Great Escapes Book Tours Book Review: Eggs On Ice

Eggs on Ice (A Cackleberry Club Mystery) by Laura Childs

About the Book

Eggs on Ice (A Cackleberry Club Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 

8th in Series Berkley (December 4, 2018) 

Hardcover: 304 pages 

ISBN-10: 0425281728 

ISBN-13: 978-0425281727 

Kindle ASIN: B07BD23MV9

Some say that casting crusty attorney Allen Sharpe as Scrooge in the Kindred Players production of "A Christmas Carol" is just playing to type. He's not the most beloved man in town. In fact, you'd have a dickens of a time finding someone who liked him. Still it's a shock when the Ghost of Christmas Past stabs him during the first rehearsal. Suzanne, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club café, Kindred's favorite combination diner, craft store and bookshop, chases the murderer out of the building but loses him in the alley. As the days pass the list of suspects grows longer. Is it the disgruntled partner? The former secretary whom Sharpe sexually harrassed? Or is it fellow owner of the Cackleberry Club, Toni's almost ex-husband, Junior? The women of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he can add another victim to his Christmas list.

Review:  I have been reading Laura Childs since I started reading cozy mysteries, which has been quite awhile. The Cackleberry Club is my favorite of her three series, and I think its the youngest. This is the 8th book in the series. It is also a holiday cozy so that makes me happy in so many ways. Oh and recipes! I have to admit I went straight for the back of the book to check those out. I'm all about making the jalapeno chicken sandwich Yum.

Toni and Suzanne witness the murder of attorney and cast member of the Kindred Players holiday play, and that starts Suzanne sleuthing, especially as the killer had a knife to her after she chased after him.

Allen Sharpe is the kind of guy that everyone wants to kill, so there are a lot of suspects, and Suzanne is getting herself into trouble trying to figure out whodunit. I really found it hard to figure out the killer in this one. There were too many suspects for me, and the one that I really thought did it, wasn't the one in the end. In fact, the outcome just really blew my mind, because I wasn't at the top of my list.

I love the friendships between the ladies of the Cackleberry Club. Toni and Suzanne are great bffs and Petra is wonderful as well. You don't have to read all the books to easily feel at home with these characters. Its hard to believe some of the things that Suzanne gets Toni into, and Toni is just crazy enough to go along with her.

I really enjoyed this one!

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links: Webpage - http://www.laurachilds.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31 Purchase Links Amazon    B&N    Kobo   Google Play   IndieBound  a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 3 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 3 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

December 3 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

December 4 – Valerie's Musings – REVIEW

December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

December 5 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

December 5 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

December 6 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW

December 6 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Cinnamon, Sugar and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW

December 7 – MJB Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

December 9 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW*

December 10 – My Journey Back – REVIEW

December 11 – Socrates' Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW*

December 12 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW

December 12 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

December 13 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW*

December 14 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 14 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW*

December 15 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

December 16 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW  

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Review: A Light of Her Own

A Light of Her Own by Carrie Callaghan

Publication Date: November 13, 2018

Amberjack Publishing

Hardcover; 320 Pages

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Biographical

In Holland 1633, a woman’s ambition has no place.

Judith is a painter, dodging the law and whispers of murder to become the first woman admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist’s guild. Maria is a Catholic in a country where the faith is banned, hoping to absolve her sins by recovering a lost saint’s relic.

Both women’s destinies will be shaped by their ambitions, running counter to the city’s most powerful men, whose own plans spell disaster. A vivid portrait of a remarkable artist, A Light of Her Own is a richly-woven story of grit against the backdrop of Rembrandt and an uncompromising religion.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Review: I was totally taken by the subject matter of this book. I love learning more about women in history. Judith Leyster is the only woman to be admitted to Holland's Haarlem Guild. A female painter that very little is known about.

The time period is 1633 and the Netherlands.  This is a time period where women didn't have careers and they definitely didn't have careers in the arts. This is a man's world and women have no place in it, except in the usual place.

Judith and Maria are two very different women. They aren't very likable, because their respective personalities are all a bit extreme. Judith who is a real person, would have to be hard to like, but even if you don't feel a connection to her, you know that she is the way she is because she has drive and ambition, even if it comes with a price. As the story progresses you see that Judith pays a high price for her ambition.

Maria has her own problems. She's very devout, to the point of obsession. She has a strong case of Catholic guilt. (Strong is actually a pretty mild way to describe Maria)

There's also a mystery involving linseed oil that is hurting the painters. That mystery ties the two women together as their friendship was breaking apart.

I was quickly drawn to this story and I loved every minute of reading it.

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

Carrie Callaghan is a writer living in Maryland with her spouse, two young children, and two ridiculous cats. Her short fiction has appeared in Weave Magazine, The MacGuffin, Silk Road, Floodwall, and elsewhere. Carrie is also an editor and contributor with the Washington Independent Review of Books. She has a Master’s of Arts in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For more information, please visit Carrie Callaghan's website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook,  Twitter and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, November 12
Feature at Naomi Finley's Blog
Review at A Bookaholic Swede

Tuesday, November 13
Review at A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, November 14
Interview at A Bookish Affair

Thursday, November 15
Review at Broken Teepee

Friday, November 16
Review at View from the Birdhouse

Sunday, November 18
Review at Carole's Ramblings

Monday, November 19
Review at Just One More Chapter
Feature at What Is That Book About

Tuesday, November 20
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, November 21
Review at Clarissa Reads it All

Friday, November 23
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Monday, November 26
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective

Tuesday, November 27
Review at What Cathy Read Next

Wednesday, November 28
Review at Pass Me That Book

Thursday, November 29
Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, November 30
Review at Donna's Book Blog

Monday, December 3
Review & Interview at Reading the Past

Tuesday, December 4
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Wednesday, December 5
Review at I'm Shelf-ish

Thursday, December 6
Interview at Let Them Read Books

Friday, December 7
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away 2 signed hardcovers of A Light of Her Own! To enter, please see the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on December 7th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

A Light of Her Own

TLC Book Tours Book Review: The Spite Game

THE SPITE GAME

About The Spite Game

Paperback: 336 Pages

Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (November 1, 2018)

Everyone does bad things when no one is watching

Mercilessly bullied in high school, Ava knows she needs to put the past behind her and move on, but she can’t—not until she’s exacted precise, catastrophic revenge on the people who hurt her the most.

First, she watches Saanvi. Flawlessly chic and working hard at a top architectural firm, Saanvi has it all together on the surface. But everyone does bad things when they think no one is watching and Ava only wants what’s fair—to destroy Saanvi’s life the way her own was destroyed.

Next, she watches Cass. She’s there as Cass tries on wedding dresses, she’s there when Cass picks out a cake, she’s there when Cass betrays her fiancé. She’s the reason Cass’s entire future comes crashing down.

Finally, Ava watches Mel. Mel was always the ringleader and if anyone has to pay, it’s her. But one tiny slipup and Ava realizes the truth: Mel knows she’s being watched, and she’s ready to play Ava’s games to the bitter end.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Review:  The Spite Game is my kind of revenge book. Ava was a girl who wanted to be friends with three girls that she probably shouldn't have wanted to be friends with. They treat her like crap and she lets them, which is beyond me. She also keeps going back for more. Again, I shake my head at that, though there is some sort of spark between her and Mel, the Queen B as I liked to call her, and the B stands for something not so nice.

Its years later and Ava is ready to seek revenge on the "mean girls" from her past. Truth be told as you see her past through flashbacks its hard not to say that these girls deserve it. They are nasty and that's really being kind. All the bad stuff being brought about my Mel.

Ava though, is off her nut, as the case may be. She's just as bad as the mean girls that bullied her and she hurts other people along the way.

The ending was not what I expected at all but it did tie an event from the past with the present in a really neat way. It also left you wondering if she'll do something to her sister at some later point. (I'll keep quiet about what Bea knows, because..well... SPOILERS)

I see this as a sort of new adult thriller, which is unique. I don't find many thrillers with younger characters in the lead parts, and as I said, Ava is in her early twenties.

This book was absolutely fabulous and I mean that in a Patsy and Edwina kind of way. This is one that you won't be able to put down.

Rating: 5 flowers

About Anna Snoekstra

Anna Snoekstra was born in Canberra, Australia to two civil servants. At the age of seventeen she decided to avoid a full time job and a steady wage to move to Melbourne and become a writer. She studied Creative Writing and Cinema at The University of Melbourne, followed by Screenwriting at RMIT University.

After finishing university, Anna wrote for independent films and fringe theatre, and directed music videos. During this time, she worked as a christmas elf, cheesemonger, a waitress, a barista, a nanny, a receptionist, a cinema attendant and a film reviewer.

Connect with Anna

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Beck Valley Book Tours Book Review: Our Sweet Destiny

NEW RELEASE…

Discover the magic of the Bradens, and fall in love with Addison Cole's rich and romantic storytelling.

In OUR SWEET DESTINY…

After ditching a troubled relationship—and her veterinary practice in the process—Jade Johnson returns to the safety of her small hometown and finally finds her footing. That is…until her horse is injured and the son of the man her father has been feuding with for more than forty years comes to her rescue. She’s spent forever trying to deny her attraction to headstrong, too-handsome-for-his-own-good cowboy Rex Braden. The last thing she needs is that particular man complicating her life.

Fiercely loyal Rex Braden has never put anyone or anything before his family. Despite the irate family history, sparks fly between Rex and Jade, unleashing fifteen years of stifled, forbidden love—and causing the rebel in each of them to rear its powerful head.

Loyalties are tested, and relationships are strained as Rex and Jade find out if true love really can conquer all.

Our Sweet Destiny is a Sweet with Heat novel and conveys all of the passion you'd expect to find between two people in love without any graphic scenes or harsh language. If you're looking for a more explicit romance, pick up the steamy edition, Destined for Love, written by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. Addison Cole is Melissa's sweet-romance pen name.

Available to buy from...... 

Amazon.com    Barnes and Noble    Kobo    iBooks   GPlay   Paperback

Review:  The first thing I have to say about this book and all of Addison's books, is that the cover is absolutely stunning. That is the first thing that grabs me about any of her books. Her covers make me want to grab them, right away

This book actually reminded me a bit of a Delores Fossen novel. I love a good cowboy story and toss in a family feud (no not the game show..or as bad as the Hatfields and McCoys) but a good rift between families that were once close and you get a nice romance with some good old fashioned drama to go with it.

I really loved Rex and Jade. They had a lot to overcome to become a couple; stubbornness and family loyalty are the two biggies. I also love that Jade was a vet. This is the second book where the heroine had that profession. I love me a strong female character that helps animals.

This is definitely a must read book. Again, I can't ever decide which of Addison's books are my favorite, because each one is a favorite, however I really liked the Bradens better than the seaside couples, which actually blew my mind a bit. I like Western themed romances aka cowboy books but they aren't my favorite, well, until now.

Rex was the reason I loved this story.. He was a big softy even though he was a bit of tough guy. I also loved that he was protective without being too alpha, or too much like the guy Jade left behind. I also enjoyed the back story of the two families, though I wish more time could have been devoted to it. I'm always interested in what makes people do the things they do.

This was a wonderful read. It was also more "sweet" than the past books, which is fine with me as well.

Rating: 5 flowers

"Addison Cole's stories are the perfect blend of sizzle and sweet. You won't be able to stop reading." - New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne

"Romance, fun, emotions, and happily ever afters that will warm your heart, Addison Cole writes charming and unforgettable stories about real people and love in its most wonderfully moving forms." - New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke

"Addison Cole has created characters you'll fall in love with and a seaside world you'll never want to leave." - USA Today bestselling author Chris Keniston

Also Available in Sweet Heat Series

Each book may be read as a stand-alone novel, or as part of the series.

A Love So Sweet (Sweet with Heat: Weston Bradens, Book 1)

Treat Braden wasn’t looking for love when Max Armstrong walked into his Nassau resort, but he saw right through the efficient and capable facade she wore like a shield to the sweet, sensual woman beneath. One magnificent evening together sparked an intense connection, and for the first time in his life Treat wanted more than a casual affair. But something caused Max to turn away, and now, after weeks of unanswered phone calls and longing for the one woman he cannot have, Treat is going back to his family’s ranch to try to finally move on.

A chance encounter brings Treat and Max together again, and it turns into a night of intense passion and honesty. When Max reveals her secret, painful past, Treat vows to do everything within his power to win Max’s heart forever—including helping her finally face her demons head-on.

Available to buy from...... 

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Barnes and Noble    Kobo    iBooks   GPlay   Paperback

Unraveling the Truth About Love (Sweet with Heat: Weston Bradens, Book 3)

Now available for PRE-ORDER

More from Addison Cole!

About the author

SIGN UP for ADDISON'S Sweet with Heat newsletter. Fun, flirty romance with a dash of heat. www.AddisonCole.com/Newsletter

DOWNLOAD the first book in Addison's Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers series free: READ, WRITE, LOVE AT SEASIDE

Addison Cole is the sweet alter ego of New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Melissa Foster. She writes humorous and emotional sweet contemporary romance. Her books do not include explicit sex scenes or harsh language. Addison spends her summers on Cape Cod, where she dreams up wonderful love stories in her house overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

Addison is proud to be part of the Main Street Romance family, a partnership with bestselling authors Nancy Naigle, RaeAnne Thayne, and Chris Keniston, bringing sweet happy-ever-after love stories to the Main Street Romance community. Join them at www.MainStreetRomance.com ~ open 24/7 just for you.

Addison enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Addison’s books are available in paperback, digital, and audio formats.

Find Addison on the following sites....

Website   Newsletter   Facebook   Twitter   Google+   Pinterest   Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page

Follow the Book Tour

I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

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TLC Book Tours Book Review: The Secret Language Of Cats

About The Secret Language of Cats

Hardcover: 288 Pages

Publisher: Hanover Square Press; Original edition (November 1, 2018)

Have you ever wondered what your cat is saying?

Cats do not meow randomly, nor do they growl or hiss because they have nothing better to do. Cat sounds have a purpose, and they can carry important messages, whether for us or other cats.

Susanne Schštz is hard at work on breaking the cat code. She is a professor at Lund University in Sweden, where a long-standing research program is proving that cats do actually use vocal communication—with each other and with their human caretakers. Understanding the vocal strategies used in human-cat communication will have profound implications for how we communicate with our pets, and has the potential to improve the relationship between animals and humans within several fields, including animal therapy, veterinary medicine and animal sheltering.

In The Secret Language of Cats, Schštz offers a crash course in the phonetic study of cat sounds. She introduces us to the full range of feline vocalizations and explains what they can mean in different situations, and she gives practical tips to help us understand our cats better.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Review: I'm a self professed "Cat lady".  Eleven kitties reside with me right now and a chihuahua that thinks she's a cat. So this book intrigued me. I want to learn as much about my furbabies as I possibly can.

I'm not sure how I feel about the book. I think part of it has to do with the translation from Swiss to English, but whatever it is the book came across as a little too elementary for me in the writing style while the subject matter sometimes was more complicated. Of course, there is the fact that I'm a cat lady, so if there's been an article written about kitties, I've read it, especially about this particular subject matter.

The best part of the book isn't so much learning about what each cat sound means, but more Susanne's experiences with her own cats. If you read the appendix and check out her website and look and listen to the sounds her cats make, you may find yourself lost for a long while, cos well, kitties meowing and purring = happiness.

As for the information imparted in the book, if you aren't a cat devotee, you will definitely learn something from reading this. For me, I learned more about purring than any other cat sound.

This was a quick read for me and fun.

Oh and I should mention, the illustrations throughout the book are absolutely adorable. So if you are in need of some "book learning" on kitties, this is a good one to pick up.

Rating: 4 flowers

TLC Book Tours Book Reviews: Tasting Italy

About Tasting Italy

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (October 23, 2018)

The experts at America's Test Kitchen and National Geographic bring Italy's magnificent cuisine, culture, and landscapes--and 100 authentic regional recipes--right to your kitchen.

Featuring 100 innovative, kitchen-tested recipes, 300 gorgeous color photographs, and 30 maps, this illustrated guide takes you on a captivating journey through the rich history of Italian cuisine, region by region. Rich excerpts feature the origins of celebrated cheeses, the nuances of different wine growing regions, the best farmer's markets in Venice, and more. Intriguing prose illuminates key ingredients, from olive oil and how it's made to the various pasta shapes of Northern Italy. In every region, the food experts at America's Test Kitchen bring it all home, with foolproof recipes for standout dishes as well as hidden gems: Piedmontese braised beef in lustrous red wine sauce, crispy-custardy chickpea flour farinata pancakes from Genoa (achieved without the specialty pan and wood-burning oven), and hand-formed rustic malloreddus pasta of Sardinia that is a breeze to make.

Purchase Links

National Geographic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Review: If you've ever watched America's Test Kitchen or Cooks Country you will love the style of this cookbook.

I'm a huge collector of fun cookbooks thanks to my mother. This particular book is fabulous, not just for the recipes but for the narrative. You learn a lot while flipping through the pages of this book and the illustrations will transport you to Italy. If you are not a traveler, perusing this cookbook may make you want to be one.

There were quite a few recipes that enticed me, but there was one that really stood out enough for me to make it and that was Pasta with Walnut Sauce.  I know it sounds strange, but on Christmas Eve, our family has a tradition of making a buttered noodle with Walnuts, so I knew I had to try this one.

The end result was similar to what my grandmother made, and this definitely will be a recipe that will be made for a holiday. Noodles with nuts area holiday tradition, and I'm going to make this a new Easter recipe.

I recommend this cookbook to anyone the likes to try new things. The layout is informative and each recipe has enough detail that most cooks will be able to create the dishes.

Rating: 4 flowers

Barclay Book Tours Book Review: Dangerously Delicious

Review & Excerpt Tour for DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS by Denise Swanson!

From New York Times best-selling author Denise Swanson comes DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS, the second installment in her Delicious Love series. It takes one dedicated wildlife veterinarian, plus an impossibly handsome nightclub manager to prove that love always wins. Fans of Jill Shalvis, Bella Andre, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips will devour this sweet and sexy romance.

Title: Dangerously Delicious

Author: Denise Swanson

Release Date: November 6, 2018

Publisher: Self-published

Series: Delicious Love #2

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Marco Thorne was hired by Club Wilde’s owner to open up the newest, most outrageous venue yet. He is absolutely certain that he can handle all the competition Las Vegas has to offer until his overbearing boss contracts with Lions and Tigers and More sanctuary to have live exotic animals present in the jungle-themed club. Still, he has no choice but to go along with his boss’s idiotic scheme, even if he thinks it’s the worst idea he’s ever heard.

Dr. Sage DeSantis’s entire life is devoted to keeping the animals under her care in the sanctuary healthy and happy. After the sanctuary’s owner announces that he’s renting out some of Sage’s babies to Club Wilde, she’s sickened that they will once again be exploited.

When Marco and Sage meet, the chemistry between them nearly knocks them off their feet. Although they both have experiences in their past that make them leery of love, and Sage is determined to guard her heart, Marco is all in. But will Marco be able to convince Sage to give them a chance?

Add to Goodreads → http://bit.ly/2O3368p

Find out more at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2O4C28S

B&N → http://bit.ly/2O8yB0Q

Kobo → http://bit.ly/2Oa6Oxa

Review: This is the first romance of Denise's that I've read. I am a fan of her cozy mysteries and I've been dying to try one of her romances.

There is a lot of tension and chemistry between Sage and Marco. This is really a case of opposites attracting. Sage is a level headed vet, working hard  taking care of animals and staying away from predators like Marco. She's had some bad experiences in the past and Marco is totally the opposite of who she's looking for in a guy.

Marco is player, a real love em' and leave em' kind of guy. Yet one look at Sage and he's smitten. Hist only problem is a boss that is drop dead gorgeous and seems to have the hots for him.

No matter how things conspire against them, these two have incredible chemistry. Sage is a bit wishy washy at times, but her innocence in regards to men is sweet.

I thought things between them developed pretty quickly, maybe too quickly, because I couldn't find anything that the two shared in common, except that they were both working for the same company in roundabout way, and that they had a friend/family member in common.

This is a sweet romance and the romance between the two characters really sizzles.

I'm really glad I had a chance to read this book.

Rating: 4 flowers

DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Denise Swanson

Sage DeSantis held the rifle loosely in her arms. Charlie had gotten free again. The old rascal had somehow learned to pick the lock on the ranch’s gate and had taken to strolling along the side of the highway.

Sage worked as a veterinarian at the Lions and Tigers and More wildlife park. It was a nonprofit originally established to take in big cats that had previously worked in movies and live performances. All of the refuge’s guests were well socialized, and as long as no one got stupid, everyone was safe. Well, none of the humans were in danger.

Lately, Sage had been a bit worried that the animals’ safety, or at least well-being, was at risk. Her bosses had been discussing the diminishing contributions and skyrocketing costs and she had a bad feeling that today’s staff meeting was about that very subject.

However, all thoughts of the looming announcement fled when Sage reached the end of the driveway and spotted Charlie standing over the prone form of her best friend, Deanna Sloan Thorne.

Deanna was as still as a princess in a glass coffin and almost as pale. Charlie, on the other hand, was grinning like a fool and licking Deanna’s cheek. Each time his pink tongue made another swipe, Deanna’s beautiful green eyes widened a little bit more, and as Sage got closer, she could hear her friend’s frightened little squeaks.

Immediately, Sage depressed the button on the tiny device in her pocket. At the sound of the click, Charlie raised his head and glanced around. Another click and he reluctantly trotted over to her. She clipped on his collar and leash, then fed him the treat he expected for responding to the signal.

As the lion ate the chunk of chicken, Sage heard Deanna’s faint voice ask, “Can I get up now?”

“Absolutely.” Sage looked at her friend. “Why are you on the ground?”

Deanna rose to her feet and brushed the dust from her pink capris. “Well, I was waiting for you at the entrance like we arranged and suddenly the gate swung open and that beast ran toward me. When I realized there was a lion coming at me, I think I might have passed out.”

“Running?” Sage raised a brow. These days, Charlie barely made it to a fast walk.

“Running.” Deanna nodded firmly, then relented and said, “Okay, maybe trotting.” She put her hands on her hips. “Why weren’t you there? You were supposed to meet me at ten.”

“Oops!” Sage put her hand over her mouth. “I am so sorry. When I found out that Charlie was missing, I forgot about your tour. Do you still want to see the place?”

“Definitely!” Deanna refastened her ponytail. “But can I carry the gun?”

While Sage showed her friend around, they chatted about Deanna’s recent marriage and Sage saw the love shining from her friend’s eyes. Sage was truly thrilled for Deanna, but a small part of her wished she had been the one to find Mr. Right.

But that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. After her disastrous affair at her last gig, she’d given up on men and completely stopped dating. Her ex had been the director of the zoo where she’d been working, so when things fell apart, she’d not only lost her boyfriend but also her job.

Enter to win a signed set of Delicious Love books + $15 Amazon Gift Card!

Nine will win DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS ebooks!

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About Denise Swanson:

New York Times Bestseller author Denise Swanson was a practicing psychologist for twenty-two years. She writes the Delicious Love and Change of Heart contemporary romance series, as well as the Scumble River, Devereaux’s Dime Store, and Chief-to-Go mysteries. Her books all feature small-town heroines with lots of heart.

Denise’s books have been finalists for the Agatha, Mary Higgins Clark, RT Magazine's Career Achievement, and Daphne du Maurier Awards. She has won the Reviewers Choice Award and was a BookSense 76 Top Pick.

Denise Swanson lives in rural Illinois with her husband, classical composer David Stybr.

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Great Escapes Book Tours Book Spotlight & Review: Glitter Bomb

Glitter Bomb (A Scrapbooking Mystery) by Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran

 

About the Book

Glitter Bomb (A Scrapbooking Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 15th in Series
Berkley (October 2, 2018)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 0451489543
ISBN-13: 978-0451489548
Digital ASIN: B078VVDSQT

An exploding Mardi Gras float has got to be the strangest murder weapon scrappy sleuth Carmela Bertrand has ever encountered in this latest Scrapbooking Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author.

It's Mardi Gras in New Orleans and scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is excited to be attending the Pluvius Parade along with her best friend Ava. Carmela's ex-husband Shamus rides by the duo on his float at the head of the parade, when suddenly the revelry turns to disaster. Shamus' float crashes and explodes, and although Shamus escapes unhurt, a member of his krewe is killed.

Carmela and Ava plunge into an investigation of the krewe-member's death, but as they dig deeper it starts to look less like an accident and more like a murder....and Shamus seems less like a victim, and more like a suspect.

Review:  I absolutely love the New Orleans Scrapbooking Mysteries. Carmela, Ava are fabulous characters and Carmela's ex-husband Shamus is always getting into some sort of trouble that ends up in an investigation. I can't believe this is the 15th book in the series, because I've been trying to keep up with this one and apparently I'm doing a lousy job. Of Lisa's 3 series, this one is my favorite because of the campy nature of the characters.

In this book, a Mardi Gras float explodes killing a krewe member, Hugh Wilder, who owns a investment firm where a lot of residents have lost a lot of money. So there are loads of people that are suspects, Carmela's ex being one. Seriously, though, how does this guy end up being a suspect in so many murders? He's a guy you love to hate, but not too much. He's not a dastardly ex-husband, just a doofus who always ends up in the thick of things.

The large number of suspects really makes this book a fun read, every time you think you might know who the killer is, cos it obviously isn't Shamus, someone else turns up. The character I wanted to have done it, of course, didn't.

I continue to love the friendship between Carmela and Ava. They are a hoot. The only thing that upset me was the ending, as it relates to Carmela and Edgar. (I don't want to give anything away)

This was a solid read and you don't have to read this series in order to enjoy it.

Rating: 4 flowers

About The Authors

 

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fundraising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Laura’s Links: Webpage - http://www.laurachilds.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/laura.childs.31

Short-listed twice for The Best American Mystery Stories, Terrie Farley Moran is delighted to introduce mystery fans to the Read ’Em and Eat café and bookstore, which debuted with Well Read, Then Dead. followed by Caught Read-Handed and Read to Death released in July of this year.  The only thing Terrie enjoys more than wrangling mystery plots into submission is playing games and reading stories with any or all of her grandchildren.

Terrie’s Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrie.moran.9 Blog:  www.womenofmystery.net Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23186092-terrie-moran  

Purchase Links:

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