Review: Color Me Dead by: Theresa Trent

Title: Color Me Dead
Author: Theresa Trent
Publisher: self published
Series: Henry Park #1
Pages: 241
Format: e-book
Source: GEBT
Download free at Amazon Link
Description:

Artist Gabby Wolfe has the ability to see not only the beauty of the living, but the despair of the dead. When she returns to her childhood home in Henry Park Colorado, she is forced to bring along her younger brother Mitch. He is on a “break” from college where he was majoring in wine, women and song. If that isn’t enough they also have Mitch’s rambunctious beagle Luigi along who prefers to spend his days wallowing in junk food. When Gabby draws the death of a young woman before it happens, she knows she must tell someone and risk a new job and her professional credibility. Will she reveal her secret in time to save the woman in the water or will it be too late?

My Thoughts:

This book starts out with Gabby Wolfe and her brother Mitch heading to Henry Park where they use to live so Gabby can work with an author on illustrating his books.  Mitch is there to get his head screwed on straight after being in college for 6 years and basically majoring in women, music and beer pong.  When they meet Gabby's new boss he invites them to a party where Mitch meets Amelia who has recently gotten over the murder of her husband Billy.

Mitch and Amelia hit it off but when Amelia goes missing and Gabby starts drawing pictures of a murder victim she tries to make sense of it but when it really happens no one except Gigi believes her.  Gigi sees the same things the problem there is Gigi has cerebral palsy and her secret ability is kept quiet to keep Gigi living a normal life as much as one can in a wheelchair.

When Amelia winds up dead and the cops are tuning into Mitch it's up to Gabby to rescue her brother even if everyone thinks she's crazy.  Was Amelia killed for something she knew?  Or someone who was a little too interested in her?  There are a few possibilities but will Gabby figure it out in time or find herself being drawn by Gigi in her own death sketch?

This book took a bit to get going but once it took off it really took off I loved watching the relationship between Gabby and Gigi and Gabby and Mitch standing up against their mother who still saw them as lost teenagers who needed to be guided instead of adults who need to decide what they want to do in life.  I think just about anyone would love this new series whether you are artistic or not it draws you in and has you wanting to learn more about the people of Henry Park and see where the residents go from here!

Author Bio:

Teresa Trent lives in Houston, Texas and is an award-winning mystery writer.  She writes the Pecan

Bayou Mystery Series, is a regular contributor to the Happy Homicides Anthologies. Teresa is happy to add her Henry Park Mystery Series to her publishing credits with Color Me Dead, the first book in the series. Teresa has also won awards for her work in short stories where she loves to dabble in tales that are closer to the Twilight Zone than small town cozies. When Teresa isn’t writing, she is a full-time caregiver for her son and teaches preschoolers music part-time. Her favorite things include spending time with family and friends, waiting for brownies to come out of the oven, and of course, a good mystery.

Author Links

FACEBOOK:   https://www.facebook.com/teresatrentmysterywriter

TWITTER:   https://twitter.com/ttrent_cozymys

BLOG:   https://teresatrent.wordpress.com/

WEBSITE:   http://teresatrent.com

Purchase Link – Pre-Order

Amazon 

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Review: The Seven-Course Christmas Killer by: Rosie Genova

Title: The Seven-Course Christmas Killer: A Holiday Novella from the Italian Kitchen
Author: Rosie Genova
Publisher: Beyond The Page
Series: An Italian Kitchen Mystery #3.5
Pages: 77
Format: Kindle e-book
Source: GEBT

Description:

On Christmas Eve, someone might be sleeping with the fishes . . . 

It’s December at the Casa Lido, which means only one thing: the Rienzi family’s traditional Christmas Eve celebration, including wine, song, and seven Italian seafood courses. As Victoria and Tim prep scungilli and calamari, Nonna directs the cooking until all is in readiness for the big night. 

But the holiday cheer is interrupted by the attempted murder of Mayor Anne McCrae, who asks Vic to investigate. Trouble is, there are as many suspects as there are fishes on the Christmas Eve menu . . . 

My Thoughts:

This book follows the Rienzi family as they celebrate Christmas with a traditional seven course of seafood.  While Vic is helping with the family dinner at their restaurant she gets stopped by the Mayor Anne McCrae whose determined to find out whose trying to kill her.  Unfortunatly there are no shortage of suspects as the mayor has butted heads with so many people at the dinner between the young man who works for her that she treats badly to various figures she has clashed with.  

As Vic has narrowed the list she finds it hard to figure out who the bad guy is!

I enjoyed this story and the glimpse into this family.  Definitely a great little novella for anyone who loves Christmas, mysteries and tradition!

I can't wait to see what is next for the Rienzi family.  They are a family you look forward to checking in on from time to time to see what is next for them!

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Review: Banana Cream Pie Murder by: Joanne Fluke

Title: Banana Cream Pie Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Publisher: Kensington
Series: Hannah Swensen #21
Pages: 304
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley

Description:

A romantic seven-day cruise is the perfect start to bakery owner Hannah Swensen’s marriage. However, with a murder mystery heating up in Lake Eden, Minnesota, it seems the newlywed’s homecoming won’t be as sweet as she anticipated . . . 

After an extravagant honeymoon, Hannah’s eager to settle down in Lake Eden and turn domestic daydreams into reality. But when her mother’s neighbor is discovered murdered in the condo downstairs, reality becomes a nightmarish investigation. Victoria Bascomb, once a renowned stage actress, was active in the theater community during her brief appearance in town . . . and made throngs of enemies along the way. Did a random intruder murder the woman as police claim, or was a deadlier scheme at play? As Hannah peels through countless suspects and some new troubles of her own, solving this crime—and living to tell about it—might prove trickier than mixing up the ultimate banana cream pie . . . 

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Hannah Swensen she has just returned from her honeymoon cruise with Ross and is settling back into normal.  While Hannah was gone her mother stumbled across the dead body of Tori Bascomb the mayer's sister.  Who killed Tori and why?  Delores Swensen is adamant that something sinister happened and begs her daughter Hannah to investigate.  As Hannah investigates she learns that Tori had problems with her brother Richard Bascomb along with a mystery money manager.  Unlike the money manager Richard has an ailibi for the night in question he was with his wife.  As for the money manager that will take some creativity on Hannah's part to find out who the manager was.  Will Hannah solve the crime or fall to a similar fate as Tori?

I loved these books in the beginning but now find myself wondering if Hannah has run her course?  In this book Hannah has alot of trouble finding her grove with her husband.  At parts it seems like everyone is too agreeable to whatever Hannah wants and I know the real world doesn't work that way at all.  So I have to wonder if this world Hannah is in has gotten soft?  I hope the author improves on Hannah or lays her to rest just seems Hannah has started to stale out in many areas.

I enjoyed this book only wished it had more people who seemed to bring more conflict with the main character atleast make her fight for what she believes in more, not controlling per se but just not so easy to agree with what Hannah wanted to do.  If you like Stephanie Plum books or other books along that line you will enjoy this one!

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Review: A Fatal Twist by: Tracy Weber

Title: A Fatal Twist
Author: Tracy Weber
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Series: A Downward Dog Mystery #4
Pages: 312
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley & GEBT
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description:

Yoga instructor Kate Davidson’s life takes a chaotic turn once she agrees to not only be the doula for her pregnant best friend, but also play foster mother to two puppies. The chaos only gets worse when Kate finds the dead body of a philandering fertility doctor and Rachel, one of her yoga students, fleeing the scene. 

Kate is convinced her student is innocent, and she sets out to find the real killer before her testimony condemns Rachel to a life behind bars. But her hands are full with caring for three dogs, teaching yoga classes, and gaining an unexpected crime-solving partner. If she’s not careful, Kate’s next yoga pose may be a fatal one.

My Thoughts:

This book follows Kate Davidson who has been helping out as Doula for her best friend Rene whose having twins.  Kate also ends up with her boyfriend Michael acquiring two puppies and helping them figure out what to do as they are malnutritioned and needing shots.  During Doula duty Kate witnesses a scene between Dr. Richard Jones also called Dr. Dick and a women who Kate knows isn't Dr. Dick's wife.  Not long after that Dr. Dick winds up dead and all clues lead to his wife Rachel.  Kate knows she didn't kill Dr. Dick but is she covering for someone who did?  Dr. Dick has many alteractions with people while he was alive.  He was subject to a lawsuit by a former lover of his, add that to not getting along with his stepdaughter and the questions really rise who killed the Dr. and why?

I loved this book going on the adventure with Kate, Michael and everyone else as Kate tries to figure out who killed the Dr. just so she can clear her friend Rachel.  Will Kate figure it out in time and who mistreated the puppies Michael brought home?  As we travel through the story we learn more about lengths Kate will go through to help her friends and learn what she can about Dr. Dick.  Definitely a great series for those who love yoga, babies, and puppies.  I found myself unable to put this book down and don't think you will either!


Author Bio:

Tracy Weber is the author of the award-winning Downward Dog Mysteries series featuring yoga teacher Kate Davidson and her feisty German shepherd, Bella. Tracy loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible. Her first book, Murder Strikes a Pose won the Maxwell Award for Fiction and is a 2015 Agatha award nominee for Best First Novel.

Tracy and her husband live in Seattle with their challenging yet amazing German shepherd Tasha. When she’s not writing, Tracy spends her time teaching yoga, walking Tasha, and sipping Blackthorn cider at her favorite ale house.

http://tracyweberauthor.com/

http://www.wholelifeyoga.com/blog/

https://www.facebook.com/tracywe

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7148442.Tracy_Weber

https://twitter.com/TracyWeberTypes

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Interview with Tonya Kappes author of A Ghostly Reunion

Recently I had a chance to sit down with the wonderful author Tonya Kappes as she has written another Emma Raines mystery.  Tonya is definitely one busy gal but she had time to answer some questions.  Thank you Tonya for stopping by.

What genre do you write?

 I write in the cozy mystery genre with some humor and southern charm.

How did you come to write (said) genre? 

I love reading mystery. I love putting clues together and tying them together. It feels natural to me and I love that. I’m beyond lucky I can write something I love.

Who is your favorite character to write about? 

I love Emma Lee Raines, in the series. She’s a strong woman that hold her family, friends, and community dear to her.

Who inspires your books?

Everyday life inspires me. 

What do you do when you’re not writing? 

I spend a lot of time baking, cooking and with  my family. 

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take? 

The Bible, my husband, ereader!

Author Bio:

About the Author
For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been self-publishing her numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plotlines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans. Be sure to check out Tonya’s website for upcoming events and news and to sign up for her newsletter! Tonyakappes.com

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Review: Telling Tails by: Sophie Ryan

Title: Telling Tails
Author: Sophie Ryan
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Series: Second Chance Cat Mystery #4
Pages: 304
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley & GEBT

Description:

When Sarah Grayson opened a secondhand shop in the quaint town of North Harbor, Maine, she was expecting peace and quiet. Then she was adopted by a rescue cat named Elvis and a kooky trio of senior sleuths known as Charlotte’s Angels. Now she has nine lives worth of excitement…

Sarah’s friend and employee Rose is delivering a customer’s purchase when the quick errand becomes a deadly escapade. Rose arrives just in time to see the customer murdered by his wife, but before she can call the police, she is knocked out cold. When she wakes up, no one believes her, especially after the woman claims her husband is very much alive and has left her for someone else—and has a text message and empty bank account to prove it.

Despite her convincing story, Sarah is sure something is fishy—and it’s not Elvis’s kitty treats. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels are determined to unravel this mysterious yarn, before the feral killer pounces again...

My Thoughts:

This book follows Sarah Grayson who runs a secondhand shop where she sells just about anything.  When Rose an employee and friend of Sarah's is attacked and is adamant she found a dead body people have trouble believing her but Sarah is determined to find out what really happened and why?
What happened to Jeff Cameron did he disappear or did he meet his maker and why?

This book leads all over the place from a local college to who Jeff Cameron the missing person in question.  This book really pulls you in wanting to know what happened to Jeff and what Rose went through when she was attacked?  Did Jeff's wife kill him?  Or is he trying to frame her for his dead to become someone else all over again?  What happened when Jeff was younger that made him change his identity to begin with?

This book pulls you in and doesn't let go it has you going from page 1 to the ending wondering what really happened and if Sarah and the Angels will figure it out in time.  I was really wondering who did it because there were so many possibilities.  Just when you think Jeff won't show up he does and changes the whole dynamic of the situation.  I loved it and can't wait to see what is next in this series!

Author Bio:

Sofie Ryan/Sofie Kelly is the pseudonym of author and mixed-media artist, Darlene Ryan.

Sofie/Darlene lives on the east coast with her husband and daughter. In her spare time she practices Wu style tai chi and likes to prowl around thrift stores. And she admits to having a small crush on Matt Lauer.

Webpage

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Review: The Temple of Indra's Jewels by: Rachel Stapleton

Title: The Temple of Indra's Jewels
Author: Rachel Stapleton
Publisher: iUniverse
Series: Time-Traveling Bibliophile Book #1
Pages: 274
Format: Kindle e-book
Source: GEBT

Description:

This Librarian is Just Killing Time…Travel. Sophia Marcil loves her grandmother’s twisted tales almost as much as the sapphire ring passed down to her. Wearing it, however, could be her downfall. 

After slipping the jewel onto her finger she is pushed from a cliff—landing splat in the middle of 19th Century Monaco, where a killer plot to seize the throne could consume her entire future—past and present. Sophia believes she’s being forced into an eccentric millionaire’s dinner theatre but a hidden diary, a secret passage and a whispered conversation reveal to her that the role of a princess is not all fun and games. With the help of a man from outside the palace walls, 

Sophia undertakes a spellbinding journey straight out of a Grimm tale. Learning the gem’s secrets and the powerful curse behind it are only the beginning. With time and the constant threat of death hanging over her, she must take a page out of her own history to hunt down someone who isn’t killing by the book. Can she do it before she’s checked out for good?

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Sophia Marcil and Princess Sapphira and a cursed stone set that has been passed in Sophia's family.  When her boyfriend proposes and pops the ring on Sophia's finger she gets thrown into the 19th Century as Princess Sapphira of Monaco.  There nothing is what it seems as there seems to be a lot of political things going on around Sophia.  As she peices things together she gets thrown back and forth between the present and the 19th century.  Will Sophia ever break the curse or is she stuck with it to repeat itself?

This book was so good I bought all three and can't wait to see what is next for Sophia as like any great book it left you wanting to know more.  This book was full of so many great characters Irish Cullen who saves Sophia a few times over to truly bad characters that make you want to run the other way.  Stuck in the middle of it all is Sophia and Cullen and Viktor and Sapphira.  What happens next is anyone's guess!

Next in the series is:

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BOTM January: Interview with Larissa Reinhart

Recently I had a chance to sit down with the great author Larissa Reinhart author of the Cherry Tucker mysteries and the new book 15 minutes!  Thank you so much for joining me today! Thanks so much for the interview! 

What genre do you write?

I write humorous mysteries and romantic comedies. They cross over into cozy mysteries and women’s fiction/chick lit.

Tell us something that readers might not know about you?

I have a sister who is afraid of goats. She was cornered by goats in a petting zoo as a kid and has a phobia now. When I put Tater in the first Cherry Tucker book, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, it was kind of an inside joke. Now I get sent goat memes and videos every day on Facebook and my sweet readers send me goat gifts (so does my mother). I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me.

How did you come to write cozy mysteries? Who are your inspirations?

In middle or high school, I began reading Agatha Christie, Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, and Mary Stewart (not really a cozy writer but a great suspense/thriller writer). I think they were my earliest inspirations. Later, I got hooked on Martha Grimes, Nancy Martin, Charlaine Harris, and the more comedic mystery/romance writers like Janet Evanovich, Meg Cabot, and Jennifer Crusie. Now I’m all about Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen. I tend to binge-read authors.

What is your favorite character to write about?

A character who has troubled ethics (not morality) but who’s trying to do the right thing. I love redemptive characters.

What do you do when your not writing?

Raising two girls and all the things that go with that. On the weekends, we like to get out and about to see and do things. Particularly because we’re living in Japan, but in Georgia we did, too. I don’t have much time to do anything else although between 10 and midnight, I’m binge-watching some Netflix series and reading.

How did you come to write books?

I’ve always written stories, beginning in early grade school—I even won a national award through the Girl Scouts in 4th or 5th grade. I tried working for a newspaper in high school, even had my own column, but I hated journalism. I gave up on writing as a career, although in college I took creative writing for fun. I eventually went into teaching, but continued creating stories in my head until finally, six or seven years ago, I wasn’t working and my children were in school and I attempted writing again. In a year I had a completed manuscript and the beginnings of Portrait of a Dead Guy. It feels like a calling. I have too many story ideas to quit.

If you were stuck on a deserted island what three things would you take with you?

Bear Grylls, a satellite phone, and a boat.

That was a lot of fun! Thanks!

Author Bio:

A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery and Maizie Albright Star Detective series. The first in the Cherry Tucker series, Portrait of a Dead Guy, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, 2012 The Emily finalist, and 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. She loves books, food, and travel in any and all combinations.

Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, live in Nagoya, Japan, but they still call Georgia home. You can see them on HGTV’s House Hunters International “Living for the Weekend in Nagoya” episode. Visit her website, find her chatting on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads, and sign up for her newsletter at http://smarturl.it/larissanewsletter.

If you enjoy her books, please leave a review. She sends you virtual hugs and undying gratitude for your support!

Social Media Links: 

http://larissareinhart.com/

Newsletter signup: http://smarturl.it/larissanewsletter

Official: http://www.facebook.com/RisWrites

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

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

Follow me: https://twitter.com/LarissaReinhart

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

Read with me: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806614.Larissa_Reinhart

Chat with me: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mysteryminions/

Follow my books: http://smarturl.it/LarissaBookbub

15 MINUTES, Maizie Albright Star Detective, releases January 24th.

#10days #findthewoman #getthejob #doNOTfallinlove

“Maizie Albright is the kind of fresh, fun, and feisty ‘star detective’ I love spending time with, a kind of Nancy Drew meets Lucy Ricardo. Move over, Janet Evanovich. Reinhart is my new ‘star mystery writer!’”

— Penny Warner, Author of Death of a Chocolate Cheater and The Code Busters Club

#WannaBeDetective 

When ex-teen star Maizie Albright returns to her Southern hometown of Black Pine, Georgia, she hoped to rid herself of Hollywood tabloid and reality show hell for a new career as a private investigator. Instead, Hollyweird follows her home. Maizie’s costar crushing, but now for her gumshoe boss. Her stage-monster mother still demands screen time. Her latest rival wants her kicked off the set, preferably back to a California prison.

By entangling herself in a missing person's case, she must reprise her most famous role. The job will demand a performance of a lifetime. But this time, the stakes are real and may prove deadly.

Download the first four chapters for free (with no signup) on Bookfunnel here: http://bookhip.com/FDHSBH

Links to 15 MINUTES:

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

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

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

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

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BOTM: January A Composition in Murder by: Larissa Reinhart

Title: A Composition of Murder
Author: Larissa Reinhart
Publisher: Henery Press
Series: A Cherry Tucker Mystery #6
Pages: 293

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Description:

At Halo House, Cherry Tucker finds the tea deadly sweet…

With a new art teaching gig at Halo House—Halo, Georgia’s posh independent living home—and Halo society scrutinizing her family and her love life, Cherry Tucker needs to stay out of trouble. However, her sleuthing skills are sought out by Halo House’s most famous resident: Belvia Brakeman, the ninety-year-old, blind CEO and founder of Meemaw’s Tea. Belvia confides in Cherry that the family tea empire is in jeopardy. The CEO suspects her daughter, the COO, has been murdered and she might be next. Her offer is hard to refuse, but will have Cherry treading on Forks County Sheriff toes, namely her personal Deputy Heartache, Luke Harper.

Amid her town troubles, can Cherry put her reputation, romance, and life on the line for the final request of a sweet tea tycoon? While she juggles senior citizen shenanigans, small-town politics, and corporate family scandals, Cherry finds the sweet tea business cutthroat in more ways than one.

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