Today I'm doing a return spotlight on author

Leann Sweeny

Leann Sweeney was born and raised in Niagara Falls and educated at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY. She also has a degree from the University of Houston in behavioral science and worked for many years in psychiatry and as a school nurse; she now writes full time.

She began crafting fiction in 1980, fulfilling her lifelong dream. After perfecting her skills with classes and a small fortune in writing books, she joined MWA and Sisters in Crime. Now she’s the creator of two NAL/Obsidian mystery series: The Yellow Rose Mysteries and the Cats in Trouble Mysteries. The Cat, The Quilt and The Corpse, first in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries was the #1 bestseller on the Independent Mystery Bookseller’s List when it debuted and made several top twenty lists for 2009 at bookstores across the country. Since then, The Cat, The Lady and The Liar and The Cat, The Wife and The Weapon climbed all the way to the NY Times bestseller list for mass market paperbacks.

Leann is married with two fabulous grown children, a wonderful son-in-law and a beautiful daughter-in-law–not to mention three amazing granddaughters: Maddison Grace (Maddie), Morgan Elizabeth and Meika Elise. She lived in Texas from 1974 to 2012 and now lives in South Carolina with husband Mike, her two cats Wexford and Marlowe, and Rosie–the smart, retrieving, golf-ball chasing, busy-busy-busy mini-labradoodle.

Leann's newest book is

THE CAT, THE COLLECTOR 

AND THE KILLER

Book 8 in the Cats In Trouble Mysteries

In the latest mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Cat, the Sneak and the Secret, a cat collector is suspected of murder.
 
Jillian Hart and police chief Tom Stewart are enjoying peaceful, newly wedded bliss in Mercy, South Carolina, until a woman is found wandering the streets one night. She's in her night clothes, disoriented, and carrying a kitten in a tote bag. A search of the woman’s house reveals many more cats, a maze of cardboard boxes—and a dead man.Although the evidence suggests the frail woman is the killer, Jillian doesn’t believe she’s capable of such a crime. The dead man had many enemies in town, which means finding the real murderer may prove to be its own cat and mouse game...

MY REVIEW

Eight books in and the Cat In Trouble Mysteries just keeps getting better!

Author Leann Sweeney has created a series that is positively purrfect blend of what readers love about cozy mysteries. The character, the town, the mystery, and of course, delightful pets.

THE CAT, THE COLLECTOR AND THE KILLER is a first rate example of why this series is so enduring. This was an intriguing mystery that had me quickly turning the pages. It was packed cover to cover with twists, turns, bumps, and sneaky clues, all of which led to an exciting reveal and a takedown of the villain that had me both laughing and cringing.

With the first eight lives of this series being so brilliant, I eagerly look forward to life number nine! That’s book nine for non kitty type talkers. ;-)

Make sure to check out the sneak peek of book 9, THE CAT, THE BOY AND THE BONES, located at the back of the book!

The Cats In Trouble Mysteries 

BOOK ONE                                 BOOK TWO

BOOK THREE                                BOOK FOUR

BOOK FIVE                                 BOOK SIX

BOOK SEVEN                                BOOK EIGHT

Leann is also the author of the 

Yellow Rose Mysteries

from 2004 - 2008

BOOK ONE                             BOOK TWO

BOOK THREE

BOOK FOUR                               BOOK FIVE

Leann was also a member of

The Cozy Chicks

and contributed to the following 

Cozy Chick Cookbooks

Learn more about Leann Sweeney

Facebook

Website

Twitter

As always, please leave a comment and 

let me know what you think!

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clicking on the link in the 

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BOOK TOUR

I'm so happy to be a stop on the 

blog tour for author 

Diane Vallere

and her new book

SILK STALKINGS

Book 3 in the Material Witness Mysteries

Fabric shop owner Polyester Monroe can get tangled up in textiles, but it’s murder that really throws her for a loop in the latest mystery from the national bestselling author of Crushed Velvet.
The time has come for San Ladrón, California’s annual Miss Tangorli beauty pageant, and Poly has agreed to use Material Girl’s inventory of shimmery silks to create embellished gowns fit for a crown. But when millionaire Harvey Halliwell—the man who revived the city’s citrus trade with his imported tangorli tree—is found dead days before the pageant contestants are announced, something sour takes over the town. 
 
To make matters worse, her friend, mechanic Charlie Brooks, is soon caught up in the crime, having been seen in the company of the case’s prime suspect. Now Poly’s on a mission to squeeze out the truth. But as she searches for a pattern, the killer seems intent on cutting up the evidence...

*****!!!GIVEAWAY!!!*****

Winner will be chosen after August 12

at the end of the tour

Check out the great prize and enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post. 

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

www.escapewithdollycas.com

MY REVIEW

Anyone who thinks polyester is out of style has never met Polyester Monroe!

I had so much fun reading the first two books in the Material Witness Mysteries, so I was really looking forward to book three, SILK STALKINGS. It was totally worth the wait!

It’s hard to not have a great time with characters like series lead, Polyester “Poly” Monroe, and her BFF Charlie Brooks. Charlie is such a fun and unique character. I always laugh at the things she says and does.

SILK STALKINGS is 275 pages (if you read the print copy) of mystery, mayhem, action, and fun. The fantastic storyline makes for a fast and entertaining read.  I didn’t want to put it down. Author Diane Vallere really knows how to write ‘em!

Check out the back of the book for a fun craft project, and read the excerpt of A DISGUISE TO DIE FOR, book one in the Costume Shop Mysteries, also by Diane Vallere!

About Diane

Diane Vallere is a former fashion buyer turned mystery writer, trading fashion accessories for accessories to murder. She writes the Samantha Kidd, Madison Night, Material Witness, and Costume Shop Cozy Mysteries. She started her own detective agency at age 10 and has maintained a passion for shoes, clues, and clothes ever since.

The Material Witness mysteries feature Polyester Monroe, who inherits the fabric shop where she was born. Books include SUEDE TO REST, CRUSHED VELVET, and SILK STALKINGS.

Diane loves to hear from readers! You can connect with her on social media or email. Telepathy works, too. Sometimes.

Diane on Facebook

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

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

CUSTOM BAKED MURDER

Book 5 in the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries

by

Liz Mugavero

Kristan “Stan” Connor gladly turned tail on her high-flying job and moved to a quaint New England town to sell organic pet treats. But with her nose for solving murders, there’s no such thing as a quiet life…
 
Summer is winding down in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, but Stan’s love life and career are both heating up nicely. In between planning her new pet patisserie and café, Stan is settling into living-in-bliss with sexy pub owner Jake McGee. Love’s on the menu for Stan’s mom, Patricia, too, who’s engaged to Frog Ledge’s mayor, Tony Falco.
 
Mayor Falco’s dogged ambition isn’t popular among locals, but it’s his executive coach, Eleanor Chang, who’s inspired a dangerous grudge. When Eleanor is found dead, there’s a whole pack of suspects to choose from. Stan has first-hand experience of Eleanor’s unsavory business tactics. But finding out who forced her to take a fatal plunge off the corporate ladder means unearthing some shady secrets…and a killer who’s too close for comfort.
 
Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!

CUSTOM BAKED MURDER

is available for pre-order and 

Releases 

December 27, 2106

About Liz

Liz Mugavero is the author of the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries. The first book, Kneading to Die, is a 2013 Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. The series includes A Biscuit, A Casket, The Icing on the Corpse, and Murder Most Finicky. 

Liz has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera--all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, "So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?" or, "That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?"

She went on to get a master's in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, communications and presently, marketing. And she's confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.

Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers' masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.

ON TO THE RECIPE! 

Blueberry Biscuits

FOR DOGS!

Ingredients:

1½ cup wheat flour

2/3 cup oatmeal​

¼ cup flax seed meal

1 cup blueberries

½ cup vanilla greek yogurt

½ cup water

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add wet ingredients and mix well. 

Using a cookie scoop, drop tablespoon size amounts of mixture onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.

Cookies may be dehydrated for a longer shelf life. Flax seed is great for good skin and coat health.

I have got to try these out for my pup Emmy!

Emma Belle

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 from

MURDER MOST FINICKY

Book 4 in the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series

The dog days of summer have arrived in the small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, and business is booming for Kristan "Stan" Connor. Her Pawsitively Organic pet food has even caught the attention of celebrity pastry chef Sheldon Allyn, who helps Stan open a fancy pet pastry shop in Frog Ledge. A partnership is born, and Sheldon invites Stan to Newport, Rhode Island, for an appreciation weekend he's hosting for all his independent chefs. But the gourmet getaway turns sour when one of the chefs turns up dead, and a second one goes missing. . . 

As Stan tries to figure out who had a recipe for murder, the pool of suspects expands. And if she can't sniff out the culprit soon, this killer may just serve up a second helping of murder. . .

Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!

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 Beginning

"Ouch. The blindfold's too tight." Stan Connor reached up to adjust the scarf digging into her eyes and wondered why on earth she'd agreed to this. 

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

The ugly side to public relations. It was all fun and games until scandal hit. She knew it all to well---she'd lost her own job to a scandal.  

Check out the first four great books in the 

Pawsitively Organic Mysteries!

Book One                                         Book Two

Book Three                                  Book Four

Don't forget to pre-order 

Book Five

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.