Tag: #cozymystery

Cover Reveal: Most Eligible Killer by Daria White

BOOK DETAILS:

Most Eligible Killer
by Daria White
Publication date: June 4, 2024
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery, Mystery

Synopsis:

Love, lies, and a lethal reunion.

In the heart of Edenville, Texas, Bianca Wallace’s life is blooming—her business is thriving and her romance with Detective Lamar Sims is heating up. But when her high school crush, Eddie Talbert, becomes the prime suspect in a murder case at her mother’s matchmaking event inspired by ‘The Bachelor,’ her world spirals into chaos.

Reluctantly drawn back into Eddie’s life, Bianca must sift through past feelings and present dangers, as Lamar races to solve the crime. Torn between her blossoming love and a past flame, Bianca’s loyalties are tested—does she trust her heart or the evidence stacking up against Eddie?

As secrets surface, Bianca realizes she might be closer to the killer than she ever imagined. Will her quest for truth be her last?

Dive into Most Eligible Killer to discover if Bianca’s pursuit of justice will salvage her future or sever her deepest ties forever.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212625469-most-eligible-killer

AUTHOR BIO:

Daria has lived in Texas for most of her life. She never liked reading as a kid. In fact, she almost hated it. However, as she grew up that all changed. Though she received her degree in healthcare management, Daria kept her writing as a hobby. She meant it to be private and her own way of expressing herself. It never crossed her mind to publish until she was in college. So, she took a chance and self published. It worked! Starting off as a sweet romance writer first, Daria branched out in 2020 with books in cozy mystery and Christian fiction. She even has nonfiction titles in the works, reflecting her Christian faith and work in ministry. 

Author links:
https://dariawhite.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dariawhite90/
https://twitter.com/Daria_White15
https://www.facebook.com/DariaEPWhite/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751720.Daria_White

Review: A Charming Hex by Tonya Kappes

Goodreads Blurb

Bubble… Bubble… June Heal is excited to be going on an island honeymoon where she not only will she get away for some much needed rest away from her magical powers that she’d promised Oscar she’d leave home, but where she will get away from her sassy talking crystal ball, Madame Torres, and her pesky familiar, Mr. Prince Charming.

Cures and trouble… The secluded island is a perfect getaway for the charming honeymooners, especially since the only other vacationers are a wedding group. June Love’s a good romantic wedding and this one is on the beach.

Magic stirs…June is embracing her old mortal self until the groom from the wedding party washes up on the beach …MURDERED!

And troubles double… June is unable to keep her promise to Oscar about not using magic for their weekend island getaway and finds herself square in the middle of the investigation. Suddenly, June wishes that her pesky familiars were there to help and realizes that there really is no place like home.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Tonya created another magical book filled with mystery and magic. Oh, and I can not forget her talking crystal ball Madame Torres and her familiar Mr. Prince Charming. This is an amazing continuation to the Magical Cures series. June was able to finally go on her honeymoon with Oscar. Before she went on vacation, she was having terrible nightmares of what she would encounter. My favorite character is Madame Torres she is hilarious and dramatic. This book had a great plot and made all her readers happy that the story continued. Please read this magical mystery.

Author Biography

Tonya Kappes has written more than 180 southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today . Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband in northern Kentucky. Now that her four boys have flown out of the nest, Tonya writes full-time in her camper!

Review: A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley

Goodreads Blurb

An aspiring suspense novelist lands in the middle of a real crime in the first Writer’s Apprentice mystery.
 
Lena London’s literary dreams are coming true—as long as she can avoid any real-life villains…
 
Camilla Graham’s bestselling suspense novels inspired Lena London to become a writer, so when she lands a job as Camilla’s new assistant, she can’t believe her luck. Not only will she help her idol craft an enchanting new mystery, she’ll get to live rent-free in Camilla’s gorgeous Victorian home in the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana.
 
But Lena’s fortune soon changes for the worse. First, she lands in the center of small town gossip for befriending the local recluse. Then, she stumbles across one thing that a Camilla Graham novel is never without—a dead body, found on her new boss’s lakefront property.
 
Now Lena must take a page out of one of Camilla’s books to hunt down clues in a real crime that seems to be connected to the novelist’s mysterious estate—before the killer writes them both out of the story for good…

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When mystery and murder are not just in a book but occur simultaneously with the characters’ real life!! That is brilliant. This book was amazing. Loved that the author started each chapter with a clip of the book Camilla and Lena were working on. While they worked on their mystery novel, Lena and Camilla were in the middle of a murder scene and the mystery of the missing Victoria West. The very moment I started the book, my mind was wrapped into each page. Very fun book with mystery and murder.

Author Biography

Julia Buckley is a Chicago-area writer. She has written three mystery series with Berkley Prime Crime, including the best-selling Writer’s Apprentice Series, which Mystery Scene calls “engaging, enjoyable, and surprising,” while Kirkus dubs it “pleasantly old-fashioned.” The Library Journal called Buckley “a writer to watch.”

Buckley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Chicago Writers Association. She blogs about writing and mysteries at Mysterious Musings, where she has interviewed almost 200 other mystery writers about their work.

She teaches high school English and enjoys reading, playing Words With Friends, and spending time with her husband and two sons, along with their menagerie of animals.

Review: Murder at Dolphin Bay by Kathi Daley

Goodreads Blurb

Kailani Pope wants nothing more than to be a proud member of the Honolulu Police Department. Both her father and grandfather were cops, her five brothers are cops, and the only thing she has ever wanted from the time she can remember wanting anything, was to be a cop. She has passed all the requirements to be selected for the police academy but somehow her number never seems to come up.

While she is waiting for her name to work its way to the top of the list she works as a lifeguard for the Dolphin Bay Resort. When a guest of the resort is found murdered, Kailani decides that if she can solve the murder before her brother who has been assigned to the case by HPD, then the department will have no choice but to take her application seriously and move her to the top of the list.

Murder at Dolphin Bay is set on the beautiful island of Oahu providing a perfect backdrop for the perfect beach read.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed this amazing read at the beach. Was so happy to read this new series that has amazing characters. Kailani wants to be a cop which is her every dream. Her dad and grandfather were a cop and all her five brothers also. She has tried to get into the force but feels like her brothers are setting her back, plus her height is in the short side. She runs into a suspicious death and starts doing her investigation on her own, not knowing what dangers await her. I was happy that this series occurred in Hawaii. It’s such a beautiful place that would want to harm anyone in a happy place. Can’t wait to see how Kailani and Luke add more flame to the fire. Great read for the beach.

Author Biography

Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn’t writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she’s not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.

Review: Beach Blanket Barbie by Kathi Daley

Goodreads Blurb

Zoe suspects that something is up when Levi’s ex-girlfriend Barbie comes to town unexpectedly. When she ends up floating face down in the lake Zoe and the gang shift into full sleuth mode to find a killer. As they delve into Barbie’s life since she left Ashton Falls, they find a complex puzzle that is going to take a group effort to unravel.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Another awesome book by Kathi. Loved that it took place in the summer since I really am looking forward to those hot summery days. I really enjoyed this book. Zoe is the best at what she does dealing with animals and her detective work. She unfortunately ends up being harmed after she figures out who the killer of Barbie was. I love how all the characters interact and have a close relationship with. They all work together to make each other happy. They have no boundaries when it comes to justice. This book has a great summer cover. Loved how Barbie made men and women jealous of her actions. Great summer read.

Author Biography

Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn’t writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she’s not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.

Review: Hopscotch Homicide by Kathi Daley

Goodreads Blurb

When Zoe finds the body of the lunch lady on the hopscotch course the week before the new school year, she is pulled into a mystery that will find her volunteering as soccer mom, classroom mom, and PTA board member. It’s funny, it’s family, it’s a Zak and Zoe murder investigation.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Another amazing addition to the series. It just keeps on getting better. So many suspects were in this story. I just could not figure out who the killer was. The story about Mrs. Brown made me very sad that she ended up losing a child and went obsessing over other children in the community. So many people had great motivation to get rid of her. Horrible cook with not much liking. Was happy to see Zoe and Zack have more time to themselves. I’m glad that they are enjoying life with their extended family.

Author Biography

Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn’t writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she’s not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.

Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).

Review: Addressed to Kill by Jean Flowers

Goodreads Blurb

Third in the Postmistress Mystery series by Jean Flowers, following Death Takes Priority and Cancelled by Murder…
Love is in the air for postmaster Cassie Miller and the residents of North Ashcot, Massachusetts. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and the town is gearing up for a special dinner dance at the senior center. With the local musical group performing at the dance displaced from their regular practice location, Cassie is all too happy to host them during off-hours at the post office.
But not everything is coming up roses. When one of the musicians, Dennis Somerville, is found shot in his home, rumors swirl over who might have wanted him dead. Cassie must determine if there is a link between a string of recent break-ins and Dennis’s murder before another victim winds up with more than a broken heart.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I was happy to have won a book that mixes mystery and the postal service. This is the first book I have read where the main character was the postmistress, and she has her nose in a murder mystery, while her best friend is a detective. It was a fun book to read. Cassie is very adventurous and is very well known in town since she is the only worker at the post office in the small town of North Aschcot, Massachusetts. She kept me on point, thinking of all the possible suspects with motives.

Review: Bubba Done It by Maggie Toussaint

Goodreads Blurb

Amateur sleuth and dreamwalker Baxley Powell is called in on a stabbing case. She arrives in time to hear the dying man whisper, “Bubba done it.”

Four men named Bubba in Sinclair County, Ga., have close ties to the victim, including her goofball brother-in-law, Bubba Powell.

She dreamwalks for answers, but the dead guy can’t talk to her. Baxley sleuths among the living. The suspects include a down-on-his-luck fisherman, a crackhead evangelist, a politically-connected investor, and her brother-in-law, the former sweetheart of the new widow.

The more Baxley digs, the more the Bubbas start to unravel. Worse, her brother-in-law’s definitely more than friendly with the new widow.

Between petsitting, landscaping, and dreamwalking, Baxley’s got her hands full solving this case.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This book was invigorating. Couldn’t put the book down from the very beginning. This book was well written, with a great plot and mystery. As I read, I kept on trying to figure out all the possibilities of who killed Morgan and what exactly happened to June? What kept this story going was that every single Bubba that were suspects all had dealings with Morgan, and they all wanted him dead. Morgan was a wealthy man who didn’t think of anyone’s feelings but himself. I loved that Baxley is an independent woman who can go to the spirit world and be able to see what had occurred at a death scene. She was able to solve the case on her own even though she was warned to stay away from the case. I was very shocked to have known that Morgan’s brother was his killer. He definitely was filled with sorrow, pain, and anger to have killed him. I’m hoping to read another book with Baxley. Great read you don’t want to miss it.

Author Biography

A scientist by training, a romanticist at heart, Maggie Toussaint loves to solve puzzles. Whether it’s the puzzle of a relationship or a who-dun-it, she tackles them all with equal aplomb and wonder. Maggie writes romantic suspense, contemporary romance , and science fiction for Muddle House Publishing, cozy mystery for Camel Press, Henery Press, and Muddle House.

She has five published romantic suspense novels: House of Lies (won the 2006 Readers Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense), No Second Chance (won 2 cover awards), Seeing Red (LASR book of the week), Muddy Waters ( Beacon finalist), Hot Water (EPIC finalist, cover art winner), and Rough Water.

Her mystery titles include In For A Penny, On the Nickel, Death, Island Style, Murder in the Buff, Dime If I Know, No Quarter, Gone and Done It, Bubba Done It, Doggone It, Dadgummit, Confound It, Dreamed It, All Done With It, Seas the Day, Spawning Suspicion, and Shrimply Dead. She also wrote a romantic mystery novella series, The Lindsey & Ike Mysteries.

Her next release, SNUFFED OUT, is tentatively scheduled for January 2023 under the pen name of Valona Jones.

Her works blend mystery and romance, often with a dash of humor.

She’s a member of Southeast Mystery Writers of America, Sisters In Crime, and Guppies. She was awarded the WRW Magic Crystal Award in 2004. She also won Silver Falchion Awards, the National Readers Choice Award and the EPIC ebook Award. She’s been a finalist for Georgia Author of the Year three times.

Visit her at http://www.maggietoussaint.com

Review: A Ghostly Undertaking by Tonya Kappes

Goodreads Blurb

A funeral, a ghost, a murder . . . It’s all in a day’s work for emma lee raines . . .

Bopped on the head from a falling plastic Santa, local undertaker Emma Lee Raines is told she’s suffering from “funeral trauma.” It’s trauma all right, because the not-so-dearly departed keep talking to her. Take Ruthie Sue Payne—innkeeper, gossip queen, and arch-nemesis of Emma Lee’s granny—she’s adamant that she didn’t just fall down those stairs. She was pushed.

Ruthie has no idea who wanted her pushing up daisies. All she knows is that she can’t cross over until the matter is laid to eternal rest. In the land of the living, Emma Lee’s high-school crush, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, isn’t ready to rule out foul play. Granny Raines, the widow of Ruthie’s ex-husband and co-owner of the Sleepy Hollow Inn, is the prime suspect. Now Emma Lee is stuck playing detective or risk being haunted forever.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This book was so much fun. It was a straight 5 star read. Tonya always writes such fun stories. Her female characters are so funny. Emma Lee became a detective in a matter of minutes after seeing the ghost of Ruthie Sue, who was not liked in her commumity for being nosy. Emma did a great job in trying to let people think she had the funeral trauma. I loved her little romance encounter with Jack. It makes the story fun when you have a crush and each person doesn’t know it. I was freaking out when “Fly Me To The Moon” was playing in the car. I just love that song, perfect song for the scene. I got caught off guard to find out who the killer was. I really thought it was an outsider doing the killing spree. This book had an awesome plot and was suspenseful all the way throughout the book. I was cracking up that Emma drives in a hearse. Can’t wait to read the next book. Great job, Tonya. XOXO!

Author Biography

Tonya Kappes has written more than 180 southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today . Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband in northern Kentucky. Now that her four boys have flown out of the nest, Tonya writes full-time in her camper!

You can find her all over social media and at Tonyakappes.com .

Visit Tonya:
Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes,
https://www.facebook.com/authortonyak…

Webpage
tonyakappes.com

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show…

Twitter
https://twitter.com/tonyakappes11

Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/tonyakappes/

For weekly updates and contests, sign up for Tonya’s newsletter Kappes Krew Weekly via her website or Facebook.For years,

Review: Haunted Hamlet by Kathi Daley

Goodreads Blurb

When a ghost hunter is found dead in a haunted house just days before Halloween it looks like the killer may be living impaired. Zoe must juggle the annual Zoe Donovan Spooktacular with zombies on the run, the annual pumpkin carving contest, a haunted hayride, a relationship in crisis, and a little behind the scenes investigation

My Review: Rated 5 out if 5 stars

Won this book on GoodReads. This was the first book I read from Kathi, and I enjoyed the thrill. As I kept reading, I was trying to figure out if the house was haunted or if there was really a killer? I loved how Zoe isn’t a cop but she zero in on feelings that someone is up to something and that they might be linked to the case at hand. She is such an excellent detective who really doesn’t think the trouble she might get in for snooping around. I love the relationship she has with Zak, and they are made for each other. She had me at the edge of my seat, walking into that creepy house numerous times in the dark. Is she crazy or what. I am a scaredy cat, so I can’t be as brave. I am looking forward to reading more about Zoe Donovan.

Author Biography

Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn’t writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she’s not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.

Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).