dollycas

[dollycas]

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! Today I am happy to share my thoughts about The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery) by Vicki Delany! The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery) Cozy Mystery 10th in Series Setting - London, England Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (January 14, 2025) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639109269 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639109265 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D1Q6N7DW Bookshop owner Gemma Doyle heads to London for a wedding, but when a body is found in connection with a rare book, Gemma sets out to sleuth the slaying in bestselling author Vicki Delany's tenth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery. Gemma Doyle and her friends have packed their bags and headed to London for her sister Pippa’s wedding. Waiting for her in the hotel lobby is none other than Gemma’s ex-husband, Paul Erikson. Paul has a rare book he wants her to see—calling it “the real deal”—so Gemma agrees to meet him at their old shop, Trafalgar Fine Books, the following day. But when Gemma arrives, accompanied by Grant, a rare book dealer, they find Paul dead in his office. Paul had been down on his luck, but Gemma never expected this. Had he borrowed money from people he shouldn’t have? And where is the valuable book he was so anxious for Gemma to see? It’s nowhere to be found in the shop. Because of their previous relationship, Gemma feels she owes something to Paul and vows to find his killer. As Gemma and her best friend Jayne Wilson follow Paul’s trail of friends, enemies, clients, and ex-lovers through London to Yorkshire, she realizes the puzzle of Paul’s last days is more twisted than she originally thought. This mystery is anything but elementary, and Gemma and Jayne have to use all their wit to get to the bottom of it before their time in London—or in life—is over. Dollycas's Thoughts Gemma Doyle's sister Pippa is getting married and she and her friends arrive in London for the wedding. After the ceremony, Gemma runs into Paul Erickson, her ex-husband and former partner of Trafalgar Fine Books. He tells her he has a book she needs to see. He says "It might be a real deal". She tries to put him off but agrees to meet him at their old store the next day. She refuses to meet him alone so her new brother-in-law Grant who happens to be a rare book dealer, and huge Sherlock Holmes fan Donald tag along with her. They arrive at the rundown shop to find Paul has been killed. Everyone wants Gemma to leave the case to the Metropolitan Police but she jumps right in feeling it is something she must do for Paul. So while her dad, her boyfriend Ryan, and Jayne's fiance Andy take off on a fishing trip, Gemma and Jayne work to piece together what they can of Paul's recent life. The game is truly afoot as clues begin to fall into place and what they have been looking there is found but they may need a little help to close the case. ___ Gemma is her true self wanting to enjoy her time with her family and friends but feels the tug of a good murder mystery. Jayne feels compelled to play Watson to her Sherlock. I was surprised that Ryan left her to go fishing because he knows her and knew she was not going to sit idly by. Same with her father. What I found especially intriguing was that we learned more about Pippa's mysterious high-power job. She barely had time to get married handling one crisis after another. She even told Gemma to leave Paul's death alone. Ten books in and these characters continue to surprise me. While everyone is in London Uncle Arthur is holding down the fort at home and not doing a very good job. He does have Ashleigh at the store to attempt to curb anything major happening there but even she cannot control everything. Mrs. Ramsbatten can only do so much at home. A skunk smell, a quick fix gone wrong, a power outage - Gemma may have her hands full when she gets home. Ms. Delany has penned a complicated mystery that tested this reader. The plotlines were intricately twisted together. My suspect list was always in fluid motion. When I thought I cleared one I put them back a few pages later. She really challenged my armchair detective skills. I was surprised by everywhere Gemma and her friends traveled and the entities they interacted with, especially their little foray at a nightclub where they interacted closely with people. I may have been laughing out loud. The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime has a lot of moving parts and twisty plotlines. I had a great time touring around London with Gemma and her cohorts. I am looking forward to doing it again next year. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than forty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Year Round Christmas books for Crooked Lane, the Tea by the Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane Books, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates) for Crooked Lane. Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards. Vicki is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Website – Facebook – Twitter/X:  @vickidelany and@evagatesauthor – Instagram: vickidelany Find more books written by Vicki Delany here.  Find books written as Eva Gates here. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. I am giving away 1 Hardcover Copy of The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The contest will End February 5, 2024, at 11:59 PM CST The winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org The Winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Click Here For the Entry Form Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”   Read the full article

[dollycas]

Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait About Tartan, Treasures and Trouble Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) Cozy Mystery 12th in Series Setting - Cotswolds - England Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kanga Press (January 17, 2025) Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DDFZDH79 When murder is served at a Scottish Burns supper, it’s not the haggis that hides the deadliest secret. Can an amateur sleuth catch the killer before they toast another victim? Antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is thrilled to return to the Cotswolds to reconnect with old friends and run the auction house where her career began. She and her friend, Sergeant Keya Varma, organise a traditional Burns Night celebration, but things go awry when one of their guests meets his end before the first whisky is poured. When the new police inspector is pushed aside by headquarters before she can crack the case, Dotty can’t resist following her own leads. As she digs deeper, she uncovers the victim's tangled relationships, jealous spouses, and shady business dealings. But when a sensational newspaper article exposes the case, it threatens not only the investigation but also the auction house which Dotty has just been trusted to manage. Can Dotty solve the case, or will the truth be drowned out by the skirl of the bagpipes? Dollycas's Thoughts Dotty Sayers is back in the Cotswolds and is delighted to catch up with all her friends, especially Sergeant Keya Varma. She and Keya are organizing a traditional Burns Night celebration at Keya's Waterwheel Café. Sadly, the event ends abruptly when a guest dies. Dotty has a lot of irons in the fire but can't combat the urge to do some investigating. The victim had a long list of behaviors that gave many the motive for his death. She not only needs to know who did it but how they did it. Then there's the newspaper article that puts everything at risk, including Keya's cafe and the auction house itself. Will Dotty be able to pull all the clues together? or will her joyous return come to a tragic end? ___ This story is full of treasures as all the characters we have come to enjoy throughout the series are reunited in one way or another. First, to say goodbye to a dear person, then to attend the Burn's dinner, and then as changes occur at Akeman’s Antique Center. Dotty's parents have come to town. Her father's cancer has now been deemed inoperable and she is struggling knowing his days are numbered. But that man doesn't let his health hold him back as he spends as much time as possible with her and his wife. Zach has also come to the Cotswolds but his relationship with Dotty is still in flux as he deals with the family history he has discovered so far and is unsure if he wants to continue his quest to find the truth. Ms. Tait's characters are so well crafted that they pop right off the page. I enjoy the way Ms. Tait describes each scene. There were many people at the Burn's dinner, and I easily envisioned the room, where everyone was seated, and who they visited with. It was the same wherever Dotty traveled and there were some interesting places. The author has plotted a story with multiple storylines that flowed so effortlessly and at a perfect pace. All the characters held their own in every situation. I liked that the murder didn't happen right away so readers have time to learn that the victim was connected to many and the depth of those connections as the story moved forward. Dotty pursued every lead and clue sometimes multitasking other business. Following along with her was so entertaining. I love the way her mind works. There were some red herrings and I fell for more than one but the real culprit was on my list but not at the top so the reveal was surprising. Tartan, Treasures and Trouble closed some doors while it opened others. After the case was wrapped up Dotty did a huge favor for Zach. She also is stepping up in a major way. I am so excited to see what happens next. An Auction of Secrets will be released on June 15, 2025!! Followed by A Wicket of Lies on August 15 and A Pantomime of Peril on November 14. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About Victoria Tait Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her life’s experiences and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries. Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative.  As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend. Author Links Website     BookBub    Instagram    Pinterest    Goodreads  Purchase Links Books 2 Read  Amazon New Series  Find all of Victoria Tait's books HERE. Many are on Kindle Unlimited! This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops.  January 18 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT January 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT January 19 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT January 19 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW January 20 – Angel's Book Nook – RECIPE January 20 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER GUEST POST January 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW January 21 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 22 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW January 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT January 23 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 23 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 24 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW January 24 – Deal Sharing Aunt – CHARACTER INTERVIEW January 25 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 26 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT January 27 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST January 27 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” Read the full article

[dollycas]

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Indiana! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed Quilty as Charged (A Measure Twice Sewing Mystery) by Maggie Bailey Release Date - August 20, 2024 Setting - Georgia My #FlashbackFriday Read. My Review Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait Release Date - January 17, 2025 Setting - Cotswolds England The Great Escapes Tour stops here tomorrow. The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery) by Vicki Delany Release Date - January 14, 2025 Setting - London England I will feature this book this week for Cozy Wednesday. She Doesn't Have a Clue: A Novel by Jenny Elder Moke Release Date - January 21, 2025 Setting - Washington State My Review will be up on Thursday! Scheduled Escapes A Killer Hold: A Larkspur Library Mystery by Leah Dobrinska Release Date - December 3, 2024 Setting - Wisconsin For Review Haunting and Homicide by Ava Burke Release Date - January 21, 2025 Setting - Louisiana I will feature this book next week for Cozy Wednesday! Death Among the Stitches (A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery) by Betty Hechtman Release Date - January 7, 2025 Setting - Indiana For Review Future Escapes January 19 - 25, 2025 Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[dollycas]

The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers. It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature. You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz. The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE! This was an unusual week. I was scheduled to have my Zometa infusion Tuesday but I woke up feeling downright crappy plus it was freezing outside so we called and rescheduled for this Tuesday when it will be even colder than last Tuesday. It is for later in the day so we may hit a high pocket of -1 degrees. I felt better Wednesday but I just couldn't keep my eyes open. Good thing my boss isn't a tyrant because I dozed off at my desk several times. Thursday I just felt off all day but stayed awake and finished things I hadn't earlier in the week. I slept really well that night and woke up Friday feeling like myself and well-rested. It has to be something because yesterday Mr. Dollycas had the same kind of day I had on Wednesday. Thursday was a sad day around our house and Wisconsin. Bob Uecker, aka Mr. Baseball, passed away at the age of 90. We were huge fans. He was the longtime voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and a comedian who appeared over 100 times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Uecker reached most households as one of the Miller Lite All-Stars in popular commercials for the beer brand based in Milwaukee. He later launched his TV acting career in 1985 on the ABC sitcom Mr. Belvedere. He also played the iconic role of Harry Doyle in Major League 1 and 2. There are two statues to honor him at the stadium now known as American Family Field. It won't be the same without hearing his home run catchphrase — 'Get up, get up, get outta here, gone!' There will never be another Bob Uecker.   How was your week? Weekly Rewind - January 13 - 18, 2025 Monday - My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #3 – 2025 Tuesday - Wine and Whispers: A Cozy Mystery (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) by Daisy Landish #Review / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @daisylandishbooks Wednesday - Cozy Wednesday featuring Schooled in Murder ( A Campus Sleuth Mystery) by Victoria Gilbert #Review / #Giveaway – @crookedlanebooks @VictoriaGilbertMysteryAuthor Thursday -Knight Brew (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert #Review @heatherdgilbert Friday - A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries) by Gail Meath #Spotlight / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @gailmeathauthor Saturday - #FlashbackFriday (Saturday Edition) featuring Quilty as Charged (A Measure Twice Sewing Mystery) by Maggie Bailey #Review / #Giveaway @crookedlanebooks Have a wonderful week! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent Read the full article

[dollycas]

SATURDAY EDITION I apologize I haven't been feeling well the last few days and didn't have this review ready to publish yesterday. On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released which have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf. Quilty as Charged (A Measure Twice Sewing Mystery) Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting - Georgia Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (August 20, 2024) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639107991 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639107995 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CLKZCGQJ Audiobook ASIN B0D5ZXFQ4L Audio CD ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DG132MZ1 Lydia Barnes has to thread the needle in order to discover the killer locked in with her amidst a sewing retreat in this second installment of the series, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Molly MacRae. Lydia Barnes has made the picturesque town of Peridot, Georgia her home. But as the new owner of the Measure Twice fabric store, all financial burdens fall on her. In an effort to unspool herself from this tangle of thread and boost the store's income, she invites her regular customers to a sewing retreat at her friend Fran's Cherry Log mountain home. In between sewing lessons and quick lunches, a severe winter storm approaches. When Fran's body is discovered murder is the only explanation, and the remaining six attendants are all suspects. Trapped with the power and phone lines out, Lydia is restless to unmask Fran's murderer. With the help of Auden, the cabin's caretaker, Lydia must unravel the hidden lives of people she considered close neighbors and even friends--especially when another body is found along with a suicide note and a suspicious confession. In a daring plan to uncover the killer, Lydia must risk it all, including her life, before she is cut asunder and the bobbin runs out. Dollycas's Thoughts The new owner of Measure Twice Fabric Store, Lydia Barnes is searching for a way to keep the store in the black. She decides a sewing retreat may be the answer. She runs her idea by the former owner and friend Fran who loves the idea. She offers her Cherry Log mountain home as the destination for the retreat and her assistance in any way Lydia needs. Soon a group of the store's regular customers embark on a journey into the mountains for sewing lessons, projects, quick meals, fellowship, and fun. But then an extreme winter ice storm moves in. Fran's friend and the cabin's caretaker Auden arrives just in time to unclog a drain but stays too long getting them ready for the storm and is stranded with the sewists. Then Fran is found dead . . . murdered . . . and her guests realize they are stuck in the mountains with no power, no phone lines, and a killer. Before Lydia, assisted by Auden can rip apart the seams to identify the killer another body is found, and while the death looks like suicide complete with a confession Lydia isn't buying it. She comes up with a plan but it could backfire. Can Lydia solve the mystery? or has she sewn her last stitch? ___ As a former sewing enthusiast, an accident in 2001 took this joy away from me, I live a little vicariously through characters in books like this. I wasn't a fan of Lydia in the first book in this series, Seams Deadly, but I liked her better in this story. I loved Fran in the first book and it hurt that she was the first victim in this one. She had been like a fairy godmother to Lydia. But she had been facing battles and keeping secrets this time. She also made a costly decision. Characters we met in Seams Deadly return as participants in the retreat, Heather who works at the store, Clark a prickly man who owns Pampered Pantry, an organic food store, The M's, Martha and Mary, they aren't sisters but sure act like they are, and Cynde, a court stenographer, who lives above the fabric store brought her friend Amy as a plus one. They are an eclectic group. Lydia's dog Charlie also attended the retreat. Her cat, Baby Lobster stayed with her neighbor. Auden Williams was a great addition to the cast. He is smart, prepared, and easy on the eyes. He had a soft spot for Fran and became her confidant as she spent a lot of time on her own at her Cherry Log Mountain home. The project for the retreat was a quilt coat that could be made from a secondhand quilt, a worn in places quilt you love, purchased quilted fabric, or fabric you quilt yourself. The edges were completed with a bias binding. The retreat guests also worked on English Paper Piecing projects. This closed-room cozy mystery was well-plotted with a little repetition as Lydia tried to figure out who was killing people on her very first and probably very last sewing retreat. Fran did leave some clues that finally made other things that were happening make sense. She wasn't 100% sure and I appreciated that she shared her thinking with Auden and was happy that he got on board with her plan.  The guilty party was at the top of my suspect list before everything fell into place for Lydia. It felt good to know I made the right choice for the right reason when all was explained. We have ice storms in Wisconsin just like the mountains in Georgia that the author described so well. They are beautiful to look at while staying warm inside but they can be treacherous if you venture out. Charlie was the only one to do that and his trips were quick. Quilty as Charged was an enjoyable read. It gave the characters we met in the first installment more depth. The location was perfect for a retreat and each scene was detailed well. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, especially with the little cliffhanger Ms. Bailey had left us. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Courtesy of Crooked Lane Books Maggie Bailey, an enthusiastic sewist and maker, is a graduate of Stanford, Oxford, Brown, and Sewanee Universities, Maggie Bailey has previously published two volumes of poetry. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, her dogs, and a growing fabric stash she can’t help but add to on a regular basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.   Thanks to the publisher I have 1 copy to give away! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old with a US or Canadian mailing address. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Follow Crooked Lane Books on Facebook for 3 Bonus Entries  Follow Crooked Lane Books on Instagram for 3 Bonus Entries Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Threads, Facebook, or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The  Contest Will End on February 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” Read the full article

[dollycas]

It is my pleasure to shine the spotlight on A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries) by Gail Meath today! About A Perilous Premiere A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries) Historical Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - California Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cranberry Pond Publishing (November 15, 2024) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 182 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8227660671 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CZS3J93M Solving their own murders is the least of their problems…and the beginning of Stone & Steele, a reluctant yet surprisingly skilled investigative team. The Golden Age of Hollywood, 1938. Vivian Steele moved to California to start a new life. She opened a fashion boutique in Beverly Hills, befriended Carole Lombard, the actress, and married a successful banker. But when her husband is murdered, Vivian discovers she isn't the only one hiding a few secrets. An anonymous phone call lures Vivian to a plush hotel room where she stumbles upon the dead body of a beautiful young actress – her husband’s mistress. To add fuel to the fire, she's not alone. Preston Stone, her adversary and Hollywood’s notorious playboy, is standing beside her. Suspiciously, they part ways only to find themselves alone again at a movie premiere two days later, and the message becomes brutally clear. They’re both the next targets of a cold-blooded killer. Together, Vivian and Preston are thrown into a deadly race to find a missing collection of valuable coins and stop a vicious killer before they become the next murder victims. But first, they need to stop pointing their fingers at each other. A Perilous Premiere is the first book in this exciting new 1930s Stone & Steele mystery series starring a great cast of characters ranging from the rich and famous to Bella, a Boston Terrier, her new friend, Boris, a Saint Bernard, and a few other endearing folks. (A pretty clean read) Great Escapes Praise for A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries) by Gail Meath This was a delightful start to a new series! A Perilous Premiere is fast-paced with some twists and surprises along the way. I enthusiastically recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries! ~View from the Birdhouse 5 stars! I recommend A PERILOUS PREMIERE to readers of historical cozy mysteries. Fun and frothy and a solid murder mystery to boot! ~Boys Mom Reads! All of the characters are very well-written and play essential roles in the book. I love Vivian’s dog! The author brings the settings to life with her descriptive writing. The mystery is well-plotted and not easily solved! These things make A Perilous Premiere a must-read for historical, cozy mystery lovers! I highly recommend it! 5 huge stars! ~Christy's Cozy Corners 5-STAR A Perilous Premiere is an immensely entertaining read where Golden Age Hollywood shines as the backdrop. ~Novels Alive About Gail Meath Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, the fun series about of a wise-cracking PI, his sweet German Shepherd partner, Ace, and his Broadway singing heartthrob, Laura, as they solve crazy crimes during the Roaring Twenties. She's currently working on the first book in her exciting new 1930s mystery series, Stone & Steele Mysteries, takes place during the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. As always, she blends the most loveable characters with a good, solid mystery. Gail also has a growing list of other award-winning historical romances, mysteries, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and their sweet, little Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren. Author Links Website    Facebook     Instagram    Goodreads    Bookbub Purchase Links Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org -  Coming October 15, 2025 Also written by Gail Meath   TOUR PARTICIPANTS January 8 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT January 8 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT January 9 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT January 9 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT January 10 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST January 10 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW January 11 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT January 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT January 12 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW January 13 – Deal Sharing Aunt – SPOTLIGHT  January 13 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT January 14 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT January 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 15 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT January 16 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW January 16 – Novels Alive – REVIEW January 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW January 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[dollycas]

Knight Brew (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) Cozy Mystery 9th in Series Setting - West Virginia Publisher ‏ : ‎ WoodHaven Press (November 11, 2024) Language ‏ : ‎ English Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8987556979 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DMST6FZM Book Nine in the RWA Daphne Award-winning series! Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java...and where murder sometimes pays a visit. The Barks & Beans booth at the Renaissance Faire is hopping, since Macy managed to talk her muscled redhead brother into donning a kilt for the occasion. Even better, Macy's boyfriend Titan has come for a visit, so she can't wait to peruse the shops and watch the shows with him. But when a well-rehearsed joust takes a fatal turn, Macy becomes a key witness. Can she believe her eyes, or did someone cloak their ruthless intent with smoke and mirrors? A late night stakeout seems the only way to determine what really happened...but someone scarier than the plague doctor is lying in wait for Macy, and this time, the damsel might not find a way out of her distress. Dollycas's Thoughts The Barks & Beans Cafe is taking its delicious coffee drinks on the road to a booth at a Renaissance Faire. The pooches are not tagging along but Macy has flyers to promote the shelter and the dogs that visit the cafe. Macy has even talked her hunky brother into wearing traditional Scottish garb and her boyfriend Titan arrives in costume too. She will be wearing a Viking dress. One of the biggest events at the faire are the jousting matches. But one goes terribly awry when one of the knights doesn't survive. Macy saw it with her own eyes but she can't explain it. When she learns the cause of death, she tries to remember everything she saw at the arena. Did she see the murderer? Titan and Bo don't want her involved in another investigation but what trouble could she get into doing a teensy weensy late-night stakeout? ____ I have to say I love these characters. Siblings Bo and Macy Hatfield and their significant others Summer Adkins and Titan McCoy are such good genuine people. Their relationships are blooming at a natural pace. Their pets are absolutely adorable - Macy’s Great Dane, Coal, who she dressed up as a dragon for his visit to the fair,  Bo’s kitty, Stormy, and Vera’s dog Waffles. Vera lives next door to Macy and the cafe and she has her fingers on the pulse of the community and sits on her porch to keep an eye on everyone too.  I always open a book in this series with a smile because it truly is like catching up with old friends. Now the murder at the Ren Faire was a complex one with several suspects including someone who works at The Barks & Beans Cafe. The victim was a dastardly individual. Macy knows her talents, people open up to her better than they do to police but she has to be careful not to push too hard. With the end of the faire near Macy took a very frightening risk and I truly was at the edge of my seat trying to see where the author was going in that scene but she's a pro, the moments didn't last too long and she kept the drama in the cozy realm. A subplot had Macy nervous about meeting Titan's family, especially his Granny McCoy. The introduction happened in the final chapter and all I can say is I can't wait for Book 10. Huzzah! Heather Day Gilbert has served up another stellar cozy mystery in Knight Brew. It is another Perfect Escape! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author HEATHER DAY GILBERT, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with unpredictable twists, much like the Agatha Christie books she read growing up. Her novels feature small towns, family relationships, and women who aren’t afraid to protect those they love. Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com. Author Links Author Website     Facebook Page    Twitter/X    Instagram    Goodreads   Bookbub The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order: Book 1: No Filter Book 2: Iced Over Book 3: Fair Trade Book 4: Spilled Milk Book 5: Trouble Brewing Book 6: Cold Drip Book 7: Roast Date Book 8: Shade Grown Book 9: Knight Brew   Standalone Novella: House Blend Find all of Heather Day Gilbert's books HERE. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”   Read the full article

[dollycas]

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! Today I am happy to share my thoughts about the first book in Victoria Gilbert's new Campus Sleuth Mysteries Series! Schooled in Murder ( A Campus Sleuth Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Virginia Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (January 7, 2025) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639109234 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639109234 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CXKXT5K9 A mystery writer must solve a real murder case before an innocent girl is condemned in this series debut from acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Lorna Barrett. Jennifer "Jenn" Dalton is an author and educator at Clarion University in Virginia. She loves her job, but some of her petty coworkers look down on her for writing genre fiction. As members of the English department, they wish to encourage students to pursue higher literary aspirations. When a humiliating confrontation between an uppity professor and one of Jenn’s students, Mia, escalates, no one thinks much of it. Until his dead body is found along with evidence incriminating Mia. Jenn knows Mia couldn’t have killed him, but Mia’s suspicious disappearance might as well be a proclamation of guilt. With the sleuthing skills Jen has acquired writing murder mysteries, she’s determined to solve the case and clear Mia’s name. Along with the help of her fellow sleuthers—Christine Kubiak, a cafeteria manager; Zachary Flynn, the charming but annoying campus psychologist; and Brianna Rowley, a librarian—Jen must catch the real killer before there’s another murder on the books. Dollycas's Thoughts Jennifer "Jenn" Dalton loves her job at Clarion University in Virginia where she is the director of the campus writing center. She also pens a "fairly successful mystery series" under a pseudonym. Her colleagues believe her books are less than literary achievements as they are genre fiction. The powers that be in the English Department wish their students to apply themselves and strive for higher literary endeavors. Jennifer mentors her students in whatever they want to write but one pushy professor, Douglas Barth took one student, Mia Jackson to task in a shameful encounter. Later he is found dead and she is missing. Mia was upset about her grade and told the man so loudly but Jenn couldn't believe she could kill anyone. Yes, there was evidence that could show the two had met but no proof she killed her professor. Jenn Dalton is used to writing murder mysteries but solving a murder in real life is a lot more complicated. Could she actually catch a killer? She enlists some help from others at the college.  Campus psychologist, Zachary Flynn, cafeteria manager Christine Kubiak, and librarian Brianna Rowley agree to band together with her to try to bring down the killer and throw the book at them. ____ Schooled in Murder is a spinoff from Ms. Gilbert's Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. Characters in that series have visited or worked at Clarion University and some are mentioned in this story, but you do not need to have read that series to enjoy this one. The murder happens in chapter one so we hit the ground running when we meet protagonist Jenn Dalton. As the story continues we meet several supporting characters including Jenn's friends Bri and Christine, assorted professors, and the head of the department. Psychologist Zach Flynn pushes himself into the group as his attraction to Jenn grows. Mia Jackson is the prime suspect in the professor's death but other suspects are soon in the mix. The problem with the first book in a series is introducing all the characters so we don't get much depth. It took me time to warm up to Jenn and I felt the author pushed the relationship between her and Zach too hard too soon but I am open to see where it goes. All the characters have room to grow as the series continues and I look forward to them being more fleshed out. Again, with the first book in the series, it is hard to include a complicated mystery while introducing all the characters but Ms. Gilbert gave us one to sink our teeth into. I appreciated how Jenn and her fellow sleuths asked questions and discussed what they found out and their theories about the case. Another murder brought a new batch of theories. Jenn knew she was on the right track because of some alarming incidents. I honed in on the killer before Jenn which didn't occur until the scary showdown. Schooled in Murder was an entertaining read that has laid the groundwork for the continuation of this series. I love the college setting and that Jenn is a cozy mystery author.  I can only imagine what she and her friends will get tangled up in next. Bring on book two! I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Land NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired after over thirty years in the library field, she’s worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director. Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover’s B&B Mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Victoria lives in North Carolina. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Thanks to the publisher I have 1 hardcover copy to give away! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old with a US or Canadian mailing address. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Follow Crooked Lane Books on Facebook for 3 Bonus Entries  Follow Crooked Lane Books on Instagram for 3 Bonus Entries Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Threads, Facebook, or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The  Contest Will End on January 29, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”   Read the full article

[dollycas]

Wine and Whispers: A Cozy Mystery (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) by Daisy Landish About Wine and Whispers Wine and Whispers: A Cozy Mystery (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) Culinary Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting - California Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beaches and Trails Publishing (January 11, 2025) Digital: 170 Pages ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DF63G3B5 In the heart of wine country, secrets run as deep as the vines. Sophie Brooks, a food blogger and digital nomad, heads to Sonoma’s wine country to explore its famous vineyards. But when a mysterious disappearance shatters the idyllic landscape, Sophie must uncover the truth hidden among the whispers and the wine. Food blogger and digital nomad Sophie Brooks is on her first stop in Sonoma, California, where the wine flows as freely as the secrets. Eager to showcase the region’s farm-to-table dining scene, Sophie is ready to indulge in the local wines and meet the passionate people behind them. But when one of the vineyard’s owners goes missing, the peaceful countryside takes a dark turn. As whispers of betrayal and old grudges swirl through the vines, Sophie finds herself caught in the middle of a mystery that threatens to unravel the very fabric of this picturesque wine country. With her sharp instincts and a love for uncovering the truth, Sophie must navigate the delicate balance between tasting fine wines and untangling deadly secrets. Can she solve the mystery before the whispers turn into something more dangerous? Dollycas's Thoughts Food blogger Sophie Brooks left her husband and their farm-to-table restaurant behind when she found he was lying about where he was getting the ingredients for the food they served. She decides to hit the road to visit and blog about other farm-to-table establishments. Her first stop is in Sonoma's wine country at the Cartwright Vineyard where she is staying in a guest house on the property. It doesn't take Sophie long to feel the tension in the air. Another local vineyard owner, Angela Mason, is willing to do anything to get James Cartwright to sell his vineyard to her including sabotaging water lines and threatening him on a daily basis.  Sophie wants to help so she does a little research to get to the heart of the matter. Can she get Angela to back off? or will the secrets she uncovers set up more dire consequences? ___ I love the premise of the series, a blogger traveling around the country and posting about her experiences. Sophie Brooks is an intriguing character. Before reading this book, I had the opportunity to read a short unpublished prequel.  It featured the blow-up between Sophie and her husband and introduced Oliver, her best friend and editor. Without reading the prequel you would be at a loss as to why Oliver texts her all the time or exactly why she left her husband Ryan. I hope the author adds the prequel to this book. There is also another character that arrives with no introduction which was confusing as he went on to play a large role in the story. I also was confused by the sequencing and repetition in several areas. The ending was also a bit befuddling given the theme of a traveling blogger. It seemed like she was going to stay in Sonoma and then a page later she was leaving.  I have made the author aware of my concerns and hope the book goes through one more final edit to address the inconsistencies. Wine and Whispers laid the foundation of what could be a very successful series. A little tweaking and editing would set the story to rights. Then I would be interested in reading more Sophie Brooks Mysteries. I am giving this story 3 stars because I did enjoy meeting Sophie Brooks and hope to tag along on another of her adventures. I voluntarily reviewed this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About Daisy Landish Daisy Landish is a sweet romance and cozy mystery author, whose clean and sweet stories have tugged at readers’ heartstrings around the world. When she’s not writing love stories, Daisy spends her time reading, hiking at dawn, and riding into the sunset on her horse, Rosebud. Author Links: Facebook - Twitter/X - GoodReads - BookBub - Instagram - Books 2 Read - Overdrive - Newsletter - Amazon - Website  Purchase Links Amazon - B & N -  Publisher - Apple - Smashwords - Everand - fable -  TOUR PARTICIPANTS January 6 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT January 6 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW January 7 - Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT January 7 - FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT January 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST January 8 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW January 9 – Christy's Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST January 9 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 10 – Angel's Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 11 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – SPOTLIGHT January 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST January 12 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 13 – Deal Sharing Aunt – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 13 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER GUEST POST  January 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW January 15 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – RECIPE POST January 15 – Novels Alive – REVIEW January 16 – Boys' Mom Reads! – REVIEW January 17 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW January 17 – Christa Reads and Writes - REVIEW January 18 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT January 18 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT January 19 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Read the full article

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Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to England and off the coast of Seatle, Washington! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed Wine and Whispers: A Cozy Mystery (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) by Daisy Landish Release Date - January 11, 2025 Setting - California The Great Escapes Tour stops here tomorrow! Schooled in Murder (A Campus Sleuth Mystery) by Victoria Gilbert Release Date - January 7, 2025 Setting - Virginia I will feature this book this week on Cozy Wednesday! Knight Brew (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert Release Date -November 18, 2024 Setting - West Virginia My Review will be up on Thursday! Current Escape Quilty as Charged (A Measure Twice Sewing Mystery) by Maggie Bailey Release Date - August 20, 2024 Setting - Georgia My #FlashbackFriday Read. Scheduled Escapes Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait Release Date - January 17, 2025 Setting - Cotswolds England The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Tuesday. The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery) by Vicki Delany Release Date - January 14, 2025 Setting - London England I will feature this book next week for Cozy Wednesday. She Doesn't Have a Clue: A Novel by Jenny Elder Moke Release Date - January 21, 2025 Setting - Washington State For Review Future Escapes January 12 - 18, 2025 Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[dollycas]

The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers. It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature. You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz. The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE!   Last weekend we celebrated our family Christmas with a getaway to the Wisconsin Dells. We had a great time opening presents and playing games but the main reason we booked the hotel we did was for their huge waterpark. We were in suits and headed to the waterpark almost as soon as we arrived. When we arrived we were rudely told that the elevators (yes plural) were out of order. Well with me in my wheelchair and Mr. Dollycas using his upright walker that wasn't good. The woman went on to tell us we could either use the stairs or walk around the outside of the building and down a hill to get to an employee entrance and hope someone would see us and let us in. It was windy and about 5 degrees outside and we weren't dressed for that. I could handle a flight of stairs with the kids' help but Mr. Dollycas returned to our room. That's when we learned it wasn't just 1 flight of stairs, it was THREE averaging about 20 stairs each. Plus after the second set, we have to weave through a landing full of people, tables, and chairs to get to the last set of stairs. There we had a choice, a slippery wet stairway direct to the waterpark or a dry set of stairs that would take us outside for about 15 feet and through a door to the waterpark. We took the latter and moved very quickly. Thank God, after all these years, my children and grandchildren know just how to get me around because a few hours later we had to do it all over again in reverse. I was excited because this waterpark had handicapped lift chairs to get me into 2 different pools, but yep, you guessed it, they were out of order.  I had a good time watching all the kids have fun going down all the water slides and visiting with them when they took some breaks. While the waterpark was a disappointment for me, the kids had a great time. The kids later met a family with a disabled son who told them they had been carrying him in his wheelchair up and down the stairs 3 times a day since Friday morning and they were booked for through Monday. It is a clear violation of the American Disabilities Act. After our adventure at the waterpark, we went back to our rooms and donned our long underwear, winter coats, hats, and mittens because the grounds of the outdoor waterpark had been turned into Nights of Lights. It was the final night of the event, and it was well worth bundling up. The kids walked through the experience. I tooled around on my scooter, Papa used my wheelchair, and we warmed up with hot chocolate and campfires and enjoyed the lights. My Blogoversary Celebration was fabulous. Many new people checked out my blog. I saw entries from people who hadn't visited for a while. Plus my daily visitors showed me some love as well. This blog is so special because of all the wonderful people I meet virtually. I am excited about the year to come. Here are this year's winners:  Congratulations to Dianne B. (South Dakota) She has won the Blogoversary Day 1 Giveaway! Congratulations to Dianne C. (Illinois). She has won the Day 2 Blogoversary Giveaway! Congratulations to Billie W. (Mississippi). She has won the Blogoversary Day 3 Giveaway! Congratulations to Alicia K. (Iowa). She has won the Blogoversary Day 4 – ARC Giveaway! Congratulations to Virginia H. (Kentucky). She has won the Blogoversary Day 4 – Hardcovers Giveaway! Congratulations to Deborah O. (Colorado). She has won the Blogoversary Day 5 Giveaway! Weekly Rewind - January 6 - 11, 2025 Monday - My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #2 – 2025 Tuesday - You Feta Watch Out (Grilled Cheese Mysteries) by Linda Reilly #Review @Lindasreillyauthor @BeyondThePagePublishing Wednesday - Cozyish Wednesday featuring The Case of the Beguiling Brooch (Beachtown Detective Agency) by Terry Ambrose #Review / #Giveaway @terryambrosewriterguy Thursday - Perfect Storm: A Mystery (Alaska Wild) by Paige Shelton #Review @MinotaurBooks @AuthorPaige Friday - #FlashbackFriday featuring Mango, Mambo, and Murder (Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries) by Raquel V. Reyes #Review / #Giveaway @crookedlanebooks Saturday - Special Guest – Kate Parker – Author of Deadly Performance: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series) #Interview / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour HAPPY READING EVERYONE! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[dollycas]

Deadly Performance: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series) by Kate Parker It is my pleasure to welcome Kate Parker to Escape With Dollycas today! Hi Kate, Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Kate Parker. I’ve been a reader almost all my life and a writer for twenty-five years. Deadly Performance is my twentieth published novel. I grew up and spent most of my working life in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. and have spent most of my retirement in North Carolina. I’ve always liked having four seasons, although here, we can have four seasons in a single day. What are three things most people don’t know about you? I learned to read at a very young age because that was the only way I could understand the noises people made with their mouths. While I can understand people speaking English now, so far I’ve only been able to read a second language. Spoken languages confuse me. I was a volunteer EMS and ambulance driver when I was younger. I’ve believed in reincarnation since we got a puppy a year after my husband died who has my husband’s personality, tastes, and idiosyncrasies. What books/authors have most inspired you? Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Ellis Peters'  historical and contemporary mysteries Robert Barnard’s brilliantly twisty mysteries What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? I like to visit a place I’m writing about. I also like to read non-fiction books about the time and place. The British Library Newspaper archives is a very good source for the Deadly Series. While I will do some research before I begin a story, most of my research is done during the writing when I discover I don’t know what I need to know. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? No. What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published author? Read, write, re-write, repeat. When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Walk. Clean my house, since writing is my excuse for not cleaning, so it is in desperate need when I take a break from writing. Travel. In the summer, work out in the swimming pool. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why? On my list are Australia and New Zealand, Spain and Portugal, the Channel Islands, Morocco, and the Baltic States and Poland. What is next on the horizon for you? Lucky number thirteen in the Deadly Series, tentatively named Deadly Village. Also I’m working on a series with my daughter on the Wall Street Spies. I hope all your readers enjoy Deadly Performance or whatever they are reading at the moment. Kate Thank you Kate for visiting today! ____ Keep reading to learn more about Kate and the latest Deadly Series mystery.  About Deadly Performance Deadly Performance: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series) Historical Cozy Mystery 12th in Series Setting -West End of London, Summer, 1941 Publisher ‏ : ‎ JDP Press (December 9, 2024) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 301 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8992015218 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DNNQ23F4 Behind the spotlights and glamour lurk secrets and murder. Amid the grim realities of wartime Britain, inside during the blackout hidden from the tatters left by the Blitz, glitz and glamour live onstage in the West End. But at one theater, The Regent, a malevolent force is causing escalating problems. Sabotage, damage and injury feed mistrust among the cast and crew. Then during opening night, the hated director drops dead from poison, and Olivia Redmond's colorful, kindly editor is arrested for murder. Determined to investigate, Olivia finds secrets piling up among the bodies. But which secret leads to a crafty killer who won't hesitate to remove anyone in their way, including Olivia. Great Escapes Praise forDeadly Performance: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series) by Kate Parker I highly recommend Deadly Performance for its WWII London setting, well-paced plot, excellently written characters, and twisty mystery! 5 huge stars! ~Christy's Cozy Corners Secrets, historic detail, and a finely tuned mystery make DEADLY PERFORMANCE a delightfully captivating story in one of my favorite series! ~Cozy Up With Kathy More About Kate Parker Kate Parker has long wanted to build a time travel machine. However, after several false starts, she gave up and created time travel by going back in time inside her books. Since she's fond of murder mysteries, it is probably best that all of her travel is inside books or police from various ages would be hunting her. When not recreating old time buildings and fashions, she can be found with a modern computer and modern air conditioning in North Carolina with her daughter and a 115 lb. puppy who could just crash through any time barrier. Author Links Website - Facebook  Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Apple - Kobo  Find all of Kate Parker's books HERE. TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops. January 6 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT January 6 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR GUEST POST January 7 - Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT January 7 - Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT January 8 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST January 9 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT January 9 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT January 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW January 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST January 11 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT January 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW January 12 –  FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT January 13 – Novels Alive – REVIEW January 14 – Socrates Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT January 15 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[dollycas]

On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released which have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf. Mango, Mambo, and Murder (Caribbean Kitchen Mysteries) Culinary Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Florida Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (October 12, 2021) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1643857843 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1643857848 Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639101004 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639101009 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08SWLWD8M Food anthropologist Miriam Quiñones-Smith's move from New York to Coral Shores, Miami, puts her academic career on hold to stay at home with her young son. Adding to her funk is an opinionated mother-in-law and a husband rekindling a friendship with his ex. Gracias to her best friend, Alma, she gets a short-term job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language morning TV show. But when the newly minted star attends a Women's Club luncheon, a socialite sitting at her table suddenly falls face-first into the chicken salad, never to nibble again. When a second woman dies soon after, suspicions coalesce around a controversial Cuban herbalist, Dr. Fuentes—especially after the morning show's host collapses while interviewing him. Detective Pullman is not happy to find Miriam at every turn. After he catches her breaking into the doctor’s apothecary, he enlists her help as eyes and ears to the places he can't access, namely the Spanish-speaking community and the tawny Coral Shores social scene. As the ingredients to the deadly scheme begin blending together, Miriam is on the verge of learning how and why the women died. But her snooping may turn out to be a recipe for her own murder. Dollycas's Thoughts Miriam Quiñones-Smith was happy in New York. Then her mother-in-law bought her son and grandson a house in Coral Shores, Florida, 3 blocks away from her house. Miriam, a food anthropologist, had been in line for a professorship. Now her career is on hold and she is attending a Women's Club luncheon at the country club, and Alma, her best friend, is trying to get her to accept a job on a Spanish-language morning TV show as a Caribbean cooking expert. Well, the luncheon takes a tragic turn when socialite Sunny Weatherman, sitting next to Miriam, passes out and plants her face into her plate of chicken salad. She dies later at the hospital. Then another woman dies and it is thought the herbal remedies Dr. Fuentes is peddling may be the cause. The theory gains traction when he appears on a morning talk show and the host interviewing him crumbles on the set. But Detective Pullman is focusing on Miriam's friend Alma. Miriam decides she needs to help her friend which makes the good detective a little crazy. Then he admits he could use her help. She has access to places he doesn't and she speaks Spanish fluently. Miriam may take the detective's request too far even though knows she is getting close to the truth about the deaths. But due to her "investigation," she may find herself in hot water with the killer ready to strike. _____ I liked Miriam, she is well-educated, a great mom to her son, Manny, and an excellent cook,  but she allows her very pushy mother-in-law to walk all over her. Her husband really pushed my buttons as well with his secrets and not standing up to his mother for the way she was treating his wife. I felt sorry for the woman as she tried to deal with the abuse on her own. Alma is a good friend to her but she has a lot on her plate being a murder suspect. Miriam is a bit stronger at the end of the story which gives me hope for future installments. The mystery was well-plotted with several suspects. Miriam is almost consumed with solving the murder mystery all while starting a new job, taking care of her child and home, and jumping every time her mother-in-law demands it. She asks good questions and ruminates on the answers and clues. She follows leads sometimes when she shouldn't but it does get Detective Pullman's attention. He quickly nicknames her Veronica Mars even though she has no idea who that is. All the clues came together for Miriam and she was delighted when the arrest was made. I solved the case before Miriam but the way everything played out was quite entertaining. Miriam is a Cuban American and slips easily into Spanish. She speaks almost exclusively in Spanish to her son Manny while her husband speaks to him in English to raise him bilingual. This is great and I fully support how they live their lives but I am not fluent in Spanish. I do know some words but not enough to instantly translate. Fortunately, I was reading on my Kindle which allowed me to highlight and request the translation but that really messed with the flow of the story. I wish the translation had been right there in the text. Mango, Mambo, and Murder has laid a great foundation for this series. I feel invested in Miriam and Manny and want to see how their lives in Coral Shores develop and grow.  Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking is calling from my Kindle. I hope most of the translations are in the text or I may have to sign up for a Babbel course to learn more Spanish. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent   About the Author Raquel V. Reyes was raised in oppositional cultures. Her early childhood was not unlike an I Love Lucy rerun with a heavy-accented, handsome Cuban father and a red-headed Southern mother whose smile brightened the room. A short story fan all her life, she has had stories published in several anthologies, including Mystery Most Theatrical, In the Midnight Hour, and Trouble No More. She lives in Miami, where she watches the waters for mermaids and leviathan. Find out more on her website. At the time of this posting, the Kindle version of Mango, Mambo, and Murder is on sale for $1.99 on Amazon. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. I am giving away 1 Kindle copy! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Follow Crooked Lane Books on Facebook for 3 Bonus Entries  Follow Crooked Lane Books on Instagram for 3 Bonus Entries Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Threads, Facebook, or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The  Contest Will End on January 24, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”     Read the full article

[dollycas]

Perfect Storm: A Mystery (Alaska Wild) Mystery/Suspense 6th in Series Setting - Alaska Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (December 3, 2024) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250910463 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250910462 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CQHLNGP8 The next installment in Paige Shelton's Alaska Wild series, a gripping, atmospheric, traditional mystery series with a great wilderness hook. Beth Rivers needs to disappear. Her one-time kidnapper, Travis, is on his way to her town in Alaska, and she's losing time to get out quickly. The perfect spot for Beth and her boyfriend, Tex, to hide, presents itself in a camp in the woods, away from Benedict. But when their trip takes them by Blue Mine, a small community that has seen tragedy over the last couple months, plans get diverted. Beth and Tex bring the widow of a recently murdered man back to Benedict, for Police Chief Gril to investigate, only to find that nothing is quite what it seems. When the woman vanishes, Beth must be on the alert for further danger. Who knows what further unwelcome disappearances--or appearances--might be lurking in the unforgiving Alaska storms. Dollycas's Thoughts Beth Rivers came to Benedict Alaska to hide from her kidnapper, Travis Walker. She had made friends and felt more at ease because the man had been captured.  But during a recent transfer, he escaped and has made it known he is after Beth again. Her new friends have vowed to keep her safe. They come up with a plan to get her out of town. She and her boyfriend, Tex are going on a hike and will find the perfect place to set up camp until Travis is recaptured. That plan is upended when Tex and Beth get near the tiny community of Blue Mine. They meet a woman heading to Benedict with her husband's dead body atop a horse. After visiting the people at Blue Mine they learn of some strange happenings and other suspicious deaths.  They agree to get her and the body back to Police Chief Gril so he can launch a full investigation. Back in town, Beth is again on high alert but some of her protectors are on the way to Blue Mine. The widow disappears when a secret is revealed so others are searching to find her. With a limited number of people to keep her safe, they stay hyperaware because you never know who or what may be out in the Alaskan wilderness, especially during the unrelenting storms. _____ There are several reasons that this is one of my favorite series. First, the characters in this series are unique and continue to grow in realistic ways. Beth gets more confident in every installment and every chapter. She and Viola are now true friends, both learning from each other. Viola is one tough lady but you have to be in the wilds of Alaska. Beth and Tex have a relationship that is in no way conventional but it works for them. Gril's job is to keep everybody safe and he goes to all ends to do that. Beth's safety is a priority for him. Orin is concerned about Beth's safety as well.  He has an actual fortress for her to stay in but she is too stubborn to take him up on his offer. Park Ranger Donner and Beth's dad Eddy are also part of the team involved in Beth's safety. The people who live in Benedict Alaska are strong and unshakeable. Ms. Shelton's words bring these wonderful people to life. I could get dropped in Benedict today and pick out each one of them just from her words. I can't forget Gus, he is such a smart and loyal dog. Her descriptive details also set each scene vividly. The torrential rainstorms of course, but also the beauty of the entire area. The area around Blue Mine is so aptly described, as is an abandoned mine. The town of Benedict, Viola's boardinghouse, Orin's fortress, the mercantile, the bar, the post office, the trail to the library, and Beth's old hunting shed. - everything is brilliantly described. Ms. Shelton takes us to this amazing place and wraps her characters in a suspenseful mystery that is impossible to put down. With dead bodies, Bigfoot sightings, and a felon on the loose after one of their own, readers are pulled in and are allowed to travel along with Beth and her friends as they try to make sense of what is happening around them and if and how kidnapper Travis Walker is involved. Will they be able to find him before he finds Beth? The pages on my Paperwhite were flying and there truly were times I was at the edge of my seat. Perfect Storm is a compelling, complex mystery plotted with such precision that it is absolutely a must-read. Full of suspense and drama with twists and turns, Ms. Shelton continues to impress me every chapter. This series would make an excellent movie or short drama series. Someone call Netflix!  You shouldn't be surprised when I say this book deserves more than 5 stars. I am very intrigued about Beth's next adventure. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent     About The Author PAIGE SHELTON had a nomadic childhood, as her father's job as a football coach took her family to seven different towns before she was even twelve years old. After college at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, she moved to Salt Lake City. She thought she'd only stay a couple of years, but instead, she fell in love with the mountains and a great guy who became her husband. After many decades in Utah, she and her family moved to Arizona. She writes the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series and the Alaska Wild series. Her other series include the Farmers’ Market, Cooking School, and Dangerous Type mystery series. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Also Written by Paige Shelton Find all of Paige Shelton's books HERE. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read the full article

[dollycas]

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! I am happy to share my thoughts about The Case of the Beguiling Brooch by Terry Ambrose today! The Case of the Beguiling Brooch (Beachtown Detective Agency) Private Investigator Mystery 2nd in Series Setting – California Publisher ‏ : ‎ Satori (November 21, 2024) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8990045712 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJ8MDHCM Private Eye Jade Cavendish thought she was just attending another somber funeral, paying respects to the late Benji Thompson. But when an elegant woman named Hilda Bauer urgently pulls her aside, Jade's day takes an unexpected turn. Hilda's mother’s brooch, a family heirloom, was lost during World War II. Her only lead is a cryptogram left by the deceased along with a message that Jade could solve it.. A cryptic message from the dead. Jade's curiosity is piqued as she tries to decipher the cryptogram, only to realize she first needs a key. Her quest spirals her into a labyrinth of secrets, where nothing is as it seems. Just as she begins to untangle the mystery, Jade learns that Benji's death was no accident—it was murder. An art world full of shadows. Determined to solve both Benji’s murder and the cryptogram, Jade dives into the enigmatic art world and unearths Benji’s link to an international art theft ring. Each clue brings her closer to the truth but also deeper into danger. With every step forward, the shadowy figure known as Valkyrie looms larger, marking Jade as the next target. Two mysteries intertwine. With time running out, Jade must crack the cryptogram to recover the brooch and unmask Benji’s killer. But time is running out, and the stakes are higher than ever as Valkyrie springs into action. Dollycas's Thoughts By attending the funeral of Benji Thompson Private Eye Jade Cavendish gets a new case trying to find a brooch lost during World War II. It's not your typical case as it starts with a "cryptic message" from the newly deceased. To solve it Jade needs to find the key and in her quest to find it, she learns Benji Thompson's death was murder and not an accident. To solve his murder and find the key Jade finds herself enmeshed in the art world and discovers Benji was part of an international art theft ring. This knowledge puts a target on her back so she needs to hurry because the stakes are higher than she ever imagined. ____ The author has created an interesting cast of characters for this series. Jade Cavendish is a spunky woman currently running the family business, Beachtown Detective Agency but her father and his friend are never afraid to share their opinions, and they may have pertinent information in this "game of secrets" she finds herself tangled up in. Her mother worries so she and her dad try to let her know everything that is going on. Her assistant Zoe has become a real asset. Her friend Gina had been working with Benji on a kid's art program so she took his death hard but Gina can be a bit of a drama queen. To the core cast Mr Ambrose adds a very eclectic group of new characters to set this mystery in motion. Jade was part of Benji Thompson's network and he was a great resource with his contacts all over the world. Benji trusted her, setting up a real puzzle for her to solve the mystery of his death, the missing brooch, and other missing pieces of art. Mr. Ambrose plotted out this puzzle filled mystery with twists that not only tested Jade but also tested his readers. There was a large cast to keep straight and multiple secrets and connections. I admit I was taking notes. I liked that Jade teamed up and worked with another woman to sort out clues, follow leads, and solve the puzzles in their path. Jade had to ask tough questions and earn some trust to find information about everything Benji had his fingers in. I appreciated the author's detailed description of each situation and interaction as the investigation continued. It wasn't until the stirring showdown that all the clues fell into place and all the details were explained. Jade gets a little help with the takedown and it made me smile. Mr. Ambrose knows just when to insert humorous moments and he did it perfectly right up until the very end. The Case of the Beguiling Brooch was plotted with fascinating puzzles. Benji left puzzles to solve, but then it was a matter of putting all the pieces together in a way that made sense to help catch a killer, and it was a complicated process.  It was confounding at times but totally enjoyable. I also learned quite a bit about art theft and all the machinations to pull it off and was reminded about cryptography which I learned about in high school. This was a great read and a Perfect Escape. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Terry Ambrose started out skip tracing and collecting money from deadbeats and quickly learned that liars come from all walks of life. He never actually stole a car, but sometimes hired big guys with tow trucks and a penchant for working in the dark to “help” when negotiations failed. A resident of Southern California, he loves spending time in Hawaii, especially on the Garden Island of Kauai, where he invents lies for others to read. His years of chasing deadbeats taught him many valuable life lessons such as—always keep your car in the garage. Author links: Website    Facebook      Twitter/X     Instagram     BookBub     Goodreads    Amazon Also written by Terry Ambrose Find all of Terry's books HERE. I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy of either Book 1 - The Case of the Amorous Assailant or Book 2 - The Case of the Beguiling Brooch WINNERS CHOICE!  The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Threads, Facebook, or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The  Contest Will End on January 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”   Read the full article

[dollycas]

You Feta Watch Out (Grilled Cheese Mysteries) Cozy Mystery 5th in Series Setting - Vermont Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing (October 16, 2024) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1960511955 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960511959 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJ9LRCL2 Humbug! leads to Homicide! in the new Grilled Cheese Mystery by Linda Reilly . . . Christmas in the close-knit community of Balsam Dell promises to be especially festive for Carly Hale this year when a prominent theater company comes to town to stage A Christmas Carol. But it turns out that Scrooge is not the most ill-tempered character in the production, as blowhard actor Prescott Lennon proves when he begins berating everyone else in the cast for their poor theatrics. When his arrogant behavior threatens the production, someone decides to resolve matters with a fatal solution—and frames Carly’s friend Gina for the murder. With such an unlikable victim, Carly finds herself faced with a long list of suspects, including a grieving widow who hasn’t shed a tear, an ambitious understudy looking for his big break, and all the cast members Lennon mistreated. But there’s a ghost of a clue in the air as rumors begin to surface that the dead man had a shady past that may have come back to haunt him. With her friend still on the hook, Carly will have to sort out past misdeeds from those of the present, even as her pursuit of the killer scares the dickens out of her . . . Dollycas's Thoughts A theater company will be performing A Christmas Carol at the Flinthead Opera House in Balsam Dell this holiday season. Prescott Lennon appears to have been cast for the wrong part, instead of Marley, he should be playing Scooge although the man is even worse than Scrooge. He rebukes nearly every member of the cast and crew and basically everyone he meets. He must have pushed somebody too far because the man was found dead in his dressing room. Sadly the evidence points to Carly’s friend Gina as the killer but Carly knows she is being set up. With a theater full of suspects Carly has plenty of people to grill. Then she learns that it may be someone from the victim's past that did him in. Carly is going to hold everyone's feet to the fire to prove Gina's innocence but she may die trying. ____ I really enjoy the characters Ms. Reilly has created for this series, they feel like old friends. Carly has a huge heart and loves serving up grilled cheese to the masses.  Ari and Carly are getting their new home all decked out for the holiday but aren't getting too much wedding planning done. Hopefully, after the holidays, they will start to firm things up. Carly is surrounded by a great staff who are also friends. Her former assistant manager and new grill cook, Valerie recently married the chief of police, Fred Holloway. Her new assistant manager Nina is getting comfortable in her new job.  Server Suzanne, the proud mom of nine-year-old Josh, rounds out the crew and isn't afraid to throw her two cents in on any topic.  Carly's BFF Gina was in hot water after being cast as a caroler in the A Christmas Carol production but her stationary store has a huge order of invitations for a "fancy-schmancy" New Year's Eve party to keep her busy and her boyfriend Zach to lean on. Carly's sister Norah even lent a hand in Carly's investigation. A big treat in this story was that former grill cook and friend Grant was home for the holidays and asked to work and he was definitely needed. All the characters feel true to life and grow in realistic ways. The "magnificent" Flinthead Opera House had been a dilapidated farmhouse when Nate Carpenter's family undertook its huge renovation. It is an interesting location for a murder with its massive and confusing layout of rooms, hallways, the stage, and many exits. How did the killer do what they did and get away unseen? Did they blend in? or did they sneak out in the chaos? Carly did her best to follow each clue and get answers to her questions. Her observation skills are excellent but putting what she has seen into context took a bit. Eatery regular and publisher of the town's free paper, Don Frasco is always a good source for information. A piece of evidence by Norah moved the case along but it didn't reveal the murderer. That came later and both Carly and I were surprised. Nicely plotted Ms. Reilly. As always the offerings at the Grilled Cheese Eatery make my mouth water. This time there was an unusual sandwich that was very fitting for the Christmas season. In Scrooge's Redemption Nina has found the perfect way to use a typically scorned Christmas classic and transformed it into something so yummy. Grant shows off what he is learning in culinary school too with some festive appetizers. Recipes for both are included at the end of the book. You Feta Watch Out, which I think should be followed by You Cheddar Not Cry, was a wonderfully entertaining Christmas cozy that I just had to squeeze in before moving on to non-holiday reads. Everything about it is cozy, from the small town of Balsam Dell to the close-knit cast of characters and the mystery that will make you think. It is all entangled with enough Christmas spirit to get you into the holiday mood whether you read it in December or July. I am very excited for this series to continue. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author As a child, Linda Reilly practically existed on grilled cheese sandwiches, and today they remain her comfort food of choice. A member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Cat Writers’ Association, Linda is also the author of the Deep Fried Mysteries and the Cat Lady Mysteries. Linda lives in southern New Hampshire with her two feline assistants, both of whom enjoy prancing over her laptop to assist with editing. Visit her on the web at lindareillyauthor.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/Lindasreillyauthor. She loves hearing from readers! Also written by Linda Reilly Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” Read the full article

[dollycas]

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to California, Virginia, and West Virginia! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed You Feta Watch Out (Grilled Cheese Mysteries) by Linda Reilly Release Date - October 16, 2024 Setting - Vermont My Review will be up tomorrow! The Case of the Beguiling Brooch (Beachtown Detective Agency) by Terry Ambrose Release Date - November 1, 2024 Setting - California I will feature this book on Cozy Wednesday! Perfect Storm: A Mystery (Alaska Wild) by Paige Shelton Release Date - December 3, 2024 Setting - Alaska My Review will be up on Thursday! Scheduled Escapes Wine and Whispers: A Cozy Mystery (Sophie Brooks Mysteries) by Daisy Landish Release Date - January 11, 2025 Setting - California The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Tuesday! Schooled in Murder (A Campus Sleuth Mystery) by Victoria Gilbert Release Date - January 7, 2025 Setting - Virginia I will feature this book next week on Cozy Wednesday! Knight Brew (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert Release Date -November 18, 2024 Setting - West Virginia For Review Future Escapes January 5 - 11, 2025 Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article