Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Review and Giveaway: Mourning Gloria by Susan Wittig Albert



Pecan Springs, Texas,  in springtime is a busy place especially for China Bayles, owner of Thyme and Seasons.  Her herb shop and garden is a time consuming enterprise now that she and her partner Ruby, owner of adjacent shop, Crystal Cave, have opened a tea room. China's personal life has become fuller in the last year too as her eleven year old niece, Caitlyn, has come to live with her and her husband, McQuaid and his teenage son Brian.

One night on her way home from the shop, China spots a trailer on fire and stops to call 911. When she hears screams for help coming from inside, China tries to help but the trailer explodes. After the sheriff investigates, it is ranked an arson homicide case seeing that the victim was bound and shot before the trailer was set on fire.

China is haunted by not having been able to save the young woman inside and her cries for help keep reverberating in China's mind. She begins some investigations of her own but the danger ratchets up when Jessica Nelson, young intern for the local newspaper, begins her own investigation. The fact that Jessica's family had perished in a house fire makes her more dertermined than ever to find justice for the victim. Unfortunately, Jessica gets a little to close to the truth and puts herself in a precarious position.

When China gets a frantic message from Jessica for help, China ramps up her own investigation and just by a stroke of luck being in the right place at the right time, she is able to help close the case.

Any fan of cozy mysteries or suspense will find this a riveting fast-paced read. There is a lot going on in this story with multiple viable suspects and motives. The dialogue in Ms. Albert's books rings true and the characters are very well drawn. I've read numerous books in this series and have enjoyed them all. 4****

Mourning Gloria is the 19th book in the series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. Ms. Albert gives enough background snippets throughout the book for any new-to-the series reader but not overwhelmingly to make it sound repetitious to readers who have followed the series right along. At the end of the book are quite a few recipes. Each chapter is prefaced with some interesting info about herbs.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley Prime Crime in exchange for my honest opinion.

To celebrate this month's release of Mourning Gloria, Berkley is allowing me to give away one hardcover copy of the book, US address only. Deadline to enter is April 15th at 5 PM (est0. Be sure to include an e mail address in your comment.

As always bonus entries available:

+2 for being a follower (new or old) just remind me how you follow and under what name
+3 for tweeting or posting about contest and leave me a link

Good luck!

50 comments:

  1. I've got this one to read and am looking forward to it. Nice review.

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  2. I would love to read this book. I have never read any of the books in the series, so this would be a whole new experience for me.

    iowagramma.ann@gmail.com

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  3. I am a GFC follower.

    iowagramma.ann@gmail.com

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  4. I will post about this on my sidebar.

    iowagramma.ann@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have read her other books, and enjoyed them. I would love to read this one.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am a old gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win this.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  8. It's been a while since I read a book in this series, but I think I'm going to go see the author next week here. She lives in this area and came to my library a couple of years ago for an event. No need to enter me in this contest as I'll get my copy for the signing. It's a good series though and gives a good representaion of our Central Texas area.

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  9. One of my favorite authors!!! This series is what got me hooked on reading cozy mysteries. Great review!!!

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  10. Sounds like a great cozy series! No need to enter me.

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  11. I must read one of these..they sound so good and I trust your opinion!!

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  12. I have never heard of this series and I am going to find the first one today.. I cant wait to read this one either! thank you so very much for the giveaway!

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  13. I never heard of this series before but I really love cozies. Wonderful that it is fast paced. Sounds like my kind of book. Please enter me for this contest.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am a GFC follower of this blog.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I tweeted:

    http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-and-giveaway-mourning-gloria-by.html Giveaway for 'Morning Gloria'


    My Twitter name is Carolee888.


    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I haven't read anything lately by SWA but do enjoy the series.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

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  17. Please enter me.

    I'm a GFC follower

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd love to read this. Thanks for the giveaway.

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm a GFC follower.

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/ForWhlz/status/55377744795664384

    forwhlz at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. 19 books? it better be able to stand alone!

    GFC and Google reader follower... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love a good cozy. Please include me.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm an old follower.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  24. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/darcy1956/status/55418728246034432

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  25. She is a new to me author! Love finding them. Her book sounds wonderful. I'd love to be entered to win this one.

    Old follower on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would love to win this new China B story! Thanks for the info and chance to win.
    JHolden955 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am a gfc follower! Thanks.
    JHolden955at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'd love to win this! I always enjoy Susan's books!

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I follow on GFC.

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. tweet
    p://twitter.com/CarolAnnM/status/55676781155450880

    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Awesome giveaway. Please enter me!

    scouts579(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm a new GFC follower :)

    scouts579(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'm a new GFC follower :)

    scouts579(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I tweeted :)

    https://twitter.com/#!/StacieBromley/status/56531773751951360

    scouts579(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I tweeted :)

    https://twitter.com/#!/StacieBromley/status/56531773751951360

    scouts579(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I tweeted :)

    https://twitter.com/#!/StacieBromley/status/56531773751951360

    scouts579(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for the giveaway. I have read some of her other books and enjoyed them.
    mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

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

    ReplyDelete
  39. This book looks so interesting. I am already dying to know what happens! Please enter me in the giveaway.
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  40. GFC follower
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. GFC follower
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  42. This sounds like an interesting story.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Good review. Would enjoy this book a lot. Thanks!
    pblark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  44. Old follower pbclark
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  45. Old follower 2 pbclark
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  46. I have been intending to try this series.

    Follower: Dixie
    youngandwithit AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Love her books. Am looking forward to reading it. I follow as well - gfc.

    summergal05(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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