Book Review: Arsenic & Old Books by Miranda James

Lucinda Beckwith Long, the mayor of Athena, Mississippi, has donated a set of Civil War-era diaries to the archives of Athena College. She would like librarian Charlie Harris to preserve and substantiate them as a part of the Long family legacy—something that could benefit her son, Beck, as he prepares to campaign for the state senate.

Beck’s biggest rival would like to get a look at the diaries in an attempt to expose the Long family’s past sins. Meanwhile, a history professor is also determined to get her hands on the books in a last-ditch bid for tenure. But their interest suddenly turns deadly, leaving Charlie with a catalog of questions to answer. Together with his Maine Coon cat Diesel, Charlie must discover why the diaries were worth killing for before he too reaches his final chapter.[summary via Goodreads]

The Cats in the Stacks are one of my favorite cozy mystery series, currently in print. They are one of the few series that are "auto-buys" for me. In fact, I will usually pick up the newest without even reading the summary on the back of the book. I know, regardless of the plot, that I'm going to love the story. 

I absolutely raced through Arsenic & Old Books. The story drew me in and I couldn't get enough of it. The plot was really fascinating. I'm Australian by birth and have lived in Canada for almost 10 years. To say that my American history isn't as knowledgeable as others in North America is an understatement. I'm always fascinated by anything to do with American history and I particularly enjoyed the plot for this reason. As Charlie is reading the diaries, he uncovers more about the well-known families in Athena and the results certainly were enjoyable to watch. Nothing like a well-know family scandal to spice up the pages!

I love all the characters in this series, but of course Diesel steals the show! Being a cat owner of a Maine Coon myself, I love Diesel, the Maine Coon in this series. Miranda James' perfectly writes his mannerisms and it always makes me feel lucky to be the owner of a Maine Coon. They certainly are a special breed.

I really can't say enough good things about this series. It is well-written, well-plotted and always leave me having enjoyed a very good read. The Cats in the Stacks mystery are a favorite amongst most cozy mystery readers bookshelves for good reason. They are some of the best contemporary cozy mysteries in print right now, and should be read by everyone. So if you haven't picked up this series yet, I strongly recommend you do.

Giveaway: All Sales Final by Josie Belle

Today we're giving away a paperback of All Sales Final by Josie Belle...

Maggie’s impending wedding finds her more concerned with a cold case than cold feet in the latest from the author of Marked Down for Murder . . .
There’s something 100% off about Maggie and her fiancé Sam’s new dream home in the historic section of St. Stanley. The lights flicker, the doors blow shut, and their cat, Marshall Dillon, hisses at empty space. And there’s something in the basement that’s definitely not a bargain . . .
After Maggie discovers a skeleton in the root cellar, she’s convinced her house is haunted by a murdered man’s ghost. With the help of her Good Buy Girls, Maggie works to tag a killer. But she’ll need to be careful as she digs into the history of her new digs. Someone is willing to keep the truth buried at all costs . . .[via Goodreads]

Have you read the Good Buy Girls mysteries yet? If not we strongly recommend you give them a try. They are unique, fun and unforgettable!

To enter:
1. Complete the Rafflecopter form below OR leave a comment with your email address.
2. Giveaway ends on April 28, 2016 and the winners will be contacted by email.
3. Giveaway is open International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: All Sales Final by Josie Belle

Maggie’s impending wedding finds her more concerned with a cold case than cold feet in the latest from the author of Marked Down for Murder . . .
There’s something 100% off about Maggie and her fiancé Sam’s new dream home in the historic section of St. Stanley. The lights flicker, the doors blow shut, and their cat, Marshall Dillon, hisses at empty space. And there’s something in the basement that’s definitely not a bargain . . .
After Maggie discovers a skeleton in the root cellar, she’s convinced her house is haunted by a murdered man’s ghost. With the help of her Good Buy Girls, Maggie works to tag a killer. But she’ll need to be careful as she digs into the history of her new digs. Someone is willing to keep the truth buried at all costs . . .[via Goodreads]

I've been enjoying the Good Buy Girls mysteries since I picked up the first book, 50% Off Murder, in 2012. They are refreshingly unique, with their theme of bargain shopping. There are a lot of culinary and crafty cozy mysteries on the shelves, and at the time I remember how refreshing it was to have a unique theme like bargain shopping. Since those early days I've continued to enjoy this series and was happy to discover another book in the series was released, All Sales Final.

This time the Good Buy Girls are helping Maggie plan her upcoming wedding with Sam. However, Maggie is procrastinating over wedding plans and seems more interested in the dream house Sam and her are buying. Things get very interesting when they discover a skeleton in the basement!

The mystery in this story was really fascinating. It is a cold case, and of course Sam and Maggie first have to find the identity of the skeleton. I was glued to each pages as the clues unfolded and I couldn't put the book down.

I love all the characters in this series, and I'm so sad that the series has come to an end. By far it was one of the more interesting series out there, and I hope sometime in the future it may get revived. At least it is this reader's wishes.

For those that haven't discovered this series yet, pick up 50% Off Murder today. This is an unforgettable series and one you won't regret picking up.

Book Review: Hiss and Hers by M.C. Beaton

Agatha Raisin is as feisty as ever—armed with her famous wit and biting sense of humor. This time, though, there's some biting of a whole other sort going on. Agatha has fallen head over heels in love - again - for Cotswold gardener George Marston, but so have others, a long suspect list. She foots the bill for a charity ball just for the chance to dance with him, but he fails to show. Agatha finds his body in a compost heap - dead from snake bite.[summary from Goodreads]

It is with much sadness that I read Hiss or Hers. Not because the book was terrible (it wasn't!) but because this was the last book in this series that remained unread to me. Over the last couple of years I've devoured the Agatha Raisin mysteries and I've now read every book and I will be alike to many devoted readers, and awaiting the next release.

I love Agatha Raisin. She's tough, she has spunk and she's fierce. But she also has a good heart and underneath it all is also a romantic. She always hoping to meet the "one" and in Hiss and Hers she thought she had in gardener, George Marston. Unfortunately too many women in the village thought he was the "one" for them too!

When George turns up dead, Agatha goes about trying to solve the mystery in true Agatha style! As the case unravels this looks like it might be one that might get away. Of course Agatha has that dogged determination and she's determined to find the murderer!!

I love every trip to Carsley with Agatha and her friends and this one was no exception. I enjoy Agatha's interactions with Charles Fraith and Mrs Bloxby the most, both being my favourite characters in this series. 

I can't speak highly enough about this series. If you haven't started this series yet pick up Agatha's First Case or Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death and get hooked on this great British series!

Book Review: Murder of an Open Book by Denise Swanson

A nasty faculty feud leaves one Scumble River teacher belly-up. . . .
Her honeymoon may have been less than relaxing, but Skye Boyd née Denison is still high on marital bliss with her new husband, Wally. The fact that their family is about to get bigger is even more exciting, even if Skye is dealing with morning sickness—and trying to hide the news from her ever-meddling mother, May.
But Skye quickly comes crashing down from cloud nine when the body of one of her coworkers, science teacher and volleyball coach Blair Hucksford, is found in the school swimming pool. The troublesome trainer was on the bad side of almost everyone on staff and many of the girls on her team, leaving Skye to sort through a huge roster of suspects. Now she must figure out which wronged party was mad enough to kill, and quickly—before someone else in town gets bumped off. . . .[summary via Amazon]

Murder of an Open Book is the EIGHTEENTH book in the Scumble River Mysteries! That is 18 wonderful books that I have devoured, one after the other. This is quite an accomplishment for any writer, and especially for a modern series, given the changes in the publishing industry of late. So how does Denise Swanson do it?

Alike the previous 17 books in this series, Denise Swanson delivers quality writing, fantastic plots, interesting characters and the ability to always keep the reader on their toes!

My favorite thing about this series is watching the progression of the series. Denise Swanson allows the stories to follow at a good pace. I have enjoyed watching Skye's love life with interest, as she's settled on police officer, Wally Boyd, and settled into her life in Scumble River. In fact, with every read it has become more like sitting down with family and friends.

Alike to the previous books, I loved the mystery and also the moments with Skye and her family, especially her mom, May, who is always a hoot! Denise Swanson kept me on my toes as I tried, and failed, to guess the identity of the murderer. All in all, it was another wonderful mystery in this series.

The Scumble River Mysteries are one my go-to, auto-buy, auto-recommend mysteries to new readers of the genre. There is something for everyone in this series, and I guarantee once you start on them, you won't be able to stop.

Book Review: A Fatal Chapter by Lorna Barrett

New York Times bestselling author Lorna Barrett presents another page-turning chapter in her Booktown Mystery series. This time mystery bookshop owner Tricia Miles is about to find out murder is no walk in the park…

While out walking Sarge, her sister’s bichon frise, Tricia is led by the agitated dog to a man lying in a gazebo. She’s startled when she recognizes Pete Renquist, the president of the Stoneham Historical Society, who appears to be suffering from cardiac arrest. When Pete later dies in the hospital, the discovery of a suspicious bruise and a puncture mark on his arm suggests he may have been murdered.
Haunted by Pete’s enigmatic last words to her, Tricia begins to consider who had a motive to kill her friend. Did Pete take his flirting too far, only to have a jealous husband teach him a lesson? Or did he discover something in the town’s historical records that his killer wanted kept secret? Tricia is determined to get to the bottom of things before someone else becomes history…[summary via Goodreads]

The Booktown mysteries were some of the first cozy mysteries I read when I discovered cozies beyond the Agatha Christie novels I loved. They certainly were the first that I read in order, and realized the beauty of the cozy. Since those early days I've always looked forward to reading each story in the Booktown mysteries. I've watch Tricia settle into Booktown and her sister join her then. Along the way there has been murder, mayhem and secrets, but none so like the latest book in the series.

Tricia stumbles upon the body of Pete enquist, the president of the Stoneham Historical Society, while taking her sister's dog for a walk! As she investigates the murder, she discovers more about Pete's life than she ever knew, making it hard to narrow down the suspects.

I did enjoy the whodunnit a lot. For me, part of the thrill of mysteries is trying to find out who the murderer is. I really enjoy it when no matter how hard I guess, I can't figure out who do it. This was the case with the murderer in A Fatal Chapter. I definitely didn't figure it out before Tricia.

However, what I really love about this series is all the secondary stories, involving Tricia, her sister and the residents of Stoneham. In A Fatal Chapter the identity behind NRA Realty is revealed, and that certainly took me by surprise! Lorna Barrett has been leading up to this, and it was interesting watching it unfold. Lorna Barrett tells a good story, and all the storylines combined together to keep me on the edge of my seat through the entire story, and the ending left me completely breathless.

I never hesitate in recommending this series. It's a great cozy mystery series, with a memorable cozy town, and one that you readers will want to visit again and again.

Book Review: Knock Knock You're Dead by M.C. Beaton

Mrs. Morag McPhie hits upon the idea of selling some of her old furniture to raise money to visit her daughter in Australia. But when a dead body turns up, Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth wonders if the antique business is even more cutthroat than he thought... [summary via Goodreads]

M.C. Beaton has released a short story in her popular Hamish Macbeth series, where Hamish stumbles upon a murder while out visiting the single and elderly. It raises the question of whether someone would kill for an antique!

This was a fun short story. The story is short, but packs a punch with a murder for Hamish to solve. I liked that he was able to solve it quickly. While the story was short, it did remind me of how much I enjoy this series and I'm planning to read more books in this series.

While Agatha Raisin remains my strong favourite, I am fast becoming a big fan of Hamish Macbeth and looking forward to continuing with this series.

Book Spotlight + Giveaway: Mary Ellen Hughes' "Pickled & Preserved Mysteries"

Today we're featuring the Pickled & Preserved Mysteries by Mary Ellen Hughes. Let's meet Piper and her new adventures in Cloverdale:

After her dreams of romance are crushed, Piper Lamb decides to pursue her dream of opening her own shop of pickles and preserves, called Piper’s Picklings, in the idyllic small town of Cloverdale. But she isn’t in town long before she encounters a barrelful of trouble…
The Cloverdale fair offers Piper a sweet opportunity to promote her business. With her new assistant, Amy, she sets up a booth centered around an eye-catching display of the ever-popular dills in an old-fashioned barrel of brine.
But things soon turn sour when fairgoers witness a fight between Amy’s boyfriend, Nate, and town council blowhard—and bagpipe player—Alan Rosemont. When Rosemont is found floating in Piper’s barrel, Nate becomes the prime murder suspect. With Amy’s boyfriend in a pretty pickle, there’s no time to dillydally. But as Piper searches for the real killer, she needs to be careful to preserve her own life…or she may end up a pickled Piper herself.

This is a super fun series, that has a unique setting of a pickle shop!

Books in the series:
01 - The Pickled Piper

02 - Licence to Dill

03 - Scene of the Brine

Check out all the books in this series on Amazon.

Visit Mary Ellen Hughes on the web: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Today we're hosting a fantastic giveaway!! We're hosting a giveaway for one paperback of The Pickled Piper and a $25 Book Depository Giftcard.

GIVEAWAY:

To enter:
1. Complete the Rafflecopter form below OR leave a comment with your email address.
2. Giveaway ends on April 22, 2016 and the winners will be contacted by email.
3. Giveaway is open International!

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Giveaway: To Brew Or Not to Brew by Joyce Tremel

Today we're giving away our gently read paperback of To Brew or Not to Brew by Joyce Tremel.

An all-new mystery series set in a Pittsburgh craft brew pub, featuring a brewmaster with a head for sleuthing.
The Allegheny Brew House is a dream come true for Maxine “Max” O’Hara, who went all the way to Germany for her brewmaster certification, and is now preparing to open her own craft brew pub in a newly revitalized section of Pittsburgh. But before she can start pouring stouts and lagers to thirsty throngs, there’s trouble on tap. Suspicious acts of sabotage culminate in Max finding her assistant brewmaster and chef Kurt Schmidt strangled in one of the vats.
Between rescuing a stray gray tabby she names Hops and considering a handsome ex-hockey player as her new chef, Max doesn’t have a lot of time to solve a murder. But with a homicide detective for a dad, she comes to criminal investigation naturally. And if someone is desperate enough to kill to stop her from opening, Max needs to act fast—before her brand-new brew biz totally tanks...[summary via Amazon]

To enter:
1. Complete the Rafflecopter form below OR leave a comment with your email address.
2. Giveaway ends on April 21, 2016 and the winners will be contacted by email.
3. Giveaway is open US/Canada.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: To Brew or Not To Brew by Joyce Tremel

An all-new mystery series set in a Pittsburgh craft brew pub, featuring a brewmaster with a head for sleuthing.
The Allegheny Brew House is a dream come true for Maxine “Max” O’Hara, who went all the way to Germany for her brewmaster certification, and is now preparing to open her own craft brew pub in a newly revitalized section of Pittsburgh. But before she can start pouring stouts and lagers to thirsty throngs, there’s trouble on tap. Suspicious acts of sabotage culminate in Max finding her assistant brewmaster and chef Kurt Schmidt strangled in one of the vats.
Between rescuing a stray gray tabby she names Hops and considering a handsome ex-hockey player as her new chef, Max doesn’t have a lot of time to solve a murder. But with a homicide detective for a dad, she comes to criminal investigation naturally. And if someone is desperate enough to kill to stop her from opening, Max needs to act fast—before her brand-new brew biz totally tanks...[summary via Amazon]

I'm not a beer drinker. Growing up in Australia, I never got the taste for what is very popular beverage down under. Despite not being a fan of the alcoholic beverage, I absolutely devoured this first book in the Brewing Trouble Mysteries, as much as any fan of the beverage would!

In To Brew or Not Brew we meet Max O'Hara, who is ready to open her own brewery. I instantly liked Max. She's Irish, has five older brothers and is feisty! She's the kind of girl you'd love to have as your best friend, and readers will find themselves cheering her on as she tries to solve the murder!

Max's sidekicks come in the form of ex-hockey player and family friend, Jake, and her kitten, Hops. Together the three of them create sleuthing magic as they work together to solve the crime!

I enjoyed every second of this debut mystery. It hits all the right spots for me, and whether you're a beer drinker or not, it will be a mystery that you won't forget in a hurry! I definitely can't wait to come back for more, with Tangled Up in Brew, out in October, 2016.

National Library Week: the Ophelia & Abby Mysteries by Shirley Damsgaard

Today we are introducing a series that is described as "Bewitched meets Murder She Wrote"! Meet Ophelia, a small town librarian, with witchy powers...

Bewitched meets Murder She Wrote in this delightful new cozy mystery series featuring Ophelia Jensen, small town librarian and reluctant psychic, and her grandmother Abby, a benevolent witch.

Thirty something Ophelia Jensen wants to live a quiet life as a small town librarian. She's created a comfortable existence with her kooky, colorful grandmother Abby, and if it were up to her, they could live out their days—along with Ophelia's dog Lady and cat Queenie—in peace and quiet. But, to Ophelia's dismay, she and Abby aren't a typical grandmother/granddaughter duo. She possesses psychic powers, and Abby is a kindly witch. And while Ophelia would do anything to dismiss her gift—harboring terrible guilt after her best friend was killed and she was unable to stop it—threatening events keep popping up, forcing her to tap into her powers of intuition. To make matters worse, a strange—yet devastatingly attractive—man is hanging around Ophelia's library, and no matter how many times she tells him she's sworn off men forever, he persists. Soon this handsome newcomer reveals he's following a lead on a local drug ring, and then a dead body shows up right in Abby's backyard. And much as Ophelia would like to put away her spells forever, she and Abby must use their special powers to keep themselves, and others, out of harm's way.

Fans of paranormal mysteries will love this series!

Books in this series:
01 - Witch Way to Murder
02 - Charmed to Death
03 - The Trouble with Witches
04 - Witch Hunt
05 - The Witch is Dead
06 - The Witch's Grave
07 - The Seventh Witch
Check out all the books in this series on Amazon.

Visit Shirley Damsgaard on the web: Website | Facebook.

Today we're giving readers the chance to win a KINDLE edition of the first book in this series, Witch Way to Murder.

GIVEAWAY 

To enter: 

1. Giveaway is for a Kindle edition of Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard. We have FIVE copies to giveaway.

2. Complete the ENTRY FORM. 

3. Giveaway is open to anyone that can receives Kindle books from Amazon.com and closes on Saturday April 16, 2016. 

4. Winners will be contacted by email.

National Library Week: the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries by Laurie Cass

Love books? Love bookmobiles? Love cats? Then we have a series for you! I remember visiting the bookmobile when I was kid. That air-conditioned truck was heaven! This series brought back how much I loved bookmobiles.

Meet rescue cat, Eddie, and librarian, Minnie:

With the help of her rescue cat, Eddie, librarian Minnie Hamilton is driving a bookmobile based in the resort town of Chilson, Michigan. But she’d better keep both hands on the wheel, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride…
Eddie followed Minnie home one day, and now she can’t seem to shake the furry little shadow. But in spite of her efforts to contain her new pal, the tabby sneaks out and trails her all the way to the bookmobile on its maiden voyage. Before she knows it, her slinky stowaway becomes her cat co-pilot!
Minnie and Eddie’s first day visiting readers around the county seems to pass without trouble—until Eddie darts outside at the last stop and leads her to the body of a local man who’s reached his final chapter.
Initially, Minnie is ready to let the police handle this case, but Eddie seems to smell a rat. Together, they’ll work to find the killer—because a good librarian always knows when justice is overdue.

Books in this series:

01 - Lending a Paw

02 - Tailing a Tabby

03 - Borrowed Crime

04 - Pouncing on Murder

05 - Cat with a Clue

Check out all the books in the Bookmobile Mysteries at Amazon.

Visit Laurie Cass on the Web: Website | Facebook.

Today we have the most fantastic prize for readers that haven't read this series! We are giving away books 1-4 in the series, with the winner choosing their prize as Kindle or Paperback!

GIVEAWAY

To enter: 

1. Giveaway is for Book 1-4 in the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries, with the winner choosing the option of paperback or Kindle. 

2. Complete the ENTRY FORM. 

3. Giveaway is open US/Canada and closes on Friday April 15, 2016. 

4. Winners will be contacted by email.

National Library Week: The Cats in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James

If we're going to talk libraries and cozy mysteries, one of the first series that comes to mind is the Cats in the Stacks mysteries by Miranda James. It says it right there in the title "Stacks" and this is one of my favorite cozy mysteries series ever. Readers meet librarian, Charlie Harris, and his maine coon cat, Diesel.

There's a cat in the stacks... ...

and he makes the purr-fect partner for a librarian-turned-sleuth. 

 Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows librarian Charlie Harris-and his Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. They also know his former classmate-turned-famous bestselling novelist, Godfrey Priest. But someone in Athena took Godfrey off the bestseller lists- permanently, and with extreme prejudice. 

Now, Charlie and Diesel must browse through the history section of the town's past to find a killer.

If you love libraries and cats you can't miss this series!

Books in this series:
01 - Murder Past Due
02 - Classified as Murder
03 - File M for Murder
04 - Out of Circulation
05 - The Silence of the Library
06 - Arsenic and Old Books
07 - No Cats Allowed
Check out all the books in the Cats in the Stacks Mysteries on Amazon.

Follow Miranda James on the web: Website | Facebook

Today we're giving away the latest book in the Cats in the Stacks mysteries, No Cats Allowed.

GIVEAWAY: 

To enter:
1. Giveaway is for ONE hardback of No Cats Allowed by Miranda James.
2. Complete the ENTRY FORM.
3. Giveaway is open International (book delivered by Book Depository) and closes on Thursday April 14, 2016.
4. Winners will be contacted by email.

National Library Week: the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries by Charlaine Harris

Most people know Charlaine Harris because of a little character called "Sookie Stackhouse", who not only graced the pages but also the television screen in the Southern Vampire Mysteries (books) and True Blood (tv series). However before then I knew her from her characters in the Aurora Teagarden mysteries, which are cozy mysteries at their finest.

Aurora Teagarden is one of a kind...

Though a small town at heart, Lawrenceton, Georgia, has its dark side-and crime buffs. One of whom is librarian Aurora "Roe" Teagarden, a member of the Real Murders Club, which meets once a month to analyze famous cases. It's a harmless pastime—until the night she finds a member killed in a manner that eerily resembles the crime the club was about to discuss. And as other brutal "copycat" killings follow, Roe will have to uncover the person behind the terrifying game, one that casts all the members of Real Murders, herself included, as prime suspects-or potential victims.

I loved this series and quickly read all the books released, when I discovered cozy mysteries in 2010. Sadly there was no more books in the series. That is until Charlaine Harris announced she was writing another mystery in this series. All the Little Liars will be on shelves on October 6, 2016.

Have you read the Aurora Teagarden mysteries? Do you love them as much as we do?

Books in this series:
01 - Real Murders
02 - A Bone to Pick
03 - Three Murders and a Corpse
04 - The Julius House
05 - Dead Over Heels
06 - A Fool and His Honey
07 - Last Scene Alive
08 - Poppy Done to Death
09 - All the Little Liars
Check out all the books in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries on Amazon.

Today we're giving readers the chance to discover the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. We're giving away one paperback of Real Murders.

GIVEAWAY: 

To enter: 

1. Giveaway is for ONE paperback of Real Murders by Charlaine Harris. 

2. Complete the ENTRY FORM. 

3. Giveaway is open International (book delivered by Book Depository) and closes on Wednesday April 13, 2016. 

4. Winners will be contacted by email.

National Library Week: The Library Lovers Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay

It's National Library Week and we're introducing the best of cozy mysteries with a library setting. First up is the Library Lover's Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay.

Meet Lindsey and the sweet town of Briar Creek:

Lindsey is getting into her groove as the director of the Briar Creek Public Library when a New York editor visits town, creating quite a buzz. Lindsey's friend Beth wants to sell the editor her children's book, but Beth's boyfriend, a famous author, gets in the way. When they go to confront him, he's found murdered-and Beth is the prime suspect. Lindsey has to act fast before they throw the book at the wrong person.

This series is a must for readers that love to read books about books!!

Books in this series:

01 - Books Can Be Deceiving
02 - Due or Die
03 - Book, Line, and Sinker
04 - Read It and Weep
05 - On Borrowed Time
06 - A Likely Story
07 - Better Late Than Never

Today we're giving away a hardcover of A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay.

GIVEAWAY 

To enter:

1. Giveaway is for a hardcover of A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay.
2. Complete the ENTRY FORM.
3. Giveaway is open US/Canada and closes on Monday April 11, 2016.
4. Winners will be contacted by email.

Introducing National Library Week

Today starts a week-long celebration here at The Cozy Mystery Journal for National Library Week. We will be celebrating all week long with features on cozy mystery series that are centred around libraries, and lots of fun giveaways.

Libraries are great friends to cozy mystery readers! The publishers release more books than my book spending budget allows, and I love browsing the stacks at my local library, Regina Public Library, for books to add to my reading pile. They are also a great source for older series, that are harder to find in the bookstore.

My local library is the Regina Public Library and they have an impressive collection of cozy mysteries, both at their Central branch and the various branches around the city. We also have access to the other branches around our province to request titles.

Without my local library I wouldn't be the reader I am today. Growing up in Australia my town had a bookmobile library service and I looked forwarded to stepping into the air-conditioned heaven on wheels every Saturday! Those early experiences with the library made me into the reader I am today.

I love libraries and I'm looking forward to celebrating National Library Week with all our fantastic readers!

This week we will be featuring the following series:

April 10 - Library Lover's Mysteries with Jenn McKinlay
April 11 - Aurora Teagarden Mysteries with Charlaine Harris
April 12 - Cats in the Stacks Mysteries with Miranda James
April 13 - Bookmobile Cats Mysteries with Laurie Cass
April 14 - Ophelia & Abby Mysteries with Shirley Damsgaard

Each day we will feature a series that is set in a library, and we will also be giving away at least one book in each series! A little something from us to readers, to introduce them to a new series.

We also have a fabulous MAJOR prize! This giveaway will be open week-long, and one lucky winner will win:

- A tote bag signed by Charlaine Harris!

- The bag contains FIVE paperbacks from our collection. All fantastic books that we know you will enjoy, as much we have.

- A hardback of The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie.

- Our signature mug "Drink Tea and Read Cozy Mysteries".

- Lots of fun cozy mystery author swag.

To enter:
1. Giveaway is for the prize listed above.
2. Complete the ENTRY FORM.
3. Giveaway is open to residents of International and closes on Saturday April 16, 2016.
4. Winners will be contacted by email.

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: The Elizabethan Mysteries by Amanda Carmack

Do you enjoy a good historical mystery? Then you are going to want to check out today's book spotlight. Today we're sharing the Elizabethan Mysteries. Meet Kate Haywood...

1558. Kate Haywood, a simple musician in the employ of a princess, will find herself involved in games of crowns as she sets out to solve the murder of the queen’s envoy....
England is in tumult under the rule of Queen Mary and her Spanish husband. Confined to house arrest at Hatfield House, young Princess Elizabeth is the country’s greatest hope. Far from court intrigues, Elizabeth finds solace in simple things: the quiet countryside and peaceful recreation, including the melodies of her chief musician and his daughter, Kate Haywood.
But Kate will prove herself most valuable when an envoy of the queen—sent to flush out heretics in the princess’s household—is found dead on the grounds of Hatfield. Acting as Elizabeth’s eyes and ears, Kate is sent out on the trail of a killer whose mission could destroy her family, friends—and the future of England.

Doesn't Murder at Hatfield House sound good? Best part is that Amanda Carmack has four books in this series for readers to devour, and the fifth book, Murder at Fontainebleu, is due out on June 5, 2016. 

Books in the series:
1. Murder at Hatfield House
2. Murder at Westminister Abbey
3. Murder in the Queen's Garden
4. Murder at White Hall
5. Murder at Fontainebleu
Murder at the Queen's Masquerade (short story)


Click the cover to check out these titles on Amazon.

Follow Amanda Carmack on the web: Website

Today we're giving readers the chance to win a book in this series! One lucky reader will win their choice of any one paperback in this series. Haven't read this series yet? Then get started with Murder at Hatfield House. Or maybe you've started and want to pick the latest release, Murder at White Hall.

GIVEAWAY:

To enter:
1. Giveaway is for ONE paperback in the Elizabethan Mysteries.
2. Complete the ENTRY FORM.
3. Giveaway is open to residents of US/Canada and closes on Monday April 11, 2016.
4. Winners will be contacted by email.

Book Review: Lemon Pies and Little White Lies by Ellery Adams

Ella Mae LeFaye’s Charmed Pie Shoppe has become a phenomenon beyond her wildest dreams, providing the enchanted town of Havenwood, Georgia, with spellbinding desserts and magical pies. Her personal life is also heating up as she takes on the responsibilities of leadership within her magical community. In fact, the only thing weighing her down is the fact that handsome Hugh Dylan won’t return her calls…

Still, when Havenwood is rocked by a series of mysterious deaths, Ella Mae must put romantic longings aside—especially when she realizes that the mystical symbols left at each crime scene are dangerously personal. Now she will have to whip up all her supernatural skills to uncover a killer out to settle an ancient score—before the murderer devastates everything Ella Mae is determined to protect…

Every now and then a series comes along that is so unique and individual, and you know it is going to be an instant  hit. This is how I felt the first time I picked up Pies & Prejudice, the first book in the Charmed Pie Shoppe mystery. It was love at first read and I'm happy to report that my love for this series has never wavered. In fact with each book, I develop more affection for this uniquely wonderful cozy mystery series.

For those that haven't been introduced the wonders of the Charmed Pie Shoppe series it is set in Havenwood, around a special group of people. Magical people. For me the most magical is Ella Mae LaFaye, who uses her magic in her pies! Of course not everything that is magical is sunshine and rainbows and more often than not there is evil in the midst. As is the case in Lemon Pies and Little White Lies. When a dead body shows up , the signs point to someone that is out to get Ella Mae. The community must rally together to keep evil out and protect Havenwood.

For most series I will say that they can be read out of order. For the Charmed Pie Shoppe mysteries, I would strongly recommend reading them in order. It is not something you will regret. Within the first pages of Pies and Prejudice you will be in love and rushing to the bookstore for more of this series! All the characters and storylines build on each other and create for one of the most perfect reading experiences I have experienced in my years of reading cozy mysteries. This series is cozy mystery perfection, as it has a little of something for everyone - magic, adventure, history, murderous mayhem and a little romance!

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of Lemon Pies and Little White Lies and what I loved the most is that this book finished without a cliffhanger, but it does leave the readers with the promise of what might be in the next book.

Readers, take a trip to Havenwood. It will be a trip that you are going to take time and time again!

Title Information:
Lemon Pies and Little White Lies by Ellery Adams
Book #4 of the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries
Published by Penguin Random House

Books in the series:

Click the covers to purchase from Amazon.

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: the Missy Dubois Mysteries by Sandra Bretting

Readers, there is a new voice coming soon to the cozy world, it's Missy Dubois:

Hat designer Missy DuBois opened her shop, Crowning Glory, along Louisiana's Great River Road to cater to the sophisticated Southern bride. But bless her heart, who knew creating stylish wedding veils would lead to murder?

Hired to craft a veil for a socialite getting married at Morningside Plantation means Missy can bask in the height of antebellum atmosphere. But when the bride is found dead in a women's bathroom, Missy the milliner finds herself entangled in one unfashionable murder. With the list of suspects thicker than the sweltering Louisiana heat, including a gaggle of bridesmaids shedding nary a tear and a family with no shortage of enemies, it seems anyone at the mansion may have done away with the bride-to-be. While Missy has Southern charm to spare, she's going to need more than manners and a manicure to put a hat pin on this murderous affair . . .

Fashion? Southern Charm? Murder and Mayhem? Sign me up!!

Missy is making her debut in Murder at Morningside, which releases on May 24, 2016. Her second adventure, Something Foul at Sweetwater, will hit the shelves on December 20, 2016. Both books are available for pre-order from Amazon.

Pre-order from Amazon:


Follow Sandra Bretting on the web: Facebook | Website

Today we're hosting a special giveaway. We're giving away a $15 Amazon Giftcard or a $15 Book Depository Giftcard (winner's choice). Maybe you'll pre-order both of Sandra Bretting's books!

GIVEAWAY

To enter:
1. Giveaway is for a $15 Amazon Giftcard or a $15 Book Depository Giftcard.
2. Complete the ENTRY FORM.
3. Giveaway is open International and closes on Sunday April 10, 2016.
4. Winners will be contacted by email.

Book Review: A Christmas Mourning by Laura Bradford

Claire Weatherly has come to respect how the Amish of Heavenly, Pennsylvania, value tradition. But not all traditions are necessarily quaint. When a decades-old mystery threatens the well-being of local police detective Jakob Fisher, she’ll pit herself against a community rooted in the past so that he can get on with his future.
When Claire decides to visit the one-room schoolhouse Jakob attended as a young Amish boy, she’s puzzled by his refusal to go along too. As Jakob tells his story, Claire is stunned and saddened by the heartbreaking tale of a childhood mistake that led to the mysterious disappearance of a precious family artifact—and signaled the first break between Jakob and his mother, made all the more painful now that he’s been shunned by the family and community he loves.
Knowing there’s only one way to help heal the irreparable wound that continues to haunt Jakob, Claire sets off to follow the trail of the missing heirloom, never suspecting that it will lead her to Jakob’s oldest friend, a long-ago Christmas secret, and an enduring truth about family, love, and the power of forgiveness.

I've really enjoyed the first four books in this series. You can check my review for Suspendered Sentence here. Laura Bradford writes intelligent cozy mysteries about the complexities of life within the Amish community, for both the Amish and Englischers. I was thrilled to discover that she has also written a small Christmas story in this series, A Christmas Mourning.

This story features an event that happened when Detective Jakob Fisher was young, back when he was Amish. I found the story very interesting, as it lets readers take a look at the lives of Amish children and the Amish Christmas traditions.

I'd recommend this story (and the whole series!) to anyone that is interested in Amish mysteries, and also those that are looking for a great whodunnit. These stories hit the mark every single time!

Title Information:
A Christmas Mourning by Laura Bradford

Book #4.5 in the Amish Mysteries

Published by Berkley/Penguin Random House

Books in the series:

Click the covers to purchase from Amazon.