Fly Bake Shoppe is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

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A special thank you to 
Heavenly Times Staff Reporter 
Laura Bradford. 

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Author News


Author Kate Dyer-Seeley has traded Portland for Ashland! Not to worry Portlanders, she'll be back. Ms. Dyer-Seeley, author of the wonderful Pacific Northwest Mysteries, was spotted in Torte, Ashland's place to be for the most delicious  pastries and coffee in Oregon! "She's in town for the season's kick off of the Oregon Shakepeare Festival", Juliet Capshaw, co-owner of Torte explained to The Cozy Times. When ask what the author had to eat at her bakery, Ms. Capshaw said, "She had a plum tart with powdered sugar, and a cup of our fresh ground  coffee with a vanilla espresso shot." 


Later that evening, Ms. Dyer-Seeley was again spotted. This time, she was three rows back for that night's performance of Romeo and Juliet. "She gave us a standing ovation, and came backstage to congratulate all of us", squealed an excited actress who played a minor role in the play. "Even those of us who didn't have speaking parts!" 

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Is there nowhere author Sherry Harris won't travel for a good yard sale? Our guess is no.  The author showed up in Ellington, Massachusetts for what seemed to be a town wide yard sale. (The Cozy Times is sure the author was also doing research for her newest mystery.) Everywhere you looked, folks had their front yards packed with trash and treasures. Mrs. Wilma Deaver said Ms. Harris stopped by her house where the author purchased, a couple old postcards, a macrame infinity calendar, an old rusty meat cleaver, and a bag of Legos. "She was a real nice lady, but she did get in a scuffle with a blonde lady over the meat cleaver. She kept shouting 'I saw it first, Ellie!'. They finally flipped a coin, and the other lady lost. But she did buy my old bent ice pick!"  


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The Cozy Times goes international for our next sighting. We received word all the way from Edinburgh, Scotland, that author Paige Shelton had been doing some pretty in-depth research for her current WIP. (That's "work in progress" in author speak.) It seems the author was spotted everywhere. The local bookshop, the pub, several historic sites, another pub, the library, back at the first pub, and even out on the Moors...in a kilt...with bagpipes. Locals swear they could hear her shouting, "Nessie! Here girl!" In all fairness to Ms. Shelton, many of the aforementioned locals, had themselves also been to several pubs that evening, so The Cozy Times refuses to call the "moor incident" anything but a rumor. Either way, we're sure the author had a great time in Scotland, but we hope she is now back in the US and working hard on that new book! 

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Remember to keep your eyes peeled dear readers. You never know when one of your favorite authors may be visiting your hometown.

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Welcome to your new home….
Welcome to Brandywine.

Imagine yourself in a brand new home. Picture your days being spent with the kids at the park, taking walks along the extra wide sidewalks, fishing in the many man-made ponds, doing the things you love to do!  With neatly tended houses, well-kept lawns, a clubhouse with a fitness center – you may feel like you’re living on a movie set.  Brandywine has designed this picture for you as we offer this remarkable lifestyle and so much more! We are located only minutes from shopping, dining and entertainment in beautiful New Chapel, Indiana.  Our spectacular community is convenient to every amenity that you could want or need, including many within the community itself. 



*****

Body Found In Brandywine Community Pond

by Connor MacKay

New Chapel, Ind. -

Porter County coroner Joseph Sands confirmed Monday that the body found Sunday afternoon in a Brandywine community pond was that of Dirk Singletary, the superintendent for new construction in the Brandywine community. The cause of death is consistent with blunt force trauma resulting in drowning. No suspects have been named so far.
New Chapel Police Sgt. Sean Reilly confirmed Sunday that the victim had not been reported as missing. County coroner Sands says foul play is suspected. Police say they are not releasing any more information until the victim's family is notified. 
When Theda Coros, a Brandywine community resident, heard of the tragedy, she thought instantly of Dirk Singletary, who had been called out to the property Saturday evening to repair drainage issues with the small community pond.
Coros said, "This frightens me. I am a fragile older woman all by myself and I come to the pond sometimes. It is really scary that this can happen in such a peaceful neighborhood. My neighbors walk their dogs out there. Now they may need to watch their backs. Lucky for me I only have a cat."
An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday morning. Confirmation on cause of death is not expected to be released until after the autopsy is complete. Brandon Thorne, owner of Brandywine, has refused to comment on his former employee’s demise.
The body was a shock to people taking a walk along the pond’s edge.
New home owner Abby Knight Salvare said, "This is supposed to be a safe community. One way or another the perpetrator of this crime will be brought to justice and this community will be safe again."


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The Cozy Times would like to thank Connor MacKay for the use of his article.

That's this week's edition of 
The Cozy Times 
I hope you enjoyed!

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The only reason The Cozy Times feature stopped was because of the amount of time it took each week to create. I loved doing it. Maybe I'll bring it back some point as a monthly instead of weekly feature.

I'll post more of the past posts of the Times in upcoming posts. 

Let me know if you like the feature or not.


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

Follow my blog by submitting your email in 
upper right hand corner of this page (on the side bar).

Reading from your phone? Scroll to the bottom of your page and click "View web version". Then follow the above directions.

Monday, April 24, 2023


We think we can!
WE THINK WE CAN!
W E  T H I N K  W E  C A N!

Let go win some books!













Giveaways are a mix of Print and eBooks. If you're looking for one or the other, please look carefully before entering. 

Make sure to check out Goodreads giveaway in other genres.

Again, I know Goodreads giveaways can be hard to win because of the volume of people who enter them. But stick with it. I have won a few titles, and you can too.

And, since it can be hard to win, I'm still entering each giveaway as well!
If I win, one of you will win it!

I have entered each giveaway I have posted today. If I win a book, I will have a giveaway here and one of you will have another chance to win the book . . . from me! I like knowing that your my friends will have that second chance to win.

So, GOOD LUCK to you!
And wish a GOOD LUCK to me (for you)!
 
As always, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Follow my blog by submitting your email in 
upper right hand corner of this page (on the side bar).

Reading from your phone? Scroll to the bottom of your page and click "View web version". Then follow the above directions.