Win a book? Yes, please!

Check out the cozy mysteries you could win from 

GoodReads!

(Use the link below the blurb of each book for a chance to enter it's giveaway)

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Well, that was short. 

Let me go check other categories!

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I know Goodreads giveaways can be hard to win because of the volume of people who enter them. But stick with it. I have won a few titles, and you can too.

Since it can be hard to win,

I'm still entering each giveaway as well!

If I win, one of you will win!

I have entered each giveaway I have posted today. If I win a book, I will have a giveaway here and one of you will have another chance to win the book . . . from me! I like knowing that your my friends will have that second chance to win.

So, GOOD LUCK to you!

And wish a GOOD LUCK to me (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).

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I love the different ways folks choose the books they're going to read. Some of the more obvious reasons would be, by author, cover, blurb on the back, and word of mouth. 

My friend Karen discovered cozy mysteries by spinning the paperback rack at her library and picking the ones that stopping in front of her. 

Today, I'm sharing 6 mysteries with first letter of each book spelling out Sunday. 

S U N D A Y

S

ONE WOMAN’S TRASH . . .

Sarah Winston’s garage sale business has a new client: the daughter of a couple who recently died in a tragic accident while away on a trip to Africa. Their house is full of exotic items from around the world that need to be sold off. When Sarah learns that the deceased were retired CIA agents, the job becomes more intriguing—but when an intruder breaks in and a hidden camera is found, it also becomes more dangerous. And Sarah has enough on her plate right now since she’s investigating a murder on the side at the nearby Air Force base, where her status as a former military spouse gives her a special kind of access.

 

. . . IS ANOTHER WOMAN’S TROUBLE

With so much work piling up, Sarah decides to hire some help. But her assistant, Harriet—a former FBI hostage negotiator—has a rare talent for salesmanship. Which is good, because Sarah may have to haggle for her life with Harriet’s assistance . . .

U

The first in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must solve murders in her small town before she is put under lock and brie

Back in Balsam Dell to heal after the death of her husband, Carly Hale is finally pursuing her lifelong dream—opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. After only five months, business is booming as Vermont vacationers and townspeople alike flock to lunch on her Party Havartis and other grilled cheese concoctions. All but Lyle Bagley, Carly's one-time high school boyfriend and now town bully who just bought the building that houses her eatery and wants Carly out. After a muenster of a fight, Carly's forced to put her nose to the rind and find a solution to keep her business afloat.

That is...until Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly's shop, and one of her employees becomes the prime suspect. In order to save her eatery and prove her friend's innocence, Carly must sleuth out the killer before she's the one who gets grilled.

With a delightful cast of characters, an inventive amateur sleuth, and a whole host of cheesy hijinks, Up to No Gouda is the perfect cozy murder mystery to melt into.

N

Robbie Jordan’s Pans ’N Pancakes boasts delicious eats and the best vintage cookware finds in South Lick, Indiana. And now, for a limited time, there’s a new special featured on the menu—murder!
 
Ever since meeting the wary owners of an antique shop opening across the street, Robbie has been scrambling to manage weird incidences plaguing her café and country store. Pricey items vanish from shelves without explanation, a fully equipped breakfast food truck starts lingering around the area each morning, and loyal diners mysteriously fall ill. When an elderly man dies after devouring an omelet packed with poisonous mushrooms, Robbie must temporarily close down Pans ’N Pancakes and search for the killer with a real zest for running her out of business—or else.  

Includes Recipes for You to Try!

D

The filling is looking grim for pastry chef and amateur sleuth Juliet Capshaw in Donut Disturb, the next in Ellie Alexander's beloved Bakeshop Series.

Love is in bloom in Ashland, Oregon. The Shakespearean hamlet is bursting with fresh spring energy. Fragrant lilacs and the sweet aroma of vanilla cake fill the air as everyone in town gathers at Lithia Park for the celebration of the year—Thomas and Kerry’s wedding.

It’s a picture perfect day. Guests gather on picnic blankets in front of the bandshell to watch Kerry walk down the aisle and wed Ashland’s favorite detective in training, Thomas. Jules and her team at Torte have been tasked with catering the outdoor reception and everything is going according to plan, until a wedding crasher shows up.

The uninvited guest isn’t just someone looking to score a free glass of champagne. It’s Kerry’s estranged father who is supposed to be behind bars. Kerry is distraught. Jules vows to do everything she can to make sure that there are no other surprises on her friend’s big day. But when the bassist for Heart Strings, the wedding band, is found stabbed with the blunt end of his instrument Jules’s promise takes on new meaning. Now she’ll have to slice through the five tiered cake and a bevy of potential suspects in order to track down a killer before they turn the knife on her.

A

The proprietor of a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Courtney Kelly has an occasional side gig as a sleuth—with a sprinkling of magical assistance. . . .

Courtney has thrown a few fairy garden parties—for kids. But if a local socialite is willing to dip into her trust fund for an old sorority sister’s fortieth birthday bash, Courtney will be there with bells on. To make the job even more appealing, a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion, and there’s nothing like a celebrity cameo to raise a business’s profile.
 
Now Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day—which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer, as the police suspect? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder . . .
 

Y

A SETUP IN SIN CITY

When her old friend Martha decided to get married in Las Vegas, Jessica Fletcher made the trip to watch her walk down the aisle. But what were the odds that she’d be back two years later—to watch Martha stand accused of her husband’s murder?

Jessica’s never been one to gamble, but she’s willing to bet that Martha isn’t guilty. Martha’s husband was a high-rolling Las Vegas local with three ex-wives and plenty of jealous acquaintances. After joining Martha’s defense team, Jessica combs through the man’s past to find the real killer. But as the media attention grows—and Jessica is interviewed by the news anchors of Court TV—the stakes are raised, and Jessica learns how to play for keeps.

SUNDAY

   

 

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).

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I'm so excited today to be hosting author

Melissa Bourbon 

aka Winner Archer

and helping her celebrate the release of her newest book

THE TROUBLE WITH HOPE AND GLORY

Melissa's contribution to the Trouble In Tumbleweed Mysteries

Hope and Glory McIntyre are about as different as sisters can be. Glory is the quintessential Texas beauty queen, while Hope wants nothing more than to dismantle Tumbleweed’s beauty queen scene with the mighty stroke of her journalist pen. Glory’s dreams of becoming Mrs. Tumbleweed might be over when her rival is found dead, and while they might be as different as water and Texas oil, Hope won’t rest until she clears sister of wrongdoing and gets to the truth.

(Four authors. Four stories. One Town. And a whole lot of trouble ...

The small town of Tumbleweed might sit in the remote desert of west Texas, but trouble still seems to find it. Someone's always trying to kill someone else for one darn reason or another, and things get as tangled and twisted as a tumbleweed. The Trouble in Tumbleweed series is an entertaining and interrelated collection of mystery novellas from some of the genre's most popular and bestselling authors, including Diane Kelly, Christie Craig, and Larry Kelter.)

Getting to Know Melissa

LKBR: Thank you for being here today, Melissa! 

MBP: I’m so glad to be here! Any excuse to talk about 2000 year old Irish curses and murder.

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

MBP: I write as both Winnie Archer and Melissa Bourbon. I actually have two new books out in the last couple of weeks. One is called The Trouble with Hope and Glory. It’s part of a collaborative with three other authors (Trouble in Tumbleweed). We created a town together, along with some shared characters, then each took our stories in our own directions. It’s a very fun project!

And the other is Murder and an Irish Curse, which is the 4th full length book in the Book Magic series. I LOVE THIS SERIES! I’d shout it to the moon if I could!

This particular book deals quite a bit about that 2000 year old Irish curse I mentioned above.

It’s pretty action-packed and so much fun. And there is an unexpected twist at the end!

 

LKBR: Any hints or spoilers you can give us about your next book?

MBP: The Book Magic series will continue because there are some things left unresolved. I can’t say more than that!

And as for Tumbleweed, Texas, I’ll soon be working on The Trouble with Pushing Up Daisies, which will be a lot of fun!

 

LKBR: Have you ever written a scene that you loved but had to remove it for the sake of the story?

MBP: I have! It’s hard to do, but less so at this point in my career. After 28 books, I’ve learned that I have to let go if the scene doesn’t work in the context of the book. I do save anything I think I will be able to use with a different story, though, and I have been able to repurpose discarded scenes a few times.

 

LKBR: Have you ever gotten reader’s block? Just find it hard to get into reading because you are so into your writing?

MBP: I have! Once in a while I go through a lull in my reading where I just can’t find a book that lights my fire, so to speak. I always get out of the funk by discovering a great book, but when I’m in it, it’s so frustrating! I read every night before bed…it’s my ritual…and if I’ve got Readers Block, the world feels off.

 

 LKBR: Are there any magazines/publications that as a writer you subscribe to? Are these or others something readers could also benefit from?

MBP: I don’t subscribe to any publications. I have created my own website just for writers of all levels, as well as a series of online courses. WriterSpark Academy is a labor of love. I have created courses on the fundamentals of writing (Ready, Set, WRITE!), how to write a cozy (Field Guide to Writing a Cozy Mystery), and am in the process of wrapping up a course on writing memoirs (What’s Your Story?). I am a teacher at heart, so this site and the courses are something I’m passionate about. You can check it out at http://writersparkacademy.com :)

 

 LKBR: Is there anything you would give up if you thought it would make you an even better writer?

MBP: What and how I write now is quite different than what and how I wrote in 2008 when my first book was published. I think writing well takes a lot of hard work and commitment to honing the craft. I’ve put in that time!

If I could have gotten here sooner, I’d certainly have given up a few foods I find disagreeable…like lima beans. Just don’t like ‘em!

 

 LKBR: Any new projects in the works?

MBP: Yes! My agent is shopping a new project—a new mystery series, and I’m in the process of developing a new series that pulls in magic in the same way bibliomancy is part of the Book Magic series. I love having that thread of magic in my books. :)

 

LKBR: If you could ask your readers 3 questions, what would they be?

MBP: Oh, interesting question! I’d start with:

1. What series got you into mysteries?

2. Do you share your favorite books with friends?

3. What are your current top 5 books?

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

MPB: You can find me at:

My Website: http://melissabourbon.com

My Facebook Book Club Group, the Book Warriors: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookWarriors

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaBourbonWinnieArcherBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissabourbonbooks/

My YouTube Channel (author chats and more!): https://youtube.com/channel/UCmyAuh_IzHHYkzWzuZg9OVA

And you can check out WriterSpark Academy at:

http://writersparkacademy.com

And the online courses at:

https://writersparkwritingacademy.teachable.com/

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 today to be hosting author

Kathy Manos Penn

and helping her celebrate the release of her newest book

PETS,PENS & MURDER

Book 7 in the Dickens & Christie Mysteries 

A conference of crime-loving readers. A shocking discovery of a corpse. Can a sleuth and her charming four-legged sidekicks uncover the fatal twist?

Torquay, Southwest England. Leta Parker can’t wait to reconnect with her boyfriend. After a year of long-distance, she couldn’t be happier to join him at a literary crime festival. But on the event’s second night, she gets embroiled in a real-life murder mystery when a dead body is found…

With a cloud of accusation hovering over Leta’s best friend, not even she and her talking furry companions can untangle the confusing web of complex clues. Add a flirty and fiery redhead all over her boyfriend, and this super-smart snoop’s nerves are bubbling to a boiling point.

Can Leta and the Little Old Ladies’ Detective Agency expose the killer before another deadly page is turned?

Pets, Pens & Murder is the thrilling seventh book in the Dickens & Christie cozy mystery series. If you like classic amateur detective stories, delightfully well-educated characters, and a good dose of a stiff British upper lip, then you’ll love Kathy Manos Penn’s seaside whodunnit.

Getting to Know Kathy

LKBR:  Thank you for being here today, Kathy! Please tell us a bit about you, and your book/series.

KMP: Whenever I speak about my cozy mysteries, my opening line is “Never in my wildest dreams did I picture myself writing books!” Sure, I briefly taught high school English, and in my banking career, I was the go-to person for writing. Heck, I even wrote newspaper columns as an entertaining side job—but writing novels?  Nope.

The columnist job was a revelation to me. Suddenly, my day wasn’t complete if I wasn’t writing a column or a blog. Did I ever see that newfound passion morphing into becoming an author? No. But that’s what happened when I retired.

The characters in my Dickens & Christie series live in the fictional Cotswolds village of Astonbury, and most are in their 50s and older. They have a lot in common with me, my gal pals (as I call them), and my pets. That’s why books, food, wine, and walks are always included and why the cat and dog play such big roles.

My husband is quick to point out, however, that he is very much alive and well here in Atlanta. He hasn’t quite forgiven me for making my main character a widow.

As for Leta, she’s working through her grief as an expat in the Cotswolds. As she says in Book III, she’s making new friends and making her way. Of course, stumbling across dead bodies wasn’t part of the plan.

LKBR: Any hints or spoilers you can give us about your next book?

KMP: No spoilers allowed, but I can tell you that Pets, Pens & Murder may be my most complex mystery so far—at least that’s how it felt while I was writing it. Leta, her sleuthing partners (both two- and four-legged), and her beau are attending a literary festival in Torquay—the birthplace of Agatha Christie. The conference features the works of Golden Age authors, so my readers who comment that they love the book tie-ins regularly included in the series should get a big kick out of this one.

I’m quite tickled that real-life mystery author Kate Ellis graciously allowed me to put words in her mouth as a speaker at the conference.

LKBR: Have you ever written a scene that you loved but had to remove it for the sake of the story?

KMP: Yes. I started Pets, Pens & Murder with Leta and Wendy taking a side trip to Glastonbury on their way to Torquay for the Poison Pens Literary Festival. They’re both huge King Arthur fans, and it was fun describing what they enjoyed on that visit. Unfortunately, the scene didn’t move the story along, and it had to go.

 

LKBR: Have you ever gotten reader’s block? Just find it hard to get into reading because you are so into your writing?

KMP: Oh my gosh, yes. And, as someone who reads two-three books a week, it’s painful. I’m unable to focus as my mind drifts to my writing. Sometimes, grabbing a book by a favorite author will help, but not always. That’s when I turn to something like “Agatha Christie: First Lady of Crime.” I can manage to digest a short essay or two, but not much else.

 

LKBR: Are there any magazines/publications that as a writer you subscribe to? Are these or others something readers could also benefit from?

KMP: Would it surprise you to hear that the answer is no? I follow a few bloggers but that’s about it.  I’m old school, and my bookcase is packed with books about character development, plotting, dialogue, and punctuation. I jot notes and use sticky notes as reference points.

 

LKBR: Is there anything you would give up if you thought it would make you an even better writer?

KMP: Ha! Maybe cooking dinner? Maybe reading the Wall Street Journal and playing Words with Friends for an hour or two each morning? That would free up more time to devote to improving my craft. On a serious note, though, I like to think that those pastimes somehow inform my writing, so I can’t think of anything. (And now you know why Leta cooks, reads the WSJ, and plays WWF.)

LKBR: Any new projects in the works?

KMP: Candy Canes, Canines & Crime comes out November 3, and there will be at least two more books in this series, likely in 2023. I’ve been told I need to write another series, but whenever I think about a new character and series, I spend untold hours jotting notes and end up coming back to my old friends in the village of Astonbury.

LKBR: If you could ask your readers 3 questions, what would they be?

KMP: 1. What is the one thing you enjoy most about this series?

            2. If I were to write another series, would you prefer

                a. A spin-off or

               b. A brand-new series with new characters and a new location?

           3. How important would it be for it to

                a. Include talking pets?

                b. Be set in England?

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

KMP: A visit to my website will provide all kinds of information about me, my pets, my travels, and my books https://kathymanospenn.com/

 I think the map of the village is a special touch.  They may also enjoy following me on BookBub where I regularly review books I enjoy. https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathy-manos-penn

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

KMP: Thank you, Lisa.  It’s always fun to talk books and to take a bit of a breather.

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.