Seriously? 

I dozed off for like 5 minutes, okay, an hour, and I come back to find yet another author has taken over my blog! 

Today, your blog host is author

Larissa Reinhart!

FUN WITH MYSTERY FRIENDS by Larissa Reinhart

Thank you Lisa & all y’all for letting me celebrate the release of Maizie Albright Star Detective #7, 18 1/2 DISGUISES, with you!

I’m Larissa Reinhart and you might know me from my Cherry Tucker Mystery series. Maizie Albright is my romantic comedy mystery series. Both are set in Georgia where I live, but Cherry’s in a farm town south of Atlanta, and Maizie lives in a lake resort town in the North Georgia Mountains.

Maizie’s also an actress who ended her career in Hollywood with a bang. After starring in a hit detective show as a teenager, things went downhill fast for her as an adult. Maizie was arrested (thanks to her fiancé), a judge gave her probation with the condition she leaves Hollywood to move in with her father and get a job that has nothing to do with the entertainment industry.

Naturally, she decides to become a private investigator, her favorite role.

Naturally, the only PI in town, Wyatt Nash, wants nothing to do with her. But she convinces him to let her do surveillance on the wife of a client.

Naturally, Maizie loses the wife on the first day.

Naturally, her monster stage-manager-mother arrives in town to continue filming their reality show despite the judge’s orders, causing even more problems for Maizie.

Naturally, Maizie feels like she might be falling in love with her new boss.

And thus starts her career as a PI.

You can read 15 MINUTES for free! We’ve had the ebook set to free since the pandemic started and unfortunately/fortunately it’s still free! Tap below to read it on your favorite device.

Kindle:  http://smarturl.it/15MinKindle

Nook: http://smarturl.it/15MinBN

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/15MinKobo

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/15MiniBooks

15 MINUTES and most of the series is also available in paperback, hardcover, and the series are now audiobooks, too ( the last 2 books are in production).

You can check them out on Audible: https://smarturl.it/LarissaonAudible

The 7th book, 18 1/2 DISGUISES, launched this week! What I love about this series is that even though you can read each book alone as a mystery, there’s a long character arc through all the books for Maizie.

Not only is she learning how to become a private investigator, but Maizie’s also learning how to live outside the bubble of her celebrity lifestyle and to become her own person. Plus there’s also the growth of her romantic relationship, which is a lot of fun, too!

In the first book, she serves a subpoena (and gets punched in the nose) to a woman working at a salon. That woman, Tiffany, and the salon receptionist, Rhonda, become her best friends in Black Pine. Maizie relies on them a lot to help her find her way in the “real world.” In 18 1/2 DISGUISES, they play an even more important part of the central mystery.

When 18 1/2 Disguises begins, Maizie’s invited them to join her at a masquerade gala that’s a kickoff for a charity her friend, a retired costume designer, has started. Maizie brings Rhonda to the costume designer’s house and they find her dead.

Naturally. :)

Rhonda is obviously traumatized by the situation and fears the killer might be after her. Maizie not only wants to investigate her friend’s death, but she also needs to figure out the mystery to save Rhonda.

Here’s a little snippet from 18 1/2 DISGUISES:

"I'll see what I can do," I ventured. "I planned on checking in with Detective Mowry today anyway, in case he'd learned anything new since last night. IMHO, the attack was personal."

Rhonda's eyes widened. Tiffany leaned forward. "Who do you think did it?"

"I don't know. Lorena was the most likable person I know. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill her." 

"Why personal, then?" stammered Rhonda. "Personal how?" 

I lowered my voice. "The scissors in the back gave it away. That's pretty obvious don't you think?" 

"I would never stab someone in the back with scissors," said Tiffany. 

"Of course not—"

"A knife, maybe," she continued. "But something like a hatchet would do more damage. What can stabbing with scissors do? Particularly in the back. Why not the gut? It's softer. Or neck. That would do the trick." 

I glanced at Rhonda. She'd gone ashy again.

"I should go.”

***

As you can tell, Rhonda and Tiffany also provide a lot of comic relief in the books. Rhonda and Tiffany have become favorite sidekicks among my readers. I love them, too! They’re kind of the Ethel to Maizie’s Lucy. :)

To win an ebook copy of 18 1/2 DISGUISES, tell me your favorite fictional sidekicks.

Want to win a paperback copy? I have a Goodreads Giveaway ending on February 12th: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/318297-18-1-2-disguises

Thanks so much for having me on, Lisa!

Now I want to hear about your favorite fictional best friends!

18 1/2 DISGUISES:

AN OLD FRIEND MURDERED AND A NEW FRIEND IN JEOPARDY

For fans of romantic comedy mysteries, “Veronica Mars meets Stephanie Plum” in the seventh book in The Wall Street Journal bestselling Maizie Albright Star Detective series.

When Maizie finds her costume designer friend killed during a masquerade gala, it’s the opportunity Maizie hoped she’d never get. An investigation into an old friend’s murder. But one that’s also put her new friend in jeopardy.

While the police begin their inquiries, Maizie starts her own case. She’s needling Black Pine’s wealthy do-gooders, threading through lies, stitching together clues, and ripping out false leads. Her investigation may cost Maizie her job, her relationships, and her life. But by unspooling the truth, Maizie’s darned if they stop her from catching a killer who’s sew evil, it’s shear madness.

 Find 18 1/2 DISGUISES at your favorite store by clicking here: https://books2read.com/18Disguises

More titles from Larissa

Bio:

A Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Larissa writes the award-winning Cherry Tucker Mystery, Maizie Albright Star Detective, and Finley Goodhart Crime Caper series. She loves to tell funny stories about sassy, Southern women looking for love (and dead bodies) in all the wrong places.

You might have seen Larissa and her family (and little dog, Biscuit) on HGTV's House Hunters International "Living for the Weekend in Nagoya" episode. She's back in Georgia now. Visit Larissa's website to join her VIP Readers email group and get the free prequel to The Cupid Caper plus other exclusive bonus content! www.larissareinhart.com

 https://www.larissareinhart.com/larissasreaders

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLarissaReinhart/

Friend me: https://www.facebook.com/larissareinhartwriter

Follow me: http://instagram.com/larissareinhart

Pin me: http://pinterest.com/LarissaReinhart/

Find my books:

Amazon page: http://smarturl.it/LarissaReinhart

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/larissa-reinhart

Goodreads: http://smarturl.it/LarissaGoodreads 

A big thank you to Larissa for hijacking my blog today!

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.

It's

Cozy Food Friday!

That means it's time to share a recipe from 

another great a cozy mystery blogger! 😉

This week's recipe is from

Me!

SLOW COOKER CREAM OF 

POTATO AND CHEDDAR SOUP 

photo property of www.amand'scookin'.com

Ingredients

8 Medium Russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 large onion, chopped

1 can (about 10 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted (can      

   substitute with cream of mushroom)

2 cans (14½ ounces v each) reduced sodium chicken broth (can substitute with         veggie broth, but add a pinch of salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup half-and-half cream

1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

photo property of www.dearcrissy.com

Directions

   Combine potatoes, onions, condensed soup, broth, pepper, and garlic powder in a 4 or 5 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 7½ to 8½ hours, check that potatoes are tender.

   Once potatoes are fork tender, stir in cheese and cream. Replace cover and cook for another 30 minutes (or until cheese is completely melted.

   Like a baked potato, you can add toppings. Some of my favorites are scallions (green onions), bacon, and shredded cheese (instead of more cheddar use something like Colby, Monterey Jack or Munster).

This should make around 10 servings (or less if you like a big bowl 😉)

 

If you like crackers with your soup, I suggest unsalted saltines or oyster crackers. Goldfish crackers are fun as well!) 

photo from Pinterest

Perfect for cold weather, don't you think?

Please let me know if you try it out!

🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽

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.

I'm so happy to be a stop on the blog tour for

18½ DISGUISES

Book 7 in the Maizie Albright Star Detective Mysteries

by Larissa Reinhart

AN OLD FRIEND MURDERED AND A NEW FRIEND IN JEOPARDY

For fans of romantic comedy mysteries, "Veronica Mars meets Stephanie Plum" in the seventh book in The Wall Street Journal best-selling Maizie Albright Star Detective series.

“A mixture of adventure, mystery, and romcom. So like Hollywood, you'll never figure out what is real and what is make-believe until you reach the end.” — Laura’s Interests

#DisguisedDetectiving Maizie Albright might have once played a (teenage) private investigator on TV, but she’s now living the (adult) part. Her (mother’s) name is on her business cards. Her (boss’s) appointment book is brimming with new clients. And her bank account has grown large enough to finally trade in her dirt bike for an actual new (pre-owned) vehicle.

And then there’s Wyatt Nash. Love of her life. Future father of her…

Wait.

And then there’s Wyatt Nash. Future partner in her business. Not now. Later. Right now, they’re waiting for Maizie to get her PI license and for Nash to get out of the red so they can get on with…

Just what, Maizie isn’t so sure. But she is sure about one thing. She’s ready to take on her own cases. To prove she’s more than just a (washed-up actress) assistant private eye.

When Maizie finds her costume designer friend killed during a masquerade gala, it’s the opportunity Maizie hoped she’d never get. An investigation into an old friend’s murder. But one that’s also put her new friend in jeopardy.

While the police begin their inquiries, Maizie starts her own case. She’s needling Black Pine’s wealthy do-gooders, threading through lies, stitching together clues, and ripping out false leads. Her investigation may cost Maizie her job, her relationships, and her life. But by unspooling the truth, Maizie’s darned if they stop her from catching a killer who’s sew evil, it’s shear madness.

📚📖📚📖📚

!!!GIVEAWAY!!!

1 lucky reader will win a

$20.00 Amazon Gift Card!

USA only

Enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

Winner will be chosen after February 13 at the end of the tour

This giveaway is through Great Escape Book Tours

LKBR:  Thank you for joining us today, Larissa.

LR: Thanks so much for having me here! I love how much you support writers and book lovers!

 

LKBR: Please tell us a bit about 18 1/2 Disguises.

LR: It’s the seventh mystery in the Maizie Albright Star Detective series, although you can read it as a stand-alone. Maizie’s an ex-celebrity, who as a teen, played a detective in a popular TV show. After a public Hollywood meltdown, a kindly California judge sent her home to live with her father in Georgia and to find a new job. Of course, she wants to become a private investigator, the role she loved. In Georgia, it takes two years of apprenticeship, and in the first book, she (eventually) convinces Wyatt Nash, the only PI in town, to mentor her.

By book seven, Maizie is still in her apprenticeship period and she’s no longer working for Nash, but they are dating. However, the honeymoon is over in both respects.

When Maizie and her friend Rhonda finds Maizie’s old friend, a costume designer, murdered, Maizie chooses to investigate her friend’s death on her own.

I’ll just say, a personal investigation like this changes you.

Actually, that’s what Nash told Maizie. I didn’t say it. He did.

 

LKBR: What are you plans for this series?

LR: I’m planning 19 CRIMINALS now! Originally 18 1/2 DISGUISES was going to be a novella bridging 18 CALIBER and 19 CRIMINALS. (I did this with 17.5 CARTRIDGES IN A PEAR TREE). I had 18 1/2 mapped out, but when I started writing, the story took off and when it ended I was at 380 pages.

So 18 1/2 is not a novella…

 

LKBR: Are you working on any new projects?

LR: I’m starting 19 CRIMINALS. And I planned to work on more Finley Goodhart Crime Capers (The Pony Predicament) this year. I also have a small town women’s fiction on the back burner.

I also started a new job on February 1, have a daughter graduating high school in May, and another playing travel club volleyball.

So we’ll see how 2021 shakes out. Lol

 

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

LR: Literally as soon as I could write. I was four when I started making lists of words I knew. I expanded that to stories in first grade, and in second grade, I made little magazines of stories and sold them door-to-door for a nickel. I won a national writing award in fifth grade and received the Quill and Scroll award in high school.

I’m from a very rural small town. I didn’t know people like me could become an author. I hoped to write for a travel magazine, but, in high school, I worked on my small town newspaper and discovered I hated calling people on the telephone. Or interviewing them in person. (I’m a bit of an introvert and this was before email.) So I gave up on that dream and became a teacher instead.

Some year later, I had the time to return to writing. Within a year I had my first manuscript. I rewrote it, then wrote another one the following year. That was PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, which sold the next year. I’ve been doing this for ten years now and I love it!

 

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

LR: It was exciting, that’s for sure. The process was completely new to me, although I had an idea what editing would look like. What surprised me was the time line. I had no idea a book that was already written could take so long to get published and PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY was published fairly (about six months). I was also very naïve about marketing and that side of the business. I’m still learning!

 

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.

LR: I had a short career as an art student, so I was used to critiques. For the first and second books, they were kind of fun. My editor would say, “you really need to take this character (Shawna Branson) and develop her into an antagonist.” I love that. I can do that. Give me an idea and let me run with it. Especially if it’s an antagonist because I love writing antagonists. They get the best lines.

When I work with one editor, I love the process. There were a few books where I had a committee of editors and I didn’t like that. They all wanted something different and I found it really hard to please everyone and keep what I thought was integral to the story.

 

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

LR: I love the emails and other interactions I have with readers. It’s like getting a whole new set of friends. That’s a tie with coming up with new story ideas. That’s so much fun.

 

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

LR: All the time. And I re-read books all the time. I’m a big re-reader. It’s always because of the characters. They become like old friends. I recently went on a Jennifer Crusie binge and re-read all her books.

 

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

LR: In terms of selling books, they’re essential these days. As a reader, I’ll look at reviews before buying a book, particularly for a new author (to me).

Personally, I’ll only leave reviews for books I really liked or loved. If the book didn’t speak to me, it doesn’t mean the book was bad, just not for me. I don’t want to keep someone else from reading it for that reason. Not only is it bad book karma, I was brought up with “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

 

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

LR: Definitely wherever they shop for books, like Amazon. Amazon can make or break an author’s career and reviews make a lot of difference. That’s just the way it is. I also recommend Bookbub and Goodreads.

 

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

LR: Whatever they do for a living, where they grew up, what their interests are. I love learning about people and where they come from. People are so interesting. Everyone has a story.

 

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

LR:  Thank you, Lisa, for giving me your time. Great questions!

About Larissa Reinhart

 

 Visit Larissa's website to join her VIP Readers email group and get the free prequel to The Cupid Caper plus other exclusive bonus content! www.larissareinhart.com A Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Larissa writes the award-winning Cherry Tucker Mystery, Maizie Albright Star Detective, and Finley Goodhart Crime Caper series. She loves to tell funny stories about women, looking for love (and dead bodies) in all the wrong places. Larissa, her family, and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, lived in Nagoya, Japan, but have returned to Peachtree City, Georgia. You can see them on HGTV's House Hunters International "Living for the Weekend in Nagoya" episode. Larissa loves books, food, and traveling with her family. You can often see her adventures on Instagram (and her little dog, too). The Cherry Tucker Mystery Series in reading order: A CHRISTMAS QUICK SKETCH (prequel novella) PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW HIJACK IN ABSTRACT THE VIGILANTE VIGNETTE (Halloween novella) DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE A VIEW TO A CHILL A COMPOSITION IN MURDER A MOTHERLODE OF TROUBLE (in YEAR-LONG TROUBLE anthology) The Maizie Albright Star Detective series in reading order: 15 MINUTES -First in series (15 MINUTES) is free during COVID. 16 MILLIMETERS NC-17 A VIEW TO A CHILL 17.5 CARTRIDGES IN A PEAR TREE 18 CALIBER (2020) 19 CRIMINALS (2021) Finley Goodhart Crime Caper series: Pig'N a Poke (for newsletter subscribers only) THE CUPID CAPER THE PONY PREDICAMENT (2020) THE HEIR AFFAIR (2021)

Social Media Links:

Website: http://larissareinhart.com/ 

 VIP Readers: https://www.larissareinhart.com/larissasreaders 

 Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLarissaReinhart/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larissareinhartwriter 

 Fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mysteryminions/ 

 Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/larissa-reinhart 

 Goodreads: http://smarturl.it/LarissaGoodreads 

 Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/LarissaReinhart/ 

 Purchase links: 

Amazon   -   Barnes & Noble -   Kobo 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 2 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog- SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 5 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Christy's Cozy Corners – GUEST POST

February 8 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

February 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book -SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 11 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT WITH RECIPE

February 12 – My Reading Journeys- REVIEW

February 12 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 13 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT

As always, please leave a comment and 

let me know what you think about today's blog!

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.

Today I'm happy to join

Berkley Mystery

in celebrating the release of  

EGG SHOOTERS

Book 9 in the Cackleberry Club Mysteries

by Laura Childs

A murder in the local hospital is raising everyone's temperature in the latest book in the New York Times bestselling Cackleberry Club series.

Suzanne Dietz co-owner of the Cackleberry Club Café is visiting her fiancée, Dr. Sam Hazelet when a masked gunman bursts into the emergency room. He shoots two people and would probably have done more damage had Suzanne not brained him with a thermos full of chili. Still, the gunman manages to escape.

Now the ladies of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he finds them.

It’s always great to get back to Kindred and the ladies of the Cackleberry Club. Reading a book in this series is like getting back in town and catching up with friends.  

In this ninth installment of the Cackleberry Club Mysteries, author Laura Childs comes out like a shot. I had barely cracked the cover when the action started. What happened was intense and more like stories out today’s headlines than that of a cozy mystery. Also, with any fast paced beginning, a book slows down for a bit. It’s to be expected. However, EGG SHOOTERS didn’t seem to regain its momentum.

The above aside, author Childs, as she always does, has written an intelligent tale, and a hard to guess mystery. She’s brilliant at leading her readers through many wrong turns so convincingly, we fail to notice the little hints along the way that would have lead us to the right answer. As true with her other books, I didn’t know whodunit until the reveal.

While, EGG SHOOTERS wasn’t my favorite book in this series, it was still a good read, and has me looking forward to book 10.

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She's also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn't rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries - a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans' spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe's undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

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.