ROCCO celebrates Spring (a little late, due to move)_ with author Laura Childs and the Lavender Blue Murder!

What better way to celebrate Spring than with everyones favorite tea show owner, Theodosia Browning, who is back in her 21st adventure!

The human and I have  been a fan of this series from the start and we've watched Theodosia grow into a mature Nancy Drew, along with her two sidekicks, faithful sommelier Drayton and baker Haley.  (And let's not forget Earl Gray, her faithful Dalbrador!)  We've seen Theo get herself in some pretty tight spots, usually at the peril of her wardrobe.  Somehow she always manages to come out on top. we've seen her through some pretty traumatic romances, too....let's  hope her latest, Riley, is a keeper!

The plot of LAVENDER BLUE MURDER;

 Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier Drayton Conneley are guests at a bird hunt styled in the precise manner of an English shooting party. Which means elevenses (sloe gin fizzes), gun loaders, the drawing of pegs, fine looking bird dogs, and shooting costumes of tweed, herringbone, and suede.

But as gunshots explode like a riff of Black Cat firecrackers, another shot sounds too close for comfort to Theodosia and Drayton. Intrigued but worried, Theodosia wanders into the neighbor's lavender field where she discovers their host, Reginald Doyle, bleeding to death.

His wife, Meredith, is beside herself with grief and begs Theodosia and Drayton to stay the night. But Theodosia awakens at 2:00A.M. to find smoke in her room and the house on fire. As the fire department screams in and the investigating sheriff returns, Meredith again pleads with Theodosia for help.

As Theodosia investigates, fingers are pointed, secrets are uncovered, Reginald's daughter-in-law goes missing presumed drowned, and Meredith is determined to find answers via a séance. All the while Theodosia worries if she's made a mistake in inviting a prime suspect to her upscale Lavender Lady Tea.


We also love the travel tips and tea suggetions at the end of each book!  Really, this series is a must read for mystery fans.....those who love a good "thrillzie" will definitely enjoy Theo and company!

Run, dont walk to your local bookstore to get your copy! 

The author, Laura Childs, will giveaway a signed copy of LAVENDER BLUE MURDER to one lucky commenter!

To enter, just leave your name and email address in our comments section!  All winners will be chosen at random using random.org.  To gain extra entries, mention this blog and giveaway on your facebook page, twitter or webpage!  Be sure to mention you've done that when you leave your comment.  US entries only please!  Contest ends May7!

ROCCO's April Cozy Reviews!!!!!!!!!

Meow Folks, we are back with April's cozy reviews!  Better late than never, guys   After moving safely to Arizona we are glad to announce our return with more reviews!

First up:

GONE WITH THE WHISKER
Laurie Cass
A Bookmobile Cat Mystery
Berkley Prime Crime
March 31, 2020
Four and a half stars

It's the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library's most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.

But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile's most loyal patrons. And she knows she—and Eddie—will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime.

This remains one of our favorite series, primarily because of lovable EDDIE, the bookmobile cat.  :)  Recommended. (Side note:  the covers are designed by Mary Ann Lasher, the same woman who also did the Nick and Nora covers!)


A STroke of Malice
Anna Lee Huber
A Lady Darby Mytstery
Berkley Prime Crime
April 7, 2020
Four stars

Lady Kiera Darby and her husband Sebastian Gage are looking forward to celebrating with new friends at an exciting yearly soiree, but they soon learn that murder never takes a holiday in the latest riveting installment in this national bestselling series.
January 1832. After enjoying a delightful few weeks with her family, expectant mother Kiera and Sebastian Gage have been invited to the Duchess of Bowmontʼs Twelfth Night party in Traquair, Scotland. Though she normally avoids such fashionable, rambunctious events, Kiera is ready to join in the festive merrymaking. But upon their arrival at the opulent estate, it becomes obvious that all is not merry in their hostess’s home. The family appears to be under a great strain, and someone seems determined to cause mayhem among the guests with a series of forged notes.

Matters swiftly turn from irksome to downright deadly when the partygoers stumble upon a decomposing body in the castleʼs crypt. The corpse is thought to be the duchessʼs son-in-law who had purportedly traveled to Paris more than a month earlier. It is evident the man met with foul play, and Kiera and Gage soon realize that a ruthless murderer walks among them—and may well be a member of the duchessʼs own family. And when the investigation takes a treacherous turn, Kiera discovers just how deep the killer is willing to dig to keep their secrets from ever seeing the light of day.

Good mystery. We give this four paws!!!!!



PULP FRICTION
Julie Ann Lindsey
April 28, 2020
Kensington
Cider Shop Mystery
Four and a half stars

Thanks to Winnie's new cider shop, Smythe Orchards is out of the red and folks can get their fix of the produce and other delectable products they love all year round. The locals are even booking the shop for events, including a June wedding! Winnie couldn’t be happier to see the barn filled to the rafters for the big bash—until her doting ex, Hank, is caught in a heated argument with the groom. Winnie plans to scold Hank after the party, but spots him running off instead. And when the groom turns up dead, apparently hit by the honeymoon getaway car, Hank is the main suspect. Now Hank is on the lam, and it’s up to Winnie to get to the core of the truth—before the real killer puts the squeeze on her . . .

We read the first and found this a highly enjoyable series!  think you will too!


PUMPKIN SPICE PERIL
A Cupcake Mystery
Jenn McKinley
Berkley
April 28, 2020
4 1/2 stars

In the twelfth Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay, the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew follows the clever crumb trail of a killer who's anything but cookie-cutter.

Life is all sugar and spice for the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers--Melanie Cooper is engaged to the delectable Joe DeLaura, Angie Harper and her husband Tate are savoring married life, and the bakery is bustling with happy customers. Until one of their most valued cupcake connoisseurs ends up dead.

Local glass artist and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has always suffered from a wide variety of health issues. In an effort to cheer her up, her doting husband, Peter, brings her a four-pack of her favorite cupcakes every week. But when the police discover that Rene has been poisoned, there's no sugarcoating the fact that the last things she ate were the bakery's signature pumpkin spice cupcakes! With their lives and bakery at stake, it's up to Mel and Angie to find out who poisoned their artist friend and why, before their future is frosted for good.

A good consistent series that delivers a hit every time!

THE DIVA SPICES IT UP
Domestic Diva Series
Hardcover, Kensington
April 28, 2020
Krista Davis
Five Stars

She's a young Martha Stewart...in Old Town Virginia!
New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis delights with the 13th in her enormously popular and completely charming Domestic Diva Mystery series. When a celebrity ghostwriter dies on the job, it's up to Sophie Winston, Old Town, Virginia's favorite entertaining expert and sporadic sleuth, to whip up an impromptu investigation...

Sophie never considered ghostwriting as a side gig, until former actress and aspiring lifestyle guru, Tilly Stratford, trophy wife of Wesley Winthrope, needs someone to write her celebrity cookbook. Sophie agrees, hoping she'll earn enough bread on this assignment to finish her bathroom renovations. But as it turns out, Sophie isn't the first foodie to get a taste for recipe ghostwriting, and if the marginalia are any indication, this project could be a killer...

Wesley claims professional ghostwriter, Abby Bergeron, suddenly abandoned Tilly's cookbook with no warning. But Sophie quickly discovers that Abby may be more ghost than writer now...and her disappearance was no accident. So Sophie cracks open a fresh investigation but sifting the seasoned murderer from this sampling of salty suspects won't be easy. Will Sophie savor another case closed or will the culprit simply melt away?

I was a big fan of this series and was very disappointed when Penguin axed it; fortunately Kensington picked it up!  this is another series that constantly delivers!  Love the antics of Sophie and her posse! Five stars!


WIN ONE OF ROCCO'S REVIEW COPIES!
Leave your name and email address in our comments section.  on April 30 MAXX will choose a winner at random!  US entries only, please!!!!