Thursday, January 31, 2013

Thursday First

Can you believe it is Thursday already and the last day of January!!!

Well today's First is.....

Fundraising the Dead( A Museum Mystery) by Sheila Connolly

thanks Sheila for a great read!!!



Book Description

October 5, 2010 A Museum Mystery (Book 1)
At The Society for the Preservation of Pennsylvania Antiques, fundraiser Eleanor "Nell" Pratt solicits donations-and sometimes solves crimes. When a collection of George Washington's letters is lost on the same day that an archivist is found dead, it seems strange that the Society president isn't pushing for an investigation. Nell goes digging herself, and soon uncovers a long, rich history of crime.
 
This is such an awesome book! Have you read this? Is it on your list?

Featured Upcoming Release Day 5

Today's Featured book for release on Feb 5th is one of my favorite series!

Every Trick in the Book(A Novel Idea Mystery )by Lucy Arlington

Book Description

February 5, 2013 A Novel Idea Mystery (Book 2)
The national bestselling Novel Idea Mysteries return with Lila Wilkins, who has just been promoted to full-time literary agent. But great new writers aren’t the only people she’s trying to catch…Lila Wilkins has it all: the home of her dreams in the charming town of Inspiration Valley, North Carolina; a perfect police officer boyfriend; and a new job she absolutely loves. At the Book and Author Festival, which is sponsored by the Novel Idea Literary Agency, Lila expects to discover some talented new authors, but what she finds instead is the body of an editor to whom she bears an eerie resemblance.

Trouble is, the editor’s death isn’t the only literary murder taking place. Soon a blossoming author is also killed, and Lila has a gut feeling that the two murders are linked. Now she must hunt down the dark figure who killed these women—and to her surprise, she just might find the clues hidden in a manuscript…
Have you read this series? Her first book is called Buried in a Book!!


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Author Shout out--- Virginia Lowell

It's Wednesday again and that brings us to another Author Spotlight!!

I am pleased to announce that our shoutout goes to ..DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Virginia Lowell the amazing author of the Cookie Cutter Shop mysteries!!!



Cookie Dough or Die (book1)
When the cookie Crumbles (book 3)
A Cookie Before Dying(book 2)


Overview

Olivia Greyson is the proud owner of The Gingerbread House-a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie-and her best friend, Maddie, is her sidekick, baking up scrumptious treats for their cookie-themed parties. But now they must take a break from baking and find a killer, or else their reputation-and quite possibly their lives-will be battered for good.

Overview

On a stormy night, Olivia Greyson and her Yorkie discover the body of a man stabbed to death-which looks suspiciously like the intruder seen fleeing the local health food store The Vegetable Plate. Charlene Critch, owner of The Vegetable Plate, has a grudge against Olivia's cookie cutter shop, but could Charlene be hiding a secret serious enough to kill for?







Overview

Olivia Greyson is the proud owner of The Gingerbread House—a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie—and her best friend, Maddie, is her sidekick, baking up scrumptious treats for their parties. But the real-life version of their magnificent gingerbread house is about to crumble to pieces...
Tensions are running high as Chatterley Heights' 250th birthday celebration approaches, and Olivia and Maddie are working feverishly to finish a gingerbread house modeled after the famous Chatterley Mansion. When Paine Chatterley, presumed to be dead, shows up to claim his father's house, the town gossips are driven into a tizzy. And when he refuses to allow visitors to tour the mansion during the celebration, all the preparations seem for naught.
Then Paine is found lifeless in the bathtub, his wife hysterical and their precious heirlooms destroyed. The hidden lives of the prestigious Chatterley family members begin to surface, and Olivia must unravel their dark past. As it turns out, the town's history isn't all that sweet.

This is a tasty fun filled series!!! Pick it up today!!! Have you read it already, what do you think?

Featured Upcoming Book Release Day 4

We are just a few days until Feb 5th and that brings me to day 4 of the Featured upcoming book release and the book today is....

Chance of a Ghost (A Haunted Guest House Mystery) by E.j.Copperman



Book Description

February 5, 2013 A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery (Book 4)
Alison Kerby’s guesthouse is haunted all year round. Surviving the dead of winter, though? That’s a spooky proposition.
Even with a blizzard bearing down on New Jersey, Alison can count on at least two guests—Paul and Maxie, the stubborn ghosts who share her shore town inn. Then there’s her widowed mother, who hasn’t just been seeing ghosts, she’s been secretly dating one: Alison’s father. But when he stands her up three times in a row, something’s wrong. Is he a lost soul…or a missing apparition?

Their only lead is an overdramatic spirit—stage name Lawrence Laurentz—who doesn’t take direction well and won’t talk until they find his killer. Alison will reluctantly play the part of PI, but when the clues take a sinister turn, the writing is on the wall: If Alison can’t keep a level head, this will be her father’s final act—and maybe her own.
 
This is such a fun and great series, you have to check it out!!!!!!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Wendy Corsi Staub

Shadowkiller by Wendy Corsi Staub is released today.  This is an amazing Trilogy! Pick it up today! WAY TO GO Wendy!!!!!!

Book Description

January 29, 2013
From the New York Times bestselling author comes a novel of suspense so terrifying it may make you afraid of the dark . . .
Allison Taylor MacKenna feels as though she's awakened at last from a ten-year-long nightmare. But her darkest hour has yet to come . . .
Nestled in the warm, domestic cocoon of loving husband and family, Allison finally feels safe—unaware that a stranger's brutal murder on a Caribbean island is the first step in an intricate plan to destroy everything in her life.
For seasoned NYPD Detective Rocky Manzillo, the signs are clear that something terrible has emerged from the shadows: a murder victim left without a face and a faded photograph that yields a startling connection.
Now, as Allison's murky memories of a troubled childhood creep back to light, a cunning predator who shares her history prepares to enact a horrifying retribution— and won't stop killing until Allison faces a shocking truth . . . and pays the ultimate price.

Featured Cozy Upcoming Release day 3

Can you believe it is only one more week(Feb 5th)  until this featured book comes out!!! I so can't wait!!!!


To Brie or not to Brie (A Cheese Shop Mystery) by Avery Aames

Book Description

February 5, 2013 CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY (Book 4)
To Brie or Not To Brie (CHEESE SHOP MYSTERY)Murder, revenge, and secrets: Shakespeare has arrived in Providence, Ohio... Charlotte Bessette—owner of Fromagerie Bessette, known by locals as The Cheese Shop—has a lot on her plate: setting a date with her fiancĂ©, feeding the actors in her grandmother’s production of Hamlet, and planning the menu for her best friend and cousin’s upcoming wedding. At least her new creation—sinfully delicious Brie blueberry ice cream—has turned out perfectly.

Just days before the wedding, a stranger turns up dead in the Igloo Ice Cream Parlor's freezer, his head bashed with a container of Charlotte's signature ice cream. But this stranger turns out to be more than he seems, and his death threatens to unravel all that Charlotte has worked for. She has no choice but to add one more thing to her to-do list: find the killer before the villain destroys all that she loves.
Way to go Avery! This is a great series!!!!!!!!!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Featured upcoming book release day 2

Todays Feature for the upcoming book release on Feb 5th is.

One Hot Murder(A Victoria Square Mystery) by Lorraine Bartlett

One Hot Murder (Victoria Square Mystery)

Where there’s smoke…
Katie Bonner, the reluctant manager of Artisans Alley in the quaint shopping district of Victoria Square, is no stranger to ambivalence. Things have been going hot and heavy with pizza maker Andy Rust—so much so that Katie has moved in over his pizza parlor. But now that summer’s ushered in a heat wave, an apartment above pizza ovens without an air conditioner is making Katie hot and bothered.

At the height of the heat wave, a tragic fire strikes Victoria Square. Wood U, a small store selling wooden gifts and small furniture, is destroyed. But the fire may just be a smoke screen—for murder. A body is found among the charred wreckage, and the victim didn’t die from smoke inhalation. He was shot. Now—despite making Detective Ray Davenport hot under the collar—Katie is determined to smoke out a coldhearted killer…
 
This is an AMAZING series!!! Add it to your list if you havent already!
 
Thank you for a great series Lorraine!!!!
 
 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Featured Upcoming Book Release

It's just about time for the cozy mysteries to be released(Feb 5th) so I am going to be featuring them until they are!

Todays Feature is..

Buried in a Bog(A County Cork Mystery)First in a brand new series! by Sheila Connolly



Buried In a Bog (A County Cork Mystery)

Book Description

February 5, 2013 A County Cork Mystery (Book 1)
National bestselling and Agatha Award-nominated author Sheila Connolly introduces a brand-new series set in a small village in County Cork, Ireland, where buried secrets are about to rise to the surface...

Honoring the wish of her late grandmother, Maura Donovan visits the small Irish village where her Gran was born—though she never expected to get bogged down in a murder mystery. Nor had she planned to take a job in one of the local pubs, but she finds herself excited to get to know the people who knew her Gran.

In the pub, she’s swamped with drink orders as everyone in town gathers to talk about the recent discovery of a nearly one-hundred-year-old body in a nearby bog. When Maura realizes she may know something about the dead man—and that the body’s connected to another, more recent, death—she fears she’s about to become mired in a homicide investigation. After she discovers the death is connected to another from almost a century earlier, Maura has a sinking feeling she may really be getting in over her head...

Add this to your list of Cozy! You wont want to miss it!!!!!
 

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Thursday First--

Todays Thursday First is...

Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy (first in A Manor House Mystery Series)



Grace under Pressure (Manor House Mystery Series #1)

Overview

From the author of the successful White House Chef mysteries.
Everyone wants a piece of millionaire Bennett Marshfield, owner of Marshfield Manor, but now it's up to a new curator Grace Wheaton and handsome groundskeeper Jack Embers to protect dear old Marshfield. But to do this, they'll have to investigate a botched Ponzi scheme, some torrid Wheaton family secrets-and sour grapes out for revenge.

This is a really good series if you haven't read it, It is a  Must read for all!!!!!!

Thank you Julie for a Great Series!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Author Shoutout Wednesday

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!!

Todays Author Spotlight goes out to

                                       
                                           Shelley Freydont

                              author of  Foul Play at the Fair



Foul Play at the Fair

Meet the Author

Shelley Freydont is the author of the Lindy Haggerty Mysteries series and the Katie McDonald Sudoku mysteries. Shelley also writes popular romance novels under the name Gemma Bruceis. She is a past president of the New York/Tri State chapter of Sisters in Crime and a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers and Kiss of Death RWA chapter. A former professional dancer and choreographer, she recently worked on the films Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan.

Have you all read this series? Let me know what you think!!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Holly Kerr Blog Tour!!!

Lets Welcome Holly Kerr to the blog today, she is visiting and chatting about her book  Baby! Baby? Baby!?

Thanks Holly for being here today!

Overview!

Thirty-five-year old kindergarten teacher Casey Samms has always dreamed about having her own baby. With her copy of A Young Woman’s Guide to the Joy of Impending Motherhood on her bedside
table, Casey has been steadily wading through the pool of eligible bachelors for years—with absolutely no luck. Now as she bids farewell to a cheating boyfriend and to dating in general, Casey just needs to figure out how to get pregnant without having a man in her life.

Casey immediately discounts her male friends as potential fathers and decides to pursue having a baby the artificial way, even though her sister and friends do their best to try to talk her out of it. But Casey is determined to see her dream come to fruition and begins looking at every male as a potential donor. Just when she is beginning to give the word desperate an entirely new meaning, an old ex-boyfriend, David Mason, saunters back into her life. All Casey has to do now is try to convince him that he is the one who can help her become a mother.

As Casey prepares to realize her lifelong dream, she is about to get the surprise of her life—a surprise that changes everything

Guest Post with Holly Kerr!

Thanks for letting me do a guest post.

One of my favourite aspects of Baby! Baby? Baby!? are the relationships between the characters.  Casey is an interesting character in her own right but for me, adding in the deep friendship with Cooper, her loyalty to her childhood friend Brit and her obvious affection for her sister Libby brings a deeper sense of who she is.

I loved writing the dialogue between Casey and Cooper.  I've always had close male friends and Cooper is a mixture of all of them, combined with the older brother I've always wanted.  Cooper takes on the role of Casey's conscience at times and is able to reel her in when she's gone too far.  Because Casey's feelings for Cooper have always been platonic, his confession that he once had feelings for her was almost as much as a surprise for me as it was for Casey!  I hoped Cooper admitting he had been in love with her would show how irresistible Casey can be to others.

I really enjoyed writing Brit as well.   I made her out to be a bitch with a heart of gold hidden behind her designer trappings and so over-the-top she was just plain fun to write.  Like Cooper, Brit was also based on a real person, she who will not be named, but luckily my friend wasn't nearly so hard to take.  But doesn't everyone have a friend like Brit?  Someone you share a history with, years of shared experiences and unforgettable memories? It's difficult to give up someone like that, which is why Casey refuses to let go of Brit despite her complete self-centeredness!  It also explains Casey's reluctance to let go of her dream of being a mother.  If she can't let go of Brit, then how can she give up on wanting  baby?

Casey's relationship with Libby was the one which hit closet to home for me. Unlike Casey, I am the younger sister, so I had to imagine the big sister thoughts.  But I didn't have to imagine the sibling rivalry that Casey experiences since both my sister and I have freely admitted to having such thoughts.  Hasn't every sister?  But Libby and Casey share such a bond because they both endured the transformation of their mother.  With all of Casey's immaturities and jealousies towards Libby's life, at least she handles Terri-with-an-i better than her sister.

Casey is definitely a flawed character but I think her relationships with others help make her the lovable mess she is!

Hope you enjoyed reading!


My interview with Holly!

Tell us about yourself?

The first thing you need to know about me is that I am the mother of 3 amazing, wonderful, fantastic kids.  Because of my kids and my hard-working husband – who is great as well – I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom, which is the reason why you’re reading this interview – I had the time to write Baby!  My kids had daily naps long after they grew out of the need for them, just so I could have time to write!   Baby! is my first published novel, but I have a few more I’ve written that I’d like to see published, one I’m writing now and one I want to write and am working on characters for.  I also volunteer at my kids’ school quite a bit as well.  I help with editing the school newspaper, which is incredible because I get to encourage kids to work on their writing skills.  I’m also the editor of my church newsletter, which is an interesting fit because I’m not the typical church type.  I wrote a little sex scene that took place in a church, for goodness sake and I keep waiting for someone to keep it and suggest that maybe I’m not the best person to edit the newsletter… 
Since my book has been published I’ve also thrown myself onto the social media bandwagon with a vengeance.  I now write 2 blogs – one about me, books and writing, and the other about observations of a small town.  They’re a lot of fun.  In my spare time, I love to read, watch movies, play in the kitchen, play in the dirt and spend time with friends and family.

How did you come up with this story?

I came up with this story just after my daughter was born.  I had been writing chick lit before but with my pregnancy and birth being such a good experience for me, and my life changing so much with a new baby, I wanted to include that in my writing.  I came up with Casey and I liked the idea of how her relationships had such an impact in her life and way of thinking but when she felt so strongly about something, she didn’t listen to anyone.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on another chick lit novel right now.  I finished the first draft during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and now I’m doing extensive revisions!  I hope to have a finished draft by the spring.  It’s called Coming Home and it’s about a woman who returns to her small-town home after a major melt-down and has to learn how to get along with her quirky sisters and ghost mother again. 

What character was the hardest to write and what one the most fun?

I think J.B. was the most difficult to write.  I saw him as a bit of a bad boy, sort of a player, but I needed to make him sweet and sympathetic so he would be likable.  He’s much more lovable now than in my earlier versions.  The most fun to write were Brit, because she’s so over-the-top and I let my bitch flag fly for her, and the back and forth with Casey and Cooper.  I want their relationship!

Do you have a favourite comfort read?

My favourite comfort read is either Jilly Cooper’s Rivals or the last Harry Potter book.  Rivals is big and bouncy with all these awesome characters and the Deathly Hallows is – well, it’s Harry Potter and I love those books.  I love books that transport you to another world.  It doesn’t have to be fantasy or sci-fi – although I like those too – but just a different world than what I’m used to. 

If you could live in any book what one would you choose and why?

I had to really think about this one and decided I needed to change it just a bit.  Instead of living, I’d really like to visit England when King Henry VIII held the throne.  I love history, reading historical fiction and the Tudors fascinate me. I love Phillippa Gregory’s books, so I would pick the Other Boleyn Girl to visit.  I’d love to experience what it was like being a woman during that time and the intrigues of court life. 


Author Bio:
I live in Toronto with my husband, 3 amazing kids, and cat Sebastian, who has a supporting role in every book I write.  Since Baby! Baby? Baby?! has been published, I’ve focused on writing more and have started two blogs; one about my views on books, writing and other stuff, and one on my observations of Bethany, a small town in Ontario.  I’ve been busy working on a new chick lit novel and hope to see it published by the spring.  I also volunteer at my children’s school by helping put out their newspaper and encouraging kids to write has become one of my favourite pastimes!   I also love hanging out at the cottage with family and friends in the summer, all things Star Wars related and opening the pages of a brand new book.

Connect with Holly! 
 

Leave her a comment today!!!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Llama Drama

The Silence of the LlamasTuesday Jan 22nd is the release of Silence of the Llamas (book 4 in the Black Sheep Knitting Mystery Series)

Overview
Llama Drama!
Ellie and Ben Krueger arrived in Plum Harbor eager to live out their dream—tending a herd of gentle, friendly llamas for fun and profit, on a farm just beyond the village. Their grand opening fiber festival kicks off on a bright note but abruptly ends in malicious mayhem. Knitting shop owner Maggie Messina and her friends soon learn that this is not the first time a vicious visitor has called.
The Kruegers suspect that Justin Ridley, their eccentric neighbor, is the troublemaker. A misfit and loner, he’s known to roam the woods all night, though no one knows for sure what he’s hunting. Then there’s Angelica Rossi—the lovely owner of a rival fiber farm—who’s been as busy as a spider, spinning spiteful lies about the Kruegers’ yarns. Or, are the naĂŻve newcomers merely caught in the tangle of Plum Harbor politics, and an intense land protection debate?
Suddenly, vandalism turns to murder—and the Kruegers’ dream descends into a nightmare. The Black Sheep knitters must pull the threads together and uncover this crafty menace . . . before more lives—and more llamas— are lost.

Meet the Author

Anne Canadeo lives and knits in Northport, New York. She is the author of the Black Sheep knitting mystery series, and she has also authored the popular Thomas Kinkade series writing as Katherine Spencer.

If you love to knit (or even if you don't) This series is a good one for any reader..

Book 1 is While my Pretty One Knits
Book 2 is Knit, Purl, Die
Book 3 is A Stitch Before Dying

Friday, January 18, 2013

Tracy Tucker Blog Tour


 I Kill Me: Tales of A Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H. Tucker








Check out my interview with Tracy!



Tell us about yourself.

First and foremost, I am a newly-empty nested mother to three of the best young women on Earth. I've been a teacher for a total of seventeen years, was a stay-at-home mom for nine and am currently teaching middle school (God help me) in a wonderful small-town community in Maine. Writing has always been a a major part of my life, ever since I was ten and wrote my first "real" story called "The Talking Cat." I enjoyed rereading it and was quite pleased that I could make someone laugh (even if that someone was me). I'm an avid animal lover and have my own little farm with two horses, a pony, two dogs and four cats. I fell in love with horses when I was nine and never outgrew it! The barn my wonderful husband built me is my happy place--that, and to a lesser extent, Target. And then there's chocolate. I consume it on a daily basis. Okay, several times a day. If I'm being totally honest, throughout the day. I call Dove chocolates "author vitamins." 

How did you come up with this story?

I went through a very difficult, very unexpected divorce ten years ago. I found it cathartic to create a character who went through a similar experience. As the author of the book, I was able to control what happened, and this was comforting since my world had been so drastically shaken. I thought I'd add some humor with the hypochondria and make each chapter of the book have a double meaning...what the character was experiencing health-wise, but also what she was going through emotionally. For example, in "Heart Failure," Christine worries about having a cardiac condition but is also devastated by the realization her marriage has ended. 

What are you working on now?

I'm about a third of the way through a women's fiction novel. It has some humor like I KILL ME, but it has more sex and more drama, with a major twist planned for the end. The main character is a 36 year old woman veterinarian who was widowed two years ago and is raising her teen daughter. She's rather addicted to sex but prefers to keep emotions out of it...until a new man enters her life. Oh, and she keeps seeing the image of her dead husband as she orgasms. I'm hoping for an early spring release. 

What character was the hardest to write, and which one was the most fun?

I honestly didn't have difficulty writing any of them, because I "knew" all of them so well. I felt for Christine, so she was relatively easy to write. I think I had the most fun writing Hank. I could picture and "hear" him clearly...he's the gay man any woman would love to have as a best friend!

Do you have a favorite comfort read?

The children's book Love You Forever by Robert Munsch always gives me that "warm fuzzy" feeling. I have wonderful memories of snuggling with each of my daughters on the couch and reading that aloud to them. I gave each of my girls a copy of that book for Christmas. 

If you could live in any book, what one would you choose and why?

Hmm...in terms of a childhood book, I'd choose The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I remember feeling like I was in that world, pushing back those coats in that magical closet to reveal the land of Narnia. I would have loved to have met the wonderful and mighty Aslan. If I picked an adult book, I'd have to say the novel I'm currently writing. That way, I could get up close and personal with the characters - maybe even ask them to take me by the hand and lead me through their individual stories. It would be quite a time-saver :). 




EXCERPT #1 – from Chapter One: Breathless
           
            I could think of two big reasons why this threesome wasn’t going to work: her boobs. When my husband of nineteen years told me he wanted to “spice things up,” I was envisioning sex toys…spanking…chocolate-covered penis. The kinkiest thing we had done thus far was Richard tying me to the bedposts. We’d had a code for him to untie me if I started to freak out. The code was me saying, untie-me-right-now. So when he first proposed the idea of a playmate, I was shocked. I mean, who did that, anyway? Certainly, not us. He was an insurance salesman whose specialty was planning for a secure future. I was a high school English teacher. We lived in the wholesome Green Mountain State. And we were parents—which was something Eleanor Wilkinson definitely was not, as was evident by her breasts.
            They were truthfully too big to be called “perky.” Thing One and Thing Two were up and out. My breasts, on the other hand, were not only small (32 B minus) but had turned into saggy, limp skin sacs with droopy areolae and indifferent nipples from two years of nursing babies. So it was very much unappreciated that my husband wanted to invite someone with a cup size further along in the alphabet than mine to join us under the covers.
            It had all started with a trigger point. Richard had been complaining of his upper back muscles being tight, and since I knew he’d been under a lot of stress at work, I got him a gift certificate to a local spa. Eleanor, a transplant from England with what Richard called a “killer accent,” was his massage therapist. After about four sessions of seeing her, Richard mentioned that someone at the office had engaged in a threesome, and then said what did I think of that. I said a twosome was more than enough for me, and the conversation had ended. The morning after his sixth massage, he told me over breakfast (while the girls were upstairs getting ready for school) that he thought he might like to try a threesome, and what did I think of that. I had stirred my coffee a bit too vigorously so that some of it slopped over the sides of the mug and onto the table. I had not known what to answer, and thought it wise that I refrained from my initial response of what the FUUCKK?! After a few moments, I whispered (so the kids wouldn’t hear), why didn’t we just watch some good porn instead?
            That’s not what I’m talking about, he snorted. I feel like we need to really shake things up here. Make it exciting again.
            Aren’t I enough for you? I asked. I didn’t understand this; we’d had sex three times last week, and I’d gone down on him every time. Even when he hadn’t showered immediately before.
            I need a change, he had answered. Sorry, but I’m just being honest.
            That was when I got scared. And I said, okay.





I Kill Me was a semifinalist (top 20!) in the
Humor Category for the Goodreads Choice Awards!
Christine Bacon has a fatal attraction. To all things fatal. A veteran hypochondriac, her near-death experiences are exacerbated when her husband proposes they have a menage a trois with Eleanor, his busty British massage therapist, to "shake things up." Christine reluctantly agrees (although she is more wholesome than threesome), never expecting just how much she'd be rattled. As her marriage to Richard, a/k/a "Dick," falls apart, so, too, does Christine, whose fear of her own demise causes her to research every freckle, blemish, cough, bump, lump, tingle and hiccup. She isn't a doctor, but she plays one on the internet.

There is solace for Christine: in raising daughters Lily and Carli, leaning on her friends, and wearing out the shower massager. In order to heal, she struggles to become her own person and to view her symptoms (and ex-husband) as less malignant, while searching for that special someone who will love her--despite her grave condition.






Author Bio:



Tracy H. Tucker is first and foremost the mother of three of the best people on Earth. She has a Master's in Literacy from the University of Maine and has inspired the youth of America for seventeen years. She's an avid animal lover and would like to publicly thank her husband for putting up with the pet hair, the dogs in the bed, the things the cats hack up and the repeated requests for goats. It's a wonderful life.

Connect with Tracy!






Buy the Book!



Thursday, January 17, 2013

Thursday First

Flowerbed of State( White House Gardener Mystery Series )by Dorothy St. James

is our Thursday First !!!!!


Flowerbed of State

Overview

Cassandra "Casey" Calhoun's passion for gardening has carried her to President's Park on which sits the White House. But when she finds a dead body in a trash can, Casey has to root out a killer before she ends up planted herself.

This is a fabulous book ! Check it out if you haven't already. You wont want to miss it!

Meet the Author

Dorothy St. James lives a charmed life at the beach just outside Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, two slightly needy dogs, and a contemplative cat. She earned her bachelor of science in aquaculture, fisheries, and wildlife biology from Clemson University’s School of Agriculture, graduating at the top of her class. She went on to receive a master of public administration from the University of Charleston with an emphasis on environmental urban planning.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Author Spotlight-- Lee Child

Todays Spotlight goes out to


                                                   Lee Child Author of The Jack Reacher Novels!!!!

His Newest Novel is A Wanted Man


A Wanted Man (Jack Reacher Series #17)

Overview

Reacher is back! A Wanted Man is a new masterpiece of suspense—from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child.

Four people in a car, hoping to make Chicago by morning. One man driving, eyes on the road. Another man next to him, telling stories that don’t add up. A woman in the back, silent and worried. And next to her, a huge man with a broken nose, hitching a ride east to Virginia.

An hour behind them, a man lies stabbed to death in an old pumping station. He was seen going in with two others, but he never came out. He has been executed, the knife work professional, the killers vanished. Within minutes, the police are notified. Within hours, the FBI descends, laying claim to the victim without ever saying who he was or why he was there.

All Reacher wanted was a ride to Virginia. All he did was stick out his thumb. But he soon discovers he has hitched more than a ride. He has tied himself to a massive conspiracy that makes him a threat—to both sides at once.

In Lee Child’s white-hot thriller, nothing is what it seems, and nobody is telling the truth. As the tension rises, the twists come fast and furious, keeping readers guessing and gasping until the explosive finale.

One Shot (Jack Reacher Series #9)


Have you read this series? Seen the Movie?

Let me know what you think!!!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

A Look Back-1

A look back at the happens here on my blog!!!!!


Monday we were visited by The Sullivans and Bella Andre.We started to get to know more of who The Sullivans are

Tuesday was more time with the Sullivans, a guest post,
Alpha Heroes , Happily Ever Afters:  The Perfect Combo,   
 talking about Chase Sullivan,He's a jet-setting photographer, a mind-blowing lover, and is surrounded by gorgeous models all day long. But it isn't until he meets Chloe Peterson on the side of a road during a rainstorm in the Napa Valley wine country that he falls in love.

Wednesday was Author Spotlight and this week was Meg Cabot, Author of Abandon and Underworld. Check out these books.

Also on Wednesday we had another gust post from the Sullivans , just like  a real family, every Sullivan has a special relationship with each of the others. Smith and Sophie are extra close, as are Marcus and Lori. Ryan and Zach are so close in age that they spent a lot of time together as kids and have a special bond as adults.

Thursday was Thursday First and that first chosen was A Spoonful of Murder by Connie Archer  here is an over of the book

Overview

Winter is big business in small-town Snowflake, Vermont. Tourists arrive to hit the ski slopes—and what could be more satisfying after a chilly day of carving powder than a steaming bowl of soup?
When Lucky Jamieson inherits her parents' soup shop, By the Spoonful, she realizes it's time to take stock of her life. Should she sell her parents' house or move in herself? Does she really want to run a restaurant business? And what about her grandfather Jack, who seems to be showing signs of Alzheimer's?
But her life decisions are moved to the back burner after an icy blonde tourist is found frozen to death behind the soup shop. and Lucky is bowled over when her soup chef, Sage DuBois, is led out of the kitchen by the police. As suspicion and speculations snowball, Lucky decides that the only way to save her employee and her business is to find out herself who iced the tourist—and landed her chef in the soup...
Who wouldnt want to read this one!

And The Sullivans are here with us again, we interviewed Bella Andre about The Sullivans and what is next. If you haven't check it out , you won't want to miss it!!!!!!

Friday I took time off to take care of some things..

Here is what is coming up for the new week...

Tracy Tucker's Blog tour starts on the 18th of Jan.
Wednesday we will spotlight another author!
Thursday First is always a fun way to meet new authors and new books!

There are a few books I know that are coming out in Jan.

On the 22nd is The Silence of the Llamas by Anne Canadeo
On the 29th is Out of Circulation by Miranda James
also on the 29th Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier
and Death Taxes, and Peach Sangris by Diane Kelley

This Week I have read Frozen Heat by Richard Castle , The Walled Flower by lorna Barrett, Read and Buried by Erika Chase.

Books lined up for this week are One Hot Murder by Lorna Barrett, Bewitched ,Bothered and Biscotti by Bailey Cates and Murder for the Halibut by Liz Lipperman.

It's going to be a great week!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Samaire Provost blog tour

Hi everyone Today we have with us Samaire Provost  talking about her Mad World Series. Check it out and stop by and say hello.

Welcome Samaire it is a pleasure to have you here with us today!!!!



Tell us about yourself?

Thank you for hosting my book on your blog, Shelley. I'm very happy to be here. My name is Samaire and I live in California with my husband and son with one neurotic cat and one hyper-happy dog. I love to read! I read 4-5 hours every day and I feel it's important to do so, kind of like keeping up my writing education. I believe a writer learns to write from reading lots and lots of books.
I love to write. I have been writing since I was a young girl, but just recently begun to gather my stories into novels and offer them to the public.   My new book is the third in the Mad World series, and it's called "Mad World: DESPERATION."   My next novel will be involving vampires. I plan on releasing many books in 2013, along with my husband, who is also an author.


How did you come up with this series?

I had just finished reading a novel series concerning the Zombie Apocalypse, and I loved it. I thought I would love to take a crack at the subject :-)  
In 2011 I had read about real-world scientists excavating mass Black Plague graves in Europe to study and hopefully reawaken the disease from the bone marrow of those corpses. I thought, "What could go wrong?" And then boom! I had my idea :-)


What are you working on now?

I am finishing up DESPERATION and also starting on my next novel. I hope to release the next novel in February 2013.


What character was the Hardest  to write and which one was the most fun?

The hardest character to write was Coach Turner.  The most fun character to write was Risa.


Do you have a favorite comfort read?

JK Rowling's Harry Potter series as well as Neil Gaiman's Good Omens and The Graveyard Book


If you could live in any book what one would you choose and why?


I would love to live in the work of Harry Potter and be a witch, just graduated out of Hogwarts.  Maybe I'd open up a shop in Diagon Alley, like the Weasley twins.


Author Bio:


Born naked. Clothed and fed shortly thereafter by adoring parents who looked on in bemusement as their daughter became a reading, writing, free-spirited, feral, animal loving, bleeding-heart chocolate lover who laughs easily. Samaire Provost is a California writer of Young Adult novels. Her love of paranormal stories, odd plots, and unique tales as well as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, E.A.Poe, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Stephen King has deeply influenced her writing.

Connect with Samaire!



Thursday First

Today our Thursday First  is ...

                  A Spoonful of Murder by Connie Archer


This is such a wonderful series,especially on a cold winters day when soup makes anyday warm! Check it out!!!! Let me know if you have read it and what you thought of it!!!!!


Overview

Winter is big business in small-town Snowflake, Vermont. Tourists arrive to hit the ski slopes—and what could be more satisfying after a chilly day of carving powder than a steaming bowl of soup?
When Lucky Jamieson inherits her parents' soup shop, By the Spoonful, she realizes it's time to take stock of her life. Should she sell her parents' house or move in herself? Does she really want to run a restaurant business? And what about her grandfather Jack, who seems to be showing signs of Alzheimer's?
But her life decisions are moved to the back burner after an icy blonde tourist is found frozen to death behind the soup shop. and Lucky is bowled over when her soup chef, Sage DuBois, is led out of the kitchen by the police. As suspicion and speculations snowball, Lucky decides that the only way to save her employee and her business is to find out herself who iced the tourist—and landed her chef in the soup...
Recipes included!

The Sullivans Interview for readers! Check it out!

Please enjoy this interview with Bella Andre, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the contemporary romance series, The Sullivans.Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards!

Interview with Bella Andre about her best-selling series, The Sullivans


 You create characters beautifully and are an absolute master of plot twists. It seems like you could write in almost any genre and do a bang-up job of it. What made you decide to devote your efforts to the romance genre in particular?


Thank you so much for the compliments! I've always been a huge romance fan - I've been reading nearly a book a day since I was a teenager - so it was a natural fit for me when the characters starting appearing in my head one day. :)

. How did the idea for this interconnected contemporary romance series first come to you? What was your inspiration?

I love the family series that have always been popular in historical romance - like Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series and Nora Roberts's MacGregors - and I was also inspired by my husband's large family. It seemed like a natural fit to combine the funny and sweet family dynamics into an overarching series of sexy contemporary romances with the alpha heroes that I love so much.

 Everyone seems to have a favorite Sullivan. Now I know this is like asking you to choose between your own children, but who is your favorite? And who's most like you?

I'll have to plead the fifth and pick Mary Sullivan - the family matriarch - as my favorite Sullivan. She's the heart that keeps the family together and I get emotional whenever I write a scene with her. In fact, in COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER (Smith Sullivan's story), the scene where he calls his mother to ask for love advice is one that so many readers have told me is their absolute favorite scene in any Sullivan book.

As for who is most like me - maybe Sophie Sullivan from I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU. She loves to read (and is a librarian) and when she wants something (in her case: bad boy Jake McCann), she goes for it! Of course, I'm also a lot like Lori Sullivan (aka "Naughty") with her big mouth and constant laughter.

 In your opinion, what ingredients are needed to make up a good love story? Is life the same as fiction in this respect? Why or why not?

I love to love my characters and when I write a story I need two heroic, nice, good people (and why not gorgeous, too?!) who deserve love and have a lot of love to offer in return, but who are flawed partially because they haven't found that perfect someone who complements them like no other. I like my fiction to be a little bigger than life - the Sullivans are extraordinarily hot, sensitive and attentive - but at their heart, they're all very real.

How has your own love story with your husband informed the Sullivan series? Are there any scenes that are directly taken from your own life?


I have the best husband in the entire world. Sweet, loving, sensitive…and super hot! He's always supported me in everything I've ever done and I think his strength and capability to love is at the core of every hero I write.

With that said, none of the scenes are ever taken directly from my own life. I have a very active imagination. :)

 Let's pretend for a second that you are a single woman living in the world of the Sullivans, which of the six brothers would you be most likely to fall in love with and why?

Ohhhh, now THAT is a fun fantasy! I would fall in love with each and every single one of them - and do, while I'm writing each of their stories! If I had to pick one, I might have my eye on Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) - because while all of my Sullivans are sweet, sexy and sensitive - Marcus is the only one with his own endless supply of wine from his winery. And there's just something about the oldest brother…. Then again, Zach Sullivan is such a great combination of cocky and sweet. And Ryan Sullivan has all those muscles. And Gabe is such a hero as a firefighter (and I love his dirty talking between the sheets). And Chase is so sexy and protective. And then there's Jake McCann (who falls in love with Sophie Sullivan) with his tattoos and big muscles. Not to mention Lori's hero in the upcoming ALWAYS ON MY MIND which will be out this spring. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Lori's hero just might be the hottest hero I've ever written.

See, what did I tell you earlier? I'm no good at picking just one. So let's just say, yet again, ALL OF THEM!

The Sullivans and their beaux have some pretty interesting careers. From photographers and sculptors to professional actors, musicians and ball players all the way to firefighters, librarians and business owners, they lead very exciting lives! What type of research did you have to do to capture these jobs so well? Do you have any interesting research anecdotes to share?


I've written firefighters and athletes in previous series which helped with my firefighter, Gabe (CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE) and my baseball player, Ryan (LET ME BE THE ONE). I also live in Sonoma and have a lot of experience with wine and wineries which was ideal for winery owner Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) and as a writer I've been blessed to work with many librarians who served as information points for Sophie (I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU.)

For books where I need inspiration, the internet has been amazing and when needed, I also call on the help of professionals. Even though I'd written firefighters before, I still sent all my firefighting scenes to a professional and for Smith's book (COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER) I sent all the acting-set sequences to a local film producer.

 I was very touched by the inclusion of Yorkie puppy, Cuddles, and Great Dane rescue, Atlas, in book five, If You Were Mine. Are you a dog person yourself? If you have pets, I'd love to know more about them!

I *love* animals. I had the best time writing the two dogs in IF YOU WERE MINE. They had their own little love story in that book, which pleased me to no end. There's a cat that plays a very important role in ALWAYS ON MY MIND (Lori Sullivan's story, coming Spring 2013). My whole family loves animals, and we've recently adopted a beautiful cat. Or more accurately, the cat has adopted us, smart little minx.

 The Sullivan series is currently seven volumes long. How many more books do you have planned, and which other family members will get the spotlight in their own books?

Lori's book (ALWAYS ON MY MIND) is up next, and there are 5 Seattle Sullivans who are ready for love - I will start with Rafe Sullivan's book this summer! Plus, I have something *very* special planned for Mary Sullivan, their mother, planned to release for the holidays in 2013.


And lastly (for a bit of random fun), what has been the most amazing/ touching/ validating interaction you've had with a fan of your books?

Everyone who has ever written to me on Facebook or Twitter or Goodreads or via email to tell me how much they love my books and that the Sullivans have moved them in some way has touched me. I love my fans, so, so much! I have the very best time in the world writing about my Sullivans… and knowing that I have so many absolutely wonderful people waiting to read them as soon as they're released is a total thrill every single day.





The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We've got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW!

You'll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You'll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world's heart.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is http://www.novelpublicity.com/the-sullivans/

RIGHT HERE.Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

     Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 

    
Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity 

Visit today’s featured social media event(that's where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Sullivans :

In this sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love...usually where he or she least expects it.

Get the eBooks via Amazon US

Amazon UK





Audiobooks are also available for the first five in the series (with more coming soon). Plus, keep an eye out for paperback editions coming from Harlequin Romance starting Summer 2013.

About the Author: 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started writing her first romance novel, she knew she'd found her perfect career. Known for "sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance" (Publishers Weekly) about sizzling alpha heroes and the strong women they'll love forever, nearly all of her novels have appeared on Top 10 lists at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo.

Her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine "Red Hot Reads" twice and have been translated into nine languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her "One of the top digital writers in America" and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. She has given the keynote speech at Book Expo America on her self-publishing success and has sold more than one million books.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.


Sign up for Bella's newsletter at www.eepurl.com/eXj22"
Visit Bella's website at http://www.BellaAndre.com"
Follow Bella on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bellaandre"
Join Bella on Faceboook at

First in Series- Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross

Happy Monday! This week's First in Series is Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross Released on August 22, 2000. Seri...