Review & Giveaway: Unraveled by Maggie Sefton

Hardcover, 292 pages

Published June 7th 2011 by Berkley Hardcover (first published May 14th 2011)

ISBN

0425241149 (ISBN13: 9780425241141)

primary language

English

In the midst of the recession, Jennifer Stroud is having a tough time selling real estate in Fort Connor, Colorado. She is thrilled to find a new client; unfortunately, it's Fred Turner whose reputation as difficult is well known in the community. After Turner agrees to sell some river front property to one of Kelly Flynn's clients, another possible buyer tries to get in on the deal.  Jenn and her friend Kelly, who runs her own CPA firm, travel up to see Turner to find out what's going on.

What they find is a dead body. Fred Turner's dead body!  For a man with few friends and many enemies including a bitter soon-to-be-ex wife, the list of possible suspects could be extensive. Turner had a reputation for being a cheat so it's no surprise he is dead.

After having gone through a murder investigation the year before, Jenn wants no part in this mess but Kelly, being curious and having a history of being a bit of a "sleuth" wants to find out the truth about who murdered Fred. She is convinced it isn't her client, Arthur Housemann, even though he desperately wanted that piece of property. Between work, hanging out with her knitting friends at the Lambspun shop and getting over her heartbreak at the breakup with boyfriend Steve, will Kelly be able to unravel this mystery and find the true killer or is the murderer just too clever?

Unraveled is the 9th book in the Knitting Mystery Series. It's not necessary to have any knowledge of knitting nor to have read any previous books in the series. Each book stands well on it's own but you might want to start from the beginning just to see how the characters' relationships have developed. Sefton is very adept at making her characters come alive and making their real life relationships feel so real. Sefton has left a little bit of a romantic cliffhanger at the end of this story so  it will be fun to find out what happens to Kelly and Steve in the next book.

The cast of characters at the beginning is most helpful. At the end of the book is a pattern for a knitted summer tee and a recipe for a chocolate cake. 4****

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

To celebrate the release of Unraveled, Berkley is allowing me to give away 1 copy of the book. Open to US only. Deadline to enter is July 9th at 5 PM. Please be sure to leave an e mail address in your comment. Bonus entries available for this contest are as follows:

+2 for being a follower old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

Good luck!

Review; A Pug's Tale by Alison Pace

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: June 7th 2011 by Berkley Trade
(ISBN13: 9780425241196)

It's pug night at the New York Metropolitan museum of art in honor of Daphne Markham, one of the museums largest donors and a celebrity socialite in her own right. Hope McNeill, one of the museum's restorers, is in attendance with Max, her boyfriend Ben's pug. She's dog-sitting Max while Ben is working out of the country.

When Hope discovers the painting, Pansies, on her work table and not on the wall, she knows something is very, very amiss. After speaking to the director, he cautions her not to tell anyone that the painting she found is a copy and the real one is missing. He insists that the department will look into it without involving the police. He does however hire a private investigator who was recommended to him.

Thinking the P.I. is inept, Hope worries that someone will think she had something to do with the heist so when a somewhat mysterious clue lands in her e mail box, she starts her own investigation. With a little helpful advice from the elderly Daphne Markham, Hope interprets each clue she finds but one just leads to more questions than answers.  Max, in his own way, is instrumental in helping Hope look at the case in a new light. What ensues is a fun scavenger hunt type mystery with delightfully quirky and loveable characters. I liked the interactions between Hope and Max. It's amazing how Pace manages to imbue Max with almost a human personality. 

This was my first reading experience with Alison Pace and I will definitely read anything else by her. While the ending was not a total surprise, it was still such a captivating and enjoyable read.  A Pug's Tale is a light, delightful cozy mystery that is sure to be enjoyed by cozy fans or animal fans everywhere. 4*

 Allison Pace is the author of numerous books and can be found on her website or on her Goodreads page.

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

Review & Giveaway: A Parfait Murder by Wendy Lyn Watson

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451233808
ISBN-13: 978-0451233806


It's the Lantana County Fair day in Dalliance, Texas, when out of the blue, who strolls past the A-la-mode ice cream booth but Sonny Anders, Bree's ex husband, who she hasn't seen since he walked out on her and their daughter, Alice, fifteen years ago. He's walking with another woman looking very smug and successful. This really frosts Bree as she never saw one red cent of child support money from this loser. Now for the final insult; his lawyer, Kristen Ver Steeg has served her papers questioning Alice's paternity. If that isn't enough to make Bree, her cousin Tally and her 85 year old grandma, Peachy, madder than a wet hen, what is? Well, maybe being accused of murder would do it!

Tally Jones,owner of  the A-la-mode ice cream shop, along with detective Cal McCormack are right on the spot when a shot rings out from the Haunted Rodeo ride. They find Bree cowering inside with gun in hand and Kristen dead. Bree insists there was a man with a gun in there but Detective McCormack is convinced Bree is the murderer as all the circumstantial evidence points straight in her direction. Now, how is Tally going to prove her cousin's innocence along with running her successful ice cream shop and dealing with the emotional bomb Bree drops on the family after her arrest. It's going to be one humdinger of a job but Tally keeps a cool head most of the time and vows to prove Bree's innocence.

This is a new to me series and I loved it! Complete with colorful and feisty characters ( I could just picture Peachy when someone got her dander up) that leap off the page, a great setting, fun dialogue and lots of family drama along with a good mystery set up; what more could a cozy fan want? 4****

A Parfait Murder is number 3 in the A-la-mode series following I Scream, You Scream and Scoop to Kill.

More about Wendy and her entertaining books can be found at her website or at her Goodreads page.

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

To celebrate this month's release, Signet is allowing me to give away 1 copy of the book. Open to US only. Deadline to enter is June 12th at 5 PM (est). As always, bonus entries available:

+2 for being a follower (old or new) just remind me how you follow and under what name
+3 for posting about (sidebar is fine)or tweeting. Be sure to leave me a link and don't forget  to leave an e mail contact in your comment.

 Good luck!

Review & Giveaway: Lost and Fondue by Avery Aames

Paperback, 320 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Berkley (first published April 12th 2011)

ISBN 0425241580 (ISBN13: 9780425241585)

When Charlette Bessette, owner of Providence, Ohio's fancy cheese shop, Fromagerie Bessette, is asked by her friend Meredith to cater a fund raiser at the old abandoned Ziegler winerey, it is with some trepidation. For years rumors have abounded of buried treasures and possibly a few buried bodies at the winery. The fundraiser is to purchase the winery and turn  it into a local college.

Meredith's  niece, Quinn, and her artistic friends are all excited as they want to search for the treasure; they put no stock in the buried bodies legend. Someone uses the occasion and subsequent scavenger hunt to murder one of the party. Unfortunately, Quinn becomes the prime suspect. Since the police chief Umberto Urso went to school with Charlotte and had a small crush on her, he gives her some leeway in interfering with the crime investigation. Charlotte is determined to find the guilty party and free Meredith's niece Quinn but with a lot of suspects and different motives, that might prove very difficult indeed.

Avery Aames does a terrific job of creating an atmosphere and setting the scene of the crime. I never knew there were so many different cheeses! Along with the cheese shop plot line and Charlott'es new love interest, there are several other plot lines going on that added to the realism of the characters. However, I did have a quibble with the mystery part. Some of the clues were symbolic and had me somewhat sceptical at their plausibility but as with a lot of cozies, a little suspension of disbelief is necessary. Lost and Fondue is still an enjoyable read for cozy fans. 3.5***

Avery Aames is also the author of The Long Quiche Goodbye, the first book in the cheese shop series. Lost and Fondue is the sequel. Recipes are included in the book using some of the cheeses mentioned.

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

To celebrate the release of Lost and Fondue, Berkley is allowing me to giveaway 1 copy of the book. Open to US only. Deadline to enter is June 5th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries available:

+2 for being a follower (old or new) just remind me how you follow and under what name
+3 for posting about (sidebar is fine)or tweeting. Be sure to leave me a link. Be sure to leave an e mail contact in your comment.

   Good luck!

Giveaway: The Beach Trees by Karen White

From the publisher: Karen White’s moving new novel, THE BEACH TREES (NAL; May 2011; Trade Paperback Original; $15; ISBN: 978-0-451-23307-3) is just in time for summer reading! In it, White (the national bestselling author of On Folly Beach and the award-winning author of thirteen previous books) weaves together themes of Southern culture, the powerful bond of family, and the courage to rebuild in the face of destruction in order to create an incredibly moving story her fans are sure to love.

In the aftermath of tragedy, life goes on—painful and forever altered, but ripe with new beginnings. For Julie Holt, travelling to the beautiful but ravaged coast of Biloxi , Mississippi , is a journey into a secret past and a life she never expected. Julie first knew loss at the age of twelve when her sister disappeared. As her once close-knit family grew apart, Julie’s mother obsessively searched for the girl and when her mother died, Julie took up the search, never letting go of the hope.

Then at an art exhibition in New York she meets Monica—a struggling artist and single mother who reminds Julie so much of her sister that she can’t help feeling drawn to her. Monica paints a vivid picture of her family, but never says why or how she lost contact with them. But Monica has another secret: a heart condition that will soon take her life. When Monica dies, Julie inherits from her an antique portrait as well as custody of her young son, Beau. Taking him back to Biloxi and New Orleans to see the family he has never met, Julie discovers a connection of her own. The portrait, of an old relative, was done by her great-grandfather—and unlocks a family history she never knew.

   Sounds exciting, doesn't it? To celebrate this month's release of The Beach Trees by Karen White, Penguin is generously allowing me to hold a giveaway for two (2) copies of the book. US & Canada only. Deadline to enter is May 26th at 5 PM (est).

 To enter: tell me why this books sounds appealing to you. Be sure to include an e mail address in your comment. 

As always bonus entries can be earned by:

+2 for being a follower

+3 for posting in sidebar with link or tweeting ( leave link, please)

Good Luck!

Review & Giveaway: Buttercream Bumpoff by Jenn McKinlay

It's another busy day at Fairy Cupcakes bakery and the two owners, Angie DeLaura and Melanie Cooper are gearing up for Valentine's day. During a baking class, Mel's mom, Joyce, bursts through the door to tell her that she has a date. This is big news since she has been widowed for ten years and has not had a date since.

When Mel gets a frantic call fom her mom the night of the big date with Baxter Malloy, Mel can't believe what Joyce tells her; someone has murdered Baxter and Joyce never saw or heard a thing. Baxter may have seemed like a hot catch but apparently someone wants him stone cold dead.

Being the only person with Baxter at the time, the investigation turns their focus to Joyce. Mel  knows her mom couldn't possibly be a murderer so she cooks up a few schemes to try and find the real perpetrator. The more she delves, the more people she finds who had a motive to see Baxter permanently iced.

Can Mel continue to beat out her cupcake competitor, cope with a stalled love life and at the same time help her mom beat a murder rap?

Jenn McKinlay has cooked up a truly fun cozy in Buttercream Bumpoff . Jenn has a wonderful sense of humor and it clearly shows in her writing. There were some scenes where I just had to laugh out loud. I could easily picture the entire book in my head as I was reading. Not too many authors can consistently pull that off! I just love the characters in this series and the deep friendship they share. The rival bakery owner, Olivia Puckett, cracks me up with the crazy antics she goes through to get attention. Jenn has left her characters with some decisions to make and a few unresolved issues. Dang, now I just can't wait for the next one in the series, Death by the Dozen, due out this year.

If you're looking for more info on Jenn and her books, try her website. The first book in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series is Sprinkle with Murder. Once I read that I was hooked. If you like cozy mysteries with a culinary flavor and yummy sounding recipes included, you'll love this one! 5*****

For another opinion, visit with Kay of My Random Acts of Reading.

Disclosure: A Review copy of the book was provided by Berkley at no charge to me for my honest opinion.

Now for the giveaway details: To celebrate last week's release of the book, Berkley is allowing me to give away 1 copy of Buttercream Bumpoff . US only. Deadline to enter is January 21st at 5 PM (est) Please be sure to include an e mail address.

As always bonus points are available 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!

Review & Giveaway: Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy

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Paperback: 320 pages

• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (January 4,2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425239233
• ISBN-13: 978-0425239230

Well, Julie has done it again! She has come up with a new culinary thriller adventure featuring Ollie Paras, the White House executive chef, that not only grabbed my attention from the beginning but held it throughout the entire book.
It's inaguration day at the White House and Ollie and her staff, not to mention the secret service, are run off their feet. It's a big production when the new president and his family move into the White House. This time it's a little different as the new family, the Hydens, have two young children.
When a box of chicken wings from a popular chain shows up with a note saying they are for the new first kids, Josh and Abby, Ollie follows protocol and does not allow them to have the treat until she finds out where they came from.When they turn out to be poisoned, Ollie and the secret service wonder if the wings were part of a plot against the incoming president. The big question is how did they come to be in the kitchen and how did they get past security. Could it be someone with a hidden agenda? Has there been a security breach?
Not only does Ollie have to worry about security threats and  preparing for a big state dinner but now she is worried about her job. The new first lady has brought in her own personal chef. Unfortunately, he is a kitchen diva who likes to throw hissy fits which really throws everyone off their game. What will Ollie do?
This is the fourth book in the White House Chef series. It's not necessary to have read the preceding three but I would recommend starting with State of the Onion, the first in the series and winner of the Anthony and Barry awards for 2009. With the addition of some new characters, Julie has kept this series fresh and exciting. It's obvious how much research Julie has put into this series. I really enjoyed seeing how the White House staff operates on a day to day basis and how much is involved in putting on a big state dinner.
The twist at the end, which I never saw coming, led to a heart thumping thrill ride of an ending. Great job, Julie!  If you are a fan of cozies or culinary thrillers, this one will definite suit your taste. Recipes are included at the end of the book. I can't wait for the next adventure for Ollie and her friends in the White House kitchen. Such wonderful characters!
If you would like to know more about Julie, you can find her at her website, at Mystery Lovers Kitchen  or at Killer Characters where Julie and several other culinary cozy writers discuss their books, their characters and post some really terrific recipes. There's always something fun going on at all three sites!
Disclosure:  A review copy of Buffalo West Wing was provided by Berkley at no charge for my honest opinion.
To celebrate today's release of Buffalo West Wing, Berkley is allowing me to give away a copy of the book.  To enter: leave me a comment telling me why you would like to read this book.
Be sure to include an e mail address in your comment. Open to US only. Deadline to enter is Jan 14th  at 5 PM (est)  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!