Feature: Kathleen Long’s Changing Lanes And A Giveaway

“This book is a real page-turner. The main character is an everyday woman who will resonate with readers. They’ll be drawn in by her vulnerability and will cheer her victories.”

That’s what RT Book Reviews had to say in its early praise about author Kathleen Long’s latest release, CHANGING LANES, when they gave it 4 Stars.

The award-winning author has written a heartwarming and poignant novel in CHANGING LANES. It celebrates the unexpected joys of everyday life and the enduring promise of second changes.

Thanks to Eric and the good folks at Media Connect, I have a print copy of CHANGING LANES to giveaway to one lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for the guidelines.

CHANGING LANES is inspiring, and it's sure to lift your spirits. It tells the story of a woman who's carefully-crafted "perfect" career and relationship fall apart, forcing her to move back home into the childhood bedroom she left behind. 

On the way to reviving her perfection, she begins to fall in love with the life she’s found and begins to let go of the life she’d planned. As she realizes the importance of living in the now and learns to let go of the expectations she had for her future, she must make a choice between staying the course or changing lanes.

    Abby Halladay has the perfect life. Or, rather, she will…as long as everything goes exactly according to plan. Abby never leaves anything to chance—not her job as a syndicated columnist, not her engagement to her fiancé, Fred, and certainly not her impending wedding in Paris (New Jersey, that is).
    Unfortunately for Abby, even the best-laid plans often go awry—like when Fred runs away to Paris (France, that is), her column is canned, and her dream home is diagnosed with termites. Forced to move back in with her parents and drive her dad’s cab, Abby’s perfect life has now officially become the perfect disaster.
    Then a funny thing happens. Slowly but surely, Abby begins letting go of her dreams of perfection. As she does, the messy, imperfect life she thought she never wanted starts to feel exactly like the one she needs.

Here’s what others are saying about CHANGING LANES:

“Long adds another feel-good romance/self-revelation novel to her resume… her appealing story and quirky characters provide a pleasant few hours’ worth of diversion.” – KIRKUS Reviews
  
“A beautiful book with beautiful characters. Ms. Long has a winner. I highly recommend purchasing this book.” – Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathleen Long is one of Amazon’s bestselling romance authors, penning fourteen novels of contemporary romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction. She is a RITA®-nominated, RIO Award and two-time Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence winning author, and her additional honors include National Readers Choice, Holt Medallion, Booksellers Best, and Book Buyers Best award nominations, as well as appearances on the USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A long time ago, in an elementary school far, far away, a very young Kathleen scribbled a story idea in her journal. Then she wrote another, and another. She added several poems, the lyrics to a song or two, a love letter to David Cassidy, and so on and so on. 

While her early writings never saw the light of day, many of her later works did. And while she did not marry David Cassidy, Kathleen did marry her own Prince Charming. Together, they are raising one drama queen and one obedience-challenged border collie mix in a kingdom divided between suburban Philadelphia and the Jersey shore.

Kathleen divides her time between plotting her next book, bribing her little one to pick up her toys, and begging the dog to heel.

For more on Kathleen and her writing, visit her website and find her on Facebook and Twitter.

THE GIVEAWAY: To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Changing Lanes.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of CHANGING LANES is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, May 31.

To read the first chapter of this charming story, visit the author’s website and scroll down.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy contemporary fiction where the protagonist (or any character) is given a second chance at love and turn their life around?

On Tour: Joanne Sydney Lessner's Bad Publicity And A Giveaway

I’m delighted to participate in the Cozy Mystery Book Virtual Book Tour for author Joanne Sydney Lessner’s latest release, BAD PUBLICITY.

As part of the tour, I’ll share my thoughts on the book, a brief bio of the author, and details on a tour-wide giveaway.

BAD PUBLICITY by Joanne Sydney Lessner

 

In the world of PR it’s a kill or be killed atmosphere, but when a client really is murdered the saying takes on a whole new meaning.

Aspiring actress Isobel Spice is working as an office temp at Dove and Flight Public Relations, thanks to her old school friend Katrina Campbell. But when Isobel unknowingly serves a very important client poisoned coffee, things change drastically. The client is one that Katrina has had disagreements with making her a suspect.

When Isobel’s boss, James Cooke, rushes to her aid upon discovering the dead man, it’s learned he too has a connection to the victim. It seems he was the fraternity brother that got James expelled from college. Add into the mix that Dove and Flight is being acquired by an international conglomerate and there quickly becomes more twists and turns with plausible suspects.

Meanwhile, Isobel must consider the possibility that her friend could be the killer as she tries to unravel the tangled mess of suspects and motives.

Protagonist Isobel Spice is a zany and fun character that would be a pleasure to know in real life. Author Joanne Sydney Lessner has given her traits and qualities that make her likable and realistic. Lessner has also included well-developed secondary characters to make for a well-balanced story.

The pace of the story moves smoothly and quickly keeping the reader’s interest from the beginning until the end. The suspense has readers guessing who the real killer is and why. Lessner adds a good mixture of humor and romance to tie the story together. 

BAD PUBLICITY is the second installment in the Isobel Spice Mystery Series, but can be read alone. There are numerous references to events from the first installment, THE TEMPORARY DETECTIVE, but new readers to the series aren’t left in the dark by gaps in the storyline.

This is a fun read with an amateur sleuth that will have you smiling as she goes about finding the killer.

Bad Publicity by Joanne Sydney Lessner, An Isobel Spice Mystery, Dulcet Press, @2013, ISBN: 978-0615777412, Paperback, 248 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual book tour. An eBook copy of the book was sent to me by the tour promoter in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joanne Sydney Lessner is the author of PANDORA'S BOTTLE, a novel inspired by the true story of the world's most expensive bottle of wine (Flint Mine Press, 2010), which Paperback Dolls named one of the top five books of 2010. THE TEMPORARY DETECTIVE (Dulcet Press, April 2012) introduces Isobel Spice, aspiring actress and resourceful office temp turned amateur sleuth. Isobel's adventures continue in BAD PUBLICITY. 

No stranger to the theatrical world, Joanne enjoys an active performing career, and with her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, has co-authored several musicals, including the cult hit FERMAT'S LAST TANGO and EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on the celebrated novel by Alan Lightman. 

For more information on Joanne and her writing, visit her at http://joannelessner.com.

TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY:
Cozy Mystery Book Tours will be giving away three Kindle copies of BAD PUBLICITY to three random commenters during the tour. All the comments will be counted at the end of the tour and three random commenters will be drawn. The blog owners where the commenters participated will be contacted so the winners can be notified. You can visit the BAD PUBLICITY Tour Page for other sites to visit on this tour.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.What fun mystery have you read lately?

Author Merry Jones On Tour And A Giveaway

It’s my pleasure to participate in author Merry Jones’ Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tour for her latest release, THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE.

As part of the tour, Merry has graciously answered some questions for me, I’ll share my review of this intriguing story, tell you how you can enter to win a copy of THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE, as well as share an excerpt from the book. First, Merry answers questions.

Mason - In what order do you create your characters - name, physical description, personality?

Merry:
Personality is always first. I get to know the characters way before they get names. I live with them in my head for quite a while before I begin to write. They emerge according to the roles they play in a story, the ways they react, the goals they have. They begin to take on physical qualities, but only vaguely at first.  

For example, Elle Harrison in THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE was a presence to me long before she had an appearance. And I chose her name because it’s a palindrome. Backwards, it’s the same. Elle has trouble sorting events out; I thought her name should reflect her sense of events and time—She’s not sure about her relationship with either. So that left me with Eve, Nan, Ava, and so on. I picked Elle because it sounded like Elf.
 
Mason - When you finished your book what had surprised you the most about its development?

Merry:
Wow. Good question. I’m always surprised by the books I write because they never end up as I’d originally planned. 

In THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE, I never planned that I would become so fond of Charlie—He started out as a “bad guy.” I was also surprised that Elle would kill someone. And that the person who actually killed Charlie wasn’t the person I’d suspected at the beginning of writing. So the biggest surprise was that the book took on its own life and the characters insisted on steering their own actions—completely defying me and my plot outline.    

Mason - If you could collaborate on a book with any author (living or dead), who would it be and why?

Merry:
Mark Twain. I love his wit. I think he was elegant and brilliant.  

Mason - What lead you to writing and in this particular genre?

Merry:
I’ve written stories ever since I knew how to print. I can’t say what led me to writing because I don’t remember a time before I knew I wanted to be a writer. 

But this genre? Partly, I write suspense novels and thrillers because I am drawn to the shadows, the unknown, the parts of ourselves that we shove away into the dark.

More specifically, I began writing suspense when my husband was gravely ill with cancer. After his second surgery, I sat helpless in his hospital room, watching the tubes and machines; he opened a morphine eye and said, “Don’t just sit here. You can’t do anything here. Go home and write a book.”

When I got home, I did just that. I began a suspense novel in which there were merciless evil killers who popped unexpectedly into a woman’s life, knocking everything off balance. It’s clear in retrospect that the criminals personified cancer. And the heroine, like me, hadn’t expected or prepared to encounter their crimes. But in the book, unlike in life, I had control over everything that happened. I was able to make the heroine overcome the evil-doers, save a victim, catch the criminals and make them pay. I had full power over the outcome. It was therapeutic. So, to answer your question about genre: It was my husband’s illness that catapulted me into suspense/thrillers. (By the way, he’s been cancer free for nine years.) (Spit spit.)

Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?

Merry:
This summer, July 1, is the release date for OUTSIDE EDEN. It’s a thriller about female Iraq war vet Harper Jennings. In this book, Harper is on an archeological dig in Israel when she encounters ancient superstitions, a charismatic cult leader, fanatic terrorists, and first century Roman ruins.  

I’m also working on the sequel to THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE, which should come out in 2014. In this book, Elle and her friends travel for a week in Puerto Vallarta during the Festival of the Virgin of Guadeloupe. The book is a supernatural suspense novel, peppered with murder, plastic surgeries, adultery, jealousy, and, of course, Mariachi music.
 
Thanks Merry for joining us today and answering this questions for a look behind the scenes of THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE. I can see how writing could be therapeutic. So glad to hear your husband is still cancer free.

Now for a little background on Merry. She is also the author of the Harper Jennings thrillers (WINTER BREAK, BEHIND THE WALLS, and SUMMER SESSION), as well as the Zoe Hayes mysteries (THE BORROWED AND BLUE MURDERS, THE DEADLY NEIGHBORS, THE RIVER KILLINGS, and THE NANNY MURDERS).

Merry has also written humor (including I LOVE HIM, BUT...) and non-fiction (including BIRTHMOTHERS: Women who relinquished babies for adoption tell their stories.) She is a regular contributor to GLAMOUR, and her work has been printed in seven languages and numerous magazines. Her short story, BLISS, appears in the anthology LIAR LIAR, a project of the Philadelphia Liars Club.

In addition to the Liars, Merry is a member of Mystery Writers of America, The Authors Guild and International Thriller Writers. 

For the last fifteen years, Merry has taught writing courses at a variety of institutions, including Temple University and Delaware County Community College. She has appeared on radio and television (local and national), and participates in panel discussions and workshops regularly.

For more on Merry and her writing, visit her website and find her on Facebook and Twitter.

During the course of reading this delightful book, I also had the opportunity to listen to the audio version of it. This just enhanced the story for me.

MY REVIEW:
Sometimes exes won’t leave you alone, especially if they think you’ve killed them.

When Elle Harrison comes home from a night out with friends, she finds her soon-to-be-ex-husband Charlie in her den. The big problem is Charlie has one of Elle’s kitchen knives in his back. To make matters worse Elle can’t remember what she was doing during the time he was killed.

Despite Charlie being dead, he doesn’t seem to be gone from Elle’s life. She senses his presence all through the house sometimes it’s the smell of his aftershave or a gentle kiss on her neck. Then there’s the rose that moves from room to room seemingly on its own. Now Elle finds herself arguing with a shadow that appears to be accusing her of murder.

While she has been diagnosed with a Dissociative disorder causing her to ‘space out’ under stress, it doesn’t prove her innocence. To find out what happened, Elle begins to really look into Charlie’s life. As she searches, Elle discovers more problems than she imaged and numerous suspects with unusual motives. 

Elle’s investigation puts her in danger as she becomes involved in more murders and a struggle for her own life. Meanwhile, in a strange twist Elle finally comes to understand Charlie even though he’s dead.

Author Merry Jones has created a host of zany characters that you can’t help but like. They are well-developed and realistic with strengths and flaws that readers can relate to. She combines suspense, murder, humor, friendship, a touch of romance and a dash of supernatural into a well-balanced story.

Narrator Tanya Eby does an excellent job bringing the numerous characters to life, providing a distinct voice for each. She conveys the various emotions of the characters throughout the story with her vocalization and cadence.

The story flows at a steady pace with the right amount of twists to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The suspense will have readers guessing did she or didn’t she until the very end. The bits of humor sprinkled throughout the story adds flavor and blends in well.

THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE details a story of betrayal and blind commitment that rings true in real relationships. Elle is a protagonist that grows as the story develops to become a compelling character readers will want to visit with again and again.

This is a fun read that will keep you guessing.

The Trouble With Charlie by Merry Jones, Oceanview Publishing, @2013, ISBN: 978-1608090747, Hardcover, 280 Pages 

The Trouble With Charlie by Merry Jones, Performed by Tanya Eby, Brilliance Audio, @2013, ISBN: 978-1469277646, Unabridged, 8 Discs, Listening Time: 9 Hours, 43 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual book tour. An eBook copy of the book was sent to me by the tour promoter and an audio version of the book was sent to me by the publisher. Both were sent in hopes I would review them. However, receiving the complimentary copies did not influence my review.
 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS: The publisher is giving away 10 print copies of THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE.  Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter for your chance to win a copy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


AN EXCERPT:
Here’s a excerpt from THE TROUBLE WITH CHARLIE to whet your mystery appetite.

PROLOGUE

Sometime before Charlie moved out, I began reading the obituaries. It became a daily routine, like morning coffee. I didn’t just scan the listings; I read them closely, noting dates of death, ages of the deceased, names of survivors. If there were photos, I studied faces for clues about mortality even though they were often grinning and much younger than at death. Sometimes there were flags at the top of notices, signifying military service. Salvadore Petrini had a flag. Aged 64. Owner of Petrini’s Market. Beloved husband and father and stepfather and brother and uncle. Viewing and Life Celebration at St. Patrick’s Church, Malvern.

Some notices were skeletal, giving no details of the lost life: Sonia Woods went to be with the Lord on August 17. Viewing Friday, from 9 to 11, First Baptist Church. Service to follow. These left me disturbed, sad for the deceased. Was there, in the end, really nothing to be said about them? Were their lives just a finite number of breaths now stopped?

For weeks, I followed the flow of local deaths and funerals. I tried to surmise causes of death from requests for memorial contributions in lieu of flowers. The American Cancer Society. The Vascular Disease Foundation. The American Heart or Alzheimers Association. When there were epigraphs, I read about careers accomplished, volunteer work conducted, music played, tournaments won. Lives condensed to an eighth of a page. Less, usually.

Though the notices were brief, the words and patterns of language had a gentle rolling rhythm, comforting, like prayers, like nursery rhymes. And between listings, stark and straight lines divided one death from another, putting lives neatly into boxes, separating body from body. Soul from soul. Making death quantifiable and normal, a daily occurrence neatly announced on paper in black and white, on pages dense with ink, speckled with gray smiling photos. Smiles announcing that death wasn’t really so bad.

I don’t know why I was compelled to read those listings every day. At the time, I’d have said it had to be about the death of my marriage. After all, my own life, in a way, was ending. My life as Charlie’s wife was dying, but there would be no public acknowledgment of that demise. No memorial service. No community gathering to mourn. Maybe I read the listings to remember that I wasn’t the only one grieving, that others had lost even more. Still, I would have felt better if the obituary page included dead marriages and lost identities: Mrs. Charles Henry Harrison (nee Elle Brooks) ceased to exist on (date pending), when the couple’s divorce became final. Maybe it would help to have some formal recognition of the demise of my former self. Maybe not.

It’s possible that my own losses brought me to the daily obits. But I doubt it. Looking back, I believe what drew me was far more ominous. A premonition. An instinct. For whatever reason, though, every morning as I chewed my English muffin, I buried myself in the death notices, studying what I could about people who were no more, trying to learn from them or their photos or their neatly structured notices anything I could about death.

Of course, as it turned out, the notices were useless. None of them, not one prepared me for what was to happen. According to the obituary columns, the circumstances of one’s life made no difference in the end. Dead was simply dead. Final. Permanent. Without room for doubt. The pages I studied gave no indication of a gray area. And the boxes around the obituaries contained no dotted lines.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Sunday Salon: The Begonia Bribe, Hex On The Ex, Gluten for Punishment

Once again we come to another Sunday Salon where we share the fabulous books that we’ve discovered and read throughout the past week and learn of new books to explore in coming days.

It’s time to relax and unwind from the pressures of the week. Pull up that comfort chair and fluff up the cushions. Make sure you have plenty of your favorite beverage on hand, maybe a treat or two, prop your feet up, and let’s talk books.

Each month the good folks at Berkley Prime Crime release some of the most intriguing cozy murder mysteries on the market. This month is no excerpt with two of my favorite series returning with new installments and the start of a fun new series I’m looking forward to following. When it comes to cozy mysteries, you can find a theme for almost everything.

THE BEGONIA BRIBE by Alyse Carlson

Mixing beautiful flowers and a beauty pageant for little girls sounds like an ideal match, but throw in a murder and you have the plot for an intriguing cozy murder mystery.

It’s Camellia Harris’ job to promote the lovely gardens of the Roanoke Garden Society, but she never dreamed her job would include helping with a beauty pageant for little girls. When the Little Miss Begonia Pageant decides to hold it’s state finals in Elmwood Park, Cam has to spruce up the park in July, deal with the pint-size contestants and their sometimes mean-spirited mothers, as well as the judges.

Cam finds the drama onstage doesn’t compare with what goes on with the judges - jealousy, betrayal and a love triangle. Local newsman Telly Stevens, one of the judges, is married to the executive producer of the local television station WONK but that doesn’t stop his womanizing. Meanwhile, it appears somebody is also trying to stop the pageant altogether. When Stevens is found dead, apparently poisoned by some sort of plant, the drama heats up.

Cam has a whole garden of potential suspects and motives. She has to find the killer before the entire pageant fades away in the July heat.

Author Alyse Carlson has created a likable and realistic character in her protagonist Camellia Harris. Carlson has given her strengths and flaws that makes her a friend we’d like to know better. The added traits of the secondary characters makes for a well-balanced story. Carlson has a good mix of friendship, suspense, humor and a dash of romance woven throughout the story.

Moving at a steady pace, THE BEGONIA BRIBE draws the reader in and holds their attention until the last petal is dropped. While the setting is exquisite gardens, you don’t have to be a botanist to enjoy this cozy mystery. Cam and her friends will delight you as they hold you in suspense until the killer is revealed.

Carlson’s eye for detail will place you in the middle of the action. This is a delightful summer read for the cozy murder mystery enthusiasts. 

THE BEGONIA BRIBE is the second installment in the Garden Society Mystery Series, but can be read alone. For more background on Cam and her colorful friends, be sure to read the first installment, THE AZALEA ASSAULT (June 2012).

Author Alyse Carlson’s website is http://waterytart23.blogspot.com/

The Begonia Bribe by Alyse Carlson, A Garden Society Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2013, ISBN: 978-0425251621, Paperback, 336 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

HEX ON THE EX by Rochelle Staab

A spunky protagonist returns for another encounter with the supernatural, but this time the bad omens hit too close to home.

A Dodgers game to celebrate her father’s birthday is no picnic for psychologist Liz Cooper. Her ex-husband, Jarret, is the star player and her ex-best friend. Laycee, is in the stands. Jarret and Laycee’s affair are why they are both formers in Liz’s life.

But things are soon thrown off balance for the superstitious Jarret when a white pigeon, an omen of death, appears during the game and Jarret crosses a chalk line. It seems the omen continues off the field when Laycee is found dead in Jarret’s home the next morning. Jarret and Liz both become suspects.

Needing help to clear her name, Liz turns to one person she knows she can depend on her boyfriend, occult professor Nick Garfield.

Author Rochelle Staab continues to evolve her spirited protagonist Liz Cooper making her even more likable and enjoyable with each installment. The fascinating secondary characters add flavor and charm to the story as they grow with Liz.

HEX ON THE EX moves at a steady pace pulling the reader in on the first page and holding them spellbound until the last paragraph. Staab weaves a tale of romance, friendship, betrayal and suspense with just the right amount of superstition and humor blended in the mix.

Staab’s passion for research shows in her writing. You don’t have to be a fan of the occult to enjoy this enthralling book, just a lover of cozy murder mysteries.

HEX ON THE EX is the third installment in the Mind For Murder Mystery Series, but is a stand alone read. To follow the series, be sure to read WHO DO, VOODOO? (November 2011) and BRUJA BROUHAHA (August 2012).

Author Rochelle Staab’s website is http://www.rochellestaab.com

Hex On The Ex by Rochelle Staab, A Mind For Murder Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2013, ISBN: 978-0425252017, Paperback, 304 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT by Nancy J. Parra

Who knew gluten-free could be so enticing?

Baker Toni Ryder makes her own way in the baking world preparing allergy-safe, gluten-free products for her online bakery, Baker’s Treat. When she opens a gluten-free bakery in the heart of wheat country Kansas, she may have gone over the top. Skeptical residents aren’t sure about her flour-free ways and then a local wheat farmer is found murdered outside her shop so suspicion grows even more.

The bad publicity and increasing vandalism could cause Toni to have to close her shop. She’s determine to find the real killer so she enlists the help of her eccentric and feisty grandmother. But when a second murder is discovered, Toni realizes the killer is out to do more than close her shop. Finding the real killer is the only way to save her shop and her life.

Author Nancy J. Parra has the start of a delightful new series that not only entertains but informs readers. Parra has given her protagonist Celiac Disease providing readers with a closer look at how gluten-free can be delicious. She has made Toni likable and realistic with zany secondary characters to add to the mix.

Parra has placed the story in a small town setting having an eye for detail that makes the reader feel they are there. GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT moves at a good pace keeping the reader guessing as she includes a few twists and turns along the way. The plot holds the reader’s attention from beginning to end.

While the story deals with living a gluten-free lifestyle, it’s not overpowering. The focus stays on the cozy murder mystery and the captivating cast of characters. This is a tasty treat for the cozy murder mystery lover.

GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT is the first installment in the exciting new Baker’s Treat Mystery Series. An added bonus is the delicious gluten-free recipes included in the back such as Gluten-Free Blueberry Coffee Cake.

Author Nancy J. Parra’s website is http://www.nancyjparra.com

Gluten for Punishment by Nancy J. Parra, A Baker’s Treat Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2013, ISBN: 978-0425252109, Paperback, 304 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
Thanks for stopping by today. Do you have a favorite series theme that you enjoy following? Aren’t the covers for cozies always so interesting?

Grannies, Guns And Ghosts On Tour & Giveaway

I’m delighted to participate in author Madison Johns’ Cozy Mystery Book Tour for her latest release, GRANNIES, GUNS AND GHOSTS.

As part of the tour, I’m sharing my thoughts on the book, a brief bio of the author and a link for a special $25 giveaway (see the end of the post for details).

GRANNIES, GUNS AND GHOSTS by Madison Johns
 

Taking up residence in a Winnebago in an East Tawas, Michigan, campground doesn’t sound like something most seventy-two-year-old women would do, but then Agnes Barton isn’t your usual senior citizen.

The campground isn’t the ideal place, but Agnes is making do until her home is repaired after being fire bombed earlier. In the meantime she and her partner in crime, eighty-two-year-old Eleanor Mason, had planned to start a detective agency, Pink Ladies, but ran into problems with the license. Despite the setback, the senior snoops are the ones folks call when there’s a dead body.

Agnes and Eleanor are called to the scene of another death when Herman Butler falls from a third story window. It’s up to the senior sleuths to discover if his fall was an accident or murder. Things get more interesting when a ghost or two show up, as does a gypsy.

But later when the ghost ship, Erie Board of Trades, is spotted off the shores of Lake Huron, ghost hunters swam the town. It’s up to the ladies to determine fact from fantasy before someone else becomes a ghost.

Agnes and Eleanor are far from your typical senior citizens and an unlikely sleuthing duo that will have you laughing out loud. Their antics and friendship make for a entertaining read.

Author Madison Johns has created two spunky seniors that are likable and well-developed. The cast of secondary zany characters adds flavor to the mix for a well-balanced story.

The plot moves at a good pace and will hold your attention from the first paragraph until the end. Johns keeps a good blend of humor and suspense as the story moves along. GRANNIES, GUNS AND GHOSTS is a delightful read combining murder, mayhem, ghosts and seniors.

This is the second installment in the Agnes Barton Mystery series, but can be read alone.

Grannies, Guns And Ghosts by Madison Johns, An Agnes Barton Mystery, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, @2013, ISBN: 978-1484016671, Paperback, 172 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual book tour. An eBook copy of the book was sent to me by the tour promoter in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  
As a child, Madison Johns preferred to distance herself from other children her age, and had been described as a dreamer. Even as a small

child, she remembers staying awake many a night fighting dragons, whisked away to foreign lands, or meeting the man of her dreams. 

She was a voracious reader of historical romance in her teen years and has always wished to one day journey to England, France, Ireland, and Scotland.

The writing bug bit her at the age of 44 and she pounded out three books since that time. As the publishing climate changed she took a risk and decided to self publish, first a collection of two horror short stories geared for YA, COFFIN TALES SEASON OF DEATH.

Madison's caring nature had led her to work in the healthcare field, where she was employed as a nursing care assistant at a nursing home, and it was there that she was inspired to write her first mystery, ARMED AND OUTRAGEOUS, introducing amateur detective Agnes Barton. The book depicts two elderly ladies digging up clues with enough laugh out loud antics to make James Bond blush.

For more on Madison and her writing, visit her website and find her on Facebook and Twitter.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
The Cozy Mystery Book Reviews is hosting a giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash. Click on this link to enter. Good luck.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to sign up for the giveaway. Do you enjoy cozy mysteries where the protagonist is older?

Laura Drake: Romance, Bull Riders, And A Giveaway

I am delighted today to welcome a ‘new-to-me’ author that combines

her passion for romance and an acquired interest in bull riding into a fun loving, tug-on-your-heartstrings series that will lead to many hours of enjoyable reading entertainment.

Author Laura Drake, a city girl who never grew out of her tomboy ways, joins us today to talk about THE SWEET SPOT, the first installment in her bull riders series. Thanks to Laura and Marissa at Grand Central Publishing, two lucky visitors will win a copy of THE SWEET SPOT. 

Please see the end of the post for the giveaway guidelines.
You don’t have to be a fan of bulling riding to enjoy this charming tale of romance and second chances. Here’s a quick look at THE SWEET SPOT: 

    A Love as Big as Texas . . .
    Charla Rae Denny was the perfect wife with a perfect life, content to keep the home fires burning while her husband, JB, competed as a champion bull rider. Then their son died in a tragic accident-and everything fell apart. Divorced and saddled with a hill of bills and a failing ranch, Charla must now cowboy up to put her life back together.
    James "JB" Denny doesn't stay where he isn't welcome. So when Charla shut him out of her grieving heart-and their home-a year ago, he took comfort where he could find it. Now after seeing beautiful Charla again, he wants it all back. She can't work the ranch alone, and deep in his heart he knows he can be the man she needs. But after so much history and heartbreak, can JB convince Charla to take a risk and give their love a second chance?

Mason - How does someone who grew up near Detroit, Michigan, come to write westerns? And why write about bull riders?

Laura:
I know, it’s a stretch, right? But I married a Texan. I fell in love with the West from the back of a motorcycle the past 25 years. I aspire to earn the title ‘honorary country girl’ before I die! 

While visiting Texas, I attended my first rodeo, and was hooked. Imagine how excited I was to find out that bull riding was on television every weekend! There’s something about the hubris of a man who straps himself to two thousand pounds of attitude that wants to throw him in the dirt and dance on him – the drama sucks me in every time! 

This year, I’ll be signing THE SWEET SPOT at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas – An odd dream maybe, but one that’s come true for me!

Mason - What can you tell us about your couple, Charla Rae and JB, that we won't find in the book?

Laura:
Their first date was a Sadie Hawkins dance, in high school. Because JB lost his mother when he was young, he never learned to dance. Charla had to teach him, that night!
 
Mason - When you began writing THE SWEET SPOT, did you know it would be the first of a series or did that develop as you wrote?

Laura:
It’s interesting, because THE SWEET SPOT was actually the second bull riding book I wrote. The first was NOTHING SWEETER, which turned out to be the second in the series! I was unpublished, and just writing what I was passionate about. Selling in a three book deal was beyond my hopes!

Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you.

Laura:
The second book in the series, NOTHING SWEETER, will be out in December. Here’s just a taste of the characters:

     Aubrey Madison is guilty. But not of the crime she’s been pardoned for. She knew it was her responsibility as controller to turn her customs-cheating boss over to the law. It just doesn’t seem like her problem until she learns of a much larger scheme--one that has her name all over it. She’s still reeling when Federal agents show up to arrest her.     
     Eight months later, reveling in freedom and determined to put shame behind her and start over, Aubrey hits the road with a new last name, a hideous scar on her neck, and bad case of claustrophobia.
     Max Jameson has big problems. His father has died and his gay half-brother, Wyatt, has returned to the family cattle ranch outside Steamboat Springs. An old-fashioned cowboy, Max wants only to remain a rancher, but the High Heather is bleeding red ink. His father taught him that a man fixes things, but there’s not enough baling wire and duct tape in Colorado to fix this.

Laura, thanks so much for joining us today and giving us a look at how this fun series came to be. The characters in the next installment sounds as fascinating as Charla Rae and JB.

As you can tell from Laura’s writing she never grew out of her serious cowboy crush either, which makes for delightful reading for us. She resides in Southern California, though she aspires to retirement in Texas. She gave up the corporate CFO gig to write, full time. She's a wife, grandmother, and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.

For more on Laura and her writing, visit her website at http://LauraDrakeBooks.com, find her on Twitter, or check out http://WritersintheStorm.Wordpress.com

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:
To enter this giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win THE Sweet Spot.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win 1 of 2 copies of THE SWEET SPOT is 8 p.m. (EDT) Saturday, May 25.

Thanks everyone for dropping by today. Are you a fan of bull riding? Have you ever attended a bulling riding competition or rodeo?

The Blossom Sisters, The New Rules For Blondes

When it comes to diversity in life, books can take you in so many directions. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on a lighthearted story featuring three sisters well past retirement age and a new take on a hair color that has spanned the ages and withstood way too many jokes.

THE BLOSSOM SISTERS by Fern Michaels

THE BLOSSOM SISTERS wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but it was a charming story that I enjoyed as it had me laughing at times.

Narrator Jeff Crawford does a wonderful job of bringing the various characters to life, including Wilson. His interruption of the emotions draws the listener in.

Gus Hollister went against the advice of his grandmother Rose, his Aunts Iris and Violet, and everyone else to marry Elaine. Now he’s paying dearly for it. Elaine has taken the house, his car and is filing for divorce. The only thing she gave him was his clothes and his dog, Wilson.

Choosing the gold-digger over his family alienated him from those he loves and they aren’t ready to forgive him yet. Gus is determined to make amends with his grandmother and his aunts with the help of his best friend, Barney. 

Working to redeem himself in the eyes of his family, Gus becomes the man he should have been. Seeking forgiveness from his family for his mistakes, Gus also discovers new friendships he never expected and that there is true love.

THE BLOSSOM SISTERS isn’t just a story about three elderly sisters like I thought it would be. It’s about family, friendship, loyalty, helping others, and finding peace with yourself. Author Fern Michaels has created zany, realistic characters you’d like to know in real life. The sisters are spirited and spunky. They aren’t seniors willing to give up on life or living.

The friendship between Gus and Barney is the type we all hope for - friends forever through good and bad. Michaels even brings out the bond between man and his dog. In addition, she gives insight into being productive long after retirement age.

The story moves at a steady pace with a few surprises and twists along the way. Michaels shows how someone can be more connected to a person they dislike than they realize. This is what I call a ‘feel-good’ story that will have you laughing at the antics of some of the characters. THE BLOSSOM SISTERS will warm you heart and give you a new perspective on a few things.

Author Fern Michaels’ website is www.fernmichaels.com
 
The Blossom Sisters by Fern Michaels, Performed by Jeff Crawford, Brilliance Audio, @2013, ISBN: 978-1455812752, Unabridged, 7 Discs, Listening Time: 8 Hours, 2 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES by Selena Coppock

Being born blonde, I was intrigued by author Selena Coppock’s latest release, THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES: HIGHLIGHTS FROM A FAIR-HAIRED LIFE, and had to know more.

From the moment you start reading, Coppock will have you smiling no matter your hair color. And the humor doesn’t stop until the last paragraph.

While I was reading this delightful book, I was also fortunate to be able to listen to the audio version read by the author herself. I must say this just enriched the story that much more. To hear the author vocalize the emotions of the story made it seem like a conversation with a friend. Her expressions are priceless.

This is a collection of essays from the standup comedian that form a hilarious guide to being blonde. She tackles how the world doubts the intelligence of blondes while secretly wanting to be one. Coppock gives tongue-in-cheek advice about hair care and running in heels, while relating some of her own misadventures as a blonde.

You might even say this is an empowering book. Listening to the audio version with ear buds, you don’t mind the looks you get from strangers when you laugh out loud or find yourself agreeing with the author (out loud). You’ll just smile at them, flip your hair and go on.

THE NEW RULES FOR BLONDES is a must read book for anyone who enjoys life and laughing. Simply put, this book (both print and audio) is fun entertainment.

Author Selena Coppock’s website is http://www.selenacoppock.com/
 
The New Rules For Blondes: Highlights From A Fair-Haired Life by Selena Coppock, ItBooks, @2013, ISBN: 978-0062131812, Paperback, 256 Pages 

The New Rules For Blondes, Highlights From A Fair-Haired Life by Selena Coppock, Read by Selena Coppock, Harper Audio, @2013, ASIN: B00BU9A3V6, Unabridged, Digital Download, Listening Time: 6 Hours, 38 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. The digital download audio version of this book was sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copies of both formats did not influence my review.
 
Thanks for dropping by today. Have you read a book while listening to the audio version? Do you enjoy stories were the main characters are a bit older?