Monday, March 7, 2011

Review and Giveaway: Sealed With a Kill by Lucy Lawrence




Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Berkley (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425240258
ISBN-13: 978-0425240250

In Sealed With a Kill we find Brenna Miller agreeing to lead a group of "leaf peepers" on a tour. The leaves they gather will then be used in a decoupage project at Vintage Papers, a business run by Brenna and her best friend Tenley Morse. What she expected was a leisurely walk with some pleasant people; what she got was a big surprise in the unpleasant discovery of a dead body buried under some leaves. Oh, no! This just can't be happening to her again.

No one at the crime scene knows who the victim is because. . . . well, because half of his face is missing! Fortunately, the elderly busybody Porter twins who know everyone in town and seem to know everything that happens as soon as it happens arrive at the scene and manage to  identify the body. I just loved the twins, Ella and Marie; they sure knew how to create a diversion to satisfy their overwhelming curiosity.

"So, how is it Miss Porter that you know the identity of that body?"
"It was only a little peek, " Ella sniffed. "Not really worth mentioning."
"When? Chief Barker's face was becoming redder by the second. "Do not tell me it was while your sister was trying to run us down?" (pg. 43)

The victim is the business partner of Tenley Morse's father. Since Tenley is Brenna's best friend and business partner, Brenna ends up getting involved to try to prove that Tenley's dad is not a murderer. It's not easy and there are some really scary moments. She has to use all her wiles, a little bit of subterfuge and even luck to help her pull it off!

Lucy Lawrence is the pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay one of my absolute favorite cozy writers. Lucy/Jenn has the ability to breathe life into her characters to the point that they just leap off the page and really engage the reader. I love the way she injects humor into her books along with a well constructed mystery plot. 4****

Sealed With a Kill is the third book in the Decoupage series set in the small New England town of Morse Point. To find out more about this series, visit Lucy's webpage.
Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

To celebrate this month's release of Sealed With a Kill, Berkley is allowing me to host a giveaway for one copy of the book - open to US only. Deadline to enter is March 16th. Please be sure to leave an e-mail address for your entry to count. If you cannot leave a comment and would still like to enter ( I don't allow anonymous comments) just send me an e mail with Sealed With a Kill entry in the subject line. Include your name and preferred e mail contact. Send to florida982002[at] yahoo.com and I will enter your comment for you.

As always, bonus entries can be earned by:

+ 2 being a follower, Tell me under what name you follow
+3 tweeting or posting about and linking to contest (sidebar is ok) Just be sure to give me the link in a comment. Good luck!

35 comments:

  1. Another cozy mystery I'd love to win and read!

    I am a follower under Google Friend Connect,as Book Bird Dog/Book Dilettante

    harvee44 at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. E-mail entry Anne

    booklady85[at]hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love cozy mysteries, and this one sounds really good.
    I am a gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am a cozy mystery lover and would love to win this cozy mystery, it sounds like a fun read.

    I am a gfc follower.

    iowagramma.ann@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks fo rthe giveaway. This looks very good.
    I follow on GFC

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cozies are a favorite read and this one sounds intriguing!kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. +2 - GFC follower as Karen B.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like a good cozy.

    i'm a follower

    sgiden at verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love cozy mysteries, please enter me in this contest.


    I follow you with Googlr Friends connect as Carol N Wong.

    I tweeted under my Twitrer name of Carolee888
    http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-and-giveaway-sealed-with-kill-by.html Giveaway of 'Sealed wth a Kill'.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I could easily decoupage someone's mouth shut on a daily basis!! Sounds adorable..you're such a treasure trove with these cozies!!!


    stacijoreads@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds delightful! I'd love to be entered. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

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  12. I love to see the cozy mysteries that you have been reading. I intend to settle down with one of those soon.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What fun! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    +2 I'm a follower

    ReplyDelete
  14. hmmm...no lighthouse I guess, 'cause it seem this Point is on a lake. but I was hopeful...
    still, I love the autumn leaves, so throw my hat in the ring please.

    +2 follower on GFC and Google Reader

    caitemaire@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. She is a new to me author! Love finding them. Please enter me.

    follow on gfc under Martha Lawson

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love the chance to win, Kaye -- follower and blogged it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like a fun book. I do enjoy your reviews you turn up the most interesting crime/detective books.

    Good luck to those in the competition.

    ReplyDelete
  18. E mail entry

    Brittany

    dlba02[at]yahoo

    ReplyDelete
  19. Well, that was a surprise...'Sealed with a....Kill not a Kiss! What was I thinking? :) I love mysteries and would love to win a copy of this book.

    +2 I am a follower with GFC.

    gcpeach17 at aol dot com
    Georgia

    ReplyDelete
  20. You've whetted my appetite for this one! Thanks.
    JHolden955 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. +2 GFC follower. (holdenj)
    JHolden955 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. looks like a great read!

    I am a new blogger and a new follower on google

    mfallon@unitedbankcard.com

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. I love it! Please enter my name! God Bless! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'd like to give this series a try!

    youngandwithit AT gmail DOT com

    Follower: Dixie

    ReplyDelete
  26. This sounds good! I'd love to read it!

    I follow on GFC - Carol M

    tweet
    http://twitter.com/CarolAnnM/status/46665822072094721

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Sounds like a fun book! Will have to put this author on my list. THanks for the giveaway.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  28. blog follower via GFC
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sounds like a wonderful mystery! Count me in please :)
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I follow you on GFC (2)
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. This looks like an interesting series.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. GFC follower (CherylS22)
    #1
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. GFC follower (CherylS22)
    #2
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sounds like a fun read—please enter me to win!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete

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