Wednesday, December 7, 2022

A whole new year of reading is on its way! Take a look at what tiles you'll find!

JANUARY NEW RELEASES
PART 1


JANUARY 3


Hip hip beret! Hatmakers Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont return and must collar a killer when a castle wedding goes awry in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s new Hat Shop Mystery.

It’s wedding season and Viv’s longtime frenemy Piper May is getting married. She convinces Viv and Scarlett to take on the job of designing the headpieces for her “wedding of the year.” The well-to-do bride and her entourage are delighted to have Viv and Scarlett as their famous hat designer guests, but the hat-making pair are really just looking forward to a getaway at a castle in Sussex. It is to be a weekend full of events, culminating in the big ceremony.  
 
Unfortunately, on the first night of the festivities, the groom is found murdered, and the joyous holiday becomes the stuff of nightmares as no one is allowed to leave the castle until the investigation is complete. Although Scarlett assures Harrison Wentworth, her fiancé, that she and Viv will stay out of harm’s way, circumstances force them to step in when a secret affair between the deceased groom and a bridesmaid comes to light, and the murderer takes another life. Scarlett and Viv vow to unveil the killer’s identity before the wedding adds another to its death toll.

JANUARY 10


Twin sisters Tabby and Sage co-own a candle shop, but will it all go up in flames in Valona Jones’ series debut, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Bailey Cates.

30-year-old fraternal twins Tabby and Sage Winslow own The Book and Candle Shop in Savannah. Sage is hot-headed and impulsive while Tabby is calm and collected, making them the perfect partnership. When  one of their customers is found murdered, from a blow to the head, that partnership is put to the test.
 
Blithe McAdam had been seen in a heated argument with shop clerk Gerard, which immediately makes him suspect number one. The twins are convinced of Gerard’s innocence and start digging into Blithe’s past. But no one is cooperating. The neighbor who found the body isn’t talking, medical examiner Quig won’t give any details about the autopsy, and nasty rumors begin surfacing about the drowning of Blithe’s father years earlier—evidence that could seal Gerard’s fate.
 
Tabby and Sage dig desperately for the truth. But it’s not only their friend who’s in peril. With the clock ticking, the twins find themselves in the grip of an unseen and deadly energy that has seeped into their midst—and in the sights of a ruthless killer.


Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are back on the case when a body is discovered in a haunted museum in bestselling author Vicki Delany's eighth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.

Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldest building in West London, Massachusetts. When things start moving around on their own, board members suggest that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to the bottom of it.  Gemma doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she agrees to ‘eliminate the impossible’. But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they’re forced to consider an all too physical threat.  
 
Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets about the museum. With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers, they have plenty of options for who might be the actual culprit.
 
Despite Gemma's determination not to get further involved, it would appear that once again, and much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game is afoot.
 
Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum, or will they be the next to haunt it?

JANUARY 17


Sydney Whitmore, a forensic psychologist working for the FBI, moves to Shipwreck Island and renews her relationship with Ezra Reinhold, a reclusive billionaire who enjoys poking around in cold cases and has the means to hire the best people to find the answers no one else has been able to.

In book 7 in the series, Syd is asked to play bodyguard for a popular fitness guru who is certain she's being stalked. Syd isn't sure that babysitting should be part of her job description until Colin fills her in on the deeply buried and never discussed roots to her past.

JANUARY 19


She can write the perfect murder mystery… But can she solve one in real life?

Meet Jen Dawson, mystery writer, coffee lover, and amateur detective?

Crime writer Jen returns to her small hometown with a bestselling book behind her and a bad case of writer’s block. Finding sanctuary in the local bookstore, with an endless supply of coffee, Jen waits impatiently for inspiration to strike.

But when the owner of the bookstore dies suddenly in mysterious circumstances, Jen has a real-life murder to solve.

The stakes are suddenly higher when evidence places Jen at the scene of the crime and the reading of the will names her as the new owner of the bookstore …

Can she crack the case and clear her name, before the killer strikes again?

 

 

 

Check back tomorrow for Part 2!

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Monday, December 5, 2022


You've all seen the book tours that I do with 
Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. They almost always come with giveaways. Why wait for me to post another tour when you can go straight to the source to enter to win!



Click the link above or below to check out the current giveaways that are running now.
Check the center of the page and the side bar.

GIVEAWAYS

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

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Sunday, December 4, 2022


Did you know you can win a ton of great prizes of at WriterSpace
Check these out!
Writerspace

At Writerspace you can win books (not just cozies), Gift Cards, and other great prizes from dozens of authors!

Check out these December giveways!

🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁

Robyn Carr is giving away a signed mass market paperback edition of THAT HOLIDAY FEELING to one winner!

Enter Here
US and Canada only

📕📗📕📗📕📗


 

Pam Binder is giving away a $50 Gift card to the bookstore of your choice and a print copy of CHRISTMAS DEADLINE to one grand prizewinner and print copies of CHRISTMAS DEADLINE to two additional winners.

Enter Here

📕📗📕📗📕📗

Jayne Ann Krentz is giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner's choice), to celebrate the upcoming release release of SLEEP NO MORE.

Enter Here
US only

📕📗📕📗📕📗



Laura Marie Altom is giving away an ebook copy of CHRISTMAS COOKIE BABY and a $10 Amazon gift card to one winner.

Enter Here
US only

📕📗📕📗📕📗

Tracy Brogan is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one winner.

Enter Here

📕📗📕📗📕📗


Gail Chianese is giving away a $15 Barnes and Noble or Amazon gift card to one winner.

Enter Here

📕📗📕📗📕📗

Nina Crespo is giving away a surprise book related prize to one winner!

Enter Here
US only

📕📗📕📗📕📗

RP Dahlke is giving away a Madrid Spain tote bag to one winner!

Enter Here
US only

📕📗📕📗📕📗

Carolyn Haines is giving away 3 digital downloads of FAMILIAR TROUBLEBONE-A-FIED TROUBLE, and TROUBLE RESTORED. Three winners will each win all three books!

Enter Here

📕📗📕📗📕📗

These are just a few of the wonder giveaways over at Writerspace! Head over and start entering!


Writerspace

As always, please leave a comment and
let me know what you think!
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Saturday, December 3, 2022

 
WHAT'S COOKING?

Christmas Movie Food!

🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄


Cook up holiday cheer with 100 recipes inspired by some of America’s favorite Christmas films.

‘Tis the season for cozy comforts, delicious holiday treats, and having a good cry while watching your favorite Christmas movies! 
The Cozy Christmas Movie Cookbook?: Mouthwatering Food to Enjoy During Your Favorite Holiday Films brings you 100 recipes inspired by America’s most adored Christmas films, from Northpole to The Christmas TrainA Royal Christmas, and many more! Give the gift of seasonal fun to the holiday film-lover in your life, or enjoy the dozens of recipes—from snacks and small bites, to Christmas cookies and cakes, to warming drinks and cocktails, with a recommended film to watch with each—while curled up next to your Christmas tree, in the seasonal glow of your own home.

Snack on popcorn treats as you wrap gifts, pipe frosting onto Christmas cookies with your favorite Lacey Chabert or Danica McKellar film on in the background, and bake up a storm for your next party. Have a lovely Christmas with the perfect companion cookbook to the most wonderful time of year. You’ll find yourself cozying up to your most cherished films with delectable recipes from this very special cookbook!


Disappointing.

I don’t hate this cookbook, but it’s so much less than I was hoping it would be. The potential for this book just didn't reach where it should have.

Pros:

1. Wonderful recipes.

2. Introductions letting readers know what movie each recipe is from.

3. Some quotes from of the characters from the movies.

Cons:

1.     No photos of the food. I get that they are from movies, but it would have been nice to see photos from author of dishes she made (if any) from the book. 

2.   No photos from the movies. Upon reading the small print on the back, this is due to the fact that Hallmark had nothing to do with the book. 

   3. Amazon ad says 100 recipes. The front of the book says 50. I counted around 90. Amazon could have misprinted, and maybe the extra recipes in the book are bonuses?

You’ll find recipes like . . . World-Famous Long Family Eggnog, Kate’s Baked Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts, Karla’s Potato and Sausage Soup, Mulligan Stew, Zoe’s Snowed-In Grilled Cheese Casserole, Christmas Under Turkey Wraps, Better-Than-A-Diamond Crescent Ring, Ben’s Favorite Mushroom Neptune, Puppy Chow (A.K.A. Muddy Buddies), Aunt Jane’s Cranberry Orange Scones, Christmas Party Punch, Stolen Chocolate Cookie Truffles, Carol’s Hot Apple Dumplings, and many more including two for our pet loves . . . Happy’s Holiday Dog Biscuits, and Christmas Cookies For Kitty.

Author Holly Carpenter picked some great recipes representing many of my favorite Christmas movies, but overall, I wasn’t really impressed, and I’m debating returning it.



I'm waiting for the arrival of the following cookbook. I've really been looking forward to getting it. Hopefully today!


What's cozier than a cup of tea, a warm fire, and drooling over the mouth-watering food featured in your favorite mystery novels?

Some of today's most exciting mystery writers invite you to take a behind the scenes peek into their characters' kitchens where, among the stashed poisons, the sharpened knives, and the recipes for murder, the secret ingredients for their killer recipes are all spelled out.

Recipes from Andrea J. Johnson, G.P. Gardner, Rose Kerr, Lori Robbins, Jen Collins Moore, Judy L. Murray, Genevieve Essig, Grace Topping, Linda Norlander, Allison Brook, Judith Gonda, Lena Gregory, Kim Davis, Jackie Layton, Heather Weidner, and Colleen J. Shogan. Compiled and edited by Dawn Dowdle.


I think this one is going to be a winner. It has authors I know, and some new to me. I can't wait to get my grubby hands on it! 😀



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

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Friday, December 2, 2022

It's

Cozy Food Friday!

Today's recipe is from a really fun cookbook I bought the other day.

THE COZY CHRISTMAS MOVIE COOKBOOK
Mouthwatering Food to Enjoy During Your Favorite Holiday Films
by
Holly Carpenter

photo property of www.eatingonadime.com

Based on
TURKEY POT PIE FROM 
LUKE'S TABLE
From Hallmark's Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe

This is my version of the recipe, 
adapted to my tastes.

Ingredients

1 (14.1-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts, softened
⅓ cup salted butter
 cup chopped onion
cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ onion powder
½ garlic
1 (14-ounce) can or box chicken broth
½ cup whole or 2% milk
3 cups cooked, cubed turkey
1 cup frozen diced potatoes 
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup frozen carrots, cubes

photo property of www.ohsweetbasil.com

Directions

   Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

   Line a 9" pie plate with one crust

   Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. (Careful. Don't let it brown) Add onion, cook while stirring until onion pieces are tender.

   Stir in flour, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder being sure to combine them well. 

   Slowly add in broth and milk while stirring until boiling.

   Add turkey, corn, carrots, and potatoes being sure to completely in corporate before removing from heat.

   Spoon mixture into crust in pie pan, and cover with the second crust. Pinch edges to seal. Cut 4 to 5 slits on top to vent.

   Bake for 35 - 40 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Careful, the edges may brown quicker. In this case, encase the edges in aluminum foil.

   Let stand for a few minutes before serving. 

 
photo property of www.joyfoodsunshine.com

All the photos above have peas in them. I couldn't find photos without them. I don't eat peas, but you can of course add them to your pie.

Let me know if you give it a try. 
I'd love to hear what you think!

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

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

Reading from your phone? Scroll to the bottom of
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the above directions.