Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Sunday, August 25, 2019

THE LAST WEEK!!!

(Already 😔)

Summer of Giveaways!

Have you heard about

Kathi Daley Books Summer of Giveaways?

All summer long,

now - the Aug 31 you can head over to

Kathi Daley Books

all summer long for a chance to win books from Kathi and more wonderful authors!

We're already our second month

into the party, and we're having a blast!

Author Kathi Daley gives away a different book every Monday, and has surprise giveaways during the rest of the week!

And, did you see all of those other wonderful authors listed above?

There's still a chance to win books from the last seven authors listed! Check every Friday for those.

I'll be co-hosting with Kathi all summer

long, so I'll be looking to see you there!

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, August 24, 2019

BOOK TOUR

Today I'm a stop on the blog tour for

DEATH BY DESIGN

Book 2 in the DIY Diva Mysteries

by Paula Darnell

DIY Diva Laurel McMillan rejoices when her student Jennifer's peacock pillow wins a design contest; that is, until Jennifer's husband Matt is smothered with the very same pillow. When the police confiscate her prize-winning pillow, Jennifer freaks out, and Laurel fears that Jennifer may be more upset about losing the pillow than about Matt's death. But the police arrest disgraced nurse Edna Elkins, not Jennifer. Begging Laurel to find the real killer, Edna insists she's innocent, but Laurel's not so sure, and when Laurel encounters Jennifer while walking her lovable Labrador retriever, Bear, she's left with more questions than answers. Should the crafty DIY Diva play DIY Detective or does Edna really belong in jail?

📚📖📚📖📚

!!!GIVEAWAY!!!

1 lucky reader will win a print copy of

DEATH BY DESIGN

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

Winner will be chosen after August 7 at the end of the tour.

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

MY REVIEW

This second installment in the DIY Diva Mysteries is just as delightful as, if not more than, book one, DEATH BY ASSOCIATION.

I loved being back in the gated community of Hawkeye Haven with protagonist, Laurel McMillan and her adorable Lab, Bear. Like book one, I was absorbed in, DEATH BY DESIGN within the first few pages. Ms. Darnell’s writing has that certain flow that makes for an easy read, even as she is drawing you deep into the story.

Along with the main mystery, there are a few other things going on in this tale that makes it hard to find a dull moment. Really, there was never a boring or slow scene where I could set this book down. Author Darnell can be blamed for nothing else getting accomplished in my life for the day I spent enthralled with her words.

For fans who have waited for, DEATH BY DESIGN, you’re going to be thrilled with this this addition to the series. New readers won’t have a problem following along. But be warned newbies, you will want to buy the first book after reading this one!

Oh, did I mention there are recipes?!

About Paula Darnell

An instructor at five colleges over the years, Paula Darnell most often taught the dreaded first-year English composition classes, but she's also been happy to teach some fun classes, such as fashion design, sewing, and jewelry making. Paula has a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a Master's degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. Like Laurel, the main character in Death by Association, Paula enjoys all kinds of arts and crafts. Some of her memorable projects include making a hat and a cape to wear to Royal Ascot, sewing wedding gowns for both her daughters, exhibiting her textile and mixed-media artwork in juried art shows, and having one of her jewelry projects accepted for inclusion in Leather Jewelry, published by Lark Books. She sells some of her jewelry and hair accessories in her Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/PaulaDJewelry. Paula's interest in DIY craft projects and fashion led to her writing hundreds of articles for print and online national publications. Living in a guard-gated community governed by a homeowners' association gave Paula the idea for the setting of Death by Association. She finds that residing in an HOA community can be both a blessing and a curse. A Happy-New-Year greeting from her community association called on residents to “start the new year by reviewing your Rules and Regulations booklet,” something unlikely to top anyone's list of New Year's resolutions. Paula lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Gary and their 110-pound dog Rocky, whose favorite pastime is lurking in the kitchen, hoping for a handout

Author Links

Author's website - https://www.pauladarnellauthor.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/PaulaJDarnell

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18782445.Paula_Darnell Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/paulad0057/

Etsy shop - https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaulaDJewelry

Purchase Links - Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 19 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
August 19 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT
August 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
August 20 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
August 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – RECIPE
August 22 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
August 23 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW
August 23 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 24 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 25 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 25 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT

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.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

I'll be hosting author Holly Quinn's

Win a Friend a Book Week

over on Facebook!

Stop by each day this month from Sat. 24 - Sat. 31 for a chance to win a book for you and a friend!

Make sure to be there Wednesday 28th, 7:00 - 8:00 pm (EST) for a chat with Holly Quinn!

CLICK HERE

Win a Friend Book Week is our way to add to the celebration of

Buy Friend a Book Day.

I look forward to seeing you there!

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.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

FLOUR IN THE ATTIC

Book 4 in the Bread Shop Mysteries

by Winnie Archer

Ivy Culpepper keeps the ovens hot at Yeast of Eden, a Northern California bakery that specializes in traditional breads. But now she has to deal with a stone-cold killer . . .

Just as Ivy’s brother Billy is about to get engaged to his beloved, a tragedy interrupts the happy moment. The body of longtime Santa Sofia resident Marisol Ruiz washes up on the beach—and it’s even more heartbreaking since Marisol’s father also recently died. But Marisol was a strong competitive swimmer. It seems unlikely there’s even a grain of truth to the theory that she accidentally drowned.

As Ivy gets to work helping her mentor, Olaya Solis, with the catering for Marisol’s funeral, she also teams up with her partners in detection—because if they want to prevent someone from getting away with murder, there’s no time for loafing . . .

MY REVIEW

The books of the Bread Shop Mysteries by Winnie Archer have been good reading from book one. In FLOUR IN THE ATTIC, the author is true to form in delivering the goods.

One of the things I enjoy most about this series is the diversity of the characters, and their wonderful relationships. The other thing I love is being able to smell the bread baking as I read. I honestly get hungry and my tum growls. That being said . . . Ms. Archer, please start including some recipes in future books for us!

But of course, you can’t have a mystery without the, um, mystery. Author Archer brings it in a big way. When all is revealed, you simply won’t believe what happened! I was so shocked. The reson behind the murder . . . consider my mind blown.

If you’re a fan of this series, you’re going to love FLOUR IN THE ATTIC. If you’re looking for a cozy with a motive like none other, this is the book 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.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Looking for something new to read.

Here are a few releases out this week.

TODAY

Samantha Reynolds' life in Aloha Lagoon feels like it's finally smooth sailing. She’s settled into her job as the resorts' surf instructor for children, things are looking good with her boyfriend Casey, and she has an amazing BFF in the local surf shop owner, Alani.But when a storm hits Aloha Lagoon, Alani’s past comes back to haunt her, and Sam finds her bestie standing over the dead body of her wayward ex-boyfriend. While Sam knows Alani is innocent, the localpolice aren't so easily convinced, and Sam realizes it's up to her to clear Alani's name and find the real killer before her friend ends up behind bars. Why was Alani's ex back in town? What was he doing in Alani’s shop after hours? And who is the mysterious raven-haired woman in his life and what does she have to do with it all? Sam is determined to find out...only can she do it before the real killer catches her? Or will Sam’s time in Aloha Lagoon come to a sticky end?

TODAY

It's Labor Day Weekend in Christmas River, and the cozy mountain town is abuzz with excitement as it gears up for the first-ever Pooch Parade Fundraiser.

But not all is as it appears in Christmas River this September. After being on the receiving end of several terrifying and mysterious threats, the organizer of the dog parade begs pie baker Cinnamon Peters for help finding the person responsible.

Will Cin and her Sheriff husband track down the mystery menace before it's too late? Or will the first-ever pooch parade end in a dog-gone disaster?

Hounded in Christmas River is a 30,000-word lighthearted novella featuring characters from the #1 Amazon Best-selling Cozy Mystery series. The perfect easy breezy read, this mystery is as cozy and enjoyable as gooey s'mores by a campfire. Grab your copy today and settle in for some cozy reading at its best!

RELEASES AUGUST 22

A Classic English Village Whodunit that combines characters from two of USA Today Bestselling Author Leighann Dobbs’ most beloved series in a humorous whodunit that will keep you guessing until the end.

A dead body in the koi pond of the Twigsledge Flower Show is nothing unusual for amateur sleuth Ida Johnston who is vacationing in the English village where the show is being held. She’s sure she can solve the crime before afternoon tea, especially since she already has her first suspect - the strange cat-attracting woman who is vacationing in the cottage next to her.

Elspeth Whipple is no slouch when it comes to solving murders, either. It hasn’t escaped her notice that the strange scone-stealing woman in the cottage next to her doesn’t seem to be disturbed by the body. Could that be because the woman put it there?

When their amateur sleuthing puts them on the radar of the local police, the two women are forced to team up in order to clear their names. Finding the killer is no easy task, however, especially when the entire village had reason to want the victim dead.

This stand-alone mystery combines characters from the Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series and the Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series and is perfect for fans of Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders and Murder She Wrote.

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, August 19, 2019

MURDER AT THE PTA

Book 1 in the Maya and Sandra Mysteries

by Lee Hollis

A Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition

First in a new series!

Someone is trying to turn Portland High into a school for scandal with a gossipy website called Dirty Laundry. The latest target of ruinous rumors is newly elected PTA president Sandra Wallage. After a heated meeting with outraged parents, Sandra runs into fellow school mom and private investigator Maya Kendrick, who's discovered the person behind the website. But when the women storm into the venomous gossip columnist’s office they find a lifeless body—along with a confession.

Although the police rule the death a suicide, Maya suspects an injured party hung the Dirty Laundry creator out to dry. Maya already has a PI partner—but she's pregnant, and sonograms and stakeouts tend to conflict. So when Sandra volunteers for a crash course in sleuthing, Maya accepts the help. But as these unlikely partners study the clues, a killer plans to teach them a lesson . . .

MY REVIEW

As a big time fan of author Lee Hollis’ Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries, I was beyond excited to hear of this new series. When starting this book, I hoped I would like it at least half as much as I do the Hayley Powell series.

While MURDER AT THE PTS turned out to be a well written story, and a good start to a new series, I have to say it doesn’t read like a typical cozy. The subject matter is more mainstream mystery. Subjects like affairs, and drugs are present as more than passing mentions. (I kn0w, these are small town issues as well, but not so much in cozies) There is also mild profanity, and the word B*sta.. pops up at least once.

Now, I know what you must be thinking. “Lisa didn’t like this book.” That’s far from true. I devoured MURDER AT THE PTA in one sitting. However, I know many who read my reviews are cozy “purists” like I am, and I felt the need to mention the above. If you like all sub-genres of mysteries, you have got to read this book.

There was one revelation wasn’t such a surprise to me, but the story was a good mystery, and the identity of the killer surprised me. This really was a well done introduction to a series. Lee Hollis made sure to allow us time to get to know the characters. I really like Maya and Sandra, and look forward to watching their partnership and friendship grow.

If you’re looking for a new mystery series to start, and you’re a fan of the old song HARPER VALLEY PTA, you’re going to want to read, MURDER AT THE PTA.