I have been a fan of Kirsten Weiss for a while now and was absolutely intrigued by the idea of her latest book, The Mysteries of Tarot. Today I'm sharing an excerpt with you, as well as my thoughts about the book. Be sure to follow the tour to see what other people have to say as well. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
I recently featured an excerpt and a giveaway for Big Shot by Kirsten Weiss! Today I share my review of this new cozy mystery!
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Kirsten Weiss is back with one of her fun cozy mysteries! Check out an excerpt from Big Shot and then follow the tour for more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
I crossed to the oversized corkscrew and passed what had to be the world’s tiniest apothecary shop. At the giant coffee pot, I crossed the street to the park where I’d once played. I made a game of racing around the enormous, metal mushrooms.
Jogging across Main Street to the cannery, I slowed at the world’s biggest can of peas. My thudding heartbeat turned heavy.
A man in a simple gray wool coat lay sprawled against the giant green-and-white can, and my heart turned leaden. So Nowhere had homeless people too.
I hesitated before walking toward him. The temp had dropped pretty low last night. And he had no blanket. I didn’t want to wake a sleeping man, especially one who might be under the influence. And he’d have to be on something to curl up against the can like a dragon around its treasure.
Then I saw the knife . I stopped short and sucked in my breath.
He wasn’t a homeless man.
He wasn’t sleeping.
He was dead.
What's more interesting than a simple cozy mystery? How about one featuring a bunch of senior sleuths who live in a retirement home? Check out an excerpt and my review of Late for the Wedding by the husband-wife team of MK Scott. Follow the tour for more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
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A loud boom erupted behind Herman, resulting in him jumping to his feet, placing a hand on his racing heart, then turning toward the center as bits of wood, shingles, and drywall showered him and the lawn. Gus lay prone on the ground with his hands covering his head. Not thinking twice about the noise and its origin, Herman dashed as much as his stiff knees would allow to his friend’s side. “Are you okay?” He gasped the words as he lowered himself beside his friend.
Gus lifted his head, shaking off a shingle particle, and asked. “Are we being bombed?”
Using his flattened hand as a sun-shield, Herman peered up at the sky. “No planes in sight.”
No word of reproach for his friend who automatically assumed enemy fire. Complacency delivered many a soldier to an early grave. The words uttered years ago by his drill sergeant returned. Observe the area and check for the slightest thing awry. Herman stared at the single-story rambling building with the gabled roof.
Herman offered his hand to help up Gus, who took it. They both stood, hugged tightly, patting each other on the back. After a few seconds, they separated then delivered half-hearted shoulder punches to each other.
“I don’t know what got into me,” Herman muttered, running a hand over his face. “I saw you on the ground, then I thought…” He paused and shook his head. “Oh, never mind.”
Gus inhaled deeply, then said, “Me, too.”
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**My thoughts**
This story literally starts off with a bang! And it's a little different because it is a group of elderly sleuths who live together in a retirement home. For fun, they like to get themselves involved in mysteries and have some pretty crafty and sneaky ways of getting their info. I'd like to take a page out of their books, but am still too young to do so! They're an interesting and quirky group of friends.
They also have a tendency to get a bit distracted, so the story does kind of ping pong a bit between the mystery, upcoming nuptials, and other happenings at the home. Then again, that also makes it a bit more true to life, right?
There were still enough little twists that I wasn't completely positive about the whodunit until the end. It was an enjoyable evening read.
Thank you to the authors and Goddess Fish for the requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Welcome to the review tour for A Pain in the Tuchis by Mark Reutlinger, the second book in the Mrs. Kaplan Mysteries series. I'm sharing an excerpt with you as well as some of my thoughts about this cozy mystery. Be sure to follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
“It’s true your sister could be…as you say, difficult,” Mrs. K said, being diplomatic, “but we all have our own mishegoss, our own bit of craziness, and it’s best not to judge others too harshly, especially when they’re dealing with serious health issues as Vera was.” She didn’t mention, of course, that Vera had been a pain in the tuchis from the time she arrived.
“Yes, Rose, and it’s those health issues I want to talk to you about.”
Mrs. K looked quite surprised, as was I, and said, “Her health issues? Isn’t it Dr. Menschyk with whom you should be talking about them? All I know is a person gets a sickness, and sometimes the sickness leads to their passing. Beyond that, it’s all a mystery to me.”
“That’s just it,” Fannie said. “I don’t believe Vera’s illness, as serious as it was, led to her passing, as you put it.”
Again Mrs. K and I were surprised.
“Pardon me,” Mrs. K said, “but are you saying your sister died of what they would call ‘natural causes’ despite her illness? Not that it matters at this point, I suppose…”
“No, no, that’s not what I mean,” Fannie said. She lowered her voice and leaned closer to us. “Maybe I should just come right out with it. I think it’s possible Vera did not die of natural causes at all, or of any disease.
“I think someone killed her.”
**My thoughts**
This quick and delightful cozy mystery is the first in the new Nora Jones mystery series by Heather Huffman. It’s a fun kickoff and I am looking forward to future installments.
If you like baking and cozy mysteries, here's another one for you to enjoy. Read an excerpt and my thoughts on Stabbed in the Tart by Carol E. Ayer and then follow the tour for even more. Be sure to download your own copy and then enter the great giveaway!
My first orders came in. I whipped egg whites and scooped the foam onto eight cherry-filled tarts I’d finished earlier. Five minutes later, I retrieved the batch from the oven, pleased to see the meringues on top were nicely browned. I’d practiced my recipes many times over the last few days to the point that I had them memorized, but you never knew what could happen with an unfamiliar oven.
I removed the tarts from their pans, plated each dessert onto a red dish, and added a dollop of whipped cream to the side. Brenda gave me an appreciative glance as the waitstaff took them away.
Conrad came into the kitchen, beamed a smile at us, and said, “Well done, everyone. The guests are thoroughly enjoying their meals. I’ve never seen the dining room in such high spirits or the hotel so well-showcased. This weekend is going to be great for business.”
An hour later, I was feeling pretty good and Conrad once more was raving to us about how well everything was going. Then the wind howled, the windows shook, and all the lights went out. I almost dropped the cupcakes I’d just removed from the oven. I managed to slip the pan onto the counter.
“No one panic,” Conrad said into the darkness. “The generator will kick on soon. It’s a good one. It powers most of the hotel.”
Sure enough, a few seconds later, the lights came back on. Unfortunately, one light perfectly illuminated Edward facedown on the floor near the center island, the kitchen shears lodged in the back of his neck.
I love cozy mysteries at any time of year, but Christmas makes for an extra special story! Enjoy this excerpt from Twisted Tea Christmas by Laura Childs and then follow the tour for even more. Best of luck in the giveaway! It's a fantastic basket!
“What’s got you so interested, fella?” Theodosia asked as she snuck up behind Earl Grey and grabbed his collar. She was so intent at clipping on her dog’s leash that she almost didn’t see the dirty hand sticking out of the soil.
When she finally did notice, her mouth turned dry and her brain bonked out a screechy warning that yelped: No. This can’t be happening!
But seeing is believing so Theodosia stole a second look, registered the waxy appendage with dirty curled fingers, and let out a strangled cry.
“Drayton!”
“What?” He was stumbling after his own dog, frustration in his voice.
“Get over here.”
Throwing up his hands, Drayton abandoned his chase, and picked his way toward her. “What’s wrong?”
Heart in her throat, Theodosia pointed to the solitary hand that sprouted from the dank earth like some kind of unholy mushroom.
“There’s a hand sticking out of the dirt.”
“What?” Now Drayton was mumbling to himself about muddying his loafers.
Theodosia stood her ground, though her nerves were firing like rockets, warning her to back off this amateur investigation that had suddenly taken a deadly turn.
“Wait a minute, did you say hand? Human hand?” Drayton honestly thought she was making a bad joke. Trying to frighten him.
“There’s a body buried here. A dead body!”
Reluctantly, Drayton took a step closer. He stared down, let out a loud gasp, and clapped a hand against his chest. “Mercy, I think I need a defibrillator!”
Raise your hand if you've ever thought about people on the dating sites possibly being serial killers! *raises hand* It could happen! I think of a modern day Ted Bundy online ... right? So what about this guy that Georgie meets in this book? Read an excerpt from Swipe Right for Murder by Polly Harris and then download your own copy to find out! I can't wait to see! Plus the author tells us about her journey to becoming an author and there's a great giveaway. Follow the tour to catch it all!
We turn the corner and I think it’s Amelia who notices her first. What I notice is the smell. Iron. Thick and palpable. And then decay. I never knew bodies could smell so quickly. I always assumed it would take days. Apparently, it’s only a few hours.
Amelia screams and it reverberates through the stairwell like a siren.
I don’t say anything, I don’t move. I’m frozen on the steps like someone is physically holding me there, unable to take my eyes off the girl at the bottom of the stairwell. Bent in a shape that no one’s supposed to bend in, her eyes open. But that makes it worse. Because if they were closed, maybe she could be sleeping—unconscious.
Three mind-numbing seconds pass, and then a thought flits through my head.
Whitney. Her name was Whitney.
Welcome to the review tour for The Shady Chateau, another installment in Ana T. Drew's charming Provence Cozy Mysteries series! Today I have an excerpt for you as well as my thoughts on this story. Be sure to follow the tour for more. Leave questions and comments for the author along the way. And best of luck entering the giveaway!
Stepping closer, I check if there’s a Hands Off sign anywhere near or on Napoleon’s papier-mâché bust. Satisfied that there’s none, I give in to every human’s impulse in the presence of an unusual object. I touch it.
I run my fingertips along the shoulders, then the chin, lips, cheekbones, and nose before sliding up to the iconic bicorne hat.
It’s painted in subtle shades of black that imitate wool felt to perfection. A revolutionary cockade—a red, white, and blue rosette fashioned out of ribbon—is pinned to the front. The cockade is cut from real fabric.
Naturally, I trace its outer red edge, then the blue circle in the middle, and then the inner white. To my surprise, my index finger meets a hard little button in the center of the white. Tentatively, I push it down, because… Because what else do you do when you find a button?
With a soft creaking sound, the bookcase behind the console slides away, revealing an opening the size of a door in the wall.
Holy cow!
Carefully, I step in.
This one is for fans of cozy mysteries! Check out an excerpt from Photo Bombed by Daria White before you download your own copy. Be sure to let her know what you think in the comments as you follow the tour. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
“Bianca!” Nicole shrieked.
Bianca embraced her friend. “You look amazing!”
Nicole planted her hands on her slim hips. Her sundress flowed to her knees and flattered her waist. Long blonde hair, five seven, and flawless ivory skin. Her blue eyes shined. The woman could have been a model if she wanted to, but found her passion as a beauty blogger. “Thank you. Come on in.”
Looping her arm with hers, Bianca walked with Nicole to the kitchen after setting her gift on the designated table. When they entered the kitchen, Bianca spotted Judy.
“Bianca! Welcome.” Her red hair shined as always.
“Let me help you, Judy. I can’t just stand around and let you do all of this for me.” Nicole stood in front of a plate of ham and grabbed the butcher knife from Priscilla’s, Chad’s mother, kitchen set.
“Nicole.” Judy sighed. “You’re the bride. You should be mingling with your guests.”
“There will be plenty of time for that.” Nicole nudged her shoulder and sliced the meat onto a serving tray.
Bianca made herself comfortable on a bar stool. “Having fun so far? You seem more relaxed now.” That was a good sign.
Nicole beamed. “I am. I can’t believe the wedding is next weekend.” She exhaled. “I’m so nervous.”
“Not about marrying Chad, I hope,” Judy said as she tossed the salad.
“Can I help?” Bianca stood.
Judy pointed for her to sit down. “No, I won’t have the both of you helping. Nicole’s the bride so she can get away with it.”
Bianca returned to her seat and folded her hands in her lap. She figured Judy was in her zone so she wouldn’t offer again to help her in the kitchen. “Everything looks amazing.”
Judy touched a hand to Nicole’s shoulder. “I can’t tell you what it means to me that you asked us to cater your wedding. Thank you.”
Nicole smiled. “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t have anyone else cooking for me.”
Bianca’s heart warmed at the friendly exchange. With Nicole marrying into the high society Davis family, she could have chosen top-notch caterers to serve her reception meal. Yet, she’d chosen Edenville’s best. There was no one better than Judy, who could cook and bake along with her husband, Richard.
“I do have a question for you my friend.” Nicole directed her attention to Bianca.
“What?” Bianca asked.
“I think you could get along with at least one of Chad’s—”
Bianca held up a hand to stop her. “Before you start setting me up with all of the groomsmen, I’ll pass.”
“Oh, Bianca. Really?” Nicole huffed.
“I’ll let you know if I change my mind.” Bianca winked at her.
Nicole paused in her slicing of the ham when her phone rang in her dress pocket. She stared at the screen but didn’t answer.
Welcome to the book blast tour for Never Say Chai by Kirsten Weiss! You can always count on her to bring some of the quirkiest characters and situations you have ever read to her cozy mysteries. I have an excerpt for you to enjoy, plus further thoughts on the story. Be sure to let her know what you think in the comments section as you follow the tour. And as always, best of luck entering the giveaway!
There are some things that should go without saying. For example, don’t leave a coffin in your business partner’s driveway. It’s just not done.
But there was a coffin in my driveway. And it had wheels. I looked from the black coffin to the yellow bungalow. Yep, it was my house. Just above the peaked roofline, fog blurred a watery sun.
“Do you have any idea why there’s a coffin in my driveway?” Because there was really only one person who would put one there. I tore my gaze from the wooden coffin to Hyperion. “And why is it on wheels?”
He shifted his weight. “Didn’t I mention the coffin race?”
“No.”
“Why’d you think I had a t-shirt cannon?”
“I still have no idea why you’ve got one.”
“For the coffin race.” He patted the coffin’s hood.
I waited.
“I entered Beanblossom’s in the race,” he said patiently. “We’re going as the Death card. I’ve got a scythe and everything.”
“A scythe at high speeds. What could go wrong?”
“It’ll be like in one of those Italian medieval morality parades. Did you know those parades most likely spawned the Tarot’s major arcana cards?”
“Oh, boy.”
“Or was it the Renaissance?” He shook his head. “They were in Italy. I know that much.”
Mimi is back with another adventure in the latest cozy mystery in the series. Enjoy an excerpt from Mimi Takes Europe and then download your own copy. Be sure to also visit the rest of the tour and leave your questions and comments along the way! Best of luck entering the giveaway.
Detective Giscard Morency grew concerned. As lover of Nicole Marcel, he began to have a dull sense of dread toward one Charles Bleisante. He realized the extent of the entrepreneur’s interest in Nicole. It was not only professional. Oh no. It was much more personal.
Giscard knew the man had lustful feelings for his woman. He could understand it well, but it surely made him deeply anxious about the proposed TV Tour of Europe that Bleisante was proposing for Nicole.
The two – with Mimi – would be out of Paris – in grand hotels – at dinners – on planes shooting through the skies – in exotic places - in bedrooms?
Giscard determined to interrupt this pilgrimage. He would find a way. Perhaps, on the journey, Mimi with her petit nez noir, (little black nose,) would find a new felon for him to track. Obviously, Mimi and Giscard were linked together on several nefarious cases. It would not be at all untenable for the detective to enter the picture if a proper case should appear. It was not much to hope for, but hope he did!
“I’m not going to let you go off with him... alone,” he declared to Nicole.
“Oh, please,” was her reply. “I know him. He’s harmless.”
“Well, I know him too,” was Giscard’s strong rebuttal. “I know men...it’s in his eyes. He lusts for you.” Giscard made up his mind there and then to go wherever she went, whether Nicole approved of it or not!