Monday, November 26, 2018

There are several publishers that keep the wonderful world of cozy mysteries going for us readers. 
To me, one of the best is
Kensington Books!


Check out my reviews of these 3 fabulous titles from
Kensington Books!

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PURLS AND POISON
Book 2 in the Black Sheep & Co. Mysteries
(Book 10 in total of with the Black Sheep Knitters)
by Anne Canadeo


When a fellow Black Sheep Knitter is suspected of poisoning her coworker, the group puts down their needles and takes up their friend's defense . . .
 
Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It's bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne’s open houses to poach potential buyers, it’s the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other.
 
When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle—poisoned by a diet shake—Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. It’s soon discovered, though, that Liza had double-crossed so many around town and stashed their dark secrets in her designer handbags that anyone could be the culprit.
 
The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed—but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who's trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes . . .


In PURLS AND POISON, author Anne Canadeo takes readers back to Plum Harbor and quickly enmeshes us in a murder mystery where one of the Black Sheep Knitters is a suspect. But the list of likely killers keeps growing. And with more twists than a ball of yarn, this is was difficult whodunit to untangle.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced story. Early into the book I was more than sure I knew who the killer was. Yet when I read the reveal, I couldn’t believe how far of the mark I was. I never saw it coming. But when I peeked back through the book, I saw that the clues were there all along. Well done, Ms. Canadeo!

You don’t have to be a knitter to enjoy PURLS AND POISON or this series. But if you are, you’ll find a link for a knitting pattern at the end of the book. But if you’re like me and can’t knit a stitch, there’s also a recipe included to enjoy!

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THE WHISPERED WORD
Book 2 in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries
by Ellery Adams


In New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams’ intriguing new Secret, Book, and Scone Society novel, Nora Pennington and her fiction loving friends in small-town Miracle Springs, North Carolina, encounter a young woman desperately in need of a new beginning . . .
 
Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books, believes that a well-chosen novel can bring healing and hope. But she and the other members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society know that sometimes, practical help is needed too. Such is the case with the reed-thin girl hiding in the fiction section of Nora’s store, wearing a hospital ID and a patchwork of faded bruises. She calls herself Abilene, and though Nora and her friends offer work, shelter, and a supportive ear, their guest isn’t ready to divulge her secrets. But when a customer is found dead in an assumed suicide, Nora uncovers a connection that points to Abilene as either a 
suspect—or another target.
 
Summer’s end has brought other new arrivals to Miracle Springs too. Entrepreneur Griffin Kingsley opens Virtual Genie, a cyber business that unloads people’s unwanted goods for cash. With the town in an economic slump and folks hurting for money, Virtual Genie and its owner are both instantly popular. A patient listener, Griffin dispenses candy to children and strong coffee to adults, and seems like a bona fide gentleman. But Nora’s not inclined to judge a book by its cover. And when a second death hits town, Nora and her intrepid friends must help the new, greenhorn sheriff discern fact from fiction—and stop a killer intent on bringing another victim’s story to a close . . .


It has been my experience that any book written by author Ellery Adams is a book worth reading. And any bookcase without an Ellery Adams book is incomplete.

THE WHISPERED WORD is a wonderfully written story. From cover to cover I could never guess what was coming next. Every feeling in me was brought out at some point in this tale. From laughing to crying to straight up shock, this book had me running the emotional gambit.

 Note: While having a lovely cozy setting, and fabulous characters, the background story of the young woman introduced in this book was a little dark for my cozy mystery tastes. It is a brilliant piece of writing, but something I wasn’t prepared for. I also give it a profanity warning.  

Despite how the above paragraph may sound, I did enjoy reading THE WHISPERED WORD, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

 ðŸ“šðŸ“–📚📖📚

HOW TO KNIT A MURDER
Book 13 in the Seaside Knitter’s Society Mysteries
by Sally Goldenbaum


* Includes a knitting pattern *
  
A mysterious woman arrives in picturesque Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, and the Seaside Knitters welcome her into their cozy world of intricate patterns and colorful skeins. Unfortunately, nothing frays a warm introduction like cold-blooded murder . . .  
 
With her shy manner and baggy jeans, Rose Chopra becomes an unlikely superhero the night she stumbles into Izzy Perry’s shop and inadvertently saves a shipment of yarn from water damage. When the Seaside Knitters help the enigmatic handywoman settle into town and find work at a popular real estate company, Rose proves she can fix just about anything—until a potential homebuyer is killed and she becomes entangled in murder . . .
 
The moment controversial entrepreneur Spencer Paxton is found dead in a pricey ocean-side house, accusations fly at the last person on the property—Rose. But the Seaside Knitters have their doubts. After all, Spencer’s political aspirations as well as his company’s plans to pave over Sea Harbor’s historic art district with luxury apartments earned him some very real enemies . . . 
 
Now, Izzy, Birdie, Nell, and Cass must swap knitting for sleuthing as they struggle to move the needle on a twisted homicide case causing turmoil across town. As tensions build in the sleepy New England community and Rose’s secret past unravels, the ladies face an unsettling realization—true victims aren’t always the ones buried six feet under . . .


There is nothing quite like visiting Sea Harbor, Massachusetts the ladies of the Seaside Knitter’s Society. Author Sally Goldenbaum makes everything come to life to the point that you can hear the sounds and smell the aromas of the sea.

In HOW TO KNIT A MURDER, the Knitters welcome a newcomer with a secret past. Author Goldenbaum brilliantly reveals that past, and more, in this wonderful, faced paced mystery. Every chapter brought something to the tale that increased my need to find answers. Reading well into the night, I couldn’t bring myself to close this book until I had finished.  

One thing I didn’t think I would get used to with this series, but I now enjoy is that you never know which character you’ll be “following”. Unlike books with one protagonist, this series gives all the Knitters equal status.

HOW TO KNIT A MURDER is a must read for any fans of knitting themed mysteries. But take it from someone who would be dangerous with a knitting needle, you don’t have to know how to knit to enjoy this series.


You know you want to add these to your Christmas list!




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

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Sunday, November 25, 2018


Author 
Kathi Daley
has a new book!
THE INN AT HOLIDAY BAY:
BOXES IN THE BASEMENT
Book 1 in the Inn at Holiday Bay Mysteries


After suffering a personal tragedy Abby Sullivan buys a huge old seaside mansion she has never even seen, packs up her life in San Francisco, and moves to Holiday Bay Maine, where she is adopted, quite against her will, by a huge Maine Coon Cat named Rufus, a drifter with her own tragic past named Georgia, and a giant dog with an inferiority complex named Ramos. What Abby thought she needed was alone time to heal. What she ended up with was, an inn she never knew she wanted, a cat she couldn't seem to convince to leave, and a new family she'd never be able to live without.

In book 1 of this series, a local girl has been murdered and the small seaside community is up in arms. When Abby finds boxes in the basement of her new home, which seem to provide a clue as to who might have killed the girl, Abby plants herself firmly in the middle of what has turned out to be a complicated investigation. Although Abby isn't a cop, or even a private detective, she isn't unfamiliar with the investigative process. As a New York Times Bestselling mystery writer she knows how to conduct research. As the widow of a homicide detective, she knows the questions to ask. 

Join Abby, Georgia, Rufus, and Ramos, as they help Officer Colt Wilder track down a killer before kills the next victim in what looks to be a annual spree.

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!!!GIVEAWAY!!!

One lucky reader will in a Kindle copy of

THE INN AT HOLIDAY BAY:
BOXES IN THE BASEMENT

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter

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GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

BOOK TOUR


I'm so excited to be a stop on the blog tour for
SLAY BELLS
Book 1 in the Christmas Village Mysteries
by T. C. Wescott


‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the village, the night settled in over swirling-smoke chimneys.
The air was alive with pine and with holly, with sugar and cinnamon and cider, by golly!
Along snowy lanes and through shadows it crept, past windows behind which each villager slept, 
Where sleeping dogs lie and cats rest a’purring—
Tonight, in Christmas Village, a killer is stirring.
Nestled betwixt an opulent garden with meandering footpaths and an ancient grove of plum trees, Plum Cottage Inn is plum-full with lodgers in for the Christmas Festival. There are no vacancies...until one by one the lodgers start dying in inexplicable ways. 
Short as a stump, round as a wheel, sweet as a candy cane, and a sharp as a whip, Maribel Claus loves a good puzzle. Can Mrs. Claus solve the mystery and save Christmas?
If you enjoy the classic Golden Age small village and English country house mysteries as well as lighthearted cozies of our present day, you will fall in love with the Christmas Village Mysteries. And your love affair starts right here with Slay Bells. 
Slay Bells includes diagrams of the murder scenes and a one-of-a-kind BOOK GROUP CHALLENGE

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!!!GIVEAWAY!!!

Winners will be chosen after November 14.
at the end of the tour

2 lucky readers will win a Kindle copy of 
SLAY BELLS

USA only

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

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



LKBR:  Thank you for being here today, T. C.!

TCW: Thank you for having me, Lisa. Like all mystery authors I’m first and foremost a reader. And as a cozy mystery reader I’m more than familiar with your blog and its standing in the cozy community. So, it’s quite an honor for me to participate as an author.


LKBR: Please tell us a bit about your book/series.

TCW: My latest book is Slay Bells and it’s first in the new Christmas Village Mystery series. In a nutshell, imagine the character of Miss Jane Marple if she were dropped in the world of the great classic Christmas paintings. My protagonist is Maribel Claus, just as keen as Miss Marple, but perhaps a little spunkier. The village of Christmas is entirely fantastical which gives me freedom to do things you can’t do in a standard cozy. For instance, most of the customs of the village are straight from the Victorian era or before, yet they have cell phones. There are all the modern conveniences in the village – electricity, television, internet—but they use them very sparingly, preferring instead to use gas for lighting and cooking and their own two feet over a car. The way they celebrate holidays is a mix of old and new which gives me the opportunity to work in forgotten Christmas customs that once upon a time were as commonplace as lights on a tree are today. But this is not a Christmas series, per se. Different books will take place at different times a year and even on different holidays.

The other series I’ve started is the Running Store Mystery series. The first book, Running from Scissors, is available now in Kindle, paperback and Audible editions. The second in that series, Running from Arrows, comes out in January.


LKBR: How did you come up with the concept?

TCW: A few years ago I had the idea of a stand-alone book called ‘Who Killed Santa Claus?’ in which Santa would be murdered in Christmas Village. I was intrigued not only by the idea that Santa himself might be a murder victim but that a murder mystery would take place in an isolated village filled with cottages and eccentric characters. Subsequent to this I decided I’d try my hand at a cozy mystery series. But I couldn’t find an idea I liked. One day, while washing dishes, the two worlds collided and the idea of Christmas Village Mysteries came to be. Only now Santa would not be killed. In fact, he himself is not a character. Maybe Maribel Claus is the wife of the Santa of lore, maybe she’s not.


LKBR: What are your future plans for this series? Any hints or spoilers you can give us about the next book?

TCW: My plan for this series is certainly long term. The different books will span the seasons and holidays although, of course, Christmas will be visited again and again. Many of the books in the series will, like Slay Bells, be Howdunits as well as Whodunits. That is to say they will involve impossible or ‘locked room’ murders where the sleuth as well as the reader will be tasked with figuring out how the murder was committed in order to determine who committed it.

As for future exploits in the series, I’m not settled on what the second book will be, but the third Christmas Village Mystery book, which I plan for Halloween 2019, will be titled And All Through the House and will be in the tradition of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, only I plan to include at least 4 impossible murders. I’m equal parts excited and nervous about taking on that project. But if you love old dark house mysteries, it will be an event.


LKBR: Is writing an energizing experience, or does it take a lot out of you?

TCW: If you’re doing it right, it’s both. But writing cozies is a lot less emotionally taxing than other genres. This is because it’s primarily about the puzzle and the rest of the stuff is, by its very nature, ‘cozy’ and so fun and relaxing to write about.


LKBR: Once you knew you wanted to be a published writer, who was the first person you reached out to for help? (Such as a publisher, or author)

TCW: I started a little differently from other fiction writers in that most of my output for years was research-based essays on historical crime. I published a couple of dozen essays and then wrote my first longform non-fiction book, which did well. Then I wrote my second. It was at this point that I decided to try my hand at my favorite fiction genre of all – mystery.


LKBR: What sort of research do you do for your books? Is it more computer based or hands on?

TCW: It depends. For the Running Store Mystery series I based the fictional town of Cedar Mill off my own town, so most of the businesses in there are fictional versions of real businesses. In this respect, my research was hands-on. Also, much of the information about running I learned from speaking with actual runners. Other information came from online research. I myself am not a runner. For the Christmas Village Mystery series, the research is almost entirely from books and online research. The rest just comes out of my head.


LKBR: What is your writing process? Place, time of day, by the hour or word count?

TCW: I don’t write at a specific time of day. It’s more whenever I’m alone and have a little time to myself. It’s often a struggle but I try to get 1k to 2k words per day. I work on my books every single day of the year.


LKBR: How do you come up with character names?

TCW: Some just come to me. A number of minor characters I just pull first names from this person and last names from that person. More than once I’ve turned on the TV and the next name mentioned became that character. No joke. For Christmas Village, I chose to have fun with some of the names, such as Professor Ethelbert Gildersleeve, Buckminster Folly and Barnaby Snipes. These took more thought and effort. The names alone paint a picture of the characters. I’ll invite your readers to consider what these names tell them about these characters and see how correct they are when they read Slay Bells!


LKBR: Is it difficult to write characters of the opposite sex? Do you have someone you use for advice?

TCW: I don’t find it particularly difficult. I’ve been surrounded by women my whole life so I draw upon that. One thing I’ve noticed is that stereotypes don’t often apply, so I see little need to use them when creating characters of the opposite sex. How successful I am is subjective, but the feedback I’ve received (from predominantly female readers) has been positive. My editor is a woman so if I put a real whopper in there she’s sure to catch it!


LKBR: Do you read reviews of your books? If you do, and a review is bad, what effect does it have on you? (I know some reviews are mean as opposed to constructive.)

TCW: Yes, I do. It’s hard to avoid them when there aren’t all that many. When you’re Amanda M. Lee and reviews are coming in by the truckloads I’m sure it’s easier to turn off. I’ve received a few bad reviews for Running from Scissors, but by and large I’d consider them constructive. And some are subjective. I received two back-to-back recently that were at odds with each other – one reader thought I dragged out the reveal too long, comparing it unfavorably to the 1985 film Clue; the other reader praised me for the same thing, noting that it harkens back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. Both readers got exactly what I was going for, but one liked it and the other didn’t. Both are valid, in my opinion.


LKBR: What are 3 things readers may not know about you?

TCW: Since I’m so new to the scene I’d wager they know little more than what they’re reading here. But what I would like them to know is that I take what I do very seriously. The last thing I would want to do is waste their time. My intention with Christmas Village Mysteries is to create a series cozier and more mysterious than most of the other cozy mysteries they’ll read throughout the year. That’s my objective, my goal. Again, how well I succeed will be subjective, but the way I figure it is by aiming for such a lofty goal I’m liable to get the best out of myself, and that’s precisely what I want to give my readers.


LKBR: Where can readers go to learn more about you and your books?

Author website: www.tcwescott.com
Twitter: @MousetrapBooks


LKBR: Thank you so much, T. C. for letting us get to know you better!

TCW: Again, my pleasure and honor. Thank you!

About the Author


T.C. Wescott was born in Missouri but has lived in Oklahoma most of his life. Like pretty much every author who has ever breathed, he is an avid reader. His favorites are classic mysteries from the Golden Age, as well as just before or just after that period (which is widely considered the period between the two World Wars). His first mystery novel, Running from Scissors, was published in July 2018 and will be the first of at least three books in the Running Store Mystery series.

The Christmas Village Mystery series will launch in November of the same year with the debut title Slay Bells. The formula for his books is simple - mixing the classic, traditional detective fiction standards with all the trappings of the modern cozy mystery.

Wescott is also (under another name) the author of two award-winning non-fiction books as well as a slew of essays and articles.

Purchase Link - Amazon 


  a Rafflecopter giveaway


TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 23 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
November 23 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
November 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 24 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
November 25 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 25 – Moonlight Rendezvous - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 26 – Laura's Interests - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 26 – My Devotional Thoughts - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 27 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 28 – Book Babble – REVIEW
November 28 – Bibliophile Reviews - REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 29 – View from the Birdhouse – GUEST POST
November 29 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 30 – A Blue Million Books - AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 1 – Readeropolis - AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
December 2 – Island Confidential - CHARACTER INTERVIEW
December 3 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW December 3 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
December 4 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW*
December 4 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
December 5 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
December 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
December 6 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
December 6 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW


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.