Book Review - Death of an Irish Diva

I really enjoyed Death of an Irish Dive by Mollie Cox Bryan!




Here's my review:

Mollie Cox Bryan is a fantastic writer and story teller and once again she proves that with this amazing read. I really enjoyed this book and like that she pulls you in from the start. She keeps you reading till the end with her newest book in the Cumberland Creek Series. The characters are well written and strong. You feel like you are part of Annie's day as you follow her in clearing the name of her friend from murder suspect. This is the third book in the series and I always love going back for a visit to Cumberland Creek.

Thank you Mollie for a great series! I look forward to the next one. 

First in a New Series- Krista Davis

Happy Thursday! Today's First is a good one. The Diva Runs out of Thyme by Krista Davis!! This was such a great read and there is still time to start this series before her new one comes out. Krista always leaves us with fantastic reading and this one proves that!

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2008

Gracious living can be murder. First in an all-new mystery series? includes delicious recipes and great tips on entertaining!

Few can compete with Natasha Smith when it comes to entertaining, but her childhood rival, Sophie Winston, certainly tries. Natasha may have stolen the spotlight?and Sophie?s husband?but Sophie is determined to rob her of the prize for the Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown. She just needs the right ingredient.

But Sophie?s search for the perfect turkey takes a basting when she stumbles across a corpse. And when the police find her name and photo inside the victim?s car, Sophie will have to set her trussing aside to solve the murder?or she?ll be serving up prison grub.

you can get it here if you haven't already:

http://www.amazon.com/Diva-Runs-Thyme-Domestic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B001ANUP2E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392907215&sr=1-1&keywords=the+diva+runs+out+of+thyme

Author Spotlight Wednesday-Elaine Viets

It's Wednesday and that means we are spotlighting another Fabulous author. Elaine Viets!   Thank you Elaine for giving us hours of great reading.



about Elaine:

I write my novels with the help of Harry, a striped cat who sleeps by my computer and lashes the keyboard with his tail. He whips me into a writing frenzy.
Harry collaborates on two series, the Dead-end Job mysteries and the Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper series. 
He's doing a good job -- I just signed a contract with NAL/Signet for two more books in each series.

She writes:
Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper Series
Dead-End Job series 
          

Aren't they great! Have you read them? Do you have a favorite one?

Book Release - Blackberry Pie Murder

Happy Book Release to Joanne Fluke! Her newest book in the Hannah Swensen Series is out today.  I have been following this series and enjoyed it.

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 2014

It's been a sleepy summer for the folks of Lake Eden, Minnesota. In fact, it's been a whole four months since anyone in the Swensen family has come across a dead body—a detail that just made the front page of the local paper. And that means Hannah Swensen can finally focus on her bakery. . .or can she?

Life is never really quiet for Hannah. After all, her mother's wedding is a little over a month away and guess who Delores put in charge of the planning? Yet just when Hannah believes her biggest challenge will be whether to use buttercream or fondant for the wedding cake, she accidentally hits a stranger with her cookie truck while driving down a winding country road in a raging thunderstorm. Hannah is wracked with guilt, and things get even worse when she's arrested. . .for murder! But an autopsy soon reveals the mystery man, his shirt covered in stains from blackberry pie, would have died even if Hannah hadn't hit him. Now, to clear her name, Hannah will have to follow a trail of pie crumbs to track down the identity of the deceased, find a baker who knows more about murder than how to roll out a perfect pie crust—and get herself to the church on time. . .

Indulge In Joanne Fluke's Criminally Delicious Hannah Swensen Mysteries!

You can get the book here:

http://www.amazon.com/Blackberry-Murder-Hannah-Swensen-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00F8J6PU2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392906166&sr=1-1&keywords=blackberry+pie+murder

Sassy Questions- Kylie Logan

I am so excited to have Kylie Logan with us today! For those who don't know Kylie she is the Sensational author of :

 

So today we are talking Sassy, finding out more about Kylie so here we go. Thank you for being here with us Kylie. 

What is your absolute guilty pleasure television show?

Sherlock!  So deliciously clever!

What is your idea of a relaxing night at home? (not book or writing related.)

A fire in the fireplace and my knitting.  The ultimate in relaxation.  Throw in a glass of wine and it's perfect!

When you have a girls night out what do you all do?

Hmmm...don't do this nearly as much as we used to and not nearly as much as we should.  But when we do, it's usually dinner and talking.  Lots and lots of talking.

What and where is your dream vacation? Why?

I would love to travel around the islands to the north and west of England.  I have no idea why.  I've always been drawn to the Orkneys.  Yes, I know it's chilly up there!  I think part of the appeal is the knitting in these regions (think Fair Isle sweaters), but part of it is simply atmosphere--stone cairns, evening light, and I'm a sucker for islands, anyway.  Saw a PBS show recently that explored the islands and I was transfixed.

What is one thing more you want us to know that not many people know about you?

Tough question.  I dunno . . . I love to explore cemeteries, the older the better.  I volunteer down at our local county archives and help people find things like old birth and marriage certificates.  This fits in nicely with my interest in family history.  The most interesting thing I've found?  My husband's grandfather was a genuine felon--he even spent time in federal prison.  This was something no one knew before I unearthed the info.  I enjoy weaving and I'm trying to do more of it, but alas, there are only so many hours in the day!

So everyone you know more about Kylie, leave a comment for her here!

Shelley's Weekly Wrap Up #7

It is Sunday already and here is what happened this week.

February 17th- Sassy Questions with Peg Cochran 

February 18th- Book Release Day- Concealed in Death -J.D.Robb

February 19th- Author Spotlight- Heather Webber

February 20th- First in a New Series- Homicide in Hard Cover by Kate Carlisle

February 21st- Blog Tour- Jill Shalvis

February 22nd- Book Trivia- Connie Archer

Books I've read this week:

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann

Summer in February by Jonathan Smith

Here is what is coming up this week:

February 24th  Sassy Questions with Kylie Logan

February 25th- Book Release Day- Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

February 26th- Author Spotlight- Elaine Viets

February  27th-  First in a New Series- The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis

February 28th- Book Review

March 1st- Book Trivia- Leann Sweeney

Hope to see you here!

Saturday Book Trivia- Connie Archer

Happy Saturday ! It's book trivia time and today our host is Connie Archer. I am really enjoying the trivia days and How fun it is to have the authors put their twist on it.

So here goes, In today's trivia you have to tell me who the person is and what book they are in of Connie's: Have fun and Good Luck. Connie will be giving away a copy of her book.

Here we go:

My name is Patsy and I was a murder victim.

Who spent his life in the Navy and tells time by the bells?

Who is a chef who was sent to prison?

Who was killed and buried for more than two hundred years?

I’m planning to build a car wash in a small town in Vermont.

I ran an auto shop in Vermont before I was murdered.

The winner will be chosen at the end of the day!

Blog Tour- Jill Shalvis

Happy Friday to you, it is a pleasure to be part of  New York Times Best Selling Author Jill Shalvis's Blog tour. 

my review:

 I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis for awhile now and love all of her books but Once in a Lifetime is my favorite. It is always fun to visit friends in Lucky Harbor. Jill brings the story to life and pulls you in to a beautiful story. Ben and Aubrey will warm your hearts as you follow love story. They were not perceived as a couple that would make it but with the love they have towards each other they prove them to be wrong. I have enjoyed this book and the story of hope and love! 

Jill Shalvis has written such a beautiful series that will touch your heart and life. 

Excerpt: 

A few snowflakes floated lazily out of the low, dense clouds.  One block over, the Pacific Ocean carved into the harbor, which was lined by three-story high, rugged bluffs teeming with the untouched forestland that was the Olympic Mountains. Around him, the oak-lined streets were strung with white lights, shining brightly through the morning gloom.  Peaceful.  Still.

A month ago, he’d been in South America, elbows deep in a project rebuilding a water system for the war-torn land.  Before that, he’d been in Haiti.  And before that, Africa.  And before that … Indonesia?  Hell, it might have been another planet for all he remembered.  It was all rolling together.

He went to places after disaster hit, whether man or nature made, and he saw people at their very worst moments.  Sometimes he changed lives, sometimes he improved them, but at some point over the past five years, he’d become numb to it.  So much so that when he’d gone to check out a new jobsite at the wrong place, only to have the right place blown to bits by a suicide bomber just before he got there, he’d finally realized something.

He didn’t always have to be the guy on the front line.  He could design and plan water systems for devastated countries from anywhere.  Hell, he could become a consultant instead.  Five years of wading knee deep in crap, both figuratively and literally, was enough for anyone.  He didn’t want to be in the right hellhole next time.

So he’d come home, with no idea what was next.

 

ONCE IN A LIFETIME by Jill Shalvis (February 18, 2014; Grand Central Publishing Mass Market; $6.00)

SOMETIMES WRONG IS OH-SO-RIGHT
After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniel tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East. Now he's back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T. Family and friends insist she's not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.

Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends. But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben - even though he has absolutely no idea what she's done . . .

Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor?

About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Social Media Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

IndieBound

iTunes

Enter here for a chance to win:

<a id="rc-26635c31" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/26635c31/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

First in a new series- Homicide in Hardcover

It's Thursday and a First in a New Series, this weeks first is Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle.

Overview

murder is always a bestseller...

first in the new bibliophile mystery series!

The streets of San Francisco would be lined with hardcovers if rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright had her way. And her mentor wouldn?t be lying in a pool of his own blood on the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration.

With his final breath he leaves Brooklyn a cryptic message, and gives her a priceless?and supposedly cursed?copy of Goethe?s Faust for safekeeping.

Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder and theft, thanks to the humorless?but attractive?British security officer who finds her kneeling over the body. Now she has to read the clues left behind by her mentor if she is going to restore justice?

Doesn't that sound great! Have you read this book? What did you love about it?

Author Spotlight- Heather Webber

Happy Wednesday! I'm so pleased to be spotlighting Heather Webber today!! Heather is the author of The Lucy Valentine Series, the Nina Quinn Series,

Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake) is the author of more than 
a dozen mystery novels and has been twice nominated for an Agatha Award. She's a total homebody who loves to be close to her family, read, watch reality TV (especially cooking competition shows), drink too much coffee, crochet, bake (mostly cookies), and occasionally leave the house to travel to the beautiful mountains in the northeast. Heather grew up in a suburb of Boston, but currently she lives in the Cincinnati area with her family and is hard at work on her next book. www.heatherwebber.com | www.heatherblakebooks.com



          Have you read her books? Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment for Heather here.

Book Release Day- Concealed in Death by J.D. Robb

Happy Release Day to J.D.Robb!!! Her newest In Death book is out today. Concealed in Death has hit the shelves of bookstore and e-readers. Have you followed this series? Don't you just love it!

 

The incomparable J. D. Robb presents the latest moving and suspenseful novel in the #1 New York Times–bestselling Eve Dallas series.

In a decrepit, long-empty New York building, Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband begins the demolition process by swinging a sledgehammer into a wall. When the dust clears, there are two skeletons wrapped in plastic behind it. He summons his wife immediately—and by the time she’s done with the crime scene, there are twelve murders to be solved.

The place once housed a makeshift shelter for troubled teenagers, back in the mid-2040s, and Eve tracks down the people who ran it. Between their recollections and the work of the force’s new forensic anthropologist, Eve begins to put names and faces to the remains. They are all young girls. A tattooed tough girl who dealt in illegal drugs. The runaway daughter of a pair of well-to-do doctors. They all had their stories. And they all lost their chance for a better life.

Then Eve discovers a connection between the victims and someone she knows. And she grows even more determined to reveal the secrets of the place that was called The Sanctuary—and the evil concealed in one human heart.

I love this series and can't wait to read this one! If you have read this series what do you like about it? 

here is the link if you want to pick it up today

http://www.amazon.com/Concealed-Death-J-D-Robb-ebook/dp/B00DGZKJ9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392496462&sr=8-1&keywords=concealed+in+death

Sassy Questions with Peg Cochran

Happy Monday! Hope it is going well with you. Today we are getting to know Peg Cochran! So glad to have you with us today.

What is the one article of clothing you consider your go to comfy clothes?

Probably the first thing I reach for when I want to be really comfy is a pair of "sweat pants" that my daughter gave me for Christmas.  They're drawstring waist but don't have the elastic in the cuffs -- they're wide legged at the bottom.  So cozy!  I also have two sweatshirt-like tops with a zipper neck that are nearly threadbare they've been worn so much.  That's my "around the house" outfit.

What is your absolute favorite comfort food?

This is a tough one!  I"d have to say soup...I have a few favorites like homemade (has to be homemade) pea soup, a chicken and rice soup I make and a variation on the Portuguese soup "caldo verde" that I put turkey sausage, white beans, ditalini pasta, potatoes and spinach in.  It's almost more stew than soup!

Do you enjoy a glass of wine and if so what is your favorite?

Yes, and sometimes I enjoy the whole bottle. <g>  I was always a red wine drinker, and still like a nice Merlot or Shiraz with a meal, but lately I've switched to Chardonnay with plenty of ice and sometimes a splash of seltzer.  It makes a nice, light "cocktail."

What is your favorite place to escape to for time alone?

The library!  Ours is new and super comfortable with a gas fireplace, upholstered rocking chairs and a huge selection of magazines.  Heaven!

Do you have a favorite place that you and your girl friends go to have a night out?

It has been years since I had a night out with the girls.  Must remedy that soon!  I used to enjoy girls' weekend when I lived in NJ.  My girlfriend's parents had a house on Long Beach Island and three of us would get together for a long weekend to enjoy the beach, read books, talk, talk some more, eat a lot and oh, drink pineapple vodka martinis!  And I won't tell you about the time we were about to go out after a couple of those martinis, and my girlfriend had her dress on inside out...

Thank you so much for letting us get to know you more. I enjoy all of your books and look forward to many more.

Peg Cochran

Gourmet De-Lite Mysteries - Iced to Death 3/14

The Lucille Mystery Series - Confession Is Murder OUT NOW!

The Cranberry Cove Series - coming soon!

Oh, Brother (YA)

Truth or Dare (YA)

As Meg London:

Sweet Nothings Lingerie Series - Fatal Slip 2/14

Shelley's Weekly Wrap Up #6

February 10th- Guest Post with Avery Aames

February 11th- Release Day- Pirate Vishnu by Gigi Pandian

February 12th- Author Spotlight- Lorraine Bartlett

February 13th- First in a New Series- Murder is Binding

February 14th- Book Review-My Bloody Valentine Short Story Collection

February 15th- Book Trivia- Paige Shelton

Books I've read this week:

Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber

My Bloody Valentine Short Story Collection

Thrown for a Curve by Sugar Jamison

Coming up Next Week:

February 17th- Sassy Questions with Peg Cochran 

February 18th- Book Release Day- Concealed in Death -J.D.Robb

February 19th- Author Spotlight- Heather Webber

February 20th- First in a New Series- Homicide in Hard Cover by Kate Carlisle

February 21st- Blog Tour- Jill Shalvis

February 22nd- Book Trivia- Connie Archer

Hope you will join me there!!! 

Saturday Book Trivia- Paige Shelton

Happy Saturday! We are having another fun trivia with Paige Shelton. She is giving you 5 clues about one of her books and one lucky winner will receive a copy of that book. Good Luck !! Putting on your thinking caps.

So here we go...


1. There’s food. 


2. There’s a librarian whose name begins with an “S.”


3. The protagonist’s name begins with a “B.” 


4. “Special Occasion” comes to mind.


5. Boo


Oh yes and remember you must leave an email to win!!!

Book Review- My Bloody Valentine

Just in time for Valentine's Day, my review of My Bloody Valentine. It is a short story collection of love and mystery.




my review:

Wow! I started reading each of these books and couldn't put it down. It was intense and each book pulled me in wanting more. From the first story till the last one, I wanted to rescue the ones being hurt and hurt the ones who needed it! Each book held me captive from the start. Each main character was strong and likable and the story lines were so well written.

 I enjoyed meeting the authors of these books and was glad to be part of reading them for review.
Meet the Authors of this Collection:

Tiffinie Helmer 
Alex Bledsoe 
V.R. Barkowski 
Erica Hayes
Lizbeth Lipperman 
Charlie Holmberg 
Coreene Callahan 
S.G. Redling 

I got this short story collection as a gift from Liz Lipperman for my honest review and I am giving it a 5 star review. 

First in a New Series-Murder is Binding

It's Thursday and that means First in a New Series and today's first is.. Murder is Binding  by Lorna Barrett!!

   Have you read this book? Did you know it is a series now. I have read this book and think it is a great start.
        
This book was released April 1,2008

Overview

The streets of Stoneham, New Hampsire are lined with bookstores...and paved with murder.

When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries-and hunt down someone who isn't killing by the book.

A Big Shout out goes to Lorna Barrett for bringing this book to life!! It is such a great read!

If you haven't read it you can get it at this link. It's not to late to start the series!

http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Binding-Lorna-Barrett-ebook/dp/B0013A1IV6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391997525&sr=8-1&keywords=murder+is+binding

                                                   

Author Spotlight - Lorraine Bartlett

Happy Wednesday Everyone, Hope you are having a wonderful day! Our Spotlighted Author is Lorraine Bartlett!!!


The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett's pen name Lorna Barrett on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it's her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com


Lorraine is the Author of The Victorian Square Series, and a ebook series called Tales of Telania and many more great reads! 

I have had hours of fantastic reading, How about you? Do you have a favorite book?

Blog Tour - Wishing on Buttercups

Happy Tuesday to you!!  Miralee Ferrall is here with us today! Her book Wishing on Buttercups is out ! It was released on Feb 1,2014.




My review:

I enjoyed reading this book and was captivating from the beginning. This is a story about love and compassion. It is a book that makes you see that the outward appearances are not what matters , it is the inside love, God's love that matters most. This is such a great book for anyone dealing with self esteem and the lack of feeling loved. I am recommending this to my bible study as it shows that God's love will bring you through.

Wishing on Buttercups, historical romance

Can Love Survive When Secrets Collide?

She’d kept her secrets safely hidden—those from her past, and those in the present. Some things, Beth Roberts knows, a lady simply doesn’t share, even in the 1880’s West. The townspeople would never understand. No one ever has.

Jeffery Tucker, a handsome young writer, has kept his own secrets. He doesn’t have a right to pry into Beth’s affairs but finds himself strangely drawn to her and intrigued by the whiff of mystery surrounding her.

Beth knows that one day someone will unravel the threads of her past. And when two men from her past arrive, the truth might just hurt . . . Beth’s future and her heart.

As shadowy memories surface, Beth sketches the scenes she sees and is shocked by what—and who—her illustrations reveal. Dare she risk her heart again? 

  

Miralee Ferrell is a speaker, accredited counselor, and former ACFW chapter president who has published multiple contemporary and historical romance novels since starting to write in 2005. She enjoys horseback riding, gardening, and family gatherings around their eleven-acre property in Washington State’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Miralee has had eight books release, both in women’s contemporary fiction and historical fiction, with another 5 under contract. She’s an award-winning author of Western fiction, and her newest novel, Wishing on Buttercups released February 1, and is the second in a series set in Baker City, Oregon, 1880s.

Interact with Miralee:

Website:  www.miraleeferrell.com

Facebook Author page:  www.facebook.com/miraleeferrell

Twitter: www.twitter.com/miraleeferrell

One copy of this book will be given away to one lucky person. Leave a comment and a question  for Miralee to be entered. 

Miralee would love to answer questions concerning her books, writing, publishing career, pets, or her hobbies. Readers can feel free to only leave a comment,  but if they would like to be entered in the contest, we ask that they come up with a question. 

Follow Miralee on the tour:

February 10th - A Book Lover's Retreat

February 11th - Shelley's Book Case

February 12th - For the Love of Literature

February 13th -  The Book Bag

February 15th -  HomeSchooling4boyz

February 17th - Buzzing about Books

February 18th - Stuck on Books

February 19th - The power of words..

February 20th - My Recent Favorite Books

February 22nd - Melina's Book Blog

February 24th - The Front Porch

February 26th - My Devotional Thoughts

February 28th - Diana's Tea Time Reviews

February 28th - Create with Joy